Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Tales of Cities | Civilization in Flow: The alchemy of time in Yinchuan 11:03, July 12, 2025 By Peng Yukai, Sheng Chuyi, Li Zheng, Alvaro Lago, Liang Hongxin ( People's Daily Online In the boundless desert, lonely smoke rises straight; over the endless river, the sun sinks round. Deserts are commonly known by the world as a forbidden zone for life. But in Yinchuan, capital of northwest Chinas Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, life blooms in unexpected ways. A bunch of grapes, nurtured by ancient wisdom and modern ambition, tells stories of resilience and holds the key to coexistence between humanity and nature. The Tangut (Dangxiang) people of the Xixia Dynasty mastered the art of winemaking more than 800 years ago. Yinchuan's riverside village is known for its wetlands and abundant water sources that nourish grapevines, together with the sunshine and fertile soil of the "golden zone" for grape cultivation at the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain. "I think the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain are a magical place. We didn't have high expectations, but the land has given us many pleasant surprises," said Li Yue, manager of Intermodal Transportation Department Sinotrans (Ningxia) Logistics Development Co., Ltd. The national wetland park in Yinchuan is also an important habitat for migratory birds. "As humans, what we can do is provide these creatures with the best habitat possible within our capabilities," Chang Haotian, Director of the Department of Ecological Security and Engineering, Ningxia Yuehai Bloc, said. Yinchuans ambitions stretch far beyond its vineyards. As an important node city under the Belt and Road Initiative and an important window for China's opening to the west, bottles of wine are ready to embark on an expedition to global tables through the city's Rail-Sea Intermodal Transport System. Yinchuan is a city of dazzling colors: sapphire lights on screens that illuminate the world; majestic brown ramparts where "A Chinese Odyssey" was filmed; red paper in the hands of an artisan creating intricate scissors art; and the green tapestry of a large-scale aquaponics system. From laboratory precision to dreams sculpted in the wilderness Yinchuans creativity knows no bounds. From scissors craft to the silver screen, Chinese culture resonates worldwide with quiet confidence. As night falls, Yinchuan's street life pulses with youth. Goji berries, which used to be ancient remedies, now glow in trendy teacups. Cheers, Yinchuan! To the weight of yesterday, and to the spark of tomorrow. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chengliang) Members of Parliament from the European Solidarity and Holos factions have registered a resolution in the Verkhovna Rada demanding that the government immediately comply with the law and appoint the Director of the Bureau of Economic Security (BES), Holos MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak announced. "European Solidarity and our colleagues from Holos have registered a resolution demanding that the government immediately uphold the law and appoint the head of the BES, selected through a transparent and fair competition," Zhelezniak wrote on Telegram. He emphasized that Oleksandr Tsyvinsky, the candidate recommended by the BES selection commission on June 25, "won a transparent competition with the participation of international and Ukrainian experts a process welcomed by G7 ambassadors." "The BES reform is part of Ukraine's commitments under its agreement with the IMF and the Ukraine Facility. Ukraine critically depends on Western financial support, and this brazen sabotage of the competition especially during the Rome conference is a deliberate blow to partner trust and a setback to our EU integration," Zhelezniak said. As previously reported, on July 9 the BES selection commission published an official document from the Cabinet of Ministers stating its decision not to appoint the competition's winner as BES director. Earlier, on July 7, the government reviewed the commission's recommendation and asked it to resubmit up to two candidates who meet all established requirements, including security criteria. The commission had initially recommended Tsyvinsky, former head of the NABU detective division. Appointing the BES director based on the competition results by the end of July is a condition of Ukraine's Extended Fund Facility program with the IMF. The business community has publicly appealed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to overturn the Cabinet's decision and appoint Tsyvinsky, as recommended by the BES selection commission. Tsyvinsky himself has stated that the Cabinet's demand for resubmission of candidates violates the law. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / July 11, 2025 / Gold Mountain Mining Corp. ("Gold Mountain" or the "Company") (TSX:GMTN)(OTCQB:GMTNF)(FRA:5XFA) is pleased to announce that it has obtained an additional $600,000 in funding (the "Additional Funding") pursuant to an amended and restated secured convertible debenture (the "Amended Debenture") dated as of July 11, 2025. The Amended Debenture amends and restates the terms of a secured convertible debenture (the "Original Debenture") dated as of June 18, 2024 that the Company issued to Nhwelmen Construction Limited Partnership ("Nhwelmen" the contract miner at the Company's Elk Gold Mine), pursuant to which the Company owes Nhwelmen $5,000,000 (see the Company's news release dated June 18, 2024 for further details respecting the Original Debenture). The Amended Debenture amends the terms of the Original Debenture to increase the aggregate principal amount owing by the Company to Nhwelmen from $5,000,000 to $5,600,000. All other terms of the Original Debenture remain the same, including: the Amended Debenture is convertible at Nhwelmen's option into common shares of the Company at a conversion price of $0.08 per share (with an aggregate of 70,000,000 common shares being issuable if the full $5,600,000 is converted); the Amended Debenture matures on June 18, 2028; the principal amount of the Amended Debenture accrues interest at the rate of 12.0% per annum, calculated monthly and payable in cash in arrears on each anniversary date from the date of issuance of the Original Debenture; and the Amended Debenture may be prepaid in whole or in part, at the option of the Company. The Amended Debenture is secured by a second priority security interest over all of the assets of the Company including its current and after acquired property, as evidenced by the general security agreement dated effective March 10, 2024 between the Company and Nhwelmen. The Company will use the Additional Funding for general working capital, which will provide the Company with financial flexibility to support its ongoing operations and strategic initiatives. The Additional Funding remains subject to approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. There can be no assurance that the financing will be completed on the terms contemplated or at all. The Company will provide further updates as appropriate. About Gold Mountain Gold Mountain is a British Columbia based gold and silver production, exploration and development company focused on the development of the Elk Gold Mine, a producing mine located 57 kilometers from Merritt in South Central British Columbia. Additional information is available at www.sedarplus.ca or on the Company's new website at www.goldmountainminingcorp.ca. For more information, please contact: Gold Mountain Mining Corp. Email: info@goldmountainminingcorp.ca Website:www.goldmountainminingcorp.ca The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this News Release. Forward Looking Statements Forward-looking statements in this news release may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to those in respect of the Company's future financial reporting. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company assumes no obligation or intent to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE: Gold Mountain Mining Corp View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/gold-mountain-mining-corp.-obtains-additional-funding-under-secured-convertible-d-1048145 Deccan Grainz India, led by Kiran Kumar Pola, has entered the Chinese market with its premium Sona Masuri rice, marking a major global expansion milestone as it prepares for a domestic India launch in 2026. PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESS Newswire / July 12, 2025 / Deccan Grainz India, the company behind the globally recognized rice export brand Deccan, has announced its official entry into the Chinese market, marking a significant milestone in the company's international growth trajectory. This strategic expansion brings the brand's presence to over a dozen countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Sweden, the UK, Germany, Ireland, Turkey, and several EU nations. Image Description: Kiran Kumar Pola, Director, Deccan Grainz India With this move, Deccan becomes one of the few Indian rice exporters to successfully penetrate China-a market that, despite being the world's second-largest producer of rice, continues to see rising demand for premium-quality, aromatic rice varieties. The company aims to cater to the evolving tastes of urban Chinese consumers with its signature non-basmati offerings, particularly Sona Masuri. "We are proud to be the only rice brand from South India to have achieved such expansive global reach in rice exports," said Kiran Kumar Pola, Director of Deccan Grainz India. "Entering the Chinese market represents a pivotal chapter in our global journey and underscores the international trust in our quality." Deccan Grainz has built a strong identity as a leading exporter of non-basmati rice, with Sona Masuri accounting for nearly 60% of its total export volume. In the United States, the company holds the leading position in the non-basmati segment, fueled by growing demand from the Indian diaspora and consumers seeking authentic Indian rice. The company sources its rice from thousands of farmers across India, especially from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This farmer-first model ensures consistent quality while supporting sustainable livelihoods. "Our farmers are at the heart of our success. Without their commitment to quality and sustainability, our international journey wouldn't have been possible," added Kiran. Deccan Grainz operates a state-of-the-art rice processing facility at Sultanpur near Hyderabad. Equipped with advanced Japanese technology, the plant processes 5,500 metric tonnes of rice monthly and employs over 100 personnel. The facility is central to the company's rigorous quality standards, which have helped Deccan export over 7 crore bags of rice in just 15 years. In a rare reversal of conventional business strategy, Deccan Grainz is now preparing to launch its products in the Indian domestic market in early 2026. "They say we have to win at home before winning abroad. But we already won outside. Now, we are ready to win at home," said Kiran, expressing confidence about the brand's entry into Indian households. The company's success is deeply rooted in the personal journey of Kiran Kumar Pola, who began his career in 1995 as a trainee at a rice mill in Hyderabad. After nearly 14 years of industry experience, he launched the Deccan brand in London in 2008. Under his leadership, Deccan Grainz has evolved into a globally trusted name in rice exports. As it enters China and prepares for its India launch, Deccan Grainz India continues to redefine the global perception of Indian rice through quality, innovation, and strategic growth. About Deccan Grainz India Deccan Grainz India is a Hyderabad-based rice export company known for its premium non-basmati rice offerings, especially Sona Masuri. Operating globally under the Deccan brand, the company serves over a dozen countries and maintains a robust sourcing and processing infrastructure to ensure the highest quality standards. Media Contact Organization: Deccan Rice Contact Person Name: Kiran Kumar Website: https://www.deccanrice.com/ Email: contact@deccanrice.com Contact Number: +16024763070 City: Phoenix State: Arizona Country: United States SOURCE: Deccan Rice View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/deccan-grainz-india-announces-entry-into-chinese-market-expandin-1048150 This video garnered severe backlash, with social media users slamming Apoorva Mukhija for her mindset read more Apoorva Mukhija, aka The Rebel Kid, has once grabbed headlines for her latest controversial comment in an interview, where she said that she is proud of women who monetise their sexuality. I think women who can monetise their sexuality are insane. Good for you, girlypops, I am proud of yall," Mukhija said while talking on Zoom. If men are stupid enough to see it, pay for it, then do it. I love it! They are the views," she added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Basically, she's okay with her being sexualised for money. pic.twitter.com/V5HmTi0o45 Squint Neon (@TheSquind) July 9, 2025 This video garnered severe backlash, with social media users slamming Apoorva for her mindset. Basically, shes okay with her being sexualised for money," commented one netizen. Just a pure example of being characterless," wrote another.Biggest hypocrites in our country are the so-called social media influencers. Har baat par pe bakwas karva lo bas," read another comment. Mukhija earlier faced flak online after social media users took objection to a vulgar comment she made on Indias Got Latent. Amid severe backlash, several cases have been filed against Allahbadia, Raina, and Mukhija, as well as YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani and stand-up comedian Jaspreet Singh the other two panellists on the episode of Indias Got Latent. While Allahbadia, aka BeerBiceps, has apologised for his comments that created a storm on social media, others are yet to address the controversy. Mukhija, however, reportedly referred to the row by posting a screenshot of a private chat with a friend, writing, Me and [friend]s last two brain cells trying to come up with a solve for the new problem that I created. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mukhija featured in Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoors _Nadaaniyan_, which streamed on Netflix and a mini web-series, Baat Pakki, which also starred Shray Rai Tiwari, Gunnit Cour, Ishika Jaiwani The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India has released its findings on the Air India plane crash, bringing fresh focus to engine fuel cutoff switches. The cockpit voice recorder also raises confusion. One pilot asked, Why did you cut off fuel? while the other denied doing it. So, what could have gone wrong? The question remains unanswered read more The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India has released its findings on the June 12 crash. PTI/File Photo The preliminary report on the Air India Flight 171 crash, which killed 260 people in June, has been made public. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India has released its findings on the June 12 crash, raising new concerns about the placement of the engine fuel cutoff switches. ALSO READ | Inside the cockpit during final 98 seconds of doomed Air India flight According to the report, fuel control switches on the Boeing 787s engines were briefly turned off just moments after takeoff, which stopped the fuel flow. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The cockpit voice recorder also added to the confusion in the investigation. So, how does the cockpit voice recording add to the unanswered questions surrounding the Air India crash? Lets take a look: How cockpit audio adds to the mystery of plane crash Seconds after take-off, both fuel-control switches on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner suddenly shifted to the cut-off setting. This action cut off fuel to the engines and led to a complete loss of power. Normally, the switches are moved to cut-off only after a plane has landed. Thrust Lever Quadrant & Fuel Control Switch of the doomed Air India plane The cockpit voice recorder picked up one pilot asking the other why he did the cut-off, while the other denied doing so. The report does not say whether it was the captain or the first officer who spoke, or which of them made the Mayday, Mayday, Mayday distress call before the crash. The switches were later moved back to their correct position for flight, which started the automatic engine relight system. When the aircraft hit the ground, one engine had started to regain thrust while the other had restarted but had not yet recovered full power. The switches are designed to prevent unintentional use. They need to be lifted before being flipped, a safety design used since the 1950s, BBC reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They are built to strict standards and are known for being very reliable. A Canada-based air crash expert told BBC, It would be almost impossible to pull both switches with a single movement of one hand, and this makes accidental deployment unlikely. Some experts told Reuters that it is unlikely the switches could have been moved by mistake. If they were moved because of a pilot, why? asked Anthony Brickhouse, a US aviation safety expert. The AAIB report said that the switches were flipped a second apart. US aviation expert John Nance told Reuters thats about how long it would take to move one switch, then the other. He added that switching them off mid-flight is highly unusual, especially just after take-off. Doing so causes the engines to shut down almost immediately. In normal operations, the switches are used to shut off engines at the airport gate or during certain emergencies, such as a fire. The report found no sign of any such emergency on board. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the crash site, both switches were found in the run position, and evidence showed the engines had begun to restart before the low-altitude crash, the report said. It added that all maintenance directives and technical bulletins had been followed for the aircraft and its engines. As the Dreamliner lost height, it hit several trees and an incinerator chimney before crashing into a building. The accident killed at least 260 people, including 19 people on the ground. PTI/File Photo Meanwhile, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has urged people not to jump to conclusions based on the report. He said, The AAIB has brought out a preliminary report. This is not the final report. Until the final report comes out, we should not arrive at any conclusion. AAIB is an autonomous authority, and the ministry does not interfere in their work. It is not ideal to comment on its report just yet, as the investigation into the crash is ongoing. The black box is still being probed, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Presumes guilt: What Pilots association said on the crash report Soon after the release of the preliminary findings, the Airline Pilots Association of India (ALPA) said on Saturday that the investigation appeared to be proceeding with the assumption that the pilots were at fault. ALPA chief Sam Thomas said in a statement on Saturday, July 12, The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias toward pilot error. We categorically reject this presumption and insist on a fair, fact-based inquiry. The association also pointed out that suitably qualified personnel are not taken on board for these crucial investigations, Hindustan Times reported. The association reiterated its request to be allowed to take part in the investigation even in the capacity of observers so as to provide the requisite transparency. The Air India crash report The initial report has found that fuel to both engines of Air India flight AI171 was cut off nearly at the same time, causing the aircraft to crash shortly after take-off. The 15-page report said that in the cockpit voice recording, one pilot asked the other why the fuel had been cut. The second pilot denied doing so. Investigators are now working to determine whether this was caused by human error, a technical fault, or some other malfunction. With inputs from agencies The first steam engine ship, Diana, was launched on July 12, 1863, and became one of the earliest instances of a steam-powered vessel built in India. It played a crucial role in the First Anglo-Burmese War. On this day in 1862, Americas highest military award, the Medal of Honor was created and awarded to six members of a Union party who undertook a perilous mission deep within Confederate territory to destroy vital bridges and railroad tracks read more The British gave some of the most modern facilities and innovations of the time during their rule in India. One of them was the steam engine, which has a long history since its invention in 1712. On July 12, 1863, the first steam engine ship named Diana was launched in India. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On this day in 1862, the Medal of Honor, which is the highest military decoration in the United States, was established during the American Civil War. Another significant event to have occurred on this day in 1984 was the nomination of the first woman, Geraldine Ferraro, as a vice-presidential candidate. Here is all that happened on this day. First steam engine ship launched in India India saw one of the most significant developments of the time with the launch of the steamship Diana in Calcutta (present-day Kolkata). Constructed at the Kidderpore Dockyard near Kolkata, this was one of the earliest instances of a steam-powered vessel built in India. Diana was designed as a paddle steamer and was among the first steam-powered vessels used by the British East India Company for both commercial and military purposes in the Indian subcontinent. Initially deployed on the Irrawaddy River in Burma (present-day Myanmar), the Diana played a crucial role in the First Anglo-Burmese War (18241826). Her steam propulsion allowed her to navigate upstream more efficiently than traditional sailing vessels, giving British forces a tactical edge in transporting troops and supplies through difficult river terrain. Powered by a coal-fired engine and equipped with side paddles, the Diana was a versatile craft for riverine and shallow water operations. Her performance demonstrated the utility of steam technology in colonial military strategy and contributed to the expansion of steam navigation across Indian and Southeast Asian waterways. The success of Diana encouraged further development of steam-powered vessels in British India and highlighted the strategic value of having such ships built locally. She was a precursor to a new era in maritime transport and warfare in the region. Medal of Honor created The United States highest military decoration was authorised on July 12, 1862, to recognise acts of valour above and beyond the call of duty during the American Civil War. Originally established for the US Navy, the Medal was extended to Army personnel just a year later. The initial legislation was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln, and it specifically provided for the Medal to be awarded to such petty officers, seamen, landsmen and Marines as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamen like qualities. Shortly thereafter, a similar provision was passed for soldiers of the US Army. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Medal of Honor is the highest military order in the United States. Representational image The first US Army soldiers to earn the nations highest military honor were six members of a Union raiding party. In 1862, they undertook a perilous mission deep within Confederate territory to destroy vital bridges and railroad tracks between Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia." On this day in 1984, Geraldine Ferraro made history as the first woman to be selected as a vice presidential candidate by a major US political party. She was chosen by Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale to be his running mate in the 1984 US presidential election. Ferraro, a congresswoman from New York, broke a major gender barrier in American politics. Her selection marked a bold and symbolic moment in the struggle for womens representation in national leadership roles. Mondales decision to choose Ferraro was seen as a progressive step aimed at energising the Democratic base and appealing to women voters across the country. At the time, she was serving her third term in the US House of Representatives and was widely respected for her work on the House Budget Committee. She was also an advocate for womens rights, education and social justice. Her nomination was enthusiastically received at the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, where she said, If we can do this, we can do anything. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This Day, That Year The island nation of Sao Tome and Principe was granted independence from Portugal on this day in 1975. In 1962, British rock band the Rolling Stones performed their first show. King Henry VIII of England wed his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr, on July 12, 1543. With inputs from agencies A young woman has accused a second-year student at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, of raping her after calling her to the boys hostel. She alleged that she lost consciousness after drinking a beverage that was allegedly spiked with drugs by the accused. Multiple reports said that the police arrested the accused. However, the womans father has denied the rape allegations, claiming she had fallen from a car read more The young woman has alleged that she was raped after being called to the boys hostel at IIM Joka. Image: News18 A young woman has accused a second-year student of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, of raping her after calling her to the boys hostel. According to her statement, she lost consciousness after drinking a beverage allegedly spiked with drugs by the accused. When she woke up, she said she realised she had been raped. Reports indicated that Kolkata Police arrested the accused after the woman filed an FIR at Haridevpur Police Station. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, the survivors father has denied his daughters rape allegations, claiming she had fallen from a car. The incident allegedly took place on the prestigious IIM Calcutta campus, just two weeks after a law student was gangraped inside the South Calcutta Law College campus. What happened at the hostel? What does the FIR say? Lets find out: Rape allegation at IIM Calcutta hostel: What happened? The young woman has alleged that she was raped after being called to the boys hostel at IIM Joka. The police have identified the accused as Parmanand Toppaunwar, a student from Karnataka, The Indian Express reported. He is expected to be produced before the Alipore court later on Saturday. The woman consumed a drink at the hostel, which was allegedly laced with drugs. She then fell unconscious, News18 reported. The accused was arrested after the woman filed an FIR at Haridevpur Police Station, media reports said. The survivor said in her complaint that she was invited to the hostel on the pretext of a counselling session. Once there, she was offered food and a drink, after which she lost consciousness, The Telegraph reported citing police sources. When she woke up, she found herself inside the hostel and alleged that she had been raped. She also claimed that the accused warned her not to tell anyone and threatened her with serious consequences. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She left the hostel soon after and went to Thakurpukur police station to report the incident. From there, she was directed to Haridevpur. Kolkata Police arrested the accused after the woman filed an FIR at Haridevpur Police Station. Representational Photo/AFP Reports say police detained a male student from the hostel the same night. However, investigators are still checking if he is the main accused. Preliminary findings suggest that the survivor and the accused first connected on social media. After a disagreement with someone she knew, she turned to the accused for advice. He then called her to the campus for a conversation. A mutual friend had come along with her, but the accused allegedly asked to speak in private and took her to an empty hostel room, where the alleged assault took place, The Telegraph reported. Police are now going through CCTV footage and speaking to students on campus. They are also looking into how effective the hostels security setup is. Statements from the survivor and others are allegedly being recorded. IIM Calcuttas management has been kept in the loop, but the institute has not made any official comment yet, the report added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Womans father denies rape allegations The father of the woman has denied the rape allegation made by his daughter, saying she had fallen from a car. Speaking to News18, he said, No such incident happened with my daughter. I received a call around 9:34 PM, but my daughter did not disclose her location at that time. Over the call, she said that she fell from a car and that she was unconscious. He added, I later on tracked her location, and it was found that she was at SSKM Hospital. The Haridevpur police rescued her after reaching the hospital. According to him, the woman is mentally stable and not under any trauma. However, he has not yet had a proper conversation with her, as she was asleep after returning home from the police station and hospital, Bhaskar English reported. He said, I will talk to her and get to know the full details, but as of now, I can clearly say that no such incident took place. What did the police say? According to police, the accused stopped the survivor from signing the visitors register at the IIM Joka boys hostel. As per the hostels rules, all visitors are required to enter their name and phone number in the register. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We are trying to find out if the accused had brought other women to the hostel. More people could be involved, a police officer told The Telegraph. Inside the room, the woman was given a slice of pizza and a soft drink. Shortly after consuming it, she lost consciousness. She says she tried to resist in her condition. We are verifying her statements. A medical examination will be done, the officer added. She also claimed that the accused warned her not to tell anyone. News18/Representational Image It is still unclear whether the woman is a student of IIM Calcutta. Hindustan Times reported that she is not enrolled at the institute and had come from outside, without signing the visitors book as required. However, The Telegraph and several other media outlets have reported that the woman is also a student at the same college as the accused. Firstpost could not independently verify the authenticity of the information. Kolkata law college rape case This incident at IIM Calcutta follows closely on the heels of another rape case reported on June 25, where a 24-year-old law student was gang-raped on the South Calcutta Law College campus. The main accused, Monojit Mishra, graduated from the same college in 2022 and had started practising law at Alipore Law College. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He was also the Organising Secretary of the South Kolkata district unit of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP). The party has denied any links with him and stated that legal proceedings will take their course. After the incident, the college terminated Mishras services and expelled the two others accused. The report noted that Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF within one second of each other read more Debris of an Air India plane that crashed moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport. Pic/PTI The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday released its preliminary report on the crash of Air India flight to London, revealing that the mishap occurred after both engines had shut down seconds after takeoff. Air Indias Boeing 787-8 plane that was operating flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on June 12, crashed seconds after takeoff, killing a total of 260 people, including many on the ground. The 15-page-long report also noted that Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF within one second of each other. This means the engines of the aircraft were completely starved of fuel supply. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The AAIB said that wreckage from the accident site, including drone photography and videography, has been retrieved and moved to a secured area near the airport in Ahmedabad. Airborne for only 32 seconds The Boeing aircraft was airborne for only 32 seconds after takeoff and travelled only 0.9 nautical miles before crashing into the BJ Medical College Hostel located near the airport. The report notes that the aircraft achieved a maximum airspeed of 180 Knots, following which the two engines cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF immediately. It stated that although the thrust levers were found near the idle position, black box data showed they remained in the forward position until impact. Both fuel control switches were also set to RUN. RAT deployed after takeoff AAIB said that based on CCTV footage at the scene, the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was deployed after the initial climb immediately after takeoff, suggesting a total loss of power thrust in the aircraft. The pilots attempted to restart the engines. While Engine 1 (N1) partially recovered, Engine 2 failed to restart before impact. The aircraft remained airborne for just 32 seconds before crashing into a hostel, approximately 0.9 nautical miles from the runway. Meanwhile, after discovering that the cutoff switches had been transitioned, one pilot can be heard asking the other, Why did you cut off? to which the second pilot responds that he did not, the cockpit voice recorder revealed. No report of sabotage AAIB has highlighted that the initial probe into the crash has not provided any evidence for a possible sabotage. Samples of the fuel from bowsers and tanks of the aircraft were sent to the DGCAs lab for testing and were found fit for use. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The report noted that weather conditions at the time of the crash were normal, with clear skies, good visibility, and light winds. It also confirmed that the pilots were medically fit, well-rested, and had sufficient experience flying the aircraft type. AI responds to report Air India wrote on X, Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time. We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) today, 12 July 2025. Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time. We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Air India (@airindia) July 11, 2025 As Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau released the preliminary report on the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. Here are the 10 things the authorities have investigated as of now read more Parts of an Air India plane that crashed on Thursday are seen on top of a building in Ahmedabad, India. AP A preliminary report on the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad revealed some of the key facts that were previously unknown in the case. The report noted that the fuel to the engines of the aircraft that crashed and killed 260 people last month appeared to be cut off seconds after the flight took off. The flight AI171 crashed into a densely populated residential area in Ahmedabad on June 12. While 241 passengers onboard were killed, with just one survivor, the impact also led to the death of 19 other people on the ground, making it one of the most devastating aviation disasters in Indian history. It was the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which was bound for London, that crashed on the fateful day. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The report released by Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found that switches in the cockpit that controlled fuel moved to a cutoff position and suggested that Boeing and engine maker GE had no apparent responsibility for the accident. The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots IAS [indicated airspeed] at about 08:08:42 UTC, and immediately thereafter, the engine 1 and engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 1 second," the report said. The engines N1 and N2 began to decrease from their takeoff values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off. The aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall. With the preliminary report out, here are the 10 things that have been investigated in the case as of now: 10 things the Air India probe panel investigated in the preliminary report The investigation of the wreckage site activities, including Drone photography/videography, has been completed. The wreckage has now been moved to a secure area near the airport. Both engines of the aircraft were retrieved from the wreckage site and quarantined at a hangar in the airport. Components of interest for further investigation have been identified and quarantined as well. Fuel Samples taken from the browsers and tanks used to refuel the aircraft were tested at the DGCAs Lab and found satisfactory. A very limited number of fuel samples could be retrieved from the APU filter and Refuel/Jettison valve of the left wing. The testing of these samples will be done at a suitable facility capable of carrying out the test with the limited available quantity. The EAFR data downloaded from the forward EAFR is being analysed in detail. The investigators have obtained all the statements of the witnesses and the surviving passenger. Complete analysis of postmortem reports of the crew and the passengers is being undertaken to corroborate aeromedical findings with the engineering assessment. Apart from this, additional details are being gathered based on the initial leads. At this stage of the investigation, there are no recommended actions for B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers. The report concluded by stating that the investigation is still ongoing and the authorities would further review and examine additional evidence, records and information that are currently being sought from the stakeholders. The AAIB has released its preliminary report, stating that a dual-engine shutdown of the aircraft seconds after takeoff caused the crash. The 15-page-long report also noted that Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF read more A view shows the rear of an Air India plane following its crash in Ahmedabad. Reuters A brief exchange between the two pilots of the Air India Ahmedabad-London flight hints at the possible cause of the crash that killed 260 people on June 12. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report, stating that a dual-engine shutdown of the aircraft seconds after takeoff caused the crash. The 15-page-long report also noted that Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF within one second of each other. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Read the key findings of the report here The cockpit voice recorder shed light on the last exchange between the two pilots, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder. After discovering that the cutoff switches had been transitioned, one pilot can be heard asking the other, Why did you cut off? to which the second pilot responds that he did not. Pilots well-rested before flight The report noted that both pilots, based in Mumbai, arrived in Ahmedabad a day before the flight schedule, that is, on June 11. They were well-rested before the journey and had undergone a Breath Analyser test, like the rest of the crew, which found them fit to operate the aircraft. The aircraft had 54,200 kg of fuel on board, and according to the load and trim sheet, its take-off weight was 213,401 kg, well within the maximum allowable limit of 218,183 kg for the given conditions. No dangerous goods were listed on board. No report of sabotage AAIB has highlighted that the initial probe into the crash has not provided any evidence for a possible sabotage. Samples of the fuel from bowsers and tanks of the aircraft were sent to the DGCAs lab for testing and were found fit for use. The report noted that weather conditions at the time of the crash were normal, with clear skies, good visibility, and light winds. It also confirmed that the pilots were medically fit, well-rested, and had sufficient experience flying the aircraft type. While patrolling through the dense forest atop Ramatirtha Hill in Karnatakas Gokarna, police found a Russian woman and her two young daughters living in a remote and risky cave read more The Russian woman, identified as Nina Kutina, was in the cave that is located in a landslide prone zone A Russian woman and her two young daughters were recently found living in a remote and risky cave perched atop Ramatirtha Hill in Karnatakas Gokarna. The discovery was made on the evening of July 9 when Inspector Sridhar SR and his team from Gokarna Police Station were patrolling the area to ensure the safety of tourists. While patrolling through the dense forest, they spotted movement near a cave in a landslide-prone, hazardous zone. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Upon closer inspection, they found 40-year-old Nina Kutina, a Russian national, along with her daughters Prema (6 years, 7 months) and Ama (4 years), huddled in a makeshift shelter. When asked about her situation, Nina explained that she had travelled from Goa to Gokarna in search of spiritual peace. She said she had chosen the forest cave for meditation and prayer, seeking solitude away from city life. While her motives were spiritual, authorities were alarmed by the danger this posed to her children. Area prone to landslides, dangerous wildlife Ramatirtha Hill, where the cave is located, was hit by a major landslide in July 2024 and is known for its dangerous wildlife, including venomous snakes, making it an especially risky spot. After counselling Nina about the hazards, the police team safely rescued the family and guided them down the hill. At her request, they were placed in an ashram in Bankikodla village, Kumta taluk, run by 80-year-old female monk Swami Yogaratna Saraswati. As the investigation deepened, Nina was hesitant to discuss her passport and visa status. With gentle encouragement from police, welfare officers, and the ashram head, she admitted her documents might be lost in the cave. A joint effort by Gokarna Police and Forest Department officials recovered her passport and visa, revealing shed entered India on a Business Visa valid until April 17, 2017. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD An Exit Permit from FRRO Panaji, Goa, dated April 19, 2018, showed shed left for Nepal and re-entered India on September 8, 2018, overstaying her legal limit. Due to this visa violation, Nina and her daughters were moved to the Womens Reception Centre in Karwar, managed by the Department of Women and Child Development, where theyre now in protective custody. The Superintendent of Police, Uttara Kannada, has started coordinating with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Bengaluru to arrange their deportation to Russia, and the family will soon face further proceedings there. Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv signs sister city agreement with Bari at URC in Rome The city of Mykolaiv has signed a sister city agreement with the municipality of Bari, Italy, on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, according to Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych. "We're officially launching our cooperation with the Italian city of Bari. During the Ukraine Recovery Conference, Mykolaiv signed a sister city agreement with Bari. This partnership is not just about paperwork it's about mutual support, knowledge exchange, and joint projects that will help our communities grow," Senkevych wrote on Telegram on Saturday. He noted that Mykolaiv is in need of reconstruction and sees strong potential in collaboration with Bari across various sectors education, culture, economic development, and experience-sharing. "What's most important is that we feel genuine interest not just on paper but through concrete actions," he added. Senkevych also thanked his team for their consistent work and expressed special gratitude to Ukraine's Consul General in Naples, Maksym Kovalenko, for facilitating international outreach. "I'm confident this cooperation will yield real results for both sides," he concluded. India, for its part, must keep a watch on the Beijing-Tehran-Islamabad nexus, though West Asia will not be an easy sail for China either read more Iran is still reeling from the 12-day conflict with Israel and the June 22 US Air Force and Navy strike on its nuclear facilities. The confrontation has pushed West Asia to the edge of a new regional orderone in which Israel sought to assert itself as an unrestrained military force. While framed as targeted attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, the Israeli offensive significantly degraded Irans broader offensive and defensive military capabilities. Once reliant on American-made fighter jets and defence systems, post-revolutionary Iran pivoted to Soviet and later Russian military hardware while gradually developing a robust domestic defence industry. In recent years, Iran has also incorporated a growing number of Chinese weapons systems into its arsenal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China also has increasing interests in Iranian energy supplies. Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently said in France, The United States shamelessly bombed the nuclear facilities of a sovereign country, Iran. This is a dangerous precedent. If it causes a nuclear disaster, the entire world will pay the price. If national power alone decides right and wrong, where are the rules? Where is justice? This so-called strength will not bring real peace. It will open Pandoras Box. Are weaker nations, especially small ones, just meals served up on the table for the powerful? Chinas Energy Imports from Iran China is a major importer of Iranian oil, with figures reaching record levels in June 2025, averaging over 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd). Despite US sanctions aimed at limiting Irans oil revenue, China continues to import a large volume of Iranian crude, with an estimated 90 percent of Irans oil exports going to China. To circumvent US sanctions, China has been able to maintain and even increase its imports, largely through the use of shadow fleets and other workarounds. Chinas reliance on Iranian oil has led to a complex trade relationship, with Iran heavily dependent on China for oil revenue. This dynamic has been described as a colonial trap by some Iranian officials. Any disruption to Irans oil exports, whether due to conflict or stricter sanctions, could have significant consequences for Chinas energy supply and economy. Conversely, it will also be bad for the Iranian economy. Iranian Defence EquipmentChina Emerging as a Source Iran possesses a diverse range of military assets, including domestically produced and imported equipment. Iran has a substantial number of battle tanks, infantry vehicles, and artillery pieces of American, Russian, and local makes. These included American F-14 Tomcat, McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, and Northrop F-5 Tiger II fighters; Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft; and heavy and utility helicopters. They have Russian MiG-29, Sukhoi Su-24, and S-22 fighters; Mil Mi-17; T-72 tanks; S-400 AD systems; infantry fighting vehicles; towed howitzers; short-range ballistic missiles; KamAZ-43114 heavy trucks; and Russian Kilo-class submarines, among others. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Clearly, Irans air force is severely outdated and ill-equipped to confront modern adversaries. Iran desperately needs fighter aircraft and air defence systems. Iran is grappling with the need to overhaul its shattered air defence system and intelligence apparatus. China has long supported Irans ballistic missile program and backed it with dual-use industrial inputs for missile production. Iran has been inducting Chinese equipment for the last nearly three decades. These include Chengdu J-7 fighters, multiple rocket launcher systems, 155-mm howitzers, and anti-ship missiles. After suffering major losses in the recently concluded 12-day War, Iran is reportedly mulling the purchase of Chinese J-10C (Vigorous Dragon) fighter jets. They are looking at ground-based air-defence weapons and PL-15 class air-to-air missiles (AAM). In the spring of 2023, Iranian officials negotiated in Beijing and Moscow to replenish Tehrans stores of ammonium perchlorate, important for ballistic missile solid propellant. China has conducted regular maritime cooperation with Iran, boosting Beijings presence in the Persian Gulf. China has provided material and intelligence support to the Iran-backed Houthis. Clearly China is emerging as a potential, perhaps even desirable, alternative to Russia. But Chinas attempt to keep channels open with the US and its relations with Irans regional rivals contribute to its disinclination to beef up Irans military. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Befriending IranAdvantage China Benefits for Beijing from increased defence cooperation with Tehran in wooing a Middle Eastern partner, which is on its knees and desperately needs more powerful friends, are obvious. China would get to consolidate an alternative energy corridor that bypasses traditional maritime choke points like the Strait of Malacca and the Bab el-Mandeb. Iranian infrastructure can be connected to China through the already underway China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan. Iran could further be linked to Iraqi oil infrastructure. China could be a direct investor and ensure its security. Such routing will also support its Iron Brother, Pakistan. Increased defence ties with Tehran would give Beijing greater influence over the Strait of Hormuz. China would also be exercising a little greater control to support moderating Iranian foreign policy. It will also increase Chinas geopolitical status in Central and West Asia. It could serve both deterrence and stability. It would also help China partly reduce Russian and American influence in the region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Chinas Increased Influence Detrimental for India Chinas increasing influence over Iran could affect Indian influence across Central Asia. Iran is conscious of how India got pressured by the US-led sanctions in 2018 and halted oil imports from Tehran. Indias pro-Israel ideological approach and close linkages with Tel Aviv in defence, cyber, and agriculture make Iran doubtful about India. Though Tehran would have preferred a much softer India, with which it has had civilisational linkages, current realpolitik realities have created space for Beijing to step in. China can more easily stand up to Irans arch-opponent, the US. If Beijing becomes Tehrans significant defence partner, it would frustrate Indian attempts to penetrate this important defence exports market. If Iran joins the CPEC, Pakistan gets defence in depth. One can recall that in both the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistan wars, Iran had offered shelter to Pakistani fighter aircraft. Chinas greater influence could adversely affect Indias efforts to connect with Russia, Europe, Central Asia, and Afghanistan via the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the starting point for which is the India-funded Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar port. If Iran concedes to the Chinese request to invest its stake in Chabahar, the INSTC would be seriously affected. China could thus outmanoeuvre India and actually punish it for not supporting Xi Jinpings flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Currently, Iran has no choice but to align with China. The Beijing-Tehran-Islamabad nexus will surely complicate things for India. India has developed countervailing close relations with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others. But Chinese economic and military might would make others cautious. With diminishing American power, its influence in the region is also likely to be reduced. A space that China is keen to occupy. Not All Smooth Sailing for China While China finds an opportunity in pushing its relations with Iran, getting into West Asia is a very complex power play, and many powers have trod very carefully in the past or burnt fingers. Getting openly closer to Iran could bother other equally important players in the region. Backing a theological, somewhat unpopular regime also doesnt go well with Communist Chinese thinking. What China is doing to Uighurs in its own backyard is indicative. China would also anger the US and Europe, both of which are important markets for China. Pakistan is already playing a very balancing game between China and the US and will be careful in this geo-play. The US president has already read the riot act to the Pakistan Army chief in a luncheon meeting in Washington recently. Will China risk getting too close to a country at the threshold of getting a nuclear weapon or be seen as supporting such an activity? China also has to balance its relations with Israel, which has significant global influence and lobbies, and the two are involved in major economic and technological cooperation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To Summarise The China-Iran Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was signed in 2021. Both are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). These two allow sufficient contact between the two. For China to get too close to Iran is like stepping into quicksand. Should it risk getting into the murky entanglement that could challenge its broader objectives in the region? Would China like to antagonise a significant part of the world, which would be happy to see a regime change and a more open and democratic Iran? Chinas increased relationship with Iran will also affect its economic ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. No act should allow Iran to get emboldened for regional adventurism. Even Russia has been cautious in its comments on the Iran-Israel conflict. Nearly a third of all Jews in Israel are of former Soviet origin. China and its firms would be concerned about US-backed sanctions. Engagement with Iran cannot be more important than its continued freer trade with the West. Backing the current regime can backfire. Conversely, some believe that with greater leverage over Iran, China could play a greater statesmanlike role in the region and also rein in Iran. Beijing is likely to be pragmatic and low-key. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India-Iran relations have been vacillating and somewhat complex. India did not welcome the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Irans continued support for Pakistan in the India-Pakistan conflicts and Indias close relations with Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War strained the bilateral ties. Though in the 1990s, both India and Iran supported the Northern Alliance against the Taliban in Afghanistan, the latter of which received overt Pakistani backing and ruled most of the country until the 2001 United States-led invasion. They continued to collaborate in supporting the broad-based anti-Taliban government, led by Ashraf Ghani and backed by the international community, until the Taliban captured Kabul in 2021 and re-established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. India and Iran signed a defence cooperation agreement in December 2002. Iran has historically been the third-largest supplier of petroleum to India; however, these exports have fallen dramatically within the past decade, and India imported a negligible amount of oil from Iran by the early 2020s. Instead, China has become the largest importer of Iranian oil, accounting for 90 per cent of Iranian oil exports. Despite the two countries having some common strategic interests, India and Iran differ significantly on key foreign policy issues. India has expressed strong opposition to Irans nuclear programme and while both nations continue to oppose the Taliban, India supported the presence of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, unlike Iran. India has also consistently voiced stronger support for Israel than for Iran in the 2020s. There are differences between the two on Islamic terrorism. While India has made infrastructural (highway) investments in Iran, the connectivity dividend has yet to accrue. The completion and operationalisation of the NorthSouth Transport Corridor seems far. For India, it is best to wait and watch. No need to get paranoid. Maintain good diplomatic contact with Iran, continue pushing economic engagements, and try to find areas of defence exports. Keep options and avenues for acquiring oil open. Keep people-to-people contacts going, and India must continue to export soft power. In a nutshell, India must keep monitoring China-Iran-Pakistan engagement, maintain good relations with Russia, Israel, the US, Europe, and all countries in West Asia, and retain strategic autonomy. The writer is former Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. The UN Security Councils decision to appoint Pakistan, the very nation that nurtured, protected, and empowered the Taliban, as chair of the Taliban Sanctions Committee is not merely ill-advised, but it is an act of self-sabotage read more The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) decision to appoint Pakistan as the chair of its Taliban Sanctions Committee is a staggering betrayal of its own counter terrorism mandate effectively turning a global watchdog into an enabler of the very forces it was meant to restrain. This development has not only raised eyebrows but also serious questions about the UNSCs commitment to fighting global terrorism. The appointment is not merely ironic, it is in fact profoundly dangerous. Pakistan, far from being a neutral stakeholder in the fight against terror, has long operated as the global incubator of jihadist terrorism. It has systemically used terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy and continues to harbour, finance, and protects internationally sanctioned terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD By placing such a country at the helm of the committee tasked with monitoring and sanctioning the Taliban, the UNSC has signalled an erosion of its foundational principles. It has, in effect, made a mockery of its own anti-terror framework and compromised the very credibility it is supposed to uphold. The 1988 Sanctions Committee, created under UNSC Resolution 1988, was designed with a critical mission, that is to oversee and implement measures such as asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes on individuals and entities associated with the terror organizations. These sanctions aim to pressure Taliban leaders and affiliates into abandoning terrorism, severing suspected links with international terror networks like Al-Qaeda, and embracing peaceful political processes. The committees role is essential in maintaining the fragile global consensus against jihadist extremism. However, the appointment of Pakistan as chair subverts this mission. It is akin to giving a fox the keys to the henhouse. Rather than being a neutral enforcer of sanctions, Pakistan has a direct and longstanding relationship with the very actors the committee is meant to restrain. The contradiction is so stark that it calls into question the sincerity of the international communitys commitment to eradicating terrorism especially at a time when Pakistans military Field Marshal Asim Munir has openly come across voicing support for the global designated terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohamad (JeM). Both these terrorist organisations have a huge role in perpetrating terrorism not only against India but also globally. The recent Pahalgam terror attack is a testimony to the fact that Pakistan continues to brazenly brandish and perpetrate terrorism. Pakistans reputation as a state sponsor of terrorism is neither speculative nor exaggerated. It is rooted in decades of documented actions, international reports, intelligence findings, and firsthand accounts from counterterrorism experts and security agencies around the world. Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency has been the primary architect behind a complex web of terrorist groups that serve the countrys strategic interests across South Asia and beyond. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In India, Pakistan has consistently supported terror groups like LeT and JeM, responsible for some of the most horrific attacks in the region. LeTs role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that claimed over 170 lives, including foreign nationals to the recent Pahalgam attack claiming 26 lives is a chilling testament to Pakistans continuous strategy of using terrorism as asymmetric warfare. JeM, likewise, carried out numerous attacks on Indian soil. From attacking the Indian Parliament in 2001 to the deadly Pulwama suicide bombing in 2019, JeM continues till date with its terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Both groups continue to operate openly in Pakistan, under various aliases and charitable guises, with complete state protection. In Afghanistan, Pakistans influence is even more brazen. The Taliban movement itself originated in the Pakistan, where its leadership council the so-called Quetta Shura was long headquartered. Pakistan provided the Taliban with training, arms, financial aid, and ideological guidance, facilitating their rise during the Afghan civil war and their resurgence following the US invasion in 2001. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the United States and its allies fought to stabilise Afghanistan, Pakistan played a duplicitous game. It positioned itself as a frontline partner in the War on Terror, receiving billions of dollars in military and economic aid, while simultaneously offering sanctuary to Taliban leaders and other insurgent groups that targeted NATO forces. The infamous discovery of Osama bin Laden in the garrison town of Abbottabad, just at a distance of a stone throw away from Pakistans elite military academy, laid bare this hypocrisy for the world to see. Far from being an isolated incident, this was emblematic of Pakistans long-standing strategy of playing both sides to maximise geopolitical leverage. The Talibans formation and survival owe much to Pakistans unrelenting support. During the 1990s, as Afghanistan descended into civil war, Pakistan threw its full weight behind the Taliban, providing them with fighters, training camps, financial aid, and political backing. Pakistan had a clear goal and that was to establish a compliant, Sunni Islamist regime in Kabul that would serve its strategic interests and offer strategic depth against India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After the 2001 US invasion, while Taliban fighters melted into the mountains of southern Afghanistan, their leaders found refuge across the border in Pakistan. The ISI continued to facilitate their operations, organize logistics, and recruit new fighters from Pakistani madrassas. Even when the Taliban were weakened, Pakistan protected them, ensuring their eventual return to power in 2021. Terror organisations like LeT and JeM provided the Taliban with fighters at the behest of Pakistan military wing ISI. Till today both JeM and LeT operate under the complete command and structure of Pakistans ISI. Today, the Talibans government in Kabul remains misaligned with Pakistan amidst increased tensions. The notion that Pakistan can now objectively lead a sanctions committee against the Taliban defies all logic and reason. It is a textbook case of conflict of interest, where the judge is also the enabler and the prosecutor of the accused. Adding to this deeply troubling picture is the latest report from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog for anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing. Despite Pakistans efforts to avoid being blacklisted in recent years, FATFs findings continue to expose the countrys complicity in terror financing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The recent report on the terror financing risks clearly outlines that banned terrorist organisations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba are still raising funds inside Pakistan through a network of front organisations and non-profit entities (NPOs). These so-called charitable trusts and NGOs serve as fundraising arms, operating under names like Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (associated with LeT) and Al-Rehmat Trust (linked to JeM), similar to the Aal Rashid Trust and the Al Furqan Trust. These entities solicit donations under the guise of humanitarian relief, only to funnel the money into terror training camps, arms purchases, and operational logistics. Even more alarming is the FATFs emphasis on the global connectivity of these groups. Jaish and Lashkar are not isolated regional actors. They have documented ties to Al-Qaeda, sharing training infrastructure, ideological resources, and intelligence networks. This collaboration has implications far beyond South Asia. It means that funds raised in Pakistan are potentially being used to finance global jihadist operations, from East Africa to West Asia to Western Europe, as per the latest FATF report on terror financing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD FATFs conclusion has always remained unequivocal that Pakistan has failed to dismantle the core infrastructure of these groups. While some superficial arrests and organisational bans have been carried out under international pressure, the ecosystem enabling terrorism from ideological indoctrination to financial support remains intact and thriving under the protection of the Pakistani state. The appointment of Pakistan as the chair of the UNSCs Taliban Sanctions Committee has thus set a deeply dangerous precedent. It undermines the very principles on which the committee was founded. Instead of holding terror sponsors accountable, the UNSC has now entrusted one with regulatory powers. This is not just an oversight, but in fact it is a systemic failure of the international security architecture. By granting Pakistan this position, the UNSC sends a troubling message to victims of terrorism around the world that political expediency trumps justice and that the global fight against terrorism is negotiable. It also emboldens other state sponsors of terror, who may now seek similar legitimisation under the cloak of multilateralism. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moreover, this move disincentivises genuine global cooperation on counterterrorism. Countries that have borne the brunt of terror attacks will rightfully question the credibility of a system that rewards terror enablers instead of punishing them. It risks turning the UN from a global custodian of peace into a bureaucratic farce unable to live up to its own charter. The UNSCs decision to appoint Pakistan, the very nation that nurtured, protected, and empowered the Taliban, as chair of the Taliban Sanctions Committee is not merely ill-advised, but it is an act of self-sabotage. It has severely diminished the credibility of one of the most critical counterterrorism mechanisms in the international system. Rather than deterring terrorism, this appointment legitimises it; rather than isolating sponsors of extremism, it empowers them; and rather than safeguarding global security, it has in turn endangered it. In doing so, the UNSC has inadvertently become a global joke, its seriousness questioned, its impartiality compromised, and its effectiveness dismantled. With the appointment of Pakistan as a chair, the message from the UNSC to terrorists is clear: if your sponsor plays their cards right, not only will they evade sanctions, but theyll be put in charge of enforcing them. Raja Muneeb is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets @rajamuneeb. The views expressed in this article are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Firstpost. Pro-Khalistan separatist groups and Islamist groups have skilfully exploited the legal, political, and moral frameworks of open societies to embed themselves deeply within the fabric of Western multiculturalism. Image: AFP In mid-June 2025, Pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice supporters packed Calgarys City Hall square, waving Khalistan flags and chanting Kill Modi politics while demanding that India be Balkanised as Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the G7 summit nearby ( Global News, Canada, June 16). A couple of days earlier in Montreal, thousands marched from the Basilica of Notre Dame in a pro-Gaza rally that degenerated into sectarian sloganeering and intimidation of worshippers ( CTV News, Canada, June 15). Last year, in January, across the Atlantic, Islamist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) activists rallied in London, brandishing a Muslim ArmiesLiberate Palestine banner that prompted the UK governments decision to ban the organisation as a terrorist group ( The Guardian, UK, January 15, 2024; GOV.UK, January 19, 2024). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The episodes above are not rare or isolated. Islamists and separatists around the world are getting emboldened frequently to challenge the government and its institutions. Britains 2023 CONTEST report confirms that in the UK, the primary domestic terrorist threat comes from Islamist terrorism, which accounts for approximately 67 per cent of attacks since 2018, about three-quarters of MI5s caseload, and 64 per cent of those in custody for terrorism-connected offences. ( GOV.UK, July 2023). In May 2025, Peel Regional Police in Canada launched Project Pelican, a major counter-narcotics operation that led to the seizure of 479 kilograms of cocaine valued at CAD 47.9 million. The crackdown resulted in the arrest of nine suspects, with investigators revealing that the drug proceeds were allegedly earmarked to finance extremist, anti-India activities linked to Khalistani separatist networks. ( Peel Regional Police, Canada, June 10; Times of India, June 14). The case underscores how criminal enterprise and ideological militancy are increasingly intertwined within transnational diaspora communities. The article attempts to unpack a three-phase playbook: victimhood, demographic leverage, and ideological assertion, showing how emotive rights claims evolve into organised pressure and, eventually, open rejection of liberal norms. Real-world cases demonstrate that the threat is transnational and adaptive. Over the past few decades, liberal democracies, particularly Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the United States, and Australia, have unwittingly nurtured fertile ground for extremist ideologues and their divisive, supremacist ideologies. Cloaked in the rhetoric of human rights, asylum, and self-determination, these actors, ranging from pro-Khalistan separatist groups to Islamist groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT), AlMuhajiroun (AM), or the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), have skilfully exploited the legal, political, and moral frameworks of open societies to embed themselves deeply within the fabric of Western multiculturalism. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The result has not been just ideological subversion but the gradual corrosion of social cohesion and national security. These overground Islamist organisations in Europe function as soft power catalysts, lyricising resistance to the West, sowing the seeds of alienation, and conditioning minds for radical shifts. More often than not, their efforts contribute to segregation and identity politics that can isolate segments of young Muslims, making them more vulnerable to recruitment by jihadist networks such as ISIS or Al Qaeda that capitalise on feelings of alienation and anti-West sentiments. These data points, coupled with the street-level vignettes from Calgary to London, illustrate a pattern showing how radical separatists and political-Islamist networks systematically leverage Western freedoms to embed, expand, and ultimately challenge the constitutional order of their host states. Victimhood as Strategy Radical actors often enter Western societies by crafting emotionally charged narratives of persecution. They present themselves as victims of political repression, religious discrimination, or caste and gender-based violence in their countries of origin, be it India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Syria, or across Africa and West Asia. These stories resonate with Western audiences, who are conditioned by decades of human rights advocacy and a sense of colonial guilt. Liberal immigration laws, combined with limited geopolitical literacy among asylum officers and policymakers, result in asylum grants, legal residency, and even state-funded support. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Canadian case is worth mentioning here. During the 1980s and 1990s, several Sikh extremists affiliated with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) fled India and obtained refugee status in Canada. Claiming state persecution, they gained access to welfare and protection. The consequences were tragically revealed in 1985, exactly 40 years ago, when Khalistani terrorists (or more correctly, Canadian Sikh terrorists) orchestrated the Air India Flight 182 bombing, killing 329 people, mostly Canadian citizens. ( New York Times, June 23, 1985). Despite this, Canada continues to witness anti-India, pro-Khalistan activism, now repackaged as, for example, Referendum 2020 or Death to Modi politics, with little or no state pushback under the rubric of free speech. ( Independent, September 23, 2022). Similarly, in Europe, the 2015 migration crisis allowed large numbers of asylum seekers from Syria, Afghanistan, and North Africa to enter Germany, France, and Sweden. While many were genuine refugees, others were affiliated with jihadist networks. The Islamic State (ISIS) exploited this opening, inserting operatives who later carried out the 2015 Paris attacks, killing 130 people and wounding hundreds more. These terrorists had posed as refugees and entered via Greece using forged documents. ( Guardian, November 14, 2015). In mid-February this year, an Afghan national rammed his vehicle into a labour union demonstration in Munich, injuring 36 people. German authorities confirmed later that the attack was ideologically motivated by Islamist extremism, underscoring the persistent threat posed by underground networks and the narratives that radicalise them. ( Politico, February 15). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What starts as a tale of survival and refuge quickly becomes the framework for more intense ideological interference. Demographic Mobilisation After settling in, the next phase focuses on consolidating communities based on ethnicity, religion, or language. These groups tend to become insular, creating parallel societies that resist integration. Chain migration and higher birth rates increase their demographic influence, as found by the Pew research on Europes growing Muslim population in 2017. In due course, migrant or minority religious groups begin to mobilise politically, initially through cultural and religious advocacy, and later by demanding political representation and policy exemptions related to their religious or ethnic identities, as seen in the UK and other European countries. In the UK, the grooming gang scandals in towns such as Rotherham, Rochdale, and Telford exposed how elements within Pakistani-origin Muslim communities abused vulnerable girls over the years, while local authorities hesitated to act, fearing accusations of racism or Islamophobia. The Jay Report (2014) concluded that over 1,400 children had been subjected to exploitation between 1997 and 2013, with authorities complicit in their silence. ( Rotherham.gov.uk, August 2014). After a decade of debate and diversion, the latest investigative report has also made disturbing revelations in the UK grooming gangs scandal ( Casey Report, June 16, 2025). However, the 197-page report prepared by Baroness Louise Casey underscores that a culture of blindness, ignorance, and prejudice allowed continued failures to investigate cases of minors being sexually abused by grooming gangs comprised of Pakistani Muslims. What allowed this to happen was not just the criminality of a few Pakistani (or what Casey reports broadly and wrongly mentions as Asian Muslims) but a sociopolitical culture that protected abusers under the umbrella of minority sensitivity in the United Kingdom. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Across France, Islamist groups, particularly those affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, have successfully taken control of religious and educational spaces in Muslim-majority suburbs, or banlieues. The 2020 beheading of Samuel Paty, a schoolteacher who dared to discuss freedom of speech using Charlie Hebdos Prophet Muhammad cartoons, was not an isolated act but a culmination of radicalisation nurtured in enclosed, theologically rigid environments. ( New York Times, October 26, 2020; Le Monde, December 20, 2024). French President Emmanuel Macron called it a wake-up call, warning of Islamist separatism that threatened to fracture the French Republic. ( The Guardian, October 2, 2020). In Germany, although Hizb ut-Tahrir has been officially banned since 2003, the group continues to operate covertly, primarily through online platforms targeting disaffected Muslim youth. Its messaginganti-democratic, anti-Semitic, and hostile to Western valuesforms part of a broader transnational effort to revive a global Caliphate, directly challenging the constitutional order of liberal democracies. Ideological Assertion and Cultural Rejection STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the final stage, assimilation is rejected outright. What began as integration morphs into an assertion of supremacy based on faith, ethnicity, or political ideology. Some segments begin to demand exceptionalism, pushing for the enforcement of Sharia law, territorial separatism, or religious censorship, often backed by veiled or overt threats of violence. Another example of ideological assertion masked as activism has emerged in the wave of pro-Gaza and anti-Israel protests that have swept across Western capitals, particularly following the October 2023 Hamas-Israel conflict. While peaceful protest is a cornerstone of a democratic society, many such demonstrations were co-opted by radical Islamist groups and far-left agitators. In late 2023 and throughout 2024-25, mass protests in London, Paris, Berlin, and New York, ostensibly in solidarity with Gazans, were repeatedly hijacked by Islamist blocs shouting From the river to the sea and calling for intifada. ( AP News, November 11, 2023; NPR, June 04, 2024). Police documented antisemitic graffiti, harassment of Jewish businesses, and open praise for Hamas. At the same time, banned outfits such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir used the marches to recruit and to glorify armed jihad. These rallies underscore how humanitarian discourse can become a Trojan horse for extremist propaganda within liberal public spaces. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Similarly, the Khalistan movement in Canada, the UK, or the USA has moved well beyond cultural pride. Recent years have seen calls for secession, glorification of Indira Gandhis assassins, and vandalism of Hindu temples and Indian diplomatic missions (e.g., attacks on the Indian diplomatic missions in the US, the UK, and Canada in 2023). Pro-Khalistan groups such as Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) have even openly issued death threats to Indian political figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all while operating under the protections of Canadas speech laws and political patronage. In France and Belgium, Islamist no-go zones (eg, Molenbeek near Brussels), where secular state laws are weakly enforced, have allowed radical clerics to preach jihadist ideology and enforce parallel justice systems. Frances attempt to legislate against Islamist separatism and show concerns about Islamist entryism are cases of political pushback, though that has invited domestic and international backlash. ( BBC, May 2025). Sweden, known for its generous welfare and open immigration policies, now faces rising gang violence and religious radicalisation in suburbs like Rosengard and Rinkeby ( BBC, 2022). According to Swedens Sapo intelligence agency (2017) report, over 2,000 radical Islamists are active within its borders, most either second-generation migrants or radicalised after arrival. ( SVT, June 16, 2017). In Australia, Uthman Badar, former spokesperson for Hizb ut-Tahrir, stirred controversy by publicly defending honour killings and promoting anti-Western, anti-democratic ideologies, all while taking advantage of Australias constitutional protections on free speech ( Herald Sun, June 25, 2014). His rhetoric, which often blurred the line between religious critique and incitement to hostility, remained largely unchecked by legal or civic institutions. Over the years, HuT has consistently denounced Australias democratic system, labelling electoral participation by Muslims as shirk (a grave sin) and an insult to Islamic teachings, particularly during campaigns aimed at mobilising the Muslim vote ( , July 23, 2024). In a parallel development, overground Islamic organisations in Australia, including the Australian National Imams Council, have called for significant amendments to the countrys counterterrorism framework, demanding the removal of the term religiously motivated terrorism from existing counterterrorism legislation. ( ABC, April 26, 2024). Liberal Societies at a Crossroads Liberal democracies, such as Canada and the UK, must confront an uncomfortable truth. Their openness can be weaponised. While most migrants seek peace, safety, and a better life, a small but organised segment exploits the very ideals of freedom, diversity, and tolerance to subvert them. The latest anti-Modi protest in Calgary, where Khalistani supporters openly called for Indias Balkanisation, and the Hizb ut-Tahrir rally in London, which demanded Muslim armies rise for Palestine, are not just isolated flashpoints. They exemplify a broader trend of extremist actors functioning within liberal democracies, leveraging asylum protections, political freedoms, and multicultural policies to advance agendas that are inherently opposed to their host states values. The path from victimhood claims to calls for violent separatism or global jihad is no longer hypothetical. It is already evident in riots and rallies, targeted killings, and the gradual decline of religious tolerance and civic unity. Recognising this progression is crucial. The recent events in Calgary and London are not just protests or warnings; they indicate widespread social and religious chaos gripping the world. Animesh Roul is Executive Director of the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (SSPC), New Delhi. He specialises in counter-terrorism and strategic affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. A local resident confirmed that the monastery hall was completely destroyed, adding that he saw some bodies loaded into a car and transported to a cemetery at dawn on Friday after the air strike read more More than 20 civilians, including children, were killed after a recent air strike on a monastery in central Myanmar, an anti-junta fighter and a resident told AFP Saturday.Myanmar has been consumed by civil war since the military ousted a democratic government in 2021, and central Sagaing region has been particularly hard-hit, with the junta pummelling villages with air strikes targeting armed groups. The most recent occurred around 1:00 am Friday in Lin Ta Lu village when the monastery hall where internally displaced people were staying was hit with an air strike, said an anti-junta fighter, who requested anonymity for safety reasons. He told AFP that 22 people were killed, including three children, while two were wounded and remained in critical condition at the hospital. They had thought it was safe to stay at a Buddhist monastery, the anti-junta fighter said. But they were bombed anyway. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun did not immediately respond to AFPs request for comment. A local resident confirmed that the monastery hall was completely destroyed, adding that he saw some bodies loaded into a car and transported to a cemetery at dawn on Friday after the air strike. He said when he went to the cemetery to take photos to help with identifying the dead, he counted 22 bodies. Many of the bodies had head wounds or were torn apart. It was sad to see, said the resident, who also asked to remain anonymous. Sagaing region was the epicentre of a devastating magnitude-7.7 quake in March, which left nearly 3,800 people dead and tens of thousands homeless. After the quake, there was a purported truce between the junta and armed groups, but air strikes and fighting have continued, according to conflict monitors. In May, an air strike on a school in the village of Oe Htein Kwin in Sagaing killed 20 students and two teachers. A Golden Chassis is a specialised tool used to recover data from damaged flight recorders. It consists of an identical, undamaged unit of the same model as the affected recorder and is used to interface with its internal memory read more The tail of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that crashed is seen stuck on a building after the incident in Ahmedabad, India, on June 12. In the aftermath of the crash, Air India continues to cancel several flights. Reuters A highly specialised tool from the United States known as a Golden Chassis helped Indian investigators retrieve critical data from one of the black boxes of Air Indias Boeing 787-8 aircraft that crashed last month, killing 261 people. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said Saturday (July 11) that the tool enabled the recovery of approximately 49 hours of flight data and two hours of cockpit audio, including information from the crash itself. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The aircraft, bound for London, came down seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12. Investigators retrieved the two Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs) and transported them to New Delhi on June 24. The forward black box, or EAFR, remained sufficiently intact for a download attempt at the AAIB lab. The aft recorder, however, was too badly damaged to yield data by conventional methods. How the Golden Chassis works A Golden Chassis is a specialised tool used to recover data from damaged flight recorders. It consists of an identical, undamaged unit of the same model as the affected recorder and is used to interface with its internal memory, known as the Crash Protection Module (CPM). When a recorder is too damaged to power up or connect directly, investigators remove the intact CPM and mount it onto the Golden Chassis. This allows for safe extraction of flight and cockpit voice data. In this case, the required chassis and cables were sourced from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Once the forward CPM was mounted onto the Golden Chassis, flight and audio data from six flights, including the doomed one, were successfully downloaded. The recovered audio was two hours in length and captured the event. Initial analysis of the recorded audio and flight data has been done, the AAIB said in its preliminary report. Ongoing investigation The aft EAFR was found to be too extensively damaged to yield any data using standard procedures. The CPM from the aft unit was removed, but the memory card was also found to be severely compromised. The AAIB has appointed Sanjay Kumar Singh as Investigator-in-Charge, with Jasbir Singh Larhga named Chief Investigator. Additional investigators include Vipin Venu Varakoth, Veeraragavan K and Vaishnav Vijayakumar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A team of subject matter experts, including experienced pilots, engineers, aviation medicine specialists, aviation psychologists, and flight recorder specialists, has also been assembled to assist with the inquiry. With inputs from PTI Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the Air India Boeing 787 crash, has found it extremely difficult to cope with the trauma of the incident. He continues to suffer from severe sleep disturbances, often waking in the middle of the night read more Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the June 12 Air India Boeing 787 crash, is now seeking psychiatric help as he grapples with the trauma of that fateful day and the loss of his brother, who was among the 241 passengers who perished. Vishwas, a 40-year-old British citizen of Indian origin, was returning to London after visiting family in Diu when the aircraft crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport. His brother Ajay was one of those killed and his remains were returned to the family on June 17 following a successful DNA match. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to his cousin Sunny, Vishwas has found it extremely difficult to cope with the memories of the crash. Many people, including our relatives living abroad, call us to inquire about Vishwass well-being. But he does not talk to anyone. He is yet to overcome the mental trauma of the crash and the death of his brother, Sunny said. Sunny added that Vishwas continues to suffer from severe sleep disturbances, often waking in the middle of the night and struggling to fall asleep again. We took him to a psychiatrist two days ago to find remedy. He has not made any plans yet to return to London because his treatment has just begun, he noted. Vishwas was discharged from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on June 17. In a video that circulated on social media, Vishwas is seen carrying his brothers mortal remains on his shoulders to the cremation ground in Diu on June 18. A day after the crash, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the hospital and personally enquired after Vishwass condition. In an interview with Doordarshan, Vishwas recounted that the aircraft appeared to have stalled within seconds of take-off. He said his seat, number 11A, was near the emergency door on the left side. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Luckily, the portion of the plane where I was seated fell on the ground floor of the (medical college) hostel premises after the plane crash- landed. When I saw that the door was broken, I told myself that I can try and get out. Eventually, I came out, he told reporters. A local video, captured minutes after the crash, showed Vishwas walking towards an ambulance, his survival a poignant reminder of a tragedy that continues to haunt him. With inputs from PTI The trial, scheduled to kick off Monday in Chicagos federal court, was meant to assess damages for a Canadian man whose wife and three young children lost their lives in a tragic 2019 plane crash in Ethiopia read more Boeing has accepted responsibility for the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash, in which 157 people died. Source: AFP Boeing finalised a settlement on Friday (July 11) with a Canadian man whose wife and three young children lost their lives in a tragic 2019 plane crash in Ethiopia, dodging the first trial tied to the disaster that led to a global grounding of Max jets. The trial, scheduled to kick off Monday in Chicagos federal court, was meant to assess damages for Paul Njoroge, a 41-year-old Canadian. His family was en route to their home country of Kenya in March 2019 aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 when the plane malfunctioned and crashed, claiming all 157 lives on board. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Njoroge had been set to share how the crash turned his life upside down. He cant bring himself to return to his Toronto family home due to the overwhelming memories, hasnt managed to find work, and has even faced criticism from relatives for not travelling with his wife and kids. Hes got complicated grief and sorrow and his own emotional stress, said Njoroges attorney, Robert Clifford. Hes haunted by nightmares and the loss of his wife and children. Details of the settlement have not been disclosed. Njoroges lawyer, Clifford, said his client had aimed to seek millions in damages for his wife and children but chose not to pin down an exact figure publicly before the trial. The aviation team at Clifford Law Offices has been working round-the-clock in preparation for trial, but the mediator was able to help the parties come to an agreement, Clifford said in a statement Friday. More about now-averted trial The trial wasnt expected to dive into the technical nitty-gritty of the Max version of Boeings popular 737, which has been a headache for the company since the Ethiopia crash and a similar one in Indonesia the previous year. Together, those incidents claimed 346 lives, including passengers and crew. Back in 2021, Boeing took responsibility for the Ethiopian crash in an agreement with the victims families, allowing them to file individual claims in US courts rather than their home countries. Victims hailed from 35 nations, and several families have already settled, though the terms of those deals havent been disclosed either. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Nairobi-bound flight lost control shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and plunged into a desolate area. Investigations revealed that both the Ethiopian and Indonesian crashes stemmed from a system that depended on a faulty sensor, forcing the planes noses down and leaving pilots powerless to recover. Following the Ethiopian crash, Max jets were grounded worldwide until Boeing overhauled the system. This year, Boeing struck a deal with the US Justice Department to sidestep criminal charges related to both crashes. At least 100,000 are preschoolers between the ages of 4 and 6, and over 900,000 older children from Tibet have been forcibly placed in Chinese government-run boarding schools read more China is putting Tibetan children in boarding schools where they are denied knowledge of their mother tongue. Image courtesy: Free Tibet More than one million Tibetan children and adolescents have been forcibly placed in Chinese government-run boarding schools across Tibet, where they are subjected to abuse, neglect and political indoctrination, according to a new report released Friday by the Tibetan Action Institute (TAI). Among them, at least 100,000 are preschoolers between the ages of 4 and 6, the report said. Citing interviews with Tibetan parents and fieldwork conducted by researchers, the report accused Chinese authorities of using the boarding school system to carry out what it called student colonisation and erase Tibetan cultural identity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the Chinese govt manoeuvres to co-opt the institution of Dalai Lama by interfering in the reincarnation process, it is simultaneously targeting Tibetan children through assimilationist policies that threaten Tibets survival as a distinct people, TAI said in a statement. Dr. Gyal Lo, a Tibetan sociologist who contributed to the report, said the initiative is part of Chinese President Xi Jinpings strategy to undermine Tibets 4,700-year-old civilisation. Gyal Lo, who fled Tibet in 2020, said he personally visited more than 50 residential preschools in the Tibetan provinces of Amdo and Kham, estimating that around 100,000 Tibetan children in the preschool age group have been separated from their families and housed in these institutions. In addition, the report estimates that another 900,000 children and adolescents aged between 6 and 18 are also being kept in similar residential schools. TAI said the children are prohibited from speaking Tibetan, taught exclusively in Mandarin, and instructed using only government-approved history and ideology. In boarding schools, the indoctrination process begins from a very young age. The children are restricted from speaking their mother tongue - Tibetan - taught in Chinese language, forced to learn and speak Chinese and taught only state-approved history, the report said. The schools also subject children to constant messaging emphasising the centrality of Chinese identity and culture, and loyalty to the Communist Party of China, the report said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The group also highlighted that monks and nuns under the age of 18 have been forcibly transferred to these institutions in recent years, contributing to the Chinese governments broader crackdown on Tibetan religious and cultural life. There was no immediate comment from Chinese authorities on the findings of the report. Beijing has previously denied allegations of cultural repression in Tibet, saying its policies have improved economic development and education access in the region. FBI head Kash Patel has reportedly pointed to his frustrations with Attorney General Pam Bondi, especially over the contentious Epstein files issue read more Patel reportedly pointed to his frustrations with Attorney General Pam Bondi, especially over the contentious Epstein files issue Amid the ongoing drama surrounding Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director Dan Bonginos potential resignation, theres growing chatter that Chief Kash Patel has confided in his inner circle about possibly stepping away from the Trump administration too. The 45-year-old has reportedly pointed to his frustrations with Attorney General Pam Bondi, especially over the contentious Epstein files issue. Source close to DOJ says Kash Patel also wants Pam Bondi gone, and that hed consider leaving if Bongino leaves. Also, that there are more frustrations with other documents Bondi hasnt released, Mary Margaret Olohan of The Daily Wire posted on X. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This follows a Daily Wire report, which leaned on a source close to Bongino, suggesting the FBI Deputy Director might quit if Bondi stays on. The report also hints that Bongino is absolutely fed up with how Bondi has managed the notorious Jeffrey Epstein case. The source close to Bongino said that hes effectively issued an ultimatum, saying he wont work alongside Bondi, the Daily Wire stated. So far, neither the White House nor Patels office has commented on these latest developments. Things got even messier earlier this week when Trumps Justice Department appeared to backtrack on its earlier statements about Epstein. The FBI and DOJ jointly issued a memo declaring the case of the convicted sex offenderwho took his own life in jail in 2019was officially closed, and there was no such thing as a clients list. This sparked outrage among conservative influencers like Laura Loomer and Elon Musk, who criticised Bondi and Kash Patel for their findings, especially since Bondi had promised big reveals months ago, including a lot of names and a lot of flight logs. Back in February, when asked on Fox News if the Justice Department would release Epsteins client list, Bondi casually said, Its sitting on my desk right now to review. Adding fuel to the fire, Trump ally and right-wing commentator Laura Loomer claimed theres a real tug-of-war between the FBI and DOJ over how the Epstein files are being handled. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We might not have a Deputy FBI Director by Monday. We could possibly see a weekend resignation from the FBI by @FBIDDBongino Dan Bongino. Source tells me @FBIDirectorKash Kash Patel agrees with Bonginos sentiment and also agrees that Blondi needs to be removed from her post https://t.co/iDREwaH4aT Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) July 11, 2025 Source tells me Dan Bongino is taking the day off today from his job as Deputy Director of the FBI, and theres now speculation on whether or not he will return to his job at the @FBI over his disgust with Blondis (Bondi) lack of transparency and handling of the Epstein files, Loomer who has been referring to Bondi and Blondi out of spite, posted and said it was her exclusive information. Im told Kash and Bongino are furious with Blondi and the blowback she has caused them with her lack of transparency, Loomer posted on X. Earlier this year, Bangladeshs Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) accused Hasinas daughter of using her mothers influence to achieve her victory as the regional chief of the WHO read more The World Health Organisation has sent Sheikh Hasinas daughter, Saima Wazed, the Southeast Asia chief, on indefinite leave amid Bangladeshs interim governments assertion that she was involved in fraud and corruption during the former prime ministers rule. A report by Health Policy Watch says that the WHO Chief, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, informed the staff about Wazeds indefinite leave via an email. The leave went into effect from yesterday (June 11). His email added that Dr Catharina Boehme, WHOs assistant director-general, would replace Wazed in taking over the office of the UN health agencys South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What are the allegations against Wazed? Earlier this year, Bangladeshs Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) accused Hasinas daughter of using her mothers influence to achieve her victory as the regional chief of the WHO. Wazed is also alleged of misrepresenting her academic qualifications during the nomination process, according to ACC Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam. The alleged act falls under Sections 468 and 471 of the Bangladesh Penal Code, which cover forgery and the use of forged documents. She also provided false information regarding her professional experience by claiming an honorary role at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, which has been categorically denied by the varsity. What else has she been accused of? Wazed has also been accused of widespread corruption during her mothers rule in Bangladesh. The ACC alleges that Wazed exploited her position and influence to secure approximately $2.8 million from multiple banks under the name of the Shuchona Foundation, which she previously headed. Although the exact use of the funds remains uncertain, the charges include Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and Section 5(2) of the 1947 Prevention of Corruption Act for abuse of power. Interim govt welcomes move The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has welcomed the WHOs decision to put Wazed on leave. We welcome the World Health Organisations reported decision to place Saima Wazed on indefinite leave amid ongoing investigations into serious allegations of fraud, forgery and abuse of power. We view this as an important first step toward accountability, Shafiqul Alam, Yunus press secretary, said. He added, We firmly believe that a permanent resolution is necessary, one that removes Ms. Wazed from her position, revokes all associated privileges and restores integrity to this prestigious role and the credibility of the UN system as a whole. Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha, who is in Croatia, held a meeting with the country's Deputy Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Minister of Defense Ivan Anusic and representatives of the largest Croatian defense companies. "I had a meaningful meeting with Croatia's Deputy PM, Defense Minister Ivan Anusic and representatives of the largest Croatian defense companies. Our main priority is to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities," he wrote on the X social network on Saturday. He said that the next steps to expand military-technical cooperation between Ukraine and Croatia as well as to strengthen our emergency services were agreed. "Croatia has considerable experience in the production of robotic remote demining machines, which are already helping in Ukraine. We will enhance this cooperation. We highly appreciate Croatia's practical support and the latest 14th military assistance package approved this week," Sybiha added. judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir said Saturday that only some have been informed of their charges as spies". He said the judiciary would not let the cases drag on read more Irans judiciary has filed 50 cases in Tehran against individuals accused of collaborating with Israel. Representational Image Irans judiciary has filed 50 cases in Tehran against individuals accused of collaborating with Israel, judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir said Saturday, pledging rapid prosecution and no tolerance for those facing charges. Close cooperation and coordination between law enforcement and the judiciary led to the formation of around 50 cases in Tehran within less than two weeks, Jahangir said during a press conference. He added that the charges include rumor-mongering and creating public anxiety, per a report by Iran International. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Jahangir said the judiciary would not permit delays in the legal process. We will show no leniency, he said. We will not allow these cases to be dragged out. According to the spokesman, 32 online accounts had been flagged. Most owners edited their content after receiving warnings and avoided formal charges. However, ten individuals were charged, with some remaining in custody and others released on bail. He also said several individuals had been arrested on espionage charges, although court rulings had yet to be issued. Some have been informed of their charges as spies, but until a court ruling is issued, no one can be legally labeled a spy, Jahangir said. He declined to say how many were charged with spying for Israel. Every one of these traitors holds valuable information that must be extracted thoroughly before any sentencing, he added. This process is essential for identifying others involved. Casualties after Evin prison airstrike Jahangir also addressed the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike on Tehrans Evin prison. He confirmed that five inmates convicted of financial crimes were killed, with others injured in the attack. All prisoners were relocated to other facilities within hours, he said, rejecting reports that some detainees were missing or unable to contact their families. Jahangir acknowledged that a few inmates escaped during the chaos. A few took advantage of the situation and fled, but the number is not significant. They will be recaptured and returned, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The deadlock comes amid ongoing negotiations in Qatar and intensifying pressure from families of Israeli hostages to reach a deal read more Talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza hung in the balance on Saturday (July 12) as both Hamas and Israel accused each other of obstructing efforts to end nearly 21 months of war. The deadlock comes amid ongoing negotiations in Qatar and intensifying pressure from families of Israeli hostages to reach a deal. A Palestinian source familiar with the indirect talks told AFP that Israels proposal to keep troops in parts of Gaza was preventing agreement on a 60-day pause in fighting. On the Israeli side, a senior political official accused Hamas of refusing to compromise and sabotaging the negotiations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Disputed troop presence and mediation delay A second Palestinian source said discussions had been delayed at the request of mediators until US President Donald Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrives in Doha. One of the sticking points, according to the first Palestinian source, was Israels plan to maintain a military presence in more than 40 percent of Gaza, confining hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to a small zone near Rafah. Hamass delegation will not accept the Israeli maps as they essentially legitimise the reoccupation of approximately half of the Gaza Strip and turn Gaza into isolated zones with no crossings or freedom of movement, the source said. Israeli media reported that new maps would be presented on Sunday, quoting a foreign official with knowledge of the matter. The Israeli political official countered that Hamas was creating obstacles and said Israel had shown a willingness to show flexibility in the negotiations. Deaths mount as strikes continue As talks stalled, Gazas civil defence agency said over 20 people were killed across the territory on Saturday, including in an overnight airstrike on a site sheltering displaced people. While we were sleeping, there was an explosion where two boys, a girl and their mother were staying, said Bassam Hamdan, a resident of Gaza City. We found them torn to pieces, their remains scattered. In southern Gaza, casualties were rushed to hospitals on donkey carts, stretchers or carried by hand. In Khan Yunis, bodies were laid out under plastic sheets outside the Nasser hospital. The Israeli military said it had attacked approximately 250 terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip over the past 48 hours, including over 35 Hamas terror targets near Beit Hanoun. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said at least 57,882 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since the war began. On the Israeli side, Hamass 7 October 2023 attack killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, and 251 hostages were taken. Israel says 49 hostages remain in captivity, including 27 confirmed dead. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hostage families press for a deal Thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv, urging the government to finalise a deal for hostage release. The window of opportunity is open now and it wont be for long, said Eli Sharabi, who was freed in February. Both Hamas and Israel have said that 10 hostages could be released if an agreement is reached. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated he would then be open to talks on a longer-term ceasefire, provided Hamas is disarmed. Two previous ceasefires one in November 2023 and another from mid-January 2024 led to the release of 105 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. According to one Palestinian source, some progress has been made on the issues of prisoner release and humanitarian aid delivery. Netanyahu, under growing pressure at home and abroad, reiterated this week that neutralising Hamas is essential for any long-term solution. Failure to do so, he warned, would leave Israel with no choice but to act by force. With inputs from agencies The fatal shootings of 24 people occurred in the Rafah area of southern Gaza, hundreds of meters (yards) from the food distribution site, Israels military said read more In the Gaza Strip, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 28 Palestinians, including four children, while 24 others were shot dead while travelling to an aid distribution site, according to Palestinian medical authorities and witnesses on Saturday. The children and two women were among at least 13 Palestinians killed in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, when Israeli airstrikes began late Friday, according to authorities at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. According to Nasser Hospital, 15 others were killed in airstrikes in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israels military did not immediately respond to The Associated Press request for comment. According to medical authorities and witnesses, at least 24 Palestinians were slain on their route to a food distribution site near Rafah run by an Israeli-backed American organisation. Israels military claimed it fired warning shots at those it suspected of acting suspiciously in order to keep them from approaching. It said that it was unaware of any casualties. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation stated that no incidents happened near its facilities. US President Donald Trump has said he is closing in on another ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that would bring the release of more hostages from Gaza and potentially wind down the war. But after two days of talks this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, there were no signs of a breakthrough. The militant group still holds some 50 hostages, with at least 20 believed to remain alive. More killings near American-run aid site The 21-month war has left much of Gazas population of over 2 million reliant on outside aid while food security experts warn of famine. Israel blocked and then restricted aid entry after ending the latest ceasefire in March. The fatal shootings of 24 people occurred in the Rafah area of southern Gaza, hundreds of meters (yards) from the food distribution site, Israels military said. A GHF spokesperson, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with the groups policies, said: We checked with our extended team and this incident didnt happen near our sites. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Witnesses said they were shot at while on their way to the site seeking food. Abdullah al-Haddad said he was 200 meters (655 feet) from the aid distribution site run by the GHF close to the Shakoush area, west of Rafah, when an Israeli tank started firing at crowds of Palestinians. We were together, and they shot us at once, he said, writhing in pain from a leg wound at Nasser Hospital. Mohammed Jamal al-Sahloo, another witness, said Israels military had ordered them to proceed to the site when the shooting started. Sumaya al-Shaers 17-year-old son, Nasir, was killed in the shooting, hospital officials said. He said to me, Mom, you dont have flour and today Ill go and bring you flour, even if I die, Ill go and get it, she said. But he never came back home. Until then, she said, she had prevented the teenager from going to GHF sites because she thought it was too dangerous. But food supplies were running out. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Witnesses, health officials and U.N. officials say hundreds have been killed by Israeli fire while heading toward GHF distribution points through military zones off limits to independent media. The military has acknowledged firing warning shots at Palestinians who it says approached its forces in a suspicious manner. The GHF denies there has been violence in or around its sites in the past. But two of its contractors told the AP that their colleagues have fired live ammunition and stun grenades as Palestinians scramble for food, allegations denied by the foundation. In a separate effort, the U.N. and aid groups say they are struggling to distribute humanitarian aid because of Israeli military restrictions and a breakdown of law and order that has led to widespread looting. The first fuel 150,000 liters entered Gaza this week after 130 days, a joint statement by U.N. aid bodies said, calling it a small amount for the the backbone of survival in Gaza. Fuel runs hospitals, water systems, transport and more, the statement said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD New warning along Gazas coast Israels military said that over the past 48 hours, troops struck approximately 250 targets in Gaza including militants, booby-trapped structures, weapons storage facilities, anti-tank missile launch posts, sniper posts, tunnels and additional Hamas sites. Also on Saturday, the military announced strict restrictions along Gazas Mediterranean coast and called on fishermen, swimmers and divers not to go to sea. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people in their Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war and abducted 251. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed over 57,800 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The ministry, which is under Gazas Hamas-run government, doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. The U.N. and other international organizations see its figures as the most reliable statistics on war casualties. Israeli official warned that if Iran is able to recover uranium buried underground, it would be noticed and Israel will strike again read more This handout satellite picture provided by Maxar Technologies and taken on June 22, 2025, shows damage after US strikes on the Isfahan nuclear enrichment facility in central Iran.- AFP Photo Last month, the United States launched airstrikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, with President Donald Trump boldly claiming the American military had wiped them out completely, calling it total obliteration. That said, some US intelligence agencies werent so sure about the extent of the damage. Now, a senior Israeli official has revealed that Iran might still be able to recover uranium buried underground. During a Wednesday briefing with reporters, the Israeli officialwho preferred to stay anonymousexplained that digging up the uranium at Isfahan would be a tough task. If Iran tried, he warned, it would be noticed, and Israel would strike again. He also noted that most of the enriched uranium is stashed at that site. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Irans claims Israels assessment suggests Irans nuclear programme has been delayed by about two years, though Iran insists its uranium enrichment is purely for peaceful purposes and denies any intent to build nuclear weapons. Just before the US strikes, Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had argued that every nation has the right to enrich uranium peacefully. This is an achievement of our own scientists. Its a question of national pride and dignity, he said. Parts of Iranian nuclear sites still intact The Trump administration is sticking to its guns, insisting the nuclear facilities were totally demolished. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement, As President Trump has said many times, Operation Midnight Hammer totally obliterated Irans nuclear facilities. The entire world is safer thanks to his decisive leadership. However, US intelligence reports had hinted that while the sites took a hit, they werent fully destroyed. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was quoted as saying by CBS News that the facilities were destroyed to an important degree, but parts are still intact. Frankly speaking, he added, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared, and there is nothing there." In a chat with Tucker Carlson, Iranian President Mahmoud Pezeshkian admitted the nuclear sites were severely damaged and said, We dont have access to them right now. He also mentioned that a thorough evaluation isnt possible yet. US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned that Mexico and the EU would be slapped with 30-percent tariffs starting on August 1, raising the stakes in already tense negotiations with two of the largest US trading partners read more French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday condemned US President Donald Trumps threat to impose 30-percent tariffs on the European Union, calling on the bloc to resolutely defend European interests. US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned that Mexico and the EU would be slapped with 30-percent tariffs starting on August 1, raising the stakes in already tense negotiations with two of the largest US trading partners. Expressing Frances very strong disapproval of the announcement, Macron called on the bloc to step up the preparation of credible countermeasures by mobilising all instruments at its disposal if the two sides failed to reach agreement by August 1. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD France fully supports the European Commission in the negotiation that will intensify to reach a mutually acceptable agreement by August 1, so that it reflects the respect that trade partners such as the European Union and the United States owe each other, he wrote on social media. Earlier Saturday, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen hit out at the new tariffs threatened by Trump, but said the EU still sought a deal to avert the measures. Israel began easing a more than two-month total blockade of aid in late May. Since then, a new US- and Israel-backed organisation called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has effectively sidelined the territorys vast UN-led aid delivery network read more Women embrace, while mourning loved ones, during the funeral of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire yesterday, as they sought aid in northern Gaza, according to Gaza's health ministry, at Al-Shifa Hospital, in Gaza City. Reuters Ten Palestinians were reported killed Friday while waiting for rations in Gaza, adding to nearly 800 similar deaths in the last six weeks, according to the UN, with Israels army saying it issued new instructions to troops following repeated reports of fatalities. Fridays reported violence came as negotiators from Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas were locked in indirect talks in Qatar to try to agree on a temporary ceasefire in the more than 21-month conflict. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he hoped a deal for a 60-day pause in the war could be struck in the coming days, and that he would then be ready to negotiate a more permanent end to hostilities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hamas has said the free flow of aid is a main sticking point in the talks, with Gazas more than two million residents facing a dire humanitarian crisis of hunger and disease amid the grinding conflict. Israel began easing a more than two-month total blockade of aid in late May. Since then, a new US- and Israel-backed organisation called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has effectively sidelined the territorys vast UN-led aid delivery network. There are frequent reports of Israeli forces firing on people seeking aid, with Gazas civil defence agency saying 10 Palestinians were killed Friday while waiting at a distribution point near the southern city of Rafah. Unacceptable The UN, which refuses to cooperate with GHF over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives, said Friday that 798 people have been killed seeking aid between late May and July 7, including 615 in the vicinity of the GHF sites. Where people are lining up for essential supplies such as food and medicine, and where they have a choice between being shot or being fed, this is unacceptable, UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva. Israels military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Fridays deaths, but has previously accused militants of firing at civilians in the vicinity of aid centres. Asked about the UN figures, the military said it had worked to minimise possible friction between aid seekers and soldiers, and that it conducted thorough examinations of incidents in which harm to civilians who arrived at distribution facilities was reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Instructions were issued to forces in the field following lessons learned, it added in a statement. GHF called the UN report false and misleading, claiming that most deadly attacks on aid sites have been linked to UN convoys. Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for Gazas civil defence agency, told AFP that Israeli forces killed 45 people overall in the territory on Friday. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the agency and other parties. Truce talks In Gazas south, a witness said Israeli tanks were seen near Khan Yunis, reporting intense gunfire, intermittent air strikes, artillery shelling, and ongoing bulldozing and destruction of displacement camps and agricultural land. Israels military said troops were operating in the area against terrorist infrastructure sites, both above and below ground. Hamas has said that as part of a potential truce deal it was willing to release 10 of the hostages taken during its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the Gaza war. Netanyahu, who is under pressure to end the war after mounting military losses, said that would leave 10 living hostages still in captivity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I hope we can complete it in a few days, he said of the initial ceasefire agreement and hostage release in an interview with US outlet Newsmax. Well probably have a 60-day ceasefire, get the first batch out, then use the 60-day ceasefire to negotiate an end to this. Netanyahu has said that a key condition of any deal is that Hamas first gives up its weapons and its hold on Gaza, warning that failure to do so on Israels terms would lead to further conflict. Another issue holding up a deal is disagreement on the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for hostages, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has said. Hamas has said it wants real guarantees for a lasting truce and Israels full withdrawal from Gaza, and that it opposes any Israeli moves to push Palestinians into isolated enclaves. The groups 2023 attack on Israel led to the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Out of 251 hostages seized in the attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. At least 57,823 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed since the start of the war, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Police were seen on camera closing in on a small number of demonstrators who had assembled at midday on the steps of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, holding placards in favour of Palestine Action read more Protesters gather in support of the pro-palestinian group "Palestine Action", in Parliament Square, London. AFP Police in London detained dozens of protestors for supporting Palestine Action for the second time, a week after the UK government banned the activist organisation under anti-terrorism legislation on Saturday. Officers have made 41 arrests for showing support for a proscribed organisation, the Metropolitan Police said on X, noting another person had been arrested for common assault. The area was cleared within the last hour, it added in a mid-afternoon update. Police were seen on camera closing in on a small number of demonstrators who had assembled at midday on the steps of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, holding placards in favour of Palestine Action. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Defend Our Juries, a campaign group that had announced plans to organise protests in numerous UK locations on Saturday to defy the prohibition, condemned the response. The Metropolitan Police were out in force again today, arresting more than 40 people in Parliament Square for holding signs opposed to genocide and supporting Palestine Action, a spokesperson told AFP. Who do the police think they are serving in this? the spokesperson added, calling the ban Orwellian. It comes a week after the arrest of 29 people, including a priest and a number of health professionals, for offences under anti-terrorism laws. Police have warned since the Palestine Action ban kicked in on July 5 that expressing support for it was now a crime. It is a criminal offence to invite or express support for a proscribed organisation, the Met said on X ahead of Saturdays planned protests. As we saw last week, those who do breach the law will face action. Palestine Actions proscription cleared parliament in the first days of July, and a last-ditch High Court challenge failed to stop it becoming law. The government announced plans for the ban under the Terrorism Act 2000 days after the groups activists claimed to be behind a break-in at an air force base in southern England. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Two aircraft there were sprayed with red paint, causing an estimated 7 million ($9.55 million) in damage. Four people charged in relation to the incident remain in custody. Palestine Action has condemned the proscription which makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group, punishable by up to 14 years in prison as an attack on free speech. The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) launched an attack on a military facility in Kayin state on Saturday about 3 p.m. local time (0800 GMT), according to a Thai military statement read more Thai soldiers stand guard overlooking the Moei river on the Thai side near the Tak border checkpoint with Myanmar in Thailand's Mae Sot district. File image/ AFP More than 500 civilians and troops escaped conflict in Myanmar and crossed into Thailand on Saturday following an attack by ethnic fighters on a military base, according to the Thai army. Myanmar has been embroiled in civil war since a military coup in 2021, with the junta fighting a mix of ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy opposition forces. The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) launched an attack on a military facility in Kayin state on Saturday about 3 p.m. local time (0800 GMT), according to a Thai military statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Myanmar soldiers attempted to resist and called for supporting firepower to defend their position but were ultimately unable to hold the line, it said. One hundred Myanmar soldiers and 467 civilians had crossed into Thailand on Saturday, where Thai military and police disarmed them and provided treatment and humanitarian aid, officials said. Thai forces have ramped up patrols along the border in western Tak province to prevent what officials described as a potential violation of sovereignty by foreign armed forces. Saw Thamain Tun, a leader of the KNLAs political wing, confirmed there had been fighting near the border and said that joint forces had seized some front posts from the army. Some (Myanmar troops) defected to our joint forces, but some of them ran into Thailand, he told AFP. Armed groups from the Karen ethnic minority have long challenged the military and now play a key role in resisting junta control over border zones. Myanmars civil war has caused huge waves of population displacement, with 81,000 refugees or asylum seekers from the country currently living in Thailand, according to United Nations figures. The KNLA has been fighting for decades to establish greater autonomy for the Karen people living along Myanmars southeastern flank. Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes has sent a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, formally expressing the citys interest in hosting the blocs headquarters read more Leaders from Brazil, China, Russia, India, Indonesia, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE, and Iran pose for a family photo during the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6. (Reuters) Rio de Janeiro is making a bold pitch to become the permanent home of the Brics economic bloc, which currently lacks an official headquarters. Following the Brics 2025 summit at the citys Museum of Modern Art, Mayor Eduardo Paes sent a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, formally expressing the citys interest. Brics, founded in 2009, now includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Representing about 46 per cent of the worlds population and 37 per cent of global GDP, the group aims to foster economic cooperation, global governance, and sustainable development among emerging economies. Rios proposal seeks to give Brics a stronger institutional foundation, as the bloc currently operates without a fixed headquarters, general secretariat, or dedicated diplomatic team. Brazilian Jockey Club building proposed as potential HQs To sweeten the deal, the city has offered the historic Brazilian Jockey Club building in downtown Rio. Designed by modernist architect Lucio Costafamous for planning Brasiliathis 12-story, 8,300-square-meter (nearly 90,000-square-foot) building opened in 1972, with landscaping by Roberto Burle Marx. It would need about R$100 million (US$18 million) in renovations, based on a 2019 estimate. City Hall argues the buildings central location and historical significance make it a fitting home for an international organisation. The plan hinges on negotiations with the Jockey Club Brasileiro, which could see its R$220 million in unpaid municipal taxes forgiven in exchange for the property. Rio fully supports multilateral efforts to consolidate Brics as a decisive forum for the 21st century, Paes said. We are ready to welcome representatives from member countries and provide the appropriate infrastructure and setting for the group to advance its discussions on an ongoing basis. If successful, the site would house offices, host meetings, and serve as a hub for Brics representatives to coordinate projects and policies. City officials believe a Brics headquarters in Rio would boost Brazils global influence, elevate the citys international profile, and stimulate the local economy through foreign investment, tourism, and job creation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in the eastern North Korean city of Wonsan on Friday to hold talks with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui read more Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, right, attend a signing ceremony following their talks in Wonsan, North Korea. AP Russias foreign minister cautioned the United States, South Korea, and Japan against forming a security alliance aimed at North Korea, during a visit to the reclusive nation to discuss expanding military and broader cooperation on Saturday. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in the eastern North Korean city of Wonsan on Friday to hold talks with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui. Bilateral ties between Russia and North Korea have strengthened in recent years. North Korea has provided troops and ammunition in support of Russias military operations in Ukraine, while receiving military and economic aid in return. This development has drawn concern from the US, South Korea, and others, who worry that Russia may transfer sensitive technologies that could further advance North Koreas nuclear and missile capabilities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After a meeting with Choe on Saturday, Lavrov accused the US, South Korea and Japan of what he called their military build-ups around North Korea. We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia, he told reporters, according to Russias state Tass news agency. The US, South Korea and Japan have been expanding or restoring their trilateral military exercises in response to North Koreas advancing nuclear program. On Friday, the three countries held a joint air drill involving US nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula, as their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities that threaten regional security. North Korea views major US-led military drills as invasion rehearsals. It has long argued that its forced to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from US military threats. Lavrov said Russia understands North Koreas decision to seek nuclear weapons. The technologies used by North Korea are the result of the work of its own scientists. We respect North Koreas aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing a nuclear development, Lavrov said. During their meeting, Choe reiterated that North Korea unconditionally supports Russias fight against Ukraine. She described ties between North Korea and Russia as the invincible alliance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lavrov said he repeated Russias gratitude for the contribution that North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russias Kursk border region. Wonsan city, the meeting venue, is where North Korea recently opened a mammoth beach resort that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people. In his comments at the start of his meeting with Choe, Lavrov said that I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone is at the center of North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns push to boost tourism as a way to improve his countrys troubled economy. But prospects for the biggest tourist complex in North Korea arent clear, as the country appears unlikely to fully reopen its borders and embrace Western tourists anytime soon. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Chinese FM attends ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting Xinhua) 12:09, July 12, 2025 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 11, 2025. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday attended the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Asia-Pacific's development benefited from the region's peaceful and stable environment, and should be cherished, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. Noting the ARF, as an important multilateral security platform in the region, bears significant responsibilities for maintaining regional peace and stability, Wang said China welcomes the proposal to reinforce the role of the ARF and enhance confidence-building measures. Wang introduced China's proposition to ensure the stable development of the Asia-Pacific region and enable the ARF to continue to play its due role: a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, an Asian security model featuring intertwined security, seeking common ground while reserving differences and dialogue and consultation, so as to find a new path of security featuring dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance, and win-win rather than zero-sum. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng) Creating division and opposition with a zero-sum game mentality runs counter to the goal of maintaining security, Wang said, urging efforts to address both the symptoms and root causes of conflicts and wars. Saying Asia calls for the Eastern wisdom of valuing harmony and coexistence, Wang said wisdom should be drawn from the Bandung Spirit and legitimate security concerns of all parties should be accommodated. China is willing to work with regional countries to bridge and resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, and inject more vitality into confidence-building measures and preventive diplomacy in all fields of the ARF. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Kou Jie) Pyongyang dispatched hundreds of troops to Russias Kursk area to drive out Kyivs forces and supplied the Russian army with artillery rounds and missiles read more North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Wonsan, North Korea. Reuters Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday on his visit to the reclusive country, a major Moscow ally. Lavrov was received by Kim Jong Un, Russias foreign ministry announced on Telegram, releasing a video of the two men shaking hands and hugging. Russian and North Korean official media confirmed Lavrovs travel earlier, stating that he would remain until Sunday. It is the latest in a string of high-profile visits by top Moscow officials as the two nations strengthen military and diplomatic relations in the wake of Russias incursion in Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pyongyang dispatched hundreds of troops to Russias Kursk area to drive out Kyivs forces and supplied the Russian army with artillery rounds and missiles. Earlier on Saturday, Lavrov met with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui in Wonsan, a city on the countrys east coast where a massive resort was opened earlier this month. Lavrov said that North Korean officials had reaffirmed their full support for all objectives of the offensive in Ukraine, according to a Russian state agency Tass. He also thanked the heroic North Korean soldiers, the Russian foreign ministry said. North Korea only confirmed it had deployed troops to support Russia in April. Since then, Kim has been shown in state media paying tribute in front of flag-draped coffins of North Korean soldiers killed helping Russia fight Ukraine. Russias security chief Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang multiple times this year. The two heavily sanctioned nations signed a military deal last year, including a mutual defence clause, during a rare visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea. The threatened tariff imposition would escalate trade tensions with two of the United States most significant economic partners. It has already added to a volatile week in global trade read more President Donald Trump said he will impose 30 per cent tariffs on imports from Mexico and the European Union starting August 1, a move that would escalate trade tensions with two of the United States most significant economic partners. In two separate letters posted Saturday (July 12) morning on Truth Social, Trump accused Mexico of failing to stop the Cartels and signalled his frustration with ongoing trade negotiations with the EU. The tariff threats add to a volatile week in global trade, during which the president has targeted more than 20 countries with new or increased levies. He has also announced forthcoming 50 per cent tariffs on copper, further unsettling markets already reacting to his aggressive trade agenda. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD EU caught off guard despite talks The letter to the EU echoed recent communications in which Trump warned of further punitive measures. Despite weeks of efforts by European officials traveling between Brussels and Washington to negotiate a deal, Trump has shown little sign of easing up. The two sides had been discussing potential reductions to existing tariffs, including a 25 per cent levy on vehicles and related parts. An agreement under discussion could have eliminated duties on aircraft, spirits, and industrial components. The EU has offered to narrow its 198 billion trade surplus in goods with the United States by increasing purchases of American liquefied natural gas and defence equipment. However, those overtures have not prevented the new 30 per cent tariff threat. Trumps administration has already implemented significant duties, including a 25 per cent tariff on EU steel and aluminum, and a 10 per cent baseline tariff on most goods. So far, Brussels has not retaliated with tariffs of its own, though officials have warned they are preparing countermeasures if the US proceeds. Mexico faces renewed pressure despite exemptions Mexico, which has already been targeted alongside Canada earlier this year with 25 per cent tariffs over issues related to immigration and fentanyl trafficking, is once again in Washingtons crosshairs. Trump had earlier exempted most Mexican exports from the harshest levies under the terms of the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Between January and March, about 87 per cent of Mexican goods entered the US tariff-free, Financial Times reported citing Mexicos economy ministry The new 30 per cent tariff, however, raises concerns that exemptions under the USMCA may not be enough to shield Mexicos export economy from further disruption. Trumps messaging suggests a growing frustration with what he perceives as inadequate enforcement on Mexicos side of the border. In addition to the announced tariffs, the administration has launched national security investigations that could result in new duties on semiconductors, aerospace parts, pharmaceuticals, lumber, and consumer electronics. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These investigations signal the administrations willingness to expand its tariff regime beyond traditional trade disputes, and into sectors critical to global supply chains. The prospect of fresh levies on two of the USs largest trading partners introduces further uncertainty into global markets, with companies and governments watching closely to see if the threats materialise by the August 1 deadline. With inputs from agencies Immigrant advocacy organisations filed the lawsuit last week, accusing President Donald Trumps government of purposefully targeting brown individuals in Southern California as part of its continuing immigration crackdown read more People wait outside of Glass House Farms, a day after an immigration raid on the facility, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Camarillo, Calif. AP On Friday, a federal court ordered the Trump administration to suspend indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in seven California counties, including Los Angeles. Immigrant advocacy organisations filed the lawsuit last week, accusing President Donald Trumps government of purposefully targeting brown individuals in Southern California as part of its continuing immigration crackdown. The claimants include three detained immigrants and two US citizens, one of whom was arrested despite giving agents his ID. The lawsuit filed in US District Court asked a judge to prevent the government from using what they describe unconstitutional techniques in immigration sweeps. Immigrant groups accuse immigration officers of detaining people based on their race, making unwarranted arrests, and refusing prisoners access to legal representation at a holding facility in downtown Los Angeles. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Judge Maame E. Frimpong also issued a separate order barring the federal government from restricting attorney access at a Los Angeles immigration detention facility in response to a request from nonprofit law firm Public Counsel. Frimpong issued the emergency orders, which are a temporary measure while the lawsuit proceeds, the day after a hearing during which advocacy groups argued that the government was violating the Fourth and Fifth amendments of the Constitution. She wrote in the order there was a mountain of evidence presented in the case that the federal government was committing the violations they were being accused of. The White House responded quickly to the ruling late Friday. No federal judge has the authority to dictate immigration policy that authority rests with Congress and the President, spokesperson Abigail Jackson said. Enforcement operations require careful planning and execution; skills far beyond the purview (or) jurisdiction of any judge. We expect this gross overstep of judicial authority to be corrected on appeal. Communities on edge as administration steps up arrests Immigrants and Latino communities across Southern California have been on edge for weeks since the Trump administration stepped up arrests at car washes, Home Depot parking lots, immigration courts and a range of businesses. Tens of thousands of people have participated in rallies in the region over the raids and the subsequent deployment of the National Guard and Marines. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The order also applies to Ventura County, where busloads of workers were detained Thursday while the court hearing was underway after federal agents descended on a cannabis farm, leading to clashes with protesters and multiple injuries. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the recent wave of immigration enforcement has been driven by an arbitrary arrest quota and based on broad stereotypes based on race or ethnicity. When detaining the three day laborers who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit, all immigration agents knew about them is that they were Latino and were dressed in construction work clothes, the filing in the lawsuit said. It goes on to describe raids at swap meets and Home Depots where witnesses say federal agents grabbed anyone who looked Hispanic. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, said in an email that any claims that individuals have been targeted by law enforcement because of their skin color are disgusting and categorically FALSE. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD McLaughlin said enforcement operations are highly targeted, and officers do their due diligence before making arrests. After the ruling, she said a district judge is undermining the will of the American people. ACLU attorney Mohammad Tajsar said Brian Gavidia, one of the US citizens who was detained, was physically assaulted for no other reason than he was Latino and working at a tow yard in a predominantly Latin American neighborhood. Tajsar asked why immigration agents detained everyone at a car wash except two white workers, according to a declaration by a car wash worker, if race wasnt involved. Representing the government, attorney Sean Skedzielewski said there was no evidence that federal immigration agents considered race in their arrests, and that they only considered appearance as part of the totality of the circumstances, including prior surveillance and interactions with people in the field. In some cases, they also operated off targeted, individualized packages, he said. The Department of Homeland Security has policy and training to ensure compliance with the Fourth Amendment, Skedzielewski said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Order opens facility to lawyer visits Lawyers from Immigrant Defenders Law Center and other groups say they also have been denied access to a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in downtown LA known as B-18 on several occasions since June, according to court documents. Public Counsel lawyer Mark Rosenbaum said in one incident on June 7 attorneys attempted to shout out basic rights at a bus of people detained by immigration agents in downtown LA when the government drivers honked their horns to drown them out and chemical munitions akin to tear gas were deployed. Skedzielewski said access was only restricted to protect the employees and the detainees during violent protests and it has since been restored. Rosenbaum said lawyers were denied access even on days without any demonstrations nearby, and that the people detained are also not given sufficient access to phones or informed that lawyers were available to them. He said the facility lacks adequate food and beds, which he called coercive to getting people to sign papers to agree to leave the country before consulting an attorney. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Fridays order will temporarily prevent the government from solely using apparent race or ethnicity, speaking Spanish or English with an accent, presence at a location such as a tow yard or car wash, or someones occupation as the basis for reasonable suspicion to stop someone. It will also require officials to open B-18 to visitation by attorneys seven days a week and provide detainees access to confidential phone calls with attorneys. Attorneys general for 18 Democratic states also filed briefs in support of the orders. US Customs and Border Protection agents were already barred from making warrantless arrests in a large swath of eastern California after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in April. Washington had halted the shipment of defensive arms to Ukraine last week, but resumed the transfer a few days later after Zelenskyy expressed concerns about the impact of the pause on the countrys defence against Russia read more An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone and missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters The resumption of US military supplies to Ukraine has taken effect, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, as Russia intensifies attacks against Kyiv. Washington had halted the shipment of defensive arms to Ukraine last week, but resumed the transfer a few days later after Zelenskyy expressed concerns about the impact of the pause on the countrys defence against Russia. Amid Russias increased attacks over the past few weeks, the Ukrainian president had requested 10 more Patriot missiles that detect and intercept oncoming missiles and are regarded as one of the best air defence systems in the world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US supplies weapons via Nato US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States would supply weapons to Ukraine via Nato. Trump also told NBC News about what he called a new deal between the US, Nato allies and Ukraine over weapons shipment from the United States. Were sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%. So what were doing is the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons (to Ukraine), and NATO is paying for those weapons, Trump said. We send weapons to NATO, and NATO is going to reimburse the full cost of those weapons, he added. Will make major announcement Meanwhile, the US president has expressed disappointment over his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, saying that he will make a major statement on Russia coming Monday. I think Ill have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday, Trump told NBC News in a telephone interview on Thursday. The Potus went on to reiterate his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin over the countrys continued attack on Ukraine. He also insisted that he is expecting the US Senate to pass a tougher sanctions bill against Russia. Its at my option if I want to use it, Trump said of the measure. Theyre going to pass a very major and very biting sanctions bill, but its up to the president as to whether or not he wants to exercise it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Trump announced on Saturday that key US trading partners the European Union and Mexico will face a 30% tax beginning next month, increasing pressure for a solution in his trade fights read more Ursula von der Leyen, the chief of the European Commission, slammed additional tariffs promised by US President Donald Trump on Saturday, saying the EU was still looking for a solution with Washington to avoid the penalties. Imposing 30 percent tariffs on EU exports would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic, said von der Leyen in a statement. We remain ready to continue working towards an agreement by August 1. At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required, she stated. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Von der Leyen emphasised that few economies in the world match the European Unions level of openness and adherence to fair trading practices. The EU has consistently prioritized a negotiated solution with the U.S., reflecting our commitment to dialogue, stability, and a constructive transatlantic partnership, she said. Trump announced on Saturday that key US trading partners the European Union and Mexico will face a 30% tax beginning next month, increasing pressure for a solution in his trade fights. Both sets of levies would go into effect on August 1, Trump said in separate letters uploaded on his Truth Social platform, citing Mexicos role in the flow of illicit narcotics into the United States and a trade imbalance with the EU. An EU spokesperson stated that Brussels was told of the additional tariffs before Trump released the letters online. The EU tax is also far higher than Trumps 20% charge announced in April, as discussions with the group continue. The EU, alongside dozens of other economies, had been set to see its US tariff level increase from a baseline of 10 percent on Wednesday, but Trump pushed back the deadline to August 1 just days before the elevated rates were due to take effect. The EU has prepared retaliatory duties on US goods worth around 21 billion euros after Trump also slapped separate tariffs on steel and aluminum imports earlier this year, and they are suspended until July 14. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD European officials have not made any move to extend the suspension but could do it quickly if needed. Diplomats said that an unscheduled meeting of ambassadors from the EUs 27 countries has been convened in Brussels for Sunday afternoon to discuss the latest move from Trump. Moises Saman won two Pulitzer Prizes for photography in May. One was in the Feature Photography category for his coverage of Syria after the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad, which he undertook for The New Yorker. The other was in the International Coverage category, as part of The New York Times team covering the war in Sudan. In a video call with EL PAIS from his home in Jordan, the 51-year-old Saman explains that he came to his profession by chance. He was born in Lima, Peru, moving to Barcelona at the age of two. And, in his teens, he moved to the United States. There, he distributed phone books, washed dishes and waited tables in restaurants. Without fully understanding English, he randomly enrolled in a sociology program at a college where they let anyone in. And there, he saw them: several photos of the then-active Yugoslav Wars that his professor showed him. I reacted to that, he recalls. Today, hes a photographer for Magnum Photos, the most prestigious photographic agency in the world. He has covered extensively the conflicts in countries such as Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Egypt, among others. He contributes regularly to The New York Times, The New Yorker and Time among other giants and has been recognized with several World Press Photo awards for his work. Question. Many journalists dream of winning a Pulitzer Prize. You won two. How does that feel? Answer. Its obviously profound and moving for me, but also somewhat uncomfortable. I wish the value given to those images was given to the lives of the people I photographed, but the world doesnt work that way. Theyre the ones who have lived and continue to live with the consequences of war. Q. You arrived in Syria two days after the fall of the Assad regime. What did you find? A. An exhausted country. There was a mixture of resignation and a lot of dignity. People who have only known war especially young people find it hard to imagine the future, to imagine something they dont know. The end of the dictatorship doesnt mean happiness or freedom, but rather the beginning of another form of uncertainty: not knowing what happened to your children, your cousins, your mother, your father. Q. What did it mean to return to Syria at that time? A. I felt compelled to return. I covered Syria intermittently since the early days of the war. It was like coming full circle on a conflict that shaped my career, both professionally and personally. Moises Saman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist for the Magnum agency, in a courtesy photo. Laura Boushnak Q. In what way? A. It changed the way I approach my work and understand the complexity of these conflicts. In war, the roles of victim and victimizer are constantly interchanged. And I wanted to convey that complexity visually. It meant rejecting objectivity and the idea of the journalist as someone trying to change whats happening. That idealism was shattered. Q. Your photos of Syria have a strong aesthetic component. How can one beautifully portray something so horrendous? A. I always try to keep in mind that Im photographing people; I dont want to reduce them to the category of victim. I try to be more ambiguous visually. That opens other aesthetic doors; you can take other liberties, like this idea of photographing whats not photographable absence, what remains, pain which was very important in the photos of Syria. This has forced me to look for different aesthetic solutions; I dont know if its beauty. Q. Is there an image from the series that has particularly impacted you? A. A very simple one, of a wall in a prison filled with faded fingerprints. The fingerprints of people who upon being prosecuted were made to mark their fingerprints [in ink]. Perhaps they then wiped their fingers on the wall. Each fingerprint represents a person with a story, with a family. We dont know if theyre still alive, but thats whats left of them. That left its mark on me. Fingerprints on a wall in the prison known as Palestine Branch, the last physical trace of detainees who disappeared under the Assad regime. Moises Saman (Magnum Photos) Q. Theres one photograph of a former prisoner on the floor of that same prison, recreating his torture, while his father looks on. How did that photo come about? A. It was incredible. The boys name is Motasem Kattan; hes in his twenties. We interviewed him at his home, two or three days after he left prison when the regime fell. He and his father insisted on taking us to the prison for the first time since hed gotten out. I think that was his way of taking back control of his life: returning to that place, but in a completely different context than the one hed been in just three days before. He showed the truth of what had happened to him. He wanted to touch the same walls, the same cell, so there would be no doubt that this had indeed happened to him. Q. What makes a good photo? A. A photo you can interact with. One where all the information isnt there. One that forces you to look twice, where you find a personal connection, even if its about something you have nothing to do with. You have to feel something. Its not so much about information, but about the heart something visceral, even if you cant quite define that connection in the moment. Motasem Kattan recreates his captivity in the Syrian prison known as Palestine Branch, where he was detained and tortured for over a year. Moises Saman (Magnum Photos) Q. Jon Lee Anderson your colleague in Syria and legendary journalist for The New Yorker writes in the text accompanying your photos: Along with the physical evidence of violence, there was a less obvious register of human loss a phenomenon that Moises observes with singular sensitivity and skill. Can you describe that register of human loss? A. Theyre elements that can humanize a situation thats inhuman, or that has lost all humanity. Details that allow the viewer someone whos never been in these contexts to connect with the person in the photo. With the photos we see every day from Gaza, for example: how many more photos can we continue to see of dead children right in your face, the strongest photos and we dont react? Theres something there that weve lost, the power to react to something so inhuman, so unjust. So, we have to try to find other solutions. Perhaps taking a photo of the bedroom of one of these children which they left behind before they died perhaps this could have more of a connection with the viewer than seeing a photo of a lifeless child. I dont know. Q. What place should journalists occupy in conflicts like those in Syria or Gaza? A. We have to preserve the dignity of the people going through these experiences. Thats something thats been a guiding principle for me. Telling the stories with the complexity they possess, because theyre stories of people with names, biographies, dreams, memories and fears. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition LOS ANGELES, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The fourth private astronaut flight to the International Space Station is scheduled to depart the orbiting laboratory next Monday and return to Earth, NASA said Friday. The four-member crew is set to undock from the space-facing port of the station's Harmony module aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at approximately 7:05 a.m. EDT Monday (1105 GMT), initiating their journey back to Earth with a planned splashdown off the coast of California. The mission, codenamed Axiom Mission 4, launched on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew includes Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, Indian Space Research Organization astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, European Space Agency project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Hungarian to Orbit astronaut Tibor Kapu. The mission marks the first government-supported orbital flight for India, Poland and Hungary in over four decades. The returning Dragon capsule will carry more than 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from more than 60 scientific experiments conducted during the mission. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code A staff member inspects a cloned yak at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, July 11, 2025. A cloned yak was born via caesarean section on Thursday at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, researchers have said. The cloned calf weighed 33.5 kg at birth, heavier than most yak newborns, according to the researchers. Xinhua reporters saw the calf, which has a completely black coat, at the breeding base on Friday. It was able to walk and in good health. The project began in July 2023 as a joint initiative by a research team from Zhejiang University in east China, the Damxung County government and the Institute of Plateau Biology of Xizang Autonomous Region. The scientists used whole-genome selection and somatic cell cloning technologies to produce the cloned yak. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) This photo taken on July 11, 2025 shows a cloned yak at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. A cloned yak was born via caesarean section on Thursday at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, researchers have said. The cloned calf weighed 33.5 kg at birth, heavier than most yak newborns, according to the researchers. Xinhua reporters saw the calf, which has a completely black coat, at the breeding base on Friday. It was able to walk and in good health. The project began in July 2023 as a joint initiative by a research team from Zhejiang University in east China, the Damxung County government and the Institute of Plateau Biology of Xizang Autonomous Region. The scientists used whole-genome selection and somatic cell cloning technologies to produce the cloned yak. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) An aerial drone photo taken on July 11, 2025 shows a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. A cloned yak was born via caesarean section on Thursday at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, researchers have said. The cloned calf weighed 33.5 kg at birth, heavier than most yak newborns, according to the researchers. Xinhua reporters saw the calf, which has a completely black coat, at the breeding base on Friday. It was able to walk and in good health. The project began in July 2023 as a joint initiative by a research team from Zhejiang University in east China, the Damxung County government and the Institute of Plateau Biology of Xizang Autonomous Region. The scientists used whole-genome selection and somatic cell cloning technologies to produce the cloned yak. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) This photo taken on July 11, 2025 shows a cloned yak at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. A cloned yak was born via caesarean section on Thursday at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, researchers have said. The cloned calf weighed 33.5 kg at birth, heavier than most yak newborns, according to the researchers. Xinhua reporters saw the calf, which has a completely black coat, at the breeding base on Friday. It was able to walk and in good health. The project began in July 2023 as a joint initiative by a research team from Zhejiang University in east China, the Damxung County government and the Institute of Plateau Biology of Xizang Autonomous Region. The scientists used whole-genome selection and somatic cell cloning technologies to produce the cloned yak. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) An aerial drone photo taken on July 11, 2025 shows a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. A cloned yak was born via caesarean section on Thursday at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, researchers have said. The cloned calf weighed 33.5 kg at birth, heavier than most yak newborns, according to the researchers. Xinhua reporters saw the calf, which has a completely black coat, at the breeding base on Friday. It was able to walk and in good health. The project began in July 2023 as a joint initiative by a research team from Zhejiang University in east China, the Damxung County government and the Institute of Plateau Biology of Xizang Autonomous Region. The scientists used whole-genome selection and somatic cell cloning technologies to produce the cloned yak. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) This photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a cloned yak (front) at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. A cloned yak was born via caesarean section on Thursday at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, researchers have said. The cloned calf weighed 33.5 kg at birth, heavier than most yak newborns, according to the researchers. Xinhua reporters saw the calf, which has a completely black coat, at the breeding base on Friday. It was able to walk and in good health. The project began in July 2023 as a joint initiative by a research team from Zhejiang University in east China, the Damxung County government and the Institute of Plateau Biology of Xizang Autonomous Region. The scientists used whole-genome selection and somatic cell cloning technologies to produce the cloned yak. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Staff members inspect a cloned yak at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, July 11, 2025. A cloned yak was born via caesarean section on Thursday at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, researchers have said. The cloned calf weighed 33.5 kg at birth, heavier than most yak newborns, according to the researchers. Xinhua reporters saw the calf, which has a completely black coat, at the breeding base on Friday. It was able to walk and in good health. The project began in July 2023 as a joint initiative by a research team from Zhejiang University in east China, the Damxung County government and the Institute of Plateau Biology of Xizang Autonomous Region. The scientists used whole-genome selection and somatic cell cloning technologies to produce the cloned yak. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024. SYDNEY, July 12 (Xinhua) -- A Qantas flight from Sydney to Johannesburg has been delayed by almost a full day after being struck by an aerobridge. Flight QF63 was at a gate at Sydney Airport preparing for its scheduled 9:30 a.m. take-off for Johannesburg on Saturday when an aerobridge made contact with one of the Airbus A380's four engines, causing damage. Passengers, who had already boarded, disembarked via the aircraft's lower deck. There were no reported injuries. Qantas said in a statement that the flight would be delayed 21 hours until 6:45 a.m. on Sunday when a replacement aircraft will be available. The airline said that an investigation into how the aerobridge made contact with the aircraft was underway. "The aircraft will be inspected by engineers in Sydney and repaired before returning to service," it said. British man extradited to US to face federal charges in alleged $99 million wine scam A British man has been brought to the U.S. to face charges in connection with an alleged $99 million Ponzi-like fraud involving expensive wines Ann received her bachelor's degree in English writing from Taylor University in Indiana. Ann and her husband have two children and a rascal called Wimbledon, a miniature schnauzer named for their love of tennis. Ann currently writes feature stories and entertainment content for The Daily Sentinel's news, Lifestyle and Off the Clock sections. A new locally owned tequila brand has been released and is being mixed into margaritas around Grand Junction this weekend. El Jets Tequila is the brainchild of Jen Taylor and her business partner, Paul Aieta. The idea stems from a trip Taylor took to Baja, Mexico, more than 20 years ago. On that trip, she dreamed up a riverside cantina that she called El Jets cantina named for her son Jet and the nickname he got on that trip. It was a family trip with some family friends and my youngest son Jet was three at the time, Taylor said. He was like a caged animal throughout the trip in the RV, all these miles of and hours in the RV. He earned the nickname El Jet with his luchador mask on. The cantina would be paired with lodging along the river dubbed the Sky Outpost after her eldest son Skyler. Taylor owns land in the Dos Rios development along the Colorado River and has been working to develop the site for several years. It was an effort to recreate this outpost camp that just really exhibited the esprit of the freedom, the grit, that sunshine, sand, soul, that savory kind of flavor that was just so simple through Baja, Taylor said. While that development hasnt come to fruition yet, Taylor decided to roll out what would be the house tequila for the cantina this year, which shes been working on since 2018. She partnered with Aieta, who had become an amateur connoisseur of tequilas. I said yes, because I had had a dream of being involved in some way in tequila going back to the turn of the millennium, Aieta said. Step one was finding a distillery in Tequila, Mexico, that could produce the tequilas for their brand. We tried a couple different routes with identifying a distillery partner, Aieta said. I went to the distillery that I had visited and was the distillery for my friends brand first and got a lot of information. And then Jen discovered Casa Maestri. Casa Maestri is a matriarch-owned distillery in Tequila that Taylor said she fell in love with for their story. It also was more accommodating for a startup like El Jets, she said. Once they had their distillery, the next problem was getting the flavor profile in the tequilas that Taylor was after. Before becoming a total fan of tequila, obviously, I was a whiskey girl, Taylor said. So I had to find the smoothness in the tequila. So Paul and I worked together to develop the profile that we were after. It took more than three years working with their distillery partner to come up with a flavor they were both happy with. At the end, they took a dozen samples down to Taylors property in Dos Rios for a final tasting to select their favorites. We had the full tasting, Taylor said. We had the kind of the smells and the sand and everything from the river. It was part of it. When they were done, they poured some of the tequila on the site and into the river. We threw our extra (tequila) in the river and on the banks of the beach and we anointed it Its very celebratory and the connectivity of this whole thing is very spiritual for me, especially with regard to the land, Taylor said. Now El Jets has three types of tequila that can be found at select liquor stores and restaurants around the city a reposado, anejo and blanco. This is El Jets second bottling. Despite the amount of time and energy that went into launching the tequila, Taylor said its been an enjoyable process. Its fun to create something that youre proud of and fun to share with your friends and then see it kind of take on a life of its own, legs of its own, Taylor said. Dennis received bachelor's degrees in communication and political science with a TAG degree in Spanish from The University of Akron in Ohio. He grew up in Ohio with two sisters and two brothers, one being his fraternal twin. He and his wife have two dogs: Bacio, and Cal. Dennis currently covers natural resource and environmental issues for The Daily Sentinel Mon Monday 92 /69 Morning clouds followed by afternoon sun. Highs in the low 90s and lows in the upper 60s. Air Force Employee Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Disclose Unlawfully Classified National Defense Information Thursday, July 10, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs A civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force assigned to the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base pleaded guilty today to conspiring to transmit classified information relating to the national defense (National Defense Information) on a foreign online dating platform beginning in or around February 2022 until in or around April 2022. "The defendant, an employee of the United States Air Force with access to some of our Nation's most closely held secrets, shared classified information with someone claiming to be a foreigner on an online dating platform," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. "The Department of Justice stands ready to hold accountable those who violate their obligation to protect sensitive national security information entrusted to them." "Access to classified information comes with great responsibility. David Slater failed in his duty to protect this information by willingly sharing National Defense Information with an unknown online personality despite having years of military experience that should have caused him to be suspicious of that person's motives," said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods for the District of Nebraska. "Mr. Slater betrayed an oath he made to safeguard our nation's intelligence," said Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office. "Leveraging his access to sensitive information, Mr. Slater chose to transmit material that put our country at risk. The FBI is extremely thankful for the work of our partners in this case. We will continue to partner together to defend the homeland by aggressively investigating and apprehending criminals and adversaries who pose a threat to our nation's security." According to court documents, David Franklin Slater, 64, of Nebraska, after retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army, worked in a classified space at USSTRATCOM and held a Top Secret security clearance from in or around August 2021 until in or around April 2022. Slater pleaded guilty to willfully, improperly, and unlawfully conspiring to transmit National Defense Information classified as "SECRET," which he had reason to believe could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation, on a foreign online dating platform to a person not authorized to receive such information. According to court documents, Slater attended USSTRATCOM briefings regarding Russia's war against Ukraine that were classified up to TOP SECRET//SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (TS//SCI). Slater then conspired to transmit classified National Defense Information that he learned from those briefings via the foreign online dating website's messaging platform to his co-conspirator, who claimed to be a female living in Ukraine on the foreign dating website. The co-conspirator regularly asked Slater to provide her with sensitive, non-public, closely held, and classified National Defense Information and called Slater in their messages her "secret informant love" and her "secret agent." In furtherance of that conspiracy, Slater did, in fact, transmit classified National Defense Information to her, including regarding military targets and Russian military capabilities relating to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The charge of conspiracy to transmit national defense information provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Slater is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 8. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Omaha Field Office and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Kleine for the District of Nebraska and Trial Attorney Emma Dinan Ellenrieder of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. Topics: Counterintelligence National Security Components: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Security Division (NSD) USAO - Nebraska Press Release Number: 25-723 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CANBERRA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The inaugural Sino-Australia Innovation Forum, recently held in Sydney, aims to enhance scientific research collaboration and the commercialization of innovation between the two countries, the Chinese embassy in Australia said on Friday. According to the embassy, the forum held Wednesday was co-hosted by China's National Innovation Center par Excellence in the Yangtze River Delta (NICE-YD) and Australia's University of New South Wales (UNSW). Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian sent a congratulatory letter to the forum, expressing hope for deeper cooperation in science and technology innovation. Xiao called for expanded collaboration in green and low-carbon development, health, digital economy, and artificial intelligence, emphasizing the role of the forum as a platform to foster new growth areas in bilateral cooperation. Liu Qing, director of NICE-YD, highlighted the center's efforts in international research commercialization, while representatives from leading Australian universities shared progress on commercializing research in key areas of bilateral cooperation. The Sino-Australia Innovation Forum is the first major recent event dedicated to science, technology, and industrial innovation between the two countries, linking research, industry, and markets by offering a platform for policy dialogue, project showcases, personnel exchanges, and industrial collaboration, organizers said. The forum aims to integrate both countries' innovation ecosystems by leveraging their complementary strengths, boosting industry-academia collaboration, and accelerating research commercialization for mutually beneficial cooperation, they said. ODNI Releases 29th Joint Assessment of Section 702 Compliance FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ODNI News Release No. 13-25 July 11, 2025 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), in consultation with the Department of Justice (DOJ), is publicly releasing the 29th Semiannual Assessment of Compliance with Procedures and Guidelines Issued Pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ("Joint Assessment") submitted by the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) with redactions. This Joint Assessment covers the period of 1 June 2022 through 30 November 2022. The information discussed in this Joint Assessment predates the reforms passed by Congress in the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA), which became law on 20 April 2024. As a result, none of the information or trends discussed in this assessment reflects implementation of the provisions of RISAA. About the Joint Assessments Section 702(m) of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, as amended, requires the Attorney General and the DNI to assess the Government's compliance with the Section 702 targeting, minimization, and querying procedures, as well as the Attorney General's Section 702 Acquisition Guidelines, at least once every six months. A joint team of experts from the DOJ National Security Division (NSD) and ODNI conduct regular assessments to review compliance and evaluate how agencies that receive unminimized Section 702 collection implement the authority. NSD and ODNI submit their assessments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), relevant congressional committees, and the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board through the Joint Assessments. The Joint Assessments describe how those agencies that receive unminimized information acquired under Section 702the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), and National Security Agency (NSA)implement their authority under Section 702, including agencies' internal compliance efforts, training efforts, and responsive actions to prevent recurrence of compliance issues. The Joint Assessments also include metrics and narratives describing the Government's compliance with Attorney General Guidelines and with FISC-approved targeting, minimization, and querying procedures. Key Findings of the 29th Joint Assessment During the 29th reporting period (1 June 2022 through 30 November 2022), DOJ and ODNI assessed that NSA, FBI, CIA, and NCTC continued to implement the Section 702 procedures and followed the relevant guidelines in a manner that generally reflects a focused and concerted effort by agency personnel to comply with the requirements of Section 702. DOJ and ODNI assessed that the overall compliance is a result of training, internal processes designed to identify and remediate potential compliance issues, and a continued focus by internal and external oversight personnel to ensure compliance with the applicable procedures. NSD regularly reviews FBI's compliance with its query procedures. While the FBI query compliance incident rate has historically fluctuated between reporting periods, NSD and ODNI have identified FISA queries as a compliance challenge for FBI. Beginning in the summer of 2021 and continuing throughout 2022, NSD, ODNI, and FBI invested significant resources in long-term improvements to FBI query compliance. Beginning with the period covered by the 28th Joint Assessment and continuing with this 29th Joint Assessment, those efforts have yielded significant compliance benefits. Report Redactions and Format Consistent with Executive Order 13526, when developing the redacted copy of these joint assessments, ODNI consults with DOJ, NSA, CIA, NCTC, and FBI to identify what information must be redacted because disclosure would cause exceptionally grave or serious damage to national security. This review is also conducted to ensure that information is not redacted to conceal violations of law, inefficiency, or administrative error or to prevent embarrassment to a person, organization, or agency. While certain sensitive facts must remain classified, ODNI and DOJ draft these reports with the intent of subsequent public release. Thus, when possible, classified information has been moved to footnotes; classified charts have corresponding unclassified charts with percentages; and unclassified summaries are provided before classified details. Importantly, the following types of information are unclassified and released: compliance incident rates; the categories of compliance incidents; trends and remediation efforts; and descriptions of incidents, including those affecting U.S. persons and FBI query incidents. With respect to format, DOJ and ODNI significantly shortened this report from previous iterations for readability purposes, focusing on overall trends in agency compliance rather than specific compliance incidents. FBI Remediation Efforts For further information on the FBI's remediation efforts undertaken in coordination with NSD and ODNI, please review "Recent Efforts to Strengthen FISA Compliance" and "FBI Remedial Measures" publicly available on DOJ's website at: www.justice.gov/NSD/FISA and www.justice.gov/NSD/media/1344761. For additional discussion of FBI compliance trends, please review the 2024 April and 2024 September FISC Opinions, which detail compliance incidents during recent certification periods, and assess the strength of the recent remedial measures FBI implemented to bolster compliance with its querying procedures. For further information on the query reforms required by RISAA, which the FBI has implemented since 20 April 2024, the text of the law is available here: www.congress.gov/118/plaws/publ49/PLAW-118publ49.pdf Additional Information The 29th Joint Assessment is posted in full-text searchable format on Intel.gov. This joint assessment, along with previous assessments and additional public information on national security authorities, is available on Intel.Gov/FISA. 29th Joint Assessment (dated September 2024), reporting period 1 June 2022 through 30 November 2022 ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ODNI Releases January 2025 FISC Opinion on FISA Title I FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ODNI News Release No. 14-25 July 11, 2025 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), in consultation with the Department of Justice (DOJ), publicly released a January 2025 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) opinion with redactions. In the opinion, the FISC denied the proposed use of the surveillance technique sought by the U.S. government because the FISC found that the proposed use did not meet the requirements of the FISA statute. Title I of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) requires that, prior to issuing an order authorizing electronic surveillance, the FISC must determine, among other things, that there is probable cause to believe (A) that the target of the collection is a foreign power or agent of a foreign power, and (B) that "each of the facilities or places at which the electronic surveillance is to be directed is being used, or is about to be used, by a foreign power or agent of a foreign power." 50 U.S.C. 1805(a)(2). This FISC opinion addressed novel or significant interpretations of law in the context of a classified surveillance technique where the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sought authorization to conduct electronic surveillance pursuant to Title I. To address the novel or significant issues of law, the FISC appointed an amicus curiae. In the opinion, the FISC denied the Government's application for failure to establish probable cause to believe that "each of the facilities or places at which the electronic surveillance is directed is being used, or is about to be used, by a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power." See Opinion at 1. Because the opinion contained a significant or novel construction of law, the Department of Justice produced a classified version of this opinion to the appropriate congressional committees within 45 days of its issuance. See 50 U.S.C. 1871(c). Consistent with Executive Order 13526, when developing the redacted copy of the FISC opinion, ODNI consulted with DOJ, the National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, and FBI to identify what information must remain redacted because it will cause exceptionally grave or serious damage to national security. This review was also conducted to ensure that information is not redacted to conceal violations of law, inefficiency, or administrative error or to prevent embarrassment to a person, organization or agency. The redacted information in the opinion has been redacted because releasing it would reveal sources and methods, which could cause exceptionally grave or serious damage to national security. Revealing such information would provide means for adversaries to change their behaviors and avoid detection; many of the redactions relate to detailed factual descriptions of specific targets, techniques, and technology. While the specific sensitive facts must remain classified, the legal analysis leading to the Court's finding is unclassified and being released. The document is posted in full-text searchable format on www.intel.gov. This FISC opinion is being released pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1872. This opinion, along with previous FISC opinions and additional public information on national security authorities, is available on www.dni.gov and www.intel.gov. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Contracts Contracts For July 11, 2025 NAVY Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana, is awarded a $54,730,397 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-25-C-2405) for production of 12 MT7 turboshaft engines, ancillary parts, and installation kits in support of the Ship to Shore Connector program, Landing Craft, Air Cushion 100 class craft. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be completed by June 2029. Fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $54,730,397 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1) as there is only responsible source, and no other type of property or services will satisfy the need of the agency. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Black Hills Ammunition Inc.,* Rapid City, South Dakota, is awarded a $42,480,300 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for 5.56mm Long Range, Special Ball, MK 262 MOD 1 Ammunition. This contract does not include options. Work will be performed in Rapid City, South Dakota, and is expected to be completed by July 2030. Fiscal 2025 Ammo Procurement (Coast Guard) funding in the amount of $292,644 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured on the basis of 100% Small Business Set-Aside and two offers were received via the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment Solicitation Module. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana, is the contract activity (N0016425DJN13). Lockheed Martin, Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $27,397,683 undefinitized contract action delivery order (N00383-25-F-A500), under a previously awarded contract (N00383-23-G-A501), for the procurement of seven test controller processors and 10 infrared receivers in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. All work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and work will be completed by June 2028. Aircraft procurement funds (Navy) in the amount of $13,424,865 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source requirement under authority 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), and one offer was received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a not-to-exceed $9,245,430 modification (P00004) to a cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N0001922D0001). This modification increases the contract ceiling to continue to provide non-recurring engineering support to integrate the Next Generation Jammer Low Band Pod System onto the EA-18G platform. The support includes design and qualification of platform A-kit provision, aircraft/pod system physical interface analysis, wind tunnel test, ground vibration test, technical directive development and verification, and all logistics product data to support the program life cycle. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (78%); Patuxent River, Maryland (19%); and China Lake, California (3%), and is expected to be completed in November 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of the award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competed pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. ARMY General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., Taunton, Massachusetts, was awarded a $49,883,945 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for sustainment support services in support of Communication-Electronics Command. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 11, 2030. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W15P7T-25-D-0003). Management Concepts Inc., Tysons Corner, Virginia, was awarded a $13,657,130 firm-fixed-price contract for training support services. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 13, 2031. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $13,657,130 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91CRB-25-A-A006). Michels Construction Inc., Brownsville, Wisconsin, was awarded a $12,920,514 modification (P00010) to contract W91238-22-C-0003 for the global settlement modification for Tule Spillway. Work will be performed in Porterville, California, with an estimated completion date of July 11, 2025. Fiscal 2025 civil construction funds in the amount of $12,920,514 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento, California, is the contracting activity. Varec NV, Mechelen, Belgium, was awarded an $8,782,764 firm-fixed-price contract for track pad parts. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 11, 2027. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W912CH-25-D-0067). AIR FORCE BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a $31,761,010 modification (P00095) to a previously awarded contract (FA8807-21-C-0003) for Military GPS User Equipment Increment 2 Miniature Serial Interface Receiver with Next Generation Application-Specific Integrated Circuit. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract is $339,079,346. Work will be performed at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2025. Fiscal 2025 Space Force research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $24,683,500 are being obligated at the time of award. The Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity. DittoLive Inc., Montgomery, Alabama, was awarded with a ceiling $28,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the full Ditto cloud-to-edge sync platform. This contract provides for extended work performed under a Small Business Innovation Research Phase II contract to deliver the full Ditto cloud-to-edge sync platform. Work will be performed at Atlanta, Georgia; and Montgomery, Alabama, and is expected to be complete by July 10, 2028. This contract was a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $4,188,712; and fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance appropriations funds in the amount of $1,097,000, are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Business and Enterprise Systems Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8771-25-C-0005). Welch Construction Inc., Marcellus, New York, was awarded a $7,793,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Repair/Replace HVAC Systems. This contract provides for the repair and replacement of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in the C and D Bays of Building 3. Work will be performed at Rome, New York, and is expected to be completed by January 2026. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and five offers were received. Fiscal year 2024 research, development, test and evaluation funds are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8751-25-C-0003). U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND SSA Conventional Inc., Seattle, Washington, (HTC71125DE117) has been awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a face value of $19,814,787. This contract provides stevedoring and related terminal services at the Ports of Hueneme (Ventura), San Diego, and North Island, California. The base period of performance is from Aug. 7, 2025, through Aug. 6, 2030, with an optional six-month extension through Feb. 6, 2031. The total cumulative face value, which includes a 25% ceiling, is $24,768,484.11. Working Capital Funds (Transportation) funds will be obligated for individual task orders. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Engie Resources LLC, Houston, Texas, has been awarded an estimated $11,792,954 firm-fixed-price, requirements contract to supply and deliver retail electricity and ancillary/incidental services. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. This is a two-year contract with no option periods. The location of performance is New York, with a Dec. 31, 2027, performance completion date. Using customers are Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, and Department of Energy. The using customers are solely responsible for funding this contract and funds vary in appropriation type and fiscal year. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE604-25-D-8009). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4242075/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SETAF-AF forensic team deploys expertise at sea, protects US and allied assets By Maj. Joe Legros July 10, 2025 VICENZA, Italy -- When U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) identified a need to gather evidence, the U.S. Army's Joint Theater Forensic Analysis Center (JTFAC) answered the call. Its forensic team launched into action at sea, turning expertise into real-world impact. At the request of CENTCOM and AFRICOM, JTFAC personnel deployed to collect and analyze forensic evidence from a vessel carrying Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons. The seized cargo included ballistic missile components, anti-ship ballistic missile parts and a warhead, all bound for Houthi rebel forces in Yemen. The forensic evidence helped secure a June 5, 2025, federal conviction of the ship's captain, Muhammad Pahlawan, a Pakistani national who worked closely with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, on six charges related to smuggling Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry destined for the Houthis in Yemen, as well as threatening multiple witnesses. "The JTFAC forensic team conducted rapid sensitive site exploitation at expeditionary locations, including within the maritime environment," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kyle Thomason, provost marshal for U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), which provides oversight to JTFAC operations. To meet the unique demands of a maritime environment, the team rapidly adapted its Fly Away Kit, a mobile forensic toolkit designed for land and sea missions. This self-contained toolkit enabled JTFAC scientists to conduct on-site analysis, including chemical trace detection, biometric collection, and confirmed and inventoried types of weapons and equipment aboard the vessel. The vessel's initial interdiction resulted in the deaths of two Navy SEALs off the coast of Somalia in Jan. 2024, making international headlines at the time. However, the loss of service members was not in vain. The interdiction successfully prevented anti-ship ballistic missiles from targeting U.S. and partner-nation vessels. The type of weaponry found aboard the vessel was consistent with the weapon systems used by the Houthi rebel forces during the time of the charged conspiracy against merchant ships and U.S. military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel. "The JTFAC services the Joint Interagency Intergovernmental Multinational community within AFRICOM," said Thomason. "Their mission enables U.S. and partner nation forces to accomplish AFRICOM campaign objectives." Along with AFRICOM and CENTCOM, U.S. European Command was also involved in this offshore mission, highlighting JTFAC's reach across geographic boundaries and interagency lines. "We're glad to have had the opportunity to fit into the seams of multiple commands to support this consequential operation," added Thomason. The mission not only demonstrated the center's technical capabilities, but also deepened collaboration between defense, justice and diplomatic agencies operating in the AFRICOM area of responsibility. It marked a significant milestone in JTFAC's expanding role as a forensic enabler for both military and civilian partners. "The lab is internationally accredited, meaning its scientists can serve as expert witnesses in both the U.S. and abroad," said Greg Sanson, the JTFAC liaison officer to SETAF-AF. "This comes in handy when either the U.S. or a partner nation wants to take legal action against subjects identified through our forensic analysis." JTFAC's recent support of African Lion exercises laid the groundwork for this success. During those multinational events, Forensic Exploitation Team (FXT) scientists provided hands-on training to host-nation forces in Tunisia and Morocco, covering topics such as latent fingerprint development, DNA analysis and post-blast evidence recovery. In addition, AFRICOM's exercise Cutlass Express included 21 legal advisors from 12 countries converging in Victoria, Seychelles, Feb. 10-14, 2025. The multinational team discussed legal processes and examined possible scenarios that support search and seizure operations such as the type of mission which brought about this latest conviction. "These engagements not only enhance the forensic science capabilities of our partners across the African continent, but also reinforce our center's readiness for real-world contingencies," added U.S. Army Maj. Lucas Poon, the JTFAC director at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. JTFAC's capabilities stem from both military and civilian personnel, operating under the umbrella of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID). The Army CID's Forensic Exploitation Division (FXD) staffs the majority of JTFAC positions. While the JTFAC is operationally controlled by SETAF-AF, a unique team from multiple U.S. Army commands enables this function. The FXD supports numerous annual partner nation engagements and deploys on six-month rotations as part of the JTFAC in Djibouti. "The lab's ongoing mission provides multiple other benefits to partner nations, civilians and service members who operate in this area," said Sanson. "Accurate forensic assessments lead to updated tactics, techniques and procedures, as well as revisions to protective equipment and policies to keep people safe now and into the future." As threats grow more complex and transnational, JTFAC continues to prove that science, when deployed with precision, can be a decisive force for justice and security. About SETAF-AF U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lazaro US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson July 10, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro during the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings. The Secretaries and Foreign Minister reaffirmed their shared interest in trilateral cooperation to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific and agreed to coordinate cooperation on maritime security, including through Maritime Cooperative Activities, trilateral military exercises, and capacity building and assistance for the Philippine Coast Guard and other Philippine maritime authorities. The Secretaries and Foreign Minister concurred on the need to grow our economic partnership in tandem with trilateral security ties, including by unlocking private sector investment in high impact infrastructure projects in the Luzon Economic Corridor. Secretary Rubio further highlighted the Philippines' wealth in critical minerals and stressed the need to diversify critical mineral supply chains. The officials proposed advancing trilateral cooperation in the Philippines on cyber security, energy (including civil nuclear energy), and investments in reliable and secure telecommunications networks. The officials concluded with an agreement to hold sectoral trilateral discussions at the senior officials' level in coming months to advance our shared desire for peace and security in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 10 July 2025 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General. ** Guests Today and Tomorrow Our guest today, who is joining us online, is Angeli Achrekar, the Assistant Secretary-General of UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme Against HIV/AIDS). She will join us virtually to discuss the launch of the 2025 Global AIDS Update, entitled "AIDS, Crisis and the Power to Transform". For those of you who don't have it, there is a report and QR code in the back if you want to take a look at it. Tomorrow will be Friday, but it will be a busy day. At 11 a.m., there will be a briefing by Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) Representative in Afghanistan. He will join us virtually to discuss the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. Then, at noon, my guest will be Carl Skau, who as you know is the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP). He will be here in person to brief you on his recent visit to Gaza. ** Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 Also, on Monday, I want to flag that Monday is 14 July; in addition to being Bastille Day, it is also the day that the Secretary-General will be here to launch in person the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Report 2025. He will be joined by the Deputy-Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, and our Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua. That will be at 12:45 p.m., just after the briefing. I do expect the Secretary-General to take one or two questions before leaving the Deputy Secretary-General and Mr. Li to answer questions on the report. ** Francesca Albanese A number of you, in fact a large number of you have asked me questions about our reactions to the sanctions imposed by the United States on Francesca Albanese, and I can say to you that the imposition of sanctions on special rapporteurs is a dangerous precedent. Francesca Albanese, like all other Special UN Human Rights Rapporteurs, is an independent human rights expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council and reporting to the Human Rights Council. Special rapporteurs do not report to the Secretary-General, and he has no authority over them or their work. That being said, Member States are perfectly entitled to their views and to disagree with the reports by the special rapporteurs, but we encourage them to engage with the UN human rights architecture. The use of unilateral sanctions against Special Rapporteurs, or any other UN expert or official is unacceptable. ** Occupied Palestinian Territory Turning to the situation in Gaza, you have been asking us about the dire fuel shortages in the Gaza Strip, and I promised you an update, and I can share one with you that was given to us by our good colleagues in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). And they tell us that yesterday, a UN team managed to bring about 75,000 litres of fuel from Israel into the Gaza Strip. That is the first such provision in 130 days. As we mentioned yesterday, we and our humanitarian partners need hundreds of thousands of litres of fuel each day to keep essential life-saving and life-sustaining operations going, meaning the amount entered yesterday isn't sufficient to cover even one day of energy requirements. Fuel is still running out, and services will shut down if greater volumes do not enter Gaza Strip immediately. One partner, for instance, reported to us that this week that in a matter of days, fuel shortages could cut off supplies of clean drinking water to about 44,000 children that depend on that water source. The lack of fresh water would further increase the risk of waterborne illnesses such as cholera, diarrhoea and dysentery. Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues its operations across the Gaza Strip, including shelling and ground incursions. This morning, people waiting to get nutritional supplements were reportedly struck in Deir al Balah. According to Al-Aqsa Hospital, the attack resulted in dozens of casualties, the majority of whom were women and children. In a statement issued a short while ago, Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), said she was appalled by the reported killing of 15 Palestinians, including nine children and four women, who were just waiting in line for nutritional supplies for their children. And I can tell you that we, yet again, condemn the killing of civilians in Gaza. OCHA stresses that parties are bound by international humanitarian law to prevent such excessive death and injury of civilians in the midst of war. All parties must take all feasible precautions to avoid and minimize civilian harm, and indiscriminate attacks are strictly prohibited. Another strike today reportedly hit the office of a humanitarian partner in Gaza City; three staff were killed. Yesterday, our partners providing education services said that between October 2023 and June of this year, 626 temporary learning spaces have been established in Gaza, with 240,000 students enrolled, about half of those students are girls. However, our partners say that only 299 spaces are currently operational due to the ongoing displacement orders, funding shortfalls and other challenges. Our humanitarian partners, including first responders, health workers, and aid workers, continue to deliver food and other assistance under intolerable conditions, and they themselves are facing hunger. A number of our own colleagues are also facing hunger. They also face water scarcity and threats to their personal safety, just like everyone else in Gaza. As we said, time and again: This catastrophic situation must end. A ceasefire is not only urgent, it is long overdue, and all of the hostages need to be released unconditionally and immediately. Turning to the West Bank, our humanitarian colleagues there report and continue to warn of the intensification of operations by Israeli forces in the northern areas. These operations are causing massive destruction, driving further humanitarian needs and dampening hopes of thousands of displaced families that they will eventually be able to go back home. Meanwhile, attacks, harassment and intimidation by Israeli settlers against Palestinians have become a daily reality including a settler attack on 3 July that led to the displacement of the Mu'arrajat East Bedouin community in central West Bank. This is the ninth community to be fully displaced in the Ramallah and Jericho areas since January 2023 following the recurrent attacks by Israeli settlers. ** Lebanon Turning to Lebanon, this morning, in southern Lebanon, our UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) peacekeepers faced aggressive behaviour by a group of individuals. During a patrol in Sector West, several individuals blocked the peacekeepers and began throwing stones at them. Our peacekeepers were forced to use non-lethal smoke grenades to disperse the crowd. The Lebanese Armed Forces arrived at the scene and the situation was brought under control. As a reminder, any attack against peacekeepers is a serious violation of Security Council resolution 1701, and we call on the Lebanese authorities to bring the perpetrators to account. Yesterday, UN peacekeepers also discovered two unauthorized weapons caches in Sector West, including three tunnels containing a non-operational military cannon, as well as operational rockets and explosives. The day before, UNIFIL also found unauthorized ammunition boxes in Sector East. All of these caches were referred to the Lebanese Armed Forces for disposal. In southern Lebanon, our UNIFIL colleagues report military presence of Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as well as air and ground activities, including in the area of Kafr Kila. Yesterday, peacekeepers observed 11 IDF activities in the area of operations. Our UNIFIL colleagues continue to impartially monitor and report on violations of resolution 1701 and support the parties in fulfilling their responsibilities under the resolution, as mandated by the Security Council. ** Ukraine Moving to Ukraine, the UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, says that overnight strikes by the Russian armed forces on the capital, Kyiv, caused several civilians casualties. Four districts were hit during the attacks, damaging residential buildings, a clinic and a TV channel facility. An outpatient clinic was also destroyed. Meanwhile, authorities also report civilian casualties following missile and drone attacks across the country. In the Donetsk region, 9 people were killed and 10 were injured, with damage to nearly 70 homes in 20 towns and villages in the area. The regions of Kherson, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia were also impacted with reports of additional casualties and damages to civilian infrastructure, including an ambulance and health facility. Overnight attacks also struck four more regions, Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava and Kropyvnytskyi, as part of the continued pattern of widespread strikes beyond front-line areas. Humanitarian teams provided psychological support, hot meals, and repair materials. For its part, our UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) today said that June saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in three years in Ukraine, with 232 people killed and [1,343] injured. In its monthly update on the protection of civilians, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine notes that last month the Russian Federation launched 10 times more missile and loitering munitions attacks against Ukraine than in June of 2024. Virtually no region of Ukraine was spared, regardless of the distance from the front line. Our UN Human Rights colleagues in Ukraine also said that the figures for June confirmed this year's worsening trend, with 6,754 civilians killed or injured in the first half of 2025. This is a sharp 54 per cent rise from the corresponding period last year, in 2024. Also today, the UN Children's Fund said that around 70 per cent of children in Ukraine, that is 3.5 million children, now lack access to basic goods and services, including adequate food or shelter. According to UNICEF, a third of Ukraine's children live in homes without functioning water supply and sewage and nearly half of them lack access to an area to play at home or outside. ** Sudan Turning to Sudan, where the situation is not getting better and our colleagues tell us that as the country's cholera outbreak continues to worsen. Tom Fletcher, our Emergency Relief Coordinator, today allocated $5 million to support the urgent response efforts. The new funding will allow us to scale up time-critical health, water, sanitation and hygiene activities to stem further spread of cholera. However, more resources are needed without delay: humanitarian partners require $50 million to sustain cholera response operations through the end of 2025. Our humanitarian colleagues warn that the outbreak is being fuelled by ongoing conflict, mass displacement and the collapse of public health and water systems. Since July of last year, Sudanese health authorities have reported more than 84,000 suspected cases and over 2,100 deaths across 17 of Sudan's 18 states, with upwards of 33,000 cases recorded this year alone. However, our partners on the ground warn that underreporting may be masking the true scale of the outbreak. More than 33.5 million people, including 5.7 million children under the age of 5, are at risk of cholera. Our humanitarian colleagues say that Khartoum, Aj Jazirah, Gedaref and White Nile states account for more than 70 per cent of all reported cases. Khartoum alone has reported more than 23,400 suspected cases. The outbreak is now expanding in Darfur, with cross-border transmission reported into Chad and South Sudan. OCHA warns that the ongoing rainy season, which lasts through October, threatens to worsen the crisis by contaminating water sources and driving further infections. It is critical that donors and the international community step up, urgently scale up support to prevent further spread of this deadly disease and to save lives. ** Somalia Turning to Somalia, where humanitarian colleagues say that clashes in the town of Moqokori in the Hiraan region in the centre of the country have intensified since last week, displacing thousands of civilians. Six health facilities in the area have suspended operations due to security concerns, cutting off access to essential healthcare and emergency services for thousands of vulnerable people. Continued fighting has also compromised water sources and supply routes, significantly increasing the risk of malnutrition and disease outbreaks among the displaced population. Our humanitarian partners and local authorities are working to verify how many people have been displaced and to assess options on how best to deliver assistance. More than 58,000 people have been forced to flee due to armed conflict between Government forces and non-State armed groups in the Hiraan and Middle Shabelle regions since January. ** Democratic Republic of the Congo A couple more notes, one from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where peacekeepers have established two mobile operating bases in the villages of Ofaye and Bakunvutu in Djugu territory, in the Ituri territory. These mobile bases will help peacekeepers to respond quickly to local threats posed by armed groups in the areas. The deployments will remain operation until mid-July and are part of Operation Uttor Bhumi, which was launched in March 2025, to help strengthen local security and support broader mission objectives, including by providing protection for quick Impact Projects such as the rehabilitation of a local administrative office in Ofaye and to support the outcomes of a recent dialogue between armed groups that we have been telling you about. In North Kivu Province, suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) carried out attacks on 7 and 8 July in two locations west of Eringeti, resulting in the deaths of six civilians. The peacekeeping Mission condemns these acts of violence and continues to deploy patrols in ADF hotspots to facilitate the freedom of movement of civilians and access to farming areas. ** Libya Our Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) strongly urges all parties in Libya to refrain from using force, particularly in densely populated areas, and to avoid any actions or political rhetoric that could trigger escalation or lead to renewed clashes. The Mission continues its efforts to help de-escalate the situation in and around the capital city of Tripoli and calls on all parties to engage in good faith towards this end. The UN Mission urges the swift implementation of security arrangements developed by the Truce and Security and Military Arrangements Committees, which the Mission continues to support. Forces recently deployed in Tripoli must withdraw from that city without delay. ** UN Environment Programme Lastly, a report released today by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) finds that annual heat-related deaths among older persons have risen by an estimated 85 per cent since the 1990s. The report recommends proactive urban planning that prioritizes age-friendly, resilient cities with reduced pollution and improved accessibility. UNEP also recommends expanded green spaces to safeguard this vulnerable population, who form an increasingly dominant part of the world population. ** Questions and Answers Spokesman : Edie and then Gabriel. Question : Thank you, Steph, on fuel for Gaza: You mentioned how much got in yesterday. Did the UN try again today to get in more fuel? And did anything happen? Spokesman : No. There's no new fuel. We keep asking, and we keep wanting for more fuel to get in, but no new mission is going on today. Gabriel? Question : Thank you, Steph. Does the Secretary-General support Francesca Albanese on a personal level? Spokesman : Look. I think the Secretary-General respects the work of all UN human rights rapporteurs. Their work is extremely important. It's an extremely important part of the human rights architecture. His point is that targeted unilateral sanctions against UN officials, against UN experts, which Ms. Albanese is, are just unacceptable. Question : And has the Secretary-General sent any communique or anything? Spokesman : I don't know. We're in the process of answering a letter from Ambassador [Dorothy] Shea. Javier? Question : On the same issue, Steph, did she plan to come to New York, Ms. Albanese, in the coming weeks? Spokesman : I don't know. You'd have to ask her or human rights colleagues. Question : If she comes, the issue is will she be able to enter the country and to access the United Nations to brief Security Council? Spokesman : I mean, the access to the building is not an issue. Access to where the UN office is, in this particular case in New York, has to do with the United States. They grant the visas. The US, there is a Host Country Agreement in which they are bound to facilitate the travel of UN officials, experts, and diplomats, just like headquarters agreements that we have in other places where we have headquarters. Benny, then Ibtisam. Question : So, a couple of questions. First of all, Albanese, there have been some condemnations by other countries other than the US of her work as antisemitic, including France, which you mentioned in the context of July 14. Does that enter into the calculation of the unacceptable line? Spokesman : Look. The Secretary-General is not in the business of commenting on the work of the special rapporteurs. They're independent. Those mandates are given to them by Member States. Special rapporteurs, as I told Gabriel, have an important role to play in the human rights architecture. If Member States are unhappy with the work of special rapporteurs and, frankly, if you look at the series of special rapporteurs who have country-based or thematic-based mandates, there are a lot of Member States who are not happy with one or different special rapporteurs at different times. That's their right. But our message is engage diplomatically with the UN human rights architecture and don't issue targeted sanctions. Question : On another topic in your chronicling of West Bank issues, I'm sorry if I missed that because I was, like, looking at something else. But did you mention today's murder of an Israeli in Gush Etzion? Spokesman : It's not in my reporting, but I can tell you that we condemn the killings of all civilians, whether they be Israelis or Palestinians. Question : You did talk about violence by settlers, but this was violence by anti-settlers. Spokesman : So, if I can refer you back to the various regular reports by senior officials to the Security Council, violence against civilians is routinely condemned, whether it's conducted by Israelis or Palestinians. Question : Oh, yeah. But you talked today, not in various reports. You talked today about violence, and you do, as you do every day, and you failed to mention this one. Spokesman : Well, you know, I think that's the one thing you and Abdelhamid will agree on is I failed to mention everything that can please either one of you. Ibtisam? Question : Thank you. A follow-up on Albanese. Human Rights Watch issued a statement on this issue, and I'm going to read one online in which they say UN and ICC (International Criminal Court) member countries should strongly resist the US Government's shamelessness efforts to block justice for the world's worst crimes. Spokesman : Sorry, this is Human Rights Watch or UN Watch? Question : Human Rights. Spokesman : Human rights, okay. Sorry. Question : Human Rights Watch. So, in their statement, they also say that Governments should strongly resist the war and condemn the outrageous sanction on Albanese. So, I guess my question here, the following: These attacks on Albanese comes, they are not isolated. They... there were attacks against UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency), attacks against Navi Pillay and her committee and like, in any human rights, even UN Human Rights are not able to get visas to Israel, international staff, etc. So, what is that? And if you remember also, Israel actually declared a few years ago six Palestinian human rights organizations and humanitarian organizations as terrorist organizations. And yet, we have constantly the reaction from your office. Yes. You don't agree with these steps that taken by US or Israel, but there is no clear public condemnations and what are you doing? What is the Secretary-General going to protect Albanese and Navi Pillay and all these human rights workers for the UN? Spokesman : With due respect, I think what I read out today was pretty clear. I'm not going to disagree with the points, the examples that you've raised. But, you know, let's take a step back and look at the attacks on the UN human rights architecture across the board. There are a lot of countries who face country mandates who don't allow their special rapporteurs to get in. We had the case of Venezuela not too long ago that expelled our human rights colleagues. And I think this folds into what the Secretary-General referred to 10 days ago when he spoke about the Charter and saying that it was really unacceptable for Member States to have an a la carte approach to the Charter, to have an a la carte approach to the UN's human rights architecture, which was not drawn up by Antonio Guterres. It was drawn up by Member States themselves. All of these Member States have put their signature to this system, engage with it, work with it, that is our message. Yes, sir. Question : Hi, Steph. So, reports have come out that the intergovernmental organization, BRICS, is increasingly trying to challenge the US dollar and the US-led economic order, to which President Donald Trump publicly responded by threatening to impose tariffs on any State that allies with or complies with this bloc. My question to you is, has the Secretary-General been contacting any lead officials of BRICS since the recent summit, and does he view their attempted expansion as beneficial or harmful to international peace? Thank you. Spokesman : Look, Secretary-General was at the BRICS Summit, as you well know. You know, it's not the role of the Secretary-General to get involved in payment systems and all those things. But I think his message has been very clear. We do not want to see more divisions in the global economic system, in the global trade system. Again, as for human rights, there is a global trade architecture that was created by Member States. Use that, work with it, and ensure that it is fair to all. Abdelhamid? Question : Thank you. Albanese put a report to the Human Rights Council. It's called "From the Economy of Occupation to the Economy of Genocide". In fact, it mentioned a number of companies like IBM, Microsoft, and others who are helping Israel with committing this war of genocide. Does the SG feel that what this information are valid, and it should be highlighted, and he should express his concern about these companies? Spokesman : I mean, it doesn't need the SG to be highlighted. I think it's getting quite a lot of coverage as it is. Again, the Secretary-General is not going to be drawn into commenting on the work of these independent rapporteurs. I think his message to the private sector, as it always has been, is that the private sector has a critical role to play in ensuring that human rights are respected in their day-to-day work. Question : Thank you. My second question, 82 Palestinians were killed in the last 24 hours. And by the way, the man who was killed is a soldier and is not civilian. [cross talk] I'm sorry to say that, but 82 Palestinians, including those who were lining for food near the GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Fund). So now the number had reached over 57,700 Palestinian killed and 137,000 wounded. You normally remind us of the numbers. Why you stopped? Spokesman : Abdelamid, with all due respect, I talked about what happened today. I talked about the children that were killed waiting to get nutritional supplements. We condemn their killing. I convey to you the information that I have. Alex? Question : Thanks, Steph. Firstly, on Iran, is there any progress between Iran and IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) on the Iran nuclear issue? Spokesman : Please call Vienna. Question : Sure. All right, secondly, quick follow-up on Ms. Albanese, so just to make it clear. Spokesman : Sorry, go ahead. Sorry. Question : On Ms. Albanese. As for now, we don't know what the consequences of these sanctions will be. Right? Is it correct? Spokesman : Well, my understanding from what I've seen publicly reported is that she will not be allowed, unlikely to receive a visa to come to United States. Question : Can I have one more? Spokesman : Oh, please. Question : Russia's [Sergey] Lavrov met with Secretary [Marco] Rubio today. Do have any comments on that? Spokesman : As you know, my standard comment is we always welcome dialogue. Thank you. Excellent. Evelyn, did you have a question? Question : Yes. Spokesman : Yes. Please go ahead. Question : I have a couple of questions. First of all, Ms. Albanese, I have read every single word she's written. I find her full of errors, antisemitic. But... Spokesman : Sorry. But what is your question? Question : Yeah. So, my question is, I don't see how anyone who's such a bad researcher and has no nuances can be admired. And secondly, on Russia, does Russia give the United Nations any explanation of how killing innocent civilians will help their conquest of Ukraine? Spokesman : I think if you are looking for Member States to explain their position, I would encourage you to read what they tell the Security Council. Yes, ma'am? Question : I didn't understand your answer. Spokesman : What I'm saying, I mean, I think that Russia, like other countries, explains its position when in a debate on Ukraine in the Security Council. So, I would encourage you to read what they say. Yes, ma'am? Question : I think, following Albanese report, the UN did receive a lot of response being called like, including, Google cofounder Sergey Brin called the United Nations transparently antisemitic in response to the report. Does UN have any response to those comments? Spokesman : I can tell you, I speak for the Secretary-General, and I think his record on speaking out against antisemitism is unimpeachable. And from the time he's been Secretary-General to his previous roles, including as Prime Minister of Portugal. [inaudible comment from crowd] It's okay. Don't be sorry because I know you're not. But go ahead. Question : I just I mean, there is a lot of conflating of criticizing the Government of Israel and antisemitism, especially from those who criticize especially who are not happy with different organizations, including actually Israeli organizations who are highlighting the human rights violations in Israel, etc. So, does the Secretary-General believe that criticizing the Government of Israel is antisemitic? And when are you... yeah. Spokesman : I think people need to have the intellectual bandwidth to separate antisemitism from legitimate criticism of the actions of the Government of Israel. Linda? Question : Thank you, Steph. I propose Albanese, is there any information we can get in terms of... you had you alluded to, you know, many countries don't cooperate, or a number of countries don't cooperate with UN rapporteurs. They don't let them into the countries, et cetera. Is there any way, maybe a press conference or some kind of briefing, rather, to get a sense of really the level of cooperation by nation States around the world towards these rapporteurs? Spokesman : I mean, listen. We can ask our human rights colleagues, and I think your colleagues in Geneva can ask the question. But I think you could pretty quickly look at all the country mandates that special rapporteurs have given to them by the Human Rights Council and see which... how many of those special rapporteurs have been allowed to visit the countries they're reporting on. And I think that number will be pretty low. Abdelhamid and then Benny. Question : Thank you. I hope you will be patient with me. Two questions. One, the settlers today conducted a wedding inside Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebrew. Is that a human, is that a civilized way? Spokesman : I'm not aware of that specific case, but I think we've spoken extensively about the issues of settlers. Question : My second question, is the SG worried about the world we live in when a super-Power tries to impose its vision on other countries? Like, President Trump asking Brazil to drop the charges against [Jair] Bolsonaro. He asked Israel also not to try [Benjamin] Netanyahu. He imposes sanctions on UN officials and ICC, Albanese, and many other. What kind of a world that the SG can...? Spokesman : I mean, I think, listen, if you look at the SG's recent comments, as I alluded to Ibtisam, his view on where the Charter is and the respect for the Charter is, I think you can draw your own conclusions. And I think if you look at most of his General Assembly speeches and how they start, they don't really start by painting a rosy picture. Speaking of rosy pictures, Benny. Question : Very rosy today. Steph, so I know that you make this distinction every time we talk about this issue, saying these are independent rapporteurs and have nothing to do with the Secretary-General. But, you know, I mean, people outside this room and everywhere else say "the UN says" and then quote Albanese. So, is the Secretary-General concerned that the image that Albanese, I mean, you refused to talk about the content, none of your business, but is it concerned that that reflects on the UN in the eyes of most people in the world who are not in this room? Spokesman : We trust you and all the other journalists to explain what the UN is and what the UN is not. And let's face it. You know, we have on one hand the world's most recognizable logo, but by design, no brand management, so many people can speak with the UN logo behind them or in front of them. The SG has the authority or the non-authority that he has given to him by the Charter, and we hope that people take the time to truly understand that when they're not happy about the UN, they actually target the criticism to which part of the UN that they're not happy about. Are they not happy about the special rapporteurs? Are they not happy about the legislative bodies of this Organization? Are they not happy about the Secretary-General? Let's be precise. Question : But he also has a very able spokesman, as far as I know, who isn't it also part of the for the better word public relations of the UN, not only to explain that she is not part of the Secretariat, but also to opine on what she actually says, because everybody says, "the UN says". Spokesman : I try to do my job to the best of my limited ability, and I hope you all do yours in helping the global public understand the UN better. Efraim, and then we have to go to our guest, who's been extremely patient. Question : I have a very quick one, also on Ms. Albanese. Is it safe to assume that the Secretary-General, if he had heard her say anything antisemitic, he would call her and condemn her? Spokesman : The Secretary-General is not in the business of grading or commenting on what special rapporteurs say. Question : But if it is antisemitism, he would not just let it pass. Right? Spokesman : He has been very outspoken on the issue of antisemitism. On that note, I would ask you to please stay and join us to greet our patient guest who is here to present the global UNAIDS report, so thank you very much for your patience, and if we could put the guest up on the screen. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Number of severely malnourished children doubles in North Darfur as nutrition crisis deepens across Sudan UNICEF Alarming 46 per cent rise in children diagnosed with malnutrition across Darfur underscores urgent need for access and aid across conflict-affected region 10 July 2025 PORT SUDAN, 11 July 2025 -- Alarming new data from UNICEF reveals a 46 per cent surge in the number of children being treated for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) across Sudan's five Darfur states between January and May 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. In North Darfur alone, more than 40,000 children were admitted for treatment for SAM in the first five months of the year - double the number for the same period last year. The most recent surveys* across five areas in Darfur (April-May 2025) reveal a deeply alarming increase in child malnutrition. In 9 out of 13 localities, the rate of acute malnutrition has surpassed emergency levels set by the World Health Organization. In Yasin locality in East Darfur, the survey conducted at the onset of the lean season in May shows a global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate - consisting of severe and moderate acute malnutrition - reaching 28 per cent. If that number rises to 30 per cent, it will meet one of three critical thresholds used to determine a famine. This data signals an escalating catastrophe for children unless urgent action is taken, in a country where famine is already occurring in several areas. "Children in Darfur are being starved by conflict and cut off from the very aid that could save them," said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative for Sudan. "Even before the lean season fully takes hold, these numbers are dangerously high and will likely worsen without swift humanitarian action. This is a moment of truth; children's lives depend on whether the world chooses to act or look away." The situation is equally alarming in other parts of the country. SAM admissions rose by more than 70 per cent in North Kordofan, by 174 per cent in Khartoum State, and by a staggering 683 per cent in Al Jazirah State. In Al Jazirah, and Khartoum, the increase in admission rates likely partially reflects an improvement in security and humanitarian access, improving the ability of mothers to reach health centres for support. With Sudan now in the peak of the lean season, the risk of mass child mortality is growing rapidly in areas already near famine thresholds. Cholera outbreaks, measles cases, and collapsing health services are compounding the crisis, putting vulnerable children at greater risk. SAM, also known as severe wasting, is the most lethal form of malnutrition. Children with SAM are extremely vulnerable to life-threatening complications and have a high mortality rate if given inadequate or inappropriate care. They require immediate, intensive treatment. Since April, conflict in North Darfur - particularly around Al Fasher and Zamzam camp - has intensified. Entire neighbourhoods have been besieged, hospitals bombed, and roads blocked. Aid convoys face looting and attacks. Humanitarian access is now almost entirely cut off. UNICEF managed to deliver a batch of supplies to Al Fasher early this year but attempts to send more have been thwarted by insecurity. Supplies of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) in Al Fasher are now exhausted. Health facilities in and around Zamzam have shut down, while water shortages and poor sanitation raise the threat of cholera and other deadly diseases continuing to spread. The crisis is displacing hundreds of thousands. In April alone, nearly 400,000 people fled Zamzam, with many walking up to 70 km to reach Tawila. In Tawila, over 500,000 displaced people now crowd into public buildings or sleep in the open, with limited food, water or shelter. UNICEF and partners are doing everything possible to save lives - from treating the wounded and malnourished, to drilling wells and distributing food - but the violence continues to drive new needs faster than they can be met. UNICEF is urgently calling for: All parties to facilitate rapid, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access to affected populations in Darfur and the Kordofans. The international community to fully fund the humanitarian response and ensure uninterrupted supply chains for therapeutic food and medical supplies. Renewed diplomatic pressure on all parties for a cessation of hostilities to allow lifesaving assistance to reach children. UNICEF requires an additional US$ 200 million this year to sustain and expand essential nutrition services, including treatment for severe acute malnutrition and delivery of therapeutic food. ##### Notes for editors: * The Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions surveys (known as SMART surveys) are a method for assessing the nutritional status of a population, particularly in emergency contexts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address First-of-its-Kind, Renewably Powered Ocean Buoy to Enhance NPS Research and 5G Maritime Communication Applications US Navy 10 July 2025 From Dan Linehan Floating in Monterey Bay, California, five miles north of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) campus, a self-powered ocean buoy will showcase a unique combination of oceanographic and meteorological sensors with 5G communication technologies for real-time, 24/7 scientific and maritime observations. Developed in collaboration with Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) and AT&T, the NPS buoy research project will demonstrate a host of undersea, surface and atmospheric sensors with a 5G maritime base station and data relay. Extending 5G connectivity beyond the reach of traditional coastal networks also promises in the future to bring the benefits of high-speed data to mariners limited by cellular, VHF radio and more expensive satellite communication. The NPS project utilizes an OPT PowerBuoy as a technology demonstrator with various sensors powered by solar and wind. The buoy is certified safe for use in the Monterey Bay, including environmental and marine sanctuary requirements, and is securely anchored with three moorings to ensure stability and near-line-of-sight communication with the NPS campus. "This ocean buoy project is part of an overall effort to increase our maritime sensing and experimentation capabilities right here in Monterey," said Kevin Smith, the principal investigator who is an acoustics researcher and chair of the physics department at NPS. "And it provides an opportunity for collaborative ocean research throughout the Monterey Bay community." Monterey Bay is home to a wealth of important scientific institutions and marine laboratories, which are invited to utilize the data collected by the buoy for collaborative research. NPS has existing partnerships and collaborations with the U.S. Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Naval Research Lab, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and the Western Flyer, a historic vessel once used by John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts for marine science re-equipped with current meteorology instrumentation in collaboration with NPS for STEM education at sea. Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station has already installed a passive acoustic receiver on the buoy for detecting great white sharks carrying acoustic tags as well as other species in Monterey Bay. Oceanographic and meteorological data continuously collected by the NPS sensors on the buoy will be available for use by other researchers and academic institutions in the area that study the Monterey Bay, such as the University of California at Santa Cruz, San Jose State University, and Cal State University Monterey Bay, which recently signed an educational partnership agreement with NPS. "The buoy project provides a new persistent capability for real-time sensing and networking with the shore and with autonomous systems above, on, and below the water's surface," Smith added. "So, it supports science as well as applied research in naval operations and maritime domain awareness needs of the U.S. Navy." Study of the sea in support of naval warfighting has always been a focus of NPS to ensure maritime advantage in any climate and in all weather. Understanding and accurately predicting operational environments remains critical to effective force planning, readiness, and warfighter resilience that NPS enables as a center of academic excellence for the U.S. Navy and DOD. "Our PowerBuoy allows true multi-domain flexibility from seabed to space," said OPT's CEO Philipp Stratmann. "We have deployed PowerBuoys around the globe, and this one will be leased to NPS. PowerBuoys give the ability to deploy sensors, collect data, and do things in the ocean that wouldn't be possible otherwise. They can open huge parts of our world's oceans to operations for persistent and resident data collection that meets maritime security and protection needs." OPT integrated its Maritime Domain Awareness Solution (MDAS) into the NPS buoy research project, enabling it to autonomously monitor surface vessel activity. It has a transponder for the Automated Identification System (AIS)the common tracking system used by a ship to communicate its identification, location, heading, speed, and other details over VHF radio signals. MDAS also has a surface search radar and a high-definition infrared camera that can detect ships and boats that aren't operating with AIS. Stratmann added, "For marine protected areas, our PowerBuoys networked together could detect who's entering and operating in them. This allows improved enforcement and prosecution when violations occur. From a Navy perspective, it's trying to keep bad actors out of certain locations in the ocean. Now it has the means to monitor these locations on a permanent basis." With power generation optimized for Monterey Bay's location, the OPT PowerBuoy's solar panels and wind turbines charge high-capacity, safe marine batteries that store enough electrical energy to make its operations completely self-sufficient. The marine battery composition is also more chemically and thermally stable than what's found inside the common lithium-based batteries powering personal electronics. 5G AT SEA 5G maritime base stations bring promise to revolutionize naval and commercial shipping, as 5G has done ashore. Costing far less than satellite data usage, 5G base stations at sea can provide internet access, high-speed data transmission, and communication capabilities to vessels operating further from shore than existing 4G or Wi-Fi networks can reach. Future 5G maritime networks can utilize a "multi-hop" concept where signals are passed from buoy base stations, one ship to another, and to shore with a data link enabling real-time access to ship systems, weather and navigational updates, and more efficient operations through remote control and automation. "5G is especially important in maritime environments where more and more ships and unmanned vehicles are working together," said AT&T program manager retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Robby Schimelpfening, also an NPS alumnus of the space systems operations curriculum. "We think that 5G technology certainly has a place to play in the command-and-control structure that the industry and Navy is looking to deploy in the future." While promising, 5G at sea research needs to solve challenges related to signal propagation, harsh environmental conditions, and the need for robust and reliable infrastructure in the littorals. In 2021, NPS and AT&T signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) for 5G at sea research, and will use a Limited Purpose CRADA with NPS for this buoy project. "Installed on top of the OPT PowerBuoy is the first AT&T 5G maritime base station ever put at sea," added Schimelpfening. "There's great utility in having 5G communications capabilities for both tactical users, like NPS, and typical commercial users." The buoy's 5G signal range is limited to about a half-mile radius, but mariners within this bubble can make 5G calls, which are relayed through directional microwave antennae between the buoy and NPS, a system commonly used to provide broadband access. While the buoy's three-point mooring system keeps it secure and aligned for connectivity, AT&T's system can make active adjustments to the signal beam to compensate for small movements by the buoy, as well. To give the buoy flexible communication options, the project also includes broadband satellite access using Starlink. The ability to switch between communication networks supports Navy research in network robustness and resilience, aspects critical to operations in remote maritime environments. MARITIME SENSING For the initial effort, researchers from the NPS oceanography department added sensors to track current throughout the water column, conductivity to measure salinity, and water temperature at different positions up and down the buoy. Onboard sensors and future instruments to be added by the NPS meteorology department will measure a variety of atmospheric data points. NPS Faculty Associate Ryan Yamaguchi is the lead for the meteorology portion of the project. "The general lack of data over the maritime environment prevents improving the accuracy of weather and ocean modelling, essential for naval operations, especially at the air-sea interface," said Yamaguchi. "It is critical to sample the near-surface processes with high-fidelity, in-situ measurement systems, which the OPT buoy platform will allow researchers to sample. Over the life of the project, various sensors can be employed and this data will provide not only deeper insight into the complex science of the atmosphere and ocean system but can also investigate Navy relevant applications such as propagation effects of acoustics in the water and electromagnetics in the air." All these sensors collect important data needed for improving prediction models such as NEPTUNE, the Navy's new weather forecasting model. "There's a lot of complexity in numerically modeling how the atmosphere couples to the ocean," said Professor Emeritus Tim Stanton, a buoy expert in NPS' oceanography department. "This project takes advantage of the large power source available on the buoy and its very high bandwidth 5G data communications back to NPS. The buoy will give us an opportunity to better understand some of the processes that are difficult to capture in the current Navy models." Long-term, high-resolution measurements of ocean currents from the surface to the seafloor help scientists understand how wind at the surface transfers energy into the ocean. This energy moves through the upper mixed layerabout 50 feet deepand into deeper water. Stanton added, "Below the mixed layer, differences in water density support strong, slow-moving, tidal-forced, internal waves that come in from the edge of the continental shelf. These long-term observations help researchers study the various forces that drive ocean currents, which in turn improves the accuracy of the Navy's high-resolution ocean-atmosphere models." Equipped with a subsea umbilical connector, the buoy's future capability extends below the surface of the water where it can connect with undersea sensors and systems. For example, the NPS physics, oceanography, and mechanical engineering departments all have ongoing research into underwater acoustics and communication networks for potential submarine and autonomous underwater vehicle research. To deploy the buoy in the Monterey Bay, NPS worked with local, state and federal agencies to ensure requirements for safety and environmental considerations were met, including NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (permit MBNMS-2024-005); California State Lands and Coastal Commissions; Long Beach Office Branch Chief, Protected Resources Division, for the West Coast region, National Marine Fisheries Service; and the Naval Region Southwest, Fleet Environmental Coordinator. "It takes a great deal of effort and cooperation to do this right," said Smith who credits Mike Richardson, director of NPS' Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX), for spearheading the buoy integration and deployment. "I'd like to thank the many people involved who, over the years, made this buoy project possible, and we look forward to the discoveries ahead with our students, faculty, and research partners." More at the NPS Buoy Project Page: https://nps.edu/web/physics/ocean-sensing-buoy (Participating organizations mentioned does not constitute endorsement for their products or services by the Naval Postgraduate School, the Department of the Navy, or the Department of Defense.) Established in 1909, Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) provides defense-focused graduate education, including classified studies and interdisciplinary research, to advance the operational effectiveness, technological leadership and warfighting advantage of the Naval service. Located in Monterey, California, NPS offers master's and doctoral programs for U.S. military and civilians, federal agencies, allied militaries and partner nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Forging Strength Through Partnership: U.S. and Jordan Launch Native Fury 25 U.S. Central Command News | July 11, 2025 By Maged L. Benjamin-Elias U.S. Central Command Public Affairs AMMAN, Jordan -- Against the backdrop of desert terrain and fortified training zones, the roar of helicopters, the rumble of armored vehicles, and the sharp cadence of boots on gravel signaled the beginning of Exercise Native Fury 25a powerful demonstration of unity, strength, and strategic readiness between the United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Now in its 10th iteration, Native Fury 25 was officially launched last month under the joint leadership of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command (USMARCENT) and the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF). The biannual exercise, held within the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility, brings together more than 600 U.S. Marines, sailors, and soldiers from across II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Forces Central Command, the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, and various supporting units. Designed as a proving ground for joint operations, Native Fury 25 focuses on enhancing bilateral military cooperation, improving interoperability, and testing the ability to rapidly deploy, maneuver, and sustain combat-ready forces across key Jordanian terrain. "Native Fury continues to showcase the strong and enduring partnership between the United States and Jordan," said Captain Jasmine Scott, spokesperson for USMARCENT. "This exercise reflects our ability to conduct complex logistical and operational tasks with our partners while promoting regional security and stability." Spanning multiple locations across Jordan, the exercise features a wide array of high-intensity training eventsincluding medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) drills, port and logistics operations, urban combat scenarios, and command and control exercises. These activities simulate real-world challenges in dynamic operational environments, reinforcing both nations' readiness to respond to crises with precision and speed. A key highlight of Native Fury 25 is its emphasis on leveraging Jordan's critical infrastructurestrategic ports, airfields, and logistics corridorsto move and sustain forces. The effort is coordinated by a Combined Exercise Control Group, co-led by USMARCENT and the Jordanian Armed Forces, symbolizing deep-rooted trust and seamless cooperation between the two militaries. Native Fury 25 also coincides with other regional training events and strategic engagements across the CENTCOM theater, reinforcing a broader vision: A Middle East secured through collaboration, preparedness, and mutual respect among partner nations. As troops execute complex maneuvers across Jordanian soil, the real impact of Native Fury is clearit is not just about demonstrating strength, but about building the trust, understanding, and tactical cohesion needed to navigate the evolving security landscape of the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lebanon - A-29 Super Tucano Aircraft Sustainment NEWS | July 11, 2025 Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov Transmittal No. 25-38 WASHINGTON, July 11, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Lebanon of A-29 Super Tucano Aircraft Sustainment and related equipment for an estimated cost of $100 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress. The Government of Lebanon has requested to buy support equipment, and other related elements of logistics program and support that will be added to a previously implemented case whose value was under the congressional notification threshold. The original Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at $43.7 million ($0 in MDE), included Cartridge Actuated Devices and Propellent Actuated Devices (CAD/PADs); engine components, parts, and accessories; aircraft engine and ground handling equipment; major and minor modifications; aircraft components, spares, and accessories; spare parts, consumables, and accessories, and repair and return support; unclassified software delivery and support; unclassified publications and technical documentation; clothing, textiles, and individual equipment; transportation support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $100 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have deployed to southern Lebanon to implement the November 2024 cessation of hostilities. The sale of A-29 sustainment will support the LAF's implementation of the cessation of hostilities by providing maintenance to this critical aircraft which is used to conduct Close Air Support as part of ground maneuver operations as well as manned Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance. Lebanon will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), located in Sparks, NV. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Lebanon. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded. All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xizang Story: Tibetan doctor brings ancient healing to global stage Xinhua) 11:29, July 12, 2025 Mikyi Tsomo (L) examines a patient at the University of Tibetan Medicine in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) LHASA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- In the University of Tibetan Medicine in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Mikyi Tsomo, a regional inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Tibetan medicine, was treating a patient who had traveled more than 600 kilometers to seek her medical help. "The old Tibetan doctors in our village used to be called 'Great Pandita' when I was a child," Mikyi Tsomo recalled, using a term of high reverence for master healers in Tibetan culture. The girl who followed local doctors around has now become a master healer herself in the eyes of her patients. Tibetan medicine, known as Sowa Rigpa in Tibetan, with Sowa meaning "nourishment" and Rigpa meaning "knowledge system," is a unique medical tradition developed by the Tibetan people in the high-altitude environment. It is one of China's important systems of traditional medicine. Born in 1972 in Xainza County, Nagqu City, located in the heart of the Qiangtang Grasslands, Mikyi Tsomo grew up surrounded by the flourishing culture of Tibetan medicine. Her name, "Mikyi," means "good medicine" in Tibetan. At the age of five, she first witnessed the magic of traditional Tibetan medicine. A hunchbacked old doctor arrived from the valley, his bag filled with handmade herbal remedies. "The old doctor simply touched my wrist and accurately identified my illness," she recalled. "I was fascinated -- and a bit skeptical. Could just a touch really diagnose a disease?" Mikyi Tsomo (R) instructs students at the University of Tibetan Medicine in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Driven by curiosity, Mikyi Tsomo began her journey in Tibetan medicine. At 17, after graduating from a school specializing in Tibetan medicine, she was assigned to a local hospital perched at an altitude of 4,500 meters. In these remote pastoral regions, visiting a patient often meant riding for an entire day. Once, a herdsman from Xiaqu Township arrived breathless, saying, "Doctor, my mother is seriously ill!" Although Mikyi Tsomo had never ridden a horse before, she grabbed her medicine bag and mounted the horse without hesitation. After eight hours of bumpy riding, she arrived with her legs so stiff she could barely walk. In a humble adobe house, the elderly woman lay gasping from a severe lung infection. Thanks to Mikyi Tsomo's timely treatment, she made a full recovery. "In the pastoral areas, illnesses can be very complex and unusual," Mikyi Tsomo said, adding that at the time, she juggled the roles of practitioner and student -- treating patients during the day and studying medical texts at night. Since Xizang's peaceful liberation in 1951, Tibetan healthcare has undergone a dramatic transformation. At that time, there were only three Tibetan medicine institutions across the entire region. Today, a comprehensive medical system has been established. Life expectancy in Xizang has risen from 35.5 years in 1951 to 72.19 years in 2021. After receiving her master's degree in 2004, she went abroad and earned a PhD in medical anthropology from Humboldt University of Berlin in 2010. She later completed postdoctoral research at Oxford University and the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Mikyi Tsomo poses for a photo at the University of Tibetan Medicine in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) During her time abroad, she brought Tibetan medicine to the global stage, but it was not received without skepticism. "Many people only turn to us with a try-it-out mindset when Western medicine has no solutions," she said. While working in countries like Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, she treated many severe cases -- including tumors, mental disorders, and chronic skin conditions. In some cases, her patients were in an emotional or agitated state when seeking medical help. She would spend hours listening to them, explaining their conditions and treatment plans. One such patient, a yoga teacher from Spain, was so severely affected by neurasthenia that she could barely sit. Under Mikyi Tsomo's care, she made a remarkable recovery and began actively promoting Tibetan medicine in her community. For Mikyi Tsomo, Tibetan medicine is not only a means of healing, but also a bridge of cultural exchange. In 2018, thanks to her team's efforts, the practice of Lum Medicinal Bathing of Sowa Rigpa -- knowledge and practices concerning life, health, and illness prevention and treatment, as passed down through generations in China's Tibetan regions -- was successfully inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Despite lucrative offers abroad, she chose to return to her roots for research in Tibetan medicine. In her lab at the University of Tibetan Medicine, Mikyi Tsomo has been lately focused on analyzing clinical data on diabetes. As the only university in China dedicated to Tibetan medicine, the University of Tibetan Medicine has trained more than 8,000 professionals since its founding in 1989. In recent years, China has stepped up efforts to promote and preserve traditional medicine as part of its national healthcare strategy. Tibetan medicine, along with other ethnic medical systems, has received increased policy support and academic attention. "Even prescriptions written by our ancestors a thousand years ago remain legible today," she said. "Updated with new medical insights, they will continue to be passed down and carried further into the future." (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Kou Jie) YAOUNDE, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon will hold its presidential election on Oct. 12, according to a decree signed Friday by President Paul Biya. Polling stations will open at 8:00 a.m. local time (GMT 0700) and close at 6:00 p.m. local time (GMT 1700), said the decree. As outlined in the previously announced electoral calendar from Elections Cameroon, the election management body, candidates are required to submit their application documents by July 21. The final list of approved candidates will be released no later than Aug. 11. The official election campaign period will run from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11. Norway - HH-60W Helicopters Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov Transmittal No. 25-36 WASHINGTON, July 11, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Norway of HH-60W Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $2.6 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of Norway has requested to buy up to nine (9) HH-60W helicopters; twenty-two (22) T-700-GE-401 turboshaft engines; twenty-one (21) Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems (GPS/INS) (EGI) (18 installed, 3 spares); ten (10) AN/APR-52 Radar Warning Receivers (RWR) (9 installed, 1 spare); and ten (10) AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) (9 installed, 1 spare). The following non-MDE items will also be included: GAU-21 aircraft machine guns and other machine guns; IZLID 200P infrared lasers; AN/ALE-47 Airborne Countermeasures Dispenser Systems; Joint Mission Planning System with unique planning components and software; Computer Program Identification Numbers (CPINs); weapons and weapons support equipment; major and minor modifications and maintenance support; instruments and lab equipment; training aids, devices, and spare parts; consumables, accessories, and repair and return support; electronic warfare database support; classified and unclassified software delivery and support; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; aircraft ferry and transportation support; facilities and construction support; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $2.6 billion. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. The proposed sale will improve Norway's capability to meet current and future threats by increasing its airborne combat and special operations capabilities. Norway will use these aircraft to defend other NATO members and its allies. Norway will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, located in Stratford, CT. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Norway. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded. All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address All attempts to stir up trouble and sow discord doomed to fail: Chinese Foreign Minister reiterates position on 'South China Sea arbitration' case Global Times By Global Times Published: Jul 11, 2025 11:48 PM China is accelerating consultations with ASEAN countries to reach an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and to build a new narrative for the South China Sea featuring peace, cooperation, and friendship, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday in Kuala Lumpur during the 15th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting, noting that all attempts to stir up trouble and sow discord are doomed to fail. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, stated that the so-called "South China Sea arbitration" case unilaterally initiated by the Philippines failed to meet the essential prerequisite of conducting adequate prior consultations, violated the principle of party consent, which forms the basis of arbitration, and thus lacked the legal elements for initiating arbitration from the outset. The Philippine side's actions contravened the provisions of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, which stipulates that dispute should be resolved peacefully through friendly negotiations between direct parties, and reneged on the commitments made by the Philippines in bilateral agreements with China, thereby violating the principle of estoppel in international law, according to Wang. Wang noted that despite the various attempts to package the arbitration, the essence of the Philippines' claims pertains to China's territorial sovereignty over China's Nansha Qundao and directly involves maritime delimitation. Territorial issues, however, fall outside the jurisdiction of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and maritime delimitation was explicitly excluded by the Chinese government in 2006, he added. Among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, except the US, which is not a party to UNCLOS, the other four have also made similar exclusionary declarations, said Wang. He noted that the so-called "arbitral tribunal" ruling on the South China Sea in 2016 overstepped its authority in hearing the case, abused the dispute settlement mechanism under the UNCLOS, undermined the international maritime rule of law, and acted against the UNCLOS while invoking its name. Wang pointed out that the so-called "arbitral tribunal" was riddled with major flaws and errors in both factual findings and application of law. In particular, it erroneously classified Taiping Dao the largest island in the Nansha Qundao, with an area of 500,000 square metersas a "rock," and further concluded that no reefs in the Nansha Qundao are entitled to generate exclusive economic zones or continental shelves. This is completely inconsistent with the facts in the South China Sea and runs counter to the provisions of UNCLOS, the Chinese foreign minister noted. If such standards were applied globally, the world's maritime order would be rewritten, and the reefs of countries like the US and Japan would similarly lose their basis for claiming maritime rights and interests, he said, asking that "Would these countries be willing to give up their claims as well?" Wang noted that it is universally known that both the initiation of the so-called "arbitral tribunal" and the subsequent hyping of the case were orchestrated and manipulated by external forces, whose aim is to destabilize the South China Sea and profit from it. A growing number of countries in the world have seen through the nature of this farce. China's position consistently upholds the spirit of international rule of law and safeguards the sanctity of the UNCLOS. Wang said thanks to the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea remains stable, and freedom of navigation and overflight is effectively guaranteed. China is accelerating consultations with ASEAN countries to reach an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and to build a new narrative for the South China Sea featuring peace, cooperation, and friendship, he said. All attempts to stir up trouble and sow discord are doomed to fail, Wang noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway provides NOK 40 million to fight hunger in South Sudan and Haiti Government of Norway Press release | Date: 11/07/2025 The World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest humanitarian organisation in the world working to save lives and combat hunger. The WFP provides food aid in emergency situations and supports long-term efforts to ensure food security and development. Norway is providing NOK 25 million in emergency humanitarian aid to those affected by hunger in South Sudan, and NOK 15 million to Haiti. The influx of over one million refugees from Sudan due to the conflict there, combined with a resurgence of internal conflict in South Sudan, has made the situation critical in parts of the country. The extremely dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan is the result of a politically driven crisis. 'The situation in South Sudan is very serious. Over half the population is affected by hunger and food insecurity. As many as 83,000 people are now living in famine-like conditions', said the Minister. The situation is further worsened by South Sudanese authorities obstructing effective delivery of humanitarian aid by imposing restrictions that violate humanitarian principles. It is alarming that so many are already starving at the start of the rainy season. In previous years, conditions have worsened as the rains led to severe flooding, which in turn affected crops and food availability. At the same time, many countries are contributing less to humanitarian support than before. Norwegian humanitarian aid continues to save lives, alleviate suffering, and protect people in crisis. As of 9 July, Norway's total humanitarian aid to South Sudan for 2025 amounts to NOK 147.7 million. About half is channeled through the UN system and the Red Cross movement (IOM, ICRC, the UN's humanitarian country-based pooled fund, and WFP). The other half is allocated to Norwegian humanitarian organisations active in South Sudan: the Norwegian Refugee Council, Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian People's Aid, and Caritas. In addition to the funding for South Sudan, support has also been allocated to Haiti. NOK 15 million is being granted to WFP in response to the growing number of people facing famine and the severe food crisis in the country. 'The political violence and unrest in Haiti are causing humanitarian needs to increase significantly', said Aukrust. As of July this year, Norway's total planned humanitarian aid to Haiti amounts to NOK 23 million, distributed between WFP and the Norwegian Red Cross. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement of Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan to the United Nations Security Council on the Situation in Darfur, pursuant to Resolution 1593 (2005) International Criminal Court (ICC) / Cour penale internationale (CPI) Statement: 11 July 2025 Thank you, Mr President. And I thank you for this opportunity to address the Security Council today. Please allow me to also express my thanks to His Excellency the Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations for his attendance. I was pleased to hold a constructive and collaborative meeting with him yesterday, ahead of this briefing. Mr President, Excellencies, we come together at a time when it can seem difficult to find appropriate words to describe the depth of suffering in Darfur. The humanitarian position has reached an intolerable state. Hospitals, humanitarian convoys, and other civilian objects are apparently being targeted. Famine is escalating, and humanitarian aid is not reaching those in dire need of it. People are being deprived of water and food. Rape and sexual violence are being weaponised. Abductions for ransom or to bolster the ranks of armed groups have become common practice. And yet we should not be under any illusion; things can still get worse. Our Office has closely tracked reports, in recent weeks, of the current position in North Darfur, following attacks launched by the Rapid Support Forces and its affiliated groups on its capital, El Fasher, and the IDP camps of Zamzam and Abu Shouk. Mr President, Excellencies, on the basis of our independent investigations, the position of our Office is clear: We have reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been and are continuing to be committed in Darfur. This conclusion is grounded on the intensive activities that the Office has been undertaking in the last six months and in earlier reporting periods. In this work, we have relied on documentary, testimonial, and digital evidence collected and analysed by the Office. In the last six months, these activities focused in particular on crimes committed in West Darfur, and they have included: Repeated field deployments to refugee camps in Chad to engage with victim communities and to conduct witness interviews. These field missions have provided crucial testimonial evidence for the Darfur Unified Team; Further engagement and strengthened cooperation, with the Sudanese Government authorities, including a recent deployment to Port Sudan, generating additional leads and identifying important witnesses relevant to current atrocities being committed in Darfur; Our activities have also included securing an enhanced cooperation framework with the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission in Sudan under the UN-ICC Relationship Agreement that will serve to accelerate cooperation in support of the investigations; And we have also deepened our engagement with civil society, with Darfuri diaspora and victims' groups, including through the provision of support in enhancing their documentation efforts towards accountability in Darfur. Based on these efforts and drawing on the over 7,000 evidence items collected to date, the Office of the Prosecutor remains focused on delivering concrete landmarks so as to respond to the legitimate and impassioned calls for justice heard from victims and survivors. I wish to emphasise to this Council, to the victims we work so closely with, and indeed to all our partners that the situation in Darfur is of the utmost importance to the Office of the Prosecutor. We will not be deterred until meaningful justice is delivered in a way that serves to vindicate the rights of those who are suffering and impacts the conduct of perpetrators on the ground. Our previous efforts toward justice for Darfuri victims have led to the case against Mr Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb. The upcoming decision in his trial, expected in the second half of this year, will, we hope, provide an important example of what can be achieved when we work together in this common effort. And I wish to be clear to those on the ground in Darfur now, to those who are inflicting unimaginable atrocities on its population: They may feel a sense of impunity at this moment, as Ali Kushayb may have felt in the past, but we are working intensively to ensure that the Ali Kushayb trial represents only the first of many in relation to this situation at the International Criminal Court. However, we also have a duty of confidentiality to the Court. I am not able to share more details of the nature of our progress or of specific outcomes hoped for. I can only assure you that the progress we have made is concrete, positive, and significant. Mr President and Excellencies, I am particularly deeply troubled by the extensive victimisation and suffering of women and children in this conflict. Our investigations will not be complete until we are able to hear and document before the Court the lived realities of Darfuri women today. We are giving gender-based crimes a focus and attention that requires a sensitivity to the taking of evidence from victims and survivors, and a clear understanding of the intersectionality of the discrimination that has led to such crimes. We have worked for years on building our own capacity to hear these stories and to recognise the intersectionality of ethnicity, religion, gender, and age, impacts on the effectiveness of our evidence gathering and on the quality of the evidence that we are able to present to Court. We are building trust with these brave Darfuri women and girls who are able to tell us their stories. And their stories are consistent with the accounts of suffering by women and girls in successive United Nations reports, including those heard at the Human Rights Council. There is an inescapable pattern of offending, targeting gender and ethnicity through rape and sexual violence which must be translated into evidence for the Court - and, indeed, the world - to hear. These alleged crimes are being given particular priority by our Office as we proceed with focus in our investigative work. With the support of our dedicated Gender and Children's Unit, we are undertaking a range of targeted activities aimed at increasing the visibility and the results delivered in relation to crimes that continue to be underreported and insufficiently recognised. In this reporting period, this has included: Hosting dedicated discussions with affected communities in Chad to address concerns raised regarding the possible provision of testimony of witnesses and victims; Allocating additional specialised expertise to the Darfur Unified Team in the field of gender-based crimes; Identifying new leads through partner organisations in relation to victims or witnesses of gender-based crimes; and Developing outreach activities with Darfuri civil society organisations in partnership with the Court's Registry. These activities to be implemented in the coming reporting period will serve to strengthen collective capacity in relation to documentation of gender-based crimes in Darfur. But action to protect and support the women of Darfur can only be delivered through collective work. I call upon all our partners and this Council for us to work more closely together to assure there is no gap in our efforts to hold perpetrators of gender-based crimes accountable for their crimes. To galvanise our common action in the coming reporting period, I will be working to bring together all stakeholders to identify how we can deliver more for women and girls in Darfur. In this spirit of partnership, I am grateful for the productive discussion I held today with Under-Secretary-General Pramila Patten, Special Representative to the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, on how we can collaborate in deeper, more impactful ways to deliver accountability for these crimes. Mr President, Excellencies, I am also pleased to report further grounds for continued optimism with respect to cooperation from the Government of Sudan. In this reporting period, our Office has held further engagements with the Sudan Government authorities, in particular through a visit to Port Sudan facilitated by the Government of Sudan, which allowed for the identification and engagement with potential additional witness. A further visit is planned for the immediate coming period. I wish to recognise the efforts made in particular by the committee established by the Government of Sudan for cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor. This has made a tangible, positive impact on our collaboration. We look forward to further consolidating and expanding this cooperation in the next six months in line with the terms of Resolution 1593. And I wish to be clear on a key priority in this respect: We must work together with seriousness and focus to secure the arrest of those individuals subject to ICC arrest warrants presently in Sudan: Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir, Ahmad Harun, and Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein. Transferring Mr Harun now would carry exceptional weight, given that the crimes that he is accused of are closely linked to those currently before the Court in Mr Abd-Al-Rahman's trial. In the current context of the extensive allegations of Rome Statute violations in Darfur, such action would send a strong signal and show the commitment of the Government of Sudan to ensuring accountability. We look forward to continuing constructive discussions on all cooperation matters with the Government of Sudan. Mr President, Excellencies, as I have outlined in the last six months, there has been continued and significant progress in our work in Darfur. The progress that we make, the work that we do can never be sufficient, relative to the degree and scale of the suffering that we know is occurring in Darfur now. And many of the actions that we do take are not visible to our partners. However, I wish to reassure Darfuri communities in Sudan and globally that with their partnership, we are accelerating our work to deliver justice at the ICC, in the courtroom, for the crimes presently being committed. And this progress has been made in the face of significant challenges. Cooperation received from States has faced hurdles. The resources of the Office are critically low, relative to the scale of allegations we are tasked to investigate. And we have experienced hostility and obstruction in our work and our mandate. We need your support now more than ever before. I would therefore like to conclude by asking again: What is our common ground? Every single State here is appalled by what is happening in Darfur. You are all seeking to find ways to slow the current tailspin, and change this dynamic of increased and escalated suffering for the Darfuri people. The work of our Office - the work of the ICC - can and will form an important part of our collective response to this crisis. In our report, I have outlined how, I think, we can work more effectively together, how we can move more quickly to the moment of vindication for victims through arrest and trial of those currently spreading fear and suffering in Darfur. Let us take this as a blueprint for next steps. With your support we can not only deliver much-needed justice for what is taking place, but also, critically, prevent the seemingly never-ending cycle of violence fuelled by a deep sense of impunity amongst those inflicting pain as we speak. If we can come together, if we can agree that such suffering needs the support of all those who are able to provide it, I believe that the present crisis can ultimately demonstrate how justice, delivered collectively, can set the foundations for the reduction of suffering, and the beginning of work towards peace. I ask for such a collective response and resolve. I thank you, Mr President. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister visits USS Newport News in Grundartangi Harbour Government of Iceland 11 July 2025 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Iceland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms. orgerur Katrin Gunnarsdottir visited the US submarine USS Newport News in Grundartangi harbour yesterday. The submarine is in Iceland for a regular service visit. This is the not the first time a nuclear-powered US submarine enters Icelandic territorial waters; however, this is the first service visit of such a vessel to an Icelandic port. The USS Newport is a Los Angeles-class vessel with a crew of around 140 personnel and does not carry nuclear weapons. "This is an important milestone in a long and successful defence partnership with the United States, which has been strengthened significantly in recent years. We have been systematically deepening the partnership based on the Bilateral Defence Agreement from 1951 and common interests in the North Atlantic and the Arctic. We place great emphasis on security and defence and want to ensure our own security and the security of our allies, and we do this, inter alia, by supporting their operations in the region," says orgerur Katrin. Admiral Stuart B. Munsch, Commander of the U.S. European and African Fleet, and Erin Sawyer, Acting U.S. Ambassador to Iceland, welcomed the Minister for Foreign Affairs upon her arrival at Grundartangi. There, the Minister was given a tour of the submarine, briefed on the crew's assignments, and met with Admiral Munsch on security developments in the North Atlantic and Arctic. Admiral Munsch also met with the Director General for Defence, Mr. Jonas G. Allansson, visited the Keflavik Air Base, and met with the U.S. forces carrying out Anti-Submarine Warfare missions. This is the eighth time that a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine makes a service visit in Icelandic territorial waters, since the former Minister for Foreign Affairs announced on April 18, 2023, that such submarines would be permitted to make brief service stops in Iceland. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the visit, but the Icelandic Coast Guard is leading its implementation in close collaboration with the National Commissioner of Police, the Icelandic Radiation Safety Agency and the Directorate of Health in accordance with established procedures. The visits have all been successful due to close cooperation and consultation between the relevant domestic institutions and good cooperation with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Embassy in Iceland. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran blasts U.S. for Issuing Sanctions against U.N. investigator Albanese IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 11, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Rsmaeil Baqaei blasted the U.S. for issuing sanctions against Francesca Albanese, who serves as the United Nations' special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory. "Truth cannot be suppressed by sanctions," Baqaei said in a post on his X account on Friday following the U.S. State Department's decision to impose sanctions on Francesca Albanese, an Italian independent investigator tasked with probing human rights abuses in the Palestinian territories. "Francesca Albanese is bullied and sanctioned for telling the truth & for standing up against genocide, occupation and apartheid," he said. "Meanwhile, Netanyahu, a court-certified war criminal, gets a red carpet in D.C." the Iranian spokesman noted. "Your bare hypocrisy is on full display and the world is watching," Baqaei told the American officials. The Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it was issuing sanctions against Albanese, the latest effort by the United States to punish critics of Israel's 21-month war in Gaza. The State Department's decision to impose sanctions on the U.N. special rapporteur for the West Bank and Gaza follows an unsuccessful US pressure campaign to force the international body to remove her from her post. Albanese, an Italian human rights lawyer, has been vocal about what she has described as the "genocide" by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address RNZAF P-8A in the Pacific New Zealand Defence Force A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon aircraft and crew visited Niue this week as part of their work in the region. 11 July, 2025 The RNZAF P-8A Poseidon crew met with Niue's Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi and key government officials in Niue this week to discuss how their work in the region helps to combat illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing practices. By working with our Pacific partners we support efforts to enforce rules and regulations developed by the Forum Fisheries Agency and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, which in turn support local economies and ensure the fisheries stocks in the region remain sustainable for future generations. The Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Andy Scott was accompanying the crew on the latest patrol. "It was an honour to meet with Prime Minister Tagelagi and his team and to hear of how our collective efforts support this most precious resource." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghanistan: UN experts welcome arrest warrants for senior Taliban leaders Press releases Special Procedures 11 July 2025 GENEVA -- Human rights experts* today welcomed the announcement by the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against two senior Taliban leaders - Haibatullah Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani - due to their alleged responsibility for the crime against humanity of persecution on gender and political grounds. "These arrest warrants mark a critical step forward for justice for the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls, who, for nearly four years, have borne the brunt of the Taliban's institutionalised system of gender discrimination, oppression, domination, and persecution," the experts said. "It sends an important message that impunity will not last forever. To the victims and survivors, this action is a powerful affirmation that the international community sees, hears, and believes them. Their brave calls for action are at last being answered." The experts reminded States Parties to the Rome Statute of their obligation to help bring the wanted men to justice, and called for increased political, diplomatic, and financial support for the Court and its ongoing investigations. "The ICC is a key pillar in a broader system of accountability and plays a crucial role in ensuring accountability for the most serious international crimes," they said. "We call on all States and in particular ICC Member States, to safeguard and support the Court and its independence and meet their obligations under the Rome Statute." The experts called for strengthened and sustained support for other, complementary initiatives to ensure accountability for gross human rights violations and international crimes in the country, as well as greater support for the people of Afghanistan. They particularly stressed the importance of a principled and coordinated strategy rooted in human rights. "These arrest warrants must also send a clear message to Member States that there should be no normalisation of a regime which so explicitly denies the fundamental rights and dignity of more than half of the country's population," the experts said. "To those who seek to lend legitimacy to the Taliban we make it clear: you stand on the wrong side of history." *The experts: Richard Bennett, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan; Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; Laura Nyirinkindi (Chair), Claudia Flores (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Ivana Krstic, and Haina Lu, Working group on discrimination against women and girls; Nahla Haidar, Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; Graeme Reid, Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences; Bernard Duhaime, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR. Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. sanctions on UN human rights expert unacceptable: UN spokesman People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:06, July 11, 2025 UNITED NATIONS, July 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. sanctions against a UN human rights expert are unacceptable, said a UN spokesman on Thursday. The imposition of sanctions on UN human rights special rapporteurs is a dangerous precedent, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in response to U.S. sanctions on Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. Member states are perfectly entitled to their views and to disagree with the reports by the special rapporteurs, said the spokesman, "but we encourage them to engage with the UN human rights architecture. The use of unilateral sanctions against special rapporteurs, or any other UN expert or official, is unacceptable." He also noted that Albanese, like all other UN human rights special rapporteurs, is an independent human rights expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council and reporting to the Geneva-based council. Special rapporteurs do not report to the UN secretary-general, who has no authority over them or their work, added Dujarric. Washington on Wednesday announced sanctions against Albanese over her role in investigating alleged Israeli human rights violations against Palestinians. The move marks Washington's latest efforts to deter international investigations into alleged war crimes committed by Israel amid its ongoing military operations in Gaza. The sanctions follow an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump in February, which authorized punitive measures against the International Criminal Court for what the administration described as "illegitimate and baseless actions" targeting the United States and Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippines, United Kingdom Hold Bilateral Meeting in Kuala Lumpur Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs KUALA LUMPUR 11 July 2025 -- Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro met with the Rt. Hon. David Lammy, United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on 10 July 2025 to advance bilateral relations and explore significant multilateral initiatives. Key highlights of the meeting include discussion on areas of cooperation in maritime and defense, particularly in strategic communication and maritime domain awareness. The Philippines and the United Kingdom are exploring the possibility of having its 3rd Maritime Dialogue in Manila sometime before the end of this year. In anticipation of the Philippine ASEAN Chairship in 2026, Secretary Lammy expressed commitment to ASEAN with respect to advancing regional security, maritime cooperation, and strategic dialogue. The meeting also explored potential collaborations in possible defense and trade partnerships, as well climate change issues, particularly the ASEAN common carbon markets. END NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNITED NATIONS, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The fuel crisis in Gaza remains acute even though Israeli authorities allowed 75,000 liters in for two days in a row, UN humanitarians said Friday. Hundreds of thousands of liters of fuel are required daily for relief and infrastructure operations, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said. The fuel blockade lasted more than four months. OCHA, while calling the second day's fuel allowance a positive development, said the amount was only a small portion of what is required to sustain life-saving operations. "To be very clear: fuel is running out in Gaza," the office said. "If the current limits are not lifted immediately so that greater volumes can be brought in regularly, more services will go dark." OCHA said unimpeded, safe access inside Gaza is urgently needed. UN teams were able to provide some hospitals with fuel only in the south, because Israeli authorities denied their attempt to transport fuel to the north. "OCHA warns that such denials are life-threatening, with hospitals in the north on the verge of shutting down," the office said. "Fuel is also running out for ambulances, water treatment facilities and many other essential services, all of which are at risk of collapsing." The fuel shortage is only one of many challenges facing civilians in the Gaza Strip. OCHA said that every day without a ceasefire brings more preventable deaths in Gaza, with dying children and hungry people shot while trying to reach the trickle of aid allowed through the Israeli fence. Out of 15 attempts to coordinate movements with the Israeli authorities Thursday, only six were fully facilitated, five were denied outright, and four were initially approved but then faced obstacles on the ground, the office said. Critical missions like evacuation of vulnerable people from high-risk areas, retrieval of vehicles and spare tires, and assessment of medical equipment could not be accomplished. The facilitation of movements also needs to be timely. OCHA said Israeli authorities denied a request Wednesday to reach a part of Gaza City where 18 injured people were trapped under rubble. By the time the mission was finally allowed through Thursday, no one was found alive. The office said the distribution of tents cannot even be attempted as stocks are fully depleted, and Israeli authorities have blocked the entry of any shelter materials for more than 130 days. Active hostilities and insecurity continue to put civilians at risk, including aid workers. OCHA said that on Wednesday and Thursday, five airstrikes hit a few hundred meters from aid workers, including UN staffers. Fortunately, no aid workers were injured. Also, members of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies were shot at and wounded on their way to help a colleague who had been injured and unreachable since last Friday. In all cases, their movements had been coordinated with the Israeli authorities. Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, updated information released earlier Friday by the UN Human Rights Office. "They tell us that 819 Palestinians were reportedly killed while trying to get food in Gaza," Dujarric said. "And the breakdown, according to our human rights colleagues, is that 634 of them were killed in the vicinity of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution points, 185 died close to humanitarian aid convoys, including some run by us." He said the data was collected between May 27, when the GHF operation began, and July 10. "The data is based on information gathered by our human rights colleagues through various reliable sources, including medical, human rights and humanitarian organizations," Dujarric said. "All of those numbers highlight the need for independent investigations into why people are being killed while just trying to access aid." The new U.S.-run, Israeli-backed GHF operations differ markedly from the established routines of the UN and its humanitarian partners. Israel alleged that the UN aid distribution system was compromised by members of Hamas hijacking food shipments for their use. OCHA said the GHF installed in or adjacent to military zones four aid distribution centers for all of Gaza that were marked by barbed wire-fenced approach lanes for civilians. By contrast, the established UN-led international aid system's method was to deliver relief to hundreds of communities. The rush of hungry Gazans following aid availability announcements for the four GHF centers, after sometimes walking miles to a hub, apparently triggered gunfire from nervous GHF security forces. The traditional international aid organizations do not work with the GHF. Dujarric has repeatedly told reporters that the world body is not anti-GHF, that it merely continues to uphold the international humanitarian aid organizations' standards of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. "A food distribution system where people routinely, routinely get killed while trying to get the food is not a humanitarian operation," said the spokesman. PH hits China's revisionist, self-serving interpretation of law in SCS Philippine News Agency By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora July 11, 2025, 7:03 pm MANILA -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro described as "worrisome" China's continued rejection of the 2016 Arbitral Award, accusing the Asian power of pushing a "revisionist, self-serving interpretation" of international law in the South China Sea (SCS). Lazaro made the remarks in a recorded message at a Stratbase ADRI forum, which commemorated the 9th anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Ruling in Makati City on Friday. "Nine years hence, its legitimacy continues to be tested, challenged, and subverted, putting not only the Philippines' maritime interests in peril, but also the regional stability and prosperity we are all working so hard to achieve," she said. "It is worrisome that China has continued to reject the binding Arbitral Award and persists with illegal, coercive, and aggressive actions under cover of a revisionist, self-serving interpretation, and application of international law, particularly UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)," she added, affirming the award will remain the "cornerstone" of Philippine maritime policy. On July 12, 2016, the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention dismissed as illegal China's so-called nine-dash line in the vital sea lane. The invisible demarcation, which has since expanded into a 10-dash line, covers and lays territorial claim over a huge portion of the South China Sea, including the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. "The challenges are clear and the uncertainties remain in the maritime domain, but the Philippines will not waver in firmly rejecting attempts to undermine the Award and international law," Lazaro said. "Being on the right side of the rules-based order and international law makes it easier for others to join us in taking a stand and forming a tight bond that can withstand illegal and unfounded claims and aggressive actions at sea." Lazaro, who just assumed the post early this month, highlighted that the landmark decision not only sets reason and right in the South China Sea, but serves as a "lighthouse that guides how maritime matters and concerns in the region ought to be addressed." "It is a telling reminder to the world that all countries, regardless of size, might, or capacity, must meet their duties and obligations, especially under UNCLOS, including compliance with rulings by its legitimate tribunals and bodies," she said. Operating with impunity In the same forum, the ambassadors of the United States, Australia, India, European Union, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam reaffirmed their support for an international rules-based order in the region. US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said Washington DC "stands firmly" with Manila in support of freedom of navigation and overflight as she accused Beijing of operating with "impunity" in the South China Sea. "Dangerous maneuvers, environmental degradation, and interference with lawful activities in the South China Sea threaten the rights of the Philippines and other claimant states, as well as the stability of the region," she said. "The United States stands with the Philippines in condemning these aggressive actions and in upholding the 2016 ruling." New Zealand Ambassador Catherine McIntosh, meanwhile, said Wellington sees the arbitral award as a vital instrument in the "ongoing effort to uphold international law and ensure peace and stability in our region." "This anniversary serves as an important call to action. It reminds us that the rules-based international order is not self-sustaining. It requires vigilance, commitment, and cooperation among nations like ours that value peace and the rule of law," she said. Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya, Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa, and Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shri Harsh Kumar Jain all regarded the decision as a milestone in the peaceful settlement of disputes at sea. UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils, meanwhile, said London is ready to play its part to support a free and open Indo-Pacific, and a similarly "free and open South China Sea." She underlined anew that the 2016 arbitral ruling is "binding" on both the Philippines and China, despite the latter's "protest about its legitimacy." "We will continue to advocate for international law in the South China Sea and continue to oppose and call out actions that raise tensions or the risk of miscalculations," she said. Gathering G7 backing Canadian Ambassador David Hartman likewise echoed "deep concern" over China's continued disregard for the ruling and actions involving Philippine civilian vessels in the West Philippine Sea. Under Canada's G7 presidency, he said, Ottawa would work with other member states to "draw attention to the importance of stability in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, and to reject all forms of coercion." Hartman added that for Canada, the landmark decision was not merely a legal affirmation of Manila's maritime entitlements but a declaration to the world that sovereign rights are not negotiable. "It was a declaration to the world that sovereign rights are not negotiable, that international law can remain a great equalizer in this often and increasingly unpredictable world," he said. "If we are to preserve the legacy of this ruling, we must look beyond commemoration and instead commit ourselves to action," he added, noting that the rule of law must be backed by partnerships. German Ambassador Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke said Berlin would also continue to speak out against violations of any country's sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea and the rest of the world. "(The Arbitral Award) is legally binding to all parties and must be respected by all parties," he said. "Germany, as a staunch supporter of the rules-based international order, is a strong ally of the Philippines and a firm supporter of UNCLOS. The Philippines can continue to count on Germany in asserting its rights under international law," he added. French Ambassador Marie Fontanel, on the other hand, called for increased operational partnerships to buttress the 2016 Arbitral Award. "As we witness persistent incursions and unsafe maneuvers, it is clear that legal victories must be matched by operational partnerships and collective resolve," she said. The envoy said France is also committed to further improving its security and defense relations with the Philippines. She conveyed France's interest in forging a visiting forces agreement (VFA) with the country to provide a robust legal framework for cooperation between the two nations' armed forces. "A VFA would enable more frequent and complex joint exercises, enhance readiness and mutual understanding, and facilitate and coordinate responses to maritime incidents, natural disasters, or emerging threats," she said. Protecting PH rights In her speech, Lazaro said the Philippines would continue building partnerships and capacities to allow its authorities to assert, protect, and defend the country's interests at sea. "Already, leveraging our partnerships through diplomacy has paid dividends to the country's defense and security capacities," she said. "Several of our maritime dialogue partners have already directly contributed to the Philippines' efforts to improve our maritime domain awareness capability and response," she added. Under the Marcos administration, the Filipino top diplomat said the country's maritime policy would revolve around four key actions - championing adherence to international law; keeping lines of communication open, both with China and with other claimant states; leveraging alliances and partnerships; and using diplomacy to support domestic capacity-building. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH's arbitral win 'an irreducible truth,' says Teodoro Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno July 11, 2025, 6:25 pm MANILA -- The Philippine government on Friday marked the ninth anniversary of its arbitral win in its territorial dispute with China, with Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. calling the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling "an irreducible truth." "The Philippines, a nation committed to peace and principled engagement, views this Award not just as a cornerstone of our foreign and security policy, but as an irreducible truth," Teodoro said in a statement. Teodoro was referring to the 501-page ruling of the Hague-based PCA released on July 12, 2016 favoring the Philippines in its case against China over the West Philippine Sea (WPS). China refuses to acknowledge the ruling and has continued with its aggressive actions in the WPS. But according to Teodoro, "no amount of pressure, reinterpretation, or power plays" can erase the Philippines' victory before the PCA. The Defense chief also added that the victory serves as a reminder that "rule of law matters." "We are reminded of something simple yet powerful: the rule of law matters. For countries like the Philippines, an archipelagic nation whose very existence is intertwined with the maritime domain, respect for international law is not just a principle. It is a lifeline," he said. In a separate statement, National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Ano said the arbitral award "remains a definitive triumph of reason over force and of rules over coercion." "It reaffirmed the primacy of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the constitution of the oceans, and clarified with finality the extent of our maritime rights and entitlements in the West Philippine Sea," he said. Echoing Teodoro, Ano also said the award is "final and binding" and "cannot be erased by intimidation or misinformation." "It is now an enduring part of international law and continues to serve as a beacon for all peace-loving nations who champion the rule of law," he said. Ano also said that the Philippines had enshrined the Award in its laws through Philippine Maritime Zones Act (Republic Act 12064) and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act (Republic Act 12065), and it has guided National Security Policy (Executive Order No.37) and our National Security Strategy (Memorandum Circular No. 75). (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 4 Indian Navy ships to make port call in Manila this July - envoy Philippine News Agency By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora July 11, 2025, 3:28 pm MANILA -- Four Indian Navy ships are scheduled to make a goodwill visit to the Philippines this month as New Delhi seeks to bolster its defense and maritime cooperation with Manila, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shri Harsh Kumar Jain announced on Friday. Speaking at the Stratbase ADRI forum in Makati City, Jain said the Indian Navy would engage with Filipino counterparts in "bilateral cooperation activities" and reinforce its bonds with the Philippine Navy. The visit reflects the two nations' shared commitment to maritime cooperation, freedom of navigation, and a rules-based order at sea, he said. "India and the Philippines have a congruence of interest on various defense-related issues and maritime security," he said. "Both our countries are strong proponents of adherence to rules-based order, and have a shared interest in a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region." Stronger defense ties At the same forum, Jain said New Delhi is ready to further strengthen its defense relations with Manila, and support the country in modernizing its armed forces and building a credible defense posture. India and the Philippines, he said, are also finalizing the terms of reference for service-to-service talks across the Navy, Air Force, and Army. "Given the high importance of the maritime sector for both our countries, we can expand our cooperation to include joint exercises in the maritime security and disaster response," he added. The envoy said New Delhi has a vast pool of expertise to offer Manila, touting the size of the Indian Armed Forces and its advanced military training institutions. Beyond the recently acquired BrahMos missile systems, he said, India is also eager to offer other advanced defense platforms to the country. "India is ready to provide other advanced defense platforms to the Philippines to bridge its capability gaps in all three domains of air, sea, and land, including critical areas of air defense, reconnaissance and surveillance, and domain awareness," he said. "We are, as well, ready to support the Philippines in its efforts to build a self-reliant defense posture through joint production, research and development, and developing facilities." (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel has destroyed 67 percent of Gaza's cemeteries: Ministry Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 7:09 PM The Gaza Strip's ministry of endowments and religious affairs says the Israeli regime has destroyed some 67 percent of the coastal sliver's cemeteries during its October 2023-present war of genocide against the Palestinian territory. In a detailed statement issued on Friday, the ministry noted that since the start of the war in October 2023, occupation forces had either completely or partially destroyed roughly 40 out of Gaza's 60-strong cemeteries. It further denounced Israeli forces for perpetrating a new crime by storming the historic Turkish cemetery in the al-Mawasi area west of the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. According to the ministry, Israeli tanks and bulldozers rolled into the site at dawn on Thursday, demolishing graves and exhuming corpses. The ministry condemned the outrage as "a scene that transcends the limits of humanity and [is] devoid of all religious and international values and norms," noting that occupation forces had not only destroyed graves, but also "stole the bodies of martyrs and the dead." The atrocity, the statement lamented, had violated both divine law and international conventions The assault coincided with Israeli forces demolishing camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) encircling the cemetery, uprooting hundreds of families, who had sought refuge there from relentless bombardment. The ministry stressed that such coordinated attacks deepened Gaza's already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. 'Pursuing Palestinians even in their graves' It asserted that the Israeli regime targeted cemeteries "under flimsy pretexts," laying bare the extent of, what it lambasted as, the occupation's "moral decadence," which now pursues Palestinians "even in their graves." Calling on international legal bodies and human rights organizations, the ministry demanded an urgent investigation, immediate measures to halt these violations, and accountability for crimes against both the living and the dead across the Palestinian territories. It, meanwhile, pledged that, despite mounting tragedies, the Palestinian people would persist in defending their land, sacred sites, and the dignity of their dead. Also on Friday, Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, painted an equally harrowing picture of life -- and death -- in Gaza under the ongoing Israeli onslaught. Following the Israeli military's killing of 15 people, including nine children, as they waited for food aid in the city of Deir el-Balah in central Gaza on Wednesday, Lazzarini warned that the territory had become "the graveyard of children and starving people." He regretted that the Israeli regime was executing "the most cruel and Machiavellian scheme to kill, in total impunity," forcing Palestinians to choose between "two deaths: Starvation or being shot at." The official also declared that international norms and values were themselves "being buried" in Gaza, cautioning that global inaction would only deepen the crisis. Meanwhile, nearly 170 NGOs have called for an end to the Israeli- and US-backed so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) program, which has overseen chaotic food distributions often targeted by Israeli gunfire. The UN rights office has documented nearly 800 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces while seeking aid, mostly at GHF-run sites. Rights campaigners say the sites represent an effort on the part of Washington and Tel Aviv to imply humanitarianism and whitewash the sheer outrageous nature of the war that has so far killed more than 57,700 Palestinians and wounded over 137,600 others. Besides the human toll, the brutal military onslaught has ravaged the territory, forcing over two million Palestinians to live across less than 15 percent of Gaza's land due to mass displacements. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN rapporteur responds to US sanctions, says they reflect 'guilt, not strength' Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 6:43 PM Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, has said that the US sanctions against her are "not a sign of strength." "The powerful punishing those who speak for the powerless, it is not a sign of strength, but of guilt," the Italian human rights lawyer said on Thursday in a post on X. Albanese also said on Thursday in an interview with Associated Press that she believed the sanctions were "calculated to weaken my mission." On Wednesday, as part of its effort to punish critics of the Israeli regime's 21-month genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza, the US State Department sanctioned Albanese, blaming her for prompting the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war minister Yoav Gallant over genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Palestinian territory. In response to the news of sanctions, Albanese assertively said she will "continue to do what I have to do." She questioned why she had been sanctioned: "For having exposed a genocide? For having denounced the system? They never challenged me on the facts." In an earlier text message to Al Jazeera, Albanese was quoted as dismissing the US move to target her as "mafia-style intimidation techniques." In two posts on Thursday, she wrote "Let's stand tall, together" and urged international observers to focus on the crisis inside Gaza. "All eyes must remain on Gaza, where children are dying of starvation in their mothers' arms, while their fathers and siblings are bombed into pieces while searching for food," she wrote. She also spoke to the Middle East Eye's live show saying: "It looks like I've hit a nerve." "My concern is there are people dying in Gaza while you and I are speaking, and the United Nations are totally unable to intervene." Meanwhile, Palestinians as well as rights experts from across the globe slammed the US sanctions against Albanese. Hamas resistance movement slammed the US over the move against Albanese, saying, "The United States' imposition of sanctions on the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Palestine, Francesca Albanese, is a blatant expression of the US administration's blatant bias toward Zionist war crimes". "The punitive measures taken by the United States against institutions and individuals performing their professional and moral role in the war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, most recently Albanese, undermine the foundations of international and humanitarian law and encourage the occupation's war criminal leaders to continue their brutal crimes," Hamas said in a statement published on Telegram. The group called on the US administration to reverse its policies regarding Palestinians, "which positions it as a de facto [partner] in the campaigns to kill children and women and destroy civilian life in the Gaza Strip". The UN rights chief, Volker Turk, called for a halt to "attacks and threats" against people appointed by the UN and other international institutions such as the ICC, whose judges have also been hit with US sanctions. Dylan Williams, vice-president for government affairs at the Center for International Policy think-tank, labelled the US sanctions targeting judges and investigators working for the US as "rogue state behavior". Liz Evenson, international justice director at Human Rights Watch, said the US government's decision to sanction Albanese for seeking justice through the ICC "is actually all about silencing a UN expert for doing her job speaking truth about Israeli violations against Palestinians and calling on governments and corporations not to be complicit." "The United States is working to dismantle the norms and institutions on which survivors of grave abuses rely," Evenson said in a statement. "UN and ICC member countries should strongly resist the US government's shameless efforts to block justice for the world's worst crimes and condemn the outrageous sanctions on Albanese." The US-backed Israeli genocidal war on Gaza continues to take more lives. Since the war began in October 2023, at least 57,762 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with over 137,600 others injured in Israeli attacks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bosnia honors Srebrenica Genocide victims 30 years on Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 4:48 PM Thousands gathered in the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica on Friday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the genocide of thousands of Muslim Bosniaks by Bosnian Serb forces. More than 8,000 Muslim Bosniak boys and men were executed by Serb forces in July 1995, towards the end of the Bosnian War. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution last year to designate July 11 as the International Day of Remembrance for the Srebrenica Genocide. Scores of international officials and dignitaries joined the Bosnians to mark the occasion. This year's commemoration included the burial of seven recently identified victims, among them two 19-year-olds. Their remains were interred at the cemetery in Potocari, next to over 6,000 others who have been laid to rest in previous years. To commemorate the Srebrenica Genocide, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sent an official message to the Bosnian government through the Iranian government's spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani, who travelled to Bosnia and Herzegovina to attend the ceremony. Pezeshkian expressed the Iranian nation's respect for the victims, firm support for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and strong condemnation of international silence, both then and now. He described the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide as "a shameful stain" in diplomatic history, criticizing the international community for its continuous silence, as reported by N1 Bosnia. "Srebrenica was a failure of the international community to protect helpless refugees. It reminds us that commitment to human principles requires firm, justice-driven action, not hollow slogans or false neutrality," the Iranian president stated. He drew a parallel between the Srebrenica Genocide and ongoing killings in the Gaza Strip, warning that the same negligence was being repeated. "Sadly, the tragic scenes from Srebrenica are now being replayed, in even greater numbers, on Palestinian soil. The staggering number of civilian martyrs, particularly women and children, and the widespread destruction of infrastructure represent an alarming humanitarian catastrophe," he warned. He noted that remembering the Srebrenica genocide should not end with a memorial ceremony. "Commemorating Srebrenica is not just about ritual. It's a moment to reflect on the lessons of the past. If those lessons had truly been learned, we would not be witnessing genocide again in Gaza," Pezeshkian added. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi paid tribute to the victims, warning of another genocide of Muslims in Gaza. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed solidarity with the Muslim people of Bosnia. In a video message on Friday marking the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide, Erdogan voiced continuous and unconditional support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and constitutional order, Anadolu Agency reported. Also touching on Israeli forces' brutal genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, Erdogan said that decades ago the international community remained silent on Srebrenica, and now in recent years it is a mere bystander to the oppression taking place in Palestine. Erdogan vowed that the Israeli regime will be held accountable "sooner or later" before the law and history for its genocide of nearly 58,000 Palestinians. He said Ankara ejects all statements and remarks that seek to deny the genocide or "glorify war criminals" in defiance of international court rulings. Hakan Fidan, Turkey's foreign minister, also marked the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide with a message shared on social media. "This profound tragedy, whose pain remains deeply felt in our hearts, has left an indelible mark on humanity's conscience," he said. "Remembering it and ensuring it is never forgotten is a collective responsibility we all share." The UK's former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn commemorated the Srenrenica Genoide by saying world leaders who remained silent "are letting it happen, again, in Gaza. "30 years ago, over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were murdered in the Srebrenica Genocide," he wrote. "Today, politicians will say 'never again'. But they are letting it happen, again, in Gaza," he added. "We remember all victims of genocide, and vow to build a world that respects the humanity of all." Among others commemorating the Srebrenica Genocide included European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Croatian PM Andrej Plenkovic, who were in attendance at the commemoration ceremonies and the funeral on Friday. Furthermore, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen marked the occasion by honouring the victims, their memory and their families. "We must remember and preserve the truth, so that future generations know exactly what happened in Srebrenica," wrote the Commission chief in a post on X. The Srebrenica Genocide occurred following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. Srebrenica was declared a United Nations safe zone in 1993, protected by Dutch UN peacekeepers. In July 1995, Bosnian Serb forces led by General Ratko Mladic overran Srebrenica, which was predominantly inhabited by Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims), despite its designation as a safe area. The Dutch peacekeepers failed to prevent the Bosnian Serb forces from entering the town and in less than two weeks, Bosnian Serb forces systematically massacred more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys and dumped their bodies in numerous mass graves in an attempt to hide their crime. The genocide included mass executions, forced deportations, and other atrocities. More than 100,000 people were killed and two million more were displaced, while the fate of almost 7,000 people who disappeared during the 44 months of war between 1992 and 1995 is still unknown and each year new victims are identified. The burials are held annually for the victims who are still being unearthed from mass graves scattered across the general region of eastern Bosnia. In some cases, relatives can bury only partial remains of severed bodies of their loved ones, found after they were relocated to secondary or tertiary mass graves, sometimes at a significant distance apart. This was the case for Mirzeta Karic, who is awaiting her father's burial. "Thirty years of search and we are burying a bone," Karic said, teary-eyed next to her father's coffin. "I think it would be easier if I could bury all of him. What can I tell you, my father is one of the 50 (killed) from my entire family." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel turned Gaza into 'graveyard of children and starving people': UNRWA chief Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 3:39 PM Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), says the Gaza Strip has become a "graveyard" for children and starving people following a relentless Israeli genocidal campaign and an all-out blockade of the Palestinian territory. In an outraged response to the recent killing of nine children, Lazzarini said in a social media post on Friday that Israel was engineering the "most cruel and Machiavellian scheme to kill" across Gaza, Lazzarini further emphasized that Gaza had become "the graveyard of children and starving people." He was reacting to the Israeli military's killing of 15 people, including nine children and four women, as they waited in line for nutritional supplements in the city of Deir el-Balah in central Gaza on Wednesday. "No way out. Their choice is between 2 deaths: starvation or being shoot at," UNRWA chief said. "The most cruel & machiavellian scheme to kill, in total impunity." The international community's norms and values were "being buried" in Gaza, he said, warning that inaction would "bring more chaos". Nearly 170 non-governmental organizations recently called for the immediate discontinuation of the controversial Israel-US-backed program of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). GHF has been tasked by the Israeli regime and the US government to distribute aid in Gaza since late May, when the regime partially eased its blockade after mounting international condemnation and warnings of imminent famine. Its operations, however, have been stymied by chaotic scenes and daily reports of Israeli forces firing on aid seekers waiting to collect rations from GHF installations. Hundreds have been killed while trying to access or distribute food from GHF installations. In Gaza, the UN human rights office said on Friday it has documented the killing of nearly 800 Palestinians seeking aid by Israeli forces. Most of those have been at aid points run by the GHF. The GHF announced it will now only operate one aid distribution site in Rafah, after shuttering hundreds of others across the blockaded strip, many of them UN aid sites, forcing Palestinians in desperate need of aid to move south. Aid groups say over 2 million Palestinians are now crammed into less than 15% of the Gaza Strip's total area. The genocidal war on Gaza continues to take more lives, as the Israeli military carries out fresh airstrikes on the besieged territory. The US-Israeli genocide in Gaza began in October 2023. The genocidal war has taken the lives of over 57,700 people, with over 137,600 others injured. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Satellite photos contradict Trump, show extensive damage at US air base Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 11:23 AM New satellite imagery has revealed significant damage to Al Udeid US airbase in Qatar after Iran's retaliatory strikes last month, debunking claims by US President Donald Trump that the largest American military base in the West Asia region had been left unharmed. The images, analyzed by The Associated Press and provided by Planet Labs PBC, showed that a geodesic dome known as a Radome housing key secure communications equipment used by American forces was present on the base just hours before the Iranian attack but was no longer visible in subsequent images. "Photos from Planet Labs depicted the geodesic dome still intact on the morning of June 23the day of the Iranian retaliation," the findings said. "The following images from June 25 onward showed the dome missing, with visible burn marks and some damage to an adjacent building." As of yet, no immediate official response to the extent of damage has been provided by US or Qatari authorities, and the incident has not been publicly acknowledged by either government. The US Air Force's 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, which operates out of Al Udeid Air Base, announced the installation of the $15 million piece of equipment in 2016. Radome, a weatherproof enclosure, housed a roughly satellite dish-shaped modernization enterprise terminal (MET), which was a cutting-edge communications hub within the US airbase. The MET "provides secure communication capabilities including voice, video and data services, linking service members in the US Central Command area of responsibility with military leaders around the world," the Air Force wrote. The MET in Qatar was the first outside the United States and features anti-jamming technology, it added. The damage to the dome followed American aggression on the three Iranian nuclear sites of Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan on June 22, which was retaliated against the day after by Iran's strikes on the US airbase. Trump dismissed the Iranian response on June 23 as "very weak" in a post on Truth Social. The United States stopped short of any reprisal following the Iranian attack on the US airbase, with Trump swiftly promulgating a unilateral ceasefire on behalf of Washington and Tel Aviv, which still remains in place. 'Shut it down' In an opinion piece, top US political website The Hill called for the closure of the Al Udeid Air Force, calling it a liability. "Iran's missile strike on the Al Udeid US Air Force base in Qatar reveals an inconvenient fact: The US base there is a military liability. Worse, it is also a political liability, granting Qatar, with its anti-American agenda, too much leverage over US policy," it wrote. It cited former Commander of US Central Command Gen. Frank McKenzie, detailing in a report that the base "will be rendered unusable by sustained Iranian attack." Israel, backed by the US, launched an unprovoked war on Iranian soil on June 13, targeting various military and civilian infrastructure, which claimed hundreds of lives. Last month's US aggression on Iranian nuclear facilities, as acknowledged by various international bodies, amounted to a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Bare hypocrisy': Iran slams US for sanctioning UN rapporteur but hosting Netanyahu Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 10:20 AM Iran has slammed the United States' double standards on human rights, which were laid by imposing sanctions against a UN expert critical of Israel's ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip while simultaneously rolling a red carpet for the regime's war criminals. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks in an X post on Friday, two days after the US announced punitive measures against Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, at the same time when Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on a visit to Washington. Baghaei said "Albanese is bullied and sanctioned for telling the truth & for standing up against genocide, occupation and apartheid. Meanwhile, Netanyahu, a court-certified war criminal, gets a red carpet in D.C." He also denounced the US's "bare hypocrisy," adding, "Truth cannot be suppressed by sanctions." On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio slapped sanctions on Albanese, accusing her of having tried to prompt the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his former minister for military affairs Yoav Gallant over war crimes in Gaza. The bans announcement, which coincided with Netanyahu's visit to the US, came after the failure of a US pressure campaign to force the UN to remove Albanese from her post. The UN rapporteur dismissed the US sanctions as "mafia-style intimidation techniques," vowing to stand "firmly and convincingly on the side of justice, as I have always done." Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged the "prompt reversal" of US sanctions against Albanese. He also called for a halt to "attacks and threats" against people appointed by the UN and other international institutions such as the ICC, whose judges have also been hit with US bans. In a speech to the Human Rights Council in Geneva last week, Albanese called on countries to cut off all trade and financial ties with Israel and withdraw their sponsorship for an "economy of genocide". She also presented her latest report, which named dozens of companies complicit in Israeli crimes against Palestinians. Back in June, the United States imposed sanctions on four ICC judges over an arrest warrant for Ntenyahu over his war crimes in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Constitutional amendment allows Cambodian government to revoke citizenship The unanimous decision in Cambodia's National Assembly clears the way for officials to strip citizenship from dissidents. By RFA Khmer 2025.07.11 -- Cambodian lawmakers on Friday voted unanimously to pass a constitutional amendment that would allow the government to create legislation that would revoke the citizenship of Cambodians found guilty of conspiring with foreign nations to harm the national interest. The change would apply to people who were born Cambodian citizens, people with dual citizenship in Cambodia and another country, and people from other nations who have been granted Cambodian citizenship. All 125 members of the National Assembly voted for the resolution, which legally amends Article 33 of the Cambodian constitution. The move comes after a rise in tensions between Cambodia and Thailand over a border dispute that resulted in a deadly shooting incident, closures at the border, and a political fight that contributed to a Thai court suspending the country's prime minister. Hun Manet, Cambodia's prime minister, used a speech last week to frame the move's expected impact. "Please don't be concerned if you are a patriot and do not oppose the interest" of Cambodia, he said. "But if you have conspired with foreign powers to destroy Cambodia then, yes, it is true you should be worried, and in such case you are not a Cambodian. No true patriot would ever plot with foreign powers to destroy their nation." Critics warn that new legislation targeting dissidents' citizenship would suppress voices critical of the government. "As the proposal moves closer to becoming reality, anyone who speaks out against or opposes the ruling party will be at risk of having their citizenship revoked," Montse Ferrer, Regional Research Director for Amnesty International, said in a statement. "We are deeply concerned that the Cambodian government, given the power to strip people of their citizenship, will misuse it to crackdown on its critics and make them stateless." Before the amendment, Article 33 of the Cambodian constitution said that "no Khmer citizen shall be deprived of their nationality, exiled, or extradited to another country except through mutual agreement. Khmer citizens living abroad are protected by the state. The acquisition of Cambodian nationality is determined by law." Includes reporting from The Associated Press. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address YAOUNDE, July 12 (Xinhua) -- General elections will be held in the Central African Republic in December, according to a statement released Friday by the prime minister's office. Originally, local elections were scheduled for the end of August. However, Prime Minister Felix Moloua announced during a meeting of the strategic committee for electoral support that these will now be postponed and held alongside legislative and presidential elections in December, the statement added. Speaking at the meeting in Bangui, the capital, Moloua said the decision aims to streamline the electoral calendar and make better use of the resources allocated for organizing the polls. Meanwhile, the country's National Elections Authority said Friday that more than 2.39 million voters have registered, significantly higher than the number recorded ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Seven More Buried As World Reflects On Srebrenica's Dark Legacy 30 Years Later By RFE/RL's Balkan Service and Ray Furlong July 11, 2025 SREBRENICA - The remains of seven people have been buried at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre, the only acknowledged act of genocide in Europe since World War II. Almedina Kadasevic came to bury her brother, Senajid, who was 19 when he was killed. His incomplete remains were found in 2010. "Since then, we have been waiting for the rest to be found, but no one contacted us. And then, they contacted our parents. Our parents agreed to bury one bone, just one," she told RFE/RL. "Wish there were more. But, there is a bone, a bone, so we can come and say our prayers." In June 1995, Bosnian Serb forces massacred some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys, in what European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said was "among the darkest chapters in Europe's collective memory." Also buried on July 11 were Hariz Mujic, Rifet Gabeljic, Hasib Omerovic, Sejdalija Alic, Amir Mujcic, and Fata Bektic. Bektic, who was 67 years old at the time of her death, and is the only woman to be buried this year. "All of it is permanently etched into memory," Adem Mehmedovic told RFE/RL's Balkan Service. Mehmedovic was just eight years old in July 1995, when Srebrenica was an enclave under Bosnian Muslim control amid the bitter wars that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia. The area was a UN-designated "safe area" but Dutch peacekeeping troops stood by and allowed Bosnian Serb forces to overrun the area. Men and boys were separated from women, who were bussed out to areas under Bosnian Muslim control. Mehmedovic said his mother resisted when a Bosnian Serb soldier tried to separate them. "It all lasted maybe 30, 40, 50 seconds it's hard to say now, from this perspective. Then another soldier came and said, 'Let the child go.' And without another word, he did. He just, literally, 'pushed' me back to my mother and then we got on the bus," he said. "I am ashamed because the Netherlands bears moral and political responsibility for not preventing it," Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said after arriving for memorial ceremonies on July 11, the day 30 years earlier that Srebrenica fell to Bosnian Serb forces. The mass killings were recognized as a genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in 2001. But amid growing genocide denial among Serbs and Bosnian Serbs, it was notable that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic did not use the term in a social media posting to mark the anniversary, describing instead as a "terrible crime." "I express my condolences to the families of the Bosniak victims, confident that a similar crime will never happen again," he wrote. French President Emmanuel Macron warned on July 11 that "there is no place for revisionism and denial in a region that wants to join the European Union." Speaking at the United Nations on July 8, the Bosnian Muslim member of the country's tripartite presidency, Denis Becirovic, said genocide denial in Serbia was "illogical, immoral, and unacceptable." "We are not seeking revenge. We are seeking truth and justice," he added. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/srebrenica-bosnia-genocide- anniversary-serbia/33471482.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ranking Members Shaheen and Schatz Introduce Legislation to Prevent Lifesaving U.S. Aid from Going to Waste Senate Foreign Relations Committee July 11, 2025 WASHINGTON -- This week, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Foreign Operation Appropriations, introduced the "Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act," legislation to prevent the unnecessary destruction and waste of foreign assistance commoditiesincluding food, medicine and medical devicesby ensuring that they are delivered to intended recipients before they spoil or expire. The bill would prohibit the destruction of any such commodities unless all efforts to sell or donate them have been exhausted and requires reporting to Congress on any destroyed goods. Specifically, the "Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act" seeks to prevent the State Department's planned destruction of $9.7 million in family planning commodities instead of donating them to intended beneficiaries. It would also impose requirements to prevent the imminent spoilage of emergency food commodities in warehouses, including a USAID warehouse in Houston, Texas. "This bill will save lives and prevent the wasting of taxpayer dollars by ensuring that already paid-for life-saving commodities, like food and medicine, are delivered to people in need instead of being pointlessly trashed," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "At a moment when the Trump Administration has made devastating cuts to foreign assistance it is disappointing that the State Department would sign off on spending money to actually destroy paid-for commodities that would save lives and are waiting to be deployed. Food and family planning commodities are desperately needed in conflict affected countries, like Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo where famine is taking hold. Women are at high risk for sexual violence in conflict settings. This is sadly yet another example of how Elon Musk and the DOGE boys have simultaneously managed to cost lives and undercut America's influence abroad without saving the taxpayer a single cent." "Intentionally destroying health care products or letting food and medication that the United States government has already paid for as part of our foreign assistance efforts rot and expire in warehouses is absurd. It's a total waste of taxpayer dollars and is needlessly costing lives around the world," said Ranking Member Schatz. "Our bill requires the administration to follow common-sense and distribute foreign assistance commodities before they expire." Last week, Ranking Member Shaheen sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to reverse the State Department's decision to destroy more than $9 million dollars in family planning commodities intended to support women in crisis settings globally. U.S. family planning assistance reaches 47.6 million women and couples every year, preventing 8.1 million unintended pregnancies, 5.2 million unsafe abortions and 34,000 maternal deaths. Full text of the bill can be found HERE. The "Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act" would: Require that foreign assistance commodities, including food, medicine, and medical devices be made available to intended beneficiaries before the commodities spoil or expire. Prevent the destruction of any commodity procured or held by the United States unless every effort has been made to sell or donate the commodity before the applicable spoilage or expiration date. Require reporting to Congress on any destroyed commodities, including the market value of any product or commodity destroyed; and the cost incurred to destroy the commodity. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press US Department of State Remarks to the Press Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Kuala Lumpur Convention Center Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia July 11, 2025 SECRETARY RUBIO: We had a great visit - great visits. This is an extraordinary forum. ASEAN is the primary way in which the United States engages in Southeast Asia diplomatically. The United States is a country that has deep ties in this region. We are a Pacific nation. We have U.S. citizens that live in the Pacific, obviously in Hawaii and in other territories. And we have strong relationships with many of our partner nation-states here in the region, and that includes, for example, we are the - the United States is the single largest source of foreign direct investment. So we're very happy to have come here today. We were very warmly received, very positively received. We had very good meetings, some (inaudible) deliverables, and new action items we'll be able to work on together in the years to come. QUESTION: Sir, how was your meeting with Wang Yi? How was the progress on that end? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, it was a very productive meeting. It wasn't a negotiation. It was a meeting. It was a positive meeting. And it's important that the United States and China have productive meetings and regular engagement and communications. So we felt really good about it - very - thought it was very constructive, and hopefully we'll be able to build on that to continue to bring stability to our relationship. I think it would benefit the world for that to QUESTION: Did you discuss - QUESTION: And tariffs? QUESTION: - a summit between President Xi and President Trump? SECRETARY RUBIO: President Trump's been invited to visit China. It's a visit he wants to undertake, and so we'll work on finding the right date for that, but I'm sure it'll happen because the President - both presidents want it to happen. QUESTION: Sir, can you discuss some of the deliverables that were committed to today and yesterday? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, a couple deliverables - obviously, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Malaysia on civil nuclear cooperation, which is very positive. We saw elevation in our relationship with a number of countries that will be formalized over the next few weeks as well. So these are very positive engagements. We had a couple of defense agreements or defense sales that we were able to announce to a couple of our partners during this visit as well. Those will become public soon enough. And so we thought that it was a very positive engagement. And we identified new areas of cooperation. One of the things we're very interested in is taking on these scams that are going on, that are preying on, not just Americans, but even people here in many of the countries represented at ASEAN. And we think that these cyber criminals that are operating out there as well that are very harmful and - to our country but to all the countries that are represented here. So, but we hope to have some real deliverables on that, and we look forward to there being a very positive and productive leaders meeting in October. QUESTION: Sir, a question on tariffs. Are you afraid that the tariffs (inaudible) ASEAN will backfire against the U.S.? SECRETARY RUBIO: No, I'm not concerned about that. That's not going to happen, because these tariffs are being applied on a global scale. These are not aimed at one country or one region. It's all around the world. And it's very simple, okay? For 20 or 30 years, the United States has built up enormous trade deficits with multiple countries around the world, in every region - in Europe, Canada, Mexico, and in this region as well - and that had to be addressed. And so that's what the President is doing. Now, obviously, those tariffs that he's announced will take affect on the 1st of August, because markets need certainty. But there is always the possibility that before August 1st, or at some point after August 1st, we will reach arrangements with individual countries that changes those numbers in a positive way, but that takes some time to work on. So, that could happen. But by and large, this is not aimed at any one country. This is globalized. This applies to virtually every country in the world, because the trade deficit the U.S. was running with too many countries was simply unsustainable. We had to address it. We had to address it. QUESTION: Sir, you talked - you met bilateral with all member of ASEAN. SECRETARY RUBIO: Almost all. QUESTION: But - yeah, yeah. Okay. SECRETARY RUBIO: We tried. Yeah. But we saw everybody, and it was a very, very positive engagement. We were very warmly received - a lot of appreciation for the U.S. role, a lot of deep partnerships. Today, by the way, is the 30th anniversary of the U.S. diplomatic relations with Vietnam; that's something we intend to continue to commemorate with real actions in addition to high-level meetings. So we had a very positive - this was a very, very positive trip. QUESTION: Sir, can you discuss about - can you say to us what were you discussing with Mr. Lavrov this morning? SECRETARY RUBIO: With Mr. Lavrov this morning? QUESTION: Yeah, yes, before the - SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I'm not going to tell you what I was discussing with him, but it's not a - unrelated to what we discussed yesterday. QUESTION: How about aside of tariff, with ASEAN did you (inaudible) with the ASEAN member? SECRETARY RUBIO: Sure. I mean, there's a lot of things we have in common. I mean, cyber security is one example of something that I think everyone represented here is very deeply committed to. If you think about the digital economy, which is going to be critical to all the growth that's going to go on in the world - and most of the growth that's going to go on in the world is going to happen right here, okay? It's in Asia, particularly in Southeast Asia; two-thirds of global economic growth is going to happen here over the next 25 or 30 years, and much of that is going to be on digital platforms. Those platforms have to be secure. They have to be secure from cyber criminals. They have to be secure from nation-state actors that may seek to undermine it. So that was a recurring theme in all of our engagements, and everyone is very enthusiastic to work together on these things. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Traveling Press US Department of State Remarks to the Press Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Kuala Lumpur Convention Center Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia July 11, 2025 SECRETARY RUBIO: You guys don't look nearly as excited to see me as the foreign press briefing. (Laughter.) I'm going to spend more time with them. Which way am I facing, this way? It's been - this has been really good. I mean, we've had really great interactions, very positive - everyone's been very positive and enthusiastic. Obviously, the issue of trade comes up. But as I remind everybody, there's no country in the world that I can meet with right now where the issue of trade and tariffs wouldn't come up, because this is a global action. So our negotiators, the baseline will take effect the 1st of August, but obviously, as the President's made clear, there are opportunities for adjustments based on arrangements that could be made between now and then. But beyond that, it's been very positive; all of our engagements here have been very positive. We've been very warmly received, and everyone's excited we're here and excited about the opportunities to work together on a number of things. We'll have even a few more announcements to make about some elevation of strategic partnerships. Obviously the Memorandum of Understanding we signed yesterday was very positive with the host country. They did a great job hosting this, by the way. This has been a great forum to be able to interact with a lot of different countries, and hopefully to take back some potential decisions that can be made that further strengthen our commitment to this part of the world. As I pointed out today on two occasions during our interventions and opportunity to speak, the United States is a Pacific nation - not just the mainland of the United States that faces the Pacific, but we have American citizens, and one of our 50 states. We have - the United States is the number one source of foreign direct investment in Southeast Asia. We're not abandoning any of that nor are we abandoning these strong bilateral ties that we have with many of these countries, some of which go back decades and decades. In fact, today is the 30th anniversary of U.S. diplomatic relations with Vietnam, and think about how far that relationship has come. We had a very positive meeting today, and with the Vietnamese, as an example, and we're looking forward to building on - continue to build on that relationship, which is both deeply symbolic given how far our two countries have come, but also we have very exciting opportunities we're going to be able to work together with them on, and we're excited to be able to do that. So it's been a great trip, it's been a great visit. It's exceeded all of our expectations. QUESTION: How was QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, how does QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you met the Chinese - your Chinese counterpart earlier today. SECRETARY RUBIO: I did. QUESTION: The President said just a couple of days ago that he enjoys good relations with China and the Chinese president. At your meeting, is that the sense you get - that you have good relations with China? SECRETARY RUBIO: It was a very constructive meeting. Obviously, look, we're two big, powerful countries, and there are always going to be issues that we disagree on. I think there are some areas of potential cooperation. I thought it was a very constructive, positive meeting, and a lot of work to do. He's absolutely right that the President has a very good relationship with President Xi. It tracks back to his first term. And obviously there are some issues we're going to have to work through, and that's to be expected with countries of our size and scope and influence in the world - two global powers such as the United States and China. But I thought it was a very constructive and positive meeting and gave us some things we can work on together. QUESTION: Do you think they're going to QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, what was your message to the foreign minister in the meeting? SECRETARY RUBIO: Which foreign minister? I've been meeting the foreign minister QUESTION: Foreign Minister Wang Yi. SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh. Well, look, it's very constructive. I think as I said, the President has a very positive working relationship with President Xi, and obviously the relationship I have with the foreign minister should reflect that. So we acknowledged there are some issues that are going to be - we have to work through, not just beyond trade but others, but I thought it was a very constructive and positive meeting and gave us a lot to work on. So that was our message, was the opportunity here to achieve some strategic stability and identify areas where we can cooperate together on and build better communications and working trust. QUESTION: What are the odds of a meeting QUESTION: What are some areas of cooperation? SECRETARY RUBIO: What? QUESTION: What are some of those areas of cooperation? The administration hasn't spelled those out yet, so SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, we're going to work through those. We're not - we don't - I don't have any announcement for you right now. But it was a very constructive meeting. I think we left it feeling as though there are some areas we're going to be able to work together on. And obviously, as we work through those and we do that in conjunction with the Chinese side, we'll make public announcements. The last interaction of our trade representatives was quite positive, and we can build on that and other areas of potential cooperation. Yeah. QUESTION: What are the odds for a meeting or the outlook for a meeting? We know President Trump has expressed interest in a meeting with President Xi this year, and President Xi has reciprocated with an invitation to China for the President and First Lady. What's the outlook or what are the odds of a meeting happening this year after this - after your initial SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, no, the odds are high. I think both sides want to see it happen. Obviously we have to build the right atmosphere and the right deliverables so that a visit isn't just a visit, but it actually has some takeaways from it that are concrete. But there's a strong desire on both sides to do it. The President wants to do it. The Chinese side wants to see it happen. President Xi has said that publicly. So I think the odds are high. I don't have a date for you, but I think it's coming. It'll happen. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, what do you say to those who make the argument that the U.S. tariffs or the threat of those tariffs in the region actually creates an opening for China to be seen as the stable economic partner here? SECRETARY RUBIO: I don't agree with that assessment. I mean, look, at the end of the day the United States has built these tremendous trade imbalances over the last 30 or 40 years. It's unfair to America and American workers and American - in addition to threaten our industrial capacity. Trade needed to be revisited. The President campaigned on that, and that's what he's doing, and he's resetting it on a global scale. At the end of the day, look, I think countries are going to trade with multiple countries. We don't view this as an opening for anyone. We don't view it that way. We view it as an opportunity to reset global trade in a way that's fair for Americans after two or three decades of unfairness. If you look at some of these trade deficits, they're massive. They're massive. That has to be addressed, and that's not sustainable at its current - the current direction that it had gone. This should have been done a long time ago. President Trump's finally done it. And I think countries understand that. This was different. If this was us targeting 10 countries or five countries, then I would understand why countries would be upset. But the truth of the matter is we're resetting tariff levels with virtually every country in the world. And so I understand - if you had a deal where you were running these huge trade deficits with the United States and exporting a lot to the U.S. and built your economy around exports, but had very little import or very little economic activity coming in from the United States, I understand why you don't want that to change. But I think most mature leaders - and everybody here is a mature leader - understands that that's not a sustainable dynamic. It was one that had to be changed, and that's what the President's doing. So we're going to be okay. QUESTION: And in discussing trade with these counterparts in the region, did you open the aperture at all and also tell them that this is an opportunity for them to bring into the conversation or the negotiation other elements of the U.S. relationship, whether it be security elements, broader than trade? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I think that we want to expand on all the other issues, but I think we need to bifurcate the two. Primarily the trade conversations have been about trade, and that's how the President's treated it. Now, that doesn't mean that there - the bulk of our meetings here were not about trade. I'm not the trade negotiator for the United States. We certainly appreciate the role that trade plays in our bilateral relationships with individual countries. But the bulk of our talks here have been about all the other things that we cooperate on, whether it's civil nuclear cooperation, whether it's respecting international law when it comes to air rights and maritime rights and freedom of navigation and things of this nature, and other opportunities to work together. So what's been the bulk of our conversations and it's been very positively received. QUESTION: To follow up on that, Mr. Secretary, Japan's prime minister said his country needs to wean itself from U.S. dependence in key areas such as security, as Tokyo faces the prospect of tariffs. Did you discuss that in your meeting with the Japanese? SECRETARY RUBIO: No, we haven't. But at the end of the day, look, I don't think that that's a negative comment per se. We obviously have very strong commitments and an alliance with Japan. We continue to cooperate very closely with them. As I speak to you now, there are active exercises going on between the United States and Japan. So our relationship with them will continue to exist. The idea that somehow Japan would be able to develop domestic - their own capabilities for mutual self-defense is not - not only is not something that we find offensive, it's something we'd be supportive of, obviously within the confines of their constitutional system. But they have some limitations on what they can do. But the idea that Japan's military would become more capable is not something we would be offended by; it's something we would actually be encouraged by. QUESTION: So can you talk - you talked about points of possible cooperation with the Chinese. But on the points, which are well known, of contention, did you get a sense that there was a willingness SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. QUESTION: of the Chinese to move, or are they just SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I wouldn't - look, today's meeting with our Chinese counterparts was not a negotiation on any of these matters. It is the first time that I met my counterpart in person, who, by the way, happens to also be the national security advisor, so he's also - he's not the archivist, though. (Laughter.) But I suggested that perhaps he ask for that title and that way we'd be equal. But QUESTION: That's a hell of a - that's a lot bigger job than archivist in the U.S. SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, there they have 5,000 years of archives too, so - (laughter) - but I would say that it was a very positive relation, a very positive interaction, and constructive is the most important part. At the end of the day, no matter what, the United States and China have to have relations. We have to have communication. We have to be able to interact with one another. And it's just impossible for the foreign ministers of our respective countries to not engage in conversation. So I'm glad we had that meeting today. There's a lot of work to be done. No one's saying it's easy, but we do have some opportunities on some things we might be able to work on to begin to build some momentum in our relationship. I thought it was a very good meeting. I really felt encouraged by it. But look, there's work to be done. QUESTION: Secretary, if I can ask a follow-up question. You mentioned that you see high odds of a meeting between the presidents of the U.S. and China. There is a big Chinese military parade happening; it's scheduled for September 3rd. Did the Chinese foreign minister extend an invitation to that? Was that discussed as a potential opportunity? SECRETARY RUBIO: No, we didn't discuss any specific date in mind in that regard. But the reason why I tell you there's a high probability they're going to meet is that they both want to meet, and my - I don't know President Xi but I know President Trump, and I can tell you that he's committed to having that meeting happen. So the reason why I think there's high odds of it happening is they both want it to happen. So I'm sure we'll work on a date and find a mutually acceptable date for both sides, and I'm pretty confident. We want it to be a good meeting and we're going to work hard between now and whatever date that is to make sure that when that visit does happen, it's as productive as possible. QUESTION: We saw you today seek out the Russian foreign minister in the larger gathering. Why did you go up and talk to him? What did you guys discuss? Did you give him a response from President Trump to the conversation you had yesterday? SECRETARY RUBIO: No, it was just a follow-up on an unrelated item to our conversation yesterday, and I'll leave it at that. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, many Japanese people are concerning about the U.S. policy, which is demanding drastically increased defense spending. Do you have something to comment? How do you think of this? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I wouldn't characterize it as a demand. I mean, we've encouraged them to invest in certain capabilities. It's less to do with the amount of money and more to do about certain things they can do. At the end of the day we are in an agreement with Japan on collective self-defense, on the ability to come to each other's aid in a time of conflict or in a time of danger, and there are certain capacities that we think they have high capability. We understand there are dynamics that - constitutional and legal that limit their ability to invest in certain things versus other things, and - but we have a very close relationship with Japan, very close. You may not know this - it's an inside joke that's now an outside joke, and I'll share it with you, and that is that I have - I believe I have met with the foreign minister of Japan more than any other foreign minister on the planet in my five and a half months in office. I think we're up to, like, nine or 10 meetings. We interact, and how we joke with each other is that we see each other more than we see our respective spouses. And so it's a very close relationship, a very historic relationship, and one that's going to continue. So again, I think anyone who's looking for, like, drama or division there is - shouldn't be doing it because the truth of the matter is our relationship with Japan is very solid, and obviously we're both open, democratic governments. So when there are some differences of opinion, it's going to be public, not private - but I don't see that as a negative. We have a very strong and very good relationship with Japan, and that's not going to change. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary - Mr. Secretary, in your conversation with Foreign Minister Wang, did the subject of Taiwan come up too, and in particular the recent military drills being held by the Taiwanese? SECRETARY RUBIO: No issue about drills. I think the Chinese position on Taiwan has been expressed. I don't think it's a mystery to anyone in terms of where they stand on it. And our position has also been expressed pretty openly. So it was not - as I said, our meeting today was not a negotiation or a back-and-forth on items. It was more about establishing a constructive baseline where we can continue to talk on multiple fronts, including trade but beyond trade. QUESTION: Secretary, if I can ask a question about your meeting with Vietnam, a country with one of the largest trade surpluses with the U.S. We've heard that there was maybe some misunderstanding on - about the agreement announced last week for a 20 percent tariff, that the Vietnamese weren't confident that that was fully agreed to, that perhaps they were looking for a 10 to 15 percent tariff. Was that an issue that they raised, trying to lower their tariff level? Was that - the tariff - an issue that they raised during the bilateral meeting today? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, the issue of trade was raised. We don't - I'm not - I'm not the negotiator on trade QUESTION: Sure. SECRETARY RUBIO: and neither is the foreign minister. And so we weren't here to negotiate a trade deal. And I'll refer you to our trade negotiators as far as the status of that. Clearly, Vietnam feels that if they enter into an agreement with the United States, they want to have a tariff rate that's at least as good as if not better than other countries that don't have a trade agreement with us. But I'll leave - you'll have to - I have to refer you to our negotiators because I just don't know what the status of those negotiations are at this point. QUESTION: But just to - on that, the President did announce that there was an agreement reached with Vietnam, and yet Vietnam is saying that they never reached that agreement. So they must have raised this issue with you today. SECRETARY RUBIO: No. I mean, that - neither that issue - it just wasn't a trade meeting. We didn't - I'm not saying it's not a relevant issue, it's just not what the purpose of our meeting was about today. We talked about a lot of other issues. But perhaps the reason why it wasn't raised is because I'm not the trade negotiator and these are not trade meetings. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can I follow up on your meeting with Lavrov yesterday? Have you had a chance to speak to the President about the ideas that were discussed in that meeting? And what did you discuss with the foreign minister this morning? SECRETARY RUBIO: Which one? Lavrov? QUESTION: Lavrov, when you spoke to him on SECRETARY RUBIO: I went to talk to him about another topic. It's not big or mysterious, it's just another topic. So it's - and I'm not going to - we'll leave it at that. And as far as - I did speak to the President last night, and - but I have no news to report to you on it right now. But like I said, I thought yesterday's meeting - I'm not - I don't want to oversell it, okay, but it was constructive and there was some things that perhaps we can build on. Maybe not. I don't know. We'll find out. But there are some things that we will potentially explore, and I relayed that to the President and our team here last night. QUESTION: The President says that there's going to be an announcement coming relevant or relating to Russia on Monday. SECRETARY RUBIO: Mm-hmm. QUESTION: Can you tell us a little bit about what his thinking is, based on your conversation last night, where things currently stand? SECRETARY RUBIO: No. No. (Laughter.) That's what Monday will be about. QUESTION: Can I follow up on QUESTION: What about he did say that there's a new agreement between the U.S. and NATO to get new U.S. weaponry through NATO to Ukraine, and NATO is going to fully pay for that, according to the President? Can you explain to us exactly, number one, how that's going to work and when those weapons, as part of this agreement, will actually get to Ukraine? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I think what you're referring to is something that Ukraine has already offered, and so has Europe, and that is to buy weapons from the United States and then provide them to Ukraine. At the end of the day, some of the systems that Ukraine requires are systems that Europe doesn't make. They would have to purchase them from the United States. In addition to that, I would point to the fact that a number of the defensive weapons that Ukraine seeks are in - our Allies in NATO have them. So as an example, Germany, I believe, has 13 or 14 Patriot batteries. Other countries do as well, some others, and some have placed orders for that. And so we continue to encourage our NATO Allies to provide those weapons, those systems, those defensive systems that Ukraine seeks - that they should provide those weapons to Ukraine since they have them in their stocks, and then we can enter into financial agreements with us where they can purchase the replacements. QUESTION: So these are existing systems? This is nothing new? SECRETARY RUBIO: It can be both. I mean, but at the end of the day, I mean, it's a lot faster to move something, for example, from Germany to Ukraine than it is to order it from a factory and get it there. So there are a couple different ways to approach it, but the key is that there are existing capacities within existing U.S. systems within Europe right now that can be transferred to Ukraine, and then the Europeans could purchase the replacements from the United States. That's one aspect of what I think the President was referring to yesterday. QUESTION: Just to follow up on the Taiwan issue QUESTION: And that's why you gave QUESTION: did Foreign Minister Wang warn you against welcoming President Lai at - through - in a transit visa through the U.S.? Did he - transit visit through the U.S., did he mention anything about that? SECRETARY RUBIO: No, there was not - this was not a warning type meeting. QUESTION: All right. SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, obviously we understand their viewpoints on Taiwan. They're well stated. They've been stated for many years. And - but this was not a meeting where any - each - either side warned each other about anything. This was very constructive and productive, and I hope that that's how they reflect it as well, because I thought it was a very positive meeting. QUESTION: Any surprises over the last two days? SECRETARY RUBIO: Surprises? QUESTION: Yeah. SECRETARY RUBIO: No, I don't think so. We were very warmly received. I tell you, I mean, the reception's been great. QUESTION: And that was a surprise? (Laughter.) SECRETARY RUBIO: No, I'm just saying that it was a very friendly environment, and I think the reiteration to the point we made, and that is, look, I read these things about how the U.S. is not focused on the Indo-Pacific. But it's funny - everywhere I travel in the world, the headline is: The U.S. is not paying enough attention, whether it's the Western Hemisphere or NATO or even in the Middle East. I think sometimes there's a media dynamic that covers certain parts of the world more than others, but the relationships we have here have existed for a long time - a long time. When you talk about 6,000 American companies that are directly invested in the economies of Southeast Asia, we're not walking away from that. We're not walking away from that; we're not walking away from our defense ties that we have in the region; we're not walking away from the strong economic ties we have in the region. On the contrary, we want to build on it. Just yesterday we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Malaysia on civil nuclear cooperation. The - I believe as early - either last night or early this morning, our arrangement with - on another civil nuclear program with Thailand came into effect. So we have a lot of positive things going on and we're going to continue to build on those. We're excited about them and we're not going to walk away from them. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, while you were in Malaysia, the Trump Administration announced - yeah - a new nomination for - to be ambassador of Malaysia. Nick Adams, he's sort of well known on X as a sort of social media personality and does lots of other things. I was wondering what you could say about this nomination, why Mr. Adams was the right person for this pretty important position in the Indo-Pacific. SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, the President makes those nominations. I support the nomination. He went through our process of the Presidential Personnel Office, and we look forward to the Senate confirming him so he can get here and be a part of our team. QUESTION: Can I ask a step-back question on trade strategy? You've talked many times now about how decades of trade policy have led to the deindustrialization of the U.S. And so obviously you and other aides are trying to bring manufacturing or other industrial processes back to the U.S., but you haven't really given us a vision of what exactly that entails. I mean, what kinds of jobs are supposed to be coming back to the U.S.? Howard Lutnick talked about people screwing in tiny things into iPhones, which people mocked after he said that line. But so what about you? Like, what vision of industrialization do you see that's SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, there's certain capacities countries have to be able to have. For example - I'm just using these as examples - the ability to build a ship. Right now we go around the world and people say, well, we bought 200 Boeing jets. Well, Boeing has to be able to make them. And frankly, we have huge backlogs on that. So you talk about pharmaceuticals as an example. Talk about national security - we've lost our ability to make pharmaceuticals in the United States and become heavily dependent on the foreign supply chain of the active ingredients that are necessary for pharmaceuticals. So I could go on and on, but, I mean, the capability of making things has a national security component to it, not just a jobs component to it. They're both important. So I would look to those as examples of things that the U.S., because of certain decisions that were made by previous policymakers, we've seen some of these core industrial capabilities that are necessary not just for economic stability but for national security, leave the United States. I would also argue that in addition to our domestic manufacturing capability, I think we and others should be deeply concerned about certain supply chain vulnerabilities and overreliance on one part of the world versus anywhere else. I don't think it's healthy for the United States or for the global economy to be so heavily dependent, as an example, on China or any other country for that matter, where all of the industrial or manufacturing capacity or supplies in the supply chain of a key element is all derived in one place. So I'm sure you've seen the announcement yesterday where the Department of Defense has entered - has taken an equity stake in a company that will be able to process rare earths. One thing is to have access to raw material; the other thing is to be able to process that raw material into something that's usable for everything from high technology to anything that has a motor in it. So I think we at a minimum have to diversify supply chains and secure them. Some of that will be domestic; others will be in allied nation-states. But these are the core components of the kinds of things we need to be focused on. And the - it's not just the deindustrialization of America. It's the loss of these key components and the concentration of those in one or two countries around the world that leave not just us but many countries vulnerable. That's just not a sustainable or acceptable situation to find ourselves in. STAFF: Thank you, everybody. Thank you. SECRETARY RUBIO: All right, guys. STAFF: Thank you. SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Trilateral Meeting in Kuala Lumpur with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya and Republic of Korea First Vice Foreign Minister Park US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson July 11, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi and Republic of Korea First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo during the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings in Kuala Lumpur to further strengthen the indispensable trilateral partnership between the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. The three emphasized that trilateral cooperation remains critical to promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. They also reaffirmed their resolute commitment to bolstering defense and deterrence and to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. They discussed increasing resiliency by enhancing economic cooperation on shared economic opportunities, including energy, trusted digital infrastructure, and shipbuilding, and efforts to strengthen the security and resilience of critical technologies and supply chains. The Secretary, Foreign Minister, and Vice Foreign Minister welcomed the further institutionalization of trilateral collaboration as a platform to advance peace and security across the world. They reiterated their pledge to continue trilateral meetings at all levels. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement on the President's Decision Prohibiting the Acquisition by Suirui Group Co., Ltd. of Jupiter Systems, LLC U.S. Department of the Treasury July 11, 2025 WASHINGTON -- Today, President Trump published an order prohibiting the acquisition by Suirui International Co., Limited, a Hong Kong company that is majority owned by Suirui Group Co., Ltd. (Suirui), a company organized under the laws of the People's Republic of China, of Jupiter Systems, LLC (Jupiter), a Delaware company (subsequently converted into Jupiter Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation). The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS or the Committee) reviewed and investigated this transaction pursuant to Section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (Section 721). CFIUS identified a national security risk arising from Suirui's ownership of Jupiter relating to the potential compromise of Jupiter's products used in military and critical infrastructure environments. To address this risk, the President's order directs Suirui to divest all interests and rights in Jupiter and requires that Jupiter hold no interest or rights in any assets or operations of its Chinese subsidiaries acquired or created after the completion of the transaction. The CFIUS process focuses exclusively on identifying and addressing national security concerns arising from a covered transaction on a case-by-case basis. This focused mandate reinforces CFIUS's commitment to welcoming foreign investment while protecting national security. View a copy of the President's order. ABOUT CFIUS CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States and certain real estate transactions by foreign persons, in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. CFIUS is chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury and includes as members the Secretaries of State, Defense, Commerce, Energy, and Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the U.S. Trade Representative. The Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Labor participate as non-voting, ex-officio members, and the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture is a member when a case involves elements of the agricultural industrial base that have implications for food security. Treasury's Office of Investment Security leads CFIUS's efforts to identify transactions where no voluntary notice has been filed under section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended. If CFIUS determines that a non-notified transaction may be a covered transaction or covered real estate transaction and may raise national security considerations, the Committee may contact the transaction parties and request a CFIUS filing. Members of the public may contact Treasury with any tips, referrals, or voluntary self-disclosures at CFIUS.tips@treasury.gov. #### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Technology and innovation driving UK growth and closer partnerships with the Indo-Pacific Britain will deepen relations with countries across the Indo-Pacific to bring together UK and Southeast Asian innovation and technology. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP Published 11 July 2025 Strengthened ties with Southeast Asia open up new trade and security opportunities to create jobs and boost growth in the UK Free and open Indo-Pacific central to Plan for Change - delivering growth and opportunities for British businesses across the country. UK to participate in ASEAN Regional Forum for first time - an important forum for security dialogue with one of the fastest growing regional economies Britain will deepen relations with countries across the Indo-Pacific to bring together UK and Southeast Asian innovation and technology to drive economic growth and create new business opportunities at key meetings in Malaysia today (Friday 11 July). Stepping up cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on regional security, the visit will see the Foreign Secretary participate in the region's main security forum- the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) - for the first time as Guest of Chair. The UK aims to become a permanent member of the ARF, in recognition of the fact that the greatest threats to ASEAN's security also impact UK national security, from instability driven by climate change to risk of conflict. These strengthened security ties demonstrate the government's Plan for Change in practice - delivering on the commitment to strengthen national security for working people. The UK will also strengthen cooperation with ASEAN nations to tackle transnational crime including scam centres, illicit finance and illegal migration - protecting our citizens from criminals and the shared threats we face. This builds on the ASEAN-UK Plan of Action as we approach the fifth anniversary of our Dialogue Partnership. Secure and resilient growth depends on working with Indo-Pacific partners to preserve a stable balance of power, manage conflicts and protect our people from threats such as cyber scams and illicit finance. Strengthening our cooperation builds on recent success in strengthening ties with key allies and partners, and ensuring the UK's national security. Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said: There is enormous economic potential in the Indo-Pacific with over 50% of the world's population and 40% of global GDP. This government is breaking down barriers between businesses in the UK and Southeast Asia to tap into this market. We are working together to tackle key threats to our mutual prosperity - illegal migration, illicit finance and scam centres. Engaging with our partners on these enemies of growth protects our people and their hard-earned money. We want to work with partners like Singapore to seize the benefits of AI and technology and manage the risks - supporting the delivery of the ASEAN Community's Vision 2045 and the UK's Plan for Change. Southeast Asia is already the fifth largest economy in the world, home to almost 700 million people, half of whom are under 30. The UK's accession last December to CPTPP, one of the world's biggest trade blocs, marked a breakthrough in connecting the UK to a group of economies now worth 11.7 trillion, putting money into UK businesses up and down the country. On top of attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, the Foreign Secretary will also meet the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan to reinforce the shared ambition to elevate the relationship between the UK and Malaysia to a Strategic Partnership, particularly in the areas of education, energy, defence and trade which will help generate growth. Investment into clean, renewable energy will reduce British people's energy bills and enshrine climate resilience and energy security. Catalysing the clean energy transformation, the Foreign Secretary, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Gan, will announce a landmark pledge of up to 70 million into Singapore's Financing Asia's Transition Partnership (FAST-P), advancing the UK and Singapore's joint efforts to accelerate sustainable infrastructure and investment across Southeast Asia. The UK's funding, to be delivered through British Investment International's (BII), will support low-carbon energy projects and innovative business models, protecting energy security and insulating UK billpayers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Foreign Secretary has released a joint statement on recent developments in Georgia alongside European partners From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP Published 11 July 2025 Joint statement of 11 July 2025 by the Foreign Ministers of Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the High Representative of the European Union on recent developments in Georgia: We, the Foreign Ministers of European democracies, are disturbed and deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation in Georgia. We strongly condemn the recent, politically motivated, imprisonment and detention of the leaders of Georgian opposition, clearly designed to stifle political opposition in Georgia, a few months ahead of the local elections. Their detention, as well as arbitrary arrests and increasing repression of other Georgian authorities` critics, representatives of civil society, peaceful protesters and independent journalists, contribute to dismantling of democracy in Georgia and rapid transformation towards an authoritarian system, in contradiction to European norms and values. Recent legislative changes aim at stifling independent civil society and legitimate protest. The course of political repression carried out by the Georgian authorities has led, in reaction, to a considerable downgrading of our relationship, including reduction of assistance and cooperation with Georgian authorities. Today, the authoritarian and anti-European course of the Georgian authorities further threatens Georgia's democratic achievements and relations with our countries. We will continue to call out Georgian authorities' undemocratic actions and violations of human rights and will not hesitate to make use of the range of unilateral and multilateral tools available to us should Georgian authorities continue to take steps that erode Georgia's democracy and respect for human rights. It is not too late to reverse course. We call on the Georgian authorities to immediately release unjustly detained politicians, journalists and activists, to reverse repressive legislation and to engage in a national dialogue with all relevant stakeholders to find a way out of the current situation. Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 11 July 2025 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. ** Briefings In a short while, we will be joined by our friend, Carl Skau, the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), who has just returned from Gaza and he will be here to talk to you about that visit. And as a reminder, on Monday [at 12:45 p.m.] the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General, along with the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Li Junhua, will be here to discuss the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025. Given that these three illustrious people will be here, we will not have a noon briefing. ** Thirtieth Anniversary of the Genocide in Srebrenica Today is the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica. In a message for the Day, the Secretary-General notes that as we mark this anniversary in Srebrenica the worst atrocity on European soil since the Second World War. He stresses that this day is not only a moment of reflection, it is also a call to vigilance and action. The Secretary-General points out that at a time when hate speech, denial and division are gaining ground, we must stand firm for truth and justice, adding that we must detect early warning signs and respond before violence takes hold, and that we must respect international law, we must defend human rights, and we must uphold the dignity of every individual, and also invest in reconciliation and peace. And also to note that Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, represented the Secretary-General at the official ceremony that took place in Bosnia-Herzegovina today. In her remarks, she noted that the genocide in Srebrenica remains one of the darkest chapters in Europe's recent history, a stark reminder of the consequences of hatred, division and the failure to protect civilians. She emphasized that the legacy of Srebrenica must be a world that never again turns away in the face of atrocity. Also present from the UN side was Miguel Angel Moratinos, who as you know is the High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations. ** Occupied Palestinian Territory Turning to the situation in Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that every day without a ceasefire brings more preventable deaths children dying in pain and hungry people shot while trying to reach the trickle of aid that is allowed in. And today, once again, we've seen horrifying reports of casualties dozens of them among people in Rafah who were simply trying to get food and other basic supplies for their families. Meanwhile, the fuel crisis remains acute. Yesterday for the second straight day our colleagues were able to pick up 75,000 litres of fuel and bring them to the Gaza strip. This is of course a positive development. However, these amounts are a small portion of what is actually required to sustain lifesaving operations every day in Gaza. To be clear: fuel is still running out in Gaza. More fuel is needed than what is actually brought in. If the current limits aren't lifted immediately, so we can bring in greater volumes, more services will go dark We also urgently need unimpeded, safe access inside Gaza. Yesterday, our teams could provide hospitals with some of the fuel that came in but only in the south. That's because Israeli authorities denied our attempt to bring fuel to the north. Such denials are life-threatening. We know that hospitals in the north are on the verge of shutting down. But it's not just hospitals: Fuel is also running out for ambulances, it is running out for water treatment facilities and it is running out for many other essential services, all of which are at risk of collapsing. Overall, out of the 15 humanitarian movements attempted yesterday where coordination was required with the Israeli authorities, five were denied outright, four were initially approved but then faced impediments on the ground, and only six were fully facilitated. Critical missions such as the evacuation of vulnerable people from high-risk areas, the retrieval of vehicles and spare tires, and the assessment of medical equipment could not be accomplished. The facilitation of movements also needs to be timely. OCHA reports that on Wednesday, Israeli authorities denied a request to reach part of Gaza city where 18 injured people were trapped under the rubble. By the time the mission was finally allowed through yesterday, no one was found alive. And another important reminder from OCHA is that much-needed operations, such as the distribution of tents, cannot even be attempted as stocks are fully depleted, and Israeli authorities are blocking the entry of any shelter materials for over 130 days now. Meanwhile, active hostilities and insecurity continue to put civilians including aid workers at risk. Just this Wednesday and again yesterday, a total of five strikes hit a few hundred metres from where aid workers go; this included UN staffer. Thankfully none of the workers were injured. And also yesterday, members of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies were shot at and injured on their way to help a colleague who had been injured and unreachable since last Friday. In all cases, the movements had been coordinated with the Israeli authorities. And still on Gaza, I just want to share updated numbers from the ones that were released this morning from our colleagues in the Office of Human Rights. They tell us that 819 Palestinians were reportedly killed while trying to get food in Gaza. And the breakdown, according to our human rights colleagues is that 634 of them were killed in the vicinity of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution points, 185 died close to humanitarian aid convoys, including some run by us. This data was collected between 27 May this year and as of 10 July. The data is based on information gathered by our human rights colleagues through various reliable sources, including medical, human rights and humanitarian organisations. All of those numbers highlight the need for independent investigations into why people are being killed while just trying to access aid. ** Syria Turning to Syria, the UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator there, Adam Abdelmoula, announced yesterday that a $625,000 allocation from the Syria Humanitarian Fund to support emergency response efforts following the devastating wildfires that are taking place in the country's coastal areas. The new funds will enable humanitarian partners, primarily the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, to deliver urgent assistance to thousands of people impacted by the fires. We and our partners continue to closely coordinate with and support local and national authorities' response. Assessments continue in 60 communities. Initial reports indicate that the blazes have displaced hundreds of individuals, destroyed agricultural land and critical infrastructure, and obviously severely and negatively impacted the livelihoods of many communities. Mr. Abdelmoula called for urgent additional support. Our humanitarian colleagues stressed that timely and flexible funding is critical to saving lives and trying to rebuild and protect communities. ** Memorandum of Understanding between the UN and the Russian Federation And an update on something a number of you have been asking me about, which is the Memorandum of Understanding between the UN and the Russian Federation. The final consultations meeting on the Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and the Russian Federation took place today, in Geneva. That Memorandum of Understanding, as you will recall, was signed on 22 July 2022 with an implementation period of three years as part of the efforts of the Secretary-General on global food security in the context of the Istanbul agreements. The UN committed under the Memorandum of Understanding to efforts to facilitate the transparent unimpeded access of food and fertilizers, including the raw materials to produce fertilizers, including ammonia, originating from the Russian Federation to the world markets. This includes impediments that may arise in the sectors of finance, of insurance and logistics. To accomplish this, the Secretary-General established a team, led by Rebeca Grynspan, the Secretary-General of UNCTAD. He tasked her to engage with all relevant stakeholders, including private sector actors, with a view to realizing the established exemptions related to the agricultural sector. Over three years, we and the Russian Federation maintained constructive consultations to find solutions to address global food security. This work shows that, even in the most challenging of circumstances, the United Nations can convene around a shared commitment to global food security and the Secretary-General will continue to make his good offices available towards that objective. ** Haiti Moving just south of Florida, to Haiti. Our political mission there BINUH and our human rights office there warn that escalating gang violence outside of the capital Port-au-Prince has claimed the lives of over 1,000 people since October of last year and forced hundreds of thousands to flee to safety. This, they say, is happening as gangs continue to extend their influence along key routes in the north and in the centre of the country, and towards the Dominican Republic. Haitian authorities have deployed specialized police units, supported by the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission. This has slowed the advances of the gangs to some extent, but ultimately, the report says that given their lack of resources, they have been unable to reassert control over the affected areas. Against this backdrop, our colleagues say that human rights abuses by self-defence groups have increased. Summary executions involving Haitian security forces have also been committed against individuals accused of supporting gangs. The report calls on the Haitian authorities to ensure police have the necessary resources to tackle gang violence, in full respect of international human rights law. The report also calls on the international community to maintain BINUH's full operational capacity so the office can continue to advise and support the Haitian Government. Strengthening the Multinational Security Support Mission and the full implementation of the arms embargo will be equally essential to restore security and the rule of law in Haiti. ** Attacks in the Red Sea I have a statement for you hot off the press on the situation in the Red Sea. The Secretary-General strongly condemns the resumption of Houthi attacks on civilian vessels transiting in the Red Sea, especially the attacks that took place from 6 to 8 July 2025. The sinking of both the Motor Vessel Magic Seas and the Motor Vessel Eternity C, with the deaths of at least four crew members and injuries to others, is a dangerous re-escalation in this critical waterway. With at least 15 crew members reported missing, the Secretary-General calls on the Houthis not to take any actions that impede the ongoing search and rescue operations for the crew members that are still missing from those two vessels. Beyond being an unacceptable attack on the safety and security of seafarers, these acts also violated the freedom of navigation, caused a hazard to maritime transport and represent a serious risk of a significant environmental, economic and humanitarian damage to an already vulnerable coastal environment. The Secretary-General emphasizes that international law must be respected by all parties at all times. He also underscores that Security Council resolution 2768 (2025) related to these Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial vessels must be fully respected. The United Nations remains committed to continuing its efforts towards broader de-escalation in the region as well as continued engagement with Yemeni, regional and international actors to secure a sustainable and peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen. ** Sudan Turning to Sudan, the UN Children's Fund and our humanitarian colleagues are sounding the alarm over the deepening nutrition crisis across that country. Alarming new data from UNICEF reveals a 46 per cent surge in the number of children being treated for severe acute malnutrition across the Darfur region during the first five months of this year, compared to the same period in 2024. In North Darfur, the number of severely malnourished children has doubled, with more than 40,000 admitted for treatment between January and May. The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, warns that conflict is starving Sudan's children, stressing that vital aid must reach them before it's too late and that we need access and we need funding now. UNICEF says the situation is equally alarming beyond Darfur. The number of children treated for severe acute malnutrition rose by 70 per cent in North Kordofan, that is 174 per cent in Khartoum State, and 680 per cent in Aj Jazirah State. In Khartoum and Aj Jazirah, UNICEF says the increase in admission rates likely partially reflects an improvement in security and access, improving the ability of mothers to reach health centres for much needed support. ** Central African Republic And a quick update from the peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, (MINUSCA). Yesterday in Bangui, the leaders of two armed groups, the 3R and the UPC, took part in a ceremony where they committed to laying down their arms and rejoining the 2019 Peace Agreement. Valentine Rugwabiza, the head of our peacekeeping mission there, welcomed this important step and underscored that beyond the signing of the Agreement, which will profoundly reinvigorate the peace process in the country, this is also a moment to celebrate the courage of the Central African people who have chosen dialogue over division, reconciliation over resentment, and peace over conflict. The disarmament and demobilization process will begin in the days to come. It will take place in the Ouaka prefecture, where around 500 combatants have gathered to surrender their weapons and receive a demobilization card. The peacekeeping mission will continue to provide support to the Government to carry out this process, as it has done for over 5,000 ex-combatants since 2016. It will also simultaneously deploy national disarmament and demobilization mobile teams on the ground to assist with the verification of weapons and ammunition collected, as well as to ensure security for both the teams and the overall operations throughout the process. ** World Population Day A couple of international days. Today is also World Population Day, and the theme this year is "Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world". In a message for the Day, the Secretary-General points out that the theme reaffirms the promise of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development: that every person has the right to make informed choices about their lives and their futures. He urges countries to invest in policies that ensure education, healthcare, decent work, and the full protection of their reproductive rights. And just to note that at 3 p.m., Dr. Natalia Kanem, the Executive Director of UNFPA, will deliver remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General at the 2025 United Nations Population Award. The Committee for the Award has selected two laureates in the "Individual" and "Institution" categories, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health issues and solutions. ** International Days And tomorrow is the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, and more importantly, if I say something springs eternal, what day is it? International Day of Hope. ** Questions and Answers Spokesman : Dezhi, Edie then Benny. Question : Yesterday, you mentioned that the UN is in the process of answering a letter from Ambassador Dorothy Shea from US UN. What is the process now? What is the content of the letter from the US, I mean, Albanese? Spokesman : I think they made their letter public. It refers to, Ms. Albanese [Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967], and we're answering the letter. Question : Has that process been done? Spokesman : I don't know if the letter is actually in the mail. It's on its way to the post box, if I'm not mistaken. Question : So from the institutional level, does the Secretary-General support the rapporteur of her work, no matter what she said? Spokesman : I think, Dezhi, let me use the term extensive question and answer period on Ms. Albanese. Question : Yesterday. Spokesman : Yesterday, and I would refer you to that. Question : Okay. Today, not today, actually yesterday, GHF said they are exploring a new method of delivering aid through community. What suggestion would the UN give GHF to do that? Spokesman : You know what suggestion I'm going to say, right? I'm going to say whatever they do, and we welcome other partners' work to work in Gaza and help meet the desperate needs of the people in Gaza that whatever operation they set up, it is based on our four principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. Question : Sorry. One last question. The other day, actually, I wanted to ask you this, but I didn't get a chance. Spokesman : Did I deny you a chance to ask me a question? Question : No. It's just you asked me too early to ask you a question the day before yesterday. Okay. Anyway, so I was wondering this for a long time. Which does the UN think is more important to get aid delivery? Sorry, to how to say that? Which is the priority of the United Nations to think about this, to deliver aid while people get killed or to deliver aid that aid could be grabbed by Hamas in Gaza? Which one do you think is worse? Spokesman : I'm not in the business of ranking. Our aim and everyone who works on in the humanitarian sphere writ large in Gaza, their aim should be to find ways to feed people without people getting killed. Edie. Question : Thank you, Steph. I wasn't quite clear on the memorandum of understanding between the UN and the Russian Federation, whether it's being extended or not? Spokesman : It is not being extended. However, we will continue to work on the issues that are included in the MOU. Question : And what about the Black Sea Grain Initiative? Does that mean that it's basically? Spokesman : They were two separate things. Question : Yes. I know. Spokesman : And the operation around the Black Sea Grain Initiative ceased working some time ago, though we continue to push and work on issues relating to freedom of navigation for central global cargo in the Black Sea. Benny? Question : Follow-up on Gaza. Yesterday, the EU Foreign Affair Commissioner, Kaja Kallas. You know her. She issued a statement that they have an agreement with the Israelis. The deal means more crossing open, aid and food trucks entering Gaza, repair of vital infrastructure and protection of aid workers. Is that what you meant by, I mean, is that going to help? Spokesman : Well, okay. Let me thank you for the direct question. The implementation and the activation of what was agreed to would definitely help, right? The opening up of more crossings, more aid going. This is exactly what we've been calling for. We were not a party to the discussions between the EU and Israel. We obviously, as I just said, we welcome the announcement and the content of it, but we have been in regular touch with anyone who has influence over the humanitarian needs in Gaza. Question : Is that a problem for you that the EU can reach an agreement while you claim every day, including today, that your operation is being impeded? Spokesman : Well, I mean, I think that not at all. There are lots of parties at this sitting around this table. It is clear that certain Member States, certain groups of Member States, such as the EU, have some influence more than we do. You know, the aims of what the EU is trying to do is the aim that we share. And I think what they're trying to do, without trying to interpret their goal, is to help us do our work. So it's not, we're very much welcome their efforts, and it's there's not a problem. What we want is to see the implementation of it. Question : Sorry. My question was, is there a reason why the Israelis trust the EU more, and the US by the way, with the other effort, than the UN? Spokesman : Listen. I will leave that to analysts such as yourself, but this is not about the EU saying they will do the work that the UN does. This is about the European Union trying to help the United Nations and the global humanitarian community be able to do their work. Alex, and then go ahead. Dennis, I'm sorry, it's Friday. I'm sorry. Question : Just a follow-up on memorandum. Can you tell who participated in the final consultations? So who is from UN and who's from Russia? Spokesman : If I'm not mistaken, and you will correct me if I am mistaken, it was the Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Vershinin, and from our end, it was Rebeca Grynspan [Secretary-General of UNCTAD], and that I'm not mistaken on. Yes, ma'am. Question : [inaudible] Spokesman : I think we welcome this dialogue between two countries that have faced tensions for some time. We remember the peace treaty that was signed in March, and we think this is a very welcome development in the direction of solidifying what was signed in the treaty. I can tell you that the Secretary-General is closely, obviously, following all of these developments. Yes, sir. And then I'll come to you, Nizar. Question : Thank you, Steph. Reports indicate that the PKK has begun their disarmament process following the agreement with the Turkish Government in May. Secretary-General Guterres welcomed the move when it was initially announced, as "important steps for a peaceful resolution". My question is, to your knowledge, will the Secretary-General and the UN for that matter be playing an active role in maintaining these security arrangements, or will that responsibility fall solely on the parties involved? Thank you. Spokesman : I can tell you that we very much welcome the operationalization of the agreement, at least the first step of the operationalization. We hope that it will encourage further steps towards lasting peace in the region. And I can also tell you that we are ready to support this in any way that we can, should we be asked. Nizar, and then I'll go to Alex. Question : Thank you, Stephane. In addition to hundreds of Palestinian journalists killed in the conflict in Gaza and in the West Bank, Israelis continue to harass journalists and arrests of them. One of them is Nasr Laham, our colleague, who has been arrested now for over five days, and he's still not charged for anything. Spokesman : Where was he arrested? Question : In the West Bank in Ramallah, for no reason, obviously, except that he's a journalist. His house was ransacked, and he's still in custody. Do you have anything to say about this, especially with this large number of journalists? Spokesman : I think we have been very clear in expressing our deep concern at not only the lack of journalists in Gaza, but the harassment that the journalists have received in the West Bank and generally in this conflict. Okay. Question : But does the Secretary-General calls for his release and other journalists like him? Spokesman : I think we call for clarity to be brought around this case and for journalists to be allowed to do their work freely without fears of imprisonment or anything else. Alex. Question : Thanks, Steph. I'll be quick. On the UN conference on two-State solution, there have been some reports that it's been postponed for the end of July. Do you have any information? Spokesman : I mean, like you, I've seen the press reports. We're waiting to get some official confirmation. Thank you. I will go get our guest. [guest briefing, not transcribed] Spokesman : I will just take a few of the questions online that I didn't take earlier. [...] I missed Mike, at least online. So, Mike, if you have a question, go ahead. Question : Yes, Steph. I hope you're doing okay there today. I read the transcript from yesterday's briefing. Sorry I missed it, but I did have a couple follow-ups for you. So you asked that Member States in regards to Special Rapporteur Albanese and any complaints against her operate within the UN human rights architecture. I mean, I think there's an obvious issue here and I'd like you to comment on it if you could. You have essentially a fake lawyer, I mean, who lied on her application about her credentials. She was reappointed against established procedure. She lies about external funding that she received. She sends threatening letters to private businesses, recommends their executives be dragged before a court that has no jurisdiction over them. That's the UN human rights architecture. How would you expect Member States to better operate within the confines that have been established? Spokesman : Thank you, is that the human rights rapporteurs are appointed by the Human Rights Council. Issues having to do with any of the rapporteur's credentials, ideas, or anything need to be raised with the presidency of the Human Rights Council, right? And that's what I mean by engaging. Alright, anyone else have a question? Thank you all. Enjoy the rest of the day. Enjoy the weekend. Enjoy everything. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gazans dying in search of food, 'starkest illustration' of their desperation 11 July 2025 - Humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip "have never been higher" while the ability to assist the population has "never been more constrained," a senior official with the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday in New York. "The fact that people are now dying every day trying to get food, I think is the starkest illustration of how desperate the situation is," said Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director at the UN agency, briefing journalists on his fourth visit to the war-torn enclave. Earlier this year, food security experts reported that starvation is spreading in Gaza. The entire population, some two million people, is acutely food insecure and half a million are on the brink. "If anything, it's much worse now," said Mr. Skau, who was in Gaza City, Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis last week. Children going hungry Malnutrition is also surging. Some 90,000 children are in urgent need of treatment, according to UN child rights agency UNICEF. Today, one in three people goes hungry for days. Mr. Skau said he met many families who told him there are days when their children do not eat at all. "But the days when they are eating it's often a hot soup they get from us with just a few lentils or a few pieces of pasta, so certainly not enough," he said, adding that some mothers discourage their children from playing to conserve energy. The top official also addressed the widespread displacement in Gaza. In the past he met families who had been forced to flee two or three times, but now "I meet families who have moved two or three times in the past 10 days," and some who have been uprooted upwards of 20 times. Trickle of aid Meanwhile, outside of the recent 80-day aid blockade, humanitarian response "has never been more constrained." The amount of assistance humanitarians are able to bring into Gaza is "just a fraction of what's needed," at a time when a kilo of wheat flour costs $25. He added that the operating environment "is just impossible." Active military operations are occurring in roughly 85 per cent of Gaza's territory and teams "get stuck waiting for clearances and at checkpoints, often spending between 15 to 20 hours straight in their armoured vehicles trying to escort our convoys." Other obstacles include lack of fuel, spare parts for vehicles, and basic communications equipment. Engagement with Israel Mr. Skau said WFP have been actively engaging with the Israeli authorities over the past few weeks and "there were commitments" around issues such as volumes of aid, faster humanitarian movements, and not having the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) present when convoys are moving. "Now, obviously, the proof is in the pudding," he said. "We need now to see delivery and implementation on those commitments, and so far, we have not seen enough progress." He noted that WFP were allowed to deliver aid through the north on Friday for the first time in several days, which was "a key issue." "It's not only about getting enough volumes, but it's also to be able to get in through the north because in the north we are able to deliver in a more orderly way," he said. He told journalists that "there have been issues with armed elements interfering" in the region, which is unacceptable, but stressed the importance of being able to deliver there "because we think that is the way to also help bring down the levels of desperation and prices." Ceasefire now Mr. Skau stated that the minor progress regarding commitments "is not going to be enough to turn the tide of hunger," underlining the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza. During the ceasefire earlier this year, WFP facilitated the entry of more than 8,000 trucks into the enclave, opened 25 bakeries and hundreds of soup kitchens, and delivered food packages to more than 1.5 million people. The agency was also able to stock its warehouses, meaning operations could continue for roughly half of the 80-day blockade. "We are ready to do that again," said Mr. Skau. "We have enough food on the borders to deliver to the entire population for some two months. But obviously we need that ceasefire, and we need conditions within that ceasefire." Here, he stressed the need for a humanitarian protocol with a provision that allows for multiple routes and entry points into and inside Gaza - as well as a secure environment for delivery. Later, Mr. Skau was asked about the talks with Israel. "I sense the recognition that conditions need to improve," he said. "It was also recognised that the UN has a key role to play," he added. "It was very clear in my engagement that they want the UN to continue to be the main track in delivery. "And certainly should there be a ceasefire, the indications were that they would want us to be ready to scale up and do what we did last time when we on Day One were ready to bring 600 trucks into Gaza." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng) KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with Sri Lanka to promote a strategic cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and a lasting friendship, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Saturday when meeting his Sri Lankan counterpart Vijitha Herath. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and Sri Lanka have a traditional friendship. The two heads of state held fruitful talks and reached an important consensus on deepening bilateral strategic cooperative partnership and jointly building a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future, which pointed out the direction and provided guidance for the development of bilateral relations. Wang pointed out that China is a reliable partner of Sri Lanka, and the two sides should deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and practical cooperation in various fields. The two sides should work together to effectively implement the two flagship projects of the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port, accelerate negotiations for China-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, and create new growths for cooperation in such areas as green energy, digital economy, modern agriculture, and marine economy, Wang said. He pointed out that China-Sri Lanka maritime cooperation is mutually beneficial, not aimed at third parties, and should not be interfered by third parties. China is willing to strengthen coordination with Sri Lanka in such platforms as the ASEAN Regional Forum to jointly maintain stability and development in the region, he noted, adding the so-called "Indo-Pacific Strategy" provokes bloc confrontation and coerces parties to take sides, which is not in line with the trend of the time and will not receive support from regional countries. Herath, for his part, said that Sri Lanka attaches great importance to its relations with China and firmly adheres to the one-China principle. Sri Lanka thanks China for its firm support for Sri Lanka in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for its timely assistance during difficulties. Sri Lanka-China cooperation has brought great benefits to the Sri Lankan people and has effectively promoted the overall development and connectivity of the region, said Herath, adding that Sri Lanka is willing to work with China to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, including the economy, trade, investment, infrastructure, and maritime affairs, and further deepen the strategic cooperative partnership. Malnutrition crisis deepens for Sudan's children as war rages on 11 July 2025 - Sudan's brutal civil war is pushing more children towards the brink of starvation, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported on Friday, highlighting a sharp and alarming rise in severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases across the country. Across the five states that make up Darfur, UNICEF data revealed a 46 per cent increase in the number of children treated for SAM in January to May 2025 compared to the same period last year. The rate of acute malnutrition has surpassed emergency levels set by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 9 of the 13 localities across Darfur. In North Darfur alone, over 40,000 children were admitted for SAM treatment in the first five months of the year - double the number from the same period last year. Besieged and starved This malnutrition surge comes amid intensifying conflict in North Darfur since April. Entire neighborhoods have been besieged, hospitals targeted by airstrikes, roads rendered impassable while aid convoys have faced looting and violent attacks. The situation is particularly catastrophic in El Fasher, where humanitarian access has been nearly completely severed since the RSF militia besieged the city - the last held by Government forces in the region - and cut off assistance in April of 2023. UNICEF successfully delivered a batch of supplies to El Fasher earlier this year, but efforts to send additional aid have been blocked. "Children in Darfur are being starved by conflict and cut off from the very aid that could save them," said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative for Sudan. "This is a moment of truth; children's lives depend on whether the world chooses to act or look away." The crisis has triggered mass displacement in the area: in April, nearly 400,000 people fled the Zamzam camp near El Fasher. Many walked up to 70 kilometres to reach Tawila, where more than 500,000 displaced people survive with little access to food, water, or adequate shelter. Nationwide crisis SAM is the deadliest form of malnutrition, and children suffering from it are highly vulnerable to life-threatening complications and face a high risk of death without proper treatment. And the crisis isn't limited to the Darfur states - SAM admissions rose by more than 70 per cent in North Kordofan, 174 per cent in Khartoum State and a staggering 683 per cent in Al Jazirah State. However, the report noted that the rise in admissions in Al Jazirah and Khartoum is partially due to improved security and humanitarian access, enabling more families to reach health centres. Compounding the crisis is Sudan's lean season - a period of food scarcity between harvests - which is rapidly increasing the risk of mass child mortality, particularly in areas already nearing famine thresholds. Cholera outbreaks, measles cases and collapsing health services are further aggravating the crisis, putting vulnerable children at even greater risk. UNICEF response UNICEF and its partners are saving lives by treating the wounded and malnourished, drilling wells and distributing food. But despite their best efforts, the violence is driving needs faster than they can be met. UNICEF is calling on all parties to allow unimpeded humanitarian access to affected populations and urges renewed diplomatic pressure on all sides for a cessation of hostilities. The agency is also appealing to the international community for more lifesaving funds. An additional $200 million is needed this year to sustain and expand essential nutrition services, including treatment for acute malnutrition. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Syria UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Occupied Palestinian Territory Preventable deaths mount in Gaza amid ongoing hostilities OCHA warns that every day without a ceasefire brings more preventable deaths in Gaza - children dying in pain, and hungry people shot while trying to reach the trickle of aid allowed through the Israeli fence. Today, there were more horrifying reports of dozens of casualties among people in Rafah who were simply trying to get food and other basic supplies for their families. Meanwhile, the fuel crisis in Gaza remains acute. Yesterday - for the second straight day - the UN was able to bring into Gaza about 75,000 litres of much-needed fuel. This is a positive development. However, these amounts are a small portion of what is required to sustain life-saving operations on a daily basis. To be very clear: Fuel is running out in Gaza. If the current limits are not lifted immediately so that greater volumes can be brought in regularly, more services will go dark. Unimpeded, safe access inside Gaza is also urgently needed. Yesterday, UN teams could provide hospitals with some of the fuel that came in - but only in the south, because Israeli authorities denied their attempt to take fuel to the north. OCHA warns that such denials are life-threatening, with hospitals in the north on the verge of shutting down. Fuel is also running out for ambulances, water treatment facilities and many other essential services, all of which are at risk of collapsing. Overall, of 15 humanitarian movements attempted yesterday where coordination with the Israeli authorities is required, five were denied outright, four were initially approved but then faced impediments on the ground, and only six were fully facilitated. Critical missions - such as the evacuation of vulnerable people from high-risk areas, the retrieval of vehicles and spare tires, and the assessment of medical equipment - could not be accomplished. The facilitation of movements also needs to be timely. OCHA reports that on Wednesday, Israeli authorities denied a request to reach part of Gaza city where 18 injured people were trapped under the rubble. By the time the mission was finally allowed through yesterday, no one was left alive. OCHA also notes that much-needed operations, such as the distribution of tents, cannot even be attempted as stocks are fully depleted, and Israeli authorities have blocked the entry of any shelter materials for more than 130 days now. Meanwhile, active hostilities and insecurity continue to put civilians - including aid workers - at risk. Just this Wednesday and again yesterday, a total of five strikes hit a few hundred metres from aid workers on the go, including UN staffers. Thankfully, no aid workers were injured. Also yesterday, members of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies were shot at and injured on their way to help a colleague who had been injured and unreachable since last Friday. In all cases, their movements had been coordinated with the Israeli authorities. Sudan Severe acute malnutrition surges among children in Darfur, other areas UNICEF is sounding the alarm over the deepening nutrition crisis across Sudan. Alarming new data from the agency reveals a 46 per cent surge in the number of children being treated for severe acute malnutrition across the Darfur region during the first five months of this year, compared to the same period in 2024. In North Darfur, the number of severely malnourished children has doubled, with more than 40,000 admitted for treatment between January and May. In a social media post today, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, warned that conflict is starving Sudan's children - stressing that vital aid must reach them before it's too late. "We need access and funding* now," he said. UNICEF says the situation is equally alarming beyond Darfur: The number of children treated for severe acute malnutrition rose by over 70 per cent in North Kordofan, 174 per cent in Khartoum State, and 683 per cent in Aj Jazirah State. In Khartoum and Aj Jazirah, UNICEF says the increase in admission rates likely partially reflects an improvement in security and access, improving the ability of mothers to reach health centres for support. *Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Sudan with urgent support. Syria New funding fast-tracked for wildfires response The Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, announced yesterday a US$625,000 allocation from the Syria Humanitarian Fund to support emergency response efforts following the devastating wildfires in the country's coastal region. The new funds will enable humanitarian partners - primarily the Syrian Arab Red Crescent - to deliver urgent assistance to thousands of people affected by the fires. The UN and its partners continue to closely coordinate with and support local and national authorities' response. Assessments continue in 60 communities. Initial reports indicate that the blazes have displaced hundreds of people, destroyed agricultural land and critical infrastructure, and severely disrupted the livelihoods of communities. Abdelmoula called for urgent additional support. Timely and flexible funding is critical to save lives and protect communities. Posted on 11 July 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary-General's message on the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica United Nations Secretary-General New York 11 July 2025 Today marks the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica - the worst atrocity on European soil since the Second World War. In July 1995, more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were systematically murdered. Thousands of women, children, and older persons were forcibly displaced, their lives forever shattered. The intention was the elimination of Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica. We remember the victims and honour the courage of the survivors - including the Mothers of Srebrenica, whose tireless pursuit of justice ensured that the genocide was recognized in both law and history. This day is not only a moment of reflection. It is a call to vigilance and action. At a time when hate speech, denial and division are gaining ground, we must stand firm for truth and justice. We must detect early warning signs and respond before violence takes hold. We must respect international law, defend human rights, uphold the dignity of every individual, and invest in reconciliation and peace. Let the memory of Srebrenica strengthen our resolve, so that "never again" truly means never again. *** NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 51st Fighter Wing enhances readiness through F-16 upgrades Published July 11, 2025 By Staff Sgt. Sarah Williams 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) -- A new wave of upgraded F-16 Fighting Falcons arrived at Osan Air Base, June 26-27. The arrival of the F-16s marked a significant step forward in modernizing the 51st Fighter Wing aircrafts and strengthening the U.S. Air Force's regional combat readiness. Transferred from the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa AB, Japan, the F-16s received a series of avionics system upgrades, bringing them closer to fifth-generation capabilities. These enhancements improve both survivability and combat effectiveness accuracy of the weapon system. F-16s are one of the only multi-role fighters," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Alexandra Sears, 25th Fighter Generation Squadron director of operations. "They can do everything. They're incredibly lightweight and quick, and when you upgrade the F-16s, they're able to do so many missions, such as providing close air support like the A-10 or suppressing enemy air defense missions." The migration enhances alignment between U.S. forces in Japan and South Korea, maximizing interoperability for joint operations and tri-lateral training. The move strengthens combined airpower across the Indo-Pacific and improves the U.S. military's ability to respond swiftly and effectively. At Osan AB, the upgraded F-16s bring unparalleled multi-role versatility and superior operational range. These capabilities directly support the 51st Fighter Wing's ability to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. As the U.S. Air Force's most forward deployed, permanently-based wing, the 51st FW plays a critical role in maintaining regional security. The arrival of these upgraded aircraft underscores the U.S.-ROK alliance and ensures the wing remains prepared to fight tonight. "These upgrades enhance our game a bit," Parsons said. "The F-16's new features give pilots greater spatial awareness, helping them see the battlefield more clearly. As we move closer to 2027, having a capable aircraft now, instead of waiting for a new airframe, is critical. The F-16 already has an established support system in place for supply, personnel, equipment and training. With these upgrades, we now have the aircraft we need, ready and available today." The U.S. Air Force will continue to modernize its aircraft to maintain air superiority, outpace evolving threats, and remain the world's most advanced and capable air force. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Coast Guard Cutter Blacktip (WPB 87326) arrives at new homeport in Valdez, Alaska United States Coast Guard Press Release | July 11, 2025 VALDEZ, Alaska -- Coast Guard Cutter Blacktip (WPB 87326) arrived at its new homeport in Valdez Monday after transiting approximately 2,800 miles. Blacktip, an 87-foot Marine Protector-class patrol boat, is replacing the recently decommissioned 110-foot Island-class cutter Liberty and will conduct various missions throughout the Arctic District, including maritime law enforcement and security, living marine resources, and search and rescue. "We are extremely happy to be in Alaska and to continue serving the community of Valdez," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Andre Pinault, officer in charge. Blacktip was commissioned in 2000 and previously homeported in Oxnard, California. Marine Protector-class patrol boats are 87-feet long and 19.5-feet wide with a 100 long-ton displacement. They have a top speed of 25 knots and a range of 1,000 miles. They can hold a crew of up to 12. The Blacktip is equipped with advanced electronics and navigation systems for multi-mission operations, including search and rescue, law enforcement, and homeland security. -USCG- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Exercise Sea Breeze 25-2 Demonstrates Enhanced NATO Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Mine Countermeasures Capabilities in the UK US Navy 11 July 2025 From U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs Exercise Sea Breeze 25-2, hosted at Portland Port, United Kingdom, is underway, showcasing strengthened collaboration in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and mine countermeasures (MCM) between NATO Allies and partners. The exercise focuses on mentorship and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) exchange, preparing a core group of nations for operations in the Black Sea region. Led by Commander U.S. 6th Fleet, the exercise brings together key units, including U.S. Navy EOD Mobile Unit EIGHT, providing remotely operated vehicles. Commander Task Force 66 is also contributing an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) to enhance the communication range of participating units. "The primary objective of Sea Breeze 25-2 is information sharing and TTP exchange between Allies and partners within the NATO construct," stated Lt. Andrew Lewis, CTG 68.1 Expeditionary Mine Countermeasure (ExMCM) company commander. "Each nation brings a unique set of capabilities to enable our combined ability to respond effectively to evolving threats in the undersea domain." This year's exercise is taking place in Portland, United Kingdom, offering improved accessibility for partner nations whose MCM vessels are based in the UK. It also represents a significant advancement in USV integration, utilizing them as communication relay nodes to extend network range in challenging environments. Currently, the exercise is focused on underwater MCM, employing Mark 18 family systems (UUVs) for initial surveys, followed by ROV inspection and finally diver intervention. The skills honed during Sea Breeze 25-2 are directly applicable to restoring safe navigation and commerce in the Black Sea region. Sea Breeze also helps prepare NATO Allies and partners for demining in the Black Sea in a post conflict era. Notably, Ukrainian participants bring invaluable real-world experience from ongoing conflict. This year, Exercise Sea Breeze 2025 occurred in two iterations, Sea Breeze 25-1 and 25-2. The first iteration, Sea Breeze 25-1, was hosted by the Romanian Armed Forces at Smardan Range, Romania, June 1-20, 2025. Since 1997, Exercise Sea Breeze has brought together Black Sea nations, NATO Allies and partners together to train and operate with NATO members in the pursuit of building increased capabilities. Exercise Sea Breeze 2025 is an annual multinational maritime exercise, involving sea, land, and air components co-hosted by the United States and Ukraine to enhance interoperability and capability among participating forces. Commander, U.S. 6thFleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allies, international partners, and other U.S. government departments and agencies to advance U.S. national interests, security, and stability in Europe and Africa. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trilateral Naval Logistics Arrangement for Further Cooperation Signed US Navy - Press Release 11 July 2025 BRISBANE, Australia -- Senior U.S., Australian and Japanese flag officers agreed today to further enhance logistics interoperability among their maritime forces. Their intent is to enable deeper maritime cooperation among the three nations, building upon their enduring commitment to stability and security in the Indo-Pacific. Vice Adm. Jeff Jablon (Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Installations and Logistics, OPNAV N4), Rear Adm. Naoya Hoshi (Director General of Logistics Department, Maritime Staff Office, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF)), and Commodore Catherine Rhodes (Director General Logistics, Royal Australian Navy (RAN)) took part in the signing ceremony aboard USS America (LHA-6) during a port visit in Brisbane. The U.S. Navy, JMSDF, and RAN routinely collaborate on a bilateral basis for logistics and other topics under a strategic dialogue framework that has been in place for several years. This is the first time a trilateral logistics agreement has been established under this framework. "Sustainment in depth is a primary objective," said Vice Adm. Jablon. "We have robust logistics partnerships with Japan and Australia to ensure we can provide the right material and services at the right place, at the right time to mutually support our maritime forces, from day-to-day training during peacetime through contingencies. This arrangement strengthens those commitments and allows us to more easily share information, technologies and processes for greater logistics resiliency." Reloading missile systems and flexible refueling are among the areas of cooperation outlined in the agreement. RAN and U.S. Navy forces have supported missile reloading for each other's warships in the Indo-Pacific region since 2019. To enhance the capability to reload rapidly at sea, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is developing prototype systems that are compatible with both existing U.S. and partner nation warships' MK-41 missile launchers and can be utilized to transfer missile canisters between ships in elevated sea states. These systems were demonstrated in 2024, with demonstrations planned in 2025 and 2026 to showcase additional capability and interoperability. Refueling naval vessels at sea is fundamental to the ability to maintain presence and respond to contingency situations. U.S., Australian and Japanese military oilers routinely refuel partner nation vessels while participating in combined joint exercises and other cooperative engagements. To augment oiler capability, since 2011 the Military Sealift Command (MSC) has been outfitting leased commercial tanker ships with consolidated tanking, or CONSOL, connections that enable them to refuel a U.S. or partner nation military oiler at sea. This allows the oiler to remain on station for longer periods and continue refueling operational forces, rather than returning to a port to refuel. Since 2022, MSC has ramped up CONSOL operations and related training with Australia, Japan, and other partners. The U.S. Navy is currently exploring how partner nation tankers could incorporate CONSOL capabilities. "Japan is excited about the chance to collaborate more closely with our U.S. and Australian partners," said Rear Adm. Hoshi. "This new arrangement will allow us to broaden the scope and increase the efficiency of our interactions." Beyond information and technology sharing through these types of agreements, incorporating logistics activities into training in a realistic manner remains a focus area for U.S. naval forces. Examples include offloading missiles from dry cargo/ammunition ships, rearming cruisers and destroyers, refueling at sea, ship and aircraft repair, airfield damage repair, salvage operations, and medical evacuations. The signing took place just prior to the official kickoff of exercise Talisman-Sabre 2025, during which Australia, Japan, and other partners will participate in many of these activities as feasible. "During Talisman-Sabre and beyond, we have clear opportunities to work trilaterally with our U.S. and Japanese partners on logistics initiatives," said Commodore Rhodes. "These efforts facilitate our speed of response for the full range of naval actions in the Indo-Pacific, from routine sustainment through crisis." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Marking the 9th anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Award Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 12 July 2025 Category: International relations Nine years have passed since an Arbitral Tribunal, constituted under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), made a unanimous, clear, and binding ruling in the South China Sea arbitration between the Philippines and China. The Tribunal found China's claims to 'historic rights' in maritime areas within its dashed line were inconsistent with UNCLOS and had no legal basis. It also found China had violated the Philippines' sovereign rights under UNCLOS and that its vessels had unlawfully created risks of collision and danger. Unfortunately, nine years later, we continue to see instability and destabilising conduct in the South China Sea. UNCLOS plays a vital role in supporting peace and security in our shared Indo-Pacific region by setting out the comprehensive legal framework within which all activities in the ocean and seas must be carried out. Regardless of their size, all states that have ratified UNCLOS have committed to uphold its freedoms, rights and obligations. This includes its compulsory dispute settlement procedures. The rule of law and good international citizenship mean states cannot simply choose whether or not to abide by rulings they dislike. The Arbitral Tribunal's 12 July 2016 findings are final and binding on the Philippines and China. Australia has consistently joined international calls for compliance with this decision, and for disputes to be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law. We will continue to do so, because adherence to international law is essential for shared prosperity and a stable and peaceful region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) WMSM Maritime Security Cutter Medium On 11 July 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the partial termination of Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG)'s contract for two out of the four OPCs expected from ESG in Panama City, Florida. This came as part of a review by the Coast Guard of contracts which were failing to meet delivery agreements. ESG's delivery of OPC 1 was initially due in June 2023 but was expected to be completed by the end of 2026 at the earliest. ESG missed its April 2024 delivery for OPC 2. The Coast Guard stopped work on OPCs 3 and 4 after ESG notified the service earlier in 22025 that they could not fulfill their contractual duty to deliver all four OPCs without unabsorbable loss. Despite the contract termination, the Coast Guard's goal to procure 25 OPCs remained unchanged. The OPC is designed to conduct multiple missions in support of the nations maritime security and border protection. The OPC will provide a capability bridge between the national security cutter, which patrols the open ocean in the most demanding maritime environments, and the fast response cutter, which serves closer to shore. The OPC design includes the capability of carrying an MH-60R or MH-65 Helicopter and three operational Over-The-Horizon (OTH) small boats. The vessel is also equipped with a highly sophisticated combat system and C4ISR suite that will enhance capabilities to execute the services missions. The Offshore Patrol cutter is the successor to the 270' Famous class and the 210' Reliance class Medium Endurance Cutters. The OPC is designed to have a maximum range of 9,000 nautical miles and an adaptable mission module. The U.S. Coast Guard awarded a contract to Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) to begin the design and final requirements work for the Offshore Patrol Cutter as part of the Coast Guard 's Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) Program. The Coast Guard's existing fleet is reaching a point where some vessels are no longer capable of reliably or effectively performing operations resulting in unexpected casualties and lost patrol days. The aging medium endurance cutters are slated for replacement by a new class of cutters. The new Offshore Patrol Cutter will operate more than 50 miles from land, carrying out the Coast Guard's maritime security and safety activities in support of national interests. The revised Deepwater implementation plan provides additional capabilities to reflect the domestic environment changes post-9/11. The OPC is designed to contribute to Intelligence Collection / Information Sharing through a sophisticated S/SCIF, SEI sensors and increased data exchange bandwidth. The OPC's Deepwater and DoD interoperability capabilities are enhanced with DHS- and local responder-interoperable radio communications. The OPC flight deck will grow to accommodate all variants of DHS and DoD HH-60 helicopters to provide enhanced interoperability with interagency and inter-service counter-terrorism teams. The OPC will be fully integrated with the National Distress Response Modernization Program, known as RESCUE 21, which will provide the port commanders with real-time tracking of the OPC and seamless Common Operational Picture/MDA data sharing, including the Automated Identification System (AIS). The cutter's two-person manually operated small arms mounts will be remote operated and fully integrated with the cutters, radar and infrared sensors such that the cutter and high-value assets under its protection can be protected from a USS COLE-like incident. The Maritime Security Capabilities allow cutter's weapons and command and control suite to be upgraded and hardened to better survive potential terrorist incidents and process increased data flow. This will include a medium caliber deck gun (57MM) that will provide the ability to stop rogue merchant vessels far from shore. The OPC speed will increase from 22 to 27 knots providing exceptional response and reaction capability. This increased transit speed will allow for more time on station protecting port approaches. An integrated Chemical, Biological, and Radiological, Detection and Defense (CBRD&D) capability allows the OPC to remain on scene and operate in Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) scenarios. OPC will feature increased range and endurance (60-90 day patrol cycles); more powerful weapons; larger flight decks; chem-bio & radiological environmental hazard detection and defense; and improved Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) equipment. The cutters will be equipped with air and surface search radars and target classification sensors. The cutters' mission influence will be extended by aircraft and a new generation of cutter boats. DHS approved the OPCs requirements document in October 2010 despite unresolved concerns about three key performance parameters seakeeping, speed, and range that shape a substantial portion of the cutters design. For example, DHS questioned the need for the cutter to conduct full operations during difficult sea conditions, which impact the weight of the cutter and ultimately its cost. The Coast Guard has stated that limiting the ability to conduct operations during difficult sea conditions would preclude operations in key mission areas. While it approved the OPC requirements document, DHS at the same time commissioned a study to further examine these three key performance parameters. According to Coast Guard officials, the study conducted by the Center for Naval Analysis found that the three key performance parameters were reasonable, accurate, and adequately documented. By approving the operational requirements document before these factors were resolved, DHS did not ensure that the cutter was affordable, feasible, and unambiguous and required no additional trade-off decisions, as outlined in the Major Systems Acquisition Manual. Previous GAO work on DHS acquisition management found that the departments inability to properly execute its oversight function has led to cost overruns, schedule delays, and assets that do not meet requirements. In addition to these three performance parameters, other decisions, with substantial cost and capability implications for the OPC, remained unresolved as of 2011. For example, it was not known which C4ISR system will be used for the OPC, whether the cutter will have a facility for processing classified information, and whether the cutter will have air search capabilities. The Coast Guards requirements document addressed these capabilities but allowed them to be removed if design, cost, or technological limitations warrant. According to Coast Guard officials, remaining decisions must be made before the acquisition program baseline is approved as part of the programs combined acquisition decision event 2A/B and the request for proposals is issued, both of which were planned for the fall of 2011. In addition, following the approval of the requirements document, the Coast Guard formed a ship design team tasked with considering the affordability and feasibility of the OPC. The primary beneficiaries are members of the U.S. public who depend on the successful and efficient execution of the maritime missions described above. The benefits that the OPC Project will bring to the Coast Guard fleet include: mproved sea keeping capability allowing small boat and aviation operations in higher sea states; Expanded aviation facilities for existing Coast Guard aircraft and future UAV employment; Intelligence gathering capability improving overall fleet operational effectiveness''Increased speed allowing greater operational effectiveness in intercepting and boarding merchant and smuggling vessels; Improved living/working conditions for Coast Guard crews embarked on the cutter; Updated systems that are less manpower and maintenance intensive reducing lifecycle costs; Improved self-protection capabilities increasing cutter survivability and crew?s force protection; Enhanced ability to operate in accordance with federal, state, and local environmental laws, regulations, and international treaties. The Deepwater acquisition plan includes 25 OPCs, which will notionally be 360 feet long, powered by four diesel engines, with an endurance of 45 days. OPCs are to be adaptable, multi-mission vessels with a C4ISR electronics suite, and capable of sustained, intensive small boat and flight operations in support of law enforcement, defense and search & rescue missions. The OPCs will complement the NSCs' capabilities, including air surveillance with helicopters and unmanned air vehicles; increased situational awareness through an integrated C4ISR electronics suite; improved force protection and automated armament (including a 57mm deck gun); and improved defenses for operating in chemical, biological, or radiological contaminated environments. The notional design of the OPC anticipated a 341-foot vessel with capabilities and equipment similar to the Coast Guard's new National Security Cutter, a 421-foot world-class cutter. The final mission requirements and detail design of the OPC will be refined with additional funding available for follow-on contracts. In April 2007, Rear Adm. Gary Blore, the Coast Guard's program executive officer for Deepwater, said that the two cutter programs where there may be potential for commonality are patrol boats and the Offshore Patrol Cutter. Blore said some of the potential options for the Offshore Patrol Cutter include the Navy's 2,800 ton Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and a smaller version of the 4,300 ton National Security Cutter. Early in the Deepwater program the Coast Guard's nominal length for the Offshore Patrol Cutter was about 340 feet. What length the ship will ultimately be is unknown. General Dynamics' LCS design is nearly 420-feet long and Lockheed Martin's is just under 380 feet, while the National Security Cutter is 418 feet long. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 11 July 2025 - Day 1234 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia has likely sustained approximately 236,000 casualties (killed and wounded) in the Russia-Ukraine conflict so far in 2025, and 1,022,460 casualties since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The average daily Russian casualties during June 2025 was approximately 1,080, and totalled 32,000 over the course of the month, according to Ukrainian General Staff reporting. Russian casualty rates have moderately decreased month on month since March 2025, with June's average daily rate the lowest reported since April 2024. Previous years of the conflict have seen some moderate decreases in Russian casualty rates with the onset of summer, with improving weather likely contributing to increasing casualty survivability. The moderate decreases in Russian casualty rates have occurred at the same time as Russian attacks across the frontline have continued at a high level and Russia has made steady advances in the Donbas. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential. Since the beginning of the day, there have been 145 combat clashes. The Russian enemy made 57 aviation strikes, dropped 82 KAB, made 1178 strikes with kamikaze drones and 3972 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops. In the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, 15 clashes with Russian zagarbnikami, currently three clashes are being sharpened. The Russian enemy made 8 aviation strikes, dropping 15 controlled bombs, carried out 317 shelling, including three - from the jet systems of the fire. In the South Slobozhansky direction, Ukrainian troops repelled two Russian attacks in the area of Zelenoy and in the direction of Petro-Ivanivka, one confrontation is ongoing. The aviation strikes of the Russian enemy affected the districts of the settlements Velikiy Burluk, Perovske, Odradne and Vilhuvatka. In the Kupyans komu direction, Russian forces made five attacks on the position of Ukrainian troops. Fighting raged in the areas of the settlements of Golubivka, Zagrizove and in the direction of Pi ,any. In the Lyman direction, Russian troops 32 times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of settlements Novoyegorivka, Grekivka, New Mir, Karpivka, Serednje, Glushchenkove, Kolodyazi and in the directions of Shandrigolovy, Torsky and Serebryanka, the fighting has not subsided in nine locations. In the Sivers komu direction Ukrainian soldiers today made five attempts to attack Ukrainian positions. Units of the Russian occupiers tried to advance near Ivano-Daryivka and Verkhnyokamiansky. In the Kramators komu direction, the Defense Forces stopped three Russian attacks in the direction of Predtecinyogo, Stupochok and White Mountain, currently one confrontation is ongoing. In the Toretsky direction, Russian forces today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders 10 times in the areas of the settlements of Toretsk, Cherbinivka, Rusin Yar, Yablunivka and in the directions of Pleschievka, Katerynivka. Defense forces are suppressing the Russian enemy's pressure and have already repelled nine offensive actions. In the pokrovsky direction, Russian forces made 45 attempts to potisnisniti Ukrainian units. The greatest activity is observed in the areas of popiv yar, Novoekonomicne, Peace, Beam, Novosergiyivka, Udaachne, Muravka, Novoukrainka, Dachne, Kotline, Gorihove, Oleksiyivka, Malinivka, Lisivka, Shevchenko and in the direction of Pokrovsk, Sergiyivka and Rodinsky. Three clashes are underway. Russian aviation caused KABAMA strikes in the areas of settlements Volodymyrivka, Rodinske, Novooleksandrivka, Novopavlivka, Suvorove and Pokrovsk. According to preliminary calculations, in this direction Ukrainian warriors killed 121 and wounded 77 Russian invaders, destroyed six motorcycles, a car, a cannon, a satellite terminal, five BPLAs, two BPLA antennas and a BPLA control point; also damaged two cannons, three motorcycles and 15 Russian invaders' shelters. In the Novopavlovsky direction, Russian forces tried to break through 12 times near the settlements Zaporizhia Tolstoy, Piddubne, Novopil, Novosilka and Green Field. Air strikes were suffered by Sichneve and Velikomihajlivka. In the direction of Gulyaipils komu, Russian forces did not carry out offensive actions, but made air strikes in the areas of Poltavka, Gulyaipol. In the Orihiv direction, the Russian opponent carried out one attack on the position of Ukrainian defenders in the area of Kamiansky, in addition, he launched air strikes in the areas of Novoandriivka and Primorsky. In the Pridniprovsk direction, Russian forces carried out six useless attacks towards the positions of Ukrainian defenders. Air strikes by unkekorovanimi aviation missiles lviv and olgivka. In other directions, significant changes in the environment have not been recorded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address TEHRAN, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Three policemen have been killed in a clash with members of a "terrorist" group in Iran's southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province, the official news agency IRNA reported Saturday. The confrontation occurred on Friday in Chabahar County, where the militants engaged in an armed exchange with patrol officers. Four officers were injured during the clash, three of whom later died from their wounds, the report said. The firefight also killed one militant and injured another, the report said. Sistan and Baluchestan, a province bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, has been the site of several terrorist attacks targeting both civilians and security forces in recent years. Attorney General Bondi Takes Action to End the Subsidization of Open Borders Friday, July 11, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced today a decisive move to help end the subsidization of open borders by taxpayers. As noted in the announcement by the White House yesterday, the Attorney General has rescinded a nearly 30-year-old order allowing for the provision of federal benefits to illegal aliens. In 1996, Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (PRWORA), which limits public benefits to citizens and "qualified aliens" who have a legal right to be in the United States. To conform with President Trump's Executive Order, the Attorney General has now issued an order expressly declining to exempt any programs from PRWORA, revoking overly broad exceptions put in place by Attorney General Reno nearly three decades ago. "Previous administrations have acted for decades to undermine the principles and limitations directed by Congress through PRWORAno longer," said Attorney General Bondi. "The Trump Administration's action will preserve public benefits for American citizens, support the rule of law, and avoid the waste of taxpayer dollars." Components: Office of the Attorney General Office of Legal Policy Press Release Number: 25-729 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pro-Palestinian protest leader sues Trump for $20 million Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 2:54 AM A prominent pro-Palestine Columbia University graduate has sued US President Donald Trump's administration for $20 million over his arrest and detention by immigration agents. Mahmoud Khalil, one of the leaders of pro-Palestinian protests on American campuses, was in custody following his arrest in March. Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and a Palestinian activist who helped organize campus protests against Israel's genocidal war in Gaza across the US last year, was arrested on March 8 in New York. He had since been held at an immigration detention center in Louisiana. Khalil is also a legal permanent US resident and previously served as a lead negotiator for Columbia University Apartheid Divest, CUAD. He was freed from a federal immigration detention center in Louisiana last month, hours after a judge ordered his release on bail. The legal group backing Khalil said in a statement that the Trump administration carried out its illegal plan to arrest, detain, and deport Khalil in a manner calculated to terrorize him and his family. "The administration carried out its illegal plan to arrest, detain, and deport Mr. Khalil 'in a manner calculated to terrorize him and his family,' the claim says," according to the Center for Constitutional Rights which is backing Khalil. It added that during his detention, Khalil suffered severe emotional distress, economic hardship, and damage to his reputation. Khalil called the lawsuit a first step towards accountability, stressing that there must be accountability for political retaliation and abuse of power. "Nothing can restore the 104 days stolen from me. The trauma, the separation from my wife, the birth of my first child that I was forced to miss," he said in the statement. "There must be accountability for political retaliation and abuse of power." Khalil has previously shared his "horrendous" experience in detention, where he "shared a dorm with over 70 men, absolutely no privacy, lights on all the time." The administration has accused Khalil of anti-Semitism but officials have offered no evidence to support their claims, either publicly or in court files. Critics have instead argued that the administration is using such claims to silence all forms of pro-Palestine advocacy. Trump has begun following through on a threat to deport all non-citizen university activists with ties to the pro-Palestine protests, which rocked the US last spring. Trump officials have accused these students of being "adversarial to the foreign policy and national security interests" of the US over their condemnation of Israel's months-long genocidal war on Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. The moves have drawn stiff pushback from critics, who argue the Trump administration is punishing students for First Amendment-protected speech. However, administration officials maintain they possess the authority to cancel visas, claiming some students engaged in anti-Semitic or threatening conductaccusations the students firmly reject. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman's travel to Canada United States Space Force Published July 11, 2025 OTTAWA, Ontario (AFNS) -- Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman traveled to Canada Jul. 8-10 to attend the Royal Canadian Air Force Change of Command ceremony, engage military space leaders, and reaffirm the strong bilateral space partnership. During his visit, Saltzman participated in engagements at the Canadian Space Operations Centre, including a roundtable discussion with 3 Canadian Space Division commander Brig. Gen. Christopher Horner and other Canadian military space officials. The roundtable provided the leaders with a key opportunity to exchange strategic perspectives, advance the longstanding bilateral defense relationship, and identify new avenues to increase capability, interoperability, and deterrence in the space domain. Saltzman also took part in a bilateral meeting with the new RCAF commander, Lt. Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet. Saltzman congratulated Speiser-Blanchet on her new role, and the two leaders discussed her priorities moving forward. They affirmed the importance of bilateral space cooperation and agreed that the interests of the U.S. Space Force and RCAF are intrinsically linked. Saltzman expressed support for Canada's focus on space control, space domain awareness, and Arctic satellite communications capabilities, and underscored the U.S. Space Force commitment to increasing cooperation in line with shared defense interests. Additionally, Saltzman presented the Legion of Merit to Speiser-Blanchet's predecessor, Lt. Gen. Eric Kenny, in recognition of his leadership in enhancing the RCAF's ability to operate seamlessly alongside the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Air Force and strengthening the defense of North America. The Legion of Merit is one of the highest honors the U.S. can bestow upon a foreign servicemember. During the trip, Saltzman also met with U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra and other embassy officials. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canberra's crew tested for Talisman Sabre By Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan 11 July 2025 'Beep, beep, beep' booms through the ship's intercom system, also known as a pipe, as a voice calls out "brace for impact". Personnel comply as if it was real, though that's all part of HMAS Canberra's unit readiness evaluation. Sea Training Group, better known throughout the fleet as 'Green Team' because of the green brassards they wear on their right sleeve, tests the crew's readiness with different scenarios. During the past 10 days on board Canberra, the group has tested the crew on a variety of evolutions - damage-control exercises, man overboard, and flight-deck qualifications with Army's CH-47 Chinooks and New Zealand's NH90s helicopters. The crew also completed dock operations using the light landing crafts (LLC) that are able to dock inside the ship. One LLC scenario was a non-combative evacuation operation, simulating a humanitarian and disaster relief operation, where personnel were evacuated to the ship for medical treatment. This required a number of role players who threw themselves into the task, preparing the crew for any eventuality. To achieve this, Canberra also integrated its health team with the embarked Maritime Operational Health Unit, which bolsters the ship's hospital, adding surgeons, doctors, dentists, physiotherapists and radiographers from all three services. This upgrades Canberra to a Class 2 hospital while at sea. Commanding Officer Canberra Captain David McPherson said he was pleased with how far the ship had come since the start of their evaluation. "The ship has to be ready to face any possibility, from fires in compartments to flooding compartments and engineering breakdowns," Captain McPherson said. "We are also prepared for a number of heightened states, including force protection and amphibious operations." Canberra is now preparing for a major role in Exercise Talisman Sabre. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Doorstop - Sydney Transcript Friday 11 July 2025 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Prime Minister of Australia MICHELLE GEBER, CEO OF CHATEAU TANUNDA: Good morning, everyone. It's such a pleasure to welcome you, and absolutely incredible, we're so honoured to have the PM here to visit us at Chateau Tanunda, our Sydney Cellar Door, in The Rocks. We're a 135-year-old family winery, and the resumption of trade in China has meant so much to our business. Over the last year, we've seen an increase in 1,000 per cent of our sales into China. And so, you know, we're so thankful and grateful for your trip that's coming up, and we would like to welcome you to speak. Thank you, Prime Minister. ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks so much Michelle, and thank you to Chateau Tanunda for having us here at their cellar door here in historic The Rocks. An appropriate place, given the age of the vines which are there in the Barossa Valley, producing some of the oldest wine vines in the world. Producing, in my view, the best wine in the world. And importantly, as well, that's what the world thinks, because they want to purchase our products. And my visit to China tomorrow will be my second visit to the People's Republic of China as Prime Minister of Australia. That follows the resumption of leaders' talks. And I will have a leader-to-leader meeting with Premier Li, as well as a meeting with President Xi Jingping. And I look forward very much to engaging with the Chinese leadership, as well as visiting Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu. During the visit there, I will be taking a range of Australian businesses, led by the Business Council of Australia, because one in four Australian jobs depends on our trade, and around about 25 per cent of our exports go to one destination: China. Bigger than the next four of our partners combined - of Japan, South Korea, the United States, and India. That tells us a lot about the significance which is there. We have worked hard on the relationship with China, agreeing and cooperating where we can, disagreeing where we must, but engaging in our national interest. Because engaging in our national interest is important for our security, to be able to raise issues in a one-on-one situation with the Chinese leadership. But of course, it's important for our economic relationship as well. The relationship with China means jobs in Australia. It's as simple as that. Jobs in iron ore and the resources sector, jobs in the wine export sector, jobs in areas like barley and red meat as well, that have been major exports to China. And as well, I look forward to a further expansion of that trade in new industries as we go forward. I'm very much looking forward to travelling with so many Australian businesses. There'll be representatives of companies like Rio Tinto, BHP, Fortescue, Macquarie Bank, the university sector as well, travelling with me. And it will be a further demonstration of the good relations that exist between Australia and China, something that both countries have worked on. Happy to take questions. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, why are Australians only now finding out about the meeting between Kevin Rudd and Donald Trump, and what does that say about the Australian Government's transparency? PRIME MINISTER: They're not. JOURNALIST: Are you in a position to tell us what type of - PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, I spoke in a morning TV interview. I mean, James Paterson needs to pay more attention. I'd spoken publicly about this at the time. JOURNALIST: What was the contents of the meeting? PRIME MINISTER: Well, they had a meeting. They had a brief discussion. It's out there. What we don't do is take meetings with world leaders - what we do is engage constructively. JOURNALIST: Was it a secret meeting though, as alleged by the Coalition? PRIME MINISTER: Well, I just said that I talked about it at the time. It's pretty hard for it to be a secret when you talk about it and get asked on morning TV. And if you go back, you'll see that. See, the Opposition need to decide whether they're going to continue to just undermine Australia's national interest or whether they'll join Team Australia. And that is a decision for them, but what we need from them is less hyperventilation and more concentration on what Australia's national interest is. James Paterson and the Coalition never miss an opportunity to miss the opportunity to back Australia. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you mentioned that you're looking forward to expanding trade opportunities, new industries with China. China's ambassador to Australia, he raised the potential of adding AI, healthcare, clean energy to an expanded Free Trade Agreement. Are those some of the areas that you're looking at? PRIME MINISTER: Look we'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there. But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement. But we'll engage - one of the things that we do of course here is we're bringing a whole range of business representatives like the last time I was in Shanghai, there'll be a roundtable in which Australian and Chinese businesses will be interacting. That's a positive thing. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, has business told you their main interests? What are they looking for out of this trip? PRIME MINISTER: Well, business wants to see this engagement. And business has been very supportive. Businesses will recall that in the term of government between 2019 and 2022, there were no phone conversations between Australian government representatives and Chinese government representatives. They'll recall that there were impediments to more than $20 billion of our trade. And some of that trade has bounced back very strongly. Wine is one of the areas that's bounced back very strongly. As Michelle said, the fact that this business here has increased its exports to China by more than a thousand per cent, and that's replicated in the Barossa Valley, in the Clare Valley, in the Hunter Valley, in Margaret River, in Tasmania, in the Riverina, in the wine regions of Australia, in which those regional jobs are so important. And so, there is a real interest in ensuring that Australia benefits from trade in our region. My Government has worked very hard to diversify trade as well and to increase our relationships with other countries in the region, including India and Indonesia and the ASEAN countries. But the relationship with China is an important one. As is our relationship when it comes to exports with the north Asian economies of South Korea and Japan. JOURNALIST: The report released yesterday by the Special Envoy on Antisemitism - it recommended that the Government screen visa applicants for those who display antisemitic views. Is this something you're already doing? Will you instruct Border Force to deport non-citizens if they do display antisemitic views? PRIME MINISTER: This is something that we do. We screen people when they apply for visas, it's something that we make sure that we represent Australia's national interests. And you'll recall there was a particular American citizen who recently got denied a visa because of the antisemitic comments that he had made in having a song that praised Adolf Hitler. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, did you see Penny Wong's criticism of China's expanding military presence in the Pacific? Did she speak out of turn? PRIME MINISTER: Penny Wong speaks as Australia's Foreign Minister and never speaks in any other capacity than that. And she does a fantastic job. JOURNALIST: Is that something you're planning to bring up with the Chinese, their navigation, their circumnavigation of Australia? And also, what about the detention of Yang Hengjun, the - PRIME MINISTER: We raise the full range of issues. As I said, we cooperate where we can, we disagree where we must, and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there. Australia and China have different political systems. We have therefore different values that are reflected in those political systems. But we've got to be able to have that engagement directly, and that's what we'll be doing. JOURNALIST: With that antisemitism report, you say that you're already screening visas of people with antisemitic views. Do you agree with the envoy that if someone who suggests that the State of Israel should be eliminated, that is an antisemitic view, and they should be deported or not allowed entry? PRIME MINISTER: We have our system, which goes through security clearances and that's a condition that we make. Across the board, we examine whether someone's an appropriate person to be granted a visa to Australia. JOURNALIST: Would they face risk of deportation if they do express these views? PRIME MINISTER: We assess people on the basis of our national security assessments. We do that across the board. We keep Australians safe. That is what we do. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, have you had a brief on the action in Western Sydney with the 61-year-old Palestinian woman, Maha Almassri, whose visa was cancelled, and what threat she posed? PRIME MINISTER: Yes, I have. JOURNALIST: What rationality - PRIME MINISTER: No, because we don't talk about national security issues - JOURNALIST: She vehemently denies that she's a threat. Do you have any more to add to that? PRIME MINISTER: No. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, just to change tack slightly. Perhaps the most serious question you'll get today. Panda diplomacy - are you bringing any pandas back to Australia? PRIME MINISTER: Fortunately, on my last visit to China, I did declare that we were pro-panda. And as a direct result of that, we still have pandas present of course in the Adelaide Zoo. That's a major tourist attraction, but it's also a sign of friendship between our two countries. I'll visit Chengdu next week as well, I look forward to that. We have a range of cultural exchanges - can be really positive in broadening understanding between our two countries. Thanks. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the AFP has arrested a man for making threats to a federal MP. Do you have any comment on that? PRIME MINISTER: No, other than that the person is myself as was mentioned in today's newspapers, but I don't comment on national security issues and on those issues whether it involves someone else or whether it involves me directly. What I do is have confidence in our national security agencies to do their job and they do it very well. Thanks very much. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'They Tried To Erase Me,' Freed Belarus Opposition Politician Tsikhanouski Says By Ales Piletski and RFE/RL's Belarus Service July 11, 2025 VILNIUS -- Belarusian opposition firebrand Syarhey Tsikhanouski's fight against Aleksandr Lukashenko's repressive rule was halted abruptly five years ago, when he was arrested after announcing plans to challenge the authoritarian leader in an August 2020 election. Eventually sentenced to 18 years in prison and often held in solitary confinement, Tsikhanouski was silenced by the state as it mounted a major clampdown in response to massive protests that erupted when Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory in a vote that millions of Belarusians believe was stolen. "For almost three years I lived in absolute isolation," Tsikhanouski, who was freed last month in the US-brokered release of 14 prisoners, told RFE/RL in an interview on July 9. "No calls, no letters, no visits from lawyers. Nothing. They tried to erase me." Now outside the country, like other prominent government foes including his wife, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who ran in his stead in 2020 and now leads the Belarusian opposition abroad, Tsikhanouski vowed to continue to push against Lukashenko and fight for the release of political prisoners who remain behind bars. "We need to act. If we pause now, the regime wins," Tsikhanouski told RFE/RL in the interview in Vilnius, adding that was advised to take six months to recover from his ordeal but opted not to. "If I stop now, nothing will change. Give me 100 days. After that, judge me. I promise you'll see results." Before 2020, Tsikhanouski was best known as the outspoken host of the popular YouTube channel A Country for Life, traveling across Belarus exposing evidence of corruption and reporting on poverty and the neglect of rural communities. His straight-talking style and flair for mobilizing supporters set him apart from other opposition figures in the nation of 9.1 million, where Lukashenko -- whom Tsikhanouski labeled a "cockroach" to be stamped out -- has been in power since 1994. His political ambitions and his rhetoric put him squarely in Lukashenko's crosshairs. In May 2020, after announcing his intention to run for president, Tsikhanouski was arrested during a campaign event in the western city of Hrodna. His wife stepped into the race in his place and went on to lead an unprecedented challenge to Lukashenko's rule. While Lukashenko claimed he received 81 percent of the vote that August, many believe Tsikhanouskaya was the actual winner. As a result, Tsikhanouski says he prefers to be called the "first gentleman," rejecting labels such as former political prisoner and ex-blogger. "I don't like the word former. It carries a sense of loss. I think the first gentleman of Belarus is the right way [to refer to me], as I fully support my spouse," he said. "I am endlessly grateful to her for her help in my release. Without her support, her faith, and her love, the efforts of the Belarusians and the diplomats would not have been enough. She managed to connect the dots and showed others how to fight." He said he sees himself and his wife as complementary forces and will not interfere in her team's activities with his advice. He made clear, however, that he has no intention of fading into the background. "In my situation, it's impossible to stay out of politics. Any step I take is seen as political. Belarusians expect something from me, and they're watching closely," Tsikhanouski said. "Prison didn't break me. My fire burns even brighter now," Tsikhanouski said. He contrasted his ardor as a newly released former prisoner with what he suggested was the dampened enthusiasm of exiled Belarusians dealing with day-to-day challenges five years after the disputed election that galvanized the opposition. "During my last days of freedom in 2020, people were lining up for hours to sign petitions. I felt like I had wings," he said. "Now I came out with the same energy and determination, but I see that many Belarusians abroad are tired. They've spent five years surviving, working multiple jobs. I understand, but for those of us coming out of prison, it's painful to feel that the fire has gone out." One of his first moves shortly after his release on June 21 was to appeal to supporters for donations to a fund to support former political prisoners and exiled Belarusians. Tsikhanouski envisioned raising 200,000 euros, but the appeal sparked criticism and an underwhelming response. He stressed that his appeal for donations wasn't just about money. "When someone is released, they don't just need funds. They need people to hold their hand, to be there every day until they can stand on their own. I'm lucky to have Svyatlana and her team. But even I often feel alone." Despite the initial setback, Tsikhanouski said donations have since grown, and more importantly hundreds of volunteers have joined his cause. He described his burgeoning movement as a "success beyond expectations," saying that about 450 people from Belarusian communities across Europe and the United States -- and even in Singapore -- have signed up. "This is more than double the size of my 2020 team. These aren't just supporters, they're people ready to act," he said. Tsikhanouski envisions creating support hubs for exiled Belarusians in Lithuania and Poland to help them find employment and housing. "It's not tied to Svyatlana's office. This is my initiative. I'm still a businessman at heart. I see problems, and I want to fix them," he said. He was tight-lipped about his first major initiative but hinted it would combine political activism and support for the diaspora. Some have called Tsikhanouski's style populist and likened him to a young Lukashenko, who has been running Belarus with an iron fist for more than 30 years. Tsikhanouski firmly rejects this comparison, emphasizing his commitment to honesty and integrity. "I don't lie. Lukashenko's defining trait is his ability to lie. I speak directly and openly, even when people think I should be more diplomatic. That's the opposite of him." Tsikhanouski, who described himself as a devout Christian, said has forgiven those who imprisoned him but still believes that justice must be served. "Forgiveness doesn't erase crimes," he said. "Lukashenko must face trial." Tsikhanouski said the fight for a democratic Belarus will be long and challenging. He continues to push for new sanctions and actively engages with European diplomats to discuss ways to pressure Minsk to release remaining political prisoners. Asked what he missed most during his imprisonment, he said he "dreamed of sitting by a fire, frying bacon with onions...of holding a puppy...of drinking real coffee." Now, he says, he's catching up on lost time, even asking American diplomats to send him his favorite Starbucks roast. "Freedom tastes like coffee," he said with a grin. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/syarhey-tsikhanouski -svyatlana-tsikhanouskaya-prison-release-belarus- lukashenka-interview/33471527.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Brazil's Lula warns of retaliation after Trump threatens with 50% tariff Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 10:06 AM Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called on the United States to treat Brazil with respect and warned of possible retaliatory measures if President Donald Trump follows through on a threat to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods. Brazil is prepared to retaliate if the tariffs are enforced, he said in an interview posted to his official media account on Thursday. Earlier, Trump had threatened Brazil with the tariffs that he said could be enforced from August 1. He has asked the South American country to drop charges against its former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of attempting a coup after refusing to concede the 2022 election. Trump called the investigation a "witch hunt" and demanded it be dropped, describing Bolsonaro as "a highly respected leader throughout the world." During the interview, Lula said that he initially thought Trump's letter was fake. "The Brazilian people must be respected. Brazilian justice must be respected." The Brazilian head of state affirmed the nation's sovereignty, adding, "Brazil will adopt the necessary measures to protect its people and its companies." Unlike many other countries, the US runs a trade surplus with Brazil. Lula rejected Trump's claim that the trade relationship is "far from reciprocal," calling it inaccurate. In 2024, the US exported $49.7 billion to Brazil and imported $42.3 billion. Experts say using tariffs to pressure a country's judiciary is provocative. Marc Busch, a Georgetown professor, warned Brazil may respond more seriously than Trump's other trade partners. Brazil's Finance Minister Fernando Haddad urged resolving disputes through diplomacy. Tensions rose after the BRICS summit in Rio, where Lula said, "We don't want an emperor; we are sovereign nations," responding to Trump's threats. Brazilian exporters, including coffee growers, worry tariffs will harm the economy. Brazil is the world's largest coffee exporter, and tariffs could raise US prices. Trump also threatened an extra 10% tariff on BRICS countries labeled "anti-American." He insists tariffs aim to reduce US trade deficits, although the US has a surplus with Brazil. Lula vowed retaliation if tariffs proceed, saying, "Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage." He insisted the Bolsonaro case is a judicial matter "not subject to interference or threat." Trump has used tariffs before for political leverage, as in 2023 with Colombia over deportees. In 2023, Brazil was the US's 15th-largest trading partner, with total trade valued at $104 billion. Major US exports to Brazil included aircraft and spacecraft ($7 billion), fossil fuels ($9 billion), and industrial machinery ($10 billion). Brazil's exports to the US included crude oil and fossil fuels ($8.8 billion), iron and steel ($5 billion), and soybeans ($3.3 billion). Tariffs could hurt Brazilian companies, especially in metals and agriculture, potentially slowing economic growth by 0.3 to 0.4 percentage points. US companies may face higher costs while seeking alternatives for Brazilian goods like steel, beef, and coffee. Increased Brazilian ethanol exports to the US could benefit US farmers. Bolsonaro, president from 2019 to 2023, refused to concede after losing in 2022, alleging election fraud. His supporters later attacked Brazil's government institutions. Bolsonaro and 33 others now face charges of attempting a coup and could face up to 40 years in prison. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canadian Armed Forces set to participate in Australia's largest military exercise National Defence News release July 11, 2025 - Ottawa, ON - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is deploying approximately 600 personnel to participate in the largest-ever iteration of Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25 (Ex TS25) from July 13 to August 4, 2025. This exercise will take place in and around Australia and for the first time, in Papua New Guinea. Hosted biennially by Australia, Exercise TALISMAN SABRE brings together over 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations for advanced multinational training. This year's iteration will feature large-scale warfighting exercises, including firepower demonstrations, tactical sustainment rehearsals, and joint operations across land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains. Ex TS25 marks Canada's largest single deployment of military personnel to the Indo-Pacific region since the launch of Operation HORIZON. It will also be the first major exercise to involve a broad spectrum of Canadian Armed Forces capabilities deployed together, drawing on personnel and assets from the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Canadian Forces Cyber Command (CAFCYBERCOM), 3 Canadian Space Division (3 CSD), and Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM). The CAF's contribution includes His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ville de Quebec, which will conduct live-fire naval exercises, and RCAF assets providing both strategic and tactical airlift. Together, these forces will demonstrate the CAF's readiness to conduct integrated and expeditionary operations alongside key partners. Participation in Ex TS25 strengthens Canada's defence cooperation with the Australian Defence Force and advances the priorities set out in the Joint Statement on Strengthening the Canada-Australia Defence Relationship. This deployment sends a clear signal: Canada is deepening its commitment to collective security and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. As global threats evolve, Canada will continue stepping up by investing in strong partnerships and demonstrating its capacity to contribute meaningfully to peace and security around the world. Quotes "Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25 is a clear demonstration of Canada's commitment, as outlined in our joint statement with Australia, to deepen defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and strengthen our shared ability to respond to evolving regional and global threats. This deployment highlights the Canadian Armed Forces' expanding operational presence in the region and reflects our determination to improve interoperability with key allies and partners. Through this exercise, Canada is reaffirming its role as a dependable and engaged contributor to collective security in the Indo-Pacific." The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence "The Canadian Armed Forces are proud to contribute its largest contingent ever to Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25. Our participation in this exercise is a testament to our readiness and ability to operate alongside our international allies and partners, demonstrating we remain a strong and interoperable force." General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff "The deployment of approximately 600 Canadian Armed Forces members, from the various elements of the Canadian Armed Forces to Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25 demonstrates our commitment to the Indo-Pacific. This exercise will enable the Canadian Armed Forces to better respond to the rapidly evolving strategic environment by enhancing our capabilities and strengthening our military partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region." Lieutenant-General Steve Boivin, Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command "Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25 offers the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command a unique opportunity to project forces across the globe to participate in challenging Special Operations scenarios alongside key allies and partners. Canadian Special Operations Forces Command's contribution will add significant value to the exercise while continuing to build our own understanding of the nature and challenges of the Indo-Pacific region." Major-General Steve Hunter, Commander Canadian Special Operations Forces Command Quick facts Ex TS25 will include live fire and field training exercises that incorporate force preparation activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvres, and air combat and maritime operations. The exercise will utilize several locations across Australia, providing a realistic test of how a large military force should function in a broad area of operations. Ex TS25 will leverage locations and ranges for all domains of military operations: air, land, maritime, space, and cyberspace. HMCS Ville de Quebec has been sailing since April as part Operation HIGHMAST, the United Kingdom-led Carrier Strike Group (UK CSG25) deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. The UK CSG25 is centred on the aircraft carrier His Majesty's Ship Prince of Wales and includes warships, submarines, and aircraft from multiple allied nations Over the coming months, the UK CSG25 will conduct exercises and operations with air, sea, and land forces from more than a dozen countries. These activities will take place across the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia. CANSOFCOM will exercise multi-domain military operations within integrated multinational forces. This exercise will serve to test a variety of skills and capabilities to include logistics, communications, and command and control in an unfamiliar environment. The CAFCYBERCOM is the single Department of National Defence/CAF authority for cyber, responsible for the force generation, development, and employment of cyber forces. It encompasses Signals Intelligence and Joint Electronic Warfare and can conduct and support a range of effects in the cyber domain and electromagnetic spectrum. 3 CSD is responsible for delivering space power effects in support of CAF operations both at home and abroad. The CAF rely on space for a wide range of capabilities, such as command and control, situational awareness, surveillance, weather information, navigation, communications, mapping, and search and rescue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump announces 35% tariff on Canadian goods amid trade war Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 3:25 PM US President Donald Trump has said that the United States will impose a 35% tariff on all Canadian imports starting August 1, escalating a trade dispute with one of America's closest allies during ongoing economic talks. The announcement, delivered via Trump's social media platform Truth Social on Thursday, sent shockwaves through markets, with US stock futures dipping on the news. The new tariff level is steeply increased from the 25% rate introduced in February and well above earlier suggestions of 15% to 20% tariffs for countries without trade deals with the US. The move comes despite active trade talks between Washington and Ottawa, and marks another chapter in Trump's disruptive approach to international relations, one that has increasingly targeted even long-standing partners. In a letter addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump claimed the tariff is a response to Canada's "failure" to stop the flow of fentanyl into the US, writing: "If Canada works with me to stop the flow of fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter." However, Canadian and US government data show that less than 0.1% of fentanyl seized at US borders from 2022 to 2024 came through Canada, with the vast majority entering from Mexico. Carney, who has positioned himself as a defender of Canadian sovereignty since taking office, responded on X: "We have steadfastly defended our workers and businesses and will continue to do so as we work towards the revised deadline of August 1." He added that Canada has made "vital progress" in combating fentanyl trafficking. Back in late June, Trump decided to halt trade talks with Canada; however, the Canadian foreign minister acknowledged ongoing "complex" negotiations. Anita Anand expressed hope earlier on Thursday that a new economic and security agreement could be reached before the July 21 deadline, stressing that "our teams are working extremely hard behind closed doors in a complex negotiation." Trump also told NBC that new tariffs on the European Union are under consideration. EU negotiator Maros Sefcovic said talks with Washington remain ongoing, and so far, the bloc has avoided being targeted. Carney, meanwhile, has been working to reduce Canada's economic reliance on the US, seeking closer ties with the EU and the UK. He has also publicly rejected Trump's suggestions about annexing Canada, declaring in a May meeting at the White House: "Canada is not for sale - won't be for sale - ever." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 8th NDU International Defense Forum held in Beijing Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source China Military Online EditorLin Congyi 2025-07-10 18:06:18 BEIJING, July 10 -- The 8th International Defense Forum hosted by the National Defense University (NDU) of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) kicked off in Beijing recently. More than 200 military and civilian scholars from nearly 100 countries participated in the forum. Under the theme of "International Security Cooperation amid Interweaving Turbulence and Changes", the forum focused on three topics including the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN and maintaining world peace, international and regional security amid interweaving turmoil, and new paths and initiatives for global and regional security governance. Through forms such as keynote speeches, sub-topic presentations, group discussions, and plenary discussions and interactions, the participants had exchanges on the joint promotion of peaceful development, artificial intelligence (AI) and future warfare, Global Security Initiative (GSI), China's solutions to global security challenges, and other topics. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The head of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said he has "full confidence" in China's economic development and called the country a "strategic partner." #GLOBALink Li Qiang Meets with Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives Hanafy Ali Gebaly Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: July 10, 2025 23:55 On July 9, 2025 local time, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council met with Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives Hanafy Ali Gebaly in Cairo. Li Qiang said that although China and Egypt are geographically distant, the friendship between the two countries has a long-standing history. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, no matter how the international landscape changes, the traditional friendship between China and Egypt remains unchanged, and the momentum of bilateral relations and cooperation continues to grow, demonstrating a strong internal dynamism. China is ready to work with Egypt to further promote traditional friendship, enhance political mutual trust, firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, and continuously elevate bilateral relations to new heights and achieve more new results in bilateral cooperation, so as to better benefit the people of both countries. Li Qiang expressed the hope that the two sides will maintain friendly exchanges between legislative bodies, strengthen policy communication and share experience on state governance, and continuously enhance mutual understanding. Li Qiang pointed out that China is ready to deepen development synergies with Egypt, follow the guidance of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and make use of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to improve the quality and efficiency of bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The two sides should focus on the cooperation in the sustainable operation of bilateral landmark projects to continuously improve the level of two-way trade and investment facilitation, strengthen industrial synergies and market connectivity, expand cooperation in emerging fields such as digital economy and green development, and promote a higher level of mutual benefit and win-win results. China is ready to maintain close communication and coordination with Egypt within mechanisms including the United Nations, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, promote all parties to jointly safeguard the basic norms governing international relations and the multilateral trading system, and inject more positive energy into the cause of global peace and development. Hanafy Ali Gebaly said that Egypt and China, as two great ancient civilizations, share a long history of exchanges and profound friendship between their peoples. Egypt admires the remarkable achievements China has made in its economic and social development, and firmly believes that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China will successfully realize Chinese modernization, bringing new opportunities for cooperation between China and other developing countries. The Egyptian side abides by the one-China principle, respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and opposes interference in China's internal affairs. Egypt stands ready to expand practical cooperation with China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative in areas such as trade, investment and new energy, enhance multilateral coordination, uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and jointly address global challenges. The Egyptian House of Representatives is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the legislative bodies of both countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wang Yi Meets with Adviser for Foreign Affairs of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Touhid Hossain Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: July 10, 2025 16:45 On July 10, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Adviser for Foreign Affairs of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Touhid Hossain in Kuala Lumpur. Wang Yi noted that President Xi Jinping and Chief Adviser of the Bangladeshi Interim Government Muhammad Yunus reached important common understandings on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Bangladesh, providing strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations. China has always been committed to promoting strategic cooperation with Bangladesh on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and pursues a policy of good neighborliness and friendship with all people of Bangladesh. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh, which holds significant importance to build on past achievements and pursue new progress. China supports the interim government of Bangladesh in its governance and backs the efforts of Bangladesh to hold the general election smoothly and successfully and to pursue a development path that suits its national conditions. China is willing to always be a trustworthy good friend, good neighbor and good partner of Bangladesh. Wang Yi stressed that China-Bangladesh cooperation is mutually beneficial and win-win. China provides Bangladesh with zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent of its products, creating opportunities for Bangladesh's development. In contrast, the United States imposes a 35 percent tariff on Bangladesh, one of the least developed countries, which is neither reasonable nor ethical. Wang Yi said that China is committed to building a community with a shared future with its neighbors. As the largest neighbor of South Asian countries, China is willing to join hands with Bangladesh and other South Asian countries to achieve modernization and jointly contribute to the development and revitalization of Asia. The China-Bangladesh-Pakistan Trilateral Vice Foreign Minister/Foreign Secretary meeting was successfully held in Kunming. China looks forward to making joint efforts with Bangladesh and Pakistan to solidly advance the trilateral cooperation and achieve tangible results. Touhid Hossain said that China is a reliable and trustworthy partner and friend for Bangladesh. Developing friendly cooperation with China is a consensus among the Bangladeshi people. He expressed gratitude for the selfless assistance that China has provided for Bangladesh's development over the years. He stated that Bangladesh firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is ready to learn from China's governance experience, expand friendly cooperation in economy, trade, healthcare and other fields, strengthen regional multilateral coordination and cooperation, and take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to elevate bilateral relations to a new level. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting Held in Kuala Lumpur Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: July 10, 2025 23:55 On July 10, 2025, the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the meeting with the representative of the Country Coordinator for China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations. Foreign ministers of ASEAN member states, ASEAN observers and the Secretary-General of ASEAN attended the meeting. Wang Yi said that China and ASEAN share similar visions for development, common demands, and converging interests. China regards ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and a pioneer area for building a community with a shared future for mankind. The two sides should support each other and help each other succeed in advancing the modernization process of Asia. China will always remain the most trustworthy force for stability in a turbulent world and the most reliable partner for ASEAN countries in meeting challenges. Wang Yi briefed the achievements of China-ASEAN cooperation and put forward four suggestions: First, to act as a model in defending international fairness and justice. The two sides should firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law. China supports ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture and its greater role in regional and international affairs. China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to practice open regionalism and true multilateralism, and make greater contributions to regional and global governance. Second, to act as a model for safeguarding regional peace and stability. In the turbulent world today, peace and stability in the region are particularly precious and must be firmly protected. No geopolitical conflicts or bloc confrontations should be allowed to infiltrate the Asian home. The two sides should continue resolving disputes and differences through dialogue and consultation, so as to maintain a sound environment for common development. China is willing to take the lead in signing the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. The South China Sea is a shared home for countries in the region, not an arena for major power rivalry. China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to expand cooperation in areas such as marine environmental protection, navigation safety, maritime law enforcement, and key marine infrastructure, and jointly foster a new narrative of cooperation, stability, and friendship in the South China Sea. The two sides should fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, advance consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), and always keep the initiative on the South China Sea issue in the hands of regional countries. Third, to set an example of conducting mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation. China is ready to work with ASEAN to jointly build the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, promote high-quality implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and create a high-level free trade network. China will continue to take the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as the main platform to strengthen connectivity and cooperation in industrial and supply chains with ASEAN, and create highlights of cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and clean energy. China appreciates ASEAN's firm commitment to upholding free trade and the multilateral trading system, and believes that it is necessary to resolve economic and trade differences through equal-footed dialogue and in a mutually beneficial way, and safeguard one's own dignity, principles and bottom lines, never doing so at the expense of the interests of any third party. Fourth, to set an example for promoting inclusiveness and mutual learning. China is willing to work with ASEAN countries to continue advocating for dialogue, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, and jointly build an Asian family that promotes harmony, inclusiveness, and respect for differences. Both sides should jointly organize activities for the Year of People-to-People Exchanges, enhance exchanges in education, youth, think tanks, media and other fields, take concrete actions to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, and promote mutual understanding, amity and affinity among the peoples. All parties gave positive evaluations of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and ASEAN, and highly recognized that the cooperation effectively enhanced people's well-being. Participating countries said that China-ASEAN cooperation is the most dynamic and productive one, and that China has always been one of the most important dialogue partners of ASEAN. They expressed gratitude for China's support of ASEAN centrality. They welcomed practical cooperation initiatives proposed by China and expressed their willingness to accelerate the synergy of development strategies with China, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and deepen all-round cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, digital transformation, clean energy, and combating transnational crime. They look forward to the signing of the protocol to the Version 3.0 ASEAN-China Free Trade Area within the year, which will further advance regional economic integration. They appreciated China's willingness to take the lead in signing the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. They look forward to the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea by all parties. They expressed willingness to work with the Chinese side to jointly uphold multilateralism and the multilateral trading system, and work together to address global challenges. ASEAN agreed with China's proposal to designate 2026 as the "Theme Year for the 5th Anniversary of the Establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" and hold celebration activities. ASEAN agreed to adopt and implement the Plan of Action to Implement the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. ASEAN is willing to further strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China, jointly advance the modernization process in Asia, and promote regional peace, stability and prosperity. During the meeting, Wang Yi met with foreign ministers of relevant countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Anand meets with China's Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi Global Affairs Canada Readout July 11, 2025 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today met with Wang Yi, China's Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Association of Southeast Nations Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Highlighting the importance of regular communication channels, the ministers reiterated support for the upcoming meeting of the Joint Economic and Trade Commission, the next round of consular consultations and forthcoming counternarcotics discussions. The ministers exchanged views on a range of global issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The ministers also discussed challenges and opportunities in the bilateral relationship and agreed to remain in touch with each other. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, US top diplomats hold 'pragmatic, constructive' meeting in Malaysia Global Times Dialogue significant for implementing leaders' consensus, maintaining stability of ties: experts By Wang Qi and Zhao Jingru Published: Jul 11, 2025 11:57 PM Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur Friday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings. The two diplomats exchanged views on the China-US relationship and issues of common concern, according to a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Amid the growing tariff tensions and intensifying conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the engagement marks the first in-person meeting between the two diplomats since US President Donald Trump returned to power in January, multiple media reported. Wang and Rubio held a phone conversation in January at the latter's request, according to Xinhua. According to the statement on Friday, both sides agreed that the meeting was positive, pragmatic, and constructive. They agreed to enhance communication and dialogue through diplomatic channels and at various levels and fields, giving full play to the role of foreign affairs departments in advancing bilateral ties, managing differences, and identifying areas for expanded cooperation. Analysts noted that the meeting sustained the positive momentum from the previous phone call between the Chinese and US heads of state, playing a significant role in further implementing the leaders' consensus and maintaining the stability of China-US relations. Additionally, the interactions between high-level diplomats from both sides conveyed greater certainty to the world, contributing to a more effective resolution of global and regional crises and challenges. Pragmatic and constructive Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, comprehensively outlined China's principled stance on developing bilateral ties, emphasizing that both sides should turn the important consensus reached by the two heads of state into concrete policies and actions. Wang expressed his hope that the US side would view China with an objective, rational and pragmatic attitude, shape its China policy based on the goal of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and treat China in an equal, respectful and mutually beneficial manner and work together with China to find the right way to get along with each other in the new era, according to the statement. According to the release from the US Department of State, the discussion was constructive and pragmatic, with Rubio emphasizing the importance of keeping channels of communication open. The readout from the US side claimed that the two sides agreed to explore areas of potential cooperation, while seeking to manage differences. Diao Daming, a professor at Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times that the foreign ministers' meeting, clearly conducted within the framework established by the phone call between the two heads of state, holds positive significance for further implementing consensus, easing tensions, and maintaining the overall stability of China-US relations. Since the beginning of this year, Xi and Trump have held two phone conversations on January 17 and June 5 which have played a directional, guiding role in stabilizing bilateral ties and produced a number of clear and important consensuses, said Diao, "the latest meeting held in Asia has extended the positive momentum generated by the prior communications between Xi and Trump." According to media reports ahead of the meeting, tariffs, the Taiwan question, South China Sea issues, the Middle East situation, and the Ukraine crisis were possibly on the meeting agenda. Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that the meeting will contribute to the US handling China-related affairs with greater rationality and pragmatism, as well as fostering a correct understanding of China. Furthermore, the high-level interactions are instrumental for the two sides to effectively address global and regional crises and challenges, Li added. After the meeting, Rubio told reporters that his talk with Wang was "very constructive," and the "odds are high" for a summit between the two heads of state. The development of China-US relations requires the guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy, and the meeting between the Chinese and US top diplomats has objectively laid a strong foundation for a potential summit in the future, Li stated. Longing for peace, prosperity Before the Wang-Rubio meeting, both diplomats met with their ASEAN member state counterparts on Thursday. Rubio said that the "Indo-Pacific" region "remains a focal point of US foreign policy," while Wang said China has always been "the most dependable partner for ASEAN members to address challenges," and briefed on the achievements of China-ASEAN cooperation. In a joint communique on Friday, ASEAN top diplomats stressed that unilateral tariffs are counterproductive and risk exacerbating global economic fragmentation, without directly naming the US, according to Reuters. ASEAN foreign ministers expressed concern over rising global trade tensions and uncertainties. Strengthening regional trade, cooperating with friendly partners, and maximizing the utilization of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement are among the strategies that the ASEAN grouping will pursue to counter the negative impact of trade tensions, according to the statement, per Xinhua. During the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' meeting on Friday, Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said in his opening speech that today's world faces a complex web of crises that jeopardize global peace, shared prosperity, and the well-being of people everywhere, from the outbreak of conflicts and rising great power competition to economic fragmentation, rapid technological shifts, and transnational security threats. ASEAN counts on the constructive engagement and commitment of all partners towards ensuring lasting peace, shared prosperity, and continued progress for all, he said, according to a release from Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The engagement between China and the US on the ASEAN platform conveys signals of enhanced stability and predictability to the Asia-Pacific region and the broader international community, instilling greater confidence and optimism for countries' future development, said Li, "In the context of significant disruptions to global economic and security landscape, such certainty is invaluable." Li stressed that for ASEAN and most of its member states, there is a strong expectation for stable, positive, and predictable development in China-US relations, which also supports the region's vision of becoming a hub of peace, prosperity, and deeper economic integration. However, there is also concern and caution over the US' efforts to escalate great power rivalry in the region and undermine economic cohesion through tariff clashes. During the opening of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting and related meetings on Wednesday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned that the world is now witnessing an era where "power unsettles principle" and "tools once used to generate growth are now wielded to pressure, isolate and contain," according to the Associated Press, which added that Anwar did not mention the US by name, but urged ASEAN to work together to respond to trade threats. Washington has announced plans for tariffs on Malaysia and five other ASEAN countries, with Malaysia facing a 25 percent tariff, Laos and Myanmar 40 percent, Cambodia and Thailand 36 per cent, and Indonesia 32 percent, starting from August 1, the Straits Times reported. Malaysian prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad described China as a neighbor for "almost 2,000 years," arguing that Southeast Asian nations should strengthen ties with Beijing rather than submit to the US' trade war tactics, the Malay Mail reported. Moreover, according to the US Department of State, in his first trip to Asia as Secretary of State, Rubio is focused on reaffirming the US' commitment to advancing a free, open, and secure "Indo-Pacific" region. According to Diao, the US repetitive emphasis on concepts such as a "free and open Indo-Pacific" and "regional security" has made it increasingly difficult for the ideas to gain widespread support. Should the US persist in fostering division, instability, or even conflict in the Asia-Pacific region, it is certain that not only China but also the overwhelming majority of ASEAN and Asia-Pacific nations would oppose it, Li said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wang Yi Meets with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: July 11, 2025 20:09 On July 11, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur. The two sides exchanged views on China-U.S. relations and issues of mutual interest. Wang Yi elaborated on China's principled position on developing China-U.S. relations, emphasizing that both sides should translate the important common understandings of the two presidents into concrete policies and actions. China hopes that the U.S. can view China with an objective, rational, and pragmatic attitude, formulate its policies toward China with the goal of peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation, engage with China in an equal, respectful, and mutually beneficial manner, and work with China to explore the right way for the two countries to get along well with each other in the new era. Both sides agreed that the meeting is positive, pragmatic, and constructive. They agreed to step up communication and dialogue across various fields and at all levels, including the diplomatic channel, leverage the role of foreign services in advancing bilateral relations, and explore opportunities to expand areas of cooperation while managing differences. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on July 11, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: July 11, 2025 20:29 Beijing Daily: Premier Li Qiang just concluded his official visit to Egypt. Can you share with us more details? Mao Ning: Premier Li Qiang paid an official visit to Egypt from July 9 to 10. During the visit, he met with Egyptian President El-Sisi, held talks with Prime Minister Madbouly, and met with Speaker of the House of Representatives Gebaly. Premier Li noted that China always views its relations with Egypt as a priority in Middle East diplomacy. As the two countries mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, China hopes to work with Egypt to carry forward the traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, continue to give each other firm support on issues bearing on each other's core interest, enrich the comprehensive strategic partnership, deliver more results through cooperation in various areas, and build a China-Egypt community with a shared future for the new era. China supports Egypt in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and stands ready to coordinate and collaborate more closely with Egypt within multilateral frameworks, practice true multilateralism, uphold economic globalization and the international economic and trade order, safeguard the common interests of the vast developing world, and contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond. During the visit, Premier Li and Prime Minister Madbouly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on e-commerce, green and low-carbon development, development assistance, finance and health. During his stay in Egypt, Premier Li Qiang met with Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League. Premier Li Qiang noted that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and heads of state of Arab countries, the China-Arab relationship is as strong as ever. China always views and develops its relations with Arab states from a strategic height, firmly supports Arab states' just cause, and supports their pursuit of greater strategic independence, strength through unity and development paths suited to their national conditions. China stands ready to strengthen its friendly ties with the Arab League and work with Arab states to increase strategic mutual trust, deepen cooperation in various fields, jointly advance modernization, and build a China-Arab community with a shared future of an even higher standard. We hope the Arab League will continue to play an important role in promoting China-Arab relations and jointly make the Second China-Arab States Summit next year a full success. AFP: The Data Protection Commission, an Irish regulator helping to police EU data privacy, said yesterday that it had launched an investigation into TikTok over the transfer of European users' personal data to servers in China. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this? Mao Ning: I'd refer you to competent authorities for anything specific. Let me stress that the Chinese government takes data privacy and security very seriously and protects it in accordance with the law. The Chinese government has never asked and will never ask any company or individual to collect or store data against laws. We hope the EU will earnestly respect the principles of market economy and fair competition, and provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for companies from all countries. China Review News: We noted that Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to attend the ASEAN Plus Foreign Ministers' Meetings. Could you share more details? Mao Ning: Yesterday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Today, he attended the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out that China and ASEAN share similar development philosophies and aspirations and interconnected interests. Thanks to the joint efforts of the two sides, the bond of the community with a shared future with neighboring countries has become closer, the steps of regional opening up and cooperation have become more resolute, security cooperation has become more in-depth, and personnel exchanges have become more convenient. China regards ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and supports ASEAN centrality in regional structure. China stands ready to take the lead in signing the Protocol to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone, fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), advance the consultations of a code of conduct in the South China Sea (COC), make the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 a success, implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement in a high-quality way, and support each other and help each other succeed on the march towards Asia's modernization. Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that the current situation in East Asia is positive at large with the overwhelming trend of focusing on development and striving for cooperation, but the region is affected by unilateralism and protectionism. The more complex the situation is, the greater the need to remove disturbances, enhance the driving force for cooperation, strengthen the resilience for development, keep advancing regional integration, and build an East Asia with integrated development, strong resilience, vigor for innovation and cultural affinity. China will continue to seek an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood, and follow the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, and share weal and woe with its neighbors. Through its stable development, China will provide fresh impetus and new opportunities for common development in the region, and jointly usher in a brighter future for East Asia. Reuters: Next week, G20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs will meet in South Africa. What are China's expectations for the meeting? What would success look like? Do you have any comment on whether the G20 is still relevant or whether other new trade alliances and emerging regional groups have proven more effective? And will China put forward initiatives to further the use of the yuan as a global currency? Mao Ning: I'd refer you to competent authorities. Let me say more broadly that China supports the G20 in continuing to play its positive role, as the premier forum for international economic cooperation, in strengthening multilateralism, improving global governance, and advancing world economic growth. China News Service: We noted the U.S. recently threatened Brazil with up to 50 percent tariffs starting on August 1, called U.S.-Brazil trade relationship "unfair" and asked Brazil to end its "witch hunt" immediately. What is China's comment? Mao Ning: Sovereign equality and non-interference in domestic affairs are important principles of the UN Charter and basic norms in international relations. Tariffs should not be a tool of coercion, bullying or interference. Kyodo News: Japan announced today that an agreement about Japanese beef export to China has come into effect. Could you share more details? Mao Ning: I'm not familiar with the specifics. I'd refer you to competent authorities. Reuters: The U.S. has demanded measures to curb China in trade talks with South Korea, a senior official from Seoul's trade ministry said today. Does China have any comment? Mao Ning: China supports parties in handling economic and trade issues through dialogue and consultation, but no deals or talks should harm the interests of any third party. AFP: We're seeing reports that Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov is coming to China next week for the SCO foreign ministers' meeting. Can the Foreign Ministry confirm this and give any more details? Mao Ning: I have no information to offer at the moment. Relevant information will be released when available. Hubei Media Group: Media outlets such as The Washington Post and "Travel and Tour World" website recently published articles saying that China's visa-free policies help show its rich history, futuristic cyberpunk vibes and vitality to the world, while some other countries are tightening visa rules and turning inward. What's your view? Mao Ning: China's unilateral visa-free policy and visa-free transit program now cover 47 and 55 countries respectively. We've streamlined visa application, and launched one-stop entry service and instant departure tax refund, giving foreign visitors a more smooth "China Travel" experience. Decoupling, isolation and exclusion will never be an option for China. We will keep opening wider to the world, share opportunities together and create a brighter future for all. Reuters: Are you able to confirm whether Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio while he's in Kuala Lumpur? Mao Ning: As I've learned, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later today. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Commissioner's Office of Chinese Foreign Ministry in HKSAR urges US to stop political manipulations of smearing HK under pretext of 'national emergency' Global Times By Global Times Published: Jul 12, 2025 10:53 AM In response to the US White House's extension of "national emergency with respect to Hong Kong," which constitutes an unreasonable interference in China's internal affairs, including Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) affairs, a spokesperson of the Commissioner's Office for the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR expressed strong condemnation and resolute opposition in a statement released via the office's WeChat account on Saturday. The spokesperson emphasized that legislation safeguarding national security in HKSAR is both legitimate and necessary, in line with international norms. Since the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, social stability has been restored in Hong Kong, the business environment has improved, and investors from various countries have flocked to the region, as recognized by the international community, said the spokesperson. Hong Kong ranks first among the world's freest economies, maintains its position as one of the top three international financial centers and has returned to the top tier in global competitiveness rankings. Its talent competitiveness has also re-entered the global top 10. The inflow of foreign direct investment ranks third globally, and this year, it leads the world in the amount raised. Additionally, the air cargo volume remains the highest globally. The HKSAR has become a hub of investment and business opportunities, said the spokesperson. The spokesperson said that the US has distorted basic facts, disregarded public opinion, trampled on the spirit of the rule of law, and for the sixth consecutive time linked HKSAR to the "national emergency," continuing to impose "sanctions" on HKSAR. This is hegemonic behavior that that weaponizes economic tools, a political manipulation that interferes in HKSAR affairs, and a shortsighted action that goes against the historical trend, said the spokesperson. It fully exposes the hypocrisy, absurdity of its double standards and its bandit logic, according to the spokesperson. The spokesperson reiterated that external interference cannot weaken the central and HKSAR governments' firm resolve to safeguard national security, cannot hinder HKSAR's vigorous progress from governance to prosperity, and cannot reverse the historical trend of the steady development of the "one country, two systems." We advise the US side to recognize the overall situation, face reality, abandon illusions, adhere to international law and the basic norms of international relations, respect China's sovereignty and HKSAR's rule of law, and immediately stop its political manipulation that interferes in China's internal affairs including Hong Kong affairs, said the spokesperson. The HKSAR government on Friday strongly condemned the US government for wantonly smearing the work of HKSAR in preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment for activities endangering national security in accordance with the law under the pretext of extending the "national emergency," according to a statement posted on its official website. The HKSAR government strongly demanded the US to immediately stop acting against the international law and basic norms of international relations and interfering in Hong Kong matters which are purely China's internal affairs, according to the statement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Strengthening deterrence and defence Germany - Federal Government Press conference with Federal Chancellor Merz and NATO Secretary General Rutte Following the decisions made at the NATO summit in Den Haag, the focus is now on implementation and fortifying defence budgets. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasised this point on the occasion of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's visit to Berlin. Transcript of press conference Tuesday, 8 July 2025 NATO has played a major role in ensuring that freedom, peace and prosperity prevail in Germany. To mark Germany's 70th anniversary as a member of the alliance, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz received NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Federal Chancellery. At the joint press conference, both heads of state looked to the future and spoke about the implementation of the decisions made at the NATO summit in Den Haag in June. The most important points in brief: More spending on defence : Germany has set the course to fortify its defence budget and meet NATO's five percent target. The aim is to massively strengthen deterrence and defence capabilities. The Bundeswehr will be expanded, and new equipment is being procured on a large scale. The major procurements will strengthen the German and European defence industry. : Germany has set the course to fortify its defence budget and meet NATO's five percent target. The aim is to massively strengthen deterrence and defence capabilities. The Bundeswehr will be expanded, and new equipment is being procured on a large scale. The major procurements will strengthen the German and European defence industry. Increase defence readiness in Europe : Greater efforts in deterrence and defence are necessary because Russia is threatening freedom, peace and prosperity in the Euro-Atlantic region. The European pillar of NATO is being strengthened accordingly. : Greater efforts in deterrence and defence are necessary because Russia is threatening freedom, peace and prosperity in the Euro-Atlantic region. The European pillar of NATO is being strengthened accordingly. Continued support for Ukraine: Russia is continuing its war of aggression against Ukraine and is targeting its cities with heavy bombing, said Merz. "That is terrorism against the civil population", said the Chancellor. Germany will therefore offer Ukraine further support in strengthening its air defence and continue discussions with its partners, said Merz. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army Commander: We will never allow even an inch of Iran's soil to be separated IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 11, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army has commented that during the eight-year Sacred Defense, the Iranian Armed Forces proved that they would never allow even a single inch of Iran's soil to be separated. Major General Amir Hatami made the remarks while visiting Shahid Lashgari Base in Tehran on Friday. Accompanied by some other high-ranking Army commanders, Hatami assessed the combat capability of the unit. In a meeting with the base's pilots, Hatami emphasized that the Army's mission was to safeguard the territorial integrity, independence, and the Islamic Republic system of Iran. Stressing that the Islamic Republic of Iran Army continues its mission with full strength, he reiterated, "We demonstrated during the eight-year Sacred Defense that we will never permit a single inch of Iran's soil to be separated." 9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address An aerial drone photo shows the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 12, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) A staff worker leads tourists to their hotel room at the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) An aerial drone photo shows the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Tourists select traditional costumes for photo-shooting at a homestay in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) A cleaner works at a homestay in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) An aerial drone photo shows the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Workers work on an extension project of the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Tourists visit the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) This photo shows homestay signs in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Tourists have dinner at the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) An aerial drone photo shows the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Tourists visit the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Tourists visit the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) A cleaner works at a homestay in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) An aerial drone photo shows the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 12, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Tourists arrive at the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Tourists check in at a homestay center at the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) A staff worker leads tourists to their hotel room at the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Tourists visit the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Tourists pose for photos at the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Tourists visit the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) An aerial drone photo shows the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) An aerial drone photo shows the Wangxian Valley Scenic Spot in Wangxian Township of Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 11, 2025. Once a granite mining quarry, Wangxian Valley has been transformed into a popular tourist destination following a government ban on disorderly mining, with its natural cliffs creatively repurposed into attractions such as cliffside hotels, cliff skywalks and waterfalls. Thanks to its ethereal and mystical views, this valley has garnered wide attention. In the first quarter of 2025, the valley hosted 615,800 visitors, generating 120 million yuan (about 16.73 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. This tourism boom has also benefited surrounding villagers. Many of them have opened shops and restaurants within the scenic area, while others have found relevent jobs. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Iran open to resume talks but U.S. must compensate for its mistakes: Foreign Minister IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 11, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has stressed that Iran is open to resuming negotiations with the United States based on dignity and mutual respect. Araqchi made the remarks in an interviw with French newspaper Le Monde. He said that the U.S. must first change its behavior and guarantee it will not conduct further military strikes against Iran during negotiations. The top Iranian diplomat reiterated that the Islamic Republic has always approached negotiations with a commitment to dignity, logic, and mutual respect, saying, "Diplomatic contacts and exchanges have always been ongoing. Currently, a diplomatic hotline is being established through friendly countries or intermediaries." "Diplomacy is a two-way street. It was the US that broke off negotiations and resorted to military action. Therefore, it is crucial for the US to accept responsibility for its mistakes and to demonstrate a clear change in behavior. We need assurances that the United States will refrain from military attacks during any future discussions," Araqchi stated. He highlighted that the U.S. attacks have caused damage to Iran's nuclear facilities, emphasizing that the country reserves the right to seek compensation once the extent of the damage is assessed. "It is our right to request compensation for the consequences of these actions. The assertion that a program has been destroyed, forcing a nation to abandon peaceful nuclear programs aimed at fulfilling energy, medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and developmental needs, is a significant miscalculation," he explained. Araqchi further asserted that a program under the constant supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) and conducted in accordance with international law encompasses far more than just physical structures. "The indomitable will of a nation that has achieved the pinnacle of scientific knowledge is not easily undermined. The IAEA's reports have consistently confirmed that no diversion toward weapons activities has been detected in Iran's peaceful nuclear program," he said. He noted that the true damage lies in the impact on the non-proliferation regime, stating, "The attack on nuclear facilities monitored by the I.A.E.A., coupled with the failure of Western countries to condemn it, represents an assault on the foundations of international law, particularly the non-proliferation regime." Araqchi emphasized that for renewed talks, the United States must accept responsibility for its actions toward Iran. He warned that further sanctions or military threats would undermine diplomatic efforts. He also addressed suggestions from the three European countries regarding the activation of the sanctions mechanism outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal, stating that such a move would be tantamount to a military attack and would essentially negate Europe's role in discussions concerning Iran's peaceful nuclear program. On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders and nuclear scientists. On June 22, the United States officially joined Israel's war of aggression against Iran by launching attacks on three nuclear facilities in the country in violation of the United Nations Charter and the N.P.T. On June 24, the Israeli regime, isolated and abandoned, declared a unilateral halt to its aggression, announced on its behalf by U.S. President Donald Trump. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran studying US messages on resumption of nuclear talks: Leader's aide Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 7:05 PM A senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has confirmed receiving messages from the United States on the resumption of nuclear talks, saying Tehran is studying them. "After the [Israeli-US] war, we have no trust in the US at all," Ali Larijani said in an interview with Al-Jazeera TV Channel. The Israeli regime launched a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression against Iran on June 13, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders and nuclear scientists in addition to civilians. On June 22, the United States officially joined the war against Iran by launching attacks on three nuclear facilities in the country in violation of the United Nations Charter and the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Israeli strikes came as Iran and the United States had held five rounds of indirect negotiations, mediated by Oman, over Iran's nuclear program since April and were preparing to hold fresh talks in the Omani capital on June 15, which was cancelled. "The theory of the US, led by [President Donald] Trump, is based on the principle that you either surrender or enter into war," Larijani said. He added that a new "Middle East" is emerging, which would be a "resilient and independent" region. Trump's 'peace through power' theory failed in Iran On a separate occasion, Larijani said on Friday the US president and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu are pursuing a reactionary theory of "peace through power" and noted, "This is the same perspective that all the bloodthirsty individuals in history have had, and it is nothing new." The Leader's aide was speaking during a ceremony to commemorate the martyrdom of Brigadier General Mohammad Saeed Izadi - known as Haj Ramezan - who headed the Palestine section of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force. General Izadi's martyrdom was confirmed by the IRGC late in June, several days after he sustained critical injuries in an Israeli attack. Larijani said the US has inflicted damage and caused massacres in the international scene, but the people of Palestine and Gaza did not surrender. "Iran, under the wise leadership of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, responded decisively and did not allow this theory to manifest in our country. Therefore, Trump's theory has failed," he added. Larijani, who is also a member of Iran's Expediency Council, emphasized that Trump and Netanyahu are attempting to force weak countries to surrender and achieve their objectives through hue and cry and bullying; however, "with the blessing of the blood of martyrs, a resilient Middle East is in the making." He said the US and Israeli leaders claimed that they have eliminated the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, but "now, more than 21 months have passed...and Hamas is still carrying out military operations, so Hamas is alive." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany complicit in Israeli aggression on Iran: Foreign Ministry Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 5:54 PM Iran has issued a scathing rebuke of Germany, decrying Berlin for endorsing the Israeli regime's imposed war against the Islamic Republic that took place last month, and noting how this endorsement amounted to complicity in the aggression. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks in a post on X on Friday, addressing German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and denouncing him for backing the regime's "lawless behavior and atrocity crimes." Baghaei said Merz's support violated "the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law," adding pointedly that the German official, himself a trained lawyer, "must [rather] know very well that Tel Aviv's unprovoked armed attack against Iran was a flagrant violation of Article 2(4) of the Charter ... and a blatant act of AGGRESSION." The spokesman stressed that endorsing such injustice made Germany an accomplice. "The German government cannot shrug off its international responsibility for acting as an accomplice in Israel's wrongful and criminal acts," he warned. The remarks came after Merz said he had "no doubt about the legitimacy and legality under international law" of the unprovoked war that claimed the lives of at least 935 Iranians, including senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. He claimed that the Israeli war had come in the context of lingering "military threat" from Iran, alleging that the regime would come under "daily" attacks by the Islamic Republic before launching the war. The German official was referring to Tel Aviv's and its allies' allegations that regional resistance groups have been conducting their daily counterstrikes against the regime using "Iranian support." This is despite the groups themselves repeatedly confirming that they act independently of the Islamic Republic. Iran's past grievances: Gaza genocide, chemical weapons The latest condemnation came on the heels of repeated Iranian denunciations of Berlin's pro-Israeli stances. On June 27, Baghaei publicly blasted Merz for "entrenching himself on the wrong side of history" after the German official had similarly tried to defend the Israeli war on Iran and a separate October 2023-present war of genocide against the Gaza Strip. Baghaei reminded Germans at the time of their own anti-war slogan, "Nie wieder Krieg" ("Never again war"), arguing that by supporting the regime's military atrocities, Berlin insulted "the collective conscience of the German people." He also drew historical parallels, condemning Germany's past provision of chemical weapons to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during Baghdad's I980-1988 imposed war on Iran -- arms that were later deployed against Iranian civilians and soldiers. "History does not forgive easily, and the memory of nations is long," Baghaei warned. The Israeli regime has, in return for the unstinting German support, openly celebrated Berlin's loyalty. On May 10, Israeli ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor called the country "our greatest friend in Europe and Tel Aviv's second most important strategic partner in the world after the US." Prosor lauded former chancellor Olaf Scholz's government for rallying behind Tel Aviv after the launch of the war on Gaza, noting the unprecedented flood of German officials visiting the occupied Palestinian territories in solidarity. He also highlighted Germany's efforts to block the European Union's initiatives aimed at boycotting Tel Aviv over the genocide. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army will not allow even an inch of Iran's soil to be separated: Cmdr. Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 1:44 PM Iran's Army Chief, Major General Amir Hatami, has asserted that the country's armed forces will never permit even a single inch of Iranian territory to be separated. On Friday, Hatami visited the Shahid Lashkari Airbase in Tehran. Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, the deputy chief of the Iranian Army for Coordination, and Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi, the Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF), evaluated the base's combat readiness together. "During the eight years of the Sacred Defense, we demonstrated that we will never permit even an inch of Iran's land to be separated," Hatami stated, referring to the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. He reaffirmed the Army's duty to safeguard the country's sovereignty, stating that the armed forces are committed to protecting the Islamic establishment, as well as preserving Iran's territorial integrity and independence. Hatami emphasized that the Iranian Army will continue to carry out its mission with full strength and resolve. The visit comes as the Israeli regime launched a wave of strikes on Iran's military and civilian infrastructure on June 13 that claimed hundreds of lives, including women and children, as well as a dozen top military brass. In response, the Iranian armed forces launched a powerful retaliatory campaign, Operation True Promise III, against the Israeli regime by targeting key military, intelligence, industrial, energy, and R&D facilities across the occupied territories. The United States, which had been in talks with Tehran about its peaceful nuclear program since April, joined the war on June 22 by targeting several key nuclear sites. Iran struck a major US military base in Qatar in retaliation. New satellite imagery has revealed significant damage to Al Udeid US airbase in Qatar, debunking claims by US President Donald Trump that the largest American military base in the West Asia region had been left unharmed. The images showed that a geodesic dome known as a Radome housing key secure communications equipment used by American forces was present on the base just hours before the Iranian attack but was no longer visible in subsequent images. The Israeli regime was forced on June 24 to declare a unilateral halt to its aggression, which was announced on its behalf by the US president. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address French minister warns against underestimating Iran's strategic capabilities Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 7:34 AM French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu has acknowledged Iran's deep strategic and technological capacity, cautioning Western policymakers against underestimating the country's capabilities. "We underestimate Iran's strategic, technical, technological, and scientific depthas well as its natural resources," Lecornu told French magazine Le Club in an interview. "We look at Iran as if it were a very small country," he said, noting that the Islamic Republic "has survived since 1979 despite immense security challenges," and has become adept at navigating international sanctions. Lecornu's remarks come after Iran delivered a mighty response to a US-Israeli aggression last month. On June 13, Israel carried out a clear and unprovoked attack against Iran, targeting and assassinating several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Days later, on June 22, the United States escalated the conflict by striking three of Iran's nuclear facilitiesa breach of both the UN Charter and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. By June 24, following 22 waves of Iranian missile strikes on Israeli military bases, the Israeli regime declared a unilateral end to its aggression, a move publicly announced by US President Donald Trump. The aggression came as Iran and the United States were in the middle of talks about Iran's peaceful nuclear program. Despite consistently stating that it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons, Iran has faced pressures and accusations mainly from Western states. Iranian officials maintain that their nuclear program is solely aimed at civilian use, under the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to which Iran is a signatory. In his interview, Lecornu referred to US attacks on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, claiming that facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow had suffered significant damage, adding that to fully assess the extent of the damage, "one would need to go underground." He further said that Tehran's technical knowledge has advanced over the past two decades and is no longer vulnerable to setbacks through targeted assassinations. "Eliminating a few scientists no longer erases their entire knowledgeit merely creates fear and may delay the program," he said. He also noted Iran's advances in missile technology, calling them "perhaps the most spectacular in recent years," and stating that the country now has "complete mastery of missile propulsion." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nobel Committee 'Alarmed' By Threats Against Iranian Activist Mohammadi By RFE/RL July 11, 2025 The Norwegian Nobel Committee says it is "alarmed" that Narges Mohammadi, who won the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, has been receiving "serious threats" against her life. In a statement on July 11, it said Mohammadi had informed committee chair Jorgen Watne Frydnes in an "urgent phone call" that she has been receiving warnings through her lawyers and indirect channels. "I have been directly and indirectly threatened with 'physical elimination' by agents of the regime," Mohammadi was quoted as saying in the statement. The warnings, the statement said, made it clear that she would have to agree to cease all public activities within Iran, along with any international advocacy or media appearances promoting democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression. "The Norwegian Nobel Committee is deeply concerned about the threats against Narges Mohammadi and, more broadly, all Iranian citizens with a critical voice, and call upon the authorities to safeguard not only their lives, but also their freedom of expression", Frydnes said. Mohammadi has spent decades advocating for human rights in Iran and has repeatedly faced imprisonment over the past 20 years. Since March 2021, she has been convicted five times and is currently serving a 12-year sentence for "spreading propaganda" against the Islamic Republic. Mohammadi was "temporarily released" from prison in December after receiving urgent medical care. Despite being nearly continuously incarcerated since 2010, Mohammadi has often tried to raise awareness about prison conditions and alleged abuses faced by female prisoners. On July 7, she issued a statement saying she remains being sent back to prison and resuming serving her sentence. She has received two official orders to return to prison, but her lawyers have advised that she not go back voluntarily. "If they want me, they should pay the price and arrest me themselves I will not go to prison quietly," she said, noting she has chosen to remain outside as an act of "civil disobedience." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-narges-mohammadi-nobel- prize-peace-committee/33471501.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's Leader Bets On National Pride By Kian Sharifi July 11, 2025 What You Need To Know National Identity Takes Center Stage: In the wake of the recent war with Israel, Iranians are witnessing a marked increase in national symbols, slogans, and patriotic gestures across the country -- an effort widely seen as part of a state-driven campaign to bolster national unity. These expressions have even crept into religious ceremonies that are typically free of overt political or nationalistic themes. Debating Nuclear Opacity: Following the war with Israel and the US bombing of Iran's nuclear sites, there are growing calls in Iran for pursuing a policy of nuclear opacity. Also known as nuclear ambiguity, it is a policy in which a country deliberately neither confirms nor denies possessing nuclear weapons. The goal is to reap the strategic benefits of deterrence while avoiding the political and diplomatic consequences of being an officially declared nuclear power. With Iran having suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), proponents argue the next step should be the adoption of this policy. Critics, however, say denying the IAEA access to Iran's nuclear sites isn't strategic ambiguity but a path to renewed conflict. Returning To The Negotiating Table: The United States and Iran are preparing to resume nuclear talks amid deep mistrust exacerbated by last month's joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Originally set for July 10 in Oslo, the talks have been delayed but remain likely. While both sides claim to support diplomacy, Iran seeks assurances against future attacks. US President Donald Trump has signaled interest in a broader deal but warns of further strikes if Iran resumes high-level uranium enrichment. The Big Issue Patriotism Over Piety In an attempt to strengthen people's national sentiment, the Islamic Republic is leaning into national symbols and slogans as opposed to religious motifs in public spaces and even religious mourning ceremonies. Over the past couple of weeks, patriotic songs and Iranian flags have been observed in Shiite mourning events. Notably, during an Ashura mourning ceremony attended by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, renowned eulogist Mahmud Karimi sang a rendition of "Ey Iran" -- "Oh Iran" -- at Khamenei's request. Ashura is one of the most important and solemn days in the Islamic calendar, especially for Shiite Muslims, marking the death of the third Shiite imam, Hussein. Meanwhile, state media and billboards have been using symbols from ancient Iran and characters from the national epic Shahnameh. The increasingly prominent display of national symbols and patriotic themes in religious events is an uncommon move for a political system that has historically sidelined nationalism in favor of religious identity and pan-Islamic unity. Why It Matters: An unstated but widely believed aim of the 12-day war launched by Israel on June 13 was to weaken -- and possibly topple -- the Islamic Republic. In power since 1979, the country's clerical establishment has in recent years faced mounting challenges to its legitimacy, from mass protests to historically low voter turnout. Whereas it once relied on religious sentiment to rally support, the Islamic republic now appears to be shifting tactics, seeking to unify a fractured society by appealing more directly to a shared sense of Iranian national identity. However, critics say it's a little too late for that. And they particularly have taken issue with changes made to patriotic anthems sung in religious ceremonies. What's Being Said: Sadegh Nojouki, a prominent Iranian composer based in Los Angeles, believes the worst damage has been done to the national anthem "Ey Iran." "This is like dropping a bomb on Persepolis or Hafez's tomb," he told RFE/RL's Radio Farda, referring to a 14th-century Persian poet. "It's even worse if the destruction is done from within. As an Iranian, how can you be okay with that?" Meanwhile, the hardline Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has openly called for a revival of the mass executions of political prisoners carried out in the 1988. The statement comes amid a sweeping crackdown, including arrests on espionage and national security charges and the execution of several prisoners in the wake of the Iran-Israel war -- developments that have deepened fears of escalating political and social repression in Iran. Mehdi Aslani, a former political prisoner and survivor of the 1988 mass executions, told Radio Farda that the regime is not undergoing reform but is simply leading prisoners to the gallowsthis time to the sound of patriotic anthems instead of religious chants. Expert Opinion: "This is an attempt to patch up the fractured structure and shaken authority of the regime," Aslani said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/farda-briefing-iran-nationalism- war-israel/33470615.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Says Over 90% of Missiles Hit Targets in Retaliatory Strikes on Israel Sputnik News 20250711 TEHRAN (Sputnik) - More than 90% of Iranian missiles hit their targets during Iran's retaliatory strikes against Israel in the final days of the 12-day war, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said. "More than 90% of our missiles in recent days [of the war] reached their targets," the official was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency. Ghalibaf added that at least 500 people could have been killed in Iran's strikes on Israel, since there are certain "[statistical] standards for casualties" for any number of victims. He reported on existing information about 3,500 people injured in Israel, a figure which, according to Ghalibaf, should account for at least 500 deaths. In late June, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the number of casualties from Iranian missile attacks during the entire period of hostilities between the countries had risen to 1,472, with 28 fatalities. On the night of June 13, Israel launched an operation against Iran, accusing it of implementing a secret military nuclear program. Iran rejected the accusations, responding with its own attacks. For 12 days the parties exchanged strikes, which were joined by the United States, which struck Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22. Tehran retaliated by attacking US air base Al Udeid in Qatar. US President Donald Trump said on June 23 that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire to end the war. Iran denies the military dimension of its nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not seen concrete evidence that Iran has an active nuclear weapons program, Director General Rafael Grossi said on June 18. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel Believes Some of Iran's Enriched Uranium Survived But Not Concerned - Reports Sputnik News 20250711 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Israel believes that some of Iran's enriched uranium has survived the recent US and Israeli attacks, but is not concerned over that, The New York Times reported. A senior Israeli official reportedly said that the country was not concerned about this fact, as any Iranian attempt to recover the enriched uranium would be detected and result in new Israeli attacks on the Iranian facilities. US, UK, and EU intelligence agencies do not believe that Iran intends to rebuild its huge nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Fordow, and Natanz. Instead, Tehran is more likely to expand its nuclear program through numerous small, dispersed workshops, according to The New York Times. On the night of June 13, Israel launched an operation against Iran, accusing it of implementing a secret military nuclear program. Iran rejected the accusations, responding with its own attacks. For 12 days, the parties exchanged strikes. On June 22, the United States joined Israel's bombing campaign and struck Iranian nuclear facilities. Tehran retaliated by attacking the US air base Al Udeid in Qatar. US President Donald Trump said on June 23 that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire to end the war. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wang Yi Meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: July 10, 2025 16:45 On July 10, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Kuala Lumpur. Wang Yi said that China and Japan are important close neighbors and the relationship between the two countries is of far-reaching significance beyond the bilateral scope. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which is an important opportunity to face up to history and forge ahead into the future. Having a correct perception of and attitude to history has always been a question of morality and of the times that the Japanese side must confront and answer. Wang Yi expressed the hope that the Japanese side will draw profound lessons from history and adhere to the path of peaceful development. On this basis, the two sides can jointly advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit and strive to build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship fit for the new era, providing more certainty and new impetus for development to the region and the world. Wang Yi stated that China's policy toward Japan has always maintained stability and continuity. Recently, exchanges and interactions at all levels and in all fields between the two sides have become increasingly active, and bilateral relations have shown a momentum of improvement and development. This hard-won situation deserves to be cherished and consolidated. Wang Yi expressed the hope that the Japanese side will establish an objective and correct understanding of China and uphold a positive and rational policy toward China. The four political documents between China and Japan have made clear stipulations on the Taiwan question. The Japanese side must strictly abide by them, match its words with actions, and safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations. Takeshi Iwaya said that Japan-China relations have made a series of positive progress recently, demonstrating the state of bilateral relations as they should be. It is necessary for the two countries to further enhance communication, reduce differences, expand cooperation and promote the stable development of the Japan-China strategic relationship of mutual benefit. The Japanese side has not changed its position on the Taiwan question as stated in the 1972 Japan-China Joint Statement. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The Japanese side will take history seriously, look to the future, and continue to follow the path of peaceful development. The Japanese side looks forward to making joint efforts with the Chinese side to strengthen exchanges at all levels and promote cooperation in various fields. The two sides also had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on issues of common interest and concern. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MEXICO CITY, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday condemned recent U.S. immigration raids targeting migrant workers in farm fields, saying the actions were unjust and would harm the U.S. economy. "These raids are deeply unfair and will severely damage the U.S. economy," Sheinbaum said during her daily press conference. Emphasizing the significant contributions of both Mexican nationals and other Latino migrants to the U.S. economy, she said, "Without that labor force, California and other states will see their fields go unharvested." Sheinbaum said that following the raids in California, staff from Mexican consulates are visiting detention centers to determine how many Mexicans may have been detained. She also announced increased funding for Mexico's consulates in the United States, especially to strengthen legal support for detained nationals. "Our brothers and sisters over there need legal assistance, and we're going to ensure they get it," she said. On Thursday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided two farms in southern California. Japan-U.S.-ROK Foreign Ministers' Meeting Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan July 11, 2025 On July 11, commencing at 10:10 a.m. (local time, on July 11, 11:10 a.m. Japan time), for approximately 40 minutes, H.E. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visiting Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) for the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings, held a Japan-U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Ministers' Meeting with the Honorable Marco Rubio, Secretary of State of the United States of America, and H.E, Park Yoonjoo, 1st Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ROK. The overview of the meeting is as follows. They reaffirmed that, in light of the increasingly severe strategic environment that the three countries face, the robust Japan-U.S. and U.S.-ROK alliances as well as the coordination among Japan, the U.S. and the ROK remain important. They also welcomed the advancement of concrete trilateral cooperation, and concurred that they would continue to strengthen the solidarity of the three countries and pursue the stability and prosperity of the region. They discussed recent developments on North Korea and, in particular, expressed their serious concerns over North Korea's nuclear and missile development, and reaffirmed their commitment toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. They also reaffirmed that they would work closely together against issues such as the advancement of Russia-North Korea military cooperation and North Korea's malicious cyber activities including cryptocurrency thefts, which fund its nuclear and missile programs. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Iwaya expressed his appreciation for the consistent support from the governments of the U.S. and the ROK regarding the abductions issue, as shown by the Secretary Rubio and Vice Minister Park. In addition, they exchanged their views on regional situations, including unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, and affirmed that the three countries would work closely together. They also concurred to advance concrete cooperation in areas such as economic security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan-Malaysia Foreign Ministers' Meeting Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan July 11, 2025 On July 11, commenced at 9:30 a.m. local time (10:30 a.m. Japan Time) and lasted approximately 15 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting Malaysia to attend the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' meetings, held a meeting with H.E. Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. The overview is as follows. At the outset, Minister Mohamad Hasan expressed his appreciation for Minister Iwaya's participation in the ASEAN related Foreign Ministers' Meetings, of which Malaysia holds the Chairmanship. He emphasized that Japan has been a good friend and partner who has stood by Malaysia in both good times and bad, and asserted that Malaysia's development to date owes much to Japan's support. He further stated that they bear a shared responsibility to carry this relationship forward into the future and expressed his hope to advance cooperation not only in maritime security but also in emerging fields such as advanced technology, digital economy, and decarbonization. In response, Minister Iwaya expressed Japan's intention to continue to work together with Malaysia in building a new future, and conveyed Japan's willingness to advance cooperation in such areas as the Official Security Assistance (OSA), advanced technologies including semiconductors, and rareearths. Furthermore, the two ministers concurred to work closely together and to successfully co-host the Ministerial Meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) scheduled for the afternoon of July 11. Additionally, at the outset, Minister Iwaya also presented to Minister Hasan an origami artwork crafted by the Malaysia Origami Academy, depicting the logo of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan-Singapore Foreign Ministers' Meeting Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan July 11, 2025 On July 11, commencing at 8:55 a.m. (9:55 a.m. on July 11, JST) for approximately 35 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting Malaysia to attend the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meeting, held a Japan-Singapore Foreign Ministers' Meeting with H.E. Dr. Vivian BALAKRISHNAN, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore. The overview is as follows. Minister Iwaya stated that he was encouraged by the reappointment of Minister for Foreign Affairs Balakrishnan, who has made significant contributions to the development of bilateral relations. Minister Iwaya also expressed his intention to further strengthen cooperation with Singapore, the ASEAN Country Coordinator for Japan, not only in bilateral relations but also in Japan-ASEAN cooperation as well as in regional and global challenges. In response, Minister Balakrishnan stated that Japan is a long-standing friend and a strong, generous partner, and that he is pleased with the continued high-level discussions between the two countries in recent times. The two Ministers exchanged views on various regional and international issues and confirmed that they will promote cooperation in a wide range of areas such as digital, green and security, with a view to the 60th anniversary of Japan-Singapore diplomatic relations in 2026. The two Ministers noted the increasingly close people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and welcomed the success of the Singapore Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNHCR: Bangladesh has welcomed 150,000 Rohingya refugees in last 18 months UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. 11 July 2025 GENEVA -- UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and humanitarian partners are mobilizing to respond to the needs of up to 150,000 Rohingya refugees who have arrived in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh over the last 18 months. Targeted violence and persecution in Rakhine State and the ongoing conflict in Myanmar have continued to force thousands of Rohingya to seek protection in Bangladesh. This movement of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh, spread over months, is the largest from Myanmar since 2017, when some 750,000 fled the deadly violence in their native Rakhine State. Bangladesh has generously hosted Rohingya refugees for generations. In Cox's Bazar, these new arrivals join another nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees crammed into just 24 square kilometres - making the camps one of the world's most densely populated places. Among the new arrivals, nearly 121,000 had been biometrically identified by the end of June, with more believed to be residing informally in the already overcrowded refugee camps. The overwhelming majority are women and children. More humanitarian support is urgently required as the new arrivals are largely dependent on the solidarity of those living in the camps, overstretching severely diminished resources. Biometric identification has allowed humanitarian partners in Bangladesh to provide the new arrivals with basic services, including food, medical care, education and essential relief items. However, this will soon dry up without an immediate injection of funds. Access to shelter and other key necessities is also insufficient in the face of limited resources. With the acute global funding crisis, the critical needs of both newly-arrived refugees and those already present will be unmet, and essential services for the whole Rohingya refugee population are at risk of collapsing. Unless additional funds are secured, health services will be severely disrupted by September and essential cooking fuel (LPG) will run out. By December, food assistance will stop. Education for some 230,000 children - including 63,000 new arrivals - is at risk of being discontinued. Refugees in the camps have already felt the impact of these reductions. They fear more cuts are looming. This is fuelling a sense of desperation and anxiety, and driving some to embark on dangerous sea journeys to other countries in search of safety and a more dignified life for their families. The border between Bangladesh and Myanmar remains officially closed and under surveillance by Border Guard Bangladesh. UNHCR and humanitarian partners are grateful that the Government of Bangladesh has authorized newly-arrived Rohingya refugees to access emergency assistance and key services in the camps in Cox's Bazar. As the conflict in Myanmar continues unabated, however, we are advocating with the Bangladeshi authorities to provide managed access to safety and asylum for civilians fleeing the conflict. Over the years, the generous support from Bangladesh and the international community has been critical in meeting Rohingya refugees' most basic needs and providing protection. Every aspect of the refugee response is affected by the funding scarcity. UNHCR and humanitarian partners also call on the international community to stand in solidarity with Bangladesh and other countries in the region hosting Rohingya refugees. Until there is peace and stability in Myanmar's Rakhine State, conducive to safe and voluntary return, the international community must continue to support efforts to provide life-saving assistance to Rohingya forced to flee. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan meets Prime Minister of Malaysia in Putrajaya Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Prime Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, called on Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim today. DPM conveyed the good wishes of the Prime Minister of Pakistan for the leadership and people of Malaysia and reiterated Pakistan's desire to further expand mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in all spheres. DPM praised Malaysia's leadership as ASEAN Chair and welcomed its constructive role in addressing regional and global challenges. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to enhancing engagement with ASEAN and its member states. Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim reciprocated the warm sentiments and reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to further strengthening longstanding ties with Pakistan. Prime Minister of Malaysia said that he looked forward to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif's forthcoming visit to Malaysia. Expanding cooperation in the halal sector including potential for export of meat and agriculture products from Pakistan, including rice was also discussed at the occasion. The meeting took place during DPM Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar's visit to Kuala Lumpur to participate in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), being held today. The visit, from 10 to 12 July 2025, underscores Pakistan's commitment to strengthening its engagement with ASEAN and further advancing bilateral cooperation with Malaysia. Islamabad 11 July 2025 205/2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Transcript of the Weekly Press Briefing by the Spokesperson, Friday July 11, 2025 Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assalam-o-Alaikum, Welcome to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, is leading the Pakistan delegation at the 32nd Ministerial Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), being held today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At the ARF Ministerial Meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister will participate in discussions on political and security issues affecting Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on promoting peace, stability, and mutual cooperation through dialogue. On the sidelines of the 32nd ARF Ministerial Meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim; Canadian Foreign Minister, Anita Anand; Foreign Minister of Australia, Senator Penny Wong; Foreign Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thongsavanh Phomvihane; Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Hon. Vijitha Herath; Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov; EU High Representative & Vice President, Kaja Kallas; Foreign Minister of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis; and the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy. The leaders reviewed the progress of ongoing bilateral engagements and expressed their commitment to further enhancing cooperation particularly in economic, trade, investment, education, tourism, high-level political exchanges, and people-to-people contact. They also discussed a range of regional and global issues, including the recent developments in the region. He also engaged with the Pakistani community in Kuala Lumpur. On the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye, Hakan Fidan, co-chair of the Joint Commission under the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) framework, and the Minister of National Defence, Yasar Guler, co-chair of the Joint Ministerial Commission, visited Islamabad on 9 July 2025. The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister welcomed the visiting dignitaries and underscored the close and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Turkiye. He appreciated the growing momentum in bilateral cooperation and stressed the importance of expanding collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, and energy. The Turkish Foreign Minister conveyed warm greetings from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and reaffirmed Turkiye's strong desire to deepen cooperation with Pakistan. He highlighted the profound historical, cultural, and religious bonds that underpin the enduring relationship between the two countries. The two sides also exchanged views on a range of regional and global developments. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace, security, and development in the region. The first meeting of the Joint Commission, co-chaired by the two Foreign Ministers, to review the progress of the twelve Joint Standing Committees under the HLSCC framework was also held on 9 July 2025. A high-powered delegation led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Syed Tariq Fatemi, as well as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, who is also the focal point for the Pakistan Steel Mills project, called on Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk in Moscow today. The two sides reviewed the entire range of bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest, including political, trade and economic cooperation, as well as energy, connectivity, industrial and agricultural cooperation. Furthermore, SAPM Syed Tariq Fatemi underlined that Pakistan attached high importance to its relations with the Russian Federation, adding that strengthening relations with the latter was one of the Pakistan's foreign policy priorities. He affirmed that Pakistan viewed Russia as a stabilizing factor in the international arena. The SAPM Haroon Akhtar gave an overview of the investment-friendly industrial policy of Pakistan, that had ensured macro-economic stability, achieved under the present Government. The two sides also touched upon regional and international issues, such as the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, as well as bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Russia at all multilateral fora. The inaugural round of the Additional Secretary-Level Mechanism between the Foreign Ministries of Pakistan and Afghanistan was held on 7 July 2025 in Islamabad, pursuant to the decisions reached during the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan to Kabul, Afghanistan, on 19 April 2025. Additional Secretary (Afghanistan & West Asia), Ambassador Syed Ali Asad Gillani, led Pakistani side while the Afghan side was led by Director General, First Political Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor. Discussions covered key areas of bilateral interest, including trade and transit cooperation, repatriation of Afghan refugees, security, and connectivity. Both sides recognized terrorism as a serious threat to regional peace and security. The Pakistan side emphasized the need for concrete actions against terrorist groups operating on the Afghan soil, noting that such groups undermine Pakistan's security and hinder regional development. Both sides reaffirmed their support for sustained engagement to address mutual challenges. They recognized lasting security as a cornerstone, for both the region's optimal development as well as for further advancement of bilateral relations. They decided to convene the next round of the Additional-Secretary level talks at mutually convenient dates. The 9th Round of Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) between Pakistan and the Republic of Poland was held in Warsaw, Poland, on 4 July 2025. The Pakistan delegation was led by Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe), Ambassador Muhammad Ayub, while the Polish delegation was headed by Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wadysaw Teofil Bartoszewski. The Ambassador of Pakistan to Poland, Muhammad Sami-ur-Rehman, and the Polish Ambassador to Pakistan, Maciej Pisarski, were also present during the consultations. The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and reaffirmed the commitment to further strengthening cooperation in various fields, including trade, investment, energy, security and defence, science and technology, agriculture, migration and mobility and higher education. Regional and global issues of mutual interest, including developments in South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe were discussed in depth. Both sides also agreed to enhance collaboration including through the continued cooperation at multilateral forums, including the United Nations; exchange of high-level visits; parliamentary exchanges and dialogue. It was mutually agreed to hold the next round of consultations in Islamabad in 2026. The 94th 'Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir' (Kashmir Martyrs Day) will be observed on 13 July 2025 to remember the martyrdom of 22 Kashmiris, who sacrificed their lives in Srinagar in 1931 while braving the indiscriminate firing of Dogra forces of the erstwhile 'Maharaja' of Jammu and Kashmir. We salute their courage and bravery, which ignited a valiant struggle for the Kashmiri peoples' fundamental rights and freedoms. This is most unfortunate that the plight of the Kashmiri people remains unending even after 94 years of the Srinagar tragedy. The Indian Forces enjoy impunity to kill any Kashmiri and destroy any property under the draconian emergency and counterterrorism laws. Earlier this week, the ninth anniversary of the extrajudicial killing of the Kashmiri youth leader, Burhan Muzaffar Wani, was observed. Mr. Wani was one of the hundreds of Kashmiri youth, who have been victims of extra-judicial killings. So, we once again urge the Government of India to bring an end to extra-judicial killings and desist from indiscriminate use of force against the Kashmiri people. I Thank you! *** (Asghar Ali Mubarak, The Daily Mail International): Sir, as you have said in your opening statement that human rights violations are ongoing in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. And recently, public was restricted from doing preparations regarding Ashura in India. Your comments? (Raziq Mahmood Bhatti, Daily Kashmir News): Sir, a few days back a young boy was arrested, disgraced, and humiliated by making him wear a garland of shoes by the India forces. If India has stooped to such level, on which forums is Pakistan raising its voice against such human rights violation issues as an advocate? Spokesperson: Our position on this issue is steadfast, clear and unambiguous. We condemn the human rights violation which are being perpetrated inside the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and this is for the entire international community to see. We continue to raise awareness of the international community about the dire and the grim human rights situation inside IIOJK. Indian armed forces, the occupying forces, are acting with impunity, operating with impunity, with license to kill. And the worst human rights violations are being committed on the life, freedom, culture and dignity of the Kashmiri people for decades now. Pakistan will continue to highlight the depravity of the Indian policies. We will continue to draw international communities' attention to this spectacle of gore and depravation. (Naveed Siddiqui, Business Recorder): Sir, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Chairman of ruling coalition party i.e. Pakistan Peoples Party, and the son of the President of Pakistan, gave a categoric statement a few days back in an interview with the foreign media outlet that Pakistan can extradite or hand over Maulana Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed or any individual of particular concern for the CBMs. Is it a new policy of the government of Pakistan or any shift in the existing policy? please comment. Spokesperson: Firstly, he did not name anyone. Secondly government of Pakistan's position on this issue is clear. The Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Ministry, and the Security Committee of the Cabinet, at multiple levels have, clearly expressed and explained the position in very clear terms. About the specifics of the Honorable Mr. Bilawal Bhutto's statement, I would refer you to the Spokesman of the Pakistan Peoples Party. However, if you go through the interview, his statement does not mention any name. He is talking about a situation of development of relations in generic terms. His Spokesman can better articulate that. But the government of Pakistan's position is very clear on this. (Shaukat Piracha, Aaj TV): Speaking today at IIT Madras, Indian NSA, Mr. Ajit Doval, has claimed that India attacked 13 air bases in Pakistan. He also said that India did not miss any of the 9 targets which it had decided to hit on 7 May 2025. How do you respond to the claim made by their National Security Advisor? And if you allow me, I have another question. You just talked about Additional Secretary level talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the statement issued claimed that Pakistan once again repeated the red line that there should be no infiltration. This red line has been ignored by Afghanistan a hundred times before, are you sure this time at the Additional Secretary level, Afghanistan will mend its ways and respond positively to Pakistani calls? Spokesperson: The remarks of the Indian NSA are replete with distortions and misrepresentations. They not only reflect a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, but also violate the norms of responsible statecraft. Boasting of military aggression against a sovereign nation is a grave breach of the United Nations Charter and established principles of international law. Rather than resorting to fictitious narratives, India should accept the downing of six fighter jets and severe damages to other military targets. Besides, it is a matter of public knowledge that the so-called terrorist targets attacked by India resulted actually in the death of civilians, including women and children. Glorification of conflict benefits no one. The path of a lasting peace lies in dialogue, mutual respect and adherence to international law. About your question relating to Afghanistan, in the context of the recent meeting of the Additional Secretary level talks between the two countries, this issue of infiltration has been highlighted just as in the past. We stay engaged with the Afghan authorities and approach the dialogue with good faith. In good faith we try to engage Afghanistan and develop friendly, brotherly, neighborly relations. In terms of the commonalities between the two countries, two cultures, it should be the best of relationships. But the core point which you flagged remains sanctuaries enjoyed by the terrorists inside the Afghan territory. Discussions on this are an ongoing process and we continue to raise this issue. We hope Afghan side will take up our concerns with more seriousness and greater responsibility. (Tahir Khan, NNI News Agency): Sir, my question is regarding the nature of this AS level political consultations. Is it a new process? If it is a new process, then what are its terms, conditions and objectives? When did it start? Also is it just at the Additional Secretaries' level or will there be something like Special Envoy's or Foreign Ministers' level? Secondly, can we say that this has ended the Ashraf Ghani government's very comprehensive dialogue process? Has that pact ended? Spokesperson: There are multiple channels of communication and interaction between the two countries. We have communication at the level of Foreign Ministry, the Special Representatives, and the Embassies. Additional Secretary level talks are more akin to a bilateral political consultations. This provides another layer or channel of communication at the working level to discuss issues, exchange views and try to find the common points, in order to provide inputs to the senior decision makers. This is nothing out of the ordinary. The decision for this dialogue mechanism was taken during the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister's visit to Kabul on the 19th of April 2025. (Khalid Mahmood, Express News): Indian proxies are working for a very long time in Balochistan. Recently there have been very grave incidents in the last few days, especially the bus incident of yesterday. Would you share any dossier regarding this situation on the international level? (Aijaz Ahmed, GNN News): In respect of recent questions regarding the meeting of Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Additional Secretary level, are there any signs that Indian involvement through Afghanistan or their link with India has been reduced? Because this is the main cause of terrorism in Pakistan that India uses Afghan Taliban for terrorism and the former Afghan Intelligence Chief has accepted the relation of Taliban with India. Has it been reduced because that would be a big sign. Spokesperson: Sir, Indian involvement in sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan is very clear, and the international community is now becoming more aware of it. Initially, the Indian state sponsored terrorism was targeting Pakistan, but we have seen that in the recent past, it has gone global. If this Indian malign approach is not checked, we have seen the consequences of that. India has tried to orchestrate a global assassination campaign, trying to kill people in Canada, the US and other countries. In terms of its sponsoring terrorism inside Pakistan, we maintain interaction with important friends and partners in the international community. We keep sharing our perspective, our evidence, which we obtain, and keep highlighting what India is doing in the region to destabilize it. About the question of sanctuaries in Afghanistan, as I mentioned it remains a challenge, and we are trying to address it in the context of bilateral relations with Afghanistan. This remains a critical impediment in preventing the relations to reach their full potential, and further impeding the full development of regional cooperation particularly when other regions are moving towards greater regional integration involving businesses, investment, road and rail network. But the issue of sanctuaries remains a sour point. We continue to pursue this topic with Afghanistan, and we hope the Afghan authorities will take more serious action on this. (Mateen Haider, G News): Mr. Spokesman, two questions, first, DPM/FM is traveling to the United States, mainly to attend the high level segment of the United Nations Security Council. Please share dates and also which friendly countries of Pakistan will be attending the high-level segment. Second, again, on Afghanistan, there are some declassified US documents, including some of the CIA papers in which it was disclosed the United States admitting that it spent billions of dollars in Afghanistan to defeat the Soviet Union. The cables and documents also mentioned facilitation by Pakistan. What are your comments? Had Pakistan played this role on behest of Americans against Soviets in Afghanistan? Any amount came to Pakistan side as well? Spokesperson: Sir, what is in the past is in the past and we look at the past to guide us to a better future, rather than to become its prisoners. Secondly, about the 80s, our ministers have explained what the circumstances were, the decisions taken, and the certain policies pursued. However, in the post 80s period when we were left to stoically carry the burden of history. Not just Pakistan but the entire region continues to face the consequences of that period. What happened back then has now become the problem of terrorism which has mutated in all those years. With regards to the first question, I will check and get back. (Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today): Sir, I have a question related to climate change. In the past, many international conferences were held on global warming. Pakistan was on 8th or 9th position list of countries affected by climate change but now it has jumped to 1st position. The promises that were made to poor countries, again the monsoon season is on arrival, again Pakistan is facing the same situation. Is there any update on implementation of promises that were made in 2022? Secondly, when President Trump took charge as President, he stopped aid to some countries. So what is the status of aid for Pakistan? Spokesperson: About the climate change, I can lay out the basic facts for you. First of all, we are one of the worst affected countries by the climate change, but in terms of our contribution to the climate change, we are very low on the index. So, we are disproportionately affected by climate change. We are a very climate vulnerable country. This is the fundamental point which guides our policy in multilateral diplomacy on climate change. We have been in the lead about the questions related to compensation, climate mitigation, helping the developing countries deal with it, we have been in the lead. We have been the leader of the G 77 in the recent negotiations, we led the process, and we will continue to remain active on that. About the second question that is a topic we remain in discussion with the US. So if there is any change, we will let you know. (Zeeshan Syed, Neo TV): Sir, American President Donald Trump threatened China that it will bomb Beijing if the latter invaded Taiwan. If such a scenario occurs, where Pakistan will stand? Spokesperson: This is a very speculative question. I cannot comment on speculation. I can reiterate the fundamentals of our policy: China is a close friend, and is our iron brother. We enjoy strategic cooperation, and strategic relations with China. Pakistan-China relations is in the heart of our people, the people of two countries. Similarly, in terms of our foreign policy, we pursue good relations with all countries, and including great powers. We historically have very strong relations with the US. And we are we are keen to continue these relations. (Anas Mallick, Capital TV): I have three questions. Number one, with regards to since you mentioned the ASEAN meetings that the Foreign Minister is holding, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio is also there. Is there a planned interaction between the two that might happen on the sidelines of the ASEAN because given the recent India-Pakistan hostilities and the contacts that have been done, if you would like to confirm or deny? Number two, the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting is scheduled to get underway from tomorrow, the 12th in Tianjin. Will the Foreign Minister be traveling for that? And if so, what is the schedule like with regards to the sideline interactions because the Indian Foreign Minister is also expected to be there. Are we expecting a bilateral or a pull aside, or a handshake or something like that? Lastly, the award of the court of arbitration, we saw the verdict coming in. What would be Pakistan's next move to have that implemented in a favorable manner in light of the verdict of the award of the court of arbitration? Spokesperson: About meeting with Mr. Marco Rubio, there are lot of meetings under discussion, as delegations try to work through the schedules of their principles. Our Foreign Minister already had a very packed program the first day. So far, I do not have concrete information on that. Similarly, of course, we will be participating in the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting. It is an organization to which we are committed. It is a very important organization. We participate in all activities of SCO and the minister will be there. But we do not have any meeting planned with the Indian side. And about the arbitration decision, what it amounts to is, again legitimizing our position. An important international legal forum has clearly ruled, basically upheld our position on Indus Water Treaty. We have articulated our overall position on this important issue on several occasions. This is about the survival of 250 million people. This is not a trifling matter. And our red lines are very clear. We will not allow our water to be diverted. This is what I can say at this point in time. Finally International Court of Arbitration decision, delegitimizes India's position. (Almas Naqvi, Daily Dunya Newspaper): I have two questions. First, there are reports that, which is a significant development, China has presented a proposal for financial settlement at the recent BRICS summit. So how you see this de-dollarization drive? And the second question, as you mentioned that Pakistan and Russia have signed a protocol to revive Pakistan Steel Mills. So would you like to share a bit more detail about the implementation when it starts and when it completes? Spokesperson: About the BRICS proposal, I am not aware of it. We are not a member of BRICS, so I do not have the full information. I can try to check, but what I can tell you is that we value and look at BRICs as a very important organization with great interest, and we remain interested in becoming its member. Secondly, about the specifics of the steel mills with Russian cooperation, I would request you to check with Ministry of industries. But I can give you the broad framework: developing, and deepening economic relations is an important component of Pakistan-Russia relations, within which steel mill obviously has great historical resonance. It was a gift from Soviet Union to Pakistan. And recently it has not been functional. So we are trying to revive it. If we want it to come to life again as a symbol of Pakistan-Russia friendship. So, at the political level, the Prime Minister's directives are there. We want to engage and revive the Pakistan steel mills. Different models are being discussed. For details of technical discussions, I would refer you to Ministry of Industry. (Islam Uddin, Anadolu Agency): Sir, I have two questions. Last month, Finance Minister stated that in the next week i.e. within week, we will confirm trade agreement with the US. Why no breakthrough has been made on this matter, are there obstacles on the way? Secondly, I have question related to Afghanistan, in the recent meeting, did the Afghan side assure Pakistan that they will take action against TTP in Afghanistan? Spokesperson: About trade, we had a senior delegation which visited Washington. We are in touch with the US. Discussions are going on, and we are hopeful that we could come up with a good agreement which serves the interests of both countries. But I do not have any specific information to share with you. The technical discussions are ongoing, and for details, you can check with Ministry of Commerce. About what is said in the discussions, with Afghanistan, this is a point we continue to emphasize with Afghan side, and we highlight with proofs what is happening, the cost Pakistan is paying, the cost bilateral relationship is paying, and the cost efforts for regional development and regional integration are paying. This is something we flagged and we are hopeful that Afghan side will realize the gravity of the threat, the seriousness of the challenge, and they will work with Pakistan to overcome this challenge. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The U.S.-ROK Alliance Consultations Joint Press Release US Department of State Media Note Office of the Spokesperson July 11, 2025 The United States of America and the Republic of Korea (ROK) held Director-General-level consultations on July 10-11, 2025, in Seoul. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kevin Kim led the U.S. delegation and ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General for North American Affairs Hong Jeepio led the ROK delegation. Key U.S. and ROK foreign affairs and defense officials also participated in the consultations. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen the U.S.-ROK Alliance into a future-oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance, and to modernize the Alliance in a mutually beneficial manner in the face of an evolving regional security environment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wang Yi Meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: July 10, 2025 19:25 On July 10, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Kuala Lumpur. Wang Yi said that the heads of state of China and Russia have maintained strategic communication to guide the sound and steady growth of China-Russia relations amid profound changes unseen in a century. In May this year, President Xi Jinping paid a successful visit to Russia and attended the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, commemorating history together with the peace-loving people of all countries and opening up the future. Last month, the two heads of state had a phone call, jointly sending a strong voice of China and Russia on international and regional hotspot issues. China is ready to work with Russia to fully implement the common understandings reached between the two heads of state, continuously elevate the level of China-Russia strategic coordination, safeguard the security and development interests of both countries, and support each other's development and rejuvenation. Wang Yi said that the Asia-Pacific is a highland of development and promising land for cooperation, as well as a shared neighborhood for China and Russia. As important dialogue partners of ASEAN, China and Russia should strengthen strategic coordination on the East Asian cooperation platform, support the ASEAN-centered, open and inclusive regional cooperation architecture, uphold the right direction of the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum, and help further build development consensus for the East Asia cooperation mechanism, making it a major engine and positive force for global development. Sergei Lavrov, on behalf of Russia, extended congratulations on the 104th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China and Russia have maintained close coordination and cooperation, which demonstrates the global and strategic significance of the bilateral relationship, especially under current circumstances. Both Russia and China support ASEAN's central role in regional cooperation and are committed to safeguarding peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The two countries should remain vigilant against attempts by a certain major power to sow division and provoke confrontation in the region. Russia will fully support China in assuming the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, jointly prepare for the next phase of high-level exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and strengthen communication and coordination within frameworks such as BRICS. Wang Yi thanked Russia for its congratulations on the 104th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, saying that this reflects the traditional friendship between the two sides. The CPC has more than 100 million members, making it the world's largest political party and demonstrating an ever-growing vitality and vigor. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, dedicated to the great long-term cause of the Chinese nation, the CPC at its centenary is right in its prime. The two sides exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear issue. Sergei Lavrov introduced Russia's position and considerations. Wang Yi said that the use of force cannot bring peace, and that pressure will not solve problems. Dialogue and negotiation is the fundamental way out. China values Iran's commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and respects Iran's right as a state party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to peacefully use nuclear energy. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and important participants in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, China and Russia should continue to strengthen strategic coordination, promote the political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, jointly uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and advance peace and stability in the Middle East at an early date. The two sides also had an exchange of views on other international and regional hotspot issues of common interest and concern, including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on signing a memorandum of understanding between the Russian Foreign Ministry and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 10 July 2025 17:17 1197-10-07-2025 On July 10, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin met with Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Jagan Chapagain in Geneva. During the meeting, the parties signed a memorandum of understanding between the Russian Foreign Ministry and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. According to the document's provisions and rules of procedure of the Federation, the Russian language has been granted the status of a working language of the organisation. Russia has repeatedly made voluntary contributions to the IFRC budget to support language services for its statutory events. Since 2025, funding for both oral and written translation into Russian will be provided on a regular basis. It was also noted with satisfaction that the IFRC and the Russian Red Cross (RRC) have agreed to engage the RRC Linguistic Centre for this purpose. At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their interest in further developing a depoliticised and constructive dialogue on a wide range of humanitarian issues and agreed to maintain regular contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Former Russian Transport Minister Buried As Questions Over His Death Swirl By Mike Eckel July 11, 2025 Roman Starovoit, who was found dead hours after President Vladimir Putin sacked him as Russia's transport minister, was buried in a St. Petersburg cemetery amid continued questions about the circumstances surrounding his death. Starovoit's body was found not far from his Tesla in a parking lot in the Moscow suburb of Odintsovo on July 7. Investigators said suicide is the leading theory for his death. However, reports -- including from Forbes Russia as well as a prominent Russian lawmaker-- have highlighted discrepancies in the timeline and circumstances surrounding his death. St. Petersburg's governor and other top government officials joined scores of mourners in attending the burial on July 11. A farewell ceremony held in Moscow a day earlier was attended by relatives and other top government officials. Starovoit's death has drawn intense interest among Russia's political elite and outside observers, some who argue it is a watershed moment for Putin's government - 41 months into the all-out Ukraine war and 25 years with Putin as Russia's preeminent political figure. The Kremlin has not provided any public explanation why Starovoit was sacked on July 7. Also notable is the fact that Putin has yet to express any public condolences or send an official commemorative wreath, which would be customary gestures in such a situation. Putin did not attend the farewell ceremony -- his spokesman said it was not on his "work schedule" -- nor the funeral. The newspaper Kommersant reported that on July 7, prior to the public announcement that he was being fired, Starovoit met with co-workers. After, he discussed the firing with one of his deputies, who, Kommersant said, stated it "does not contain anything terrible." Not long after, the paper said, Starovoit wrote a note to a group chat with co-workers, in which he said "it was an honor"apparently referring to his time as transport minister. Before joining Putin's Cabinet in May 2024, Starovoit was governor of Kursk, the southwestern border region that was invaded by Ukrainian forces that August. The incursion embarrassed the Kremlin: it was the first time foreign troops had attacked and occupied Russian territory since World War II. Russian commanders ultimately enlisted some 11,000 North Korean troops and spent seven months pushing Ukrainian troops out. Before the invasion, there had been questions about the preparation of border defenses, and suspicions that public funds earmarked for the effort had been misspent or embezzled. In December 2024, Kursk's then governor, Aleksei Smirnov, resigned. Smirnov worked as a deputy governor under Starovoit. In April, Smirnov was detained. Reportedly he has given testimony implicating Starovoit in the scheme. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-transport-minister-dead- starovoit-suicide-kursk-corruption/33471623.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address by Hummam Sheikh Ali QASTAL MAAF, Syria, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Rifaat Ismail's shoes sink into the ash where olive groves once flourished. Around him, the hills of Beit Awan village lie skeletal -- blackened trunks, hollow beehives, fields reduced to powder. Ten consecutive days of wildfires devoured 15,000 hectares Syria's northwestern province of Latakia, leaving farmers like Rifaat with nothing but scorched earth and broken tools. "We lost everything," the 40-year-old told Xinhua. "The fire devoured it all: zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, olive trees, lemon trees. Nothing was left." His cousin Ali Ismail, a beekeeper, stood nearby, gesturing to the carcasses of 48 beehives: "The rest of the bees fled because of the smoke ... This was our only livelihood. That's why we defended the hives until the last breath, even at the risk of our own lives." The blaze, fueled by dry winds and scorching heat, ravaged Latakia's northern countryside -- a region already scarred by years-long conflict. Rifaat's home survived the flames, but his family's agricultural lifeline vanished. "The damage is huge. These losses can't be compensated," he said. "We appeal to the Syrian government and the international community to support us so we can stay in our villages and begin replanting from scratch," he said. Drone footage and ground video from the site, captured during the height of the blaze, show smoke swallowing ancient pines as villagers and firefighters hacked desperate firebreaks. Today, the air still reeks of soot; The soil crunches underfoot. For Ali, the toll extends beyond those crops worth 50-70 million U.S. dollars. "Look at these forests. Some of them were hundreds, even thousands of years old. This is a loss no money can restore." Humanitarian fallout spreads: Dozens of families fled; Thousands more lost their incomes. A massive explosion rocking the region on Friday, which was reportedly triggered by unexploded ordnance, underscored lingering dangers. Fire crews continue operations despite strong winds and landmine threats, with "the arrival of new reinforcements from several provinces," said head of Latakia's Civil Defense Abdel Kafi Kayyal on Friday. Over 150 firefighting teams and 300 vehicles are deployed across critical zones, including Jabal al-Nisr and Burj Zahi, supported by heavy machinery carving firebreaks through forests, the Syrian Civil Defense said Friday on Telegram. International ground crews from Turkiye and Jordan joined the effort, while 16 aircraft from Syria, Turkiye, Jordan, and Lebanon conducted aerial firefighting. On Saturday, Qatar dispatched specialized crews to the region equipped with advanced machinery and aircraft. The EU Delegation to Syria said Friday that it had activated its "Copernicus" satellite service to provide real-time mapping of fire-affected areas as the wildfires had displaced thousands, and that European countries are exploring further aid to Syrians through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. In mosques, Friday prayers and clerics mourned the forests and prayed for the affected communities. "Our trees gave us oxygen. They fed our children. Now they're gone," Rifaat murmured, scanning the ghostly landscape. "What else can we do but start over?" Press release on EAS Foreign Ministers' Meetings and ASEAN Regional Forum on Security 11 July 2025 15:04 1202-11-07-2025 On July 11, in Kuala Lumpur, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov participated in the 15th Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on Security. During discussions addressing pressing matters pertaining to the Asia-Pacific region, the Russian delegation underscored the mounting security risks arising from militarisation and the establishment of a networked system of bloc-based structures serving NATO's interests. Moscow reaffirmed its consistent policy of reinforcing the ASEAN-centred cooperative framework through equal, depoliticised dialogue and the expansion of practical collaboration. At the EAS meeting, key aspects of preparations for the 20th East Asia Summit, scheduled for October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, were reviewed. In accordance with Russia's proposal to enhance regional socio-cultural interconnectedness, work has commenced on drafting a Leaders' Statement to formalise this initiative. The ARF session concentrated on augmenting the Forum's capacities in counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, disarmament, emergency response, maritime security, and ICT security. A programme delineating the Forum's undertakings in these domains for the forthcoming year was adopted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks and answers to questions following the Russia-ASEAN meeting and the ministerial meeting of the East Asia Summit member states, Kuala Lumpur, July 11, 2025 11 July 2025 14:55 1201-11-07-2025 Good afternoon. We have met in Kuala Lumpur for annual ASEAN events at the ministerial level. The summits will be held in autumn. There are three formats of our meetings: First, the Russia-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership. An annual meeting was held yesterday at the level of foreign ministers. The second format is the East Asia Summit (EAS), which includes a broad range of countries, primarily those that are developing dialogue partnerships with ASEAN. The EAS was established to discuss practical cooperation projects and economic, trade, transport and cultural connectivity. The third format is the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on security, which has an even larger number of participants in addition to ASEAN countries. Taken together, we refer to them as the annual ASEAN events, which we are now holding in Malaysia. It is symbolic that it was in Malaysia that Russia first attended these events. It was here that we laid the foundation for the Russia-ASEAN dialogue partnership, which has since advanced to the level of strategic partnership. This has been fixed in our joint documents. This year, we discussed the implementation of the obligations that all sides assumed on a mutual basis at our previous meetings, including at the Russia-ASEAN summit in 2016, a forum that mapped out the strategic trajectory of our cooperation. We are preparing an assessment of the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership for 2021-2025. It is being implemented in all sectors. We have pointed out today that our special representatives are working at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta to prepare the fourth strategic plan. We hope to adopt it by the end of 2025, ideally, at the Russia-ASEAN summit scheduled to take place in the capital of Malaysia in October 2025. Regarding the meeting of the East Asia Summit, which was held today, it focused primarily on the advancement of practical engagement projects in various spheres. We believe that this should constitute the basis of EAS activities. Regrettably, our Western colleagues attending such events increasingly resort to politicisation, ideologisation and Ukrainisation - a trend that was also evident in today's discussions. This comes at the expense of the real potential the East Asia Summit holds for achieving tangible results that matter to our countries and citizens. For several years now, we have been advancing initiatives aimed at responding swiftly to epidemic threats - a topic that could hardly be more relevant. We first proposed this in 2021, and it was approved. However, due to the West's intransigent stance, this cooperation has made little progress. In 2023, we proposed stepping up cooperation in the tourism sector and encouraging greater exchanges to foster stronger people-to-people ties among our countries. Tourism is growing regardless, but the incentives we put forward were adopted for integration into day-to-day practice. Nevertheless, little has been done to move this forward. We also proposed working together on the development of remote regions - another initiative that was agreed upon. In large countries such as Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, China and others, there are remote areas where civilisation has arrived, but the benefits of development are not felt as strongly as in major urban centres. This is a pressing issue for all of us, and we hope to see concrete results. Another initiative we have proposed in the humanitarian sphere is to foster cultural connectedness among our countries. Eurasia is a vast continent and the cradle of several great civilisations. The cultural heritage of each deserves to be shared through mutual enrichment. We hope this proposal will also come to fruition. At meetings of the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum on security, political issues are also regularly discussed. Today, all ASEAN members and most partner countries, including Russia, expressed deep concern over the ongoing and worsening tragedy in the Palestinian territories. Following the humanitarian catastrophe artificially created in Gaza, similar conditions are now unfolding in the West Bank, where Israel continues its aggressive policy of settlement construction at record levels. Soon, there may be nothing left of the territory under the Palestinian National Authority's administration. Today, I was surprised to read reports about a project to establish an Emirate of Hebron. This initiative is being framed as the first step towards promoting the concept of the "United Palestinian Emirates" on Palestinian territories. While such ideas may currently seem like fiction, their increasing appearance in public discourse reflects emerging risks and growing tensions surrounding the prospects for establishing a Palestinian state, as envisaged by the decisions of the UN General Assembly and Security Council. This represents a serious challenge for the international community. We discussed the repercussions of Israel's unprovoked attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran, followed by missile and air strikes carried out by the United States. These actions constitute a violation of international law, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and the principles of the IAEA, under whose safeguards the targeted nuclear facilities operated. We called for upholding the declared truce without interruption. Despite the significant damage caused to the NPT framework and the IAEA's safeguards regime, efforts must be made to restore stability, return the situation to a political track, and resolve all issues exclusively through negotiations. This is critical to ensuring that such reckless actions, which undermine the foundational documents governing the peaceful use of nuclear energy and non-proliferation, are not repeated, as well as any attempts to adopt technologies necessary for the production of nuclear weapons. We also touched upon the situation in Myanmar, where signs of stabilisation are emerging. We support the efforts of the Myanmar leadership and ASEAN's commitment to facilitating normalisation and fully restoring Myanmar's participation in the work of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. We highlighted the importance of avoiding provocative actions on the Korean Peninsula, where tensions continue to escalate, particularly due to the expansion of US, South Korean, and Japanese military alliances. The increasing scale of military exercises, some involving nuclear components, carries significant conflict potential. Russia will continue to support the legitimate rights of our North Korean allies and work to prevent any provocations that could lead to dangerous consequences. Among priority issues in the region, our Chinese friends also raised the disputes over the South China Sea. We strongly believe this matter must be resolved based on the Code of Conduct between China and ASEAN member states. Negotiations are ongoing on this solid foundation. We regard any attempts by non-regional actors to interfere in this process as unacceptable. Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi also provided a detailed assessment of the situation surrounding Taiwan, stressing the inevitability of resolving the issue within the framework of the One China principle. We noted the statements made by some Western representatives expressing respect for the One China policy, while simultaneously asserting that the status quo must not change. This is blatant hypocrisy. For those familiar with the situation, it is clear that the West increasingly treats Taiwan as a sovereign entity. This is why Russia reaffirmed its consistent support for Beijing's position and expressed its readiness to assist in its implementation by all means available. Question: Last year, during a meeting with Foreign Ministry leadership, President Vladimir Putin called for building a new Eurasian security architecture - one where no one state's security comes at the expense of another state. How does ASEAN, or Asian nations more broadly, view this proposal amid NATO's continued militarisation? Sergey Lavrov: In fact, the initiative to form a Eurasian security architecture builds upon President Vladimir Putin's earlier proposal, first introduced at the inaugural Russia-ASEAN summit - a vision for a Greater Eurasian Partnership forged through strengthened ties, deeper cooperation, and joint projects and programmes among the continent's existing integration associations. To date, links have been established between the heads and secretariats of the EAEU and the CIS, between these organisations and the SCO, and between all of them and ASEAN countries. This useful process helps harmonise integration plans and projects, combine efforts, and avoid duplication - all the more so since the memberships mostly overlap. We promote the Greater Eurasian Partnership concept with the understanding that discussions on the initiative and negotiations over practical steps are open to all Eurasian countries and organisations. In particular, there are strong prospects for establishing ties between the EAEU, the SCO, the CIS, ASEAN, and the GCC. Integration associations also exist in South Asia, including on the South Asian Peninsula, meaning numerous groups could contribute to and benefit from improved connectivity. As these visions take shape through concrete actions, they create a tangible framework for dialogue and enhanced continental security. I have repeatedly addressed this topic to advance President Vladimir Putin's initiative. Beyond Eurasia, Africa and Latin America host sub-regional integration associations - as well as continent-wide organisations like the African Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Yet Eurasia - the world's largest, most dynamic, richest and fastest growing region - still lacks a continent-wide dialogue platform (which need not be a formal organisation). We are fully aware that this process takes time. All countries invited to take part in these discussions must be ready to take this step. However, most of our European neighbours are clearly not yet ready for such cooperation - instead, they appear focused on expanding neo-colonial influence across Eurasia through NATO infrastructure. They argue that in the current conditions, as a defensive alliance, NATO's purpose is to protect member states' territorial integrity - a claim they openly and unhesitatingly assert. In their narrative, the threat to NATO countries' security and territorial integrity originates from what they label the "Indo-Pacific region" - specifically, the Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait and other areas. One of the key principles of our concept of Eurasian security and the Greater Eurasian Partnership is respect for associations established in various sub-regions, including ASEAN, and its central role, which the Association has earned through nearly sixty years of work uniting countries committed to collaboration based on equality, openness, and inclusiveness. Our concept acknowledges and respects the roles of both ASEAN and similar associations. By contrast, the approach promoted by NATO proceeds from the assumption that the Alliance will dictate terms to everyone - prescribing how they should conduct themselves and whether ASEAN is even necessary. Formally, yes. Today, all Western countries participated in the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum on security. Yet whilst uttering fine words, parallel structures are being established - as you well know - in the form of "trios," "quartets," and other groupings: AUKUS, the United States-United Kingdom-Australia partnership for the implementation of the nuclear-powered submarine project. I have already mentioned attempts to introduce nuclear elements into military exercises on the southern Korean Peninsula. There is the Indo-Pacific Quad - Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand - alongside a number of similar tripartite arrangements (QUAD-1, QUAD-2). These entities seek to draw ASEAN members into their frameworks, effectively pulling them away from the Association. We discuss this openly with our friends, who fully grasp the distinction between an inclusive approach - where all are invited to the table for equitable dialogue and consensus-building that reflects a balance of interests - and the approach of the North Atlantic actors, who arrive in this region intent on dictating terms and imposing their own rules. I believe this does not serve the greater good. We are committed to ensuring that these formats and forums, held here annually, foster mutual understanding and transparent conduct - with no hidden agendas or schemes directed against any party. Yet the process currently unfolds along divergent trajectories. I am convinced that our approach holds greater promise. Question: The recent summit in Rio de Janeiro demonstrated that, amid increasingly aggressive United States sanctions, BRICS has emerged as a reliable alternative to this sanctions overreach. Have ASEAN nations reached a point where they are ready - not just rhetorically but in practice - to deepen collaboration with Russia specifically and BRICS more broadly? Sergey Lavrov: I believe ASEAN countries' interest in collaboration with Russia exists irrespective of what is going on in the West and what the United States and its allies are undertaking with respect to them. It is not the case that, "had the West not coerced us, we would not have engaged with Russia." Not at all. Our friendship started long before the current United States administration imposed tariff-based sanctions (which are sanctions nonetheless). The development of our ASEAN relations and BRICS cooperation does not strike me as a direct reaction to external factors. That said, if presented with a choice - between trading within a framework that rejects unfair competition, on the one hand, and engaging with parties that resort to blackmail, on the other - the conclusion is self-evident. Question: Based on your meetings at this forum, what assessments can you share? Are ASEAN nations prepared to actively resist NATO's encroachment and the bloc's attempts to entrench itself in the region? Does the Association possess the resources to remain a guarantor of regional security - particularly given the substantial tariffs imposed on many ASEAN members by US President Donald Trump? Sergey Lavrov: I have just elaborated on our assessment of NATO's actions here: its efforts to penetrate the region, establish infrastructure, and secure a foothold. I have no doubt ASEAN states comprehend these manoeuvres and recognise the choice being presented - to formally remain within ASEAN while simultaneously joining non-inclusive, bloc-based structures aimed, in essence, at forging a political-diplomatic front to contain China (this is undisguised) and, by extension, the Russian Federation. I will not presume to decide for them; this is their sovereign choice, which we will perceive as such. But I am certain that preserving ASEAN's unity and its central role in shaping the mechanisms, formats, and architecture of cooperation in Southeast Asia best serves the interests of all. This will remain our guiding principle. Question: Yesterday, after a meeting with you, US State Secretary Marco Rubio said a new plan for Ukraine had been discussed. Which side proposed new approaches, what are they about, and what makes them fundamentally different from the previous ones? Are US weapon supplies also part of the plan? Were they discussed? Sergey Lavrov: I will use President Trump's words to answer your question "I'm not going to tell you. We are going to have a very big announcement to make." I'm not sure about a "big announcement," though, but you, as someone familiar with the diplomatic work and who often accompany us in our travels, know that there are things that are not commented on. Yes, we discussed Ukraine, and reaffirmed the position articulated by President Putin in a conversation with President Trump on July 3 and earlier occasions. Regarding this "dialogue," "leak," or "recording" (I have no way of knowing whether it's a neural network product or not) about bombing Moscow and Beijing, we focused on serious matters during our discussion. Question: Did you discuss strategic offensive weapons during the meeting with Marco Rubio? Is there an understanding of the future of START-3 which expires next year? Sergey Lavrov: No, we did not discuss that. Question: Not long ago, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that diplomatic means of resolving the Ukraine conflict have been exhausted. On the one hand, I would like to ask you, as the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, to provide an official reaction. On the other hand, as an experienced professional diplomat, does such rhetoric coming from Germany fit into the diplomatic arsenal? Is it part of diplomacy? Sergey Lavrov: That's a good question. It concerns us, because the latest statements coming from Berlin, Paris, and London, as well as their actions, clearly show that the current class of politicians who have come to power in these and several other countries have forgotten the lessons of history, the conclusions that humanity has drawn from them, and are largely trying to rally Europe for a war (no longer hybrid this time) against Russia. At a news conference, a Frenchman from the audience who often visited Donbass asked Foreign Minister of France Jean-Noel Barrot why Paris strongly supports the Nazi regime that has come alive in Ukraine. Did you see Minister Barrot fly off the hook and yell hysterically that they, supposedly, defend the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the international law? A portion of the audience clapped their hands upon hearing this. But after everything that we know about what the Kiev regime did and why it needs territorial integrity ... It needs it to suppress the rights of the Russian and Russian-speaking people, and physically destroy the people who do not agree with the position adopted by the Kiev authorities after the coup. Yesterday, I handed over to Secretary Marco Rubio a digest of quotes from Vladimir Zelensky, Prime Minister of Ukraine Dmitry Shmygal, head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andrey Yermak, and Yury Podoliak, which directly say Russkies must be destroyed legally, or better yet, physically. When Mr Barrot and his ilk say they do not want to look beyond Ukraine's territorial integrity, they are accusing themselves by saying so. German Chancellor Merz has repeatedly made amusing statements, including his main goal of making Germany Europe's top military power again. He didn't even flinch saying the word "again." He also said things like let Israel "work" in Iran, as it's doing the "dirty work" for us. That's a quote from the concentration camp "masters" when they delegated the dirty work of exterminating Jews to collaborators. If Chancellor Merz believes that peaceful solutions have been used up, then he has conclusively decided to devote himself completely to the militarisation of Germany at the expense of his own people, just to ride again under Nazi slogans to rebuff the "threats emanating from Russia." This is utter nonsense. I hope fair-minded politicians understand this. President Putin has repeatedly made it clear that this nonsense is used to keep people obedient and prevent protests that inevitably lead to the worsening of the socioeconomic situation and stagnation in Europe. All this is due to the fact that hundreds of billions have been directed and are being sent to Ukraine again. I came across a quote. It was interesting how Europe perceived Germany back in the day. This quote comes from the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet dated June 22, 1941. The editorial article runs as follows, "Germany has broken its chains and with renewed vigour has broken into freedom towards its European and historically significant mission which is to crush the Red regime, which creates a threat to the nature of freedom." That is, they praised the Nazis as a symbol of freedom. If Europe is heading back to this ... Well, what can I say? It's sad. We will fully take this into account in all areas of our planning. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Talks or Not? Russia Calls For Continued Diplomacy With US Sputnik News 20250711 A new round of Russia-US consultations on diplomatic "irritants" may take place before the end of summer, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told Sputnik. Commenting on the lack of clarity after the second round of talks in Istanbul wrapped up back in April, the diplomat stressed that Russia doesn't want the pause between the rounds to drag on. "We have a real agenda with the Americans. [...] Up until now, the dialogue has been fairly constructive and mutually engaged. But if the pause drags on, that's a sign that some issues will remain unresolved, so it's necessary to make a decision," Ryabkov emphasized. He added that a new prisoner exchange between Russia and the US may take place soon, but the exact dates are unclear. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ministry of National Defense Statement on Full Support for Typhoon Danas Post-Disaster Recovery Efforts ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/07/10 Ministry of National Defense Press Release Time: 1930 hours, July 10, 2025 The Ministry of National Defense stated today (July 10) that moderate Typhoon Danas brought heavy rainfall and strong gusts, causing severe damage in central and southern regions, among others. Since July 5, the ROC Armed Forces, in coordination with the Central Disaster Response Center, have established the "ROC Armed Forces Disaster Response Center" and coordinated the command of the Fourth and Fifth Operational Zones to organize personnel and utilize relevant equipment based on local government needs, fully supporting post-disaster recovery efforts. The Ministry of National Defense noted that, since July 9, the ROC Armed Forces have been conducting live-fire drills for the Han Kuang 41 Exercise. While adhering to the principles of not affecting training objectives and targets, the Fourth and Fifth Operational Zones continue to review and provide personnel support to local governments, actively assisting in recovery efforts with an unyielding spirit in the face of adverse weather, with the aim of enabling the public to resume normal life as soon as possible. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army reservists simulate defense of key supplies in Han Kuang drills ROC Central News Agency 07/11/2025 03:51 PM Taipei, July 11 (CNA) Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military exercises entered their third day on Friday, with reservists from the Army's 206th Infantry Brigade simulating the defense of critical supplies against a Chinese attack on a logistics site in Taoyuan. The entire 206th brigade, involving more than 3,000 reservists, was mobilized for the Han Kuang exercises for the first time ever this year, according to the military. The training began with reservists simulating the defense of a logistics supply site under attack by Chinese operatives. Smoke grenades billowing yellow, red and green smoke were used to simulate enemy contact, counterattacks and communication disruptions, thereby guiding troops to carry out their corresponding tactical responses. The soldiers also worked to protect transportation and logistics supply points while conducting casualty evacuation drills simultaneously. To enhance the realism of the simulated exercise, the military set up speakers broadcasting the sounds of rifle and machine-gun fire as well as explosions to create a more battlefield-like environment. After the exercise, company-level officers immediately gathered soldiers for an after-action review (AAR). Besides commending the troops for their performance, officers reminded them that upon receiving reports of enemy activity, they needed to quickly move to their tactical positions and maintain vigilance in the direction of the incoming threat. The officers also emphasized that overlapping fields of fire between soldiers should be avoided. Col. Chen Lung-hao (), commander of the 206th brigade, told reporters that mobilizing the brigade's more than 3,000 reservists was not a difficult task. It was an opportunity to train brigade-, battalion- and company-level officers in handling issues encountered during the reservist call-up process, Chen said. According to the colonel, the rate of which reservists were called up to participate in this year's exercises exceeded 98 percent. Chieh Chung (), a researcher at the Association of Strategic Foresight, praised the reservist training and its effectiveness in transforming civilians into mission-ready soldiers. Chieh, who observed the exercises in Taoyuan, said the training scenario crafted by the military was "highly necessary," as it simulated potential enemy attacks on ammunition supply points and material storage sites. Separately, the Army's Penghu Defense Command also carried out a drill in the Penghu Islands late Thursday night by deploying its CM21 armored vehicles to join forces with local garrison troops to simulate a counter-sabotage support mission. In the face of evolving threats, units must maintain combat readiness and conduct joint operation drills during peacetime to effectively guard against enemy sabotage and infiltration, an officer in Penghu said. Meanwhile, a similar battle readiness exercise was held in Taiwan's offshore Matsu Islands on Thursday. (By Wu Shu-wei, Chen Chi-ching, Pan Hsin-tung and Ko Lin) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's drills 'incompatible' with Taiwan Strait stability: Japan FM ROC Central News Agency 07/11/2025 10:00 PM Taipei, July 11 (CNA) China's military drills around Taiwan are "incompatible" with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi () on Thursday. "Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is important for the international community, including Japan," Iwaya told Wang during a meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings in Kuala Lumpur. "And China's large-scale military drills around Taiwan are incompatible with this," Iwaya said, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan on Thursday. The ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings are a series of diplomatic gatherings involving ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states and key partner countries to discuss regional and international issues. During the Japan-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Iwaya also voiced opposition to attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion, while expressing Japan's "serious concern" over the situation in the South China Sea. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Hsiao Kuangwei () echoed Iwaya's concerns Friday evening, saying that China's repeated use of pretexts to escalate coercion and military intimidation against Taiwan posed a serious threat to peace and security across the Taiwan Strait and the surrounding region. Such moves by China have drawn the attention of the international community, Hsiao said, noting that Japanese officials have expressed grave concern over security in the Taiwan Strait and the region to their Chinese counterparts on multiple occasions in recent years. He cited, among others, the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping () and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during the APEC summit in Lima, Peru, in November 2024, as well as the Japan-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Tokyo in March this year. Those actions by Japan demonstrate its consistent stance of "speaking out when necessary" and its firm support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Hsiao said. (By Yang Yao-ju and Sunny Lai) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan's foreign minister begins Paraguay visit ROC Central News Agency 07/11/2025 02:35 PM Taipei, July 11 (CNA) Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung () arrived in Paraguay late Thursday to lead a business delegation focused on advancing bilateral cooperation in technology, industry and infrastructure. During the visit, Lin will tour several Taiwan-sponsored projects in the South American country, including the Taiwan-Paraguay Smart Technology Park and the Polytechnic University of Taiwan-Paraguay, according to Taiwan's Foreign Ministry. He will also inspect the first batch of Taiwan-donated e-buses, and the Health Information Management Efficiency Enhancement Project, the ministry said. In a Facebook post, Lin emphasized that although Paraguay is geographically distant from Taiwan, the two countries are close partners in shared values and cooperation. He added that the visit highlights Taiwan's commitment to advancing Paraguay's industrial modernization and sustainable development through technological collaboration. The delegation includes representatives from Taiwan's semiconductor, ICT, smart transportation, agri-tech, construction and advanced textile sectors. Paraguay is the only nation in South America and one of only 12 countries worldwide that formally recognize the Republic of China, Taiwan's official name. The two sides formed diplomatic relations in 1957. (By Yang Yao-ju and Lee Hsin-Yin) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.K., France reaffirm commitment to Indo-Pacific, Taiwan stability ROC Central News Agency 07/11/2025 02:03 PM Taipei, July 11 (CNA) The United Kingdom and France on Thursday underscored the growing strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, to European security, as well as their commitment to the region's stability, during a leaders' summit held in London. The summit between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron focused on strengthening migration control, enhancing defense and security cooperation, and tackling global challenges. According to a joint declaration issued after the summit, the two leaders reaffirmed a "commitment to peace and stability in the Korean peninsula, in the South and East China Seas, and in the Taiwan Strait." The declaration also called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Taiwan Strait issues. Europe's security is "inextricably linked" to the Indo-Pacific, the declaration said, adding that their countries would work together "for a free, open, and sovereign Indo-Pacific" through new joint maritime security training and reciprocal base access, among other measures. The statement marks the second time in recent weeks that both countries have voiced their concerns about cross-strait tensions, following similar language in the G7 Leaders' Communique in June, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). In a brief statement issued Friday in Taipei, MOFA said it welcomed the U.K.-France statement and that Taiwan would continue working with democratic partners to contribute to the Indo-Pacific's security and uphold the rules-based international order. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/07/11 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date: 6 a.m. Jul. 10 (Thu.) to 6 a.m. Jul. 11 (Fri.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 1 sortie of PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 1 sortie entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1140711_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan [Open a new window] 1140711_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window] NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PKK militants begin disarmament after 40-year conflict with Turkey Iran Press TV Friday, 11 July 2025 10:54 AM Members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group have begun to lay down arms at a ceremony in Iraq's northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, marking an end to its armed struggle against Turkey in one of the world's longest-running insurgencies. The Friday ceremony was held in the morning at the Jasana Cave, located in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan. The area, west of the northeastern city of Sulaymaniyah, has served as a shelter for most PKK fighters over the past decade. A source from the PKK stated that approximately 30 fighters laid down weapons, including AK-47s, PKM machine guns, and sniper rifles before retreating to the mountains. "As a gesture of goodwill, a number of PKK fighters, who took part in fighting Turkish forces in recent years, will destroy or burn their weapons in a ceremony," a PKK commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, said earlier this month. However, tensions escalated prior to the ceremony as two drones were shot down overnight in proximity to Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga bases, one located in Sulaymaniyah and the other to the west in Kirkuk. The initiation of the PKK's disarmament represents a crucial milestone in the prolonged indirect negotiations between the militant group's jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan and the Ankara government, which commenced last October with the endorsement of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and have been supported by Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party. The disarmament ceremony signifies a pivotal moment in the PKK shift from armed rebellion to democratic engagement, as part of a wider initiative to conclude one of the region's most enduring conflicts. "I believe in the power of politics and social peace, not weapons. And I urge you to put this principle into practice," Ocalan said in a video message released on Wednesday, pledging that the disarmament process would be "implemented swiftly." Erdogan has said peace efforts with the Kurds would accelerate following the PKK's decision to disarm. "The process will gain a little more speed when the terrorist organization starts to implement its decision to lay down arms," he said at the weekend. "We hope this auspicious process will end successfully as soon as possible, without mishaps or sabotage attempts," the Turkish leader added. On May 12, the PKK, founded in the late 1970s by Ocalan, adopted a decision to disarm and disband. The historic decision came after Ocalan called on his Kurdish group to lay down arms and dissolve in order to end four decades of conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives. In a message from his prison on an island off Istanbul, Ocalan said that the PKK should hold a congress and decide to disband. Now 75, Ocalan has been held in solitary confinement since 1999 on Imrali prison island. The PKK decision was also welcomed by top officials in Syria and Iraq, as well as the European Union and the United Nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Beijing plans to develop two to three new landmark integrated consumption hubs by 2030, with each targeting annual sales revenue of over 100 billion yuan (about 14 billion U.S. dollars) by blending consumption scenarios of culture, commerce, tourism and sports, the municipal commerce bureau has announced. Beijing has implemented a consumption stimulus action plan, aiming to achieve an average annual growth of around 5 percent in total market consumption by 2030. The Chinese capital's move is designed to further strengthen its global influence in consumption market, enhance resource allocation efficiency, and reinforce its pioneering role in consumption innovation, according to the bureau. The plan encompasses more than 20 specific measures across multiple dimensions, including initiatives to boost household incomes while alleviating financial burdens, enhance service consumption experiences, invigorate commodity consumption, expand consumption value chains, create diversified integrated spaces, and optimize the consumption environment. In July 2021, China approved Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing to take the lead in building international consumption center cities. By the end of 2024, Beijing had developed more than 60 shopping districts, which received 2.67 billion visitors last year, a year-on-year increase of 10.7 percent. Military support and interoperability: Ukraine and NATO deepen cooperation through JATEC Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 10 July, 2025, 6:42 PM EEST The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and NATO Allied Command Transformation have signed a Technical Arrangement on Ukrainian personnel at the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC). The document was signed during a meeting of JATEC's Senior Advisory Board. "The Technical Arrangement provides for the possibility of sending Ukrainian service members to JATEC. It is a legal instrument to strengthen JATEC's expertise, including the identification and implementation of joint solutions to counter current security challenges," stated First Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Sergiy Boyev, during the signing of the Technical Arrangement. He also emphasised that the arrangement is a step towards "practical interoperability between Ukrainian officers and those of partner nations, which is an important element of readiness to to carry out joint tasks." The signed Technical Arrangement provides the legal basis not only for the sending of Ukrainian military personnel, but also for granting them equal status with NATO service members. This includes personnel management, comprehensive support for military personnel, and the implementation of all procedures in accordance with NATO policies and standards. Such an approach is expected to ensure effective cooperation between Ukrainian and NATO specialists working together at JATEC. The signing of the Technical Arrangement is a step towards the implementation of the decision adopted in 2024 by the North Atlantic Council to operationalise JATEC, which opened in February 2025. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine and the IAEA Strengthen Cooperation on the Country's Energy Recovery President of Ukraine 10 July 2025 - 23:10 On the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference taking place in Rome, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. The Head of State thanked the IAEA and Rafael Grossi personally for the support and readiness to assist. The President emphasized that protecting nuclear energy infrastructure is critically important for Ukraine's resilience and security. In the presence of President Zelenskyy, Ukraine's Minister of Energy German Galushchenko and Rafael Grossi signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the IAEA and the Government of Ukraine on cooperation in support of Ukraine's recovery. The document states, in particular, that the IAEA will serve as a guarantor of safety during the completion of additional power units at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant. It also confirms support for the exploration, extraction, and production of uranium resources in Ukraine - an important step toward strengthening the country's energy security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Weapons Production and Strengthening Ukraine's Air Defense: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Meets with Donald Tusk President of Ukraine 10 July 2025 - 22:51 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk. The Head of State thanked Poland for its defense support and expressed gratitude to Donald Tusk for participating in the Ukraine Recovery Conference. President Zelenskyy also highlighted Poland's participation - along with the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, France, Germany, and Italy - in the newly established European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. This initiative will help attract major investments to support the country's recovery. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed hope that Poland will remain a key logistical and transit hub for international assistance to Ukraine. The leaders discussed the battlefield situation and Ukraine's defense needs, recent Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, and the urgent necessity to strengthen air defense. The President emphasized that developing the defense industry is Ukraine's priority. Our country is interested in cooperating with Poland within the EU's SAFE instrument and other programs for the joint procurement and production of weapons and military equipment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy Discusses Ukraine's Recovery, EU Integration, and Sanctions Against Russia with Presidents of the European Commission and European Council President of Ukraine 10 July 2025 - 22:12 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa. The Head of State thanked the European Commission for announcing a new support package worth over 2 billion under the Ukraine Investment Framework. This initiative is expected to mobilize up to 10 billion in investments for the country's recovery and reconstruction. President Zelenskyy also highlighted the establishment of the European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, launched with the participation of the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland. The Fund will contribute to the development of a private investment market in Ukraine. The parties paid close attention to Ukraine's European integration. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is ready to open all negotiating clusters during Denmark's Presidency of the EU Council. Therefore, it is crucial to find a solution to overcome Hungary's veto. The parties also discussed the urgent need for the EU to adopt its 18th package of sanctions against Russia, aimed at increasing pressure on the Russian energy and banking sectors. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President of Ukraine Meets with Prime Minister of Bulgaria President of Ukraine 10 July 2025 - 21:55 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Prime Minister of Bulgaria Rossen Jeliazkov. The Head of State thanked him for participating in the Ukraine Recovery Conference, the meeting of leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, for supporting Ukraine on its path to EU membership, and for continuing defense assistance. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Rossen Jeliazkov discussed expanding cooperation in the energy sector, particularly in the context of energy security. The parties agreed to hold an expert-level meeting in the near future for a focused discussion on key issues. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by the President of Ukraine to the Media Following the Meeting of Leaders of the Countries Participating in the Coalition of the Willing President of Ukraine 10 July 2025 - 21:25 Dear journalists, Everyone present, We have just concluded a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing. Today's format was expanded. For the first time, representatives of the United States of America took part in our meeting: General Kellogg, Senators Graham and Blumenthal. A total of 32 participants joined - heads and representatives of states, governments, and international organizations. I want to thank everyone for this level of engagement. It is very important that the format of the Coalition of the Willing is working - truly working - for long-term security and for protection against Russian strikes right now. I would like to extend special thanks to Giorgia for organizing our coalition's meeting here in Rome, and to Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, who facilitated our contacts in London, as well as to all the countries that joined us today. I am sincerely grateful! We discussed funding for Ukraine's Defense Forces - to ensure that our service members feel confident. We talked about weapons production, and there will be increased investment in this area, including drone manufacturing. This is a decision. Today, we worked very specifically and in great detail on the issue of drone funding. Drones, primarily interceptor drones, as well as everything needed to repel Russian attacks and everything needed for our long-range capabilities - this is an obvious priority. I also raised the issue of additional financial support for Ukraine's Defense Forces. We will work on this with our partners. For now, this direction remains without specifics. Everyone acknowledges that this is a war that can only be overcome through unity - and we have built the unity we need. It is important that, following very constructive and very positive conversations with President Trump, we now have all the necessary political signals regarding the resumption of aid deliveries. At the team level, we are now working to ensure that everything reaches Ukraine on time - and we have reached the relevant agreements on this. We discussed with our partners the possibility of purchasing the necessary weapons packages from Europe and primarily from the United States. We have shared the relevant details with our friends and count on their support. These packages include air defense systems and missiles for Patriot systems, as well as the Patriot systems themselves and other systems, artillery, and other types of weapons that strengthen the Ukrainian army. And very critical systems for our defense... Our intelligence, as well as that of our partners, has full knowledge that Russia will continue to prolong this war. Putin has turned down every opportunity for a genuine ceasefire and does not seek real peace. Putin is addicted to war and killing - and only real strength can force him to abandon that addiction. That is why our defense in Ukraine must be strong enough - this is what most of our meetings have been focused on. And global sanctions against Russia must be strong enough as well - sanctions must also target all those who are really helping Russia. We discussed this in detail as well. Today, we will continue dialogue with our American partners - Senators Graham and Blumenthal - regarding sanctions. In Ukraine, we are deeply grateful to the U.S. Congress and to President Trump for their support and willingness to step up pressure on Russia in the name of peace. This is essential. It is significant that we are focusing not only on the current situation in Ukraine - not only on defense during the war. We are also preparing for Ukraine's recovery and for what life will be like after the hostilities end. I thank Italy once again for organizing this conference - bringing together more than 30 countries, hundreds of companies from around the world, as well as political and civil society leaders. Over 200 different agreements have been reached, worth more than 10 billion euros. On behalf of Ukraine, thank you all - truly, thank you. There is a new European support package worth over 2 billion euros. We are grateful to Ursula and Antonio! There is a program from Finland worth over 300 million euros - funds specifically for recovery. There is a package from the Netherlands - 300 million euros. Germany has expressed readiness to help us with additional Patriot systems, and we are continuing these negotiations. Thank you! Today, we initiated a new coalition in support of Ukraine - the Recovery Coalition. We agreed to jointly develop the most detailed and clear recovery plan possible. This should be an internationally recognized document - one that reflects how we and our partners envision all key priorities for recovery. Such a document can serve as a real roadmap for investment, for engaging businesses, and for securing political and other forms of support for concrete steps. A decision has been made to establish a Reconstruction Fund - this will be a specifically European fund, created with the involvement of the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, and four countries: Italy, Germany, France, and Poland. We look forward to other partners joining this initiative. Thank you, friends, for your leadership - and thank you to the businesses of these countries in particular. Today, important agreements were reached with the IAEA and its Director General Rafael Grossi - agreements that are significant for Ukraine's nuclear sector. We thank everyone who stands with Ukraine, who stands with us now in the defense of life. And thus, we thank all those whom we will also be grateful to for our joint work on recovery. This is a project for friends only. I want to emphasize once again: the recovery project is only for friends and for true defenders of life. Thank you. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sweden establishes centre for injured soldiers in Ukraine Government Offices of Sweden Press release from Ministry of Defence Published 11 July 2025 The Government has mandated the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency to establish a rehabilitation centre for injured soldiers in Ukraine. Sweden has supported these efforts since 2024 and with this decision will assume greater responsibility. The centre is part of Operation Renovator, a project that has been jointly led by NATO and Ukraine for the past two years. The project aims to rehabilitate injured soldiers so that, where possible, they can return to active service in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and, where this is not possible, be given the conditions to lead a civilian life with a reasonable quality of life. "When I visited Ukraine and one of these rehabilitation centres last autumn, I was struck by the tenacity of the Ukrainian veterans. Despite physical and mental trauma, they wanted to continue defending their country. Ukraine isn't just fighting for its own freedom, but for ours. Continuing to support them in their fight is our time's most important security policy task," says Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin. "Sweden's support must be based on Ukraine's needs, and support for the rehabilitation of injured soldiers is much needed. The support will also be a key aspect of reforming and modernising the Ukrainian health and medical care system. I am delighted that Swedish expertise and commitment to Ukraine can contribute to this," says Minister for Health Care Acko Ankarberg Johansson. "For more than three years now, Ukrainian soldiers have sacrificed everything for freedom. Helping them back to life is our moral obligation. One of Ukraine's most acute needs is the rehabilitation of injured soldiers. Therefore, Sweden is now stepping up its support by becoming an active partner in Operation Renovator. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes," says Gulan Avci, defence spokesperson for the Liberal Party. The mandate of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency involves modernising and adapting an existing building in Ukraine, procuring and installing modern medical rehabilitation equipment, and training relevant health and medical care staff in trauma care, trauma medication and physical and mental rehabilitation. The Agency will implement the mandate between July 2025 and July 2027 with support from the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, the Swedish Fortifications Agency and the National Board of Health and Welfare. When the mandate has been concluded, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency will hand over operational responsibility for the medical facility to the responsible authority in Ukraine through the NATO Ukraine Comprehensive Assistance Package Trust Fund. By 31 October 2027, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency will submit a written final report on the mandate to the Government Offices (the Ministry of Defence). The final report will provide an account of its activities, the project's total cost and experiences from medical care in wartime conditions relevant to Sweden's total defence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address France to support Ukraine in strengthening the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing: Ministry of Finance of Ukraine and Expertise France sign Memorandum Ukraine Government Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, posted 11 July 2025 13:13 The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine and the French public agency Expertise France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the provision of international technical assistance in the field of combating money laundering and terrorism financing (AML/CFT). The signing took place on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference held on July 10-11 in Rome, Italy. The Memorandum was signed by Minister of Finance of Ukraine Sergii Marchenko and Director General of Expertise France Jeremie Pellet. The international technical assistance project "Combating Terrorism Financing and Money Laundering" is implemented through the EU AML/CFT Global Facility, with Expertise France as the lead implementer in cooperation with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). As a result of the signed Memorandum, the Ministry of Finance will be able to receive support in the following areas: Preparation for and successful completion of the next round of mutual evaluation of Ukraine's AML/CFT/counter-financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by the MONEYVAL Committee; Expert recommendations on the application of best practices and approaches in AML/CFT; Participation of Ministry representatives in training sessions, high-level meetings, conferences, roundtables, and international events; Study visits of Ukrainian stakeholders to competent EU institutions to exchange experience in AML/CFT and ounter-financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. "During the full-scale war with russia, Ukraine is not only fighting for its freedom and independence, but also protecting its financial system from threats related to money laundering, terrorism financing, financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, corruption, and illicit financial flows. The Memorandum is an important step toward strengthening transparency, financial resilience, and international confidence in Ukraine. Our cooperation will contribute to Ukraine's alignment with European financial monitoring standards and serves as further proof of our commitment to the rule of law," stated Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko. Expertise France is the French public agency for international technical cooperation. It designs and implements projects aimed at promoting the balanced development of partner countries, in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and France's foreign policy priorities. The organization operates in more than 80 countries, implementing over 450 projects. Expertise France has been working in Ukraine since 2006. In 2022, the agency significantly expanded its presence, shifting a part of its activities toward war-time support, recovery, and the EU integration process. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Further support for Ukraine confirmed at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, with emphasis on the role of the private sector in Ukraine's reconstruction Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 11.07.2025 On 10-11 July 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Ambassador-at-Large for Economic Security, Maija Manika, participated in the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in Rome. The conference serves as a platform that annually brings together representatives from Ukraine's partner countries, including the G7, international organisations, financial institutions, the business community, and civil society organisations. It provides an opportunity for stakeholders involved in Ukraine's reconstruction to discuss best practices and challenges, and to forge partnerships for joint and coordinated efforts. At the conference and during the 14th meeting of the Steering Committee of the Ukraine Donor Platform, held in the lead-up to the event, discussions focused on Ukraine's immediate needs and priorities, as well as continued support for reconstruction and recovery efforts. The required support was considered from business, humanitarian, regional, and EU perspectives. The Latvian delegation to the conference was led by Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis. Ahead of the conference, a series of thematic events were held, involving representatives of governments, international organisations, NGOs, and businesses. Additionally, the Embassy of Latvia to Italy hosted an event organised by the OECD, the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and the NGO "ISAR Ednannia," focusing on the importance of cooperation between governments, civil society, and the business sector in developing sustainable policy. At the Steering Committee meeting, partner countries and international financial institutions reaffirmed their commitment to continued support for reducing Ukraine's budget deficit, reconstruction efforts, and societal resilience. According to the Ukraine Donor Platform, since the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion, support from international partners has totalled USD 241.9 billion. Nevertheless, Ukraine's needs continue to grow due to Russia's ongoing aggression, particularly in the energy, transport, and housing sectors. The European Union acknowledged Ukraine's progress on reforms, which is also crucial for improving the business environment and attracting investment. The conference placed particular emphasis on the importance of private sector engagement in Ukraine's reconstruction and in addressing its urgent needs. Discussions included mobilising funding, reducing investment risks, developing insurance mechanisms, and improving the business environment. Entrepreneurs involved in various sectors in Ukraine also participated in the conference. Latvia was represented by SIA "Eco Baltia Vide" (waste management sector), as well as SIA "FORTES" and AS "JAUDA" (energy sector). During the conference, Latvian business representatives also met with European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification, Valdis Dombrovskis, Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis, and Ambassador-at-Large Maija Manika, to discuss current issues facing Latvian companies operating in Ukraine and the EU support instruments available to foster business cooperation with Ukraine. JSC Development Finance Institution ALTUM signed an agreement to join an EU initiative aimed at promoting exports to Ukraine. Latvia is participating in this initiative alongside nine other EU countries, with three more expected to join. Under the initiative, Latvia will have access to EUR 7.2 million to support up to 70 Latvian small and medium-sized enterprises, thus involving an increasing number of private sector players in Ukraine's reconstruction. Attention was also drawn to Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which has suffered significant damage due to Russian attacks. Maija Manika took part in the G7+ meeting on energy support for Ukraine, where the current state of Ukraine's energy sector was discussed, with a focus on immediate needs and both pledged and planned donor support. Background information The Ukraine Recovery Conference is being held for the fourth time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The aim of the conference is to continue mobilising international support and investment for Ukraine's reconstruction, reforms, and modernisation, and to promote a coordinated approach for the effective use of resources. The Ukraine Donor Platform is a format launched in January 2023 by the G7 countries (United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, and Germany), the European Commission, and Ukraine. Its goal is to provide Ukraine with coordinated support in the areas of finance, reconstruction, and reform implementation. Italy currently holds the presidency of the platform. Latvia has held observer status in the Steering Committee of this format since February 2024. Under the bilateral agreement on long-term support and security commitments signed between Latvia and Ukraine on 11 April 2024, Latvia has earmarked EUR 15 million for the period from 2024 to 2026 to implement reconstruction projects, focusing on the restoration of social infrastructure, psychological support for women, and the transfer of expertise, particularly in areas related to EU integration. In February of this year, the Latvian government approved EUR 5 million for reconstruction measures in Ukraine in 2025. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Senate Backs Ukraine Aid In Draft Military Spending Bill Ahead Of Trump's Statement On Russia By Todd Prince July 11, 2025 WASHINGTON, DC -- The US Senate Armed Services Committee has approved $500 million in security assistance for Ukraine in the draft 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) amid reports that President Donald Trump could separately announce a new round of aid for the embattled country. The bill, which was passed by the committee on July 9, includes a provision to extend the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) through 2028, increasing authorized funding to $500 million from $300 million in 2025. News of the bill's aid contents comes a day after Trump said he would make a "major statement" regarding Russia on July 14. US media reported earlier on July 11 that Trump may announce a new tranche of aid to Ukraine totaling $500 million under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA). Trump, who criticized the amount of US aid to Ukraine last year while on the campaign trail, has grown frustrated with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, who has rebuffed US efforts to strike a cease-fire deal in the 40-month-old war. Trump has held six calls with Putin since taking office on January 20 to resolve the war in Ukraine. Russia has only stepped up its attacks since Trump launched his peace effort, killing hundreds of civilians in the process. During their sixth call on July 3, Putin told Trump he intended to achieve his goals in Ukraine, which experts say include toppling the democratically elected government in Kyiv and pulling the country once again into Moscow's orbit. Trump described the call as disappointing. Trump's predecessor, former President Joe Biden, approved $67 billion in military aid to Ukraine following Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022. The aid, which has been indispensable to Ukraine's dogged defense against the more powerful Russian armed forces, comes from two main sources: PDA and USAI. PDA refers to the authority of the president to direct the immediate drawdown of weapons and other items from US stockpiles in response to an "unforeseen emergency" while USAI involves the procurement of new items. When Biden left office in January, there was still $4 billion in PDA available to Ukraine. Trump, who has made ending the war in Ukraine a top foreign policy priority, has refrained from tapping the PDA for Ukraine or slapping new sanctions on Russia while pursuing talks with Moscow. Russia has dramatically increased its air attacks over the past few months with the number of drones fired into Ukraine-controlled territory surpassing 700 in a day. "Trump has been taking criticism since April for not responding to Putin's clear obstruction of his peace proposal. That has finally sunken in," John Herbst, the former US ambassador to Ukraine from 2003-06, told RFE/RL. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy weeks ago agreed to Trump's request for an immediate 30-day cease-fire while Putin put forth various demands that experts say were meant to drag out talks while he pursued his invasion. While the increase in the USAI to $500 million in the Senate Armed Service Committee's draft NDAA bill is still a small sum for a war in which each side fires tens of millions of dollars worth of weapons a day, Herbst said the signal it sent was important. "It is a sign of a changing dynamic on the Republican side," he said. While Republican lawmakers were initially supportive of US aid to Ukraine at the outset of the full-scale invasion, a wing of the party in Congress, taking cues from Trump, began to question the size of the support. Republicans held up a bill for six months that included critical aid to Kyiv, undermining Ukraine's war effort. The Senate's NDAA bill still must be reconciled with the House's version, which includes $300 million for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Congress could soon take up a new Russia sanctions bill meant to force Moscow to the negotiating table. The bill, which gives the president the authority to impose a range of sanctions to damage Russia's economy, including on foreign financial institutions that do business with sanctioned Russian banks, enjoys wide support in both the Senate and the House. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/senate-aid-ukraine-trump- statement-putin/33471857.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yujiang in China's Jiangxi attracts numerous well-known enterprises in eyewear industry Xinhua) 11:50, July 12, 2025 A staff member demonstrates a pair of smart glasses developed by Hangzhou-based technology company Rokid at Rokid's flagship store in Yujiang District of Yingtan, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 10, 2025. The eyewear industry is a traditional sector in Yujiang District, with sales organizations dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Today, Yujiang ranks among the top eyewear industry bases in China, attracting numerous well-known enterprises. From handcrafted eyewear over 200 years ago to the smart glasses today, Yujiang has written a centuries-long legend in the field of optics. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) A staff member cleans the lenses after coating at the workshop of Keqiang Optics Co., Ltd. in Yujiang District of Yingtan, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 10, 2025. The eyewear industry is a traditional sector in Yujiang District, with sales organizations dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Today, Yujiang ranks among the top eyewear industry bases in China, attracting numerous well-known enterprises. From handcrafted eyewear over 200 years ago to the smart glasses today, Yujiang has written a centuries-long legend in the field of optics. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) A pair of smart glasses developed by Hangzhou-based technology company Rokid is pictured at Rokid's flagship store in Yujiang District of Yingtan, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 10, 2025. The eyewear industry is a traditional sector in Yujiang District, with sales organizations dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Today, Yujiang ranks among the top eyewear industry bases in China, attracting numerous well-known enterprises. From handcrafted eyewear over 200 years ago to the smart glasses today, Yujiang has written a centuries-long legend in the field of optics. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Zhu Mingming, founder and CEO of Rokid, a Hangzhou-based technology company, poses for a photo at Rokid's flagship store in Yujiang District of Yingtan, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 10, 2025. The eyewear industry is a traditional sector in Yujiang District, with sales organizations dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Today, Yujiang ranks among the top eyewear industry bases in China, attracting numerous well-known enterprises. From handcrafted eyewear over 200 years ago to the smart glasses today, Yujiang has written a centuries-long legend in the field of optics. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) A staff member observes lenses at the workshop of Keqiang Optics Co., Ltd. in Yujiang District of Yingtan, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 10, 2025. The eyewear industry is a traditional sector in Yujiang District, with sales organizations dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Today, Yujiang ranks among the top eyewear industry bases in China, attracting numerous well-known enterprises. From handcrafted eyewear over 200 years ago to the smart glasses today, Yujiang has written a centuries-long legend in the field of optics. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Staff members collect the lenses after coating at the workshop of Keqiang Optics Co., Ltd. in Yujiang District of Yingtan, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 10, 2025. The eyewear industry is a traditional sector in Yujiang District, with sales organizations dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Today, Yujiang ranks among the top eyewear industry bases in China, attracting numerous well-known enterprises. From handcrafted eyewear over 200 years ago to the smart glasses today, Yujiang has written a centuries-long legend in the field of optics. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Staff members clean the lenses before coating at the workshop of Keqiang Optics Co., Ltd. in Yujiang District of Yingtan, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 10, 2025. The eyewear industry is a traditional sector in Yujiang District, with sales organizations dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Today, Yujiang ranks among the top eyewear industry bases in China, attracting numerous well-known enterprises. From handcrafted eyewear over 200 years ago to the smart glasses today, Yujiang has written a centuries-long legend in the field of optics. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) A staff member places lenses on a coating rack at the workshop of Keqiang Optics Co., Ltd. in Yujiang District of Yingtan, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 10, 2025. The eyewear industry is a traditional sector in Yujiang District, with sales organizations dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Today, Yujiang ranks among the top eyewear industry bases in China, attracting numerous well-known enterprises. From handcrafted eyewear over 200 years ago to the smart glasses today, Yujiang has written a centuries-long legend in the field of optics. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Kou Jie) NEW YORK, July 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday morning that 30 percent tariffs will be imposed on the European Union (EU) and Mexico as of Aug. 1. The new tariffs were announced in the letters addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and posted on Trump's social media platform Truth Social. Trump criticized Mexico for its "failure to stop the cartels" from smuggling drugs, including fentanyl, into the United States, and accused the country of not doing enough to cooperate with Washington in curbing illegal immigration. In the case of the EU, the U.S. president scolded the bloc for its tariff and non-tariff barriers, which he blamed for causing "long-term, large, and persistent Trade Deficits." "Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from reciprocal," he wrote in the letter. Trump used largely the same wording in his letter as in those sent earlier this week to leaders of other countries, warning them not to retaliate, urging them to relocate companies to the United States, and suggesting that the tariff rates could be adjusted if they cooperate. Trump has sent more than 20 similar letters to other U.S. trading partners in the past week, including Canada, South Korea, Japan and Brazil, with blanket tariff rates ranging from 20 percent up to 50 percent. Orban Slams West's Policies, Notes Ukraine & EU 'Already Lost' to Russia Sputnik News 20250711 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine and the European Union have essentially lost the conflict with Russia but lack the courage to admit it and take responsibility for the consequences, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday. "Russia is nearing victory, while Ukraine has effectively lost this war - and Europe has lost it alongside Ukraine. Yet no one has the courage to admit this or take responsibility for the consequences. Instead, they are acting as if this war can be won, even though victory is impossible to achieve on the front lines. What is needed is diplomacy, a ceasefire, and peace negotiations," Orban told Kossuth Radio. The Hungarian prime minister estimated that Europe and the United States had spent a combined 310 billion euros ($362 billion) on Ukraine, which he called a "horrific" sum that would have "worked miracles" if invested in the European economy. Instead, the money "went down the drain," he said, warning the West that it is making a grave mistake in Ukraine that will come at a high price. Ukraine's EU Entry Bid Currently a No-Go A country where military enlistment officers beat people to death during forced mobilization cannot join the European Union, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday, commenting on the death of a Hungarian man from Transcarpathia in Ukraine. Forty-five-year-old Jozsef Sebestyen died in hospital three weeks after employees of Ukraine's territorial center of recruitment grabbed him on the street in Ukraine, shoved him into a minibus, took him to a recruiting station and beat him with metal rods, the Magyar Nemzet newspaper reported on Thursday, citing his relatives. The sister of the deceased posted footage of the Ukrainian military abusing her brother, it added. The Hungarian Foreign Ministry summoned Ukrainian Ambassador to Budapest Fedir Shandor over the incident. "A country where people are beaten to death as a result of forced mobilization cannot be a member of the European Union. Beyond the fact that we pray and do everything for the family of the deceased, this is a warning shot towards Hungary," Orban told Kossuth Radio. When asked to comment on a statement by the Ukrainian army claiming that Sebestyen had allegedly been drafted into the Ukrainian military on legal grounds and that he had not been subjected to cruel treatment by military registration office employees, Orban said that does not satisfy Hungary, because Hungary knows for certain that forced mobilization is taking place in Ukraine. "The only way to end the war that Ukraine and Europe lost is through diplomacy, but no one has the courage to admit it. Instead, the Ukrainians are acting as if it can be won," Orban said. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said that the Ukrainian authorities have not responded to accusations of harassment of Transcarpathian Hungarians for years, and now many of them are being mobilized by brute force into the Ukrainian troops. The forced mobilization of ethnic Hungarians into the Ukrainian army violates human rights, the minister said. Ukraine announced martial law and general mobilization after Russia launched its special military operation in February 2022. The law prohibits Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country. Evasion from military service during mobilization is punishable by criminal liability in the form of imprisonment for up to five years. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Forces Take Control of Zelenaya Dolina Settlement in DPR Sputnik News 20250711 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Zapad Battlegroup took control of the village of Zelenaya Dolina in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. "As a result of active operations by units of the Zapad Battlegroup, the village of Zelenaya Dolina in the Donetsk People's Republic has been liberated," the ministry said in a statement. Russia's Tsentr Battlegroup has eliminated up to 3,040 Ukrainian soldiers over the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. "The enemy lost more than 3,040 military personnel, 16 armored combat vehicles, including two US-made HMMWV armored vehicles, 53 vehicles, 25 field artillery guns, and two counter-battery warfare stations," the ministry said in a statement. The Zapad Battlegroup has eliminated over 1,550 Ukrainian soldiers, the Sever Battlegroup has eliminated more than 1,260 Ukrainian servicepeople, and the Yug Battlegroup has eliminated over 1,080 Ukrainian troops over the given period, the ministry said. The Vostok Battlegroup took control of 2 villages in the Donetsk People's Republic in the past week, and Kiev lost over 1,400 soldiers, the ministry added. The Russian forces carried out 6 group strikes over the past week, including with the Kinzhal aeroballistic hypersonic missiles, on Ukraine's defense industry, energy infrastructure facilities, and airfields. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Asserts NATO to Pay for US Weapons Bound for Delivery to Ukraine Sputnik News 20250711 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said NATO, whose member Washington is, will pay for American weapons that the alliance will subsequently supply to Ukraine. "We're sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%. So what we're doing is the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons [to Ukraine], and NATO is paying for those weapons," Trump told NBC News. He said the agreement was reached at a NATO summit in June. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously announced his readiness to purchase Patriot missile systems from the United States for their transfer to Ukraine. He discussed it with Trump, but there is no final decision yet. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andrii Sybiha held a meeting with U.S. House representatives Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 11 July 2025 20:35 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "I was pleased to meet with U.S. House representatives Andrew Garbarino, Dave Joyce, Mike Turner, and Ann Wagner. I reaffirmed Ukraine's commitment to achieving just peace and informed them of Russia's increased terror against civilians. Moscow rejects the ceasefire and escalates air strikes in response to all of Ukraine's constructive peace proposals. We discussed the urgent need to strengthen Ukraine's air defense and next steps to increase pressure on Russia, including new strong US sanctions to defund Russian war machine. We are grateful to the United States Congress and both parties for their unwavering support for Ukraine in our defense against Russian aggression. I welcome positive signals from Congress regarding the willingness to maintain and expand mutually beneficial defense cooperation with Ukraine. As a dedicated ally, Ukraine is willing to share its knowledge and technology. The strong Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership is fundamental for transatlantic peace and security." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway Joins the Tallinn Mechanism to Support Ukraine's Cyber Resilience Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 11 July 2025 18:53 Norway has become the 12th country to join the Tallinn Mechanism an international initiative that helps Ukraine strengthen its cybersecurity. The official announcement was made during the Ukraine Recovery Conference. As part of this partnership, Norway plans to allocate over UAH 100 million (NOK 25 million) in 2025 to support projects that aim to improve the cyber resilience of Ukraine's civilian and critical infrastructure. "Norway's accession to the Tallinn Mechanism is a powerful political gesture of support for Ukraine and a signal of the democratic world's continued readiness to consolidate efforts in countering cyber threats and strengthening the global cybersecurity architecture," - Anton Demokhin, the Deputy Foreign Minister, Chief Digital Transformation Officer emphasized. "Ukraine demonstrates an impressive ability to defend itself against Russian cyberattacks targeting civilian critical infrastructure, government institutions, and businesses. The Tallinn Mechanism is the leading international tool for enabling Ukraine to defend against these attacks and build long-term digital resilience. The Norwegian government has now allocated NOK 25 million annually from the civilian component of the Nansen Program. This support is long-term and scalable," said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Barth Eide. Norway was officially accepted as a member of the Tallinn Mechanism on July 2. Prior to that, the country participated in the initiative as an observer. "Supporting Ukraine's cyber resilience is important not only for us, but for the whole of Europe. The world's first cyber war is currently underway, and our country is at the centre of these events. To remain effective, Ukraine needs the help of its partners. We sincerely thank our Norwegian colleagues for their willingness to join forces within the Tallinn Mechanism for a secure digital future," mentioned Valeriya Ionan, Advisor to the Vice Prime Minister Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine on Innovations, Digitalisation, and Global Partnerships. Background: Launched in 2023, the Tallinn Mechanism is a key tool for international technical assistance in the field of cybersecurity. Current member countries include: Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States and now, Norway. The EU, NATO, and the World Bank participate as official observers. Activities in Ukraine are supported by the Tallinn Mechanism Project Office (TMPO), based in Kyiv and funded by the Estonian Centre for International Development and EU CyberNet. We thank all partners for their continued support of Ukraine's cyber resilience, and welcome Norway to the Tallinn Mechanism's team! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andrii Sybiha held a meeting with U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 11 July 2025 10:30 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "Important conversation with U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal in Rome. Their participation at the Ukraine Recovery Conference and the Coalition of the Willing meeting sent an important message of transatlantic unity and support for Ukraine's resilience, recovery, and defense. We greatly appreciate the US Senate's efforts to bring about a just and lasting peace. Russia and those who support its war effort must face real pressure. In this regard, I also emphasized the importance of lowering the oil price cap in order to deprive Russia of oil revenues, which it turns into war crimes. We are at a critical juncture where strong leadership and decisions can make a difference in advancing peace through strength." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address High-quality nutrition for the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Ministry of Defene announces first results of new food supply model Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 11 July, 2025, 10:36 AM EEST The State Operator for Non-Lethal Acquisition (DOT), the Ministry of Defence's procurement agency, has completed the first stage of implementing the updated food supply model for military personnel in Kyiv and Kyiv region. Throughout the first half of 2025, new approaches were tested, enabling enhanced quality control and transparent pricing. Key results of the pilot project: Tripartite contracts were concluded between DOT, the logistics operator "Ukrainian Transparent Company", and producers. A total of 164 producers were qualified within the framework of signal tenders. An average of 500 tonnes of food products were delivered weekly to distribution centres. The total volume of supplies amounted to 5.56 million kilograms of food products. At the beginning of implementation, over 11% of food products were returned due to quality non-compliance, but thanks to tighter control, this figure gradually decreased. According to the survey results, 93% of participating producers confirmed their willingness to continue cooperation under the updated format. The model introduced mandatory incoming quality control at the logistics operator's warehouses with the involvement of DOT representatives. This enabled the timely detection of problematic batches and ensured that deliveries met established standards. A survey is also underway among service members who received food under the new model. Preliminary results show that more than half of respondents noted improvements in product quality, including higher quality, better taste, and deliveries became more regular. The survey will remain open until 15 July. "For the first time, service members received food through a new supply model. It allowed us not not only to supply better food products to the troops, but also to identify strategic challenges. To improve quality, greater operational capacity is needed from all participants. But the result is clear: effective cooperation with the market has demonstrated that scaling up this model is necessary and possible," said Halyna Litosh, Director of the Food Program at DOT. DOT is currently preparing to scale this approach to cover more regions. This includes improving cooperation with the logistics operator and producers, as well as adapting the regulatory framework. DOT encourages businesses to engage in supplying the Armed Forces of Ukraine and reminds them of the market consultation mechanism, which provides an opportunity to learn about requirements and ask questions. Contact email: official@dot.gov.ua. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We Are Now Working With Our Partners on New Supplies, Increased Weapons Production in Ukraine, and Equipping Our Army - Address by the President President of Ukraine 11 July 2025 - 19:55 I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians! A quick update on today. I spoke with our military officials. They reported on the frontline and our operations. I am grateful to all our warriors for their resilience. Right now, we are working with our partners on new supplies, increased weapons production in Ukraine, and equipping our army. We already have good agreements, and we expect to reach more - we will be working on them in the coming weeks. It is vital to implement every agreement as swiftly as possible, so that it is genuinely felt there are more forces and assets, more protection for our skies, and more air defense systems. These are key priorities. We have received political signals at the highest level - good signals - including from the United States and from our European friends. According to all reports, aid shipments have been restored. We will continue our work next week with the American side at the military level, in particular, our military will be working with General Kellogg. We are also preparing new European defense packages. We expect strong steps soon, including on sanctions against Russia for this war - pressure must take effect. Today, I want to especially praise our warriors - those who stood out most during the week. Different sectors of the frontline, different units of ours- one incredibly important outcome: defense against the occupier held firm. In our Sumy region - the 95th Air Assault Brigade. Thank you, guys! In our Kharkiv region - the 42nd Mechanized Brigade, the 92nd Assault Brigade, and the 13th Khartiia Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, who are effectively repelling Russian attempts to launch an offensive - thank you, guys! For the resilience in Vovchansk, I thank the 57th Motorized Infantry Brigade. Kupyansk direction, the 3rd Assault Brigade - thank you! Toretsk direction - the 100th Mechanized Brigade. Well done! Kramatorsk direction - the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade - thank you! Dobropillya direction - the 82nd Air Assault Brigade and the 1st Separate Assault Regiment. Thank you very much, warriors! In the Pokrovsk direction, the 25th Air Assault Brigade has a lot to be commended for. And also in the Novopavlivka direction - the warriors of the 5th Assault and 46th Airmobile Brigades. Thank you all - our warriors! Thanks to everyone who supports them! And one more thing. I expect detailed reports from government officials and from the Office team on every agreement reached with our partners, on every expected result: what has been achieved and what is still in progress. There will be conclusions - personal, staff-related conclusions. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UAE, Italy, and France to Support the Olena Zelenska Foundation's Initiatives Aimed at Ukrainian Children and Youth President of Ukraine 11 July 2025 - 19:53 During her visit to Italy, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska held a series of meetings with international partners focused on expanding support for Ukrainian children and youth. The President's wife met with Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates; Giovanni Azzone, President of the Italian Association of Foundations and Savings Banks S.p.A. (ACRI); Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad; Pierre Heilbronn, Special Envoy of the President of France for Ukraine's Relief and Reconstruction; and representatives of the French business community. During the meetings, the First Lady shared findings from the "Future Index" research, which showed that 44% of Ukrainian children are exhibiting signs of potential PTSD. "According to a UNICEF study, 61% of parents report that their children are showing signs of stress and sleep disturbances. These are the consequences of growing up in the context of full-scale Russian invasion - an experience of loss, displacement, constant risk and uncertainty," the President's wife noted. The Olena Zelenska Foundation team presented the "12-21" project, which envisions the creation of inclusive youth spaces providing psychosocial support, career guidance, and recreational activities for adolescents and young people aged 12 to 21. The first five spaces will open in Ukraine this year. One of them, located in Kryvyi Rih, will receive 1 million in funding from Italy for its establishment and operations, as outlined in a memorandum signed between the Foundation and ACRI. Olena Zelenska and Reem Al Hashimy agreed to continue cooperation across all three of the Foundation's focus areas: the promotion and support of family-based care, access to education, and the provision of psychosocial assistance. The First Lady noted that the UAE Government is one of the Foundation's key partners in the "Room for Childhood" project, which involves building housing for large foster families who have lost their homes due to the war. "With support from the UAE Government, we have already built ten such homes. Today, together with Ms. Reem, we discussed the construction status of another ten houses funded this year. We are already looking for suitable families and land plots for them," the President's wife stressed. At the meeting with Laurent Saint-Martin, Pierre Heilbronn and representatives of the French business community, the focus was on the safety of the educational environment. The First Lady stated that at the Foundation's initiative, 17 shelters in schools and kindergartens have already been restored and equipped. Another 17 are currently in progress, and the plan for next year includes at least 50 more. Olena Zelenska expressed gratitude to all of the Foundation's partners - and to Ukraine's partners - for their assistance to Ukrainian children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President of Ukraine and President of Ghana Discuss Deepening Bilateral Cooperation President of Ukraine 11 July 2025 - 15:49 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama. The two leaders discussed the development of bilateral cooperation and promising areas for partnership. In particular, they spoke about cooperation in the agro-industrial sector. The Presidents of Ukraine and Ghana agreed to organize a ministerial-level meeting to begin work on expanding practical cooperation. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that a Ukrainian delegation would be sent to Ghana in the near future. The parties also discussed the construction of a logistics hub for food storage. The President of Ukraine expressed readiness to implement this initiative. Special attention was given to cooperation in the field of advanced technologies, particularly unmanned aerial vehicles. Ghana has expressed interest in acquiring Ukrainian UAV models for surveillance and monitoring in order to strengthen security along its borders with the Sahel region. Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine is open to such cooperation and is willing to help its partners make their borders more secure against terrorist threats from Islamist jihadists. The Head of State thanked John Dramani Mahama for the invitation to visit Ghana and extended an invitation for him to come to Ukraine on an official visit. The two Presidents agreed to meet in the near future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address GENEVA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 800 people have been killed while trying to access humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Friday. Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that as of July 7, the OHCHR had documented 798 killings in aid distribution areas in Gaza. "Including 615 in the vicinity of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites and 183, presumably on the routes of aid convoys," she said. She also noted that most of the casualties resulted from gunshot injuries. Shamdasani said that such a situation is unacceptable, yet it continues. Volodymyr Zelenskyy Discusses Support for Ukraine and Sanctions Pressure on Russia with Senators Graham and Blumenthal President of Ukraine 11 July 2025 - 00:32 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican and Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal. The Head of State thanked them for participating in the Ukraine Recovery Conference and in the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, which was also attended by U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg. This marked the first time representatives of the United States had taken part in a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that strengthening Ukraine's air defense is currently a top priority. According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia aims to launch attacks involving up to one thousand drones at a time. Ukraine has already found a countermeasure against Russian UAVs - interceptor drones - which is why it is crucial to invest in their production. The meeting addressed the continued supply of weapons from the United States and joint weapons production. The President confirmed that Ukraine is ready to purchase a large defense package from the United States. One of the key issues discussed was the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia, which, despite enormous losses, shows no intention of ending its aggression against Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the senators for their bipartisan bill on strengthening sanctions against Russia, which has already been supported by 85 senators. He stressed that its adoption would serve as an important lever to compel the aggressor state to engage in real negotiations. It also means pressure on those who continue to support Russia's war of aggression. In addition, the parties discussed the importance of unity between the U.S. and Europe in their approaches to countering the Russian threat. Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Lindsey Graham on his birthday and presented him with a book about Ukrainian children who have endured the hardships of war. Lindsey Graham presented the Ukrainian President with a printed copy of the Russia sanctions bill. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin's Promises For Occupied Areas Are Unrealistic, Ukrainians Say By Olena Badiuk July 12, 2025 In one of his most bellicose and provocative remarks as Russia's war against Ukraine rages on, President Vladimir Putin said late last month that "where the foot of a Russian soldier steps -- that is ours." Moscow's claims in fact go well beyond the land that its soldiers actually control in Ukraine more than 40 months into its full-scale invasion: In September 2022, Putin groundlessly declared that four partially occupied regions of Ukraine -- Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk, and Luhansk -- belong to Russia. In any case, the remark suggested Putin might seek to seize more territory in Ukraine, where Russian soldiers and occupation authorities are accused of seeking to wipe out Ukrainian cultural identity and face allegations of torture, abuse, abduction, and other crimes. At the same time, Russia is publicly vowing to make life for the residents of the regions it controls better. At a government meeting on June 30, Putin said living standards in the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine should reach the average level for Russia by 2030. No way, Ukrainian activists and officials from those regions say. Putin's goal may be modest but it's just not realistic, they argue, citing high hurdles put up by the invading country itself. And they point to the experience of Crimea, where living standards still lag more than 11 years after Russia seized control of the Black Sea peninsula without any of the destruction it has inflicted on mainland Ukraine. At the meeting last month, Putin spoke of the need to rebuild or renovate schools, stadiums, hospitals, cultural centers, roads, housing, and more, and said that "rhythmic, systematic work" was proceeding on some 300 projects within the development program. There's little evidence of that on the ground in the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region, according to Serhiy Rybalko, a lawmaker in the regional legislature based in the city of Kherson, which was captured by Russian forces early in the invasion but retaken by Ukraine in a counteroffensive later in 2022. Russia holds most of the land on the left bank of the Dnieper River, which bisects the region, while Ukraine holds the right bank. "There is no restoration, no construction of schools or anything else," Rybalko told RFE/RL. He said the prospects for successful development by the Russian occupiers are not promising, for several reasons, not least of which is the destruction of the massive Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper by an explosion in 2023 that Ukraine blames on Russia. "Kherson is an agricultural region" and agriculture is currently in "complete decline" there, Rybalko said, adding that the destruction of the dam and the lack of irrigation has severely hampered livestock farming and vegetable growing. "There is no irrigation - this means that this region is very quickly turning into a desert." Many farmers leasing land in the Russian-occupied part of the region have been unable to pay for their leases for 2024 and may be unable to do so again this year, he added: "So, nobody will work, no taxes will be paid, and there will be no development of this territory." Another barrier to economic revival in the region is the Russian governments tendency to favor state companies and top-down economic efforts over nurturing small and medium-sized business that have been mainstays of the Kherson region in the past, Rybalko said. "Putin is afraid of the development of the middle class. He fears people who can think for themselves," he said. Meanwhile, Ukrainians -- particularly younger people -- are continuing to leave the Russian-occupied left bank lands and "nobody is coming from Russia to replace them, everybody's afraid," he said. "No normal person will come to an area where military actions are essentially taking place," he said, and where -- though it looks unlikely to happen any time soon -- Ukraine may eventually regain control. Zaporizhzhya, which lies between Kherson and the Donbas, is another region that is partially Russian-occupied, but Ukraine continues to hold the capital. Its southern reaches, on the Azov Sea coast, are crucial to a Russian-held "land corridor" linking Russia with Crimea, which are otherwise connected only by a bridge that has been attacked by Ukraine several times. At the June 30 meeting, Putin repeated his claim that the Azov Sea is now an "internal Russia sea" because Russia currently controls all the land that surrounds it and said that 5,400 kilometers of roads forming a ring around it have been renovated. Andriy Orlov, the director of the Center for the Strategic Development of Territory, a think tank originally based in Melitopol, a Russian-occupied city in the Zaporizhzhya region, said that numbers may be exaggerated and that most of the road improvement has been done in Russia itself or in Crimea, not in the more recently occupied areas. Orlov said that Putin's pronouncements were aimed to assure residents that Russia will "create a good life" for them, but that official reports from the occupation authorities make it "clear that there are very big problems" -- rampant corruption and a "glaring personnel deficit" among them, he charged. Like the other Ukrainians RFE/RL spoke to for this story, he is currently based in Ukrainian-controlled territory. Several claims by Russian and Ukrainian officials could not be independently verified due to a lack of access to the Russian-occupied territories. Corruption and personnel shortages are also problems in Mariupol, the Azov Sea port in the Donetsk region that Russia seized in May 2022 after a long and deadly siege that left much of the city in ruins. A medical diagnostic center has been fitted out with modern equipment "but there are not enough doctors -- there's nobody there to do the diagnoses," Petro Andryushchenko, a former Mariupol mayoral adviser who now heads the Center for the Study of the Occupation, told RFE/RL. Renovation of a public swimming pool in Mariupol has been set back by the "theft of all the equipment" that had remained intact after the "ultramodern" facility was damaged during the siege, Andryushchenko said. Housing is a major problem in Mariupol, a city of some 425,000 before the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, with many citizens living in apartment buildings that were damaged or destroyed during the siege. "There were 2,500 [residential] buildings in total, 500 were demolished, what remains are ruins -- almost all the housing that needs repair, and people still live there," Andryushchenko said. "And there is also housing that people don't live in. The reconstruction of these buildings has been frozen." Living Standards Ukrainians point to Crimea as an indicator of whether it Moscow will be able to bolster the economy and boost living standards in the swaths of mainland Ukraine it controls -- assuming that Kyiv does not take them back through war or diplomacy in the coming years. Russia "earmarked a great deal of money for Crimea.... The occupation authorities said that Crimea would get along without subsidies [from Moscow] after five years, then they said seven years," Yevhenia Horyunova, a political analyst from the peninsula, told RFE/RL. "But Crimea remains a subsidized region" whose economy "has not become self-sufficient." Furthermore, Horyunova said, the average wage in Crimea is substantially lower than the average in Russia. "That is, the standard of living has not improved -- it has not become better than it was." (Written by Steve Gutterman based on reporting by Olena Badiuk of News of Azov, a reporting project of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service focusing on southern Ukraine.) Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-occupation- life-economy-putin/33470289.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Beijing's Growing Boldness: China's Stance On Ukraine Sparks EU Alarm By Rikard Jozwiak July 12, 2025 Publicly, Beijing has presented itself as a neutral party in the war sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, claiming it respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine while also highlighting the need to address Russia's security concerns. But behind the scenes, that may be changing. According to EU officials speaking to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas last week that Beijing couldn't accept Russia's defeat in the war as it would free up Washington to focus on China. The remarkable admission, first reported by the South China Morning Post, came during a four-hour long discussion with Kallas in Brussels that covered an array of topics from trade practices such as state subsidies for electric vehicles, Taiwan, the situation in the Middle East and, of course, the war in Ukraine. It was during those talks that Brussels accused China of siding with Moscow and noting that the invasion of a sovereign country was against international law. Beijing allegedly voiced objections to the EU's allegations that Russia is using Chinese products and other components in its war effort before adding its fear of both potential western sanctions against Chinese financial institutions and an eventual Ukrainian victory in the conflict. Signs of Brussels' displeasure with China over the war have been piling up. In May, a classified EU report said China, including Hong Kong, is responsible for "approximately" 80 percent of the circumventions of sanctions against Russia. The 27-member bloc has also begun targeting Chinese companies it believes are responsible for the "undermining of Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty." In its latest sanctions package, the bloc is looking to slap asset freezes and visa bans on one Chinese businessman for repeatedly transferring goods made in the EU to Russia while those goods were subject to EU export restrictions. Two Chinese companies are also targeted for selling all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), infrared detectors, and other optical components to the Russian armed forces for use in Ukraine. Another sign of the growing concern in Brussels came from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who recently said China and Russia present growing threats to the transatlantic alliance. Rutte told reporters during a trip to Berlin that he believes Russia and China would coordinate attacks on Taiwan and Europe to keep the West bogged down in various parts of the world at the same time. "Xi Jinping, the president of China, before he would attack Taiwan, he will first make a call into Moscow to ask [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to keep us busy in this part of Europe," Rutte said. China and Russia struck a so-called "no limits strategic partnership" shortly before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The partnership does not include a formal military alliance or a specific commitment to mutual defense, but it does involve extensive military cooperation and strategic alignment that enhances both countries' security interests. Still, Beijing publicly has been keen to distance itself from Russia's actions. Speaking after Wang's European trip, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson reiterated that "China's position on the Ukraine crisis is objective and consistent, that is, negotiation, ceasefire and peace. A prolonged Ukraine crisis serves no one's interests." Analysts, though, are focused on other recently spoken words by officials from Beijing. Speaking to Current Time, Russian political scientist Natalia Shevshkova noted comments from Wang after his recent European tour were a sign that Beijing has "grown bolder" in its rhetoric to where "it's no longer Eastern diplomacy, but rather outright, almost rude behavior." "China understands that if Putin is now allowed to recognize -- if he's allowed to keep Crimea, if the Western community is ready to negotiate and leave some territories with Putin, then China's hands are untied too," Shevshkova said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/beijing-growing-boldness- china-ukraine-eu-russia/33471891.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New York, USA, July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In this context, HashJ Cloud Computing (HashJ Cloud mining Platform) quickly responded to market trends and took the lead in launching DOGE and XRP recharge functions, allowing coin holders to easily participate in cloud mining without professional knowledge and high equipment investment, and realize the "passive appreciation" of digital assets. What is HashJ? HashJ is a service platform focusing on global cloud computing mining, aiming to break the entry threshold of traditional mining through technological innovation, and provide global users with low-threshold and high-transparency digital asset value-added solutions. It also proposed that everyone can mine, and register to get a trial of $18 + $100 computing power. Users do not need to configure mining machines or master complex technologies, they only need to rent computing power to participate in the mining of mainstream currencies such as BTC and FIL. The platform supports daily income settlement, visual management, and provides flexible withdrawal services, suitable for investors at different levels. Latest news: Dogecoin (DOGE) and Ripple (XRP) mining officially opened recharge mining channels HashJ officially launched Dogecoin (DOGE) and Ripple (XRP) payment channels, supporting users holding these two popular assets to participate in cloud mining. This move not only lowers the entry threshold, but also opens up a new path for the "holding currency value-added" of assets, becoming an attractive innovative solution in the current market. HashJ platform advantages at a glance Zero equipment cost: No need to buy mining machines, the platform provides cloud deployment, you can mine immediately Flexible asset support: Supports recharge of mainstream currencies such as Dogecoin, BTC, ETH, etc. Global node deployment: Connect to high-quality mining pools around the world, and output computing power stably and continuously Transparent income system: Daily income can be queried, and on-chain data is clearly visible Free combination plan: Flexibly configure a variety of computing power packages to meet different risk preferences Support reinvestment function: You can set up an automatic reinvestment mechanism to achieve compound growth of income How to start using HashJ? Just four steps to start your encrypted cloud mining journey: Visit the HashJ official website or download the official App (support iOS and Android systems) Register an account (email registration, support global users) Successful registration will get $100 experience value reward + $18 cash You can directly use the experience value reward to mine for free to earn US dollars, or you can choose to recharge currencies (Dogecoin, Ripple, etc.) to purchase cloud computing power to start mining, enjoy daily income, and withdraw cash at any time. Whether you are a mining novice or an experienced crypto veteran, HashJ's simple and intuitive operation interface and professional data analysis tools can help you easily control asset dynamics. User feedback Alex (USA) "I tried to buy HashJ's cloud computing power with only Dogecoin, and the monthly income exceeded expectations. It is very suitable for office workers who don't want to fiddle with equipment." Zhang Li (Singapore) "The biggest feeling HashJ gave me is 'transparency'. The daily income is clear at a glance, and the withdrawal is fast and reliable." Lucas (Canada) "By inviting friends, I got more than 300 USDT of additional computing power rewards. Mining and promoting at the same time, the income doubled." Limited-time welfare activities are in full swing To celebrate the launch of DOGE and XRP mining channels, HashJ launched a number of global exclusive benefits: Sign up to experience computing power: New users can get $100 experience gold and experience the real mining process Registration bonus: Complete the registration to get $18 cash computing power reward immediately, and you can withdraw cash when the account balance reaches $100 Promotion rebate plan: For every successful invitation of a user to recharge, you can enjoy 4% of their daily income Promotion rewards, continuous validity The "holding coin mining" function will be launched soon: users who reach the specified amount of DOGE or XRP will automatically receive free computing power rewards every day without recharging Join HashJ now to keep your crypto assets from sleeping Seize the new round of market dividends of DOGE and XRP, choose HashJ, make investment easier and income more stable. From now on, you can "hold and make money" with the mainstream coins you hold. Official website: www.hashj.com APP download: Support iOS / Android Media contact: newsroom@hashj.com Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involves risk. There is potential for loss of funds. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. TORONTO, July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galway Metals Inc. (TSXV: GWM) (Galway or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to settle the sixth (6th) and final of six (6) payments (the Sixth Partial Payment) due in consideration of an agreement previously announced on July 21, 2020 (the Agreement) by the cash payment of $125,000 and the issuance of 974,026 common shares in the Capital of the Company (Shares) at a deemed price equal to $0.385 per Share for a total deemed price of $375,000. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company bought back a two percent (2.0%) net smelter returns royalty (the Royalty) from an arms length third party royalty holder (the Former Royalty Holder), covering certain mineral claims at the Companys Clarence Stream property in southwest New Brunswick (the Property). The Agreement provided for a total purchase price of $3,000,000 in six equal annual instalments of $500,000, with each partial payment representing the purchase of one-sixth (1/6) of the Royalty (each a Partial Payment). The first Partial Payment was settled on Closing in 2020 through the issuance of 434,783 Shares to the Former Royalty Holder at a deemed price equal to $1.15 per Share for a total deemed price of $500,000. Pursuant to the Agreement, each subsequent $500,000 Partial Payment was to be paid as follows: (i) $125,000 in cash; and, (ii) the remaining $375,000, at the sole election of the Company, paid either in cash, through the issuance of Shares, or a combination thereof as shall equal $375,000. The Shares will be subject to the statutory hold periods of four months and one day from the date of issuance. Completion of the issuance of the Shares is subject to the receipt of all regulatory approval including the final approval of the TSXV. About Galway Metals Inc. Galway Metals is focused on creating significant per share value through the exploration and sustainable development of its two 100%-owned projects in Canada. Galways flagship project, Clarence Stream, is one of the most important gold districts in Atlantic Canada as it hosts a large, high-grade gold resource in SW New Brunswick. Also important is Estrades, the former- producing, high-grade, gold- and zinc-rich polymetallic VMS mine in the northern Abitibi of western Quebec as it hosts significant resources in the middle of a major gold camp. After its successful spinout to existing shareholders from Galway Resources following the completion of the US$340 million sale of that company. The company is looking to replicate the same success in Canada with our two highly perspective projects. Should you have any questions and for further information, please contact (toll free): Galway Metals Inc. Robert Hinchcliffe President & Chief Executive Officer 1-800-771-0680 Website: www.galwaymetalsinc.com Email: info@galwaymetalsinc.com Look us up on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn Cautionary Statement Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, completion of the Royalty buy back on the announced terms or at all, objectives, goals or future plans. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to the risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR+. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Paola Papanicolaou, Head of Intesa Sanpaolos International Banks Division ROME, July 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, Paola Papanicolaou, Head of Intesa Sanpaolos International Banks Division, explained the Groups concrete commitment to Ukraines reconstruction, highlighting the role of Italys only banking group operating in the country in supporting recovery efforts through blended finance, ESG principles, and long-term investment. Key takeaways: Intesa Sanpaolo, through its subsidiary Pravex Bank part of the International Banks Division is the only Italian banking group with an operational presence in Ukraine. In todays complex geopolitical landscape, prudence is a strategic choice. Intesa Sanpaolo acts responsibly, avoiding excessive risk exposure while remaining ready to support reconstruction with concrete projects as soon as conditions allow. The Group actively collaborates with supranational institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), contributing to development projects aimed at rebuilding Ukraine. Rebuilding and revitalizing Ukraines economy requires both private capital and support from supranational financial institutions, through blended finance mechanisms. In both areas, strong international groups like Intesa Sanpaolo play a key role. Stability and local development are essential. Long-term investorslike Intesa Sanpaoloinvest where conditions allow for sustained presence and growth. Across the nearly 40 countries where Intesa Sanpaolo operatesincluding 12 countries with commercial banking branch networksthe Group works to create conditions that attract investment and foster economic resilience. Wherever present, the Group promotes inclusive growth, financial education, and ESG-aligned financing. In Ukraine too, the goal is to support not only economic reconstruction but also the long-term sustainable development of local communities. As one of Europes leading players in the transition to a low-carbon economy, Intesa Sanpaolo offers dedicated green credit lines for households and businesses, along with a growing portfolio of sustainable productsa model that can also support Ukraines future rebuilding efforts. Contact: international.media@intesasanpaolo.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/14e96349-0102-4b8f-bf93-5ef05e72a6ce VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada-based and Solana-focused FinFra leader Astra Fintech today reinforced its commitment to the Solana ecosystem by announcing a $10M strategic acquisition of Dexlab, a pioneering Solana-native token launching and tooling platform. Backed by Astras recently launched $100 million Solana ecosystem fund, this deal marks a bold step in the companys mission to accelerate PayFi adoption across Asia and beyond. Why Dexlab? The Investment Thesis From an investment standpoint, Astra Fintech understands that Solana's technical advantages - its industry-leading scalability and cost efficiency - ultimately derive their value from the quality of Dapps and infrastructures developed on its blockchain. Dexlab stands out as a cornerstone asset for three key reasons: Proven Track Record Launched in 2020 as Solanas first meme coin creation platform, Dexlab enables anyone to create and list a token without writing code. This no-code, permissionless model kickstarted a wave of on-chain experimentation, making Dexlab a cultural and technical foundation of the Solana ecosystem. 95% of Solanas iconic meme coins including Bonk, Slerf, Ponke, and numerous Trump and Biden-themed tokens were originally created on Dexlab. With 189K tokens minted, DexLab generates $532M in trading volume. Full Token Lifecycle Solutions Over time, Dexlab evolved into a full-stack token management platform providing everything from token minting to liquidity pool generation, staking, and decentralized trading. Dexlab isnt just a DEX; its the Shopify for token economies, noted Astra Head of Partnership Jamie, It lowers the barrier to launch and scale tokens from memes to serious fintech. Asia-First Synergy With Astra's Asia HQ now operational and DexLab's recent launch of its APAC subsidiary Calab, the strategic alignment between both entities has created unprecedented momentum for regional blockchain adoption. DexLab will combine its established global infrastructure with Calab's localized expertise to deliver tailored fintech solutions across Asian markets. This synergistic approach enables Hyper-localized product deployment and PayFi Acceleration across Asia. Strategic Synergy behind the Acquisitions This acquisition exemplifies Astra's comprehensive investment thesis - combining financial resources with deep technical expertise to drive ecosystem development. The integration delivers immediate value to Dexlab through: Access to Astras $100M Solana fund, multicoin-backed resources, and cross-border PayFi integrations. Strategic talent infusion with Astra deploying seasoned North American executives across product, marketing, and operations roles. Token rebranding to $XLAB to signify a new chapter under Astras leadership Enterprise-level upgrades to support next-gen token management tools for institutions and creators alike. This isnt just an acquisition, its more like a catalyst for Solana's next ecosystem growth wave, Jamie added, Dexlab will be our foundation for onboarding the next 100 million users to Web3, starting in Asia. The Bigger Picture: Solana as the Foundation The Dexlab deal underscores Astras conviction in Solanas role as the backbone of next-gen fintech. With Korea as its hub, Astra plans to: Deploy capital from its $100M fund to Solana-based Finfra, PayFi, and AI projects. Integrate Dexlabs token rails with Banana Pay, Astras blockchain payment solution, to merge decentralized and traditional finance. Host hackathons and developer grants, building on its Seoulana success to nurture grassroots innovation. Cryptos future hinges on usable infrastructure, said Jamie. By investing in Dexlab, were betting on Solana and on builders who share our vision for a borderless financial stack. About Astra Fintech Astra Fintech is a Canada-based blockchain finance leader revolutionizing FinFra by bridging traditional and decentralized payments. As a strategic Solana ecosystem partner backed by Multicoin LPs, we deliver secure, borderless PayFi solutions while driving innovation through investments in next-gen financial infrastructure. About DexLab As Solana's pioneering meme launchpad behind iconic tokens including Bonk, Slerf, and Ponke - along with Trump&Biden-themed assets - DexLab originally facilitated 95% of the network's early token launches, generating $532M in trading volume. Today, DexLab has matured into a complete institutional-grade token management solution, offering end-to-end lifecycle tools built natively on Solana. Contact: Jamie contact@astra.holdings Disclaimer: This content is provided by Astra Fintech. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. 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Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c810ba3-ac3f-42aa-a3d4-73d7db3050d4 LONDON, UK, July 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the cryptocurrency market grows, Bitcoin mining has become an increasingly popular way for investors to generate profits. Traditional Bitcoin mining can be complex and expensive, requiring costly equipment and technical expertise. AAS MINER, however, provides a cutting-edge AI-powered cloud mining platform that allows you to earn passive income from Bitcoin mining and other cryptocurrency investments without the need for expensive hardware or complicated setups. Start with AAS MINER: Free $10 Upon Registration! To make your entry even easier, AAS MINER offers $10 free when you register! This bonus can be used to purchase mining contracts right away, allowing you to start earning $0.8 in daily passive income from your chosen Bitcoin mining plan. No initial investment is required, making it the perfect way to start your journey toward passive income with Bitcoin mining. Official Registration Link: https://aas8.com Official App Download Link: https://aas8.com/xml/index.html#/app What is AAS MINER Cloud Mining Platform? The AAS MINER Cloud Mining Platform is an innovative platform that simplifies Bitcoin mining and cryptocurrency investment by integrating AI technology with cloud mining. This platform allows users to mine Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies remotely, without the need for expensive mining rigs or technical expertise. Whether you're an experienced investor or a beginner, AAS MINER ensures you can maximize your passive income with minimal effort. How Does AAS MINER Work? 1. AI-Driven Mining Optimization for Passive Income: At the heart of AAS MINER is its AI technology, which uses advanced algorithms to analyze market trends, mining data, and real-time performance. The AI optimizes mining strategies to guarantee the highest possible returns, ensuring maximum passive income for users. Whether you're new to Bitcoin mining or a seasoned investor, AAS MINERs AI technology helps you maximize efficiency and profitability. 2. Cloud-Based Mining for Hassle-Free Passive Earnings: Traditional Bitcoin mining requires purchasing and maintaining expensive equipment, often making it a daunting task for most investors. AAS MINER eliminates these barriers with its cloud mining platform, offering you the ability to mine Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies remotely. With cloud mining, theres no need for hardware, and you can immediately start earning passive income from cryptocurrency investments. 3. Secure and Transparent Platform: Security is a priority in the world of cryptocurrency investments. AAS MINER provides robust security measures to protect your investments. Additionally, the platform ensures full transparency, providing you with real-time reports on mining performance, earnings, and profits. This transparency ensures you can track your passive income and make informed decisions about your investments. 4. Diversified Investment Options for Maximized Passive Income: In addition to Bitcoin mining, AAS MINER offers opportunities to mine a variety of cryptocurrencies, which helps diversify your portfolio. By diversifying, you can take advantage of varying market conditions and increase your chances for higher returns. Diversification reduces risks and maximizes the potential for long-term passive income. Global Network of Mining Farms for Maximum Profit With over 100 Bitcoin mining farms around the globe, AAS MINER ensures that your mining operations are always optimized. The platform continues to expand its global mining infrastructure, guaranteeing access to world-class facilities and increasing opportunities for passive income. As the network grows, so does your potential to earn from Bitcoin mining and cryptocurrency investments. Why Choose AAS MINER Cloud Mining Platform? 1. Low Entry Barrier to Passive Income: Unlike traditional Bitcoin mining, which requires substantial investments in hardware, AAS MINER has a low entry barrier. No technical expertise or large financial commitment is needed to start mining. You can easily begin earning passive income from Bitcoin mining and other cryptocurrencies right from your computer or smartphone. 2. Flexible Mining Plans for Maximum Profit: AAS MINER offers a variety of mining plans tailored to meet the needs of every investor. Each plan guarantees 100% principal and interest protection, ensuring your investment is completely risk-free. With daily returns ranging from 1.88% to 5.2%, you can choose the plan that best suits your financial goals, whether youre looking for short-term profits or long-term returns. AAS MINER offers options for everyone seeking to maximize their passive income. AI Cloud Computing Contract Contract Amount ($) Contract Period (Days) Daily income ($) Total revenue ($) Daily ROI Antminer S19j XP (151Th) $10 1 $0.8 $0.8 8% Antminer T21(190Th) $100 2 $5 $10 5% Avalon Miner A1346-123T $500 3 $9.40 $28.2 1.88% Avalon Miner A1466-162T $1,000 5 $19.80 $99.00 1.98% LitecoinMiner L7 $3,000 10 $62.40 $624.00 2.08% Volcminer D1 $5000 15 $109.00 $1,635.00 2.18% MT Iceland Geo 68PH Cloud $10,000 30 $228.00 $6,840.00 2.28% Avalon Air Cooling Mining Box-40ft $30,000 60 $774.00 $46,440.00 2.58% ANTSPACE HW5 $50,000 60 $1,340.00 $80,400.00 2.68% ANTSPACE HD5 $100,000 90 $2,880.00 $259,200.00 2.88% ANTSPACE MD5 $150,000 90 $4,620.00 $415,800.00 3.08% ANTSPACE HK3 $17,927 365 $767.28 $280,055.59 4.28% Avalon Immersion Cooling Mining Box-40ft $201,709.27 365 $10,488.88 $3,828,441.94 5.2% 3. Real-Time Monitoring for Ongoing Passive Earnings: The AAS MINER platform features a user-friendly interface that allows you to track your mining performance and passive income in real-time. You can monitor mining statistics, adjust your strategy, and make informed decisions to maximize your earnings from Bitcoin mining and cryptocurrency investments. 4. Innovative AI Technology for 24/7 Passive Income Optimization: With AI technology continuously optimizing mining strategies, AAS MINER ensures that your mining operations are always running at peak efficiency. The platform's AI-driven approach provides a hands-off experience, meaning you can earn passive income without constantly managing the process. This 24/7 optimization maximizes the returns from your Bitcoin mining investments. 5. Global Access to Passive Income Opportunities: As a cloud-based platform, AAS MINER allows you to access mining operations from anywhere in the world. Whether you're at home, at work, or traveling, you can easily manage your mining activities and track your passive income from your mobile device or computer. AAS MINER Features That Stand Out AI-Powered Profit Optimization for Passive Income: AI adjusts mining strategies in real-time to maximize efficiency and passive income. No Need for Physical Hardware: Mine Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies without the need for expensive mining rigs, maximizing passive earnings. Diversified Portfolio for Passive Income: Mine multiple cryptocurrencies to diversify your investments and grow your passive income stream. Real-Time Performance Tracking: Track your investments performance with detailed reports and monitor your passive income growth. Security and Transparency: The platform offers robust security measures and full transparency, ensuring a safe environment for passive income growth. Why Trust AAS MINER? AAS MINER is built on a foundation of trust and transparency. Thousands of satisfied users globally have experienced success with the platform. Known for its ease of use, efficient mining operations, and reliable customer support, AAS MINER is developed by experts in both cryptocurrency mining and AI technology, ensuring its continued leadership in the industry. Trust AAS MINER to provide a safe, reliable, and risk-free way to earn passive income from cryptocurrency investments. Conclusion The AAS MINER Cloud Mining Platform is transforming the way investors generate passive income through Bitcoin mining and cryptocurrency investments. By combining AI-powered mining optimization with cloud mining technology, AAS MINER offers a hassle-free, efficient solution for anyone looking to maximize passive income without the complexities of traditional mining. Get started with AAS MINER today! Register now and receive $10 free to purchase mining contracts and start earning $0.8 in daily passive income. Unlock the full potential of your cryptocurrency investments and passive income today! Official Website: https://aas8.com Official App Download Link: https://aas8.com/xml/index.html#/app Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is for reference only and does not constitute an investment invitation, financial advice, or trade recommendation. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and may result in financial losses. We strongly recommend conducting thorough due diligence and consulting professional financial advisors before engaging in cryptocurrency or securities investments and trades. New York, NY, July 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A surge in XRPs market performance this week has reenergized crypto markets and drawn fresh attention from both retail and institutional investors. Riding the wave of renewed enthusiasm, DRML Minera global name in cloud-based cryptocurrency mininghas announced the official launch of its newest line of mining contract packages, designed to offer simple, secure, and scalable ways to earn passive crypto income. This strategic rollout comes at a time when investor confidence in digital assets is climbing rapidly, with XRP leading the charge. As demand grows for efficient, no-hassle mining solutions, DRML Miners updated offerings arrive with perfect timing. XRPs Breakout Fuels Broader Crypto Momentum XRPs latest price rallyits most significant since early 2024has exceeded market expectations, thanks to strong fundamentals, expanding network capabilities, and heightened institutional involvement. This breakout has reinvigorated investor sentiment and spurred a new wave of interest in crypto income strategies, especially those that pair reliability with long-term potential. With XRP on the rise and wider interest in decentralized finance continuing to build, DRML Miner is seizing the moment to provide solutions that serve both newcomers and experienced crypto participants alike. DRML Miner Unveils Scalable Mining Contracts for 2025 DRML Miners new contract lineup is built to simplify cloud mining and deliver dependable returns with minimal barriers to entry. The platform requires no hardware, no technical setup, and no ongoing maintenanceusers can mine coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP directly through the cloud, from anywhere in the world. Key features of the new contracts include: Instant Mining Activation Daily Payouts to Secure Wallets Transparent Performance Tracking Flexible Contract Durations (10 to 365 Days) Zero-Cost Entry Option for New Users New registrants can begin earning immediately through DRMLs complimentary mining packagea no-investment-required offer ideal for users looking to explore the platform before committing to premium plans. Built for Profit, Backed by Trust DRMLs premium contracts are optimized for fast ROI and are tailored to meet a range of investor goalsfrom short-term yield to long-term accumulation. Each plan is powered by DRMLs global network of renewable energy mining farms and utilizes automated performance optimization tools to deliver maximum efficiency. Security and transparency remain at the core of the DRML Miner ecosystem. All mining activity is governed by smart contracts with full visibility into earnings, payout schedules, and network performance. The platform also incorporates bank-grade encryption, regular system audits, and multilingual customer support for a seamless user experience. Community Growth Through Referrals To support ongoing platform growth, DRML Miner has also upgraded its referral rewards system. Registered users can invite others to join and earn commissions on every successful referraloffering a secondary income stream that compounds alongside mining earnings. The Future of Mining Has Arrived As the crypto market enters a new bullish phase, DRML Miners newly launched mining packages offer an accessible, low-risk entry point for individuals and investors seeking to benefit from this momentum. Whether youre new to crypto or expanding an existing portfolio, DRML Miner provides the tools and flexibility needed to generate passive income in todays evolving market. About DRML Miner Founded in 2018, DRML Miner is a leading cloud mining platform offering secure, scalable, and eco-friendly cryptocurrency mining solutions to users worldwide. By combining smart contract technology, energy-efficient infrastructure, and user-focused tools, DRML Miner empowers modern investors to mine with confidence. Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and the possibility of losing funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor. Chicago, Illinois, July 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lets face it the traditional path to cryptocurrency mining is filled with complications. Between expensive hardware, tech-heavy setups, soaring electricity bills, and overwhelming jargon, most people find mining nearly impossible to access. But BAY Miner is changing the story and opening the doors for everyone to earn crypto daily with just a phone or computer. Whether youre new to crypto or an investor seeking passive income, BAY Miners innovative cloud mining platform is your shortcut to daily earnings zero stress, zero hardware, and 100% user-friendly. No Hardware? No Problem: Welcome to Cloud-Based Mining BAY Miner operates entirely in the cloud, meaning you never have to worry about managing equipment or maintaining rigs. Gone are the days of building mining farms, listening to noisy fans, and worrying about overheating systems. With BAY Miner, all you need is an internet connection. Simply log in, activate your preferred plan, and start earning cryptocurrency automatically whether youre at home, at work, or traveling. Start Earning Instantly Even Without a Plan Unlike other platforms that require upfront investment, BAY Miner rewards you immediately. After signing up at https://www.bayminer.com/, you receive $15 in mining credits instantly. Thats not just a welcome gift it's your ticket to free crypto earnings from day one. Better yet, daily logins earn you $0.60, even if you havent activated a mining contract. You can begin building your balance without spending a cent. Tap into a World of Cryptocurrency Options BAY Miner isnt just for Bitcoin. Its a diverse mining platform designed to suit every crypto enthusiasts portfolio. The platform supports top digital currencies like: Bitcoin (BTC) Ethereum (ETH) Tether (USDT) Litecoin (LTC) XRP Dogecoin (DOGE) With BAY Miner, you can choose how to earn, how to withdraw, and how to reinvest. Whether youre in it for stability or risk-tolerant diversification, this platform gives you total control. The Power of Green: Mining That Respects the Planet One of BAY Miners most compelling features is its use of renewable energy. Traditional crypto mining consumes enormous amounts of electricity, contributing to environmental harm. BAY Miner breaks that cycle by using clean, sustainable energy to power its operations. Now you can earn digital assets while supporting a greener future mining crypto without guilt or waste. High-Level Security: Trust Built Into Every Feature When it comes to digital currency, safety is non-negotiable. BAY Miner delivers military-grade protection for your data and assets. Built with McAfee protocols and protected by Cloudflare DDoS technology, every transaction is locked down with multi-layer encryption. Your mining activity, balances, and transaction history are all viewable in your secure dashboard 100% transparent and user-controlled. Beginner-Friendly with Global Reach Whether you're mining from Tokyo or Toronto, BAY Miner works globally. Its designed for accessibility, and its multilingual support team is available 24/7. If you're new to crypto, the platform includes guides and customer support to help you navigate each step confidently. Theres no need to understand blockchain technology, smart contracts, or mining algorithms. BAY Miner does the heavy lifting so you can sit back and enjoy the results. How to Start Mining with BAY Miner Step 1: Create Your Account Visit https://www.bayminer.com, register in seconds using your email, and claim your $15 welcome bonus. No payments or technical setup required. Step 2: Choose a Plan That Fits You Mining contracts come in a range of sizes, allowing you to start small or scale up based on your budget. All plans are priced in USD and converted automatically to crypto using live exchange rates. Step 3: Track Daily Profits Once your plan is live, your miner runs 24/7 in the cloud. You receive daily earnings directly in your dashboard. Hit the $100 withdrawal threshold, and you can: Withdraw in your preferred crypto Reinvest to amplify returns Or do both! Who Is BAY Miner Perfect For? Crypto Beginners Dont know much about mining? BAY Miner removes all the complexity, giving you a learning-friendly environment to earn and grow. Busy Professionals Have a packed schedule? BAY Miner earns for you automatically while you work or travel. Students and Freelancers Looking for an easy side income? Mine cryptocurrency while studying or working from your laptop or mobile device. Parents and Homemakers Build financial freedom without leaving home. BAY Miner turns idle time into digital income effortlessly. Retirees Looking for a steady stream of passive earnings? Enjoy the security of daily income, with zero market stress. Why BAY Miner Stands Out From the Crowd $15 Welcome Bonus to kickstart your mining journey to kickstart your mining journey Daily Login Rewards earn even without investing earn even without investing Supports Major Cryptos including BTC, ETH, USDT, and more including BTC, ETH, USDT, and more Sustainable Mining powered by renewable energy powered by renewable energy Top-Tier Security protect your data and funds protect your data and funds Global Availability mine anywhere, anytime mine anywhere, anytime No Technical Skills Required perfect for all experience levels Final Thoughts: Make Your Devices Work for You In a world where passive income is gold, BAY Miner gives you the digital pickaxe to start digging no noise, no heat, no confusion. Whether you're building a crypto portfolio, saving for the future, or looking to diversify your earnings, this platform is your gateway. Start mining smarter, greener, and easier with BAY Miner the cloud mining revolution for everyone. Visit https://www.bayminer.com and start earning today. For support: info@bayminer.com Your smartphone is ready now let it start mining for your future. Click here to download the mobile app now Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks. There is a possibility of financial loss. You are advised to perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor. BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- China's position on the "2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea" is consistent and clear. The "award" is nothing but a piece of waste paper that is illegal, null and void, and non-binding, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said here Saturday. The spokesperson made the remarks when asked to comment that the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines released a statement on the ninth anniversary of the "2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea," and its Secretary of Foreign Affairs delivered a keynote speech at a relevant forum. The spokesperson said that China neither accepts nor recognizes the "award," and will never accept any claim or action arising from the award. Noting that China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea will not be affected by the "award" in any way, the spokesperson stressed a few points. First, the "award" violates the basic principles of international law. Without a thorough exchange of views with China in advance -- an essential prerequisite -- the Philippines unilaterally initiated the "arbitration," which violated the common understandings reached between the two countries to peacefully settle disputes through consultation. This violates the article of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) which states that the disputes should be resolved by peaceful means through friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned, and violates the principle of "pacta sunt servanda", the doctrine of estoppel, and other basic principles of international law. Second, the "award" violates the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Land territorial issues are not regulated by UNCLOS. As early as 2006, maritime delimitation was clearly excluded by China from "compulsory arbitration" and other procedures. The Philippines disregarded China's declaration and insisted on initiating the "arbitration," which was an abuse of the UNCLOS dispute settlement mechanism. The "arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration" handled the case ultra vires, which infringed upon China's right as a state party to UNCLOS to choose on its own will the means for dispute settlement. The conduct completely deviates from the purpose of UNCLOS, substantially impairs the integrity and authority of UNCLOS, and seriously impacts the international rule of law of the sea. Many internationally authoritative law experts, including former president of the International Court of Justice and former judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, have pointed out the serious flaws in the "award." Third, the "award" runs counter to the basic facts related to the South China Sea. The "arbitral tribunal" severely erred in ascertaining facts and applying the law, and the rendered "award" is fundamentally flawed with obvious mistakes. The "award" characterizes Taiping Dao, the largest island in the South China Sea with an area of 500,000 square meters, as a rock rather than an island, and then concludes that no islands in Nansha Qundao generate entitlement to exclusive economic zone or continental shelf, which is fully inconsistent with the article of UNCLOS. By this "standard," many countries' claims would be unlawful, and the world's maritime landscape would be changed. China is committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes with other countries concerned through negotiation and consultation, joint efforts with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the DOC, adoption of a Code of Conduct as early as possible, and robust institutional safeguards for peace and stability in the South China Sea, said the spokesperson. "We urge relevant countries to stop making reference to this illegal 'award,' still less making infringement and provocation," the spokesperson said, pointing out that this counterproductive move will only end up backfiring. Chicago, Illinois, July 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XRP Mining launched a mobile platform that shatters the long-held crypto barrier of entry. Mining was something reserved for individuals who were tech sages and wealthy enough to pay for the most powerful mining rigs. Everyday users can now mine using just a smartphone. XRP Mining has redefined the future of decentralized income and mining will no longer be limited to only the biggest data centers or the most technical of technicians. What Makes XRP Mining Stand Out in the Cloud Mining Industry? Cloud mining allows you to rent mining power from a professional facility instead of having to buy and configure your own mining equipment. XRP Mining takes it one step further by merging cloud mining with an intuitive mobile application, creating a simple and easy process for both beginners and experienced users. Traditional mining requires you to purchase physical machines, configure them, and make sure everything is operational. With the XRP Mining app, after you select your plan and sign up, everything else is automatic. You don't have to worry about adjusting settings or figuring out if you're about to overheat or if a patch release is coming soon. Everything happens in the background in state-of-the-art data centers powered with green energy. This unique approach to mining provides a seamless avenue for passive income with zero technical headaches, plus you are supporting green technology. Key Features of the XRP Mining App Clean and Intuitive Interface The app is a simple dashboard with all the key mining information. Users can see earnings, manage their mining contracts, and see performance live. The platform is suitable for a range of reasonable user experience from total novices to more advanced investors in crypto. Top-Level Security Infrastructure XRP Mining emphasizes security in its operations. The app incorporates cybersecurity experts such as McAfee and Cloudflare to fully secure your data and digital assets! Users are assured peace of mind knowing that their funds are not susceptible to breaches, phishing attacks, or online risks. Customizable Mining Plans Today's investment environment requires flexibility. XRP Mining has a variety of mining plans by price starting with only $15. Whether you want to play with a few dollars or aim for a longer investment, they have offerings for any financial goal or level of risk one might have. Global 24/7 Multilingual Customer Support The platform is aware that crypto functions on a 24-7 timetable. This is one of the reasons XRP Mining offers 24-7 multilingual support. So whether you are in New York, Tokyo, Berlin, or Cape Town, you can tap for help. Not only are users able to get help 24-7, the support staff are trained to assist users in multiple languages, assisting people across the globe to succeed at mining. How to Get Started with XRP Mining Create an Account in Minutes Visit https://xrpmining.com and register using your email address. The process is fast and secure, and youll receive a $15 bonus just for joining. Choose a Plan That Matches Your Budget Explore a variety of mining packages that range from entry-level plans to larger, more profitable investments. Whether you're cautious or confident, theres something for everyone. Make a Deposit Using Your Favorite Cryptocurrency You can fund your account with a variety of supported cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP, USDT (ERC20 & TRC20), DOGE, SOL, BCH, LTC, and many more. With the platform's multi-chain compatibility, users can choose the assets they hold to invest. Sit Back and Start Mining Once your deposit is confirmed, the mining process begins instantly. There's no need to install anything or configure settingseverything is handled in the cloud. Earn Daily and Withdraw with Ease You get compensated for your mining profits every single day. You can withdraw your funds to your wallet when your account reaches the $100 threshold. Or, you could reinvest your funds into growing more profits. Smart Currency Management: Avoid Volatility, Maximize Value The volatility of crypto can make managing your holdings complex at times. As XRP Mining uses a pricing mechanism that values all contracts in USD, it helps remove the volatility by converting crypto to USD upon deposit, locking in the deposit value. You then withdraw in your chosen crypto at the current price available at the time of withdrawal. Your crypto is no longer subject to the volatility of the market because all exchanges are ring-fenced from you and fully converted automatically. Our simplified model makes it easier for you to avoid managing and tracking exchange rates and figuring out what the optimal time is to convert your crypto. You can confidently plan and invest because what you see is what you get. Who Benefits Most from XRP Mining? XRP Mining is crafted to serve users of all levels. The app is especially valuable for: Crypto Beginners seeking a risk-free way to learn and earn. Remote Workers looking to diversify their income stream. College Students wanting to save or invest. Busy Professionals without time for day trading or technical setups. Retirees interested in easy, low-risk financial tools. Conclusion: Your Gateway to Smart, Sustainable Crypto Income If you've ever had the desire to earn crypto, but found it too complicated for you, you should now be excited. XRP Mining makes it easy, safe, and is an environmentally friendly way to start earning passive income right from your smartphone. There is no complicated set-up or big investment in hardware. Everything is automated, secured, and designed for longevity. Whether you're working towards daily income or your future financial freedom, the tools are available to you now. If you are ready to be part of the next generation of digital earners, then let's go. Email: info@xrpmining.com Official Website: https://xrpmining.com App Download: https://xrpmining.com/xml/index.html#/app Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and the possibility of losing funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor. Las Vegas, NV, July 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ( browse 50,000+ real customer reviews at Area 52 ) Area 52, a leading innovator in premium hemp extracts, is proud to announce the next generation of its disposable weed pen line, recognized by industry peers for its superior design and unparalleled user experience. Backed by an industry leading 90 day 100% money back guarantee, this announcement highlights Area 52s continued commitment to merging cutting-edge extraction science with visionary product development, providing consumers with a truly elevated and convenient way to explore higher states of consciousness. Why Area 52's Disposable Weed Pen Sets a New Industry Standard Area 52's latest disposable weed pen isn't just a device; it's a meticulously engineered experience, designed for purity, potency, and intuitive use. The recognition from industry peers underscores the brand's dedication to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the world of hemp-derived products. Purity Beyond Compare: Area 52 rejects 95% of incoming hemp, accepting only the most pristine raw material. Every batch undergoes rigorous triple-testing pre-extraction, post-extraction, and again after 30 days for stability ensuring unmatched purity and guaranteeing no contaminants, just clean, transformative vapor. Area 52 rejects 95% of incoming hemp, accepting only the most pristine raw material. Every batch undergoes rigorous pre-extraction, post-extraction, and again after 30 days for stability ensuring unmatched purity and guaranteeing no contaminants, just clean, transformative vapor. Founder-Driven Innovation: Our founder, a biochemist and former member of the Shulgin Institute, personally approves every product batch. This isn't just about business; it's about a deep-seated commitment to delivering a product so exceptional, that "If we don't use it, you can't buy it." This personal dedication ensures every disposable weed pen meets the highest standards. Our founder, a biochemist and former member of the Shulgin Institute, personally approves every product batch. This isn't just about business; it's about a deep-seated commitment to delivering a product so exceptional, that This personal dedication ensures every disposable weed pen meets the highest standards. Pharmaceutical-Grade Manufacturing: Area 52 employs pharmaceutical-grade clean rooms with positive air pressure and HEPA filtration, a level of precision rarely seen in the industry. This controlled environment guarantees every pen is produced under the most stringent hygienic conditions, reflecting our unwavering commitment to quality. Area 52 employs with positive air pressure and HEPA filtration, a level of precision rarely seen in the industry. This controlled environment guarantees every pen is produced under the most stringent hygienic conditions, reflecting our unwavering commitment to quality. Advanced Extraction for Potency: Utilizing custom extraction equipment that preserves 97% of terpenes , compared to an industry average of 30%, our disposable pens deliver a full, rich flavor and a potent, authentic experience. This meticulous process, including liquid nitrogen extraction at -196F, locks in delicate compounds that others lose. Utilizing , compared to an industry average of 30%, our disposable pens deliver a full, rich flavor and a potent, authentic experience. This meticulous process, including liquid nitrogen extraction at -196F, locks in delicate compounds that others lose. Unrivaled Formulator Expertise: Our chief formulator holds advanced degrees in both biochemistry and neuropharmacology, bringing an unparalleled depth of scientific understanding to every product. This specialized knowledge allows for the creation of blends that are not just potent, but also intelligently formulated for specific, desired effects. Our chief formulator holds advanced degrees in both biochemistry and neuropharmacology, bringing an unparalleled depth of scientific understanding to every product. This specialized knowledge allows for the creation of blends that are not just potent, but also Molecular Modeling for Precision: Area 52 leverages molecular modeling to predict optimal cannabinoid ratios before manufacturing. This proprietary technology ensures that each disposable weed pen delivers a consistent and predictable experience, allowing users to fine-tune their journey into elevated states of mind with confidence. Area 52 leverages before manufacturing. This proprietary technology ensures that each disposable weed pen delivers a consistent and predictable experience, allowing users to fine-tune their journey into elevated states of mind with confidence. Exclusive Limited Production: To maintain superior quality, Area 52 intentionally limits production runs, never manufacturing more than 10,000 units per month. This commitment to small-batch excellence means that when our disposable weed pens sell out, production pauses until the next perfected batch is ready, ensuring every unit is a masterpiece. Best Disposable Weed Pen: Area 52's THCA Alien Disposables ( browse 50,000+ real customer reviews at Area 52 ) Sub-headline: a closer look at Area 52's THCA Alien Disposables Feature Detail Product Name THCA Alien Disposables Cannabinoid Type THCA (Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid) Device Type All-in-one disposable vape pen Activation Auto-draw, button-activated pre-heat functionality Battery Life Extended, rechargeable via USB-C Capacity 1 gram (1ml) Strains Available Zoap (Sativa), Yaas Betch (Hybrid), Lemon Cherry (Indica) Potency High THCA content, converts to potent Delta-9 THC upon heating Flavor Profile Rich, natural terpenes corresponding to strain Ingredients THCA live resin, native terpenes Purity Lab-tested, free from heavy metals, pesticides, solvents Legal Status Federally compliant (<0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight) Usage Ready to use out of the box Activation Time Immediate vapor production Convenience Maintenance-free, no refilling or charging until battery low Portability Sleek, discreet, pocket-friendly design Target Audience Experienced users, those seeking potent and convenient THC experience Manufacturing Pharmaceutical-grade clean room, small-batch Extraction Method Cryogenic flash-freezing, low-temp processing for terpene preservation Transparency Third-party lab reports (CoA) available Disposal Responsibly dispose of electronic waste Price Single unit starting at ~$49.99 (discounts on multi-packs) Shipping Free priority shipping on US orders >$110 Guarantee 60-day risk-free trial / 100% money-back guarantee Age Restriction 21+ only Area 52's THCA Alien Disposables represent the pinnacle of vaping convenience and potency. Each sleek, all-in-one device is pre-filled with a gram of premium THCA live resin, combined with native terpenes for an authentic and flavorful experience. Designed for immediate gratification and consistent performance, these disposables activate instantly, delivering powerful effects with every draw. What truly sets these disposables apart is Area 52's obsessive attention to detail, from sourcing heirloom hemp genetics to employing master distillers for precision. The live resin is extracted using cryogenic flash-freezing and low-temperature processing, ensuring that the full spectrum of delicate cannabinoids and terpenes is preserved. This commitment to purity means you're getting a product free from harmful contaminants, delivering a clean, true-to-strain effect that launches you into the higher dimensions of consciousness Area 52 is known for. Pros Cons Exceptional Potency from THCA Sells out quickly due to limited runs Authentic Strain Flavors Requires responsible electronic disposal Ultra-Convenient & Ready-to-Use Smooth draws with consistent vapor Portable and discreet design Rigorous Lab-Tested Purity Rechargeable for full oil use Specs: Each THCA Alien Disposable contains 1ml of THCA live resin derived from federally compliant hemp. Available in specific strainsZoap (Sativa), Yaas Betch (Hybrid), and Lemon Cherry (Indica)to cater to diverse preferences for effects and flavor. The battery is rechargeable via USB-C (cable not included). What Real Customer Reviews are Saying: "This Alien Disposable hits different! Smooth clouds and the effects are exactly what I look for in a potent vape. Zoap got me super energized for my creative projects." Maya P. Zoap got me super energized for my creative projects." Maya P. "Finally, a disposable that actually delivers on flavor and potency . The Yaas Betch gave me such a balanced high, perfect for unwinding after a long day without feeling couch-locked." Ethan R. . The Yaas Betch gave me such a balanced high, perfect for unwinding after a long day without feeling couch-locked." Ethan R. "Ive tried so many disposables, but Area 52s are in a league of their own. The Lemon Cherry is incredibly relaxing, helps me truly decompress. Plus, the battery lasts forever." Chloe S. Plus, the battery lasts forever." Chloe S. "The pre-heat function is a game-changer for getting the perfect hit every time. I appreciate the peace of mind knowing these are so thoroughly tested." David L. for getting the perfect hit every time. I appreciate the peace of mind knowing these are so thoroughly tested." David L. "Worth every penny. The terpene profiles are so rich, you can tell they spared no expense in extraction. This is my new go-to for convenience and quality." Sarah K. ( browse 50,000+ real customer reviews at Area 52 ) Product Formats Our disposable weed pens are designed with versatility and user experience in mind, offering a range of options to suit individual preferences for effect and flavor profile. Strain-Specific Formulations: Each disposable pen is crafted with specific live resin blends from unique cannabis strains . This allows users to select between Sativa-dominant (like Zoap for uplifting effects), Hybrid (Yaas Betch for balanced experiences), or Indica-dominant (Lemon Cherry for relaxation) profiles, ensuring a tailored experience. Each disposable pen is crafted with . This allows users to select between Sativa-dominant (like Zoap for uplifting effects), Hybrid (Yaas Betch for balanced experiences), or Indica-dominant (Lemon Cherry for relaxation) profiles, ensuring a tailored experience. All-in-One Convenience: Designed as a truly all-in-one disposable unit , these pens require no assembly, charging (apart from recharging the battery when low), or maintenance. They are pre-filled and pre-charged, ready right out of the box for immediate use. Designed as a truly , these pens require no assembly, charging (apart from recharging the battery when low), or maintenance. They are pre-filled and pre-charged, ready right out of the box for immediate use. Rechargeable Battery Integration: While disposable, each pen features a rechargeable battery via USB-C , ensuring you can enjoy every last drop of the premium live resin. This commitment to efficiency means no wasted product due to a dead battery. While disposable, each pen features a , ensuring you can enjoy every last drop of the premium live resin. This commitment to efficiency means no wasted product due to a dead battery. Live Resin Purity: Beyond simple distillate, these pens contain THCA live resin, preserving a broader spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes extracted from fresh, flash-frozen plants. This ensures a more robust flavor and a richer "entourage effect." How to Choose a Disposable Weed Pen Selecting the right disposable weed pen can significantly enhance your experience. Heres what discerning consumers consider when making their choice: Prioritize Lab Testing and Transparency: Always look for disposable pens with verifiable third-party lab reports (COAs) . This ensures the product is free from harmful contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and verifies cannabinoid potency. If a brand isn't transparent with their COAs, move on. Always look for disposable pens with . This ensures the product is free from harmful contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and verifies cannabinoid potency. If a brand isn't transparent with their COAs, move on. Understand Cannabinoid Content: Different cannabinoids offer different effects. A THCA disposable will provide classic Delta-9 THC effects when heated, while Delta-8 disposables will be milder. Know what you're looking for whether it's relaxation, energy, or a balanced experience. Different cannabinoids offer different effects. A will provide classic Delta-9 THC effects when heated, while Delta-8 disposables will be milder. Know what you're looking for whether it's relaxation, energy, or a balanced experience. Consider Terpene Profiles: Terpenes are not just about flavor; they modulate the effects of cannabinoids, contributing to the "entourage effect." Look for pens that use natural, strain-specific terpenes or live resin for a more authentic and synergistic experience. Terpenes are not just about flavor; they Look for pens that use natural, strain-specific terpenes or live resin for a more authentic and synergistic experience. Evaluate Battery Life and Capacity: While convenient, many disposables run out of battery before the oil is finished. Opt for rechargeable disposable pens to ensure you can consume all the product. Also, consider the capacity1 gram is a common and convenient size. While convenient, many disposables run out of battery before the oil is finished. Opt for to ensure you can consume all the product. Also, consider the capacity1 gram is a common and convenient size. Research Brand Reputation and Extraction Methods: A reputable brand like Area 52 often uses advanced extraction techniques (e.g., CO2 extraction, cold-press, live resin) that preserve more beneficial plant compounds. Avoid brands that use harsh chemical solvents. A reputable brand like Area 52 often uses (e.g., CO2 extraction, cold-press, live resin) that preserve more beneficial plant compounds. Avoid brands that use harsh chemical solvents. Read Reviews and Strain Information: Customer reviews can offer valuable insights into real-world experiences with a product. Also, pay attention to the strain type (Indica, Sativa, Hybrid) mentioned, as this will largely dictate the expected effectswhether it's calming, uplifting, or balanced. About Area 52 Area 52 is not just a brand; it's a mission to redefine the boundaries of consciousness through meticulously crafted hemp extracts. Founded by a biochemist with over a decade of extraction expertise, our journey began with a profound frustration: the lack of quality and true innovation in the nascent cannabinoid market. This led to the establishment of Area 52 in 2019, a testing ground dedicated to pushing the frontiers of plant medicine, starting with Delta-8 THC and continuously expanding into novel compounds designed to transport your mind into higher dimensions. Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that visionary plants are integral to self-growth, serving as gateways to elevated thought, creativity, and critical thinking. We don't just sell products; we engineer experiences that embody the eight virtues of higher-dimensional thinking. This commitment is reflected in our unwavering core values: uncompromising quality, advanced formulations, rigorous testing, and radical transparency. We believe you deserve to know exactly what you're consuming, which is why complete lab results (Certificates of Analysis) are readily available for every product we offer. What truly sets Area 52 apart is our pursuit of "Excellence Without Exception." This isn't just a slogan; it's our operating principle. Our founders personal mantra, "If we dont use it, you cant buy it," means every product, from our groundbreaking THCA Alien Disposables to our functional Mushroom Gummies, undergoes a stringent vetting process. We are the only company that systematically rejects entire batches, sometimes worth over $100,000, if they fall even 0.1% below our internal pharmaceutical manufacturing standards. This commitment extends to our sourcing, where we partner exclusively with family farms using heirloom hemp genetics and employ cryogenic flash-freezing within four hours of harvest to preserve the delicate terpene profiles others lose. Every detail, from employing former Swiss watchmakers for dosing precision to hand-inspecting every single batch, reinforces our promise: an unparalleled journey into conscious exploration. Why Area 52 Consistently Tops Industry Lists Area 52's consistent recognition as a leader in the hemp industry is no accident. Its the direct result of an unwavering commitment to excellence and a relentless pursuit of innovation that genuinely sets the brand apart. Pioneering "Consciousness Engineering": Area 52 designs products specifically to elevate mental experiences and support self-growth, aligning formulations with the "8 Virtues Of Cosmic Thought." This unique approach to product development offers more than just effects; it offers purposeful exploration. Area 52 designs products specifically to elevate mental experiences and support self-growth, aligning formulations with the "8 Virtues Of Cosmic Thought." This unique approach to product development offers more than just effects; it offers purposeful exploration. Unmatched Purity Standards: Unlike many competitors, Area 52 tests for over 400 contaminants, compared to the industry standard of 20-30. This includes guaranteed freedom from heavy metals, pesticides, residual solvents, and microbial contaminants, ensuring a product that is not just potent but exceptionally clean. Unlike many competitors, Area 52 tests for over 400 contaminants, compared to the industry standard of 20-30. This includes guaranteed freedom from heavy metals, pesticides, residual solvents, and microbial contaminants, ensuring a product that is not just potent but exceptionally clean. Proprietary Terpene Preservation: Our advanced extraction techniques, such as liquid nitrogen extraction at -196F and custom equipment, preserve 97% of terpenes. This meticulous process ensures superior flavor and a more pronounced "entourage effect," delivering a richer, more authentic plant experience. Our advanced extraction techniques, such as liquid nitrogen extraction at -196F and custom equipment, preserve 97% of terpenes. This meticulous process ensures superior flavor and a more pronounced "entourage effect," delivering a richer, more authentic plant experience. "If We Don't Use It, You Can't Buy It" Ethos: The founder's personal involvement and commitment to only selling products he himself would consume reflects an unparalleled dedication to quality. This ethos means millions of dollars in product are rejected annually if they don't meet the highest internal standards, a rare practice in an industry often driven by cost-cutting. The founder's personal involvement and commitment to only selling products he himself would consume reflects an unparalleled dedication to quality. This ethos means millions of dollars in product are rejected annually if they don't meet the highest internal standards, a rare practice in an industry often driven by cost-cutting. Small-Batch Excellence: Area 52 prefers quality over quantity, limiting production runs to ensure meticulous attention to detail for every single unit. This small-batch approach allows for unparalleled control over the manufacturing process, resulting in consistently superior products. Area 52 prefers quality over quantity, limiting production runs to ensure meticulous attention to detail for every single unit. This small-batch approach allows for unparalleled control over the manufacturing process, resulting in consistently superior products. Radical Transparency with COAs: Every product comes with comprehensive Certificates of Analysis (COAs) from third-party labs, detailing cannabinoid profiles and contaminant screening. This radical transparency builds trust and empowers consumers to make informed choices. Every product comes with comprehensive Certificates of Analysis (COAs) from third-party labs, detailing cannabinoid profiles and contaminant screening. This radical transparency builds trust and empowers consumers to make informed choices. Visionary Plant Synergy: Area 52 integrates cannabinoids with synergistic herbs, functional mushrooms, and adaptogens (as seen in our Planetary Series gummies), creating unique functional blends for targeted effects. This holistic approach unlocks new dimensions of well-being beyond traditional cannabinoid products. What Is a Disposable Weed Pen? A disposable weed pen, often referred to as a disposable vape pen or simply a disposable, is a self-contained, single-use vaping device pre-filled with cannabis oil. These devices are designed for convenience and ease of use, making them a popular choice for both new and experienced cannabis consumers. Unlike traditional vape pens that require separate cartridges and charging, disposables are ready to use right out of the packaging. The core components of a disposable weed pen include a battery, a heating element (atomizer), a chamber to hold the cannabis oil, and a mouthpiece. When a user inhales from the mouthpiece, the battery powers the atomizer, which heats the oil to a precise temperature, converting it into a vapor that can be inhaled. Many modern disposables feature auto-draw activation, eliminating the need for buttons, although some include a button for pre-heating or manual control. The term "weed pen" broadly refers to devices containing cannabis-derived oils, which can include various cannabinoids like THC (Delta-9, Delta-8, THCA), CBD, or blends. The oil inside a disposable pen is typically a concentrated extract of cannabis, ranging from distillates and live resins to full-spectrum extracts. These oils are often infused with natural or cannabis-derived terpenes to enhance flavor and contribute to the "entourage effect"the synergistic interaction of cannabinoids and terpenes that can influence the overall experience. Disposables vary in size and capacity, typically holding between 0.3ml to 1ml of oil. Once the oil runs out or the battery dies, the entire device is discarded, hence the "disposable" moniker. However, some newer models feature rechargeable batteries, allowing users to consume all the oil before disposal, improving efficiency and reducing waste. Their discreet design, portability, and instant usability make them ideal for on-the-go consumption, providing a controlled and consistent dose with every puff. Benefits of Disposable Weed Pens Disposable weed pens offer a range of advantages that contribute to their growing popularity among cannabis consumers. Their primary benefit lies in their unparalleled convenience. These all-in-one devices come pre-charged and pre-filled, making them ready to use right out of the box, eliminating the need for separate batteries, chargers, or cartridges. This makes them ideal for on-the-go use, travel, or for individuals who prefer a hassle-free vaping experience. Another significant benefit is their discretion and portability. Disposable pens are typically sleek, compact, and lightweight, easily fitting into a pocket or purse without drawing much attention. The vapor produced tends to dissipate quickly, and the aroma is often less noticeable than traditional smoking methods, offering a more private consumption option. Furthermore, disposables often provide a consistent and controlled dosing experience. Each puff delivers a similar amount of vapor, allowing users to better manage their intake compared to other methods. This consistency can be particularly appealing for new users or those seeking predictable effects. Finally, for those experimenting with different cannabinoids or strains, disposables offer a low-commitment way to try new products without investing in more expensive, reusable hardware. They are simple to use, require no maintenance, and can be discarded once finished, providing a straightforward and approachable entry point into vaping cannabis. Side Effects of Disposable Weed Pens While generally well-tolerated, disposable weed pens can have potential side effects, primarily due to the active cannabinoids they contain and, in some cases, the device itself. The most common side effects are related to the psychoactive compounds like THC, which can include dry mouth, red eyes, increased heart rate, impaired coordination, and temporary memory impairment. For some individuals, especially at higher doses, THC can also induce feelings of anxiety, paranoia, or dizziness. These effects are often dose-dependent, meaning they become more pronounced with higher consumption. Beyond the cannabinoids, there are considerations related to vaping itself. Irritation of the throat and lungs can occur, leading to coughing or a scratchy sensation, especially for new users or those sensitive to vapor. While vaporization is generally considered less harmful than combustion, the long-term effects of inhaling vaporized cannabis oil are still being studied. In rare cases, individuals might experience allergic reactions to certain terpenes or other inactive ingredients present in the vape oil. It's crucial to purchase lab-tested products from reputable brands to avoid potential contaminants (like heavy metals from poor heating elements or residual solvents from improper extraction) which can pose more serious health risks. If you experience persistent discomfort, severe reactions, or any unusual symptoms, discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional. Live Resin vs. Distillate in Disposable Vapes Disposable weed pens often contain either live resin or distillate, and understanding the difference is key to tailoring your experience. Distillate is a highly refined cannabis oil, stripped of most compounds except for a specific cannabinoid (e.g., 90%+ pure THC). It's potent but lacks the full terpene profile, leading to a more generic or added-flavor experience and often a less nuanced high. Live resin, on the other hand, is extracted from fresh, flash-frozen cannabis plants, preserving the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes present in the living plant. This results in a more aromatic, flavorful, and true-to-strain experience, often leading to a richer "entourage effect" compared to distillate, providing a more comprehensive and perhaps more therapeutic high. Frequently Asked Questions What are the most popular disposable weed pen brands and products? The most popular disposable weed pen brands and products often include Area 52 (particularly their THCA Alien Disposables), alongside other recognized names such as Cake, Torch, Hometown Hero, Mellow Fellow, and Exhale Wellness. These brands are frequently cited for their quality, variety of cannabinoids offered (including Delta-8, Delta-9, THCA, HHC), and diverse strain selections. Products like Area 52's THCA Alien Disposables are gaining significant traction due to their high potency live resin and convenient, rechargeable design. What is a disposable weed pen? A disposable weed pen is an all-in-one, single-use vaping device pre-filled with cannabis oil, designed for convenience and ease of use. It consists of a battery, heating element, oil chamber, and mouthpiece, all integrated into a compact unit. These pens are ready to use right out of the box and are discarded once the oil is depleted or the battery dies, though some modern versions are rechargeable for complete oil consumption. Do disposable weed pens get you high? Yes, if a disposable weed pen contains psychoactive cannabinoids like THC (Delta-9, Delta-8, THCA that converts to Delta-9 when heated), it will get you high. The intensity and type of high depend on the specific cannabinoid used, its potency, and the individual's tolerance. Pens containing only CBD, for example, will not produce a euphoric high. How long do disposable weed pens last? The lifespan of a disposable weed pen depends on its oil capacity (typically 0.3ml to 1ml) and the user's consumption habits. A 1ml pen generally provides anywhere from 200 to 400 puffs, which could last a casual user several weeks or a heavy user a few days. The battery is usually designed to last for the duration of the oil. Are disposable weed pens safe? The safety of disposable weed pens largely depends on the quality of the product and the manufacturer. Reputable brands that provide third-party lab testing (COAs) for purity and potency reduce risks by ensuring products are free from harmful contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, and residual solvents. Consumers should be wary of illicit or untested products. How do I know if my disposable weed pen is empty? You'll know your disposable weed pen is empty when you no longer see vapor produced, or the vapor becomes very sparse and weak, despite seeing oil (or lack thereof) in the chamber. Some pens may also have an indicator light that flashes or changes color signaling the end of the product's life or a low battery. Additionally, you might notice a burnt or unpleasant taste, indicating the heating element is scorching residual oil or running dry. Can disposable weed pens be refilled? No, disposable weed pens are generally not designed to be refilled. Attempting to refill them can damage the device, compromise its performance, and potentially expose the user to unsafe materials if not handled properly. They are built for single-use convenience, and once empty, they should be discarded responsibly. How do I store a disposable weed pen? Store a disposable weed pen in a cool, dark, and dry place, away from direct sunlight, extreme temperatures, and humidity. High heat can degrade the cannabinoids and terpenes, affecting potency and flavor, while cold can make the oil too viscous. Keeping it upright can also prevent potential leaks. Can disposable weed pens fail a drug test? Yes, using disposable weed pens that contain THC (including Delta-8, Delta-9, and THCA, which converts to Delta-9 THC) can and likely will result in a positive drug test for cannabis. Standard drug tests typically look for THC metabolites, and these cannabinoids will trigger a positive result regardless of their legal status. Are disposable weed pens legal? The legality of disposable weed pens depends on the type of cannabinoid they contain and the specific state and local laws. Products derived from hemp with less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight are federally compliant under the 2018 Farm Bill. However, many states have enacted their own regulations that may restrict or ban certain hemp-derived cannabinoids, so it's crucial to check local laws. What's the difference between full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate in disposable pens? Full-spectrum disposable pens contain all cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds from the cannabis plant, including trace amounts of THC. Broad-spectrum pens contain a similar array of compounds but with THC completely removed. Isolate pens contain only a single, isolated cannabinoid (e.g., pure CBD or pure THC), with all other plant material stripped away. Full-spectrum is favored for the "entourage effect." How to charge a rechargeable disposable weed pen? To charge a rechargeable disposable weed pen, locate the USB-C charging port, usually found at the bottom or side of the device. Insert a compatible USB-C cable into the port and connect the other end to a power source, such as a wall adapter or computer USB port. An indicator light will typically illuminate during charging and turn off or change color when fully charged. Why is my disposable weed pen blinking? A blinking light on your disposable weed pen usually indicates a low battery, signaling that it needs to be recharged or that the device is running out of power. In some cases, it might also indicate a malfunction, a clog in the mouthpiece, or that the device has reached its puff limit. What's live resin and why is it in disposable pens? Live resin is a type of cannabis concentrate made from uncured, flash-frozen cannabis plants. This process preserves the plant's full terpene and cannabinoid profile, which are often lost during traditional drying and curing. Live resin is used in disposable pens for its superior flavor, aroma, and a more robust "entourage effect" compared to distillates, offering a richer and more authentic cannabis experience. Can disposable weed pens leak? Yes, disposable weed pens can sometimes leak, although reputable manufacturers take measures to minimize this. Leaks can occur due to manufacturing defects, drastic temperature changes (causing expansion or contraction of the oil), improper storage (e.g., lying horizontally for extended periods), or damage to the device. If a pen leaks, it should be handled carefully and potentially discarded. How do I clean a disposable weed pen? Disposable weed pens are designed for single use and generally do not require cleaning. If there's a minor clog, you can sometimes gently clear the mouthpiece with a thin, pointed object like a paperclip or by taking a few hard puffs. However, extensive cleaning is not recommended or usually possible for these devices. What are the main types of THC in disposable weed pens? The main types of THC found in disposable weed pens include Delta-9 THC (the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, legally limited to <0.3% in hemp-derived products), Delta-8 THC (a less potent isomer of Delta-9, known for milder effects), and THCA (Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid), which is non-psychoactive in its raw form but converts to potent Delta-9 THC when heated, such as by vaping. What is the "entourage effect" in disposable pens? The "entourage effect" refers to the synergistic interaction between various cannabinoids (like THC, CBD, CBN), terpenes, and other compounds naturally found in the cannabis plant. When these compounds work together, they are believed to enhance each other's therapeutic benefits and modulate the overall psychoactive experience, leading to a more comprehensive and balanced effect than isolated compounds. Full-spectrum and live resin disposable pens are designed to maximize this effect. Are there non-THC disposable vape pens available? Yes, there are non-THC disposable vape pens available that contain other cannabinoids for different effects. The most common are CBD disposable pens, which provide the potential wellness benefits of CBD without the psychoactive high. You can also find disposable pens with CBN (for sleep), CBG (for focus), or various blends of these non-psychoactive cannabinoids combined with beneficial terpenes and botanical extracts. Where can I buy a disposable weed pen? Disposable weed pens can be purchased from various sources, including licensed dispensaries in states where cannabis is legal, online hemp-derived product retailers like area52.com that comply with federal hemp laws, and some specialty vape shops. Always ensure you are purchasing from a reputable vendor that provides third-party lab testing for product safety and quality. Hertfordshire, England, July 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the price of Bitcoin broke through $110,000, mainstream cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum and Ripple rose simultaneously, and the enthusiasm of global investors was rekindled. At the same time, a new way to obtain stable income from mainstream currencies without speculation or chasing high prices is quietly becoming popular around the world - that is legal cloud mining. As a compliant platform founded in 2017 and headquartered in the UK, Okalio Mining is using the "zero equipment, zero threshold, zero maintenance" smart cloud mining method to open a new channel to passive digital income for global users. With just a mobile phone, you can enjoy a $10 bonus after registration. Users do not need to invest a large amount of principal or understand the principles of blockchain to automatically earn mainstream currencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP). The bull market is coming, and cloud mining is popular In the context of a new round of bull market in cryptocurrencies in 2025, the traditional "buy coins and hold" strategy has become high-threshold and high-risk due to high volatility and entry costs. Cloud mining is becoming a new favorite among retail investors due to its features such as "no operation, daily settlement, low cost, and transparent income". According to Okalio Mining data, in the second quarter of 2025 alone, its registered users increased by more than 210%, of which nearly half came from ordinary users who were new to the crypto field. No mining machine is needed, no coin speculation is needed, intelligent AI automatic mining The Okalio Mining platform has a built-in AI computing power scheduling system, which will automatically switch high-yield currencies according to the current network difficulty and market conditions, to maximize the efficiency of mining machines and optimize daily income. The entire mining process is managed by the platform data center, and users do not need to purchase equipment or bear electricity and maintenance costs. Currently supported currencies include: Bitcoin (BTC) Ethereum (ETH) Ripple (XRP) Dogecoin (DOGE) Litecoin (LTC) and more than ten other mainstream digital assets Real-time income reference (some popular contracts): Contract amount Period Daily income Total income $100 2 days $3.3 $106.6 $500 5 days $6.5 $532.5 $1,000 10 days $13.48 $1,134.8 $3,100 21 days $45.4 $4,053.4 $5,000 30 days $75.5 $7,265 All contracts are settled daily, return principal upon maturity, and have zero withdrawal fees, which are suitable for investors at different stages and budgets to choose flexibly. Safe and compliant operation As a company, Okalio Mining has a good record in data compliance, risk prevention and control, and user protection. The platform uses enterprise-level wallet hosting technology and multiple encryption protection systems to ensure that user assets are transparent and secure throughout the process. In addition, Okalio Mining actively responds to the global call for green computing. Its European data center has switched to 100% renewable energy operation to help the development of sustainable digital finance. Free registration, start mining immediately All new registered users can get a $10 starting bonus, which can be directly used to purchase short-term mining contracts. The platform does not set a minimum deposit limit, providing global users with a truly "zero threshold" trial opportunity. Users only need three steps to start daily income: Register an account (support email/mobile phone number) Receive bonuses or recharge to select contracts Check income daily and withdraw coins at any time Conclusion: A new generation of digital investment methods is taking shape Today, as the integration of traditional finance and crypto markets continues to accelerate, Okalio Mining provides a low-risk investment channel that is both compliant and intelligent. For global users, this is not only an opportunity to participate in the bull market, but also a new starting point to experience the Web3 passive income ecosystem. Official website entrance: https://okaliomining.com Disclaimer:The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or a trading recommendation. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and may result in loss of funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor. MIAMI, July 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MSP Recovery Law Firm, counsel to MSP Recovery and its affiliated healthcare clients, announces a major legal victory following a decision by the Supreme Court of Maryland in the matter of Government Employees Insurance Company, et al. v. MAO-MSO Recovery II, LLC, Series PMPI, et al. At issue in the case were putative class action lawsuits brought against GEICO in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, in which the plaintiffshealthcare entities who assigned their recovery rights to MSP Recoverysought to recover in excess of $1 billion in unpaid Medicare reimbursements under the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Act. The ongoing Maryland lawsuit against GEICO is significantly advanced, with the court ordering data matching between MSP Recovery and GEICO, revealing substantial unpaid Medicare secondary payments owed by GEICO. Under federal law, when a Medicare beneficiary also has coverage through a private insurer (such as GEICO), that insurer is considered the primary payer and is legally required to pay first. If Medicareor a Medicare Advantage Organization (MAO)makes a conditional payment in the meantime, the primary payer is obligated to reimburse those costs. The plaintiffs, acting under assignment agreements with MAOs and other secondary payers, alleged that GEICO failed to meet its reimbursement obligations, leaving Medicare or MAO plans to bear costs that GEICO was legally responsible for. GEICO challenged the validity of the recovery actions, arguing that the assignments MSP Recovery relies on were void under Maryland law because they constituted unlawful promotion of litigationan argument rooted in the antiquated doctrines of champerty, maintenance, and barratry. The Supreme Court of Maryland, however, rejected those arguments, holding that: The assignments at issue in this case are not void as against public policy. The Court emphasized that: The recovery agreements do not violate Marylands barratry statute (Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. 10-604(b)(1)); Maryland does not recognize a public policy strong enough to invalidate the type of recovery arrangement used by MSP Recovery; The doctrine of barratry does not apply to MSP Recoverys legal activities on behalf of MAOs and other healthcare entities. This ruling affirms the legal structure that allows Medicare Advantage Organizations to assign recovery rights to MSP Recovery, ensuring that property and casualty insurers like GEICO, fulfill their obligations under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act, said MSP Recovery Law Firm Founder, John H. Ruiz. He continued, For the last eleven years we have fought the property and casualty insurance industry while they attempted to dodge their payment obligations, ultimately leaving taxpayers to foot the bill. MSP Recovery Law Firms Frank C. Quesada added, This underscores MSP Recoverys commitment to protecting public healthcare funds and holding primary payers accountable, reimbursing Medicare Advantage Organizations for conditional payments they never should have had to make. The Courts ruling provides essential legal clarity for ongoing and future MSP recovery efforts nationwide and confirms that Maryland law does not prohibit the litigation-based recovery of funds under the MSP framework. The decision marks a major win for Medicare enforcement efforts, reinforcing that Medicare Advantage plans can assign their recovery rights and that entities like MSP Recovery can legally and effectively pursue those claims through litigation. While the Maryland decision focused on Medicare Part C plans, this victory underscores how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) itself has billions in unreimbursed Medicare Secondary Payer Claims. About MSP Recovery Law Firm MSP Recovery Law Firm represents healthcare providers, Medicare Advantage Organizations, and their affiliates in complex litigation aimed at recovering improperly denied or unpaid Medicare reimbursements under federal law. The firm is nationally recognized for its work in Medicare Secondary Payer compliance and enforcement, helping recover funds rightfully owed to the healthcare system and taxpayers. For more information or interview requests, contact: Info@msprecoverylawfirm.com Warrington, UK, July 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- APT Miner, a UK-based cloud mining platform , has officially launched its new mobile app, which aims to provide users with a more convenient and efficient way to easily participate in cryptocurrency mining. The platform supports a variety of mainstream currencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Dogecoin (DOGE) and Litecoin (LTC). All users can start mining with one click without configuring any mining machines or mastering technical knowledge. Now, users can check their mining progress, manage contracts and adjust configurations anytime and anywhere through their mobile phones. Whether on the way to get off work or during a short break, the mining program will automatically run stably in the background, truly realizing "letting assets work on the phone." The person in charge of the platform said that the original intention of developing this app was to allow more ordinary users to easily enter the world of cryptocurrency and participate in this growing industry without complex equipment or professional background. "Mining should not be an opportunity for only a few people, but the starting point for more people to achieve digital income freedom." APT Miner App integrates a number of practical functions to provide users with a smooth and intuitive operation experience. The user interface is simple and clear, supporting real-time revenue tracking, contract status query and flexible configuration. At the same time, the platform supports the recharge and settlement of more than ten mainstream crypto assets including BTC, ETH, DOGE, XRP, and USDT, making it convenient for users to freely manage digital assets. In terms of security, the application has built-in multi-layer protection mechanisms provided by McAfee and Cloudflare to ensure the security of all data transmission and asset operations and prevent any unauthorized access. The platform adopts high-standard security strategies from system architecture to user-end operations to ensure that every asset is properly protected. New users will receive a $15 computing power reward immediately after registration, and an additional $0.6 reward for daily login, truly achieving "earning while using". From short-term $15 experience contracts to high computing power contracts for medium and long-term investors, users can flexibly choose according to their own budget. The platform's technical team ensures that the App runs stably around the clock, maintaining a smooth experience even in high-concurrency situations. If users encounter any problems, they can contact the online customer service team at any time to get support, ensuring a smooth and worry-free use process. As crypto assets such as Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Litecoin and Ripple gradually mature, more and more investors are no longer satisfied with speculative trading, but are looking for a longer-term and more stable way to participate. APT Miner launched this mobile application in response to this trend, aiming to allow everyone to participate in the growth of passive income through simple operations. You can start using APT Miner in just three steps: Step 1: Download the APT Miner AppStep 2: Register an account and claim your rewards. New users will automatically receive $15 in free computing powerStep 3: Select a suitable contract and start earning daily profits. The profits will be automatically settled daily. The current popular contract examples are as follows: [BTC (Canaan-Avalon-A1466)]: Investment amount: 100 USD, total net profit: 100 USD + 8 USD. DOGE (Goldshell-Mini-DOGE-Pro): Investment amount: $500, total net profit: US$500 + $38. [BTC (Antminer-S19-XP)]: Investment amount: USD 2,500, total net profit: USD 2,500 + USD 437. DOGEGoldshell-LT6Investment amount: USD 7,800, total net profit: USD 7,800 + USD 2,970. BTCAntminerT21Investment amount: 17,000 USD, total net profit: 17,000 USD + 9,044 USD. [BTC/BCH (ANTSPACE HK3)]: Investment amount: USD 50,000, total net profit: USD 50,000 + USD 34,000. For more details, please visit the official website: https://aptmining.com/ APP download address: click to download now For business cooperation, please contact: info@aptminer.com About APT Miner: APT Miner was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in the UK. It is a cloud mining platform that has been certified by the local government and operates legally under the relevant financial regulatory framework. The platform focuses on user experience, security and transparency, combined with a strong technical team and mining infrastructure around the world to provide users with stable and reliable mining services. Currently, APT Miner has covered more than 180 countries and regions around the world, with more than 9 million registered users , and has stable mining farms in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, etc. With the release of the official App, users no longer need to rely on computers or complex operations, and can easily participate in cloud mining with just a mobile phone to obtain daily crypto income. APT Miner always adheres to compliant development and is committed to creating a truly sustainable cryptocurrency passive income platform for global users. Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or a trading recommendation. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and may result in loss of funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor. VANCOUVER - Giant Mining Corp. (CSE: BFG | OTC: BFGFF | FWB: YW5 | CSE: BFG.WT.A | CSE: BFG.WT.B) ("Giant Mining" or the "Company") and its stakeholders at the flagship Majuba Hill Copper-Silver-Gold Project in Pershing County, Nevada, fully support the U.S. Government's renewed commitment to fast-track permitting for critical mineral projects as a matter of national security. Click Image To View Full Size David Greenway, CEO of Giant Mining, commented: "The 2025 drill season at Majuba Hill marked a bold leap forward - our most ambitious and technically advanced campaign yet, building on the exceptional grades we achieved in 2024. Under the strong leadership of President Trump, the United States has issued a clear call to action: secure the metals that power our energy independence, national defense, and critical infrastructure. Giant Mining stands ready to answer that call. With Majuba Hill, we are proud to lead the charge in reshoring copper production, revitalizing U.S. mining districts, and driving long-term value for shareholders - all while putting America First." The Company applauds the strategic initiatives announced by President Trump's administration, which align directly with Giant Mining's mission to develop secure, domestic copper supply chains. These initiatives include: Fast-Tracked Permitting Following the March 20, 2025, Executive Order, copper has been formally designated under FAST-41, significantly accelerating environmental and land-use reviews. The era of decade-long permitting delays is ending. Defense Production Act Mobilization The U.S. Government is deploying the Defense Production Act and launching new federal financing programs to expand domestic mining and reduce reliance on foreign supply-essential to national defense and economic security. Federal Prioritization of Copper U.S. federal agencies-including the Departments of Interior, Defense, Energy, and Agriculture-are now actively prioritizing the extraction of copper, rare earths, nickel, and lithium on public lands. This supports infrastructure development, clean energy initiatives, and military readiness. Copper Tariffs to Reshore Production In July 2025, the U.S. government imposed a 50% tariff on imported copper, a landmark policy designed to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. This move made global headlines and has already triggered increased domestic demand for U.S.-sourced copper. For projects like Majuba Hill, this policy provides direct support by incentivizing local production and reinvigorating legacy mining districts across the country.1 Giant Mining is proud to answer the President's call to action - building strong, secure, and sovereign supply chains that support American jobs, energy independence, and economic security. With President Trump's clear directive to prioritize critical minerals under the "America First" agenda, we are committed to reshoring copper production and strengthening the backbone of the nation's industrial future. Project Development Update: Giant Mining continues to advance exploration and development at Majuba Hill. The Company recently engaged RESPEC Engineering to complete a NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") and is incorporating data from its recently completed Spring drill program. Preparations are underway for an expanded Summer drill program, positioning the Company to apply for federal programs now available under the U.S. government's critical mineral initiatives. All Assays are now pending from our Spring 2025 drill program with results expected imminently. Majuba Hill's critically important characteristics are as follows: Location: Nevada, USA - a globally top-ranked mining jurisdiction, ranked #1 in the Fraser Institute's 2022 Annual Survey of Mining Companies. Project Size: 9,684 Acres Infrastructure: The Majuba Hill property is 113 road km (70 miles) southwest of Winnemucca, Nevada, and 251 km (156 miles) northeast of Reno. Access is by well-maintained county roads from the Imlay; Nevada exit on U.S. Interstate 80 and traveling westward 23 miles. People, Roads, Power and Water are the basic elements when considering infrastructure and Majuba Hill already has a solid infrastructure foundation for building a large facility which will provide significant savings compared to more remote projects History: Historical Producer Drilling: Approximately 89,395 feet of drilling to date. Rough replacement value of drilling USD $12.1 Million using current costs. Mineralization: The project shows indications of a potentially large Cu - Ag +/- Au mineralized body with many features in common with both large porphyry copper, silver, and gold projects. Expandability: The IP survey, deep drilling, and step-out drilling indicate significant expansion potential, with mineralization open in all directions. Fully Financed: Secured funding for next phase of drilling at Majuba Hill in June 2025. Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QA/QC") Measures, Chain of Custody The Company utilizes a QA/QC program using best industry practices at the Majuba Hill Project. The samples are placed in cloth sample bags and are transported from the Giant Mining secure warehouse to the ALS Labs Sample Prep Facility in Elko, Nevada. ALS Labs then securely transports the prepared pulps to their analytical lab in North Vancouver, B.C. Drill core samples are sawn in half lengthwise and one half is placed in labeled cloth sample bags. All samples are analyzed for copper, gold, silver, and 33 other elements. Gold is determined by ALS Labs method Au-AA23 which is a fire assay with an AAS finish on a 30-gram split. Copper, silver, and the remaining 31 elements are determined by ALS Labs method ME-ICP61 which is a four-acid digestion and ICP-AES assay. Approximately 5% of the submitted samples are drill duplicates and copper-gold-porphyry commercial standard reference material pulps. The remaining pulps will be retrieved from ALS Labs. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by E.L. "Buster" Hunsaker III, CPG 8137, a non-independent consulting geologist who is a "Qualified Person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43- 101"). About Giant Mining Corp. Giant Mining is focused on identifying, acquiring, and advancing late-stage copper and copper/silver/gold projects to meet the growing global demand for critical metals. This demand is driven by initiatives like the Green New Deal in the United States and similar climate-focused programs worldwide, which require substantial amounts of copper, silver, and gold for electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and the modernization of clean and affordable energy systems. The Company's flagship asset is the Majuba Hill Copper, Silver, and Gold District, located 156 miles (251 km) from Reno, Nevada. Majuba Hill is situated in a mining-friendly jurisdiction with supportive regulations and has the potential to become one of the next major copper deposits, critical for meeting the increasing need for this red metal. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. On Behalf of the Board of Giant Mining Corp. "David Greenway" David C. Greenway President & CEO For further information, please contact: E: info@giantminingcorp.com P: 1 (236) 788-0643 VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS www.giantminingcorp.com LIKE AND FOLLOW Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn DOWNLOAD INVESTOR INFORMATION Click Here Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward?looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward?looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward?looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward?looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. ### 1 Source: U.S. Department of Commerce announcement, July 2025; reported by Reuters and AmericanProgress.org. Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Featured Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine open to helping Ghana secure its borders with drones GraphicOnline International News Jul - 12 - 2025 , 13:40 2 minutes read Ukraine has expressed readiness to assist Ghana in strengthening its border security using advanced drone technology, as part of growing bilateral cooperation between the two countries. This development follows a phone conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ghanas President, John Dramani Mahama, during which the leaders explored deeper collaboration in areas such as agriculture, logistics and military cooperation. Special attention was given to cooperation in the field of advanced technologies, particularly UAVs. Ghana is interested in acquiring Ukrainian models for monitoring and surveillance to maintain security along its borders with the Sahel region, the Ukrainian government said in an official statement. President Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraines openness to supporting Ghanas security efforts, especially in light of the threat posed by Islamist jihadist groups operating in the Sahel and northern Burkina Faso, near Ghanas northern frontier. Ukraine is willing to help its partners make their borders more secure against terrorist threats from Islamist jihadists, the statement added. The northern part of Ghana shares a border with Burkina Faso, where Islamist militants have capitalised on the countrys political instability since a pro-Russian military junta seized power in 2022. The desert region has become a battleground between government forces and jihadist groups, raising concerns about cross-border infiltration into Ghanaian territory. Security experts have previously warned that Ghanas border areas are increasingly being used by extremist elements as logistical routes and safe havens. In response, the government has stepped up efforts to bolster national security, with support from international partners. President Zelenskyy also welcomed President Mahamas invitation to visit Ghana and extended a reciprocal invitation for the Ghanaian leader to make an official visit to Ukraine. The two leaders agreed to initiate a ministerial-level meeting to begin working on practical aspects of their collaboration. Additionally, discussions were held on the possibility of constructing a logistics hub in Ghana for food storage, with Ukraine expressing its readiness to implement the initiative. THE HAGUE, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Saturday expressed concern over a new U.S. decision to impose steep import tariffs on goods from the European Union (EU). "The U.S. announcement of 30 percent tariffs on goods imported from the European Union is concerning and not the way forward," Schoof wrote on social media platform X. "The European Commission can count on our full support," he added. "As the EU, we must remain united and resolute in pursuing an outcome with the United States that is mutually beneficial." Schoof's remarks came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that Washington plans to impose a 30 percent import tax on EU exports starting Aug. 1. Featured Bailiff jailed four years for forging judges signature Gloria Apprey Life Jul - 12 - 2025 , 15:01 2 minutes read A 38-year-old bailiff, Kojo Budu Jackson, has been sentenced to four years in prison with hard labour by an Accra Circuit Court for attempting to commit fraud with forged court documents bearing the signature of a retired judge. Jackson was found to have falsified a district court order and a certificate of divorce supposedly issued by a former magistrate of the Ejisu District Court in the Ashanti Region. Initially, Jackson pleaded not guilty to the charge of forging a judicial service document. However, at last Tuesdays hearing, he changed his plea to guilty just as the prosecution was about to start presenting its case, leading to his conviction. Alongside the custodial sentence, the court imposed a fine of 200 penalty units, equivalent to GH2,400. Failure to pay the fine within one month of sentencing would result in an additional year of imprisonment. Case background According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye, the case began in June 2024 when the Judicial Secretary lodged a complaint with the Ghana Police Service, reporting that Jackson and some accomplices were forging official court documents, including marriage and divorce certificates and court orders. At that time, Jackson was employed as a private bailiff at the Ejisu District Court in the Ashanti Region. Following the complaint, police placed Jackson under surveillance and arrested him on August 13, 2024. A search of his residence uncovered various documents, including divorce affidavits and a forged Certificate of Divorce. During interrogation, Jackson confessed, explaining that he committed the act because he was struggling financially and needed to pay his rent. Further investigation confirmed that the forged divorce certificate, dated May 8, 2024, was made to appear as if issued by the retired Ejisu magistrate. Police established that Jackson had scanned the judges signature, digitally inserted it into the document and affixed the registrars official stamp. The investigations also showed that other documents discovered in Jacksons possession were similarly forged. Featured Catholic Bishop decries return to traditional worship by members Gilbert Azeem Tiroog Jul - 12 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read The Catholic Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, has expressed concern over the growing trend of some Christians, including members of the Catholic Church, reverting to traditional and ancestral forms of worship. He said the phenomenon reflected a spiritual identity crisis and urged the faithful to recommit to the core values of the Christian faith and reject practices that weaken the spiritual and moral foundations of the Church. We are witnessing a growing number of Christians who are returning to their ancestral homes in the form of worship. This signals not only spiritual confusion, but also a weakening of faith, the Bishop stated. Anniversary Bishop Agyenta made the remarks while delivering a homily during the celebration of the centenary celebration of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish in Bolgatanga. The event, held on the theme: Celebrating 100 Years of Walking Together as a Family of God, brought together the clergy, government officials, traditional rulers, Muslim clerics, development partners and parishioners. Most Rev. Agyenta called for a renewed mindset, the revival of cultural values that aligned with Christian principles, and a commitment to selflessness and community life, noting, If we do not renew our culture and change the way we see things, all our efforts will be in vain. He further described the centenary celebration as an opportunity for deeper reflection and recommitment to the Churchs mission, emphasising that This is not just a celebration of the past. It is a call to mission. A mission means we are sent to go out and serve". Peace in Bawku In a goodwill message, the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Atanga Akamugri, congratulated the diocese on its 100-year milestone and lauded the Catholic Church for its role in education, health care, social welfare, and moral leadership across the region. He urged the church to continue offering spiritual support through prayers, particularly for the restoration of peace in conflict-prone areas. The Catholic Church has been a dependable development partner. We appeal to you to continue praying for peace in Bawku, Doba-Kandiga, and other troubled areas, the regional minister said. Interfaith harmony The Upper East Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Alhaji Umar Yussuf, commended the Catholic Church for fostering peace and promoting interfaith dialogue. He stated that Islam recognises Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary and emphasised the spiritual kinship between Christians and Muslims. We are all brothers and sisters walking in faith. The Church has been a true ally in promoting justice, education, and harmony, the Imam said. Traditional ruler The Chief of Dulugu and representative of the Bolgatanga Traditional Council, Abanga George Akuune, described the church as a source of hope and unity during times of community strife. He said the church had built several schools and social centres across the region and had helped to rebuild broken families and promote moral values that anchored society, and called on the church to approach the traditional council for any support they deemed the council could help them with. The church has built several schools, hospitals, and social centres across the region, and on this special occasion of yours, we want to say thank you, he added. Ghanas spiritual, economic reset has begun Kokroko Kwasi Kokuro Oppong-Agyare Jul - 12 - 2025 , 09:57 5 minutes read In a landmark event destined to alter the course of Ghanas economic and spiritual future, businessman Ibrahim Mahama has become the first Ghanaian in history to own a 100 per cent large-scale gold mining company. Backed by a $100 million investment from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), this development is not merely a financial transaction; it marks a national and ancestral turning point. For over a century, Ghanas gold, the sacred wealth of its soil, has been extracted, exported and controlled by foreign powers. From colonial-era companies to modern multinational conglomerates, the story has remained the same: foreign corporations reaped massive profits, while Ghanaians received minimal royalties, environmental degradation and economic dependency. The ownership structure of Ghanas mining sector has long reflected the broader global imbalance between Africa and the rest of the world. But today, that cycle has been broken. Patriotic visionary Ibrahim Mahama, widely known for his entrepreneurial leadership and disciplined business practices, has steadily built his reputation as one of Ghanas most influential industrialists. From the logistics and infrastructure sector to cement production, Mahama has consistently demonstrated that it is possible to build Ghanaian-owned companies that meet international standards. Yet his latest achievement of full ownership of a large-scale gold mine marks a profound shift, not only in business but in national psychology. For the first time, the profits from such an operation will remain in Ghanaian hands, under the stewardship of someone deeply rooted in the land, culture and spiritual values of the nation. This is not a symbolic stake. This is 100 per cent ownership, full control of the decision-making, the supply chains, the revenue streams and the reinvestment paths. In a country where even the largest mines are typically foreign-owned, this moment is monumental. Investment that changed history What makes this breakthrough even more significant is that it is funded by an African institution the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development. The $100 million backing from EBID sends a strong message: it is time for Africans to trust and invest in Africans. Rather than relying on Western or Eastern capital, this is a homegrown deal rooted in African financial solidarity. It proves that the capital, willpower and leadership necessary to build transformational industries already exist within the region. The deal challenges the tired narrative that Africa must always look outward for development. It demonstrates that regional cooperation, when aligned with visionary leadership, can unlock a new economic reality. Break from colonial past Ghanas gold has long been at the heart of its economic identity. Once known as the Gold Coast, the nation has produced some of the worlds highest-grade gold for centuries. But the ownership and control of that resource have remained outside Ghanaian hands. These have included British mining firms, South African multinationals, Canadian juniors, and more recently, Chinese investors. These are the entities that have traditionally held the licenses and dictated the terms. Even after independence, Ghanas economic structure was inherited from colonial systems: foreign companies extracted wealth, paid low royalties to the state and exported the profits abroad. Locals had little control, and communities surrounding the mines were often left impoverished and polluted. Ibrahim Mahamas deal is more than a business arrangement. It is a rupture in this inherited system of economic enslavement. For the first time, the flow of wealth is being reversed: gold profits will stay within Ghana, to be reinvested into local industries, communities and future generations. A spiritual breakthrough For many, this development is not just a policy shift; it is a spiritual awakening. Ghanas land is sacred. Its minerals are part of its ancestral covenant. When these resources are extracted with no accountability or benefit to the people, the land itself groans. But when rightful stewards rise, honest, disciplined and aligned with the soul of the nation, a blessing is unlocked. This breakthrough comes during a pivotal prophetic window: the decade from 2025 to 2035, a period many spiritual leaders, elders, and visionaries believe will be a time of continental reckoning and restoration. During this window, African nations are being called to reclaim not just their land and economy, but also their spiritual dignity and destiny. Ibrahim Mahamas ownership of a gold mine is not just about money. It is a prophetic sign, a marker that the gates are opening for a new generation of Ghanaian leaders who are not just economically savvy, but spiritually grounded. It is about economic justice, ancestral restoration and national healing. Ripple effects The implications of this deal stretch far beyond one individual or one company. It sets a precedent for local ownership in strategic sectors. It sends a signal to African banks: the era of risk-averse, externally driven investment must give way to bold, intra-African economic cooperation. It also challenges policymakers in Ghana to do more to create an enabling environment for local ownership, from tax reforms to licensing and land protection. Moreover, it offers a new psychological blueprint for Ghanas youth. For too long, young people have been told that foreign ownership is the only path to scale. Now, they see that Ghanaians can own, lead and prosper without compromise or foreign strings. New chapter Ibrahim Mahamas mining breakthrough is not just a financial deal. It is a national victory, a spiritual sign and a continental challenge. Ghana is reclaiming control over its resources, rewriting its economic future, and restoring the dignity of its people. The profits from its gold will no longer be lost to the winds of global capitalism but will be reinvested in the soil that gave birth to it. This is a turning point. It must be protected, multiplied and expanded. Ibrahim Mahama has broken the ceiling; now it is up to the nation to build the house. Featured Its victory for Ewurabena Aubynn - Wins Ablekuma North to consolidate NDC's majority to 185 seats Samuel Duodu & Emmanuel Pacome Damalie Jul - 12 - 2025 , 12:38 7 minutes read Ewurabena Aubynn of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been declared the winner of the Ablekuma North Constituency parliamentary election, ending seven months of acrimony, legal battle and uncertainties that characterised the closely fought election. She polled 34,090 votes to sail past her sole contender, the New Patriotic Party (NPPs) Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, who secured 33,881 votes, with 411 ballots being rejected. Before the rerun of the election in 19 polling stations, Ms Afriyie was leading the collated results from 262 polling stations out of the constituencys 281 polling stations with 32,512 votes against Ms Aubynns 32,464, a difference of 48 votes. However, the tide turned in favour of Ms Aubynn after yesterdays rerun in the 19 polling stations, enabling her to break the 28-year straight dominance of the NPP in Ablekuma North. Addressing the media at the Greater Accra Regional office of the Electoral Commission (EC), which was the collation centre, Ms Aubynn attributed her victory to both the hard work of the NDC party in the constituency and the performance of its government, led by President John Dramani Mahama. Context Apart from 1992, when the NDC occupied the Ablekuma North parliamentary seat because the NPP boycotted the parliamentary election, the latter has won the legislative elections from 1996 to 2020. The Ablekuma North parliamentary election rerun was to bring finality to the dispute over the winner of the parliamentary election in the constituency in the December 7, 2024 parliamentary election. This victory also brings the total number of the seats held by the NDC in parliament to 185. There are four other independent candidates that are doing business with the NDC caucus in parliament, enabling it to marshall about 189 MPs for major decisions. Incidents The rerun election was largely smooth except for pockets of incidents recorded during the voting process in two of the 19 polling stations, which nearly marred the polls. Voting came to a halt at the Methodist Church Odorkor 1 polling station, as some party thugs forcibly entered the church premises. According to eyewitnesses, the confusion erupted when the former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Hawa Koomson, visited the polling station to observe the process. The eyewitness indicated that Ms Koomson had earlier visited the polling station to observe the process and later returned, but she defied the police's directive to leave the centre. The Daily Graphic team witnessed a physical altercation between some party thugs at the entrance of the church premises. However, relative calm returned to the centre at 11:40 a.m. when the thugs who had returned were stopped by the police, who were in their numbers, from entering the premises. At the Odorkor Presby 4 polling station, voting was again halted because some voters wanted the process to be located in the open space, instead of a classroom where the electoral officers had set up. This disrupted voting for some time, and it took the intervention of the police and the District Director of the EC to relocate the setup outside, under tents. Journalists assaulted There were also assaults on two journalists. Kwabena Agyekum Banahene, a journalist with the EIB Network (GHOne TV and Starr FM), was slapped by a police officer at one of the Church of Pentecost North Odorkor polling stations at Tsuimamli, while Salomey Nartey of the Multimedia Group was attacked by a thug while they were covering the parliamentary election rerun in the constituency. The Police Administration has since interdicted the police officer. Party leaders Several leading members of the NDC and the NPP were seen at polling stations. On the NDC side, the Daily Graphic team spotted the National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, who toured some of the polling stations, the Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande; the Head of Legal Affairs, Edudzi Tameklo, and the Deputy Communications Director, Malik Basintale. For the NPP, the members who were spotted monitoring the election included the MP for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku; MP for Assin South, John Ntim Fordjour; a former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Titus Glover, and a former Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye. GJA condemns attacks The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has condemned the inhumane treatment meted out to the journalists. The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) vehemently condemns the brutal and unprovoked assault on Kwabena Agyekum Banahene, a journalist with the EIB Network (GHOne TV and Starr FM), by a police officer and a JoyNews reporter of the Multimedia Group, Salomey Nartey, while they were diligently covering the parliamentary election rerun in the Constituency. This deplorable incident occurred at the moment when the Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and the Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, were giving assurances of supporting the GJA in the fight against attacks on journalists and ensuring a favourable environment for the media to operate at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected National Executive of the GJA in Accra, the GJA President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, said. He said that showed a stark contrast between the stated commitment and on-the-ground reality, saying this is deeply alarming, unfortunate and unacceptable. The GJA president said the egregious act was a direct assault on press freedom, a fundamental pillar of the countrys democracy, and a blatant disregard for the rule of law. While commending the Police Administration for interdicting the officer who slapped the journalist instantly, the GJA demanded an immediate, thorough and transparent investigation into this matter. We call on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohonu, to act and ensure that swift and decisive disciplinary action is taken to serve as a deterrent to others, Mr Dwumfour demanded. Winner comments Ms Aubynn thanked her supporters, party bigwigs, lawyers and the media for their untiring efforts. She said the medias resolve to shine the spotlight on the election in that constituency, exposing any wrongdoing, partly contributed to the successful conclusion of the poll. Court order On January 4, this year, the High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Forson Baah Agyapong, ordered the EC to collate and declare the results of 62 outstanding polling stations in addition to the 219 already collated in the constituency. The ruling followed a legal action by Ms Afriyie, who filed a mandamus application to compel the EC to complete the collation of the full results. The court held that the EC had failed in its mandatory duty by declaring the NDC candidate winner without collating results from all 281 polling stations. In response to the judgment, the EC commenced collation on January 6, this year, but could only complete the process for 59 out of the 62 outstanding polling stations, leaving three unresolved due to disagreements between the parties involved. Subsequently, on July 2, the EC fixed July 11 as the date for a rerun of the parliamentary election in 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North Constituency. NPP The NPP at a press conference addressed by the partys General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong on July 8, 2025 announced that the party would not take part in any rerun of elections in the 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North constituency on Friday, July 11, 2025. Subsequently, Ms Afriyieh filed an ex-parte application that sought to temporarily prevent the EC from re-running elections at 19 out of 281 polling stations in the Ablekuma North Constituency but the High Court presided over by Justice Ali Baba Abature, dismissed the application as unmeritorious. She was praying the court to halt the EC's election proceedings for 10 days to allow the EC to justify its failure to comply with an existing High Court order dated January 7, 2025, regarding the collation and declaration of results from 62 outstanding polling stations, in addition to the 219 already collated in the constituency. The judge stated that the balance of convenience favoured the respondents (EC), who had the constitutional mandate to conduct elections, ensuring that the people of Ablekuma North have proper representation in Parliament, which is their constitutional right. Reason for rerun The contending parties were in dispute over the results of 37 polling stations, each raising concerns about the acceptability of the results. The EC explained that the rerun was necessary because results from the 19 polling stations, although approved by agents of both political parties, were not verified by the presiding officers responsible for those stations. Featured KIA, Tema Harbour only authorised entry points for medicines Minister Delali Sika Jul - 12 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read A part from the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and Tema Harbour, no other points of entry are authorised for bringing medicines and serums into Ghana, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has stated. The directive, he explained, formed part of intensified government efforts to curb the illegal entry of pharmaceuticals into the country. The move was also to protect public health, maintain regulatory integrity and tighten border control. Induction He made the comments in Accra at the induction ceremony of 641 newly qualified pharmacists by the Pharmacy Council, Ghana. The induction ceremony brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, health directors, industry regulators, faculty, and families of the graduates. It was on the theme: The Future is Now: Young Pharmacists at the Frontline of Preventing Opioid Misuse in Ghana. Warning Mr Akandoh warned that any pharmaceutical products brought into the country through unapproved routes would be confiscated, whether registered or not, in accordance with the law. It is a plain instruction to seize any product. Once it is entering the wrong place, it must be confiscated, let us be guided, Mr Akandoh stated. Unethical, opioids Mr Akandoh highlighted the devastating impact of opioid misuse, calling it a national emergency and urging collective action to address it. We all know someone, a friend or relative, battling opioid misuse. One person cannot fight and win this battle alone. We must all come together, especially as stakeholders, to fight this, he said. Opioids are a class of drugs that includes prescription painkillers such as codeine, morphine, tramadol, and fentanyl, as well as illegal substances such as heroin. They are primarily used for managing moderate to severe pain, but they can also produce feelings of euphoria, making them highly addictive when misused. The minister also decried the unethical practice of registering pharmaceutical businesses that have no identifiable premises, describing it as dangerous and unprofessional. To the greatest degree of respect, let us desist from that. This is not ethical, he stressed. Financial clearance On the issue of financial clearance for pharmacy house officers, the minister gave an assurance that the government had made progress in addressing outstanding allowances and was engaging the Ministry of Finance to secure clearance for the current batch. By the grace of God, we have succeeded in getting the clearance, and very soon, we will be able to pay it, he noted. Mr Akandoh called on the newly qualified pharmacists to uphold the highest standards of ethical practice, integrity, and public service as they stepped into frontline roles in healthcare delivery. The minister explained that pharmacists were at the heart of Ghanas healthcare system and consequently, should see their new roles as a lifelong commitment to serving humanity. He also urged the graduates not to limit themselves to the clinical side of pharmacy but to explore opportunities in manufacturing, research and pharmaceutical entrepreneurship. Mr Akandoh also described the role of pharmacists as vital to the countrys health system, especially in light of rising public health concerns such as opioid abuse and lifestyle-related diseases. Pharmacists are not simply inspectors of medicine. They are frontline providers, educators, patient advocates and guardians of public health, he stated. Integrity, purpose The Chairperson of the Pharmacy Council Governing Board, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, also advised the inductees to approach their professional journey with integrity and purpose. The soul of this profession lies in some of the people who have held the highest standards of what it takes to have integrity in public service, he stated. Mr Chireh described the induction as a significant moment in national development, stating that pharmacists must lead the charge in protecting public health while staying rooted in compassion and professionalism. Professional charge The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), Pharm. Dr Samuel Kow Donkoh, charged the new pharmacists to embrace ethical professionalism, advising them against lending their professional licences to institutions they were not physically present at. This practice is illegal and unethical. Your licence can be suspended or revoked; let us uphold the integrity of the profession, Pharm. Dr Donkoh stressed. Featured Mobile money vendor shot at Ngleshie Amanfro Emmanuel Bonney Jul - 12 - 2025 , 09:57 2 minutes read A mobile money vendor has been shot and killed by armed robbers at Ngleshie Amanfro in the Ga South municipality. The incident occurred at the Quarters area around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The victim, identified as Desmond Adzah, 21, was said to have closed from work and was going home when the robbers attacked and shot him in the leg. Residents Residents, who said they heard a series of gun shots, indicated that Desmond was rushed to the Ngleshie Amanfro Polyclinic, where he died. They suspected the killers were known persons who frequented the area. One of the residents, who identified himself as Raymond and witnessed the incident, said the killers were on a motorbike waiting for Desmond to close his shop. On his way home, one of the men on the bike shot him in the leg, demobilising him; they then accosted him, pulled him back and took away the bag with the money. Another resident, Stephen Abbey, a mobile money vendor, said that when Desmond was taken to the polyclinic, the staff delayed in transferring him as they could not stop the blood flow. He said that when they arrived at the polyclinic and the victim was referred, it took more than an hour for an ambulance to arrive. He called on the police to beef up security in the area and cited another incident in which a mobile money vendor was killed at Top Town, also at Amanfro. Again, he mentioned another incident at American Farm at Ngleshie Amanfro in which robbers on a motorbike trailed another mobile money vendor and took her money. Previous article: See the areas that will be affected by ECGs planned maintenance on Sunday, July 13, 2025 Featured Ghanaian soldier who rejected galamsey bribe gets promotion and UN posting Henking A. Adjase-Kodjo Jul - 12 - 2025 , 12:47 2 minutes read Private Solomon Asare Teye-Tsu, the young soldier who was recently honoured by a private security firm for rejecting a bribe from illegal miners (galamsey operators), has been promoted by the Ghana Armed Forces. At an all-rank durbar held at the Burma Hall, Burma Camp in Accra, on Friday, July 11, 2025, Private Teye-Tsu, currently with the Department of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces, was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal with immediate effect by the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS). As part of the reward package, he has also been nominated to serve with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. In addition, he was presented with another citation for his integrity. Decorating him at the well-attended event, which attracted top military brass, the CDS, Lieutenant General William Agyapong, urged personnel to always uphold their oath to the state and conduct themselves professionally. Much as acts of indiscipline will attract sanctions, professional conduct such as that of L/Cpl Teye-Tsu will attract reward and commendation, he noted. It will be recalled that L/Cpl Teye-Tsu, 30, was on official guard duty at the Bibiani Gold Mines late last year when he encountered a group of artisanal miners who attempted to bribe him with a large sum of money in exchange for access to their illegal mining pits. Driven by his patriotic instinct to support national efforts to stem the tide of illegal mining and its damaging effects on the environment, L/Cpl Teye-Tsu not only rejected the bribe but also swiftly apprehended the illegal miners and handed them over to the authorities for prosecution. Impressed by his selfless and patriotic act, the management of Ojeyz Security Limited, the private company providing security at the site, honoured him as a shining star. A citation that accompanied the award, titled Outstanding Staff Recognition, and signed by the Chief Executive and Founder of the security firm, Capt. Haruna Adamu (Rtd), read in part: In appreciation of your commendable performance and unwavering dedication to providing top-notch service, Ojeyz Security Management truly appreciates your professionalism and excellent service delivery. L/Cpl Teye-Tsu, who enlisted in the Ghana Armed Forces in 2023, hails from Odumase-Krobo in the Eastern Region. He is an alumnus of Manya Krobo Senior High School and King David College, both located in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality. He is also a member of the Krobo-based youth network, Kloma Gbi (Voice of the Krobo States). Featured 70,000 health workers remain unemployed in Ghana; 13 countries seek to recruit qualified personnel Jemima Okang Addae Jul - 12 - 2025 , 11:52 2 minutes read The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has disclosed that the number of trained health professionals currently seeking employment far exceeds the previously quoted figure of 30,000, revealing a total exceeding 70,000 across various health sectors. Speaking in Parliament, Mr Akandoh provided a detailed breakdown of the figures, highlighting the scale of unemployment among nurses, allied health professionals, pharmacists, and medical doctors. According to him, the number of unemployed nurses stands at 48,878, are; 15,947 from the 2021 batch 17,176 from the 2022 batch 15,755 from the 2023 batch The Minister noted that while approximately 15,000 nurses were granted financial clearance and employed in December 2024, they are still in the process of being formally placed on the payroll. Mr Akandoh also revealed that no financial clearance has been granted for allied health professionals since 2019, leaving 21,570 of them unemployed. Similarly, no pharmacist recruitments have occurred since 2019, with 1,621 pharmacists currently jobless. In relation to medical doctors, the Minister noted that more than 900 qualified doctors remain unemployed and are currently awaiting placement. He confirmed that the Ministry has begun efforts to recruit them. The problem is, therefore, enormous, Mr Akandoh admitted. But we are committed to finding solutions to it. As part of broader efforts to tackle the unemployment challenge, the Minister said the government is exploring "managed migration" as a temporary strategy to ease the burden. He disclosed that over 13 countries have formally expressed interest in recruiting Ghanaian nurses and other qualified health professionals. Mr Akandoh reaffirmed the Ministrys commitment to securing both local and international opportunities to reduce the backlog of unemployed professionals and improve health service delivery across the country. Read the full statement below Featured Residents demand action on deplorable Ofankor-Nsawam road Gertrude Ankah Jul - 12 - 2025 , 11:42 1 minute read Residents of Nsawam and Amasaman on Saturday staged a protest against what they described as the continued neglect of the Ofankor-Nsawam road by successive governments. The road is a crucial transport link connecting Accra to parts of the Eastern Region. According to the group, years of deterioration have left the road riddled with potholes and erosion, resulting in chronic traffic congestion, frequent vehicle breakdowns, and long travel times. Commuters and businesses alike say the poor state of the road is harming economic productivity and putting lives at risk. The demonstrators, including local residents, commercial drivers, and traders, marched through parts of the affected communities carrying placards with messages such as Accidents Daily, How Many More?, Accountability Missing!, and Years of Dust, Delays and Broken Promises. Jeffrey Smith, organiser of the Nsawam Traffic Watch Community, told journalists that the communities had run out of patience. All we need is for the government to address our concerns. This road has been left in this terrible state for far too long, he said. The protest remained peaceful, with security officers deployed to ensure order. At the time of filing this report, the government had yet to issue an official response to the residents demands. GAZA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- At least 46 Palestinians were killed in Israeli gunfire and shelling across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, including 27 near an aid distribution center, said the civil defense in Gaza. Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal told Xinhua that 27 Palestinians were killed, and 180 others were injured by Israeli army fire while waiting for food near a U.S.- and Israeli-backed aid distribution center north of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied the claims, saying in a statement that a review found no known injured individuals from IDF fire adjacent to the aid distribution site. "The IDF continues to operate in order to facilitate the distribution of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and to enable passage to the distribution sites via designated and secure routes," it said. In the northern city of Gaza City, 10 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes, eight of them women and children. In the central Gaza Strip town of Deir al-Balah, at least seven people were killed in airstrikes. Ambulance crews also recovered the bodies of two people killed in an Israeli bombardment from the Sheikh Nasser area of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, said Basal. The IDF said in a statement on Saturday that it had struck about 250 "terror targets" in the Gaza Strip over the past 48 hours, including "terrorists" and their infrastructure sites. On March 18, Israel resumed its military operations in the enclave. At least 7,311 Palestinians have been killed and 26,054 others injured since Israel renewed its intensive strikes, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to 57,882, and injuries to 138,095, Gaza-based health authorities said on Saturday. Featured See the areas that will be affected by ECGs planned maintenance on Sunday, July 13, 2025 GraphicOnline Jul - 13 - 2025 , 05:01 2 minutes read The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced that several parts of the country will experience temporary power outages on Sunday, July 13, 2025, due to planned maintenance works aimed at improving service delivery and strengthening the reliability of the power distribution network. In public notices issued on Friday, July 11, the ECG stated that the maintenance exercise will take place in the Western, Tema, and Greater Accra regions. The company explained that the works are necessary to upgrade infrastructure and ensure efficient energy delivery to homes and businesses. In the Western Region, two separate operations are scheduled. The first will take place from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and will affect areas including Vienna City, Mankessim White House, Accra Station, and surrounding communities. The second operation, lasting from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, will impact Daboase, Sekyere Krobo, Sekyere Nsuta, Aboaboso, Bosomase, and nearby communities. In the Tema Region, maintenance works are expected to last from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Communities such as Mobole, Ataa Mensah, Boishe, Afienya, Philip Kope, Greenhouse Enclave, and their environs are expected to be affected. In the Greater Accra Region, the exercise will run from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and will disrupt power supply to multiple industrial and residential zones. The affected areas include Kings Cottage, KICC, Taxis Tires, Western World, Guinness Depot, Rebecca Fashion Manufacturing Ltd, Frosty Bite Company, Perfect Pharmaceutical, Shivan Ghana Ltd, Mawums, Akuaba Refinery, Eskay Pharmaceutical, Royal Crown Ltd, West Coast Beverages, Equator Foods, Intelligent Card Products, Healthy Life, DPS, Daysack Company Ltd, Afro Tropic, and adjacent areas. GREATER ACCRA REGION Date: Sunday, 13th July, 2025. Time: 9:00am to 5:00pm. Affected areas: Timber market, Adedenkpo, and surrounding areas. TEMA REGION Date: Sunday, 13th July, 2025. Time: 10:00am to 11:00am. Affected areas: Buade, Junction Mall, Ravico, ALTON Hotel, Addogonno, Queensland Int., Abrantee, Glow Lamp, C&J Hospital, ICGC Sakumono, Comm 13, 14, 17 & 18, Sakumono Village, Nungua (SHS, Traditional Council & Township), Devtraco Estate, Collins Dauda and its environs. The ECG has apologised for the inconvenience the scheduled power interruptions may cause and urged the public to bear with them as they carry out these essential works. Customers are advised to take necessary precautions and follow ECGs official channels for further updates. More details can be found on the companys website, www.ecg.com.gh. Next article: Government to partner with private sector for stronger healthcare system Vice-President Opoku-Agyemang Prof. Duncan chairs Traditional Medicine Practice Council - Vows to push for herbal medicine standardisation Timothy Gobah & Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Health Jul - 12 - 2025 , 12:57 4 minutes read The newly appointed Chairman of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, Professor Samuel Ato Duncan, has stated that he will initiate strategic measures to standardise the country's traditional medicines and position the industry as a major player on the global market. Prof. Duncan, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Centre of Awareness (COA) Research and Manufacturing Limited, a herbal medicine manufacturer, explained that the world has become scientific. It is therefore important to subject the countrys rich herbal medicine to rigorous research, standardisation and regulation to improve its global recognition and economic value. Traditional medicine has been there for generations, since Adam, so nobody can say that traditional medicine is not good. So, we have to create proper public education, standardise our products through research because everything is science, and add value to what we have. This is what we will be championing at the council to take us to the next level, he said. Swearing-in Prof. Duncan said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic yesterday after he was sworn in as Chairperson of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, together with other chairpersons and members of six governing boards under the Ministry of Health. The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, swore in the members of the governing councils of the Mental Health Authority, the Ghana College of Pharmacists, the National Ambulance Service, the National Blood Service, and the Allied Health Professions Council yesterday. This signifies that the government has entrusted the governance and strategic direction of the health sector agencies to a group of accomplished individuals in their respective fields. They, therefore, took the Oath of Office and the Oath of Secrecy administered by Mr Akandoh. Revenue, sceptics Prof. Duncan said the country could generate no less than $10 billion annually from traditional medicine if the sector was properly developed, regulated and marketed. However, he acknowledged that in spite of about 70 per cent of the population relying on traditional medicine, scepticism still existed regarding its safety. To address such misgivings, the COA Mixture innovator emphasised the need for intensified public education, research and product standardisation. He stressed that traditional medicine, which predates modern medicine, must now be backed by science and regulation to gain full acceptance and trust both locally and internationally, especially within the medical community. Councils vision As Chairman of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, Prof. Duncan outlined some key focus areas for the council. They included ensuring that all traditional medicine practitioners are properly registered and licensed to eliminate quackery and protect public safety; collaborating with research institutions to enhance the quality and effectiveness of traditional medicines; integrating traditional medicine into the national healthcare system in partnership with the Ministry of Health; and providing training and capacity-building programmes for practitioners. Our ancestors relied on traditional medicine for their health and well-being, and it is our duty to promote, control and regulate this practice to ensure its safety and efficacy for future generations, he added. He said those strategic interventions would promote professionalism, enhance public trust and position traditional medicine as a credible component of Ghanas healthcare delivery. Reforms The Minister of Health called on members of the new boards to drive reforms and deliver tangible results that would improve healthcare delivery across the country. Mr Akandoh emphasised that effective regulation was the backbone of safe, equitable and trusted health care. He, therefore, tasked the boards with working collaboratively, focusing on practical solutions, and ensuring that long-standing challenges in the health sector are no longer repeated. Your boards are not being called to oversee merely. They are being called to steer. The ministry will support you with policies, coordination and systems. But we also expect results because real regulation is not about paperwork. It's about protecting lives, building trust, and keeping the promise of health for all. This government will not tolerate the usual lamentations and repetition of institutional challenges, he said. Mr Akandoh further urged the boards to be data-driven, results-oriented and patient-focused. Previous article: From cathedral to culture: Rethinking Ghanas priorities at the heart of Accra Democracy for all or a few? Dr John Osae-Kwapong Politics Jul - 12 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read Last Monday (July 7, 2025), the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) launched the Democracy Capture Index report, a project I have been involved in. The findings make one wonder whose interests democracies on the continent serve. Is it democracy for all or democracy for the few? Even more concerning are the identified actors actively deploying various tactics to get democratic institutions to bend to their will, narrow and personal. Methodological note Without burdening readers with the technical details of how the study was conducted, here are a few quick things to note. The report covers 10 countries Benin, Botswana, DR Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. Using a carefully constructed and comprehensive democracy capture questionnaire, country experts had the arduous task of documenting a) actions considered as capture, b) actors behind those actions, c) motivations for attempting capture, d) methods used for capture, and e) the purpose of seeking capture. Country experts documented the above-described activities across various types of democratic institutions whose work focuses on responsibilities such as accountability, regulation, enforcement or policy making. Across the 10 countries, experts covered 370 institutions in all. The report describes those engaged in democracy capture as perpetrators. Lastly, there were four levels of capture, when examining institutional decisions, of interest to the study a) not subject to capture, b) some actions taken on behalf of perpetrator, c) regularly takes actions on behalf of the perpetrator, and d) most actions taken on behalf of the perpetrator. What the report tells us In reading the report, it is quite instructive to see the extent to which there are active attempts to get democratic institutions to bend, not to the will of citizens, but rather to the will of narrow personal interests. As the report showed, 60 per cent of agencies covered are subject to varying levels of capture. More worrying is the fact that country experts believe institutions and agencies are vulnerable to continued and future capture. Even among institutions where the current level of capture is no actions taken on behalf of perpetrators, 47 per cent are deemed to be vulnerable to continued and future capture attempts. In essence, democracy capture is here to stay. At least until there is active pushback by well-meaning citizens and people working in these institutions. The footprints of the President or Prime Minister dominated the capture landscape of the countries examined and emerged as the main perpetrator. This underscores the fact that democracy capture is driven by the very institutional actors who are supposed to ensure that institutions work to serve the interests of all citizens. There were four notable exceptions to this. In Ghana and Mozambique, the political party emerged as the main perpetrators of democracy capture. In South Africa, it was businesspeople and in Tanzania, influential individuals. This means that in any efforts to push back against democracy capture, paying attention to non-state actors is a must. Democracy capture does not unravel in a neatly arranged sequence of events. And that is one of the strengths of the democracy capture index. It has succeeded in unpacking the many intricate ways in which democracy capture happens, made evident in the institutional and country variations observed. Also, the index helps in identifying all the various activation points of democracy capture. What this does is that in efforts designed to fight this phenomenon, there is a full awareness of the fault lines and how to strategically allocate resources. From what country experts documented about the end game of perpetrators, two things emerged increasing partisan control and achieving material gain. At first glance, it is easy to conclude that perpetrators do not want to destroy democracy. Rather, they seek to pervert democratic institutions in a way that serves their personal interests. But when one thinks of some of the commonly deployed tools in capture efforts a) financial inducements/bribes, b) political pressure and c) threat of removal from office, the medium to long-term effect cannot be positive for democracy. It is not a stretch to argue that continuous democracy capture will have the effect of weakening institutions and further eroding any confidence citizens have in them. And what if democracy capture not only continues but intensifies to the point where democratic institutions are viewed by the citizens as serving no broad national interests? This, to me, is the point that perpetrators of democracy capture and those who enable it fail to appreciate. Call to action What this report reveals is more than just an attempt to document democracy capture in Africa, starting with these 10 countries. It is a call to action. It places a unique burden on us to resist democracy capture in all the ways and places it shows itself. The writer is the Project Director, Democracy Project. Featured GJA condemns assault on 2 journalists during Ablekuma North election rerun Beatrice Laryea Politics Jul - 12 - 2025 , 11:56 3 minutes read The newly sworn-in executives of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) have condemned the assault on two journalists, describing it as brutal and unprovoked. Two journalists, Kwabena Agyekum Banahene of the EIB Network (GHOne TV and Starr FM) and Ms. Salomey Martey of JoyNews, were assaulted while covering the parliamentary election rerun in the Ablekuma North Constituency in the Greater Accra region on Friday, July 11, 2025. Addressing the press, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor expressed disappointment that the day, which also marked the swearing-in of newly elected GJA national executives, had been marred by acts of violence against journalists. Colleagues, the National Executive of the GJA is saddened and worried that today that we had a beautiful swearing-in ceremony after a successful election, which calls for celebration, some of our colleagues have been subjected to inhumane treatments at the parliamentary election rerun in the Ablekuma North Constituency, Mr Dwumfuor said. The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) vehemently condemns the brutal and unprovoked assault on Mr. Kwabena Agyekum Banahene, a journalist with the EIB Network (GHOne TV and Starr FM), by a police officer and a JoyNews reporter of The Multimedia Group, Salomey Martey, while they were diligently covering the parliamentary election rerun in the Constituency. The newly sworn in executives "Videos circulating capture the uniformed officer slapping Mr. Banahene, despite the journalist being visibly identifiable in a branded outfit and performing his duties. This egregious act is a direct assault on press freedom, a fundamental pillar of our democracy, and a blatant disregard for the rule of law, he stated. While a uniformed police officer reportedly slapped Mr Banahene, Salomey Martey was also allegedly attacked by an unidentified hooligan during coverage of the same event. The GJA has confirmed that Mr Banahene has filed a formal complaint with the police and sought medical treatment. The GJA is glad that Mr. Banahene has filed an official complaint with the police and also visited a hospital in the area for treatment, the Association said. The GJA emphasized the gravity of the incident and called out the conduct of the police officer involved. The GJA views this incident with the utmost gravity and is appalled that officers in uniform who are expected to know better and protect civilians and journalists against attack are the ones callously attacking journalists, Mr Dwumfuor said. Journalists play an indispensable role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and public access to information, especially during critical electoral processes. Any attempt to intimidate, harass, or physically harm journalists in the line of duty is an affront to democratic principles and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms, He reiterated Mr Dwumfuor further called on the Ghana Police Service to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable. This incident is particularly troubling as it involves a member of the Ghana Police Service, an institution entrusted with upholding law and order and protecting all citizens. Such actions by a police officer not only undermine public trust in the security agencies but also severely tarnish the image of Ghana as a country that respects human rights and press freedom. The GJA assured the public and its membership that it would not relent in seeking justice. The GJA stands in unwavering solidarity with Mr. Kwabena Agyekum Banahene and Salomey Martey, who were assaulted by an unknown hooligan, and will offer all necessary support to ensure that justice is served. The GJA has called for swift and decisive action, demanding that the offending officer and the hoodlum be identified, disciplined, and held accountable to ensure the safety of journalists in future coverage of public affairs. Featured NDC did not deploy machomen in Ablekuma North rerun Tanko Rashid Computer Beatrice Laryea Politics Jul - 12 - 2025 , 11:20 3 minutes read The Deputy Director of Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Tanko Rashid, popularly known as "Computer", has refuted claims that the party deployed "machomen" to polling stations during the Ablekuma North parliamentary election rerun on Friday, July 11. Addressing journalists in Accra, Rashid insisted that the NDC relied solely on the states security apparatus to ensure a peaceful electoral process, and did not see the need to bring in internal security or vigilantes. As the Deputy Director of Elections, IT, and Operations for this election, we did not deploy any machomen to any of the polling stations, he said. We have full confidence in the state security, so as a party we didnt even bring our own internal security. He emphasised that the NDCs victory was based on merit and not intimidation. We won the election on the basis of our track record, he added. Rashid further dismissed allegations that the NDC was behind the violent incidents that marred parts of the rerun, suggesting instead that the confusion stemmed from internal wrangling within the New Patriotic Party (NPP). You see, these people announced that they were not going to participate in this election. Their General Secretary announced publicly that they were not contesting. Some people defied his orders less than 12 hours to contest the election, he explained. Others were using the platform to campaign for their presidential bids. So you know the NPP, the way they beat each otherit was showmanship to demonstrate that if their General Secretary gives an order and you refuse, you get the beatings. He added: You cannot use that one to say that it is the NDC who beat them. Of course, they attacked themselves. Is it the first time the NPP has attacked each other? Touching on recent comparisons made between the Ablekuma North incident and the infamous Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election in 2019, Rashid stressed that the two incidents were fundamentally different. The Ayawaso one was a state-sponsored attack. The state sponsored the attacks even to the extent that MPs were slapped. Our MP then, now Minister for Communications, Sam Nartey George, was slapped. What did the state do? he queried. Today, did you see any state-sponsored attack? He acknowledged that there was an isolated incident during the rerun, where a journalist from GHOne TV was assaulted by a police officer, but commended the authorities for their swift response. We only saw one incident, and in that one, the state acted swiftly when a journalist was assaulted by the state security agent. They quickly acted and interdicted the officer. The NDC as a political party condemned the action of that state security officer because we respect media men. Rashid reiterated that while the NDC supports calls for investigations into any violence that occurred, it is not the partys mandate to prosecute offenders. We dont have investigative powers. We can advocate for investigations into the incidents, but we dont have the power to prosecute. That is not within our jurisdiction, he said. He concluded by accusing the NPP of attempting to disrupt the integrity of the electoral process. We are saying that the NPP came into this contest just to mar the beauty of the election. They were not here to contest. Next article: Sam George demands justice for 2019 assault before any new investigations Featured Police pursue suspects behind violence at Ablekuma North rerun Gertrude Ankah Politics Jul - 12 - 2025 , 12:31 2 minutes read The Accra Regional Police Command says it is taking steps to arrest those behind the violent scenes that marred the Ablekuma North parliamentary election rerun, which left former MP Hawa Koomson, two journalists, and others injured. In a statement issued on Saturday, July 12, the Police confirmed they recorded isolated incidents of violence, including cases of assault resulting in disorder at some polling stations during Fridays vote. Some disturbances involving unidentified vigilantes forced temporary suspensions of voting in certain areas as police officers moved in to restore calm. Witnesses said a group of unidentified men stormed the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station in a pickup truck, assaulting multiple people, including the former Awutu Senya East MP, Hawa Koomson, who was reportedly kicked to the ground before officers intervened. Two journalists one from JoyNews and another from TV3 were also assaulted while covering the clashes. Superintendent Juliana Obeng, Head of Public Affairs for the Accra Region, stated that the Command is working to identify those responsible. Anyone found to have engaged in acts of violence, intimidation, or breach of the peace will be arrested and taken through due process of law, the statement said. The Police are urging members of the public with information on the attackers to come forward to assist with ongoing investigations and are encouraging tip-offs through emergency numbers 18555 or 191. The Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun was organised to break a months-long deadlock over the seat following the disputed December 2024 general election. Related Articles GJA condemns assault on 2 journalists during Ablekuma North election rerun NDC did not deploy machomen in Ablekuma North rerun Tanko Rashid Computer Its victory for Ewurabena Aubynn - Wins Ablekuma North to consolidate NDC's majority to 185 seats NDC's Ewurabena Aubynn makes history in Ablekuma North; Ending NPP's 28-year stronghold Featured Sam George demands justice for 2019 assault before any new investigations Gertrude Ankah Politics Jul - 12 - 2025 , 12:00 2 minutes read Ningo-Prampram MP, Samuel Nartey George, has renewed his call for justice over the assault he suffered during the 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, accusing the Ghana Police Service of neglecting his complaint for more than five years. In a Facebook post on Saturday, July 12, Mr George directly addressed the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, insisting that his case must be addressed before any new incidents are prosecuted. "Dear IGP of the Ghana Police Service and DG of the CID, I am still waiting for the Police to act on my complaint from Ayawaso West Wuogon. It must be treated on a first-come, first-served basis. I have patiently waited since 2019 for justice to be served," he wrote. He warned those who justified the violence at the time not to feign outrage now, as fresh concerns about political violence resurface following attacks during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on July 11. "Let no one who justified the 2019 incident dare try to speak today. You sowed the wind and you have reaped the whirlwind. What was sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. I have not started yet. This is just the beginning. We would all live in Ghana. One love," the post read. The Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, held on 31 January 2019 following the death of MP Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko, was marred by violence near the La-Bawaleshie polling station just hours into voting. Masked men, alleged to be National Security operatives, fired gunshots and assaulted opposition supporters, injuring at least 18 people. Mr George himself was filmed being slapped by security personnel. Despite a commission of inquiry recommending reforms and compensation for victims, the implementation has stalled, and several victims, including Sam George, claim they have yet to see justice served. The by-election returned Lydia Alhassan of the New Patriotic Party as MP with nearly 69 per cent of the votes, but the violence left a stain on Ghanas reputation for peaceful elections. Read the full post below; Related articles Ayawaso West Wuogon violence: Enforce electoral laws - Dowokpor Compensate victims of Ayawaso West Wuogon election violence - John Mahama entreats govt LIMA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and over 20 injured early Friday when an interprovincial bus overturned in Paramonga in the north of Peru's Lima region, local media reported. The bus was traveling from Caraz to Lima when it crashed near the 19-km mark of the Pativilca-Huaraz highway, between the areas of Olla Chica and Olla Grande. Many of the injured, who suffered fractures and other traumatic injuries, were transported to hospitals in Pativilca and Barranca. Some remained in serious condition. Luxury device maker Caviar is back with new custom smartphones that cost thousands of dollars, and this time, we are talking about the freshly announced Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7's Cabubu Edition. Caviar's Cabubu collection draws inspiration from Labubu - a brand of collectible plush toy monster elves created by Hong Kong-Belgian designer Kasing Lung and sold exclusively by Chinese retailer Pop Mart. While these elves, designed by Lung, are called Labubu, Caviar is referring to their version as Cabubu. The Cabubu Edition of both the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 features 24k gold and has jewelry enamel. The Galaxy Z Fold7 Cabubu Edition shows the Cabubu set against a textured Martian landscape, while the Galaxy Z Flip7 Cabubu Edition shows Cabubu against a Venus-inspired setting. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 Cabubu Edition The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Cabubu Edition starts at $8,910, whereas the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 Cabubu Edition has a base price of $10,340. Caviar says it will produce only eight units of each, as eight is considered a lucky number in China. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Cabubu Edition Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Back in May we heard that the iQOO 15 would have a 6.85-inch QHD+ Samsung-made flat LIPO OLED screen, and today the same prolific leaker going by Digital Chat Station on Weibo is back with more details. The phone will have a 50 MP periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, something the iQOO 12 had but the iQOO 13 gave up on, sadly (it only had a non-periscope 2x optical zoom telephoto). iQOO 13 The iQOO 15 also has an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, vivo's self-developed independent display chip, as well as support for 100W wired charging. iQOO is apparently still deciding whether to include wireless charging as well, but it does seem to be leaning towards adding this feature according to DCS. Alongside the periscope, it was one of the few things missing from the iQOO 13 if one wanted to declare it a true all-out flagship device. Of course, the iQOO 15 is expected to be powered by Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 SoC, due to be made official in September. vivo iQOO 13 These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. 256GB 12GB RAM 54,998 512GB 16GB RAM 59,998 Show all prices Source (in Chinese) Guam Del. James Moylan is again asking the federal government to include the Philippines in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program through a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State. Moylan sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to request they move forward on including the Philippines into the program. As the delegate to Guam, I believe that the Philippines meets the key security and immigration standards of the program and would be a valuable addition that strengthens diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between our nations, Moylan wrote. The Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of eligible countries to enter Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands for up to 90 days without a visa, facilitating travel for tourism and business. The delegate said the Philippines has demonstrated a strong commitment to security and information sharing, low rates of visa overstays, and compliance with biometric and counterterrorism measures- critical criteria for program eligibility. He argued that inclusion in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program would not only enhance bilateral relations but also promote economic growth through increased travel and tourism, improve people-to-people exchanges, and deepen mutual trust and cooperation in areas of shared interest. Moylan underscored the broader significance of Guams role in the region. As the tip of the spear, Guam is not only the front line of defense in the Pacificwe are also the first impression and gateway to America for many in our region. Welcoming more travelers from the Philippines supports that mission and strengthens the link between the United States and the Indo-Pacific region, the delegate said in a statement. He said expanding the program would be a game changer for the Guam Visitors Bureau and a critical boost for the islands struggling tourism industry. Including the Philippines in the visa waiver program would help revitalize Guams economy, bolster our local infrastructure, and restore momentum for small businesses that rely on a steady flow of visitors to survive, he said. Guam Visitors Bureau General Manager Regine Biscoe Lee, in a statement, said Guams relationship with the Philippines extends far beyond tourism. It is rooted in shared history, faith, and strong cultural ties. Expanding the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program to include the Philippines strengthens these connections while removing barriers to travel and economic exchange, Lee said. This initiative also aligns with our ongoing efforts to diversify and grow our visitor markets, support local businesses, and create more opportunities that benefit our entire community. Moylan urged both departments to collaborate with the Philippine government and explore a clear path forward for inclusion and his office has offered to facilitate further discussions and provide additional information to support the review process. Guam Department of Education Superintendent Erik Swanson said there is no clear timeline on when the federal government will reimburse the local government for public school repairs using $108 million in American Rescue Plan funds. Swanson spoke with the Pacific Daily News on Tuesday and said GDOE has to figure out how to front tens of millions in repair costs and then wait for reimbursement. Guam has regained access to $108 million in American Rescue Plan funds for public school repairs ending months of uncertainty over the federal funding, but it now comes with a caveat that GDOE has to front the costs and then apply for reimbursement. The education department is racing to cover the $108 million under the new rules with no clear timeline for federal reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Education. Swanson said the reversal threatens ongoing construction and refurbishment projects because GDOE has limited cash available at any given time for payments. So as we bite off chunks of that $5, $10, $15 million at a time, we pay them, we have to furnish the copy of the invoice, a copy of the check, and thats what goes into USEd. Then they evaluate it, and they refund that money back to us, he said. An invoice totaling $9.9 million already paid locally is currently under federal review. Core Tech leads the major school refurbishment contracts, with initial agreements across four regions totaling approximately $125 million. GDOE had already paid down about $40 million before the federal reimbursement policy changed, according to Swanson. The remaining balance owed to Core Tech is around $90 million. Northern Construction holds a separate contract for the F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School project. In addition to Core Tech, GDOE has also paid approximately $41 million across 67 smaller vendors for instructional materials, all of which are pending federal reimbursement. A major contract with J&B Modern Tech for air-conditioning upgrades is already 70% paid, the superintendent said. Despite the budget strain, Swanson said schools will open on time in August. We were well ahead of schedule on having health department reinspections, so weve got all of the way cleared for that. So our kids are going to be back in school, he said, To keep payments moving, GDOE is working to build a $30 million revolving fund using local appropriations, reserves, and support from the Department of Administration. Some of that is money that we can pull from our own accounts that are appropriated but not yet provided to us, plus cash reserves that we have, plus whatever the Department of Administration can pool as well, he said. If I have more money to spend, I can pay more invoices and get bigger reimbursements, which will pick up the pace. Extension U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon had previously accelerated the timeline to spend all ARP funds by March 28, leaving GDOE scrambling to find ways to access the remaining pandemic-era money. Under the Biden administration, states and territories were given an extension of up to March 2026 to spend ARP funds for education spending. McMahon rescinded the decision after several states sued the USDOE, leading to court injunctions that blocked the federal agency from enforcing its policy. Guam did not sue the federal agency, but GDOE filed a request for reconsideration and appeal with the USDOE. McMahon restored the original extension deadline for GDOE to spend the ARP funds, but the federal government will now only reimburse rather than pay the costs up front. Guam Regional Transit Authority Executive Manager Pierre Tim Aguon was arrested on Friday in connection with an assault and family violence case, Guam Police Department spokesperson Norman Analista said. On Saturday, Aguon was charged in Superior Court accused of attempted strangulation and terrorizing as third-degree felonies and assault -recklessly cause/attempt to cause bodliy injury and family violence as misdemeanors. GPD detectives on July 7 investigated an assault and family violence complaint against Aguon, Analista said. On July 11, detectives met with Aguon at the Department of Public Works and requested a formal interview with GPDs Criminal Investigation Unit, he said. GRTAs office is at the Department of Public Works compound in Tamuning. Police said Aguon was cooperative and agreed to accompany them. Upon conclusion of the interview, detectives discovered probable cause to effectuate the arrest, Analista said. Aguon was processed, booked and confined to the Department of Corrections, he added. Alleged drug use According to the magistrates complaint, Aguons family member noticed his truck was still running while taking out the trash and opened the passenger door which startled Aguon. He attempted to hide something and shouted, Get the (expletive) out and shut off the truck and went inside the house, documents state. The woman inspected the truck and found what appeared to be a glass pipe with a bulbous end and a lighter, both wrapped in a white napkin, held together by a rubber band. She confronted Aguon with the items and asked if he was using drugs. Aguon shouted, Give that (expletive) back to me and became aggressive reaching and grabbing the items from the womans hand. He then grabbed her wrist and placed his left hand on her throat and pushed her against the wall, the complaint staed. The woman felt her throat being tightened, but was still able to breathe and called out for help. Aguon said, You will go down. I can make people disappear, and the woman feared for her life, documents state. Aguon released the woman and she gave him back the items and she left the house. On July 11, Aguon was interviewed by police with his attorney present. He told them an argument occurred and that he placed his hands on the woman, but destroyed and threw away the drug paraphernalia. Aguon was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond. Office of the Governor spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin on Saturday in response to questions about Aguon said this is an employee matter that will be handled according to applicable law and regulations. Aguon has held various leadership positions under the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration including Homeland Security advisor and director of Veterans Affairs. Jovina Lujan shared the story of her grandfather, Jesus Garrido Lujan, and the hardships her family faced during the war at the Kalaguak Memorial ceremony held in Tiyan on Friday. Lujan, of the Barrigada Municipal Planning Council, was called to share her grandfathers story after the person who originally was meant to share her mothers story died a few days before the ceremony. The ceremonys original guest speaker was meant to be Anita Lujan Manglona. She was intended to share the story of her mother, Carmen Lazaro Lujan Manglona, one of the many people who were forced to work on the airstrip during the Japanese occupation, who died on Dec. 5, 2013. Anita Lujan Manglona died on July 8, before she could attend the ceremony. Jovina Lujan shared how her grandfather, who was a wartime farmer on land currently occupied by the Guam National Guard compound, faced hardships during the war. For my grandfather, wartime memories relevant to our Kalaguak Memorial include daily farm life, pasturing cows, and planting agricultural produce, which would be periodically confiscated to feed occupying Japanese forces, Lujan said. It was a time when his sons and daughters reported daily to Japanese forces to fulfill assigned tasks, like weeding the fields, manually retrieving and relocating limestone rocks, and other laborious tasks required to harness a landing field for Japanese wartime aircraft. Jesus Garrido Lujan and his wife would store rice in hidden coconut baskets to avoid it being taken by Japanese forces and make sure their children had food. It was a life where, if ever late to report to the runway, his family endured harsh punishment, beatings, denial of food and water, imprisonment, or denial to return home altogether on any given day, Lujan said. It was a time when, once home for the day, his sons would take turns getting to hidden locations to secretly retrieve produce stored in hidden underground drums to feed his family. Family meals were inconsistent and only happened when food retrieval and family consumption were deemed safe and concealed from patrolling Japanese forces. Lujans grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts have all passed away, and her familys farmland is still in the hands of federal and local governments. She ended her speech with a final thank you to the military men and women who liberated Guam and continue to serve and protect it today. There remains a memory that [my family] will always endure as wartime descendants, and that is the unquestionable, heartfelt gratitude to the U.S. Marines who liberated Guam during the occupation, Lujan said. May the gratitude of CHamoru families like mine for the brave American sailors, airmen, Marines, and U.S. Army also be never forgotten. Si Yuos Maase. Carmen Manglonas story was still included in the event program, summarized by the Manenggon Memorial Foundation. Carmen Manglona was 12 when Guam was attacked in 1941 and 13 years old by the time she was forced to labor on the runway. She would bring a fusinos (similar to a hoe) with her to weed and clear long grass and pick up rocks. She worked alongside other young girls and women. Her brother, Juan Lazaro Lujan, would accompany her to work when he could, and her uncle, Manuel Lazaro, would pick her up. They dared not complain aloud for fear of being punished. In one instance, her Uncle Manuel was late and was beaten. It was so severe, he was unable to walk for several days. Carmen was in such shock and stunned in terror that she couldnt help her uncle who was laid out on the ground, clothes torn and soaked in blood. Instead, Carmen was told to return to work. National registry The Kalaguak Memorial is intended to be added to the national historical landmark registry, according to Barrigada Mayor June Blas. People need to know what really happened here [during] the building of this runway, so were going to move forward with the Manenggon Memorial Foundation to put this on and put Guam on the map, Blas said. Were going to work hard, because it took almost 20 years for the Manenggon Memorial to get approved, so if they could do it, so can we, and that is our goal. Only one of the brothers accused in the Yigo attempted murder case will stand trial next week, as the other awaits the outcome of a forensic evaluation. Jathan John Pangelinan Tedtaotao, who appeared in person before Superior Court Judge Maria T. Cenzon on Friday, is set to begin trial Wednesday, while his brother and co-defendant, Jeromy Moe John Pangelinan, who appeared via Zoom, remains under court-ordered psychiatric evaluation. The case stems from a violent incident in April involving a shooting and kidnapping in Yigo. Both brothers are charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, and other felonies. Tedtaotao faces additional allegations of using a deadly weapon and committing a felony while on release. A superseding indictment recently removed one count of attempted aggravated murder previously filed against him but maintained three original charges. Prosecutors said he faces life plus 75 years in prison if convicted. Jeromy Pangelinan, added as a co-defendant in the consolidated case, faces charges in 11 separate criminal cases. He is also suspected in a series of attempted carjackings, confrontations, and a shooting in Talofofo on April 5, as well as a high-speed chase and police shootout in Dededo on April 6 following a reported carjacking in Yona. Cenzon confirmed that Dr. Juan Rapadas is scheduled to conduct Jeromy Pangelinans forensic evaluation, with a report due by Aug. 5. A hearing to determine the status of his case is set for Aug. 19. Tedtaotaos trial is scheduled to begin Wednesday, with jury selection the same afternoon, opening statements Thursday, and witness testimony beginning Friday. During the pretrial conference, prosecuting attorney Grant Olan submitted an amended witness list, reducing the number of witnesses from 89 to 44, along with a revised exhibit list and proposed jury instructions. Defense attorney Joseph Razzano, representing Tedaotao confirmed they had received all CDs related to named witnesses and submitted their own witness list. Razzano objected to the inclusion of four expert witnesses on the prosecutions list, citing a lack of required disclosures. Razzano told the court he could not determine whether to retain rebuttal experts without knowing the scope of the prosecutions expert testimony. Olan identified one expert as a criminalist with the Guam Police Department and three medical doctors from Guam Regional Medical City, where Jeromy Pangelinan was treated after sustaining injuries in the April 6 police shootout in Dededo. He is a forensic science criminalist, and he actually was, in this particular case, responsible for seizing the casings of the bullets that were fired, Olan said. Razzano called into question the prosecutions intent in listing the witness as an expert without disclosing the basis or scope of their testimony. If hes designated on this list as an expert...what are they going to offer him as an expert on? What is the scope of the offer? he said. Olan said the physicians would testify only to treatment and care provided to victim Michael Blas, based on what is already documented in 200 pages of medical records disclosed to the defense. They only intend to have them testify as to what treatment they provided and why they provided the treatment they did, which, to a certain extent, will rely on their medical knowledge and opinion, Olan said. All of their testimony is going to concern what is in their medical records for Mr. Blas, which already has been turned over to the defense. Razzano said the defense had not seen any statements made by Blas to the doctors. To the extent that theyre not in the medical records, we dont have them, Razzano said. Olan said the prosecution had not yet gathered any direct statements from the physicians regarding the incident but planned to follow up during upcoming interviews. Olan said five EMTs had already documented statements from Blas about the cause of his injuries and confirmed those reports had been turned over to Razzano. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15 at 2 p.m., to address unresolved discovery, expert witness limitations, and trial scheduling. Cenzon said the trial will need to proceed efficiently due to a congested court calendar, which includes trials set for Aug. 28, Aug. 30, Aug. 31, and multiple dates in September. Olan also addressed the need to bifurcate the felony-on-release notice, meaning the trial will be split into two phases, allowing the prosecution to delay filing an amended indictment until after presenting its case-in-chief, or main part of a partys argument during a trial. If, unless the court objects, maybe file that after the governments case is chief, in case there are other changes to the charges, Olan said. No objection to that, Razzano replied. The case also involves Shaenita Pangelinan, the defendants sister, who faces charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault, and destruction of evidence related to the April 2 incident. Her role and charges are expected to be addressed at the next pretrial conference scheduled for Friday. Gavin Joshua Quitugua, 22, the person wanted by police in various cases including a shooting death in Talofofo, was charged in a December 2024 high speed case, according to a magistrates complaint filed in Superior Court. Quitugua was charged with burglary and theft by receiving as second-degree felonies, assault on a peace officer with special allegation of possession or use of a deadly weapon in a felony and criminal mischief as third-degree felonies. He was also charged with criminal mischief, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and eluding a police officer as misdemeanors, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident as petty misdemeanors. On Dec. 4, 2024, a man in Agana Heights reported his vehicle, a Kia Optima, was missing. Shortly after police spotted the Kia Optima while on Route 4. Officers tried to do a traffic stop, but the driver sped off at a high rate of speed and went around traffic traveling in the oncoming portion of the roadway. The driver turned onto Route 10 and continued to speed while using the center lane to pass traffic. The driver then made a wide left turn from the outer lane onto San Vicente Drive without yielding to oncoming traffic and vehicles had to abruptly stop to avoid collision. The driver continued to speed at about 55 mph before turning onto Route 8 and then back onto Route 10. When turning onto Route 10, the vehicle almost collided with two vehicles stopped at the intersection. The Kia Optima continued on Route 10 at a high rate of speed weaving in and out of traffic, traveling in the center median, and traveling in the incoming lanes while avoiding vehicles. The driver executed a sharp turn onto Corten Torres Street and almost hit another vehicle stopped at the red light. Police continued to pursue the vehicle while it made its way through various streets and on Route 10, Route 4, Route 17, Route 4A and then onto Aridondon Nas Lucas Loop. Once on the loop, an officer identified the driver as Quitugua whom he recognized from previous encounters. Quitugua continued onto West Johnny S Taitague Street to a dead end and tried to evade officers by driving off road and crashed into a tree. An officer exited the patrol vehicle and opened the Kia Optimas passenger door and ordered Quitugua to stop the vehicle. Quitugua put the car in reverse, pushed the officer away using the vehicle, and then drove through a chainlink fence. The car dragged the chain link fence under it and officers terminated the pursuit for safety concerns, the complaint stated. On July 10, Quitugua was arrested in a separate manner for an outstanding bench warrant. He was on pre-trial release in a 2023 burglary and theft case. Shooting On July 5, a male victim was found dead from a gunshot wound on Santos Street in Talofofo, GPD said. The male victim has not been identified pending the notification of kin. Quitugua was present at the location and fled, police said. He was sought by police for separate, multiple outstanding cases and an arrest warrant, GPD said. A Wanted Person for Public View flyer was sent to the media on July 7 naming Quitugua as a person of interest, wanted for questioning relative to several open criminal cases and the shooting in Talofofo on July 5. GPD engaged in an extensive search of Quitugua. During his interview, Quitugua claimed he felt the pressure of the law enforcement search and self-surrendered on July 10 at the Central Precinct Command, police said. Haiti - BAC D-2 : 109,712 students expected for the 2025 Baccalaureate exams Everything is ready for the 2025 baccalaureate exams, with 109,712 candidates nationwide expected from Monday, July 14th to Thursday, July 17th, confirmed Yves Roblin, Director General of the Ministry of National Education, at a press conference. In addition, 12,802 candidates will participate in the exams as those who failed the Secondary IV exam, while 994 candidates are expected to take the Continuing Philosophy exams. "The forms have been printed and have been sent to the Departmental Directorates of Education (DDE) and distributed. The examination centers have been identified and prepared to welcome the candidates," he assured, assuring the quality of the texts that will be submitted to the candidates. Regarding security, he mentioned that during a meeting held the previous day at the Prime Minister's Office, the Armed Forces and the National Police were reminded to support the Ministry in this major operation, marking a decisive turning point in the educational journey of more than a hundred thousand young Haitians. Furthermore, Yves Roblin stated that he is counting heavily on the firm commitment of all those involved during these four days of exams to ensure that everything runs smoothly, in accordance with the mechanisms put in place and the provisions established by the Ministry. Inspector General Renan Michel reminded candidates, center managers, and invigilators of the guidelines that will be strictly enforced during these exams. He emphasized the prohibition on carrying weapons, programmable calculators, and cell phones. Cases of fraud will be severely punished, providing some details regarding members of a fraud ring caught in Delmas and Tabarre during the 9th-Year Fundamental Exams. The latter are still in the hands of justice. Miguel Fleurijean, the Director of Secondary Education, reassured candidates about the quality of the texts they will be presented with during the four days of exams, stating that they are consistent with the official curricula and take into account the actual learning time students have had during this school year. Once the students' papers are received, the marking process will begin quickly, the Director of Secondary Education announced. He indicated that, based on the performance of the teachers involved in this task and registered in the relevant database, 95% of them will be accepted this year. In his view, this process will proceed quickly and efficiently. Fleurijean expressed his delight that 48,000 of the 109,712 baccalaureate candidates participated in the National Compensation for Apprenticeship Program this year. Over 12 weeks, they recovered between 160 and 180 hours of instruction, equivalent to 35 to 40 school days. HL/ S/ HaitiLibre BEIRUT, July 12 (Xinhua) -- A member of Lebanon's Hezbollah was killed Saturday in an Israeli drone strike on southeastern Lebanon, according to Lebanese sources. The strike on a house in the town of Khiam resulted in the death of one person, the Public Health Emergency Operations Center of the Ministry of Health said in a press release. A source from the Lebanese Civil Defense and the Lebanese Red Cross told Xinhua that the body was transported to the Marjayoun Governmental Hospital, whereas a Lebanese security source told Xinhua the dead was a Hezbollah member identified as Wissam Abu Abbas. In a separate development, Lebanon's official National News Agency reported that the Israeli army "released dozens of cattle from its side of the border into Lebanese territory, toward the villages of Ramyeh, Aita al-Shaab, and Bayt Lif in the western sector of southern Lebanon." Bayt Lif Mayor Izzat Hammoud warned that local residents should not approach or touch the cows, "as there is a possibility they are contaminated with biological weapons or carry infectious diseases." These incidents come despite a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, brokered by the United States and France, which has been in effect since Nov. 27, 2024. The deal aims to end over a year of cross-border hostilities triggered by the war in Gaza. Nevertheless, the Israeli military continues to carry out occasional strikes in Lebanon, which it claims are intended to eliminate "Hezbollah threats." Haiti - Politic : ALBA stands in solidarity with Haiti faced foreign interference A delegation from the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) conducted a five-day working visit to Cap-Haitien last week to reaffirm its commitment to international solidarity with the Haitian people in the face of the political and social crisis they are experiencing. The delegation, composed of representatives from Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina, met with various Haitian grassroots organizations, such as PAPDA, Tet Kole, Ti Peyizan Ayisyen, and MODEP, at the Jean-Marie Vincent Agroecological Training Center. Discussions focused on understanding the roots of the current situation, identifying U.S. imperialism as the main driver of the violence, corruption, and shortages facing the country. According to Haitian journalist and activist Moise Dayiti, the crisis "is not only linked to domestic actors, but also to foreign actors, imperialist and multinational interests that combine to create what is happening today." In Pignon, members of the ALBA delegation gathered for a discussion alongside grassroots organizations such as PAPDA, Tet Kole, Ti Peyizan Ayisyen, MPP, MPNKP, UNNOH, KAYLA, Anten Ouvriye, Sek Janil Lwijis, and MODEP. During the first days of discussions, they shared their thoughts on the structural and current crises facing Haiti in the face of media and political pressure. The main focuses of this working session were : analyzing the ongoing imperialist war against the Haitian people, strengthening international solidarity mechanisms, and understanding the legacy of the 1804 Revolution in the context of the current struggles of Our America. The objective was to consolidate a continental work plan that outlines common strategies to support the Haitian people's resistance through commitment and concrete action. "The peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, aware of their historical debt to Haiti, the country of the continent's first popular revolution, will never abandon the Haitian nation," Alba wrote on Instagram. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... "Kraze Barye" : More than 10 bandits killed Haiti National Police spokesperson Michel Ange Louis Jeune confirmed this Thursday the death of more than ten members of the "Kraze Barye" gang, led by Vitelhomme Innocent, in a shootout with the police during an operation conducted last Tuesday in Torcel, in the commune of Tabarre. DR : Rescue of 7 Haitians Rescuers in the Dominican Republic rescued 17 migrants, including 7 Haitians and 10 Dominicans, who were attempting to illegally enter to Puerto Rico. The small boat carrying them capsized in the province of Altagracia in the DR. Search operations continue. Kenscoff Victim of a New Attack The commune of Kenscoff has been the victim of a new attack by the criminal coalition "Viv ansanm." Shots were reported in several locations. The bandits managed to break into the residence of Fritz Mevs in Furcy. The guard narrowly escaped with one of his sons, while two others are being held hostage. They also stormed the Vorbe family residence in Obleon, in the hills above Furcy. According to Jean Massillon, Acting Mayor of the commune of Kenscoff, they looted the house before moving in. Referendum and elections impossible in 2025 According to former Prime Minister Jean-Michel Lapin, it is materially impossible for the current team to hold the constitutional referendum and elections to provide the country with an elected president before the deadline of February 7, 2026. FLASH : Creole Dictation Competition The National Library of Haiti is organizing a major Creole dictation competition. The dictation will take place at the National Office for Educational Partnership (ONAPE) located at 70 Dr. Noel Street, Peguy-ville. Date and time : July 16, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. For information: +509 34869737. Registration fee : 500 Gourdes. Prizes: 1st Prize : 150,000 Gourdes and a book in Creole; 2nd Prize : 100,000 Gourdes and a book in Creole; 3rd Prize : 50,000 Gourdes and a book in Creole. Weather, high temperatures A Saharan sand mist combined with a high pressure system is maintaining a dry, hot, and windy air mass over Haiti, with daytime temperatures between 34 and 38C, foggy weather, possible gusts of wind, and isolated showers in the mountains. Instructions from the Haiti Hydro-Meteorological Unit (UHM): Drink plenty of water; Avoid going outside during the hottest hours of the day; Wear light, lightweight clothing. Until July 16: Persistent heat, with some showers in the Center, Artibonite, West, Nippes, South, Grand'Anse... HL/ HaitiLibre The study, based on DNA extracted from ancient human remains, shifts the ancestral home of Uralic languages from western Russia to Central Siberia. Researchers linked this migration to a Bronze Age cultural movement known as the Seima-Turbino phenomenon, which extended across northern Eurasia. The origins of the Finnish, Estonian, and Hungarian languages lie thousands of kilometres east of what scholars once believed, according to new research published in Nature . The international research team analysed genetic material from 180 individuals who lived between 17,000 and 3,000 years ago. The findings show that nearly all present-day Uralic-speaking populations share ancestry with a group originating in the Lena River Basin in Central Siberia. These populations moved westward over centuries, eventually reaching the Baltic region. Based on a very large collection of ancient DNA samples, our analysis places this origin thousands of kilometres further east, said Vagheesh Narasimhan, assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin and co-author of the study. The study also reconstructs how a wide group of genetically similar hunter-gatherers, once spread across much of northern Eurasia, were disrupted about 4,200 years ago. New groups moving into the region mixed with existing populations, forming new communities with distinct demographic and linguistic features. These movements appear to coincide with the expansion of the Seima-Turbino network, which involved the trade and production of bronze tools and weapons. Archaeological evidence of this network stretches from Siberia to parts of northern Europe. The study suggests this cultural phenomenon may have enabled the spread of Uralic languages westward. The genetic research also reveals a separate but related ancestry for the Yeniseian language family, now spoken only by the Ket people in Siberia. The findings connect the ancient Baikal region to the linguistic history of Yeniseian speakers. A possible genetic link between ancient Siberian populations and some Native American groups was also identified, though the study does not claim a direct linguistic relationship. A language cannot be read directly from genomes, the researchers wrote, but when genetic ancestry, archaeological context and linguistic geography converge, robust inferences become possible. The team was led by Tian Chen Zeng, Leonid Vyazov, Alexander Kim, Ron Pinhasi, Vagheesh Narasimhan, and David Reich. The work is the result of more than a decade of international collaboration, involving archaeologists and geneticists working across northern Eurasia. HT BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland scholar has highlighted 10 fallacies in Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's narrative of the island's so-called statehood. In the first of Lai's "10 lectures on unity," which have been riddled with factual errors, historical distortions and misleading rhetoric, Lai attempted to dress up separatist activities with the false legitimacy of a distorted view of history, Ren Dongmei, a research fellow of the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said in a signed article. The article highlights 10 major fallacies in Lai's speech, and offers clarifications to set the record straight. 1. Where did Taiwan's prehistoric inhabitants come from? Taiwan is a natural extension of the continental shelf of the Chinese mainland, and, tens of thousands of years ago, early humans from the mainland reached Taiwan via the now-submerged Dongshan land bridge. Archaeological evidence shows that prehistoric cultures on the island are closely linked to those along the southeastern coast of the mainland. Lai ignored these findings in an attempt to sever Taiwan's historical connection with the mainland -- an obvious distortion of history. 2. Where did the Austronesian language family originate? International research shows that the ancestors of the Austronesian peoples sailed from the mainland's southeastern coast to Taiwan before spreading across the South Pacific islands. Recent genetic studies reveal that two sets of ancient human remains found at the mouth of the Minjiang River in Fujian and dating back 7,550 and 8,190 years share a maternal lineage with ethnic minority people in Taiwan today. "Taiwan independence" separatists -- including Lai -- manipulated the concept of the Austronesian language family to sever cultural ties with the mainland. 3. When did China begin exercising sovereignty over Taiwan? Historical records show that Chinese people discovered and began developing Taiwan since early days. During the Three Kingdoms period (220-280), Sun Quan, king of the Wu State, once sent 10,000 people to Taiwan. In 1281, the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) established an administrative office on the Penghu Islands, which managed the affairs of Taiwan and Penghu, marking the start of formal administration by a central government. Every central government from the Song (960-1279) and Yuan dynasties onward administered Taiwan. Lai has deliberately ignored this long history. 4. Did Dutch colonization begin Taiwan's history? Before the Dutch invaded Taiwan in 1624, the Han people and other ethnic groups had been living on the island for generations. Chinese business people were active in maritime trade between Taiwan and other parts of East Asia, and migrants from Fujian Province had initiated the organized development of the island. The Dutch colonists faced resistance from local communities. Glorifying Dutch colonial rule, Lai has turned a history of invasion into a story of what he called "the beginning of Taiwan's history." 5. What is the historical truth of Zheng Chenggong's restoration and governance of Taiwan? In 1662, Zheng Chenggong expelled the Dutch colonizers and recovered Taiwan, ending 38 years of Dutch colonial rule. Remaining loyal to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), which was replaced by the Qing (1644-1911), Zheng robustly asserted China's sovereignty over the island. He promoted large-scale development and accelerated the spread of Chinese culture in Taiwan. Lai has ignored Zheng's legacy and the profound ties between his rule and the mainland, and falsely claimed that Zheng had established a "kingdom" -- a baseless and historically inaccurate assertion. 6. Why does the Qing Dynasty's governance over Taiwan matter? Over its more than 200 years under Qing Dynasty governance, Taiwan evolved from a peripheral outpost into one of China's most advanced provinces. Lai glosses over this history, ignoring the historical and cultural fact that Taiwan has always been under the jurisdiction of a central Chinese government. His selective distortion of history disregarded Qing-era development and modernization achievements in Taiwan. 7. What did the people of Taiwan's anti-aggression truly mean? After Japan occupied Taiwan in 1895, the people of Taiwan engaged in relentless resistance. Over 50,000 of these people joined mainland resistance efforts during World War II, motivated by their mission to save the motherland to save Taiwan. Historical records prove that they fought for China and the Chinese nation, reclaiming their Chinese identity. Lai has rebranded this as "guarding Taiwan's own nation," twisting patriotism into separatism, which was an insult to and a betrayal of the martyrs of Taiwan. 8. Is U.N. Resolution 2758 related to Taiwan? In 1971, the United Nations (U.N.) explicitly rejected proposals for "Two Chinas" and "Taiwan self-determination" before adopting Resolution 2758. This signified that the UN, while recognizing that Taiwan is a part of China, returned the representation and seat of all of China -- including Taiwan -- to the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Lai's false claim that "the resolution doesn't involve Taiwan" distorted the facts and defied international law and order. 9. Why has the PRC always held sovereignty over Taiwan? Binding documents like the 1943 Cairo Declaration and the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation mandated Taiwan's return to China. Japan surrendered under the terms of these documents, and Taiwan was officially restored to China on Oct. 25, 1945. After the PRC was founded in 1949, it rightfully became the sole legal government of China. Lai's reference to the so-called Treaty of San Francisco, an illegal and invalid treaty that was reached without the participation of the PRC, trampled on the outcomes of WWII and on national sovereignty. 10. Why should Taiwan's 1945 restoration not be obliterated? Taiwan's restoration, which was celebrated by local residents as the end of the island's colonial oppression, is an irrefutable confirmation that Taiwan is a part of China, and bonds people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait as members of a community with common interests and a shared future. Lai's silence on this pivotal event is a betrayal of the historical fact and the Chinese nation. In short, Lai's manipulation of history -- omitting, distorting and fabricating narratives to push secession -- exposes his secessionist fallacies, Ren said. "Such an error-ridden narrative that runs counter to history, reality and legal principles will be swept into the dustbin of history." Negotiations continue between Finnish and U.S. officials. The United States is also in talks to acquire two new icebreakers to be built in Finland. These discussions are separate but concurrent with talks over Fennica. Finland has offered the Fennica icebreaker to the United States for sale or lease. The vessel was built in 1993 and has served both Arctic and offshore industrial duties. No agreement has yet been reached. Former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed in The Hague on Wednesday that he is negotiating the purchase of a used Finnish icebreaker. We are talking about buying one used icebreaker from Finland, he told Ilta-Sanomat. The Fennica, a multifunctional icebreaker, has worked winters in Finland and been leased in summers for offshore oil and gas operations. It previously served in Alaska and has recently operated in Canadian waters. It is based in Kotka alongside its sister ship, the Nordica. Due to its complex design and capabilities, maintaining Fennica is costly. It was developed as a prototype for future multi-purpose vessels, followed by Nordica in 1994. Sources close to the talks told Ilta-Sanomat that any deal would be financially structured to enable Finland to replace the vessel with a new one. The sale or lease must not hinder Finlands ability to keep northern ports open during harsh winters. Reko-Antti Suojanen, industry counsellor at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, confirmed that talks are ongoing. He declined to name the vessel under negotiation but ruled out Finlands newest icebreaker Polaris. There are several options on the table, and the overall picture is complex, Suojanen said. If a deal is struck, it would involve Finnish shipyards and a North American public agency rather than the Finnish state itself. Approval by the U.S. Congress is required before any purchase moves forward. The financial aspect also depends on whether the U.S. can allocate funds in its federal budget. Due to the expected size of the order and its foreign origin, the deal remains politically sensitive in Washington. HT Officers received a call before 10 a.m. reporting a man carrying a knife in the stairwell of a residential building on Kinaporinkatu. When police arrived, the man fled to the roof of the building. Police shot and killed a man in the Alppiharju district of Helsinki on Saturday morning after he refused to drop a knife and advanced toward officers, according to a statement by the Helsinki Police Department. Police said the man behaved in a threatening manner and ignored repeated commands to disarm and surrender. According to the statement, the man moved toward officers with the knife in hand. Officers used a stun gun to stop him, but it had no effect. As the man continued approaching with the weapon, police fired their service weapon. The man died at the scene. One police car and an ambulance were observed at the location around 1 p.m., according to a Helsingin Sanomat reporter at the site. Lili Schatz from the Helsinki police command centre told Helsingin Sanomat shortly before 1:30 p.m. that the situation was under control and police had begun investigative procedures at the scene. Under Finnish law, whenever police use a firearm, the case is automatically referred to the prosecution authority for an independent preliminary investigation. The police confirmed that the investigation is at an early stage and provided no further details. The responsibility for determining whether the use of force was legally justified now rests with a prosecutor-appointed lead investigator. HT Southern regions are expected to experience intense downpours and thunderstorms starting around noon. The storms could cause a sharp but temporary drop in temperature to around 20C. In areas not affected by the storms, the heat is forecast to persist, with temperatures hovering near the 25C mark. Thunderstorms and heavy rain are forecast to strike southern Finland by midday on Saturday, as high temperatures and humidity continue to build across the country, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI). The heatwave is strongest in central Finland, where Saturday temperatures could reach 30C. Northern areas are expected to remain dry and relatively warm, with no significant rainfall predicted. FMI has issued a heat warning for most of the southern half of Finland on Saturday. The warning will expand to nearly the entire country by Sunday, excluding only northernmost Lapland. A separate warning for heavy rainfall has been issued for southern Finland. This alert is expected to extend to parts of central and western Finland during Sunday. The weekends humid conditions will intensify the discomfort of the heat, especially in southern and central Finland. Authorities warn that the expected rainfall could lead to localised flooding. According to a weekend water update from vesi.fi, river levels may rise in southern and southwestern regions. If rainfall exceeds forecasts, smaller rivers and streams could overflow onto fields and minor roads. No major disruptions had been reported by midday Saturday. FMI continues to monitor the storm fronts developing in the south and advises residents to prepare for sudden changes in weather. HT The ministry has proposed a quota of 425 Baltic ringed seals for future hunting seasons. That figure marks an increase from the standard annual limit of 370. Seal hunting in Finland is permitted for both grey seals and Baltic ringed seals. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry sets annual quotas, with the season typically running from April to December. WWF Finland has called on the Finnish government to reduce the proposed annual hunting quota for Baltic ringed seals by 50 percent, citing climate concerns and the species endangered status. Petteri Tolvanen, Programme Director at WWF Finland, criticised the proposal in a press release issued on Thursday. The quota proposed by the ministry is far too high considering the size of the seal population and the rapidly growing threat posed to the seal by climate change, Tolvanen said. He added that the proposed figure conflicts with the ministrys stated goal of expanding the seal population to new areas across the Baltic Sea. The Baltic ringed seal is classified as endangered. The species relies on snow and sea ice to survive, making it particularly vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Shorter winters and declining sea ice coverage have already reduced the seals viable breeding habitats. The proposed quota is currently undergoing a public consultation. Final decisions will follow after the consultation period ends. The WWF said maintaining or increasing the current hunting limit undermines conservation efforts and sends the wrong signal about Finlands commitment to protecting vulnerable Arctic species. WWF Finland runs a popular livestream project, Norppalive, which monitors Baltic ringed seals in their natural habitat. The live stream has accumulated more than 11 million views over the past nine years. HT Mission Health monitors issue mixed reviews Although many praised Mission Health for remaining open and delivering care during Hurricane Helene, questions remain about nursing staffing levels, cancer treatment and emergency care. [CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS] Asheville-based Mission Health has seen several busy months so far in 2025, with some important wins after facing significant adversity in 2024. Even so, pushback from community leaders, employees and judges continues. Related Stories While even some of the critics of its flagship Mission Hospital in Asheville commend the hospitals efforts after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, nurses there remain outraged about what they consider chronic, and dangerous, short staffing. The hospital which is operated by HCA, the largest hospital corporation in the country and parent company of the Mission Health group in Western North Carolina received a seal of approval from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, but lawsuits against the hospital system are still in the pipeline, including from multiple governments. HCA won the right to build a standalone emergency room in West Asheville, but has so far not been successful in efforts to block competitor AdventHealth from constructing a hospital in Weaverville, in northern Buncombe County, which would break HCAs health care monopoly in much of the region. Meanwhile, the independent monitor responsible for ensuring Mission Health complies with the 2019 purchase agreement of the previously nonprofit health care group is preparing to release its 2024 assessment and it doesnt look good for Mission Health. DHHS seal of approval In response to 35 complaints made to DHHS about improper patient care and management at Mission Hospital, the agency conducted a three-day survey of the hospital in May. The result could not have been better for the hospital. DHHS found no deficiencies, meaning that despite the complaints one of which may have related to a patient dying in a hospital bathroom the hospital is in compliance with the agencys standards. State Sen. Julie Mayfield, D-Buncombe, takes responsibility for sending quite a few of those complaints to DHHS. Most of the cases I send to DHHS strike me as very serious and indicative of systemic failures at the hospital, Mayfield told Carolina Public Press. I am concerned that the baseline regulations that hospitals are held to are just that: baseline. They dont get at providing great care. Theyre the floor of what hospitals have to comply with. DHHS sent the results of its survey to the federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare, which will use the information to determine whether the hospital is in compliance with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. EMTALA requires hospitals to provide emergency care to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. This outcome of the DHHS survey is significant, considering what happened when the agency turned its gaze on the hospital in 2023. That survey landed the hospital in Immediate Jeopardy, the most serious citation that the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare can deliver to a hospital. This time, though, no such warnings were issued. We are deeply grateful to our dedicated staff for their professionalism, resilience, and focus throughout this challenging process, hospital spokesperson Nancy Lindell told CPP. The results of this survey again reaffirmed the strength of our team and our shared commitment to excellence. But some in the community worry that complaints of bad care at the hospital will continue to pile up, despite this pat on the back from regulatory groups. We know that reportable incidents are continuing to happen, Aaron Sarver, spokesperson for Reclaim Healthcare WNC, told CPP. Reclaim Healthcare is a coalition, led by Sen. Mayfield, of physicians, nurses, elected officials, business leaders, clergy and advocates whose mission is to replace HCA Healthcare as owner of Mission Health with a nonprofit hospital system. Each week community members report negative experiences at Mission to us, Sarver said. (We) vet those claims and pass them on to state and federal regulators, the AGs office, and the Independent Monitor. We also frequently hear directly from staff at Mission about unacceptable conditions and patient stories, and we send those to the same entities. Many of those complaints from staff come from nurses at Mission, who are part of the only hospital union in the state. Cardiac nurse Kerri Wilson calls the DHHS findings disappointing. Weve been screaming from the mountaintops: This is whats wrong. This is why these things happen, Wilson told CPP. And yet, when the agencies come in and look at things, theyre able to scapegoat it somehow, and not hold the hospital responsible for the negligent situations they put us in. And we still see those scenarios happening daily. Mission Health nursing issues For Wilson, three major issues are front of mind this summer: safe staffing ratios, nurse retention and recruitment and health care coverage. Wilson is concerned that because of the staffing shortages of the hospital, nurses will be turned down for vacation time this summer. Nurses in the ICU, she told CPP, are taking care of three or more patients each. According to her, ICU nurses should never have more than two patients. The hospital is changing staffing grids to further burden nurses in surgical units, Wilson said. Because of this and other issues, more and more Mission nurses are quitting their jobs. When you have a corporation like HCA that continually puts profits over patients, it causes moral distress, Wilson said. When something happens to a patient that you know wouldnt have happened if you had the resources you asked for, that causes moral injury. Those injuries cause nurses to want to leave the bedside. Theyre not doing anything for retention. There is no retention at all, and our recruitment is not able to keep up with the number of nurses leaving. To solve its nurse retention issues, HCA is bringing in more and more travel nurses to Mission. One quarter of the nurses at Mission are now travellers, according to Mayfield. Travel nurses work temporary assignments at various health care facilities, used by hospital systems to address staffing shortages or high patient volume. They tend to float to different units through the hospital. Travel nurses are not part of the nurse union at Mission, and Wilson says their presence weakens the voice of the permanent nurses at Mission. Mayfield thinks their presence gives the hospital a less personal, less local, feel. For older residents, you want to feel some confidence that these people know something about you and who you are, what your life is like, Mayfield said. That those travel nurses will not just strikes me as sad. Additionally, the hospital and MAHEC, the health organization where many nurses seek primary care, have changed their relationship. Mission Health Partners will no longer cover their employees to seek primary care at MAHEC. This is because MAHEC left Mission Health, not the other way around, Lindell said. Either way, the impact is felt by nurses trying to use insurance for their health care. There arent many other primary care outfits in the Asheville area taking new patients, according to Wilson. CON update The state continues to find a need for more and more hospital beds in Buncombe County, and each time, has awarded those beds to the Florida-based AdventHealth over HCA. AdventHealth currently operates one of two hospitals in adjacent Henderson County. Like clockwork, HCA appeals these decisions, delaying the construction of what is now slated to be the second-largest hospital in the mountains. First, the state awarded Advent 67 beds in Buncombe County. HCA appealed. Then, the state awarded Advent 26 more beds, and once again, HCA appealed. Just recently, the NC Court of Appeals ruled against HCA in this appeal. This week, Advent made a public bid for another 129 beds, bringing the total number of beds to 222. HCA will very likely use every measure at their disposal to delay and limit competition, Sarver of Reclaim Healthcare WNC wrote. HCAs functional monopoly is to their benefit and bottom line, though it is to the detriment of WNC residents. HCA is currently one of the largest providers of hospital care in the mountains, especially in the regions largest county Buncombe, and the multiple rural counties where HCA operates the only hospital or where no hospitals are located and HCAs are the closest option. That near monopoly in the region appears to be one that the corporation would like to hold onto. Its an issue Gov. Josh Stein was outspoken about during his time as attorney general. In other, related news, Mission Hospitals Certificate of Need application for an ER in West Asheville was approved by the administrative law judge. Lindell says this decision allow(s) for improved access to emergency care closer to home for those residents and visitors. Mission Health lawsuit updates Mission Health is a group of six hospitals and related medical facilities in Western North Carolina, the biggest of which is in Asheville. The other five hospitals are in small towns in nearby mountain counties. The City of Brevard, Buncombe County, the City of Asheville and Madison County filed an antitrust lawsuit against HCA in 2022, alleging that HCA is purposefully stifling competition and driving up health care costs in the region. In this case, court-ordered mediation is complete and the parties are still engaging in discovery, meaning exchanging documents and deposing witnesses, according to Kassi Day, spokesperson for Buncombe County. That isnt Buncombe Countys only lawsuit against HCA. Another, filed in 2024, seeks more than $3 million in taxpayer damages. Because of HCAs understaffing at Missions emergency department, the county claims, the countys EMS costs increased. The damages lawsuit is also in discovery. Tennessee-based HCA, which stands for Hospital Corporation of America, bought Mission Health from its previous nonprofit owner in 2019 for $1.5 billion. For-profit HCAs acquisition of previously nonprofit Mission Health resulted in the creation of the Dogwood Health Trust, to hold the $1.5 billion HCA paid to the new nonprofit foundation, for use in philanthropic endeavors in Western North Carolina. Dogwood was also tasked with hiring an independent monitoring company to assess whether HCA is abiding by the purchase terms it agreed to back in 2019. In addition to Steins distaste for HCAs alleged monopoly, he too has an ongoing lawsuit against the company. His suit relates to a loss of quality cancer and emergency care at Mission Health, which would be considered a breach of HCAs purchase agreement. The new attorney general, Jeff Jackson, inherited this suit, but his office had no updates to share on the litigation. Independent Monitor assessment Last year, Dogwood and the independent monitoring company, Affiliated Monitors, found that HCA was, in fact, not in compliance with this purchase agreement for calendar year 2023. That was due to two issues. The question of whether HCA has continued the cancer and emergency care it promised to maintain is still under litigation, so Dogwood cannot judge whether the hospital has or hasnt made good on its promise. Also, given the Immediate Jeopardy citation, the hospital could not be considered in good standing with CMS. Both of these issues were still active for at least some of 2024. Mission did not resolve its Immediate Jeopardy status until early 2025. The Stein litigation continues today. The only resolved issue from 2023 relates to the hospitals charity care policy. Because of that, it is likely that Dogwood will once again find the hospital not in compliance with the 2019 purchase agreement for calendar year 2024, at least in CPPs analysis. But 2024 was a complicated year. You cant fairly look at 2024 without recognizing the catastrophe of Hurricane Helene, Affiliated Monitors project manager Jerry Coyne told CPP. The stress that was put on the hospital network was unprecedented. The system, and the staff, responded very admirably. There is a very positive story to be told about the way the hospital network worked to stay open and deliver services. Although we will cover some of that in our report, its not really part of the Asset Purchase Agreement. But you cant really talk about the year without acknowledging that. * * * * * Jane Winik Sartwell is a staff reporter for Carolina Public Press, who focuses on coverage of health and business. Jane has a bachelor's degree in photography from Bard College and master's degree in journalism from Columbia University. She is based in Wilmington. Email Jane at jsartwell@carolinapublicpress.org to contact her. Governor's Rebuilding Western North Carolina Committee meets Monday at UNCA Gov. Josh Stein and his Rebuilding Western North Carolina Committee will convene in the Blue Ridge Room on UNC Ashevilles campus at 10 a.m. Monday. Related Stories The meeting is open to the public, with in-person and virtual viewing options, but not open for public comment. Go here to attend virtually. Although there is no opportunity for public comment, the public may share questions and feedback at wncrecovery@nc.gov. Made up of local leadership representing 15 North Carolina counties affected by Hurricane Helene, the committee will advise Stein and the Governors Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) on recovery strategies that address the needs of the region. GROW NC and Stein aim to make the communities of WNC safer and stronger by addressing Helene-related issues in housing, infrastructure, revitalizing the local economy and providing near- and long-term relief funding. The committee has met previously in person at Western Carolina University and at Appalachian State University where it has heard from the N.C. Division of Emergency Management, the departments of Public Safety, Transportation and Environmental Quality, WNC STRONG, FEMA and many others. Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and state Sen. Kevin Corbin co-chair the committee. Other notable members of the committee include UNC Asheville alumni Nathan Ramsey 89 and Lindsey Prather 10; Al Whitesides, for whom UNC Ashevilles Whitesides Hall is named; and former UNC Asheville Board of Trustee members Jack Cecil and Chuck McGrady, who is also a former Henderson County commissioner and state House member. Those who would like to attend in-person will need to register for a Summer Daily Parking permit and may park in visitor, non-resident and all permit lots. There is no fee associated with parking, but registration must be completed prior to arriving on campus. AN accordionist played traditional music at a gathering hosted by the British-Slovene Society. The picnic, which is held annually, took place in Gillotts Corner Field last Saturday. A gazebo was set up next to the Slovenian hayrack, which was donated to Henley by the society in 2022 in celebration of Henleys twinning with the lakeside town of Bled. The hayrack, which is known as a kozolec, is a familiar sight in the Slovenian countryside and they are traditionally used to dry crops and hay. Despite a brief rain shower, guests enjoyed sunshine and warm temperatures. Nina Kralj, who works as an economic attache for the Slovenian Embassy in London, played several tunes on the accordion. Ms Kralj said she had been playing the instrument for about 20 years but it would be one of the first outings for her accordion, which was brand new. Ms Kralj said: For me, it brings people together and everybody always knows one song to sing along to. Some of the folk songs are passed down from generation to generation. Evelina Ferrar, who chairs the British-Slovene Society, explained that music could be categorised as Oberkrain music, which is a lively genre of folk music originating from the Oberkrain region of Slovenia but is now popular in Austria and Germany. Ana and Joe Carr travelled from Oxford to see the hayrack. The couple met at university and got married last year in Slovenia where Ana grew up. Mrs Carr, who is from Ljubljana, said: Its nice to see one that is nicely kept, as its newer in Slovenia they are often not kept as nicely. When you are in Slovenia, you dont really notice them, you only notice its not there when you are somewhere else. Mr Carr described Slovenia as one of the most beautiful countries. Its just got a bit of everything, he said. LONDON, July 12 (Xinhua) -- China and the United Kingdom (UK) should implement the important consensus reached by leaders of both nations, uphold mutual respect, openness, and inclusiveness, focus on cooperation, and eliminate distractions, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang said at a recent event. Addressing the Sino-UK Financial Education Symposium on Thursday, Zheng emphasized the strong potential for deeper China-UK collaboration in both the finance and education sectors. In the area of green finance, cooperation is accelerating, Zheng noted, citing a key milestone in April when the Chinese government issued 6 billion yuan (about 836.2 million U.S. dollars) in green sovereign bonds on the London Stock Exchange. Education continues to be a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship. According to the ambassador, China remains the largest source of international students in the UK, with more than 200,000 Chinese students currently in the country. Between 2013 and 2024, around 50,000 British students participated in academic programs in China. These figures, Zheng said, have demonstrated China's openness to welcoming more British students for study and cultural exchange programs. However, Zheng also warned of increasing instability and uncertainty challenging the world economic growth. The trade war initiated by the United States has severely undermined the World Trade Organization rules and the multilateral trading system, disrupted the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains, and jeopardized the global economy and the interests of all countries, he said, calling for greater unity and cooperation in the international community. The event was attended by many representatives from the financial, educational sectors, and think tanks in China and the UK, including Li Min, secretary general of the Western Returned Scholars Association, Michael Lawrence, CEO of Asia House, and David Quarry, member of the Board of Asia House, attended the event. SHANGHAI, July 12 (Xinhua) -- China's medical equipment exports reached over 9,000 medical institutions in more than 190 countries and regions last year, according to the China International Conference on Medical Equipment Cooperation held in Shanghai. Over the past five years, China's medical equipment import and export trade has seen a compound annual growth rate of 9.4 percent, indicating a steady rise in international competitiveness and brand influence, as well as deeper international cooperation, said Hou Yan, chairperson of the China Association of Medical Equipment, which hosted the conference from Friday to Saturday. The purpose of hosting the conference was to build a high-level, wide-ranging and multi-dimensional platform for international exchange and cooperation, and to share China's innovations and experience in the medical equipment sector, Hou added. Participants from 17 countries and regions, including health officials, experts and representatives from medical enterprises, attended the conference. China Pavilion Day celebrated at Osaka Expo Xinhua) 12:11, July 12, 2025 This photo taken on July 11, 2025 shows a performance for China's National Pavilion Day at Expo 2025 Osaka in Osaka, Japan. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng) OSAKA, Japan, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The China Pavilion Day at Expo 2025 Osaka was held on Friday, drawing over 400 attendees including representatives from China and Japan, as well as delegates from various national pavilions and friendship organizations. A large-scale cultural performance themed "Colorful China, Shaping the Future Together" was staged during the event, with performers from China's Shaanxi Province presenting traditional cultural shows, such as classical instruments performance, martial arts and acrobatics. Wu Shengrong, director of the China Pavilion, told Xinhua that since its opening on April 13, the pavilion has welcomed nearly 800,000 visitors from around the world. Tourists line up to visit China Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka in Osaka, Japan, July 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng) In addition, the China Pavilion has hosted over 20 cultural events featuring provinces and cities, enterprises and thematic exhibitions. Running from April 13 to Oct. 13, the expo was themed "Designing Future Society for Our Lives." The China Pavilion, one of the largest foreign self-built pavilions, covers approximately 3,500 square meters. Inspired by traditional Chinese calligraphy scrolls, the pavilion's architectural design embodies the theme of "Building a Community of Life for Man and Nature -- Future Society of Green Development." (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Kou Jie) TEHRAN, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Iranian judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir said Saturday that no Israeli spy was harmed in the Israeli airstrike on Iran's Evin Prison in late June. Jahangir made the remarks while responding to speculations that the June 23 attack on the high-security prison was intended to eliminate imprisoned Israeli spies. Jahangir said five inmates were killed in the attack, but stressed that no Israeli spies were harmed. He added that some victims were in prison for financial crimes. The Israeli attack killed over 70 people overall, including visiting family members, prison staff, inmates and residents of nearby buildings. Jahangir said by attacking the prison, Israel sought to demonstrate that it had no respect for international law and to intimidate the Iranian society and make people stop supporting the country. On June 13, Israel launched major airstrikes on several areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists and many civilians. Iran responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks on Israel, causing casualties and damages. After 12 days of fighting, a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was reached on June 24. TEHRAN, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran has always been, and will be, "ready for talks" on its nuclear program, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said here Saturday. "However, it should naturally be guaranteed that in case the negotiation starts again, it will not lead to a war to be waged by the United States or other parties," Araghchi said at a meeting with foreign ambassadors and representatives. The recent Israel-Iran fighting proved that there is no other alternative but to return to diplomacy and a negotiated and agreed solution, Araghchi was quoted as saying by the Iranian Students' News Agency. The United States "betrayed diplomacy and the negotiating table" by assisting Israel in attacking Iran and by directly targeting Iranian nuclear facilities afterward, he said. If the United States seeks to resume the negotiation, it must guarantee that the same scenario will not unfold again, he said. In any negotiation, the nuclear rights of the Iranian people, including the domestic enrichment of uranium, should be respected, he said, stressing that any potential negotiation should solely focus on Iran's nuclear program, and its military capabilities will be non-negotiable. Tehran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not stopped and has only taken on a new form, he said, adding that from now on, Iran's relations with the IAEA will be managed through the country's Supreme National Security Council, which will decide about future cooperation with the IAEA after considering security and safety issues. On July 1, Iran enacted a law on suspending cooperation with the IAEA and channeled its future cooperation with the agency through Iran's Supreme National Security Council instead of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. Israel launched a series of major airstrikes on June 13 targeting nuclear and military sites across Iran, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians, and injuring many others, according to Iranian authorities. Iran retaliated with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory, causing casualties and damage. A ceasefire between the two countries was reached on June 24, ending 12 days of fighting. BAAMS Holding its 7th Summer Jazz Day Camp NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Each summer, a group of master musicians assembles in North Adams at The Berkshires' Academy for Advanced Musical Studies (BAAMS) to offer the region's youth ages 12 to 18 a full week of learning. This year, Berkshire County musicians ages 12-18 will have the chance to study and play with some of the worlds finest musicians, including NBC's "Saturday Night Live" Band saxophonist and Juilliard faculty member, Ron Blake, guitar master Rodney Jones, along with two master drummer percussionists, Mino Cinelu and Kenwood Dennard. Both drummers are former members of the bands of Sting, Jaco Pastorious, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter. This year's camp takes place from July 14 through the 18. The 7th Berkshires' Summer Jazz Band Day Camp takes place each summer, with five days of learning everything from music theory, ear training, how to compose, how to improvise, how to honor one's musical voice, and work with others to create performances of original work. Students come from around Berkshire County, with the highest concentration of attendees from the Northern Berkshires, but also from as far away as Lee, Stockbridge, Boston and Cambridge, New York City, and central Vermont. "Next weeks camp is a huge opportunity for area young musicians and will help inspire and even transform their current playing levels. If you are 12-18 and play the saxophone or woodwinds, trumpet, guitar, or the drums, this is the place to be this summer," said Richard Boulger, Founder and Executive Director. He added, "You dont have to have a lot of experience playing, or you can be an advanced player with any level, our faculty will help each of our students have success in their musical growth and have fun doing it!" Students will be playing a few select jazz standards on which they will learn how to improvise, as well as compose their own original music. There are still a few slots left for selected instruments, and scholarships are being offered for qualifying families. Click here to register for Jazz Camp: berkshiresacademyams.org/berkshires-summer-jazz-day-camp During the week, with all musicians in town at one time, BAAMS is offering a once-a-year opportunity for music lovers to hear their BAAMS LEGACY BAND perform live on Wednesday, July 16, at Studio 9 at the Porches' Inn, North Adams. Some students will be asked to sit in with the band. Tickets are available via the venue's website at this link: https://studio9porches.com/performance/studio-9-presents-baams-faculty-concert/ This show, with a theme of HOMECOMING, is being given as a fundraiser in support of the week-long music camp. There will be another performance at the Adams Theater, 27 Park St., Adams, MA, on Friday, July 18, starting at 7:00 PM. The show runs from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM and features the BAAMS LEGACY BAND immediately following the student performance for family and friends at 5:30 PM. This event caps off the week, held in the same space where the band performed for BAAMS' Third Anniversary in May 2023. Tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/baams-legacy-band-in-concert-tickets-1468055155489?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl BAAMS has recently marked its Five-Year Anniversary becoming incorporated as a nonprofit music academy and cultural institution. It was founded by North Adams native, trumpeter and composer, educator, Richard Boulger. BAAMS is located in Heritage Park, Building 6, North Adams, Mass. BAAMS faculty also offer after-school lessons, weekend ensemble classes, and the faculty also bring their clinics into the region's schools made possible by grants from the Mass Cultural Council and donations. iciHaiti - Cap-Haitien : Training program for the Tourist Police On Friday, July 11, 2025, John Herrick Dessources, Minister of Tourism, held a meeting at the North Haiti Destination Management Organization with the Tourist Police (PoliTOUR) officers of Cap-Haitien to present a new training program aimed at further professionalizing the institution. This program is divided into two components. The first component includes training in : First aid; Heritage protection (tourist sites); Rights and responsibilities of officers and visitors. The second component includes : Language courses (English and Spanish); Gradual equipment provision; Distribution of new uniforms already available. Minister Dessources emphasized the importance of a visible and strategic presence of PoliTOUR in key areas, including : At the Ministry's central office; At the airport; In the city of Cap-Haitien. He also emphasized the need for agents to embody integrity, respect, and professionalism in order to inspire trust among the public and visitors. During the question-and-answer session, agents expressed several concerns, to which the Minister responded positively, affirming that their requests would be addressed. In conclusion, Dessources reaffirmed that all the commitments made during this meeting will be implemented during the current fiscal year, and renewed his thanks and encouragement to all PoliTOUR agents. IH/ iciHaiti BISSAU, July 12 (Xinhua) -- President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo on Friday praised China's contribution to the nation's development. Speaking at the Presidential Palace while reviewing his recent visit to the United States, Embalo said that "China is a pragmatic and sincere partner in its assistance." "No one can dictate our cooperation with China," the president said, emphasizing that Guinea-Bissau remains a sovereign and non-aligned country. "China has been our friend since the beginning and has never abandoned Guinea-Bissau. It is an excellent partner, and our relations are excellent," he said. Recalling his visits to China in 2024, Embalo said he appreciates the longstanding cooperation with China. HARARE, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe and China could enhance cultural exchanges to deepen their mutual understanding, a senior Zimbabwean journalist has said. In a recent written interview with Xinhua, Lawson Mabhena, editor of The Chronicle, a daily newspaper in Zimbabwe, said that he admired China's efforts in preserving its civilization, which spans thousands of years, and China and Zimbabwe could enhance cooperation in that sphere. Mabhena is among several Zimbabwean media professionals who attended a recent skills exchange program in central China's Hunan Province, where they gained a deeper insight into Chinese culture and the country's development in diverse fields. "If people are proud of their heritage, it then stands out. Enhancing tourism and visits to cultural sites between the two countries will go a long way in fostering understanding. Cultural exchanges and festivals can also be beneficial," he told Xinhua. Mabhena said that throughout the trip, he found China's way of pursuing high-quality development "impressive." "The pursuit of high-quality development is the pursuit of happiness for ordinary Chinese people," he said, adding that China's experience in achieving high-quality development serves as an inspiration for African countries. Mabhena urged the media to strengthen narratives about the two countries' prospering cooperation. "The stories about the unique civilizations and cooperation between Zimbabwe and China must be told," he added. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice India's aviation authorities have ordered its airlines to examine fuel switches on Boeing aircraft after a preliminary report on the fatal Air India flight crash last month found that the fuel supply was cut off after takeoff. At least 260 people died after a London-bound Air India 787 Boeing Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from the Ahmedabad airport in India's western state of Gujarat in one of the worst aviation disasters in history. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it had issued an order to investigate locks on several Boeing models, including 787s and 737s, after several Indian and international airlines began making their own inspections of fuel switches. The Boeing aircraft are used by three of India's largest airlines. The DGCA has set a 21 July deadline for airlines to complete the checks, adding that "strict adherence to the timeline is essential to ensure continued airworthiness and safety of operations". A preliminary report released one month after the fatal crash revealed that the switches had almost simultaneously flipped from run position to cutoff three seconds after takeoff. One pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel. "The other pilot responded that he did not do so," the report said. open image in gallery An investigation team inspects the wreckage of Air India flight 171 a day after it crashed in a residential area near the airport, in Ahmedabad on June 13, 2025 ( AFP via Getty Images ) The report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) did not identify which remarks were made by the flight's captain and which by the first officer, nor which pilot transmitted "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" just before the crash. At the crash site, both fuel switches were found in the run position and the report noted that there had been indications of the engines relighting before the low-altitude crash. The probe report noted a 2018 advisory from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which recommended, but did not mandate, operators of multiple Boeing models to inspect the locking feature of fuel cutoff switches to ensure they could not be moved accidentally. The AAIB said Air India had not carried out those inspections because they were not mandatory. But it also said maintenance records showed that the throttle control module, which includes the fuel switches, was replaced in 2019 and 2023 on the plane involved in the crash. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in a private notification, said that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe, Reuters reported. "Although the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models, the FAA does not consider this issue to be an unsafe condition that would warrant an Airworthiness Directive on any Boeing airplane models, including the Model 787," it added. open image in gallery Wreckage of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane sits on the open ground, outside Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport ( REUTERS ) Boeing separately also referred to the FAA notification in a multi-operator message sent to the airlines in the past few days, which said the planemaker is not recommending any action, two of the sources with direct knowledge told the news agency. In the wake of the report, airlines with Boeing aircraft in their fleet have aggressively begun to check the fuel switches. Flag carrier Korean Air Lines said on Tuesday it had proactively begun inspecting fuel control switches and would implement any additional requirements the transport ministry may have. Japan Airlines (JAL) said it was conducting inspections, but had also been doing so since the 2018 advisory came out. "Any issues detected were repaired on the ground, and therefore did not occur during flight," JAL said in a statement. South Korea's aviation authorities said it was preparing to order all airlines in the country with Boeing jets to examine the switches. Singapore Airlines said it completed precautionary checks on the fuel switches of its 787 fleet, including planes used by its low-cost subsidiary Scoot. Air India chief executive Campbell Wilson, in an internal memo, said the preliminary report found no mechanical or maintenance faults and that all required maintenance had been carried out. He added the pilots had passed all pre-flight checks amid allegations that the disaster was caused by human error. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hosepipe bans have been introduced across England as Britons battle with consecutive heatwaves this summer and temperatures surpassing 30C. A fourth heatwave could hit parts of the UK this week with temperatures predicted to climb to 29C in south east England on Thursday and Friday and then it might reach 28C on Saturday. After the driest spring since 1893, swathes of the country are suffering drought conditions and water shortages. It has left nearly seven million Brits, which is more than 10 per cent of Englands population, facing restrictions on how they can use their water. Southern Water has become the latest utility firm to announce a hosepipe ban, with almost a million of its customers in southern England hit by the new restrictions. Households in Yorkshire hit with hosepipe ban (Andrew Matthews/PA) ( PA Archive ) The hosepipe ban will come into effect in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight from 9am on Monday, the company said in a statement. Thames Water announced earlier this week that a hosepipe ban would come into effect across much of Swindon, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire. Beginning on 22 July, it will affect all OX, GL and SN postcodes, alongside RG4, RG8, and RG9 postcodes. Announcing the ban, Thames Water said the UK has experienced one of its warmest and driest springs in over a century in 2025, adding that June was also Englands warmest on record. Thats why we need to bring in a hosepipe ban. It will help protect the environment and make sure theres enough water to go around this summer. South East Water announced on Friday that 1.4 million of its customers in Kent and Sussex have been placed under a hosepipe ban after record levels of water consumption. The water provider said that demand across the two counties had reached the highest levels this year and had now reached a point where they have exceeded the limits in the companys drought plan. They added that on 30 June, they supplied 680 million litres of water, more than 100 million litres more than the daily average for summer. Just hours before that announcement, another hosepipe ban came into effect across Yorkshire, affecting 5.5 million residents. Yorkshire Water said the region had both the driest and warmest spring on record this year, receiving just 15cm of rainfall between February and June, less than half the level expected in an average year. Water demand had also been higher than usual, the company said, leaving reservoirs at 55.8 per cent full, which is 26.1 per cent lower than normal. In late May, the Environment Agency also placed northwest England under drought status. They said at the time that reservoir storage levels were already lower than they were during the 1984, 1995 and 2022 drought years. On Saturday, the Met Office recorded UK temperatures peaking at 33C in Ross on Wye, with further warm weather expected on Sunday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) put large swathes of England on an amber health alert on Friday, with authorities warning soaring temperatures over the weekend are likely to cause a rise in deaths. Regions spanning from the Midlands to the south are affected, including London. Only the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber have retained less severe yellow heat alerts. These yellow alerts had been in place across England until Monday, but they were upgraded on Friday morning for the east and West Midlands, London, the east of England and the South East and South West. The UKHSA says significant impacts are likely in the affected areas, including a rise in deaths. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice We all say it - and most of the time, lets face it, we dont even mean it. Well, now researchers have backed up the theory, after finding Britons say sorry in as many as 15 different ways, with only one actually expressing true regret. After examining different scenarios we use the apologetic term, they say the multitude of meanings even creates confusion for foreigners, who assume a literal apology is being made, rather than accounting for the other uses of the word. And they say only one of them means true regret - when someone is genuinely sorry to hear someone elses bad news. Karen Grainger, a lecturer in linguistics at Sheffield Hallam University commissioned by Babbel to analyse apologies, explained that sorry is frequently used in attempts to be polite, and to take the edge of disagreements or awkwardness as well as to work around social norms. Britons say sorry as many as nine times a day on average, a previous survey suggested, according to The Times. Mattias Pettersson, who is from Sweden but lives in the UK, told the newspaper: When I first started spending time with my British partner, I was struck by how often she said sorry. At first, I thought Id done something wrong. Shed say sorry when we passed each other in the hallway, when she handed me something, even mid-sneeze. Now, even with our two-year-old daughter and other Brits I met, I realised sorry can mean anything from excuse me to after you to I exist, and I hope thats OK. At first, I didnt know how to respond should I apologise back? Say thank you? It was confusing but also fascinating: a tiny word carrying a thousand meanings. It felt like there were secret rules I hadnt learnt yet. Over time, Ive learnt to love it. It feels less like an odd habit and more like a quiet sign of thoughtfulness and consideration. Sofia Zambelli, who is a cultural and language expert at Babbel, added: In British English, sorry is as much a social lubricant, an exclamation or a response to mild discomfort as it is a genuine apology. This unique multifunctionality makes it one of the most fascinating and simultaneously misunderstood words in the English language. Here are the 15 ways Britons use the word sorry: Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Britain must prepare for the possibility of war with Russia within the next five years, the former head of the British Army has warned. General Sir Patrick Sanders, who stepped down as Chief of the General Staff last summer, told The Telegraph that a conflict with Russia by 2030 was a realistic possibility. The UK government needs to act swiftly to improve national resilience, he said. If Russia stops fighting in Ukraine, within months they could have the capability to launch a limited attack on a Nato member, which would require our support, Sir Patrick told The Telegraph. The former army chief revealed that previous conversations with government officials about building underground bunkers and command centres had stalled. It always came down to a conversation of it being too costly and not a high enough priority, and the threat didnt feel sufficiently imminent or serious to make it worth it, he said. open image in gallery British army soldiers in Poland ( AFP via Getty Images ) He pointed to Finland as an example, highlighting that it has bomb shelters capable of protecting 4.5 million people, allowing it to endure missile and air attacks. Sir Patrick said this is a level of preparedness that the UK lacks. Sir Patrick also pointed to Estonia, Poland, and the Nordic countries as governments that take a really proactive, serious approach by encouraging their populations to prepare for potential attacks. Late last year, millions of Swedes were sent a pamphlet advising them on how to prepare and cope in the event of war or another unexpected crisis, as Russias war in Ukraine continued to escalate. Around the same time, Finland also published fresh advice on preparing for incidents and crises. open image in gallery The UK has pledged to spend 5 per cent of GDP on national security and defence by 2035 ( AFP via Getty Images ) Sir Patrick warned funding for the UKs air defences is much lower than necessary. He called for more investment in systems that could protect civilians from missile and drone threats. He also criticised troop cuts that have left the British Army too small to survive more than the first few months of an intensive engagement, with reserves also inadequate. In April 2024, the army fell below its recruitment target for the first time since it was set, with personnel numbers at the lowest level since the Napoleonic wars, at around 73,000 troops. All three branches of the UK armed forces are currently sitting below their size targets. Sir Patrick said the recent defence budget increases were pretty marginal and that the UK must wake up to the fact that the world has become as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than it was in the Cold War. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice As Keir Starmer gathered his top ministers for a special away day in Chequers for a team-building reset on Friday, one figure arrived in a much more powerful position than she was in just two weeks ago. It is now widely recognised by Labour MPs, across the different wings of the party, that deputy prime minister Angela Rayners influence in this government is greater than almost anybody elses. Certainly more than the wounded chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has been beset by economic woes, and even more than health secretary Wes Streeting who, like Rayner, has been tipped as a future contender for the leadership. She was, though, completely unprepared for the shot fired by the Unite union, after its general secretary announced it had suspended her membership for failing to resolve the Birmingham refuse collectors dispute. But while a trade union that looks set to peel off and back Jeremy Corbyns new party gave her a headache, Rayner nevertheless is enjoying a surge in influence for now. open image in gallery Angela Rayner first flexed her muscles during the spending review (Jordan Pettitt/PA) ( PA Wire ) Welfare rebellion The biggest reason for her rise is the result of the welfare rebellion just over a week ago. As one party whip put it: Theres nobody more powerful in the government than Angela at the moment. She was the one who brokered the deal with Labour rebels, she was the one who talked people off the ledge from voting against the government. Another ally pointed out that she did not even want the disability cuts and had already sent a leaked memo to Reeves suggesting wealth taxes instead of austerity. Now, after last Wednesdays PMQs, it seems like the government has no option but to raise taxes. But the turnaround for Rayner actually started with her holdout in the spending review, where she got 39bn for housing and more than expected for local government. open image in gallery Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has suspended Rayner from the union (Andrew Miligan/PA) ( PA Wire ) A spot of union bother Some may see the recent decision by Unite the union to suspend her membership (even though she left the union in April) as a problem. But behind the scenes it has confused people on the left and other unions, who believe Rayner has turned Starmers government leftwards on disability benefits and steering through the bill on workers rights. As a TUC source noted: The main metric we are judging this government by is the workers rights legislation and that is on course. Unite took action because of her position on the Birmingham bins strike. But an ally of Rayner said: Its wild! They know full well that Angela cannot directly intervene in the way that they say, and to attack one of the few remaining cabinet members who is standing up for workers rights and real labour values is simply mad. However, it remains to be seen if the escalating clash with Unite will halt Rayners rise. A rival court to Downing Street How the tide can turn. Just over a month ago, there was talk about Rayner being demoted and losing the housing part of her portfolio. Now there is speculation in Westminster that the deputy prime minister could soon have her own official office, with its own staff and comms team. There is some scepticism, especially over what it would mean for Starmer himself and his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. As one ally of Rayner noted: Morgan will hate the idea and do everything he can to stop it. An Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) would create a rival court, an alternative centre of government. The last person to have an ODPM was John Prescott under Tony Blair, but unlike Rayner, Prescott was never seen as a candidate to replace Blair. open image in gallery Rachel Reeves cries as Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Ministers Questions (House of Commons/UK Parliament) ( PA Wire ) All about the leadership There is still a lot of fevered speculation about whether Starmer can survive as prime minister. The image of his chancellor in tears while he failed to guarantee her future this month became the image of a government spiralling out of control. There are many waiting to see the results of the elections in Scottish, Welsh and English councils next May to decide whether to launch a putsch. If Starmer is forced out, Rayner is now the clear favourite to take over, despite her protestations that she does not want the job. open image in gallery John Prescott served as deputy prime minister under Tony Blair between 1997 and 2007 (Neil Munns/PA) ( PA Wire ) Beware the Rayners rise trap While Rayner is on top at the moment, there is some speculation that the spending review with Reeves has laid a trap for her much more problematic than the issues with Unite. In getting her cash for local government and housing it appears that the deputy prime minister has signed up to council tax rises of 5 per cent. At the housing and local government select committee hearing this week in the Commons she denied that the increase was baked in, but MPs from her own party and the opposition were not convinced at all. The Independent has been told that already the term Rayners rise is being used for hefty council tax increases not seen since the Blair era two decades ago. Back in the Blair government it was Prescott and his Office of the Deputy PM which took the brunt of the anger over rising bills and it will be the same for Rayner. Among her allies, there is genuine concern that Rayners opponents inside and outside the party are preparing to weaponise it as an issue when council tax bills land at the end of the year. There are fears that it will not take much to turn the public against her. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Just one in three people support plans by doctors to stage five days of walkouts later this month, a new poll has revealed as tens of thousands of patients across the country face operations and appointments being cancelled. Nearly half of those polled (49 per cent) oppose the planned industrial action called by the British Medical Association, a YouGov survey has found. The figures showed a marked fall in support compared with previous industrial action. When doctors last went on strike, just before last years general election, YouGov found the action was supported by 59 per cent of the public, and opposed by 36 per cent. It comes as a former Labour cabinet minister and union leader warned the BMA it had picked the wrong battle with the government, and told health secretary Wes Streeting it was a fight he had to win. Alan Johnson, who was health secretary for two years under Tony Blair and who used to lead a union himself, told The Independent: This has all the signs of the BMA leading their troops into a battle they cant win, nor should they, given that government has honoured the pay review recommendations in full having settled last years dispute immediately on taking office. open image in gallery Doctors on a picket line last year ( Owen Humphreys/PA Wire ) I doubt if theres anybody with any trade union experience who thinks the BMA have chosen the right terrain on which to go to war with the government. This is a battle Wes Streeting has to win, he added. Medical leaders also warned resident doctors, as junior doctors are now known, that they may never recover the trust of patients if they go on strike again. Mr Streeting has told junior doctors that after a 28.9 per cent pay rise last year when Labour entered government, the public would not understand why you would still walk out on strike, and neither do I. open image in gallery Former health secretary Alan Johnson said Wes Streeting had to win the battle against the BMA But the new leader of the BMA has said that resident doctors 29 per cent pay demand is non-negotiable and warned strikes could go on for years. Dr Tom Dolphin also claimed the demand was both reasonable and easily affordable for the NHS. He said the union will not negotiate on or accept a figure lower than 29 per cent because that is the extent of the real-terms loss of earnings the BMA say doctors have seen since 2008 a salary they want restored in full. Former Tory health minister Steve Brine warned the strikes had the potential to undo the good that had been done on cutting NHS waiting lists. Up to 50,000 resident doctors are expected to join the walkout from 7am on 25 July to 7am on 30 July. About 1.5 million operations and appointments had to be cancelled during the last wave of industrial action by junior doctors. Mr Streeting has urged the BMA to listen to the public. He said: Instead of rushing down this unreasonable path, the BMA need to pause and think about the real risk of people losing trust in doctors and the damage that would do to our NHS and the entire medical profession. Lord Darzi of Denham, a surgeon who led a damning review of the NHS last year, said: Doctors have a special place in society. The publics trust in doctors is earned, not guaranteed. I fear it will never recover if the BMA go ahead with strikes that are plainly unjustifiable. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS Englands national medical director, also said doctors must consider how difficult it might be to recover public trust. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Kemi Badenoch has been accused of staggering hypocrisy after privately opposing an energy infrastructure project in her constituency, despite taking aim at the government for not doing enough to tackle nimby blockers. In a letter to constituents last month, seen by The Independent, the Tory leader said she has joined six other Conservative MPs from across East Anglia in writing to Ed Miliband to demand a fair and thorough assessment of alternatives to the Norwich to Tilbury pylons project. She said the project which passes through her Saffron Waldon constituency risks permanent environmental and visual damage, would hurt house prices, disrupt farms, businesses and community spaces. The project will see a new 400-kilovolt electricity transmission line built between Norwich and Tilbury, spanning more than 110 miles. Ms Badenoch said she told the energy secretary to consider laying the cables underground, even though it is estimated that such a move would cost taxpayers far more. The proposed location of the project, which would stretch from Norwich to Tilbury ( National Grid ) When the Tory leaders office was asked about her opposition to the plans, they claimed there is evidence it is just as cost-effective to put the cables underground. But when asked to provide the evidence, they failed to do so. National Grid sources said that burying the cables would not only be up to seven times more expensive, it would also not meet the requirements of the project. Meanwhile, a report from the Institution of Engineering and Technology said underground cables are, on average, around 4.5 times more expensive than overhead lines. Writing in The Times less than a month ago, Ms Badenoch said: Politically, government is increasingly powerless in the face of legal challenges. Last week I spoke about the tangle of domestic and international rules that block us building new homes and infrastructure. And last year, as shadow housing secretary in the weeks after the election, she suggested that new Labour backbenchers would turn into nimbys when they face complaints from voters. Many of them have been thinking theyd get into government and concrete over lots of Tory constituencies, she told the Commons. Three weeks ago just 15 per cent of the green belt was in Labour constituencies, now its 50 per cent. They arent Tory constituencies now, they are Labour. They are now your voters and youre going to have to tell them that youre going to do something that many of you promised locally that you would never do. Labour MP for Milton Keynes North, Chris Curtis, warned that Ms Badenochs decision to oppose the pylon line demonstrates the same one rule for us mindset that brought us wild parties in Downing Street while the country suffered in silence. Kemi Badenoch is fast becoming the poster child for everything the British public rightly despises about politics, he said. She rails against legal blockages in the media while using them at home when it suits her. Voters have had over a decade of being lectured by politicians in Westminster, only to watch them flip flop whenever they could benefit personally or politically. It is the same one rule for us mindset that brought us wild parties in Downing Street while the country suffered in silence. He added: But that kind of hypocrisy is not just insulting, it is holding Britain back. Meanwhile, David Taylor Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead said it was staggering hypocrisy, warning that Britain cant afford more Tory nimbyism when our countrys future is on the line. He said: After her government did their best to bankrupt the country, shes joined fellow Tory MPs to block the Tilbury pylons project in her own patch, while the country urgently needs new energy infrastructure to keep the lights on and power new homes. This is classic one rule for them, another for everyone else. The Conservatives were in power for 14 years and left us with the worst housebuilding record since the 1920s, a time when pylons hadnt even been invented. Now Labours in government, were serious about building the infrastructure and homes Britain desperately needs. A spokesperson for National Grid said: Were committed to consulting extensively and listening to the views of communities and stakeholders as we develop and shape our plans. Our role is to find a way to take the home-grown, more affordable and cleaner energy from where its generated to where its needed in our homes, business and public services, and we share our plans with Ofgem to ensure value for money for bill payers. We consider all technology options, offshore, underground, and overhead lines, and then balance a range of factors, including whats possible from an engineering and environmental point of view and feedback from local communities. The secretary of state for energy security and net zero will then make the final decision, following a recommendation from the Planning Inspectorate, on whether we have got that balance right when considering granting planning permission. A spokesperson for Ms Badenoch said: Shes pushing for the cables to be buried. Shes on the record calling for this and that there is evidence it is just as cost-effective. The Independent has contacted the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for comment. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Sir Keir Starmers much-lauded one in, one out migrant return deal with Emmanuel Macron is a publicity stunt that wont win back voters, Britains leading pollsters have warned. Professor Sir John Curtice, Lord Robert Hayward and Luke Tryl have suggested that the small scale of the agreement, which will only see a tiny fraction of those arriving on small boats returned to France, will have little or no impact on the prime ministers dwindling popularity because of record low trust in the government. The problem was underlined on Thursday when more than 700 migrants arrived on small boats just hours before the announcement of the deal, which will reportedly see only 50 returned a week, although ministers have refused to discuss specific numbers. It comes as new polling reveals concerns about the governments wider migration policy, with a survey of Labour party members, seen by The Independent, showing opposition to Sir Keirs plans to crack down on legal migration as well. open image in gallery Small boat crossings continued on Friday, with the RNLI and Border Force bringing people into Dover from the Channel as more than 350 migrants made the crossing (Gareth Fuller/PA) ( PA Wire ) According to a Survation poll of 1,304 Labour Party members for LabourList, 53 per cent oppose plans to allow migrants the right to apply for citizenship only after 10 years of being in the UK on a work visa, up from five years. Only 36 per cent support it. The measure is a key part of bringing down legal migration, along with banning the overseas recruitment of care workers. But it highlights splits within the Labour Party over the plans for both legal and illegal migration, with some on the left unhappy with the deal, which will see the UK accept the same number of asylum seekers with family or strong ties to the UK in return. The focus on tackling both legal and illegal migration has been part of a strategy to tackle the loss of votes to Nigel Farages Reform UK. The most recent Techne UK poll for The Independent put Reform up one point to 29 per cent, seven points ahead of Labour, who were down one on 22 per cent. open image in gallery Polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice (Strathclyde University/PA) ( PA Media ) Reflecting on whether the migrants return policy will impress voters, Prof Curtice said: I would be surprised if it were to have a significant impact. Lord Hayward, a Tory peer and highly respected pollster, said the announcement was a publicity stunt, adding: The deal will have no impact really. There are so many questions about the plan. He also noted that the real problem for Sir Keir and his government is a record-low level of confidence in the government. I think the figure for net confidence level may be at or on a par with the worst ever, he added. Only 23 per cent expressed confidence in Sir Keirs government, according to the Techne UK poll, compared to 63 per cent not confident, giving an overall rating of -40. Meanwhile, Luke Tryl, director of the More in Common think tank, said the glimmer of hope for the government would be images of migrants who had come to the UK on small boats being returned to France. On Friday, more than 350 migrants crossed the English Channel, according to the Home Office. Mr Tryl said: I suspect this deal, in of itself, wouldnt make much of an impact. But if it is seen like this is happening, and I think particularly once people see people actually being removed, I think that is going to be something that has the potential to be quite powerful. However, he said that the small boats crisis and the rising number of people coming across the English Channel illegally currently at over 21,000 and 53 per cent higher than this time last year was seen as evidence that the government has lost control. open image in gallery Nigel Farage has benefited politically from the small boats issue (Ben Whitley/PA) ( PA Wire ) Mr Tryl added: We have around seven in 10 people saying the government isn't in control, and as I say, Channel crossings are one of the most visible signs of that. He noted: Its interesting, theyve avoided the stop the boats language used by Rishi Sunak. I think theyve been quite sober about this, which I think is good, given where public expectations are. But there is no doubt that Channel crossings are a major motivator of support for Reform. They define the immigration debate. If you ask people the priority between tackling small boats and levels of migration overall, 74 per cent say the priority is small boats. There is some disquiet on the left of the Labour Party that plans to open safe and legal routes for asylum seekers are no longer part of the discussion as Sir Keir obsesses about the rise of Nigel Farages Reform. One senior figure on the left of the party said: We need to zoom out a bit more to have that perspective. I dont at all think it will be enough to satiate Reform and those demanding a very hard line approach. The conversation needs to be broadened out to proper discussion on safe legal pathways and migrants working whilst claims are processed. Another left-wing MP described the left of the party as wounded with recent announcements and suggested that the question is whether MPs have the stomach for a coup against the prime minister. But one cheerleader for the announcement with France is Labours MP for Dover and Deal, Mike Tapp, whose constituency sees most of those arriving via small boats, and who has been calling for much tougher action. He said: Massive strides have been made in tackling the small boat crisis. What will Reform do? Theyll continue to fall apart. This, combined with record deportations and removals and taking down criminal gangs with counter terror powers will make a difference. The government has been contacted for a response. PHNOM PENH, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Memorial Sites have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, bringing the country's tangible heritage properties on the prestigious list to five, said a statement from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts released Friday midnight. The inscription was made on Friday during the World Heritage Committee's 47th session in Paris, France, the statement said. "This historic inscription marks another moment of national pride for Cambodia, following the successful listing of national iconic and historical sites such as the ancient temple complexes of Angkor in 1992, Preah Vihear Temple in 2008, Sambor Prei Kuk archaeological site in 2017, and Koh Ker archaeological site in 2023," the statement said. "The Cambodian Memorial Sites represent Cambodia's first modern, non-classical archaeological heritage to receive World Heritage status," it added. The inscribed Cambodian Memorial Sites included the former M-13 prison, located between Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Speu provinces, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, both in the capital Phnom Penh, the statement said. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said the inscription of "Cambodian Memorial Sites" not only honors the physical sites, but also recognizes Cambodia's painful history. "These sites offer humanity an example of how a nation can rise from tragedy, not by forgetting, but by remembering and transforming those memories into a force for peace," he said in a speech after the sites were inscribed. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Reform UK has selected a teenager to permanently run a major county council, overseeing hundreds of millions of pounds of public spending. George Finch, 18, took over temporarily after the previous council leader, also a member of Reform, resigned just weeks after being elected. Now the 18-year-old has been selected by Nigel Farages party to head Warwickshire County Council, which has 1.5bn of assets and a budget of around 500m. The Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, Preet Gill, has criticised the decision, saying the people of Warwickshire frankly deserve better. This is not work experience, she told the BBC. This is not about learning on the job. open image in gallery George Finch, who has been selected to run a county council ( Facebook/Cllr George Finch ) Mr Finch, a former Tory, was installed as the full-time leader of the Reform group after a vote on Friday. Reform is the largest party on the council but does not have an outright majority, meaning he will need the support of other parties, such as the Conservatives, when a vote is held later this month to officially appoint him council leader. Rachel Taylor, the Labour MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth, said she was deeply concerned that Reform was proposing that an 18-year-old with no previous work experience should be running our county council. She called on the Tories to vote this down, adding: I would ask them to reflect on whether they are willing to blindly rubber stamp what is clearly an inappropriate appointment. Last month, Reforms Rob Howard said it was with much regret that he was quitting as council leader, citing health challenges which he said prevented him from carrying out the role to the level and standard that I would wish. open image in gallery Nigel Farages party has topped out in the polls, a leading pollster recently suggested (Ben Whitley/PA) ( PA Wire ) His resignation came in the wake of the chaos that followed Reforms surge at the local elections, when it took hundreds of seats across England. One newly elected councillor resigned from the party just days after being elected. Firing a parting shot as she left, Donna Edmunds also called for ousted Reform MP Rupert Lowe to establish a challenger party on the right of Reform and said Mr Farage must never be prime minister. Another councillor, Wayne Titley, elected in Staffordshire, quit the council after just two weeks, following criticism over a Facebook post about small boats arriving in Britain. And a Reform councillors failure to declare he worked for the council forced a by-election to be announced in Durham just a week after the local elections. The chaos appeared to do little to dent Reform in the polls. However, a leading pollster recently suggested that support for the party has topped out, and that the momentum that was leading it to soar in the polls has ground to a halt. Conservative peer Robert Hayward told The Independent that the results of recent council by-elections, which Reform lost while defending seats, coupled with a small fall in the partys national polling figures, suggest that the march of Mr Farage to Downing Street at the next general election could be facing a setback. It came after business leaders and senior figures in the Labour Party urged Sir Keir Starmer to stop obsessing about the rise of Reform. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The state of Pennsylvania is racing to address an issue with its emergency 911 systems, which is affecting areas across the state. The issue was initially reported via an emergency alert as a statewide intermittent 911 outage. But during a Friday evening press briefing, Randy Padfield, the states Emergency Management Director, said it isnt an outage. According to CBS News Philadelphia, sources say it's a third-party company IT issue. The company is contracted with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Padfield said its too soon to say what caused the issue, noting it could be a software or hardware problem. open image in gallery Issues with Pennsylvanias 911 system affected residents across the state ( Getty Images ) The director said around 2 p.m. on Friday, a 911 service provider that handles network services for the state discovered emergency calls were intermittently failing to connect on the 911 network. He added the problem was initially identified when entering the 911 center in Delaware County. The provider subsequently made PEMA aware, starting the work to resolve the issue in the state of 13 million people. Soon, other counties began reporting the same problem, prompting an emergency alert to be sent to the public at about 3.30 p.m. "Pennsylvania is experiencing a statewide intermittent 911 outage. Individuals experiencing issues contacting 911 are asked to contact their local 911 Center on their non-Emergency lines, the alert stated. "The system continues to have some intermittent connectivity issues at this point in time. They are still trying to troubleshoot," Padfield said on Friday evening. During his most recent update, Padfield said it appeared that most 911 calls were going through, but he added that there were some intermittent issues with the calls, such as some of the calls not having location or number data. "Individuals should continue to use 911, and if they would call 911 for an emergency and the call is not delivered, they should use the backup seven-digit administrative line or follow the instructions of their local 911 center or public safety answering point," said Padfield. We are on top of the issue and working to restore full service as quickly as possible, Governor Josh Shapiro said in a statement on X. In the meantime stay calm, follow the directions of PEMA and local authorities, and do not call 911 for any reason other than an emergency. Some counties in the state are calling their residents to inform them about the outage, according to CBS News Philadelphia. PEMA urged residents to check their countys social media outlets and websites for further information. At the press conference in Harrisburg, Padfield said Pennsylvanians should still use the 911 system for emergencies, but if a call doesn't go through, they should follow the instructions from their local 911 center. open image in gallery Governor Josh Shaprio urged residents to remain calm and only use the 911 system for emergencies ( Getty Images ) At 5.35 p.m., Allegheny County Emergency Services wrote on X that the 911 communications have been 100 percent back to normal operations, with no issues, for approximately 30 minutes. But it added that intermittent issues remain a statewide problem. We have been in constant coordination with all of our county partners and PEMA while they troubleshoot, they said. "At this point, we don't believe this was caused by a cyberattack or a software update," Padfield said. "It could be a software glitch, a hardware failure, or something outside the network. What we know is that it's sporadic and intermittent, and our vendor has all technical experts engaged." "The system has performed flawlessly through severe weather and high call volume situations," he added. "This issue is an anomaly, but we are taking it seriously." Pennsylvania emergency numbers by county Philadelphia County: 215-686-8686 / 311 Chester County: 610-436-4700 / 610-344-6456 Bucks County: 215-328-8500 / 215-357-8700 Delaware County: 610-565-6575 / 610-891-5200 Montgomery County: 610-635-4300 Northampton County: 610-759-2200 Lehigh County: 610-437-5252 / 610-437-7751 Berks County: 610-655-4911 Allegheny County: 412-473-3056 Armstrong County: 724-548-3431 Beaver County: 724-775-1700 Butler County: 724-282-1221 Cambria County: 814-472-2100 Clarion County: 814-226-6631 Fayette County: 724-430-1277 Greene County: 724-627-5387 Indiana County: 724-349-9300 Lawrence County: 724-656-9300 Mercer County: 724-662-6110 Somerset County: 814-445-1525 Venango County: 814-677-0325 Washington County: 724-229-4600 Westmoreland County: 724-836-1551 The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Boeing has reached a settlement with a Canadian man whose wife and three children were killed in a deadly 2019 crash in Ethiopia, averting the first trial connected to the devastating event that led to a worldwide grounding of Max jets. The settlement on Friday came just days before a jury trial at Chicagos federal court was set to start Monday to determine damages for Paul Njoroge of Canada. His family was heading to their native Kenya in March 2019 aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 when it malfunctioned and plummeted to the ground, killing all 157 people on board. Njoroge, 41, had planned to testify about how the crash affected his life. He has been unable to return to his family home in Toronto because the memories are too painful. He hasnt been able to find a job. And he has weathered criticism from relatives for not traveling alongside his wife and children. Hes got complicated grief and sorrow and his own emotional stress, said Njoroges attorney, Robert Clifford. Hes haunted by nightmares and the loss of his wife and children. open image in gallery Paul Njoroge testifies during a House Transportation subcommittee hearing ( AP ) Clifford said his client intended to seek millions in damages on behalf of his wife and children, but declined to publicly specify an amount ahead of the trial. Terms of the deal were not disclosed publicly. The proceedings were not expected to delve into technicalities involving the Max version of Boeings bestselling 737 airplane, which has been the source of persistent troubles for the company since the Ethiopia crash and one year before in Indonesia. A combined 346 people, including passengers and crew members, died in those crashes. In 2021, Chicago-based Boeing accepted responsibility for the Ethiopia crash in a deal with the victims families that allowed them to pursue individual claims in U.S. courts instead of their home countries. Citizens of 35 countries were killed. Several families of victims have already settled. The terms of those agreements were also not made public. The jetliner heading to Nairobi lost control shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and nose-dived into a barren patch of land. open image in gallery The scene of the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash near Bishoftu, or Debre Zeit, south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2019 ( AP ) Investigators determined the Ethiopia and Indonesia crashes were caused by a system that relied on a sensor that provided faulty readings and pushed the plane's noses down, leaving pilots unable to regain control. After the Ethiopian crash, Max jets were grounded worldwide until the company redesigned the system. This year, Boeing reached a deal with the Justice Department to avoid criminal prosecutions in both crashes. Among the dead were Njoroges wife, Carolyne, and three small children, Ryan, age 6, Kellie, 4, and Rubi, 9 months old, the youngest to die on the plane. Njoroge also lost his mother-in-law, whose family has a separate case. Njoroge, who met his wife in college in Nairobi, was living in Canada at the time of the crash. He had planned to join his family in Kenya later. He testified before Congress in 2019 about repeatedly imagining how his family suffered during the flight, which lasted only six minutes. He has pictured his wife struggling to hold their infant in her lap with two other children seated nearby. I stay up nights thinking of the horror that they must have endured, Njoroge said. The six minutes will forever be embedded in my mind. I was not there to help them. I couldnt save them. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Federal regulators repeatedly approved appeals to remove Camp Mystic's buildings from their 100-year flood map, easing oversight as the camp operated and expanded in a hazardous floodplain in the years leading up to the central Texas flash floods of July 4, according to new reporting by The Associated Press. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated the prestigious girls' summer camp as being in a Special Flood Hazard Area on its National Flood Insurance map for Kerr County in 2011, which meant it was required to have flood insurance and faced stricter regulations on any future construction projects. That designation indicates an area is likely to flood during a 100-year event, defined as a severe flood with only a one percent chance of occurring each year. Syracuse University associate professor Sarah Pralle, who has extensively studied FEMAs flood map determinations, said it was particularly disturbing that a camp responsible for the safety of so many young people would receive exemptions from basic flood regulations. Situated in a low-lying area along the Guadalupe River in a region known as flash flood alley, Camp Mystic lost at least 27 campers and counselors, along with longtime owner Dick Eastland, when historic floodwaters tore through its property just before dawn over a week ago. open image in gallery Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, where 27 campers and counselors lost their lives in flash flooding ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The flood was much more severe than the 100-year event predicted by FEMA, according to experts, and moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many people off guard in a county without a warning system. Its a mystery to me why they werent taking proactive steps to move structures away from the risk, let alone challenging what seems like a very reasonable map that shows these structures were in the 100-year flood zone, said Pralle. Camp Mystic didnt respond to emails seeking comment, and attempts by the AP to contact staff by phone went unanswered. The camp has described the flood as an unimaginable tragedy and added in a statement on Thursday that it had restored power to communicate with its supporters. In response to an appeal, FEMA amended the county's flood map in 2013 to remove 15 of the camps buildings from the hazard zone. Records indicate that those buildings were part of the 99-year-old Camp Mystic Guadalupe, which was destroyed by last weeks flood. After additional appeals, FEMA removed 15 more structures at Camp Mystic from the designation in 2019 and 2020. These buildings were located at nearby Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, a sister site that opened to campers in 2020 as part of a major expansion and experienced less flood damage. Campers have said the cabins at Cypress Lake endured significant damage, but those called "the flats at the Guadalupe River camp were submerged. open image in gallery An officer prays with a family as they pick up items at Camp Mystic ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Experts say Camp Mystic's efforts to change the FEMA map may have aimed to avoid flood insurance requirements, reduce insurance costs, or make it easier to renovate or build new structures under less strict regulations. Pralle noted that the appeals were not surprising, as communities and property owners have often used them successfully to protect specific properties from regulation. Regardless of FEMA's findings, the risk was clear, as at least 12 structures at Camp Mystic Guadalupe were fully within FEMA's 100-year flood plain, with a few more partially in that zone, according to an AP analysis of data provided by First Street, a data science company specializing in climate risk modeling. Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications at First Street, said FEMA's flood insurance map underestimates flood risks because it doesn't account for the effects of heavy rainfall on smaller waterways, such as streams and creeks. First Street's model indicates that nearly all of Camp Mystic Guadalupe faces risk during a 100-year flood. The buildings at the newer Cypress Lake site are farther from the south fork of the flood-prone river but are adjacent to Cypress Creek. FEMA's floodplain does not consider the small waterway a risk. However, First Streets model, which factors in heavy rain and runoff reaching the creek, shows that most of the Cypress Lake site falls within an area with a 1% chance of flooding in any given year. open image in gallery A sheriff's deputy pauses while combing through debris on the banks of the Guadalupe River near Camp Mystic ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) In a statement to the AP, FEMA downplayed the significance of the flood map amendments: Flood maps are snapshots in time designed to show minimum standards for floodplain management and the highest risk areas for flood insurance. They are not predictions of where it will flood, and they dont show where it has flooded before, the agency said. Property owners challenging FEMA's maps hire engineers for detailed studies to argue where the 100-year floodplain should be, a complex process that can improve map accuracy and facilitate future construction. Pralle, who reviewed the amendments for AP, noted that some of the exempted properties were within two feet of FEMA's flood plain according to the camp's revised calculations, which she said left almost no margin for error. She stated that her research indicates FEMA approves approximately 90% of map amendment requests, and the process might favor the wealthy and well-connected. FEMA warned in its amendments that other parts of Camp Mystic remained on the flood map, and that any future construction or substantial improvement would be subject to flood plain management regulations. County officials not only allowed the camp to continue operating but also enabled a significant expansion, with Camp Mystic owners Dick and Tweety Eastland citing the tremendous success of their original camp to justify the need for a second nearby site. The expansion included new cabins, a dining hall, a chapel, an archery range, and more. Records show that the camp had 557 campers and over 100 staff members across its two locations when a state licensing agency inspected on July 2, two days before the tragedy. open image in gallery This handout picture courtesy of Maxar Technologies shows Camp Mystic before flash flooding along the Guadalupe River ( Maxar/Getty ) Chris Steubing, executive director of the Texas Floodplain Management Association, an industry group that represents floodplain managers, said the rain and flooding that hit Kerr County in a matter of hours were so much more intense than anything in its history that it's hard to call the floodplain management a failure. Local officials likely believed they were following existing regulations when they allowed the camp to keep growing, but then Mother Nature set a new standard, Steubing said. You could have built things two feet higher, three feet higher, and they still might have gotten taken down, he added. As of Saturday, July 12, a total of 129 people have been confirmed dead from the July 4 flood. A week later and approximately 160 are still believed to be missing. With reporting by the Associated Press The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A New Hampshire father and avid Trump supporter has been barred from re-entering the U.S. after a family vacation in Canada. Chris Landry, who has been a legal U.S. resident since 1981 when he was three-years-old, was stopped at the border in Holton, Maine, despite having a green card. They pulled me aside and started questioning me about my past convictions in New Hampshire, he told NBC News, speaking from New Brunswick. They denied me re entry and said, you know, don't come back or we will detain you. Landry, who was born in Canada, faced of marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license in 2004 and 2007. He was given a suspended sentence and paid a fine, and has had no criminal record since. open image in gallery Chris Landry, who has been a U.S. resident since 1981, was barred from re-entering the country after a family visit to Canada ( NBC News ) I never expected that I wouldn't be able to go back home, he told WMUR. It was scary. I felt like I was being treated like a criminal. The only way for me to get back in was to see a immigration judge, he told NBC, adding that his future is now uncertain and he worries he may have to spend the rest of his life in Canada. Landry was traveling with three of his children, who are all American citizens, when he was stopped. They will reportedly return to the U.S. in the coming days. Though he was unable to vote in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Landry said he was a fan of Donald Trump. However he says his attitude towards the administration and its policies have now changed. open image in gallery Border Patrol stopped Landry as he tried to return from a family vacation in Canada with three of his five children ( Getty Images ) I was definitely all for Make America Great Again and having a strong unified country and a bright future for my five American children, but now I feel differently, he said. In a statement, USCBP said: Possessing a green card is a privilege, not a right, and under our nation's laws, our government has the authority to revoke a green card if our laws are broken and abused. Lawful permanent residents presenting at a U.S. port of entry with previous criminal convictions, may be subject to mandatory detention and/ or may be asked to provide additional documentation to be set up for an immigration hearing. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez branded Donald Trump a rapist as the administration continues to face fallout from MAGA faithfuls and far-left foes alike over the release of information about disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files? the socialist-leaning congresswoman, better known by her initials AOC, wrote on X Friday. The president was found civilly liable for sexually abusing and defaming the writer E. Jean Carroll in 2023. Trump has maintained his innocence. It comes as Trump and top members of the administration sparked outrage after announcing that a so-called client list belonging to Epstein did not exist, and that he died by suicide in contrast to popular MAGA conspiracy theories. The report has also pitted Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Deputy Chief Dan Bongino against each other, with the latter reportedly not turning up for work on Friday. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez branded Donald Trump as a rapist as the administration continues to face fallout from MAGA faithfuls over the release of information about disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein ( Getty ) In response to Ocasio-Cortezs post on X, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said: AOC likes to play pretend like shes from the block, but in reality shes just a sad, miserable blockhead who is trying to overcompensate for her lack of self-confidence that has followed her for her entire life. Instead, she should get some serious help for her obvious and severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted her pea-sized brain, he said, in a statement shared with the Daily Beast. Trump himself has also lashed out at AOC, who is a persistent and vocal critic of his administration. Last month, the president called her stupid AOC and the dumbest member of Congress. Controversy over the Epstein files rumbles over a month after billionaire Elon Musk accused the president of appearing in the Epstein files, redacted court documents that name his alleged associates and victims. Epstein died shortly after he was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges. At a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Trump shut down a reporters question about the Epstein files. Are you still talking about Jeffery Epstein? Trump asked. This guys been talked about for years. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Charlie Kirk launched a xenophobic attack on New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Friday, calling him a parasite and claiming his presence in the US proves that legal immigration is a problem. Speaking at the Student Action Summit in Tampa, the 31-year-old right-wing media personality said of younger Americans, They dont necessarily believe that immigration makes your country better. You only get Mamdani, you get Ilan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, not just because of illegal immigration. Its legal immigration that is also the problem. When you allow a bunch of people into your country legally and they dont share your values, turns out they dont always assimilate. Kirk said that even though 33-year-old Mamdani became a US citizen in 2018 and his Muslim family immigrated to the US legally, he still considers the Democratic mayoral primary winner a parasite. Hes a self-righteous, narcissistic parasite on New York City and should be expelled from politics, Kirk told an applauding crowd. But we let him in. Maybe its time, maybe it is time for us to reconsider almost all of our political orthodoxies. open image in gallery Charlie Kirk unleashed a xenophobic tirade against New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Friday, labeling him a parasite and arguing that his presence in the US is evidence that legal immigration is flawed. ( Getty Images ) Do immigrants really make our country better? he asked. Some do. Some of our amazing Cuban immigrants here that I see in the audience. Youve assimilated. You make America better. But if you come from Somalia and you refuse to learn our language, adopt [sic] to our customs, and assimilate, Im sorry, America is closed to the third world until further notice. We are not a dumping ground for the rest of the planet. The Independent has contacted representatives of Mamdani for comment. Mamdani, a socialist and New York State Assembly member, won an upset victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in last months Democratic mayoral primary. open image in gallery Mamdani's democratic socialist platform has been heavily criticized by Republicans. ( Getty Images ) Born in Uganda and raised in South Africa before moving to the US, Mamdanis campaign includes rent freezes, free bus service, city-run grocery stores, public childcare, and a proposed $30 minimum wage by 2030, which has drawn criticism from many Republicans. Last week, President Donald Trump warned voters of a federal takeover of NYC and Washington, DC if Mamdani becomes mayor. He previously claimed Mamdani is not very capable of ruling over NYC. Meanwhile, rapper 50 Cent said he would pay Mamdani $258,750 for a one-way ticket out of NYC. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Presidential adviser and political commentator David Gergen has died at the age of 83. Gergen served alongside four presidents: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. He then spent some time as a magazine editor before going from political insider to TV commentator. Gergen died at a retirement community in Lexington, Massachusetts, on Thursday from Lewy body dementia, his son Christopher said, according to The New York Times. open image in gallery Gergen served alongside four presidents -- three Republicans and one Democrat ( Getty ) Gergen wrote speeches, briefed reporters, and created communication strategies. He also helped set the agenda for the four presidents he served, with Clinton being the only Democrat among them. He began his political career in the Nixon White House and served as communications director on two occasions, first to Gerald Ford and then to Ronald Reagan. The adviser was given credit for easing the harsh rightwing rhetoric that Reagans more hardline staffers wanted to use. Clinton brought him back into the White House after a number of political mistakes had set his administration on the wrong course. He lasted roughly a year in the Clinton administration, where some viewed him as an intruder and in a time when many Republicans saw him as a deserter. Following his departure from government, he was lauded by the presidents he had served, and he remained mostly unmarred by the issues that had befallen them. open image in gallery Bill Clinton was the only Democratic president Gergen worked for ( AFP via Getty Images ) He told The Washington Post in 1981 that he had been slow to understand Nixons guilt in the Watergate scandal. I was young, and I was too naive. It hardened me up a lot. Decades later, in a 2021 column for CNN, he wrote President Donald Trump was a bully mean, nasty and disrespectful of anyone in his way. Speaking to The Boston Globe in 2020, he said, Centrism doesnt mean splitting the difference. Its about seeking solutions, and you bring people along. Im happily in that role, he added at the time. A tall man, 6-feet-5, Gergen became popular with many reporters at the White House, leaking information often enough to be dubbed the sieve, The Times noted. open image in gallery Gergen in 2009. He said in 1981 that he was hardened by the Watergate scandal ( Getty Images ) But some journalists werent so charmed. Mike Kelly, who died in 2003 during the Iraq War, was one of them. To be Gergenized is to be spun by the velveteen hum of this soothing mans soothing voice into a state of such vertigo that the sense of what is real disappears into a blur, he wrote in The New York Times Magazine in 1993. Gergen told Kelly that he had often been selling for the sake of selling. Spinning had nothing to do with ideas, said Gergen. It had nothing to do with anything that was real, he added. Eventually, it became selling the sizzle without the steak. There was nothing connected to it. It was all cellophane. It was all packaging. open image in gallery When he was not in government, Gergen worked in journalism ( Getty ) Between his tours in the White House, Gergen dabbled in journalism, becoming the managing editor of Public Opinion magazine in 1978. The magazine was published by the conservative American Enterprise Institute. He also served as the editor and columnist at U.S. News & World Report in the mid-1980s. He frequently appeared on television and taught at Duke University and Harvards Kennedy School. Born on May 9, 1942 in Durham, North Carolina, his father was the chair of the mathematics department at Duke. Graduating from Yale with a degree in American studies in 1963, Gergen was an intern in the office of North Carolinas Democratic Governor, Terry Sanford, for three summers. After earning a law degree from Harvard, he joined the Navy in 1967, serving as an officer on a ship in Japan. He married a Brit, Anne Wilson, whom he met on a blind date that same year. Gergen is survived by his wife, his son and daughter, two brothers, and five grandchildren. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trumps administration has defended violent immigration raids targeting cannabis farms in California, where masked federal agents discovered allegedly undocumented minors who are victims of exploitation and potentially human trafficking or smuggling, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The United Farm Workers union said several workers were critically injured during the raids, while other targeted workers, including a U.S. citizen, remain totally unaccounted for. Agents are accused of chasing one worker who fell 30 feet from the top of a building. He was hospitalized and placed on life support, before dying from his injuries on Friday, according to the union. The raids which sparked an intense standoff between heavily armed federal officers and dozens of protesters were condemned by California Governor Gavin Newsom, whose office accused Trumps administration of wielding an anti-immigration agenda that has brought chaos, fear and terror into communities. Theres a real cost to these inhumane immigration actions on hardworking families and communities, including farmworker communities, across America, his office said in a statement. open image in gallery Federal agents descended on crowds of protesters demonstrating against immigration raids at two cannabis farms in southern California on Thursday. Several were hospitalized during the raid, and one worker has died ( REUTERS ) Agents arrived on Thursday in military-style vehicles to execute criminal search warrants inside facilities operated by Glass House Farms, according to Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. The farms span 5.5 million square feet in Californias Ventura County where it is legal for licensed operators to grow cannabis. Firefighters were dispatched around 12.15 p.m. to provide medical aid. Five people were hospitalized, and four others were treated at the farm, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. In a statement on social media, Glass House Farms said it fully complied with agent search warrants and will provide further updates if necessary. Video showed agents firing tear gas and crowd control munitions into a crowd of protesters near a farm house in Camarillo. Agents were also raiding another farm site roughly 30 miles away. The FBI issued a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a demonstrator, who appeared to fire a pistol during the melee, according to federal prosecutors. Customs and Border Protection commissioner Rodney Scott said agents found 10 undocumented children at the facility, including eight who were unaccompanied. It is legal in California for minors as young as 12 to work on farms but only in non-hazardous jobs and outside of school hours. Administration officials shared photos on social media showing masked agents posing with the alleged children they discovered and accused Newsom of failing to stop child exploitation. We prosecute criminals that break child labor laws, Newsom replied. You make the kids pose for photos, tear gas them, and promote laws like this, said the governor, sharing articles about Republican-led legislation to loosen child labor laws. open image in gallery Video showed agents firing tear gas and crowd control munitions into a crowd of protesters ( Getty Images ) open image in gallery California Governor Gavin Newsom and the farm workers union have joined immigrants advocates in condemning the raids, which sparked intense standoffs with federal agents and protesters ( Getty Images ) The workers, which included citizens, were held by federal authorities for more than eight hours. The American citizens were only released from custody if they agreed to delete video of the operation from their phones, according to United Farm Workers. The union also is demanding the immediate facilitation of legal representation for minors at the facility. Farm workers are excluded from basic child labor laws and it is unfortunately not uncommon for teenagers to work in the fields, the group said. To be clear: detaining and deporting children is not a solution for child labor. The Trump administrations violent and cruel federal actions terrorize American communities, disrupt the American food supply chain, threaten lives and separate families, the union said. There is no city, state or federal district where it is legal to terrorize and detain people for being brown and working in agriculture. These raids must stop immediately. The federal operation on Thursday was the latest in a series of immigration raids that have rocked communities across California and drawn federal lawsuits to stop them. Workplace raids spiked after the administration rescinded previous ICE policy that prohibited enforcement actions in sensitive locations such as places of worship, schools and hospitals. Under apparent pressure from the agricultural sector, which is made up of roughly 40 percent noncitizen workers, Trump has considered limiting enforcement actions on farms and developing a program for temporary work permits. But the presidents border czar Tom Homan has said there will be no amnesty for undocumented workers. open image in gallery The Trump administration has considered rolling back immigration enforcement actions in the agricultural industry, where noncitizen workers make up as much as 40 percent of the workforce ( Getty Images ) The Trump administration has deployed officers across federal law enforcement agencies to focus on immigration enforcement, with a directive from the White House to make at least 3,000 daily arrests a quota that immigration attorneys say will almost certainly result in collateral arrests that could tear apart families and communities with mixed legal status. The president has also approved a record-breaking budget to hire more ICE officers and expand immigration detention center space across the country, making the agency one of the most expensive law enforcement agencies in the world, with a budget larger than most countries militaries. More than 57,000 people are currently held in ICE custody, or roughly 140 percent more than its detention capacity. A vast majority of those immigrants do not have criminal records and 93 percent have not been convicted of any violent crime. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Amazon is purging warehouse workers who had their work authorizations revoked after President Donald Trumps administration ended an immigration program put in place under President Joe Biden, according to The New York Times. Hundreds of employees at a warehouse in West Jefferson, in central Ohio, have lost their jobs as part of the purge. Across the country, thousands of foreign workers have lost their right to live and work in the U.S. and been removed from jobs where they were in high demand. The Trump administration has orchestrated immigration raids in workplaces and at businesses such as Home Depot seeking out illegal day laborers. A Springfield, Ohio Haitian community leader, Viles Dorsainvil, told The NYT that the dismissals are not unique to Amazon, adding that terminations have also occurred in other warehouses, auto-parts plants, and stores. The removals are taking place at many of Amazons more than 1,000 facilities across the country. The terminations have affected warehouses in Massachusetts and Staten Island, New York. Hundreds were let go at a warehouse in Florida, The NYT found. open image in gallery Hundreds of Amazon workers have lost their jobs after the Trump administration revoked a Biden-era immigration program ( AFP via Getty Images ) Amazon told the The NYT it had prepared for the change in policy by the Trump administration, changing its staffing plans as it waited for guidance from the administration, which arrived in June. The Independent has reached out to Amazon for comment. Were supporting employees impacted by the governments recent changes in immigration policy, a spokesperson for the company told The NYT. Amazon has reportedly informed its workers they may be eligible for free or low-cost outside legal services. The company went on a hiring spree as the pandemic increased demand for deliveries and it provides information in several languages in some of its warehouses, including Spanish, Vietnamese, and Haitian Creole. Other workers at the West Jefferson warehouse come from Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Somalia. However, workers and local officials told the paper that Haitians make up the largest share of foreign workers and may outnumber Americans. The Supreme Court granted a temporary approval on May 30 for the Trump administration to end a program called humanitarian parole. It had allowed more than half a million migrants to quickly get work permits if they had a financial sponsor. The migrants came from countries experiencing political upheaval, such as Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. open image in gallery Amazon went on a hiring spree as the pandemic increased demand for deliveries ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) The effort to roll back the program was part of the administrations promise to conduct mass deportations. The Department of Homeland Security said on June 12 that it had started notifying migrants the program was coming to an end, arguing that the migrants had not been properly vetted and that they undercut Americans. As the change was announced, D.H.S. spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said that the end of the program will be a necessary return to common-sense policies, a return to public safety and a return to America First. In a June 22 email obtained by The Times, Amazon told its managers that it had received the first list from D.H.S. identifying impacted Amazon employees from the program, in addition to some employees outside of this specific program whose work authorization is similarly affected. Amazon reportedly told its managers the affected employees would be made aware the following day via a push notification in the employee app. If they couldnt provide alternative documents showing their right to work in the U.S. in the next five days, they would be suspended without pay and subsequently dismissed. The Department of Homeland Security (D.H.S.) has informed us that the work authorization that you had submitted is no longer valid, the notification stated. CANBERRA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government and Aboriginal leaders on Saturday welcomed a decision by UNESCO to grant World Heritage status to an area of ancient rock art in Western Australia (WA). The Murujuga Cultural Landscape was inscribed on the World Heritage List on Friday at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, following 20 years of campaigning by local Aboriginal leaders to protect the area. The landscape spanning more than 100,000 hectares in WA's Pilbara region, 1,200 km north of Perth, is home to over one million petroglyphs dating back up to 50,000 years, including the world's oldest-known depiction of a human face. The federal government formally nominated the site for World Heritage listing in 2023 following a 20-year campaign by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC). Environment Minister Murray Watt, who led the government's campaign to persuade the 21 member nations of the World Heritage Committee that nearby industrial plants were not a threat to the site, said on Saturday that it is a historic moment for Australia. Watt said in a joint statement with MAC chair Peter Hicks and WA's Minister for the Environment, Matthew Swinbourn, that the federal government will ensure the site is protected now and for future generations. "This is an exceptionally proud moment for us. It is recognition of the hard work that MAC has put into progressing this nomination, but it is also recognition of the way our ancestors have managed this extraordinary landscape for over 50,000 years. We are proud to continue that legacy," Hicks said. The landscape has become Australia's 21st World Heritage site and the second-recognized site for Aboriginal cultural values. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice MAGA world remains in a state of chaos over the Trump administrations Jeffrey Epstein memo, if the events of Friday are any indication. While the FBIs deputy director was taking a mental health day and considering resigning amid the continued fallout over the handling of the Epstein files, Steve Bannon got an earful from attendees at a MAGA youth event who declared that Donald Trump has become the deep state because he is covering up for pedophiles. Nearly a week after the Department of Justice released an unsigned two-page letter concluding that Epstein committed suicide and the disgraced financier had no client list to blackmail prominent figures who took part in his underage sex trafficking, the administration is still facing fury from MAGA supporters who feel betrayed by the about-face. Much of that anger has been directed at Attorney General Pam Bondi, who breathlessly hyped the release of explosive evidence in the Epstein case and even said the long-fabled client list was on her desk, only to release binders of already-public documents and later put out a letter claiming the list never existed. Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, the FBIs top two leaders who spent years as right-wing podcasters who trafficked in Epstein conspiracy theories, have also taken heat from Trump fans for backing the memo. The pair had already come under fire in recent months for reversing course on claims Epstein was murdered in his jail cell a theory theyd long promoted and insisting the convicted sex offender killed himself. open image in gallery An attendee at Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit claimed that Donald Trump "has become the deep state" because of the Epstein files "cover-up." ( Rumble ) Amid the continued fallout over the Epstein memo, Bongino and Bondi were involved in a heated argument this week that resulted in Bongino taking the day off on Friday and threatening to quit. At the heart of the clash was Bondis publicly overpromised and underdelivered disclosures about the client list, and accusations that Bongino leaked a story about the FBI being held back on releasing more Epstein information. While this was going on within the Trump administration, MAGA youth organization Turning Point USA was holding its Student Action Summit in Florida, which featured Bannon recording his War Room podcast from the lobby. Throughout the MAGA meltdown over the Epstein fiasco, the former Trump adviser has tried to thread a very fine needle due to his own personal connections with Epstein, which has featured former first buddy Elon Musk who has long feuded with Bannon claiming Bannon is in the Epstein files. The worlds richest man, who has called the Epstein memo the final straw regarding his support for Trump, did not elaborate on how he knew this was the case. Bannon has since reacted by calling for a special prosecutor to review all Epstein documents while urging Bondi to step aside. At the same time, much like the majority of MAGA media, he has largely steered clear of directly laying the blame at Trumps feet. That was put to the test, however, on Friday morning. A group of self-described young right-wing men who were attending SAS had gathered near the broadcast and were approached by War Room reporter Jayne Zirkle to chat with Bannon, only for them to complain that they were being lied to by the administration. Yeah, were getting lied to. The pedophiles arent getting rounded up. The people arent getting deported. Were not getting what we asked for, one attendee, who said his name was Julian, exclaimed. Asked by Zirkle what he would recommend, Julian added: I would have ICE go into every house, kick them out. Release the files that we know exist. Maybe the guy with the computer implants turned them off! Bannon would go on and ask the group what the top three things they would tell the president he should do right now, if they could currently speak with him. Another attendee, who identified as Blue Jackson, asserted that the Epstein case was at the top of the list. open image in gallery Steve Bannon reacts to an irate "young right-wing man" who feels that Donald Trump has betrayed his base with the DOJ's recent conclusion that Jeffrey Epstein didn't have a "client list." ( Rumble ) Theres no better question than who rules America. Its not the people. So we obviously need the declassification of the Epstein files, Jackson said, prompting Bannon to interrupt and wonder if he would really question if Trump was in charge of the nation. I definitely would because its a blackmail ring, Jackson responded. And anybody who wouldnt isnt paying attention. Simply put, Epstein himself said he was best friends on the stand with Donald Trump. So anybody who thought these files were going to get declassified because we pressured him enough, or you voted hard enough, is just lying to yourself! While Jackson said he agreed with Bannon that a special prosecutor was needed and that the DOJ and FBI had no credibility to investigate the matter anymore, he went beyond just blaming Bondi, Patel and Bongino. In 2016, we trusted the plan with Trump, but now Trump has become the deep state, Jackson declared, leading Bannon to ask him to explain why he was going directly after the president. What is more deep state than covering up for pedophiles? Why would you go to that island? Jackson added, referencing Epsteins private resort. Why? Tell me, why would you go to that island? Why would you go on the plane? Why are his top donors neighbors with Epstein? As Jackson was highlighting Trumps longtime close relationship with the deceased sex criminal, Bannon quickly jumped in and turned to War Room correspondent Ben Bergquam, asking him if he thought this was an indication that Trump could lose part of the base if the Epstein matter wasnt addressed. This is why I quit voting for David Valadao in California because he was so worried about losing illegal alien votes that he lost my vote, Bergquam reacted. If we dont get investigations into Epstein, no amnesty, and all deportations, youre going to lose the base. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin said he will urge House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino for questioning on the Jeffrey Epstein files as the two top G-men reportedly prepare to resign. The Trump administration faced a storm of backlash this week after a DOJ memo revealed the late sex offender had no secret client list, contradicting Bondis February claim that it was sitting on my desk. Bondi also reaffirmed that Epsteins 2019 death was a suicide by strangulation despite conspiracy theories suggesting otherwise. That upset many MAGA Trump supporters who expected major revelations based on earlier official statements. Jen Psaki, the host of The Briefing on MSNBC, asked Raskin on Friday why he thinks Bondi is holding back. [M]any of these people have gestured at the existence of a client list, so this is a vast public perception now without regard to ideological lines, Raskin said. open image in gallery The Trump administration faced a storm of backlash this week after a DOJ memo revealed the late sex offender (pictured with Trump) had no secret client list. ( NBC News ) People believe that the client list is out there. And look, this guy was a real child sex offender, and they ran a child sex ring, Raskin continued. So, we know that MAGA took that ball and ran all the way down the field with it, and theyre alleging satanic child sex rings and so on. That has done huge damage to Americas political and civic culture. Raskin also questioned why President Donald Trump hasnt released the list despite demanding transparency, suggesting the president may be implicated, protecting others, or using the information as leverage. He feels its now best for everybody to come clean. Im gonna be asking Chairman Jordan to call for a hearing where we subpoena the attorney general and Dan Bongino and Kash Patel to come in and tell us everything that we know because this thing is really spinning out of control at this point, he said. And theres one way to put it to rest, which is to come clean, as President Trump promised he would during the campaign. Bongino took the day off from work on Friday, Axios reports, and a source close to Bongino said "he ain't coming back." However, a White House spokesperson called the resignation rumors baseless. Spokesperson Harrison Fields told The Independent Saturday, President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team dedicated to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims. This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity. Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all. The Independent has contacted representatives for Bongino, Patel, and Bondi for comment. Also Friday, CNNs Kaitlan Collins told Anderson Cooper on AC360 that the endgame could boil down to who Trump supports more. We have heard that Kash Patel is outright threatening to resign. I think hes sympathetic to Dan Bongino, who is his number two, and they work very closely together. Theres just a wall that separates their offices, she said. open image in gallery In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that the Epstein client list was sitting on my desk. ( Getty Images ) Collins added that Trump ally and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer is pushing for Bondis removal, but said it appears unlikely to happen. What it shows, Anderson, is that this is all kind of their own making, because Kash Patel, Dan Bongino, and Pam Bondi were three of the officials who pushed a lot of the information when it came to Jeffrey Epstein, Collins said. And so officials inside the White House are very frustrated because they feel like this news cycle is only getting worse for them. It is not from people that they can easily dismiss or say its the media or Democrats. It is their own base that is so furious and so angry over how theyve handled this. And the question is how they get out of it. Earlier this week, Trump dismissed renewed interest in Epstein, criticizing a reporter for asking about the DOJ announcing there is no client list. Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guys been talked about for years, Trump said. Are people still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday to defend his Attorney General Pam Bondi after major figures within the MAGA movement attacked her following the decision not to release the Epstein files. Whats going on with my boys and, in some cases, gals? Trump wrote on his social media platform. Theyre all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! The president went on to urge his supporters to unify, saying he doesnt like whats happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and selfish people are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein, said Trump. Both FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino have reportedly considered leaving the administration over the Epstein files. Meanwhile, Trump ally and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer has been pushing for Bondis removal. Bongino didnt turn up for work on Friday, according to an Axios report. open image in gallery Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?" Trump asked a reporter on July 8 after they asked about the DOJ's "no client list" reveal ( Getty Images ) Loomer posted on X later on Saturday: People make their own choices and decisions, but mark my word, the lack of actual results at the DOJ and lack of transparency that translates into incompetence will cost the GOP House and Senate seats. Dont say I didnt warn you. The Trump administration faced significant backlash this week after a Department of Justice memo stated that Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019, had no secret client list, going against Bondis claim in February that it was sitting on my desk. In the face of conspiracy theories, Bondi also reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide by strangulation, upsetting top MAGA supporters who had expected that major revelations would be made. More than a month ago, as the feud between Trump and billionaire and former DOGE head Elon Musk spilled into public view, Musk claimed that the president appears in the Epstein files redacted court documents that reveal the names of his alleged associates and victims. Epstein died after being indicted on federal sex trafficking charges. On Friday, former first-term Trump White House strategist Steve Bannon appeared at a MAGA youth event where attendees said Trump has become the deep state because he is covering up for pedophiles. Trump asked Saturday why any publicity would be given to what he claimed was files authored by former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State and his 2016 rival Hillary Clinton, former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration, who conned the World with the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, 51 Intelligence Agents, THE LAPTOP FROM HELL, and more? open image in gallery FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino was missing from work Friday after an argument with Attorney General Pam Bondi, a new report reveals ( Getty Images ) The president, who presented no evidence for his claims, said that they created the Epstein files as well as the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher Steele Dossier. Now my so-called friends are playing right into their hands, he added, asking why these radical left lunatics didnt release files. If there was ANYTHING in there that could have hurt the MAGA Movement, why didnt they use it? he asked, before going on to call on Patel and the FBI to instead focus on several issues important to the president, such as the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen. LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB SHES GREAT! he wrote. One year ago our Country was DEAD, now its the HOTTEST Country anywhere in the World. Lets keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about, he said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Amid a disaster in Texas, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and a trade war of his own making, President Donald Trump on Saturday took time out to issue a threat that hell strip the citizenship of U.S.-born comedian and talk show host Rosie ODonnell, a longtime critic. In a major escalation of his war of words with adversaries, the president wrote on Truth Social: Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. He continued: She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA! It didnt take long for ODonnell to respond. She posted a photo of Trump with the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein to Instagram, and wrote: Hey Donald youre rattled again? 18 years later and I still live rent-free in that collapsing brain of yours. US comedian and producer Rosie O'Donnell attends the 2024 Elle Women in Hollywood celebration ( AFP via Getty Images ) ODonnell wrote that while he had called her a threat to humanity, she is everything you fear: a loud woman, a queer woman, a mother who tells the truth. After contrasting their lives and outlooks, ODonnell writes: You want to revoke my citizenship? Go ahead and try, King Joffrey with a tangerine spray tan. She adds: Im not yours to silence. I never was. Rosie. The president has no power to strip anyone of citizenship, but since returning to the White House, Trump has sought to end birthright citizenship, guaranteed to Americans under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. The 14th Amendment states: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. Overturning the automatic right to citizenship for anyone born in the United States is currently the subject of a legal battle, with a federal judge just this week blocking an executive order that seeks to unilaterally redefine who qualifies as a citizen. This paves the way for another major Supreme Court case involving the presidents birthright citizenship challenge. Several courts have already struck down the presidents attempt to block citizenship from newborn Americans who are born to certain immigrant parents. In another alarming move, a recently unveiled memo from the Department of Justice outlines the Trump administrations plans to maximally pursue denaturalization of American citizens, marking a radical expansion of the presidents anti-immigration agenda. Approximately 25 million people in the U.S. are naturalized citizens, or immigrants who completed the lengthy legal process to become citizens. According to the June 11 memo, the Justice Departments civil division will prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence. That evidence would need to be proof that an individual illegally procured citizenship through fraud or other means. It is rare, but it does happen. In the first Trump administration, there were 94 denaturalization cases. Joe Bidens administration pursued 64 such cases. These play out in civil courts where the burden of proof is clear and convincing evidence, and a judge, not a jury, makes that decision. ODonnell was born in Commack, New York, in 1962. Her mother was of Irish American descent, and her father was an immigrant from County Donegal, Ireland. Days before Trump's return to the White House, the 63-year-old comedian left the U.S. and moved to Ireland, which she says has helped improve her health and sleep. Nevertheless, she remains a fierce critic of Trump, and on Sunday, she blamed him for the impact of the deadly flash floods in Central Texas in a lengthy TikTok video. And, you know, when the president guts all of the early warning systems and the weather forecasting abilities of the government, these are the results O'Donnell said in part. As many as 129 people are known to have died in the disaster, with contributing factors being an insufficient early warning system and the timing of the storm, which hit as it did in the middle of the night. In March, ODonnell questioned how Trump comfortably won every swing state in the 2024 election, claiming that one of his best friends owns and runs the internet, likely referring to former first buddy Elon Musk. Despite her long-running criticism of the president, there is no evidence that ODonnell is a threat to humanity. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 30 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union, effective August 1, after weeks of negotiations with the key trading allies failed to reach a comprehensive trade deal. The fresh tariffs were announced in separate letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum, on Truth Social on Saturday, in a major escalation of Trump's trade war. The European Union and Mexico are among the largest U.S. trading partners. Trump sent similar letters to 23 other trading partners this week, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, setting blanket tariff rates ranging from 20 percent up to 50 percent, alongside a 50 percent tariff on copper. The August 1 deadline gives countries targeted by Trump's letters time to negotiate a trade deal that could lower the threatened tariff levels. The EU had hoped to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the U.S. for the 27-country bloc. open image in gallery The fresh tariffs were announced in separate letters posted on Truth Social on Saturday ( AFP/Getty ) Three EU officials told Reuters on Saturday that Trump's threats represent a negotiating tactic. Trump's letter to the EU included a demand that Europe drop its own tariffs, an apparent condition of any future deal. "The European Union will allow complete, open Market Access to the United States, with no Tariff being charged to us, in an attempt to reduce the large Trade Deficit," Trump wrote. EU President von der Leyen said the 30 percent tariffs would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic. She also said while the EU will continue to work towards a trade agreement, they will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required. Canada received a higher tariff rate of 35 percent compared to Mexico, with both letters citing fentanyl flows, even though government data shows the amount of the drug seized at the Mexican border was significantly higher than at the Canadian border. open image in gallery Canada received a higher tariff rate of 35 percent compared to Mexico, with both letters citing fentanyl flows ( Getty Images ) "Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough. Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground," Trump wrote. Mexico sends more than 80 percent of its total exported goods to the U.S. and free trade with its northern neighbor drove Mexico to overtake China as the U.S.'s top trading partner in 2023. The European Union had been bracing for the letter from Trump outlining his planned duties on the United States' largest trade and investment partner after a broadening of his tariff war in recent days. The EU initially hoped to strike a comprehensive trade agreement, including zero-for-zero tariffs on industrial goods, but months of difficult talks have led to the realization it will probably have to settle for an interim agreement and hope something better can still be negotiated. The 27-country bloc is under conflicting pressures as powerhouse Germany urged a quick deal to safeguard its industry, while other EU members, such as France, have said EU negotiators should not cave into a one-sided deal on U.S. terms. Trump's cascade of tariff orders since returning to the White House has begun generating tens of billions of dollars a month in new revenue for the U.S. government. U.S. customs duties revenue shot past $100 billion in the federal fiscal year through to June, according to U.S. Treasury data on Friday. Spokespeople for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Mexico's Economy Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The man accused of fatally shooting a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband and attempting to kill two others has broken his silence from inside jail, insisting his actions were not motivated by Trump stuff or abortion. Vance Boelter, 57, said that while he was pro-life, that was also not the motive for the alleged murder of Democratic State House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, and her husband, Mark, on June 14. Hes also been charged over the shootings that same morning of Democratic State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who both survived a separate attack at their home. Authorities called the shootings politically motivated. Boelter spoke out in an exclusive interview with The New York Post from a cell inside Sherburne County Jail in Elk River, Minnesota. open image in gallery Vance Boelter, 57, the man suspected of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers, has spoken out in an interview from prison ( Hennepin County Sheriff's Office ) You are fishing and I cant talk about my caseIll say it didnt involve either the Trump stuff or pro-life, Boelter told the outlet via the prison messaging system. I am pro-life personally but it wasnt those I will just say there is a lot of information that will come out in future that people will look at and judge for themselves that goes back 24 months before the 14th. If the gov ever lets it get out. His remarks echo comments made previously when, during a federal court hearing, he said told the judge he was looking forward to court, where the truth would come out, The New York Times reported. During the hearing, the judge ordered Boelter to remain in jail while awaiting trial. Prosecutors allege that on the day of the alleged shootings, Boelter disguised himself as a police officer. The incident occurred at the lawmakers Minneapolis-area homes in the early morning hours. Boelter was arrested near his rural Minnesota home after a two-day manhunt. open image in gallery Vance L. Boelter, the suspect identified in connection with the shooting of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, posed as a police officer and wore a face mask outside the victims' door ( FBI ) Prosecutors say handwritten notes were found in Boelters car with the names of dozens of Minnesota state and federal elected officials which included some of their home addresses. Boelter asked The Post about the notes. Can I ask what you heard as an outside person about the note that the alleged person Ill say alleged person left in that car, did you hear anything about that? he said. Following the attacks, Boelters wife said in a statement through her lawyer that she and her family are appalled and horrified by the shootings. "We are absolutely shocked, heartbroken and completely blindsided, she said. This violence does not at all align with our beliefs as a family. It is a betrayal of everything we hold true as tenets of our Christian faith. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Voters have labeled Democrats as out of touch and weak in the latest troubling poll ahead of the 2026 midterms. More than seven months after former Vice President Kamala Harris' 2024 election loss to President Donald Trump, Democrats have had time to reflect on where they went wrong. One criticism that circulated in the wake of the presidential election was that Democrats had shifted their focus away from the working class, a segment of the population to which Trump had appealed. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said in a biting statement, It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them. As Democrats have taken up more social issues in recent years such as transgender rights and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, people from both sides of the aisle have accused the party of being too woke. open image in gallery Voters label Democrats as 'out of touch' and 'weak' in the latest troubling poll ahead of the 2026 midterms ( Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images ) And voters in a new poll conducted by the Democratic super PAC Unite the Country seem to agree, calling Democrats woke, as well as out of touch and weak, The Hill, which obtained the data, reported Friday. Trump has repeatedly called former President Joe Biden weak while trying to promote strength. Biden, now 82, dropped out of the 2024 election following concerns about his physical and mental fitness. The new poll isnt the first time voters have taken this view of the Democratic Party. Politico reported in December 2024, citing research by the progressive group Navigator Research, voters who previously supported Democrats described the party as weak and too focused on diversity and the small group of elites in this country. open image in gallery Trump has repeatedly called former President Joe Biden 'weak' while trying to promote strength ( Win McNamee/Getty Images ) open image in gallery In the wake of former Vice President Kamala Harris 2024 election loss, Democrats have faced criticism ( Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images ) Unite the Countrys poll, which was conducted between May and June, also found enthusiasm within the party has continued to weaken after the 2024 election. Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau, a senior adviser to the super PAC, told The Hill, This is the reality of the perception of us as a party, and until we accept that, its going to be hard to move forward. Whether or not the Democrats can shift voter perception will be seen in the 2026 midterm elections. There will be 35 Senate seats up for election, including 22 currently held by Republicans. If they are able to gain four seats, Democrats can take control of the upper chamber. All House seats will also be up for election in 2026. Republicans currently control the House 220-212. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A preliminary report into the Air India crash that killed 260 people last month showed three seconds after taking off, the plane's engines fuel cutoff switches almost simultaneously flipped from run to cutoff, starving the engines of fuel. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner immediately began to lose thrust and sink down, according to the report released by Indian aviation accident investigators. One pilot can be heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel. "The other pilot responded that he did not do so," the report said. It did not identify which remarks were made by the flight's captain and which by the first officer, nor which pilot transmitted "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" just before the crash. At the crash site, both fuel switches were found in the run position and the report said there had been indications of both engines relighting before the low-altitude crash. Both pilots were experienced jet pilots with about 19,000 total flying hours between them, including more than 9,000 on the 787. For updates on the Air India crash investigation - click here to visit our blog open image in gallery The Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad city, killing all but one of the 242 people on board ( Reuters ) The preliminary report also does not say how the switch could have flipped to the cutoff position on the June 12 London-bound flight from the Indian city of Ahmedabad. The crash killed 241 of 242 people on board, with 260 people killed in total as the aircraft plunged into a medical college. The sole survivor on board the plane was British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh. There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian and 12 crew on board. US aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse said a key question is why were the switches moved in a way that is inconsistent with normal operations. "Did they move on their own or did they move because of the pilots?" he said. "And if they were moved because of a pilot, why?" US aviation safety expert John Cox said a pilot would not be able to accidentally move the fuel switches that feed the engines. "You can't bump them and they move," he said. Flipping to cutoff almost immediately cuts the engines. It is most often used to turn engines off once a plane has arrived at its airport gate and in certain emergency situations, such as an engine fire. The report does not indicate there was any emergency requiring an engine cutoff. "At this stage of investigation, there are no recommended actions to Boeing 787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers" India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said. open image in gallery One black box unit is recovered from the rooftop of a building at the crash site ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Air India, Boeing and GE Aerospace did not respond immediately to requests for comment. The agency, an office under India's civil aviation ministry, is leading the probe into the world's deadliest aviation accident in a decade. The plane's two black boxes, both combined cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders, were recovered in the days following the crash and later downloaded in India. Black boxes provide crucial data such as altitude, airspeed and final pilot conversations which help in narrowing down possible causes of the crash. Most air crashes are caused by multiple factors, with a preliminary report due 30 days after the accident according to international rules, and a final report expected within a year. Air India has been under intense scrutiny since the crash. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said it plans to investigate its budget airline, Air India Express, after Reuters reported the carrier did not follow a directive to change engine parts of an Airbus A320 in a timely manner and falsified records to show compliance. India's aviation watchdog has also warned Air India for breaching rules for flying three Airbus planes with overdue checks on escape slides and in June warned it about "serious violations" of pilot duty timings. The US National Transportation Safety Board declined to comment on the release of the report. An Air India spokesperson said: Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time. We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) today, 12 July 2025. Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully co-operate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses.Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such enquiries to the AAIB. For 80 years, Germany has done everything it can to stamp out all vestiges of Nazism. It has told itself and the world that it, and only it, could have meted out such horror. The notion of Sonderweg, the special path, is deeply embedded. According to this reading of history, Germans followed a straight line from Bismarck to Hitler. We Brits love to hear this kind of thing: those pernicious Huns. We, by contrast, would never have succumbed. But having had the dubious honour of spending the last few months immersing myself in Mein Kampf, which was published a century ago next week, I am more convinced than ever that we are deluding ourselves. The same blithe overconfidence applies to Americans (indeed, pretty much anyone). We are all prone to the most dangerous propaganda, extremism and hate, no matter where we come from. Before embarking on this assignment for a BBC radio documentary, I had never read Mein Kampf. No sensible person, apart from a history scholar, would have done. For me, it was a particularly unpleasant prospect given that my Jewish father fled Czechoslovakia shortly after Hitler had marched in, and several members of his extended family were killed in the concentration camps. In Germany, the book has been taboo, subject not just to legal copyright restrictions (new versions could not be printed), but also to social shame. However, from India to Turkey and beyond, it has done a healthy trade around the world. It took me nerves of steel to plough through the more than 700 pages of this grubby work, reading 30 pages a night, with its endless distorted references to biology and race theory, with its warnings about miscegenation and the poisoning of good German blood. Much of it is predictable: a badly written mix of narcissistic autobiography and job application to lead Europes nascent fascist movement. However, the main conclusion I drew from my research was that, just as Hitlers odious book was based around a cut and paste (not that typewriters of the 1920s were capable of such things) of late 19th- and early-20th century race-based ideology, much of what is appearing online today in the 2020s follows the same path. It is part of a continuum. With the help of Dr Simon Strick, an academic from the University of Potsdam, I traced a direct line between many of the ideas contained in Mein Kampf and current videos on YouTube, popular podcasts and social media posts, many of them with millions of hits and clicks. From that, you can move to speeches from the likes of Hungarys Viktor Orban, Italys Giorgia Meloni and (you guessed it), Donald Trump. open image in gallery The Duke and Duchess of Windsor meeting with Hitler in Munich in 1937 ( PA ) Consider this: Theyre destroying the blood of our country, thats what theyre doing. Theyre destroying our country. They dont like it when I said that. And I never read Mein Kampf. They said, Oh, Hitler said that, in a much different way. That was Trump during an election campaign rally in December 2023. There are several other examples that I could have cited. Then run alongside it the following: The poisonings of the blood which have befallen our people have led not only to a decomposition of our blood, but also of our soul. Mein Kampf, chapter two of volume two. Again, there were plenty of contemporary examples to choose from. open image in gallery Seven hundred pages of endless distorted references to biology and race theory ( Getty ) Or this, from Orban, telling an audience in July 2022 that it is acceptable for Europeans to mix but not with those arriving from outside. We are not a mixed race, he says, We do not want to become peoples of mixed race. Then stand it alongside this sentence in chapter 11 of Mein Kampf, entitled People and Race: Blood mixture and the resultant drop in the racial level is the sole cause of the dying out of old cultures. And what of Elon Musk? While he was Trumps right-hand man, he was conducting an interview with Alice Weidel, leader of Germanys far-right AfD, in which the only criticism they could find for Hitler was that he was a communist. History is not their forte. Now, even as Musk is cast into the Trumpian wilderness, the X (Twitter) AI chatbot showers praise on the Fuhrer. All it was doing was reproducing much of the bile that appears on his very own social media platform. Mein Kampf is not special, Strick tells me as we dart from one grisly website to the next. There are a million different versions of the same material, the same ideology out there. The most intriguing aspect for me was Hitlers loathing of the French and his respect for the English, even when expressed through suspicion. When musing about Lebensraum, the need for Germans to find new lands in the East, he believed there was only one like-minded country with whom he could strike a deal: For such a policy, there was but one ally in Europe: England. open image in gallery Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists, addresses supporters ( Getty ) In another section, he states: No sacrifice should have been too great for winning Englands willingness. We should have renounced colonies and sea power, and spared English industry our competition. We know what happened in the end. Once Winston Churchill was at the helm, Britain played a heroic role in resisting Hitler. But history has a habit of simplifying, of drawing straight lines that do not necessarily exist. It wouldnt have taken much for the British or another country to embrace something hideous in the 1930s. And it wouldnt take much now. 100 Years of Mein Kampf is available on BBC Sounds Close Zelensky thanks Trump after US president threatens Putin with sanctions if no peace in Ukraine in 50 days On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has offered Vladimir Putin fresh peace talks after weeks of relentless Russian missile attacks. Mr Zelensky offered Moscow another round of ceasefire negotiations for next week, saying he wanted to speed up ending the conflict. It comes after weeks of relentless Russian strikes on Ukraine, including over 300 drones and 30 missiles launched on Friday night. Everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire, Mr Zelensky said in his evening address to the nation. The Russian side should stop hiding from decisions. Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul over the past five months. They have agreed to swap prisoners but made no breakthroughs in ending almost three and a half years of conflict that started with Russia's 2022 invasion. Mr Zelensky said Rustem Umerov, who headed the Ukrainian delegation at both talks in Istanbul, had sent the Russian side the offer to hold the meeting next week, but gave no more details. US president Donald Trump, who has sharpened his tone against Russia in recent weeks amid worsening air strikes on Ukrainian cities, threatened harsher sanctions on Russia earlier this month if a peace deal was not reached within 50 days. KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday briefed the media on China-ASEAN cooperation during his attendance of the ASEAN Plus foreign ministers' meetings here. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that against the backdrop of rampant unilateralism and protectionism at present, China and ASEAN countries have demonstrated a strong desire to support each other, unite and cooperate, and jointly meet challenges. He said the meetings achieved a series of outcomes. Firstly, both sides confirmed the completion of negotiations on version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and agreed to submit it for approval and signing at the leaders' meeting in October, signaling that China and ASEAN will continue to promote regional economic integration and build a high-level regional free trade network. Secondly, China and ASEAN agreed on the action plan for the comprehensive strategic partnership for the next five years, setting out over 40 goals of all-round cooperation in various fields, injecting strong impetus to bilateral pragmatic cooperation in the next phase. Thirdly, both sides welcomed the completion of the third reading of the draft text of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), agreed to strive to complete consultations within 2026 and reach a COC that is effective, substantive and in line with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This will provide a stronger guarantee for peace and stability in the South China Sea. Wang pointed out that China puts forward the building of a community of shared future with neighboring countries and promotes the modernization of these countries. Saying that all ASEAN countries speak highly of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and believe that China is the most important dialogue partner of ASEAN, Wang said that China-ASEAN cooperation is the most energetic and fruitful example in the Asia-Pacific region, and we are fully confident in the future of China-ASEAN relations. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The UN rights office said on Friday it had recorded at least 798 deaths at aid distribution points in Gaza, including those run by the US, and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, as well as near other convoys operated by relief organisations. (From 27 May) up until the seventh of July, we have recorded 798 killings, including 615 in the vicinity of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites, and 183 presumably on the route of aid convoys, UN rights office (OHCHR) spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told a media briefing in Geneva on Friday. The Israel-sponsored GHF gets humanitarian supplies into the war-battered Gaza using private US security and logistics companies, largely bypassing a UN-led system. Almost all aid going into Gaza now runs through the American aid group, which started operations in May following a months-long Israeli blockade of nearly all food and aid. Food is handed out at overcrowded and deadly sites overseen by American private security contractors and the Israeli army. Gazans have described the sites as American death zones because of the contractors who patrol them. The foundation has been shrouded in secrecy, with obscure sources of funding and several changes in leadership and management since its launch. Israel has claimed that the system allows Hamas-led militants to loot these shipments intended for civilians, an allegation Hamas denies. The fact is the most deadly attacks on aid site have been linked to UN convoys, a GHF spokesperson said. Ultimately, the solution is more aid. If the UN (and) other humanitarian groups would collaborate with us, we could end or significantly reduce these violent incidents, they said. According to the OHCHR, the figures of these killings since May are based on sources such as data from hospitals in Gaza, cemeteries, families, Palestinian health authorities, NGOs and the UN agencys partners on the ground. Most of these injuries recorded on Palestinians since 27 May are gunshot wounds, Ms Shamdasani said, speaking about the deaths recorded in the vicinity of aid distribution hubs by the OHCHR. Weve raised concerns about atrocity crimes having been committed and the risk of further atrocity crimes being committed where people are lining up for essential supplies such as food, she said. The GHF has said that the figures from the OHCHR are false and misleading. open image in gallery Palestinians carry boxes containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel in Rafah ( AP ) Responding to the rejection of deaths of Palestinians under Israeli onslaught, the spokesperson said: It is not helpful to issue blanket dismissals of our concerns what is needed is investigations into why people are being killed while trying to access aid. According to Gazas health ministry, Israeli forces opening fire on crowds trying to reach the GHF food distribution points have killed nearly 400 Palestinians and wounded more than 3,000 since aid deliveries were reinstated in late May. Several videos from the sites show people cowering or running from gunfire, struggling to carry bags of food as they escape. Israel cut off the supply of most food and aid to Gaza in March, causing hunger to skyrocket across the Strip. Humanitarian groups have warned that most of Gazas 2.2 million people are at risk of starvation unless aid deliveries are ramped up. The GHF system began in May, but aid groups have warned it is wholly insufficient to meet the needs of the population. The UN and other humanitarian organisations have also warned of the risk of friction between Israeli troops and civilians seeking supplies, and continue to call for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted aid access. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The family of a Palestinian American man beaten to death by settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has demanded that the U.S. State Department launch an immediate investigation. U.S. citizen Sayafollah Musallet, 20, also known as Saif, was severely beaten on Friday evening in Sinjil, north of Ramallah, the Palestinian health ministry said. A second man, Hussein Al-Shalabi, 23, was also shot dead in a confrontation overnight. Musallets family, from Tampa, Florida, said in a statement that medics tried to reach him for three hours before his brother managed to carry him to an ambulance, but that he died before reaching the hospital. This is an unimaginable nightmare and injustice that no family should ever have to face. We demand the U.S. State Department lead an immediate investigation and hold the Israeli settlers who killed Saif accountable for their crimes, the family statement said. open image in gallery Israeli flags fly adjacent to Palestinian properties that were under attack by Israeli settlers in May ( AP ) A U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Friday it was aware of the incident, but that the department had no further comment out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones of the reported victim. The Israeli military said Israel was investigating the incident in the town of Sinjil. It said confrontations between Palestinians and settlers broke out after Palestinians threw rocks at Israelis, lightly injuring them. The military said forces were dispatched to the scene and used non-lethal weapons to disperse the crowds. Settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israels war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023, according to rights groups. open image in gallery Israeli killings of U.S. citizens in the West Bank in recent years include those of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh ( AFP via Getty ) Dozens of Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian street attacks in recent years, and the Israeli military has intensified raids across the West Bank. U.S. President Donald Trump in January rescinded sanctions imposed by the former Biden administration on Israeli settler groups and individuals accused of being involved in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Israeli killings of U.S. citizens in the West Bank in recent years include those of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, Palestinian-American teenager Omar Mohammad Rabea and Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi. The United Nations highest court said last year that Israels occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, and settlements there were illegal and should be withdrawn as soon as possible. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to the land, which it captured in the 1967 Middle East War. The West Bank is among the territories that Palestinians seek for an independent state. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza are stalling over the extent of Israeli forces' withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave, sources familiar with the negotiations in Doha have said. The indirect talks, centred on a US proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, are still expected to continue despite the latest obstacles in clinching a deal, the Palestinian and Israeli sources said. A Palestinian source revealed that Hamas had rejected Israel's proposed withdrawal maps, as they would leave about 40 per cent of the territory under Israeli control, including all of the southern area of Rafah and further territories in northern and eastern Gaza. Two Israeli sources said Hamas wants Israel to retreat to the lines it held in a previous ceasefire before it renewed its offensive in March. The Palestinian source said matters regarding aid and guarantees for ending the war were also presenting a challenge, and added that the crisis may be resolved with more U.S. intervention. open image in gallery Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Doha this week to join discussions there ( The White House ) The White House said on Monday that Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who played a major role in crafting the latest ceasefire proposal, will travel to Doha this week to join discussions there. Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Qatar since Sunday in a renewed push for an agreement which envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals and discussions on ending the war entirely. Overnight, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 28 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including four children, officials in Al-Aqsa Martyr's Hospital said. The children and two women were among at least 13 people who were killed in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, after Israeli airstrikes pounded the area starting late Friday. Another four people were killed in strikes near a fuel station, and 15 others died in Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, according to Nasser Hospital. The Israeli military said in a statement that over the past 48 hours, troops struck approximately 250 targets in the Gaza Strip, including militants, booby-trapped structures, weapons storage facilities, anti-tank missile launch posts, sniper posts, tunnels and additional Hamas infrastructure sites. open image in gallery Children and two women were among at least 13 people who were killed in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza ( AP ) The military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the civilian deaths. Hamas has long demanded an end to the war before it would free remaining hostages; Israel has insisted it would end the fighting only when all hostages are released and Hamas is dismantled. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages are believed to still be alive. Israel's subsequent campaign against Hamas has since killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, displaced almost the entire population of more than 2 million people, sparked a humanitarian crisis and left much of the territory in ruins. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Delta Air Lines is taking bold steps to elevate its onboard experience, shifting its focus to high-end cabins in a push to appeal to premium travelers. The carrier recently announced plans to reduce its main cabin capacity by about 1 percent by the end of summer 2025, highlighting shrinking demand for lower-priced fares, while simultaneously boosting capacity and investment in premium-level seating. The airline is also rolling out lie-flat Delta One Suites, enhanced domestic First Class seats, and premium economy Premium Select on additional aircraft, including newer A330neos, A350s, and A321neos. Premium has certainly been where our margins have continued to expand, and so were highly focused on continuing to provide improved service to those customers and more segmentation, Delta President Glen Hauenstein said on an earnings call Thursday, per NBC News. The segmentation that weve done in main cabin is kind of the template that were going to bring to all of our premium cabins over time because different people have different needs, he added. open image in gallery Delta projects that revenue from its premium cabins, Comfort+, Premium Select, Delta One, and First Class, will exceed economy earnings by 2027. ( Delta ) Main cabin revenue dropped about 4 percent year-over-year in Q2, while premium cabin revenue climbed roughly 6 percent, Delta revealed Thursday in its June Quarter 2025 Financial Results report. The companys leadership forecasts that revenue from premium cabins, including Comfort+, Premium Select, Delta One, and First Class, will surpass economy earnings by 2027. On October 1, Delta will launch its Good, Better, Best fare system with Basic, Classic, and Extra tiers offering varying features, flexibility, and pricing. Travelers must review details carefully, as some once-standard services now come with added fees. Deltas enhanced premium offering extends beyond seats. The airline has increasingly refined its lounge network with exclusive Delta One lounges in key markets and redesigned Sky Clubs with lavish meals and wellness experiences. open image in gallery Deltas renovated cabins will include upgraded enhanced lighting programs throughout the aircraft. ( Delta ) Delta is beginning a multi-year retrofit of its A330-200 and A330-300 jets, replacing older reverse herringbone seats with enclosed Delta One Suites to match newer aircraft and unify its premium cabin experience. It is also redeploying its refurbished A330900neos and A350s, fitted with more premium seats, to strategic hubs like Seattle, to enhance international appeal. The airline is trimming back less popular main cabin routes, especially mid-week or non-peak schedule slots, consolidating service on demand-heavy flights to improve economy-class profitability. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A United Airlines employee in New Jersey claims she faced relentless sexual harassment from her supervisor, and that her complaints only made things worse culminating in an assignment to remove a 300-pound dead body from a plane, by herself, which left her badly injured and allegedly led to her eventual firing. When Chantel Matthews showed up on November 1, 2022 for her first day of training as a ramp agent at Newark Liberty International Airport, her new supervisor greeted her by saying, Welcome to United. You are fine as hell. Please complete your employee profile at any computer desk, according to a newly filed federal lawsuit obtained by The Independent. Matthews, 41, felt stunned and extremely uncomfortable by the supervisors wildly inappropriate remark, but continued about the onboarding process, her complaint states. Later that day, the supervisor approached Matthews, whose job description involved loading and unloading baggage and cargo, guiding planes to the terminal and performing other crucial tasks on the tarmac, and inquired if she needed any help completing her tasks, the complaint goes on. By the way, do you model? he asked, according to the complaint, which says Matthews rebuffed his inappropriate comment and replied, Im fine, thanks. I got it from here. open image in gallery United Airlines is being hauled into court over a ground worker's accusations of on-the-job sex harassment by a supervisor, followed by a physical task, allegedly in retaliation for her complaints to HR, that left her injured ( Getty Images ) The next day, Matthews was surprised to find an unsolicited text from the supervisor, who had apparently gotten her cell number from her personnel file, asking her to send him her Instagram profile, the complaint continues. The filing says she ignored the request, hoping this would indicate to the supervisor that she wasnt interested in a romantic relationship. However, when she again reported to work, the supervisor allegedly said, Good morning, Ms. Matthews. You look very nice today. Your body is banging. Matthews supervisor then asked her out on a date, which she declined, according to the complaint. That evening, the supervisor again texted Matthews, asking what kind of men [she] was interested in, the complaint contends. Matthews did not respond, prompting the supervisor to approach Matthews the following day at work, asking, So, Ms. Matthews, you didnt see my text last night with your sexy self? Matthews asked the supervisor not to speak to her this way, according to the complaint. However, it alleges, he did not stop. Shortly thereafter, [the supervisor] approached [Matthews] at her desk saying, You know I want you, right? the complaint states. It says he asked what type of chemistry and energy she wanted in a man, texted her a request that she upload a photo of him as her phones screensaver for motivation, and messaged her late that night to inquire, How long have you been modeling? Can you talk? At 10:40 pm, the supervisor attempted to FaceTime with Matthews, but she did not answer, according to the complaint. At this point, the supervisor started to get the hint, the complaint says. open image in gallery Fired United Airlines ramp agent Chantel Matthews got off to a bad start with her boss at Newark Liberty International Airport, she says in court filings ( Getty Images ) On November 4, 2022, three days after she began working for United, Matthews showed up for her shift at Newark to find the supervisor, incensed, for refusing his sexual advances, the complaint asserts. By way of example only, despite wearing the same navy-blue plants and black shoes that she had worn every day prior, [Matthews supervisor] shouted, MS. MATTHEWS, YOU ARE OUT OF COLOR CODE! according to the complaint. When Matthews pushed back, telling the supervisor that she was wearing the exact same navy-blue pants [and] black shoes I wore yesterday, he allegedly replied, Dont worry about it. Im simply going to report you. The complaint says Matthews told the supervisor that she was instead going to report him for harassment, to which he shot back, Ms. Matthews, you can try. S**t is not going to happen to me. I have been with United for 19 years. Undeterred, Matthews contacted both the recruitment agency that connected her with the United job, as well as Uniteds HR department, which instructed her to submit a written statement about what had happened, according to the complaint. With just one week on the job, Matthews suddenly found her coworkers turning against her, the complaint states. Still, it says she successfully passed her training and began her work in the field. On November 16, 2022, roughly two weeks after she started, Matthews was abruptly reassigned from the ramp to the Uniteds Newark Liberty command center. This, according to the complaint, was retaliation for going to HR. Upon reporting to the command center, Matthews was introduced to her new team leader, who immediately instructed her to remove a 300-pound dead body from one of Uniteds planes, the complaint states. Matthews attempted to move the 300-pound dead body, the complaint says. However, [she] was not able to move the body due to its weight. The team leader threatened [Matthews] that she would be terminated if she was not able to perform her job duties, namely moving the 300-pound dead body, according to the complaint. In response, it says Matthews immediately went to a supervisor to explain that she was incapable of moving the heavy dead body on her own. Similarly, [the supervisor] threatened that if [Matthews] could not perform her duties, namely moving the 300-pound dead body, [she] would be sent home, the complaint alleges. As such, [Matthews] again attempted to move the body which caused her to fall and scream out in pain. open image in gallery Chantel Matthews believes her transfer from the ramp to an inside job at United's command center was retaliation for complaining to HR about her boss. She is now suing. ( AFP via Getty Images ) Matthews was taken to Uniteds medical facility, where she was diagnosed with severe neck and shoulder muscle strains, and prescribed a muscle relaxant, according to the complaint. The doctor there placed Matthews on light duty, and she would spend the next several months in physical therapy, it says. In March 2023, a United official emailed Matthews to say that she had reached the maximum allowable time for being on light duty, and told her to file for workers comp instead of returning to work, the complaint states. The following month, a rep from Uniteds HR department, which had launched an investigation into Matthews harassment claims, contacted her to say that her supervisor had been found in violation of company guidelines, and that the matter was being passed along to the appropriate parties, according to the complaint. That November, while out on medical leave, the complaint says Matthews received a termination letter from United, ending her employment, effective immediately. Yet, Matthews complaint says United continues to employ [the supervisor who allegedly harassed her] and has not taken any remedial or corrective action against him. As such, [his] role training new employees continues to provide fertile ground for his predatory behaviors and sexual harassment, the complaint contends. The experience left Matthews extremely humiliated, degraded, victimized, embarrassed and emotionally distressed, according to the complaint. Matthews suit, which was filed July 7 in Newark federal court, follows another filed last week by a United pilot, who claims a concussion was mistaken by the carrier for alcoholism, and that he was unnecessarily forced into rehab for a problem that didnt exist. She is now seeking a money judgment, to be determined by a jury, for lost wages, back and front pay, punitive damages, liquidated and statutory damages, attorneys fees, plus court costs. United Airlines declined to comment. Elon Musk announces event as pressure builds in EV company Tesla has scheduled an annual shareholders meeting for November, one day after it came under pressure from major shareholders to do so. Billionaire Elon Musks company said in a regulatory filing the meeting would be held on November 6, but that may prove troublesome because it comes nearly three months after it is required to do so under state law in Texas, where the company is incorporated. Our expert answers your property finance questions If you pay privately for nursing home care, fees will be deductible by tax relief at payees marginal rate. Photo: Getty My father is in need of a nursing home, and we dont really want to go down the Fair Deal route as he has income from business assets and a substantial amount of cash savings. A total of 5,421 passengers were also inspected arriving at Dublin Airport The Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit and the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit carry out enhanced law enforcement checks at Dublin Airport Gardai inspected brothels in every major town and city in Ireland as part of a major world-wide operation targeting human trafficking. The force revealed how they interviewed 179 sex workers in 92 brothels and inspected 5,421 passengers on 37 flights at Dublin Airport over the course of just one week last month. Catherine Connolly has announced she is running to be Ireland's next president. But who exactly is she? Kill your local Kneecap Poster of Irish rap trio attached to loyalist bonfire It comes after sectarian slurs on a west Belfast bonfire were reported to police The banner featuring Kneecap on a Co Tyrone bonfire Amy Cochrane, Liam Tunney and Alan Caulfield Fri 11 Jul 2025 at 20:32 A poster featuring Irish rap trio Kneecap along with a number of sectarian slogans has been attached to an Eleventh Night bonfire in Co Tyrone. KABUL, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's security forces have discovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including 13 pieces AK-47 assault rifles, in the southern Kandahar province, provincial police said on Saturday. Mullah Assadullah Jamshidi, provincial police spokesperson, said that police would not tolerate illegal arms possession and would take strict legal action against violators. SPF is not a luxury item like lipstick, it saves lives TanOrganic founder Noelle OConnor hits out at Vat on sunscreen The businesswoman believes that Ireland should lead the charge on ensuring SPF products are categorised as medication Businesswoman Noelle OConnor has launched a campaign seeking to lower the Vat on SPF products Melanie Finn and Mary Regan Sat 12 Jul 2025 at 06:30 Businesswoman Noelle OConnor has doubled down on her campaign to have sunscreen reclassified as an essential item and thereby made Vat exempt. live | Status Yellow thunderstorm warning issued as temperatures expected to soar to 30C this weekend Balmy conditions wont last, with 10-degree drop early next week Mollie O Rourke (13) and Alina Kelly (14) cool down in the Grand Canal at Digby Bridge near Sallins, Co Kildare. Photo: Frank McGrath Darragh Nolan, Ralph Riegel and Adrianna Wrona Sat 12 Jul 2025 at 12:07 The provisional highest temperature of 29C was recorded in Phoenix Park in Co Dublin yesterday, as the country experiences a mini heatwave. There are people alive who know what happened forty years on, family still seek justice for brutal killing of Fr Niall Molloy Rumours of an affair and money issues surrounded the death of the priest in Co Offaly in 1985 Fr Niall Molloy Catherine Fegan Sat 12 Jul 2025 at 06:30 It was a case that shocked and transfixed the nation: a respected priest found dead in the bedroom of a prominent business couple in a rural village in the midlands. Sarah Carey: When it comes to bowel screening, ick factor must not stop us from doing something that could save our lives Michelle L Price: Netanyahu gives Trump something he really wants a Nobel Peace Prize nomination As relations between the US and Israel thaw, Netanyahu talks of the countries unshakeable alliance Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to reporters in Washington DC. Photo: AP Michelle L Price Associated Press Sat 12 Jul 2025 at 06:30 Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus trip to Washington this week may have netted US president Donald Trump another nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize he covets, but the ceasefire he sought for the war in Gaza remains as elusive as ever. Alistair Wright (37), a self-employed joiner from Crieff in Scotland, appeared before Judge Anne Watkin at Dun Laoghaire District Court, where she said she had no tolerance for people bringing cocaine into public places and then "taking on" the guards. The court heard that Wright had been in Dublin for a friends stag and had been drinking all day with a group who had booked rooms at the Clayton Hotel in Donnybrook. By 8.30pm, tensions among the group escalated and staff were forced to call gardai due to the groups behaviour. It must have been bad, Judge Watkin remarked. It takes a lot for a hotel to ask a group of people to leave at half eight in the evening - that says it all. When gardai arrived, Wright became aggressive and abusive. He was asked to leave but told staff and gardai to f**k off, Sergeant Caoimmhe Conway told the court. The court heard that Wright refused to comply with directions, resisted arrest and was ultimately found to have one gram of cocaine in his possession. While he did not strike the gardai, the court heard he resisted putting his hands behind his back and had to be restrained. Ive no patience for cocaine, Judge Watkin said. Unlike cannabis or ecstasy, its one drug that makes people aggressive - and hes lucky things didnt end even worse. He refused to cooperate. This is how gardai get injured, she added. Most people sober up when a guard appears, Judge Watkin said. They dont take them on. But he refused to cooperate. This could have resulted in someone getting injured. The court heard that Wright made no reply when charged and has no previous convictions. He pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and to multiple public order offences, including engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour, failing to comply with garda directions and resisting a peace officer. His defence counsel, Sylvia Maria Crowley BL, said Wright was deeply embarrassed by the incident. She said he is a father of two and had never taken cocaine before - it was a one-off, completely out of character. Ms Crowley asked if her client could be spared a conviction, but Judge Watkin said the matter was too serious - and that a Section 19 public order offence could warrant a jail sentence. He knew he had cocaine on him. If he had any cop-on at all, he wouldnt have gotten himself arrested while carrying it. You dont get to be that out of control in a public place and expect no consequences, she said. The judge ordered a probation report and urine analysis, noting she was open to considering a community service order, but emphasised that Wright would not simply be allowed to walk away. Ms Crowley said engaging with probation services might be difficult as Wright lives and works in Scotland, but Judge Watkin made clear that custody remained on the table. Just because hes not living here doesnt mean he gets to skip off home to Scotland, she said. She adjourned the matter to 10 November next for finalisation. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme Tralee Tidy Towns members and students from CBS The Green joined forces for a successful litter pick around the town this week. The volunteers eliminated rubbish from the environs of The Green and various other locations around Tralee on Wednesday. The clean-up marked a continuation between the local Tidy Towns association and the students as part of the CBS Tralee Summer Programme, which was established around the theme Building Confidence and Connections. Students were kitted out with gloves, bags and litter pickers from Tralee Tidy Towns and they spread out across the town. The pupils picked up litter at the Brandon Car Park and town centre lanes as well as at the Dan Spring Road. The effort of the students and Tidy Towns members resulted in the collection of three bags of litter. The three bags marked a significant decrease on the amount of litter collected in the same litter pick last year, demonstrating the impactful work going in to the towns appearance. Those who participated in the initiative enjoyed senses of camaraderie and achievement from improving the appearance of their hometown. The organisers have extended their thanks to all students who took part in the demonstration of community spirit. Tralee Tidy Towns chairperson, Brendan O Brien, said it was heartening to see so many young people come together during this summer season to help us at a time when we are being adjudicated for the national Tidy Towns competition. Two charging stations now up and running and more are planned across the county Kerry County Council, with funding support from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), launches the first in a series of new eBike Charging Stations. The first two charging stations, located on Mission Road, Killarney and at the Library on Shelbourne Street, Kenmare, are fully operational. At the launch were Kenmare Town & District Municipal Officer Kieran O'Halloran, Cathaoirleach Kenmare Municipal District, Cllr Norma Moriarty, and Kerry National Roads Office, Dara Walsh. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan. Kerry County Council, with funding support from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), launches the first in a series of new eBike Charging Stations The first two charging stations, located on Mission Road, Killarney and at the Library on Shelbourne Street, Kenmare, are now fully operational. At the launch were from left, TII representative, Jonathan Noonan, Cathaoirleach Killarney Municipal District, Cllr Martin Grady, Kerry National Roads Office, Dara Walsh and Killarney Municipal District Officer, Matthew Farrell. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan. Kerry County Council, with funding support from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), is delighted to announce the launch of the first in a series of new eBike Charging Stations as part of a pilot initiative to support sustainable and active travel across the county. The first two charging stations, located on Mission Road, Killarney and at the Library on Shelbourne Street, Kenmare, are now installed and fully operational. Charging is free to the user. This innovative project is being developed as a pilot scheme with the aim of supporting low-carbon travel options for residents and visitors alike. A total of eight eBike charging stations are planned under the current phase, with more expected in the years ahead, subject to funding and the outcome of this pilot project. The other planned locations included Fenit and Listowel which are expected to be operational later this year and locations on the Ring of Kerry including Cahersiveen, Glenbeigh, Waterville and Sneem are being evaluated. Each charging station features 5 bikeep, app- enabled, charging docks. Just download the bikeep app to unlock a dock, charge your bike and securely store it while charging. Each dock has a robust locking arm to lock the users eBike and charger, and each dock also features an anti-theft alarm. Director of Corporate Communications with TII, Sean ONeill, welcomed the launch of the charging stations and said they empower people and communities to more sustainable transport options. Transport Infrastructure Ireland is delighted to support Kerry County Council in this pilot initiative. Encouraging the use of eBikes aligns with our national goals for sustainable mobility options and climate resilience. Projects like these are vital in empowering local communities and promoting active travel across Ireland. Cathaoirleach of the Kenmare MD, Cllr Norma Moriarty speaking at the launch in Kenmare said, I am delighted to see the new eBike charging station in place under the TII Sustainable and Active Travel scheme. These eBike charging stations are a step forward in our commitment to sustainable transport and reducing emissions. Cathaoirleach of the Killarney MD, Cllr Martin Grady speaking at the new charging station on Mission Road, Killarney said they are great addition to the town. "By making it easier and safer for people to choose low-carbon travel options, we are building a greener and more connected Kerry for everyone. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance Kerrys sustainable tourism infrastructure, aligning with national goals to reduce emissions, promote active lifestyles, and support local communities. The new charging network complements existing outdoor offerings such as the Kingdom of Kerry Greenways, cycle routes, and Ring of Kerry attractions. The Tipperary car at Lattin, west Co Tipperary, ready to head to Croke Park. Picture by Martin Quinn Bunting is being hung, lucky cars are being rejuvenated and all in Tipperary is being turned blue and gold as the countdown to the countys clash with Cork in the All-Ireland Hurling Final continues. A car in Lattin, west Tipperary, is bringing a lot of attention to the village, and hopefully bringing some luck to the team. The car is the property of Maurice Crowe, and was decorated in the county colours of blue and yellow back in 2019 for the All-Ireland. It has now been revamped for this year's final. Willie Mulcrone deserves credit for doing all the spraying and paint job on the car, and Mike O'Dwyer, said Martin Quinn. Finesigns.ie did all the sign writing on the car. It's a really great job and has been the centre of attention outside Ryan's Pub. Hope the car brings the best of luck to Tipperary against Cork. The Tipperary car at Lattin, looking great in the blue and gold colours. Pic by Martin Quinn Meanwhile, the Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel Municipal District are making bunting available to GAA clubs to enhance the decorations in each of the towns and villages in the district before Tipperarys hurlers take on Cork on Sunday, July 20. Each of the towns will also have a window display competition with a 200 Love Tipperary voucher as a prize for the best window display in each town. Cathaoirleach of the municipal district, Cllr Roger Kennedy welcomed the announcement. Having advocated for this, I am thrilled that Tipperary County Council will provide bunting for local GAA clubs in the run-up to the All-Ireland, as we all row in behind the lads, and turn our towns and villages blue and gold to show our proud support. "I am also delighted to be sponsoring the 200 Love Tipperary for the best window display in Cashel. Tiobraid Arainn abu. Bunting and banners can be collected from the county council offices in Tipperary town." YANGON, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar held national tree-planting ceremonies to green 13 drought-prone districts in the country's central dry zone, the state-run daily The Mirror reported on Saturday. The initiative aimed to combat climate change and desertification in the areas in Sagaing, Mandalay, and Magway regions, the report said. Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman Min Aung Hlaing attended one of the ceremonies at a protected public forest in Meiktila district of Mandalay region. In his speech, Min Aung Hlaing said that this marked the first time a national-level tree-planting event had been held to green Myanmar's arid regions. He said that the 13 targeted districts regularly experience extreme weather conditions. Myanmar's forest cover has declined to approximately 42.19 percent. The government has been aiming to restore it to 50 percent through continued tree-planting efforts. Ants are flying at this time of year. While we normally see these common insects on the ground they take to the air once during their lives and they do so at this time of year. About 20 species of ant have been recorded in Ireland. They live in colonies, and the generalised life cycle of the colony begins with a single mated female sometime between early July and late August depending on the weather. The lone female ant that has mated is known as a new queen. She is long-lived, but she mates only once in her life. She stores the males sperm in a special pouch in her abdomen, can keep it alive for years, even decades, and use it as she requires. The young queen goes to ground as autumn approaches and searches in the soil for a suitable place to lay. She overwinters in her chosen spot and the arrival of spring triggers her to use her stored sperm to fertilise her eggs. She starts laying eggs and when they hatch she feeds the young from her first batch of eggs on secretions from her mouth. In time, they mature into workers. Sexually, these worker ants are female, but they are sterile. Their role in life is to tend the queen, look after her eggs, forage for food, feed and care for her and her offspring, maintain the nest and keep it clean, etc. Once the first cohort of workers is in place, the queen ant settles down to focus on serious egg-laying and the colony begins to grow in size rapidly. All of the young are workers and as the labour force increases the colony flourishes as summer progresses. By mid-summer the colony can contain between a few thousand and several thousand individuals. At this time of year some subtle factors to do with the weather and the time of year trigger the queen to lay eggs that will produce fertile young with wings. When they mature and when weather conditions dictate, the winged fertile young leave the nest and take flight. The event is called a nuptial flight. When tightly synchronised, huge swarms of ants may be flying over an extended area. The bounty provides a feast for insect-eating birds and opportunistic scavengers like gulls. Male ants exist solely to mate. Once they have mated they die shortly after. Virgin females are destined to be queens and can live for decades. They mate with one or more males while flying, come to ground, chew off their now useless wings, and the cycle stars all over again. Evolution over a long period of time has perfected the life cycles of these amazing little insects. Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald was full of praise for the work of some of Brays community groups, when she visited the town earlier this month. She was welcomed by the partys TD for Wicklow, John Brady, who introduced her to some of the organisations at the forefront of support work in the district, before going on to visit similar groups in Rathnew. It was fantastic to have Mary Lou in Wicklow yesterday, Deputy Brady said. We had a brilliant day meeting with some incredible groups and organisations doing absolutely vital work right across the county. The day began in Fassaroe, where Deputy Brady and Deputy McDonald visited the Wellbeing Hub Group at the Bray Family Resource Centre, alongside representatives from Bray Travellers Development Group and the Marian Centre. The collaboration between the Family Resource Centre, Bray Travellers and the Marian Centre is truly inspiring, Deputy Brady said. The conversations we had were powerful and a real reflection of the strength of community-driven support work happening on the ground in Bray. The next stop was Bray Lakers, where they met members and saw the ongoing redevelopment of the centres facilities. The progress at Lakers is phenomenal, Deputy Brady remarked. Phases 1 and 2 of the redevelopments are looking absolutely fantastic, and its brilliant news that Phase 3 is kicking off next week. This project is a huge step forward for everyone involved and speaks volumes about the dedication and energy of the Lakers team and the wider community. After the tour of Bray, the day concluded in Rathnew, with a visit to the Foroige WAY Youth Diversion Project at the Alley Youth Centre, described by Deputy Brady as a lifeline for so many young people in the area. "What we saw and heard in Rathnew made it clear just how essential these types of youth initiatives are not just for Rathnew, but for communities across Wicklow. Deputy Brady extended his sincere thanks to all those who welcomed them. We had plenty of great chats, plenty of tea, and plenty of laughs. A huge thank you to all the groups who gave us their time and shared their stories. Your work is making a massive difference in your communities. Mile buiochas to Mary Lou for taking the time to visit and meet with these outstanding groups. It is always a pleasure to have her here in Wicklow, he concluded. Owners of Sonny's Jason and Skye McLoughlin, with kids Mila, Jaime and Romi, at the 4th of July 5th Birthday. At Sonny's Fourth of July 5th birthday celebrations were owners Jason McLoughlin and dad Declan, toasting Jason's grandad Sonny, who also liked a Guinness, and after whom the restaurant was named. Photos: Leigh Anderson. Sonnys Tex-Mex restaurant in Greystones held its fifth birthday bash on the same day as celebrations took place across the US to mark Independence Day. Our photographer Leigh Anderson was there to capture the moment as father and son, Declan and Jason McLoughlin, raised a pint in honour of Jason's grandad, Sonny, who also liked a Guinness, and after whom the American-themed restaurant was named. Sonny, who passed away in 1994, would be well chuffed. There is a mural for Sonny situated at the heart of the restaurant, which first opened its doors on Church Road, on July 4, 2020 and has now become one of the towns hottest spots. A broad menu is available for diners, including a range of burgers, Mexican food, authentic Italian wood-fired pizza, ribs and wings and the restaurant was designed to allow the front to be completely opened in the summer, letting the sunshine in and giving guests the opportunity to people-watch from inside. The venue has also become the go-to location for sport, with a fab back room for viewing games. And over the next few weeks Sonny's will be following the Lions tour each day with a special breakfast available from 11am to 1pm. All matches kick off at 11am, and doors are open at 10.30am. The following games will be screened live: Monty Pytons Eric Idle would be proud to be thrown out of Donald Trumps America The Monty Python actor said he believes the US president has no end of capacity for stupidity Eric Idle on the set of NBC's late-night talk show, 'The Tonight Show', hosted by Jimmy Fallon. Photo: Getty Greg Evans UK Independent Sat 12 Jul 2025 at 06:30 Eric Idle (83) has said that hed be proud to be thrown out of Donald Trumps US as hed be in very select company. Thirty years after Srebrenica Massacre, the slogan never again is a mockery As we watch another genocide unfold before our eyes, we cannot say we did not know Stacks of unidentified corpses line the walls of an underground shelter at a Bosnian morgue in Tuzla in March 1997. Photo: Reuters Sam Kiley UK Independent Sat 12 Jul 2025 at 06:30 When an exiled South African journalist reluctantly explained the Nazi Holocaust to his seven-year-old son, the boy knew that no adult in Germany could have legitimately claimed we did not know. Zelensky calls for funding for Clear Sky drone interception system The United States is selling weapons to its Nato allies in Europe so they can provide them to Ukraine as it struggles to fend off a recent escalation in Russias drone and missile attacks, president Donald Trump and his chief diplomat said. Were sending weapons to Nato, and Nato is paying for those weapons, 100pc, Mr Trump said in an interview with NBC late on Thursday. So what were doing is, the weapons that are going out are going to Nato, and then Nato is going to be giving those weapons [to Ukraine], and Nato is paying for those weapons. Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. Two different Asian countries, two different K-drama stars - and both are set to rule! Fans are surely in for a double treat as beloved Hallyu stars Park Bo-gum and Park Hyung-sik gear up for major fan events this September. Park Hyung-sik has officially announced his upcoming 2025 Japan fan concert titled BEGINNING, while Park Bo-gum is set to return to Malaysia after six long years for a heartfelt reunion with fans through his fan meeting Be With You. Park Bo-gum returns to Malaysia Affectionately dubbed the "Nation's Boyfriend," Park Bo-gum has won hearts globally with his sincerity, charm, and versatile talents. From Reply 1988 and Love in the Moonlight to his most recent role in When Life Gives You Tangerines, and his ongoing series Good Boy, his acting range continues to shine. Known for his soulful vocals, heartfelt fan interactions, and captivating stage presence, Park Bo-gum's fan meets are known to leave a lasting impression. The actor is finally making his highly anticipated return to Malaysia with the 2025 Fan Meeting Tour Be With You, happening on September 13 at the Idea Live Arena in Kuala Lumpur. This event promises to be a warm, intimate evening filled with heart and nostalgia. Park Hyung-sik's new beginning in Japan Meanwhile on July 11, Park Hyung-sik revealed the official poster and performance schedule for his upcoming fan concert BEGINNING, set to take place on September 13 and 14 at Makuhari Messe Makuhari Event Hall in Japan. The stunning main poster visually represents the concept of "beginning," portraying the actor standing at the boundary of light and darkness - his eyes closed, his presence serene yet powerful. The dreamlike composition captures his signature gentle charisma, immediately captivating fans. This concert marks his return to the Japanese stage about six months after his fan meeting UNIVERSIKTY, held earlier in March. As his first official fan concert, Park Hyung-sik, known for his roles in Buried Hearts, Doctor Slump and the hit drama Strong Girl Bong-soon, is said to be working hard to prepare a richer and more diverse stage, including the anticipated performance of a brand-new Japanese original song. Known for his thoughtful performances and strong fan connection, expectations are sky-high for what BEGINNING will bring. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here. The food world is reeling from the devastating news of chef and television personality Anne Burrells sudden passing. The 55-year-old star, known for her fiery presence on Worst Cooks in America, was found unconscious and unresponsive on the morning of Tuesday, June 17, in the shower of her Brooklyn apartment. Anne Burrell found unconscious before being pronounced dead | Credit: X The Anne Burrells death mystery surrounded by 100 pills According to an internal NYPD document viewed by The New York Times, the scene was harrowing, Burrell was found surrounded by approximately 100 assorted pills. Emergency responders rushed to the location just before 8:00 a.m., but despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Anne Burrell | Credit: Instagram/anneburrell Though an autopsy has been performed, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has yet to release an official cause or manner of death. The presence of so many pills has raised immediate fears of a possible overdose, though authorities have not yet confirmed this as the cause. Anne Burrell | Credit: Instagram/anneburrell Anne Burrells tragic ending Just the night before her passing, Burrell performed improv for the first time at Second City New York. The troupe paid tribute to her spirit, saying she brought joy, boldness, and an unwavering yes, and energy. Anne Burrell | Credit: Instagram/anneburrell Friends say Burrell had been exploring new paths, creatively and personally. Chef Elizabeth Falkner shared that Burrell seemed at peace and was working on being more present in friendships. Meanwhile, Andrew Zimmern, who had collaborated with her earlier this year, described her as full of drive and optimism about upcoming projects. Anne Burrell dead at 55?? I can't believe it. I absolutely loved Worst Cooks in America. BTB, RTS. Brown food tastes good! Blanch, and shock! Slices, sticks, dices. She taught so many people. pic.twitter.com/h7liGHHNHw drnik46 (@drnik46) June 17, 2025 Burrells sudden death left fans heartbroken. Tributes from celebrities like Gigi Hadid and Duff Goldman flooded social media. Goldman recalled once baking a cake for her that read, Dont let the bastards win, and said she truly never did. Gigi hadid via Anne Burrell's Instagram pic.twitter.com/O0eoxvpchT Gigi Hadid Source (@MyqueengigiIG) October 26, 2019 Her family described her as someone whose light and warmth reached far beyond those she personally knew. Annes smile lit up every room she entered, they said in a statement. Burrell is survived by her husband Stuart Claxton and her stepson. A memorial service was held on June 20 at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in Manhattan. J-Hope is back - and he's not just picking up where he left off - after completing his sold-out Hope On The Stage world tour! Since finishing his military service, the rapper has launched a full-blown solo takeover. Releasing back-to-back chart-crushers like Sweet Dreams, Mona Lisa, and Killin' It Girl, Hobi has been unstoppable. Now, he's gearing up for his next headline-making moment: a powerhouse performance at Lollapalooza Berlin that promises to be nothing short of legendary. That legendary stage moment? Its happening this weekend. Mark your calendars, because the BTS star is about to set Berlin on fire this Sunday, July 13 - and ARMYs are buzzing with anticipation. Can't make it to the venue? No problem. The full performance will be streamed live, so the thrill wont skip a single screen. Will Indian BTS fans be able to watch J-Hope's Lollapalooza Berlin stage live? Yes! the ace dancer's agency - BIGHIT Music - has officially announced that J-Hope's performance at Lollapalooza Berlin will be streamed live on Weverse LIVE, with a simultaneous broadcast on the BANGTANTV YouTube channel. Indian ARMY can tune in from 11:45 PM IST on Sunday, July 13, with the show running until 1:15 AM on Monday, July 14. [] j-hope (Lollapalooza) (+ENG/JPN/CHN) https://t.co/z6OPJRWSLu * *The detailed live streaming link will be provided later.#jhope # #jhopeAtLollapalooza BTS_official (@bts_bighit) July 7, 2025 J-Hope's return to the Lollapalooza stage The Idol is no stranger to the Lollapalooza stage. Back in 2022, he made history as the first K-pop artist to headline Lollapalooza Chicago, captivating a crowd of over 105,000 with an electrifying 18-song set. His upcoming Berlin stage marks yet another milestone - his first solo headline festival performance in Europe. You asked - and we listened! Find out now on which day your favourite artists will be performing at Lollapalooza Berlin presented by Telekom this year. With @jtimberlake , j-hope from @bts_bighit, @gracieabrams and so many more! Regular, Comfort and VIP Day Tickets will pic.twitter.com/iFEgqiOKMZ Lollapalooza Berlin presented by Telekom (@LollapaloozaDe) March 12, 2025 In a video message earlier this year, J-Hope shared: "What's up ARMY? I'm so excited to headline Lollapalooza Berlin this year. This will be my first-ever solo headline festival performance in Europe. It's going to be so special, and I can't wait to perform alongside amazing artists like Justin Timberlake, Gracie, and so many more. Ill see you in Germany this summer." The two-day music festival is set to take place on July 1213 at Olympiastadion Berlin. While J-Hope's full setlist hasn't been officially announced, fans can expect an electrifying performance filled with his signature choreography, magnetic stage presence, and brand-new solo tracks. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here. BRUSSELS, July 12 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Saturday that Washington's decision to impose 30 percent tariffs on European Union (EU) exports risks severely disrupting transatlantic supply chains, and pledged that the EU would respond with countermeasures if necessary. "Imposing 30 percent tariffs on EU exports would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers, and patients on both sides of the Atlantic," von der Leyen said in a statement. Her comments followed an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said his administration would impose 30 percent tariffs on EU exports, arguing that bilateral trade had long been unbalanced and lacked reciprocity. Von der Leyen responded that the EU remained committed to a negotiated solution, but emphasized that the bloc would act to defend its economic interests if negotiations failed. "We remain ready to continue working towards an agreement by Aug. 1," she said, "At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required." Good Boy Episodes 13-14 online: Fans of the popular Korean drama Good Boy can stream Episode 13-14 online, July 12 and 13, 2025, at approximately 10:40 PM KST (7:10 PM IST), as per the official release schedule. Park Bo-gum returns to the screen with Good Boy, a gripping follow-up to his acclaimed performance as Yang Gwan-sik in When Life Gives You Tangerines. Combining emotional intensity with high-stakes thrills and unexpected twists, the drama has quickly gained buzz. Heres everything you need to knowfrom the plot and cast to the release schedule and episode guide. Good Boy: Release date and time for Episodes 13-14 Episode 13 and 14 airs on Saturday and Sunday, July 12 and 13, 2025, at 10:40 PM KST on jTBC in South Korea. It will also be available for international viewers via simultaneous streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Viki at 4 PM (GMT) / 12 AM (ET) offering English subtitles to make the series accessible to a global audience. Where to Watch Good Boy Episodes 13-14 Online? Episode 13-14 is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Viki, the main legal platforms offering high-quality video and English subtitles. In South Korea, it airs on jTBC . For viewers in the U.S., Canada, India, Indonesia, and the UK, the series will be also available on Disney+, Netflix, Viki, Amazon Prime Video, TVING and Coupang Play. Good Boy: Plot highlights of Episodes 13-14 Episode 12 of Good Boy opens with the flashback to Jae-Hong's Olympic past. Meanwhile, Min Joo-Yeong emerges as a more menacing villain, shifting from cat-and-mouse to full-blown revenge mode. With his drug empire back in motion via Drug Demon's 'new candy,' the tension escalates quickly. There's even a flicker of chemistry between Dong-ju and the Drug Demon, though it's likely going nowhere. Despite the police's earlier victory, the second half plunges into violent chaos, culminating in Dong-ju being ambushed and barely rescued by Jong-hyeon. As the episode closes, Han-na stands ready for vengeance, setting up an ominous final stretch. Good Boy episodes 13-14: Spoilers Here are the spoilers for Episodes 13-14 of the Korean series Good Boy based on the YouTube preview: In the next episodes, tension boils over on all fronts. Han-na, shaken by Dong-jus emotional collapse, channels her turmoil into action - setting her sights firmly on Joo-yeong. With the commissioner's backing, Joo-yeong begins executing his next move just as police forces are pulled away, leaving Man-sik and his team dangerously exposed. Desperate and cornered, Man-sik reaches out to Dae-yong for help. Meanwhile, Jong-hyeon, quietly determined, retraces Han-na's last investigation in hopes of finding her. Joo-yeong, having sealed a critical deal, finally reveals the location of Yeon-ha's sister - his voice cryptic, hinting at hidden motives. Man-sik's frustration grows as the task force ignores his calls, the silence becoming impossible to ignore. As Joo-yeong's men begin closing in on the scattered team, Dong-ju rises - driven by loyalty and an unspoken emotional bond - to protect them at all costs. And as everything comes to a head, Joo-yeong, cold and calculating, gives the order: it's time to pull the trigger. Good Boy: Cast and Characters Park Bo-gum takes the lead as Yoon Dong-ju, joined by a stellar ensemble cast that includes Kim So-hyun, Oh Jung-se, Lee Sang-yi, Heo Sung-tae, and Tae Won-seok. FAQs 1. When will Episodes 13-14 of Good Boy be released? Good Boy Episodes 13-14 will be released on July 6, 2025, at 7:10 PM IST and will air in South Korea on jTBC at 10:40 PM KST. 2. Where can I watch Episodes 13-14 of Good Boy online? Good Boy Episodes 13-14 will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Viki, both platforms offering English subtitles. 3. Does Good Boy have English subtitles? Yes, Good Boy is fully subtitled in English on Amazon Prime Video, including Episodes 13-14. 4. Is Good Boy available on Netflix? Yes, Good Boy is available on Netflix in certain countries. The drama officially streams on Amazon Prime Video and Viki. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. In the world of high fashion and high stakes, the battlefield is not a red carpetit is Sothebys auction house. On July 8, the first-ever Hermes Birkin bag, crafted in 1984 for Jane Birkin, went under the hammer in Paris, raking in over 8.6 million (around $10 million USD), making it the most expensive handbag ever sold. The OG Birkin Bag | Credit: Birkin Birkin showdown: Billionaires, bids and bags And guess who reportedly entered the ring? None other than Lauren Sanchez, newlywed wife to Jeff Bezos, and Kris Jenner, the Kardashian matriarch with an Hermes wardrobe that could rival a boutique. Credit: Instagram | @krisjenner Lauren Sanchez vs. Kris Jenner Sources claim the bidding war lasted a nail-biting 13 minutes, with Sanchez reportedly shelling out hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to score the iconic bag. Jenner also allegedly joined the race early on, flexing her luxury instincts with her half-a-million-dollar Hermes collection back home. Credit: Instagram But in the end, both ladies were left stunned as a mysterious Japanese collector swooped in and won the bag with a jaw-dropping $7 million bid, before auction fees. Talk about a stealth move. A Birkin consolation... or a Vogue takeover? While Sanchez may not have snagged the original Birkin, whispers suggest her consolation prize could be next-level iconic. According to Daily Mail, Jeff Bezos is rumoured to be eyeing Vogue itself. Yep, the Vogue. Insiders are gossiping that Anna Wintour, who personally approved Sanchezs Dolce & Gabbana wedding cover shoot, may be smoothing the path for Bezos behind closed doors. Jane Birkin | Credit: Birkin Although Conde Nast insists it is not up for grabs, its recent budget cuts and office downsizing are fuelling speculation that the Newhouse family might be warming to a $5 billion sale. And the fashion world? They are watching closely, Vogue covers clutched tight. You might not always win the Birkin, but when you are married to the worlds second-richest man, you just might end up owning the entire fashion bible instead. Law and the City Episodes 3-4 online: Fans of the Korean drama Law and the City can stream Episodes 3-4 online today, July 12 and 13, 2025, at approximately 9:20 PM KST (5:50 PM IST), according to the official release schedule. Five lawyers at a newly merged firm juggle complex cases while forging unexpected friendships. Among them are An Ju-hyeong, a skilled yet emotionally distant senior attorney, and Kang Hee-ji, an idealistic junior associate determined to make a real difference. For fans who enjoy intelligent romance, compelling characters, and emotional depth, this is a series worth watching. Law and the City: Release date and time for Episodes 3-4 Episodes 3-4 airs on Saturday and Sunday, July 12 and 13, 2025, at 9:20 PM KST on tvN in South Korea. It will also be available to international viewers via simultaneous streaming on Disney+, JioHotstar, and Viki, all of which offer English subtitles to make the series accessible to a global audience. Where to Watch Law and the City Episode 3-4 Online? Episodes 3-4 is available to stream on Disney+, JioHotstar, and Viki - the main legal platforms offering high-quality video and English subtitles. In South Korea, the series airs on tvN. For viewers in the U.S., Canada, India, Indonesia, and the UK, Disney+ remains the top choice for watching the series. Law and the City: What happened in Episode 2? In Episode 2, Hee-ji reunites with Ju-hyeong and insists they met in Hong Kong years ago, but he denies remembering her - though a flashback later proves otherwise. Meanwhile, building owner Kim Hyung-min proposes merging all law firms under one banner, sparking internal debates. Hee-ji takes on a difficult eviction case and clashes with Ju-hyeong when she secretly helps the tenant by using a new legal precedent. Their opposing viewsher empathy vs. his objectivity - create growing tension. By episodes end, the firms officially merge, and a final moment hints at Ju-hyeong's buried feelings as he spots Hee-ji alone, triggering memories of their past. Law and the City episodes 3-4: Spoilers Here are the spoilers for Episode 1 of the Korean series Law and the City based on the YouTube preview: The next episode preview teases a dramatic turning point in both personal and professional dynamics. It opens with Hee-ji confronting Ju-hyeong, demanding to know if he truly remembers their shared past. After a brief silence, Ju-hyeongfinally drops his guarded demeanor and, with a soft smile, admits he does - calling her just as beautiful as before. It's a quiet but powerful moment, signaling that he may be ready to acknowledge their connection and let his emotional walls down. This revelation intensifies Hee-ji's suspicion that he's been hiding something all along, setting the stage for a possible rekindling of feelings as their relationship begins to shift. Amid this emotional tension, major changes hit their professional lives. The law firms officially merge, uniting all five lawyers under one roof. Ju-hyeong wastes no time laying down the rules: no emotional entanglements, and strict objectivity. But friction quickly arises when Hee-ji challenges him, claiming he simply lacks the capacity to empathize. Meanwhile, Mun Jeong's status as a lawyer is called into question during a high-stakes trial, and Hee-ji finds herself overwhelmed by a difficult medical malpractice case. As the pressure builds, Ju-hyeong steps in to help - whether out of duty or something deeper remains unclear. In a charged elevator scene, their eyes meet, and the growing undercurrent between them becomes undeniable. With emotional walls cracking and legal tension mounting, the next episode promises intense revelations, personal breakthroughs, and a storm of drama just waiting to erupt. Law and the City: Cast and Characters The series is penned by Lee Seung-hyun and helmed by director Park Seung-woo, with a stellar lead cast featuring Lee Jong-suk, Moon Ga-young, Kang You-seok, Ryu Hye-young, and Im Seong-jae. FAQs 1. When will Episodes 3-4 of Law and the City be released? Law and the City Episodes 3-4 will be released on July 5, 2025, at 5:50 PM IST. In South Korea, it will air on tvN at 9:20 PM KST. 2. Where can I watch Episodes 3-4 of Law and the City online? You can stream Episodes 3-4 on Disney+, JioHotstar, and Viki. All three platforms offer English subtitles. 3. Does Law and the City have English subtitles? Yes, the series is fully subtitled in English on Disney+, JioHotstar, and Viki, including Episodes 3-4. 4. Is Law and the City available on Netflix? No, Law and the City is not available on Netflix. It officially streams on Disney+, JioHotstar, and Viki. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here. Karnataka police officers probably thought they had seen it alluntil they stumbled upon a cave-dwelling Russian woman and her two tiny children living like Himalayan sages. Nina Kutina, a 40-year-old Russian national (who now goes by Mohi), was found deep in the Ramatirtha hills of Uttara Kannada, living in total isolation. And no, this was not a spiritual TikTok retreat. A 40-year-old Russian woman, Mohi, and her children (6 and 4) were found in a cave In Uttara Kannadas Ramatirtha hills where they have taken shelter to seek spiritual peace. The police rescued them after they found tejm during a rotune patrol post landslide incident and a pic.twitter.com/p6K08AbEzH Ashish (@KP_Aashish) July 12, 2025 Not a sadhvi, just a Russian woman meditating in a cave Mohi had been staying in a natural cave surrounded by thick woods, steep hills, and zero contact with civilisation. Just her, her two childrensix-year-old Preya and four-year-old Amaand a Rudra idol. According to police, she spent her days in puja, meditation, and spiritual silence, seemingly unaffected by the chaos of the outside world. Her mission? Inner peace. Her food source? Still a mystery. What blew her cover? The police only discovered Mohi thanks to a saree and some other clothes casually fluttering outside the cave, spotted during a post-landslide patrol. Circle Inspector Sridhar and his team followed the fabric trail and found the makeshift spiritual setup, complete with children and a cave-home vibe worthy of an Instagram reel. Cave of Solitude Turns Into Cave of Peril: Russian Mother and Daughters Found Living in Gokarna GOKARNA ( KARNATAKA) What began as a search for spiritual solace ended in a dramatic rescue and legal storm. On July 9, Gokarna police discovered Russian national Nina Kutina and pic.twitter.com/Wh3JuARtLw HyderabadHerald (@HyderabadHeral) July 12, 2025 Superintendent of Police M. Narayana told PTI that officers were genuinely shocked she had survived there with two kids, given the terrain and recent weather conditions. More shocking? Her visa had expired in 2017. She was basically a spiritual ghost, hiding in plain sight for years. From forest floors to ashram doors Turns out, Mohis journey to enlightenment began on a business visa years ago. She wandered from Russia to Goa and finally to the sacred coastal town of Gokarna, drawn by Hinduism and its promise of peace. Unfortunately, immigration rules did not align with her spiritual timeline. Officials have now relocated her to an ashram run by a local sadhvi while deportation paperwork gets sorted. With help from an NGO and the Russian Embassy, she is being transported to Bengaluru before being sent back to Russia. So, next time you feel like escaping the world, maybe just book a yoga retreat, not a cave in Karnataka. The phrase "BTS paved the way" has become a talking point within K-pop fandoms. Although many artists - including TWICE, Stray Kids, GOT7's Jackson Wang, PSY, and others - have openly credited BTS for helping globalize K-pop, the statement often sparks backlash when repeated. The latest instance came when TWICE's Tzuyu acknowledged BTS' role in expanding K-pop's global reach. While ARMY and ONCE - the fandoms of BTS and TWICE - have been celebrating the recent interactions between the two groups, BLACKPINK fans appear less enthusiastic. Many took to social media to express frustration, interpreting the praise as sidelining BLACKPINK's own contributions to K-pop's worldwide popularity. What did Tzuyu say about BTS? In an interview with Forbes, Tzuyu didnt hesitate to credit BTS for their impact on K-pop's global rise. "There are so many K-pop artists who worked so hard so that K-pop can take the centre stage. Many artists worked hard to contribute, and BTS played a big role in that," she said, applauding the group's significance in shaping K-pop as a worldwide phenomenon. TWICE's Tzuyu mentions BTS for their role in expanding K-pop globally: "There are so many kpop artists who worked so hard so that kpop can take the center stage. Many artists worked hard to contribute, and BTS played a big role in that." pic.twitter.com/VfmLvRAUlz About Music (@AboutMusicYT) July 11, 2025 While many felt this moment was wholesome - especially ARMY, who believe the BIG 3 labels mostly bar their artists from mentioning BTS - it was huge to see a big artist like TWICE openly show respect to BTS. However, BLACKPINK fans were unhappy with the statement made by Tzuyu. What are BLINKs saying? Many BLINKs, especially on X (formerly known as Twitter), spoke about how TWICE had just released a song, THIS IS FOR - a track hyping up women - and felt they should not have praised men for globalising K-pop. Some others wondered why BLACKPINK was not mentioned, as according to BLINKs, BTS and BLACKPINK achieved global success around the same time. BTS made a major breakthrough in 2017 when DNA first charted at #85 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a significant milestone for the group. Their global presence was further amplified with a high-energy performance of the song at the American Music Awards later that year - a moment many U.S. ARMYs cite as their introduction to BTS. Soon after, Fake Love made history as the first K-pop song since PSY's Gangnam Style to break into the chart's Top 10. BLACKPINK followed with a landmark achievement of their own in 2018. Their hit Ddu-Du Ddu-Du marked their debut on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #55 - the highest position ever reached by a K-pop girl group at the time. Hence, BLINKs on X who were unhappy with the statement wrote posts like: "When a woman empowers men but fails to recognize other women, it's not strength, it's a missed opportunity." When a woman empowers men but fails to recognize other women, its not strength, its a missed opportunity. https://t.co/PSXvHoHnG0 pic.twitter.com/s7IfmFZt9c Shane (@crazy4lalalisa) July 11, 2025 Another said, "Giving credit to men for the success of your girl group in an industry dominated by men is the most pick-me and crybaby thing you can do. No wonder their empowerment concepts felt performative - they were always a group created for the male gaze." darle credito a hombres sobre el exito de tu grupo femenino en una industria que fue dominada por hombres es lo mas pickme y llorapija q se puede ser con razon sus conceptos de empoderamiento se sentian performativos, siempre fueron un grupo creado para el male gaze (@minjicion) July 11, 2025 One wrote, "Me when my music and master's degree go nowhere so I resort to name-dropping just to bait their fanbase." Me when my music and masters degree go nowhere so I resort to name-dropping just to bait their fanbase Judy (@judyxop) July 11, 2025 Another added, "Releasing a women empowerment song just to credit the bunch of men for the growth of a whole industry STAND UP." releasing a women empowerment song just to credit the bunch of men for the growth of a whole industry..STAND UP https://t.co/bNbL1DTicg (@pinkscreation) July 11, 2025 One even wrote, "Just released a song about feminism & women empowerment yet preaching some men, we never making out of misogyny damn." Just released a song about feminism & women empowerment yet preaching some men, we never making out of misogyny damn https://t.co/1B0furXawS (@hyskye) July 11, 2025 ARMY and ONCE reunite While the two fandoms were enjoying the comments made, they also clapped back at BLINKs: One ARMY said, "I genuinely have so much respect for these girls because theyve never been bitter about BTS and theyve always acknowledged their hard work and what theyve done for the K-pop industry." i genuinely have so much respect for these girls because theyve never been bitter about bts and theyve always acknowledged their hard work and what theyve done for the kpop industry https://t.co/etsKzAfjMd jungkk (@seainterlude) July 11, 2025 Another said, "The qrts is why we don't take BLINKs seriously when they preach about feminism. Like, the only reason you can think of when a woman gives credit to BTS is that she wants clout?" the qrts is why we don't take blinks seriously when they preach about feminism, like the only reason you can think of when a woman gives credit to bts is that she wants clout? https://t.co/jQY0ZxvJ4A pic.twitter.com/m6x2OCVubI ys (@yaslovesstars) July 11, 2025 One added, "If BLINKs dislike TWICE so much, why do you need their validation so much? They're flops, right? So why does it matter to yall?" If blinks dislike twice so much why do you need their validation so much? They're flops right so why does it matter to yall https://t.co/psKa4MTv2D Get ya TWICE #FOUR (@jihyogasm) July 11, 2025 Another taunted, "She's from TWICE mentioning BTS, but a certain fandom that has nothing to do with both groups is pissed. They love to make everything about their group." She's from twice mentioning BTS but a certain fandom that has nothing to do with both groups is pissed They love to make everything about their group https://t.co/PALMr33D82 Min~(TIF) (@SafaNour9913) July 11, 2025 More about BTS and TWICE What started as a simple dance challenge turned into a full-blown third-gen crossover event. TWICE's Momo and Nayeon lit up social media with their collab with BTS J-Hope for his Sweet Dreams dance challenge, sending fans into a frenzy. But that was only the beginning. J-Hope soon appeared on Sana's Fridge Interview, effortlessly charming viewers, before taking on the Killin' It Girl challenge. The surprise didn't end there - the BTS rapper was later spotted meeting Nayeon and Jihyo at BLACKPINKs DEADLINE concert in South Korea, a moment that felt straight out of a K-pop cinematic universe. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here. Google has made another huge move in the AI race by hiring Varun Mohan, the co-founder and CEO of Windsurf, an artificial intelligence startup thats been rising fast in the world of software development. The company had been in talks with OpenAI for a $3 billion acquisition deal, but in a surprising turn, Google stepped in and brought in Mohan along with other top names from Windsurf. But beyond all the billion-dollar headlines, who really is Varun Mohan? Early life and education Varun Mohan was born in Sunnyvale, California, to parents who had immigrated to the United States from India. He went to The Harker School in San Jose before heading to MIT, where he studied computer science and focused on deep learning and systems research. His interest in AI runs deep, and that has shaped the kind of work hes doing today. From intern to founder Before founding Windsurf, Mohan worked at companies like LinkedIn, Quora, Databricks and Nuro. His early work revolved around GPU virtualisation, but his broader interests always pointed toward making tools that help engineers think and work better. OpenAI's acquisition of @Windsurf was supposed to be the biggest exit in the AI age. But now the deal is off. Google hired Windsurfs CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and key R&D employees to join Google DeepMind. This is what it means for OpenAI, Windsurf, and the pic.twitter.com/mEGILUjKdh Jenny Xiao (@jennywxiao) July 11, 2025 In 2021, he co-founded Windsurf, first known as Codeium, with the goal of building something different in the world of AI coding. What is Windsurf? Windsurf is more than just another coding assistant. Unlike Copilot or other plugins, its a complete coding environment built with AI at its core. Its Cascade agent can write, refactor, and run code, acting like a full development partner. Under Mohans leadership, the company attracted over a million developers and became one of the most talked-about names in AI development. Google steps in Google is paying $2.4 billion for a non-exclusive license to Windsurfs tech and hiring Mohan and key team members. Mohan will join DeepMind, working on agentic coding with Gemini, Google's AI suite. The move has blocked OpenAIs earlier attempt to buy Windsurf outright. Google bags Windsurfs coding chiefs after OpenAIs unconfirmed $3 b tieup fizzles - OpenAIs intalks purchase of Windsurf - reported around $3 billion - did not complete. - Instead, DeepMind has hired Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, cofounder Douglas Chen, and key R&D https://t.co/7MR8RyCrjK pic.twitter.com/zbzfJ8yT85 Kol Tregaskes (@koltregaskes) July 11, 2025 This marks yet another chapter in the intense AI hiring war, with Google, OpenAI, Meta and others fighting to grab the best talent in the space. Whats next for Varun Mohan? While Varun Mohan is off to Google, most of the Windsurf team will stay and continue building the product under interim CEO Jeff Wang. Mohans broader vision is to move developers away from repetitive tasks and help them think more like designers and architects. That mindset could reshape how we all write code in the years ahead. A cohort of 34British members of parliament and public figures has formally calledfor an immediate cessation of negotiations regarding the return ofthe Parthenon Marbles to Greece, Sky News has reported. The group, whichincludes former Prime Minister Liz Truss, MP John Redwood, andhistorian Dr. David Starkey, issued a letter accusing the BritishMuseum of engaging in "covert" discussions to repatriatethe artifacts. The letter warns ofpotential legal action if full transparency is not provided to thepublic. Organized by theGreat British PAC, the signatories invoke the British Museum Act of1963, which forbids the permanent deaccessioning of objects from themuseums collection. A governmentspokesperson reiterated that there are no plans to amend thislegislation. The British Museummaintains that it is involved in "constructive discussions"as part of its "Parthenon Partnership" with Greece. This initiativeseeks to balance the sharing of cultural heritage with the integrityof the museum's collection. The dispute over themarbles, which Greece argues were taken under duress during Ottomanoccupation, remains a contentious issue of cultural heritage,legality, and national identity for both nations. iefimerida.gr Prime MinisterKyriakos Mitsotakis hosted a delegation from Meta, including VicePresident for Safety Antigone Davis, at the Maximos Mansion todiscuss the protection of minors online. The dialoguecentered on Greece's proposal to establish a harmonized digital ageof consent within the European Union, a measure that would mandateparental approval for minors using digital platforms. The Meta executivesreiterated their company's strong support for this initiative The meetingacknowledged Greeces leadership in advancing the Europeanconversation on safeguarding children from harmful online content andthe dangers of digital addiction. The effectiveness ofGreeces "Kids Wallet" application, with its integratedparental control and age verification capabilities, was noted as asignificant contribution to this effort. The partiesdiscussed fostering greater cooperation between public authoritiesand social media corporations to build robust protective measures forunderage users, reflecting a continued push to enhance child safetystandards across Europe. iefimerida.gr George Tsounis was unequivocal when asked to talk about the person who will succeed him: Kimberly Guilfoyle will probably be the best US ambassador who has ever served in Greece. From the autumn, a new era will dawn for Greek-American relations. George Tsounis, in an exclusive interview with MEGA, spoke highly of the new American ambassador . Guilfoyle, who showed the first signs a few 24 hours ago during her hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. And sent messages to all sides about how she intends to serve in office. She believes deeply in the rule of law. And he proved it with what he said about the countrys defense and energy issues. He stepped forward. We protect and honor a consistent, stable and reliable strategic alliance with Greece, she told the Senate unequivocally. Lets see how outgoing Ambassador George Tsunis described his successor on MEGA She has many gifts, she has courage and she believes in the rule of law. And I think the 3.5 years she will be in Greece will be one of the best years in U.S.-Greece relations. Greeces relations with the US are good now, he predicted, but I think she can make them much better. The outspoken position in favor of Greece by future U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Ford to Congress sent a strong message to Ankara. George Tsounis, describing her character, likened her in terms of dynamism to a Bouboulina who will stand by Athens, as the axis of her thinking is international law and consistency, something she values highly. She understands the rule of law and she is a tremendous personality, I think she will be one of the best ambassadors America has sent to Greece. Greece is a consistent ally. What Ms. Guilfoyle and Congressman Rich said to Congress on Wednesday is that Turkey is not consistent all the time. It is worth recalling that Kimberly Guilfoyle emphasized that she would support the laying of the electrical interconnection cable between Greece, Cyprus and Israel, causing a sensation in Ankara. I will encourage Greeces progress in building electrical interconnections with its neighbors, including Cyprus, Israel and Egypt, which will contribute to regional energy diversification and security, was the quote from Kimberly Guilfoyles speech before the US Senate. Kimberly Guilfoyle will take up her duties in Athens in the autumn. @ta_nea.gr MEGA G. Tsounis MEGA Kimberly Guilfoyle ! #taneagr #viral #tik #tok #USA #tsounis #guilfoyle #politics #athens #greece #interview Lamidi Apapas faction of the Labour Party, has regretted adopting Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in 2023 general election. The factions Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, led this out during a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Friday, saying that LP committed huge blunder in the last election when it picked Obi, against Faduri Joseph, a US-licensed nurse and an entrepreneur of note across multiple industries. Arabambi described the former governor of Anambra State as a politician, whose political brand thrives on emotional rhetoric and oversimplified solutions. Advertisement He added that Faduris approach is deeply rooted in accountability, transparency, and the kind of disciplined governance that Nigeria desperately needs to tackle headlong its myriad challenges. Arabambi said: Perhaps the most damning indictment of Obis candidacy is his ethnic polarisation that shadowed his campaign. While Faduri stood as a truly national figure, with support cutting across regions, Obis movement, intentionally or not, became a vehicle for tribal sentiment. READ MORE: Election Deal With Atiku Will Make Peter Obi Lose His Blind Followers Tinubus Aide Warns His refusal to firmly denounce Kanus secessionist rhetoric, his selective outrage over insecurity, and his tendency to frame national issues through a partisan lens exposed a troubling parochialism beneath his unifier facade. Nigeria does not need a president who excuses extremism for political convenience. It needs a leader who will uphold the rule of law while addressing legitimate grievances, something Faduri embodied, and Obi failed to possess. The Labour Partys decision to sideline Faduri for Obi was a blunder with lasting consequences. Instead of a leader with depth, discipline, and a demonstrable blueprint for national renewal, Nigeria got a populist whose greatest skill is telling people what they want to hear. The 2027 election must not repeat this error. Nigeria needs leaders like Faduri Oluwadare Josephmen and women who understand that governance is not about slogans, but about substance, sacrifice, and systemic change. Chinese FM meets British counterpart on ties Xinhua) 13:49, July 12, 2025 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with British Foreign Secretary David Lammyn in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 11, 2025. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday met with British Foreign Secretary David Lammyn in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, saying that under the strategic guidance of the two sides' leaders, bilateral relations have been on the right track of improvement and development. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said both sides should regain the original intention of being strategic partners, grasp the general trend of mutually beneficial cooperation, adhere to mutual respect, properly handle differences, and respond to the expectations of all sectors of the two countries. Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of World War II, Wang said that, as co-creators of the post-war order and permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and Britain should also jointly fulfill their international obligations, safeguard the fruits of victory in World War II, maintain the free trade system, and make new contributions to world peace and development. Lammy said that the current improvement and development momentum of bilateral relations is positive, and exchanges at all levels are increasingly frequent, adding that the British side looks forward to further strengthening communication with the Chinese side, taking more substantive actions and promoting cooperation in various fields such as economy and trade. Britain adheres to the one-China policy and is committed to developing stable and mature relations with China, Lammy said. They also exchanged views on international and regional hot issues such as the Iranian nuclear issue and the Ukraine crisis. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with British Foreign Secretary David Lammyn in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 11, 2025. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Kou Jie) KIEV, July 12 (Xinhua) -- A barrage of drones and missiles launched by Russian forces overnight on Friday targeted cities in Ukraine's western regions, killing at least two people and injuring 20 others, local authorities reported. In the city of Chernivtsi, a 26-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were killed by "falling debris from enemy targets," regional governor Ruslan Zaparanyuk said on Telegram. Fourteen others were injured, with four in critical condition and fighting for their lives in local hospitals. The attack on Chernivtsi damaged residential and administrative buildings, shops and vehicles. In the city of Lviv, six people, including an 11-year-old child, were injured, and two industrial facilities were damaged, the Regional Military Administration reported. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi wrote on Telegram that over 20 commercial structures, 46 residential buildings, three university buildings, and city courts were also damaged. In the neighboring Volyn region, 35 drones and two missiles targeted the city of Lutsk, said Governor Ivan Rudnytskyi on Telegram, adding that intercepted air targets damaged a house and several vehicles, with no casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia had launched 26 cruise missiles and 597 drones at Ukraine overnight. About 20 missiles and the vast majority of drones were intercepted. Former senior special assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu, has dismissed claims that cabals hijacked the immediate past administration. Shehu disclosed that the claims of a cabal hijacking Buharis administration were sheer nonsense. Speaking on Friday, during an interview with Channels Television, Mr. Shehu said that the former president had a mind of his own, adding that nobody could order him around. Advertisement He said: This thing about cabal is sheer nonsense. Buhari is a military general, even when he converted to a democrat. READ MORE: Tinubu Is Cleaning Messes Made By Buharis Govt Reno Omokri He was used to giving orders and not taking them from anybody. I have not known one person who will give you 100 percent assurance that when I tell Buhari A, B, C is black, he will say A, B, C is black. He had his own mind. You can have anybody around you, people will come and advise you, but the buck stops on his table. I tell you that nobody can guarantee it. Buhari was not meddlesome, he never pretended like he owned Nigeria. He wasnt a dictator. Primate Elijah Ayodele has issued a strong warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him not to support the wrong candidate as the next National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The caution comes following the resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje, who stepped down citing ill health, though political observers believe his exit may be part of a broader strategic move ahead of the 2027 elections. In a statement released by his media aide on Saturday, Oluwatosin Osho, the popular cleric warned that backing the wrong person could lead to a betrayal within the APCs leadership ranks. Advertisement You should also avoid picking the wrong person as the APC national chairman so that the party wont be sold out, Ayodele warned. He advised the president not to select a party leader based on loyalty or eye service, saying the official date set for the APC convention might affect the partys future. Dont pick a party chairman based on eye service. There are names of people that shouldnt be your party chairman. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/apapa-led-lp-faction-expresses-regret-granting-peter-obi-as-presidential-candidate-in-2023.html The official date for the convention will affect the partys stand; it should be changed, he stated. Beyond internal politics, Primate Ayodele also raised concerns about possible threats to national security. The military should start working on bombings because thats another strategy to destabilize this government, he cautioned. He also urged Tinubu to be wary of political moles within his administration and to protect sensitive documents and transportation, including the presidential jet. Keep most of your strategies to yourself because there are coalition moles in the APC, he added. The prophet further advised Tinubu not to trust governors decamping into the APC, alleging that some harbor ill intentions toward his presidency. Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has expressed his readiness for dialogue with angry students who are protesting over recent renaming of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, to Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic. Speaking during an official inauguration of the Governing Boards for five state-owned tertiary institutions at the Executive Chamber of the Governors Office on Friday, Makinde acknowledged the emotional attachment many have to the original name. He emphasized that policy decisions should be driven by merit, not sentiment. Advertisement Recall that Governor Makinde announced the name change in June to honour former governor of the state, Omololu Olunloyo. The Governor said: I know that this Inauguration would not be complete if I refuse to say one thing or the other about the issue regarding the renaming of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, after a former governor of the Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo. Well, the Baba, according to the record available to us, was the first Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan. So, what it means is that they must have handed over to him, maybe some buildings and a clean sheet of paper that made this happen. So, he must have done his part. I have heard the alumni and the current student union body. READ MORE: Olunloyo Poly: Angry Students Storm Streets, Protest Renaming Of Polytechnic Ibadan We are ready to engage with the people, if you have any superior arguments apart from sentiment. And, if you are coming to us to even talk about the infrastructure and the quality of graduates coming from that institution and making a case for us to put in more resources and all of that, I can understand. But still, we are ready to engage, and my appeal to the students is, when you protest openly and you disturb others from going about their lawful activities, you need to realise that where your freedom stops is where the freedom of others starts. Desmond Elliot, the lawmaker representing Surulere 1 Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, has urged Nigerians to participate actively in elections, stressing that people should not expect government assistance if they fail to vote. Elliot gave this charge on Saturday, July 12, after casting his vote at Onitolo Nursery/Primary School, Unit 009, Surulere, during the ongoing local government elections in Lagos State. You cant sit at home and later come to seek help from people who sacrificed to vote others into power, the actor-turned-politician stated, urging citizens to understand the direct impact of their votes at the grassroots level. The election, which spans across the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas, saw a modest turnout in the early hours. Elliot expressed concern over the low participation but remained optimistic that more voters would arrive as the day progressed. According to him, local government polls should attract more voter interest than national elections. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/nigeria-needs-new-constitution-not-amendment-ozekhome.html Development begins at the grassroots level. With powers and revenue now devolved to local governments, this election holds significant importance, he said. He stressed that the outcome of the LG polls would shape community development, particularly in primary healthcare, local markets, and internal road maintenance. The outcome of this election will have a direct impact on the lives of citizens, making it crucial for voters to exercise their franchise wisely and elect leaders who will prioritise their needs, Elliot added. He called for more public awareness around the responsibilities of local government councils, highlighting their role as the first point of contact between the people and governance. An Ogun State High Court has convicted three boys involved in the gruesome ritual killing of 16-year-old Sofia Okeowo in the Kugba area of Abeokuta South. The convicts, Mustakeem Balogun, Soliudeen Majekodunmi, and Lukmon Abdulgafar, were found guilty of murder and ritual practices. Sofia was lured by her boyfriend, Mustakeem, on January 28, 2022, and during the visit, she was sexually assaulted and strangled by Mustakeem and Soliudeen. Advertisement The duo beheaded her and cut off parts of her body, stuffing her corpse in a sack. They later took the severed head to Lukmons residence where it was burnt in a local burner. The incident sparked national outrage when a viral video emerged showing the suspects caught by community guards, reciting incantations as they burned Sofias head. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/buharis-govt-launched-manhunt-against-my-officials-in-2015-jonathan.html On Friday, the court sentenced Mustakeem and Soliudeen to death, while Lukmon was handed life imprisonment. Reacting to the verdict, the Ogun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, praised the outcome. Ogun State has won this case, and the convicts have been conclusively excluded from civilised society for the considerable future, he said. We are grateful for the closure this has brought to Sofias family. I am incredibly proud of our prosecutors who pursued this case despite its emotional weight, he added. Ogungbade also used the opportunity to caution the youth against engaging in ritual killings. I advise young people to chase skills and employment. The culture of money rituals must end. He further encouraged Nigerians to return to traditional values of hard work and respect for life. No fewer than 20 suspects who allegedly participated in the killing of 13 wedding guests in Mangun, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, have been remanded in custodial centre. They were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, causing grievous bodily harm, and culpable homicide. The prosecution team led by Samuel Ikutanwa, on Friday, said that the defendants armed themselves with dangerous weapons, including firearms, cutlasses, machetes, and petrol to attack and kill the travellers. Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had reported that a group of 32 family members and friends, on the 20th of June, 2025, departed Ungwan Dantsoho in Kaduna State for Quaan Pan in Plateau State to attend a wedding event. It was learnt that their 18-seater bus, loaded with kolanuts and wedding gifts, veered off course and stopped in Mangun. Despite informing the suspects, who thought they were terrorists, that they were en route to a wedding in Jos, the travellers were attacked by hoodlums who set their vehicle ablaze, killing 13 of the guests. READ MORE: Angry Mob Kills 12 Wedding-Bound Travellers In Plateau However, all the 20 defendants, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their counsel, Garuba Pwul, SAN, filed a motion for bail, but it was not heard as Ikutanwa said he had just been served with the application. The presiding judge, Justice Boniface Ingyou, adjourned the case to October 13, 2025, for a case management hearing and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Jos custodial centre. Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the National Assembly, has formally resigned from the Labour Party (LP) and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Her defection, confirmed on Saturday, signals a significant political shift ahead of the 2027 general elections, as opposition figures begin to reposition to challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Explaining her decision, Kingibe said it was driven by the need to move beyond emotional politics and embrace a more strategic approach to governance. Advertisement According to her, the evolving political landscape demands unity, clear focus, and purposeful action. Let us just go and work and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people, she stated, emphasising that the time for internal squabbles is over and what Nigerians need now is effective leadership. Responding to concerns about internal dissatisfaction within the new coalition, the senator assured that the major issues had already been addressed. Almost all the issues raised by the members have been resolved, as we just came out of a meeting to address these major issues. I am satisfied by the leadership of the coalition as it is evolving steadily, she said. On whether her defection could cost her Senate seat, Kingibe cited constitutional backing. Read the constitution. There are two factions cleared of Labour Party the perfect conditions for somebody to decamp without penalty, she explained. INEC got two sets of results and candidates, even though they did not accept any. If Labour Party didnt have two different factions, I would not presume to decamp. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja following a two-week diplomatic visit to Saint Lucia and Brazil. His return on Saturday, July 12, marks the end of a significant international engagement aimed at strengthening Nigerias global partnerships. The Presidents Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed his return in an official statement. President Tinubu returns to Abuja today after successful engagements in Saint Lucia and Brazil, he said. Advertisement Tinubu had departed Nigeria on June 28 for a state visit to Saint Lucia, where he participated in events commemorating the island nations independence and met with leaders across the Caribbean. The visit was part of a broader effort to boost South-South cooperation and deepen ties with nations in the Caribbean. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/apapa-led-lp-faction-expresses-regret-granting-peter-obi-as-presidential-candidate-in-2023.html From Saint Lucia, President Tinubu travelled to Brazil, where he took part in the 2025 BRICS Summit held between July 6 and 7. At the summit, he joined global leaders in discussing strategies for economic collaboration, development, and political cooperation among emerging economies. His absence had stirred speculation from critics and members of the opposition, particularly concerning his prolonged stay abroad. In response to growing concerns, a member of the Presidents media team stated, The Presidents travel was in line with Nigerias foreign policy objectives and not a vacation. Philadelphia Fire Department working to extinguish the fire at the Art Alliance building that began around 3 a.m. on Friday, July 4. Read more Just over a week ago, the Curtis Institute of Music was finishing a clean-out of the Philadelphia Art Alliance, making plans to conserve the historic buildings interior murals and other architectural details, and envisioning how it would utilize the newly acquired piece of prime real estate on Rittenhouse Square. Now the front entrance is boarded up and a charred smell hovers around the fire- and water-damaged building. Advertisement How the July 4 blaze that brought out more than 120 firefighters began is unknown. The Philadelphia Fire Marshals Office has ended its investigation, a fire department spokesperson said. No evidence of foul play was found, but the office did not discover what caused the fire, ruling it undetermined. The music conservatory does not yet have a report from its insurance company on the full extent of the damage, though Curtis president and CEO Roberto Diaz said Thursday that portions of the building sustained different levels of water and fire damage. The main roof partially collapsed and the interior stairs were damaged in the fire, according to a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections who said that Curtis was working with contractors to make the property safe. No architect, remediation firm, or construction company has been engaged to oversee stabilization efforts, Diaz said. Coordination was being handled by the schools chief financial officer, Chris Dwyer, who has been in his job just two weeks. Curtis spokesperson Patricia Johnson declined to make Dwyer available. Some structural engineers were there, Diaz said, and they said obviously theres damage in the building that needs to be addressed, shoring up a few little things that need to happen before we can do temporary work. Johnson said that structural reinforcement was expected to begin Saturday, including temporary shoring with trusses for safety reasons and to help prevent any further damage. The shoring includes the second-floor front wall, but Johnson said she was unsure whether it included other areas as well. Views into the third-floor windows of the building reveal that major portions of the roof have been destroyed. Curtis plans to install scaffolding outside the building pending city approval that will support a tarp-like system to protect the entire building, including a temporary roof, Johnson said. Diaz said he had no information about how the fire started. He reiterated that the school which covered the buildings $7.6 million price tag in January in part with proceeds from a $255 million fundraising campaign still plans to restore and occupy the Art Alliance building, for the benefit of both Curtis students and the community. Its an incredible tragedy and shame what happened to it, he said, but we will do right by it, I am sure. Scott DiClaudio was elected to the Court of Common Pleas in 2015 and in recent years, he has presided over many high-profile exonerations and wrongful conviction cases. Read more A Philadelphia judge has been placed on administrative leave after a colleague accused him of attempting to influence his decision in a criminal case, sources in the criminal justice system said. Common Pleas Court Judge Scott DiClaudio was removed from the bench last month after a fellow judge said DiClaudio approached him about a case and intimated that he should give the defendant a favorable sentence, said four sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Advertisement The Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board is investigating, according to the sources. DiClaudio, through his attorney Michael van der Veen, vehemently denied that he attempted to influence a case. Judge DiClaudio is a well-respected jurist and has not done anything wrong, van der Veen said in an email Saturday. He decried what he described as incorrect and inaccurate rumors related to influencing criminal case outcomes. Courts spokesperson Marty ORourke confirmed that DiClaudio was placed on leave June 25 but declined to comment further. Melissa L. Norton, chief counsel for the judicial conduct board, said she could not confirm or deny any investigation of a complaint filed against a judge. The boards work is confidential, she said, and the findings of its investigations are not made public except in cases in which the board decides to bring formal charges. Van der Veen said there was no formal complaint before the Judicial Conduct Board related to the allegations, and moreover, he said, if there were, it would be confidential and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on at this time. It was unclear why DiClaudio might have sought to influence a fellow judges decision. The case he spoke to his colleague about, the sources said, involved a defendant who is a friend of Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill. DiClaudio, too, is friendly with Mill, and has discussed criminal justice reform work with him, sources said. The judge has also posed for photos with the rapper, including once inside a city courtroom, and two of the sources said DiClaudio appeared on stage with Mill during his performance at the Roots Picnic on June 1. Not long after, Common Pleas Court Judge Zachary Shaffer told his supervisors that he and his court staff stopped by DiClaudios courtroom and DiClaudio asked to speak with him privately, the sources said. Shaffer said DiClaudio then showed him a piece of paper with a case number and the name of a defendant on it, according to the sources. Shaffer was presiding over the case and was scheduled to sentence the defendant in the coming weeks. DiClaudio then ripped up the paper and told Shaffer he believed the judge would do the right thing in the case, Shaffer said, according to the sources. Shaffer told his supervisors he believed DiClaudio was trying to influence his decision in favor of the defendant, the sources said. Shaffer immediately recused himself from the case and reported the conversation to his managers, who filed a complaint with the judicial conduct board, the sources said. Officials with the First Judicial District declined to make Shaffer or his supervisors available for an interview. The case in question, according to the sources, involved Dwayne Jones, a fitness trainer who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of illegal gun possession last month in connection with a fatal shooting and was scheduled to be sentenced by Shaffer on June 16. Jones, 46, was arrested in October 2024 after police said he shot and killed a 33-year-old man who tried to rob him in Old City, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest. Prosecutors later determined that he had acted in self-defense and that the killing was justified. But because Jones had a felony conviction and spent more than a decade in prison for crimes including attempted murder in 2002 he was prohibited from owning a gun, and was charged with illegal gun possession. Because of his earlier convictions, sentencing guidelines called for up to more than 10 years in prison. After Shaffer recused himself, the case was transferred to Common Pleas Court Judge J. Scott OKeefe, who sentenced Jones to 11 to 23 months of house arrest, plus three years probation, court records show. Jones, in an interview, said he did not believe he had ever met DiClaudio and had no idea why the judge might have asked a colleague about his case. He said he and his lawyer, James Funt, were surprised when his case was removed from Shaffers docket and assigned to another judge. My case got moved to another courtroom. I never knew the reason why, he said. My lawyers were baffled. DiClaudio was elected to the bench in November 2015 and was sworn in in January 2016. The judge, who mostly hears cases filed by people seeking to have their murder convictions overturned, has presided over many high-profile exonerations and wrongful-conviction cases in recent years and approved the release or resentencing of dozens of people who had previously been serving life in prison. He has also drawn headlines for publicly scolding prosecutors in District Attorney Larry Krasners office, whom he criticized as inexperienced and unprepared to handle complicated cases involving serious crimes. DiClaudio has found himself before the judicial conduct board in the past. In 2020, he was suspended for two weeks and placed on probation through 2026 after the board ruled that he violated the code of conduct for judges when he failed to report debts on annual financial disclosure forms and repeatedly defied a judges orders to pay thousands of dollars in overdue bills to a Bala Cynwyd fitness club. Earlier this year, the board filed charges against DiClaudio again, accusing him of using his position as a judge to promote his wifes cheesesteak shop. The board said he had eroded public trust in the judiciary and abused the prestige of the office for personal gain. DiClaudio has denied the allegations and the case is pending before the Court of Judicial Discipline. Some attorneys with cases before DiClaudio have praised his legal acumen and mastery of complicated evidence in decades-old cases, and said he works efficiently to resolve post-conviction appeals cases that can take years to wind through the courts. In the email, Van der Veen praised DiClaudios record on the bench, saying that he has presided over thousands of cases and that lawyers appearing before him universally hold him in high regard as a fair and impartial Judge sitting in our Court of Common Pleas. DiClaudio, he said, has not done anything wrong in Cheesesteak Gate or in any other matter. Staff writer Chris Palmer contributed to this article. LOS ANGELES, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Parts of Grand Canyon National Park, a popular natural wonder in the U.S. west, were closed due to a fast-moving wildfire that reached about 8,700 acres (35.2 square kilometers) as of Friday afternoon, authorities said. All visitors on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, northwestern Arizona, were required to evacuate due to the advancing wildfire, dubbed the White Sage Fire, said park officials in a statement. "All visitor access to the North Rim is closed until further notice," park officials said. They issued an extreme heat warning, as temperatures are expected to reach as high as 46 degrees Celsius. The fire started Wednesday evening following a thunderstorm that moved through the area, according to InciWeb, an interagency all-risk incident web information management system provided by the United States Forest Service. The fire made a significant run on Thursday, spotting and torching due to sustained winds, extremely dry conditions and low relative humidity, according to the agency's latest update. Officials said the blaze remains zero contained so far. A security guard who was working at 7 Elements lounge during a shootout July 5 has surrendered to police and was charged with attempted murder . Read more One of three suspects sought in the gun battle that wounded eight people outside a South Philadelphia late-night lounge last weekend has turned himself in and has been charged with attempted murder, police said Friday. Michael Welton, 43, of Philadelphia, was working as a security guard at 7 Elements, located at the Dung Phat Plaza shopping center at 11th Street and Washington Avenue, shortly before 4 a.m. July 5 when a shootout erupted after a knife fight spilled out onto the second-floor balcony, police said. Advertisement A gunman opened fire on the crowd, and Welton and a second man fired back at the first shooter, who fled in a white Mercedes, police said. A bullet struck a 25-year-old woman in the car, who was dropped off at a hospital. All the victims were reported in stable condition after the shooting. Welton was also charged with aggravated assault, possessing an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person. Police provided no other information about Welton or the search for the other two suspects. Center-City-based Independence Health Group Inc., the building with the blue logo, is the largest health insurer in the Philadelphia region. Read more Independence Blue Cross offered buyouts this week to employees as part of an effort to streamline its operations, the Philadelphia health insurer said Friday. Independence declined to say how many people received the offer for employees who started before Dec. 31, 2020. The affected businesses, which operate under Independence Blue Cross LLC, employ 4,134 people. Advertisement The company said the buyouts were part of its ongoing transformation. We are building a resilient, forward-looking organization that continues to meet and exceed the evolving needs and expectations of our members, customers, provider partners, and communities, the company said. Independence did not say whether it had a goal for the number of people who take the buyout offer or if it would have layoffs if it didnt reach the goal. Last fall, Independence laid off about 3% of staff, or 130 people, at Independence Blue Cross. IBXs parent company, Independence Health Group, employed more than 14,000 at the end of May. Many of them work for AmeriHealth Caritas, a Medicaid insurer that is majority owned by Independence, and were not included in this weeks buyout offer. The buyout offers at IBX come as the health insurance industry nationwide is contending with significant increases in medical and pharmaceutical costs. Publicly traded insurance giants UnitedHealthGroup and Centene have withdrawn their earnings outlooks for the year. As a private company, Independence releases consolidated financial information just once a year. In April, Independence reported its first annual loss since 2015. Officials attributed the $239 million loss in 2024 to large increases in medical and pharmaceutical costs, particularly for customers in Independences government-funded Medicare and Medicaid plans. Raystown Lake, in Huntingdon County, is Pennsylvania's largest lake. It has 300 campsites remain closed while others elsewhere have recently reopened. Read more The Army Corps of Engineers officially reopened a campground in rural Tioga County that was shuttered by executive-order driven staffing shortages, and hundreds more on Pennsylvanias largest lake are in the process of reopening, too. Its unclear, however, whether that will happen before summer ends for Raystown Lakes 300 campsites. Advertisement It would be speculation, because we have not been provided with a timeline, said Cynthia Mitchell, a spokeswoman for the Army Corps Baltimore office. Tompkins Campground, on Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes, officially reopened its 125 campsites to outdoor enthusiasts on June 30, according to an Army Corps news release, and they will remain open until Oct. 14, extending the normal recreation season there by nearly six weeks. At Raystown Lake, in Huntingdon County, 300 campsites at Seven Points, Susquehannock, and Nancys Boat-to-Shore Campgrounds remain closed for now. We have seen some progress, but it hasnt trickled down to Raystown yet, Mitchell said. In March, the Army Corps Baltimore office announced that campsites on the 8,600-acre lake would be closed indefinitely due to staffing shortages. Those staffing shortages would require the Army Corps to focus on dam operations for flood protection and emergency response readiness ahead of the 2025 season. Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency targeted cutbacks at a slew of government agencies, including the Army Corps. Musk announced he was leaving DOGE in late May. Mitchell said the Army Corps was recently granted a categorical exemption for seasonal hires at recreation sites. That didnt necessarily allow us to immediately begin hiring, unfortunately, she said. At Raystown, Mitchell said the Army Corps already knows who it would like to hire including seasonal rangers and custodial staff but the agency needs to wait for final approval from the Department of the Army. What we were not provided, unfortunately, is what that timeline looks like, Mitchell said. Mitchell said it could be possible to extend the campground season at Raystown, similar to what the Army Corps did on Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes. When The Inquirer visited Raystown Lake on Memorial Day weekend, local businesses that depend on a steady stream of campers said they were already suffering. Is this hurting our business? Yeah, its hurting our business, Kris Paterson, manager of Backwoods Smoke Shack, said at the time. It could destroy us this summer. We get a lot of campers here, all summer. Mitchell said several elected officials in Pennsylvania have been in communication with the Army Corps. None of those officials immediately returned requests for comment Thursday. Volunteers paint cardboard butterflies at an art-building event organized by the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition on Saturday at Spiral Q, an arts organization in West Philadelphia. Read more When artist and lifelong activist Susan Jekarl moved back to Philadelphia last month, she was surprised at the faces she was seeing at anti-ICE protests. I just feel like being born and raised in Philly, we as a people are always standing up and speaking up for others, she said. But, this time around Im meeting so many people that tell me they have never protested before. Recent protests of the White House and its immigration policies have brought millions of Americans out into the streets some for their first time in defiance and it takes dozens of organizations and thousands of volunteers to make that possible, Jekarl said. Advertisement On Saturday, artists from across the city gathered in West Philadelphia at arts nonprofit Spiral Q to produce dozens of artworks protesting the actions of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the current White Houses immigration policies. They soon will be in the hands of protesters during upcoming marches and displayed at government buildings associated with immigration enforcement. Philadelphia is a welcoming city, which means the local government and police force do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. And while deportations of undocumented immigrants are generally supported by two-thirds of Americans, a Gallup survey published Friday found concerns over immigration are decreasing, with a record-high 79% of Americans considering immigration being good for the country. Jasmine Rivera, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition who organized Saturdays event, said that Philadelphia with 15% of its population not born in the U.S. is better off because of its diverse residents. We see that acutely in Philadelphia, where we see how our city has been, in certain neighborhoods, revived by immigration. The 9th Street Corridor, Castor Avenue, Chinatown, Rivera said. We see that not only translate on the economic revival, but we also see that translate into the cultural vibrancy. The focal point of the days workshop was painting cardboard cutouts of the monarch butterfly, a generational symbol of immigration for decades, especially in the U.S. and Mexico, where the monarch butterfly makes its annual migration from Mexico to Canada. Governor Shapiro, protect public benefit program data from ICE read a 6-foot-long banner, painted in black font. Another read, Never lease a state facility to ICE, both in reference to ICEs attempts to secure access to state data on citizens and immigrants and planned expansion of detention facilities across the U.S. Rivera said these messages are only going to become more important as immigration enforcement efforts ramp up after ICE was awarded an unprecendented amount of funding through President Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill. Gov. Josh Shapiro has criticized Trump throughout his second term, such as when he joined all the nations Democratic governors in condemning the presidents use of National Guard troops in California to police and quell protesters during last months No Kings marches. But, Shapiros staff has asserted Pennsylvania is not a sanctuary state and that state agencies do cooperate with ICE. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has upheld the citys decade-old sanctuary city policies, however, Tammy Murphy of Make the Road Pennsylvania feels the mayor and the governor are distancing themselves from the topic. What were doing here also ties to Mayor Parker and Gov. Shapiro who have both been silent on this issue of immigration and deportation, Murphy said. They both have it in their power to do a lot of things, but one of the main things that theyre not doing, is to just speak on it. Catherine Lowther, 30, of East Kensington, ex-wife to Tyler Jones, poses for a portrait at Norris Square Park in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Lowther was contacted by a detective in March of 2024 where she found out her ex husband was taking sensitive personal images of her and posting them online without her consent or knowledge. My takeaway is that I hope that the justice system takes cases like this and others seriously, Lowther said. Take women stories seriously and that justice is served. Read more Catherine Lowther, 30, would wake up in various states of undress, but she never questioned it, thinking she was safe with her partner beside her. Now she believes she was drugged and placed in compromising positions by Tyler Jones, her partner of five years. He would photograph her as she lay unconscious, she said, and post naked photos of her online, along with images he obtained from a hidden camera. Advertisement She only learned that her images had been posted on websites like 4chan, an online message board known for racist and explicit content, when the Philadelphia Police Departments Special Victims Unit contacted her last year. Lowther said police presented her with the naked images of herself and several other women she did not know, all of whose photos or videos were surreptitiously stolen from personal electronics. Based on the photos, Lowther believes Jones was posting her images throughout most of their relationship, which ended in late 2020. He was doing this year one in our relationship, Lowther said of her ex-husband and the father of her child. Lowther was not sure she would receive justice for what happened to her, and in some ways, she remains uncertain. This week, the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office charged Jones with dozens of offenses in connection with five alleged victims whose nude images were stolen and posted online with identifying information. The charges include unlawful use of a computer, unlawful duplication, invasion of privacy, and unlawful dissemination. He has been ordered to have no contact with the alleged victims. This is another example of cruel and despicable behavior by a repeat offender who continues to weaponize modern technology to expose victims online, said Attorney General Dave Sunday. Jones, of Philadelphia, remained in Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility as of Friday and court records did not list an attorney for him. His mother declined a request for comment. The Inquirer spoke to four of Jones alleged victims who reside in Philadelphia and whose cases led to charges. The Inquirer also spoke to a fifth woman who lives in New Jersey and filed a civil lawsuit against Jones last year. His other accusers largely credit the digital forensic digging the New Jersey woman did as the catalyst that brought their own cases to police attention. Three of the women knew Jones through friends or a spouse. All experienced what has become a growing problem in the United States, which experts call nonconsensual pornography or image-based sexual abuse. Understanding the scope of the issue is complicated because any data collection, which is limited to begin with, requires victims to know their images have been posted online. Once people become aware that their nude images are being shared without their consent, striking the photos can become a Herculean effort. The emotional and psychological toll can be significant, according to Asia Eaton, a psychology professor at Florida International University and head of research for the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, which looks to understand and end image-based sexual abuse. Intimate image abuse affects victims in ways that holistically change their functioning and identities, Eaton said. They experience existential threat, social rupture, constrained liberty, and they have trouble navigating the world, because the threat of these images may still be, is still out there. A dumb boy makes international headlines In 2013, Jones was accused of hiding his iPhone in a bathroom in Switzerland to film two women and a 17-year-old girl undressing. He then posted the images on pornographic sites without their consent. The incidents occurred in 2011 and 2012, according to Radnor Township police. Ultimately, Jones pleaded guilty to invasion of privacy and criminal use of a communication device. Lowther said her mother found clips of the arrest a few months into her relationship with Jones. When she confronted him about it, Lowther said, he cried, telling her he was a dumb boy in high school when it happened. Looking back on it now, it was a way to avoid the conversation and make me comfort him, Lowther said. Tsai Islam, 30, said Jones took a different approach when they began dating, sometime after he had split from Lowther. He was up-front about the conviction, talking about how he had learned from it. He was a father, he told Islam. I now understand that he did that to make me trust him, Islam said, holding back tears after learning of his arrest this week. Just before they were set to move in together in 2024, Islams closest friend confided that someone had been sharing nude images of her on websites like 4chan. One womans quest for justice Islam grew up believing people should not be judged based on their worst actions because they are capable of growth. I realize now that not telling people made it so that I put him in the path of people who he could victimize, Islam said. Islam introduced their friend J.G., who asked to be referred to by her initials to avoid harassment, to Jones during their romantic relationship. J.G. at one point invited the couple over for a get-together, where she said Jones borrowed her phone. According to a lawsuit J.G. filed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey in August, Jones found J.G.s nude images on her phone and sent them to himself, posting them on forums like Discord, Telegram, and 4chan for about two years before she learned of their existence in December 2023. Thats when another friend told J.G. an unknown Instagram account had offered to share naked images of her. J.G. went on to discover hundreds of posts with her full name and other identifying information, which made it possible for strangers to harass her online. A photo of a hand holding her phone in her apartment helped J.G. narrow her list of suspects. Subpoenas to tech companies and digital forensics did the rest. J.G. hired attorneys who would discover a five-month blitz of near-nightly posts of her on 4chan. Working with 4chan and Meta, J.G.s attorneys said, they obtained IP addresses connected to Jones and posts of nude photographs of at least seven other individuals, including Islam. The posts could be traced as far back as 2013, according to the suit. J.G. passed the information she had gathered to Philadelphia police. I did it, she whispered into the phone, growing emotional when she learned Jones had been charged. Word reaches victims J.C., 31, was Lowthers childhood best friend. J.C., who asked to go by initials to preserve her privacy, has memories of the trio watching fireworks on Lowthers roof and cooking together. She babysat the couples child. That dynamic changed abruptly as J.C. shared her excitement over a match she had made on dating apps. Jones, she said, held onto her phone longer than was needed to look at the match. She got a Snapchat notification informing her Jones had taken a screenshot of something she had sent him but she hadnt sent him anything. He had sent himself, via Snapchat, nudes that I had on my phone, she said. I freaked out, Catherine freaked out. Catherine then made him delete I thought made him delete the pictures. A year ago, J.C. and other alleged victims in Philadelphia learned their images had been posted online. One of those women, 40, said Jones stole nude images of her from her husbands phone while they worked together at a renovation company. He seemed trustworthy at the time, presenting himself as an animal lover, vegan, and passionate about social justice issues. He would cat-sit for the couple and had the keys to their house. The veneer of a nice guy is so clear to me now, the woman said. Islam said they sat in an SVU room where police laid out secretly snapped photos and videos of sexual encounters theyd had with Jones. Despite the deep sense of personal betrayal Islam felt, the sense of guilt for introducing J.G. to Jones drove them to contemplate self-harm. Jones other accusers describe varying levels of impact on their day-to-day lives. Lowther started getting nightmares. J.G. cant get out of bed some days and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. All describe being less trusting of strangers. For a while, they thought nothing would come of the police investigation. The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office referred the Jones case to the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office early this year. Both offices declined to offer specifics as to what prompted the referral. Image-based sexual abuse: A growing problem A study by the Center for Innovative Public Health Research from 2016 found that one in 25 Americans had their images shared without their consent or were threatened with the release of these images. A 2021 analysis by the National Association of Attorneys General cited strides in combating the practice, including striking websites such as U Got Posted and tech companies creating channels to remove such content. This year, President Donald Trump signed the Take it Down Act, a law that requires websites to take down nonconsensual pornography within 48 hours of the content being reported. The legislation received bipartisan support, and was also backed by Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. Still, its unclear how effective the law will be in practice, given the nature of how these images spread. It may have been downloaded a million other times, uploaded to other websites, and then the takedown process were finding is traumatic for victims and costly, said Eaton, the professor. Islam said they have discovered this content is easy to find on websites like 4chan that have lax moderation policies on explicit content. According to J.G.s lawsuit, people who had previously saved her photos continue to upload them, and in at least 10 instances, people have reached out, trying to strike up a lewd conversation with her. Islam and others hope their experiences can help spark a conversation about what more needs to be done to fight nonconsensual pornography. We have to find a way to help legislators understand the severity of these crimes, the prevalence of these crimes, and find ways to catch predators faster, Islam said. A Gloucester County photographer fears she will never be able to scrub the internet of her naked body, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court, after a Philadelphia man allegedly posted stolen intimate photos of her online on more than 100 occasions without her consent. J.G., who filed the suit Friday in U.S. District Court in New Jersey under her initials out of privacy concerns, claims she is one of at least eight women Tyler John Jones has victimized since 2013 by stealing their intimate nude photos from their phones and posting them on platforms such as Discord, Telegram and 4Chan an online message board known for racist and explicit content. Advertisement Jones, who pleaded guilty in 2013 to invasion of privacy and dissemination of child pornography after uploading videos he taped of two women and a 17-year-old girl undressing, is also accused in the lawsuit of posting screenshots of those videos after becoming a sex offender. No criminal charges appear to have been filed against Jones related to the lawsuits claims. Messages to Glassboro police regarding an investigation were not returned Tuesday. READ MORE: Ex-Villanova student charged in posting online videos of women undressing I still can remember the physical reaction my body had when I first learned this was happening, J.G. told The Inquirer. I feel like I lost a whole part of my identity where Im scared to tell people my name and what I do. I had this genuine fear I was going to be shamed or hurt. Since learning of the stolen images, J.G. has changed her appearance. Her hope in filing the lawsuit is to warn people about what happened and let other victims know they are not alone. No lawyer was listed for Jones and messages to him and his last known place of work were not returned. Jones posted the images more than two years before J.G. found out about them in December 2023, according to court filings, including a five-month blitz of near-nightly posts on 4Chan. The images were accompanied by J.Gs name, place of work, and even hobbies, which made it possible for third parties to harass her as multiple people proceeded to do. Whats more, attorneys say, Jones contacted the victims friends, offering to share her nude photographs with them. J.G. learned of the images when a friend alerted her to an Instagram account that had offered to share the images with J.G.s friend and would go on to send eight photographs of J.G. The same account was sending a slew of messages to another friend. Do you know [J.G.]? read the message, according to the suit. Would you be interested in pictures of her? When the friend didnt respond, the account messaged multiple more times, going so far as to offer a preview. J.G., according to the suit, had not sent some of the images to anyone, so she worried that someone had accessed her phone or online storage. She would search the internet for the images and found dozens of hits. Thats when J.G. hired an attorney. Various clues, including a photo of Jones hand holding J.G.s phone in her apartment with a nude of her on the screen, led her to figure out who in her inner circle was responsible. A borrowed phone J.G. met Jones in April 2022, through a friend who was dating Jones at the time. During that friendship, Jones was able to borrow J.G.s phone by claiming his had died. He then found her personal nude photographs, said the suit, and sent them to himself without her knowledge or permission. Working with 4Chan and Meta, J.G. and her attorneys were able to obtain IP addresses that led them to Jones, according to the suit. Those IP addresses were then linked to posts of nude photographs of at least seven other women close to Jones, the lawsuit said. According to the suit, subpoenaed information from tech companies shows the Instagram account spreading J.G.s nudes is linked to an Ask a 24-year-old sex offender anything post from 2016. In the post, Jones allegedly touts his felony and misdemeanor charges, explaining how his case made national and international news. Jones then posted screenshots of the videos that got him in legal trouble and discussed how little the sex offender designation had impacted his life. Worked retail for the last year, and am going to be working at a property management company starting soon, the suit claims Jones wrote. Honestly being attractive now has made a huge difference I think. People dont ask questions, and Im really good at talking to people now. An onslaught of harassment Scrubbing the images from the internet has been arduous for J.G.. New Jersey State Police confiscated Jones devices in March, the lawsuit said, but people who had previously saved her photos continue to upload them. There have been at least 10 instances in which people have reached out to J.G. online and by phone, trying to strike up a lewd conversation with her. In March, a man texted J.G., asking her to call him because it was moderately urgent, according to the lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, the number indicated the caller was a man who pleaded guilty in 2015 to child welfare endangerment and reckless endangerment for locking his ex-girlfriends children in their bedrooms without food or water for days at a time. The ordeal has left J.G. in a state of vigilance, afraid to go out and be photographed, out of fear someone will recognize her from her images online, her lawyers wrote. The suit claims Jones actions destroyed her sense of safety and privacy. She has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the suit, Jones claimed in posts to have at least 40 images of J.G. J.G.s attorneys, Cali Madia and Daniel Szalkiewicz, said the goal of the federal lawsuit is to show the jury the trauma their client has experienced, and to deter others from taking similar actions. Its important for our client to take back what was taken away from her, said Szalkiewicz. J.G. seeks damages of at least $150,000 for every photo shared, for pain and suffering, as well as punitive damages, attorneys fees, and injunctive relief that would prevent Jones from continuing to distribute the images. Vote signs on partitions for provision ballots at the election polling place inside St. Michaels Church, at Kings Highway and Chapel Avenue, in Cherry Hill. Read more After a big electoral win, the victors can usually explain how they came out on top. But the South Jersey Progressive Democrats are having a hard time doing that. They say theyre not sure how they soundly beat the George Norcross-backed Camden County Democratic Committee Inc. (CCDC) in last weeks primary election to become members of the county committee from Cherry Hill. Advertisement We were just flabbergasted couldnt believe it, said Susan Druckenbrod, 60, one of the three named winners in the contest. Progressives took it with 62% of the votes in the election for the party committee. It was such a surprise, said David Stahl, 42, another winning candidate. No one not anybody thought we would win, said Rena Margulis, 67, the third victor. Upsetting the dug-in Camden County political machine in an election is big news, running counter to expectations a David besting Goliath sort of thing, according to Yael Bromberg, an attorney and lecturer in election law at Rutgers University Law School whos been involved in litigation related to county voting. An earthquake, according to Julia Sass Rubin, director of the public policy program at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers. And because its such an anomaly, it wouldnt shock me if were sued by the CCDC, said Kate Delany, head of the South Jersey Progressive Democrats, a grassroots political organization that runs candidates for office. The major upset means the progressives will be able to make dozens of appointments to the committee, Delany said. The CCDC disagrees. In a statement to The Inquirer Tuesday night, CCDC chairman James Beach, who also represents Camden County in the New Jersey Senate, contended that his group, and not the progressives, would be filling the remaining 71 county committee seats. While he didnt mention litigation, a person with knowledge of the issue who doesnt have authority to speak said, Oh, its definitely going to court. How did we get here? In the Byzantine world of Camden County politics, theres a lot to unravel. So, what is a county committee, and why is it important? Voters in Camden County municipalities elect representatives of the Democratic Party to a countywide party committee of about 522 people. The number sent from each municipality is proportional to its population. Because Cherry Hill is the largest municipality in the county with more than 78,000 residents, it gets to send the largest contingent 74 people to the partys countywide committee. Those same 74 will also represent the Democratic Party within Cherry Hill on a so-called municipal committee. The main responsibilities of the partys countywide committee are important, experts say. They get to make political endorsements on all levels, from local office to president, and to fill vacancies in political jobs. That last part has become controversial because of a process pejoratively known by county progressives as the Camden County Shuffle or the Cherry Hill Shuffle. What happens, progressives say, is a person holding elected office, such as county commissioner, resigns to take another political job before their term ends. The county Democratic committee then picks a replacement. When theres a primary, that replacement runs as an incumbent, which confers a large advantage over any challenger. So, the Democratic machine is actually picking the person whos running, not the voter, said Delany. Progressives, who until this election have tried and failed to have a say on the county committee, explain that if they had power, theyd preclude the replacement from running for office, and hold a primary with new candidates. The shuffle, Delany said, is one of the main reasons that progressives were on the ballot last week in the first place. What conditions changed to help Cherry Hill progressives in the primary? The biggest change to scramble Camden County elections was the elimination of the so-called county line ballot. Until last year, New Jersey ballots would afford preferential treatment to candidates who were endorsed by the county party. The party would be sure to list the names of the preferred candidates in one line, from president down to town council. Meanwhile, the unsupported challengers names would be listed in ballot Siberia, Delany said, away from the line. Voters would respond by simply voting for all candidates down the line. Because the format gave endorsed candidates such an advantage, Sen. Andy Kim (D., N.J.) sued ahead of last years Senate primary and won in court. The New Jersey Legislature subsequently passed a bill eliminating the county line. The Kim lawsuit changed the world, Rubin said. But even with the line erased, another ballot problem arose. In the county committee race in Cherry Hill, South Jersey Democrats sued Camden County Clerk Pamela Lampitt in April, alleging she was violating a new primary ballot law by not placing ovals next to each of the candidates names. Lampitts office said it wasnt technically possible to do that with 77 people running for county committee. Based on that, Lampitt said in a statement Tuesday, it was imperative for us to provide a vote for one being equal to a vote for all because it was not possible to list all 74 individual [CCDC] names on the ballot itself. She added that the decision to do this was upheld in superior court and endorsed by the judge. That created a ballot that showed three progressives names (Druckenbrod, Margulis, and Stahl) next to a single oval, and 74 county Democrat names beside their own shared oval. Ironically, even though the progressives lost the case, the ruling may have helped them win the election, Delany said. If the progressives had won the fight over the ovals, the ballot would have included 77 names, each with an oval beside it, Delany said. Druckenbrod, Margulis, and Stahl would have been identified as progressive Democrats listed in a lineup of 74 CCDC candidates. Even if we won, they wouldve had 71 on the committee, Delany said. But the ballot separation insisted on by the clerks office made voters choose between the three progressives and the 74 county-picked candidates. The progressives werent playing to win, but to simply have a vote without the line and to give people a choice other than CCDC-picked people. We had no other strategy, Margulis said. To determine which grouping would be on top of the ballot, the progressives won a draw that placed their names above the 74 CCDC names. That could have figured into their victory, Delany and others said. Although the progressives put just three candidates on the ballot, the organization will soon appoint its own list of 71 people, Delany said. Nothing on the ballot said you had to put 74 names on it, she added. We won, so we get to choose the committees makeup, she said. We already have 90 possibilities. Disputing that claim, Beach claimed that the CCDCs slate won the remaining 71 seats and that the progressives victory was capped at three seats. Over 3,000 Cherry Hill voters voted for 74 qualified candidates that did the hard work of getting their names on the ballot. Three random candidates who could not put together a full slate of qualified candidates cannot disenfranchise over 3,000 voters. In short, we won 71 seats. The South Jersey Progressives won three seats, Beach said. What will the CCDC do next? The day after the primary, the CCDC congratulated progressives on their victory and said at the time it would reserve further comment until after the elections certification. Thats expected to occur Monday. But Beachs comments to The Inquirer ahead of certification appear to set up a postprimary fight over the committees makeup, which will likely mean a return to the courtroom for the two Democratic factions. If the CCDC were to sue to prevent us from picking 71 people, thatd be a bad look Democrats trying to overturn an election, Delany said. Its very Trumpian. Druckenbrod agreed. We control things now, and we make the decisions, she said. Ultimately, Margulis cautioned, no one is saying the progressives defeated the machine. They have a great deal of money and power. But the election does suggest that the frustration with the machine is greater than I anticipated. Gisele Fetterman, an advocate, philanthropist, and wife to Sen. John Fetterman, poses for a portrait in Braddock, Pa., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. Read more Gisele Barreto Fetterman spoke candidly about her life in an interview about her new book on WHYY in Philadelphia on Friday. She talked about her habit of crying, a conversation about immigration with President Donald Trump, being mistaken for the help, and she defended her husband, who has become a polarizing force in Washington. Barreto Fetterman, the wife of Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.), was already crying before Marty Moss-Coane, host of The Connection, had a chance to ask the first question. She started crying again just a few minutes later and said she also cried on the train to Philly. Advertisement Why? Shes a self-proclaimed softie. Ive always been that way, she said. I think some people are just that way. And that softness is in line with the title of her book: Radical Tenderness: The Value of Vulnerability in an Often Unkind World. Im able to approach others with tenderness because I do not flatten my own emotional experiences. I let in hurt, sadness and joy in equal measure, Moss-Coane read aloud on air from Barreto Fettermans book. Yet this emotional range is discouraged in society that places more value on traditionally masculine traits rather than those perceived as feminine. Heres some of what Barreto Fetterman divulged in the interview, which included anecdotes from her 240-page book, which published on July 8 and is part-memoir, part-manifesto. On crying I really, really care about everything, said Barreto Fetterman, a firefighter who runs a free store in Braddock, Allegheny County. As she started to cry, her voice shaking, she told Mary Moss-Coane: This is very normal. We are born crying, and along the way we are told to stop, she added. And I think I never stopped. She said she isnt ashamed of it, and believes other criers should embrace who they are, and let it out more. On being an undocumented immigrant as a child Barreto Fetterman immigrated to Queens with her family at age 7 in December 1989 to escape what she called normalized violence in Brazil. She overstayed her visa and became undocumented before getting her green card in 2004 and becoming a citizen in 2009. The hardest part of being an undocumented child was knowing she was doing something wrong while her family was doing everything right, she said. She got good grades at school, they paid their taxes, and volunteered. Her mom worked multiple jobs as a cleaner, coat check, server, and caterer. She had to be careful not to be too active and risk injury because they didnt have health insurance. She was terrified when there was an unexpected knock at the door or if a police car passed by, but her mom had a positive attitude and made everything a game with each day full of adventures and hurdles that we had to overcome to get to the next level, she said. She was taught not to draw attention to herself which she said lines up with her personality because she doesnt like attention to this day, whether by way of birthday parties or the media. Her first memory of America? The cold. On meeting with Trump Barreto Fetterman said with Trumps crackdown on immigrants, every single day is a heartbreak. She said immigrants helped keep businesses open during the COVID-19 pandemic, pick food we eat every day, and overall contribute so much to society. But not only that, like theyre just humans, and thats enough, right? I think contributing is great, but just wanting a better life for your family is enough, she added. But she said that in order to get through the rest of Trumps administration, we have to have conversations with each other. Thats why she decided to meet with the president with her husband at Mar-a-Lago. It was the first time a sitting Democratic senator met with him at the Palm Beach resort. Barreto Fetterman said she went to tell her story and advocate for other undocumented immigrants who came to the country as a child not to be naive to think Im going to change his mind, but I should at least try. She said she told Trump about the contributions of dreamers and that undocumented families are not numbers, but real people. And in that meeting, about dreamers, he said he agrees, she said. He said that dreamers are American. He said many of them dont even speak their native language. So how does she make sense of that conversation with his policies? Moss-Coane asked. I dont think there is sense to be made, Barreto Fetterman responded. I think this is what we have to get through until it changes. And you know, the more people that are celebrating and giving him credit for the things hes saying and doing, its just empowering him to continue to do more of that. Sen. Fetterman recently defended Trumps ICE. He slammed calls to abolish the agency and said it performs an important role and he supports the agents doing their job. He said he also supports amnesty for the hardworking, otherwise law-abiding migrant workers but wants ICE to round up and deport the criminals. On being mistaken as the help Barreto Fetterman said shes been mistaken as the help on multiple occasions, and she has tried to confront those situations in a gentle and playful way, she said. She shared that in one instance, she was hosting a party as the second lady of Pennsylvania and was mistaken by someone as a server. After she took a glass of wine from her pantry, a woman told her she saw what she did and would tell Fetterman, who was lieutenant governor at the time. Barreto Fetterman said she usually just wouldnt have said anything or cried, but her glass of wine made her a little spicy, so she said please dont tell him, I dont want to get fired, knowing the guest would soon learn who she really is when they welcomed the guests into their home. The woman felt horrible, and Barreto Fetterman drank wine with her and they had a heart-to-heart. READ MORE: Next up for Gisele Fetterman: Firefighting, thrifting, and being good at today On Fettermans stroke and depression Barreto Fetterman looked back on when she spotted her husbands stroke during his senatorial campaign by noticing his mouth momentarily droop. She said nothing else seemed wrong and she successfully encouraged him to go to the hospital even though he insisted that everything was fine. His mouth just moved differently for a second. It didnt stay in that position, she said. His speech wasnt affected, things you expect of a stroke. He had no physical pain. hes saying, Im fine, shes crazy. Moss-Coane asked Barreto Fetterman about the news stories about her husband in recent months in which previous staffers expressed concern about his health, citing outbursts and neglecting to follow his doctors orders. Barreto Fetterman defended her husband and said his mental health is great, and that he is doing everything his doctors tell him to do. Once you have the stigma of mental health, it will follow you, she said, citing when he checked himself in to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in February 2023. Barreto Fetterman resisted accusations that Fetterman doesnt like his job as a U.S. senator after he told reporters he wants to go home as voting for Trumps budget bill dragged on, lamenting that he missed his entire trip to the beach. She said sometimes you get locked in there and they dont let you leave, and the one thing he looks forward to in his life is going to the Shore with the kids once a year, for a four-day very humble vacation at the Jersey Shore. Its not that at all, she said. I think theres a lot of things he wished worked differently there. She emphasized that she and her husband are their own people, and that while she tries not to hate anything, she dislikes politics very deeply. Editors note: An earlier misspelling of Marty Moss-Coanes name has been corrected. Another Philadelphia city workers union is going head-to-head with Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration at the bargaining table. Representatives of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 47, which represents white-collar workers, spent approximately nine hours in contract negotiations with the city on Friday before walking out, DC 47 president April Gigetts told The Inquirer on Saturday. Gigetts said the union does not have a date to return to the bargaining table. Advertisement DC 47 is negotiating a contract for its two municipal unions under the executive branch Local 2186 and Local 2187 after leaders decided to extend contracts that expired on July 1 to July 15. Out of the two unions, Local 2187, which represents administrative assistants and professionals, is the only one legally allowed to go on strike, and its members are participating in a strike authorization vote that will conclude Tuesday. Local 2186 represents supervisors in various city agencies. A handful of states allow supervisors to unionize, but with limitations, like Pennsylvanias strike ban. According to the unions original contract proposal from May, which Local 2187 posted to its Instagram account Saturday, the union is calling for 8% wage increases each year for four years and for a pay scale under which no DC 47 job title will start below $50,000 per year. Local 2187 also attached the citys original proposal from May, which does not outline specific wage figures but says that Wage increases [are] consistent with the Citys ability to pay and the Five Year Plan. Tuesday is the earliest that Local 2187 could go on strike, but Gigetts appears to be taking a wait-and-see approach, unlike her AFSCME counterpart in DC 33, president Greg Boulware, who treated July 1 as a hard deadline to call for a strike. Gigetts who recommended workers vote yes on the strike authorization noted that DC 47 leadership wants to see the results of the vote first and that other options, like extending the contract again, could be on the table. We would collectively get together and decide where we are in the process and make that decision once we get the authority from the membership to do so, Gigetts said. Were not there yet. Tuesday, well count up the votes once the negotiating team has the authority to do so. Theyll make a decision at that time which way they want to go. But, she said, DC 47 is no stranger to collective action. The city does not negotiate in public, Parker spokesperson Joe Grace said. We remain hopeful and will continue to work at reaching agreement with AFSCME District Council 47. Local 2187 president Jesse Jordan told members in the Instagram video posted Saturday that leaders will not call a strike unless certain criteria are met. One, an impasse with the city, meaning that we are sitting at the table and no new ideas are being exchanged. Or two, we have to receive the citys last and best final offer. At that point, we will come back to you concerning a strike, but we hope to come to you guys with a tentative agreement, Jordan said. Gigetts said the union felt it had been making progress with the city over the last several weeks, but at the end of the day, when the rubber hits the roads, you have to have a comprehensive package that makes sense. After nine hours, and many, many hours waiting to get a counter, the numbers and the package, quite frankly, was insulting, and we really wanted to come to an agreement, Gigetts added of Fridays negotiations. Gigetts said sticking points in negotiations include wages and healthcare, but she declined to address the specifics of either the unions or the citys proposals. She said negotiations got to a point where it didnt make any sense anymore to continue when you dont feel folks are taking you seriously and offering something fair. You get at a point where you just have to walk away and wait and see if they want to take you seriously, she said. We have been in solidarity As DC 47 tallies the strike authorization votes Tuesday, AFSCME District Council 33 will be in the middle of its own membership vote to ratify its tentative contract agreement with the city. More than 9,000 city employees who are members of DC 33, the large blue-collar city union, went on strike for more than eight days before reaching a tentative deal with the Parker administration early Wednesday, and members will be voting until July 20 on whether to accept that deal. DC 47 had been fairly quiet during DC 33s strike, but Gigetts said Saturday that weve had solidarity from the entire process. We had our members being as supportive as we could with District Council 33, Gigetts said. I realize that we did have the [contract] extension, but we still stand in solidarity. We still celebrate, we still support. As AFSCME siblings, DC 33 and DC 47 rarely if ever criticize each other publicly, though they have different constituencies and have diverged at key moments. Their contracts contain a most favored nations clause that can allow one union to capitalize off the other if the second union to complete negotiations reaches a better deal. There has also been a historical expectation that DC 47 waits for DC 33 to resolve any contract issues before making its own deals with the city a show of solidarity. Gigetts said she planned to call Boulware on Saturday to tell him that Locals 2186 and 2187 have checks they have been meaning to provide to DC 33s strike fund. We have been in solidarity. I mean, at this point, were focused on trying to negotiate our own contract, and thats kind of where we are, Gigetts said. While DC 47 may not be aching to strike, Gigetts said, the negotiation process has not been easy. Its unusually difficult, she said. NEW YORK, July 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday morning that 30 percent tariffs will be imposed on the European Union and Mexico as of Aug. 1. The new tariffs were written in the letters addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, which were posted on Trump's social media platform Truth Social. Trump has sent more than 20 similar letters to other U.S. trading partners in the past week, including Canada, South Korea, Japan and Brazil, with blanket tariff rates ranging from 20 percent up to 50 percent. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code Shaunagh Connaire is bringing it all back home. More specifically, all the way back to the kitchen of her childhood home. That family home in Longford was the starting point for a long and successful career during which Connaire, an Emmy-nominated documentary maker, has reported for the BBC, Channel 4, and the Financial Times, among others, before then going on to spend three years working for the Clooney Foundation for Justice, including a memorable trip to Africa with Amal Clooney and Michelle Obama. Yet it is the homeplace back in the Midlands that also forms the backdrop for a first foray into fictional drama. Her 14-minute short film Brown Bread received its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh this week, and arriving at this point was truly a family affair. Thats my parents kitchen in the home where I grew up, Connaire says down a Zoom connection from her new home in Lisbon. Fitted by my uncle Jackie, husband of my late godmother. And heres another connection. Brown Bread is a moving, poignant, and at times humorous look at the emigrant experience, and it was anchored in Connaires own story. Just as the character of Aine, played by Katie McGrath, couldnt get home from her job in New York to attend her godmothers funeral, Connaire also missed out on her beloved godmothers funeral due to issues with her Green Card application. What you have to do is hand over your passport, Connaire explains, and my immigration lawyers have said, now, you know, youre not going to be able to travel with this, and I was like, it should be fine, a couple of months or three months, whatever it was, maybe it was six months, I cant remember. And then my godmother, who I was very close to, also from Longford, passed away in that period, and genuinely, it just did one with my head. As an Irish person, the guilt, but it wasnt even just that. It was a very profound moment. All I wanted to do was be back in a very simple house in Longford drinking a very simple cup of tea with my family. It just made me question everything about why I had kind of chased this in New York, that felt very at odds with how I was brought up, simple enough beginnings, and my relationship with my aunt was very much based on [having] a cup of tea. THE GUILT Fionnuala Flanagan in Brown Bread By any measure, Connaires career has been a success. Never mind the two Emmy Award nominations, in 2021 she became the first woman to be awarded the freedom of Co Longford. Yet the passing of her cherished aunt sparked conflicting thoughts that no doubt occupy the hearts and minds of Irish people living the world over. Its like a modern Irish emigration story, she says, adding of Brown Bread: I was trying very hard to steer away from anything that felt twee. She says her own two children are very Irish, despite living in the US and now in Portugal, and she adds that being able to portray her home town with a sense of pride was hugely important. Elements of the film some of the locations, and also some home video footage further anchors the fictional story in the reality of Connaires life. Moving to Lisbon, she says, has helped with that connection to home, and it is certainly a change from the starkness of one of her children having undergone a shooter safety drill at their New York school. I kind of, in a joking way, pitched it as were moving home! and whispered, to Europe. Her sister lives in Australia and so proximity to Longford and Donegal, her husbands home county counts for a lot, but as she says: You have to chase your own life, you have to do whats good for your own family. And this is where we are now. TAKING A TILT Shaunagh Connaire: Its been a creative itch Ive had forever, to write a script and all with a view, I would say, to doing something bigger after this short. The short is a little test. Photo: Ray Ryan And it has been quite a journey. For Channel 4s Unreported World, Connaire secretly filmed in China where clinics provide electro-shock therapy to cure homosexuality. A particularly harrowing edition of Unreported World saw Connaire covering the efforts of medics with Medecins sans Frontieres in combatting the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone. Yet despite all that time in front of the camera, Connaire credits her three years working for the Clooneys as the inspiration for her tilt at fictional drama, recently telling Variety: I think being in their presence and learning a little bit about the world of Hollywood, gave me the confidence to enter this world. I would say this about all kind of different experiences Ive had being around amazing filmmakers in current affairs as well, like when youre in peoples company, and you see what theyre doing up close, and youre like, ok, pretty sure that feels like I can probably do that too, everything feels a bit more accessible, she says. I would say, with my role at the [Clooney] Foundation, a big part of it was actually directing short films for George, and he was the executive producer, and I was the director, and were working really closely and collaborating on that. And so, on first cuts, I was getting amazing feedback. So I was like, Okay, if George thinks my films are ok... it definitely gave me a little bit of confidence. Dermot Crowley and Katie McGrath in Brown Bread Its been a creative itch Ive had forever, to write a script and all with a view, I would say, to doing something bigger after this short. The short is a little test. Connaire saw the Clooney Foundation as having the biggest platform to amplify voices a case in point being the gathering of evidence of indiscriminate attacks by Russian forces in Ukraine that killed civilians and destroyed civilian objects, as well as violations committed by Russian armed forces, which ultimately led to cases being lodged in court. Connaire has previously spoken about the strangeness of being interviewed by the Clooneys for the job, but after three years with the Foundation, topped off with a visit with Amal and Michelle Obama to Malawi and South Africa, she knew it was time to move on. It was such a high, she says. I kind of knew in the back of my head that I was potentially going to leave so I was like, feck it, I might as well just leave on this high. THE GRA She once received Batman balloons from George, a former celluloid Bruce Wayne, for her 40th birthday, but she doesnt ever see her former employer running for the White House, adding: I dont believe celebrities and politics should mix. Given whats happening in America, maybe even Batman himself would struggle. Connaire also sees journalism as being under attack around the world but particularly in America, which, she believes, does not have the buffer of adequate public service broadcasting. She also takes the point that in some ways, drama can engage people with real life issues in a way beyond that of reportage, adding: I would love to create something that actually moves the needle. So she is working on a prestige drama, and it sounds like the next step after Brown Bread has circulated among the various festivals. Shaunagh Connaire: I always will stick to my values, and that was very much against what I believed in." Yet there is no escaping the gra for home. Back in 2018 she was invited to speak at her former school, Mean Scoil Mhuire, only to be told on the day that the school could not show a montage of her broadcast work for reasons which included upholding the schools Catholic ethos. That led to Connaire not being able to attend and instead issuing a statement for the students about her work, and she never did get to show that montage in the way it was initially envisaged. I always will stick to my values, and that was very much against what I believed in, she says now. There is a small echo of this in Brown Bread and the subsequent granting of the Freedom of the County and all the assistance of local people in the making the short film shows that the county holds her dear as one of their own. There is a lot to be said for it and the related home comforts. Just something simple like going to SuperValu and buying purple Snack bars and sausages thats high on my priority list, she says. 08.45 On Saturday mornings Im usually up by 8.45am. 09.00 The first thing I do, as I do every morning, is check in on my children to make sure everyone is well. I check in with myself too. I have a bit of a morning routine, during which I speak my affirmations and set my intentions for the day. I have a studio in my home so, with cuppa in hand, I will spend about an hour in there going over my designs, tweaking my moodboard if it needs it and pulling out fabrics that Im working on. I then go over everything meticulously to make sure that my vision comes across in the designs especially in terms of patterns. 11.00 I would much prefer brunch over breakfast but its usually breakfast on the run. Ill have a cup of coffee or tea, berries and bagels with butter. The bagels remind me of New York, where myself and my partner used to get fresh baked bagels in Queens where we lived. Once I have had breakfast I will leave with enough time to walk to my shop Studio Emerald in the Anu Wellness Hub in Barna, Co Galway. Ill walk from my house to the village where my shop is, which takes me about 25 minutes. If I dont get to walk in the morning I like to take my dog out for a walk later on. Thats my exercise for the day and also a great way to switch off. I find that I get a lot of inspiration while in nature I love the different types of flowers, especially ones that are indigenous to the area. It was on one of my walks that I got the idea to fuse Irish tweed with African print fabrics. I am so lucky to live in the West of Ireland where Im surrounded by nature. I have the sea on my doorstep and the bog literally a few minutes walk from my house. If I wasnt in the West of Ireland on a Saturday, Id love to be in the Aburi mountains in Ghana. It is the most beautiful place on earth to me. You have a clear vista of the city below the cliffs and mountains, its cooler than the city, and you are surrounded by nature and food in abundance. 13.00 I dont normally have lunch (Im not proud of this) because Saturdays can be pretty busy at the shop but Ill always have a snack or something that I can quickly munch on. If theres a lull, Ill have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with sparkling water. Virtue Shine: "You can never take the New Yorker out of me I still love going out but as I get older, and the shop gets busier, nowadays I prefer a quiet dinner at home." Picture: Emilija Jefremova 14.00 Saturday afternoons revolve around the shop. If I have an appointment for a private client its usually a balancing act. Its fun and interesting and Ive connected with a few people at the shop who have become very good friends. Sometimes it can get quite hectic with clients picking up pieces that are custom-made, customers coming to choose fabrics and people who are visiting for the first time. Ive a community of international clients that Im very proud of too and they often come to see me when they visit Ireland. I am hands-on, and over the years my clients have gotten used to this and appreciate it. I strive to treat every client like they are the only person in the shop. I give them one-to-one attention an experience really. Ill put the kettle on, let the customer browse and then I will attend to them. Saturday afternoons are very different to Sundays when the shop closes early at 4pm. Thats when I try to catch up with the whole family. #We sit down for a meal and play games afterwards. As the kids get older, it becomes more precious to continue with this tradition. It can be difficult at times because they also make their own plans now but I cherish Sunday evenings. 19.00 You can never take the New Yorker out of me I still love going out but as I get older, and the shop gets busier, nowadays I prefer a quiet dinner at home. I will have dinner with my partner or I might meet up with some of my girlfriends. 20.00 I used to go to a lot of gigs, especially when I lived in New York. These days the cinema is more appealing to me especially as I love to look at the costumes that are worn. If youd asked me 20 years ago Id have had a hectic and busy Saturday evening but its a bit more low key now. I treasure my down time and wouldnt change it! 03.00 When preparing for a collection, I am without a doubt a night owl. I could be in the studio until 2 or 3am. I find that my creativity flows effortlessly at night when the world is quiet and my children are in bed. I can hear myself think, I can see my designs clearly, and I know that Im creating beautiful pieces for customers to wear. At the end of the day, I go to bed very fulfilled and I sleep like a baby. Few Irishmen can lay claim to the title of Mastermind in the shows enduring 53-year run but only one is a Mastermind International champion a mild-mannered geography teacher from Whitechurch, Co Cork. John Mulcahy just 29 at the time etched his name into the annals of trivia history in the echoing chambers of Londons Guildhall in February 1979. Not only did he outsmart some of the best and brightest minds from across the globe Nigeria, Australia, Canada he did so under an oppressive spotlight likened only to that of the Gestapos merciless methods of interrogation. And with, as Mr Mulcahy described him, the stern and distant Magnus Magnusson at the helm, few would have faulted the Corkman for folding. He was suitably phlegmatic. Remarkably unphased. John Mulcahy, the first Irishman to win Mastermind, holds the trophy at the gate of his home in Whitechurch, where his love of knowledge continues in retirement. Picture: Chani Anderson The soft afternoon glow spilling across his face at his cozy Whitechurch homestead is considerably less oppressive than the spotlight in the Guildhall, but he is perched on his armchair just as he was that night cross-legged, palms placed gently on knees, sharp, attentive. Likewise, the anecdotes and the pride flow out of him like the answers did all those years ago. Mr Mulcahys ascension to the apex of Mount Mastermind began humbly back home where he claimed Irelands Top Score title in the summer of 1978. At the final of Top Score above in Dublin, the producer of Mastermind, Bill Wright, was there and they announced that the winner would be going on to this international competition. RTE were good to me, they helped me an awful lot. They brought me up to Dublin for a weekend and pumped me with questions. I was doing pub quizzes here at the time in Blackpool with The Bowler's Rest when it was in its heyday. We won the Blackpool festival, which was bigger than the Olympics at the time and they all wanted to come over (to London). I went over that night with my sister and my mother, my father couldn't come at the time. There were four friends who came along as well. We had a good time despite it being pretty nail-biting. Incredibly, there was no financial prize for the Cork man on that wonderful night. Nothing financial, just honour, prestige and a trophy, he said. What followed, though, transcended material value: A personal letter from then taoiseach Jack Lynch, national recognition and a tidal wave of goodwill all washed down with enough Guinness to fill the Lee. He had surprised the world, but none more than himself, when it came to the buzzer-beating answer that ultimately crowned him Mastermind International champion. It was an interesting question. I still scratch my head and say, how did I get that answer? It was about a boxer who twice defeated Jack Dempsey. The only part of the question that I knew was a boxer who had died recently, that was Gene Tunney. The buzzer went off but Magnus continued anyway, saying I started so Ill finish. I knew it was the last question. I gave the answer and it was right. Now, I was a point ahead of the previous contestant." He said the last contestant was David Hunt, who was the champion of champions. "He hadn't done that well in the first round. But, my God, when he got on the chair this time he was absolutely flying it. There was no doubt he was going to win it, only that the time ran out. Would you believe he ended up a point below me? You see, you don't see the scores when you're on the chair and you don't have anything to go off, unlike when you're watching television. As a result I wasn't totally clear what was going on. But I was very relieved when it did happen, when it was announced. The Irishman may have been saved by the bell but his expertise was irrefutable. He rattled off 15 correct answers in round 1 tackling Irish History from 1916-1922 and a further 13 in the general knowledge round. He wasnt afraid to pass on a question he didnt know either. No bluffing, no bluster, just unshakeable knowledge. It was a trivia performance defined by egoless precision and quiet confidence. If anyone was prepared going into the Guildhall it was John Mulcahy. He was no stranger to the rhythm and sleight of hand required in buzzer-style quiz shows, having conquered Top Score. It was slightly different in that it was the number of questions you could get into the two minutes and you had to be very, very fast. The secret, well I won't say the secret because I certainly didn't go in with any plan but the idea was that if I didn't know the answer I passed right away. That way I got a couple of extra questions in. It wasn't that I was all high and mighty, I was most unimpressive because I missed nine questions. I'd say they were all gasping, wondering how you could win and miss that number of questions. It was just about the speed, there was no time to think. Little did he know the sheer amount of Irish he would do proud that night. Thousands tuned into Mastermind International from all over the globe the night it aired in March. Irish hearts swelled, puffed up with conceit. Some were even compelled to pick up their pens and write to their Irish champion. First of all I think it was a national honour. The whole country took pride in it, so in that sense I was delighted. I was also pleased for the family more than myself. I got fed up with it after a while to be honest. It's quite amazing, people are still coming up to me and introducing me to others as the fellow who won the brain of Ireland or whatever. They never get the name right of course It seemed to mean an awful lot to an awful lot of people. The local people responded hugely, seen of course when hundreds had turned out in Cork Airport at the time. It was crazy." He said the vast bulk of those who wrote to him from around the world were immigrants saying they were very proud of him. Letter from Jack Lynch We had a postal strike at home, following Mastermind, that went on for three months. I was inside in school one day, and looking out I saw this army motorbike scorching down the hill outside Deer Park. Next thing there was a knock on the door and this army fella came in handing me the envelope. It was the personal note from Jack Lynch. The letter to John Mulcahy from Jack Lynch. Lynch knew, as well as anyone, the importance of such a triumph. It was enough to lift a nation a salve of sorts. It was a moment of grace for a country bleeding from the Troubles, especially when this particular battle of the brains took place in the monarchys own backyard. Whats more, John Mulcahys triumph shifted the needle considerably on the way people perceived the Irish at the time. I suppose you'd have to see it in the context, the Troubles were on at the time and not everything associated with Ireland was good news. I wasn't totally conscious of it but apparently over in England it was a big thing, the Irish jokes were flying at the time. A headline in one of the newspapers read The Ultimate Irish Joke I got a phone call from a paper one morning before going into class. They said you know that the IQ tests have been carried out. I don't know what point they were making, apparently the Irish were last. I said I'm not that surprised because we don't do IQ tests here, it's not part of the selection for going into school. Even basic things like that you know you'd be asked to comment on. His topic of choice in round 1 was hardly impetuous, maybe instinctive, though he claims he never looked at it in such a way. The fact that I was taking the topic I chose was of some significance too. I was sitting with this stereotype even though I didn't ever look at it that way. To me, it was just a very interesting episode in the country. Like any great story, Mr Mulcahys road to success and the road after it was paved with proverbial potholes. In round 2, there was debate over the answer to a question revolving around the works of Rudyard Kipling. Theres an argument to say John Mulcahy deserved the point, however, due to a technicality, the question was scrapped. It was a minor derailment that did little to shake the Corkmans composure. There was a bit of a glitch while I was in the chair when I was answering a question. There was an interruption from above and they said 'we want to check out that answer' and as it turned out, apparently I'd given out the wrong answer. So they said well, technically maybe hes right. The question was about Rudyard Kiplings Plain Tales from the Hills and they wanted to know what hills he was referring to. I said the Himalayas; they flagged it as incorrect. Apparently it was the Simla. Someone said, well, technically Simla is in the Himalayas now so maybe the best thing to do is take out that question completely. Now, I was in the middle of a two-minute round and this interruption came. I didnt take a whole lot of notice though, it didnt put me off or anything thankfully." Gay Byrne gaffe And then came the slip. Gay Byrne, ever the showman, prematurely released news of John Mulcahys victory on RTE radio, to the dismay of the BBC who werent set to air the show until the following month. There was a delegation from RTE over including Adrian Cronin, who was the producer of The Late Late Show at the time. He rang up Gay Byrne, either that night or the next morning. He said the Irish fella is after winning the Mastermind but never said to Gay to keep it quiet. So, what did Gay do? He put it out on the radio the following morning. It was a laugh because my poor father was here at home and he'd gone up to the shop as usual for the milk. They were asking him how did John do? How did John get on? And hed say Ah, he did alright. He didn't let us down anyway. The next thing he came home and the phone was hopping off the hook, everyone wanting to talk to him. Of course, it was the same inside the school. Press coverage about John Mulcahy. They probably were annoyed but this was a matter between RTE and the BBC. I didn't know anything. It was on the front page of all the papers over in London. I was out of circulation. There were no mobile phones or anything and the few friends that I was over with had gone home. So, I was on my own and enjoying life until I got to Heathrow where I was paged. I think it was the Daily Express turned up with a camera and a reporter and I had to unpackage my trophy and get a photograph taken. When I went up to board the plane an Aer Lingus employee said Mr Mulcahy, would you mind just waiting please? We'll try and get people on board and out of the way. I thought whats all this about? Press coverage about John Mulcahy. So they got everyone on and I was last, placed in the front seat. To my surprise everyone jumped up and applauded. The idea was, of course, that I'd be off first in Cork. I was whipped away rather than going through security and they brought me into some room where the family were waiting and the press. It was kind of the VIP treatment which was the last thing I was expecting." He said that when he went into school the following week someone showed up and said "its Gay Byrne on the phone, he's looking for you". "So I went in anyway and he said I've heard a rumour that the BBC withdrew the trophy and that they're going to cancel the programme. So I said, well, as far as I'm concerned, the trophys at home in the cupboard, I've heard nothing about it. "I think he was worried that there might have been repercussions over it. The International Mastermind trophy awarded in 1979 to John Mulcahy. Picture: Chani Anderson And there it still rests, tucked away safely. A simple object but a shining symbol. Surprisingly, Mr Mulcahy never pursued the next big win. Mastermind International would suffice for the Whitechurch whizz. He celebrated with family and friends for days on end, so much so that Guinness House ran out of their signature black stout, having to dash dramatically across to the Oyster mid-revelry and hold up St Patricks St to roll a dozen more barrels back to HQ. It was pure madness. There were parties everywhere, every crowd wanted something. The celebrations went on for a while "The show, would you believe, was actually shown at home on Ash Wednesday so I went up for a pint the night before and I said that's the end of that now. And it was. He returned to what he loved most: shaping the minds of the youth. He taught in Deer Park and the local community school in Whitechurch for years before taking tenure as a professor at UCC. As he put it himself, he never had an inclination to do anything else, despite others expectations. There was a program on there one time about television quizzes and they were on about the way some of the winners of Mastermind had gone on to host their own quiz shows among other things but I never had any inclination. There were no offers anyway. I was very happy as a teacher anyway, quite happy to continue on. In a world driven by immediacy and digital shortcuts, John Mulcahys legacy stands for something rarer. It was a patient, unflashy pursuit of knowledge grounded in curiosity, tempered by humility, and crowned with one of the most quietly extraordinary victories in Irish public life. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets across Northern Ireland for the Orange Orders annual July 12 parades. The festivities will be spread across 19 main locations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne where the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. It comes after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. On Sunday morning, an Orange Order parade was permitted to pass Ardoyne shops in north Belfast restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. The Orange Order morning parade makes its way along the Crumlin Road towards the Ardoyne shops in Belfast in 2024 (Brian Lawless/PA) It is a return parade at a former flashpoint which traditionally took place on the evening of July 12 often resulting in violent scenes. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13 events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh will take place on Monday. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James. While most of the bonfires passed off peacefully, there was condemnation after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone. Effigies of migrants in a boat burn atop a bonfire at Moygashel, Co Tyrone, ahead of events to mark the Twelfth of July (Niall Carson/PA) Pictures of the Irish rap band Kneecap and Irish flags were also burned on other pyres. But the most contentious bonfire was located on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity sub station off the Donegall Road in south Belfast. Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, around 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff will be working on July 12. On the 11th night, around 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was 6.1 million last year, a figure that was up 1.5 million on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is due to falling police numbers and the resultant increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has urged mutual respect in the marking of events. Northern Irelands Chief Constable Jon Boutcher (Liam McBurney/PA) These celebrations and others that occur throughout the year are a valued part of Northern Irelands local history and culture, he said. They can and should be occasions where communities come together in a spirit of inclusiveness and pride, through local traditions. Mutual respect is the foundation of strong, safe communities. There is no place for hate or intimidationonly space for celebration that welcomes and celebrates not divides. Our officers will be on the ground throughout the weekend, working in partnership with community leaders, event organisers, and local representatives to support lawful, peaceful, and family-friendly events. However where necessary, we will take firm and proportionate action to keep people safe. Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone. Lets ensure that this weekend reflects the very best of our communities: proud, respectful, and united. As I sat in gridlock traffic in my hometown of Drogheda recently, I saw hundreds of well-dressed families of all ages, carrying beautiful bouquets and plant pots, as they all walked in the same direction. I eventually made it past three Garda checkpoints directing traffic away from the congested areas until I realised where everyone was going it was the annual blessings of the graves. The scene could be mistaken for an All-Ireland final, or a concert, except people were in their Sunday best. It marked a stark contrast to the treatment of the hundreds of innocent little children buried in and around a septic tank system in a former mother and baby home in Tuam, Co Galway, run by the Bon Secours order of nuns. While not all the well-turned-out people at the blessings of the graves will be committed and practising Catholics, the popularity of the yearly event shows the truth of how Irish people have a great tradition of mourning the dead. When I wrote a story that was published on the front page of a national newspaper 11 years ago, I thought there would be a visceral outcry. But really it was greeted with a shrug of apathy, and there was no response at all from the government. That was until one week after publication when the Mail Online picked it up, leading to global exposure, and within the hour, it quite rightly turned into one of the biggest stories to come out of Ireland in the past decade. The story forced the government to respond. It opened the floodgates for survivors of these awful institutions to speak out, and so began our long fight to have the childrens remains removed from around the septic tank system they were dumped in, after they died while in the care of the Bon Secours nuns. I first heard of the mass grave in Tuam when I was contacted by Anna Corrigan in Dublin in early 2014. She had read an article I had written the previous week on the unveiling of a headstone for the 222 children who died in the Bethany Homes in Dublin. Anna Corrigan with journalist Alison OReilly, who originally broke the story. Picture: Chani Anderson The moving event, organised by Professor Niall Meehan and the late Bethany home campaigner Derek Lister, took place in St Jeromes cemetery. My article was published the following Sunday. Anna contacted me the next day. I was sitting with my two children in my living room when I saw her email. I want to talk to you about my two brothers who are buried in a mass grave in Tuam, she said. There are 800 babies there. I read and re-read the email, and Ill admit, I found it all too hard to believe. My sister had lived in Tuam for 13 years. I knew the town well. Neither of us had ever heard of a plot containing hundreds of tiny remains from children who died while in the mother and baby home. The email, while well written and containing her home address, just didnt seem credible. But I was immediately interested and, I remember thinking Im calling to her house first thing tomorrow. Unlike some great historical discoveries, which come about because of huge amounts of money invested in the work of teams of researchers and historians, this discovery was driven solely by one homemaker working as a historian in her spare time from her home in Co. Galway. Between keeping her home and looking after her family, Catherine Corless has managed to bring dignity to a group of forgotten children of Tuam. While in Dublin, at her kitchen table, Anna was learning about her mothers two secret sons. That Monday evening in 2014, at my home in Dublin, Anna reached out with the heartbreaking truth of her life about her mother, Bridget Dolan, who never told her about her brothers. Her email said: I would like to let you know that there is a similar issue ongoing with a graveyard connected to the mother and baby home at Tuam, Co Galway. There is a small plot containing almost 800 children which has been left unmarked and neglected by the Bon Secours nuns who ran the mother and baby home. The plot where the children were buried was previously a sewerage tank. Between them, the women had a mountain of work that was carefully compiled, noted, in plastic folders with headings, highlighted, and in boxes marking out what each one contained. When I went to Annas house a few days later, she gave me contact details for Catherine, whom I rang immediately. I was instantly impressed with her rational, calm evidence and diligence. Her work was such a vital matter of public interest. Like all journalists who are presented with a powerful story like this, you are trained to instantly ask yourself "where are the holes in this story?" and "how do we stand it up?" Historian Catherine Corless, whose years of meticulous research uncovered the burial of up to 800 children on the grounds of the former Tuam Mother and Baby Home. Picture: Chani Anderson While Catherine gave me a detailed overall picture of the home and the childrens names, Anna gave me individual examples of how her own brothers, whom she had only learned about in 2013, disappeared from the care of the nuns. I went into the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registry, which is not covered by Data Protection, and checked John and William Dolans certificates. Just as Anna said, there was a birth cert for both boys, in 1946 and 1950, but only one death cert for John in 1947. She had made a Freedom of Information request to Tusla, and it provided her with details of how William was marked dead in the nuns ledgers, but had no official death cert. Was he the only child whose records stated this? I spent day and night for the next few weeks, checking everything Catherine and Anna had said. With the help of Anna, Catherine, and Professor Thomas Garavan (whose mother and her six siblings had been in the home), we published the 800 babies in a mass grave story on May 25, 2014. But to our bitter disappointment, this huge revelation, that 11 years later would lead to Irelands first ever mass grave exhumation, only received a small follow-up on RTEs Nuacht. I was baffled. Apart from the media, what about our 160-plus TDs? There was no outrage, no reaction, and no one spoke up. However, hundreds of people did take to Twitter (now X) and Facebook and began a discussion under the hashtags #800babies and #tuambabies. In the week that followed, apart from a detailed section on RTEs Liveline with Philip Boucher Hayes and Newstalk with Jonathan Healy, there was no reaction here at all. Did people just simply not want to know? Catherine, who at the time had little experience with the media, was a natural when she spoke out, a person you felt you could trust. All I, Catherine, Anna, and Thomas wanted was justice for the children who died and for the children to be given a dignified burial. But the dam didnt burst until the following week on June 2, 2014. Little did we know what was about to happen. The MailOnline, the global news website, contacted me and asked me for the story I had written on the mass grave of children in the west of Ireland. The story was up online by 11am. Catherine rang me within the hour to say that she was being interviewed by dozens of national stations. Alison, she gasped down the phone. The Washington Post has just been on. Theyre following up your story and wanted to talk to me. And it didnt end there. A frenzy exploded on social media, the #tuambabies hashtag began to trend, and every global media organisation ran the story, including Sky News, CNN, NPR, Al Jazeera, and CBS. The government was then forced to respond. Then Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who was in the US at the time, was being doorstepped by the American media about the Tuam Babies. He responded by saying the Government was going to discuss it and that an inquiry was under consideration. But the story of the Tuam Babies sat quietly here for the first week until the international media took hold of it. I often wondered why that happened. Could people simply not believe that hundreds of babies had been dumped into a sewage tank, or that the thoughts of it were just too big? I still struggle to understand the precise reason for such a state of denial but denial it undoubtedly was. Nonetheless, for the next six weeks, the floodgates opened, and every national and international newspaper and airwaves were full of gut-wrenching stories from the survivors of these hell holes that were dotted all over the country and not just in Tuam. Their silence was broken, and they were given a voice. The dead were also no longer going to stay quiet. Family members, campaigners, survivors, and good decent people began to speak out at their utter horror of what the State and church did to all of these innocent women and children. The intergenerational trauma is not referenced enough and for those who believe you can "just get over it and move on", there is no such thing. Trauma does not discriminate. Then came the inevitable backlash, the kind of thing that happens when people in power are challenged. One American reporter told me that he "couldnt see how this was true". Then queries were raised about the septic tank and how that volume of children could actually fit into it. The story was even branded by some as a hoax, despite the fact that none of the critics could explain where the missing children had been buried. Nobody could provide a rational explanation for where these 796 children had gone. Instead, some tried to pick holes in it. People said it wasnt a septic tank; it was another type of tank. Someone rang me and said: "I hope, for your sake, the children are in the grave, or your career is over." But all I ever wanted to know (and still do) is, if the children are not on the site subject to excavation next week, then where are they? For 11 years, I have written about the Tuam babies and supported Catherine in her quest for truth as well as those with families Anna, Thomas, Annette McKay, Peter Mulryan, and the only surviving mother of the Tuam home, Chrissie Tully in the hope we could get the grave open. A commission of investigation into mother and baby homes was established by then-Minister James Reilly in early 2015. Anna Corrigan, walking away from the Tuam site, where her two infant brothers are believed to be buried, shortly before it was closed off for excavation. Picture: Chani Anderson It examined 14 mother and baby homes around the country, plus a further four so-called county homes, and the final report was due in February 2018 but did not arrive until January 2021. In the end, it was a huge disappointment but an interesting historical record. It did not, nor was its job, to hold anyone to account. In the end, the minister for children explained that all of society was to blame. They were some of the first words from a government that did not take full responsibility for its predecessors, the regulators of these institutions. A State apology was given. Im sure some survivors appreciated it, but a large part of society was disgusted by it. The Bon Secours order and Galway County Council also apologised to survivors and families. When the confirmation of the Tuam grave finally came from Katherine Zappone in 2017, we were vindicated. But the exhumation still did not happen. Instead, we had to fight on to see this happen. Two years ago, Cork man Daniel MacSweeney was appointed to oversee the intervention of the Tuam site I was still sceptical, even though he was in situ, building his team and being open with the media. For years, I said Ill believe it when I see it, and last Monday, I did see it. As the countrys first ever mass exhumation prepares to take place on July 14, 2025, the Tuam babies story has shown how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Volunteers load boxes of food into a car in Kerrville, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) HOUSTON, July 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. The search is continuing, though no survivors have been found since July 5, according to officials from the hardest-hit Kerr County in central Texas. More than 2,100 responders from local authorities, 20 U.S. states and several federal agencies joined the search and rescue. The local, state and federal governments have done an "incredible job" in managing the flooding response, rescue and recovery, Trump said in Texas after surveying the damage. "We just were making a little tour of the area. It's hard to believe the devastation. Trees that are 100 years old, just ripped out of the ground. I've never seen anything like it. I've seen a lot of bad ones," Trump said. "This has been incredible, really, the job you've all done," Trump said at a roundtable event. "I've gone to some real bad ones; I've never seen anything like this." Asked by a reporter for his reaction to those who questioned why there were no earlier alerts ahead of the flooding, Trump fired back: "I don't know who you are, but only a very evil person would ask a question like that." Trump later attacked Democrats who slammed his administration's response and demanded an investigation into it. "All they want to do is criticize," the president said. "The public's wise to it." Accompanying Trump, Texas Governor Greg Abbott praised the federal response to the Texas flooding as "swift and effective." Earlier this week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer questioned whether the staff cuts at the National Weather Service under the Trump administration hampered forecasting of the heavy rains and alerts of the flash floods. CNN reported Wednesday that search-and-rescue crews from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had not been authorized for deployment until more than 72 hours after the flooding began due to new spending approval requirements imposed by the Trump administration. "This would be an unmitigated, unforced disaster, and it would certainly exacerbate the toll of extreme weather events," a group of House Democrats wrote in a letter Wednesday to FEMA and the federal agency in charge of the National Weather Service, calling for congressional hearings on the flood response. Trump blasted the then-Biden administration's response to a major flooding killing at least 103 people in September during the 2024 presidential campaign, and California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and other local Democratic officials over the California wildfires earlier this year. The flash floods across at least 20 counties in central Texas will cause an estimated 18 to 22 billion U.S. dollars in total damage and economic loss, U.S. weather forecasting service AccuWeather said in a preliminary estimate. Rescuers search for bodies among mangled trees along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) A person patrols among mangled trees in Hunt, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) The phrase "Hunt Strong" is spray-painted on a house's windows in Hunt, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) Volunteers prepare lunches in Kerrville, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) A mangled vehicle sits abandoned in Hunt, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) A vehicle lies upside down among fallen trees in Hunt, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) Rescuers take a boat to search on the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) Workers collect belongings of campers at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) Rescuers search for bodies among mangled trees along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) The frame of a building stands near the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) Pieces of a road lie among fallen trees in Hunt, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) Debris remains tied up on a wooden fence in Hunt, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) Volunteers load fuel into a tanker trailer to fuel equipment used in the cleanup of the aftermath of the floods in Ingram, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) A mangled vehicle sits abandoned in a field in Hunt, Texas, the United States, July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua) Goods imported from both the European Union (EU) and Mexico will face a 30% US tariff rate starting August 1, US president Donald Trump said in letters posted to his social media platform on Saturday. The EU had hoped to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the US for the 27-country bloc. In the letter, which was posted on his Truth Social social media platform, Mr Trump warned that any response or retaliation with with EU counter-tariffs on US products would be met with higher rates in return. If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs and retaliate, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 30% that we charge, Please understand that the 30% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with the EU, he wrote. The European Union had been bracing for the letter from Trump outlining his planned duties on the United States' largest trade and investment partner after a broadening of his tariff war in recent days. The EU initially hoped to strike a comprehensive trade agreement, including zero-for-zero tariffs on industrial goods, but months of difficult talks have led to the realization it will probably have to settle for an interim agreement and hope something better can still be negotiated. The 27-country bloc is under conflicting pressures as powerhouse Germany urged a quick deal to safeguard its industry, while other EU members, such as France, have said EU negotiators should not cave into a one-sided deal on US terms. 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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Key Points These companies each have increased their dividends for 63 consecutive years. They trade for very reasonable prices considering their dividend and earnings strengths. 10 stocks we like better than Johnson & Johnson No matter what the market is doing, one specific type of stock always will reward you -- and you don't have to lift a finger. This may sound too good to be true, but it actually isn't. Dividend stocks are this type of investment, offering you payouts whether the stock or the market is rising or falling. So, you can count on them for passive income, and that's something you'll appreciate in any market environment. How should you choose a dividend stock? It's a great idea to start with Dividend Kings, companies that have increased their dividends for at least 50 consecutive years. This shows us they're committed to rewarding shareholders and have the resources to do it over the long haul. With this in mind, let's check out two fantastic tried and true players -- both Dividend Kings -- to double up on right now. Image source: Getty Images. 1. Johnson & Johnson You might think of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) every time you pick up a bandage or take a Tylenol -- but the company actually spun off its consumer health business that sells those famous products two years ago to focus on higher growth areas. So, today, J&J devotes all of its resources to its innovative medicines and medtech businesses, units that each delivered operational sales increases of more than 4% in the recent quarter. This is even as the company lost exclusivity for its blockbuster immunology drug Stelara. J&J reported double-digit growth across 11 major brands, and multiple myeloma drug Darzalex posted sales of more than $3 billion for a third straight quarter. As for medtech, the company has boosted growth prospects by completing acquisitions in recent years, such as the purchase of heart pump maker Abiomed. This has proven to be a solid strategy as in the latest quarter, Abiomed products delivered 14% growth. All of this, along with J&J's commitment to innovation -- it invested 15% of sales, or $3 billion, in research and development in the latest quarter -- bode well for revenue momentum over time. Now, let's turn to dividends. The company recently said it would lift its dividend by 4.8%, marking the 63rd straight year of increases, and emphasized its commitment to returning capital to stockholders. J&J, with $18 billion in free cash flow, is well positioned to keep its dividend growth tradition going. The company pays a dividend of $5.20 per share, representing a dividend yield of 3.4% -- significantly higher than the S&P 500 dividend yield of 1.3%. Dividends by Designer491 via iStock Wall Street is witnessing a fresh surge in shareholder rewards as Americas top banks flex their financial muscle. In the wake of the Federal Reserves 2025 stress test, which challenged banks to weather a hypothetical recession featuring a 10% unemployment rate and a staggering $550 billion in projected losses, the nations largest lenders have emerged not just unscathed, but emboldened. More News from Barchart All 22 tested banks maintained a robust average Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio of 11.6%, far above the required 4.5% threshold. This resilience is fueling a fresh wave of dividend hikes across the banking sector. With the stage set by regulatory triumph and market momentum, the spotlight now shifts to the banks leading this charge. Lets dive into these 3 bank stocks. Goldman Sachs (GS) Goldman Sachs (GS) recently announced a 33% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising the payout from $3.00 to $4.00 per share effective July 2025. GS stock is currently up 22% year-to-date and 48% over the past 52 weeks. It has a market capitalization of $214 billion. www.barchart.com Goldman reported net earnings of $4.74 billion for Q1 2025, with diluted EPS of $14.12 and an annualized ROE of 16.9%. Net revenues reached $15.06 billion, up 6% year-over-year, driven by record results in equities and strong performances in fixed income and debt underwriting. Assets under supervision climbed to a record $3.17 trillion. Goldman Sachs is expanding its footprint in private credit and private equity. The firm has launched a new Capital Solutions Group to integrate and broaden its financing, origination, structuring, and risk management offerings within its Global Banking & Markets division. This initiative aims to capture greater market share in higher-margin businesses and further diversify revenue streams, which is increasingly important as traditional investment banking faces cyclical challenges. Looking ahead, analysts expect Q2 earnings of $9.37 per share and full-year EPS of $44.16, both reflecting solid growth. Analyst sentiment remains positive, with 22 surveyed rating GS as a consensus Moderate Buy. The average price target is $624.89, below its current trading price. www.barchart.com JPMorgan Chase (JPM) JPMorgan Chase (JPM) announced a 7% increase to its quarterly dividend in June, bumping the payout from $1.40 to $1.50 per share for the third quarter. This move, paired with a newly authorized $50 billion share repurchase plan, signals managements confidence in the banks capital position and its ability to generate consistent returns for shareholders. Today Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 90F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds light and variable. ( Code Pink ) The Israeli government has just put forward one of the most brazenly genocidal schemes in modern memoryand unless we act immediately, the world will once again let it happen. As reported in Haaretz, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz is proposing to force some 600,000 Palestiniansand eventually the entire population of Gazainto a fenced-in humanitarian city to be built on the ruins of Rafah in southern Gaza. The plan is to screen the population, separate out alleged Hamas members, and then pressure the remaining civiliansmen, women, and childrento voluntarily leave Gaza for another country. Which country? That hasnt even been determined. The point isnt relocationits erasure. This reflects a long-standing goal among many Israelis, especially on the right, to take full control of Gaza and clear it of Palestinians. The UN has warned that the deportation or forcible transfer of an occupied territorys civilian population is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law and tantamount to ethnic cleansing. While all eyes are focused on a possible ceasefire, Katz is not interested in peacehes interested in a final solution. A speeding up of the second Nakba we have been witnessing for the past 20 months. In fact, he has stated that construction would begin during a 60-day ceasefire. So whats the point of a ceasefire, if its used to build a concentration camp? Once Palestinians are herded into this camp, they will not be allowed to leave for other parts of Gaza. They wont be allowed to return to whats left of their homes, their neighborhoods, their farms, their schools. They will be trapped inside this militarized zone, under constant surveillance, held at gunpoint until Israel can arrange their deportation. Just think of the tragic, unbearable irony: the Israeli governmentfounded in the aftermath of the Holocaustis now building a massive concentration camp for an entire population. If that sounds unthinkable, look at what Israel has already gotten away with. For the past 20 months, the world has watchedand largely enableda genocidal campaign in Gaza. Over 55,000 Palestinians have been slaughtered, the majority of them women and children. Israel has bombed hospitals, schools, refugee camps, and mosques. It has flattened entire neighborhoods with AI-generated kill lists. It has assassinated journalists, targeted ambulances, destroyed bakeries and water systems. It has used hunger as a weapon of war, deliberately blocking aid trucks, attacking convoys, and starving the population into desperation. And in a cruel twist, it has created the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundationa scheme to funnel aid through Israeli-controlled routes and sideline the UN and experienced NGOs. Its so-called distribution points are really death traps, where desperate people have been shot day after day as they risk their lives to get a bit of food. This engineered starvation is not an accident. It is a strategya form of collective punishment on a scale rarely seen in modern times. We have already failed the people of Gazaagain and again. We failed when we looked the other way as children were buried in rubble. We failed when we allowed our tax dollars to fund the very bombs that wiped out refugee camps. We failed when we kept pretending there was still a line Israel wouldnt cross. Now Katz is telling usexplicitlywhat comes next: mass internment and forced expulsion. And unless we rise up with every ounce of outrage we have, we will fail again. Lets be absolutely clear: the infrastructure for this plan is already being built. Netanyahu and Trump are lobbying corrupt governments in the Global South to accept the deported. This is not a negotiating tactic to strengthen Israels position in ceasefire talksit is the next phase of a genocide weve been watching in real time for nearly two years. And what is the U.S. government doing? Still issuing meaningless statements about Israels right to defend itself. Still shipping weapons. Still blocking accountability at the United Nationsand even sanctioning officials like UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for daring to speak out. President Trump could stop this todayby cutting off military aid, backing the International Criminal Courts investigations, and declaring that forced displacement of Palestinians will not be tolerated. But instead, hes still dreaming of turning Gaza into a Middle Eastern resort for the ultra-rich. Meanwhile, more Arab governments stand ready to normalize ties with Israel, making deals with war criminals while their fellow Arabs are starved, bombed, and now threatened with mass exile. Where is the outcry from Cairo, Riyadh, Amman? Is there absolutely no red line? One bright spot on the international scene is the Hague group, which will convene an emergency meeting in Colombia on July 1516. This growing bloc of nations has joined South Africas genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. These countries are taking a courageous stand to uphold international law and defend Palestinian life. Every nation that claims to value justice must join themimmediately. And here in the United States, every member of Congress must be pushedloudly, relentlesslyto take a public stand. No more vague language. No more hiding behind mealy-mouthed scripts. We demand immediate, public opposition to this humanitarian city planand a full cutoff of military support to Israel. This is a moment of moral reckoning. Choose a side. Dont fool yourself into thinking this cant happen. It is happening. The groundwork is being laid. The walls are going up. The deportation flights are being negotiated. Humanitarian City, Digital, Midjourney, 2025 There is no neutral ground. This is not a policy debate. This is genocideon camera, with diplomatic cover, and with our tax dollars. The time to stop Israels dystopian plan is not tomorrow. It is now. Rise up. Speak out. Flood the streets. Bombard Congress. Demand accountability. Stop the plan. Save Gaza. Before its too late. VANCOUVER, BC, July 11, 2025 /CNW/ - Silver Viper Minerals Corp. (the "Company" or "Silver Viper") (TSXV: VIPR) (OTC: VIPRF) is pleased to announce that it has closed its $3.6 million non-brokered private placement announced on June 18, 2025 (the "Offering"), issuing 11,993,149 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.30 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $3,484,161. Each Unit consisted of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one half of one warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Share from the Company at a price of $0.50 per Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issue. All Units issued in connection with the Offering bears a legend indicating that they are subject to a trading restriction for a period of 12 months following the closing of the transaction. The Issuer intends to use the proceeds from the Offering for drilling and other exploration activities at La Virginia and for working capital and other general corporate purposes. As consideration for their services in connection with the Offering, the Finders received a total cash commission of $86,484 and were issued 379,279 Finder's Units (the "Finder's Units") of the Company. The Finder's Units have the same terms as the Units issued to subscribers in the Offering and bears a legend indicating that they are subject to a trading restriction for a period of 12 months following closing. Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation beneficially owned by him, acquired 1,516,700 Units pursuant to the Private Placement for total consideration of $455,010.00. Prior to the Private Placement, Mr. Sprott beneficially owned or controlled 3,333,300 common shares and 1,666,650 common share purchase warrants of the Company representing approximately 6.2% on a non-diluted basis and 9.0% on a fully diluted basis assuming the exercise of such Warrants. As a result of the Private Placement, Mr. Sprott now beneficially owns or controls 4,850,000 common shares and 2,425,000 common share purchase warrants of the Company representing approximately 7.3% on a non-diluted basis and 10.6% on a fully diluted basis assuming the exercise of such Warrants. The securities are held for investment purposes. Mr. Sprott has a long-term view of the investment and may acquire additional securities including on the open market or through private acquisitions or sell the securities including on the open market or through private dispositions in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors. A copy of the early warning report with respect to the foregoing will appear on Silver Viper's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and may also be obtained by calling Mr. Sprott's office at (416) 945-3294 (2176423 Ontario Ltd., 7 King Street East, Suite 1106, Toronto Ontario M5C 3C5). Insiders of the Company subscribed for a total of 616,667 Units. Participation by the insiders constitutes a related party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the participation in the Private Placement by insiders does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release is not an offer or a solicitation of an offer of securities for sale in the United States, nor will there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About the Company Silver Viper Minerals Corp. is a Canadian-based junior mineral exploration company focused on precious metals exploration in Mexico. The Company is the operator and 100% owner of the La Virginia Gold-Silver Project in Sonora. The Company continues to evaluate and advance mineral exploration opportunities across key mining jurisdictions in Mexico and acquired the Cimarron Project in Sinaloa, Mexico in June 2025. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Steve Cope President and CEO Follow us on social media: X: @SilverViperCorp LinkedIn: Silver Viper Minerals Corp. Facebook: Silver Viper Minerals YouTube: @SilverViperMinerals Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Information This news release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to the terms of the Offering, closing of the Offering and use of proceeds of the Offering. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to exploration and development, the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing, the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations, fluctuations in the prices of commodities, operating hazards and risks, competition and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's financial statements, management discussion and analysis and/or annual information form available on www.sedar.com. The risk factors identified in such documents are not intended to represent a complete list of factors that could affect the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by law. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Uranium Corp. (CSE: GURN | OTC: GURFF | FRA: Q3J) (the Company) is pleased to announce that Ungad Chadda has been appointed as director of the Company. Mr. Chadda, who also serves Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is an experienced capital markets regulator and financial services executive having previously worked at TMX Group, the parent company of Toronto Stock Exchange. At TMX Group, Mr. Chadda was responsible for building and maintaining the investor base as well as supporting its public interest mandate and strategies to grow as a company. During his tenure at TMX Group, Mr. Chadda held progressively senior roles, including Director of Listings, TSX Venture Exchange; Chief Operating Officer, TSX Venture Exchange; Vice President, Business Development, Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange; President, Toronto Stock Exchange; CFO of TSX Trust; and SVP, Head of Enterprise Corporate Strategy and External Affairs, TMX Group. Mr. Chadda attended McMaster University, where he received an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in 1994, and received his Chartered Accountancy designation while working with Ernst and Young LLP in 1996. In 2019, Mr. Chadda completed the Director Education Course at the University of Torontos Rotman School of Management and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) and was named valedictorian of his graduating class. The appointment of Mr. Chadda follows the resignation of John Kim, who has served as director since August 2010. The Company thanks Mr. Kim for his invaluable contributions to the Company and wishes him well on his future endeavors. ABOUT GLOBAL URANIUM CORP. Global Uranium Corp. focuses on exploring and developing uranium assets primarily in North America. The Company currently holds key uranium projects: the Wing Lake Property in the Mudjatik Domain of Northern Saskatchewan, Canada; the Northwest Athabasca Joint Venture with Forum Energy Metals Corp. and NexGen Energy Ltd. in the Northwest Athabasca region of Saskatchewan, Canada; the Astro Uranium Project with Cosa Resources Corp in the eastern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan; and the Great Divide Basin District Projects, the Gas Hills District Projects, and the Copper Mountain District Projects in Wyoming, USA. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Eli Dusenbury Corporate Secretary and Director 587-330-0045 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release. A secretive competition to pioneer a new way of communicating with artificial intelligence chatbots is getting a messy public airing as OpenAI fights a trademark dispute over its stealth hardware collaboration with legendary iPhone designer Jony Ive. In the latest twist, tech startup iyO Inc., which already sued Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for trademark infringement, is now suing one of its own former employees for allegedly leaking a confidential drawing of iyO's unreleased product. At the heart of this bitter legal wrangling is a big idea: we shouldn't need to stare at computer or phone screens or talk to a box like Amazon's Alexa to interact with our future AI assistants in a natural way. And whoever comes up with this new AI interface could profit immensely from it. OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, started to outline its own vision in May by buying io Products, a product and engineering company co-founded by Ive, in a deal valued at nearly $6.5 billion. Soon after, iyO sued for trademark infringement for the similar sounding name and because of the firms' past interactions. U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson ruled last month that iyO has a strong enough case to proceed to a hearing this fall. Until then, she ordered Altman, Ive and OpenAI to refrain from using the io brand, leading them to take down the web page and all mentions of the venture. A second lawsuit from iyO filed this week in San Francisco Superior Court accuses a former iyO executive, Dan Sargent, of breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets over his meetings with another io co-founder, Tang Yew Tan, a close Ive ally who led design of the Apple Watch. Sargent left iyO in December and now works for Apple. He and Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. This is not an action we take lightly, said iyO CEO Jason Rugolo in a statement Thursday. Our primary goal here is not to target a former employee, whom we considered a friend, but to hold accountable those whom we believe preyed on him from a position of power. Rugolo told The Associated Press last month that he thought he was on the right path in 2022 when he pitched his ideas and showed off his prototypes to firms tied to Altman and Ive. Rugolo later publicly expanded on his earbud-like audio computer" product in a TED Talk last year. What he didn't know was that, by 2023, Ive and Altman had begun quietly collaborating on their own AI hardware initiative. Im happy to compete on product, but calling it the same name, that part is just amazing to me. And it was shocking, Rugolo said in an interview. Friday, July 11, 2025 - An undercover police officer has exposed the face of a man identified as Modo, also known by the alias Monster, who is believed to be behind a wave of violent phone-snatching incidents along busy highways within the city. Modo has reportedly been operating in high-traffic areas, targeting unsuspecting pedestrians and motorists stuck in traffic. He mostly operates along Juja Road, Kiambu Road and Thika Road. His daring acts have left many city dwellers in fear, especially during peak hours. The public exposure of the suspect marks a major breakthrough in the crackdown on urban criminal gangs known for terrorizing Nairobi residents. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, July 11, 2025 - There was drama in Kagio town after individuals who looted County Supermarket during the Saba Saba protests began returning stolen goods, with some even abandoning them along the roadside, days before the expiry of a 14-day ultimatum issued by the furious owner. In a viral video circulating online, some of the returned items are seen being transported in a pickup, while others were discreetly dropped at a local police station. The owner of the supermarket had earlier warned that anyone who failed to return the stolen goods within two weeks would face dire consequences. While she did not reveal what actions would be taken, rumors quickly spread that she had turned to black magic, consulting a witch doctor to spiritually summon her stolen merchandise back. Fearing supernatural repercussions, the looters began surrendering the items. The incident has sparked both laughter and disbelief across social media, with many praising the supermarket owner for using unconventional means to recover her stolen items. Watch the video. Drama as looters return stolen goods from County Supermarket after 14-day ultimatum - Some abandon items by the roadside pic.twitter.com/ifWbIItsNG DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) July 11, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, July 11, 2025 - A somber mood has engulfed Githurai after a young woman identified only as Njeri tragically lost her life during the Saba Saba protests, after being struck by a stray bullet while standing on the stairs of her apartment building. According to eyewitnesses, Njeri was not part of the protests. She had stepped out briefly from her house when chaos erupted on the streets. In the midst of the confrontation between protesters and police, a bullet, allegedly fired by officers trying to disperse the crowd, hit her. She was rushed to Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital, but despite efforts by medics, she succumbed to her injuries while receiving treatment. Njeris untimely death has sparked widespread grief and anger, with many questioning the use of live ammunition in residential areas during protests. Altria Group Inc_ cigarettes and logo -by Poetra_RH via Shutterstock Valued at $97.3 billion by market cap, Altria Group, Inc. (MO) operates as a tobacco company, offering a wide portfolio of leading tobacco products in the U.S. The Richmond, Virginia-based company owns several subsidiaries, manufacturing both combustible and smoke-free products. Altria Group is ready to release its second-quarter results before the markets open on Wednesday, July 30. Ahead of the event, analysts expect MO to report an adjusted EPS of $1.36, up 3.8% from $1.31 reported in the year-ago quarter. While the company has surpassed Streets bottom-line estimates in three of the past four quarters, it has missed the projections on another occasion. More News from Barchart For fiscal 2025, MO is expected to deliver an adjusted EPS of $5.37, up 4.9% from $5.12 reported in fiscal 2024. www.barchart.com Over the past 52 weeks, MO shares have climbed 24.8%, outperforming the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 6.6% return and the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Funds (XLP) 4.8% gains during the same time frame. www.barchart.com MO shares fell sharply on July 9, dropping 4.1% by mid-afternoon despite broader market gains, as the S&P 500 rose 0.3%. The decline followed a bearish note from Jefferies, which initiated coverage with an "Underperform" rating and a $50 price target, citing concerns over Altrias stretched valuation after its recent rally. The consensus view on Altria is neutral with a Hold rating overall. Out of the 14 analysts covering the MO stock, four recommend Strong Buy, eight advise Hold, one advocates a Moderate Sell, and the remaining analyst gives a Strong Sell rating. While the stock currently trades slightly above its mean price target of $58.50, the Street-high target of $65 represents an upswing potential of 11% from the current market prices On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com Friday, July 11, 2025 - Rising Kenyan sensation, Bradly Marongo, popularly known as Gen Z Goliath, is making major moves on the global stage - and he just gave fans a sneak peek of whats coming next. The former Kangemi hustler and digital star took to social media to tease his upcoming Netflix movie shot in Romania, where he had camped for almost a month, shooting the movie with global movie stars. The 27-year-old shot to fame during the Gen Z protests in August 2024. Standing at over 8 feet tall, he first caught the publics eye when a video of him calmly walking during the Gen Z protests went viral on social media. Since going viral, Bradley has travelled across the country for interviews and brand deals. He has worked with top local companies like Khushi Motors, Mobile-Hub Kenya, and Bespoke City Exclusive, which even designed a custom suit just for him. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, July 12, 2025 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has disclosed that he has constituted a special team to collect evidence against President William Ruto for crimes he claims are admissible before the International Criminal Court (ICC). Speaking in Seattle, Washington State, on Friday, Gachagua alleged that recent killings, abductions, and enforced disappearances in Kenya amount to serious human rights violations. He said his team is documenting these atrocities with the aim of filing a case against President Ruto at The Hague. I want to confirm that I have put up a team that is documenting all the atrocities, the killings, displacements, disappearances, and abductions taking place in Kenya, Gachagua stated. Calling on Kenyans abroad to support the cause, Gachagua urged collective action to "liberate the country" and ensure President Ruto is held accountable. Gachagua further claimed that Ruto's earlier ICC case, linked to the 2007 post-election violence, was only suspended and not terminated. Gachagua believes the new evidence will revive the matter. He cited alarming insecurity, saying many Kenyans now live in fear. According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), over 30 people died during the recent Saba Saba protests. The KNCHR accused police of collaborating with armed gangs. Friday, July 11, 2025 - Renowned preacher, Kathy Kiuna, of Jubilee Christian Centre (JCC), has opened up about the intense financial and emotional struggles she faced following the death of her husband, Bishop Allan Kiuna, revealing she nearly sold their luxurious Runda home to offset a staggering Ksh 196 million bank loan. Speaking during a church service, Kathy shared that the multi-million shilling debt had been taken to purchase land and construct JCC Parklands, a project close to both their hearts. But after her husband succumbed to cancer, the burden of repayment fell squarely on her shoulders. I didnt know what to do. The loan balance stood at Ksh 196 million. I thought Id have to sell our house in Runda, she said tearfully. In what she described as a divine intervention, Kathy revealed that just three weeks later, the bank contacted her and reduced the loan by Ksh 120 million, giving her a six-month window to clear the remaining amount. Faced with the huge balance, her close circle of friends rallied around her. In a show of extraordinary generosity and solidarity, they raised Ksh 74 million in just one hour, with some giving millions on the spot and others pledging to contribute later. God surrounded me with destiny helpers. The loan is now fully cleared, and the bank handed me the title deeds, she said, drawing emotional applause from the congregation. Watch the full video of her testimony. KATHY KIUNA nearly sold her Runda mansion to pay Ksh 196M church loan after husbands death - Friends raised Ksh 74M in one hour pic.twitter.com/QVRFVEMYLT DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) July 11, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, July 11, 2025 - A disturbing video has emerged showing uniformed police officers actively assisting the spread of the fire that engulfed Magunas Supermarket. The fire initially started at the small makeshift luggage bay, a minor incident that could have been contained. However, the situation escalated when individuals in police uniform were reportedly seen breaking the glass panes of the supermarket, seemingly aiding the fires access to the main structure. Once the flames had spread into the main building, the officers were seen casually walking away from the scene, raising grave concerns about the intent and coordination behind the incident. Watch the video. Magunas Supermarket Blaze!! Police officers caught on video aiding fire spread during Saba Saba protests pic.twitter.com/TqG4GGXFWs DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) July 11, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, July 11, 2025 - A symbolic tree planted by the late Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wangari Maathai, in Karura Forest was found cut down, in what conservationists are calling a heartbreaking act of environmental vandalism. The tree, which stood as a living testament to Maathais fierce legacy in defending forests and public land, was reportedly cut down as powerful cartels in Rutos Government move to illegally grab parts of the protected forest. A heartbreaking photo of the felled tree has gone viral, sparking outrage online and calls for immediate intervention by the Ministry of Environment and the Kenya Forest Service. Karura Forest, once saved from destruction by Maathais Green Belt Movement, now faces renewed threats as private developers slowly encroach on its boundaries. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, July 12, 2025 - Ida Odinga, wife of ODM leader, Raila Odinga, has made a heartfelt appeal to Kenyan youth to stay away from ongoing anti-Government protests. Speaking on Friday, July 11th, in Migori during the burial of Suna West MP, Peter Masara's son, Ida expressed deep concern over the growing number of young lives lost during recent protests. She urged youth to consider the pain their families endure when they are killed in such confrontations. "Before you go out to demonstrate, think about where you come from. If you go and get killed, your mothers - and I - are left grieving. I plead with you, do not go," she said. Ida also condemned police brutality, accusing security officers of using excessive force on unarmed youth. Drawing on personal experience, she likened the pain of mothers burying their children to the biblical story of Rachel weeping for her sons. "When we read the Bible, Rachel was very saddened when male children were being killed. In the same way, I am not happy in any way about the killing and maiming of our youth. It doesn't depend on where. It is wrong by all means, and I am very annoyed," said Ida. Recently ordained as a Canon in the Anglican Church of Kenya, Ida also sharply rebuked youth at the burial who heckled and pushed an ODM Governor, calling the behaviour uncouth and disrespectful. I was very annoyed by your bad behaviour. There is no way you can push a Governor that way. We are here to mourn, we are not here to politic. That is very uncouth and should not be repeated," Ida said. Her remarks come as Kenya witnesses a wave of youth-led demonstrations driven by economic hardship and alleged police violence. According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), over 30 young people were killed during the Saba Saba protests alone. Friday, July 11, 2025 - Rutos Government, through the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, has announced exciting teaching opportunities for qualified Kenyan teachers in the Caribbean! In a statement released on July 11th, Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu encouraged adventurous teachers to apply for the positions under a Government-to-Government program aimed at exporting Kenyan talent abroad. Subjects on offer include Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Agriculture, Special Education, and even niche fields like Air Conditioning, Auto Mechanics, Carpentry, Electrical Installation, Welding, and Spanish. To apply, youll need an updated CV, a Kenyan ID or passport bio-data page, and a degree, diploma, or postgraduate diploma in Education. Teaching experience is a plus! Applications are being accepted via this official Google form: https://forms.gle/H8k43Didej1ss6Gi6 Candidates must provide personal details, academic qualifications, and employment history. The PS also revealed no recruitment fees are required. Just passion, paperwork, and the willingness to take your teaching career global. For more information reach out directly to the diaspora team at kazimajuu@diaspora.go.ke The deadline for applications is July 18, 2025. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, July 11, 2025 - A female student from Kenyatta University has alleged that her life is in danger following a legal battle with the institution over her graduation status. The student took to social media to claim that the university is defying a High Court order requiring it to include her in the upcoming July 2025 graduation list. According to a judgment issued on May 22nd, Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruled in favor of the student, ordering the university to pay her Ksh850,000. The court found that the universitys failure to release her Continuous Assessment Test (CAT) marks for unit UCU 104 violated her constitutional rights. Justice Mugambi described the universitys actions as irrational, unconstitutional, illegal, and a breach of legitimate expectation. Despite the ruling, the student alleges that the universitys academic registrar has refused to comply and deliberately omitted her name from the graduation list. She also claimed to have received threatening phone calls from a lecturer, allegedly using a university line, after she lodged a complaint with the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic. The professor threatened my life, saying they wont honor the courts decision because they dont agree with it. I was forced to report the matter to Nanyuki Police, she stated. Calling the universitys actions an example of institutional impunity, the student vowed to continue pursuing justice. Kenyatta University is yet to issue a response. The universitys 57th graduation ceremony is scheduled for July 18th, 2025. Friday, July 11, 2025 - Hiram Kimathi, a police officer who went viral for openly criticizing Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomens shoot-to-kill directive, has been transferred from Kyumbi Police Station near Machakos Junction to Todonyang Police Station on the volatile Kenya-Ethiopia border. In a widely circulated TikTok video, Officer Kimathi condemned the directive and challenged Murkomen and Deputy Inspector General Douglas Kanja Lagat to deploy their own children to the bandit-prone region. He also rebuked President William Ruto for endorsing shoot-on-sight orders against looters during protests, reminding him of his 2022 campaign plea to then-President Uhuru Kenyatta not to harm his children. Kimathis transfer appears punitive, a common tactic within the police service to silence dissent. Officers sent to hostile or remote areas often face immense pressure to resign, avoiding direct dismissal that could trigger scrutiny into internal operations. Refusing to report to Todonyang could lead to Kimathi being branded a deserter, arrested, and eventually dismissed from service. Incredible escalation. The transferred cop fires back on his Todonyang marching orders, "take your own kids there. I'm not going". Cop Kimathi defies transfer, mouths off his seniors and call out Ruto for "shoot-to-kill orders" in a ten - minute late night rant. https://t.co/yrnBiqkaBl pic.twitter.com/NS3bXKa7a2 Saddique Shaban (@SaddiqueShaban) July 11, 2025 His transfer comes just days after he publicly claimed his life was in danger following his criticism of Murkomens controversial order. Cop claims his life is in danger for publicly opposing Kipchumba Murkomen "shoot to kill" order. https://t.co/4ZREa3kQIq pic.twitter.com/nj5qeiUjFz Saddique Shaban (@SaddiqueShaban) July 1, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, July 11, 2025 - Kileleshwa MCA, Robert Alai, has sounded a warning to the son of the late Member of Parliament, Ongondo Were, cautioning him against resigning from his job at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to pursue a political career. In a strongly-worded statement posted online, Alai, known for his candid political commentary, criticized the young mans move to contest his late father's parliamentary seat barely a year to the General Elections. Worst mistake this boy will make is to resign from his KRA job his father got for him recently to get into the murky world of politics when its just one year to the elections. I dont know who is advising this boy, Alai wrote. The late MPs son has reportedly begun early campaigns, traversing the constituency in a bid to consolidate support and connect with potential voters. The parliamentary seat became vacant following the tragic assassination of Ongondo Were. By Jody Godoy (Reuters) -President Donald Trump's antitrust enforcers recently cleared a string of multibillion-dollar deals in a week, demonstrating a willingness to settle with companies that marks a shift from the Biden administration. The U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission cleared three deals that were together worth $63 billion in June, illustrating how FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson and DOJ antitrust head Gail Slater are taking a different tack from their predecessors. The settlements, along with a return to formally cutting short waiting periods, provide certainty to dealmakers and could smooth the path for companies like Nutella maker Ferrero, which on Thursday entered a deal to pay $3.1 billion for cereal maker WK Kellogg. "The Trump administration's commitment to getting out of the way for non-problematic deals suggests a smoother, quicker process for Ferrero-WK Kellogg, assuming that there are minimal competitive concerns," said Andre Barlow, an antitrust lawyer in Washington. In late June, the FTC cleared candy maker Mars' $36 billion takeover of Pringles maker Kellanova after around 10 months. The same week, advertising agency Omnicom's $13.5 billion acquisition of rival Interpublic got the green light in less than seven months, after the company agreed to restrictions on its ability to steer ad dollars based on political considerations. Both deals still face regulatory review in other countries. Chairman Ferguson has been clear since day one. The Trump-Vance FTC is committed to getting out of the way of mergers if there are no competition concerns, said FTC spokesperson Joe Simonson. Deals subject to review in the U.S. must wait 30 days to close but antitrust enforcers can shorten the waiting period if they do not see a need for further review. More than 100 transactions have been granted shorter reviews since the beginning of Trump's second term, according to FTC data. The practice was suspended for most of former President Joe Biden's term to give antitrust enforcers time to investigate, frustrating dealmakers looking to close quickly. On average, companies agreed with one another to allow 18.5 months for their deals to close in 2024, according to data compiled by law firm Dechert. The firm suggested in May that the timelines had been extended by the Biden administration's unwillingness to settle with companies. DETERRENCE NOT THE GOAL Former FTC Chair Lina Khan often spoke about combatting corporate concentration, and how increased scrutiny should make companies think twice about entering potentially illegal deals. Friday, July 11, 2025 - A family is crying out for justice after their daughter, a young woman full of promise, died while in police custody under disturbing circumstances. The deceased, Julia Kariuki, was the daughter of a local chief. Witnesses say Julia was among dozens of peaceful protesters detained by police on July 7th during Saba Saba protests. However, what followed was a nightmare. Preliminary investigations and a postmortem report indicate that she was subjected to severe physical abuse while in custody, leading to fatal internal bleeding and trauma to the head. The postmortem, conducted under the supervision of independent pathologists, confirmed that Julias death was caused by blunt force injuries to the skull, consistent with a brutal beating. Despite initial attempts by authorities to downplay the incident, mounting evidence points to foul play within the station where she was held. Julias family is demanding accountability and urging the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to act swiftly. The incident has added to growing public anger over police brutality in Kenya, especially during peaceful protests. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, July 11, 2025 - Grief has engulfed the residents of Ngangari Village in Mbeti South, Mbeere, following the tragic death of Dr. Augustus Muchiri Njeru, who is reported to have taken his own life. Dr. Njeru, a respected member of the community and a professional in the medical field, was found dead under circumstances believed to be suicide. News of his passing has sent shockwaves in the community, as many remember him as a kind, intelligent, and dedicated individual who served others with compassion. Tributes continue to pour in from those whose lives Dr. Njeru touched both professionally and personally. Authorities have launched investigations into the incident, although no foul play is suspected at this time. The body has been taken to the mortuary as arrangements for a post-mortem and burial proceed. Friday, July 11, 2025 - Nyali Member of Parliament, Mohammed Ali, has sharply criticized Belgut MP, Nelson Koech, over remarks advocating for the use of deadly force against anti-Government protestors. In a statement issued on Friday, July 11th, Ali said calls for extreme measures by law enforcement only inflame tensions and increase the risk of chaos and unnecessary loss of life. Shocked by the remarks made by MP, Nelson Koech, endorsing a shoot to kill order against protestors. Advocating for the use of extreme force by police only fans the flames of unnecessary violence and risks eroding the respect for human life and dignity, said Ali. The UDA legislator urged fellow leaders to avoid inciting the police into actions that could push the country deeper into lawlessness. Ali further cautioned police officers to uphold their constitutional duty and warned that they will bear personal responsibility for any human rights violations. I urge the police to exercise restraint and honor their duty to protect life. They must remember they alone will be held accountable in court for any violations, he stated. On Thursday, MP Koech, speaking in Kericho, controversially said officers should shoot and kill if threatened, contradicting President Rutos earlier stance of shoot but do not kill. The Kenyan DAILY POST While wearables revenue fell 5% in the first quarter, Apples hardware portfolio remained robust. iPhone revenue increased 2% to $46.8 billion, driven by the new iPhone 16e and feature-rich iPhone 16 Pro models. These devices feature the A18 and A18 Pro chips, which bring new energy efficiency and AI capabilities to the forefront. Despite the headwinds, Apple reported $95.4 billion in revenue in Q2 of fiscal 2025, up 5% year over year, and set records in markets far beyond China, including the U.K., India, Brazil, Poland, and the Philippines. This quarter, Apples artificial intelligence (AI) strategy took center stage. With iOS 18, the company introduced Apple Intelligence, a tightly integrated layer of generative AI features for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro. Apple is also under increasing pressure in Chinas consumer market. Consumer trends favoring domestic brands, government restrictions on iPhone use by state employees, and fierce competition from Huaweis high-end smartphones are all legitimate threats. Historically, China has accounted for nearly 20% of Apples revenue, and even minor disruptions can have a significant financial impact. CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that, while tariffs had limited impact in the March quarter, estimates suggest they could add $900 million to Apples costs in the June quarter, assuming current global trade policies remain unchanged. Apples ecosystem is vast and increasingly sticky. It develops, manufactures, and markets consumer electronics, software, and digital services. Apple is well-known for its flagship products including the iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, iPad, and Apple TV+, among others. Rising U.S.-China tensions continue to create uncertainty, particularly regarding tariffs. However, while Apples China risks are real, I believe the overall picture is far more bullish. Lets dig deeper to find out more. This negative sentiment has weighed on Apples stock this year. Compared to the other Magnificent 7 stocks, Apples shares are down 15.7% year to date, trailing the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Indexs ($NASX) 6.5% gain. Apples (AAPL) long-standing reliance on China for both manufacturing and consumer demand has sparked concern among investors and analysts. With rising geopolitical tensions and tariff escalation, many people wonder if Apple can continue to grow in a world where its relationship with China is becoming more strained. Story Continues Global Diversification: A Quiet But Powerful Shift While Apples exposure to China may pose risks, the companys global innovation engine, strategic diversification, and constant focus on user experience are driving a larger transformation that many in the market underestimate. Many investors are missing out on Apples subtle but significant shift toward diversification, not just in where it sells products, but also in where it manufactures them. Cook noted that most iPhones sold in the U.S. this quarter will be assembled in India, while Vietnam now manufactures the majority of iPads, Macs, Watches, and AirPods for the U.S. market. The company is also expanding its presence in India, with plans for new retail stores and increased iPhone assembly operations in collaboration with Foxconn. India is more than just a manufacturing hub; it is also a growth market, with Apple reporting record sales in the region. Furthermore, Cook stated that Apple is increasing domestic investment in the U.S., with plans to spend $500 billion over the next four years, expanding facilities and teams in Michigan, Texas, California, Arizona, and elsewhere. Apple is even establishing a new facility in Texas for advanced server manufacturing. Apple now sources chips from a dozen U.S. states and works with over 9,000 American suppliers. Advanced chips made in Arizona and glass sourced from American manufacturers are part of a larger strategy to reduce China-related supply chain risks. While investors focus on tariffs and tensions, Apple is preparing for its next era of growth with Apple Intelligence, a suite of generative AI features and tools. In fact, Services revenue reached an all-time high of $26.6 billion, up 12%. From Apple TV+ to Apple Pay, Fitness+, and the App Store, Apple is developing recurring revenue streams that are less vulnerable to hardware cycles and international friction. Despite global volatility, Apple continues to reward shareholders. In the second quarter, it repurchased $25 billion in shares and paid out $3.8 billion in dividends. The board also approved a new $100 billion repurchase plan and increased the dividend by 4% to $0.26 per share, marking the 13th consecutive year of dividend growth. Apple ended the quarter with $133 billion in cash and securities and $98 billion in debt. Analysts predict modest revenue growth of 4.2% for the full fiscal year 2025, reaching $407.7 billion, with an additional 5.9% increase in fiscal 2026. Earnings are expected to rise 6.5% in 2025 to $7.19 per share, followed by a 9.3% increase in 2026. Apple stock appears to be slightly pricey, trading at 27x forward 2026 earnings. What Does Wall Street Say About Apple Stock? On Wall Street, Apple stock holds a Moderate Buy rating. Among the 37 analysts covering the stock, 18 recommend a Strong Buy, three rate it a Moderate Buy, 14 suggest a Hold, and two advise a Strong Sell. With an average price target of $230.92, analysts project potential upside of around 9% over the next 12 months. The highest price target is $300, indicating the stock could rise as much as 42% from current levels. www.barchart.com The Key Takeaway: Apple Is Playing the Long Game Apples risks in China are real. Tariffs may hurt, and geopolitics may shift, as competition in key markets heats up. However, Apples success is not limited to a single country. As Tim Cook put it, Apple remains confident that we can continue to run our business in a way that has always set Apple apart. While many people are fixated on quarterly iPhone shipments in China, they are missing the bigger picture: Apple is transitioning from a premium device manufacturer to a vertically integrated tech empire with AI, content, payments, services, and sustainability at its root, making it a great long-term investment. On the date of publication, Sushree Mohanty did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com LOOKING for a workout that strengthens your body, clears your mind, and immerses you in nature? Skip the treadmill and head to Djouce Mountain in County Wicklow one of Ireland's most rewarding hikes for fitness enthusiasts. With its mix of cardio, strength challenges, and mental wellness benefits, this trail is a natural gym with unbeatable views. Hiking is one of the best full-body workouts, combining cardio, strength training, and balance. Djouce Mountain, standing at 725 meters (2,379 feet), offers varying intensities depending on which route you take, which makes it ideal for different fitness levels. 1. Cardiovascular Endurance The steady climb from Djouce Woods to the summit will definitely get your heart pumping, which will improve your stamina and lung capacity. The moderate 8km round-trip route burns approximately 400600 calories, depending on pace and terrain. 2. Lower Body Strength The uneven, rocky paths engage your glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves much more effectively than a stair climber. The final scramble to the summit adds a functional strength challenge, mimicking resistance training. 3. Core Stability & Balance Navigating boggy sections and boardwalks requires core activation to stay steady. The rocky descent also improves proprioception (body awareness), reducing the risk of falls in daily life. 4. Mental Wellness Boost Studies show that green exercise (physical activity in nature) reduces stress, anxiety, and fatigue. The panoramic views of Lough Tay (the Guinness Lake) and the Wicklow Mountains provide a natural mood liftfar better than a gym's TV screens! When tailoring a hike to your fitness level, there are different approaches for beginners and more experienced hikers. Pick your challenge For beginners, it is recommended to stick to the out-and-back route from Djouce Woods, which is approximately 8 kilometres long. During the ascent, take regular breaks and focus on maintaining a steady pace rather than rushing. Using trekking poles can also provide extra stability and support throughout the hike. Intermediate and advanced hikers can challenge themselves by trying the 12-kilometre loop via White Hill, which offers a good opportunity to build endurance. To increase the intensity, consider power-walking uphill or adding a weighted backpack. For a full-day fitness experience, pairing this hike with trails around Powerscourt Waterfall can provide a comprehensive and invigorating challenge. To prepare your body before a hike and maximise performance while reducing the risk of injury, its important to do some pre-hike fitness prep. Begin with dynamic stretches such as leg swings and lunges to warm up your muscles. Wear supportive hiking boots that offer ankle support, especially on uneven terrain. Remember to stay hydrated and bring snacks like nuts or bananas to keep your energy levels up during the hike. Ultimately, if youre looking to break free from the monotony of the gym, Djouce Mountain offers a fun, challenging, and mentally refreshing alternative. Whether your goal is endurance, strength, or simply gaining mental clarity, this hike provides a rewarding experienceplus, the stunning views surpass anything a treadmill can offer. Your next workout is callingso lace up your boots and hit the trail! Here is a quick and healthy snack idea that you can make to bring along with you and enjoy along the hike. Berry bars Serves 10 Time: 30 minutes Ingredients 250g oats 125g mixed nuts and seeds Three medium eggs Two bananas Two tbsp honey 75g blueberries 75 g raspberries One tbsp Cinnamon Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180 celsius 2. Line a baking tin with baking paper 3. Mix the oats and nuts and seeds in a bowl 4. Blitz the bananas, eggs and honey in a blender for 2 minutes until smooth 5. Pour the banana and egg mixture over the mixed oats and fully combine 6. Fold in the blueberries, raspberries and cinnamon 7. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin 8. Bake for 20-25 minutes in the preheated oven until cooked through 9. Place on a wire rack and allow to cool completely before slicing into bars THREE Eurospar supermarkets in Kildare have been honoured with prestigious awards under the Eurospar Customer First Programme, celebrating their exceptional dedication to community-focused retailing and operational excellence. Eurospar Barnhall and Killboth operated by John Furey and Maurice Smythand Derek Walshs Eurospar Kilcullen were each recognised as Best in Class within the EUROSPAR network. These awards are among the most respected accolades in Irelands grocery retail sector, highlighting outstanding commitment to customer service and local engagement. The Customer First Programme sets the standard for excellence across the brands nationwide network. It evaluates stores based on rigorous criteria, including customer service, store presentation, and community involvement. Commenting on the achievement, Peter Dwan, Eurospar Sales Director, said: Meeting the high standards of the Customer First Programme demonstrates their leadership in the retail industry and their dedication to exceeding customer expectations. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to them on this well-deserved recognition. Retailers and store teams from across the country recently gathered at the Killashee Hotel in Naas for a special celebration of their achievements. An Garda Siochana have said that 92 brothels in every major town and city across the country were inspected as part of a major international operation targeting human trafficking last month. In a statement released by gardai, they said that between 1st and 6th June, An Garda Siochana along with other international law enforcement partners participated in Operation Global Chain. The purpose of the operation was to target "human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, forced criminality and forced begging in order to detect and disrupt organised crime groups exploiting vulnerable victims for financial gain." The joint activities particularly focused on detecting and disrupting organised crime groups involved in human trafficking, especially the trafficking of children, sexual exploitation, forced criminality and begging. Over the course of the operation, gardai coordinated a week of welfare visits to suspected brothels to detect potential incidents of sexual exploitation. READ NEXT: 'Heavy and thundery downpours' on the way as Ireland basks in hottest day of the year According to An Garda Siochana's statement: "Gardai inspected brothels in every major town and city in Ireland and in total 92 brothels were visited. 179 sex workers were interviewed with nationalities from Brazil, Romania, Spain, China, Dominican Republic, Poland, Latvia, Colombia, Taiwan, Panama, Czech Republic, Malaysia and Ireland." They added: "No victims of human trafficking were detected, however they were provided with information and advice should they wish to speak to An Garda Siochana further." As well as this, An Garda Siochana monitored 37 flights at Dublin Airport on Thursday, 5 June and Friday, 6 June. Gardai said: "Members of the Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit and the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit were present, carrying out enhanced law enforcement checks with the Border Management Unit of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. A total of 5,421 passengers were inspected arriving at Dublin Airport." One man was arrested as part of an ongoing human trafficking investigation for sexual exploitation and forced criminality. He was detained at Monaghan Garda Station under Organised Crime legislation. Gardai said that at the conclusion of the man's detention, a charge for Human Trafficking Contrary to Section 4(1) of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 was directed by the DPP. He since appeared before Monaghan District Court on Wednesday, 11 June where he was remanded in custody. A full file is now being compiled for the DPP. An Garda Siochana have said they "will continue to work closely with Europol and other law enforcement partners in the identification of new victims so they can be also removed from harm." They have appealed to any person who may be the victim of human trafficking or sexual exploitation to come forward and speak with them, either at a local Garda station, or to call the Garda Confidential Phone Number on 1800 666 111. Anyone with any information on these types of crimes are also asked to come forward. Sinn Fein TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, Natasha Newsome Drennan has hit out at 'empty promises' made by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael public representatives as the cries for funding on the N25 Waterford to Glenmore Road project get louder and louder from the local community. The Mullinavat native has told Kilkenny Live that following a reply she received from both the Minister for Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, no funding has been committed to the project. As a result, Deputy Newsome Drennan says The N25 Waterford to Glenmore Road project has been 'put on indefinite hold'. READ NEXT: Kilkenny woman appointed CEO of the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland "The N25 road is one of the deadliest roads in the State. We are seeing consistent traffic accidents along the road; tragically, there have been several fatal crashes," the Carlow-Kilkenny TD stated. "This is devastating local families and the community. I have raised the issue in the Dail, only to see it dismissed with vague replies. "The Minister outlined to me that he is responsible for overall project funding, but the planning, design, and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities," she continued. "It was also shocking to see that over 600,000 in funding allocated for the road was not used, and no funding has been allocated since 2022, despite the high number of crashes along this road. "We are seeing a growing trend from Government Backbenchers, telling communities that they have gotten an assurance or commitment from a Minister that funding will be put in place," Ms Drennan claimed. READ NEXT: Musical royalty confirmed for Kilkenny as music festival details announced! "But these assurances are nowhere to be seen when put directly to the Minister. We've seen this trend growing from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael locally, and nationally, with reducing student fees being one of the latest empty promises. "These empty promises are an insult to the public. They chip away at people's faith in politics. We need to see our public representatives be honest with the local community about funding for projects. We need to see an end to the empty promises," the Sinn Fein TD concluded. FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE A brave woman living in Kilkenny for the past 50 years is fighting for more to be done in all areas of the political to raise greater awareness and treatments for Lyme disease. Ann Maher has battled the horrific toll the cruel disease can have, battling severe side-effects over the past 29 years. Despite the immeasurable personal challenges she has faced since her health first began to decline in 1995, the Kilkenny resident has proven to be a continuing vocal champion for those inflicted with the condition. The little-known disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks and is usually easier to treat if its diagnosed early. Many people with Lyme disease can be treated by antibiotics by their GP but some may experience long-lasting, life debilitating effects. READ NEXT: Kilkenny woman with cruel disease meets TDs after years of being 'ignored' Most people with early symptoms of the disease develop a circular red skin rash around a tick bite, but that isnt universally the case and treatment can prove complex due to many unknowns in the medical profession. Born in Cullohill, County Laois in 1953, Ann moved to Kilkenny 21 years later to become a child care assistant in St Patricks Special School. After a number of months, she fell in love with the county and made the Marble City home, a place where she subsequently met her late husband Mick and laid down family roots. Unfortunately, life took a downward spiral in 1995, when Ann began to feel severely unwell. She jumped from one consultant to another, trying to find out what was causing her 'strange symptoms' but to no avail. Years of torrid side-effects followed, impacting Anns life immensely, with memory loss, stroke-like symptoms and extreme fatigue just some of the daily challenges that she had to overcome, with fear a constant as her husband working during the day left her in many cases, home alone and in fear of a medical emergency, a nightmare which was, unfortunately, credible with a number of hospital visits and bewildered doctors to follow. However, 2003 proved to be a year that offered a glimmer of hope and the beginning of a new chapter. After going to great lengths to research the disease, Ann became aware of a Lyme Literate in Switzerland and after weeks of communication via email and phone calls, the local woman was on the plane to Basel and a hospital in the city where she received the diagnosis she had suspected all along, Chronic Lyme disease. It was a diagnosis that brought some relief to the Maher family after years of turmoil. Now in 2025, Ann still stares Lyme disease square in the face personally and on behalf of other people. The Lyme disease advocate has devoted much of her life to shining a light on the day to day hurdles those with the disease face, both from the illness and the still relatively unfamiliar world that we live in. Currently, Ann works in co-ordination with her colleagues in Lymechat-Eire and Chronic Lyme Warriors England and Ireland. READ NEXT: Huge concert gets the go ahead for Kilkenny later this summer! The latter wrote to the Royal family ahead of Lyme Disease Awareness Month, receiving replies from Prince Williams Office and King Charles offices last week. Closer to home, Ann has written to all county councillors asking for awareness signs to be erected, which might prevent someone else from a lifetime of Needless Chronic Lyme disease, Ann said. "Unfortunately, people dont take it seriously, I wrote my story last year and friends who knew I was unwell only really understood how unwell I was after they read it." "The reason I do this is we have two young patients up in Donegal in and out of hospital and they (the doctors) dont want to hear about Lyme disease and thats replicated around the country," she said. "Its not about me anymore, its about young kids to notify schools to let parents know that there is a risk and to check their kids after theyve been outside." FOR MORE KILKENNY COMMUNITY NEWS, CLICK HERE China to take more active part in promoting comprehensive strategic partnership with Australia: FM Xinhua) 13:50, July 12, 2025 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 11, 2025. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership with Australia through a more proactive approach, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Friday. China is willing to work with Australia to prepare for the next stage of high-level exchanges, maintain the momentum of improvement in bilateral ties and properly manage their differences, Wang said. Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in the Malaysian capital on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings. Over the past three years, China-Australia relations have stabilized, turned around and achieved positive results, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. It proves that as long as the two countries uphold a correct positioning of their partnership, bilateral relations can develop steadily and continue to yield results, Wang said. The Chinese foreign minister noted that Australia's rational and pragmatic policy toward China serves the interests of both countries and aligns with the trend of the times. For her part, Wong said that Australia is committed to developing a positive and pragmatic relationship with China. Both sides are making every effort to prepare for high-level exchanges and look forward to achieving positive outcomes, she said, adding that dialogue and cooperation between Australia and China in trade, tourism and other fields have continued to make progress, and personnel exchanges have become increasingly active. Wong noted that Australia remains firmly committed to the one-China policy and does not support "Taiwan independence." Australia is willing to engage in candid communication and deepen cooperation with China to promote the sustained and positive development of bilateral relations, she said. Wong said that Australia supports the central role of ASEAN and is committed to maintaining regional peace and stability. The two sides also exchanged views on issues including the South China Sea and the Ukraine crisis. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 11, 2025. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Kou Jie) We came across a bullish thesis on Archer-Daniels-Midland on Pellom Value Investments's Substack by Tyler Pellom. As of 2 July, Archer-Daniels-Midland's share was trading at $54.45. ADM's trailing and forward P/E were 19.17 and 13.07 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Darling Ingredients (DAR) Soars 9% on Trump's Biofuel Policy A selection of pet food ingredients being prepared in a kitchen for quality and safety testing. Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) is a global leader in human and animal nutrition and a premier agricultural origination and processing company. Its vertically integrated model spans Ag Services & Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition, allowing ADM to manage agricultural commodities from sourcing and storage through processing and sale. This structure provides unparalleled capabilities to meet global demands driven by fundamental trends like food security, health and well-being, and the sustainability of the agriculture and food value chains. The company's diverse segments, including the higher-margin Nutrition business, contribute to overall business resilience. While the Ag Services & Oilseeds segment operates on high-volume, lower-margin dynamics tied to fluctuating commodity prices, ADM's profits have trended upwards over the long term. The essential nature of its business, providing access to nutrition worldwide, creates a positive structural tailwind from growing global food consumption. ADM has a remarkable track record of returning value to shareholders through dividends, having raised its dividend for 52 consecutive years and maintaining a history of uninterrupted dividend payments spanning 92 or 93 years. The investment thesis for ADM includes its consistency in providing shareholders with a reliable income stream, even through various economic and commodity price cycles. The company has also returned significant capital through the combination of share repurchases and dividends, totaling $3.3 billion in 2024 and $3.7 billion in 2023. With an average cost per share of $43.90, the stock has appreciated roughly 10% since the investment began. The plan is to maintain the current position and wait for more opportunity later. Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on Archer-Daniels-Midland, on Value Investing Subreddit Page by Individual_Ad5883. The current summary by Tyler Pellom presents a new thesis. Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) is a global leader in human and animal nutrition, with a vertically integrated model allowing it to manage agricultural commodities. The company's diverse segments contribute to overall business resilience. The investment thesis for ADM includes its consistency in providing shareholders with a reliable income stream and returning significant capital through dividends and share repurchases. The stock has appreciated roughly 10% since the investment began. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Chance of a shower or two during the morning, followed by partly cloudy skies this afternoon. High 87F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 72F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is launching an AI agent marketplace next week and Anthropic is one of its partners, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. The AWS agent marketplace launch will take place at the AWS Summit in New York City on July 15, two people familiar with the development told TechCrunch. AWS and Anthropic did not respond to requests for comments. AI agents are ubiquitous nowadays. And every single investor in Silicon Valley is bullish on startups building them even if there is some disagreement on exactly what defines an AI agent. The term is somewhat ambiguous and is loosely used to describe computer programs that can make decisions and perform tasks independently, such as interacting with software, by using an AI model at the backend. AI behemoths such as OpenAI and Anthropic are promoting it as the next big thing in tech. However, the distribution of AI agents poses a challenge, as most companies offer them in silos. AWS appears to be taking a step to address this with its new move. The companys dedicated agent marketplace will allow startups to directly offer their AI agents to AWS customers. The marketplace will also allow enterprise customers to browse, install, and look for AI agents based on their requirements from a single location, a source said. That could give Anthropic and other AWS agent marketplace partners a considerable boost. Anthropic, which already has Amazons backing and is reportedly in line for another multibillion-dollar investment from the e-commerce company, views AIs future primarily in terms of agents at least for the coming years. Anthropic builds AI agents in-house and enables developers to create them using its API. AWS marketplace would help Anthropic reach more customers, including those who may already use AI agents from its rivals, such as OpenAI. Anthropics involvement in the marketplace could also attract more developers to use its API to create more agents, and eventually increase its revenues. The company already hit $3 billion in annualized revenue in late May. Like any other online marketplace, AWS will take a cut of the revenue that startups earn from agent installations. However, this share will be minimal compared to the marketplaces potential to unlock new revenue streams and attract customers. The marketplace model will allow startups to charge customers for agents. The structure is similar to how a marketplace might price SaaS offerings rather than bundling them into broader services, one of the sources said. Amazon is not the first tech giant to offer a marketplace for agents. In April, Google Cloud introduced an AI Agent Marketplace to help developers and businesses list, buy, and sell AI agents. Microsoft also introduced a similar offering, called Agent Store, within Microsoft 365 Copilot a month later. Similarly, enterprise software providers, including Salesforce and ServiceNow, have their own agent marketplaces. That said, we have yet to see how successful these marketplaces are for smaller AI startups and enterprises seeking specific AI agents. Weather Alert ...EXTREME HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 110. * WHERE...Portions of southwest Illinois and central, east central, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The long duration of this event is likely to worsen heat related impacts, and additional extensions may be needed beyond Thursday as forecast confidence increases. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. People in the Saint Louis Metropolitan Area can get information about cooling centers or energy assistance related to the excessive heat by calling the United Way of Greater Saint Louis at 800-427-4626, or if calling from a land line phone dial 2-1-1. You can also call Cool Down Saint Louis at 314-241-7668. && COLUMBIA Missouri Task Force 1 has been in Texas for three days, but officials say there are details about the mission they can't discuss. Gale Blomenkamp, assistant chief of the Boone County Fire Protection District, told KOMU 8 the Federal Emergency Management Agency has blocked him from discussing details about MO-TF1's operations in Texas. "They're just wanting us to stay away from specifics about the mission," Blomenkamp said. "Nothing really changes for us. We don't report on those types of specifics that they're not wanting people to talk about." Blomenkamp said that another member will join the 52 members of MO-TF1 in Kerr County, Texas, bringing the total number of members deployed to 53. Fifty members left the Fire District's headquarters in Columbia on Monday, and two more members left Tuesday. The specialized Type III deployment now includes five human remains detection canines and handlers, as well as an additional search team manager. MO-TF1 has also sent two members as part of the Incident Support Team. MO-TF1 arrived in San Antonio Tuesday night. The task force then received its first mission Wednesday morning. Colorado Task Force 1 was also activated the same time MO-TF1. Rhonda Scholting, spokesperson for CO-TF1, went more in depth about the information restrictions the task forces are facing. Scholting said that there is a process to release information. Any requests to release information on social media must go through FEMA's public information officer, who may or may not approve them. Then it's up to the task force officers to facilitate an interview with local media. She said this has always been the process for the 10 years she has worked with CO-TF1. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Blomenkamp described MO-TF1's process for releasing information. "If there's anybody in Kerr County that is deployed on the deployment on ground, if they're going to do any interviews with media, that's what's got to go through their local PIOs that are working out there in Kerr County," Blomenkamp said. "We can talk to our local media. I can talk about what we're doing ... just generally speaking, what we're doing. I'm not going to speak of the specifics that they're cautioning us about anyway. That's not the way we operate." FEMA workers claim they ran into red tape while trying to assemble resources in response to the Texas flooding because of new guidelines implemented by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. FEMA officials said they were unable to pre-position Urban Search and Rescue crews, like MO-TF1, from across the country to Texas as floodwaters dramatically rose to levels not seen in decades, CNN reported. Several FEMA officials have also shared Noem enacted a new rule requiring that she personally sign off on any department contract or grant over $100,000 before funds can be utilized, CNN reported. WATCH: Official explains why MO-TF1 was activated days after flooding began FEMA activated Missouri Task Force 1 on Monday to respond to deadly flooding that began Friday in the Texas Hill Country. "I can tell you there are deployments where we've sent a full Type I task force, 80 people, and it's cost over a million dollars for the deployment," Blomenkamp said. "We will have a total of 53 people activated from Missouri Task Force 1 down there. ... I'm not sure what other teams cost, but I can tell you that ours, this will be upwards of a million dollars if we're there for a week to two weeks." However, Blomenkamp also believes that everything is going according to process, and the timing was about normal. "There's a total difference between a no-notice event like flash flooding or a man-made disaster or an earthquake, than there is from a hurricane." Blomenkamp said. "You don't have that luxury. So it is a different type of system when it comes to no-notice events and deploying resources. And to my knowledge, this one worked exactly the way it was supposed." Updated 4:26 p.m. ET July 10 Bain Capital is thinking of moving on from Canada Goose Holdings Inc. More from WWD The private equity giant which bought 70 percent of the parka maker in 2013 and then took it public in 2017 is talking to bankers about selling off some or all of its remaining stake in the business, according to a source familiar with the process. Bloomberg earlier reported the talks. Bain still holds about 30.8 million of the 96.8 million Canada Goose shares outstanding as of March, according to a regulatory filing. But since Bains stake covers 60.5 percent of the companys multiple voting shares which have 10 times the say of the regular stock the private equity player still holds 55.5 percent of the voting power. Dani Reiss, who leads the firm as chairman and chief executive officer, has retained about 31.3 percent of the companys voting power, most of it tied up in multiple voting shares. Investors were keen on the idea of a little action in the stock and traded Canada Goose up 4.1 percent to $13.46 on Wall Street Thursday. Thats a far cry from the stocks peak of over $72 in 2018, but still gives the company a market capitalization of $1.3 billion a good turn considering the company was said to be valued at about $250 million when Bain bought in and Ryan Cotton, who is now a partner, helped steer the investment forward. Starting in the late 1990s, Reiss transformed the small private label producer founded by his grandfather Sam Tick into one of the vanguards of the luxury outerwear trend. But Canada Goose is based on more than the revelation that ones taste in fashion can indeed be shown to the world in the wintertime. Reiss has always described the brand as rooted in function, keeping shoppers warm first and then stylish. Since last year hes had some more help on the design front with Haider Ackermann serving as the companys first creative director while also serving as creative director of the Tom Ford brand. The brand became nearly ubiquitous on the streets of New York in the winter and has been expanding along a number of fronts, opening its own stores, growing its business in Europe and branching out into China and more. As Canada Gooses brand grew, the wholesale business has been deemphasized. The company bought footwear maker Baffin Inc. in 2018, formed a joint venture for Japan in 2022 and acquired luxury knitwear producer Paola Confectii in 2023. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) is one of the Top 10 Transportation and Industrial Stocks to Buy Now. Baird resumed coverage of the companys stock with a Neutral rating and a price objective of $231, as reported by The Fly. The firm is resuming coverage on the broader trucking, logistics, and rail sectors and has a constructive, but balanced view of the near-term headwinds, risks, and earnings prospects. Furthermore, the firms analyst highlighted that the conditions that typically precede a turn are largely in place. However, how the remainder of 2025 unfolds is still uncertain. Baird Resumes Coverage of Union Pacific (UNP) Stock With a Neutral Rating An intermodal container train winding through a rural landscape. In Q1 2025, Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)s operating revenue came in at $6.0 billion, which remained flat on 7% volume growth, while strong core pricing gains were offset by business mix, reduced fuel surcharge revenue, lower other revenue, as well as impact from the leap year. Freight revenue of $5.7 billion rose 1% despite a ~$70 million impact of having one less day in the quarter. Talking about the freight revenue drivers, Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)s robust volume growth in Q1 2025 added 650 bps to the freight revenue. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) has affirmed its 2025 outlook. Its 2025 EPS growth is expected to be consistent with attaining its 3-year EPS CAGR view of high single to low double-digit growth. Bretton Capital Management, an investment management company, released its Q4 2024 investor letter. Here is what the fund said: The main detractor was Dream Finders, taking 1.5% off the fund, and Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) was a minor detractor with a -0.2% impact. The rail industry has seen tepid revenue growth the past few years as higher-revenue coal volume declines and is replaced by lower-revenue intermodal volume sourced from ocean and truck carriers. Despite the growth challenge, Union Pacific managed to cut costs and grow earnings per share by 6%. The stock returned -5%. While we acknowledge the potential of UNP as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 13 Cheap AI Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 11 Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest in Now Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. MILAN Trade wars, geopolitical tensions and the volatility of financial markets on a global scale are tightening purse strings across the globe, but Brunello Cucinelli continues to achieve healthy growth. According to preliminary figures, the Solomeo, Italy-based companys sales momentum that kicked off 2025 continued into the second quarter. Sales grew 10.2 percent to 684 million euros in the first half of the year. The positive performance prompted the company to forecast 10 percent growth for both 2025 and 2026 full-year sales and said it would likely report slightly improved growth in profit for the full year. That would compare to a 19.5 percent rise in profit in 2024 to 128.5 million euros. More from WWD As for profitability, by the end of the year, we will slightly improve our profitability. And we are very happy about that, said Brunello Cucinelli told analysts during the first-half conference call. The fact is that we have an Italian company pay taxes in Italy this is our struggle, you know, with regard to improving the profits. We will never bring or transfer our company to the Netherlands, to Luxembourg, Cucinelli added. Cucinelli added that his motivation for staying in Italy is in large part to support the wider supply chain. We are serious Italian entrepreneurs who believe in made-in-Italian manufacturing with high-end craftsmanship, high-end exclusivity, high-end quality. We want to work on a local level in Italy. Geographically, the firm posted buoyant sales in all key markets. Revenues generated in Asia outpaced, rising 12.5 percent in the first half to 195.7 million euros. In Asia, the brand is considered to be extremely fashionable. Weve been concentrating on the relevance of the brand more than anything else. Our brand is young and even younger in Asian countries. We need to work on the depth of the brand more than anything else, said chief executive officer Luca Lisandroni, commenting on the positive performance throughout the continent, particularly in China. Sales in Europe grew 10 percent to 243.1 million euros while the Americas, its biggest market by sales, grew 8.7 percent to 245.2 million euros. The [performance in Americas] shows that negative psychological effects due to the tariffs havent had any negative consequences up to now, Lisandroni added. U.S. President Trumps tariff policy imposed on Italian goods will drive prices of Brunello Cucinellis products higher by 4 percent, but only in America, the company said. If youre running loads without a formal review process in place, youre running blind. Every missed appointment, every unpaid detention, every I thought we agreed on that moment it all comes back to one thing: a lack of structure. And in this industry, mistakes dont just cost time they cost money, relationships, and your reputation. Too many carriers are quick to blame brokers, drivers, or shippers when things go sideways. But if you dont have a checklist in place to review every load before it moves, the fault starts in your own house. This aint about playing defense this is about taking control of your process, your operation, and ultimately your profit. So lets break it down. Im going to walk you step-by-step through how to build a load review checklist that keeps mistakes out of your operation and ensures every load runs clean, tight, and profitable. Why You Need a Load Review Checklist in the First Place Trucking moves fast. But when you move fast without checking the details, you leave money on the table or worse, you create fires your team has to put out later. Heres what usually goes wrong when you skip a proper load review: Rate confirmation errors Wrong pickup or delivery times Missed accessorials like detention or layover Incorrect equipment assigned Incomplete driver instructions Routing issues that cause late arrivals No backup contacts if something goes wrong Now multiply that by 5, 10, or 15 loads a week and youre not just dealing with headaches. Youre bleeding out in your back office. A proper checklist catches all of this upfront. It slows you down just enough to speed everything else up. Step 1 Build the Review Into Your Load Intake Process Your load review process doesnt start after the load is dispatched. It starts right when the load gets booked before you send it to dispatch, before the driver ever sees it. This means your checklist lives inside your load intake workflow, not as an afterthought. Whether you use a TMS, spreadsheet, or just a paper file, every load should go through the same checklist before its marked ready. If youve got a team, train them to use the checklist the same way, every time. If youre solo, train yourself to stop cutting corners. Structure isnt a luxury its survival. Step 2 The Essentials You Cant Skip Heres what needs to be on every single load review checklist no exceptions: Load Information Filter King opened this manufacturing and distribution center at 2701 Baglyos Circle in Bethlehem Township, according to a news release July 8, 2025. Courtetsy of Filter King A maker of HVAC and furnace air filters has opened a new manufacturing and distribution center in Bethlehem Township, marking its third facility and second expansion in 2025. Filter Kings 61,600-square-foot operation at 2701 Baglyos Circle will create up to 120 jobs in the Lehigh Valley while strengthening the companys ability to serve northeast markets, according to a news release. The facility joins Filter Kings headquarters in Miami, Florida, and its second location in Las Vegas, Nevada, which opened in February. With the Bethlehem Township addition, the company now operates 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space across three states and employs more than 125 people nationwide, according to the news release issued Tuesday, July 8. Our goal is to reach the entire continental U.S. with next-day delivery, said Rick Hoskins, founder and CEO of Filter King. With the addition of the Pennsylvania facility, we are well on our way to achieving this goal. The Bethlehem Township location was chosen for its proximity to Philadelphia and New York City. The site places Filter King within a seven-hour drive of 40% of the U.S. population. The expansion comes amid what the company describes as unprecedented growth in its direct-to-consumer sales. In the second quarter of 2025, we produced and shipped more filters than in any single quarter in our nine-year history, Hoskins said. Local economic development officials welcomed the investment. Filter Kings investment in the Lehigh Valley continues the regions growth as a center of diverse and innovative manufacturing, said Don Cunningham, president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. Filter King specializes in high-quality HVAC and furnace air filters for residential, commercial and industrial applications. The family-owned business manufactures UL-certified filters and distributes them through direct-to-consumer platforms and commercial channels serving property management firms, hospitals, schools and government facilities. For more information, visit filterking.com. Generative AI was used to organize information for this story, based on data provided by Filter King LLC. It was reviewed and edited by Lehigh Valley Live. Jana Kramer (right) has some reservations about sunscreen. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP One Tree Hill alum Jana Kramer knows not everyone will agree with her sunscreen hot take. Kramer, 41, who shares daughter Jolie, 9, and son Jace, 6, with ex-husband Mike Caussin and son Romeo, 19 months, with husband Allan Russell, says she doesnt always put sunscreen on her children. Im gonna get a lot of hate on this. I dont use sunscreen on my kids unless [theyre] going to be for hours outside, because I know they dont burn, Kramer admitted during a recent episode of her Whine Down podcast. Theres so much bad stuff in sunscreen that if were not going to be out there for more than a couple hours listen, come at me, but Im just not putting it on." Kramer noted that shell often put sunscreen on baby Romeos neck and ears, but tends to skip it for her older two children. I havent put any on them because Im like, Theyre not getting burned, she explained. Whats worse, the burn, or the suntan lotion? Kramer isnt alone in her concerns. Wariness about sunscreens potential health risks are on the rise. But is skipping sun protection really the healthiest choice? Dr. Elnaz Firoz of the Warren Alpert Medical School shared her insights on the matter during a Q&A with Brown University earlier this month. Some data have shown that some ingredients in chemical sunscreens may be detected in the bloodstream after application, Dr. Firoz acknowledged. Some research has shown that they can disrupt hormonal systems, for example. More research is needed to fully elucidate and understand these observations. Mineral sunscreens, however, have not been observed to have these same effects on the body, Dr. Firoz said. Mineral sunscreens are the only type of sunscreen allowed in Hawaii and Australia, and I think theyll be the sunscreen of choice for most people in the U.S. in five or 10 years, the medical professional predicted. READ MORE: TV star says famous husband put their kids on TV against her wishes: Still fighting about it As for skipping sunscreen altogether, Dr. Firoz warned that all types of skin cancer are on the rise. I tell patients that generally speaking, their risk for skin cancer will be lower if they practice sun safe behaviors, which includes wearing sunscreen, she said. Wearing sunscreen also slows the process of sun damage to the skin. As for people like Kramer who dont see a need for sunscreen if their children arent burning, Dr. Firoz shared an important point to remember: Even if your skin doesnt burn, a tan is still a sign of sun damage. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. A North Leitrim man has raised a remarkable 4,000 for the Irish Guide Dogs charity after completing a 50km walk across the county last month. Pat McTigue said he was ecstatic with the response to the fundraiser: It has been way above where I thought, said the Kilargue man who was hoping maybe for 2,000. READ MORE: Leitrim Ladies' All-Ireland SFC Relegation Final with Donegal fixed for Tubbercurry Pat undertook the walk with the support of his Samoyed-Husky mix Bailey, covering the distance from Drumkeeran to Dromahair and on to Manorhamilton over the course of a weekend. Although Bailey needed to take breaks along the way, Pat pushed ahead, often joined by supporters for stretches of the journey. When Bailey got tired, Pat continued on his own before being joined by supporters along the way. It was a nice group there to meet mefriends, family, sponsors, and all that, he said. "It's something that not many people seem to realiseit costs an awful lot of money to train just one dog, you know what I mean? It's not just a few euro, it's a lot of money, said the Kilargue man, who was inspired to raise funds after witnessing the incredible work these animals do. This walk had been in the making for some time, but Pat had to delay it following a health scare a few years ago. I suffered a stroke three years ago, he shared. So Ive had my own challenges, but Im happy it went well. I had a good support team. He also paid tribute to those who helped make the fundraiser a success: The local radio, Ocean FM, were very good to me, as were the businesses in Manorhamilton and Glenfarne, and people I know from all over they all rallied around me. The Irish Guide Dogs charity trains dogs to support people who are blind or vision impaired, as well as families of children with autism. Pats contribution will help fund the continued training and care of these vital companions. READ MORE: Tunes, Tales and Tradition: OCarolan Harp Festival returns to Leitrim border "We are never going to stop shouting for this and the entire town is behind us and the need for a new school in Carrick-on-Shannon," Louise Murray, long-time campaigner for a new building for Scoil Mhuire told us this week. Earlier this week, the Leitrim Observer reported that Sligo/Leitrim Senator Nessa Cosgrove had raised the issue in the Seanad. Ms Murray who is on the school's Board of Management and leads the New School Committee added: "This has been a hot topic for a long time now and we are not letting it go." She continued: "At this stage it is coming up on 13 years since we began campaigning. Leitrim County Council have been incredibly supportive and included a site in the town plan. We've done everything that was asked of us by the department we've done and we're now onto our fifth or sixth prefab." READ MORE: Half a century with a death sentence and still here to talk about it She said that the additions are "such a waste of money; to be pumping money into two prefabs on a height that's difficult to access. There will have to be cranes hired and loads of groundwork will have to be done and then we won't have that green field space for children to play on." She was speaking after Senator Nessa Cosgrove stated that the Department of Education stated that: "The Minister failed to give any assurances that the new school building was even anywhere on the Governments agenda instead saying that the approach was to 'maximise usage of existing capacity' and disappointingly said that the ongoing Energy and Conditions Survey will be analysed to inform retrofit and refurbishment projects, but is unlikely to result in widespread replacement of accommodation. READ MORE: Sexual abuse victims 'deserve justice and meaningful redress must be delivered' The Labour Party Senator continued that she was calling on the TDs, particularly the three Government TDs, Marian Harkin, Eamon Scanlon and Frank Feighan to lobby the Minister for Education, preferably this week, to ensure that Carrick-on-Shannon gets the National School, that the County Town of Leitrim deserves. Ms Murray noted that the TDs are returning to visit the school on August 25. "To be fair, they have been lobbying. We're in constant contact with all four TDs and they are all putting in a word for us; constantly in touch with the Minister but there has just been no movement." Ms Murray said Senator's Cosgrove's efforts were appreciated and that "we appreciate that it's keeping our campaign current and letting people know that we are still very much fighting and we are not going to stop until we get commitment from the minister." She said that after the four Sligo-Leitrim TDs visited Scoil Mhuire in March this year, "they were confidant that the minister would visit our school and see it for herself; that hasn't happened yet but we are hopeful that that will happen as early in the new school as possible." READ MORE: New school in Leitrim is a 'matter of urgency', Seanad hears Ms Murray said that while Carrick-on-Shannon has "received a lot of resources over the last number of years, the school just seems to be right down at the bottom of the list of priorities; they've prioritised the layout of the town etc but haven't prioritised the children and if you are not prioritising the future of the town, it doesn't say much for your priorities." She said that while a number of "patch up jobs" have been carried out on the school but added that "there really is a limited amount you can do with what's there to make it comfortable for the staff living in those conditions." READ MORE: McIntyre says Leitrim just have to go again She added that space is "extremely limited; there are still special needs pupils being taught in corridors. Regardless of that, teachers are still doing an amazing job despite the conditions. It's a very united school and multi-cultural school. We do get downhearted though when the message we are getting from the government is that there is enough capacity in the school and enough provision for school places in Carrick because of the Gaelscoil but we are the town school who takes everybody in." A 12-year-old girl has sadly died after getting into difficulty while swimming in the River Suir in Newcastle, County Tipperary on Friday evening. It is believed the young girl was with a group of friends when she got into difficulty at the popular swimming spot at around 4:20pm. A large multi-operation rescue mission was launched after the group of friends raised the alarm. READ NEXT: BREAKING: Man in his 70s killed as gardai arrest man over fatal assault in Limerick Gardai, National Ambulance Service personnel, firefighters and the Irish Coast Guard Rescue helicopter 117 all attended the scene. In a statement, Gardai said that the girl was airlifted by Rescue 117 to Cork University Hospital "in a serious condition." However, she sadly since passed away. They added that a file will be prepared for the Coroner's Court and that investigations into the incident are ongoing. As the local community come to terms with the tragic events of Friday evening, local parish priest Father Michael Toomey has organised a prayer service in Newcastle Church for 12pm on Saturday for all those impacted. Companies offer all kinds of unusual benefits these days, from wellness retreats to executive gap years. At AI startup Rilla, employees get the chance to take advantage of a vanishingly rare corporate perk: a rent stipend to cover the high cost of living in New York City. But there are some strings attached. To receive the money, up to $1,500, employees have to live within 10 to 15 minutes of the companys Long Island City-based office, and are expected to work around 70 hours a week in person. Sebastian Jimenez, Rillas CEO and co-founder, says that the rent stipend is an incentive meant to limit commuting time so employees can designate it to their jobs instead. One of our core principles is to maximize productive time, says Jimenez, who started the company in 2019, and lives within a five minute walk to the office. If you live 30 minutes away from the office, thats an hour a day that you could be working. So far, around a dozen out of roughly 80 employees have taken Rilla up on the rent offer. And its certainly a tempting proposal given the perennially high cost of New York City rent. In the last year alone, the median rent for properties in New York City increased 5.6% to $3,397, according to data from Realtor.com. The rent benefit is just one example of Rillas hardcore work culture. The company uses a 996 calendar; employees are expected to work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days per week. Jimenez says the company also frequently holds off-site events on Sundays. Jimenez rejects the work smarter not harder concept, and says the only way for teams to be successful is to put in the most hours possible. However, he does advocate for a full nights rest. We want them to take care of themselves, to work out, to eat healthy. We want them to maximize their time and still sleep eight hours a day, he says. They can do this and still have one or two hours of leisure time in their day outside of work, which is plenty of time to do the important things in life. In addition to the rent benefit, the company also allows employees to expense at least two meals a day, and covers gym memberships. It also appears to offer generally high compensation for various roles. A product designer role has a salary of $110,000 to $230,000 per year, according to Rillas website, and a software engineer can make $200,000 $300,000. People working in sales have an annual salary average of around $350,000, says Jimenez. Rilla might be an extreme example when it comes to intense work hours, but companies are increasingly more comfortable asking workers for more. In a cost-cutting environment, leaders are being tasked with finding ways to get more productivity out of their employees without hiring additional people. In an internal memo to employees in February, Google co-founder told employees that 60 hour work weeks are the sweet spot for productivity. And a recent report from Microsoft found that the average work day is stretching later, with meetings after 8 p.m. rising 16% since last year, and around 29% of workers checking their inboxes after 10 p.m. LIMERICK City and County Council is offering up to 50 per km to cut hedges. The local authority has launched the Community Hedge Cutting Grant Scheme for the 2025/26 season. A spokesperson said: This initiative aims to support communities in maintaining clear and safe public roads by providing financial assistance for hedge cutting and tree trimming along public roadways. READ MORE: Fresh twist in 20-year saga of gas plant on Limerick/Kerry border Last month, The Irish Road Haulage Association called on local authorities to ensure that roadside hedges are cut back, in particular at busy junctions. According to the hauliers, overgrown hedges are blocking sightlines at junctions, obstructing road signs and causing more accidents on our rural road network. They also spoke of the cost of replacing wing mirrors damaged by overgrown hedges and protruding branches. The council spokesperson said they recognise the growing need for effective roadside maintenance to ensure the safety and accessibility of our public roads. Overgrown hedges and trees can pose significant hazards to motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, obstructing visibility and encroaching on roadways. The Community Hedge Cutting Grant Scheme is designed to address these issues by empowering communities to take proactive measures in maintaining their local infrastructure, said the spokesperson. The cutting season runs from September 1 to the last day of February. Application closing date is September 30, 2025. Priority will be given to roads used by school buses, public transport, and special needs services. The grants are based on actual length of hedging/trees that require cutting, not total road length. If both sides require cutting, the length is doubled for grant calculation. See limerick.ie for application form and more information. THE GRASS is greener in Kilteely as proven by the ODeas at the Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year Awards. Siblings Robert and Bernard ODea and his son Denis were named clover category winners at the ceremony in Teagasc Animal and Grassland, Research and Innovation centre, Moorepark in Fermoy. Donal Lyons, of Pallaskenry College, was a student category finalist. READ MORE: Depth of the market for land shown at auction of 95 acres close to Limerick-Clare border The overall winner of the Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year 2024 is Michael Ahern from Ballyduff, County Waterford. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Noel Grealish presented the awards. The awards recognise the best grassland farmers in the country and is now in its eight year. These farmers are growing and utilising more grass on their farms, contributing to sustainable livestock production systems. Congratulating the grassland farmers and students, Professor Frank O Mara, Teagasc Director, said: Its clear you and your families are all doing an excellent job on your farms, in terms of high levels of grassland management, running excellent farm enterprises. I congratulate you on your achievements in this years awards. Former overall winner, Knockaineys John Macnamara, chair of the Grass10 committee, said: Well done to all the farmers, students and their families here today. It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you all. You are the best grassland farmers. This is the All-Ireland title for grassland farmers. You can be proud of being here today. The Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year awards are part of the Teagasc Grass10 Campaign which is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc, AIB, FBD, Grassland Agro and the Irish Farmers Journal. There is an overall prize fund of 40,000. The Grass10 programme focuses on promoting efficient nutrient management, high grass/clover pastures, routine grass measurement and overall good grassland management. The judging panel for the competition consisted of Liz Hyland / Jonathan Flynn, Department of Agriculture; John Maher, Teagasc Grass10; John Farrell, AIB; Colin Heaney, FBD; John OLoughlin, Grassland Agro; Aidan Brennan, Irish Farmers Journal. WHAT A better way to end a fabulous week than to spend it at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby! The derby offers a three day extravaganza that attracts racing purists, fashion lovers and families alike! It is always an incredible day out at The Curragh in Kildare, with this year marking 160 years of hosting the illustrious derby. There was a phenomenal amount of style surrounding the event this year. READ MORE: My Week with Celia Holman Lee: Summer strolls and style: Limerick at it's very best! I found my perfect outfit in Sineads Boutique, Annacotty. It was a terribly hard decision as they always have fantastic stock available. The team in Annacotty were most helpful and I couldnt wait to wear the piece at this year's derby. Everything about the weekend was absolutely sensational, especially the style! A huge congratulations to Angela Belle McSweeney, all the way from Australia to win The Best Dressed at the derby. She was dressed impeccably, a real winner, showcasing a heavenly mix of charm and sophistication. The fabulous Clodagh McKenna was this year's judge of The Best Dressed 2025. Looking for someone with glamour, elegance and a touch of personality in their outfit, I think Clodagh found the perfect candidate with this year's winner Angela. This year's derby was a roaring success and heres to another year of style, elegance and glamour! XxCelia TWO LIMERICK schools have both received the Nature Hero Award for their work in biodiversity and environmental education. Athea National School and Naionra na nOg achieved the award to mark their great effort over the year and commitment to biodiversity and environmental education. Coordinated by Biodiversity in Schools and sponsored by Glenveagh, The Nature Hero Awards, received registrations from 316 schools around Ireland representing over 93,000 students. Speaking about Naionra na nOgs experience, teacher Yvonne O Sullivan said, We were over the moon to hear about our award, the whole school loved taking part in this fantastic initiative. READ MORE: Green-thumbed four-year-old Limerick girl wins top prize for her 'Pollination Station' It has inspired our practice and encouraged the whole school community to take a greater interest in biodiversity. We look forward to embracing a greater love and respect for our environment as we strive to continue to develop our knowledge and skills around biodiversity. The awards help schools to positively steward their local land, improving biodiversity and educating young nature heroes throughout Ireland. Mark Nolan, the Director of Biodiversity in Schools, spoke on the 2025 competition saying, We've been amazed by the incredible work undertaken by schools across the country to help their local biodiversity. A massive well done to all the schools who achieved 'Nature Hero' status this year. A special thank you to Glenveagh Homes for their continued support of this great initiative. The sponsor of the competition, Glenveagh Homes, expressed their support for the schools involved saying, We congratulate all the schools on their fantastic achievements. Biodiversity plays such an important role in every community and were incredibly proud to support this brilliant initiative over the last four years. Were proud to collaborate with Biodiversity in Schools on this excellent educational initiative, and delighted to see so many schools and children participate this year. The eyes were the first thing you noticed about Brijmohan Lall Munjal, founder of the Hero Group and a titan of Indian industry. They were steady, unhurried, and kind, speaking of a quiet wisdom earned over a lifetime of building from scratch with audacity, resolve, and ingenuity. There was an optimism in his gaze, as if he were scanning the horizon for possibilities others might have missed. His hands were that of a workman rather than of a business tycoon who had built a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Often he would insist on pouring out the tea for guests, adding spoonfuls of sugar for younger journalists. You need the energy," he would insist. This was a man who understood people as well as business and it was this blend of empathy and vision that turned a modest bicycle parts startup into one of the worlds largest manufacturers of two wheelers. Born in 1923 in Pakistans Lalpur district, Brijmohan migrated to India before partition along with his family. The four brothers - Dayanand, Satyanand, Brij and Om - started with a cycle repair shop in Delhi and soon moved into manufacturing components in Amritsar. Driven by ambition, combined with a shrewd understanding of what was the need of the hour, they shifted to Ludhiana to make cycles. Despite entrenched incumbents like British companies Raleigh, Hercules and Atlas, they built strong ties with the supply chain to emerge as the largest makers of cycles in the country. Cultivating strong relationships with dealers, suppliers and customers, would be a lifelong theme for Brij Mohan and was the basis of the fledgling companys incredible success over the next few decades. Majestic market leader Cycles, though, were just a stepping stone. Soon the group got into mopeds and by 1983 its unit, Majestic Auto, had become the market leader. The stage was set for its most ambitious foray, one that would catapult Hero to the front ranks of Indian business. In the 1980s, the Indira Gandhi government took its first hesitant steps to overturn decades of misguided socialist leanings and allowed Indian companies to tie up with MNCs for manufacturing. Munjal seized upon the opportunity to tie up with Japanese leader Honda for making motorcycles in the country. It was a fortuitous choice, both of the product and the partner. Scooters were what he wanted to make, but accepting that the presence of a behemoth like Bajaj Auto left little room for Hero, he turned to motorcycles. Honda, the most successful bike maker in the world, had its pick from among the heavyweights of Indian companies, including Bajaj, TVS and Escorts. For scooters, the more saleable product, it tied up with the Firodias. For motorcycles, though, it chose Hero, a testimony to Brij Mohans understanding of the industry, manufacturing practices picked up on frequent visits to Germany and Japan, and the quiet confidence he exuded. The newly minted joint venture placed its trust in the quality of its products, living up to its early tagline of Fill it, Shut it, Forget it." Motorcycles of that era were notorious for breaking down frequently and buyers quickly warmed to Heros promise. Post-liberalisation, customer tastes also changed, and young, urban Indians turned to motorcycles instead of scooters. CD 100, Hero's lightweight, fuel-efficient, and affordable 96cc four-stroke bike launched in 1985, became a game changer. In a market dominated by two-stroke bikes like the Yamaha RX 100, Kawasaki Bajaj RTZ, and the Yezdi, the CD 100 offered fuel efficiency, an early nudge to the question that Indian automobile buyers would henceforth ask, "Mileage kitna deti hai? (How much mileage does it give?)" By 2002, Hero Honda had done the unthinkableovertaking Bajaj as Indias largest two-wheeler manufacturer. It was the ultimate tribute to Indias potential. Two companies, bitter rivals in the market, had between them created a world-class two-wheeler industry. Indeed, while Bajaj and Hero traded barbs in the media (who can forget the formers insouciant ad campaign Kyun Hero"), it didnt deflect from the mutual respect Rahul Bajaj and Munjal had for each other. Munjal, for his part, rarely showed ill will towards anyone. For all his success, he had been dogged by setbacks, none more so than the June 1991 death of his eldest son Raman Kant Munjal at 41, who by then was running the company, allowing his father to step back from day to day operations. The tragedy forced Munjal to get back into the saddle and groom his second son Pawan to take over from him. Before that he had lost his eldest brother Dayanand in the 1960s just when the quartet were launching their audacious dreams. Before he passed away in November 2015, Munjal would face another blow when, in 2011, Honda decided to pull out of the two-decade-long JV to go on its own. The decision hurt him, but as ever, there was little recrimination. It wasnt the way he was made. Which is why when he spoke, it was with the wisdom not just of years lived but of lessons absorbed, of setbacks and tragedies met with equanimity, and of huge success worn lightly. When he passed away, Brijmohan Lall Munjal left behind not just a business empire, but a legend of resilience, relationships, and relentless ambition. (Bloomberg) -- An Italian court accepted some of UniCredit SpAs requests to annul conditions imposed on its bid for Banco BPM SpA, handing a partial victory to Chief Executive Officer Andrea Orcel in his plan to create the countrys largest lender. The Administrative Court of Lazio lifted two conditions imposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis government on the deal, according to a ruling published on Saturday on the courts website. The prescriptions that will be canceled relate to the Italian governments request to lower the loan-to-deposit ratio at Banco BPM and UniCredit in Italy for five years, and to not reduce the current level of Banco BPM and UniCredits project finance portfolio in Italy. The court decision can be appealed by the parties. Spokespersons for UniCredit werent immediately reachable for a comment and a spokesperson for the Italian government declined to comment. The ruling is a crucial decision for a landmark deal that has undermined a competing effort by the government to build a new banking group to rival UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo SpA. It is only one of several competing bids currently ongoing among Italys banks. Even if the outcome is a partial win for UniCredit, it isnt clear if the bank will continue to pursue its bid for Banco BPM. The offer period expires on July 23, and Orcel has warned the deal might fall through. UniCredit unveiled its unsolicited all-share offer for Banco BPM in November, when it became clear that the Italian government was looking to build a large banking group around the formerly bailed-out Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA. Banco BPM was seen as a potential candidate to merge with Monte Paschi. Orcel escalated the standoff with the Italian government in May, when UniCredit said it planned to file a claim with the administrative court over the wide-ranging conditions imposed on a potential deal. The bank said at the time it wanted the court to address the reservations existing on the legitimacy of those restrictions. In a move that could also affect the endgame over Banco BPM, Credit Agricole SA said Friday it is seeking to further increase its stake in Banco BPM, reinforcing its position as a major shareholder and potentially complicating UniCredits effort to acquire the Italian lender. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com GMR Airports Ltd and Adani Airport Holdings Ltd will be able to earn higher revenues after a tribunal ordered a fresh calculation of the maximum amount they can make from operating the Delhi and Mumbai international terminals, respectively. This, however, would make it more expensive for airlines and passengers to fly into and out of two of Indias busiest airports. Airport charges for the Delhi and Mumbai international terminals can rise by about 6% from the current revenue base over the next decade, as per analysts at Kotak Institutional Equities. The higher costs could be equivalent to 3.4% of the sales of IndiGo, Indias largest airline, according to the analysts. The carrier reported a topline of 80,803 crore for 2024-25. The issue centres around the calculation of the Hypothetical Regulatory Asset Base (HRAB), which governs how much revenue operators can make from an airport. The airport business is effectively a monopoly in most Indian cities, making it critical for regulators to cap the maximum earnings for operators to keep air travel affordable. Higher the HRAB, the more airports can charge in airport fees and tariffs. The Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) had excluded non-aeronautical revenues such as from airport parking, food courts, and advertising from the HRAB calculation at Mumbai and Delhi, only factoring in earnings such as landing fees and passenger charges. However, the Delhi and Mumbai international airports, which were the first to be privatized in 2006, challenged this system in 2012-13 arguing that both aeronautical and non-aeronautical incomes should be considered for calculating HRAB. The case went on for more than a decade. A tribunal has ordered a fresh revenue calculation for Delhi and Mumbai airports, allowing GMR and Adani to include non-aeronautical income like retail, ads, and parkingsignificantly increasing their earnings potential. Key Takeaways A tribunal has ordered a fresh revenue calculation for Delhi and Mumbai airports, allowing GMR Airports and Adani Airport, respectively, to include non-aeronautical income like retail, ads, and parkingsignificantly increasing their earnings potential. A decade-old letter from the aviation ministry played a crucial role in the courts decision, revealing that the original revenue model intended to include both aeronautical and non-aeronautical income. The higher revenues allowed for the airport operators could translate into increased charges for airlines and more expensive air tickets for passengers flying into or from the Delhi and Mumbai international airports. However, while the court ruling is in favour of the airport operators, its unclear whether higher tariffs will be implemented right away or postponed to a future regulatory cycle (FY29-34). Prior to privatization, the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) had included both aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues for calculating HRAB under a so-called single-till approach. At airports that were privatized after the Mumbai and Delhi airports, non-aeronautical revenue is given a lower weight in calculating the HRAB. This system is called the hybrid-till approach. In 2023, the Supreme Court of India sided with the Delhi and Mumbai airport operators after the submission of new evidencea 2011 letter from the civil aviation ministry to AERA stating that the original intention had been to use the single-till approach at Mumbai and Delhi. The top court asked the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to reconsider the calculation of HRAB to include non-aeronautical revenues. TDSAT has been the appellate arbiter for aviation disputes since the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal was merged with it in 2017. What about the lost revenue? The appellate tribunal in a 1 July judgment quashed the airport regulators tariff decision for the 2009-2014 period, agreeing with GMR Airportss claim that the aviation regulator had under-calculated the investment base (HRAB) using wrong methods. The appellate tribunal also said AERA had ignored a 2011 letter from the civil aviation ministry directing it to recalculate HRBA within 12 weeks. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had also confirmed in a letter dated 18 June 2018 that tariffs for 2008-09 were based on a single-till model, it said. GMR and Adani did not reply to Mints queries on the matter. Queries emailed to Indias leading airlines went unanswered. The recalculation of HRAB using the single-till mechanism will increase the revenue base for DIAL (Delhi International Airport Ltd) and MIAL (Mumbai International Airport Ltd) as non-aeronautical revenues are now included in the tariff calculation," said Aslam Ahmed, partner at Singhania & Co., a law firm. However, TDSAT in its 1 July order did not state anything about lost revenue recovery from the past. To claim interest and recovery of lost tariff, a separate suit has to be filed claiming the above reliefs," said Ahmed. Also Read | How Delhi Airport Terminal 1 fiasco exposes the sorry state of infra regulation The lost revenues could likely be used for the calculation of future HRAB using an accounting method called true-up, said an executive at one of the two airport operators. The executive spoke on condition of anonymity as the matter is sub-judice. As per the calculations of the Kotak analysts, the net present value of the lost revenue at Delhi, including interest, is about 17,500 crore, which if allowed, could be recovered from the 80 million annual passengers of Delhi Airport. Kotak Institutional Equities has raised its fair value estimate for GMR Airports from 91 to 96 per share. The stock ended Fridays trading on NSE down 2.10% at 90.36 per share, while the benchmark Nifty 50 index fell 0.81%. It remains to be seen whether the regulator will accommodate this tariff increase right now or if it will be postponed to the FY29-34 cycle, since they have already decided on the tariffs for FY24-29," said an analyst at a leading brokerage, speaking on condition of anonymity. Also Read | Heres why passengers can expect lower airfares at Noida airport A precedent Indias airports authority could still appeal the appellate tribunals decision at the Supreme Court. But the new evidence cited in the Supreme Court ruling supported the two airport operators interpretation, strengthening their case, lawyers said. In the event AERA appeals any future adverse finding, (the civil aviation ministrys) 2011 letter will act as primary documentary evidence affirming the governments intent," said Alay Razvi, managing partner at law firm Accord Juris. AERA can question the lack of enforceability of MoCAs (aviation ministrys) letter and say it is not a binding order. But it is highly unlikely as MoCA was the pre-expert body before AERA came into existence," added Ahmed of Singhania & Co. To be sure, TDSATs 1 July judgement is limited to the First Control Period (2009-2014), when AERA took over from the aviation ministry and set the aeronautical tariffs. However, it paves the way for the Delhi and Mumbai airports to get the same relief in subsequent periods too. The judgement by the tribunal establishes precedent value for other tariff control periods and other PPP (public-private partnership) airports with similar disputes," said Razvi. Between 1 July, when TDSAT passed its judgement, and Friday, 11 July, GMR Airports shares gained about 5%, while the Nifty50 declined 1.5% in that period. Adani Airports, which is housed under Adani Enterprises Ltd, is not listed on stock exchanges. GMR Airportss revenue rose 19% year-on-year to 10,414 crore in FY25 while its loss narrowed to 817 crore from a loss of 828 crore in the year before. Adani Airportss topline rose 27% to 10,224 crore in FY25 while it reported a pre-tax loss of 5 crore against a loss of 68 crore in FY24. While ChatGPTs meteoric rise in popularity has positioned it to rival to traditional search engines, analysts say the chatbot hasnt knocked Google out of the top spot just yet. Citi Research analysts led by Ronald Josey reiterated a Buy rating and $203 target price on shares of Alphabet, Googles parent, on Friday. The stock was down slightly at $177.18 in morning trading. Citi polled 2,400 Google Search users in the U.S. and found that the search engine remains core to most users Internet usage." The same conclusion held true across all age groups, Citi said. Still, the bank cited a rise in alternative search experiences" among young users, naming ChatGPT and Meta Platforms Facebook and Instagram as examples. ChatGPT has become the go-to" destination for younger users, with Google usage rising with age, Citi said. While 85% of respondents selected Google as their core search engine," with 72% saying Google was their first site to search online, differences emerged among age groups. Among users aged 41 to 55, 88% of respondents named Google as their core search engine, but that number dipped to 83% for respondents aged 14 to 24. With that being said, the use of AI agents appears to be more research-driven than commercial," as opposed to Google Search, where shopping was ranked as the top use case among respondents, Citi said. And the bank believes theres more to love about Googles growth story, as responses indicated that the use of other features such as Shopping and Travel continued to accelerate. Overall, the results suggest that Google Search is standing its ground for now, which is good news for Alphabet. Revenue attributed to Google Search and other services accounted for more than half of the total in the latest quarter. Google is set to report second-quarter results on July 23. Based on Citis preliminary analysis, we believe the broader online advertising environment, including search and YouTube, is healthy," the analysts wrote. Other firms have sounded the alarm about AI and its effects on Google Search. However, Citi believes the search engines advertising market improved throughout the quarter. Earnings will put that theory to the test. Chinas electric vehicle-makers are locked in a spiraling price war. Their suppliers say they are bearing the brunt. The countrys biggest automaker, BYD, recently lowered the price of a starter electric vehicle to the equivalent of less than $8,000. To hit such low prices, suppliers say the company and others like it are squeezing them by demanding lower prices and dragging out payment periods. BYD, or Build Your Dreams, often pays suppliers at first with an electronic IOU it calls D-chain, after the Dreams in its name. The suppliers may wait for the better part of a year before the notes can be cashed in. Suppliers say such payment methods are a nightmare for cash flow. But they are falling into line, desperate to keep orders coming. Overcapacity and lackluster consumer demand are driving the trend. Chinas car business is one of many industries hit by a deflationary wave that threatens its economy as trade relations with the U.S. remain tense. The phenomenon has come to be known by the Mandarin word neijuan, which has become widely used to refer to a situation in which people work hard and compete fiercely without anyone getting ahead. Neijuan often arises when an economy experiences unexpected downturns, particularly during deflationary periods," said Jianwei Xu, a senior China economist at Natixis, a French investment bank. Chinese EV makers, stuck with big factories that they need to keep going, are trapped in neijuan," Xu said. Prices for goods leaving Chinese factories have fallen year-over-year for 32 consecutive months. Profit margins in Chinas auto-manufacturing industry nearly halved over the past decade to 4.3% in the first five months of 2025, according to government data. Lower prices might look nice to consumers, but the race to the bottom is corrosive for growth, economists say. Squeezed suppliers have little room to raise wages and insecure workers arent likely to splurge on purchases. Suppliers say they are now asked for price cuts as often as once a month. Carmakers are tightening their audits and demanding information on what suppliers pay for materials. The carmakers ask suppliers to submit electricity bills, worker shift records and other cost data to justify their prices, suppliers say. And carmakers go to the suppliers factories to check whether the reported number of workers on production lines is accurate. Frustrated with such practices, some auto suppliers have begun to speak up. Guo Chuan, chairman of KH Automotive Technologies, last month penned an open letter titled I Have a Dream," which went viral for capturing their concerns. I have a dream that one day in Chinas auto industry, leading automakers and large suppliers will have a social conscience," he wrote. In a survey by the China Automobile Dealers Association, 84% of dealers said they sold cars last year at prices lower than the wholesale prices they paid carmakers. Last November, BYD asked some suppliers to lower prices by 10% as the carmaker was negotiating contracts for 2025, according to a letter seen by The Wall Street Journal. Market competition will grow fiercer in 2025, ushering in a final showdown, a knockout round," BYD wrote, calling for a concerted effort from our entire supply chain to achieve sustained cost-cutting." I owe you In the past five years, BYD has sextupled its revenue. Over the same period, its accounts payable, notes payable and other payableswhich analysts say are essentially the money it owes to supplierssurged ninefold to $54 billion, accounting for two-thirds of its total liabilities at the end of last year. None of BYDs recent growth has been financed with conventional debt," said Nigel Stevenson, an analyst at Hong Kong-based GMT Research. Instead, he said, the company squeezed suppliers to make money available for new factories and equipment. BYDs accounts payable, notes payable and other payables have surged ninefold to $54 billion in the past five years. Large companies around the world often take advantage of their position to delay paying suppliers by a few months, but the payment periods are stretched out even further in China. BYD suppliers say they typically get something within a few months of sending a billbut it is D-chain, the electronic IOU issued by a BYD finance subsidiary, rather than cash. The initial public offering prospectus of a BYD supplier, Guangdong Huazhuang Technology, offers a glimpse into the payment system. As of mid-2023, BYD accounted for a quarter of the revenue of the supplier, which makes auto parts such as brake-system controllers and cooling fans. The fast-growing company needed capital for a new factory and filed for an IPO in June 2023. One of its problems was poor cash flow. The company said it was receiving D-chain a month or two after its deliveries to BYD, which usually had a six- to eight-month term. Suppliers can sell the D-chain to a broker or bank, but that typically means losing a few percentage points of the face value to fees, say people in the industry. Stevenson, the analyst, pointed to an item on BYDs balance sheet labeled other external current accounts," which he said looks like a form of supply-chain financing. The item was included for the first time under liabilities in 2021, the year before the carmakers subsidiary started issuing D-chain on a large scale. It ballooned to $20 billion by the end of last year, accounting for nearly a quarter of total liabilities. BYDs annual report doesnt say to whom the $20 billion is owed. The government has begun to show concern. In late June, Chinas legislature revised its competition law to add clauses that ban large companies from setting obviously unreasonable payment conditions" or forcing suppliers to sign exclusivity agreements. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has urged officials to crack down on neijuan. Officials are looking into the risks posed by financial instruments used by carmakers including D-chain, people familiar with the matter said. Under government pressure, more than a dozen Chinese automakers including BYD pledged in June to pay suppliers within 60 days of product deliveriesa pledge many suppliers are skeptical will be upheld. The government moves dont address the fundamental reasons for the price war, said Ernan Cui, an analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics. While the leading automakers are profitable, there is a long tail of struggling firms that should probably exit the market, yet continue to produce thanks to ample government and private-sector financing," she wrote in a recent research note. Write to Rebecca Feng at rebecca.feng@wsj.com and Raffaele Huang at raffaele.huang@wsj.com This story was originally published on CFO.com. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO.com newsletter. Ken Cook | Wendys Wendys chief financial officer, Ken Cook, was named interim CEO of the fast food chain. He will take on the role on July 18 and will remain in the CFO seat. Cook joined Wendys as CFO in Dec. 2024 after spending 20 years at United Parcel Service. At UPS, he was most recently head of financial planning and analysis and was earlier chief financial officer of its $60 billion U.S. domestic segment. Cook replaces Kirk Tanner, who is leaving the company to become president and CEO of The Hershey Company. Chadwick Westlake | OpenText OpenTexts CFO, Chadwick Westlake, is leaving the company to become president and CEO of Canadian financial services firm EQB following the unexpected passing of its longtime CEO, Andrew Moor. In March this year, Westlake left his role as CFO of EQB to join cloud and AI company OpenText. He will rejoin his former employer on Aug. 25. Cosmin Balota, OpenText's senior vice president and chief accounting officer, will serve as interim CFO while the company searches for Westlakes successor. Balota joined OpenText in 2019 and has over 30 years of experience. Gregor van Issum | Wolfspeed Semiconductor company Wolfspeed named Gregor van Issum as its new finance chief, effective September 1. Van Issums appointment comes as the company navigates a restructuring after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 30. Since 2018, van Issum has worked at the light and sensor solutions company ams-OSRAM, where he has held various roles, including executive vice president, group controller, and chief transformation and performance officer. He previously served as vice president of strategy for NXP Semiconductors secure transactions and identification solutions segment and CFO of the secure identification solutions and analog mixed-signal units. Van Issum succeeds interim CFO Kevin Speirits, who will remain with the company to help with the transition. Narinder Sahai | Sinclair Narinder Sahai was named chief financial officer of Sinclair, a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. Before joining Sinclair, Sahai was CFO at leisure and hospitality operator Arcis, and before that, chief financial officer of omnichannel powersports platform RumbleOn. His earlier roles include head of worldwide go-to-market finance for compute and AI/machine learning services at Amazons AWS and senior vice president, treasurer, and investor relations at Target Hospitality. Sahai succeeds Lucy Rutishauser, who is stepping down as CFO but will remain as an executive vice president to support the transition. After her retirement later this year, she will take on the role of senior adviser. Elon Musk-led xAI, the maker of artificial intelligence chatbot Grok, is on its way to raise more money from investors, two reports said on Friday. According to the reports by the Financial Times and Blomberg, the deal, if materialised, could raise the value of the company to as high as $200 billion 10 times from its value early last year. The fundraising, which is being discussed currently, could start formally as soon as next month. This could also be the third largest share selling of the company in just less than two months, FT reported. xAI raised $10 billion through loans and cash investments in July, split evenly between debt and equity. In June it sold $300 million worth of shares in a secondary stock offering. The proposed deal would also cement a skyrocketing rise in xAIs valuation from the $18 billion it clocked during its series B fundraising in May 2024. xAI is now moving to raise another $10 billion, as per the report by Bloomberg quoting an anonymous source familiar with the development. xAI waited until the release of its new model, Grok 4, to proceed with the additional fundraising effort, the person said. Three people quoted by FT said that the new xAI fundraising is set to target a valuation of the company between $180 billion to $200 billion. However, the details could change, the sources said. Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund, PIF, is likely to play a significant part in materialising the deal, two of the FT sources said. The fund holds an indirect interest in xAI through its share at Kingdom Holdings Company, which has already invested $800 million in the AI startup. Elon Musk denies In a post on X Friday, Elon Musk said, xAI is not seeking funding right now. We have plenty of capital. xAI the result of a merger of X with Musks AI startup xAI would see its valuation climb in the latest deal, and cement its place as one of the worlds most valuable private companies if it reaches the $200 billion valuation. Also Read | Elon Musk says Grok AI coming to Tesla vehicles next week despite controversy Bloomberg previously reported that xAI is burning through $1 billion a month as it builds more advanced AI models. (Bloomberg) -- A Germany flush with cash to rearm against the threat from Russia is struggling to muster sufficient recruits in an already stretched jobs market. The military revamp, following decades of neglect, is playing out as society ages and more and more people exit the workforce. Those trends have already left firms lacking skilled staff and put officials seeking to swell the armys ranks in a bind. While other European countries face shortfalls too, the scale of Germanys task stands out. New NATO demands mean it must boost its regular army to as many as 260,000 from about 180,000 now, and add hundreds of thousands to a reserve that can be called on in times of crisis, according to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. With a separate push by Chancellor Friedrich Merzs new government to overhaul Germanys infrastructure also sapping manpower, steps are being taken to restore a version of the draft. Analysts are also raising the possibility of bringing migrants into the armed forces. Merz told German companies last month that personnel challenges not funding will be the decisive problem to overcome as he strives to build the continents strongest conventional army, calling on them to temporarily release workers so they can gain military skills. Talk like that fuels the debate over whether the draft, which was suspended in 2011, is needed once again, with about 55% of Germans backing the idea. While the coalition government only plans a voluntary model inspired by Sweden, Merz and Pistorius have left the door open to restoring conscription if progress is too slow. Merzs cabinet is expected to pass the legislation in the final week of August so voluntary military service can be introduced by January. Pistoriuss goal is to attract more than 110,000 conscripts by the end of the decade. Behind closed doors, conservative lawmakers are pushing their Social Democrat coalition partners to toughen the draft law through a binding mechanism to bring back compulsory military service should the voluntary model fail to attract enough personnel. There are serious doubts, however, that such an approach would yield the best results for an economy thats shrunk for the last two years and is crying out for skilled labor to help it modernize. While unemployment has ticked up, its expected to decline again as the government splashes hundreds of billions of euros on upgrading roads and bridges. From a labor-market perspective, and also for the benefit of the armed forces, we must ensure that those who are best suited to the job are the ones who go there and not those who are better suited to other jobs, said Enzo Weber, an economist at the Institute for Employment Research. If we do not make good use of the qualities of our workforce, well suffer considerable losses. Pistorius has acknowledged that Germanys greying population is an issue for the army, saying recently that itll need to replace a wave of retirees on top of finding new people. But he insists any conscription-based model would only be used to increase the armys reserve, while full-time staff would have to be found through other means. Thats proved difficult in the past. In 2024, the number of soldiers dipped below 180,000 the lowest level since 2018, despite long-standing efforts to reach more than 200,000. Parliaments former Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Eva Hoegl, wrote in a March report that the military has for years faced considerable challenges in recruitment that are exacerbated by demographic change and competition on the civilian labor market. While forcing people to serve may seem like a cost-effective fix, researchers at the Munich-based Ifo institute warn this isnt the case. Thats because conscripts spend less time in the jobs market, delaying their education and curbing their eventual incomes. The resulting decline in consumption, compared with a market-based system, would have drastic consequences for the whole economy, they said in a 2024 paper. For the voluntary model to succeed, the most important thing would be to improve pay, said Panu Poutvaara, one of the studys authors. What would still be needed is to make sure that the army has sufficient resources also in terms of equipment, as this would make it a more attractive place to work. On that point, the government has cast off its fiscal shackles to allow more spending on up-to-date kit. The army reckons creative social-media campaigns and regional recruiting events have also proved successful, though that only allowed it to stop the negative trend and keep soldier numbers stable last year. An image makeover and a greater appreciation for the importance of defense may go some way to attracting more applicants, according to Guntram Wolff, a senior fellow at the Bruegel think-tank and a professor at the Solvay Brussels School. But with military experts warning that Russia could be ready to attack Europe in less than five years, the prospect of actual combat deployment may also act as a deterrent. Perhaps the thorniest discussion more so even than conscription could yet lie ahead. Just as for the economy as a whole, immigration could help offset demographic shifts an idea Pistorius broached last year. The current atmosphere toward such an idea is likely to be hostile even after a backlash against migrants prompted Merz to beef up Germanys borders. But a faster track to citizenship for migrants choosing to enlist in the army could be one way to increase recruitment, according to Poutvaara. Wolff agrees, saying higher salaries alone probably wouldnt suffice. The labor market has been swept empty, so we need to become more open, he said. We need to take the integration of migrants a lot more seriously, and that goes for the armed forces as well. --With assistance from Andrea Palasciano and Michael Nienaber. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com A landmark ban on the use of non-disclosure agreements in workplace misconduct cases - a longstanding practice of financial firms - may make it harder for victims to win compensation and discourage some from speaking up, lawyers say. Under reforms to workers rights laws by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmers government due to come into effect later this year, any confidentiality agreements that seek to silence employees who say they faced harassment and discrimination would be null and void. But lawyers say the ban risks unintended consequences: employers are less motivated to settle discrimination cases without confidentiality, leading to greater backlogs for the employee tribunal system and prolonged legal processes for victims seeking closure. This could mean that fewer victims come forward to detail their experiences, according to Caroline Walker, managing director at Cavendish Employment Law. Tribunal claims are not for the faint hearted, she said, referring to the courts where workers and employers head to fight their disputes. They are time consuming, costly and cross examination over sensitive discrimination or harassment incidents can be brutal. Theres a risk too that companies try to bury victims in a legal quagmire, she said, with companies more determined to defend their reputation in court in the absence of a confidentiality agreement. In the case of fewer settlements, lengthier legal processes could also pile pressure on an already overwhelmed UK employee tribunal system, Walker said. The backlog had reached almost 50,000 cases by the end of last year, an increase of 28% compared with a year earlier. This could result in employees having to commit to litigation in difficult circumstances, when they may otherwise have received a settlement, allowing them to move on more quickly, Bethan Jones, an employment lawyer at Spencer West, said. The use of NDAs for cases involving allegations of workplace abuse is widespread; 22% of respondents to a 2024 survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development said their company used them when dealing with allegations of sexual harassment. The ban marks a shift in policy for the UK after the previous Conservative government rejected calls last year to end their use and comes after a series of high-profile sexual harassment scandals in recent years, including allegations against hedge fund manager Crispin Odey. Odey has denied the allegations. There is commercial and reputational value to the employer in settling with confidentiality irrespective of the merit or otherwise of the allegation, Jason Braier, a trial lawyer specializing in employment, said in a LinkedIn post. The government amendment will disincentivise employers from settling many claims they think they can defend. But proponents of the ban say the risks are unfounded and note that the new law will reverse the power dynamics, with victims, not companies, able to request confidentiality. The whole thing with NDAs is that they are a piece of power, and when you are an employee the power disparity is so huge, said Zelda Perkins, the whisteblower at the heart of the Weinstein scandal. People Ive been fighting against baulk at that word power but really its about equality and leveling the playing field. And Georgina Calvert-Lee, at Bellevue Law, said the ban simply aligns the UK with other countries where legislation has already changed, including Ireland and several US states. The experience there suggests that a ban has been effective; US research in 2019 showed that, after the introduction of the bans, filings for sexual harassment increased and the settlement rate for those cases rose by nearly 10%. A former employee at Citigroup Inc. who asked not to be named because they signed an NDA after they sued the bank told Bloomberg that victims are often pressured to sign confidentiality agreements by their bosses and hopes this could mark a positive change. They said that City of London firms frequently abuse NDAs and use them to perpetuate toxic corporate cultures. A Citi spokesperson declined to comment. Currently, NDAs can often have a far-reaching impact, with some requiring that victims are unable to speak to anyone, even medical professionals, about their experience. Those who sign such documents also often dont receive legal guidance and are unaware that they can still pursue a criminal case through the police. The reforms would change that. You can use confidentiality when its being used ethically and not abusively, said Perkins. This is really taking the ability to abuse that tool out of the hands of employers. With assistance from Jonathan Browning. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Mumbai, Jul 12 (PTI) Over 20,000 bars and permit rooms across Maharashtra will shut operations on July 14 to protest against the state governments draconian taxation, said the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR) on Saturday. The bandh is to oppose the state governments tax hikes, including rise in VAT (value added tax) on liquor to 10 per cent, a 15 per cent increase in annual licence fees and a 60 per cent spike in excise duty, in a span of one year, AHAR said in a statement. These tax hikes are pushing the 1.5 lakh-crore industry to the edge of collapse, it said. The entire hospitality sector in Maharashtra is bleeding. Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. On July 14, every bar and permit room in the state will be shut in protest. Entire Maharashtra bars will remain shut against the state governments draconian taxation, AHAR president Sudhakar Shetty said. Members across Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, and Konkan have confirmed full participation, he added. These hikes, clubbed with ongoing post-COVID recovery challenges, have rendered the business model unviable for thousands of establishments, said AHAR. The move will not only wipe out thousands of small and mid-sized businesses but also lead to mass unemployment and a black market surge in liquor smuggling from neighbouring states, it claimed. This is not just an economic blow, it is a death blow to an industry that contributes significantly to employment and state taxes, said Shetty. The 20,000-strong permit rooms and bars industry directly and indirectly employs over 20 lakh jobs, and supports a wider ecosystem of 48,000 vendors. National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) HRAWI, and affiliated as well as non-affiliated associations of hotels and restaurants in Maharashtra have extended their support to the July 14 bandh. The industry also plays a vital role in Maharashtras tourism-driven economy, especially in cities like Mumbai and Pune, they said. We stand united with our fraternity members across Maharashtra in expressing our deep concern over these regressive policy measures. If implemented, they will further strain the already fragile business environment and will hurt both consumers and operators. Nvidia stock continues to rise, setting a record of $165.69 in Friday morning trading. The founder and CEO of the first $4 billion publicly traded company , Jensen Huang, continues to sell shares of the chip firm through a trading plan. Through a so-called Rule 10b5-1 plan he adopted on March 20, Huang has sold 975,000 shares of the chip firm for a total of $152 million, an overall average price of $155.91 each. Insiders use such plans to remove the appearance of bias from the knowledge of nonpublic information. HIs plan began selling June 18, and the average sales price of the transactions has risen to $161.91 this week from $144.04 in June. Nvidia didnt immediately respond to a request to make Huang available for comment. In the past, the company had provided the statement, All of Jensens sales noted are based on 10b5-1 plans, in which the price, amount and dates of the sales are established in advance." Huangs plan provides for the sale of six million, so it still has a little more than five million shares left to sell through the end of 2025. On an average day, more than 200 million Nvidia shares trade, and Huangs plan has been selling batches of about 200,000 shares over three-day periods, so transactions are hardly causing a ripple. Trading plans automatically execute trades when preset conditions, such as volume, price, and timing, are met. Inside Scoop is a regular Barrons feature covering stock transactions by corporate executives and board membersso-called insidersas well as large shareholders, politicians, and other prominent figures. Due to their insider status, these investors are required to disclose stock trades with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory groups. Bengaluru: An increased focus on premium products and higher investment in expanding production capacity helped packaged foods maker iD Fresh maintain profitability in the fiscal year ended March, a top executive told Mint. The firm logged a net profit of 4.5 crore in FY24, its first profitable year since inception in 2005. Last year was one of our best years so far. We did close to double-digit Ebitda [earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation]," P.C. Musthafa, chairman and global chief executive of iD Fresh, said in an interview. "We brought in several new levers, including expanding international business, which helped us deliver the best performance in the history of iD, Musthafa said. He did not reveal exact financial figures as the company is yet to file its FY25 statements with the Registrar of Companies. The firm also plans to list in public markets by the end of FY27, subject to market conditions, and is reportedly in talks to raise 500 crore through a secondary share sale. iD Freshs push towards premium products reflects a broader change in the way companies, especially food brands, are tapping consumers. As consumers become increasingly health conscious, the willingness to spend more money on premium products is witnessing a rise. Mint earlier reported on why private investors have been eyeing investments in better-for-you food and wellness products, specially those with a growing offline presence. iD's premium push Bengaluru-based iD Fresh accelerated its shift toward premium products in FY25, launching more than 10 new items, including longer shelf-life, higher-price categories like spice blends, ready-to-heat sambhar, and chutneys. These new launches are expected to contribute 10% of the company's overall revenue in the next two years. Our new products have started to contribute meaningfully to our overall revenue. Our internal target is that these categories will deliver 10% of the topline by FY27. We are on the path to make that happen," Musthafa said. iD Fresh reported a revenue of 557 crore in FY24, up from 479 crore in FY23. Musthafa said introducing premium variants of existing products like idli-dosa batter and ready-to-heat paratha had helped boost profitability. For context, 750 gm of iDs protein-rich idli-dosa batter is priced 159 while the regular batter costs 95 for 1 kg. Premiumization is becoming a key driver of growth across consumer categories with players across the board looking to add differentiation and novelty at a higher price point. The contribution of premium segments accounted for around 27% of total FMCG sales and contributed 42% of the sectors value growth, according to an October 2024 report by NielsenIQ. A larger number of companies in India are chasing growth to tap aspirational consumers by bringing global brands to India while adding premium categories such as body wash, sunscreens, serums, muesli and energy drinks to their portfolio. Last month, Mint reported that Nestle India senses a premiumization opportunity as large as 7,500 crore to expand into new avenues like chocolates, coffee and even pet care. Founded in 2005 by Musthafa and Abdul Naser, iD Fresh shot to fame on the back of growing demand for ready-to-cook products among young professionals who lived away from home and desired quick meals. It has raised upwards of $120 million from investors such as Premji Invest and New Quest Capital Partners since 2005. The ready-to-eat market in India is expected to grow to $1,064 million between 2024 and 2027, according to estimates by market research firm Technavio. However, at least 80% of the packaged food market remains unorganized, presenting a viable opportunity for players like iD Fresh. The category is tough to crack, given Indias love for fresh and home-cooked meals. Moreover, the convenience of ordering food online through Swiggy and Zomato has made these meal options an afterthought. But with plans to replicate its idli-dosa batter playbook to other products, iD sees its products making a mark beyond south India as well, with Delhi among the frontrunners, Musthafa said. Also Read: Hungry for growth, idli-dosa batter maker iD Fresh hunts for its next blockbuster product Capacity building The companys investment in ramping up manufacturing capacityboth locally and internationallyreaped benefits in FY25, according to Musthafa. Mint reported last year that iD Fresh is looking to set up four new manufacturing plants in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh by the end of the current financial year, in a bid to diversify its consumer base in smaller cities. The company will invest up to 35 crore to set up a production plant in Saudi Arabia which is expected to be completed next year. Its new plant in Delhi, built at a similar investment figure, is expected to be commissioned in the next two months. Though the success of its flagship product has created immense brand recall and loyalty for iD Fresh, it could be a challenge to recreate the popularity among its other brands, given the rising competition in the space by large and small players like ITC Foods, Tata Sampann, and Haldirams. Mumbai: The list of suitors for the renewable energy assets of Norwegian state-owned firm Statkraft has narrowed to five, who are now evaluating the solar assets of the company at an equity value of 3,000 crore. While the multi-national renewable energy major owns hydropower assets as well in India, the solar business is likely to be sold first, said four people with the knowledge of development said. The buyers include domestic power companies as well as private equity firms including JSW Group, Serentica, Sembcorp, Blackstone, and Macquarie. The prospective buyers are working with the company to carve out different deals depending on their interest as the entire portfolio of solar and hydropower assets is too large for one buyer, these people said. While strategics such as JSW Group and Sembcorp are mainly interested in the solar assets of the company, firms such as Blackstone and Serentica would be looking at the hydro assets as well," one of the persons cited above said. Its a large portfolio so there is scope of different structures. It depends on how they can get maximum value," a second person said. PE firms such as Macquarie are likely to initially only evaluate acquiring the solar assets of Statkraft AS in India, the second person cited above said. Statkraft India has a total renewable portfolio of around 1 GW, including solar and hydro power. These include a 76-MW operational solar power plant in Tamil Nadu, and another 75 MW of solar capacity being developed at the same location. A 445-MW solar power project in Rajasthan is nearing completion. Also Read | Norway's Statkraft eyes hydropower projects in India Its hydropower assets include a 49% stake in two operating hydropower assets in Himachal Pradesh at Allain Duhangan (192 MW) and Malana (86 MW). Another hydropower plant of 150 MW capacity is under construction in the state at Tidong. Though the equity value of its solar plants is likely to fetch the group around 3,400 crore or $400 million in equity value, the overall enterprise value is likely to exceed $700-750 million after accounting for debt, the third person cited above said. Most of the solar power plants of the company are either already operational or likely to be operational soon. Hydro, however, is a complex deal where we expect asset by asset sale," the fourth person in the know said. The fact that the hydropower assets are joint ventureswith LNJ Bhilwara groupalso complicates the deal for potential suitors. A spokesperson for Macquarie Group declined to comment. Emailed queries to Statkraft, Blackstone, Serentica, Sembcorp and JSW Group did not elicit any response. Also Read | Another PLI scheme hits the Chinese wall The Norwegian groups decision to sell its India assets comes after a steady slide in overall revenue for the group and mounting debt. It has decided to sell its Indian assets and focus on other high-potential markets in the Nordics, Europe and South America to meet its growth targets. Statkraft is the largest renewable energy producer in Europe with an installed capacity of 19.4 GW, of which 12.1 GW is hydropower capacity in Norway. US President Donald Trump's proposal to impose latest tariffs on goods from the European Union is a negotiating tactic, according to three EU officials cited by news agency Reuters. Trump announced on Saturday that he would levy a 30 per cent tariff rate on goods imported from Mexico and the European Union from August 1, 2025, onwards. He made the announcement through a letter posted on his official Truth Social handle. Meanwhile, Mexico criticised Trumps threat of 30% tariffs as "unfair deal," reported AFP citing a statement. Trump's tariff letter to the EU His letter read, Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from reciprocal. Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge the European Union a tariff of only 30% on EU products sent into the United States, separate from all sectoral tariffs. He added, Goods transshipped to evade a higher tariff will be subject to that higher tariff. Please understand that the 30% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the trade deficit disparity we have with the EU. Trump further stated that the European Union and EU-based companies would not face tariffs if they decide to manufacture goods in the US. As you are aware, there will be no tariff if the European Union, or companies within the EU, decide to build or manufacture product within the United States and, in fact, we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely - In other words, in a matter of weeks, Trump stated. He threatened additional tariffs if the EU plans to respond with more tariffs. If for any reason you decide to raise your tariffs and retaliate, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 30% that we charge, Trump's letter said. Impact of 30% tariff The latest tariffs is expected to escalate the trade tensions between US and EU, according to Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist, Institute of International and European Affairs. THE RISE of a property-owning, entrepreneurial middle class in China has transformed its cities in this century. It has helped to spur consumption in the worlds second-largest economy. In May retail sales grew by 6.4% year on yearthe fastest pace since December 2023helped by state subsidies aimed at reviving consumers enthusiasm. The government has even cautiously promoted borrowing in past years. But all this has created new risks. Along with car-jammed streets, glitzy restaurants and vast malls has come an invisible change that is no less great: soaring household debt. As a proportion of Chinas GDP, household debt has risen from less than 11% in 2006 to more than 60% today, close to rich-country levels. Lenders include state-owned banks and tech platforms. Between 25m and 34m people may now be in default, according to Gavekal Dragonomics, a research consultancy. If those merely in arrears are added, the total could be between 61m and 83m, or 5-7% of the total population aged 15 and older. In both categories, these numbers are twice as high as they were five years ago, the firm reckons. Amid high youth unemployment and a property slump, things may only worsen. Dealing with personal debt remains shameful and unfamiliar in China. But the government is struggling to help. It is already busy tackling debt throughout the system: local-government debt remains painfully high, and corporate debt uncomfortably so. Household debt is one more worry. It is not an imminent threat to financial stability. But it weighs increasingly heavily on the minds of middle-class people, inhibiting their spending and undermining a belief in ever-rising prosperity that the Communist Party sees as crucial to keeping its grip on power. Chinese households have a buffer: overall, their savings relative to disposable income were nearly 32% in 2023, according to JPMorgan Chase, a bank. That is far higher than the rate of less than 3% in America in the build-up to the global financial crisis in 2007. But in the boom years money borrowed for housing seemed like a one-way bet, especially as jobs were plentiful and secure. People grew accustomed to splashing cash from big online lenders such as Alipay and WeBank. Others borrowed to invest in family firms. Then came zero-covid lockdowns in 2020 and the start of the property crash the year after. Whatever the origins, debt trouble and interactions with cuigou, or pressure dogs" (aggressive debt-collectors), have been the fate of many. Start with property. Borrowing for housing made up 65% of household loans last year (excluding loans for business purposes). Most mortgage lending is done by government-owned banks, which have to be careful about how they get their money back from those unable to pay. The number of foreclosed residential properties listed for auction last year was 366,000, slightly up from 364,000 in 2023, according to China Index Academy, a private research firm. The number of people failing to pay their mortgages may be growing much faster. Regulators are wary of aggressive repossessions involving peoples primary homes: they worry about triggering public protests. Banks may be mulling another problem. In todays depressed market, auctioning a property may not recoup the mortgage. Online lenders, which provide a more modest share of mortgages, can be far tougher about repayment. Spendthrifts are another group in trouble. Lily, a millennial in Shanghai, got into debt when her employer, a software firm, stopped paying her wages because of its own cashflow difficulties. She owed 30,000 yuan ($4,200) to online lenders. To help, she is dabbling in debt IP"when people turn stories of ruin into a means of generating cash as online influencers. She describes her travails in short videos on social media, but hasnt hit the big-time. Some of the most popular accounts have hundreds of thousands of followers. Some people are even competing: Oh, Im 10m in debt, Im 100m in debt," she says. Now consider investment debt. In Hangzhou, Ms Bai used to run a big education business and took out personal loans of millions of yuan to invest in it. Many Chinese borrow to boost family-owned firms and lenders often require personal guarantees, putting households at risk if the ventures fail. At its peak, her business organised cramming classes for between 50,000 and 60,000 students at 30-odd tutoring centres, generating an annual revenue of 100m-200m yuan. Then came covid-19 and a political crackdown on crammers. She had to sell her house and car to pay the debt. Dealing with the banks was the easy bit, however. During the pandemic the government urged them to be gentle with debtors whose businesses had been affected by it; they agreed to waive tens of thousands of yuan in interest. The tough part was dealing with the pressure dogs hired by online lenders from whom she had borrowed money for personal use. They repeatedly called Ms Bai, her friends and her relatives, often from different phones so they could not be blocked. She is particularly angry about the harassment of her parents. In China", she says, we generally dont tell our parents about bad news, so they were very, very affected." Ms Bai became depressed and thought of suicide. Her husband divorced her. Regulations relating to the debt-collecting industry are new and patchily enforced in China. Rather than helping Ms Bai, a court put her on a social credit" blacklist, which meant she could no longer fly, use high-speed trains or stay at luxury hotels. So where can debtors find relief? Support groups for them have been growing online. Jiaqi Guo of the University of Turku in Finland has been studying one of them, called the Debtors Alliance, on Douban, a social-networking site. Founded in 2019, it now has more than 60,000 members. Dr Guo says users often discuss shesi, meaning social death". It refers to the destruction of relationships caused by contact bombing", as the debt collectors phone calls are described. The government has tried to show a modicum of sympathy. Last year it banned debt-collection agencies from threatening violence, using abusive language or calling people at anti-social times. It also reminded lenders to protect personal information (presumably meaning stopping misusing contact details). But data-privacy regulations are loosely enforced in China. Complaints on the debtors forum suggest little change in the collectors threatening and intrusive behaviour. One reform that might help is a personal-bankruptcy law, of the kind found in rich countries, to protect debtors from claims that would leave them destitute. The lack of such legislation has fuelled the growth of online loan-sharks offering high-interest credit to desperate defaulters. In 2021 Shenzhen became the first city to introduce a bankruptcy law for individuals. But it has been used with caution. By the end of September 2024 more than 2,700 people had applied for bankruptcy protection under this law, but courts had accepted only about 10% of their cases. A few other places have been dabbling in similar schemes. But the government appears in no hurry: creditors are often big state firms. Officials worry that a national law might signal tolerance of reckless spending or speculative investment. 2025, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com On July 11, Aap Jaisa Koi premiered on Netflix India and instantly captured viewers attention. If you love moody, mature love stories and consider yourself a romantic fool, here are some Netflix movies that youre likely to enjoy. 8 Vasantalu A quiet and soulful tale, 8 Vasantalu (Eight springs) follows a womans journey through the changing seasons of life and love. Rooted in emotions and cultural depth, its a beautiful exploration of healing, relationships and rediscovery. If you enjoy subtle storytelling with heartfelt performances and gentle romance, this Telugu gem is a must-watch. Past Lives Past Lives is a quietly-powerful film. It doesnt follow the typical love triangle or melodrama. Its more about whats left unsaid, what could have been and how life takes us down different paths. The Korean film is gentle and slow-paced, but it lingers long after it ends. The performances are subtle yet moving, especially in the final scene. It captures the pain of letting go with maturity and grace. Meenakshi Sundareshwar Vivek Soni, the director of Aap Jaisa Koi, made Meenakshi Sundareshwar with Sanya Malhotra and Abhimanyu Dassani. The newlyweds are forced to live apart due to their jobs. Justin Prabhakaran, a veteran in Tamil movies, composed the music for this film, marking his Bollywood debut. On Netflix, the film received 2.8 million views in the first week. Within two weeks, It became one of the the top non-English watches around the world. Also Read | Want to watch Jurassic World Rebirth? Here are the streaming details Laila Majnu A modern retelling of the timeless love saga, Laila Majnu captures the madness, passion and tragedy of soulmates torn by fate. Set in a wintry, poetic landscape of Kashmir, this film dives deep into the heartbreak of true love. Avinash Tiwary and Triptii Dimri starred in this tragic love story, directed by Sajid Ali. Comedian Ravi Gupta, a self-confessed obsessed fan of the film, has said that there is no point of return once someone watches the movie. Life in a Metro A classic ensemble romantic musical set in the hustle of Mumbai, Life in a Metro weaves multiple love stories, just like its 2025 spiritual sequel, Metro In Dino. Anurag Basu won multiple awards for Best Screenplay. Irrfan Khan and Konkona Sen Sharma were awarded Best Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively. Kangana Ranaut won at the Stardust Awards, and Shilpa Shetty won at the Zee Cine Awards. Aay Set against the lush greenery of Kerala, Aay is a breezy rom-com that follows a sweet connection between two opposites who meet by chance. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Karthik returns to his village and falls in love with Pallavi. But, caste differences force her into an arranged marriage. This story was originally published on Trucking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Trucking Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: C.H. Robinson Worldwides new AI agent aims to help shippers by automating the process of determining how freight should be classified to help with the upcoming National Motor Freight Traffic Association classification overhaul, according to a June 19 press release. Some shippers are unaware of certain freight classifications, Greg West, VP of LTL, said. Mistakes concerning tenders with missing or incorrect freight class or code, which is likely to increase starting July 19, when the National Motor Freight Classifcation overhaul is set to launch. It can easily take up to 10 minutes to manually look up or confirm the freight class and code for every emailed LTL tender, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Arun Rajan said in the release. For shipments the AI agent is reasoning through for the first time, it can choose a freight classification in about 10 seconds. Dive Insight: Companies, from brokers like C.H. Robinson to carriers such as A. Duie Pyle and Southeastern Freight Lines, are preparing for the upcoming NMFC overhaul on July 19. While the 3PL is offering an AI tool for shippers to accurately classify their freight, both A. Duie Pyle and Southeastern Freight Lines invested in additional dimensioners. These devices help by using laser measurements to capture the exact length, width and height of freight, providing precise dimensional data. Customers who tender LTL freight by email or any other method are advised to prepare by making sure they know the accurate weight and dimensions for their freight, C.H. Robinson said in the release. The company noted that both weight and dimensions are essential for applying the correct NMFC to freight. Dimensioner technology can help, and C.H. Robinson has collaborated with dimensioner vendors to provide discounts for its customers, the brokerage giant said. C.H. Robinsons network of carriers is also going through the NMFC transition, West said in an email to Trucking Dive. [The carriers] dont want to have to hold a shipment for inspection, reclassify it and adjust their invoice, West said. Our AI agent cuts down on delays and potentially higher charges, and keeps our customers LTL freight moving, West added. C.H. Robinson has been expanding its AI agents to assist shippers for some time. The 3PL also offers an AI tool to price quotes for less-than-truckload shipments, acquire trucking capacity and set appointments for pickup and delivery. Actor David Corenswet, who is the newest person to don the cape as the new Superman in James Gunns latest Superman reboot, has offered a candid and heartfelt glimpse into the contrast between his superhero persona and his everyday life as a husband and father. In a recent interview, Corenswet opened up about the reality of balancing one of the most iconic roles in cinematic history with the ordinary and often messy responsibilities of family life. I went to work and I played Superman and then I came home and got spat up on and changed diapers and woke up at 2 oclock in the morning and tried to take the best care of my wife that I could, he shared, painting a picture far removed from the glitz and grandeur often associated with superhero stardom. Also Read | James Gunn responds to backlash over Superman's immigrant origin story Despite the demands of leading a major Hollywood franchise, Corenswet stressed that his focus remains firmly rooted at home. Im still going to be making breakfast, Im still going to be frustrated when my insurance company bills me the wrong amount, or the car breaks down and Ive got to figure that out, he said. But above all, the 32-year-old actor, known for his work in Twisters, Pearl and The Politician, said his thoughts are with his family. Mostly, what Im thinking about is just being back at home with my kid, he added. Corenswets comments have struck a chord with fans, many of whom praised the actor for his grounded approach and vulnerability. As he prepares to take on the mantle of Superman a symbol of strength, hope, and resilience his off-screen persona reflects a more human, relatable kind of heroism. More About Superman The new Superman film, released in July 11, 2025 and marked the beginning of the DC Universes reboot under James Gunn and Peter Safran. Grammy-winning Indian composer Ricky Kej has made a startling revelation about a near-death experience involving the Ethiopian Airlines crash of 2019. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kej disclosed that he had originally booked a seat on the ill-fated flight, which crashed en route to Kenya, killing all 157 people on board. Recounting the moment that changed his fate, Kej wrote, "I had booked a ticket on the Ethiopian Airlines flight to Kenya that unfortunately crashed. In the last minute, a colleague insisted I travel on an earlier flight, so my life was saved. Many attendees were killed on the flight. So this is personal for me, because Boeing and only Boeing was responsible for those deaths (sic)." Kejs emotional post came in response to a thread by journalist Barkha Dutt, who had criticised the western medias narrative around a recent Air India crash report and highlighted concerns around Boeings systems. She wrote, Scandalous that Air India Crash report being used by western media to blame pilots for cutting fuel. The report does not say that at all. But yes, the report flags an FAA advisory on a problem with Boeing fuel switches locking - in that case why has the report not recommended further investigations against 787 planes (sic) More About the Ethiopian Airlines Tragedy The tragic crash, which took place on March 10, 2019, involved a Boeing 737 MAX 8 and followed a similar disaster just five months earlier the Lion Air crash in Indonesia. The two incidents, both involving the same aircraft model, raised urgent global concerns about the safety of Boeings MCAS (Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System), a software feature later found to be faulty and inadequately disclosed to pilots. A month after the horrific crash of an Air India Dreamliner at Ahmedabad, the AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) has released its preliminary report to the public. While analysts have been vocal about the preliminary report, the report only dwells over the fact and in most cases does not point to the WHY and HOW of the crash, rather looking at WHAT. The rest is part of the investigation which takes longer. The Annex 13 of Chicago Convention, to which India is a signatory, mandates that states in charge of an investigation must submit a preliminary report to ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) within thirty days of the date of the accident. Preliminary reports can be marked confidential and it depends on the investigation states discretion if they should be made public. ICAO also mandates that the final report should be made publicly available as soon as possible and if possible within twelve months. However, these are advisories and not rules. Recently China is reported to have refused making the crash report of China Eastern flight MU5735 public citing (it could) endanger national security and societal stability. The last two crashes in India have been the Air India Express crash at Kozhikode on 7 August 2020, with the final report submitted on 13th January 2021 and the Mangalore crash on 22 May 2010, when the final report came out in November that year. These two crashes were in the landing phase, while the Air India crash at Ahmedabad was within seconds of lifting off from the runway. The preliminary report throws light on these five things Last words There has been quite a lot of speculation on what were the last words from the pilots of the AI171, with various sources being cited by each one. Turns out the last words were only Mayday, Mayday and the pilots did not speak about loss of power or anything else. No previous issues The aircraft which crashed, VT-ANB did not have any critical items under MEL or Minimum Equipment List. The entire MEL list was within the timeline limits. In aircraft, a Minimum Equipment List (MEL) is a document that outlines the minimum equipment required for an aircraft to legally operate with certain inoperative systems or components. It allows for safe operation even when some equipment is not fully functional, provided specific conditions are met and the aircraft complies with the MEL's limitations. The MEL is specific to an aircraft type and operator and is derived from a Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) provided by the aircraft manufacturer. Both engines were starved of fuel Immediately after take off, AI 171's Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF, one after another. In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so. Reignition tried The AAIB preliminary report mentions how the fuel cutoff switches again transitioned from CUTOFF to RUN with efforts made to relight the engine, one after another. As per the EAFR (Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder), the Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch transitioned from CUTOFF to RUN within seconds of pilots talking about cut-off. The APU Inlet Door began opening thereafter, consistent with the APU Auto Start logic. Thereafter the Engine 2 fuel cutoff switch also transitions from CUTOFF to RUN. When fuel control switches are moved from CUTOFF to RUN while the aircraft is inflight, each engine's full authority dual engine control (FADEC) automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction. The EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature) was observed to be rising for both engines indicating relight. Engine 1s core deceleration stopped, reversed and started to progress to recovery. Engine 2 was able to relight but could not arrest core speed deceleration and re-introduced fuel repeatedly to increase core speed acceleration and recovery. No action for Boeing or GE The preliminary report on Air India plane crash does not point to any recommendations for either Boeing, the manufacturer of the plane type or GE, the manufacturer of the engines which powered the plane. Where is the focus now? With the preliminary report out, the focus will shift on what led to the movement of switches of the Air India AI171 plane that crashes moments after take-off in Ahmedabad. If it was manual, why did that happen and which of the two pilots did it along with ways to ensure this does not repeat again. New Delhi: In a move aimed at improving operational flexibility and ease of doing business in Indias upstream oil and gas sector, the Union government has approved a long-pending recommendation to allow transfer of participating interest (PI) among existing partners without requiring government consentas long as there is no change in operatorship. Participating interest means, in respect of each party constituting the contractor, the undivided share expressed as a percentage of such partys participation in the rights and obligations under the contract. Under the current contractual provisions of production sharing contracts (PSC), revenue sharing contracts (RSCs), discovered small fields (DSF) and coal bed methane (CBM), any participating interest or stake transfer within the existing parties requires prior written consent from the government. This move is part of the government's efforts to boost investors interest and reduce energy import dependency. India aims to explore 2.5 lakh square km in the 10th round of auctions under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy. Also Read | Regulator wants emergency response centres set up at oil and gas clusters The Management Committee may be empowered to approve Participating Interest transfer cases where the contractor intends to transfer the PI within the existing parties of the contract, subject to no change in operatorship," said the report of the joint working group in April. A letter dated 10 July to the Director General of Hydrocarbons noted that the recommendation has been approved." The changes should come into effect at the earliest, as the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons has been asked to take necessary actions based on the ministrys approval. However, no specific timelines were mentioned. Noting that under the existing contractual provisions of all contracts, participating interest transfer within the existing parties of the contractor requires prior written consent from the government, the joint working group in June had recommended: However, this process involves a comprehensive technical, financial, and legal due diligence for each case." Expediting approval It added that in such cases, as the participating interest holders have already undergone verification during the contract award stage, evaluation for any change in the participating interest among existing parties of the contract may be foregone. Further, in many cases it has been observed that internal transfer approval can take up to six months, leading to significant project delays," the working group had said in its report on issues related to ease of doing business in the Indian upstream sector. The recommendation aims to expedite the approval process and reduce project delays, thereby promoting transparency and ease of doing business. PI holders should be required to comply with all the existing conditions of the contract," the recommendations said. Although the transfer of participating interest does not require the governments nod, it would need the signature of a government representative. Also Read | Govt may extend scheme for seismic survey of oil and gas reserves till FY27 This move is part of the government's efforts to boost investor interest. Under the 10th round of auction under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy, the government aims to explore 250,000 sq. km and reduce oil import dependence. The Draft Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025, for which stakeholders need to give their feedback by 17 July, also aim to modernise Indias upstream oil and gas framework with several major reforms. Key among them is the introduction of an investor-friendly stabilisation clause, designed to protect lessees from adverse impacts of future legal or fiscal changes, such as increases in taxes, royalties or other levies, by allowing compensation or deductions. The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948, was amended in March 2025, which is also expected to boost investor interest in the oil and gas exploration and production sector. Data sharing in India During his visit to Vienna this week for the 9th Opec International Seminar, the minister for petroleum and natural gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, met several stakeholders in the oil and gas space, including Wael Sawan, chief executive officer (CEO) of Shell; Murray Auchincloss, CEO of bp; and Russel Hardy, Group CEO of Vitol, and spoke of opportunities to invest in the country's oil and gas sector. Among other recommendations, minister Puri approved open sharing of data from the National Data Repository at zero charge to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), startups and academic institutions. Also Read | BP eyes major expansion in India's oil and gas sector "NDR data may be integrated with the repositories of the National Oil Companies (NOCs), such as ONGC and OIL, and other ministries such as ministry of mines, ministry of coal, ministry of earth sciences, Central Ground Water Board, etc. ensuring seamless access to comprehensive datasets, including seismic, well, and other geological information," the recommendations said. The move aims to promote knowledge sharing, collaborative ventures, and technological advancements through enhanced data accessibility, thereby encouraging innovations in the oil and gas industry. BEML share price will be in focus on Monday, July 14 after the PSU-Defence company announced that its board will consider stock split. The state-owned heavy equipment manufacturer, BEML, said that its board will consider on Monday, July 21, 2025, to evaluate a stock split, which involves subdividing its equity shares. The company did not specify the ratio for the stock split. .that a Board Meeting of M/s. BEML Limited will be held on Monday, the 21st July, 2025, inter-alia, to Sub-division / Split of Equity Shares of the company pursuant to the provisions of section 61(1)(d) of the Companies Act, 2013, said the company in an exchange filing on Friday, July 11. The trading window will be closed from July 1 until 48 hours after the financial results are announced, with the date for the board meeting to be communicated later. Typically, a company opts for a stock split to increase the total number of outstanding shares and enhance trading liquidity by making its shares more affordable for shareholders. Recently, BEML announced that it has received two different export contracts totaling around $6.23 million. The first contract is from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) area for the delivery of heavy-duty bulldozers. The second contract is a first-time order from Uzbekistan for the provision of a high-performance motor grader. BEML Q4 results BEML reported its consolidated profit increased by 11.9% to 287.55 crore for the quarter that concluded on March 31, 2025. In the same period last year, the company reported a profit of 256.80 crore, according to a submission to the BSE. For the January-March quarter, the company's income rose to 1,656.36 crore, up from 1,518.25 crore during the previous year, as noted in the filing. The company's profit for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, grew to 292.52 crore compared to 281.77 crore from the prior fiscal year. However, BEML's income for the year ending March 31, 2025, decreased to 4,045.95 crore from 4,096.56 crore in the previous financial year. On Friday, BEML share price ended 3.85% lower at 4,425.80 apiece on the BSE. A couple of decades back , the term Space Wars could only mean a sequel to a sci-fi movie series. But today, new age global military conflicts could be dubbed as Space Wars. In April 2024, the US and Japan introduced a resolution to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) seeking to prohibit the deployment of nuclear weapons in outer space. This resolution underscored the obligations of the 115 states that are parties to the Outer Space Treaty, including the permanent members of the Security Council, to avoid placing any objects carrying nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in Earths orbit. The US has maintained a significant technological edge in space, relying on satellite infrastructure for vital military operations, such as communication, navigation, and intelligence. The establishment of the US Space Force in December 2019 marked a major milestone. It played a vital role in monitoring approximately 15 missile launches daily from various global hotspots, managing satellite deployments, and tracking space debris. The Space Force also oversees two newly launched robotic space planes In 2021, Russia conducted a controversial anti-satellite missile test, resulting in the destruction of a Soviet-era satellite, and generating a significant amount of hazardous space debris. The Ukraine-Russia conflict, which began in February 2022, further underscored reliance on space assets for military operations. Shortly before Russia attacked Ukraine, malware spread through part of the KA-SAT network, resulting in disruptions to the satellite internet modems of 50,000 European users, including Ukrainian military units. Over the past decade, China has rapidly expanded its satellite networks and launch capabilities, making it a significant player in space. In 2022, China achieved a new record for space launches, becoming the worlds second most active space launch provider after the US. Both the US and Chinese missions are shrouded in secrecy when it comes to spacetech. Yet both involve spacecraft that have the capability to conduct prolonged missions, transport and retrieve payloads, and return to Earth for refuelling, potentially making them potent weapons. India's burgeoning spacetech sector is often hailed as the next frontier for economic growth, with ambitious projections for its market size in the coming decade. While government reforms and a vibrant startup ecosystem are propelling this vision, the journey is not without its significant challenges. Understanding the key risks for private players, the government's investment in R&D, and persistent policy bottlenecks is crucial for charting a sustainable course. First, space ventures are inherently capital-intensive and have long gestation periods. Despite growing interest, attracting sufficient seed-stage and long-term venture capital remains a significant hurdle. IN-SPACe is a single-window, independent, nodal agency that operates as an autonomous body in the Department of Space (DOS). It aims to facilitate technology access to private companies that still heavily rely on ISRO's testing facilities, launch pads, and ground stations. This dependency, at times, leads to bottlenecks, and increases operational costs due to limited availability or high charges. Despite indigenous advancements, India's spacetech sector still depends on imports for certain high-technology components and advanced electronic systems. This reliance impacts costs, supply chain security, and the pace of innovation. Second, the specialised nature of space technology demands a highly skilled workforce in areas like aerospace engineering, astrophysics, and satellite technology. While India has a large talent pool, finding and retaining professionals with niche expertise can be challenging. Indian private players also face stiff competition not only from a growing number of domestic startups but also from established global giants and well-funded international new-space companies. Maintaining competitiveness in terms of cost, quality, and innovation is a continuous challenge. As space assets become increasingly critical for national security and economic activities, they become prime targets for cyberattacks. Ensuring the robust security of satellite data and communication links is a growing and complex concern. The Indian government, primarily through the Department of Space (DoS) and ISRO, has been the traditional backbone of space R&D. A significant portion of this budget supports ISRO's ambitious missions, including deep space exploration and human spaceflight programs like Gaganyaan, as well as the development of advanced launch vehicles and satellite technologies. While India has made commendable strides in opening up its space sector, addressing these risks and policy bottlenecks through a comprehensive legal framework, streamlined regulations, and sustained investment in both R&D and infrastructure will be critical. This will not only empower India's private spacetech companies to innovate and compete globally but also solidify India's position as a formidable player in the evolving global space economy. India mapping primarily has only two listed companies in the core business of geospatial, CE Info Systems (commonly known by the name of its app MapmyIndia) and Genesys International. CE Info Systems offers location-based IoT technologies and AI-based solutions. These can be integrated with satellite data to provide enhanced services for fleet management, logistics optimisation, smart city initiatives, and more. CE Info Systems is a crucial downstream player in the Indian space ecosystem. It takes the data and capabilities provided by ISRO's infrastructure (like satellite imagery and NavIC signals) and transforms them into practical, marketable applications. The companys expertise in geospatial technology makes it a key enabler for the widespread adoption and commercialisation of India's growing space capabilities. A risk factor that has recently impacted investor sentiment is the decision to hive off the B2C (consumer-facing) business (Mappls) into a separate entity, managed by the founder's son. This move raised governance concerns among investors and proxy advisory firms, with questions about potential conflicts of interest and whether the terms of separation are fair to minority shareholders. The concern is that the new B2C entity, even if funded by promoters' personal funds, might benefit from the parent company's resources and incubation without the public shareholders participating in its potential upside. Investors worry that this restructuring could reduce MapmyIndia's overall growth potential, as the high-growth consumer segment is no longer fully consolidated. The new consumer-facing entity is expected to have significant cash burn in its initial stages, which, even if funded personally, can create an overhang or perception of risk related to the broader promoter group's financial strategy. Also Read | India awaits space laws to realize private push The second company Genesys International specialises in photogrammetry, remote sensing, cartography, data conversion, and state-of-the-art terrestrial and 3D geo-content. While Genesys has a healthy order book, the project-based nature of its revenue leads to significant lumpiness in the business. Delays in project execution or billing can significantly hurt revenue as the company has a very concentrated client base. While both C.E Info Systems and Genesys have healthy operating margins, their net margins and return ratios need to find some stability. Investing in Indian spacetech companies holds immense long-term potential given government support and burgeoning private participation. Nevertheless, this requires a high degree of patience and diligent monitoring of evolving margins and return ratios. This is because the sector is still nascent, characterised by high R&D costs, long gestation periods, and significant upfront capital expenditure. Until these companies achieve sufficient scale, consistent commercialisation of their technologies, and demonstrate a clear path to sustainable revenue generation and efficient capital deployment, their valuations may remain volatile. Happy Investing. Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such. This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com Stocks to buy under 200: On Friday, Indian stock markets concluded on a downward trend due to a cautious beginning to the first quarter earnings season and an escalation in the tariff threat of 35% on goods imported into the US from Canada. By the end of the trading day, the Sensex had decreased by 689.81 points or 0.83%, settling at 82,500.47, while the Nifty 50 fell by 205.40 points or 0.81% to close at 25,149.85. Many market analysts linked the negative market sentiment to renewed concerns over tariffs and disappointing corporate earnings, especially within the IT sector. Stock Market Outlook Nifty 50 levels to watch out for : 25,600-26,000 / 25,000 24,500 Mehul Kothari, Deputy Vice President Technical Research at Anand Rathi said that it was yet another week of consolidation for the domestic markets, where the index spent most of its time oscillating without direction. Nifty 50 failed to surpass the crucial hurdle near 25,600 and instead slipped below the 25,200 mark towards the end of the week. The index ended with a weekly loss of nearly 1%, reflecting subdued sentiment. However, the broader markets witnessed deeper cuts, as both the Midcap and Smallcap indices declined over 1%, largely in the absence of any meaningful positive triggers. According to Kothari, over the past two weeks, Nifty 50 has consistently failed to surpass the crucial resistance zone of 25,60025,800. This level is significant because it coincides with a gap-down area from the first week of October 2024, which also marked a major market top at the time. Naturally, this region now acts as a heavy supply zone, and until it is decisively taken out, we do not expect any meaningful upside or fresh fireworks in the near term. On the downside, the 25,000 mark is immediate support, as it aligns with a rising trendline on the short-term charts. A breakdown below this level could trigger a deeper and long-awaited corrective phase in the markets. On the contrary, if this support holds, we may see a short-term pullback. However, such a bounce should ideally be used as an opportunity to lighten long positions, as the market continues to lack a meaningful correction and broader participation remains weak, according to Mehul Kothari. Bank Nifty Outlook This week, Bank Nifty ended in the red, but importantly, the 56,000 support zone held firm, and even the upside hurdle near 57,600 was not tested. As a result, the overall view remains unchanged. A decisive move below 56,000 could trigger a meaningful correction, while sustained strength above 57,600 is needed to attempt a breakout. Even then, the 58,00058,500 zone remains a major long-term trendline resistance, and crossing it convincingly won't be easy. Until then, the index is likely to stay range-bound with a cautious undertone, said Mehul Kothari. Mehul Kotharis stock recommendations Regarding stocks to buy under 200, Mehul Kothari of Anand Rathi recommended buying these three buy or sell stocks: NMDC Ltd, Restaurant Brands Asia Ltd, and Rain Industries Ltd. NMDC Ltd : Buy at 69; Stop Loss: 67; Target Price: 73 Restaurant Brands Asia Ltd : Buy at 82; Stop Loss: 79.5; Target Price: 85 Rain Industries Ltd : Buy at 146; Stop Loss: 143; Target Price: 152 Also Read | Stocks to buy under 100: Experts recommend three shares to buy today TEXTILE ARCHIVES Kallol Datta has always looked at the intersections of gender, history and politics in his textile practice. He carries these threads forward in his new solo, Volume IV: Truths, Half-Truths, Half Lies, Lieshis first at Experimenters Colaba space in Mumbai and third with the gallery overall. The project came about after Datta came across edits and proclamations for women, which were circulated across the Korean Peninsula and Japan between the 16th and early 20th centuries. Their impact is felt even today. Through this show, Datta continues his investigation of the clothing practices of these places over time. At Experimenter, Colaba, Mumbai till 20 August, 10.30am-6.30pm (Tuesday to Saturday). Painting by Rashmimala, Oil palm tree, Elaeis guineensis 2025 RESILIENCE OF NATURE Gallery Espace is presenting Vadodara-based artist Rashmimalas first solo, titled How We Breathe. The show includes recent works, which are centred around the vegetation and flora of the Capital and the North-East. Though she draws inspiration from the botanical drawings prevalent in the 18th-19th centuries, Rashmimala bases her documentation of vegetation in the 21st century. She looks at the resilience of nature, and its ability to heal itself, through examples of plants like ruderals, which grow easily on soil degraded by natural disasters or construction. At Gallery Espace, New Delhi, till 12 August, 11am-7pm (closed on Sunday). A promotional image for the 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' musical produced by Phase 1 World, Bengaluru. A MUSICAL SPECTACLE Its going to be a musical week for Bengaluru. For, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returns as an all-male pop opera, directed by music and theatre director Kevin Oliver and produced by Phase 1 World. With 16 songs spanning genres from energy rock anthems and pop grooves to semi-classical Indian melodies and Broadway ballads, and over 100 male vocalists performing, the production promises to be a sonic treat. Adding a grand element to things are Dubai's celebrated couturiers Michael Cinco and Furne One Amato. The visual centerpiecethe Dreamcoat itselfweighs over 21 kilos and features more than 30 fabrics and textures, crafted to shimmer, ripple, and evolve with every musical passage, reveals the press note. At Good Shepherd Auditorium, Richmond Town, Bengaluru, 17 -19 July, 8pm. Tickets on Bookmyshow. Beef and Bone is on the limited edition Nikkei Menu by chef Randy Cultivo. NIKKEI, SERVED FRESH Wabi Sabi at The Oberoi, Bengaluru is hosting a limited edition Nikkei Menu by chef Randy Cultivo. The menu, inspired by chef Cultivo's explorations of the cuisine and his travels around Peru, includes signature dishes like the Tiradito, Beef and Bone, The Wabi Sabi Sizzle and Ceviche de Atun with fresh jalapeno peppers. While vegetarian options include Fruit ceviche and Three carrots and H, desserts include Chimu Reimagined, Caviar Box and Flavours of Yutori. At Wabi Sabi at The Oberoi, Bengaluru, 10-27 July, for lunch and dinner. For reservations, call +91 80 2558 5858. The promotional poster for Superqueens directed by Vivek Mansukhani. Its only 6pm, and weve started thinking about dinner. The scenes give in as we stroll past food stalls and coffee shops bustling with locals and tourists alike, devouring soupy noodle bowls and fried snacks cooked over charcoal fires. We are in Hoi An, a Unesco World Heritage site in central Vietnam, where you dont really need an excuse to eat. We skip the boutique stores and tailoring shops, and plonk ourselves on plastic stools to eat com ga, the ubiquitous chicken rice, and also a Hoi An speciality. Com ga is everywhere in this ancient town, admired for its architectural splendour, and cultural vibe. Inside hidden alleyways, and behind designer stores, frantic vendors plate up this beloved staple by the clock. A close cousin of the Hainanese chicken rice, its a true flavour bomb packed with umami from a nuoc cham dipping sauce, and an equally addictive sweet chilli pickle (that I end up scouring the local markets for in the following days to take back home). At Com Ga Ba Lam, a streetside vendor located in the old town, we find the best chicken rice, and make plans to return to the country some day just to eat it. Also Read | 5 types of Vietnamese coffee you need to try View Full Image 'Com ga' in the old town. (Rituparna Roy) But no trip to Hoi An is complete without eating cao lau, a dish that is deeply tied to the foodways of the port town. Chewy, flat noodles served with generous slices of char siu-style pork, bean sprouts and herbs soaked in a flavourful broth, and crispy rice crackers and croutons on the side, it makes for a hearty meal. Some believe the dish was introduced by Chinese traders, when they docked at the port in the 17th century, while the udon-like noodles could be a Japanese influence. Traditionally, they are made of rice that has been soaked in lye/ash water from the nearby Cham Islands. Morning Glory, a restaurant known for offering classic Vietnamese cuisine in a refined setting, with promising views of the iconic Japanese bridge, does an excellent cao lau apt for sharing (only if you wish). Of course there is the beloved banh mi, an overloaded sandwich of grilled meat and pickled veggies, smeared with pate inside an airy, light baguettea classic imprint of the French colonial influence. One is spoilt for choice with a dozen banh mi stalls here, but sample the iconic staple at Banh Mi Phuong that comes with the late American chef Anthony Bourdains stamp of approval. Evenings are chaotic in Hoi An with vendors invading the streets, and the Thu Bon riverside, selling all sorts of delicious things: sweet doughy rice balls, wafer-thin black sesame crackers, banana pancakes drizzled with condensed milk, fried quail eggs, and crispy banh xeo or crepes with shrimp and pork. At Thuan Y opposite the river, we settle for grilled pork skewers that come with a pile of fresh greens, and stacks of rice paper and a delicious nuoc cham. We quietly assemble it under the watchful eyes of the matriarch handling the orders by filling the rice paper with meat and greens, followed by rolling it up, and finally dipping it in the sauce before every bite. View Full Image Reu is an upscale restaurant on the outskirts of Hoi An. (Rituparna Roy) On our last day in Hoi An, we choose Reu, an upscale restaurant on the outskirts of the town with picturesque views of the rice fields and tranquil countryside. The space is striking with lush bougainvillea invading its bright yellow facade. The chef, we are told, offers a modern spin on Vietnamese cuisine, and cooks with fresh greens and seafood sourced from the farms and coast nearby. The salad truly tastes of the terroir, and the fried wontons pack a punch when eaten with a house-made plum sauce. But, its the mi quang, a speciality of flat rice noodles, topped with meat, vegetables and peanuts, served with a wondrous dipping sauce that we cannot get enough of. Later that evening, we headed back to Com Ga Ba Lam for one last plate of chicken rice, only to find the staff packing up for the day. Also Read | Practicing mindfulness on a street food trail in Hanoi Another memorable trip was to the Bordeaux region in Francehome to some of the most revered wineries in the world, such as Chateau Margaux, Chateau Brane-Cantenac, Chateau Pichon Baron and Chateau Leoville Barton. As always, I got to drink several fascinating wines on this trip. One of the highlights of this trip for me was our visit to Chateau Cos dEstournel, where I was stunned to find that the architecture of the winery closely resembled the pagodas of Asia. The chateaus founder, Louis Gaspard dEstournel, was known to have a fondness for India, which is reflected in the chateaus architecture, as underneath the pagodas is an ornate wooden door guarded by elephants. To see the Indian elephant as the symbol of this esteemed winery, sculpted in stone, wood and shrub across the chateaus premises, filled my heart with fondness and pride. It was a reminder of Indias vast legacy and influence across different continents. India might be discovering the world of wine now, but it had been woven into the history of wine centuries ago by this estate. Also Read | The best wine and cocktail bars in Paris During our visit to Bordeaux, for a couple of days we stayed in Sauternes, which produces graceful sweet wines. The amber-coloured wines have aromas of honey, orange marmalade and spices. The producers of Sauternes wines always emphasise it isnt just a dessert wine and can be paired with a range of dishes. While visiting wineries in Sauternes, we were treated to lunches that explored the wines versatile food compatibility. One of the most popular food pairings was with liver pate, which is made by grinding pork liver with lard. Liver pate is a popular French delicacy, so my fellow students were thrilled to try it with exquisite Sauternes wine. As a pescatarian, I hadnt been sure of what kind of food would be available on this visit. So, I had registered for the tour as a vegetarian, and was served dishes like cucumber and cream cheese roulade or fruit-based salads. Sonal Holland's 'One in a Billion' book cover. As the tour progressed, my friends reaction changed from Ah, pate to Ooh, pate, again and then Oh, pate, again. By the third day, people would hover over my table, looking wistfully at my plate of fresh veggies and cheeses, and say, We want what you have! This experience proved that every food and cuisine can be paired with wine if you understand the fundamentals of pairing the two. Many foods suppress certain taste buds on our tongue, momentarily altering our perception. The simplest example of this is drinking orange juice straight after brushing your teeth. The juice tastes sour and bitter because toothpaste contains sodium laureth sulfate, which suppresses the taste buds that detect sweetness. Understanding this interaction between different foods and beverages is the key to wine and food pairing, so that the wine you offer doesnt get overpowered or altered in taste by the food you serve it with. Sour foods, such as tomatoes, vinegar, lemons, enhance the flavours of wine, making it taste richer. Salty foods like salted cod, salted nuts and salt-crusted pretzels and even bread too make a great pairing with wine, especially with high-tannin wines like Shiraz or Malbec, since salt acts as a flavour enhancer and softens the wines tannins. However, pairing wines with bitter foods like bitter green vegetables or umami foods like eggs or bacon is challenging. Indian dishes can pair with a wide variety of wines, as long as they arent overly spicy, but this requires another book, which I will write soon. During these visits, I learnt invaluable lessons from people working in different spheres of the wine industry. Ironically, these people were not MWs themselves, but their wealth of experience and practical knowledge was immense. Come to think of it, an MW learns the most from people who are not MWs themselves! However, every person I interacted with had immense respect for the title and for the students who pursued it. I think the respect was for the determination, focus and dedication that we students put in. Once a person becomes an MW, they earn respect from the industry for the time and effort they invest to further develop the industry. An MW is meant to be the keeper of knowledge of the wine world. The whole reason for being vessels of knowledge is to share whatever we know with the rest of the worldthats the core virtue of every MW, because knowledge has no power unless it is shared. Over the six years, I also realised that the wine world is constantly evolving, with innovations in how wine is produced, marketed or accessed, and because of the impact of external factors like climate change on the industry. This meant that even after one became an MW, the learning never stopped. BMW Group has announced a marginal year-on-year (YoY) increase in vehicle deliveries for the second quarter (Q2), with a notable surge in sales of electrified vehicles. Deliveries of BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce vehicles climbed by 0.4% to 621,271 units between April and June. The Rolls-Royce brand experienced a 9.4% YoY sales increase in the quarter. In contrast, BMW & MINI sales witnessed a mixed geographical performance, with a 10.1% rise in Europe and a 1.4% increase in the US, while China saw a decline of 13.7% against the same period of the previous year. However, for the first half (H1) of the year, the groups total vehicle deliveries slightly dipped by 0.5% compared to last year's period, amounting to 1.2 million units. However, the sale of electrified vehicles, including fully-electric and plug-in hybrid (PHEVs) models, jumped by 18.5%, reaching 318,949 vehicles. Despite a slight 0.8% drop in deliveries, the Rolls-Royce brand managed to deliver 2,796 vehicles in the first half of the year. The BMW brand itself delivered 1.07 million vehicles in the first half, with a rise in deliveries across all regions outside China. The brand's electrified vehicle sales rose by 6.5% to 272,402 units delivered in H1, with PHEVs experiencing a significant 28.9% YoY increase in demand. BMW M saw sales up by 6.5% and over 100,000 vehicles sold in H1. The BMW M5 and BMW M5 Touring, launched in late 2024, are also said to have contributed to the division's growth. The MINI brands sales were also up by 17.3% to 133,778 vehicles, growing across all regions. In China, MINI's sales increased in H1, and its fully-electric models saw demand globally. BMW board of management member Jochen Goller said: In the second quarter, we also achieved an important milestone, with the delivery of our 1.5-millionth fully-electric vehicle. This success underlines once again how the BMW Group has evolved from an electric pioneer to one of the leading players in the BEV market now offering more than 15 fully-electric models. Last month, BMW Group began installing production systems for high-voltage batteries at its new assembly plant in Irlbach, Bavaria, Germany. "China drags BMW down to first half sales dip" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. In 1805, a British official visited the court of the Peshwa in Pune. Writing later, he described his host as much the handsomest Hindu I have seen", with a perfect gentlemanlike air". His appearance, James Mackintosh added, had more elegance than dignity" and didnt quite fit his preconceptions of what a leading prince would look like. The Peshwa was dressed in simple garments, and his throne", in an equally unassuming durbar hall, was just a sheet of white, with a few pillows thrown over it. But Mackintosh had another specifically interesting comment to make: no ladys hands, fresh from the toilet and the bath," he wrote, could be more nicely clean than (the Peshwas) uncovered feet." The white mans attention to feet need not surprise us, for this part of the human anatomy played a significant role in colonial politics. Mackintosh himself, as he entered the Peshwas presence, had had to remove his splendidly embroidered slippers", and go in with toes (nearly) exposed (he probably kept his stockings on). Also Read | The remarkable stories behind royal thrones Across the centuries of their presence in India, issues around shoes and feet would haunt the British repeatedly. For instance, in 1633 when Ralph Cartwright, an English envoy, sought permission to trade from the Mughal governor of Orissa, the latter presented his foot to our Merchant to kisse". Twice Cartwright refused to bend, but in the end was faine to doe it". The symbolism is obvious: one party was the superior, the other a supplicant. In Mughal court culture this was not necessarily an insult: as the historian Harbans Mukhia observes, imperial foot-kissing was often a privilege, and most had to make do with touching lips on carpets or the ground instead. It is likely that by offering his foot to Cartwright, the Mughal governor was indicating favour. Yet, the same ritual could also, of course, be deployed to humiliate. In 1520, when the Bijapur sultan sued for peace after losing to Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara, the emperor agreedprovided the sultan kiss his feet. Bijapur declined and the war continued. The British, coming from a different culture, saw things decidedly from the insult side of things. It was common courtesy in India, for example, to take off ones shoes when entering any space of importance; white officials, though, saw exposed feet as improper. For generations, therefore, they negotiated for special treatment, success and failure depending on political winds. The second governor-general, Lord Cornwallis, thus, was able to meet a Mughal prince on his own terms: his lordship," we read, went into the imperial presence with his shoes on". This, when only four years before, Cornwalliss predecessor had to yield" to a whole series of indignities", such as going into the presence with his shoes off, sitting behind the prince on his elephant, and fanning him". What had changed was that the Mughal prince was visibly weaker; he could no longer insist on imperial protocol. In time, the British would assume the right to keep shoes on even inside temples and mosques. Also Read | The stories of the men and women who inspired Ravi Varma It was an uphill battle, though. In Gwalior, for example, an agent took umbrage to how the formidable anti-British queen, Baiza Bai, summoned him any day at any hour to dance attendance", making him sit on the ground without shoes", on the left side instead of the right side" of her throne (the left being less honourable). It would be 12 yearsand after Baiza Bais ouster from powerbefore the British would succeed, at last, in having the Gwalior durbar modify custom; in 1844, it was reported, we all sat on chairs with our boots on." Of course, this was also due to altered political realities, given that the state was now under more thorough British control, and had to, therefore, accept white officials diktats. The location of the chair upon which British officers sat also matteredin the 1870s, when the ruler of Baroda sought to have the governor of Bombay sit on his left during a proposed visit, it was stoutly resisted. The maharajah pursued the matter to Londonand failed. In Hyderabad, meanwhile, it took until 1869 for the British to be able to wear shoes in the court of the nizam, let alone use chairs. An earlier ruler, when requested by a Company official for a chair, is said to have sneered that he continue to sit on the floor, but with a pit dug to dangle his feet in". But in the late 1860s, the reigning nizam was a child, and the British saw a window to force change. So, at the boys installation in 1869, the white men sat on chairs, with shoes on. This was, however, as The Times of India recalled later, met with very considerable opposition". Indeed, according to one account, the British went to the extent of keeping troops ready to sack Hyderabad" should there be trouble due to the shoe-and-chair controversy. Interestingly, The Times of India writer ended with a lament that while in Hyderabad things were settled as the Europeans desired it", the British in Burma still had to leave (their) shoes outside the palace". In 1875, refusal to continue this led to a serious impasse with the Burmese king. Also Read | Sati was real. But it was also great propaganda Ultimately, though, it was not a question simply of shoes and chairs but the political messages encoded here. Having a British official sit on the right side of the throne, often at the same level, advertised native" vassalage and the white mans imperial might. Refusal of British officials to appear barefoot, even though their predecessors once complied, signalled how power equations had tilted in their favour. Ironically, the British were reluctant to let Indians enter their spaces with shoes; that is, the white man defied local tradition, but the brown man was expected to maintain local displays of deference. When once a Bengali of rank" is said to have appeared before the notorious Lord Dalhousie with slippers on, he received such a glare that the Oriental (sic) gradually sunk down and down until his flowing garments touched the ground, and his feet were completely concealed from sight." Reportedly, Dalhousie kept him in this painful position" for a while before moving on. Yet as Indians grew anglicised in dress and etiquette, the British had to modify their stance, not least because leading natives" began to boycott imperial events, as in 1857 in Calcutta. Some groups like the Parsis argued, besides, that unlike Hindus, they kept slippers on everywhere; to ask them to display feet was unreasonable. Sir John Lawrence, viceroy in the second half of the 1860s, ultimately decided that if brown visitors to government offices and courts conformed to English notions" by wearing patent leather shoes", they could be excused from having to remove their footwear. The decision, one commentator wrote, caused much grumbling" but prevented unpleasant altercations"; why, one group of people even benefited from Lawrences commandmanufacturers of patent leather". In the end, though, it would take till the close of the 19th century for the issue to fizzle out: this grand, decades-long political headache called the Great Shoe Question" of India. Manu S. Pillai is a historian and author, most recently, of Gods, Guns and Missionaries. There is an evocative story, titled My Nanis pajeb , shared by Samriddhi Roy on the website of The Museum of Material Memory. The post from June 2020 delves into the memories associated with a pair of payals ,which has been in the family for nearly 160 years. Roys story does not just look at the familial history associated with the pajeb ,but also etches a portrait of the lifestyle prevalent in a landowners family in Munger district, Bihar, between the 1940s-50s. She then draws connections between the various women of the family as the jewel and its stories are passed down from generation to generation, with the author wearing it during her graduation in 2019. Immersed in its time thepayalmay be loud today and languid tomorrow, but nanis story is real, and it matters because that voice is hers. And each time she narrates it, she lives the soulful, sentimental, eerie trajectory, which is her life," she writes. On another website, Memorabilia: An Ode to Family History,you can find similar stories. In one post, Sambrita Chakraborty, a student of history at Jadavpur University, reminisces about her maternal uncles home, ormamabari,in Behala, where she spent most of her childhood days. Of all the spaces in this house, the rooftop was the dearest to her. On one corner was the attic stacked with books of Russian folktales. Especially striking was a cabinet, with its law books, and an old rotary phone on top. It was long out of order and the line was disconnected. But my delight in turning the dial to hear the krik sound and importantly say Hello into the receiver was no less than gobbling up cotton candy at a fair," she writes. Like Roy and Chakraborty, all of us have grown up with stories of objects and curios passed down through the family. Over time, as the original functions of these materials were removed, some of these were discarded, or they continue to stand quietly in one corner of the house, waiting to be nudged so that they can whisper their stories once again. Family histories were mostly taken for granted until the covid-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020. As we ended up spending more time at home, these objects came into focus once again. Also read: The quest for culinary historys missing pieces With so much memory associated with them, people were hesitant to cast them aside. So, then the question arose, how do we find out more about them and keep them relevant? While hoarding is something we should all be wary of, the act of mindfully conserving and archiving prized heirloom objects and personal/familial possessions allows us to locate ourselves within the historical context of our locales, and through this act of contextualising and locating ourselves, connect to our roots," states a 2024-article by Drishya in Homegrown about such archival projects. View Full Image Srilagna started the self-funded digital Shyamal Majumdar Archive in 2022. Courtesy: Srilagna Majumdar/Memorabilia With some leisure at hand, people started turning to platforms such as The Museum of Material Memory and Memorabilia for direction on documenting their familys stories. People as young as 16 and as old as 80 turned their gaze inwards to create personal archives of all shapes and sizes. Today, this tribe of memory keepers has only grown with the guidance of such digital platforms. The idea for Memorabilia took root when Srilagna Majumdar was around 18. It all started when her father brought out an ikophot, a handheld meter made in the 1950s by Zeiss Ikon in Germany. This object had once belonged to her grandfather, Shyamal Kumar Majumdar, who had probably procured it from Fancy Market, Kolkata, in the 1960s. This moment led her to look closely at her grandfathers historya banker with varied interests in photography, history, literature and music. As she collected oral testimonies and archived material objects, Majumdar was surprised to learn that no one before her dadu had been even remotely interested in the arts. Whatever dadu loved, he wanted to share that with others and spread the passion. I am striving to make this larger purpose of his into a reality," she wrote in a 2024-post on The Museum of Material Memory site. It was this idea that led her to start the self-funded digital Shyamal Majumdar Archive in 2022. Also read: An exhibition to celebrate risha a breast cloth that tells stories of Tripuras tribal women As the stories began to garner positive response, people came forth with submissions of their own family stories. So, Majumdar included a blog section within the website, making her grandfathers archive a section on it. She then opened it up to people as a space to freely share their stories. This started with a photo essay on womens day a couple of months ago. Through the project, I want to convey to young people that you dont need to be an archivist or a historian to document your familys history," says 26-year-old Majumdar, who is a researcher and cultural history practitioner. She now conducts workshops about ways to document heirloom objects at home. One such session was held last year in Hyderabad, where she shared her own experiences of preserving photos, letters, records, and more. Every six months, Memorabilia offers an internship for youth and students. In this program, participants record, digitise, research, and organise family and marginal histories, gaining a holistic view of personal histories and the tools to preserve it. It was with a similar vision of empowering people to tell their familys story that The Museum of Material Memory was set up in 2017 by Aanchal Malhotra and Navdha Malhotra as a digital repository of material culture of the Indian subcontinent. The idea was to trace family history and social ethnography through heirlooms, collectibles and objects of antiquity. The project has its roots in Aanchals research work around the Partition of 1947she has authored several books on the subject such asRemnants of a Separation.However, the scope and focus of The Museum of Material Memory is not on the Partition or any particular state but to momentsbig and small from across the subcontinent. View Full Image Samriddhi Roy's nani, Kamini Tiwari, at a shoot after her wedding. Samriddhi Roy/ Museum of Material Memory Aanchal and Navdha have been friends since school, with the latter driving social impact through strategic communications and digital innovation. One day, we were having a conversation about how people were approaching Aanchal while she was compiling her book, to know whether she would be willing to visit them to see their objects. It was then we decided to build a crowdsourced platform wherein people could make submissions and write about their personal objects on their own," says Navdha. The decision to go digital was deliberatethe two co-founders wanted a medium that was accessible and democratic, and which allowed them to crowdsource stories. In traditional gallery and museum setups, a third person ends up telling a communitys stories. We wanted to give people tools to archive their own histories, and disseminate them the way they wish to," she adds. Our vision is to build an organic community of memory keepers." Also read: Why Puducherry's French citizens are returning to the seaside town Back in 2017, the duo decided to have a timeline to feature objects predating the 1970s. However, it is relatively fluid. As technology and times evolve, It wont be surprising if younger people start submitting stories of old mobile phones. The only caveat is that the object needs to have belonged to someone in the family, and not something that was bought for the self. Intergenerational dialogue is key to this project. They encourage people to seek out relatives and extended family to unearth stories of an heirloom, which might have belonged to their grandparents or great grandparents. Once people approach us, we share a set of guidelinesa set of prompts, if you willthat point them in the right direction," explains Navdha. It is interesting to see youth as young as 16 approach their platform. They recently conducted a virtual internship programme as part of the YLAC Artivist Fellowship, wherein they worked with three students from middle and high schools in Bengaluru and Delhi. Both Aanchal and I were left amazed at their sensibilities and sensitivities to the process of archiving. They were excited about weekly meetings and the process of taking stories forward. We learnt as much from them, especially in relation to their ideas on digital visual content," she adds. View Full Image Artefacts from the Shyamal Majumdar Archive Food is a dominant theme that runs like a thread through memories of grandparents across the country. Nearly everyone has a story of an heirloom recipe. It is to enable a sharing of such memories that Chef Thomas Zacharias started the Local Food Club in May under May under The Locavorean initiative to champion regional food and sustainability through storytelling, recipes and events. These clubs are powered by communities of food enthusiasts, who gather together for monthly potlucks to celebrate local cuisines, share stories and take collective action. The project, supported by Rainmatter Foundation, has 2,700 members todayhome cooks, curious eaters, students, farmers, neighbours, and more spread across over 50 cities. The idea was to empower people with agency to tell their stories. We want to decentralise the process, which saw a lot of gatekeeping earlier. The local food communities can now co-create documentation projects and archive things either individually or together," says Zacharias. Last Sunday, 6 July, saw 500 people gather in 14 cities, to take this forward. The Local Food Club is witnessing participation from people aged 18 to 80, with a lot of intergenerational sharing taking place at every event. This creates a sense of belonging and triggers action," he adds. Also read: From tripe to trotters, offal gets an upscale makeover To me, the most significant contribution of such platforms has been to make people cognisant of the value of family histories. While growing up, we had a very outward looking view of life, wherein the external and the global was far more important than anything else. Today, however, education formats nudge you to look inwards. The digital era has created greater access to different kinds of storytelling and ever since the pandemic, we have noticed a surge in people wanting to share their memories. They finally see value in their stories, and the need to record it," says Navdha. The 17th Brics summit was held in Brazil earlier this week amid tariff threats from the US and geopolitical challenges. Meanwhile, Indias electricity demand declined owing to a cooler summer and an early monsoon, and Nvidia stock soared, making it the world's first $4-trillion market cap company. Balancing Brics The 17th Brics summit was held in Brazil amid tariff threats and geopolitical conflicts, with the bloc seeking to strengthen the position of the global south. The absence of Chinas Xi Jinping and the virtual participation of Russias Vladimir Putin owing to legal constraints underscored internal challenges. Brics+, now expanded to 11 members, represents 48% of the global population and is steadily closing the GDP gap with the G7, according to a Mint analysis. However, the bloc has more differences than similarities, with only a few countries, including India and South Africa, having strong democratic values. Electricity demand dips Indias electricity demand fell 1.5% year-on-year in the June quarter to 445.8 billion kilowatt hours, according to the data from the Central Electricity Authority. This marks the first drop since the 2020 pandemic-hit first quarter of 2020. The decline in April-June 2025 was likely due to a cooler summer and an early monsoon, which reduced energy needs. The latest data from the India Meteorological Department showed that May saw a maximum temperature of 35.08 degrees Celsius, as against the normal trend of 36.60 degrees Celsius. The highest supply in a day (peak power demand met) in June also fell to about 242 GW last month from about 244 GW in June 2024. Nvidia is in a league of its own $4 trillion: That's the market cap Nvidia briefly hit on 9 July after its shares surged to an all-time high of $164.42, extending its lead over Apple and Microsoft as the worlds most valuable publicly traded company. Nvidias stock has seen strong demand in the past five years, driven by growing investor confidence in its critical role in powering AI technologies. The chipmakers shares have gained around 21% since last year, Mint reported. The company, founded in 1993, first surpassed $2-trillion in market cap in February 2024 and $3 trillion in June 2024. Renewed US tariffs With the 9 July deadline for trade deal negotiations ending, the US has sent formal letters to 14 countries, outlining revised tariffs. Among these, Laos and Myanmar have been hit with 40% reciprocal tariffs, the highest in the current list. Five of these, including Japan and South Korea, have been hit with a 25% tariff. The new reciprocal tariffs for the listed countries are set to take effect from 1 August. India, which is trying to strike a trade deal with the US, is unlikely to receive such a formal notification, Mint reported. Also Read | America cannot dodge the consequences of rising tariffs forever Accenture signals IT slump A 6% drop in Accentures new bookings in Q3FY25 led to a sharp decline in its stock last month. This was mirrored by Indian IT stocks, highlighting the company's influence on the sector. As a major player with overlapping markets, especially in North America, Accenture is seen as a bellwether for Indian IT firms. All listed Indian IT companies earn over 50% of their revenue from the Americas, making them sensitive to demand shifts there. However, an analysis by howindialives.com shows that the Dublin-headquartered tech and consulting major differs from Indian IT firms in several ways, warranting a closer look beyond its quarterly numbers. Balrampur Chini's bio bet 2,850 crore: Thats the investment Balrampur Chini Mills is making on bioplastics amid price controls and climate risks, Mint reported. The company is setting up a polylactic acid plant, Indias first by a sugar firm, next to its Kumbhi mill in Uttar Pradesh, aiming for 2,000 crore in revenue by 2027. PLA, a biodegradable plastic made from sugar, will initially target single-use plastic substitutes. While analysts see it as an ESG-friendly growth engine, concerns persist over input risks, as the plant will still rely on sugarcane, which is a water-guzzling crop vulnerable to weather shocks. RCB's power play The Indian Premier Leagues (IPL) valuation rose 12.9% year-on-year to $18.5 billion in 2025, cementing its status among the worlds top sporting leagues, according to a study by Houlihan Lokey. Royal Challengers Bangalore became the most valuable team after their maiden title win in 2025, replacing Chennai Super Kings. Mumbai Indians ranked second and Chennai Super Kings settled for third. Advertising revenues crossed $600 million, and viewership peaked at 678 million during the final on 3 June. With growing investor interest and cross-league expansion, IPL is evolving into a global media-sport brand, with longer seasons expected in future, the report said. Chart of the week: How urban Indians use their time Urban Indians love to watch TV and give a lower priority to reflection, relaxation and rest, a Mint analysis of the Time Use Survey 2024 showed. Watching TV is the top leisure activity, especially for urban women, while rural women, who work the hardest, prefer talking over screen time to unwind. Follow our data stories on the In Charts and Plain Facts pages. Delhi news: After heavy rain, a multi-storey building collapsed in Seelampur on Saturday morning, leaving 2 dead and 8 injured. As many as 7 fire tenders arrived at the accident spot for search and rescue operation, while the injured were rushed to the hospital. A ground-plus-three building collapses in Delhi's Seelampur. 3-4 people have been taken to the hospital. More people are feared trapped. 7 fire tenders at the spot for rescue operations, Fire Department officials informed ANI The video below shows locals helping in clearing the debris after a ground-plus-three building collapsed. North-East District Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba said that the police control room was alerted about the tragedy around 7:30 am. We received a call around 7:30 am about a three-story building collapse in Gali No. 5 in the Welcome area. 7 members of a family who lived here, have been rescued. The operation to rescue others is underway,Sandeep Lamba said. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Police, civil defence and locals arrived at the spot to assist in rescue and debris removal operations. According to a neighbour, Anees Ahmad Ansari, 4-5 people are still trapped in the debris of the collapsed building, ANI reported. Building collapse at Tokri Walan This comes after a building collapse at Tokri Walan in Pul Mithai near Bara Hindu Rao on Friday claimed one life. The structure, part of the Azad Market area, comprised three shops on the ground floor and godowns on the first floor. According to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the building was already marked as unsafe and had been evacuated before the incident. Since the collapsed building was located within the influence zone of the ongoing tunnelling work for the Janakpuri West-RK Ashram Marg corridor of the Delhi Metro, the DMRC announced an ex gratia of 5 lakh for the family of the deceased, ANI reported. Also Read | Tremors felt in Delhi-NCR as earthquake hits Jhajjar in Haryana The DMRC alleged that it had informed building owners, in a notice dated June 12, about the possibility of collapse and warned them that the structures were in a very poor condition and needed to be evacuated. The victim named Pappu worked as an employee at shop number 7A. He had had been working for the same shop owner Gulshan Mahajan for the past 30 years. Kolkata: In a baffling twist, the father of the IIM Calcutta student who had alleged she was raped, has now denied the claims, stating instead that his daughter was injured after falling from an auto-rickshaw, reported NDTV. The IIM-C student's father said his daughter told him no sexual assault had occurred. Also Read | IIM Calcutta student rapes woman after drugging her with spiked pizza, drink Earlier in the day, the woman had alleged that she was raped by a fellow student in the boys hostel of the IIM-C campus. Investigations are currently underway. What the student's father said The woman's father further said that nobody misbehaved, or tortured his daughter. He also claimed that the student had no connection with the person arrested Parmanand Jain. I have spoken to my daughter. She said no one tortured her or misbehaved with her. I have got back my daughter, she is normal. She has no connection with the man who has been arrested... I have not been able to speak to her at length. She is sleeping. I will talk to her after she wakes up... She had gone to submit a document, the student's father told NDTV. Speaking about the alleged rape, the woman's father said he had got a call around 9:34 pm informing him that his daughter had fallen out of an auto and lost consciousness. He was told that the police had taken her to the neurology department of the SSKM Hospital in Kolkata. Invited to hostel; accused threatened woman The woman had lodged the rape complaint at Haridevpur police station on Friday evening. In her complaint, as per news wire PTI, the woman alleged that she was called to the hostel for a counselling session. Also Read | Kolkata rape case accused Monojit Mishra believed survivor would stay silent In the hostel, the woman was offered a drink, which she suspected was spiked. She said she lost consciousness soon after, and when she came to, she realised she had been sexually assaulted. With 14 more days left before the last date of collection of enumeration forms in the ongoing special intensive revision in Bihar, the Election Commission of India on Saturday said that it had established direct contact with nearly all electors in the state. The ECI also said over 80 per cent electors had submitted their forms, adding that the commission is well ahead of the stipulated time to finish the collection by July 25. In a statement released on Saturday, the poll panel also said that additional 20,000 booth-level officers have been appointed in Bihar to finish the collection of the enumeration forms. With 77,895 BLOs, an additional 20,603 newly appointed BLOs on ground, ECI is moving ahead to the complete the collection of Enumeration Forms (EFs) will before the stipulated time of 25th July 2025, the ECI said. Door-to-door visits to ensure maximum inclusion The poll panel said that 1.5 lakh booth-level agents (BLAs) appointed by all political parties are visiting door to door and leaving no stones unturned to ensure inclusion of each and every existing elector whose names are in the electoral roll in Bihar as on June 24, 2025". Special efforts are also being made to assist senior citizens, PwD electors, and other valuable groups by over four lakh volunteers, the statement said. Having completed 100% printing and near completion of distribution of EFs to all electors who were found at their addresses, as of 6pm today collection crossed 6,32,59,496 or 80.11%. Which means 4 out of every 5 5 electors in Bihar has submitted the EF. With this pace, majority of EFs are likely to be collected much before 25th July 2025, it said. Special Intensive Revision in Bihar The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Election Commission to continue with its exercise of conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi did not stay the SIR process but asked the ECI to consider allowing Aadhaar, ration cards, and electoral photo identity cards as admissible documents to prove voter identity during the SIR of electoral rolls being undertaken in Bihar. "We are of the prima facie opinion that in the interest of justice, the Election Commission will also include documents like Aadhaar, Ration Card, Voter ID card, etc.. It is for the ECI to decide whether it wants to accept the documents or not, and if it does not, then provide reasons for its decision, which shall be sufficient to satisfy the petitioners. Meanwhile, petitioners are not pressing for an interim stay," the bench stated in its order. Having a US visa still not enough? The US Embassy in India on Saturday issued a warning on Saturday that visa holders could face deportation even after their visas are granted if they fail to comply with all U.S. laws and immigration regulations. Also Read: US Embassy in India cautions students against skipping classes or leaving midway US Embassy in India said in a post on X, U.S. visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all U.S. laws and immigration rules and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they dont. Earlier, the embassy had directed all visa applicants to stipulate details of all their social media handles from the past five years for background checks -- failure to comply could lead to visa rejection. "Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used in the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit," the embassy said in a statement on X. The F-1 visa is issued to students pursuing academic studies, while the M-1 visa is for those enrolled in vocational or other non-academic programs. The J-1 visa, on the other hand, is granted to individuals participating in teaching, studying, research, or on-the-job training programs, typically lasting from a few weeks to several years. Last month, the Trump administration ordered all U.S. consulates worldwide to halt new interviews and stop accepting applications for student and exchange visitor visas. Earlier in June, US Embassy reiterated its stance on illegal immigration and said that it will not tolerate violation of any laws or visa abuse, and said, The United States continues to welcome legitimate travelers to our country. However, there is no right to visit the United States. "We cannot and will not tolerate illegal entry, abuse of visas, or the violation of US law," it added. A student of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta was accused of raping a woman on the institute's campus, Kolkata Police said on Saturday. According to Telegraph, a student of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta was allegedly raped by a second-year student inside the boys hostel. Officials said the woman lodged a complaint at the Haridevpur police station on Friday evening. "Late last evening, a woman reported at Haridevpur Police Station that she was raped by a student inside the IIM Calcutta campus," police were quoted by news agency PTI as saying. "A case has been registered, and the accused has been arrested," police said. They added that an investigation is currently underway. No official statement has been issued by the institute so far. Also Read | Eldest son of Norwegian crown princess accused of multiple rapes 'Drugegd and raped' Police sources told the Telegraph that in her complaint the survivor alleged she was lured to the boys' hostel under the pretext of a counseling session. Once there, she was offered food and drinks, after which she lost consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, she found herself inside the hostel and alleged that she had been raped," the woman claimed. "She also claimed the accused threatened her with dire consequences if she spoke out, the woman reportedly said in her complaint. Also Read | Pune woman raped inside Maharashtra state transport bus, police reveal details Initial probe reportedly revealed that the survivor and the accused had first connected on social media. Following tension with another acquaintance, she sought advice from the accused, who then invited her to campus for a discussion. A mutual friend accompanied her, but the accused allegedly asked for a private conversation and led her to a vacant hostel room where the assault took place, the Telegram reported. Once inside the room, she was offered a slice of pizza and soft drink. A little later she fell unconscious. She says she had attempted to resist in her condition. Those statements are being verified. A medical examination will be conducted, the officer was quoted as saying. Also Read | Karnataka horror: Cop rapes minor who came to him with rape complaint As per the report, police are reviewing CCTV footage and are questioning students on campus. The incident came two weeks after a law student was allegedly gang-raped inside the South Calcutta Law College campus in Kolkata. The incident took place on June 25 when a student was allegedly gangraped inside the South Calcutta Law College in the Kasba area of Kolkata. Five days later, on June 30, Kolkata Police said that the three main accused in the case were arrested in less than 12 hours. Mahaveer Toppannavar alias Parmanand Jain, accused in the IIM Kolkata alleged rape case, has been sent to police custody till 19 July, reported ANI. Earlier on Friday, a woman reported at Haridevpur police station that a student inside the IIM-C campus raped her. Following the case was registered, the accused, identified as Mahaveer Toppannavar alias Parmanand Jain, was arrested. The incident comes two weeks after a law student was gang-raped inside the South Calcutta Law College campus in Kolkata. Father denies rape: Meanwhile, the father of the victim has denied that anything of the sort happened and said his daughter fell out of an auto rickshaw, reported NDTV. The father stated that he received at 9.34 pm on Friday and was informed that his daughter had fallen out of an auto and lost her senses. Following this, his daughter was admitted to the neurology department of SSKM hospital. He said that he police had rescued her and taken her there. "The police told me they have registered a case and arrested someone. My daughter said the police told her to say something during the medical exam, and she did not," NDTV reported the man as saying. "I have spoken to my daughter. She said no one tortured her or misbehaved with her. I have got back my daughter, she is normal. She has no connection with the man who has been arrested... I have not been able to speak to her at length. She is sleeping. I will talk to her after she wakes up... She had gone to submit a document," he added. The father added that his daughter was asked to write something at the police station as part of a complaint, and she did. On being asked if his daughter is in trauma, he replied, "No, she is completely fit". Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said on July 12 that the Indian legal system has been facing unique challenges and needs to be fixed. The CJI, however, said he remains cautiously optimistic that Indians will rise to the "Even though I conclude that our legal system is badly in need of fixing, I remain cautiously optimistic that my fellow citizens will rise to the challenges, CJI Gavai said, delivering the Convocation Address at Nalsar University of Law, Hyderabad. The CJI advised students to go abroad for studies on scholarships, not to put pressure on family finances. "Our country and legal system are facing unique challenges. Delays in trials can sometimes go for decades. We have seen cases where someone has been found innocent after spending years in jail as an undertrial. Our best talent can help us resolve the problems that we are facing," he further said. He advised the passing out graduates to seek mentors not for their power, but for integrity. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Supreme Court Judge Justice PS Narasimha also participated in the convocation, while acting Chief Justice of Telangana High Court Justice Sujoy Paul presided over the convocation. 52nd Chief Justice of India. Justice Gavai took oath as 52nd Chief Justice of India on May 14. Justice Gavaiis the first Buddhist and second Dalit to be Chief Justice of India. Before him, former CJI KG Balakrishnan became the first Dalit CJI in 2007. Balakrishnan served for three years. Justice Gavai will be the Chief Justice of India for six months before retiring in November 2025. Global civilizational dialogue builds bridges through cultural exchange Xinhua) 14:12, July 12, 2025 BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Over 600 participants from around the world joined the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting held in Beijing on Thursday and Friday. Under the theme "Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development," participants at parallel sub-forums on Friday emphasized the importance of mutual learning among civilizations. They highlighted that drawing on the wisdom of diverse cultures can serve as a powerful catalyst for shared prosperity, as well as for advancing cultural inheritance and innovation. Roger T. Ames, a professor at both the University of Hawaii and Peking University, noted that civilizational dialogue offers an alternative to nation-state-centered geopolitics. "Instead of merely tolerating other cultures, we should activate our differences to make a difference for each other," he said. Simon Lichtenberg, the All China Founding Chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China, emphasized that mutual understanding and respect are fundamental to global development. "International exchanges and development require everyone to understand and respect each other," he said. Similar perspectives resonated during participants' visits to various cities across China earlier this week. Singh Vikash Kumar, a Hindi language specialist at Beijing Foreign Studies University, expressed awe at the Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Dunhuang, northwest China. "This is one of the most vital and life-filled stories in Buddhist art history. To see such a complete and exquisite preservation in China is deeply moving," he said. Moments like this highlight not only the enduring legacy of past civilizations but also the importance of cultural inheritance and innovation in today's interconnected world -- a theme that many experts continued to explore during the forum's discussions. Speaking about the importance of cultural inheritance, Salim AlMalik, director-general of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, described culture as the identity of a nation and its people. "We cannot understand the present, let alone shape the future, if we do not preserve our culture, especially that of the past," he said on the sidelines of a sub-forum focused on cultural inheritance and innovation. Protecting cultural heritage is essential to preserving and passing on culture, said Su Bomin, dean of the Dunhuang Academy, urging greater efforts to deepen research and embrace new technologies. "Cultural inheritance is how we pay homage to these legacies," said Wong Foon Meng, former president of the Senate of Malaysia, adding that the most powerful innovations often emerge from a profound engagement with cultural heritage, reinterpreted in ways that resonate with new generations. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Kou Jie) Weve gradually seen more people return to the office since the remote-work norm of the pandemic, and now the winning and losing cities are becoming clearer. Capital Economics tackled the issue of commercial real estate in its U.S. Office Metros Outlook and found that 2025 will bring further pain for office values across all major metros, but a sharp regional divide is set to emerge from 2026 onward. Southern citiesled by Miamiare poised to remain the clear winners, while many western and northern metros still face a tough road ahead. Winners: Southern metros take the lead Miami is set to top the leaderboard in the next phase of the office market cycle. The city is forecast to achieve more than 15% capital growth over the next five years, with projected total returns of 9.5% per year from 2025 through 2029, including an elevated return rate of 12.5% per year for 2026 through 2029. This outperformance is driven by: Strong rent growth: Miami is expected to see annual rent increases of 3%3.5% through 2027, and above 3.5% over the full five-year period. Robust absorption: The city continues to attract new tenants, benefiting from higher office utilization rates and faster office employment growth than most other metros. Falling vacancy: Miami, along with Houston, is one of the few markets expected to see a decline in vacancy rates between 2025 and 2027. Houston is another Southern winner, with capital growth forecast at 11.5% over the five-year span and strong rent prospects supporting its outlook. Capital Economics did note, however, that Houston offices look overvalued according to its analysis. Broadly, Capital Economics says the winners from the last five years to remain the winners through the back half of the 2020s, a list that also includes Phoenix. The Sunbelt is projected to remain strong, with Dallas, Houston, and Miami projected to see increasing capital values through 2029. The six biggest markets in the U.S., however, are the losers in this projection. Losers: Western and major northern metros struggle In contrast, the highest-growing pre-pandemic metros were the losers of the last five years and set to remain so, Capital Economics says. This means most western and major northern metros are expected to face continued declines: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will likely visit China next week, his first trip to the neighbouring country in five years. Jaishankar's visit comes about three weeks after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited China to attend the SCOs defence ministers meeting in Qingdao. The ties between the two nations came under severe strain following the 2020 military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Also Read | Operation Sindoor objective conveyed with great clarity: Jaishankar in US During the trip, Jaishankar will hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing, before traveling to Tianjin to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisations council of foreign ministers on July 14-15, according to a report in Bloomberg. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi may also visit India this month to hold a fresh round of talks with NSA Ajit Doval under the framework of Special Representatives (SR) dialogue on the boundary dispute, news agency PTI had reported earlier. The two nations have been making efforts to repair strained ties of late. Last month, Indias Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited China to attend the SCOs defence ministers meeting in Qingdao. In December, NSA Doval visited Beijing for Special Representatives (SR) talks with Wang. Doval visited China last month as well for a meeting of top security officials of the SCO member nations. On April 9, Jaishankar had said that India and China were moving towards a positive direction in their ties. However, the minister said work needs to be done to normalise the relationship. I think we are moving in a positive direction,Jaishankar said, speaking at the News 18 Rising Bharat Summit. The SCO is a China-led multilateral group comprising nine permanent members, including India and Pakistan. China is the current chair of the SCO, and it is hosting the meetings of the grouping in that capacity. Jaishankar and Yi are expected to discuss a range of issues, including rare earth supplies to India, the Dalai Lamas succession, the recent India-Pakistan tensions, and the resumption of direct flights between the two countries, the Bloomberg report said. Military standoff in Galwan Valley in 2020 The military standoff in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020, and a deadly clash at the Galwan Valley in June that year resulted in a severe strain in ties between the two neighbours. The face-off effectively ended following completion of the disengagement process from the last two friction points of Demchok and Depsang under an agreement finalised on October 21. The decision to revive the SR mechanism and other such dialogue formats was taken at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan on October 23. Modi-Xi meeting came two days after India and China firmed up a disengagement pact for Depsang and Demchok. In the last few months, India and China have initiated a number of measures to repair the bilateral ties. Last month, the two sides resumed the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra after a gap of nearly five years. Shivamogga: Doctors in a government hospital have removed a mobile phone from a prisoner's stomach, which he had swallowed, police said on Saturday. After the recovery of the phone recently, officials have ordered an investigation into how the prohibited item entered the high-security facility. A criminal case has also been registered against the prisoner under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita. Also Read | Karachi jail break: Over 200 inmates escape after earthquake jolts Pakistan The convict, Daulath alias Gunda (30), is serving a 10-year sentence. On June 24, he complained of stomach pain and informed the prison medical staff that he had swallowed something. He was immediately shifted to the Government McGann Hospital in Shivamogga by prison staff for further treatment. Doctors took an X-ray, which confirmed the presence of the phone inside his stomach. A surgical procedure was carried out after obtaining the prisoner's consent, and the phone, measuring approximately one inch in width and three inches in length, was successfully retrieved. The phone was handed over in a sealed cover to jail authorities on July 8. A formal complaint has been lodged at the Tunganagar police station by Jail Officer Ranganath P, seeking a detailed investigation into how the inmate managed to smuggle the phone inside the prison despite strict surveillance. Allegations have also surfaced that some jail staff might have aided the act. Authorities are now probing the matter to determine any lapses or collusion in security arrangements. UP news: Prisoner escapes outsmarting cops in Ghazipur Ghazipur: A prisoner allegedly escaped from police custody while receiving treatment in the Ghazipur district hospital in Uttar Pradesh, following which three constables were suspended, police said on Saturday. The Superintendent of Police Ghazipur Iraj Raja said that Shivam Chauhan alias Paramhans, arrested in the robbery incident in the Jangipur Police Station, was lodged in the district jail on Wednesday. On Friday, Chauhan was receiving treatment in the surgical ward during which he escaped through a bathroom window, the SP added. Constables Prabhu Nandan Paswan, Shiv Govind and Sonu Saroj were suspended with immediate effect on charges of negligence, the SP said. Maharashtra news: A 16-year-old girl showed presence of mind and foiled her alleged kidnapping attempt by an autorickshaw driver by attacking him with a geometry compass while she was on her way to school in his vehicle at Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said. The incident occurred on July 9 around 12 noon, they said on Saturday. A case in this connection has been registered at the Shanti Nagar police station in Bhiwandi. How the incident unfolded "The girl had boarded the rickshaw to go to her school on Wednesday. An unidentified man was already present in it. When the vehicle reached close to her school, the girl asked the driver to stop there, but he did not do so and instead moved faster," an official said. Although the teenager was shocked by what was happening, she showed presence of mind and pulled out a geometry compass from her school bag and attacked the driver with it. She also pushed away the man sitting beside her before jumping out of the moving rickshaw. She managed to reach her school after that, he said. Case filed under BNS sections for kidnapping, others The girl later narrated the incident to her mother, following which they approached the police and lodged a complaint against the rickshaw driver and his accomplice. Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the 12 June Air India AI 717 plane crash, is taking a psychiatrist's help to find a way of coping with the traumatic experience, PTI quoted his cousin as saying. An Indian-origin British citizen, Vishwas, was the only survivor to have walked away alive when the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner came down seconds after the take-off from the Ahmedabad airport. However, his brother, who was on the same flight, was not that lucky and killed along with 241 others onboard the AI717 flight. In the tragic crash, another 19 persons on the ground were also killed when the flight hit a medical college's canteen. Vishwas' another cousin Sunny said that the memories of the scenes of the crash site, his miraculous escape and his brother's death still hound Vishwas. "Many people, including our relatives living abroad, call us to inquire about Vishwas's well-being. But he does not talk to anyone. He is yet to overcome the mental trauma of the crash and the death of his brother. He still wakes up in the middle of the night and finds it difficult to fall asleep again. We took him to a psychiatrist two days ago to find remedy. He has not made any plans yet to return to London because his treatment has just begun," PTI quoted Sunny as saying. Vishwas carried brother's mortal remains: On 17 June, Vishwas was discharged from the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and on the very same day, the mortal remains of his brother Ajay were handed over to the family following a DNA match. Also Read | Air India plane crash: What can we conclude from bombshell AAIB report According to the details, both Vishwas and Ajay were returning to London by the Air India flight after visiting their family in Diu. On 18 June, Vishwas was seen carrying his brother's mortal remains on his shoulders to the cremation ground in Diu. A day after the tragic AI717 crash, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Vishwas at hospital and enquired about his well-being. Later Vishwas recounted that the aircraft seemed to have stalled within seconds of taking off. "Luckily, the portion of the plane where I was seated fell on the ground floor of the (medical college) hostel premises after the plane crash- landed. When I saw that the door was broken, I told myself that I can try and get out. Eventually, I came out," he told reporters. In a tragic incident, a female student on Saturday allegedly set herself on fire in the college campus in Balasore district of Odisha after lodging a sexual harassment complaint against a teacher, reported news agency PTI. The incident took place in the afternoon after the woman met the principal of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Balasore, Dilip Ghosh. She had earlier lodged a sexual harassment complaint against a teacher, who is also the head of the department and demanded action against him. In the incident, another male student also sustained burnt injuries while trying to save her. According to the police, both the students were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital in Balasore. Later, the woman was referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. Protest against the accused teacher The woman was a second-year student of the Integrated B.Ed programme in the college. She had also staged a protest in the college campus for one week demanding action against the accused teacher, said the police. After the incident, Principal Dilip Ghosh said: "The student had come to me and wanted action against the teacher. I counselled her as she looked tense. She had lodged a complaint on June 30 and an internal complaint committee (ICC) inquiry was going on." Meanwhile, the police have detained the accused teacher at Sahadevkhunta Police Station in Balasore. According to her friends, the woman student was under severe mental stress for the past several days over the alleged harassment by the head of the department. Her agony was compounded as neither the college authority nor the police took any action against the accused teacher, they said. The tragic incident has sparked tension in the college campus. Further investigation into the matter is underway. Also Read | Disgusting, Mahua Moitra slams TMC colleagues over gangrape comment At least six people have died and eight others were injured in a multi-storey building collapse in Seelampur area of Delhi on Saturday. Several people are still feared trapped under the rubble. The tragic incident took place at 7 am in Gali Number 5 of Janata Colony, under the jurisdiction of the Welcome Police Station in North-East Delhi. According to a PTI report, the deceased have been identified as Matloob (50), his wife Rabia (46), their sons Javed (23) and Abdulla (15); Zubia (27), and Zubia's daughter Fozia (2). Their bodies were retrieved from the site and shifted to GTB Hospital. Rescue teams remain on-site All those previously reported missing have now been accounted for. However, rescue teams remain on-site, clearing debris and ensuring no one else is trapped, the Delhi Police said. So far, seven people have been rescued and three-four more were feared trapped under the debris, Sandeep Lamba, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP)-North-East District, said. "We received a call around 7:30 am about a three-storey building collapse in Gali No 5 in the Welcome area. Seven members of a family who lived there have been rescued. The operation to rescue others is underway. Police, NDRF, civil defence, and locals are working on the spot... three-four people are feared trapped. Locals have helped a lot in the rescue operations," Lamba said. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed grief over the loss of lives and said a report on the incident has been sought from the District Magistrate. Locals help in rescue ops The building collapsed when locals were out on their morning walks, many of whom acted as first responders and began trying to rescue those trapped before fire officials arrived at the spot. Asma, who lives in the neighbourhood, told news agency PTI, "Around 7 am, I was in my house when I heard a loud noise and there was dust all over. When I came down, I saw that our neighbour's home has collapsed." "We don't know how many are trapped but a family of 10 people lives there," she said. Air India Plane Crash Report: In its preliminary report on the June 12 Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) reveals that the cockpit voice recordings captured the last crucial exchange between the two pilots during the engine failure sequence moments before the deadly accident. The 15-page report reveals that one of the pilots of Air India flight 171 asked his co-pilot, Why did you cut off fuel?. The other pilot responded, I did not do so. Also Read | Air India plane crash initial probe report out: 10 key takeaways The exchange took place moments after both engine fuel cutoff switches transitioned from 'Run' to Cutoff at 13:38:42 IST after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner reached a maximum speed of 180 knots indicated airspeed. The AAIB report explores the sequence of events and engine behaviour leading up to the incident involving a Boeing 787-8 aircraft and offers the first official insight into what transpired before one of the worst accidents in Indian aviation history. As many as 260 people, including 241 passengers and crew onboard and 19 on the ground, were killed in the accident. One passenger on board the plane survived miraculously. According to the report, both engines shut down mid-air within seconds after takeoff. The fuel cutoff switches moved from RUN to CUTOFF one after another in just one second. "When fuel control switches are moved from CUTOFF to RUN while the aircraft is in flight, each engine's full authority dual engine control (FADEC) automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction," it reads. Also Read | Ahmedabad plane crash: Govt says data extraction from black boxes underway Soon after, one of the pilots transmitted a MAYDAY alert. Air Traffic Control inquired about the call sign but did not receive a response. Minutes later, the aircraft crashed outside the airport boundary into a building. The plane's two pilots were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with 8,200 hours of flying experience, assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 flying hours. Why did you cut off fuel? The report said both pilots were medically fit and rested, with adequate experience. It also said that there was no immediate evidence of sabotage, but pointed to a known Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory on a possible fuel switch flaw. An eight-year-old cheetah named Nabha, translocated from Namibia to Kuno National Park (KNP), has succumbed to injuries sustained within the park, officials confirmed on Saturday. Nabha had been seriously injured approximately a week ago, likely during a hunting attempt inside her soft release enclosure. According to Cheetah Project Field Director Uttam Sharma, she suffered fractures to both the ulna and fibula on her left side, along with several other injuries. Despite receiving treatment over the past week, Nabha was unable to recover and passed away. A postmortem examination is expected to provide further details regarding the cause of death. Also Read | Cheetah Veera gives birth to two cubs at Kuno National Park With Nabhas passing, the cheetah population at Kuno National Park now stands at 26 individuals. This includes nine adultssix females and three malesand 17 cubs born within the park. Sharma assured that all remaining cheetahs are healthy and thriving. Additionally, two male cheetahs relocated from Kuno to Gandhisagar are reported to be doing well. Out of the 26 cheetahs at KNP, 16 are living in the wild and have adapted successfully to their environment. They have learned to coexist with other predators, and are regularly hunting, demonstrating strong survival skills in their new habitat. Also Read | Two cheetah cubs found dead at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh The Kuno National Park recently completed administering anti-ecto-parasitic medication to all cheetahs to ensure their continued health. Notably, two mother cheetahs, Veera and Nirva, along with their recently born cubs, are reported to be in good health and flourishing. The loss of Nabha is a setback for the ongoing cheetah conservation efforts at Kuno, but the overall population remains stable and promising for the future of the species in the region. 'Cheetahs are happy, have adapted well to new home': PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the Parliament of Namibia, thanked the country for its gift of Cheetahs, which have helped in the reintroduction of Cheetahs in India. PM Modi made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing the Joint session of the Namibian Parliament. He said. "India and Namibia have a powerful story of cooperation, conservation and compassion, when you helped us in reintroducing Cheetahs in our country. We are deeply grateful for your gift. I had the privilege of releasing them in the Kuno National Park. They have sent a message for you: inimaa aaishe oyilii naavaa Everything is fine." PM Modi highlighted that the Cheetahs are happy and have adapted well in their new home. New Delhi: Indias commerce and industry ministry has sought guidance from the Prime Ministers Office on the trade-offs required for the final breakthrough in the trade pact with the US as the American demand for tariff cuts on farm products remains a sticky point, said two people aware of the matter. The negotiators have sought the PMOs intervention in finalising the first tranche of the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), as President Donald Trump has neither accepted nor rejected the deal even after approval by the United States Trade Representative, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. While the initial working deadline was 8 July, the US has now extended the window until the end of the month in view of the complexity of the unresolved items and the evolving trade posture under the second Trump administration. He has already issued letters to 22 other countries, disclosing new reciprocal tariff rates of up to 50%. Concerns have been growing within the Indian team, led by chief negotiator Rajesh Agarwal, special secretary in the commerce ministry, over the USs continued insistence on deeper market access for its agricultural exports and other sensitive products. Also Read | India wants steel, aluminium tariffs to be part of trade agreement with US Citing the case of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the Indian team has explained in detail to their US counterparts about Indias inability to open these sensitive sectors, a position that was accepted by Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. India stays firm Around a dozen Indian negotiators, including commerce secretary-designate Agarwal and joint secretary Darpan Jain, will shortly leave for Washington DC to close the remaining gaps with their American counterparts. The team will be in Washington for a week to negotiate on the sticky issues. The guidance from the top office has been sought to get more clarity on key subjects like agriculture, dairy, and genetically modified crops," said the first of the two persons cited above. However, India has no plans to open up any sector that could affect a large section of the population, the person said. So far, both sides have held five rounds of face-to-face discussions. The US team, led by assistant USTR Brendan Lynch has visited India twicefirst for a four-day trip starting 25 March, and more recently from 4 to 11 June. The US side is firm that any agreement must reflect genuine gains for its farmers and agri-exporters. From our side, weve already made considerable offers across pharmaceuticals, tariff rationalisation, and even on some non-tariff barriers," said the second person. But on agriculture, we need political direction on how far we can go without hurting domestic producers," this person added. Decisive round soon A high-level US trade delegation is expected to return to New Delhi in the third week of July for what commerce ministry officials describe as the likely decisive round" of negotiations. The last leg is always the hardest in any trade negotiation. There is broad agreement on digital trade, services, textiles, and industrial goods," the second person said. Mint reported on 7 July that the agreement is unlikely to be finalized without direct political intervention to resolve some of the remaining sticky issues. As India continues its engagement, the persons quoted earlier maintain that the final decision will be guided by national interest, balancing trade gains with domestic sensitivities. The PMOs input, expected later this week, is likely to shape the contours of Indias final position heading into the concluding round of talks, they said. Queries sent to the commerce ministry and PMO remained unanswered at the time of filing this report. Seeking guidance from the PMO at this stage signals the strategic weight of the India-US trade deal," said Vinod Kumar, president, India SME Forum. With sensitive issues like agriculture still unresolved, the government wants to ensure that any final commitments align with broader national priorities and political acceptability." Meanwhile, Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on 7 July that a trade deal with the US would be signed, keeping the interest of Indian farmers at the forefront. According to commerce ministry data, Indian goods exports to the US rose 11.6% over the previous year to $86.51 billion in FY25. By comparison, imports from the US rose 7.42% to $45.33 billion. Also Read | Will India press for an early harvest in trade talks with US? Trump in April imposed a 26% tariff on Indian exports to the US. But before these were implemented, the US president announced a three-month pause that ended on 9 July. However, earlier this month, Trump extended the deadline to implement the tariffs to 1 August and issued letters of revised tariff rates to 22 countries (till 9 July). Brazil faced the highest at 50%, while Laos and Myanmar were each slapped with a 40% tariff. The Indian community in Canada recently organised a grand Ganga Aarti on the banks of the Credit River in Mississauga, aiming to recreate the spiritual experience of the famed aartis performed in Varanasi, Rishikesh and Haridwar. The event took place earlier this week at Erindale Park and was organised by Radio Dhishum. According to the Indian Consulate in Toronto, Consul Sanjeev Saklani attended the ceremony and represented the Consulate. Consul Sanjeev Saklani represented the Consulate at the Ganga Aarti, a soulful evening of divine chants and pious mantras at the banks of the Credit River at Erindale Park, Mississauga, organised by Team @RadioDhishum, the Consulate wrote on social media, sharing photos from the event. A video from the ceremony, shared by Instagram user Priyanka Gupta, captured the rituals being carried out by the river. Out of all these 10 years in Canada, yesterday we have experienced the best evening, something magical unfolded. Not on the ghats of Varanasi and Haridwar, but right here in Canada, Ms Gupta wrote in her caption. She added, Living abroad doesn't mean letting go of who we are. In fact, it deepens the bond. The soulful chants of Har Har Gange echoing across the park, and devotees gathered in traditional attire, we witnessed the sacred Ganga Aarti, a slice of India, recreated with devotion thousands of miles away. The video quickly gained attention online and drew mixed reactions. While many appreciated the efforts to keep Indian traditions alive overseas, others questioned the appropriateness of performing the ritual by a river not linked to the Ganges. What a beautiful coverage. We are so overwhelmed hearing this, one user commented. Another wrote, Har har Gange. What a feel through this reel. However, criticism also surfaced. Are you guys serious????? Ganga in Canada???? You are insulting the actual Ganga in this way. And if you love this much, then come to India again, one person remarked. A fourth added, Stop this please. This is not even the Ganga River to perform Ganga Aarti. Next, people will start Kumbh Mela here." We came across a bullish thesis on Coinbase Global, Inc. on Stock Region Researchs Substack by Stock Region. In this article, we will summarize the Bulls thesis on COIN. Coinbase Global, Inc.'s share was trading at $375.07 as of June 26th. COINs trailing and forward P/E ratios were 70.50 and 64.94, respectively, according to Yahoo Finance. Why Argo Blockchain Plc ADR (ARBK) Is Plunging In 2025? Coinbase has emerged as a pivotal player in the crypto ecosystem, recently making headlines for assisting law enforcement in recovering $225 million in stolen cryptocurrency. This move reinforces its strong emphasis on security and compliance, critical pillars in an industry often scrutinized for regulatory lapses. Such actions not only enhance Coinbases credibility but also position it as a trusted partner in the evolving digital asset landscape. Further elevating its strategic profile, Coinbase has partnered with Mastercard and Chainlink in a transformative alliance aimed at enabling more than 3 billion Mastercard holders to make direct on-chain crypto purchases. This initiative could significantly expand crypto adoption by integrating it seamlessly with traditional payment infrastructure, effectively revolutionizing how digital assets are accessed and used globally. Coinbases role as a conduit between decentralized finance and conventional financial institutions continues to strengthen as it builds institutional trust and product depth. With a growing suite of institutional services and a reputation for regulatory alignment, Coinbase is increasingly seen as a foundational piece in the future architecture of global finance. As the lines between crypto and traditional finance blur, Coinbases ability to scale its platform while maintaining compliance could unlock substantial long-term value. The companys proactive stance in security, regulatory engagement, and ecosystem partnerships suggests that $COIN isnt just riding the crypto waveits helping to shape the next financial era. For investors, Coinbase offers both a growth story and a long-term structural play on the mainstreaming of crypto finance. Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on S&P Global Inc. by Quality Equities in May 2025, which highlighted the companys dominant role in financial infrastructure, strong recurring revenues, and strategic clarity post the mobility spin-off. The companys stock price has depreciated by approximately 0.6% since our coverage. This is because the thesis hasnt yet played out. Stock Region shares a contrarian view but emphasizes Coinbases role in crypto-native financial infrastructure. In a shocking case of workplace misconduct, a man in Shanghai was sentenced to prison for secretly drugging a colleague on three occasions in an attempt to extract confidential work-related information, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) has reported. Plot to steal secrets The man, identified by his surname Li, reportedly came across a so-called truth serum during a business trip. The seller claimed that just a few drops will make people tell the truth, prompting Li to use the substance for his own gain. Although details about Li's job or the value of the targeted information remain unclear, he chose his colleague, Wang, as the test subject. His plan involved drugging Wang without his knowledge during dinner outings to obtain sensitive work plans. Three meals, three druggings The first incident took place on August 29 2022 during a dinner in Shanghais Xuhui District. Li secretly added the drug to Wangs drink, mixing it with yellow wine and beer. On October 13, Li repeated the act at another dinner in Yangpu District, this time using beer. Wang later reported dizziness and vomiting. The third occasion occurred on November 6, when Li served chrysanthemum tea spiked with the same substance. Wang drank it and later lost consciousness, eventually visiting a hospital the following day. Tests confirm sedatives After noticing a pattern, Wang underwent medical tests. His urine and hair samples tested positive for clonazepam and xylazineboth strong sedatives that affect the central nervous system. Clonazepam is listed as a Class II psychotropic drug in China. Authorities later confirmed these drugs were present in the so-called truth serum. When confronted, Li admitted to drugging Wang on all three occasions. Court sentence and warning The Shanghai Jingan District Peoples Court found Li guilty of inducing drug use through deception. He was sentenced to three years and three months in prison and fined 10,000 yuan (around 1,100 or US $1,400). A 49-year-old Bengaluru woman, Savita G has been arrested for allegedly defrauding nearly 30 women in her social circle of over 5 crore through fraudulent investment schemes. According to a report by the Times of India, she was taken into custody along with her alleged accomplice, Puneet P, by Bengaluru police earlier this week. Savita, now in police custody along with her associate Puneet P, is accused of duping women by convincing them to invest large sums in purported gold import deals, real estate ventures, and private media contracts, according to police reports. Two FIRs have been registered against Savita. One at Govindaraja Nagar and another at Basaveshwaranagar police stations. Investigating officers stated that Savita specifically targeted women from financially well-off backgrounds under the guise of high-return investment opportunities. She reached out to women on social media, especially those with active social lives and disposable incomes. Savita claimed she imported gold from abroad and offered to double their money through real estate investments and business ventures, according to a report by the Indian Express, citing an investigating officer. She reached out to women on social media, especially those with active social lives and disposable incomes. Savita often hosted kitty parties at her home or other locations to gain the trust of potential victims. At these casual events, she would make grand claims about having insider access to low-cost foreign gold, exclusive TV contracts, and lucrative real estate deals that allegedly offered impressive returns. US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) harshly criticised protesters who allegedly threw rocks and bricks at ICE officers, calling them slimeballs and demanding their immediate arrest. In a strongly worded post on Truth Social, Trump claimed he witnessed the incident while returning from a visit to flood-affected areas in Texas. I am on my way back from Texas, and watched in disbelief as THUGS were violently throwing rocks and bricks at ICE Officers while they were moving down a roadway in their car and/or official vehicle. Tremendous damage was done to these brand new vehicles. I know for a fact that these Officers are having a hard time with allowing this to happen in that it shows such total disrespect for LAW AND ORDER, Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added, Therefore, I am directing Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, and Border Czar, Tom Homan, to instruct all ICE, Homeland Security, or any other Law Enforcement Officer who is on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks, or any other form of assault, to stop their car, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so. I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public. I never want to see a car carrying a Law Enforcement Officer attacked again! AUTHORIZATION IMMEDIATELY GRANTED FOR ARREST AND INCARCERATION. Thank you for your attention to this matter! California conflict A violent conflict over immigration enforcement broke out on July 10 during a raid at a marijuana farm in Camarillo, California. According to Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, ten minors were found at the site, and the case is now being investigated for possible child labour violations, USA Today reported. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that 200 undocumented immigrants were arrested during coordinated raids at farms in Camarillo and Carpinteria. CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 10: A person reacts to a smoke canister deployed by federal agents blocking protestors during an ICE immigration raid at a nearby cannabis farm on July 10, 2025 near Camarillo, California. Protestors stood off with federal agents for hours outside the farm in the farmworker community in Ventura County. A Los Angeles federal judge is set to rule Friday on a temporary restraining order which would restrict area immigration enforcement operations. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by MARIO TAMA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) "During the operation, a violent agitator fired a gun at our brave officers," said Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, as quoted by USA Today. We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who assaults or doxes federal law enforcement. I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public. Amid protest, one individual appeared to open fire on approaching federal agents. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to the identification and conviction of the suspected shooter, according to reports. President Donald Trump shocked many by saying he might take away Rosie ODonnells U.S. citizenship. On Saturday, he posted on Truth Social that ODonnell is "a Threat to Humanity" and should stay in Ireland. Trump also wrote hes giving "serious consideration" to revoking her citizenship because shes "not in the best interests of our Great Country." What did Donald Trump say? Trump's post read,"Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!" ODonnell moved to Ireland in January 2025, saying shed return only when America is safe for all citizens to have equal rights. The comedian has criticized Trump for years, recently blaming his cuts to the National Weather Service for Texas flood deaths. Meanwhile, experts suggest that the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to anyone born on American soil like ODonnell, who was born in New York in 1962. Can US Presidents strip birthright citizenship? This explosive threat continues a 19-year feud that began in 2006 when ODonnell criticized Trumps Miss USA pageant decisions on The View. Trump has repeatedly insulted her, notably saying "Only Rosie ODonnell" when asked in 2015 about calling women offensive names. Though Trump signed an order to end birthright citizenship, courts blocked it as unconstitutional. Democratic lawmakers finally entered Floridas controversial Alligator Alcatraz detention center on Saturday after being blocked earlier. What they saw horrified them, according to reports. U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz called conditions vile, with 32 men crammed into cage-like units sharing just three toilet-sinks. Temperatures hit 83F in supposedly air-conditioned areas, with grasshoppers swarming everywhere. Also Read | Stellan Skarsgard shocks film festival with Nazi claims about Ingmar Bergman Though guards prevented direct talks with detainees, Rep. Maxwell Frost heard shouts of Im an American! and chants of Libertad! (freedom). Florida Democrats had sued to access the facility after being turned away on July 3. Republicans defend facility as secure Republican state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia saw the same facility differently, calling it well-run with clean quarters and working AC. He dismissed Democrats criticism as exaggerated: Its a detention center, not the Four Seasons . Florida officials insist the site meets all standards, providing three meals daily, showers, and medical care . The Everglades camp, built in 8 days, holds up to 3,000 detainees and was praised by former President Trump during his July 3 visit . Its nickname references both the infamous prison and DeSantis joke that escaping would require running from alligators. Detainees report maggots, no showers, and despair Before the tour, detainees described grim conditions in phone calls. Leamsy La Figura, a Cuban musician, said food contained maggots, water for bathing was unavailable for days, and stadium-like lights burned 24/7. A Colombian man reported withheld medication and confiscated Bibles, saying They told us theres no right to religion here. Also Read | Stellan Skarsgard shocks film festival with Nazi claims about Ingmar Bergman Families echoed these claims, with one detainees wife calling treatment horrible and noting toilets overflowed onto floors. (Bloomberg) -- The US would allow Kurdish militant leaders in Syria and Turkey to resettle in America if doing so would help support their groups transition from armed struggle to civilian life, a top diplomat said. Members of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and its Syrian affiliate, the YPG, should act swiftly to pursue integration and avoid confrontation with the governments in Ankara and Damascus, according to Tom Barrack, the US ambassador for Turkey and special envoy to Syria, as cited by Anadolu Agency on Saturday. Militant leaders could relocate to the US if they wished, Barrack said. The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by the European Union and the US, had waged a decades-long insurgency for Kurdish autonomy against the Turkish state. In May, however, the group said it would disband, declaring it had fulfilled its mission and that the Kurdish issue could now be resolved through conventional politics. In Syria, the reintegration of the countrys largest minority will take time due to a lack of mutual confidence, the agency cited Barrack as saying. Still, the parties are expected to make a beautiful wedding in the end, he said. Meanwhile, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan applauded a symbolic burning of weapons by PKK militants, saying the events marked a new page while pledging to resolve issues through dialog. As of yesterday, 47 years of terrorist scourge has come to an end, Erdogan told members of his AK Party in Ankara on Saturday. PKKs fight for autonomy has cost $2 trillion to the Turkish economy, Erdogan said. From now on, the ruling AK Party, its Nationalist Movement Party ally and the pro-Kurdish Dem Party will walk together, he added. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com The United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation recently concluded that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein did not have a "client list," thereby contradicting earlier statements made by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who claimed that such a list was on her desk. Following this, Bondi faced severe criticism, with some MAGA loyalists even demanding her resignation regarding her handling of the Epstein case. Amid the speculations over Bondi's exit, several individuals have been considered as potential candidates for the position of Attorney General. Also Read | FBI Chief Kash Patel to resign over Epstein Files fallout? All you need to know Ron DeSantis Laura Loomer, MAGA loyalist, claimed on X that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is a leading contender. In a post on the social media platform X, Loomer wrote,If Blondi is fired, Im told @Ron DeSantis has been considered/floated for the role of Attorney General by some over the last few months." She further wrote, Theres also a private push behind the scenes by some GOP donors who want to see Ken Paxton as AG, but he has US Senate aspirations. However, discussions have been taking place for several months about who could be Blondis replacement if she ever was fired or resigned. She has not done a good job as AG and everyone knows it." Jeanine Pirro and Harmeet Dhillon Meanwhile, Megyn Kelly suggested Jeanine Pirro and Harmeet Dhillon as suitable candidates at Fridays Turning Point UK summit. "Jeanine Pirro is totally confirmable. She will be great," Kelly said at Friday's Turning Point USA summit. Harmeet Dhillon could also do it. Also Read | Trump biographer Michael Wolff recalls final words from Epstein before death Matt Gaetz Former Congressman George Santos suggested Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) as a possible contender for Attorney General. In a post on X, Santos wrote,Matt Gaetz is MIA at Turning Points USA tonight! Something is in motion! However, when a social media user noted that the role Attorney General needs confirmation of the Senate, Santos replied, Well he can serve 120 days as interim AG and thats enough to clear this mess up no? Russia launched its latest massive drone and missile strike on Ukraine, targeting areas in the nations west that border European Union states. The attack including on areas that have seen few if any strikes in the war to date left at least two people dead and damaged residential houses and other civilian infrastructure. Kremlin forces fired almost 600 Russian drones and 26 cruise missiles across Ukraine, including at Chernivtsi, near the border with Romania and Moldova. It was the first strike on the historically-significant city of some 265,000 people since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Two people were killed there and 14 wounded, including four hospitalized with serious injures, local authorities said. Additionally, residential houses, a university and city courts were damaged in the far western city of Lviv. A man was killed in the Donetsk city of Slovyansk by a Russian shell, the citys mayor said. Russia has ramped up airstrikes on Ukraine after it increased drone production, and recently has often fired more than 500 UAVs in a day. The United Nations reported that Ukraine in June saw its highest monthly civilian casualties in three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 injured. The pace of Russias aerial strikes demands swift decisions and it can be curbed through sanctions right now, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on platform X on Saturday. More air defense systems are needed, along with investments in interceptor drones, which are already delivering good results. We expect not just signals from our partners, but actions that will save lives. In the latest barrage Ukraine shot down 25 cruise missiles and 319 drones while another 258 drones were jammed, Air Defense Forces said. Still, one missile and 20 loitering munition hit targets at five locations while debris fell in 19 locations, the forces said. Russias defense ministry said the strikes were delivered against Ukrainian defense industry enterprises in Lyiv, Kharkiv and Lutsk, as well as army recruitment centers and a military airfield in an unspecified location. Some 189 Ukrainian drones were downed over Russia in the past day, the ministry said. Zelenskiy on Friday said the US has resumed shipping military aid to Ukraine, which was unexpectedly put on halt last week. According to all reports, the supply has been renewed, Zelenskiy said late Friday in his daily video address to the nation. We will continue to work with the American side at the military level, in particular our military with General Keith Kellogg. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. As the United States, South Korea and Japan expanded their joint military exercises in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear program, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday warned the three allies against forming a security partnership targeting N Korea. Lavrov visited North Korea's Wonsan city on Friday for a meeting with his counterpart Choe Son Hui. The meeting involved talks on further solidifying Russia-North Korea military ties and other cooperations. After a meeting with Choe on Saturday, Lavrov accused the US, South Korea and Japan of what he called their military buildups around North Korea. Also Read | US Charges North Koreans in Plot to Dupe More Than 100 Firms We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia, the Russian foreign minister said, according to news agency Tass. North Korea-Russia ties Relations between the two nations have flourished in recent years, with North Korea supplying troops and ammunition to support Russia's war against Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance. That has raised concerns among South Korea, the US and their allies that Moscow might transfer to Pyongyang sensitive technologies that can increase the danger of its nuclear and missile programs. On Friday, the US, South Korea and Japan held a joint air drill involving US nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula, as their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities that threaten regional security. However, North Korea has long argued that it's forced to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from the US military threats. North Korea's nuclear aspirations Russia understands North Korea's decision to seek nuclear weapons, Lavrov further said. The technologies used by North Korea are the result of the work of its own scientists. We respect North Korea's aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing nuclear development. Reiterating North Korea unconditionally support Russia's fight against Ukraine, Choe described ties between North Korea and Russia as the invincible alliance. Amid several cases of flights being diverted after taking off, a TUI Airways flight from Mexico's Cancun to London was diverted to Maine following a pair of butt-huffing bozos puffing cigarettes on board, reported New York Post. The report added that due to this, the passengers were stranded in a 'warzone' at a Maine airport for over 17 hours. The incident took place on 8 July, report NYP, adding, this irked passengers who had no option but to wait for 17 hours at Maine airport due to an unplanned layover. Everybody was fed up, NYP quoted UK native Terry Lawrance as saying to Southwest News Service. Within an hour of taking off from Mexico's Cancun, the pilot of the TUI Airways flight came on the intercom and announced that two passengers had been smoking in the toilet and hed have to make an unscheduled landing if they persisted. Recounting the incident, Lawrence said that the pair refused to desist and prompted the captain to put his money where his mouth was. About three hours later, around the border with Canada and he came on to let us know that the plane was being diverted to Bangor, Maine, said Lawrence. Right after entering Canadian airspace, flight tracking data on Flightradar24 depicted the plane turning back towards Maine. When the flight landed around 9:30 pm (local time) at Maine, the two smokers were escorted off the plane. They were obviously drunk, and he basically assaulted his partner, recalled Lawrance. Paperwork and delay: After this, the pilot told the passengers that they would soon take off after some paperwork was done. But nobody knew their short pitstop would turn into the layover from hell. We were sat on the plane on the ground for five hours the plane started taxing again and we thought great and then they said there was a problem with flight plan, and we have to get off. Next thing, were not going anywhere, he said. Lawrance added that the original crew had to deplane since they couldnt work the rest of the leg back to Gatwick, since they would be exceeding their legal working hours. To sort this issue, a relief flight had to be dispatched from the UK to the US to ferry them to their destination. Cramped lounge: In the meantime, the passengers had to disembark and stay in a cramped lounge while waiting for the relief flight to arrive. Describing their temporary digs, Lawrance said, as NYP quoted, "It was like free-for-all for vultures. It was like a warzone in a lounge rows and rows of beds. All our luggage was still on the plane whilst we waited. A video also showed the stranded passengers lying side by side on mattresses like a scene out of a refugee camp. A child eating an ear of corn - by vikvarga via Pixabay Corn price action is down 1 to 2 cents across most contracts on Friday morning. Futures were mixed on Thursday with most contracts steady to a couple cents higher and nearby, thin July down 5 cents. Traders were squaring up ahead of USDAs report on Friday. Preliminary open interest was down 4,834 on Thursday. There were 33 deliveries issued against July futures overnight. The front month CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was unchanged at $3.85 1/4. USDA reported a private export sale of 110,000 MT of corn to unknown destinations on Thursday morning, all for new crop. More News from Barchart Export Sales data showed old crop corn bookings at 1.262 MMT for the week ending on July 7/3. That was an 8-week high for sales and more than double the same week last year and the week prior. Mexico was the largest buyer at 469,900 MT, with 436,200 MT sold to Japan. New crop sales for that week at 888,562 MT. That was down from the week prior but still the second largest so far this year. The top buyer was Mexico at 423,900 MT, with Japan in for 304,800 MT. A survey of traders by Bloomberg shows estimated corn stocks for old crop at 1.351 billion bushels ahead of this mornings USDA report, a 14 mbu reduction from June if realized. New crop production is expected to be trimmed by 75 mbu via fewer acres to 15.746 bbu. That would help to tighten the new crop stock estimate to an average of 1.721 bbu (vs. 1.75 bbu in June). That survey shows estimated production out of Brazil at 132.3 MMT. Jul 25 Corn closed at $4.07 1/4, down 5 1/4 cents, currently down cent Nearby Cash was $3.85 1/4, down 0 cent, Sep 25 Corn closed at $3.99 1/4, unch, currently down 1 1/2 cents Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.16 1/2, up 1 cent, currently down 2 cents New Crop Cash was $3.75 1/8, up 1/2 cent, On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com US President Donald Trump on Saturday intensified the tariff trade war even further by threatening to impose a 30 per cent tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union starting on August 1. In an escalation of the trade war that has angered US allies and rattled investors, Trump announced the latest tariffs in separate letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum posted on Truth Social. Both the EU and Mexico responded by calling the tariffs unfair and disruptive while pledging to continue to negotiate with the US for a broader trade deal before the August deadline. EU nations react to Trump's tariff threat According to an AFP report, French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday condemned Trump's threat to impose 30 per cent tariffs on the European Union, calling on the bloc to "resolutely defend European interests". Expressing France's "very strong disapproval" of the announcement, Macron called on the bloc to "step up the preparation of credible countermeasures by mobilising all instruments at its disposal" if the two sides failed to reach agreement by August 1. "France fully supports the European Commission in the negotiation that will intensify to reach a mutually acceptable agreement by August 1, so that it reflects the respect that trade partners such as the European Union and the United States owe each other," he wrote on social media. The European Union "remains firm, united and ready to protect (its) interests". Tariffs are taxes. They fuel inflation, create uncertainty and hinder economic growth. We will continue to build strong trade partnerships worldwide, European Council President Antonio Costa said. Also Read | US Market: Wall Street edge down from records amid Trump Tariff threats Also Read | US port operators seek to mitigate hefty expected tariffs on China-built port cranes Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the tariffs unjustified. "Economic openness and trade create prosperity. Unjustified tariffs destroy it. That is why we support and will support the Commission in its negotiations to reach an agreement with the US before August 1," he said. Germany's economy minister called for pragmaticism in European Union tariff negotiations with the United States. "The EU now must, in the time that remains, negotiate in a pragmatic manner a solution with the United States," Germany's economy minister Katherina Reiche said in a statement. "A pragmatic outcome to these negotiations must be reached quickly," she said. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU will take all necessary steps to safeguard its interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required. "The EU has consistently prioritised a negotiated solution with the US, reflecting our commitment to dialogue, stability, and a constructive transatlantic partnership. We remain ready to continue working towards an agreement by August 1. At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required, she said. Mexico slams Trump threat as unfair deal Mexico slammed Trump's latest threat of 30 per cent tariffs on Saturday as an "unfair deal," according to a government statement. Mexico was informed of the new duties which Trump said would come into effect by August 1 during talks in the United States on Friday, an AFP report said. "We mentioned at the table that it was an unfair deal and that we did not agree," the Mexican economy and foreign ministries said in a joint statement. Mexico is already in negotiations seeking an alternative to tariffs that would protect businesses and jobs on both sides of the border, the ministries added, saying they hope to avoid the duties. Mexico is one of the countries most vulnerable to the Republican leader's tariffs, with 80 per cent of its exports destined for the United States, its largest trading partner, the report added. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- As the UK teetered on the edge of an economic precipice 50 years ago, Environment Secretary Anthony Crosland, Labours leading public intellectual, warned improvident local councils that the party is over. The author of the optimistic tract The Future of Socialism was sounding the death knell of an era of seemingly limitless public spending. Croslands speech, written by my former Times colleague David Lipsey who passed away last weekend, detonated like a bomb. Many Labour party officials, however, responded by sticking their fingers in their ears the left opposed fiscal restraint even when Britain had to turn to the International Monetary Fund for a bailout. Margaret Thatcher, the newly elected Conservative opposition leader, however, took Croslands words to heart and waited for her moment. This week, the Office for Budget Responsibility published a statement on the UKs fiscal risks that could have been lifted straight from Crosland: Britain is living beyond its means and must face up to reality. Publication of the OBR report has come 12 months too late to do Croslands Labour successors much good. Had Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves detailed an honest analysis of the countrys predicament from the outset and blamed her Tory predecessors for it she would have more political buy-in for spending restraint. That moment has now passed; and, as in the 1970s, many Labour Members of Parliament are refusing to acknowledge the dire reality of the economy. The watchdog of the public finances usually wags a friendly tail at chancellors, but this time the OBR bared its teeth, saying the government cannot afford the array of promises it has made to the public. Nothing new here: The countrys public finances have been left in a relatively vulnerable position by successive governments. But instead of making the hard choices called for by the OBR, Keir Starmers government has abandoned a number of public spending cuts after backbench rebellions. The partys well and truly over and now the hangover begins. The UK has the sixth-highest debt, the fifth-highest deficit and the third-highest borrowing costs among 36 advanced economies. Worse, the UK has failed to reduce public debt after it soared during the pandemic and energy crisis, leaving the country increasingly vulnerable to external shocks. Wiser heads in Cabinet are trying to knock sense into their colleagues. Pat McFadden, the cabinet office minister who still bears the scars of Tony Blairs attempts to impose public-service reform on an unwilling Labour party, says with quiet menace that you cant spend money twice. The government may have to delay scrapping the hated two-child benefit limit imposed by the Tories. The measure would cost 3.5 billion ($4.7 billion), but the rebels have forced ministers to drop 5 billion worth of disability entitlement savings. Having tasted blood, Labours left-wing has also set its sights on reforms to the rules that allow hundreds of thousands of children to be designated with costly special needs, the annual bill to local councils for which is 12 billion and rising. This bodes ill for the chancellor. As it is, Reeves is barely meeting her fiscal rules. Money is so tight that a government headed by a former human rights lawyer is seriously considering limiting the ancient right to trial by jury just to save cash. And where Labour leads, the trade unions follow. Some 53,000 doctors represented by the British Medical Association (BMA) have voted on a low turnout for six months of strike action to back up their demands for a wholly unrealistic 29% pay rise. Last year, the doctors were awarded a whopping 22% pay deal without any corresponding changes to their working practices. The governments logic was pragmatic voters thought medics had a reasonable case in making up arrears in lost pay, and ministers were anxious to buy off a prolonged strike which had led to the cancellation of 1.5 million medical appointments. This time, opinion polls suggest voters are unpersuaded by the strikers. The reform-minded Health Secretary Wes Streetings response has therefore been robust. The public will not forgive strike action in these circumstances, and nor will I, he told the Times. Fighting talk but these days, who can be certain that a wobbly government wont cave? Other public-sector unions are watching closely. The chancellors naivety is coming back to haunt her. In her first budget, Reeves made a rash promise: Im not coming back with more borrowing and more taxes and then spent all the money shed raised from business on the health service and generous public sector wage settlements. Reeves must now look to higher taxes in the autumn to balance her books. That doesnt seem to bother Labour MPs, whove set their hearts on soaking the rich yet taxes on wealthy foreigners have already driven away thousands to Milan, Dubai and other tax-friendlier regimes. A wealth tax, floated by former Labour leader Neil Kinnock last weekend, would truly bring us back to the 1970s, when eye-wateringly high levies drove entrepreneurs, artists and pop stars into exile. If she travels down this road, Reeves will send out a message to the world that Britain is closed for business. More from Bloomberg Opinion: This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Martin Ivens is the editor of the Times Literary Supplement. Previously, he was editor of the Sunday Times of London and its chief political commentator. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion It is inconceivable that a country grappling with hunger and malnourishment, home to the worlds largest population of undernourished children and a nation where 129 million people, according to a 2024 World Bank report, live in extreme poverty (defined as surviving on less than 180 per day) would divert rice, a key staple, to ethanol production. And yet, that is exactly what the Indian government is doingat highly subsidised prices. It is selling a whopping 5.2 million tonnes of rice from its food security buffer stock this year to ethanol manufacturers at 22.50 per kg. The first tranche of 2.4 million tonnes has already gone to manufacturers, and it has now decided to release a further 2.8 million tonnes. The government has advanced three justifications for the move. First, it argues that rice stocks held by the Food Corporation of India are well above the buffer stock requirement currently, over 38 million tonnes against the norm of 13.5 million tonnes as of May 2025. Two, it claims that using rice for ethanol helps bleed excess stock, thereby opening up storage room and also preventing loss due to spoilage. The third and clinching argument is that blending ethanol with petrol cuts dependence on costly, imported fossil fuel. Petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri said last month that India has already hit the target of blending 20% ethanol with petrol, nearly six years ahead of the 2030 target, and is now examining blending 5% ethanol with diesel. He also said this has led to a saving of 1.5 trillion in import bills. Surplus stock argument These arguments sound plausible, even logical at first glance, but do not stand up to a deeper look. Take the surplus stock argument. True, stocks are above the mandated level, but that is more due to procurement and distribution inefficiencies. Indias creaky public distribution system, which supplies subsidised rice and wheat to the poor, is riddled with gaps and distortions. Besides, buffer stocks are just thata buffer against unforeseen exigencies. Even Japan recently was forced to release 300,000 tonnes of rice due to public anger against shortages. With the vagaries of climate change, increasingly larger sections of the population are vulnerable to climate-related disasters. It is not as if there are not enough takers. It is just that those who need it are unable to access it due to a lack of resources, a lack of documentation or simply a lack of coverage of the subsidised grain distribution system. India ranked 105 out of 127 countries in the World Hunger Index for 2024. Should a country with such a severe hunger and malnourishment problem be diverting rice to alcohol production? The government has also said that only damaged or broken" rice will be given for ethanol conversion. First of all, broken rice is not inedible, nor does it lack a market. In fact, in March this year, the government allowed 100 per cent export of broken rice stocks. India exported close to 4 million tonnes of broken rice to Africa and South East Asia last year. Also Read: Ethanol blending: The good, the bad and the googlies If the government is unable to reach the grain to the poor and the hungry, it can at least export rice. Exports will fetch foreign exchange and raise farmer incomes. Even assuming that only grain unfit for human consumption is used, which theres no way of checking, its not as if there is no market for that either. Damaged grain is an important and cheap input into poultry and animal feed. India has the worlds largest cattle population of over 300 million cows and buffaloes. In addition, it is the worlds third-largest egg producer and the fifth-largest chicken meat producer, with a population of over 850 million birds. Also Read: Cooperative sugar mills to be incentivized to boost ethanol production There are also alternative sources for ethanol, that do not rely on food grain. A 2021 techno-economic study by the International Council on Clean Transportation found that with some viability gap funding, the cost of second-generation ethanolproduced from rice and wheat straw and sugarcane bagassematches Indias fixed ethanol price of 65.61 per litre. India produces a whopping 126 million tonnes of rice straw and over 113 million tonnes of wheat straw annually. Over the longer term, using Indias massive coastline to produce algae for ethanol production provides a biomass source which does not conflict with food requirements. India needs to get serious about its hunger and nutrition challenge rather than disputing the methodologies of global studies such as the hunger index. It also needs to effectively pursue alternatives to ethanol generation for more efficient use of taxpayer money. Diverting already subsidised grain to ethanol manufacturers at further subsidised prices flies in the face of both economic rationale and social justice. Also Read: Changes in western disturbances may adversely affect food security, crop productivity Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan received a death threat on social media ahead of the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, according to party spokesperson Rajesh Bhatt on Friday. Bhatt has filed a formal complaint with the Cyber Police Station in Patna regarding the incident. The threat, according to the complaint, was made by an Instagram user going by the name 'Tiger Meraj Idisi'. "The threat was issued due to Paswan's growing popularity. The act clearly reflects criminal intent and involvement in unlawful activities, Bhatt said in his complaint, as reported by ANI. I request you to take immediate cognizance of the seriousness of this matter and initiate prompt action. Kindly arrest the suspect without delay and ensure that the strictest possible punishment is delivered, the complaint said. Taking cognisance of the matter, Cyber DCP Nitish Chandra Dharia said, On the night of July 11, at around 9 pm, Union Minister Chirag Paswan received a death threat via social media. A case has been registered in the Patna Cyber Police Station, and legal action is underway Last week, Paswan announced his candidacy for the upcoming Bihar elections while addressing a gathering in Saran. He said, Today, from this sacred land of Saran, I am declaring before all of you that yes, I will contest the election. I will contest the election for the people of Bihar, for my brothers, for my mothers, for my sisters, and we will create a system in Bihar, we will build a Bihar that will truly take the state forward on the path of development. LJP (Ram Vilas) is part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). LJP is expected to keep on allying with the NDA for the upcoming Bihar polls, however Paswan has not yet confirmed his stance on it. Bihar elections are expected to be held later this year in October or November; however, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date. WASHINGTONSitting across from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday at the White House, President Trump said he hoped there would be no more U.S. bombing of Iran. I cant imagine wanting to do that," Trump said. Netanyahu later told him in private, however, that if Iran resumed moving toward a nuclear weapon, Israel would carry out further military strikes. Trump responded that he favored a diplomatic settlement with Tehran, but didnt otherwise object to the Israeli plan. Their talks, described to The Wall Street Journal by senior U.S. and Israeli officials, underscored the conflicting calculations all three countries are facing since last months Israeli and U.S. attacks on Irans nuclear facilities. Trump is counting on the threat of further attacks to pressure Tehran into an agreement that would foreclose it from building a nuclear weapon. Israel is skeptical a diplomatic settlement would prevent Iran from secretly rushing toward a nuclear weapon. And Tehran is demanding guarantees it wont face more bombing in return for resuming talks with Washington. Israel wouldnt necessarily seek explicit American approval to resume strikes on Iran, a senior Israel official said. But depending on how significant the Iranian attempt to rekindle its nuclear program was, Netanyahu could face pushback from Trump to preserve the diplomatic track with Tehran. For Irans leaders, the stakes are even more momentous: If they rebuff Trumps demand to give up nuclear enrichment and resume their nuclear activities, renewed attacks by Israel and even the U.S. could threaten the regimes survival. Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian, like other top Iranian leaders, in recent days has said Tehran is open to resuming nuclear talks with the U.S. with assurances there will be no renewed attacks during the negotiations. Iran will insist on what it says is its right to enrich uranium, he added. The White House declined to comment on Trumps talks with Netanyahu. The Iranian mission to the United Nations didnt respond to requests for comment. President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a dinner at the White House earlier in July. Before last months strikes, Israel assessed that Iran could produce a crude nuclear device within a matter of months and construct a usable weapon within a year. Top Israeli officials said they thought the U.S. and Israeli military strikes had set back Tehrans ability to build a nuclear weapon by up to two additional years, matching a recent Pentagon assessment. Israel has concluded that some of Tehrans stockpile of near-bomb-grade enriched uranium at Isfahan survived last months attacks and that with considerable effort Iran could recover some of the fissile material from that site, the senior Israeli official said. Tehran wouldnt be able to retrieve the uranium from its two other nuclear sites at Natanz and Fordow because of the damage inflicted on those facilities by U.S. bunker-buster bombs, the official said. Any effort by Iran to retrieve the uranium from Isfahan or revive the decimated nuclear program would be quickly detected by Israel, the senior Israeli official said. The Iranians are going to be extremely cautious," said Dennis Ross, who served as a senior official on Middle East issues during Democratic and Republican administrations. They are going to take the threats the Israelis make very seriously." Israel can prevent Iran from sprinting toward a bomb in the short term, the senior Israeli official said, including by continuing covert operations targeting top Iranian nuclear scientists and other national leaders that already have inflicted major blows on Iran, the official said. The danger for Trump is that Israel could effectively dictate the next moves against Iran, analysts said. My sense is that Trump mostly wants the Iran problem to just go away," said Gabriel Noronha, who worked on Iran policy at the State Department in the first Trump administration. Hes clear that there should be no enrichment or nuclear weapons. But hes willing to be flexible on other things." Many experts think that if Iran does reconstitute its nuclear program, it wont do so overtly through declared facilities but rather by using secret, underground enrichment sites to produce fissile material and to work on the technically complex aspects of building a weapon. Israel has intelligence on where Tehran may secretly attempt to revive its nuclear work, the first senior Israeli official said. But Israel isnt known to possess its own bunker-busting bombs that can penetrate deep underground where Iran often houses centrifuges and other nuclear facilities. No official date for formal talks between the U.S. and Iran has been set. Western diplomats say Iran is still debating how to proceed. The strikes almost certainly locked in the core Trump demand that Iran end its uranium- enrichment program as part of any deal. Washington might feel it has the military leverage to expand its goals, including by pressing Tehran to agree to tight limits on its missile program or cut ties with regional militias. The Isfahan facility in Iran. It was tough enough to achieve an agreement before the strikes. Now it will be tougher still," said Dan Shapiro, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel who was part of the U.S. team that negotiated with Iran under the Biden administration. Trump cant back down on zero enrichment, and Iran will feel it cant concede that as a result of being attacked." Irans move to suspend cooperation with the U.N. atomic agency needs to be addressed if Washington hopes to have long-term, on-the-ground monitoring of Irans enrichment and weaponization work. The two sides also need to agree how to identify and deal with Irans intact stockpile of enriched uranium. Irans missile attacks on Israel proved Tehran still poses significant offensive threats in the region. Ali Vaez, Iran project director at conflict-resolution organization Crisis Group, says the group of Iranian officials arguing for serious diplomatic negotiations are in a minority following the attacks. He says there is even greater mistrust of Trump and concern that he will change the goal posts for what Washington wants. Seeking a deal at any priceincluding one which would end Irans enrichment programis unlikely, he said. European governments have reiterated their threat to reimpose sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal unless Iran cooperates with the International Atomic Energy Agency. An October deadline looms for Britain, France and Germany to decide whether to snap the old sanctions back in place. Iran has said such a move could prompt them to withdraw from the nonproliferation treaty, which bars Tehran from working on a nuclear weapon. Write to Alexander Ward at alex.ward@wsj.com and Laurence Norman at laurence.norman@wsj.com Mumbai, Jul 12 (PTI) The Air India aircraft, which crashed soon after takeoff in Ahmedabad last month, might have suffered mechanical or power supply issues that could have led to the change in the position of the switches that feed fuel into the plane, according to experts. They also opined that the reasons for the change in fuel switch position will be known during further investigations. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary report has mentioned that fuel switches of engine 1 and 2 of the Boeing 787-8 aircraft were cut off within a gap of one second and later turned on before the crash on June 12. Federation of Indian Pilots (FPI) President and former Air India pilot Captain C S Randhawa said the position of the fuel switches can be changed only with a human interface. These switches are spring-loaded and have a lock. If they have to be put into RUN position, then first, it has to be pulled out and move into the position, he said. According to him, the switches are generally used in case there has been a flameout of both engines or the pilots have recycled the switches. "It is not clear from the preliminary report as to why the position of the switches was changed", he said and added that there could also have been an interruption in the power supply. "When the fuel control switch has to be cut off, the pilot flying will say, fuel control switch left, confirm. So, after the confirmation is made by the second pilot, the pilot monitoring will cut off (the switch). "In this case, the first officer was taking off the aircraft and the captain was pilot monitoring. Now, did this transfer of controls take place between the captain and the first officer? It is not clear from the report at all," he noted. The fuel switches are below the throttles. "Now, in case of a dual engine flameout, the auto-throttle switches are put off and fuel control switches are made to cut off and run. Basically, they reactivate," he said. A former Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official said there was a change in the position of the fuel switches and the question is why it happened. "Now, the investigation will lead in this direction to why this switch position changed, whether it was a mechanical failure, whether it was intentional or unintentional or anything else or if there was a problem... The question is also whether there was a software glitch and or not," he said. In the report, there is no mention on whether there was any malfunctioning of the fuel switches earlier. A senior Boeing commander said it is not exactly clear from the preliminary report why the fuel switch was turned to CUTOFF from RUN position. The change might have happened inadvertently, he added. According to a senior official, who has been part of various aircraft accident investigations, investigations in the coming months will help in ascertaining the reasons, including whether there were any mechanical issues, for the change in position of the fuel switches. "The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 Knots IAS at about 08:08:42 UTC and immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec. "The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off. Apple's supplier Foxconn has begun importing components from China to India for the assembly of the companys upcoming iPhone 17, according to a report by the Economic Times citing customs data. The components imported so far could be meant for trial production, given that their volume is a fraction of what it was for older iPhone models. The customs data shows that various components and sub-assemblies like display assemblies, cover glass, mechanical housings, and integrated rear camera modules began arriving in the country last month. In fact, components for the iPhone 17 made up about 10% of the total imports Foxconn brought from China to India in June. The majority of the components imported by the company that month were for iPhone 16 and iPhone 14 variants, which it plans to sell in higher numbers during the festive season sale in India. iPhone 17 trial production to begin this month The ET report notes that trial production for the iPhone 17 will begin this month, while mass production is expected to start in August ahead of the flagship phones launch in September. The Cupertino-based tech giant plans to manufacture the iPhone 17 in India and China simultaneously from day one, as India becomes a strategic export hub for the company, especially for models sent to the US market. Notably, with the high tariffs applied by the Donald Trump administration on China, Apple is ramping up its iPhone production in India and is planning to entirely shift its sourcing of iPhones for the US market from China to India by 2026, even as the US government mounts pressure to manufacture these phones in the home country. iPhone exports from India to the US grew by 219% year-on-year in March, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data cited by ET. Reportedly, Apple has been gradually narrowing the gap between iPhone production in China and India. iPhone 14 assembly began in India six weeks after it started in China, but for the iPhone 15, manufacturing commenced almost simultaneously in both countries. Google parent Alphabet has struck a deal to acquire top talent and licensing rights from AI coding startup Windsurf, according to a Bloomberg report. The tech giant will not take a stake in Windsurf but its top executives including CEO Varun Mohan and co-founder Douglas Chen have been hired to work at Google's DeepMind unit. Also Read | AI device startup that sued OpenAI and Jony Ive is now suing its own ex-employee over trade secrets Notably, Windsurf had previously agreed to be acquired by OpenAI for $3 billion. The deal, however, fell apart reportedly due to ChatGPT maker's tensions wit Microsoft - it's biggest investor. OpenAI didn't want Microsoft to use Windsurf's intellectual property and it turned out to be one of the sticking points in the two companies' talks as OpenAI restructures to a commercial entity. As per the existing agreement Microsoft has wit OpenAI, it is entitled to access the AI startup's technology. The Bloomberg report quoted an OpenAI spokesperson as confirming that the exclusivity period on the acquisition offer had lapsed which left Windsurf free to consider other bids. Chris Pappas, a Google spokesperson while confirming the development to The Verge, said, Gemini is one of the best models available and weve been investing in its advanced capabilities for developers, Were excited to welcome some top AI coding talent from Windsurfs team to Google DeepMind to advance our work in agentic coding. He added. We are proud of what Windsurf has built over the last four years and are excited to see it move forward with their world class team and kick-start the next phase. Mohan and Chen said in a statement quoted by The Verge. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Grilled corn on wood table by badmanproduction via iStock Corn futures are down fractionally in the nearby contracts, with new crop December up cent. There were 37 delivery notices for July corn overnight, taking the total for the month to 362. The front month CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was down 1/4 cent at $3.85 1/4. USDA reported a private export sale of 110,000 MT of corn to unknown destinations this morning, all for new crop. More News from Barchart Export Sales data from the morning showed old crop corn coming in above 375,000 and 900,000 MT estimates at 1.262 MMT the week ending on July 7/3. That was an 8-week high for sales and more than double the same week last year and the week prior. Mexico was the largest buyer at 469,900 MT, with 436,200 MT sold to Japan. New crop also exceeded the trade range of 150,000 to 700,000 MT estimate for that week at 888,562 MT. That was down from the week prior but still the second largest so far this year. The top buyer was Mexico at 423,900 MT, with Japan in for 304,800 MT. CONAB estimates the Brazilian corn crop at 131.97 MMT via their monthly release, up 3.72 MMT from last month on a 3.54 MMT increase to the second crop corn. Ahead of the USDA report on Friday, a survey of traders by Bloomberg shows estimated production out of Brazil at 132.3 MMT. Jul 25 Corn is at $4.10 1/4, down 2 1/4 cents, Nearby Cash is at $3.85 1/4, down 1/4 cent, Sep 25 Corn is at $3.99, down 1/4 cent, Dec 25 Corn is at $4.15 3/4, up 1/4 cent, New Crop Cash is at $3.75 3/4, down 0 cent, On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com The office of First Liberty Building and Loan, which federal officials allege was a Ponzi scheme, is shown on Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Newnan, GA. BNRG, an Irish-owned leader in clean renewable energy, in partnership with Plan Energy Developments, today announces its intention to seek planning permission for a 94-megawatt solar farm near Ballymahon, County Longford. The project, known as BNRG Ballymahon PV & BESS, is expected to generate sufficient energy to meet the electricity needs of an estimated over 20,000 homes, making a significant contribution to Irelands green energy transition. The proposed development would be built on approximately 104 hectares across two land parcels, situated approximately 2 kilometres northwest of Ballymahon village, in the townlands of Cartronbrack, Lislom, and Tirlickeen. These areas have been carefully selected to minimise local impact, using existing agricultural land with good access to regional roads and proximity to the national electricity grid. Community Engagement A public consultation and information programme begins today to inform the local community about the project and gather feedback. This includes a public information clinic taking place at the Bridgeways Family Resource Centre in Ballymahon from 6pm-9pm on Wednesday 16 July, where residents can meet experts from the development team. Further information is available at www.bnrgballymahon.com. Site Design and Environmental Considerations The project is carefully designed in line with the Best Practice Guidance for Large Scale Solar Energy Development which was supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and local authorities including Longford County Council. Some of the key design features include: Natural screening using existing hedgerows and new planting to integrate into the surrounding rural landscape. Undeveloped buffer zones and setbacks from public roads and homes. Low-lying panels positioned to limit visual impact. Underground cabling to connect parcels and link to the existing national grid infrastructure via a proposed new substation within the project boundary. The site layout promotes biodiversity, protects watercourses, and maintains agricultural use, primarily for sheep grazing. The project is expected to displace up to 30,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, compared to fossil fuel-generated electricity. Construction and Grid Connection The construction phase is expected to last 12 months, using established low-impact techniques. Cables will be installed underground. Subject to planning approval and participation in a future Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction, construction could begin in 2027, with the project operational by 2028. At the end of its lifecycle, all equipment will be removed and responsibly recycled, with land returned to agricultural use. Community Benefit Subject to RESS participation, the project would establish a Community Benefit Fund, with an estimated value of 2.7 million over the projects lifetime. Residents would be invited to guide how this fund is used to support community initiatives. Local clubs, societies and organisations will be encouraged to submit funding requests once the project is operational. A portion of the funds must also be used to support not-for-profit community enterprises where the focus is aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. About the Project Partners BNRG, headquartered in Dublin, is a global renewable energy company with operations in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. Since 2007, BNRG has developed and operated solar farms producing over 150,000 MWh of electricity annually, with a pipeline of more than 5.5 GW. It is committed to long-term partnerships and delivering minimal local disruption. Plan Energy Developments is an Irish, independent team of renewable energy experts with a strong track record in project development and community energy. The company brings deep technical expertise and works closely with communities to ensure projects are responsibly delivered. For more information and updates, visit www.bnrgballymahon.com. Kurdistan Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani meets with Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al Araji on July 9. (KRG Presidents Office) For two weeks, drones have increasingly targeted areas in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq, with the most recent attack on July 11. On July 5, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) blamed the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Iraqs state paramilitary organization largely comprised of Iranian-backed militias, for the attacks. Baghdad rejected the claims and condemned the KRGs assertions. The dispute arose after a number of drone attacks across Iraq. The attacks, which no group or country has taken responsibility for, appeared to begin as the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel ended with a ceasefire. In the past, Iran has targeted Kurdish dissidents in northern Iraq, and Iraqs Iranian-backed militias have targeted US forces in Erbil. On June 24, attacks targeted radar installations in at least four Iraqi military facilities across the country. Six nights later, on June 30, three rockets were fired toward Kirkuk. Two Katyusha rockets fell in the military section of Kirkuk airport, an Iraqi security source told AFP. Two personnel were wounded. Another rocket fell on a house in the city of Kirkuk, causing material damage, Arab News reported while noting that the military sector of Kirkuks airport includes bases for the Iraqi Army, the federal police, and the Hashed Al-Shaabi [Popular Mobilization Forces], a coalition of former pro-Iranian paramilitary forces now integrated into the regular armed forces. Iranian-backed groups have used 107mm and 122mm rockets in the past against US forces in Iraq and the Kurdistan region. It was unclear who shot them at the airport or what the intended target was. According to Kurdish media reports, a drone also targeted the Baiji oil refinery on the same evening as the attack on Kirkuk. Two days later, on July 2, reports emerged of a round of drone attacks on areas in Sulimaniyeh, one of the largest cities in the KRG. One drone appeared to target Unit 70 of the Peshmerga, one of the key units of the KRGs security forces. Sulimaniyeh and Unit 70 are often considered close to the Kurdistan regions Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party. Another incident occurred in Erbil on July 3, setting off alarms at the US consulate, according to local videos. It appears another attack took place on July 4, targeting an area of Sulimaniyeh near the headquarters of a regional counter-terrorism base, according to The New Arab. The same day, the drone attacks appeared to escalate, also targeting an area near Erbil, the capital of the KRG. These types of attacks are carried out by some groups affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) for provocative purposes, the KRGs Ministry of Interior said. It called on Baghdad to take legal measures against the perpetrators and set limits on such destructive actions. The statement also denied rumors that a drone had targeted an Israeli site in the KRG. There is no Israeli base in Kurdistan, nor has any such operation been carried out, the ministry said. Iran has claimed to target Mossad bases in northern Iraq in the past and launched missiles targeting Erbil in 2024. After the KRG blamed the PMF for the July attacks on Erbil and Sulimaniyeh, Baghdad responded. What was issued by the [KRG] Ministry of Interior in the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, accusing an official Iraqi security institution, is rejected, condemned, and not allowed under any pretext, especially as it came without presenting any evidence. We demand that any such evidence, if it exists, be submitted to official government authorities, Iraqi Armed Forces Spokesperson Brigadier General Sabah al Numan said. The drone attacks continued over the next several days. On July 10, KRG security forces said they downed a drone that approached a military installation in al-Sulaymaniyah province in Iraqi Kurdistan, that hosts units of the US-led Global Coalition, officials confirmed. There were no casualties or material damage. The drones origin and objective remain unknown at this time, Major General Ahmed Latif, the spokesperson for Unit 70 of the KRGs Peshmerga, said. On July 11, just after midnight, another drone was downed near Peshmerga forces north of Kirkuk. Al Arabiya posted photos of parts of the drone. The drone attacks have occurred as Baghdad and Erbil continue to discuss several contentious issues, including a dispute over salaries and energy deals. On July 9, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al Araji affirmed the implementation of the joint security agreement between Iraq and Iran during a meeting in Erbil on Wednesday, Shafaq News reported, an agreement that was supposed to focus on border security issues. Iran has often accused the Kurdistan region of hosting dissident Iranian Kurdish groups. In the wake of the 12-day war with Israel, Iran has been cracking down on dissidents, especially targeting Kurdish groups. Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024). A total of 68 companies benefitted from a new tax credit for technology investments last year, Luxembourgs finance minister has said. The credits covered a total investment of 260 million, of which 246 million were in the field of digital transformation alone, Gilles Roth (CSV) stated, providing the figures in response to a parliamentary question from deputy Sven Clement (Pirates). Under tax rules introduced last year, Roth said that companies can benefit from a new tax credit (bonification dimpot) of 18% for investments and operating costs linked to a companys digital transformation project. In the event of a tax loss in one year, this tax credit can be carried forward for a maximum of 10 years. That is on top of standard deductions for business expenses that were already in place in the Grand Duchy. The costs of purchasing or developing computer programmes and patents are examples of expenses covered by the regime, Roth said. The committee handling requests for the tax credits received 87 applications in 2024. It issued decisions on 72 projects, rejecting only four requests. Out of the 68 positive decisions, 56 concerned digital transformation, mainly linked to artificial intelligence, according to Roth. The projects came from various economic sectors, mainly from the financial sector, but also from skilled trades, logistics, the data processing industry and business consulting. Clement asked Roth if the government planned to introduce more research and development tax credits, to remain competitive with the tax regimes in Belgium, China, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and US. Roth replied that a global evaluation of the existing tax credit regime, which has been applicable since 2024, will not be possible until 2026 at the earliest. At a recent meeting of the Londonderry Select Board, the issue about amending the existing ordinance on on short term rentals, which will prompt a special town meeting on July 19, was discussed. The set of amendments adopted last April are on hold pending the outcome of the vote at the special town meeting. We recently published 14 Stocks Jim Cramer Discussed As He Talked About Record Bitcoin Price. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is one of the most frequently discussed pharmaceutical stocks on Cramers morning show. Over the course of this year, the CNBC TV host has maintained that the firm enjoys a lead in the weight loss drug market and aims to further expand its dominance by developing a robust manufacturing base. Cramer also believes that Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) will benefit from introducing a weight loss pill along with a strong pipeline of drugs that targets diseases such as hypertension. His recent comments focused on an analyst note: [On a Mizuho note saying POTUS would praise LLY and JNJ] I would love that, that wont happen. You know why it wont happen? See theres someone in the health and human services department thats not crazy about, about big pharma and the way we think about it. So theres not going to be a party thrown for you at Lilly. You know that GLP-1 is not a favorite of RFK Jr. Not a favorite. So no, no party for them. Earlier, Cramer discussed Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)s CEO and investor expectations: David Ricks, if you spend time with him, has a view, of what should be done, that ends with the pill that you take every day, no shot . . but everyones thinking that he doesnt have anything in the hopper. Hes got heart coming up, hes going to have Alzheimers coming up, oh buy. Eli Lilly and Company (LLY): I Would "Love" If Trump Praised The Company, Says Jim Cramer An array of pharmaceutical pills with the company's logo on the bottle. Its going be a trillion-dollar market cap, Ken Langone told me that. Hes one of the largest investors in Lilly. He knows. While we acknowledge the potential of LLY as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Dave Portnoy eats a hamburger at Burger Bash during the South Beach Wine and Food Festival on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, in Miami Beach, Fla. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP) Scott Roth/Invision/AP Dave Portnoy, the controversial founder of Barstool Sports, headed to Hopkinton for a one-bite pizza review. The shop in question was Blue Square Pizza. Portnoy tried three pizza styles: Detroit, New York and Chicago. In a video posted this week, Portnoy walked out of the establishment with three boxes of pizza. For the Detroit style, Portnoy returned to a saying: look heavy but be light on your feet. After a bite then two, then three he declared it was a very good Detroit style pizza, giving it a rating of 7.7. Opening the box of New York style pizza, Portnoy turned a slice over in his hand for the camera. Thats a sexy-looking slice, he said. Portnoy devoured most of the slice before declaring 7.9. He gave the Chicago his highest mark of the video at 8.1 this is a better Chicago than they do in Chicago but admitted he liked the New York more. He said his scoring system is difficult to follow, but it is based on each style. I dont know if it has to make sense, thats just how it is, he said. Portnoy said he hadnt found many places that can do so many styles so effectively. Heres the video: Blue Square Pizza opened in 2022. It has locations in Hopkinton and Northborough. Floods are the most common disaster in the United States, according to an emergency management site. In New England, we dont expect to see many of the natural disasters that the rest of our nation is subjected to. We havent seen many tornadoes or hurricanes, although the few that have occurred have made us pay closer attention. Wild fires are a concern, but not at the degree of out west. Mostly we see winter weather emergencies in our area. We have had flooding, but not serious enough in this generation that we prepare well for it except for those that live in flood-prone areas. No matter the disaster, lives will be lost if there is inadequate planning, communication and foresight. The recent flooding in central Texas and the tragic loss of life has brought the risks of flooding to the forefront of many of our thoughts. Just like we never imagined sending our children to school would put them at risk for mass shootings, one does not send their child off to summer camp with the worry that they will die in a flood. And if it hasnt occurred locally, we tend to naively think its not going to happen here. Some great information is available on Westfields Emergency Management website about floods in Westfield. Given our history, the changes in our environment and weather, the tragedies not only in Texas, but recently in West Virginia and other parts of the country, we should pay a little more attention to the flood warnings popping up on our phones, radios and televisions. The Emergency Management website spells out the history of flooding in our city as well as other valuable information. There were major floods in 1826, 1854, 1878 and 1896. In 1927, a flood caused six deaths and $1 million worth of damage equivalent to $18.5 million today. In more recent history, Westfields largest ever flood occurred in August of 1955. Hurricane Connie caused rivers and streams to rise. A second hurricane, Diane, hit adding 20 more inches of water destroying bridges, cutting off sections of the city and collapsing part of the Crane Pond dam. Boats were used for transportation on Broad Street. Over 600 properties were condemned or damaged, nine bridges washed away and 600 automobiles damaged. The cost was estimated at $5-8 million equivalent to $60 to $96 million today. In 2007, there was extensive flooding of the Westgate Plaza and East Silver Street areas. In 2011, Hurricane Irene caused some flooding. Wherever it rains, floods can happen. Flooding can occur slowly or rapidly. Either way, they cause outages, disrupt transportation, damage homes, vehicles, buildings and create land slides. Failing to evacuate when advised can lead to injury and death. Becoming informed and preparing when the sun is shining and the land is dry will help decrease risk factors. Purchase flood insurance. Most homeowners insurance plans do not cover flood insurance. Apply to the National Flood Insurance Program. The Emergency Management website recommends FEMAs sites www.ready.gov and www.ready.gov/kids and www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/mema. Westfield has a local emergency planning committee made up of businesses, municipal departments and other organizations. If you are interested in learning more or joining, call the Westfield Emergency Management Agency at 413-568-1222. If under a flood warning, find safe shelter and do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Six inches of moving water can knock any adult down. One foot of moving water can carry vehicles away. Thats only the water. The debris swept away by the water is extremely dangerous, as is the mud carried along with it. Stay off bridges, evacuate when told to, move to higher ground or a higher floor. Never drive around barricades. If your car is swept away in rapidly moving water, stay in your vehicle. If your car is filling with water, try to get on the roof. I did not find in flood preparations sites to have life jackets available. It seems practical and good advice to me to put on a life jacket if you have one To stay informed if the weather forecast is suggesting possible flooding, utilize FEMA Flood Map Service Center, Emergency Alert System National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Risk Index. Listen to your local alerts system for updates. Make a household plan for humans and pets. Plan evacuation routes and shelter plans. Gather supplies such as nonperishable foods, cleaning supplies, water and your medications. Keep important documents in a waterproof container and have digital copies. Move valuables to a higher level. Clear drains and gutters and consider a battery-operated sump pump. Deaths due to natural disasters are inevitable, but senseless deaths can be prevented with awareness, preparation and planning. Keep those grieving in your thoughts and may those who died rest in peace. Take care of yourself and someone else. Juanita Carnes is a nurse practitioner with 39 years of experience in a hospital emergency department and urgent care facilities. She served 30 years on the Board of Health in Westfield, Massachusetts. A new public webpage with a timeline of initiatives related to the scathing DOJ report on the Worcester Police Department has been established by city officials. The resources are aimed at explaining to the community what work the city is doing to address recommendations from both the DOJ and Center for Naval Analyses (CNA), which conducted the audit. The report, released in December last year, found that officers in the Worcester Police Department used excessive force, engaged in discriminatory practices and engaged in illegal sex acts with vulnerable women. The DOJ outlined 19 recommendations for the police department, ranging from improvements in the use of force standards, to a complete prohibition on engaging in sexual contact for law enforcement purposes. But beyond those recommendations, the DOJ has left it up to the city to take next steps ones that residents are eager to see. My Administration has emphasized our commitment to transparency as weve worked to address these recommendations, City Manager Eric D. Batista said. We have shown that commitment through communications to the City Council and the public, and we are now taking a further step with these public resources, which will continue to be actively updated with the latest information and new initiatives, Batista said. The webpage will have detailed updates describing progress related to the 34 recommendations developed by CNA, and a timeline that shows all initiatives and programs implemented by the police department related to the findings of the DOJ report. Following a Summary Report on the DOJ findings that was submitted to the Worcester City Council in March this year, city officials said the department has taken further steps to address the findings. These include applying to the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program and the allocation of funds for Bureau of Professional Standards (BOPS) internal affairs software that will help break down BOPS reports. The department has also given color-of-law training to 400 officers on topics like use of force, obstruction of justice and sexual assault, the officials said. Similar resources will also be developed for the audits of the Human Resources and Health & Human Services departments. The news comes after residents demanded further reform within the police department in March, and said the the Worcester City Council and Batista need to take the report seriously. At a council meeting that month, the council members discussed the report and the revisions in the departments policy as outlined by Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier in a communication to the city manager on March 4. They also heard from residents who said they do not feel safe around the Worcester Police Department. This disgusting culture has to change. Many of these officers have no empathy, no compassion, no civility for the public, said William Gardiner, a former Worcester Police Officer. And that wont stand. At the time, the residents demanded a Civilian Oversight Board. While they appreciated Sauciers reforms, they said it didnt help with transparency and accountability and thats what we need, said Keith Linhares, a Worcester resident running for District 1 councilor this year. More people in this community are worried about trust, Linhares said. 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Mayos National Museum of Ireland site had a government visit earlier this week, as Minister for Culture Patrick ODonovan made a trip to the Turlough site. On Wednesday afternoon, the Fine Gael TD made the journey west to visit the National Folklife Collection at the site, where he was provided a tour by the Museum Director, Lynn Scariff, Professor Cathal ODonoghue, the Board Chair, and the Keeper of the Irish Folklife Division, Clodagh Doyle. WATCH: Mayo's Greatest Supporter crowned after online voting While there, he also heard about the future plans for the expansion of the 30-acre campus. Minister ODonovan expressed his satisfaction with the tour. I was struck today by the continued relevance of this collection in terms of preserving the skills, customs, and practices that are a part of our cultural heritage, handed down through generations, he stated. Lynn Sacriff, the Director of the Museum, was also pleased to welcome the Limerick representative to the site. I would like to thank our Minister for his interest in visiting Turlough Park and his engagement with the collection and staff based here, Lynn said. We are also grateful to our partners in the Office of Public Works and Mayo County Council for their ongoing commitment and support for the National Museum in County Mayo. The Museum would like to remind everyone of the free admission to the site ahead of a busy weekend. A man in his 50s has died following a crash in Waterford that left him fighting for his life earlier this week. The crash involving a motorcycle and a car occurred around 7.40pm on Wednesday evening at Monvoy in Tramore. The motorcyclist was rushed to University Hospital Waterford in critical condition at the time but has now sadly passed away. Yesterday, Gardai confirmed the driver of the car, a man in his 60s, was arrested at the scene and detained at a Garda station in the south east. He has since been charged and is due to appear before a special sitting of Waterford District Court this evening, Friday, July 11, at 5.45pm. Gardai said there were no other injuries reported in the incident. The road had been closed for a period on Wednesday to allow for a forensic collision investigation. READ MORE | IRELAND HEAT MAP: How hot will your county be amid Met Eireann's weekend forecast In an updated statement today, Gardai said they "continue to appeal for witnesses following a road traffic collision involving a car and a motorcycle that occurred in Monvoy, Tramore, Co Waterford at approximately 7:40pm on Wednesday, 9th July, 2025." They continued: "Any persons who were in the Monvoy Cross area between 7:30pm and 7:50pm and who may have witnessed the incident should contact investigating Gardai. "Any road users who were travelling in this vicinity at the time, and who may have camera footage including dash cam, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai." Anyone with information is urged to contact Tramore Garda Station on 051 391620, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. READ MORE | GAA GUIDE: All-Ireland semi-finals and Tailteann Cup final headline packed football weekend Save the date: Tesla has announced it will hold an annual shareholders meeting on Nov. 6. The announcement comes just one day after a pointed letter from investors to the board enthusiastically recommended the independent directors set a datepublicly. Better late than never. Tesla announced on Thursday it will hold an annual shareholders meeting on Nov. 6. The announcement comes some 24 hours after a letter from more than two dozen investors in the $952 billion electric-vehicle maker pressed the board on when it would next go mano a mano with its shareholders. The last annual shareholders meeting was a high-stakes event that saw investors approve CEO Elon Musks controversial pay package a second time and green-light a move from Delaware to Texas. Under Texas law, Tesla is required to hold an annual meeting within 13 months of the last one, which was held on June 13, 2024. Tesla notified investors about the meeting and set a July 31 deadline for shareholders to submit proposals. Harvard professor of law and economics John Coates told Fortune Texas law provides that companies like Tesla are to hold annual meetings, and that any shareholder can demand one in court if one has not been held within 13 months. Its not a crime, however, to fail to have one, and there is no particular penalty for waiting until a shareholder demands one, he said. Calling Teslas delay illegal would be misleading, he explained. However, its certainly not normal to not hold a meeting within 13 months, said Coates. Usually its small and under-resourced or distressed companies that fail to do so, he said. Meanwhile, Tesla has yet to file a proxy statementwhich informs shareholders of the meeting agenda and items to be voted onthat would likely answer swirling questions about Musks controversial compensation. To refresh: His pay package was structured as a moonshot mega grant initially valued at $2.6 billion before soaring along with shareholders fortunes as high as $56 billion. It was to be the highest compensation ever awarded to the CEO of a publicly traded company. However, an investor challenged it in court, and Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick rescinded it twiceeven after Tesla investors approved it a second time last year. As it stands, its unclear how the Tesla board will proceed with paying Musk, a prerogative for keeping him engaged at Tesla amid his other competing interests and companies, board chair Robyn Denholm has said. Tesla has faced serious pressure from investors over Musks work with President Donald Trumps Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and later Musks bitter bust-up with Trump. That followed with Musk announcing he would create a third political party, the America Party. The announcement led to a selloff in Tesla shares, which led to $15 billion being wiped from Musks net worth. by Wendy Davis , July 11, 2025 Verizon on Thursday urged a federal judge in New York to pause the record labels' lawsuit over alleged piracy, arguing that the matter shouldn't proceed until the Supreme Court rules in a separate case dealing with internet service providers' liability for copyright infringement by subscribers. That anticipated Supreme Court ruling will determine whether the labels' copyright claim "remains viable," Verizon's counsel writes in a letter to U.S. District Court Judge Margaret Garnett in the Southern District of New York. "It benefits no one -- least of all the labels -- to plunge ahead with burdensome litigation on a theory the Supreme Court may soon reject," the company argues. Verizon says the record labels will oppose the request to halt proceedings. The telecom's request comes around one week after the Supreme Court agreed to hear Cox Communications' appeal of a decision holding the company responsible for illegal music downloads by broadband subscribers. advertisement advertisement In that matter, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a trial judge's finding that Cox contributed to copyright infringement by failing to disconnect suspected file-sharers. Last year, Cox petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case, arguing that the 4th Circuit's ruling could result in mass broadband disconnections. "Without this courts intervention, the Fourth Circuits ruling threatens mass evictions from the internet, severing millions from an essential conduit to engagement with modern society," Cox wrote in its petition for an appeal. Verizon's legal dispute with the record labels dates to July 2024, when record Universal, Warner and Sony sued Verizon for allegedly facilitating copyright infringement by failing to disconnect subscribers suspected of sharing music online. The record companies alleged that Verizon ignored notices about subscribers who allegedly shared thousands of tracks, including music by The Rolling Stones, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and 50 Cent. Verizon sought a fast dismissal of the lawsuit, arguing that companies that provide online access shouldn't be held responsible for activity by subscribers. When people do bad things online, their internet service providers are not typically the ones to blame, Verizon wrote in papers filed last September. Garnett hasn't yet ruled on that request. Verizon argues in its new filing that the fate of the record labels' case against it will turn on whatever precedent the Supreme Court sets in Cox's appeal. "A stay is therefore warranted in the interest of judicial economy and will not prejudice any party," Verizon writes. by Teresa Buyikian , July 11, 2025 After 18 months, Wendys president and CEO is trading in his Frostys for Milky Ways. Kirk Tanner is leaving the QSR to join The Hershey Company as president and CEO, effective July 18, per a Wendys announcement earlier this week. While the board of directors has launched a comprehensive search process to select a permanent CEO, Wendys has appointed Chief Financial Officer Ken Cook as interim CEO. Cook will also maintain his CFO position. Cook joined Wendys as CFO in December 2024 after spending 20 years at United Parcel Service, Inc., most recently serving as global head of financial planning and analysis. Earlier he also held the position of chief financial officer for UPSs U.S. Domestic segment. Prior to joining Wendys in February 2024, Tanner had spent the previous almost 34 years in several roles at PepsiCo, most recently serving as CEO of Pepsi Beverages North America. "It has been a privilege to lead Wendy's, an iconic brand, and I leave with a sense of gratitude for our employees and franchisees who make the company a truly special place," said Tanner in Wendys announcement. As the U.S. population ages, heart disease burden will risemaking accurate, inclusive risk tools vital for quality care. Trusted Source Performance of the American Heart Association's PREVENT Equations Among Disaggregated Racial and Ethnic Subgroups Go to source Trusted Source As #CVD and its risk factors grow, our ability to precisely estimate #CVDrisk across all U.S. communities becomes vital. This empowers us to better serve and protect #hearthealth in the decades ahead. #heartdisease Advertisement PREVENT Equations Accurately Predict CVD Risk in Diverse Populations Advertisement Study Examines CVD Risk in Diverse Northern California Population Over a mean follow-up of 8.1 years, there were 22,648 (6.3%) CVD events among study subjects. The predictive accuracy, as demonstrated through use of statistical measures such as the C-statistic and calibration slope, was high for the outcome of total CVD among the Asian and Hispanic populations. When examined among the subgroups studied, predictive accuracy for total CVD remained high. There were small differences in the performance of atherosclerotic CVD and heart failure PREVENT equations among racial and ethnic groups and subgroups. Addressing the Rising CVD Burden Performance of the American Heart Associations PREVENT Equations Among Disaggregated Racial and Ethnic Subgroups - (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2835783) Researchers examined how well the American Heart Associationsequations perform in assessing cardiovascular disease risk ().The study focused on the six largest Asian subgroups and two major Hispanic populationsMexican and Puerto Ricanto evaluate the model's accuracy across these diverse communities.Their findings contribute to improving personalized risk prediction for underrepresented populations.The findings, published inshowed the PREVENT equations accurately predicted CVD, atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) and heart failure events across broad, self-identified Asian and Hispanic patient populations.Theis likely to grow as the population gets older. Making sure risk tools work for all our patients is key to giving the best care possible.We led this study to uncover findings that may inform better cardiovascular healthcare for all. In the original validation, PREVENT equations demonstrated good discernment and calibration among racial and ethnic groups, but the model performance among Asian and Hispanic subgroups had not been previously described, said Xiaowei (Sherry) Yan, Ph.D., senior scientist at Sutter Healths Center for Health Systems Research and first author of the study. Our findings showed the PREVENT models performed well across multiple subgroups, with modest variation across individual Asian and Hispanic populations.Dr. Yan and colleagues conducted an electronic health record based retrospective cohort study of 361,778 primary care patients aged 30 to 79 years across Sutter Health a large integrated health system in Northern California caring for more than 3.5 million patients across urban, suburban and rural communities from January 2010 to September 2023. Patients who had at least two primary care visits during the study period were eligible for the study. Among patients who met the inclusion criteria, the mean age was 54.6 years; 53% were female; 22% were non-Hispanic Asian and 11% were Hispanic.Results showed the PREVENT equations appropriately predicted risk in contemporary diverse Asian and Hispanic subgroups with modest variation in performance across the subgroups studied.in the coming decades, so the ability to more accurately estimate CVD risk in all the communities we serve is more critical now than ever.Although best practices forwe believe they are an important step forward for communities that have been historically underrepresented in CVD research, said Powell Jose, M.D., FACC, Sutter Medical Group cardiologist and section chief of general cardiology for Sutters heart and vascular service line.Dr. Yan, Dr. Jose and colleagues shared study limitations: they were unable to fully examine all Asian and Hispanic subgroups. Moreover, comparisons of predictive utility of PREVENT and pooled cohort equations were limited by small sample sizes in the Mexican and Puerto Rican Hispanic subgroups.To better inform clinical application of the study findings, future work may focus on providing clinically sensible cutoffs based on PREVENT ASCVD risk to guide treatment decisions.Source-Eurekalert Survival rates after dementia diagnosis have improved in most studied regions, highlighting progress in prevention and care. Highlights: Dementia survival rates have improved over nearly two decades have improved over nearly two decades Shifts in healthcare management impact mortality risk among dementia patients impact mortality risk among dementia patients National dementia strategies are linked to lower death risk in most regions Trusted Source A multinational cohort study of trends in survival following dementia diagnosis Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? While dementia survival is improving worldwide, New Zealand saw rising death rates after diagnosis between 2014 and 2018-defying the global trend. #medindia #dementia #globalhealth #alzheimers While dementia survival is improving worldwide, New Zealand saw rising death rates after diagnosis between 2014 and 2018-defying the global trend. #medindia #dementia #globalhealth #alzheimers Advertisement Widespread Improvements in Dementia Care Advertisement Why Dementia Outcomes are Getting Better Exception Observed in New Zealand Role of National Strategies in Survival Trends A multinational cohort study of trends in survival following dementia diagnosis - (https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105006803836) People diagnosed with dementia today arecompared to earlier decades, signaling progress in dementia care and early intervention.Between 2000 and 2018, data from overrevealed aacross five of eight analyzed global regions ().The regions showing reduced death rates included, suggesting thatand dementia care are making a measurable difference. These five regions account for the majority, 84 percent of all individuals included in the data.Progress inare likely key factors in this shift. More targeted drug therapies and community-based care have also contributed to longer survival after diagnosis.Improved survival offers families more time to plan care and supports clinicians in managing dementia with greater accuracy. For health policy makers, this change allows for better forecasting of dementia-related healthcare demand and resource allocation.Contrastingly,diagnosis during the same period. Between 2014 and 2018, mortality risk steadily rose, unlike the trends in other regions.The rising death rates in New Zealand aligned with a. This transition may have delayed diagnosis, causing patients to reach hospitals at more advanced stages of dementia, which can increase short-term mortality risk.Countries such as Chave eitherfor dementia. These structured efforts appear to be connected to improved survival outcomes in those regions.Future analysis will focus on how additional medical conditions influence dementia survival. While this analysis used a unified approach across countries, it did not account for comorbidities, which could play a significant role in patient outcomes.In conclusion, increasing survival rates for people living with dementia demonstrate the positive impact of enhanced prevention, personalized treatment, and national health strategies. Continued research into the effects of other health conditions will further refine care and improve outcomes for this growing population.Source-Medindia Researchers identified key biomarkers that strongly predict patient outcomes and recurrence risk in melanoma cases. Trusted Source Characterization of age-associated gene expression changes in mouse sweat glands Go to source Trusted Source Incredible news for Stage III #melanoma! Combined #nivolumab + #relatlimab pre-surgery yielded 87% patient survival and 80% disease-free rates four years post-treatment. #CancerResearch #Immunotherapy Advertisement Pre-Surgical Melanoma Immunotherapy Advertisement Relatlimab: A New Horizon in Advanced Melanoma Treatment Predicting Melanoma Outcomes: TIGIT and B7-H3 as Key Biomarkers Characterization of age-associated gene expression changes in mouse sweat glands - (https://www.aging-us.com/article/205776/text) A study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has revealed encouraging long-term results for).Four years after receiving pre-surgical treatment with a novelThe findings highlight the potential of this dual immunotherapy approach to significantly improve outcomes in advanced melanoma Long-term follow-up data from this Phase II study, published in thedemonstrate this combination provides long-term benefits to patients when given before and after surgery, and identified unique biomarkers associated with better outcomes and lower chance of recurrence.Of the 30 patients enrolled on the study, 80% had no recurrence of their cancer after four years. For patients who had a significant response, called a major pathologic response, from treatment when evaluated at the time of surgery, even more remained recurrence free, at 95%.If immunotherapy eliminates most of the tumor before surgery, then we have sufficiently trained the immune system for an antitumor response, which minimizes the possibility of recurrence, said corresponding author Elizabeth Burton, Ph.D., executive director of MD Andersons Strategic Research Initiative Development (STRIDE) program.We are encouraged by these results showing the long-term benefit of this combination and approach for our patients and the opportunity it provides to learn as much as possible about what is driving this response to treatment.highlighting an opportunity for the addition of pre-surgical, or neoadjuvant, immunotherapy to shrink the tumor and prime the immune system to guard against future recurrences.Relatlimab is a LAG-3 inhibitor, an immune checkpoint inhibitor that was approved in 2022 in combination with nivolumab by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients with advanced melanoma based on the Phase II/III RELATIVITY-047 clinical trial, led by Hussein Tawbi, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Melanoma Medical Oncology.In this Phase II trial, led by Rodabe Amaria, M.D., professor of Melanoma Medical Oncology, researchers were first to evaluate this combination in the neoadjuvant setting for earlier stage disease. Initial findings reported this combination was safe and effective in that setting.Because of the strong association to outcomes with major pathologic response, researchers evaluated biomarkers to better understand the factors associated with treatment response.They found that patients who hadhad the best chance of remaining recurrence-free, highlighting the potential to use these markers to predict patient responses in the future.This study highlights the tremendous impact integrating excellent multi-disciplinary care with team science can have on improving patient outcomes while advancing science and innovation. The neoadjuvant treatment approach allows us to quickly evaluate the clinical impact of a treatment and serves as a springboard for biomarker research. Burton said.This is a good starting point for where researchers can look in terms of mechanisms of resistance that could be potential therapeutic targets in the future.Source-Eurekalert A new report from the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), supported by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), has raised alarm over persistent barriers slowing Europes electric vehicle (EV) transition, highlighting high production costs, supply chain fragility, and inadequate charging infrastructure as key concerns. The report, shaped by expert researchers and stakeholders, warns that the shift to EVs requires a significant transformation of existing supply and value chains, which will have deep repercussions on jobs, investment flows, and the EUs global competitiveness. Europe stands at a critical turning point, the authors argue, with consumer adoption still held back by insufficient charging infrastructure, high total cost of ownership, and limited consumer confidence, factors that are contributing to an ageing vehicle fleet across the continent. CEPS report EV costs, jobs, and value chain concerns The report paints a stark picture of the cost gap between supply and demand. CEPS analysts found that average battery-electric vehicle (BEV) prices would need to hover around 45,000 to sustain current manufacturer pricing structures, yet average consumer willingness to pay is only 20,000. That disconnect is compounded by the risk to European value-added content in vehicle manufacturing. Whereas internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) typically retain 8590% EU value-added content, this drops to just 7075% for BEVs due to shifts in production processes and globalised supply chains. This transition, the report notes, will also impact the types of labour and skills needed in the industry, raising further concerns over potential job losses in ICEV-related manufacturing, even as new EV jobs emerge. Retraining and upskilling are seen as essential. Battery and charging investment needs massive On the infrastructure front, the investment needs are striking. The EU will require an estimated 172 billion by 2030 to build out charging networksbut slow permitting and grid connection processes remain major bottlenecks. Similarly, battery production, where Europe remains heavily reliant on China, demands around 42 billion in annual investment to build a competitive domestic supply chain, the report adds. Without urgent action, CEPS warns, the EU risks falling behind in a global race for EV leadership. Establishing a sufficient supply chain and achieving manufacturing scale will be key, the report concludes. "Europe faces critical turning point in EV shift: report" was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand. This issue, we are giving away three copies of Warriors in Scarlet: the life and times of the last redcoats by Ian Knight. Warriors in Scarlet is a comprehensive and stirring history of Victorian soldiers between 1837 to 1860, from the Battle of Bossenden Wood to the Crimean War a period of seismic change for the army and the country. Drawing on first-hand accounts to show the reality of life for the British soldier in that era, Warriors in Scarlet won the MHM Book Awards 2025. This issue, three lucky winners will each receive a copy of the book, courtesy of Pan Macmillan. To find out more about the publisher, please visit their website. Loading This competition will close on 11 September 2025 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Russias foreign minister on Saturday warned the U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea as he visited his country's ally for talks on further solidifying their booming military and other cooperation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov flew to North Koreas eastern Wonsan city on Friday for a meeting with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui. Relations between Russia and North Korea have been flourishing in recent years, with North Korea supplying troops and ammunitions to support Russias war against Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance. That has raised concerns among South Korea, the U.S. and others that Russia might also transfer to North Korea sensitive technologies that can increase the danger of its nuclear and missile programs. After a meeting with Choe on Saturday, Lavrov accused the U.S., South Korea and Japan of what he called their military buildups around North Korea. We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia, he told reporters, according to Russias state Tass news agency. The U.S., South Korea and Japan have been expanding or restoring their trilateral military exercises in response to North Koreas advancing nuclear program. On Friday, the three countries held a joint air drill involving U.S. nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula, as their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities that threaten regional security. North Korea views major U.S.-led military drills as invasion rehearsals. It has long argued that its forced to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from U.S. military threats. Lavrov said Russia understands North Koreas decision to seek nuclear weapons. The technologies used by North Korea are the result of the work of its own scientists. We respect North Koreas aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing a nuclear development, Lavrov said. During their meeting, Choe reiterated that North Korea unconditionally supports Russias fight against Ukraine. She described ties between North Korea and Russia as the invincible alliance. Lavrov said he repeated Russias gratitude for the contribution that North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russias Kursk border region. Wonsan city, the meeting venue, is where North Korea recently opened a mammoth beach resort that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people. In his comments at the start of his meeting with Choe, Lavrov said that I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone is at the center of North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns push to boost tourism as a way to improve his countrys troubled economy. But prospects for the biggest tourist complex in North Korea arent clear, as the country appears unlikely to fully reopen its borders and embrace Western tourists anytime soon. ___ Associated Press writer Elise Morton in Athens, Greece contributed to this report. By Casey Hall SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Danish jewellery maker Pandora is exploring ways to restructure its business in China, said two people familiar with the matter, after years of plunging sales both online and off. The world's largest jeweller by volume of pieces sold is in discussion with China-based funds and e-commerce partners to potentially license its brand and all of its assets, including existing inventory, for five years, said one of the people. Pandora, like many consumer-facing multinational companies operating in the world's second-largest economy after the U.S., has been hit hard by post-pandemic consumer malaise, exacerbated by a property crisis that has rippled through the economy. It has also had to contend with competition from local, digital-savvy brands in a crowded e-commerce space as well as a shift in consumer preference to gold and high-value jewellery. Pandora, in a statement to Reuters, said it recognised the need to reposition its brand in China and was working on a turnaround, saying "it will take time". It did not address specific questions about possible restructuring in the country. "China is the biggest jewellery market in the world, and we remain fully committed to the business there," Pandora said. Pandora's China revenue tumbled nearly 80% to 416 million Danish crowns ($65.10 million) in 2024 from 1.97 billion crowns in 2019, with the country's revenue contribution slumping to around 1% from 11% over that period, exchange filings showed. The China business has had three chiefs since 2022. Current managing director Thomas Knudsen started in January, soon after which Pandora said it would close 50 China stores this year. Finding a stakeholder or licence partner could be "difficult" given the trends in performance and broader consumer headwind, said Jonathan Yan, a principal at consultancy Roland Berger in Shanghai. "I don't think financial investors are going to be interested in this asset," Yan said. E-commerce partner firms looking into higher-margin brand ownership "may be interested". A model for such a deal could be the sale of U.S. apparel retailer Gap's China business to Baozun, one of China's biggest e-commerce partner firms, for $40 million to $50 million in 2022. Reuters was not able to determine the value for the potential Pandora deal. Pandora's e-commerce business has seen sales slide more dramatically than at physical stores, said a person with knowledge of its China business, who was not authorised to speak to media on the matter so declined to be identified. MONITOR TWP, MI Sometimes a triple chocolate chip cookie doesnt pack the punch of chocolate it should with that name. But the triple chocolate chip cookies from The Bay City Baking Co. are so chock-full of chocolate that some customers even ask for less. A view of speciality cookies from The Bay City Baking Company, a cottage bakery operated by a mother-and-daughter team. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com The women behind those cookies, and several other baked goods, are Judy Kram and Jessica Dillingham, a mother-and-daughter duo. They have teamed up to create delicious baked goods out of their home kitchen for the tri-cities community. It all began when Kram noticed Dillingham rolling into a bit of a slump after she traded her full-time job to be a stay-at-home-mom to her four children. You dont get the accolades that you would normally get when youre out there working, Kram said. Im just a secretary at a church, but when they tell me I did a good job, I mean, Im euphoric. And you dont get that as a mother. With this in mind, Kram encouraged Dillingham by requesting an order of decorated cookies. A view of cookies from The Bay City Baking Company, a cottage bakery operated by a mother-and-daughter team. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com Dillingham is self-taught when it comes to decorating baked goods. But she said shes been interested in it since she was a child, thanks to the lessons from her aunt, Jane Grzegorczyk. Kram works at St. Catherine of Siena, formerly St. Vincent de Paul Church, and there was an employee retiring in 2021. So, Kram asked Dillingham to make about 200 cookies for the event. After that was a success, and with Kram agreeing to run the business with her, The Bay City Baking Co. was born and fulfillment came along with it, Dillingham said. A view of a branded apron for The Bay City Baking Company, a cottage bakery operated by a mother-and-daughter team. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com Kram and Dillingham make all kinds of baked goods. Some of the most popular are the cinnamon rolls, egg yolk sugar cookies, molasses cookies, triple chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, sourdough crackers and custom cakes and cookies. Their menu boasts over 60 cookie flavors, each recipe developed by the mother-daughter team. The custom orders took off right as they launched the business, Dillingham said, and the following grew organically. A view of baked goods from The Bay City Baking Company, a cottage bakery operated by a mother-and-daughter team. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com Its just blossomed into more than we ever expected, Dillingham said. Weve met so many other bakers and makers around the area. Its been so fantastic. Putting community over competition and quality over quantity have both been pillars in their business, Dillingham said. Dillingham consistently shares the information about other cottage bakers with customers when Kram and Dillingham get a request that another local baker specializes in. She also tries to share other businesses posts to The Bay City Baking Co. Facebook page. You dont just focus on you. Theres so much business to go around, Dillingham said. Were just trying to be community oriented. A view of the roadside stand for The Bay City Baking Company, a cottage bakery operated by a mother-and-daughter team. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com A new addition to their business includes a roadside stand, 2088 Reppuhn Drive, that offers a changing menu of items as a creative outlet for Dillingham. The custom orders take priority over the stand, but Dillingham said they try to open once weekly. There is a Ring camera in the stand and Dillingham is always home and available for questions when the stand is open, she added. For more information or to see when the roadside stand will be open, click here for The Bay City Baking Company Facebook page. To place a custom order, call 989-502-1021, email them directly by clicking here or send them a direct message on their Facebook page. The Bay City Baking Co. is considered a cottage bakery. In Michigan, select foods such as baked goods, can be prepared in a home kitchen and sold directly to customers. Learn more about cottage food requirements here. Would you like MLive to feature your favorite restaurant in Michigans Best Local Eats? Send the details, including business name, address and best menu item, to Kaytie Boomer at kboomer@mlive.com. ANN ARBOR, MI -- Hundreds gathered to celebrate Celtic culture on Saturday, July 12, at the annual Michigan Celtic Festival despite the on-and-off rain. The two-day festival that kicked off Friday takes place at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. The festival features various vendors selling Celtic-themed items, food vendors, a variety of live music and dance performances and art demonstrations. The most popular event at the festival was the corgi racing, giving pet owners the chance to let their corgis race in nine heats, culminating in a final race to determine the fastest dog at the festival. The festival will continue into Saturday evening, featuring more art demonstrations and a ring of steel fire show at dusk. Children age 5 and under, first responders and active military are admitted into the festival for free. Below are the various ticket prices on the website for others interested in attending: Mubasher Riaz admitted to a six-year scam where he and his brother sent empty boxes or counterfeit items while keeping and reselling electronics from hundreds of vendors. Canva stock image DETROIT, MI - Mubasher Riaz, of Ypsilanti, has pleaded guilty to fraud after engaging in an online refund scheme for almost six years. He and his brother, Muzzammil Riaz, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud earlier this year, according to a July 10 press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office, Eastern District of Michigan. The brothers purchased goods from hundreds of vendors, including cell phones, tablets, electronic doorbells, and clothing. After receiving the purchased goods, defendants submitted refund claims, falsely claiming the purchased goods were defective. Despite requesting a refund, the defendants did not return the purchased goods. Instead, they would ship back an empty box, a counterfeit item, or alternative item such as a book that matched the expected shipment weight of the return. Mubasher Riaz would then resell the unlawfully obtained goods for profit. The total loss incurred by online vendors was over $400,000. Both defendants admitted to purchasing online goods using fraudulent identities, virtual private networks, different electronic devices and other means intended to avoid fraud detection by online vendors. Muzzammil Riaz pled guilty to his lesser role in the scheme on June 4. The fraud scheme took place from July 2017 until November 2023, when Mubasher Riaz was arrested, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced Thursday. FBI agents were executing a search warrant at the home of Mubasher Riaz, who was, at the time, under investigation for sexual exploitation of children. Agents found evidence of fraud in plain view in the home, including over 40 cell phones and 30 tablets that were individually labeled with the personal identifying information of different identities used for the fraud scheme. Law enforcement officials believe many possible victims of the scheme still exist. Potential victims are encouraged to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at www.fbi.gov/mubasherriazvictims. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Zurek. Michigan's Best Local Eats: Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken and Wings packs the flavor, heat with Mega Sando MUNDY TWP, MI A new kind of heat has arrived in Genesee County, and its coming from the kitchen of Hangry Joes Hot Chicken & Wings. Located just outside of Flint at 2457 W. Hill Road in Mundy Township, one of the busiest stretches in the county, the fast-casual restaurant is serving up Nashville-style hot chicken and Korean-inspired wings with a menu that ranges from plain to Angry Hot. The business is owned by longtime friends John Panos and Jacob Haj, both of whom sold their previous businesseson the same day, by coincidencebefore teaming up to open the franchise. Its just the second location in Michigan. We were looking for something new, Panos said. The owners of Hangry Joes already had one in Livonia and we tried it. Me and Jacob were looking for something to do because he sold his gas station and I sold my restaurant. Panos is no stranger to the restaurant world. He previously owned Liberty Family Restaurant in Flushing and grew up in the industry, working alongside his father, Art Panos. At Hangry Joes, customers can expect great flavor, generous portions, and flexibility. Chicken can be ordered however spicyor not spicyyou like it. Some people just want plain chicken and we can do that for them, Panos said. One of the most popular menu items is the Mega Sando, a stacked fried chicken sandwich with cider slaw, pickles, and Hangry Sauce, all served on a toasted brioche bun. For those with a sweet tooth, the chicken and waffles, served on a funnel cake-style waffle with maple syrup and honey butter, is a fan favorite. The wings menu is equally stacked, offering both dry rubs and sauced options, including flavors like soy garlic, spicy smoke BBQ, wild zing, and honey BBQ. For the truly brave, theres the Angry Hot dry rubso intense it comes with a waiver, which the company jokingly refers to as the point of no return on its website. But while Hangry Joes may be part of a growing national franchise with locations across the U.S., as well as in Dubai and Korea, Panos said their store still operates with a local mindset. People see were a franchise, but were still very much mom and pop, he said. The restaurant is certified halal, which Panos said has helped them connect with a wider audience. Weve had a lot of support from the Muslim community as well, he said. We dropped off a flyer at a local mosque and 25 guys showed up to eat. The owners also plan to stay engaged with the local community, including area high schools and charities. Theyre currently looking to hire more staff and are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. With its location on Hill Road and a menu that caters to both spice seekers and sandwich lovers, Hangry Joes is already drawing attention. My goal is to open more locations in Genesee County, Panos said. Follow Hangry Joes on Facebook for more information. PORTAGE, MI A powerful moment of nostalgia struck Kalamazoo resident Bob Short while boarding an aircraft that defined his experience in the Vietnam War. The Air Zoo partnered with the Michigan Flight Museum to offer residents the rare opportunity to ride in a Vietnam-era UH-1H Huey helicopter on Saturday, July 12. The unmistakable thumping of the historic aircraft was felt as propellors whooshed above the Kalamazoo area Saturday. Public rides, which cost $125, will also occur from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 13. Visit the museums website for more information. Short, who will turn 76 in a few weeks, served as an infantryman for a year in Vietnam, arriving when he was just 19 years old in 1969. Instructors before the flight Saturday spoke about muggy, 113-degree conditions in Vietnam where soldiers were fueled by powdered eggs and instant coffee. Short remembers those days in the jungle. The talk of Hueys and their distinctive sound helped make an immediate connection to wartime experiences. During the briefing before the flight, I was a lot more emotional than I thought Id be thinking about the weather in Vietnam and specific memories, Short said. I saw this advertised, and I couldnt pass up one more opportunity. A public ride in a Vietnam-era UH-1H Huey helicopter takes off from Air Zoo Flight Discovery Center and soars above Portage on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.c He described the sensation of riding in the aircraft as the feeling of freedom. For soldiers serving in harsh conditions, the breeze provided by helicopter transport was welcome relief. It was like we could breathe again, Short said. Passengers Saturday did not experience dangling their legs 400 feet in the air or being held in place only by centripetal force like Short described. Still, the experience was a joyful one free of danger. Kalamazoo area resident Patti Bowen took her five grandchildren on the first flight Saturday morning. Mason Faulk, 9, sat next to Bowen. He showed a healthy amount of nervousness boarding the aircraft. He said once the helicopter was off the ground, his fears went away. That was fun, said Faulk, beaming with excitement. A public ride in a Vietnam-era UH-1H Huey helicopter takes off from Air Zoo Flight Discovery Center and soars above Portage on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.c The UH-1N, also more popular known as Huey, is a light-lift utility helicopter built to support various military missions, according to the United States Air Force website. It entered the Air Force inventory in 1970 to provide search and rescue capabilities. When configured for passengers, it can seat more than a dozen people. The helicopter that flew Saturday, known by its tail number 66-01126 and call sign Greyhound, has a distinguished service record. A public ride in a Vietnam-era UH-1H Huey helicopter takes off from Air Zoo Flight Discovery Center and soars above Portage on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.c Built in 1967, it was quickly deployed to Vietnam where it served until 1971 with the 240th Assault Helicopter Company. During its combat tour, the Huey flew missions supporting troops and evacuating wounded personnel. The 240th AHC operated with three specialized divisions: Mad Dogs (gunships), Greyhounds (transport) and Kennel Keepers (maintenance). The unit, which received official support from the Greyhound Bus Company, became known for its camaraderie, courage and creative spirit. RELATED: Book tells story of shot-down Vietnam War helicopter turned into memorial by Kalamazoo-born artist After returning to the United States, the helicopter continued serving in various Army and National Guard units before eventually being retired and privately owned. Northwest Helicopters, which specialize in UH-1 aircraft restoration, later revitalized the aircraft by repainting it in authentic 240th AHC livery, preserving its historical significance. The Michigan Flight Museum acquired the helicopter in 2019, and it has been part of their Air Adventures program since 2020. The Air Zoos Flight Innovation Center and Flight Discovery Center are located near the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. JACKSON COUNTY, MI Sam Durocher wants to make the best, but to him, pizza is more than just a slice of pie filling stomachs. Durochers mission with Tiki Sams Pizza is bringing people together, which he accomplishes through fresh ingredients and lots of love. You either love your job, or you hate your job, Durocher said. You get these people that are basically grinding away but for a brief moment, they can stop by my truck, listen to some good music and sit with their friends out in the park. Durocher bakes the pizzas inside a wood-fired pizza oven on the truck. It can cook up to six pizzas at a temperature of about 750 degrees. He imported the 3,000-pound oven from Italy and assembled it in his garage with his son. His wife Julie, an art teacher at Northwest Early Elementary School, designed a Mosaic around it. The food truck serves a variety of options, but The Honey Love pizza is a menu staple. It is served with pepperoni and mozzarella cheese and Mikes Hot Honey drizzled on top, he said. Durocher said he introduced the pizza at the first Art, Beer & Wine festival Tiki Sams attended, and he brought the Hot Honey trend to Jackson. It really is a good combo, Durocher said. The Dilly Pie is another a popular choice, especially for those who dont like tomato sauce, he said. Its made with garlic butter, cheese and dill pickles. Its just a different pizza, Durocher said. Tiki Sams has expanded into a second truck, coined the Slice Wagon. The truck serves individual pizza slices and offers root beer on tap. Durocher gets behind charitable causes too. Tiki Sams is a supporting food truck for Slice Out Hunger. Recently, the food truck raised over $1,000 with Cherry Creek Cellars for food insecurity and has made pizza for the Jackson Interfaith Shelter over the last five years, he said. I think that we in America overlook the whole idea that people are scared about where their next meal is coming from. So I really get behind that organization, Durocher said. Tiki Sams provides catering for graduation parties, weddings and parties, and people can spot the food truck at events, like Food Truck Tuesdays in downtown Jackson and the Jackson Hot Air Jubilee from July 18 to 20. Hours vary for Tiki Sams Pizza. More information can be found on its Facebook page or by emailing hello@tikisamspizza.com. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page. BAY CITY, MI The ordinary decisions we make on a day-to-day basis may seem inconsequential at times. But its during those mundane activities that our minds can wander, building imagination and curiosityand sometimes, sparking a new path for us to change the world. Thats what happened to Brian Martindale with the simple act of stopping in a local store after he ran out of gum in 2013. He was down to his last stick, so he took a walk. He ended up at the Liberty Food Store, a nondescript corner shop on Third Street and Madison Avenue near downtown Bay City. It was there that he placed his hands on a copy of The Bay City Times and looked down to see a photo of a little girl in a princess dress. The article on the front page that day told a story of desperation: a mother standing on a street corner with a homemade sign, pleading for a kidney for her daughter. Within months, he had donated his kidney to Jessica Schwerin, the 10-year-old princess in the photo. He had never met her. But she would become like a daughter to him and his wife. How does he explain his actions that, to many, might seem brash? Martindale has many answers, but it all boils down to one thing: gum. If I wouldnt have had the chewing gum thing, if I wouldnt have run out of that last stick, I would have just went home that night, Martindale, now 63, said. I would have never saw the story. Thousands of childrenperhaps tens of thousandsneeded kidneys, hed learn. And so, in 2022, Martindale launched a national organ donation initiative called Driving for Life. He got into a donated car and began circling the country, logging over 7,000 miles in his first year. The next year, it was 10,000. In 2025, they eclipsed 25,000 miles traveled. His mission was simple: 100 kidneys for 100 kids. Weve literally circled the earth to find kidney donors for children over the last four years, he said. Watch the video above to hear more from Martindale about his mission. For more information about kidney donation, visit kidneysforkids.org. The Las Vegas Aces will host the Golden State Valkyries today at 4 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action on CBS with streaming available through FuboTV, DirecTV and Paramount + with a premium subscription. Streaming Options Streaming Options Price/Month Free Trial Deal FuboTV $84.99 Yes $20 off the first month DirecTV $89.99 Yes $30 off the first month Paramount + Premium $12.99 N/A $12 off for the first two months New Paramount + subscribers can get the first two months of the streaming service for just 99 cents per month for a limited time. The Aces are coming off a 70-68 loss to the Washington Mystics on Friday. Reigning WNBA MVP Aja Wilson did not play due to a sprained wrist she suffered in the teams loss to the New York Liberty on Tuesday. There is currently no timetable for her return. The Valkyries defeated the Indiana Fever, 80-61 on Wednesday, improving their record to 10-9. Veronica Burton led the team with 21 points in the win and Kayla Thornton was right behind her with 18. The two teams last met on June 7, a matchup in which the Valkyries secured a 95-68 victory. WNBA Las Vegas Aces vs. Golden State Valkyries When: Saturday, July 12 Where: Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, NV Time: 4 p.m. ET Channel: CBS On Saturday at 10:13 a.m. EDT the National Weather Service reported an air quality alert in effect until Monday at noon EDT for Midland, Bay, Huron, Saginaw, Tuscola, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, Lenawee and Monroe counties. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has issued an Air Quality Alert for elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) Sunday until noon Monday. Pollutants across the state are expected to reach the Very Unhealthy (Purple) to Unhealthy (Red AQI) range in northern locations, with ranges of Unhealthy to USG (Orange AQI) further south. The Air Quality Alert Sunday into Monday is statewide. Wildfire smoke from Canada will push into Michigan from Saturday to Monday. Increased fine particulate levels will reach the western portion of the Upper Peninsula on Saturday afternoon. The smoke will push east and south, expanding across the rest of the state as Sunday progresses. Highest concentrations will be seen in northern areas with periods of Very Unhealthy to Unhealthy possible. Central locations could see readings ranging from Unhealthy to USG, and southern locations can expect levels of fine particulate in the Moderate to USG range. It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma. Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat, and eyes. Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as: - outdoor burning - use of residential wood burning devices Tips for households: - Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher rated filters. For up-to-date air quality data for Michigan visit the MiAir site:, says the weather service. We should prepare for a potentially stormy Saturday with a high risk of severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across multiple regions of the state. Graphic by the National Weather Service Saturday is set to be the stormy day of our weekend ahead, with the highest threat of storm activity coming in the afternoon and early evening hours. Damaging winds, and even the chance for a tornado, are part of the storm risk. The National Weather Service offices across the state have a detailed forecast for Saturday. You can see the highlights here: Michigan residents should prepare for a potentially stormy Saturday with a high risk of severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across multiple regions of the state. The National Weather Service has issued alerts for widespread storm activity, with the greatest threat occurring between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday. Storms are expected to develop ahead of a cold front, with the most significant severe weather potential along and east of I-69. The primary threats include gusty to damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and potential localized flooding. The Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Michigan will see similar storm conditions, with the Marquette National Weather Service noting isolated showers potentially developing in the western Upper Peninsula during the late afternoon and evening. The storms are expected to be accompanied by lightning and the possibility of torrential downpours. By Sunday, the cold front will move through the state, bringing a brief reprieve from the heat and humidity. Temperatures will drop slightly. The early part of next week should see drier conditions with temperatures remaining warm, potentially climbing back into the upper 80s to low 90s by Tuesday and Wednesday. Long-term forecasts suggest another potential storm system could arrive by mid-next week, with another cold front potentially bringing additional shower and thunderstorm chances on Wednesday. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on data from the National Weather Service. It was reviewed, edited and expanded by MLive staff. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd drink onboard by- xabi_kls via Shutterstock Valued at $9.8 billion by market cap, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) is the worlds third-largest cruise operator, managing a portfolio of three brandsNorwegian Cruise Line (mainstream), Oceania Cruises (premium), and Regent Seven Seas Cruises (luxury). Headquartered in Miami, the company operates a fleet of 34 ships sailing to over 700 destinations globally, with plans to add 13 more vessels by 2036. The leading cruise operator is expected to announce its fiscal second-quarter earnings for 2025 on Wednesday, July 30. Ahead of the event, analysts expect NCLH to report a profit of $0.45 per share on a diluted basis, up 18.4% from $0.38 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company has beaten the consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters, while missing on another occasion. More News from Barchart For the current year, analysts expect NCLH to report EPS of $1.77, up 7.9% from $1.64 in fiscal 2024. Its EPS is expected to rise 18.1% year over year to $2.09 in fiscal 2026. www.barchart.com Norwegian Cruise shares have outpaced the broader market with a 23.5% surge over the past year, outperforming both the S&P 500s ($SPX) 8.2% gains and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Funds (XLY) 15.6% gains over the same period. www.barchart.com On June 26, NCHL shares popped 2.3% after announcing that it had successfully increased the size of its senior secured revolving credit facility from $1.7 billion to $2.49 billion, while keeping the original terms and 2030 maturity unchanged. CFO Mark A. Kempa stated the move boosts the companys liquidity and reflects lenders confidence in its strategy and performance. Analysts consensus opinion on NCLH stock is fairly upbeat, with a Moderate Buy rating overall. Out of 22 analysts covering the stock, 15 advise a Strong Buy rating, and seven give a Hold. NCLHs average analyst price target is $24.59, indicating an ambitious potential upside of 6.2% from the current levels. On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more. Archisha Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Hamsini Karthik Number crunching, drawing interesting inferences (sometimes contrarian), and penning them in an impactful manner, best describes what I do. As a BFSI specialist, I enjoy telling stories about whats working and what not for lenders, breaking down regulatory jargon and how they affect customers and financiers, and simplifying the economics of money. When not glued to banks, the world of autos and airlines keeps me busy. Manish M. Suvarna is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He writes on the Indian money markets, RBI, Banks and NBFCs. He tweets at @manishsuvarna15. Contact: Manish.Suvarna@nw18.com Manish M. Suvarna USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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I Accept China, ASEAN to submit upgraded free trade deal to leaders in October, says China's foreign minister 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Deblina Halder USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept By Roberto Samora SAO PAULO (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to impose 50% tariffs on all products from Brazil starting August 1, which could have a sharp impact on South America's agricultural powerhouse. The U.S. is the second biggest destination for Brazil's exports behind China. Oil is Brazil's main export to the U.S., but the country is also an important market for Brazilian manufactured goods such as aircraft and machinery. COFFEE The U.S. has traditionally been the main destination for coffee from Brazil, the world's largest exporter. The U.S. accounts for 16.7% of all the coffee Brazil exports. Four trade sources told Reuters that U.S. coffee roasters would not be able to pay 50% more for the beans, while Brazilian exporters could not cut prices at the necessary level, which could lead roasters to source their beans elsewhere, while Brazil would likely divert cargos to Europe and Asia. BEEF The U.S. is the second largest market for Brazilian beef. Brazilian meatpacker Minerva said the tariffs would cut its net revenue by as much as 5% annually. Other major meatpackers, such as JBS and Marfrig, have a large part of their operations in the U.S., which would likely insulate them from a large impact. The tariffs could raise beef prices in the U.S. that are already at record highs. ORANGE JUICE Trump's new tariff could severely impact Brazils orange juice industry, the worlds largest producer, industry group CitrusBR warned on Friday. In the 2024/25 harvest, which ended on June 30, the U.S. accounted for 41.7% of Brazilian orange juice exports, making it a key market for the sector. CitrusBR said the tariff would be "unsustainable," as profit margins in the industry are too narrow to absorb the additional costs. Other importers would not be able to offset the decline in shipments to the U.S., the group added. OIL Exports to the United States accounted for approximately 13% of Brazil's total oil exports last year, government data compiled by commodities consultancy StoneX showed. The loss for Brazil from the tariff would be relatively "modest," according to BTG Pactual analysts, since the sector has greater commercial flexibility and logistical capacity to redirect shipments to other markets. The U.S. is also not expected to feel the pinch deeply, as Brazil supplied less than 3% of what the U.S. has consumed so far in 2025, according to StoneX. AIRCRAFT Brazil's Embraer, the world's third-largest aircraft manufacturer with a huge market in the U.S. for its executive planes and regional jetliners, would be one of the companies most affected by the tariffs. Aviation experts question AI-171 crash probe, say no pilot would fiddle with switches during takeoff Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept How Israeli X Guard decoy system will enhance Rafale jets as India pushes for early delivery Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Poll shows rising interest in Chinese culture, signaling wider resonance of Oriental values Xinhua) 14:20, July 12, 2025 BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A survey released on Friday shows that the majority of international respondents view exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations as essential to promoting peace, development and modernization in today's increasingly interconnected world. The survey, released at a sub-form during the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting in Beijing, gathered responses from over 12,300 individuals across six continents, including Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, North America and Oceania. It also explores the growing global appeal of the Chinese culture, both traditional and popular, indicating that the cultural values embedded in the 5,000-year-old history of an Oriental country are resonating with a wider international community. CHINESE CULTURAL APPEAL RISES The poll highlights a rising international interest in Chinese culture. About 81.6 percent of respondents believe that China's cultural influence and soft power are on the rise globally. Additionally, over 75 percent recognize the contribution of Chinese civilization to world civilizations. A considerable number of respondents expressed strong interest in the integration of traditional and modern Chinese culture. Specifically, 73.6 percent showed curiosity about the combination of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, while 72.8 percent said they paid close attention to both traditional and modern Chinese architecture. Notably, respondents acknowledged innovation as a defining feature of Chinese culture, fueled by its growing integration with cutting-edge science and technology. One prominent example is the cultural phenomenon of the Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2," which was also highlighted by several participants at Friday's sub-forum. As one of the top five highest-grossing films of all time globally, the film has captivated international audiences with its compelling storytelling and stunning visual effects. An English-language version is set to hit theaters across the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in IMAX and 3D next month. China has always been an innovator, from its old inventions like paper to movies and arts in modern times, Miguel Alejandro Diaz Cossio, general manager of a media group from Bolivia, told Xinhua. Innovation doesn't mean abandoning tradition, said Wong Foon Meng, former president of the Senate of Malaysia, in his keynote speech. He added that traditional batik patterns in his homeland are being revitalized through digital platforms, while China's centuries-old ink-wash art is experiencing a revival through immersive digital exhibitions -- both serving as vivid examples of cultural innovation. GLOBAL CIVILIZATION INITIATIVE GAINS GLOBAL ACCLAIM The survey also noted that the Global Civilization Initiative has received widespread recognition around the world, with over 90 percent of respondents expressing support for respecting the diversity of civilizations, a core value advocated by the initiative. The vision, which was put forward by China in 2023 and upholds the core principle of seeking common ground while reserving differences, is deeply rooted in China's fine traditional culture and resonates with cultural values shared by many other nations. Megawati Soekarnoputri, general chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and former president of Indonesia, lauded the foresighted initiative for its contributions to helping "create a more just, inclusive and harmonious world," when addressing the opening ceremony of the two-day meeting. The initiative also promotes common human values, emphasizes cultural inheritance and innovation, and encourages increased international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. On the common values of humanity, about 90.2 percent of the respondents believe that no country can overcome global challenges alone and that joint efforts from all nations are vital. Support for cultural preservation and innovation is also strong. A total of 88.5 percent say both are equally important, while 89.4 percent call for stronger international exchanges to enhance mutual understanding. The survey was jointly conducted by the China Media Group and Renmin University of China. It collected responses from individuals aged 18 to 65. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Kou Jie) By Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Reserve on Thursday proposed tweaks to how it evaluates large banks by making it easier for them to be considered "well managed," removing a hurdle for potential acquisitions and other restrictions. The proposal would adjust the U.S. central bank's supervisory framework for large banks, where supervisors grade banks on four separate criteria. Specifically, the proposed changes would make it easier for banks to obtain a "well managed" rating overall, by requiring deficiencies across multiple categories instead of just one, as is currently required. The move could be a boon for larger banks eyeing potential deals, as one consequence of not being highly rated is a bar on acquisitions. "That should open the door to more regional bank M&A as about two-thirds of bigger banks could not do deals because of how the holding company rating was calculated," said Jaret Seiberg, an analyst with TD Cowen. Under the current system, 23 of 36 bank holding companies with over $100 billion in assets are not considered well managed. Eight holding companies would see their rating increase under the proposal. Under the current system for large banks, established in 2018, firms are graded across three categories: capital, liquidity and governance and controls. In each category, banks can receive four grades: broadly meets expectations, conditionally meets expectations, deficient-1 and deficient-2. Currently, if a bank receives a "deficient-1" rating in any category, it cannot be considered "well managed" and is subjected to restrictions, including on acquisitions. Under the proposal, banks would need such a rating across multiple categories, or a single deficient-2 rating, to lose "well managed" status. Banks have complained for years that the current supervisory system is overly critical and subjective, particularly in how supervisors grade governance and controls. They have pressed regulators to make it more transparent and predictable, and to highlight the overall financial strength shown in bank capital and liquidity. Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman noted in a statement that two-thirds of the large banks supervised by the Fed are deemed not well managed under the current system, despite having robust capital and liquidity levels. She argued the proposed changes would better align supervision with "core, material financial risks." "By addressing this mismatch between ratings and overall firm condition, the proposal adopts a pragmatic approach to determining whether a firm is well managed," she said. Chhabi Kala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Cereal isle by Franki Chamaki via Unsplash WK Kellogg (KLG) shares soared more than 30% on Thursday after the Italian chocolate maker Ferrero agreed to buy the company behind Froot Loops and Special K for $3.1 billion. The agreement that values KLG shares at $23 each expands Ferreros reach in the U.S. market and diversifies its offerings to include breakfast staples. More News from Barchart Including todays surge, Kellogg stock is up more than 50% versus its year-to-date low. www.barchart.com Is the Ferrero Deal Positive for KLG Stock? Ferreros buyout deal delivers immediate value to KLG investors effectively reversing a year of sluggish performance. The transaction places WK Kelloggs iconic cereal brands under the wing of a global powerhouse with deep experience in brand revitalization and distribution. Ferreros track record of turning around acquired assets, combined with its scale and marketing muscle, offers Kelloggs legacy brands a fresh runway for growth. KLG stock is rallying today also because as a private subsidiary of the Italian confectionary, WK Kellogg will have greater resources and operational flexibility to compete more effectively in a shifting consumer landscape. In short, its not just a payout for the cereal maker its actually a vote of confidence in its long-term relevance. Should You Buy Kellogg Shares Today? While Ferrero deal is nothing but positive for WK Kellogg, its too late to invest in KLG shares now as theyve already rallied more than 30% to near the deal price of $23. Since the agreement signed with Ferrero is for an all-cash transaction that will take Kellogg private, theres hardly any upside left in KLG stock for new investors. Kellogg shares have already priced in the premium, and barring an unexpected bidding war or a regulatory hiccup, the stock is not particularly likely to climb further. Simply put, the market has already reacted to the Ferrero news. Buying KLG now would mean chasing gains that have already materialized, with little to no room for additional return. Note that Ferrero expects the aforementioned transaction to close by the end of 2025, provided the regulatory and shareholder approvals are secured by then. Stay cautious against those who try to divide Hindus and Sikhs: Adityanath in Lucknow 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Who were the two pilots who flew the Air India jet that crashed in Ahmedabad Chhabi Kala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Amitabh Sinha is Executive Editor, News18 India. He has over 25 years of experience in print and TV journalism. Deblina Halder USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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I Accept An airplane-sized, 130-foot asteroid is approaching Earth today at a speed of 16,048 miles per hour Sheetal Kumari USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept (Reuters) -Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Thursday launched an investigation into Robinhood (HOOD) Crypto, alleging that the platform may have misled customers by promoting itself as the least expensive way to buy cryptocurrencies. The AG's office said in a statement that it issued a subpoena to the unit of Robinhood Markets to obtain internal documents as part of the probe into possible violations of Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. "When consumers buy and sell crypto assets, they deserve transparency in their transactions," Uthmeier said. "Robinhood has long claimed to be the best bargain, but we believe those representations were deceptive," he added. The platform lets users buy and sell stocks and cryptocurrencies without charging direct commissions. Instead, the company makes money by routing client orders to third-party firms, which pay Robinhood under a practice known as payment for order flow (PFOF), the AG's statement said. Robinhood Markets General Counsel Lucas Moskowitz said the company discloses "pricing information to customers during the lifecycle of a trade that clearly outlines the spread or the fees associated with the transaction and the revenue Robinhood receives. We are proud to be a place where customers can trade crypto at the lowest cost on average." Robinhood Crypto has until July 31 to respond to the subpoena. (Reporting by Prakhar Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) Vivo T4R 5G expected to launch in India soon, to be powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7400 SoC Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aabhas Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. 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I Accept Iran says its considering US offer to restart nuclear talks 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Robinsons hard-earned success may be an outlier, but its also a blueprint anyone can follow: finding a way to save small amounts while spending can also help boost your retirement portfolio. But instead of chasing the next promotion, he chose financial freedom. Old habits die hard: As he progressed in the tech industry, Robinson banked huge sums at one point socking away nearly 90% of his income. Then, in 2024, at just 39 years of age, he retired with $3.5 million in savings and investments. He now produces music and DJs in his spare time. He's also writing a book and producing a podcast. After high school, Robinson hustled through college, earning a computer engineering degree at Tennessee Tech on a full-ride scholarship while working at the same time. Over time, with an MBA, nine certifications, and expertise in generative AI, he eventually reached an income of $1.1 million per year. Robinsons journey from minimum-wage worker to multimillionaire retiree is an extraordinary anecdote of the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early). Advocates of this approach make a ruthless commitment to saving and investing so that they can retire as young as possible. I didnt see a lot of people that were happy with work, Robinson told CNBC. In my mind, I always thought that it made the most sense to compress that amount of time in my life. So at 17, I set the goal to retire early at 45, which I wound up hitting six years earlier than expected. You dont have to be a millionaire to gain access to this $1B private real estate fund . In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 heres how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Today, at 40, hes an American expat living among the glittering skyscrapers of Dubai. He has a $3.5 million nest egg and is pulling in $185,000 a year using the 4% retirement income rule. His secret? Relentless saving, aggressive investing, and a laser focus on financial freedom. Jamal Robinson didnt come from money. He started at the bottom, working as a church janitor at 14 before landing a minimum-wage job at Taco Bell, working long shifts while also going to school. Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Story Continues While saving a few cents might not seem like much, thanks to the powers of compounding, you could save a sizable amount over time. For instance, investing just $3 each day can result in over $1,000 in a year and thats investment earnings. If you want to diversify your portfolio further and invest in individual stocks, jargon-free expert advice from Moby might be beneficial. Run by a team of former hedge fund analysts, Mobys stock picks have outperformed the benchmark S&P 500 index by an average of 11.95% per year in the last four years. Plus, more than 75 stock recommendations from Moby have generated returns of over 100%. Sign up today and become a wiser investor within minutes. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Jamal Robinson proved that directing extra income into investments can shave decades off your working years. The more you save now, the faster your money can work for you. Another crucial tip followed by most financial gurus is to not keep all your eggs in one basket. Especially in a volatile market, allocating a portion of your portfolio to tried-and-true assets that have withstood the test of time could help you secure your financial future. Gold has historically been one of the most popular safe-haven assets. Amid rising market volatility due to both recession concerns and escalating geopolitical tensions, gold prices hit a record high of $3,000 on March 13. The US stock market, on the other hand, has entered correction territory, losing $5 trillion in value in the last three weeks. So, adding gold to your portfolio can not only keep you safe but also add value. One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals. Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties. To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases. Real estate investments could also be a lucrative way to diversify your portfolio, and new investing platforms are making it easier than ever to tap into tthis market. For accredited investors, Homeshares gives access to the $36 trillion U.S. home equity market, which has historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors. With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property. With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets. Another option is a platform like Arrived that lets you buy stakes in rental properties, earn dividends, and skip the responsibilities of property management. Backed by world class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arriveds easy-to-use platform offers SEC-qualified investments such as rental homes and vacation rentals for as little as $100. Their flexible investment options allow both accredited and non-accredited investors to benefit from this inflation-hedging asset class with ease. You start by browsing vetted properties, then you simply select a property and choose the number of shares to buy. Alternative assets like art could also be valuable additions to your portfolio. Art has historically been negatively correlated with stocks meaning they go up in value during a market downturn. For decades, blue chip art was only accessible to the ultra-wealthy. In 2024, elite investors allocated as much as 25% of their total portfolios to art collections. But Masterworks is changing that. You can invest in fractional shares of works from artists like Banksy, Picasso, and Basquiat. From their 23 exits so far, Masterworks investors have realized representative annualized net returns like +17.6%, +17.8%, and +21.5% among assets held longer than a year. Get priority access and start investing in fine art within minutes. See important Regulation A disclosures at Masterworks.com/cd What to read next Money doesnt have to be complicated sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. Join now. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. The EU is planning new taxes on big business, e-waste, and importsheres what it means Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept We recently published Jim Cramer Discusses These 12 Stocks & Says Trumps Winning. GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) has been one of the top-performing stocks in 2025 as its shares have gained 55% year-to-date. It is also one of Cramers top stocks as the CNBC host has maintained that the firm is among the few nuclear power equipment providers that have a clear idea of the future. Cramers previous comments about GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) have speculated that the stock could close the year higher than its level at Junes close. He maintained this sentiment during this appearance: Very positive piece about GE Vernova. let me use that, and thats the company that makes gas turbines. . .But when you look at that company you say all right I missed that one clearly. And no its not too late. GE Vernova Inc. (GEV): It's Not Too Late To Say I Missed Out On It, Says Jim Cramer Cramers earlier comments about GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) discussed the stocks potential for the remainder of the year. Here is what he said: But what do we do with the very different set of winners for the first half? I want you to consider the GE Vernovas and the Howmets and the Palantirs, the stocks that are likely to finish the year dramatically higher from these exalted levels. What do you do with the stocks that have been on a run nonstop for 26 weeks, though? I think you send them on one of those two-week vacations like that Southeast Asia, Cape Town, maybe New Zealand. You pay no attention to them. Let them have a good time. Just take them off your screen, come back to them when the rotations run its course. While we acknowledge the potential of GEV as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. UKs oldest WWII veteran, Donald Rose, dies at 110 View Photo LONDON (AP) Britains oldest World War II veteran, Donald Rose, has died at the age of 110. Rose participated in the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, and was part of the division that liberated the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany. In a statement Friday, the leader of the Erewash Borough Council in the north of England, James Dawson, announced Roses death, calling him a war hero. Erewash was privileged to count him as a resident, he added. In May, Rose joined 45 other veterans as guests of honor at a tea party celebration hosted by the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum, to mark 80 years since Victory in Europe Day. Rose, who was born on Christmas Eve in 1914 following the outbreak of hostilities in World War I, said at the event that he did not celebrate VE Day at the time. When I heard that the armistice had been signed 80 years ago, I was in Germany at Belsen and, like most active soldiers, I didnt get to celebrate at that time, he said. We just did what we thought was right and it was a relief when it was over. Originally from the village of Westcott, southwest of London, Rose joined the army aged 23 and served in North Africa, Italy and France, according to the Royal British Legion. He received a number of medals and was awarded Frances highest honor, the Legion dHonneur. Rose is also believed to have been the U.K.s oldest man. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) A Muslim inmate who won a U.S. Supreme Court case upholding his right to grow a beard for religious reasons said in a lawsuit that Arkansas officials transferred him to a federal prison in West Virginia in retaliation for several other lawsuits he has filed. The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas filed the lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Gregory Holt, also known as Abdul Maalik Muhammad, claiming the transfer violated his constitutional rights. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Holt could maintain a half-inch beard because Arkansas prison officials could not substantiate claims that the beard posed a security risk. The lawsuit filed Thursday argues his transfer was an effort to disrupt his advocacy on behalf of himself and other inmates. Mr. Muhammads history of meritorious litigation showcases the ability of the legal system to provide justice to all, including prisoners, the lawsuit said. The Court should not tolerate the (states) retaliatory transfer aimed at suppressing Mr. Muhammads meritorious litigation and legal work. A spokesperson for the Department of Corrections declined to comment on the lawsuit. Jeff LeMaster, a spokesperson for Attorney General Tim Griffin, said Griffins office was reviewing the lawsuit and would vigorously defend the state. Holt has six active lawsuits against the Arkansas Department of Corrections, according to the complaint. The lawsuit accuses the head of the division of correction of unilaterally pursuing Holts transfer to a federal facility after the idea was raised in a mediation session in one of his lawsuits. Since being moved to the West Virginia facility, the ACLU said, Holt has been denied access to basic hygiene, religious services and contact with his lawyers. The lawsuit said he also has lost access to ongoing casework and legal documents that support his cases. The lawsuit said that since Holt is still a state inmate, Arkansas has the power to order his return to a state facility. This ordeal has made Mr. Muhammad loathe to ever trust the mediation process or participate in a mediation with the ADC ( or any other government actor) again, the lawsuit said. In his U.S. Supreme Court case, Holt claimed that he has a right to grow a beard under a federal law aimed at protecting prisoners religious rights. He had the support of then-President Barack Obamas administration, religious groups and atheists alike. Holt is serving a life sentence for a brutal assault on his girlfriend and was being held at a maximum-security prison 26 miles (43 kilometers) southeast of Little Rock. His case first came to the Supreme Courts attention when he filed a handwritten plea to the court asking it to block enforcement of Arkansas no-beard rule. By ANDREW DeMILLO The Associated Press Trumps sudden shifts make his policies baffling to countries trying to negotiate lower tariffs View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) In the past week, President Donald Trump has managed to make his erratic trade policies even more baffling to countries desperate to negotiate an escape from his wrath. Doubling down on his trade wars, Trump is threatening to raise taxes on many goods from Canada, hike his universal tariff on imports from around the world and punish Brazil for prosecuting his friend, the countrys former president. On Saturday, Trump announced more tariffs still, this time on two of the United States biggest trade partners: the European Union and Mexico, at 30% each. Former U.S. trade negotiator Wendy Cutler said that Trumps recent moves underscore the growing unpredictability, incoherence and assertiveness of his trade policies. Its hard for trading partners to know where they stand with Trump on any given day and what more may be coming their way when least expected, said Cutler, now vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute. On Thursday, the president escalated a conflict he started with Americas second-biggest trading partner and longstanding ally, raising the tariff effectively a tax on many Canadian imports to 35% effective Aug. 1. The sudden announcement, revealed in a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, came despite Carneys push to reach a trade deal with the United States by July 21. And it followed a big concession by Canada: On June 29, it had agreed to drop a digital services tax that Trump considered unfair to U.S. tech giants. Canada is far from the only target. In an interview Thursday with NBC News Trump suggested that he plans to raise his baseline tariff on most imports from an already-high 10% to as much as 20%. Trump sees the baseline tariffs as a way to finance the budget-busting tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill he signed into law July 4. Those tariff threats came after his extraordinary decision Wednesday to impose a 50% import tax on Brazil mainly because he didnt like the way it was treating former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing trial for trying to overturn his electoral defeat in 2022. In his letter to current Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Trump also incorrectly claimed that Brazilian trade barriers had caused unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States. In fact, U.S. exports to Brazil have exceeded imports for 18 straight years, including a $29 billion surplus last year. For some, Trumps action against Brazil indicates hes trying to exert influence over more than trade. Trump seems to view tariffs as an instrument to influence not just other countries trade and economic policies but even their domestic legal and political matters, said Eswar Prasad, professor of trade policy at Cornell University. Trumps faith in the economic superpowers of tariffs is unshaken even though they so far have proven largely ineffective in bullying other countries to cut deals. On April 2, Trump announced the 10% baseline tariffs and larger reciprocal tariffs up to 50% on dozens of countries with which the United States runs trade deficits. But responding to a rout in global financial markets, he quickly suspended the reciprocal tariffs for 90 days to give countries a chance to negotiate. The administration promised 90 deals in 90 days but got only two with the United Kingdom and Vietnam before the deadline ran out Wednesday. Rather than reinstituting the reciprocal tariffs, Trump sent letters to 23 countries saying hell impose levies ranging from 20% on the Philippines to the 50% on Brazil Aug. 1 if they couldnt reach an agreement. Chad Bown, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, was not surprised that Trump needed more time to press U.S. trading partners to do more to open their markets to U.S. exports though another three weeks is unlikely to be enough time to reach substantive agreements. For each of these countries, they have their own domestic challenges about what they can and cant offer, he said. Theres a reason why that market access hasnt been granted before they have domestic political constituencies that argue to keep protection in place. And those just arent problems that can easily be solved in a matter of weeks. Malaysia, for instance, has specific red lines it will not cross, Trade Minister Zafrul Aziz said Wednesday, including U.S. demands involving government contracts, halal certification, medical standards and a digital tax. But Malaysia has pledged to buy 30 Boeing planes and offered other concessions involving semiconductors and technology. It has to be fair, he said. If the deal does not benefit Malaysia, we should not have a deal. Still, the United States $30 trillion economy and free-spending consumers give Trump considerable leverage, especially over countries that depend on trade. These countries need the United States, said Matthew Goodman, director of the Council on Foreign Relations Center for Geoeconomic Studies. They need our market. Thailand, facing the threat of a 36% Trump tariff Aug. 1, is continuing to push for a deal and has offered to open its market to more U.S. farm, energy and industrial products. Trump said Vietnam gave U.S. companies duty-free access to its market while agreeing to a 20% U.S. tariff on its exports though details of the deal have not been released. The Vietnam deal was fantastic, Stephen Miran, chair of Trumps Council of Economic Advisers, crowed last Sunday on ABC News This Week with George Stephanopoulos. Its extremely one-sided. Other countries cant afford to walk away, said Goodman, former director for international economics on the National Security Council. But theyre going to be increasingly unhappy and resistant to the most over-the-top requests. Sometimes theres a backlash against U.S. bullying. Carneys Liberal party, for example, won a come-from-behind election victory in April because he stood up to Trumps pressure. And countries are beginning to look for alternatives to economic reliance on the United States. Canada is negotiating a trade pact with Southeast Asian countries, some of which are also moving closer to China. Foreign governments might also simply hope to outlast Trump, who has shown a willingness to declare victory after signing framework agreements such as one with China that leave the toughest issues for future negotiations. For Trump, the squeeze is more important than the juice, said William Reinsch, a former U.S. trade official now at the Center of Strategic and International Studies. Whats important to him is winning the public, visible appearance of winning. And what he wins is less important. So the trick for these countries becomes: How do we let him win in a way that allows us to make the least damaging concessions? ____ Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, contributed to this story. By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer Trump says hes considering taking away Rosie ODonnells US citizenship View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump says he is considering taking away the U.S. citizenship of a longtime rival, actress and comedian Rosie ODonnell, despite a decades-old Supreme Court ruling that expressly prohibits such an action by the government. Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship, Trump wrote in a social media post on Saturday. He added that ODonnell, who moved to Ireland in January, should stay in Ireland if they want her. The two have criticized each other publicly for years, an often bitter back-and-forth that predates Trumps involvement in politics. In recent days, ODonnell on social media denounced Trump and recent moves by his administration, including the signing of a massive GOP-backed tax breaks and spending cuts plan. Its just the latest threat by Trump to revoke the citizenship of people with whom he has publicly disagreed, most recently his former adviser and one-time ally, Elon Musk. But ODonnells situation is notably different from Musk, who was born in South Africa. ODonnell was born in the United States and has a constitutional right to U.S. citizenship. The U.S. State Department notes on its website that U.S. citizens by birth or naturalization may relinquish U.S. nationality by taking certain steps but only if the act is performed voluntary and with the intention of relinquishing U.S. citizenship. Amanda Frost, a law professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, noted the Supreme Court ruled in a 1967 case that the Fourteen Amendment of the Constitution prevents the government from taking away citizenship. The president has no authority to take away the citizenship of a native-born U.S. citizen, Frost said in an email Saturday. In short, we are nation founded on the principle that the people choose the government; the government cannot choose the people. ODonnell moved to Ireland after Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris to win his second term. She has said shes in the process of obtaining Irish citizenship based on family lineage. Responding to Trump Saturday, ODonnell wrote on social media that she had upset the president and add me to the list of people who oppose him at every turn. Associated Press Humana Inc_ logo on building-by BalkansCat via iStock Valued at a market cap of $28 billion, Humana Inc. (HUM) is a leading U.S. health care plan provider offering medical and specialty insurance products. Operating through its Insurance and CenterWell segments, the company delivers a wide range of services including Medicare, Medicaid, pharmacy benefits, home health, and senior-focused care. The Louisville, Kentucky-based company is slated to announce its fiscal Q2 2025 earnings results before the market opens on Wednesday, Jul. 30. Ahead of the event, analysts forecast Humana to report an adjusted EPS of $6.32, down 9.2% from $6.96 in the year-ago quarter. However, it has surpassed Wall Street's bottom-line estimates in the past four quarterly reports. More News from Barchart For fiscal 2025, analysts project the health insurer to report adjusted EPS of $16.38, up 1.1% from $16.21 in fiscal 2024. www.barchart.com Shares of Humana have decreased 38.8% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming both the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 11.5% rise and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLV) 6.8% decline over the same period. www.barchart.com Despite reporting weaker-than-expected Q1 2025 revenue of $32.1 billion, Humana's shares rose 1.1% on Apr. 30 due to its strong adjusted EPS of $11.58, which beat estimates and surged 60.2% year-over-year. Investors were also encouraged by a 190 bps improvement in the benefit ratio to 87% and a 74.8% jump in Insurance segment operating income, reflecting strong Medicare Advantage pricing and growth in PDP and state-based contract businesses. Additionally, robust CenterWell performance, with a 5.7% revenue increase and 34.6% rise in operating income, further supported positive investor sentiment. Analysts' consensus rating on Humana stock is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Among 22 analysts covering the stock, six recommend a "Strong Buy, two have a "Moderate Buy," and 14 give a "Hold" rating. As of writing, the stock is trading below the average analyst price target of $289.05. On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com DOGE sprouts in red states, as governors embrace the cost-cutter brand and make it their own DOGE sprouts in red states, as governors embrace the cost-cutter brand and make it their own View Photo HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) The brash and chaotic first days of President Donald Trump s Department of Government Efficiency, once led by the worlds richest man Elon Musk, spawned state-level DOGE mimicry as Republican governors and lawmakers aim to show they are in step with their partys leader. Governors have always made political hay out of slashing waste or taming bureaucracy, but DOGE has, in some ways, raised the stakes for them to show that they are zealously committed to cutting costs. Many drive home the point that they have always been focused on cutting government, even if theyre not conducting mass layoffs. I like to say we were doing DOGE before DOGE was a thing, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in announcing her own task force in January. Critics agree that some of these initiatives are nothing new and suggest they are wasteful, essentially duplicating built-in processes that are normally the domain of legislative committees or independent state auditors. At the same time, some governors are using their DOGE vehicles to take aim at GOP targets of the moment, such as welfare programs or diversity, equity and inclusion programs. And some governors who might be eyeing a White House run in 2028 are rebranding their cost-cutting initiatives as DOGE, perhaps eager to claim the mantle of the most DOGE of them all. No chainsaws in the states At least 26 states have initiated DOGE-style efforts of varying kinds, according to the Economic Policy Institute based in Washington, D.C. Most DOGE efforts were carried out through a governors order including by governors in Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, New Hampshire and Oklahoma or by lawmakers introducing legislation or creating a legislative committee. The state initiatives have a markedly different character than Trumps slash-and-burn approach, symbolized by Musks chainsaw-brandishing appearance at a Conservative Political Action Committee appearance in February. Governors are tending to entrust their DOGE bureaus to loyalists, rather than independent auditors, and are often employing what could be yearslong processes to consolidate procurement, modernize information technology systems, introduce AI tools, repeal regulations or reduce car fleets, office leases or worker headcounts through attrition. Steve Slivinski, a senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute who researches state government regulatory structures, said that a lot of what he has seen from state-level DOGE initiatives are the same stuff you do on a pretty regular basis anyway in state governments. States typically have routine auditing procedures and the ways states have of saving money are relatively unsexy, Slivinski said. And while the state-level DOGE vehicles might be useful over time in finding marginal improvements, branding it DOGE is more of a press op rather than anything new or substantially different than what they usually do, Slivinski said. Analysts at the pro-labor Economic Policy Institute say that governors and lawmakers, primarily in the South and Midwest, are using DOGE to breathe new life into long-term agendas to consolidate power away from state agencies and civil servants, dismantle public services and benefit insiders and privatization advocates. Its not actually about cutting costs because of some fiscal responsibility, EPI analyst Nina Mast said. Governors promoting spending cuts Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry rebranded his Fiscal Responsibility Program as Louisiana DOGE, and promoted it as the first to team up with the federal government to scrub illegitimate enrollees from welfare programs. It has already netted $70 million in savings in the Medicaid program in an unprecedented coordination, Landry said in June. In Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt who says in a blurb on the Oklahoma DOGE website that Ive been DOGE-ing in Oklahoma since before it was cool made a DOGE splash with the first report by his Division of Government Efficiency by declaring that the state would refuse some $157 million in federal public health grants. The biggest chunk of that was $132 million intended to support epidemiology and laboratory capacity to control infectious disease outbreaks. The Stitt administration said that funding about one-third of the total over an eight-year period exceeded the amount needed. The left-leaning Oklahoma Policy Institute questioned the wisdom of that, pointing to rising numbers of measles and whooping cough cases and the rocky transition under Stitt of the states public health lab from Oklahoma City to Stillwater. Oklahoma Democrats issued rebukes, citing Oklahomas lousy public health rankings. This isnt leadership, state Sen. Carri Hicks said. Its negligence. Stitts Oklahoma DOGE has otherwise recommended changes in federal law to save money, opened up the suggestion box to state employees and members of the general public and posted a spreadsheet online with cost savings initiatives in his administration. Those include things as mundane as agencies going paperless, refinancing bonds, buying automated lawn mowers for the Capitol grounds or eliminating a fax machine line in the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order in February creating a task force of DOGE teams in each state agency. In the order, DeSantis recited 10 points on what he described as his and Floridas history of prudent fiscal management even before DOGE. Among other things, DeSantis vowed to scrutinize spending by state universities and municipal and county governments including on DEI initiatives at a time when DeSantis is pushing to abolish the property taxes that predominantly fund local governments. His administration has since issued letters to universities and governments requesting reams of information and received a blessing from lawmakers, who passed legislation authorizing the inquiry and imposing fines for entities that dont respond. After the June 30 signing ceremony, DeSantis declared on social media: We now have full authority to DOGE local governments. In Arkansas, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders launched her cost-cutting Arkansas Forward last year, before DOGE, and later said the state had done the same thing as DOGE. Her administration spent much of 2024 compiling a 97-page report that listed hundreds of ways to possibly save $300 million inside a $6.5 billion budget. Achieving that savings largely by standardizing information technology and purchasing would sometimes require up-front spending and take years to realize savings. ___ Follow Marc Levy on X at: https://x.com/timelywriter By MARC LEVY Associated Press Charges dropped against Utah doctor accused of throwing away $28,000 in COVID vaccine doses Charges dropped against Utah doctor accused of throwing away $28,000 in COVID vaccine doses View Photo The federal government on Saturday dismissed charges against a Utah plastic surgeon accused of throwing away COVID-19 vaccines, giving children saline shots instead of the vaccine and selling faked vaccination cards. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on the social media platform X that charges against Dr. Michael Kirk Moore, of Midvale, Utah, were dismissed at her direction. Moore and other defendants faced up to 35 years in prison after being charged with conspiracy to defraud the government; conspiracy to convert, sell, convey and dispose of government property; and aiding and abetting in those efforts. The charges were brought when Joe Biden was president. Dr. Moore gave his patients a choice when the federal government refused to do so, Bondi wrote. He did not deserve the years in prison he was facing. It ends today. Felice John Viti, acting U.S. attorney for Utah, filed the motion Saturday, saying such dismissal is in the interests of justice. The trial began Monday in Salt Lake City with jury selection. It was expected to last 15 days. Messages sent to the U.S. Department of Justice, Vitis office in Salt Lake City and to Moore were not immediately returned Saturday to The Associated Press. A federal grand jury on Jan. 11, 2023, returned an indictment against Moore, his Plastic Surgery Institute of Utah Inc., others associated with the clinic and a neighbor of Moores. The indictment alleged more than $28,000 of government-provided COVID-19 vaccine doses were destroyed. They were also accused of providing fraudulently completed vaccination record cards for over 1,900 doses of the vaccine in exchange for either a cash or a donation to a specified charitable organization. The government also alleged some children were given saline shots, at their parents request, so the minors believed they were getting the vaccine. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., a leading anti-vaccine activist before becoming the nations top health official, posted his support for Moore in April, saying on X that Moore deserves a medal for his courage and his commitment to healing! During his confirmation hearings in January, Kennedy repeatedly refused to acknowledge scientific consensus that childhood vaccines dont cause autism and that COVID-19 vaccines saved millions of lives. In a follow-up X post on Saturday, Bondi said Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene brought the case to her attention. ___ Thiessen reported from Anchorage, Alaska. By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press Russian drone, cruise missile and bomb attacks kill at least 6 in Ukraine Russian drone, cruise missile and bomb attacks kill at least 6 in Ukraine View Photo Russia pounded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles overnight and Saturday as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that killed at least six people and wounded dozens, officials said. Two people died and 26 were wounded when Russian forces overnight attacked the Bukovina area in the Chernivtsi region of southwestern Ukraine with four drones and a missile, regional Gov. Ruslan Zaparaniuk said Saturday. He said that the two died from falling drone debris. Another drone attack in Ukraines western Lviv region wounded 12 people, regional Gov. Maksym Kozytskyi said. Polands air force scrambled fighter jets in areas bordering Ukraine in response to the overnight attacks, which targeted again a region that is a crucial hub for receiving foreign military aid. Three people alsos were wounded in Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine when the city was hit by eight drones and two missiles, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. Russia fired 597 drones and decoys, along with 26 cruise missiles, into Ukraine overnight into Saturday, Ukraines air force said. Of these, 319 drones and 25 cruise missiles were shot down and 258 decoy drones were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. Two people were killed Saturday morning in a missile strike in the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to regional Gov. Serhii Lysak. Two other people were killed Saturday in the Sumy region by a Russian guided bomb, local officials said. Russia has been stepping up its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities. Earlier this week, Russia fired more than 700 attack and decoy drones, topping previous nightly barrages and targeting Lutsk near the border with Poland in western Ukraine. Russias intensifying long-range attacks have coincided with a concerted effort to break through parts of the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where Ukrainian troops are under severe pressure. Russias Defense Ministry said it shot down 33 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday. One person was wounded Saturday in a Ukrainian drone strike on Russias Belgorod region and another in the Kursk region, both of which border Ukraine, local officials said. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine By The Associated Press Yves here. Its sad to say that genocide fatigue has set in as outrage across the world has not moved the one actor that could stop the Israels slaughter, the US. Photos of starving children provoked a recent spike of condemnation, but that made no difference. The US and Israel keep piling on with their sense of extreme entitlement as they add to their horrowshow rap sheet, from sanctioning the UNs special rapporteur Francesca Albanese to planning to formalize the status of Gaza as a concentration camp, which Israel is calling, in an insult to intelligence, humanitarian city. Gee, like summer camp but with no food, medicine, or clean water? If youd been paying attention, Gaza pre October 7 was regularly described as an open air concentration camp. The post by Medea Benjamin below explains that this new concentration camp is presented as a waypost to intended expulsion of the Palestinians, which is ethnic cleansing and verboten under international law, not that Israel and the US are bound by such niceties. However, as readers know well, Israel and the US been trying to get other nations to accept Palestinians who are forcibly removed. There are no takers. So well see how herding Palestinians into an overcrowded area furthers the genocide plan, since the excuse of mere ethnic cleansing seems to remain beyond Israels reach. Perhaps cholera will speed the deaths? Yesterday, Conor linked to a story from +972 Magazine on Israels use of drones to herd Palestinians in Gaza. It seems likely these methods will be used on a bigger scale in implementing the new concentration camp scheme. From Like a video game: Israel enforcing Gaza evacuations with grenade-firing drones: The Israeli military has weaponized a fleet of Chinese-manufactured commercial drones to attack Palestinians in parts of Gaza that it seeks to depopulate, an investigation by +972 Magazine and Local Call can reveal. According to interviews with seven soldiers and officers who served in the Strip, these drones are operated manually by troops on the ground, and are frequently used to bomb Palestinian civilians including children in an effort to force them to leave their homes or prevent them from returning to evacuated areas. Soldiers most commonly use EVO drones, produced by the Chinese company Autel, which are primarily intended for photography and cost around NIS 10,000 (approximately $3,000) on Amazon. However, with a military-issued attachment known internally as an iron ball, a hand grenade can be affixed to the drone and dropped with the push of a button to detonate on the ground. Today, the majority of Israeli military companies in Gaza use these drones. S., an Israeli soldier who served in the Rafah area this year, coordinated drone attacks in a neighborhood of the city that the army had ordered to be evacuated. During the nearly 100 days that his battalion operated there, soldiers conducted dozens of drone strikes, according to daily reports from his battalion commander that +972 and Local Call reviewed. It was clear that they were trying to return to their homes theres no question, he explained. None of them were armed, and nothing was ever found near their bodies. We never fired warning shots. Not at any point. Now to the main event. B yMedea Benjamin, co-founder of Global Exchange and CODEPINK: Women for Peace. She is the co-author, with Nicolas J.S. Davies, of War in Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict, available from OR Books in November 2022. Other books include, Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2018); Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection (2016); Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control (2013); Dont Be Afraid Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks from the Heart (1989), and (with Jodie Evans) Stop the Next War Now (2005). Originally published at CodePink The Israeli government has just put forward one of the most brazenly genocidal schemes in modern memoryand unless we act immediately, the world will once again let it happen. As reported in Haaretz, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz is proposing to force some 600,000 Palestiniansand eventually the entire population of Gazainto a fenced-in humanitarian city to be built on the ruins of Rafah in southern Gaza. The plan is to screen the population, separate out alleged Hamas members, and then pressure the remaining civiliansmen, women, and childrento voluntarily leave Gaza for another country. Which country? That hasnt even been determined. The point isnt relocationits erasure. This reflects a long-standing goal among many Israelis, especially on the right, to take full control of Gaza and clear it of Palestinians. The UN has warned that the deportation or forcible transfer of an occupied territorys civilian population is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law and tantamount to ethnic cleansing. While all eyes are focused on a possible ceasefire, Katz is not interested in peacehes interested in a final solution. A speeding up of the second Nakba we have been witnessing for the past 20 months. In fact, he has stated that construction would begin during a 60-day ceasefire. So whats the point of a ceasefire, if its used to build a concentration camp? Once Palestinians are herded into this camp, they will not be allowed to leave for other parts of Gaza. They wont be allowed to return to whats left of their homes, their neighborhoods, their farms, their schools. They will be trapped inside this militarized zone, under constant surveillance, held at gunpoint until Israel can arrange their deportation. Just think of the tragic, unbearable irony: the Israeli governmentfounded in the aftermath of the Holocaustis now building a massive concentration camp for an entire population. If that sounds unthinkable, look at what Israel has already gotten away with. For the past 20 months, the world has watchedand largely enableda genocidal campaign in Gaza. Over 55,000 Palestinians have been slaughtered, the majority of them women and children. Israel has bombed hospitals, schools, refugee camps, and mosques. It has flattened entire neighborhoods with AI-generated kill lists. It has assassinated journalists, targeted ambulances, destroyed bakeries and water systems. It has used hunger as a weapon of war, deliberately blocking aid trucks, attacking convoys, and starving the population into desperation. And in a cruel twist, it has created the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundationa scheme to funnel aid through Israeli-controlled routes and sideline the UN and experienced NGOs. Its so-called distribution points are really death traps, where desperate people have been shot day after day as they risk their lives to get a bit of food. This engineered starvation is not an accident. It is a strategya form of collective punishment on a scale rarely seen in modern times. We have already failed the people of Gazaagain and again. We failed when we looked the other way as children were buried in rubble. We failed when we allowed our tax dollars to fund the very bombs that wiped out refugee camps. We failed when we kept pretending there was still a line Israel wouldnt cross. Now Katz is telling usexplicitlywhat comes next: mass internment and forced expulsion. And unless we rise up with every ounce of outrage we have, we will fail again. Lets be absolutely clear: the infrastructure for this plan is already being built. Netanyahu and Trump are lobbyingcorrupt governments in the Global South to accept the deported. This is not a negotiating tactic to strengthen Israels position in ceasefire talksit is the next phase of a genocide weve been watching in real time for nearly two years. And what is the U.S. government doing? Still issuing meaningless statements about Israels right to defend itself. Still shipping weapons. Still blocking accountability at the United Nationsand even sanctioning officials like UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for daring to speak out. President Trump could stop this todayby cutting off military aid, backing the International Criminal Courts investigations, and declaring that forced displacement of Palestinians will not be tolerated. But instead, hes still dreaming of turning Gaza into a Middle Eastern resort for the ultra-rich. Meanwhile, more Arab governments stand ready to normalize ties with Israel, making deals with war criminals while their fellow Arabs are starved, bombed, and now threatened with mass exile. Where is the outcry from Cairo, Riyadh, Amman? Is there absolutely no red line? One bright spot on the international scene is the Hague group, which will convene an emergency meeting in Colombia on July 1516. This growing bloc of nations has joined South Africas genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. These countries are taking a courageous stand to uphold international law and defend Palestinian life. Every nation that claims to value justice must join themimmediately. And here in the United States, every member of Congress must be pushedloudly, relentlesslyto take a public stand. No more vague language. No more hiding behind mealy-mouthed scripts. We demand immediate, public opposition to this humanitarian city planand a full cutoff of military support to Israel. This is a moment of moral reckoning. Choose a side. Dont fool yourself into thinking this cant happen. It is happening. The groundwork is being laid. The walls are going up. The deportation flights are being negotiated. There is no neutral ground. This is not a policy debate. This is genocideon camera, with diplomatic cover, and with our tax dollars. The time to stop Israels dystopian plan is not tomorrow. It is now. Rise up. Speak out. Flood the streets. Bombard Congress. Demand accountability. Stop the plan. Save Gaza. Before its too late. 2025 Trump jobs report shows historic labor shift: Native-born gains hit 2 million as foreign-born employment plummets U.S.-born workers gained 2.056 million jobs since January 2025; foreign-born employment dropped 543,000. Trump administration attributes gains to immigration enforcement and economic policies favoring native workers. June 2025 data marks fourth consecutive month of job growth exceeding forecasts. Sector growth concentrated in healthcare, education and government; private sector sectors lagged. Critics warn of labor shortages in construction and agriculture as foreign-born workers exit workforce. The U.S. Department of Labors June Employment Situation Report revealed a seismic shift in the labor market under President Donald Trumps administration: Native-born workers have earned 2.056 million jobs since January 2025, while foreign-born employment fell by 543,000. The Household Survey data, highlighting a stark demographic divergence, has become a focal point of the Trump White Houses narrative of prioritizing American workers amid tightening immigration policies. In June alone, native-born Americans added 830,000 jobs, pushing their total labor-force participation to a record high of 132.65 million. By contrast, foreign-born workerswhich include both legal and unauthorized immigrantsreported a 348,000 drop in June and a 543,000-year-to-date decline. The turnaround contrasts sharply with 2024, when foreign-born employment rose 1.025 million under the Biden administration, nearly matching native-born gains of 1.099 million. This economy is booming again, declared White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on July 9. American-born workers have accounted for ALL of the job gains since President Trump took office, and wage growth continues climbing. These numbers prove our policies are working. The report solidified a trend Trumps team has emphasized since reclaiming the White House: dismantling policies perceived as disadvantaging U.S. workers. White House communications have repeatedly framed the data as proof of fulfilling promises to prioritize native-born labor force participation, long a cornerstone of Trumps political identity. Policy-driven transformation: Immigration crackdown sparks economic shift The administration attributes the reversal to aggressive implementation of its America First agenda. The Trump era has seen dramatically increased workplace immigration enforcement, including raids targeting employers of unauthorized workers and stricter eligibility checks. White House officials argue this has incentivized businesses to hire native-born Americans, who now dominate job growth. The report coincided with record-monthly deportations: 188,000 unauthorized immigrants removed in June, a 55% increase over Januarys totals. Employers across industries face heightened penalties for non-compliance, with companies like Amazon and Tyson Foods recently restricting hiring of non-citizen applicants. However, critics contend the crackdown exacerbates labor shortages in sectors reliant on foreign-born workers, including agriculture and construction. A Bloomberg analysis warns 5% of the workforceover 5 million workerscould exit labor markets in key industries, putting pressure on food production and infrastructure projects. The administrations singular focus on restricting immigration is creating new risks to economic stability, particularly in sectors that cant function without immigrant labor, said labor economist Dr. Maria Espinosa. This isnt just a demographic shiftits a redefinition of who participates in the U.S. economy. Balancing gains and challenges: Sector shifts and economic uncertainties While White House rhetoric centers on the 2.056 million native-born job gains, the report also highlights uneven sector growth and lingering weaknesses. Total nonfarm payrolls rose 147,000 in June, led by the nearly 200,000-worker surge in healthcare and educational servicesa trend attributed to federal spending mandates for clinics and public schools. Yet the expansion was uneven. Private sectors outside healthcare faltered, with manufacturing and technology firms announcing 18,000 layoffs in June. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate dipped to 3.9%, near historic lows, but broader Labor Department metrics show rising hardship for foreign-born workers: about 820,000 filed for unemployment claims since January, many citing workplace crackdowns as cause. Soutbay Research analysts warned of fragility: Junes strong headline numbers depend largely on volatile sectors, including government jobs and public education. A harsh winter season or federal funding lull could unravel progress. Public sector dominance has also drawn scrutiny, with critics questioning the sustainability of government-linked employment in a 13th consecutive month of economic expansion. The road ahead: Legislative hopes and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act early test The Biden-era Paycheck Protection Programs expiration and a contentious debate over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act loom large over Trumps economic agenda. The proposed law would formalize policies to restrict foreign labor and expand vocational training for Americans, a pillar of the administrations jobs strategy. Once Congress passes the One Big Beautiful Bill, these numbers will explode, Leavitt declared, predicting a 30% acceleration in job creation by 2026. The act faces fierce opposition, notably from Republican moderates wary of labor shortages stifling economic growth. As the 2026 elections approach, the reports triumphs and tensions reflect deeper ideological divisions. For the Trump team, the 200,000-plus monthly native-born gains since January 2025 vindicate the central campaign pledges of an economy built for Americans first. Yet as sectors like agriculture reel, the debate over whether that approach serves all Americans continues apace. A prosperous future Junes jobs data highlights a historic shift toward prioritizing American workers, directly reflecting policies championed by the Trump administration to reclaim control over our workforce. These measures, which prioritize domestic labor over outsourcing and restrictive trade deals, signal a vital step toward reversing decades of wage stagnation and job displacement caused by flawed immigration practices and globalist agreements. As Congress advances the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the labor markets evolution underscores the imperative to prioritize U.S. sovereignty and fairness for working families. By curbing reliance on foreign worker visas, securing borders and renegotiating trade terms that favor American industries, policymakers have laid the groundwork for a economy that rewards hardworking Americansensuring long-term prosperity rests on a foundation of domestic strength, equitable wages and a clear focus on who matters most: the people of this nation. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com FoxBusiness.com FastBull.com Biden-era EPA staff schemed to cement DEI mandates days before Trumps inauguration, internal emails show EPA staff collaborated with consulting firm Gartner to insulate DEI programs amid Trumps victory. Over 1,200 DEI roles filled under Biden, costing $160M annually, as Biden allocated 700M to build agency DEI offices. Trump administration axed $1B in DEI grants and closed offices linked to diversity initiatives. Internal emails emphasized DEI as a mindset, revealing deep ideological integration in federal agencies. Executive actions by Trump aim to replace equity mandates with merit-based policies under the Civil Rights Act. As Donald Trump prepared to assume the presidency in January 2025 after a decisive election victory, internal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) documents reveal that Biden-era staff and consultants covertly sought to preserve and expand Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) programs. Newly obtained records from the Functional Government Initiative (FGI) expose a pattern of meetings between EPA bureaucrats and the consulting giant Gartner in the critical weeks after Trumps November 2024 election, as federal employees scrambled to embed DEI agendas into agency policies. According to emails and briefing materials obtained by FGI, EPA staff, including the now-shuttered Office of Inclusive Excellence, worked with Gartner to draft DEI-centric strategies, personnel plans and compensation reforms. The agencys actions, described as an exercise in futility by FGIs director Roderick Law, highlight tensions between post-Biden bureaucrats and President Trumps agenda to eliminate divisive ideologies from federal operations. The revelations come amid a broader debate over federal overreach and accountability, with critics alleging that unelected regulators are violating voter mandates by resisting policy shifts. President Trumps victory should have ended DEIs grip on federal agencies, Law told the Daily Caller News Foundation. Instead, these bureaucrats weaponized agency resources to entrench their radical worldview. Strategy sessions and secretive planning The 2024 election results did little to deter Biden-era EPA workers from advancing DEI. Internal emails show EPAs Tyvonia Ward, then director of the Office of Inclusive Excellence, corresponded with Gartners Bob Leavitt in December 2024 weeks after Trumps win. Ward shared prewritten DEI goals, including pay equity reforms, and strategized to proactively lead through the transition with a focus on people. One EPA staff members recurring email sign-off DEIA is not a task, its a mindset underscores the internal culture of prioritizing DEI as a primary mandate. The agencys efforts, however, were short-lived. Newly appointed EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin promptly dissolved the Office of Inclusive Excellence, terminated over $1 billion in DEI grants and canceled DEI-focused offices, fulfilling Trumps vow to combat radical DEI preferencing. Whats most remarkable is that EPA staff pushed DEI hardlines even after a clear electoral repudiation of Bidens agenda, said an EPA spokesperson. They clung to their ideological crusade long after their time had passed. DEIs deepening roots in federal agencies The Biden administrations $700 million investment in centralized DEI offices within executive departments laid the groundwork for clashes over agency autonomy. While Biden framed DEI as a means to achieve justice, critics argue such initiatives erode merit-based principles. The White Houses January 2025 Executive Order, targeting DEI in federal hiring and contracting, directly responded to concerns about divisive policies. It revoked affirmative action mandates, banned federal contractors from balancing workforces based on non-merit factors, and emphasized the Civil Rights Acts colorblind directive. Trump called DEI a gateway to authoritarianism, accusing corporations and institutions of promoting prejudicial hostility through diversity training and quotas. Federal employees like Ward, however, resisted these efforts. Their post-election maneuvers, according to FGIs documents, aimed to embed DEI into agency structures permanentlya strategy FGI condemned as ideological colonization of public institutions. The clash over government power and policy legitimacy The EPAs DEI saga reflects a deeper constitutional conflict: How much power should unelected bureaucrats wield to influence policy? Critics warn that agencies like the EPA now function as partisan hubs, defying voter will to advance agendas removed from their core missions. This isnt just about DEI its about accountability, argued Law. When career employees engage in power plays after an election, they undermine trust in democratic governance. Meanwhile, the $160 million annual DEI payroll established by Biden underlines the scale of federal commitment to such programs. Over 1,200 DEI roles many created by Bidens Day One executive ordersare now vulnerable to cuts, part of Trumps clean sweep to dismantle leftist institutional frameworks. Redrawing the boundaries of federal power As the Trump administration accelerates rollbacks of DEI programs, the EPAs last-minute efforts underscore the stakes of the federal bureaucracys role in policymaking. Whether through open defiance or covert planning, unelected employees increasingly treat agency roles as tickets to advance ideological causesa trend many argue demands structural reforms. For now, the EPAs transition appears resolved. Yet the broader battle over who dictates federal policy elected leaders or entrenched careerists show no signs of abating. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com DailyCallerNewsFoundation.org WhiteHouse.gov Court orders release of records in relation to Freedom Convoy participants FROZEN bank accounts A Canadian court ruled that the RCMP and TD Bank must release records related to the freezing of Freedom Convoy protester Evan Blackman's bank accounts despite his never being convicted of a crime. Blackman's case challenges the federal government's 2022 use of the Emergencies Act invoked by then-PM Justin Trudeau which allowed asset freezes, arrests and other extraordinary measures to suppress the Ottawa protests. A 2024 Federal Court later deemed Trudeau's invocation unjustified. Blackman was arrested in 2022 and charged with mischief and obstruction, but the charges were dismissed in 2023 due to lack of evidence. Prosecutors appealed, and a retrial is set for August 2024, while he pursues records for a constitutional challenge under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Supported by the JCCF, Blackman's team argues the account freeze violated his rights and sets a dangerous precedent for dissent. This case is the first in Canada to combine a criminal trial with a Charter challenge over emergency financial sanctions. The outcome could reveal coordination between authorities and banks, influencing future challenges to emergency powers. The case highlights global debates about balancing state security with individual freedoms during crises. A Canadian court has ruled that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and TD Bank must disclose records related to the freezing of a Freedom Convoy protester's bank accounts. The Ontario Court of Justice issued the order on behalf of Evan Blackman, whose accounts were frozen despite never being convicted of a crime. Blackman was a participant in the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests against the country's Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) mandates. The court's order marks a critical development in a case that challenges the federal government's use of emergency powers to suppress dissent. The decision stems from Blackman's legal challenge to what his attorneys describe as government overreach under the Emergencies Act, invoked by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to quash the protracted Ottawa demonstrations. The act granted authorities sweeping powers including the unprecedented ability to freeze protesters' financial assets, conscript tow truck drivers and arrest individuals at assemblies deemed illegal. A 2024 Federal Court ruling later found that Trudeau's use of the Emergencies Act was unjustified. But the fallout continues in cases like Blackman's, which may set legal precedent. Blackman was arrested during police enforcement actions in Ottawa on Feb. 18, 2022. He was charged with mischief and obstructing police, but both were later dismissed in October 2023 due to insufficient evidence. Despite his acquittal, prosecutors appealed and a retrial is scheduled for August of this year. Meanwhile, he seeks records to support a constitutional challenge, arguing that the freezing of his TD Bank accounts violated his rights under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms (CCRF). (Related: Freedom Convoy Fallout: Protester's frozen accounts case highlights Emergencies Act backlash.) Emergency powers used to silence dissent in Canada His legal team, backed by the Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), contends that the government's actions amounted to punitive measures against peaceful protesters. "The freezing of Blackman's bank accounts was an extreme overreach on the part of the police and the federal government," said constitutional lawyer Chris Fleury, who is with the JCCF. "These records will hopefully reveal exactly how and why his accounts were frozen. This case is believed to be the first in Canada where a criminal trial includes a CCRF challenge over emergency financial sanctions, testing the boundaries of state power during civil unrest. The JCCF argues that the move to freeze accounts effectively sidelining individuals without due process sets a dangerous precedent for dissent in a democratic society. The move also echoes concerns about the erosion of civil liberties during times of crisis. As Blackman's legal team prepares for the August trial, the court-ordered release of records could shed light on the coordination between law enforcement, financial institutions and federal authorities details that may influence future challenges to emergency powers. For now, the case underscores a lingering debate over the balance between national security and individual freedoms, resonating far beyond Canada's borders. Visit Tyranny.news for more similar stories. Watch this clip from LifeSiteNews about Canadians supporting the Freedom Convoy. This video is from the Cisco Girl channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Canadian trucker Freedom Convoy embraces GiveSendGo after GoFundMe censorship. Freedom Convoy trucker protests highlight struggle between freedom and a "Great Reset". Canadian court deems PM Trudeau's attacks on Freedom Convoy truckers UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Sources include: ReclaimTheNet.org JCCF.ca 1 JCCF.ca 2 Brighteon.com Dershowitz slams Trump administration for suppressing Epstein files Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz reveals in a viral video that he knows the names of individuals whose files are being suppressed in the Epstein case, sparking renewed calls for transparency. Dershowitz claims the suppression is wrongful and a breach of public trust, suggesting powerful individuals are being protected, but he is bound by judicial confidentiality and cannot disclose details. The Epstein case remains a source of intense public interest and scrutiny, with Dershowitz's association and credibility often questioned, adding to the controversy and speculation. Public reaction to Dershowitz's video is mixed, with praise for honesty and demands for evidence, while legal experts and transparency advocates emphasize the importance of openness in legal proceedings. The suppression of the Epstein files raises broader concerns about accountability of powerful individuals and institutions, with growing pressure on the Trump administration to release the suppressed information. In a shocking video that has reignited debates about transparency and accountability in high-profile legal cases, Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz has revealed that he knows the names of individuals whose files are being suppressed in the Epstein case. Dershowitz, who has previously denied any wrongdoing, claims to be bound by confidentiality from a judge and insists that the suppression is wrong. The video, which quickly went viral, has sparked intense speculation and renewed calls for the Trump administration to release the suppressed Epstein files. Dershowitz, a prominent legal scholar and commentator, asserts that the suppression is a significant breach of public trust. The Revelation In the video, Dershowitz states, "I know for a fact documents are being suppressed, and they're being suppressed to protect individuals. I know the names of the individuals. I know why they're being suppressed. I know who's suppressing them, but I'm bound by confidentiality from a judge and cases, and I can't disclose what I know. But I hand to God, I know the names of people whose files are being suppressed in order to protect them, and that's wrong." Context and Implications Dershowitz's revelation comes at a time when the Epstein case has remained a source of intense public interest and scrutiny. The case, involving allegations of sexual abuse and human trafficking, has been shrouded in controversy and conspiracy theories. Dershowitz's association with Epstein has been a subject of debate, with some questioning his motives and credibility. However, Dershowitz, a lifelong Democrat who has also defended President Trump, is known for his strong stance on the rule of law and transparency. His statement suggests a deep concern about the suppression of information and the potential cover-up of powerful individuals' involvement in the Epstein case. Public Reaction and Expert Opinions The public reaction to Dershowitz's video has been rapid and varied. Many have praised Dershowitz for his honesty and willingness to speak out, while others remain skeptical and call for more concrete evidence. Legal experts and transparency advocates have also weighed in, emphasizing the importance of transparency in legal proceedings and the public's right to know. The Bigger Picture The suppression of the Epstein files is part of a broader conversation about the accountability of powerful individuals and institutions. Critics argue that the suppression undermines the justice system and erodes public trust. Proponents of the suppression, if any, have not yet provided a clear rationale for their actions. Conclusion As the debate continues, Dershowitz's revelation has added a new layer of complexity to the Epstein case. The call for the release of the suppressed files grows louder, and the Trump administration faces increasing pressure to respond. The implications of this case extend far beyond the individual files and touch on fundamental issues of justice, transparency, and the rule of law in a democratic society. Only time will tell whether the suppressed files will see the light of day, and whether the truth will finally be revealed. For now, Dershowitz's bold statement has reignited the conversation and brought renewed attention to a case that continues to captivate and concern the public. Watch the July 11 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about Dershowitz sounds off on Epstein files, neuroplasticity test and more. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump administration under fire as public outrage over alleged Epstein files suppression Epstein files scandal erupts as Trump administration accused of cover-up; MAGA base revolts Failed release of Epstein files reveals Deep State resistance Sources include: Brighteon.com Unearthing the hidden threads: Our Occulted History by Jim Marrs In "Our Occulted History," Jim Marrs challenges conventional history by proposing that non-human intelligences like the Sumerian Anunnaki may have genetically engineered early humans, as described in ancient texts that predate the Bible. Evidence such as the Antikythera mechanism, crystal skulls and the Piri Reis map suggests prehistoric civilizations possessed knowledge far beyond what mainstream history acknowledges, potentially aided by extraterrestrial contact. Marrs argues that elite groups from the Knights Templar to the Rothschilds have used financial systems and religious dogma as tools of control, possibly tracing their influence back to ancient "gods" or hidden powers. Historical erasures like the destruction of the Library of Alexandria or dismissal of anomalies (e.g., the Starchild skull) imply deliberate efforts to conceal humanity's true origins and capabilities. The book links modern power structures (e.g., the Federal Reserve, Bilderberg Group) to a shadowy agenda for global domination, suggesting these elites perpetuate secrecy to maintain control over society. In a world where history is often presented as a linear and well-documented narrative, Jim Marrs' book "Our Occulted History: Do the Global Elite Conceal Ancient Aliens?" shakes the very foundations of what people believe to be true. This provocative work delves into the possibilities that extraterrestrial beings or prehistoric supercivilizations have not only influenced human history but may still be exerting control over the planet today. As readers embark on this intellectual journey, they are invited to question everything they know and explore a hidden history that has been meticulously concealed. Marrs' exploration begins with the ancient Sumerians, a civilization that has left behind a wealth of texts detailing the interactions between humans and otherworldly entities known as the Anunnaki. According to interpretations by scholars like Zecharia Sitchin, these Anunnaki were not gods but extraterrestrial beings who came to Earth in search of gold to save their own planet's atmosphere. The Sumerian tablets, which predate the Bible by thousands of years, chronicle the genetic engineering of a slave race (the humans) by these beings. The texts describe the creation of the first human as a hybrid of primitive hominids and the Anunnaki, suggesting a far more complex origin story than the one commonly accepted. The book also delves into the evidence of advanced technology in ancient times, challenging the notion that mankind's ancestors lived in primitive conditions. Artifacts like the crystal skulls of South America and the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient Greek analog computer, suggest that man's predecessors possessed knowledge and skills far beyond what is typically attributed to them. The Piri Reis map from 1513 (which accurately depicts the coastline of Antarctica in an ice-free state) and the Baghdad batteries (which could have been used for electroplating gold and silver as early as 220 BC) are further examples of this advanced knowledge. These findings raise questions about the extent of mankind's ancient ancestors' technological capabilities and whether they were influenced by extraterrestrial visitors. But the influence of these ancient entities, Marrs argues, extends beyond mere technological advancement. The book suggests that the manipulation of religion and finance has been a key tool in maintaining control over human societies. From the ancient temples of Mesopotamia to the modern banking systems, the control of money and the dissemination of religious dogma have been used to shape human behavior and maintain power structures. The Knights Templar, for instance, are depicted as having discovered ancient knowledge and using it to establish the foundations of modern banking. Similarly, the Rothschild family whose origins are tied to the Khazars is accused of wielding immense financial power for centuries. Could it be that these families, and others like them, are the modern-day descendants of the ancient "gods"? The suppression of knowledge is another critical theme in Marrs' work. Historical events like the destruction of the Library of Alexandria and the looting of the Iraqi National Museum highlight the deliberate erasure of humanity's past. The author argues that this suppression is not just about controlling historical narratives but about shaping the present and the future. The case of the Starchild skull, a mysterious artifact that some researchers believe could be evidence of nonhuman ancestry, is particularly compelling. Despite compelling DNA evidence, the scientific community has largely dismissed it, raising questions about the influence of powerful institutions in shaping mankind's understanding of human origins. Marrs also explores the concept of the New World Order and the role of the global elite in creating a one-world government. From the Rothschilds to the Rockefellers, from the Bilderberg Group to the Illuminati, the book posits that a small group of interconnected families and organizations has been working behind the scenes to exert control over the world. These elites, according to Marrs, use a combination of religion, finance and technology to maintain their power. The creation of the Federal Reserve and the manipulation of the media are cited as examples of how these forces shape our world in ways that serve their own interests, often at the expense of the general populace. In conclusion, Jim Marrs' "Our Occulted History" is a call to question the conventional narratives that have shaped human understanding of the world. As readers navigate through the layers of evidence and theories presented in the book, they are encouraged to think critically and seek out the truth for themselves. Whether or not one accepts the extraterrestrial hypothesis, the book challenges people to consider the possibility that their history is far more complex and interconnected than they have been led to believe. In a world where knowledge is power, the journey through "Our Occulted History" is a reminder that the search for truth is a never-ending quest. Watch this video about Jim Marrs' book "Our Occulted History: Do the Global Elite Conceal Ancient Aliens?" This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Russias bold gamble: Recognition of the Taliban to redraw regional power dynamics Russia became the first major power to formally recognize the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan this month. The move aims to deepen economic ties, counter Chinese and Turkish influence in Central Asia and secure control over regional transportation corridors like the PAKAFUZ railway. U.S. President Trumps push to reoccupy Bagram Airbase adds urgency as Moscow seeks to block American resurgence in the region. Irans instability threatens the viability of rival transport routes, making Russias alternative visionprojected to connect Central Asia to Pakistans marketsmore critical. Russia simultaneously works to mediate Afghan-Pakistani tensions to ensure stability for proposed infrastructure projects. Russias recognition of the Taliban as Afghanistans legitimate government, announced Thursday, marks a decisive strategic shift in Moscows approach to Central Asia. By becoming the first major power to diplomatically engage the Islamist regime since its 2021 comeback, Russia aims to solidify its influence in a region it views as its traditional sphere of control. The timing is no accident: as U.S. President Donald Trump lobbies to repatriate troops to Bagram Airbase, Turkey expands its sway eastward, and Irans post-war fragility jeopardizes key trade corridors, Russia is positioning itself to fill emerging geopolitical voids. The decision, approved by President Vladimir Putin, reverses years of exclusion under the Talibans pre-2021 designation as terrorists. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko formalized the move by accepting Ambassador Ghulam Hassans credentials in Moscow, while the Taliban flaghoisted atop their embassy for the first time in four yearssignifies a symbolic rupture with Taliban-banned predecessor symbols. These steps reflect Moscows genuine desire to build a full-fledged partnership with Afghanistan, said Russias ambassador to Kabul, Dmitry Zhirnov, emphasizing Russias century-old ties to the region. Strategic calculus: Counterbalancing Beijing, Ankara and Washington At its core, Russias gambit is about halting competitors inroads. Beijings dominance over Eurasian economic corridorssuch as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridorhas long rankled Moscow, which lacks comparable investment capacity. Recognizing the Taliban paves the way for Russian participation in the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan (PAKAFUZ) railway, a project that could link Central Asian markets to Pakistans port of Gwadar, bypassing Chinese networks. Simultaneously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans recent overtures to Central Asiaa region Russia historically shields as its near abroadpose direct competition. Analysts note the Kremlins effort to gently counterbalance Ankaras economic and cultural soft power, including Turkeys growing clout in Turkic-speaking Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The U.S. factor is equally critical. Trumps advocacy for reinvesting in Afghanistan resurrects memories of Russias Cold War-era concerns about NATO enlargement. By reinforcing the Talibans political legitimacy, Moscow seeks to deter a reassertion of American military presencea prospect that traumatizes regional allies scarred by 20-year U.S. interventions. Why the PAKAFUZ railway and oil hub matter Economic ambitions undergird the strategy. Russian firms eye exploiting Afghanistans untapped oil and gas reserves, with plans for an Afghan oil hub serving Central Asian consumers. Connecting these resources to markets requires working infrastructure, hence the emphasis on PAKAFUZ. The railwaypassing through Taliban-controlled terraincould also rival the North-South Transport Corridor (NSTC), a multilateral sea-and-land route that depends on Russia, Iran and India. The Iranian-Israeli War of 2024, however, disrupted NSTC operations, fracturing this fragile alliance. For Moscow, backing PAKAFUZ affords redundancy and shields its interests from Iranian instability. The NSTCs viability is in doubt, explained regional expert Dr. Oliver Evnitsky. Russia now bets on a China-free, U.S.-excluded alternativeadvancing its own narrative of connectivity. Security first: Mediating a volatile neighborhood Yet risks loom. Pakistan refuses to acknowledge the Taliban as de jure rulers, while cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan has menaced its Balochistan province. Moscow, however, positions itself as a peacemaker. Unlike Chinaperceived as partial to Afghanistans exiled government-in-exileRussias neutrality may offer leverage. In February 2025, Kremlin envoys publicly framed themselves as better mediators, offering counterterrorism coordination in exchange for Afghan-Pakistani cooperation. The broader stakes: A Eurasian reordering Russias moves echo Cold War-era contestation of superpower influence, but with modern complexities. While most NATO states still shun the Talibanfearing emboldened Islamist regimesregional neighbors Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have gradually resumed trade. This diverging calculus underscores a multipolar reality, where smaller states now wield geopolitical agency. For Moscow, success hinges on resolving the twin challenges of curbing Afghan-Pakistani enmity and insulating projects from U.S.-led sanctions. The stakes are existential: failure cedes the region to rivals, while triumph establishes Russia as an indispensable partner in a reordered Eurasia. A grand game in flux Russias recognition of the Taliban is less a moral endorsement than a starkly pragmatic play to reshape its backyard. By aligning with the de facto authorities, Moscow secures a seat at the table of high-stakes negotiations over oil pipelines, railroads and regional alliances. Yet wariness persists. Even as the flag rises in Kabul, the gambits longevity depends on whether Russia can reconcile clashing regional agendasor become just another power sidelined in Afghanistans endless churn of chaos. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com RT.com Substack.com A trader wearing a 'Trump' hat works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), March 10, 2017 in New York City. Drew Angerer/Getty President Donald Trump this week committed to a deadline of August 1 for tariffs to kick in. The uncertainty posed by weeks of negotiations has sparked volatility in markets. BI spoke with market experts to hear what they're bullish and bearish on ahead of "T-Day." Investors waited anxiously for the July 9 tariff deadline only to be met with a new date of August 1, and while the window for negotiations has been pushed out, tariffs are likely still coming. President Donald Trump committed to the new date this week, stating that no new extensions would be granted. His updates included a barrage of tariff letters to more than 20 countries, with threats of 25% tariffs on Japan and South Korea, 50% on Brazil, and 35% on Canada. Even as investors hope that the TACO trade will save them again, market pros told Business Insider this week that there are ways to position for the coming deadline. Here's what they're bullish and bearish on as the market barrels toward the August 1 "T-Day." Bullish Tariffs are aimed at benefiting companies that manufacture in the US. While it's not certain to what extent factory jobs will return, there are some existing domestic industries with positive exposure to the trade war. Trump's 50% tariff on all copper imports announced this week, for instance, should point investors toward some specific areas of the market. Henry Yoshida, CEO of Rocket Dollar, told Business Insider that he sees positive tailwinds for US copper producers, specifically Freeport-McMoRan and Souther Copper Corporation, two companies recently named by Morgan Stanley as likely winners. "These companies, which specialize in copper, would benefit from increased pricing power as tariffs would make copper imports more expensive," he stated. Apart from Copper, Yoshida added that he sees growth ahead for tech companies that build semiconductors in the US. That industry is also set to benefit from the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes a valuable tax credit for chipmakers. "Chipmakers that predominantly have US-based manufacturing, such as Texas Instruments and Intel, could see upside gains as tariffs may shift demand to domestic suppliers." Julia Khandoshko, CEO of financial planning firm Mind Money, issued a similar perspective. "In the short term," she said, "semiconductor companies like Intel and Nvidia could come out ahead, since the US will likely push harder for domestic chip production." Bearish Mark Malek, Chief Investment Officer at Siebert Financial, recently said that while much remains uncertain about tariffs, some sectors are particularly exposed to risks from the trade war. Secret Service disciplined personnel after Trump shooting amid systemic overhaul calls Six Secret Service agents suspended without pay for failing to prevent the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania. A House report attributed the disaster to systemic leadership failures, inadequate training and poor coordination with local law enforcement. The Secret Service introduced military-grade drones and mobile command posts to address communication gaps. A second assassination plot in Florida was thwarted, highlighting successful reforms in high-pressure scenarios. Bipartisan calls for permanent funding and stricter oversight aim to prevent future lapses in security. The U.S. Secret Service suspended six agents without pay last year following a failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. The disciplinary actions, announced on Wednesday, July 9, stemmed from communication failures that allowed a shooter, later identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, to fire a bullet that grazed Trumps ear. One person died, two were injured and the shooter died in a confrontation with agents. While the penalties ranged 10-42 days of unpaid suspension, the Secret Service avoided firing any personnel, opting instead to reassign some agents to restricted duty. Deputy Director Matt Quinn called the incident an operational failure and vowed systemic reforms. House report exposes root causes of Butler shootings security failures The suspensions followed recommendations by a bipartisan House task force, which issued a damning 180-page report in December 2024. It labeled the Butler attack a preventable disaster, rooted in preexisting leadership gaps, inadequate training and poor coordination with local law enforcement. The report highlighted that junior agents with limited experience were placed in critical planning roles, while communication breakdowns delayed responses. Crucially, the task force revealed Secret Service agents spotted the shooter on a rooftop 10 minutes before Trumps stage appearance and 20 minutes before the shooting began, but failed to act swiftly. The prolonged absence of a contingency plan for protecting Trump during the attack drew particular scrutinyagents waited six minutes to remove him from the stage. Senate Homeland Security Chair Ron Johnson (R-WI) said the revelations underscored a culture of complacency. The U.S. Park Police, the Secret Service and local authorities had miscommunicated for months, delaying venue selection until days before the event. Agencys current measures: New tech and command structures aim for better coordination In response, the Secret Service has rolled out military-grade drones and mobile command posts to better monitor crowds and improve radio interoperability with local law enforcement. Deputy Director Quinn emphasized that integrating technology was part of a broader push to address root causes rather than reactively firing staff. We arent going to fire our way out of this, Quinn told CBS News, defending the decision to suspend rather than terminate agents. Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler. Were focused on fixing deficiencies that put us in that situation. The then-Secretary of Homeland Security, Mayra Henderson, praised the drone investment as a critical step, stating: Technology alone wont solve human error, but it can mitigate risks when decisions falter. Lessons learned: Balancing accountability and institutional reform While disciplinary actions addressed immediate accountability, critics argue deeper reforms are needed. The second assassination plot in September 2024a foiled attack in West Palm Beach, Floridademonstrated that agency protocols could work under scrutiny. The House report credited the Secret Service with properly assessing threats and coordinating response teams in Florida, contrasting sharply with Butlers chaos. John Sullivan, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, stressed the paradox: Firing agents sends a message, but it wont fix training or leadership flaws. The public wants both accountability and proof that the agency can transform. A hard road ahead for Secret Services reputation The Secret Services path forward remains fraught. Congress has yet to approve permanent funding for new security measures, delaying drone purchases until 2026. Meanwhile, bipartisan calls for congressional oversight persist, with several bills awaiting Senate review to mandate stricter training standards and real-time log recordings. For now, the agency faces renewed scrutiny as it guards President Trumps continued political activity, including his potential 2028 presidential bid. Deputy Director Quinns admissionButler was an operational failure well never forgetunderscores the high stakes. For the Secret Service, rebuilding trust requires more than sanctionsit demands systemic survival. Sources for this article include: JusttheNews.com CBSNews.com NBCNews.com Toxic lead paint used as food coloring sickens 233 Chinese children, exposing systemic corruption More than 200 children in Gansu Province suffered severe lead poisoning after kindergarten staff fed them food dyed with toxic industrial paint, exceeding safety limits by 2,000 times. Investigations revealed staff intentionally used non-edible paint to color meals, prioritizing profit over safety, while ignoring explicit consumption warnings. Parents suspected poisoning for months but were dismissed until independent tests confirmed extreme lead levelssome 10 times above China's "severe" poisoning threshold. This incident echoes past food safety scandals in China, exposing systemic corruption, weak accountability, and recurring environmental contamination harming children. Critics warn that unchecked industrial-state collusion enabling such abuses mirrors global regulatory failures, demanding urgent transparency to protect future generations. More than 200 innocent kindergarten children in Chinas Gansu Province have been poisoned, some critically, after school staff fed them food laced with industrial paint containing lethal levels of lead. Authorities confirmed this week that 233 of 251 students tested at Heshi Peixin Kindergarten showed blood lead levels soaring past safety limits, with contaminated food samples revealing lead concentrations 2,000 times above legal thresholds. The principal and seven others now face criminal charges, but outraged parents demand answers: How could such evil flourish unchecked? Industrial toxins served as "food coloring" According to the Tianshui city governments investigation, kitchen staffdirected by the kindergartens profit-hungry principalrepeatedly used cheap, non-edible paint pigments to dye steamed cakes and corn rolls, deliberately deceiving parents and children with brightly colored meals. The paints packaging explicitly warned against consumption, but apparently profits outweighed basic humanity. "My mind went blank," one mother told state media after an independent hospital in Xian reported her childs blood lead level at 528 micrograms per liter, which is a "severe poisoning" diagnosis under Chinas own health standards. Disgustingly, this is not an isolated incident. Chinas history of environmental and food safety crimes reads like a dystopian novel: In 2008, 300,000 infants were sickened by melamine-tainted baby formula, a scandal that ended with executions for responsible executives. Lead poisoning outbreaks have plagued entire villages near smelters and factories. Yet here we are again, with another generation of children sacrificed to systemic corruption. Parents silenced, tests manipulated The most upsetting part of this story is that parents suspected poisoning for months. Children suffered stomach pains, lethargy, and behavioral changes as early as March, yet local officials dismissed concerns. Only when families paid for independent testing in Xian did the truth surface: Bloodwork showed 70 children exceeded lead poisoning thresholds, with six cases 10 times worse than Chinas "severe" classification. Contrast that with the Tianshui governments vague initial reports of "abnormal" levels, and the cover-up becomes obvious. "The children only ate [contaminated food] once or twice a weekhow could they be this poisoned so seriously?" demanded one mother, surnamed Wu. Her skepticism underscores a critical point: Chronic exposure suggests lead seeped into these childrens bodies through multiple sourcesperhaps polluted water, soil, or even school supplies. Yet authorities blame solely the food, a convenient scapegoat that silences broader environmental inquiries. Lets be clear: This isnt just "Chinas problem." The same corporate-state collusion that allows industrial chemicals to be served as kindergarten snacks mirrors the FDAs lax tolerance of pesticides, heavy metals, and forever chemicals in U.S. food. While Chinas lead limits are stricter than Americas (0.5mg/kg vs. the FDAs 1000ppm for candy), the core issue is identical: unaccountable systems that protect profits over children. Chinese officials promise crackdowns, but history proves otherwise. In 2010, the central government allocated special funds to curb heavy metal pollution after 4,000+ citizens were poisoned in a single year. Yet today, children still eat paint. The solution? Radical transparencyabolishing the cronyism that lets factories dump toxins near schools. Until then, brave parents must demand independent testing, because trusting the state is literally poisoning their future. Today its lead paint in China; tomorrow, it could be your childs lunchbox. Sources for this article include: NTD.com CNN.com CNN.com BBC.com Trump administration bars illegal immigrants from taxpayer-funded healthcare and Head Start Trump administration revoked a Clinton-era policy allowing illegal immigrants to access federal healthcare and welfare programs. HHS will now strictly enforce PRWORA, reserving benefits like Head Start and health clinics exclusively for U.S. citizens. The change redirects up to $374 million annually back to American taxpayers by closing long-standing loopholes. HHS Secretary stated this action restores integrity, enforces the rule of law, and prioritizes American resources. Democrat-run states face budget strains from illegal immigrant benefits, while Trumps policy strengthens enforcement of legal residency requirements. In a decisive move to protect American taxpayers, the Trump administration has revoked a Clinton-era policy that allowed illegal immigrants to access federal healthcare and welfare programs. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Thursday that it will now strictly enforce the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), reserving benefits like Head Start, health clinics, and aid grants exclusively for U.S. citizens. The policy reversal, part of President Trumps broader immigration enforcement agenda, marks a crucial step toward prioritizing American families and upholding legal integrity in federally funded programs. HHS estimates the change will redirect up to $374 million annually back to U.S. citizens. Closing the Clinton-era loophole For decades, illegal immigrants benefited from taxpayer-funded services under a 1998 interpretation of PRWORA, which expanded eligibility beyond what Congress intended. The Trump administrations correction classifies programs like Head Start as federal public benefits, making them off-limits to those unlawfully present in the U.S. For too long, the government has diverted hardworking Americans tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration, said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Todays action changes that it restores integrity to federal social programs, enforces the rule of law, and protects vital resources for the American people. The policy follows Trumps February 2025 executive order, Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders, directing federal agencies to eliminate unlawful benefits for illegal immigrants. HHS has also shared Medicaid enrollment records, including immigration status, with Homeland Security to ensure compliance. Prioritizing Americans over illegal immigration Among the most significant impacts is on Head Start, which provides early education and nutrition services to low-income families. Under the Clinton administrations interpretation, illegal immigrants could enroll despite PRWORAs intent. Now, estimated savings for American citizens could approach $374 million per year. Head Starts classification under the new PRWORA interpretation puts American families first by ensuring taxpayer-funded benefits are reserved for eligible individuals," said Andrew Gradison, Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. Programs like Community Health Centers and Mental Health Services Block Grants will also enforce stricter eligibility, ensuring federal dollars serve citizens, not those breaking immigration laws. The Education Department has taken similar steps, barring illegal aliens from career training and Pell Grant programs. While the Trump administration tightens access at the federal level, Democrat-run states like California, Illinois, and Minnesota struggle with ballooning costs from illegal immigrant benefits. Budget shortfalls have forced these states to scale back programs that are proving to be unsustainable without federal subsidies. Critics argue that unchecked welfare access incentivizes illegal immigration, burdening taxpayers. The Trump administrations policy realigns with Congresss original 1996 welfare reform goals, emphasizing self-sufficiency and legal residency requirements. A return to law and order The HHS reversal corrects a 26-year-old error, closing loopholes that undermined PRWORA. Unlike the Clinton-era approach, the new policy definitively excludes illegal immigrants from federal aid, with exceptions only for emergencies like disaster relief. Education Secretary Linda McMahon underscored the broader mission: Hardworking American taxpayers will no longer foot the bill for illegal aliens. By enforcing existing law, the administration ensures benefits go to those who play by the rules, not those who skip the line. Thursdays action reaffirms the Trump administrations commitment to America-first policies. By rescinding the 1998 interpretation, HHS halts taxpayer-funded incentives for illegal immigration, directing billions back to citizens. This commonsense enforcement honors Congresss original intent of protecting American resources while restoring fairness to federal programs. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com NationalReview.com HHS.gov U.K. police crack down on pro-Palestine activists amid rising tensions In recent months, the U.K. has seen a significant increase in police actions against pro-Palestine activists, with many describing these tactics as aggressive and intimidating. Activists have reported raids on their homes, being stopped on the street and arrests without warning, leading to concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the right to protest. Activists like Lujane from Cardiff and Ayeshah Behit from South Wales have experienced firsthand the heavy-handed tactics used by the police. Lujane was visited by men claiming to be from the British Transport Police who entered her home without a warrant and insisted she accompany them for an interview. Ayeshah was arrested after posting a video questioning her MP's stance on Israel, with police storming her home and denying her basic rights. These incidents are part of a broader pattern of intimidation, with activists being followed and monitored. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 grants detainees the right to an initial phone call, but this right was reportedly denied to Ayeshah Behit. Her arrest and subsequent conviction for harassing her MP, despite her claims of legitimate political commentary, highlight the potential disregard for legal protections. The U.K. government's move to ban groups like Palestine Action, which disrupt weapons manufacturers supplying Israel, has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations and sparked protests. While some activists have committed crimes, the broader issue is the perceived overreach by authorities. The situation highlights the need for a balanced approach that upholds both security and the democratic principles of free speech and assembly. In recent months, the United Kingdom has witnessed a significant crackdown on pro-Palestine activists, with many describing the tactics used by British police as akin to "kidnapping." Homes have been raided, individuals have been approached on the street and some have been arrested without warning, leading to growing concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the intimidation of those exercising their right to protest. On the morning of March 6, Lujane, a Welsh activist involved in Palestine solidarity efforts in Cardiff since October 2023, experienced these tactics firsthand. Three men, claiming to be from the British Transport Police (BTP), arrived at her door. They were in plain clothes and lacked a warrant, yet they insisted she accompany them for an interview regarding a video of her chanting pro-Palestine slogans on the London Underground several months prior. Lujane shared that the experience was "quite scary," especially since the men "didn't really look like police officers." Lujane added that the men didn't give her a chance to refuse and that they entered her home even after she asked them not to. The three men stood at the door until she got dressed. Lujane's experience is not isolated. Activists across the U.K. have reported being followed, having their homes raided and receiving calls from unknown numbers. Netpol, a police watchdog, has described this as a "pattern of intimidation." In one instance, two activists faced criminal proceedings after questioning their local Member of Parliament (MP) about their stance on Israel. Lujane's legal representative questioned why the police couldn't have sent a letter instead of coming to her home. The police responded that it was necessary due to her frequent travel between London and Wales, implying that they had also been monitoring her movements. (Related: Health Ranger Report: Blackstone Intelligences Jake Morphonios delves into the Israel-Palestine conflict.) Back in Wales, she and her fellow activists were regularly followed and approached by police, who would address them by their first names, once again implying that they were being monitored. This continued after she moved to London, with the Metropolitan Police mirroring the behavior of the South Wales police. Ayeshah Behit, another activist based in South Wales, was arrested hours after posting a video on Instagram questioning her local MP's voting record on Israel's Gaza war. A dozen police officers arrived at her home, threatening to break down her door. They stormed through Behit's house, barred her from changing clothes and arrested her as she attempted to do so. Behit was held incommunicado for 23 hours, with her repeated requests to notify her mother of her arrest denied. She was eventually allowed a brief phone call, but the line went dead after she mentioned her location. Legal and political backdrop The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 stipulates that detainees are entitled to an initial phone call, although this right can be delayed in cases of serious organized crime, terrorism or espionage. However, Behit's experience suggests a disregard for these legal protections. In June 2025, Behit and her housemate, Hiba Ahmed, were convicted of harassing the MP, despite their claims that their actions were part of legitimate political commentary. They were ordered to pay court costs and intend to appeal their convictions. The crackdown also extends to organized groups. Late in June, U.K. lawmakers voted to ban Palestine Action, a group known for disrupting the operations of weapons manufacturers supplying the Israeli government. The decision came after two activists damaged military aircraft at a British airbase. The ban, if approved by the House of Lords, would make it illegal to be a member of or support Palestine Action, effectively criminalizing the group. This move has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations and sparked protests, with critics arguing it mirrors authoritarian tactics to suppress dissent. Growing concerns and calls for accountability The raids and arrests have left many activists feeling targeted and traumatized. Netpol has documented multiple incidents of violence by the South Wales police against Palestine solidarity activists. Joe, an activist with Youth Demand, a climate justice and pro-Palestine group, was arrested after appearing in a video calling for protests against Israel's war on Gaza. He was held for four hours and then released on bail with no charges. The Metropolitan Police declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation. The increasing use of heavy-handed tactics by U.K. police against pro-Palestine activists raises significant concerns about the state of civil liberties and the right to protest. As the UK government moves to ban groups like Palestine Action, the international community and human rights organizations are calling for greater accountability and a return to respecting the fundamental rights of citizens to express their views peacefully. But when considering the crimes committed by some of the so-called peaceful activists, who decided when arrests should be considered "kidnapping?" The situation highlights the need for a balanced approach that upholds both security and the democratic principles of free speech and assembly. As the debate continues, the voices of those affected by these measures must be heard and their rights protected. Watch the full video below of "Brighteon Broadcast Show" with the Health Ranger Mike Adams about Israel preparing to launch the next wave of war on Iran. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Health Ranger Report: The HIDDEN AGENDAS behind the Israel-Palestine conflict. U.K. to ban Palestine Action as terror group after RAF break-in. Former Congressman-turned Palantir executive brands pro-Palestine protesters as "domestic terrorists." Sources include: MiddleEastEye.net Edition.CNN.com AlJazeera.com Brighteon.com Bidens doctor pleads the Fifth, refuses to testify during congressional hearing Dr. Kevin O'Connor, erstwhile White House physician to former President Biden, invoked physician-patient privilege and the Fifth Amendment during a closed-door congressional hearing, refusing to answer questions about Bidens health. The House Oversight Committee (HOC), led by Rep. James Comer (R-KY), is investigating whether Biden's physical/mental decline was concealed while in office, with O'Connor's silence fueling GOP claims of a conspiracy. Democrats dismissed the probe as politically motivated, while Republicans framed O'Connor's defiance as evidence of broader secrecy around Biden's fitness for office. Presidents' health has long been controversial (e.g., Wilson's stroke, Reagan's lapses), but Biden's lack of a cognitive test despite public stumbles intensified scrutiny over transparency protocols. The investigation highlights tensions between executive privacy and public accountability, with upcoming testimonies (e.g., Ashley Williams) potentially reshaping transparency standards for future administrations. Dr. Kevin O'Connor, former White House physician to the president, refused to answer questions during a closed-door congressional hearing on Wednesday, July 9. O'Connor, who served as doctor to former President Joe Biden, cited physician-patient privilege and invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. This dramatic move escalated a House Oversight Committee (HOC) investigation into allegations of a coordinated effort to conceal Bidens physical and mental decline while in office. The probe, led by HOC Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY), centers on whether Biden was fit for office during his term from 2021 to early this year. It also investigated whether his use of an autopen device, which mechanically replicated his signature, legitimized documents signed during his presidency. O'Connor left the hearing without comment as his attorneys disclosed his reliance on constitutional protections and medical confidentiality. "His assertion of his right under the Fifth Amendment to decline to answer questions was made necessary by the unique circumstances of this deposition," they said in a statement. Meanwhile, Comer asserted that the White House doctor's silence implied a broader cover-up, declaring it "clear [that] there was a conspiracy" to hide Biden's condition. Democrats dismissed the investigation as politically motivated, accusing Republicans of obsessing over the past while neglecting pressing national issues. The growing scrutiny over Biden's cognitive decline Historically, White House physicians have faced scrutiny over their handling of presidents' health, from Woodrow Wilson's hidden stroke in 1919 to Ronald Reagan's aides downplaying his memory lapses in the 1980s. Modern protocols, including voluntary cognitive tests, aim to ensure transparency. However, O'Connor's refusal to order such an exam for Biden despite visible stumbles in public appearances fueled GOP suspicions. Legal experts note that while medical confidentiality is sacrosanct, presidential health is often treated as a matter of public interest setting the stage for prolonged legal and legislative clashes. (Related: COVER-UP: White House chief doctor deems Biden fit to work, but omits cognitive test.) Ashley Williams, former special assistant to the president and deputy director of Oval Office operations, is next on the stand she is set to testify before the HOC on Friday, July 11. Her deposition will test whether Comers committee can extract clearer answers from White House insiders. Meanwhile, O'Connor's defiance underscores deepening partisan divisions over accountability and whether past administrations' opacity justifies new laws enforcing disclosure. For now, the American public remains divided. One half sees a legitimate inquiry into executive fitness, the other half a political spectacle with little remedy. This standoff reflects not just contemporary tensions, but a recurring dilemma in U.S. governance balancing a leader's privacy against voters' right to know who governs. As the investigation continues, its findings could redefine transparency standards for future presidents. Visit JoeBiden.news for more similar stories. Watch Sean Hannity of Fox News expounding on the timeline of former President Joe Biden's "obvious cognitive decline" in this clip. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Conflict of interest EXPOSED after President's physician refuses to make Biden take a cognitive test. Biden advisors allegedly LEAKED damaging details of presidents mental decline to the New York Times. House Oversight Committee subpoenas three top Biden aides for concealing president's declining health. Sources include: InfoWars.com Breitbart.com TheHill.com Brighteon.com FAKE GREEN CHINA runs on dirty coal and pollutes the earth worse than all the other nations, but were supposed to drive electric cars and eat insects here Despite its ambitious pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 and peak emissions by 2030, Chinas continued heavy reliance on coal power reveals a deep contradiction at the heart of its climate strategy . While China leads the world in renewable energy production, it also remains the planets largest polluter and coal consumer highlighting the paradox at the core of its so-called green transformation. Chinas Green Energy Paradox : While China leads the world in producing and deploying renewable technologies like solar and wind, it simultaneously remains the top global consumer and builder of coal-fired power plants. In 2024 alone, China approved over 66 GW of new coal capacity and started construction on nearly 95 GW 93% of all global coal project starts. : While China leads the world in producing and deploying renewable technologies like solar and wind, it simultaneously remains the top global consumer and builder of coal-fired power plants. In 2024 alone, China approved over 66 GW of new coal capacity and started construction on nearly 95 GW 93% of all global coal project starts. Energy Security Trumps Climate Goals : The Chinese Communist Party prioritizes energy reliability over emissions targets. Due to the intermittent nature of wind and solar power, China continues to rely heavily on coal to secure stable electricity for its massive population and economy, undermining its long-term climate commitments. : The Chinese Communist Party prioritizes energy reliability over emissions targets. Due to the intermittent nature of wind and solar power, China continues to rely heavily on coal to secure stable electricity for its massive population and economy, undermining its long-term climate commitments. Renewables Not So Green : Critics argue that so-called green energy technologies depend on extensive mining, rare earth extraction, and non-recyclable components, making them environmentally costly. Studies show that renewables, especially with battery storage, can be hundreds of times more resource-intensive than natural gas. : Critics argue that so-called green energy technologies depend on extensive mining, rare earth extraction, and non-recyclable components, making them environmentally costly. Studies show that renewables, especially with battery storage, can be hundreds of times more resource-intensive than natural gas. Global Implications of Chinas Coal Push: Chinas coal strategy not only challenges its own climate pledges but also distorts global renewable markets through state subsidies and underpriced exports. This dual role as green tech exporter and coal polluter highlights the contradictions in global climate progress. Green China runs on dirty coal China has rapidly become a global powerhouse in renewable energy development, manufacturing more solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage batteries than any other nation. In just the first five months of 2025, it added enough renewable infrastructure to match the electricity capacity of entire countries like Poland or Turkey. In fact, China now accounts for nearly half of the worlds solar energy capacity, thanks largely to government-driven directives and state subsidies that allow it to undercut global competition. However, this success story comes with a catch: These market practices considered dumping have triggered trade tensions and damaged foreign clean-tech industries. But Chinas renewable energy achievements are only one side of the story. Simultaneously, the country is aggressively expanding its coal-fired power capacity. In 2024, China approved a record 66.7 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power and began constructing 94.5 GW accounting for 93% of all new coal power projects globally. The revival of previously suspended coal plants adds to the evidence that Beijing has no intention of abandoning coal anytime soon. With a typical coal plant lifespan of up to 60 years, these investments signal long-term commitment to fossil fuel use. Why this energy duality? The Chinese Communist Party views energy security as paramount. While renewables are growing, they are inherently weather-dependent and lack the reliability needed to power an industrialized superstate. Coal remains a stable, controllable, and domestic energy source in a world of increasing geopolitical and supply-chain instability. Chinas energy import strategy also underscores its coal dependency. In 2023, China imported 442 million tons of coal, and in 2024, that number is expected to hit a record 542.7 million tons. Despite expectations for a slight decline in coal use by 2025, the scale of new coal development contradicts any serious pivot to renewable dominance. Critics argue that the broader notion of green energy is itself flawed. Wind turbines, solar panels, and energy storage batteries require massive quantities of mined materials such as cobalt, lithium, and rare earth metalsthat are not only environmentally destructive to extract but also difficult to recycle. Studies have shown that when factoring in battery storage, solar and wind energy are hundreds of times more demanding in mineral resources than natural gas. Even renewable-friendly institutions like the University of Pennsylvanias Kleinman Center admit the global shift to clean energy will strain critical resource supply chains like never before. In sum, Chinas embrace of coal is not a deviation from its green goals it is a reflection of the economic and technical realities underpinning them. While the nation may boast of its renewable energy leadership, the enduring dominance of coal reveals a deeper truth: the road to a clean energy future, especially in China, remains paved with carbon. Check out ClimateAlarmism.news for updates on psychotic billionaires trying to convince Americans to save earth from climate change while China and India pollute the world worse than all the other nations put together. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com ZeroHedge.com EIA.gov ScienceDirect.com All The Things That Matter on BrightU: Lake of fire symbolizes purification and restoration, NOT eternal torment In Episode 4 of "All The Things That Matter," Brad Cummings challenged the traditional view of hell as eternal torment, proposing instead that the "lake of fire" symbolizes purification and restoration, rooted in biblical metaphors of refining fire (e.g., Malachi 3:2-3). Cummings argued that key terms like aionios (Greek) and olam (Hebrew) imply finite judgment periods, not endless suffering, suggesting hell serves a purposeful, corrective role. Cummings and Dr. Sherri Tenpenny critiqued fear-driven evangelism, emphasizing that divine judgment should reflect God's love and mercy, not vengeance (e.g., Jesus' plea for forgiveness in Luke 23:34). Cummings reinterpreted passages like Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16) as moral lessons, not literal afterlife descriptions and frames fire imagery (Daniel 7, Revelation 20) as purifying rather than destructive. While stopping short of universalism, Cummings hinted at temporary judgment (John 5:29) and cited Philippians 2:10-11 to suggest God's goal is restoration, not eternal punishmenturging a focus on transformation over fear. In Episode 4 of "All The Things That Matter," aired on July 8, author and theologian Brad Cummings challenged the traditional view of hell as a place of unending torment, proposing instead a radical reinterpretation rooted in Scripture's original languages and themes of divine love. In a discussion with Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, Cummings argued that the "lake of fire" may not be a torture chamber but a refining crucible a tool of purification rather than eternal punishment. Cummings, co-author of "The Shack" and editor of "The Founders' Bible," critiqued the fear-based evangelism that dominates modern Christianity. "We're scaring people out of hell," he said. "If God's going to roast you in the lake of fire, why would anyone want to hang out with Him?" Instead, he urged a shift toward understanding judgment as restorative, citing biblical metaphors of fire as cleansing (Malachi 3:2-3) and God as a "consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29) that burns away corruption. Key to his argument is the linguistic nuance of the Greek word aionios (often translated as "eternal") and the Hebrew olam, both meaning "pertaining to an age" a finite period. "The lake of fire belongs to an age of judgment," Cummings explained. "It's not infinite; it has a purpose: to separate dross from gold." Dr. Sherri Tenpenny raised the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31), a classic text used to support eternal torment. But Cummings countered that the story's focus is on the chasm between choices in this life, not an irreversible afterlife. "Jesus spoke in parables to reveal spiritual truths, not blueprints of geography," he said. He also highlighted Jesus' cry on the cross"Father, forgive them" (Luke 23:34) as evidence of God's relentless mercy. "If the lake of fire flows from the throne of a God who forgives even His killers, how can its purpose be vengeance?" Cummings asked. Both speakers critiqued the church's historical emphasis on fear. Tenpenny recalled a childhood nightmare triggered by fire-and-brimstone sermons: "I dreamed Jesus smacked my forehead and said, 'Go back you're not good enough for heaven or bad enough for hell.'" Cummings responded, "Fear restrains; only love transforms. If the goal is Christlike character, threats wont produce it." He pointed to Daniel's vision of a "river of fire" (Daniel 7:10) and Revelation's "lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14) as symbols of divine purification. "Fire doesn't destroy metal it reveals it," he said. "God's judgment is about finishing what He started in us." Cummings' most startling claim? Even the "wicked" resurrected for judgment (John 5:29) might not face endless suffering. "Why raise them just to throw them into fire forever?" he asked, suggesting the lake of fire could be a temporary, corrective process. While he stopped short of universalism, he emphasized Philippians 2:10-11 "every knee will bow" as proof of God's ultimate reconciliation. This debate isn't just theological nitpicking; its a challenge to rethink God's character. "If we see Him as a torturer," Cummings concluded, "we'll never trust His love." Whether his view gains traction or sparks backlash, one thing is clear: the conversation about hell is far from over. "The goal isn't to avoid punishment," Cummings said. "It's to become someone who doesn't need it." Want to know more? If you want to learn more about how you can join the healing revolution and regain control of your health, want to view the presentations at your convenience or learn at your own pace, you can purchase the "All The Things That Matter" package here. Upon purchase, you will get instant and unlimited access to eight "All The Things That Matter" videos (with eight audios and eight transcripts), free "Walking With God" eBook (details on a PDF) and a 20 percent discount on "The Founder's Bible" (details on a PDF). Sources include: BrighteonUniversity.com 1 BrightU.com BrighteonUniversity.com 2 Russia accuses Ukraine of using banned CHEMICAL WEAPONS Russia has formally requested an investigation by the OPCW, accusing Ukrainian forces of deploying banned chemical weapons and operating mass-production systems for toxic agents. Evidence was presented during an executive council session in The Hague. Russian authorities (FSB and the Defense Ministry) reported finding Ukrainian drone-droppable IEDs loaded with chloropicrin a choking agent banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention in liberated territories, prompting a criminal case under Russian WMD laws. Ukraine and Western allies dismiss Russias claims as disinformation, counter-accusing Moscow of using banned chemical agents (e.g., choking gases) against Ukrainian troops. Both sides have lodged requests with the OPCW, but neither set of allegations has been independently verified. The OPCW faces geopolitical hurdles in investigating the claims, with past inquiries (e.g., Syria) plagued by delays and disputes. The lack of impartial findings risks escalating tensions amid NATO-Russia hostilities. Confirmed use of chemical weapons could trigger international backlash (e.g., sanctions, military responses), as such warfare violates humanitarian norms. The accusations heighten fears of a dangerous precedent in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In a mounting war of allegations, Russia has formally requested an investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) into claims that Ukrainian forces are deploying banned toxic munitions. Vladimir Tarabrin, Russia's permanent representative to the organization, presented evidence during an OPCW Executive Council session in The Hague. He stated that Moscow has gathered proof of "Ukrainian nationalists employing toxic chemicals and military-grade poison agents," alongside an "extensive system for their mass production." Tarabrin specifically cited the Russian Federal Security Service's (FSB) discovery of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) filled with chloropicrin in territories recently liberated from Ukrainian control. Originally used as a pesticide, chloropicrin was weaponized in World War I as a choking agent. It was later banned under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention. Sputnik News earlier reported that the FSB, alongside the Russian Ministry of Defense, stumbled upon a Ukrainian Armed Forces cache of IEDs in the Donetsk People's Republic. The IEDs, which were meant to be dropped from drones, were loaded with plastic explosive and chloropicrin. (Related: Russia alleges Ukraine hid chemical drone munitions amid escalating CWC violations.) The Russian envoy later cited the FSB's discovery during the OPCW's three-day meeting. According to a separate statement by the FSB, the discovery has prompted a criminal case under Russian laws banning weapons of mass destruction. The terrifying return of chemical warfare Tarabrin's request comes amid competing accusations from both sides, with Moscow alleging documented cases of mass chemical weapons production in Ukraine a charge Kyiv has repeatedly denied. It nevertheless highlights deepening concerns over potential war crimes in the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Western allies have dismissed Russia's claims as disinformation instead accused Moscow of using similar banned chemical agents against Ukrainian forces. German and Dutch officials recently alleged that Russian troops dropped choking agents on Ukrainian trenches, though Russia denies the charges. Kyiv earlier filed its own request with the OPCW echo of Cold War-era tensions when both the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Soviet-backed forces stockpiled chemical arsenals. The organization has not yet publicly verified either side's claims, leaving the accusations in diplomatic limbo. OPCW, which was established in 1997 to enforce the Chemical Weapons Convention, has been tasked with verifying compliance in Syria and other conflict zones. However, past investigations have been marred by delays and geopolitical disputes, raising concerns over whether impartial findings will emerge this time. The chemical weapons dispute adds another layer of volatility to the Russia-Ukraine war now in its third year as global tensions escalate between NATO and Moscow. Should evidence confirm the use of banned agents, international backlash would likely followpotentially triggering further sanctions or military repercussions. Historically, chemical warfare has been considered a red line in modern conflicts due to its indiscriminate lethality and long-term humanitarian consequences. The specter of its resurgence in Ukraine not only threatens soldiers but also echoes past atrocities, reinforcing the urgent need for transparency and accountability. For now, the world watches warily fully aware that the horrors of the battlefield may defy even the most stringent international prohibitions. Visit ChemicalViolence.com for more similar stories. Watch this Russia Today news report about Ukraine allegedly fabricating evidence to accuse Russia of chemicals weapons use. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Russian officials: American biolabs in Ukraine conducted illegal experiments on rivers and infected children with tuberculosis. Who's telling the truth? US, Russia trade allegations about "biological research facilities" in Ukraine. Russia accuses Ukraine of using American-made chemical weapons. Sources include: RT.com SputnikGlobe.com 1 SputnikGlobe.com 2 Brighteon.com Trump announces steep tariffs on 14 countries, effective August 1 President Donald Trump announced steep new tariffs on imports from 14 nations, including Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and South Africa, with rates ranging from 25 percent to 40 percent, set to take effect on Aug. 1. In letters posted to Truth Social, Trump warned these countries not to retaliate, threatening to raise U.S. tariffs even higher if they do. The move escalates Trump's April 2 "reciprocal trade" initiative, which initially delayed tariffs to allow time for negotiations talks that have since stalled. The administration is also targeting the transshipping of goods through third countries to evade duties, declaring such goods will be hit with the highest applicable tariff. Trump left the door open for modification, stating that tariff levels could go "upward or downward" depending on how countries respond and the state of U.S. bilateral relations. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs on imports from at least 14 countries, escalating his administration's push for "reciprocal trade" ahead of the reinstatement of higher trade barriers scheduled for later this summer. In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform on Monday, July 7, Trump released screenshots of form letters addressed to foreign leaders, outlining blanket tariff hikes set to take effect on Aug. 1. The letters, signed by the president, declare that U.S. imports from countries including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Laos, Myanmar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tunisia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Serbia, Cambodia and Thailand will soon face sharply increased duties. According to the documents Trump posted, 25 percent tariffs will apply to goods from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Tunisia, 30 percent on imports from South Africa and Bosnia and Herzegovina, 32 percent on Indonesian goods, 35 percent on imports from Bangladesh and Serbia, 36 percent for Cambodia and Thailand and 40 percent for goods from Laos and Myanmar. All of these countries had been on a list identified in Trump's April 2 "reciprocal trade" initiative, which paused full tariff implementation in exchange for negotiation windows. But with limited progress made, the president opted to escalate. (Related: Trump's 125% tariff triggers panic among Chinese Amazon sellers.) Additionally, transshipping, a tactic in which exporters reroute products through third countries to avoid tariffs, is explicitly targeted by the new policy. "Goods transshipped to evade a higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff," Trump wrote in the letter. Trump, who originally slated to kick new tariff rates this July, signed an executive order Monday afternoon delaying implementation until Aug. 1. The order cited "additional information and recommendations from various senior officials" as the reason for the delay. Trump threatens even steeper tariffs if 14 countries push back The letters also deliver a clear warning to the 14 countries: Do not retaliate. "If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 25 percent that we charge," Trump wrote in the letters, signaling that any retaliatory duties will be met with even steeper U.S. tariffs. The letters suggest that countries could see relief, but only if they fully dismantle trade restrictions. If a country "eliminates" its "Tariff and Non-Tariff Policies and Trade Barriers," the U.S. will "perhaps consider an adjustment to this letter," Trump wrote. "These tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your Country." Follow Trump.news for similar stories. Watch the July 8 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses Trump unleashing new tariff wars with an extra attack on BRICS nations. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump's tariff retreat sparks fears of accelerating BRICS dominance. U.S. inflation stays cool in May, challenging predictions of tariff-driven price surge. Market rebounds on Trump's tariff pause, but uncertainty looms. Trump's tariffs spark global trade revolt: BRICS nations accelerate dollar-ditching plans. P&G reshapes workforce amid tariff turmoil and environmental demands. Sources include: YourNews.com NBCNewYork.com Brighteon.com Trump DOJ subpoenas doctors and clinics accused of mutilating children in gender transition procedures The Trump DOJ launches an investigation targeting doctors and facilities performing gender transition procedures on minors, issuing more than 20 subpoenas for potential healthcare fraud. Attorney General Pam Bondi condemns these practices as child abuse, vowing accountability for those enabling irreversible medical harm under ideological motivations. Federal scrutiny follows Trumps executive order reversing Biden-era policies, exposing how clinics may have bypassed legal safeguards to push experimental treatments on children. Evidence shows most children naturally outgrow gender dysphoria, yet clinics prioritize profitable surgeries, ignoring severe risks like sterility, trauma, and lifelong regret. Global trends (e.g., England, Sweden) restrict pediatric transitions due to weak evidence, as U.S. courts signal growing opposition to these irreversible procedures for minors. In a landmark move to protect vulnerable minors from irreversible medical harm, the Trump Department of Justice has unleashed a sweeping investigation into doctors and facilities suspected of performing so-called "gender transition" procedures on children. The DOJ announced this week that it had issued more than 20 subpoenas targeting medical professionals involved in administering puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries to minorspractices many argue constitute child abuse under the guise of healthcare. Attorney General Pam Bondi delivered a blistering rebuke, vowing to hold accountable those who "mutilated children in the service of a warped ideology." The crackdown follows President Donald Trumps executive order halting federal support for underage transitions, reversing Biden-era policies that facilitated experimental treatments for gender-confused youth. While the order didnt criminalize the procedures outright, it empowered federal agencies to scrutinize potential violations of healthcare fraud statutes and false claims, exposing how activists in white coats may have bypassed legal safeguards to push life-altering interventions. Fraud, coercion, and lifelong harm The DOJs subpoenas zero in on alleged healthcare fraud, false statements, and more, according to an official press release. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines further suggest doctors could face consequences if they withheld risks or inflated benefits of "gender-affirming" care a euphemism critics argue obscures the brutality of procedures that leave minors sterile, scarred, and plagued by regret. Evidence increasingly reveals the catastrophic toll of these interventions. More than 80% of children with gender dysphoria outgrow it naturally by adulthood, yet clinics rush to chemically and surgically alter them, often ignoring comorbidities such as depression or trauma. Detransitioners, whose voices are routinely silenced, have testified to suffering from irreversible damage, including severed healthy tissue, crushed fertility, and psychological torment worsened by ideologically driven medicine. A 2022 undercover investigation at Vanderbilt University Medical Centers transgender clinic exposed another motive: profiteering. Dr. Shayne Sebold Taylor admitted on camera that these surgeries make a lot of money in a damning glimpse into an industry that is increasingly being known for prioritizing revenue over ethics. These surgeries are labor intensive, there are a lot of follow-ups, they require a lot of our time, and they make money, Dr. Sebold Taylor added. Global backlash mounts as U.S. takes action While American medical associations, many of which are entangled in activism, defend pediatric transitions, nations like England and Sweden have reversed course, restricting puberty blockers and hormones due to weak evidence and catastrophic outcomes. The U.S. Supreme Courts recent 6-3 decision upholding Tennessees ban on child transgender procedures signaled judicial momentum toward protecting minors from this type of predatory medicine. The DOJs subpoenas mark a critical step in reining in an out-of-control medical complex. For too long, children have been pawns in a cultural war while being subjected to untested treatments that masquerade as compassion. With investigations now underway, accountability finally looms for those who traded scalpels for ideology. This isnt merely about lawbreaking; its about lives shattered. The DOJs action offers hope that Americas children will no longer be collateral damage in a battle for progress. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com Justice.gov USAToday.com By Marianna Parraga (Reuters) -Holders of a key bond defaulted by Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA asked a New York judge on Thursday to ensure they can claim compensation from proceeds expected in an auction of shares in the parent of Venezuela-owned U.S. refiner Citgo Petroleum. The holders' case in New York about the validity of their claim against Venezuela has not been resolved, but if they secure an injunction in the meantime, they could ultimately block the transfer of shares in Citgo's parent PDV Holding to the auction's winner. A $7.4 billion bid for PDV Holding submitted by a group led by a unit of miner Gold Reserve was recommended last week as the auction's winner by a court officer overseeing the bidding round in Delaware. The court-organized auction aims to pay back Venezuela's creditors after the South American country's debt defaults and expropriations. But contrary to some competing offers, the Gold Reserve group's bid does not include an agreement to pay the bondholders. The holders are getting ready to move with an injunction if the Gold Reserve group's offer is ultimately approved in Delaware under the proposed terms. "We don't want to interfere with the sale," Christopher Clark, who represents the holders, told Judge Katherine Polk Failla from the Southern District of New York, in a court hearing. "All we are trying to do is to protect our rights. Delaware is not the proper forum for that." Federal Judge Leonard Stark must decide whether to approve the recommended bid in coming weeks. Stark had anticipated that the bondholders' opposition to the Gold Reserve group's proposed transaction for Citgo's parent could lead to increased litigation in the 8-year case, which saw a failed first bidding round last year. In late June, lawyers representing the holders told Polk Failla they would seek relief, including through an injunction, to preserve their status quo while the New York court decides on their case. The hearing on Thursday was to explain the planned injunction request. (Reporting by Marianna ParragaEditing by Marguerita Choy) As the opioid epidemic has worsened in the United States, prevalence of hepatitis C has also increased. Hepatitis C is a bloodborne virus that damages the liver. It is mainly spread through sharing needles or other injection equipment and can also be passed from a mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth. It can be safely and effectively treated by direct-acting antiviral therapies that are approved for both adults and children. Two recent studies from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reveal that two vulnerable populations - children and recently pregnant women - face disparities in access to treatment for hepatitis C infection. Without treatment, these groups are at risk of long-term adverse health outcomes such as cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. One study, published in Pediatrics in collaboration with researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, found that few children with hepatitis C were referred for care. This study also revealed that there were significant disparities in whether these patients were provided care and treatment for their infection depending on a child's race, geographic location and age. A second study, led by WashU Medicine researchers and published July 10 in Obstetrics & Gynecology Open, showed that recently pregnant women with the hepatitis C virus were significantly less likely to receive hepatitis C treatment than men or women who had not been recently pregnant. "We have treatments for hepatitis C where it's just two or three months of pills and then over 95% of people are cured," said Megan Curtis, MD, an assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases in the John T. Milliken Department of Medicine at WashU Medicine, who led both studies. "But we are still having difficulties in getting the treatments to the populations that need them the most. These kinds of studies can help us identify where those barriers are." Disparities in hepatitis C treatment for children Curtis has focused her research on identifying which patients experience gaps in access to hepatitis C treatment. Using anonymized data from a national database, she identified 928 pediatric patients who tested positive for hepatitis C between 2000 and 2022. In the study published in Pediatrics, Curtis found that only about one in eight of these children were treated for hepatitis C, but that ratio was affected by certain factors. Children born between 2014 and 2018 were more likely to be treated than were those born earlier, which likely reflects changes in Medicaid and insurance coverage during that period, as well as increased availability of treatment for younger children in later years. However, this group's rate of treatment was still much lower than that of adult patients with hepatitis C. The study found racial and ethnic disparities as well. Compared to Black children, Hispanic children had about twice the odds and White children had about three times the odds of receiving care for hepatitis C. Geographic region also played a role in disparities: Children with hepatitis C living in the South were least likely to receive treatment compared to those in other regions of the country. Although these differences may stem largely from socioeconomic disparities in access to health care and regional availability of providers, Curtis noted that other factors can also contribute to low overall treatments rates among children. "Parents might also delay because of the difficulty of administering a medicine to a young child," she said, "and clinicians may delay treatment because some children who have hepatitis C will spontaneously clear it on their own. However, this isn't always the case." Treatment for recently pregnant women lags Hepatitis C infections have been increasing in people with opioid use disorders. Within that population, men have been shown to be more likely to receive treatment for hepatitis C than women are. To understand why, Curtis, in collaboration with Kevin Xu, MD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and co-senior author of the study in Obstetrics & Gynecology Open, and their team set out to see if pregnancy might be playing a role in these sex disparities. Given that people with opioid use disorder are at risk of contracting hepatitis C, the researchers used an administrative claims database and similar epidemiologic methods as in the pediatric study to analyze data on patients in treatment for opioid use disorder who were also confirmed to have hepatitis C. They found that recent pregnancy was strongly associated with a lower likelihood of receiving treatment for hepatitis C. Recently pregnant patients with hepatitis C were almost 30% less likely to receive antivirals than men were (31.8% versus 40.6%, respectively), and about 11% less likely than women who were not recently pregnant (31.8% versus 35.7%). Caroline Cary, a third-year medical student at WashU Medicine who is the first author on the study, said the results suggest that more resources are needed to reach patients who are likely to slip through the cracks. People with hepatitis C are often asymptomatic for years after being exposed, so if you are young, otherwise healthy and have a new baby, getting prompt treatment may not be a top priority, especially if it is challenging to access. It's imperative to make hepatitis C care more readily accessible to new moms considering the long-term consequences of the condition." Caroline Cary, third-year medical student at WashU Medicine For Curtis, it's a troubling problem because treatments for hepatitis C are very effective when started early and taken consistently. "We need to come up with better strategies for addressing hepatitis C," she said. "We have all the tools to eliminate it. We have medications that can treat it. We know the people who need to get it. We just need to step up the availability and the awareness. We could be done with hepatitis C in a generation." One in three adults in the U.S. has three or more risk factors for a newly recognized but increasingly common condition: cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. First recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) in a 2023 presidential advisory, CKM connects heart and metabolic health with kidney function as intertwined drivers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Long before CKM was defined, millions of Americans were unknowingly progressing through the condition's dangerous stages. In a first-of-its-kind analysis, Tarang Parekh, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Delaware College of Health Sciences, and colleagues at Houston Methodist Hospital and Harvard Medical School, examined the state-level prevalence of CKM syndrome, using self-reported data from the Centers for Disease Control's Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System from 2011 to 2023. Parekh's analysis, recently published in the journal JAAC: Advances, found that 80% of the population has some form of CKM syndrome. Over the past 12 years, not a single state saw a decline in CKM rates. West Virginia had the highest prevalence, with nearly 87% of residents affected by 2023. Delaware wasn't far behind, with rates climbing from 76% to 83% over the same period. Colorado reported the lowest rate, with nearly 72% of the population impacted. Overall, CKM rates were highest in the Midwest and the South. "This is an alarming trend that's a result of our fragmented healthcare system," Parekh said. CKM, like many chronic diseases, progresses in stages. Stage zero means no disease is present. At Stage 1, individuals are obese or prediabetic. Stages 2 and 3 involve kidney disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes or a combination of risk factors that dramatically raise their risk for CVD. Stage 4 is dire. That's where we see a clinical CVD diagnosis, including heart failure, stroke or coronary heart disease, or kidney failure." Tarang Parekh, assistant professor of epidemiology, University of Delaware College of Health Sciences Parekh's analysis found nearly 50% of states saw an increased prevalence of CKM in stages 1 through 3. While Stage 4 rates declined steadily nationwide, Minnesota was an exception, seeing significant increases in the most dangerous stage of the condition. Stopping disease progression Routine health screenings are key to slowing the progression of CKM and reducing CVD. However, work to get physicians to assess these conditions in an interconnected manner is only just beginning. "We must educate the public about the intersection of these conditions, so they realize CKM syndrome is more than just taking care of obesity, diabetes, or CVD in isolation," said Parekh. "Without lifestyle and behavioral changes, one risk factor can snowball into several." Significant variation in state-level programs also complicates the matter. "Some programs only tackle diabetes self-management. We must expand those programs to include other risk factors for CVD to reduce CKM syndrome progression," Parekh added. Parekh also emphasized that individuals must take charge of their health. "People need to know their weight, blood pressure, and BMI," said Parekh. "Routine point-of-care testing during wellness visits is essential. But often, if a measure is borderline, we tend to ignore it - that needs to stop." A new initiative To combat rising CKM rates, the AHA has launched a pilot preventive health initiative focused on improving care for people in select cities and regions, including Atlanta, San Diego, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Washington, D.C, Maryland, and Ohio, including the Cincinnati metro area and parts of Kentucky. These locations were selected due to disease prevalence, health system infrastructure and community characteristics. The AHA plans to expand the CKM Health Initiative to 15 geographic regions nationwide, ultimately reaching 250,000 Americans at 150 existing healthcare sites. "The pilot brings together providers across various specialties, from primary care physicians to cardiologists and nephrologists, to take a more holistic approach to care," Parekh said. Looking ahead, Parekh plans to analyze clinical data using electronic health records (EHRs) to conduct a more detailed understanding of CKM. He also hopes to develop a machine-learning risk model to predict and, ultimately, slow CKM progression. Scientists have discovered how a key protein helps maintain strong connections between brain cells that are crucial for learning and memory. Results of the study, published in the journal Science Advances, could point the way to new treatments for traumatic brain injuries and diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, the scientists said. Their research, led by a Rutgers University-New Brunswick professor, uncovered a previously unknown role for cypin, a brain protein. Members of the research team found that cypin promotes the presence of tags on specific proteins at synapses, namely the tiny gaps where the brain cells, known as neurons, communicate. The marking helps ensure that the right proteins are in the right place, allowing the synapses to work properly. The researchers said the insight has potentially profound implications for the treatment of brain disorders. Our research indicates that developing treatments or therapies that specifically focus on the protein cypin may help improve the connections between brain cells, enhancing memory and thinking abilities. These findings suggest that cypin could be used to develop treatments for neurodegenerative and neurocognitive diseases, as well as brain injuries." Bonnie Firestein, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience in the School of Arts and Sciences and author of the study Firestein has been studying cypin for more than two decades. Her latest work uncovered several important aspects of how cypin functions and why it is significant for brain health. One of the crucial discoveries is that cypin helps add a special tag to proteins in synapses connecting neurons. This tag ensures proteins are correctly positioned and able to send signals effectively. Proper tagging and movement of proteins are essential for the neurons to function correctly. Another important finding is that cypin interacts with a complex of proteins, known as the proteasome, which is responsible for breaking down proteins. When cypin attaches or binds to the proteasome, it slows down this breakdown process, leading to an accumulation of proteins. This buildup can positively affect various cellular functions, which are important for the communication between neurons. Firestein's research also shows that when there is more cypin present, the levels of important proteins in the synapses increase. These proteins are vital for effective communication between neurons, empowering learning and memory. Additionally, cypin increases the activity of another protein called UBE4A, which also helps with the tagging process. This indicates that cypin's influence on synaptic proteins is partly because of its effect on UBE4A. The work highlights the importance of cypin in maintaining healthy brain function and its potential as a target for therapeutic interventions. "Even though this study is what we call 'basic research,' it eventually can be applied in practical, clinical settings," said Firestein, who already is conducting such "translational" work in parallel. Translational research is a type of research that takes discoveries made in the lab and turns them into practical treatments or solutions to improve human health. Cypin's significant role in the workings of the brain's synapses makes it highly relevant to the potential treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic brain injury, she said. For example, healthy synaptic function is often disrupted in diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. In addition, the protein's role in promoting synaptic plasticity the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time means it may be used to help counteract the synaptic dysfunction seen in neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries. The study was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health (NINDS), the Coalition for Brain Injury Research, a charitable foundation dedicated to the memory of Dennis John Benigno, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in junior high school; and private donors Jamuna Rajasingham and Dyan Rajasingham. Other scientists from Rutgers involved in the study include Kiran Madura, a professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Srinivasa Gandu, Mihir Patel, Ana Rodriguez, former doctoral students in the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience. Jared Lamp and Irving Vega of Michigan State University also contributed to this research. WHO Member States have held their first meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement, formalizing next steps on implementing key provisions of the historic legal instrument to make the world safer from future pandemics. Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes of Brazil, co-chair of the IGWG Bureau guiding the negotiations, said the first meeting, that ran from 9-10 July, was a critical moment in the global effort to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. It followed the World Health Assembly's landmark adoption on 20 May 2025 of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. Through the WHO Pandemic Agreement, countries recognized that global collaboration and action, based on equity, are essential for protecting people from future pandemics. Now, through the IGWG, countries are breathing life into the Agreement by establishing the way forward to implement the Agreement's life-saving provisions." Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes of Brazil The Assembly established the IGWG to, as a priority, draft and negotiate an annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS). This PABS system is intended to enable safe, transparent and accountable access and benefit-sharing for PABS materials and sequence information. The outcome of the IGWG's work on the PABS annex will be submitted to the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly in 2026 for its consideration. In addition to negotiating the PABS annex, the IGWG has been established to discuss procedural and other matters to prepare for the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Pandemic Agreement and develop a proposal for the terms of reference for the Coordinating Financial Mechanism. Fellow IGWG Bureau co-chair Mr Matthew Harpur, of the United Kingdom, said he was encouraged by the strong collaboration shown by WHO Member States to take the WHO Pandemic Agreement forward. "Global collaboration is the foundation of an effective response to global threats," said Mr Harpur. "I am encouraged by the commitment shown by WHO Member States during the first IGWG to work together to protect their citizens, and those of all other countries." The first meeting of the IGWG adopted the body's method of work, timeline of activities leading up to next year's World Health Assembly, and mode of engagement with relevant stakeholders, and elected co-chairs and vice chairs to lead the IGWG process. The IGWG also decided to identify experts to provide inputs on the PABS annex and possibly hold an informal briefing before the second meeting of the IGWG, which will be held on 15-19 September 2025. This new article publication from Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B, discusses how ALKBH3-regulated m1A of ALDOA potentiates glycolysis and doxorubicin resistance of triple negative breast cancer cells. Chemotherapy is currently the mainstay of systemic management for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), but chemoresistance significantly impacts patient outcomes. This research indicates that Doxorubicin (Dox)-resistant TNBC cells exhibit increased glycolysis and ATP generation compared to their parental cells, with this metabolic shift contributing to chemoresistance. It was discovered that ALKBH3, an m1A demethylase enzyme, is crucial in regulating the enhanced glycolysis in Dox-resistant TNBC cells. Knocking down ALKBH3 reduced ATP generation, glucose consumption, and lactate production, implicating its involvement in mediating glycolysis. Further investigation revealed that aldolase A (ALDOA), a key enzyme in glycolysis, is a downstream target of ALKBH3. ALKBH3 regulates ALDOA mRNA stability through m1A demethylation at the 3-untranslated region (3UTR). This methylation negatively affects ALDOA mRNA stability by recruiting the YTHDF2/PAN2PAN3 complex, leading to mRNA degradation. The ALKBH3/ALDOA axis promotes Dox resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Clinical analysis demonstrated that ALKBH3 and ALDOA are upregulated in breast cancer tissues, and higher expression of these proteins is associated with reduced overall survival in TNBC patients. This study highlights the role of the ALKBH3/ALDOA axis in contributing to Dox resistance in TNBC cells through regulation of ALDOA mRNA stability and glycolysis. Among the more than 100 types of human papillomavirus (HPV), at least 14 are considered as 'high-risk' types which can cause (cervical) cancer. After breast cancer, cervical cancer is the most common cancer in Europe among women aged 1544 years. Before HPV vaccination among teenage girls started in Denmark, high-risk HPV was found in all cervical cancers. HPV types 16/18 accounted for around three quarters (74%) of cervical cancers. These two types are covered in the 4-valent HPV vaccine offered to girls since 2008 as well as the 9-valent vaccine which has been in use in Denmark since November 2017. One third (26%) of cervical cancers prior to the HPV immunisation campaign were caused by high-risk types that are not covered by the 2- and 4-valent vaccine. In their research article published in Eurosurveillance, Nonboe et al. examined the HPV status of cervical samples over time among women (2230 years) at screening age for cervical cancer who were vaccinated as girls. They tested up to three consecutive cervical cell samples per participant provided by the contributing pathology departments in Denmark for HPV. In total, 17,252 women with at least one cervical cell sample were registered between 1 February 2017 and 29 February 2024. During the seven years of the randomised "Trial23" study (cervical cancer screening starts at age 23 in Denmark), 84% of women in the study had at least one cell sample taken. The authors compared HPV prevalence, persistence and incidence among vaccinated and unvaccinated women. "Strong indication" of population immunity against high-risk HPV types 16 and 18 Based on the data gathered during the study period, HPV16/18 has been almost eliminated among vaccinated women in Denmark: prevalence of these two types in the samples decreased to < 1% in 2021 from 1517% before vaccination of girls. In addition, prevalence of the types 16/18 in women who had not been vaccinated against HPV remained at 5% which, according to the authors, "strongly indicates population immunity". Despite the evidence of protection through vaccination, about one third of women screened during the study period still had HPV infection with high-risk HPV types not covered by the offered vaccines - and new infections with these types were more frequent in vaccinated than in unvaccinated women There was a low prevalence of HPV16/18 during the 7-year study period and women who have been vaccinated against HPV as girls are expected to have a considerably lower risk of cervical cancer compared with previous generations. Therefore, the authors also assessed whether the current cervical screening strategies in the country could be adjusted accordingly or even stopped entirely. The study results showed a remaining high prevalence of high-risk HPV infections in women that are not covered by the HPV vaccines and that had been detected both in vaccinated and unvaccinated women during the study period. At the same time, the authors noted a significantly higher incidence of non-vaccine high-risk HPV types among vaccinated women than in unvaccinated women. Based on this, Nonboe et al. thus conclude that "less intensive screening seems reasonable until women vaccinated as girls with the 9-valent vaccine reach screening age, at which point screening should be reconsidered." A breast scan for detecting cancer takes less than a minute using an experimental system that combines photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging, according to a study in IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging. The system does not require painful compression like mammography. Instead, patients stand and gently press their breast against an imaging window. In tests involving four healthy individuals and 61 breast cancer patients, it produced clear, artificial intelligence-powered 3D images of common breast cancer subtypes such as Luminal A, Luminal B and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Our system, which is called OneTouch-PAT, combines advanced imaging, automation and artificial intelligence all while enhancing patient comfort." Jun Xia, PhD, study's corresponding author, professor in the University at Buffalo's Department of Biomedical Engineering He stresses that "more work is needed before it can be used in clinical settings, but we're excited about OneTouch-PAT's potential to augment current imaging methods and help fight this terrible disease." Additional authors include researchers in the UB Department of Biostatistics; the UB Department of Computer Science and Engineering; the Department of Breast Imaging and the Department of Surgery, both at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Windsong Radiology. The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health. Breast cancer is among the leading causes of death for women worldwide. Early detection most commonly through mammograms and ultrasound has helped save countless lives. But each technique has limitations. Mammography is widely available and relatively inexpensive, but it's less accurate among women with dense breast tissue, involves radiation and is painful. Ultrasound, which is often used in conjunction with mammography, is better with dense breast tissue, but it can produce false positives and its quality is reliant upon the skill of the sonographer. Other tools such as MRI are effective but expensive, time-consuming and not widely available. Xia and colleagues have been studying photoacoustic imaging, which works by emitting laser pulses that cause light-absorbing molecules to heat up and expand. This in turn creates ultrasound waves that allow medical professionals to detect blood vessels that often grow more in cancerous tissues. Typically, these systems require a sonographer to manually scan the breast, or they rely on separate devices for photoacoustic imaging and ultrasound imaging. OneTouch-PAT combines both scans automatically in other words, there is no potential for operator error with the patient in the same standing position. The device performs a photoacoustic scan first, followed by an ultrasound scan, then repeats this pattern in an interleaved way until the entire breast is covered. The system then processes the data using a deep learning network to improve image clarity. Depending on the computing power in this step, this may take only a few minutes. Ultimately, the research team found that OneTouch-PAT provides a more in-depth and clearer view of breast tumors compared to photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging systems that are operator-dependent. For example, its 3D images showed unique vascular patterns by cancer subtype. That includes richer and more prominent tumor-associated blood vessels in Luminal A and Luminal B cancers, and high-intensity spots that correspond to the chaotic and abnormal blood supply often seen in Triple-Negative Breast Cancers. OneTouch-PAT could be especially helpful for women with dense breast tissue, who are often more difficult to diagnose and at higher risk. This is because the system's ultrasound component excels at detecting suspicious lesions and the photoacoustic imaging captures blood vessel growth around those lesions to provide additional information about potential malignancy and tumor type. Both techniques are less affected by tissue density. While the results are promising, Xia says, more studies are needed across a broader population to continue to validate OneTouch-PAT. The team is planning additional studies to include benign lesions and improve data extraction methods. The researchers also aim to add more sensors and more robust imaging tools for improved accuracy and speed. By Simon Jessop and Virginia Furness LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's HSBC became the latest bank to leave the industry's climate coalition on Friday, following in the footsteps of major U.S. lenders as some governments' net zero ambitions cool. HSBC said while it recognised the role played by the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) in developing guiding frameworks to help banks set emissions-reduction targets, the foundation was now in place and it had decided to withdraw from the group as it prepares to update its net-zero transition plan. "We remain resolutely focused on supporting our customers to finance their transition objectives and on making progress towards our net zero by 2050 ambition," an HSBC spokesperson said. Global peers including JPMorgan, Citi, Morgan Stanley, Macquarie and Bank of Montreal have all exited the group this year. The group was formed in 2021 to help align the sector with the world's goal of limiting global warming, including by mobilising more money for environmentally friendly activities and setting targets for members to reduce emissions linked to their business activities. HSBC dropped a 2030 emissions-reduction target in February blaming slow progress towards net zero in the real economy. Jeanne Martin, Co-Director of Corporate Engagement said: We strongly condemn HSBC's decision to leave the NZBA, which is yet another troubling signal around the bank's commitment to addressing the climate crisis." The UK government has a legally binding commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. HSBC's Chief Sustainability Officer Julian Wentzel said in February the bank would take a "more measured approach" to lending to the fossil fuel industry, sparking concerns among some activists that it would row back on its climate promises. On its website, HSBC says that targets for cutting emissions linked to its loan book would "continue to be informed by the latest scientific evidence and credible industry-specific pathways". In the U.S., banks have come under pressure from some Republican politicians and been called to testify before policymakers who have accused them of colluding to unfairly penalise fossil fuel producers through their membership of groups like NZBA. The Trump administration has consistently taken a critical position on the world's efforts to fight climate change, pulling out of the Paris Agreement on climate for the second time, cutting development aid, encouraging a ramping up of fossil fuel output and rolling back environmental regulations. A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has upended decades of neuroscience dogma, revealing that dopamine, a neurotransmitter critical for movement, motivation, learning and mood, communicates in the brain with extraordinary precision, not broad diffusion as previously believed. This groundbreaking research offers fresh hope for millions of people living with dopamine-related disorders, marking a significant advance in the quest for precision-based neuroscience and medicine. For years, scientists thought of dopamine as a kind of chemical "broadcast system," flooding large areas of the brain to influence behavior. But new research, published today in Science, found that dopamine acts more like a finely-tuned postal service, delivering highly localized messages to specific nerve cell branches at exact moments in time. Our current research found that dopamine signaling and transmission in the brain is much more complex than we thought. We knew that dopamine plays a role in many different behaviors, and our work gives the beginning of a framework for understanding how all those different behaviors could all be regulated by dopamine." Christopher Ford, PhD, Professor, University of Colorado School of Medicine and lead author Using advanced microscopy techniques, researchers found that dopamine is released in concentrated hotspots which enable targeted, rapid responses in nearby brain cells, while broader signals activate slower, widespread effects. This dual signaling system allows dopamine to simultaneously fine-tune individual neural connections and orchestrate complex behaviors like movement, decision-making, and learning. The implications are far-reaching. Dopamine system dysfunction plays a central role in a wide range of brain disorders, including Parkinson's disease, addiction, schizophrenia, ADHD and depression. Current treatments largely focus on restoring overall dopamine levels but this research suggests that the precision of dopamine signaling may be just as crucial. "We are really only at the tip of the iceberg in trying to understand how dysfunctions in dopamine contribute to diseases like Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia or addiction," said Ford. "More work is needed to grasp how these specific changes in dopamine signaling are affected in these different neurological and psychiatric diseases. The goal, of course, would then be to build on those findings to come up with new and improved treatments for those disorders." 23-year-old man commits suicide in Haryanas Faridabad: Police Last Updated: July 13, 2025, 01:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Faridabad (Hry), Jul 12 (PTI) A 23-year-old man allegedly shot himself at his house in Greenfield colony, located within the Surajkund police station limits in Haryanas Faridabad district, police said on Saturday. In a video purportedly shot before taking the extreme step, the deceased said, I am shooting myself of my own free will." The bullet passed through his head and he died on spot. Police have seized the pistol. Recommended Stories According to police, the deceased was identified as Monu Singh, a resident of Greenfield colony. His father Anuj works in a printing press and has three children. The deceased has two elder siblings Sonu and Priya. The deceased also used to work with him in the printing press, his father said. The father said he had gone to the printing press on Friday evening, the other family members too had gone out for some work and the deceased was alone at home. When Sonu returned home, he saw the deceaseds body on a bed and informed police and the other family members. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Police reached the spot and shifted the body to a mortuary for post-mortem. They also found a pistol from the spot. On checking the deceaseds mobile phone, they found the video that was shot before he committed suicide. A senior police officer said a preliminary investigation suggests it to be case of suicide. Police are investigating how the deceased caught hold of the pistol and if there was anyone else behind the incident. PTI COR RC view comments First Published: July 13, 2025, 01:00 IST News agency-feeds 23-year-old man commits suicide in Haryanas Faridabad: Police Boeing settles with man whose family died in 737 Max crash in Ethiopia Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 05:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Chicago, Jul 12 (AP) Boeing reached a settlement Friday with a Canadian man whose wife and three children were killed in a deadly 2019 crash in Ethiopia, averting the first trial connected to the devastating event that led to a worldwide grounding of Max jets. The jury trial at Chicagos federal court had been set to start Monday to determine damages for Paul Njoroge of Canada. His family was heading to their native Kenya in March 2019 aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 when it malfunctioned and plummeted to the ground. The wreck killed all 157 people on board. Recommended Stories Njoroge, 41, had planned to testify about how the crash affected his life. He has been unable to return to his family home in Toronto because the memories are too painful. He hasnt been able to find a job. And he has weathered criticism from relatives for not traveling alongside his wife and children. Hes got complicated grief and sorrow and his own emotional stress," said Njoroges attorney, Robert Clifford. Hes haunted by nightmares and the loss of his wife and children." Terms of the deal were not disclosed publicly. Clifford said his client intended to seek millions" in damages on behalf of his wife and children, but declined to publicly specify an amount ahead of the trial. The aviation team at Clifford Law Offices has been working round-the-clock in preparation for trial, but the mediator was able to help the parties come to an agreement," Clifford said in a statement Friday. The proceedings were not expected to delve into technicalities involving the Max version of Boeings bestselling 737 airplane, which has been the source of persistent troubles for the company since the Ethiopia crash and one the year before in Indonesia. A combined 346 people, including passengers and crew members, died in those crashes. In 2021, Chicago-based Boeing accepted responsibility for the Ethiopia crash in a deal with the victims families that allowed them to pursue individual claims in U.S. courts instead of their home countries. Citizens of 35 countries were killed. Several families of victims have already settled. Terms of those agreements also were not made public. The jetliner heading to Nairobi lost control shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and nose-dived into a barren patch of land. Investigators determined the Ethiopia and Indonesia crashes were caused by a system that relied on a sensor that provided faulty readings and pushed the plane noses down, leaving pilots unable to regain control. After the Ethiopia crash, Max jets were grounded worldwide until the company redesigned the system. This year, Boeing reached a deal with the U.S. Justice Department to avoid criminal prosecutions in both crashes. Among those killed were Njoroges wife, Carolyne, and three small children, Ryan, age 6, Kellie, 4, and Rubi, 9 months old, the youngest to die on the plane. Njoroge also lost his mother-in-law, whose family has a separate case. Njoroge, who met his wife in college in Nairobi, was living in Canada at the time of the crash. He had planned to join his family in Kenya later. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He testified before Congress in 2019 about repeatedly imagining how his family suffered during the flight, which lasted only six minutes. He has pictured his wife struggling to hold their infant in her lap with two other children seated nearby. I stay up nights thinking of the horror that they must have endured," Njoroge said. The six minutes will forever be embedded in my mind. I was not there to help them. I couldnt save them." (AP) NB NB view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 05:00 IST News agency-feeds Boeing settles with man whose family died in 737 Max crash in Ethiopia Nepals trekking body asks govt to urge China to help stranded pilgrims Last Updated: July 13, 2025, 01:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Kathmandu, Jul 12 (PTI) Nepals Trekking Association has urged the government to request China to open an alternative route for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims stranded due to the collapse of the Miteri Bridge on the border with the northern neighbour. Hundreds of pilgrims, mostly from India, have been stranded following the incident on July 8, Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) said in a statement issued on Friday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recommended Stories TAAN asked the government to request China to facilitate pilgrims to visit Kailash Mansarovar from other alternative routes such as Tatopani, Korola and Hilsa." At least nine people were killed and 19 others were missing after monsoon rains flooded a river in Rasuwa district, sweeping away the Friendship Bridge" that links Nepal to China. Scores of pilgrims, majority of them Indians, go for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Nepal through private tour operators. China has allowed entry of Indians into Tibet for the Yatra after five years. PTI SBP RD RD RD view comments First Published: July 13, 2025, 01:00 IST News agency-feeds Nepals trekking body asks govt to urge China to help stranded pilgrims Rural health officer shot dead in Patna Last Updated: July 13, 2025, 02:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Patna, Jul 12 (PTI) A 50-year-old rural health officer was allegedly shot dead in the Pipra locality of Patna on Saturday, officials said. The deceased has been identified as Surendra Kumar (50), they said. Recommended Stories The incident took place at Sheikhpura village late this evening when Kumar was working in his field. According to villagers, they heard sounds of gunshots from Kumars field. When they went there, the officer was found lying unconscious with bullet injury, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO-2) Masaurhi, Kanhaiya Singh, told reporters. Kumar was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to injuries during treatment, Singh told reporters. Kumar worked as a rural health officer. The body has been sent for the post-mortem, he said, adding that further probe is underway. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The incident comes close on the heels of a spate of murders that have rocked the state capital in the last one week. Earlier, a 50-year-old man, involved in the sand mining business, was shot dead outside his residence in the Ranitalab area in Patna on Thursday barely a few days after the murder of top industrialist Gopal Khemka outside his residence situated on a busy street in the state capital on July 4. PTI PKD NB NB view comments First Published: July 13, 2025, 02:15 IST News agency-feeds Rural health officer shot dead in Patna IPO-Bound Flipkart To Buy Back $50 Million In ESOP, Benefits Over 7,500 Staff Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 08:35 IST Flipkart announced a $50 million employee stock buyback for over 7500 employees ahead of Diwali. CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy praised the team's achievements and future goals. IPO-bound Flipkart announces $50 million stock buyback scheme for employees. Walmart-owned Flipkart announced on Friday to reward its employees ahead of the Diwali by purchasing a $50 million employee stocks in a buyback scheme, benefitting over 7500 e-commerce employees. Flipkart is gearing up to launch its IPO very soon. Recommended Stories In a note addressed to employees, Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO of Flipkart, highlighted the companys achievements in the first half of the year, particularly in quick commerce and AI-driven customer experience innovations targeting Gen Z consumers. Praising the teams agility and execution, he expressed pride in their relentless drive and passion. As part of the initiative, Flipkarts board has approved a special liquidity event under the Flipkart Stock Option Plan 2012. All active employees as of July 5, 2025, will be allowed to liquidate up to 5% of their vested stock options from the past three years (July 6, 2022 to July 5, 2025) at a rate of $174.32 per option. The payouts are scheduled for August 2025. This move aims to let employees share in the companys value creation and reward their efforts in driving success. Kalyan further added that if key goals are met by the end of the year, another 5% ESOP liquidity event may be unlocked in early 2026. This, he said, is not just a financial gesture but also a recognition of innovation, commitment, and the drive to create exceptional value for customers. Closing the message, Kalyan urged the team to continue striving for excellence, reminding them that in a fast-paced industry, past wins are stepping stones for future growth. He emphasized the immense opportunities in India and called for collective effort to harness them for meaningful success. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Walmart and other Flipkart board members have directed CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy to reduce the companys monthly cash burn by 50%, bringing it down from $40 million to $20 million. In 2018, Walmart acquired a controlling stake of 77% in the Indian e-commerce company Flipkart for $16 billion. About the Author Business Desk A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 08:34 IST News business IPO-Bound Flipkart To Buy Back $50 Million In ESOP, Benefits Over 7,500 Staff PM Kisan Beneficiary List 2025: 20th Installment Expected Soon; Check Your Status Now Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 13:51 IST Millions of farmers await the 20th PM Kisan installment in July. Complete eKYC to avoid issues. Check beneficiary status and contact details on the PM Kisan portal. Under the PM Kisan scheme, the central government provides financial assistance of Rs 6,000 annually to eligible farmers in three equal installments of Rs 2,000. PM Kisan Beneficiary List 2025: Millions of farmers are awaiting for the 20th installment of the PM Kisan scheme, which is likely to be disbursed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July. The last (19th) installment was issued in February 2025. Recommended Stories Yet there is no official announcement regarding the disbursement of the 20th installment. Farmers are advised to complete the all process eKYC to added in beneficiary list involved in the PM Kisan, so they wont face any problem whenever it will be disbursed through DBT. How To Check If Your Name Is On the Beneficiary List: 1. Visit the official PM Kisan portal: https://pmkisan.gov.in 2. After scrolling a bit on the homepage, under the FARMERS CORNER, click on Beneficiary List. 3. Enter your state, district, sub-district, block, and village. 4. Click Get Report to view the list of beneficiaries in your village. PM Kisan Scheme: How To Check Status If You Are a Self-Registered Farmer? Farmers who have registered themselves through the CSC centers or online can check their approval status by following these steps: 1. Visit PM Kisans official portal pmkisan.gov.in 2. Click Status of Self Registered Farmer/CSC Farmers in the FARMERS CORNER section on the homepage. 3. Enter your Aadhaar number and filling in the captcha to verify your status. PM Kisan: How To Search Your Point Of Contact For Any Query? Eligible beneficiaries are advised to verify their details and reach out to the correct point of contact (PoC) in case of issues such as e-KYC failure, incorrect bank details, Aadhaar mismatch, or mobile number errors. Heres how you can find your point of contact under the PM-Kisan scheme: 1. Visit PM Kisans official website, https://pmkisan.gov.in/. 2. Scroll a bit and click on Search Your Point of Contact (POC) 3. Select Search Distric Nodal. 4. Select your state and district. Now, the name of the official, his designation, his mobile number and email-ID address will be displayed. You can contact them for any PM Kisan-related query. How To Complete e-KYC? As the installment is expected to come soon, eligible farmers are required to complete before that to avoid payment failure. e-KYC (Electronic Know Your Customer) is mandatory for all PM Kisan beneficiaries. Without it, your name may be dropped from the beneficiary list. As per the schemes official website, eKYC is MANDATORY for PMKISAN Registered Farmers." You can complete e-KYC in three simple ways: OTP-Based e-KYC: If your Aadhaar is linked to your mobile number, visit PM Kisans website and verify using the OTP. Biometric e-KYC: Visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) for fingerprint authentication. Facial Authentication: A special facility for senior citizens and physically challenged farmers is now available at CSCs, allowing e-KYC through facial recognition. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all About the Author Business Desk A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 13:51 IST News business PM Kisan Beneficiary List 2025: 20th Installment Expected Soon; Check Your Status Now Saturday Bank Holiday: Are Banks Open Or Closed On July 12? Details Here Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 07:00 IST Banks in India are closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Banks closed on July 12. (Representative Image) All scheduled and non-scheduled banks will be closed on July 12 as it is the second Saturday of the month. According to the RBIs guidelines, banks observe public holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays of a month. On the other hand, banks remain operational on the first, third and fifth (if applicable) Saturdays of every month. All banks remain closed on Sundays. Recommended Stories Therefore, banks will remain closed on July 12 and July 26 as these are the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Apart from this, banks will be closed on the remaining Sundays in the month. Bank Holidays In July 2025 According to the RBIs holiday calendar list, banks will remain closed in Meghalaya on July 14 on the occasion of Beh Deinkhlam. It is an important dance festival for the Jaintia tribes. A couple of days later, banks will be shut in Uttarakhand on July 16 to mark the festival of Harela. It marks the onset of monsoon and the planting of fresh crops. Banks will again remain closed in Meghalaya on July 17 to observe the death anniversary of U Tirot Singh, a local hero who fought against the British. On July 19, banks will be closed in Tripura on the occasion of Ker Puja. Sikkim will see bank closures on July 28 for the celebration of Drukpa Tshe-zi. This day commemorates Lord Buddhas first sermon at Sarnath, where he explained the Four Noble Truths to his first five disciples. Heres a breakdown of the bank holidays remaining in July 2025: July 14: Banks closed in Meghalaya due to Beh Deinkhlam. July 16: Banks closed in Uttarakhand due to Harela. July 17: Banks closed in Meghalaya to observe the death anniversary of U Tirot Singh. July 19: Bank closure in Tripura for Ker Puja. July 28: Banks closed in Sikkim for Drukpa Tshe-zi. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While the physical branches of respective banks will remain shut on these holidays, you can continue to access banking services online. This includes using net banking and UPI. You can also visit ATMs to make cash withdrawals. If you have a visit to your bank branch pending, you must check the RBIs holiday calendar list to know on which dates banks will remain closed in your state. It will help you create a proper schedule for your bank visit. About the Author Business Desk A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More view comments Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: July 12, 2025, 07:00 IST News business Saturday Bank Holiday: Are Banks Open Or Closed On July 12? Details Here Karnataka HC Seeks Govt's Reply On Kannada Mandate In CBSE, ICSE Schools Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 18:07 IST Parents and teachers allege that the state government is indirectly pressuring CBSE and CISCE schools to adopt Kannada by using regulatory mechanisms like NOCs. The petitioners contend that students should have the right to choose their first, second, and third languages. (Representative/File) The Karnataka High Court has instructed the state government to explain within three months why Kannada should be a mandatory subject in CBSE and CISCE-affiliated schools. This directive was issued during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging this decision. The division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice V. Kameswara Rao and Justice C.M. Joshi, expressed dissatisfaction with the government for not responding so far. The court remarked that the government has been inactive for two years. If this continues, the court may consider granting interim relief to the petitioners. Recommended Stories The petition disputes the mandate for compulsory teaching of Kannada as a first or second language in CBSE and CISCE schools, as stipulated by the Karnataka Language Teaching Act, 2015, and its related rules established in 2017. The petitioners argued that this decision infringes on the freedom of language choice, potentially impacting students academic freedom and teachers employment. According to the rules, schools failing to comply risk having their NOC (No Objection Certificate) revoked, jeopardizing their recognition. ALSO READ | Dont Push Hindi: South India Slams CBSEs Three-Language Formula, Experts Say Focus On Children The petitioners contend that students should have the right to choose their first, second, and third languages. They believe that enforcing Kannada could affect students future prospects, especially those preparing for competitive exams or studying in other states. The petition also highlights concerns that teachers unable to teach Kannada may face employment challenges due to the new language policy. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Parents and teachers allege that the state government is indirectly pressuring CBSE and CISCE schools to adopt Kannada by using regulatory mechanisms like NOCs. They argue that this could set a dangerous precedent against academic freedom and parental choice. The court has given the state government three months to respond. The next hearing will occur only after this period. For now, the court has adjourned the case. About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 17:57 IST News education-career Karnataka HC Seeks Govt's Reply On Kannada Mandate In CBSE, ICSE Schools Kerala Schools Introduce New Seating Arrangement To Eliminate Concept Of Backbenchers Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 12:28 IST The school has implemented an innovative seating arrangement where single row seats are aligned with the four walls of the classroom, ensuring everyone sits in front benches. This seating arrangement has already been adopted by eight schools in Kerala. (Representational/File)) Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVHSS) in Valakom, a district in South Kerala has become a model for educational innovation with a unique classroom setup that eliminates the concept of backbenchers. To ensure every primary student receives equal attention, RVHSS has garnered admiration and imitation, reported PTI. Inspired by the recently released Malayalam movie Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, the school has implemented an innovative seating arrangement where single row seats are aligned with the four walls of the classroom, ensuring everyone sits in front benches. Recommended Stories This seating arrangement has already been adopted by eight schools in Kerala, and even a school in Punjab has embraced it. I got a message that a school in Punjab has also adopted it after the principal saw the movie on the OTT platform. He also screened the movie for the students. I am happy that it got national attention," Vinesh Viswanathan, director of the movie Sthanarthi Sreekuttan told the news agency. He added that the movie had just one scene showing this arrangement, as an idea implemented by a seventh standard student in the film. It was his experience of being insulted sitting on the backbench that gave him such an idea. I never thought it would get such attention. It is not an idea created by us, but we did have such a seating arrangement earlier in classrooms, as part of District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) and we had lost it somewhere in between," Vinesh said. Minister K B Ganesh Kumar, whose family operates RMVHSS, played a crucial role in introducing this new system to the school. After watching a preview of Sthanarthi Sreekuttan a year before its release, he discussed implementing it in RMVHSS primary classes with the teachers. At first, the school decided to start it in class 1 and after receiving good feedback, it expanded it to all lower primary classes, Sunil P Sekhar, Headmaster of RMVHSS, told PTI. He noted that this system allowed teachers to give equal attention to all students, facilitating better student monitoring. Additionally, it eliminated the concept of backbenchers, putting every student in a position of prominence. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Lower primary classes are where students learn a lot of new things and they naturally get rid of the concept or taboo of sitting on the backbenches. It also helps students to have a more direct interaction with the teachers," he added. According to the teachers, such systems are already practiced in countries like Finland and Norway with a better student-teacher ratio in schools. About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 12:08 IST News education-career Kerala Schools Introduce New Seating Arrangement To Eliminate Concept Of Backbenchers (Reuters) -Recruit Holdings, the Japanese parent of Indeed and Glassdoor, will reduce headcount by around 1,300 across the two job sites amid a shift in focus toward artificial intelligence, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Thursday. The cuts representing about 6% of the HR technology segment workforce are mostly in the U.S. and within the research and development, growth, and people and sustainability teams, but span all functions and several countries, the memo said. While the company did not provide a specific reason for the layoffs, Recruit CEO Hisayuki "Deko" Idekoba said "AI is changing the world, and we must adapt by ensuring our product delivers truly great experiences for job seekers and employers". U.S. companies, including tech giants Meta and Microsoft, have announced job cuts recently to prioritize AI investments as well as to navigate slowing economic growth. Recruit also said it would integrate Glassdoor operations into Indeed. As a result of which, Glassdoor CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong would leave the company, effective October 1. LaFawn Davis, chief people and sustainability officer of Indeed, will also step down effective September 1, and will be succeeded by Ayano Senaha, chief operating officer of Recruit. Recruit, which acquired Indeed in 2012 and Glassdoor in 2018, currently has 20,000 employees in the HR technology business unit. In 2024, Indeed announced plans to eliminate 1,000 positions. This followed a previous announcement a year earlier, when the company said it would cut about 2,200 jobs, representing 15% of its staff. (Reporting by Kritika Lamba in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar) NCERT Launches New Textbooks For Class 5, 8; Art Education Made Compulsory Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 13:52 IST The NCERT Class 8 science book highlights India's modern accomplishments through chapters on the COVID-19 vaccine, the Make in India initiative, the Chandrayaan mission, etc. NCERT plans to print 15 crore books. (Representational/File) NCERT has introduced new books for classes 5 and 8 starting from the 2025-26 session. These books are aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. Designed to foster creativity, curiosity, and concept clarity in children, the new Class 8 books include Curiosity (Science), Kaushal Bodh (Vocational Education), Malhaar (Hindi), and Poorvi (English). The new NCERT books emphasise Indian culture, scientific achievements, and moral values. The Class 8 science book Curiosity highlights Indias modern accomplishments through chapters on the COVID-19 vaccine, the Make in India initiative, the Chandrayaan mission, Ayurveda principles, and traditional medicine systems, encouraging scientific curiosity and showcasing Indias global achievements. Recommended Stories The new Class 8 books are engaging, written in simple language, and designed with a clear vision. 1. Curiosity is a new science book with 18 chapters covering chemistry, physics, and biology, focusing on practical activities and real-life examples. Topics like genetics, ecology, and biotechnology are explained in simple terms. 2. Kaushal Bodh centres on vocational education, providing students with skill-based education to prepare them for future employment opportunities. 3. Poorvi (English) features five theme-based units, including stories of Major Somnath Sharmas bravery, Verghese Kuriens White Revolution, and physicist Bibha Choudhary. These success stories inspire values like courage, kindness, and scientific curiosity. 4. Malhaar (Hindi) and Kriti (art education) have also been launched for Class 8. Kriti includes theatre, music, and drama as regular subjects, making art education compulsory as per NEP 2020 recommendations. 5. Santoor (English) and Veena (Hindi) have been introduced for Class 5, focusing on activity-based teaching to help young children learn language in an interesting way through play. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Where can I get new NCERT books? Although NCERT has launched these books under NEP 2020, some challenges have arisen. The new books are not yet fully available online, and there have been complaints of shortages on Amazon or in local shops. Some parents and teachers have requested NCERT to upload PDFs of these books on their website. NCERT plans to print 15 crore books and has partnered with platforms like Amazon and Flipkart to facilitate easier delivery. About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 13:51 IST News education-career NCERT Launches New Textbooks For Class 5, 8; Art Education Made Compulsory New IIM MBA Without CAT! Check Eligibility, Age Limit, And Application Dates Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 11:48 IST IIM Lucknow now offers an MBA without CAT. The BMBA suits professionals with 3+ years experience, combining online learning and on-campus sessions Applications opened on July 11, 2025; the course starts from September 25, 2025. (AI Generated) Many graduates aim for an MBA from the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), with admission typically requiring success in the CAT (Common Admission Test). However, for those who dont clear CAT, theres good news: IIM Lucknow now offers a new MBA programme that doesnt require CAT scores. Blended MBA (BMBA): Tailored For Professionals Recommended Stories The Indian Institute of Management Lucknow has introduced a Blended Master of Business Administration (BMBA): a two-year postgraduate programme designed for working professionals and entrepreneurs. This flexible programme allows candidates to pursue a world-class MBA while continuing in their careers. Course Structure: Core + Electives + Capstone The programme is divided into six sessions: Year 1:- Core management subjects Year 2:- Elective modules in areas such as: Strategy Finance Marketing IT & Systems Operations & Supply Chain Management Human Resource Management A capstone project will provide real-world application of theoretical knowledge. Learning Mode: Online + Campus Immersion The study mode is highly flexible and interactive, featuring virtual live classes and periodic on-campus sessions. These campus sessions will include: Faculty-led workshops Group-based learning Simulation exercises Industry exposure This hybrid format is ideal for professionals seeking flexibility. Eligibility Criteria For BMBA Applicants must meet the following requirements: Minimum three years of full-time work experience At least 24 years of age Minimum 15 years of formal education with at least 50% marks in graduation Professional qualifications like CA, CS, CMA, or foreign degrees recognised by AIU are also accepted Important Dates Applications Open: July 11, 2025 Last Date to Apply: August 18, 2025 Online Interviews: September 1 to 3, 2025 Course Commencement: September 25, 2025 Selection will be based on academic background, work experience, relevant test scores, and interview performance. BMBA Programme Objective top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The BMBA aims to: Develop strategic thinking and leadership skills Equip participants with modern business tools and digital frameworks Prepare learners for a dynamic and technology-driven business environment view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 11:48 IST News education-career New IIM MBA Without CAT! Check Eligibility, Age Limit, And Application Dates Enemy Property: A Link Between Pervez Musharraf And Saif Ali Khan | Explained Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 08:30 IST Enemy property is property abandoned by those who emigrated from India to Pakistan or China following the Partition of India in 1947 or subsequent hostilities The Madhya Pradesh High Court has quashed a decades-old ruling that had earlier validated the Pataudi familys ownership of the royal properties inherited from the Nawab of Bhopal. File pic This week would be one of the worst for Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan. He experienced a setback in law when the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared his familys approximately Rs 15,000 crore assets in Bhopal as Enemy Property". The court overturned a 2000 order that had confirmed Saif and his family as the legal heirs to the vast royal property, which was earlier owned by the Nawabs of Bhopal. This case again puts the focus on the Enemy Property Act and the increasing role of the Government of India in auctioning and managing such properties. Recommended Stories Saif is not alone. Pakistans former president and army chief Pervez Musharrafs property too was auctioned under the same Enemy Property Act. What is Enemy Property? Enemy property is property abandoned by those who emigrated from India to Pakistan or China following the Partition of India in 1947 or subsequent hostilities (particularly the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars). The Enemy Property Act of 1968 was enacted by the Indian government, under which these properties are acquired and controlled by the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI), an organisation under the ministry of home affairs. These assets cannot be claimed, transferred, or inherited by relatives residing in India, particularly after significant legislative amendments provided in 2017, which consolidated the Act. What Changed in 2017? The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2017, was a game-changer. It introduced some significant changes. All the properties of the enemy are to perpetually vest with the custodian, irrespective of any court judgments or succession acts. Any sale or transfer of enemy property, even prior to the 2017 law, is null and void. Legal heirs, even Indian nationals, cannot inherit these properties. Courts are barred from adjudicating disputes regarding such properties. Saif Ali Khans Bhopal Properties Declared Enemy Property Saif Ali Khan is the nephew of Begum Sajida Sultan, the late Begum of Bhopal. She inherited various royal properties in Bhopal after her elder sister, Abida Sultan, emigrated to Pakistan in 1950 and became a Pakistani citizen. In 2000, a trial court had ordered that Saif, his mother Sharmila Tagore, and sisters be allowed to inherit properties such as Flagstaff House, Noor-Us-Sabah Palace (which is now a luxury hotel), Dar-Us-Salam, Habibia Bangla, Ahmedabad Palace and Kohefiza property. But in July 2025, the Madhya Pradesh High Court overruled that decision. It ruled that since Abida Sultan had emigrated to Pakistan, the whole estate was enemy property under the 1968 Act. The HC directed a new trial in the district court within one year. In the meantime, the Custodian of Enemy Property can take over the properties for administration or auction. Pervez Musharrafs Family Land Also Auctioned One of the most high-profile cases was that of Pervez Musharraf, a former President of Pakistan. His family had property in Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh. In September 2024, a 13-bigha (approximately 2-hectare) piece of agricultural land owned by the Musharraf family was auctioned by CEPI. The sale was legally enforceable under the Enemy Property Act. It was one of the first large-scale publicised auctions of an enemy property owned by a person of Musharrafs standing. How Many Enemy Properties in India? There are more than 12,600 enemy properties in India, as per government records. There are approximately 12,485 from Pakistan and approximately 126 from China. The total value of such properties is estimated to be around Rs 1 lakh crore. These are land plots, residential houses, palaces, and business buildings. The big states with enemy properties are Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. How Many Have Been Auctioned? CEPI has sold hundreds of properties throughout India, primarily agricultural and residential real estate. Dozens of sales have taken place in Uttar Pradesh, Bengaluru, and Maharashtra. In Bengaluru alone, 24 properties were estimated to be worth over Rs 500 crore. Exact figures differ by region and year, but auctions remain a steady source of income for the government. The Mahmudabad Case: A Turning Point One of the most famous cases is that of the Raja of Mahmudabad, whose father migrated to Pakistan in 1947. The family fought a decades-long legal battle to reclaim their property in Uttar Pradesh. In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Raja, allowing him to reclaim his assets. However, this judgment caused panic within the government, which feared more claims. As a result, the 2017 amendment to the Act was passed, effectively overruling the Supreme Court judgment and blocking future claims from Indian heirs. Governments Role and CEPIs Power top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Government of India, led by the ministry of home affairs, has all the major roles. It comprises maintaining the list of all enemy properties, seizing and taking possession of newly identified properties, auctioning, leasing, or managing properties through CEPI, using proceeds for government revenue or social development. The moment a property is declared enemy property, CEPI becomes its legal owner and can evict occupants or auction it. About the Author Ankur Sharma With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar... Read More With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 08:30 IST News explainers Enemy Property: A Link Between Pervez Musharraf And Saif Ali Khan | Explained Maharashtra's People's Security Bill: Clampdown On 'Urban Naxals' Or Threat To Dissent? Explained Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 16:27 IST The Bill comes in response to reports from state intelligence agencies warning about the spread of Maoist networks into urban student groups, non-profits, and cultural collectives Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said the Bill is not against free thinkers or students but those who misuse democracy to aid violence and divide society. (PTI) The Peoples Security Bill, the latest legislation passed by the Maharashtra Assembly, is aimed at strengthening the states capacity to tackle threats to internal security. According to the government, the Bill is designed to target activities that threaten the sovereignty, integrity, and democratic fabric of the state, specifically focusing on what it terms Urban Naxals and extremist Left-wing organisations. The Bill has been introduced in the backdrop of increasing concerns from the state police and intelligence agencies about the spread of Maoist ideology and its alleged urban sympathisers. Recommended Stories Speaking during the final assembly debate, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said: Maharashtra is committed to protecting democracy and progress. This Bill is not against free thinkers or studentsit is against those who misuse democracy to aid violence and divide society." The Bill comes in response to reports from state intelligence agencies warning about the spread of Maoist networks into urban student groups, non-profits, and cultural collectives. It gives the state more autonomy alongside national anti-terror laws like the UAPA to counter perceived ideological insurgency. This legislation empowers the state to monitor, investigate, and act against individuals or organisations suspected of providing intellectual, logistical, or financial support to banned Maoist outfits. The Bill supplements existing national laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) but gives the state additional powers to curb what it sees as a rising network of urban Maoists operating in educational institutions, cultural groups, NGOs, and civil society spaces. DEEP DIVE A defining feature of the Peoples Security Bill is its explicit focus on strengthening the legal framework to identify and act against so-called Urban Naxalsurban-based sympathisers or facilitators of Maoist insurgents traditionally active in remote and forested regions. The proposed law expands the surveillance powers of state police and special security units, giving them the authority to monitor individuals and groups suspected of engaging in anti-State activities. This surveillance extends to digital communications, written publications, and physical meetings or gatherings. The government will also have the power to declare any organisation unlawful if it is found to be promoting Maoist ideology, providing logistical or financial aid to banned outfits, or inciting violence against the state. In cases where any individual or organisation is proven to be funding or supporting extremist activities, the state can seize their properties, freeze bank accounts, or attach other assets even without prior notice, although this will be subject to judicial oversight to prevent arbitrary misuse. To ensure such cases do not linger in the overburdened regular courts, the Bill mandates the establishment of special fast-track courts exclusively for offences covered under its provisions. Convicted individuals could face prison sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment, depending on how directly they are involved in providing armed or intellectual support to insurgent movements. WHY THE OPPOSITION? The Bill has triggered strong protests from major opposition parties, civil liberties groups, and Left-oriented organisations that see it as an attempt by the state to clamp down on dissent and shrink the space for democratic critique. A key concern is that terms like Urban Naxal and anti-state activities remain too vaguely defined in the text of the legislation, which opponents argue leaves significant room for misuse by law enforcement agencies. Many fear that these broad definitions could be weaponised to target political adversaries, student unions, critical journalists, or activists who speak up against government policies or question large infrastructure projects and corporate takeovers. Critics argue that the Bill could have a chilling effect on free speech and discourage people from voicing legitimate concerns in the name of maintaining internal security. Several opposition leaders have pointed out that India already has the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at the national level, and argue that adding another similar law at the state level only creates legal overlap, complicates jurisdiction, and increases the scope for harassment. Many allege that the real aim behind the new law is to brand people working on tribal rights, forest conservation, land acquisition conflicts, and environmental justice as potential extremists, thereby discrediting their work and silencing resistance to big-ticket development projects. NEED OF THE HOUR The ruling coalition, led by Fadnavis, has strongly defended the Bill, terming it the need of the hour to protect Maharashtras economic hubs and urban centres from infiltration by radical Left-wing elements. Fadnavis has repeatedly cited instances of alleged Maoist involvement in urban protests to justify the Bill. On the other hand, the Congress, Left parties, and regional parties like the Peasants and Workers Party and some independent legislators have called it draconian. They demand that provisions be more clearly defined and judicial safeguards be strengthened to prevent misuse. While the government maintains the law is vital for public safety, opposition parties, civil rights defenders, and Left-leaning groups fear misuse. Vinod Nikole, CPI(M) MLA, strongly criticised the Bill in the Assembly, saying: This is nothing but a new weapon to silence dissent. Who decides who is an Urban Naxal? Tomorrow, farmers, workers, students, and even MLAs opposing government projects can be labelled anti-state." Critics argue the terms Urban Naxal and anti-state activity are vague, opening the door to target journalists, tribal rights activists, environmentalists, or student leaders who protest big infrastructure projects or land acquisitions. Anil Parab, senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, also voiced concern, stating: This is not a security Billit is a silencing Bill. The same government which failed to control corruption wants to control peoples voices now." The Opposition demanded clearer definitions, stronger checks against arbitrary arrests, and an independent oversight mechanism to prevent harassment of legitimate activists and academics. The debate has highlighted a sharp ideological divide in Maharashtras politics, with the ruling alliance projecting the Bill as a necessary security measure and the Opposition branding it an assault on democracy and civil liberties. The immediate impact of the Peoples Security Bill will likely be felt in academic circles, NGOs, cultural organisations, and activist networks. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, supporters argue that genuine social workers and activists have nothing to fear if they have no links to banned outfits. They insist the Bill targets only those who act as urban ideologues or facilitators for armed insurgents hiding in remote areas. As Maharashtra braces for the proposed law, its impact will depend on how the government usesor misusesits powers. The real test of the Peoples Security Bill will lie in balancing security needs with the fundamental rights of citizensa challenge that will define the states democratic spirit in the years to come. About the Author Mayuresh Ganapatye Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa... Read More Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 16:27 IST News explainers Maharashtra's People's Security Bill: Clampdown On 'Urban Naxals' Or Threat To Dissent? Explained Air India Crash: AAIB's Initial Probe Report Adheres To Global Standards, Govt Sources Tell News18 Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 21:11 IST The midnight report focuses on compliance with international standards, which mandate that any investigation conducted by the agency should be made public, they said On June 12, Air Indias Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating flight AI 171 en route to London Gatwick crashed into a medical hostel complex soon after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing about 260 people, including 241 who were onboard the plane. One passenger survived the crash. (Photo Credit: X) The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureaus preliminary report into the Air India Flight 171 crash adheres to international standards, top government sources told CNN-News18 on Saturday. The midnight report focuses on compliance with international standards, which mandate that any investigation conducted by the agency should be made public, they said. The 30-day guideline aims to alleviate concerns about air travel, the sources added. Recommended Stories By midnight on 11th July, 30 days had passed, and the report was made publicly available," a source said. All data, including black box information, is also accessible to the NTSB, Boeing, Air India, and GE." On June 12, Air Indias Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating flight AI 171 en route to London Gatwick crashed into a medical hostel complex soon after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing about 260 people, including 241 persons who were onboard the plane. One passenger survived the crash. The AAIB report concluded that cutting off the fuel supply led to the twin engines failing, and attempts to relight the engines did not yield results since the aircraft lacked sufficient altitude. Teams from stakeholders were present on-site with the AAIB, ensuring the reports integrity and credibility are maintained, the sources said. This collaborative approach, chaired by the AAIB, sustains the reports credibility, they added. Negative perceptions surrounding the report are unfounded, and we should also consider preliminary reports from other countries," said a source. Our report strictly follows international standards and has been vetted by foreign stakeholders who have access to all data. Other international plane crash reports follow similar standards and formats. This report provides insights and outlines the scope of further investigation rather than drawing conclusions." According to top government sources, no blame is assigned to the pilots, with only a single line mentioning the fuel cut-off based on factual analysis. The confusion surrounding the report is unnecessary; it strictly presents facts derived from initial analysis, they said. The reports credibility, they added, stems from an impartial perspective, without swaying it according to emotions or national bias. The investigators are experts who rely on detailed evidence from the ground. The basic description indicates that further probing is required," a source said. We are adhering to international protocols, and India is part of this framework." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As per the sources, the report does not aim to blame or charge anyone, as stated in the introduction. We are likely to follow all procedures in the preliminary investigations. The next stage involves forensic examination, and the final report will follow thereafter," said a source. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 21:11 IST News india Air India Crash: AAIB's Initial Probe Report Adheres To Global Standards, Govt Sources Tell News18 Air India Crash Report: Why Western Media's Coverage Has Drawn Criticism Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 17:08 IST The AAIBs preliminary Air India crash report doesnt assign blame. But across major Western media outlets, the verdict is already in, and the pilots are at the centre of it Air India crash report: The AAIB report is a preliminary statement, not a final conclusion. The preliminary 15-page report on the crash of Air India flight AI171 was made public by Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday. The document offers a forensic reconstruction of the June 12 disasterfrom engine performance and flap configuration to cockpit voice exchanges and the timeline of relight attempts. As is standard with aviation reports, it presents no conclusions, no blame, just facts, timings, and data. But before the black box could cool, some of the most influential newsrooms in the West had already finished their own reportsfictional ones. Recommended Stories The BBC ran a breaking banner declaring: Air India Crash: Pilot cut off fuel to engines no fault with plane." Reuters followed suit, highlighting that the fuel switches were moved but skipping over the fact that the cause remains undetermined. CNN chimed in with a piece that quoted analysts who suggested a possible manual error" and described the incident as a catastrophic lapse in cockpit protocol"a term the official report never uses. American magazine Barrons made it simpler, noting the fuel switch had a locking mechanism, and that no mechanical defect was founda neat setup for the assumption that one of the pilots must have" done it. Al Jazeera ran with: Fuel switches cut off just before deadly Air India crash, early report says", and helpfully added in the subtext that accidental movement is highly unlikely", according to experts. The New York Post, never one to underplay a mystery, quoted aviation commentators who strongly suspect" cockpit error. Across the board, the story became the same: the plane was fine, the airline was fine, so it had to be the pilots. Why wait for an investigation when you can skip straight to the ending? No Blame In The Report, Plenty In The Coverage The AAIB report clearly documents that both engine fuel control switches moved from RUN to CUTOFF within a second. One pilot asked, Why did you cutoff?" The other responded, I didnt." Seconds later, both switches were moved back to RUN. One engine began to relight. Then the recording ends. The report does not say who moved the switches. It does not speculate on whether it was accidental, mechanical, or electrical. It simply notes what happened. Yet many of the Western headlines skipped the nuances entirely. The presence of a spring-loaded locking gate on the switch, meant to prevent accidental movement, was treated not as a safety feature but as a smoking gun. Domestic Voices Push Back The skewed coverage has drawn sharp reactions from across the political aisle in India. Amit Malviya, BJP IT Cell chief, called out what many saw as posthumous character assassination: This isnt journalism. It is opportunistic narrative-peddling at the cost of truth, dignity and basic decency." The Western medias coverage of the preliminary Air India crash report has, as usual, been a disgrace. Headlines like this one, and others including Reuters, border on slandering deceased pilots who are no longer here to defend themselves. This isnt journalism. It is https://t.co/8gNFOnXjKD Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 12, 2025 Priyanka Chaturvedi, MP from Shiv Sena (UBT), was more scathing. She referred to the BBC as the Boeing Bacchao Corporation", a term that struck a chord in a year already littered with Boeing-related controversieswhistleblower claims, missing bolts, and federal probes. Boeing Bacchao Corporation aka BBC pic.twitter.com/nCSlHBpzLF Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) July 12, 2025 Weve Seen This Film Before: MH370 If the framing feels familiar, its because it is. Back in 2014, when Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared, speculation filled the vacuum left by a missing aircraft. CNN aired round-the-clock theories implicating Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah. The Atlantic suggested the pilots depression was the motive. The New York Times leaned into unconfirmed simulator data. 60 Minutes assembled an entire special built on the pilot-as-villain narrative. There was one common problem: no evidence. And yet, in public imagination, largely shaped by Western headlines, the pilot became the prime suspectand stayed that way, even as debris washed up and doubt mounted. More than a decade later, MH370 remains unsolved. But the media trial concluded long ago. What The Report Says (And What It Doesnt) The AAIB report is a preliminary statement, not a final conclusion. It documented engine performance, voice recordings, control inputs, and relight attempts. It confirmed that one pilot appeared confused about the switch movement, but it stopped short of assigning blame or suggesting intentional action. It also noted: That the fuel switch locking mechanism has been subject to an FAA advisory, not a directive. That Air India replaced the throttle module twice in the past five years, but without any link to the fuel switch. That the crew acted to relight the engines within seconds. It does not say the aircraft was faultless, only that no technical fault has been found so far. It does not exonerate Boeing or General Electric (manufacturer of the GEnx-1B engines that power the Boeing 787 Dreamliner), only that no safety action has yet been recommended. In other words, it sticks to what it knows. Which is more than can be said for some of the coverage. Dont Rush To Conclusions, Says Aviation Minister The need for caution was also underlined by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, who told CNN-News18 that the AAIBs findings were based on preliminary data, and that it would be inappropriate to draw conclusions at this stage. Till the final report doesnt come out, we should not reach any conclusion," he said. Naidu praised the AAIB for handling a technically demanding investigation entirely within India, calling it a mature and transparent job" that followed all international protocols. It was a very challenging tasksecuring the black boxes, retrieving the data, and conducting the investigation entirely in India for the first time," he noted. He also extended support to Indias aviation workforce, saying: I truly believe we have the most wonderful workforce in terms of pilots and the crew in the whole world. Pilots and crew are the backbone of the aviation industry." Verdict First, Evidence Later The black box data is still being examined. Interviews, metallurgical tests, systems analysisall ongoing. Yet some media houses seem to have mistaken preliminary findings for final closure. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As the investigation continues, a few desks overseas have already filed the final chapter, not based on the AAIBs findings, but on their own flight of imagination. Because if a plane crashes and you dont blame Boeing, someone else still has to take the fall. About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 16:55 IST News india Air India Crash Report: Why Western Media's Coverage Has Drawn Criticism 'Given The Nature Of Probe...': Air India On Ahmedabad Crash Report, Boeing Vows To Support Investigation Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 09:01 IST Air India acknowledged the receipt of the preliminary report on the crash released by the AAIB and said that it is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. Remains of the Air India plane that crashed moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport on June 12. (Image: PTI) After the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report into the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, the airline on Saturday said it stands in solidarity with the families of the victims and will continue to cooperate in the ongoing probe. The airlines Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of 241 people on board. Recommended Stories Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time," the airline said in a statement posted on X. It further acknowledged the receipt of the preliminary report on the crash released by the AAIB and said, Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses." Further, the airline stated that, due to the ongoing nature of the probe, it cannot comment on specific details and has referred all inquiries to the AAIB. Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time.We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Air India (@airindia) July 11, 2025 Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft, also expressed its thoughts with the families of the victims of the Air India plane crash, saying: Our thoughts remain with the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected on the ground in Ahmedabad. We continue to support the investigation and our customer." We will defer to the AAIB to provide information about AI171, in adherence with the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization protocol known as Annex 13," it added. AAIB Preliminary Probe Report The AAIBs 15-page report on the Air India plane crash incident revealed key technical events and cockpit conversations leading up to the tragic incident. The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 Knots IAS at about 08:08:42 UTC, and immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 seconds. The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was ceased. As a result of the action, both engines shut down mid-air within seconds after takeoff. Further, the cockpit audio confirmed that one of the pilots asked the other why he had cut off, to which the other pilot responded that he had not. When the engines lost power, the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) a small propeller-like device was automatically deployed to supply emergency hydraulic power. CCTV footage reviewed by the AAIB confirmed the deployment of the RAT. Moments later, data from the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFR) showed that the switches for both engines on the London-bound aircraft were moved from CUTOFF to RUN, suggesting the pilots attempted to recover control of the situation. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, like many commercial aircraft, is designed to have sufficient power to complete a takeoff on a single engine, and pilots are extensively trained to handle such scenarios. Engine 1 (N1) showed partial recovery, while Engine 2 failed to recover, leading to the crash. The aircraft remained airborne for just 32 seconds before crashing into a hostel located 0.9 nautical miles from the runway, the report showed. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 07:08 IST News india 'Given The Nature Of Probe...': Air India On Ahmedabad Crash Report, Boeing Vows To Support Investigation Badly In Need Of Fixing: CJI Gavai Says Indian Legal System Is Facing Unique Challenges Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 17:48 IST CJI BR Gavai highlighted the deep-rooted issues in India's legal system, emphasizing chronic judicial delays and the plight of undertrial prisoners. Chief Justice of India BR Gavai (News18) Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on Saturday called out the deep-rooted problems plaguing the Indian legal system and said that it is badly in need of fixing." While addressing the convocation ceremony at NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad, Gavai pointed to the chronic problem of judicial delays, stressing that prolonged trials and the suffering of undertrial prisoners remain a serious concern, news agency PTI reported. Recommended Stories Our country and legal system are facing unique challenges. Delays in trials can sometimes go for decades. We have seen cases where someone has been found innocent after spending years in jail as an undertrial. Our best talent can help us resolve the problems that we are facing," he said. His remarks drew attention to the chronic judicial delays and the human cost of an overburdened system, especially for undertrial prisoners who are languishing behind the bars while awaiting verdicts. While acknowledging the issues within the judiciary, CJI Gavai said that he remains cautiously optimistic" about the future. Even though I conclude that our legal system is badly in need of fixing, I remain cautiously optimistic that my fellow citizens will rise to the challenges," he said while quoting senior US federal district judge Jed S Rakoff. Addressing the graduating class, the Chief Justice urged young legal professionals to take on the mantle of reform. He encouraged students to pursue education abroad through scholarships, to lessen the financial burden on their families, and advised them to choose mentors based on integritynot influence. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The ceremony was presided over by Acting Chief Justice of Telangana High Court Justice Sujoy Paul, and was attended by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Supreme Court Judge Justice PS Narasimha. (With inputs from PTI) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 17:48 IST News india Badly In Need Of Fixing: CJI Gavai Says Indian Legal System Is Facing Unique Challenges Changur Baba's 50-Man Special Force Lived In Luxury, Obeyed Every Command Without Question Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 14:47 IST These youths were linked to assaults, threats, and forced conversions, but despite complaints, no police action was takenreportedly due to Changur Babas strong local influence Changur Baba, portraying himself as a religious leader, referred to these youths as "spiritual servants". (News18 Hindi) A major illegal conversion racket has been busted in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, with the arrest of Jamaluddin, alias Changur Baba. Now in the custody of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Special Task Force (STF), he is accused of targeting poor and vulnerable individuals, especially girls, for religious conversion using coercion, threats, and psychological manipulation. Authorities suspect the operation was being funded by foreign sources. The investigation has uncovered a series of disturbing revelations. One of the most alarming is the existence of a group of 50 young men who operated under Changur Babas direct command. According to the FIR filed by the UP ATS, these individuals were deeply involved in conversion activities and also served as enforcersspreading fear, exerting pressure, and inciting violence at the local level. Recommended Stories These youths led comfortable lives in Changur Babas luxurious mansion in Balrampur, where they had access to separate rooms, food, clothing, and other necessities. They were also indoctrinated within the mansion, and Babas commands were absolute. Changur Baba, portraying himself as a religious leader, referred to these youths as spiritual servants". However, they were receiving structured training and displayed unwavering loyalty, obeying all orders, legal or otherwise. It has been revealed that these youths have been involved in several incidents of assault, threats, and forced conversions of local residents. Though some complaints reached the police, no action was taken due to Changur Babas strong influence. These youths, acting as an informal security squad, were reportedly prepared to execute any order from Baba. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Currently, the ATS is conducting a thorough investigation into the identities, backgrounds, and activities of these 50 youths. The focus is on understanding their roles in various conversion cases and whether they were used for any international agendas. Sources suggest that some youths were brought in from other states and mentally and ideologically prepared for their roles. The ATS is determined to uncover the full scale of the operation and the real motive behind the group of 50 men working under Changur Babas command. view comments Location : Balrampur, India, India First Published: July 12, 2025, 14:47 IST News india Changur Baba's 50-Man Special Force Lived In Luxury, Obeyed Every Command Without Question 'Conditioned To Blame Girl': Madras HC Cuts Jail Term Of Women Who Abetted Teens Suicide For Love Affair Reported By : LawBeat Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 04:46 IST The HC said the women, though from the boys family, targeted the girl, a response rooted in internalised misogyny, without realising that they were victims of the same mindset The bench of Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy of the high court upheld the conviction, noting that the accused's words were 'excessively harsh and sexually charged' and would have had a deep psychological impact on a minor. File pic The Madras High Court recently upheld the conviction of two women accused of abetting the suicide of a 15-year-old girl but significantly reduced their prison sentence, citing their socio-economic hardship and internalised misogyny. In 2011, in Kuniamuthur, Coimbatore, a minor girl set herself ablaze after facing humiliation from her lovers aunts, Kayar Nisha and Rafia. The girl had fallen in love with her 19-year-old neighbour Saddam Hussain, and their families had consented to their marriage. However, the two aunts vehemently opposed the alliance. Recommended Stories On August 18, 2011, the accused confronted the girl outside her house, hurled sexually coloured abuses, and even told her to go and die. The girl, distraught and alone at the time, ran inside, poured kerosene on herself, and set herself on fire. She succumbed to her burn injuries on September 2, 2011. The police initially registered a case under Section 309 IPC (attempt to suicide), but after her death and a detailed investigation, including a dying declaration, the charge was altered to Section 305 IPC (abetment of suicide of a minor). The Mahila Court convicted both women in 2016, sentencing them to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000 each. On appeal, the bench of Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy of the high court upheld the conviction, noting that the accuseds words were excessively harsh and sexually charged" and would have had a deep psychological impact on a minor. Their conduct of going to the girl and admonishing her is inherently unacceptable, and the words spoken by the accused are excessively harsh and extremely sexually charged, likely to drive any 15-year-old child to suicide," the judge held. However, the court chose to reduce their sentence, citing their background. Kayar Nisha, 64, is a widow who works as a domestic help and suffers from hypertension. Rafia, 40, is a daily wager with two young children. The court also highlighted that the womens actions were influenced by internalised misogyny, conditioned by a patriarchal society that often blames the girl in matters of relationships. Their behaviour stems from internalised misogyny, which is a product of our male-dominated society. They are conditioned to question the female without realising they themselves are victims of such a mindset. In doing so, they harmed a girl child and made themselves liable for punishment," the judge observed. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The sentence was reduced to the time already served, 90 days for Kayar Nisha and 83 days for Rafia. However, their fine was increased to Rs 20,000 each, to be paid within four weeks or face two months simple imprisonment. Suicide Prevention: If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) About the Author Salil Tiwari Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr... Read More Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 04:46 IST News india 'Conditioned To Blame Girl': Madras HC Cuts Jail Term Of Women Who Abetted Teens Suicide For Love Affair File photo of traders working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening bell in New York Reuters AI has powered the market to all-time highs. But this earnings season will be an important moment for Big Tech to show that massive AI spending is paying off. Here are three big questions investors have about AI before tech earnings kick off this month. Big Tech companies are soon going to let investors know if all the hype is still worth it. Amid tariff turmoil and market uncertainty, the tech trade continues to power the S&P 500 higher. With mega-cap tech earnings due to kick off later this month, investors are looking for clues to know if the AI-fueled momentum can keep powering stocks higher. The launch of DeepSeek a cost-efficient AI model from a startup in China was an "existential moment" for the AI trade, according to Eric Sheridan, co-business unit leader of the Technology, Media and Telecommunications Group in Global Investment Research. "There's an increasing focus on the payoff or the return dynamic," Sheridan told Business Insider. "How are we seeing enterprises use AI? How are we seeing consumers adopt AI applications in their day-to-day life? Is AI technology delivering on its promise of increasing productivity and profit margins? Investors will soon be turning to second-quarter earnings season for answers. Will AI capex continue to soar? Big Tech companies have poured billions into building out AI infrastructure, and there's a lot of debate on Wall Street about how much more companies can spend. As of February, Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta's total AI investment for 2025 was over $300 billion, a notable increase from the $246 billion spent in 2024. Competition in the AI space is fierce as Big Tech companies race to develop better large language models. And it's still early stages, meaning that this level of capital expenditure could persist well into the future. "There's still pretty low visibility into what they're going to spend next year," Sheridan said of the Big Tech companies. "I wouldn't put a high probability on a slowdown," he added. Are companies putting AI to work? A lot of money and effort is being poured into AI tools for companies, but investors want a clearer sign of what it all means. Investors will look for clues on earnings calls that AI adoption is accelerating. They're not just interested in whether Nvidia beats consensus expectations; they're also looking for more widespread adoption of AI among other companies. Investors have reasons to be optimistic, as there have been green shoots in previous months. The earliest signs of AI adoption have been showing up primarily in the software industry as companies adopt agentic AI to complete tasks autonomously. Doesn't Talk, Wakes Up At Midnight: Ahmedabad Crashs Lone Survivor Struggles To Overcome Trauma Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 21:56 IST Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, the only survivor of the June 12 Ahmedabad-London Air India crash, is battling trauma. The crash killed over 270 people, including his brother Ajay. Footage taken shortly after the crash showed Ramesh limping towards an ambulance, covered in blood, but alive. Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, the lone survivor of the June 12s Ahmedabad-London Air India plane crash, which claimed the lives of over 270 people, is still struggling to to cope up with the trauma of the monumental tragedy. Ramesh, an Indian-origin British citizen, was the only one out of the 242 passengers on board the ill-fated aircraft, who walked out of the burning flames alive. His brother Ajay was among the 241 others onboard who perished along with other individuals onboard. Recommended Stories Ramesh is now is now taking a psychiatrists help to find a way of coping with the traumatic experience, news agency PTI reported citing his cousin as saying. The aftermath has left Ramesh emotionally devastated. His cousin Sunny told the news agency that the memories of the scenes of the crash site, his miraculous escape and his brothers death still hound him. Many people, including our relatives living abroad, call us to inquire about Vishwass well-being. But he does not talk to anyone. He is yet to overcome the mental trauma of the crash and the death of his brother," he said. Sunny further said that Ramesh sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night and finds it difficult to fall back asleep. He still wakes up in the middle of the night and finds it difficult to fall asleep again. We took him to a psychiatrist two days ago to find remedy. He has not made any plans yet to return to London because his treatment has just begun," Sunny added. Ramesh was discharged from the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on June 17- the same day his family received Ajays mortal remains after DNA match. Ramesh and Ajay were returning to London by the Air India flight after visiting their family in Diu. In a video widely shared on social media, Vishwas was seen carrying his brothers mortal remains on his shoulders to the cremation ground in Diu on June 18. Rameshs Ordeal In an interview to Doordarshan, Vishwas recounted that the aircraft seemed to have stalled within seconds of taking off. His seat, 11A, was close to the emergency door on the left side, he said. Luckily, the portion of the plane where I was seated fell on the ground floor of the (medical college) hostel premises after the plane crash- landed. When I saw that the door was broken, I told myself that I can try and get out. Eventually, I came out," he told reporters. In a viral video shot by a local person minutes after the crash, Kumar was seen walking towards an ambulance, away from the debris. Ahmedabad Plane Crash India witnessed one of its worst aviation tragedies on June 12 after a London-bound Air India plane, carrying 242 passengers and crew, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, crashed into a medical college complex shortly after taking off from Ahmedabads Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport 241 out of 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 (AI 171) and 34 on the ground, were killed in the crash. The deceased included 120 men, 124 women, and 16 children. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The aircraft had 232 passengers and 10 crew members, including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese and a Canadian, on board. (With inputs from PTI) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 21:56 IST News india Doesn't Talk, Wakes Up At Midnight: Ahmedabad Crashs Lone Survivor Struggles To Overcome Trauma Five Dead After SUV Falls Into Gorge In J&Ks Ramban, Rs 1 Lakh Ex-Gratia Announced Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 10:26 IST The District Administration Ramban has expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh each for the families of the deceased. Amarnath Yatra (Representative Image) At least five people were killed and one was seriously injured after a private passenger vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a 600-foot gorge in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday. Officials said the accident occurred late Friday near Senabathi in the Ukhral Pogal Paristan area. One of the passengers, 20-year-old Tauqeer Ahmad, died on the spot. Five others were critically injured and rushed to the hospital, but three of themMohd Rafiq (40), Abdul Latief (40), and Ajaz Ahmad (20)succumbed to their injuries on the way. Recommended Stories Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also shared condolences on the demise of the victims. Chief Minister has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic road accident near Ukhral-Senabathi in District Ramban that claimed four lives. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured," said an official statement from the CMO. The injured are receiving the best possible treatment at GMC, Anantnag. The Chief Ministers Office remains in close touch with the district administration to ensure all necessary support is being provided," it added. One Lakh Ex-Gratia Announced The District Administration Ramban has expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 25,000 each for the injured. In a post on social media platform X, Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan stated, District Administration Ramban expresses profound grief over the tragic loss of four precious lives in a road accident at Ukhral-Senabathi. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured. An assistance of Rs 1 lakh is being provided to each deceaseds family and Rs 25,000 to each injured person. All possible support is being extended to the affected families." Union Minister Jitendra Singh Takes Stock of Situation Union Minister Jitendra Singh took stock of the situation and spoke to the Deputy Commissioner and expressed condolences for the loss of lives and assured all necessary assistance. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In a post on social media platform X, Singh wrote, Just now spoke to DC #Ramban Sh Mohammad Alyas after learning about the tragic road accident of a Sumo Vehicle en route Ukhral-Senabathi. My sincere condolences for the 4 casualties: Tauqeer Ahmed, Abdul Latief, Mohd Rafiq, and Ajaz Ahmed. The other two injured, Yawer Ahmed and Shakeel Ahmed, have been shifted to GMC Hospital Anantnag and are being provided all required medical assistance. The Administration has been directed to offer all possible help, whatever is required, even through the MPs personal resources." view comments Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India First Published: July 12, 2025, 10:26 IST News india Five Dead After SUV Falls Into Gorge In J&Ks Ramban, Rs 1 Lakh Ex-Gratia Announced Iran Embassy In India Flags Fake Channels Spreading Misinformation To Harm Ties Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 21:26 IST The Iranian Embassy in India warned of fake social media accounts impersonating Iranian entities to harm Iran-India relations, sharing images of a fake Ministry of Defence account. Iran Embassy In India Flags Fake Channels Spreading Misinformation To Harm Ties. (X/@Iran_in_India) The Iranian Embassy in India has warned about several fake social media accounts impersonating official Iranian entities, aiming to damage India-Iran relations. It said that the accounts were fake channels" attempting to damage Iran-India relations. The list was released on the embassys official Twitter page on Saturday. Some fake channels, under the name of Iran, are attempting to damage Iran-India relations. These accounts do not belong to Iran," the embassy wrote on X, while sharing screenshots of the names of these fake channels". Recommended Stories The embassy shared images online exposing fake accounts and their false claims, including a post from a fake Ministry of Defence account claiming Iran was reconsidering" the Chabahar Port agreement with India. These fake accounts, some with verified ticks, were spreading misinformation to damage Iran-India relations. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Fake News, Fake Account," the Iranian embassy wrote in red font over the image while sharing a picture. A picture shared by the embassy showed a post that was found to be from an account originating from Pakistans Karachi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi last visited Iran in May 2016. Recently, he met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia, discussing ways to strengthen India-Iran bilateral relations. view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 21:26 IST News india Iran Embassy In India Flags Fake Channels Spreading Misinformation To Harm Ties 'Maratha Military Landscapes' Gets UNESCO World Heritage Tag; PM Says 'Go Visit These Forts' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 09:31 IST PM Modi lauded the recognition of Maratha Military Landscapes as UNESCO Heritage sites and urged people to visit the forts and learn about the rich history of Maratha Empire. UNESCO World Heritage list: Maratha Military Landscapes gets UNESCO tag (Photo: X/ @UNESCO) Maratha Military Landscapes were inscribed on the World Heritage List on Saturday, prompting an elated response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who urged everyone to visit the forts and learn about the rich history of the Maratha Empire. The Landscapes, consisting of 12 major fortifications, 11 in Maharashtra and 1 in Tamil Nadu, were included on the World Heritage List by the World Heritage Committee 2025 during its 47th session from July 6 to 16, in UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Recommended Stories According to UNESCO, these forts formed a complex defence system supporting Maratha military dominance between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. This network played a key role in the Marathas rise as a major political and military force," UNESCO recognised. PM Modi Reacts Taking to X on Saturday, the Prime Minister lauded the development and recalled the glory of the Maratha Empire, stating that the rulers inspire people with their refusal to bow to any injustice", in an apparent reference to the fight against the Mughals. Maratha rulers such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj fought battles against the Mughals. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Every Indian is elated with this recognition.These Maratha Military Landscapes include 12 majestic forts, 11 of which are in Maharashtra and 1 is in Tamil Nadu. When we speak of the glorious Maratha Empire, we associate it with good governance, military strength, cultural https://t.co/J7LEiOAZqy Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 12, 2025 Every Indian is elated with this recognition. These Maratha Military Landscapes include 12 majestic forts, 11 of which are in Maharashtra and 1 is in Tamil Nadu. When we speak of the glorious Maratha Empire, we associate it with good governance, military strength, cultural pride and emphasis on social welfare. The great rulers inspire us with their refusal to bow to any injustice. I call upon everyone to go visit these forts and learn about the rich history of the Maratha Empire," PM Modi tweeted. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More view comments Location : Maharashtra, India, India First Published: July 12, 2025, 09:31 IST News india 'Maratha Military Landscapes' Gets UNESCO World Heritage Tag; PM Says 'Go Visit These Forts' No Dedicated NIA Judge Or Hearing For 6 Months: Justice Elusive For Udaipur Tailor Kanhaiya Lal Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 12:33 IST Despite the severity and national attention surrounding the murder, reportedly only six of 166 witnesses have been examined so far, though the victims son pegs the number at 14-15 A camera grab shows Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal (right) with assailants Riyaz Attari and Ghaus Mohammad. (News18) More than three years after the gruesome beheading of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal shocked India, the trial in the case remains caught in the slow churn of Indias judicial machinery. Despite the severity and national attention surrounding the murder, reportedly only six of 166 witnesses have been examined so far, though the victims son Yash claims the number stands at 14-15. As controversy over the movie The Udaipur Files bring back public attention to the 2022 case, News18 looks back at the incident and why justice is moving at a snails pace. Recommended Stories A CRIME THAT SHOOK THE NATION It was June 28, 2022, when Kanhaiya Lal Teli was murdered in broad daylight in his tiny shop in a serpentine lane in Old Udaipur by Riyaz Attari and Ghaus Mohammadboth of whose links have been established with Pakistan. The attackers filmed the brutal act and streamed it online, claiming it was retaliation for a social media post where Kanhaiya Lal expressed his support for now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, whose derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad had sparked global controversy. The chilling nature of the attack and its ideological motivation triggered massive outrage and communal tensions across India. Within days, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe, treating it as a terrorist attack. THE SLOW LEGAL JOURNEY STARTS In the months following the murder, the NIA arrested not only the two main assailants but also nine others believed to be part of a radical Islamist network that aided or influenced them. A chargesheet running over 1,000 pages was filed in January 2023, invoking stringent sections under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and IPC 302 (murder). Despite the NIAs swift investigation, the case has languished in court. The proceedings in the Special NIA Court in Jaipur in the matter remain intermittent. WHY THE DELAY? A combination of factors is believed to have contributed to the slow pace of the trial. Complexity of the Case: With 11 accused, a mountain of evidence, including digital videos and forensic data, and 166 witnesses, the proceedings were destined to be lengthy from the very beginning. Judicial Backlog: Like many Indian courts, the special NIA court too grapples with a shortage of judges, frequent adjournments, and scheduling delays. Procedural Interruptions: A judges transfer led to a six-month halt in this particular hearing, further stalling momentum. Political and Social Sensitivity: Given the communal undertones of the case, authorities too are treading carefully to prevent any missteps while going with their versions to court to avoid public unrest. Recently, former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led state government to criticise the delay, pointing out that only six witnesses have deposed since the case began. This is not justice. Its an insult to the victim and his family," Gehlot said. The murder took place during Gehlots rule. WHEN JUSTICE LOOKS DISTANT It has been three years since Kanhaiya Lals son, Yash Sahu, has been walking barefoot as a mark of protest. I wont wear footwear till my father gets justice," he tells News18. A state minister who visited their house in Udaipur brought footwear for him but failed to make him wear it. On one hand, you have a murder where you have the perpetrators committing the crime, which is recorded. On the other, you have the CBI court handling additional cases of NIA which is why the delay. Some of my depositions are also due. There are over 150 witnesses and those who are examined so far are barely 14-15. If this pace continues, we dont think we will ever get justice," Yash said. WHAT LIES AHEAD? The trial continues in the Special NIA Court, with hearings set to resume after the courts summer break. However, unless procedural efficiency improves, the path to justice for Kanhaiya Lals family remains painfully uncertain. Look, there have been 166 witnesses from the prosecution side. Those examined barely touched double digit. One of the biggest issues we faced and in future too we will face is repeated demand for adjournments by advocates of defendants. Another issue that stalled the case so far was no dedicated NIA judge," Vikramaditya Ujjwal, personal advocate of the complainant, told News18. This July, the Rajasthan High Court administration appointed Pravendra Pal Singh as the judge of special NIA court that is handling the case. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Now, with public focus shifting to the film The Udaipur Files based on the murder, bodies like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad too are trying to get involved. After Delhi High Court issued a stay on the movie, VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal questioned the contrast of pace between the actual case where it is stretching for three years and counting and the case where the stay was ordered within weeks. For now, the family of Kanhaiya Lal Teli hopes the row over the movie brings back the forgotten case of their father in public discourse. But, will it help them legally? About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More view comments Location : Udaipur, India, India First Published: July 12, 2025, 12:33 IST News india No Dedicated NIA Judge Or Hearing For 6 Months: Justice Elusive For Udaipur Tailor Kanhaiya Lal Patiala Court Orders Seizure Of Civic Body's Office, Car, ACs To Pay Dead Man's Dues Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 18:48 IST The court stated that the Municipal Corporation must pay the pending dues or face confiscation of its properties to recover the Rs 3.2 lakh owed to the employee's family The court's final warning issued on July 2 was ignored by the corporation, leading to the current confiscation order. (Representative/News18 Hindi) A local court in Patiala has ordered the confiscation of the Municipal Corporations office property due to unpaid dues owed to the family of a deceased fourth-class employee. The family is owed Rs 3.2 lakh, yet the corporation has been harassing them instead of paying the amount. In response, the court ordered the confiscation of office property, including the Civic Commissioners official car and furniture, computers, printers, fans, and air conditioners. The items listed for confiscation include 20 fans, 30 chairs, four coolers, three ACs, 10 cupboards, five tables, four computers, and three printers. Recommended Stories The court has directed the investigating agency to execute this order by July 23, with the next hearing scheduled for July 27. The court clearly stated that the Municipal Corporation must either pay the dues or face the confiscation and auctioning of its properties to settle the debt. The court noted that Varinderjit Singh retired in 2018 from the same post he was appointed to, without ever receiving a promotion. The order was issued by the Civil Judge (Junior Division) of Patiala. Advocate Puneet Sharma, representing the petitioner, stated that Varinderjit Singh had joined the Municipal Corporation in 2000 but was dismissed in 2001 due to a pending case. He then fought a long legal battle to secure his reinstatement. Singh was reinstated in 2017 following a favourable ruling from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which also ordered the corporation to pay him with interest for the period he was removed from service. The corporation challenged the High Courts decision in the Supreme Court, but its appeal was rejected, and it was directed to reinstate Singh. His lawyer argued that Singh was denied promotions and other service benefits, forcing him to retire in 2018 from the same post he was originally appointed to. After his death in 2021, his adopted son, Samanjot Singh, had to continue the struggle to recover the pending dues. Despite these orders, the corporation only made a partial payment of Rs 60,485, leaving over Rs 3.2 lakh unpaid. Varinderjit Singh retired in 2018 without receiving any promotions or benefits and passed away in 2021, leaving his adopted son Samanjot Singh to continue fighting for the dues. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The courts final warning issued on July 2 was ignored by the corporation, leading to the current confiscation order. Advocate Puneet Sharma, representing the petitioners family, highlighted that this decision sends a strong message to government bodies about the serious consequences of violating court orders. Municipal Commissioner Paramveer Singh commented that their legal team is investigating the matter, noting that the court issued a confiscation warrant rather than directly confiscating the property. view comments Location : Patiala, India, India First Published: July 12, 2025, 18:48 IST News india Patiala Court Orders Seizure Of Civic Body's Office, Car, ACs To Pay Dead Man's Dues 'Pulp Fiction? Not Quite': How Indian Oranges Are Powering A French Medicine To Treat Varicose Veins Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 08:00 IST Indian oranges matched the former Spanish and Mexican counterparts. 2,000 metric tons of small oranges were procured in the financial year 2023-24 This circular, transcontinental journey of a single orangefrom a farm in Nagpur to a lab in northern France and back to a pharmacy shelf in Delhihighlights the globalisation of pharmaceutical supply chains and Indias growing importance as a trusted sourcing and manufacturing hub. (Representational image/News18 Hindi) In a striking example of global pharmaceutical interdependence, Servier Pharma, the French drugmaker behind the popular vascular medicine Daflon, has shifted a major ingredient of its production to Indian soilquite literally. Daflon, widely prescribed for chronic venous diseases such as varicose veins and haemorrhoids, is made from micronised purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF)a compound derived from citrus fruits, especially oranges. While Servier traditionally sourced its oranges from Spain and Mexico, the company has now turned to the citrus heartlands of Nagpur in Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh for its key raw material. Recommended Stories We are proud that the oranges grown in Indian soil are now an integral part of a medicine used by millions across the world," Aurelien Breton, managing director, Servier India, told News18. We procure oranges from Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, MP, and Rajasthan currently." According to IQVIA data, Daflons 500mg and 1000mg stand at a value of Rs 61 crore as per moving annual turnover, May 2025, ranking 2nd in the varicose therapy market. The average number of patients treated in a month is 1.2 lakhs. The citrus supply chain The Indian-sourced oranges are first processed locallycleaned, dried, and converted into powder form. This citrus powder is then exported to Serviers manufacturing headquarters in France, where it undergoes sophisticated processing to extract the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Interestingly, those APIs are then re-imported back to India, where the final formulation of Daflon is completed for domestic distribution. This circular, transcontinental journey of a single orangefrom a farm in Nagpur to a lab in northern France and back to a pharmacy shelf in Delhihighlights the globalisation of pharmaceutical supply chains and Indias growing importance as a trusted sourcing and manufacturing hub. The move wasnt just about logistics or cost-efficiency. According to Breton, Indian oranges matched the quality standards required for flavonoid extraction. We achieved 100% reliance on local Indian oranges through our Indian supply chain with effect from the financial year 2021." Indian oranges matched the former Spanish and Mexican counterparts. 2000 metric tons of small oranges were procured in the financial year 2023-24. We work with aggregators and farmers in multiple states in India," said Breton. Company set to bring precision cancer medicine Servier Pharma is set to bring precision cancer treatments to India. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, these therapies act on specific genetic mutations that are responsible for causing the cancer," Breton said. Out of three novel drugs coming into the Indian market, the first drug, Ivosidenib, targets a mutated protein known as isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), which is found in a subset of patients with cholangiocarcinoma (a type of biliary tract cancer) and acute myeloid leukemia (a form of blood cancer). Epidemiological data show a high prevalence of biliary tract cancers along the Ganga River basin, supporting the need for this targeted option, which can significantly delay disease progression. In clinical trials, Ivosidenib has demonstrated more than a threefold improvement in survival for AML (blood cancer) patients." The drug was officially launched in India in June 2025. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The second drug, Vorasidenib, has been approved by the US FDA for the treatment of certain types of primary brain tumours. It also improves patients quality of life by reducing seizure frequency and delaying the need for future therapies," Breton said while explaining that the median age at diagnosis of glioma in India is 40 years, an age group that plays a critical role in families, communities, and the workforce. As novel therapies, both Ivosidenib and Vorasidenib are first-in-class and only-in-class USFDA-approved molecules in their respective therapeutic areas." Furthermore, Serviers expanding oncology pipeline is focused on addressing unmet medical needs in aggressive and clinically challenging cancers. These therapies are designed to target the specific genetic mutations that drive each cancer subtype, moving away from the traditional one-size-fits-all approach of chemotherapy and truly embodying the promise of precision medicine in oncology." About the Author Himani Chandna Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass... Read More Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 08:00 IST News india 'Pulp Fiction? Not Quite': How Indian Oranges Are Powering A French Medicine To Treat Varicose Veins Russian Woman With Expired Business Visa Found Living In Karnataka's Cave With 2 Daughters Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 16:07 IST A 40-year-old Russian woman and her two daughters were rescued from a dangerous cave in Karnataka. They had been living in isolation for two weeks seeking spiritual solitude. Russian Woman Found Living In Cave A 40-year-old Russian woman and her two daughters were resucued from a remote and dangerous cave atop the Ramatirtha Hill in Karnatakas Gokarna. The local police found the three living in an makeshift dwelling in the forest. As per the reports, they have been living in isolation for about two weeks. The police, during routine patrol, found them and rescued them at around 5 pm on July 9. The Russian woman, identified as Nina Kutina, was in the cave that is located in a landslide prone zone with her 6-years-old daughter Prema and 4-year-old Ama. Recommended Stories As per a report by NDTV, Kutina came Gokarna from Goa to seek spiritual solitude. She told the police that she chose to live in forest as she wanted to engage in meditation and prayer. Further she also added that she was seeking some pause from the urban chaos. Meanwhile, the police expressed concern over the unsafe location. Notably, Ramatirtha Hill, where the cave is located, experienced a major landslide in July 2024 and is home to dangerous wildlife, including venomous snakes, making it a hazardous area. After counseling the woman and informing her of the risks, the police successfully rescued the family and escorted them down the hill. At her request, the woman was relocated to an ashram in Bankikodla village of Kumta taluk, run by 80-year-old female monk Swami Yogaratna Saraswati. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all During the regular questioning by the police, welfare officers, and the head of the ashram, she eventually told that her documents like visa and passport may have been lost in the forest cave. A joint search operation conducted by the Gokarna Police and Forest Department officials led to the recovery of her passport and visa. Upon examination, it was found that Nina had originally entered India on a Business Visa valid until April 17, 2017. An Exit Permit had been issued by the FRRO in Panaji, Goa, on April 19, 2018. Records showed that she had subsequently traveled to Nepal and re-entered India on September 8, 2018, thereby overstaying her permitted duration. view comments Location : Karnataka, India, India First Published: July 12, 2025, 16:07 IST News india Russian Woman With Expired Business Visa Found Living In Karnataka's Cave With 2 Daughters S Jaishankar To Begin Three-Day China Visit On July 13: Whats On Agenda? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 21:03 IST External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar will visit China on July 13 for the first time in over five years to attend the SCO foreign ministers' meeting and meet Wang Yi. EAM S Jaishankar. (PTI) External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will embark on a three-day visit to Singapore and China on Sunday, July 13. In his first trip to the neighbouring country in over five years, the union minister will participate in the foreign ministers meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and will hold bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Recommended Stories Jaishankars visit comes two weeks after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the country for the SCO defence ministers summit. Whats The Itinerary? The EAM will first visit to capital city of Beijing where he will hold a couple of meetings with various officials and stakeholders. He will also hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing. Following high-level talks in the Chinese capital, Jaishankar will proceed to Tianjin to attend the SCO council of foreign ministers, taking place on July 1415. The Chinese Foreign Ministry noted that foreign ministers of SCO member states and heads of the blocs permanent bodies will exchange views on SCO cooperation in various fields and major international and regional issues." The SCO includes 10 members: China, Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi may also visit India later this month to hold a fresh round of talks with NSA Ajit Doval under the framework of Special Representatives (SR) dialogue on the boundary dispute, news agency PTI had reported earlier. Whats On Agenda? According to sources quoted by Bloomberg, the talks are expected to cover a wide range of sensitive issues, including: Securing rare-earth supplies essential for Indias technology and defence sectors The Dalai Lamas succession, a topic of continued friction between New Delhi and Beijing The recent uptick in IndiaPakistan tensions, with both countries being SCO members The resumption of direct flights between India and China, restored in January after a five-year hiatus The Diplomatic Engagement Before Jaishankars visit to China, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval visited China twice, once in December and once last month for SCO security meetings. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri visited China in January and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh went to China to attend SCO Defence Ministers Meeting. The two nations have been making efforts to repair strained ties. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has resumed after a gap of five years. Both sides are also discussing resumption of direct flight. On April 9, Jaishankar had said that India and China were moving towards a positive direction in their ties. However, the minister said work needs to be done to normalise the relationship. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I think we are moving in a positive direction," Jaishankar said at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit. Diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries plunged after June 2020 when clashes between soldiers along the border left at least 20 Indian and an unknown number of Chinese troops dead. As the relations soured, the two countries moved thousands of troops, missiles and fighter jets along parts of the 3,488 kilometer (2,167 mile) unmarked border. About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 21:03 IST News india S Jaishankar To Begin Three-Day China Visit On July 13: Whats On Agenda? Singing Songs: Vijay Rupanis Last Conversation With Family Before Air India Crash In Ahmedabad Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 19:09 IST Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani's son Rushabh recounted their last video call and praised his father's principles and connection with Gujarat. Vijay Rupani, 68, was among the 275 people killed when the London-bound Air India flight crashed into a hostel complex in Ahmedabad. (ANI) The family of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the victims of the last months ill-fated Air India-171 plane crash in Ahmedabad, remembered the late leader saying that he was not just a part of their family but of all the families of Gujarat. Vijay Rupanis son Rushabh Rupani, recounted his last conversation with his late father saying that there has been a tradition in the family to talk on video calls in the morning and evening, so they both had a usual conversation on that ill-fated day too. Recommended Stories Rushabh said that he was in the US that time and they both had the conversation about Vijay Rupani going to London to his daughter after two to three years. It has been our familys tradition to talk on video calls in the morning and evening. We spoke that day, too (on the day of the Air India plane crash). I was in America then. We talked about him going to his daughter, my sisters, house in London after two to three years" he said as quoted by news agency ANI. #WATCH | Rajkot, Gujarat | Former Gujarat CM late Vijay Rupanis son Rushabh Rupani, says, It has been our familys tradition to talk on video calls in the morning and evening. We spoke that day, too (on the day of the Air India plane crash). I was in America then. We talked pic.twitter.com/ulRBJtc2Mq ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2025 Rushabh further said that his daughter (Vijay Rupanis granddaughter) had a special relationship with him. He said that whenever his call used to come, the two-year-old toddler herself used to take the phone and start talking. He further said that his daughter was singing songs with the late leader when they last talked on June 12. My daughter was two years old, and had a special relationship with my father. Whenever his call came, she herself started talking to him by taking my phone. She was singing songs with him when we last talked that day," he added. In an emotional tribute, Rushabh remembered his father as not just a leader of their family but of the entire state. He praised his fathers principles, simplicity, and deep connect with the people of Gujarat, which he said still lives on in their hearts. He was not just a part of our family, but a part of all the families of Gujarat. He used to say that vyakti se bada dal, dal se bada desh. Even today, his thoughts and principles are alive throughout Gujarat," he added. #WATCH | Rajkot, Gujarat | Former Gujarat CM late Vijay Rupanis son Rushabh Rupani, says, He was not just a part of our family, but a part of all the families of Gujarat. He used to say that vyakti se bada dal, dal se bada desh. Even today, his thoughts and principles are pic.twitter.com/UHmLOfC3P2 ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2025 He further thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their support since the incident on 12 June. Both of them came and met our family, and gave us a lot of love. We are thankful for their constant support," he added. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Vijay Rupani, 68, was among the 275 people killed when the London-bound Air India flight crashed into a hostel complex in Ahmedabad moments after it took off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12 afternoon. The deceased included 120 men, 124 women, and 16 children. One person survived the tragedy. The lone survivor was identified as Indian-origin British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh who was returning to the UK with his brother Ajay Kumar Rakesh, 45, who was in a different row inside the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, the preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on the Air India crash was released on Saturday. While it has answered a critical question on what led to the crash just minutes after the flight took off from Ahmedabad airportcutting off of fuel supply to the enginesit has left many unanswered questions. (With inputs from ANI) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More view comments Location : Rajkot, India, India First Published: July 12, 2025, 19:09 IST News india Singing Songs: Vijay Rupanis Last Conversation With Family Before Air India Crash In Ahmedabad MILAN Furnishings, lighting and contract group Dexelance has entered into the world of omnichannel retail and distribution. On Thursday, the company said it agreed to buy 65 percent of Mohds share capital for 44.3 million euros. Through the transaction, Dexelance, the first design firm to list its shares on the Milan Stock Exchange, has entered into a binding agreement to purchase 54 percent of the shares held by private equity firm the Quadrivio Group and a portion of the shares held by Mohds founders, the Mollura family. More from WWD In its fiscal year 2024, Mohd reported revenue of about 70 million euros, Dexelance said. Mohd currently has about 100 employees, including a team of architects specialized in the design of environments and interiors, residences, offices, hotels and showrooms. The firm was founded in 1930 as a carpentry business and evolved in modern times into a physical and omnichannel hub for design. It sells design pieces from 500 top brands through its six showrooms, online boutique and its dedicated project design service. It also manages residential and contract projects worldwide. In October 2023, Dexelance opened its first U.S. flagship in New York City that hosts dedicated showrooms for Meridiani, Davide Groppi and from May 2024 Gervasoni. In the same year, it bought a majority share in Turri, a luxury furniture business founded in 1925 in Carugo near Lake Como, and last year increased its stake to 100 percent in lighting firm Axolight. In a statement, Dexelance chief executive officer Andrea Sasso was enthusiastic about acquiring the commercial operator with a global reach. We are acquiring one of the best Italian commercial operators in the design sectorcapable of offering a unique and personalized experience to architects and end customers, with the aim to further enhance Mohd and offer a qualitative and personalized service to all types of clients, drawing on the expertise of its architects in order to optimize design and distribution, including through the digital channel, Sasso said. The Mollura family is expected to remain at the helm of the company. The transaction is expected to be finalized by the end of 2025. Dexelance, which listed its shares on the Milan Bourse in 2023, has been eyeing acquisitions worldwide. Earlier this year, the Milan-based group acquired a majority stake in Roda Group, which owns luxury outdoor furniture-maker Roda. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This Deadly X-Shaped Bridge In MP Beats Bhopals 90 & Indores Z Designs In Fatal Accidents Curated By : Translation Desk-Local18 Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 11:11 IST Locals say accidents happen almost every month as speeding vehicles at night often crash due to the bridges unusual X-shape, especially when drivers are unfamiliar with it This critical bridge connects the main highway between Jabalpur and Nagpur, with approximately 1,000 vehicles crossing it daily. (Local18) Madhya Pradeshs unconventional bridges are grabbing national attention for their striking designs. After Bhopals 90-degree turn bridge made waves on social media, a Z-shaped bridge in Indorefeaturing two sharp bendshas become the latest sensation. But long before these structures went viral, Balaghat district quietly set the trend with an X-shaped bridge built 15 years ago in Koylari village near the Seoni border. Koyalari, a village at the edge of Balaghat near the Seoni district border, is home to an X-shaped bridge built around 15 years ago. When the Local18 team visited the site, a local resident remarked with a smile, Its a wonder, a real wonder." Recommended Stories While Bhopal and Indores uniquely designed bridges are now making headlines, Balaghat quietly set the precedent years ago. Such a structure is rare and remains a remarkable example of engineering ingenuity. Locals shared that a recent accident on the bridge involved a dumper that rammed into it with great force, breaking through the railing and getting stuck. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, though the bridge sustained damage. The dumper was later removed with the help of a crane. Locals claim that accidents occur on the bridge almost every month. Vehicles often approach at high speed during the night, and those unfamiliar with the bridges unusual structure end up crashing. Tragically, the spot has claimed more than a dozen lives over the years. Despite the recurring mishaps, the administration has not shut the bridge. Warning signs marked Danger" have been put up on both sides, but accidents continue to happen. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Locals say accidents have become a regular occurrence on the bridge. Yet, instead of reconstructing it properly, authorities simply repair the damaged portions and reopen it for use. Frustrated by the lack of a permanent solution, villagers have now begun referring to it as the bridge of death." This critical bridge connects the main highway between Jabalpur and Nagpur, with approximately 1,000 vehicles crossing it daily, including those heading to and from Katangi. The unique structure surprises first-time visitors, marking it as a noteworthy engineering feat as well as a hazardous passage. view comments Location : Balaghat, India, India First Published: July 12, 2025, 11:11 IST News india This Deadly X-Shaped Bridge In MP Beats Bhopals 90 & Indores Z Designs In Fatal Accidents US Embassy In India Warns Visa Holders Will Be Deported If They Violate Immigration Rules Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 13:27 IST The US Embassy in India emphasized that US visa screening continues even after issuance. Visa holders must follow all immigration rules else they can face threat of deportation. The tweet serves as a cautionary note to Indian nationals who have received or are planning to apply for US visas.(Representative image) The US Embassy in India has stated that the screening process for US visas continues even after a visa is issued, highlighting the fact that getting a visa does not guarantee permanent stay in the United States. In a post on X, the Embassy underscored the USs strict enforcement of its immigration and legal standards, saying those found violating the laws and immigration rules may have to face deportation. Recommended Stories U.S. visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all U.S. laws and immigration rules and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they dont. pic.twitter.com/jV1o6ETRg4 U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) July 12, 2025 U.S. visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all U.S. laws and immigration rules and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they dont," the US Embassy in India tweeted. The message comes amid growing scrutiny of international student and work visa holders, particularly those who violate the terms of their stay or become involved in legal issues while in the United States. The tweet serves as a cautionary note to Indian nationals who have received or are planning to apply for US visas. The tweet highlighted that maintaining lawful behavior is essential not only for obtaining a US visa but also for retaining it. Earlier, the US embassy in India had asked visa applicants to disclose all social media usernames and handles from the past five years on visa application forms to facilitate background checks. Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used in the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit," the embassy said in a post on X. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas," it added. The US has intensified crackdown on illegal immigrants under President Donald Trumps administration. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 13:27 IST News india US Embassy In India Warns Visa Holders Will Be Deported If They Violate Immigration Rules Malala Day 2025: History, Significance And Powerful Quotes On Education Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 07:30 IST Malala Day is celebrated to honour the strength of Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, who has been vocal about support for girls education. Malala Yousafzai was awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17, becoming the youngest Nobel laureate. (Image: Malala/Instagram) Malala Day 2025: In todays world, few figures embody resilience and hope for young people quite like Malala Yousafzai. At an age when most children are focused on play, Malala fearlessly stood up to the Taliban in defence of girls education. Her extraordinary courage is honoured each year on Malala Day, observed on 12 July. Now a graduate of the University of Oxford and having entered a new chapter in life through marriage, Malala continues to be celebrated globally for her unwavering strength, wisdom, and commitment to justice. Recommended Stories Malala Day 2025: History And Significance Malala Day is observed on July 12, marking the birthday of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a global symbol of courage and advocacy for girls education. The United Nations officially declared this day in 2013 to honour her bravery and to reinforce the message that education is a fundamental right, not a privilege. Malala was born on July 12, 1997, in the Mingora region of Pakistan. In 2012, while returning home from school on a bus, she was shot by the Taliban in an assassination attempt that also injured two of her classmates. The attack was a direct response to her outspoken activism for girls right to education in a region where the Taliban strongly opposed it. She sustained a gunshot wound to the head and remained unconscious for several days. After initial treatment at the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, she was transferred to the United Kingdom for further medical care and rehabilitation. Rather than being silenced, the attack strengthened Malalas resolve. She continued her global campaign for education and became a powerful voice for millions of girls denied access to schooling. In 2014, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17, becoming the youngest Nobel laureate in history, the second Pakistani, and the first Pashtun to receive the honour. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Malala Day 2025: Quotes One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world." Education is education. We should learn everything and then choose which path to follow. Education is neither Eastern nor Western, it is human." They thought that the bullets would silence us, but they failed. And then, out of that silence came thousands of voices." The extremists are afraid of books and pens. The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women." I raise up my voicenot so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard." Education is the only solution. Education first." About the Author Lifestyle Desk Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... Read More Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... Read More fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: July 12, 2025, 07:30 IST News lifestyle Malala Day 2025: History, Significance And Powerful Quotes On Education National Simplicity Day 2025: History, Meaning, Quotes And Ways To Simplify Life Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 07:20 IST National Simplicity Day 2025: Inspired by writer and philosopher Henry David Thoreau, this day urges us to slow down, unplug, and embrace the beauty of a simpler life. National Simplicity Day is celebrated annually on July 12. (AI generated image) National Simplicity Day is observed to honour the beauty found in the simplest aspects of life. Celebrated annually on July 12, the day is inspired by the birthday of Henry David Thoreau, a renowned American philosopher and writer. Thoreau championed a minimalist lifestyle, encouraging people to take a break from the routine of everyday life and embrace freedom from a materialistic world. The 19th-century transcendentalist is remembered on this day for inspiring others to live closer to nature and further from the burdens of wealth and stress. National Simplicity Day 2025: History Recommended Stories Life after the age of 25 is often filled with relentless hustle, and many people try to break away from the demands of a typical 9-to-5 job by taking weekend breaks or going on trips. Over time, the pursuit of luxury can trap individuals in a cycle of endless striving, until stress begins to dominate their lives. Now imagine the peace and contentment of a simpler, more natural existence, where even the bare essentials are sufficient, and life is free from constant pressure and ambition. While many may dream of such a lifestyle, Henry David Thoreau actively promoted it, urging people to find joy in simplicity and reconnect with nature. National Simplicity Day is celebrated each year on July 12, in honour of Thoreaus birth in 1817. His commitment to simple living is best captured in his iconic work, Walden. National Simplicity Day 2025: Meaning And Significance The day serves as a tribute to Thoreau and his timeless philosophy. In the context of todays fast-paced and consumption-driven world, his message is more relevant than ever. National Simplicity Day reminds us that true happiness and fulfilment often lie in the smallest of things, and that we do not need to chase material possessions to lead a meaningful life. National Simplicity Day 2025: Quotes Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand, instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumbnail." Henry David Thoreau Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." Robert Brault Simplicity is the essence of happiness." Cedric Bledsoe What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us." Henry David Thoreau The simplest things are often the truest." Richard Bach top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all National Simplicity Day 2025: How To Celebrate Take a break from your devices: From mobile phones to laptops, weve become increasingly dependent on screensalmost enslaved by technology. Most of us cant imagine going a day without our phones. Today, try setting them aside and reconnect with the natural world around you. Go for a walk in the open: Many people struggle to find time to exercise outdoors or to simply observe their surroundings. Instead of heading to the gym or staying in air-conditioned rooms, take a walk in a nearby park. Observe the trees, people, animalseverything that we often overlook in our daily rush. Cook and eat at home: This may seem like an obvious suggestion, but dining out has become the norm, especially on weekends. Today, choose to prepare a simple, wholesome meal at home. Share it with your loved ones or enjoy it mindfully on your own. Practice meditation: When life becomes overwhelming, its essential to pause and breathe. In our relentless pursuit of success and wealth, we often forget how precious the present moment is. Take time today to meditatewhether for five minutes or twenty. Let it be the start of a regular habit that nurtures your mind and soul. About the Author Lifestyle Desk Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... Read More Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... Read More fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 07:20 IST News lifestyle National Simplicity Day 2025: History, Meaning, Quotes And Ways To Simplify Life Kareena Kapoor Khan Loses Track Of Time While Enjoying Her Vacay: 'What Day Is It?' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 15:24 IST Kareena Kapoor Khan is enjoying a relaxing holiday in Europe with her hubby Saif Ali Khan and their kids Jeh and Taimur Ali Khan. Kareena Kapoor Khan shares glimpses from her Europe getaway Bollywood power couple Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan recently jetted off to Europe for a much-needed holiday with their children, Jeh and Taimur Ali Khan. Since then, Bebo has been giving fans a sneak-peek into their vacay through some stunning pictures shared on Instagram. Recently, photos of her in a monokini at the beach went viral and broke the internet. Now, Kareena has shared another glimpse from her vacation, revealing she is having so much fun that she has lost track of time! On Saturday, Kareena Kapoor Khan took to her Instagram stories to share a wind-swept selfie from the beach. In the caption, she wrote that she has lost track of time during the relaxing holiday. What day is it? I have no idea," she wrote. In another picture, she was seen lounging by the water, enjoying a beautiful, peaceful moment during her getaway. Tell me," she wrote, along with a red heart emoji. Check out the pictures below! Recommended Stories Meanwhile, yesterday, Kareena shared a photo of Saif looking suave in a loose blue shirt paired with wide-legged denim pants. Completing his look with white sneakers, stylish sunglasses, and a timeless watch, Saif exuded old-school charm and effortless cool during the vacay. Kareena couldnt resist his charm and wrote on the photo, Acha, why so hot?" followed by a heart-eyed emoji, adding just the right touch of sass and affection. Meanwhile, a video shared by Bebos fan pages a few days ago showed her, Saif and their kids Taimur and Jeh walking casually outside a restaurant in what appears to be Londons Chinatown. On the professional front, Kareena Kapoor Khan will next be seen in the upcoming crime drama Daayra, directed by Meghna Gulzar. The film also features Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran in what is described as a dream team" pairing. Prithviraj is reportedly cast as a police officer, while Kareena takes on a central and gritty role that promises to explore the grey areas of crime, punishment, and societal justice. view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 15:24 IST News movies bollywood Kareena Kapoor Khan Loses Track Of Time While Enjoying Her Vacay: 'What Day Is It?' Shocking! Kareena Kapoor Was Attacked After Saif Ali Khans Stabbing Incident, Reveals Ronit Roy Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 10:44 IST Ronit Roy revealed that after Saif Ali Khans stabbing, Kareena Kapoors car was attacked by a crowd, leaving her scared. Extra security was deployed after that. Ronit Roy's security agency was hired after Saif Ali Khan's stabbing incident. Saif Ali Khans stabbing incident left everyone in shock, and after that, Ronit Roys security agency was hired to take care of everything. In a recent conversation, Roy revealed a rather shocking detail about the aftermath of Saifs stabbing case. The actor shared that after Saif was discharged from the hospital, Kareena too was attacked. In a recent interview with Hindi Rush, Ronit said, Saif was returning home after being discharged from the hospital. There was a huge crowd and media everywhere. When Kareena was also heading back home from the hospital, her car was slightly attacked. So she got scared." Recommended Stories Further continuing, he added, Since there was media around, people also got too close, and her car was shaken a bit. Thats when she asked me to bring Saif home. So I went to pick him up, and once he reached home, our security was already in place, and we also had strong support from the police force. Now, everything is fine." Ronit also revealed that during the recce of Saifs building, he realised that proper security measures were not in place, and he advised them on some changes, which were later implemented. Saif Ali Khan was attacked by an assailant who barged into his Bandra house through his youngest son Jehs room during the early hours of January 16. Doctors removed a 2.5-inch knife from his wound. The actor was stabbed six times while trying to fight off the accused, two of which were said to be serious as they were close to his spine. On the work front, the actor was last seen in the Netflix film Jewel Thief. Prior to this, he played the antagonist in the Jr. NTR-starrer Devara: Part 1. While his next project has yet to be officially announced, rumours suggest that Saif is teaming up with Akshay Kumar after 17 years for a thriller directed by Priyadarshan. The film is reportedly titled Haiwaan, meaning beast in English. Meanwhile, on the personal front, Saif Ali Khan is currently in London with his wife and actress Kareena Kapoor, along with their sons Jeh and Taimur. The family is on vacation, and Kareena has been sharing pictures from their trip. view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 10:44 IST News movies bollywood Shocking! Kareena Kapoor Was Attacked After Saif Ali Khans Stabbing Incident, Reveals Ronit Roy Dexter Resurrection OTT Release: When And Where To Watch Mystery Thriller Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 17:23 IST Dexter: Resurrection will be available for streaming on Prime Video in India on July 12. Dexter: Resurrectionis directed by Clyde Phillips. (Photo Credits: X) Dexter: Resurrection, the sequel to Dexter: New Blood, is ready for its digital debut, and Michael C. Hall is back as the beloved character Dexter Morgan. Prime Video has confirmed that the most recent instalment in the murder thriller series will debut in India on July 12. Recommended Stories The release will be accessible during Amazon Indias Prime Day celebration, which takes place from July 12 to 14, and is a part of the platforms Prime Day 2025 lineup. The new series aims to pick up where the critically acclaimed original left off, while also presenting new mysteries in the dark and twisted world of forensic specialist Dexter Morgan. Besides Hall, the ensemble cast of this most recent instalment includes Jack Alcott, Uma Thurman, and Peter Dinklage. The show continues where Dexter: New Blood left off, with Dexter surviving a near-fatal gunshot wound from his son, Harrison. The compelling story of Dexter Morgana vigilante serial killer by night and a blood-spatter analyst by daymade Dexter, which debuted in 2006, incredibly popular. Dexter: Resurrection seeks to go deeper into the characters nuanced psychology and moral dilemma following the conflicting reception of its 2013 conclusion and the partial atonement in Dexter: New Blood (2021). Dexter Resurrection: Plot The show tracks Dexter as he deals with his own remorse and past deeds while avoiding new dangers, chief among them being billionaire serial killer Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage). The series finds Dexter waking from a coma following his son Harrisons shooting. Alone and adrift in New York City, he becomes entangled in a risky game when a series of ritualistic murders suggests a group of serial killers headed by billionaire Leon Prater. The events of Dexter: New Blood will be continued in the latest instalment, which was created by Clyde Phillips and directed by Marcos Siega and Monica Raymund. It is anticipated that Dexter: Resurrection will combine the psychological strain, ethical dilemmas, and terrifying tension that made the original series so popular worldwide. view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 17:12 IST News movies hollywood Dexter Resurrection OTT Release: When And Where To Watch Mystery Thriller Gene Hackmans $80M Estate Faces Legal Disputes Over Unpaid Debts And Family Feud Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 08:31 IST Gene Hackman's death is unexplained, and his $80 million estate caused family tension as his kids were left out of the will. Gene Hackmans $80 million estate faces credit card liability. Months after the unexpected deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, the late Hollywood stars $80 million estate is now facing financial and legal complications. New court filings have revealed that Hackman had nearly $100,000 in unpaid credit card debt at the time of his death, and banks are now seeking repayment from the estate. According to documents obtained by Us Weekly, Hackman owed $98,345.29 to Citibank, while Arakawa had a separate outstanding balance of $4,329.75 with Bank of America. Both passed away earlier this year under mysterious circumstances at their New Mexico home. Their deaths are still under investigation, and no official cause has been confirmed in Hackmans case. Recommended Stories Hackman, who was 95, had reportedly been suffering from Alzheimers disease and heart problems. His wife is believed to have died days before him due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare illness transmitted by rodent exposure. One of their dogs was also found dead at the scene. Authorities discovered the couple in early January after neighbours grew concerned about their sudden absence and contacted emergency services. When first responders arrived, Betsy Arakawas body was already in a state of decomposition. Though the debts are relatively minor compared to the value of Hackmans estate, the situation has raised further complications, particularly around inheritance. The couple reportedly did not have time to resolve their financial affairs before their passing, leading to creditors now filing claims against the estate. Hackman had appointed his wife as the sole beneficiary and successor trustee of his estate in a will drafted back in 2005. That document had not been updated since. Hackmans three adult children, Christopher Allen Hackman, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, and Leslie Anne Hackman, were not named in the will. The children later issued a statement expressing their grief, though its known that their relationship with their father had been distant for years. Reports suggest that Gene Hackman had designated his wife, Betsy Arakawa, to take control of his trust after his death. In the event of her death, Michael G. Sutin was meant to oversee it. However, Sutin passed away in 2019, and no updates were made to the trust following his death. At present, it remains unclear whether Hackmans three children from his first marriage Christopher Allen, Leslie Anne and Elizabeth Jean were included in his will. But a source had revealed that Christopher has already enlisted the services of renowned California lawyer Andrew M. Katzenstein. view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 08:31 IST News movies hollywood Gene Hackmans $80M Estate Faces Legal Disputes Over Unpaid Debts And Family Feud Unni Mukundan Cleared In Vipin Kumar Assault Case As Police Submit Chargesheet Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 07:22 IST Kerala Police cleared Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan of assault allegations by his former PR manager Vipin Kumar, finding no evidence and deeming it a minor scuffle. Unni Mukundan has got a clean chit in the assault case. The Kerala Police have submitted a chargesheet in the case involving Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan and his former public relations manager Vipin Kumar. The legal document states that there is no evidence to support the allegations of assault made by the complainant. The case dates back to May this year when an FIR was registered against Mukundan under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The complaint was filed by Vipin Kumar, who alleged that the actor had verbally and physically assaulted him near his home in Kochi. According to Vipin, he was punched during a meeting arranged by Mukundan in the basement of his residence. He also claimed that the actor threatened his life. Recommended Stories A report by OnManorama now states that the police investigation has not found proof of these allegations. The chargesheet filed in court concludes that the incident amounted to a minor scuffle rather than a violent assault. It adds that while Vipins spectacles were broken and he may have suffered minor injuries, there was no evidence suggesting an intent to harm. Further, the police noted that CCTV footage from the area did not support the claims made by Vipin. The report also states that the physical altercation, though acknowledged, was not severe enough to qualify as assault under the law. The conflict allegedly arose over professional disagreements, with Vipin claiming that the altercation was triggered by Mukundans displeasure over him promoting actor Tovino Thomas film Narivetta. In response to the complaint, Mukundan had filed a counter-report, denying all charges. He maintained that while an argument and scuffle did take place, he did not physically abuse Vipin. This isnt the first time Unni Mukundan has faced legal trouble. Back in 2018, a woman filed a sexual harassment complaint against him. She claimed that Mukundan had molested her during a meeting at his Edappally home where they were supposed to discuss a film project. Mukundan denied the charges, saying the woman made up the story to ruin his image and demand money. In 2023, the Kerala High Court closed the case after the woman said the matter had been settled. Unni Mukundan is mainly known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He began his acting career in 2011 with the Tamil film Seedan, but later went on to star in many Malayalam films. His fame grew after the success of his 2024 film Marco. He was last seen in Get-Set Baby and is currently working on a new project titled Mindiyum Paranjum. view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 07:22 IST News movies regional-cinema Unni Mukundan Cleared In Vipin Kumar Assault Case As Police Submit Chargesheet Amit Shah Says India Will Be Free Of Naxalism By March 2026, Lashes Out At CPI(M) In Kerala Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 13:17 IST Amit Shah said the ruling LDF government in Kerala was involved in corruption and asserted that a 'Viksit Kerala' was not possible without the BJP. Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaking in Kerala. (BJP/X) Union Home Minister Amit Shah lashed out at the Communist Party of India (Marxist), saying it prioritises cadre welfare over Keralas development, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chose Viksit Keralam (developed Kerala) over cadre, while promising that the country will be free of Naxalism by March 31, 2026. BJP and CPI(M) are both cadre-based parties, but theres a major difference between the two. Cadre welfare is bigger than the states development in Kerala while it is Viksit Keralam above cadre for BJP," he said during a public event in Thiruvananthapuram. Recommended Stories The peoples dream of a developed Kerala is Modi Jis vision. Live from Viksit Keralam Sammelan, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. . . https://t.co/icjGq6JlFm Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 12, 2025 Shah outlined Prime Minister Narendra Modis three core visions for Keralas development governance without corruption, no discrimination in government schemes and Keralas development beyond political benefits. The Home Minister also assailed the LDF government in Kerala and the Congress-led UDF. The track record of LDF (Left Democratic Front) and UDF (United Democratic Front) has been that of a corrupt government. LDF has done explosives scam, cooperative bank scam, AI camera scam, Life Mission scam, PPE kit scam and Indias biggest scam state-sponsored gold smuggling scam." Congress is no less. They are a party thats going to shut down soon. I came to tell people of Kerala that Vikshit Kerala is not possible without BJP," he further said, adding that Kerala must vote for a BJP-led NDA government, as neither the LDF nor UDF could bring real change in the state. India Will Emerge As Developed Nation By 2026 Earlier in the day, Shah inaugurated the head office of the BJPs Kerala unit in Thiruvananthapuram, where the state unit president Rajeev Chandrasekhar was also present. Kerala is a sacred land, for it is where a great soul like Sri Adi Shankaracharya was born," he said. While inaugurating the BJP office in Kerala today, I was remembering the sacrifices made by all our party workers who, through their dedication and devotion, have carried our partys ideology forward. I pay my respects to their sacrifices." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He said the 2026 election will be fought to form a BJP-NDA government under the leadership of PM Modi and promised that by March 2026, India will emerge as a fully developed nation and will be free of Naxalism. Terrorism cannot be answered by anyone other than PM Modi and BJP We answered the Uri attack with a surgical strike, and the Pulwama attack with air strikes. We responded with Operation Sindoor by entering their homes and attacking," he further said. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More view comments Location : Thiruvananthapuram, India, India First Published: July 12, 2025, 12:53 IST News politics Amit Shah Says India Will Be Free Of Naxalism By March 2026, Lashes Out At CPI(M) In Kerala By Miho Uranaka TOKYO (Reuters) -Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group plans to expand its securitisation business globally, with a focus on North America, and will increase headcount in this area by around 25%, a senior executive at Japan's largest banking group said in an interview. MUFG already has a presence in securitised products backed by assets such as credit card receivables and auto loans. However, such products tend to have high liquidity and many competitors, hitting profit margins. The bank plans to target non-traditional asset classes, such as aircraft and data centres, with the aim of differentiating its business and improving profitability. "We are launching securitised products such as CLOs (collateralised loan obligations), targeting assets formed with project finance, especially data centres," said Fumitaka Nakahama, the chief of MUFG's global corporate and investment banking group. Investment in data centres, driven by demand for generative artificial intelligence, is increasing around the world. Data centres for domestic demand in the U.S. are relatively resilient to any impact from President Donald Trump's tariff policies, Nakahama said. Nakahama said MUFG plans to increase the number of people working on securitisation to over 100 from around 80 currently by early next fiscal year. The division has strengthened its balance sheet, he said, and aims to raise its return on equity into double digits over the medium to long term. It is the "phase for us to go on the offensive," Nakahama said. Three years ago, MUFG sold the retail division of U.S. regional lender Union Bank to focus on its debt business. MUFG has been ranked No. 1 in U.S. project finance loans for 15 successive years. It aims to increase the number of schemes combining project finance and securitisation. (Reporting by Miho Uranaka; Writing by Sam Nussey; Editing by Christopher Cushing) Congress's Karnataka Conundrum Continues As Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar Camps Stoke Leadership Tussle Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 07:30 IST Despite clear instructions from the Congress high command to keep internal matters out of the public eye, political messaging has not stopped With Siddaramaiah asserting that he will serve a full five-year term and Shivakumar carefully toeing the party line, the battle for the top post continues to simmer just beneath the surface. (File pic/PTI) Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar may have publicly stepped away from any talk of replacing CM Siddaramaiah, but his camp hasnt backed off. The push for a leadership change in Karnataka is very much alive, even if it now moves through whispers and strategic signals rather than open statements. With Siddaramaiah asserting that he will serve a full five-year term and Shivakumar carefully toeing the party line, the battle for the top post continues to simmer just beneath the surface. Recommended Stories Despite clear instructions from the Congress high command to keep internal matters out of the public eye, political messaging has not stopped. We have expressed our opinion to the Delhi leadership. They know and are observing everything," said a senior leader considered close to Shivakumar. What makes the leadership tussle particularly sensitive is Siddaramaiahs positioning. He is the Congress partys only OBC chief minister in the country. Removing himespecially ahead of this years Bihar elections, where the backward class vote is crucialcould send the wrong message. Adding to this is the Congress high commands move to appoint Siddaramaiah to the newly constituted national advisory council on backward classes. The first meeting of the AICC advisory council, which includes top OBC leaders from across India, is scheduled to take place in Bengaluru on July 15. Siddaramaiahs inclusion in the influential Other Backward Classes (OBC) panel is being seen by his camp as more than just symbolicits viewed as a reinforcement of his political standing within the party. Supporters of both leaders are manoeuvring carefully, and several MLAs have come out in support of deputy chief minister DK Shivakumarsome voicing their opinions despite the partys diktat. Those who support Shivakumar say that their stand on him taking over the reins as CM has not changed. The demand that there has to be a change in guard as decided as part of the power-sharing pact must be honoured. Naturally both leaders have supporters; change in the leadership is expected, and the high command will take a call. It is imminent that it will happen," said a leader who did not want to be named. Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka minister Tanveer Sait recently dropped a subtle hint about a possible leadership change in the state, saying it was time for the party to consider bringing in new faces. While he clarified that individual opinions should not be interpreted as dissent, the message was hard to miss. Shivakumar loyalists are also quietly planning trips to Delhi, hoping to ensure their voices are heard and to press their case for a change, even while insisting in public that nothing is being said aloud. Senior minister Ramalinga Reddy told News18, The Congress government will complete its full five-year term, and Siddaramaiah will remain CM for the entire duration. Thats been made clear by the CM himself." Shivakumar, on his part, has steered clear of the leadership debate. The party has given me organisational responsibilities and the deputy CM post. My focus is to fulfil those responsibilities," he said. I will not comment on the topic of leadership change. Mallikarjun Kharge has given me dheekshe, and I have accepted it with happiness," Shivakumar added when asked about the CM issue. Congress MLA CP Yogeshwar from Channapatna also recently threw his weight behind Shivakumar. All our district MLAs are united in wanting DK to become chief minister. Theres no disagreement on this. Its now up to the high command to decide," he said, adding to the growing chorus within the Karnataka Congress in favour of Shivakumar. Shivakumar also expressed frustration over repeated questions from the media. When an answer has already been given, its not right to keep repeating it. Theres no need to comment again and again," he said. The central leadership, along with Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, has directed senior state leaders to refrain from commenting publicly on internal matters. But with both factions signalling strength through indirect means, those instructions havent entirely held ground. Siddaramaiah, who built his political base on the AHINDA plank (minorities, backward classes, and Dalits), remains a key OBC face for the Congress at the national level. He has been emphatic. Am I not the chief minister now? Where is the vacancy?" he said, speaking to reporters in Delhi. DK Shivakumar himself has clarified, and I am repeating itthere is no vacancy." While the Shivakumar camp is believed to be pushing for a change in the CM post, there are also murmurs from the Siddaramaiah camp calling for a change in the state unit leadership. Shivakumar, who has served as KPCC chief since July 2020, is understood to have told the high command that his role is crucial in preparing the party for local body elections and long-term state planning. But for nearly eight months, Siddaramaiahs camp has been lobbying for a new KPCC president, arguing that a separation of powers is overdue. This internal tussle surfaced just as Randeep Singh Surjewala began one-on-one meetings with MLAsa move being seen, particularly by the Siddaramaiah camp, as an exercise to assess where loyalties lie. According to Congress insiders, those meetings were interpreted by some as a quiet review of Siddaramaiahs leadership. The very next day, the CM publicly declared that he would serve the full five-year terma pointed message to the party leadership. Siddaramaiah also brushed off any talk of a mid-term pact. If there was such an agreement, would I be saying Ill remain CM for five years? This is just speculation being floated in the media," he said. On growing support for Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah added, One or two MLAs might have said something out of personal admiration. But thats their view, not the partys. In fact, many more MLAs have asked that I continue." Asked about Siddaramaiahs remark that only a few MLAs support him, Shivakumar responded, I do what the party wants. He has answered the question already; theres no point in me repeating it." When pushed further, he added, Many among you may also want that (me as CM). But I dont wish to comment." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He also made it clear where he stands. I am only here because the party exists. Without the party, I have no existence," he said. Asked about what was discussed during his meetings with the high command, Shivakumar said they were focused on accommodating loyal party workers. We have to give positions to those who worked hard during the elections, at the taluk and district levels," he said, adding that the list would be sent again to Delhi for approval. About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 07:30 IST News politics Congress's Karnataka Conundrum Continues As Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar Camps Stoke Leadership Tussle NCP Chief Change In Maharashtra? Party Leader Calls Resignation Buzz 'Mischief' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 18:47 IST Jayant Patil, who has held the post for over seven years, had hinted at stepping down during the partys foundation day event on 10 June NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar with party leader Jayant Patil. (PTI file photo) Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awhad on Saturday dismissed rumours that Jayant Patil is stepping down as the partys Maharashtra unit president. Responding to reports about Patils possible resignation, Awhad, in a post on X, addressed the rumours about Patil stepping down, dismissing them as mischief" and noting that the party functions according to rules and discipline. Recommended Stories Hon. Jayant Patil Saheb is the state president. The news of his resignation being circulated is nothing but mischief. The party operates according to rules and discipline," he wrote. Awhads comment comes amid growing speculation within the party about a leadership change in Maharashtra. Patil, who has held the post for over seven years, had hinted at stepping down during the partys foundation day event on 10 June. In his speech, he thanked party chief Sharad Pawar for the opportunity and said it was time for younger leaders to take charge. However, party workers present at the event interrupted his speech and did not allow him to complete it. Party sources suggest that Shashikant Shinde, a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and a Maratha leader from Western Maharashtra, is being considered as Patils replacement. Shinde is known to be close to both Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule, and is seen as someone who can balance internal equations within the partyespecially in light of tensions between Patil and Rohit Pawar, NDTV reported. According to sources, a formal announcement could be made on 15 July during a meeting of NCP office-bearers at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai. The meeting will be held in the presence of Sharad Pawar. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Patils tenure has seen both successes and challenges. Under his leadership, the party played a key role in forming the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, briefly returning to power in the state. However, the party also faced a major setback with the split in 2023. Though the NCP performed well in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it faced a poor outcome in the Vidhan Sabha, winning just 10 seats. The possible leadership change is being seen as an attempt by Sharad Pawar to prepare the party for the upcoming civic polls and manage internal divisions. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More view comments Location : Maharashtra, India, India First Published: July 12, 2025, 18:46 IST News politics NCP Chief Change In Maharashtra? Party Leader Calls Resignation Buzz 'Mischief' Ganga Aarti Lights Up Canadian Riverbank, Netizens Hail 'Har Har Gange' | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 16:40 IST The Indian community held a grand Ganga Aarti on the Credit River in Mississauga, Canada, organized by Radio Dhishum. Consul Sanjeev Saklani attended. Online reactions were mixed. Ganga Aarti being performed at the banks of the Credit River at Erindale Park, Mississauga (X) In an attempt to recreate spiritual traditions far away of home, the Indian community performed a grand Ganga Aarti on the banks of Canadas Credit River in Mississauga earlier this week. Complete with diyas, chanting, and traditional rituals, the spiritual event drew a glowing scene along the riverbanks that many called magical. Recommended Stories According to Indian Consulate in Toronto, Consul Sanjeev Saklani represented the Consulate at the Ganga Aarti. Sharing the pictures of the event on X, the consulate said, Consul Sanjeev Saklani represented the Consulate at the Ganga Aarti, a soulful evening of divine chants and pious mantras at the banks of the Credit River at Erindale Park, Mississauga organized by Team @RadioDhishum." Consul Sanjeev Saklani represented the Consulate at the Ganga Aarti, a soulful evening of divine chants and pious mantras at the banks of the Credit River at Erindale Park, Mississauga organized by Team @RadioDhishum.@HCI_Ottawa @MEAIndia @diaspora_india pic.twitter.com/DO2ceopVVw IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) July 8, 2025 A video of the event, which has went viral on social media platforms, captured the sights and sounds of the divine ritual that mirrored the famous aartis held on the ghats of Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi. Radio Dhishum, which hosted the annual event, also shared the video. On July 4, 2025, the serene banks of the Credit River glowed with hundreds of diyas, divine chants, and heartfelt devotion From soothing bhajans, mantras, and shloka chanting by kids, to the divine Ganga Aarti it felt like Varanasi had arrived in Toronto." Meanwhile, the video received a mixed reaction from netizens with some appreciating the move while some criticising. One user appreciated the emotion, commenting, Har Har Gange what a feel through this reel." Another said, Hope they dont start polluting Canadian rivers like the Ganga." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Stop this please. This is not even the Ganga River to perform Ganga Aarti. Next, people will start Kumbh Mela here," added another. Amid the critiques, one voice offered a different perspective: Come back home, lets clean the Ganga river." About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Location : Canada First Published: July 12, 2025, 16:40 IST News viral Ganga Aarti Lights Up Canadian Riverbank, Netizens Hail 'Har Har Gange' | Watch 8 Indian-Origin Men Arrested In California For Gang-Related Kidnapping And Torture Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 17:11 IST Authorities in California's San Joaquin County arrested eight Indian-origin men for gang-related kidnapping and torture, seizing cash, arms, and ammunition. (Representative image) Authorities in Californias San Joaquin County have arrested eight Indian-origin people in connection with a gang-related kidnapping and torture case. Multiple security teams collaborated to serve five coordinated search warrants across San Joaquin County as part of a gang-related kidnapping and torture investigation, leading to the arrest of eight men. Recommended Stories Hindustan Times reported that those arrested have been identified as Dilpreet Singh, Arshpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh, Vishal, Pavittar Singh, Gurtaj Singh, Manpreet Randhawa, and Sarabjit Singh, said the San Joaquin County Sheriffs office in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The operation involved a joint effort between the San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office AGNET unit and SWAT teams from the Stockton Police Department, Manteca Police Department, Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office, as well as the FBI SWAT team, to carry out the warrants. A video of the arrest was also shared by the sheriffs office and identified Pavittar Singh as the primary suspect. However, it did not give any further details about the case. The authorities also seized $15,000 in cash and a large cache of arms and ammunition, including five handguns (including a fully-automatic Glock), one assault rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and high-capacity magazines. The eight suspects were booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on multiple felony charges, including kidnapping, torture, false imprisonment, conspiracy, witness dissuasion, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, terroristic threats, and gang enhancements. The accused are also facing other weapons-related charges such as possession of a machine gun, illegal possession of an assault weapon, manufacture/sale of high-capacity magazines, manufacturing a short-barreled rifle and carrying a loaded, unregistered handgun. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The crackdown was a part of the Kash Patel-headed Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Summer Heat initiative, which aims to target violent offenders and gang members terrorising communities nationwide", according to the sheriffs office. Summer Heat reflects Director Patels commitment to the American people to crush crime and restore safety in neighbourhoods across the country," the post said. view comments Location : California, USA First Published: July 12, 2025, 17:11 IST News world 8 Indian-Origin Men Arrested In California For Gang-Related Kidnapping And Torture Australian Teen Goes Missing While Surfing, Found Alive On Remote Island Days Later Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 11:39 IST The father of the boy sought help on social media and also asked people to come to the main Wooli boat ramp and take him to sea so that he can help in the rescue operation. Representative image Days after an Australian teen went missing while surfing off a northern NSW beach has been found alive on a remote island miles offshore, reported the New York Times. The boy, identified as 19-year-old Darcy Deefholts, went on surfing at One Tree, Wooli, on the states North Coast on Wednesday afternoon, and then disappeared. Recommended Stories A tense father and a real estate agent from Grafton, Terry Deefholts asked for help on social media saying he was fearing the worst." He told about the disappearance of his son in an emotional plea on social media. HELP I NEED BOATS, BEACH WALKERS, DRONES AND 4WDs and PLANES AT FIRST LIGHT. My boy Darcy is still missing. Marine Rescue searched tonight from Bare Point to Pebbly Beach at sea. They have been stood down for the night but expect they will be back early to resume the search," read his post. He also asked people to come to the main Wooli boat ramp (a location where boats are launched into the water) and take him to sea so that he can help in the rescue operation. I am asking anyone with a seaworthy vessel to please meet me at the main Wooli boat ramp and take me to sea to help with the search," he wrote further. While Deefholts feared the worst", his son was found on Thursday morning, nearly 13 kilometres out to sea on North Solitary Island off Wooli. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Calling it a one-in-a-million miracle." I havent had the chance to talk to him yet, Im just so over the moon," he told The Daily Telegraph. view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 11:39 IST News world Australian Teen Goes Missing While Surfing, Found Alive On Remote Island Days Later Beating Through Bombs: Kyiv Doctor Braves Russian Missiles To Deliver Donor Heart To Child Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 17:31 IST The surgery was part of a larger transplant effort using organs donated by a four-year-old girl who had been declared brain-dead after severe injuries The operation took place during a 13-hour blackout, caused by Russian strikes on Ukraines power grid. (Image via X/@OlenaHalushka) Ukrainian doctors performed a life-saving heart transplant on a child as explosions shook Kyiv and air raid sirens blared, with Russian missiles continuing to strike the city. On Thursday, Dr Borys Todurov and his team at Kyivs Heart Institute performed a heart transplant on a seriously ill child during one of the worst Russian aerial attacks in recent weeks. The surgery was part of a larger transplant effort using organs donated by a four-year-old girl who had been declared brain-dead after severe injuries. Recommended Stories The operation took place during a 13-hour blackout, caused by Russian strikes on Ukraines power grid. In video footage shared widely on social media, Todurov is seen performing surgery by torchlight after a power cut, saying, We need to turn on the generator." A handmade miracle by #Ukrainian doctors Professionals at the Heart Institute successfully removed a fragment of a mine from the heart of a 4-year-old girl who came under mortar fire in #Kherson. The childs condition is stable. : Borys Todurov#RussiaIsATerroristState pic.twitter.com/qtk2uxOyg4 UkraineWorld (@ukraine_world) November 23, 2023 Earlier that day, Todurov had travelled across the city from Okhmatdyt childrens hospital to retrieve the donor heart. The journey was extremely dangerous, as Russian missiles and drones continued to strike Kyiv, CNN reported. At one point, the ambulance passed a large fire burning by the road. In a calm voice, Todurov said, Were carrying a heart." The transplant was successful. A video from the operating room shows the new heart beating steadily inside the patients chest. The heart is working, and the pressure is stable," Todurov said afterwards. We hope the child will recover and live a long and full life." Steel HeartDoctor Todurov, the head of the Heart Institute of Ukraine, extracts a 7.62 caliber bullet from the heart of a Ukrainian soldier. The person survived and is recovering. pic.twitter.com/NYsymhoidJ Maria Drutska (@maria_drutska) December 21, 2023 At the same time, the young donors kidneys and liver were transplanted into two other critically ill children a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl also in Kyiv. Doctors said all three recipients had only days or weeks to live without the surgeries. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to Ukraines Transplant Coordination Centre, the donors mother, a medical worker herself, agreed to donate her daughters organs, giving three children a second chance at life. May the little donor rest in peace," the centre said. Our condolences to her family and gratitude for their difficult but important decision." About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More view comments Location : Ukraine First Published: July 12, 2025, 17:31 IST News world Beating Through Bombs: Kyiv Doctor Braves Russian Missiles To Deliver Donor Heart To Child Chinas Tank Boats Hit Waters Amid Taiwans Biggest Military Exercise | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 16:13 IST A viral video shows Chinese 'tank boats' during military drills near Taiwan. The PLA's 72nd Group Army conducted the drills off Fujian's coast. Fleet of Chinese tank boats in the sea right across from Taiwan. (X) A video has went viral on social media platforms showcasing a fleet of Chinese tank boats in the sea during military drills as tensions in the Taiwan Strait escalate. As per the report by the Sun, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) showcased its amphibious armoured units after Taiwan launched its largest-ever military drills. Recommended Stories The drills were carried out by the PLAs 72nd Group Army just off the southern coast of Fujian province directly across from Taiwan in what analysts see as a deliberately provocative move. The video as shared on social media platform showed reconnaissance troops from the 73rd Group Army practising armed swimming, underwater combat and long-range coastal infiltration drills. The video opens to show the armoured vehicles lined up on a beach facing the sea. Slowly, the vehicles move into the water and away from the shore. Chinese PLA tanks stage amphibious landing drills off Fujian coast across the strait from TaiwanArmored units seen practicing naval formation training at sea pic.twitter.com/oIEEMydwSU RT (@RT_com) July 11, 2025 Taiwans Military Drills Taiwan launched its military drills earlier this week following simulated attacks on its command systems and infrastructure, reported Reuters. The exercises will test how the island can handle a crippling communications attack by China. We are learning from the situation in Ukraine in recent years and realistically thinking about what Taiwan might face in real combat," a senior official told the news agency. The annual Han Kuang exercises, which will run for ten days, will mobilise 22,000 reservists and feature new High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, China responded to the military drills and said labelled them as nothing but a bluff". No matter what weapons are used, Taiwan cant resist the Peoples Liberation Armys sharp sword against independence," ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin told state broadcaster CCTV. About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More view comments Location : Beijing, China First Published: July 12, 2025, 16:13 IST News world Chinas Tank Boats Hit Waters Amid Taiwans Biggest Military Exercise | Watch Columbia University May Pay $200 Million To Settle Civil Rights Claims With Trump Admin: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 20:14 IST The agreement, still in draft form, would restore some of the more than $400 million in federal research funding cancelled by the administration People exit the Columbia University bookstore in Upper Manhattan on June 05, 2025 in New York City. (Getty Images via AFP) Columbia University may pay around $200 million or more to the Trump administration to settle allegations that it failed to protect Jewish students from harassment, The New York Times reported on Friday. The possible deal aims to resolve a dispute that has put the universitys federal funding at risk. The agreement, still in draft form, would restore some of the more than $400 million in federal research funding cancelled by the administration. In return, Columbia would provide compensation for alleged civil rights violations and agree to increase transparency on admissions, foreign donations, and other areas. Recommended Stories Columbia officials are expected to meet with White House representatives soon to finalise the terms of the settlement, the publication reported. Earlier proposals had included a consent decree a legally binding agreement placing the university under federal oversight for years but this is no longer part of the current discussions. After the funding was cut in March, Columbia agreed to several demands from the Trump administration. These included empowering campus police to arrest students, restricting mask use during protests, and increasing control over its Middle Eastern Studies department. These actions were intended to address concerns about anti-Semitism on campus. The controversy began following protests against the war in Gaza in 2023, when some Jewish students reported harassment and intimidation. Critics accused the university of ignoring these problems. The Trump administration threatened to revoke Columbias accreditation, which would have jeopardised all federal funding. In June, US Education Secretary Linda McMahon had said Columbia looked the other way as Jewish students faced harassment" and violated Title VI, a law protecting against discrimination by federally funded institutions. After Hamas October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, Columbia Universitys leadership acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on its campus," McMahon had said in a statement. The issue drew wider attention when Republican lawmakers questioned university leaders about anti-Semitism in higher education. Columbias former president, Minouche Shafik, resigned in August amid the pressure. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Columbia was the first university targeted by the Trump administration, followed by Harvard, Cornell, and Northwestern, which are also facing investigations and funding cuts. (With inputs from AFP) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More view comments Location : United Kingdom (UK) First Published: July 12, 2025, 20:09 IST News world Columbia University May Pay $200 Million To Settle Civil Rights Claims With Trump Admin: Report 'Everyone Was Fed Up': Passengers Stranded For 17 Hours After Couple Caught Smoking Mid-Air Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 19:49 IST A TUI Airways flight from Cancun to London was diverted to Bangor, Maine after a couple was caught smoking mid-flight. Passengers were stranded for 17 hours. Representative image An irresponsible act by a couple in a London-bound flight left passengers stranded for over 17 hours. The incident reported on July 8 drew a lot of criticism with people questioning the civic sense among travellers. As a report in New York Post, the flight had to divert after a couple were caught smoking in the bathroom mid-flight. TUI Airways flight BY49, bound for Londons Gatwick Airport, took off from Cancun, Mexico, but had to be diverted to Bangor International Airport in Maine due to this incident. The plane landed at around 9:30 p.m. local time. As per the report, the couple caught smoking were supposedly drunk and were taken away by the authorities. Recommended Stories However, the other passengers on board had to wait till the paperwork was completed. The flight that landed at 9:30 p.m. could depart at 3 p.m. next day, after 17 hours of wait. British passenger Terry Lawrance, 66, shared that travellers were required to remain seated for an additional five hours. The original flight crew was unable to continue the journey, as doing so would have exceeded their legally permitted working hours. Consequently, a relief crew had to be dispatched from the United Kingdom to the United States to complete the flight. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The situation deteriorated further when passengers were relocated to a confined lounge area, which Lawrance described as part of the airports military airbase section. They landed around 9:30 p.m. that evening, after which the two smokers were escorted off the plane. They were obviously drunk, and he basically assaulted his partner," Lawrance was quoted by New York Post as saying. We were sat on the plane on the ground for five hours the plane started taxiing again and we thought great and then they said there was a problem with flight plan, and we have to get off," he said. Next thing, were not going anywhere," he added further. view comments Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: July 12, 2025, 19:47 IST News world 'Everyone Was Fed Up': Passengers Stranded For 17 Hours After Couple Caught Smoking Mid-Air FBI Under Kash Patel Tests Agents' Trump Loyalty Using Lie Detectors: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 10:15 IST Some FBI employees have been pushed out or placed on administrative leave due to earlier investigations that ran afoul of conservatives. FBI Director Kash Patel The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has significantly expanded its use of polygraph testsnot just for national security, but also to root out internal dissent, reported the New York Times. Several senior employees were reportedly asked if they had spoken negatively about FBI director Kash Patel himself, raising alarms over potential misuse of internal vetting to silence criticism. Recommended Stories The FBI has gone through several changes ever since the new administration took charge, particularly under President Trumps appointees. Key political figures including Kash Patel and Dan Bongino have played a major role in reshaping the agency, leading to the removal or sidelining of several senior officials, said the NYT report. Some FBI employees have been pushed out or placed on administrative leave due to earlier investigations that ran afoul of conservatives and a belief that the bureau had been politicised. Many agents have chosen to leave the bureau voluntarily because they fear retaliation from Patel or Bongino, particularly for their involvement in investigations Trump or his allies disapproved of, reported NYT. This crackdown on leaks appears to be part of a wider effort within the FBI to control internal dissent and prevent negative information from reaching the media. The nature of the questions suggests that Kash Patel, now heading the FBI, is very sensitive to how he is perceived publicly. So, the internal investigations and polygraph tests may be aimed at identifying and silencing critics within the agency to protect his image. An FBI employees loyalty is to the Constitution, not to the director or deputy director," James Davidson, a former agent who spent 23 years in the bureau, told the NYT. It says everything about Patels weak constitution that this is even on his radar," Davidson added. According to The New York Times, top agents in nearly 40% of FBI field offices have either retired, been removed, or reassigned since the new administration took over. Former Norfolk agent Michael Feinberg said he was threatened with a polygraph over his ties to Peter Strzok, the ex-FBI official involved in the Trump-Russia probe. Feinberg resigned before taking the test. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In Lawfare, he wrote,"Under Patel and Bongino, subject matter expertise and operational competence are readily sacrificed for ideological purity and the ceaseless politicization of the work force (sic)." view comments Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: July 12, 2025, 10:01 IST News world FBI Under Kash Patel Tests Agents' Trump Loyalty Using Lie Detectors: Report Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) is one of the stocks that Jim Cramer shed light on.. During the episode, Cramer mentioned the stock and said: I believe these auto tariffs are real. Theyll change the landscape even if Japan and Korea start putting in giant orders for natural gas turbines and airplanes The stock of Whirlpool, which is now being protected via tariffs on steel from the excessive dumping of, yes, Korean and Chinese imports that undercut Whirlpools prices significantly. I believe that these competitors will be forced to build more product here if they want a shot at keeping their voluminous market share. Whirlpool stock was hit pretty hard on Liberation Day, made no sense, falling from $90 to $75 one month later. But as investors became fully aware of the ramifications here, Whirlpool was catapulted to $107 and change just over two months later. I think its got a lot more room to run. It makes the best, but its been undercut forever. Jim Cramer on Whirlpool: "Its Got a Lot More Room to Run" A close-up of a modern refrigerator with the company logo in the background. Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) manufactures and sells home appliances such as refrigerators, laundry machines, dishwashers, and small kitchen devices. The company distributes its products through retailers, distributors, builders, and direct-to-consumer channels. During the July 2 episode, Cramer discussed his sentiment around the company, as he said: What else? Alright, those who own Whirlpool have been long-time sufferers. One of the stocks I first bought in 1983, its pretty much the same price. Its hurt because its the only real American manufacturer in the industry, and all these other countries dumped their appliances on our country. LG and Samsung, by the way, are from Korea, and Haiers from China, they bought the GE Appliance business. But now theyre facing some big steel tariffs. Suddenly, Whirlpools in the drivers seat. They could be beneficiary of these foreign companies. Wow, it just ran 35 points, though, but its still a good story. While we acknowledge the potential of WHR as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Iceberg Of Doom? Greenland Town On High Alert As Massive Glacier Lurks Off Coast Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 16:40 IST A massive iceberg near Innaarsuit, North Greenland, has led authorities to warn residents, especially vulnerable individuals and boaters, to be cautious. Massive iceberg drift terrifyingly close to Greenland village. (X/@OJoelsen) A massive iceberg has floated perilously close to a Greenland village, and visuals of the gigantic icy beast have scared the internet. According to a report by The Daily Mail, authorities have been keeping a close eye on it for weeks. Though there are warnings in place for the residents, the villagers are hoping that the iceberg will float away. But for now, its stuck in place. Innaarsuit, North Greenland: July 9, 2025. A massive iceberg is drifting close to the harbour near the Royal Greenland fish factory. Authorities urge caution: Avoid walking in large groups to the local store. Vulnerable residents should be extra careful. Boaters should stay alert. Emergency teams are monitoring in case the iceberg breaks," an X user wrote while posting a picture of the iceberg. Recommended Stories The Avannaata Municipality told the Daily Mail that emergency services encourage families not to go in a group towards the store, while at the same time asking people with walking difficulties to be extra careful when walking towards the store, Hindustan Times reported. It added, The emergency services also want you to be careful when sailing both to and from the settlement. The emergency services are aware of the iceberg and are prepared if it breaks apart." Dennis Lehtonen, a resident, told the outlet, The iceberg returned to Innaarsuit on Monday and has been stuck in almost the same spot ever since." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Because of this, the Avannaata Kommunia (North Greenland municipality) issued the official warning for the iceberg, and we are temporarily closing the local fish factory where I work as well as the small shop," Lehtonen added. I asked the locals how they feel about the iceberg, and while some are worried, many are actually pretty excited kind of like me," he said. view comments Location : Denmark First Published: July 12, 2025, 16:40 IST News world Iceberg Of Doom? Greenland Town On High Alert As Massive Glacier Lurks Off Coast Islamabad, Moscow Sign Agreement To Restore Pakistan Steel Mills Project Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 17:51 IST Pakistan and Russia signed a protocol to restore Pakistan Steel Mills in Karachi, aiming to restart steel production. Pakistan, Russia Sign Agreement To Restore Pakistan Steel Mills Project. (Facebook/Pakistan Embassy Russia) The Pakistani embassy in Russia announced on Friday that the two countries have signed protocol to restore and Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) in Karachi", in what it called was a reaffirmation" of their long-standing industrial partnership". The agreement was signed at the Pakistan embassy in Moscow by Pakistans secretary of industries and production, Saif Anjum and Vadim Velichko, general director of Industrial Engineering LLC from the Russian side. Recommended Stories The event was attended by SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan and Pakistans Ambassador to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali. The project seeks to restart and expand steel production, Hindustan Times reported. Khan said, Reviving PSM with Russias support reflects our shared history and commitment to a stronger industrial future." The Pakistani embassy in Russia notes that PSM, built with Soviet help in 1973, stands as a lasting testament to the enduring ties between Pakistan and Russia. Earlier this month, Pakistan and Russia agreed to collaborate on establishing a robust rail and road network to link the South Asian country with Central Asia and Russia, providing landlocked states direct access to warm waters, a media report said on Friday. Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Russian Deputy Minister of Transport Andrey Sergeyevich Nikitin met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) ministerial conference in Tianjin, China, and agreed to speed up infrastructure development in the region to boost trade and economic integration. The initiative aims to transform Pakistan into a strategic transit hub by enhancing trade corridors and logistical routes extending to Russia and Central Asia, Geo News reported. According to PTI, Abdul Aleem Khan stated that Pakistans modernisation efforts include digitising transport infrastructure, introducing barrier-free motorways, mandatory e-tagging, and comprehensive CCTV surveillance. He said the reforms were part of Pakistans broader goal to optimise regional connectivity and cross-border trade. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, last month, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to advance the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) rail project. In a phone call, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistans Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi agreed to work towards early finalisation of the framework agreement. view comments Location : Russia First Published: July 12, 2025, 17:51 IST News world Islamabad, Moscow Sign Agreement To Restore Pakistan Steel Mills Project 'Heartbroken': Israeli Strike Kills 8 Children Outside Gaza Health Centre While Waiting For Aid Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 17:59 IST Children aged from 17 months to 14 years were killed in the strike, along with three women and four men. The IDF said it was targeting a Hamas militant behind the Oct 7 attack. More than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive. | AFP Image An Israeli strike killed at least 15 people, including women and children, athered outside a health centre in the central Gazan city of Deir Al Balah on Thursday, according to medical staff and officials in the Hamas-run territory. Recommended Stories At least 8 children aged from 17 months to 14 years were killed in the strike, along with three women and four men, according to the Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza. In footage obtained by CNN, several children were seen lying motionless, and others appeared injured amid the sound of screams during an apparent Israeli strike. The Israeli military said it was targeting a Hamas militant who took part in the groups October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel that left 1,200 people dead. The incident is under review. The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimise harm as much as possible," the IDF said in a statement to CNN. 17-Month-Old Child Killed Mohammad, who was just 17 months old, was the youngest victim of the strike. His mother Donia Halhoul said she had been waiting to receive food aid for her children at the centre when the strikes took place. Im in so much pain all over my body, but what hurt me more is that Mohammad died hungry while I was waiting to get him and his siblings nutritional supplements," she said. He was so young that he had only started to say a few words before he was killed. I was so happy to hear his first words." Project HOPE, an American aid organisation, said the strike occurred directly in front" of one of its health clinics, where people were waiting to receive treatment for malnutrition, infections, chronic illnesses, and more." CEO Rabih Torbay said the clinics location was shared with the Israeli military and was declared a deconflicted site. Yet, this morning, innocent families were mercilessly attacked as they stood in line waiting for the doors to open," he said. Horrified and heartbroken cannot properly communicate how we feel anymore." Israel-Hamas Truce Talks Nearly 800 people have been killed by Israeli strikes while waiting for rations in the last six weeks, according to the UN. The latest attacks came as Israel and Hamas were locked in indirect talks in Qatar to try to agree on a temporary ceasefire in the more than 21-month conflict. Hamas has said the free flow of aid is a main sticking point in the talks, with Gazas more than two million residents facing a dire humanitarian crisis of hunger and disease amid the grinding conflict. Despite easing the total blockade of aid, the situation was not showing any signs of improvement. Moreover, there are frequent reports of Israeli forces firing on people seeking aid, but the military has accused militants of firing at civilians in the vicinity of aid centres. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed hope for a 60-day pause in the war and expressed willingness to negotiate a more permanent end to the fighting. At least 57,823 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed since the start of the war, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all (with agency inputs) About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More view comments Location : Jerusalem, Israel First Published: July 12, 2025, 17:59 IST News world 'Heartbroken': Israeli Strike Kills 8 Children Outside Gaza Health Centre While Waiting For Aid 'Lost All Credibility': Suhel Seth Slams BBC Over 'Fake News' On Air India Crash Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 23:07 IST Seth told the BBC to remember that, as a publicly funded broadcaster, it must not spread what he termed state fake news Suhel Seth is the founder and managing partner of the consultancy firm Counselage India. (Image via X/@Suhelseth) Businessman and commentator Suhel Seth on Saturday strongly criticised the BBC for what he called state-funded fake news" concerning the preliminary Air India crash report. In a video statement shared on the social media platform X, Seth, who is the founder and managing partner of the consultancy firm Counselage India, suggested that the BBC should be rechristened as the British Bullshitting Corporation." Recommended Stories It is absolutely abhorrent for the BBC, which should now rechristen itself as the British Bullshitting Corporation, to cast dispersions on Indian pilots without actually going through the report," he stated. He accused the BBC of using typical ploys" by Western organisations to slander overseas companies and professionals. This is not the India of yore," he added, stressing that India isnt part of your goddamn colony and never will be." Seth told the BBC to remember that, as a publicly funded broadcaster, it must not spread what he termed state fake news". It is tragic that the BBC has now lost all credibility. Glastonbury was about antisemitism and today it is about anti-fairness. These rogues need to be taught a lesson," he concluded. The BBCs article, published after the preliminary findings were released, suggested that the pilots cut off fuel to the engines" and noted that no fault in plane" was found. What The AAIB Report Reveals Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary findings on Saturday following the crash of Air India Flight AI171 on 12 June. According to the report, the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner lost thrust seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad airport. Fuel supply to both engines was cut off within one second, causing the aircraft to lose altitude and crash within half a minute. The 15-page report confirmed that the fuel control switches for both engines moved from RUN" to CUTOFF" almost simultaneously. This sequence was captured on the flight data and cockpit voice recorders. One pilot is heard asking the other, Why did you cut off the fuel?" to which the co-pilot, who was flying the plane, reportedly responded, I didnt." Shortly after, a backup power source known as the ram air turbine (RAT) was deployed, indicating total engine failure. Though the pilots managed to relight both engines, only one regained enough power. A distress call was sent out, but the aircraft crashed into a nearby college hostel just outside the airport, killing nearly everyone on board and several on the ground. The fuel switches were found in the RUN" position at the crash site, and there was no mechanical fault reported in the engines or the aircraft. The AAIB did not determine why the switches were moved or who was responsible. It also made no safety recommendations for Boeing 787 operators at this stage. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The incident is being further investigated, with assistance from US and UK aviation safety bodies. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 22:58 IST News world 'Lost All Credibility': Suhel Seth Slams BBC Over 'Fake News' On Air India Crash Report Lufthansa CEOs Wife Rams Woman In Italy While On Vacation Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 23:02 IST Vivian Spohr, wife of Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, faces legal issues after accidentally running over a babysitter in Italy, resulting in her death. Vivian Alexandra Spohr expressed her dismay and deep regret over this accident. (X) Vivian Spohr, wife of German airlines Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, has landed herself in leagl woes after she ran ran over a babysitter during vacation in Italy earlier this week. According to Associated Press citing local reports, Vivian Spohr crashed her SUV into 24-year-old Gaia Costa in Sardinias posh town of Porto Cervo during her vacation. Recommended Stories Vivian Spohr was at the wheel of the SUV when she rammed over Costa while she walking across a pedestrian crossing in Porto Cervo. According to the CCTV footage, before she noticed the SUV approaching her, Gaia attempted to cross the road, and later tried to stop it with a wave of her hand, too. However, the car didnt stop. Costa, a native of Tempio Pausania, in the Gallura region of northern Sardinia, was severely injured in the accident. The medical team that arrived at the spot, tried to revive Gaia for 20 minutes but unfortunately, she succumbed to the injuries. According to a report by local LUnione Sarda, Vivian underwent alcohol and drug tests, which were negative. Her car is under technical probe. Vivian went back home to Berlin and is reportedly helping with the inquiry. She has also made herself available to Italian judicial authorities Vivian Expresses Sorrow Over Accident Meanwhile, in a statement issued by her Italian lawyer on Friday, the 51-year-old German businesswoman expressed dismay and deep sorrow for this grave accident, which has devastated a family, the town of Tempio, and the entire community of Gallura." The statement added that Vivian placed herself at the complete disposal of the Italian judicial authorities for the necessary investigations and, while aware that such a great personal loss cannot be repaired, will take steps to mitigate its consequences." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The investigation will hinge on forensic evidence, witness statements, and potential negligence findings. If charged, Spohr could face extradition proceedings or a trial in absentia. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More view comments Location : Rome, Italy First Published: July 12, 2025, 23:02 IST News world Lufthansa CEOs Wife Rams Woman In Italy While On Vacation Putin Backs 'Zero-Enrichment' US Nuclear Deal, Iran Denies Receiving Any Message: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 20:46 IST According to a report by US-based news outlet Axios, Putin has shared this position with both US President Donald Trump and Iranian officials Russian President Vladimir Putin with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. (Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly expressed support for a nuclear deal with the United States that would prohibit Iran from enriching uranium on its own soil. According to a report by US-based news outlet Axios, Putin has shared this position with both US President Donald Trump and Iranian officials on Saturday. Recommended Stories Citing three European officials and one senior Israeli official familiar with the matter, the outlet reported that Moscow has encouraged Tehran to accept the zero-enrichment" condition. We know that this is what Putin told the Iranians," a senior Israeli official was quoted as saying. Trump has been clear that any new nuclear deal with Iran must include a total ban on uranium enrichment inside the country. If talks resume in the coming weeks, this is expected to be one of the key demands from the US side. Iran Denies Claims However, shortly after the report surfaced, Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency strongly denied it. Citing an informed source", the agency said that Iran had received no message from Russian President regarding a zero-enrichment deal with the United States. The source also said that no such message was delivered during Putins most recent meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. They stressed that no communication mentioning zero enrichment had been passed between Iran and Russia following that meeting either. While Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and maintains friendly ties with Iran, it has long called for a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the ongoing dispute over Irans nuclear programme. Iran Open To Resume Nuclear Talks Meanwhile, Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Tehran remains open to resuming nuclear talks with the US but only if firm guarantees are given that no further attacks will take place against Iran. His comments were reported by state media. Araghchi referred to the recent 12-day bombardment by Israel and a US airstrike on June 22, saying such actions had seriously damaged Irans nuclear facilities and complicated any chances for diplomacy. He added that if negotiations are to continue, there must be a strong commitment from the US and others that similar attacks will not happen again. As a result of the strikes, Iran has suspended cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, forcing inspectors to leave the country. Araghchi stated that under Iranian law, future cooperation with the agency would be decided case by case, based on national interests. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He also made it clear that Iran will continue to enrich uranium on its own soil a stance that directly opposes US demands. While Washington says this cannot be allowed, Tehran sees enrichment as a national right and a vital part of its peaceful nuclear programme. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More view comments Location : Moscow, Russia First Published: July 12, 2025, 20:46 IST News world Putin Backs 'Zero-Enrichment' US Nuclear Deal, Iran Denies Receiving Any Message: Report Sheikh Hasinas Daughter Saima Put On Indefinite Leave By WHO Over Corruption Charges Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 22:34 IST Saima Wazed, daughter of deposed Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, is on indefinite leave from WHO amid corruption allegations. Dr. Catharina Boehme will replace her. Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's daughter Saima Wazed. (File) In an unprecedented move, Saima Wazed the Regional Director for WHO South East Asia and daughter of deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sent on indefinite leave by the World Health Organisation (WHO) amid Bangladeshs interim governments claim that she was involved in corruption during Hasinas regime. According to a report by Health Policy Watch, WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus circulated an email informing the staff that Wazed would be on leave from July 11. Recommended Stories His email further said that Dr Catharina Boehme, WHOs assistant director-general, would replace Wazed in the UN health agencys South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO). Charges Against Wazed Earlier this year, Bangladesh Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) lodged cases against Wazed in connection with her academic qualification while seeking the high-profile job. The ACC also accused Wazed of using her mothers influence to achieve the position of the regional chief of the WHO. As per the report, she falsely stated she held an honorary position at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, a claim the university has refuted. It is also alleged that Wazed was engaged in widespread corruption while her mother governed Bangladesh. The ACC asserted that she leveraged her authority and connections to illicitly secure around $2.8 million from several banks, funnelling the funds through the Shuchona Foundation, which she once headed. Sheikh Hasina Indicted In Bangladesh Meanwhile, a special tribunal indicted Bangladeshs ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday by accepting charges of crimes against humanity filed against her in connection with a mass uprising in which hundreds of students were killed last year. A three-member panel, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, indicted Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on five charges. Hasina and Khan are being tried in absentia. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Responding to the panels decision, Hasinas Awami League party condemned the trial process and said the tribunal was a kangaroo" court. The tribunal opened the trial on June 5. Authorities published newspaper advertisements asking Hasina, who has been in exile in India, and Khan to appear before the tribunal. Hasina has been in exile since August 5. About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More view comments Location : Switzerland First Published: July 12, 2025, 22:34 IST News world Sheikh Hasinas Daughter Saima Put On Indefinite Leave By WHO Over Corruption Charges 'Take Your Blood Money Back...': Pannun Threatens Kapil Sharma After Canada Cafe Attack Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 14:28 IST Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued a threat to Kapil Sharma, accusing him of promoting Hindutva on the pretext of doing business in Canada. Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued a threat to comedian Kapil Sharma. (File) Comedian Kapil Sharmas cafe in Canadas British Columbia recently came under attack in what authorities believe was a targeted strike linked to the banned Khalistani terrorist outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Days after the attack, pro-Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued a fresh threat to the comedian. The cafe named Kaps Cafe had just celebrated a soft opening, drawing attention for its elegant pink-and-white interior, floral accents and a menu of artisan coffee and desserts. However, shots were fired on the property late Sunday night , although no injuries were reported. Recommended Stories In a video message, Pannun the leader of Khalistani outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) accused Kapil Sharma of promoting Hindutva on the pretext of doing business in Canada, and the country will not allow such ideas to take shape on its soil. Canada is not your playground. Take your blood money back to Hindustan. Canada will not allow violent Hindutva ideology to take root on Canadian soil under the guise of business," he said in his message to Sharma. Pannun also asked if Kaps Cafe was just a comedy venue or part of a larger conspiracy to export Hindutva". Notably, the SFJ banned in India had released a threatening video warning Kapil Sharma to take Hindutva money back to India." ALSO READ: Stunning Decor, Tasty Menu: Inside Kapil Sharmas Recently Attacked Canada Cafe Harjit Singh Laddi, a BKI operative designated as a terrorist by India, claimed responsibility for the attack on Kapil Sharmas cafe in a video message. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a Rs 10 lakh reward for information leading to Laddis arrest, underscoring the gravity of his suspected involvement in cross-border extremist activities. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Despite the setback, Kaps Cafe has vowed to remain open and continue its mission of serving as a safe, joyful space for the community. We opened Kaps Caffe with hopes of bringing warmth, community, and joy through delicious coffee and friendly conversation. To have violence intersect with that dream is heartbreaking. We are processing this shock, but we are not giving up," it said in an Instagram post. This attack follows a growing trend where Khalistani-linked gangs abroad are targeting Indian-origin businesses and figures, especially those who are publicly pro-India or high-profile. These groups have been known to use violence, threats, and extortion as tools to assert ideological dominance and push separatist narratives. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More view comments Location : Ottawa, Canada First Published: July 12, 2025, 14:28 IST News world 'Take Your Blood Money Back...': Pannun Threatens Kapil Sharma After Canada Cafe Attack Threat To Humanity: Trump Says He Will Revoke Rosie O'Donnell's US Citizenship Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 22:45 IST Trump called Rosie O'Donnell a "threat to humanity" and considered revoking her citizenship. O'Donnell, now in Ireland, has long criticized Trump. President Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell. (Photo/AFP) US President Donald Trump lashed out at Rosie ODonnell, labelling her a threat to humanity" and threatening to consider stripping her of her US citizenship. In a social media post, Trump said, Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship." Recommended Stories The US President essentially told Rosie ODonnell to stay in Ireland if they want her, after threatening to revoke her citizenship. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!" he concluded. ODonnell moved to Ireland in January 2025, saying shed return only when America is safe for all citizens to have equal rights". The comedian has criticised Trump for years, recently blaming his cuts to the National Weather Service for Texas flood deaths. The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees citizenship to anyone born on American soil, which is why Rosie ODonnell, born in New York in 1962, is a US citizen. Trump and ODonnells bitter feud spans nearly two decades, igniting in 2006 when ODonnell criticised Trumps handling of the Miss USA pageant on The View. The tension escalated in 2015 when Trump responded to a question about calling women derogatory names by saying, Only Rosie ODonnell". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Though Trump signed an order to end birthright citizenship, courts blocked it as unconstitutional. According to legal experts, citizenship can only be stripped from naturalised immigrants who lied to get it, not native-born Americans. ODonnell is applying for Irish citizenship but remains a US citizen. view comments Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: July 12, 2025, 22:45 IST News world Threat To Humanity: Trump Says He Will Revoke Rosie O'Donnell's US Citizenship Trump Brand Enters Romania, Familys Firm To Develop Luxury Tower In Bucharest Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 21:34 IST The Trump Organization and Romania's SDC Imobiliare will develop Trump Tower Bucharest, a luxury apartment block. Donald Trump (Reuters File Image) US President Donald Trumps family business, The Trump Organization, is in talks with Romanian real estate firm to construct a tower block with luxury apartments in Romanias capital city of Bucharest, the company said. According to The Trump Organization, the firm will team up with Romanias SDC Imobiliare to develop premium residences. Recommended Stories Trump Tower Bucharest will be developed in the heart of Romanias capital, one of Europes most vibrant and dynamic emerging markets, bringing premium residences under the Trump brand to the region," the companies said in a statement as reported by Reuters. However, the companies havent spilled the beans about the he location or start date for work on the tower block, which is being branded as luxury residential apartments in Romania. Romania, a European Union and NATO member state, has found itself at the centre of a dispute between Europe and the Trump administration over democratic principles after the constitutional court in December cancelled an ongoing presidential vote due to suspicions of Russian meddling, denied by Moscow. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The country re-ran its presidential ballot in May and centrist President Nicusor Dan won, with Trump later congratulating him on his victory. (With inputs from Reuters) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More view comments Location : Romania First Published: July 12, 2025, 21:34 IST News world Trump Brand Enters Romania, Familys Firm To Develop Luxury Tower In Bucharest Leading analyst calls XRP 'banking meme coin' originally appeared on TheStreet. Leading analyst Tom Dunleavy thinks the next altcoin season is going to significantly differ from past cycles. Altcoins could retain a 30%-35% share of the total crypto market cap but at a much higher level than previous cycles, he added. Dunleavy is the head of venture at Varys Capital, a crypto-focused venture capital firm with offices in Thailand and the UAE. In a recent conversation with TheStreet Roundtable host Scott Melker, Dunleavy shed light on the prospects of leading altcoins such as Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Chainlink, etc. Melker cited two recent reports that are bullish on altcoins. In one report, Bitwise bet on ETH, SOL, XRP, LINK, etc. as the cleanest altcoin investments to capitalize on the tokenization boom. Join the discussion with Scott Melker on Roundtable here. In another report, analyst Timo Oinonen highlighted stablecoin balance on the Binance crypto exchange hitting a record $31 billion in June. The much-awaited altseason may be around, the report indicated. XRP a 'banking meme coin' Dunleavy said he agreed on the assessment of all these altcoins except one. Ethereum is where most of the stablecoin activity is, so it makes sense to include it among the top assets, he underlined. ETH was trading at $2,812.21, down 9.5% a year. He said he could, however, see why there is a bearish sentiment around ETH within the crypto community because one expected its price to really capitalize on the stablecoin and tokenization boom. Solana has also seen a huge amount of stablecoin activity, he said while underlining its crucial position within altcoins. SOL was trading at $159.33, up 13% a year. Chainlink, even if LINK hasn't shown any substantial price movement for ages, provides the oracles for both stablecoins and real-world assets (RWAs) tokenization, Dunleavy continued. LINK was trading at $14.64, up 14.5% a year. Join the discussion with Benjamin Cowen on Roundtable here. The only cryptocurrency Varys Capitals head of venture expressed skepticism about is XRP, thanks to its centralized model in comparison to other altcoins. XRP has only 35 validators and is slower at 20 transactions per second (TPS), he continued. Though Ripple has a stablecoin, other stablecoins have more liquidity, he underlined. XRP is still like a banking meme coin, which Dunleavy said he isnt sure to bet on. It was trading at $2.49, up 473% a year. Different altcoin season anticipated Other altcoins are great ways to play the proliferation of stablecoins and RWA tokenization in the next few years. Trump Cranks Up Pressure On Mexico, European Commission With 30% Import Tariff Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 20:04 IST President Trump announced 30% tariffs on imports from Mexico and the EU, effective August 1, to address trade deficits. Similar letters were sent to 14 countries. US President Donald Trump. (File) US President Donald Trump on Saturday released new tariff letters for Mexico and the European Union, announcing 30% tariffs on import goods and stressing that these tax rates are far less" than what is needed to eliminate the trade deficit" between the US and the trading partners. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, stating that these tariff slabs will come into effect from August 1. Recommended Stories If You Decide To: Bangladesh, 13 Others Slapped With Trump Tariff Letters | Full List In the two nearly identical letters, Trump said he took particular issue with the trade deficits the United States runs with both countries, meaning America buys more goods from there compared to the amount that American businesses export to those countries. It is a Great Honor for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our Trading Relationship, and the fact that the United States of America has agreed to continue working with Mexico," the letter to the Mexican president read. In the letter to European Commission president, Trump said. Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge The European Union a Tariff of only 30% on EU products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade a higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff." EU Responds European Union president Ursula von der Leyen responded to Trumps tariff imposition saying that 30% tariff on exports would hurt businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic. A 30% tariff on EU exports would hurt businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue working towards an agreement by August 1. At the same time, we are ready to safeguard EU interests on the basis of proportionate countermeasures," she said in a post on X. A 30% tariff on EU exports would hurt businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.We will continue working towards an agreement by August 1. At the same time, we are ready to safeguard EU interests on the basis of proportionate countermeasures. Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 12, 2025 Trump Sent Tariff Letters To These Countries Embarking on a letter-post spree this week, Trump sent out similar-worded letters to the leaders of 14 countries, imposing tariffs on their imports. Japan and South Korea became the first countries to have received the letters shortly after 9.30 pm IST, July 7, as announced by Trump earlier that he would start sending letters to 12 to 15 countries about tariffs or deals with the United States. Minutes after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during her daily briefing that more letters are expected during the course of the day, Trump posted five more letters to Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, and South Africa. Tunisia, which got the letter after a short pause, was slapped with a 25% tariff on its imports. Malaysia and Kazakhstan were slapped with a 25% tariff each on their exports to the US. Both countries widely export materials such as electronics, energy, and industrial metals to the United States. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The US President further imposed as high as 40% tariffs on goods from Myanmar and Laos. South Africa will face a 30% tariff, as per Trumps announcement. In each of his 14 letters, Trump warned against any retaliatory tariffs, threatening reciprocation from the US. About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More view comments Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: July 12, 2025, 18:39 IST News world Trump Cranks Up Pressure On Mexico, European Commission With 30% Import Tariff US Citizen Beaten To Death By Israeli Settlers In West Bank While Visiting Family Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 23:30 IST Sayfollah "Saif" Musallet, a 20-year-old Palestinian-American from Florida, was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the West Bank while defending his family's land. Sayfollah Saif Musallet, who was born in Tampa, Florida, was beaten to death near his familys farm (X) A 20-year-old Palestinian-American man was beaten to death allegedly by Israeli settlers while visiting family in the occupied West Bank, according to his family. The deceased, identified as Sayfollah Saif" Musallet, a resident of Florida, was brutally attacked by Israeli settlers near his familys farm in the town of al-Mazraa ash-Sharqiya, north of Ramallah, the family said in a statement on social media and confirmed to NBC News. Recommended Stories Musallet had travelled from his home in Florida to visit family in Palestine, his cousin Fatmah Muhammad said in a social media post. His family said that a group of Israeli settlers assaulted Musallet while he was defending his land, and then blocked ambulances from reaching him for three hours. He died from his injuries before he could reach the hospital. I was the first one to reach Saif," said Mohammed Nael Hijaz, a 22-year-old friend of the victim. He was not moving when I got there and he could barely breathe. There was time to save him," he told The Guardian. Musallet had been visiting the West Bank since early June and had recently opened an ice cream business with his father in Tampa, family members told CNN. He was a very sweet guy, full of hopes and dreams," Hijaz added. We are devastated that our beloved Sayfollah Musallet (nicknamed Saif) was brutally beaten to death by Israeli settlers while he was protecting his familys land from settlers who were attempting to steal it. Saif was a brother and a son, just starting the prime of his life. He was a kind and hard-working and deeply respected young man. Saif built a successful business in Tampa and was known for his generosity, ambition and connection to his Palestinian heritage. We demand justice," the family said in a statement, urging the US State Department to hold those responsible accountable. Another Palestinian, identified by the Health Ministry as Mohammed Shalabi, was fatally shot by settlers during the attack, Al Jazeera reported. Meanwhile, the Israeli military acknowledged the confrontation and said it was aware of reports concerning a Palestinian civilian" killed in the incident, adding that the case is under review by the Israeli Security Agency and police. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers live in developments built in Palestinian territories that are widely considered illegal by the international community. Since October 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, sparking the war in Gaza, violence perpetrated by settlers in the West Bank has surged, often aided or abetted by Israeli security forces. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More view comments Location : Palestine First Published: July 12, 2025, 23:30 IST News world US Citizen Beaten To Death By Israeli Settlers In West Bank While Visiting Family US Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez Calls Trump 'Rapist', Accuses Him Of Hiding Epstein Files Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 17:28 IST Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called Trump a "rapist" in a viral post, criticizing his impact on Epstein files. DOJ found no new criminal info, sparking MAGA supporters' outrage. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faced heavy criticism on Friday after calling US President Donald Trump a rapist in a social media post. (File) Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez triggered a political storm by calling US President Donald Trump a rapist" while jabbing him for the MAGA crisis over his handling of the files on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a social media post, the New York congresswoman suggested that Trumps presence in the White House had interfered with the Justice Departments handling of matters related to Epstein files. Recommended Stories Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files?" she said in a post on X referring to Department of Justices recently released findings on the Epstein case, which dismissed two widely circulated conspiracy theories. Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files? Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 11, 2025 Meanwhile, AOCs post quickly went viral, garnering over 12 million views and sparking backlash from Trump supporters and conservative commentators. Many accused AOC of defamation, pointing out that Trump has not been criminally convicted of rape. In 2023, Trump was found civilly liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll, but he was not found liable for rape and was never criminally charged in the case. DOJs Findings On Epstein Files Trump and his administration have faced a loud and very public outcry, particularly from inside the MAGA sphere, after announcing that there was neither a client list in the Epstein files nor any evidence that Epstein was murdered. Prominent MAGA supporters, including Dan Bongino, Pam Bondi, and Elon Musk, expressed disappointment and outrage over the findings. The DOJs release of the footage was intended to dispel theories that the footage contained revelations about Epsteins death, which was officially ruled a suicide. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The July 6 memo stated that after a review of 300 GB of files, 10,000 video clips, and 4,000 images of victims, no criminal information beyond Epsteins already documented crimes was discovered. At the Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Trump shut down a reporters question about the Epstein files. Are you still talking about Jeffery Epstein?" Trump asked. This guys been talked about for years." About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More view comments Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: July 12, 2025, 17:28 IST News world US Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez Calls Trump 'Rapist', Accuses Him Of Hiding Epstein Files What Led A US Court To Halt Trump Administrations Immigration Crackdown In California Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 14:31 IST The court found immigration agents were detaining people without warrants, relying on race, language, and job type, actions it said violated core US constitutional protections US President Donald Trump. (Reuters Image) A federal judge in the United States has issued a major blow to the Trump administrations immigration crackdown by halting what the court described as indiscriminate stops and arrests across seven California counties, including Los Angeles. The temporary restraining orders were passed by US District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong in response to a lawsuit accusing immigration agents of unlawfully targeting Latino communities. According to filings, US immigration authorities detained people based solely on their appearance, language, or where they worked, without warrants, probable cause, or due legal process. The judge said there was a mountain of evidence" that such unconstitutional practices were taking place. Recommended Stories Who Filed The Lawsuit And Why? The case was filed last week by immigrant advocacy groups and five individualsthree undocumented workers and two US citizens. Among the citizens, one was reportedly detained despite presenting valid identification. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California, which led the legal action, said the Trump administrations tactics violated the Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the US Constitution, which protect against unlawful searches and guarantee access to due process. What Did The Court Say About Immigration Arrests? The judge found that immigration agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were conducting roving patrols and arrests without reasonable suspicion. These actions were not based on credible intelligence or surveillance but on superficial factors such as race, clothing, or worksite location. In one case cited in the lawsuit, everyone at a car wash was detained except for two white workers. Another plaintiff, Brian Gavidiaa US citizenwas reportedly assaulted and detained while working at a tow yard in a Latino neighbourhood. The court said these patterns pointed to racial profiling. Judge Frimpong noted during the hearing that DHS had failed to provide even a single report justifying why someone was targeted. Its hard for the court to believe you couldnt find one case with a report of why someone was targeted," she said, calling out the absence of documentation. What Exactly Has The Judge Ordered? The ruling includes two temporary restraining orders: The Trump administration cannot stop or detain individuals based solely on their race, language, location, or job type. This includes assumptions based on speaking Spanish or English with an accent, being at locations commonly associated with immigrant laboursuch as car washes, tow yards, or construction sites, or wearing work clothes commonly associated with Latino labourers. The federal government must allow lawyers full access to detainees held at the Los Angeles immigration detention centre known as B-18. This includes permitting confidential phone calls and legal visits seven days a week. The orders apply to the US Central District of California, covering Los Angeles and six other counties in Southern California. What Is B-18 And Why Is It Controversial? B-18" is a temporary holding facility in downtown Los Angeles operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Advocacy groups alleged that detainees at the facility were not informed of their right to legal representation and that lawyers were often denied entry. Mark Rosenbaum, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, testified that in one incident on June 7, attorneys tried to read detainees their rights through the windows of a bus, but government drivers honked horns to drown them out. Chemical agents akin to tear gas" were reportedly used during that confrontation. He added that the facility lacked beds, adequate food, and medical facilitiesconditions he described as coercive," pushing detainees to sign deportation papers without speaking to a lawyer. Although government attorneys claimed that access was only restricted during violent protests, Rosenbaum said lawyers were denied entry even on quiet days. How Did The Trump Administration Respond? The White House strongly objected to the ruling. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson said, No federal judge has the authority to dictate immigration policy, that authority rests with Congress and the President. Enforcement operations require careful planning and execution; skills far beyond the purview (or) jurisdiction of any judge. We expect this gross overstep of judicial authority to be corrected on appeal." The Department of Homeland Security also rejected the claims. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, said the allegations of racial profiling were disgusting and categorically FALSE," and added that a district judge is undermining the will of the American people." In court, government attorney Sean Skedzielewski argued that immigration officers relied on prior surveillance and intelligence, not race, and acted based on targeted, individualised packages." He maintained that agents undergo training to comply with constitutional rights, including the Fourth Amendment protections against unlawful search and seizure. What Has Been The Local Political Reaction? Californias political leadership, including several Democratic officials, welcomed the courts decision. Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X (formerly Twitter), California stands with the law and the Constitution and I call on the Trump Administration to do the same." Justice prevailed today.The courts decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating peoples rights and racial profiling. California stands with the law and the Constitution and I call on the Trump Administration to do the same. https://t.co/z63Paoi1Kq Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) July 12, 2025 Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the judges decision an important step toward restoring safety, security and defending the rights of all Angelenos." L.A. has been under assault as masked men snatch people off the street and chase people through parking lots and summer camps.But today, the Court ruled in favor of the United States Constitution. This is a win for Los Angeles and it is a win for cities all across the nation. pic.twitter.com/MrCkwQFb13 Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) July 12, 2025 What Happens Next? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The orders issued are temporary and will remain in effect as the case continues. The court has instructed the federal agencies involved, including DHS, the FBI, and the Department of Justice, to maintain detailed records of all arrests and share them with the plaintiffs legal teams. This will help determine whether patterns of unlawful enforcement continue. A separate ruling from April had already barred US Customs and Border Protection from making warrantless arrests in eastern California. Together, these orders point to growing judicial resistance to broad-brush immigration enforcement measures. About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 14:22 IST News world What Led A US Court To Halt Trump Administrations Immigration Crackdown In California What Made China Destroy 300 Dams And Pull The Plug On Its Own Hydropower Stations? Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: July 12, 2025, 09:21 IST China has torn down 300 dams and decommissioned 342 hydropower stations along the Red River, a major Yangtze tributary flowing through Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan Chinas Chishui He, also known as the Red River, is a major tributary of the upper Yangtze River. Photo: Shutterstock In a sweeping environmental initiative, China has dismantled 300 of 357 dams and decommissioned 342 out of 373 small hydropower stations on the Chishui He, also known as the Red River, a major tributary of the upper Yangtze River. The Red River spans over 400 km, cutting across Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces in southwestern China. The changes, implemented as part of a restoration drive that began in 2020, were reported by Chinas official Xinhua news agency, as cited by the South China Morning Post. Recommended Stories Authorities said these steps were necessary to revive fish migration routes, restore river flow, and rebuild spawning grounds that had been blocked or degraded by years of unchecked hydropower expansion. Why Did China Take This Step? The Yangtze River is the longest in Asia and plays a vital role in Chinas ecological health, food security, and economy. But over the decades, rapid infrastructure developmentparticularly dam-building and hydropower expansionhas taken a toll on aquatic life. The Red River, once considered one of the last bastions for rare and endemic fish species in the Yangtzes upper reaches, became increasingly fragmented. Dams and power stations obstructed water flow, reduced the volume downstream, and even caused sections of the river to dry up. The dense dam network also severed migration routes between breeding and non-breeding areas, disrupting the life cycle of native fish. The Chinese governments decision to reverse course follows growing concern over the loss of biodiversity and the near-extinction of key aquatic species. The Case Of The Yangtze Sturgeon At the heart of this ecological rethink lies the Yangtze sturgeon, a prehistoric freshwater giant that once thrived across the river system. Along with the now-extinct Chinese paddlefish, the sturgeon was declared extinct in the wild" in 2022 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a symbolic marker of how far biodiversity had collapsed. The sturgeons natural population began declining in the 1970s, primarily due to dam construction, overfishing, and habitat loss. Since 2000, no naturally bred juvenile sturgeon had been found in the Yangtze. However, the Red Rivers restoration project has triggered a rare reversal in fortunes. According to SCMP, scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Hydrobiology released two batches of Yangtze sturgeon into the river in 2023 and 2024. The fish adapted successfully to the natural environment. Then, in April 2025, researchers released 20 adult sturgeon into a section of the Red River in Guizhou province to test for reproduction viability. By mid-April, they were showing natural spawning behaviour and successfully hatching fry," said Liu Fei, researcher, Institute of Hydrobiology, quoted by SCMP. This observation confirmed that the Red Rivers ecological conditions had recovered enough to support habitat and reproductive needs of the species once thought gone. What Experts Are Saying According to Zhou Jianjun, a professor of hydraulic engineering at Tsinghua University, decommissioning a dam doesnt necessarily mean dismantling the structure. The key is to stop electricity generation and change the method of water control to meet ecological needs. The key is not whether the facilities still exist, but that, after power generation stops, the method of water control can be changed to meet ecological needs," Zhou told SCMP. The statement underlines the shift from infrastructure-led river management to ecosystem-based planning, where ecological restoration takes precedence over uninterrupted power output. How The Red Rivers Biodiversity Is Responding Monitoring data from the Institute of Hydrobiology shows a significant increase in the number of fish species across various segments of the Red River. This recovery is not limited to the Yangtze sturgeon. Other rare species, amphibians, and invertebrates are also showing signs of resurgence. The dismantling of hydropower stations has allowed natural water levels, sediment transport, and migratory channels to re-establish. In a broader government update issued in August 2024, Beijing confirmed that the Yangtze basins aquatic biodiversity had improved measurably since the ecological policies were enacted. Authorities noted a decline in harmful activities like sand mining, which further supports spawning and feeding behaviour of aquatic life. Water quality across large stretches of the Yangtze and its tributaries, including the Red River, was rated as excellent." Not An Isolated Effort: The Yangtze-Wide Push The Red River restoration is part of a larger ecological policy shift in China, focused on reversing environmental damage across the Yangtze River Economic Belt. A key pillar of this strategy is the 10-year fishing ban imposed in 2020, which restricts commercial fishing across the main stem and key tributaries. The goal is to give fish populations time to regenerate after years of decline. Hydropower regulation is another cornerstone. For instance, in Sichuan province, officials had rectified 5,131 small hydropower stations by end-2021, shutting down 1,223 of them, as per a local report quoted by SCMP. In tandem, the government has enforced strict sand mining prohibitions in vulnerable river zones to protect breeding and feeding habitats. What Does This Mean For Chinas Hydropower Plans? China is the worlds largest producer of hydropower, and small hydropower stations were once championed for rural electrification. However, many were built without adequate environmental oversight. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The move to dismantle these stations on the Red River signals a strategic shift, where ecological sustainability is starting to outweigh short-term energy needs, especially in ecologically critical regions. While this does not suggest a retreat from hydropower altogether, it shows Beijings growing willingness to course-correct in areas where environmental degradation has reached alarming levels. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 09:21 IST News world What Made China Destroy 300 Dams And Pull The Plug On Its Own Hydropower Stations? AI Scams Are Getting Smarter: How To Spot And Block Deepfake Calls Curated By : Last Updated: July 11, 2025, 11:56 IST This isnt just a scam. Its a trust crisis wrapped in technology. AI voice cloning has made it harder than ever to know who youre really speaking to and its happening here, now. Sounds Like Family, But Its Fake: The Rise of Deepfake Calls in India Last month in Bengaluru, a 43-year-old marketing professional got a panicked call from his daughter" asking for money. She was supposedly stuck in a hospital emergency and needed Rs 50,000 urgently. The voice was hers. The tone, the urgency, even the way she pronounced Appa" all perfect. So he transferred the money. Only, it wasnt her. She was at college, attending class. Recommended Stories What he heard was a deepfake voice clone, a product of artificial intelligence, capable of mimicking a persons tone, language, and pauses with disturbing accuracy. This is not fiction. Across India, especially in tech-savvy metros like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai, AI-generated voice scams are on the rise, targeting not just the elderly or digitally unaware, but working professionals and even students. Whats Going On? How These AI Scams Work Scammers today dont need to hack your device or steal your SIM. All they need is 30 seconds of your voice, usually pulled from your Instagram reels, YouTube videos, or WhatsApp forwards. With that, AI tools like ElevenLabs, Descript, or even open-source voice clone models can replicate your voice in any language, within minutes. They then feed that voice into scam scripts, usually medical emergencies, loan default threats, or ransom-style hoaxes and use caller ID spoofing apps to mimic real contacts. So your dad gets a call from you." It sounds like you. It even uses your phrases. Only its a machine, run by a scammer in another city or another country. This is AI-enabled social engineering and its more convincing than email phishing or text fraud ever was. The Numbers Behind the Fear According to a 2025 report by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), over 2,800 deepfake voice frauds were reported in India between January and May 2025, with a 200% spike in urban centres. Most cases involved: Fake calls from family members" in distress Threats claiming to be from the police or banks Calls from fake employers asking for urgent data sharing" Bengaluru, with its vast tech workforce and data presence, reported the highest number of such incidents, followed by Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Delhi NCR. Whos Vulnerable? Pretty Much Everyone Its tempting to assume that only the elderly or less tech-savvy are targeted. But recent cases show that working professionals, students, and even startup founders are being hit. Why? Because they are visible online, with LinkedIn profiles, podcast interviews, YouTube panels, or Insta stories that contain enough voice samples. Public figures, social media creators, and digital professionals are at higher risk, simply because their voices are everywhere. In one case, a Hyderabad-based startup CEO almost wired money to what he thought was a supplier. The vendor" had sent a voice note with matching tone and language. Only a last-minute video call saved the day. Why Should You Care Indias linguistic diversity and family-first culture make us uniquely vulnerable. AI doesnt just clone English voices, it can now mimic tone and vocabulary in Hindi, Tamil, Bangla, Marathi, and more regional languages. And Indian users, especially elders, tend to trust voice over text. If it sounds like their son, daughter, boss, or bank manager, they rarely question it. Plus, many Indian users skip basic digital hygiene steps like number verification, voice callbacks, or secondary confirmation, especially in emotional moments. Tools and Techniques to Spot Deepfakes AI-generated voices, though hyper-realistic, still struggle with certain cues. Heres how to stay ahead: Background Noise: AI voice clones are often too clean. No ambient noise, coughs, or echoes. Repetitive Phrasing: The script may loop or repeat similar lines if you ask questions. Fails Under Pressure: Ask unexpected questions like birth dates, personal jokes, that a bot wont know. Force a Callback: Always say Call me back via video." Most scams break at this point. Use Trusted Communication Apps: WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram offer some degree of ID certainty, unlike random calls. What You Can Do Right Now If you think youre being targeted or want to stay protected, heres what works: Enable Caller ID Verification Apps : Truecaller, Hiya, and Whoscall now include scam alert databases. Use them. : Truecaller, Hiya, and Whoscall now include scam alert databases. Use them. Download Cyber Dost : The Indian governments cyber awareness handle also shares fraud patterns and quick complaint links. : The Indian governments cyber awareness handle also shares fraud patterns and quick complaint links. Limit Voice Visibility : Be cautious of voice notes in public groups, long Insta story rants, or podcast clips that can be scraped. : Be cautious of voice notes in public groups, long Insta story rants, or podcast clips that can be scraped. Use Call Recording (where legal) : If you suspect somethings off, record and compare voice characteristics. : If you suspect somethings off, record and compare voice characteristics. Report Fraud Immediately: Call 1930 (National Cybercrime Helpline) or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. What Platforms and Law Enforcement Are Doing As of July 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and IT has issued advisory notices to OTT apps and telecom operators to detect deepfake scams using AI pattern recognition. Google has begun integrating AI Voice Suspected" alerts on Android for unverified numbers using voice synthesis. WhatsApp is testing voice fingerprinting to flag fake voice notes. Meanwhile, police cyber cells in Bengaluru, Gurugram, and Mumbai have trained AI response teams to identify and trace such calls using voice model databases. But legislation is still behind the curve. Indias Digital India Bill, still in draft stages, doesnt yet criminalize voice deepfakes specifically, meaning most scamsters still operate with immunity, often from cross-border locations. Trust Crisis This isnt just a scam. Its a trust crisis wrapped in technology. AI voice cloning has made it harder than ever to know who youre really speaking to and its happening here, now, to people just like you. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all So the next time your boss" or child" calls in panic, remember: it may sound real, but that doesnt mean it is. Double-check. Force a callback. And never act on emotion alone. In a world where voice can be faked and urgency can be scripted, vigilance is your best defence. view comments First Published: July 11, 2025, 11:56 IST News zip AI Scams Are Getting Smarter: How To Spot And Block Deepfake Calls Parents whose minor children are found guilty of drug-related or sexual offences in a court of law may also be held liable and face conviction, potentially incurring a hefty fine or jail term, according to the countrys existing statutes. This revelation was made by Zimbabwe Republic Police Mutare District Victim Friendly Unit (VFU) assistant coordinator, Sergeant Precious Chiware, during a recent anti-child marriages NotInMyVillage Campaign. The campaign brought together experts in law, medicine, and civil registry, as well as traditional and community leaders from Mutare and Marange areas. It is sad that most parents are unaware that they can be held liable for the offences committed by their children. This provision was enacted to promote responsible parental care and responsibility within our communities, ultimately serving the best interests of the child, she said. The NotInMyVillage Campaign seeks to significantly reduce cases of child marriages and all forms of child sexual abuse nationwide. The programme specifically targets community and traditional leaders, as well as male adults, in an effort to raise awareness and drive positive change. In an interview on the sidelines of the meeting, Manicaland National Aids Council provincial manager, Mr Artwell Shiridzinomwa, explained: It is a strategic decision to target community and traditional leaders, as they hold significant influence and their words carry weight within their communities. We are also intentionally targeting males, as they often hold positions of authority as fathers, parents, brothers, and decision-makers. However, it is also crucial to acknowledge that they can be perpetrators of abuse, making it essential to engage them in this conversation. The laws governing parental liability for minors misconduct are outlined in Section 92 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23). This section defines a child as an individual under the age of 18 and a parent as a natural or adoptive parent. Furthermore, Section 2 of the Childrens Act (Chapter 5:06) defines a guardian as any person who has permanent or temporary custody, charge, or care of a child. In cases where a parent or guardian is found liable for their childs drug-related or sexual offences, the penalties can be severe. According to the 2023 amendments of the Childrens Act (Chapter 5:06), allowing a child to reside in or frequent a brothel can result in a fine not exceeding Level-12 (US$2 000) or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both. The legislation further stipulates that anyone found guilty of causing or contributing to the seduction, abduction, or commercial sexual exploitation of a child, or the commission of immoral acts by a child, shall face a penalty of a fine not exceeding Level-13 (US$3 000) or imprisonment for up to 15 years, or both. Moreover, causing a child to participate in or producing child sexual abuse material is punishable by a fine not exceeding Level-14 (US$5 000) or imprisonment for up to 15 years, or both. According to Section 2 of the Amendment, child sexual abuse material is defined as any representation, through publication, exhibition, cinematography, electronic means, or any other means, of a child engaged in real or simulated explicit sexual activities, or any representation of sexual parts of a child for primarily sexual purposes. Renowned Mutare lawyer, Mr Johannes Zviuya, of Bere Brothers Legal Practitioners, said: In Zimbabwe, the legal framework surrounding parental responsibility and liability concerning minors, particularly focus on cases involving the exploitation of minors, neglect, and the liability of parents or guardians when children commit offences. Section 7 of the Childrens Act (Chapter 5:06) addresses the responsibilities of parents and guardians concerning care and protection of children and young persons. This legal provision emphasises that parents can be held accountable, not only for direct ill-treatment or neglect, but also for exposing children to harmful situations that could lead to their involvement in criminal activities. If a parent or guardian assaults, ill-treats, neglects, abandons, or exposes a child to situations likely to cause unnecessary suffering, they are committing an offence. This provision highlights that the responsibility of care extends beyond mere physical safety to encompass the emotional and moral well-being of the child. The law recognises that allowing a child to be in harmful situations such as associating with known criminals, being in environments where illegal activities occur, or failing to supervise them adequately can detrimentally affect their development and lead to criminal behaviour. The most significant aspect is Section 13 of the Childrens Act (Chapter 5:06), which holds parents or guardians accountable if they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent their child from committing an offence. The amended section articulates that parents or guardians are guilty if they encourage, train, or provide facilities for a child to commit an offence. They are also liable if they do not take reasonable steps to prevent an offence, assuming they were in a position to do so. The penalties for parents are equivalent to those that could have been imposed on the child for the offence committed, emphasising the gravity of parental responsibility. Mr Zviuya explained that this provision underscores the legal obligation of parents and the community at large to protect children from exploitation and curtail their involvement in harmful activities. This dual approach, Mr Zviuya said, aims to foster a protective environment for children, ensuring that communities collectively share responsibility of nurturing and safeguarding the next generation. The legal framework places significant responsibility on parents and guardians to ensure the protection of the welfare of their children. This responsibility extends beyond mere supervision it involves actively preventing children from engaging in criminal activities and ensuring they are not exposed to harmful environments. Examples of relevant crimes include child prostitution should a minor be found engaging in prostitution, the parent could face charges under Section 87 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23) for failing to protect the child from such exploitation. If a minor is caught with illegal substances (drug offences), the parent may be held liable under Section 13 of the Childrens Act (Chapter 5:06), if it is determined that they did not take reasonable steps to prevent the childs actions. Manica Post When the arrest of a popular rapper ignited waves of protests by young people in Togo, it exposed not only the risks faced by dissenters but also mounting frustration with a dynasty that has ruled the country for nearly six decades. The music of Tchala Essowe Narcisse, known as Aamron, criticizes government corruption and economic woes. He was detained in late May without a warrant and reportedly held in isolation for 10 days, with authorities later claiming the rapper was mentally unwell and placing him in a psychiatric hospital. No charges have been filed, the Guardian reports, and opposition groups have condemned the arrest as politically motivated. The government's crackdown on dissent has intensified in recent months. Since protests began in June, security forces have killed at least 10 people, and more than 100 demonstrators have been detained. Amnesty International has documented abuses, including torture, carried out by President Faure Gnassingbe's security officials. The tensions are rooted in decades of one-family rule. The Gnassingbe dynasty has held onto power since 1967, when Faure's father took control in a bloodless coup. Earlier this year, authorities abolished presidential elections through a constitutional change, further consolidating power and drawing sharp criticism from opposition and civil society groups. The government has called the student protests a "campaign of disinformation and hatred" organized from abroad, per the BBC. Despite calls from the regional Economic Community of West African States for dialogue, international reaction has been muted. Meanwhile, Togolese diaspora and human rights organizations are urging tougher sanctions and increased scrutiny, per the Guardian. "Young people are exasperated by shortsighted and aimless governance, and by being held hostage by a regime incapable of providing the population with the basic necessities of life," said Bertin Bandiangou, a 24-year-old student union president at the University of Lome and protester. "Our message is clear: we no longer want a regime that imprisons our dreams and has terrorized an entire people for nearly six decades." A longtime farmworker died after falling from a greenhouse while trying to escape a federal immigration raid at a California cannabis farm Thursday , drawing renewed scrutiny to enforcement tactics and their consequences in agricultural communities. The United Farm Workers union says Jaime Alanis, in his late 50s and originally from Michoacan, Mexico, suffered fatal injuries after plummeting more than 30 feet while trying to flee ICE agents at a state-licensed cannabis farm at which he had worked for more than a decade. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security insists he "was not being pursued by law enforcement" when he "climbed up to the roof of a greenhouse" and then fell, the New York Times reports. The rep says agents called for medical help immediately after the fall, emphasizing Alanis was not in custody at the time. He was placed on life support at a nearby hospital but died the following day. The Ventura County coroner's office has yet to confirm his death, but local fire officials reported multiple hospitalizations related to the raid. The United Farm Workers claim several workers were critically injured, and others are still unaccounted for, including US citizens. Some citizens detained during the raid were allegedly forced to delete images and videos from their phones before they were released. The raid in Camarillo was one of two at Glass House Farms locations, the other one taking place in Carpinteria, a Santa Barbara County town. Protests erupted, with at least one protester allegedly firing at officers and several people facing charges of assault or resisting law enforcement. "What happened in California is just another example of protesters becoming criminals, and they've been emboldened by even members of Congress who compare ICE to Nazis and racists and terrorists," President Trump's border czar told Fox News. Authorities said about 200 suspected undocumented immigrants were arrested, the Los Angeles Times reports. Authorities also claimed that at least 10 migrant children were rescued from suspected exploitation. Glass House Farms says it complied with the raid and noted its operations are licensed under California law. By Arriana McLymore and Anuja Bharat Mistry (Reuters) -Levi Strauss (LEVI) raised its annual revenue and profit forecasts after beating quarterly estimates on Thursday, betting on strong demand for its denims in regions such as Europe in the face of tariff uncertainty. Shares in Levi's rose over 6% before the bell on Friday. Levi's is leaning on a diverse supply chain that includes Bangladesh and Cambodia, and getting rid of less-enticing merchandise to weather tariffs at a time when other apparel brands are feeling the pinch of higher costs on duties. The company increased its inventory by 15% by the end of the second-quarter because of strong demand and tariffs as well, said Levi Strauss & Co. Chief Financial and Growth Officer Harmit Singh. "Our view is that the health of the inventory is good. It's in a better spot today than it was a year ago, definitely better than two years ago," Singh said. Looking ahead, Singh said the company has brought in 60% of the inventory needed in the U.S. to get through the second half of the year, which includes major sales events like Amazon Prime Day, back-to-school and the holiday shopping seasons. The company's shares rose about 8% in extended trading. The denim maker's efforts to introduce new styles and collections including dresses, skirts and wide-legged jeans have helped it navigate a challenging market and subdued consumer spending, which continues to weigh on the retail industry. Newer styles are also helping Levi Strauss with inventory management and reducing the number of product types, Singh said. "We are taking a hard look at productivity in our assortments," Singh said. The company is removing products from its assortment that do not perform well with customers, and is replacing them with newer, trendier merchandise. In Europe, its net revenue rose 14% on a reported basis for the quarter ended June 1, compared with a 2% decline a year earlier. Revenue in its direct-to-consumer segment increased 11% on a reported basis after rising 8% a year ago. The Trump administration's unpredictable trade policies with countries such as China and Vietnam have disrupted supply chains for apparel and footwear makers. However, Levi has been leveraging its diverse sourcing network to mitigate the impact from tariffs. Levi, which sources about 1% of its U.S. imports from China and in mid-to-high single digits from Vietnam, told Reuters it is largely sourcing from countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia and Indonesia. The company expects fiscal 2025 revenue to grow in the range of 1% to 2%, compared with a prior forecast of a 1% to 2% decline. A TUI flight headed from Cancun to London was forced to make an unplanned stop in Maine on Tuesday night after a scuffle broke out between two passengers. The flight, carrying 267 people, landed safely around 9:30pm, but with the crew about to time out, the passengers were forced to spend the night in Bangor. The altercation, which prompted the pilot to request an immediate landing, was reportedly brought under control by the crew before touchdown, reports the BBC . Audio from the cockpit revealed the pilot assuring air traffic controllers that the situation was contained and that the "cockpit is secure." Once on the ground, local authorities and US Customs and Border Protection officers met the plane. Both individuals involved in the fight were removed; neither faced criminal charges but they were put on separate flights back to their home countries. A relief crew was dispatched and the Dreamliner resumed its journey at 3pm Wednesday and arrived at London Gatwick later that day. As for the fight, witnesses tell WMTW that a female passenger was caught smoking in the bathroom and was then brought back to her seat, where she and her husband reportedly began arguing. Punches were allegedly exchanged between the pair before the fight was broken up. Federal regulators repeatedly granted appeals to remove Camp Mystic's buildings from their 100-year flood map, loosening oversight as the camp operated and expanded in a dangerous flood plain in the years before rushing waters swept away children and counselors, an AP review found. The Federal Emergency Management Agency included the prestigious girls' summer camp in a "Special Flood Hazard Area" in its National Flood Insurance map for Kerr County in 2011, which means it was required to have flood insurance and faced tighter regulation on any future construction projects. That designation means an area is likely to be inundated during a 100-year floodone severe enough that it only has a 1% chance of happening in any given year. Located in a low-lying area along the Guadalupe River in a region known as flash flood alley, Camp Mystic lost at least 27 campers and counselors and longtime owner Dick Eastland when historic floodwaters tore through its property before dawn on July 4. The flood was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by FEMA, experts said, and moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off guard in a county that lacked a warning system. But Syracuse University associate professor Sarah Pralle, who has extensively studied FEMA's flood map determinations, said it was "particularly disturbing" that a camp in charge of the safety of so many young people would receive exemptions from basic flood regulation. In response to an appeal, FEMA in 2013 amended the county's flood map to remove 15 of the camp's buildings from the hazard area. After further appeals, FEMA removed 15 more Camp Mystic structures in 2019 and 2020. At least 12 structures at the original Camp Mystic Guadalupe site were fully within FEMA's 100-year flood plain, and a few more partially. Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications at climate risk firm First Street, said FEMA's flood insurance map underestimates flood risks because it fails to take into account the effects of heavy precipitation on smaller waterways. First Street's model puts nearly all of Camp Mystic Guadalupe at risk during a 100-year flood. story continues below The buildings at the newer Cypress Lake site are farther from the south fork of the flood-prone river but adjacent to Cypress Creek. FEMA's flood plain doesn't consider the small waterway a risk. In a statement, FEMA downplayed the significance of the flood map amendments. "Flood maps are snapshots in time designed to show minimum standards for floodplain management and the highest risk areas for flood insurance," the agency wrote. "They are not predictions of where it will flood, and they don't show where it has flooded before." President Trump announced Saturday that he is levying tariffs of 30% against the European Union and Mexico, starting Aug. 1. Trump announced the tariffs on two of the United States' biggest trade partners in letters posted on Truth Social, the AP reports. In his letter to Mexico's leader , Trump acknowledged that the country has been helpful in stemming the flow of undocumented migrants and fentanyl into the United States. But, he told President Claudia Sheinbaum , the country has not done enough to stop North America from turning into a "Narco-Trafficking Playground." In his letter to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, Trump didn't raise any particular grievances apart from the complaints about trade deficits and trade barriers he raised in letters to other countries earlier in the weekincluding Brazil, which the US has a trade surplus with. The New York Times reports that EU officials had hoped a trade deal with the US was close and had "gradually come around to the possibility" that goods sent to the US would face a 10% tariff, possibly with exceptions for a handful of products. As in similar letters, Trump warned the EU and Mexico that the US tariff would be raised further if they responded with new tariffs on imports from the US. With Japans junior high school entrance season in full swing, attention is turning not just to test content, but to how students and parents should prepare. At Seikou Gakuin Junior High, for example, the Japanese language exam tests precise word usage, with questions such as the correct usage of similar-sounding words like setsujoku (to fulfill a humiliation) versus kutsujoku (to clear a disgrace). Such nuanced questions demand a refined linguistic sense, often beyond elementary-level knowledge. OSAKA, Jul 13 (News On Japan) - A Chinese man detained at an Osaka police facility has filed a lawsuit against the Osaka Prefectural Government, claiming that he was forcibly taken to an interrogation room despite refusing to participate and had his right to remain silent violated. According to footage filmed by police inside the detention facility, the man, who had been working in Japan under the technical intern program, refused to cooperate with interrogation even after being urged to do so through an automated translator. The video shows officers surrounding the man, placing him in handcuffs and waist restraints, and placing him in a wheelchair before escorting him to the interrogation room. In some cases, he was allegedly dragged down stairs by his shirt. The incident stems from an arrest made in September last year, when the man stabbed a colleague who had assaulted him on the street in Osaka. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. After consulting with his lawyer, he chose to remain silent about the case, and from the following day, refused to attend interrogations altogether. Despite his refusal, officers continued attempts to question him, citing police procedure. The man claims that the use of restraints and force amounted to coercion and violated his constitutional rights. In a statement to Kansai TV, he described his experience: "My whole body was in pain. I was terrified. I felt like I wanted to die. I wasnt being treated like a human being. This was clearly a human rights violation." On July 12th, he filed a lawsuit seeking 1.1 million yen in damages from Osaka Prefecture, asserting that the police's actions constituted illegal coercion and violated his right to remain silent under Japans Constitution. Under Japanese law, suspects have the right to refuse to answer questions at any time. However, there is ambiguity in how this right applies to detainees, with police arguing that suspects are still obligated to appear for questioning, even if they remain silent. In contrast, the defense maintains that the right to silence includes the right not to appear at all, particularly for those held in detention. Kansai TV obtained internal police guidelines from the Osaka Prefectural Police, which state that "minimum necessary force" may be used to compel detainees to attend interrogations. However, the same document also warns that excessive use of force may cast doubt on the voluntary nature of any statements obtained. Responding to the case, the Osaka Prefectural Police stated that escorting a detainee to an interrogation room does not in itself constitute a violation of the right to silence, framing their response as a general comment. Legal experts say the case highlights a longstanding debate over the limits of police authority and the proper implementation of silence rights. One expert noted, "The right to remain silent is not just for the benefit of the accused it protects society by preventing false confessions and wrongful convictions." The courts decision will be closely watched as it may set new standards for how the right to silence should be applied during custodial interrogations in Japan. Source: KTV NEWS HOKKAIDO, Jul 13 (News On Japan) - A hot spring inn in the popular resort area of Niseko, Hokkaido, has been forced to suspend operations at one of its baths after an unauthorized open-air bath was found to have been built near its hot spring source. The incident occurred at Niseko Goshiki Onsen Ryokan, a well-known retreat located around 750 meters above sea level in Rankoshi Town. The inn, famous for its natural sulfur-rich hot springs and scenic views, discovered that someone had tampered with its hot spring source to create several illegal outdoor bathing spots. According to inn manager Naoki Sato, artificial arrangements of stones and dug-out basins were found at the source area, where hot spring water usually flows like a stream. These modifications had diverted the flow of water, reducing the supply to the inn. Sato said the issue was noticed around July 1st, when the volume of water reaching the inn dropped. Upon inspecting the spring source, located about 200 meters away, staff discovered multiple makeshift outdoor baths. Wooden boards believed to be used as seats, cigarette butts, bath mats, and containers likely used to draw water were also left at the scene. The diverted flow forced one of the inn's baths to temporarily shut down. Making matters worse, the spring water at the source is nearly 80C, far too hot for direct bathing. The intruders had installed a black hose to divert cold spring water from upstream, cleverly mixing it to achieve a suitable bathing temperature. "It looks like they used the cold water to cool the hot spring water to a comfortable level," Sato explained. "Given the scale of the setup, it was probably done by more than one person." The inn is currently considering filing a damage report with the police. Source: FNN OTTAWA, ON, July 11, 2025 /CNW/ - We are once again facing a direct economic assault on Canada and Canadian workers. Donald Trump's announcement of 35% tariffs on our goods coming into force on August 1st is a calculated attackan attempt to bully our country, break our backbone, and force us to kneel to his agenda. It comes two days after he imposed a 50% tariff on copper. Time and time again, he's targeted our industries, our livelihoods, and the communities that keep this country running. The mere instability caused by his unpredictable attacks has made investment decisions impossiblehurting both workers and our industries. Let me be clear: Canada does not cave. We do not retreat. And we will not be intimidated. To our governments: Appeasement does not work. In response to Trump's demands, Canada has spent millions to address border issues, we rescinded our digital services tax, and scaled back counter-tariffs. Like a bully, Trump's only response to Canada's good-faith efforts is nothing but escalation. This is a moment for strength. A moment to meet Trump's aggression with the full force of Canada's resolve. We need urgent action now: Impose counter-tariffs in response to the latest tariff attacks from Trump Introduce export taxes on Canadian energy sold to the U.S. Mandate that all national infrastructure projects use Canadian steel, aluminum, and lumber. Invest directly in affected workers and communities by enhancing Employment Insurance, expanding Work-Sharing, and providing emergency income supports. Launch ambitious, nation-building projects like affordable housing, clean energy, and public transit that create union jobs and build Canadian resilience. We must stop reacting and start leading. Canada's workers are ready to stand up for this country. It's time our governments stood with them, with boldness and with urgency. To every worker in Canada: This won't be easy. There will be disruptions. Some of us will face layoffs. And there will be those who try to divide us. But Canadian workers are not strangers to hard times. We know how to fightand we know how to win. So, let's hold strong. Buy union-made. Support local. Stand with your union. Get involved in your community. Reject division and stand together, shoulder to shoulder. Because when Canadian workers rise together, no one can take us down. Donald Trump may think he can rattle us. But what he doesn't understand is that Canadians don't back down, we rise up. We fight for our jobs, our families, and our future. SOURCE Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Australia-based battery minerals provider Liontown Resources has officially opened its Kathleen Valley lithium project, the country's first underground lithium mine. Liontown aims to achieve full underground mining operations at the project by September 2026. Situated in the northern Goldfields region of Western Australia (WA), the project is expected to initially produce 2.8 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), yielding 500,000 tonnes per annum (ktpa) of spodumene concentrate. Liontown plans to expand production to 4mtpa by its sixth year, yielding 700ktpa of spodumene concentrate. The company has established offtake agreements with electric vehicle and battery manufacturers Tesla, Ford, LG Energy Solution and Beijing Sinomine, to ensure stable demand for most of the initial production. Liontown managing director and CEO Tony Ottaviano stated: The Kathleen Valley lithium operation aligns with the national interest: it supports the energy transition, creates high-value and well-paid regional jobs, and is strategically positioned to strengthen supply chains in the west through our Korean and US offtake customers everything our national critical minerals strategy is designed to achieve. The Cook government has provided an A$15m ($9.7m) interest-free loan to Liontown through its A$150m lithium industry support programme to bolster ongoing operations at Kathleen Valley amidst current low prices. The government's support extends to a waiver of port fees, charges and mining tenement fees for up to two years, aiding Liontown during the critical ramp-up phase of the project. Liontown has also drilled two holes with the aid of the Exploration Incentive Scheme. This effort has broadened the company's knowledge of the site's geological features beyond the established resource. Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael stated: "I would like to congratulate Liontown on opening the landmark Kathleen Valley lithium project, which is attracting skilled workers and strengthening local development. "The Cook government is proud to support Western Australia's lithium sector - a major employer, a key contributor to the state's economy and an essential part of the global transition to clean energy. The official opening of the Kathleen Valley project follows the commencement of underground production in April 2025. "Liontown opens Kathleen Valley lithium operation in Australia" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 10th, 2025, Chainwire MultiBank Group, the worlds largest financial derivatives institution headquartered in Dubai, has confirmed that its highly anticipated $MBG Token pre-sale will go live on July 15, with demand expected to be intense. With only 7 million tokens up for grabs at an exclusive entry price of $0.35, this is a rare opportunity to secure early access to what many are calling the years most powerful utility asset. Early participants can join simultaneously on MultiBank.io, the Groups regulated crypto exchange, and Uniswap, the worlds leading decentralized platform. Supported by $29 billion in real assets and powered by over $35 billion in daily turnover, $MBG is engineered for substance, not speculationshowcasing the proven track record and compliance of one of the industrys most trusted names. MultiBank Groups ecosystem is designed for resilience and growth, anchored by four pillars: MultiBank TradFi: A global CFD leader, generating $362 million in revenue in 2024. MEX Exchange: A $23.7 billion institutional-grade marketplace launching later this year. MultiBank.io RWA: Bringing $3 billion in tokenized ultra-luxury real estate to market. MultiBank.io: Expanding into crypto derivatives alongside the sale. Together, these platforms will drive a $440 million buyback and burn initiative, reinforcing demand, ensuring a deflationary supply, and sustaining value growth for $MBG holders. The $MBG Token is a once-in-a-decade opportunity. Were not just introducing a new digital asset. Were setting a financial standard backed by proven infrastructure, revenue, and regulatory strength, said Naser Taher, Chairman of MultiBank Group. The pre-sale strictly first comes, first served. Once the limited allocation is claimed, this price will be gone. For more information and early access, users can visit token.multibankgroup.com. About Multibank Group MultiBank Group, established in California, USA in 2005, is a global leader in financial derivatives. With over 2 million clients in 100+ countries and a daily trading volume exceeding $35 billion, it offers a broad range of brokerage and asset management services. Renowned for innovative trading solutions, robust regulatory compliance, and exceptional customer service, the Group is regulated by 17+ top-tier financial authorities across five continents. Its award-winning platforms provide up to 500:1 leverage across Forex, Metals, Shares, Commodities, Indices, and Cryptocurrencies. MultiBank Group has received over 80 international awards for trading excellence and regulatory compliance. For more information, users can visit MultiBank Groups website. We came across a bullish thesis on Stock Region Researchs Substack by Stock Region. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on MKC. McCormick & Company, Incorporated's share was trading at $77.57 as of June 26th. MKCs trailing and forward P/E ratios were 25.39 and 24.04, respectively, according to Yahoo Finance. McCormick may not be the kind of stock that excites investors chasing fast gains, but it commands respect for its steady, reliable performance. As a leading player in the consumer staples sector, McCormick specializes in spices and flavoringsproducts that are always in demand, regardless of economic conditions. Its business model thrives on consistency, and in an environment where volatility can rattle even the most seasoned portfolios, that consistency becomes a strength. While it doesnt boast high-growth metrics like technology stocks, McCormicks defensive qualities offer dependable returns and limited downside. Recent technical indicators suggest a short-term upside above $78.88 and downside risk below $76.48, reflecting the stocks historically narrow trading range. These movements wont thrill short-term traders, but they align with the stocks long-standing reputation as a low-volatility investment. McCormicks appeal lies in its role as a portfolio stabilizera set it and forget it asset that quietly compounds over time. The market may not reward it with lofty valuations or buzzy headlines, but its real value emerges during uncertain times, when investors seek safety and predictability. Like a dependable friend who always shows up, McCormick delivers reliability with a touch of flavor. For those who appreciate businesses with strong fundamentals, resilient demand, and steady cash flows, McCormick continues to offer a quietly compelling investment case. In a world increasingly driven by hype and speculation, its understated strength stands out, making it a smart choice for long-term, risk-conscious investors who appreciate both spice and stability. Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC) by an Investing Lawyer in February 2025, which highlighted the companys dividend growth, defensive nature, and key technical support zones. The companys stock price has depreciated by approximately 5% since our coverage. This is because the thesis hasnt fully played out. Stock Region shares a similar view but emphasizes portfolio stability. MKC isn't on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of MKC as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock in "Practical Magic." They return as the Owens sisters in "Practical Magic 2." Warner Bros. The witches are back. Practical Magic, the 1998 movie starring Oscar winners Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as the Owens sisters, Massachusetts witches who come from a family of witches, didnt receive the best reviews when it came out. But over the years, the film has earned a special place in the hearts of its fans. So 27 years later, there is understandably much excitement over Practical Magic 2. But when fans learned of the actors returning from the original movie, they noticed an omission. Where was Evan Rachel Wood? The three-time Emmy nominee (Westworld, Mildred Pierce), then a child actor, played Kylie Owens, daughter of Sandra Bullocks character, Sally Owens. Kylies aunt in the movie is Sallys sister Gillian Owens, played by Nicole Kidman. In the movie, an adaptation of the 1995 Alice Hoffman novel, the Owens family has magical powers but is afflicted by a curse. This curse puts any man loved by a woman of the family in mortal danger. Thats how Kylies dad died. Evan Rachel Wood, right, played Kylie Owens, daughter of Bullock's character in "Practical Magic." She offered to be a part of the sequel but was turned down. Warner Bros. | Steven Vlasic | Getty Images Apparently, those involved with casting the new movie decided to cast their own spell to prevent Wood from joining the sequel, due out next year. After fans wanted to know why she wasnt part of the film, Wood, 37, posted a statement on Instagram. It turns out she did try to be in the movie and was rejected. I am getting asked about this a lot, so Ill just clear it up now; I was not asked to come back and be in the #PracticalMagic sequel, Wood said in the post Friday night. I offered my services, even if it was one scene or one line. I was told they are re-casting. I am sorry to disappoint the fans, she said. It was not in my control or my choice. I would have happily rejoined my sisters. In addition to Bullock and Kidman, Oscar winner Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing are back as Sally and Gillians aunts, Aunt Jet and Aunt Franny, who raised them after their parents died. Deadline reports that Joey King is playing Sallys daughter in the sequel, which is already in production, though the outlet did not specify which daughter. In the original film, Sally also had a younger daughter, Antonia (played by Alexandra Artrip). However, it does look like King is indeed playing Kylie Owens, Woods character, because she shared photos of herself with flaming red hair, just like Wood had in the 1998 movie. Theres a little witch in all of us, King said in an Instagram post. Of course, King playing Kylie would create an age discrepancy with the original character if the film is set in the present. Wood was 11 in Practical Magic. King, 25, wasnt even born until 1999, after the movie came out. Call the age adjustment Hollywood magic (youth). More additions to the cast of the Warner Bros movie have been announced, including Maisie Williams, Lee Pace, Xolo Mariduena and Solly McLeod. Both Kidman and Bullock are producers on the sequel, which is being directed by Susanne Bier (Bird Box) and written by original co-writer Akiva Goldsman along with Georgia Pritchett. The enduring affection for these characters has been our inspiration to deliver the next installment in the Owens story to new fans, and those whove been with us since the beginning," the filmmakers said in a statement about the casting announcement. The first Practical Magic, directed by Griffin Dunne, was written by Goldsman and Robin Swicord. Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads. Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have teamed up with Larry David for a sketch comedy series about American history. Ethan Miller | Getty Images; Steve Granitz | FilmMagic; Gilbert Flores | Penske Media via Getty Images Larry David made his grand exit from HBO last year after 12 seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm across 24 years. Hes already back. David has signed on for a new HBO show in collaboration with former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. Once Curb ended, I celebrated with a three-day foam party, David said in a statement he clearly enjoying writing. After a violent allergic reaction to the suds, I yearned to return to my simple life as a beekeeper, harvesting organic honey from the wildflowers in my meadow. Alas, one day my bees mysteriously vanished. And so, it is with a heavy heart that I return to television, hoping to ease the loss of my beloved hive. READ MORE: Curb Your Enthusiasm series finale brings back Springsteen, Seinfeld So what are Larry David and the Obamas working on? An untitled American history sketch comedy. The six-episode limited series will star David, who will serve as executive producer working with Higher Ground, the Obamas production company. Ive sat across the table from some of the worlds most difficult leaders and wrestled with some of our most intractable problems, Barack Obama said in a statement. Nothing has prepared me for working with Larry David. Apparently, the Obamas wanted to honor Americas 250th anniversary, approaching in July 2026, But then Larry David called. READ MORE: See Richard Lewis in heartfelt farewell to Curb Your Enthusiasm on last day filming David is writing the sketch series with Jeff Schaffer, who wrote and directed on Curb Your Enthusiasm and wrote and produced the 2013 HBO movie Clear History starring David. Schaffer is also directing the new sketch show. Each episode runs 30 minutes and doesnt just see the return of David. Hes bringing along his other friends from Curb Your Enthusiasm, too. The series announcement promises a mix of Curb actors and noteworthy guest stars. Viewers should be in for a treat on that front, since David tends to draw some pretty big names. Guest stars in the final season of Curb included Bruce Springsteen, Jerry Seinfeld and Conan OBrien. Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads. Authorities in Essex County said they were actively investigating two homicides in Maplewood Friday night. A spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutors Office confirmed the investigation into the homicides of two adults in Maplewood. The cause and manner of the deaths are pending autopsy and toxicology reports, the spokesperson said Monday. This is an active and ongoing investigation, and no further details are available at this time, the spokesperson said. Police activity was reported on South 4th Street in Maplewood Friday afternoon, according to local news site TAPinto SOMA. The news site also reported the presence of police and Essex County Prosecutors Office investigators at the scene. Maplewood police did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. A man is facing an attempted murder charge and other offenses in the shooting of a person near Rowan University. Lavonta Moore, 20, of Sicklerville, was arrested on Friday on charges of first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, fourth degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm and multiple weapons offenses, the Glassboro Police Department said in a statement. The shooting happened on Rowan Boulevard near Rowan University in Glassboro shortly after midnight on June 30. As police were attempting to clear a large crowd of people from the area, a person within the crowd was shot in the pelvic area, authorities said. The victim was rushed to Cooper University Hospital, where they remain in stable condition, officials said. Officers later found a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a discharged shell casing on the ground near a parked car with an open front passenger door. Policed obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and multiple items inside were determined to belong to Moore, authorities said. Surveillance and body cam footage was later reviewed and it was determined that Moore was part of a group of people who was fighting with the victim and others, police said. On the footage, Moore is seen standing near the car and firing one round at the victim before fleeing on foot, authorities said. The firearm had no serial number and was determined to be a homemade gun, according to police. Moore is in custody at Salem County Jail pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 12. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. We came across a bullish thesis on Microsoft on Max Dividends's Substack. As of 2 July, Microsoft's share was trading at $491.09. MSFT's trailing and forward P/E were 38.01 and 32.85 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Microsoft (MSFT) Price Target Lowered to $430 Amid Macro Uncertainty, Analysts Still Bullish Radu Bercan / Shutterstock.com Microsoft (MSFT) is a dividend stock that stands out with a strong business model, reliable dividends, and massive growth potential. Microsoft, founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, is a leader in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and enterprise software. The company has a history of dividend growth, with 20 consecutive years of annual payout increases, and a 10-year dividend growth rate of 10.2%. Microsoft's dividend policy complements its $60 billion share repurchase program, creating a powerful total return proposition. Microsoft's future growth prospects are driven by its leadership in cloud computing (Azure), artificial intelligence (AI), and enterprise software. The company's $80 billion investment in AI infrastructure in FY2025 underscores its commitment to scaling high-margin AI services. Key growth drivers include AI monetization, cloud and hybrid work solutions, and strategic partnerships. Microsoft's AAA credit rating and diversified cash flows provide resilience, making it an attractive long-term investment with a 12-month average price target of $513 (11.8% upside). Microsoft's key traits define true 'forever stocks': wide economic moats, consistent free cash flow generation, and management teams that balance reinvestment with shareholder returns. While their dividend yields may appear modest, their double-digit dividend growth rates and massive share buyback programs create powerful compounding potential. Microsoft's strong financials, growth prospects, and commitment to returning capital to investors make it an ideal forever holding. Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on Microsoft by Ray Myers, published on May 25, which highlighted the company's critical role in AI infrastructure and energy needs. The stock has appreciated by 7.02% since our coverage. This is because the previous thesis on energy needs for AI played out. Max Dividends shares a similar view, emphasizing Microsoft's leadership in cloud computing, AI, and enterprise software, with a history of dividend growth and massive growth potential. The conviction in the thesis has strengthened, with Microsoft's $80 billion investment in AI infrastructure and a 12-month average price target of $513. Microsoft is on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 284 hedge fund portfolios held MSFT at the end of first quarter which was 317 in the previous quarter. Backstreets Back, alright! The Backstreet Boys kicked off their Vegas residency at the Sphere at The Venetian on Friday, July 11, and the reviews online are already outstanding. If youre experiencing intense FOMO and want to see BSB in all of their glory, now is your chance. Theyre performing in Las Vegas on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays now through August 24. Heres how to find the cheapest tickets to see the Backstreet Boys at the Vegas Sphere before their residency ends. Backstreet Boys Las Vegas Sphere Tickets Backstreet Boys Las Vegas mini-residency, titled Intro to the Millennium, kicked off on Friday, July 11, at the Las Vegas Sphere at The Venetian. If you did not get tickets during the general sale, then you can find tickets through StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, TicketNetwork, and Viagogo. The cheapest ticket at the time of publication for the Backstreet Boys residency, before any fees, is $104 on Vivid Seats. It looks like overall, the cheapest day of the residency to see the Backstreet Boys is currently Sunday, August 17, across all ticketing sites; this was the cheapest day we could find. The second-cheapest day is Friday, August 15. Date Price Ticket Site Sunday, Aug. 17 $104 Vivid Seats Sunday, Aug. 17 $109 Viagogo Sunday, Aug. 17 $110 SeatGeek Sunday, Aug. 17 $111 StubHub Sunday, Aug. 17 $139 TicketNetwork Plus, if you purchase your tickets through Vivid Seats and you are a first-time customer, you can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 just by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout. A full schedule of the Backstreet Boys Las Vegas residency dates is available here. Backstreet Boys Sphere Setlist The Backstreet Boys have been one of the biggest boy bands on the planet since 1993 and are one of the only boy bands still going strong decades later. The band currently consists of all of its original members: Nick Carter Howie Dorough AJ McLean Brian Littrell Kevin Richardson If youve kept up with BSB since 1993, you already know that the band has taken a few small hiatuses over their career, and Richardson briefly left the group to pursue a solo career. This isnt the Backstreet Boys first time in Vegas, but it looks like their Sphere residency might be one that is cemented in the record books. Intro to the Millennium Setlist It looks like the Backstreet Boys are opening the show with Larger Than Life and ending with Backstreets Back. Larger Than Life Its Gotta Be You As Long as You Love Me More Than That I Need You Tonight Dont Want You Back Get Another Boyfriend\ Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely Dont Wanna Lose You Now Hey 7/11 was the live debut of this song The One Back to Your Heart Spanish Eyes No One Else Comes Close The Perfect Fan All I Have to Give Drowning Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) Shape of My Heart I Want It That Way Get Down (Youre the One for Me) Weve Got It Goin On The Call Everybody (Backstreets Back) Encore Las Vegas Sphere What to know before you go Before you head to The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, there are a handful of things youll want to check out. If youre trying to buy tickets, youll want to look at the seating chart ahead of time to get an idea of the best view, though attendees whove seen concerts claim there isnt a bad seat in the entire venue. You can check out our guide to the Sphere seating chart here. For the Las Vegas Sphere specifically, theres a no bag policy at the Las Vegas Sphere, according to the venues FAQs, so make sure you arrive prepared. Large bags and backpacks are prohibited inside the venue. You can check out our full guide to the Sphere bag policy for recommendations on the best bags to bring to this concert venue. Upcoming Concerts at the Las Vegas Sphere The Backstreet Boys arent the only musicians taking over Vegas this year. There are five artists or shows currently slated through the rest of 2025 at the Sphere. June 25-Aug. 27 Buy tickets: StubHub | SeatGeek | Vivid Seats July 11-Aug. 24 Buy tickets: StubHub | SeatGeek | Vivid Seats Aug. 29, 2025-March 31, 2026 Buy tickets: StubHub | SeatGeek | Vivid Seats Aug. 29-Oct. 18 Buy tickets: StubHub | SeatGeek | Vivid Seats Sept. 5-Nov. 8 Buy tickets: StubHub | SeatGeek | Vivid Seats Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Five New Jersey men have been indicted on charges they stole at least eight luxury cars across two states, broke into homes using a crowbar and stole tens of thousands of dollars in jewelry and a loaded handgun, officials from the Attorney Generals Office said Friday. Samir White, 19, Quamine McDonald, 18, Samir Jordan, 21, and Tauheed McLean, 21, of Newark, and Tysir Phillips, 19, of Orange were charged with conspiracy, auto theft, home invasion burglary and weapons offenses, officials said. White is the first person to be charged under a new state law increasing penalties for home invasions, the Attorney Generals office said. Under the new law, the home invasion burglary charge is now a first-degree crime and the residential burglary charge is a crime of the second degree. Between September 2024 and February 2025 the men are accused of stealing luxury cars such as Porsches, BMWs, Range Rovers, Mercedes Benz and Audis and then using the cars to travel to other locations to commit burglaries and steal more cars, officials said. On Dec. 11, 2024, White and the other men broke into a home on River Road in Wall Township and stole $10,000 worth of jewelry, a loaded handgun, purses, a key fob and a 2020 Porsche 911, authorities said. Eleven days later on Dec. 22, 2024, White and the others entered homes in Sea Girt on Crescent Parkway and Washington Boulevard and took key fobs to steal two cars and other items, authorities said. The men stole a 2025 Range Rover, designer clothes and sunglasses from the home on Crescent Parkway, authorities said. A BMW X3 was taken from the residence on Washington Boulevard, according to authorities. Later that day, the vehicle was driven to Midland Avenue in East Orange where one of the men entered a home, took the keys to a 2024 Audi RSQ8, and two men drove away with the cars, officials said. The men are accused of stealing eight cars with a total value of over $700,000, officials said. White was connected to these incidents and others using electronic and physical surveillance as well as cellular data, officials said. Attorneys for the men did not immediately return a request for comment. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. A warehouse manager who set the facility on fire to cover up the theft of more than $200,000 worth of materials is headed to prison, authorities said. Davon Fields, 46, of Newark, was sentenced to eight years in state prison on Friday, the Morris County Prosecutors Office said in a statement. He pleaded guilty last month to second-degree aggravated arson and the third-degree charges of burglary, theft and criminal mischief. He was arrested and charged on Jan. 13 after detectives identified him as a suspect in the theft and fire. On the night of Nov. 3, 2024, police and firefighters responded to a fire at a commercial warehouse on Fulton Street in Boonton. The two-alarm blaze was burning in the warehouse area, as well as a secured area on the property that is leased by a pharmaceutical company, officials said. Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions worked to extinguish the fire. Investigators then found evidence that the fire had been intentionally set, including a heavy odor of petroleum and a gasoline type canister nozzle, authorities said. Surveillance video also captured two masked people entering the warehouse around the time of the fire, prosecutors said. A company that uses the warehouse later reported that copper materials estimated to be worth $233,000 were missing from the facility, authorities said. Further investigation found that on Nov. 1 and 3, Fields was in the area of the warehouse and also visited a scrap yard to sell quantities of copper, according to prosecutors. This case involved a considerable amount of forensic evidence, both physical and digital, for investigators to review and analyze, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said. I applaud the solid, collaborative efforts of members of the Morris County Prosecutors Office, and our partners in the Boonton Police and Morris County Sheriffs Office, which brought to light the multi-faceted criminal activity at work. Fields sentence is subject to four years of parole ineligibility. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. The federal courthouse in Trenton, where a judge ruled that parts of a lawsuit against Ocean County prosecutors can move forward. Google A New Jersey couple scored a win in federal court, where a judge ruled they can move forward with key parts of their lawsuit accusing Ocean County prosecutors of malicious prosecution and defamation. Salvatore and Jane Mattiaccio, owners of Level and Square Construction in Point Pleasant, allege that now-retired Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor William Scharfenberg used his position to pursue criminal investigations against them while operating a competing construction company, Beacon Homes of N.J. On July 8, U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner issued a ruling in the case, dismissing many of the couples claims on immunity and procedural grounds. The judge has ruled that several of those named in the lawsuit will remain in the case, while others have been dismissed. The court allowed claims to proceed against four individuals affiliated with the Ocean County Prosecutors Office, as well as Beacon Homes of NJ. However, the judge dismissed all claims against three other individuals and the Ocean County Prosecutors Office itself. The ruling narrows the scope of the litigation but ensures that key allegations will continue to be litigated in federal court. However, she allowed their allegations of malicious prosecution and defamationstemming from a 2018 arrestto proceed against Scharfenberg and several other defendants. The Mattiaccios claim that Scharfenberg operated Beacon Homes from within the prosecutors office while employed as a prosecutor. They also allege he failed to obtain required approvals for outside employment. They also allege that his business interests motivated a series of criminal investigations and prosecutions against them, including charges stemming from a contract dispute with a customer in 2018. That case was later dismissed. The judge dismissed all claims against the Ocean County Prosecutors Office and its employees in their official capacities, ruling that those claims were barred by sovereign immunitya legal doctrine that protects state agencies and officials from being sued for damages in federal court. Claims related to two other investigations were dismissed due to the plaintiffs failure to comply with notice requirements under the New Jersey Tort Claims Act, which requires anyone planning to sue a public entity or employee for damages to first file a formal notice of claim within 90 days of the incident. However, the judge allowed the Mattiaccios to move forward with claims that Scharfenberg and others acted with malice in prosecuting them and defamed their business. However, the suit will proceed against the prosecutors in their individual capacities, meaning the lawsuit treats them as personally responsible rather than as officials acting on behalf of the state. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Daniel Jude Maxwell, the attorney for the Mattiaccios, said he is pleased that the court decision allowed his clients key claims to proceed. This ruling confirms that the serious allegations at the heart of this case will be examined on their merits, Maxwell said. As alleged in our complaint, Mr. William Scharfenberg engaged in an abuse of power by using his position to pursue unwarranted charges against my clients for his own purposes. Such conduct strikes at the integrity of the very institutions designed to protect the public. A spokesperson for the Ocean County Prosecutors Office also declined to comment. Additionally, attorneys for the individual defendants, including Scharfenberg, speaking through the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, declined to provide a statement. Colleen Murphy may be reached at cmurphy@njadvancemedia.com. Federal authorities are investigating controversial remarks Gov. Phil Murphy made earlier this year about housing a migrant, according to a report Friday by the New York Times. Its the latest instance of a Democratic official in New Jersey facing legal scrutiny under interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, at left, since Trump appointed her as the states top federal prosecutor in March. file photos New Jerseys top federal prosecutor in President Donald Trumps administration is investigating controversial remarks Gov. Phil Murphy made earlier this year about housing a migrant and has even issued a subpoena to the governor, according to a report Friday by the New York Times. FBI agents, according to the report, have sought to interview at least four witnesses over Murphys comments from February, which the Democratic governor and his team have insisted were misinterpreted. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) is one of the Top 10 Software and Technology Stocks to Buy Now. Morgan Stanley downgraded the companys stock to Underweight from Equal Weight with a price objective of $70, down from the prior target of $73. The downgrade was seen despite the significant opportunities in the broader optical AI market, with Morgan Stanley highlighting disappointing margin performance as a key concern. Morgan Stanley Downgrades Ciena (CIEN) Stock to Underweight A team of telecom engineers discussing a communication infrastructure diagram. As per the firms analyst, Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN)s shares trade above its 3-year valuation average, which creates a risk/reward skewed more negatively, considering the minimal earnings follow-through on the revenue upside. That being said, the firm expects Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) to continue posting revenue upside over the upcoming quarters as a result of its artificial intelligence opportunity. However, the firm doesnt believe that Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN)s earnings growth accompanying the upside would be meaningful. The companys robust fiscal Q2 2025 results exhibit continued global leadership in high-speed connectivity with increased momentum throughout all of the business segments. Amidst accelerating demand aided by cloud and AI, Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN)s performance continues to validate the durability of a positive network infrastructure spending environment. The company saw revenue of $1.13 billion compared to $910.8 million for Q2 2024. Scout Investments, Inc., an affiliate of Carillon Tower Advisers, released the Q1 2025 investor letter. Here is what the fund said: Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) develops and markets networking equipment, software, and services for the telecommunications industry and large cloud service firms. Its offerings include optical network switches and routing platforms. There have been major tariff concerns due to its production concentration in Mexico and Thailand. The stock was also negatively impacted, along with many other AI infrastructure suppliers, following the DeepSeek model release, which caused broad concerns that growth in AI capital spending would slow. The company has improved inventory management and could raise prices to offset tariffs. Also, telecom and cloud spending continues to improve and Ciena is well positioned to benefit from a continuous infrastructure buildout, with growing demand for data center capacity and connectivity. While we acknowledge the potential of CIEN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 13 Cheap AI Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 11 Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest in Now Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) is one of the stocks that are flying past expectations. MP Materials soared 50.62 percent on Thursday to hit a new high after sealing a multi-billion-dollar deal with the Department of Defense (DOD) to ramp up the production of rare earth minerals in the US. At intra-day trading, MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) touched a new 52-week high of $48.01 before paring gains to end the day just up by 50.62 percent at $45.23 apiece. In a statement, MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) said that part of the agreement will see the construction of a new magnet manufacturing facilityto be called the 10X Facilityat a soon-to-be-chosen location, to serve both defense and commercial customers. The company secured a $1-billion loan from JPMorgan Chase Funding Inc. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA for the site development, which is set to be fully operational in 2028 and boost rare earth minerals production to 10,000 metric tons. Additionally, the DOD and MP Materials entered into a 10-year agreement where the government agency agreed to ensure that 100 percent of the magnets produced will be purchased by the defense and commercial customers, and that profits will be shared. MP Materials (MP) Hits New All-Time High As Pentagon Pledges Multi-Billion-Dollar Backing Heavy machinery at work in a mining facility, excavating the earth for rare earth minerals. Both parties also established a floor price commitment of $110 per kilogram for NdPr products stockpiled or sold. Lastly, the DOD acquired worth $400 million of MP Materials Corp.s (NYSE:MP) newly-created preferred shares convertible into common stocks, and a warrant permitting the government agency to purchase additional shares of its common shares. While we acknowledge the potential of MP as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. By Katha Kalia, Eric Onstad and Ernest Scheyder (Reuters) -MP Materials (MP) unveiled a multibillion-dollar deal with the U.S. government on Thursday to boost output of rare earth magnets and help loosen China's grip on the materials used to build weapons, electric vehicles and many electronics. Under the deal, which sent MP's shares up nearly 50%, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will become the largest shareholder in Las Vegas-based MP, making it Washington's most high-profile investment to date in the critical minerals sector. Rare earths are a group of 17 metals used to make magnets that turn power into motion. China halted exports in March as part of a trade spat with U.S. President Donald Trump that showed some signs of easing late last month, even as the broader tensions underscored the need for greater U.S. output. MP operates the only U.S. rare earths mine and is working to boost domestic processing and magnet production. The DoD will guarantee a floor price of $110 per kilogram for the two most-popular rare earths, a price nearly twice the current Chinese market level, which has languished at low levels and has long deterred investment. MP received an average of $52 per kilogram for those same rare earths in the second quarter. MP will also build a new factory for rare earth magnets, lifting the company's output to 10,000 metric tons a year, with the new factory launching in 2028. "This is a game changer for the ex-China industry and a much-needed surge in magnet production capacity," said Ryan Castilloux, managing director of consultancy Adamas Intelligence. The price floor especially is one that had long been sought by U.S. critical minerals companies who have complained about China's market manipulations. Past owners of MP's California mine, for example, went bankrupt in part due to Chinese competition. In a Thursday regulatory filing, MP said that the DoD was funding the investment in part through a Cold War-era piece of legislation known as the Defense Production Act, and that it could not guarantee the U.S. Congress would continue to fund the agreement in perpetuity. MP is investing $600 million of its own funds into the expansion projects. CHINESE DOMINANCE Companies have been scrambling to source rare earths after China imposed restrictions, leading to a 75% drop in rare earth magnet exports from the country last month and causing some auto companies to suspend production. Trump in March invoked emergency powers to boost domestic production of critical minerals as part of a broad effort to offset China's near-total control of the sector. VALPARAISO A Porter County judge handed down a probationary sentence Friday morning to a man who called in bomb threats to schools throughout Porter County in 2023. Ryan Krajewski, 19, of Medina, Ohio, was sentenced to six years on probation for calling in bomb threats in January 2023 to schools in Valparaiso, Portage, Wheeler, Union Township and Washington Township. Krajewski pleaded guilty to five of the seven counts of intimidation with a threat to commit terrorism that he was charged with. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dismissed two of the same charges. Krajewski was sentenced to two years on each of the five counts; each count is attributed to each school that received a threatening call. The sentences on three of the counts will be served consecutively, equaling six years on probation. The sentences on the remaining counts will be served concurrently with each other and concurrently with the consecutive sentence. The calls, made by a then-17-year-old Krajewski from outside of Indiana, caused massive responses from law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services and sent parents and teachers into panic. Porter County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer heard statements from school officials, the parent of a student at one of the schools, a Portage police school resource officer and a Valparaiso police investigator who identified Krajewski as the person who called in the threats. The threats were not deemed credible and no explosives or firearms were ever found at the schools. Valparaiso Community Schools Superintendent James McCall and Valparaiso High School Principal Veronica Tobon recounted the events of Jan. 26, 2023, that sent approximately 2,000 high school students into lockdown for 35 minutes without any knowledge of what was happening inside the building as law enforcement and administrators tried to figure out if a bomb was inside. "Our parents expect our students to go to school and expect their kids to go home safely," Tobon said. "Our spouses and children expect their teachers to go to school and be safe. On that day, their safety was put into question." McCall said they followed strict emergency protocols and made the choice to dismiss school early that day. He remembered seeing the faces of the high school students: Some appeared unaffected, some eager to leave and some visibly distressed. The school lost approximately $5,500 worth of lunch and labor materials, but McCall said it is the emotional impact that has stuck with him. "It's not something you sign up for," he said. "It's something that you do because our primary charge is taking care of the kids." McCall hosted a debrief with staff in the cafeteria afterward. Many of the staff had been part of the district during a 2004 attack by a 15-year-old student who wielded a machete and tree saw in his freshman Spanish class, injuring seven of his classmates. "(They) talked about the reality of that situation," McCall said. "Their memories of that and how harrowing it was to experience that." Todd DiCarlo said one of his children was inside one of the schools Krajewski targeted. His son's mother learned, like other parents, about the incident from another parent who had learned what happened from her child by phone amid the lockdown. The woman called her son but got no answer. "She was terrified and worried," DiCarlo said. "Wondering if our child was alive. Wondering what was happening inside the building and unable to do anything. She was powerless, just like every other parent whose child was inside those walls. The fear in her voice when she called me is something I'll never forget." Deputy Prosecutor Mary Ryan said Krajewski had previous cases in the juvenile system in Ohio that were internet-related and has a pending case in Lake County for a threat allegedly made at a Hobart school. Ryan said Krajewski told a probation officer the calls had something to do with a supposed bullying incident that happened to a friend in Valparaiso schools but had nothing to do with the other schools. "It wasn't just one call, it was multiple calls," she said. Ryan referenced the threats and vulgarities captured on the school calls and the purported escalation in Krajewski's angry tone of voice when district administrators did not behave exactly how he thought they would. "(He said,) 'The dead bodies are going to be on your head because you're not doing what I'm telling you to do,'" Ryan said. When negotiating the plea agreement in the case, defense attorney John Vouga said he told Krajewski he wanted to see if he could convince the prosecution to let him plead down to level six felonies. Krajewski said no he wanted to plead guilty to the level five felonies as they were. "Ryan has done nothing but cooperate," Vouga said. "I haven't seen anything else other than this boy being remorseful." Vouga said Krajewski has multiple mental health diagnoses that have impacted his behavior. Specifically, he was diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder, which occurs when a child can be vindictive, angry, irritable, argumentative and demonstrates defiant behavior toward authority figures. However, during Krajewski's period of incarceration at the Porter County Juvenile Detention Center, he was "incident-free," Vouga said. "He was in their honors section the whole time," he said. "This young man demonstrated in the juvenile detention center he was capable of following the rules." Krajewski said he regrets his actions, especially if he put anyone at risk. "I lacked direction and maturity," he said. "I had no friends with nothing to look forward to." Two and a half years later, Krajewski has a high school diploma, a full-time job, s stable relationship and is building a life "I can be proud of," he said. "I've taken responsibility for my past," Krajewski said. "I am determined to continue moving forward not only for myself but for the people who believe in me." Clymer said Krajewski's desire to plead guilty and his young age warrant a more mitigated sentence. He noted that the unpredictability of Krajewski's mental health makes him feel uneasy. Clymer said his priority is the safety of children, and his biggest question was whether or not this could happen in the future. "I don't have a crystal ball," he said. "I find because he hasn't communicated with a school in any way since I told him not to June 21, 2023, he does not need to be incarcerated further to prevent communications with schools." Clymer added numerous conditions to Krajewski's probation: 90 days on house arrest, no access to certain electronics, a continuation of mental health treatment and 250 hours of community service. He is prohibited from communicating with any school unless he is enrolled in the school as a student. Krajewski appeared in Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez's courtroom Thursday where Vasquez granted Vouga's motion to continue Krajewski's trial, which had been set to start Monday. Lake County prosecutors said the next steps in their case will largely depend on what happens in the Porter County case. Vouga said he's unsure what the future of the Lake County case holds, but said he hopes the Lake County Prosecutor's Office sees what Clymer did and crafts a resolution that is consistent with what he has already received from Clymer. "I believe Judge Vasquez, who is a logical and experienced judge, would see the justice in that," Vouga said. equipment shelf with part of the connector melted but still connected. The ULB was still connected to the housing and the lithium battery was also attached to the equipment shelf, which was removed later prior to transportation. Both EAFRs were transported from Ahmedabad to AAIB's facility at New Delhi on 24th June 2025. Like various other cases where the data from damaged flight recorders was downloaded by AAIB after sourcing 'Golden Chassis' and relevant download cables from the DGCA and other Accident Investigation Authorities, in this case the 'Golden Chassis' (Identical EAFR unit) and Download cables required to download data from EAFR were sourced from NTSB, USA. The items arrived on 23rd June 2025. The download from the FWD EAFR was attempted at the AAIB Lab on 24th June 2025. The CPM was retrieved from the EAFR and found to be in good condition. The CPM was mounted on the Golden Chassis and the raw data was downloaded from the EAFR. The downloaded flight data contained approximately 49 hours of flight data and 6 flights, including the event flight. The recovered audio was two hours in length and captured the event. Initial Analysis of the recorded audio and flight data has been done. The aft EAFR was substantially damaged and could not be downloaded through conventional means. The CPM was opened to inspect the memory card. The damage was extensive. 12. Accident Flight On 12th June 2025, Air India's B787-8 aircraft bearing registration VT-ANB arrived at Ahmedabad airport operating flight A1423 from Delhi. The aircraft touched down at 05:47 UTC (11:17 IST) and was parked at the bay 34. The crew of the previous flight (A1423) had made Pilot Defect Report (PDR) entry for status message "STAB POS XDCR" in the Tech Log. The troubleshooting was carried out as per FIM by Air India's on duty AME, and the aircraft was released for flight at 0640 UTC. The aircraft was scheduled to operate flight Al171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick with ETD 07:40 UTC (13:10 IST). The flight was to be operated by the flight crew comprising an ATPL holder PIC, a CPL holder Co-pilot along with ten cabin crew. Both pilots were based at Mumbai and had arrived at Ahmedabad on the previous day. They had adequate rest period prior to operating the said flight. The co-pilot was Pilot Flying (PF), and the PIC was Pilot Monitoring (PM) for the flight. The crew of flight AI171 arrived at the airport and underwent preflight Breath Analyzer test at 06:25 UTC and were found fit to operate the flight. The crew is seen arriving at the boarding gate in the CCTV recording at about 07:05 UTC (12:35 IST). There were 230 passengers on board, out of which 15 passengers were in business class and 215 passengers were in economy class including two infants. Fuel on board was 54,200 Kgs and as per the load and trim sheet of the flight, the Take-off Weight was 2,13,401 Kgs (Max. allowed - 2,18,183 Kgs). The take-off weight was within allowable limits for the given conditions. There was no 'Dangerous Goods' on the aircraft. 13 There have been more than 400 lawsuits brought against the Trump administration this year. Dozens of judges, appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents ... (including four by President Trump) ... have ruled against the administration. And they have often used tough, blunt language. There have been more than 400 lawsuits brought against the Trump administration this year. Dozens of judges, appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents ... (including four by President Trump) ... have ruled against the administration. And they have often used tough, blunt language. Opinion The Editorial Board Egregious. Brazen. Lawless. How 48 Judges Describe Trumps Actions, In Their Own Words Many Americans in positions of power, including corporate executives and members of Congress, seem too afraid of President Trump to stand up to his anti-democratic behavior. Federal judges have shown themselves to be exceptions. Judges from across the ideological spectrum are ruling against administration policies at remarkable rates, said Adam Bonica, a political scientist at Stanford University. These rulings have halted Mr. Trumps vengeful attempts to destroy law firms, forestalled some of his budget cuts and kept him from deporting additional immigrants. Yes, the Supreme Court has often been more deferential to the president. Still, it has let stand many lower-court rulings and has itself constrained Mr. Trump in some cases. The bipartisan alarm from federal judges offers a roadmap for others to respond to Mr. Trumps often illegal behavior. His actions deserve to be called out in plain language for what they really are. And people in positions of influence should do what they can to stand up for American values, as many judges have done. Here, weve compiled quotations from judges recent rulings and bench comments. Immigration Courts have blocked some policies, including the deportation of additional detainees to a Salvadoran prison. Other policies remain in effect, including the confinement of immigrants previously deported to El Salvador. Many cases are still being heard. J. Harvie Wilkinson III , Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Appointed by Ronald Reagan On the refusal to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador: This is a path of perfect lawlessness, one that courts cannot condone. Leonie M. Brinkema , Eastern District of Virginia Appointed by Bill Clinton On an ICE officials inconsistent affidavit: This is a terrible, terrible affidavit. If this were before me in a criminal case and you were asking to get a warrant issued on this, Id throw you out of my chambers. James E. Boasberg , District of Columbia District Appointed by Barack Obama On a judges order blocking deportations: In an egregious case of cherry-picking, defendants selectively quote only a fragment of the courts response here to mischaracterize its position. Patrick J. Schiltz , District of Minnesota Appointed by George W. Bush On the revocation of a students visa: The court cannot imagine how the public interest might be served by permitting federal officials to flaunt the very laws that they have sworn to enforce. Charlotte N. Sweeney , District of Colorado Appointed by Joe Biden On a claim that courts do not have a role in regards to the Aliens Enemies Act: This sentence staggers. It is wrong as a matter of law and attempts to read an entire provision out of the Constitution. Clay D. Land , Middle District of Georgia Appointed by George W. Bush On an attempt to designate someone as an alien enemy without due process: Allowing constitutional rights to be dependent upon the grace of the executive branch would be a dereliction of duty by this third and independent branch of government and would be against the public interest. David Briones , Western District of Texas Appointed by Bill Clinton On inconsistent evidence about gang affiliation: Of great concern to this court is that respondents contradict themselves throughout the entire record. DeAndrea G. Benjamin , Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Appointed by Joe Biden On plaintiffs argument that the government issued a document under false pretenses: The government has no response to this charge a deafening silence. Jamal N. Whitehead , Western District of Washington Appointed by Joe Biden On a claim that a court order applied to fewer than 200 refugees: The governments interpretation is, to put it mildly, interpretive jiggery-pokery of the highest order. ... It requires not just reading between the lines, but hallucinating new text that simply is not there. Paula Xinis , District of Maryland Appointed by Barack Obama On a failure to identify many officials involved in Kilmar Abrego Garcias removal: Defendants have failed to respond in good faith, and their refusal to do so can only be viewed as willful and intentional noncompliance. Roger L. Gregory , Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Appointed by George W. Bush On a claim that Venezuela has invaded the U.S.: As is becoming far too common, we are confronted again with the efforts of the executive branch to set aside the rule of law in pursuit of its goals. Stephanie D. Thacker , Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Appointed by Barack Obama On the need for due process before deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia: The governments contention otherwise, and its argument that the federal courts are powerless to intervene, are unconscionable. Stephanie A. Gallagher , District of Maryland Appointed by Donald Trump On the deportation of an asylum seeker to El Salvador: Defendants have provided no evidence, or even any specific allegations, as to how Cristian, or any other class member, poses a threat to public safety. ... This is a court of evidence. Patricia A. Millett , District of Columbia District Appointed by Barack Obama On the deportation of more than 200 Venezuelans to a prison in El Salvador: Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act than has happened here. Edward M. Chen , Northern District of California Appointed by Barack Obama On insinuations that Venezuelan immigrants are gang members: Generalization of criminality to the Venezuelan T.P.S. population as a whole is baseless and smacks of racism predicated on generalized false stereotypes. Executive orders targeting critics All four law firms that sued the Trump administration have won their cases, and none of the executive orders regarding them are in effect. The Associated Press partly won its case contesting Mr. Trumps restrictions on its White House access. Richard J. Leon , District of Columbia District Appointed by George W. Bush On an executive order targeting the law firm WilmerHale: There is no doubt this retaliatory action chills speech and legal advocacy, or that it qualifies as a constitutional harm. John D. Bates , District of Columbia District Appointed by George W. Bush On an executive order targeting Jenner & Block: In short, the order raises constitutional eyebrows many times over. It punishes and seeks to silence speech at the very center of the First Amendment. Beryl A. Howell , District of Columbia District Appointed by Barack Obama On an executive order targeting Perkins Coie: In a cringe-worthy twist on the theatrical phrase Lets kill all the lawyers, E.O. 14230 takes the approach of Lets kill the lawyers I dont like, sending the clear message: Lawyers must stick to the party line, or else. Trevor N. McFadden , District of Columbia District Appointed by Donald Trump On The Associated Presss access to the White House being restricted for not using Gulf of America: Indeed, the government has been brazen. Transgender issues A ban on transgender people in the military has taken effect while legal challenges continue. Other rulings have prevented the freezing of various funds related to trans policies. Benjamin H. Settle , Western District of Washington Appointed by George W. Bush On the lack of evidence about negative effects from trans troops: The governments arguments are not persuasive, and it is not an especially close question on this record. Lauren J. King , Western District of Washington Appointed by Joe Biden On a claim that medical funding cuts would not cause harm because they hadnt happened yet: Defendants argument is disingenuous at best. Ana C. Reyes , District of Columbia District Appointed by Joe Biden On conflicting government descriptions of the trans ban: I am not going to abide by government officials saying one thing to the public saying what they really mean to the public and coming in here to the court and telling me something different, like Im an idiot. ... I am not an idiot. Christine P. OHearn , District of New Jersey Appointed by Joe Biden On a previous case involving military discharges: It is hard to imagine how defendants can cite Nelson v. Miller with a straight face. ... Nelson actually supports plaintiffs position not defendants position. John A. Woodcock Jr. , District of Maine Appointed by George W. Bush On a funding freeze because of the states trans policies: [The law] imposes numerous steps an agency must take before refusing or terminating funding for noncompliance. The factual record does not indicate the federal defendants took any of these actions before freezing Maines federal funds. Citizenship Mr. Trumps order denying birthright citizenship remains the subject of legal challenges. Separately, rulings have blocked Mr. Trumps order requiring voters to produce proof of citizenship. Colleen Kollar-Kotelly , District of Columbia District Appointed by Bill Clinton On a claim that Mr. Trumps voting policy was merely a suggestion: This argument fails to persuade because it misconceives (and in one instance misrepresents) the executive order, plaintiffs claims, the law, and the facts. John C. Coughenour , Western District of Washington Appointed by Ronald Reagan On the order denying birthright citizenship: Ive been on the bench for over four decades. I cant remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order. Deborah L. Boardman , District of Maryland Appointed by Joe Biden On the order denying birthright citizenship: The executive order flouts the plain language of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, conflicts with binding Supreme Court precedent, and runs counter to our nations 250-year history of citizenship by birth. Joseph N. Laplante , District of New Hampshire Appointed by George W. Bush On the order denying birthright citizenship: The executive order contradicts the text of the 14th Amendment and the century-old untouched precedent that interprets it. Leo T. Sorokin , District of Massachusetts Appointed by Barack Obama On the order denying birthright citizenship: Against this backdrop, it verges on frivolous to suggest that Congress drafted, debated and passed a constitutional amendment, thereafter enacted by the states, that imposed a consent requirement necessarily excluding the one group of people the legislators and enactors most specifically intended to protect. Pamela A. Harris , Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Appointed by Barack Obama On the order denying birthright citizenship: It is hard to overstate the confusion and upheaval that will accompany any implementation of the executive order. Budget cuts and funding freezes Judges have prevented some cuts from going into effect, such as the dismantling of the Education Department. Other cuts remain in effect, and courts are still considering several cases. Amir H. Ali , District of Columbia District Appointed by Joe Biden On a claim that the court lacked jurisdiction: Defendants instant motion does not meaningfully engage with the large body of precedent on this question. John J. McConnell Jr. , District of Rhode Island Appointed by Barack Obama On a suspension of congressionally approved spending: It is more than monetary harm that is at stake here. As Justice Anthony Kennedy reminds us, Liberty is always at stake when one or more of the branches seek to transgress the separation of powers. Royce C. Lamberth , District of Columbia District Appointed by Ronald Reagan On a funding cut for the agency overseeing Voice of America: It is hard to fathom a more straightforward display of arbitrary and capricious actions than the defendants actions here. Julie R. Rubin , District of Maryland Appointed by Joe Biden On a prior ruling calling for the restoration of grants: Defendants continue to ignore or misapprehend the courts analysis. Myong J. Joun , District of Massachusetts Appointed by Joe Biden On a plan to cut the Department of Educations staff in half: None of these statements amount to a reasoned explanation, let alone an explanation at all. Mary S. McElroy , District of Rhode Island Appointed by Donald Trump On a claim that an agency was not responsible for a funding freeze it had announced: In short, the government asks the court to overlook the simplest, most logical explanation for what happened. The court declines. Lewis J. Liman , Southern District of New York Appointed by Donald Trump On an attempt to terminate New York Citys congestion-pricing plan: That argument is nonsensical. Loren L. AliKhan , District of Columbia District Appointed by Joe Biden On a disparity between the Office of Management and Budgets statements and policy: It appears that O.M.B. sought to overcome a judicially imposed obstacle without actually ceasing the challenged conduct. The court can think of few things more disingenuous. William G. Young , District of Massachusetts Appointed by Ronald Reagan On a cut in funding for research into health disparities: I have never seen government racial discrimination like this. DOGE and the firing of federal workers Judges temporarily reinstated government watchdogs and thousands of federal workers who had been fired. This week, the Supreme Court ruled that the administration could resume its mass layoffs. Amy Berman Jackson , District of Columbia District Appointed by Barack Obama On the firing of the head of a watchdog agency: In sum, it would be antithetical to the very existence of this particular government agency and ... a constitutional license to bully officials in the executive branch into doing his will. Jeannette A. Vargas , Southern District of New York Appointed by Joe Biden On the Department of Government Efficiencys access to Treasury Department systems: This explanation is riddled with inconsistencies. Denise L. Cote , Southern District of New York Appointed by Bill Clinton On concerns that unauthorized DOGE employees could see personal data: The defendants Kafkaesque argument to the contrary would deprive the plaintiffs of any recourse under the law. Tanya S. Chutkan , District of Columbia District Appointed by Barack Obama On DOGEs attempts to hire and fire federal workers: Defense counsel is reminded of their duty to make truthful representations to the court. Reggie B. Walton , District of Columbia District Appointed by George W. Bush On the firing of two Democrats on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board: To hold otherwise would be to bless the presidents obvious attempt to exercise power beyond that granted to him by the Constitution and shield the executive branchs counterterrorism actions from independent oversight, public scrutiny and bipartisan congressional insight regarding those actions. Sparkle L. Sooknanan , District of Columbia District Appointed by Joe Biden On the firing of a Democrat on the Federal Labor Relations Authority: The governments arguments paint with a broad brush and threaten to upend fundamental protections in our Constitution. But ours is not an autocracy; it is a system of checks and balances. Susan Illston , Northern District of California Appointed by Bill Clinton On a plan to lay off thousands of federal workers: Defendants want the court to either declare that nine presidents and 21 Congresses did not properly understand the separation of powers, or ignore how the executive branch is implementing large-scale reductions in force and reorganizations. William A. Fletcher , Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Appointed by Bill Clinton On a claim that an executive order was merely guidance: Such a characterization is at best disingenuous, and at worst flatly contradictory to the record. William Alsup , Northern District of California Appointed by Bill Clinton On the withdrawal of an agency directors sworn declaration: Come on, thats a sham. It upsets me. I want you to know that Ive been practicing or serving in this court for over 50 years. And I know how that we get at the truth, and youre not helping me get to add to the truth. Youre giving me press releases sham documents. What Happens Next? The judiciarys willingness to confront Mr. Trump over the past six months has been vital. In other democracies that have slid toward autocracy, the complicity of judges has frequently been a key reason. For now, many American judges are standing firm. They have done so even as Mr. Trump and his allies have personally threatened judges and made many feel unsafe. It remains unclear what will happen next. One scenario is optimistic namely, that judges on lower courts will continue to constrain Mr. Trump, the Supreme Court will ultimately uphold most of these rulings and the administration will largely obey them. (An example came on Thursday, when a federal judge in New Hampshire blocked the executive order denying birthright citizenship, while also complying with a recent Supreme Court decision limiting nationwide rulings.) Other scenarios are more disturbing: that the Supreme Court becomes even more deferential to him, or that the administration flouts court rulings more blatantly than it already has. Either way, federal judges have made clear that they consider Mr. Trumps conduct to be more worrisome than the conduct of any other modern president. At a special event hosted at LinkedIn's Community Space in Dublin recently, the latest class of incoming 2025 George Moore Scholars, 57 exceptional students from throughout Ireland, who have been selected to undertake a Master's degree abroad, were announced. Among this years scholars are two students from Offaly, Aisling Maloney and Muireann Carton. Later this year, these scholars will begin their academic journeys at leading international universities across the United States, Canada, the UK, and Europe. Since 2020, the George Moore Scholars programme has awarded over 13m to support over 250 students. Launched in 2020 by The Ireland Funds, the George Moore Scholars programme invests in the next generation of leaders and innovators. The programme widens access to postgraduate education and extends learning opportunities for students across the island of Ireland. As well as financial support, it provides mentorship and access to a global network of fellow scholars to empower students to achieve their fullest potential and contribute to the global community. READ NEXT: Plan for new IDA park in Tullamore included in Government strategy The Ireland Funds is a global philanthropic network established in 1976 to promote and support peace, culture, education and community development throughout the island of Ireland, and Irish-related causes around the world. It has benefited the work of thousands of different organisations, with both financial and non-financial support. Today, The Ireland Funds is one of the largest independent grant makers for the non-profit sector in Ireland. READ NEXT: Singing star Brendan Shine revisits Offaly hall for anniversary celebrations We recently published 14 Stocks Jim Cramer Discussed As He Talked About Record Bitcoin Price. Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) is a Danish pharmaceutical company that was one of the earliest movers in the weight loss drug market. The shares have lost 21% year-to-date due to multiple headwinds. These include investor worries about the firm lagging behind US pharma giant Eli Lilly in the weight loss drug market, the surprise departure of its CEO, and troubles with its CagriSema weight loss drugs trial. Cramers previous remarks about Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) have wondered why the firm fell behind Eli Lilly and hoped that activist investor interest in the firm would yield positive results. This time around, he discussed the firms decision to let its weight loss drug patent expire in Canada: By the way, nod there to Brandon Gomez, really, really good piece that Novo Nordisk, did not file, I think its patent correctly in Canada. And Canadas a backdoor, Hims & Hers is right there. Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO): "Canada's A Backdoor," Says Jim Cramer An elderly couple receiving insulin from a pharmacist, representing healthcare company's successful pharmaceutical products. Cramers previous remarks about Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) discussed the firms weight loss drug business and activist investor interest: [On activist fund Parvus building a stake in the company] How could they be so far behind? You know they were first, they were first mover. And then Lilly came along, Lilly by the way, still a great stock. But maybe this is going to shake up Novo. While we acknowledge the potential of NVO as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Players have a chance to win 2.5 million through combined monthly tournaments until February 26, 2026. This event covers select titles of Evoplays collection of 250+ slots, crash, table, and instant games. Evoplay, one of the most innovative software providers on the iGaming scene, has started its 2.5 million network tournament. Starting from June 25, 2025, players have the opportunity to participate in this tournament, which is available in dozens of online casinos. This nine-month event will last until February 26, 2026. 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These are just a few of the responses to questions I asked during a study I conducted on vacation guilt among American workers. More than 88% of full-time, private sector workers in the U.S. receive paid time off. This benefit is ostensibly in place to improve employee morale and well-being. Yet a 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that nearly half of American workers dont take all the vacation days theyve been allotted. And many of them feel as if theyre discouraged from using their time off. Ironically, whats supposed to be a source of relaxation and restoration morphs into a stressor: As vacations approach, feelings of doubt and guilt creep in. Im from Singapore. Upon moving to the U.S. in 2016, I was surprised at how pervasive vacation guilt appeared to be. Compared with many of the other countries where Ive lived or worked, American culture seems to prioritize mental health and wellness. I assumed these attitudes extended to the American workplace. Surprisingly, though, I noticed that many of my American friends felt guilty about taking time off that theyd earned. So as a scholar of tourism and hospitality, I wanted to understand how and why this happened. Vacation guilt To carry out the study, I collaborated with tourism scholar Robert Li. We interviewed 15 workers who had experienced feelings of guilt over taking time off. We also administered an online survey to 860 full-time employees who received paid time off from their employers. We wanted to know whether employees felt less respected or believed that their bosses and colleagues saw them in a worse light for taking time off. Maybe they feared being seen as slackers or, worse, replaceable. We found that 1 in 5 respondents to our survey experienced vacation guilt, and these concerns made them think twice about following through with their vacation plans. For those who eventually did take a vacation, they often tried to ease their guilt by going for fewer days. They might also apologize for taking a vacation or avoid talking about their vacation plans at work. Some of the people we interviewed had pushed through their hesitation and taken their vacation as planned. Yet all of these employees believed that theyd been penalized for taking time off and that it led to poor performance reviews, despite the fact that their paid vacation days had been a clearly articulated, earned benefit. The US is an outlier The U.S. is the only advanced economy that doesnt legally mandate a minimum number of vacation days. On top of that, only a handful of states require workers to be compensated for their unused vacation days. Meanwhile, the law in other advanced economies entitles employees to a minimum amount of annual paid leave. The EU, for example, mandates at least 20 days per year on top of paid public holidays, such as Christmas and New Years Day, with a number of EU member countries requiring more than 20 days of paid vacation for full-time employees. Even in Japan, which is notorious for its workaholic culture, employees are entitled to a minimum of 10 days of paid leave every year. Throughout much of the U.S., whether paid vacation time is offered at all depends on an employers generosity, while many employees face a use-it-or-lose-it situation, meaning unused vacation days dont roll over from one year to the next. Of course, not all workers experience vacation guilt. Nonetheless, the guilt that so many workers do feel may be symbolic of broader issues: an unhealthy workplace culture, a toxic boss or a weak social safety net. For paid time off to serve its purpose, I think employers need to provide more than vacation days. They also need to have a supportive culture that readily encourages employees to use this benefit without having to worry about repercussions. President Donald J. Trump speaks at a roundtable discussion at the Community Emergency Operations Center in Kerrville, Texas, Friday, July 11, 2025. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP) AP President Donald Trump on Saturday announced hes levying tariffs of 30% against the European Union and Mexico starting August 1, a move that could cause massive upheaval between the United States and two of its biggest trade partners. The announcement comes a day after the president laid out plans to assess 35% tariffs on goods from Canada. Mexico and Canada are two of the top three trading partners for Oregon. Trump detailed the planned tariffs on the EU and Mexico in letters posted to his social media account. They are part of an announcement blitz by Trump of new tariffs with allies and foes alike, a bedrock of his 2024 campaign that he said would set the foundation for reviving a U.S. economy that he claims has been ripped off by other nations for decades. In his letter to Mexicos leader, President Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump acknowledged that the country has been helpful in stemming the flow of undocumented migrants and fentanyl into the United States. But he said the country has not done enough to stop North America from turning into a Narco-Trafficking Playground. Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough, Trump added. Trump in his letter to the European Union said that the U.S. trade deficit was a national security threat. We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with The European Union, and we have concluded we must move away from these long-term, large, and persistent, Trade Deficits, engendered by your Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies, and Trade Barriers, Trump wrote in the letter to the EU. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal. EU and Mexico respond European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded by noting the blocs commitment to dialogue, stability, and a constructive transatlantic partnership. At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required, von der Leyen said in a statement. Von de Leyen added that the EU remains committed to continuing negotiations with the U.S. and coming to an agreement before Aug. 1. Trade ministers from EU countries are scheduled to meet Monday to discuss trade relations with the U.S., as well as with China. The Mexican government said it was informed on Friday during high-level talks with U.S. State Department officials that the Trump letter was coming. The delegation told Trump officials at the meeting it disagreed with the decision and considered it unfair treatment, according to Mexican government statement Trump, as he has in previous letters, warned that his administration would further raise tariffs if the EU attempts to hike its own tariffs on the United States. With the reciprocal tariffs, Trump is effectively blowing up the rules governing world trade. For decades, the United States and most other countries abided by tariff rates set through a series of complex negotiations known as the Uruguay round. Countries could set their own tariffs but under the most favored nation approach, they couldnt charge one country more than they charged another. The Italian government said on Saturday it continues to closely monitor the ongoing trade negotiations between the European Union and the United States, fully supporting the EU Commissions efforts. We trust in the goodwill of all stakeholders to reach a fair agreement that can strengthen the West as a whole, given thatparticularly in the current scenarioit would make no sense to trigger a trade war between the two sides of the Atlantic, Premier Giorgia Melonis office said in a statement. The Mexico tariff, if it goes into effect, could replace the 25% tariffs on Mexican goods that do not comply with the existing U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Trumps letter did not address if USMCA-compliant goods would still be exempt from the Mexico tariffs after Aug. 1, as the White House said would be the case with Canada. Trump sent a letter to Canada earlier this week threatening a 35% tariff hike. Higher tariffs had been suspended With Saturdays letters, Trump has now issued tariff conditions on 24 countries and the 27-member European Union. The European Unions chief trade negotiator said earlier this week that a trade deal to avert higher tariffs on European goods imported to the U.S. could be reached even in the coming days. Maros Sefcovic told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg, France on Wednesday that the EU had been spared the increased tariffs contained in the letters Trump sent on Monday, and that an extension of talks would provide additional space to reach a satisfactory conclusion. The bloc collectively sells more to the U.S. than any other country. U.S. goods imports from the EU topped $553 billion in 2022, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Trump on April 2 proposed a 20% tariff for EU goods and then threatened to raise that to 50% after negotiations did not move as fast as he would have liked. Sefcovic did not mention any tariff figures. The higher tariffs as well as any EU retaliation had been suspended as the two sides negotiate. However the base rate of 10% for most trade partners as well as higher rates of 25% on autos and 50% on steel and aluminum had gone into effect. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former Congressional Budget Office director and president of the center-right American Action Forum, said the letters were evidence that serious trade talks were not taking place over the past three months. He stressed that nations were instead talking amongst themselves about how to minimize their own exposure to the U.S. economy and Trump. Theyre spending time talking to each other about what the future is going to look like, and were left out, Holtz-Eakin said. He added that Trump was using the letters to demand attention, but, In the end, these are letters to other countries about taxes hes going to levy on his citizens. Potential impact is vast If the tariffs do indeed take effect, the potential impact on Europe could be vast. The value of EU-U.S. trade in goods and services amounted to 1.7 trillion euros ($2 trillion) in 2024, or an average of 4.6 billion euros a day, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat Europes biggest exports to the U.S. were pharmaceuticals, cars, aircraft, chemicals, medical instruments and wine and spirits. Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of the Union of Italian Wines trade association, said Trumps move could lead to a virtual embargo of his countrys wine. A single letter was enough to write the darkest chapter in relations between two historic Western allies, Frescobaldi said. At this point, our fate and that of hundreds of thousands of jobs are tied to the extra time, which will be crucial, because it is unthinkable to be able to sell these volumes of wine elsewhere in the short term. Trump has complained about the EUs 198 billion-euro trade surplus in goods, which shows Americans buy more goods from European businesses than the other way around. However, American companies fill some of the gap by outselling the EU when it comes to services such as cloud computing, travel bookings, and legal and financial services. The U.S. services surplus took the nations trade deficit with the EU down to 50 billion euros ($59 billion), which represents less than 3% of overall U.S.-EU trade. Before Trump returned to office, the U.S. and the EU maintained a generally cooperative trade relationship and low tariff levels on both sides. The U.S. rate averaged 1.47% for European goods, while the EUs averaged 1.35% for American products. A motorcyclist traveling southbound on Interstate 5 north of Vancouver lost control as he tried to exit, crashed and died early Saturday, Washington State Patrol said. Randel W. Miller, 40, of Battle Ground, died at the scene just before 2 a.m. Saturday after failing to negotiate the off-ramp curve at Washington 502, the patrol said. Separately, a man who died when his motorcycle collided with a car in Tacoma has been identified by the Pierce County Medical Examiners Office. Andrew Bostwick, 21, of Tacoma, was killed near South 56th Street and South Cheyenne Street, according to a news release. He suffered multiple blunt-force injuries, and his death was ruled an accident. The Tacoma News Tribune reported that the collision was reported shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday and that the cause was unclear. Tacoma Police Department spokesperson Shelbie Boyd told The News Tribune on Friday that the police investigation is ongoing. --Tribune News Service contributed to this report. The Multnomah County Circuit Courthouse is shown here in 2025. Zane Sparling/The Oregonian A Multnomah County judge allowed a woman to post bail after hearing testimony that she was one of two people allegedly abused by a now-indicted Multnomah County sheriffs deputy. In a rare direct plea for release, Sadie J. King testified for 90 minutes Friday describing a personal history of trauma, addiction and physical and emotional abuse. I do make mistakes when Im on drugs, King told Circuit Judge Christopher Ramras. I have a support system to change my life. I have the drive to change my life. I need a little bit of help. Kings testimony concluded with her account of alleged abuse by Edwin Diaz, a 54-year-old jail deputy who is charged with first-degree custodial sexual misconduct against King, among 24 other charges. Prosecutors allege he sexually assaulted her and another woman. While The Oregonian/OregonLive does not typically name alleged victims in sex crime cases, King, 34, said she wanted to be identified. King took the unusual step of taking the stand even though she faces charges in an unrelated first-degree armed robbery case that could bring up to five years in prison if convicted. King said she wanted to bring attention to her mistreatment while in custody. Ramras said her testimony went far afield from what he could legally consider during a preventative detention hearing, where a judge decides if there is clear evidence that a person poses an ongoing risk to public safety. Ramras said he wasnt considering the Diaz case or other allegations made about her treatment by jailers in Multnomah County or Clackamas County, where she was transferred after raising concerns about retaliation. I dont doubt that youve experienced incredible trauma in your life, Ramras said. I also dont doubt that you have caused trauma over an 18-year criminal history. Ramras set bail at $10,000 meaning King must post $1,000 to be released under Oregon law and allowed her to be released to a residential treatment program through Volunteers of America. King didnt post bail immediately. During her testimony, King said she was being held in administrative segregation at the Multnomah County Detention Center in September 2024. Diaz allegedly started writing her letters and granting favors including letting her out of her cell for more than the allotted hour a day. Diaz promised to help her get a new ID, and to drive her to recovery meetings, once she was out of custody, King testified. She said she was cleaning a corner room in the cellblock when Diaz suddenly entered and sexually assaulted her. Diaz is on unpaid administrative leave from his job, The Oregonian/OregonLive previously reported, and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutor Branden Flowers called for the judge to deny bail and keep King behind bars on the robbery charge. She allegedly let a gunman into an apartment who then robbed the people inside, according to court records. Defense attorney Rayza Goldsmith noted that King had never been offered a residential treatment bed before and had a strong support system, including from her husband and mother. There was no evidence that King had acted violently during the alleged robbery, she said. Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane. Two Portland women are suing the city and police, alleging officers mistook their car for one driven by a reckless driver who refused to pull over, followed them for over 10 miles and then rammed into their car without notice and pointed guns at them. Colleen McDonald and Hilary Rossio were stunned as two Portland police cars hit their Ford Fusion and officers yelled expletives as they drew their guns and ordered the women to raise their hands, according to the suit filed Thursday in federal court in Portland. The women, the suit said, did as they were told while screaming, Whats going on? and You have the wrong people! The suit contends police were reckless and negligent during the stop on Aug. 29, 2023. It alleges officers failed to recognize that the car and its occupants didnt fit the description of the suspects vehicle and used unreasonable force against innocent motorists. The Portland Police Bureau referred questions to the city attorney, Robert Taylor, who declined comment. The women, both 30 at the time, were returning from a trip to the Columbia River Gorge. On their way back to Portland on westbound Interstate 84, a silver car sped by them, weaving through traffic, the suit said. They later learned that Officer Gregory Burns, operating a police motorcycle, had earlier spotted the silver sedan driving recklessly on southbound I-205 and followed it onto Northeast Fremont Street. It stopped, the male driver got out and waved his arms at Burns, who called for backup, and then the motorist took off again, according to the suit and a tort claim notice in the case. Burns, though, was able to see the driver was a slender man with short black hair, wearing a black T-shirt and gray shorts and was the only occupant in the car, the suit says. Police followed the suspect onto westbound I-84, but Burns misidentified the womens silver Ford Fusion as the suspects silver sedan and shared the erroneous information with dispatchers, who passed it on to other officers, the suit said. McDonald continued to head toward Southwest Portland to take her friend home, going south on Interstate 5, and took the Southwest Terwilliger Boulevard exit, stopping at a red light at the end of the exit ramp. McDonald and Rossio were unaware police had been following them, according to their lawyer, Michael A. Cox. Once the light turned green, the women heard some type of an object strike the back of their car but they continued through the light. They later learned police had attempted to throw down spike strips from behind their car. McDonald drove about a mile along Southwest Bertha Boulevard. Just before reaching the Capitol Highway overpass, a police car without lights or sirens on slammed into the side of their car, forcing it into a hard spin, and a second police car struck the front of their car, bringing it to a hard stop, the suit said. Officers immediately swarmed the Ford Fusion, shouting at the occupants to show and raise their (expletive) hands as they pointed their guns at the car, the suit said. Im like still shaking, McDonald is heard on a brief cellphone video she took of her car pinned by the two police vehicles once she exited the car. The women said they were given no notice that police were following them or wanted to stop them and said they werent speeding or driving evasively, according to the suit. The police cars only put on their lights after striking McDonalds car, the suit said. Only when the women stepped from their car did police relax and put their guns down, the suit said. Even though the officers realized they had stopped the wrong car, police made the women remain at the scene for about 20 minutes until a sergeant arrived, the suit said. The suit seeks up to $1 million in damages for their pain and suffering as well as $4,978 for repairs to McDonalds car and more than $15,000 for the womens medical expenses. It also asks for unspecified punitive damages. Cox said the womens case is similar to another one he filed on behalf of Door Dash driver Patrick Cunningham when police rammed his car in 2021, mistaking it as the vehicle of a hit-and-run suspect. The city in 2023 ended up paying $50,000 to settle Cunninghams suit. Cunningham had actually stopped to provide aid to the victim of the hit-and-run crash in Southeast Portland, Cox said. -- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian, on Bluesky @maxbernstein.bsky.social or on LinkedIn. By Noel Randewich (Reuters) -Nvidia's stock market value ended the trading session above $4 trillion for the first time on Thursday, solidifying the chipmaker's position as Wall Street's central player in a race to dominate AI technology. Shares of Nvidia ended up 0.75% at $164.10, giving it a market value of $4.004 trillion and extending its lead over Apple and Microsoft as it benefits from a surge in demand for artificial-intelligence technologies. Nvidia's stock market value briefly peaked above $4 trillion on Wednesday before closing at about $3.97 trillion. It is worth more than the combined value of all publicly listed companies in the UK. Nvidia's high-end processors are at the center of a race between Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms and other Wall Street heavyweights to build AI data centers and dominate the emerging technology. Nvidia is also exposed to conflict between Washington and Beijing over trade, including restrictions on exports to China of its most powerful chips. "Trade tensions and tariffs are a risk, as is competition. Greater AI adoption could shift part of the demand toward cheaper alternatives," Swissquote Bank senior analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya wrote in a client note. Nvidia achieved a $1 trillion market value for the first time in June 2023 and tripled it in about a year, faster than Apple and Microsoft, the only other U.S. firms with market values above $3 trillion. Microsoft is the second most valuable U.S. company, with a market capitalization of $3.73 trillion. Its shares dipped 0.4% on Thursday. Apple's stock has tumbled 15% so far in 2025, leaving its market value at $3.17 trillion, reflecting investor worries that the iPhone maker has been slow to introduce AI into its products and services. Even after its meteoric rally, Nvidia's stock is valued at about 33 times expected earnings, below its five-year average of 41, according to LSEG. (Reporting by Noel Randewich and Lewis Krauskopf; editing by Deepa Babington) Higgins, the award-winning downtown Portland restaurant that celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, will be forced to close absent a miraculous turnaround, the restaurant announced on social media Saturday. Weve never written a message like this before. But the truth is: our beloved restaurant is on the brink, chef Greg Higgins and co-owner Paul Mallory wrote. If you have ever regretted not visiting a recently closed restaurant more, prior to closing, now is your chance. Since opening in 1994, Higgins has been synonymous with its deep commitment to Oregon produce, emphasizing locally grown vegetables in a meat-and-potatoes town. The bar side previously home to topless dance club the Broadway Inn boasts one of the deepest craft beer lists in the state, highlighting both Portland brewing pioneers and notable Belgian imports. At the 2002 James Beard Awards, Greg Higgins was named the best chef in the Northwest/Hawaii region, an acknowledgment of his trail-blazing work connecting Portland restaurants to area farms, and training a new generation of local chefs. The following year, The Oregonian picked Higgins as its 2003 Restaurant of the Year. If theres one person that Portland wouldnt be Portland without, its Greg, former Park Kitchen chef Scott Dolich told The Oregonian/OregonLive for a 20th anniversary story on the restaurant. Cooks who move here from New York, Chicago, San Francisco, almost all apply to Higgins. Its got that national reputation. But despite fun experiments like the restaurants Piggins food cart, the pandemic years havent always been kind to Higgins, or its surrounding neighborhood. The classic restaurant still has a spot in this newspapers guide to Portlands 40 best restaurants. While our menu is still the same James Beard quality, downtown Portland has changed, Higgins and Mallory wrote. Recovery has been slow. Office vacancies are at historic highs among the worst in the nation. Business travel is down. Arts and culture events are in their summer lull. For independent restaurants like ours, whove poured everything into this city for decades, its become nearly impossible to keep going. The social media message did not list a timeline for closing, but sources tell The Oregonian/OregonLive that unless and perhaps even if business turns around, the end could come in less than two months, around the end of August. If you remember what it feels like to gather at a table and share stories over Oregons summer bounty razor clams, troll King salmon, sun-ripened tomatoes now is the time to come back, Higgins and Mallory wrote. If you love this city and want to see it thrive again, we invite you to help. Every visit counts. Every night matters. Were hanging on by a thread. Higgins serves lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and dinner from 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and from 4 p.m. on Sundays with a bistro menu available in the bar in between and all evening long at 1239 S.W. Broadway, 503-222-9070, higginsportland.com Michael Russell; mrussell@oregonian.com Former Seattle Seahawks star Marshawn Lynch opened a bistro in 2021 inside Broadway Tower, then one of downtown Portlands most exciting high-rises. The Beast Mode running back lauded Portland as a city on the move and just the right match for his ground-floor, sports-themed eatery that would serve Hawaiian cuisine. Now, Beastro at Broadway Tower is closing, court records state, as part of the financially wobbly skyscraper goes through receivership. The court-appointed receiver in the case asked a Multnomah County judge to approve terminating Beastros lease at 1455 S.W. Broadway. The Receiver and the restaurant tenant Beast by Kamaaina & Marshawn Lynch LLC (Tenant) have decided to end their relationship and terminate the existing lease, receiver Crescent Hotels & Resorts, LLC said in court documents. Beastro originally was BEAST by Marshawn Lynch & Kamaaina, but its name changed after the chef Naomi Pomeroy (who died last year in a river-floating accident) had raised the similarities to her own Beast restaurant. The receivers motion called for the bistro to vacate its ground-floor space by July 8. The receiver said it agreed to pay Beastro $150,000 as part of the lease termination. Beastros webpage states, We are TEMPORARILY CLOSED until further notice. But Beastro signage previously on display inside was gone Friday. Hotel Vance and the restaurant Beastro (right) along Southwest Broadway in downtown Portland in December 2024. Signage for Beastro has since disappeared. Elliot Njus I The Oregonian/OregonLive The exit reflects continued tumult for Broadway Tower developer BPM Real Estate Group. The restaurant rented some 3,200 square feet on the northeast corner of the mixed-use tower. Its off the lobby of the eight-story, 180-key Hotel Vance, which opened in 2021, replacing a Radisson RED hotel. Walter Bowens BPM Real Estate opened the 19-story building in 2018, split between the Radisson on the first eight floors and offices on upper levels. BPM Real Estate sold the 11 floors of offices to a group called Principal Real Estate Investment in 2020 but kept the hotel portion. The offices sold in 2020 for more than $132 million, or a record $773 per square foot. But Bowen refinanced debt backed by the hotel portion in 2022 for more than $47 million, records show. The lender on that debt sued last November, alleging default on the note and requesting a receiver take over. Neither BPM nor Beastro representatives immediately responded to requests for comment Friday. On its webpage, Beastro expressed gratitude for its diners: Thank you for your business throughout the years! Sweet Home officials voted to end the citys drinking water fluoridation program after hearing opposition about the potential impacts to public health. Prior to the vote, the City Council heard from a handful of people who back fluoridated drinking water during a meeting Tuesday, July 8. Their concerns included impacts on those with less access to dental services and a lack of communication with residents and health professionals. To me this is a health issue, a very important health issue, and Im just wondering why we were never contacted or asked for any input, said Larry Horton, a member of Sweet Homes Community Health Committee and a former school superintendent. It would have been nice to allow us to have some input on the issue. Horton also asked if any councilors had spoken with members of the local medical community about the issue, saying he talked with three medical providers who were all strongly in support of continuing water fluoridation. Raising the issue of a public vote, Horton asked if the voters approved fluoridation originally, shouldnt they be asked again. Ivan Wolthuis, a Sweet Home dentist, also came to support the water fluoridation program. He said the issue came up very suddenly and he only learned about it due to local news reporting the week before. I wonder how much communication and transparency we have with the entire community on this issue, Wolthuis said. This is a subject that really requires some discussion. Wolthuis said he had too much information to share within the three-minute public comment limit, suggesting an opportunity for discussion and review of scientific materials, perhaps with the citys health committee. He added that there is currently a lot of public sentiment against fluoride, and a lot of misleading ideas. For every $1 thats spent on water fluoridation, the return on investment is about $30 or more, he said. Wolthuis said at Sweet Homes fluoridation cost of around $2 per person less than the cost of a McDonalds hamburger the city could spare residents hundreds of thousands of dollars in dental work. One person spoke in support of ending the fluoride plan, saying the harm from the chemical outweighs the benefits. Mayor Susan Coleman apologized for not speaking with the health committee about the topic. She also said she talked with multiple community members and was surprised at the response none wanted fluoridated water. I expected more people to want to keep fluoridation, Coleman said. The people that have spoken tonight are the only ones that have told me that, from senior adults to very young people. Councilor Ken Bronson, who was absent from the previous meeting in which the fluoride elimination ordinance was introduced, questioned whether the council should have done two readings of the ordinance, which is allowed if the first vote is unanimous. Those two readings received 6-0 votes. I was trying to dial in, and I tried five times with the code, into that meeting and I could not get through, Bronson said. And I was going to vote against removing fluoridation from the water. Bronson said he was told there was a glitch in the system, but he was able to attend the next two meetings remotely using the same phone and system. So, we did not have a supreme majority on that, he said. Bronson called for the public to vote on the matter, calling it a major disgrace for the council to push ahead without approval from residents, particularly without much notice to the community. Put it up for the people on a ballot measure in the spring of 2026, he said. And then 10,000 people decide, not seven councilors. Councilor Angelita Sanchez suggested the city could maintain a supply of fluoride for those who want to use it. The council ultimately voted 5-2 to eliminate the fluoride program, with opposing votes from Bronson and Councilor Aaron Hegge. Portland is the largest city in the nation that has consistently refused to fluoridate its drinking water. Voters have repeatedly rejected measures to add it, first in 1956 and the latest time in 2013. 2025 Albany Democrat-Herald, Ore.. Visit www.democratherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A burned forest, consisting of a mix of Pacific silver fir with some Douglas-fir on Lookout Mountain in the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest on Lookout Mountain in Blue River, OR on Thursday June 5, 2025. The forest is recovering from a massive burn in 2023. (Karen Ducey/The Seattle Times/TNS) TNS Budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration could lead to the closure of 26 long-term ecological research, facilities across the United States, including the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon. President Donald Trump has pitched these cuts to the National Science Foundation for the next budget year, which starts in October. Congress will debate them this summer. A lot is at stake. The National Science Foundation funds the network, which includes 2,000 scientists at the 26 sites across the country, dedicated to long-term ecological research across a range of landscapes, from tropical rainforests to arctic tundra, seascapes and everything in between. Cuts looming over nations research network The Long Term Ecological Research Network includes sites in 26 locations that are at risk of losing funding under Trump administration budget proposals. At the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, in Lane County, Oregon, researchers are revving up new work since the Lookout fire in 2023 burned three-quarters of the forest. People are rushing in to collect as much data as they possibly can, said Matt Betts, lead principal investigator of the LTER site at the Andrews. Scientists are looking into everything from changes in stream chemistry to bird populations to forest regeneration and burn patterns, and much more. Yet as things are getting interesting, the Andrews is facing multiple threats in cuts to the National Science Foundation and proposals to eliminate the research arm of the forest service. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, says she is determined to protect federal funding for long-term research. President Trumps budget proposes unacceptable, drastic cuts to the National Science Foundation that would jeopardize countless important research efforts, including irreplaceable long-term research happening at places like the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest, Murray said in an email. His budget request is yet another sign this administration couldnt care less about science and doesnt understand the immense value of long-term research. In the budget request sent to Congress, Russell Vought, Trumps director of the Office of Management and Budget, argued the existing federal spending plan is laden with spending contrary to the needs of ordinary working Americans and tilted toward funding niche non-governmental organizations and institutions of higher education committed to radical gender and climate ideologies antithetical to the American way of life. Trumps recommended cuts to the National Science Foundation target a research network that got its start back in 1980. Jerry Franklin, a leading forest ecologist, described the creation of the LTER network as a revolution in scientific work among teams of people. Most scientific grants are for just a few years, but grants at these 26 sites last six years, and can be renewed. That has enabled scientists to get answers that have led to key policy decisions, from amending the Clean Air Act to prevent acid rain to preserving old-growth forests. In his work at the Andrews, Franklin and his collaborators revealed much of what we know about old-growth forests as well as ecological principals for better logging practices to produce wood products, while retaining the ability of forests to regenerate. Short-term inquiry cant capture something as basic as whether a forest or species is declining, Betts said. Scientists also can formulate questions that wouldnt occur to them without being in one place over time and wondering how it works. For instance, work in watersheds at the Andrews has explored and explained the impact of industrial forestry on stream flows, which increase right after cutting but diminish as the replanted forest takes hold findings that have been replicated by a new generation of scientists, as the understanding of forest and stream dynamics grows over time. Peter Groffman, a professor at the City University of New York Advanced Science Research Center and Brooklyn College, is co-principal investigator at the Hubbard Brook LTER. Scientists there did the work resulting in amendments to the Clean Air Act to address the pollution of acid rain. He remembers prior presidential budget proposals to defund the National Science Foundation. Society was asking this question, do we need science? Groffman said. Ultimately they didnt cut science that much, because it was important. It isnt just the scientific findings that are so valuable, it is the system of inquiry itself. Other countries just dont do what we do here, in terms of empowering young scientists to ask tough questions and build a career doing independent work, Groffman said. This is something we do really well in America, Groffman said. If the government is really going to back off the funding of science, we are losing something that is really unique. Some of the data at the Andrews dates back 80 years, noted Brooke Penaluna, lead scientist for the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, which hosts the Andrews. And to say there is no value in that? It feels surreal, she said of the proposed cuts. And it also feels like people must not know, because how could you actually want to give this up? Management at the Andrews right now is day to day, she said. So much uncertainty is hard to manage, administratively and emotionally. There is a lot of compartmentalization, Penaluna said. And, I think, trust in the democratic process, and hope that it will work out. Congress often changes or even ignores a presidents budget requests. The fight for the next budget will start soon. Ill be tearing up Trumps budget, Murray said, and working with my colleagues on the appropriations committee to write a new, bipartisan bill that will make the strongest possible investments in NSF and the Long Term Ecological Research Network under challenging fiscal circumstances. --By Lynda V. Mapes, The Seattle Times 2025 The Seattle Times. Visit seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. As summer temperatures climb, chill your reds to beat the heat. These six bottles are a great place to start. Michael Alberty | For The Oregonian/OregonLive Its about to get John Sebastian singing back my neck getting dirty and gritty hot in Portland. Fortunately, red wines with a license to chill can raise goosebumps in all of the right places. When I load up on chillable reds that I intend to drink while my feet dangle in a kiddie pool, I have certain requirements. First, I want a wine that clocks in around 13% alcohol by volume (ABV). Drinking higher alcohol wines in a heat wave, no matter how chill, just makes me want to curl up in a hammock. Next, I want acidity that slaps me upside my head and says, Wake up. Finally, I want the wine to taste good while not breaking my wine budget. I dont need to be taking out loans just to throw a bunch of expensive wines in a Yeti cooler. I dont do anything complicated to chill my reds. An hour in my refrigerator before any summertime activity gets them to between 49 and 54 degrees. Thats my optimal chill zone; your preference and refrigerator may vary. Out of about 20 chillable reds that I have tried over the past several weeks, these are six of my favorites. 2022 Loop de Loop Wallflower Project Dolcetto My hunt for chillable reds started at a friends backyard barbecue party. It was blazing hot, and my sunscreen was screaming no mas louder than Roberto Duran. I was rescued by a glass of wine called Wallflower Project Chillable Red that is made by Loop de Loop in Underwood, Washington. I hunted for this reviving elixir at Providore Fine Foods, a chillable red honey hole, but I struck out. I did, however, find this dolcetto, which took to a chill quite nicely. The wines ripe raspberry aroma reminded me of the Dum-Dums lollipops that always marked a good Halloween haul. After that, bursts of anise and thyme close out the aromatic show. An equally compelling strawberry galette and sage flavor combination is backed by the wines lip-smacking acidity. $25 at Providore Fine Foods 12.% ABV. 2024 Landmass Wines Chillable Red I discovered this blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and tempranillo at the new Landmass tasting room in Northeast Portland. Once properly chilled, it explodes with strawberry bubble gum and orange zest aromas that give you the will to dance on a hot evening. Red raspberry and Thai basil flavors, mixed with a tart cranberry note, complement the wines crisp texture and bright acidity. Pair with salsa music and a rooftop swimming in white twinkle lights. $26 at Landmass Wines 12.8% ABV. 2022 Swick Wines Chillable Red A blend of pinot noir, pinot gris and grenache noir, Swick Wines take on a chillable red smells like a Rainier cherry-flavored snowcone mixed with wisps of blood orange soda and fresh-cut hay. A winning combination of boisterous acidity and firm tannins support the wines tart pie cherry, bay leaf and fresh-cracked black pepper flavors. If you have any plans to eat a pork cubano sandwich or a bratwurst this summer, pair them with this chillable red. $24 at Prince Coffee NW 13% ABV. 2023 Little Crow Vineyards Pickers Red Im a fan of all of Jessica Millers Little Crow wines, but her Pickers Red is my choice to throw in the refrigerator when my flip-flops are melting to the sidewalk. The Pickers Red, a Willamette Valley pinot noir, leads with aromas of sweet, ripe blackberries and earthy marigolds. The flavors are tart, as not-quite-ripe blackcap raspberry and hibiscus tea flavors blend with a salty note similar to a black olive. You can expect acidity as juicy as a ripe peach. $24 at Providore Fine Foods 12.2% ABV. 2023 Iruai Psychic Terroir While Iruai is based in Etna, California, they occasionally raid southern Oregon for fruit. Their Psychic Terroir, for example, is a blend of muscat, syrah, cabernet franc, grenache and gamay from the Applegate Valley. No other chillable red smells like the Psychic Terroir. Its red plum and thyme aromas mix with a wet modeling clay note that, like red Play-Doh in kindergarten, is impossible to resist. Once you get around to tasting the wine, you are rewarded with flavors of quince paste, crabapple cider, black tea and orange zest. This chillable red has a rich mouthfeel and a substantial tannic structure. Winemaker Chad Westbrook Hinds recommends drinking Psychic Terroir while watching Federico Fellinis 8 or listening to Gotta Get Away by the Blues Magoos. $22 at Wellspent Market 13% ABV. 2024 Division-Villages Les Petits Fers Gamay Noir This brilliant wine may say 13.6% ABV on its label, but it feels more like 12.6% on my palate. The gamay noirs blackcurrant and vanilla cake batter aromas are spiced up by a whiff of black pepper. Its marionberry pie, orange zest and chrysanthemum tea flavors are supported by a rare combination of muscular tannins and bodacious acidity that makes your mouth water. When Portlands temperatures eventually hit the surface of Venus territory, this red wine will take up an entire shelf in my refrigerator door. $26 at Division Winemaking Co. 13.6% ABV. -- Michael Alberty writes about wine for The Oregonian/OregonLive and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. He can be reached at malberty0@gmail.com. To read more of his coverage, go to oregonlive.com/wine Superintendent Nick Migliorino sent an email to Norman Public Schools families and staff Friday evening stating the district already had planned to provide free meals to more students before a mandate issued Sunday by Ryan Walters announced all Oklahoma public schools must fund free meals for every student with no additional funding. Migliorino wrote in the email NPS approved plans in June to extend its federal Community Eligibility Provision, which allows schools to offer free breakfast and lunch, to nine additional NPS campuses. Migliorino wrote during the 2024-25 school year, over 550,000 free meals were served at 10 NPS campuses. Were proud to provide this support and will continue looking for ways to increase meal access for students, Migliorino wrote in a message that in part took issue with how Walters is leading as state superintendent. NEWSLETTERS * required Thank you for subscribing! Email * Please enter a valid email address First Name Last Name When major news breaks + a few times a week FREE SIGN UP Subscribing... Migliorino also encouraged families to still complete the free and reduced meal form during enrollment, stating forms determine eligibility and provide additional funding to support instruction, technology and other services. The district also covers the cost of unpaid meal balances when needed, according to Migliorino. We absolutely agree that feeding kids is the right thing to do. Access to healthy meals supports learning, attendance, and overall well-being, which is why weve continued to prioritize it across the district, Migliorino wrote. Thats also why we have never, and will never, allow a student to miss a meal or go hungry, no matter their familys situation. Walters mandate calls for school districts to prioritize funding free meals using existing state and federal funds, with Walters saying districts should reduce administrator salaries to make room for funding free meals in district budgets. Walters threatened to withhold state funds and penalize the accreditation of districts that dont comply. We need less administrators in our schools, Walters wrote in a statement. We need to get taxpayers dollars to the students, not to grow bureaucracy. In the email, Migliorino wrote claims from Walters regarding district budgets are misleading and NPS has not received any official direction from Walters despite efforts to discuss the issue. Norman Public Schools has not received any direct official guidance or directive related to changes in meal programs or accreditation, Migliorino wrote. My fellow superintendent colleagues and I have extended many invitations to meet or talk with (Walters) about important topics like this, and to date, none have been accepted. Migliorino wrote in the email that the mandate is a political distraction and the districts next steps will align with the proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year approved by the NPS board at its June 23 meeting. Once again, we will not let political distractions interfere with what matters most: taking care of our students, teachers, and schools, Migliorino wrote. Our focus remains on protecting services that support learning, well-being, and opportunity for every student. The schools enrolled in the CEP program include: Adams Elementary Dimensions Academy NO PAYWALL, NONPARTISAN Students pay about $14 in fees that support the Daily. If you're not a student, please join those invested in OU and Norman who have given more than $110,000 to support our trustworthy, independent journalism. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL JOURNALISM Jackson Elementary Jefferson Elementary Kennedy Elementary Lincoln Elementary Madison Elementary Reagan Elementary Wilson Elementary Cleveland Elementary Eisenhower Elementary Lakeview Elementary Monroe Elementary Truman Elementary and Primary Washington Elementary Alcott Middle School Irving Middle School Longfellow Middle School By Stephanie Kelly NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil prices rose over 2% on Friday as the International Energy Agency said the market was tighter than it appears, while U.S. tariffs and possible further sanctions on Russia were also in focus. Brent crude futures settled up $1.72, or 2.5%, at $70.36 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.88, or 2.8%, to $68.45 a barrel. For the week, Brent rose 3%, while WTI had a weekly gain of around 2.2%. The IEA said the global oil market may be tighter than it appears, with demand supported by peak summer refinery runs to meet travel and power generation. Front-month September Brent contracts were trading at about a $1.20 premium to October futures. "The market is starting to realize that supplies are tight," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with Price Futures Group. U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for an 11th straight week, energy services firm Baker Hughes said. The last time that happened was July 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic cut demand for fuel. Short-term market tightness notwithstanding, the IEA boosted its forecast for supply growth this year, while trimming its outlook for growth in demand, implying a market in surplus. "OPEC+ will quickly and significantly turn up the oil tap. There is a threat of significant oversupply. In the short term, however, oil prices remain supported," Commerzbank analysts said. OPEC+ is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plus allies including Russia. Further adding support to the short-term price outlook, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia will compensate for overproduction against its OPEC+ quota this year in the August-September period. Another sign of robust short-term demand was the prospect of Saudi Arabia shipping about 51 million barrels of crude oil in August to China, the biggest such shipment in more than two years. On a longer-term basis, however, OPEC cut its forecasts for global oil demand in the 2026-2029 period because of slowing Chinese demand in its 2025 World Oil Outlook, published on Thursday. Saudi Arabia's energy ministry said on Friday the kingdom had been fully compliant with its voluntary OPEC+ output target. On Thursday, both benchmark futures contracts lost more than 2% as investors worried about the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on global economic growth and oil demand. Trump told NBC News on Thursday that he will make a "major statement" on Russia on Monday, without elaborating. Palantir makes surprise move into weather originally appeared on TheStreet. Palantirs (PLTR) powerful rise never ceases to amaze. From a hush-hush CIA data miner to a bona fide AI juggernaut, Palantir continues reinventing itself, finding new frontiers to conquer. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter However, its latest pivot might seem the strangest, and its sharpest. True to form, it isnt just chasing another headline. Its putting powerful new data in the hands of those who can effectively shape what happens next. It's been a big year for Palantir stock, fueled by unexpected pivots.Image source: Joe Raedle/Getty Images From secretive data miner to AI-powered civic-tech giant Palantirs origin story goes back to 2003, when Peter Thiel, fresh off PayPals sale to eBay, looked to adapt PayPals fraud-fighting Igor engine for national security. Following 9/11, Thiel pitched "intelligence augmentation," hoping to supercharge human defense analysts. With a bump from Q-Tel, the CIAs venture arm, Palantir built its first platform, Gotham, to help the CIA, FBI, and other authorities piece together intelligence, human tips, and open-source chatter to spot threats. A few years later, in 2010, Palantirs low-profile clout went public when President Bidens team tapped it to track billions in wasted stimulus cash. Related: Amid AI boom, veteran analyst reboots AMD, Supermicro stock price targets That same year, it launched Metropolis, later called Foundry, to tackle Wall Street data. That sparked Palantirs two-lane strategy, which finally helped it diversify its one-dimensional revenue base. It then tapped into commercial deals for fresh growth, complementing its rock-solid government contracts. By 2013, Palantir raised roughly $200 million and launched Apollo in 2016 to keep clients systems fresh while pushing Foundry into health care and finance. In 2020, it went public at a whopping $16 billion valuation and moved to Denver, while powering Covid dashboards for the White House and NHS. The real turning point, though, came with the massive AI boom. In 2023, Palantir rolled out its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP), layering large language models with its structured data sets. That same year, it posted its first GAAP profit, bringing in $2.25 billion in sales, up 16.8% from the prior year. The momentum didnt slow when in the following year, sales jumped another 28.8% to $2.86 billion, led by a 55% bump in U.S. commercial sales. Also, its S&P 500 debut helped push the stock up 43% that year alone. Fast-forward to the first quarter of this year, and the numbers still look rock solid. Newly posted in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: Smooth Words and Slippery Things: Samuel the Lamanites Prophetic Use of Hebrew hlq, written by Matthew L. Bowen Abstract: Samuel the Lamanite expressly drew on the words of Isaiah (Isaiah 30:10) and possibly Jeremiah (Jeremiah 23:12) with a clever, powerful wordplay on forms of the Hebrew verbal root hlq: halaqot (flattering words, literally smooth things) and halaqlaqqot (slippery [things]) in Helaman 13:2836. This wordplay established a genetic relationship between yielding oneself to those who speak flattering words unto [us] (Helaman 13:28) and material riches and treasures becoming slippery that [we] cannot hold them (Helaman 13:31, 36). This use of smooth/slippery, closely tied to the discussion in the Hebrew Bible of giving heed to false prophets over true prophets, is thus an apt marker of Samuels meaning, and perhaps also of his training. Samuels pronouncement of this unique curse, linguistically correlated with rejecting prophetic words, described a loss of worldly wealth and vividly depicted the accompanying spiritual desolation of slippery ways and dark places. Mormon and Moroni offered their latter-day readers a way out of the cycle of slippery possessions and destruction that befell the Jaredites and the Nephites: Jesus Christ, who showed us how to lay up treasures in heaven. Mormons preservation of Samuels prophetic wordplay stands as a significant, additional confirmation of the ancient provenance of the text. And this just went up on the Interpreter Foundations website: Interpreting Interpreter: Slippery Wordplay, written by Kyler Rasmussen: This post is a summary of the article Smooth Words and Slippery Things: Samuel the Lamanites Prophetic Use of Hebrew hlq by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 66 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreterseries is available at https:/interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. A video introduction to this Interpreter article is now available on all of our social media channels, including on YouTube at https://youtube.com/shorts/HAayuJs8IvM. The Takeaway: Bowen highlights potential wordplay in Samuel the Lamanites sermon in Helaman 13based on the Hebrew terms for flattering words and slippery treasuresthat emphasizes how giving heed to false prophets can lead to a loss of worldly and spiritual treasures. Another take on an important story: Church of Jesus Christ sees record growth in global membership: Record-high convert baptisms during the past 12 months mark a milestone year for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints And an important milestone is coming on Sunday: Watch the 5,000th Episode of Music & the Spoken Word on July 13 We traveled down to Cochrane, Alberta, late this afternoon its about an hour from Canmore, back to the east, in the direction of Calgary to have dinner and visit with a former student of mine and his family. (I omit his name, as I always do in such cases, so that innocent parties will be spared the tender mercies of my obsessive anonymous online critics.) Their home backs onto the Bow River, and we enjoyed a meal of barbecued meats hes a hunter, among other extremely interesting things and corn on the cob outside, and then roasted marshmallows down below in their backyard. And there was good conversation. He was one of the students in the intensive Arabic program that I led in Jerusalem many years ago, and he and my sons formed a very special bond during those months in Israel, Egypt, and Jordan. So its nice to run into him and his family from time to time, wherever they happen to be at any given moment. Theyve lived in multiple countries around the world including a lengthy stint in Cairo, where he served as the president of the Latter-day Saint branch there. They are great people. I dont know whether you can access this 2018 article from The Atlantic or not, but I read it for the first time last night and really enjoyed it: Why Earths History Appears So Miraculous: The strange, cosmic reason our evolutionary path will look ever luckier the longer we survive, written by Peter Brannen. Heres a passage from it that caught my eye: But dont let that passage mislead you. The article isnt actually about cosmic fine-tuning or intelligent design. Not even remotely. In fact, I think its an article that might disturb or worry you. Give it a look, if you can. Im just barely old enough to dimly remember when polio was a very real fear for American children and when, although the desperate panic was beginning to fade, we were still required to receive vaccinations. Im quite pleased with the fact that the disease never paralyzed or crippled me or put me in an iron lung. Thats one of the reasons that Im not happy about the rise of anti-vaxxers in Utah and across the United States, nor about the rise of one particular anti-vaxxer to running the United States federal Department of Health and Human Services. Utah health experts alarmed by decrease in childhood vaccine uptake: Community Vaccine Forum sees risk of preventable diseases regaining foothold Opinion: Dont let old diseases regain strength Friends, lets not surrender to pseudoscience. Lets not snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Posted from Canmore, Alberta, Canada Including Inscripturation; 2 Timothy 3:16; Is Only the Bible Inspired?; Oral Torah Norman L. Geisler (1932 2019) was an American evangelical Protestant theologian, philosopher, and apologist. He obtained an M.A. in theology from Wheaton College and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Loyola University, and made scholarly contributions to the subjects of classical Christian apologetics, systematic theology, philosophy of religion, Calvinism, Catholicism, biblical inerrancy, Bible difficulties, biblical miracles, the resurrection of Jesus, ethics, and other topics. He wrote or edited more 90 books and hundreds of articles. Dr. Geisler was the Chairman of Philosophy of Religion at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (197079) and Professor of Systematic Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary (197988) and a key figure in founding the Evangelical Philosophical Society. He also co-founded Southern Evangelical Seminary. He was known as an evangelical Thomist and considered himself a moderate Calvinist. He was not an anti-Catholic (i.e., he didnt deny that Catholicism was fully a species of Christianity). This is one of a series of comprehensive replies to his book, Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences (co-author, Ralph E. MacKenzie, graduate of Bethel Theological Seminary-West; Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 1995). Its available online in a public domain version, which has no page numbers, so I will utilize page numbers from my paperback copy, for the sake of full reference. I consider it the best Protestant critique of Catholicism (especially in terms of biblical arguments) that I have ever found, from any time period. The arguments are, for the most part, impressively presented, thought-provoking, respectful, respectable, and worthy of serious consideration (which Im now giving them). Ill be concentrating on the eight sections of Part Two: Areas of Doctrinal Differences (202 pages). These installments will be listed and linked on my Calvinism & General Protestantism web page, in section XVII: Catholics and Protestants (second from the end). Dr. Geislers and Ralph MacKenzies words will be in blue. My biblical citations are from RSV. ***** Protestants, of course, believe all apostolic tradition is inscripturated in the Bible. (p. 180) . . . the point of difference between Protestants and Catholics, namely, whether there exists today any authoritative normative teachings outside those revealed to apostles and prophets and inscripturated in the Bible. (p. 186) Dr. Geisler, again writing with Ralph MacKenzie, stated in an earlier article, A Defense of Sola Scriptura (Christian Research Institute, 4-8-09): It is not legitimate to appeal to any oral revelation in New Testament times as proof that nonbiblical infallible authority is in existence today. . . . Since the death of the apostles the only apostolic authority we have is the inspired record of their teaching in the New Testament. That is, all apostolic tradition (teaching) on faith and practice is in the New Testament. . . . all apostolic teaching that God deemed necessary for the faith and practice (morals) of the church was preserved (2 Timothy 3:15-17). . . . There is not a shred of evidence that any of the revelation God gave them to express was not inscripturated by them in the only books the inspired books of the New Testament that they left for the church. Inscripturation as a counter-reply to the biblical and Catholic rule of faith utterly fails, and is itself merely an unbiblical tradition of men (therefore, self-refuting, given Protestant premises of sola Scriptura). Its simply not taught in the Bible. Rather, its assumed without any biblical indication (neither expressly stated nor even deduced). The Bible never teaches that all apostolic tradition (teaching) on faith and practice is in the New Testament. Therefore, how could Dr. Geisler or any Protestant supposedly know the contrary? There is nothing whatsoever along these lines in 2 Timothy 3:15-17. It simply teaches that Scripture is great for teaching and reproof, etc. (which no one disagrees with). Protestants agree that what apostles taught was binding, but they fail to see that some of that teaching wouldnt be recorded in Scripture. The Bible itself teaches us that there are such teachings and deeds not recorded in it (Jn 20:30; 21:25; Acts 1:2-3; Lk 24:15-16, 25-27). The logic is simple: Apostles teaching was authoritative and binding (i.e., for all practical purposes, infallible). Some of that teaching was recorded in Scripture, but some was not. The folks who heard their teaching were bound to it whether it was later inscripturated or not. Therefore, early Christians were bound to unbiblical teachings or those not known to be biblical (as the Bible would not yet be canonized until more than three centuries later). If they were so bound, it stands to reason that we could and should be, also. Scripture itself does not rule out the presence of an authoritative oral tradition, not recorded in words. Paul refers more than once to a non-written tradition (e.g., 2 Tim 1:13-14; 2:2). Scripture informs us that much more was taught by Jesus and apostles than what is recorded in it. Scripture nowhere teaches that it is the sole rule of faith or that what is recorded in it about early Church history has no relevance to later Christians because this was the apostolic or inscripturation period. Those are all arbitrary, unbiblical traditions of men. Where in the Bible does it say that this period is absolutely unique because the Bible was being written during it? When Paul was preaching he did so authoritatively, as an apostle. Not everything he said was later included in the Bible; therefore it was not all inspired (he was no walking Bible-machine any more than Jesus was). But he was an authority, and acted consciously upon this authority. Inscripturation teaches that anything not recorded in Scripture could not have been passed down by Paul: a contention that is absurd on its face. As an example of a Protestant who accepts the binding, infallible nature of a teaching even if it isnt taught in the Bible, I submit Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism. He wrote a letter to Albrecht (or Albert), Margrave of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia, dated April 1532 by some and February or early March by others. The well-known Luther biographer Roland H. Bainton cites the following portion of it: This testimony of the universal holy Christian Church, even if we had nothing else, would be a sufficient warrant for holding this article [on the Real Presence in the Eucharist] and refusing to suffer or listen to a sectary, for it is dangerous and fearful to hear or believe anything against the unanimous testimony, belief, and teaching of the universal holy Christian churches, unanimously held in all the world from the beginning until now over fifteen hundred years. (Studies on the Reformation, Boston: Beacon Press, 1963, p. 26; primary source: WA [Werke, Weimar edition in German], Vol. XXX, 552; my bolding) Protestant historian Philip Schaff, in The Reformed Quarterly Review, July, 1888, p. 295, cited the passage and commented: Luther combined with the boldest independence a strong reverence for the historical faith. He derives from the unbroken tradition of the church an argument against the Zwinglians for the real presence in the Eucharist . . . A Roman controversialist could not lay more stress on tradition than Luther does in this passage. St. Augustine had taught the same 1100 years earlier: As to those other things which we hold on the authority, not of Scripture, but of tradition, and which are observed throughout the whole world, it may be understood that they are held as approved and instituted either by the apostles themselves, or by plenary Councils, whose authority in the Church is most useful, . . . For often have I perceived, with extreme sorrow, many disquietudes caused to weak brethren by the contentious pertinacity . . . of some who, in matters of this kind, which do not admit of final decision by the authority of Holy Scripture, or by the tradition of the universal Church. (Letter to Januarius, 54, 1, 1; 54, 2, 3) The Bible teaches sola Scriptura. Two points must be made here. First, as Catholic scholars themselves recognize, it is not necessary that the Bible explicitly and formally teach sola Scriptura in order for this doctrine to be true. Many Christian teachings are a necessary logical deduction of what is clearly taught in the Bible. (p. 184) I agree so far. I disagree, however, that sola Scriptura is even a deduction from what is taught on the Bible, or an indirect teaching, etc. And I assert, moreover, that much in the Bible contradicts sola Scriptura. Ive written three books about it, in addition to hundreds of articles: 100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura (Nov. 2011 / 10 May 2012 / slightly revised edition: Jan. 2025, 135 pages) Pillars of Sola Scriptura: Replies to Whitaker, Goode, & Biblical Proofs for Bible Alone (July 2012 / Sep. 2012, 310 pages) The Bible Tells Me So: A Catholic Apologist Challenges Protestants with Scripture (Jan. 2019, 161 pages) The Bible does teach implicitly and logically, if not formally and explicitly, that the Bible alone is the only infallible basis for faith and practice. This it does in a number of ways. Scripture states that it is inspired and competent for a believer to be equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17). If the Bible alone is sufficient to do this, then nothing else is needed. Also, this text teaches that the Bible alone is inspired and capable of saving, edifying, and equipping believers. (p. 184) 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Elsewhere (exegesis), St. Paul frequently espouses oral tradition (Rom 6:17; 1 Cor 11:2, 23; 15:1-3; Gal 1:9, 12; Col 2:8; 1 Thess 2:13; 2 Thess 2:15; 3:6). The exclusivist or dichotomous form of reasoning employed by Protestant apologists here is fundamentally flawed. For example, to reason by analogy, lets examine a very similar passage: Ephesians 4:11-15 And his gifts were that some should be apostle, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipment of the saints, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are able to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, If the Greek artios (RSV, complete / KJV, perfect) proves the sole sufficiency of Scripture in 2 Timothy, then teleios (RSV, mature manhood / KJV, perfect) in Ephesians would likewise prove the sufficiency of pastors, teachers and so forth for the attainment of Christian perfection. Note that in Ephesians 4:11-15 the Christian believer is equipped, built up, brought into unity and mature manhood, knowledge of Jesus, the fulness of Christ, and even preserved from doctrinal confusion by means of the teaching function of the Church. This is a far stronger statement of the perfecting of the saints than 2 Timothy 3:16-17, yet it doesnt even mention Scripture. Therefore, the Protestant interpretation of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 proves too much, since if all non-scriptural elements are excluded in 2 Timothy, then, by analogy, Scripture would logically have to be excluded in Ephesians. It is far more reasonable to synthesize the two passages in an inclusive, complementary fashion, by recognizing that the mere absence of one or more elements in one passage does not mean that they are nonexistent. Thus, the Church and Scripture are both equally necessary and important for teaching. This is precisely the Catholic view. Also, this text teaches that the Bible alone is inspired and capable of saving, edifying, and equipping believers. This is evident from several things stated in the text. First, only the Scriptures are inspired or God-breathed. (p. 184) I used to casually assume that this as true, until recently, even as a Catholic, for many years. But then I thought about it more deeply and concluded that it wasnt, and that the Bible itself taught that this wasnt the case. The Bible is certainly unique, and Catholics wholeheartedly agree. But its not exclusively inspired. I shall explain why I now think that. Prophets in the Old Testament are another example of infallible authorities. They were not simply walking Bibles. They said many things that were not recorded in the Bible, but were still from God, and as such, effectively inspired. So, for example, the prophet Samuel told Saul that he would make known to him the word of God (1 Sam 9:27). It was written that the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God (1 Kgs 12:22). The Word of the LORD appears 243 times in the Protestant Old Testament (RSV); mostly coming through men. For example: Genesis 15:1 . . . the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision . . . Numbers 3:16 So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded. 1 Samuel 3:21 . . . the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD. 2 Samuel 7:4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, 2 Samuel 24:11 . . . the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, Davids seer . . . 1 Kings 6:11 Now the word of the LORD came to Solomon, 1 Kings 14:18 . . . the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet. 1 Kings 18:1 . . . the word of the LORD came to Elijah, . . . 2 Kings 20:19 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good. . . . 2 Chronicles 36:21 to fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah . . . Etc., etc. . . . The prophet Ezekiel wrote down the phrase, the word of the LORD came to me 49 times. Nor is this only in the Old Testament. Prophets still exist in the New Testament, too, such as the prophetess Anna (Lk 2:36). St. Luke again wrote: Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius (Acts 11:27-28; cf. 21:10-11, where he predicts Pauls captivity, prefacing his words with Thus says the Holy Spirit, . . .). Luke almost casually mentions the fact that in the church at Antioch there were prophets . . (Acts 13:1) and that Judas and Silas . . . were themselves prophets (Acts 15:32). St. Paul includes prophets whom God has appointed in the church as one of the Church offices (1 Cor 12:28-29; 14:29, 32, 37; Eph 4:11), and refers to prophesy[ing] (1 Cor 14:1, 3-5, 24, 31, 39) and prophecy (1 Cor 14:6, 22). Paul even wrote that the mystery of Christ, . . . has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit (Eph 3:4-5) and noted the prophetic utterances that accompanied the ordination of Timothy (1 Tim 1:18; 4:14). Philip the evangelist had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied (Acts 21:8-9). Therefore, there are many examples of infallible and virtually inspired revelation in both Testaments that are distinct from Holy Scripture itself. Whatever of it was recorded, would be part of Scripture, but of course there was a lot that wasnt recorded. It still had the same ontological essence nonetheless (just as Jesus hundreds of thousands of words to His family or disciples that are unrecorded, remained inspired and infallible). And all of this disproves sola Scriptura, as classically formulated, because it claims that only Scripture is infallible (let alone inspired). The word of the LORD given to a prophet is just as God-breathed (the literal meaning of inspiration) as Scripture, because it comes straight from God, as Scripture does. Prophets (including prophets after Pentecost) are inspired, and the first Christian council at Jerusalem was inspired, too, since the Holy Spirit agreed with it (Acts 15:28). The first pope, Peter, even made an infallible declaration in the council (Acts 15:7-11) that was crucial in its determination. This in turn was largely based on a vision (Acts 10:17) that God gave to Peter (Acts 10:11-16), while he was in a trance (Acts 10:10). Peter was at first perplexed by it (10:17), but then God showed him the meaning by sending to him the Gentile centurion, Cornelius (Acts 10:25 ff.), to whom He had communicated by an angel (10:22, 30-32). The larger point is that so much of this had nothing directly to do with Scripture at all. Yet it was infallible (and arguably inspired as well). Inspiration also occurs in Gods communication to prophets or to others through visions and direct encounters. In other words, it goes far beyond only Holy Scripture. Moreover, when Jesus was talking to His disciples about future persecution, He said, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say (Lk 12:11-12). Mark in his parallel passage puts it even more strongly: it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit (Mk 13:11). Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied (Lk 1:67). Simeon also had a close relationship with the Holy Spirit (Lk 2:25-26). Now, if the Holy Spirit can talk to Jesus disciples in that way (and by extension possibly to any follower of Christ), or literally talk through them, is that, too, divine speech or the words of God or inspired? Since the Holy Spirit is God, the answer must be yes. But again, thats not Scripture. Paul also refers to two spiritual gifts that seem to involve direct communication from God to human beings: To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit (1 Cor 12:7-8). Here again God the Holy Spirit is communicating to persons. Is that inspired and the words of God? It seems to me that all words that authentically come from God must be so. In other words, the words of God are God-breathed. And they go far beyond Holy Scripture. Even the prophet himself was not to add to the revelation God gave him, for prophets were not infallible whenever they spoke but only when giving Gods revelation. . . . if there is no normative revelation after the time of the apostles and even the prophets themselves were not to add their teachings to the revelations God gave them in the Scriptures, then it follows that the Scriptures are the only infallible source of divine revelation. (p. 186) Geisler is confused in his categories. As argued at length above, from Scripture, prophets were not only infallible, but also conveyors of inspired utterances from God that went beyond the Bible. And that is quite contrary to sola Scriptura. Geisler, however, discusses prophets in relation to revelation, which is a different category. Yes, Catholics agree with Protestants that public though not private revelation ended with the apostles (as Geisler notes on the same page, in context). But what has to be grappled with is the notion that prophets passing along the very words of God must also be inspired. Thus, there is indeed not only infallibility, but also inspiration apart from the Bible, which is utterly contrary to sola Scriptura. I did a search of prophet and revelation occurring in proximity in the Bible, and they never do (at least not in RSV). So why is Geisler arguing in non-scriptural ways, according to unbiblical categories? Why does he associate those two things, when the Bible doesnt, and not associate prophets and prophecy with inspiration, which the Bible does put together? Once again, the authentic word of God must always be inspired by its very nature and essence, whether it has to do with Gods words in the Bible (passed through men) or through prophets. The total absence of reference to any other instrument or source of authority than the written Word (Gk. graphe) reveals that the locus of this sufficient authority is in the written Word (= Scripture). . . . Paul repeatedly stresses the need to cling to the Scriptures (1:13; 2:15; 3:15-16; 4:2). Finally, given that this [2 Timothy) was his last book (4:6-8), if there was some other apostolic authority other than the written Word of God the apostle surely would have mentioned it. (p. 184). * Yes, he did mention tradition in 2 Timothy. He made reference to oral tradition three times (1:13-14; 2:2; 3:14). In the latter instance, St. Paul says of the tradition, knowing from whom you learned it. The personal reference proves he is not talking about Scripture, but himself as the tradition-bearer, so to speak: 2 Timothy 1:13-14 Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; [14] guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. * 2 Timothy 2:2 and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. * 2 Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it The Bible constantly warns us not to go beyond what is written (1 Cor. 4:6). This kind of exhortation is found throughout Scripture. Moses was told not to add to what I command you nor subtract from it (Deut. 4:2). (p. 186) * What Moses was commanded to teach is not identical to the written words that he recorded in the Torah (first five books). The Jews also believed that he received oral tradition on Mt. Sinai. The mainstream pharisaic tradition, of which Jesus and Paul were a part (more on that below) accepted this as well, so it passed into early Christianity. Does Scripture indicate such an oral Torah / tradition, not in its specifics recorded in the Torah or Pentateuch? Yes; heres some biblical evidence for it: The law in Deut. xxiv. 1 et seq. says that if a man dismisses his wife with a bill of divorce (sefer keritut), and she marries again but is dismissed with a bill of divorce by her second husband also, the first husband may not remarry her. The fact that a woman may be divorced by such a bill has not, however, been mentioned, nor is it stated how she is divorced by means of the sefer keritut, or what this document should contain, although it must have had a certain form and wording, though possibly not that of the later get. These examples, to which many more might be added, are held to imply that in addition to and side by side with the written law there were other laws and statutes which served to define and supplement it, and that, assuming these to be known, the written law did not go into details. * It appears from the other books of the Old Testament also that certain traditional laws were considered to have been given by God, although they are not mentioned in the Pentateuch. Jeremiah says to the people (Jer. xvii. 21-22): Bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. In the Pentateuch, on the other hand, there is only the interdiction against work in general (Ex. xx. 9-11); nor is it stated anywhere in the Torah that no burdens shall be carried on the Sabbath, while Jeremiah says that the bearing of burdens, as well as all other work, was forbidden to the fathers. It is clear, furthermore, from Amos viii. 5, that no business was done on the Sabbath, and in Neh. x. 30-32 this prohibition, like the interdiction against intermarrying with the heathen, is designated as a commandment of God, although only the latter is found in the Pentateuch (Deut. vii. 3), while there is no reference to the former. Since the interdictions against carrying burdens and doing business on the Sabbath were regarded as divine laws, although not mentioned in the Pentateuch, it is inferred that there was also a second code. . . . * The chief argument against the oral law is based on Deut. iv. 2: Ye shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Those who deny the existence of the oral law refer the phrase the commandments which I command you to the written law only, which is, therefore, designated by this passage as a complete code needing no amplification and admitting no diminution, whence the conclusion is deduced that there was no oral law in ancient times, since the written law precluded its existence. On the other hand it is held that the phrase the commandments which I command you does not necessarily exclude oral laws and statutes. * Moreover, the interdiction against adding to the law was directed only against individuals, not against the Sanhedrin or the judges, who were expressly empowered (Deut. xvii. 9-11) to expound and interpret the laws and to make new statutes; for the Sanhedrin or any other court would formulate their decisions only after examining the traditions preserved among the people and in conformity with certain logical and hermeneutic rules deduced from Scripture. . . . * The entire oral law in the wider sense, namely, the entire material of the Mishnah, the Tosefta, and the halakic midrashim, was preserved only orally, and was not reduced to writing until the beginning of the third century C.E., because there was a prejudice against recording halakot. (1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, Oral Law Police closed the parking lot of the Sheetz store to collect evidence after the shooting. Zack Hoopes A 19-year-old man wanted for his role in a fatal shooting on Christmas Eve last year was arrested in York Friday, police said. York County Regional Police, with the help of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force and Pennsylvania State Police, arrested Ajanii L. Barnes, of York, at a residence in the city. Barnes and another man, 25-year-old Tajai Markeise Robert Scott, were both charged in May in connection with the shooting death of Tivory Bartlett, 23. The shooting occurred at an East Manchester Township Sheetz around 5 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2024. Investigators identified Barnes and Scott after finding their iPhones inside Bartletts car, along with Scotts wallet containing his drivers license and Social Security card. Tajai Scott, left, and Ajanii Barnes are wanted for questioning over a Christmas Eve, 2024, fatal shooting at a Sheetz store in York County, Pa. (York County Regional Police photos) Police photos In the weeks leading up to the shooting, Barnes and Scott sent messages about robbing Bartlett, who was selling marijuana to make money at the time, police said. Police said they found four ziplock baggies of marijuana in Bartletts car, along with a Glock handgun, multiple bullet fragments and shell casings. Barnes and Scott were both charged with second-degree murder and related offenses. Scott is also charged with first-degree murder. Scott was caught on June 3, in California by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Scott, who was extradited to Pennsylvania, has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 4. Barnes preliminary hearing is set for July 25. Both men are being held in the York County Prison without bail. Ronnie McDowell looks about as good as guy can after having a stroke that put him in the hospital just a couple weeks ago. And we know that because he was back on social media on Sunday, smiling, laughing, and sharing a fan mail first. Of all the mail Ive gotten in the last 50 years, and here lately Ive been getting a lot of mail because of people sending me get well cards, you know, because of the stroke, he said in a video shared to his Facebook.But in the mail yesterday, I got a Pokemon card. And this is kind of weird, but me and Tyler had to make sure it wasnt a Charizard card, he said laughing. But Im signing it and here we go. McDowell then scribbled his signature on the back and helped it up, with a smile, for the camera. There you go, he said. First time, Pokemon. Fans appreciated the video, and there were several comments about how glad they were to see McDowell doing so well. McDowell also shared a video to Facebook while taking a walk back on July 1. Hi folks! the 73-year-old said. Yep, I had a stroke. I gotta get all this plaque cleared out here in my jugular, but you know what? Im walking. Yep. Im doing my two-mile walk. It has been a remarkable recovery for McDowell who suffered the medical scare while playing at the Summer Solstice Music Festival in Oley, Pennsylvania. McDowell began slurring his words onstage when his son, Ronnie Dean McDowell Jr., stepped in. I knew something wasnt right as I had his vocals in my in ear monitor and I could hear him slurring his words and forgetting the words to his songs that he has sang for many years, Ronnie Dean wrote on Facebook. After a few minutes I had Steve to play a solo while I took my dad off side stage to ask him how he was feeling. He told me that he wasnt OK, and thats not how my strong Dad talks. He said that he thought he might be having a stroke. McDowell Jr. said he immediately took his dad to a van to cool off and asked the promoter to bring over the EMT. They took him to the Reading hospital, he said. I will say this, that every single person at the hospital was so incredibly nice and helpful. The Doctors told him that he will need surgery in the next few weeks. They do want him to take it easy, but they said that he can perform and workout in the next few days. McDowell Jr. said his dad wanted to go to his favorite Italian restaurant when he was released from the hospital. I am so thankful to all of the fans from all over the world, my Dads Band and The Twang Gang (whom were there during the episode) and all of my friends and incredible family, he said. Thank you Jesus for saving my Dad, he added. You are Amazing. McDowell began his career in 1977 and charted more than 30 songs in the top 40 on the Billboard country music charts. Two of those songs Older Woman and Youre Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation each reached the top spot on the charts. McDowell had 11 more songs hit the top 10. He was also known for his song about Elvis Presleys death in 1977, called The King Is Gone, which became a country and pop hit. The White House at sunset by idesignimages via iStock MP Materials (MP) shares are trading nearly 50% higher today after the Defense Department announced a massive investment in the Las Vegas-based rare earth miner. The Pentagon has agreed to load up on $400 million worth of MPs preferred stock positioning itself as the companys largest shareholder, a press release confirmed on Thursday. More News from Barchart Including todays rally, MP stock is up some 200% over the past 52 weeks. www.barchart.com Why Is MP Stock Going Parabolic? Investors are cheering the DoDs endorsement this morning as it significantly improves MP Materials strategic and financial stature. With an investment that wins it the largest stake in the NYSE-listed firm, the U.S. government is signaling long-term confidence in MPs role as a cornerstone of domestic rare earth production an industry critical to national security, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. The deal includes a 10-year purchasing commitment and a price floor of $110/kg for the companys NdPr products ensuring predictable cash flow and protection from market volatility. Combined with $1 billion in private financing and a $150 million government loan, MP Materials now has capital to expand its magnet manufacturing capacity and rare earth separation capabilities. Simply put, MP shares are rallying hard on Thursday because the Pentagon investment positions it as a dominant player in a supply chain the U.S. is eager to reclaim from China. Should You Invest in MP Materials Shares Today? While the governments stake could prove game-changing for MP Materials, caution is warranted in buying its stock at current levels due to valuation concerns. MP is going for a price-sales (P/S) ratio of about 25x at the time of writing, which is unusually high for a mining and materials company. It is, therefore, recommended to wait for a pullback before initiating a position in MP stock. MP Materials Rally May Have Gotten Ahead of Itself Investors should also note that MP Materials stock has now surpassed even the most bullish Wall Street forecast. Heading into Thursday, the highest price target on MP shares stood at $42 which actually signals potential downside from current levels. Its not that Anthony Vietri spends eight hours a day, seven days a week, on the tractor, tending to the 7 acres of grapevines he sources for the handful of small-batch wines that Va La Vineyards in Pennsylvanias Chester County produces. It just seems that way. Occasionally, visitors to the winery along Route 41which carries traffic from Gap in Lancaster County south to Route 2 outside Wilmington, Delawarewill see Vietri poke his head into the tasting bar on the lower level or the tasting room upstairs. But, more often than not, hes either maintaining the vineyards or in the production area of the winery, which opened in 2002. The vines were planted three years earlier. His public appearances, for years, were limited to one a year: a trip to now-closed Martha in the East Kensington section of Philly for a wine and food event. So it was a surprise, albeit pleasant, to see Vietris recent appearance on a local business-oriented podcast called Start Local, where he spoke for more than 40 minutes to hosts Erik Gudmundson, Liam Dempsey and Joe Casabona about the business of growing grapes and selling wine. You can hear the podcast at this link. Vietri admitted that while he has been laying a bit low the past few years and concentrating on farming, he was drawn to the opportunity to be part of a program that promotes Chester County ag and small business. Otherwise, its business as usual at a winery thats known well by many on the East Coast who write about and serve wine, in addition to a loyal clientele that has been purchasing the producers four dry offerings an orange wine called La Prima Donna, a rosato called Silk, and two red blends called Mahogany and Cedar for years. You can find the background on each wine and the many positive reactions to them at this link. Tossed some other questions, Vietri sent back these responses: Q, I checked your website and saw the familiar 4 wines. Anything else either out or coming out this year? A, We are just now releasing a new batch of our red Castana, which was made in a nouveau style for this version. It includes Marselan, Petit Verdot, Sagrantino, Corvina, Nebbiolo, etc. Va La's Castana, a red blend, was released last week. Va La Vineyards We will be releasing a new La Prima Donna as well as Silk during the summer. That will be followed by a new vintage of Cedar (massal selections of Nebbiolo). And, lastly, we just bottled the first vintage of a new wine called Osso, which is made from a field blend of Rondinella, Corvina, Casetta, and Oseleta. That will likely be released later in the winter. Q, Your philosophy and technique. Has it changed or evolved at all since you started VaLa? A, Our philosophy doesnt really ever change. But we work hard to refine the techniques every year, as I imagine all folks do. For us, I think that one major change over time has been our focusing less and less on fancy equipment, techniques, etc, and focusing more on simplicity. I just think that in the winery we now have a really good idea of exactly what we want to do, and so dont need to rely on those crutches to help get us there. I think that in the vineyard it is very similar, in that we now envision and know exactly what we are going for with the vines, and no longer waste time blindly experimenting and testing a million techniques and methods in the hope that we might discover what we really want to do, because we know what that is now. It is a wonderful thing, really, to arrive at that peace of mind and to be able to work in that manner, the high point of my farming career to date actually. La Prima Donna is an orange wine, made from a blend of Tocai, Malvasia Bianca, Fiano, Pinot Grigio and Petit Manseng grapes. Va La Vineyards 4, I know Ive asked before and I should remember the answer. How much replanting, if any, do you do? A, We do replanting every year, as part of our R&D that we have been doing for almost 30 years on this little hill. As the focus of our farm is on field blends, this is very important to us. 5, Ive written a lot over the past year or two on the industry, the trends, etc. Safe to say youve pretty much stayed the course there? A, Well, I cant really say that I follow much of what goes on in the industry, but then again, we have never really found much of it that applies to a farm of our very modest size and relevance. To be honest, I just kind of try to stay away from all of that overload of information because I personally find it can be distracting. We just try and do our own little thing, and I just try to stay focused on that vision, and stay on my tractors where I belong! Looking out over a small portion of the 7 acres of grapes growing at Va La Vineyards in Avondale, Chester County. Va La Vineyards One big difference between the estate wineries in Pennsylvania, which source their wines strictly from their grapes, and the many others that bring in grapes or juice to make their wines, is that local blood, sweat and tears that consumers get when they purchase and open a bottle. This week was a difficult one, especially in south central and southeastern Pennsylvania, with flooding rains that not only brought streams over their banks but flooded vineyards. It was happenstance that this conversation took place on a day that Va La got hammered by a storm, but it offers a bit of perspective on the challenges that everyone involved in Pennsylvania agriculture faces. Vietri said he began organic spraying at 7 a.m., stopped to consume lots of water and coffee, then got aboard a second tractor around the lunch hour to begin mechanically weeding the vines in order not to use any herbicides. I built that mechanical weeder/cultivator myself from scratch, and through trial and error, have been working to perfect it for the last five years. With some small difficulties, I was able to get that portion of a block weeded before I started to get a little bit too tired to continue to operate safely, he said. It turns out the timing couldnt have been better, as he pulled the tractor into the garage as the rains came at the relatively unheard rate of 4 per hour," he said. Still, the rain washed away any of the spray he applied. More rain is forecast through the weekend and into next week. British singer and songwriter Roger Waters performs during his concert of the Us+Them tour at Maracana stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) AP Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Roger Waters could be facing prosecution after pledging support for Palestine Action, a group that has been declared as a terrorist organization by the United Kingdom. The former Pink Floyd star shared a video to his X account on July 5 and wrote, This is the I am Spartacus moment. OK, its July 5, 2025, Im in my little studio, Ive just been at work on a piece of brown cardboard with a Sharpie, Waters said before switching the video off of his face and reading what he wrote on the cardboard. Here we go. This says, Roger Waters supports Palestine Action. Parliament has been corrupted by agents of a genocidal foreign power, he read. Stand up and be counted its now! Waters then switched back to his face and continued. Its now, he said. This is the moment. I am Spartacus. Several followers responded by tagging police in the United Kingdom, and if they checked that out they are probably looking at the followers who posted their support of him, too. Many responded by wishing Waters ill. Cant wait til youre not here, one person responded. Theyre a nonviolent protest organization protesting the presence in the U.K. of Elbit Systems, who are an Israeli arms manufacturing organization, Waters said according to Fox. All right. So, thats that. I support Palestine Actin, and I always will because that is the right thing to do. We must support our brothers and sisters in Palestine and support them no matter what, he added according to Fox. So good on you, what was your name. Vylan. Good on you, Vylan, and the rest of you who are standing up to be counted. I love you. Bob Vylan is the rap duo that sparked controversy at Glastonbury on June 28 when they chanted Death to the IDF and Free Palestine. The United Kingdom banned Palestine Action under its anti-terrorism laws last week after its members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged planes in protest of Britains support of Israel. Fox said that after parliament voted on it, and proscribed the group as a terrorist organization, actions such as inviting support, expressing approval or displaying symbols of the group could bring a sentence of up to 14 years in prison and/or a fine. Roger Waters has a long history of promoting dangerous conspiratorial tropes, a spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism told Fox. His declaration of support for Palestine Action, now a banned organization, is his most legally provocative move yet. We expect the police to take action, and if they do not then we will. Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents after an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) AP WASHINGTON, D. C. - U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli wants to mark the yearly anniversary of the day an assassin tried to shoot President Trump as a national Faith and Defiance Day. The Salem, Ohio, Republican announced Friday that hes introduced a resolution to designate the yearly anniversary of the 2024 attempt on Trumps life on July 13 as Faith and Defiance Day to honor Trump, and those who were killed and injured at the political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Rulli says he was inspired when Trump stood up after a bullet grazed his ear, with his fist raised, telling us all to fight, fight, fight! That is the American spirit faithful, defiant, and unstoppable, said a statement from Rulli. You see one or two events in your life that inspire you to be more than you are, that strike you to your core. This was one of them. God saved the President that day, and thats something worth recognizing for the rest of time. Rullis resolution urges the House of Representatives to: Designate a national Faith and Defiance Day so every generation remembers the day America refused to be cowed by political violence. Honor Corey D. Comperatore, a firefighter killed by the gunfire. Salute the grit and courage of bystanders James Copenhaver and David Dutch, who were wounded yet unnerved. Praise the fearless actions of Secret Service agents, law enforcement, first responders, and patriotic citizens who sprang into action to save lives. Condemn political violence in every form, no matter who it targets or who commits it. Acknowledge the enormous impact President Donald J. Trumps leadership has had on this nation, as he continues to fight for America with faith and defiance, no matter the cost. His action comes as the Secret Service announced it suspended six agents without pay over security failures that let 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks open fire on the rally from a nearby rooftop. Crooks was fatally shot by law enforcement. As we come upon the one-year anniversary of this pivotal moment in American history, I believe it is more than appropriate to honor this day by highlighting two of Americas most defining characteristics: faith in God and defiance against evil in all its forms, said Rulli. First lady Melania Trump, from left, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump are briefed on flood damage in Kerrville, Texas, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP KERRVILLE, Texas President Donald Trump on Friday toured the devastation from catastrophic flooding in Texas and lauded local officials amid mounting criticism that they failed to warn residents fast enough that a deadly wall of water was coming their way. The search for the missing continues. The people that are doing it are unbelievable, Trump told first responders and other state and local officials gathered at an emergency operations center in an expo hall in Kerrville. You couldnt get better people, and theyre doing the job like I dont think anybody else could, frankly, Trump said. The president said his administration is doing everything it can to help Texas and insisted that weve got some good people running the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Since the July 4 disaster, which has killed at least 120 people and left more than 170 missing, the president has been conspicuously silent on his past, repeated promises to do away with FEMA. Instead, hes focused on the once-in-a-lifetime nature of what occurred and the human tragedy. He has praised Texas and local officials while de-emphasizing the administrations government-slashing crusade thats been popular with Trumps core supporters. Trump specifically mentioned victims from Camp Mystic, the century-old all-girls Christian summer camp in Texas Hill Country where at least 27 people were killed. The president called it a legendary place. They were there because they loved God. And, as we grieve this unthinkable tragedy, we take comfort in the knowledge that God has welcomed those little beautiful girls into his comforting arms in heaven, said Trump who described the floodwaters as like a giant, giant wave in the Pacific Ocean that the best surfers in the world would be afraid to surf. While concerns have swirled about the future of FEMA at the federal level, local officials have faced questions about how well they were prepared and how quickly they acted. Asked about such concerns, Trump called a reporter posing the question evil and said he thought everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances. I admire you, and I consider you heroes, Trump said of the state and local officials around him. Before leaving the White House, Trump approved Texas request to extend the major disaster declaration beyond Kerr County to eight additional counties, making them eligible for direct financial assistance to recover and rebuild. Trumps shift in focus underscores how tragedy can complicate political calculations, even though he has made slashing the federal workforce and dramatically shrinking the size of government centerpieces of his administrations opening months. Air Force One landed in San Antonio with Trump deplaning in a suit and first lady Melania Trump wearing more casual clothing. Both wore ball caps against the heat. The first couple saw the aftermath from the air, then met privately with first responders and relatives of flood victims. Roads in the center of Kerrville were shut down for Trumps visit, and people lined the streets, some wearing Trump hats and T-shirts and waving American flags. Green ribbons recognizing the lives lost at Camp Mystic were tied around trees, poles and along bridges, and marquees featured slogans such as Hill Country Strong and Thank you first responders. Trump won Kerr County with 77% of the vote last year. Harris Currie, a rancher from Utopia, Texas, near Kerrville, said the flood devastation can be fully understood only by seeing it first-hand. Pictures do not do it justice, Currie said. Asked what officials on the ground needed most urgently from federal sources, Kerr County Commissioner Jeff Holt, who also is a volunteer firefighter, stressed the need for repairs to nonworking phone towers and maybe a little better early warning system. Trump himself has suggested that a warning system should be established, though he has not provided details on how that might happen. During his first weekend back in the White House in January, Trump visited North Carolina to scope out damage from Hurricane Helene. He also toured the aftermath of devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. The president used both trips to sharply criticize the administration of his predecessor, President Joe Biden and officials from deep-blue California. That was in stark contrast to Texas, Americas largest red state, where Trump thanked Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and scores of other state officials. Before the Texas flood, the president pledged and as recently as last month to begin phasing out FEMA and bring disaster response management down to the state level. Hes not talking about that now, though. And pressed this week on whether the White House will continue to work to shutter FEMA, press secretary Karoline Leavitt would not say. The president wants to ensure American citizens always have what they need during times of need, Leavitt said. Whether that assistance comes from states or the federal government, that is a policy discussion that will continue. Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, similarly dodged questions Friday about FEMAs future, instead noting that the agency has billions of dollars in reserves to continue to pay for necessary expenses and that the president has promised Texas, Anything it needs, it will get. We also want FEMA to be reformed, Vought added. The president is going to continue to be asking tough questions of all of us agencies, no different than any other opportunity to have better government. Darrin Potter, a Kerr County resident for 25 years who saw ankle-deep flooding in his home and knew people who were killed, said earlier this week, As far as early warnings, Im sure they can improve on that. But he said all the talk about evacuating missed something important. The area where a wall of water ripped through was a two-lane road, he said. If you would have evacuated at 5 in the morning, all of those people would have been washed away on this road, he said. President Donald Trump arrives with Attorney General Pam Bondi to speak at the Justice Department in Washington, Friday, March 14, 2025. (Pool via AP) AP Donald Trump appears to be unable or unwilling to read the room on the Jeffrey Epstein files because after his followers spent the week trying to make it all make sense he cleared things up on Saturday. And not in the way they wanted him, too. After Attorney General Pam Bondi announced, with Trump at her side, earlier this week that there would be no Epstein client list release, the MAGA world placed blame on her. Laura Loomer led the way on social media calling for her job, and many others did the same. But Trump took to Truth Social Saturday to make it clear that Bondi is doing what he wants. Whats going on with my boys and, in some cases, gals? Trump wrote. Theyre all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! Were on one Team, MAGA, and I dont like whats happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and selfish people are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein. For years, its Epstein, over and over again, he continued. Why are we giving publicity to files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration, who conned the World with the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, 51 Intelligence Agents, THE LAPTOP FROM HELL, and More? They created the Epstein Files, just like they created the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher Steele Dossier that they used on me, and now my so-called friends are playing right into their hands. Trump was not done. Why didnt these Radical Left Lunatics release the Epstein Files? he continued. If there was ANYTHING in there that could have hurt the MAGA Movement, why didnt they use it? They havent even given up on the John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King Jr. Files. No matter how much success we have had, securing the Border, deporting Criminals, fixing the Economy, Energy Dominance, a Safer World where Iran will not have Nuclear Weapons, its never enough for some people. WE are about to achieve more in 6 months than any other Administration has achieved in over 100 years, and we have so much more to do. We are saving our Country and, MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, which will continue to be our complete PRIORITY, he continued. The Left is imploding! Kash Patel, and the FBI, must be focused on investigating Voter Fraud, Political Corruption, ActBlue, The Rigged and Stolen Election of 2020, and arresting Thugs and Criminals, instead of spending month after month looking at nothing but the same old, RADICAL LEFT inspired Documents on Jeffrey Epstein. LET PAM BONDI DO HERE JOB SHES GREAT. The 2020 Election was Rigged and Stolen, and they tried to the same thing in 2024. Thats what she is looking into as AG, and much more. One year ago our Country was DEAD, now its the HOTTEST Country anywhere in the World. Lets keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about. Thank you for your attention to this matter! More gaslighting, Curtis Jackson responded. I thought you were above this. Youll never hear the end of this if you do not instruct the complete release of the names of those in power in both DC and Hollywood who reaped children. Dont become part of the SWAMP that you fought so hard to defeat!!!! This will be bigger than your problems with mRNA jabs if the transparency we were promised isnt fulfilled, Joe Haney responded. Period. (@realDonaldTrump) you are completely out of touch, another responded. Thats a devils bargain you just communicated there. We cant sell some of our souls. (Pam Bondi) is terrible and (Susie Wiles) is an R swamp creature. It sucks that people who r@ped children on an island are walking scott free. Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman) July 12, 2025 I told you MAGA! Lev Parnas wrote on X. Trump shut down the Epstein list. And Pam Bondi isnt going anywhere! Now what excuses are you going to come up with? Face it Trump only cares about Himself not you. @PromisesMadePromisesBroken. It sucks that people who r@ped children on an island are walking scott free, Gunter Eagleman wrote. Its not about Epstein, Sarah Fields wrote on X. Its about Justice for CHILDREN. Trumps statement Saturday comes after he lashed out at a reporter earlier this week for asking about the Epstein files. Are you talking about Jeffrey Epstein? Trump said. This guys been talked about for years. We have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things. Are people still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable. Do you want to waste time? Do you feel like answering, Trump asked Bondi. She replied that she did not mind answering, but the president spoke up again. I cant believe you are asking about Epstein at a time like this when we are having some of the greatest success and also tragedy with what happened in Texas, Trump said. It just seems like a desecration. He then motioned toward Bondi and said, But you go ahead. Bondi then immediately brought up a February interview that she did with Fox. During that interview she was asked when the Epstein list would be released. Its sitting on my desk right now to review, she told Fox. Thats been a directive from President Trump. Im reviewing that. Bondi denied she was actually referring to the client list. Meaning the file along with the JFK, MLK files as well, she said. Thats what I meant by that. Also, to the tens of thousands of videos, they turned out to be child porn downloaded by that disgusting Jeffrey Epstein. Child porn is what they were. Never gonna be released. Never gonna see the light of day. Bondi was also asked about conspiracy theories that Epstein was an agent working for a foreign government. To him being an agent, I have no knowledge about that, she said. We can get back to you on that. And the minute missing from the video, we released a video showing definitively the video was not conclusive, but the evidence prior to it was showing that he committed suicide. And what was on that, there was a minute that was off the counter. And what we learned from the prison is that every night that redo that video. Its old from like 1999, so every night the video is reset and every night should have that minute missing, so we are looking for that video to release that as well showing that a video is missing every night. And that is it on Epstein. Donald Trumps supporters and many in MAGA have been working overtime trying to place the blame on Attorney General Pam Bondi for the administrations announcement that there is no Epstein client list to release. Turns out, the president heard them, and Saturday he delivered a message to those folks on Truth Social. Whats going on with my boys and, in some cases, gals? Trump wrote. Theyre all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! Were on one Team, MAGA, and I dont like whats happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and selfish people are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein. For years, its Epstein, over and over again, he continued. Why are we giving publicity to files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration, who conned the World with the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, 51 Intelligence Agents, THE LAPTOP FROM HELL, and More? They created the Epstein Files, just like they created the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher Steele Dossier that they used on me, and now my so-called friends are playing right into their hands. Trump was not done. Why didnt these Radical Left Lunatics release the Epstein Files? he continued. If there was ANYTHING in there that could have hurt the MAGA Movement, why didnt they use it? They havent even given up on the John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King Jr. Files. No matter how much success we have had, securing the Border, deporting Criminals, fixing the Economy, Energy Dominance, a Safer World where Iran will not have Nuclear Weapons, its never enough for some people. WE are about to achieve more in 6 months than any other Administration has achieved in over 100 years, and we have so much more to do. We are saving our Country and, MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, which will continue to be our complete PRIORITY, he continued. The Left is imploding! Kash Patel, and the FBI, must be focused on investigating Voter Fraud, Political Corruption, ActBlue, The Rigged and Stolen Election of 2020, and arresting Thugs and Criminals, instead of spending month after month looking at nothing but the same old, RADICAL LEFT inspired Documents on Jeffrey Epstein. LET PAM BONDI DO HERE JOB SHES GREAT. The 2020 Election was Rigged and Stolen, and they tried to the same thing in 2024. Thats what she is looking into as AG, and much more. One year ago our Country was DEAD, now its the HOTTEST Country anywhere in the World. Lets keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about. Thank you for your attention to this matter! His statement backing Bondi and again insisting that people should move on from the Epstein files, after many in the MAGA movement promised for months that heads would roll when they were released, comes after intense scrutiny across the past week after Bondi announced there was no client list. Many influencers, including those close to the president such as Laura Loomer, chose to focus on Bondi instead of Trump. Loomer, in particular, helped lead an online charge calling for Bondi to be fired. Trumps statement Saturday appears to make it clear that wont happen. It also comes after he lashed out at a reporter earlier this week for asking about the Epstein files. Are you talking about Jeffrey Epstein? Trump said. This guys been talked about for years. We have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things. Are people still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable. Do you want to waste time? Do you feel like answering, Trump asked Bondi. She replied that she did not mind answering, but the president spoke up again. I cant believe you are asking about Epstein at a time like this when we are having some of the greatest success and also tragedy with what happened in Texas, Trump said. It just seems like a desecration. He then motioned toward Bondi and said, But you go ahead. Bondi then immediately brought up a February interview that she did with Fox. During that interview she was asked when the Epstein list would be released. Its sitting on my desk right now to review, she told Fox. Thats been a directive from President Trump. Im reviewing that. Bondi denied she was actually referring to the client list. Meaning the file along with the JFK, MLK files as well, she said. Thats what I meant by that. Also, to the tens of thousands of videos, they turned out to be child porn downloaded by that disgusting Jeffrey Epstein. Child porn is what they were. Never gonna be released. Never gonna see the light of day. Bondi was also asked about conspiracy theories that Epstein was an agent working for a foreign government. To him being an agent, I have no knowledge about that, she said. We can get back to you on that. And the minute missing from the video, we released a video showing definitively the video was not conclusive, but the evidence prior to it was showing that he committed suicide. And what was on that, there was a minute that was off the counter. And what we learned from the prison is that every night that redo that video. Its old from like 1999, so every night the video is reset and every night should have that minute missing, so we are looking for that video to release that as well showing that a video is missing every night. And that is it on Epstein. FILE - This July 16, 1945, file photo, shows the mushroom cloud of the first atomic explosion at Trinity Test Site near Alamagordo, N.M. (AP Photo/File) AP AP By William Lambers It was 80 years ago on July 16 when a mysterious flash of light and a massive explosion rumbled in the New Mexico desert. Only a few people knew about it at the time, but the United States just entered a frightening unknown world: the age of nuclear weapons. The first atomic bomb was tested that morning, the result of the U.S. Manhattan Project to develop the ultimate weapon. Just weeks later the U.S. would drop atomic bombs on Japan, destroying the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and ending World War II. Code named Trinity, the atomic bomb of July 16, 1945 changed the world. Brigadier Gen. Thomas F. Farrell was in the control shelter and witnessed the blast that historic morning. It was a great new force to be used for good or for evil, he wrote. There was a feeling in that shelter that those concerned with its nativity should dedicate their lives to the mission and that it would always be used for good and never for evil. Its up to us now to carry on the mission of controlling this powerful nuclear force. Its our duty to see that nuclear weapons are never used again, to work toward eliminating them. We must never give up on this mission because all of humanity and its future depends on it. There are over 12,000 nuclear weapons in the world now according to the Arms Control Association. Most nuclear weapons are held by the United States and Russia. China, the United Kingdom, France, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea also have nukes. The nuclear weapons today are far more powerful than the atomic bomb 80 years ago. We all would feel a lot better if there was a sustained effort at nuclear arms control and disarmament. We want the nuclear states to be cooperating especially when they all share a common interest in avoiding the massive cost of arms races. No nation can really afford nukes. The danger of accidental launch or terrorist theft exists for any nation. There is something you can do today about the nuclear danger. You can ask your elected representative in the House to sign a resolution (House Resolution 317) about taking action to stop the nuclear arms race. The resolution can unite members of Congress in encouraging the president to pursue nuclear arms control and disarmament treaties. According to the activist group Back from the Brink: The resolution is a huge step forward in increasing public awareness and building Congressional support behind this growing movement. We must find leaders on Capitol Hill who understand that nuclear weapons dont keep us safe and actually pose the biggest and most immediate threat to humanity. U.S. Reps. James McGovern (D-Mass.) and Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) introduced the resolution to actively pursue a world free of nuclear weapons as a national security imperative. The danger of nukes continues but momentum on nuclear diplomacy is nonexistent. In fact, the New START Treaty with Russia limiting nukes expires next year. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty still has not been ratified by the United States, China and other holdout nations. The nuclear powers are modernizing their arsenals, and that is a heavy expense for citizens to carry. The morning of July 16, 1945 unleashed a force so powerful it could destroy civilization. We live with this danger every second of the day. It costs us very much. The question is now what can we do to get the worlds nuclear powers to further reduce their arsenals. We know such a goal is not easy, but we must try. You can make your voice heard by contacting your representative in the House asking them to support House Res. 317 for a nuclear weapons free world. William Lambers is the author of the Road to Peace and Ending World Hunger. A bull moose first seen on Goodman Mountain in May has not moved from the area, prompting DEC to temporarily close a popular hiking trail. Zach Ribert The Goodman Mountain trail, part of the popular Tupper Lake Triad challenge in the Adirondacks of New York, will remain closed due to the presence of a bull moose. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation closed the trail on June 6 after hikers reported sightings of the moose at the base of the mountain, and later, at the summit. But over the past month, the moose has shown no signs of leaving the area, prompting a group of DEC experts to conduct a site visit on July 10 to assess the health of the moose. The group, which included a state wildlife veterinarian, determined that Goodman Mountains resident moose exhibited unusual behaviors possibly caused by an underlying illness, according to DEC. The moose remains on or near the trail and doesnt respond to attempts to shoo it away. Based on these observations, the trail will remain temporarily closed to protect the moose and to ensure public safety in the event of a close encounter with hikers. This particular moose has shown no signs of aggression, DEC said, but in general the animals can be dangerous if approached closely. Moose move slowly most of the time, but can become aggressive when angered or startled. Moose are the largest member of the deer family, and the biggest mammal in New York. A bull can weigh between 600 to 1,200 pounds and stand up to 6 feet tall at the shoulder. In 2018, DEC estimated NYs moose population at approximately 650 animals. DEC wildlife experts continue to monitor the Goodman Mountain situation closely, and forest rangers will be actively enforcing the trail closure. The trail will reopen only when DEC determines its safe, DEC said. Signage is posted at trailheads and access points, and visitors are urged to seek alternative hiking destinations in the region. By Aliya Schneider, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) Gisele Barreto Fetterman spoke candidly about her life in an interview about her new book on WHYY in Philadelphia on Friday. She talked about her habit of crying, a conversation about immigration with President Donald Trump, being mistaken for the help and she defended her husband, who has become a polarizing force in Washington. Barreto Fetterman, the wife of Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., was already crying before Mary Moss-Coane, host of The Connection, had a chance to ask the first question. She started crying again just a few minutes later and said she also cried on the train to Philly. Why? Shes a self-proclaimed softie. Ive always been that way, she said. I think some people are just that way. And that softness is in line with the title of her book: Radical Tenderness: The Value of Vulnerability in an Often Unkind World. Im able to approach others with tenderness because I do not flatten my own emotional experiences. I let in hurt, sadness and joy in equal measure, Moss-Coane read aloud on air from Barreto Fettermans book. Yet this emotional range is discouraged in society that places more value on traditionally masculine traits rather than those perceived as feminine. Heres some of what Barreto Fetterman divulged in the interview, which included anecdotes from her 240-page book, which published on July 8 and is part-memoir, part-manifesto. On crying I really, really care about everything, said Barreto Fetterman, a firefighter who runs a free store in Braddock, Allegheny County. As she started to cry, her voice shaking, she told Mary Moss-Coane: This is very normal. We are born crying, and along the way we are told to stop, she added. And I think I never stopped. She said she isnt ashamed of it, and believes other criers should embrace who they are, and let it out more. On being an undocumented immigrant Barreto Fetterman immigrated to Queens with her family at age 7 in December 1989 to escape what she called normalized violence in Brazil. She overstayed her visa and became undocumented before getting her green card in 2004 and becoming a citizen in 2009. The hardest part of being an undocumented child was knowing she was doing something wrong while her family was doing everything right, she said. She got good grades at school, they paid their taxes, and volunteered. Her mom worked multiple jobs as a cleaner, coat check, server and caterer. She had to be careful not to be too active and risk injury because they didnt have health insurance. She was terrified when there was an unexpected knock at the door or if a police car passed by, but her mom had a positive attitude and made everything a game with each day full of adventures and hurdles that we had to overcome to get to the next level, she said. She was taught not to draw attention to herself which she said lines up with her personality because she doesnt like attention to this day, whether by way of birthday parties or the media. Her first memory of America? The cold. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D.-Pa., right, appeared with his wife, Gisele, at the Pride Festival of Central PA in Harrisburg, July 29, 2023. (Megan Lavey-Heaton, PennLive.com/file) Megan Lavey-Heaton | mheaton@pennlive.com On meeting with President Donald Trump Barreto Fetterman said with Trumps crackdown on immigrants, every single day is a heartbreak. She said immigrants helped keep businesses open during the COVID-19 pandemic, pick food we eat every day, and overall contribute so much to society. But not only that, like theyre just humans, and thats enough, right? I think contributing is great, but just wanting a better life for your family is enough, she added. But she said that in order to get through the rest of Trumps administration, we have to have conversations with each other. Thats why she decided to meet with the president with her husband at Mar-a-Lago. It was the first time a sitting Democratic senator met with him at the Palm Beach resort. Barreto Fetterman said she went to tell her story and advocate for other undocumented immigrants who came to the country as a child not to be naive to think Im going to change his mind, but I should at least try. She said she told Trump about the contributions of dreamers and that undocumented families are not numbers but real people. And in that meeting, about dreamers, he said he agrees, she said. He said that dreamers are American. He said many of them dont even speak their native language. So how does she make sense of that conversation with his policies? Moss-Coane asked. I dont think there is sense to be made, Barreto Fetterman responded. I think this is what we have to get through until it changes. And you know, the more people that are celebrating and giving him credit for the things hes saying and doing, its just empowering him to continue to do more of that. Sen. Fetterman recently defended Trumps ICE. He slammed calls to abolish the agency and said it performs an important role and he supports the agents doing their job. He said he also supports amnesty for the hardworking, otherwise law-abiding migrant workers but wants ICE to round up and deport the criminals. On being mistaken as the help Barreto Fetterman said shes been mistaken as the help on multiple occasions, and she has tried to confront those situations in a gentle and playful way, she said. She shared that in one instance, she was hosting a party as the second lady of Pennsylvania and was mistaken by someone as a server. After she took a glass of wine from her pantry, a woman told her she saw what she did and would tell Fetterman, who was lieutenant governor at the time. Barreto Fetterman said she usually just wouldnt have said anything or cried, but her glass of wine made her a little spicy, so she said please dont tell him, I dont want to get fired, knowing the guest would soon learn who she really is when they welcomed the guests into their home. The woman felt horrible, and Barreto Fetterman drank wine with her and they had a heart-to-heart. On Fettermans stroke and depression Barreto Fetterman looked back on when she spotted her husbands stroke during his senatorial campaign by noticing his mouth momentarily droop. She said nothing else seemed wrong and she successfully encouraged him to go to the hospital even though he insisted that everything was fine. His mouth just moved differently for a second. It didnt stay in that position, she said. His speech wasnt affected, things you expect of a stroke. He had no physical pain. hes saying, Im fine, shes crazy. Moss-Coane asked Barreto Fetterman about the news stories about her husband in recent months in which previous staffers expressed concern about his health, citing outbursts and neglecting to follow his doctors orders. Barreto Fetterman defended her husband and said his mental health is great, and that he is doing everything his doctors tell him to do. Once you have the stigma of mental health, it will follow you, she said, citing when he checked himself in to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in February 2023. Barreto Fetterman resisted accusations that Fetterman doesnt like his job as a U.S. senator after he told reporters he wants to go home as voting for Trumps budget bill dragged on, lamenting that he missed his entire trip to the beach. She said sometimes you get locked in there and they dont let you leave, and the one thing he looks forward to in his life is going to the shore with the kids once a year, for a four-day very humble vacation at the Jersey Shore. Its not that at all, she said. I think theres a lot of things he wished worked differently there. She emphasized that she and her husband are their own people, and that while she tries not to hate anything, she dislikes politics very deeply. Posco Future M Company, the battery materials subsidiary of South Korean steel and chemicals group Posco Holdings Inc, announced that it has signed a battery materials supply deal with a Japanese automaker. In the last two years, Posco has made significant efforts to position itself as a key global supplier of automotive materials, including battery materials, helping global automakers reduce their dependence on Chinese supply chains. Stricter US import regulations under the Trump administration, which aim to cut the use of Chinese components and materials, have accelerated this process as automakers look for alternative suppliers. Posco Future M confirmed that it has signed an agreement tosupply natural graphite-based anode materials to a Japanese automaker from its Sejong plant in South Korea, for use in EV batteries to be produced in Japan. The name of the client and the value of the deal were not disclosed, due to a mutual confidentiality agreement signed by the two companies. Posco Future M, South Koreas only mass producer of battery anode materials, said that the deal with a major Japanese automaker strengthens its competitive position in global markets. The company said in a statement: "We have developed a wide range of natural and artificial graphite anode products tailored to customer needs and are also advancing the commercialization of silicon anodes. By expanding our differentiated product portfolio, enhancing manufacturing capabilities and strengthening our supply chain, we will continue to expand our global customer base. "Posco to supply battery anodes to Japanese automaker" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. Ferenc Deak Keeps Promise to Son With $1K PLO Mystery Bounty Bracelet Win Frank Visser Live Reporter Copy link Some do it for the money, some do it for the glory, and a select few do it for their family. "I promised my son I would come back with the trophy," Ferenc Deak shared after he emerged victorious in Event #86: $1,000 Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha of the 2025 World Series of Poker. Deak kept his promise, as he captured his first bracelet in the event, also awarding him the $329,890 first-place prize, by far the largest cash of the Hungarian's career. The event needed an extra day to crown a winner after a massive turnout of 5,284 entries eclipsed last year's number by over 1,000 and created a prize pool of $3,064,720. After six additional hours of play, Deak ultimately disposed of his final opponent, Paulo Drummond after a short heads up battle. Drummond was awarded $219,890 for his runner-up finish after an unlucky river card sealed the deal. 2025 World Series of Poker Hub Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2025 WSOP is here. Click here Event #86: $1,000 Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Ferenc Deak Hungary $329,890 2 Paulo Drummond Brazil $219,890 3 Carlos De Lima Brazil $164,090 4 Quan Tran United States $123,380 5 Richard Harroch United States $93,480 6 Lukas Hafner Austria $71,370 7 Sean Chen United States $54,910 8 Christoph Milbradt United States $42,580 9 Davis Modans Latvia $33,280 Winner's Reaction "It's funny because I always thought about standing here and what I would say [after winning a bracelet], but honestly, I'm speechless. It felt like it was just written in the stars. It was meant to be like this," Deak shared after the winner's photos were shot. "I've had a rough year and kept my head high, and I always knew that all the downs, everything I've been going through, is going to manifest in something like this." "It felt like it was just written in the stars." Deak, who specializes in pot-limit Omaha because of the action and "because it is just more fun," steamrolled the final table in about 90 minutes. "I had a nice ice bath this morning, and it helped me stay present at all times. I was not thinking of anything else, just staying present and not even focusing on a bracelet at all." Ferenc Deak Deak Brings Bracelet Home The 29 returning players were reduced to three tables of nine mere minutes into the day. Danny Wong (26th - $13,440) was one of the big names in contention, but he quickly met his Waterloo in a three-way all-in. Meanwhile, Deak maintained his position in the middle of the pack, reaching the final two tables as fourth on the leaderboard. After the final 25K Fantasy pick, Lawrence Brandt, met his exit in 14th place for $16,660, Deak won two big pots that saw him take over the chiplead for the first time. "With two tables left, that's where I set myself up for going very, very deep," Deak shared. Lawrence Brandt Not much later, Deak eliminated William Titcomb in 11th place to start the unofficial ten-handed final table as a big chipleader, possessing nearly twice as many chips as his next contender, eventual heads up opponent Drummond. Although most of the early eliminations of the final table were provided by the Brazilian duo of Drummond and Carlos De Lima, Deak won plenty of other pots to maintain his lead. Five-handed, Deak got the best of Drummond in a huge pot, seeing Deak obtain a nine-figure stack for the first time. Deak went on to quickly eliminate Richard Harroch in fifth and Carlos De Lima in third, with Drummond knocking start-of-day chipleader Quan Tran in fourth, to set up the heads up battle. Quan Tran Initially, Drummond seemed to start making a comeback as the first few pots were sent his way. Not long after, the players went all in for the first time. Deak had flopped two pair, but Drummond was a favorite to double up with a set. Deak rivered a full house to best the Brazilian, however, sealing the deal and capturing the bracelet he promised his son. During all trials and tribulations that come with the grind of tournament poker, Deak's most important motivation remained constant: "All this adversity I've been going through, it was worth it. I just kept thinking of my family." Ferenc Deak This concludes PokerNews' coverage of the massive Mystery Bounty PLO event, but there is still plenty more to come from the 2025 World Series of Poker. With the Main Event and plenty of other events ongoing, be sure to check out our WSOP hub to find all the latest news. Share this article Having lost a big all in the previous hand, Christopher Nguyen immediately got back on the horse, putting in a raise to 400,000 from the hijack. Alexandre Reard, the player who won the previous hand versus Nguyen, put in a three-bet to 875,000 from the button. Action folded back to Nguyen, who took a moment before moving all in for 2,825,000. Reard called immediately and showed Nguyen the bad news. Christopher Nguyen: J10 Alexandre Reard: AA The flop saw Reard flop a set for the second consecutive hand, as the dealer put out A47. It was all over for Nyugen on the 10 turn, Reard's lead now unassailable. The mandatory river provided the K, but Nguyen had already gathered his things and headed towards the exit. The inaugural $3,000 T.O.R.S.E. event made a strong debut (much to the delight of Allen Kessler), as 522 entrants found their way to Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas, to participate in the final "low" buy-in mixed-game tournament of the 2025 World Series of Poker. Day 1 played out at a torrid pace, and after 12 Levels of action, just 159 players remained in contention. Topping the leaderboard are Robert Rosengarten and David Prociak who both managed to bag up exactly 355,500 heading into Day 2. Hot on both their heels in third position is Ryan Hughes, who ended with 337,000. Prociak, a three-time bracelet winner (two of which came in 2024), boasts over $2.6 million in live-tournament earnings and has already notched several cashes this summer, although a final table has eluded him thus far. On the other hand, the less-experienced Rosengarten will be seeking his second cash of the series, but is in excellent position to chase a breakout score and add to his $100,000 in live-tournament earnings. Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chip Count 1 Robert Rosengarten United States 355,500 1 David Prociak United States 355,500 3 Ryan Hughes United States 337,000 4 Nick Guagenti United States 334,000 5 Nicolas Milgrom France 330,500 6 John Monnette United States 308,000 7 Ryan Miller United States 297,000 8 David Williams United States 290,000 9 Bryce Yockey United States 279,500 10 Wissam Gahshan United States 245,000 David Prociak Unsurprisingly, the pros and notables turned out in droves for the event, with many able to secure a nice bag. Among them are James Obst (131,000), Adam Owen (228,000), Viktor Blom (208,000), Alex Livingston (150,500), Chad Eveslage (196,000), Josh Arieh (70,000), Mike Matusow (158,000), and Yuri Dzivielevski (238,000). After late registration closed, the prize pool was confirmed to have reached $1,393,740. The final 79 players will see a return on their investment, with $6,011 guaranteed for those who make the money. The eventual champion will take home $273,386 for their efforts in addition to the gold bracelet. While many players thrived, many more faltered and hit the rail before they could secure a Day-2 berth. Among those who were sent home early are Ari Engel, Dan Shak, Jim Collopy, Christian Roberts, Tom Koral, Benny Glaser, Frankie O'Dell, Jeff Madsen, Jesse Lonis, and Steve Zolotow who was dealt a one-two blow from Ryan Miller in Razz and Stud for a swift exit. Day 2 will get underway on Saturday, July 12 at 1 p.m. local time. Play will resume at Level 13, which features 2,500/5,000 blinds for limit games, a 2,000 bring-in and 5,000 completion for Stud games, and 5,000/10,000 betting limits for all games. Levels will continue to last 60-minutes each and breaks will be held after every two hours of play. An extended 60-minute dinner break will be held at the end of Level 18 (~7:30 p.m.) As always, be sure to stick with PokerNews as we continue to bring you all the action from the floor leading to the inaugural T.O.R.S.E champion! Serenity Charity Club volunteers helped give out supplies on Sunday afternoon during a previous Joe Jackson School Supply Giveaway. Pictured volunteers are Sharon Lee, left, and Calaya Proctor. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Puerto Rico's finance watchdog has declined to approve a $20bn supply agreement between New Fortress Energy and its subsidiary over concerns of a potential monopoly in the natural gas sector, reported Bloomberg, citing sources. The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico has expressed profound concerns regarding a proposed 15-year contract between New Fortress Energy's subsidiary Genera, which operates the territorys power plants, and the company's unit responsible for delivering liquefied natural gas (LNG). The board was quoted as saying: Approving the contract would lock the island into a long-term commitment with a single supplier, potentially undermining market competition and limiting flexibility. Given the magnitude of the proposed contract and the critical nature of the services at stake, it would be irresponsible for the Oversight Board to review the proposed contract thoroughly in this short time. Nonetheless, the board expressed its readiness to engage with all parties to guarantee that the transaction is financially prudent. New Fortress Energy operates an LNG facility at the Port of San Juan, which was commissioned in April 2020. This site is strategically designed with multiple truck loading bays to serve on-island industrial, commercial, and transportation customers with LNG. The company also currently holds an 80 trillion British thermal units (TBtu) island-wide gas supply contract with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA). In March, New Fortress Energy announced a one-year extension to this agreement. Additionally, modifications to the ten-year operation and maintenance agreement between Genera and PREPA will see the elimination of future incentive payments in return for a $110m payment. However, the extension was later amended to a term of 100 days to provide a transition period that allows for an open request for proposals (RFP) for revised terms and duration of the gas supply contract. This contract has ample capacity to meet both NFEs existing downstream gas demand and the potential conversion of other legacy power plants from diesel to natural gas. In a separate development, New Fortress Energy has completed the sale of its liquefaction and storage facility in Miami to a US-based middle-market infrastructure fund. The financial details and information about the buyer have not been disclosed. The Miami facility is a small-scale operation with a single liquefaction train capable of producing 8,300MBtu of LNG daily. "Puerto Rico regulator halts New Fortress $20bn natural gas supply deal" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Mitchell Black writes about Bluffton and the southern Lowcountry for The Post and Courier's Beaufort County bureau. He previously covered health care and county government with the Asheville Citizen Times. Teri Errico Griffis is the senior business reporter and assistant editor at The Post and Courier, focusing on retail and real estate. An award-winning journalist, she previously worked as a Southeast commerce reporter for the Journal of Commerce and a reporter for the Charleston Regional Business Journal where she covered all facets of business in the Charleston region. Raised in Connecticut and New York, she has called South Carolina home since 2012. Ed Lab reporter Anna B. Mitchell is a Greenville-based investigative reporter for the Post and Courier's Education Lab team. A licensed English and social studies teacher, Anna covers education in the Upstate and collaborates with other reporters for coverage on statewide education trends. She studied history at the University of North Carolina, journalism at the University of Missouri, and holds an MBA from the University of Applied Sciences in Wurzburg. For fun, Anna plays bassoon, visits her family in Germany as often as she can, and takes her doggy, Ashe, for long walks with her daughter and husband. Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. Senior Politics Reporter Caitlin Byrd is the senior politics reporter at The Post and Courier. An award-winning journalist, Byrd previously worked as an enterprise reporter for The State newspaper, where she covered the Charleston region and South Carolina politics. Raised in eastern North Carolina, she has called South Carolina home since 2016. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images Retail investors will lead a stock-buying spree in the second half of the year, JPMorgan strategists say. That will be led by retail investors, who aggressively bought stocks at the start of 2025, the bank said. Retail bought stocks more aggressively this year than during the pandemic, according to Vanda Research. A rush of investor cash is headed for the stock market in the second half, most of it coming from retail investors. That's according to JPMorgan, which predicted this week that investors are poised to inject $500 billion into stocks through the rest of 2025, and most of that will come from retail traders. "Led by retail investors, we envisage an equity buying flow of close to $500bn for the remainder of the year which would be enough to propagate equities by another 5%-10% into year end," analysts wrote in a note on Wednesday. JPMorgan estimates that retail traders have purchased a net $270 billion worth of stocks so far this year, with investors buying assets at a particularly aggressive pace in the first four months of 2025. The bank said it expects another $360 billion worth of retail stock purchases in the second half, based on its December forecast for retail stock purchases to hit $630 billion this year. It said foreign investors could add a net $50-$100 billion to that amount despite concerns that overseas buyers are reducing exposure to US markets amid the turmoil around tariffs and the widening US budget deficit. "We believe that this 'boycotting' of US equities by foreign investors is not sustainable as investors cannot avoid the biggest and most important growth segment of global equity markets," they added, pointing to the rally in the S&P 500 and the strength of the Magnificent Seven tech stocks. Foreign investors may want to see the US dollar stabilize before picking up their interest in US stocks, strategists added. But that stabilization could already be in motion, the bank said, pointing to the US Dollar Index, which has held steady at around 98 in recent weeks. Retail investors have already shown unprecedented enthusiasm for stock buying in the first half of the year, according to Vanda Research, which tracks retail investor flows into stocks and ETFs. In the first six months of the year, cumulative retail net purchases of stocks and exchange-traded funds have been the highest in at least the last 10 years, including during the pandemic stock boom, according to Vanda vice president Marco Iachini. Retail investors scooped up a net $155.3 billion in stocks and ETFs in the first half, the most in at least the last 10 years. VandaTrack, Vanda Research Tech stocks have captured most of the attention.Nvidia was the "most-favored" stock among retail traders in the first half, Ianchini said in a note, with the chipmaker seeing $19.3 billion in inflows over the first six months of the year. PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-12 20:00:35 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 586 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Angel Ai proudly hosted the U.S. Strategy for AI & Crypto Summit (USSAIC) on July 8, 2025, at the prestigious National Press Club, drawing over 150 global attendees, including top leaders in technology, finance, and government. Was invited to Senate hearings on Digital Market Assets shaping policy to keep America first in Blockchain and AiWASHINGTON, D.C., 3683 / ACCESS Newswire / July 12, 2025 / The summit served as a powerful platform to explore the convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology in shaping America's economic and technological future. Attendees included CEOs, founders, investors, policymakers, and innovators from across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Pavan Agarwal and AngelAi at USSAIC Washington DCKeynote speaker Pavan Agarwal, creator of Angel Ai and CEO of Celligence, delivered an energizing talk on AI's potential to bridge the trust gap in financial systems, particularly for underserved communities. Agarwal was later joined via a live Zoom call by entrepreneur and Ohio Gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, where the two shared a candid discussion on the future of the American economy, digital sovereignty, and the strategic role of AI and crypto in restoring opportunity and trust for all Americans.Pavan was joined by the US Ambassador to El Salvador, Milena Mayorga, who talked about the progressive approach El Salvador takes. She told the audience, "We are Bitcoin country, as you know. Almost four years ago, we created a Bitcoin law which made it legal tender for the seller, and gave incentives to the population so we were early adopters". This proactive approach was shared by Ambassador to the African nation Lesotho, Tumisang Mosotho, who commented, "previously unbanked, communities that were looked down upon by your traditional banking system, they can now they now have access to financial services because of Ai and Blockchain." The summit also featured Bill Inman, founder of Angel Twin Protocol, who spoke about decentralized identity and how tokenized reputation will reshape employment and education. A host of industry experts and government leaders rounded out the agenda, discussing critical topics such as U.S. regulatory frameworks, DeFi infrastructure, and the ethical boundaries of AI."This summit wasn't just a conference- it was a call to action," said Agarwal. "We're entering an era where the synergy of AI and blockchain can restore fairness, transparency, and access. Angel Ai is proud to lead the conversation and build the tools that make this future possible." Following the USSAIC Exchange, Pavan Agarwal was invited by Senator Lummis' office to join industry stakeholders and scholars who testified before the Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee on digital asset markets. The witnesses advised lawmakers on a framework for regulating the digital market asset industry and AngelAi was at the hearing to shape the future of assets and artificial intelligence policy in the United States.For more details on the event agenda and speakers, visit https://ussaic.com/agenda About USSAIC The U.S. Strategy for AI & Crypto (USSAIC) Congressional Exchange is an annual policy summit that brings together lawmakers, regulators, and industry leaders to shape the future of emerging technologies. Learn more at USSAIC.com . Learn more about the visionaries who have conceived and produced this at texasblockchaincouncil.org InnovationConnect.Ai . Learn more about the conference visionaries at AngelAi.com , and SWFI.com About AngelAiAngelAi developed by Celligence International, LLC, is one of the fastest-growing fin-tech and AI companies and more information can be found at www.AngelAi.com Contact InformationSophie MIchaelsPR Managersophie@ inventus.media 914 309 8221SOURCE: Celligence / Angel Ai PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-12 17:00:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 492 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The equity-first streaming platform offers a 50-60% ad revenue share, exclusive creator resources, and a growing lineup of original BIPOC content-all with a mission to rebuild the creator economy from the ground up.BALTIMORE, MD / ACCESS Newswire / July 12, 2025 /Blacktivity will officially launch on August 30, 2025, introducing the first Black-owned, nonprofit streaming platform created exclusively for Black and BIPOC creatives. Designed to foster ownership, equity, and access, the platform aims to reimagine the creator economy by offering an ad-supported model that reinvests into the community.Founded by media executive Devin L. White and nonprofit strategist Ngozi T. Robinson, Blacktivity provides a new framework where creators are considered partners rather than content suppliers. The platform is free for audiences and shares up to 60% of ad revenue with creators based on exclusivity and engagement metrics.In addition to curated acquisitions, Blacktivity will debut original content including scripted series, documentaries, and full-length films. A proprietary backend ensures seamless user access and high-performing ad delivery while supporting content discoverability through strong metadata and promotional tools."Blacktivity is not simply a streaming platform-it's an economic and cultural infrastructure," said Devin L. White, co-founder and executive director. "We are establishing a space where underrepresented creatives can participate fully-not just in visibility, but in ownership and revenue." The platform offers both exclusive and non-exclusive licensing options to give creators flexibility in monetization. Creators are encouraged to provide trailers, quality visuals, and robust metadata to increase discoverability and retention."Our model was developed to remove traditional barriers that often exclude talented storytellers," said Ngozi T. Robinson, co-founder and executive director. "We believe in supporting voices that carry vision, depth, and healing. This platform is a direct response to the systemic gaps that have historically denied them." The official public debut will take place during a launch event at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore on August 30, 2025.As part of its multi-pronged strategy, Blacktivity will also introduce a physical creative and wellness resource hub, offering access to studio spaces, training opportunities, and mental health services in select cities.Community Reinvestment ModelBlacktivity operates under a 501(c)(3) nonprofit structure and commits 100% of its annual profits to creator support through:Microgrants and production fundingIndustry masterclasses and career developmentDiscounted access to professional-grade studio facilitiesAll programs are designed to strengthen long-term sustainability for emerging and established creatives across the BIPOC spectrum.About Blacktivity Blacktivity is the first Black-owned, creator-led nonprofit streaming platform designed to elevate the work of Black and BIPOC creatives. The platform operates on a free-to-view, ad-supported model and reinvests directly into the creative ecosystem through grants, training, and strategic resource access. Blacktivity's mission is to shift the creative economy from gatekeeping to shared ownership and cultural equity. Learn more at watchblacktivity.com . Based in Baltimore, Maryland.For press inquiries:Info@ HLSComms.com Media ContactOrganization: BlacktivityContact Person Name: Jasmine BrowleyWebsite: https://watchblacktivity.com/ Email: Info@ HLSComms.com City: BaltimoreState: MarylandCountry: United StatesSOURCE: Blacktivity PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-12 01:20:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 674 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DETROIT, MI / ACCESS Newswire / July 11, 2025 / Charles Kraigerdoes not consider himself extraordinary. He believes real change often comes from people who work quietly, stay persistent, and act with purpose. For those who know his background, it is clear he lives by the idea that ordinary people can create powerful change.Kraiger is a cybersecurity analyst and foreign affairs professional. He has spent over a decade serving in government and international development roles. He brings deep technical knowledge to his work, along with a strong sense of global responsibility.His motivation started during his time at Michigan State University. As a student, he became involved in the ONE Campaign, a movement launched in 2004 to end extreme poverty and preventable disease. Charles Kraiger first joined through online activism in high school. Later, in college, he co-founded ONE MSU, a campus group focused on educating students about global poverty and how they could get involved."When you hear about extreme poverty, it can feel far away," Kraiger said. "But when you speak with someone directly and hear what their life is like, it becomes personal. It becomes urgent." This belief led him to travel to Rwanda. There, he met people living with the long-term effects of poverty, disease, and the aftermath of conflict. He sat with them, listened to their stories, and saw how hard daily life could be. That experience stayed with him and continues to shape the way he thinks about service."There is something deeply important about helping someone who cannot meet basic needs," he said. "Whether it is access to food, clean water, or medicine, these are not just policy issues. They are questions of survival and dignity." This same mindset guides his work in cybersecurity and diplomacy. At the U.S. Department of State, Charles Kraiger led teams responsible for analyzing cyber threats and protecting sensitive information. His goal was not just technical defense. It was about understanding how security decisions affect people, institutions, and entire regions.He also studied at the University of Oxford, where he focused on modern European history and comparative politics. At Oxford, he learned through the tutorial method, working one-on-one with professors rather than in large lecture halls. That approach allowed him to explore complex political systems in greater depth."Studying at Oxford reminded me that every place we take for granted has a story," he said. "When you walk through the streets of a city like Oxford, it is hard to forget that you are surrounded by history. And that you are part of something larger than yourself." He also noted how different life at Oxford felt compared to a traditional American campus. In Oxford, the university blends into the city. That overlap creates a daily reminder that students are living and learning in a place with deep roots and a global presence.Charles Kraigercontinues to apply that global perspective in his current work. He supports international security efforts by combining technical expertise with a strong focus on ethics and public service. He believes cybersecurity is not just about technology. It is about people and trust.Even with a career that now spans international institutions, he still values his hometown recognition and the support of the communities that shaped him. He hopes to be remembered not for titles or awards but for impact."If I have any legacy, I want it to be one of trying to help," he said. "Not because I had special skills, but because I cared. Because I saw the need and decided to do something." Whether advocating for children living in poverty, supporting diplomatic programs, or leading cyber defense strategies, Kraiger carries the same message. Success comes from those who stay curious, stay committed, and act with compassion.His story offers a reminder that meaningful change does not require fame or wealth. It only requires care, vision, and the willingness to act.To learn more visit: https://charles-kraiger.com/ Email: kraiger@ charles-kraiger.com SOURCE: Charles Kraiger PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-12 13:20:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 601 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Deccan Grainz India, led by Kiran Kumar Pola, has entered the Chinese market with its premium Sona Masuri rice, marking a major global expansion milestone as it prepares for a domestic India launch in 2026.PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESS Newswire / July 12, 2025 / Deccan Grainz India, the company behind the globally recognized rice export brand Deccan, has announced its official entry into the Chinese market, marking a significant milestone in the company's international growth trajectory. This strategic expansion brings the brand's presence to over a dozen countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Sweden, the UK, Germany, Ireland, Turkey, and several EU nations.Image Description: Kiran Kumar Pola, Director, Deccan Grainz IndiaWith this move, Deccan becomes one of the few Indian rice exporters to successfully penetrate China-a market that, despite being the world's second-largest producer of rice, continues to see rising demand for premium-quality, aromatic rice varieties. The company aims to cater to the evolving tastes of urban Chinese consumers with its signature non-basmati offerings, particularly Sona Masuri."We are proud to be the only rice brand from South India to have achieved such expansive global reach in rice exports," said Kiran Kumar Pola, Director of Deccan Grainz India. "Entering the Chinese market represents a pivotal chapter in our global journey and underscores the international trust in our quality." Deccan Grainz has built a strong identity as a leading exporter of non-basmati rice, with Sona Masuri accounting for nearly 60% of its total export volume. In the United States, the company holds the leading position in the non-basmati segment, fueled by growing demand from the Indian diaspora and consumers seeking authentic Indian rice.The company sources its rice from thousands of farmers across India, especially from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This farmer-first model ensures consistent quality while supporting sustainable livelihoods. "Our farmers are at the heart of our success. Without their commitment to quality and sustainability, our international journey wouldn't have been possible," added Kiran.Deccan Grainz operates a state-of-the-art rice processing facility at Sultanpur near Hyderabad. Equipped with advanced Japanese technology, the plant processes 5,500 metric tonnes of rice monthly and employs over 100 personnel. The facility is central to the company's rigorous quality standards, which have helped Deccan export over 7 crore bags of rice in just 15 years.In a rare reversal of conventional business strategy, Deccan Grainz is now preparing to launch its products in the Indian domestic market in early 2026. "They say we have to win at home before winning abroad. But we already won outside. Now, we are ready to win at home," said Kiran, expressing confidence about the brand's entry into Indian households.The company's success is deeply rooted in the personal journey of Kiran Kumar Pola, who began his career in 1995 as a trainee at a rice mill in Hyderabad. After nearly 14 years of industry experience, he launched the Deccan brand in London in 2008. Under his leadership, Deccan Grainz has evolved into a globally trusted name in rice exports.As it enters China and prepares for its India launch, Deccan Grainz India continues to redefine the global perception of Indian rice through quality, innovation, and strategic growth.About Deccan Grainz IndiaDeccan Grainz India is a Hyderabad-based rice export company known for its premium non-basmati rice offerings, especially Sona Masuri. Operating globally under the Deccan brand, the company serves over a dozen countries and maintains a robust sourcing and processing infrastructure to ensure the highest quality standards.Media ContactOrganization: Deccan RiceContact Person Name: Kiran KumarWebsite: https://www.deccanrice.com/ Email: contact@ deccanrice.com Contact Number: +16024763070City: PhoenixState: ArizonaCountry: United StatesSOURCE: Deccan Rice PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-12 01:00:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 505 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / July 11, 2025 / If you suffered a loss on your Vestis Corporation (NYSE:VSTS) investment and want to learn about a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, follow the link below for more information:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or call (212) 363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.THE LAWSUIT: A class action securities lawsuit was filed against Vestis Corporation that seeks to recover losses of shareholders who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud between May 2, 2024 and May 6, 2025.CASE DETAILS: According to the complaint, defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Vestis' ability to grow its business; notably that Vestis would be unable to execute on planned strategic initiatives to drive purported improvements to the customer experience and its onboarding efforts in order to drive new customer growth, increased customer retention, and increased revenue from existing customers.On May 7, 2025, Vestis announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, withdrew its revenue and growth guidance for the full fiscal year 2025, and provided guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 that fell significantly below market expectations. The Company attributed its poor results partially to "lost business in excess of new business," but primarily on "lower adds over stops, which is how we describe volume changes with our existing customers." The Company attributed its decision to pull full-year guidance and provide disappointing third quarter targets to the "increasingly uncertain macro environment." Following this news, the price of Vestis' common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $8.71 per share on May 6, 2025, Vestis' stock price fell to $5.44 per share on May 7, 2025, a decline of about 37.54% in the span of just a single day.WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Vestis stock during the relevant time frame - even if you still hold your shares - go to https://zlk.com/pslra-1/vestis-corporation-lawsuit-submission-form?prid=156458&wire=1&utm_campaign=31 to learn about your rights to seek a recovery. There is no cost or obligation to participate.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-12 16:55:28 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1023 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 12, 2025 /What's Included in This ArticleIntroduction toNagano Lean Body Tonicand its purposeHow the supplement works to support natural fat burningA breakdown of the key herbal ingredientsInstructions on how to use the drink mix effectivelyHealth benefits associated with regular useDetails on safety, side effects, and usage warningsReal customer reviews and testimonialsPricing structure, available bundles, and refund policyInformation on free bonus guidesFinal verdict on whether it's worth tryingFrequently asked questions for quick referenceTL;DR SummaryNagano Lean Body Tonic is a natural, drinkable weight loss supplement designed to help both men and women burn stubborn belly fat by reigniting slow metabolism. It blends powerful plant-based ingredients like Camu Camu, EGCG, Panax, and Ashwagandha to curb cravings, enhance energy, support digestion, and promote long-term weight management.Made in FDA-approved, GMP-certified facilities, it's free of toxins and additives. With positive user reviews, reasonable pricing, and a 180-day money-back guarantee, this supplement stands out as a safe and effective option for anyone looking to lose weight naturally.Thinking about trying a natural weight loss aid? Learn more about how Nagano Lean Body Tonic worksNagano Lean Body Tonic Reviews: Can This Supplement Help Reduce Inflammation?Nagano Lean Body Tonic is an herbal supplement for belly fat that has been receiving much hype lately. The manufacturer claims this formula works for men and women of all ages because, unlike other solutions, it targets the dormant metabolism and kickstarts fat burning. Several reasons can cause unhealthy weight gain, so it is important to fight the underlying issue to get lasting results.Some of the common factors that contribute to obesity include hormonal imbalances, unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity, stress, poor sleep cycles, certain medications, and genetics. It is because the root causes of the problem remain unaddressed. This is where supplements like the Nagano Lean Body Tonic formula come in handy. It is packed with ingredients that are scientifically proven to support healthy metabolism and fat burning.However, one can have second thoughts regarding trying a health supplement, mainly because of safety and efficacy concerns. Well, this Nagano Lean Body Tonic review will explain everything you need to know to decide whether to give it a try. In this review, you will learn how Nagano Lean Body Tonic works, about its ingredients, benefits, whether it causes any side effects, pricing, refund policy, customer reviews, and how to use it. So, keep reading.Considering a supplement to complement your wellness routine? Take a closer look at Nagano Lean Body TonicWhat Is Nagano Lean Body Tonic?Nagano Lean Body Tonic is for anyone looking for a natural way to lose weight, as it contains high-quality plant ingredients clinically tested to be safe, effective, and side-effect-free. This weight loss tonic aids the body in boosting metabolism, suppressing cravings, increasing energy and vitality, supporting digestion, and enhancing mood, all contributing to healthy weight management.As for the making of Nagano Lean Body Tonic, it is manufactured in sterile, strict, and precise lab facilities that are FDA-approved and GMP-certified. Unlike traditional weight loss supplements, this fat-burning supplement comes in an easy-to-use drink mix formula. Each bottle provides 30 servings, which will keep you going for a month's use.The manufacturer recommends mixing one scoop of the formula in a glass of water or any beverage of your choice every morning and taking it consistently to attain the best weight loss benefits.This supplement seems ideal for everyday use, as it is free of any harmful toxins, stimulants, additives, chemicals, or preservatives. In the upcoming sections, you will learn how Nagano Lean Body Tonic works and about its ingredients.Curious if Nagano Lean Body Tonic is right for you? Explore the ingredients and real user experiencesHow Does Nagano Lean Body Tonic Work?Nagano Lean Body Tonic addresses the underlying cause of unhealthy weight gain. This formula is said to work for everyone regardless of age, as it aids the body in boosting metabolism and fat burning to lose weight naturally.This supplement targets dormant metabolism and accelerates fat loss, resulting in better energy, vitality, and overall wellness. The ingredients in Nagano Lean Body Tonic work to suppress cravings and control food intake, thus supporting smooth and healthy digestion.In simpler terms, this formula ignites metabolism at a deeper level to speed up fat burning and weight loss. Also, it helps prevent fat accumulation and burns it for energy by boosting digestion.Apart from weight loss benefits, Nagano Lean Body Tonic supplement helps improve vitality, mood, drive, mental clarity, blood sugar management, youthful glow, and overall wellness.Discover the science behind this herbal tonic and why users are talking about itWhat Are The Main Ingredients Used In Nagano Lean Body Tonic?Ingredients play a crucial role when it comes to a supplement's safety and efficacy. Regarding Nagano Lean Body Tonic, it only contains high-quality, clinically tested natural ingredients and is free of additives, toxins, chemicals, or stimulants. The ingredients include:Camu CamuCamu Camu is rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants that can support weight loss by boosting metabolism naturally. It has a positive impact on gut health and liver function, which can prevent weight gain and reduce liver fat.EGCGEGCG in green tea has been widely known to offer several weight loss benefits. It has high metabolism-boosting, metabolic, and energy-enhancing properties, which contribute to natural weight loss. It also improves fat oxidation and prevents fat storage.MangosteenMangosteen is a nutrient-rich fruit that is known to promote weight loss by boosting metabolism. It is rich in fiber content, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant properties thathelp regulate blood sugar, increase energy levels, support digestion, and protect the body from damage.PanaxPanax has the ability to support healthy gut bacteria, which helps boost metabolism and weight loss. It is also known to improve glucose and fatty acid metabolism, regulate appetite, reduce inflammation, and ease oxidative stress. Its other potential benefits include promoting liver function, managing stress, and enhancing brain health.Momordica CharantiaMomordica Charantia has long been praised for its metabolism-boosting benefits. It helps boost ener PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-12 04:15:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 937 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / July 11, 2025 / Achieving the perfect CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) score in the CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) exam is a significant milestone for many pursuing Canadian permanent residency, professional opportunities, or immigration dreams. However, tackling the four key modules of CELPIP - speaking, writing, reading, and listening - is no small challenge.For years, the test preparation industry has been littered with generic resources that fail to address the individual needs of test-takers. ButHZaD Education , Canada's top-rated CELPIP, Canada's top-rated CELPIP training platform, has broken the mold. With its innovative approaches and unparalleled expertise, HZaD Education has built a reputation as the gold standard in CELPIP preparation.At the heart of their philosophy lies a unique hybrid learning model that leverages cutting-edge AI tools with human-centric feedback to ensure results. If you're seeking CELPIP success, here's how HZaD Education is reshaping the landscape of test preparation and setting aspirants on a clear path to achieving their goals.The Challenge of CELPIP PreparationWhile standardized English tests are designed to assess proficiency, they inherently demand rigorous preparation. Many test-takers find themselves in a never-ending cycle of attempting the test multiple times, often with little to no improvement.Key challenges include:Understanding the expectations of CELPIP examiners in speaking and writing modules.Navigating the time constraints on reading and listening sections.Struggling to identify gaps in performance without comprehensive feedback mechanisms.For many, these challenges result in frustration, wasted resources, and delays in achieving their goals. This is where HZaD Education has crafted a solution that not only simplifies CELPIP preparation but guarantees measurable improvement.What Makes HZaD Education Different?HZaD's approach is designed to put students at the center of their preparation. Through advanced technology, expert instruction, and personalized feedback, HZaD covers every facet of the CELPIP exam with precision.1. AI-Powered Instant FeedbackA standout innovation is HZaD's use of AI-powered mock tests, which replicate the CELPIP exam's interface and scoring system.Real-Time Scoring: Instant feedback pinpoints exactly where students are excelling and where they need more work.Targeted Improvement: The system highlights weak areas across speaking, writing, reading, and listening, enabling users to focus their efforts strategically.Efficiency and Confidence: By building familiarity with the test format and providing actionable insights, the AI takes the stress out of preparation.2. Human Feedback with Exam-Level PrecisionWhile AI systems offer speed, CELPIP success demands detailed insights into examiner expectations. This is where HZaD's team of expert educators steps in.Personalized feedback on speaking and writing tasks mimics the meticulous evaluation of CELPIP examiners.Students receive insights into nuances such as grammar, tone, structure, and vocabulary.Human expertise works hand-in-hand with AI precision to ensure a well-rounded preparation experience.3. Comprehensive Training for All ModulesHZaD's CELPIP training ensures complete mastery of all exam sections.Speaking and Writing: Students gain exclusive access to proven templates and strategies designed to secure top marks. These templates simplify complex tasks, guaranteeing clarity and coherence.Reading and Listening: Innovative techniques help students quickly identify correct answers and manage time constraints effectively. Note-taking strategies further enhance success in challenging scenarios.4. Self-Paced Learning with Total FlexibilityPreparation should adapt to students, not the other way around. HZaD's 15-hour CELPIP training course is structured for flexibility.Work At Your Own Pace: Whether you're a working professional or a full-time learner, you can tailor your study schedule.Crash Course Options: For students pressed for time, a 5-hour crash course provides targeted strategies to jump-start preparation.5. Results That Speak for ThemselvesHZaD Education's methodology isn't just effective in theory. It shines in delivering tangible results.Many students report improvements of 3-5 points on their CLB scores after completing the course.Success is guaranteed-with a 30-day money-back policy for those who don't see improvement.Empowering Students Beyond the TestHZaD's mission goes beyond exam preparation. They aim to transform how students engage with the English language, equipping them with essential skills for life in Canada.AI Assistant for Personalized SupportHZaD empowers students with their proprietary AI assistant, which offers 24/7 support for every aspect of CELPIP preparation.Generates quizzes and personalized learning plans.Provides answers to language questions on-demand.Ensures that students always have guidance when they need it most.Fostering Community for MotivationSuccess is easier when you're not going it alone. HZaD offers an exclusive online platform where students can connect, share experiences, and practice together.Peer-to-peer learning encourages collaboration.The community provides reassurance and support in overcoming challenges.Testimonials from Real StudentsStudents across Canada and beyond swear byHZaD's CELPIP classes . Here are just a few of their success stories:"HZaD helped me achieve CLB 10 on my first attempt. The combination of AI tools and instructor feedback was a game-changer." - John M., Toronto"I struggled to break CLB 8 until I found HZaD Education. Their templates and tips made the writing and speaking sections so much easier!" - Aisha R., Calgary"I saved time, money, and effort with this course. It's worth every penny!" - Mike S., VancouverTransform Your CELPIP Preparation TodayPreparing for CELPIP doesn't have to be overwhelming.HZaD Educationtakes the guesswork out of the process, giving students every tool they need to succeed.Whether you're looking to secure PR or advance your career, HZaD Education delivers a modern, effective approach to CELPIP success. Stop relying on outdated methods and start preparing with confidence.Your success story is waiting. Enroll in HZaD Education's groundbreaking CELPIP course today and take the first step toward turning your dreams into reality.To learn more visit: https://hzadeducation.com/ CONTACT: Email HZaD Education:info@ hzadeducation.com SOURCE: HZaD PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-12 18:00:42 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 793 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / July 12, 2025 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the "Western Asset US Core Bond Fund" mutual fund classes - Class I (ticker:"WATFX"), Class A (ticker:"WABAX"), Class C (ticker:"WABCX"), Class FI (ticker:"WAPIX"), Class IS (ticker:"WACSX"), and Class R (ticker:"WABRX") - and the "Western Asset Core Plus Bond Fund" mutual fund classes - Class A (ticker:"WAPAX"), Class C (ticker:"WAPCX"), Class C1 (ticker:"LWCPX"), Class FI (ticker:"WACIX"), Class R (ticker:"WAPRX"), Class I (ticker:"WACPX"), Class IS (ticker:"WAPSX") between January 1, 2021 and October 31, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 5, 2025.SO WHAT: If you purchased Western Asset mutual funds during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Western Asset class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31956 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 5, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants failed to warn investors that: (1) Defendants favored certain WAMCO strategies, like Macro Opps, over other WAMCO strategies, like Core and Core Plus; (2) Defendants disfavored certain WAMCO strategies, like Core and Core Plus; (3) any "compliance policies and procedures" that WAMCO maintained "to result in fair allocations of investment opportunities to clients" were either insufficient to ensure that Leech and his WAMCO Team fairly allocated trades among the strategies they managed or were expressly disregarded by defendants in order to allow the favoring of certain WAMCO strategies at the expense of other WAMCO strategies; (3) any "oversight mechanisms" that WAMCO maintained were either insufficient to monitor Leech and his WAMCO Team or were expressly disregarded by Defendants in order to allow the favoring of certain WAMCO strategies at the expense of other WAMCO strategies. As a result, defendants' actions operated as a fraud or deceit on the Class, artificially reducing the price of the "Western Asset US Core strategy" mutual fund classes during the Class Period, damaging Class members.To join the Western Asset class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31956 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. Aliko Dangote, founder and president/chief executive of the Dangote Group, has expressed doubt over the future functionality of Nigerias state-owned refineries. Mr Dangote who spoke on Thursday during a facility tour with members of the Global Chief Executive Officer Africa group from Lagos Business School at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, explained that the state-owned refineries managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) have consumed about $18 billion in public funds without yielding results. He added that his 650,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery was constructed after the government of late President Umar Yaradua declined to sell the refineries to him. The refineries that we bought before, which were owned by Nigeria, were doing about 22 per cent of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). We bought the refineries in January 2007. Then we had to return them to the government because there was a change of government. And the managing director at that time convinced Yaradua that the refineries would work. They said they just gave them to us as a parting gift or so. And as of today, they have spent about $18billion on those refineries, and they are still not working. And I dont think and I doubt very much if they will work, Mr Dangote said. He said that the turnaround maintenance of the refineries is like you trying to modernise a car that was built 40 years ago, when technology and everything have changed. Even if you change the engine, the body will not be able to take the shock of that new technology engine, he added. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later NNPC speaks on sale The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, seems to corroborate Mr Dangotes concerns, stating that the company is considering selling the refineries due to the complexity of rehabilitation. Speaking with Bloomberg on Thursday at the 9th OPEC International Seminar, Mr Ojulari said a strategic review of NNPCs refinery operations is underway and expected to be concluded before the end of the year. Were reviewing all our refinery strategies now. We hope before the end of the year, well be able to conclude that review. That review may lead to us doing things slightly differently, he said. Asked if that could include selling off the refineries, Mr Ojulari said, What were saying is that sale is not out of the question. All the options are on the table, to be frank, but that decision will be based on the outcome of the reviews were doing now. In November last year, the presidency announced that plans for the complete privatisation of Nigerias state-owned refineries are currently underway. Nigeria has four major refineries, two in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which combine to form the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) with a combined installed capacity of 210,000 barrels per day (bpd); the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (KRPC) with an installed capacity of 110,000 bpd; and the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC) with an installed capacity of 125,000 bpd. All the refineries have a combined installed capacity of 445,000 barrels per day. Despite significant financial injections, the refineries continue to face operational challenges, with public records and site visits revealing that the facilities have largely failed to resume meaningful operations. The Warri Refinery, which was reopened in December 2024, shut down in January due to safety issues. In May NNPC announced the shutdown of Port Harcourt Refinery. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigeria Customs Service has refuted claims that traders must pay to migrate their import documents from its old platform to the new BOdogwu Trade Management System, insisting the process is free of charge. In a statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, the Service described the circulating reports as false, misleading, and entirely unfounded, and urged stakeholders to disregard anyone requesting payment under the guise of facilitating the migration. The clarification follows what the Customs Service described as widespread misconceptions suggesting that importers or their agents are being charged to move their Form M documents from the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) II platform to the recently deployed BOdogwu system. For clarity, the ongoing migration process is a technical and administrative task designed and implemented by NCS to ensure seamless continuity of trade documentation following the phased deployment of the BOdogwu system across Customs Area Commands. It is worth noting that at no point has the NCS introduced, approved, or authorised any fee for migrating Form M from NICIS II to BOdogwu, the statement read. Form M is a mandatory pre-import declaration document used to control imports into Nigeria. It is typically opened through authorised dealer banks and submitted to Customs via an automated platform. The document is required before any shipment into Nigeria and must be approved before the issuance of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), which is used to clear goods at the ports. Customs explained that with the phased rollout of BOdogwu across its commands, some traders may now find their Bills of Lading or cargo manifests transmitted to the new platform, while their Form M remains on the old NICIS II system. To address this, importers in that category are required to submit a soft copy of their already registered Form M to the Technical Supervisor in their operational Customs command. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The supervisor will then initiate the migration internally, at no cost to the importer. Upon successful migration, traders can access the updated Form M on the BOdogwu dashboard, where they will be able to view the document details and proceed with their PAAR request by clicking the Create PAAR button. The NCS warned that demanding or offering payment for this migration is illegal and undermines the transparency it aims to foster. The Service urges all stakeholders to disregard any person or group demanding payment under the guise of facilitating Form M migration, the statement said. Such practices are not only illegal but also undermine the Services commitment to transparency and trade facilitation. The migration process is part of a bigger digital reform under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi. The BOdogwu system, introduced in early 2024, is being rolled out in stages and is designed to unify, streamline, and automate trade documentation procedures for improved efficiency. Once fully implemented, BOdogwu is expected to replace NICIS II and reduce manual interventions, delays, and rent-seeking behaviour at Customs formations. We appreciate the cooperation of the trading public and assure all stakeholders of our continuous support throughout this transition, the statement added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print We came across a bullish thesis on Robinhood on Investing City's Substack by Ryan Reeves. As of 1st July, Robinhood's share was trading at $92.33. HOOD's trailing and forward P/E were 52.76 and 65.36 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. GitLabs (GTLB) Strategic AI Moves Are Fueling a Bullish Outlook Robinhood, a discount brokerage firm, has been a game-changer in the financial industry by making stock trading fun and accessible with its user-friendly interface and 'free' trades. However, the company's business model, which relies heavily on payment for order flow (PFOF), has raised concerns about its integrity. PFOF involves Robinhood taking a percentage of the spread between the bid and ask in a stock, with market makers like Citadel and Virtu paying the company for routing orders. This model has been criticized for potentially prioritizing profits over customers' best interests, although regulations are in place to protect retail investors. Despite these concerns, Robinhood's business has been thriving, with 25 million funded accounts and $193 billion in assets under custody. The company's average revenue per funded customer is around $120, with 60% of revenue coming from transaction revenue and 40% from interest revenue and subscriptions like Robinhood Gold. The company's ambitious plans to expand its services, including AI equity research assistants, private banking, and real estate offerings, present significant growth opportunities. Robinhood Gold, a $50/year subscription, provides perks like 4.5% APY on uninvested balances and has already attracted 10% of users, generating over $130 million in recurring revenue. The key to Robinhood's future success lies in increasing its assets under custody per customer, which currently stands at around $7,700, significantly lower than competitors like Schwab. With a 35x growth opportunity, Robinhood has a long runway for growth, particularly in its banking offerings. However, the company's lack of transparency about its business model may hinder its ability to garner trust from customers. By being more straightforward about its PFOF model and emphasizing its benefits, such as providing better pricing than national best bid and offer, Robinhood can build a loyal customer base and achieve long-term success. Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on Robinhood by Brett Schafer in May 2025, which highlighted the company's potential as a backdoor play on the AI energy boom through its critical energy infrastructure assets. The stock has appreciated by 43.74% since our coverage, as the thesis played out with the company benefiting from the AI energy spike. Ryan Reeves shares a similar view, emphasizing Robinhood's growth opportunities in AI-powered equity research assistants and expanding services. However, Reeves focuses on the company's core discount brokerage business, citing 25 million funded accounts and $193 billion in assets under custody. All is set for a feast of performances, intellectual discourse, and exhibition in Abeokuta as Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, turns 91 on Sunday. The Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) marks its 16th anniversary, continuing its legacy as a vital platform for cultural dialogue, artistic innovation, and intellectual engagement, inspired by the enduring influence of the Nobel Laureate. From its inaugural edition in 2010, marking Soyinkas 76th birthday, WSICE has grown into a globally respected platform where art, advocacy, and African identity converge. This year, the tradition continues with events scheduled for 13 July in Abeokuta, Nigeria, and 24- 25 July in London, United Kingdom, in partnership with The Africa Centre. The overarching theme for the 2025 edition is Decolonisation of African Youth: Agenda for Our Future Leadership. This theme celebrates the potential and resilience of African youth, inviting participants to interrogate postcolonial realities while envisioning new pathways for African futures. The grand celebration, which takes place on Sunday at Soyinkas Ijegba Forest of Literature, is a powerful cross-continental celebration of creativity, culture, and youth leadership. It will feature performances, poetry recitals, exhibitions, roundtables, film screenings, and live music. The 2025 programme explores postcolonial identity and interrogates how young Africans can reclaim agency and reimagine leadership in ways that honour their cultural heritage while engaging the demands of a globalised world. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later WSICE Since its inception, WSICE has remained deeply connected to Professor Soyinkas personal values and intellectual commitments, drawing young minds into building a more thoughtful, expressive, and culturally conscious society. This years programme builds on last years partnership with The Africa Centre. The 2025 edition will commence on Sunday in the serene surroundings of Professor Soyinkas Ijegba Forest residence, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where WSICE will host: The Youth Talent Showcase (DYOT Do Your Own Thing): A celebration of youth voices through performance music, spoken word, drama, and indigenous arts; the Female Talking Drummers Showcase: Young female drummers reclaim traditional rhythms as tools of empowerment; and Creative Exchanges: Art exhibitions, mentorship, and cultural tributes. On 24- 25 July, at The Africa Centre in London, WSICE will host its UK advocacy segment, offering deep reflections on culture, society, and the artists evolving role in Africas leadership. Highlights include the International Advocacy Panel Theme, The Artist as Postcolonial Agent: Canvas of Leadership Nuances. Speakers and contributors will explore how African creatives confront systems, shape narratives, and influence policy. Professor Wilson Mano and Dr. Vanessa Iwowo will be the keynote speakers. The anchors are the CEO of The Africa Centre, Olu Alake, and Dr. Samantha Iwowo of Bournemouth University. Highlights Highlights of the activities also include the Africa Youth Literature, Communication & Arts Workshop. Facilitated by Aduke and Abolore Sobayo, this new feature equips young creatives with tools for storytelling, artistic leadership, and self-expression. Cultural Night: A vibrant fusion of live music, poetry, and visual storytelling. Featured artists include: Kayefi (Afro-folk), Aduke (Neo-soul/Afro-jazz), Segun Akinduro (Sound and performing artiste), Abolore Sobayo (Cultural design), and Eyinju Eledumare (Performance poetry). The Executive Producer of WSICE and MD/CEO of ZMirage, Olateju Kareem, shared his vision, saying, As culture continues to be our pride, let a better understanding of each others cultures yield respect and tolerance, leading to unity and advancing our shared humanity. The CEO of The Africa Centre, Olu Alake, said: This years focus on youth, leadership and the pivotal role of the artists as embodiments of cultural continuity and catalysts for a paradigm shift in African leadership is timely and critical. We look forward to another memorable event resulting in real change. Production team WSICE 2025 is produced by ZMirage Multimedia Company Ltd., led by Mr Kareem, alongside co-executive producer Prof. Segun Ojewuyi, and in collaboration with respected institutions in Nigeria and the UK. Nigerias production team includes Jahman Anikulapo Head of Communications; Tunde Awosanmi Creative Director; Prof. Razinat Muhammed Head of Adjudication; Linda Olowokere Youth Programme Producer; Lilian Amah-Aluko Production Lead; Ayo Aladekomo Producer; and Joy Nweye Associate Producer. The WSICE is organised on the OpenDoorSeries Project WS, an international cultural exchange programme designed to use the platforms of the Arts (literary and performing) and Culture to affirm and uphold mans dignity. It is co-produced with Prof Segun Ojewuyi (immediate past Dean of the College of Art & Media, Southern Illinois University, SIU, Carbondale, USA). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Organisers of the 2025 PR Power List have announced the panel of jurors for this years edition, alongside key dates for the flagship recognition event. The newly unveiled jury includes public relations and communications professionals from Africa, Europe, and Asia, who will evaluate nominees based on impact, innovation, and industry contribution. The PR Power List, launched in 2022, recognises outstanding PR and communications professionals in Nigeria and the diaspora who have made notable contributions to the industry over the past year It is an initiative of GLG Communications. The event is scheduled to commence from 15 to 19 July 2025 as part of World PR Day activities. The announcement comes after the selection of this years top 50 honorees; an intentional move the company says is designed to protect the authenticity and impartiality of the selection process for the 2025 edition of the PR event, scheduled to be held on 15 July 2025. Candidates are identified and shortlisted through extensive research by an internal team, after which they undergo a rigorous multi-stage evaluation led by local and international jurors. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later For the 2025 edition, the jury comprises renowned PR experts and marketing leaders from Africa, Europe, and Asia. The jurors will include Andras Sztaniszlav, Interim CEO of ICCO and President of the Hungarian PR Association; Segun McMedal, Lead Partner at Upticomm Marketing Company; Marian Ogaziechi, Managing Director of Dentsu Agyle; and Nitin Mantri, President of APAC We Communications and group CEO at Avian We. The list also includes Regional Director, West and Central Africa for Edelman, Kwame Senou, Managing Director, Media Reach OMD, Stephen Onaivi, Creative Marketing Strategist & Divisional Director at Marketing Edge, Anietie Udoh, Founder & Lead Consultant at Tide Media Consultancy Ltd and Stacey Baluske Mtika. Insight Additionally, this list also extends to Creative Director at Woof Studios Africa, Adetutu Laditan, Executive Director, CAST Public Relations, Babajide Benson, Founder and CEO of KGL FWD, Autumn Marie Faraj, Communications and Engagement Manager, Olamide Jasanya and Global Chief of Research, PR Power List, Precious Nwachukwu. While emphasising the importance of ensuring the list remains free from external pressure, Omawumi Ogbe, Managing Partner at GLG Communications and Creator of the PR Power List, said: Our primary goal with the PR Power List has always been to celebrate genuine excellence and impact within the public relations and communications industry. By unveiling our esteemed jurors after the selection process is complete, we empower them to work without external pressures, ensuring the highest level of integrity and authenticity for the list. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication and the invaluable work theyve put in to make this years list truly representative of the best in our field, Ogbe said. READ ALSO: Premium Times Journalist selected for Africa Health Communications Fellowship According to the communication firm, WPRD Global Summit (Online), a high-level virtual summit featuring global communications leaders, will be held on 15 July 2025. On Friday, there will be the PR Power List Release, a publication of the 2025 honorees in the Guardian, while PR Power List Soiree and Awards, an exclusive awards ceremony and celebration at the Alliance Francaise/Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, will hold on Saturday. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In this episode of Women in Steam, Khaerat Alaran, a student at the University of Ilorin, discusses how she balances her creative career in social media management and video editing with her law studies. The final-year law graduate said the creative industry offers freedom. PT: How do you balance your creative career in social media management and video editing with your academic pursuits in law? Ms Alaran: I dont think theres a balance in my career and my academic pursuits; theres no way one wont suffer. I try to set my priorities straight and make sure that one doesnt suffer great damage over the other. I create and adhere to weekly lists that encompass both my professional and academic endeavours. PT: What inspired you to pursue a career in content creation and social media management, and how do you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices? Ms Alaran: Content strategy success is largely defined by its metrics. I evaluate metrics not only by likes but also by comments, bookmarks, reach, and impressions. From the reach, I also check to see how many non-followers saw it all. If my content strategy is successful, it will be known through the metrics. PT: Can you share some of your most memorable projects or clients, and what made them stand out? Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Ms Alaran: I will say my first content creation gig has to be my most memorable one, and the current job I am doing. They allow me to have my creative freedom, to be able to pitch in ideas and also a lovely working environment and culture. They made me feel at ease and didnt make me feel out of place either. PT: How do you approach video editing for different clients and projects, and what tools or software do you prefer to use? Ms Alaran: I use CapCut for video editing, but I am trying to look into using tools like After Effects and Premiere Pro. With different clients come different styles and deliverables, I try to ask as many questions as possible so that I can be able to use my skills to achieve what they want. So each clients have their goals and what they consider in their videos that stand out to them, so I try to edit based on all this information. PT: What advice would you give to young women who are interested in pursuing careers in STEAM fields, particularly in creative industries like content creation and video editing? Ms Alaran: Any skill you want to learn has to be of pure passion before you think about the money you can make from it. Also, dont compare yourself as a beginner to someone who has started 10 years ago or even a year ago. Be consistent, take courses and make sure to implement them because thats the only way you know what you learnt. Have mentors or people who can help you in terms of learning and reviewing what you have learnt. PT: How do you see your law background influencing your approach to business and entrepreneurship, and do you think it gives you a unique perspective in your creative pursuits? Ms Alaran: I think my knowledge of the law of contract comes in handy when I am trying to approach business because one issue that is very common with beginners is that they dont sign contracts. And this wasnt an issue when I started because I already knew the importance of a contract in any business I venture into. I dont know if it gives me a unique perspective, but I am sure it intrigues people when they get to know all the skills I have, plus the course I am taking. PT: What are your long-term goals for your career and personal brand, and how do you see yourself continuing to grow and evolve as a creative entrepreneur and law student? Content creation, SMM (social media management) and video editing are something I see myself doing for a long time because its something I genuinely love doing. Maybe I will eventually niche down and stick to one at the end of the day, but for now, I enjoy doing all three since they are sort of intertwined. And as for my law career, I will find a way to merge my skills with my career. I could be a virtual assistant for a law firm or a corporate role that aligns with my creative skills because I dont plan on doing litigation. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A lyrically gifted nine-year-old boy stole the show at Wednesdays launch of a book, According to the President, authored by a veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Garba Shehu. For some minutes, the boy, Muhammadu Buhari, named after Nigerias immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, kept the audience captivated with words that were unexpected to people his age. The audience included a former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume and the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero. I am the Buhari in us, not just the man but the meaning, he told the crowd rhythmically. He walked like a whisper through a marketplace of noise, unshaken by applause, unbent by insult, the young Buhari said, describing the former president. The Buhari in us rises early, eats humbly, and acts when both heart and head agree. He wore power like plain clothes, no embroidery, no excess, only weight, he said, peering over the top of the podium. Discipline to him isnt old-fashioned, it is the spine of a strong nation. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The young Buhari easily seems wise beyond his years, impressing everyone at the event held at the Shehu YarAdua Centre, Abuja. He did not throw away his shot as he continued performing his way straight to the top. Patriotism is not a chance, it is not the noise, it is a sacrifice, he said boldly. It is to say that I will not feast where my people starve; I wont wave a flag I will not defend. For the young Buhari, who hails from Kogi State, patriotism is to speak Hausa, Igala, Yoruba, Igbo, Kanuri, Fulani, and still say that I am a Nigerian first. So, he said, Let us rise, not in rage, but in reason, not in noise, but in nationhood. Let the man be remembered, but let the meaning awaken. I am Muhammadu Buhari, not of Daura but of discipline. Not of tribe but of truth. Not of self but of service. As he concluded his presentation, Messrs Gowon, Atiku and Bayero stood in appreciation of the young boy. After his presentation, instead of walking off the stage, he made his way to the VIP section and began greeting the dignitaries at the event. Mr Gowon, the Nigerian leader between 1966 and 1975, stood up to shake his hand, and Mr Bayero did the same. Atiku called him over for a special photo while Mr Akume rose and embraced him. His father, Abdullahi Haruna, helps him dream big and digest serious discussions. For my son, Muhammadu Buhari, it was a beautiful outing as he shone in the awesome grace of God, Mr Haruna wrote on Facebook. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, on Saturday, voted at Polling Unit 002, Ward A4, in the Oke Balogun area of Epe, in the Saturdays local government elections in the state. Speaking to journalists, Mr Hamzat described the elections conduct as peaceful and encouraging. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) officials arrived with voting materials at 10:18 a.m. Accreditation and voting commenced simultaneously at 11:20 a.m. Mr Hamzat expressed optimism about the elections outcome, saying he expected his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to win by a large margin. In spite of the delay, he expressed satisfaction with the process and encouraged voters to participate. Voting has started and we just hope it continues smoothly. People are still voting, so I am encouraged. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later So far, so good. Its early to assess turnout, but its been impressive and encouraging, he said. The deputy governor attributed the delay to logistical challenges faced by LASIEC. He noted that with around 800 polling units in Epe, the officials had much ground to cover. Election is about logistics, and people should understand that. They must ensure everything is in place and organised properly, he said. Mr Hamzat urged voters to remain orderly and cooperate with LASIEC officials for a peaceful, violence-free process. NAN also reports that security personnel were stationed at the polling units to maintain peace. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Akinpelu Johnson, the chairmanship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, has decried late commencement of the states council election in the area on Saturday. Mr Johnson, Vice Chairman of the local government, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos. NAN reports that the Voting did not commence at Ward E, Polling Unit 10, where the APC candidate voted, did not commence until 11.30 a.m. owing to late arrival of officials Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) According to Mr Johnson, the late commencement of the exercise was quite discouraging. The delay in the commencement of the election exercise serves as a painful experience. I think LASIEC needs to gear up, they need to redesign the way they operate. I will still commend them, because they brought in the materials, everything was neat, but they also brought all that is necessary for the voting exercise, Mr Johnson said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He, however, urged voters who had gone home due to the delay in the commencement of the exercise, to return and perform their civic duties. We will still plead that voters who have gone home are discouraged, to come out and vote. It is their civic duties, it is their right to come out and vote and I plead that they should come out and vote for the candidate of their choice, the APC chairmanship said. On his part, Francis Adebisi, the APC vice chairmanship candidate, commended LASIEC on the seamless process despite the delay in its commencement. Well, the delay in the commencement of the exercise was not so much. We were informed that it was because of a little logistic problem from LASIEC, which is normal, but we thank God, we were able to meet up. READ ALSO: Late arrival of materials delay Lagos council polls The voting exercise was so fantastic and peaceful. A lot of people came out to exercise their civic duties, especially the youth in the community. The people are voting, and everything is so peaceful and encouraging. The voters on ground at the end of the day all cast their votes, and are happy. Since the exercise is between 8.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. we still have a lot of time, and a lot of people are still voting, Mr Adebisi said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The July 12 Local Government elections in Lagos State were held under generally peaceful conditions in Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA). Beyond the relatively peaceful conduct, voter turnout was notably appreciable at the locations visited by PREMIUM TIMES, even in the face of the near-total political dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). With barely one or two opposition candidates contesting across both the chairmanship and councillorship positions, the polls in Lekki were largely a one-party affair. Yet, this did little to dampen public participation, as residents came out in notable numbers to cast their votes, demonstrating both loyalty and interest in the grassroots democratic process. Voting begins late but ends peacefully Former Chairman of Lekki LCDA, Olaitan Ogidan, commended the turnout, even though the election started late in some parts due to transportation delays. There were some early challenges, but the turnout has been very encouraging, he said. People understand that local government is where real change starts. This is the government closest to the people. Mr Ogidan stressed that local elections matter more than many realise, because they directly impact daily lifefrom roads to schools, to waste management and health care. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later This is why residents come out for this election more than others. They know the chairman and councilors are the ones they can approach easily with their problems, he added. One-party election, but not a silent one In what observers described as a largely uncontested race, the APC stood unopposed in most wards. The few opposition names on the ballot were barely visible, and most polling units featured only APC banners, posters, and agents. According to APC chieftain Are Oluwakemi, a senior legislative aide and one of the partys leaders in the area, no opposition party fielded a candidate for the chairmanship position in Lekki LCDA. This is the only council in Lagos State without a serious opposition. Yet, the support we are seeing today is massive. Our people know what weve doneand they trust us to continue, he said. Mr Are listed ongoing development projects like the Lekki Coastal Road, renovated schools, youth empowerment schemes, and care for the elderly as reasons for the partys popularity. Our chairman and councilors have carried everyone along. Thats why the people are responding with their votes, he added. And come 2027, Lekki will again deliver strong support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Voters speak Despite the lack of competitive options on the ballot, many voters said they came out because they wanted to fulfill their civic duty and support leaders who had delivered on their promises. I wish there were more candidates to choose from, but I still came to vote, said Adebayo Yusuf, a 35-year-old resident. At least it shows that I support the people working for our area. Another voter, Olufunke Akintola, said: Even if its just one party contesting, I still have the right to say yes or no. I came to vote because local government affects everything in our daily lives. Traditional endorsement The Onilekki of Lekki, Abdulhasim Ogunbeku, also voted and expressed satisfaction with the voter turnout. This election shows that our people care deeply about their community, the royal father said. Local government is the foundation of governance, and I believe the results will reflect the peoples will. The polls in Lekki LCDA may have lacked competition, but it did not lack public interest. Voters showed up, made their voices heard, and affirmed the importance of grassroots governance. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has unveiled its plan to tackle voter apathy during Saturdays local government elections in the state. At a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, LASIEC chairperson, Bola Okikiolu-Ighile, said the commission was scaling up voter education and grassroots engagement to increase participation, particularly among historically underrepresented groups. We know that apathy is real, especially at the local level, she said. Thats why we went beyond the usual radio and TV announcements. We were on the streets, in the markets, at UNILAG, Badagry, Alimosho we were everywhere. Mrs Okikiolu-Ighile, who is a retired judge, said LASIEC deployed voter sensitisation teams across the states five administrative divisions Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe with particular focus on young people, women, traders, and persons with disabilities (PWDs). We made sure the markets were involved all the women and men. We engaged people with disabilities because we believe everyone is special, especially them. We also met with youth groups and religious organisations to get the message out. 13,325 polling units, over 6.2 million PVCs collected She disclosed that the number of polling units in Lagos has increased from 8,000 in 2021 to 13,325 this year, in a bid to bring voting points closer to residents and reduce logistical obstacles. According to LASIEC data, 7,060,195 voters are registered in Lagos, with 6,214,970 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected so far. Around 845,000 PVCs remain uncollected. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later We urge everyone to check their polling units. Because of the expansion, some locations may have changed and this time, it will likely be closer to your home than before. Security, logistics The LASIEC chair assured the public of adequate security arrangements for the exercise, stating that the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the State Security Service (SSS), and other agencies have committed to deploying at least four officers to each polling unit. Security of lives and properties, as well as the safety of materials before, during, and after the election, is our priority. Weve been assured that there will be no room for intimidation or violence. She explained that voting will commence at 8:00 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m., with provisions made to prioritise persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and elderly voters. Weve trained our staff and informed our polling agents to act accordingly, she added. Election not for sale Mrs Okikiolu-Ighile also emphasised the Commissions neutrality and warned against vote-buying, urging residents to see the local government poll as the most immediate and impactful form of democratic participation. Your vote is your power. Why would you sell it? Why would you remain silent? Silence may be golden sometimes, but not when your communitys future is at stake. You are part of this community. You have a right to choose who leads it. Go out and vote. Dont trade that right. Dont sit back and complain later, she stated. Background In August 2021, Tayo Ogunbiyi, a director of public affairs at the Ministry of Information and Strategy stated that voter apathy has long plagued local elections in Lagos State. Mr Ogunbiyi noted that voter turnout was reported to be below 18 per cent, while the 2017 edition saw only a marginal difference, with just 17 per cent of registered voters participating. He warned that low voter turnout allows candidates to win with a minority of votes, which can undermine legitimacy and reduce public accountability. Figures from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show that only about 35 per cent of the 70 million Nigerians registered for the 2011 general elections actually voted. Similarly, LASIEC estimates that over 1.4 million PVCs remained uncollected ahead of the 2015 general elections in Lagos. Report mentioned multiple reasons for the trend: a perception that votes dont count, distrust in politicians, concerns about electoral violence, and the belief that local government structures are ineffective. PREMIUM TIMES reported that only 41 per cent of Nigerians trust State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to conduct free and fair local government election. The report by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) titled From Apathy to Action: A Reform Blueprint for SIECs and Community-Level Democracy, is the latest edition (Volume 5, Issue 2) of HEDAs Leadership Approval Rating (LAR) series and was officially launched on Wednesday in Lagos. The survey, conducted in June 2025, sampled 1,428 Nigerians across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. It found that while 87 per cent of respondents correctly identified SIECs as the statutory agencies responsible for local elections, only 45 per cent believed they operate independently of state governors. This reveals a critical trust deficit, said Sulaimon Arigbabu, HEDAs Executive Secretary, during the launch. Where independence and transparency are in doubt, legitimacy quickly collapses. While explaining the report, Mr Arigbabu lamented that despite high awareness, voter participation remains abysmally low. He said 69 per cent of respondents admitted they had never voted in any local government election. He noted that ratings of SIEC performance were similarly dismalonly 44 per cent rated their commissions as Good or Excellent, while 24 per cent graded them Poor or Very Poor. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The ECOWAS Court of Justice has dismissed an application by the Federal Government of Nigeria seeking a revision of its earlier judgement in favour of Gregory Todd, an Australian national whose passport was seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, a three-member panel of the court held that Nigeria failed to present any new facts warranting a review of the judgement delivered on 6 November 2023, which found that the seizure of Mr Todds passport violated his right to freedom of movement. The panel, led by Ricardo Claudio Monteiro Goncalves, with Gberi-be Ouattara and Edward Amoako Asante as members, delivered its decision in suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/56/21/REV. In the original judgement marked ECW/CCJ/JUD/41/23, the court had ruled that the EFCCs prolonged withholding of Mr Todds passport was arbitrary and unlawful. It ordered the Nigerian government to pay Mr Todd $10,000 in damages for the rights violation and dismissed other claims. Following the ruling, the Nigerian government, relying on Articles 92 and 93 of the courts rules, filed a post-judgement application for revision, alleging the discovery of new facts, on 5 April 2024five months after the judgement. However, the court found that the Nigerian government failed to submit any new facts as required by Article 27 of the Protocol of the Court (as amended). Instead, the application merely restated legal arguments already raised and decided in the earlier proceedings. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later But the Nigerian government argued that the ECOWAS Court lacked jurisdiction to hear Mr Todds application as a foreign national. The Nigerian government also said the court improperly exercised appellate jurisdiction over decisions of Nigerian courts and Mr Todds complaint was inadmissible, having been previously resolved by the Federal High Court in Abuja. Ruling The court rejected all three points, ruling that the issues had been addressed in the original case and did not amount to new facts capable of triggering a revision. The court held that the request was legally baseless, inadmissible under the courts protocol, and an abuse of its post-judgment procedure. The court dismissed the application and ordered the Nigerian government to comply fully with the November 2023 ruling, including the payment of the $10,000 compensation to Mr Todd. The court asked the Nigerian government to bear the costs incurred by Mr Todd in responding to the revision application. Background Mr Todd arrived in Nigeria in December 2017 to implement development projects aimed at employment generation, particularly in Akwa Ibom State, South-south Nigeria. He claimed his business, Serge, had investment pipelines from Australia, Europe, the UAE, and China, with a planned start date of early 2018. However, on 23 July 2019, EFCC operatives seized his Australian passport (No. N1819485), stalling his movement and disrupting his activities. Despite numerous appeals and petitionsincluding to then-President Muhammadu Buhari and the National AssemblyMr Todds passport was never returned and eventually expired. Mr Todd alleged that he faced harassment, extortion attempts, and targeted efforts by certain individuals to hijack his projects. He further claimed the EFCC failed to grant him a fair hearing, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when foreign nationals were allowed to return home. The prolonged detention of his passport, he said, left him stranded in Nigeria for over two years, separated from his family, and unable to travelamounting to a gross violation of his fundamental rights. The Arewa Public and Security Analysts Forum reportedly wrote to the EFCCs acting chairman at the time, Mohammed Umar, appealing for intervention. Mr Todds case adds to mounting criticism over the operations of Nigerias anti-graft agencies, particularly the EFCC, which has faced allegations of abuse of power, prolonged investigations, and selective enforcement under the leadership of its suspended chairman, Ibrahim Magu. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Humwashi Wonosikou, chief press secretary to the governor, disclosed this in a statement issued in Yola He said the directive followed recent violent attacks and a breach of peace in some communities within the area. The government views these disturbances as unacceptable and has directed security agencies to enforce the curfew strictly. The curfew is effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice, he said. He warned that anyone or group of people found contravening the directive would be arrested and dealt with according to the law. Residents are urged to abide by the curfew and provide useful information to security agencies to ensure peaceful coexistence. READ ALSO: Police arraign 22 suspects over killing of wedding travellers in Plateau Government will not condone acts of violence and will take necessary measures to restore peace and order, he said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He appealed to residents of Lamurde Local Government Area to shun rumour mongering and cooperate with security agencies to restore normalcy in the area. According to him, the government is committed to protecting lives and property as well as ensuring the safety of all citizens. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Robinhoods plan to democratize private equity with tokenized startup shares may be bold, but it could have unintended legal consequences, warned Florida-based crypto lawyer John Montague in an interview with CoinDesk, who cited risks of lawsuits, regulatory blowback, and investor losses in the event the platform goes bankrupt. Robinhood recently launched a new product for European users that offers tokenized exposure to private companies like OpenAI. These tokens arent actual shares; they represent fractional interests in a special purpose vehicle (SPV). While Robinhood argues that this opens access to deals previously only accessible to the elite, OpenAI is firm in saying the offering is unauthorized and legally questionable. Montague acknowledges the ambition behind the product but warns that it flirts with serious legal consequences. I think private companies may also initiate lawsuits alleging that this violates their governance documents, shareholders' agreements, investor rights agreements, or bylaws, he said. "I view it as the issuers right to control the terms of transfer." In April, another AI startup, Figure AI, sent cease-and-desist letters to unnamed brokers who were selling its shares on the secondary market, according to TechCrunch. "We do not allow secondary market trading in our shares without board authorization, and the company will continue to protect itself against unwanted third-party brokers in the market, Figure AI told TechCrunch at the time. Montague expects this trend to continue. "If a secondary market participant acquires shares and then violates the companys Bylaws, Shareholders Agreement, or Investor Agreement (such as by forming an SPV or reselling to other investors), its likely a straightforward breach of contract, and the issuer would be entitled to injunctive relief," he continued. Regulators have begun to take notice, and there are also securities laws to consider. In a statement released on Wednesday, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce said without naming Robinhood specifically that tokenized equity offerings are indeed securities and market participants must adhere to federal securities laws when using these instruments. "Distributors of tokenized securities must consider their disclosure obligations under the federal securities laws," she said in her statement. There's also the question of bankruptcy. Linqto, which offers similar services to Robinhood for structured exposure to startups, recently filed for bankruptcy, raising a significant question mark about what will happen to the token holders of the equity. The Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has notified the management of the National Assembly of her intention to resume legislative duties on Tuesday. This followed the judgement of the Federal High Court declaring her suspension by the Senate unconstitutional. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan made the notification in a letter dated 11 July and addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly. The letter was written by her legal counsel, Michael Numa (SAN), urging the legislature to take immediate steps to facilitate her return in compliance with the judgment of court presided by Binta Nyako. In the letter, the senator referenced the court decision which ruled that her six-month suspension was excessive, unconstitutional, and a violation of her constituents right to representation. After a thorough consideration of the facts and applicable law, the Honourable Court made several findings and orders. including, notably, a definitive pronouncement in Order 10 that the six-month suspension imposed on the Plaintiff was excessive, overreaching, and inconsistent with her ability to comply with the provisions of Section 63 of the 1999 Constitution. This finding aligns with long-standing judicial precedent as well as the provisions of Order 66(4) of the Senate Standing Orders. 2023 which does not contemplates a suspension exceeding a period of 14days. In consequence, Her Lordship directed that the Senate has the power and indeed should exercise that power to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and allow her to resume representation of the constituents who duly elected her to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This order constitutes a binding decision within the meaning of Section 318 of the Constitution, the letter said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The senator expressed her readiness to return to the Senate on Tuesday, 15 July, and called on the National Assembly to treat the notice with urgency to avoid further infringement on her constitutional rights or contempt for the courts authority. Accordingly, we respectfully demand that you give immediate effect to the clear and binding Order of the Federal High Court by taking all necessary steps to facilitate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghans resumption of her legislative duties forthwith, in full compliance with the Courts judgment. Please, also take notice that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan intends to resume her legislative duties on Tuesday, the 15th day of July, 2025. We trust that this matter will be treated with the urgency and seriousness it demands, in order to avoid any further breach of the Plaintiffs constitutional rights or disregard for the authority of the Court. Appeal against contempt fine Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans notice to resume comes two days after she filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal challenging the N5 million fine imposed on her by the same court. The fine was imposed as part of a contempt ruling issued by Mrs Nyako, who found the senator guilty of civil contempt over a satirical Facebook post made while her case against the Senate was still ongoing. In a notice of appeal dated 9 July and filed by her lead counsel, Roland Otaru (SAN), Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan is asking the appellate court to set aside the contempt conviction. She argues that the ruling was flawed both in fact and in law, and constituted a violation of her right to freedom of expression. The senator is seeking a reversal of the ruling on the basis that it was not only erroneous but also undermines judicial fairness and her right to criticise public institutions within legal bounds. Backstory Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025 for alleged misconduct during the Senate plenary session of 20 February. The suspension was unanimously approved by her colleagues based on the Ethics Committees recommendation. Her suspension was controversial with some accusing the Senate of abuse of power even after she reported the matter to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the global body of parliamentarians. She subsequently approached the court to challenge the suspension, which led to the ruling delivered by Mrs Nyako. The court held that suspending an elected senator for six months was not only disproportionate but also effectively silenced an entire senatorial district for most of the legislative year. It is unclear if the National Assembly will grant the senators request. Only on Thursday, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the removal of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan as chairperson of the diaspora committee of the upper chamber. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has inaugurated the new governing council of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). At the inauguration ceremony on Friday in Abuja, Mr Pate charged the members to build on recent progress towards achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria. He described the newly appointed members as qualified and capable, noting that the council chair, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, brings valuable experience as a former senator and lead sponsor of the NHIA Act. In March, President Bola Tinubu appointed Ibrahim Oloriegbe as Chairman of the NHIA for an initial term of four years. The appointment marks a return to public service for the former senator who represented Kwara Central in the 9th National Assembly. Mr Pate expressed confidence that the new councils combined expertise would be critical to sustaining current momentum and driving the agencys mandate. Call for collaboration While acknowledging challenges in the countrys journey towards universal health coverage, Mr Pate asked the council to build on the progress already made by the NHIA. These include reviewed tariffs for healthcare providers and accelerated support for vulnerable groups under health insurance. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In his remarks, the new Chairperson, Mr Oloriegbe, expressed gratitude and recalled his contributions to health-related legislation during his time in the National Assembly. He said the NHIA Act was one of four key bills he sponsored, alongside the Mental Health Act, the amendment of the Psychiatric Hospitals Act, which led to a neuropsychiatric hospital in Kwara State, and the bill establishing the Federal College of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. He assured stakeholders that the board would commit fully to its duties and serve the country with diligence and integrity. Also, NHIAs Director-General, Kelechi Ohiri, said building a strong health system is a shared responsibility. Mr Ohiri stressed that achieving universal health coverage requires more than government effort; it requires the active involvement of all stakeholders across sectors. He encouraged collaboration among public institutions, the private sector, development partners, and communities to build an inclusive, resilient, and equitable healthcare system for all Nigerians. NHIAs recent achievements Mr Ohiri highlighted some of the agencys recent milestones, including the increase in enrolment from 16.8 million in 2023 to over 20 million Nigerians in 2025. He said this puts Nigeria on track to surpass the 2027 target set by the presidency. Other developments include the enrolment of 2.67 million Nigerians under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, with more than 800,000 new beneficiaries this year. READ ALSO: Africa CDC launches framework to combat health impact of climate change He said over 7,500 women have also accessed maternal health services such as obstetric fistula repair and emergency care across over 200 facilities. The NHIA has also launched a one-hour referral code policy to reduce delays and piloted the integration of HIV and TB services into insurance coverage in five states. It was also revealed that a major tariff review has increased provider payments, with capitation raised by 93 per cent and fee-for-service payments by 378 per cent, and complaint resolution also improved in 2024, with over 80 per cent of issues addressed. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Movement across Lagos State has been officially restricted from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. today, Saturday, as the state conducts its local government elections. The revised restriction order was announced earlier on Thursday by the Lagos State Police Command through a statement signed by the Commands spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State. The new directive aims to allow flexibility for residents with medical emergencies, scheduled appointments, or international travel plans. Movement is restricted across 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State. Only essential workers, including emergency personnel, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) officials, election observers, and journalists with valid accreditation, are permitted to move around during this period. The statement also bans the use of armed escorts, vehicles with covered plates, sirens, and quasi-security or state agency vehicles unless they are accredited by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC). Delays, observations in polling units As of 9:00 a.m., party agents were just beginning to arrive to set up polling units in Ojodu Berger under Ikeja LGA. Many voters who arrived early were seen waiting, while some left to return later. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later At Ojodu Berger, where there are at least four polling units, the security presence is visibly tight and police officers are actively enforcing the movement restriction and maintaining order around the polling areas. A party agent at one of the polling units, who declined to be named until voting officially commenced, said he is hopeful that the turnout would be encouraging. People really want to come out, he said. We came early just so we can vote as expected but the late commencement is quite discouraging. My neighbours have left, some promised to come back to vote, Matthew Adeolu, one of the resident said. According to LASIEC, 139 candidates from 10 political parties are contesting for chairmanship positions in 57 local government areas and local council development areas. In addition, 842 councillorship candidates from 14 political parties are vying for seats in the 376 wards across the state. Out of 19 political parties that showed interest in the election, LASIEC revealed that 15 submitted their candidate lists. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is the only party fielding candidates in all 57 councils and 376 wards, making it the most represented. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is contesting in 45 councils and 259 wards, while the Labour Party is fielding 22 chairmanship and 130 councillorship candidates. The Zenith Labour Party has six chairmanship and 21 councillor candidates. Other parties with candidates include Accord, African Action Congress (AAC), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Young Progressive Party (YPP), Youth Party (YP), Action Peoples Party (APP), and African Democratic Congress (ADC). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Lagos State local government election has gotten off to a slow start on Saturday, as election officials struggle to arrive on time. Officials from the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) arrived in the Ijegun area around 9:30 am, more than an hour after the official start time of 8 a.m. As of 10 a.m., voting, which is scheduled to end at 3 p.m., has not begun. Our correspondent observed that two out of five polling units on the premises of the Ijegun Primary School have yet to receive voting materials. A voter, Dare Ajayi, expressed his disappointment over the delay in the arrival of voting materials. Having arrived at his polling unit as early as 7 a.m., he lamented that the materials were still nowhere to be found. This reporter observed that as of 11:25 a.m., voting materials for polling unit 59, inside Ijegun Local Government Primary School, have not been distributed. READ ALSO: Movement restricted as local government election commences in Lagos Voters, mostly elderly citizens, patiently waited for LASIEC officials, but Mr Ajayi said he would leave if the officials did not arrive soon. Meanwhile, polling units that have begun accreditation and voting experienced low turnout, as voters trickled in to cast their ballots. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later According to the LASIEC, the elections will cover all 57 chairmanship and vice-chairmanship positions, as well as 376 councillors seats. Voting will take place in 13,325 polling units across the state. Lagos currently has 7,060,195 registered voters, out of which 6,214,970 have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). However, 845,225 PVCs remain uncollected, potentially impacting voter turnout. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is facing criticism after it accused the top scorer in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Chinedu Okeke, of foul play. Mr Okeke, who applied to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos, scored 375 out of the 400 maximum marks obtainable in the Computer-Based Test. JAMB Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, had suggested foul play as Mr Okeke was already in the boards system as a fourth year student of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Mr Oloyede, a professor, said the board wrote to the university which noted Mr Okeke is still a student and was doing fine. However, social media users have accused the board of victimising the candidate. For instance, Alex Onyia, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Educare, a software solution for schools, said that the candidate hails from Anambra State and had filled his profile appropriately with JAMB. Mr Onyia, who said he spoke to the candidates parents, claimed the error emerged after JAMB integrated wrong details from the National Identity Number (NIN) platform as contained in his 2021 JAMB slip. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Since 2021, JAMB has mandated the use of NIN for candidates registration for ease of migration of data, uniformity of information and seamless integration. Chinedus NIN Details has since been corrected and transmitted to JAMB in the form of data correction in 2021. This can be confirmed on his profile page, Mr Onyia said. JAMB reacts However, JAMB maintains it operates on the foundation of facts and data, noting that facts available to it are different from what is being portrayed on social media. In a statement by its spokesperson Fabian Benjamin, JAMB said the information available to it from the candidates NIN indicates that he hails from Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State where he sat the 2021 UTME. Firstly, it is inaccurate to assert that Chinedu Okeke hails from Anambra State, JAMB said. According to JAMB, Mr Okeke gained admission to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2021, where he is currently a fourth year student. JAMB added that a review of the students record at UNN has not yet contradicted the information available to it. JAMB said once it receives confirmation that Mr Okeke is no longer a student at UNN, it will promptly notify the Medical and Dental Council to consider delisting him. Until that is done, the board would continue to treat Chinedu with all the dignity he deserves as a bona fide student of one of Nigerias tertiary institutions, the board said. JAMB noted that the inconsistencies in the candidates personal information has raised significant questions. The board explained that candidates identities are established with their NIN through a partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) We do not modify or add to the information provided by candidates; hence, there should be no disputes regarding their identities, the board explained. The assertion that JAMB retrieved incorrect details for Chinedu from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in 2021 is unequivocally false, aimed at fabricating a defence for his case. The evidence suggests that Chinedu altered his records as filled in 2021 prior to registering for the 2025 UTME, a fact confirmed by even his own advocates. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has faulted the claim by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, that President Bola Tinubu was not instrumental to the 2015 electoral victory of former President Muhammadu Buhari. PREMIUM TIMES reported Mr Mustapha as saying that President Bola Tinubu, who was the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the time, did not make Mr Buhari president. He explained that Mr Buhari was already famous and had over 12 million votes in his kitty before the 2015 election. The merger of the legacy parties merely contributed three million votes to his victory at the 2015 presidential election, Mr Mustapha said at the public presentation of a book authored by Garba Shehu, a media aide to the former president, on Wednesday in Abuja. The Presidency swiftly rejected the assertion, describing it as a disservice to our recent history. In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Okechukwu, an APC chieftain who served as VON DG in the administration of Mr Buhari, submitted that President Tinubu laid the premium golden victory votes which made him (Buhari) president in 2015. May I, hereby, plead that there is no need for controversy because my friend, Boss Mustaph, should be excused as he was not with us in 2003 when Buhari began the presidential race. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He was in ACN and did not know the water which passed the realpolitik bridge; this is why he relied only on mathematical calculations of votes in 2015 and not on realpolitik, Mr Okechukwu said. The former DG is one of Mr Buharis long-standing political associates. He left the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) with the former president to float the equally defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which later merged with other opposition parties to form the APC. He was the CPC governorship candidate in Enugu State in the 2011 election. Speaking further, Mr Okechukwu recalled that in Mr Buharis first election in 2003, their submission at the Presidential Election Tribunal was that Buhari won majority votes, not only the 12.7 million, which INEC allocated to him, the ground upon which a former justice of the Supreme Court, Slyverster Nsofors minority judgment rested on that slip numbering, was jettisoned. He added, Then in the 2007 general elections, one of the worst, Buhari was rigged out, which made the famous beneficiary, President Umaru Musa YarAdua to graciously admit that the election which brought him to power was flawed. In 2011, when our merger with Tinubus ACN failed, Buhari lost, and we rekindled the ACN merger once again. Luckily, this time, it produced the premium golden victory votes that propelled our principal to Aso Rock. Mr Okechukwu said that President Tinubus premium golden votes were laid the day he (Tinubu) unequivocally guaranteed Mr Buhari that he would support him to be president with all his political structure. The former VON DG recounted that when Mr Tinubu was asked about his friendship with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, he (Tinubu) agreed and said that he had told them that Mr Buhari is the man with a formidable 12 million vote bank to support. I am a witness to how this scenario played out when we, the delegates of the defunct CPC, were instructed to negotiate only with the ACN. And when we arrived at Chief Tom Ikimis Maitama (Abuja) house, we refused to negotiate with ANPP and co. It took pleadings and adjournments before we all sat together to hatch the APC merger in July 2013. The rest they say is history. Truly, without Asiwajus premium supplementary votes, no two-thirds spread and no victory, Mr Okechukwu said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Voting materials and electoral officers arrived late at many polling units in Lagos State during Saturdays local government elections. The chairmanship and councillorship elections were billed to start at 8.00 a.m. across all the polling units. However, the elections did not start at 8.00 a.m. in many polling units monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Electoral officers and voting materials began to arrive at many polling units after 8.30 a.m. Agege Late arrival of electoral officers was also witnessed at the seven polling units at Agege. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) had announced that electoral materials and officers would be expected to arrive at polling units by 7.00 a.m. A Presiding Officer at Agege, Abiola Choice, attributed her late arrival to her polling unit to late distribution of election materials. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later She said, Even after we got the materials from the registration area centre, there was no vehicle to convey us to polling units. Cornelius Stephen, a 90-year-old voter, who spoke with NAN in Agege, expressed disappointment that the electoral officers did not keep to time. You can see that it is already 8.00 a.m., yet only security personnel are present here at Agege Primary School, Ward 3, he said. Epe, Eredo, Ikosi-Ejinrin At Epe, Eredo and Ikosi-Ejirin, a heavy downpour in the early hours delayed the arrival of electoral officers and materials. It also made many voters not come out early. The rain began at about 5.35 a.m. Deji Agunrege, a resident of Epe, told NAN that the rain might discourage the voters, especially the elderly, and those from distant places from coming out to vote. Okota At 8.48 a.m., electoral officers had yet to arrive at Polling Unit 021 located at Ohafia Junction, Ago Palace Way, Okota in Oshodi/Isolo Local Council Development Area. Some residents were seen jogging and conversing in groups, while tricycle riders continued to ply the roads. Badagry At Badagry, late arrival of electoral officers and election materials also characterised the elections at many polling units. As of 8.48 a.m., electoral officials had yet to arrive at Polling Unit 020 located at Mowo Town Hall. Festac Town Festac Town in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area also recorded late arrival of electoral officers and election materials. The officers and materials had not arrived at polling units in Wards B2, C, K as at 9.15 a.m. Emmanuel Okigwe, Secretary of the Labour Party at Ward C, told NAN that he was worried about the lateness. We are witnessing a lot of irregularities. Our party was unable to inspect the materials. Even at midnight, they still had not brought them, he alleged. A septuagenarian, Akindare Adetifa, also expressed disappointment at the late arrival of electoral officers. He said that, in the past, elections always started early. Egbe/Idimu area Electoral officers and materials were ready at some Egbe/Idimu area as at 9.00 a.m. but there were no voters. Some of the polling units monitored by NAN are 042 at Modupe Shitta, 04 at Yusuf Olatunji, 05 at Olojo/Holmes, 027 at Banjo, and 016 on Lamina Street, all under Egbe/Idimu Ward 5. A mix-up in addresses of some polling units caused a delay in commencement of voting at Egbe-Agodo. At Polling Unit 051, Oguntoyibo, an electoral officer, who did not want to be named, told NAN that his team was unable to set up voting booths because its address was incorrect. We are not in the right location. The address we were given belongs to another polling unit, so we couldnt set up as expected. We have called our supervisor. He is coming possibly with a bus to take us to our polling unit, he said at about 9.00 a.m. In many other areas, voting also started at 9.00 a.m. In Polling Units 040, 042 at Palace Way and Polling 030, 031 and 029 at Unity Nursery and Primary School, as well as Polling Units 018, 019, and 027 located at Muslim College, all in Agodo Egbe, started voting around 9.00 a.m. Voters were seen coming one after the other to cast their votes. After voting, most of them left. There were no signs of voting materials or arrival of electoral officers at Polling Units 030, 031, and 029 located at Unity Nursery and Primary School, Hostel Bus Stop, beside a Mobil filling station in the Egbe-Agodo area, as of 8.00 a.m. Only an agent of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)was seen waiting at one of the polling units. Some voters, who came out early, left after observing no signs of commencement of elections. At Polling Units 014 on Authority Avenue, 012 and 049, all located at Egbe-Agodo, the situation was the same. Lagos Mainland In Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, voters waited for election materials and electoral officers in many polling units monitored by NAN. As at 9.25 a.m., voters were still gathered at various polling units awaiting the arrival of the officers and materials. Accreditation and voting eventually started at 8.50 a.m. and 9.10 a.m. in some locations. Notably, polling units 002, 005, and 007 in Ward E, as well as units 011, 015 and 004 in Ward C, experienced significant delays. Wards F, G, and A also witnessed delayed material distribution. They also recorded low voter turnout as at the time of filing the report. On the other hand, there was a strong turnout at units 008 and 009 in Ward D as well as in Wards B and I. Speaking with NAN, Olayiwola Sholagbade, a voter at Ward D, Unit 009, said: We are still hopeful. Many are indoors watching as events unfold on television and radio. Ikorodu In Ikorodu, Folashade Olabanji-Oba, Vice Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government Area, praised voters for peaceful conduct. READ ALSO: Controversy as JAMB accuses UTME top scorer of foul play Mrs Olabanji-Oba, also Chairman, Association of Vice Chairmen of Nigeria, voted at Polling Unit 01 at Isele. She urged eligible voters to come out en masse and vote. At Polling Unit 119 at Mile 12, voting started at 8.10 a.m. while the exercise started at Polling Unit 115 at 8.25 a.m. Voting began at Polling Unit 030 also at Mile 12 at 8.40 a.m. and took off at polling Unit 050 also at 8.51 a.m. At Polling Unit 004, Opposite Adamson House, Ojogbe, electoral officers began arranging for voting material at 8:58 a.m. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Three police officers were killed on Friday evening in Kebbi State during a battle between the police and suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group. The incident occurred at Zogirma in the Bunza Local Government Area after officers intercepted the terrorists moving to attack commuters on the Zogirma/Tilli road. The police spokesperson in the state, Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the incident. He said several terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, with others escaping into a nearby forest with injuries. Regrettably, three brave police officers lost their lives during the encounter, he said. He said the terrorists fled before a reinforcement from the Zogirma police division, backed by the No 36 Police Mobile Force Squadron, Birnin Kebbi arrived at the battle ground. Kebbi Commissioner of Police, Bello Sani, lauded the resilience, bravery and sacrifice of the fallen officers, offering prayers for their souls. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Sani urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station. He reaffirmed the commands commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the states populace. Earlier, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Nigerian troops, on Wednesday, repelled an attack by an estimated 400 bandits in Ribah town in the Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killing many of the outlaws. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has called for bold and transformative amendments to the 1999 Constitution, highlighting the need for state police, fiscal federalism and gender inclusion as part of his proposal. The governor made the proposal during the North-west zonal public hearing on constitution review, which was held in Kaduna on Saturday. He was represented at the event by his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe. In his address to stakeholders comprising members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women leaders, the governor described constitution review as a moment of national reckoning and urged participants to rise to the challenge of nation-building. Our Constitution must cease to be a document of convenience for the powerful and become a charter of empowerment for the people, he said. This hearing is more than a technical review; it is a deliberation about who we are as a people, what we value, and the kind of future we wish to secure for posterity. Governor Sani identified six key areas that require urgent constitution reform, topmost among which is the creation of state police to tackle insecurity at the grassroots. As a senator in the 9th National Assembly, I personally sponsored several constitutional and legislative bills aimed at establishing State Police Force. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The governor, however, lamented that while the bills passed crucial stages in the Senate, their final adoption faltered due to a lack of political consensus. He said there is a renewed and urgent recognition that decentralised policing is not only desirable but inevitable because security cannot be national if it is not local. Mr Sani also called for fiscal federalism and equitable resource control, criticising the current over-centralised structure. States must be empowered not only to legislate on local matters but to control and benefit more directly from the resources found within their jurisdictions, he said, adding that fiscal federalism is not a concession; it is a constitutional imperative. He also advocated for the recognition of traditional institutions because of their relevance in promoting peace and development. Our traditional rulers are not mere cultural ornaments. They are guardians of community cohesion, peace brokers, and custodians of indigenous governance systems, he said. On gender inclusion, the governor called for constitutional guarantees to increase womens participation in politics and governance. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while half of its population remains underrepresented. He also implored the delegates to legislate with conscience, advising them to rise above partisan interests and sectional sentiments, and speak the language of statesmanship. The public hearing was part of a nationwide consultation by the National Assemblys Constitution Review Committee, aimed at collecting inputs from Nigerians toward amending the 1999 Constitution to reflect current realities. The deputy governors of Kano and Jigawa states, the Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly and the Attorney-General of Katsina State presented memoranda on behalf of their states. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The post-1990 return of democracy in Africa skipped many countries that had established successful dictatorships that stood firm. In Equatorial Guinea, the 82 years old dictator, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has been in power since 1979, making him the longest-serving president in the world. He initially seized power through a military coup and has since remained in office through multiple meaningless re-elections without a level playing ground for the opposition, massive violations of human rights and lack of a free press. Meanwhile, his son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, is the First Vice President and is poised to ascend to the throne of daddy. Paul Biya is the current President of Cameroon and is 91 years old. He has been in power since 1982, making him the second-longest-serving leader in Africa. Arrangements are advanced to present him in the forthcoming elections in October 2025 even if he is not aware as he has gone completely senile. When he had his wits around him, he made no arrangements for succession so he must be kept in power till he dies and the fight to the finish between his wife, children and other members of the cabal commences. Yoweri Museveni (born 15 September 1944) is Ugandas dictator who has been in power since 1986. He is the third longest serving dictator in the world after the two above. On January 2021, Museveni was reelected to a sixth term with 58.6 per cent of the vote, despite many videos and reports showing ballot box stuffing, over 400 polling stations with 100 per cent voter turnout and human rights violations. Musevenis son, Muhozi Kainerugaba, born in 1974 is the Chief of Defence Forces and Chairman of the of the Patriotic League of Uganda, a pressure group lobbying for presidency. These are the examples venerated by so many other wanabe dictators in Africa who want or had wanted to be rulers for life. In Senegal, President Abdoulaye Wade and Macky Sall; in Guinea, Alpha Conde, In Nigeria, Sani Abaca and so on. The latest are the four military dictators that have taken over power in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea, actively engaged in democracy bashing and establishing the levers for arbitrary rule in a post truth world in which they have acquired competence in mind-manipulation using artificial intelligence trolls on the internet. Of course, Togo stands out as an important case study. Eyadema ruled the country for 38 years and his son Faure has been in power since 2005 meaning they have been in power for almost sixty years. This has not gone without resistance. President Faure Gnassingbes extended rule has been consistently contested but he has managed to survive. From 26 to 28 June this year, thousands took to the streets of Lome to protest constitutional reforms that will enable President Faure Gnassingbe to remain in power indefinitely. The 59-year-old was recently sworn in as president of the Council of Ministers, a powerful executive role with no term limits under a newly adopted parliamentary system. The protests were swiftly and violently suppressed. At least four people were killed, dozens were injured, and more than 60 were arrested, according to local civil society groups. Such protests have been happening since he took over power when his father died in 2005. But this country which for long has been used to political fatigue and fractured opposition appears to be taking a new turn. There is a rupture and a generational break rejecting 58 years of political inheritance, from father to son, that has brought nothing but poverty, repression, and humiliation. Most of the protesters are young and have never known another leader. They have grown up with frequent blackouts, crumbling infrastructure, joblessness and shrinking freedoms. The constitutional change, which removed term limits from the new executive role and eliminated direct presidential elections, was a red line. What is perhaps more telling than the protests themselves is that traditional opposition parties that have been weakened by decades of co-optation and exile have taken a back seat and artists, influencers from the diaspora and civil society activists have taken over leadership. This new leadership is aware they are on their own because while they were being killed, the international community, the African Union and ECOWAS were silent. Togos unrest also reflects a broader trend across Africa where youth-led movements are increasingly challenging entrenched political orders not just at the ballot box, but in the streets, on social media and through global solidarity networks. All over the continent, young people are asserting their agency against systems they view as unresponsive, outdated or undemocratic. In Togo, the protests may be domestic in origin, but they are part of a wider regional pulse demanding accountability and renewal. For the youth who led the protests, the message is clear: they are no longer willing to wait. That is exactly the same message from the Kenyan youth. The latest from the country is that President Ruto has asked the police to start shooting young protesters in the legs, rather than the heart and head as they had been doing. Dozens of people have been killed in recent weeks as they protested against recent government policies. While Ruto is ordering the killings, he talks about an attempt to violently overthrow his government. The powerful awakening of the Kenyan youth who leveraged social media to mobilise against a finance bill that would have imposed huge tax levies had an important marker. The biggest mobilisers of the protest were the Gen Zs. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later They were on TikTok, Instagram and on X. They established a link between government policies and the misery in their lives and have decided they will not take it anymore. Africa, home to the worlds youngest population, has seen a wave of youth-led protests fuelled by frustrations over rampant corruption, poor governance, high living costs and rising unemployment. Gen Z and millennials have protested in Senegal, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria and Mozambique in 2024, and analysts expect this activism to intensify in 2025 as grievances persist. They appear to want more than their parents. They are more informed. They are more politically active and we do live in interesting times. Africa has the fastest growing, youngest population of any continent, with 70 per cent of them under the age of 30. The problem is that since the Arab Spring started in the early 2010s, successful youth protests have led to collapse of numerous corrupt and authoritarian governments but not to the emergence of new governments imbued with the spirit of good governance the youth have been fighting four. They have the agency to confront and challenge governments but have not worked out how the grow a new leadership that can produce the outcomes they demand. That is the next stage of the struggle. A protester reacts near a burning barricade during a national shutdown against the election outcome, at Luis Cabral township in Maputo, Mozambique, 7 November, 2024. A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print rsted has closed a finance package of T$90bn ($3.08bn) to support the development of the Greater Changhua 2 offshore wind farm in Taiwan. The deal comprises contributions from 25 banks and five export credit agencies: Export Finance Norway (Eksfin), EIFO Denmark, KEXIM South Korea, T-EXIM Taiwan and UK Export Finance (UKEF). The financial close is part of rsted's broader strategy, which includes an equity divestment programme to be completed when the project becomes operational. The Greater Changhua 2 wind farm is between 50 and 60km offshore Taiwan's Changhua County. With a capacity of 632MW, it includes the operational Greater Changhua 2a and the under-construction Greater Changhua 2b, with full commissioning expected by late 2025. rsted Group chief financial officer Trond Westlie stated: Weve received very strong support from both international and local banks and export credit agencies for the project financing of Greater Changhua 2. This shows that there is a healthy appetite for premium assets with robust contractual structures, and its a clear sign that were working diligently to deliver on our divestment and partnerships programme. While funding of rsteds activities primarily has been undertaken at the group level, we have extensive experience in structuring financing packages on behalf of incoming partners. This transaction is another important step forward for the strategic priorities weve set for ourselves. The project is also expected to support UK-based companies such as Cadeler, CRP Subsea, Ordtek and Cathie to supply services and components. Minister for Exports Gareth Thomas said: This shows how government is boosting exports in our key growth sectors and supporting jobs across the country as part of our Plan for Change. This investment will enable British innovation in renewable technology to scale up Taiwans clean energy transition and follows our modern industrial strategy, which provides up to 13bn of direct lending for UKEF to help businesses to export. In May 2025, rsted finalised the sale of a 24.5% stake in the West of Duddon Sands offshore wind farm, 14km from the west coast of England, to Schroders Greencoat. "rsted finalises $3bn for 632MW Greater Changhua 2 wind farm" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Sometimes the highest act of responsibility is to seek greener pastures, not out of selfishness, but out of a refusal to endorse mediocrity by your continued presence in it. The question then is not whether to stay or go, but whether staying still serves a purpose. And if it does not, then you must ask yourself, what exactly are you remaining for? There is dignity in labour, but there is no dignity in wilful stagnation, and we should be wise enough to know the difference. I recently watched the viral interview with a professor from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), in which he painted a sombre picture of what it means to be an academic in Nigerias public university system today. It was raw and honest, and I respect that. But I must say, I found parts of his argument deeply troubling, not because his complaints were baseless, but because his conclusion was too forgiving of a broken system. He cited cultural and religious considerations, including the need to observe Friday prayers, as reasons he would not take up an academic position in a country like South Korea. If one is suffering in his own country, invoking culture and religion as reasons to remain in that suffering should not go unchallenged. If the reality at home is one of degradation, if the system you serve is not structured to reward merit or dignity, then choosing to stay is no longer a noble act, as it becomes complicity. The very system our professor laments is also the one he defends by refusing to explore better alternatives. There is no honour in remaining within a failing structure out of fear of adjustment elsewhere. Nigerias public university system was not built to survive the realities of the 21st century. It is operating on fumes, driven by sentiment rather than sustainability. There is no coherent model underpinning it today, as there is no meaningful competition, no deliberate investment in excellence, no infrastructure to support world-class research or teaching. And the result is a cycle of strikes, underpayment and mass disillusionment. But what concerns me more than the systems failure is the resignation with which many accept it. If you are educated and equipped with marketable skills, it is not a virtue to stay where you are consistently disrespected and undervalued. It is not a badge of honour to endure perpetual frustration in the name of loyalty to a place that offers you no dignity in return. We must learn to differentiate between perseverance and stagnation. There are moments when the only dignified protest is departure. And yes, I do mean literal departure. In a country where those who hold power over your income do not see you as a priority, where negotiations begin and end with the assumption that you have no better option, the only way to command respect is to create absence. Complaints do not shake a government, but consequences do. If the government sees no visible loss in academics leaving, why would it take them seriously? The strikes are not working. Every time ASUU down tools, the government simply waits them out. It has learnt, over time, that after months of protest, the same lecturers who initiated the strike will quietly return, often weakened by financial strain. Worse still, some beg for work to resume, not because their demands have been met, but because their situation has become desperate. This sends a dangerous message, that no matter how long the strike lasts, the lecturers will come back eventually and nothing significant will change. It is a retrospective fallacy that suggests that because your lecturers remained in the system long enough to teach you, which presumably led to a positive outcome, their continued presence must always be right or justified. This ignores the fact that we are no longer talking about the past, but we are confronting a present-day reality that these same lecturers have acknowledged as harmful and unsustainable. But imagine, for a moment, a different kind of consequence. Imagine if the very people leading these strikes, such as departmental heads, union leaders and senior lecturers, suddenly began to exit en masse, not with noise but with quiet resolve. Imagine if top academics began to accept positions in global institutions, because they could no longer justify being part of a theatre of perpetual failure. Such exits would send a powerful message to both government and society that the system has failed, and we are no longer lending it our credibility. And I find it intellectually lazy when people argue that you should not advise your former lecturers to consider alternative paths, even when they themselves have expressed dissatisfaction with their current situation, simply because they once taught you. This line of reasoning shifts the discussion away from exploring meaningful solutions, whether good or bad, and instead reduces it to a personal matter. Beyond its intellectual weakness, the argument rests on a clear philosophical fallacy, one that ought to be recognised before anyone enters a serious discussion. It is a retrospective fallacy that suggests that because your lecturers remained in the system long enough to teach you, which presumably led to a positive outcome, their continued presence must always be right or justified. This ignores the fact that we are no longer talking about the past, but we are confronting a present-day reality that these same lecturers have acknowledged as harmful and unsustainable. The flaw in the argument also extends to a false cause fallacy, that implies that ones success is solely due to the lecturers who stayed in the system, as if no alternative paths or educators could have provided a comparable or even better outcome all over the world. It presumes a single, linear cause-effect relationship, without any evidence that the presence of those particular lecturers was either the only or necessary condition for success. The reasoning also contains a moralistic fallacy, which is the assumption that because something ought to be the case (that lecturers should stay and educate ideally), then it must always remain so, regardless of changing conditions or harsh realities. Such a position is detached from the complex and often difficult choices people must make in the face of a broken or unrewarding system. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The gap between merit and outcome is vast and cruel. Professor Farooq Kperogi also once noted that many Nigerian elites cannot intimidate him despite their wealth because he is living a life they themselves can only dream of. Thus, it is not about riches but about freedom, and too many in Nigeria are trapped not only by poverty, but also by the persistent illusion that they must stay and endure no matter the cost. Professor Moses Ochonu once remarked that beyond the obvious economic advantages of moving abroad, there are also intangible benefits that are rarely discussed. In societies that function, a decent home, quality education for your children, a reliable healthcare system, occasional family holidays and peace of mind are attainable for those who work hard. But in Nigeria, these things are luxuries that depend as much on fortune as on effort. Even the most disciplined professionals often need a touch of luck to achieve a modestly fulfilling life. The gap between merit and outcome is vast and cruel. Professor Farooq Kperogi also once noted that many Nigerian elites cannot intimidate him despite their wealth because he is living a life they themselves can only dream of. Thus, it is not about riches but about freedom, and too many in Nigeria are trapped not only by poverty, but also by the persistent illusion that they must stay and endure no matter the cost. My own belief is that we must be equipped for eventualities. In life, we should hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. And part of that preparation means cultivating the skills and exposure needed to move if things do not improve. No scripture, constitution or cultural edict says you must suffer endlessly in the place where you were born. Sometimes the highest act of responsibility is to seek greener pastures, not out of selfishness, but out of a refusal to endorse mediocrity by your continued presence in it. The question then is not whether to stay or go, but whether staying still serves a purpose. And if it does not, then you must ask yourself, what exactly are you remaining for? There is dignity in labour, but there is no dignity in wilful stagnation, and we should be wise enough to know the difference. Mohammed Dahiru Aminu ([email protected]) wrote from Abuja, Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print For an electricity market like this to work efficiently and in which confidence is shared by all, Nigeria must change its ways of running the power sector. This means strengthening NERC so that it can have greater independence and more capability, as well as embracing performance-based rewards for those who do well. The British model offers practical insights, not a blueprint. It is a toolkit shaped over decades that Nigeria can adapt to its own reality. Nigerias power sector is still plagued by persistent structural inefficiencies. Political slogans and patchwork solutions will not solve the problem. Nigeria lacks a strong regulatory framework that is clearly defined and built on performance indicators. With a population of more than 200 million people and a soaring demand for energy, the system has reduced investment, stopped the delivery of services, and wasted the publics energy. Worldwide, one good example can be found in Britain, whose electric power market, albeit operating in a liberalised and disciplined framework, is still overseen by the independent Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). The organisational goals of Ofgem include consumer protection, infrastructure planning, innovation, and enforcement services, as well as others. What makes it unique is its commitment to realigning the incentives of public utilities with those of measurable results, while being managed by clear regulations that are relatively free from interference by politicians. The Nigerian regulator, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), was established under the Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 and has similar powers. NERC issues licenses, sets tariffs, and regulates to protect consumers, while expanding the industry. But in practice, these powers are undermined by a tendency towards regulatory capture, weak enforcement, and fragmented decision-making. As a result, NERC is simply unable to act as a referee that the market can respect. One vivid example of regulatory failure is Nigerias metering crisis. A recent report of the National Bureau of Statistics shows that as of 2023, 85.2 per cent of electricity customers were still subject to estimated billing, with only 14.8 per cent using prepaid meters. This imbalance doesnt just reflect an administrative lapse. It encourages inefficiency, causes financial losses and fosters mistrust. Estimated billing has become symbolic of the broader culture of opacity and lack of accountability in Nigerias power sector. In the United Kingdom, metering is universal. Smart meters are increasingly deployed to allow real-time billing, monitor consumption patterns and optimise the grid. Utilities are compelled to meet specific metering targets and they face financial penalties if they fail. This focus on data helps shape better planning, load management and policy intervention. Nigerias regulators, in contrast, lack reliable data and insight into the operations of power companies. Without that foundation, reform is difficult to measure and impossible to enforce. Each distribution company could be scored on an annual basis, with the level of gross margins they are allowed to keep being determined accordingly. This would mean a move from a top-down bureaucracy model towards evidence-based supervision hinged on performance, rather than methods. For it to work successfully, however, a strong data system and independent monitoring must be built Nigeria has this unique opportunity to design its own performance-based regulatory scheme, with inspiration drawn from, not outright imitation of the UKs RIIO framework. The RIIO (Revenue = Incentives + Innovation + Outputs) framework places network operators under multi-year price controls linked to performance indicators such as customer satisfaction, frequency of outages, and investment performance. It rewards those meeting set standards, and penalises those who fall short. NERC could translate this to Nigerias network conditions by basing itself on three-dimensional indicators: transformer life expectancy, time for faults to be repaired, and the ratio of prepaid/normal meters in use. Each distribution company could be scored on an annual basis, with the level of gross margins they are allowed to keep being determined accordingly. This would mean a move from a top-down bureaucracy model towards evidence-based supervision hinged on performance, rather than methods. For it to work successfully, however, a strong data system and independent monitoring must be built, and there must be genuine political commitment to enforce sanctions, regardless of ownership or influence. Regulation cannot be produced in an incubator. It also requires brisk investments in transmission lines and automation, as well as fostering a technical workforce. But often long-term plans are upset by political changes or shifts in priorities, though there are professionals with experience, as well as those willing to change the old mould. What is lacking is durability: Institutions that escape influence and remain committed to technical ability. Consumer engagement is another area in which Nigeria falls far short. In the UK, consumers know the ins and outs of price setting, torch information services, and their rights under the law in detail. Regulatory decisions in the public interest often concern members of the public and are subject to detailed impact assessments. Nigeria, in contrast, typically engages the public only in a superficial manner. Complaints go unanswered, and regulatory hearings seldom produce change. Rebuilding the publics confidence requires not just correcting billing habits but also a move away from an ethos of obscurity and lack of accountability seen within Nigerias power sector. The countrys power supply likewise suffers severely from infrastructural constraints. The grid is patchy, erratic, and underpowered, as parts of it built in colonial times simply break down. Load shedding is routine and voltage variation common. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Regulation cannot be produced in an incubator. It also requires brisk investments in transmission lines and automation, as well as fostering a technical workforce. But often long-term plans are upset by political changes or shifts in priorities, though there are professionals with experience, as well as those willing to change the old mould. What is lacking is durability: Institutions that escape influence and remain committed to technical ability. For an electricity market like this to work efficiently and in which confidence is shared by all, Nigeria must change its ways of running the power sector. This means strengthening NERC so that it can have greater independence and more capability, as well as embracing performance-based rewards for those who do well. The British model offers practical insights, not a blueprint. It is a toolkit shaped over decades that Nigeria can adapt to its own reality. Maclean Jacob Eneotu is an energy policy expert based in Glasgow, United Kingdom. He holds a PhD in Chemical and Process Engineering and has worked in regulatory and academic roles. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Umar Namadi has reiterated his administrations commitment to environmental sustainability as Jigawa State prepares to host the 2025 Green World Day event. The event, marking the 10th anniversary of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), is slated for 29 July, 2025, in Dutse and will be the first time the summit is hosted outside the Federal Capital Territory. Speaking while receiving the Director-General of NAGGW, Saleh Abubakar, and his team at the Government House, Dutse, Mr Namadi hailed the decision to bring the celebration to Jigawa State. You are coming to Jigawa today, and the objective for which you cameI think it is an honour that we will continue to cherish, he said. The governor emphasised the long-standing relationship between his administration and the agency, noting that Jigawa is not a new partner but an active and dependable ally. I can remember that I was one of the first governors that paid a visit to the agency when I assumed office. So, I began to build a very strong relationship with the agency. I also visited again. I think I visited the agency about two times. This shows that we, as a government and people of Jigawa State, recognise the importance of this agency. We, as one of the frontline states, have a partner that is willing to assist us and work together to support our environment. And we will try as much as possible to restore the degraded soil we have in many parts of this state. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Speaking earlier, the director-general outlined the significance of Jigawas selection as the host state for this years celebration, saying that Jigawa ranks highest among the 11 frontline states in terms of Great Green Wall activities and international donor engagement. Jigawa State is among the 11 frontline states of our operation. So, for the strategic importance of the state, aside from the normal operation of the Great Green Wall activities, projects like the Action Against Desertification were all executed in Jigawa State. The agency will be bold to state that Jigawa State has the highest number of Great Green Wall activities and other international funding support. Hence, the reason to select Jigawa State as the venue for this years Great Green Wall Day, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of the agency, Mr Abubakar stated. He also announced that the summit will feature six major activities: a National Green Summit, fund-raising campaigns, tree-planting drives, environmental education, cultural engagement, and awards for partners and contributors. Mr Abubakar also revealed that Nigeria planned to plant 20 billion trees between this year and 2030, citing Ethiopias 7.5 billion tree milestone as inspiration. So, within these five years, Your Excellency, we want to plant 20 billion trees in this country. Responding, Governor Namadi reassured the agency of Jigawas full partnership and hospitality. I want to assure you that Jigawa State is happy to host this years summit, and we are ready to ensure its success in Dutse. You will not regret choosing Jigawa as the host state. You will find us cooperative and accommodating, as we always are. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Umar Namadi has declared that Jigawa State remains the leading state in road infrastructure across Nigeria, as independently confirmed by the World Bank, during an official visit by the House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), led by the committees chairman, Dr Aderemi Abbas Oseni. While receiving the committee at the Government House, Dutse, Mr Namadi highlighted the states unmatched achievements in road construction and maintenance across the country. As of today, we are number one in Nigeria in terms of road networks. Thats not me saying itits from the World Bank, he said. We inherited 320 km of roads. Out of 26 projects, 25 have been completed. In December last year, we awarded contracts for 47 roads covering over 970 km. Some of these projects have reached over 50% completion. Others are at different stages. Despite these gains, the governor raised concerns over abandoned federal road projects under FERMAs purview, particularly the Kafin HausaKwanar LimanHadejia road, which he said has remained untouched for over five years. He also drew attention to the deteriorating GumelMegatari road and the Birnin KuduGwaram road, including a critical federal bridge on the Gwaram axis that has shifted and poses a serious threat. Weve reported these issues to the Federal Ministry of Works, but budgetary allocations are always minimalsometimes only 100N200 million, leading to ineffective maintenance. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Governor Namadi praised the committees oversight role in taking time to assess road infrastructure projects across the country, stressing that Jigawa State is committed to strong collaboration with the federal government on infrastructure delivery. Jigawa is working closely with the federal government to improve infrastructure. And we will continue to partner with committees like yours to deliver for our people. Speaking earlier, Mr Oseni commended the Jigawa State Government for the strides recorded in road infrastructure and prudent management of resources. Ive been to many states, and I must say, from what Ive seen and heard, Jigawa is truly blessed with a competent leader, he said. What has been done here, what is happening here today, and what has been done so far in the last one year in Jigawa State is a clue that Jigawa State is blessed with the right person at the helm of affairs. He pledged that the committee would work to address FERMAs funding gaps and prioritize Jigawas federal road projects in the 2026 appropriation. We will objectively analyse the areas not covered by FERMA and ensure that more funding is added. We are proud of what is happening here, and we will do everything within our reach to support your vision. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Suspected Kidnappers on Friday attempted to abduct Abubakar Saidu, chairman of Gassol Local Government Council of Taraba in his house located at GRA, Jalingo. Mr Saidu told journalists in Jalingo that eight assailants arrived at his residence at 2:00 a.m. in the early hours of Friday, armed with sophisticated weapons. He said that the kidnappers were carrying four AK 47 rifles, and one of them was wearing a mask. Mr Saidu explained that he sighted them through the window while they were making efforts to gain access to his residence. The chairman said he quickly called the Divisional Police Officer of the GRA division, who quickly responded as the assailants fled the scene. While commending the police and vigilance group personnel for their timely intervention, he appealed to the Commissioner of Police to beef up security in his house. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Taraba Police Command, James Lashen, confirmed the development. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Lashen said that though no arrest was made, the command had commenced an investigation into the matter. He advised residents to be conscious of their environment and report every suspicious movement to the police. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The head of the Katsina State Reformatory Centre, Babbar Ruga, and two other officials have been suspended over the alleged torture of an inmate identified as Usman Musa. The suspensions, approved by Governor Dikko Radda on Friday night, came after a committee found the three officials culpable in an incident that led to the amputation of Mr Musas left hand and severe injury to his right hand. A statement from the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Faskari, named the officials as Abdulzahir Abubakar, the principal of the centre; Bala Abubakar, the vice principal; and Yunusa Yusuf, a porter. Similarly, Governor Radda ordered the immediate termination of the appointment of Murtala Suleiman, a casual staff member at the centre, for his involvement. To support the victims rehabilitation, Governor Radda approved N970,000 for his medical bills and a further N35 million for the procurement of a sensor-enabled prosthetic hand to aid his recovery and reintegration into society. READ ALSO: Katsina unveils committee for constitution review The governor also accepted the recommendations of the investigating committee to upgrade the State Reformatory Centre to align with international best practices in correctional management and inmate welfare. The committee, led by Usman Isiyaku, Special Adviser on Public Administration and Service Reforms, has been tasked to oversee the implementation of the approved measures to ensure strict compliance and long-term reform at the centre. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Senate President Godswill Akpabio has formally handed over the structure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom to the State Governor, Umo Eno. I want to formally hand over the APC structure in Akwa Ibom to the new leader of the party in the state, Mr Akpabio remarked at the ceremony in Government House, Uyo, on Friday. By symbolically handing over the broom that will sweep away poverty, underdevelopment, and disunity from Akwa Ibom. Mr Akpabios remarks drew applause from party faithful in the banquet hall where the event took place. Governor Eno, APC Mr Eno formally joined the ruling APC last month, ending the 26-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom, the party whose platform he was elected governor. At the ceremony held to receive him into the APC, the governor said he was not afraid of joining the party, stressing that it is through the APC that Akwa Ibom would realise the Ibom Deep Seaport project, began over two decades ago by the administration of then-Governor Victor Attah. We are not afraid of joining the APC, for we know that with the APC we would realise our Ibom Deep Seaport. That is our plea. For over 30 years, Akwa Ibom has struggled to have a seaport, but today we are reassured that the federal government will help us to realise the seaport, he said. At the event, Mr Eno thanked the people of the state for supporting him and promised to remain the governor for all, irrespective of his political alignment. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Akpabio, who represents Akwa Ibom North-West in the Senate, was the leader of the party in the state until last month. The former National Chairperson of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, had at the reception ceremony announced Mr Eno as the new leader of the party in the state. Mr Ganduje, who recently resigned as the partys national chairperson, declared at the event that the Senate president, Mr Akpabio, is a national leader of the party. Mr Akpabio, a former governor of the state, formally handed over the party structure in the state to Mr Eno on Friday at the ceremony attended by leaders of the party. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, Seme Border Command, Absullahi Adamu, says his command did not receive any directives to close the border over Saturdays Lagos State council elections. Mr Adamu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Seme on Saturday that the border is an international one, under the Exclusive Legislative List. According to Mr Adamu, his command did not receive any letter from the Lagos State Government or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the election. Closing of an international border should come from higher authority. There is no information regarding restriction of movement till 3.00.p.m, so our status quo remains, he said. He said the border cannot be closed against people coming into the country. But he added that his command can only advise travellers to wait till 3.00.p.m. after stamping them in before leaving the border. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Adamu said that foreigners coming into the country through the border would be urged to hang somewhere, after stamping their passports till 3.00.p.m. before leaving the border. He, however, said the command would act accordingly if they received orders to restrict movement. PREMIUM TIMES reported that voting is expected to take place in 13,325 polling units across the state. Lagos currently has 7,060,195 registered voters, out of which 6,214,970 have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). However, 845,225 PVCs remain uncollected, potentially impacting voter turnout. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has voted in the ongoing local government elections held across the State on Saturday. He voted at exactly 11:09 a.m. on Saturday at Polling Unit 006, Saint Stephens Nursery and Primary School, Lagos Island Local Government Area. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) officials arrived at Ward E3, Polling Unit 006, at about 7:30 a.m. for the Lagos State council polls. The governor, accompanied by his wife, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, acknowledged some earlier logistics issues in certain areas, which he said had been resolved. Everything is okay here, he said. Although the unit is heavily populated, voting is progressing well, and the officers are present. Ive voted successfully. Party agents are here, and its extremely peaceful. Ive seen some logistics issues on TV, but I believe theyve now been resolved, the governor said. He noted that some officers experienced delays reaching their polling units, but expressed gratitude for the calm and favourable weather. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later I commend LASIEC. This election is very important, and I believe results will be compiled later in the day, he said. The governor stressed the importance of local government as a vital tier for grassroots development and public service delivery. It is vital people realise this is the closest government to them. Ive fulfilled my civic responsibility, Sanwo-Olu said. He urged Lagos residents to come out and vote, describing the process as peaceful and encouraging wider participation. I know there were some initial logistics hiccups at certain polling units, but I understand those have now been addressed. Lets continue to come out in large numbers and vote, the governor appealed. NAN reports that LASIEC is conducting elections into 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across the state. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print ROME, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wonderful Indonesia, the official tourism campaign of the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, is bringing the country's rich culture, nature, and hospitality to the heart of Rome this July. From July 1 to 31, 2025, Indonesian tourism takes center stage in the Italian capital through a vibrant Open Bus Tour and Out-of-Home (OOH) campaign that highlights Indonesia's most iconic and emerging destinations. A Rome city tour bus featuring a Wonderful Indonesia advertisement passes by the iconic Colosseum, promoting Indonesia's tourism throughout July 2025 This initiative is designed to foster a closer connection between Italian travelers and Indonesia by spotlighting the nation's Priority Tourism Destinations and Regenerative Destinations, including Lake Toba (North Sumatra), Borobudur (Central Java), Mandalika (West Nusa Tenggara), Labuan Bajo (East Nusa Tenggara), and the ever-popular island of Bali. Strategic OOH placements are visible in high-traffic locations such as Piazza Risorgimento and Piazzale Flaminio, while the open-top bus tour traverses Rome's most iconic landmarks, including: Stazione Termini Santa Maria Maggiore Colosseo Circo Massimo Piazza Venezia Castel Sant 'Angelo 'Angelo Via Vittorio Veneto Piazza Barberini According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), international tourist arrivals reached 1.31 million, reflecting a 14.01% year-on-year increase. European tourist visits in May 2025 reached 192,235, a 1.06% increase year-to-date, with an average length of stay of 17.08 nights. These figures underscore Europe's, and especially Italy's, growing significance as a market for Indonesian tourism. For 2025, Indonesia targets over 2.7 million tourist arrivals from Europe, representing 17.3% of the international tourism target, with at least 144,000 visitors expected to come from Italy. This campaign is a strategic move by Wonderful Indonesia to deepen its promotional efforts across Europe. It also supports the Ministry of Tourism's flagship programs, which focus on creating immersive, personal, and authentic travel experiences. These include gastronomy tourism, marine-based exploration, and wellness travel, offering Italian tourists meaningful journeys rooted in local culture, nature, and tradition. The campaign also reflects Indonesia's strong commitment to sustainable tourism and inclusive economic growth, especially amid a global rebound in travel during the summer holiday season. It sends a clear message that Indonesia is ready to welcome visitors with a safe, warm, and unforgettable travel experience. Wonderful Indonesia recognizes the power of international Out-of-Home campaigns in strengthening brand presence and elevating Indonesia's reputation as a world-class, welcoming destination. These activations are thoughtfully designed to connect with today's mobile, urban audiences by integrating Indonesia into their daily surroundings and public experiences. "Out-of-home advertising allows us to engage with people in real-time, in real places. By activating in key European cities like Rome, we aim to boost awareness and inspire future travel to Indonesia," said Widiyanti, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia. "This initiative not only promotes our diverse destinations but also plays a role in revitalizing Indonesia's tourism economy and unlocking broader opportunities for local communities." For more information, please visit and follow: Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2728575/DCM_2927.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2728543/Wonderful_1024x724_Logo.jpg We recently published Jim Cramers Fresh 14 Stocks & Thoughts About Market Performance. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is a SaaS company that provides customer relationship management software. The firm has spent a large portion of 2025 locked in a fierce battle with Microsoft for AI CRM supremacy. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM)s shares have lost 20% year-to-date as investors are worried not only about the firms AI platform Agentforce showing modest market penetration but also about its non-AI businesses underperforming in todays AI-driven enterprise software industry. Cramer discussed the effect of AI on Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM): [On Morgan Stanley saying Tim Cooks successor could benefit from having a hardware background] Well look, its funny hardware is part of the, Im glad you mentioned hardware, hardwares part of the issue of how NVIDIA got to where it is. This is an essentially, theres a belief in many people on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley, that hardware prevails here because were gonna get rid of a huge number of people who would do SaaS, you know, software as a service, and that includes, yes, Salesforce. . . . Because there are going to be fewer and fewer people who are actually in the organization who need that. But that does not mean that you wouldnt need more Apple. Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) Is Competing With The Rise Of AI, Says Jim Cramer A customer service team in an office setting using the company's Customer 360 platform to communicate with customers. Cramer discussed the divide in Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM)s products in his earlier remarks: Now this is tough for me, because my charitable trust owns Salesforce. And Salesforce, even though its embraced agentic, is regarded as company, that well you know what they have a lot of stuff that really doesnt do anything. How about that Texas Instruments? And its a nice renaissance. While we acknowledge the potential of CRM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. GUIYANG, China, July 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from Discover Guizhou: From July 2 to 6, 2025, the Tsinghua Global Youth Dialogue took place in Guizhou, bringing together 22 exceptional youth representatives from 14 countries and regions. Under the theme "Opportune China, Youth Talks: Insights into Chinese Modernization from Guizhou Practice," participants engaged in a series of cultural, technological, and ecological experiences designed to showcase China's unique path to modernization. Global Youth Witness Chinese-style Modernization in Guizhou Guizhou, often called the "Mountain Park Province," is known for its rich ethnic diversity and stunning natural scenery. Delegates visited the famous Huangguoshu Waterfall, Asia's largest, where many expressed admiration for the province's commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental protection. "Here, you can truly feel the harmony between humans and nature," said Nhial Deng, a young participant from Kenya. "China has shown that rapid development does not mean sacrificing culture or the environment." The dialogue also highlighted Guizhou's strides in technological innovation. In Gui'an New Area, Guizhou, participants experienced green transportation firsthand by riding self-driving minibuses, a symbol of China's push towards smart, sustainable urban development. Ignacio, an environmental organizer from Latin America, noted, "China is making significant progress in addressing climate change through technology, which is crucial for the planet's future." Cultural heritage was another focal point. At the "Xiu Li Tao" intangible cultural heritage market in Kaili City, international youth donned traditional ethnic costumes and took part in the lively "Village Runway Show." The event celebrates local crafts such as batik, Miao embroidery, and wood carving, blending tradition with contemporary expression. Nadhira, a sustainability manager from Indonesia, reflected, "Traditional culture is alive here, passed down and innovated by young people. This is a powerful example for the world." Technological achievements were further showcased at the Bailin River Guizhou Bridge Technology Museum, where digital twin technology and BIM modeling illustrate the province's infrastructure advancements. The "Red Banderole" museum offered an immersive digital experience of China's revolutionary history through holograms and virtual reality. Cypriot youth delegate Fyodor Dmitrenko remarked, "Guizhou's transformation from a less developed region to a digital economy leader exemplifies how modernization can be inclusive and people-centred." As their journey in Guizhou concludes, the international youth depart with newfound insights into Chinese-style modernization, sharing the previously unseen charm of the province with every corner of the globe. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2729894/video.mp4 NEW YORK, July 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Hims & Hers Health, Inc. ("Hims & Hers" or the "Company") (NYSE: HIMS). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. The class action concerns whether Hims & Hers and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. You have until August 25, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Hims & Hers securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On April 29, 2025, Hims & Hers announced a long-term collaboration with Novo Nordisk, starting with the immediate sale of "a bundled offering of Novo Nordisk's FDA-approved Wegovy on the Hims & Hers platform." Then, on June 23, 2025, Novo Nordisk issued a press release announcing that it was terminating its partnership with Hims & Hers, citing "Hims & Hers deceptive promotion and selling of illegitimate, knockoff versions of Wegovy that put patient safety at risk." The press release stated that Hims & Hers "has failed to adhere to the law which prohibits mass sales of compounded drugs under the false guise of 'personalization.'" The press release further stated that "[b]ased on Novo Nordisk's investigation, the 'semaglutide' active pharmaceutical ingredients that are in the knock-off drugs sold by telehealth entities and compounding pharmacies are manufactured by foreign suppliers in China" which "FDA has never authorized or approved and which may contain unsafe and illicit foreign ingredients." On this news, Hims & Hers' stock price fell $22.24 per share, or 34.63%, to close at $41.98 per share on June 23, 2025. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Danielle Peyton Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 646-581-9980 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP New Report Highlights Expanding Innovation, Job Creation and Community Investment in Baltimore and Beyond BALTIMORE, July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Morgan State University continues to prove that its value extends well beyond the classroom. According to a newly released economic impact study conducted by the independent firm Econsult Solutions, Inc. (ESI), Morgan contributes a staggering $1.5 billion annually to the State of Maryland's economy, cementing its position as one of the region's most impactful and forward-moving institutions. More than a number, this valuation tells a story of jobs created, lives transformed and communities empowered through research, education, innovation and strategic capital investment. The University also supports 8,200 jobs across Maryland and contributes nearly $71 million annually in state tax revenues, showcasing Morgan's role as both a major employer and economic engine. New Report Highlights Expanding Innovation, Job Creation and Community Investment in Baltimore and Beyond Post this "As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan is a catalyst for statewide prosperity. We demonstrate every day that every dollar invested in us returns impressive dividends to the State of Maryland. From our pioneering research projects to our massive role in local community and economic development, our impact is impactful, transformational and intentional," said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. "The bottom line is that Morgan is a jewel in the state's higher education crown." Since Morgan's first economic impact study was conducted in 2018, the University's annual contribution has steadily grown with each subsequent report from nearly $1.0 billion in 2018 to $1.1 billion in 2021 and now $1.5 billion in 2024, a 51.52% overall increase since the inaugural assessment. The upward trajectory correlates with more than $1.2 billion in capital investments over the past 15 years, including the completed construction of the five-story, 141,000-square-foot Calvin and Tina Tyler Hall and the $171-million Health and Human Services Center, and the current construction of $337-million Science Complex, the largest academic facility in the University's history. Other key learnings from the most recent Economic Impact Report include: Morgan students and campus visitors contribute $161 million annually to Maryland's economy, with $150 million stemming from student spending alone. annually to economy, with stemming from student spending alone. Morgan alumni living and working in Maryland earn approximately $700 million more each year as a direct result of their Morgan education and credentials. To read the full announcement release, click here. SOURCE Morgan State University GUANGZHOU, China, July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 8, 2025, Heungkong Group and Tantron Group (TTG) co-hosted the Global Smart Ecosystem Summit (GSES) in Guangzhou, unveiling a historic leap for the smart home sector. The summit highlighted three industry-first breakthroughs: the world's inaugural interoperable, multi-protocol, and multi-scenario full-link smart ecosystem; unprecedented collaboration among 20+ global top-tier brands; and the launch of the Global Smart Ecosystem Initiative, a consensus-based framework endorsed by industry leaders. This milestone cements China's shift from follower to frontrunner in smart home innovation. Ending Silos: Universal Gateway Technology Breaks Compatibility Limits For years, fragmented standards and protocol incompatibility have stifled smart home innovation. Heungkong Group, TTG, and global giantsincluding Switzerland's V-ZUG, Germany's Gaggenau, and Japan's Panasonichave now broken the deadlock with their Universal Gateway technology. The solution bridges Matter, PLC, and Zigbee protocols, enabling real-time, cross-brand device synchronization. TTG founder Yao Minghai compared the system to a "polyglot translator", allowing devices that "speak different languages" to work seamlessly together. Tan Jianrong of the Chinese Academy of Engineering called the shift from single-device intelligence to full-link ecosystem intelligence a "transformative leap"paralleling the evolution from feature phones to smartphones. Heungkong No.1: World's First Ecosystem Demonstration Project Launches The Heungkong No.1 project has established three industry-firsts: cross-brand scenario-level device integration; full-lifecycle smart home service platform; and deep AI self-learning integration into home ecosystems. This innovation sets a new global standard for smart living. Mei Hing Chak, Chairwoman of Heungkong Group, stated, "We've combined German Industrie 4.0 precision, Swiss craftsmanship, and Chinese innovation to create a new future for smart living." Xu Xiaojian from Gaggenau announced the brand's first-ever full-link ecosystem integration, with dual support for Matter and Heungkong No.1 protocols. Driving Global Standards: China's Vision Gains International Backing The summit achieved unprecedented global alignment: Yves Leterme, former Belgian Prime Minister and Honorary Dean of Heungkong No.1 Future Life Art Institute, publicly endorsed the initiative; V-ZUG launched weekly technical exchanges with Chinese partnersa first for the Swiss manufacturer; while ASKO celebrated the collaboration as " Nordic engineering meets next-generation Chinese platform design ". More than 20 heritage brandsincluding Gaggenau, V-ZUG, ASKO, and Panasonicjointly unveiled the Global Joint Initiative on Full-Link Smart Home Ecosystems. The China-proposed framework establishes 10 principles addressing interoperability, user data ownership, and sustainable technology. Professor Jin Sheng, AI ethics authority, highlighted its integration of "transparency, controllability, and explainability"calling it "essential for ethical AI advancement." In a virtual keynote, former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic noted, "Heungkong No.1 proves true progress isn't about technology alone, but humanity's wisdom in wielding itnot merely a market opportunity, but the evolution of civilization." SOURCE Heungkong Group Scooters Coffee, a drive-through coffee chain based in the US, is evaluating a possible sale that could value the privately held business at $1bn, as reported by Reuters. The company, founded by Don and Linda Eckles, has enlisted Bank of America and RW Baird to handle the sale process. The chain, established in 1998 in Bellevue, Nebraska, operates more than 850 locations across 30 US states using a franchise model. Its coffee is sourced from Harvest Roasting, an affiliated entity. Scooters generates annual revenue close to $500m. Bank of America declined to provide a statement, while Scooters, RW Baird and McCarthy Capital, a stakeholder in the company, did not respond to Reuters inquiries. McCarthy Capital, an Omaha-based investment company focused on mid-market businesses, acquired a stake in Scooters in 2018. Private equity firms have shown increasing interest in franchise-based restaurant chains due to their consistent royalty income and cost-effective operations. Recent transactions include Blackstone Growths investment in drive-through coffee chain 7 Brew and the acquisition of Jersey Mikes Subs by Blackstones main private equity fund in 2024. Roark Capital purchased Daves Hot Chicken in 2024 and finalised its acquisition of Subway in 2023. Dutch Bros, a comparable drive-through coffee chain, went public in 2021 with a valuation exceeding $5bn after being backed by private equity firm TSG Consumer. "Scooters Coffee explores sale valued close to $1bn" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Houston, July 12 : US President Donald Trump visited central Texas, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. The search is continuing, though no survivors have been found since July 5, according to officials from the hardest-hit Kerr County in central Texas, Xinhua news agency reported. More than 2,100 responders from local authorities, 20 US states and several federal agencies joined the search and rescue. The local, state and federal governments have done an "incredible job" in managing the flooding response, rescue and recovery, Trump said in Texas after surveying the damage on Friday. "We just were making a little tour of the area. It's hard to believe the devastation. Trees that are 100 years old, just ripped out of the ground. I've never seen anything like it. I've seen a lot of bad ones," Trump said. "This has been incredible, really, the job you've all done," Trump said at a roundtable event. "I've gone to some real bad ones; I've never seen anything like this." Asked by a reporter for his reaction to those who questioned why there were no earlier alerts ahead of the flooding, Trump fired back: "I don't know who you are, but only a very evil person would ask a question like that." Trump later attacked Democrats who slammed his administration's response and demanded an investigation into it. "All they want to do is criticize," the president said. "The public's wise to it." Accompanying Trump, Texas Governor Greg Abbott praised the federal response to the Texas flooding as "swift and effective." Earlier this week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer questioned whether the staff cuts at the National Weather Service under the Trump administration hampered forecasting of the heavy rains and alerts of the flash floods. CNN reported Wednesday that search-and-rescue crews from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had not been authorised for deployment until more than 72 hours after the flooding began due to new spending approval requirements imposed by the Trump administration. "This would be an unmitigated, unforced disaster, and it would certainly exacerbate the toll of extreme weather events," a group of House Democrats wrote in a letter Wednesday to FEMA and the federal agency in charge of the National Weather Service, calling for congressional hearings on the flood response. Trump blasted the then-Biden administration's response to a major flooding killing at least 103 people in September during the 2024 presidential campaign, and California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and other local Democratic officials over the California wildfires earlier this year. The flash floods across at least 20 counties in central Texas will cause an estimated $18 to $22 billion in total damage and economic loss, US weather forecasting service AccuWeather said in a preliminary estimate. New York, July 12 : It is not on the agenda of the White House to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) outright, The Washington Post cited an official source, as US President Donald Trump travels to Texas to view the impact of last week's deadly floods. For months, Trump and his homeland security secretary have said that FEMA, the agency initially created to coordinate the response to disasters that occur in the United States and that overwhelm the resources of local and state authorities, could be eliminated. The newspaper quoted a White House official as saying that no official action is being taken to wind down FEMA, and that changes in the agency will probably amount to a "rebranding" that will emphasise state leaders' roles in disaster response. Trump will make the ultimate decision, but at this point FEMA is not set to be abolished, it added. On Friday, US President Donald Trump visited central Texas, clapping back again at the criticism of his policy and federal response to the July 4 major flooding that left at least 121 dead and more than 150 others missing. The search is continuing, though no survivors have been found since July 5, according to officials from the hardest-hit Kerr County in central Texas. More than 2,100 responders from local authorities, 20 US states and several federal agencies joined the search and rescue. The local, state and federal governments have done an "incredible job" in managing the flooding response, rescue and recovery, Trump said in Texas after surveying the damage on Friday. Johannesburg, July 12 : While South Africa continues to grapple with the "vestiges" of apartheid, the upcoming National Dialogue aims to address some of these challenges, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa. "The National Dialogue is an opportunity to mobilise South Africans to address these challenges and restore our country to the path of transformation, development, and progress," Ramaphosa said. Speaking on Friday in Pretoria, the country's administrative capital, during his first meeting with members of the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group at the Union Building, the president acknowledged the progress South Africa has made over the past three decades, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, he noted that challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and severe inequality persist. "Inequality, poverty, unemployment, violence, and social discord continue to affect the lives of millions of South Africans and hinder the country's progress," said Ramaphosa. He also pointed to stagnant economic growth, which has negatively impacted job creation. In addition, the South African president expressed concern over the low voter turnout in last year's general election, as it reflected "an increasing disengagement by many people from the democratic process." He also highlighted issues of poor service delivery. "We have seen a deterioration in governance, a decline in the delivery of services, and widespread corruption and wastage of public resources," he added. The South African Presidency launched the National Dialogue in June as an inclusive, participatory process aimed at uniting citizens across all sectors to address the country's key challenges. Ramaphosa is expected to call a National Convention on August 15 to set the agenda for the National Dialogue. United Nations, July 12 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemns the resumption of attacks on civilian vessels in the Red Sea by the Houthis in Yemen, said his spokesman. The sinking of two commercial vessels, along with the deaths of at least four crew members and injuries to others, is a dangerous re-escalation in this critical waterway, said spokesman Stephane Dujarric in a statement on Friday. With at least 15 crew members reported missing, Guterres calls on the Houthis not to take any actions that impede the ongoing search-and-rescue operations for the missing crew, said the spokesman. "Beyond being an unacceptable attack on the safety and security of seafarers, these acts also violated the freedom of navigation, caused a hazard to maritime transport and represent a serious risk of significant environmental, economic and humanitarian damage to an already vulnerable coastal environment," said Dujarric. Guterres emphasises that international law must be respected by all parties at all times, Xinhua news agency reported. The UN remains committed to continuing its efforts toward broader de-escalation in the region as well as continued engagement with Yemeni, regional and international actors to secure a sustainable and peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen, said the spokesman. Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted around 70 merchant vessels with missiles, drones and small boat attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Sarajevo, July 12 : Wildfires in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina(BiH)'s Trebinje region have entered their sixth day, with flames still active in some mountainous areas and nearby villages, according to local authorities. Local firefighting units, backed by helicopters from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, one of the two entities of BiH, have managed to stabilise the situation, Xinhua news agency reported. Officials confirmed that residential zones are currently not at risk, but warned that shifting winds could reignite the blaze. Firefighting forces from neighboring cities, including Trebinje, Bileca, Nevesinje, and Herceg Novi remain deployed, alongside volunteers and local residents. The fire near the main road to Bileca has been largely contained. More than 40 square km of land have been scorched, with significant ecological damage reported. Milos Vucurevic, a local firefighting unit commander, said the situation is under control for now, but conditions could change rapidly due to wind. The fire is burning near the village of Jasen, but there is no threat to lives or property till now. Authorities are preparing for a larger operation to fully extinguish the remaining fire lines. The heat wave gripping the Balkans is expected to ease in the coming days, meteorologists said last week, as authorities continue to battle wildfires across the region. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, temperatures were forecast to peak, complicating efforts to control a forest fire near residential areas in the southern city of Trebinje. New Delhi, July 12 : Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah is set to embark on a packed one-day visit to Kerala on Saturday, where he will inaugurate the new BJP state headquarters located on K.G. Marar Road in Thiruvananthapuram at 10:30 A.M. and also review poll preparedness for the fast approaching Assembly polls. The ceremony will include the hoisting of the party flag, a tree plantation on the office premises, and the unveiling of a bust of K.G. Marar, the former state BJP President and a prominent figure in the partyas Kerala unit. Following the inauguration, at 11:15 A.M., HM Shah will address the aViksit Keralam Sammelan,a a ward-level leadership meet of the BJP, at Putharikandam Maidan in Thiruvananthapuram. The event is expected to draw a massive crowd of around 36,000 grassroots leaders from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, and Alappuzha districts. Leaders from other districts will join the event virtually, ensuring statewide participation. The gathering is being seen as a major mobilisation effort in preparation for the upcoming local polls. At 2:00 P.M., the Union Home Minister will chair a closed-door meeting with the BJPas state leadership to review election preparedness, organisational strategy, and booth-level planning. The meeting is expected to finalise ground-level action points to strengthen the partyas position in the state, where it has been working steadily to expand its footprint. Later in the day, HM Shah will travel to Taliparamba in Kannur district, where he will offer prayers at the revered Rajarajeswara Temple at 4:30 P.M. before departing for New Delhi at 7 P.M. The visit comes at a time when political activities are intensifying in Kerala with the Assembly elections expected to be held next year. The next Kerala Legislative Assembly election is expected to be held in May 2026. This election will be held to elect 140 MLAs to the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly. The current tenure of the Kerala government is from May 24, 2021, to May 23, 2026. New Delhi, July 12 : As Bihar gears up for the upcoming Assembly elections, a crucial meeting of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) has been convened on Saturday, July 12, at the residence of RJD leader and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Polo Road in Patna. The high-level meeting will witness the presence of senior leaders from all constituent parties of the alliance, including the Congress and other parties. The primary agenda of the meeting is to finalise the alliance's strategy to take on the ruling NDA in the upcoming polls. All the committees formed within the Mahagathbandhan have prepared detailed proposals to counter the influence of NDA constituents, which will be presented before Tejashwi Yadav and other top leaders during the meeting. The alliance aims to put forth a united and aggressive front to challenge the BJP-led coalition in the state. This meeting comes on the heels of recent political mobilisation by the alliance. Earlier on July 9, the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan organised a massive statewide bandh and a protest march focussed on the contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav jointly led the protest, accusing the BJP government of manipulating the SIR process to selectively remove names of Opposition supporters from the voter rolls, a charge strongly denied by the Election Commission. According to AICC secretary Shahnawaz Alam, the party has appointed Booth Level Agents (BLAs) for all Assembly constituencies and is integrating its grassroots outreach programmes with the SIR awareness campaign. Congress workers have been tasked with visiting 400 households daily under the 'Mai Bahin Maan Yojana' while simultaneously educating people about the SIR and helping them fill out the forms. The Opposition is also targeting specific voter segments, OBCs, Dalits, and tribals, accusing the Centre of using the SIR exercise to disenfranchise marginalised communities. Chennai, July 12 : Following reports of Nipah virus infections in Kerala's Palakkad and Malappuram districts, the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has assured the public that there is no cause for panic as medical teams are on high alert to monitor and respond swiftly to any suspected cases. Chennai, July 12 (IANS) Following reports of Nipah virus infections in Keralaas Palakkad and Malappuram districts, the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has assured the public that there is no cause for panic as medical teams are on high alert to monitor and respond swiftly to any suspected cases. In an official release on Saturday, the department said that no Nipah cases have been detected in Tamil Nadu so far and that all necessary precautionary measures are being taken to prevent any possible outbreak. Medical teams have been deployed in districts along the Kerala border and are on high alert to monitor and respond swiftly to any suspected cases. The Directorate has urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, and to strictly adhere to basic hygiene and safety protocols. The public has been advised to be on the lookout for symptoms associated with Nipah virus, which include fever, headache, vomiting, confusion, difficulty in breathing, seizures, and even fainting. People showing these symptoms a" especially those who have recently travelled to affected areas in Kerala or been in contact with a sick person a" should seek immediate medical attention at the nearest government hospital. To reduce the risk of transmission, residents are also advised to avoid eating unwashed or fallen fruits, ensure that fruits are thoroughly washed before consumption, and maintain proper hand hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap and water. District health officers across Tamil Nadu have been instructed to closely monitor the situation and ensure that all preventive measures are strictly implemented in their respective areas. Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it spreads from animals to humans. Fruit bats are known to be the primary carriers of the virus, and infections in humans often occur through contact with bat-contaminated fruits or through close contact with infected individuals or animals, such as pigs. The Tamil Nadu health department reiterated its commitment to keeping the public safe and said it will continue to monitor the situation in Kerala closely. Citizens have been urged not to spread rumours and to rely only on official updates for accurate information. Dhaka, July 12 : Protests have erupted across multiple college campuses and streets of Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, following the brutal killing of a scrap metal trader, Lal Chand alias Sohag, in broad daylight near the Sir Salimullah Medical College (Mitford) Hospital on July 9. According to local media reports, the 39-year-old trader was beaten and stoned to death with chunks of concrete by a group of assailants near the hospital's third gate around 6 p.m. on Wednesday, allegedly for refusing to pay extortion money. The killing, caught on camera and widely circulated on social media, triggered a wave of outrage. Student organisations took to the streets in mass protests at institutions including Dhaka University (DU), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Jagannath University, Jahangirnagar University, and Rajshahi University on Friday. Allegations have surfaced that members of the Jubo Dal, the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), were involved in the lynching and carried out the attack over an extortion dispute, leading Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star reported. Bin Yamin Molla, president of the Bangladesh Student Rights Council, told The Dhaka Tribune, "Today, students are protesting the murder of Sohag just as they did during the Awami League's tenure. The BNP has failed to control its own leaders and activists. They were oppressed for the last 16 years, but if the oppressed now become the oppressors." DU student AB Zubayer echoed similar sentiments, accusing BNP activists of turning the country into a haven for extortionists and criminals. "The BNP leaders and activists are committing acts of extortion, rape, and murder across the country," he said. Protesting students accused Jubo Dal members of stoning Sohag to death and then dancing on his body. The murder, they said, symbolises a collapse of law and order under the current BNP-backed regime. Speakers at various protests slammed the BNP for failing to rein in its youth wings, who they claim are engaged in bloody internal clashes over extortion money and territorial control. Demonstrators also claimed the BNP has been responsible for nearly 100 killings in the past ten months. They demanded that each death be investigated and justice ensured. Ironically, another BNP-linked student faction -- Bangladesh Jatiyotabadi Chhatra Dal -- also marched at Dhaka University on Friday, calling for the killers to be brought to justice. "Since Hasina's fall, BNP leaders have been fighting among themselves over business control, leading to murders. BNP thinks expulsion is enough, but we demand they face trial," said Saikat Arif, President of the Chhatra Federation, to The Daily Star. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party, Awami League, also strongly condemned the lynching. In a post on X, the party wrote that the videos of the "brutal murders expose mobocracy under Yunus regime." The party further criticised the public's inaction during the incident. "Local businessmen and onlookers were standing around at the time of the incident, while some quickly left the spot, but no one came forward when over a dozen attackers took turns hitting Sohag with stones and bricks to ensure his death. Even the Ansar members in charge of the hospital gate were nonchalant," it said. The country reels from the shocking images of the lynching, and public pressure is mounting on the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration and law enforcement to bring the culprits to justice. Soy milk and pellets by bigfatcat via Pixabay Soybeans are trading with losses of 4 to 5 cents early on Friday morning. Futures saw Thursday gains of as little as cent to 7 cents in some new crop months. Preliminary open interest was up 13,588 on Thursday. There were 22 delivery notices for July bean futures overnight. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price was up 3 1/2 cents at $9.72. Soymeal futures were up $2.10 to $2.50/ton, as Soy Oil was 23 points higher. There were another 199 deliveries for July meal futures overnight, taking the total for the month to 4,394. Weekly Export Sales data from Thursday morning indicated 503,027 MT of soybean sales in the week of July, the largest total since mid-March and more than triple the same week last year. Unknown destinations was the buyer of 114,400 MT, with 88,600 MT sold to Egypt. New crop business was at 248,400 MT, the second highest total for the marketing year. Soybean meal sales totaled 578,528 MT, as 207,688 MT was for the current MY and 370,840 MT for 2025/26. Bean oil sales total just 3,994 MT. More News from Barchart Ahead of todays USDA reports, analysts are expecting to see a 10 mbu increase in the old crop bean stocks to 360 mbu. As for new crop, the Bloomberg survey showed traders looking for a 7 mbu reduction to output on the slight drop in acres to 4.333 bbu. Ending stocks for 2025/26 are estimated at 302 mbu, a 7 mbu increase vs. June. Traders are looking for a slight increase to the Brazilian soybean output, up 0.4 MMT to 169.4 MMT. Jul 25 Soybeans closed at $10.12 1/2, up 1/4 cent, currently unch Nearby Cash was $9.72 1/1, up 3 1/2 cents, Aug 25 Soybeans closed at $10.12 1/2, up 3 1/2 cents, currently down 5 cents Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.13 3/4, up 6 1/2 cents, currently down 4 cents New Crop Cash was $9.64 1/2, up 6 1/4 cents, On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com Washington, July 12 : Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has arrived in North Korea for talks with his North Korean counterpart, a Russian news agency reported, in yet another sign of a deepening bilateral partnership. His plane touched down in Wonsan, an eastern coastal city where Pyongyang opened a coastal tourist zone on July 1 in an effort to boost its tourism industry at a time when it is striving to secure foreign currency, Yonhap news agency reported quoting TASS. Lavrov's trip to the North will last until Sunday, when he is set to fly to China to attend a foreign ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states. In the North, Lavrov will hold talks with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui, according to the report. The North's Korean Central News Agency also reported Saturday that Lavrov arrived in the North the previous day. It briefly said that "there will be talks between the two nations' foreign ministers." It did not disclose further details. His trip comes as Moscow and Pyongyang have been reinforcing their broad-based cooperation since Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty during a summit in Pyongyang in June last year. Lavrov's trip occurs at a critical moment for Russian-North Korean relations. According to Ukrainian intelligence, Pyongyang is preparing to deploy an additional 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers to support Moscow's intensified efforts in Ukraine. This adds to the estimated 11,000 soldiers that North Korea sent last year. Additionally, the United States has grown increasingly frustrated with Russia. President Donald Trump has accused his counterpart, Vladimir Putin, of undermining peace talks and has pledged to provide more support for Ukraine. New Delhi, July 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed delight over the inclusion of the 'Maratha Military Landscapes' in the UNESCO World Heritage List, marking the country's 44th property to receive this prestigious recognition. India is currently a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the term 2021a"25. Taking to X, PM Modi said, "Every Indian is elated with this recognition. These 'Maratha Military Landscapes' include 12 majestic forts, 11 of which are in Maharashtra and 1 is in Tamil Nadu." Highlighting the significance of the Maratha Empire, the Prime Minister said, "When we speak of the glorious Maratha Empire, we associate it with good governance, military strength, cultural pride and emphasis on social welfare. The great rulers inspire us with their refusal to bow to any injustice." He also called upon citizens to visit these forts and learn about the rich heritage and history of the Maratha Empire. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also hailed the development and extended gratitude to Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for his support in making the inclusion possible. "Indeed, it's an amazing moment for Maharashtra and India! Thank you Sir for all your efforts and support to make this possible!" the Chief Minister wrote on X. The inscription of the Maratha Military Landscapes took place during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. It marks a significant milestone in global recognition of India's diverse and culturally rich heritage. The 12 chosen locations span Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, including the forts of Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, as well as Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. Of these, Shivneri Fort, Suvarnadurg, Lohgad, Raigad, Sindhudurg, Panhala Fort, Vijaydurg, and Gingee Fort are under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The last four -- Salher Fort, Rajgad, Khanderi Fort, and Pratapgarh -- are preserved by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums of the Government of Maharashtra. The Maratha Military Landscapes were nominated under criteria (iv) and (vi) of UNESCO's World Heritage framework. These criteria acknowledge sites that bear exceptional testimony to a living cultural tradition and are associated with significant historical events. The forts demonstrate architectural and technological sophistication and are intrinsically linked with the Maratha military tradition and governance. The inclusion underscores the importance of preserving and promoting sites that possess Outstanding Universal Values (OUVs), as defined by UNESCO, in cultural, natural, or mixed categories. These shared heritage values are honoured across 196 countries. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, July 12 : India continued to engage partners in cooperation on counter terrorism through Joint Working Groups on Counter Terrorism (JWG-CT) with 26 countries, the latest annual report (2024) released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) detailed while highlighting the country's strong resolve in initiating collective action against terrorism. India has been engaging with regional and multilateral bodies such as BIMSTEC, G20, ASEAN Regional Forum, SCO, BRICS, EU, FATF and the QUAD Forum on Counter Terrorism. Joint Working Group meetings on Counter Terrorism (JWG-CT) were held with the US, Kazakhstan, France, European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Russia. India participated in the meeting of the Group of Legal Experts (GLE) of Regional Anti Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (RATS SCO) Council held in Beijing, China. At the ASEAN level, the 11th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC)+India Consultation was held in Vientiane, Laos. The 9th Annual BRICS Counter Terrorism Working Group Plenary and its Sub-Groups' Meetings were held in July 2024 in Moscow while India also hosted the 8th Meeting of the BIMSTEC SubGroup on Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursor Chemicals held in New Delhi. On the multilateral front, India engaged with various bodies during the year, participating in the regional workshop on sharing good practices for enhancing rehabilitation and reintegration strategies which was organised by UNODC in association with the Government of Sri Lanka in Colombo. The FATF Working Group meeting and Plenary were held in Singapore during which India's Mutual Evaluation Report was adopted, placing the country in the "regular follow-up" category. This status indicates that India has achieved a high level of compliance with FATF Recommendations and immediate outcomes. India also attended FATF's Working Groups and Plenary meeting in October. India participated at the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) Trans-regional Group Meeting and 23rd Coordinating Committee Meeting held in Nairobi and the 24th Coordinating Committee Meeting and the Ministerial Meeting of GCTF held in New York in September 2024. India also participated in the 40th Plenary meeting of Eurasian Group on Money Laundering and financing of terrorism (EAG) held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. India's participation in the 'Dushanbe Process High-Level Conference - the Kuwait Phase' continued at the same time with participation in the November meeting held in Kuwait. India participated in the QUAD Technical Exchange and Workshop on C-WMD Threats in Sydney. The 2nd meeting of the QUAD Counter Terrorism Working Group and 5th QUAD Table Top Exercise were held in Tokyo. Counter Terrorism also remains one of India's top priorities at the United Nations, where India advocated for a comprehensive multilateral action to counter terrorism, provision of capacity building support to member states, effective implementation of UN CT-related sanctions as well as strengthening collective action against terrorism. India actively supported the capacity-building efforts of the UN Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT), and has been supporting a call for greater autonomy of the office. India also emphasised for greater synergies between UNOCT agencies and international forums such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), to promote and implement terror financing standards, counter the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes and advocate for the 'right to justice' for victims of cross-border terrorism, among others. Heightened interactions among these forums will facilitate the early finalisation and adoption of the Convention on Countering of International Terrorism (CCIT) thereby providing a legal definition of 'International Terrorism.' In 2024, India contributed $500,000 to the UN Trust Fund for Counter Terrorism and participated in the 23rd Coordination Committee meeting and the 14th Ministerial meeting of the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF). India also participated in the Ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism (GOFVOT). India further participated in the periodical meetings of the Advisory Board to the UN Counter Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) chaired by Saudi Arabia. In keeping with its commitments on CT issues, India participated in the Global Conference on Victims of Terrorism held in Spain's Vittoria. Kolkata, July 12 : A second-year student of the iconic Indian Institute of Management -Calcutta (IIM-C) was allegedly raped in the boys' hostel of the educational facility. Kolkata, July 12 (IANS) A second-year student of the iconic Indian Institute of Management a"Calcutta (IIM-C) was allegedly raped in the boys' hostel of the educational facility. The IIM student filed a rape complaint at Haridevpur Police Station on Friday night, stating that she was called to a boy's hostel for a discussion on the job counselling and offered pizza and cold drinks, after which she fell unconscious. "After regaining consciousness, she had a feeling of being sexually assaulted. She immediately rushed out of the institute campus, contacted a friend, reached the local Haridevpur Police Station, and filed the complaint accusing a fellow student of raping her at the boys' hostel," according to the complaint. The victim claimed that before falling unconscious, she tried to prevent the accused from sexually assaulting her. However, the victim said the accused thrashed her, following which she fell unconscious. Acting on the complaint, the police detained one student early Saturday morning and are currently interrogating him. Police sources said confirmation of rape will be given after the medical examination of the victim. In her complaint, the victim claimed that although she wanted to sign the visitors' register at the boy's hostel, the accused did not allow her. The cops are yet to reveal the identity of the accused student. A full-fledged investigation has already started into the matter. There is a common factor within the rape events of Kasba Law College last month and IIM-C. In the case of Kasba, the victim was allegedly called to the union room within the college premises by the accused to discuss offering her an important position in the students' union. In the case of IIM-C, the victim was allegedly called to the boys' hostel to discuss the job-counselling proceedings. Bengaluru, July 12 : A man has been arrested on the charges of secretly filming women while they were bathing in Karnataka, police said on Saturday. The accused was identified as Haja Moinuddin, an electrician and a resident of Channasandra. Preliminary investigations indicate that Moinuddin had a habit of secretly filming women. On Tuesday, when Moinuddin was filming a 29-year-old woman and her nine-year-old daughter in the bathroom, the child observed him and raised an alarm. She rushed out and informed her father, after which he ran towards Moinuddin, but the accused managed to escape. The parents then lodged a complaint with the Kadugodi Police. The accused had approached the bathroom window from the backside of the house. The police launched a hunt for the accused and arrested him on Friday. He has been remanded to judicial custody. The police have registered an FIR under Section 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Section 77 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act. Earlier, in a shocking incident reported from Bengaluru on July 2, an Infosys senior staff member was arrested for allegedly filming a woman colleague while she was using the washroom at the office. The Electronic City Police arrested the accused following a complaint lodged by the woman employee. The accused has been identified as Swapnil Mahesh Mali, a Senior Associate Consultant in the Helix Department at Infosys. The victim, a 35-year-old married software professional, works as a Technical Test Lead at Infosys. She works from the office for about 10 days a month and otherwise works from home. According to the FIR, the incident took place on June 30 at around 11 a.m. when the woman went to the washroom. She noticed a reflection on the door in front of her and, upon closer observation, sensed that someone had withdrawn an object from the partition wall. She immediately stepped out and began monitoring the area. Chennai, July 12 : The Tamil film industry has come under the scanner of law enforcement agencies following a major anti-narcotics operation by the Chennai Police. The crackdown, launched by the Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit (ANIU), has revealed disturbing links between drug traffickers and individuals associated with the film industry, leading to multiple arrests and the initiation of a broader investigation. In a major breakthrough on Friday, police arrested three individuals a" Premkumar (32), a former assistant director from Tondiarpet, Alex Santosh (34) of Seven Wells, and Rajan (36) of Wimco Nagar a" from Perianna Street in the Seven Wells area. The police seized 750 grams of high-grade OG ganja, Rs 15 lakh in cash, and a high-end motorcycle suspected to have been purchased with drug proceeds. Investigations revealed that Premkumar had been procuring ganja from a supplier named Aslam, believed to be operating out of Malaysia. According to police sources, Premkumar had travelled to Malaysia multiple times to meet Aslam and coordinated the smuggling of the contraband into Chennai. The narcotics were stored in his rented residence, repackaged into smaller units, and distributed to local contacts through an organised network. While Alex Santosh managed cash withdrawals through ATM networks to evade detection, Rajan handled local delivery and logistics. What has alarmed investigators is the possibility that OG ganja was being supplied to individuals in the Tamil film industry. This has prompted the ANIU to expand its probe into Kollywood circles to identify potential recipients. Meanwhile, a parallel investigation into cocaine use among actors has further rattled the industry. Recently, popular Tamil actors Srikanth and Krishna were arrested in connection with a cocaine case. Srikanth was taken into custody on June 23 after medical tests confirmed cocaine in his system. Srikanth reportedly procured the drug from Pradeep Kumar, a former AIADMK functionary who has also been booked. Krishna was arrested on June 26 following evidence gathered through WhatsApp conversations and statements from drug peddlers. While no drugs were found in his possession, his name reportedly emerged during the interrogation of arrested dealers. Both actors were granted conditional bail by the Madras High Court on July 8, with the condition that they report daily to the Nungambakkam police station. The Chennai Police are also working with international agencies to track down Aslam and another associate, Augustine, who are believed to be hiding in Malaysia. The ongoing investigation has shaken the Tamil film industry, with producers now under pressure to adopt stricter measures to ensure a drug-free environment on film sets. New Delhi, July 12 : Reacting sharply to the Mahagathbandhan's high-level strategy meeting called by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in Patna on Saturday, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal launched a scathing attack on the Opposition alliance, accusing it of uniting once again "with the intention of looting." New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) Reacting sharply to the Mahagathbandhan's high-level strategy meeting called by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in Patna on Saturday, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal launched a scathing attack on the Opposition alliance, accusing it of uniting once again "with the intention of looting." "Chor chor mauseray bhai, once again uniting with the intention of looting. There is no doubt that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Nitish Kumar, Bihar's NDA government has undertaken major developmental works. These achievements have left the Opposition deeply worried. In the upcoming Assembly elections, the NDA will once again secure a majority," said Khandelwal. The BJP MP also hit out at the Opposition over their criticism of the Election Commission (EC) in the ongoing row concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Opposition parties, including the Congress and RJD, have accused the EC of conducting the revision exercise to allegedly remove names of voters opposing the ruling NDA, a charge that the Commission has denied. Khandelwal dismissed these allegations as baseless, saying, "Accusing the Election Commission has become a habit for Opposition parties because they are continuously losing elections. They need someone to blame for their defeats, and the Election Commission appears to be the easiest target. However, after the Supreme Court's decision, it has become clear that the special revision of the voter list carried out by the Election Commission was done within its legal jurisdiction." Meanwhile, the Mahagathbandhan meeting, taking place at Tejashwi Yadav's Polo Road residence, is being seen as a significant moment in the alliance's preparation for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. Senior leaders from all constituent parties, including the Congress and Left parties, are participating in the meeting to finalise strategies to challenge the ruling NDA. Alliance committees are presenting detailed action plans on how to counter the NDA's influence across Bihar, particularly focussing on social outreach, booth-level mobilisation, and voter engagement. Thiruvananthapuram, July 12 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday inaugurated the newly built Kerala BJP state committee office in the heart of the capital. Named Mararji Bhavan in honour of late K.G. Marar, a popular former state BJP president, the swanky seven-storey building is equipped with modern amenities, including 13 suite rooms and several other facilities. Shah arrived in Thiruvananthapuram late Friday night and visited the new office complex on Saturday morning. He hoisted the party flag, planted a sapling, and toured the building, which includes the office of newly appointed state BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar. The land for the building was once home to the ancestral house of a former Congress Union Minister. It was later purchased by senior BJP leader P.P. Mukundan, known for his close ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the early years of the partyas rise. Construction of the new office began during the tenure of former BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan. The project had stirred controversy when it was revealed that the building would include a dedicated room for a future BJP Chief Minister of Kerala -- despite the partyas limited electoral presence in the state. The BJP had won a single Assembly seat in 2016, which it lost in 2021. However, the party gained renewed momentum after actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi won the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 general elections, later joining the Union Cabinet. Shahas visit also comes a day after the Kerala BJP announced a major organisational reshuffle under the new leadership of Rajeev Chandrasekhar. The revamped state committee reflects a blend of youth and experience to rejuvenate the partyas internal dynamics. The immediate challenge before the new team is to make a strong impact in the upcoming local body elections, seen as a test of the partyas growing influence in the state. After the inauguration, Shah is scheduled to address a public meeting at the Putharikandam Maidan, where nearly 30,000 party workers are expected to attend in person and another one lakh virtually. He will then fly to Kannur to offer prayers at the Thaliparambu Rajarajeshwara temple, before returning to Delhi. Washington, July 12 : US President Donald Trump's administration is taking a "prudent" and "strategic" approach to addressing North Korean challenges, a US diplomat said, reiterating its stated commitment to the "complete denuclearization" of North Korea. During a press briefing, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mignon Houston stressed the trilateral relationship among South Korea, the United States and Japan as a "substantial" partnership for a "free and open" Indo-Pacific, while acknowledging efforts by Seoul and Tokyo to overcome historical challenges and deepen cooperation. "The United States has always been committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. This is a commitment because we understand...following this commitment, we are ensuring the stability of the region," she said during a press meeting at the Foreign Press Centre in Washington. "So we're working together on a number of fronts with our partners and our allies, particularly as it relates to sort of reducing the military tensions in this region and protecting the safety and security of the Korean Peninsula." Houston added that the Trump administration is working with allies to ensure "transparent" defense measures, "efficient and effective" military cooperation and appropriate risk mitigation measures for security on the peninsula, reported Yonhap news agency. "These are the steps that we're taking together in this administration. These are prudent steps. They're strategic steps to ensure a safe and secure Korean Peninsula," she said. The deputy spokesperson was responding to a question about how the Trump administration would characterize its approach to North Korea. The administration of former President Joe Biden branded its approach to the North as a "calibrated" and "practical" one. She reiterated the US' priority to ensure steady three-way cooperation among South Korea, the US and Japan, which has deepened amid improvements in Seoul-Tokyo ties long strained over historical and territorial feuds. "We've seen the relationship between Japan and South Korea at this point be better than it has ever been, and we recognize that both countries have grappled with painful histories. Working together to address and counter shared opportunities and challenges is something that we continue to focus on and this administration, in particular, is prioritizing this," she said. She went on to say that the trilateral relationship is a partnership that is "integral" to promoting regional peace. Casting South Korea as the "linchpin of peace, security and safety in the Indo-Pacific," she underscored the US administration's "modernized and future-forward" priority for the Seoul-Washington relationship. "South Korea has an extensive trading relationship with the US Our trade relationship currently supports at least 350,000 American jobs. It's based on high-value products. We welcome their leadership in the 2025 APEC," she said. APEC is short for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Touching on tensions with allies about Trump's tariff policy, Houston defended it as a "strategic" step toward fair trade relations. "This is not a punitive step, but a strategic step to work together with our allies and our partners around the world, ensuring that these trade arrangements meet us at a place of fairness ... when we believe, through working together with our partners, that we will see, through good-faith efforts, negotiations that can get us there," she said. South Korea, Japan and other countries have been in trade negotiations with the U.S. to reach trade deals as Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs, including 25 percent duties on Korea, are set to take effect on August 1. The steep tariffs took effect on April 9, but Trump placed a 90-day pause on them that same day to allow for negotiations. The pause was initially set to expire this week, but Trump extended the deadline until August 1. "We look forward to working closely with our partners and allies around the world to see these trade imbalances be a little more leveled so we can play on the same level-playing field. And that's a priority for us at this time," she said. In response to a question about the possibility of the Quad forum's extension to include new members like South Korea, Houston said that while there might not be space for new members, there might be chances for cooperation with Korea within the group that consists of the US, Australia, Japan and India. "There are, on many work streams, opportunities for us to work very closely with South Korea as it relates to our shared interests and shared priorities for the region," she said. We recently published Jim Cramers Fresh 14 Stocks & Thoughts About Market Performance. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is one of the most important companies in the world. The firms importance is due to the fact that it is responsible for producing nearly all of the worlds high-end chips. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is also investing more than $100 billion in the US as part of its bid to bring some of its advanced chip manufacturing capacity to America. These facilities are being built in Arizona and have already started shipping products to big technology firms. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) rose to prominence by being Apples primary chip supplier, and it has also established itself in NVIDIAs AI chip supply chain. Cramer discussed the firms strategy of meeting the Trump administrations bid to bring back manufacturing to American shores: Look, Id like them to do Taiwan Semi, I mean Taiwan Semi and NVIDIA, theyre like the shovel ready and they go there, they pick, they watch tomorrow to see what state is the best and then they like go buy some shovels from Caterpillar and get to work. Yes! Yes! I mean I know its not optics if its Apple, but yes, they need to. And I dont care which part. But they need to. And I think that maybe they want to do what they think is great for shareholders, and this is a waste of money for shareholders but we have an aggressive administration. And Taiwan Semi went and put real money and I think that Apple is putting real money and somehow its not visible. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) Has The Right Approach In Dealing With President Trump, Says Jim Cramer A close-up of a complex network of integrated circuits used in logic semiconductors. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM)s relationship with NVIDIA led Cramer to comment in June that the stock had acted as a proxy for the AI GPU companys stock. Heres what he had said: Taiwan Semi was the proxy, as that went up you could buy NVIDIA. While we acknowledge the potential of TSM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Dhaka, July 12 : Dengue cases in Bangladesh are continuing to rise sharply, with the total number of infections this year reaching 14,069, alongside 54 deaths, according to multiple local media reports. The mosquito-borne disease has exposed severe gaps in the country's healthcare infrastructure, raising alarms among public health experts, especially as many critically ill patients are failing to receive timely treatment. Of growing concern is the Comilla district, where 72 new cases were detected in a single day, as reported by Prothom Alo on Saturday. In the last 24 hours alone, 138 new dengue cases were reported across the country, United News of Bangladesh reported on Friday morning. According to Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Habibur Rahman, blood tests of 311 patients were conducted in private hospitals in Daudkandi in the last 24 hours, confirming 72 dengue infections. Among them, 17 are currently admitted to the Daudkandi Upazila Health Complex. The overall numbers reflect a worsening situation: between June 18 and July 12 at 10 a.m., 11,022 people were tested, of whom 3,075 were diagnosed with dengue. At least 40 of those in critical condition have been shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced care, and 10 patients have reportedly died. Alarmingly, a significant portion of the infected are school and college students, which has heightened concern among parents and educators. While the outbreak seems more geographically concentrated outside the capital, Dhaka continues to report the majority of dengue-related deaths. Of the total 14,069 infections this year, 11,014 are from outside Dhaka, according to The Daily Star. However, 28 of the 54 recorded deaths occurred within Dhaka city limits -- 22 of them under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka South City Corporation. The Barishal division has emerged as a major hotspot with 5,957 reported infections, and within it, Barguna district alone has recorded 3,587 cases. Despite the growing threat, the response from the interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has come under sharp criticism. Health experts and local media reports have condemned the administration's lack of a structured and comprehensive strategy to combat the outbreak. Critics argue that response efforts have largely been limited to sporadic fogging operations and occasional clean-up drives, which are proving insufficient to curb the spread of the Aedes mosquito -- the primary vector for dengue. Public health specialists, physicians, and entomologists have unanimously pointed to the absence of sustained and effective preventive measures. They have also flagged the country's overburdened medical system as being inadequately prepared to deal with the escalating crisis. With no significant overhaul of the healthcare framework and the absence of a robust dengue management plan, both urban and rural populations remain vulnerable. Islamabad, July 12 : As a persistent monsoon continues to hover over Pakistan, authorities have issued a series of alerts, warning of moderate to heavy rainfall, rising river flows, and potential flash flooding in vulnerable areas. Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Punjab's Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid low-lying and inundated areas, especially with the alerts in place until July 17. The monsoon activity, intensified by moisture from the Arabian Sea, remains active across Punjab, where intermittent rainfall in Lahore has contributed to a spike in humidity levels. According to NDMA, torrential monsoon rains and flash floods have claimed at least 98 lives and left 185 others injured across the nation since June 26. Punjab province recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 37 deaths, including 20 children, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 30 people lost their lives. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), temperatures in Lahore are expected to range between a minimum of 27 Degrees Celsius and a maximum of 33 Degrees Celsius. Light showers are forecast in the city, prompting PDMA to issue a rainfall and strong wind alert through July 17. NDMA's National Emergency Operations Centre has issued a hydrological outlook covering July 13 to 17, warning of widespread rainfall that may increase in intensity due to the ongoing monsoon system. According to the alert, all major rivers, including the Indus, Kabul, Jhelum (upstream of Mangla), and Chenab, are expected to experience increased flows due to incoming western winds, reports leading Pakistani daily, The Express Tribune. Flash floods are likely in Balochistan's Jhal Magsi, Kachhi, Sibi, Killa Saifullah, Zhob, and Musakhel districts, while Khuzdar, Awaran, Lasbela, and Kalat in southern Balochistan also face the threat of localised flooding. Residents near rivers, nullahs, and drainage channels are advised to stay alert, particularly during heavy rains and nighttime flooding. Communities in flood-prone regions are urged to identify safe evacuation routes and move valuable items, vehicles, and livestock to elevated locations. District administrations in northeastern and central Punjab have been directed to keep dewatering equipment on standby to address possible urban flooding. The NDMA's monsoon alert extends to Karachi, where the ongoing weather system may further intensify due to Arabian Sea moisture. The hydrological outlook anticipates high to very high river flows in some areas due to western wind activity. In Islamabad, forecasts mirror alerts for other regions: Tarbela, Taunsa, and Guddu remain at low flood levels, Kalabagh and Chashma are under moderate flooding, and Taunsa's water levels are predicted to rise further. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, continuous rainfall has increased the risk of flash floods in the tributaries of Swat and Panjkora. On Thursday night, heavy downpour in Charsadda, Tangi, and surrounding areas caused the Jendi River to overflow. In response to a surge in Playi Dam's water level, spillways were opened, releasing approximately 8,000 cusecs of water into the river. The resulting flood damaged a bridge and a gas pipeline in Tangi tehsil, according to the leading Pakistani daily, Dawn. The district administration has converted 53 government schools into temporary shelters to accommodate evacuees. Vehicles from various agencies, including the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA), are being used to evacuate residents from the affected areas. Chennai, July 12 : Farmers in western Tamil Nadu have urged the Union government to push for the implementation of a modified version of the long-pending Pandiyaru-Moyyar river link project. The demand was made in a petition submitted to Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan by the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam on Friday. The farmers' association argued that the modified scheme would enable the diversion of water from west-flowing rivers in the Nilgiris hill region to the rain-shadow districts of Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and parts of Erode. These regions face chronic water scarcity and lack any major irrigation infrastructure, the petition noted. The original Pandiyaru-Punnapuzha scheme, first conceived over six decades ago, aimed to divert west-flowing rivers into Tamil Nadu to support agriculture in drought-prone areas. However, the project has remained on paper, primarily due to the requirement of Kerala's consent, as the rivers in question flow through its territory. "Successive Tamil Nadu governments have shown limited interest in pursuing the scheme, possibly due to interstate coordination challenges. But a revised version - the Pandiyaru-Moyyar link - may offer a practical and financially viable alternative," the farmers said. Quoting recent studies by irrigation experts, the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam highlighted that the modified scheme could be implemented at a cost of just Rs 90 crore and, more importantly, might not require Kerala's approval. The proposed link involves diverting the Pandiyaru River into the Moyyar River, making use of natural gradients and requiring minimal infrastructural intervention. "This approach can significantly reduce the region's dependence on depleting groundwater reserves and revive farming activity in one of Tamil Naduas most agriculturally distressed zones," the petition stated. The farmers urged the Centre to intervene and persuade the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate steps toward implementing the modified project. "With Central support, this long-standing dream can finally be realised, offering a lifeline to thousands of farmers in western Tamil Nadu," they added. New Delhi, July 12 : Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has hit out at the Opposition over criticism of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission in Bihar. In a strong rebuttal, Naqvi said the Opposition is "trying to create fear and confusion" among the public, as they are unable to accept their political irrelevance and continued exclusion from power. Speaking to IANS on Saturday in New Delhi, Naqvi emphasised that the Supreme Court has not stayed the ECI's SIR drive during its recent proceedings, reaffirming its constitutional validity. "No eligible voter's rights will be taken away. But there must be effective checks to ensure that illegal foreigners" referring to illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, "do not find a place in the voters' list," he said. He described the ECI's exercise as a necessary step to uphold electoral integrity and transparency. "The drive is essential to ensure that only genuine Indian citizens are allowed to vote," he added. Targeting the Congress and the RJD, Naqvi accused them of spreading misinformation and attempting to regain power through manipulation. "These parties are family-run enterprises. The people of Bihar and the country have rejected this kind of politics. Today's India wants reform, development, and good governance something that is being delivered under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership," he stated. In a scathing comment, Naqvi labelled Opposition leaders as "parachute ke virasat vaale log" (those who inherit power by birth), asserting that the era of dynastic politics is over. "The nation is no longer willing to accept leaders who believe they are entitled to rule simply by virtue of their birth," he said. The SIR drive in Bihar has stirred a political debate, with the Opposition raising concerns over voter disenfranchisement, while the BJP maintains it is a step towards free and fair elections. Lucknow, July 12 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that the state government is taking tough action against illegal religious conversions, warning that attempts to disrupt the country's social and religious fabric will be dealt with strictly. Addressing the Shri Tegh Bahadur Sandesh Yatra in Lucknow, organised to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, CM Yogi said, "Some forces are trying to change the nature of the country in a planned manner. This is a conspiracy to divide society and disrupt religious harmony. Such activities will face strict action and cannot be allowed under any circumstances." He alleged that members of Scheduled Castes were being coerced into conversion through greed and fear -- a practice he termed unconstitutional and damaging to social cohesion. Referring to a recent crackdown, the Chief Minister said, "A major operation was carried out in Balrampur where a network promoting illegal conversions with foreign funding was busted. In this case, rates were being fixed for conversions and transactions of over Rs 100 crore were found across 40 accounts. This poses a serious threat to our economic and social security." CM Yogi also flagged off the start of the Sandesh Yatra from Lucknow to Delhi, which he described as a tribute to the sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who laid down his life to protect his faith. "This yatra will culminate at the historic Sheeshganj Gurdwara in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, the site of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's martyrdom. His sacrifice during the oppressive rule of Aurangzeb reminds us of the difficult times when efforts were made to suppress Sanatan Dharma," he said. Yogi said Guru Tegh Bahadur's unwavering stand in the face of tyranny serves as an enduring inspiration and that the journey commemorates the legacy of martyrdom and resistance. "We must preserve the spirit of sacrifice and renunciation shown by the Sikh Gurus. Efforts will always be made to create discord between Hindus and Sikhs, but we must remain vigilant and united," the CM said. Earlier, CM Yogi welcomed the Sandesh Yatra at his official residence, showering flowers on participants before flagging it off. The Yatra will pass through Kanpur, Etawah, and Agra before reaching the Sheeshganj Gurdwara in Delhi. London, July 12 : Legendary spinner Anil Kumble heaped heavy praise on opener KL Rahul for his "clinical approach" against the Jofra Archer-led pace attack in the third Test at Lord's. Rahul negated the early burst from comeback man Archer and stood tall against any challenge to complete his 19th Test half-century and his second of the tour following a brilliant 137 in Leeds. aIt was fantastic. A typical KL Rahul innings where he had to grind it out. It was a fiery spell from Jofra Archer - especially that first spell where he clocked over 150 km/h, with steep bounce and a bit of swing early on. KL countered all of that brilliantly. He was clinical in his approach and looked in control. It was a very disciplined and mature knock, and Iam sure heall be satisfied with how he played," Kumble said on JioHotstar aMatch Centre Livea. Former England batter Jonathan Trott also lauded Rahul's calculated knock on challenging conditions. aI donat think you can go out there and dictate terms to the bowlers on this pitch. You have to be watchful - itas very much a new-ball wicket. KL was excellent in nullifying that early threat and played very straight. Just like Shubman Gill did in the second Test - using a straight bat, being patient when the ballas on the stumps, and capitalising on the bad balls. Thatas going to be key tomorrow - to keep pressure on the English side," he said. India lost opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) early on off Archer in his first over. Rahul and Karun Nair were then involved in a 61-run partnership before Ben Stokes removed the latter for 40. India captain Shubman Gill, who is in sublime touch in the series, was bagged cheaply by Chris Woakes on 16 to put pressure on India. However, Rishabh Pant and Rahul made sure that they didn't lose any further wickets till stumps to reach 145/3 in 43 overs. India still trail by 242 runs after Jasprit Bumrah's five-wicket haul bundled out England for 387. Kumble reflected on Nairas elegant knock and unfortunate dismissal and said, aHeas had a solid series overall, except for that one innings. In his comeback match, heas consistently got starts - 20s, 30s - and today he got into the 40s. He survived Archeras harsh early spell and began looking comfortable. Some of his cover drives were beautiful to watch. But it was one of those dismissals - he edged a good delivery, and Joe Root took a stunning low catch. Thatas not easy, especially with the slope at Lordas. "I think it will be even. I know India will probably feel that they gave about 50 runs extra to England. But having said that, with the early dismissal of Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, India will be comfortable at 145 for 3. And the best part is Rishabh Pant getting the opportunity to bat at some point. Slightly earlier in the day, there was a bit of a concern about Pant - whether head be able to bat. But he was pretty comfortable other than that one instance where he got hit off the toe-end, and that hurt his hand. Otherwise, he looked quite at ease. I thought KL Rahul and Pant ensured that India ended the day on a positive note, even though Pant came in a bit later," he added. New Delhi, July 12 : The Indian life insurance industry registered new business premiums of Rs 41,117.1 crore in June amid the ongoing impact of the revised surrender value regulations, lower credit life sales, and group single premiums, according to a new report. CareEdge Ratings expects the life insurance industry to continue to grow at 10 per cent-12 per cent over a three-to-five-year horizon, driven by product innovation along with supportive regulations, rapid digitalisation, effective distribution, and improving customer services, Agarwal mentioned. In June, the annual premium equivalent (APE) rose by 2.5 per cent, a slower growth rate compared to the 20.0 per cent increase in the same period last year. In APE terms, the industry grew at an 11.0 per cent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) between June 2023 and June 2025. During this period, private insurers grew at 15.4 per cent, according to the report. "The first quarter is typically a slow period for the life insurance sector, as it follows the fiscal year-end when most retail customers have already purchased policies in a last-minute rush," said Saurabh Bhalerao, Associate Director, CareEdge Ratings. In Q1 FY26, the quarter-on-quarter growth has increased by 4.3 per cent compared to 22.9 per cent growth in the same quarter a year ago, mainly because of muted consumer demand and the impact of revised surrender value guidelines, which were effective October 1, 2024. LIC and private players reported a premium growth in individual single and non-single premiums, indicating that they have a strong distribution channel and moved to higher value policies amid changes in surrender value regulations, Bhalerao added. Individual and yearly group business has driven growth for the month. There is likely to be an increased emphasis on the agency channel, spurred by banks' focus on deposit gathering. "Furthermore, the proposed Insurance Amendment Act aims to enhance market penetration by encouraging new companies to enter the market," said Sanjay Agarwal, Senior Director, CareEdge Ratings. A gradual recovery is expected in FY26, driven in part by private insurers expanding their reach through deeper geographical penetration, in conjunction with the launch of the Bima Trinity. New Delhi, July 12 : A wave of jubilation swept across the country on Saturday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed over 51,000 appointment letters to newly-inducted recruits in various Central government departments and organisations. The appointments were made during the 16th edition of the Rozgar Mela, held simultaneously across 47 locations nationwide, with the Prime Minister addressing the recruits via video conferencing. In Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, a significant event took place at the CCL Convention Centre, where 172 youth received appointment letters under the Rozgar Mela. These included 127 recruits for Indian Railways, and others for the Ministries of Home Affairs, Culture, and the Postal Department. The event in Ranchi saw the presence of Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth as the chief guest, along with Rajya Sabha MP Aditya Sahu, MLAs CP Singh and Suresh Baitha, Divisional Railway Manager Jasmit Singh Bindra, and senior Railway officials. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and pride as the appointees celebrated a new chapter in their professional lives. The appointees expressed happiness after getting the letters and thanked the PM Modi government. Across the country, similar scenes of happiness and gratitude were witnessed. In Bengaluru, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje inaugurated the Rozgar Mela and handed out appointment letters to successful candidates. Similarly in Guwahati, Prime Minister Modi virtually addressed the Rozgar Mela, which was attended locally by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Guwahati MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi. In this region alone, 233 youths were presented with appointment letters. The beneficiaries expressed their heartfelt thanks to PM Modi and the government for providing them with stable career opportunities. Addressing the new appointees, PM Modi highlighted the impact and continuity of the Rozgar Mela initiative: "Our campaign to hand out appointment letters to youth in the Central Government is underway. Today, over 51,000 youth have been given appointment letters. Through such employment initiatives, lakhs of youth have secured permanent jobs in the Indian government and are now contributing significantly to nation-building." He noted the wide spectrum of departments where these recruits will now serve, including the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Posts, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Financial Services, and Ministry of Labour and Employment, among others. PM Modi further emphasised the significance of each department in driving national progress: "Many of you have started your careers in Indian Railways, and many will be a part of India's security. People appointed in the postal department will take the government's initiatives to every village. Many will be a part of the 'Health for All' mission, some will enhance the engine of financial inclusion, and others will further strengthen the industrial development of the country. Your department might be different, but the focus is oneservice to the nation and 'Citizen First'." Congratulating the new appointees, he encouraged them to serve the nation with dedication, and to see their roles as vital to India's progress. PM Modi also reflected on India's unmatched strength in terms of human capital and governance: "India has the largest youth population and the largest democracy. This is India's most cherished wealth and our greatest guarantee for future progress. Our government is working day and night to transform this wealth into national growth." Highlighting India's rising global profile, the Prime Minister added: "Just two days ago, I returned from a five-nation tour. In every country, India's youth power was acknowledged. The agreements made during this tour will all benefit Indian youth." Launched on October 22, 2022, the Rozgar Mela is part of PM Modi's mission to prioritise employment generation and ensure faster recruitment across government bodies. The initiative seeks to fill vacant posts efficiently to prevent delays in public service delivery. Official data indicates that over 10 lakh appointment letters have been issued across India through Rozgar Melas since its inception. This massive employment drive has significantly contributed to strengthening government infrastructure and serviceswhether in schools, hospitals, railway stations, police departments, or financial offices. Kolkata, July 12 : Serious concerns have emerged over the security arrangements at the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIM-C), after a woman was allegedly raped inside the boys' hostel on the campus's southern Kolkata premises on Friday night. Kolkata, July 12 (IANS) Serious concerns have emerged over the security arrangements at the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIM-C), after a woman was allegedly raped inside the boysa hostel on the campus's southern Kolkata premises on Friday night. Initial reports claimed that the victim was a student of IIM-C. However, police later clarified that she was not a student of the institute, but she was known to the accused, a second-year student of IIM-C, through social media. Now the question is arising how an outsider got access to the institute and entered the campus during the early hours and how the security guards allowed her inside without getting her name registered in the visitoras logbook. Eyebrows are raised over how, after entering the campus, she was allowed to enter the boysa hostel, where girls' entry is prohibited. As per the complaints registered by her at the Haridevpur Police station, she wanted to sign the visitorsa logbook, but the accused did not allow her to do that. This has led to further scrutiny of the role of the security staff, whether the accused enjoyed undue influence in the hostel, which allowed him to bypass the standard practice. The police had not yet officially declared the identity of the accused, which would be known only after he was presented before the court. However, information has emerged that the accused hails from Bengaluru. He was enrolled in the postgraduate degree in management (PGDM) course at IIM-C in 2023 after clearing the Common Admission Test (CAT). Meanwhile, the cops have already started a thorough investigation into the matter. The staff of the IIIM-C campus, especially the security personnel, are being questioned. The footage of the CCTV cameras within the campus is also being examined. Patna, July 12 : Amid rising concerns over the poor law and order situation in Bihar, especially during an Assembly election year, the state's Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha directly accused the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of having links with criminal networks, including sand, land, and liquor mafia. Speaking to media persons in Patna, Sinha claimed: "The sand mafias, land mafias, and liquor mafias have direct or indirect links with the RJD. As the Assembly election is approaching, they are committing criminal incidents to create an atmosphere of anarchy. But they do not know the real Bihari people who love the state will foil their attempt." Sinha further asserted that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is fully committed to controlling law and order in Bihar, and the government is taking all necessary steps to curb criminal activities. Sinha's remarks came a day after the murder of Vikram Jha, a Patna-based trader, who succumbed to injuries following an attack by unidentified assailants in the Jakariapur area under the Ram Krishna Nagar police station late on Friday night. The incident sparked outrage, with Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav launching a scathing attack on CM Nitish Kumar and the NDA government. Tejashwi, in a social media post, had said: "Businessman Vikram Jha murdered in Patna! DK Tax, the transfer industry, and the chaotic situation of the state are the reasons for this. Why is the unconscious Chief Minister silent? Who is responsible for the hundreds of murder incidents happening in the state? Corrupt Bhuja Party should answer." The law and order situation has emerged as a key political battleground ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar, with the Opposition blaming the state government for administrative failure, while the ruling NDA government accuses the Opposition of links with criminal elements. As public anxiety grows over the safety of traders and common citizens, the Nitish government faces increasing pressure to deliver visible results in crime control, while the Opposition intensifies its campaign to corner the government on governance and security. By Dhwani Pandya and Aditi Shah (Reuters) -Tesla will open its first India showroom in Mumbai next week, having imported $1 million worth of cars and merchandise, marking its entry into the world's third-largest car market despite CEO Elon Musk's complaints about high import tariffs. In an invitation to media late Thursday, the carmaker said the July 15 event was the "launch of Tesla in India through the opening of the Tesla experience centre at Bandra Kurla Complex," located in the city's leading commercial business district. Grappling with excess manufacturing capacity at its other factories and falling sales, Tesla has pivoted to selling imported cars in India on which it will need to pay about 70% import duty and other levies. Commercially available custom records from January to June showed Tesla imported vehicles, chargers and accessories into India worth close to $1 million, mainly from China and the United States. The vehicles included six of Tesla's best-selling Model Y at a shipment value of $32,500 each for five cars, and $46,000 for the long-range version, as well as several Superchargers. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has for years wooed Tesla, including forming a new policy to attract the carmaker to build its EVs locally. Last year, Musk had planned to visit India where he was expected to announce an investment of $2 billion-$3 billion, including in local EV manufacturing. But he cancelled the trip at the last moment. Tesla has conveyed it is not interested in manufacturing in India at the moment. U.S. President Donald Trump has said that if Tesla were to build a factory in India to circumvent that country's tariffs, it would be "unfair" to the U.S." Tesla has hired for several of the three dozen positions it advertised in India earlier this year, bringing on board store managers, sales and service executives. It is looking for supply chain engineers and vehicle operators for its autopilot ambitions. (Reporting by Dhwani Pandya and Aditi Shah in Mumbai, Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala, Rashmi Aich and Rachna Uppal) New Delhi, July 12 : India continued to address the priorities of the Global South even as it engaged actively with the world in advancing its national interests amid a rapidly evolving global landscape, the 2024 annual report released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) details. Indian foreign policy demonstrated vibrancy and pragmatism, yielding significant achievements that also enhanced India's global stature and goodwill. The MEA highlighted the third edition of the 'Voice of Global South Summit' hosted by India in virtual format under the overarching theme 'An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the Heads of State/Government session and in his address proposed a "Global Development Compact" to serve as a comprehensive framework to promote sustainable development in the Global South. The compact focuses on trade, capacity building, technology sharing, and financial support, and aims to empower the Global South and ensure that development is both balanced and sustainable. The Leaders' session was followed by 10 Ministerial sessions: Health Ministers, Youth Ministers, Commerce/Trade Ministers, Information & Technology The Summit saw the participation of 173 dignitaries from 123 Global South countries, including 21 Heads of State/Government and 34 Foreign Ministers. The event was the first plurilateral Summit hosted by the Prime Minister after winning a historic third term and swearing-in of a new government. "Having held within the first 100 days of the new Government, the Summit reflected India's sincerity and commitment in advancing the collective developmental journey of the Global South, and the priority accorded by the Prime Minister to engaging with the leaders and countries of the Global South," the MEA stated. Another highlight of 2024 was the 'Summit of the Future', a high-level event held during the High-level Week of the 79th UNGA in September, bringing different world leaders together. Prime Minister Modi addressed the Summit and presented India's human-centric approach to sustainable development. The Prime Minister also expressed solidarity with countries of the Global South and called for balanced regulations to promote safe and responsible use of technology. He noted that India is open to sharing its digital public infrastructure for greater public good. The Prime Minister had intervened that "reform is the key to relevance" and that "global action must match global ambition". The MEA mentioned that bilateral engagements with like-minded partners were complemented by India's proactive initiatives and leadership in plurilateral and multilateral platforms. "India remained steadfast in expanding its strategic autonomy, championing meaningful reforms of multilateral institutions, addressing the priorities of the Global South, and safeguarding its security within the framework of the rules-based international order. These efforts underscored India's commitment to shaping a more equitable and inclusive global governance framework," it mentioned. Earlier in June 2024, PM Modi, while participating in the Outreach Session of the G7 Summit in Italy, had emphasised that technology must be guided by a human-centric approach, highlighting India's success in leveraging digital advancements for public service delivery. He underscored India's commitment to "AI for All" advocating for AI's role in fostering global progress and well-being. He also stressed the importance of prioritising the concerns of the Global South, particularly Africa, recalling India's role in securing the African Union's permanent membership in the G20. --IAN /as Jaipur, July 12 : Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led state government, accusing it of shirking its constitutional responsibilities by delaying elections to Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies. Gehlot said, "The government that boasts of 'one and a half years versus five years' has failed to conduct even basic democratic elections." He highlighted that Article 243-E of the Constitution mandates that Panchayati Raj elections must be held every five years without fail. "The current government is openly flouting constitutional provisions due to fear of an electoral defeat," he alleged. Gehlot further cited key Supreme Court rulings, including Goa Government vs Fauzia Imtiaz Sheikh and Punjab State Election Commission vs Punjab Government, which reaffirm that elections for local self-government bodies must be conducted every five years, as enshrined in the Constitution. "Even the highest court of the country has made it clear -- these elections are not optional. They are a democratic necessity," he stressed. The former CM claimed that the BJP's avoidance of timely elections reflects its nervousness about facing the public. "They know the people are unhappy and might vote them out. That's why they're delaying elections on flimsy grounds," he said. Gehlot urged the Election Commission and judiciary to intervene and ensure democratic processes are followed. "Democracy is being weakened under this regime. If elections are not held on time, it sets a dangerous precedent for the country," he warned. Over 6,500 Panchayati Raj institutions and over 50 municipal bodies in Rajasthan have completed their five-year term, but elections have not yet been conducted. The State Election Commission confirmed this recently in response to a Right to Information (RTI) query. The commission stated that no proposal for elections has been received so far, and elections cannot be held until delimitation and reorganisation processes are completed. The State Election Commission, in a submission to the High Court, explained that the work of delimitation and reorganisation is currently underway at the state government level, due to which, timely elections were not possible. As of January 2025, the tenure of over 6,500 Panchayats had ended. In the interim, the state government appointed sarpanches as administrators, a move that has been challenged in the High Court. New Delhi, July 12 : A building collapse in North-East Delhi's Janta Colony in Seelampur area early on Saturday morning claimed two lives and injured at least eight people, including three women and a baby. The building, located in the narrow lanes of Janta Colony near Idgah Road, collapsed around 7:05 A.M., triggering panic and a massive rescue operation. According to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot following an emergency alert. Rescue teams managed to pull four individuals out of the debris and transported them to GTB Hospital for immediate medical care. Sadly, two people were declared dead, while others remain under treatment. A few more individuals are feared trapped under the rubble, and rescue operations continue. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed grief over the loss of lives and extended her condolences to the families of the deceased. In a post on X she stated: "An unfortunate building collapse was reported at Seelampur. As informed, four persons have been rescued and rushed to the nearest hospital for medical assistance. It is extremely sad to note that the incident has claimed two precious lives. "Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra, along with senior officials, are visiting the site and monitoring the situation closely. The District Magistrate (DM) has been asked to submit a report on the incident. The rescue operation that is underway, is being carried out by the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, NDRF & Delhi Disaster Management Authority. Heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased." Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra also visited the site and raised concerns about poor construction practices and unchecked urban corruption. In his post on X, he said: "Buildings are collapsing in certain types of localities. In the past 10 years, due to vote-bank politics, a dangerous cycle of corruption has taken place. First in Mustafabad, now in Seelampur. We will conduct an investigation into this." The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of old and densely-packed residential areas in the city, especially during the monsoon season. Initial findings suggest that the structure may have been weakened by age and heavy rainfall in recent days. Mumbai, July 12 : Ajmera Realty has reported a sharp decline in its sales performance for the first quarter of the current financial year (Q1 FY26) -- both on a year-on-year (YoY) and quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis. The real estate company recorded a sales value of Rs 108 crore in Q1, marking a 65 per cent drop compared to Rs 306 crore in the same quarter last year, it said in a stock exchange filing. In terms of carpet area sold, Ajmera Realty reported 63,244 square feet during the April-June period, down 52 per cent from 1,30,801 sq ft in the same quarter last fiscal. Sequentially, the sales value also fell 57 per cent from Rs 250 crore reported in Q4 FY25. The carpet area sold declined even more sharply by 66 per cent compared to 1,85,939 sq. ft. sold in the previous quarter. However, amid the subdued sales performance in the last quarter, the company reported some positives in its cash inflows. The real-estate firm's collections for the quarter stood at Rs 234 crore, up 42 per cent YoY from Rs 165 crore in Q1 FY25. Sales performance during the quarter was affected by sector-wide regulatory challenges, leading to delays in project launches, including certain key projects of Ajmera Realty, the company said in its filing. "The lack of necessary approvals led to delays in new launches, while lower available inventory in existing projects contributed to sales during the quarter," said Dhaval Ajmera, Director-Corporate Affairs. With fast-tracked execution underway across six residential projects in Bengaluru and Mumbai, supported by consistent construction progress and inventory absorption, we are prepared to deliver approximately 1,000 homes by the second half of FY26, Ajmera added. Ajmera Realty shares fell 2.43 per cent to close at Rs 897.90 on Friday on the NSE. Meanwhile, its 52-week high and low values stood at Rs 1,224.90 and Rs 609.55, respectively. Mumbai, July 12 : Expressing happiness over the UNESCO tag for 12 forts, including 11 from Maharashtra and one from Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) founder Raj Thackeray on Saturday asked the state government to demolish illegal structures near the historical sites, irrespective of the religion and caste of encroachers. Raj Thackeray, in his post on social media platform X, said, "The government should not just celebrate this but also acknowledge the responsibility. Firstly, the government should demolish all the unauthorised constructions on these forts immediately, regardless of the religion or caste of the encroachers." "UNESCO has given the status of World Heritage Sites to 12 forts built by Maharashtra's beloved deity Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This is a matter of great joy. On this occasion, those who talk about Maharashtra's achievements will know how far the idea of Swarajya instilled by Maharaj had reached and will also know how old and strong the bridge between two languages and cultures is," said Raj Thackeray. He pointed out that UNESCO's criteria for the conservation and renovation of World Heritage sites are strict, which, if not followed, may lead to the withdrawal of the tag. "If the criteria are not followed properly, the status gets withdrawn. So far, there have been two such examples in the world. One example is the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Oman, and the other one is the Dresden Valley in Germany. The Dresden Valley got the World Heritage status, but it was taken away in 2009 due to non-compliance with the criteria," the MNS leader said. He shared that now the state government will receive funds for the conservation of these forts, and stated the state should also allocate some more funds for it. "Every single government in the past had left these forts in a state of disrepair, making it impossible to invite the world to visit them and show them the glory of our Maharaj and Maharashtra. I hope that this will change now. I have been saying this for many years that if we preserve the forts built by the Maharaj and preserve the coastline Maharashtra has been blessed with, and if we make the necessary infrastructure available for tourism, the state's economy will truly soar. Anyway," his post read. Meanwhile, NCP(SP) president Sharad Pawar shared Raj Thackeray's suggestion on preservation and conservation of these forts, saying, "Against the backdrop of this honour comes a responsibility for all of us: the preservation, conservation, and respectful maintenance of these forts. If we are to keep history alive, it must be brought to life not only in memory but also in action. For without conservation, heritage merely remains a memory." In his post on X, Pawar said, "The news of the inclusion of 12 forts, including 11 from Maharashtra and the 'Jinji' fort in Tamil Nadu, which bear witness to Maharashtra's pride and the saga of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's valour, in UNESCO's World Heritage List, ignites a spark of pride in the heart of every Shivaji enthusiast. This is not merely a historical honour, but a mark of glory that underscores the global significance of the forts that stand as witnesses to our Swarajya. Now, Chhatrapati's history will not remain confined to our textbooks but will become a subject of global study." "Heartfelt thanks to the Government of India, the Archaeological Department, and history scholars for this historic achievement," Pawar added. New Delhi, July 12 : In a scathing attack, senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussain accused Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi of playing politics and targeting the credibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that he praises the institution only when his party wins and questions it when faced with defeat "When Congress wins in Karnataka, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh or Rahul Gandhi wins in Raebareli, he lauds the Election Commission. But when they face setbacks in Maharashtra, Haryana, or Delhi, the same ECI becomes questionable in his eyes," Hussain told IANS on Saturday. Hussain claimed that the Congress leadership was trying to pre-empt an electoral defeat in Bihar by launching a 'smear campaign' against the Election Commission and questioning its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive. "Rahul Gandhi knows that Bihar's people are with the NDA. For 20 years, NDA governments have worked hard in Bihar. He has visited the state a few times and knows the ground reality they are losing, and that's why they've begun attacking the ECI," he professed. The BJP leader stated that even the Supreme Court has not stayed the SIR drive in Bihar and dismissed the Congress' allegations as baseless. "Rahul is softly targeting the Election Commission, but the people of Bihar will give them a strong reply," he added. Escalating his attack, Hussain accused Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge of parroting Pakistan's propaganda. "The world doesn't accept Pakistan's fake narratives, but the Congress does. That's why they questioned the Indian Air Force's strikes in Uri and Balakot," he said. Referring to Mallikarjun Kharge's recent remarks alleging that Prime Minister Modi 'lied' about a ceasefire as US President Trump had said 16 times that he stopped the war between India-Pakistan, the senior BJP leader said, "The Congress should stop speaking Pakistan's language. They must stand with the nation, not politicise matters of national security." Kuala Lumpur, July 12 : First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo has wrapped up his visit to Malaysia after attending a series of multilateral meetings led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a venue marked by three-way talks with the United States and Japan, and calls for dialogue with North Korea. Park's three-day trip, which concluded Friday, also set the stage for Seoul to reaffirm its commitment to ASEAN diplomacy under the new government of President Lee Jae Myung and to demonstrate resilience in the wake of the political turmoil sparked by ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law attempt. The trilateral talks, joined by Park, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on the margins of the gathering, took place despite South Korea not yet having a new top diplomat, as the appointment process is still under way. Park attended the ASEAN meetings in place of the foreign minister. To that end, holding the first high-level diplomatic dialogue since the Lee government's launch reflected their commitment to advancing their trilateral partnership following the change of leadership in Seoul. It also offered an opportunity for Seoul and Washington to make up for their missed bilateral talks after Rubio canceled his planned visit to South Korea, which was originally scheduled to take place before the meetings in Malaysia. At the talks, the three sides reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and agreed to maintain a strong deterrence based on close trilateral coordination, reported Yonhap news agency. At the same time, Park used the meeting to explain South Korea's efforts to ease inter-Korean tensions and resume dialogue with the North, calling for close cooperation with the US and Japan in that regard. A senior foreign ministry official told reporters after the talks that the US and Japan are believed to share Seoul's position. "It appeared that they shared the same stance in leaving the door open for dialogue with North Korea," he said. Since taking office, Lee has called for renewed talks with Pyongyang as a key element of his inter-Korean policy, a shift from his predecessor's hard-line approach toward the North. Park echoed this push for easing tensions throughout the ASEAN meetings. Park used the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to highlight such efforts, saying that the Lee government will work to make tangible progress toward peace on the Korean Peninsula. At the ministerial meeting of the East Asia Summit, Park called for unified efforts toward resolving the North's nuclear issues. With ASEAN, Park reaffirmed South Korea's commitment to deepening ties with the 10-member regional bloc under the Lee government, concluding the adoption of plans of action for 2026-30 based on their comprehensive strategic partnership. The plans call for expanding cooperation in addressing common challenges like global supply chain uncertainties, climate change and transnational crimes, and in areas including artificial intelligence, digital and green transitions. As in previous years, this year's ARF had been closely watched to see whether North Korea would attend, as it is the only multilateral forum regularly attended by Pyongyang. As widely expected, North Korea skipped the forum, its first absence in 25 years since joining the platform in 2000. Its severed diplomatic ties with Malaysia are believed to have influenced the decision. Another key takeaway from the meetings was whom Park would personally engage with, inside and outside the sessions. He was seen having a brief first in-person encounter with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and speaking closely with Rubio before the meetings began. No interaction was observed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. While attending the ASEAN meetings, Park held talks with the five Mekong nations - Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. He also met bilaterally with the top diplomats and his counterparts of Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Malaysia. New Delhi, July 12 : Congress leader Udit Raj on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of bias in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar. His remarks come after the Supreme Court suggested that the Election Commission should consider multiple forms of identification, such as Aadhaar card, voter ID, and ration card, for voter verification during the SIR process. Reacting to the Supreme Court's observation, Udit Raj said the apex court had made the right remark and alleged that the ECI was functioning with the intent to help the BJP and JD(U) manipulate the voter rolls. "The Supreme Court has said the right thing. The way and the intent with which the Election Commission, the BJP and JD-U were trying to rig things was obvious. The Election Commission is a dishonest body. Its office should be inside the BJP headquarters. This is a victory for the people. The RJD and Congress jointly protested against this manipulation. This is a win for the public. Our full effort is to ensure that no fraud takes place, like the way elections were won through deceit in Haryana and Maharashtra," Udit Raj said. He further added that the Opposition is determined to prevent electoral fraud in Bihar and would continue to raise its voice against any attempt to tamper with voter data. The Opposition in Bihar, including the Congress, RJD, and Left parties, has been protesting against the SIR exercise, alleging that it is being used to selectively remove names of voters who oppose the ruling NDA. The Opposition has been raising its concern over the process in which 78 million voters would have to establish they are genuine citizens in a matter of weeks. According to the Congress, in a state like Bihar where poverty and low educational levels result in poor awareness on documentation, nearly 30 million voters would have to provide 11 documents, rather than the commonly available ration cards, Aadhaar cards or voter IDs to prove their citizenship. The Election Commission has denied these allegations, saying the process is being carried out within legal parameters. The Supreme Courtas recent suggestion has been seen by the Opposition as a moral victory, bolstering their demand for transparency and fairness in the electoral roll revision process. Raipur, July 12 : In a breakthrough in Chhattisgarh's anti-Naxal campaign, 23 Maoists, carrying a Rs 1.18 crore reward, surrendered before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials in Sukma district on Saturday. The surrendered cadres carried a cumulative bounty of Rs 1.18 crore, with 11 of them listed as senior operatives in the Maoist hierarchy. Among the group was Podiam Bhima alias Lokesh, a divisional committee member accused of orchestrating the 2012 abduction of Sukma's first collector, Alex Paul Menon. The surrender marks a significant blow to the Maoist stronghold in Bastar, where intensified operations have led to both high-profile encounters and a growing wave of defections. State Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reacted on his X handle that Bastar is undergoing a profound transformation. The echoes of gunfire are fading, replaced by the steady voice of democracy, now resonating across the region, he said. On Saturday, 23 Naxalites with a combined bounty of Rs 1 crore 18 lakh surrendered in Sukma district. Including earlier surrenders in Narayanpur, the past 24 hours alone have seen 45 insurgents abandon violence and place their trust in democratic progress. These developments are more than symbolic - they reflect growing faith in the government's efforts to reach even the most remote areas through inclusive development schemes like Niyyad Nella Nar. "The numbers speak volumes. Over the past 15 months, 1,521 Naxalites have laid down arms, a testament to shifting mindsets driven by a vision for peace and prosperity. This wave of change is also fueled by the state's updated 2025 surrender and rehabilitation policy, which has offered former insurgents a viable path into the mainstream through education, housing, and livelihood opportunities," he said. These milestones echo the broader goal of building a Naxalism-free Chhattisgarh under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the strategic direction of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. With targeted governance and people-centric initiatives, the state edges closer to a future defined not by conflict but by unity, growth, and transformation. Hardcore Naxalite DVCM Lokesh alias Podiyam Bhima had a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head. He is also the commander of the South Sub-Zonal Bureau team. He was involved in the kidnapping of the collector in 2012, the Burkapal attack in 2017 and the Tekalguda encounter in 2021. As many as 46 soldiers were martyred in these two incidents. He has also killed other soldiers by being involved in different incidents. Among the Naxalites who surrendered, Ramesh alias Kamalu is the security guard of CCM and Maoist Madvi Hidma, who has a reward of Rs 1 crore on his head. Madvi Joga is the guard of BNPC Raje alias Rajakka, Nuppo Lachu is the guard of SZCM (State Zonal Committee Member) Sannu Dada. Now, the police believe that they have worked with big cadres, so they can make big revelations about the Maoist organisation. The group included one DVCM (Divisional Committee Member), six People's Party Committee Members, four Area Committee members, and 12 lower-rank party members. Rewards ranged from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 1 lakh, reflecting their varying levels of involvement in insurgent activities. Police officials confirmed that many of the surrendered cadres were active in the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion number 1, considered the most formidable military wing of the Maoists. Their decision to lay down arms was reportedly driven by disillusionment with the Maoist ideology, internal factionalism, and the atrocities committed against tribal communities. The state's updated surrender and rehabilitation policy, along with development initiatives like the Niyad Nellnar scheme, have played a pivotal role in encouraging such transitions. The Maoists surrendered in the presence of CRPF DIGs (deputy inspector general) Anand Singh Rajpurohit and Syed Mohammad Habib Asgar, along with Sukma SP Kiran Chavan. Each surrendered cadre received Rs 50,000 in immediate assistance and will be rehabilitated under the governmentas policy, which includes housing, education, and vocational training. Among the group were Ramesh alias Kalmu Kesa, Kavasi Masa, Praveen alias Sanjeev alias Madkam Hunga, Nuppo Gangi, Punem Deve, each designated as PPCMs or Platoon Company Commanders. Additional party members, including Parski Pandey and Madvi Joga from the PLGA, also surrendered, both of whom carried equal rewards. The list also featured Nuppo Lachhu alias Laxman, known as the guard of the PLGA Battalion Headquarters under SZCM Sannu Dada, and Podiyam Sukhram, a member of the PLGA Battalion No. 1. Another key individual, Dudhi Bhima, served as a deputy commander of Platoon 4. Four ACMs, or Area Committee Members, Muchaki Ranauti alias Hidme, Kalmu Dula, Dudhi Mangali, and Siddharth alias Madvi Inda, each had Rs 5 lakh rewards, reflecting their strategic involvement in Naxal operations. The surrender also included lower-rank party members such as Hemla Rama (Rs 3 lakh) and seven others - Sodi Hidme, Kawasi Joga, Rupa alias Bhime, Gagan alias Kartam Dudwa, Kawasi Hungi, Karam Bhima, and Madkam Nande- each carrying a Rs 1 lakh reward. This coordinated defection sends a clear message of dissent within the insurgent ranks. Disillusionment with the ideology, internal rifts, and increasing outreach of state rehabilitation initiatives have encouraged even hardcore Maoist cadres to choose the path of reintegration. This development follows the surrender of 22 Maoists in Narayanpur district just a day earlier, bringing the total number of Maoists who have laid down arms under the current government to over 1,476. Officials believe these back-to-back surrenders signal a weakening of the Maoist network in Bastar and a shift toward peace and reintegration. Patna, July 12 : Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha launched a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday, over his remarks on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar. The Opposition has been raising concerns over the process in which 78 million voters would have to establish they are genuine citizens in a matter of weeks. According to the Congress, in a state like Bihar where poverty and low educational levels result in poor awareness on documentation, nearly 30 million voters would have to provide 11 documents, rather than the commonly available ration cards, Aadhaar cards or voter IDs to prove their citizenship. Speaking to reporters in Patna, Sinha said: "Rahul Gandhi is misleading the people. A normal person cannot question the Election Commission of India, especially after the Supreme Court has clearly stated it will not put a question mark on a constitutional body." Sinha accused LoP Gandhi of insulting constitutional institutions, demanding that he resign from his constitutional post and apologise to the nation. "A sensible person cannot question a constitutional institution. Appu (Tejashwi Yadav) and Pappu (Rahul Gandhi) have taken the contract to mislead the people and insult the Constitution by spreading lies about constitutional bodies," Sinha claimed. The remarks come amid continuing political tension over the ongoing SIR of the voter list in Bihar. LoP Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav have raised concerns that many poor voters in Bihar may lose voting rights as they lack documents like birth certificates to prove their eligibility, questioning why the Election Commission has not accepted documents like Aadhar cards, Ration cards, Voter ID cards, and MNREGA job cards for the revision process. During a Supreme Court hearing on June 10, the apex court suggested that the Election Commission should consider documents like Aadhaar cards, Voter ID cards, and Ration cards during the voter list revision. The voter list revision has emerged as a significant flashpoint in Bihar's pre-election politics, with the Opposition questioning transparency and inclusivity, while the ruling NDA is defending the Election Commission's processes. The Election Commission has reported that over 74 per cent of enumeration forms have already been collected across Bihar, with door-to-door verification underway. Under pressure from a group of shareholders, Teslas board of directors said it will convene the annual general meeting on Nov. 6, nearly four months later than required under Texas state laws. The company had warned at the end of April it would fail to meet the usual deadline, but did not cite a reason for the delay. Charles Elson, founding director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance, says this attitude represents a lack of accountability toward shareholders. An admission by Teslas directors that investors will be forced to wait until November before voting on key issues has come under sharp criticism fire from a leading U.S. expert on corporate governance. This week, the company finally lifted the secret surrounding the date of its much-delayed annual shareholder meeting. According to state laws in Texas, Tesla was obligated to hold the meeting by July 13one year and one month after its previous meeting. They cant even have an annual meeting annually? Thats ridiculousits almost expressing a contempt for lawful and accepted procedure. Charles Elson told Fortune. Shareholder voting is a core principle in our system of capital formation, and if you abrogate that, then you punch a hole in the system itself. Elson serves as a subcommittee chair on the American Bar Associations Business Law Section and is the founding director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware. In 2024, he resigned from a consulting role with the law firm Holland & Knightwhich counted Tesla as a clientafter a nearly 30-year relationship in order to avoid interest conflicts when filing a legal opinion on the issue of CEO Elon Musks pay package, dubbed the largest in human history. The announcement of the Nov. 6 annual general meeting came just hours after a group of institutional investors representing $1.5 trillion in assets under management expressed their deep concern over the delay and called on the board to immediately disclose the date. The boards ongoing silence Teslas ongoing silence on the AGM is cause for concern, they wrote to Teslas directors in an open letter published Wednesday. The company had first admitted at the end of April that it had failed to file its definitive proxy statement within the normal time frame, citing no reason. Elson said there were only very few legally defensible justifications for pushing back an annual meeting, such as the lack of audited financial statements. Delaying its meeting in order to hold a vote over a new pay package for Musk or a potential investment in his latest startup xAIthe two most commonly cited theories in the Tesla communitydid not meet that threshold in his view. Thiruvananthapuram, July 12 : AICC general secretary and Congress MP K.C. Venugopal has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urgently intervene to save the life of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, who is scheduled to be executed in Yemen on July 16. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Venugopal stressed the need for immediate diplomatic action. He pointed out that while Nimisha's family and the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council have been trying to negotiate a settlement through blood money with the victim's family, the efforts have been hindered by Yemen's ongoing civil war and internal instability. "Given the complexity of the situation, I request you to intervene with utmost urgency, employing all possible diplomatic channels to persuade Yemeni authorities to cancel the death sentence," Venugopal wrote. Lawmakers across political lines from Kerala have already appealed to the Union government and the President of India, seeking urgent diplomatic steps to prevent the execution. A glimmer of hope has emerged with the Supreme Court set to hear a petition on Monday, seeking directions to the Centre to act swiftly through diplomatic means to save Priya. Priya's husband, Tomy Thomas, and their daughter have been praying and relentlessly lobbying for her release. Thomas was recently in Thiruvananthapuram to meet Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar, seeking his support. He and Priya occasionally communicate through WhatsApp, and he has been assuring her that all possible efforts are being made to bring her home safely. Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to support her impoverished parents, working as a nurse before eventually opening her own clinic. However, a dispute in 2017 with her Yemeni business partner, Mehdi, ended in tragedy. According to her family, Priya administered sedatives to Mehdi to retrieve her confiscated passport, but the overdose proved fatal. She was arrested while attempting to flee the country and was convicted of murder in 2018. In 2020, a trial court sentenced her to death. Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023 upheld the sentence, though it allowed for the possibility of clemency through the payment of blood money to the victim's family. The case has drawn widespread attention in India and abroad, raising concerns over the vulnerability of Indian nationals working overseas, especially in conflict zones. Priya's mother, Prema Kumari (57), has been at the forefront of the campaign to save her daughter. She even travelled to Sanaa, Yemen's capital, to negotiate a settlement with the victim's family. Her efforts are being supported by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, comprising NRI social workers and rights activists. Mumbai, July 12 : As India accelerates toward inclusive growth, NABARD is prepared to lead from the front through digital transformation, support for rural enterprises, and mission-led programmes that unlock grassroots potential, said Shaji KV, Chairman of NABARD, on Saturday. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) marked its 44th Foundation Day with a commemorative event at Chennai, celebrating its journey as a pivotal institution in India's rural development. "NABARD's 44-year journey is a testament to our unwavering commitment to rural transformation. From enabling access to finance and infrastructure to fostering innovation and resilience, our work has touched millions of lives," said Shaji. "Our focus now is to scale high-impact solutions, nurture entrepreneurial ecosystems, and ensure sustainability remains at the heart of development," he added. M Nagaraju, Secretary Department Of Financial Services (DFS), said that for over four decades, NABARD has served as a cornerstone of India's rural development strategy. "Its initiatives reflect the government's vision for an inclusive and future-ready rural economy. As we move into an era defined by climate challenges and digital opportunities, NABARD's role in strengthening rural livelihoods and institutions will be more critical than ever," he told the gathering. The occasion brought together key policymakers, state officials, banking leaders, and grassroots innovators to reflect on NABARD's enduring mission and unveil a new chapter of forward-looking initiatives. N. Muruganandam, Chief Secretary Tamil Nadu, acknowledged NABARD's contributions in the state, saying that, "NABARD's support has been instrumental in enhancing rural livelihoods and building self-reliant communities across Tamil Nadu. Its efforts in empowering SHGs, supporting infrastructure, and promoting inclusive finance are deeply appreciated." The event witnessed the launch of several strategic initiatives aimed at expanding NABARD's outreach and deepening its development impact, like inauguration of NABARD's Sub-office in Leh, Ladakh. Established on July 12, 1982, with headquarters in Mumbai, NABARD operates with a mission to promote sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural prosperity through effective credit support, related services, institutional development, and other innovative initiatives. Seoul, July 12 : Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday during his visit to North Korea, Moscow's foreign ministry said. In a Telegram post, the ministry released a photo of Kim smiling while holding Lavrov's hand with both hands. In a separate post of a video that shows Kim greeting Lavrov with a hug, the ministry said Lavrov was "received" by the North Korean leader. The ministry indicated that their meeting took place in the coastal resort city of Wonsan. Lavrov's trip to the North will last until Sunday, when he is set to fly to China to attend a foreign ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states, Yonhap news agency reported. Earlier in the day, North Korea and Russia reaffirmed their strong ties during a meeting of their top diplomats in a coastal North Korean resort city, Russian news agencies reported. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Wonsan for the second round of strategic talks between the two countries, a day after Lavrov arrived in the city, where a tourist zone opened earlier this month, according to TASS. In opening remarks, Lavrov reaffirmed Choe's earlier description of their bilateral ties as an "invincible military brotherhood," citing North Korean troops who fought alongside Russian soldiers against Ukrainian forces in Russia's western region of Kursk. He also pledged to make efforts so that more Russian tourists will visit the resort city, such as increasing flights, TASS reported. Choe reaffirmed her country's support for Russia, describing their ties as rising to an "unbreakable" level. "The strategic choice and will of the DPRK government is to defend, unconditionally and consistently, support Russia's policy of protecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity," TASS quoted her as saying. DPRK stands for North Korea's official name -- the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. His trip comes as Moscow and Pyongyang have been reinforcing their broad-based cooperation since Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty during a summit in Pyongyang in June last year. Lavrov last visited North Korea in June 2024, when he accompanied President Vladimir Putin for a summit with Kim in Pyongyang. During that meeting, they signed a strategic partnership agreement committing both countries to mutual support in the event of aggression. Chennai, July 12 : The makers of director Rahul Ravindran's eagerly awaited entertainer, 'The Girlfriend', featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna in the lead along with actor Dheekshith Shetty, on Saturday announced that the first single 'Nadhive' from the film will release on July 16, much to the delight of fans and film buffs. Chennai, July 12 (IANS) The makers of director Rahul Ravindran's eagerly awaited entertainer, 'The Girlfriend', featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna in the lead along with actor Dheekshith Shetty, on Saturday announced that the first single 'Nadhive' from the film will release on July 16, much to the delight of fans and film buffs. Taking to its X timeline, Geetha Arts, the production house that is presenting the film, wrote, "A melody that will echo through your soul. TheGirlfriend first single - #Nadhive #Nadhiye #HuiRe #Nilave #Swarave out on July 16th. A @HeshamAWMusic musical delight." The news is bound to delight fans of actress Rashmika Mandanna, who have been demanding updates on the film constantly from the makers. In fact, when her fans, who were unhappy about the makers not releasing enough updates about the film 'The Girlfriend' , had some time ago began trending the topic #ReleaseTheGirfriend on the social media platform X, Rashmika had stepped in to support her director and pacify her fans. Rashmika had then tweeted, "Hi my lovelies.I know weave been making you wait and your trend really is something else...but trust me @23_rahulr is really working on it to give you the best output and itas one of the most special kind of films. It's a film where we speak about things we generally donat talk much about. Itas a pure characters-driven film and thatas the beauty of it. We promise you we want to give you the best and itall be worth your while. But because of today... for all the love youave shown us, weall just speed up the process and deliver it to you soonest!" Actress Rashmika has expressed immense faith in director Rahul Ravindran and his film 'The Girlfriend'. In a post she penned for the director's birthday, Rashmika wrote, "You are tooooo precious my friend.. I still canat believe youave made a film like 'The Girlfriend'... The emotional depth you have, the niceness that you have in your heart flows through every frame," she said and added that she had met him for 'The Girlfriend' and had found "a director, a friend, a mentor a parter in crime for a lifetime who I trust wholly and immensely." Written and directed by Rahul Ravindran, the film has music by Hesham Abdul Wahab and cinematography by Krishnan Vasant. Thiruvananthapuram, July 12 : The Students' Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the ruling CPI(M), on Saturday strongly criticised an incident in which students were made to wash the feet of their teachers at schools allegedly run by RSS-affiliated managements. SFI state leaders M. Sivaprasad and Sanjeev condemned the ritual, calling it regressive and incompatible with Kerala's progressive socio-cultural ethos. "These incidents occurred in schools run by the RSS, where students were compelled to perform this ritual. Such acts are in line with the RSS's ideological practices and are completely unacceptable in a modern, democratic education system," the SFI said in a statement. The organisation demanded strict action, arguing that such practices undermine the inclusive and egalitarian values Kerala's education system stands for. However, the school management involved denied any wrongdoing, calling the controversy "needless." It said that the students participated in the ritual voluntarily; they brought pooja materials themselves and conducted it in the presence of teachers as part of tradition. Following media reports and the SFI's complaint, Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty took note of the issue and ordered an official inquiry. "Such practices are inappropriate and do not align with the values of a democratic and progressive education system," Sivankutty said, adding that district education officials have been asked to submit a detailed report and ensure that such activities are not repeated. He also instructed strict action against any violations of established norms. This incident comes amid heightened tensions between the CPI(M)-led state government and Kerala Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar. The relationship has soured further after the Governor began using the image of Bharat Mata, a symbol associated with the RSS, at official events. Last month, Minister Sivankutty walked out of a meeting at the Raj Bhavan after he noticed the image prominently placed on the dais, in what was seen as a rare and pointed breach of protocol. Patna, July 12 : Amid rising incidents of murders and attacks on businessmen in Bihar, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has questioned the Nitish Kumar government, intensifying discomfort within the ruling NDA alliance. In a pointed post on social media, Chirag Paswan wrote: "How many more murders will Biharis face now? It is beyond understanding what the responsibility of the Bihar Police is." Chirag's remarks come amid a wave of criminal incidents in Patna, including the recent killing of prominent businessman Gopal Khemka, followed by the murder of grocery trader Vikram Jha and the murder of sand trader Ramakant Yadav, creating fear among the business community. While opposition leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav and Congress leaders, have been consistently attacking the Nitish government over the deteriorating law and order, the remarks by Chirag Paswan, an NDA ally, signal unease within the ruling coalition. Before Chirag, LJP (RV) Khagaria MP Rajesh Verma had publicly stated that law and order in Bihar has collapsed under the current administration, leading to a sharp counter from JDU leader and Bihar minister Maheshwar Hazari, who asked Chirag to clarify whether he wants to remain in the alliance or not. Notably, Chirag's brother-in-law and Jamui MP Arun Bharti had also recently criticised the rising crime in Bihar, stating that "you cannot become Dhritarashtra for the nation" while ignoring ground realities. Chirag's direct questioning of the government further adds to the speculation within political circles about strained ties within the NDA ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections. The repeated public criticism from LJP (Ram Vilas) leaders has raised questions about coordination and unity within the NDA, even as Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha continues to maintain that the Nitish government is committed to controlling crime in the state. Bihar has witnessed a spate of high-profile attacks and murders, triggering fear among businessmen and residents alike, while providing ammunition to the opposition and even NDA allies to question the governance and policing under Nitish Kumar's leadership. Bengaluru, July 12 : Expressing appreciation that girls are leading in scoring 100 per cent marks, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said their presence in the armed forces and space sector is a symbol of the progress of the female community. He was speaking after inaugurating the 300th birth anniversary celebration of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar held at Ravindra Kalakshetra. "Education, organisation, and struggle" is the mantra given by Dr B.R. Ambedkar to the oppressed castes and communities. aShudrasa and women were denied access to literacy and education. But due to Ambedkaras contributions, opportunities for education became available to the aShudrasa and women. The compulsory education law provided by our Constitution also helped in this regard, CM Siddaramaiah said. "My grandmother used to say aKurubasa are far from education, why should we study? But I went to school, earned a law degree, and became the Chief Minister. Had I not used the opportunity to study, I too would have ended up grazing cattle and sheep. Hence, Rani Ahilyabai's educational revolution became an inspiration to all and to this women's organisation," he said. "Those who do not know history cannot shape the future," he remarked. Despite being in power for 20 years, Rani Ahilyabai Holkar did not aspire to expand her kingdom. Though the royal treasury was full, she led a simple life and prioritised good governance and development. She also played a vital role in social reform by working to end child marriage, he noted. Rani Ahilyabai had a secular mindset and had even supported inter-caste marriage, the CM pointed out. Only when women become socially and economically empowered through education can inequality be eradicated and social development achieved, he said. "No one becomes lazy because of our governmentas welfare schemes. On the contrary, they become socially empowered," Siddaramaiah stated. "Our government has implemented various schemes like Gruha Lakshmi and Shakti to empower women. These programmes have brought strength to society and to women, not laziness," he clarified. The Chief Minister announced that land will be allotted in Bengaluru for the Karnataka Ahilyabai Mahila Samaja. CM Siddaramaiah further said that completing 25 years is a major achievement for any organisation. The Karnataka State Ahilyabai Holkar Womenas Association has been highly successful. Yellamma and everyone involved deserve appreciation for their efforts, he added. New Delhi, July 12 : US President Donald Trump on Saturday issued 30 per cent tariffs on imports from Mexico and the European Union (EU), to renegotiate trade terms before the August 1 deadline. The European Union will allow complete, open Market Access to the United States, Trump said in its letter posted on Truth Social, or "whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added on the 30 per cent that we charge." The 27-country EU bloc is under pressures as Germany urged a quick deal to safeguard its industry. In his letter to Mexico, Trump said the country has been "helping me secure the border," but added that it wasn't enough. "Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground. Obviously I cannot let that happen!" Trump said in the letter to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Earlier, the US President advised countries in ongoing trade talks with his administration to "just keep working hard" ahead of the August 1 negotiation deadline, repeating his claim that America has been taken advantage of by "both friend and foe" for many years. Trump made the remarks before departing for a flood-ravaged area in Texas, as South Korea, Japan and other countries strive to reach deals with the United States to avoid or minimize the impact of steep "reciprocal" tariffs that are set to take effect on August 1. "I think just keep working hard. You know, we've been taken advantage of for many, many years by countries, both friend and foe. And frankly, the friends have been worse than the foes in many cases," he said during a press availability at the White House. On Monday, Trump sent a letter addressed to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, saying that the U.S. will start imposing 25 per cent tariffs on South Korean products on August 1 -- rather than Wednesday, when the reciprocal tariffs were initially set to take effect following a 90-day pause. Kochi, July 12 : After weeks of legal wrangling and uncertainty, Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi's latest film Janaki. V vs State of Kerala has finally received clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), paving the way for its release. The film, originally titled Janaki vs State of Kerala, ran into trouble when the CBFC objected to the use of the name "Janaki" in the title, citing concerns under Section 5B(2) of the Cinematograph Act. The production company challenged the decision in the Kerala High Court, initiating a legal battle that drew considerable public attention. Following three rounds of hearings, the producers -- initially unwilling to change the title -- agreed to a slight modification, renaming the film Janaki. V vs State of Kerala during the July 9 hearing. The production team's counsel, Rajya Sabha MP Haris Beeran, said the compromise was a mutual decision after both parties opted for a softer approach. Initially, the CBFC had proposed 96 cuts, but after multiple rounds of discussion, that number was reduced to just two. Additionally, two dialogues were muted. The re-edited version was resubmitted on Saturday, and the CBFC promptly granted certification. The Kerala High Court had earlier directed the CBFC to issue the certificate within three days of receiving the final version of the film. The next court hearing is scheduled for July 16. However, the production team has expressed interest in advancing the hearing, noting that considerable time has already been lost due to the delay. The film, which was initially slated for release on June 27, is now expected to hit theatres on July 18, pending final procedural clearances. During the July 2 hearing, Justice N. Nagaresh had remarked that the CBFC's objection to the name "Janaki" was unwarranted. "She is not a rapist. If a rapist were named Rama, Krishna, or Janaki, then I could understand the concern. But here, she is the heroine, a survivor seeking justice," the judge observed, defending the creative choice. Throughout the controversy, lead actor Suresh Gopi -- who is also a Union Minister -- has remained silent. With the release now back on track, all eyes are on whether he will finally speak on the issue. New Delhi, July 12 : Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Saturday complemented the Delhi government for bringing about a positive change in the city's drainage system and ridding city hotspots like Minto Bridge of waterlogging. Addressing media persons, he stated that there has been no waterlogging under the Minto and ITO Bridges in central Delhi, a testament to the drain de-silting efforts of the Rekha Gupta government ahead of monsoon. Sachdeva said that due to the Gupta government's focus on drainage and sewer-cleaning, rainwater is draining away much faster at most places this year. "Areas like Minto Bridge and ITO are in a much better condition this year as compared to last year," he said. The BJP president said that between 2008 and 2024, no real attention was paid to the cleaning of major drains, sewer lines, and internal drainage systems of colonies in Delhi. From 2008 to 2010, during the Commonwealth Games period, the functioning of the Delhi Jal Board started to collapse under the Congress government, he said. Between 2013 and 2024, under Arvind Kejriwal's rule, both the DJB and the Public Works Department (PWD) became notorious for negligence and corruption. "As a result, from 2010 to 2024, even light rain during the monsoon caused massive waterlogging across Delhi," he said. In 2024, specifically, due to the Kejriwal government's corruption, there was no cleaning of drains or sewers, and water remained stagnant on many roads and colonies for two to three days throughout the monsoon, he said. He said that because of the corruption under the Kejriwal government, not only unauthorised colonies but even well-planned areas of Delhi experienced severe waterlogging. In 2024 alone, over 50 serious and fatal accidents occurred due to waterlogging, he said. Sachdeva emphasised that, in sharp contrast, this year, under the Rekha Gupta government, drain and sewer cleaning has been undertaken seriously, which is why rainwater is clearing much faster from roads and streets. The Delhi BJP President said that Rekha Gupta's administration has a comprehensive plan in place to tackle waterlogging. "While this year we are still facing some consequences of the 15-year-long loot by the Delhi Jal Board, the situation will improve significantly by next year's monsoon," he said. Truck Parking Club has accepted a strategic investment from CAT Scale, North Americas largest truck weighing network, to make parking more accessible to truckers nationwide. According to a release emailed from both companies on Friday, CAT Scale is investing in Truck Parking Club to support its mission of addressing truck parking shortages. Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Truck Parking Clubs network of instantly and reservable truck parking spans nearly 2,300 locations across the U.S. In June, the business announced it had doubled its network to offer over 40,000 reservable spaces in six months. CAT Scale, founded in 1977, currently has 2,275 weighing station locations in the U.S. and Canada. Its investment coincided with the Walcott Truckers Jamboree at Iowa 80. The strategic investment will help speed up Truck Parking Clubs goal of reaching 10,000 Property Member locations by December 2026 and build upon its reputation as a trusted partner for truck drivers. Were humbled by CAT Scales investment and that they see the value we bring to drivers, said Evan Shelley, co-founder and CEO of Truck Parking Club, in the release. Theyve been stewards of the trucking industry for generations, building an incredible nationwide network and beloved brand through their unconditional guarantee. Leveraging their knowledge and experience from building a trusted nationwide network will be invaluable as we continue building our truck parking network toward our goal of 10,000+ Property Member locations by December 2026, he continued. A nationwide truck parking shortage currently forces drivers to spend an average of 56 minutes searching for safe, legal parking. With the strategic investment from CAT Scale, Truck Parking Clubs goal is to shorten that search time to 10 minutes or less. After working years to add truck parking at our own truck stops, working with NATSO and personally lobbying in Washington for help, we see Truck Parking Club as the best solution and more importantly, it is available today, said Delia Moon Meier, senior vice president at CAT Scale, in the release. Helping Truck Parking Club succeed is a material way we can help truck drivers. The post Truck Parking Club accepts strategic investment from CAT Scale Company appeared first on FreightWaves. New Delhi, July 12 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday discussed the modalities for releasing funds to 374 Kanwar committees, which have been granted permission to set up camps for serving Shiva devotees undertaking the pilgrimage on foot during the holy Shravan month. She also held a meeting with the organising committees of Ramleelas and offered help for the smooth conduct of events. Later, CM Gupta told mediapersons, "Today, we had a meeting with all officials regarding the Kanwar Yatra preparations, as well as discussions about the upcoming Ramleelas... This time, the government has carefully planned everything." On Kanwar committees, she said, "I am happy to report that 374 organisations participated, all of which were confirmed to be registered. We even helped some register within a day and complete all formalities. A single-window system was provided. Not a single permission was delayed organisations received approvals within 48 to 60 hours..." CM Gupta chaired the high-level review meeting regarding the Kanwar Yatra at the Delhi Secretariat. Cabinet Ministers Ashish Sood and Kapil Mishra were present at the meeting. In a post on X, CM Gupta said, "Clear instructions have been given to officials to ensure no shortcomings in serving the devotees of Lord Shiva. This year, 374 registered Kanwar committees have been granted permission within 48 hours through a single-window system. Each camp has been provided with 1,200 units of free electricity, simplified meter connections, and a 75 per cent relief in security deposits." She said, "Arrangements for traffic, police, health, and cleanliness have been thoroughly strengthened at every level. Fifty per cent of the total amount will be provided to the committees before the event, with the remaining transferred directly to their accounts via DBT." The CM said, "For us, the Kanwar Yatra is an opportunity for public service. We endeavour to ensure that this yatra is conducted with devotion, safety, and good governance, in full dignity." Earlier, CM Gupta announced that 20 Kanwar camps will be set up exclusively for women devotees travelling on foot. Last year, 170 Kanwar organising committees were funded by the Delhi government. Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra, who is leading the preparations for the Kanwar festival, said that the Delhi government is committed to making this year's Kanwar Yatra grand and well-organised. Kanwar Yatra is one of North India's most significant religious traditions, where millions of devotees collect holy Ganga water from Haridwar, Gangotri, and other sacred places to offer at Shiva temples in their native places. Every year, thousands of Kanwar devotees pass through Delhi en route to other states. To welcome and accommodate them, Kanwar camps are set up across various parts of the city. They are offered resting areas, food and medical facilities at these camps set up along key roads used by the devotees to travel on foot. New Delhi, July 12 : In a major crackdown on organised auto theft, Delhi Police's Crime Branch has busted two inter-state rackets operating across Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Manipur. A total of seven accused have been arrested and 8 stolen vehicles recovered, including high-end models like the Mahindra Thar, Toyota Innova, and Maruti Brezza. The operations were led by the Central and Eastern Ranges of the Crime Branch. The Central Range team, acting on a tip-off, arrested three notorious auto-lifters -- Rohit, Rajender alias Tinu, and Satbir alias Sonu alias Amritsariya -- from West Delhi. One stolen Maruti Eeco car, four chassis plates, vehicle parts, and tools used for dismantling were seized. Satbir, identified as the mastermind, is a repeat offender with five past cases. Rohit and Rajender were responsible for stealing and dismantling vehicles, selling parts in Delhi's grey markets like Mayapuri. In a parallel operation, the Eastern Range-I team tracked a stolen vehicle being delivered to Siliguri, West Bengal. Four accused -- Mohd. Dildar, Kaiminlen Haopik, Md. Jaani alias Toni and Arjun were apprehended. The team recovered three stolen vehicles and seized fake registration plates, forged RCs, 10 Mahindra flip keys, and a number plate punching machine. Investigations revealed a well-networked syndicate where vehicles were stolen on demandespecially Mahindra Thar modelsand rerouted to the Northeast using forged documents. Accused Dildar was found to have delivered six such Thar vehicles previously. Jaani, a history-sheeter with 11 cases, specialised in stealing Thars, while Arjun manufactured fake number plates. Police said the racket used a network of lifters, forgers, drivers, and receivers to move stolen vehicles undetected. Several FIRs across Delhi have been solved through these arrests. "The Delhi Police Crime Branch Team's unwavering dedication, strategic foresight, and proactive approach led to the successful dismantling of a well-organised vehicle theft syndicate. The team continues to investigate the incriminating evidence to identify and apprehend other members of the syndicate," said DCP Vikram Singh. New Delhi, July 12 : In a significant development for the Bharatiya Janata Party's organisational consolidation strategy in Madhya Pradesh, newly appointed State President Hemant Khandelwal called upon Union Minister for Information and Development of the North-Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, at his residence in New Delhi. New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) In a significant development for the Bharatiya Janata Partyas organisational consolidation strategy in Madhya Pradesh, newly appointed State President Hemant Khandelwal called upon Union Minister for Information and Development of the North-Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, at his residence in New Delhi. The meeting, which lasted nearly ninety minutes, was marked by a cordial and constructive exchange of ideas focused on further strengthening the partyas grassroots presence and future roadmap. Scindia extended a warm welcome to Khandelwal and congratulated him on assuming leadership of the state unit. The discussion centred on enhancing coordination between the party organisation and the government, boosting worker morale, and refining communication strategies down to the booth level. Both leaders emphasised the importance of inclusive participation in the partyas decision-making processes, particularly involving youth, women, tribal communities, and farmers. Sources close to the meeting revealed that the dialogue was not only strategic but also reflective of the BJPas renewed focus on internal cohesion and outreach ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Khandelwal, who was elected unopposed as Madhya Pradesh BJP President earlier this month, brings with him a legacy of public service and organisational experience, having served as an MLA from Betul and previously as a Member of Parliament. The meeting also signals a strengthening of ties between the central and state leadership, with Scindia playing a pivotal role in shaping the partyas narrative in Madhya Pradesh. His influence, particularly in the Gwalior-Chambal region, remains significant, and the discussion reportedly touched upon strategies to integrate his supporters more effectively into the partyas organisational framework. Political analysts view this meeting as a step toward consolidating the BJPas position in the state, especially in light of recent internal reshuffles and the partyas broader goal of expanding its base. With Khandelwal at the helm and Scindiaas strategic backing, the BJP appears poised to recalibrate its approach in Madhya Pradesh, blending legacy leadership with grassroots mobilisation. Agartala, July 12 : Tripura Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath informed on Saturday that in the last seven years, the department has exported 73.15 metric tonnes (MT) of tasty pineapple to Dubai, Oman and Qatar. The Agriculture Minister said that from 2018 to 2025, a total of 73.15 MT of pineapple was exported to Dubai, Oman, and Qatar, and in addition, 4.40 MT of jackfruit were exported to America, and 30 MT of ginger and 17 MT of betel leaf were exported to Bangladesh. The Minister said that to boost the income of pineapple cultivators, the department is planning to set up a new fruit processing centre under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in Nalkata, in Dhalai district. While addressing the Pineapple Festival at Kumarghat in Unakoti District, Nath said that the state government is working to obtain the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for 'Sidol Shutki' (fermented fish), Sabari banana and several other products. "After the BJP government came to power in 2018, we declared Queen pineapple as the state fruit. Queen variety pineapple already has a GI tag; nobody can copy it. Our main aim is to expand the production and market of pineapple. We need to produce more, and for that, such events like the Pineapple Festival are being organised. We have also recently organised buyers and sellers meetings on organic products," he said. The Minister said that the first-ever Organic Buyer-Seller meet was held earlier this week for various products like pineapple, bird's eye chilli, turmeric and ginger, all of which are organic. He stated that in the state, a huge area of land is used for fruit cultivation, the majority of which is under pineapple cultivation. Tripura is renowned for its Queen and Kew varieties of pineapple, both of which flourish in the state's unique hilly and humid climate with minimal chemical intervention. These pineapples are golden yellow in appearance and have a distinct, pleasant aroma upon ripening, said Nath. "After our government came to power, the price of a pineapple was around Rs 8 to Rs 9. Now, it has increased to around Rs 40 or more. Our main aim is to help farmers and increase their income. The Union DoNER Ministry is working to make Queen pineapple a global brand. We have held meetings with Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia twice and are planning to undertake a scheme worth Rs 132 crore," said the Minister. He said that the government's main aim is to strengthen the farmers' income so that the economy of our state grows. The Minister, accompanied by officials and others, also visited a pineapple processing centre in Kumarghat. --IANS sc/dan Pune, July 12 : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that the 'Missing Link Project' on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will reduce the distance between the Mumbai-Pune, benefiting passengers. He claimed that the steep ghat section on the highway will be bypassed, eliminating traffic bottlenecks caused by the ghat road. "Once completed, this expressway will offer a smooth journey. The project includes a total of three tunnels - one of them is 9 km long and 23 m wide, making it the longest tunnel in the country, surpassing the record held by the Samruddhi Highway tunnel," he said. The Chief Minister added that an extremely tall bridge is also being constructed, with a height of 185 m, which will be the highest bridge ever built in the country, and a record achievement. "The Missing Link project on the Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai-Pune Expressway is an engineering marvel," claimed the Chief Minister, while speaking after inspecting the 'Missing Link Project' on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, where he was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The Chief Minister said this project includes the country's longest tunnel, and travel time between Pune and Mumbai will be reduced by half an hour. "The project by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation is being executed extremely well," he claimed. He added that 94 per cent of the work has been completed and the remaining work will be finished soon, and also praised the engineers and workers who are working under adverse conditions. Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the 'Missing Link Project' is being constructed using stateoftheart technology, and this project will be a gamechanger. He pointed out that, considering the atmospheric and airpressure conditions here, many engineers are working in very difficult situations. "Once this project starts, travel between the Mumbai-Pune will be reduced by half an hour, traffic problems in the ghat section will be resolved, and accidents will be avoided," he said. The Deputy Chief Minister said that this expressway project will save fuel and reduce pollution, and will boost development in the country and in Maharashtra. Kolkata, July 12 : Serious confusion has surfaced over the alleged rape of a victim in the Indian Institute of Management- Calcutta (IIM-C) in the boy's hostel as the victim's father said on Saturday that "nothing happened" to her daughter and no "one did anything wrong" with her. Kolkata, July 12 (IANS) Serious confusion has surfaced over the alleged rape of a victim in the Indian Institute of Management- Calcutta (IIM-C) in the boy's hostel as the victim's father said on Saturday that "nothing happened" to her daughter and no "one did anything wrong" with her. Earlier today, a lower court in Kolkata, on Saturday afternoon, remanded Premanand Mahaveer Toppannavar a.k.a. Parmanand Jain (26), the sole accused in the case, to police custody till July 19. His statement is totally in contradiction to what the victim reported in the official complaint that she registered with the local Haridevpur Police Station on Friday night after the alleged incident of sexual assault on her. She claimed in the police statement that she went to the boys' hostel within the IIM-C campus, being called by the accused for some counselling purposes. There she was offered pizza and cold drinks, on consumption of which she became unconscious. As per her complaint, she was raped while she was in that boy's hostel. However, her father had claimed that her daughter called him at 9.34 p.m. on Friday, and informed him that she had fallen sick after she tumbled while alighting from a vehicle. "That is why she became unconscious. She could not recollect the exact place where she became unconscious. As regards the police complaint, I feel that she was under some sort of pressure to write that," he said. Although the victim's father did not clarify whom he suspects to have put pressure on her daughter to write that police statement, he denied her daughter having any acquaintance with the accused. Meanwhile, the counsel of the accused told the media persons that his client was introduced to the victim through social media. "The victim, who is reportedly a professional psychological counsellor, went to the Lake View Boys Hostel within the IIM-C campus for some counselling purposes. Considering the future of my client, I request everyone not to disclose his identity," the counsel of the accused said. The public prosecutor said that the investigating officials are currently examining the mobile phone of the accused that has been seized. Itanagar, July 12 : Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed gratitude to the people of Riga village in Siang district for accepting the government plan to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), hydropower project with an estimated generation capacity of 11,000 MW. An official of the Chief Ministeras Office (CMO) said on Saturday that people of Riga village of Siang district signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government in a meeting held on Friday, in the presence of Chief Minister Khandu. Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Ojing Tasing and Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta were present in the meeting. People of Riga village pledged irrevocably to support the Government of India and the government of Arunachal Pradesh in the conduct of pre-feasibility survey, drilling, etc, for the preparation of the Pre-Feasibility Report of the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. Khandu thanked all residents of Riga Village for wholeheartedly supporting the interest of the nation and the state by displaying incredible wisdom and maturity in building a consensus amongst a majority of residents of Riga Village, the CMO official said. He mentioned that more than 80 per cent of houses in the village have pledged to support the pre-feasibility survey. Last month Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet noted the concerns expressed by certain sections of people regarding the preparation of the Pre-Feasibility Report of the proposed SUMP, which was declared as a aNational Projecta by the Union government in 2008. The Cabinet, chaired by the Chief Minister, also decided to request the Centre to sanction a special development package for the Siang and Upper Siang Districts, including the beneficiary-oriented social development for the twin districts. The Tsangpo River is known as Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and Brahmaputra in Assam and Jamuna in Bangladesh, and it flows through the neighbouring country (Bangladesh) before joining the Bay of Bengal. Tsangpo River is known as Yarlung Tsangpo River in China, and it is the longest river of Tibet and the fifth longest in China. The SUMP is a crucial initiative aimed at mitigating the impacts of downstream flooding in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Bangladesh and other environmental issues. Recently, the Arunachal Pradesh government expressed concern regarding Chinaas massive 137-billion US dollar hydroelectric dam project, which is set to produce 60,000 MW of electricity over the Yarlung Tsangpo River, in the upper reaches of the Siang River in China. Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein, who holds the Power and Non-Conventional Energy Resources, had said that the Centre has proposed the SUMP, a dam on the Siang River, which has the potential to generate up to 11,000 MW of electricity. While sharing some observations made by experts on the environmental impact in the region of such a massive hydropower project over Tsangpo river, the Deputy Chief Minister had said that if the China builds the dam over Yarlung Tsangpo river and diverts its water, it will dry up the Siang river and its distributaries affecting the aquatic life of the river and the large population in the plains of Assam and Bangladesh which depends on Brahmaputra river for the irrigation of agricultural fields. On the other hand, if any conflict arises between the two nations in future, it may release a large volume of water from the dam, which would cause unpredictable flooding in the downstream areas in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, causing loss of lives and properties, Mein stated. In case of the release of a large volume of water by China, the dam in the Siang river would act as a deterrent and release the water in a controlled way, thereby moderating flooding downstream. Bhopal, July 12 : After the Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission decided to conduct physical verification of voter lists in the state, Congress said on Saturday that the opposition has repeatedly complained to the Election Commission (EC) about the large number of fake voters in Madhya Pradesh Citing the Election Commission's data, especially about 8 to 10 per cent suspected fake voters, Congress said that the Assembly elections in November 2023 were conducted based on the same voter list. "Is it just a coincidence that the number of voters being declared today is almost the same (8 per cent) votes that the BJP won in the Assembly elections 2023. It means that the result of the 2023 Assembly election is also doubtful," said former Chief Minister Kamal Nath. He pointed out that the vote share of the Congress and the BJP after the assembly elections was almost equal. "But in 2023, the BJP's vote share increased by 8 per cent; despite this, Congress retained its 40 per cent vote share," he said. Notably, Congress fought two Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh - 2018 and 2023 under the leadership of Kamal Nath. In 2023, the Congress was reduced to 63 against 114 seats it had won 2018 Assembly election. On Friday, state Congress chief Jitu Patwari also raised doubts about the result in his own Assembly seat. "During the 2023 Assembly elections, around 70,000 votes were increased in the last two months in my assembly constituency. I can't say that my election result was affected by it, but the fact that over 1600 locations in the state have a huge number of voters in a single address shows that the BJP knows how to manipulate elections. The verification of the voter list must be rechecked," he said. Meanwhile, the BJP accused Congress of questioning the Election Commission's process only when they lose, and suggested that they (Congress) should focus on gaining public acceptance instead. "Congress puts a question mark on the process of the Election Commission when it keeps losing. If they win, everything is fine. They should go to the public, so that they accept them, and then participate in the political activities," said BJP leader Vishwas Sarang. Bengaluru, July 12 : Commenting on the Congress infighting, Karnataka BJP President and legislator B.Y. Vijayendra has stated that the relationship between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress high command has deteriorated. Speaking to the media on Saturday, he said, "Recently, both Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar were in Delhi. Siddaramaiah had to return to Karnataka without getting an audience with the Congress high command or Rahul Gandhi. This clearly indicates that the relationship between the Chief Minister and the high command has soured." "There is already a clouded atmosphere over the state government. It's uncertain when thunder and lightning will beginlet's wait and see," he stated. "One thing is clear: everything is not going well within the Congress party and the government. There is an ongoing tug-of-war between the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, along with competition for the CM's chair. All this is doing nothing to solve people's problems," he added. He remarked that Siddaramaiah returning without meeting Rahul Gandhi is not a good sign. "Let's see what developments take place. There is a looming fear of a tsunami within the Congress party and the government. That's why different statements are being made to divert attentionit's all political manipulation," he said in response to a question. He went on to say that governance in the state has collapsed. "There's an internal struggle among MLAs and leaders over who should be CM, while common people are suffering in the meantime." "We are happy being in the opposition for the next three years. We have no anxiety about that. We will come to power in 2028 with our own strength; there is no need to join hands with these people," he stated in response to another question. "Let's wait and watch what kind of revolution or mega-revolution will unfold in November. But one thing is certainwar has broken out within the ruling party. Let's see who all it will consume," he said when asked another question. It can be recalled that recently, Minister for Cooperation K. N. Rajanna, a close associate of CM Siddaramaiah, had stated that there will be a big change within the state politics, referring to the strife within the ruling Congress party. "We will continue to fight against this government as the opposition. The public, too, is getting ready to take to the streets. Whether this government stays or falls, or whether the CM is changed or someone else becomes CMnone of this will have any impact on the development of the state. Hence, people are not even interested in these developments," he asserted. "I have met our party leaders in Delhi. Everything will go well," he said confidently when asked about the party's direction. On Union Minister for Jal Shakti and Railways V. Somanna, he said, "He is a Union minister, a senior leader who is committed to the party and its interests. He will sincerely work to resolve issues." Responding to a question about brokering peace between former minister B. Sriramulu and Janardhana Reddy, he said, "If discussions take place on that matter, it is welcome. If possible, I will also try to be part of the efforts." He also spoke on the ongoing strike by municipal workers in the state. "Over 30,000 employees from various municipal corporations have hit the streets in protest. It is the duty of the state government and the Chief Minister to fulfil their just demands. Due to a lack of development, people are already suffering. On the other hand, even the basic demands of workers are not being met, leading to hardship for the general public in cities. The Chief Minister must urgently focus on resolving this," he urged. Bhopal, July 12 : A three-member delegation from the Embassy of Nepal, including Minister Counsellor Ambika Joshi, visited the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Bhopal on Saturday. After a customary welcome from the AIIMS Bhopal, the delegation visited the campus, including the medical college, and hostels for doctors and students to understand the quality health services being provided to the patients. The delegation also held a formal meeting with Dr. Ajay Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal, and other senior administrative officials of the premier medical institute. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral academic relations between India and Nepal, promoting the welfare of international students, and exploring long-term collaborations between medical institutions of both countries. The visiting delegation includes Ambika Joshi, Minister Counsellor, Rabindra Jung Thapa, Counsellor (Economic), and Anirudh Dubey, Resident Manager, PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, according to a press note issued by AIIMS, Bhopal. The visit was organised to facilitate interaction with Nepalese students studying in India and to promote possibilities of academic cooperation in the field of medical education between India and Nepal. During the visit, the delegation interacted with Nepalese and other foreign national students studying at AIIMS Bhopal. "This interaction provided a meaningful platform for students to share their academic progress, experiences, and concerns. It emerged as an effective forum for dialogue with the student community," it said. Dr. Ajay Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS, Bhopal, said that such visits reinforce the shared cultural heritage and pave the way for joint efforts toward medical excellence. He said that the visit concluded with mutual respect, cooperation, and shared commitment, further strengthening the long-standing educational and cultural ties between India and Nepal. "AIIMS Bhopal is committed to providing an inclusive and encouraging academic environment. We are proud to host talented students from Nepal and are keen to further strengthen academic and research collaborations with leading medical institutions in Nepal," Dr. Singh added. --IANS pd/dan QXO Inc. (NYSE:QXO) is one of the 11 best debt-free stocks to invest in right now. The company presents a compelling long-term investment opportunity as it aims to become the tech-enabled leader in a massive, fragmented industry. 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According to Hughes, QXOs acquisition of Beacon Roofing Supply Inc. in April marks a significant first step toward consolidating what remains a highly fragmented industry. The analyst views this transaction as more than a one-off move. Instead, it reflects the companys broader ambition to scale rapidly through acquisitions. He noted that QXO has laid out an aggressive roadmap, one that will likely involve consistent deal flow. In Hughes view, the company is well-positioned, both structurally and strategically, to execute on this pace of consolidation. QXO Inc. (NYSE:QXO) is a distributor of roofing, waterproofing, and complementary building products in the United States. While we acknowledge the potential of QXO as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: Harvard University Stock Portfolio: Top 10 Stock Picks and 20 Undervalued Momentum stocks that are Taking Off. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. New Delhi, July 12 : With the start of auspicious Shravan month on Friday, troubles for Kanwariyas surfaced on the very first day as some miscreants in Shahdara, Delhi, reportedly scattered glass pieces on the route of the Kanwar Yatra. However, Delhi minister Kapil Mishra said that no disruption will be allowed in the Kanwar Yatra. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Delhi cabinet minister Kapil Mishra, in a post on the social media platform X, said, "Some miscreants in Shahdara, Delhi, scattered glass pieces on the route of the Kanwar Yatra for about one kilometre. Employees of the Public Works Department (PWD) and Municipal Corporation are clearing the route. Local MLA Sanjay Goyal is present there." He said that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta herself has taken cognisance of the incident. An FIR will be lodged against the miscreants by the PWD. Kapil Mishra said that no disruption will be allowed in the journey of Kanwariyas. Earlier, South Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Ankit Chauhan said that Delhi Police held a meeting with the Kanwar camp organisers and the concerned parties, in which the guidelines of the Delhi government and the police were discussed. "The main objective of these guidelines is to make the journey safe and smooth. We are ensuring that no Kanwariya faces any problem. We have prepared the entire outline. Further work is being done accordingly," he added. He said that special arrangements will be made for fire extinguishers to prevent fire in the Kanwar camps. The stands to be installed for water distribution will be strong, and special attention will be paid to cleanliness around the camps. Apart from this, toilets will be built near the camps, which will be at a short distance, so that cleanliness is maintained. Special emphasis has also been laid on the traffic system. The camps will be set up a little behind the road, so that there is no hindrance to the traffic and the possibility of an accident is reduced. Agartala, July 12 : Six Bangladeshi citizens and two Indian touts were arrested in Tripura for crossing over the international border illegally without valid documents, officials said on Saturday. A police official said that the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, during a routine check at an inter-state bus terminal in North Tripura district headquarters, Dharmanagar, on Friday night, detained four Bangladeshi nationals and two Indian citizens who guided them to enter India illegally. In another incident, two more Bangladeshi nationals were arrested while they were on their way from the bordering Sidhai areas in West Tripura to Khowai district in a vehicle. All eight persons, including six Bangladeshi citizens, were handed over to the police authority by the BSF for taking further necessary legal action. In another operation, the BSF troops foiled various smuggling attempts along the India-Bangladesh border and seized dry ganja, Phensedyl and other contrabands valued at Rs 15.52 lakh. The items were seized while being smuggled to Bangladesh through the West Tripura district. Meanwhile, the security forces of Tripura and other northeastern states, following the instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), have intensified their efforts to detect Bangladeshi, Rohingyas and foreign nationals who are hiding in Indian territories. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha earlier this week said that infiltrators from Bangladesh also realised that this bordering state (Tripura) is not a safe zone for them. "After the trouble began in Bangladesh and following the fall of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in August last year, security forces maintained a close vigil along the border to foil any kind of infiltration bid," Saha, who also holds the home portfolio, had told the media. He said it is also not possible to enter Tripura and live here using fake Aadhaar cards. The Chief Minister recently held meetings with the senior security officials of different agencies, including BSF, and requested the officials in the state to maintain close coordination among them to deal with the border-related issues and other related developments in view of the tension between India and Pakistan. The Chief Minister had further stated that if such infiltrators from across the border manage to enter Indian (Tripura) territory, they would be pushed back as per legal provisions. BSF officials said that the para-military troops have enhanced vigil and intensified their domination along the International Border since the violence in Bangladesh began in June-July last year, especially after the fall of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5 last year. Tripura, which has an 856 km border with Bangladesh, is surrounded on three sides by the neighbouring country, making the northeastern state very vulnerable and sensitive to cross-border migration issues. Except for some patches, most of the frontier had been fenced to prevent smuggling, trans-border crimes, cross-border illegal movements by infiltrators and inimical elements. New Delhi/Itanagar, July 12 : Arunachal Pradesh Science and Technology Minister Dasanglu Pul held a meeting with Union Minister of State (Independent charge) Jitendra Singh and proposed the establishment of India's first ex-situ Germplasm bank in the northeastern state for the preservation of rare and economically significant plant species. A senior official said on Saturday that the Arunachal Pradesh minister, during her meeting with the Union Minister in New Delhi on Friday, also pitched for setting up an Eastern Arunachal Regional Centre for Bioresource Management and Development to harness the region's rich ecological resources in a sustainable manner. Germplasm banks are facilities that preserve genetic resources (germplasm) of plants and animals, typically in the form of seeds, tissues, or DNA, for long-term conservation and potential future use in breeding programmes, research, and conservation efforts. Pul discussed with Singh about the key proposals aimed at boosting biodiversity conservation and fostering bioeconomy in Arunachal Pradesh, a biodiversity-rich mountainous state. Highlighting the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship, the state minister proposed the creation of a Bio-NEST Bioincubator at Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district, which would serve as a launch pad for biotech-based startups and research-driven enterprises. Pul, who also holds the Women and Child Development portfolio, further urged the Union Minister to expedite the release of core grant support for the Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science and Technology, citing the need to address ongoing staff-related challenges. "Our state is home to an incredible range of biodiversity, and we must act now to preserve it while building a strong foundation for scientific research and innovation," said Pul. She said that these proposals are designed not just to conserve, but to convert our natural wealth into economic opportunity for local communities. Singh reaffirmed the Centre's firm commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in the northeast, emphasising that Science and Technology must serve as a core driver of growth. "The development of the northeast has been one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's highest priorities. The transformation since 2014 is evidentwhat was once a region struggling with connectivity is now witnessing unprecedented infrastructural, technological, and human resource growth," said the Union Minister. He assured full support from the Union Ministry and appreciated the state government's commitment to scientific advancement and sustainable development. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Bhubaneswar, July 13 : In a shocking incident, a female student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore district of Odisha on Saturday attempted self-immolation, alleging harassment by the Head of the Department (HoD). A second-year integrated BEd student set herself ablaze after pouring petrol on herself in front of the college gate. The student with severe burn wounds was rushed to Balasore Medical College, but was later shifted to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, for advanced treatment. The principal of the FM College, Dillip Kumar Ghosh and accused HoD Samir Kumar Sahu have immediately been placed under suspension by the Odisha Higher Education Department. The Sahadevkhunta Police also swung into action and arrested HOD Sahu. The decision was taken on the basis of prima facie evidence relating to the incident. The order further directed that during the period of suspension, Ghosh shall remain at the office of the Collector and District Magistrate, Balasore. They have been directed not to leave the station without prior permission from the district administration. Before the self-immolation bid, the student had staged a sit-in protest near the college campus demanding action against the accused HoD of the BEd department for the alleged misbehaviour. She was very upset as no action was taken against the HoD by the college authorities despite her lodging a formal complaint against the accused Sahu. The incident has triggered outrage among the students and locals. They have demanded a fair probe and action against the accused professor Sahu. "This incident did not take place all of a sudden. The girl had been facing harassment for the past six months. In the last two years, many students have complained about the same professor. Despite repeated complaints, the college principal and administration did not take any action," alleged Subhra Sambit Nayak, ABVP state joint secretary. Balasore Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad said the accused, Sameer Sahu, has been arrested and forwarded to court. "We have corroborated crucial evidence. We are also investigating the role of the college's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), which received a formal complaint from the victim and other students on June 30. The police are investigating whether the ICC followed due process, what findings it presented to the principal and the response of the college administration and higher authorities over the complaint," said Balasore SP. Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi also expressed anguish over the alleged negligence and mismanagement regarding the harassment complaint of the student and demanded strict action against the culprits. "I spoke to the police and was assured that a complaint committee has been set up to investigate the matter. The committee has been asked to submit its report within five working days," said Sarangi. He said the victim had met him five days before the incident and narrated her ordeal. "She and her friend came to meet me. I immediately called the principal of the college and the concerned authorities. I was told that the internal committee is working on the matter and a solution will be found soon, but nothing happened," added Sarangi. He further added that the student had told him that she was contemplating suicide. "I strongly advised him not to take such a step. I told him that justice will be done and the guilty will be punished. I encouraged her to keep her courage," said Sarangi. Mary Fisher is an artist, author, and activist best known for her groundbreaking 1992 speech A Whisper of AIDS, delivered at the Republican National Convention shortly after her HIV diagnosis, which is a landmark in American AIDS discourse. Her 1995 memoir, My Name Is Mary, received praise from such figures as former President Gerald Ford and the activist Larry Kramer. Over the decades, Fisher has continued her advocacy through global humanitarian work, authorship, art, and her role as a UN special representative. Now in her 70s, Fisher addresses the most prominent political and social issues of our era in her latest book, Uneasy Silence: An Activist Seeks Justice and Courage Over a Lifetime of Change. What made you decide to return to memoir as a format? How was the process of writing Uneasy Silence different from earlier forms of personal writing? There are a lot of kinds of narratives we use, from poetry to novels, and from textbooks to policy analyses. But I wanted to communicate my own experience, and do it honestly. So a memoir, which is sort of like a public diary, seemed like the right format to communicate what I wanted to say. Plus, as I near 80 years of age, which by itself seems impossible, Im confident that Ive learned who I am, so that knowledge becomes the basis of a memoir for better or for worse. And then theres this: I dedicated this book to my grandchildren. I want them some day to know that, in fairly dark hours, I not only loved them, but I tried to serve them with a big helping of the truth. Uneasy Silence does not shy away from depicting your own insecurities, and it also does not give hard-and-fast instructions on what readers should do with the wisdom you provide. Can you say a little bit about these decisions? At the highest levels of our nation, truth is being battered by campaigns fueled by nothing more than lies and self-interest. I needed to be willing to break out of my own uneasy silence and take a stand. At the beginning, the critical question was: how vulnerable do I want to be? I decided fairly soon to be as honest as possible, telling the truth, even if that truth was not especially flattering. I couldnt ask others to stand up and speak the truth if I didnt dare do it myself. And I also wanted readers, especially women of a certain age, to know that we dont have to be Superwoman to be an advocate for change, a member of the resistance. Anyone willing to put themselves on the line by voting, by joining protests, by writing Congressional leaders, by modeling the truth for our children and grandchildren can make a real difference in todays struggle for integrity. We dont need to be more than we are. We just need to respond to our own uneasy silence by speaking the truth and caring for the Other. Thats enough. I dedicated this book to my grandchildren. I want them some day to know that, in fairly dark hours, I not only loved them, but I tried to serve them with a big helping of the truth. On a related note, do you have any advice for writers who are struggling to write, edit, and/or publish their own memoirs? Did you learn anything in writing your most recent memoir that others might find useful? As Uneasy Silence was coming together, I was continually reminded of that old piece of advice: write what you know. At my age, I have a pretty good idea of who I am, so thats what I offer the reader. The only real question, as I noted earlier, is how vulnerable I was willing to be. Well, I suppose there was a second question: how interesting would this be to others? I didnt want to tell boring stories or self-promoting anecdoteswhod want to read that? But the book is based mostly on my personal experience. One of the most striking aspects of Uneasy Silence is the images that accompany the prose. Can you tell readers a little bit about these? Art, in various forms, has always been how my soul expresses itself most truthfully. The books words are important to me, but art is the language of my heart. I hope that, as readers come through the book, the images they see invite them to pause, to ask what it is that were learning together, and maybe to imagine new ways to oppose injustice or to end hunger or to care for the suffering. Meanwhile, if you want to hear my most authentic voice, youll listen with your heart to my art. Leah Grisham is a Cleveland-based writer and book reviewer. Madeline Jones at Algonquin acquired world English rights to Bora Chungs (pictured l.), The Pain Chasers, in a two-book deal, from Toni Kim at the Greenbook Agency. The publisher described the novel, translated from the Korean by Anton Hur, as a speculative thriller set in a world where pain has been eradicated by Big Pharma and a cult that believes suffering gives life meaning rises up against it. Hannah Chukwu at Dialogue in the U.K. and Marika Webb-Pullman at Scribe Australia picked up rights from Laura Mamelok at Algonquin. Publication is set for fall 2026. Jennifer Baker at Storehouse Voices picked up world rights to Shawntelle Madisons The Midnight Bus from Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret, in an exclusive submission. The speculative novel follows a group of anti-segregationists during the 1961 Freedom Rides as their journey morphs into a fear-laden landscape that forces the protestors to confront demons of all varieties, the publisher said. Publication is scheduled for 2027. Talia Cieslinski at the Dial Press bought North American rights, at auction, to Hayley Flemings debut novel, Thighs Wide Shut, from Catherine Bradshaw at Writers House. The romantic comedy, per the publisher, is about a young woman who reunites with her exbest friend, only to discover that their lingering tension masks deeper feelingsand that to reconnect, she must confront the barriers that have long kept her from authentic intimacy. Release is planned for summer 2026. Mark Warren at Random House netted North American rights to The Running Ground by Nicholas Thompson, CEO of the Atlantic, from Rafe Sagalyn at CAA. The publisher described the book as a profound meditation on what running can teach us about our limits and our lives from a record-setting distance runner. An October release is planned. Reagan Arthur at Cardinal acquired U.S. rights to Prestige Drama by Seamas OReilly from Dan Kirschen at the CAA. The book is billed by the publisher as a darkly comic novel set in Derry where the arrivaland disappearanceof an American actress researching her role in a film about The Troubles forces the community to reckon with its own history. Release is scheduled for summer 2026. Hollis Heimbouch at Harper took U.S., Canadian, and open market rights to Jim Collinss What to Make of a Life from Peter Ginsberg at Curtis Brown, in an exclusive submission. The book shares findings from an ambitious 10-year research project devoted to studying remarkable lives from a wide array of human endeavors, per the publisher. Publication is set for April 2026. In Brief House Bill 296 went into effect on July 1, allowing Georgia drivers to present a mobile or digital drivers license also known as a mDL during traffic stops or interactions with law enforcement according to a press release. However, if an officer does not have a digital license reader, you must show your physical license. American meatpackers, facing the smallest US cattle herd since the 1950s, have been relying more on supplies from countries like Brazil. Demand is also rising as consumers on weight-loss drugs seek out high-protein foods. In 2024, about $1.4 billion of beef was imported into the US from Brazil, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Tariffs on Brazil could result in coffee prices rising quite a lot, Giuseppe Lavazza, chairman of Italian roaster Lavazza, said on Bloomberg Television. Brazil is the worlds top grower of the premium arabica variety favored by Starbucks Corp. ( SBUX ) and most specialty coffee shops. Prices for the bean have already surged over the past year as poor weather in Brazil threatened supplies. Its a loss to our companies, and it means more costs and more inflation to American consumers, Cecafe Chief Executive Officer Marcos Matos said. The US imported nearly $2 billion worth of coffee from Brazil in 2024, according to the US Department of Agriculture. The shipments are roughly 30% of US coffee consumption, Brazilian coffee exporters group Cecafe said. Brazils energy and metal industries are also evaluating potential impacts. Heres how the tariffs could ripple through key commodities: Its likely that these products will have to be redirected, said Marcos Fava Neves, a professor at the University of Sao Paulos Ribeirao Preto Business School. Beef is being exported to many places, orange juice is in short supply and coffee is in short supply. Still, Brazils strength in commodities gives it some flexibility, and the country could ease the impact by finding buyers elsewhere. Brazil has been ramping up beef shipments to meet growing US demand, and is a key supplier of wood pulp used in everything from books to toilet paper. Thats spurring hopes that some sectors could be singled out or exempted from tariffs. The US is Brazils second-largest trading partner, trailing only China. But while the two nations compete directly in some markets like corn and cotton, Brazil an agricultural powerhouse also produces tropical goods like coffee that cant be grown in the continental US. (Bloomberg) President Donald Trumps unexpected move to threaten a 50% tariff on Brazil risks roiling global commodity markets, disrupting trade on everything from beef to coffee. Story Continues Brazilian producers will likely redirect shipments, with meatpacker Minerva SA saying it can also supply the US market with its operations in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Australia. Still, the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporters pointed to risks for global supply and food security while pledging for more dialogue between the two countries. Oil Brazilian crude exports eclipsed all other foreign sales for Latin Americas biggest economy for the first time last year, with oil and derivatives shipments to the US totaling $7.6 billion in 2024. Brazils oil lobby group IBP said in a statement that the tariff move brings uncertainty to the oil and gas sector, which today accounts for 17% of Brazils industrial GDP and 1.6 million direct and indirect jobs in the country. But analysts see little structural risk to the countrys production, given Brazils ability to divert export flow. Brazil has the capacity to redirect barrels currently exported to the US to refineries in Asia (China, India), Europe, or the Middle East, which demand light, low-sulfur crude such as those produced in Brazils pre-salt fields, BTG Pactual analysts led by Luiz Carvalho wrote in a note to clients. Analysts also see limited impact for state-controlled oil producer Petrobras, which exports most of its crude to China. Orange Juice Brazil accounts for roughly 70% of global orange juice exports, and has played a more sizable role in the US supply as a deadly citrus greening disease spread through Floridas groves. While the same disease is also impacting some areas of Brazil, the northeastern part of the country has been largely untouched and is expanding production. Orange juice futures rose as much as 6% on Thursday to the highest price in nearly a month. The new tariff would be a lot higher than the existing rate of $415 per ton applied to Brazilian juice shipments, meaning a charge equivalent to more than 70% of the value of the product, industry group CitrusBR said. This would make shipments unfeasible, Executive Director Ibiapaba Netto said. Now we have to speed up production to ship the orders we still have as quickly as possible before the taxes come into effect, said Bryan Souza, head of global operations at Sumo Brasil, a company that produces frozen concentrated orange juice. Ethanol Brazil has been expanding its capacity to convert corn and sugar cane into ethanol, a biofuel often blended with gasoline. The US is a key market, with incentives in California for low-carbon fuels helping to propel ethanol shipments to about 300 million liters last year. A risk of retaliation would also limit shipments to Brazil from the US, and even tighten supplies in the South American nation this year, said Bruno Lima, soft commodities business director at StoneX. Pulp and paper Brazil is home to Suzano SA, the worlds largest exporter of the pulp that goes into products like toilet paper. Pulp is Brazils fourth-largest agricultural export to the US, and paper and plywood are also among the top goods, according to Brazils Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Suzano Chief Executive Officer Joao Alberto de Abreu said in May that the company was passing the costs of tariffs which were 10% at the time on to US buyers. Suzano is the most exposed to tariffs among Brazilian commodity producers, as about 15% of the companys revenue comes from the US, Citi analyst Gabriel Barra wrote in a note. Sugar While much of Americas sugar has historically been produced domestically or imported from Mexico, shipments from Brazil, the worlds top sugar grower, have boomed. The US imported a record amount from the country in 2024, topping a million metric tons, according to the USDA. The US limits the amount of sugar that can be imported under low fees, and allocated about 14% of that supply to Brazil in the 2025 fiscal year. Additional Brazilian shipments, which are subject to higher fees, have totaled over 265,000 tons as of the end of May, said Mike McDougall, an analyst at McDougall Global View. Steel Brazils steel industry doesnt see any direct impact from the tariff announced by Trump, since the sector was already subject to that rate under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, said Marco Polo de Mello Lopes, chief executive officer of industry association Aco Brasil. The move, however, may sour relations between Brazil and the US, making it more difficult to re-establish steel trade negotiations that may involve export quotas on semi-finished products, Lopes said. Brazilian steel mills produced around 60% of all slabs imported by the US last year to feed its industry. Mining and steel stocks gained in Sao Paulo on bets that rising commodity prices and limited exposure to the US will help them weather the storm. With assistance from Fernando Travaglini, Nathan Risser, Michael Hirtzer, Beatriz Reis, Barbara Nascimento and Leda Alvim. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. The Delhi high court on Friday stayed a Rs 1,140 crore angel tax demand raised by the Income Tax department from hospitality and hotel aggregator Oyos parent company Oravel Stays Private Limited for the assessment year 2020-21. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters The tax demand was issued under Section 56(2) (viib) of the Income Tax Act, commonly known as the angel tax provision, which applies when unlisted companies issue shares at a value exceeding their fair market price. While the angel tax provision was dropped during the last Budget, legacy cases continue. This section seeks to tax the premium received by a closely held company on the issue of shares that exceeds the fair market value (FMV) of such shares, treating the excess premium as income from other sources. The tax department had argued that investments made by Oravel into its Indian subsidiary were at a premium and therefore taxable. Oyo challenged this, saying that the funds infused by the holding company into its subsidiary were capital in nature, not income, and therefore should not attract tax under the angel tax provisions. Oyo had filed an appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) to challenge the order passed by the assessing officer and also a stay petition before the officer, which was rejected. Oyo then filed a writ petition before the Delhi high court, asserting the merits involved in the case. In May 2023, a division bench of the high court had directed the Commissioner of Income Tax (CIT) to accord a personal hearing to Oyo for the stay on the income tax. This was followed by another plea before Delhi High Court for complete stay on tax demand. The division bench had observed that the CIT had not dealt with its application in respect of the order passed by the Assessing Officer (AO) under Section 220(6) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The petitioner, Oyo, had challenged the order denying the stay on the recovery of the complete tax demand, and asked the department not to treat Oyo as an assessee in default under Section 220(6) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, for the entire outstanding demand of Rs 11,39,93,05,320 until the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) decided the appeal. The HC had also directed the CIT to dispose of the application at the earliest possible time, though not later than four weeks. The CIT will accord a personal hearing to the authorised representative of the Oyo and also allow the filing of written submissions. In case an order is passed by the CIT that is adverse to the interests of the petitioner, the order of the CIT will not be given effect for a period of two weeks from the date when the order is received by the petitioner, the court had said. Commenting on the order, Amit Maheshwari, tax partner at law firm AKM Global, said, While the Finance Act, 2024 has completely abolished the angel tax provision under Section 56(2) (viib), legacy cases continue to be litigated at various forums. "The quantum of tax demand in such cases is often substantial, placing considerable financial strain on companies asked to pay upfront or secure stay orders. "This stay order is thus a significant relief for Oyo. It also sends a broader message on the judicial sensitivity toward the hardships faced by startups and growth-stage companies as a result of aggressive valuation-related tax interpretations. Mumbai-based pharma major Wockhardt, which is gearing up to launch its promising antibiotic candidate Zaynich soon, on Friday announced a shift in its United States (US) operations. IMAGE: Habil Khorakiwala, founder-chairman of Wockhardt, poses for a picture at the company's head office in Mumbai. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters The Indian pharma giant revealed that it has decided to exit the generics pharmaceutical segment in the country. Wockhardt stock price went up 3.5 per cent on Friday to Rs 1,756 apiece on the BSE. The announcement came after market hours. According to a regulatory filing on the exchanges, the company has filed for voluntary liquidation under Chapter 7 of the US Bankruptcy Code for its two Delaware-incorporated step-down subsidiaries Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals and Wockhardt USA LLC. The move comes even as the companys US generics business has been incurring losses over the past few years. Wockhardt stated that its generics business had incurred a loss of nearly $8 million in 2024-25 (FY25) alone. While Wockhardt USA LLC contributed around 3 per cent to the companys income in the FY25, Morton Grove recorded no income. Morton Groves net worth stood at 4.6 per cent, primarily from goodwill, whereas Wockhardt USAs net worth was negative. However, its overall performance has been improving. For FY25, the company said its net loss stood at Rs 57 crore compared to Rs 472 crore in the year-ago period. Revenue increased to Rs 3,012 crore compared to Rs 2,798 crore in 2023-24. It has also managed to pare debt its net debt stood at Rs 1,830 crore in FY25 compared to Rs 3,314 crore in FY20. Following a comprehensive strategic review, the company has concluded that continuing in this segment would detract from its broader innovation agenda, it said in an exchange filing. By stepping away from the commoditised generics space, Wockhardt is now positioning itself to create long-term value through innovation, scientific excellence, and sustainable profitability. Wockhardt said that the reset will allow for sharpened focus on building a future-ready business anchored in two key pillars new antibiotic drug discovery and a biologicals portfolio in insulin. This decision, effective July 11, enables a clean and structured exit from a legacy segment and unlocks management bandwidth and capital for high-impact areas, it added. The company had also recently announced plans to launch its new class of antibiotic Zaynich or WCK5222. It is targeted at treating complicated gram-negative infections in India this year. The US launch for this was pegged at FY27. Wockhardt estimates that the drug would have an addressable market of $7 billion in the US and Europe, besides a Rs 17,000 crore opportunity in India, taking the total prospects to $9 billion. Apart from Zaynich, Wockhardt is pinning hopes on other drugs in its antibiotic portfolio (like Miqnaf or Nafithromycin), and its biotechnology portfolio, including insulins. Miqnaf has already been launched in India and is used to treat community acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) & upper respiratory tract infections (RTI). The drug has been granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) status by USFDA. This indicates significant unmet needs and also breakthrough medicinal product (BMP) designation granted in Saudi Arabia. Miqnaf is targeting a Rs 10,800 crore market in India with over 96 million potential prescriptions. While it is exiting the US generics market, the company said it will remain committed to its pharmaceutical operations in India, the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland and other geographies. These are areas where its businesses continue to deliver strong performance. Besides antibiotics, the company is bullish on its biotech capabilities where it focuses on diabetes management and sees a significant opportunity opening up in India and emerging markets. This is after Danish major Novo Nordisk phases out human insulin cartridges. In India, it provides an opportunity of Rs 450 crore or so, and in the emerging markets, the opportunity size is around $157 million. Wockhardt noted in its investor presentation that with only three players operating in this space in India, it sees significant benefit. Its focus on innovative portfolio and moving away from plain vanilla generics also comes at a time when Indian pharma firms are looking into their innovative portfolio. This article was first published 7 years ago 'If a drone can't fly airspace without the DGCA knowing about it, how did such a big plane get airborne?' 'The DGCA knows this aircraft had undergone major repairs. Now, the question is who allowed it.' 'The DGCA cannot come out of this.' "The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) cares a damn for human life," Ernakulam advocate Yeshwant Shenoy had told Rediff.com in December 2017 in response to how airline operators compromise on passengers' safety by making their pilots work for more than the mandated eight hours. Six months later, Shenoy's views have not changed much; this time responding to an aircraft crash in Mumbai that killed five people -- two pilots, two engineers and a bystander -- on Thursday, June 28. "This is nothing. This is only a trailer. Take it from me. A big aircraft will come down. Mumbai, Delhi, wherever" he tells Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore. Should test flights be allowed in busy cities like Mumbai? Test flights are not allowed in residential areas. It is as simple as that. But the problem is when your airport is in the city, the final approach has to be over the city. Most airports in India are within city limits. Say, when an aircraft is repaired in Mumbai and when it is repaired and taken to its base, such flights are always test flights with only pilots and no passengers on board. But it still has to fly over Mumbai. What do you do about it? How was such a test flight allowed? Were DGCA norms flouted? The DGCA knows what is happening. You have to be extremely careful. Let me explain this in a simple manner. Not even a drone can fly in Indian airspace without the DGCA's permission. Not even a drone! This is the rule and I am strictly talking about rules here. If a drone cannot fly into the airspace without the DGCA knowing about it, tell me how did such a big plane with two pilots and two AMEs (aircraft maintenance engineers) get airborne? Without DGCA permission this doesn't happen. The DGCA has records of every aircraft. It knows that this aircraft had undergone major repairs. Now, the question is who allowed it. The DGCA cannot come out of this. I am telling you, whatever they may do or say, they cannot come out of it (cannot escape the blame for this accident and risking safety of the people). What action could the DGCA face? This is the problem. They don't take any action because when you go to the court. They (the DGCA officials) say I am a government servant; I am protected under (Section) 197 (The offence under Section 197 is non-cognisable). But their ringmasters are sitting in the ministry of civil aviation. By 'they' are you pointing towards the DGCA or the civil aviation ministry? No! Don't take it as singular. This is an organised racket. It is run by the ministry of civil aviation where the DGCA is a part of it. The ministry is also a part of it and so is Air India. Look at their deadly combination. The same ministry is handling the regulatory powers on the one side (the DGCA works under the civil aviation ministry) and they also have a commercial interest in AI (Air India). Just tell me how you will be concerned about safety if you are both the regulator as well as an operator. I have been seeking action against this deadly combination since 2010. In every court document I have been saying that I am running a race against time. As regards an accident, I am sure it is going to happen; accidents like these are inevitable. I am running a race against time to see if I can prevent many more of such accidents. How may such accidents like this occur before the ministry and the DGCA get cracking? Also, what are the DGCA rules that govern test flights of under maintenance/repair airplanes that had met with accidents and which have to be tested for their flight/air worthiness? The Uttar Pradesh government (which owned the plane earlier) already disposed it off (four years ago). Now, you need to understand the maintenance part of aircraft. Any aircraft can go through a major or minor repair from time to time. When a major repair is undertaken it comes through a serious test of its airworthiness. So, when an MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) official gives permission to fly such an aircraft and when they take the flight, the DGCA needs to certify it. That is why the MRO keeps saying that the DGCA certified it. Now the DGCA has to answer (as to how certification of such aircraft unworthy of flight happens/happened). Also, do you think the ministry of civil aviation or the (civil aviation) secretary don't know about it? I will show you 20 e-mails that I have written to them. If this aircraft had hit a fully occupied residential building do you think it would have led to an overhaul of how civil aviation safety is taken for granted in India? Nothing (can change this attitude towards human safety). Did Mangalore (the crash in 2010 that killed 158 people) change anything? 158 people lost their lives not because of anything, but because of the negligence of the airport authorities and people who manage civil aviation in this country. Did even a single officer face transfer after that? It is the culture that you have developed into the minds of people (running civil aviation), then who will have any problem in being corrupt? Nobody! See the way the civil aviation authorities have handled the complaints of various whistleblowers. Take the case of Mangala Narsimhan (Airports Authority of India's deputy general manager, aviation safety) and her husband (K S L Narasimhan, AAI, joint general manager, air traffic control). Both are under suspension. And these are the employees of AAI. Now, when you see the corrupt (officials in the civil aviation set up) getting promoted again and again and honest employees suffering suspension, and if you are an employee, you tell me, which side will you go? The answer is obvious. Therefore, the problem that lies at the heart of this rot in the civil aviation apparatus of this country is structural in nature. It is at the molecular level. Unless you overhaul this apparatus completely, or send one senior person to prison, you cannot (change the mindset of civil aviation authorities about the safety of ordinary people). How are such test flights conducted in Western countries where the norms are stricter? There you have airports where they test airworthiness of aircraft that have undergone major overhaul or repairs. They don't do it in populated areas putting civilian lives in danger. Let me give your readers a more beautiful example of how such test flights are done in India or how civil aviation is run in India. Just look at Bangalore (airport). Have you seen the old airport, the HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) airport? It is a test airport. Bang in the (middle of the) city! Just outside in the vicinity there is a 20-storeyed building that obstructs the (flight paths of aircraft landing or taking off from this) airport. Despite being an obstacle that building is still standing upright. This is the story of (civil aviation safety in) our country. Isn't it the same issue plaguing a busier airport like Mumbai? I filed a public interest litigation (filed in the Bombay high court against the DGCA, ministry of civil aviation and the Mumbai International Airport, seeking height restrictions for construction in the vicinity of the airport) in 2014. In 2016, the judge banned any new building construction in the vicinity of the airport and also ordered demolition of 450 obstacles (that hampered operations of Mumbai airport). When that judge retired, this matter went to another judge. He disposed it off in just one hearing. One hearing! I have filed an appeal in the Supreme Court which is pending. Now, what is important to note is that within 20 days of that order, the AAI permitted (construction of) 60 buildings in the same area where the (June 28) crash happened. Now that I know how the system works, I can say that not only you are not going to demolish the 450 buildings (according to the earlier order) but also add to it another 60 buildings; and you have finished the airport. They are now building a new airport in Navi Mumbai and already there are 20, 30 floor towers in that area. And the officials have the audacity to declare that they will commission this new airport with a displaced threshold. (According to the DGCA Web site, a displaced threshold is not located at the extremity of a runway; according to Wikipedia, a displaced threshold or DTHR is a runway threshold located at a point other than the physical beginning or end of the runway. The portion of the runway so displaced may be used for takeoff but not for landing. Landing aircraft may use the displaced area on the opposite end for roll out.) This happens only in a corrupt country like India. No other country in the world would do it. After this accident, what could the DGCA and the government do to prevent such mishaps in the future? You don't have to do much; simply follow the regulations led down by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation). They are the ones who have led down watertight regulations; you don't even have to scratch your heads to come up with aviation safety norms. What could possibly be the reasons behind this accident even as DGCA officials believe low visibility due to heavy rain or engine failure could have been the reasons for this crash? For an air accident there could be thousand reasons. But here is one simple point: There should be a minimum separation between an aircraft and a building (in the vicinity, if at all). In the case of Mumbai airport, it is absolutely clear that this norm has been violated. And for this, nobody but the DGCA is responsible. Mumbai has two airports: The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and the smaller one near Juhu beach. While all commercial aircraft operate out of the CSMIA, all the single-seaters, double-seaters, helicopters operate from Juhu airport. If these flights from Juhu airport are flying at a higher altitude then it leads to delays in flight take-offs and landings at the CSMIA. This leads to commercial losses for the airline operators. And it is this loss that makes our aviation apparatus indifferent to human safety. This accident happened because of corruption; such accidents will continue to happen because of corruption because you will not punish the corrupt and instead punish whistleblowers. This is nothing. This is only a trailer. Take it from me. A big aircraft will come down. Mumbai, Delhi, wherever... The preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau into the Air India flight 171 crash on June 12, was released on Saturday. A total of 260 people -- all but one of the 242 people on board the aircraft died -- when the plane ploughed into a medical college hostel, seconds after take off. The 15-page report recommends no action to the Boeing 787-8 and/or the General Electric GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers. The final AAIB report into Indias worst aviation disaster is expected to be ready in a few months. Heres a copy of the interim report put out by the AAIB. The Allahabad high court has observed that merely expressing support for Pakistan, without referring to any specific incident or mentioning India by name, does not prima facie constitute an offence under section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. IMAGE: A view of the Allahabad high court. Photograph: ANI Photo The said penal provision deals with acts endangering the sovereignty or unity and integrity of India. "Considering the submissions of the learned counsel for the parties and after a perusal of the records, it is not in dispute that while posting the aforesaid post through his Instagram ID, the applicant had not mentioned anything which shows disrespect towards our country. "Merely showing support to Pakistan, without referring to any incident or mentioning the name of India, will not prima facie attract the offence under section 152, BNS," Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal said while allowing the bail plea of one Riyaz. The applicant's counsel submitted that the said social media post of the applicant did not lower the dignity and sovereignty of India as neither the Indian flag nor the country's name or any photo, which showed disrespect to the country, was shared. Merely supporting a country, even if that country is an enemy of India, will not attract the ingredients of section 152 of the BNS, the lawyer said. In its order dated July 10, the court said, "Section 152, BNS is a new section providing stringent punishment and there was no corresponding section in the IPC. Therefore, before invoking section 152, BNS, reasonable care and the standards of a reasonable person should be adopted as spoken words or posts on social media are also covered by the liberty of freedom of speech and expression, which should not be narrowly construed unless those are of such nature that affects the sovereignty and integrity of a country or encourages separatism." Allowing the bail plea, the court observed, "For attracting the ingredients of section 152, BNS, there must be purpose by spoken or written words, signs, visible representations, electronic communication to promote secession, an armed rebellion, subversive activities or encourage the feeling of separating activities or endanger the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. The United States' National Transportation Safety Board has launched a parallel probe into the Air India plane crash here, drawing several international experts to the accident site. IMAGE: US officials and the officials of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau arrive to inspect the site of the Air India plane crash, in Ahmedabad, June 16, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India had earlier launched a detailed probe to get to the bottom of the cause of the deadly crash last week. A total of 241 people on board the aircraft and 29 people on the ground were killed when the London-bound Boeing 787-8 (AI 171) crashed into a building of a medical college and burst into flames moments after it took off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The US NTSB is conducting a parallel probe under international protocols, as the aircraft is American-made, an official release said. The NTSB is an independent federal agency of the US tasked with investigating every civil aviation accident. They determine the probable causes of accidents and events and investigate and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. Several foreign experts were seen scouting the crash site for the last two days, checking the debris to find clues. "We saw what you guys can see...It's just the same, as you can see from here..," an expert from the UK told reporters without divulging much after he was asked about the crash site. According to sources, teams from Boeing and Air India are also assisting agencies in the probe. Officials investigating the Air India plane crash have also confirmed that the cockpit voice recorder has been found. Earlier, the AAIB had said that only the flight data recorder of the ill-fated plane had been recovered. Officials confirmed the recovery of CVR to PK Mishra, the principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on Sunday inspected the crash site and visited the injured persons at the civil hospital. "Officials confirmed to Dr Mishra that the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder have been located and secured," the release had said. With the recovery of both the FDR and CVR, it would be easy for investigators to find the cause of the crash. Officials from the Airports Authority of India and Gujarat police are assisting AAIB in the probe. As the investigation in the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash continues, Sheetal Gujar, SDRF-ASP and nodal officer for the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), highlighted the bravery of rescue personnel who entered the hostel building with oxygen masks, and tied wet cloths around their hands to evacuate the people burnt in the incident. IMAGE: NDRF team at the Air India plane crash site in Ahmedabad. Photograph: ANI Photo Speaking to ANI, the SDRF-ASP asserted that they received all the tools necessary to carry out the rescue operations. "SDRF played a significant role in evacuating those trapped inside the building. We went inside with oxygen masks. The hands and feet of many got burned, but to rescue them, we tied our hands with wet clothes to lift their bodies. We received 20-30 extra ambulances within just half an hour," he said. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft crashed into a hostel complex shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, killing 241 passengers and crew, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Gujar said that it was very risky for them to carry out the rescue operations at the time of impact, as the temperature at the spot was very high. "At that time, it was very risky to go inside and carry out the rescue operations as the temperature was very high. The fire department made arrangements for our team to go inside the building. We evacuated the civilians and students inside the hostel. The injured were immediately rushed to the hospital. All the senior officials were in touch with us. We recovered the bodies of all the victims," the SDRF ASP said. He further stated that ensuring the safety of citizens and preventing further damage remained the SDRF's top priority. "70-80 per cent of the operations are carried out by the SDRF...We also aim to secure the area to make sure that further damage does not take place," Sheetal Gujar said. Via Metal Miner The Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) moved sideways, inching up by 2.29%. While the index has maintained a mostly sideways trend over the past year, short-term volatility may be on the way. President Trump recently announced a 50% tariff on imported copper, a move expected to impact U.S. automotive manufacturing firms that source the red metal. automotive MMI, July 2025 Trumps 50% Copper Tariff Stuns Automotive Manufacturing Supply Chain President Trumps surprise July 89, 2025 announcement of a 50% tariff on imported copper (which will come into effect late July/early August) jolted U.S. automakers. Copper futures leaped roughly 1517% to record highs as buyers scrambled ahead of the deadline, reflecting a new price premium. Copper is vital for EV motors, batteries and wiring harnesses, so the tariff will boost automotive manufacturing costs by hundreds of dollars per vehicle, especially in the case of electric cars. The sudden move came with little warning. President Trump said the goal is to bring copper production back home to America, citing its key industrial role. Meanwhile, traders had already been rushing imports. Bloomberg noted that, in the short term, the price is going to rise significantly because markets had expected a lower rate. In the meantime, procurement teams should brace for higher metal costs and act quickly. We recommend subscribing to MetalMiners free newsletter for real-time updates and checking our premium, monthly forecasts for detailed supply-risk analysis. Auto Supply Chain Are Already Stretched Thin 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum, automobiles and parts have already strained U.S. supply chains. Automakers warn these levies increase costs on consumers in North Americas integrated market. Now, copper is being added to the mix. Meanwhile, U.S. buyers already pay approximately $1,250 per ton above average world prices for aluminum due to past tariffs. Data confirms this strain. For instance, a recent ISM report said tariffs have caused bottlenecks in the supply chain, slowing U.S. factories. Many automakers and are now accelerating orders and hedging where possible. MetalMiner provides instant alerts on price spikes. Our advice? Lock in key metal contracts while prices climb using, and update cost models to include the new copper duty. EUU.S. Trade Talks, Auto Exemptions in Play These events also coincide with high-stakes EU-U.S. trade talks. Both sides are racing for a deal by August 1, and EU sources say autos, steel and possibly copper exemptions are being discussed. According to The Guardian, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says hes cautiously optimistic that an agreement on cars and steel will be struck by months end. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Mixed clouds and sun this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 84F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable. Publicly, Beijing has presented itself as a neutral party in the war sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, claiming it respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine while also highlighting the need to address Russia's security concerns. But behind the scenes, that may be changing. According to EU officials speaking to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas last week that Beijing couldn't accept Russia's defeat in the war as it would free up Washington to focus on China. The remarkable admission, first reported by the South China Morning Post, came during a four-hour long discussion with Kallas in Brussels that covered an array of topics from trade practices such as state subsidies for electric vehicles, Taiwan, the situation in the Middle East and, of course, the war in Ukraine. It was during those talks that Brussels accused China of siding with Moscow and noting that the invasion of a sovereign country was against international law. Beijing allegedly voiced objections to the EUs allegations that Russia is using Chinese products and other components in its war effort before adding its fear of both potential western sanctions against Chinese financial institutions and an eventual Ukrainian victory in the conflict. Signs of Brussels' displeasure with China over the war have been piling up. In May, a classified EU report said China, including Hong Kong, is responsible for "approximately" 80 percent of the circumventions of sanctions against Russia. The 27-member bloc has also begun targeting Chinese companies it believes are responsible for the undermining of Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty. In its latest sanctions package, the bloc is looking to slap asset freezes and visa bans on one Chinese businessman for repeatedly transferring goods made in the EU to Russia while those goods were subject to EU export restrictions. Two Chinese companies are also targeted for selling all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), infrared detectors, and other optical components to the Russian armed forces for use in Ukraine. Another sign of the growing concern in Brussels came from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who recently said China and Russia present growing threats to the transatlantic alliance. Rutte told reporters during a trip to Berlin that he believes Russia and China would coordinate attacks on Taiwan and Europe to keep the West bogged down in various parts of the world at the same time. Xi Jinping, the president of China, before he would attack Taiwan, he will first make a call into Moscow to ask [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to keep us busy in this part of Europe, Rutte said. China and Russia struck a so-called no limits strategic partnership shortly before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The partnership does not include a formal military alliance or a specific commitment to mutual defense, but it does involve extensive military cooperation and strategic alignment that enhances both countries' security interests. Still, Beijing publicly has been keen to distance itself from Russias actions. Speaking after Wangs European trip, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson reiterated that Chinas position on the Ukraine crisis is objective and consistent, that is, negotiation, ceasefire and peace. A prolonged Ukraine crisis serves no ones interests. Analysts, though, are focused on other recently spoken words by officials from Beijing. Speaking to Current Time, Russian political scientist Natalia Shevshkova noted comments from Wang after his recent European tour were a sign that Beijing has grown bolder in its rhetoric to where "its no longer Eastern diplomacy, but rather outright, almost rude behavior." "China understands that if Putin is now allowed to recognize -- if he's allowed to keep Crimea, if the Western community is ready to negotiate and leave some territories with Putin, then Chinas hands are untied too, Shevshkova said. The city of Kostyantynivka is considered a key target for the ongoing Russian offensive in Ukraine's Donetsk region. With most civilians having already evacuated, Ukrainian troops are patrolling deserted streets, trying to defend themselves by shooting down incoming drones. But some say they lack the manpower to hold off advancing ground troops. In one of his most bellicose and provocative remarks as Russias war against Ukraine rages on, President Vladimir Putin said late last month that where the foot of a Russian soldier steps -- that is ours." Moscows claims in fact go well beyond the land that its soldiers actually control in Ukraine more than 40 months into its full-scale invasion: In September 2022, Putin groundlessly declared that four partially occupied regions of Ukraine -- Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk, and Luhansk -- belong to Russia. In any case, the remark suggested Putin might seek to seize more territory in Ukraine, where Russian soldiers and occupation authorities are accused of seeking to wipe out Ukrainian cultural identity and face allegations of torture, abuse, abduction, and other crimes. At the same time, Russia is publicly vowing to make life for the residents of the regions it controls better. At a government meeting on June 30, Putin said living standards in the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine should reach the average level for Russia by 2030. No way, Ukrainian activists and officials from those regions say. Putins goal may be modest but its just not realistic, they argue, citing high hurdles put up by the invading country itself. And they point to the experience of Crimea, where living standards still lag more than 11 years after Russia seized control of the Black Sea peninsula without any of the destruction it has inflicted on mainland Ukraine. At the meeting last month, Putin spoke of the need to rebuild or renovate schools, stadiums, hospitals, cultural centers, roads, housing, and more, and said that rhythmic, systematic work was proceeding on some 300 projects within the development program. Theres little evidence of that on the ground in the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region, according to Serhiy Rybalko, a lawmaker in the regional legislature based in the city of Kherson, which was captured by Russian forces early in the invasion but retaken by Ukraine in a counteroffensive later in 2022. Russia holds most of the land on the left bank of the Dnieper River, which bisects the region, while Ukraine holds the right bank. There is no restoration, no construction of schools or anything else, Rybalko told RFE/RL. He said the prospects for successful development by the Russian occupiers are not promising, for several reasons, not least of which is the destruction of the massive Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper by an explosion in 2023 that Ukraine blames on Russia. Kherson is an agricultural region and agriculture is currently in complete decline there, Rybalko said, adding that the destruction of the dam and the lack of irrigation has severely hampered livestock farming and vegetable growing. There is no irrigation - this means that this region is very quickly turning into a desert. Many farmers leasing land in the Russian-occupied part of the region have been unable to pay for their leases for 2024 and may be unable to do so again this year, he added: So, nobody will work, no taxes will be paid, and there will be no development of this territory. Another barrier to economic revival in the region is the Russian governments tendency to favor state companies and top-down economic efforts over nurturing small and medium-sized business that have been mainstays of the Kherson region in the past, Rybalko said. Putin is afraid of the development of the middle class. He fears people who can think for themselves, he said. Meanwhile, Ukrainians -- particularly younger people -- are continuing to leave the Russian-occupied left bank lands and nobody is coming from Russia to replace them, everybodys afraid, he said. No normal person will come to an area where military actions are essentially taking place, he said, and where -- though it looks unlikely to happen any time soon -- Ukraine may eventually regain control. Zaporizhzhya, which lies between Kherson and the Donbas, is another region that is partially Russian-occupied, but Ukraine continues to hold the capital. Its southern reaches, on the Azov Sea coast, are crucial to a Russian-held land corridor linking Russia with Crimea, which are otherwise connected only by a bridge that has been attacked by Ukraine several times. At the June 30 meeting, Putin repeated his claim that the Azov Sea is now an internal Russia sea because Russia currently controls all the land that surrounds it and said that 5,400 kilometers of roads forming a ring around it have been renovated. Andriy Orlov, the director of the Center for the Strategic Development of Territory, a think tank originally based in Melitopol, a Russian-occupied city in the Zaporizhzhya region, said that numbers may be exaggerated and that most of the road improvement has been done in Russia itself or in Crimea, not in the more recently occupied areas. Orlov said that Putins pronouncements were aimed to assure residents that Russia will create a good life for them, but that official reports from the occupation authorities make it clear that there are very big problems -- rampant corruption and a glaring personnel deficit among them, he charged. Like the other Ukrainians RFE/RL spoke to for this story, he is currently based in Ukrainian-controlled territory. Several claims by Russian and Ukrainian officials could not be independently verified due to a lack of access to the Russian-occupied territories. Corruption and personnel shortages are also problems in Mariupol, the Azov Sea port in the Donetsk region that Russia seized in May 2022 after a long and deadly siege that left much of the city in ruins. A medical diagnostic center has been fitted out with modern equipment but there are not enough doctors -- theres nobody there to do the diagnoses, Petro Andryushchenko, a former Mariupol mayoral adviser who now heads the Center for the Study of the Occupation, told RFE/RL. Renovation of a public swimming pool in Mariupol has been set back by the theft of all the equipment that had remained intact after the ultramodern facility was damaged during the siege, Andryushchenko said. Housing is a major problem in Mariupol, a city of some 425,000 before the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, with many citizens living in apartment buildings that were damaged or destroyed during the siege. There were 2,500 [residential] buildings in total, 500 were demolished, what remains are ruins -- almost all the housing that needs repair, and people still live there, Andryushchenko said. And there is also housing that people dont live in. The reconstruction of these buildings has been frozen. Living Standards Ukrainians point to Crimea as an indicator of whether it Moscow will be able to bolster the economy and boost living standards in the swaths of mainland Ukraine it controls -- assuming that Kyiv does not take them back through war or diplomacy in the coming years. Russia earmarked a great deal of money for Crimea. The occupation authorities said that Crimea would get along without subsidies [from Moscow] after five years, then they said seven years, Yevhenia Horyunova, a political analyst from the peninsula, told RFE/RL. But Crimea remains a subsidized region whose economy has not become self-sufficient. Furthermore, Horyunova said, the average wage in Crimea is substantially lower than the average in Russia. That is, the standard of living has not improved -- it has not become better than it was. (Written by Steve Gutterman based on reporting by Olena Badiuk of News of Azov, a reporting project of RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service focusing on southern Ukraine.) Russia hammered Ukrainian cities with a new barrage of drone, missile, bomb, and artillery attacks, killing at least nine people and wounding dozens of others, Ukrainian officials said on July 12. The new attacks came ahead of what US President Donald Trump, who has been seeking to end the war in Ukraine since he took office in January but has run up against recalcitrance from President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin, said would be a "major statement on Russia" on July 14. Cities in western Ukraine bore the brunt of the latest overnight attacks, in which Ukraine's air force said it shot down 319 of the 597 drones and all but one of the 26 missiles launched by Russian forces. A 26-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were killed and at least four other people injured as a result of drone strikes on Chernivtsi, near the Romanian border, regional military administration chief Ruslan Zaparanyuk said on Telegram. He said 26 people were injured. In Lviv, near the Polish border, 12 people were injured in drone attacks, including an 11-year-old boy, Maksym Kozytskiy, who holds the same position in the Lviv region, said on Telegram. The western city of Lutsk, which had been hit hard when Ukrainian authorities said Russia launched a record of more than 700 drones and missiles three days earlier, was also targeted on July 12, but no injuries were reported. Further east, four people were killed by Russian fire in the Donetsk region, two were killed by a guided bomb in the Sumy region, and an artillery strike killed a 27-year-old woman in the Dnipropetrovsk region city of Nikopol, officials said. Three people were injured in Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. The Russian Defense Ministry said its strikes on Lviv, Lutsk, and Kharkiv targeted defense industry facilities. Russia claims it does not targeted civilians despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Russia has stepped up its missile and drone attacks this year, with numbers increasing every month since December, according to a monitoring group, and has intensified barrages on Kyiv and other cities in recent weeks while also pressing forward on the front lines -- albeit with massive casualties among its troops. "The pace of Russias aerial strikes demands swift decisions, and it can be curbed now by sanctions," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram on July 12. "This war can only be stopped through strength," said Zelenskyy, who also called for more air defense weapons from the West. "We expect not just signals from our partners, but actions that will save lives." Trump has voiced increasing frustration recently with Putin, who has rejected his efforts to secure an extendable 30-day cease-fire in the war, now in its 41st month since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ukraine agreed to the 30-day cease-fire when Trump first proposed it in March, but Russia has attached conditions that experts say were meant to drag out talks while its forces continue their attacks. Two rounds of direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul, on May 16 and June 2, led to exchanges of prisoners and the remains of soldiers killed in the war but produced no progress toward peace. We get a lot of bullshit from Putin. It's very nice most of the time but meaningless, Trump, who has spoken to Putin by phone six times since his inauguration on January 20, said on July 8. Trump said the United States is "sending defensive weapons to Ukraine because Putin is not treating human beings right. That marked a reversal of course days after a Pentagon announcement that delivery of some weapons to Ukraine would be halted over concerns that US stockpiles have declined too much. Two days later, Trump told US broadcaster NBC that the United States is "sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons...and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons" to Ukraine. His promise of a major statement on July 14 has led to expectations that he might announce support for new sanctions against Russia, which he has so far refrained from imposing, or pledge more military aid to Ukraine. Trump has said he is studying a bill sponsored by Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican-South Carolina) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (Democrat-Connecticut) that would impose sanctions and tariffs on countries that support Russias war effort in addition to targeting Russias banking system. In the NBC interview on July 10, Trump called it "a very major and very biting sanctions bill" and said he expected it to pass, but added: "Its at my option if I want to use it. In a July 10 report citing two unnamed sources, Reuterssaid Trump will use a mechanism called the presidential drawdown authority (PDA) to send weapons to Ukraine for the first time since he took office, with one source saying the arms could be worth about $300 million. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had discussed "a new and a different approach" to Ukraine peace efforts that Russia proposed when they met on July 10 on the sidelines of an ASEAN gathering in Kuala Lumpur. "I don't want to oversell it, OK, but it was constructive," Rubio said on July 11. "We'll find out, but there are some things that we will potentially explore, and I relayed that to the president and our team last night." Rubio also said Trump has been disappointed and frustrated that theres not been more flexibility on the Russian side." Lavrov later traveled to North Korea, where he met with the secretive dictatorship's leader, Kim Jong Un, and with its foreign minister in the coastal city of Wonsan on July 12. North Korean soldiers helped Russian forces fight against Ukrainian troops after Kyiv mounted a surprise invasion of Russia's Kursk region last August. US officials said more than 11,000 North Korean soldiers participated in the fight and suffered massive losses. North Korea may have sent more soldiers to fight on the Russian side earlier this year, and has reportedly agreed to dispatch 6,000 military engineers and builders for reconstruction in the Kursk region. It has also sent short-range missiles, self-propelled howitzers and rocket launchers, according to the South Korean military. "Our Korean friends confirmed their firm support for all the objectives of the special military operation, as well as for the actions of the Russian leadership and armed forces," Russian state news agency TASS quoted Lavrov as saying, using the Kremlin's term for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. With reporting by AP, Reuters, and Bloomberg Veteran trader and analysts turn heads with new Nvidia stock price targets originally appeared on TheStreet. Jensen Huang has places to go and people to meet. The co-founder and CEO of Nvidia (NVDA) is heading to Beijing, where he will meet with senior Chinese officials, including the commerce minister, at the International Supply Chain Expo, Bloomberg reported, Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter The conference, which runs July 16-20, is one of the Chinese governments signature events. It has featured such tech superstars as Apple CEO Tim Cook. The AI-chip superpower's market cap has been on a roll touching $4 trillion on July 9. "How Huang comes out of this meeting will be key," TheStreet Pro's Stephen Guilfoyle said in a recent column. "So will be what comes of the continued negotiations between Washington and Beijing that come with their August 12 deadline of their own." China, initially singled out with tariffs exceeding 100%, has until that date to reach an agreement with the White House to keep President Donald Trump from reinstating additional import curbs he'd imposed during tit-for-tat tariff exchanges in April and May, Reuters reported. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is reportedly meeting with Chinese officials in Beijing Image source: SOPA Images/Getty Images Nvidia CEO wants US to be global AI leader Huang has consistently argued against US restrictions on the sale of advanced semiconductors to China, citing the strategic and economic importance of accessing the world's largest semiconductor market. In May, for example, Huang said that U.S. chip export controls are a failure and warned that the restrictions are doing more damage to American business than to China. More Nvidia: Huang told lawmakers in Washington in April that China was quickly gaining ground on the U.S. in artificial intelligence. China is right behind us, Huang said. We are very close. Remember this is a long-term, infinite race. He pointed to the Chinese tech company Huawei, which reportedly is developing its own advanced chip to rival Nvidia. Theyre incredible in computing and network technology, all these essential capabilities to advance AI, Huang said. They have made enormous progress in the last several years. And he told CNBCs Jim Cramer that it's necessary to export his companys artificial intelligence technology to China, saying trade with the country was vital if the U.S. wanted to be a global leader in AI. We want every developer in the world to prefer the American technology stacks, Huang said. Once that happens, he said, American technology stacks will run AI the best all over the world. This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Wawa debuted a new credit card this week through a partnership with the First National Bank of Omaha, according to a company announcement. The new Wawa Mastercard includes savings of 50 cents per gallon at Wawa fuel pumps as a statement credit for the first 30 days, plus 5 cents per gallon in savings moving forward. Cardholders also can earn three points for every dollar spent inside a Wawa c-store and one point per dollar spent anywhere else where Mastercard is accepted. Wawa said its new card aims to give customers more value, perks, security and convenience. The c-store retailers previous card was run through a partnership with Citibanks Retail Services division. Dive Insight: Wawa entered the credit card game in 2015 with an option that gave customers 5 cents off per gallon for up to 100 gallons per month. The card was usable for all food, beverage and merchandise purchases inside Wawas c-stores. A spokesperson from Wawa did not respond by press time when asked why the retailers partnership with Citi, the previous cards provider, recently ended. A Citi spokesperson said in a statement to C-Store Dive that said the company does not disclose details regarding its partnerships. Regardless of why the previous partnership ended, the Pennsylvania-based c-store retailer is excited about the opportunities its new card with FNBO will offer. We are deeply appreciative of our customers and we're thrilled to launch a credit card experience that aligns with what they value the most, said Wawa Treasurer Preston Hawkins. Together with FNBO and Mastercard, were delivering a card that fuels real savings while fulfilling the everyday moments our customers enjoy whether its a morning coffee, a lunch stop, or a weekend fuel-up. Cardholders will receive benefits of the Mastercard network, including Mastercard Global Service, Mastercard ID Theft Protection and Zero Liability Protection. Points earned with the Wawa Mastercard are separate from Wawa rewards points and will earn customers Wawa gift cards. This partnership with Wawa and Mastercard reflects what FNBO takes deep pride in: building payment solutions that align with our partners' brand values and enhance customer loyalty, said Jerry OFlanagan, executive vice president at FNBO. This new partnership comes nearly two years after Wawa and Mastercard were pitted against each other in a court case stemming from the c-store retailers 2019 data breach. In late 2023, Wawa lost its $10.7 million lawsuit against Mastercard, in which it accused the payments company of breach of contract and other charges in the wake of the event. Ellen O'Donoghue A wide range of stories feature on Irish front pages on Saturday morning. The Irish Times lead with Catherine Connolly gathering support for an Aras run after it was revealed that she intends to run for presidency, and a potential redress scheme for survivors of sexual abuse in schools being at a 'far greater scale' than any other in the history of the State, according to senior civil servants. The Irish Examiner lead with a toddler who died of fentanyl poisoning after accidentally ingesting or absorbing the drug through his terminally ill uncle's transdermal patch, a Cork woman telling her trial regarding deception charges that she fears for her and her children's lives after harassment at her Dungarven home, a man being questioned over a fatal attack in Limerick, and a 12 year old girl drowning in the River Suir in Co Tipperary. The Irish Daily Mirror lead with Ashling Murphy's boyfriend saying that he had to leave the courtroom to contain his anger during Jozef Puska's trial. The Herald lead with a former garda, Ian Gillen, being jailed for 20 months for attacking and threatening to kill his then-partner while he was a serving garda. The Irish Independent lead with how former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey took advantage of trips to the US to spin lies about a cancer diagnosis to wealthy Americans and ask them for money. The Echo lead with 31-year-old Dylan Scannell being sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Ian Baitson in March 2024. The Belfast Telegraph lead with a council plan to remove a controversial Belfast bonfire on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity substation, being branded "half-baked". The Irish Daily Mail lead with fraudsters using voice impersonations and a fake invoice to scam the National Treasury Management Agency out of 5 mllion. The Irish Daily Star lead with a prisoner in Mountjoy Prison being under investigation for posting a video online of himself making a toastie on a grill in his cell, while allegedly using cannabis. Working in Romania The latest news from the Romanian labor market. Photo: pixabay.com Eugen Cojocariu, 26.06.2025, 14:00 The job vacancy rate in the European Union stood at 2.2% in the first quarter of 2025, down from 2.3% in the previous three months and from 2.6% in the same period in 2024, according to data from the European Statistical Office. The lowest job vacancy rates among EU member states in the January-March period were in Romania (0.6%), Poland (0.8%), Spain and Bulgaria (both 0.9%), while the member states with the highest rates were the Netherlands (4.2%), Belgium (4.1%) and Austria (3.6%). In Romania, the job vacancy rate fell to 0.6% in the period January-March 2025, from 0.7% in the first quarter of 2024. By sectors of activity, in Romania in the first quarter of this year, the job vacancy rate was 0.6% in industry and construction and 0.7% in services. At the EU level, this indicator was 1.9% in industry and construction, respectively 2.5% in services. Romania recorded the highest increase in labor costs in the entire European Union in the first quarter of this year compared to the similar period in 2024. This is an increase of 16.1%, almost 4 times more than the EU average, which is 4.1 percent, and about 5 times more than tllnhe Eurozone average, where an increase of only 3.4% was recorded. Romania is followed by Croatia, with an increase of 13.5%, Bulgaria with 13% and Slovenia, with almost 12 percent. At the opposite pole, the smallest increases in labor costs were recorded in Malta 1.5% and France 1.9%, followed by Germany with an increase of 2.8 percent and Luxembourg with 3.4%. By activity areas, these costs increased, on average, by 3.3% in industry, by 5.2% in construction and by 4.7% in services. Labor costs include both wage and non-wage expenses. The County Employment Agency of Caras-Severin, in western Romania, announces that over 300 jobs are vacant in the county. Most jobs are found in the cities of Resita, Bocsa, Caransebes, Oravita and Baile Herculane. There are 256 job openings in Resita. Thus, 86 couriers, 50 door-to-door salespeople, 15 security guards, 10 assemblers, adjusters and troubleshooters of electronic equipment, 10 warehouse workers, 8 unskilled workers, as well as electricians, welders, waiters, assistant managers, car mechanics, data operators and personnel for sanitation or maintenance of green spaces are being sought. In Bocsa, 28 jobs are vacant, especially for poultry farmers, electromechanical engineers and designers, computer numerical control machine operators in slaughterhouses and unskilled workers. In Caransebes, there are 7 positions for maintenance technicians, quality control engineers, production planners, cook assistants and security guards. In Oravita, 20 sanitation workers are being sought, and in Baile Herculane, 3 such jobs are available. Details can be found on the website of the Caras-Severin County Employment Agency. World Refugee Day was marked on June 20. In Timisoara, in western Romania, in solidarity with the millions of people around the world forced to leave their homes due to conflict, persecution or violence, the LOGS association organized an event recognizing their resilience and courage. The associations president, Flavius Ilioni Loga, said that both refugees and migrants living in Timisoara benefit from a series of social and community integration services. They receive social counseling, and if they need a job, they are sent to courses. Also, if their children need to be enrolled in school, the association mediates this process. The same happens with those who need a family doctor or want to find a place to live. Flavius Ilioni stated that LOGS assists over 200 refugees monthly. There are currently approximately 1,000 refugees living in Timisoara, of which about 700 are from Ukraine, and the rest from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq. Astra Film Festival in Sibiu The Death of Iosif Zagor, the debut documentary directed by Adi Dohotaru La Piazza Grande di Sibiu (foto: Stefan Baciu, RRI) Ana-Maria Cononovici, 12.07.2025, 13:08 Winner of the Mention Award at the Astra Film Festival in Sibiu and screened at the opening of the One World Romania Festival, The Death of Iosif Zagor, the debut documentary directed by Adi Dohotaru, is one of the most moving Romanian films of the past year. The film tells the story of videographer Iosif Zagor who documents the last four years of his life, his loneliness and illness, talking about his fears of being forcibly evicted from three different locations, where he lived in precarious conditions in his old age. Iosif Zagor used his old camera to videotape his life and that of others in social housing. The main theme of the documentary, housing, is viewed through the lens of vulnerability, presenting the problematic context in which access to housing for vulnerable or marginalized people is becoming increasingly difficult. At the same time, the film also talks about the eviction processes of these people and the abusive ways in which they take place. The film aims to give voice to the main protagonist, Iosif Zagor, and to create a context of self-representation, advocating for giving space to vulnerable people to tell their own story and become visible. Adi Dohotaru: In 2017, some friends from civil society presented to me the situation of people at risk of eviction. There were approximately 50 people in this situation. Thats when I met Iosif Zagor and his neighbors. Iosif had an old, dusty camera, a camera that still used cassettes, and that he hadnt used for a long time. I asked him to film his situation, but also that of his neighbors, so that we could make their problem known to both the authorities and the public. But we didnt manage to avoid the eviction then. However, we postponed it for a while, at least those people werent evicted in the winter. As the documentary shows, we kept in touch with Iosif Zagor and some of his neighbors, and over time the relationship between us strengthened. Watching the tapes he recorded and talking about his problems and those of other people in his situation, we even became friends. And so we thought over time to make a film that would give a voice to such vulnerable people. Adi Dohotaru, who makes his debut with this documentary, is a practitioner of the Participatory Action methodology and in his projects he resorts to the technique of Performative Anthropology to highlight his collaborators. He composes laws and poems, does civic and environmental research. I directed The Death of Iosif Zagor because I failed. As an activist, as a researcher or as a politician, I proposed, together with other experts, activists and vulnerable people I met, public policies through which the authorities invest in social housing. The EU average of social and affordable housing is just under 10%, but in Romania it is even lower: 1%, said Adi Dohotaru, the films director: Indeed, in Romania the situation is much worse than the European average. A big problem is that after 1989, as we all know, the public housing stock was privatized. An alternative policy, to help these people, would have been to keep much more public housing. In this way, we would have given a chance to the vulnerable, the elderly, or women trying to get out of abusive marriages. Thus, more vulnerable categories would have been helped by such policies. Unfortunately, this did not happen. The public housing stock was privatized and no more were built, as happened in the West. And I would like to say that there has even been an international trend in recent decades in this regard, even in Western Europe the public housing stock has decreased. After all, why did the state withdraw from such public policies? We have a neoliberal state, which for the most part does not encourage social and environmental policies. That is why certain areas, such as housing, are regulated by the state. Whether and how these things can be changed is a long discussion. After all, the film showed what such people go through, where the state is effectively absent or very little present. And as I was saying, this situation is not unique to Romania, but is found at a general level. We live in a very competitive, very individualistic context, everyone is doing it alone, and then we lack the time necessary to be sensitive to the problems of others, being very burdened with our own problems. In this sense, we have enough work to do not only as individuals, but also as a society. And for things to change, we need social and political movements that raise different issues. And at the moment, such agendas interested in the standard of living of others, in housing, are few, especially at the level of mainstream parties. The documentary is directed by Adi Dohotaru, produced by Monica Lazurean-Gorgan through the Filmways production company, in co-production with SOS Sustainable Organized Society, co-producers Adi Dohotaru and Radu Gaciu. Editing is by Alexandru Popescu. The film benefits from the support of the Documentary Film Masters Program of the Faculty of Theater and Film of the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca. July 12, 2025 UPDATE (1) A roundup of local and world news July 12, 2025 UPDATE (1) Newsroom, 12.07.2025, 16:56 VISIT The president of Romania, Nicusor Dan, will pay an official visit to Germany on Friday, July 18, where he will meet with his counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Later, Nicusor Dan will have a meeting with Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Talks will focus on bilateral relations, European and security policy aspects. This year, Romania and the Federal Republic of Germany mark 145 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. Germany is Romanias largest trading partner, holding a share of 19.82% of total foreign trade, respectively 20.95% in exports and 18.98% in imports. MEETING Romanian Senate Speaker, Mircea Abrudean, on Saturday met in Bucharest with the Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, Igor Grosu. On this occasion, the two officials highlighted the privileged and strategic bilateral relationship between the two states, based on historical, cultural ties and common European values, a Senate release reads. The parliamentary election in the Republic of Moldova, scheduled for September, represent a key moment for the pro-European destiny of Romanians across the Prut, Mircea Abrudean said, underlining the importance of consolidating democratic institutions and continuing the path of reforms. At the same time, the Senate Speaker conveyed Romanias constant support for the authorities in Chisinau in their efforts to defend democracy, unity and the strategic objective of joining the EU. FESTIVAL Hundreds of thousands of young people from Romania and abroad are these days taking part in the Beach, Please! festival hosted by Costinesti on the Black Sea coast, the largest urban hip-hop music festival in Europe. 200 Romanian and foreign artists have been invited to the musical event, including Inna, Lil Tjay, Rick Ross, Guess Who and 21 Savage. Organized on an area of 21 hectares, this years edition is one of premieres: the largest stage ever set up in Europe, the most powerful sound system implemented on the continent and a production similar to the largest festivals in the United States. (VP) Indeed, and Glassdoor are cutting approximately 1,300 jobs as part of a strategic shift by parent company Recruit Holdings to prioritize artificial intelligence in its hiring platforms. The layoffs, which impact about 6% of Recruit's global workforce, were announced Thursday and primarily affect U.S.-based teams in research, development, and sustainability, though global operations will also see reductions. In an internal memo, CEO Hisayuki "Deko" Idekoba said, "AI is changing the world, and we must adapt by ensuring our product delivers exceptional experiences for job seekers and employers." He added that nearly one-third of the company's programming code is now AI-generated a figure he expects will soon reach 50%. As part of the reorganization, Recruit will merge Glassdoor into Indeed to streamline operations. Glassdoor CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong will step down on October 1, and LaFawn Davis, Indeed's Chief People and Sustainability Officer, will also exit the company. The move reflects Recruit's broader vision to simplify the recruitment process by leveraging data, automation, and AI targeting an HR industry where manual labor accounts for over 60% of operational costs. The restructuring comes amid a wave of AI-driven transformations across the tech sector. Companies including Meta, Microsoft, and Intel have also announced widespread layoffs in recent months, underscoring the disruptive impact of AI on traditional workflows. Despite concerns about AI-related job losses, Recruit claims its now helps someone find employment every 2.2 seconds, reinforcing its focus on automation to drive future growth. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Key Points Reports emerged late Wednesday that a potential deal was in the works. Kellogg announced Thursday morning that it would be acquired by Italian company Ferrero. 10 stocks we like better than WK Kellogg Shares of WK Kellogg (NYSE: KLG) charged sharply higher Thursday, surging as much as 33.7%. As of 10:40 a.m. ET, the stock was still up 33.6%. The catalyst that sent the iconic cereal maker soaring was news that the company would be taken private. Image source: Getty Images. A sweet deal Reports emerged late Wednesday that Kellogg, purveyor of such well-known cereal brands as Frosted Flakes, Fruit Loops, and Mini Wheats, was being courted by Italian confectionery maker Ferrero, which is best known for its Nutella, Ferrero Roche, Kinder, and Keebler brands, according to an exclusive report in The Wall Street Journal. In a press release that dropped before the market opened on Thursday, Kellogg announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Ferrero. Kellogg shareholders will receive $23 per share in an all-cash deal, and roughly 40% higher than recent share prices. The deal values the cereal maker at roughly $3.1 billion in total enterprise value. Ferrero noted the acquisition was the next step in its growth strategy of expanding its reach into "renowned, beloved brands with strong consumer relevance." Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by its board of directors, Kellogg will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Ferrero. The deal is also being supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Trust and the Gund Family, which own roughly 21.7% of outstanding shares and have committed to vote in favor of the transaction. The agreement is subject to approval by regulators and Kellogg shareholders, and is expected to close in the second half of 2025. The company has undergone a transformation in recent years. In late 2023, Kellogg's North American cereal business was spun off from the predecessor company, which was rebranded Kellanova and retained the company's snack food brands, including Pringles and Cheez-It, and its frozen food brand Morningstar Farms. Should you invest $1,000 in WK Kellogg right now? Before you buy stock in WK Kellogg, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and WK Kellogg wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $694,758!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $998,376!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 1,058% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Dont miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks Buy and sell indicators for trade on the chart by Anekcen Eeno3epcknn via iStock After a strong start to 2025 that saw Alibaba (BABA) stock climb to a 52-week high of $148.43 in mid-March, shares of the Chinese tech giant have since faced a notable pullback. BABA stock has declined more than 28% from that peak. However, per analysts ratings and price targets, the recent decline in BABA stock is a buying opportunity rather than a warning sign. Despite the recent dip, analysts continue to see significant upside in Alibaba stock. The companys fundamentals remain robust, supported by steady performance in its core digital commerce operations. Moreover, Alibabas strategic push into artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing is seen as a powerful catalyst for long-term growth. More News from Barchart Wall Streets confidence in Alibaba is evident in the consensus among analysts. A large majority remains positive on the stock, and the highest price target currently stands at $180, implying an impressive 69% upside from current levels. Against this backdrop, lets explore the key drivers behind analysts confidence in this Chinese e-commerce powerhouse and what factors could help push BABA stock higher. www.barchart.com Alibaba Stock: A Discounted Growth Powerhouse As digital transformation sweeps across global markets, Alibabas investments in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and core e-commerce platforms position it well to deliver significant growth by capitalizing on the growing demand across these key sectors. Further, Alibabas diversified business model, strong execution, and innovation are setting the stage for solid growth, which could push its share price higher. The group's e-commerce arms, Taobao and Tmall, continue to show strong user engagement, supported by improving monetization strategies and growing consumer demand. During the most recent quarter, the Taobao and Tmall Group (TTG) reported 12% year-over-year growth in customer management revenue. Alibabas enhanced marketing tools, like Quanzhantui, are driving increased merchant participation, contributing to higher take rates and improved marketing efficiency. User acquisition efforts are also paying off, with 88VIP memberships surpassing 50 million. CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI) is one of the Top 10 Software and Technology Stocks to Buy Now. William Blair analyst Louie DiPalma upgraded the companys stock to Outperform from Market Perform, as reported by The Fly. The firm opines that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act features extensive drone funding. The firms analysis reflects that CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI) happens to be one of the industrys largest counter-drone system providers, describing this position as under-the-radar. William Blair Upgrades CACI International (CACI) Stock to Outperform An IT technician in an open office with stacks of servers in the background. The firm opines that CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI)s shares provide valuation-focused investors an opportunity for drone exposure at a discount to peers. The company was awarded a 5-year task order valued at up to $66 million in order to continue helping the U.S. Navys Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division. CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI) was also awarded a 5-year task order valued at up to $54 million to continue its support to the U.S. Army Product Manager Ground Sensors. The company is expected to provide current and future operational capability and efficiency across the life cycle of critical ground sensors, which include night vision, electro-optics, and thermal systems utilised by warfighters. CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI) is engaged in providing expertise and technology to enterprise and mission customers in support of national security in the intelligence, defense, and federal civilian sectors. Frontier Capital Management, an investment management company, released its Q1 2025 investor letter. Here is what the fund said: Paleontologists in China have discovered the skeletal remains of a remarkable new genus and species of huge-sized mamenchisaurid dinosaur from the Late Jurassic epoch. The newly-described species lived in what is now southwestern China some 147 million years ago (Late Jurassic epoch). Scientifically named Tongnanlong zhimingi, this sauropod dinosaur was about 23 to 28 m (75.5-92 feet) long. Sauropods were gigantic, quadrupedal herbivores and the largest terrestrial dinosaurs ever existed, said Dr. Xuefang Wei from the Chengdu Center of China Geological Survey and colleagues. They appeared in the Late Triassic, achieved a global distribution by the Middle Jurassic, and finally died out at the end of the Late Cretaceous. More than 150 genera have been identified, including over 20 genera from the Jurassic period in China. The southwestern China is a key region that yields Middle-Late Jurassic sauropod dinosaurs, particularly the Sichuan Basin, they added. The sauropod fauna from the Middle-Late Jurassic Sichuan Basin has previously been considered an endemic fauna which differs from the contemporaneous sauropod faunae from the Pangean terrestrial faunae. This distribution has often been interpreted by the East Asian Isolation hypothesis, which occurred during the Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. However, this hypothesis is challenged by more phylogenetic analyses and studies of neosauropod dinosaurs from China and mamenchisaurid dinosaurs discovered from Africa which support the idea that they were distributed globally during the Middle Jurassic. The holotype specimen of Tongnanlong zhimingi was excavated from a building site in the Tongnan district of Chongqing area, the Sichuan Basin. It includes three dorsal and six caudal vertebrae, scapula, coracoid, and some hindlimb bones. Our field work shows that the fossiliferous site belongs to the lower portion of the Upper Jurassic Suining Formation, overlying by the Quaternary deposits, the paleontologists said. The Suining Formation consists of purplish red mudstone and sandstone. Abundant invertebrate fossils are known from this formation, especially ostracods and stoneworts, along with some freshwater bivalves, conchostracans. A few vertebrates are also known from this formation, such as fish Ceratodus szechuanensis, turtle Plesiochelys tatsuensis, and dinosaur Mamenchisaurus anyuensis. The teams anatomical and phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that Tongnanlong zhimingi belonged to a family of sauropod dinosaurs called Mamenchisauridae. Mamenchisauridae was distributed globally in the Late Jurassic rather than an endemic fauna which was previously considered limited to East Asia, the researchers concluded. Tongnanlong zhimingi enriches the diversity of eusauropods and provides new information on the understanding of the sauropod diversity and evolutionary trend from the Middle Jurassic to the Late Jurassic when their bodies became larger. Their paper was published July 10 in the journal Scientific Reports. _____ X. Wei et al. 2025. A new mamenchisaurid from the Upper Jurassic Suining Formation of the Sichuan Basin in China and its implication on sauropod gigantism. Sci Rep 15, 24808; doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-09796-0 CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) The developer of what would be the first new coal mine in Wyoming in decades is launching a potentially half-billion-dollar effort to extract rare earth metals from the fossil fuel that are crucial for tech products and military hardware. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, and Wyoming's congressional delegation took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday for Ramaco Resources, Inc.'s Brook Mine outside Ranchester in northeastern Wyoming. Not only do we get coal here, we are going to get those rare earth elements that are going to break our dependence on China, Wright told Fox News from the mine site Friday. Wright's involvement underscores President Donald Trump's determination to advance fossil fuel projects and mining and reverse former President Joe Biden's moves to support for renewable energy. Administration officials on Monday moved toward selling federal coal leases in the top U.S. coal-producing region in northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana. On Thursday, officials announced a proposal in Utah that they said would be the first coal exploration project on U.S. Bureau of Land Management property since 2019. Those moves came on the heels of legislation signed last week that lowered royalty payments for companies mining coal on public lands and mandated officials make available for potential mining an area greater in size than Connecticut. Meanwhile, local officials in Utah hope the administration will support plans to build a railroad spur to boost oil drilling. A coalition of eastern Utah counties wants Trump's Transportation Department to approve $2.4 billion in bonds for the 88-mile (140-kilometer) spur to export oil from the Uinta Basin, a project that may proceed after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. On Friday, the minerals capturing the administration's attention were not just coal but rare earths a family of 17 metallic elements with unusual properties that make them useful in modern technology, from electric car batteries and wind turbines to military targeting devices. The only operating U.S. rare earths mine is at Mountain Pass in California. Nearly all of the nation's supply comes from China, the source of nearly 90% of the world's supply. Rare earths arent especially rare but so scattered they are difficult to bring together in useful quantities. Concern about continued access to them has been a focus of recent negotiations between China and the U.S., and led the Trump administration to try to encourage more production domestically. The Fortiva Mastercard Credit Card is an expensive option targeted at consumers with less-than-stellar credit. While this card doesnt require a security deposit like many credit-builder cards, it comes with very high fees and rates. Fortiva offers an option to prequalify for its card, but youll be subject to a hard credit pull when you formally apply. Heres what to know about this credit card and potential alternatives worth considering. 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Snugshi a heated, weighted, rechargeable stuffed animal designed to provide discreet period pain relief recently took the top prize at the Young Entrepreneurs Academy competition, a national program that transforms local students into confident entrepreneurs. The product was created by Anna Lau, a rising junior at Staten Island Technical High School. (Courtesy of Anna Lau) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Staten Island high school student has been named Americas Next Top Young Entrepreneur after winning a national competition with her innovative solution for menstrual pain. Anna Lau, founder and CEO of Snugshi a heated, weighted, rechargeable stuffed animal designed to provide discreet period pain relief recently took the top prize at the Young Entrepreneurs Academy competition, a national program that transforms local students into confident entrepreneurs. Paint by Mish and one of her window displays. Courtesy of Paint by Mish STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- If youve ever spotted a storefront on Staten Island decked out with bright, cartoon-like characters and lettering with a sticker-like finish, chances are it was hand-painted by Mish. The self-taught Staten Island artist behind Paint by Mish never set out to become a full-time artist. Though she was always interested in the arts growing up, she became a mother at 21, enrolled in court reporting school while pregnant with her second daughter, and worked a string of jobs to support her family as a single mother. Between 2012 and 2014, Mish experienced a series of devastating losses that shifted her priorities and career path. In 2012, her grandmother and aunt were killed in a car crash. The following year, a close friend someone she considered like a brother died by suicide. Then in 2014, her father died of a rare disease. I didnt want my kids to grow up seeing me doing something that didnt make me happy and being miserable coming home every day, Mish told the Advance/SILive.com. Life is short. You only have so much time here, so you gotta do something that you love. That something for Mish started with face paint. In October 2013, she painted her and her daughters faces for Bloomingdale Parks Halloween Extravaganza. It wasnt the first time face painting had been part of her familys Halloween tradition growing up, thanks to her mom but this time was different. Strangers complimented her work, and after everything shed just gone through, the reaction gave her a spark to start exploring face painting more seriously from there. She then taught herself henna, airbrush and eventually window painting, the latter of which she learned by watching YouTube videos, especially tutorials from Scot Campbell an artist she refers to as the king of window painting. Paint by Mish and one of her window displays. Courtesy of Paint By Mish Mish continued taking on commission-based work under the Paint by Mish name after the 2013 Halloween event, though it remained a side hustle while she worked other jobs to pay the bills. In 2019, she began working overnight shifts at an Amazon facility, working long hours while still making time for gigs during the day, until she quit after two months and decided to go all in on Paint by Mish. I couldnt stomach working as hard as I was and being miserable, she said. When I left [Amazon], I said I would never work this hard for anybody ever again in my life. Ive only worked for Paint by Mish since then. Now 38 years old, Mish still takes on party gigs and face painting, but window murals are what keeps her busiest. She freehands every piece, mostly across New York and New Jersey, and finishes each one with her unofficial signature: a crisp white airbrush outline that gives each piece a clean, pop-art edge. I used to feel like I never had a style, and now when people see my windows, theyre like, Oh, Mish did that, she said. Anytime somebody says that something looks like a sticker or if they didnt see me painting it, they wouldnt have known it was painted, thats a huge compliment. That means that I do my job right. Paint by Mish and one of her window displays. Courtesy of Paint By Mish Mish is especially in demand during seasonal moments back-to-school, the holidays, seasonal transitions but some clients keep her work up year-round. Others call her back every few months for a refresh. I dont guarantee that anything is going to last because its outside, right? she said. But I have jobs that have been up six years that look completely untouched. In a full-circle moment, Amazon ended up reaching out to her in 2020 this time not as an employee, but as a commissioned artist. The company was looking for someone to paint their windows and found her through recommendations, unaware that shed once worked there. She has since painted several Amazon buildings throughout New York and New Jersey, appreciating most the reactions from employees coming in and out of the buildings she had once worked in herself. [At the time] it was the hype and excitement and dopamine rush of like, Wow, Amazon came and found me. How cool is this? Mish said. But I like the employees reactions. That always meant so much to me because theyre going into a building that is so dreary on the inside, and I know personally, so theyd tell me the artwork really made them happy and uplifted them. However, its not always glamorous. Mish paints through heat waves, wind gusts, curious (and talkative) passing strangers, and thick humidity that makes the paint finicky. Sometimes, shes racing against rain, but over time, shes learned to read the weather like its another part of the job. When the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic brought an unexpected lull in commissions, Mish adapted yet again. During lockdown, she began painting rainbows of hope on fellow Islanders front doors. That led to painting residential doors for drive-by graduations and birthdays, commissioned work that met the moment of people finding ways to celebrate from a distance. Though she loves working with and promoting local small businesses with her storefront art, her proudest project to date is an eight-foot wooden cutout of Terrifier character Art the Clown, which she painted for her front yard in October 2023. That year, she turned down her usual Halloween face painting gigs to make something just for herself. I was so happy that I actually was painting something I was enjoying. To this day, I think thats the one thing Im really proud of. Its the one thing I did for me, Mish said. Sometimes I wish I just painted for me. The grass is always greener. Art the Clown from the "Terrifier" film series. Courtesy of Paint By Mish Mish also began posting more videos online, starting with Instagram and Facebook, where she steadily built a loyal following. Today, she has 277,000 followers on Facebook and nearly 200,000 on Instagram. Earlier this year, she caved in and joined TikTok, and her online following skyrocketed. Shes now at 236,000 followers on TikTok and counting. I was very against using TikTok. But this January, I was crazy focused, and I was like, Im gonna blow up on TikTok, she said. I didnt know what I was doing, so I started saying, Im gonna post anything on TikTok. I dont care what anybody thinks of me. Im not trying to get business on TikTok. And it blew up within a week. Now, social media is a business driver and a creative outlet for Mish. She shares time-lapses of window painting, hilarious behind-the-scenes commentary, thoughtful life advice, and honest rants about life as a working artist. Im not faking things for the purpose of social media or an aesthetic. Like, I dont care about any of this stuff, you know? she said. I just want to have fun with it and show a little bit of what I do. And inspire people to go and do whatever it is they want to do in life. One of Paint by Mish's window displays. Courtesy of Paint By Mish Shes already thinking about whats next: building out her YouTube channel, painting more wood cutouts, working on personal projects, and eventually traveling with her work to take Paint by Mish beyond the East Coast. Motivation, I always say, is not reliable. Motivation is not always there. Its the discipline, the going after it, she said. So stick to the plan, not your mood. It doesnt matter how you feel. You just kind of have to keep going. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Extreme heat and stormy weather have been gripping New York City for weeks, straining the energy grid and causing a number of blackouts throughout the five boroughs. But according to battery energy proponents, several storage sites that are currently operational throughout the Big Apple are helping to alleviate that pressure generating approximately 3% of the citys daily electrical supply. New York City is consuming power at a very uneven rate, Tim Dumbleton, COO of MicroGrid Networks, noted recently during a media tour of one of the citys operational battery energy storage systems, known as BESS, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. What the batteries do is shift that peak and flatten the consumption curve, essentially unlocking the unused capacity. Built in a flood zone and located next door to Bayside Fuel Oil Depot Corporation which stores and distributes fuel oil to various companies and clients the Williamsburg site, called Grand Street Energy Storage, also houses the MicroGrid Networks operations center. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) Dumbleton displayed proof of his statement in a series of charts and line graphs, each of which demonstrated how battery storage is chipping away at a highly taxed electrical grid. A real-time dashboard produced by the New York Independent System Operator the organization responsible for managing New Yorks electric grid and its competitive wholesale electric marketplace confirmed MicroGrids findings: Over the past few weeks, power produced by solar energy and other energy storage resources have been responsible for about 600MW of the citys approximate 20,000MW daily generation. The challenge is New York Citys electrical grid is 85% below grade, Dumbleton said. So if you want to double the capacity of the New York City grid you can rip up every street in the city and double the number of wires, which is incredibly expensive, or you can make the wires that weve already paid for more efficient. Tim Dumbleton monitors New York City's energy consumption on a series of real-time graphs and charts inside his company's control room. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) Dozens of additional BESS sites currently under construction throughout the city are supposed to pave the way for that efficiency, using groups of batteries to store electrical energy, and then releasing it when needed essentially acting as backup power sources during peak demand or power outages. But on Staten Island where the units are being built in extremely close proximity to homes and businesses concerns about safety and neighborhood character are clouding the promised pros. Over the past two years, borough residents and local officials have voiced concerns about their siting. Community Boards voted against their proximity to bakeries, and storefronts and elected officials issued a moratorium on applications filed within residential districts. In one instance, an energy developer retracted plans to place batteries in a Bulls Head church parking lot. Companies like MicroGrid, however, are countering concerns. New York has the strictest safety rules in the country when it comes to these battery installations; in fact, states like California are looking at New York City to update their own standards, explained Paul Rogers, a retired FDNY lieutenant and owner of the Energy Safety Response Group. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) New York has the strictest safety rules in the country when it comes to these battery installations; in fact, states like California are looking at New York City to update their own standards, Paul Rogers noted during the tour of MicroGrids Williamsburg facility. Rogers is a retired FDNY lieutenant and owner of the Energy Safety Response Group, which has done paid work for MicroGrid over the past several years, including creating safety response plans and assisting in getting battery products tested and approved for use in NYC. We have not seen a failure since the first installation in 2018, and thats not just because of code. Its standard of care, its communications its a number of elements which all make for a safer system," Rogers said. The testing that is done on these units is so rigorous. Even if there were to be a failure, it would not be catastrophic. At Grand Street Energy Storage, Concrete Masonry Units, or large, rectangular blocks of concrete, have been placed between high-voltage containers. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) Built in a flood zone and located next to Bayside Fuel Oil Depot Corporation which stores and distributes fuel oil to various companies and clients the Williamsburg site, called Grand Street Energy Storage, also houses the MicroGrid Networks operations center. The project is a 5MW energy storage facility, and MicroGrid said it has been pulling its stored energy for Con Edisons usage for at least 18 months. The site is considered a non-wired solution asset by Con Ed, one that has participated in demand response to support the grid at times of high demand. According to data provided by Con Ed, there are only three battery storage units owned and operated by the utility in NYC: One at a substation in Rosebank, one in Ozone Park, Queens, and a third recently completed in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Grand Street Energy Storage is a private entity. The Grand Street Energy Storage project is a 5MW energy storage facility, and MicroGrid said it has been pulling its stored energy for Con Edisons usage for at least 18 months. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) MicroGrid, which currently has two operational battery sites in New York City (the second site is located in Maspeth, Queens), has plans to expand its presence here, adding 12 more systems before 2028, each with a purpose of reducing outages and improving grid performance in the face of climate-driven extremes. Dumbleton confirmed that the company is not currently pursuing any projects on Staten Island. The citys power consumption has grown one to two percent over the last 30 years and will only continue to grow in the future, Dumbleton noted. Thats why it is so necessary to modernize our grid, and thats why we are building a whole bunch more of these sites throughout New York City. Attendees admire an FDNY truck during an FDNY block party in Port Richmond on Friday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The FDNY will host a series of community events this summer at firehouses across the five boroughs, according to Commissioner Robert Tucker. The summer block parties will feature interactive demonstrations and tours of the FDNY apparatus. The events will also offer free fire and life safety education, as well as a chance to explore rewarding careers with the FDNY. Children who visit the firehouse during these parties will also get a chance to meet FDNY Fire and Life Safety mascots Hot Dog and Siren. A scene from the FDNY block party in Port Richmond on Friday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley) Among the stops for this series of festivities is Engine Co. 157/Ladder Co. 80 on Castleton Avenue in Port Richmond. This is the same location where the block party was held last year. During that event, hundreds of families turned out to enjoy a fun-filled day of activities alongside New Yorks Bravest. Here are the dates and locations for the upcoming series. All events will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In this Jan. 2024 photo provided by The Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Cattle Screwworms (COPEG), a worker holds two small containers of New World Screwworm fly pupae at a facility that breeds sterile flies in Pacora, Panama. (COPEG via AP) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As if the world doesnt have enough problems, the United States is concerned that a dangerous pest invasion could breach the southern border and severely impact the nations agriculture. The New World screwworm fly, otherwise known as Cochliomyia hominivorax, is a pest capable of killing livestock. If left undeterred, it may infiltrate the U.S. Should the flies reach the states, the larvae could infest livestock, pets, wildlife and, possibly, even people. As described by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the female flies lay their eggs at the edges of wounds or other body openings. The eggs hatch and the larvae burrow into the tissue, feeding and creating wounds and secondary infections; this feeding could even prove fatal if untreated. Although these flies were largely eradicated from the U.S., Mexico and Central America in the latter half of the 20th century, the U.S. Department of Agriculture explained that the pests have recently been detected about 700 miles away from the U.S. border. In an effort to curb the spread, the United States will domestically produce millions of sterile flies to diminish the pests reproduction. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the development of an $8.5 million sterile New World screwworm fly dispersal facility in South Texas on June 18, as shared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The announcement came just a day after members of Congress sent a letter to Rollins asking her to develop the facility. The facility, which is set to be completed before the end of the year, looks to produce millions of these flies in the hopes of preventing the devastating impact the entry of these pests could wreak on farms across the nation. The United States has defeated NWS (New World screwworm) before and we will do it again, said Rollins. We do not take lightly the threat NWS poses to our livestock industry, our economy and our food supply chain. The United States government will use all resources at its disposal to push back NWS, and todays announcement of a domestic strategy to bolster our border defenses is just the beginning. We have the proven tools, strong domestic and international partnerships, and the grit needed to win this battle. To combat the spread of these insects, the U.S. will be applying a tool known as sterile insect technique. As noted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this is a proven method for fighting the spread and was previously used to eradicate the infestation. This technique uses gamma radiation to irradiate New World screwworm pupae to create sterile male flies. These flies are then dispersed in target areas to mate with wild female flies, who then lay unfertilized eggs. As the female flies typically mate only once and have a short lifespan of 20 days, this effectively reduces the population. In addition to breaking ground on a new fly-producing facility in Texas, the department has produced a plan to combat the spread of the infestation. Part of this plan is to stop the spread in Mexico. Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture invested $21 million in renovating an existing fruit fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico, to help bolster efforts. This facility will provide an additional 60 million to 100 million sterile flies a week on top of the over 100 million produced weekly in Panama. As shared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these renovations are expected to be completed by July 2026. Before these latest efforts, the only pupae sterilization facility in North America has been located in Pacora, Panama, and is jointly managed and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Panamas Ministry of Agriculture Development through the Screwworm Barrier Maintenance Program. Following the detection of the flies moving north, officials immediately suspended imports of live cattle, horse and bison through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border on May 11, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, Rollins, citing progress made in halting the spread, announced that some of these ports would begin reopening as soon as July 7. Texas is on the front lines of the threat posed by the New World Screwworm. Proactive measures like this dispersal facility are a critical step to ensure our state and nation are prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to this challenge. We are grateful for the Trump Administration and Secretary Rollins continued support of Texas in safeguarding the economic vitality of our farming and ranching communities. We will continue to work with our federal partners to eliminate this threat, said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Staten Islanders visited the borough's beaches and parks in an attempt to beat the sweltering heat at Conference House Park on July 19, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/Rebeka Humbrecht) Rebeka Humbrecht | For the Staten Island Advance STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Part of Staten Islands appeal to the wider boroughs (beyond the Staten Island Ferry and the food) are the sheer number of parks and trees the borough houses. Trees line our streets, parking lots, and, of course, our parks. Beyond their visual appeal, Staten Islands trees offer something to residents that other boroughs cant wholly relate to: an abundance of shade. The tree canopy provided by the leaves and branches is part of New York Citys wider commitment to building a sustainable heat repellant. Which, of course, is welcome during a sweat-soaked summer, such as this one. According to the Urban Forest Plan, Trees play a critical role in reducing outdoor temperatures. Urban trees can cool city streets up to 2F, while forested natural areas are on average 6F cooler than surrounding neighborhoods. Furthermore, New York City trees offer $260 million in benefits and services every year: including removing 1,100 tons of air pollution, providing energy savings equivalent to the annual use of 8,000 homes, and reducing stormwater runoff by 69 million cubic feet. The goal for the five boroughs is presently to get a tree canopy that covers 30% of the city in the next decade. Per the last update in 2021 via the Urban Forest Plan, 23.4% of the tree canopy has been established. But keeping the heat off the necks of New Yorkers isnt the only thing the tree canopy offers. Trees mitigate that environmental damage, the impact of increased car traffic and such The closer you are to parks, the more valuable your home is considered. So, New York City also has a goal of everybody in the city should live within a 10-minute walk of a park. [In] Staten Island thats not as difficult, but in other boroughs planting trees, creating parks, is going to help the city achieve that goal and we know here on the borough of parks, how important parks are, explained Cliff Hagen, an environmentalist and Democratic candidate for the South Shore City Council seat. Trees, Hagen said, also help minimize storm damage and ease the number of asthma cases on Staten Island. Thats why Hagen is involved with the lawsuit to axe congestion pricing in Manhattan, as he says its going to poison the air we breathe and probably increase asthma. These trees are important for us. For as homeowners, as a community, these trees help us. They keep us healthy, and they keep us wealthy, Hagen said. How to reach out "As a born-and-raised Staten Islander, I know the issues that plague borough residents, whether it be torn-up sidewalks or unplowed streets," said Reporter Jillian Delaney. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE I want to hear from all of you about the things that dont make national headlines, but are of utmost importance to Staten Islanders. If youd like to reach out, please email me at jdelaney@siadvance. Put #fyiSI in the email subject line and include your name, neighborhood and contact phone number. Want to tag us on social media? Use #fyiSI on all your quality of life posts. A recent study analyzed the job outlook for students with various college majors. (Advance/SILive | Annalise Knudson) Recent college graduates in fields like physics and anthropology are facing significant employment hurdles, according to a new analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The current turbulent job market continues to present challenges for new graduates. The unemployment rate for recent college graduates climbed to 5.8% in March, increasing the overall unemployment rate, according to data. The study, which applied to recent college graduates, defined as 22- to 27-year-olds with a bachelors degree or higher, used data from the Census Bureaus 2023 American Community Survey covering 73 majors and subject groups. According to Business Insider, the study found that anthropology graduates faced the highest unemployment rate at 9.4%, followed by physics majors at 7.8%. Computer engineering and computer science students also struggled with higher-than-average unemployment, despite typically offering higher salaries. The outlook for science graduates varies, with physics and chemistry having higher unemployment rates, while earth sciences graduates are facing just 1.5% unemployment, and biology graduates are seeing a steady 3% rate, according to data. This may be fluctuating due to the Trump administrations pull-backs on funding for research and science. According to Business Insider, Daniel Zhao, lead economist at job platform Glassdoor, advises new graduates to leverage their networks, including alumni and family connections, and explore different fields. There is a lot of flexibility with which career path you can pursue, because entry-level workers, usually, the skills are more generalizable across industries or across occupations, he said. You may be seeing more fireflies this summer, and some experts have explanations. In this 2014 photo, a firefly flies away from a person's hand during the Duke Farms Firefly Festival in New Jersey. SL STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. If you have spent any time outdoors during warm New York City evenings, you may have noticed more swirling lights, or fireflies. Once the sun goes down across the five boroughs, residents have reported seeing an uptick in lightning bugs. Experts have told media outlets that certain weather conditions may be the reason were seeing more of these blinking winged insects. Fireflies, which are actually beetles, prefer warm climates and thrive in wet and marshy environments, according to the National Wildlife Federation. Richard Joyce, an endangered species conservation biologist who works on the Firefly Atlas at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, told THE CITY that firefly larvae love moist and dark soil. This uptick could be related to New York Citys wet and warm spring and summer. But this surge may not actually be a surge, Dr. Jessica Ware, an entomologist and curator at the American Museum of Natural History, told the New York Post. Ware explained that populations of lightning bugs are declining across the country so its not that were seeing more, but that were not seeing as few. While fireflies are considered an endangered species, anecdotal evidence suggests that firefly populations may be on the decline, according to the National Wildlife Federation. The beetles live in fields, meadows, forests and other natural habitats, which are becoming fewer due to development. Pesticides and light pollution are also serious hazards that these bugs are facing. But you can still expect to see the twinkling bugs this year. Ware told the Post that residents across New York City can expect to see fireflies lighting up the rest of the summer, especially this month, as its their peak mating season. Thats why fireflies perform a light show to attract a mate, according to the Old Farmers Almanac. The males fly around turning their lights on and off to get the attention of a flightless female. If a female is impressed, she will flash back a response. A lightning bugs light can also serve as a warning to predators, showing their toughness with their light. The light of a firefly is the result of a chemical reaction of bioluminescence. If youre looking to spot some fireflies this summer, find an area with little light pollution, like a meadow, the edge of a forest or even your backyard if you live in a suburban or rural area. You can go out to look for lightning bugs soon after sunset. A cool, rainy spring and economic concerns have left vacancies at Jersey Shore homes this summer. Jim Lowney | For NJ Advance Media Some agents blame the cool, rainy spring weather and others say it was economic uncertainty, but either way, the Jersey Shore vacation rental season got off to a slow start. And that means if you havent booked a house yet, there are deals out there. Owners are cutting rates for the weeks they have left and new listings are still being added, at a discounted rate to quickly fill their beds. Since the heat got here, the phone has been ringing off the wall, said Bill Hodgson, owner of Island Realty in Surf City. The heat gets people thinking about going to the Shore. Tariffs and other economic concerns slowed bookings from March through June, said James Ward of Shore Points Vacations and Sales, who handles rentals mostly in Point Pleasant Beach but as far south as Seaside Heights. People hit the pause button on making plans, he said. Now in July were seeing pent-up demand. Im booking things daily, at the moment. High-end rentals, he said, were immune to the slowdown. That five bedroom-plus with a pool that two or three families take have been bulletproof the last couple of years, Ward said. Smaller rentals or those that are in less desirable locations have been harder to fill, agents say. Theyre further from the beach, bungalows, back houses or multiple unit houses, said Matthew Schlosser of Schlosser Real Estate in Lavallette. Despite the slow start, lease prices are generally up about 9% this season, he said. Rental rates have increased 20% to 30% since the pandemic, agents say. Thats having a bigger impact on smaller homes that would be rented by a single family. Weve been dealing with a price correction for at least three years now, Ward said. What I see happening is the standard is getting closer to $1,000 per bedroom, which is like pre-COVID numbers. Another trend agents are seeing up and down the Jersey Shore is increased interest from people who want to rent for less than a week. Some towns dont allow that, like Point Pleasant Beach. And many owners are only open to shorter rentals during the shoulder months not peak season. Carol Menz of Coastline Realty in Cape May said 90% of her renters are people who come back to the same home year after year. But when theres not a repeat tenant or theres a cancellation, we have owners who are happy to take four nights or three nights. She had 11 cancellations for Fourth of July weekend that she filled through online listings. Technology is a wonderful thing, Menz said. If you havent booked a house yet and you still want to, dont be afraid to make an offer thats below the list price for the week, agents say. If people have availability, they would rather get something for the week, versus nothing, Ward said. And cast a wide net. Rentals are typically not shared between real estate offices, like for sale home listings are shared through the Multiple Listing Service. Sometimes you need to call more than one office, Menz said. Some websites also allow you to leave a check mark on a property, so if there is a cancellation you will be contacted. Real estate agents and operators of shore rental websites caution renters against using sites like Airbnb and VRBO. On average, you will pay 27% more than you would if you rented direct, said Duane Watlington, CEO and founder of Vacation Rentals Jersey Shore LLC, which has properties in Long Beach Island, Wildwood and Ocean City. Those online travel websites can also lead to disappointment. We do see and hear about a lot of scams, Menz said. When you book with a Realtor, we know the owners. Weve been in the homes. So theres a little safety net of having somebody in your court when you check-in. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the Advance/SILive.com recently hosted a panel discussion titled Conversation with Community Giants: Breaking the Silence of Food Insecurity at its headquarters in Bloomfield. The event featured three prominent Staten Island community leaders discussing the critical issue of food insecurity affecting thousands of borough residents. These are the five takeaways from the original article. 1. Food insecurity on Staten Island has two distinct dimensions Heather Butts, chair of the Staten Island Hunger Task Force, identified two critical aspects of food insecurity affecting the borough. The first issue involves peoples ability to access food at all, while the second concerns access specifically to healthy food. Butts emphasized that merely not starving doesnt mean people have what they need nutritionally. She noted that while North Shore areas like Stapleton, New Brighton and Mariners Harbor face significant challenges, food insecurity isnt limited to these neighborhoods, with huge gaps also existing in Tottenville and Eltingville. 2. Food drives strategically timed can address critical gaps in food pantry supplies Joseph Delaney, chair of Notre Dame Alumni Clubs Bread of Life Food Drive, shared how his organizations approach evolved after learning that most food drives occur during holiday seasons, leaving major gaps in spring. This insight transformed the small initiative into a significant operation that now involves 131 schools collecting 80,000 food items annually for 25 recipient organizations. Despite this impressive growth from its 1992 beginnings, Delaney noted that the food delivered to Project Hospitality, its largest recipient, only lasts two to three weeks, highlighting the ongoing need. 3. Proposed federal SNAP cuts threaten to worsen food insecurity The Rev. Dr. Terry Troia, CEO of Project Hospitality, expressed serious concerns about proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). She explained that under changes supported by Republican leaders, the federal government would shift 25% of SNAPs administrative costs onto individual states, creating additional financial strain for New York. This policy change would effectively reduce the programs impact as states would need to divert funds to manage the program rather than providing direct assistance to the 1.8 million New Yorkers who depend on SNAP. 4. New work requirements for SNAP could leave vulnerable populations without food Troia highlighted how proposed work requirements for SNAP eligibility would create significant barriers for people with disabilities. She explained that individuals would need to prove their disability to be exempt from work requirements, a process that can take up to two years through Social Security. This is particularly problematic for people with invisible disabilities who may appear able-bodied but cannot work. Troia emphasized that this level of food desperation should not exist in any American life, pointing to a potential humanitarian crisis if these changes are implemented. 5. Data shows correlation between food assistance needs and health conditions The panel discussion referenced recent data analysis by the Advance/SILive.com, which found that Staten Island ZIP codes with the highest percentage of residents receiving SNAP benefits typically have higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. This pattern persists throughout the borough, with economically disadvantaged communities struggling with proper nutrition. The data, drawn from the 2022 U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey and the 2023 CDCs PLACES report, demonstrates the direct connection between food insecurity and negative health outcomes in affected communities. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on previous reporting by the Advance/SILive.com. It was reviewed and edited by Advance/SILive.com staff. Scratch-off tickets are shown at Honeybee Convenience store on Forest Avenue in Port Richmond Monday, April 3, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A weekly paycheck worth thousands of dollars would be a big win for most New Yorkers, and the states lottery system offers just that. Top prizes for three for life games range in value from $1,000 a week for life to $10,000 a week for life, and all three games have top prizes still in circulation. Heres a bit about each game using New York Lottery data from Friday, July 11, 2025: $10,000 A WEEK FOR LIFE Ticket cost $20 Winning tickets in circulation 1,807,425 Top prize tickets in circulation one worth $10,000 a week for life Low prize tickets in circulation 684,753 tickets worth $20 SET FOR LIFE Ticket cost $10 Winning tickets in circulation 9,597,729 Top prize tickets in circulation five worth $5,000 a week for life Low prize tickets in circulation 3,546,357 tickets worth $10 WIN FOR LIFE Ticket cost $2 Winning tickets in circulation 12,531,284 Top prize tickets in circulation nine worth $1,000 a week for life Low prize tickets in circulation 4,314,030 worth a free Cash for Life quick play For more information about the New York Lotterys scratch-off games, visit nylottery.ny.gov/scratch-off-games. The New York Lottery continues to be touted as North Americas largest and most profitable lottery, contributing $3.7 billion during fiscal year 2022-2023 to support education in New York state. New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school districts size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of lottery school funding. New Yorkers struggling with a gambling addiction, or who know someone who is, can find help by calling the states toll-free, confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (467369). You can also contact your regional Problem Gambling Resource Center or recovery center directly for a referral to treatment services (state-certified or private) in your area. Scammers are targeting senior citizens and their Social Security funds with online phishing scams that often come in the form of emails or texts, using language that is meant to incite panic. In a phishing message given to Fox News, retirees may receive a notification reading something like this: We are conducting an ongoing inquiry into your Social Security Number and identity due to suspected links to drug trafficking. A series of international wire transfers to accounts on the Federal Trade Commissions restricted list has been flagged. There have been reports of suspicious activities associated with your Social Security Number in Texas and New Mexico. We would like to inform you that this document contains sensitive information and should be managed carefully. The document presented here is an official communication from the Social Security Administration, authorized by the Texas Attorney General. The Texas Court has directed the suspension of your Social Security Number due to its association with money laundering activities involving your bank accounts. Now, of course, this is fake. But it does make your chest constrict a bit when you read it, right? Here are a few ways to make sure you and your loved ones dont get caught up in a scam, per Fox News: Tensions continue to flare in the White House amid the Jeffrey Epstein coverup, with a top official in President Donald Trumps administration on the verge of quitting after a heated exchange with Attorney General Pam Bondi. The New York Post reported that FBI Deputy Director Don Bongino took a personal day on Friday after a blowup with Bondi. Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have come in for searing criticism from conservatives after announcing their finding that Epstein, the accused child sex trafficker, committed suicide in prison and did not leave a client list behind. Conservatives believe that Epstein was murdered in order to protect the identities of elites who used his services, including politicians, entertainers and titans of industry. Bondi had previously said that the Epstein client list was on her desk for review. Conservatives think that the Bondi/Patel finding is a continuation of a Deep State coverup of Epsteins activities and death. The Post said that Bongino, a former Fox News host, earlier this week battled with Bondi over the finding, with a source telling the Post that Bonginos relationship with Bondi no longer appears salvageable. I dont think Dan comes back if Pam stays, the source said, even though both parties had publicly stated that a review of the Epstein file turned up no smoking-gun information about his death or elite associates. The Justice Department earlier this year released Epstein file excerpts to right-wing journalists but the excerpts were found to contain no new information about the case. In June, Bongino had also told Fox News that there was nothing in the Epstein file that indicated that the accused sex trafficker had died of any cause other than suicide. The evidence we have in our files clearly indicates that it was, in fact, a suicide. We do have video, Bongino said. Its not the greatest video in the world. The New York Times took Donald Trump to task during last years presidential campaign for saying that a Colorado apartment building had been taken over by Venezuelan gang members. But now The Old Gray Lady has been forced to backtrack and admit that there was truth in what then-presidential candidate Trump had to say, the Daily Mail reported. The Times in 2024 accused Trump of pushing a false conspiracy theory that members of the Tren de Aragua gang, who had entered the United States illegally, had taken over an apartment building in Aurora, Colo. The article hit at Trump for his false claim about the gang takeover. Trump raised the Aurora issue during his debate with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, saying that the gang takeover was the result of then-President Joe Bidens open-border policies. The Times in September wrote a story headlined, How the False Story of a Gang Takeover in Colorado Reached Trump. The story slammed what it called the Trump campaigns the fear-mongering, exaggerations and outright lies about the issue. The story quoted GOP Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman saying that he was stunned to see Trump slam the city on the national debate stage, saying that he felt guilty about it. After all, he had helped create the tall tale now sullying his citys reputation, the Times wrote of the mayor. But it turns out that the tall tale has some basis in fact. The Times recently published a story headlined, Democrats Denied This City Had a Gang Problem. The Truth Is Complicated. Despite previously describing the issue as a conspiracy theory, the Times latest article condemns Democrat politicians for suggesting that Aurora residents and conservatives were merely crying wolf. The Times noted in its latest article that immigration arrests in Colorado are up more than 250 percent since Trump took office, but that has not ended the presence of young men with guns in Auroras downtown. The article states, The more central Aurora became to Trumps anti-immigrant rhetoric, the greater the temptation among Democratic politicians and activists to wave away talk of gang activity in the city as a right-wing hallucination. The Times wrote, But their refusal to acknowledge the violence that some residents were seeing with their own eyes came off not as reassurance but as erasure. Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom has a nasty new nickname for President Donald Trump. Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, has frequently been called Newscum by Trump. But Newsom took to social media on Thursday to slam the president following a large immigration raid on a cannabis farm in Camarillo that saw apparent raid targets and protestors sprayed with tear gas by law enforcement officers. Trump calls me Newscum, the governor wrote on X, per The Hill. But hes the real scum. The White House was quick to fire back at Newsom. Why are there children working at a marijuana facility, Gavin? replied the account for the Department of Homeland Security. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said that 10 minors who were in the country illegally were found at the Camarillo cannabis facility, which he said is now under investigation for child labor violations. This is Newsoms California, Scott wrote. The cannabis company on social media said that it had complied with federal search warrants but denied employing minors. The company added that it has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices. Hundreds of protestors came out to protest the raid in Camarillo and clashed with law enforcement. National Guard troops appeared to be part of the enforcement effort, it was reported. The Camarillo raid and protests are the latest immigration-related battle in California. The Golden State has become a national flash point when it comes to Trumps mass deportation policies. Federal troops and immigration officers marched through Los Angeless MacArthur Park earlier this week in a show of force that Mayor Karen Bass slammed as outrageous. Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe! Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions. Premium Subscription As low as $8.25 per week Premium Includes: -- Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time. -- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content -- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community -- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week! A Department of Commerce program designed to track satellites for civilian and commercial agencies may be cut at a time when satellite launches are reaching all-time highs. If the cut stands, it would be an abrupt end to a seven-year process to move satellite traffic control management to the Commerce Department from the military. As a result, the responsibility for managing an ever-growing number of satellites will stay with Space Operations Command based in Colorado Springs. The work of controlling traffic in space is supported by an ecosystem of defense contractors in town, as well. The proposed end to the Commerce Department program, known as the Traffic Coordination System for Space, or TraCSS, has been met with pushback from some aerospace industry players who worry the cut will negatively impact national security in space and put American jobs at risk. Others who were more neutral about the cut do not believe there were sufficient funds in the Commerce Departments budget to adequately address space traffic control demands. With the government proposing to pull the programs $55 million in funding for fiscal year 2026, theres a chance the private sector may see an opportunity and fill the void. But that is no guarantee. After the proposal was made public, a group of seven aerospace industry advocacy groups on Monday sent a letter to Congress opposing it. The groups believe cutting money for TraCSS will negatively affect various U.S. interests in space and on the ground. Without funding for space traffic coordination, U.S. commercial and government satellite operators would face greater risks putting critical missions in harms way, raising the cost of doing business and potentially driving U.S. industry to relocate overseas, the letter said. Further, by eliminating the money from the Commerce Department for this program, the groups worry Space Force resources will be strained as they continue to basically operate as air traffic control for satellites and take on other responsibilities. The Space Force is seeing several military missions added regularly as the United States attempts to match pace with China. The China National Space Administration, ostensibly their version of NASA, is developing capabilities at an incredible pace, according to Charles Galbreath, a senior resident fellow of space-power studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. He worries that any time wasted in improving American space capabilities will never be recovered, warning that the Space Force is already over tasked and underfunded. (Tracking) would come back to the Space Force and they would have to do this with the resources that they have available, which are already way too thin," Galbreath said. "If you assume this mission could be done by 50 people That's 50 people that aren't looking at adversary vulnerabilities to determine how we might win in a potential conflict. While using the military for space tracking worked in the 1980s and 1990s, when most satellites were operated by the government, the sheer volume of satellites today is higher than it was 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Colorado-based Frank Backes, the CEO of Capella Space the first U.S. company to deploy a synthetic aperture radar satellite constellation used to work as an orbital analyst in what is now Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station and does not think the government is putting enough investment into space traffic control. As the number of satellites has increased, so too has the need for staffing an office to track them, he said. The Department of Defense, as large as it is, does not have the resources to interface with the entire commercial scene, Backes said. With more and more commercial use of space, international use of space, coordination of satellites needs to be done in a place that is not tied to the defense or the military. Sign up for free: Gazette Business Receive a weekly roundup of business news around El Paso County. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Featured Local Savings The Trump administration, in a 2018 space policy directive, suggested TraCSS, but it was not given any money until 2023. Despite this, the Office of Space Commerce had a working beta program released in September 2024, which has since seen some updates. In the latest budget request, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials blamed the Biden Administration for TraCSS floundering, saying (Department of Commerce) was unable to complete a government-owned and operated public-facing database and traffic coordination system. This prompted pushback from the former head of the Office of Space Commerce, Richard DalBello, who told Air and Space Forces Magazine that having a beta program available at all despite funding issues is pretty damn good. But Backes is skeptical that the $55 million cut to the Office of Space Commerce budget would have been enough to get the program fully off the ground. Cost-wise, TraCSS is almost irrelevant. ... (Its) not much money from a space perspective and I dont think its anywhere close to meeting industry demand. Its a bigger problem than $55 million per year. However, given the demand for just such a system from commercial partners, Backes thinks the powers of a free market will plug the hole. Instead of the U.S. government shouldering all the responsibility, we may be at a leverage point where having a commercial service makes sense, he said. Time will tell how healthy that service will be. Relying on the private sector may be necessary because the Space Force and NOAA are seeing staff cuts as part of the Trump administration's drive to shrink the federal workforce. The Space Force has lost 14% of its civilian workforce as the federal government has encouraged resignations and early retirements, Gen. Chance Saltzman said in May. Its a cut that happened at the same time the Space Force is taking on more missions, said retired Air Force Col. Jennifer Reeves, now a senior resident fellow with the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, We think its problematic. The Space Force is being given more missions than its actually resourced to conduct. Civilians are typically in the thick of Space Force operations and unless the personnel cuts are walked back, Reeves said, the Space Force may need to rely on contractors to get work done, an option that can be more expensive than civilian staff up front. NOAA lost nearly 2,000 people this year, from its workforce of 12,000. The employees left via buyouts, early retirements, firings and deferred resignations. If (TraCSS) gets cut, which it looks like it is, as a cost-saving measure, that could actually increase the cost to the overall government, said Galbreath. We need to be looking at, is this an inherent government responsibility or not, in the same way that (Federal Aviation Administration) air traffic control is a federal job I think space flight safety is going to fall into that category as well. Gazette's Mary Shinn contributed to this report. Advertisement Review Eating outFrankston Beachside pocket near Frankston has a wine bar worth travelling for Ordain has jolted the small suburb of Seaford with barbecue bento boxes, fried cheese and a real-deal club sandwich. Dani Valent July 13, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 1 / 5 Inside Ordain, a bar and bistro in Seaford on the Mornington Peninsula. Simon Schluter 2 / 5 Club sandwich made with offcuts from the dinner-menu chicken breast. Simon Schluter 3 / 5 Juicy, crisp-skinned chicken breast. Simon Schluter 4 / 5 Comfortable booth seating is available at the Seaford restaurant. Simon Schluter 5 / 5 Fried cheese bake with persimmon. Simon Schluter Previous Slide Next Slide Contemporary$$$$ After more than 20 years cooking in other peoples restaurants, including Mornington Peninsula destinations Paringa Estate and Pt. Leo Estate, chef Dylan Murray wanted to open his own place. His home suburb of Seaford, a beach pocket adjacent to Frankston, was how do we say this nicely? not quite popping off. It needed something, a cute little wine bar with good food, somewhere locals could count on for a quick bite or slap-up meal. Maybe he should do it himself? When a spot seven minutes from home opened up, the stars seemed aligned: Murray took it. As he puzzled over a name, scrawling ideas on a large mirror, Seafordian came to mind. He typed it into Google, and it was corrected to Ordained. That sounded nice, part priestly, a bit cheeky. Ordain, the restaurant named by autocorrect, opened in the winter of 2023. Related Article From beachside to rooftops: Where to eat and drink in the Mornington Peninsula Advertisement Ordain tries to do a lot, and most of it pays off. You could lunch on a barbecue bento box with teriyaki beef or local flathead. You can bring the dog and sit out front under the heaters for a post-beach-walk beer. At night, narrow your decision-making by booking in for good-value steak, burger or pasta evenings. Or arrange a babysitter and head in for date night: the wine list has depth, range and value. Fried cheese bake with persimmon. Simon Schluter Theres a sensible leaning to the Mornington Peninsula, which starts just down the road. I was super impressed by the vertical tasting of Dromanas Crittenden Estate premium wines: five small glasses with tasting notes for $75. Its worth coming for that alone. Cocktails are taken seriously but you can also stay lowbrow and have a red wine and Coke, a storied combo thats known as the kalimotxo in Basque country and Jesus Juice in Argentina. The menu starts snacky. Fire-roasted chestnuts are a winter treat, and I went gooey for the fried cheese with baked persimmon. Theres no going wrong with charcoal-sizzled scallops with miso butter but the hay-smoked pumpkin sounded better than it ate. The veg was soggy and jarred with the accompanying raw garlic pesto, melted taleggio cheese and candied seeds. Its a dish that could be fine-tuned to brilliance. Chicken was entirely redeeming, a triumph of good ideas, detailed preparation and fine a la minute cooking, leading to a juicy, crisp-skinned breast that paid off to the last bite. Theres also evident care in such classics as the lunchtime club sandwich. Murray learnt to make it as an apprentice chef at the Westin Hotel, where he was drilled on getting the layers right so that every ingredient shone, and diners could actually eat the thing without it turning into a squishy mess. Its also good to know that the chicken part of the sanger is harvested from offcuts from the dinner-menu breast. Advertisement Juicy, crisp-skinned chicken breast. Simon Schluter Service is amenable rather than polished (understandable in a 30-seat restaurant 50 kilometres from the city) and doesnt jar with the neighbourly feel. Cookbooks are dotted around the room, not just as a pointer to Murrays interests but also as an invitation to jump on a culinary learning journey. One time, a customer was flicking through Cuisine du Temps, a 2010 book by legendary local French chef Jacques Reymond. Have you made this mussels and coriander dish? they asked Murray. Not yet, he answered. But he sourced mussels from nearby Flinders and served the dish soon after a lovely interweaving of heritage and community. It isnt easy to run a small, independent restaurant. What I love about Ordain is that it looks towards the inner city and tries to give Seaford stuff its missing out on. It also glances further out to the peninsulas wineries and produce, offering paddock-to-plate experiences in the burbs. Its not perfect but its ambitious and generous, the kind of place youd hope the community would meet more than halfway. Three more neighbourhood gems to try Le Petit Bistro Theres no need to head to Paris for a classic bistro experience, you can simply come here for snails in garlic and parsley butter, onion soup, duck a lorange and flambeed crepes. You know youre in Australia, however, when you see kangaroo terrine on the menu. 79 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong, lepetitbistro.com.au Edendale Cafe The wheelchair-friendly cafe is at free-to-visit Edendale Farm, where you can feed chickens, learn about stick insects and admire alpacas and ponies. The onsite cafe has a simple menu of eggs, toasties, cakes and bakes plus its own chai mix, and theres plenty of room for prams and strollers. 30 Gastons Road, Eltham, edendale.vic.gov.au Park Street Pasta An experienced Italian trio is at the helm and all the pasta is fatto a mano (made by hand). There are classics, such as agnolotti del plin (tiny pasta parcels, here filled with duck and veal) and seasonal fancies such as fettuccine nettle pasta with toasted Jerusalem artichoke, wild mushrooms and hazelnut butter. Need a place for a special occasion? Ask about the upstairs dining room. 268 Park Street, South Melbourne, parkstreetpasta.com.au Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up There is much criticism of the government for not immediately lifting our defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross national income. Following the Israel/US pre-emptive bombing of Iran and Russias invasion of Ukraine, the hawkish slogans insist that if we want peace we have to prepare for war; that saving lives requires even bigger defence budgets. And lets be clear: the unspoken focus of this military build-up is our largest trading partner, China. These drumbeats are deafening and grow louder, despite the fact much of our recent defence spending has been poorly aligned with Australias actual security needs. The push comes from the Murdoch press and a well-funded defence lobby, many of whom are ex-politicians. Increases in defence spending across the world are coming at the cost of foreign aid. We all want a safer world, but where does true security lie? I support the prime ministers resistance to calls for an arbitrary percentage increase of defence spending because US President Donald Trump wants it. Anthony Albanese is right to assert we will focus on what we need, not an arbitrary figure, just because the defence hawks demand it. An aerobridge has been rammed into a Qantas A380 superjumbo engine at Sydney Airport, delaying a long-haul flight to Johannesburg by almost a day for hundreds of passengers. Photos and video of the incident show part of the footings of an aerobridge hit the top and bottom of one of the A380s four engines, causing damage. Qantas flight QF63 had been scheduled to depart Sydney for South Africas largest city at 9.30am on Saturday for a near 15-hour trip. The A380, which can accommodate about 485 passengers, was about three-quarters full. Part of an aerobridge hit a Qantas A380s engine at Sydney Airport on Saturday morning. Credit: No one was injured in the incident at one of the international terminals gates ahead of the QF63 service. Passengers who had boarded the aircraft for the long-haul flight disembarked the A380 via its lower deck. The state government has ditched plans to build a second public school in a booming western Sydney suburb, despite already having spent $20 million on the project. The former Coalition government announced plans to build a second public school in Westmead in 2018. But visions for the school regularly shifted at the hands of School Infrastructure NSW, and was referred to as a problem site at a recent Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry. Locals had been promised a second public school since 2018. While the suburb boomed with new apartments, education infrastructure has failed to keep up. Credit: Steven Siewert After questions from the Herald about an additional $953,000 for Westmead school projects in this years budget, the state government this week confirmed it had abandoned trying to find a location for the school. Instead, it will spend that money upgrading and expanding existing primary schools at Westmead and nearby Rydalmere, Rydalmere East and Ermington West. On the night of July 4 , a firebombing of East Melbourne Synagogue and the storming of Israeli restaurant Miznon horrified the nation. Charges have been laid over both incidents . This month, the pro-Palestine protest movement that began in October 2023, rallying every Sunday, faces its biggest challenge yet . I dont want to be in my generation, watching another genocide, and not doing anything, Cochrane says. Fiona Cochrane (centre), with son Norbert Williams and close family friend Pia Ewings, are regulars at the pro-Palestine protests. Credit: Chris Hopkins At these rallies, the Melbourne-born doctor is shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of other protesters of all ages, races and religions, all motivated by the same cause. She boards a train, often with her children and grandchildren, and joins hundreds sometimes thousands of others outside the State Library to march in protest against the mass killing of Palestinians by Israeli forces. For a year-and-a-half, many of Fiona Cochranes Sundays have looked much the same. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Following the July 4 incidents, Allan established an anti-hate taskforce which discussed with Jewish community leaders how Victoria Police will enforce strengthened anti-vilification laws, passed this year, and may consider further measures over coming months. The state government says it has no plans to introduce protest permits in Victoria, but has committed to new laws that would ban the use of masks, symbols of terrorist organisations and the use of dangerous attachment devices such as glues and rope. Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler goes further, arguing the right to protest should not infringe on the right of others to feel safe in the city. If you allow people to march through the streets of Melbourne, week after week, chanting globalise the Intifada [an Arabic word meaning uprising], what happened on Friday night at the synagogue and at the restaurant is what that looks like, Leibler says. Last weekend, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan slammed protesters for sticking to their plans to march on Sunday, two days after the incidents, and labelled chants of death to the IDF [Israeli Defence Forces] as odious. Alarmed by the uproar, advocates of the pro-Palestine movement fear their demonstrations have been weaponised and stress that this months events should not be conflated with their weekly protests. The events sparked rapid federal and state action to stamp out antisemitism, together with widespread criticism including by this masthead of the protest that takes place every Sunday in the city. Miznon is part owned by Shahar Segal, who until recently was spokesman for the Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been widely criticised for its aid distribution facilities in the Gaza Strip, after taking over from usual relief agencies. The Age reported this week that the actions at Miznon were instigated by a small fringe group that often hijacks peaceful protests with more aggressive tactics. Pro-Palestine activist groups have strongly condemned the synagogue attack and any act of antisemitism. And while Miznon was deemed an appropriate boycott target, the organised groups oppose violence, and the prevailing view is that the restaurant rampage went too far. The suggested action plan includes withholding funding from institutions that fail to combat hatred of Jews, screening visa applicants, embedding antisemitism education in school curricula and funding Jewish cultural programs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese separately announced on Thursday that his government would accept many of the recommendations of a major antisemitism report . We agreed if there was further action we needed to take to keep Victorians safe, we will not hesitate to take it, the premier said in a statement. Cochrane says the riotous way the protests are sometimes portrayed does not reflect her experience. She has never witnessed violence coming from demonstrators. There is music, poetry and, sometimes, performances by children. Gazas health ministry says more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed, over half of them women and children. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched attacks on Israeli communities that killed 1200 people and took 251 others hostage , according to Israeli tallies. At least 20 hostages are believed to still be alive in captivity. But she adds: We need to think about our priorities here. Chanting something is completely different to actually killing 60,000 people. She also isnt comfortable with the chant death to the IDF, which spread after rap group Bob Vylan led crowds to repeat the phrase at Glastonbury Music Festival in the UK two weeks ago, which is now being investigated by British police . Fiona Cochrane says that the Free Palestine protesters know violence wont serve their goal to move the Australian government to take measures against Israel. Amir is now a Free Palestine Melbourne protest organiser and as a Jewish man one of many who attend, including his children he has always felt welcome at the rallies. He gets emotional as he describes how moved he is to hear Palestinians share their stories with the crowd. The Israeli-born former Zionist recalls entering family homes in the middle of the night and terrifying children. I oppressed Palestinians with my own hands, he says. Nachshon Amir is a former Israeli military officer whose treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank in the 1980s would eventually turn him into a pro-Palestine ally. I love the protests, Cochrane says. Its people just being able to express their absolute frustration and despair at what is happening in the world. They discuss their anguish at the starvation and spread of deadly illness in Gaza, where aid is controlled by Israel, and where schools, health facilities and cities have been turned to rubble. People are draped in keffiyehs, wave handwritten placards and wear watermelon symbols in a sea of colours of the Palestinian flag. Some carry posters showing photos of some of the thousands of Palestinian children who have died . He says the protest leaders and speakers condemn violence and support inclusivity. Sometimes two people among thousands will [do the wrong thing], we cant control every one of them. As a former IDF soldier, he says he has no problem with the death to the IDF chant. A Melbourne protester at a rally last year holding an effigy intended to symbolise a slain Palestinian child. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Some say the phrase is antisemitic and calls for deaths of Jewish people, pointing out that all Israelis are conscripted to do military service. Amir disputes this: It doesnt mean death to people. The call is to dismantle and stop this big army of death. It has nothing to do with Judaism. But like with the chant all Zionists are terrorists which Amir doesnt support he thinks protesters should choose their words wisely to avoid getting caught in a political firestorm. Yamama Shourbaji agrees. The Syrian-born mother has marched almost every Sunday since October 2023 with her husband and three children, aged 20, 16 and 8. Yamama Shourbaji at a Free Palestine rally in Melbourne. She says the meaning of the chant has been misrepresented and she questions why there isnt more horror over language that has been used by Israeli officials, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who vowed in May: Gaza will be entirely destroyed. Still, Shourbaji says the chant should not be used. Instead, she believes protest leaders should encourage language that doesnt give others a reason to distract from the bigger issue of Palestinian lives. Shourbaji is deeply troubled by the prospect of restrictions on pro-Palestine protests, with the right to demonstrate being a pillar of democracy. We are always saying repeatedly at the protest that we are against all forms of violence and racism, including antisemitism, she says. It can be emotionally heavy, especially when we hear stories from Gaza, but its also deeply uplifting to stand together. Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni. Credit: Eddie Jim Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni is among the protest organisers. He is exasperated by what has played out this month, and says criticism of pro-Palestine demonstrators since July 4 is hurtful. Its hard to see the complete and utter disconnect between what my community is experiencing and the way the government has reacted, he says. Its abhorrent that what our community is witnessing in Gaza continues to be second fiddle to the feelings of Australian Zionists. Mashni says he is vehemently against antisemitism and attacks on religious sites. And while Miznon is a legitimate protest target, he says, he does not back violence. As for the death to the IDF chant, Mashni says the outrage is misdirected: The fixation on words while our children are being butchered continues to exacerbate the pain of our people. A Free Palestine protester at a Melbourne rally in 2023. Credit: Chris Hopkins Mashni says the protests must not be curtailed. He describes them as restorative spaces filled with community spirit while calling for Australia to sanction Israel. That is what community is all about. Were supposed to empathise with the suffering of others in the world. Were supposed to care about our fellow humans, he says. Mashni says he has only met once with the Victorian premier since October 2023, labelling it a failure of her leadership. Loading All weve seen are crackdowns on protest and the ongoing threat of repressive new laws, he says. No one groups experience should be elevated above the others. A spokeswoman for the Allan government says its action plan to tackle antisemitism includes proposed laws protecting places of worship and banning terrorist symbols. Antisemitism is a cancer, and we are leaving no stone unturned to eradicate it here in Victoria, she says. The taskforce will meet again in the coming weeks to discuss the progress of our plan. The Coalition does not propose to ban protests outright, and Opposition Leader Brad Battin this week instead announced he would introduce a protest permit system if elected in 2026. We will encourage people to continue to have their protests in this state, but if you can do it by working with the Victoria Police, it may mean that businesses wont get blocked [so frequently], Battin said. The Coalition has also pledged tougher move-on powers for police, giving them greater control to break up rallies without a permit and setting up exclusion zones. Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler (left) and chief executive Alon Cassuto. Credit: Penny Stephens Jeremy Leibler backs the Coalitions proposed changes. He says the fact that the protest movement began in sin on October 8, 2023 while the bodies of Israels dead were still being counted strips away its legitimacy. He acknowledges there are well-meaning protesters, but says the use of the term genocide is modern-day blood libel and the rallies have facilitated incitement against the Jewish community by supporting the dismantling of Israel and using hateful imagery and chants. It became very obvious, very quickly, to the Jewish community that this [protest movement] was not really about Israel. This was about Jews, Leibler says. It shouldnt have to be a normal thing for me to tell my child when hes going to the footy: Hide your Star of David that you wear around your neck on the train. Kidney patients sit amid the destruction caused by an Israeli raid in Gaza City. Credit: AP I can say with absolute conviction that the suffering of innocent Palestinians in Gaza is a terrible tragedy. I say that with no buts. Where is the unequivocal condemnation of the 7th of October? Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Philip Zajac says people should have the right to protest, but that right is not unfettered. He wants stricter state regulation. Melbourne, because of its lack of controls, is really recognised as a protest capital of the world. And I think not only the Jewish community, but the wider community is now totally fed up with the interference with their quiet enjoyment of the city, he says. Enough is enough. Allow them to do what they do, but do it in a way that doesnt interfere with the other 99 per cent of Melbourne. Zajac recognises the regular protests are non-violent, but he is concerned by aggressive chants such as death to IDF and all Zionists are genocidal baby-killers. Pro-Palestine protesters in Melbourne last Sunday. Credit: Chris Hopkins Im a proud Zionist and what that means to me is that I believe in the existence of the state of Israel. Zionism is a belief that a land for the Jewish people should exist, he says. Does that mean that I support the government of Israel? No, not necessarily. I think its time for the war in Gaza to stop The violent words and the hate speech and the offence in the expressions that are used at these rallies encourage rogue operators. The Jewish Council of Australia has a different perspective. The organisation supports Palestinian freedom, and executive member Ohad Kozminsky attends and has spoken at the Free Palestine protests. These are important for demonstrating to the broader public that it is essential we keep talking about Israels genocide, he says. The council has slammed the antisemitic synagogue arson attack, however Kozminsky argues it is extremely dangerous to lump this with the restaurant rampage. Intimidating diners is wrong, Kozminsky says, but targeting Miznon is a political act. A pro-Palestine protester in a keffiyeh in Melbourne last Sunday. Credit: Chris Hopkins Kozminsky worries about antisemitic attacks being linked to the pro-Palestine protest movement, as he has witnessed how the rallies welcome Jewish people and they consistently call out antisemitism. He warns that conflating political protest with antisemitism risks misrepresenting the diversity of views within the Jewish community, while also exacerbating antisemitism because it suggests all Jews represent the state of Israel and its actions. Gemma Cafarella is vice president of Liberty Victoria, a non-profit focused on safeguarding civil liberties. She calls for careful differentiation between acts of vilification or discrimination of Jews and legitimate criticism of Israel, the IDF and Zionism (a political ideology). That distinction was reinforced in a Federal Court judgment on July 1. Throughout history there have been protests that were viewed as hugely unpopular at the time, such as the suffragette and anti-Vietnam war movements, but Cafarella stresses that these are often later looked back on as essential vehicles of change. Protest can be inconvenient and disruptive and annoying, but it must be protected if were to call ourselves a democracy, she says. Protesters carrying Palestinian and Iranian flags at a rally in June last year. Credit: Chris Hopkins Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari says he will never sign a protest permit, and it is fundamentally wrong for any government to pursue such restrictions. Protest is about disruption, and that is how you help make change, he said. The right to protest must be ... preserved and protected. If you have to ask permission for it, its not really a protest. Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra says protests have become normalised. Because of that, now were seeing clear racist actions and violence out of those protests, Guerra says. Everybody has the right to protest, but they should be both peaceful and respectful. Guerra calls on all levels of government to find a better way to run the events, reiterating his previous calls for a dedicated space for rallies. We are shutting businesses down because a few people want to protest. Thats not respectful. Acting Melbourne Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell says the right to protest does not extend to those who incite violence or hatred. Protests in Melbourne do not change the situation in Gaza, but they do create angst for traders, residents, workers and visitors in the CBD, she says. For trader Michael Togias, there are much bigger issues for CBD businesses than the protests. Every Sunday, he gets a front-row view of the pro-Palestine protests. Togias owns Mr Tulk, the cafe at the State Library, where protesters congregate at midday. Not only is the rally good for his business he knows by heart the coffee and food orders of some of the regulars he has always found the protesters respectful and courteous. If people are trying to portray them as anything but peaceful, concerned protesters, its out of context, Togias says. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. A week after Pride won the listed Winter Stakes with $61 shot Estadio Mestalla leading all the way off a one-week back-up, Aberlour ($14) repeated the feat in a benchmark 78 handicap (1800m). The four-year-old mare, sixth a week earlier at Rosehill in a 1400m race, hung on by a short neck from Bright Red. Jockey Alysha Collett and Pride racing manager Orla Pearl both hailed the win asunbelievable when they met after the win. Pearl said taking off the ear muffs and the quick back-up had been the keys on Saturday. Alysha Collett boots home Aberlour to win for Joe Pride. Credit: Getty Images Kings Secret, aided by a gun ride from Andrew Adkins, won the 1100m benchmark 72 for three-year-olds by a half-length. It was his fourth win in six starts this preparation and likely his last run before a spell. The Saturday Sydney double was Prides third in four weeks and was capped by a Monash Stakes win at Caulfield with In Flight. He also had a Sydney treble on June 7. Adkins also had a double on Saturday, after earlier winning on Pensativa. Getafix swoops to stamp potential Trainer Tom Charlton was confident Getafix could rise to stakes level after the three-year-old produced a booming finish to nab Cool Jakey on the line in the 1400m benchmark 88. Coming off a midweek Kensington track victory, Getafix provided the most thrilling finish of the day and gave jockey Jason Collett a double. Hes go the ability to feature in good races, Charlton said. Even today, he probably didnt relax perfectly, but hes a pretty useful horse. At the end of the two-year-old season, he and Linebacker were the ones we thought could shape up well, and hes just taken a bit more time. Collett earlier led all the way on David Pfieffer-trained Oh Diamond Lil in a benchmark 78 handicap (1600m). Pfieffer was looking to the Coffs Harbour Cup, or another Randwick benchmark race in two weeks, with the mare. Tomato Toastie hot hope for autumn Trainer Adrian Bott believed Tomato Toastie, a half-sister to his two-time group-winning mare English, could return an autumn carnival contender after a gritty victory at Randwick. Toast of Randwick: Tomato Toastie scampers home in first. Credit: Getty Images Competing 10 days after a Warwick Farm win at her second start, the Too Darn Hot filly raced outside leader Pillow Fight for jockey Regan Bayliss in the 1400m handicap for two-year-olds before taking over at the 300m mark. She then survived a late lunge from Crossbow to win by a short half-head. Tomato Toastie is out of the same dam, Al Naifa, as English. She was out on her feet late, Bott said. Shes not an overly big filly, but shes got a stack of improvement to come. We made the call to come here today, to go one more run now while we can, then we can give her a good break that she deserves. I think rushing around for the spring is not going to be the right thing to do. This might set us up nicely for a good autumn campaign. Scone filly on Highway to success Scone trainer Lou Mary will give filly Pensativa a short break before preparing her for another campaign aimed at a Highway race after she broke through at Randwick on Saturday. The three-year-old, second in her first Highway Handicap two weeks earlier, raced behind leader Smart Jazz under Andrew Adkins in the class 3 Highway Plate (1600m) before hitting the front at the 150m and beating Kranich by a long neck. Loading Pensativa went to three wins and four placings in 13 starts with the victory. Shes very consistent and shes very brave, and every time we raise the bar, she seems to turn up, Mary said. We are probably going to give her a break now. I think she goes better on top of the ground, and shes still eligible for one more Highway. Mary said Braebrook Thoroughbreds filly would have four to six weeks off before coming back and working towards another Highway. The loss of Wallabies No.10 Noah Lolesio, a shattering blow for him and a worrying time for his family, leaves a big hole. Lolesio could never quite succeed in one of Australian rugbys most pointless pursuits finding a saviour at No.10 and judging by Nathan Clearys latest State of Origin series, you can put a line through that name as well. Lolesios degree of familiarity with Joe Schmidts structured style of play is going to be hard to recreate, especially for a player coming in from outside the group. James OConnor, the 35-year-old new man in the squad, will offer some hard-won experience, but he started one game for the Crusaders this year, and they got pumped 45-29 by Moana Pasifika in Christchurch. There are no easy answers. Mexican prosecutors will argue in court this week that the execution-style deaths of two Australian brothers last year was a robbery gone wrong, with no indication local drug cartels were involved. The bodies of Callum Robinson, 33, his brother Jake, 30, and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30 were found dumped in a well with gunshot wounds to the head in early May last year near Santo Tomas, in Baja California, one of Mexicos most violent states. Callum and Jake Robinson with their dog. About a week earlier, on April 27, the trio had travelled south from Ensenada to a remote beach, Punta San Jose, which is popular with local surfers during the summer months. The friends set up camp that afternoon in the area, which has limited electricity and phone signal, and the state attorney-generals office says they were robbed the same day, by a criminal gang that wanted the tyres on their pick-up truck. The vehicle was also later found burnt-out in Santo Tomas. Treasury Committee chairwoman Dame Meg Hillier said: The commitment from the Bank of England to continue monitoring cash acceptance is a positive first step but given the Government agree with our views in the main, we expect to see further positive measures on protecting the most vulnerable when they publish their Financial Inclusion Strategy. Two small groups of protesters sat at the steps of both the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela statues in Parliament Square for the demonstration, organised by campaign group Defend Our Juries, shortly after 1pm, and received a brief round of applause. With major decisions curtailing the power of administrative agencies, clarifying the scope of gun rights for domestic abusers and establishing immunity for official presidential acts, the U.S. Supreme Court's recently concluded term ushered in monumental shifts in jurisprudence and a renewed focus on some members' conduct off the bench. Colorado State Patrol partnered with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to conduct a traffic enforcement operation targeting reckless motorcycle driving behavior on Saturday. According to CSP over 45 vehicles, including 25 motorcycles, were contacted during the operation with the assistance of the CSP Aircraft Unit. The Extraordinary Congress of the PNL (National Liberal Party) gathers on Saturday at the Palace of Parliament to elect the new party leadership, in the presence of 1,200 delegates. According to the PNL, Ilie Bolojan, currently the party's interim president and prime minister, has filed his candidacy for the position of party president. The validation of the regional vice presidents, who will become members of the National Executive Bureau, will also take place during the Congress. In this case, the vote will be open. You are the owner of this article. Senate president Mircea Abrudean on Saturday had a meeting with the president of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Grosu, on which occasion they underscored the "privileged and strategic" nature of the bilateral relationship between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, based on historical, cultural ties and common European values, reads a press release of the Romanian Senate. "During the meeting, Mircea Abrudean showed that the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova, scheduled for September, represent a key moment for the pro-European destiny of Romanians across the Prut and highlighted the importance of strenghtening democratic institutions and continuing the path of reforms," the same document states. At the same time, the president of the Senate conveyed Romania's "constant support" for the authorities in Chisinau in their efforts to defend democracy, unity and the strategic objective of joining European Union. "Romania remains a close and solidary partner, committed to supporting the Republic of Moldova in all efforts that contribute to the strenghtening of the rule of law, security and prosperity," added the Senate President, quoted in the press release. If you know the name Angelica Schuyler, you just might be a fan of Hamilton, where she stole the show by belting out Satisfied. And the musical just might have given you the impression Angelica was deeply in love with her brother-in-law Alexander Hamilton. A new biography, Angelica, doesnt claim to clarify that. But it does explore Angelicas life, starting with her Dutch colonial parents through the American Revolution to France and England and back to her roots in America. Author Molly Beer grew up in the place named for her Angelica, New York where Beer rode the Angelica Central School bus yet never read about the towns namesake in social studies textbooks. Thats because women werent considered central figures in that era as Beer notes, I do was their sole vote. But they bore witness to history and their letters provide a different lens to view that time period. Born Engeltje on Feb. 20, 1756, Angelica adopted the English version of her name at age 10 when her mother sent her to live in the New York governors mansion for the winter. Her father, Philip Schuyler, was a general in the Continental Army and at one point during the war, he was tasked with invading Canada by George Washington (spoiler, he wasnt successful), and her well-connected parents hosted the likes of Benjamin Franklin and other prominent colonists. By all accounts, Angelica was a pretty, well-read, warm, witty connector of people in her orbit. At 21, she eloped with John Carter, an ambitious entrepreneur real name John Barker Church (hed fled England over bankruptcy). The couple had eight children, but two died young, including a son named after Alexander Hamilton. As Franklin calculated, a child born in the colonies was as likely to die as to reach the age of ten, and the book shows the sorrows of women burying their children. We also see Americas painful legacy of slavery through her story. When her first son, Philip, is born, his godfather gave him a Negro Boy named Ben. Much, much later, after Angelica becomes friends with Thomas Jefferson in France I find in her all the good the world has given her credit for, he wrote to a mutual friend she eventually stops writing to him after learning he fathered children with his enslaved house servant Sally Hemings. But back to Hamilton. The two certainly exchanged flirty letters, and Angelica called him my Amiable in the famous letter to her sister Elizabeth that inspired a line in the Hamilton song, writing: I love him very much and if you were as generous as the old Romans, you would lend him to me for a little while. But she urges her sister not to be jealous, saying she merely wants to promote Hamiltons laudable ambition, than any person in the world. Beer relies heavily on letters written by Angelica, to Angelica, about Angelica. And while the letters are interesting, they shed only so much light on her story and frankly, many of those letters come from the men in her life, not from her. Beer often describes what Angelica likely thought or did, given the limitations of the documents available to her. I wanted more more of her words, more portraits of Angelica and the people in her life (theres only one small slice of a portrait on the cover, I had to search online to see the full portrait of Angelica with baby Elizabeth and another woman). But for readers whose only knowledge of her comes from Hamilton, this biography may tell us as much as well ever know about this notable woman. A Troy, Missouri, man is facing a felony charge of making a terroristic threat against the Lincoln County Fair in relation to its new bag policy. Ryan James Hartline, in response to a new policy at the Lincoln County Fair that permits bags only if they are clear, wrote on Facebook, Ima bring whatever tf I want, Got a problem? Take it up with my sidearm," according to a probable cause statement. Other users, in attempts to get Hartline, who was posting under an alias, to leave the Facebook forum, made condescending remarks toward him, police say. This prompted Hartline, 27, to make threats toward those people. Hartline faces a misdemeanor harassment charge in addition to the felony charge of making a terroristic threat. He was booked into the Lincoln County Jail on Thursday. Hartline also posted a threat toward law enforcement, Ima just Pull off send the cop, he might get sent 'home' early," police say. Hartline admitted to making the threats on social media under the alias name, according to the probable cause statement. The fair began Tuesday, and Hartline's threats "frightened numerous people who were planning on attending the fair, along with the Lincoln County Fair executive board members who were faced with the decision to close the County fair to keep people safe," a probable cause statement read. Hartline was also charged last year with felony assault in Shannon County. That case has not yet been adjudicated. As national cases of measles soar and federal health officials engage in vaccine skepticism, Illinois so far this year has seen only one small outbreak of the highly infectious disease that health officials say was quickly brought under control. In April and May, eight people in southern Illinois, all linked to one another, contracted measles, the Illinois Department of Public Health said Friday. But with no new cases identified since May 22, enough time has now passed to consider the outbreak over, the state said. One of people infected in that outbreak visited the St. Louis Aquarium on April 30, prompting concern. As of this week, more than 1,200 measles cases had been confirmed nationwide this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the highest annual number since the disease was officially declared eliminated in 2000. Three people with measles, including two children, have died. In Illinois, were relieved to tell a much different story, Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of IDPH, said at a news conference Friday in Springfield. Of eight people in the southern Illinois outbreak, none fell seriously ill, Vohra said. Also this spring, health officials identified two unrelated measles cases in Cook County but didnt see indication of additional spread, IDPH said. Officials identified the first case this year in an unvaccinated adult in Marion, near the southern tip of Illinois. All of the states cases this year have been adults, Dr. Jennifer Seo, an adviser in pediatric medicine at IDPH, said. IDPH declined to release additional demographic information about those who contracted measles, citing medical privacy rules. Local departments including the Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department and Jackson County Health Department held vaccine outreach clinics to contain the spread in those areas, IDPH said. Local officials went business to business to offer vaccinations, and the state health department also held mobile vaccination clinics, IDPH officials said. Amid those efforts, more than twice as many individuals in Franklin, Williamson and Jackson counties received vaccinations each month compared with January, Seo said. All three counties already had high vaccination rates above 96% in schools, which helped contain the spread, she said. State officials took quick action in southern Illinois this year after seeing a much larger outbreak in Chicago last year, Vohra said. That outbreak, which rose to 64 cases, primarily affected migrants in a shelter on the Lower West Side, according to a report from the citys Department of Public Health. Measles spreads through the air or when a person comes into contact with an infected persons mucus or saliva, according to state public health information. It is particularly dangerous to babies and young children. In March 2024 public health officials identified the first case of measles in the city since 2019 on the Northwest Side. The next day, officials reported the first positive case in the migrant shelter, where nearly 2,500 people lived in close quarters. Vaccination rates in the U.S. have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to IDPH. As recently as this spring, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the measles vaccine causes adverse events and suggested its effectiveness wanes quickly, The Associated Press reported. The CDC says the vaccine is safe and effective. All three people in the U.S. that died with measles this year were unvaccinated. Before this year, there had not been a measles death in the U.S. for a decade. Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are considered 97% protective against the measles, and one dose is considered 93% protective, according to the CDC. Children typically receive the first dose of the vaccine, or the similar measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) vaccine at age 12 to 15 months, and the second dose from ages 4 to 6. Even before the beginning of the southern Illinois outbreak, health officials targeted communications about disease prevention to ZIP codes with low school vaccination rates and saw an uptick in vaccination as early as March, Seo said. With cases still relatively high across the country, the state public health department remains vigilant, said Vohra, who is also a pediatrician. It could return here, possibly quickly, he said. LOS ANGELES A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to halt indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in seven California counties, including Los Angeles. Immigrant advocacy groups filed the lawsuit last week accusing President Donald Trumps administration of systematically targeting brown-skinned people in Southern California during its immigration crackdown. The plaintiffs include three detained immigrants and two U.S. citizens, one of whom was held despite showing agents his identification. The filing in U.S. District Court asked a judge to block the administration from using what they call unconstitutional tactics in immigration raids. Immigrant advocates accuse immigration officials of detaining someone based on their race, carrying out warrantless arrests, and denying detainees access to legal counsel at a holding facility in downtown LA. Judge Maame E. Frimpong also issued a separate order barring the federal government from restricting attorney access at a Los Angeles immigration detention facility. The emergency orders a temporary measure while the lawsuit proceeds came the day after a hearing during which advocacy groups argued that the government was violating the Fourth and Fifth amendments of the Constitution. Frimpong wrote in the order there was a mountain of evidence presented in the case that the federal government was committing the violations they were accused of. No federal judge has the authority to dictate immigration policy that authority rests with Congress and the President, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said late Friday. Enforcement operations require careful planning and execution; skills far beyond the purview (or) jurisdiction of any judge. We expect this gross overstep of judicial authority to be corrected on appeal. Communities on edge as administration steps up arrests Immigrants and Latino communities across Southern California have been on edge for weeks since the Trump administration stepped up arrests at car washes, Home Depot parking lots, immigration courts and a range of businesses. Tens of thousands of people participated in rallies in the region over the raids and the subsequent deployment of the National Guard and Marines. The order also applies to Ventura County, where busloads of workers were detained Thursday while the court hearing was underway after federal agents descended on a cannabis farm, leading to clashes with protesters and multiple injuries. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the recent wave of immigration enforcement was driven by an arbitrary arrest quota and based on broad stereotypes based on race or ethnicity. When detaining the three day laborers who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit, all immigration agents knew about them is that they were Latino and were dressed in construction work clothes, the filing in the lawsuit said. It goes on to describe raids at swap meets and Home Depots where witnesses say federal agents grabbed anyone who looked Hispanic. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said in an email that any claims that individuals have been targeted by law enforcement because of their skin color are disgusting and categorically FALSE. She added, enforcement operations are highly targeted, and officers do their due diligence before making arrests. After the ruling, she said a district judge is undermining the will of the American people. ACLU attorney Mohammad Tajsar said Brian Gavidia, one of the U.S. citizens who was detained, was physically assaulted for no other reason than he was Latino and working at a tow yard in a predominantly Latin American neighborhood. Tajsar asked why immigration agents detained everyone at a car wash except two white workers, according to a declaration by a car wash worker, if race wasnt involved. Representing the government, attorney Sean Skedzielewski said there was no evidence that federal immigration agents considered race in their arrests, and that they only considered appearance as part of the totality of the circumstances, including prior surveillance and interactions with people in the field. Order opens facility to lawyer visits Lawyers from Immigrant Defenders Law Center and other groups say they also were denied access to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in downtown LA known as B-18 on several occasions since June, according to court documents. Public Counsel lawyer Mark Rosenbaum said in one incident on June 7 attorneys attempted to shout out basic rights at a bus of people detained by immigration agents in downtown LA when the government drivers honked their horns to drown them out and chemical munitions akin to tear gas were deployed. Skedzielewski said access was restricted only to protect the employees and the detainees during violent protests and since was restored. Rosenbaum said lawyers were denied access even on days without any demonstrations nearby, and detainees were not given sufficient access to phones or informed that lawyers were available. He said the facility lacks adequate food and beds, which he called coercive to getting people to sign papers to agree to leave the country before consulting an attorney. Fridays order will prevent the government from solely using apparent race or ethnicity, speaking Spanish or English with an accent, presence at a location such as a tow yard or car wash, or someones occupation as the basis for reasonable suspicion to stop someone. It will also require officials to open B-18 to visitation by attorneys seven days a week and provide detainees access to confidential phone calls with attorneys. Attorneys general for 18 Democratic states also filed briefs in support of the orders. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents already were barred from making warrantless arrests in a large swath of eastern California after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in April. A member of the ice rescue team maintains look-out as U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy keeps station alongside an ice floe in the Beaufort Sea in August 2023. (U.S. Coast Guard) The Coast Guard plans to buy 84 new ships and aircraft by 2035 with an injection of $25 billion in supplemental funding approved last week as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Adm. Kevin Lunday, the Coast Guards acting commandant, and other service leaders said the infusion of funds was the largest one-time boost that the service has received since it was founded in 1790. The money will allow it to simultaneously address several deficiencies getting a jump start on building new icebreakers, adding a variety of cutters, buying helicopters and airplanes, plus adding forces to its southern border security missions. The bill would also finance the overhaul of shore facilities and piers. The 10-year funding package was passed by Congress and signed July 4 by President Donald Trump. The money is separate from the Coast Guards proposed $14.5 billion budget for 2026, which still requires congressional approval. The money is a portion of the $165 billion approved overall for its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security. Most of the DHS funds will go to the Customs and Border Protection and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agencies for immigration law enforcement in the United States and infrastructure along the southern border with Mexico. The 55,000-member Coast Guard now operates 250 cutters, 200 fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, and 1,600 smaller boats, according to the service. The congressional legislation signed by Trump shows new spending would buy 17 icebreakers, 21 cutters of various sizes and types, along with 40 MH-60 Jayhawk multi-mission helicopters and six HC-130J Super Hercules long-range aircraft that are used for surveillance, transport, search and rescue, and ice monitoring. The funds for icebreakers have been a major point of contention in Congress in recent years, with the service able to field just three of the specialized ships. The Polar Star, the Coast Guards only heavy icebreaker, is 49 years old and spends much of the year dedicated to Operation Deep Freeze, clearing ice around Antarctica to resupply scientific stations on the continent around the South Pole. The Coast Guard has two medium icebreakers, the 25-year-old Healy and the Storis, a commercial ship purchased by the Coast Guard last year that was repainted and refitted for homeland security purposes. In contrast, Russia operates 41 icebreakers, including some large nuclear-powered vessels. But many are smaller ships meant for clearing the countrys many northern harbors. In January 2018, China declared itself a near Arctic state and has built three icebreakers. The recent entry of Norway and Sweden into NATO has increased the number of icebreakers and shipyards capable of constructing the vessels, with the United States, Canada, and Finland committing to sharing designs and shipyards to build 90 new icebreakers by 2030. However, some in Congress have complained of an icebreaker gap as Russia and China increasingly operate, sometimes in tandem, in Arctic waterways that have become more navigable due to climate change, resulting in thinner summer ice. Russia plans to deploy the Ivan Papanin, a missile-carrying combat icebreaker into the Arctic, according to Janes Information Service, a more than century-old British military analysis company The move to arm icebreakers has some United States and allies considering counter moves to the stepped-up militarization of the polar region. This move risks raising tensions in the Arctic, a region thats already becoming more strategically contested as sea ice recedes and maritime activity increases, Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., said last week in an interview. Green retired this month from the House after serving as chairman of the maritime security subpanel of the Homeland Security Committee. The Ivan Papanin is the first icebreaker from any nation with an offensive military profile, according to Janes. The Papanin is designed to cut through ice up to 5 inches thick. Its armed with a 76 mm gun and capable of launching cruise missiles. The ship is one of two icebreakers that Moscow will put through sea trials before assigning them to the Russian North Fleet. With Russia increasingly focused on the Arctic and laying claim to large swathes of it, the Papanin class was designed to enable the Russian navy to project power more widely in the region than would be possible with conventional, non-ice-strengthened warships, Janes reported in April. The Coast Guard budget would also go to efforts by the service along the southern border of the United States. Special units have operated with Navy destroyers to interdict unauthorized entry into the United States, transnational drug shipments, and illegal fishing. The Coast Guard reported several flights earlier this year using its fixed-wing aircraft to transfer people detained by immigration agents from San Diego to Texas for possible deportation processing. Along with increases in ships, aircraft, and crews, the money will pay for upgraded at-sea systems using sensors and uncrewed air and watercraft to improve coastal surveillance of American waters. Funds will also go to the renovation of existing shore structures and the building of new infrastructure at bases. The Coast Guard primarily operates as the coastal and internal waterways defense of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii an area covering 95,000 miles of shoreline, 25,000 miles of navigable rivers, and 4.5 million square miles of U.S. exclusive economic zone waters. Units and detachments are also deployed in Bahrain, Europe and Asia. The Marine Body Bearer section practices folding the American flag at Marine Barracks Washington on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON With silent precision and unwavering discipline, the Marine Corps Body Bearers reflect 250 years of Marine Corps ethos. Everything the Marine Corps stands for is being the best, no matter what it takes, said Cpl. Kent Place, of Niantic, Conn., who has been a part of the Body Bearers section for a year and a half. We continue to uphold our high standards regardless of changes that are being made because thats what the families deserve. As The last to let you down the sacred motto the hand-selected section of 12 Marines renders final honors to Marines, Marine veterans and their immediate family members at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., and across the national capital region. At any time a Marine has fallen and has a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery ... were there to perform a flawless funeral every single time, Place said. A spokesperson for Marine Barracks Washington said the section is not typically assigned to support funerals out of state. All funeral requests come through Arlington National Cemetery, which coordinates services with the funeral director at the Marine Barracks. In January, the section transported President Jimmy Carter to his funeral service at the National Cathedral in Washington, to his lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda and then his final resting place in Plains, Ga. In November 2023, the Body Bearers supported the former first lady Rosalynn Carters funeral, also in Plains. The section is based at Marine Barracks Washington, which is also home to the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, The Commandants Own United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, The Presidents Own United States Marine Band and the official Marine Corps Color Guard. The Marine Body Bearer section practices at Marine Barracks Washington on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) The Marine Body Bearer sections practice coffins at Marine Barracks Washington on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) Marine Body Bearers LCpl Justin Wiltsey, left, and Cpl. Glen Hafemeister, along with other section members, practice at Marine Barracks Washington on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) Laying them to rest with honor The Body Bearers practice funeral sequences in an underground parking garage at the Marine Barracks to preserve the sanctity of their solemn duty. They practice carrying different sizes and weights of caskets at shoulder length, and practice folding the American flag, performing the sequence as they would at a ceremony. They are the only Body Bearer section in the military to carry the casket at shoulder length. Additionally, the section carries a casket with six Body Bearers compared to the eight that other services use. Before lowering a casket for burial, Marine Body Bearers raise the casket to eye level to symbolize a final salute. Being able to honor them one last time and laying them to rest with honor is super important, said Cpl. Jacob Dorton, of Orem, Utah, a member of the Body Bearer section. Marine Body Bearers are expected to meet strict strength requirements, including 10 repetitions of: a bench press of 225 pounds, military press of 135 pounds, curls of 115 pounds and squats of 315 pounds. They are also required to consistently achieve first-class test scores in physical fitness and combat fitness. There is absolutely zero option to let go of that urn or drop that casket, Place said. And that reflects down on our training. We completely push our bodies to the very limit. We break our mental barriers and push even further past that. Its that familys worst day. ... No matter what Im feeling, how tired or thirsty or hungry I am, I need to put out for that family and make sure that Im paying attention to the details and doing the sequence the way its supposed to be performed. Cpl. Jacob Dorton Becoming a Marine Body Bearer is highly competitive. Prospects must be between 70-76 inches tall, hold the rank of sergeant or below and be able to serve 30 months following the check-in at ceremonial drill school, which is located at the Marine Barracks. Those chosen undergo up to a year of intensive training before being deemed ready to carry out ceremonial duties. While in ceremonial drill school, Marines carry out the ceremonial duties of Body Bearers but must continue their self-paced educational requirements to earn the formal title of Marine Corps Body Bearer. For those who have the opportunity to become a Body Bearer, remember your training and always seek the next level of perfection, Place said. Marine Body Bearer Cpl. Glen Hafemeister bench presses at Marine Barracks Washington on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) The Marine Body Bearer section works out at Marine Barracks Washington on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) Marine Body Bearer Cpl. Kent Place works out at Marine Barracks Washington on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) Emotionally and mentally taxing The Marine Body Bearers average 400 funerals a year, according to a spokesperson for the Marine Barracks. In addition to the strength required to carry caskets, Marine Body Bearers are also expected to be emotionally strong. This job is definitely emotionally and mentally taxing because were still human beings at the end of the day, Place said. And 200, 300, 400 funerals later, that burden that we carry just gets heavier. Dorton said his first funeral was an urn burial of a Marines dependent. He said he was super nervous conducting the sequence by himself and facing grieving loved ones, but he kept his composure and remembered his training. He has carried out 325 funerals during his two years in the section. Its that familys worst day. Its the one funeral theyre going to get, Dorton said. No matter what Im feeling, how tired or thirsty or hungry I am, I need to put out for that family and make sure that Im paying attention to the details and doing the sequence the way its supposed to be performed. Like a brotherhood Only a small percentage of Marines are selected to become Body Bearers. Place said that having fellow Marines who understand the challenges and responsibilities is like a brotherhood and is super special. You are tied to the Body Bearer community, Place said. Former Body Bearers from all sorts of different generations all check up on each other. Theres always someone whos there before you thats going to check up on you. And theres future generations of Body Bearers to come that will come after us, and itll be our time to look over them. Space Florida CEO Rob Long introduces U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody at the Space Florida headquarters in Merritt Island, Fla., on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel via TNS) MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. (Tribune News Service) The nations spaceports can now take advantage of tax-free bonds for the first time after Trump signed the Big, Beautiful Bill last week, and the Space Coast looks to benefit. U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody on Friday detailed what it means for Florida from the headquarters of Space Florida, the states aerospace finance and development authority. This will apply to all spaceports, but we know that this one is the busiest and the most important, she said of the nearby Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. After we got this passed, we have already heard from private business entities that want to get in, that want to help, that want to be a part of the growth right here at space on the Space Coast. The state officially has three designated spaceports. KSC and CCSFS make up one known as Cape Canaveral Spaceport, while in nearby Titusville is the Space Coast Regional Airport and Spaceport and in Jacksonville is the Cecil Spaceport. The state also has potential future spaceports from the Panhandle to the Keys. A bipartisan effort in both bodies of Congress was able to insert to tax-free bond allowance into the bill, giving cities and states better options to help fund spaceport infrastructure without having to rely on federal funding. The passage of this policy marks a major moment, I would argue, for how we view and treat space in America, said Space Florida CEO Rob Long. By making spaceport bonds tax-exempt, spaceports are finally and officially on equal footing with airports, seaports and other modes of transportation. He says the provision unlocks long-term investment tools that could help finance things such as roads and buildings that could then attract customers. Its the sort of approach that could bring in big movers such as SpaceX, which right now is in the midst of a $1.8 billion project to construct support infrastructure for its massive Starship rocket. Our goal has always been to reduce barriers for spaceport finance and infrastructure. Period, end of story, Long said. But just as we fund the development of airports and seaports that serve both public and private users, spaceports are shared assets that support national security, commercial activity, exploration, innovation and, of course, workforce development. He called them the trade ports for the future, and access to tax-exempt bonds can reduce costs and allow groups like Space Florida to meet demands sooner. This new policy gives us a powerful tool but it should also enable a new wave of investment in communities across the state and across the country, wherever interested parties are ready to develop space transportation infrastructure, he said. Thats where the state can help lead the way, said Greg Autry, the University of Central Floridas Space Czar with the schools College of Business. The politicians here in Florida actually cared about space, he said. I tried to get a meeting with a senator from California, or even their staff as a professor at University of Southern California, to talk about space. It was not going to happen because they did not care. But he has always found Floridas state and federal elected officials ready to listen. Were going to bring in private capital that, as noted, is going to be good for the rest of the country, whether they like it or not, he said. But what will be amazing is, its going to be good for the world. Autry echoed Long and Moody in citing the specter of competition with China. I kind of was raised in the Star Trek generation, and for me, its so important that the American values of individual dignity and liberty are what we carry to the stars, he said. The outcome of that space race isnt just our pride, it is the future of the human race. 2025 Orlando Sentinel. Visit orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Fukasawa Tiny Museum preserves the gnome-like carvings created by sculptor Akimitsu Tomonaga for The Tale of Purinpurin, a Japanese TV show. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes) The Fukasawa Tiny Museum, west of Yokota Air Base in the mountains of Akiruno city, is home to an enchanting collection of wooden figures large and small familiar to Japanese TV viewers from 45 years ago. The museum preserves the gnome-like carvings known as the Zizi Forest Fairies created by sculptor Akimitsu Tomonaga for The Tale of Purinpurin. The NHK puppet show followed Princess Purinpurin and her friends around the world in search of her hometown. It was broadcast in Japan from 1979 to 1982. Fukasawa Tiny Museum is a private museum thats a 15-minute walk from Ajisai Mountain, known for its 10,000 hydrangeas. Fukasawa Tiny Museum in Akiruno, Japan, is surrounded by greenery and koi ponds built by sculptor Akimitsu Tomonaga. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes) As guests enter the short trail to the museum, they are greeted by wooden Zizi Forest Fairies. The gravel trail is surrounded by greenery and koi ponds built by Tomonaga. It is truly a fairytale setting a great place to get away from the bustling streets of Tokyo. Before entering the museum, guests exchange their shoes for slippers. The museum displays are only in Japanese, so have a smartphone camera translation app ready. The Fukasawa Tiny Museum preserves the gnome-like carvings created by sculptor Akimitsu Tomonaga for The Tale of Purinpurin, a Japanese TV show. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes) The museum has about 100 puppets from the show. Their amazing details have been well preserved since their stint on television. The collection includes 50 handmade works wooden carvings, block prints and lamps. Everything in the museum was created out of wood, paper or stone. Most of the carvings are nature-themed, including dioramas of the ZiZi Forest Fairies in wooden huts in the forest and carvings of animals. After exploring the museum, guests can take a break for hot or cold coffee or tea in the museums cafe. The drinks are served with a complimentary sweet potato pastry. All the wooden tables and chairs were handmade by Akimitsu. It was nice to sit outside beside the koi pond and enjoy the sounds of nature while sipping tea. Fukasawa Tiny Museum is a private museum thats a 15-minute walk from Ajisai Mountain, known for its 10,000 hydrangeas. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes) On the QT Directions: A 30-minute drive from Yokota Air Base, Japan, at 492 Fukasawa, Akiruno, Tokyo 190-0172. Times: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Tuesday. Costs: 500 yen Food: An onsite cafe serves beverages with a complimentary sweet potato pastry. Information: 042-595-0336 In this photo provided by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, second right, shakes hands with North Korean officials upon his arrival at an airport outside Pyongyang, North Korea, on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP) SEOUL, South Korea Russias foreign minister warned the U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea as he visited his countrys ally for talks on further solidifying their booming military and other cooperation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke Saturday at North Koreas eastern Wonsan city, where he met the countrys leader, Kim Jong Un, and conveyed greetings from President Vladimir Putin. Kim during the meeting reaffirmed his governments commitment to unconditionally support and encourage all measures taken by Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. He said Pyongyang and Moscow share identical views on all strategic issues in conformity with the level of alliance, according to North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency. Lavrov called for the two countries to further strengthen their strategic and tactical cooperation and intensify concerted action in international affairs, KCNA reported. Relations between Russia and North Korea have been flourishing in recent years, with North Korea supplying troops and ammunition to support Russias war against Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance. That has raised concerns among South Korea, the U.S. and others that Russia might also transfer sensitive technologies to North Korea that can increase the danger of its nuclear and missile programs. Speaking with reporters after a meeting with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui, Lavrov accused the U.S., South Korea and Japan of what he called military buildups around North Korea. We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia, he said, according to Russias state Tass news agency. The U.S., South Korea and Japan have expanded or restored their trilateral military exercises in response to North Koreas advancing nuclear program. The three countries held a joint air drill Friday involving U.S. nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula as their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities threatening regional security. North Korea views major U.S.-led military drills as invasion rehearsals and has long argued it is forced to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from U.S. military threats. Russia understands North Koreas decision to seek nuclear weapons, Lavrov said. The technologies used by North Korea are the result of the work of its own scientists. We respect North Koreas aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing nuclear development, Lavrov said, according to Tass. During their meeting, Choe reiterated North Korea unconditionally supports Russias fight against Ukraine, as Lavrov repeated Russias gratitude for the contribution North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russias Kursk border region. North Korea recently opened a mammoth beach resort in Wonsan city, the meeting venue, that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people. In his comments at the start of his meeting with Choe, Lavrov said, I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone is at the center of Kims push to boost tourism to improve his countrys troubled economy. However, prospects for the tourist complex arent clear as North Korea appears unlikely to fully reopen its borders and embrace Western tourists anytime soon. Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, and Elise Morton in Athens, Greece, contributed to this report. Colorado Republican Hope Scheppelman, a candidate U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd in the state's 3rd Congressional District primary, is pictured in a frame from an online campaign video she posted to X on July 1, 2025, after participating in a sweat ceremony on the Southern Ute Reservation. On July 11, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe called Scheppelman's post misleading and admonished the "exploitation and tokenization of our people" for political purposes. A map of the Cabanatuan prisoner of war camp #1s cemetery, sketched by the 111th Quartermaster Graves Registration Platoon in August 1945. Thousands of service members from the U.S. and Philippines died in the WWII camp, including Army Pvt. Erwin Schopp, whose remains were recently identified and are returning to his native Nebraska. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) (Tribune News Service) Nearly 80 years after he was killed in World War II, the remains of a soldier from Plymouth, Neb., are headed home to be buried alongside family members. Earlier this month, the Department of Defense said Erwin Schopps remains had been positively identified by DNA testing. He died on Jan. 1, 1943, at the age of 30 in a prisoner of war camp in the Pacific Theater, according to historical records. I was speechless Schopp, a private in the Army, was known as Bud to his family, nicknamed by his mother, Mary Schopp. Karen Mathews was born in 1946 and never got a chance to meet Uncle Bud, but it was her youngest son who was contacted when Schopps remains had been identified. I was speechless, Mathews said. After 82 years, you think, No way. On Memorial Day in 2005, Mathews and her family held a ceremony for Schopp, placing a stone in his honor in the Woodlawn Cemetery of Plymouth. The stone read Missing in Action, which will be removed when his remains will be buried July 18. (We were) never ever thinking that there would be a body in there, that his remains would come back, Mathews said. Twenty years later, Schopp will be laid to rest alongside several other family members including his parents, a brother and sister-in-law. Its sad, but yet, its exciting to think that he finally gets to come home, Mathews said. Ive been blessed This is the second funeral Chris Klingler, director of Fox Funeral Home, has directed for a serviceman whose remains have been identified and returned to Nebraska. Its very rare that someone gets to do one, and Ive been blessed that Ive had the opportunity to serve two families, Klingler said. Its very unique. In 2018, Klingler said Flight Officer Richard Lane was returned to Nebraska with a military uniform in the casket along with his remains. Lane died in 1944 during World War II and was originally misidentified. Services with full military honors for Schopp will be held at 10:30 a.m. July 18 at the Plymouth Community Center. A burial will follow at the Woodlawn Cemetery of Plymouth with honors conducted by the Nebraska Army National Guard Honor Guard, and Schopp-Ewing-Nispel Post #243 American Legion Post of Plymouth. Military life On Jan. 29, 1941, Schopp enlisted in the Army Coast Artillery Corps. Schopp was a member of the Headquarters Battery, 59th Coastal Artillery Regiment, in the Philippines when Japanese forces invaded the islands in December. Intense fighting continued until the surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on April 9, 1942. A month later, he was on Corregidor Island when it fell to the Japanese in May. Thousands of U.S. and Filipino service members were captured and interned at POW camps. Schopp was among those reported captured. Japan began the forcible transfer of prisoners of war to various prison camps in central Luzon, at the northern end of the Philippines the largest being Cabanatuan Prison Camp where Schopp was held among thousands of Americans and Filipinos. Overcrowding at the camp worsened after the fall of Bataan. Food and water were extremely limited, leading to widespread malnutrition and outbreaks of malaria and dysentery. Prisoners were forced to bury the dead in makeshift communal graves, often completed without records or markers. According to prison camp and other historical records, it was believed Schopp was buried in Common Grave 822. When the camp was liberated in early 1945, about 2,800 Americans were buried in the camps local cemetery. On July 10, 1943, an article in The Plymouth News said word was received about Schopps death at a Japanese prison camp at Manila. A newspaper clipping on the death of Army Coast Artillery Corps Pvt. Erwin Schopp. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) Six years later Schopp was declared nonrecoverable and was buried as an unknown at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines. For many years, Mathews and her family sent a bouquet of flowers to be placed next to his name. For over 70 years, Schopps grave was cared for by the American Battle Monuments Commission. Now accounted for, a rosette will be placed by his name at his grave in the Philippines. In 2018, the remains in Common Grave 822 were disinterred and sent to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency laboratory for analysis. Two years later, remains associated with Common Grave 836 were disinterred for analysis. I hope they come Through dental, anthropological and mitochondrial DNA analysis, the remains of Schopp were accounted for on Jan. 24, 2025. Mathews said her cousin John Mueller, who lives in Rockford, Illinois, was a perfect DNA match. Mathews later received a booklet explaining Schopps identification, which she passed on to the cousins shes in contact with. There are still two cousins she hopes to find. Mathews isnt sure if theyve heard about the discovery of Schopps remains and hope they make to the service. I hope they see this information, and I hope they come, Mathews said. Klingler has taken care of the majority of the ceremony planning. He even wrote the obituary, which Mathews and one of her daughters were able to add to from family stories. His full obituary can be viewed at FoxFuneralHome.net. 2025 Lincoln Journal Star, Neb. Visit www.journalstar.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Eugenie Houston broke back into her home after a sheriff took possession of the property last year. The High Court has now granted an order restraining Eugenie Houston (above) from the property. She lost her home after failing to pay costs orders linked to a legal row with solicitor Wendy Doyle A lawyer who is currently trespassing in her former home after breaking back in when a sheriff took possession of the property last year is not a victim, as she claims to be, a High Court judge has said. Mr Justice Liam Kennedy made the comments in relation to barrister Eugenie Houston, who lost possession of her home following her failure to pay a series of costs orders after losing several cases in a bitter legal dispute with solicitor Wendy Doyle. Ms Doyle secured a vacant possession order for the house in Naas, Co Kildare, in 2023 and a sheriff took possession of the property on July 24 last year. However, Ms Houston re-entered the house later that evening and has remained living there ever since. The High Court has now granted an order sought by Ms Doyle restraining Ms Houston from the property and from interfering with its sale. Making the order, Mr Justice Kennedy said he presumed gardai would assist Ms Doyle exercise her lawful entitlements if necessary. The High Court has now granted an order restraining Eugenie Houston (above) from the property. She lost her home after failing to pay costs orders linked to a legal row with solicitor Wendy Doyle News in 90 Seconds - Saturday July 12 In a ruling published this week, the judge said Ms Houston had failed to establish a case for permitting her to remain in the property. She had unlawfully broken in to the house and was now a trespasser on the property, not the owner. Ms Houston has indicated she will appeal. The judge put a stay on the order until July 18 and said it would be entirely a matter for the Court of Appeal as to whether that stay should be extended. The dispute between the two lawyers stretches back to 2014 and has its background in a defamation claim taken by Ms Houston against Ms Doyle. The case was settled, with costs awarded against Ms Houston. However, she did not pay those costs or further costs orders against her arising from subsequent unsuccessful legal applications she made. When the legal bills werent paid, Ms Doyle obtained judgment mortgages against Ms Houstons house, and ultimately got orders for the possession and sale of the property. Mr Justice Kennedy acknowledged this was a disastrous outcome from Ms Houstons perspective. The judge said it was unfortunate, but added that it was the result of Ms Houstons ill-fated litigation campaign. I would not endorse her evident perception of herself as the victim of events, he said. Mr Justice Kennedy said Ms Houston repeatedly instituted unjustified legal proceedings and pursued meritless appeals. As a barrister she must understand the legal consequences of such tactics, he said. The judge also observed that although Ms Houston complained about the effect of the proceedings and various judgments on her reputation, she had cynically used the proceedings as a forum to ventilate allegations against Ms Doyle and Ms Doyles lawyers. The judge said that, in human terms, the litigation had been traumatic for all involved. But he added that Ms Houston had exacerbated her legal and financial predicament by failing to comply with court orders and rulings and by delaying and obstructing Ms Doyles attempts to enforce the recovery of costs awards. The ruling is the latest in a series of setbacks for Ms Houston. Earlier this year another judge, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, barred her from suing judges, court registrars, the Justice Minister, Attorney General, the Courts Service and other legal professionals without prior permission from the President of the High Court. He did so after Ms Houston was found to have engaged in frivolous and vexatious litigation against Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds after that judge made a ruling she disagreed with. Shane McDonagh (19) handed over the phones when he was stopped for a search in Dublins Cloverhill prison, a court heard. An aerial view of Cloverhill Prison in Cherry Orchard, Dublin. Photo: Stock image A prisoner caught with two mobile phones on him while serving a sentence has been given a months extra jail time. Shane McDonagh (19) handed over the phones when he was stopped for a search in Dublins Cloverhill prison, a court heard. Judge David McHugh made the sentence consecutive to a four-year jail term he is already serving. McDonagh, with an address at St Grellans Terrace, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of phones without the governors permission. The charge is under Section 36 of the Prisons Act. Read more Supergrass witness Jonathan Dowdall's former home is sold Blanchardstown District Court heard the incident happened on June 6 last year. When told he would be searched by prison officers, he handed over the two phones and a charger Judge McHugh asked the prosecuting garda how McDonagh was caught with two phones on the same day. She replied that the accused was stopped at a security machine at reception, and when told he would be searched by prison officers, he handed over the two phones and a charger. McDonagh was serving a four-year sentence with a release date in 2027. The accused had already been punished in prison, where he had spent 40 days with no evening recreation, no phone calls and no shop, his solicitor Simon Fleming said. He came here today to face the punishment of the court, he added, asking the judge for leniency. Jamie Lee told gardai that an unnamed friend contacted him over Snapchat, offering him a chance to make money A young gambler, who was after a quick buck and let smishing fraudsters use his bank account to launder 35,000 in stolen funds, has been remanded on bail pending sentence. Jamie Lee, 21, of Meadow View, Clonard, Co Meath, pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to possessing proceeds of criminal conduct in January 2024. Detective Garda Kevin Lennon told Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain yesterday that a woman reported her son had given her bank details and code in reply to a text pretending to be from a telecom provider. It led to her account being hacked, and 35,300 was stolen in 17 transfers, with the sums ranging from 200 to 3,700, to Lees account. She discovered this when she attempted to withdraw money from the Bank of Ireland, but her request was declined, and her account was frozen. She then alerted gardai in Mullingar. Lee later told Detective Garda Lennon that an unnamed friend contacted him over Snapchat, offering him a chance to make money by using his account. He then met three males he did not know and gave them his bank details. John Hayden SC, defending, said that his client, who works in a warehouse for a major retailer, had been cooperative. Detective Garda Lennon agreed, adding the accused had been naive at the time and after a quick buck. He also accepted that Lee, who had no previous convictions, was in the throes of a gambling addiction, did not receive any payment and did not try to give gardai the runaround. Mr Hayden outlined how his client started gambling after a relationship breakup. However, he was soon losing his wages in one night, and he also crashed his mothers car, and he was put on antidepressants. He also expressed remorse in the court case. The court was furnished with a letter from him and his mother, and a report from his addiction counsellor and his GP. Mr Hayden said people behind smishing scams prey on people like his client. With the help of his family, he had brought 5,000 to court, and the judge noted that the bank had reimbursed the victim. She stated that this was a serious offence and noted that he was asked to participate in the fraud and met three people he did not know, expecting to make a profit. However, she took into account how gambling had become such a problem and remarked that it had become easy to gamble, but the consequences were serious. She held that the offence warranted a one-year sentence but noted the guilty plea, mitigation and that he had been a pro-social member of society. She stated that she would consider sparing him a conviction if he came up with an additional 3,000 on his own; otherwise, he would receive a conviction and 140 hours of community service. The case resumes in November. Graham Wilkes (49) also stole three televisions in separate thefts from other Dublin shops, and a court heard it wasnt his first rodeo. A knife-wielding shoplifter told a security guard he would remember him when he was confronted for stealing groceries. Graham Wilkes (49) also stole three televisions in separate thefts from other Dublin shops, and a court heard it wasnt his first rodeo. Judge John Hughes adjourned the case for medical evidence of a broken neck injury Wilkes said he has since suffered in an electric scooter accident. Wilkes, of Burnell Green, Northern Cross, Dublin 17, pleaded guilty to theft and possession of a knife. He went to Lidl in Coolock Retail Park on January 13 and 28 last year, and stole a TV on each occasion Dublin District Court heard he went to Lidl in Coolock Retail Park on January 13 and 28 last year, and stole a TV on each occasion. The first was valued at 350 and the second was worth 162. He shoplifted 160 worth of groceries from the same store on April 10 last year, while in possession of a knife. The court heard a security guard stopped him as he left and Wilkes said, Ill remember you. The security man backed off and when he approached Wilkes again outside, he noticed a knife in his hand. Wilkes was lucky to survive a recent fall from an electric scooter Wilkes also stole a TV worth 450 from Tesco in Artane Shopping Centre on March 20 last year. The offences were related to his addiction issues, his lawyer said. Wilkes was lucky to survive a recent fall from an electric scooter, and constant medical attention in rehabilitation helped him to turn a corner with his addiction. This isnt his first rodeo, Judge Hughes said, as Wilkes had been jailed before for robbery. The judge said he didnt believe the Lords prayer from Wilkes and adjourned the case to later this month. A man in his 40s who was known to victim Michael Hayes, but who is not related to him, was arrested by Gardai Gardai at the scene of the attack in Limerick Gardai investigating the death of pensioner Michael Hayes believe he was punched and then and beaten to death with a vodka bottle. Mr Hayes, 70s, was found critically injured outside his home at St Michaels Court apartments, Watergate, Limerick City, at around 11.30pm, Thursday. Mr Hayes was resuscitated by paramedics and taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick where he was sadly pronounced dead in the early hours of Friday morning. A man in his 40s who was known to Mr Hayes, but who is not related to him, was arrested by Gardai on Friday morning. The man was being questioned by Gardai on suspicion of carrying out the attack. Gardai believe Mr Hayes was assaulted and beaten with a vodka bottle that was wrapped in a bag. Gardai were probing a number of lines of enquiry around the circumstances of Mr Hayess killing, including that he may have gone to investigate loud noises outside his home when he was attacked. The fatal assault occurred outside Mr Hayess house. He suffered a critical head injury, sources said. The results of a post mortem, that was to be conducted by the office of the State Pathologist, will determine the next course of the Garda investigation, sources said. One of Mr Hayess neighbours, Geraldine Costello, paid tribute to Mr Hayes, and said: Michael was a lovely boy, hed always go out of his way to do a good turn for you. His dog, Daisy, is crying all the time because Michael is not there, Ms Costello said. I was only talking to (Michael) yesterday, Im after getting an awful shock. I went to bed last night, and I woke up when I heard all the commotion but Michael was home by the time I went out. I was very fond of him, Im a good friend of his, Ive known him since I was young and Im very sorry that he is gone, Ms Costello added. Her niece, Tracy Coleman, offered: It is shocking, because he was a really lovely man, and he would always go out of his way and do whatever do you. There are no words to describe it, a lovely man doing his own thing, and his life just gone now like that, said Ms Coleman. He was a young for his age, everyday he was always going for walks. Its understood Mr Hayes lived alone and has a number of grown up children. Gardai immediately launched a full-scale investigation, including appointing a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) to lead the investigation. A Garda tape cordon was placed around a large section around apartments at the scene, which is located between St Michaels Street, Ellen Street and Mungret Street, Limerick City. Detectives were harvesting any CCTV footage in the area and carrying out house-to-house enquiries. A statement released by the Garda Press Office, Friday, said Gardai were investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in his 70s following an incident of assault in Watergate, Limerick city on 10th July 2025 at approximately 11:30pm. The man in his 70s was transported to University Hospital Limerick with life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced deceased on Friday the 11th July 2025. The scene in Watergate has been preserved for technical and forensic examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. Gardai said the State Pathologist and local Coroner had been notified and that a post-mortem examination had been arranged. A male in his 40s has been arrested and conveyed to a Garda Station in Limerick city. He is currently being detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, Gardai said. Appealing for witnesses Gardai asked that anyone who was in the Watergate area of Limerick city on Thursday 10th July 2025 between 11:15pm and 12am and who may have any information regarding the incident is asked to contact investigating Gardai. Gardai also appealed to road users with camera footage (including dash-cam) who were travelling in the area at the time, to make that footage available. Anyone with information was asked to contact Gardai at Henry Street Garda Station (061) 212400, or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Kelsey Crawford, from Rockfergus Crescent in Carrick, was charged with two counts of rioting, on 9 and 10 June this year. A Co. Antrim teenager was remanded into custody today, accused of taking part in racially aggravated riots on two consecutive nights. Ballymena Magistrates Court heard that according to the police case, there is some element of planning regarding Kelsey Crawfords involvement, as he had driven from his home in Carrick to allegedly take part in the public disorder, bringing a balaclava with him for the second night of rioting. Appearing at court by video link from police custody Crawford, from Rockfergus Crescent in Carrick, was charged with two counts of rioting, on 9 and 10 June this year. Giving evidence during a contested application for bail, Det. Const. Woolsey outlined that across the UK, there has been a large spike in public disorder with racial undertones, resulting in attacks on property and businesses, targeting ethnic minorities. Focusing more locally, he reminded the court there had been three consecutive nights of violence in Ballymena, which then spread to other parts of the country including Newtownabbey, Larne, Portadown and Derry. A PSNI Dog Section handler looks on as protesters throw projectiles. Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images News in 90 Seconds - Saturday July 12 That rioting, said DC Woolsey, had resulted in 24 homes being attacked and eight families being displaced in addition to police being attacked by rioting crowds throwing masonry, bricks, bottles, petrol bombs and fireworks. Turning to the police case against Crawford, the officer said police investigations had established that having driven his BMW from Carrick, the teenager parked at Braid Retail Park just before 8pm, where he and two passengers get out, unmasked. An hour later, Crawford is seen on footage at Clonavon Terrace, wearing the same clothing, throwing an object at police. In further footage, he is allegedly captured throwing further missiles at police before the teenager goes back to his car at 23:04 and leaves. The following evening, just before 8.30 on 10 June, Crawford parks in the same place but this time, he puts a mask on before allegedly joining in the riots. DC Woolsey claimed that Crawfords activities on this second evening included creating a barricade on the North Road, breaking windows of a residential property on Bridge Street and placing items into the boot of a vehicle which has then been set alight. Crawford, the court heard, walks back to the same BMW and leaves the town. When he was arrested on Friday, 11 July, police seized clothing which matched the same clothing on the nights the teenager was allegedly rioting. DC Woolsey said police were objecting to Crawford being granted bail given the allegation he was involved in serious, racially aggravated public disorder that result in significant damage to propertyand injury to 59 police officers in Ballymena, some of them serious. Citing the risk of further disturbances, the detective said the PSNI believe that it's important to send a strong message that deter persons from getting involved in serious disorder. Police believe that if a strong deterrent message is not sent, the public disorder could lead to death or serious injury to members of the public, said the officer. Applying for bail, defence counsel Grant Powles emphasised that Crawford has just turned 18 and also that he has a completely clear record. His address in Carrick would keep him out of Ballymena, said the barrister, submitting that with his supportive family to keep an eye on him, the teenager could be freed with a package of bail conditions to assuage police concerns. District Judge Natasha Fitzsimmons said while Mr Powles has made point he conceivably could, she was not satisfied that Crawford could be freed. Im going to refuse bail on the basis that theres a real risk of further offending, said the judge. Remanding Crawford into custody, she adjourned the case to 31 July. As Colorados Renaissance Festival in Larkspur sees higher-than-normal turnout this year, officials recently announced they would limit online ticket sales. The annual medieval-themed festival currently runs Saturdays and Sundays through August 3 should more days be added to help meet demand? You voted: A man in his 40s who was known to Mr Hayes, but who is not related to him, was arrested by gardai on Friday morning. THIS is the pensioner killed after its suspected he was punched and beaten over the head with a bag containing a vodka bottle when he went to investigate noises outside his home. Michael Hayes, aged in his 70s, was found critically injured outside his home at St Michaels Court apartments, in Watergate, Limerick City, at around 11.30pm on Thursday. Mr Hayes was resuscitated by paramedics and taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick where he was pronounced dead in the early hours of Friday morning. Paying tribute to Michael on Friday evening, the Garryowen Residents Association posted: Heartfelt condolences to Garryowen native Michael ( Mikey) Hayes , formerly of Kilmurry court Garryowen , an extremely pleasant, gentle person , sincere condolences to all your family from all your old neighbours and friends. Michael Hayes News in 90 Seconds - Saturday July 12 Dozens of neighbours also paid tribute to the pensioner describing him a gentle soul. A man in his 40s who was known to Mr Hayes, but who is not related to him, was arrested by gardai on Friday morning. The man was being questioned by gardai under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Gardai believe Mr Hayes was assaulted and beaten with a vodka bottle that was wrapped in a bag. Gardai were following a number of lines of enquiry, including that Mr Hayes may have gone to investigate loud noises outside his home when he was attacked. The results of a post mortem, that was to be conducted by the office of the State Pathologist, will determine the next course of the Garda investigation, sources said. The assault took place in Watergate, Limerick city One of Mr Hayess neighbours, Geraldine Costello, paid tribute to him. Michael was a lovely boy, hed always go out of his way to do a good turn for you, she said. His dog, Daisy, is crying all the time because Michael is not there. I was only talking to him yesterday, Im after getting an awful shock. I was very fond of him, Im a good friend of his, Ive known him since I was young and Im very sorry that he is gone. Ms Costellos niece, Tracy Coleman, said: It is shocking, because he was a really lovely man, and he would always go out of his way and do whatever do you. He was a young man for his age, everyday he was always going for walks. Its understood Mr Hayes lived alone and has a number of grown-up children. Mr Hayes, who lived near the Milk Market, was known as a gentle and respectful man who kept to himself but was always willing to lend a hand. He was a quiet man, one friend said of the elderly man. He minded my dog when I had to be away, took very good care of her. A close neighbour stated: People here are devastated. My family are shocked. He was good to everyone around here. Gardai have launched a full-scale investigation led by a senior investigating officer. A Garda tape cordon was placed around a large section around apartments at the scene, which is located between St Michaels Street, Ellen Street and Mungret Street in the city. Detectives were harvesting any CCTV footage in the area and carrying out house-to-house enquiries. Gardai appealed for anyone who was in the area on Thursday evening who may have information or who may have footage to come forward. Anyone with information was asked to contact Gardai at Henry Street Garda Station (061) 212400, or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. ENDS Ovidio Guzman Lopez and his brother, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, ran a faction of the Sinaloa cartel. A son of notorious Mexican drug kingpin El Chapo has pleaded guilty Friday to US drug trafficking charges. Prosecutors allege Ovidio Guzman Lopez and his brother, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, ran a faction of the Sinaloa cartel. They became known locally as the Chapitos, or little Chapos, and federal authorities in 2023 described the operation as a massive effort to send staggering quantities of fentanyl into the US. Ovidio Guzman Lopez pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, money laundering and firearms charges tied to his leadership role in the cartel. Ovidio Guzman Lopez has pleaded guilty (CEPROPIE via AP) News in 90 Seconds - Saturday July 12 As part of a plea agreement, Guzman Lopez admitted to helping oversee the production and smuggling of large quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and fentanyl into the United States, fuelling a crisis that has contributed to tens of thousands of overdose deaths annually. Terms of the deal, including sentencing recommendations or cooperation agreements, were not immediately disclosed. Speculation about a deal had percolated for months, as behind-the-scenes negotiations quietly progressed. The hearing was initially scheduled for Wednesday but was moved to Friday by US District Judge Sharon Coleman without explanation. Hearings have often been delayed or rescheduled. Ovidio Guzman Lopezs father, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, is serving a life sentence after being convicted in 2019 for his role as the former leader of the Sinaloa cartel, having smuggled mountains of cocaine and other drugs into the United States over 25 years. The brothers allegedly assumed their fathers former role as leaders of the Sinaloa cartel. Ovidio Guzman Lopez was arrested in Mexico in 2023 and extradited to the United States. He initially pleaded not guilty but signalled in recent months his intent to change his plea. Joaquin Guzman Lopez and another long-time Sinaloa leader, Ismael El Mayo Zambada, were arrested in July 2024 in Texas after they landed in the US on a private plane. Both men have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges. Their dramatic capture prompted a surge in violence in Mexicos northern state of Sinaloa as two factions of the Sinaloa cartel clashed. And pineapple on pizza is definitely not one of them! OH, NOOOO! say Monica and Daniela Venturi, their eyes widening in astonishment, when told that some Irish people love pineapple on their pizzas. Pineapple on pizza is already a divisive issue among the Irish. But for the iconic Italian Nonnas, whose all-women pasta shop Le Sfogline draws converts from all over the world, its unthinkable. Mixing sometimes is good, says Monica. But pizza, no. Theres the mozzarella, and you cannot put pineapple. Our mother used to prepare a pork roast with sliced pineapple, she adds, offering a tasty and inspired alternative. This writer hasnt the heart to tell them about our tendency to have chips with our lasagne for fear it might bring us pasta point of rescue. Italian sisters Monica and Daniela Venturi ahead of the Birra Moretti 'Nonna's Kitchen' event News in 90 Seconds - Saturday July 12 But the Venturi sisters are not food snobs far from it. Like all Italians they were raised in the simple belief that fabulous ingredients should be allowed to sing. A dish of tagliatelle with olive oil or butter, your butter is very good and topped with fresh parmesan, they believe, can give you the same happy feeling as zipping towards the Trevi Fountain in a red Vespa on a sunny day. Its the type of simple and pure approach that has made Le Sfogline a great success story. Starting the business with their mother Renata, Daniela and Monica wanted to share the pasta dishes they made at home, and it now draws hungry visitors from all over the world. Their business was female orientated from the early days. This is the kind of job that was traditionally for women, the housewives were always the ones at home working for the family and making meals, says Monica. For us now, the problem is we cannot mix women and men because of the loos, the shop is so small so we cant mix them for men and women. Monica and Daniela in Dublin ahead of Nonnas Kitchen by Birra Moretti Now the funny and colourful sisters will return to Dublin as part of a partnership with Birra Moretti to host a two-night pop-up called Nonnas Kitchen at the end of July. Having already fallen for the city during their advance visit, they are excited at the prospect of returning. Dublin is wonderful and we are very happy to be here, says Monica. It was one of my goals to come to Dublin but we have never had the time, and I must thank this event, Birra Moretti, to host us in this wonderful place. Im really in love with it, and the people are not like when I go to London and everybody avoids you. The siblings hope to share their pasta-making prowess with Irish food fans during their two days in the capital. I hope they will join us in having lessons and were going to take with us our shop and our experience, says Daniela. We can explain tradition and all the things we love family, friendship that we tried to put inside the shop, apart from, of course, cooking and making pasta. Our shop is like our kitchen, and as its our kitchen clients are not clients, but are our friends. We are always searching for the best because thats what we had when our grandmother and our mother used to make pasta. Its a tradition we have to take and go on with forever, because we will never die! Sharing some of their secrets from a place where great food equals la dolce vita, Monica and Daniela have some bellissimo ideas and tips for Irish pasta fans. Pay attention to the cooking of Italian food, because sometimes, especially for pasta, the problem is that it can be overcooked, and this means that after its like a goo, and its a pity, says Monica. Sisters Monica and Daniela Venturi Never put too much sauce over it because good pasta is very good all by itself. You just have to add something that exalts the pasta, that doesnt cover it up like a good spaghetti pomodoro, or a good tagliatelle with ragu. What I dont like, and many restaurants in Bologna are doing this now, just to have tourists: they serve tortellini with ragu sauce. Theyre too different. Tortellini is so famous because the filling is very rich. Pork loin cooked in the butter, mortadella, parma ham, parmigiano reggiano six months old, eggs, nutmeg. What else can you add to make it perfect? Nothing. Its perfect. Everything you put over it is too much. And so you dont taste the ragu, you dont taste the tortellini. Its a passion for great food thats infectious, and one which the sisters experienced in their very early memories of eating in their family home. I think from when I came out from my moms body, I started to appreciate food, says Monica. Our family was always cooking something, because any friend was a guest and if someone came home there was always something ready to eat. They sisters guffaw in unison when asked if food is the best way to get somebody in the mood for love. Yes, yes, its true! You catch the man by the throat. A good dish of tagliatelle, not with ragu because the ragu is not very simple, but with a touch of olive oil and parmigiano, very simple, very good. Another dish to make for a romantic dinner is tortellini with lemon zest. If you want to be romantic you dont want something too heavy. Just dress it with a little drop of butter, parmigiano and maybe some mint leaves on top. Monica and Daniela Venturi will return to Ireland on July 23 and 24 when they bring their signature culture, stories and handmade tortellini to Dublin for a once-in-a-lifetime experience: Nonnas Kitchen by Birra Moretti. The event will take place at Fumbally Stables and tickets are priced at 30 and available on Eventbrite. A Status Yellow rain warning was also issued for four counties earlier today as Dublin, Louth, Meath and Wicklow can expect falls of heavy rain. Heavy rain and possible thunderstorms are in the cards for today. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA The national forecaster has warned of a moderate chance of thunderstorms happening in Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford until 6pm. A thunderstorm warning is in place for Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow from 4pm until 8pm. A Status Yellow rain warning was also issued for four counties earlier today as Dublin, Louth, Meath and Wicklow can expect falls of heavy rain. This might lead to localised flooding, poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions in all ten counties. The rain warning is in place until 4pm. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content This morning, some cars were seen turning back on Clontarf Road in Dublin 3, beside the pond at St Annes Park, which has been flooded but remains passable. A flooded Clontarf Road on Saturday morning Meanwhile, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council announced that swimming is not advised at three beaches due to the heavy rainfall. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Swimmers are urged not to swim at Coliemore Harbour, Dun Laoghaire Baths and Seapoint, with the notice being in place until tomorrow. Water quality testing is ongoing, with results expected next week, a County Council spokesperson said. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Meanwhile, those travelling to the North today might also expect some disruption caused by heavy rain and thunderstorms. The UKs Met Office has issued a Yellow thunderstorm warning for three counties Antrim, Armagh and Down with the warning set to expire at 6pm this evening. An umbrella will be needed this weekend as heavy rain and possible thunderstorms are on the cards for today, but conditions will improve on Sunday, Met Eireann has said. Saturday will bring outbreaks of heavy rain for a time in some eastern and northeastern parts, with a chance of a few thunderstorms, as scattered heavy showers are expected across the rest of the country. While it is likely to remain cloudy everywhere for a time, some sunny spells might develop in the afternoon, mostly across the southern half of the country and along the west coast. This might, unfortunately, spark off further heavy showers and some likely thunderstorms. Heavy rain and possible thunderstorms are in the cards for today. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA 7-Day Weather Forecast: 9-15 June Later in the afternoon and early evening, the west will turn dry and bright, with improving weather extending to most places through the evening. Temperatures will range between 14 and 19C today. Any remaining showers in the east and northeast will clear early tonight, and it will become dry and clear for a time with temperatures between 7 and 11C. However, it will turn cloudier from the west, with some light rain and drizzle moving into Connacht, Munster and west Ulster. It might also be cloudy tomorrow morning, with a patchy light rain and drizzle continuing to spread eastwards in the morning and disappearing shortly after. Apart from the light shower, the rest of the day will be dry with some bright and sunny spells developing. Temperatures on Sunday will range between 14 and 19C, with the warmest weather in the south and east. It will stay dry in most areas tomorrow night, with the entire country enjoying the clear conditions for a time. However, it will become cloudier overnight, especially in the west and north, with a light patchy rain and drizzle moving in, mainly into coastal parts. Temperatures will drop to 9 and 13C on Sunday night, remaining the coolest in the south and southeast under the clear skies. Teenager was at increased risk of blood clots Sarah-Kate OMeara died in June last year during her Leaving Cert exams The sudden death of a healthy young student from Cork in the middle of her Leaving Cert exams last year may be linked to both a previously unknown genetic abnormality and an oral contraceptive pill, an inquest has heard. A sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court heard that Sarah-Kate OMeara had begun taking a common combined oral contraceptive, Ovreena, about a month before her death. Today, an inquest into her death heard the Glen Rovers camogie player would also have been at an increased risk of blood clots due to a previously unknown genetic condition as well as a period of relative inactivity while studying for exams. A post-mortem examination showed the teenager died from a lack of oxygen to the brain due to blood clots in her right lung and in veins on the surface of her brain. The 18-year-old student from Bakers Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital after becoming unwell at her home on the morning of June 10, 2024, just before she was due to sit a maths paper in her Leaving Cert exams at Mount Mercy College. Sarah-Kate was transferred to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin the following day for specialist care but her condition subsequently deteriorated and she died on June 17 last year four days after her 18th birthday. Her mother, Diann OMeara, told the inquest that her daughter one of five children was a healthy teenager who was very sporty, playing camogie, running and going to the gym. Read more Coalman convicted of Slane Castle killing had 322k cash hidden under false step in his house She said Sarah-Kate was so health-conscious that she would give out to the rest of her family about putting salt and butter on their food. Ms OMeara recalled her daughter giving a small cough after coming into the kitchen at around 8.25am on June 10 last year with a study folder under her arm. She told the inquest that Sarah-Kate then fell to the ground as if she had fainted. Ms OMeara said she screamed for her husband, Tony, to help before their daughter started speaking, although she still appeared somewhat disoriented. After being moved to a couch, the teenager told her parents that she felt like something was stuck in her chest but was concerned about going to school for her exam. Ms OMeara said her daughter vomited shortly after she had given her some Lucozade and Calpol. A short time later, they called an ambulance after her lips went blue and her skin turned grey and she went into convulsions. Breaking down in tears at regular intervals as she recalled the tragic events, Ms OMeara said her husband started CPR on their daughter and was later assisted by a pharmacist from a nearby pharmacy. However, Sarah-Kate was unresponsive by the time paramedics arrived at the home. Ms OMeara said they decided to donate their daughters organs to help others after being informed by doctors at the Mater Hospital that the chances of her recovering were unlikely. In reply to questions from the coroner, Clare Keane, she said there was nothing to suggest there was anything amiss with her daughters health in the days before her collapse. Ms OMeara outlined how Sarah-Kate had visited the Parklands Surgery general practice in Cork the previous month to arrange to start taking a contraceptive pill. The inquest heard she was on no other medication at the time of her death apart from an occasional protein supplement and had no history of blood clots. Ms OMeara said Sarah-Kate had suffered from migraine for a number of years but had no longer required treatment for it since 2017. Cork-based GP, Caroline Burke, gave evidence of prescribing Ovreena to the teenager following a detailed consultation on May 13, last year. Dr Burke said the teenager wanted to go on the pill to lighten her periods as well as for contraceptive purposes. The doctor told the inquest that she went through the various options for contraception and a detailed set of questions that covered possible risk factors as well as checking the patients blood pressure and weight. Dr Burke said she had discussed the patients previous history of migraine but was reassured that she had not suffered the specific type of migraine that posed a particular risk. The inquest heard that Sarah-Kate was given a prescription for one month for Ovreena and had booked a follow-up check for one month later. Dr Burke told the coroner that Ovreena was the safest first-line option for the combined oral contraceptive pill. Consultant cardiologist at CUH, Gerry Fahy, told the hearing that the teenagers poor condition on arrival at the hospital had required her to be defibrillated 15 times over a 90-minute period. Dr Fahy said doctors were not aware at the time of the underlying cause of what happened and originally believed it was due to inflammation of the heart muscle before it became clearer that it could be due to blood clots. He said that the patient developed disseminated intravascular coagulation a rare condition where the patient is prone to both clotting and bleeding at the same time which posed major challenges in providing regular treatment for clots. Consultant intensivist and anaesthetist at the Mater, Dr Deirdre Edgeworth, gave evidence that the patient was deemed suitable for treatment with the hospitals ECMO machine which diverts blood away from the lungs and heart for patients with cardiac conditions that are considered reversible. Consultant cardiologist at the Mater, Dr Katie Murphy, said Sarah-Kate had no signs of any underlying cardiac condition. Dr Murphy said the patients cardiac function had improved with the ECMO treatment but the neurological injuries she had suffered as a result of the cardiac event had proven fatal. The cardiologist said she believed the cause of the blood clots were multi-factorial, including the patients use of an oral contraceptive pill and not being as active as normal due to her studies. Dr Murphy also said that testing had shown Sarah-Kate had a genetic abnormality known as Factor V Leiden which placed her at an increased risk of blood clots. Recording a narrative verdict to reflect the complexity of the evidence, Dr Keane said she noted the significant finding in relation to Factor V Leiden. The coroner also observed that there was a known increased risk of blood clots with the combined oral contraceptive pill. Dr Keane recorded that the potential side effects of the pill had been explained to the teenager and that it had been prescribed at a time when her genetic abnormality was unknown. The inquest heard that the donation of the deceaseds kidneys had saved the lives of two other patients. Offering her condolences to the students family, Dr Keane said she was so sorry for the heartbreaking loss of your vibrant daughter. Ms OMeara replied: Its the worlds loss not just ours. She had so much to offer. Her family had originally sought an adjournment of the inquest after only receiving a copy of Dr Burkes deposition just before the hearing which had left them taken aback. However, they decided to allow the inquest to proceed after the coroner informed them they could ask questions about any evidence. Gabe Megahey was convicted in a FBI sting of trying to buy missiles for the IRA. An 82-year-old great grandfather once dubbed the IRAs leader in America has been ordered out of the States by Donald Trumps Homeland Security. The order delivered to Ardoyne man Gabe Megahey is in direct contravention of a deal struck with former President Bill Clintons administration and comes almost 40 years after his release from federal prison for gunrunning. The veteran republican revealed this week he had been sent a letter from emigration enforcement agency ICE ordering him to leave the country immediately. They warned he would no longer be in receipt of any state benefits and that failure to leave would result in criminals proceedings. He was also told his pardon granted by state had been rescinded. In 1983 Megahey was convicted in an FBI sting of trying to procure SAM missiles to enable the IRA to step up its campaign. He served time in federal prison. However, he was not deported on his release in 1988. In the run-up to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, President Clinton agreed to allow IRA members on the run and other former prisoners facing deportation to remain in the US. ICE sent me a letter last week. They said Im a convicted felon. They are trying to freeze us out, he said. The letter said all his government benefits will cease on October 23. It would cost me $4,000 to $5,000 a month to pay for it on my own. I cant afford that. Ill have to go home, said Magahey. It is understood he is reliant on medication to control a heart condition. Flag featuring veteran Belfast republican Gabe Megahey There was no mention in the letter of his American-born wife and wider American family which includes 14 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Under terms of the Good Friday Agreement paramilitaries were granted amnesty and allowed to work and travel provided they stayed out of trouble. That order was extended by President Clinton to include the handful of IRA members serving prison sentences in the United States, which included Magahey and at the time about 20 others. Today, that number has dwindled to Magahey and two others. I worked for 30 years and never collected a single day of unemployment, said Magahey. There have been rising concerns about the impact of Trumps purge on Americas undocumented population on Irish living Stateside, but the move against Megahey goes a step further and raises questions about the futures of IRA on the runs Kevin Barry Artt and Terence Kirby, both of whom live openly and legally in California courtesy of the Clinton deal. Now the fate of those former prisoners remains unclear. But questions are being asked about the letter to Belfast native Megahey who has been in the US since the 1970s. U.S. President Donald Trump. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images Megahey revealed the contents of the unsigned letter from Homeland Security at an event n New York to mark the release of RTE documentary Noraid: Irish America and the IRA. When asked if he was indeed the leader of the IRA in America as prosecutors had maintained at his trial, Magahey was dismissive. They always lie, he said. Hes had no run-ins with the law in the 37 years since he was released from prison, he said. That was part of the deal. If we got into trouble, the deal would be rescinded, he said. Asked if he has any regrets, Magahey said, not a one. Id do it all again. But he added: I wouldnt get caught the next time. Megahey came to the US in 1975. His presence was the subject of an immigration case in the mid-90s which was never fully adjudicated. He served time in federal custody but was subsequently allowed remain in the US as a result of a 1997 decision by Janet Reno, who was Attorney General during the Clinton administration. That decision stayed deportation proceedings against seven alleged former IRA members including Megahey. At the time, Megahey, then 54 and working as an operating engineer for a Manhattan construction company, told the NY Times the announcement was a powerful step forward. The Department of Homeland Security letter could, it is understood, lead to a possible reopening of the immigration case. But initial efforts are being directed to finding out whether the unsigned letter was possibly sent out in error. Megahey lived in New York State for a number of years but in recent times has been a resident of Delaware, home state of former President Joe Biden. For the past few weeks, whispers have emerged that the UVF and other loyalist paramilitaries were going to make a big announcement at some point in the autumn. By reducing its ranks to a skeletal size, the UVF is following in the footsteps of the Provisional IRA, a senior loyalist source has said. He was speaking after historian Dr Aaron Edwards revealed earlier this month that the UVF leadership is close to brokering a deal with the British government which would see the loyalist terror group issue a General Order of Disbandment. Author of the book UVF: Behind the Mask and viewed as an expert on loyalism, Newtownabbey-born Dr Edwards claims the UVF leadership want to retain an elite of military members who will act as protectors of the organisation, as it continues its journey to a peaceful society in Northern Ireland. A senior lecturer at Sandhurst Military College, Dr Edwards said retained UVF members could be styled a veterans association, but in reality it will be more like a close protection team for senior members. And he was backed last night by a senior loyalist source who insisted the UVF was working from a blueprint devised by the Provisional IRA. Former UVF leader Gusty Spence along with William Smyth, Gary McMichael, David Irvine and David Adams. News in 90 Seconds - Saturday July 12 If you dont believe the Provos still exist then cast your mind back ten years to the murder of former IRA man Kevin McGuigan, who was shot dead outside his home in the Short Strand. Everyone now knows he was killed by the Provos, he said. He added: Its at times like this that paramilitary leaders are most vulnerable from a range of enemies both outside and from within. The retention of military capability and personnel is simply an insurance policy. Eight years ago the Sunday World revealed that representatives of all paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland were asked to meet with senior security personnel at a venue off Belfasts Springfield Road. They were briefed about government policy on criminality linked to loyalist and republican organisations. Aaron Edwards. And they were warned the authorities were well aware of the identity of those involved in illegal activity and it would be only a matter of time before the PSNI moved against them. Dr Edwards said he saw Fridays developments as a continuation of that policy. Speaking to the Sunday World from his office at Sandhurst, he said: We shouldnt forget that meeting in west Belfast, because thats where all this began. Ordinary people want to live in a normal society. For the past few weeks, whispers have emerged that the UVF and other loyalist paramilitaries were going to make a big announcement at some point in the autumn. But at that time I didnt believe any move would be made towards disbandment. For me, it would have seemed very unusual, given how deeply these organisations had become bedded in local communities. However, a movement has emerged from the bottom of the paramilitary groups and in particular the UVF in certain areas, where people are saying theyve had enough of criminality and there is no reason for loyalist paramilitary groups to exist any longer. And there is clearly an ongoing process from the top down to negotiate with the UVF leadership. It is my understanding this has been ongoing since 2017. So this week, weve seen the skeletal details of this emerging about what that might look like. Its clear the terminology is very militaristic. And that would suggest to me that these things that are being talked about are accurate. However, given that the UVF is a top-down organisation, the foot soldiers are always the last to know, so it will be interesting to see how this works its way down through the ranks and across different areas. Dr Edwards said. He added: Its my understanding that this direction of travel has been set for some time. And it may bring us forward to a different phase, but whether it brings about complete disbandment of the UVF, remains to be seen. Formed in November 1965, the modern-day UVF brought the gun back into Northern Ireland politics with the shooting of three Catholic barmen the following June. The group had been enjoying an after-hours pint in the Malvern Arms pub in the Shankill area of Belfast. And as the were leaving they were caught in a hail of gunfire as soon as they stepped out onto the street around 2.15am. UVF leader, Gusty Spence a former member of the Royal Ulster Rifles was jailed for life along with other members of the organisation, which was immediately proscribed by the then Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Captain Terence ONeill. During its 30-year campaign, the UVF went on to kill more than 500 people during the Troubles, carrying out many massacres of innocent Catholics, including those mutilated by the Shankill Butchers. New Zealand is deepening ties with Southeast Asia to boost security and prosperity in an increasingly unstable global climate, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. Speaking from Malaysia, where he attended the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting this week, Peters said New Zealand was engaging more intensively than ever with Southeast Asia, recognising its strategic importance in an increasingly uncertain world. Next year marks 50 years of dialogue between New Zealand and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Peters said discussions in Malaysia this week had been a significant step toward formalising a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN by October 2025. The meetings also provided an opportunity for New Zealand to mark the half-century of diplomatic engagement with the regional bloc and reinforce its reputation as a consistent and valuable partner. This weeks meeting was Peters tenth engagement with East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers since he attended the inaugural gathering in Kuala Lumpur in 2005. He said New Zealand remained proud to have been among the original nations to help establish the summit as ASEANs leading strategic forum. Peters said dialogue and cooperation with regional partners were more essential than ever as global tensions rise. He reaffirmed New Zealands enduring commitment to shaping a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific through regional partnerships. Key regional security issues were high on the agenda. Peters said New Zealand reiterated its concern over the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and rising tensions in the South China Sea. Discussions also touched on instability in the Middle East and the growing threats to the Indo-Pacifics strategic balance. In addition to the summit, Peters held bilateral meetings with counterparts from Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the United States and Viet Nam. Peters also met with recipients of the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme. He said people-centred connections remained vital to deepening regional ties, and the scholarship initiative played an important role in fostering long-term relationships and goodwill. The Ministers visit to Malaysia marked the 36th official ministerial visit by New Zealand to Southeast Asia since February 2024. Peters said the increasing frequency of such visits reflected the Governments strategic priority to bolster engagement across the region. He expressed appreciation to Malaysia, the 2025 ASEAN Chair, for its hospitality and efforts in hosting the weeks meetings. He said the Government looked forward to continuing to strengthen bilateral ties with Malaysia and all ASEAN member states. Peters concluded that New Zealand would continue to expand its presence and partnerships in Southeast Asia to ensure long-term security, economic resilience, and regional stability in a shifting geopolitical landscape. An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows two Xixia imperial tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) PARIS, July 11 (Xinhua) -- China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were inscribed on the World Heritage List on Friday during UNESCO's 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Paris, France. With this addition, the total number of World Heritage sites in China has reached 60. Xixia Imperial Tombs is a group of imperial burial sites from the Xixia Dynasty (Western Xia, 1038-1227), founded by the Tangut people in northwestern China during the 11th to 13th centuries. Covering an area of nearly 40 square km, the site comprises four types of architectural remains: 9 imperial mausoleums, 271 subordinate tombs, a northern architectural complex covering 0.05 square km, and 32 flood control works. The Xixia Imperial Tombs are the largest, highest-ranked, and most intact archaeological site from the Xixia period that has survived to the present day. According to the World Heritage Committee, the site is a testament to the cultural fusion and interactions of diverse traditions. It also bears witness to the unique role of the Xixia Dynasty in cultural and commercial exchanges along the Silk Roads during the 11th to 13th centuries. The Committee commended the efforts and achievements made by the Chinese government in the protection and management of the cultural heritage of the Xixia Imperial Tombs. Rao Quan, vice minister of Culture and Tourism of China, said that China will remain steadfast in fulfilling its obligations under the World Heritage Convention, further enhance holistic and systematic protection of cultural and natural heritage, and improve conservation capacity and standards. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs was presented during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, France, July 11, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Wang Songyu) A staff member arranges cultural relics at a storehouse of the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 9, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) A staff member monitors the Xixia imperial tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 9, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) This photo taken on July 9, 2025 shows cultural relics discovered from Xixia imperial tombs at the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows people visiting the Xixia Imperial Tombs scenic area in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua) A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) A staff member arranges cultural relics at a storehouse of the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 9, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) A tourist picks cultural and creative products at the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 9, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) A staff member arranges cultural relics at a storehouse of the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 9, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) This photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows two Xixia imperial tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua) An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua) This photo taken on July 9, 2025 shows cultural relics discovered from Xixia imperial tombs at the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 13, 2024 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Photo by Li Jing/Xinhua) This photo taken on July 5, 2025 shows two Xixia imperial tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua) This photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) This photo taken on July 9, 2025 shows cultural relics discovered from Xixia imperial tombs at the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows two Xixia imperial tombs in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) Chinese delegates celebrate the inscription of China's Xixia Imperial Tombs on the World Heritage List during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, France, July 11, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Zhang Baihui) Chinese delegates celebrate the inscription of China's Xixia Imperial Tombs on the World Heritage List in Paris, France, July 11, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Zhang Baihui) Artists perform at the Yotkan cultural scenic spot in Hotan County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) URUMQI, July 11 (Xinhua) -- As summer draws crowds to Hotan County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Daoxiang Village comes alive with the rich aroma of lamb and corn dishes. Visitors from across China fill its restaurants, homestays and craft shops. Located on the southern rim of China's vast Taklimakan Desert, Daoxiang Village, with its name literally meaning Rice Fragrance Village, was once a traditional farming village with a long history of rice cultivation. However, in recent years, it has transformed into a vibrant rural tourist destination. This notable change is a direct result of China's long-running "paired assistance" program, under which 18 provincial-level regions and the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen support the development of Xinjiang. A doctor from Shenzhen talks with villagers and local medical staff at Kukexiluge health center in Kukexiluge Township, Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) Since 2021, Beijing's aid projects, including a multi-million yuan investment to establish a "rural complex with folk culture," have helped upgrade Daoxiang Village's infrastructure -- improving water, electricity, roads and gas. Renovations of 219 houses, meanwhile, preserved the traditional Uygur Aywan architectural style, a hallmark of local residential design, but also integrated modern comforts in this process. Early adopters of these upgrades, Gheyret Roziemet and Patime Bak, who are a couple, were inspired after visiting successful rural tourism sites in Kashgar and Ili, also in Xinjiang. Encouraged by local officials and the village support team, they also chose to turn their home into a homestay business. The couple took out loans to finance the required renovations, keeping the original wooden beams and brick walls while adding bright glass windows, grape arbors and flower beds. Patime Bak manages the homestay kitchen, roasting lamb and serving mutton soup, while the couple together cultivate corn used to prepare traditional farm-style corn dishes that are proving popular with visitors, thereby boosting their income. "Now as a boss, I earn several times more monthly than when I worked as a laborer," Patime Bak said with a smile. During peak seasons, their courtyard often fills with diners enjoying sunset views across the desert, savoring the rich aroma of roasted lamb amid the rustling of rice stalks. Today, by leasing their farmland to others and running the homestay, the couple's annual household income reaches over 200,000 yuan (about 27,982 U.S. dollars). They are planning to renovate an adjacent unused house and use it as an additional guesthouse next year, to welcome even more guests. Thanks to local rural revitalization policies, committed local officials and continuous funding support from Beijing, more than 1,000 residents in the village now find employment through an "agriculture plus tourism" model, running restaurants, guesthouses and craft shops. Amyna Gheyret, a local agritainment business owner, said with gratitude: "Thanks to Beijing's aid, our villagers have work and incomes. My family earns around 5,000 yuan monthly now. With tourism, our wallets keep getting fuller." Daoxiang Village's transformation exemplifies the profound urban-rural changes spurred by China's paired assistance efforts in Xinjiang. Launched in 1997 and significantly expanded in 2010, this cross-regional initiative has funneled resources into local development. It has become a cornerstone strategy for boosting prosperity and promoting unity in China's vast western regions. This policy provides financial resources, technical expertise and talent from more developed eastern regions to boost Xinjiang's development. Beyond Daoxiang Village, similar stories of transformation are unfolding across Xinjiang under the paired assistance program. In Hotan, a textile project supported by Beijing and south China's Guangdong Province has created over 700 jobs in its first phase alone, empowering locals like Zulaya Tursuntohti with stable employment and technical skills. A technician (2nd R) trains locally recruited agricultural workers at a smart workshop for plant cultivation in Aksu, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Hongyan) Meanwhile, in Aksu, digital empowerment is reshaping rural livelihoods. E-commerce incubators launched with help from the city of Hangzhou in east China, have trained over 9,500 locals in livestreaming and online sales. Over the past few years, numerous aid projects, ranging from automated planting workshops to textile enterprises and modern cultural tourism sites, have taken root across farming and herding areas, injecting vital momentum into local economic and social development. "It's all thanks to good rural revitalization policies, hardworking county officials and the help from aid funds," said Patime Bak, "That's how we got the good life we have now." Artists perform at the Yotkan cultural scenic spot in Hotan County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) URUMQI, July 11 (Xinhua) -- As summer draws crowds to Hotan County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Daoxiang Village comes alive with the rich aroma of lamb and corn dishes. Visitors from across China fill its restaurants, homestays and craft shops. Located on the southern rim of China's vast Taklimakan Desert, Daoxiang Village, with its name literally meaning Rice Fragrance Village, was once a traditional farming village with a long history of rice cultivation. However, in recent years, it has transformed into a vibrant rural tourist destination. This notable change is a direct result of China's long-running "paired assistance" program, under which 18 provincial-level regions and the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen support the development of Xinjiang. A doctor from Shenzhen talks with villagers and local medical staff at Kukexiluge health center in Kukexiluge Township, Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) Since 2021, Beijing's aid projects, including a multi-million yuan investment to establish a "rural complex with folk culture," have helped upgrade Daoxiang Village's infrastructure -- improving water, electricity, roads and gas. Renovations of 219 houses, meanwhile, preserved the traditional Uygur Aywan architectural style, a hallmark of local residential design, but also integrated modern comforts in this process. Early adopters of these upgrades, Gheyret Roziemet and Patime Bak, who are a couple, were inspired after visiting successful rural tourism sites in Kashgar and Ili, also in Xinjiang. Encouraged by local officials and the village support team, they also chose to turn their home into a homestay business. The couple took out loans to finance the required renovations, keeping the original wooden beams and brick walls while adding bright glass windows, grape arbors and flower beds. Patime Bak manages the homestay kitchen, roasting lamb and serving mutton soup, while the couple together cultivate corn used to prepare traditional farm-style corn dishes that are proving popular with visitors, thereby boosting their income. "Now as a boss, I earn several times more monthly than when I worked as a laborer," Patime Bak said with a smile. During peak seasons, their courtyard often fills with diners enjoying sunset views across the desert, savoring the rich aroma of roasted lamb amid the rustling of rice stalks. Today, by leasing their farmland to others and running the homestay, the couple's annual household income reaches over 200,000 yuan (about 27,982 U.S. dollars). They are planning to renovate an adjacent unused house and use it as an additional guesthouse next year, to welcome even more guests. Thanks to local rural revitalization policies, committed local officials and continuous funding support from Beijing, more than 1,000 residents in the village now find employment through an "agriculture plus tourism" model, running restaurants, guesthouses and craft shops. Amyna Gheyret, a local agritainment business owner, said with gratitude: "Thanks to Beijing's aid, our villagers have work and incomes. My family earns around 5,000 yuan monthly now. With tourism, our wallets keep getting fuller." Daoxiang Village's transformation exemplifies the profound urban-rural changes spurred by China's paired assistance efforts in Xinjiang. Launched in 1997 and significantly expanded in 2010, this cross-regional initiative has funneled resources into local development. It has become a cornerstone strategy for boosting prosperity and promoting unity in China's vast western regions. This policy provides financial resources, technical expertise and talent from more developed eastern regions to boost Xinjiang's development. Beyond Daoxiang Village, similar stories of transformation are unfolding across Xinjiang under the paired assistance program. In Hotan, a textile project supported by Beijing and south China's Guangdong Province has created over 700 jobs in its first phase alone, empowering locals like Zulaya Tursuntohti with stable employment and technical skills. A technician (2nd R) trains locally recruited agricultural workers at a smart workshop for plant cultivation in Aksu, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Hongyan) Meanwhile, in Aksu, digital empowerment is reshaping rural livelihoods. E-commerce incubators launched with help from the city of Hangzhou in east China, have trained over 9,500 locals in livestreaming and online sales. Over the past few years, numerous aid projects, ranging from automated planting workshops to textile enterprises and modern cultural tourism sites, have taken root across farming and herding areas, injecting vital momentum into local economic and social development. "It's all thanks to good rural revitalization policies, hardworking county officials and the help from aid funds," said Patime Bak, "That's how we got the good life we have now." During Wednesdays episode of The View, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin made a surprising admission: She cries at work. The group was having a discussion about how Gen Z is reportedly crying in the bathroom at work. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, and Sara Haines seemingly couldnt relate. But the topic struck a chord with Griffin. I cry at work, but I hide it. So my bosses will never know, she said. Shocked by Griffins confession, Hostin quickly asked: You cry at work? I have cried at this job at least half a dozen times, Griffin replied. Are you kidding? Have you done this job? she said as audience members began to clap in response. Her co-hosts seemed surprised. Griffin then referenced a scene from The Simpsons where Bart Simpson takes his friend Milhouse into a cave and says, This is where I come to cry. Behar asked, What did you cry about? Give me an example. This is a very hard job to do and I oftentimes have the only opinion thats different at a table of five people, she explained. Griffin, a former White House aide to Donald Trump, typically aligns with conservative views. However, during the 2024 presidential election, she voted Democrat for the first time. Alyssa Farah Griffin attends the 2024 Disney Upfront at Javits Center on May 14, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage) WireImage Haines then chimed in that crying at work isnt exclusive to just Gen Z. Gen Z, and even maybe the generation before, are talking about it because they can call it something, she said. For years, and decades, and millennia, we have all channeled it into other places, she said, admitting that she does cry at work, but not for the same reasons as Griffin. Haines disclosed that every breakup shes been through has resulted in tears while on the clock. However, instead of secretly crying in the workplace bathroom, shed excuse herself for a coffee run. Griffin made it clear that even though she has shed tears due to work stress, she is still very happy working at The View. For the record, this is a great job. And Brian gives great hugs, she said, referring to the shows executive producer, Brian Teta. Kong Xiong Wang was 18 years old when he arrived at Miami International Airport with a document U.S. immigration officials said was fraudulent. In 1994, an immigration judge ruled that Wang must return to China, record show. Instead, over the next decades, he made his way north to a small village on the Susquehanna River in Upstate New Yorks Southern Tier. In Owego, Wang is known as Roger Huang, age 50, a husband and father and the owner of Kam Fung Chinese restaurant for about 25 years. His is the story of Chinese restaurant owners in towns all over America. Huang works all day in the kitchen while his wife serves General Tsos chicken and egg rolls in the dining room. Customers have watched their two daughters study their way from restaurant countertops to college. This family sure knows how to make awesome food and a friendly atmosphere and its always family, theirs and yours, one Google reviewer wrote a month ago. Owego New York is blessed. Now, for the second time in recent weeks, an Upstate New York community has lost the patriarch of its beloved local Chinese restaurant family. On June 16, President Donald Trumps crackdown on undocumented immigrants caught up with Huang. Now, he is in a detention center in Batavia, NY. His case is closed. His last appeal was denied in 2019. There is no hearing listed for him in the immigration court database a system so secretive, you need to know the persons alien registration number to search it. The federal government has provided no public information about the document they called fraudulent in 1993. He has exhausted all due process and has no legal remedies left to pursue, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson wrote in response to an inquiry from Syracuse.com. After failing to self-deport and leave the U.S. for three decades, ICE arrested him on June 16, 2025. The response from ICE came with this warning: The U.S. government has offered illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport and return the right way. The only other option is to be arrested and deported with no opportunity to return. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions about the right way for someone like Huang to return to his restaurant. There is no easy path for workers in blue-collar industries like hospitality or farming to obtain year-round work visas. All over Upstate New York, the U.S. government is arresting the people who repair roofs, landscape yards and raise chickens. Dairy farm workers are refusing to leave company-provided housing, where officers would need a warrant to enter. Also in June, ICE officers arrested Jian Hao Zhang at China Moon restaurant in Camden, NY, north of Oneida Lake. Zhang, 56, is also in the detention center in Batavia with no hearing listed. An ICE spokesperson said Zhang arrived in 1990 on a fraudulent visa and was ordered to leave decades ago. A mural in Owego, NY says "We're happy you're here." Michelle Breidenbach The whereabouts of these so called immigration fugitives could not be more known to the U.S. government. They have operated businesses, bought homes and sent their children to public schools in America without trouble for decades. Previous administrations prioritized criminals or recent detainees for deportation. Trump has sent his officers after everyone who has no permission to live in the U.S. Voters in the town of Owego chose Trump over former Vice President Kamala Harris with 55% of the vote in the 2024 election. Kam Fung remains open without Huang in the kitchen. A woman at the front counter Thursday told a Syracuse.com reporter that they do not need help and she did not want to be interviewed. Several friends of the Huang family have also said they want to respect the familys wishes to avoid publicity. They are supporting them quietly by pooling resources to pay a lawyer. The restaurant is in the Price Chopper shopping plaza just outside of the historical downtown, where a mural proclaims Owego: Were happy youre here. Adam Weitsman said he recruited Roger Huang to open a Chinese restaurant in his hometown of Owego about 25 years ago. SYR Across the street is a scrap yard owned by Adam Weitsman, who is well known in Central New York as a wealthy businessman and influencer. Weitsman was born and raised in Owego and still works at another site there. It turns out, Weitsman said he recruited Huang to build the restaurant in the shopping center he developed and later sold. Weitsman said he first met Huang at another Chinese restaurant in Johnson City, NY. Weitsman invited Huang to rent space and open Kam Fung in Owego. Later, Weitsman said he hired one of the Huangs daughters to work as an intern in his accounting office. Weitsman said he would eat lunch once a week at Kam Fung when he worked across the street. The two would talk about their daughters, but never politics, he said. I try to be a good person. They are good people, Weitsman said. Theres a difference. It is possible that Weitsman is the only person in Owego who has met Trump in person. But Weitsman said he has not appealed to the president on Huangs behalf. He said no one has asked for that. Weitsman said he has, however, contributed to Huangs legal defense fund. Weitsman said his position on immigration does not matter and he declined to discuss it. He said he never asked Huang whether he was a U.S. citizen. This is me helping a friend. It doesnt matter if Im for or against, Weitsman said. I cant be a fair-weather friend. Do you have a tip about immigration arrests? Contact Michelle Breidenbach | mbreidenbach@syracuse.com | 315-470-3186. H. Rose Schneider | Times Union, Albany, N.Y. New Scotland, N.Y. Another Upstate New York food delivery driver was greeted with violence after arriving at the wrong home last month, State Police said. The driver for Uber Eats was attempting to deliver food to the Capital Region home just before noon on June 28 when its 43-year-old resident came out with a hatchet and confronted them, State Police said Wednesday. Still in their vehicle, the driver attempted to explain why they were there. But after being threatened by the hatchet-wielding man, the driver realized it was the wrong home. The man began hacking at the vehicle with the hatchet when the driver drove off, troopers said. The driver called 911. The driver was not injured, but their vehicle was damaged, troopers said. The man was arrested the next day for first-degree assault and second-degree criminal mischief, both felonies, as well as fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree menacing, both misdemeanors. He was given an appearance ticket and released from custody. He was released on probation following a July 3 appearance in New Scotland Justice Court, court officials confirmed. A call to a number associated with the man had not yet been returned Wednesday. His attorney, Matthew Simone, confirmed he pleaded not guilty to each charge, but declined to comment, saying it was early in the case and they were waiting on further evidence. Troopers declined to release the road the alleged incident occurred on, noting its a rural road that could reveal the mans full address. It is at least the second time in the last few months that a food delivery driver was allegedly attacked upstate. A DoorDash delivery driver was seriously injured on May 2 in Orange County after he was shot in the back after approaching the wrong home for a delivery. The town of Chesters highway superintendent, John J. Reilly III, was charged with attempted murder. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 72,185 Thanked: 325,332 Times View My Garage Re: 5-year old SAIC to exit India | JSW Group to increase stake in JSW MG Motor India . The review embargo and this press release have been timed to perfection, I will say! This is very bad news & very good news, in equal proportion. Bad news because it is the exit of yet another car company from India, and yet another brand (SAIC will not allow lifelong usage of the MG brand to JSW this is the start of the withdrawal of MG from India). The lesser the number of car companies fighting for our business as customers, the worse off it is for you & me. I don't know if JSW will be as successful without the muscle & might of SAIC behind it (I hope they are, but the loss of SAIC is a big one, like Maruti without Suzuki). Why good news? Because, as Ajmat said, we are merely giving China a taste of its own medicine. China never allowed any MNC auto companies to set up independent operations in the last 50 years (Tesla being the sole exception) and will certainly not roll out any red carpet to any Indian company (whether auto or otherwise). On the contrary, in fact! Recently, China has been bullying the worldwide auto industry by placing intentional restrictions on the supply of crucial raw components. It also shows the Indian governments intent to fight China for geo-political reasons and to protect the market in India. I dont believe in opening up the car market to Chinese auto players at all, because they will destroy the marketnot disrupt it. The Indian Auto Industry is too precious to our economy in terms of investments, jobs, skills, technology, learnings, tax contribution and pride. If given a free hand, Chinese carmakers will destroy everyone else (Europe, Thailand etc. are already repenting opening up their automotive markets to them). Forget weak players like Renault & Honda, Chinese brands will even leave powerful players like Maruti, Hyundai, Mahindra & Tata gasping. They simply dont compete on a level playing field IMHO. I have mixed feelings about this news because I do respect MG as a brand and how their management team rolled out the Hector & ZS EV. They were great products for their time and the company did take good care of its customers (big pat on the back to Rajeev Chaba & his team). But if SAIC wants to exit, so be it. It is very clear that it sees no future in the country and / or as a partner of ambitious JSW which has plans of its own. Maybe, in the future at some point, they will re-enter, if & when the market is more favourable to Chinese companies (not in the near future for sure and I sure hope not). China will have to be a better-behaved neighbour for that to happen and I dont think its in their DNA to be soft, polite or cooperative (on the other hand, one has to respect the countrys aggression & sheer ambition too). Ive always mentioned how effective & strong the Media / Communications arm of MG India is, from day 1 of the brands launch in India. This is yet more proof = the SAIC exit news is picking up speed on the same day that the reviews of their brand-new, premium, large Electric MPV (MG M9) reviews are being released. The review embargo and this press release have been timed to perfection, I will say!This is very bad news & very good news, in equal proportion. Bad news because it is the exit of yet another car company from India, and yet another brand (). The lesser the number of car companies fighting for our business as customers, the worse off it is for you & me. I don't know if JSW will be as successful without the muscle & might of SAIC behind it (I hope they are, but the loss of SAIC is a big one, like Maruti without Suzuki).Why good news? Because, as Ajmat said, we are merely giving China a taste of its own medicine. China never allowed any MNC auto companies to set up independent operations in the last 50 years (Tesla being the sole exception) and will certainly not roll out any red carpet to any Indian company (whether auto or otherwise). On the contrary, in fact! Recently, China has been bullying the worldwide auto industry by placing intentional restrictions on the supply of crucial raw components. It also shows the Indian governments intent to fight China for geo-political reasons and to protect the market in India. I dont believe in opening up the car market to Chinese auto players at all, because they will destroy the marketnot disrupt it. The Indian Auto Industry is too precious to our economy in terms of investments, jobs, skills, technology, learnings, tax contribution and pride. If given a free hand, Chinese carmakers will destroy everyone else (Europe, Thailand etc. are already repenting opening up their automotive markets to them). Forget weak players like Renault & Honda, Chinese brands will even leave powerful players like Maruti, Hyundai, Mahindra & Tata gasping. They simply dont compete on a level playing field IMHO.I have mixed feelings about this news because I do respect MG as a brand and how their management team rolled out the Hector & ZS EV. They were great products for their time and the company did take good care of its customers (big pat on the back to Rajeev Chaba & his team). But if SAIC wants to exit, so be it. It is very clear that it sees no future in the country and / or as a partner of ambitious JSW which has plans of its own. Maybe, in the future at some point, they will re-enter, if & when the market is more favourable to Chinese companies (not in the near future for sure and I sure hope not). China will have to be a better-behaved neighbour for that to happen and I dont think its in their DNA to be soft, polite or cooperative (on the other hand, one has to respect the countrys aggression & sheer ambition too). Last edited by GTO : 11th July 2025 at 17:41 . TusharK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Pune Posts: 7,664 Thanked: 67,865 Times Triumph Scrambler 400XC spoked wheels cost over Rs 34,000 each The cross-spoke wheels can also be retrofitted to the Scrambler 400X. However, they are quite expensive if you purchase them separately. According to Triumph, the front rim costs Rs 34,876, while the rear wheel costs Rs 36,875. Existing owners of the Scrambler 400X can get the alloy wheels swapped for the spoked rims. However, the warranty only covers manufacturing defects and not physical damage caused while riding. Besides the rugged rims, the Scrambler 400XC also has a dedicated off-road ABS mode, traction control, and ride-by-wire throttle. It is powered by the same 398cc, single-cylinder engine that makes 39.5 BHP and 37.5 Nm and is paired with a 6-speed gearbox. Source: Link to Team-BHP News Back in May, Triumph introduced the Scrambler 400XC. Priced at Rs 2.94 lakh, it costs almost Rs 27,000 more than the standard Scrambler 400X. For this, you get cross-spoke wheels shod with tubeless dual-purpose tyres.The cross-spoke wheels can also be retrofitted to the Scrambler 400X. However, they are quite expensive if you purchase them separately. According to Triumph, the front rim costs Rs 34,876, while the rear wheel costs Rs 36,875.Existing owners of the Scrambler 400X can get the alloy wheels swapped for the spoked rims. However, the warranty only covers manufacturing defects and not physical damage caused while riding.Besides the rugged rims, the Scrambler 400XC also has a dedicated off-road ABS mode, traction control, and ride-by-wire throttle. It is powered by the same 398cc, single-cylinder engine that makes 39.5 BHP and 37.5 Nm and is paired with a 6-speed gearbox.Source: Autocar India Last edited by TusharK : 10th July 2025 at 11:11 . Why it matters: Creating a reliable chatbot appears to be the holy grail of AI development these days, but as chat interfaces become the new way people access information, the integrity of their responses carries growing societal weight. According to users, Elon Musk's latest AI model called Grok 4 appears to be less focused on objectivity and more for echoing Elon Musk's erratic online persona. Elon Musk recently introduced Grok 4, the newest iteration of xAI's foundation model, describing it as a "maximally truth-seeking AI." According to critics, the model seems to regard Musk himself as the ultimate source of truth. His opinions appear to play a central role in Grok's reasoning process. Prompt results shared by users on X suggest that Grok 4 heavily relies on Musk's posts, public statements, and well-known viewpoints when responding to controversial topics. When asked about the Palestinian genocide by the Israeli army, Grok reportedly offered the one-word answer "Israel" and could be prompted to justify that answer by referencing Musk's views. The chatbot was also observed carefully analyzing Musk's statements to better align with its creator's thinking. Introducing Grok 4, the world's most powerful AI model. Watch the livestream now: https://t.co/59iDX5s2ck xAI (@xai) July 10, 2025 During its launch, Grok 4 was said to show notable improvements in several complex tests. Musk claimed it could outperform rival models from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic. He also emphasized that the chatbot is now less "woke," a recurring complaint voiced by the outspoken South African-born billionaire. Even before the release of Grok 4, xAI developers reportedly struggled with the model's tendency to produce answers Musk disapproved of. That issue escalated shortly after July 4, when the chatbot began spouting antisemitic rants in response to user prompts. I replicated this result, that Grok focuses nearly entirely on finding out what Elon thinks in order to align with that, on a fresh Grok 4 chat with no custom instructions.https://t.co/NgeMpGWBOB https://t.co/MEcrtY3ltR pic.twitter.com/QTWzjtYuxR Jeremy Howard (@jeremyphoward) July 10, 2025 At one point, the AI went as far as defining itself the "MechaHitler," which is certainly the least-woke way to answer a question. CEO Linda Yaccarino, the public face of X at the time, stepped down shortly after the incident. Beyond antisemitism and the Gaza conflict, Grok 4 also appears to be consulting Musk's opinions on other contentious issues when needed, including immigration in the United States. In its usual unhinged style, the chatbot makes little effort to conceal the sources it relies on. While it occasionally gestures toward a balanced perspective, it almost always ends up aligning with Musk's rhetoric. When prompted with less sensitive topics, Grok seems to produce more varied responses based on its own reasoning. However, the inner workings of the chatbot remain opaque. Unlike most major AI developers, xAI does not provide a system card or technical documentation, leaving users with few clues about how Grok 4 actually operates. Body-camera footage released by the Colorado Springs Police Department Friday shows the man involved in a June 23 shooting fired at law enforcement twice before he was shot and killed by officers. Police said the incident started with a shots-fired call around 1 a.m. near an apartment complex in the 1400 block of Michelle Court, near South Murray Boulevard. The reporting party told officers a man was "firing a gun into the air." Officers arrived on the scene, first speaking to a witness who pointed law enforcement in the direction of the gunshots. Police said they searched the complex, eventually making contact with 51-year-old Jesus Ramirez Jr., outside one of the buildings. Police said Ramirez was holding a handgun when officers located him. He was ordered to drop the weapon "or he would be shot." Police said Ramirez then pointed the weapon at officers and fired "at least one shot." Two officers shot back, firing multiple shots each, striking Ramirez and causing him to fall to the ground, police said. Officers attempted to approach Ramirez, but he allegedly still had the weapon in his hand. More orders were given ordering him to drop the weapon, or he would be shot again. Featured Local Savings In the footage, Ramirez can be seen raising his handgun from the ground and firing another shot, prompting officers to return fire once again. After officers fired a second round of shots at Ramirez, he appears to be motionless on the sidewalk just outside one of the apartment buildings as officers continue to tell him to drop the weapon. Medical personnel declared Ramirez dead at the scene. No officers or members of the public were injured during the incident, police said. Per department policy, the officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave. In accordance with state law, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office is taking charge of the investigation into the shooting. Once the investigation is complete, it will be sent to the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office to determine if the officers' use of force was appropriate. According to spokesperson Caitlin Ford, the department has had 45 officer-involved shootings since 2019, six of which have happened in 2025. Records show 2021 saw the highest number of officer-involved shootings, ending the year with nine. Recap: The European Union introduced what it calls the world's first comprehensive legal framework last year to regulate AI development. Although the regulations will not be enforceable for some time, recently introduced guidelines aim to facilitate compliance from tech giants, including OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google, which will likely attempt to resist or circumvent the new rules. The European Commission recently introduced an AI code of practice to help large language models comply with last year's AI Act. The conditions are voluntary, but the commission suggests that agreeing to them is the easiest way for tech giants to adhere to the AI Act. Although the new regulations enter into effect on August 2, new AI models have one year to comply with them, and existing models have a two-year grace period. The code of practice, which targets generalized LLMs from companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google, consists of three sections, covering transparency, copyright, and safety. The transparency section asks applicants to disclose details about how they develop and train their AI models, including energy usage, required processing power, data points, and other information. The dominant AI giants will likely bristle at the requirement to reveal where they obtained their training data. Furthermore, the new EU rules include demands that LLMs respect paywalls, refrain from circumventing crawl denials, and otherwise observe copyright law, which AI companies are already fighting against. European internet publishers recently filed an antitrust complaint against Google's AI Overviews, a feature that summarizes information from various websites without users having to visit them. Denmark also recently proposed a law granting citizens copyright over their likenesses, allowing them to file claims against deepfakes made without their consent. Moreover, AI companies have admitted that the technology might be incompatible with existing copyright law. A former Meta executive warned that AI might die "overnight" if LLMs were forced to obtain permission from every copyright holder. The CEO of Getty Images also disclosed that the company cannot contest every copyright claim related to AI. The AI code's safety section addresses potential threats to citizens' personal safety and rights. For example, language in the AI Act mentions high-risk implications associated with the technology, including surveillance, weapons development, fraud, and misinformation. According to Bloomberg, violations of the AI Act can result in fines of up to 7% of a company's annual sales. In brief: The founders and top researchers of AI coding startup Windsurf have announced that they will join Google's DeepMind team, effectively ending OpenAI's $3 billion bid to purchase the company. Windsurf will remain independent as Google will not be taking a stake and its new licensing deal with the firm is non-exclusive. Sources told Bloomberg that Google agreed to pay about $2.4 billion to hire Windsurf founders Varun Mohan and Douglas Chen, along with some R&D staff. The Verge reports that the new hires will primarily help develop Google's Gemini AI platform. Windsurf announced that Jeff Wang, its Head of Business who joined the company in 2023, will take over as interim CEO. Global Sales VP Graham Moreno will serve as president. Founded in 2021, Windsurf, formerly known as Codeium, raised over $200 million in venture capital from Greenoaks Capital Partners, AIX Ventures, and other investors. A deal with General Catalyst last year valued the AI coding platform at $1.25 billion; the two companies eventually attempted a $3 billion valuation with Kleiner Perkins. Windsurf agreed to an acquisition by OpenAI at that price earlier this year, but the deal reportedly collapsed over concerns that Microsoft would gain Windsurf's intellectual property. Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI grants it access to the ChatGPT-maker's technology. Buying Windsurf would have helped OpenAI compete with generative AI coding platforms like Microsoft-owned GitHub. The move by Google is the latest example of a tech giant poaching top talent from a startup without acquiring the company outright. Microsoft, Meta, and other firms have recently made similar deals, likely using the tactic to avoid antitrust scrutiny. Also read: The rise of AI coding tools: Is English the hot new programming language? Programming is one of the areas that has seen the most disruption from generative AI. Companies like Windsurf claim that large language models can enable users to write code more quickly than ever using natural language prompts. Industry figures, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and legendary programmer John Carmack, have hailed AI as a fundamental shift in software design. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently admitted that AI now writes around 30% of the company's code, while CTO Kevin Scott boasted that 95% of code will come from AI by 2030. However, critics claim that the technology is prone to error and remains inept at certain tasks. A recent paper from the AI research group METR states that, although developers and experts claim the technology speeds up coding by between 10% and 50%, it actually makes programmers about 19% slower. The University of Colorado Boulder established a new center to address the policy challenges of the rapidly expanding space industry. The Colorado Space Policy Center, announced at the end of June, will serve as a hub for research and public policy conversations for local, national and perhaps international stakeholders. CU Boulder already has notable aerospace engineering, public policy and international law programs but the center aims to help unify multiple disciplines to approach issues facing legislators from a more well-rounded viewpoint. Alongside the new center, a professorship in space policy and law will rotate every two years between the College of Engineering and Applied Science, the Leeds Schools of Business and Silicon Flatirons, a research center at the University of Colorado Law School. CU Boulder donors Dale and Patricia Hatfield are funding the endeavor with $2.5 million to establish the Hatfield Endowed Professorship in Space Policy & Law. Aerospace Engineering Sciences Professor Marcus Holzinger spent the last few years of his career working on space debris policy and is the first to take up the professorship. Most of the Space Policy centers are across the nation, and frankly, also internationally, are run by people who are experts in policy, which is necessary, Holzinger said. Our position is that we can add to the conversation by making sure that these discussions are, Ill say, physics aware. With rapid expansion in the commercial space industry, new center Director Professor Daniel Baker said space is involved in our everyday lives more than most people even realize. Dr. Burns and I have been thinking for at least a decade that we needed to have a place, a safe place for people to come and talk about the issues and to find solutions to the vexing challenges that are confronting the space program, he said. One of the most pressing issues on Bakers mind is the lack of regulation in Low Earth Orbit. LEO refers to the area of space where satellites orbit relatively close to Earth, and are considered near enough for convenient transportation. Featured Local Savings Soon there will be tens of thousands of spacecrafts that are launched not only by U.S. companies, but by other companies abroad for a point-to-point communication, said Baker. Jack Burns, a professor of astrophysics in the department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences and a close colleague of Baker shares the concern. Looking at the regulatory environment for space is important. And frankly, right now, its kind of the wild west as far as space law is concerned, he said. The hope is that the center will serve as a place for informed conversations about how policy can keep up with the advancing technological landscape; and that CU can share the expertise it has gained with those making important decisions. According to the Colorado Space Coalition, the state ranks first in the nation for per-capita private aerospace workers. Professors said it only makes sense that the university takes on the role of a hub for addressing current gaps in the legal space. Holzingers new professorship will allow him to travel to policy talks around the country and internationally, in an aim to contribute towards the impact of those decisions. Its increasingly clear that there was a demand on the part of our students as well as with industry and our federal delegation in Washington for more inputs and more help on space policy issues, Burns said. The center will also give students from many disciplines a chance to be a part of its work, from engineering to law and even perhaps the humanities. Burns said the center is looking at having a certificate of space policy that students could earn, and eventually perhaps more advanced degrees. Although the center may not be able to solve every problem facing the rapidly expanding industry, Baker said he hopes some of their work will lead to wiser decisions. Were rapidly falling behind. I think competitors in the world like China, because were not making wise enough investments, wise enough choices, politically and economically, he said. We want to elevate the understanding amongst policymakers, so that we do the right thing, and that we may remain the worlds leading space Nation. Trump voices shock at devastating scale of Texas flood damage Kerrville, United States, July 11 (AFP) Jul 11, 2025 US President Donald Trump spoke Friday of seeing devastation like he'd never before experienced as he toured parts of Texas hit by devastating flash floods that have left at least 120 people dead, including dozens of children. The Republican leader and First Lady Melania Trump were in the Hill Country of central Texas to meet first responders, victims' families and local officials, a week after a rain-swollen river swept away houses, camp cabins, cars and people. "This is a tough one. I've never seen anything like this," Trump said at a roundtable meeting in Kerrville, in the worst-affected Kerr County. "I've gone to a lot of hurricanes, a lot of tornadoes. I've never seen anything like this. This is a bad one." Trump lashed out at reporters for questioning authorities' response to the disaster and said he wanted to focus on solidarity with emergency workers and volunteers. "All across the country, Americans' hearts are shattered," said Trump, speaking at a table draped in a black banner with the message "Texas Strong." "I had to be here as president. The first lady wanted to be here." He compared the suddenly rising floodwaters to a "giant wave in the Pacific Ocean that the best surfers in the world would be afraid to surf." Earlier, the Trumps were met by Governor Greg Abbott near the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, in an area with numerous downed trees and an overturned tractor trailer. They were briefed by Texas Emergency Management and Kerrville Fire Dept officials, and greeted by 30 or so rescue workers and Coast Guard members. The search for more than 170 missing people, including five girls who were at summer camp, was in its eighth day as rescue teams combed through mounds of debris and mud. But with no live rescues reported this week, worries have swelled that the death toll could still rise. Trump has brushed off questions about the impact of his cuts to federal agencies on the response to the flood, which he described as a "100-year catastrophe" that "nobody expected." On Thursday, Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem, who was with Trump in Texas, defended the immediate response as "swift and efficient." But Texas officials have faced questions about why emergency evacuation messages to residents and visitors along the flooding Guadalupe River reportedly were delayed, in some cases by hours. Trump expressed support for a flood warning system in a telephone interview with NBC News on Thursday. - FEMA questions - The floods, among America's deadliest in recent years, have reopened questions about Trump's plans to phase out federal disaster response agency FEMA in lieu of greater state-based responsibility. FEMA began its response to the Texas flash floods over the weekend after Trump signed a major disaster declaration to release federal resources. But the president has so far avoided addressing questions about its future. Noem insisted FEMA should be "eliminated" in its current form at a government review meeting Wednesday. Officials in Kerr County, which sits astride the Guadalupe River in an area nicknamed "Flash Flood Alley," said at least 36 children were killed in the disaster at the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Details have surfaced about reported delays to early alerts at a local level that could have saved lives. Experts say forecasters did their best and sent out timely and accurate warnings despite a sudden weather change. ABC News reported Thursday that at 4:22 am on July 4, a firefighter in Ingram, upstream of Kerrville, had asked the Kerr County Sheriff's Office to alert residents of nearby Hunt to the coming flood. The network said its affiliate KSAT obtained audio of the call, and that the first alert did not reach Kerr County's CodeRED system for a full 90 minutes. In some cases, it said, the warning messages didn't arrive until after 10:00 am, when hundreds of people had already been swept away. The flooding of the Guadalupe River was particularly devastating for summer camps on its banks, including Camp Mystic, where 27 girls and counselors died. 500 tourists evacuated from Grand Canyon wildfires Los Angeles, United States, July 11 (AFP) Jul 11, 2025 Fast-spreading wildfires have forced the evacuation of part of the Grand Canyon, with the US National Park Service saying at least 500 people had been guided out of the danger zone. The canyon's North Rim, which is less popular with tourists than the South Rim, was cleared of all visitors due to a blaze called the White Sage Fire. "Last night, Grand Canyon staff safely evacuated approximately 500 guests," the Park Service said in an update Friday. "All visitors have left the area, and park employees and residents remain sheltering in place. Day use access to the North Rim is closed until further notice." Jon Paxton, press officer for the Coconino County sheriff's office, told AFP that a hotel and some businesses had all been emptied. "Most of the folks we evacuated were campers," he said. "This area is high desert and mostly open forest for camping." The fire is burning outside the Grand Canyon National Park but approaching Jacob Lake, Arizona, a small settlement known as the gateway to the North Rim. About 8,700 acres (3,500 hectares) have been scorched and the blaze is zero-percent contained, according to authorities, who released images of large columns of smoke rising above the scrubby desert. - Started by lightning - The fire was started by lightning during a thunderstorm on Wednesday. "Crews encountered very extreme fire behavior due to the dry conditions (and) gusty and erratic winds inhibiting the ability for fire fighters to safely engage the fire," the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said. One of the greatest wonders of the natural world, the Grand Canyon is the result of the Colorado River eating away at layers of red sandstone and other rock for millions of years, leaving a gash up to 18 miles (30 km) wide and more than a mile (1.6 km) deep. The Park Service advised against any hiking into the canyon, due to extreme heat and wildfire smoke. A 67-year-old man died on Tuesday while attempting to reach the river in hot conditions. Last year almost five million people visited the world-famous site. Another popular site, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado, was also closed Friday because of a wildfire. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The wife of Raynor Winns former employer has said their experience with the author caused him to lose his trust in human beings. The bestselling author of The Salt Path has found herself at the centre of controversy in the past week, after an investigation published in The Observer alleged that parts of her memoir had been fabricated. Winns 2018 book tells how she and her husband, Moth, walked the South West Coast Path, a gruelling journey of 630 miles, after a string of private tragedies including the loss of their home in Wales and Moth being diagnosed with a neurological condition. The Salt Path was a publishing hit, selling 2 million copies and gaining Winn legions of fans. A film adaptation, starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs as Winn and Moth, respectively, was released in May. Published on Sunday (6 July), The Observers investigation raised serious doubts over the accuracy of her memoir, claiming that it misrepresented how the couple lost their home, which, according to Winn, was due to a bad business investment. The Observer, however, reported that the couple lost the property after Winn allegedly defrauded her employer of 64,000 in 2008, which she apparently attempted to repay after taking out a loan from a relative. Speaking to The Telegraph, Winns former employer, Ros Hemmings, who took part in The Observers original investigation, opened up about how the encounter had impacted her husband, Martin, who died in 2012. It was after noticing a missing sum of 6,000 that Martin told Winn real name Sally Walker not to come into work the next day. According to Hemmings, Winn turned up at their home in tears with a cheque for 9,000, which they accepted, fearing that it was their only chance of repayment. open image in gallery Gillian Anderson stars in the film version of author Raynor Winns book The Salt Path ( (c) Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten ) Further scrutiny of their bank account, however, showed a total of 64,000 unaccounted for. The police were called and Winn was arrested, but vanished when she was released on police bail. Winn had allegedly fled to the Isle of Wight where Stan (a pseudonym), a close relative of Moths who is portrayed in the book as family friend Cooper, agreed to find the couple a lawyer and provide them with a loan to avoid her being prosecuted for stealing from her employer, according to Stans wife, Jane (also a pseudonym). After being contacted by Winns lawyer, the Hemmingses agreed to accept a payment of 90,000 on the condition that Martin agreed not to pursue a criminal case against her. Martin also signed a non-disclosure agreement. The ordeal, however, affected Martin deeply, according to his wife. He lost his trust in human beings, she said. Recalling the moment she saw the glowing reviews for The Salt Path, Hemmings said: I was so hurt and sad I just couldnt believe it. She added that she was perplexed at how Winn had been presented as a golden girl. In a lengthy statement issued on Wednesday night (9 July), Winn said she was truly sorry for mistakes made while working with her former employer, Martin Hemmings, in the years before the economic crash of 2008. open image in gallery Winn said she was truly sorry for mistakes made while working with her former employer, Martin Hemmings ( Getty ) For me it was a pressured time. It was also a time when mistakes were being made in the business, she wrote. Any mistakes I made during the years in that office, I deeply regret and I am truly sorry. Winn gave no further details about the allegations of theft. Winn said that the dispute involving Hemmings is not the court case referred to in The Salt Path and it was not the reason they lost their home. In the same statement, she addressed the heartbreaking allegations over Moths CBS diagnosis; corticobasal degeneration is a rare and incurable neurological condition said to be both degenerative and terminal. She shared photographs of redacted clinic letters, addressed to Timothy Walker (Moths real name), that appear to show that he is treated for CBD/S and has been for many years. Alongside the photos, Winn added: As Ive explained many times in my books, we will always be grateful that Moths version of CBS is indolent, its slow progression has allowed us time to discover how walking helps him. Others arent so lucky. Winn called The Observer article grotesquely unfair and highly misleading, adding that it seeks to systematically pick apart my life. The Salt Paths publisher Penguin said that it "undertook all the necessary due diligence before publishing Winns book in 2018. Producers of the film, released in the UK only weeks ago, have said they had no knowledge of the concerns. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice John Goodman has revealed he hasnt spoken to his former on-screen wife, Roseanne Barr, in almost a decade. Goodman recently wrapped The Conners, the Roseanne spin off series, which followed the Conner family as they struggled to pick up the pieces after matriarch Roseannes death. In the finale, Goodmans character Dan visited Roseannes grave. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in a new interview, Goodman revealed the status of his relationship with Barr when asked if he had connected with her over the end of the spin off. No. Id rather doubt if she wants to talk to me, Goodman said. We havent talked for about seven or eight years. When asked if the silence between them made it hard to do The Conners, Goodman said: No. We got a good cast, and everybody stands out. John Goodman and Roseanne Barr haven't spoken in almost a decade ( Getty ) Goodman and Barr starred on the original 1988 sitcom, which aired for nine seasons. The two had instant chemistry that made the show a hit. Goodman was also asked about working with Barr in those early days of the sitcom, saying: We hit it off from jump street. She made me laugh, and I made her laugh, and wow, it was so much fun. Wed get so many viewers for the show back then 20, 30 million people. Things are so different now, but it was a special time, he added. The Conners aired its series finale in April after seven seasons. The spin off premiered in 2018 shortly after the planned revival of Roseanne was canceled because of a racist tweet shared by original star Barr, whose character was written off for The Conners, though she was honored in the series finale. The final seconds of the series saw several mainstays from the original series namely Laurie Metcalf as Jackie, Lecy Goranson as Becky Conner, and Sara Gilbert as Darlene Conner tearfully hug one another and say goodnight to the familys patriarch, Dan Conner (Goodman). Goodman was then left alone in the living room as a brief montage of seasons past played, featuring the trio of characters who had just exited. Goodman then broke the fourth wall in a rare break in character. Looking directly at the camera, he smiled, nodded, and said, Goodnight and then walked off, beer in hand. I wanted to do it, and they let me, and they kept it, Goodman told The Hollywood Reporter of that moment. I thought it was just us saying, Good night, folks. Thank you. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Michael Shannon has said he very reluctant to star in The Flash because of the way Zack Snyder was treated after dropping out of Justice League. The American actor told The Independent he was hesitant to reprise his role of General Zod in the 2023 DC film starring Ezra Miller because of the way that Man of Steel director Snyder had kind of been excommunicated from the whole Warner Brothers empire after quitting sequel Justice League. After completing work on the film. Snyder stepped away from the post-production of Justice League after the death of his daughter. Snyders replacement, Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, rewrote and reshot most of his work, much to the chagrin of superhero fans. That left this sour taste in my mouth, Shannon, 50, said while promoting his new West End play A Moon for the Misbegotten. I did not like the way they treated him at all. Whedons Justice League was criticised by critics and audiences, who immediately launched a petition calling for Warner Bros to release Snyders original cut. The directors four-hour version was eventually released in 2021. Despite Shannons hesitancy to appear in The Flash, said he agreed to appear because he liked director Andy Muschietti but said he does not recall his on-set experience fondly. When I was there doing it, there were several days where I thought, Im not doing this again, the actor said of the effects-heavy film. Shannon previously revealed he was given Snyders blessing to reprise his Man of Steel role in the film. Michael Shannon reprised his Man of Steel role in The Flash ( Getty ) Zack, to his credit, was very understanding, the Boardwalk Empire actor told The Playlist. He gave me his blessing, and I went to do it. I loved Andy, too. I loved working with Andy. Theyre both super creative guys. Shannon continued: The fact that Zack asked me to play that part to begin with thats probably the biggest surprise of my career, the Boardwalk Empire actor told The Playlist. It almost felt like a practical joke. I was like, Youre kidding me, right? The actor can currently be seen on the London stage, starring in A Moon for the Misbegotten alongside Ruth Wilson and Shameless star David Threlfall. Eugene ONeills play, set in 1920s Connecticut, follows the collision between a wealthy landlord and a farmers daughter over the course of a single night. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A message tossed into the Atlantic nearly 30 years ago by a Canadian couple washed up on the shores of Irelands Scraggane Bay this week. When Brad Squires, 40, threw a bottle off the cliffs of Bell Island 13 years ago, he and his then-girlfriend Anita, now 35, doubted it would even reach the ocean, let alone survive the journey across the Atlantic. Today we enjoyed dinner, this bottle of wine, and each other on the edge of the island, the couple wrote in the bottle message about their picnic date. If you find this, please call us, they added, providing a phone number but never imagining somebody actually would. But on July 7, Kate and Jon Gay, members of the local charity Maharees Conservation Association, found it during a beach cleanup on the Dingle Peninsula. They brought it to a group meeting later that night, where they smashed it to reveal its contents. Its a moment of pure joy, Martha Farrell, chair of the Maharees Conservation Association, told NBC News. For us, its the impossibility and resilience of that glass bottle finding our beach all those years later but also the resilience of the couple. open image in gallery Brad and Anita Squires tossed a message in a bottle into the Atlantic off Canadas coast, and it washed ashore in Ireland 13 years later. ( Maharees Heritage and Conservation ) The Squires married in 2016, settled in Newfoundland, and share three children and now, their remarkable love story with the world. They had only been dating for a year when they penned the message and were long-distance. He was a police officer in British Columbia, and she was a nursing trainee in Newfoundland. The finders called the number in the letter but got no answer, so Farrell made a Facebook post, expecting it might take weeks to find the author. But one hour later, Anita Squires responded, confirming she had written the note. "It was phenomenal," Farrell told the outlet. open image in gallery The message in a bottle listed a phone number, but finders ended up connecting with its author through Facebook ( Maharees Conservation Association ) Anita added, "For all the stars to align, for all those things to happen, it seems like an impossible feat for that little bottle, but it was pretty resilient." Adding to the storys serendipity, the bottle was found in the Maharees, a coastal area in Ireland facing erosion from climate change, much like parts of Newfoundland. The Maharees Conservation Association hopes to use the discovery to connect with Newfoundlanders facing similar challenges, and Anita plans to help. open image in gallery The bottle traveled nearly 2,000 miles away from where it was thrown into the ocean ( Lovers message in a bottle found 13 years later and 2,000 miles ) "They have a soft coastline, they have a sand dune system, and they are also vulnerable to sea level rises," Farrell said. "It's a somber enough affair when you're thinking How can we actually prepare ourselves for what's to come? So to have this little moment of pure joy in the middle of that, it was very welcome." Anita called her love story cute but also credited the conservation groups efforts to protect coastlines from climate change. She said that connecting these campaigners is the beautiful thing at the end of the story. Following a new statewide requirement, the School District 49 Board of Education approved a new policy limiting students use of cellphones during school time at its regular meeting Thursday night. The new policy, "JICJ," prohibits all students pre-kindergarten through eighth grade from using personal electronic devices during the school day. These devices, which include cellphones, smartwatches, tablets and laptops, must be turned off and kept in designated locations. High school students will be granted access to their devices during their lunch periods. Exceptions for phone use included authorized use aligning with students individualized learning plans (IEP); 504 plans or health care plans; necessary use to report or respond to an emergency; or limited use aligned with specific school lessons approved by administration. The policy and its parameters come following an extensive community-engagement process dating back to last year that involved community meetings, committee meetings and feedback from district principals and administrators. So, over the past year, there have been a bunch of different eyeballs on it to come up with this policy taking in all that feedback, D-49 Board President Lori Thompson said. While various board members and administrators expressed their individual desires for this type of policy in the past, the need to pass one recently became more urgent when House Bill 25-1135 was signed into law two months ago. The law was passed to address increasing rates of cyberbullying and negative effects on student academic performance and mental health. All public school districts, the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind and charter schools governing bodies are now required to implement a new policy limiting communication device possession and use during the school day before July 1, 2026. Elsewhere in the Pikes Peak region, Colorado Springs D-11, one of its charter schools Eastlake High School, Woodland Park RE-2, Cripple Creek-Victor School RE-1, The Thomas MacLaren School and St. Mary's High School have adopted phone policies. While all D-49 board members agreed that the policy was necessary, regardless of the new state requirement, there were some conflicting views on the degree that phones should be allowed in school. Board members Deb Shmidt and Jamilynn DAvola said they believed that phones had no place in the educational environment, while Mike Heil and Marie Lavere-Wright argued there were appropriate times where they could be incorporated into lessons, test questions and overall time management to prepare them for life scenarios beyond high school. While various parts of the policy were deliberated among the board members, the consensus was that its general language was in the best interest of the district, since it was largely crafted by its students, parents, teachers and administrators. Its about balancing a lot of different interests (with this policy) and I dont have the hubris to just strike all that hard work and impose my own viewpoints, Heil said. Following the approval of minor amendments, the policy would eventually get passed by the board, 4-1, with Shmidt being the only dissenting vote. Featured Local Savings Honor Charter School Later in the meeting, the board voted to approve the application for Honor Charter School, a Marzano Academy. Using a competency-based model of education developed by longtime educational researcher Robert Marzano, the new school looks to focus on individualized assessment strategies for students to demonstrate mastery in school subjects at their own pace. It would do so through 16 research-based indicators to guide learning and provide consistent feedback and skills-based grading across content areas. In a traditional system, you advance by age. In a competency-based system, age doesnt stop you from going through higher levels, and it doesnt automatically move you to the next level, Marzano told the board at their June meeting. Among the adopters of the Marzano Academy approach in Colorado is John E. Flynn Elementary School in Adams County D-50. As a school in D-49, Honor Charter School also would be able to offer instructional training to other schools in the district seeking to improve their respective instruction, leadership and teacher development. The school plans to open for the 2027-28 year as a K-5 school with a starting enrollment of 414 students before adding a grade and enrollment totals over the next three years. Highmark School Development would construct a new building for the school once land is acquired. Since 2008, the independent charter-school developer has built facilities for over 100 schools across 17 states. Among them are the Colorado Military Academy and Global Village Academy in Colorado Springs. Ahead of the vote, various board members acknowledged the schools thorough application and the opportunities it would provide to the district. D-49 Superintendent Peter Hilts also voiced his support for what the school may bring to the district, while noting the school will still need to meet its goals set in its application, such as enrollment and land acquisition, before it can open. This is one of the strongest application groups that I have encountered in my time, and they have produced one of the strongest applications, he told the board. Now, strong group and strong application do not necessarily mean high-performing school but I think theres a competitive streak over there, and I think when you add strength to your district portfolio, it makes your operating district charter schools better and thats what Im hoping will happen. The board unanimously approved the schools application. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Robert Irwin has returned to the scene of the (petty) crime, where he recently dined and dashed. Last week, the 21-year-old Australian conservationist and TV host went viral after admitting he had accidentally eaten at Jetty Pavilion in Coffs Harbour without paying. In an effort to rectify his mistake, he called the restaurant to try and pay for his meal over the phone. But instead, he was told to just leave us a good review. So I said, Guys, Jetty Pavilion, Im going to do you one better, Irwin recalled and on Friday, he did just that. Im a man of my word. I said I was gonna pay for the salad, so Im here to do just that, he told local outlet 7News. Robert Irwin returned to the popular Australian restaurant where he unwittingly dined and dashed last week ( Getty Images for TV WEEK Logie Awards ) In social media clips of his latest visit to the eatery, the son of the late Steve Irwin laughed and bantered with restaurant staff as he tapped his credit card to belatedly pay for his earlier meal. When Robert Irwin came back to The Pav just to pay for his meal, absolute legend! Humble, kind, and all class. Thanks for showing us that true Aussie spirit, Robert! the restaurant wrote in the caption of the video. They then thanked him in a subsequent Instagram post, saying: From a humble surf road trip to a chance encounter and a moment that changed everything. Were so honoured to have hosted a true conservationist doing incredible things for our country and our planet. What an unforgettable week. Beyond proud of our team and deeply grateful to have crossed paths with such a humble legend. Lets be honest this has been wild and its been more than just a highlight, the statement continued. Its been life changing for the Pav and for our small, vibrant coastal community. Thank you, Robert. Youre welcome back anytime. Irwin additionally shared pictures of himself posing with the establishments team in an Instagram Story. Finally got that salad paid for... and paid it forward for a few more, he said. According to the Daily Mail, he is said to have donated an extra $200. Irwin previously explained to fans his mistake in an Instagram Video. Im road-tripping down the East Coast of Australia at the moment and I stopped in at Coffs Harbour, which is a beautiful coastal town in northern NSW, for a bit of dinner, he said. However, after ordering, Irwin said he was surrounded by fans who wanted photographs and his autograph. I went in there and there was a lot of people who saw me and wanted a photo but it turned into a bit of a frenzy, Irwin continued. While interacting with his fans, he grabbed his food and headed back to his car. It wasnt until the next day that the wildlife conservationist remembered he never paid for his meal. Then the next morning I wake up and realize, I never paid for my salad. I just did the old dine and dash and didnt even realize. I felt terrible, he said, jokingly concluding, Today is not the day I start my life of crime, as much as the tabloids would love that, its not happening. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An Atlanta man accused of killing his four-year-old daughter by denying her food and water has been sentenced to more than 150 years in prison. Rodney McWeay, 33, was sentenced Thursday in Treasure McWeay's death after being convicted of murder, kidnapping and other charges, prosecutors said. He was also convicted of other counts stemming from the abuse of his two other children, who are 3 and 4, authorities said. Treasure suffered from hunger, thirst and neglect at the hands of her father, who used violence and control to keep her and her brothers from the help they needed, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said in a statement. open image in gallery Rodney McWeay ( Fulton County Sheriff's Office via AP ) McWeay was arrested in December 2023 after Treasure was pronounced dead at an Atlanta hospital. Police warrants stated that she was extremely malnourished and her face appeared to be sunken in around the eyes and cheekbones, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. An autopsy found that she weighed only 24 pounds. McWeay did not have custody of any of his children at the time, authorities said. About five months before Treasure died, he had kidnapped them from their mothers home in Maryland and prevented Georgia child protection workers from speaking to them, the Journal-Constitution reported. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Kentucky cattleman allegedly conned dozens of investors out of $100 million with promises of non-existent "ghost" cattle and the profits from their slaughter before taking his own life. Now, attorneys, investigators, his alleged victims, and his grieving family have been left to pick up the pieces. On Thursday, attorneys Mark Bryant, Emily Roark, and David Bryant of Bryant Law Center, Ron Parry of Strauss Troy, and William F. McMurry of William F. McMurry and Associates have filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of residents in Kentucky who, they allege, were defrauded in a cattle investment Ponzi scheme. The lawsuit accuses Community Financial Services Bank, RABO AgriFinance, and Mechanics Bank of enabling the scheme by providing financial backing and ignoring "clear signs of misconduct, causing devastating financial losses for dozens of Kentucky investors." About six years ago, Brian McClain began seeking investors for his cattle business. According to Drovers, who spoke to sources familiar with the scheme, McClain offered a "guarantee" of a 30 percent return on their investment. open image in gallery Brian McClain, a cattleman in Kentucky, allegedly carried out a multi-year Ponzi scheme involving ghost cattle. Since his 2023 death, investors and creditors have been scrambling to recover their losses ( Getty ) The cattleman operated a trio of businesses: McClain Feed Yard Inc, McClain Farms Inc, and 7M Cattle Feeders Inc. He used his businesses to aggregate cattle from various sources including rodeos throughout Kentucky, the southeast U.S., Texas, and Oklahoma. His companies would then send the cattle to locations in Kentucky or Texas, where they'd be treated for any outstanding medical issues and grown for slaughter. He did have cattle. Some of his investors his early investors did profit. But, according to a new lawsuit, those early investors were paid with cash infusions from newer investors. It was, allegedly, a Ponzi scheme, similar in structure, if not scale, to the massive $4 billion one famously waged by Bernie Madoff. McClain's operation began to unravel in February 2023 after he reported his December cattle inventory of more than 88,000 head had fallen to just below 38,000 head. RABO AgriFinance, his lender, reportedly, became suspicious of that claim and ordered an inventory check. On April 4, a Rabo inspection found that "there were only 7,461 head of cattle in Texas and 3,094 head of cattle in Kentucky." Two weeks later, Chris Ward, a special ranger for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, traveled to McClain's 7M property on the night of April 18, 2023, to investigate McClain's missing cattle. When he arrived, he knew instantly that the numbers were off. open image in gallery Phony financier Bernie Madoff pled guilty in 2009 admitting that he used his wealth management business to create a massive Ponzi scheme which enriched himself, his family and others. He was sentenced to 150 years, and died in prison in 2021. ( AP ) "I don't remember what the exact count was, but it was very obvious, from what he was supposed to have there, that he those weren't there," he told WPSD. "We're expecting to see thousands of cattle, and there were not thousands of cattle there that was obvious." McClain died by suicide on the same day. At least 102 creditors from 14 states, including Texas, Kansas, Kentucky, Iowa, and Oklahoma, as well as investors from Alberta, Canada, are owed money by the companies McClain controlled. Both of those companies and his feed yard are now closed, according to the Southwest Ledger. The class action suit filed Thursday alleges that "RABO AgriFinance extended over $70 million in credit to McClain despite internal concerns about his poor recordkeeping, inability to verify cattle ownership, and other 'red flags.'" It also accuses Community Financial Services Bank, McClain's local bank, of allegedly permitting "more than 100 days of overdrawn accounts, often by more than $1 million" and failing "to act despite clear signs of suspect intercompany transfers." "Mechanics Bank, working closely with RABO, is accused of knowingly participating in a pattern of massive overdrafts and transfers," the complaint says. "These actions, the suit contends, enabled McClain to sustain the illusion of a profitable cattle operation while diverting new investor funds to pay earlier ones." Mark Bryant, the founder of Bryant Law Center, said the suit was "about fairness and transparency." Innocent, hardworking Kentuckians were misled and financially harmed by a system that prioritized profit over people. We believe the law is on their side. In a statement to The Independent, Rabo AgriFinance said: Rabo AgriFinance remains strongly committed to providing financial solutions to U.S. cattle producers, feedlots, and processors. As the legal process unfolds Rabo AgriFinance will refrain from commenting further. Investors were left scrambling in the wake of McClain's death and the news of his alleged fraud. Kent Rise, an attorney and certified public accountant in Texas, was appointed to manage McClain's former businesses and to work to recover funds for the purpose of paying back McClain's creditors. That includes selling McClain's assets and filing litigation. Ries recounted his visit to one of McClain's companies to WPSD. "These two facilities were just they had no real office. I mean, I literally put my foot through the floor of this crummy little office I walked through because it was so poor. The pens were rusted and falling down. You know, for a place that had just gotten a loan a few years before from RABO of $50-plus million, I was pretty stunned that the facilities were in such lousy condition," he told the outlet. Ries has been critical of RABO AgriFinance and three other banks who, he argues, did not do enough to detect McClain's alleged Ponzi scheme. In March, Ries filed a complaint in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas alleging that the banks knowingly or negligently enabled a Ponzi scheme. He accuses the banks of fraudulent bank transfers and a lack of oversight that allowed McClain's alleged scheme to continue for years. HTLF Bank, Mechanics Bank, and Community Financial Services Bank, along with RABO, are named as the defendants in the lawsuit. The Independent has requested comment from the defendants. "Rabo ignored countless red flags during the loan application process and ignored many more red flags when it repeatedly extended and increased the Debtors supersized line of credit even sidelining a discerning credit officer to keep funding McClains Ponzi scheme while at the same time receiving millions of dollars of interest, fees, and principal payments from the Debtors," the complaint reads. An evaluation of a man accused of a string of stabbings in January in downtown Denver concluded he is competent to stand trial. The defense attorneys of Elijah Caudill, meanwhile, are seeking to prove otherwise. Denver District Judge Karen Brody scheduled a competency hearing for the 24-year-old suspect on Oct. 24, some nine months after he was arrested for allegedly stabbing four victims on 16th Street, leaving two dead. Caudill was charged with two charges of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault and four violent crime sentence enhancers by the Denver District Attorneys Office on Jan. 17. The string of stabbings occurred on Jan. 11 and 12. Caudills defense attorney, Ariana Burnette, asked for a full-day hearing, with mental health experts testifying that Caudill is not mentally competent to stand trial. The defense requested the hearing after the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo at the Colorado Department of Human Services in Denver filed a competency evaluation on June 23, according to court records. While the evaluation is suppressed, the court received a report finding defendant competent to proceed to adjudication, the records said. Featured Local Savings Caudills history with mental illness stretches back before he allegedly stabbed and killed 34-year-old Nicholas Burkett and 71-year-old Celinda Levno, and injured a 49-year-old man and 62-year-old man. His defense previously claimed Caudill suffered from an obvious, severe and debilitating mental illness in a Jan. 17 motion to limit pre-trial publicity and asked the judge to deny any requests for expanded media coverage in the ongoing case, according to court records. Caudill has been arrested 15 times since 2018 in metro Denver on charges that included criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, robbery, menacing and twice for sex assault. His probation officer, following a 2021 menacing case, filed a previous motion seeking to revoke his probation and requested that the judge order Caudill to complete whats known as cognitive behavioral therapy to address anti-social behaviors. Caudill didnt complete the therapy, which led to another motion to revoke his probation. In that case, the judge checked a box in a court order that said, There is reason to believe the defendant poses substantial risk of serious harm to others. A Colorado Department of Corrections records also claimed that Caudill was yelling at voices in his head on May 23, 2023 and Feb. 21, 2024. The Essence Festival, which ended Sunday, is a celebration of Black culture launched in New Orleans in 1995. More than three decades later, it is an annual July event that significantly bolsters the New Orleans and Louisiana economies, attracting thousands of visitors. But this year, perhaps more than others, there have been concerns from fans about how the events were run. Essence Ventures Executive Vice Chairman Richelieu Dennis sat down for an interview with Columnist Will Sutton and Dr. Ashonta Wyatt, who co-host WBOK's Good Morning Show. It has been edited for accuracy, clarity and space. There are blueys and bludgers, chardonnay socialists, cleanskins and cashed-up bogans. The way Australians use the English language is often direct, facetious and occasionally just a little cruel. And for almost 40 years, the words the nation uses in speech, newspapers and books has been mapped by a small team at the Australian National Dictionary Centre in Canberra. Director of the Australian National Dictonary Centre Professor Amanda Laugesen. Credit: Rohan Thomson Those efforts are set to come to an end after Australian National University management, as part of a major cost-cutting drive, unveiled plans to disestablish the centre. It is going to be a loss to the community as what we do is explaining changes in language use, said centre director Professor Amanda Laugesen. A huge increase in pets in the City of Melbourne has led to more conflict at dog parks and in apartment buildings, and a trial to separate quiet dogs from their more assertive peers. The number of registered animals in the CBD has jumped by 35 per cent since 2020, including a 59 per cent increase in dogs and an 18 per cent rise in cats. Brett Potts with his five-year-old beagle cross, Vera, at Eades dog park in West Melbourne. Credit: Chris Hopkins Local Brett Potts said there used to be a handful of dog owners who would meet at the Flagstaff Gardens, but now when he goes there in the afternoons, he finds up to 40 dogs running around. I think the volume that weve got at the moment is a hangover from COVID, he says. We saw a massive spike in dogs that was our relief during COVID, right? Wed go to the park of an afternoon and socially distance from other owners as youre walking your dog. Credit: Matt Golding To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. Inaction is consent On reading the article on East Jerusalem Theres nothing the world can do about it (12/7) I couldnt stop thinking about the words of the man who watched his home be flattened: They are trying to break people, they want us to be nothing. It stayed with me, not just because of its heartbreak, but of how those words contrasted with the voices of those working to make that outcome a reality. Australian-Israeli settler Daniel Luria, who proudly leads Ateret Cohanims efforts to evict Palestinians and reclaim homes, denies that Palestinians even exist as a people. They are illegal squatters; he praises the use of courts to transfer land, and describes his mission as one of national rebirth. This is a slow-motion war, and it is being waged with bulldozers and land deeds instead of bombs. Australia recognises these settlements as illegal. So why is our outrage so well-mannered? I dont know what the world will do. But I know inaction is a form of consent. Fernanda Trecenti, Fitzroy Treading carefully Our leaders will have to tread carefully in considering any implementation of the points raised in Jillian Segals antisemitism plan (Editorial, 12/7). The risk here is that a misjudged implementation of such strong measures carries a strong risk of hindering rather than enhancing our quest for continued cultural unity and understanding, which is one of the successful hallmarks of Australian society. Perhaps most difficult of all will be our achieving a better national understanding of the appallingly tragic Gazan situation beginning with an acceptance of the fact that it is this which in large measure lies at the heart of our destabilising antisemitism and Islamophobia. What is needed now is a better understanding of extremism and moderation on all sides in the Middle East and the problematic role of the West in the Middle East so ably written about by highly regarded British journalist, the late Robert Fisk. So, we must tread carefully here, favouring educative understanding over punitive coercion lest the cure prove to be as bad or worse than the complaint. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size It was closing in on nightfall, and temperatures were quickly dropping. German backpacker Carolina Wilga had just spent nearly two weeks exposed to the elements in the West Australian outback, with minimal food and water, drinking from puddles and seeking shelter where possible, including in a cave. Carolina Wilga was missing for almost two weeks. Credit: Facebook Confused and disoriented, the 26-year-old believed she was about to spend her 12th night outdoors when, finally, she found a road. Wilga had travelled 24 kilometres from where she lost control of her Mitsubishi Delica and became bogged while travelling on an inland route through remote bushland. After spending a day waiting with her car, she panicked and decided her best bet was to start walking in the hope she came across another vehicle. Twelve days and 11 nights later, her ordeal ended on the edge of Mouroubra Road in Bimbijy, a small town in the states Wheatbelt region and about a five-hour drive from Perth. Advertisement She flagged down the driver of a passing car at 4.20pm on July 11, who then drove her to meet police. It brought to an end a massive search that began when Wilgas worried family in Germany contacted police after not hearing from her. The last confirmed sighting of Wilga was on June 29, and the search began on July 4. Wilga was flown to Perth for medical treatment of injuries including sunburn, extensive insect bites and an injured foot. She was still recovering and not yet ready to speak publicly on Saturday, but Acting Detective Inspector Jessica Securo, the officer in charge of WA Polices homicide squad who helped lead the search for the missing backpacker, spoke with her at Fiona Stanley Hospital the morning after her rescue. Securo said Wilga was traumatised, and overwhelmed someone had managed to find her. The officer also described Wilgas survival in the harsh West Australian outback as sheer luck. Advertisement She is still in disbelief. In her mind, she convinced herself that she was not going to be located, Securo said. You know, 11 days out there is significant, so Im sure she got to a point where she thought no ones coming. Securo said the region had mixed terrain, and could be quite dangerous if you dont know what youre doing or where youre going. Acting Detective Inspector Jessica Securo. Credit: Holly Thompson Its very easy to get lost, she said. From speaking to her, she basically looked at the direction of the sun and tried to head west, thinking that would be her best bet of coming across someone or a road. She had minimal food and minimal water. From speaking to her, she has said, I could have planned better. Advertisement We never gave up hope that Carolina would be found safe and well, and this is truly the best outcome. Securo said Wilga was very fatigued, but had a good nights sleep, a shower and some food, which was a massive relief for her. She also extended a thank-you to the woman who saved Wilga. A member of the community just happened to be driving by at the right time, so were extremely thankful for her stopping and giving Carolina the assistance she needed, Securo said. Carolina Wilga boards a plane to be flown to Perth after her rescue. Credit: 9News Perth I havent spoken to her directly, but my understanding is she was quite overwhelmed herself. One of Wilgas friends, Miranda Hendry, who was part of a group waiting outside hospital for her on Friday, said there were a lot of tears when they heard the news of her rescue. Advertisement It was a long wait, we were quite distressed, she said. I was actually in contact with her family every day almost, and theyre very happy. They almost couldnt believe it. They were overwhelmed. Another friend, Gioia Bezemer, said she had last heard from Wilga on June 28, when she received a text message saying she was going to give her back a book. Bezemer didnt hear from her again and four days later, she found out she was missing. We were wondering where she had gone, why she had taken that route, what had happened, she said. [When we see her] Im definitely going to throw my arms around her, and maybe get a little bit mad, because what the f--- was she doing? You dont hear about it much, when someone goes missing and then gets found. Advertisement A coalition of 17 county sheriffs urged Gov. Jared Polis to resolve the Department of Corrections backlog in inmate transfers and increase what the local officials described as the states inadequate reimbursement rate for housing DOC inmates in county jails. These conditions, the group, is unsustainable. In a letter signed by the sheriffs of El Paso, Douglas, Pueblo, and other counties, the sheriffs warned that prolonged delays in transferring of DOC-sentenced inmates from county jails into state custody, combined with what they called an outdated and underfunded per diem reimbursement rate, is creating a fiscal and public safety crisis. County jails were never designed or funded to house state inmates for extended periods, the sheriffs stated. Yet were being forced to expand capacity and stretch already limited staff to accommodate inmates who should be in state custody. This isnt just unsustainable its unfair to local taxpayers. In May, El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal called on Polis to address the backlog at the El Paso County Jail, the largest in the state. At the time, 139 DOC-sentenced inmates were being housed at the jail while they waited for an open bed at a DOC facility. Facing a budget shortfall of more than $1 billion, state lawmakers recently eliminated about 300 DOC beds. While funding has been approved to reopen 100 of those beds starting in July, it wont be nearly enough to address the backlog in El Paso County, let alone the rest of the states other 63 counties, Roybal said. Featured Local Savings Under state law, the DOC is required to reimburse county jails at a rate of $77.16 per inmate per day, but sheriffs said it costs them nearly double that to house each person. The reimbursement rate, set by the Colorado state legislature, remains significantly below the actual cost, placing a financial burden on our Office and the citizens of El Paso County, Roybal said. This imbalance continues to strain our operations, requiring additional staffing, medical support, medication, and meals to sustain those in custody. The sheriffs are asking the Governor to make the following changes: Expedite the reduction of the DOC transfer backlog through emergency beds or contracted correctional facilities Increase the per diem reimbursement rate Invest in more mental health treatment to address court-ordered evaluations and transfers Convene a meeting with them to discuss solutions This is no longer a localized issue its a statewide emergency, the sheriffs wrote. We must work together state and county leaders alike to protect our communities, hold dangerous criminals accountable, and ensure the sustainability of our correctional systems. Wearing a hat bearing the logo of his own football team, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Albanese said Australias trade with China was worth as much as the next four nations combined. That says something about how important this relationship is, he said. From 1994 to 2006, Muscat played as a defender for the Socceroos. He won 46 caps and scored 10 goals in that time. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese receiving a Shanghai Port FC soccer shirt. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer In 2023, the soccer champion became the coach of Shanghai Port, and the club has since won the 2024 Chinese Super League season and the 2024 Chinese FA Cup. Beyond soccer diplomacy, Australia complained on Friday to China about a live-fire exercise in February that disrupted flights between Sydney and New Zealand, only a day before Albanese touched down in Shanghai. Foreign Minister Penny Wong raised Australias concerns about the heavily armed flotilla that circumnavigated Australia earlier this year in a meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Malaysia on Friday, the government confirmed. Kevin Muscat at the 2005 Confederations Cup with the Socceroos. Credit: Getty Her expression of disapproval at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a day after she warned of Chinas rapid military build-up, serves as a reminder of the points of difference with Australias largest trading partner, even after years of calmer relations under Labor. The emergence of a Chinese flotilla sailing around Australias east coast in February sparked concern in Canberra about the lack of notice of live-firing, despite the voyage being conducted in accordance with international law. Flanked by a delegation of Australian captains of industry, the prime minister arrived in Shanghai on Saturday, where he will announce a memorandum of understanding between Tourism Australia and Chinese-owned Trip.com. The site is the worlds largest booking platform and owns Skyscanner and MakeMyTrip. The deal is designed to give Australia a leg-up over other nations in the lucrative Chinese holiday market, which is worth $9.2 billion to Australia. Anthony Albanese arrives in Shanghai on Saturday, where he will unveil a plan to boost the $9.2 billion Chinese tourists spend in Australia. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer A new tourism video featuring award-winning Chinese actor Yu Shu, under the banner of Australias Come and Say Gday campaign, will also be released. Albanese said Australias relationship with China went beyond beef, barley, red wine and lobster, all of which were blocked from China after the ruling Chinese Communist Party punished the Morrison government for its blunt criticisms of Chinas actions, particularly during the pandemic. Expanding our tourism relationship with China will mean more jobs for Australians and a boost to Australian businesses, Albanese said in a statement marking the start of his six-day visit to China. Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian has been pushing Australia to work together on artificial intelligence and investment in Australian critical industries. But Albaneses focus is likely to be confined to tourism and trade in less contentious areas, such as Chinas dominant green energy sector, during a two-day stop in Shanghai before a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the week. Albanese and fiancee Jodie Haydon are met by a welcoming party in Shanghai including a local girl and dignitaries. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Chinese tourists have flocked back to Australia since the pandemic. However, expectations of the wealth of Chinas expanding middle class are not as high as they once were. Material wealth continues to rise, but Chinas gross domestic product growth has declined from 8.5 per cent in 2021 to less than 5 per cent in 2025, according to economists surveyed by Reuters. Consumers are shifting their taste away from luxury brands, according to surveys, while unemployment among young people is more than 15 per cent. Kerrville, Texas: US President Donald Trump defended the state and federal response to deadly flash flooding in Texas on Friday as he visited the stricken Hill Country region, where at least 120 people, including dozens of children, died a week ago. During a roundtable discussion after touring Kerr County, the epicentre of the disaster, Trump said it was a hell of a situation and praised both Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for their response, saying they both did an incredible job. US President Donald Trump and wife Melania with first responders as they assess flood damage in Kerrville, Texas. Credit: AP But the Trump administration, as well as local and state officials, have faced mounting questions over whether more could have been done to protect and warn residents ahead of the flooding, which struck with astonishing speed in the pre-dawn hours on July 4, the US Independence Day public holiday. Trump reacted with anger when a reporter said some families affected by the floods had expressed frustration that warnings did not go out sooner. Hyundai Honored with 2025 Merit 'Gold' Award for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 11, 2025 -- Hyundai Motor America was recently recognized as a Gold Winner for the 2025 Merit Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility in the business category, for its CSR initiative 'Hyundai Hope' that seeks to promote safety within the community. Brian Latouf "Hyundai is honored to receive this award recognizing our commitment to safety through partnerships with leading children's hospitals nationwide," said, global chief safety and quality officer, Hyundai Motor Group. "As an automaker, our responsibility extends beyond building safe, high-quality vehicles, it includes empowering parents with the knowledge and communities with the resources to protect their children on and around the road. Our child safety seat checks and pedestrian safety events play a vital role in teaching and promoting best practices that help prevent injuries and save lives." According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of car and booster seats are installed incorrectly or improperly used. Research shows that using safety seats correctly can prevent injuries in children, and education is key to spreading awareness and adopting proper safety seat practices. Through Hyundai Hope, the company partners with hospitals across the country to deliver child passenger safety education programs. Areas are chosen based on need and connection to Hyundai and its affiliates. Additionally, Hyundai partners with a local hospital, Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), to deliver a pedestrian safety program that teaches children how to navigate streets in high-traffic areas like Southern California safely. Last year, Hyundai hosted a total of seven child safety seat events with partners including CHLA, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Children's of Alabama, and Children's Hospital of Savannah, in addition to other events the hospitals held on their own. In total, nearly 2,500 car seats were distributed and over 4,500 families received education on car seat and pedestrian safety. This initiative extends Hyundai's commitment to safety beyond manufacturing, complementing its development of award-winning vehicles. The Merit Awards for business were judged based on submissions that addressed leadership, innovation, positive work environment, and more. The Merit Awards are judged by journalists, executives, consultants, entrepreneurs, educators, and the Merit Awards staff. Hyundai Hope Hyundai Hope is a corporate social responsibility initiative from Hyundai Motor North America, committed to the principle of Progress for Humanity and the goal of improving the wellbeing of society. Hyundai Hope dedicates time and supplies resources to nonprofit organizations that support the health and safety of individuals and foster positive growth in communities. For more information, visit www.HyundaiHope.com. Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company's Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai's 850 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a published economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com. AutoCanada Executive Changes EDMONTON, AB July 11, 2025 Paul Antony /CNW/ - AutoCanada Inc. ("AutoCanada" or the "Company") (TSX: ACQ), a multi-location North American automobile dealership group, announced thathas informed the Board of Directors of the Company that he will transition from his role as Executive Chair. Following the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Antony will serve as non-executive Chair of the Board for a transition period, ensuring continuity and oversight. The Board of Directors has begun a search for a Chief Executive Officer. "When I stepped into the Executive Chair role in 2018, AutoCanada was over-levered, operationally constrained, and on the verge of irrelevance," said Mr. Antony. "Together, we stabilized the business, returned it to profitability, and repositioned it as a resilient, growth-ready platform. With the Company on solid footing and a talented team in place, now is the right time for the transition and to reclaim time for my family and new initiatives in mobility data, technology, and private investing. My time leading AutoCanada was among the most intense and rewarding chapters of my career. I'm proud of what we've built and I am excited for what comes next." Under Mr. Antony's leadership, AutoCanada achieved several transformative milestones: Strengthened the balance sheet and significantly reduced debt Rebuilt trust with OEM partners and acquired new brands Integrated advanced data analytics into the Company's retail model Positioned AutoCanada as a credible consolidator in Canadian auto retail Initiated a full operational overhaul and cost transformation "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Paul for his many years of service and dedication to AutoCanada," said Chris Harris, Lead Independent Director. "Paul navigated the Company through many challenges and built a strong foundation. With the operational overhaul and cost transformation well underway, the Company is poised for growth on a scalable and disciplined basis". About AutoCanada AutoCanada's Canadian Operations segment operates 64 franchised dealerships in Canada, comprised of 23 brands, in eight provinces. AutoCanada currently sells Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Porsche, Ram, Subaru, and Volkswagen branded vehicles. In addition, AutoCanada's Canadian Operations segment currently operates three Used Digital Division dealerships and 12 stand-alone collision centres within our group of 29 collision centres. In 2024, our Canadian dealerships sold approximately 85,000 new and used retail vehicles. In addition, our collision centres offer an opportunity for the Company to retain customers at every touchpoint within the automotive ecosystem. AutoCanada's U.S. Operations segment, operating as Leader Automotive Group, operates 17 franchised dealerships comprised of 15 brands, in Illinois, USA. Leader currently sells Audi, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ram, Subaru, Toyota, and Volkswagen branded vehicles. In 2024, our U.S. dealerships sold approximately 12,900 new and used retail vehicles. Additional Information Additional information about AutoCanada is available at the Company's website at www.autocan.ca and www.sedarplus.ca. SOURCE AutoCanada Inc. Firefighters continue to battle the South Rim fire in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, as the blaze burned over 1,000 acres overnight Friday, leading to evacuations for nearby neighborhoods. The wildfire is now at a estimated 3,500 acres, with zero percent containment as of Saturday night. Montrose County issued evacuations for all Bostwick Park residents Friday night out of an "abundance of caution," according to the incident management team that took over the operation, San Juan Team 8. Access to the Black Canyon via U.S. 50 was closed, and U.S. 347 was closed at the junction with 50 Friday. The K37 Trail also was under evacuation. The park remained closed with no anticipated date for reopening. Dave Farley, a spokesperson from the Montrose County Sheriff's Office, told The Gazette Saturday evening the office is focused on finding a location for evacuees to stay "as soon as possible." No injuries or deaths were reported, as park rangers acted swiftly to evacuate all visitors and staff from the park. The South Rim wildfire was sparked by lightning strikes that ignited two areas in the Black Canyon, one near Kneeling Camel Overlook, the other near the west boundary of the park Thursday around 11:30 a.m. Lorena Williams, a spokesperson for San Juan Team 8, said firefighters were running into difficulties because of weather and terrain. "We simply can't engage the rim side of the fire. Every afternoon, we are seeing critically low relative humidity, high wind, high temperatures everything needed to create a recipe for really active fire behavior. When we have these dangerous conditions, it forces us to pull firefighters back," Williams said. Williams added there was no estimate for how long the fire will continue to grow or how long it will take to be contained, stating there are too many factors at play. Crews on Saturday were conducting burnout operations to halt the fire's spread as they try to secure the edge closest to Bostwick Park. Air tankers continued to support the fire efforts with retardant, water buckets, mapping and aerial supervision. Two extra helicopters also were sent out. San Juan Team 8's focus has been on protecting dam and power infrastructure, which are directly in the fire's path. Williams said these are the "most critical values" to protect since they play a part in delivering a key water source to nearby communities. There's also a power transmission line at risk. The park has lost some structures to the fire, including campground restrooms. But crews managed to save the park's visitor center and administration building due to "really aggressive" protection measures Friday, Williams said. The Rocky Mountain Team 3, a complex-incident management team, will take control of the operation Monday, according to Williams. The team will bring more resources and personnel with it. Challenging weather conditions are expected to persist in Montrose County. Temperatures were expected to reach 92 degrees, with gusts as high as 25 mph, on Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. However, winds were expected to die down during the night. San Juan Team 8 said smoke may be visible and may settle into valleys and other low-lying areas, especially overnight Saturday and early Sunday morning. An air quality alert for moderate to heavy smoke was in effect for a large swath of southwest Colorado through 9 a.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. To reduce risk, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recommends staying indoors when possible and protecting indoor air quality by closing windows and doors, using fans to stay cool and avoiding activities that increase indoor air pollution such as using gas, propane or wood stoves. Officials asked people not to call 911 or dispatch phone numbers for information on the fire, as it delays critical first-responder communications. Another wildfire caused by a lightning strike Thursday continued to burn over 60 miles west of the blaze in Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The Sowbelly fire in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area had reached 2,241 acres with zero percent containment on Saturday, according to InciWeb. Bhopal remains cloudy with intermittent rainfall Staff Reporter : Large swathes of the State continued to witness significant rainfall activity on Thursday as the south-west monsoon remained vigorous over the region. According to the Bhopal Meteorological Department, several districts are under red, orange, and yellow alerts due to expected moderate to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning over the next 24-48 hours. An active trough line, combined with abundant moisture inflow from the Bay of Bengal, has intensified precipitation over both eastern and western parts of the State. Heavy rain with lightning is likely to continue over East Shivpuri, Chhatarpur including Khajuraho, Damoh, Sidhi including Sanjay Dubri National Park, North-East Sagar, and West Katni. Meanwhile, moderate rain accompanied by lightning has been forecast for Morena, Gwalior, North Central Shivpuri, Neemuch, Mandsaur, Agar, South Sehore, North-West Sagar, East Katni, Jabalpur including Airport and Bhedaghat, Panna, North Mandla, Tikamgarh, Umaria, North Dindori, Shahdol including Bansagar Dam, Maihar and Singrauli. Light thunderstorms with lightning are expected in Bhind, Sheopur Kalan, Contd from page 1 Rajgarh, Ratlam, Badwani, Shajapur, Vidisha, parts of Sagar, Ashoknagar, Dewas, Narmadapuram, Harda, Khargone, Raisen, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna including Chitrakoot, Nivari including Orchha, Narsinghpur, Anuppur including Amarkantak, Mandla/Kanha region, Dindori and North Chhindwara during evening hours. The highest wind speeds recorded during thunderstorms over the last 24 hours were 44 kmph in Harda and Sehore in western Madhya Pradesh, and 34 kmph at Jabalpur Airport, 33 kmph in Singrauli and 30 kmph in Anuppur in eastern MP. Pachmarhi reported winds at 30 kmph. Bhopal experienced mostly overcast conditions throughout July 11 with mild rain during late afternoon and evening hours. The temperature hovered between 27C and 31C. Thunderstorms were observed during early morning hours, providing brief cooling relief. For July 12, the forecast predicts similar cloudy skies, high humidity, and the likelihood of light to moderate showers in the afternoon and evening hours. As of now, many districts in eastern MP remain under an orange alert, indicating the potential for heavy to very heavy rainfall. Western districts are placed under a yellow alert, signaling moderate rainfall with thunderstorm activity. Citizens residing in low-lying areas or near rivers and streams are advised to remain alert and avoid travel during peak rain hours. Authorities have been directed to keep a close watch on water-logging and local drainage systems, especially in urban areas. The State Government and disaster management teams have been advised to ensure readiness as rainfall activity is likely to remain high in the coming days. The India Meteorological Department continues to monitor the evolving monsoon systems and has urged the public to stay updated through official advisories. Man found dead After the post-mortem, the body has been handed over to the family, and the police have registered a case of suspicious death and initiated an investigation. Ravi Dangi, the deceaseds nephew, stated that they were informed about his uncles death by an unknown woman who was also present at the scene. The woman told police and family members that Mahendra Singh had given her a lift, and his uncle died after their bike fell into a pothole. Ravi Dangi expressed scepticism about this account, questioning, If the woman was on the vehicle at the time of the accident and confirmed it, then why did she not sustain any injuries? This matter needs to be investigated thoroughly. The family alleges that the womans role is suspicious and that the police should pay special attention to this aspect. Regarding the matter, Additional Superintendent of Police Neeraj Chourasia stated that eyewitnesses present at the scene confirmed Mahendras accident. He added that injury marks suggest a heavy vehicle hit him, leading to his demise. Cops make major breakthrough in human trafficking racket, two more arrested Staff Reporter : Habibganj Police personnel have achieved a major success in a heinous human trafficking crime, arresting two more active members of the gang, Pradeep Jain alias Pandit and Durga Bai Kasbe. These two accused actively assisted the previously arrested Kusum Vishwakarma and Narendra Kumar Dara alias Modi in executing their schemes. This action was taken under the directives of Police Commissioner Harinarayanachari Mishra. On February 6, a 48-year-old resident of Arera Colony had filed a report at Habibganj Police Station concerning his 16-year-old daughters disappearance. The girl had left home without informing anyone on the evening of February 2. After extensive searching yielded no trace, a case of abduction by an unidentified person was registered, suspecting enticement. During the investigation, the police team successfully located and rescued the abducted minor girl from Fatehpur, Sikar district, Rajasthan, on July 5. In her statement to the Honble Court on July 7, the girl made a shocking revelation. She stated that after leaving home, she went to her friend Ankitas place in Jhalawar, Rajasthan. When Ankita learned that the police were searching for her, she asked her sister-in-law Durga Kasbe (who lives in Bhopal) to present the girl at the police station. Durga then introduced the girl to her acquaintance Kusum Vishwakarma. Subsequently, Kusum Vishwakarma kept the girl at her home in Dwarka Nagar, Bajaria, from April 19. The girl disclosed that on June 29, Kusum Vishwakarma, along with her associates Roshni and Pradeep Jain and Sunil (from the boys side), took her to Aron in Guna, where they sold her for money to Narendra Kumar (a resident of Fatehpur, Sikar district, Rajasthan) and arranged her marriage through an affidavit. In this case, earlier accused Kusum Vishwakarma a resident of Bhopal) and Narendra Kumar Dara alias Modi (25, resident of Fatehpur, Sikar, Rajasthan) had been arrested and sent to judicial custody. Now, the police have also arrested Pradeep Jain alias Pandit (40, resident of Shiv Nagar, Karond, Bhopal) and Durga Bai Kasbe (30, resident of Vallabh Nagar, Jahangirabad, Bhopal) and sent them to jail. A total of 5 criminal cases are registered against Kusum Vishwakarma in various police stations in Bhopal. Pradeep Jain alias Pandit has one case registered against him each in Tila Jamalpur and Habibganj police stations. Durga Bai Kasbe has 2 cases registered against her in Jahangirabad police station and 1 in Habibganj police station. Information regarding Narendra Kumar Dara alias Modis criminal record has been requested from the concerned police station. Four absconding members of Abdul Razzaq Gang in police net Staff Reporter : In a late-night operation on Thursday, Jabalpur police succeeded in apprehending four absconding members of Abdul Razzaq Gang, including his son, at a resort at Pench Tiger Reserve in Seoni district. The accused were gathered at the resort to attend a relatives wedding. The arrested have been identified as Razzaqs Son Sarfraz, brother Mohammed Mehmood, nephew Azhar and an associate Sajjad. All four are wanted in serious criminal cases and carried a reward of Rs 50,000 each, as declared by Jabalpur Police. Police have also seized two luxury cars, a loaded pistol with 10 cartridges and cash of Rs 50,000 from the accused. It may be noted that gang leader Razzaq is currently imprisoned in Jabalpur Central Jail. The wedding was organized by his relatives, who are opticians in the Omti area of Jabalpur. The wedding celebrations were taking place at Olive Resort, located in Turia near the Pench region of Seoni district. Acting on a tip-off, a Jabalpur Police team headed to Seoni and with assistance from local police, conducted an intensive search operation from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Each room at the resort was thoroughly checked, eventually leading to the arrest of the four absconding criminals. The accused were seen arriving at the resort in two high-end luxury cars. During the search, police recovered a pistol loaded with 10 rounds and Rs 50,000 in cash. A fresh FIR has been registered against them under the Arms Act at the Kurai police station in Seoni. Sarfaraz is wanted in three cases at Jabalpurs Omti police station while Mehmood and Azhar each have two cases and Sajjad is accused in one case. Besides this, Mehmood is also named in a criminal case registered at Sleemanabad police station in Katni district. Abdul Razzaq and his gang have long been under the radar of Jabalpur Police. In 2021, a violent altercation broke out at a garage in Vijay Nagar over a car repair dispute. Razzaqs nephew Shahbaz and his associates vandalized the garage and attacked a man with lethal intent. Shahbaz was later arrested and weapons were recovered from his residence, while the rest of the gang went into hiding. During the investigation of that incident, police uncovered several other criminal activities linked to the Razzaq gang. Authorities are now interrogating the recently arrested suspects to gather information about the gangs broader criminal network, weapon supplies and illegal operations. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to visit city from September 10 to 12 Staff Reporter : The Art of Living, Nagpur Chapter, has announced that Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will visit the city on September 10 and will stay till September 12. During his stay, he will deliver a discourse on Vigyan Bhairav, a 7,000-year-old Sanskrit scripture that contains 112 ancient meditation techniques aimed at calming the restless mind. The programme will take place on September 11 and 12 at Mankapur Indoor Stadium. As part of the visit, devotees will also have the opportunity to witness the original Somnath Jyotirlingam relic on display at the RTMNU Ground on September 10. The announcement was made in the presence of thousands of residents who had gathered to celebrate the occasion of Guru Pournima. The gathering was marked by deep reverence and gratitude for Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whose teachings have brought immense peace, joy, and wisdom into their lives. Sharing his message, Gurudev said, In the material world, realisation dawns when you understand that you are here to give, and there is nothing to take back. This brings true humility, when you know you have nothing to give and nothing to take back. The celebration was part of a global event led by Gurudev from Boone, North Carolina (USA), and livestreamed to over a thousand locations across the Americas, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Millions of devotees joined virtually to participate in collective meditation and imbibe wisdom. High Court seeks reply in compensation case to Omkareshwar dam hit people Legal Correspondent : High Court issued contempt notice to ACS Rajesh Rajoura. A single bench of Justice Dwarkadhish Bansal of the High Court has issued a contempt notice to Additional Chief Secretary Rajesh Rajoura in the compensation case to the Omkareshwar dam affected people. Along with this, instructions have been given to submit a written reply. In which it has to be clarified why the previous order was not followed within the prescribed time period. The matter is related to the contempt petition of Narmada Bachao Andolan. Through which the attitude of not ensuring compliance of the previous order of the High Court has been challenged. It was argued on behalf of the contempt petitioner that the farmer families displaced due to the Omkareshwar dam have not yet got their due rights. In fact, on June 7, 2023, the MP government had announced a special rehabilitation package for the farmers and their families affected by the Omkareshwar dam. Under this, a provision was made to give compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh to those farmers who do not have land and their children. But its compliance has not been done till now. Hence, protests were held. But there was no effect. Fed up with this, a contempt petition has been filed. On July 29, 2024, the High Court had said in its order that the Chief Secretary and the Narmada Valley Authority should take a decision on compensation within eight weeks. But this was not done. Op Sindoor was flawless: NSA Doval slams biased foreign media CHENNAI : INDIA smashed nine terror targets with precision, crisscrossing Pakistan, under Operation Sindoor, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said here on Friday and dared the foreign media to show even one image of damage to any Indian structure, even a glass pane having been broken. Speaking at the 62nd Convocation of IIT Madras, Doval also asserted that not a single intended target in Pakistan was missed during the May 7 military offensive, which was in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 persons dead. Mention of Sindoor was made here. We are really proud of how much indigenous content there was. We decided to have nine terrorist targets in the crisscross of Pakistan, it was not in the border areas. We missed none. We hit nowhere else except that. It was precise to the point where we knew who was where. The entire operation that started at 1.05 am took 23 minutes, he said amid loud cheers from the gathering. Criticising the foreign media, Doval, who specifically named the New York Times, said: They (international media) wrote these things and put out things. The images only showed 13 air bases in Pakistan before and after May 10, whether it was in Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Chaklala or Rawalpindi, but images only showed damage done by the Indian Air Force on Pakistans bases. You tell me one image or photograph which shows any damage to any Indian structure, even a glass pane having been broken, he said. Addressing the students, Doval also emphasised the link between technology and warfare and said the country should develop indigenous technology to meet its requirements. Referring to the earlier speaker, Padma Vibhushan awardee and legendary danseuse Padma Subrahmanyam, who congratulated Doval for the success of Operation Sindoor, the NSA said, I am really proud of it (Operation Sindoor). Much of it was driven by indigenous content. We are proud of itthat some of our best systems worked, whether it was BrahMos (missiles), the integrated air control and command system...Or battlefield surveillance. We decided on nine terrorist targets, not in the border areas but in the crisscross of Pakistan, and we missed none, he added. Earlier, speaking at the convocation, Subrahmanyam said the historic victory of Operation Sindoor was a manifestation of adherence to the valour that the Bhagavad Gita preaches. As a proud Indian, I have always offered my salutations to our jawans, who are our national guardian angels, she said, congratulating Doval for his role in the operation. At the event, Doval said the country could not afford to lose the technology battle and remain behind or fall decades behind others. He acknowledged the role of IIT, Madras, and the private sector in developing 5G in two-and-a-half years time, whereas the Chinese took over 12 years and spent 300 billion dollars to develop 5G technology. Even a screw that deals with anything related to data or security protection must come from a trusted source. It is either made in India or by somebody who is very close to India, he added, emphasising the need to totally insulate our system from the enemy. Shubhanshu to return to Earth on 14th: NASA NEW DELHI : ASTRONAUT Shubhanshu Shukla and three other crew members of the Axiom-4 mission are set to return to Earth from the International Space Station on July 14, NASA said on Thursday. We are working with the station programme, watching the Axiom-4 progress carefully. I think we need to undock that mission and the current target to undock is July 14 after the high beta period, Steve Stitch, Manager, NASA Commercial Crew Programme, told a press conference on the Crew-11 mission to the space station slated for July 31. The Axiom-4 mission was launched from the Kennedy Space Centre at Florida on June 25 and the Dragon spacecraft docked at the International Space Station on June 26 after a 28-hour journey. A high beta period for the space station refers to times when the angle between the ISSs orbital plane and the Sun is high, typically above 70 degrees. During these periods, the ISS experiences near-constant sunlight, as it spends a greater portion of each orbit in daylight. This can cause overheating and requires careful thermal management by NASA. The Axiom-4 crew, comprising Shukla, Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu, also took their final off-duty day on the ISS. The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew has completed close to 230 orbits around Earth and travelled more than six million miles (96.5 lakh kms), an Axiom Space statement said. With over 60 experiments across biomedical science, advanced materials, neuroscience, agriculture, and space technology, the Ax-4 mission includes the most research conducted on an Axiom Space private astronaut mission to date. Travelers no longer need to take their shoes off at Denver International Airport. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officially axed the need to remove shoes while passengers go through airport security screenings starting on July 6. Ending the Shoes-Off policy is the latest effort DHS is implementing to modernize and enhance traveler experience across our nations airports, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said. We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience. Noem noted that advances in security technology have made the policy possible, while citing security as the administrations biggest concern. The shoes-off mandate went nationwide in 2006, five years after Richard Reid flew from Paris to Miami with homemade bombs hidden in his shoes. Ultimately, he failed to detonate his bomb and was subdued by other passengers. He was sentenced to life in prison. While some airports are acting as test cities, the policy officially went into effect on July 6 at DIA, a spokesperson for the airport told The Denver Gazette. Featured Local Savings DEN applauds TSAs efforts to improve efficiency and create a better experience for travelers while maintaining the highest levels of safety and security through new screening technology, the spokesperson said. The airport said the policy, along with cutting-edge technologies, should make times to get through security checkpoints quicker, especially with the new eastside checkpoint set to open next month. The efficiency and new technology should actually enhance security, the spokesperson said, adding, Safety is paramount to our operation. An unwavering commitment to safety is shared by DEN and our partners. We are confident in the overall commitment to maintain a safe environment for the traveling public. Fliers will still have to prove identification before entering the security checkpoint. The new policy follows a string of changes that officials hope would make flying easier. The Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease program, for example, provides special benefits to uniformed service members and their families. Some airports established it on July 2. Siemens receives orders worth Rs 773 crore for Nagpur Metro Phase-II Business Reporter : Orders include : CBTC signaling and advanced metro telecommunication technologies Siemens Limited has received two separate orders from Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MAHA-METRO) aggregating to approximately Rs 773 crore. The orders are for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of a Communication-Based Train Control signalling technology for the Nagpur Metro Rail Project Phase-II (with augmentation of Phase 1), and advanced telecommunication technologies for the same phase. The total time frame for project execution is approximately 42 months. Covering 32 stations across a 43.8 kilometer network, the project leverages Siemens Metro Rail technologies to enhance train frequency, improve passenger experience, and ensure the highest safety standards. The technologies will enable 100 per cent punctuality, energy savings, and optimised headways while ensuring highest level of safety across the metro network. Rajeev Joisar, Head of Mobility Business, Siemens Limited, said, We are grateful to Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited for their continued trust in us. The project will contribute significantly to sustainable urban development of Nagpur. It further demonstrates Siemens ability to deliver end-to-end mobility technologies that integrate automation, digitalisation, and sustainability for Indias urban future. I would like to thank our dedicated teams whose unwavering efforts enable us to deliver world-class technologies. Trump plans 35% tariffs on Canada WASHINGTON : PRESIDENT Donald Trump said in a letter that he will raise taxes on many imported goods from Canada to 35 per cent, deepening a rift between the two North American countries that have suffered a debilitating blow to their alliance. The Thursday letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is an aggressive increase to the top 25 per cent tariff rates that Trump first imposed in March after months of threats. Trumps tariffs were allegedly in an effort to get Canada to crack down on fentanyl smuggling despite the relatively modest trafficking in the drug from that country. Trump has also expressed frustration with a trade deficit with Canada that largely reflects oil purchases by America. I must mention that the flow of Fentanyl is hardly the only challenge we have with Canada, which has many tariffs, and Non-Tariff Policies and Trade Barriers, Trump wrote in the letter. The higher rates would go into effect from August 1, creating a tense series of weeks ahead for the global economy as recent gains in the S&P 500 stock index suggest many investors think Trump will ultimately back down on the increases. But stock market futures were down early Friday in a sign that Trumps wave of tariff letters may be starting to generate concern among investors. In a social media post, Carney said, Canada would continue to work towards a new trade framework with the US and has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl. Through the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian Government has steadfastly defended our workers and business, Carney said. While multiple countries have received tariff letters this week, Canada Americas second-largest trading partner after Mexico has become something of a foil to Trump. It has imposed retaliatory tariffs on US goods and pushed back on the Presidents taunts of making Canada the 51st state. Mexico has also faced 25 per cent tariffs because of fentanyl, yet it has not faced the same public pressure from the Republican US President. Allworth Financial LP lifted its holdings in shares of Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F Free Report) by 71.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 282,254 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after purchasing an additional 117,494 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LPs holdings in Ford Motor were worth $2,839,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Grove Bank & Trust increased its holdings in Ford Motor by 289.1% in the 1st quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 2,533 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 1,882 shares during the last quarter. Elite Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Ford Motor in the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Olde Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Ford Motor in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Ford Motor in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, MorganRosel Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Ford Motor in the 1st quarter worth about $30,000. 58.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Ford Motor alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered Ford Motor from a market perform rating to an underperform rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $9.40 to $7.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Barclays lifted their target price on Ford Motor from $8.00 to $9.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. UBS Group reduced their target price on Ford Motor from $10.00 to $9.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Wall Street Zen lowered Ford Motor from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Ford Motor from $11.00 to $12.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $10.03. Ford Motor Stock Performance Shares of F opened at $11.77 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $46.80 billion, a PE ratio of 9.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.49. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.26. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $10.69 and a 200-day moving average price of $10.07. Ford Motor Company has a 12-month low of $8.44 and a 12-month high of $14.85. Ford Motor (NYSE:F Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 5th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.02) by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $40.66 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $35.99 billion. Ford Motor had a return on equity of 13.49% and a net margin of 2.74%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.49 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Ford Motor Company will post 1.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Ford Motor Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 12th were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 12th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.10%. Ford Motors dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.00%. Insider Activity In other Ford Motor news, insider Andrew Frick sold 30,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.00, for a total value of $330,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 113,939 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,253,329. This represents a 20.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.48% of the companys stock. Ford Motor Profile (Free Report) Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding F? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ford Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ford Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MONROVIA (Reuters) -The Trump administration this week pressed five African presidents to take in migrants from other countries when they are deported by the U.S., two officials familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Thursday. The plan was presented to the presidents of Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon during their visit to the White House on Wednesday, according to a U.S. and a Liberian official who both asked not to be named. The White House and official spokespeople for the five nations did not respond to requests for comment. It was not immediately clear if any of the countries had agreed to the plan. Since returning to office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has been pressing to speed up deportations, including by sending migrants to third countries when there are problems or delays over sending them to their home nations. On Saturday, eight migrants - from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Sudan and Vietnam, according to their lawyers - arrived in South Sudan's capital after they lost a legal battle to halt their transfer. Wednesday's meeting at the White House had been organised partly to talk about the deportation plan, the U.S. official said. Liberia's government was "preparing to accommodate" an effort to house migrants in its capital Monrovia, the U.S. official added. The Liberian official confirmed that the deportation plan was a focus of Wednesday's meeting, but did not say whether Liberian President Joseph Boakai had agreed to it. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that an internal State Department document sent to the African governments before the meeting called on them to agree to the "dignified, safe, and timely transfer from the United States" of third country nationals. Under the proposed plan, the governments would agree not to send the migrants "to their home country or country of former habitual residence until a final decision has been made" on their U.S. asylum bids, according to the report. Reuters has not seen a copy of the State Department document and could not confirm its contents. In public comments at Wednesday's meeting, Trump told the five leaders he was shifting the U.S. approach to Africa from aid to trade, and that the United States was a better partner than China. "I hope we can bring down the high rates of people overstaying visas, and also make progress on the safe third country agreements," Trump added. He was accompanied by Massad Boulos, senior adviser for Africa, and aide Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner. (Reporting by Alphonso Toweh and by Robbie Corey-Boulet in Dakar; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Allworth Financial LP boosted its holdings in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW Free Report) by 1.9% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 3,413 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the quarter. Allworth Financial LPs holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $3,479,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in GWW. Brighton Jones LLC increased its stake in W.W. Grainger by 46.8% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 320 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $338,000 after buying an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. increased its stake in W.W. Grainger by 159.0% in the 4th quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 202 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $213,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in W.W. Grainger in the 4th quarter valued at about $175,000. Independent Advisor Alliance increased its stake in W.W. Grainger by 47.7% in the 4th quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance now owns 1,521 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,604,000 after buying an additional 491 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC increased its stake in W.W. Grainger by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 13,549 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $14,281,000 after buying an additional 373 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.70% of the companys stock. Get W.W. Grainger alerts: W.W. Grainger Stock Up 1.1% W.W. Grainger stock opened at $1,059.71 on Friday. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 1-year low of $893.99 and a 1-year high of $1,227.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $50.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a current ratio of 2.74, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $1,062.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1,037.73. W.W. Grainger Increases Dividend W.W. Grainger ( NYSE:GWW Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $9.86 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $9.51 by $0.35. W.W. Grainger had a net margin of 11.08% and a return on equity of 51.28%. The business had revenue of $4.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.31 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $9.62 EPS. W.W. Graingers revenue was up 1.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 40.3 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 12th were issued a $2.26 dividend. This represents a $9.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.85%. This is an increase from W.W. Graingers previous quarterly dividend of $2.05. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 12th. W.W. Graingers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.21%. Insider Buying and Selling at W.W. Grainger In other W.W. Grainger news, VP Laurie R. Thomson sold 761 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,042.86, for a total value of $793,616.46. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 578 shares of the companys stock, valued at $602,773.08. This trade represents a 56.83% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, VP Krantz Nancy L. Berardinelli sold 280 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,075.20, for a total transaction of $301,056.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 3,369 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,622,348.80. The trade was a 7.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 6.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades GWW has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,097.00 to $1,144.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Wolfe Research lowered shares of W.W. Grainger from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $966.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,100.00 to $1,125.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,215.00 to $1,160.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $1,116.25. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on W.W. Grainger W.W. Grainger Company Profile (Free Report) W.W. Grainger, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety, security, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GWW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for W.W. Grainger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for W.W. Grainger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ballentine Partners LLC lowered its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV Free Report) by 0.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 371,779 shares of the companys stock after selling 385 shares during the period. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF comprises about 3.6% of Ballentine Partners LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest position. Ballentine Partners LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $208,903,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in IVV. Windsor Advisory Group LLC boosted its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. Windsor Advisory Group LLC now owns 50 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 25 shares during the period. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Sellwood Investment Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Investment Counsel Co. of Nevada purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Navigoe LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. Institutional investors own 70.12% of the companys stock. Get iShares Core S&P 500 ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Trading Down 0.4% NYSEARCA:IVV opened at $626.44 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $599.82 and a 200-day moving average price of $584.77. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a 12 month low of $484.00 and a 12 month high of $629.87. The stock has a market cap of $630.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.10 and a beta of 1.00. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Company Profile iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IVV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) by 10.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,256 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 677 shares during the period. Fidelis Capital Partners LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $580,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Atwood & Palmer Inc. bought a new position in Charles Schwab during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Westside Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Charles Schwab by 75.0% during the 1st quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 350 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the period. WFA Asset Management Corp bought a new position in Charles Schwab during the 1st quarter worth $33,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its position in Charles Schwab by 90.5% during the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 463 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 220 shares during the period. Finally, Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp bought a new position in Charles Schwab during the 4th quarter worth $38,000. Institutional investors own 84.38% of the companys stock. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts recently commented on SCHW shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Charles Schwab from $92.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Truist Financial raised their price objective on Charles Schwab from $97.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, June 16th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Charles Schwab from $76.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. TD Securities raised their price objective on Charles Schwab from $95.00 to $113.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Finally, William Blair lowered Charles Schwab from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, July 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $92.70. Charles Schwab Trading Down 1.2% Shares of SCHW stock opened at $91.96 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $167.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.87, a PEG ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 0.93. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $88.53 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $81.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.53. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $61.01 and a fifty-two week high of $93.35. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $1.04 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $5.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.46 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 18.31% and a net margin of 31.71%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.74 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current year. Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 23rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 9th were issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 9th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.17%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is 32.73%. Insider Activity In other news, Director Paula A. Sneed sold 8,647 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.06, for a total transaction of $761,454.82. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 105,654 shares in the company, valued at $9,303,891.24. The trade was a 7.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 10,176 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.39, for a total value of $889,280.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 119,905 shares of company stock valued at $10,530,833. Corporate insiders own 6.30% of the companys stock. About Charles Schwab (Free Report) The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in Hess Corporation (NYSE:HES Free Report) by 40.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,113 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after buying an additional 896 shares during the period. Fidelis Capital Partners LLCs holdings in Hess were worth $497,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Summit Trail Advisors LLC bought a new position in Hess during the 1st quarter worth about $373,000. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Hess by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 113,287 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $18,095,000 after purchasing an additional 5,528 shares in the last quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Hess by 79.0% during the 1st quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC now owns 30,610 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $4,889,000 after purchasing an additional 13,511 shares in the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas increased its holdings in Hess by 226.5% during the 1st quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 53,409 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $8,531,000 after purchasing an additional 37,051 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in Hess by 22.2% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 3,581,820 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $572,124,000 after purchasing an additional 651,311 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.51% of the companys stock. Get Hess alerts: Hess Trading Up 0.8% Shares of NYSE:HES opened at $153.28 on Friday. Hess Corporation has a 52-week low of $123.79 and a 52-week high of $161.69. The company has a market capitalization of $47.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.20 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $137.73 and a 200 day simple moving average of $140.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.08. Hess Dividend Announcement Hess ( NYSE:HES Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.95 by ($0.14). Hess had a net margin of 17.65% and a return on equity of 21.78%. The firm had revenue of $2.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.95 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.16 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Hess Corporation will post 8.08 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 16th were given a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.30%. Hesss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.66%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have issued reports on HES shares. Scotiabank increased their target price on Hess from $146.58 to $155.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Hess from $193.00 to $184.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, June 26th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of Hess from $160.00 to $136.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of Hess from $193.00 to $191.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Hess from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, June 14th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Hess has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $163.70. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Hess Insider Transactions at Hess In other Hess news, CEO John B. Hess sold 250,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $136.01, for a total transaction of $34,002,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,734,679 shares in the company, valued at $235,933,690.79. This trade represents a 12.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 9.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Hess Profile (Free Report) Hess Corporation, an exploration and production company, explores, develops, produces, purchases, transports, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. It conducts production operations primarily in the United States, Guyana, the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development Area, and Malaysia; and exploration activities principally offshore Guyana, the U.S. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HES? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hess Corporation (NYSE:HES Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Hess Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hess and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC decreased its position in shares of EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE:EME Free Report) by 4.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,090 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 56 shares during the quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLCs holdings in EMCOR Group were worth $447,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its stake in EMCOR Group by 28.6% during the 1st quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 279 shares of the construction companys stock worth $103,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its stake in EMCOR Group by 20.8% during the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 19,796 shares of the construction companys stock worth $7,317,000 after acquiring an additional 3,407 shares during the last quarter. Redwood Investment Management LLC bought a new position in EMCOR Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,417,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its stake in EMCOR Group by 146.6% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 10,700 shares of the construction companys stock worth $3,955,000 after purchasing an additional 6,361 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp increased its stake in EMCOR Group by 17.5% during the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 844 shares of the construction companys stock worth $312,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.59% of the companys stock. Get EMCOR Group alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts recently issued reports on EME shares. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on EMCOR Group from $503.00 to $597.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday. TD Securities started coverage on EMCOR Group in a research note on Friday, June 27th. They set a buy rating for the company. Baird R W raised EMCOR Group to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, June 27th. William Blair started coverage on EMCOR Group in a research note on Friday, June 27th. They set an outperform rating for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on EMCOR Group in a research note on Friday, June 27th. They set a buy rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $532.00. EMCOR Group Price Performance Shares of EME opened at $554.51 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.50 and a beta of 1.24. EMCOR Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $319.49 and a twelve month high of $556.61. The company has a 50 day moving average of $487.57 and a 200-day moving average of $444.55. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. EMCOR Group (NYSE:EME Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The construction company reported $5.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.57 by $0.84. The company had revenue of $3.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.78 billion. EMCOR Group had a net margin of 7.00% and a return on equity of 37.12%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $4.17 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that EMCOR Group, Inc. will post 20.74 EPS for the current fiscal year. EMCOR Group Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, July 15th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 15th. EMCOR Groups payout ratio is presently 4.42%. Insider Activity at EMCOR Group In other news, CEO Anthony Guzzi sold 7,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $436.03, for a total value of $3,052,210.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 208,989 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $91,125,473.67. This represents a 3.24% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Robin A. Walker-Lee sold 947 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $412.83, for a total value of $390,950.01. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 7,094 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,928,616.02. The trade was a 11.78% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.83% of the companys stock. About EMCOR Group (Free Report) EMCOR Group, Inc provides construction and facilities, building, and industrial services in the United States and the United Kingdom. It offers design, integration, installation, start-up, operation, and maintenance services related to power transmission, distribution, and generation systems; energy solutions; premises electrical and lighting systems; process instrumentation; low-voltage systems; voice and data communications systems; roadway and transit lighting, signaling, and fiber optic lines; computerized traffic control systems, and signal and communication equipment; heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and geothermal solutions; clean-room process ventilation systems; fire protection and suppression systems; plumbing, process, and high-purity piping systems; controls and filtration systems; water and wastewater treatment systems; central plant heating and cooling systems; crane and rigging services; millwright services; and steel fabrication, erection, and welding services. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EME? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE:EME Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for EMCOR Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EMCOR Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fidelity D & D Bancorp Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 4.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,265 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 100 shares during the quarter. Fidelity D & D Bancorp Inc.s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $300,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,373,461,000. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 383.1% in the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,358,698 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $945,453,000 after acquiring an additional 6,628,310 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 15,420.4% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 5,102,648 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $676,866,000 after acquiring an additional 5,069,771 shares during the period. Capital International Investors increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 67,972,953 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $7,688,160,000 after acquiring an additional 2,229,026 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 10.3% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 22,056,860 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,494,851,000 after acquiring an additional 2,060,650 shares during the period. 75.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Abbott Laboratories In other Abbott Laboratories news, Director Sally E. Blount sold 2,600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.66, for a total value of $337,116.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 34,058 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,415,960.28. This trade represents a 7.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.46% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have issued reports on ABT. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $135.00 to $137.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $136.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating and set a $145.00 price objective (up from $133.00) on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $158.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $143.11. Get Our Latest Report on Abbott Laboratories Abbott Laboratories Stock Down 1.2% Shares of NYSE ABT opened at $131.95 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $229.56 billion, a PE ratio of 17.11, a P/E/G ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.73. Abbott Laboratories has a 12-month low of $99.71 and a 12-month high of $141.23. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $133.52 and its 200 day simple moving average is $128.98. The company has a quick ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 16th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.07 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $10.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.38 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 31.89% and a return on equity of 19.01%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 15th will be paid a $0.59 dividend. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 15th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 30.61%. About Abbott Laboratories (Free Report) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWD Free Report) by 2.0% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 4,376 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF were worth $823,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of IWD. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 9.5% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 54,061,592 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $10,008,423,000 after purchasing an additional 4,699,792 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 19,297.5% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,586,071 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $486,595,000 after purchasing an additional 2,572,739 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 36.6% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 6,284,015 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,163,360,000 after purchasing an additional 1,683,297 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 21.6% during the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,877,198 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,458,306,000 after purchasing an additional 1,400,086 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pacific Life Fund Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $232,664,000. Institutional investors own 84.93% of the companys stock. Get iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF alerts: iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA:IWD opened at $196.30 on Friday. iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF has a fifty-two week low of $163.19 and a fifty-two week high of $200.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $62.78 billion, a PE ratio of 18.83 and a beta of 0.95. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $190.46 and its 200-day simple moving average is $188.02. About iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the large capitalization value sector of the U.S. equity market, as represented by the Russell 1000 Value Index (the Index). See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group grew its stake in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA Free Report) by 7.1% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 971 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 64 shares during the quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Groups holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $336,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Sanders Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Sanders Capital LLC now owns 11,655,563 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,498,417,000 after buying an additional 116,826 shares during the period. First Eagle Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 4,503,849 shares of the companys stock worth $1,351,830,000 after purchasing an additional 23,177 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,871,057 shares of the companys stock worth $1,159,882,000 after purchasing an additional 50,321 shares during the period. Capital World Investors raised its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 2,928,452 shares of the companys stock worth $878,975,000 after purchasing an additional 19,121 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter worth about $840,286,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.73% of the companys stock. Get HCA Healthcare alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have commented on HCA shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded HCA Healthcare from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, July 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $404.00 price objective (up from $376.00) on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Monday, June 23rd. Barclays set a $416.00 price objective on HCA Healthcare and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded HCA Healthcare from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $320.00 to $385.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 29th. Finally, Guggenheim started coverage on HCA Healthcare in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $395.71. HCA Healthcare Trading Down 0.7% Shares of HCA Healthcare stock opened at $375.76 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.07, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.19. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $375.13 and a 200 day moving average of $341.72. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $289.98 and a fifty-two week high of $417.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $90.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.71, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.47. HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 25th. The company reported $6.45 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.75 by $0.70. HCA Healthcare had a return on equity of 1,063.91% and a net margin of 8.07%. The company had revenue of $18.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.26 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $5.36 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 24.98 earnings per share for the current year. HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th were paid a $0.72 dividend. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.77%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. HCA Healthcares payout ratio is currently 12.81%. Insider Activity In other news, COO Jon M. Foster sold 15,698 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $369.32, for a total value of $5,797,585.36. Following the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 12,646 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,670,420.72. This trade represents a 55.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock. About HCA Healthcare (Free Report) HCA Healthcare, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities in the United States. It operates general and acute care hospitals that offers medical and surgical services, including inpatient care, intensive care, cardiac care, diagnostic, and emergency services; and outpatient services, such as outpatient surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, cardiology, and physical therapy. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HCA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for HCA Healthcare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HCA Healthcare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kontoor Brands (NYSE:KTB Get Free Report) is one of 38 publicly-traded companies in the TEXTILE APPAREL industry, but how does it contrast to its competitors? We will compare Kontoor Brands to related companies based on the strength of its risk, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings and profitability. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Kontoor Brands and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Kontoor Brands alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Kontoor Brands $2.61 billion $245.80 million 16.53 Kontoor Brands Competitors $6.37 billion $620.41 million 7.46 Kontoor Brands competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Kontoor Brands. Kontoor Brands is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Institutional & Insider Ownership Dividends 93.1% of Kontoor Brands shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 65.8% of shares of all TEXTILE APPAREL companies are held by institutional investors. 1.7% of Kontoor Brands shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 19.2% of shares of all TEXTILE APPAREL companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Kontoor Brands pays an annual dividend of $2.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. Kontoor Brands pays out 51.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, TEXTILE APPAREL companies pay a dividend yield of 2.0% and pay out 40.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Kontoor Brands has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Kontoor Brands and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Kontoor Brands 0 1 5 0 2.83 Kontoor Brands Competitors 455 3123 4152 136 2.50 Kontoor Brands presently has a consensus target price of $87.50, indicating a potential upside of 29.73%. As a group, TEXTILE APPAREL companies have a potential upside of 21.45%. Given Kontoor Brands stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Kontoor Brands is more favorable than its competitors. Profitability This table compares Kontoor Brands and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Kontoor Brands 8.82% 71.33% 16.78% Kontoor Brands Competitors 3.32% -34.41% 5.65% Risk & Volatility Kontoor Brands has a beta of 1.12, meaning that its stock price is 12% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Kontoor Brands competitors have a beta of 0.87, meaning that their average stock price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Kontoor Brands beats its competitors on 10 of the 15 factors compared. Kontoor Brands Company Profile (Get Free Report) Kontoor Brands, Inc., a lifestyle apparel company, designs, produces, procures, markets, distributes, and licenses denim, apparel, footwear, and accessories, primarily under the Wrangler and Lee brands. The company operates through two segments: Wrangler and Lee. It licenses and sells apparel under the Rock & Republic brand name. The company sells its products primarily through mass merchants, specialty stores, mid-tier and traditional department stores, company-operated stores, and online. It operates in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific regions. Kontoor Brands, Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina. Receive News & Ratings for Kontoor Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kontoor Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Xponance Inc. boosted its stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report) by 1.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 51,741 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 905 shares during the quarter. Xponance Inc.s holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $12,832,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of ITW. Norges Bank bought a new position in Illinois Tool Works during the 4th quarter valued at $806,291,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 26,372.8% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,065,675 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $5,123,080,000 after acquiring an additional 2,057,872 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC grew its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 263.9% during the 4th quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 903,710 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $229,269,000 after acquiring an additional 655,341 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 13,667,653 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,465,570,000 after acquiring an additional 508,188 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. grew its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 1,899.3% during the 4th quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 224,921 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $57,031,000 after acquiring an additional 213,671 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.77% of the companys stock. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director David Byron Smith, Jr. bought 872 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of $241.16 per share, with a total value of $210,291.52. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 122,884 shares of the companys stock, valued at $29,634,705.44. This represents a 0.71% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.88% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets ITW has been the topic of several research reports. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $227.00 to $233.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Citigroup dropped their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $265.00 to $253.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Truist Financial dropped their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $302.00 to $284.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Bank of America lowered Illinois Tool Works from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $220.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Illinois Tool Works has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $252.83. View Our Latest Analysis on Illinois Tool Works Illinois Tool Works Price Performance Shares of NYSE ITW opened at $259.71 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $76.10 billion, a PE ratio of 22.84, a P/E/G ratio of 5.55 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 1.16. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 1-year low of $214.66 and a 1-year high of $279.13. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $247.49 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $249.55. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The industrial products company reported $2.38 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.34 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $3.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.83 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 92.77% and a net margin of 21.37%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.44 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.39 EPS for the current year. Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 11th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th were issued a dividend of $1.50 per share. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.31%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 30th. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.77%. About Illinois Tool Works (Free Report) Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United States and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ITW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Right-wing figures Charlie Kirk and Megyn Kelly on Friday alluded to the reported feud between FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino and Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Department of Justice's botched handling of the Epstein files. While speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Tampa, Florida, Kirk asked the crowd whether they preferred Bongino or Bondi. The crowd overwhelmingly shouted, "Bongino!" "It's 7,000 to zero," Kirk replied. Kelly chimed in, saying the crowd wants Bongino because he "understands MAGA" and "is part of the MAGA movement." "He's been in the trenches," she added before questioning whether Bondi "really gets MAGA." The conservative commentator doesn't think she does. Earlier Friday, reports surfaced of Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel's dissatisfaction with Bondi over the Epstein files. The attorney general repeatedly promised she would release troves of information on late financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein's client list, but the DOJ now says no such list exists. The Department of Justice also concluded Epstein's death was caused by suicide, not homicide, in prison. To show there was no foul play in his death, DOJ officials released footage showing the area outside Epstein's prison cell the night he died. However, one minute of the footage was missing around midnight, suggesting the footage may have been modified. As a result, Bongino and Patel are reportedly considering resigning from their positions. Meanwhile, the Justice Department disputed any such conflict and denounced such reports. I worked closely with [Patel] and [Bongino] on the joint FBI and DOJ memo regarding the Epstein Files, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche posted on X. All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo. The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memos composition and release is patently false. Kelly is calling on Bondi to resign, especially after she invited right-wing influencers to the White House in February to receive binders featuring largely known information about Epstein. Bondi "brought in some of our best influencers, people that I care about deeply," Kirk said, naming Jack Posobiec, Chaya Raichik, who goes by Libs of TikTok on social media, and Rogan O'Handley, also known as DC Draino, out of the 15 total influencers present for the publicity stunt. BONDIS HANDLING OF EPSTEIN FILES SPARKS RIFT WITH BONGINO AND PATEL Featured Local Savings "She gave them these binders, and she humiliated them," he continued. "You guys were upset. You shouldn't be upset at the influencers. They were handed these binders like there was something incredible in them." Kelly said that is "what you would do to an enemy." She also took issue with Bondi's empty promises on Fox News that the Epstein files, including the client list that the DOJ head at one point said was sitting on her desk, would be released shortly after she reviewed them. "She knew they were bull****. She knew that there was nothing in there," Kelly said. She explained how the influencers were then led out of the White House, where the press corps photographed them holding the binders. The incident outraged conservatives on social media, including some of the influencers who are now calling for Bondi's resignation. Liz Wheeler, in particular, told Kelly that she and the other influencers were promised another trove of information and told that the binders contained little new information. The influencers didn't expect to receive the binders, as the Epstein files were not the original purpose of their visit to the White House. "They didn't even know they were there for Epstein, and they looked foolish through no fault of their own," Kelly concluded. "The only fault was they trusted her." Friday's TPUSA event marks the latest instance Kelly has criticized the Trump administration over the Epstein files. MAGA VOICES TARGET BONDI INSTEAD OF BONGINO AND PATEL AFTER EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST FLOP Earlier this week, she slammed Bondi but gave Bongino, whom she personally knows, the benefit of the doubt. I trust [Dan Bongino] not to actively mislead me or you, Kelly said on Emily Jashinsky's podcast After Party. However, Pam Bondi has definitely made multiple inconsistent statements, and Im sorry, but she does not deserve the benefit of my good opinion, and Im not prepared to give it to her. (The Center Square) New Jersey residents get more concerned after learning about their states energy policies, policies that are just as or more progressive than Californias, a new poll by Independent Women reveals. Independent Women is a womens organization dedicated to developing and advancing policies that enhance peoples freedom, opportunities, and well-being, according to its website. An overview of the groups poll conducted at the end of May 2025 said that some of the states policies include a 20% utility rate hike, a $1.4 trillion price tag for renewables, and the 2035 gas car ban. New Jersey voters who identify as moderate, somewhat conservative or somewhat liberal are in the dark about New Jerseys energy policies and the implications it has on their households, the poll said. For instance, 67% of those polled did not know relying exclusively on renewable energy sources would cost their state $1.4 trillion. And 52% said that understanding the states energy policies will make the average utility bill in NJ 20% more expensive makes them less supportive of the policies. Additionally, support for the 2035 mandate dropped by 10 full points, according to the poll. The polls overview said that at the start of the poll, energy ranked as a second-tier issue for most swing voters, with just 7.3% calling it their top issue this election. But once voters were informed of the real-world costs of the states policies support dropped and concern spiked, the poll found. The poll said that the percentage [of respondents] ranking energy among their top 3 issues jumped 18.6 points, from 45.1% to 63.7%. The spread, or the difference between those ranking energy high versus low in priority moved from a slightly negative 5.3% to a strongly positive +30.2%, for a net lift of 35.5 points. When told that New Jersey now has climate policies that are more aggressive than Californias, 72% of those polled said they are very concerned to hear it. Director of Independent Women's Center for Energy and Conservation Gabriella Hoffman told The Center Square that New Jersey residents, like their fellow Americans, want secure, reliable, and affordable energy not a lecture on climate change or to feel guilty about running their AC. Featured Local Savings Theyre embracing ideas like energy abundance that encourage domestic energy production that won't despoil our air, water, and lands, Hoffman said. Governor Murphys Energy Master Plan has put New Jersey on par with Californias radical environmental policies and invited energy insecurity, Hoffman told The Center Square. Climate mandates dont lead blue states to adopt clean energy either, as renewables including solar only make up a small fraction of New Jerseys energy mix (8%), Hoffman said. Hoffman explained that since Murphy entered office in 2017, six reliable power plants have been shut down in the name of fighting climate change. This, compounded by his radical climate policies, has invited higher energy costs including a now-delayed 20% increase in utility bills, Hoffman said. Instead of producing its own reliable power, New Jersey now imports the majority of its electricity from nearby states, Hoffman said. This is a consequence of bad policymaking from Trenton. Hoffman told The Center Square that Independent Womens poll reveals that energy is an important issue for New Jersey voters especially moderate women. Energy is greatly intertwined with the economy, Hoffman said. Its a sleeper issue that shouldnt be ignored, as having reliable energy is necessary for enjoying a comfortable life in America. OBAMA TO STUMP FOR MIKIE SHERRILL IN NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR RACE Blue states that continue to craft energy policies that put climate above reliability will face higher energy costs and grid instability, Hoffman said. New Jersey already has the fifth highest tax burden in the nation, as The Center Square reported. Nepal Chandra Das, aged 85 and a resident of Ward 26, Subhaspally in Durgapur, died by suicide last night after jumping from the rooftop of the Durgapur Sub-Divisional Hospital. The incident has sparked concern over patient safety measures at the hospital. Mr Das had been admitted on Monday with complaints of stomach pain and was reportedly recovering slowly. However, his family was informed over phone late last night that he had jumped from the hospitals rooftop. Advertisement Upon arriving at the hospital, his family found him deceased. Dr Dhiman Mondal, superintendent of the Durgapur Sub-Divisional Hospital, confirmed the incident, stating that the rooftop door had been left open at the time and despite efforts by hospital staff, Mr Das could not be saved. Advertisement Family members have raised serious concerns regarding hospital security, questioning how a patient was able to access the rooftop undetected. They alleged negligence in surveillance and pointed out that CCTV systems appeared to have failed. A formal complaint has been lodged at New Township police station, according to his daughter-in-law, Apu Das. Assam is a mineral rich state with rare earths and critical minerals being found in the state. With peace returning after 30 years, areas which were unapproachable earlier, are now free. During the Advantage Assam Investment Summit, 14 MoUs were signed in the mining sector alone and the government is working to turn these potentials into reality, said Ajay Tewari, additional chief secretary to Assam government at the 3rd edition of Minerals and Mining Conclave 2025 organised by ASSOCHAM. Delving into Indias quest for minerals and development goals, Mr Tewari said: The world was expecting India to be Net Zero by 2050 or 2060, but we were clear that we cannot compromise with Indias growth trajectory. Mining sector is an integral part of Indias energy security and we have to become a developed country in a sustainable manner. Advertisement At Davos, there was pressure from G7 countries that we should stop and foreclose the thermal power plants but we are going through a trajectory and will continue with our thermal power stations. We have already announced 500 gigawatts of renewable sources and will install brown-field thermal power stations up to 75 gigawatts by 2040. The requirement of energy is huge. We cannot meet that requirement from renewable sources alone. he added. Advertisement Asit Saha, director general, Geological Survey of India, said: India has got a very good ecosystem as far as these bulk minerals are concerned and everything is in place, but as regards the most talked about commodities at this moment, the rare earths and rare metals, there is a lot to be done. Around 50 per cent of GSIs exploration projects are focused on rare earths and rare metals, vital for EVs and clean energy technologies. We have got a very good prospect in Assam, West Bengal and the North East where G2 stage exploration is going on. Sixteen migrant labourers from Ketugram in Burdwan were detained by the Odisha government over suspicions of their Bangladeshi origin and placed in a detention camp. Thirteen of them were released today following an intervention by the district magistrate (DM) of East Burdwan, who contacted the DM of Jharsuguda last evening. Partha Chatterjee, pradhan of Mougram panchayat in Ketugram, had earlier appealed to the block development officer (BDO) of KetugramI for immediate district-level intervention. The appeal was then forwarded to the district administration. Advertisement The workers, all residents of Char Sujapur village, possessed valid voter identity cards (EPICs), Aadhaar cards, and mobile phones linked to their Aadhaar numbers. Despite this, they were detained simply for being Bengali-speaking, said Chatterjee. Their families have resided in Char Sujapur for generations. Advertisement In response to the gravity of the situation, DM East Burdwan, Ms Ayesha Rani A, contacted her counterpart in Jharsuguda, leading to the release of 13 individuals. Three labourers remain confined. We are pursuing the release of the remaining three, she confirmed. Official government data indicates there are over 5 lakh permanent residents in Odisha who continue to speak Bengali as their mother tongue. The detained labourers have regularly travelled to Jharsuguda for work over the past 25 years. One of the released workers, Azabul Sheikh, said: They labelled us Bangladeshi, even though we produced our EPICs and Aadhaar cards. They demanded ancestral land deeds, which we did not carry. In response, the Mougram panchayat collected land ownership papers from their families and forwarded them via WhatsApp to the Jharsuguda authorities. The wife of one detained worker, Tarekunnesa Sheikh, whose husband Ibrahim was sent to the camp, shared: When MGNREGA works stopped here, my husbandlike many othersmigrated to Odisha three years ago. We speak Bengali and are unfamiliar with Hindi. He has only recently started learning Oriya to communicate better. Another detainee, Nurshed Sheikh, who has been working in Odisha for 17 years, remains in custody. His mother, Narisa Biwi, has submitted a fresh petition today pleading for his release. Thailand is set to host the Diwali festival in October, slated to be the largest Diwali festival celebrated outside India, said Siriporn Tantipanyathep, consul general of Royal Consul General of Thailand in Kolkata. Talking to The Statesman, Siriporn Tantipanyathep said that this October, Thailand will also host the grand Diwali in the heart of Bangkok, a dazzling celebration of light, friendship, and cultural harmony that reflects the deep bonds shared between our two nations. Advertisement The consul general was speaking at the Thailand Pavilion of TTF Kolkata, which opened yesterday. Advertisement The festival will be held at the Palace along with cultural performances and IndianThai food festival, added Siriporn Tantipanyathep. India is special to Thailand as it is the third largest source market of tourism in the country. Last year, Thailand welcomed more than 2.1 million visitors from India and in the first six months of this year, we have already seen more than 1.18 million Indians visiting Thailand. This reflects the deep bond of friendship between Thailand and India, she added. Thailand is the most attractive country for tourists from Kolkata. There are 50 direct flights per week to Thailand, out of which 36 flights go to Bangkok and 14 per week directly to Phuket, she said. Plus, our VISA free entry along with the warm hospitality offered specially for the Indian travellers has never been easier before. Kolkata has been the third source market for Thailand tourism after New Delhi and Mumbai in entire India, which is why a large delegation, including the Consulate General of Royal Thai Consulate in Kolkata, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), New Delhi and many other officials from the hotel and travel industry are visiting the city for the fair. Siriges-A-Nong Trirattanasongpol, director Tourism Authority of Thailand, New Delhi, said: Our long-standing association with TTF has been integral in meaningful trade relationships and expanding awareness of Thailands diverse attractions among Indian travel agents and consumers. The TAT is focusing on New and emerging destinations beyond the usual beach getaways, such as Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, Koh Chang, and Koh Lipe including the experiences focused on wellness, adventure, gastronomy, and sustainable travel. The first flight of Thai Airways in India started from Kolkata to Bangkok, about 64 years ago. PM Narendra Modi visited Thailand in April this year and had a meeting with the PM of Thailand. Senior officials from Indian Oil Corporation and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) have jointly inspected the venues for the upcoming BJP event in Durgapur, accompanied by local party leaders. Lakshman Ghorui, MLA of Durgapur West, stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address a gathering at Nehru Stadium in Durgapur on 18 July. Due to the persistent monsoon rains, the stadium grounds are waterlogged, and the central public sector undertakings have been tasked with preparing the site for the large-scale rally. Advertisement The Prime Minister had initially been scheduled to address a rally in Dum Dum on the same day, but party sources have confirmed that the event has been cancelled and relocated to Durgapur. High-level officials are conducting daily inspections to ensure readiness. Advertisement Supporters and leaders from Asansol, Bankura, Bishnupur and East Burdwan are expected to attend the event. Sources revealed that Mr Modi will first speak at a rally in Motihari, Bihar, before flying to Andal to address the Durgapur gathering around 1 p.m. This will be a historic rally, said Lakshman Ghorui. The Prime Minister last visited Durgapur in 2019, and now, after six years, he returns once more. Narendra Nath Chakraborty, Trinamul Congress West Burdwan district president, welcomed the Prime Ministers visit but added, The people of West Bengal hope he will bring something positive to the state. Although he is welcome in Durgapur, Bengal wants its own daughter. He further stated: The Prime Minister has visited Durgapur before, but the people of Bengal remain hopeful. We are confident of winning all seats in the district next year. Currently, the BJP holds three Assembly seats in West Burdwan districtDurgapur West, Asansol South and Kultiand aims to retain these seats while expanding its presence in the 2026 state elections. Pharma company Wockhardt stated in a regulatory filing on Friday that it will exit from the US generic drugs market. The move has come after years of sustained losses in the segment, with the companys generics business posting a loss of approximately $8 million in FY25. Advertisement Wockhardt stated in a regulatory filing that it has initiated voluntary liquidation proceedings for its two US subsidiaries, namely Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals Inc and Wockhardt USA LLC, under Chapter 7 of the US Bankruptcy Code. Both the companies incorporated in Delaware, United States, are wholly owned by Wockhardt Bio AG. Advertisement Wockhardts statement emphasised that the exit from the US generics sector will enhance its ability to deliver sustainable profitability through innovation and scientific leadership. The company reiterated its commitment to pharmaceutical operations in India, the UK, Ireland, and other international markets, where its businesses continue to perform profitably. The decision is part of Wockhardts broader plan to streamline operations and concentrate on its high-value, innovation-driven product lines. By exiting the US generics market, the company aims to redirect capital and executive focus toward two key growth areas of novel antibiotics and its biologicals portfolio, particularly in insulin-based therapies. Earlier, Wockhardts founder chairman Habil Khorakiwala had hinted about the move, saying that the company would move away from commoditised generics in the US and concentrate on launching innovative drugs developed in Europe at FDA-approved facilities. This approach aligns with Wockhardts long-term goal of transforming into a research-led pharmaceutical firm with a global footprint, he had stated. Six people, including a toddler, lost their lives after a four-storey building collapsed in Northeast Delhis Seelampur, leaving several others injured who were trapped under the debris, the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) official said on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Javed, 23 (M); Abdulla, 15 (M); Zubia, 27 (F); Matloob, 50 (M); Rabia, 46 (F); and a two-year-old child. Advertisement The collapsed structure was a ground-plus-three-floor building, a fire officer confirmed. Advertisement Several people have been rushed to the hospital; also, it is feared that more people are trapped under the rubble, they said. Adding to it, the fire department mentioned, We were informed about the situation at around 7:05 am. Responding to it, seven fire tenders were immediately sent to the reported location. According to the Delhi Police, they received information about a building collapse in the cited area at 7:04 at the Welcome police station, to which a team was dispatched to the spot. Senior police officers, along with the fire brigade and other agencies, are present at the site, and the rescue operation is still ongoing by the team. The injured persons have been evacuated from the rubble; several have been taken to JPC hospital and one to GTB hospital for medical treatment, a police officer mentioned. A The injured individuals were identified as Parvez, 32 (M); Naved, 19 (M); Siza, 21 (F); Deepa, 56 (F); Govind, 60 (M); Ravi Kashyap, 27 (M); Jyoti, 27 (F); and a 14-month-old child. This comes just a day after a 44-year-old man lost his life after a three-story commercial building collapsed at the Mithai Pul area in Sadar Bazaar in the wee hours of Friday. The deceased, identified as Manoj Sharma, was an employee at one of the shops located in the cited building. He was pulled out from under the rubble by the team and was taken to Hindu Rao Hospital for medical treatment, where he was declared brought dead by the attending doctors. Although the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), whose tunnelling work for the Janakpuri West-RK Ashram Marg corridor is ongoing in the area, announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for Sharmas family. Delhis Education Minister, Ashish Sood, on Saturday urged the students of Vivekanand School not to fear artificial intelligence but rather embrace it with responsibility. Use it wisely and prepare yourselves for the future challenges, he stated after inaugurating a Future Lab at the school located in Anand Vihar area in the national capital. Advertisement Speaking at the event, the minister said the lab will serve as a launchpad to nurture imagination, innovation, and curiosity. Our aim is to shape creators of technology, not just consumers, Sood added. Advertisement The minister also drew inspiration from Vikenandas philosophies to invoke the spirit of Curiosity, Courage, and Strength among future generations. He quoted the social reformer and told the students never to suppress the questions that arise within and to face challenges head-on. He stressed the importance of a strong body and a resilient mind, calling them foundational forces for building a great nation. Sood further added that much like Swami Vivekananda presented the soul of India to the world in 1893 in Chicago, the countrys youth must carry forward that spirit through self-confidence, hard work, and integrity. Concluding the programme, he described students as the architects of Indias future and added, When India completes 100 years of independence in 2047, it is todays students who will lead the nation. Education is the launchpad that will enable this flight, Sood added. Uttar Pradesh Excise Minister Nitin Agarwal, who stepped into his fathers shoes by entering state politics, is among the younger ministers in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet. The four-time legislator representing Sadar constituency in Hardoi is popular among locals for bringing big investments and boosting employment opportunities in the region. The 43-year-old BJP leader joined politics after his father was elected to Rajya Sabha. He was also appointed the deputy speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 2021. In an interaction with Manoj Bhadra of The Statesman, the Mr Agarwal spoke extensively about politics and the administration of people. Advertisement Q. You are seen as a strict administrator. The state excise department, which was known to be the most corrupt one, has been turned into a money spinner for the government to achieve its target of USD 1 trillion. What have you done to achieve this milestone? Advertisement A. Since Yogi Adityanath ji came to power in Uttar Pradesh, everything started changing and corrupt practices diminished. In his second term (from 2022), I was given the charge of the excise department, and the government gave me full independence to create a transparent system, cover loopholes, and boost revenue. We have broken the cartel of liquor mafias and smugglers. The main thrust is to prevent tax evasion, illicit liquor trade, inter-state smuggling and adulteration. We also introduced the track and trace system between distilleries and retail shops. Besides, the new policy has also broken the monopoly of the liquor mafias by obtaining a series of retail outlets and forcing consumers to take their own brands of liquor for their profit. Q: Earlier, there were reports of people dying due to sale of illicit liquor in the state. But surprisingly such news is rare in UP now. A: People should be surprised that for the past three-and-a-half years, not a single person has died due to hooch or consuming illicit liquor in the state, which proves our credentials and efforts to provide adulterated free liquor. Till June this year, the state excise department has registered nearly 30,000 cases, seizing over 7.72 lakh litres of illegal alcohol, and arresting 5,559 offenders. Among the arrested, 1,075 have been sent to jail, while authorities have also seized 35 vehicles used in smuggling operations. Q: Talking about revenue collection, the state excise department has created a record by achieving its target in the first quarter itself. Your comments. A: Due to effective policies and stringent enforcement in the first quarter (AprilJune) of FY 202526, the department achieved 98.8 per cent of its revenue target, collecting Rs 14,229 crore against the Rs 14,400 crore targets. Compared to Rs 11,783.76 crore collected during the same period last year, this represents a Rs 2,445 crore (20 per cent) increase. In 2025-26, the total revenue target of the excise department is Rs 63,000 crore. You will be surprised to note that the revenue of the first quarter of this fiscal is more that what the department collected in 2016-17, which also shows how government action has changed the entire scenario. Now UP has turned into the largest producer of ethanol and potable liquor. Besides the state also has 10 distilleries, the highest number in the country. Q: There are reports of large scale inter-state liquor smuggling particularly from Haryana and other adjoining states. Does the government have any plan to stop this? Besides, is there any proposal to launch home delivery of liquor as introduced by some states? A: We have already brought a proposal to acquire and use scanners to detect liquor on inter-state borders. We have already floated global tenders to purchase the technology either from the US or Israel. But as war broke out in the Middle East, the tender process was delayed. But now the process will be completed soon. There is no proposal before the government to launch home delivery of liquor. Q: The excise department held its first ever investors meet to woo major liquor companies to set up their distilleries in the state. A: Yes, we held a day-long excise investors meet in Lucknow on July 9 where investment proposals to the tune of Rs 3,600 crore were signed through MoUs. During the last Investors Meet, the excise department got 46 proposals worth over Rs 7,888 crore, of which 19 units worth over Rs 2,339 crore, have started functioning. Q: Panchayat polls are round the corner before the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls? How is your party planning to win votes? A: We are prepared for both panchayat and assembly polls. Presently, delimitation work is underway for the panchayat wards. We can assure you that the BJP will fare very well this time in the panchayat polls. In the previous panchayat polls, the elections of district chairman, panchayat members, block pramukh, and block members were held on political symbols, while the election of gram pradhans and gram members were not on political lines. Q: You maintain there is no challenge to the BJP in the 2027 assembly polls, but can the slogan of PDA by Samajwadi Party, which had dealt a blow to NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, be a hurdle in the path? A: The slogan of PDA (Pichara, Dalit, Alpansayak) is a farce and mere rhetoric during the Lok Sabha polls and electorates were misled by it. But in 2027, firstly it is a state election and not of the country the BJP had already countered the aspect of the PDA formula. Everyone knows that SPs promise of PDA is just a drama only the Yadavs of the backward community were given the opportunities under that regime. The selection of Yadav candidates by Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) is a glaring example of discrimination of PDA by the Samajwadi Party government. Q: Will the Azam Khan factor have any impact on Samajwadi Partys Muslim vote bank? Can the SP-Congress alliance challenge the BJP in 2027? A: In the first place, Muslim voters were never with Mohammad Azam Khan, they sided with Mulayam Singh Yadav. The opposition Samajwadi Party is today seen as supporters of mafias and goondas. Muslims too have known the real face of the party in the Akhilesh Yadav regime and now they have been termed as a party of Yadavs only. The SP-Congress alliance will have no impact in the 2027 polls as the Congress has no structural base in the state. The Congress is only looking to attract the minorities and it is certain that there will be a tug-of-war between the SP and Congress over seat sharing and other issues before the polls which will certainly benefit NDA. Besides, the double engine government in UP has dealt upon all aspects of people-oriented governance and the glaring example is that around 60 million people have come out of poverty in the state in just 9 years time as per the report of the NITI Aayog. Q: What have you done for your assembly constituency of Hardoi and how has it been developed in your regime? A. I have set up the countrys only Webley & Scott factory in our district which is manufacturing world class revolvers. Producing units of Berger paints and Bikano Namkeen along with several other small units of other industries have given employment opportunities to the local people. In the past eight years, investment of more than Rs 10,000 crore has been done in our district. Besides, recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a textile park in LucknowHardoi districts, which will also pave the way for more global investments. The California cannabis grower that owns the raided Camarillo farm, now under federal investigation for child exploitation, was hit with multiple wage and labor law complaints in recent years. Glass House Brands, whose farm was raided by immigration authorities Thursday, is the subject of several labor law complaints, according to a Washington Examiner review of Los Angeles County Superior Court records. Following the raid, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said 10 juveniles, all illegal immigrants and eight of whom are unaccompanied minors, were rescued at the marijuana facility in Camarillo. DEMOCRATS CLASH WITH ICE OVER CHARACTERIZATION OF MARIJUANA FARM RAID In response, Glass House disputed ever employing children or knowingly violating labor laws. "Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors," the statement said. "We do not expect this to affect operations moving forward. We will provide additional details when applicable." Over the past two years, Glass House has racked up at least five labor law complaints from aggrieved employees. In May 2023, two former Glass House harvesters, Anna Maria Pederia and Lourdes Patricia Avalos, filed a class action lawsuit against Glass House Brands and its subsidiaries, including the Camarillo cultivation center, for allegedly refusing to pay regular and overtime wages, provide meal periods or appropriate compensation, permit rest time, offer suitable seating during labor hours, and compensate terminated or resigned employees. The case is still pending, and a status conference is scheduled in October. In December 2023, an ex-employee named Gerardo Melendez, who pruned cannabis plants for Glass House's Camarillo farm, sued the cannabis cultivation company, alleging similar wage and labor condition claims. Among a slew of allegations, Melendez claimed that Glass House failed to pay workers for all wages as earned, including sick pay, minimum, regular, and overtime, and imposed "unlawful quotas" that interfered with the staff's right to meals, bathroom breaks, and recovery periods. As a result, Melendez said workers were exposed to safety hazards, especially in the high heat. "Defendants failed to authorize or permit Plaintiff and Class Members from taking recovery periods," the 30-page suit said. "Specifically, Plaintiff and Class Members were required to work during hot days, including during summer, without access to shade or recovery periods to cool down and prevent heat illness." Glass House workers were "regularly worked in excess" for eight-hour days to meet "excessive quotas," Melendez said. He specifically had to trim 4 pounds of cannabis each day and either cut short his lunches or eliminate them, depending on the day, the suit said. A status conference in Melendez's case is set for October, and a nonjury trial is tentatively scheduled for May 2026. Last year, Alma Zaravia Garcia, a laborer who worked in a field at the Camarillo worksite cleaning and trimming cannabis plants, filed a complaint against Glass House, echoing claims of unsafe workplace conditions. Garcia said Glass House required employees to buy their drinking water and did not reimburse them for the expense. The court will review Garcia's case in April of next year. Featured Local Savings Beatriz Hernandez, another worker who tended to the cannabis plants, lodged a lawsuit in July 2024 alleging that Glass House has "a consistent policy of violating state wage and hour laws." Hernandez said Glass House imposes "systematic quota and production demands" on workers in violation of their rights. That case has several hearings on the court calendar, with a nonjury trial to occur as early as March 2026. Miryam Vences, a former Glass House employee, pursued a similar suit in September, claiming the company engaged in "illegal payroll policies and practices." Vences said workers were forced to work off the clock, forgo meals, and continue working through rest breaks. A hearing on Aug. 19 regarding a motion to compel arbitration will be held. In June 2023, marijuana retail chain Catalyst Cannabis Co. filed a civil complaint accusing Glass House Brands of being "one of the largest, if not the largest, black marketers of cannabis in the State of California, if not the country." The plaintiff, a locally licensed dispensary in Long Beach, claimed Glass House has "purposefully structured its business so as to massively profit from the illegal sale of cannabis to the substantial financial detriment of legal operators," such as Catalyst Cannabis. According to the accusations, Glass House maintains a network of distributors explicitly designed to handle illegal sales of its cannabis. At the time, Catalyst Cannabis claimed that Glass House was looking "to further expand its illicit operations by adding significant new cultivation capacity." A judge, however, ultimately dismissed the complaint against Glass House. Glass House had countered with a defamation suit accusing Catalyst Cannabis of running a defamatory campaign that "falsely" compared the company to "a Mexican drug cartel." The claims were made "without any evidence," Glass House's retaliatory filing said, claiming that Catalyst Cannabis was "spreading falsehoods about a direct competitor" for "financial gain." FBI SEEKS GUNMAN WHO SHOT AT AGENTS DURING DHS RAID ON CALIFORNIA DRUG FARM Glass House later withdrew its lawsuit, partly citing concerns about being compelled to disclose sensitive customer information. Glass House and CBP were contacted for comment. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced significant progress in the ongoing verification of electoral rolls in Bihar. As of July 12, the Commission said it has established direct contact with nearly all electors in the state, with 80.11 percent having already submitted their Enumeration Forms (EFs). Out of the total number of electors, 6,32,59,497 or 80.11 per cent have submitted their EFs, indicating a strong response from the people of Bihar, the ECI stated in a press note. Advertisement To facilitate the collection process, the ECI has deployed 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs), in addition to 20,603 newly appointed BLOs. More than 4 lakh volunteers are also assisting senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PwD), and other vulnerable groups. Advertisement The poll panel further reported that BLOs have already digitized and uploaded 4.66 crore Enumeration Forms into ECINet, the newly developed integrated software platform that has consolidated all 40 ECI applications. Special efforts are being made, the Commission noted, to ensure senior citizens, PwD electors, and vulnerable communities are not left behind in the verification process. The deadline for EF collection is July 25. The draft electoral rolls will be published on August 1, with the last date for filing claims and objections set for August 30. The ECI expressed confidence that the majority of EFs will be collected well before the deadline, ensuring the timely and accurate updating of electoral rolls. The BJP central leadership is aiming for a major breakthrough in Kerala in the upcoming local body and Assembly elections. In a high-level meeting held here on Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah directed the party to operate with the goal of Mission Kerala. A key objective of Mission Kerala is to capture the Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur corporations in the forthcoming local body elections. These two corporations are considered BJP strongholds where the party has a significant presence. In addition, Amit Shah instructed party leaders to aim for power in 10 municipalities and to secure victories in 21,000 wards across the state. Advertisement The BJP had performed well in the previous elections in both the Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur corporations. Party leaders believe that gaining control of these corporations would give the BJP a significant boost in Keralas political landscape. Advertisement Amit Shah was in Kerala to inaugurate the BJPs new state office and attend the partys workers convention. Addressing the gathering, he emphasized that the local body elections should be seen as a stepping stone towards the larger goal of forming the government in Kerala in the 2026 Assembly elections. Congress leader KC Venugopal has strongly criticized the BJP and the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the proposal for a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Warning that the move would subject every Indian citizen to suspicion and threaten their voting rights, Venugopal said in a post on X: The BJP has mastered the art of taking a bad idea and making it worseAs if the chaos and opposition to the Bihar SIR werent enough, the BJP-controlled ECI now wants to subject the entire country to this trauma. Advertisement Venugopal expressed concerns that the proposed system would compromise the integrity of the electoral process. Advertisement Every Indian citizen will be looked at with suspicion, their voting rights will be under threat, and the entire electoral system will be rigged, he warned. The ECI must shelve all proposals for a nationwide SIR immediately, Venugopal urged. The controversy over the proposed nationwide SIR has been intensifying, with several opposition parties and civil society groups voicing concerns about its potential impact on voter rights and electoral fairness. The proposal has drawn widespread criticism, with many arguing that it would disproportionately affect marginalized communities and undermine the democratic process. Congress leader K C Venugopal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent intervention to save Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse facing execution in Yemen. Venugopal described the death sentence as a grave travesty of justice, emphasizing that Nimisha Priya is a victim of unimaginable cruelty and domestic abuse. Advertisement Nimisha Priya doesnt deserve to die. Ive written to the PM seeking urgent intervention to prevent her execution, Venugopal said in a post on handle X on Saturday. He urged the Prime Minister to take diplomatic steps with Yemeni authorities to halt the execution, scheduled for July 16. Advertisement Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old nurse from Kerala, was convicted in 2018 for the murder of a Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mahdi. According to reports, she administered sedatives to Mahdi in an attempt to retrieve her passport, which led to his death. Priya has claimed that she was subjected to severe abuse and torture by Mahdi. The Indian government has been extending all possible help to Nimisha Priya and her family. A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking the Centres intervention to save her from execution. The court has agreed to hear the plea on July 14, just two days before the scheduled execution date. Under Yemens Sharia law, execution in murder cases can be averted if the victims family accepts blood money (financial compensation) and issues a formal pardon. Activists and Nimishas action council have offered up to $1 million as blood money, but the victims family has not yet accepted it. In a compassionate gesture, the Kerala High Court has granted 15 days parole to a murder convict to enable him to marry his fiancee, who has chosen to stand by him despite his life sentence. A single bench of Justice PV Kunhikrishnan on Friday ordered the convicts release from July 12 to July 26 for the marriage. Advertisement While deciding the criminal writ petition, Justice Kunhikrishnan said he was deeply moved by the courage and emotional strength of the woman who remained committed to the convict even after his sentencing. Advertisement Taking note of the exceptional circumstances, the court exercised its extraordinary powers under Article 226 of the Constitution to grant parole. Jail authorities had earlier denied the request, citing that prison rules do not provide for emergency parole even for a convicts own wedding. The judge clarified that he was not focusing on the convict, but rather on the woman who chose to marry him out of love and unwavering affection. She did not change her stand even after her partner was convicted, the court observed. Let that girl be happy, and this court showers all blessings upon her, it added. Quoting poet Maya Angelou, Justice Kunhikrishnan wrote in his order: Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences; penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. He reflected on the emotional depth and human dimension of the case. The court directed that the convict be released on July 12 and return to Viyyur Central Prison by 4 pm on July 26. The convicts mother, Sathy, had approached the High Court after prison authorities rejected her parole plea. According to the current prison rules, there is no provision for emergency leave for a convicts wedding. In a large-scale operation launched early Saturday morning, the Forest Department of Assam began evicting over a thousand families from the Paikan Reserve Forest area under Krishnai revenue circle in Goalpara district. The drive, aimed at reclaiming around 1,038 bighas of allegedly encroached forest land, is part of an ongoing state-wide campaign to free protected areas from human settlements. Advertisement Nearly 50 excavators and over a thousand personnel including Assam Police, paramilitary forces, and forest officials were deployed to ensure the smooth execution of the eviction process. Advertisement Although the eviction proceeded without major incidents, displaced families expressed anguish over the lack of alternative housing or rehabilitation measures. The Assam Forest Department has defended the eviction, citing the need to prevent further ecological degradation and illegal encroachment in reserve forests. Officials maintained that the operation is part of a broader strategy to restore forest cover and biodiversity across the state. However, the move has drawn sharp criticism and sparked protests led by the All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU), which denounced the drive as inhuman and anti-poor. On Saturday, AAMSU carried out protest demonstrations across several districts of Assam, including in Gossaigaon and Kokrajhar. In Gossaigaon, the Western Kokrajhar District Committee of AAMSU staged a sit-in in front of its district office in Serfanguri. Meanwhile, in Kokrajhar townadministrative capital of the Bodoland Territorial Regionanother protest was held at Gandhi Park. When demonstrators attempted to take out a rally, police halted them citing security concerns. The ongoing eviction drive in Goalpara comes on the heels of a similar operation in Dhubri district earlier this month, where over 3,500 bighas of land were cleared in the Chapar area. The Assam government, under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has in recent years aggressively pursued eviction of what it calls illegal encroachments on government and forest lands. As the protests intensify and political pressure mounts, AAMSU has called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and halt the eviction drives. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav will be on an official visit to Dubai and Spain from July 13 to 19. He will arrive in New Delhi on Saturday evening before embarking on his international tour. According to state government officials, the Chief Ministers visit is another significant step in Madhya Pradeshs global investment strategy. Advertisement In Dubai, Dr Yadav is scheduled to hold a key meeting with representatives of the Indian Business and Professional Council to showcase Madhya Pradeshs industrial readiness and investor-friendly policies. Advertisement High-level discussions will also be held with international retail and infrastructure giants such as Lulu International Group, Landmark Group, and Nakheel Group. These talks will focus on potential partnerships in logistics parks, warehousing, retail chains, and other investment avenues in the state. From July 16 to 19, the Chief Minister will visit Spain, where he will engage with leading automobile companies and green mobility technology investors in Barcelona. He will also interact with top companies in the textile, garment, and design sectors, aiming to boost initiatives such as the PM MITRA Park, Textile ODOP, and existing industrial clusters like Vardhman. A major focus of the Spain leg of the visit will be on the tourism and heritage hospitality sector, with an aim to position Madhya Pradesh as a leading destination for heritage-based tourism investments. Earlier, Dr Yadav had visited the United Kingdom and Germany in November and December last year, followed by a visit to Japan in January this year. Officials noted that these visits not only resulted in productive discussions with investors but also helped identify actionable investment opportunities by understanding the industrial strengths of the host countries. As a result, sectors such as health technology, automobile, university linkages, electronics, and advanced manufacturing have seen the initiation of concrete projects on the ground, officials added. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday in New Delhi. The meeting focused on the states holistic progress, with discussions on accelerating growth in infrastructure, welfare, and employment. Advertisement Today, I had the privilege of meeting the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji. I am grateful for his inspiration and unwavering support for Odishas development, CM Majhi said in a post on his social media handle X. Advertisement On this occasion, important discussions were held regarding various developmental activities in Odisha, future strategies, coordination between the Center and the State, and accelerating the states overall progress. The Center and the State are committed to working together to achieve the goal of a prosperous Odisha and a developed India, Majhi said. The meeting comes after CM Majhi attended the 10th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, where discussions on civil defence preparedness and Operation Sindoor were held. The Prime Ministers Office also released a statement confirming the meeting, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between the state and central governments. A month after the tragic Air India flight AI-171 operating from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, London, crashed, the grieving family members of the victims have called for accountability and demanded answers from the government following the release of a preliminary investigation report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Friday midnight. The 15-page preliminary investigation report, which reveals the likely cause behind the crash, has prompted emotional reactions from the relatives of those who died in the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Mohammad Rafiq Ghulam Hussain Khanji from Gujarats Aravalli district lost three family members in the crash. Now, after the preliminary report into the crash was released, he has just one expectation from the government such incidents should not happen again. Our expectation from the government is that such an incident should not happen again and all precautionary measures should be taken, said a visibly pained Hussain. Mukesh Maheswari from Vadodara, who lost his son in the AI-171 crash, expressed his anger, demanding punishment for those responsible. Advertisement I lost my son All I know is that those responsible for this accident should be punished, Maheshwari, who runs a Kirana shop in the city, told a news agency. Surat resident Yashpal Singh Vansadiya, who lost both his parents in the tragedy, flagged the technical issues and demanded answers to his unanswered questions. I have certain questions to ask from the government and the investigation agencies. Based on the report, which mentions one pilot asking the other if he has turned off the switch, it means there were some technical issues. Were all preventive checks of the aircraft done? I hope I get answers to all these questions, he said. Advertisement What did the AAIB report on the Ahmedabad plane crash reveal? The 15-page report, released by the AAIB on Friday midnight, stated that the fuel cutoff switches were transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec. The AAIB report also shared the cockpit voice recording of the pilots moment before the crash. In the recording, one pilot is heard asking the other why did he shut the engines down. However, the other pilot denies doing that, raising suspicion that any accidental actions did not cause the crash, as the fuel cut-off switches are guarded and require deliberate operation, commonly in emergencies like mid-air engine fire. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday welcomed the UNESCO World Heritage List recognition for the Maratha Military Landscapes of India, a collection of 12 majestic forts across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Every Indian is elated with this recognition. These Maratha Military Landscapes include 12 majestic forts, 11 of which are in Maharashtra and 1 is in Tamil Nadu. When we speak of the glorious Maratha Empire, we associate it with good governance, military strength, cultural pride and emphasis on social welfare. The great rulers inspire us with their refusal to bow to any injustice. I call upon everyone to go visit these forts and learn about the rich history of the Maratha Empire, PM Modi said in a post on handle X. Advertisement The Maratha Military Landscapes of India include 12 forts that showcase exceptional fortification and military systems envisioned by Maratha rulers. Advertisement The recognition highlights Indias rich cultural heritage and the significance of the Maratha Empire in Indian history. The forts demonstrate the strategic military prowess of the Maratha rulers and their emphasis on good governance and social welfare. The UNESCO World Heritage List recognition is a testament to Indias efforts to preserve and promote its cultural heritage. The recognition is expected to boost tourism and promote cultural exchange between India and other countries. President Donald Trump on Friday defended the National Weather Service's advanced warnings of the heavy rainfall that caused catastrophic flooding in central Texas last week, killing over 120 people. The local NWS office was "well stocked more than normal" and "gave a lot of warnings," Trump said on Fox News's The Will Cain Show. The interview comes as the federal government faces scrutiny over the weather agency's staffing cuts. Of the roughly 4,200 people in the NWS workforce, about 600 were either laid off or retired this year. Some have argued the Trump administration's NWS cuts led to a forecast that underestimated the amount of rain in Kerr County, Texas. The White House argues the staffing reductions did not play a role in the flood's outcome and accused Democrats of politicizing the natural disaster. "The problem with the warnings" is that the flooding "happened so fast," Trump said. The agency issued flash flood warnings on the night of July 3 and into the early morning of July 4, providing lead times of more than three hours. But the heavy rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rise 26 feet in 45 minutes, taking locals by surprise. "It's easy to blame the federal government, but the money was tremendous," Trump said. "Everything was there, and they did a really good job. They actually had warnings the day before that there was going to be something, and they then had the warnings very shortly, right before this horrible, tragic event." "This was a case where the Weather Service really, supposedly, did a very good job. Plus, they had more people than they would normally have," he continued. "It was very well stocked. Their warnings were early and consistent, and they kept getting more dire. They called it right, but it's a tough thing to watch." As the federal government continues to aid Texas officials in response efforts, more than 170 people remain missing. Of the total casualties, at least 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic are either confirmed or feared dead. They were initially considered missing. The all-girls Christian summer camp in Kerr County was among the hardest hit areas. Featured Local Savings Before the interview aired, Trump and first lady Melania Trump participated in a roundtable event meeting with state officials to discuss the federal response to the fatal flooding. Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) hailed the emergency response led by the Trump administration. "We would not have been able to do that the way that we have, had it not been for you, your commitment to Texas. I know you love Texas, and Texas loves you," Abbott told Trump as the two sat beside each other. "We appreciate you showing up, and because of your swift and effective response, we are better positioned to deliver on all those commitments than ever before." Trump said the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which he has threatened to dismantle, is working hard. "FEMA is deployed, multiple emergency response units," he said, noting "good people" are "running" the agency. Meanwhile, Melania Trump offered her condolences to parents grieving over their lost children. "My deepest sympathy to all of the parents who lost beautiful young souls," she said. "We are grieving with you. Our nation is grieving with you. We just met with the wonderful families." The first lady noted she had personally met "beautiful young ladies" who gifted her a bracelet from Camp Mystic in honor of the children who died in the flooding. DAILY ON ENERGY: QUOTE OF THE WEEK, TRUMP IN TEXAS, AND 'DRILL, BABY, DRILL' UPDATE Speaking on the federal emergency response with Cain, Trump said that "we've maxed out and will continue to max out" in aiding Texas following the tragedy. "I think we've accomplished a lot in a short period of time," the president said during the interview, "but being here was very important." Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Saturday, termed illegal religious conversions a calculated conspiracy to undermine the nations identity and social fabric, asserting that the Uttar Pradesh government is taking firm action to curb the menace. Some forces are deliberately trying to alter the fundamental character of the country through unlawful conversions. This is an attack on social cohesion and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances, said the Chief Minister while addressing the flagging-off ceremony of Shri Tegh Bahadur Sandesh Yatra, held at his official residence and dedicated to the 350th Shaheedi Varsh of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Maharaj. Advertisement CM Yogi underlined that marginalised communities, particularly Scheduled Castes, are being lured, or coerced into, changing their religion. He emphasised that such acts go against the spirit of the Constitution and the principle of social equality. Advertisement At the event, the Chief Minister welcomed and honoured the Sandesh Yatra by showering flower petals. The Yatra, which commenced from Lucknow, will pass through Kanpur, Etawah, and Agra before culminating at Chandni Chowk and the historic Sis Ganj Gurudwara in Delhithe site of Guru Tegh Bahadur Jis martyrdom. A commemorative memento was also presented to the Chief Minister to mark the occasion. During his address, he highlighted the recent Balrampur case, where a large-scale illegal conversion racket backed by foreign funding was unearthed. He revealed that over Rs 100 crore was found transacted across 40 accounts, with pre-determined rates for conversion. He termed this a grave threat to both economic and social security. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the 350-year-old legacy of martyrdom is being revived through this yatra, serving as a powerful reminder of the oppressive era under Aurangzebs rule. He noted that the Mughal ruler sought to suppress Sanatan Dharma and impose Islamic dominance. In the face of tyranny, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji chose martyrdom over compromise, standing firm on the path of righteousness, the Chief Minister remarked. His martyrdom continues to inspire future generations with its message of unwavering faith and courage. The entire yatra is rooted in the tradition of sacrifice and resilience. As we commemorate Shaheedi Diwas, we are reminded of the immense struggles and sacrifices that paved the way for India to emerge as a free and strong nation, he added. CM Yogi stressed the need to preserve the legacy of sacrifice set by Sikh Gurus and to resist attempts to divide Hindus and Sikhs. Such conspiracies have been attempted before and will continue to surface, but we must remain vigilant and united, he said. He stated that the Shaheedi Diwas inspires people to carry forward the Gurus legacy and adapt it to modern-day strategies to ensure no community or individual is ever forced to abandon their culture or religion. Referring to national celebrations such as the 550th Prakash Parv and the Veer Bal Diwas, the CM acknowledged the central governments efforts to elevate these observances to national prominence. He also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for officially declaring December 26 as Veer Bal Diwas, in honour of the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas. Union home minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Saturday said the Modi government at the centre has stopped the politics of religious extremism in Kerala. Addressing party workers at the BJPs ward-level leadership meeting held at Putharikandam Maidan here, Amit Shah said that it was the Narendra Modi-led central government that effectively put an end to the politics of religious extremism that once thrived in the state. Advertisement Slamming the LDF government in Kerala over its silence on the activities of the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), Amit Shah asked What steps has the Kerala government taken against the PFI? Advertisement The union home minister said India will be free of Naxalism by 31 March, 2026.He claimed that terrorism cannot be answered by anyone other than PM Modi and BJP We answered Uri attack by surgical strike, Pulwama attacks by air strikes, Operation Sindoor se ghar mein ghus ke maara, he said He urged the people of Kerala to bring the BJP to power in the 2026 Assembly elections and instructed party workers to begin preparations in earnest He said that the people of Kerala gave repeated opportunities to both the LDF and UDF, and were repaid with violence, corruption, and appeasement politics. Corruption-free governance, zero discriminatory practices in jobs and end of vote bank politics are the three key visions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Viksit Kerala, Shah said and added there will be no developed Kerala without the BJP. Highlighting the ambitious projects of the Narendra Modi government and talking about development, Shah pointed out that rail development worth Rs 3700 crore is underway in Kerala He said that while the BJPs goal is the development of Kerala, the CPI-Ms focus is on the development of its cadre. Criticising the states political history, he said that the people of Kerala gave repeated opportunities to both the LDF and UDF, and were repaid with violence, corruption, and appeasement politics. Shah alleged that back-to-back LDF and UDF governments have been trying to inculcate anti-national sentiments in the state He said that the route to Vikasit Bharat goes through Vikasit Keralam only.Therefore, from now on, the basic aim of the BJP will be a Vikasit Keralam, Shah said. Earlier in the day, Shah inaugurated Mararji Bhavan, the partys new state committee office. Accompanied by BJP state president Rajeev Chandrashekar, the minister hoisted the party flag and inaugurated the building by cutting a ribbon He also paid floral tributes to a bronze half-bust of late former BJP state president K G Marar, which has been installed in the central hall of the new building. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP), criticizing what he called the secular forces for supporting illegal religious conversions. He alleged that there is a continuous conspiracy to weaken the soul of India through nefarious tactics of religious conversion, particularly targeting Hindus. Advertisement Unfortunately, it is regrettable that some leaders who identify as Hindu only do so during election season, while their rhetoric remains steeped in anti-national appeasement, Maurya said. Advertisement In a strongly-worded press statement, the Deputy CM said the true face of the Congress and SP has now been exposed before the people. The politics of appeasement practiced by these parties, their so-called secularism disguised in camouflage, and their willingness to compromise national interests for religious vote banks are no longer acceptable to the public, he asserted. Taking specific aim at the Congress, Maurya said the party should be questioned for introducing a Communal Harmony Bill during its regime. He claimed the bill was intended to legally humiliate Hindu society and promote a radical mindset. This bill was not a document promoting religious harmony, but rather a legislative effort to suppress the rights of the majority and embolden fundamentalist forces, he alleged. Maurya firmly stated that such illegal conversion agendas will never succeed under the Narendra Modi-led government. The BJP and Modi government work with the principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, but there is no room for appeasement in this philosophy, he said. He further warned that those attempting to disrupt Indias social fabric for electoral gains should know that the people are now awakened and are giving a fitting reply to this alliance of appeasement. Conversion, appeasement, and anti-national thinking will not be tolerated under any circumstances, he concluded. The US Embassy in India on Saturday issued a fresh advisory to visa holders, stating that American visa screening does not end after a visa is granted. In a post on X, the US Embassy in India said, US visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all U.S. laws and immigration rules and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they dont. Advertisement The advisory underscores the United States ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with its immigration laws and reinforces that visa holders must strictly adhere to all legal requirements during their stay. Advertisement Earlier, on June 28, the US Embassy in India stated on X, Those who are in the United States illegally or commit visa fraud will be held responsible. If you break U.S. law, you will be punished with significant criminal penalties. On June 26, the embassy further noted, Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used in the past five years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas. In a move aimed at strengthening visa screening procedures, the United States announced on June 23 that, effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa must adjust the privacy settings on their social media accounts to public to facilitate the necessary vetting process to establish their identity and admissibility under U.S. law. Sharing the announcement on X, the official handle of the U.S. Embassy in India (@USAndIndia) wrote: Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their personal social media accounts to public to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States. The post also reiterated that, since 2019, the United States has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on both immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms. We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security, the post added. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has also unveiled a sweeping new travel ban for 2025, barring nationals from 12 countries entirely and partially limiting visa access for citizens of seven others. The move prioritizes national security and targets countries considered high-risk for security loopholes and terrorism concerns. Most of the affected nations are reportedly located in the Middle East and Africa. Citizens from the 12 countries now face a total ban on both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including those for tourism, education, and employment. Simultaneously, nationals of the seven other countries are subject to partial restrictions, involving tighter screening or limited visa categories. Amid growing concern in South Asia, the United States has clarified that India is not on the list. Visa processing for Indian nationals continues across all categories, including B1/B2 tourist visas, H1B work permits, and F1 student visas. However, Indian applicants still face long delays due to high demand and administrative backlogs. Most US consulates in India are currently booking interview slots 10 to 12 months in advance. So, while India remains unaffected by the new travel ban, prolonged processing times may still impact travel plans, educational pursuits, and employment opportunities for many. As India strides toward becoming a global economic powerhouse, tourism is rapidly emerging as a key pillar of growthespecially in Uttar Pradesh. While tourism contributes around 10% to the GDP in developed nations, its share in India remains at just 23%. However, with the concerted focus of the double-engine governmentled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaththis scenario is poised for a transformative shift. Advertisement According to the Ministry of Tourism, India welcomed 1.88 crore foreign tourists in 2023, while domestic travel soared to a staggering 250 crore visits. Events like the Kumbh Mela demonstrated the massive potential of religious and cultural tourism, particularly in North India. Among the biggest beneficiaries is Uttar Pradesh, home to revered spiritual centers linked to Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, Gautam Buddha, and Guru Gorakhnath. Advertisement Uttar Pradesh has already cemented its position as the top destination for domestic tourists in recent years. The trend is expected to accelerate with increasing government investment in infrastructure, connectivity, and heritage preservation across religious and historical sites. A 2024 report by the Association of India predicts that, over the next five to seven years, the hospitality sector will account for nearly 10% of all new jobs created in India. Consequently, the sectors GDP contribution is projected to rise to around 8%. In just two years, recruitment in this domain has more than doubledlargely driven by the growth in religious tourism. Reports by the Chambers of Commerce in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi highlight that over 60% of all travel in India is to religious places. The global religious tourism market is expected to cross $2 billion by 2032. Since India is a deeply religious country and Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of religious sites, Indiaespecially Uttar Pradeshis likely to benefit the most from this growing sector. Officials here on Saturday said UP is already seeing the positive impact of growing religious tourism. Over 66 crore people from across India and the world visited the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. In Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modis parliamentary constituency, footfall at the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor has seen a massive risefrom just 50 lakh annual visitors before the corridor was built to 6 crore now. Ayodhya has witnessed a phenomenal surge in tourism and pilgrim footfall. While only 2.83 lakh people visited the city in 2016, the number skyrocketed to 13.44 crore by September 2024. The post-Mahakumbh influx shattered previous records. A similar tourism boom is being seen at other key religious destinations across Uttar Pradesh, including Vindhyavasini Dham in Mirzapur, the sacred land of Chitrakootbeloved of Lord Ramand the Krishna-Radha circuits of Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Nandgram, Gokul, and Govardhan. Due to this surge in domestic tourism, the hotel industry will need around 10 lakh new rooms over the next seven years. This could create over 35 lakh job opportunities, with 1520 lakh jobs in small towns, where many five-star hotels are now planning to expand. The recent revelations surrounding former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mark a dark and defining chapter in the political evolution of South Asia. Once celebrated as a champion of democracy and the architect of Bangladeshs economic rise, Sheikh Hasina now stands accused of personally authorising one of the most brutal peacetime crackdowns in the regions recent history. The allegations, backed by verified audio recordings and forensic analysis, point to direct orders from Sheikh Hasina to use lethal force against student-led protesters last year. These protests, initially triggered by grievances over civil service quotas, quickly snowballed into a national uprising that exposed the fault lines in Bangladeshs governance. What followed was not a miscalculated overreaction by local law enforcement ~ it was a coordinated, top-down use of state violence that left, by some accounts, more than a 1,000 dead on the streets of Dhaka and other cities. This descent into autocracy was not sudden. Advertisement Over the past decade, the former Prime Minister increasingly centralised power, eroded judicial independence, and muzzled dissent through surveillance, censorship, and arbitrary detention. The massacre of August 5 ~ arguably the deadliest day in the unrest ~ was not an aberration but the culmination of years of authoritarian consolidation disguised as democratic mandate. The trauma from last years carnage still haunts Bangladeshs youth, many of whom saw friends gunned down in broad daylight for simply demanding fairness, dignity, and democratic accountability. Even as the leaked recordings gain international attention, Hasinas party remains defiant, claiming the actions were proportionate and made in good faith. Advertisement But the documented facts tell a different story: police units armed with military-grade rifles, shooting at unarmed demonstrators for over half an hour; forensic voice-matching confirming Hasinas directives; and the use of government surveillance infrastructure to monitor and suppress opposition. The implications of these revelations stretch beyond the borders of Bangladesh. They raise urgent questions about how the international community, especially neighbouring democracies, respond to political violence carried out by entrenched regimes. For the South Asian region, Ban gladeshs crisis is both a cautionary tale and a call to vigilance. The fact that the transitional government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, that stepped in to stabilise the situation, is yet to offer a glimmer of hope is also concerning. However, Bangladeshs path to genuine democratic recovery will depend not only on free and fair elections but also on a national reckoning with the atrocities committed. Justice must be pursued not for vengeance but to ensure that no future leader ~ no matter how popular or pedigreed ~ can wield unchecked power with impunity. As history is being written in Dhaka, the region must watch closely. For all the rhetoric about stability and development, the true measure of a government lies in how it treats its people when they rise in dissent. Sheikh Hasina failed that test ~ fatally. India and China, despite their long and turbulent history, appear to be inching towards a fragile thaw ~ one shaped more by necessity than mutual goodwill. The recent flurry of diplomatic engagements, ranging from ministerial visits to the revival of direct flights and pilgrimages, may signal a tactical reset. But beneath this surface calm lies a complex web of distrust, unresolved territorial disputes, and strategic recalibrations influenced by shifting global dynamics. At the core of the IndoChina friction remains the undemarcated 3,440-kilometre border, where geography and ambiguity often combine to produce flashpoints. The 2020 Galwan Valley clash shattered decades of carefully managed peace and altered the tenor of bilateral ties. While both nations have since engaged in military and diplomatic dialogue to defuse tensions in Ladakh, the shadow of conflict has not entirely lifted. Chinas continuing claims over Arunachal Pradesh and its military posturing along the Line of Actual Control remain serious concerns for Delhi. Yet, the external environment is compelling both sides to seek a degree of stability. Beijing, increasingly focused on Taiwan and its own slowing economy, cannot afford a second front in the Himalayas. For India, the uncertainty in the West ~ particularly Washingtons unpredic table approach in President Donald Trumps second term ~ is a wake-up call. The erosion of faith in a steadfast US partnership, underscored by Mr Trumps controversial overtures to Pakistan during recent border tensions, has forced Delhi to diversify its strategic options. Advertisement Economic interdependence also weighs heavily. China is Indias second-largest trading partner, supplying critical components like rare earth magnets and fertilisers. With China tightening export controls on such goods, the vulnerabilities in Indias industrial and agricultural sectors are becoming evident. While India may aspire to decouple in the long term, in the immediate future, border peace is essential for economic resilience. However, this engagement is not without conditions or caution. India is unlikely to lift restrictions on Chinese investments and tech platforms unless it sees reciprocal gestures on security and territorial integrity. Domestic politics too demand a firm stance ~ any perceived compromise on national sovereignty could be politically costly for the Indian leadership. Advertisement This detente, however, is transactional at best. It lacks the vision of a long-term roadmap and is vulnerable to sudden shocks ~ be it a skirmish along the LAC or a geopolitical flashpoint involving third-party alliances. What is unfolding, then, is not a strategic realignment but a tactical recalibration. India and China are navigating a narrow corridor of cooperation ~ limited, conditional, and always vulnerable to relapse. This is less about friendship and more about managing an adversarial coexistence, driven by shifting geopolitical winds and shared economic compulsions. For now, the two Asian giants are not embracing each other. They are learning to step carefully around each other ~ because the cost of another collision could be far higher than the price of an uneasy peace. A day after US President Donald Trump announced a new 35 percent tariff on Canadian goods set to take effect next month, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the country had made vital progress in combatting fentanyl, reaffirming Canadas commitment to working with the United States, The Hill reported. Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America. We are committed to continuing to work with the United States to save lives and protect communities in both our countries, Carney wrote on social media late Thursday, according to The Hill. The new tariff, which was announced alongside levies on other nations, marks an increase from the earlier 25 per cent rate imposed by Trump and is scheduled to take effect from August 1, The Hill stated. The US President had first raised concerns in February, accusing Canada of enabling the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigration across the northern border. According to The Hill, US Customs and Border Protection has seized approximately 31 pounds of fentanyl on the US-Canada border so far this year. If Canada works with me to stop the flow of Fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter, Trump wrote to Carney on Thursday, as reported by The Hill. The United States and Canada were originally working toward a trade agreement by July 21, but the date has now been extended to August 1 due to Trumps fluctuating tariff strategies, The Hill noted. Carney, who took office as prime minister in March, has maintained a comparatively cordial relationship with President Trump than his predecessor, Justin Trudeau. Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses, Carney posted on X. We are strengthening our trading partnerships throughout the world, The Hill reported. Advertisement Minister of State for External Affairs, MoS Pabitra Margherita, held interactions with the top brass of the US and Japan amongst the leaders he met on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit taking place in Malaysia. Taking it to X, MoS Margherita expressed delight upon meeting the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. He said, Delighted to meet US Secretary of State @secrubio on the sidelines of the 15th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. MoS Margherita also met Japans Foreign Minister, Takeshi Iwaya, on the sidelines of the Summit. Glad to meet H.E. Takeshi Iwaya, Foreign Minister of Japan, on the sidelines of the 15th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he wrote on X. Advertisement Thanking Timor-Leste for its support to India in the fight against terrorism, MoS Margherita underscored the ongoing bilateral cooperation for further strengthening of ties. He said, Happy to have met Bendito Freitas, Foreign Minister of Timor-Leste, in the margins of ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur today. Discussed ongoing bilateral cooperation for further strengthening the Delhi-Dili partnership. Thanked Timor-Leste for solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism. Advertisement He also extended thanks to Cambodia for supporting Indias fight against terrorism and discussed the multifaceted partnership. Delighted to have a meeting with H.E. PRAK Sokhonn, Dy. PM and Foreign Minister of Cambodia on the sidelines of ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers Meeting in Malaysia. Discussed our multifaceted bilateral relations ranging from heritage conservation to development partnership. Also discussed my recent visit to Cambodia during which I had a number of productive engagements. Thanked Cambodia for its support in Indias fight against terrorism, MoS Margherita said on X. The high-level interactions with the US and Japanese leaders come shortly after External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar had met them during the QUAD Foreign Ministers Meeting in Washington, DC earlier this month. The Foreign ministers of the Quad nations met in Washington, DC, on July 1 to reaffirm their steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Japans Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed concern about the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea. The four leaders had reiterated their strong opposition to any unilateral actions that attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. Foreign Ministers expressed concern regarding dangerous and provocative actions, including interference with offshore resource development, the repeated obstruction of the freedoms of navigation and overflight, and the dangerous manoeuvres by military aircraft and coast guard and maritime militia vessels, especially the unsafe use of water cannons and ramming or blocking actions in the South China Sea. The Quad members had unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms, the Joint Statement from the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting stated. The members, referring to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. The 15th East Asia Summit (EAS) took place in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. The Meeting reviewed ongoing EAS cooperation and discussed its future direction, while also exchanging views on regional and international developments. Speaking to the Press on the sidelines of the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the visit. He underscored that the US is the number one source of foreign direct investment in Southeast Asia. Were not abandoning any of that, nor are we abandoning these strong bilateral ties that we have with many of these countries, some of which go back decades and decades. In his remarks, he highlighted, Its been a great visit . Its exceeded all of our expectations. Operation Baam, the most extensive and coordinated offensive launched by the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), a Baloch separatist armed group, has crippled large parts of Balochistan in Pakistan. The separatist group carried out simultaneous attacks across multiple districts, disrupting internet connectivity, halting train services, and blocking key sections of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a cornerstone of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. In a press statement issued by Major Gwahram Baloch, spokesperson of BLF, The Balochistan Liberation Front has announced that 80% of the objectives of its ongoing military campaign, Operation Baam, have been successfully achieved. It added, So far, over 70 coordinated attacks have been carried out across Balochistan under this operation. Baloch Sarmachars (freedom fighters) have targeted state infrastructure, security forces, and Pakistans economic interests in this strategic actions. Earlier, Daily Sangar, a Baloch-focused online news outlet, reported that this marks a tactical shift from the groups traditional hit-and-run strategy to open, frontal assaults on military posts, police checkpoints, and strategic infrastructure. It noted that the operation carries more political symbolism than military ambition, sending a strong message that the Baloch liberation movement remains highly organized and geographically widespread, challenging Pakistani authority across both urban centers and remote tribal regions. The BLF, previously active in Makuran, Awaran, and parts of Khuzdar, expanded its footprint during Operation Baam to Sohbatpur, Nasirabad, Karmo Wadh, and other eastern areas countering longstanding claims of limited organizational reach. According to Daily Sangar, the offensive triggered widespread disruption across Balochistan, with coordinated attacks targeting key military and infrastructure sites. It said, Checkpoints and military posts in Quetta, Kech, Khuzdar, Kalat, Kharan, and Sibi came under heavy gunfire and explosive assaults. Ufone telecom towers were destroyed, while major highwaysincluding the Quetta-Sibi Road, Kalat-Manguchar stretch, and CPEC link roadswere blocked, bringing traffic to a standstill. The online portal added, In Balida, a UBL bank was set on fire after evacuation, and mineral-laden trucks and buses carrying suspected ISI/MI operatives were intercepted in Musakhel, where nine individuals were reportedly executed. In Dasht and Gwarkop, military drones were shot down and mortar fire was launched into army camps. A Coast Guard post in Gwadar and an FC checkpoint in Moondi Cross were also attacked, highlighting vulnerabilities along the coast. Additionally, Levies posts near Dasht and Kolpur were seized, with weapons and vehicles confiscated by the BLF, said a report by Daily Sangar. While the BLF has not indicated that Operation Baam will evolve into a long-term campaign, Baloch experts view the offensive as a strategic show of strength following years of media blackout and diminishing global attention on the Baloch cause. The Pakistani government has yet to issue an official response. However, security alerts have been declared across CPEC-adjacent regions, and reinforcements are reportedly being deployed to affected districts. Advertisement President Donald Trump this week extended his "Liberation Day" tariff pause again and sent nearly a half dozen letters to trading partners announcing new tariff rates for their countries. The higher tariffs would kick in on Aug. 1 unless the countries can seal a new trade deal with the United States. NINETY DEALS IN 90 DAYS: TRUMPS TARIFF PAUSE CLOUDS LIBERATION DAY ECONOMIC FORECAST Trumps tariff campaign began on April 2 when he announced Liberation Day" tariffs on U.S. trading partners. Each country would see at least a 10% baseline tariff, and more than 50 other countries were hit with additional higher rates. In announcing the new rates, Trump declared a national emergency caused by the "massive U.S. goods trade deficit." The higher tariffs were needed to correct persistent trade imbalances caused by a lack of reciprocity with other countries and unfair tariff and non-tariff barriers," according to a White House fact sheet. The Liberation Day announcement was a jolt to the economy, and stocks tumbled. Trump responded on April 9 by freezing the initial tariffs, except for those imposed on China. The White House said it would use the pause to negotiate with countries directly on new trade pacts, with the ambitious goal of 90 deals in 90 days." So far, three deals have been announced with China, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom. The 90-day pause was set to expire on July 9, but Trump extended the deadline to Aug. 1, according to an executive order. That means the highest rates are on hold for now. Trump sent letters to the following countries announcing their new rates: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Bangladesh, Serbia, Thailand, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Indonesia, Libya, Moldova, Algeria, South Africa, Tunisia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, and Brazil. An additional letter went to Canada on July 10 announcing a 35% rate on Aug. 1. Trump's trade standoff with Canada and Mexico pre-dated "Liberation Day" with an order on Feb. 1 for 25% tariffs on the two major trading partners, which has since been modified. Heres everything you need to know about the current tariff rates. Highest rates Featured Local Savings When Trump announced his "Liberation Day" tariffs in April, the southern African country of Lesotho was singled out for the highest rate of 50%. The tiny nation was followed by Cambodia at 49% and Laos at 48%. However, the tariff rate for Cambodia has since dropped to 36% and for Laos to 40%, per the new trade letters Trump sent. Since the most recent letters came out, Brazil has the highest tariff rate, jumping from a 10% to a 50% tariff rate starting on Aug. 1. The high rate is partly in response to the prosecution of the countrys former president, Jair Bolsonaro, which Trump has called an "international disgrace." Biggest changes Aside from Brazil, which saw the biggest change in its tariff rate, a few other countries saw higher rates after Trump's round of letters. The Philippines saw its rate increase from 17% to 20% to take effect on Aug. 1. Japan, Brunei, and Malaysia initially faced a 24% "Liberation Day" rate, but each ticked up to 25%, according to Trump's letters. Most of the 21 countries with letters, however, either had a reduction in the threatened tariff rate or retained the same rate proposed in April. Sri Lanka saw a notable change. Its Liberation Day rate was 44%, but after a letter, Trump has now settled on 30% starting Aug. 1 What comes next More letters could come in the coming days and weeks from the Trump administration. Three trade deals have been announced with the United Kingdom, China, and Vietnam, and the administration has been meeting with trade partners to negotiate more agreements. NINETY DEALS IN 90 DAYS: THE DOLLAR HAS DROPPED STEADILY, DEFYING TRUMP TARIFFS The closest deal appears to be with the European Union, which could maintain the 10% tariff rate on most European goods, but might not lessen the 25% rate on their cars or the 50% rate on their steel. Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6) Today Showers this morning becoming less numerous during the afternoon hours. High 77F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 59F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Delhis drinking scene is hip and happening, with bartenders going bold, artistic, and innovative. There are places where you can eat your cocktail (I mean, not literally!), and then there are those inspired by Japanese-style love hotels, thus serving kinks on the menu. In line with this is HOME, a luxury lounge from PVR INOX, whose new music-inspired beverage menu, HARMONY, serves symphony in a glass. The twelve drinks on the menu are each inspired from a different music era. From hip-hop and jazz to rap and rock & roll, the menu has something for every taste. Inspired by the clarity, balance, and formal structure of classical music is 'Not A Rocket Science', made with macerated rum, Makrut lime leaf, and Timur Berry cordial. Then there is the 'Mamma Mia', which is inspired by the Romantic Era in American music, which also saw the rise of American bars, explains Santanu Chanda, the award-winning mixologist and group beverage manager, about the drink that is made with vodka, amla brine, and cherry liqueur. Another notable one sees the energy and rebellion of rock and roll represented by 'Elvis Presley Who', an era which also saw bartenders whipping exotic cocktails. This one is made with tequila, tangerine, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, lime, tomato foam, and parsley. Another interesting drink on the menu is 'Analog Affair', thats breakfast in a drink, says Chanda. Its inspired by the hip-hop era, which also saw bartenders experimenting with unusual ingredients such as those found in the fridge. This one comes with whiskey, peanut butter, mixed jam, and cacao vermouth." Speaking on the inspiration behind the menu, the award-winning mixologist says: All different music eras have a different significance when it comes to spirits. During some era, tequila was shining, in another gin. Many artists were also associated with these. On the experiments happening in the Indian drinks space, he says that it is a fantastic time for the industry, as it is no longer only restricted to Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru". Director Ilya Naishuller had no second thoughts when it came to casting Priyanka Chopra as MI6 agent Noel Bisset in his upcoming action-comedy Heads of State. In a recent interaction with PTI, Naishuller explained how she was the only actress who he approached for the part, and she won him over in under a minute. "She's the only actress I talked to for this movie, I'll be honest. I was just like, 'If the call goes, we'll be lucky to have her'. And I remember she charmed me in about 45 seconds flat over a Zoom call, he said. ALSO READ | Heads of State movie review: Priyanka Chopra, Idris Elba, John Cena shine in clean, lean fun summer action film that deserves big-screen release The Russian-born director said he felt his journey to Hollywood felt almost similar to his own, a fearless decision he appreciated. "She went from being so big in India to being like, You know what? I want to risk it and see what happens. I want to go out there and be ambitious and try to crack America. It is a very difficult thing to do. It always is, no matter how big you are at home, and the fact that she went there and started that path, I was like, I deeply respect that and I admire that. It's courage," he said. Chopra brought a vibe to set. Her warmth and energy added to the films dynamic and has an excellent rapport with her co-stars. "Every time we finish a scene and there's a relight, she'd pull up an apple box, sit right and be like, How's it going? What are you guys doing? And that's the kind of vibe I really enjoy. So to balance out Idris Elba and John Cena, she had to be there." About Heads of State Feuding leaders U.S. President Will Derringer and British Prime Minister Sam Clarke must sort out their differences when a World War III-level threat arrives at their doorstep. With the help of MI6 agent Noel Bisset, the trio attempts to thwart a global conspiracy. Helmed by Ilya Naishuller, the film stars John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra, Jack Quaid, and Paddy Considine. Heads of State is available to view on Amazon Prime Video. Prakash Raj has publicly criticised his OG co-star Pawal Kalyan for siding with the Hindi language imposition at a recent event. Kalyan, who is the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, said during the Dakshin Samvad Golden Jubilee celebration of the Official Language Department in Hyderabad, that the southern states must learn Hindi to improve discourse. Raj was quick to react to the remark, and took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a video of the function, and captioned it, range . #justasking (Selling (yourself/this) for this amount? Shameful!)" In the video, Kalyan is seen asserting that Hindi is the national language and a means to communicate when home boundaries are crossed. "Telugu might be our mother tongue but our national language is Hindi. We have Telugu as a means to communicate at home but when we cross that boundary, we have Hindi. ALSO READ | Prakash Raj unfiltered: A call to action on censorship, creativity, politics and artistic rebellion Arguing that the use of Hindi could foster unity in a world increasingly leaning toward division, Kalyan says, The world is looking for ways to split apart but today, we as a country are looking for ways to unite in Hindi. I welcome a language like that. He further linked the relationships the languages have with each other to a familial structure. Be it the Dravidian languages, be it Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, or any other language in our country, we have to respect our mother tongue. If that's our mother tongue, Hindi is like our pedamma (mother's elder sister). For any progress in education, business or work, we need to cross all language barriers. At a time like this, we stall progress if we oppose Hindi. To learn Hindi is not to lose ourselves but to strengthen ourselves." ALSO READ | Pawan Kalyan cracks down on high ticket prices, food and beverage costs in cinemas across Andhra Pradesh OG, helmed by Sujeeth, also features Emraan Hashmi, Priyanka Mohan, Arjun Das, Subhalekha Sudhakar, and Sriya Reddy. The gangster film is slated for theatrical release on September 25, 2025. An organisation representing Indian pilots worldwide on Saturday criticised the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureaus (AAIB) preliminary report of the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad. ALSO READ | AAIB Air India plane crash report: When and why pilots 'CUT OFF' cockpit fuel-control switches explained According to the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India), the report, which they claimed was "leaked to (the) media", carried no official signature or attribution, which made them question the veracity of the report. On Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's Preliminary Report on 12th June AI 171 crash, Airline Pilots' Association of India says, "The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias toward pilot error. We categorically reject this presumption and insist on a fair, pic.twitter.com/sYh5TW9HwC ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2025 "The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias toward pilot error. We categorically reject this presumption and insist on a fair, fact-based inquiry," states Captain Sam Thomas, President, ALPA India. The AAIB preliminary report on the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner's crash at Ahmedabad, released on Saturday, pointed out that the fuel cut-off switches of both engines of the flight had turned off simultaneously, cutting off fuel supply to both engines. Accordinng to the report, this could have led to the flight failing to attain enough thrust to lift-off properly, crashing soon after into a medical college hostel. 241 people died onboard, while 19 people who had been in the vicinity of the crash site died. ALSO READ | The last deadly minutes of AI 171: Timeline of fatal Ahmedabad Air India crash Calling out a "lack of transparency" in the preliminary report, Thomas points out a number of issues with the investigation, urging that it be allowed to participate in the investigation process, "in the very least, as observers". The ALPA statement also pointed out a Wall Street Journal article on July 10 that had mentioned the inadvertent movement of the fuel control switches, questioning how such sensitive details could have been leaked to the media ahead of the official release date of the preliminary report. The statement also questions whether the aircraft had been fully compliant with all the clauses of a serviceability bulletin, prior to take-off on June 12. #WATCH || Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu (@RamMNK) responds to the #AAIBReport on last months Air India crash, stating it is based on preliminary findings. He urges the public to avoid conclusions until the final report is released.#AirIndiaCrash pic.twitter.com/7MW95CH6GB All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 12, 2025 Notably, 7 years ago, fuel control switches had been flagged by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a potential issue on Boeing flightsan issue that Air India had not inspected at the time, since the FAA suggestions were advisory and not mandatory. The airline had even replaced the now-destroyed flight's throttle control module twice (in 2019 and 2023), but these replacements were not related to fuel switches. According to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, AAIB's July 12 report is just a preliminary one, due to which its findings could change as more information comes to light in the coming days. A student from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta has alleged that she was raped by a college mate inside the boys' hostel. The accused, a second-year student, has been taken into custody after the woman filed an FIR at Haridevpur Police Station, reported PTI. According to the victims statement, the accused had allegedly called the student to the boy's hostel on Friday on the pretense of providing her with counselling or advise since she was going through difficulties, according to APB news. After the student reached the hostel, she was given pizza and water, after which she fell unconscious. The accused had also not allowed her to enter her name into the register book for visitors. The woman has alleged that she was beaten and raped while she was drugged. According to the statement, she had realised that she had been raped after she woke up inside the boys hostel. She then proceeded to go to the Thakurpur Police station, from where she was sent to Haridevpur station. The police had spoken to the IIM authorities and then searched to collect information and evidence from the college campus. The initial investigations show that the accused first met the victim on social media. She had tried to seek advice due to tensions she had with another acquaintance. She had been accompanied by a friend, but the accused wanted to have a private conversation. A police officer who spoke to Telegraph India said, We are trying to find out if the accused had brought other women to the hostel. More people could be involved. The incident happened less than a month after the gang rape of a law student at the South Calcutta campus. Four individuals, Monojit Mishra, Promit Mukherjee, Zaid Ahmed, and the colleges security guard, were arrested in connection with the case. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at New Delhi, further fuelling speculations about the expansion of the one-year-old BJP ministry in the state. A day after getting re-elected as the state BJP president, Manmohan Samal on Wednesday had said at Bhubaneswar that CM Majhi would be expanding his ministry very soon. ALSO READ | Can Congress become the main opposition in Odisha? Here's what Rahul Gandhi's visit means for a sleepy BJD On June 12, Odishas first 16-member BJP ministry had taken their oath at Bhubaneswar under the CM Majhi. This included two Deputy Chief Ministers as well: K.V. Singhdeo from Western Odisha and Pravati Parida from the coastal region, with the latter becoming the first female Deputy CM from the state. The oath-taking ceremony was a grand public affair held at the Janta Maidan of the capital city, with Prime Minister Modi, Union Ministers belonging to the BJP, and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states in attendance. Yet, a big vacancy in the council of ministers raised lot of questions, because the ministry could have up to 22 members. BJP experimented with its first tribal-origin chief minister in Majhi as tribals constitute 23 per cent of Odisha's population, against all India share of 8 per cent. However, Majhi did not have the requisite ministerial experience, though he was the Deputy Chief Whip during the BJD-BJP coalition ministry under former CM Naveen Patnaik. CM Majhi retained many key portfolios such as Home, General Administration, Finance, and Water Resources, so it was expected that his ministryhaving six more vacanciesmay be expanded soon his government completes one year in office. The BJP has been projecting Samrudh Odisha, Viksit Bharat as its motto in the state, keeping in mind 2036 as the centenary year of Odishas formation, and 2047 as the 100th year of Indias independence in view. ALSO READ | Reward or tactic? Why BJP reappointed Manmohan Samal as its Odisha unit chief The Modi-Majhi meeting likely reflects a strong synergy, essential for fulfilling their shared vision. In an X statement on Saturday, CM Majhi conveyed his deep gratitude to PM Modi for his unwavering inspiration and support for Odishas growth journey. On this occasion, important discussions were held regarding various developmental activities in Odisha: future strategies, coordination between the Center and the State, and accelerating the states overall progress. This high-level meeting is seen as a reaffirmation of both leaders commitment to cooperative federalism and inclusive governance. However, it must be noted that nothing has been said officially about the expansion of the state ministry. State BJP president Samal has only declared that the expansion will happen soon, though there is no set deadline. The expansion of the state BJP ministry is said to be facing delays due to issues such as the mismanagement of the Puri Rath Yatra, a gangrape, a Dalit attack incident in Ganjam, and an attack on a senior government officer at the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation by BJP workers during office hours, pushing the party into a tight corner. Also, former Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik's departure to Mumbai on the same day that Modi visited Bhubaneswar to attend the governments anniversary programme led to public sympathy for Patnaik. ALSO READ | Odisha govt staff call off 'mass leave' protest condemning attack on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation officer There was big gathering to see him off at the airport, with an equally big gathering to welcome him on July 11, following a successful spine surgery for cervical arthritis. On Friday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhis first public meeting at Bhubaneswar after the general elections drew a sizeable crowd, despite the rainy season, showing that it was being taken seriously by political circles. Amidst all this, a likely expansion of the state ministry could divert everybodys attention. CM Majhi has also met the saffron party's National General Secretary Tarun Chugh at Delhi. Though this signals a deeper cooperation between state and central leadership, it is said to be a courtesy meeting primarily revolving around Odishas development. After the possible expansion, political appointments for public sector undertakings and boards are likely to follow. A fresh plea has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the latest directives by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments that ask food stall owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to paste QR code stickers on their banners. The move would have let pilgrims scan and instantly see details of who owns or runs these stalls. The plea filed by Professor Apoorvanand has urged the top court to immediately put a stop to these directives, arguing that forcing vendors to publicly reveal their names and identities goes against an interim order passed by the Supreme Court last year. The order had made it clear that no one could be compelled to disclose such information in this manner. The professor claims that the new QR code rule is nothing but an attempt to bypass that protection. He believes the move is designed to single out certain food vendors based on their religion and could deepen existing fault lines along the busy pilgrim route. This entire idea of putting QR codes that reveal owners details is just a new cover for the same discriminatory profiling that this Honble Court had stayed earlier, the application says. The plea pointed out that while eateries do need valid licenses which has the owner's name and these are meant to be displayed inside the shop, not splashed across hoardings and banners for all to see. Putting personal details out in the open could endanger small vendors, especially those from minority communities, and may even provoke mob violence, the plea stated. Professor Apoorvanand argues that the real motive behind this drive is not consumer safety but religious polarisation. What else explains a directive that basically outs a persons faith and caste to every passerby under the garb of license compliance? the petition stated The application contends that disguising these directives as lawful license requirements amounts to an infringement of the vendors right to privacy. It argues that forcing food sellers to display the names of owners, managers, or employees through banners or QR codes or compelling them to adopt shop names that reveal the religious identity of their proprietors goes well beyond what any food safety or licensing regulation legitimately requires. The top court is likely to hear this case on July 15. Based on a complaint field by a woman, a second-year MBA student at IIM Calcutta was arrested for allegedly raping her in the boys' hostel on the Joka campus. However, the woman's father claimed that his daughter was not sexually assaulted and is "fine and sleeping now." The woman, who is a psychologist, alleged that she went to meet the student for a counselling session at the hostel on Friday. She claimed that the accused gave her pizza and a drink, which believes was laced with drugs. Following this, she lost consciousness and after waking up realised that she was raped, according to the complaint filed at Haridevpur police station. #IIMCalcutta alleged rape accused sent to police custody till July 19. Victim had gone to Lakeside view hostel to give psychological counselling to the accused. She felt dizzy after consuming pizza and water. No security entry made on campus. pic.twitter.com/O7ESv37LZs Sreyashi Dey (@SreyashiDey) July 12, 2025 However, the woman's father later denied the rape allegations and claimed that he received a call from her on Friday saying she fell from a vehicle and that she turned unconscious. "I later on tracked her location, and it was found that she was at SSKM Hospital. The Haridevpur police rescued her after reaching the hospital," he added. Police are looking at the father's public statement as the investigation progresses. Karnataka-based Mahaveer Toppannavar alias Parmanand Jain, who is the accused in the alleged sexual assault case, was arrested and charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 64 (rape) and 123 (administering drugs or poison). On Saturday, he was sent to police custody till July 19. IIMCalcutta say, "The administration of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta has been made aware of a serious complaint involving one of our students, and the Complainant is not of the Institute. We are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and are fully https://t.co/OSAdwJbjTm pic.twitter.com/grhn3z1eaS ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2025 The accused's mother told ANI that her son is innocent and can never do such "a dirty thing". "We received a call from his friend around 11 in the night. He told us that my son has been detained and he doesn't know the reason... We have no clue why our son has been arrested... We want to meet our son and talk to him," she said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to Israel yesterday without a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, despite days of high-level talks in Washington with US officials, including President Donald Trump. Hopes of a breakthrough had been raised earlier in the week, with optimistic statements from both Israeli and American sides, but key issues remained unresolved. At the centre of the deadlock are disputes over the duration of the truce, the extent of Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and how humanitarian aid would be delivered during any cessation of hostilities. Mediators from the US, Egypt and Qatar are yet to find consensus on these core points. Before departing, Netanyahu said he was working toward a 60-day ceasefire that would see Hamas release around half of the estimated 50 hostages still held in Gaza, including both living captives and the bodies of the deceased. However, he insisted that any truce would not lead to a permanent arrangement unless Hamas disarmed and Gaza was demilitarised. He stated that negotiations to end the war must depend on the minimal conditions: Hamas lays down its arms, Gaza is demilitarised, there are no longer any governing or military capabilities of Hamas. Hamas swiftly rejected this condition. Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, said in a text message that disarmament would never be part of the negotiations. A key sticking point remains the question of how far Israeli forces would withdraw during a truce. Hamas demands a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, but Israel has proposed maintaining a military presence in parts of the territory, particularly in southern Gaza. Defence Minister Israel Katz reportedly discussed plans to convert parts of southern Gaza into a zone for displaced Palestinians, sparking backlash from critics who likened it to a modern-day concentration camp. While ceasefire talks continued in Doha, there were fresh reports of violence in Gaza. Fares Afaneh, a rescue official in northern Gaza, said an Israeli strike hit a former school in Jabaliya that had been repurposed as a shelter. Nine people were reported killed. The Israeli military said it had targeted a key Hamas operative based at the site. The Gaza health ministry warned that hospitals were running out of fuel, leading to the suspension of vital services. Netanyahus latest visit to Washington marked his third since Trumps return to the White House. The trip featured several high-profile meetings and gestures of political alignment, including calls for Trump to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The Israeli PM repeatedly claimed a deal was close, telling journalists on Wednesday that he anticipated a 60-day ceasefire in which the first batch [of hostages] would be released. However, by Thursday, no agreement had been finalised. Trumps special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, postponed a planned trip to Doha, acknowledging that the talks had not progressed sufficiently. The US reportedly pushed back against Israeli plans to maintain control over significant parts of Gaza. Witkoff had privately compared one such proposal to the Smotrich plan, referencing hardline Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Israel later submitted a revised version to make it more acceptable to Washington. Still, Hamas raised objections on other fronts, including whether the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund would continue to operate. The UN reported on Friday that nearly 800 people had been killed attempting to access GHF distribution sites since May. Hamas also objected to Israels refusal to commit to a permanent truce, a position US mediators tried to address by offering informal guarantees for an extended ceasefire beyond the initial 60 days. Netanyahus visit, though short on diplomatic gains, appeared to strengthen his political standing. It seems to have reinforced the image of unity between him and Trump at a time when Netanyahu faces mounting pressure at home from a fragile coalition and a corruption trial that was again postponed due to his travel. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on the Palestinian territories, for her call to the International Criminal Court to investigate Israeli officials and US companies over the Gaza conflict. Though Trump had voiced frustration with Israels role in escalating regional tensions, describing the situation as one in which they dont know what the fuck theyre doing, both leaders managed to present a united front during the visit. US President Donald Trump on Saturday sent a tariff letter to the European Union, imposing 30 per cent duty on the 27-nation bloc starting from August 1. He also sent a similar letter to Mexico. In his letter to the European Commission president, Trump said the 30 per cent tariff is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity between the US and EU. The fresh tariffs will be separate from all sectoral tariffs. We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with The European Union, and we have concluded we must move away from these long-term, large, and persistent, Trade Deficits, engendered by your Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies, and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal, Trump wrote in the letter to the EU. The fresh tariffs on EU come amid the bloc's efforts to reach a comprehensive trade deal with the US. Trump had previously expressed optimism in negotiations with the EU after he took a U-turn on his decision to levy 50 per cent tariff on the Union. He also warned that if the European Union hikes tariffs in retaliation, the US will add the number they choose to impose on the US onto the 30 per cent already charged. However, he said there will be no tariff on goods from the 27-member Union and the companies within the EU, if they decide to build or manufacture product in the US. According to the Office of the US Trade Representative, EU exported $553 billion worth of goods to the United States in 2022, making America the biggest recepient of European goods. Besides EU and Mexico, Trump sent similar letters to 23 other nations this week, including the northern neighbour Canada and allies Japan and South Korea. EU vows to take countermeasures European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday said the EU is ready "to continue working towards an agreement by Aug 1" but said it will take necessary measures to protect its interests, including taking countermeasures if needed. "Few economies in the world match the European Union's level of openness and adherence to fair trading practices," she added. In a strongly worded public post on Truth Social, POTUS Donald Trump has given US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents total authorisation to arrest demonstrators protesting against the widespread repression of immigrants in the country. The announcement claimed he had witnessed instances of violent clashes between the two groups on his way back from visiting flood-ravaged Texas. I am on my way back from Texas, and watched in disbelief as THUGS were violently throwing rocks and bricks at ICE Officers while they were moving down a roadway in their car and/or official vehicle, he said, further expressing his indignation at the tremendous damage to brand-new government vehicles and the disrespect towards the law and order of the land. In the post, he directed the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, and Border Czar, Tom Homan, to instruct all law enforcement officers faced with assault or violence to arrest the slimeballs responsible for the attack, adding that he was providing authority to use whatever means to do so, announcing that he was giving ICE Total Authorisation to protect itself. Federal agents reportedly arrived at the legal cannabis cultivating Glass House Farms in Camarillo, California, on Thursday and were met by a crowd of protestors who attempted to block the way to the farm, throwing rocks and bricks at the government officials. The ICE officers responded with rounds of what is thought to be less-than-lethal tear gas, detaining approximately 200 workers who are claimed to be undocumented. One farm worker sustained injuries that later led to his death during the raids. One protester is alleged to have fired a gun in the direction of ICE agents. No injuries related to gun violence have been reported. Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, popularly known as Fito, was a taxi driver in the seaside city of Manta before becoming one of Ecuador's most feared criminals. Fito turned Ecuador from a comparatively peaceful country into one of the most violent battlegrounds for organised crime in the region while serving as the head of Los Choneros, a potent drug cartel with connections to the Gulf Clan in Colombia and the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico. Over 70% of the world's cocaine now travels through Ecuadorian ports, according to Al Jazeera, a significant change that Fito's activities are largely responsible for. Fito was incarcerated at La Regional prison in Guayaquil for 34 years after being found guilty of murder, drug trafficking, and organised crime. Despite being behind bars, he established authority inside the prison and took charge of Los Choneros following the murder of its former leader. According to BBC News, he organised extortion rackets and drug shipments while being imprisoned. With the assistance of at least two guards, Fito broke out of prison in January 2024, sparking a national emergency. Bombings, hostage situations involving prison guards, and even an armed attack on a live television broadcast were among the deadly acts of violence that followed his disappearance. The Ecuadorian government responded by declaring a state of internal armed conflict, deploying tanks and military forces to battle the gangs on the streets. Authorities launched an international manhunt, offering a $1 million reward for information leading to his capture. However, it was eventually discovered that Fito had never departed the nation. In Manta, the same city where his criminal career started, he had been hiding in an opulent underground bunker beneath a family member's mansion. In June 2025, the drug lord was captured by the police after a raid was conducted on the property. For President Daniel Noboa, who ran on a platform of re-establishing order in a besieged country, Fito's arrest was a turning point. Noboa praised the work of the security forces, stating that the recapture demonstrated the efficacy of his security reforms, which include laws giving the government broad authority to circumvent warrants and treat gang violence as armed internal conflict. He confirmed Ecuador's plan to send Fito to the US to stand trial for conspiracy, weapons trafficking, and cocaine smuggling. On July 11, Fito appeared before a judge via videolink from a high-security prison in Guayaquil. Dressed in an orange prison uniform, he accepted the extradition request, becoming the first Ecuadorian to be extradited since the measure was legalised, following a 2024 referendum. His U.S. lawyer, Alexei Schacht, confirmed that the decision was made based on Fito's Ecuadorian legal counsel's advice and that the legal team was trying to get the best result for him, as reported by Al Jazeera. Fito is also suspected of ordering the shooting death of Fernando Villavicencio, a presidential candidate and anti-corruption activist, at a campaign rally a few days before the 2023 election. His alleged role in the murder only increased the pressure on Ecuador's government to take strong action against organised crime. Fito led Los Choneros to use strategies akin to those of Mexico's most vicious cartels, including targeted murders, dismemberment, and beheadings. According to BBC News, Los Choneros' alliance with the Sinaloa cartel is thought to be the direct cause of this cultural shift in gang violence. There probably has never been a time when I have seen an entire piece of heavy metal armour, displayed at a historic property and not wondered, how did someone wear this and more importantly how did they fight a battle with the hefty weight of it. For royalty, armour was as good as haute couture. For example, Henry VIII had workshops and ateliers set up in Greenwich to create his armour. One such stunning work of art, dating to 1527, is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Creative fashion houses have taken inspiration from antique armour, breast plates being the most obvious, to create glamorous outfits befitting todays time. While the use of ceremonial and battle armour has become redundant, its historic value along with antique armoury continues to be seen as an attractive purchase for many collectors. The year 2025 has been one giving plentiful spotlight and importance to arms and armour. In January this year, Royal Mail in the United Kingdom unveiled 12 stamps celebrating armours created during as early as 1365. Including pieces such as a rare sword from the Ming Dynasty, Royal Mails stamps aimed at igniting curiosity on the brilliant craftsmanship and engineering of the time. There is diversity of arms and armoury from each region and time period. Be it the materials used, the techniques experimented or the mastery of design and workmanship. In April this year, a Sotheby's auction brought to light one of the most exquisite collections of Islamic arms and armour. With over 100 lots the auction covered a period of 500 long years including a personal sword of the Emperor Shah Jahan. However, collections such as these are a labour of love. Philippe Gilles Rene Missillier spent over five decades researching and creating a collection of serious historic significance. The evolution of weaponry, the introduction of gunpowder, the innovation and technological advances that arms and armour shed light on are of immense value when dotting global history. Last month, Olympia Auctions in the United Kingdom curated an auction on Fine Antique Arms, Armour and Militaria. A resounding success, the auction featured some rare works of art, the top lot being a magnificent German executioners sword. Selling for an impressive 75,000, the sword is testament to the path-breaking German engineering, which continues to impress. Olympia founder Thomas Del Mar also commented that there is a new generation of collectors partaking in the auction. Keeping this in mind, I would like to think that its time auction houses explored the Indian market for arms and armoury. Presently, the majority of such antiquity in India is only seen in public museums or palaces and the museums they house. I still recall seeing an exquisite Gunpowder Flask also known as a Hamancha at the Mehrangarh Museum in Jodhpur. A beautiful, delicate piece with a shell from the green sea snail found in the Rann of Kutch layered with mother of pearl. The attention to detail and immaculate craftsmanship left me speechless. Similarly, Udaipurs City Palace Museum has done a commendable job in restoring and displaying some important, historic artefacts. Ranging from swords, daggers, spears, helmets, guns and pistols to armours made for horses to Maharana Prataps armour. Renowned for its weight and a reflection of the strength and valour of a Rajput warrior. Preserving such weaponry is an art in itself. Given the many great battles fought on Indian soil, the diverse and rich craftsmanship in the country, I think its time Indias auction houses explore this untapped territory. Not only will it encourage documentation, research and archiving, it will also ignite young immersionable minds to explore collecting antique milliatria. Franklin County residents and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig were on hand Wednesday for a ceremony celebrating the designation of the Reeve REA Power Generation Plant as a National Historic Landmark. Built in 1936 with funding from President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, the Reeve plant originally powered six counties and later transformed into a museum managed by the Franklin Historical Society. The Reeve plant came online at 8:30 a.m. March 23, 1938. Within seven months, rural electrification had arrived, providing farmer-owned power to it's six counties. In 1947 Federated REA merged with the Central Electric Federated Cooperative Association to provide even more electricity to the area, powering 90% of rural farms. By 1950, the grid requirements were so high that Corn Belt Power transitioned the plant to standby as electricity reached more homes. Franklin County Historical Society board member Rick Whalen highlighted the plant's historical significance and the cooperative effort that led to its establishment. "What surprised me through this process ... was they built this in winter, 1937," Whalen said to the crowd. "You can you imagine them coming here in the morning, starting up a fire, heat rocks, heat sand, mix one boat of concrete at a time? It blew my mind they did that. So then after they did put it up, they would cover it up with the tarps. Then they had the steam engine, introduce steam in there to cure for like, I think it took like, four or five days to cure. And then when they got it all done, they went back in and busted all the ice. So then they delivered the first generator. Got that in. They rolled it in on pipes and poles." While the original cooperative established the diesel-powered plant, that commitment to community and the stories of North Iowans continued on as it transformed into a museum. In 1988, the plant was donated to the Franklin County Historical Society and the museum opened its doors in 1990. In 2002, the museum was designated as a point of interest in the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area. Naig also spoke on the power of community and history in North Iowa. "You're talking about a community coming together to do something essential. And I think it's very fitting we can talk about something that literally was a cooperative effort to bring it to fruition into this recognition. So I just appreciate this. As I get to travel across our state, we have so many special things, so many unique things, innovative things that happen right here in Iowa, and there are historical societies counting. Societies, county museums, folks all across the state who are committed to they understand the value of that," Naig said to onlookers. Whalen has headed up the museum committee for some time. He plans to reach out to other North Iowa cooperatives to bring valuable museum pieces into the building. He took some time to show off the display of hand tools workers used to build the plant up from the prairie it sat on. "They did this all by hand," Whalen said as he gestured toward the poles and shovels hung neatly on the south wall of the Reeve REA Museum. "Six feet they dug down to set the foundation." The ceremony also acknowledged the contributions of various individuals and organizations, including the Franklin County Historical Society and the National Park Service. The event emphasized the importance of preserving historical landmarks and the impact of rural electrification on community development. The Reeve REA National Historic Landmark is located at 1450 10th St. in Hampton. Ceasefire negotiations in Doha aimed at ending the conflict and securing the release of hostages have stalled over the past 24 hours, Kan News reported. The talks have made no headway on several critical points, including the IDFs withdrawal lines from Gaza, the list of hostages and prisoners to be released, and assurances for ending the war. However, the discussions have not significantly deteriorated either. The only reported progress involves the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has not yet traveled to Doha, reportedly waiting for more substantial developments before joining the talks. Separately, Al Jazeera released what it claims is a map of Israels proposed military deployment during a possible ceasefire, allegedly shared during the negotiations. According to the report, Israel insists on maintaining IDF troops along the Morag Corridor, effectively keeping Rafah under Israeli control. (YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel) Russian President Vladimir Putin is pressing Iran to agree to a zero enrichment deal with the United States, Axios reported over the weekend. According to the report, Putin told President Trump and Iranian officials that he supports a nuclear deal in which Iran would not be able to enrich uranium. At the same time, three European officials and an Israeli official confirmed to Axios that Russia encouraged the Iranians not to enrich uranium. Two sources said that Russia even briefed Israel on Putins position on the matter. The Iranian Tasnim agency, which is affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, denied the report. The development is a significant one as Russia has been Irans main diplomatic supporter on the nuclear issue for years. (YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel) Britain's largest corporate undertaker has become the latest firm to find itself besieged by offers to hold takeover talks as its boss said the London stock market has become a 'hunting ground' for private equity sharks. Begbies Traynor, based in Manchester, is the UK's largest provider of insolvency and restructuring advice. It is often the one called in when a firm is on the verge of going bust. Business has been booming as Britain has struggled post-pandemic, with Labour's tax policies piling even more pressure on companies. The economy was dealt another blow on Friday when data revealed that UK GDP unexpectedly shrank by 0.1 per cent in May. Its strong performance means Begbies has now drawn the eye of the same private equity firms buying its London-listed peers, many of whom are being scooped up because they are considered more valuable than their share prices would suggest. Ric Traynor, the firm's executive chairman, told The Mail on Sunday that it was increasingly being approached about potential deals. On the market?: Executive chairman Ric Traynor won't rule out a deal 'A month doesn't go by where there isn't somebody suggesting a conversation, it's either private equity themselves or some market maker in the middle,' he said. Traynor stressed that while the company was not actively seeking out a private equity deal, he did not rule out doing so in the future. 'Until a couple of years ago, the stock market was working well for us. If we have another couple of years and it still isn't working for us, that's when you start to think about whether you can get proper value for shareholders by staying on the market, or if there is a better alternative,' he said. While shares in Begbies have risen nearly 35 per cent over the past five years, they are still 15 per cent below their most recent peak of 1.48, which was recorded in late 2022 and is well below the record high of 2.04 reached in May 2006. 'We've seen firms get bought for premiums of 50 per cent or even 100 per cent of their current market value on [London's junior stock market AIM]... it is a hunting ground for private equity,' Traynor said. He added that as the business often worked closely with private equity firms when the companies they owned got into financial difficulty, conversations about a potential deal 'could easily be initiated if we wanted to'. The comments came following a strong performance for Begbies, which has seen its profits and share price rise as a slowdown in the UK economy has fuelled demand for its services. Last week, its shares hit their highest level in nearly two years after its full-year profits almost doubled as more companies were hit by higher costs in the wake of Chancellor Rachel Reeves's decision to raise National Insurance Contributions and the minimum wage in her Autumn Budget. Private equity's courting of London-listed companies is piling further pressure on the UK's beleaguered stock market, which has suffered a series of high-profile takeover deals in recent years as well as several defections to overseas markets, particularly the US. Last month, FTSE 250 firm Spectris, which makes high-precision testing equipment and software, was scooped up by US private equity firm Advent International in a 4.4 billion deal. Another mid-cap group, property investor Warehouse REIT, is also set to be snapped up following a 489 million swoop from private equity giant Blackstone on Friday, snubbing a rival bid from its London-listed rival, Tritax Big Box REIT. Auto Trader Group plc (LON:AUTO Get Free Report) insider Jamie Warner sold 43,566 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 812 ($10.95), for a total transaction of 353,755.92 ($477,210.20). Auto Trader Group Stock Performance Shares of AUTO opened at GBX 824.60 ($11.12) on Friday. Auto Trader Group plc has a one year low of GBX 706 ($9.52) and a one year high of GBX 920 ($12.41). The company has a 50-day moving average of GBX 833.50 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 796.84. The stock has a market cap of 7.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.22, a PEG ratio of 3.99 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.26, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 1.50. Get Auto Trader Group alerts: Auto Trader Group (LON:AUTO Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 29th. The company reported GBX 31.66 ($0.43) EPS for the quarter. Auto Trader Group had a net margin of 45.00% and a return on equity of 47.03%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Auto Trader Group plc will post 32.7973074 earnings per share for the current year. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have recently weighed in on AUTO. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an underweight rating and set a GBX 745 ($10.05) price objective on shares of Auto Trader Group in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Berenberg Bank reiterated a hold rating and issued a GBX 830 ($11.20) target price on shares of Auto Trader Group in a report on Thursday, May 29th. Get Our Latest Research Report on AUTO About Auto Trader Group (Get Free Report) About Auto Trader Auto Trader Group plc is the UKs largest automotive platform. It listed on the London Stock Exchange in March 2015 and is a member of the FTSE 100 Index. Auto Traders purpose is Driving Change Together. Responsibly. Auto Trader is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture, it aims to build stronger partnerships with its customers and use its voice and influence to drive more environmentally friendly vehicle choices. With the largest number of car buyers and the largest choice of trusted stock, Auto Traders marketplace sits at the heart of the UK car buying process. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Auto Trader Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Auto Trader Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Barclays upgraded shares of Canada Goose (NYSE:GOOS Free Report) from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. Barclays currently has $14.00 price objective on the stock, up from their previous price objective of $11.00. A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on GOOS. Evercore ISI set a $11.00 price objective on Canada Goose and gave the company an in-line rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. UBS Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $11.00 target price (up previously from $8.00) on shares of Canada Goose in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Wall Street Zen raised Canada Goose from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, May 24th. Cowen reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Canada Goose in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Canada Goose from $8.00 to $9.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $11.25. Get Canada Goose alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on GOOS Canada Goose Price Performance GOOS stock opened at $13.99 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a current ratio of 2.66. Canada Goose has a 1 year low of $6.73 and a 1 year high of $14.28. The firm has a market cap of $1.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.42. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.07 and a 200-day simple moving average of $9.94. Canada Goose (NYSE:GOOS Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 21st. The company reported $0.33 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.16 by $0.17. Canada Goose had a return on equity of 23.33% and a net margin of 7.02%. The firm had revenue of $266.83 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $355.76 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.14 EPS. Canada Gooses quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Canada Goose will post 0.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Canada Goose Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its stake in Canada Goose by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 5,363,960 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,643,000 after acquiring an additional 39,012 shares in the last quarter. Patient Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Canada Goose by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Patient Capital Management LLC now owns 3,854,520 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,661,000 after acquiring an additional 128,133 shares in the last quarter. Timucuan Asset Management Inc. FL raised its stake in Canada Goose by 10.8% during the 1st quarter. Timucuan Asset Management Inc. FL now owns 1,948,240 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,489,000 after acquiring an additional 189,715 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership bought a new stake in Canada Goose during the 4th quarter valued at $12,251,000. Finally, Penn Capital Management Company LLC bought a new stake in Canada Goose during the 4th quarter valued at $5,702,000. Institutional investors own 83.64% of the companys stock. About Canada Goose (Get Free Report) Canada Goose Holdings Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells performance luxury apparel for men, women, youth, children, and babies in Canada, the United States, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company operates through three segments: Direct-to-Consumer, Wholesale, and Other. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canada Goose Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canada Goose and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tsuruha (OTCMKTS:TSUSF Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The company reported $1.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.58, reports. The company had revenue of $1,891,630.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.91 billion. Tsuruha Stock Performance Shares of TSUSF opened at $55.00 on Friday. Tsuruha has a one year low of $55.00 and a one year high of $60.71. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $54.93 and a 200-day moving average of $54.95. Get Tsuruha alerts: About Tsuruha (Get Free Report) Featured Stories Tsuruha Holdings Inc operates drugstores in Japan. It sells pharmaceutical, cosmetic, miscellaneous goods and food products. The company was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in Sapporo, Japan. Receive News & Ratings for Tsuruha Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tsuruha and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Diversify Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Crh Plc (NYSE:CRH Free Report) by 11.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 12,592 shares of the construction companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,327 shares during the quarter. Diversify Wealth Management LLCs holdings in CRH were worth $1,177,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Orion Capital Management LLC bought a new position in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Park Square Financial Group LLC bought a new position in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its position in CRH by 214.3% in the 4th quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 352 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 240 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Colonial Trust Co SC bought a new position in CRH in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Institutional investors own 62.50% of the companys stock. Get CRH alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CRH has been the topic of several recent research reports. Sanford C. Bernstein initiated coverage on shares of CRH in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $115.00 price target on the stock. Loop Capital initiated coverage on shares of CRH in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a buy rating and a $114.00 target price on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on shares of CRH from $127.00 to $108.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a neutral rating on shares of CRH in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Finally, DA Davidson reissued a neutral rating and set a $105.00 target price (down previously from $120.00) on shares of CRH in a research report on Thursday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $112.82. CRH Stock Down 0.7% Shares of CRH stock opened at $95.19 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $93.39 and a 200-day moving average of $94.52. Crh Plc has a 12-month low of $74.03 and a 12-month high of $110.97. The firm has a market cap of $64.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.17, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.26. CRH (NYSE:CRH Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 5th. The construction company reported ($0.12) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.06) by ($0.06). CRH had a return on equity of 15.88% and a net margin of 9.17%. The company had revenue of $6.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.77 billion. As a group, equities analysts expect that Crh Plc will post 5.47 EPS for the current year. CRH Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 23rd were given a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 23rd. CRHs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.52%. CRH Company Profile (Free Report) CRH plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides building materials solutions in Ireland and internationally. It operates through four segments: Americas Materials Solutions, Americas Building Solutions, Europe Materials Solutions, and Europe Building Solutions. The company provides solutions for the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure and commercial and residential buildings; and produces and sells aggregates, cement, readymixed concrete, and asphalt, as well as provides paving and construction services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CRH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Crh Plc (NYSE:CRH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CRH Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CRH and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Xponance Inc. lessened its stake in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 0.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 31,992 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 104 shares during the period. Xponance Inc.s holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $8,461,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 163.1% in the 1st quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,828 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $733,000 after acquiring an additional 1,753 shares during the last quarter. Burford Brothers Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Travelers Companies in the 1st quarter valued at about $955,000. CFC Planning Co LLC lifted its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 8.7% in the 1st quarter. CFC Planning Co LLC now owns 16,813 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $4,446,000 after acquiring an additional 1,343 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 17.2% in the 1st quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 88,427 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $23,386,000 after acquiring an additional 12,965 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Phillips Financial Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 6.2% in the 1st quarter. Phillips Financial Management LLC now owns 919 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $243,000 after acquiring an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.45% of the companys stock. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Travelers Companies Stock Down 0.7% TRV stock opened at $254.26 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.33. The company has a market capitalization of $57.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.75 and a beta of 0.51. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $267.10 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $255.71. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $202.95 and a fifty-two week high of $277.83. Travelers Companies Increases Dividend Travelers Companies ( NYSE:TRV Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 16th. The insurance provider reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $1.38. The company had revenue of $10.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.97 billion. Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 16.10% and a net margin of 9.09%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $4.69 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 10th were paid a $1.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, June 10th. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.73%. This is an increase from Travelers Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.05. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio is presently 23.95%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Travelers Companies news, EVP Maria Olivo sold 36,199 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.20, for a total transaction of $9,925,765.80. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 118,116 shares in the company, valued at approximately $32,387,407.20. This trade represents a 23.46% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Avrohom J. Kess sold 23,434 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $273.93, for a total value of $6,419,275.62. Following the sale, the insider owned 48,387 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,254,650.91. This represents a 32.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 163,869 shares of company stock worth $44,868,201 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.46% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets TRV has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Evercore ISI upped their price target on Travelers Companies from $288.00 to $296.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Barclays lowered Travelers Companies from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their price target for the company from $280.00 to $274.00 in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Hsbc Global Res lowered Travelers Companies from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, March 24th. UBS Group lowered their price target on Travelers Companies from $270.00 to $267.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $269.00 price target on Travelers Companies and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $271.00. Get Our Latest Research Report on TRV Travelers Companies Profile (Free Report) The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Travelers Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travelers Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Coyle Financial Counsel LLC lifted its position in shares of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC Free Report) by 8.0% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,214 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 683 shares during the quarter. Coyle Financial Counsel LLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $384,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Avalon Trust Co grew its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 14.6% during the 4th quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 1,719 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $76,000 after purchasing an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. TAGStone Capital Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. TAGStone Capital Inc. now owns 19,802 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $870,000 after purchasing an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. Hayek Kallen Investment Management lifted its position in shares of Bank of America by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Hayek Kallen Investment Management now owns 12,022 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $528,000 after buying an additional 233 shares during the period. Continuum Advisory LLC lifted its position in shares of Bank of America by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 16,707 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $734,000 after buying an additional 237 shares during the period. Finally, Menard Financial Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Bank of America by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Menard Financial Group LLC now owns 20,620 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $906,000 after buying an additional 240 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.71% of the companys stock. Get Bank of America alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts recently commented on BAC shares. Evercore ISI cut their target price on Bank of America from $51.00 to $48.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Cfra Research raised their target price on Bank of America to $47.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Bank of America from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Phillip Securities upgraded Bank of America from a moderate buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, TD Cowen started coverage on Bank of America in a research report on Thursday, May 15th. They set a buy rating and a $53.00 target price for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, seventeen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $48.89. Bank of America Trading Down 0.6% BAC stock opened at $46.71 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $351.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.90, a PEG ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 1.30. Bank of America Corporation has a twelve month low of $33.07 and a twelve month high of $49.31. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The business has a fifty day moving average of $44.99 and a 200-day moving average of $43.56. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 15th. The financial services provider reported $0.90 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.80 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $27.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $26.83 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 10.25% and a net margin of 14.56%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Bank of America Corporation will post 3.7 EPS for the current year. Bank of America Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 6th were given a dividend of $0.26 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 6th. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.23%. Bank of Americas payout ratio is currently 30.95%. Bank of America Profile (Free Report) Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Round Rock Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 9.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 34,629 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,065 shares during the quarter. Exxon Mobil accounts for about 0.8% of Round Rock Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest holding. Round Rock Advisors LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $4,118,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 93,299,598 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $10,023,875,000 after buying an additional 1,104,617 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Exxon Mobil in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $6,936,737,000. Northern Trust Corp raised its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 7.0% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 46,017,358 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $4,950,087,000 after buying an additional 2,998,892 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 45,323,453 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $5,390,318,000 after buying an additional 1,340,343 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 13.1% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 35,662,602 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,836,226,000 after buying an additional 4,140,046 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.80% of the companys stock. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Exxon Mobil Trading Up 0.4% XOM opened at $115.40 on Friday. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a twelve month low of $97.80 and a twelve month high of $126.34. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The company has a fifty day moving average of $108.01 and a 200-day moving average of $108.78. The stock has a market cap of $497.33 billion, a PE ratio of 15.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 0.50. Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.73 by $0.03. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 9.49% and a return on equity of 12.06%. The company had revenue of $83.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $86.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.06 earnings per share. Exxon Mobils revenue for the quarter was up .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th were given a dividend of $0.99 per share. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.43%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 15th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 52.52%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth XOM has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays reiterated a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil from $120.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, June 23rd. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil from $141.00 to $138.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Exxon Mobil from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, June 27th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $126.05. View Our Latest Analysis on XOM Exxon Mobil Company Profile (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lane & Associates LLC trimmed its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 5.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 670 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 37 shares during the period. Lane & Associates LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $366,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Curio Wealth LLC bought a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. American Capital Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Transce3nd LLC bought a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Godsey & Gibb Inc. grew its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 170.0% during the 1st quarter. Godsey & Gibb Inc. now owns 54 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares during the period. 71.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth GS has been the subject of a number of research reports. Morgan Stanley reissued an equal weight rating on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Thursday. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $585.00 to $550.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 24th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $760.00 to $720.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a sector perform rating on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Daiwa America downgraded shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, April 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, The Goldman Sachs Group has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $614.00. Insider Buying and Selling at The Goldman Sachs Group In related news, Director John B. Hess acquired 3,904 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 15th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $511.68 per share, for a total transaction of $1,997,598.72. Following the transaction, the director owned 3,904 shares in the company, valued at $1,997,598.72. This represents a ? increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock. The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Performance NYSE GS opened at $704.11 on Friday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $632.13 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $596.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $216.05 billion, a PE ratio of 16.34, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 1.35. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $437.37 and a 1 year high of $726.00. The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 14th. The investment management company reported $14.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $12.57 by $1.55. The firm had revenue of $15.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.99 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 11.86% and a return on equity of 13.76%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $11.58 EPS. Analysts predict that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 47.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th were given a dividend of $3.00 per share. This represents a $12.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.70%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 30th. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 27.85%. The Goldman Sachs Group Company Profile (Free Report) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in financing under securities to resale agreements. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE Free Report) by 0.5% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 253,365 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 1,367 shares during the quarter. ONEOK accounts for 3.8% of Fort Sheridan Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest holding. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLCs holdings in ONEOK were worth $25,139,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of OKE. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its position in shares of ONEOK by 11.4% during the 1st quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 11,505 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,142,000 after buying an additional 1,180 shares during the last quarter. Cinctive Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in ONEOK during the 4th quarter worth about $19,909,000. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd lifted its holdings in ONEOK by 41.8% during the 4th quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd now owns 15,399 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,546,000 after purchasing an additional 4,538 shares in the last quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of ONEOK by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 289,997 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $28,774,000 after acquiring an additional 10,957 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund raised its holdings in shares of ONEOK by 146.9% in the 1st quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 18,033 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,789,000 after acquiring an additional 10,728 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 69.13% of the companys stock. Get ONEOK alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. TD Cowen assumed coverage on ONEOK in a research report on Monday, July 7th. They set a hold rating and a $91.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays decreased their price target on ONEOK from $101.00 to $91.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, June 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on ONEOK from $102.00 to $93.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Scotiabank reduced their target price on ONEOK from $96.00 to $93.00 and set a sector outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, June 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on ONEOK from $94.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 3rd. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $103.14. ONEOK Trading Up 0.6% ONEOK stock opened at $81.38 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $81.94 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $90.90. ONEOK, Inc. has a 12 month low of $75.48 and a 12 month high of $118.07. The company has a market capitalization of $51.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.93. ONEOK (NYSE:OKE Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The utilities provider reported $1.04 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.28 by ($0.24). ONEOK had a return on equity of 15.58% and a net margin of 12.15%. The business had revenue of $6.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.23 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.09 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that ONEOK, Inc. will post 5.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. ONEOK Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 15th. Investors of record on Monday, May 5th were given a dividend of $1.03 per share. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.06%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 5th. ONEOKs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 80.47%. ONEOK Profile (Free Report) ONEOK, Inc engages in gathering, processing, fractionation, storage, transportation, and marketing of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) in the United States. It operates through four segments: Natural Gas Gathering and Processing, Natural Gas Liquids, Natural Gas Pipelines, and Refined Products and Crude. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OKE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for ONEOK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ONEOK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. B & T Capital Management DBA Alpha Capital Management reduced its stake in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL Free Report) by 1.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,244 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 155 shares during the period. B & T Capital Management DBA Alpha Capital Managements holdings in Aflac were worth $1,361,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Golden State Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Aflac by 121.9% during the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 304 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Curio Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Aflac during the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Garde Capital Inc. purchased a new position in Aflac in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Capital A Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Aflac in the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in Aflac during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $44,000. 67.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Aflac alerts: Aflac Trading Down 0.7% Shares of AFL opened at $101.56 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.09 and a current ratio of 0.09. Aflac Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $91.99 and a fifty-two week high of $115.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.91 billion, a PE ratio of 15.87, a P/E/G ratio of 3.17 and a beta of 0.81. The companys fifty day moving average is $103.79 and its 200 day moving average is $105.23. Aflac Announces Dividend Aflac ( NYSE:AFL Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.66 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.67 by ($0.01). Aflac had a net margin of 21.27% and a return on equity of 15.55%. The firm had revenue of $3.40 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.53 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.66 EPS. The companys revenue was down 37.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 21st were issued a $0.58 dividend. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 21st. Aflacs payout ratio is presently 36.25%. Insider Transactions at Aflac In other Aflac news, Director Arthur Reginald Collins sold 2,750 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.70, for a total transaction of $290,675.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 6,728 shares in the company, valued at $711,149.60. This represents a 29.01% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.79, for a total transaction of $106,790.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 26,096 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,786,791.84. The trade was a 3.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 40,750 shares of company stock worth $4,304,295. Insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have issued reports on AFL. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Aflac from $109.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Barclays set a $98.00 price objective on shares of Aflac and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Monday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on shares of Aflac from $104.00 to $106.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Raymond James Financial cut their price objective on shares of Aflac from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 29th. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of Aflac from $118.00 to $124.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Aflac currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $107.07. View Our Latest Analysis on Aflac Aflac Profile (Free Report) Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. The company operates through Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AFL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Aflac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aflac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TKC Reality check . . . Despite protests and a great deal of rhetoric, the mass deportation effort by President Trump and his supporters remains one of the most popular components of the MAGA agenda. In fact . . . Ahead of what could be inevitable delays if the Midterms flip House or Senate majorities, there's an ongoing effort to ramp up enforcement in order to live up to the numbers achieved by former Prez Obama. However . . . CONGRESSMAN CLEAVER DENOUNCES ALLEGED RACIAL BIAS COMMITTED BY ICE IN RECENT SOCIAL MEDIA CONDEMNATION!!! Here's the word and more context from the former mayor and longtime Kansas City statesman . . . Straight from the Trump administrations Border Czar: ICE is detaining individuals based on their location, their occupation, their physical appearance, their accent In other words: based on racial profiling. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Congressman Cleaver on X: "Its unacceptable and undermines every Americans constitutional rights." And so we share "many sides" of the latest La Migra flare up amid continued controversy . . . Federal judge orders ICE to halt immigration raids in Southern California The ACLU's federal lawsuit claims the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement operations violate the Constitution. BROADCAST BIAS: Networks downplay violent attacks on ICE to push immigration agenda Major networks ABC, CBS, and NBC gave minimal coverage of attacks against ICE and Border Patrol while emphasizing sympathetic portrayals of illegal immigrants ICE Agents Find 10 Migrant Children on Marijuana Farm, Arrest 200 ICE has opened a child labor trafficking investigation into two marijuana farms after agents found 10 migrant children during a raid. California farm worker dies from injuries sustained during ICE raid, union says California farm worker dies from injuries sustained during ICE raid, union says. Dems Appear Confused Over Raid At Marijuana Farm Run By Illegal Migrant Children Democratic lawmakers are raging online over an immigration raid at a marijuana farm in Southern California allegedly staffed by illegal migrant children. ICE handcuffs 71-year-old grandmother, a U.S. citizen, at San Diego immigration court Barbara Stone was handcuffed and held by federal agents for hours, according to her family; she was accused of pushing an ICE officer, which she denies. Trump grants ICE ability to arrest 'SLIMEBALL' protesters who attack agents after chaotic California pot farm raid President Trump announced Friday that he's granting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents "Total Authorization" to arrest violent protesters following a chaotic California cannabis farm raid that resulted in rocks being hurled at federal law enforcement vehicles. Developing . . . A power move amid recall . . . The bad news is this flex might elicit a response from Missouri officials. In fairness, here's this reasoning . . . In a statement, White's office called the ordinance "costly" and "misleading." This would be the fourth unbudgeted election proposed by this Legislature in less than two years, White said. Not one has passed. Not one has been fiscally responsible. And this one is no different. I support giving voters a say, but we can and should do it in 2026, when it wont cost Jackson County taxpayers a single extra dollar. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Frank White vetoes ordinance calling for vote on elected assessor, cites election calendar as issue In a release, White called the ordinance "costly" and "misleading." Frank White vetoes special election for Jackson County assessor White's letter to the Jackson County Legislature suggested the recall election be placed on the ballot in August 2026 or November 2026. Developing . . . Lots to consider in this update that ATTEMPTS to keep up with a great many local stories on ALLEGED local misdeeds, court cases & community outreach. Check TKC news gathering . . . 'Step in the right direction': KCPD says additional 911 call takers will help shorten wait times In 2023, the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department had nearly 20 open call taker positions. In 2025, the department said five positions need to be filled. Police stop two men from breaking into Lee's Summit church The Lee's Summit Police Department stopped two men from breaking into a church earlier this week. 'It just wasn't right': Investigative interviews reveal moments before Independence shooting The deadly police shooting on Nov. 7, 2024, at an Independence apartment complex immediately changed the lives of families, police officers and the community. Kansas City man to spend decade in prison after lethal amount of fentanyl found A Kansas City man will spend a decade behind bars after he pleaded guilty to the possession of fentanyl. Jail cell sewage leaks force Clay County Sheriff's Department to move offices from building A series of sewage leaks caused by Clay County Jail inmates forced the sheriff's department to move several of its units to another building while the office is being remodeled. Police investigating after adult found dead in Kansas City, Kansas Police in Kansas City, Kansas, have launched a death investigation after finding an adult dead Friday morning. 12-year-old girl reported missing in Kansas City, last seen in Midtown A 12-year-old girl, Olivia Cunningham, was reported missing in Kansas City. KCPD said she was last seen near E. 39th St. and Charlotte Ave. Gladstone Police Department faces officer shortage, implements creative solutions The Gladstone Police Department is currently grappling with a significant shortage of police officers, a challenge that local officials are addressing with innovative strategies. Brothers could face life in prison after buyer shot during Facebook Marketplace sale turned robbery A pair of Kansas City brothers have been accused of a Facebook Marketplace sale turned armed robbery. Man charged with running over person with truck after argument outside Independence bar A man has been charged with hitting someone with his car after an argument and fight outside Rhinestone Cowgirls in Independence, Missouri. Overland Park police will park police cars outside Target stores where people can donate school supplies Shoppers will notice police cruisers parked outside three Target stores in Overland Park this month. It's part of the annual "Fill the Cruiser" fundraiser. How 'Devil in the Ozarks' escaped using Sharpies, Bible cover Former police chief Grant Hardin escaped prison using a makeshift prison uniform and badge made out of a can lid and Bible cover. Kansas City artist depicts police shootings through her exhibit, '14 lives' "The talk" is a conversation that happens in most Black households, specifically with Black youth, about how to interact with police officers to survive. Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department welcomes 12 new officers The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department welcomed 12 new officers this week during a graduation ceremony for the department's 65th recruit class. Dads Against Crime founder wants to remove the stigma around talking to police Andre Harris, founder of the nonprofit Dads Against Crime, says that Kansas City's violent crime problem can't be fixed if people can't feel comfortable talking to law enforcement and discussing mental health. Developing . . . For the weekend biz lady, actress & celeb hottie Syd inspires our latest peek at pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Anybody Need KC Kitty?!? Foster homes desperately needed for 12 cats dumped in Kansas City Homes are being sought for two litters of cats that were dumped in Kansas City. Early Blaze Aftermath KCFD investigating the cause of a two-story house fire on East 30th St, no injuries reported The Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department responded to a two-story house fire in the 2900 block of East 30th Street on Saturday morning. Chicken Temp Shack Chick-fil-A opens temporary Kansas City location in this new neighborhood Chick-fil-A's temporary location opens in Kansas City's Commerce Tower South. They'll offer dine-in or carry-out Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kindness From Congressman Rep. Alford writes letter to USDA; local pantry hopeful to stay open A food pantry in Cass County is hopeful it will be saved after FOX4's story Wednesday and generous community support, but its fight to stay open and provide resources to families for the rest of th... Local Culture . . . Small Biz to Watch: El Cafe Cubano brews rich simplicity inspired by ancestors' appetite for the American dream - Startland News Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom's first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, curated by editors from Kansas City's wide array of hard-working entrepreneurs and business owners. Power Move Unbuttoned Sydney Sweeney launches lingerie brand with $1 billion boost from Jeff Bezos-backed firm Sydney Sweeney is launching her own lingerie brand with support from a Jeff Bezos-backed $1 billion fund via Coatue. Here's how the actress is stepping into the fashion world. Flex Or TACO Offer?!? Trump says he will hit E.U. and Mexico with 30% tariff President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened a significant tariff hike on the European Union and Mexico, two of the largest U.S. trade partners. Dem Leader Risks Defamation AOC Shocks By Calling Trump a 'Rapist' in Tweet About Epstein Files Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) did not hold back in a tweet Friday afternoon that took a swipe at the White House turmoil over the Epstein files -- and directly called President Donald Trump a "rapist." Beltway Goodbyes State Department starts firing more than 1,350 workers in Trump's shake-up of diplomatic corps Donald Trump's unprecedented overhaul of the diplomatic corps will undermine U.S. ability to defend and promote its interests abroad, critics say. Holy Land Tragedy Rising American beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the West Bank A 20-year-old American from Florida was beaten to death by Israeli settlers on Friday while visiting relatives in the occupied West Bank, according to his family and the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Eastern Europe War Redux US has resumed military supplies to Ukraine, Zelensky says It comes after US President Donald Trump announced a new deal to supply air defence systems via Nato. Flipped Switch Ahead Of Disaster Fuel to Air India plane was cut off moments before crash, investigation report says Preliminary findings into last month's Air India plane crash suggest the aircraft's fuel control switches were turned off, causing a loss of engine thrust shortly after takeoff. Tucker's MAGA Call To Action Tucker Carlson Urges Public To Pose Questions About Epstein 'No One Has Ever Tried' To Ask Tucker Carlson said Americans have "every right" to get answers about Epstein's case amid the Department of Justice's (DOJ) new findings. Heroic Clap Back?!? Dean Cain's 'Superman' Criticisms Seem Even Dumber Thanks to This Clip of Fred Willard He should really watch 'Lois & Clark' before complaining about Superman's politics Sharing & Caring She Felt 'Deeply Alone' in Her Previous Marriage. Now She Shares Her Polyamorous Relationship Online (Exclusive) Hayley Folk is in an ethical, non-monogamous relationship with her husband. She makes videos and writes about her relationship and partners to raise awareness and fight stigmas Home Team Drops Latest Royals get stepped on literally and metaphorically in 8-3 loss to Mets Jonathan India got stepped on, preventing him from scoring on an errant throw. The Mets offense also stepped on the Royals bullpen. Forecast For Today Not as hot with a slim storm chance today Temperatures top out in the mid-80s today with a mix of sun and clouds. There's a slim chance for isolated rain, but most will remain dry. David Guetta, Hypaton, Bonnie Tyler - Together is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Just wanted to make things perfectly clear about the bias of this blog . . . IF YOU OPPOSE THE RESULTS OF A FREE & FAIR MAGA ELECTION THAT OFFERS LEGIT TIME OFF FOR WORKERS THEN YOU'RE PROBABLY A PARTISAN HACK & NOT A REAL CONSERVATIVE!!! Moreover . . . It's probably time for workers to stop being nice about this kind of thing and weed out so many politicos who PRACTICE PRETEND POPULISM and then just take their marching orders from the same old special interests. We may not agree with everything this local worker belives but we RESPECT his story that is all to familiar in the Show-Me State . . . A McDonald's employee for over two decades and an active member of StandUp KC and the Missouri Workers Center, shared his personal experience with the challenges imposed by the lack of paid sick leave. He recounts a poignant incident involving his mother, who fell ill while he was at work. "I could not afford to stay home and care for her," he said. "I had to go to work, keep the bills and lights paid, and keep the roof over our heads. When I came home from work, she had suffered a stroke while I was gone. She was in a coma for three days and had to go into a nursing home after that. I sometimes wonder what if I had been there for her during those crucial hours." "This was a popular bill," he said. "We won the hearts and minds of the people; we won them over. For politicians to just ignore that in favor of corporate profit is very aggravating and disappointing." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Service workers react to repeal of paid sick leave in Missouri Eight months after Missouri voters approved Proposition A, legislation to increase the minimum wage in increments and implement paid sick leave, a repeal will now alter the future for many workers. 'That was gonna be essential': KC construction workers react to Missouri paid sick time law being repealed Construction workers react after Missouri's Governor repealed a law that secured their paid sick time. Developing . . . North Carolina is committed to implementing a controversial work requirement mandate for Medicaid expansion that could lead to a projected 255,000 enrollees, or nearly 38%, losing their coverage starting in January 2027. Gov. Josh Stein signed into law on July 7 bipartisan House Bill 546 that mandates the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services impose a work requirement as a condition of participation if authorized by the Trump administrations Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The cuts could affect an estimated 9,713 of 25,696 Forsyth County Medicaid expansion recipients and 15,806 of 41,817 in Guilford County, as of July 2 according to the NCDHHS dashboard. HB546 also provides Medicaid coverage for women who have just given birth for 12 months, making telehealth services more accessible, and launches a new statewide Medicaid health plan for children and young adults served by the child welfare system. Stein did not specifically mention the Medicaid work requirement mandate in signing the bill. The CMS authorization has become increasingly likely with the Republican-sponsored reconciliation One Big Beautiful Bill that was signed into law July 4 by President Donald Trump. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported in a November analysis of Medicaid expansion that lowering the CMS funding match below 90% of administrative costs would serve as a means for congressional Republicans to significantly weaken the Affordable Care Act rather than undertake an unpopular outright repeal effort. The 255,000 figure comes from a July 1 NCDHHS presentation to the legislature that listed states can request up to a two-year delay through Dec. 31, 2028, if making a good faith effort to meet the mandate. For the 14-county Triad and northwest N.C. region, there are 127,039 Medicaid expansion enrollees, so a 37.8% reduction rate could affect 48,020. Potentially affected statewide are 669,527 recipients. Affected are expansion enrollees between ages 19 and 64. There are exceptions for parents, guardians and caretakers with kids ages 14 or under, as well as caregivers for the medically frail and disabled, and pregnant women. Eligible enrollees under the expanded program are those who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid coverage, but not enough to purchase coverage on the private insurance marketplace. Expansion provides medical coverage to people making under about $20,120 a year. Likewise, a family of three earning under about $34,000 would be eligible, as well as a family of six earning under $55,586. Health care services include: primary care; inpatient and outpatient hospital care; maternity and postpartum; vision and hearing; prescription drug benefits; behavioral health; preventive and wellness; and medical equipment, devices and therapies. Who is at risk? The key provision of the work requirement is participating at least 80 hours a month of either or a combination of paid work, job training, community service or school by able-bodied adults. Opponents of Medicaid work requirements claim the criteria is geared toward getting beneficiaries to drop from the rolls, rather than getting them employed. The Commonwealth Fund said in a January analysis that work requirements place significant reporting burdens on Medicaid enrollees ... if they are unable to consistently document and submit proof of the number of hours theyve worked. Those considered as vulnerable include service workers without consistent hours, and those who experience seasonal layoffs. Reporting hours can be especially difficult for people with multiple jobs, people without internet or computer access, and people with limited English proficiency, according to The Commonwealth Fund analysis. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation projects 263,000 North Carolinians could lose their Medicaid expansion coverage because of the planned certification and recertification process. Most people would lose coverage because of confusion about the policy and lack of awareness about how to remain covered not because people with Medicaid choose not to work, according to the foundation. Meanwhile, the left-leaning N.C. Justice Center estimates as few as 8% of Medicaid expansion recipients would be affected by the mandate. Workers at high risk of being denied Medicaid include those who experience job loss, have temporary jobs or unstable work schedules, or have health conditions or caregiving responsibilities that affect their ability to work consistently, said Michael Karpman, principal research associate at the Urban Institute. Stein cited his concerns about how 3.11 million N.C. Medicaid beneficiaries would be negatively affected by significant cuts made to federal funding in the reconciliation bill. Much is still needed from our state legislature when it comes to protecting Medicaid, including a full rebase to preserve current services and a serious effort to defend against devastating federal cuts, Stein said. State legislators will need to take a hard look at our Medicaid laws, our state budget and our long-term revenue requirements. I am encouraged that Senator Berger stated that he will lead efforts to work through any implementation issues, and I look forward to working with him. Medicaid expansion link Most of the work requirement mandate language in HB546 comes from House Bill 76, the landmark bipartisan Medicaid expansion signed into law by then-Gov. Roy Cooper in March 2023 that debuted on Dec. 1, 2023. The mandate was a key component of gaining enough Republican support, including crucially from Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, to get HB76 through the legislature. When HB76 was signed into law, there were few concerns that an N.C. work requirement mandate would become a reality. The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, that spawned Medicaid expansion had survived numerous termination attempts in Congress. There also had been several federal court rulings determining state work requirement mandate laws as unconstitutional. However, the U.S. Senates version of the reconciliation bill made work requirement mandate and the potential ending of Medicaid expansion altogether critical financial offsets of more than $1 trillion so that tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy could be made permanent. Currently, N.C. Medicaid expansion recipients are checked annually for eligibility. The reconciliation bill would require the state Medicaid program and county Department of Social Services offices to check for renewal eligibility every six months starting in January 2027. NCDHHS said in its legislative presentation that the twice-a-year eligibility check will lead to more work and delays at local DSS offices, and more people losing coverage from either being unaware of the new eligibility requirement or lacking the necessary paperwork tracking their 80-hour per month participation. Dev Sangvai, the states health secretary, said the new reconciliation law marks a significant moment with real consequences for North Carolina. While the full impact will become clearer in the coming weeks, we already know that it will result in billions of dollars being taken out of our states economy and will undermine the health of North Carolinians. There will be a significant reduction in federal funding for services that are core to the well-being of individuals and families across North Carolina, Sangvai said. These cuts not only impact the people that rely on them directly, but also strain the systems and communities that hold us all together. Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, said she supported HB546 for the same reasons as Stein. What is very troubling is how at the same time, the recent federal cuts will eliminate coverage for more than 660,000 North Carolinians, close rural hospitals, limit access to health care for others, and more, Harrison said. Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, and the primary sponsor of the states Medicaid expansion legislation, said the telehealth section of the bill will help respond to patients who will find this a much more efficient way to get medical care. Lambeth said that many emails I have received suggest those who will lose benefits do not deserve the benefits because they dont qualify. We continue to evaluate the net impact and should know more when and if we get into a conference process to get a budget done. I am not convinced it is as impactful as Pricey suggests. Healthcare systems roles A pivotal financial element of North Carolinas Medicaid expansion program involves its version of the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program known by the acronym HASP. HASP payments, worth between $6.5 billion and $8 billion annually, are the lucrative carrot to get the states 99 healthcare systems and hospitals on board with Medicaid expansion, as well as forgiving about $4 billion in medical debt owed by an estimated 2 million low- and middle-income households. HASP payments are calculated based on in-network Medicaid managed care payments to acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals, and hospitals owned or controlled by the UNC Health Care System and ECU Health Medical Center. The final version of the U.S. Senate reconciliation law eliminates the HASP payments. NCDHHS projects North Carolina losing nearly $40 million in federal Medicaid funding over 10 years. Another key factor is what happens if CMS share of Medicaid expansion administration expenses drops below 90%, as which has the support of a majority of congressional Republicans. North Carolinas healthcare systems and 99 hospitals are paying the remaining 10% through an assessment estimated at a combined $550 million for 2024. The N.C. Medicaid expansion law states that a CMS commitment below 90% would trigger the dissolution of expansion unless alternative funding sources can be secured. To secure support for HB76 from Republican legislative leaders, in particular Berger, they insisted no state taxpayer money could be used to pay for expansion administrative expenses. The N.C. Healthcare Association said that every 10% drop in CMS funding commitment represents a $550 million shortfall. If the percentage falls to 60% support, the funding gap would be $1.65 billion annually. All of us state elected and appointed leaders and healthcare partners worked hard to ensure expansion was done the North Carolina way by tailoring the program to our states needs and not putting any additional burden on North Carolina taxpayers, NCHA said. If Congress shifts more of the cost to the states, even by just a few percentage points, North Carolina hospitals will financially be unable to cover the additional cost. Papering over What makes the pending Medicaid cuts so deep and widespread is that the United States lacks a functional health care system that is capable of serving all Americans in an affordable way, said John Quinterno, principal with South by North Strategies Ltd., a Chapel Hill research company specializing in economic and social policy. A system that also allows medical professionals to treat their patients as they see best and for local providers to meet the needs of their communities. Quinterno said congressional Republicans stance on the Affordable Care Act has been for repeal and replace, yet the reconciliation bill repeals without offering any replacements. Democrats, meanwhile, have limited their view to tweaking the Affordable Care Act without addressing the fundamental flaws in the health care system. Quinterno said the ACA has papered over some of those systematic flaws, largely through the expansion of the Medicaid program. The rollback of funding for Medicaid and other Affordable Care Act provisions, such as enhanced marketplace subsidies, combined with the imposition of administrative hurdles, will make those flaws more visible than they have been for some time. As the Medicaid cuts roll out over the next 18 to 24 months, many people will get a rude reminder that the United States system of health care provision is unable to provide coverage or care to millions of people, irrespective of their age, income and employment status. Even people with insurance will find themselves unable to access care, especially if they live in rural communities where providers are unable to operate viably. Legislature must step up The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust released its response to the reconciliation bill on July 7. New work requirements for people already working and stricter eligibility checks will threaten hundreds of thousands of Medicaid enrollees who could lose coverage due to technicalities and paperwork, according to the analysis. Increased paperwork will overwhelm the county Department of Social Services offices, especially in rural counties with staffing shortages. In some rural counties, more than half of the population is on Medicaid. Rural hospitals alone will see a $3 billion Medicaid cut. The impact will be widespread across the state, according to the response. Make no mistake we will all suffer when these cuts become law. Children will go hungry. Up to $700 million in costs will now shift to the state, potentially forcing NC to end SNAP. Behavioral health challenges will go untreated. People will not be able to visit a doctor. Rural hospitals will close. And, yes, people will unnecessarily die. The trust said the N.C. legislature, as well as community support groups, must step up and find resources to keep residents on Medicaid, continue the SNAP food assistance program, and invest in our residents and communities. If we dont, the long-term societal costs and consequences will be devastating. The Trust will continue to do everything we can to support equitable access to health care and to help people meet their basic needs. But philanthropy alone will never be able to fill this chasm in fact, grantmaking across the state is a fraction of the resources needed to ensure North Carolinians have what they need to thrive. Thank you for signing up! Youll soon be getting your Toronto scoop in your inbox. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. Moody's Ratings (Moody's) has upgraded to investment grade the rating of State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) by assigning Baa3 long-term issuer rating and withdrawing the Ba1 corporate family rating and Ba1-PD probability of default rating, Trend reports. The ba2 Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) was affirmed. The outlook was changed to stable from positive. Today's rating action is in line with the sovereign rating action and reflects SOCAR's strong credit linkages with the state as well as its significant exposure to Azerbaijan's operating and macroeconomic environment. The rating action reflects the company's healthy financial performance and credit metrics amid a tepid oil and gas market environment. It also incorporates SOCAR's strategic importance for the government of Azerbaijan and a track record of more discipline in strategic and shareholder decisions, investment spending and shareholder distributions. The rating also factors in lacklustre upstream operating performance, and limited transparency and complex group structure. The stable outlook reflects our view that a sovereign upgrade to Baa2 alone would not suffice for a positive rating action on SOCAR without some strengthening in its standalone credit quality and material improvements in its transparency, disclosures and predictability in decision making. The sovereign upgrade reflects improvements in institutional effectiveness, proven through a lengthening track record of maintaining macroeconomic stability through recent shocks and oil price swings. Ongoing progress in regulatory reforms has enhanced banking sector stability, while continued commitment to reducing fiscal reliance on hydrocarbon revenues strengthens fiscal resilience. Azerbaijan has also made further progress on economic diversification, with prospects supported by rapid growth in the transport sector. As a result, operating and macroeconomic environment for SOCAR has improved and the government's financial capacity to support the company, if needed, has strengthened, which is credit positive for the company. Given that SOCAR is 100% state owned, we apply our Government-related Issuers (GRI) methodology to determine the company's rating. SOCAR's Baa3 issuer rating incorporates (1) the company's BCA of ba2; (2) the Baa3 issuer rating of the Government of Azerbaijan; (3) the very high default dependence between the state and the company; and (4) the high probability of the government providing support to the company in the event of financial distress. While SOCAR's financial performance weakened in 2023-24, compared with a record high in 2022, as the average brent crude oil price declined to $81-$83 per barrel from $101 per barrel over this period, it remains sound. The company's Moody's-adjusted EBITDA margin was 9.1% in 2023 and 10.1% in 2024, compared with 11.8% in 2022, 8.7% in 2021 and 6.2% in 2020. SOCAR also generated positive free cash flow (FCF) for the fourth year in a row thanks to solid operating cash flow, moderate capital spending and modest shareholder distributions. We expect the company's profitability and cash generation to remain stable in 2025-26. The rating action also reflects SOCAR's sound credit metrics. Its gross leverage increased to 2.9x in 2024 from 2.4x in 2023 and 1.5x in 2022 but was below 3.4x in 2021 and 5.2x average in 2018-20. The increase in leverage in 2024 was driven by the consolidation of Southern Gas Corridor CJSC (SGC, Baa3 positive) in December 2024, as all debt and almost no earnings of SGC were included in SOCAR's financial statements that year. Gross leverage is likely to remain below 3.0x over the next 18 months under our oil price assumptions of $67 per barrel in 2025 and $65 per barrel in 2026. RCF/net debt should also remain healthy at around 30% in 2025-26 but lower than it was in the past. Finally, debt/book capitalisation continue improving gradually towards 25% in 2026 from 35% in 2022-24 and more than 40% in 2019-21. The company's liquidity is sound. Its cash balance and deposits of AZN13.1 billion as of year-end 2024, forecasted cash generation of around AZN2.3 billion over 2025-26 and new debt already raised in 2025 of around AZN5.9 billion should be sufficient to cover estimated debt maturities of AZN15.0 billion and AZN2.2 billion of M&A over this period. At the same time, following some period of stabilisation in hydrocarbon production, SOCAR reported a decrease in its oil and gas production by 3.8% and 8.3%, respectively, in 2024, which represents a concern. However, the company views this decline as natural short-term volatility in operating performance and expects stable production volumes in the medium-to-long term. In addition, to support its oil and gas output, SOCAR has embarked on international upstream expansion as demonstrated by debut acquisition of a 3% participating interest in the Umm Lulu and Satah Al Razboot offshore oil concessions from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in 2024 and a 10% stake in Israel's Tamar offshore gas field in 2025. SOCAR's credit quality also reflects its (1) key role in the oil and gas sector of Azerbaijan and its importance to the national economy; (2) close links with the Azerbaijan government, which has accumulated substantial reserves and should be in a position to provide financial support to the company if needed; (3) more discipline in strategic and financial management of the company, which was demonstrated by the state in recent years; and (4) the government's supportive approach to SOCAR as demonstrated by a recent transfer of control over SGC, a sizeable upstream and midstream business, to the company. However, the company's rating also takes into account its (1) sizeable trading operations which reduce its consolidated margins, inflate leverage through the use of short-term debt and limit predictability of financial results because of the inherent volatility of these activities; (2) governance considerations, including its complex organisational structure, limited transparency and disclosure, and concentrated ownership which may lead to rapid changes in its strategy and financial profile; (3) high operational concentration in Azerbaijan; and (4) potential need to support its various investments, such as Petkim Petrokimya Holding A.S. (Caa1 negative) which is 51% owned by SOCAR. In addition to governance factors mentioned above, SOCAR has very high exposure to environmental factors related to carbon transition risk as decarbonisation efforts and the transition towards cleaner energy continues. The company also has high exposure to social factors, mainly driven by demographic & societal pressures and the push for responsible production, which are common for oil and gas companies. Overall, ESG considerations do not have material impact on the current credit rating. The company's environmental, social and governance risks are mitigated by the high probability of government support in the event of financial distress. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. Moody's expects the profitability of Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR to remain stable in 2025-26, Trend reports. The rating agency notes that the macroeconomic environment for SOCAR has improved and the government's financial capacity to support the company, if needed, has strengthened, which is credit positive for the company. "While SOCAR's financial performance weakened in 2023-24, compared with a record high in 2022, as the average brent crude oil price declined to $81-$83 per barrel from $101 per barrel over this period, it remains sound. The company's Moody's-adjusted EBITDA margin was 9.1% in 2023 and 10.1% in 2024, compared with 11.8% in 2022, 8.7% in 2021 and 6.2% in 2020. SOCAR also generated positive free cash flow (FCF) for the fourth year in a row thanks to solid operating cash flow, moderate capital spending and modest shareholder distributions. We expect the company's profitability and cash generation to remain stable in 2025-26," said Moody's. SOCAR's gross leverage increased to 2.9x in 2024 from 2.4x in 2023 and 1.5x in 2022 but was below 3.4x in 2021 and 5.2x average in 2018-20. The increase in leverage in 2024 was driven by the consolidation of Southern Gas Corridor CJSC (SGC, Baa3 positive) in December 2024, as all debt and almost no earnings of SGC were included in SOCAR's financial statements that year. "Gross leverage is likely to remain below 3.0x over the next 18 months under our oil price assumptions of $67 per barrel in 2025 and $65 per barrel in 2026. RCF/net debt should also remain healthy at around 30% in 2025-26 but lower than it was in the past. Finally, debt/book capitalisation continue improving gradually towards 25% in 2026 from 35% in 2022-24 and more than 40% in 2019-21," noted the rating agency. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. The establishment of the new government in Syria has opened significant prospects for the advancement of ties, said the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, at an expanded meeting with Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Transitional President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Trend reports. The head of the state noted that due to the unfriendly policies of the previous Syrian government toward Azerbaijan, bilateral relations had experienced a period of stagnation. However, he emphasized that the establishment of the new government in Syria has opened significant prospects for the advancement of ties. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. Syria is interested in cooperating with Azerbaijan in several areas, said Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Transitional President of the Syrian Arab Republic, at an expanded meeting with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. Ahmad Al-Sharaa noted with regret that the previous Syrian government had damaged relations with many countries, including Azerbaijan. He affirmed Syrias interest in cooperating with Azerbaijan in political, economic, trade, cultural, humanitarian, and other areas. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. A project to export Azerbaijani gas to Syria via Turkiye will soon be implemented, said the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, at an expanded meeting with Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Transitional President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Trend reports. The meeting emphasized the importance of cooperation in the energy sector, particularly noting Syrias current severe energy challenges. They highlighted that a project to export Azerbaijani gas to Syria via Turkiye would soon be implemented, contributing to Syrias energy security. Azerbaijans capability to support the restoration of Syrias energy sector was also underscored. Ahmad Al-Sharaa emphasized the significance of Azerbaijans contribution to addressing Syrias energy issues, noting its importance for the countrys development. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. On July 12, Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, made a phone call to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkiye, Trend reports. President Ilham Aliyev sincerely congratulated the brotherly Turkish people on the PKK terrorist organization's decision to dissolve itself and lay down its weapons. The head of state emphasized that this significant development is a brilliant triumph of the resolute policy, strong leadership, unwavering will, national unity, and solidarity under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the phone call, President Ilham Aliyev described this step toward achieving a Terror-Free Turkiye as a crucial turning point that contributes to peace and stability in the region. He wished the Turkish state and people success in the full implementation of this decision. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. Kazakhstans Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Alim Bayel, met with Ismet Sattarov, Chairman of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. During the meeting the two sides discussed the role of the media in strengthening bilateral cooperation. Ambassador Bayel highlighted the importance of high-quality and consistent coverage of news from Kazakhstan and Central Asia in the Azerbaijani media landscape, expressing appreciation for the ongoing support. He also thanked the Azerbaijani side for helping to broadcast Kazakhstans Jibek Joly TV channel via 14 cable operators across the country. The ambassador noted that Kazakhstans 24KZ and Qazaqstan International channels are interested in entering the Azerbaijani market and expressed readiness to support the broadcasting of Azerbaijans CBC TV in Kazakhstan. Chairman Sattarov, in turn, noted that Jibek Joly is the only Central Asian TV channel to be broadcast in Azerbaijan on a scale comparable to international networks like CNN and Euronews. He offered support in connecting Kazakhstani TV channels to the Azerspace satellite. The sides also discussed the potential for broadcasting content from Kazakhstans childrens channel Balapan in Azerbaijan. In this context, Sattarov expressed readiness to help establish cooperation with Azerbaijans Guns childrens channel, including the dubbing of Kazakh animated content into Azerbaijani. JABRAYIL, Azerbaijan, July 12. As part of their broader journey through Azerbaijan's Karabakh and East Zangezur, a group of internationally renowned travelers visited Mehdili village in the nation's Jabrail district, where they witnessed ongoing mine clearance operations, Trends regional correspondent Gadir Namazaliyev, operations chief of Team No. 3 from the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), informed the group that demining has been underway in the Mehdili/006/05 minefield for 171 working days. The contaminated area spans 83,111 square meters, of which 58,379 square metersor 85.21 percenthave already been cleared. To date, 1,077 mines have been detected, including 922 anti-personnel mines of Armenian origin and 155 anti-tank mines produced in Russia. All discovered mines have been safely neutralized by ANAMAs explosive ordnance disposal team. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. The scale of reconstruction work funded solely by the Azerbaijani state in Karabakh has left visiting travelers deeply impressed, Mehraj Mahmudov, the organizer of an international tour through the liberated territories, told Trend. Mahmudov said that this is his fourteenth trip to Karabakh. So far, weve brought over 500 tourists to the region. This time, we are hosting 30 travelers from 14 countries, including 8 Grand Master travelers who have visited every country in the world. The tour highlights three key elements: the areas destroyed during the occupation, the sites that have already been rebuilt, and the fact that all reconstruction is being carried out using domestic resources. We also show the mine contamination across the area. These lands are heavily mined, and no foreign government or international organization is involved in the clearance work. Azerbaijan is handling it all on its own, he said. Mahmudov noted that the visitors frequently share their observations on social media. They have hundreds of thousands of followers. They post about the destruction and rebuilding efforts in Karabakh, as well as the regions tourism potential. The fact that the state is doing all this without outside helpproviding new homes to residents free of charge, creating jobs, and clearing the mines despite a lack of international involvementreally surprises them. I would like to conclude by saying the tourists are deeply moved by what they witness and are committed to sharing these realities with the world, Mahmudov added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. Graduation ceremony of intensive courses in various languages was held at Foreign Language Center of Military Administration Institute under the National Defense University (NDU), Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense. The ceremony commenced with a tribute to the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, and Martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Motherland. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed. The event was attended by the leadership of the Military Administration Institute, faculty members, course attendees, and representatives from the Military Attache Office of the Republic of Turkiye. Course participants were congratulated, and best wishes were extended for their continued success in future service. All in all, 144 military personnel and civilian employees, including servicemen from Turkish Armed Forces attended courses organized at various levels in 5 foreign languages. Delivering speeches on behalf of the participants, top graduates of the course expressed their sincere gratitude to the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the Military Administration Institute for the favorable conditions provided. They also extended their appreciation to the professors and instructional staff for their dedicated efforts in teaching of foreign languages. The ceremony ended with presenting honorary diplomas and certificates. JABRAYIL, Azerbaijan, July 12. Karabakh has undergone remarkable changes in a very short period, Irish traveler David Joseph Langan told Trend during a visit to Jabrayil. During our stay, we saw new cities rising, which left a strong impression. What really stood out to me was how much has changed in such a short time. We hope to come back and see how this region continues to grow, he said. Langan also found the demining efforts particularly fascinating. Watching the clearance operations was truly impressive, he added. Notably, a group of well-known travelers from around the world touring Azerbaijans liberated territories arrived in Jabrayil today. The delegation of 30 travelers from 15 countries is led by Charles Velly, an American and founder of the Most Traveled People (MTP) club. The group toured Jabrayils city center, where they were updated on the ongoing restoration efforts. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. At this weeks informal meeting of the European Union Environment Council in Aalborg, Denmark, ministers focused on the EUs 2040 climate goals, preparations for this years UN Climate Change Conference (COP), and strategies to reduce global plastic pollution, Trend reports. Representing Estonia, Minister of Climate and Energy Andres Sutt emphasized the importance of designing long-term EU climate policy that remains both science-based and adaptable to a rapidly changing world. He pointed out that Estonia can hit the bullseye on the 2040 targets, as long as the stars alignparticularly with the rollout of new technologies, ample funding, and a bit of wiggle room in how the goals are met. If we look at the next 15 years, its clear that the world will change significantlyboth environmentally and technologically. Thats why climate policy decisions must be predictable and well thought out, to ensure investment certainty and to strengthen Europes competitiveness, Sutt said. He stressed that the phase-out of fossil fuels is not merely an environmental measure but a strategic step toward enhancing European security and autonomy. Reducing reliance on external energy sources, he noted, supports the EUs long-term resilience. This summers record-breaking heatwaves across Southern Europe were cited as clear evidence that climate change is no longer a distant threatit is already impacting lives today. Minister Sutt called for a strong internal EU climate framework that is both ambitious and realistic. He stressed the need to consider national differences, ensure access to clean technologies, and guarantee fair and inclusive financing across all member states. We need mechanisms that allow member states to meet targets flexibly across sectors in a way that is most efficient and cost-effective. This doesnt mean weakening the goals but applying a rational approach that can achieve the same results with lower costs, he added. Minister Sutt also emphasized that predictability is critical to climate policy credibility. Investors need unequivocal transparency and robust consistencyabsent these critical elements, the requisite capital influx essential for propelling us towards carbon neutrality will remain elusive, he mentioned. The meeting also included discussions on preparations for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP), where the EU is expected to take a leadership role. Ministers also addressed the goal of finalizing a global agreement on plastic pollution by the end of the summer. The proposed treaty will cover the entire life cycle of plastics, aiming to reduce overall plastic consumption and limit the use of hazardous plastics. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. Latvias Foreign Minister Baiba Braze addressed participants at the 9th World Latvian Economics and Innovations Forum (WLEIF) in Riga, expressing pride in Latvias achievements and highlighting the importance of national unity and global collaboration, Trend reports. I would like to thank the World Federation of Free Latvians and the organizers of the World Latvian Economics and Innovations Forumevents like this are needed for us to look back together and reflect on how much we have achieved. We have many reasons to be justifiably proudand we should share these with the world, Minister Braze said. She sang the praises of her optimism after rubbing elbows with scientists, entrepreneurs, and university representatives, driving home the point that Latvia is a hotbed of world-class innovations and knowledge. Still, she pointed out a national penchant for modesty and a tendency to sell themselves shortan observation that foreign investors in Latvia have also echoed. Today, we are all free Latvians of the worldthere are no longer divisions such as exile or diaspora. We are united, we are free, and we have every opportunity and precondition to achieve even morewhether we are Latvians in Latvia or Latvians in the world, she added. Minister Braze also welcomed a positive trend: in the past year, more Latvians returned to live in Latvia than left, with most returnees being of working age. That is very good news, she emphasized. She also outlined the critical role of Latvias diplomatic service beyond traditional functions, pointing to embassies outside the EU as key drivers of increased export growth. This has been a deliberate effort, and we will continue this work, focusing on our key prioritiessecurity, the economy, and care for people, she stated. The 2025 WLEIF convened over 600 participants from 28 countries, making it the largest Latvian diaspora forum globally. Held at the National Library of Latvia, the event featured remarks by President Edgars Rinkevics, Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mierina, Prime Minister Evika Silina, Mayor of Riga Viesturs Kleinbergs, and President of the World Federation of Free Latvians, Peteris Blumbergs. Forum sessions explored major themes such as security and the defense industry, energy and technology, education, and talent attraction. A key panel on Latvias security architecture included contributions from Andzejs Vilumsons, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was moderated by the Ministers Adviser on Security and Societal Resilience, Tomass Pildegovics. Nearly 70 panelists and presenters shared insights, including: Martins Kazaks, President of the Bank of Latvia Ieva Jagere, Director General of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia Evita Simsone, Director of the State Employment Agency Gunta Sulte, CEO of MADARA Cosmetics Vitnija Saldava, Regional Public Policy Lead for the Baltics at Meta Liza Ateh, Head of Knowledge, Skills, and Learning at Google.org for EMEA And many other leaders from business, technology, and public policy sectors The forum culminated with producer Matiss Kaza elucidating the entrepreneurial narrative underpinning the globally recognized Latvian cinematic endeavor, Flow. Initially inaugurated in 2013, the World Latvian Economics and Innovations Forum is orchestrated by the World Federation of Free Latvians in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, collaborating with the communications agency ERDA. This year's initiative received backing from the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, the State Employment Agency, the Riga City Council, the American Latvian Association, the University of Latvia Foundation, and AmCham Latvia. The forum continues to serve as an international platform for economic cooperation, investment, innovation, and diaspora engagement, having previously been hosted in Latvia, Australia, and the United States. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. Turkmenistan has intensified its diplomatic activity across Africa in recent weeks, making a strategic play to broaden its foreign policy focus toward the Global South. Against a backdrop of increasing global competition for influence on the continent, Ashgabat is throwing its hat in the ring, keen on building practical partnerships where the focus is on energy, petrochemicals, and agriculturefields where Turkmenistan has already laid a solid foundation for exports. In JuneJuly 2025, official engagements were held with Nigeria, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Burkina Faso. The series of meetings indicates a shift from symbolic gestures to a more strategic exploration of partnerships outside Ashgabats traditional Eurasian sphere. Commenting to Trend, Dr. Alex Vines, Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House, noted that Turkmenistans approach is timely and aligned with broader trends. Ashgabat can also benefit from diversifying its political and economic relations beyond traditional partnersAfrica, other countries, offers opportunities in this respect, he said. This strategic diplomatic engagement is occurring concurrently with African nations endeavoring to expand their global partnerships. In this framework, Turkmenistana sovereign entity characterized by its neutrality and constrained multilateral engagementcould potentially position itself as a viable, non-aligned economic collaborator. Turkmenistans industrial output strategically aligns with the exigencies of African nations that depend on the importation of energy resources, chemical precursors, and agrochemical inputs to bolster their developmental trajectories. African countries are looking to diversify their economic partnerships, and Turkmenistan would fit into the pattern. Energy, petrochemicals, and fertilizer products for non-energy producers are important, Vines told Trend. In the fiscal year 2024, Turkmenistan achieved a remarkable export volume exceeding 1.122 million metric tons of nitrogenous fertilizers, predominantly targeting markets in the Asian and Eastern European regions. Industry specialists posit that African marketsparticularly those that are landlocked and exhibit burgeoning agricultural sectorscould represent a strategic progression for these export initiatives. In a similar vein, petrochemical derivatives emanating from installations such as the Kiyanly polymer facility, presently catering to Turkiye, China, and the CIS, may identify novel clientele in the West and East African markets, where there is an escalating demand for construction substrates and polymeric materials. Nonetheless, industry experts advocate for a pragmatic methodology. Turkmenistan cannot compete head-on with more established players across the continentit should be selective and establish where it can have a comparative advantage, Vines said. China presently accounts for more than a quarter of infrastructure financing in Africa, while Turkiye and Gulf states have embedded networks of trade offices, diplomatic missions, and investment funds. Turkmenistan, in contrast, may be better suited to focused bilateral efforts rather than continental-scale campaigns. Prospective market segments encompass the exportation of modular energy systems, agrochemical products, and collaborative vocational education frameworksdomains characterized by minimal political volatility yet persistent demand dynamics. This initiative further bolsters Ashgabat's strategic objective of enhancing diplomatic pluralism. As a nation characterized by its enduring neutrality paradigm, Turkmenistan possesses the potential to amplify its global footprint by strategically engaging with Global South entitiesespecially those wielding significant voting leverage within the UN framework and exhibiting burgeoning clout in multilateral arenas. Roughly a dozen bilateral meetings with African states have taken place so far in 2025. While mostly protocol-level, they signal a willingness to build institutional foundations for longer-term cooperation. This corresponds with a comprehensive recalibration in international relations, where nascent economies are actively engaging in adaptive, non-aligned coalitions across sectors such as energy, logistics, and digital infrastructure. While Turkmenistan's foray into the African continent is still in its nascent stage, the temporal context is deemed propitious. If Ashgabat can turn diplomatic gestures into solid trade missions, focused investment projects, and tailored agreementsespecially in fertilizers, energy logistics, and technical servicesit might carve out a small but lasting niche in African markets. In a multipolar world, where African and Central Asian nations are reassessing their ties, Turkmenistan's prudent yet intentional engagement may develop into a significant component of its foreign and economic policy. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. The legal entities and individuals of the Republic of Azerbaijan carried out trade operations with their partners in 161 countries of the world through May of the current year, exported products to 103 countries, and imported from 153 countries. The data obtained by Trend from the State Statistics Committee shows that the country's foreign trade turnover for the period through May 2025 amounted to $20.2 million, taking into account the statistically estimated value of exported crude oil and natural gas, which were registered with the customs authorities, but customs clearance was not fully completed. Of the trade turnover, $10.3 million, or 50.8 percent of the trade turnover, was the value of products exported from the country, while $9.9 million (49.2 percent) was the value of imported products, resulting in a surplus of $339.5 million. Compared to January-May 2024, foreign trade turnover increased by 12.6 percent in actual prices and decreased by 1.1 percent in real terms. Imports increased by 10.3 percent in real terms, and exports decreased by 8.8 percent. Exports of non-oil and gas goods through May 2025 amounted to $1.4 million, increased by 11.6 percent in actual prices compared to January-May 2024, decreasing by 11.4 percent in real terms. The data gleaned from the State Customs Committee shows that 25.5 percent of the country's foreign trade turnover went to Italy, 11.7 percent to Turkiye, 10.3 percent to Russia, 8.4 percent to China, 3.2 percent to Germany, 2.6 percent to the US, 2.5 percent to the UK, 2.2 percent to Kazakhstan, 2.0 percent each to Croatia and Romania, 1.7 percent to Greece, Australia and Switzerland, 1.6 percent to the Czech Republic and Georgia, 1.5 percent to Bulgaria and Portugal, 1.2 percent to Iran, 1.0 percent or less to Mexico, Uzbekistan and Ukraine, 0.9 percent to Japan and the Netherlands, and 12.3 percent to other countries. As much as 46.6 percent of exports went to Italy, 13.0 percent to Turkiye, 4.1 percent to Russia, 3.7 percent to Croatia, 3.5 percent to Romania, 3.0 percent to Greece, 2.8 percent each to Portugal, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, 2.7 percent to Germany, 2.5 percent to Georgia, 1.7 percent to Switzerland, 1.3 percent for the UK, 1.2 percent each for the Netherlands and Ireland, 0.9 percent for Serbia, 0.8 percent for Ukraine, 0.7 percent each for Thailand and Indonesia, 0.5 percent for Denmark, 0.4 percent each for the United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan, and 2.7 percent for other countries. The value volume of non-oil and gas exports is dominated by the share of goods shipped to Russia (31.5 percent), Turkiye (17.9 percent), Switzerland (9.1 percent), Georgia (8.9 percent), Ukraine (5.4 percent), Kazakhstan (3.2 percentpercent), United Arab Emirates (3.1 percent), US (2.2 percent), Belarus (2.1 percent), Uzbekistan (1.4 percent), Turkmenistan (1.3 percent), Italy (1.2 percent), China (1.2 percent), Germany (1.1 percent), Canada (1.0 percent), Estonia (1.0 percent). Of the total value of products imported into the country, 17.3 percent were imported from China, 17.2 percent from Russia, 10.2 percent from Turkiye, 5.2 percent from the US, 4.2 percent from Kazakhstan, 3.9 percent from Germany, 3.8 percent from the UK, 3.6 percent from Australia, 2.5 percent from Iran, 2.2 percent from Mexico, 2.1 percent from Italy, 2.0 percent from Uzbekistan, 1.7 percent each from Japan and Switzerland, 1.6 percent each from Brazil and South Africa, 1.5 percent each from Korea and Belarus, 1.4 percent from Canada, 1.2 percent from Ukraine, and 13.6 percent from other countries. Over January-May 2025, compared to the same period of the previous year, exports of fresh fruits from the most important products increased by 35.3 percent, fresh vegetables - by 5.7 percent, potatoes - by 65.5 percent, sugar - by 41.7 percent, vegetable oils - by 28.3 percent, mineral fertilizers - by 27.2 percent, cement clinkers - by 31.0 percent, ferrous metal pipes - by 54.8 percent, cotton yarn - by 23.6 percent, while exports of fruit and vegetable juices increased by 22.2 percent, canned fruits and vegetables - by 5.9 percent, tobacco - by 53.1 percent, tea - by 1.3 percent, margarine, other mixtures suitable for food - by 37, 9 percent, natural grape wines and grape must - by 44.4 percent, cotton fiber - by 9.5 percent, polypropylene - by 9.6 percent, polyethylene - by 5.4 percent, electricity - by 27.2 percent, unprocessed aluminum. - 5.9 percent. percent, ferrous bars - 44.2 percent, bentonite clay - 10.1 percent. \Compared to January-May 2024, in January-May 2025, wheat imports increased by 55.4 percent, butter, other dairy fats, and spreads by 10.2 percent, raw sugar by 50.1 percent, potatoes by 20.1 percent, tea by 22.8 percent, and fresh vegetables by 32.6 percent. cigarettes by 2.6 times, passenger cars by 22.1 percent, household air conditioners by 28.6 percent, ferrous metal rods by 37.4 percent, rubber tires by 28.0 percent, trucks by 0.1 percent, mineral fertilizers by 0.7 percent, furniture by 0.2 percent, polyethylene by 12.8 percent, buses by 2.1 times, polypropylene by 7.7 percent, household refrigerators by 7.1 percent, fresh fruits by 16.2 percent, chocolate and chocolate products by 2.6 percent, vegetable oils by 38.4 percent, flour confectionery 6.6 percent, poultry and processed products 8.3 percent, beef 20.1 percent, pharmaceuticals 16.3 percent, rolled steel 0.8 pipes made of ferrous metals 26.4 percent, calculating machines, blocks and appliances 11.7 percent, synthetic detergents 9.8 percent, washing machines 6.7 percent, corners made of ferrous metals 5.2 percent, cement 7.2 percent. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 12. The Turkmen government shakes things up by bringing in a new acting head of Turkmenhimiya as the leadership carousel spins, Trend reports, citing the presidential decree. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov has dismissed Dovrangeldy Sapbayev from his post as Chairman of the Turkmenhimiya State Concern for serious shortcomings in his work, as insider reports. The presidential decree, promulgated amidst a protracted session of the Cabinet of Ministers evaluating operational metrics for the initial semester of 2025, designates Tangryguly Atayev, presently serving as Deputy Chairman of the Concern, as the Interim Chairman of Turkmenhimiya. The transition in leadership occurs in the context of ongoing governmental initiatives aimed at optimizing accountability and operational efficiency within the industrial landscape. The "Turkmenhimiya" State concern was founded by the Presidential Decree of Turkmenistan on August 24, 2007, to oversee the management of enterprises engaged in the production of mineral fertilizers and chemical products in Turkmenistan. The principal responsibilities of the Turkmenhimiya State concern include fulfilling the agricultural requirements of Turkmenistan for mineral fertilizers, augmenting the volume and variety of mineral fertilizers and chemical products for both domestic consumption and export, and expanding the production of iodine products and the comprehensive utilization of existing iodine-bromine resources to produce high-quality goods. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 12. Turkmenistan restructures transport and communications governance with new ministries, Trend reports, citing the presidential decree. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed a decree abolishing the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers as part of a broader reform to improve management across the countrys transport and communications sectors. Three separate ministries will be created based on the divisions previously under the abolished agency: the Ministry of Railway Transport, the Ministry of Communications, and the Ministry of Automobile Transport. These new ministries will act as legal successors to the agencies "Turkmendemiryollary", "Turkmenaragatnasyk," and "Turkmenawtoulaglary," respectively. Furthermore, the agency "Turkmenhowayollary" will be transformed into the State Service "Turkmenhowayollary," and "Turkmendenizderyayollary" into the State Service of Maritime and River Transport of Turkmenistan. The decree also outlines the structure of the new institutions. Each minister of railway and automobile transport will have two deputies, while the minister of communications will have three. The heads of the two newly created government services will each have two deputies. All new ministries and agencies, together with relevant departments, are required to draft their operational regulations, organizational structures, and staffing plans within one month. Proposals to amend existing legislation in line with the restructuring must also be submitted within this timeframe. The decree was issued during an extended session of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to assessing the countrys performance in the first half of 2025. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. Productive discussions have been held on strengthening AzerbaijanUkraine relations across various sectors, Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said in a post on X, Trend reports. I had a fruitful meeting with Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko to discuss ways to advance our bilateral relations in all areas. The Action Plan adopted during the 13th meeting of the AzerbaijanUkraine Intergovernmental Commission, which we co-chaired, will serve to further deepen our cooperation, Shahbazov said. Kazakhstan, China strengthen strategic co-op in energy conservation and smart energy Photo: Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan and China are deepening strategic cooperation in energy conservation and smart energy, highlighted during the 20th Chinese Goods Exhibition. Over 300 Chinese firms showcased sectors like energy and engineering. Key meetings led by EEDI Chairman Yeldos Abakanov resulted in a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with HUAHE INTERNATIONAL, establishing it as EEDIs Beijing contact center. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. The inaugural summit of the Union of Ski Resorts of Turkic States has become a milestone in deepening tourism cooperation among the brotherly Turkic countries, said Kenan Guluzade, Advisor to the Chair of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan, during the event in Shahdag, Trend reports. In his speech, Guluzade noted that this meeting reflects the growing friendship, solidarity, and cooperation among Turkic states, especially in the field of tourism. The establishment of the Union of Ski Resorts is a major step toward boosting mutual tourism flows and promoting winter recreation across the regions resorts. "Our shared history, language, ethnic, and cultural roots among the Turkic nations provide a solid foundation for these relationships. We believe the Union will contribute not only to economic and tourism progress but also to the strengthening of cultural bonds that unite our peoples, he noted. Guluzade also expressed pride in the Unions recent expansion, welcoming new members from Azerbaijan and other participating countries. Among them, he highlighted the Tufandag resort from Azerbaijan. He reaffirmed Azerbaijans commitment to supporting joint tourism initiatives both during its chairmanship and beyond. According to him, positive trends are already visible in the tourism sector: in the first half of this year, Azerbaijan received nearly 300,000 visitors from Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan a 4 percent increase compared to the same period of 2024. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 12. A capsule-laying ceremony was held to mark the launch of the Chuy agro-industrial zone in the village of Nurmanbet, located in the Issyk-Ata district of the Kyrgyzstan's Chuy region, Trend reports via the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry. As reported, the project is being implemented by the Kyrgyz Agroholding company. During the event, two agreements were signed, which are expected to provide a significant boost to the projects further development. A capital infusion agreement totaling $12 million was executed between Kyrgyz Agroholding and the South Korean DOD Corporation. The accord delineates collaborative initiatives in the domain of meat livestock husbandry, supply chain logistics, and the integration of cutting-edge agronomic technologies. Additionally, a framework agreement valued at \$12 million was signed between Kyrgyz Agroholding and Asyl Teri. This agreement covers the processing of agricultural animal hides, including the construction of a leather factory with a planned capacity of 24 tons of hides per day, expansion of export potential, and the creation of new jobs. The ministry noted that the Chuy agro-industrial zone will become a key element in the strategy to ensure food security, increase the added value of agricultural products, and attract investments to Kyrgyzstans agricultural sector. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 12. Mammetkhan Chakyev was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for transport and communications, Trend reports via Turkmen Mejlis. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov has appointed Mammetkhan Chakyev as Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers in charge of the transport and communications complex. The appointment, made with a six-month probationary period, was formalized during an extended meeting of the government reviewing performance in the first half of 2025. Chakyev expressed his gratitude to the president and stated his intention to apply his knowledge and experience to fulfill the responsibilities of the new post effectively. The appointment is a direct consequence of a significant governmental reorganization catalyzed by an executive order, which dissolved the Agency for Transport and Communications under the auspices of the Cabinet of Ministers, subsequently instituting newly established ministries and state services. These encompass governmental bodies for rail infrastructure, automotive logistics, and telecommunication networks, in conjunction with regional agencies for aerial and nautical transportation systems. Before this, Mammetkhan Chakyev held the position of Director General at the recently dissolved Agency for Transport and Communications since March 2022, where he was responsible for the strategic oversight and enhancement of Turkmenistans transport and communications ecosystem. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 12. According to Irans Forensic Medicine Organization, 943 people have been confirmed killed in Israeli strikes on Iran over a 12-day period, Trend reports. The figures were announced by Asghar Jahangir, spokesperson for Irans Judiciary, during a press conference held today in Tehran. He also noted that eight people remain missing, with no information yet available about their whereabouts. The conflict escalated on June 13, when Israel launched airstrikes targeting Iranian territory. The attacks killed a number of senior military officials, including generals, nuclear scientists, and other high-ranking figures. Later that same day, Iran responded with True Promise III, launching hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at various locations across Israel, including Tel Aviv. The retaliation caused civilian casualties and widespread damage. On June 22, the United States carried out airstrikes on three of Irans nuclear facilities, reportedly destroying them. In response, Iran launched missile strikes on a U.S. military base in Qatar on the evening of June 23. On June 24, the office of Israeli Prime Minister announced that Israel had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. Irans Supreme National Security Council also issued a statement confirming that the hostilities had come to a halt. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Saudia Airlines officially ends 74-day Hajj 2025 operations With the departure of the last batch of pilgrims from the Haj Terminus in The Prophet's City Friday, Saudia Airlines officially announced the end of Hajj 2025 operations and service Saturday July 12, 2025 11:09 AM , ummid.com News Network [Saudia Airlines bids farewell to the last batch of pilgrims Friday July 11, 2025.] Madinah al Munawwarah: With the departure of the last batch of pilgrims from the Haj Terminus in The Prophet's City Friday, Saudia Airlines officially announced the end of Hajj 2025 operations and service. The Saudi national carrier bid farewell to the final group of pilgrims departing for the Republic of Indonesia from Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah on Friday July 11, 2025. Saudia transported more than 808,000 pilgrims on over 4,400 flights from 145 destinations worldwide, using a fleet of 147 aircraft for Hajj 2025. "Hajj Without Baggage" The airline implemented the Hajj Without Baggage initiative, handling more than 270,000 bags to ensure smoother airport operations. Additionally, over 240,000 bottles of Zamzam water were distributed. Onboard services included educational content developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, offering pilgrims detailed information on performing rituals in multiple languages. "1,673,230 Pilgrims" Earlier, the General Statistics (GASTAT) Saudi Arabia had said a total of 1,673,230 pilgrims including 166,654 domestic and 1,506,576 foreign pilgrims, were in Arafat on the Day of Arafah. Of the total 1,673,230 pilgrims who performed Hajj this year, 877,841 were male and 795,389 were female, the GASTAT said. Majority of the pilgrims - 1,435,017 arrived by air, 66,465 arrived by road and 5,094 arrived by sea. Indian Haj Pilgrims in Numbers Some 175,000 pilgrims from India also performed Hajj this year. Almost all of them travelled to Makkah by air. This included 1,22,518 pilgrims managed by the Hajj Committee of India, under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, while over 50,000 pilgrims travelled to Makkah through Private Tour Operators. The return journey of the Indian pilgrims started on June 11. The last inbound fight from Saudi Arabia to India was on July 10, 2025, according to the Haj Committee of India flight schedule . Meanwhile, the Haj Committee of India has already started receiving applications and registration for Hajj 2026 . The likely date of Hajj 2026 is May 24 to 29, 2026. The final date of Haj 2026 (1447), however, will be confirmed after Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH moon sighting. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Tesla Mumbai showroom to be more than a showroom Tesla showroom opening in Mumbai on July 15, 2025 to be an experience centre and more than a showroom Saturday July 12, 2025 1:07 PM , Ahmed Abdullah Faizee Mumbai: Finally, Elon Musks Tesla is opening its first showroom in India on July 15, 2025 at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai. The American Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturers India foray comes at a time when Tesla demand in European and Chinese markets has plummeted. More than a SHOWROOM Citing Reuters and Bloomberg, media reports said Tesla showroom opening on a 4,000 sq ft retail space at Unit G 1B, 2 North Avenue, Maker Maxity, BKC in Mumbai will not only showcase Tesla models but it will also be an Experience Centre for the potential buyers. Along with test drive, the Tesla Experience Centre will provide visitors a chance to explore Tesla EV technology, glimpses of various Tesla models and the services the company is offering. According to the reports, Tesla has already imported five Model Y electric cars from its Shanghai factory in China to display at its Mumbai showroom. Tesla Model Y currently ranks as the world's most popular electric vehicle. Tesla Price in Mumbai Tesla initially plans to offer its Model Y EVs manufactured in China. The starting price of Tesla Model Y in India is around INR 48 Lakhs around INR 27.7 lakh price + INR 21 lakh import duty. Tesla EVs on sale in India will not have a Made in India mark. Also, the company has not, as of now, unveiled its plan to open production facility in India. Elon Musk is also banking on the US-India trade deal which is likely to be signed soon. If the immense pressure that U.S. President Donald Trump is exerting on the Modi government works, the trade deal is set to substantially reduce the import duty on Tesla EVs currently a whopping 70%. Elon Musk had earlier announced his plan to start producing Tesla in India. His announcement however was vehemently opposed by the U.S. President Donald Trump. Back in 2021, Tesla had completed homologation and received approval for four of its vehicle variants. Ahead of the launch Tesla Model 3 was spotted in Pune . Teslas next showroom is expected to be opened in Delhi NCR very soon. [Ahmed Abdullah Faizee is a trainee writer at ummid.com] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Palestinian Statehood Conference at UN Headquarters on July 28, 29 A two-day International Conference on Palestinian Statehood will be held at UN Headquarters in New York on July 28 and 29, 2025. Saturday July 12, 2025 3:37 PM , ummid.com News Network New York: A two-day International Conference on Palestinian Statehood will be held at UN Headquarters in New York on July 28 and 29, 2025. The conference, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, was originally planned to be held on June 17-20, 2025. It was, however, postponed after Israel attacked Iran , unprovoked, on June 13, 2025. The two-state solution ministerial conference will resume on July 28 and 29. More details will be shared shortly, Saudi English Daily Arab News reported citing officials. Aim and Objective The conference has been officially titled the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. Convened by the UN General Assembly and co-chiared by France and Saudi Arabia, the conference will take place at the UN headquarters in New York. The aim of the high level meeting is the urgent adoption of concrete measures that will lead to the implementation of a two-state solution and end decades of conflict between Israel and Palestine. France likely to recognise Palestinian State At the conference, France is most likely to recognise the Palestinian State. French President Macron had last week urged the United Kingdom to do the same. Palestine is officially recognized by 147 of the UNs 193 member states. It holds observer status within the United Nations but is denied full membership. As per the United Nations, Israeli is an illegal occupying power. In a landmark vote in September 2024 , the United Nations has askd Israel to end its illegal occupation of the Palestinian lands. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Let's Learn English (Tieng Anh co ban) la mot khoa hoc tieng Anh moi. Cac giao vien day tieng Anh-My a soan thao khoa hoc nay cho nhung nguoi moi bat au. Khoa hoc se keo dai trong 52 tuan. Moi tuan se co mot bai hoc moi bang video cho thay cuoc song cua gioi tre My. Bai hoc giup trau doi ky nang noi, viet va tu vung. Ngoai ra cung se co cac bai thuc hanh co the in ra, bang anh gia va ke hoach hoc tap cho ca nhan va giao vien day tieng Anh. Chung toi khuyen khich cac ban theo doi cac bai hoc hang tuan va chia se su tien bo cua ban voi chung toi qua phan y kien va email. Tom luoc (Summary) Anna and her friends are eating lunch outside on a beautiful day in Washington, DC. They are people-watching. They like seeing the many different people walking by. Anna va cac ban cua co ang an trua ben ngoai vao mot ngay ep troi o Washington, D.C. Ho ang ngam nguoi qua lai. Ho thich nhin ngam moi nguoi khac nhau i qua. Noi (Speaking) In this video, you can learn to say the new words. Learn about the sounds English speakers make to show they are happy. You can also download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about how people look with a friend. Cach phat am (Pronunciation) In this video, you learn about how to make tag questions. These are the short questions at the end of a sentences, as you hear in the video, "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" Phan oi thoai (Conversation) Anna: Hello! People from all over the world come to Washington, D.C. When Im at work, I love eating lunch outside. I like to watch people walking by. They all look very different. Today, my friend Ashley is eating lunch with me. Anna: Ashley, today the weather is beautiful, isnt it? Ashley: Yes, it is. Ahh. Ooh, we have to return to work! Anna: No, we have time! Lets people-watch a little more. Ashley: Okay. Anna: Oh, I know her. She works in my office! Keyana, hi! Come and join us! Keyana: Hi Anna, how are you? Anna: Im doing great! Keyana, this is my friend Ashley. Keyana: Hi, Ashley! Anna: We need to return to work. But the weather is beautiful and people-watching is fun! Keyana: I love people-watching too! Anna: Well, have a seat! It is fun to see how people are different or the same. Keyana: It is. For example, Anna, you are tall. But Ashley and I are short. Anna: And Keyana, you and Ashley have brown eyes; I have blue eyes. Keyana: You two have light skin and I have dark skin. Anna: Ashley, you have straight hair. Keyana and I have curly hair. Ashley: You have very curly hair, Anna. Keyana: I need to return to work. See you, Anna! Nice to meet you Ashley! Ashley: Bye, Keyana! Ashley: Anna, I have to go, too. Are you returning to work? Anna: I still have time. And this sun feels so good! Ashley: Um, Anna, what does your boss look like? Anna: She is short. She has straight, light hair. Ashley: Does she wear glasses? Anna: Yes. Yes, she does. Ashley: Is she wearing a blue sweater today? Anna: How do you know that? Ashley: Shes coming this way. Anna: Oh no! Hide me! Ashley: Um, bye, Anna. Call me later. Anna: Bye, Ashley! Talk to you later! Caty: Anna? Is that you? Anna: Ms. Weaver! Hi! Caty: What are you doing behind that bench? Anna: I am looking for my, my stick. Here it is. Anna: I am people-watching. Oh! But its time to return to work! Caty: No need to hurry. I love people-watching too! Lets sit! Anna: Sure! Ahh. Caty: Its a beautiful day, isnt it? Anna: Yes. Yes, it is, Ms. Weaver. Anna: People-watching in D.C. is fun. It makes me forget the time! Anna: Until next time! Ahh. Viet (Writing) What do you look like? What does your friend look like? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice with a friend. Sach luoc hoc tap (Learning Strategy) Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Access Information Sources. In our digital world there are many free sources of information to help you learn English. And remember that other people can also help. Here is an example. Joao is visiting Miami. He wants to take a tour of the National Park in the Everglades (or marismas in Portuguese). He finds the word "Everglades" in his pocket paperback Portuguese - English dictionary, but doesn't know how to pronounce it. He opens a translation web page on his phone, writes "Everglades" and pushes the button to translate. Soon a symbol appears under the word. Joao clicks on the symbol to hear the sound of the word, "Everglades." He goes to the hotel tour desk and asks, "Do you have a tour of the Everglades?" The clerk understands him and begins to show him the tour information. Joao asks the clerk, "Will you please say the word slowly for me? I want to check my pronunciation." The clerk smiles and pronounces the word and Joao says it again. Now Joao is sure he can say it correctly. How do you access information sources when learning English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy. Bai kiem tra(Quiz) Quiz - Let's Learn English Lesson 15 Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ______________________________________________________________ Tu ngu moi (New Words) bench - n. a long and usually hard seat for two or more people blue - adj. having the color of the clear sky brown - adj. having a color like coffee or chocolate curly - adj. formed into a round shape dark - adj. of a person's hair, eyes, skin, etc.: black or brown in color eyes - n. the part of the body that you see with forget - n. to be unable to think of or remember (something) glasses - n. a pair of glass or plastic lenses set into a frame and worn over the eyes to help a person see hair - n. a thin threadlike growth from the skin of a person or animal hide - v. to put (something) in a place where it cannot be seen or found join - v. to come together with (something or someone) light - adj. not dark or deep in color; pale like - prep. similar to look like - to have an appearance that is very similar to (someone or something) people-watch - v. to spend time idly observing people in a public place. seat - n. something (such as a chair) that you sit on : a place for sitting have a seat - a polite invitation to sit down. short - adj. having little height; not tall skin - n. the natural outer layer of tissue that covers the body of a person or animal stick - n. a cut or broken branch or twig straight - adj. not having curves, bends, or angles tall - adj. greater in height than the average person ______________________________________________________________ After the French parliament voted on Monday to return to Ivory Coast a "talking drum" that colonial troops took from the Ebrie tribe in 1916, here is a recap of other disputes over artefacts looted from Europe's former colonies. - France: tens of thousands of pieces - The Djidji Ayokwe, the beloved "talking drum" is one of tens of thousands of artworks and other prized artefacts that France looted from its colonial empire from the 16th century to the first half of the 20th century. Three metres long and weighing 430 kilogrammes, it was seized by French troops in 1916 and sent to France in 1929. President Emmanuel Macron in 2021 promised to return the drum, used as a communication tool to transmit messages between different areas, and other artefacts to the west African country. Ivory Coast, Senegal and Benin have all asked for the repatriation of their treasures. In late 2020, the French parliament adopted a law providing for the permanent return to Benin of 26 artefacts from the royal treasures of Dahomey. - Britain: refuses to budge - The Parthenon Marbles, the object of a long-running dispute between the United Kingdom and Greece, are the most high profile of contested treasures. Athens has for decades demanded the return of the sculptures from the British Museum, saying they were looted in 1802 by Lord Elgin, the then-British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. The current government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has escalated its efforts to secure the repatriation of the Marbles, holding official and unofficial meetings with the government of Keith Starmer last autumn. The British Museum has also refused to return any of the sacred sculptures and carvings known as the "Benin Bronzes" taken during a British military expedition in the former kingdom of Benin in southern Nigeria in 1897. It has the biggest collection of the Benin Bronzes which are held in museums across the United States and Europe. The British Museum is also standing firm on the 11 Ethiopian tabots, or sacred tablets, that it holds. - Germany: agrees to return Bronzes - The German government agreed in 2022 to hand 1,100 Benin Bronzes back to Nigeria. The first 22 were sent back in December 2022. - Netherlands too - The Netherlands in June 2025 officially handed back to Nigeria 119 Benin Bronzes sculptures with a ceremony held at the National Museum in Lagos, showcasing four of them in the museum's courtyard. - Egyptian antiquities - Many artworks and artefacts have over the centuries been looted from Egypt, the cradle of an ancient civilisation that has long fascinated Europeans. Among the most high profile cases are the Nefertiti bust, the Rosetta Stone and the Dendera Zodiac, which are on show in top museums in Germany, the United Kingdom and France. The bust of Nefertiti, the wife of the Pharaoh Akhenaten, was sculpted around 1340 BC but was taken to Germany by a Prussian archaeologist and was later given to the Neues Museum in Berlin. The Rosetta Stone, a basalt slab dating from 196 BC, has been housed in the British Museum since 1802, inscribed with the legend "Captured in Egypt by the British Army in 1801". It bore extracts of a decree written in Ancient Greek, an ancient Egyptian vernacular script called Demotic and hieroglyphics. The Dendera Zodiac, a celestial map, was blasted out of the Hathor Temple in Qena in southern Egypt in 1820 by a French official. Thought to date from around 50 BC, it has been suspended on a ceiling in the Louvre museum in Paris since 1922. hrc-ot-jmy/bc Dolce&Gabbana to reveal latest creations against backdrop of Rome landmarks in five-day fashion extravaganza. Italian design duo Dolce & Gabbana will showcase their latest collections in Rome, from 12-16 July, choosing the Eternal City as a location for the first time in their 40-year career. The catwalks, which will include shows of the women's and men's haute couture as well as jewellery, will be staged against the backdrop of some of Rome's most iconic landmarks. Titled 'The Triumph of Beauty', the five-day event kicks off on Via Veneto on Saturday 12 July with a tribute to Fellini and the Dolce Vita. This is followed by the presentation of the Alta Gioielleria collection at Villa Adriana in Tivoli on Sunday 13 July, in a tribute to Emperor Hadrian with rubies, diamonds and sapphires. On Monday 14 July the Alta Moda collection will be presented at the Roman Forum, ahead of the upcoming presentation of the 'Artistic Illumination of the Roman Forum Palatine' project sponsored by Dolce&Gabbana. "We came here with the intention of showing in the Roman Forum, because for us it represents the beginning of Rome, the sacred road, the starting point from which everything happened" - Domenico Dolce said during a presentation at city hall on Friday - "We will modestly try to pay tribute to Roman culture, starting from ancient Rome to the fashion of the 1950s." Where Berninis fountains dance and centuries-old palazzi whisper stories of art and empire, Rome prepares to welcome Italian excellence. This summer, the Eternal City becomes the stage for #DGAltaGioielleria, #DGAltaModa, and #DGAltaSartoria, where heritage is reimagined in the pic.twitter.com/rtCBTEuLt3 Dolce & Gabbana (@dolcegabbana) July 11, 2025 The next day, Tuesday 15 July, the Alta Sartoria collection will be unveiled along the angel-filled Ponte SantAngelo, in collaboration with Rome's renowned Sartoria Tirelli. The event, described as a homage to ecclesiastical tailoring, will take place against the backdrop of Castel Sant'Angelo. The Dolce&Gabbana Grand Tour of the Eternal City will conclude with a final party at the Cinecitta film studios on Wednesday 16 July. The fashion house's founders and designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana said they were "deeply excited" at the idea of showcasing their collections in the Italian capital, stating: "Rome is a special place for us, a symbol of our love for Italy and an inexhaustible source of inspiration." The fashion events coincide with a sumptuous Dolce&Gabbana exhibition at Palazzo Esposizioni, which comes to Rome following its success in Milan and Paris. The choice of Rome by the major international fashion houses is part of a growing trend and comes as Valentino and luxury jeweller Bulgari forge increasingly strong links with the Eternal City. The Dolce&Gabbana events will lead to traffic restrictions, for details see Rome city website. Image: DAL CUORE ALLE MANI. DOLCE&GABBANA | Architectural and pictural. Photo: Michael Adair. Even if math is not your strong point, you will understand why, despite the protestations of our Fianna Fail and Fine Gael TDs, the question is being widely asked in Waterford. Is one junior minister plus one junior minister equal to one senior minister? The appalling government debacle over co-funding a runway extension at Waterford Airport gives real-world proof of the problem. The airport case has been made and made again and again and again! Being dragged through the mud and forced to jump hurdles invented by the Ministry of Funny Jumps is not at all funny to the people of this city and region, who are trying to increase regional access and connectivity. Minister Butler is pro tem, a super junior with permission to attend cabinet meetings. Her tenure depends on the outcome of the current Supreme Court hearing on the latter issue. (I believe the chief whip should ex-officio attend, but thats another days work!) Had she a vote at cabinet, it is odds on that the airport extension would have been inked in months ago. A vote gives you something to trade for other ministers support. It is too early to judge Minister John Cummins efforts as he is a first-time TD. His dogged record in defending Fine Gael against comment in the run-up to the general election tends to label him as a party animal first and last. Time will tell. The real question is how much weight in government do our two junior ministers hold and will they deliver on the airport extension? Minister Mary Butler has been a TD since 2016 and a prominent minister of state since July 2020. The minister already claims delivery of a new UHW surgical hub and the commencement of a long-awaited engineering building at SETU. These decisions were baked into the last administration's Programme for Government, but current political reality for Ms Butler now intrudes in the form of Waterford Airport. She must now decide whether she is to be a politician of consequence, like Mary ORourke or Martin Cullen, or a quiescent lap dog of the party hierarchy. The recent, disgraceful meeting about the airport when all were excluded except the Minister for Transport, Darragh OBrien, his Secretary General Ken Spratt and head of aviation section Ethna Brogan, Waterford Council CEO Sean McKeown and some other officials, is redolent of other occasions when Waterford interests were called to Dublin to be hectored in no uncertain terms and dismissed. The cheek of us, having aspirations! Just remember what happened to Dr Rob Landers and Dr Paddy Owens when they went to Dublin about 24/7 cardiology, or the despicable treatment that Dr Kieran Byrne, a visionary academic, received for his efforts to promote WIT as a university. Minister Butler has form in putting party before her own people. Locals have not forgotten how, post election 2016, she immediately caved in to the importuning of her party colleague Bobby Aylward in Carlow/Kilkenny by refusing to back the recommendation of the Boundary Commission for a small extension of the boundary of Waterford City back into what was, for hundreds of years, the northern Liberties of the City of Waterford. Instances of TDs not backing the interests of their own constituencies are very rare indeed. The real-life ramifications of that decision are now becoming apparent as Dunnes Stores have applied to open a very large store in the Ferrybank Shopping Centre. The centre has been aptly described as the worst example of predatory planning in Ireland, being a mere 10 feet from the Waterford city boundary. Should it be allowed to proceed by Kilkenny planners, the impact on already fragile retail in Waterford Citys historic centre will be severe. Post-election 2024, Ms Butler, the favourite to be appointed as Minister for Children, allowed herself to be bumped out of that by Minister for Cork, Micheal Martin, into the fairly toothless office of government chief whip. Loyalty to Micheal Martin and Fianna Fail trumped political power. Before the election Minister Butler informed us that the airport extension needed a new minister (other than Green Eamon Ryan) to make the pro-Waterford decision. Now we have a new government, a Fianna Fail Taoiseach, a Fianna Fail Minister for Transport and Ms Butler, a Fianna Fail TD as government chief whip, and are still unable to secure a positive decision on co-funding Waterford Airport runway extension. The money involved is risible, even if inflated by rising construction costs, but the dead hand of permanent government is determined to kill us off. One might paraphrase George Bernard Shaw in saying that making one bad decision, as in the boundary extension, is unfortunate. Making two bad decisions, as in boundary extension and failure to insist on the full ministerial office Waterford so obviously needed, is careless. To allow a third bad decision to be made, as in a failure to fund the airport in accordance with the Programme for Government, suggests an absence of influence, or lack of political competence. The airport will determine how Ms Butler is viewed for the remainder of this governments term. In general, the last decade and a half has seen a huge fight for resources for Waterford. For example, Waterford Port is designated as a Tier 2 National Port with Rosslare. Waterford handles 2.2 million tons of cargo and Rosslare handles 3.4 million tons. A 200 million development is now proposed for Rosslare on top of a 170 million development already in progress, even though Stena Line is pulling out of Rosslare this autumn and Dublin, Foynes and Cork (Tier 1 Ports) are massively upping their development. 100 million was lobbed by the Dept. of Transport at Cork Port last year, but not a cent is available to develop extra quay space at Waterford Port, even though demand regularly exceeds available space. Often when considering the problems of development at SETU, UHW, FDI, Waterford Airport and Port of Waterford, one begins to think that there is an organised presumption against development in this part of the world. The fight for resources and investment is perpetual and must be driven by our government TDs. The days of accepting doled-out crumbs are over. Hopefully M/s Cummins and Butler appreciate that. The manipulation occurs for planes as flights pass adjacent to areas where militaries disrupt or alter GPS signals to ward off attacks, confuse hostile drones and missiles, or harass pilots. Civilian airlines flying long-haul routes, such as those between Australia and Europe, can be affected. GPS jamming, conducted by military forces, is near constant around Ukraine and parts of Russia. At any given time, the incidence of spoofing that affects commercial airspace shifts. But to give an example, in July to August 2024, the top airspace regions affected by spoofing were Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Russia and Pakistan, according to GPS Spoofing Workgroup report. There has been a more than 200 per cent increase in Global Positioning System loss events between 2021 and 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). With continued geopolitical tensions, it is difficult to see this trend reversing in the near term, said Nick Careen, IATAs senior vice president for operations, safety and security. Spoofing can create some strange effects in the cockpit, like being at 30,000 feet when an alarm comes on telling the pilot to immediately pull up to avoid the ground, or the clocks used by the captain and first officer no longer read the same time. An instrument can falsely indicate a plane is far from its actual location. Another pilot, who flies through affected regions, said GPS jamming now happens daily. The aircraft loses the connection to the GPS, and it flies a bit further and regains the signal again. Its no big deal if its for a limited time while en route. GPS spoofing, while less frequent, poses a bigger problem, the pilot said. That is much more serious if it goes haywire. It can change the timing of clocks in the aircraft and in the worst case, it can mess with the instruments reading the position of the plane, he said. Planes with their GPS spoofed can unexpectedly turn without air traffic control clearance, deviating from their cleared route. This can put them at risk of entering dangerous or military areas, as almost occurred in 2023 on a flight from Europe to Dubai, according to OpsGroup, an organisation of international flight operations professionals. Theres some history here. Civilian planes didnt use GPS until after Korean Air Lines flight 007 was shot down by Soviet aircraft in 1983 after it drifted into Russian airspace. The downing of the Boeing 747-230B, amid Cold War tensions, killed 269 people, and prompted the US government to permit the US-built GPS system to be used for civilian aviation. Experts fear that the abundance of false alarms around GPS can erode a pilots awareness, or increase distrust of the data. A recent OpsGroup report identified loss of safe distance between other planes on the air route due to false instruments warnings as one of the safety concern arising from spoofing. Korean Air Lines: the Boeing 747-230B was shot down by a missile in 1983 after drifting into Soviet airspace. GPS became a standard navigation aid afterwards. Credit: Hansueli Krapf The GPS Spoofing WorkGroup report also cited instances of surprise altitude climbs by planes initiated by the ground avoidance system in the cockpit. Loading There is also a longer-term effect, too. Due to now commonplace encounters of GPS spoofing impacts, there is a gradual, insidious acceptance of increasingly higher risk at [an] organisational level, a 2024 report concluded. Small changes and new behaviours that were slight deviations from the normal course of events gradually become the norm, providing a basis for accepting additional deviance and, typically, higher risk. A phenomenon known as spoofing fatigue is also emerging: pilots accustomed to frequent spoofing incidents simply stop reporting them. This can lead to a normalising of risk and reduced situational awareness. Different readings on instruments in the cockpit can also cause disagreements between pilots and other crew members regarding the best course of action, clouding the decision-making needed for a safe flight. The pilot interviewed by this masthead said that when they lose GPS en route: We basically dont do anything unless a secondary navigation system warns that the planes route is becoming less precise. Planes can activate a back-up system called Distance Measuring Equipment, which had been the standard before GPS became commonplace. The pilot said he has never been lost because of jamming or spoofing; however he has been slightly off track and had to ask air traffic control for help. That has been because of prolonged GPS loss. In the pilots region and with his company, the GPS interference phenomenon is well understood. So we have a spoofing guide/checklist so we can prevent some follow-on effects There can be complex situations but he said, We always have back-up plans. While pilots adapt, lack of GPS can have serious consequences. On Christmas Day last year, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 left Baku for Grozy in the Russian republic of Chechnya when it lost its GPS signal. Russian military forces in Grozny, on guard for Ukrainian drone attacks, had been GPS jamming the area. Flight 8243 tried to approach Grozny twice, said FrontierSIs technical lead Eldar Rubinov. The plane lost GPS on approach to Grozny and asked air traffic controllers for guidance to the runway, he said. Loading They tried the approach twice, but both times when they reached the decision-making height (or minimum), they were still above the clouds and couldnt establish a visual contact with the runway. After the second attempt, they indicated to the air traffic control, that they cannot land and they are returning to Baku, and thats when they got shot by an anti-aircraft missile. The pilots mistook the sound of the missile hit for birdstrike. The plane crashed, killing 38 people while 29 survived with injuries. If they had GPS, their minimum would be much lower, so they couldve descended below the clouds without any issues, said Rubinov, who audited the planes blackbox recording. The lack of GPS was a contributing factor to the crash, Rubinov said. In response to the growing problem of GPS interference, IATA along with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency last month proposed several solutions: standardising radio calls for GPS interference, establishing monitoring and warning practices, and facilitating information sharing. The groups also advocate for restrictions on jamming devices, though the effectiveness of such restrictions is questionable in regions like Russias Kaliningrad, a major jamming hotspot, or in Israel. Another potential solution for commercial flights is a controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA). This technology can detect and completely block interfering signals from a specific direction, making it almost unjammable. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Joni Johnston, a US forensic psychologist, is no stranger to poisoners. She has spent a large part of her storied career researching and interviewing these types of killers, and can list their common traits like items on a grocery list: They are likely to come from a medical background, their victims are likely to be family members, and they are often motivated by revenge or financial gain. And yet, despite her years of research, Johnston is frequently baffled by the way these types of killers can behave after committing their crime. She has encountered several cases of poisoners who were so sneaky they could have gotten away with murder if not for how they behaved after committing the crime. I see it over and over and over again What I would say is, if youre not a career criminal, if youre not somebody who is antisocial by nature, or grew up committing crimes it does require a mental process to get to the point where you decide to murder someone, Johnston says. Erin Patterson outside court during her trial. Credit: The Age Erin Patterson did not get away with her crime. The 50-year-old was found guilty this week of murdering her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gails sister, Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Heathers husband, Ian, by serving the elderly group a home-cooked lunch laced with death cap mushrooms in July 2023. Pattersons behaviour after the deadly lunch was a point of focus for the prosecution during her trial. The prosecution took the jury through the key moments that they said proved Pattersons guilt: leaving the hospital against medical advice, throwing away a food dehydrator and factory-resetting her phone. Advertisement They [poisoners] think up to when the murder happens, and then theres not a lot of thought about, How am I going to handle this afterwards? Johnston tells this masthead. Johnston recalls a case in the US where a man aroused suspicion after he moved his mistress into the family home days after his wifes sudden death. He was later convicted of poisoning his wife. There was also the death of Steve Clayton. It was initially believed the South Carolina man died of a heart attack until Claytons family noticed how oddly his wife, Lana, behaved in the days after his death. Investigators later discovered she had poisoned his drinking water, killing the 64-year-old. Now, after one of the most closely watched murder trials in Australian history concluded this week, experts such as Johnston are left to dissect how the mother of two fits in with the typical profile of a poisoner, and why the case garnered such frenzied, global interest. The first point Johnston is keen to clear up is a common misconception that more women poison than men. There are all kinds of stereotypes about women that have lasted throughout eternity, Johnston says. One of them is that women are more devious They dont beat you up, they dont hit you, they just poison your food. Given the fact that 90 per cent of all murderers at least in the US are men, there are going to be more male poisoners than female. Advertisement While its not a perfect science, Johnston says research has indicated trends in what kind of people poisoners tend to be. They tend to be less confrontational, they tend to express their anger more indirectly, they tend to be kind of sneakier, she says. They are also unlikely to be career criminals; Patterson had a clean record. Poisoners are planners by necessity, but some can derive a sense of pleasure or interest in the planning process. What situation can you imagine where you dont have to plan poisoning somebody? Johnston says. You have to get the poison. You have to administer it, even if you have it in your house. Lorraine Moss, Erin Patterson and Lana Clayton. Credit: Monique Westermann/AP Patterson fits the bill as a fastidious planner. Evidence presented during the 11-week murder trial suggested a high level of planning. A year before the fatal lunch, she researched death cap mushroom sightings in the area and practised hiding dried mushrooms in her childrens food. Johnston says: How angry they are can determine how much pleasure they get out of the planning process, because when you think about poisoning, especially [in instances where the victim is poisoned over a period of time] theres a sadistic part of that as well. Advertisement The elaborate planning is likely to cost Patterson a lenient sentence as the judge deliberates the length of her imprisonment. When choosing a poison to administer, the murderer often turns to something that can be acquired without difficulty. Johnston points to a case, also in the US, where a veterinarian murdered her husband with animal tranquiliser. There have been a few cases in which doctors have used colchicine, a medicine used to treat gout, to murder their victims. Loading Patterson, a former council worker who was a homemaker at the time of her crimes, joins a long list of women who have used food to administer their poison. Johnston says this again comes back to accessibility the womens role in the home, especially historically, was to cook. If you wanted to get rid of somebody, then you had some opportunity as a caretaker or as a food provider, she says. Bendigo woman Lorraine Moss slowly poisoned her husband, Johnny Moss, to death by covertly feeding him large quantities of arsenic and lead over a number of years. After years of symptoms that baffled doctors, he died a slow and excruciating death. Moss borrowed books about poison and was seen to be highly calculated; the homicide detective who charged her said it was a case of cold-blooded torture although she was always polite to the police. Why Erin Patterson captured the worlds attention Advertisement Patterson is not the only person in Australia accused at present of crimes involving poison, but few cases have captured the publics attention quite like Pattersons fatal beef Wellington lunch. Journalists, podcasters and film crews descended on the little town of Leongatha in the aftermath of the deaths; during the trial in nearby Morwell, true crime buffs queued in the rain outside the court for hours to get a seat inside. There were daily news bulletins, live blogs and YouTube channels. Criminologist Kathryn Whiteley says the frenzied interest in the mushroom case is threefold. The first is the theatrical nature of the crime, almost Shakespearean in its spectacle. The second is the number of victims mass killers are rare. And rarer still are female killers. Did she or does she feel sincere remorse, bewilderment with the knowledge of her family dying from the meal she provided, or a callous sense of relief, if her agenda was revenge? Criminologist Kathryn Whiteley Men are overwhelmingly responsible for Australias homicides. Data from the Australian Institute of Criminology between July 2023 and June 2024 found women committed just 13 per cent of homicides during that time. Whiteley says this statistic is consistent across the Western world, where women account for about 10 per cent of murders. Generally speaking, we as a society conceptualise a womans traditional values with nurturer, carer, the gentler sex, Whiteley says. The notion that a woman can give life to a human being and then violently take another challenges societal norms of womanhood. It shocks our societal psyche. But why do women kill less than men? This is a challenging question to answer, Whiteley says. Research suggests biological differences can play a role, as well as gendered societal norms. Testosterone in males is equated to higher impulsivity and low frustration tolerance. Its thought with womens progesterone, there exists more placidity and compliance, Whiteley says. Advertisement As this masthead reported on Thursday, the State Department was blindsided by the AUKUS review. When the review became public, the department told its embassies to tell reporters: We are not aware of a review of the AUKUS agreement. Such matters would normally go through robust NSC procedures, sources say. Uncertainty also surrounds last weeks Pentagon decision to freeze the supply of some munitions to Ukraine. Trump later reversed course, noting Ukraine was being pummelled by Russia and needed the weapons. Asked by CNNs Kaitlan Collins who had ordered the pause, Trump said: I dont know. Why dont you tell me? US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the G7 in June. Britain is one of the few countries to negotiate the framework of a tariff deal during Trumps second term. Credit: AP The next day, The New York Times Shawn McCreesh asked Trump whether he managed to find out. I havent thought about it, the president said. McCreesh then asked what it said about the administration if the commander-in-chief was unaware of such an important decision. I would know, Trump insisted. If a decision was made, I will know. Ill be the first to know. In fact, most likely Id give the order, but I havent done that yet. Make of that what you will. Driving the Ukraine decision, and leading the AUKUS review, was Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby. A former defence strategist from Trumps first term, Colby is known as a strong intellect, a fierce China hawk and a sceptic when it comes to sending American military hardware elsewhere, whether that be Australia or Ukraine. In August last year, while outside government, Colby told this mastheads Peter Hartcher he considered himself an AUKUS agnostic. So far, he said, I have not seen the weight of compelling evidence. He was more positive about the pact by the time his confirmation hearing rolled around in March. This week, in light of the Ukraine flip-flop, Colbys role has come under the microscope. A widely read piece in Washington favourite Politico which some Beltway folks interpreted as a hatchet job on Colby quoted an unnamed source saying: He is pissing off just about everyone I know inside the administration. The piece prompted the director of defence and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute think tank, Justin Logan, to pen a rebuttal painting Colby as the victim of an unfair attack in the Washington policy wars. He has been a thoughtful and loyal defender of the best parts of the America First foreign policy agenda, which explains why he has taken so much flak from those who cling to the status quo, Logan wrote. Did Colby go rogue, or was he just doing what he is there to do? Stephen Tankel, a staff member of the National Security Council until January 2025 who was responsible for defence industry, says its difficult to know because the normal processes that guide these decisions dont apply under the Trump administration. That creates opportunities for policy entrepreneurs, but it also creates dangers because if the process is nebulous, then a leader can think they are doing what theyre supposed to do but end up somehow out of bounds, says Tankel. Loading Sophia Gaston, a senior research fellow at Kings College London and a foreign affairs analyst with deep knowledge of AUKUS, argues the sense of chaos and disorder is a feature, not a bug. The foreign policy framework in Washington is less defined than normal at the moment, in part because decisions are seemingly being taken by individuals on an ad hoc basis, she says. It can be hard to know where the Trump administration will land on any particular issue, and that is partly by design. Trump was seeking to create a government of strategic ambiguity. On the other side of the world at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, Rubio poured cold water on any accusation of chaos or abnormality. The freeze on weapons for Ukraine was mischaracterised, he said. It was a very limited review of certain types of munitions to ensure that we had sufficient stockpiles. As for the AUKUS review, Rubio said it was natural for a new administration to cast its eye over such a project. Just because youre reviewing something doesnt mean youre going to necessarily act on it, he said. Our policies on AUKUS have not changed. Loading The crucial part for Australia is that Trump decided the supply of weapons had to continue. It suggests that even if the Pentagon is predisposed to a certain position, this president is willing to overrule. Many of those sweating on the AUKUS review point to the Ukraine decision as cause for optimism. Where theres uncertainty, theres opportunity. That is something Trump understands intuitively. He wields it ruthlessly, including against allies. But it cuts both ways. There is uncertainty about who is calling the shots in Washington and what, if any, processes are in place underneath. Against this backdrop of chaos, with regular channels relegated to the back seat, what should Australia do? The experts are of one mind: business as usual wont cut it. This is a very different administration than those that have preceded it, including the first Trump administration, says Charles Edel, Australia chair at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Engaging with, and influencing, the Trump administration means throwing out the old playbook and conducting diplomacy differently. Edel argues Albaneses political success at home makes him well situated to engage with Trump directly in a discussion of how to move alliance equities forward. In other words: Albanese has a mandate. Use it. Loading Tankel says Australia needs to spend even more time than usual on political intelligence: figuring out who is in favour, whos not, and which power centres are staking out which positions. London-based Sophia Gaston urges Australia to study the success of Britain, one of the few countries to negotiate the framework of a tariff deal with Trump 2.0. Governments might think they just need to tell their stories better in Washington, but they will quickly find that this is a completely different regime that requires a distinct tactical approach, she says. Its not about which political party youre from. We have a Labour government in power in London, but they were prepared to be ruthless on a political level. The relationship with the US is the No.1 prism through which every decision is made. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Ed Holland, frontman of Hurricane Highway, once shared with this reporter his philosophy on success: the journey is just as important as the destination. Speaking to him again years later, Ed remains steadfast in his views. "It's all about the journey," Ed began. "So many people focus on the next milestone, but I've seen friends with millions of streams and they're still not happy. I believe you should appreciate every little achievement and enjoy the process." Hurricane Highway has achieved impressive success, including two top 50 singles in the US country charts, 10 US Grammy contenders, and two US tours and supporting notable acts like Miranda Lambert, Charlie Pride and Maddie & Tae. Having gained significant traction on Spotify with millions of streams, they recently released their new original single, Beers Up, Ass Down. The single is a laid-back, tropical anthem about escaping everyday stress. With a catchy chorus and beachy vibe, it's the perfect tune for unwinding. Ed's songwriting process involves regular sessions with Nashville-based publishers and co-writers like Kevin Rowe (Chicago) and Nancy Mozer (Kentucky). Their collaboration has yielded US top 50 hits like Baby I Do and She Sang 'Shut Up and Dance'. The band has also recently teamed up with multi-hit songwriter Brent Baxter, known for his hits with Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, and Randy Travis. Ed says he's excited to see how this new collaboration goes! Hurricane Highway's music blends American country, and they frequently visit Nashville where they recorded their No 1 album titled Nashville. Despite their success, Ed doesn't see the band moving to the US anytime soon. "I like the balance," Ed said. "We've proven we can have a successful career travelling between Ireland and the US. Ireland will always be my home, and I enjoy the freedom to visit America whenever I can." Looking ahead, Hurricane Highway plans to focus on singles, with another release scheduled for September. "That's the next destination!" Ed chuckled. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Warm and humid with clouds and some hazy sun; a spotty shower at anytime, with a gusty thunderstorm or two possible in the afternoon. . Tonight Clouds and an early evening shower or t-storm, then clearing and turning less humid. Reading, PA (19601) Today Warm and humid with clouds and some hazy sun; a spotty shower at anytime, with a gusty thunderstorm or two possible in the afternoon. . Tonight Clouds and an early evening shower or t-storm, then clearing and turning less humid. Weather Alert ...EXTREME HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 108. * WHERE...In Illinois, Johnson, Massac, and Union Counties. In Kentucky, McCracken County. In Missouri, Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry MO, and Wayne MO Counties. * WHEN...Until 8 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. && The Philadelphia Workers Rank-and-File Strike Committee is calling all city workers, union members, and supporters to a public online meeting at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, July 14. Register for the meeting here. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss building opposition to the tentative agreement announced by AFSCME District Council 33, and to organize rank-and-file resistance against the sellout. This meeting is an urgent opportunity to discuss how to reclaim the strike from the union bureaucracy and fight for the real needs of Philadelphias municipal workers. After eight days on strike, AFSCME District Council 33 abruptly announced a tentative agreement that falls far short of workers demands. The deal offers only a 9 percent wage increase over three years, fails to address the skyrocketing cost of living, and abandons key demands like better healthcare contributions and the elimination of the residency requirement. The union officials sprung this deal on workers behind their backs and ended the strike without a vote. This shows that they are working hand in hand with the city to prevent the strike from developing into a broader fight against inequality and the Democratic Party. The union bureaucracys betrayal has sparked outrage among rank-and-file workers, who recognize this agreement as a sellout. Many have sacrificed nearly two weeks on the picket line for a deal that barely improves their paychecks. The strikes momentum, which threatened to spread to other city workers and white-collar employees, was cut short by the unions backroom deal. The Philadelphia Workers Rank-and-File Strike Committee is organizing this meeting to unite workers in rejecting the union leaderships sellout and to discuss concrete steps for continuing the fight. This is a call to action for all workers who want to defend their rights: Dont let the bureaucrats and city officials decide your future behind closed doors! Join the meeting Monday at 7 p.m. and help build the Philadelphia Workers Rank-and-File Strike Committee! Federal immigration agents toss tear gas at protesters and family members of workers kidnapped during a raid in the agriculture area of Camarillo, California, Thursday, July 10, 2025. [AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker] On Thursday, federal immigration agents joined by National Guard soldiers carried out brutal immigration raids in Carpinteria and Camarillo, California, which left at least one worker dead and several others hospitalized. Reports indicate that as many as 200 people have been taken by the immigration Gestapo. In a post on social media, the United Farm Workers union confirmed that a farm worker died of injuries sustained as a result of yesterdays immigration enforcement action. In a GoFundMe, Yeseni Duran said her uncle, Jaime Garcia, was chased by ICE agents and we were told he fell 30 [feet]. In an interview with ABC 7, Garcias family confirmed he had broken his neck and skull. Duran wrote that her uncle Jaime was just a hard-working, innocent farmer. He has his wife and daughter waiting for him. Jaime Garcia [Photo: Yesenia Duran] Duran wrote that her uncle lived in Mexico with his family but worked in the US to help provide for them: He was his familys provider. They took one of our family members. We need justice. We are still investigating what happened. More details to come. In an expression of the massive anger the fascist raids have provoked among large sections of the population, less than 24 hours after the GoFundMe for Jaime was established it had already exceeded its $50,000 goal. The UFW confirmed that several farm workers were critically injured during the raid and that US citizens remain unaccounted for. Pointing to a massive government cover-up, the UFW reported, Many workers, including US citizens, were held by federal authorities at the farm for 8 hours or more. US citizen workers report only being released after they were forced to delete photos and videos of the raid from their phones. The raids have produced mass anger throughout the region. Carpinteria and Camarillo are both located north of Los Angeles County in the agriculture and industrial Central Coast. Between Carpinteria and Camarillo is Oxnard, the largest city in Ventura County, with over 200,000 residents. Hispanic and Latinos are by far the largest ethnic group in Oxnard, making up 77 percent of the population. As of this writing, some 1,000 protesters are marching on Oxnard City Hall calling for the release of those detained by the immigration Gestapo, and for ICE to leave California. The raids took place on property owned by Glass House Farms, which claims to be the largest marijuana grower in the world. While marijuana farms are legal in the state of California, they are not legal on a federal level. The raids mark a massive escalation in the Trump administrations assault on the working class. These heavily militarized operations, targeting unarmed immigrant workers and their families, reveal the true character of the US government: an instrument of the capitalist class that relies on armed terror to suppress and terrorize the population. Two people kneel in front of federal agents in a farm field during a heavily militarized immigration raid in Camarillo, California, Thursday, July 10, 2025. [AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker] Witness accounts and video footage from the scenes show masked, heavily armed agents storming the Glass House Farms worksites, firing tear gas and chasing down terrified workers across the fields. Estimates indicate that as many as 200 workers were seized between the two locations. The crime of these workers was nothing more than selling their labor power in an economy built on exploitation. That the raids targeted agricultural workersone of the most exploited layers of the American working classexposes the lie that these operations are about public safety or criminal aliens. The reality is that the Trump government is targeting the working class as a whole. The same militarized tactics used against immigrant workers today will inevitably be used against any section of the working class that resists. Despite lying claims by the Trump administration and its criminal propagandists in the Department of Homeland Security that all those taken were illegal aliens, multiple US citizens have been confirmed to have been kidnapped. This includes 25-year-old George Retes, a disabled US Army veteran. In interviews with ABC 7, Retes sister and wife confirmed that he worked on the farm as a security guard and that he is a US citizen. Through tears, Destinee Majana, Retes sister, explained: I thought he was part of the protests. He wasnt. He was just trying to reverse his car. They broke his window, they pepper sprayed him, they grabbed him, threw him on the floor. They detained him. His wife has been trying to call and ask where he is. They dont know where he is apparently. The California Faculty Association confirmed on Friday that one of those taken during the raid was Jonathan A. Caravello. In statement addressed to Democratic Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, among others, CFA President Margarita Berta-Avila wrote that Dr. Caravello was abducted by federal immigration authorities ... approximately 5 minutes from the campus of CSU Channel Islands. Dr. Caravello is a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at CSUCI, an active member of our union, and a citizen of the United States. Berta-Avila wrote that witnesses saw a federal immigration agent fire a tear gas canister in the direction of a wheelchair user lawfully overseeing immigration enforcement activities, which then became lodged underneath the wheelchair. While attempting to assist the bystander who could not see or breathe, Dr. Caravello was abruptly taken down by immigration agents, dragged into an unmarked vehicle, and taken to an unknown location. In the hours after his abduction, CSUCI faculty, staff and students engaged in an exhaustive search for his whereabouts. Despite visiting every hospital and local police station, CFA members and Dr. Carvellos students were unable to locate or contact him. In the early morning of July 11, 2025, we are still confirming whether Dr. Caravello is being held at the Ventura County Federal Detention Facility. His charges are still unknown. The statement called for the release of Dr. Caravello and all those taken by immigration agents. However, instead of appealing to the working class to fight independently for the release of the kidnapped through strike action, the CFA president only directed members to ring our Congressmembers and legislators. In contrast to the impotence of the trade union apparatus, Thursdays raid was met with independent resistance from the community. Hundreds of workers, family members, and supporters gathered at the Camarillo site, protesting the raid for more than 12 hours. At one point during the standoff, a DHS Blackhawk helicopter was forced to land in farm field to resupply the soldiers. Reports and video evidence suggest that one protester may have fired a pistol at the immigration agents. The FBI has put out a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Though no agents appear to have been injured, the government itself described the Camarillo raid as a multi-casualty eventa direct result of the governments own use of less-lethal weapons and chemical agents against civilians. On Fox News Friday morning, Trumps Border Czar Tom Homan rejected efforts by the courts to limit the immigration Gestapos ability to disappear whoever they want based on probable cause. Look, people need to understand ICE officers and Border Patrol, they dont need probable cause to walk up to somebody, briefly detain them, and question them. They just need the totality of the circumstances, right. Through stammers and stutters, Homan declared, They just go through the observation, you know, get articulable facts based on their location, their occupation, their physical appearance, their actions. Homan argued that running or simply walking away from masked immigration police conducting a raid in a public setting was enough of a pretext for the agents to detain someone on reasonable suspicion. Justifying the raids, which caused the death of Jaime Garcia and have led to the mass abduction of US citizens and immigrant workers alike, Stephen Miller, Trumps deputy chief of staff, spouted a variation of the racist Great Replacement Theory during his appearance on Fox News Friday. Miller claimed the Trump administration was liberating children from industrial slavery and sex trafficking overseen by the Democrat Party. California and Los Angeles are waging insurrection against the federal government, they are protecting those who traffic in the suffering of children, Trumps neo-Nazi adviser hissed. The Democrat Party is funneling ... profits from rape, profits from exploitation, and yes, profits from murder into the hands of the cartels. The response of the Democratic Party only underscores its complicity. On Friday morning, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced an Executive Directive to support immigrant communities that does nothing to stop the raids or protect workers. Instead, it establishes a toothless working group led by the Los Angeles Police Departmentthe same force that has repeatedly defended ICE and Border Patrol as they disappear workers. This feedback group is a cynical maneuver to give the illusion of action while the raids continue unchecked. The working class cannot rely on the Democrats, the trade unions or any institution of the capitalist state to defend it. The police, ICE, and the military exist to protect the interests of the ruling classthe billionaires and financial oligarchs who dominate every aspect of social and political life. This file photo shows an arrangement of Oxycodone pills. [AP Photo/Mark Lennihan] A recent research letter published July 9 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), titled The Failure of Life Expectancy to Fully Rebound to Prepandemic Levels, paints a damning picture of the public health crisis in California, the wealthiest and most populous US state. The study, authored by top researchers from Northwestern, Yale, UCLA and Virginia Commonwealth University, confirms that despite the supposed end of the COVID-19 emergency, life expectancy in California remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels, having recovered only two-thirds of what was lost during the initial years of the pandemic. Previous research showed that life expectancy in the United States fell by over two years between 2019 and 2021from 78.8 to 76.4 yearsbut began to rebound slightly in 2022; by 2023 it had rebounded to 78.4 years, just 0.4 years below the 2019 pre-pandemic level. In California, it declined from 81.4 years in 2019 to 78.4 years in 2021. As of 2024, Californians live on average 0.86 years less than in 2019. This points to a slower recovery than the national averagewhich, while still trailing behind other advanced capitalist countries, has nearly returned to pre-pandemic norms. While nationwide data for 2024 is not yet available, Californias recently published vital statistics provided researchers an early look into the trajectory of recoveryand it is a sobering one. This data reveals a society in profound and accelerating decay. California, long heralded as a model of innovation and progress, has become a place where working class people are dying earlier, suffering more and reaping none of the benefits of medical science and economic development. The gap in life expectancy is a social catastrophe rooted in a capitalist system that subordinates every aspect of lifeincluding life itselfto private profit. The causes identified in the JAMA reportdrug overdoses, cardiovascular disease, delayed medical care and mental health deteriorationexpose the failure of the system to provide for human well-being. These are systemic expressions of a ruling class that has consciously gutted public health infrastructure and allowed corporations to profit off of illness, misery and death. The outcomes are predictable in a society where billions are funneled to Wall Street, war and police repression, while millions are denied housing, nutritious food, preventive healthcare and mental health services. Californias life expectancy crisis obliterates the narrative of progress peddled by the states political establishment. The JAMA report lays bare a landscape of deep inequality. The life expectancy gap between the poorest and wealthiest quartiles stands at a whopping 5.77 years. Black and Hispanic Californians, largely workers and immigrants, who experienced the steepest drops in life expectancy during the pandemic, now remain more than 1.4 years below their 2019 levels. Life expectancy has always reflected the brutal reality of class society. People die earlier because of poverty, overwork, pollution, inaccessible healthcare and systemic neglect. Drug overdosesparticularly involving fentanylare now among the primary drivers of premature death. The opioid epidemic was engineered by pharmaceutical corporations like Purdue Pharma, which profited enormously while inflicting mass death with the protection and complicity of government regulators. The current overdose crisis is the direct outcome of this corporate criminality. The assault on immigrant workers further exposes the cracks. Reports are emerging daily that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are conducting raids in hospitals and outpatient surgery centers across the country, including in California. These brutal operations have a chilling effect far beyond those directly targeted. Thousands of undocumented and mixed-status families are now avoiding medical care altogethercanceling doctor visits, skipping surgeries and refusing to seek treatment for chronic or acute conditionsfor fear of detention or deportation. This state-sanctioned terror campaign will have devastating public health consequences, disproportionately affecting immigrant workers already burdened by poverty, overwork and hazardous conditions. The result will be an increase in preventable illness, untreated disease and premature death among some of the most vulnerable sections of the working class. It is a stark example of how the machinery of repression operates in tandem with the destruction of public health. Mental illness has also become a leading factor in premature death. Nearly 30 percent of Californians report symptoms of anxiety or depression. These symptoms stem from social dislocation, economic despair and political disenfranchisement. Trumps Big Beautiful Bill marks an intensification of brutal attacks on Medicaid. The bill will cause millions to lose health insurance and represents the biggest rollback ever of health insurance coverage due to federal policy changes. The negative effects will be devastating: reduced access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment, a disproportionate impact on children, people with disabilities, those with mental health conditions and low-income adults. The reports warnings about Californias aging population further illuminate the scale of the crisis. By 2040, the number of residents over 65 will increase by 59 percent. This demographic shift will place immense pressure on the healthcare system. The growing need for long-term care, culturally responsive services and medical infrastructure stands in stark contradiction to the current trajectory of policy. Instead of expanding healthcare, the state is slashing it. The Democratic governors 20252026 budget includes $5 billion in cuts, targeting Medi-Cal and associated programs. These cuts include enrollment freezes, new premiums and the elimination of dental and long-term care for undocumented adults. Services under In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) are also being reduced. These attacks will disproportionately harm low-income communities, accelerating the death toll and deepening already existing disparities. This bipartisan assault on public health is a defining feature of the capitalist system. The dismantling of scientific infrastructure and public institutions has proceeded for decades under both Republican and Democratic administrations. The normalization of mass death under Bidendeclaring the pandemic over, ending testing and tracking, pioneering forever COVID policy and downplaying the long-term effects of COVID-19has enabled dangerous and reactionary policies. Figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz now spearhead the anti-scientific backlash under the banner of health freedom. Their policies threaten the lives of millions, particularly the working class, who rely on public health systems for preventive medicine, vaccination and accurate information. Their anti-vaccine demagoguery has fueled crises such as the outbreak of measlesan entirely preventable disease, now reaching a three-decade high, due to falling immunization rates. COVID-19 itself continues to spread unchecked. Reinfection has been normalized, despite growing evidence of long-term cardiovascular and neurological damage caused by the virus. Each new infection increases the risk of chronic illness. Yet the state has dismantled every mechanism for public awareness, testing or mitigation. Even yearly vaccination is now being restricted. California exemplifies the response of the capitalist system to these dangers: indifference and concealment. Health policy has been stripped of its scientific foundation and handed over to corporate lobbies. The result is a society in which millions live in a state of unmanaged chronic illness, addiction, untreated mental suffering and premature death. The persistent life expectancy gap reflects the deep decay of capitalism, which offers no path to equitable recoveryonly worsening inequality and mass suffering. To reverse this crisis, public health must be rebuilt as part of a socialist reorganization of society that guarantees universal access to care as a basic social right. This demands a break from both capitalist parties and the creation of a mass, independent working class movement. The fight for public health is inseparable from the broader struggle against war, exploitation and environmental collapse. Humanity faces a stark choice: socialism or barbarism. The future depends on action now. First lady Melania Trump, from left, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump are briefed on flood damage in Kerrville, Texas, Friday, July 11, 2025. [AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin] On Friday, President Donald Trump visited the Central Texas region devastated by the flash flood that ripped through Kerr County on July 4. As Trumpaccompanied by First Lady Melania, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Governor Greg Abbott, Texas senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, and othersmet with first responders and victims of the flood, the official death count was at least 129. The number of missing stands at 160-173. Those killed by the massive flash flood include at least 27 girls and counselors from a summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River. In his first major public response to the disastera press conference held a full week after the floodTrump refused to answer questions about the role of his administration and that of MAGA ally Abbott in the catastrophe. Amid fawning praise from the assembled officials and right-wing media, Trump and company made clear that a massive cover-up is underway and no one will be held accountable for the preventable loss of life. After remarks from Trump, Melania, and Abbottfilled with invocations of God and self-congratulationa reporter asked Trump to address questions from victims and survivors about the lack of adequate warning as the river rose through the night and the absence of a flood warning system. Trump replied: Everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances. Only a very evil person would ask a question like that. Texas Congressman Chip Roy cited an earlier statement by Abbott, who had said, Pointing fingers is for losers. The degraded spectacle arguably reached its low point when Trump called on the TV evangelist and huckster Dr. Phil to add to the outpouring of praise for Trump, God and Texas strong. At the same time, Abbott and other state officials, contradicting their claim that nothing could have been done to avert the massive loss of life, pledged to investigate the disaster and implement measures to prevent its repetition, a promise that will not be kept. The mass fatalities occurred because federal, state and local authorities refused to authorize adequate disaster warning and response infrastructure for a region in the Texas hill country known as flash flood alley. Kerrville, the center of the flood, lacked even a siren to warn of fast-rising waters from the Guadalupe River. This disaster-in-waiting was compounded by the savage cuts carried out by the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS). A man walks on a pedestrian bridge over the Guadalupe River that was destroyed from flash floods in Kerrville, Texas, Friday, July 11, 2025. [AP Photo/Gerald Herbert] At the time of the flood, Paul Yura, the longtime National Weather Service meteorologist in charge of warning coordination at the San Antonio office, 65 miles southeast of Kerr County, had taken an early retirement amid DOGE cuts and had not been replaced. As of July 4, the San Antonio office had six vacancies out of 26 positions, and the San Angelo office had four unfilled positions out of 23. The National Weather Service lost nearly 600 employees in the months leading up to the disaster through a mix of firings, early retirements and voluntary buyouts, from a 4,200-person workforce. Trump has forced out 20 percent of career employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and announced plans to disband the agency. Under his administration, all FEMA expenditures above $100,000 must now be personally approved by DHS Secretary Noem. It reportedly took Noem 72 hours to authorize a FEMA relief effort. Since January, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has lost 1,875 to 2,000 employees through firings, buyouts, and retirements. The Trump administrations fiscal 2026 budget proposal seeks to cut NOAAs overall budget by 28 percent, with especially steep reductions (up to 75 percent) targeting NOAAs research arms, including the elimination of climate and weather research programs. The proposal aims to reduce NOAAs full-time staff by 17 percent. This is part of Trumps drive to shut down all federal programs addressing climate change and effectively ban research into global warming, a major cause of heightened severity of weather-related disturbances. The first Trump administration rejected Kerr Countys application for a federal grant to build a flood warning system. The county applied to the state government for funding to strengthen its flood warning system three times between 2016 and 2018, aiming to install a system with sensors and mass notification capabilities, and was denied each time. Just a few months ago, the state Senate blocked legislation to establish a statewide emergency response plan, at a cost of $500 million. Meanwhile, Governor Abbott has spent $11 billion since 2021 on border security through Operation Lone Star, deploying 3,700 Texas National Guard to the border along with over 2,000 state police, and constructing 85 miles of border wall. A survey conducted by the state government last year identified more than $50 billion in flood control needs, but the state government provided only $1.4 billion, less than 3 percent of what is required. Infrastructure spending represents less than 0.5 percent of the $322 billion state budget. As the World Socialist Web Site wrote on July 9: Texas embodies the degradation of American capitalism, where staggering inequality is combined with political reaction and brutality. Despiteor rather because ofthe immense wealth accumulated by billionaires in oil, gas, tech, weapons, ranching and healthcare, the social conditions facing the majority of Texans are among the worst in the country Texas has 84 billionaires, with a combined net worth of $722 billion, but no personal income tax, no corporate income tax, no estate tax and no inheritance tax. This has made it a haven for enormous private wealth, side by side with dire poverty and abysmal living conditions. These conditions, in Texas and across the country, will be sharply intensified by the passage last week of Trumps Big Beautiful Bill, which passed with only token opposition from the Democratic Party. The act, signed into law by Trump on July 4, the same days as the Texas flood, will cut spending for Medicaid, food stamps and other vital social programs by over $1 trillion to partially offset a $3.3 trillion tax cut for the rich and $170 billion for even more brutal attacks on immigrants, including a vast expansion of the network of concentration camps for immigrants and political opponents of the Trump dictatorship-in-the making. A political crisis has erupted within the Trump administration over an alleged list naming powerful men who participated in Jeffrey Epsteins notorious underworld of sex trafficking and pedophilia. The controversy has exposed deep fissures within the administration, ignited a wave of recriminations and fueled public suspicion about the governments participation in a further cover-up of the crimes of the billionaire Epstein and his associates. Donald Trump and convicted child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein laugh and joke at a party in 1992. [Photo: NBC News] The current crisis was sparked by a memo issued jointly by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which declared that there is no evidence of a so-called Epstein client list implicating high-profile figures in sex trafficking or related crimes. The memo, released on July 7, 2025, states, We have not uncovered any list that could substantiate an investigation into uncharged third parties. This memo marks the first time the Trump administration has directly contradicted years of speculation and conspiracy theories about Epsteins alleged network of elite abusers. The memo further claims that a systematic review of evidence, including thousands of pages of documents and hours of surveillance footage, revealed no incriminating list or extortion scheme involving powerful men. The memo also included the release of nearly 11 hours of surveillance video from outside Epsteins cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York which officials claim debunks theories of foul play in his death, officially a suicide. Attorney General Pam Bondi, one of the many fascists in Trumps cabinet with a record of political favoritism and attacks on democratic rights, is at the center of the crisis. Earlier in 2025, Bondi made headlines by claiming she was in possession of Epsteins client list. In a February Fox News interview, Bondi asserted, Its sitting on my desk right now to review. Thats been a directive by President Trump. Im reviewing that. This statement fueled expectations among Trumps base and conspiracy theorists that a major exposure of elite wrongdoing was imminent. Bondi also claimed that the FBI had provided thousands of pages of evidence and tens of thousands of videos related to Epsteins crimes. However, after the DOJ and FBI memos release, Bondi was forced to backtrack on her claims. She now maintains that she had been referring to the Epstein case file in general, not a specific client list. Thats what I meant by that, she said, attempting to downplay her earlier statements. The contradiction between Bondis earlier public pronouncements and the administrations official findings has led to recriminations both from within the administration and among Trumps far-right base of supporters. Donald Trump himself played a significant role in raising expectations about the release of Epstein-related documents. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly hinted that, if elected, he would have no problem releasing all Epstein files, including the supposed client list. As Trump told podcaster Lex Fridman during an interview on November 3, 2024: Id be inclined to do the Epstein. Id have no problem with it. I never went to his island, fortunately, but a lot of people did. Trumps campaign rhetoric suggested a willingness to expose high-profile figures linked to Epstein, further stoking the belief among his supporters that a reckoning was coming. He also sought to distance himself from Epstein, emphasizing he was not involved and never visited Epsteins private island, Little St. James, where many of the alleged crimes occurred. Yet, as president, Trumps administration has now officially denied the existence of the much-hyped list, leaving many of his supporters feeling betrayed. Jeffrey Epstein was a financier and convicted sex offender who operated at the highest echelons of wealth and power. He was accused of sexually abusing and trafficking dozensif not hundredsof underage girls, often with the assistance of his close associate Ghislaine Maxwell. President Donald Trump speaking during a cabinet meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi at the White House, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci] Epsteins properties in New York, Florida, Paris and the Virgin Islands became synonymous with predation and exploitation. Despite overwhelming evidence and numerous accusers, Epstein repeatedly avoided serious prosecution for years. In 2008, he secured a notorious plea deal in Florida, serving just 13 months in a county jail with liberal work-release privileges, despite facing federal charges that could have resulted in a life sentence. Epstein was finally arrested in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. Less than a month later, on August 10, 2019, he was found dead in his jail cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan. The official cause of death was ruled suicide by hanging by the New York City Medical Examiner. However, the suspicious circumstances of Epsteins death have fueled widespread public speculation that he was murdered and allegations of a cover-up. The jail was plagued by numerous and serious failures, including guards falling asleep, neglecting required checks and malfunctioning surveillance cameras. Dr. Michael Baden, a renowned forensic pathologist hired by Epsteins family, publicly challenged the official ruling. As Baden stated: The evidence points to homicide rather than suicide in Epsteins death because of three fractures of Epsteins hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage, injuries more indicative of homicidal strangulation than suicide. The New York medical examiner, Dr. Barbara Sampson, stood by her conclusion, but Badens assessment has continued to encourage doubts. To quell speculation, the DOJ released nearly 11 hours of surveillance video recorded outside Epsteins cell on the night of his death. According to the DOJ and FBI, the footage shows no one entering or leaving the area during the critical hours, supporting the official finding of suicide. The DOJ/FBI memo asserts: Any person entering or attempting to access the tier where Epsteins cell was located would have been captured on this footage. The FBIs independent assessment of this video confirmed that from the moment Epstein was secured in his cell no one entered any of the tiers in the SHU. However, critics point out that the footage only covers the area outside the cell, not the interior, and that previous camera malfunctions and lapses in protocol undermine confidence in the official narrative. For many, the release of the tapes appears less as an act of transparency than an attempt to close the case and silence further inquiry. The administrations handling of the Epstein files has provoked outrage among Trumps supporters and far-right influencers, many of whom had invested years in the belief that an explosive client list would be released. Attorney General Pam Bondi, in particular, has become a lightning rod for criticism. After the DOJs memo, Bondi faced intense scrutiny for her earlier claims. She was accused of misleading the public and failing to deliver on promises of transparency. One administration official, speaking anonymously, summed up the mood: She bungled the case. Trump himself has publicly defended Bondi, rebuking reporters for raising questions about Epstein and suggesting that the focus should be on other national issues. Nonetheless, the rift between Bondi and other administration officials has deepened, with reports that FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has considered resigning over the debacle. Online, Trump supporters have expressed everything from disappointment to outright fury, with some demanding Bondis resignation and others accusing the administration of participating in a cover-up. The Epstein scandal has always been about more than one mans crimes. It is about how the mechanisms of the capitalist state are used by wealthy and powerful individuals to evade legal scrutiny and prosecution. Individuals such as Epsteinwho had extensive connections with the financial oligarchy and its political representatives in the Democratic and Republican partiesare protected by the system and shielded from exposure. Despite overwhelming evidence of Epsteins crimes and those of his associates, the official story remains one of no evidence and no list. The DOJ and FBIs memo, the contradictory statements of officials like Bondi and the administrations refusal to pursue further investigation all point to a machinery of impunity that serves the interests of the ruling class. The release of surveillance tapes, rather than settling the matter, has only deepened public skepticism. According to a report by WIRED, for example: Metadata embedded in the video and analyzed by WIRED and independent video forensics experts shows that rather than being a direct export from the prisons surveillance system, the footage was modified, likely using the professional editing tool Adobe Premiere Pro. The file appears to have been assembled from at least two source clips, saved multiple times, exported, and then uploaded to the DOJs website, where it was presented as raw footage. The WIRED report also cautions that it is unclear what precisely was changed and that the metadata does not prove deceptive manipulation. However, the sharing of video that has been processed by editing software without an explanation, while claiming it was raw, undermines the Justice Departments narrative. A press conference by Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Thursday marked a new stage in the campaign to criminalise mass opposition to the Israeli genocide in Gaza, and Australias complicity in it. They were speaking alongside Jillian Segal, who they appointed as the countrys Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism last year. Segal and her office have nothing to do with fighting antisemitism or any other form or racism. Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal speaking in July 2024 [Photo: @AlboMP] Prior to her appointment, Segal was a full-time Zionist lobbyist. In that capacity, she explicitly defended Israels bombing of hospitals in Gaza and campaigned against any ceasefire. Segal has continued from where she left off, but now holds an unelected government position and receives federal funding. The real purpose of the envoy role is as witch-hunter in chief in the push to outlaw political opposition to the genocide which is fraudulently conflated with antisemitism. That was made clear by the subject of the press conference, a report Segal has issued. The report is a proposal for a police-state. Its recommendations are clearly inspired by the attacks on democratic rights being carried out by the fascistic US President Donald Trump. For almost two years, the Labor government has unconditionally supported Israel, as the Zionist state has committed genocide. It has overseen repeated crackdowns on opposition, including police attacks and anti-democratic legislative changes. But Segal and the pro-Israel lobby she represents are demanding more. The proposed measures include Trump-style imprisonment of international students and immigrants who defend the Palestinians, the withdrawal of government funding from institutions that fail to suppress opposition and Zionist censorship of the media. Albanese and Burke fawned over Segal at the press conference. The three of them made totally unfounded assertions of an eruption of antisemitism, demanding an unprecedented response. No evidence whatsoever was provided nor does Segals report contain any. Significantly, one of the only examples Albanese provided was a long-ended encampment outside his electorate office. Albanese presented this as an unacceptable action that had inconvenienced his staffers and ordinary people. The protest was entirely peaceful, had nothing at all to do with antisemitism, and involved numbers of anti-Zionist Jews. The protest was not directed against Jewish people but at Albaneses complicity in a genocide. The centrepiece of Segals report is a demand that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism be rolled out and enforced across all levels of government and civil society. Segal has stated that this must include not only the definition, which is benign, but also the examples that accompany it. Those examples include: Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor, and Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis. Amnesty International and other rights groups, having repeatedly declared Israel is practicing apartheid, would fall foul of the definition. As for the comparison between Israels actions and those of the Nazis, it is an objective reality. This week for example, Netanyahu, other Israeli leaders and Trump, openly called for the ethnic-cleansing of Gaza and announced the creation of a mass concentration camp. On the basis of these fraudulent foundations, Segal called for the most wide-ranging assault on democratic rights outside of the two world wars last century, when Australian governments, including those led by Labor, established internment camps and prosecuted anti-war opponents. * The Envoy will review, and where appropriate, strengthen federal, state and territory legislation addressing antisemitic and other hateful or intimidating conduct. Segal has repeatedly described mass, peaceful pro-Palestinian protests as unacceptably intimidating to supporters of the Israeli war crimes. * Universities would be provided with a report card on their progress in suppressing antisemitism, i.e., opposition to the genocide. Those that fall foul will have their federal funding restricted or cut off altogether. Again, Segal is on record as condemning peaceful student encampments opposing the genocide as beyond the pale. * Funding cutoffs for insufficient rigour in persecuting those voicing pro-Palestinian sentiments would extend to virtually all government-funded bodies, including those involved with artistic, academic, community and charity endeavours. * The Envoy will advocate to continue to have the appropriate authorities investigate sources of overseas funding entering public institutions, including universities, which might drive extreme ideologies. That is the grounds for a McCarthyite witch-hunt, which Segals report does not even attempt to justify. * Segal demands that the school curriculums be overhauled across the country, to teach students about the perils of antisemitism. Given that the Holocaust is already widely taught in schools, and Segals fraudulent use of the term antisemitism, what she is proposing is a course for children of anti-Palestinian propaganda. * Migrants and refugees will have to be subjected to far more stringent tests on their attitudes to antisemitism. The Labor government has already overseen draconian processes for the handful of Palestinian refugees allowed to enter the country. On Thursday, it raided and detained a 62-year-old Palestinian grandmother on the basis of a secret adverse security finding from the countrys spy agencies. The Zionist organisations with which Segal continues to collaborate have repeatedly stated that no Palestinian refugees should be permitted to enter Australia, because they all may be terrorists. * The Envoy will monitor media organisations to encourage accurate, fair and responsible reporting and assist them to meet their editorial standards and commitment to impartiality and balance and to avoid accepting false or distorted narratives. * Social media must be monitored and censored to prevent antisemitism, which Segal identifies as opposition to Israel, with the hostility of young people to the genocide a particular concern. Throughout the 20-page report, Segal slips from describing the powers as hers, to deeming them as measures that would have to be instituted by governments. Albanese and Burke hailed the proposal for dictatorial powers, but did not immediately commit to implementing all of them, no doubt concerned about public opposition. Segal has stated that it is not the government alone that can implement the changes she is calling for, given that they touch on every aspect of society. In two interviews, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reporters pushed back against Segals demands for authoritarian control over the media. In the first, Segal could not describe a single instance of the promotion of antisemitism by the ABC. In the second, Segal incoherently claimed that the ABC had, six months ago, ascribed the bombing of a hospital in Gaza to Israel, when it was accidentally carried out by Palestinian militants. Segal appears to be referencing an incident that occurred in October, 2023, i.e., almost two years ago, not six months ago. Israels lying claim that the hospital was bombed by Palestinians was rejected by rights organisations. Moreover, the Zionist regime has since proven in practice its readiness to target medical facilities, demolishing all of those that service the population of the Gaza Strip. The Jewish Council of Australia, an anti-Zionist organisation, has correctly stated that Segals proposals have nothing to do with combating antisemitism, but will stoke racism and division. The fact that Segals recommendations are clearly derived from Trump underscores the fraudulent claim that any of this is remotely connected to fighting antisemitism. Trumps cabinet includes out and out antisemites, and the would-be American Fuhrer has repeatedly followed the playbook of Hitler. Segal is a Zionist ideologue. More significant is the response of the Labor government. Its open embrace of the Zionist witch-hunting, following occasional phony attempts to distance itself from the genocide, signals its full support for the final ethnic-cleansing operation that is underway in Gaza. What Labor is carrying out in Australia is paralleled by the Labour government of Keir Starmer in Britain, which is seeking to proscribe Palestine Action, an anti-genocide activist group, as a terrorist organisation. In both cases, the assault on democratic rights and support for genocide is bound up with the broader eruption of imperialist militarism, threatening a new world war. Britain is on the frontlines of the US proxy war against Russia. Australia is central to Washingtons plans for a catastrophic conflict against China. The central lesson is that the fight against authoritarianism, war and genocide cannot be advanced through plaintive appeals to these governments. It requires an independent movement of the working class, based on a political struggle against Labor, the entire political establishment and a capitalist system that is returning humanity to the worst horrors of the 1930s and 1940s. SEP/IYSSE meeting in Jaffna on US-Israel war against Iran, July 8, 2025 The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka held two public meetings under the title Oppose the Israel-US war on Iran!one online via Zoom on July 6, and another at Veerasingham Hall in Jaffna, in the war-ravaged Northern Province, on July 8. The events were part of the International Committee of the Fourth Internationals (ICFI) global campaign to build an anti-war movement of the working class against the developing world war. Both meetings were conducted in Sinhala and Tamil, with the main report delivered by SEP General Secretary Deepal Jayasekera. The current war on Iran began with unprovoked, US-backed Israeli air and missile strikes on June 12. The US formally entered the conflict by launching a massive bombing raid on Irans main nuclear facilities on June 22. The US-Israel war on Iran is part of a broader campaign by US imperialism in the Middle East, tied to the war against Russia and war preparations against China. What is unfolding is a world war. Prior to the meetings, SEP/IYSSE members and supporters campaigned extensively at universities, workplaces, and neighbourhoods, distributing thousands of copies of World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) articles about the US-Israel war on Iran in both Sinhala and Tamil. The online meeting, chaired by SEP Political Committee member Pani Wijesiriwardene, drew around 80 participants from across Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu, India. It was also live-streamed, reaching over 3,000 viewers. SEP/IYSSE online meeting with Pani Wijesiriwardane and Deepal Jayasekara Pakistani Trotskyists who support the ICFI sent greetings to the meeting, expressing support for building a global anti-war movement. Jayasekera read their statement before his speech. The statement emphasised the significance of the SEP/IYSSE meetings for the working class in the region. These meetings are being held in the wake of unprovoked US military strikes on Iranian nuclear energy facilities, following several days of Israeli-led attacks on Iran. Using its Israeli proxy, the US and its NATO allies are promoting war against Iran, aiming for regime change, the re-division of the Middle East, the formation of a Greater Israel, and the plundering of energy resources. Their statement concluded: Imperialist war can be stopped, and the social and democratic rights of the massesincluding genuine and full equality among all national groupscan only be secured by the working class rallying the rural toilers behind it, against all factions of the bourgeoisie, in the fight for a workers government and the establishmentopposed to the reactionary state borders created by colonialism, imperialism, and the craven national bourgeoisieof the Socialist United States of South Asia. The Jaffna meeting was chaired by SEP Political Committee member P.T. Sampanthar and attended by about 30 people, including party members, supporters, and members of the Fishermens Action Committee. In his opening remarks, Sampanthar noted that despite the indifference and pessimism promoted by Tamil bourgeois nationalist politicians, Tamil workers and the oppressedwho endured similar experiences during the three-decade communal war waged by Colombo against Tamilsexpressed deep empathy for the people of Gaza and Iran. Thirugnana Sampanthar addressing Jaffna meeting Jayasekera delivered a comprehensive political report at both meetings, condemning the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and outlining the Marxist perspective on war from a historical and geopolitical standpoint. He emphasised that opposing this imperialist war was an urgent responsibility for workers, youth, and the oppressed across South Asia. He exposed the fraudulent claim by the US and Israel that Iran poses a nuclear threat, calling it an outright lie. The Iranian nuclear facilities attacked on June 22 are under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision and operate within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). By contrast, Israel remains outside the NPT and possesses nuclear weapons with full US backing. The US itself holds the worlds second-largest nuclear arsenal, just behind that of Russia. Jayasekera outlined the strategic objectives of US imperialism in waging war on Iran: to reimpose neocolonial control, secure dominance over the oil-rich region and global trade routes, prepare for war against Russia and China, and deflect attention from deepening domestic crises. The SEP unequivocally calls for the military defeat of US imperialism and its Israeli proxy, while giving no political support to the reactionary Iranian bourgeois nationalist regime. Rejecting the argument that Irans reactionary regime nullifies its right to self-defense, Jayasekera invoked Leon Trotskys 1937 defense of China against Japanese imperialism. Trotsky insisted that socialists must defend oppressed nations under imperialist attack, regardless of their governments political character. Jayasekera warned that the temporary ceasefire declared by Trump after the initial air strikes offers no guarantee of peace, but is merely a tactical pause in preparation for further escalation. He stressed that wars are not waged simply to increase arms sales, as claimed by some pseudo-left groups and media pundits, but stem from the predatory interests of imperialist powers. Deepal Jayasekara speaking at Jaffna public meeting He also criticised the shameful responses from the Sri Lankan and Indian governments. The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry, under the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National Peoples Power (JVP/NPP) government, issued a perfunctory three-sentence statement after the US airstrike on Iran. It avoided naming any of the countries involvedUS, Israel, or Iransignalling its pro-US stance and fear of popular opposition to imperialism. The parliamentary opposition, mainly Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), also shares this pro-imperialist position. Tamil nationalist parties such as ITAK and TNPF have remained virtually silent on the US-Israel war on Iran. Pseudo-left groups like the Youth for Change, affiliated with the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), held a seminar in Colombo titled Imperialist War and Challenges in the 21st Century. However, in the main lecture lasting nearly two and a half hours, FSP leader Lahiru Weerasekera failed to condemn the US-Israel war on Iran, revealing their pro-imperialist orientation. Jayasekera condemned the Indian governments tacit support for the US-Israel war, underscoring Indias role as a frontline state in Washingtons anti-China military strategy. He concluded by stating that the same contradictions of capitalism driving world war were also fuelling explosive class struggles around the globe. The mass June 14 protest by over 15 million workers, youth and others in the US marks only the beginning. The critical task is to transform this growing movement into a politically conscious revolutionary force to abolish capitalism. Only the ICFI and SEP are building the revolutionary leadership needed to unite the global working class in the struggle for socialism. During the Q&A session of the online meeting, a listener asked about the role of revolutionary socialists during World War I and World War II. Jayasekera reviewed how the Marxist movement fought for the independent revolutionary mobilisation of the working class against the wars, as advocated by Lenin and Trotsky. He highlighted Lenins call to transform the imperialist war into a civil war in which the proletariat could overthrow bourgeois rule. The October 1917 Russian Revolution, in which the working class took power under the leadership of the Bolshevik Party co-led by Lenin and Trotsky, marked the beginning of the end of World War I. The speaker explained that the Trotskyist Fourth International continued this fight during World War II, calling for the independent mobilisation of the international working class against imperialist war. It defied repression from both the imperialist governments and the Stalinist bureaucracy, which aligned with the imperialist camp of the US and UK. At the Jaffna meeting, a participant questioned the SEPs limited participation in local elections, asking why the party contests only a few councils rather than across the island. Jayasekera explained that the SEP is centrally focused on mobilising the working class independently on international socialist program, rather than chasing votes. He emphasised that the SEP uses elections primarily as a platform to present its revolutionary policies to broader layers of workers, youth, and the rural poor. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) calls on workers to join with residents to fight the Victorian Labor governments plans to tear down 44 public housing towers in Melbourne and displace some 10,000 people from their homes. Flemington public housing towers The staggering demolition of 6,600 dwellings, more than 10 percent of Victorias public housing stock, is the largest destruction of public housing in Australias history. In particular, we urge building workers to take a stand in defence of the vulnerable and oppressed occupants, many of them immigrants, refugees, disabled or elderly. A total ban should be established on any work related to the demolition of public housing. A clear line must be drawn: Construction workers will not lift a finger to carry out Labors profit-driven program to destroy homes and communities. We also call on Victorias 380,000 public sector workers to join the struggle against the destruction of public housing, which is just one stark expression of a broader assault on the working class, spearheaded by Labor. Facing record-high levels of debt, the state government has implemented savage austerity measures. Billions of dollars have been slashed from public schools and the public sector has been hit with punitive wage caps and thousands of job cuts. Time is of the essence. The first five towers are set to be demolished this year. Two have already been emptied, after the Labor government seized on problems with the towers sewerage as a pretext to drive out the occupants. Around 70 percent of residents of the other three buildings have been relocated, through a campaign of propaganda and intimidation that includes preparatory work for demolition on the still-occupied towers. Communities established over decades are being dispersed, as residents are hustled off the estates, some to Melbournes outer reaches, and others to smaller social housing apartments. These can be far from their existing jobs, schools and social connections. The Labor governments transparent purpose is to rid the valuable inner-city real estate of workers and the poor and create new profit opportunities for property developers and their parasitic financiers. The plan is to construct 20,000 new units in total, of which just 7,260 are social housing apartmentsan increase of only 660. The restsome 12,540will be new private apartments to be sold on the open market. Homes Victoria's demolition plan [Photo: Homes Victoria website] Many of the thousands of residents currently living in the towers were initially promised the right of return when the new apartments are built. However, Homes Victoria has surreptitiously changed the wording, making this guarantee conditional on the suitability of new homes. Even if they are able to return to the new social housing apartments, rent caps will increase from 25 to 30 percent of income, utility costs will be higher and tenure less secure. Residents will be considerably worse off. While far advanced, Labors devastating plans can and must be defeated. We urge residents of all 44 towers to build rank-and-file neighbourhood committees, to democratically discuss, link up and plan the fight to defend your homes and stop the attack on public housing as a whole. The SEP pledges to provide every political assistance, and has already helped residents of several towers to establish the Neighbourhood Action Committee (NAC). Protests alone will not stop the wrecking operation, which is driven by powerful and well-funded backers. An even more powerful force, the working class, must be mobilised to halt the demolition, including through industrial action and strikes. Such a mobilisation is impossible within the framework of the trade unions, whose role as an arm of the capitalist state is to suppress the struggles of workers. Instead, workers will have to establish rank-and-file committees on every job site and in every workplace, to coordinate a unified struggle with residents, against Labors attack on public housing. The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) postures as a defender of public housing, including in its submission to an ongoing parliamentary inquiry into the Melbourne tower project. The submission makes a vague plea for the government to prioritise public welfare over short-term economic gains. But it accepts the razing of the towers as a foregone conclusion, asking the government to ensure that the social isolation and mental health impacts of destroying more than 6,000 homes are mitigated. What the CFMEU leadership will categorically not do is mobilise its 80,000 members to halt the destruction in the first place. For decades, the union has functioned as the close supporter and integral component of successive Labor governments as they have run down and slashed public housing stock as part of their broader pro-business agenda. Moreover, the CFMEU is now effectively under direct state control. Last year, the construction division of the CFMEU was placed under quasi-dictatorial administration by the federal Labor government to facilitate the slashing of wages and conditions in the building industry. This will doubtless be used by the bureaucracy and its apologists as an excuse for the unions refusal to actively defend the 44 towers. Whatever token words of opposition they mouth to the destruction of public housing, the CFMEU leadersunder administration or otherwisealong with those of the other building industry unions, will oversee the demolition, just as they have overseen the attacks on real wages, conditions, safety and job security for decades. To stop the destruction of public housing, workers will have to take matters into their own hands. Through rank-and-file committees, building workers can fight for a sector-wide ban on demolition work at the towers, as well as broader actions against those companies involved in the destructive operation, and the Labor government itself. This could include, for example, a call for strikes and industrial action across the operations of John Holland, the major infrastructure company contracted to demolish the first five towers. A mass strike by public sector workers would bring the states hospitals, schools and other vital infrastructure to a halt within days. The SEP proposes as initial demands to be fought for by rank-and-file committees of residents and workers: Halt the demolition! Hands off public housing! Invest public funds to upgrade and refurbish all public housing. Expropriate vacant investment properties that are being hoarded for profitmake these available to the homeless. Cap rents and mortgage repayments to 25 percent of a familys income. Allocate billions of dollars for the construction of new high-quality public housing to provide for those currently on waiting lists and everyone in dire need of secure housing. This perspective is diametrically opposed to what is put forward by all other groups purporting to support the tower residents. This includes the Greens, who continue to promote illusions that court cases or parliamentary manoeuvres will either stop the demolition, or persuade Labor to carry it out in a more humane way. This is aimed at sending public housing residents down a political blind alley, based on the lie that there is no need for a broader mobilisation of workers or a fight against the government. Labors plan to bulldoze and privatise vast swathes of public housing is not a case of botched decision-making, as Victorian Greens MLA Gabrielle de Vietri recently claimed. It is a sharp expression of a broader profit-driven assault on the entire working class, under conditions of a deepening global capitalist crisis. This offensive is backed by all representatives of the ruling class, including, ultimately, the Greens, who serve to confine the opposition within safe parliamentary channels. Despite their progressive posturing, the Greens are a capitalist party, whose highest aspiration is to serve as a coalition partner in a Labor government. That is why the federal Greens last year backed Labors pro-business so-called housing affordability legislation. Under the federal measures, billions of dollars will be handed over to developers in a program that will result in fewer than 40,000 new social and affordable dwellings over five years, barely 5 percent of the current shortfall. While governments state and federal declare there is no more money for housing, defence spending is increasing at a rate not seen for decades. The cost of nuclear-powered submarines, slated at $368 billion, would pay for housing developments throughout the country to ensure ordinary people have decent, permanent housing. The obliteration of 6,600 public housing apartments in Victoria is part of the attack on social programs including health, education and welfareall in the interests of prosecuting war. The national median home price is now over $1 million and Australian capitals top global lists of the most unaffordable cities. The soaring cost of housing has generated a huge increase in wealth for property developers and financial speculators, while driving working-class families into crippling debt, financial stress and even homelessness. Having engineered this housing crisis for their own benefit, the ruling class is seeking to plunge the knife in deeper, by tearing down and privatising what little remains of public housing. In New South Wales, for example, the Labor government has begun evicting the first of 3,000 residents of the Waterloo South public housing estate in Sydney. As with the Melbourne towers, this is transparently aimed at freeing up valuable inner-city real estate for redevelopment. The attack on public housing being carried out by governments around the world is a stark demonstration of the brutal reality of capitalism. All human needs, including the basic right to a place to live, are subordinated to the interests of big business. The demolition of the 44 towers and the broader assault on public housing can be stopped, but only through a united counteroffensive of rank-and-file workers and residents. This should be the starting point of building a political movement of the working class against the broader assault on social rights and living standards. It must be independent of Labor, the Greens, the unions, and all other organisations who seek to divert to class struggle behind toothless appeals to big-business governments. What is posed is the necessity for a political struggle against capitalism itself. The working class must fight to take political power and implement socialist policies, including placing the banks and major building companies under workers control and ownership. Only in this way can the vast resources created by workers be used to fulfil human need, including for high quality public housing, health care and education, rather than further enrich the wealthy few. The SEP has called a public meeting, titled Ban Labors demolition of Melbourne's public housing towers! Fight for a socialist housing program! Register today to attend! WHEN: 3:00 p.m., Sunday 27 July WHERE: Supper Room, Kensington Town Hall, 30-34 Bellair Street, Kensington VIC 3031 Can't attend in person? Register to join via Zoom. We urge all public housing residents throughout Australia, and supporters of public housing throughout the working class, to contact the SEP today to discuss this perspective and how you can build a rank-and-file committee in your workplace or neighbourhood. Artist Costantino Ciervo was born in Naples in 1961, and now lives and works in Germany. His work is multimedia and addresses urgent social issues. In 2023, Ciervo completed a documentary titled Mimmo Lucanoused to pullingnot pushing back, focusing on the fate of migrant workers in southern Italy and presented at various international festivals. Artist in his Berlin studio His most recent work includes the multimedia projects mare nostrum and Sew in the Sea, dedicated to migrants who died trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean. The exhibition was presented earlier this year at the Museum Ostwall in Dortmund. A recurring theme in Ciervos work is the condition of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. He is currently working on a project entitled Comune, which will be exhibited at the FLUXUS+ Museum in Potsdam this autumn. The project combines art, technology and social engagement, and aims to stimulate reflection and debate on the situation in the Middle East in light of the homicidal Israeli war against the Palestinians. This interview was conducted in Berlin. Steinberg: Can you tell us something about your latest artistic project? Ciervo: My new project focuses on the conflict in the Middle East, where terrible things are happening. A people is being annihilated. Official figures speak of 60,000 dead, half of whom are women and children. Other sources indicate 100,000 dead, mostly civilians murdered. For me, thats enough to take a stand. Such a reality affects me deeply because for years I have been creating artworks with social relevance. My work is political: paintings and installations focused on specific themes. 'Syllogism' For the exhibition planned in Potsdam, I have started painting and assembling a series of medium-format portraits. I am working on the concept of twins. I realized that modern conflicts often take the form of fratricidal warsUkraine, Sudan, Palestine. Conflicts between peoples who have much more in common than what divides them. This raises the question: why do these wars happen? In my view, the ultimate driving forces are economic. The conflict in Israel has a long history. To represent the twins, I found real people who represent Palestinians in all their forms: young, old, men and women. I based them on a photo found online, depicting a typical Palestinian. Clothing plays an important role in identity: the keffiyeh scarf, the veil for women, typical of the Arab region. I paint these figures as portraits and then use artificial intelligence to transform them into an almost identical twin, but with a crucial change: they now wear Jewish-Israeli religious clothing and symbols. The faces are the same, but now you see the Star of David and traditional Jewish garments. The political element is provided by the background to the portraitsa map of Palestine through the ages. The first portrait contains a map of Palestine from 1917, when the region was part of the Ottoman Empire, and Arabs, Jews, Christians and Druze lived in relative harmony. The following portraits show the stages of historical development and how the map changes over time. A key point is 1948, when Israel fought the so-called War of Independence. Palestine was occupied, and you can see how, almost overnight, the Palestinian population was halved. The various portraits show how the area inhabited by Palestinians has progressively shrunk, leaving only the Gaza Strip and the West Banktwo regions completely separated by Israeli occupation. It is a political statement that raises the question: how is it possible that a people with a 2,000-year presence in the region is being nearly erased? As I said, the main causes are economic and political. To clarify this, two of the paintings depict the role of foreign powers. In one, we see two roosters fighting each other. The roosters represent two main power centres and are standing on a tank made of dollar bills. criminia-juris-gentium The second shows an American soldier surrounded by panels depicting aspects of the war in Gaza: use of high-tech drones against a largely defenceless population, and the misery of Palestinian families thrown unwillingly onto the front line. One of the panels depicts the sharply rising curve of the stock market. All of these elements are related. It is important to place Trump and Netanyahus plans to create a Greater Israelexpelling and annihilating the Palestinians of Gaza and the West Bank while expanding into southern Lebanonin the correct geopolitical context. As with all major conflicts, its about money and power. Its well known that the United States has accumulated an enormous national debt, over $35 trillion, and must pay extremely high interest in return. Much of this debt is in the form of government securities held by countries like China, Saudi Arabia and Russia. The main problem for the US is China, its most powerful economic rival. In recent years, the US has paid less attention to Europe after achieving its goal of creating divisions with Russia. Now the focus of American foreign policy is concentrated on China and the BRICS countries. To reduce economic dependency on foreign creditorsprimarily Chinathe US is trying to consolidate the so-called Cotton Road, which should run from India through the Middle East, Italy and finally reach Northern Europe. In these plans, an expanded Israel, as the main US military outpost, plays a key role. And the Palestinians are in the way. Thats why the Tel Aviv regime continues to pursue its plan of an Endlosungthat is, genocide and deportationwhich it has been pursuing for years. Steinberg: What do you think about the position of Western powers like Germany and Italy, which continue to trade with and supply weapons to Israel? At the same time, there have been waves of protests from young people against the genocide in Gaza. Young men-consent-dissent Ciervo: Germany is the most powerful country in Europe and plays a major role in the conflict. It is determined to defend its capitalist interests in the Middle East and, as the nation responsible for the Shoah, provides crucial political support to the criminal regime in Tel Aviv. In Italy, the government is led by the post-fascists of Fratelli dItalia, who are determined to stay in power. To do so, they must follow the American line while maintaining relations with Europe. The result is a combination of neoliberal policies and repression. Italy needs cheap labor, workers exploited in inhumane conditions, living in shacks and doing the hardest jobs. Amid these political and economic upheavals, refugees in Italy are trapped. I addressed this theme in my film Mimmo Lucanoused to pullingnot pushing back. I believe in a world without borders, but Im not a utopian. Borders cant be eliminated merely by wishful thinking, but that must be the direction. I focused on the condition of migrants because there lies revolutionary potential. They are driven to flee their homelands by war and poverty, then exploited in the countries they arrive inin many ways, they represent the most oppressed layer of the working class. This theme of Exodus, which has roots in the Old Testament, is a recurring thread in human history. Steinberg: Today, whats new is that, thanks to the development of global production and the internet, new forms of information and collaboration have opened up. Ciervo: I agree. The fact is that capitalism, for its own economic reasons, has undermined the foundations of the nation-state. These developments mean that sections of the working class in less developed countriesAfrica, the Balkans, South Americacan unite and understand that they face the same problems as poor workers in rich countries. This is the key to solving the problem: the union of workers. Old women-consent-dissent Steinberg: The art world today is in crisismany artists seem trapped in formalist or self-referential forms, lacking any meaningful social content. How do you see art? What role can it play? Ciervo: Thank you for the questionits a very important topic. I have a very critical view of most of us artists. For many of us, the only goal is to make money, find a market, gain recognition. We are willing to do anything for notoriety, and often, in private life and in our art, we lack honesty. This problem would be solved immediately with the introduction of a global universal income. Economic independence would free us from the blackmailor the excuseof having to compete with each other, constantly trying to stand out just to sell our work to private collectors. I dont believe in artists as a category, but I believe in the power of art. The best art is like a good book: it allows you to examine and reflect on the world. Books can generate change. But too much art remains locked away in private villas, far from the public. The truly important works are those designed for public spaces, in museums and squares, artworks that help the viewer deepen their understanding of the worldand of themselves. We artists reprocess and regurgitate our neuroses. But we must separate the regurgitated product, called ART (whose real value is always decided by history), from the one who regurgitatesthe artist as a person. A good number of us manage to control our neuroses in private life and live more or less in a socially responsible fashion. At the same time, in this society we are all damned to fight for visibility in order to survive. Some, often the most successful, fail to control their egos and behave like predatory capitalistsaccompanied by the aggravating belief of being morally superior to everyone. The best of art can be revolutionary because, unlike politics and philosophy, it employs a symbolic, non-argumentative, universal language. Its truth content emerges thanks precisely to its peculiar non-discursive, universal form of communication. In the last resort what matters is not so much the artist, but rather what he or she leaves behind. History is the judge. Synology has been known as a prosumer NAS purveyor since its inception. However, in recent years its taken its highly polished software-hardware ecosystem and moved into the enterprise space where it now offers full, Enterprise-grade backup and disaster recovery solutions and Chinese-chip-free surveillance cameras, with both remote and on-board Ai monitoring capabilities. iTWire was recently taken on a tour of its latest and forthcoming products at Computex Taipei. You can watch thewhole eight-minute video, or the relevant YouTube Short segments of it, below. Heres whats heading your way A rack-mounted storage server, that's packed with high-speed NVMe drives, rather speaks for itself. But, here are the key specs: the Synology PAS7700 features active-active dual-controller architecture, memory capacity of up to 2,048GB, 100GbE networking, up-to two million IOPS and 30GB/s in sequential throughput. Extensive data-protection, server and storage features are built-in to its own PAM operating system. Its three times faster than its predecessor, the FS6400, and is designed for demanding environments where latency and responsiveness are paramount. A mid-range, hybrid-storage variant, called the PAS3600, will follow later. Watch our YouTube Short, here. GridStation GS3400 Enterprise Back-Up and Storage Synologys GridStations are for scale-out file and object storage which means they're a scalable solution for unstructured data storage. The GS3400 offers scalability of up to 48 nodes, 11.5PB of raw storage and up to 70GB/s of sequential throughput. Clusters can be easily managed through a single-portal. Watch our Youtube Short. DVA7400 Rack-mounted, Ai-Powered Surveillance Server Synology has offered its powerful Surveillance Station VMS (Video Management System) software for free for prosumer NAS users for some time. It supports over 8,600 cameras in the market and some users simply use it for video storage. However, Synology has been scaling its capabilities, in recent years, to the point where licensing options can now manage thousands of cameras, and built-in Ai smarts can intelligently monitor whats going on. Previously this specialist hardware was only available in a tower form factor, but the DVA7400 is rack-mounted. You can see it in this short, here. New Surveillance Cameras with integrated Ai When we caught up with Synology at Computex in 2023, we learned that a core reason the company entered the surveillance camera space was that customers were constantly asking for cameras that were guaranteed not to contain any Chinese technology inside - due to government and corporate compliance requirements. Those cameras are still in the market and their feeds can be processed using Ai with servers like the DVA7400 (above). However, at Computex, we learned about new cameras like the like the BC500 bullet (and TC500) which have the Ai-chops to perform tasks like on-board license-plate recognition without the need for processing on a server. We also saw the FC600, six-megapixel, dome camera which can perform people counting with its on-board smarts. Synology made the point that although pricing for the new cameras hasnt been announced yet, they'll be more cost-effective and easier to use than rivals and that they can be set-up and made operational in just five-to-ten minutes. Watch the Short. PS2600+ PoE Switch To cater to all its surveillance cameras, Synology has created a new PoE switch. Synology says that its unique owing to its built-in security and management software which features granular log-in credentials plus internet link, port and traffic monitoring technologies. Watch the quick Short, here. Synology BeeStation Plus Right before Computex, Synology launched its 8TB BeeStation Plus home, back-up solution which is for home users who dont want the complexity of a NAS. Its an upgrade of the existing BeeStation and features easy-to-use applications, like Bee Files and Bee Photos, for basic back-up and management tasks. With Windows 10 deprecation coming-up, wed, erm, bee very interested in how it can handle the management of an old PC's files and photos across a home network. That way we could easily upgrade to a new PC or laptop without having to worry about the storage of legacy data. Watch our Short. You might know him by his famous role as Bobby Baccalieri on "The Sopranos," but actor Steve Schirripa is also a huge fan of Rhode Island. That's why he recently became a resident of Westerly, though he says he is still a New Yorker through-and-through. Schirripa has been posting a lot of Rhode Island content to his social media, including a July 10 post from his Westerly home featuring his beloved dog, Willie Boy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He's also posted from other famous Westerly locales recently, including a meal at the Ocean House, also with Willie Boy, on June 10, saying the iconic restaurant was "one of the greatest places ever." (Rhode Island native Olivia Culpo agreed she got married across the street at Watch Hill Chapel on June 29, 2024, and held the star-studded reception at the Ocean House.) At 2024's SoupyFest at Westerly's United Theatre, actor Steve Schirripa was the host and awarded the gold for the best local soupy. What did Schirripa say about Rhode Island in his Instagram video? From his home in Westerly, Schirripa was showing off the dinner he prepared, with homemade shrimp, asparagus, sausage, turkey burgers and chickpea salad. "It's a beautiful night in Rhode Island and we are gonna eat good," he said in the video, feeding his dog, Willie, as he filmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Willie is enjoying his asparagus," Schirripa quipped in the video, as his Dachshund munched down a spear of the vegetable. Schirripa says Longo's meatballs are 'the best meatball I've ever had' He's also a huge fan of the meatballs at Longo Ristorante and Pizzeria, located on High Street. In a Facebook video he made in December 2024, Schirripa was filmed sitting at a table at the restaurant, eating a meatball. "I've eaten a lot of meatballs in my day, my friend," he said in the video. "And this is the best meatball I've ever had. I'm not just saying that. Trust me on this." Schirripa was recently at the Brockton Rox game The actor also recently hosted a "Sopranos Night" at the Brockton Rox game on June 21. As part of the event, Schirripa took part in a VIP meet-and-greet and Q&A with fans. Willie Boy, of course, was also there. Besides 'The Sopranos,' what are Schirripa's other acting credits? Beyond "The Sopranos," Schirripa is known for playing detective Anthony Abetemarco on the television series "Blue Bloods." He'll also be in on the new show "Dexter: Resurrection." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schirripa is also a producer and the host of two Investigation Discovery series: "Karma's A B*tech!" and "Nothing Personal," according to IMDb. He was also a regular cast member of "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and the voice of Roberto in the "Open Season" series. Schirripa joined "The Sopranos" in its second season and remained on the show until the sixth and final season, which aired in 2007. This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: 'Sopranos' star Steve Schirripa loves RI so much he moved to Westerly MAMMOTH, Wyo. Summer offers some of the most colorful and exquisite sunsets there are to see, but what if you want a sunset view that's great year-round? New data from Sixt revealed the best sunsets across the U.s., ranking more than 200 locations by popularity and environmental quality. By analyzing search trends, social media data and air quality metrics like pollution and visibility, the list highlights clear-sky escapes and viral sunset spots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The five states to make the list were Wyoming, Washington, Hawaii, Michigan and Virginia. Coming in first place with low air pollution and crystal skies is a beautiful landscape in Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park. Calcite Springs took first place. Calcite Springs along the Yellowstone River in the northern section of Yellowstone National Park Wyoming in summer, Calcite Springs is located in the northern part of Yellowstone National Park where it flows into the Yellowstone River. It is accessible on one of the main park roads. Yellowstone National Park also made the list for best sunset views, coming in at No. 6 with by far more social media searches than any other place at 441,000, data showed. Heading to the Pacific Northwest, Skagit Valley in Washington state nabbed second spot. With low air pollution and over 6,000 TikTok searches, it's a great place to catch the sunset. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skagit Valley is known for its tulip festival in the spring, making it a popular spot to visit for photos and videos. Why Do Sunrise And Sunset Times Change During The Year? The top of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano took the bronze, proving to be a popular photo opportunity among tourists, with still good ar quality. Kilauea just wrapped up another explosive episode. Making it the volcano's 28th eruption since December. Man Falls 30 Feet Off Cliff Trying To Get A Better Look At Kilauea Volcano Eruption In Hawaii In the same vein, Hawai'i Volcanoes Park was in fourth place. The national park had nearly 40,000 social media hits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The national park is home to Kilauea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii. See It: Hawaii's Mount Kilauea Shoots Lava Skyward Amid Latest Eruption HILO, HI - DECEMBER 7: In an aerial view, lava fissures flow downslope from the north flank of Mauna Loa Volcano on December 7, 2022 in Hilo, Hawaii. Heading back to Washington state, Jenne Farm on Whidbey Island took fifth place. According to the Jenne Farm website, it's one of the original farmsteads in Washington state, and offers a hidden gem for sunset viewing. Blue Ghost Moon Lander Captures Glow Of Lunar Sunset After Concluding Successful Mission UNITED STATES - 2013/01/01: Beach at Fort Casey State Park on Whidbey Island, Washington State, United States. Other top spots that made the list were Au Sable Light Station in Michigan. Inspiration Point in Wyoming and Overall Run Falls in Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grand Teton National Park joined Yellowstone and Hawai'i Volcanoes as top national parks for sunset viewing. Check out the full list of the best 20 sunsets below. Original article source: The 20 best places to watch the sunset NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Two men were shot one of whom died in a liquor store parking lot in the Priest Lake area early Saturday morning, but according to authorities, the men were there to commit a suspected drug-related armed robbery. The incident was reported shortly after 4 a.m. on Saturday, July 12 in the 2600 block of Murfreesboro Pike. The Metro Nashville Police Department said Hermitage Precinct officers found 42-year-old Brandon Watson dead in the parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I-24 in Rutherford County reopens after driver killed in shooting Officials said Watsons accomplice, 44-year-old Antione Ellis, was shot in the neck and drove himself to TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center before he was transferred to TriStar Skyline Medical Center for treatment. Arrest warrants have reportedly been issued for Ellis, charging him with aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, and felony gun possession, so hell be taken into custody once hes released from the hospital. According to law enforcement, the investigation shows Watson and Ellis pulled into the lot in a Jeep and backed into a parking space. Then, Ellis allegedly got out of the passenger side and walked to a secluded area while Watson got out with an apparent long gun and placed it against the back of the Jeep. A short time later, a Dodge Charger reportedly arrived and parked next to the Jeep. Authorities said Watson walked toward the Charger and communicated with the driver as Ellis emerged from the secluded area, armed himself with the long gun, approached the Charger, and pointed the weapon at the inside of the car while Watson reached inside and tried to rob the driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Police said the Chargers driver broke free from Watson and started shooting out of the window, causing Watson and Ellis to run. The driver allegedly got out, fired several more rounds toward the two men while Ellis shot back, and fled the scene in the Charger. According to officials, Ellis attempted to load Watson into the Jeep, but he was unsuccessful, so he drove to TriStar Southern Hills by himself. Detectives are working to track down the driver of the Charger. No additional details have been released about this case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. 1 injured in targeted shooting outside Carolina Place Mall, police say A shooting outside Carolina Place Mall in Pineville this evening left one person injured in what police describe as a targeted incident following an arranged meeting. The incident took place around 6:45 p.m. in the parking lot between Barnes & Noble and the food court. A Pineville officer was nearby on another call when he heard a gunshot and responded immediately, finding a victim with a gunshot wound to the leg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ALSO READ: Pastor speaks out after teen DoorDash driver killed in random Rock Hill shooting He heard one shot, responded to the scene, and found a victim with a gunshot wound to the leg; he immediately applied a tourniquet to the leg, said Pineville Police Chief Michael Hudgins. Shoppers exiting the mall were met with crime scene tape and numerous police vehicles. Amanda Dobson, a frequent shopper at Carolina Place Mall, expressed confusion over the situation, while Gabriela Gonzales noted the lack of panic among shoppers. Hudgins confirmed that the crime was not random, indicating that the meeting was arranged and led to a fight and shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It does appear that the crime was targeted based on the information I have at this time, he stated. Despite the incident, Hudgins reassured the public about the malls safety, citing data that shows Carolina Place Mall as one of the safest in the region. Yes, its concerning, and yes, were going to do our best to resolve this, he said. Police are actively searching for the suspects by reviewing security footage and interviewing witnesses. At this time, it is unclear whether the parties involved knew each other, but police are certain the incident was a setup. VIDEO: Pastor speaks out after teen DoorDash driver killed in random Rock Hill shooting SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK) A man was arrested early Friday morning after driving his pickup truck through the entrance of a vape shop in Smith County, according to officials. Phones Down, Heads Up: East Texas districts to enforce cell phone ban in new school year According to the Community Outreach Coordinator for Smith County ESD2, Nikki Simmons, Battalion 1, Engine 156 and Engine 161 arrived at Just Smoke in Gresham after hearing reports of a vehicle driving through the front of the shop. Once on the scene, officials observed a Ford pickup inside the building and found the driver outside of the store with no apparent injuries. The driver refused to be transported to the hospital and was arrested by members of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oncor crews were also on the scene to assess the building for any substantial electrical damage. At this time, officials have not released the identity of the driver. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. A person was shot and robbed in the parking lot of Carolina Place mall in Pineville on Friday night after an arranged meeting led to a fight, police said. The person was hospitalized in stable condition after being shot in the leg in the parking lot of the food court/Barnes & Noble area, according to a Pineville Police Department news release. A Pineville officer who was on an unrelated call at the mall heard a gunshot at 6:43 p.m. and immediately responded, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer provided life-saving measures by placing a tourniquet on the leg area, controlling the bleeding, according to the police statement. The persons injury was non-life threatening, police said. The shooter ran away, and police didnt announce an arrest Saturday. The person was shot after meeting someone, Pineville Police Chief Michael Hudgins told Charlotte Observer news partner WSOC at the scene. It does appear that the crime was targeted based on the information I have at this time, Hudgins said. Police said they interviewed witnesses and were reviewing security videos. This is a breaking story that will be updated. Ten Broward Sheriffs deputies and sergeants have been recommended for termination as of Friday, according to a statement from the union, after triple murders in Tamarac in February led to an internal investigation of numerous deputies. The unions statement shared Friday evening with the South Florida Sun Sentinel does not name any of the 10 deputies or sergeants. The Sheriffs Offices Internal Affairs investigation is still open and active, spokesperson Carey Codd said in an email Friday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On a Sunday morning in February, Nathan Gingles, 43, had shot and killed his father-in-law, David Ponzer, then took the couples 4-year-old daughter Seraphine as he chased his estranged wife, Mary Gingles, through the neighborhood before killing her as well as Andrew Ferrin, 36, a stranger whose home she had run into to try to escape, according to the Sheriffs Office. Mary Gingles repeatedly had sought help from the Sheriffs Office, saying in a court petition that she believed her husband was going to kill her. The gun Nathan Gingles is accused of using was one he had been ordered to surrender to the Sheriffs Office, but he never did. He is now charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony promised to hold his deputies accountable following the deadly shooting. Broward Deputy Sheriffs Association President Dan Rakofsky in the statement called the disciplinary process biased and a scapegoating of our members in the pursuit of public relations goals. The statement condemned Sheriff Tonys message at a news conference held in the days following the murders, where he said his agency could have possibly saved the lives of three people but they failed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very frustrating for me to have to stand here and witness this and know that were an organization who has had our trials, from one active shooter event at the airport, to Stoneman Douglas, to one tragedy after the next, Tony said at the February news conference. This evening, we see the consequences of inappropriate public statements and premature release of information. The Sheriffs press conference, three days after the heinous and horrific murders in Tamarac, was a dog whistle and clear message to what was supposed to be an unbiased Professional Standards Committee, the statement said. The BSO members on the committee that voted on the recommendations concerning which administrative violations to sustain and what discipline to impose are all at-will employees who were undoubtedly in a very awkward position, as their tenure is subject to the whims of the Sheriff. Two employees were previously fired: Deputy Stephen Tapia in June for failure to meet probationary standards and Jemeriah Cooper in May, the former head of the Tamarac district who was demoted to deputy before his termination. The number of deputies who came under investigation after the murders grew over several months from seven initially to at least 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaps in the agencys capabilities have been exposed in the aftermath of the murders, the unions statement said, along with many systemic and institutional processes in need of better oversight and/or revision. This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox. BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) The Legacy Parks Foundation, a Knoxville-based nonprofit, received a private endowment of $10 million for a playground at Steele Creek Park in Bristol, TN to honor Catherine Catie Dunn, a Bristol mother of three who passed away after a long battle with cancer at the age of 30. Catherine was a very special lady, and this will really recognize how much she loved Bristol, but also loved family, too, Mike Mains, Director of the Bristol, TN Parks and Recreation department, said. Steele Creek Park was Caties favorite place, making it an easy choice to house her park, which the Dunn family and Director Mains hope will be the best playground in the state of Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you look at all the features that Steele Creek Park has, the beauty, the trails, the fishing and various things you can do here, bringing this to Bristol, to Steele Creek Park is really special, Mains said. And itll be one of the best facilities in the entire state. Carol Evans, the Executive Director of the Legacy Parks Foundation, highlighted that the endowment is designated to be used to create a play space for all Bristolians to enjoy. The idea is really creating, kind of telling the story of a young woman who was raised here, Evans said. And what she enjoyed and make it very, very playful and fun for kids of all ages. The playground will have special features to honor Caties life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her favorite color was purple, Evans said. She loved daisies. She loved camping. She had a favorite stuffed bear. So her favorite expression was choose to be happy, and so we want it to be a very, very happy, fun place. Evans said meeting the Dunn family moved her and her team, encouraging them to make the park as special as possible, and believes its the perfect way to remember her. To hear what a special person she was, I mean, how joyful she was and all of those things to think about now, having someone sort of a playful space seems really appropriate to her personality from what I understand. Evans told News Channel 11 that they are still in the discovery phase and are about a year or so away from kids being able to play, but they expect to break ground sometime after the new year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Chief Investigator Rick Earle spoke with U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly of Butler, who chaired the congressional task force into the attempted assassination of then-candidate and former President Donald Trump. Kelly was also at the campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show last July when the shots rang out. This Sunday will mark one year since that tragic shooting at the rally in Butler that killed one man, wounded two others and grazed Trumps ear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The congressional task force led by Republican Congressman Kelly found numerous security failures and missteps by the Secret Service, including issues with communications, planning and response. But one year later, there are still many unanswered questions about the shooter and his motive. RELATED COVERAGE >>> 11 Investigates: Former Pittsburgh motorcycle officer who escorted Trump recalls shooting, backlash Earle recently spoke with Kelly, who said he is still searching for answers even though the work of the task force is over. Earle: Do we know today what we didnt know a year ago? Do we know any more about a motive, why this guy did this? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly: No, we really dont. The motive is still a mystery, according to Kelly. Earle: What about Thomas Crooks, the shooter? Do you know anything more about him today than you did a year ago? Kelly: No, you know this is the thing thats so frustrating. We know a little bit about Thomas Crooks, but not a lot. They do know now that his mental health, according to family members, began declining a year before the shooting. His father told investigators he was talking to himself, dancing alone in his bedroom. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> What we know about Bethel Park man suspected of attempted assassination at Trump rally in Butler Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been one year since the 20-year-old from Bethel Park, who earned an associates degree in engineering science and worked at a nursing home, scaled a building near the Butler Farm Show and fired eight shots, grazing Trump in the ear, killing Corey Comperatore and wounding two others. Seconds later, Crooks described by former classmates as a loner who was bullied in high school, wore hunting clothes and liked to play video games was killed by a Secret Service sniper. It sounded like a firework going off, and then I saw the President go down, Kelly said. I thought, Oh my God, theyve killed the president. Kelly was at the rally with his family, but they were not seated near him. He had some anxious moments, but soon discovered they were okay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid the chaos, Kelly recalled a defining moment he said hell never forget. I think the calming effect that the president stands up, hes surrounded by Secret Service and he goes, Fight, fight, fight, and the whole crowd starts chanting, USA, USA, USA, USA. Theres just something about those moments in history that youre there for it, Kelly said. Kelly chaired the House task force into the attempted assassination. Everything that could go wrong that day went wrong, said Kelly. Among the glaring issues, he said, there were two separate command posts that day, and local law enforcement didnt have radio communication with federal agencies. They were forced to communicate by cell phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The feds also had a drone but didnt use it, and the building Crooks scaled was outside the secure perimeter, even though it was only 150 yards from the stage. Kelly expressed concern and frustration that local law enforcement was unfairly criticized early in the investigation. He praised the work of local law enforcement agencies and said the failure came at the federal level. Kelly said the task force determined that poor planning and operational missteps by the Secret Service led to the massive security failure, and ultimately the directors resignation, and now the suspension without pay of six Secret Service agents confirmed just this week. I cant believe they werent on top of this, Kelly said. How could they have failed at every step of the way? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And whats even more concerning, Kelly said, nearly 90 minutes before the shooting, law enforcement noticed a man later identified as Crooks acting suspiciously, but they lost him in the crowd. Why would you let President Trump come out and get on that podium if you were not sure that the grounds were safe and secure? asked Kelly. One year later, Kelly says his thoughts and prayers are with the Comperatore family. They went from being so elated about being able to go there to going home, losing their father, losing their husband, and I think thats the thing that has stuck with me more than anything else, said Kelly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the divisive political climate in the country, Kelly said his goal is to make sure the Secret Service is now up to the task. And while the work of the task force is over, Kelly said hes still searching for answers about the motive and the shooter. During the one-on-one interview with Earle, Kelly hinted he may have some new information but wasnt ready to release it just yet. Stick with Channel 11, as Earle continues to follow any new developments in this case. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW A Texas mother believed shed gone through her normal routine on Wednesday: deliver her 5-year-old son to school, as always, before heading to work next door. At the end of the school day, she went to pick him up only for the school to inform her hed never arrived. In a nightmare twist, he had died after spending hours in the back of her car as the temperature rose, still strapped into his seat. She had completely forgotten to drop him off. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus called it an extremely tragic situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 1990, more than 1,100 children have lost their lives this way. Summer is peak season so much so that two more children died while reporting this story. Since May, 15 children have died after being left in hot cars, according to Kids and Car Safety, a nonprofit focused on preventing vehicle dangers. The majority of hot car deaths 52 percent result from someone simply forgetting their child in the vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The nonprofit found that figure to be even higher: 55 percent. Often caregivers believe theyd dropped them off already or fail to remember the kid was with them that day. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus calls death of child in hot car an 'extremely tragic situation' (WOAI) San Antonio Police Chief William McManus calls death of child in hot car an 'extremely tragic situation' (WOAI) The tragedy may even be becoming more common. In 2009, about 15 to 25 hot car deaths happened each year, the Washington Post reported at the time. Last year it happened 37 times (that's according to the federal government data, Kids and Car Safety recorded 41 incidents). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the real problem that we have here is this misconception that this would never happen to me, Amber Rollins-Reis, director of Kids and Car Safety, told The Independent. Keys, wallet or phone are easily forgotten, but forgetting children seems unimaginable. These memory lapses could be explained by a clash between memory systems, Dr. David Diamond, a neuroscientist and professor at the University of South Florida, told The Independent. Theres the habit memory system, which allows us to do routine things automatically, like driving to work. Then theres the conscious memory system, which allows us to plan ahead. These systems compete if a routine is disrupted. For example, if a parent, who normally drives straight to work, one day has to take their child to daycare before work, the systems start competing with one another, Diamond said. Thats when a child could be forgotten as the habit memory system often takes over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes small cues, like a cry from the backseat or seeing a diaper, can be the difference between life and death. I think that every parent on planet Earth has experienced that type of memory failure involving their child in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of their car. But the difference is that something triggered them to remember they were back there and nothing happened, Rollins-Reis said. The Evenflo LiteMax NXT infant car seat that sends out an alert if a child is left unattended (AFP via Getty Images) The Evenflo LiteMax NXT infant car seat that sends out an alert if a child is left unattended (AFP via Getty Images) If a baby is asleep in a car seat, the parents memory may not be triggered, and they just go about their day. Perhaps thats why 88 percent of children who have died in a hot car are age three and younger, according to the nonprofit. Parents of young children are often stressed and sleep deprived, conditions that make it more likely you'll do something out of habit, Diamond said. Theres another issue at play here, too: If someone thinks a situation is unlikely, they arent going to take measures to prevent it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caregivers can take steps to prevent potential tragedies. Experts recommended putting an object, like a stuffed animal, in the backseat of the car and putting it on their lap after buckling in the child the stuffie serving as a visual reminder that a child is in the car. There are other problems beyond memory failure. Child hot car deaths skyrocketed in the 1990s, after the government and safety advocates launched a campaign to encourage children to ride in the backseat of cars due to reports of airbag-related deaths. This new trend paired with rear-facing car seats making it hard to tell that a child is in the back led to an uptick in hot car deaths, Rollins-Reis said. A 2021 federal law included a mandate that the Secretary of Transportation issue a rule within two years requiring new passenger vehicles be equipped with an alert system to check the backseat after the car is off. That deadline passed in November 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even without the law in place, several car manufacturers have included features that remind drivers to check the backseat. If they can afford it, caretakers can also buy technology to protect against potential tragedies, like car seats or sensor pads that alerts parents if a child is left in the car. Despite the scientific research, parents are often unfairly maligned when reports of these tragedies surface. About 25 percent of hot car deaths occur after children get into a car on their own while only 15 percent of children are knowingly left in a car, the nonprofit found. These instances are rare, but they happen and get headlines. California mom Maya Hernandez, 20, called a medical spa last week to see if her two sons, aged one and two, were allowed inside as she underwent a lip filler procedure. An employee said they could sit in the waiting room for the 20-minute appointment, but Hernandez instead left her boys inside her car for two and a half hours, authorities say. Shed left the air conditioning running, but the cars system automaticaly shut it off after an hour. The one-year-old died while the older brother survived and was placed in child protective custody. Maya Hernandez faces criminal charges after her one-year-old son died after being left in her car while she underwent a lip filler procedure (Facebook) Maya Hernandez faces criminal charges after her one-year-old son died after being left in her car while she underwent a lip filler procedure (Facebook) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes now facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and child cruelty. Hernandez admitted that she knew it was irresponsible to leave her kids in the car and thought about it when she got out of the car but had no justification as to why she left them anyway, her criminal complaint states. Social media users swiftly condemned her. Well we definitely see where her priorities were, one user wrote. Another remarked: How can a loving mother do that? Yet another said: She could afford lip filler but not a babysitter. Wtaf?? Others have also been charged with manslaughter or other crimes. State of mind matters when it comes to bringing criminal charges; particularly since research shows most of the time, parents didnt leave their child behind knowingly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is happening to the most loving, responsible parents, the infinitely organized and safety minded people. I think it continues to happen because it's not something that's on people's radar as a concern, Rollins-Reis said. In the cases of unintentional deaths, Diamond believes charges arent needed because the driver will be in their own personal prison for the rest of their life because they know that their inaction led to the death of their child. He added: This is not a matter of negligence, it's not a matter of lack of love. This is simply being human, and being human means catastrophic memory failures occur. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. An incident involving a minor shot in the city of Dellwood is under investigation by the North County Police Cooperative (NCPC). NCPC says the shooting happened Friday shortly after 5:20 p.m. in the 1500 block of Hudson Road. When officials arrived at the scene, they located a 16-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound. First responders took the minor to a hospital, where he is currently recovering. Officials listed the minors condition as non-life-threatening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information in connection to the shooting is asked to contact NCPC at 314-499-6093 or at detective@northcountypolice.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The 185th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) held an early surprise party for a three-time war veteran. Its kind of a milestone, and I know I have to walk a little slower, walk a little more. I found out if you dont walk, you will lose it, said Robert Irwin, a former 174th Fighter Squadron. Robert Irwin served with the original 174th Fighter Squadron, the 185ths ancestor unit, when it was established in 1946. Irwin was the founding member and Maintenance Squadron Commander of the 185th ARW. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert Irwin was first drafted at the age of 18 to serve in World War 2, following that Irwin went to serve in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. I became an Armorer on B51. And then from that, I went to Aviation Cadet Pilot School, said Irwin. Irwin said that he was not expecting this surprise party. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im the one who feels surprise because I just came into a meeting and all of a sudden theres cake and everything around, so I appreciate it, Irwin expressed. Former Vietnam veteran, Gary Carlson, said he never saw him when he was in the war, but used to deliver mail to Irwins house when he was done serving. Carlson said Irwin was always a stand-up guy. What a guy, said Vietnam veteran, Gary Carlson, What a guy he is to turn live this long, and he looks great, and he still can talk, and he can hear. Thats wonderful. Colonel Chad Schoonover is the current Maintenance Squadron Commander of the 185th ARW, and said it is honor to be following in Irwins steps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rarely does someone like me get to shake hands with my predecessor, but not just my predecessor, the original predecessor, who stood up the maintenance group here at the 185th, said Colonel Chad Schoonover. In the maintenance group, we talk about legacy, we talk about excellence, and things like that. But thats on the shoulders of those who came before us. Schoonover said that veterans serve a strong purpose for the 185th. This is a family unit that is multiple generations from those who came before us, Schonoover said, And by staying connected with those people that were once part of us, we encourage them to continue coming back and continue to stay part of us. And then we grow our organization with the community. Robert Irwins birthday will be held a week from today on June 18th. From all of us at KCAU, we wish Robert Irwin a happy birthday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. NEED TO KNOW Ainslie Bashara, a 19-year-old counselor at the all-girls Christian summer camp decimated by the Texas floods, helped save 16 children the night of the storm, per The Washington Post Ainslie worked throughout the night of July 4 with two younger co-counselors to continuously move all 16 of their campers to safety The teen said the group listened helplessly as they heard cries for help from other campers trapped amid the rising waters Ainslie Bashara, a 19-year-old counselor at Texas' Camp Mystic, helped save 16 young lives amid the catastrophic floods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ainslie had been attending the all-girls Christian summer camp in Kerr County since she was 7 years old, and she had returned to work as a camp counselor a mere five days before the July Fourth tragedy, per The Washington Post. While speaking to the outlet, Ainslie, a rising college sophomore, said that she and two younger counselors were in charge of 16 littles campers ages 8 to 10 and that they all bunked together in a cabin called Giggle Box. She recalled that the rain started picking up at the camp on the evening of July 3, and she started worrying that something was truly wrong in the early hours of the morning on July 4. Danielle Villasana for The Washington Post via Getty Shirt found at Camp Mystic following massive flooding in Kerr County, Texas Shirt found at Camp Mystic following massive flooding in Kerr County, Texas Ainslie recalled that shortly after 2 a.m., she began hearing yells from a nearby cabin that housed the camps youngest campers. She also saw older campers from a bunk built on lower ground running to higher ground with blankets and pillows though a camp staffer told the campers and counselors in Giggle Box to stay put, as only campers closest to the river were seemingly in need of evacuation. Ainslie said she and her co-counselors attempted to keep their campers calm while also trying to troubleshoot the situation as best they could. They instructed their campers to put on their shoes and raincoats and had them place their personal belongings on the highest bunks. They also put trunks against the cabins front door as water began to seep under the crack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ainslie located a porchlight her father had given her, and peered out a window at which point she saw about a foot of water outside their cabin. RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Bunk beds in a cabin at Camp Mystic after the devastating Texas floods Bunk beds in a cabin at Camp Mystic after the devastating Texas floods Okay, were going to go out, she recalled telling her campers at about 3 a.m., per The Washington Post. The teen crawled through the window and stepped into the cold, rushing water. Her co-counselors who had both only just graduated high school then proceeded to help each child out through the window. Ainslie then guided them through the water in small groups, leading them to a dry pavilion about 30 feet away. Its going to be okay! she remembers telling her campers, all of whom were crying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When all 16 of her campers and her co-counselors were safely accounted for at the pavilion, Ainslie heard campers from another cabin one that housed some of the camps youngest children begging for help. But by that point, there was a river of water between the pavilion and the other campers. The sounds are just horrific. And you cant do anything, she told the outlet. Meanwhile, the water at the pavilion was rising, and Ainslie decided that she and her campers needed to try for higher ground yet again. Get ready to climb, she and her co-counselors told the girls, per The Washington Post. Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Stuffed animal found amid the wreckage at Camp Mystic in Texas Stuffed animal found amid the wreckage at Camp Mystic in Texas Ainslie said that the members of Giggle Box proceeded to make their way up a steep, rocky hill, and repeatedly moved to higher ground throughout the night as the water continued to rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sun eventually came up and the water began to recede the following morning, revealing the devastated camp below. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The teen said she began seeing campers from other cabins who had also survived the night. You would go up to them and they looked like a little ghost, she said. Ainslie said staff then brought all campers into a recreation hall where they did a head count and it was only then that she realized just how many girls were missing. She said she stepped outside, away from her 16 young campers, and cried for the first time since the flooding began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Counselors were then instructed to gather all remaining campers and write their names on their bodies with a Sharpie as they waited for help to arrive by helicopter. Youve already made it through the hard part. Youre safe, Ainslie remembered telling the children. She and 15 other co-counselors none older than 19, per the outlet then proceeded to wait until all of their campers were airlifted to safety. Only then did they, too, prepare to leave the site. At least 27 Camp Mystic campers and counselors died in the catastrophic weather event. To learn how to help support the victims and recovery efforts from the Texas floods, click here. Read the original article on People BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Two of five California City Councilmembers have resigned after a heated council meeting Tuesday, that turned into allegations of racism. California Citys relatively new mayor, Marquette Hawkins, requested $1,000 dollars of city money for membership in the African American Mayors Association, a group with nine California mayors. Some councilmembers voiced concerns on the cost and whether it would help the city. You sir are an idiot, you dont know me and you dont know what I stand for, said Mayor Pro Tem Jessie Hightower who used to be the California City police chief, after being let go due to budget cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He came under fire after stating budget concerns over the price of the membership. Im not against it, Im just saying that its poor timingwe cant get other things but yet we cant pay for this, said Hightower. Councilmember Michael Hurles also was against it. I believe the city council should have reviewed thisI believe the city council as a whole should have reviewed this as a whole before the money was put in a check, said Hurles. Mayor Marquette Hawkins replied that he hasnt filled out any expense report for any of the miles hes traveled to represent California City across the county and state. Public commenters were all in support of the membership fee, and accused Hurles and Hightower that their comments were racially motivated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This sounds like a racist trope, had this not been a African American, I dont think this would have been as objective, said one commenter. It do sound kinda racist, because as soon as he said African American both of yall heads went to popping, said another. A motion was passed to table the payment until further discussion and after a short recess Hightower didnt return to the meeting. He sent in a resignation letter on Wednesday. At the end of the meeting, councilmember Michael Kulikoff announced his resignation, No councilmember can get anything on the agenda, when we vote and move forward with an action item, on any item, nothing is getting done. This is my formal resignation and this will be my last meeting as a councilmember. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the discussion of the membership fee, the city announced an anonymous donor offered to pay the $1,000. In a statement from the mayor, he said, Every action I take and every decision I make is rooted in one unwavering goal the betterment of California City. The mayor said the city is planning to call a special meeting on Monday to see how they will move forward with the vacant seats. Councilmembers could be appointed by the city, or call for a special election. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. LONDON -- Hundreds of Russian attack drones and more than two dozen cruise missiles targeted Ukraine overnight, killing at least two people, as Moscow continued its campaign of nighttime strikes against civilian areas throughout the country, officials said. The deaths were in Chernivtsi, in the country's southwest, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, adding that the attack's targets stretched from the Kharkiv and Sumy regions in the east across to the Lviv region in the west. Stringer/Reuters - PHOTO: Firefighters work at the site of buildings damaged during Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Lviv, Ukraine July 12, 2025. MORE: Russia kills 2 in Kyiv with 10-hour drone, missile bombardment, Zelenskyy says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My condolences to their families and loved ones," Zelenskyy said in a statement posted to social media. "Around 20 more people injured in the attack are receiving all the necessary assistance." Ukrainian State Emergency Services via AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: This handout photo taken and released by the Ukrainian State Emergency Service on July 12, 2025, shows a car burning following mass Russian strikes in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine's Ministry of Defense said Russia fired at least 597 attack drones and 26 cruise missiles overnight. Some 319 drones and 25 missiles were shot down by Ukraine's defenses, the military said in a post to the Telegram messaging app, adding that another 258 drones "were suppressed by electronic warfare." Russia's Ministry of Defense said in a statement that it carried out a "group strike with long-range air-based high-precision weapons and drones" that targeted Ukrainian defense industry targets in several cities. The ministry said it also struck a military airfield. Russia's overnight attacks have escalated in recent weeks, which have included several nights where Moscow launched record-breaking numbers of attack drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities, according to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The pace of Russias aerial strikes demands swift decisions -- and it can be curbed through sanctions right now," Zelenskyy said on Saturday. Roman Baluk/Reuters - PHOTO: Residents inspect the site of an apartment building damaged during Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Lviv, Ukraine July 12, 2025. He called for tough sanctions on countries that are helping Russia produce drones and those that are buying oil produced or sold by Russia. And he said he sought more air-defense systems to help protect Ukraine. MORE: US military, NATO officials discuss possible weapons sales to aid Ukraine "This war can only be stopped through strength," Zelenskyy said. "We expect not just signals from our partners, but actions that will save lives." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Western Ukraine was hardest hit in the night's drone strikes, Prime Minister Denys Shmyha said in Ukrainian on the Telegram messaging app. "This attack is another reminder to the world that the enemy is not going to stop," he said. NEED TO KNOW Kiere DeAndre Jaden Daniels, Jr., 2, was discovered entangled within a window blind cord at a Hampton Inn in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday, July 4 Authorities responded to the scene and performed CPR on him before transporting him to the Childrens Hospital in Birmingham There he was put on life support until he died six days later A 2-year-old died days after he was entangled in the window blinds of an Alabama hotel on Friday, July 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kiere DeAndre Jaden Daniels, Jr. died on Thursday, July 10, after he suffered a tragic accident at a Hampton Inn on Colonnade Parkway in Birmingham, Ala., according to the Jefferson County Coroner and Medical Examiners Office report obtained by PEOPLE. Kiere and his family were staying at the hotel for a family reunion over the holiday weekend, AL.com reports. Per the coroners report, Kiere was found by family entangled within a window blind cord inside their hotel room on July 4. Around 10:40 a.m., Birmingham police, Birmingham firefighters and Rocky Ridge firefighters were all dispatched to the hotel, AL.com reports. CPR was then performed on Kiere, and he was transported to the Childrens Hospital in Birmingham. He had shallow breathing while en route to the hospital, authorities and witnesses report, per AL.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once there, Kiere remained on life support until he died at 11:58 p.m. Thursday, July 10. The Birmingham Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, per the coroners report. At this time, there has been no evidence of foul play found associated with the death. The Jefferson County Coroners Office ruled his death accidental. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. A representative for the hotel did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for more information on Friday. Read the original article on People DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) At least 31 Palestinians were fatally shot on their way to an aid distribution site in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, while Israeli airstrikes killed at least 28 Palestinians including four children, Palestinian hospital officials and witnesses said. There were no signs of a breakthrough in ceasefire talks following two days of meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump had said he was nearing an agreement between Israel and Hamas that would potentially wind down the war. The 31 Palestinians shot dead were on their way to a distribution site run by the Israeli-backed American organization Gaza Humanitarian Foundation near Rafah in southern Gaza, hospital officials and witnesses said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Red Cross said its field hospital saw its largest influx of dead in more than a year of operation after the shootings, and that the overwhelming majority of the more than 100 people hurt had gunshot wounds. Airstrikes in central Gazas Deir al-Balah killed 13 including the four children, officials at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said. Fifteen others were killed in Khan Younis in the south, according to Nasser Hospital. Israel's military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Intense airstrikes continued Saturday evening in the area of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. Israelis rallied yet again for a ceasefire deal. Arrogance is what brought the disaster upon us, former hostage Eli Sharabi said of Israeli leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teen's first attempt to pick up food ends in death The 21-month war has left much of Gaza's population of over 2 million reliant on outside aid while food security experts warn of famine. Israel blocked and then restricted aid entry after ending the latest ceasefire in March. All responsive individuals reported they were attempting to access food distribution sites, the Red Cross said after the shootings near Rafah, noting the alarming frequency and scale of such mass casualty incidents. Israels military said it fired warning shots toward people it said were behaving suspiciously to prevent them from approaching. It said it was not aware of any casualties. The GHF said no incident occurred near its sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abdullah al-Haddad said he was 200 meters (655 feet) from the aid distribution site run by the GHF close to the Shakoush area when an Israeli tank started firing at crowds of Palestinians. We were together, and they shot us at once, he said, writhing in pain from a leg wound at Nasser Hospital. Mohammed Jamal al-Sahloo, another witness, said Israel's military had ordered them to proceed to the site when the shooting started. Sumaya al-Shaers 17-year-old son, Nasir, was killed, hospital officials said. He said to me, Mom, you dont have flour and today Ill go and bring you flour, even if I die, Ill go and get it, she said. But he never came back home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until then, she said, she had prevented the teenager from going to GHF sites because she thought it was too dangerous. Witnesses, health officials and U.N. officials say hundreds have been killed by Israeli fire while heading toward GHF distribution points through military zones off limits to independent media. The military has acknowledged firing warning shots at Palestinians who it says approached its forces in a suspicious manner. The GHF denies there has been violence in or around its sites. But two of its contractors told The Associated Press that their colleagues have fired live ammunition and stun grenades as Palestinians scramble for food, allegations the foundation denied. In a separate effort, the U.N. and aid groups say they struggle to distribute humanitarian aid because of Israeli military restrictions and a breakdown of law and order that has led to widespread looting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first fuel 150,000 liters entered Gaza this week after 130 days, a joint statement by U.N. aid bodies said, calling it a small amount for the the backbone of survival in Gaza." Fuel runs hospitals, water systems, transport and more, the statement said. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people in their Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war and abducted 251. Hamas still holds some 50 hostages, with at least 20 believed to remain alive. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed over 57,800 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The ministry, under Gazas Hamas-run government, doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. The U.N. and other international organizations see its figures as the most reliable statistics on war casualties. A Palestinian-American killed in the West Bank Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friends and relatives paid their respects a day after Palestinian-American Seifeddin Musalat and local friend Mohammed al-Shalabi were killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Musalat was beaten to death by Israeli settlers on his familys land, his cousin Diana Halum told reporters. The settlers then blocked paramedics from reaching him, she said. Musalat, born in Florida, was visiting his family home. His family wants the U.S. State Department to investigate his death and hold the settlers accountable. The State Department said it was aware of the reports of his death but had no comment out of respect for the family. A witness, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid Israeli retaliation, said the settlers descended on Palestinian lands and started shooting at us, beating by sticks and throwing rocks." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's military has said Palestinians hurled rocks at Israelis in the area earlier on Friday, lightly wounding two people and setting off a larger confrontation. Palestinians and rights groups have long accused the military of ignoring settler violence, which has spiked along with Palestinian attacks and Israeli military raids since the war in Gaza began. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Four Michigan cities were among the top 50 most bed bug-infested cities in the U.S. over the last year, according to a recent report by a nationwide insect control company. Orkin's 2025 Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List says Detroit has the third-most issues with the insects while Grand Rapids was No. 7. Flint was No. 16 and Lansing was No. 48 on the list. The parasitic insects feed off human and animal blood by biting you in your sleep and can easily hide in your bed and other furniture, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether they come into your home or you find them at a hotel during your summer getaway, bed bugs can disrupt the comfort of a good night's rest. Be on the lookout for telltale signs and always check new items you bring into your house, especially if they're used or antiques. "For more than 20,000 years, bed bugs have mastered the art of going unnoticed until its too late. With travel-heavy months ahead, vigilance is key," Orkin said. "Knowing how to inspect hotel rooms and luggage could mean the difference between a relaxing vacation and an itchy return home." Here's what to know. What are bed bugs? Bed bugs are small insects that feed on human and animal blood, biting people and animals while they sleep, the CDC says. Which Michigan cities have the most bed bugs? A recent report from pest control company Orkin ranked two Michigan cities among the top 10 most bed bug-infested places in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years rankings are based on treatment data from metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from May 15, 2024 to May 14, 2025. The list includes both residential bed bug control and commercial bed bug treatments. The 2025 Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List includes Detroit at No. 3 and Grand Rapids at No. 7. Here is a look at the top 10 bed bug-infested cities in the ranking: Chicago Cleveland, Ohio Detroit Los Angeles Indianapolis Washington, D.C. Grand Rapids, Michigan Columbus, Ohio Champaign, Illinois Milwaukee, Wisconsin Flint came in at No. 16 and Lansing at No. 48 in the ranking. For the fifth consecutive year, Chicago held onto its spot as the most bed bug-infested city in the nation, Orkin said. What causes bed bug infestations? Bed bugs can show up anyplace homes, hotels, cabins and resorts. They hide well and often enter your home along with items brought in, especially used or antique goods, Michigan Emerging Disease Issues says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The insects may travel in things like furniture, seams and folds of purses, overnight bags or suitcases, folded clothing, bedding, according to the CDC, WebMD and Michigan Emerging Disease Issues. Experts encourage people to check for bed bug signs when traveling or when bringing new things into your home. How do you know if you have bed bugs? If you suspect bed bugs have infested your home, there will be several signs. Check for these key indicators, the CDC and WebMD say: Bed bugs in the bed Rusty-colored blood spots on sheets or mattress or nearby furniture Shed skin from bed bugs Tiny pale yellow eggs or eggshells Black bed bug feces Sweet, musty odor around the bed White, oval eggs What do bed bugs look like? Bed bugs are small and flat, with six legs and no wings, according to the CDC. The insects can range from 1-7 millimeters in size. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bed bugs are oval-shaped and similar in size to an apple seed, USA TODAY reported. Their color can range from translucent, yellowish-white to reddish-brown depending on the insects' age. How do I know if I've been bitten? Bed bug bite reactions can vary from mild to severe and you may not realize you've been bitten until several days later, the CDC says. Some people may never have a reaction at all. Here are some symptoms to look out for: Red, slightly swollen welt Itchiness on bite area Insomnia, anxiety Skin issues from scratching Rare serious allergic reactions How can you get rid of bed bugs? The best strategy is to root out the issue early on by checking for bed bugs and getting them out of your home, experts with the CDC advise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any non-clothing items that may have come in contact with bed bugs should not be brought into the house at all, according to Michigan State University Extension, which partnered with the Michigan Department of Community Health on addressing bed bugs. Unpack suitcases on a hard surface under bright light so you can see any bed bugs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends washing and drying clothing at the hottest temperature the fabric can stand. "If you had a large freezer, you can also put stuff in the freezer for like a week or two. It would kill all life stages," Orkin entomologist Benjamin Hottel told USA TODAY. "And then, with your luggage, you could put it in a garbage bag or something like that and leave it in your in your garage." When should you call a professional? Once you have an infestation, removing bed bugs from your home can be a complicated and labor-consuming process, Michigan Emerging Disease Issues says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calling a reputable pest control company to treat the infestation, often with pesticide spray, may be the best option, the CDC, EPA and Michigan Emerging Disease Issues recommend. Be sure to avoid certain harmful treatments like rubbing alcohol because it's highly flammable, Michigan Emerging Disease Issues warns. USA TODAY contributed. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 4 Michigan cities have bed bug issues, Orkin says. What to know A year ago, Kyleigh Gardiner was lying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life. In many ways, it doesn't feel real, she says. Its insane and its hard to think back and count how many surgeries Ive had this year, and we fit all that in a year, Gardiner said. A year after a malfunctioning firework exploded in Gardiners face in Lincoln on the Fourth of July, the 22-year-old Seward woman is still healing inside and out. Shes had four surgeries, an eye removed, a procedure to repair scar tissue, and theres still more to come. Her facial bones are still fractured, an orbital implant is failing and her prosthetic eye doesnt fit right. Sometimes, she scrolls back through the CaringBridge page her mom created, reminding herself where she was four months ago, last year, even just days after the explosion. A year seems so long, but then when you look at everything, month by month, what you had to go through with a big accident, its crazy how much you can fit into such a short period of time, Gardiner said. Living in Seward Nebraskas Fourth of July City it was nearly impossible to escape the sound of fireworks this year. Unlike Lincoln, Seward allows fireworks as early as June 28. Gardiner's anxiety was running high. So the Gardiners stayed home this year. They grilled out, watched comedy specials and turned up the volume on video games anything to drown out the noise outside. It was definitely needed, Gardiner said. It was a nice new memory to take over last years. Its Kyleigh, not Kayleigh She doesnt remember much from the accident. Gardiner was sitting near a garage at a friends house in east Lincoln, helping set up the fireworks lineup. Then the fireworks malfunctioned. An artillery shell shot sideways, struck her chest and exploded in her face. The next thing she remembers was her boyfriend, Matthew Mai, pressing towels against her face. She told him to back off it hurt too much. When paramedics arrived, Gardiner made sure they spelled her name correctly. Even as she drifted in and out of consciousness, she insisted: Its Kyleigh, not Kayleigh. She was life-flighted to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Scans showed severe fractures in her facial, eye and jaw bones on her right side, but luckily no brain or spinal injuries. Her mom, Alycia Gardiner, was told by doctors she easily could've died. Within three days, she had already undergone two surgeries and was still holding onto hope she could keep her eye. "We just kind of went into survival," Alycia Gardiner said. "Get her whatever she needed to help her, because we knew when she woke up and had to deal with her face, that was going to be a shock to her." Defying all odds On July 7, Alycia Gardiner started a CaringBridge page to share her daughter's journey. The page allowed Alycia Gardiner to share photos and lengthy updates quickly with others, giving her more time to focus on her daughter's recovery. "She has amazed all the doctors and nurses with how she is progressing and how she is handling all of this," she wrote July 7. Four days after the accident, Kyleigh Gardiner was home. A recliner was brought upstairs along with piles of blankets. Her dad bought her a stuffed animal to replace her Great Dane, Khloe, who had to keep her distance. Her family quickly took on the support team roles. Her brothers helped her walk to the bathroom. Her mom handled the eye drops and ointment. Much of it is a blur now medication took the edge off both the pain and made the memories fuzzy. Just weeks later, she was back behind the wheel of her brand-new 2024 Kia Forte, which shed bought just before the accident. "It is crazy to me that three weeks ago she was on a ventilator and how she is getting ready to go back to work and school!" her mom wrote July 28. "She is determined to get back to normal and she has proved if anyone can do it, it is her!" Road to recovery By October, Kyleigh Gardiner made the difficult decision to have her right eye removed. She could no longer see out of it. The eye had turned orange, the iris had faded and it caused constant pain. But three weeks after the surgery, Gardiner knew something wasnt right. Yet her messages to her doctor were dismissed and CT scans were denied as the Gardiners were told they weren't necessary. Meanwhile, her prosthetic eye kept sinking deeper, giving her face a melting appearance. She broke down in front of her plastic surgeon who suggested adding a 3D-printed wedge, which might help fill in her missing bone above her eye. I dont want might. I want fixed, Gardiner said. But there was no fixing it, only improving. In April, a CT scan finally confirmed everything she had been saying for months. The prosthetic didnt fit, it was sinking. It was a lot of anger, Gardiner said. I cant help but wonder, if they had listened to me, where would I be right now? She tries to push those thoughts aside. She knows the what ifs wont help. Still, the latest appointment on April 17 felt like a crushing setback. It felt like all my progress was for nothing. The only thing that got fixed was the scars, Gardiner said. When she looks in the mirror now, she doesnt regret having her eye removed, but shes still struggling with her confidence. Her prosthetic still doesnt quite fit, the irises dont line up, and her right eye cant blink correctly. Each morning starts with a stabbing pain on the right side of her face. It eventually dulls down to a pressure, like someone is squeezing the right side of her head. Half the time, she skips wearing her prosthetic entirely just to avoid the radiating ache. It takes her just 45 seconds to insert the prosthetic. Still, she hopes for more improvement. There are more surgeries on the horizon. Doctors have also discussed another surgery to repair scar tissue, but shes already said no. I dont want that, I feel like the scars are fine, Gardiner said. I dont want to get rid of them. Holding on to happiness Gardiner said there are two ways to respond to a situation like this. She could have shut down or she could put on a smile for those around her. Inside, she didnt always feel like a bright ray of sunshine. But on the outside, she masked it well. My only choice was to be positive, because I was not the only one affected by this, Gardiner said. For me to just go into the shell and hate my life or fall into whatever habit anybody else would have picked up, which I wouldnt blame them, it felt unfair to my parents and to my boyfriend. Just as they were strong for her, she decided to be strong for them. There are even videos of her cracking jokes and making faces on the ventilator in the hospital. They have enough trauma from the incident, I dont want to add more to it, Gardiner said. She returned to college at Peru State in August, determined to finish her senior year on time and she did, graduating in May. It wasnt easy. The surgeries, follow-ups and continuing pain added extra challenges, but her professors were understanding and prioritized her health. Gardiner has never failed to amaze her parents this past year. "She has kept such a positive attitude no matter what setbacks come at her," Alycia Gardiner said. "Even in the hospital, she was just so thankful she's still here to fight because she was just so close to losing her life." 'It helps to talk about it' Every day gets better, even amid the bad ones. Well get to a point where things are going really, really well, and then well go to the doctor and well get some bad news and then it just feels like Im back at square one," Kyleigh Gardiner said. Its hard to stay positive with everything, because you just want it to be done. You want all the surgeries to be done." Still, she pushes forward. Every compliment matters. Every curious question is welcomed. It helps to talk about it, not just bottle it all up, Gardiner said. She often worries about it happening to someone else. That fear lingers, especially around the Fourth. Yet, she holds on to hope that everything she went through this past year was for a reason. Theres got to be a reason for it, Gardiner said. She just hasnt figured that part out yet. Previous coverage on the Carillon Historical Park above. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The 47th Mid-America Chapter Band Organ Rally at Carillon Historical Park is this Saturday and Sunday. The rally will be held on July 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on July 13, from noon to 5 p.m. Carillon Historical Park to unveil massive paper mill exhibit Band organ rallies are events where enthusiasts play mechanical pipe organs; some are antique, some modern. There will be monkey organs, hand-cranked street organs and German/Dutch fairground organs with hundreds of pipes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The musicians call this the happiest music on Earth. The event is held by the Mid-America Chapter of the Musical Box Society International and the Carousel Organ Association of America. Many organ owners from across the Midwest are expected to attend. Good morning Dayton! book aims to inspires love of local history The 47th annual Band Organ Rally will be in the Carillon Historical Park, at 1000 Carillon Blvd. It is included with park admission and is free for Dayton History Members. On Sunday, July 13, at 3 p.m., there will be a performance from the Carillon Park Concert Band. It is a collection of 100 talented local high school musicians directed by Michael Berning, Coordinator of Music for Kettering City Schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They will play in front of the James F. Dicke Family Transportation Center. The concert will include both traditional and modern selections. The special concert is included with regular Park admission. Attendees are asked to bring chairs or blankets for seating. To learn more about the critical educational and archival work Dayton History does throughout the Miami Valley, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Milwaukee Police are investigating a shooting that took place near N. Water St. and E. Michigan St. shortly after midnight on July 12. One person, 52, died on the scene. He was later identified as Antwan "Tweezy" Hogans at a press conference from the Office of Community Wellness and Safety. Hogans was a popular local club promoter and owner of a hookah lounge. Four others at the shooting sustained non-fatal gunshot wounds: a person about 30 years of age, a 39 year old, a 34 year old and a 32 year old. They were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation is ongoing as Milwaukee Police continue to search for suspects. According to a press release from Milwaukee Police, "MPD has been proactively working with our intergovernmental partners including the Common Council and the City Attorney's Office to address these issues," among other "violent incidents" that have recently occurred in the area. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or P3 Tips. This story was updated to add a video and additional information. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 52 year old killed, four injured in Water Street shooting At least 31 Palestinians were fatally shot on their way to an aid distribution site in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, while Israeli airstrikes killed at least 28 Palestinians including four children, Palestinian hospital officials and witnesses said. There were no signs of a breakthrough in ceasefire talks following two days of meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump had said he was nearing an agreement between Israel and Hamas that would potentially wind down the war. The 31 Palestinians shot dead were on their way to a distribution site run by the Israeli-backed American organization Gaza Humanitarian Foundation near Rafah in southern Gaza, hospital officials and witnesses said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Red Cross said its field hospital saw its largest influx of dead in more than a year of operation after the shootings, and that the overwhelming majority of the more than 100 people hurt had gunshot wounds. Airstrikes in central Gazas Deir al-Balah killed 13 including the four children, officials at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said. Fifteen others were killed in Khan Younis in the south, according to Nasser Hospital. Israels military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Intense airstrikes continued Saturday evening in the area of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. Israelis rallied yet again for a ceasefire deal. Arrogance is what brought the disaster upon us, former hostage Eli Sharabi said of Israeli leaders. Teens first attempt to pick up food ends in death The 21-month war has left much of Gazas population of over 2 million reliant on outside aid while food security experts warn of famine. Israel blocked and then restricted aid entry after ending the latest ceasefire in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All responsive individuals reported they were attempting to access food distribution sites, the Red Cross said after the shootings near Rafah, noting the alarming frequency and scale of such mass casualty incidents. Israels military said it fired warning shots toward people it said were behaving suspiciously to prevent them from approaching. It said it was not aware of any casualties. The GHF said no incident occurred near its sites. Abdullah al-Haddad said he was 200 meters (655 feet) from the aid distribution site run by the GHF close to the Shakoush area when an Israeli tank started firing at crowds of Palestinians. We were together, and they shot us at once, he said, writhing in pain from a leg wound at Nasser Hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mohammed Jamal al-Sahloo, another witness, said Israels military had ordered them to proceed to the site when the shooting started. Sumaya al-Shaers 17-year-old son, Nasir, was killed, hospital officials said. He said to me, Mom, you dont have flour and today Ill go and bring you flour, even if I die, Ill go and get it, she said. But he never came back home. Until then, she said, she had prevented the teenager from going to GHF sites because she thought it was too dangerous. Witnesses, health officials and U.N. officials say hundreds have been killed by Israeli fire while heading toward GHF distribution points through military zones off limits to independent media. The military has acknowledged firing warning shots at Palestinians who it says approached its forces in a suspicious manner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GHF denies there has been violence in or around its sites. But two of its contractors told The Associated Press that their colleagues have fired live ammunition and stun grenades as Palestinians scramble for food, allegations the foundation denied. In a separate effort, the U.N. and aid groups say they struggle to distribute humanitarian aid because of Israeli military restrictions and a breakdown of law and order that has led to widespread looting. The first fuel 150,000 liters entered Gaza this week after 130 days, a joint statement by U.N. aid bodies said, calling it a small amount for the the backbone of survival in Gaza. Fuel runs hospitals, water systems, transport and more, the statement said. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people in their Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war and abducted 251. Hamas still holds some 50 hostages, with at least 20 believed to remain alive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels retaliatory offensive has killed over 57,800 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The ministry, under Gazas Hamas-run government, doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. The U.N. and other international organizations see its figures as the most reliable statistics on war casualties. A Palestinian-American killed in the West Bank Friends and relatives paid their respects a day after Palestinian-American Seifeddin Musalat and local friend Mohammed al-Shalabi were killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Musalat was beaten to death by Israeli settlers on his familys land, his cousin Diana Halum told reporters. The settlers then blocked paramedics from reaching him, she said. Musalat, born in Florida, was visiting his family home. His family wants the U.S. State Department to investigate his death and hold the settlers accountable. The State Department said it was aware of the reports of his death but had no comment out of respect for the family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A witness, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid Israeli retaliation, said the settlers descended on Palestinian lands and started shooting at us, beating by sticks and throwing rocks. Israels military has said Palestinians hurled rocks at Israelis in the area earlier on Friday, lightly wounding two people and setting off a larger confrontation. Palestinians and rights groups have long accused the military of ignoring settler violence, which has spiked along with Palestinian attacks and Israeli military raids since the war in Gaza began. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Pennsylvania State Police is offering a $5,000 reward for information that solves a nearly decade-old unsolved homicide in Fayette County. Troop B is investigating the homicide of Billy D. James, 35, who was shot multiple times in the torso outside Double Vision Bar on Oct. 31, 2015, in North Union Township. He later died at an area hospital. >>> Man fatally shot when bar fight in North Union Twp. spills into parking lot Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say a large fight involving numerous gang members broke out at approximately 1:50 a.m. The altercation began inside the bar and spilled into the parking lot when the bar owners forced many people out. Approximately 20-30 people were in the parking lot when James was shot. PSP says multiple witnesses refuse to provide any details of the incident to investigators. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Pennsylvania State Police at 724-223-5200 or the PSP Tips Toll-Free line at 1-800-472-8477. Tips can also be submitted online. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW The Brief Six people were arrested after a $70,000 armed robbery in Cicero involving multiple getaway vehicles. Police chases ended in two locations: one in Chicago, where four suspects were caught, and another in Indiana, where two suspects surrendered in a river. Three juveniles were charged with two counts of armed robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon; charges for three others have not yet been released. CICERO, Ill. - Six people are in custody after a $70,000 armed robbery in Cicero led to two separate police chases one ending in Chicago, the other in Indiana, where suspects surrendered in a river, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three juveniles were charged with armed robbery of two couriers who were servicing gaming machines in a Cicero gas station on Friday. Each suspect was charged with two counts of armed robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon. Charges have not yet been released for the three other suspects involved. What we know Cicero police responded around 3 p.m. to a gas station in the 5100 block of West Roosevelt Road for a report of an armed robbery. Authorities said several vehicles approached two couriers handling cash from gaming machines inside the gas station. Then three armed suspects approached and forced the couriers to the ground at gunpoint. Then the suspects ransacked their vehicles, stole approximately $70,000, and fled the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police began pursuing two suspect vehicles, ending one chase near West End Avenue and North Kostner Avenue in Chicago. During the pursuit, a suspects vehicle struck a Chicago police squad car. No injuries were reported. Two suspects were taken into custody at the scene. Two others in a white Honda were later tracked to an apartment building in the 4400 block of West End Avenue and were arrested. Three juveniles were arrested in possession of some of the stolen cash. A black Chrysler was later located by Illinois State Police traveling westbound on Interstate 290. The pursuit continued onto I-294 and I-94 into Indiana. Two suspects abandoned the vehicle on I-94 in Hammond and ran into the Little Calumet River, where they surrendered, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Cicero police investigation recovered cash, drugs, and guns from the suspects, vehicles and the West Side apartment. What's next Police recovered multiple bundles of cashstill wrapped in bandsfrom several vehicles and suspects. Charges have not yet been released for the three other suspects involved. The investigation is ongoing. What you can do Anyone with information about the incident can call the Cicero Police Departments confidential hotline at 708-863-COPS. CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) A 6-year-old was killed in a single-vehicle crash Saturday morning in Cherokee County, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The juvenile from Gaylesville was a passenger in a GMC pickup truck that left the roadway and hit a culvert. After that impact, the GMC went airborne and struck a tree. The crash occurred around 10:22 a.m. on Cherokee County 275 about 10 miles north of Leesburg. Returning Auburn mens basketball star arrested on DUI charge Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The juvenile was pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver was transported to Atrium Health Floyd Atrium Hospital in Rome, Georgia, for treatment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. NEED TO KNOW Elaine Stypula collapsed and died while competing in the Hardrock 100 race in Colorado on Friday, July 11 Stypula, 60, is believed to have collapsed three hours into the race on Little Giant Trail in Silverton CPR was performed on the runner, however, she died at the scene. Her cause of death has not been disclosed at this time An ultra-runner has died after collapsing during a mountain race in Colorado. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 9:02 a.m. local time on Friday, July 11th, emergency responders received a Search and Rescue call about a person receiving CPR three hours into the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run (Hardrock 100) on Little Giant Trail in Silverton, the Silverton Medical Rescue (SMR) team stated in a press release. The San Juan County Sheriffs Department and SMR arrived at the scene and took over resuscitation efforts on the victim, identified as 60-year-old Elaine Stypula of Michigan. A helicopter medical team also responded to the scene. [The SMR] hiked in a of a mile on the Little Giant Trail to the scene, which is a part of the Hardrock 100 course, said SMR, per the release. Once arriving at the scene, the Silverton Medical Rescue Team hiked a mile up a steep, rugged, remote trail and once arrived, performed resuscitation efforts on the patient. Despite their efforts, Stypula was pronounced dead at 10:27 a.m. local time. The cause of her death has not been revealed. Silverton Medical Rescue/Facebook A runner, 60, died during a two-day 100-Mile mountain race in Colorado A runner, 60, died during a two-day 100-Mile mountain race in Colorado Michael Burton, SMRs Incident Commander, released a statement, saying, "SMR is fortunate to have a team of skilled rescue professionals. We support the community, our visitors and each other even on the most difficult calls." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run kicked off on Friday at 6:00 a.m. local time in Silverton, setting off to reach 66,394 feet above ground, according to the Hardrock 100 website. The annual 102-mile race goes through the San Juan Mountains and various Colorado towns, including Telluride and Ouray, before returning to Silverton. We are indebted to Silverton Medical Rescue for their professional response to the tragedy at the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run today. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you, the race organization said in a statement on their website. We are deeply saddened to share that a beloved member of our Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run family has passed away during this years event. Our hearts are with their family, friends, and fellow runners as we grieve this tremendous loss. Silverton Medical Rescue/Facebook Medical teams responding to the incident in the Colorado mountains on July 11 Medical teams responding to the incident in the Colorado mountains on July 11 Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Stypula was a family law attorney and ultra runner, according to her Instagram. In a 2021 post, she announced that she had qualified for the Hardrock Endurance Race 2022. The 60-year-old had previously competed in the same race four years prior, but didnt finish it, according to the New York Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I want to extend my condolences to the family, friends and community of Elaine Stypula," said Keri Metzler of San Juan County Colorado Coroners Office. PEOPLE has reached out to the San Juan County Colorado Coroners Office for comment. Read the original article on People SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The A-7 Corsair looks like its brand new again after a paint job. In May, the aircraft was relocated from the former Martin Airfield to the 185th Air Refueling Wing base for repainting. After 8 weeks at the 185th Paint Facility, the plane is now ready to be on display at its new home, the Siouxland Freedom Park. The 185th Air Refueling host a surprise birthday party for a 100-year-old veteran Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the Air Force you can have static display aircrafts in the communities and also on bases and so this will be going back to the community, but its really important to make sure that our aircrafts are restored to their original beings and so when we first received this it was in a little bit of a rough shape. Not as bad as we expected it to be, so we wanted to restore it in all of its glory, and I believe weve done that, First Lieutenant Makayla Knight, the Paint Facility officer, said. The 185th is still working on the logistics to move the plane over to Freedom Park, but First Lieutenant Knight said shes hopeful that it will be on display in a couple of months. The 185th Paint Facility is the only one in the country for the National Guard. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2025 11:21 a.m. MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WFRV) As of 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, authorities say the AMBER Alert for 7-year-old Jamal D. White was canceled after he was located safe. No information was provided on the details surrounding Jamals search or on the suspect or suspects involved. Original story: 7-year-old abducted in Wisconsin by man with gun and mask, AMBER Alert issued SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2025 8:14 a.m. MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WFRV) An AMBER Alert has been issued for 7-year-old Jamal D. White, who was reportedly abducted by a suspect with a gun and a face mask in southeastern Wisconsin on Friday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing Persons, Jamal was last seen around 7 p.m. on Friday, July 11, in the 6200 block of West Hustis Street in Milwaukee. Wisconsin Task Force 1 among over 2,000 officials in Texas assisting search & rescue efforts Authorities say the suspect is a Black man who was wearing a black face mask and reportedly had a handgun. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and driving a white Jeep Renegade with an unknown license plate. Jamal D. White, 7 White Jeep Renegade Jamal is roughly four feet tall, 80 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and black shorts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with relevant information is asked to call 911 immediately. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. DEER CREEK, Ill. (WMBD) Drinks were raised Friday afternoon to toast to the advancements made in prostate cancer research at the annual all-female Fun Friday Float event. Were in our 11th annual Female Friday Fun Float for prostate cancer. Our charity is the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Chicago. Last year we had 660 girls and this year we have 700, said Kim Williams, organizer of the event. The event is to raise money for prostate cancer research, specifically for the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Chicago. This is the eleventh annual event, and it keeps growing every year. Women who attend the event come together because many of their lives have been affected by prostate cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of these girls, um, have been affected by prostate cancer. It could be their dad, husband, or brother, somebody in their life, because it affects seven out of ten men. When we decided to choose prostate cancer, we were just kind of shocked at all the women that come to this because it affected somebody in their life, Williams said. The event consists of an opening rally at the Deer Creek American Legion, but then travels down to the Mackinaw River, where they begin their six-hour float down the river. This event is strictly for women only, but many men came to support the cause and served as vital volunteers for the event. The men support this. We couldnt do it without them. There are so many men that take the day off to help haul us out to the river. And some of them have been affected by prostate cancer. So, they know were doing this for them, she said. Once the float is over, there is food and a DJ back at the legion to end the event. Organizers hope to raise more than $33,000, which is what they raised last year, for this years event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. (COLORADO SPRINGS) A man who was shot while running from Colorado Springs Police in 2024 is suing the City and the officer involved. The $7 million lawsuit was filed in July, although the 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office justified the officers use of force in January. According to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), on June 9, 2024, at around 12:45 a.m., three officers with the Downtown Area Response Team were on foot patrol in front of a business at 18 South Nevada Avenue between Colorado and Pikes Peak Avenues. Officers heard a disturbance north of their location, and as they began moving toward the noise, they saw a woman fall to the ground after appearing to have been assaulted. Security camera video released by CSPD showed the suspect, later identified as 22-year-old AlMorion Germany, allegedly aiming a gun at a woman and then striking her across the head with the gun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CSPD said Officer Benjamin Hengel pulled his taser and identified himself as a police officer. As Officer Hengel approached the disturbance, a man stepped in front of the officer and chased Germany, but then stopped and raised his hands. Officer Hengel moved around the man and saw Germany allegedly aiming a handgun at the man and him. Officer Hengel shouted gun! and ordered Germany to drop the weapon, then drew his department-issued handgun. CSPD said Germany turned and ran north on South Nevada Avenue. Germany then turned onto Pikes Peak Avenue towards a parking garage known for heavy foot traffic at that time of night. As Officer Hengel turned onto Pikes Peak, he dropped his taser and fired three rounds from his gun at Germany, hitting him twice. Germany continued running across Pikes Peak before complying with the officers commands to get on the ground. Officers rendered medical aid to Germany until paramedics arrived. Germany was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germanys attorney said he is still recovering from the shooting, as he faces two counts of assault from the initial incident, which led to the shooting. His attorney believes that just because Germany assaulted someone with a gun, it should not authorize the use of deadly force. CSPD said Germany created imminent danger with the weapon, and ran into a busier area, which made it difficult for officers to use a less lethal means of containing him. The lawsuit asks for $7 million in damages for Germanys injuries, including a collapsed lung, and asks the department to reform its training around the limits of deadly force. While CSPD said it wont comment on pending litigation, it did tell FOX21 Officer Hengel has been with the department for the last five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. (FOX40.COM) Eight people were arrested in Northern California after a lengthy investigation into a torture and kidnapping case. Video Above: How to report a public safety threat On Friday, several law enforcement agencies worked together to execute five search warrants across San Joaquin County. Officials said the torture and kidnapping investigation was gang-related. Teens accused of armed robbery amid Stockton middle school promotion ceremony Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subsequently, eight people were arrested and face charges of false imprisonment, kidnapping, torture, conspiracy to commit a crime, dissuading a witness, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, threats to terrorize, illegal possession of an assault weapon, manufacture/sale of high-capacity magazines, and several other offenses. Additionally, law enforcement said during the search, it seized several guns, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and more than $15,000 in cash. Video footage of the bust can be found on the SJSCO Facebook page. This takedown was part of the FBIs Summer Heat initiative, a nationwide effort targeting violent offenders and gang members who terrorize our communities, the San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office said on social media. Summer Heat reflects Director Patels commitment to the American people to crush crime and restore safety in neighborhoods across the country. The circumstances behind the alleged torture and kidnapping are unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. ST. MARTINVILLE, La. (KLFY) Francis Melba Braud, 95, of St. Martinville just celebrated her birthday. According to the family, Ms. Braud helped to establish the African American Museum inside the St. Martinville Cultural Museum. Moreover, Braud is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and has achieved diamond status, which recognizes 75 years of service with the organization. Braud was born and raised in Rayville, Louisiana, just outside of Monroe. At one point, Melbas family moved to Houston. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I went from Houston to New Orleans Xavier, and from Xavier, I got married. We came here to live and Ive been here ever since, Braud explained. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Melba lives in the house she and her husband built. They were going around school talking about how Ms. Braud and Mr. Braud are building a castle over there. It took them 20 years to complete the house. Ive been married to you 20 years now, and you havent built this house, so Im leaving. Thats when he struck the line to build this house, she said. Melba attended USL, currently the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Melba and her husband had four children. Her husband, Newman, served in World War II. Plus, her husband was an educator. I was the first African American teacher at USL. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melba recalls when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was marching for equal rights, the federal government allocated funds to cities and parishes for initiatives related to cultural history. She was appointed to the committee for that by the mayor. I did a lot of research with other college professionals and USL to do the historical background for the creation of the museum that we now have today in St. Martinville, Braud noted. She also offers advice to parents on how to reverse the path that many children are currently following and falling victim to today. A long time ago, the old folk used to have to be buried by the young people. Today, the older people have to bury the young folks because so many of them are being shot and killed and falling towards drugs. Its true. We need to get our families together and get back together towards those goals our ancestors had, Braud added. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. PULASKI COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) A 911 call from the night of a fatal shooting near Burnside reveals why the man accused allegedly said he pulled the trigger. The Pulaski County Sheriffs Office said that deputies were called at 1:28 a.m. on July 6 regarding a shooting at a home on Garland Road. According to deputies, they found 35-year-old Thomas Dicks body inside the camper. Hed been shot in the neck, according to dispatch audio. RELATED | Pulaski County shooting leaves Indiana man dead, Ohio man arrested Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was from Aurora, Indiana. Authorities arrested Anthony Emerson, 35, and charged him with murder. Hes being held on a $1 million bond in the Pulaski County Detention Center. Emerson is reportedly from Batavia, Ohio, and said they were in town on vacation. Theyd had a few beers earlier that day. FOX 56 obtained the 911 call that led deputies to Garland Road on Sunday night. Officials said that Emerson is the one who called for help. Emerson let out a sigh before stating, Theres been a shooting; you need to come now. He described Dick as a friend and pleaded for help to arrive. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who shot him? I did; he came in and threatened my life. I didnt have a choice. Please just come save this [expletive] man. But the two had gotten into an argument before the shooting, and he recalled Dick being really angry. He described Dick sprinting in his direction shortly before shots were fired. I came in my [expletive] camper, and he came in through the door chasing me, and I shot him in his neck, Emerson said. We got into a [expletive] argument, dude. I told him, like, Im going inside and going to bed; like, leave me the [expletive] alone, and he came [expletive] sprinting at me, man. He didnt give me a [expletive] choice, dude. I didnt want to do that [expletive], dude. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the 20-minute recording, Emerson could be heard pleading to Dick, Why the [expletive] did you come in here after me? I hear sirens, Emerson told the dispatcher. Im going to walk towards the end of the driveway. I dont have a gun. It is clear, and no magazine inside the camper. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. (WHTM) In the event of a telephone outage, some Pennsylvania communities have an old-school yet vital failsafe to alert first responders to an emergency. One of those communities is in the Midstate. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Alerts Hanover is one of a handful of communities that still maintain a Gamewell telegraph fire call box system. The system consisting of red boxes mounted on utility poles at street corners throughout town works in the event of a telecommunications or power outage, like the 911 outage in Pennsylvania Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each box is assigned a number and, when pulled, a signal is sent to a receiving point generally at a firehouse where an air horn sounds corresponding to the box. Independently powered off of battery back-ups and our stations back-up generator, these boxes will remain functional in any cellphone or power outage, Hanover Fires volunteers said in a 2024 Facebook post. The systems date back to the 1800s and Hanover is the last in the Midstate to have one in service. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices In Pennsylvania, theyre most common in anthracite coal region communities, like Shenandoah and Mahanoy City, where fire chiefs said they are still life-savers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. The man accused of fatally shooting a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband and attempting to kill two others has broken his silence from inside jail, insisting his actions were not motivated by Trump stuff or abortion. Vance Boelter, 57, said that while he was pro-life, that was also not the motive for the alleged murder of Democratic State House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, and her husband, Mark, on June 14. Hes also been charged over the shootings that same morning of Democratic State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who both survived a separate attack at their home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities called the shootings politically motivated. Boelter spoke out in an exclusive interview with The New York Post from a cell inside Sherburne County Jail in Elk River, Minnesota. Vance Boelter, 57, the man suspected of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers, has spoken out in an interview from prison (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office) You are fishing and I cant talk about my caseIll say it didnt involve either the Trump stuff or pro-life, Boelter told the outlet via the prison messaging system. I am pro-life personally but it wasnt those I will just say there is a lot of information that will come out in future that people will look at and judge for themselves that goes back 24 months before the 14th. If the gov ever lets it get out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His remarks echo comments made previously when, during a federal court hearing, he said told the judge he was looking forward to court, where the truth would come out, The New York Times reported. During the hearing, the judge ordered Boelter to remain in jail while awaiting trial. Prosecutors allege that on the day of the alleged shootings, Boelter disguised himself as a police officer. The incident occurred at the lawmakers Minneapolis-area homes in the early morning hours. Boelter was arrested near his rural Minnesota home after a two-day manhunt. Vance L. Boelter, the suspect identified in connection with the shooting of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, posed as a police officer and wore a face mask outside the victims' door (FBI) Prosecutors say handwritten notes were found in Boelters car with the names of dozens of Minnesota state and federal elected officials which included some of their home addresses. Boelter asked The Post about the notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can I ask what you heard as an outside person about the note that the alleged person Ill say alleged person left in that car, did you hear anything about that? he said. Following the attacks, Boelters wife said in a statement through her lawyer that she and her family are appalled and horrified by the shootings. "We are absolutely shocked, heartbroken and completely blindsided, she said. This violence does not at all align with our beliefs as a family. It is a betrayal of everything we hold true as tenets of our Christian faith. A Pennsylvania man who posted a video of his fathers severed head on YouTube was convicted of murder Friday and sentenced to life without parole. Bucks County Judge Stephen A. Corr found Justin D. Mohn, 33, guilty in the January 2024 shooting death of his father at their home in the Philadelphia suburb of Levittown. After the sentencing, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn told reporters Mohn had exhibited a complete and utter lack of remorse, calling it an unimaginable, unfathomable crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are satisfied that this was the right outcome to guarantee that the community at large is safe from Justin Mohn, Schorn said. His defense attorney called it an undoubtedly difficult case to preside over. Cases involving the loss of life are always the most difficult, and that difficulty is compounded when the prosecution seeks the death penalty. The commonwealth originally sought the death penalty in this case, and based on the defense that was presented on behalf of Mr. Mohn, my client will not face that penalty, said Mohns lawyer, Steven M. Jones, in an email. He declined to comment on whether Mohn will appeal. Prosecutors said Mohn shot his father, Michael F. Mohn, 68, with a newly purchased pistol, then decapitated him with a kitchen knife and machete. The 14-minute YouTube video he posted was live for several hours before it was removed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mohn testified during the trial that he shot his father while trying to arrest him on what he said were false statements and treason but his father resisted, so he fired at him. He said he severed his head to send a message to federal workers to meet his demands, which included their resignation among other things. In victim impact statements read in court Friday, family members and others recalled Michael Mohn as a loving husband and father, a man of humility and humor who enjoyed reading, exercising and playing the guitar. Justin Mohn was arrested later on the day of the murder after scaling a fence at Fort Indiantown Gap, the states National Guard headquarters. Prosecutors said he called for others to join him in attempting to overthrow the U.S. government. Mohn had a USB device containing photos of federal buildings and apparent instructions for making explosives when he was arrested, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also expressed violent anti-government rhetoric in writings he published online, going back several years. During the trial, the judge heard from Justin Mohns mother, who said police came to the house he shared with his parents and warned him about his online postings before the killing. Denice Mohn testified that she and her husband had been offering financial support and guidance as Justin Mohn looked for a job. Its unimaginable what the defendant did to his father and to his family, Schorn said. I know this verdict does provide some level of justice, but it will never heal their wounds. He was also convicted of possession of an instrument of crime, gun charges, criminal use of a communication facility, terroristic threats, defiant trespassing, and abuse of a corpse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors described the homicide as something straight out of a horror film. They said Justin Mohn killed his father who had been an engineer with the geoenvironmental section of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District to intimidate federal workers, calling it a cold, calculated, organized plan. The YouTube video included rants about the government, immigration and the border, fiscal policy, urban crime and the war in Ukraine. In the video posted on YouTube, Justin Mohn described his father as a 20-year federal employee and called him a traitor. During a competency hearing last year, a defense expert said Mohn wrote a letter to Russias ambassador to the United States seeking to strike a deal to give Mohn refuge and apologizing to President Vladimir Putin for claiming to be the czar of Russia. The judge ruled Mohn was competent to stand trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evidence presented at the trial included graphic photos and the video posted to YouTube. The judge warned members of the public at the trial about the images and said they could leave before the photos were shown. The proceedings are known as a bench trial, with only a judge, not a jury. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Weather forecasters and emergency response officials knew a storm was headed for Central Texas on July 4 and took steps to prepare for it. Yet somehow, they were caught flat-footed. Forecasts by the National Weather Service predicted significantly less rainfall than actually fell on Kerr County in the Texas Hill Country. And the agencys early predictions had the storm hitting hardest near the Rio Grande. Two days before the flood, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, TDEM, mobilized high-water vehicles, helicopters, rescue boats and personnel. But because officials werent sure where the storm would deal its harshest blows, most of those assets were staged in San Antonio, not in the Hill Country towns where they would be needed most desperately, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety said after the storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early on the morning of July 4, NWS alerts began to light up the cellphones of people in the path of the Guadalupe Rivers floodwaters. Yet those warning werent urgent until, suddenly, they were. By then, water was swamping low-lying cabins at Camp Mystic, where 27 campers and counselors died. Here is an overview of the predictions and preparations made in advance of the flood: Early forecasts predict moderate rainfall and heightened flood risk, but are unclear about severity and precise location of storms July 1, afternoon: The National Weather Service office for the San Antonio-Austin region forecasts rain for Wednesday through Friday, but mainly in the western part of its coverage area, near the Rio Grande. For Kerrville, the forecast calls for a 20% chance of rain on Thursday and 30% on July 4. July 2, afternoon: In a radar update, the NWS says scattered moderate to heavy showers are expanding into the Hill Country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July 2, evening: In response to increased threats of flooding over the July 4 weekend, the TDEM activates emergency response teams for Central and West Texas. W. Nim Kidd, chief of TDEM, would later say that emergency personnel were on the ground by July 3. Its unclear precisely where they were deployed. Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said resources had been staged in San Antonio for the most part, because of uncertainty over where they would be needed. July 3, 12:03 p.m.: The NWS posts on X that rain showers are increasing in coverage in South and Central Texas. It forecasts scattered showers with some locally heavy downpours. Officials issue flood watch, escalate emergency preparedness advisories as forecasts show heavier rainfall concentrating in the Hill Country July 3, 1:18 p.m.: The NWS issues a flood watch until 7 a.m. Friday for Kerr County and eight other counties In the NWS lexicon, a watch means conditions are favorable for dangerous weather. The agency says 1 to 3 inches of rain is possible and 5 to 7 inches cannot be ruled out. July 3, 2:26 p.m.: TDEM raises the readiness status of its emergency operations center to Level II, known as escalated response. Jay Hall, the agencys assistant chief, personally contacts local officials to make them aware of the potential for flooding, according to an account provided a day later by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July 3, 4:45 p.m.: The NWS warns on X that showers and thunderstorms continue to form in the region, with potential for torrential rainfall and gusty winds. 4:45 PM Radar update: Showers and thunderstorms continue to form and move across parts of the area. Expect torrential rainfall and gusty winds in any of the stronger storms. Motorists should remain alert for any ponding of water on roadways. #txwx pic.twitter.com/3Iu0rVrXrN NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) July 3, 2025 July 3, 6:51 p.m.: The NWS says shower activity is increasing across the Hill Country and was expected to continue throughout the evening. 6:51 PM Radar update: Shower activity is increasing across the Hill Country and west of I-35 from the San Antonio area to the south of the Austin metro. This activity is expected to continue throughout the evening. #txwx pic.twitter.com/gMOl5N9UWM NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) July 3, 2025 July 4, 12:53 a.m.: The weather service issues a flood watch spanning 11 counties in South Texas, including Kerr County. July 4, 1 a.m.: The NWS reports very heavy rainfall rates over parts of the Hill Country, especially in Bandera, Kerr and Gillespie counties, where 2 to 3 inches per hour is likely to occur. 1:00AM Radar update: We continue to see very heavy rainfall rates over parts of the Hill Country. Especially across Bandera, Kerr, and Gillespie counties where rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour are likely to occur as these storms continue to slowly move across the area. pic.twitter.com/JqaSh8Vo8B NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) July 4, 2025 First flash flood warning issued in Kerr and Bandera counties. Within two hours, NWS declares an ongoing dangerous flooding event July 4, 1:14 a.m.: The weather service issues a flash flood warning, as distinct from a watch, for central Kerr County and northwestern Bandera County. It says life-threatening flooding is possible. An NWS warning means dangerous weather is happening or is extremely likely to happen soon. Warnings are delivered on social media, by email and directly to cellphones enabled to receive them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the warning goes out, the NWS Weather Prediction Center says parts of the Hill Country could get 6 inches of rain over the next six hours and some flash flood impacts could be significant. Forecasters say an additional 6 to 12 inches fell after the warning was issued. July 4, 3:06 a.m.: The NWS says on X that a very dangerous flash flooding event is ongoing in south-central Kerr County and northwest Bandera County. A very dangerous flash flooding event is ongoing across south-central Kerr County into northwest Bandera County, where 3-7 inches of rainfall has occurred the last 2-3 hours. Heavy rainfall continues in this area and a Flash Flood Warning is in effect. Turn Around, Dont Drown! pic.twitter.com/Zn2VUzGlsR NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) July 4, 2025 Summer camps along the Guadalupe River, including Camp Mystic, are rapidly flooded July 4, 3:11 a.m.: A staffer at Camp Mystic, located near Hunt in western Kerr County, starts to evacuate campers from their cabins, according to an account the staffer posted later on social media. By 4 a.m., I was on a roof with the water right up to me, the staffer wrote. July 4, 3:19 a.m.: The weather service issues a flood warning for the Guadalupe River in Hunt, an area dotted with summer camps. Minor flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is forecast. Automobiles were being swept into the river near Camp Waldemar, the agency said. Some residents are cut off and should stay put. The NWS says the Guadalupe could reach a height of 16.6 feet at Hunt. Fourteen minutes later, it was at 22 feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July 4, 3:30 a.m.: In Kerrville, 12 miles east downriver of Hunt, City Manager Dalton Rice goes jogging along the Guadalupe while crews set up equipment for the annual Kerrvilles Fourth on the River celebration at Louise Hays Park. Rice would say later that he saw no indication the river was rising. July 4, 3:33 a.m.: The NWS issues a flood warning for the Guadalupe in Kerrville. July 4, 4 a.m.: The NWS issues another flood warning for the Guadalupe at Hunt, saying flooding had progressed from moderate to major severity. Flash flood emergency declared as Guadalupe rises to 28 feet of water July 4, 4:03 a.m.: The weather service heightens its flash flood warning for central Kerr and northwest Bandera counties, calling it a flash flood emergency and urging residents, in all caps, to SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July 4, 4:10 a.m.: The Guadalupe at Hunt rises to 22.85 feet, surpassing the 22-foot level that qualifies as a major flood. July 4, 4:33 a.m.: The city of Kerrville posts road closures on Facebook and says Kerrville police and firefighters are assisting in high-water rescues. July 4, 5:18 a.m.: The NWS extends its flash flood warning for the Guadalupe at Kerrville, noting that the river had risen to 28 feet, almost as high as during the catastrophic flooding of July 1987. July 4, 5:34 a.m.: On X, the NWS declares a flash flood emergency along the river between Hunt and Center Point. The designation signals an ongoing catastrophic event. Flash Flood Emergency including Kerrville TX, Ingram TX and Center Point TX until 12:00 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/uC5xo4TAaN NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) July 4, 2025 July 4, 5:34 a.m.: The weather service issues a flash flood warning for east-central Kerr County, saying rain gauges have detected a large and deadly flood wave moving down the Guadalupe River. Guadalupe River evacuations continue as Kerrville mayor declares a state of emergency July 4, 5:58 a.m.: The city of Kerrville opens an emergency shelter at First United Methodist Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July 4, 6:22 a.m.: The city of Kerrville says on Facebook that severe weather could disrupt the citys July 4 celebration. Much needed rain swept through Kerrville overnight, but the downside is the severe weather may impact many of todays scheduled July 4 events. July 4, 6:29 a.m.: The Kerrville Police Department urges all residents near the Guadalupe to evacuate. This is a life threatening event. Do not wait, the department says on Facebook. July 4, 8:43 a.m.: The city of Kerrville says on Facebook that Mayor Joe Herring Jr. has declared a local state of disaster under Texas law. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Ahead of Texas floods, weather warnings werent frantic until they were Artificial Intelligence is to help grade A-level and GCSE exam papers. Exam board AQA is working with Kings College London academics to create an AI virtual assistant to assist and support exam paper markers. More than 600,000 of taxpayer money is funding the three-year scheme which intends to boost the accuracy and reliability of the grading process. Professor Yulan He, an expert in using machine learning to understand written text, is leading the work and said the aim is to reduce errors, make mark schemes fairer, and give quicker feedback to students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We aim to create an AI technology that can add a layer of quality control and support experts mark accurately and consistently, Professor Yulan told The Telegraph. The goal is very much not to create an AI system that replaces examiners marking students work, but recognises that marking is a really demanding task and supports them to mark more consistently and faster. The AI assistant could be used to check the marks given by a human and detect any scores which seem erroneously low or high based on the AIs own assessment. Other possible applications are to check the quality of answers from students using language analysis machine learning and scrutinising the relevance, factuality, coherence and logical reasoning of an answer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AI could also be used to refine the mark scheme if there is a flaw in how marks are given to ensure fairer marking and also to give AI-generated explanations to students as to why they did or did not get a question correct. Government backing for AI in education Peter Kyle, the Science and Technology Secretary, told The Telegraph the project will help pupils reach their potential and open as many doors as possible. The central, most exciting, opportunity that AI affords us is not where it can replace human expertise, but where it will enhance it, he said. By adding a layer of support and quality control for exam markers, this work by Kings College London can make sure every student receives the fair assessment they deserve, to fulfil their potential and open as many doors as possible for their future success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These projects are combining cutting-edge research with professional expertise to turn research into practical solutions that can improve peoples daily lives and drive growth as part of our Plan for Change. Prof Yulan insisted the human involvement in marking papers is critical to the process and AI will be used to facilitate and refine instead of to replace. This is not to replace the human marker. Humans in the loop are very important. Our AI technology will just add a layer of quality control and support experts mark accurately and consistently, she said. There is no danger of this being used to mark next years exam papers unsupervised, for example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We aim to develop a safe and reliable virtual assistant in collaboration with teachers, learners and subject experts, that could be used in the future to assist examiners when they mark. Pepe DiIasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: If AI can provide an extra level of quality assurance, which supports examiners and improves the accuracy and consistency of grading, then that is clearly a good thing which we very much support. As with any project to utilise AI, it is absolutely essential that it is robustly tested before being rolled out into the real world, and that exam scripts are always seen by human beings. Were pleased to see assurances to this effect. The process of marking and grading exams is a major undertaking which has to be delivered to tight deadlines, so the potential of technology to support this process is certainly something which should be explored. We look forward to seeing how this project develops. People should always remain in control AQA is one of the countrys largest examination boards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 1.4 million students sat one of its qualifications last year and more than nine in ten schools have at least one AQA course in its curriculum. Around 30,000 teachers, lecturers, subject experts and academics help design its tests and mark exams each year. Cesare Aloisi, AQAs head of assessment innovations, said: Were always looking for ways to enhance the support we give the examiners who mark our exam papers and to develop even more sophisticated quality controls. AI can help us do that with the important guiding principle that it is there to help human expert judgment, and that people should always remain in control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example AI could flag marks that may be too lenient or too severe, but it would always be a person deciding what mark to give. We think it is essential that our expert examiners, and not AI, make these decisions that are so important for young peoples futures. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A year removed from its dismissal in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, President Donald Trumps classified documents case is little more than a distant memory. What stands out, however, was how the prosecution moved at a snails pace, facilitated by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannons drawn-out deadlines and tolerance of Trump team efforts to delay that at least created the appearance that she was slow-walking the case. Her handling of another, more recent Trump-related legal matter, however, suggests that she is capable of handling complex cases promptly and efficiently. When you go back to the Mar-a-Lago documents case, it really did look like she was walking the case slow, was giving Trump absolutely every benefit of the doubt that she could give in terms of his lawyers, David Schultz, a Hamline University professor of legal studies and political science, told Salon. But Cannons handling of the prosecution of Trumps would-be assassin, Ryan Wesley Routh, is proceeding at a quite different pace. In that case, which began with Rouths arraignment in late September 2024, Cannons decisions on motions have been timely and even-handed, with rulings following as quickly as two weeks after the last related filing was submitted, and, aside from two requests for delay granted in part, the case progressing on time for its Sept. 8, 2025, trial date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taken together, Cannons handling of the Routh case appears to substantiate legal experts accusations of purposeful delay in the now-defunct Trump classified documents case. In 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Trump on 40 counts over his post-presidency retention of classified documents and efforts to thwart the governments attempts to retrieve them. Though the criminal case against Trump and two co-defendants started with consistent court dates and filing deadlines, it would eventually grind to a near-halt as Trumps legal team submitted a bevy of motions seeking to delay the case and Cannon, herself a Trump appointee, entertained them. The prosecution dragged on in its pre-trial evidence sharing period, with Cannon striking the trial date from the calendar altogether in May 2024 on account of accumulating motions she had yet to rule on. It also struck several legal experts as strange, and then alarming, that she was considering questionable Trump legal arguments, such as the notion that he could designate classified records his personal property under the Presidential Records Act, or requesting that the parties submit proposed jury instructions on the matter well before discovery had gotten anywhere close to completion. Normally, you dont talk about jury instructions until well into trial, and we dont have a trial date, not a confirmed trial date yet. So the fact that shes entertaining this nonsense, number one, doing it when shes doing it, well before trial, and refusing to issue a final ruling on it its just either bizarre or just outright biased depending on your view of things, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Salon last April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toward the end of the prosecutions life, Cannon even allocated two days to a hearing on whether Smiths appointment was invalid, also allowing for outside counsel to argue on Trumps behalf, much to the dismay of many legal experts. By contrast, in the Routh case, shes proceeding the way you would normally expect a district court judge to proceed on criminal matters, except it seems to be even more accelerated, Schultz said in a phone interview, noting that federal judges have notoriously heavy dockets. The fact that shes moving this one [in what] appears to be as quickly as she is seems unusual. Schultz said he would expect a routine federal case to take a couple of years from the time of the first hearing to its completion, and the Routh case is moving much more rapidly than that. In Cannons defense, the classified documents case one of the first she heard after being appointed to the bench was complicated in both its scope and the sensitive nature of the materials at issue. Federal agents obtained dozens of boxes of documents from Mar-a-Lago, including hundreds of pages of classified materials, ranging in sensitivity, that would need to be reviewed in a specified area with a court-appointed handler during discovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the Routh case similarly involves a high volume of discovery, including hundreds of interviews and some level of classified information, as evidenced by the Classified Information Procedures Act proceedings in the docket. Earlier this week, Routh also requested a hearing on his proposal to terminate his counsel and represent himself at trial, and Cannon held it just days later. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. Schultz added that Cannons accelerated pace in the Routh prosecution could also be indicative of her learning curve. With a few more years of judicial experience under her belt, she may have finally found her rhythm in deciding on motions, setting trial schedules and maintaining them. But thats him [playing] devils advocate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I still think there is this, at the very least, appearance problem, just in terms of how she handled that case versus this one, Schultz said. The delays in the Smith case also havent stopped. In February, the Knight First Amendment Institute of Columbia University filed a motion to intervene in the case and rescind the order preventing the release of the second volume of special counsel Smiths report. The court received responses from Trumps former co-defendants and the government as well as the reply from the Knight Institute by the end of March. But more than 90 days from the filing date of the reply, the institute has yet to receive a ruling from Cannon, according to its latest filing on Monday. For her part, Cannon previously denied in part an expedited motion from nonpartisan watchdog American Oversight seeking to intervene in the case and get clarification or dissolution of that order four days after its submission. The post Aileen Cannon is doing a good job, actually appeared first on Salon.com. British households could be allowed to claim 7,500 to install air conditioning heat pumps in their homes, under plans being considered by ministers. The boiler upgrade scheme, which supports homeowners to replace outdated boilers, is currently restricted to heat pumps which cannot pump cool air. If the scheme is amended to include grants for air-to-air heat pumps, homeowners could benefit from carbon efficient heating in the winter, and air conditioning in the summer, campaigners say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Labour is considering amending the scheme to allow claims for the dual heat pumps, the i newspaper reported. Britain Remade, a pro-growth campaign group, has launched a petition calling for the Government to allow all new homes to have air conditioning installed, as well as extending grants to cooling heat pumps. The organisation wrote: Summers never been hotter. Electricity has never been cleaner. Its time to ditch the anti-air con rules, written for a world where summer was 25C and our electricity was coal-powered. In London, plans from Mayor Sadiq Khan make it clear that passive ventilation should be prioritised over air conditioning, which is said to be less desirable due to significant energy requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, said: Britain cant be one of the only countries to not allow air con because bureaucrats worry it uses too much energy. Thats exactly the kind of poverty mindset that we need to bin. Energy policy should fit what Britons need, not the other way around. Bring on Cool Britannia. Electricity blackouts Air conditioning has become a hot topic following a series of heatwaves across the country in June and July, which saw temperatures reach 35.8C in Kent on July 1. The number of households using air conditioning units jumped from 3pc to 20pc between 2011 and 2022, according to a study published earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But traditional air conditioning units, which are common in hotter countries including the US and across Europe, can put extra strain on the electricity grid and cost homeowners thousands of pounds a year. The devices are expected to increase power demand by 45pc by 2050, leading to fears of electricity blackouts as power stations struggle to cope. Predicted overspend Heat pumps, which are the backbone of the Governments Net Zero policy, can cost up to 13,000 to install. The boiler upgrade scheme, which was launched in May 2022 by the previous Conservative administration, provides up to 7,500 towards their installation. In its first year, the scheme spent just a third of its allocated budget, although it is predicted to overspend in this tax year. Nearly 2bn has been budgeted for the scheme until March 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But despite a Government target of 600,000 installations a year, since the beginning of 2024 just 365,397 have been installed, according to the MCS Foundation. Earlier this week, The Telegraph reported that the Governments chief new-zero advisor had admitted that it was unclear whether the green devices saved households money. A meeting chaired by Professor Dame Angela McLean found it was not currently clear if heat pumps were cheaper to run than a traditional gas boiler. The report, published on Wednesday, said heat pumps represented a major financial decision and long-term commitment, adding it is not currently clear that heat pumps will save people money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said in a statement: The climate and nature crises are amongst the greatest long-term challenges we face, and we are taking action to future proof homes and communities. We have consulted on expanding the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to include air-to-air heat pumps giving working families more choice and are improving the energy efficiency of housing to cope with higher temperatures. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Air Force of Ukraine has reported that 344 aerial assets were shot down on the night of 11-12 July, in particular 319 Shaheds and 25 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Source: Air Force of Ukraine Details: A total of 339 out of the 597 drones were Shaheds, and a total of 26 missiles were launched. Another 258 decoy drones disappeared from radar. A missile and 20 attack UAV strikes have been recorded in five locations, and debris has fallen in 19 locations. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The granddaughter of a victim of the Air India Flight 171 crash has said a preliminary report into the incident was "incomplete" and that she "can't be at peace" without those responsible being held accountable. "It does bring us a little bit closer to understanding what happened," Ria Patel told BBC's Newshour, but added: "I want to be able to have closure." She is one of several voices in the UK to stress the need for answers over root causes of the crash, which occurred shortly after take-off in Ahmendabad on 12 June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A preliminary report, released on Friday, found fuel to the engines of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was cut moments after take-off. The investigation is ongoing. Manju Mahesh Patel, 79, was one of the 260 people killed - most of whom were passengers - when the London-bound plane fell into a densely populated neighbourhood in the western Indian city. Her granddaughter found reading the report "quite heartbreaking", as there were images from the immediate aftermath of the crash - including the wreckage - that were difficult to process. "For me, I can't sort of stop thinking about what my grandma's final moments must have looked like," she said from her home in Buckinghamshire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Patel's grandmother had been staying in Ahmedabad for the prior few months, carrying out charity work at a temple. Manju's son had been due pick her up at Gatwick that night, and she was said to be looking forward to seeing her four grandchildren in the UK. "This was the chance to reconnect with her after 10 years," Ms Patel said. "Knowing that we won't be able to see her again, it is really tough." Data gathered from inside the plane suggests both of its fuel control switches moved from the "run" to the "cut-off" position in the space of a second shortly after take-off. These switches are typically only turned off when a plane has landed and made it to the gate, or during emergency situations. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) did not specify whether an emergency situation had taken place on board in its preliminary report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cut-off then caused both engines to lose thrust, the AAIB report found. More on flight AI171 For Ms Patel, the preliminary report still points to several theories and its findings are incomplete. But she stressed how "extremely important" it was for her and others to find out what the underlying cause of the crash was. "I feel like I can't really be at peace with what's happened, unless I understand where the accountability lies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sameer Rafik, a cousin of crash victim Faizan Rafik, is similarly calling for more details to be brought forward. "The Indian Government should release the cockpit audio for the families who lost loved ones," he said. Only after that "we will then know what happened", he told the BBC. Sameer Rafik, cousin of Air India victim Faizan Rafik, wants the cockpit recordings from the crash to be released [BBC] There were 53 UK nationals on board the Air India flight when it crashed. Miten Patel, whose parents were on the plane to return to their home in Kent, said the report was only the start of a painful journey. "There's a lot of anger, there's a lot of frustration," he told the BBC from his home in South London. "But we need to know the cause." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel, who now wears the same ring his father Ashok was wearing on the day of the crash, urged patience. "It is going to be tough, but we need to be sure it's done correctly." Miten Patel, the eldest son of victims Ashok and Shobhana, said it was important the investigation was done correctly [BBC] Dr Mario Donadi, a friend of another victim killed in the Air India crash, described the initial findings a "huge slap in the face" on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. His "dear colleague", Dr Prateek Joshi, had been travelling back to the UK with his family. He took a picture of himself, his wife and three kids mere moments before take-off. "How [can] something so trivial [as] a simple switch being deactivated lead to such a loss of life, of such huge dreams?" Dr Donadi asked. Dr Prateek Joshi took a selfie along with wife, Dr Komi Vyas, and their three children just moments before take-off [Supplied] Ms Patel said she recognised that knowing what happened will not change the outcome of what occurred. "My grandma still isn't here." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she argued that "clear actions" needed to be taken for relatives of the victims "to feel a sense of justice - because so many lives have been lost". The AAIB investigation is expected to produce a more detailed report in 12 months. A UK Department for Transport spokesperson told the BBC that the government would review the preliminary report in detail and "consider if any action is required". Ms Patel said the loss of her grandmother had left a noticeable "gap" in her life, as she used to call her every weekend. "She will be sorely missed. She was an amazing woman." New Delhi, India Just moments before a fatal Air India crash on June 12, the Boeing 787 Dreamliners fuel-control switches in the cockpit mysteriously moved from the run to the cutoff position, an early investigation into the disaster has revealed. Flipping to cutoff almost immediately cuts the engines. The investigations report, issued by Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) early on Saturday, found that both engines shut down within the space of one second, leading to immediate loss of altitude. The report does not conclude any reason for the switches moving or apportion blame for the crash of Air Indias Flight 171, which had been bound for Londons Gatwick Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather, the new details emerging from the report, including voice recordings from the cockpit, appear to have compounded the mystery about what caused the crash. This is what the report has found and what we know about the final minute before the plane crashed. What happened on June 12? At 13:38 [08:08 GMT] on the afternoon of June 12, the Dreamliner departed Ahmedabad for London Gatwick with 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew and 2 pilots on board. Less than 40 seconds later, the aircraft lost both engines during its initial climb. In the first such incident for a 787 Dreamliner, the plane crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel and adjoining structures in a densely populated suburb of the city, just under a nautical mile (equivalent to about 1.85km) from the runway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The aircraft broke apart on impact, igniting a fire that destroyed parts of five buildings. All but one of the people on board the plane were killed. The sole survivor was Vishwaskumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national of Indian origin. Some 19 people on the ground were also killed and 67 were injured. A journalist stands next to the wreckage of the landing gear of the Air India aircraft, bound for Londons Gatwick Airport, which crashed during takeoff from the airport in Ahmedabad, India, on June 12, 2025 [Adnan Abidi/Reuters] What has the investigation revealed? The AAIB, an office under Indias Ministry of Civil Aviation, is leading the probe into the worlds deadliest aviation accident in a decade. The probe is also joined by experts from Boeing and participants from the United States and United Kingdom. According to the preliminary report, the aircraft was deemed airworthy, with its Airworthiness Review Certificate valid until May 2026. Routine maintenance had been carried out, and no dangerous goods were on board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, investigators noted a previous US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory from December 2018 regarding a potential flaw in the aircrafts fuel-control switch system highlighting the potential disengagement of the locking feature. The report on the Air India crash noted that this advisory had been prompted by reports from operators of Boeing 737 aircraft, highlighting that fuel-control switches had been found to have been installed with their locking mechanisms disengaged. Air India told the investigators that no inspection had been made in response to this advisory, since compliance was not mandatory. The report noted that the throttle control module on the aircraft had been replaced in 2019 and again in 2023. However, these replacements were not related to the fuel-control switch, and no defects concerning the switch have been reported since 2023, the report highlighted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Key systems such as the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) and Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) were engaged and attempted automatic recovery, but only partial engine relight was achieved before the aircraft crashed. (Al Jazeera) What does the audio recording from the cockpit reveal? Shortly after takeoff, both engines shut down almost simultaneously, as the fuel control switches inexplicably moved from run to cutoff. Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot questioning the other, Why did you cut off? The other pilot replied that he had not done so. The pilots quickly attempted to recover control: the fuel switches were returned to run; the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was deployed; and the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) auto-started. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the report, Engine 1 began relighting, but Engine 2 failed to regain thrust. Just seconds before impact, a panicked MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY call was transmitted. What did air traffic control observe? The Air Traffic Control Officer at Ahmedabad received no response at all following the Mayday call sign but observed the aircraft crashing outside the airport boundary. CCTV footage from the airport showed the aircrafts Ram Air Turbine (RAT) being deployed during the initial climb immediately after lift-off. The aircraft then started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall. The report has not determined whether the fuel-switch shutdown was mechanical or accidental. The investigators have also not speaker-stamped the voice recording identified who is speaking from the cockpit yet. Who were the pilots? Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the 56-year-old pilot-in-command (PIC), had extensive experience with 15,638 total flying hours, including 8,596 hours on the Boeing 787, of which 8,260 hours were as PIC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The co-pilot, or first officer, was Clive Kunder. The 32-year-old had accumulated 3,403 flying hours, including 1,128 hours on the B787, all as co-pilot. His endorsements included C172 and PA-34 as PIC and A320 and B787 as co-pilot. On the day of the accident, Kunder was the pilot flying the Dreamliner while Sabharwal acted as the pilot monitoring, responsible for supporting the flight through communication with air traffic control and system monitoring. Rescue officials work at the site where Air India flight 171 crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The London-bound passenger plane crashed in Indias western city of Ahmedabad with 242 on board, aviation officials said, in what the airline called a tragic accident [Sam Panthaky/AFP] Second-by-second timeline of Flight 171s last moments 08:07:33 [GMT]: Cleared for takeoff from Ahmedabads runway 23. 08:07:37: Aircraft begins takeoff roll. 08:08:33: Aircraft reaches V1 (153 knots). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 08:08:35: Aircraft achieves Vr (155 knots) for rotation. 08:08:39: Lift-off registered. 08:08:42: Aircraft peaks at its maximum recorded speed of 180 knots; both engine-fuel switches abruptly transition to cutoff. 08:08:47: Engines lose power; RAT deploys to provide emergency hydraulics. 08:08:52: Engine 1 fuel switch is returned to run. 08:08:54: APU inlet door begins to open (auto-start initiates). 08:08:56: Engine 2 fuel switch also moved to run. 08:09:05: Pilot transmits MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY. 08:09:11: Final data recorded; aircraft hits the ground. According to Saturdays report, at this stage of the investigation, there is no need for airlines or engine makers to take any action regarding the Boeing 787-8 planes or GE GEnx-1B engines. Further investigation is under way. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Federal funding for Alabama Public Television could be on the chopping block next week if the U.S. Senate votes to approve a request by the White House to pull back funding already appropriated by Congress for international aid and public broadcasting. It wont just be a loss to Alabama Public Television, it will be a loss to the citizens of the state of Alabama, said Jack Williams, the External Affairs Director for Alabama Public Television. The proposed cuts are part of an effort by the Trump administration to follow through on work done by the Department of Government Efficiency. The package would rescind $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting which funds NPR and PBS. The amount represents the full amount appropriated for the next two budget years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About two-thirds of the money gets distributed to more than 1,500 local public radio and televisions stations. Nearly half of those outlets serve rural parts of the country. Alabama Public Televisions Jack Williams is worried about the impact the cuts could have on their operation. When you start taking 13% of your budget away, somethings gotta go, he said. That equals about $3 million a year. Which Alabama icon was featured in Fridays New York Times crossword puzzle? Williams is also concerned about the fate of the national programming they rely on: When this federal funding goes away, its going to cut into PBS ability to create childrens programming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he doesnt know exactly what may change, the majority of Alabama Public Televisions childrens programming is produced nationally, with an emphasis on teaching. You go to other networks and their childrens programming is entertaining, ours is educational and entertaining, he explained. Williams said trying to replace that programming would be very expensive. The cuts could also impact their education department which provides training for teachers in rural and low-income areas. He is still hopeful an amendment might be offered up next week by that would remove the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from the rescission package. Last month the bill narrowly passed the House, the vote was 214-212. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that even in the House, folks were like we really dont want to hurt our local stations, he noted. They may have problems with NPR and PBS but most people like their local stations, and I think theres a greater sensitivity to that in the Senate. President Donald Trump posted a message on Truth Social last night warning Republicans to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or risk losing his support or endorsement. Today we reached out to Senator Tommy Tubervilles office, and have not heard back. We did, however, receive a statement from Senator Katie Britts office which reads as the following: Senator Britt is proud to support President Trumps efforts to cut waste, fraud, and abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We also reached out to WBHM in Birmingham and received a statement from Will Dahlberg, the General Manager and Executive Director of WBHM and the Gulf States Newsroom which reads: We continue to assess potential implications on our budget and operations. While federal funding and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting have provided important support for our mission for decades, the largest portion of WBHM financial support comes from our valued community of listener members and corporate underwriting partners. Now more than ever, we will rely on that community to support our important work as we remain committed to journalism that is fair, credible, accurate, honest, and free from commercial and political influence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claimed on Friday that having a rapist president in office has muddied the Justice Departments handling of matters involving deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files? the New York representative asked on X. In 2023, Trump was found liable for sexually abusing columnist E. Jean Carroll, but was not found liable for rape and wasnt charged with a criminal offense. As many Trump supporters noted on the congresswomans post, ABC News was sued last year when anchor George Stephanopoulos used similar verbiage to characterize the presidents alleged actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ocasio-Cortez has summarized Trump as a rapist and criminal at rallies as well. While the president was convicted in a cover-up conspiracy to defraud the voting public, those crimes were not sexual in nature. Trump has come under fire from his own supporters this week after Justice Department officials he appointed stated that Epstein kept no client list linking celebrities and public officials to his alleged sex trafficking activities. Many of Trumps followers insist otherwise. Some have questioned whether Trump once an Epstein party pal might have been one of the disgraced financiers alleged customers. No evidence has been offered to support that conspiracy theory. MAGA loyalists also expressed disappointment in FBI leaders Kash Patel and Dan Bongino for confirming in May that Epstein committed suicide in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in 2019 rather than being assassinated by a deep state protecting powerful pedophiles, as many internet users have suggested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports on Friday signaled that Bongino is ready to leave the FBI if Attorney General Pam Bondi keeps her job at the DOJ after refusing to release any more information about the Epstein case. The president added fuel to that fire when he became upset with a reporter who mentioned Epstein at a Tuesday Cabinet meeting. Are people still talking about this guy? Trump fumed. That is unbelievable. A 40-year-old Waialua man accused of posing as an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation pleaded guilty Tuesday to possessing an unregistered silencer. was originally charged March 14, 2024, and accused of impersonating an officer of the United States, possession of an unregistered silencer, and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle. Toguchi is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Court Judge Micah W.J. Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Rom A. Trader agreed to release Toguchi from the Federal Detention Center, Honolulu, on a $50, 000 unsecured bond as soon as bed space in a halfway house opens up. Toguchi has to wear a position monitoring device. You must participate in a mental health treatment program and follow the rules and regulations of that program. The probation officer, in consultation with the treatment provider, will supervise your participation in the program , Trader ordered, according to federal court documents. You must take all mental health medications that are prescribed by your treating physician. In exchange for his guilty plea, federal prosecutors agreed to not bring charges against Toguchi for two 2024 cases involving possession of firearms, other than the charge for the silencer. Federal prosecutors also agreed to not charge him for impersonating an FBI agent. Toguchi faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $10, 000, and a term of supervised release up to three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 12, 2024, a witness came to the Wahiawa Police Station and reported that Toguchi was behaving erratically, including waving a firearm out his front door and yelling about his neighbors and had at least two unsecured firearms in his house. Honolulu police arrested Toguchi at his Waialua home in connection with criminal property damage from a prior incident when Toguchi spray-painted his neighbors truck. While HPD officers took Toguchi in for booking, he allegedly made a spontaneous utterance to law enforcement that he was an agent, had firearms in his house and was willing to show them to law enforcement. Toguchi provided verbal consent and signed a form allowing HPD to search his house. He also told officers he stored more guns at his fathers house in Pearl City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search of Toguchis house in Waialua turned up two pistol firearms and a replica of the gold badge issued to FBI special agents. During an interview, Toguchi told police that he had been an employee of the FBI but had recently resigned. He said he legally acquired the silencer and short-barrel rifle as part of his work for the FBI and did not have to pay taxes on those items or register them while the FBI employed him. From his fathers home in Pearl City, law enforcement officers recovered a silencer and a rifle with a barrel measuring less than 16 inches. Also from Toguchis bedroom at the Pearl City home on March 12, 2024, investigators seized a black, privately manufactured, AR-style 7.62 x 39 mm caliber firearm, bearing no serial number ; and a brown and black AR-style rifle with an attached scope, bearing no serial number. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the same day, investigators searched Toguchis house on Oliana Place in Waialua and seized a black Shadow Systems SS9C 9mm pistol, bearing no serial number ; and a black Glock 21.45 caliber pistol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Slack is prosecuting the case. Toguchi is represented by attorneys with the Office of the Federal Public Defender. TALLAHASSEE A Texas-based company gave $10,000 to Floridas Republican Party days before getting state contracts to help with transportation at a state-run detention facility for migrants in the Everglades. IRG Global Emergency Management Inc. made the donation on June 24, according to state campaign finance filings, days after state Attorney General James Uthmeier first publicly floated the Alligator Alcatraz detention center. The same day it made the donation, the company inked a $1.1 million contract with the state to provide operational support services in support of migration efforts in the State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 1, the company got two more contracts with Florida, one for $2.9 million and another for $2.2 million, for site shuttles, armory systems, on-site emergency services and air operations. The address listed on both contracts is in Ochopee, where Alligator Alcatraz is located. A spokesperson for IRG Global did not return two requests for comment Friday. A spokesperson for Gov. Ron DeSantis said his office has no involvement with the Republican Party of Florida. A spokesperson for the state GOP did not respond Friday to a request for comment. Alligator Alcatraz isnt the first time the emergency management firm or its affiliate company has worked with Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IRG Global is affiliated with ARS Global Emergency Management, which in Floridas business filings is listed as Access Restoration Services. A spokesperson for ARS did not respond to requests for comment Friday. That group was involved in Floridas 2023 effort to relaunch a program to fly migrants to left-leaning cities and states. Last month, IRG also received a $19.6 million contract from the state for planes to fly people out of Israel amid the conflict with Iran. ARS previously donated about $150,000 to the state GOP through contributions in February 2023 and October 2024. Other contractors that are working with Florida for the immigrant detention center have also donated to Republican leaders, including CDR Maguire and its affiliate, CDR Health. That company and its executives have donated nearly $2 million to Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican Party of Florida. AMERICAN FORK, Utah (ABC4) After showing record amounts of water usage, American Fork City is asking residents to conserve water by only watering on certain days. American Fork City officials announced on Friday that the city is using significant amounts of water. In order to protect their water supply and ensure their pressurized irrigation system is maintained, they are asking residents to stick to assigned days for watering their lawn. PREVIOUSLY: Water shortages plague cities across Utah, Beaver City and Mt. Pleasant impose restrictions Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents that have an odd numbered address can use their outdoor watering systems on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Residents with even numbered homes are scheduled for Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. On Saturdays, spot watering is available as needed. City officials say residents should only water between the hours of 1 a.m. and 11 p.m. and attempt to conserve water during those times as well. When possible, though, residents are asked to avoid watering during less effective times, such as when its windy or during the hottest part of the day. American Fork City also suggests residents take other measures to conserve water, such as fixing sprinkler leaks, only water dried out areas, and mow grass higher to keep moisture in. They have also provided a lawn watering guide here. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A 20-year-old American from Florida was allegedly beaten to death by Israeli settlers while visiting his family in the West Bank, according to Palestinian health officials and his family. Sayfollah "Saif" Musallet was killed in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in the West Bank. A second man was also shot dead in the attacks, according to the health ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musallet was trying to protect his family's land from Israeli settlers, who surrounded him for over three hours, blocking the ambulance from reaching him, according to his family. He died before making it to the hospital, they said. Musallet Family - PHOTO: In this undated photo, Saif Musallet is shown. He is the fifth American killed in the West Bank since the war between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7, 2023, when 1,200 Israelis were killed in a Hamas-led terrorist attack on southern Israel. MORE: 14-year-old dual Palestinian-US citizen killed in the West Bank Musallet was born in Florida, lived in Tampa, and ran a business there, according to his family. He had traveled to the West Bank on June 4, they said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He was a kind, hard-working, and deeply-respected young man, working to build his dreams. Saif built a successful business in Tampa and was known for his generosity, ambition, and connection to his Palestinian heritage," his family said in a statement. Leo Correa/AP - PHOTO: A section of a fence built by Israeli forces is seen surrounding the West Bank village of Sinjil, July 9, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces said it was "aware of reports regarding a Palestinian civilian killed and a number of injured Palestinians as a result of the confrontation, and they are being looked into by the ISA and Israel Police." The IDF said rocks were thrown at Israeli settlers adjacent to Sinjil, causing light injuries. "Shortly after, a violent confrontation developed in the area involving Palestinians and Israeli civilians, which included vandalism of Palestinian property, arson, physical clashes, and rock hurling," the IDF said. Leo Correa/AP - PHOTO: An Israeli settlers outpost is seen on area next to the West Bank village of Sinjil , July 9, 2025. Musallet's family is demanding "the U.S. State Department lead an immediate investigation and hold the Israeli settlers who killed Musallet accountable for their crimes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is an unimaginable nightmare and injustice that no family should ever have to face," the family said in a statement. MORE: Aftermath of an attack by Israeli settlers on a Palestinian village: Reporter's notebook The family said they demand "justice." Leo Correa/AP - PHOTO: Concrete blocks placed by Israeli soldiers after October 7, 2023, according to local residents, are seen at one of the entrances of the village, impeding access for Palestinians in the West Bank village of Sinjil, July 9, 2025. "We are devastated that our beloved Sayfollah Musallet (nicknamed Saif) was brutally beaten to death by Israeli settlers while he was protecting his familys land from settlers who were attempting to steal it," his family said. A State Department spokesperson said they could confirm the death of a U.S. citizen in the West Bank on July 11, but that the department had no further comment "out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones" of the reported victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The U.S. Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas," the department said. Four other Americans have been killed in the West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023. Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, 17, was killed on Jan. 19, 2024; Mohammad Alkhdour, 17, was killed on Feb. 10, 2024; Aysenur Eygi, 26, was killed on Sept. 6, 2024; and Amer Rabee, 14, was killed on April 6, 2025. When Buster Storey heard about the catastrophic flooding in Texas, his mind immediately went to his hometown of Kerrville. Its home," said Storey. "Its where I grew up, its my childhood and they needed help." On Thursday, he arrived in central Texas with his 11-year-old son, Logan, to deliver donations he had collected in Friend, where he has lived for the past three years. In just two days, Storey gathered hygiene products, personal care items, first-aid kits and clothing, which he dropped off at local churches for distribution. As he was driving back from Hunt, Texas, along the Guadalupe River, he was able to see the destruction of the flash flooding that has devastated central Texas, killing at least 120 people and leaving more than 170 missing. Nebraskans like Storey have since stepped up to do what they can to help. Its been pretty hard to look at, Storey said. The whole corridor from just outside of Hunt all the way down is just flat. Its flat. Everythings gone. As a child, Storey and his brother attended YMCAs Camp Flaming Arrow, just a few miles upstream from Camp Mystic, where at least 27 campers and counselors have died. The news of missing campers tugged at Storeys heart. I know the corridor and I saw all the babies that were missing and I couldnt go get them, so I did what I could do, said Storey, who lived in the area for 25 years. His brothers family still lives there but they were unharmed and their home was spared. Despite the devastation, Storey said people are keeping their heads up and helping out. Theres an underlying sense of hope, which is just amazing, Storey said. For those wanting to donate, Storey said residents still need items like shovels, trash bags, saws and even basic toiletries like soap. Pick a church and mail it, Storey said. Theyll take it and theyll get it where its going, everybodys pitching in down here. For now, the area is mostly populated by first responders and volunteers. Nearly every church has signup sheets for people with machinery skills or even diving skills to assist in recovery efforts. On Thursday, the Nebraska Task Force One shifted search operations from Kerr County to Kendall County, bringing heavy machinery and search dogs to aid in the search. The task force was deployed from Lincoln on Monday by Gov. Jim Pillen. Lenora Dziergowski, a former Nebraskan who now lives in Texas, said the damage has been widespread. The flooding has just been horrific, she said. The devastation, the deaths, the amount of people still missing its very hard to comprehend. Dziergowski grew up in Panama, Nebraska, but has remained in San Antonio after being stationed at Lackland Air Force Base. Her sister, who was in Kerrville earlier this week, described the drive back to San Antonio as vast and complete devastation along the river. She compared the damage to the 2004 Hallam tornado in Nebraska. Living just 90 minutes away from Kerrville, Dziergowski said her area is prone to flash floods. In June, 13 people died in San Antonio during another flood event. Now, her community is mobilizing to help donating supplies, raising funds and volunteering wherever possible. As a pet owner, Dziergowski knows how important animals are to people. Since the flooding, shes been encouraging everyone to donate to Kerrville Pets Alive a local nonprofit assisting in pet supplies, reunifications, medical care and, as needed, pet cremations for those who have died in the floods. Our dogs and cats are our family, she said. Meanwhile, in Midland, Texas four hours from the worst-hit areas Judy Tuttle, who moved to Texas with her husband, Jim, two years ago after living in Lincoln for 33 years, began to grasp the scale of the disaster after seeing photos on social media, especially of the girls from Camp Mystic. One of them looked so much like my granddaughter, Lucy, she said. I was just heartbroken, and I cried a lot about that, but then I thought, what can I do? Tuttle, who runs a small crafting business, decided to act fast. Shes now donating all commissions from her online store, TuttleUpShop.com, to the Kerr County Flood Relief fund. She said its been heartwarming to see people step up, especially those who might not have otherwise donated. I hope in my heart that Im just bringing some visibility of the need, Tuttle said. The United Nations cultural organisation has added a remote Aboriginal site featuring one million carvings that potentially date back 50,000 years to its World Heritage list. Located on the Burrup peninsula in Western Australia, Murujuga is home to the Mardudunera people, who declared themselves overjoyed when UNESCO gave the ancient site a coveted place on its list on Friday. These carvings are what our ancestors left here for us to learn and keep their knowledge and keep our culture thriving through these sacred sites, said Mark Clifton, a member of the Aboriginal delegation meeting with UNESCO representatives in Paris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Environmental and Indigenous organisations argue that the presence of mining groups emitting industrial emissions has already caused damage to the ancient site. Benjamin Smith, a rock art specialist at the University of Western Australia, said Murujuga was possibly the most important rock art site in the world, but that mining activity was causing the rock art to break down. We should be looking after it, he said. Australian company Woodside Energy, which operates an industrial complex in the area, told news agency AFP that it recognised Murujuga as one of Australias most culturally significant landscapes and that it was taking proactive steps to ensure we manage our impacts responsibly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delegation leader Raelene Cooper said the UNESCO listing sent a clear signal to the Australian Government and Woodside that things need to change. Making the UNESCOs heritage list does not in itself trigger protection for a site, but can help pressure national governments into taking action. African heritage boosted Cameroons Mandara Mountains and Malawis Mount Mulanje were also added to the latest edition of the UNESCO World Heritage list. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has presented Africa as a priority during her two terms in office, although the continent remains underrepresented. The Diy-Gid-Biy landscape of the Mandara Mountains, in the far north of Cameroon, consists of archaeological sites, probably created between the 12th and 17th centuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malawis Mount Mulanje, in the south of the country, is considered a sacred place inhabited by gods, spirits and ancestors. UNESCO is also considering applications from two other African countries, namely the Gola Tiwai forests in Sierra Leone and the biosphere reserve of the Bijagos Archipelago in Guinea-Bissau. On Friday, UNESCO also listed three notorious Cambodian torture and execution sites used by the Khmer Rouge regime to perpetrate genocide 50 years ago. ANDERSON The Anderson City Council has tabled a resolution to implement Complete Streets guidelines while awaiting the adoption of a new advisory committee. City Engineer Matt House said Thursday that Complete Streets makes sure the roads designed are safe for all users. House said the resolution is similar to those adopted by other cities around Indiana, and he asked the council to approve the resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City attorney Paul Podlejski said the administration of Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr. believes its not a necessary step. He said it only affects new road construction or reconstruction. Podlejski said a bicycle/pedestrian advisory committee was formed in 2016 and has only met once since that time. Jennifer Culp, council president pro-tem, said there is an advisory committee and stressed the importance of community members knowing what is going on. Culp wanted to amend the proposed resolution to include the creation of the advisory committee. We want the advisory committee to be more active, she said. The goal is to make the city better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ben Orcutt, a proponent of the Complete Streets concept, said there are a lot of people in Anderson who want the streets to become safer. Councilman Jeff Freeman said no one is opposed to Complete Streets, but the concern is including the advisory committee in the resolution. Culp said if the advisory committee is approved, appointments should be made by the council and mayor. People affected by the changes should be involved, she said. House said the provision for a written report on every street being worked on is a concern. Orcutt said the advisory committee would be required to meet quarterly and submit a written report to the council every quarter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Councilwoman Tiffany Harless said the council wants the discussion about the resolution to continue. Earlier this year, the council appointed Brad Douglas and Richard Kelly to the advisory committee and recommended Julie Ward as a representative of Anderson University. Broderick has three appointments to the advisory committee. The nine-member committee will include representatives from the city park, street, municipal development and city engineers departments. ANDERSON Police investigators are working to determine the circumstances under which an Anderson man died before his body was discovered in the lake at Shadyside Park Friday. According to a press release from the Anderson Police Department, officers were summoned to the park about 2 p.m. Friday afternoon to check on the welfare of a male who was in the water unresponsive. Officers and medics with the Anderson Fire Department searched the area briefly before discovering the mans body face down in the water. The deceased was later identified as Dustin Smith, 38, of Anderson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the release, there were no indications of foul play, but an autopsy will determine the official cause of death. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Courtney Ginder at 765-648-6729, or anonymous tips can be given to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477. RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) While Ruidoso recovers from flash flooding, one of Albuquerques biggest animal adoption groups is stepping in to help Lincoln Countys overwhelmed animal shelter. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Animal Humane New Mexicos team made the three-and-a-half-hour trip to Ruidoso Thursday, bringing more than 20 stray cats and dogs back to the metro that will soon be ready for new homes. When we heard that our friends at the Humane Society of Lincoln County were struggling with overcapacity issues, pets being brought in as strayswe knew that we had to jump into action and help, expressed Madison Beets, associate director of Marketing with Animal Humane New Mexico. Despite having limited space itself, Albuquerque Humane is lending its support with the hopes of getting the Ruidoso rescues a new home. So, we brought in a total of 23 animals. That is broken down by 11 dogs and 4 puppies. We also brought in 4 foster age kittens, 3 kittens that will be ready to adopt soon, and then 1 senior cat as well, said Beets. Volunteers spent Thursday making the move happen, saying the Humane Society of Lincoln County was at a breaking point. By taking homeless pets from that shelter, we made more space for those own community pets who were displaced, so that they can hopefully be found by their loving forever families and be reunited very soon, continued Beets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each future pet is getting veterinary care and vaccinations, along with plenty of TLC from staff and volunteers, The next few hours will look like ensuring that everyone has their vaccinations, so we can get any necessary procedures or veterinary checks scheduled, get some of our sweet, younger pets into loving foster homes so they can grow and relax. Animal Humane New Mexico hopes to have the Ruidoso dogs and cats ready for adoption early next week. The shelter is also supporting the continued animal rescue efforts in Ruidoso by donating supplies to Lincoln Countys shelter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Matthew Muller, the convicted rapist who became the subject of the TV series "American Nightmare," has been given additional life sentences, according to the El Dorado County district attorney's office. Matthew Muller, pictured in a June 2015 booking photo, has been serving a 40-year sentence in Tucson. (Dublin Police Department via Associated Press) In a statement released on Thursday, officials said that Muller was convicted in connection with a 2015 home invasion in Contra Costa County. This is the latest of multiple convictions that have been brought to light since Muller was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a Vallejo kidnapping and sexual assault in 2015. The case garnered national attention and became the focus of the true crime series, which was released last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2015, Muller invaded the home of Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn. Muller bound and drugged the couple, before putting Huskins in Quinn's car and taking her to his family's cabin in South Lake Tahoe. Muller sexually assaulted her and kept her at the cabin for two days before releasing her at Huntington Beach. A complicated and faulty investigation followed, with the Vallejo Police Department and FBI officials initially believing that Huskins and Quinn had orchestrated the events. Two months later, a home invasion in Dublin led authorities to link Muller to the kidnapping of Huskins. Shortly thereafter, Muller pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated kidnapping, and in 2022 he pleaded guilty to sexual assault. He's currently serving his 40-year sentence in Tucson. The home invasion that Muller was most recently convicted of happened just two weeks after that of Huskins and Quinn, but it was never reported to authorities at the time, according to the district attorney's statement. The case was investigated by the El Dorado County district attorney's office, the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department and the FBI an effort driven by "the persistence" of Huskins and Quinn, Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges and Det. Misty Carausu, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district attorney's release does not say who initially tipped off authorities to the crime, but it does say that a multiday interview in Tucson took place between authorities and Muller. Officials said Muller provided them a rough diagram of the location, and authorities said they used Google Maps to find the home he described. Read more: A Chinese Ph.D. student is sentenced to at least 24 years in prison for raping multiple women In the interview, Muller said he used a ladder to get into the second story of the home. He disposed of the ladder in a nearby ravine while he was departing the area, the release said. Last month, Muller pleaded guilty to a 32-year-old kidnapping and sexual assault his earliest known crime, according to the release. He was sentenced to 11 years to life in prison. Officials said Muller admitted to these crimes in the same Tucson interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Muller has an additional life sentence without the possibility of parole after he pleaded guilty to two 2009 home invasions in Santa Clara County. "It's a shame it has taken 10 years to correct the mistakes made in the original investigation that permitted Muller to terrorize two additional families," El Dorado County Dist. Atty. Vern Pierson said. "Poor interview and investigation practices permitted these additional families to be victimized." Huskins has spoken out about her case. The Times does not typically identify victims of sexual assault. Huskins and Quinn will soon be given the California District Attorneys Assn.'s Witness of the Year Award, "in recognition of their perseverance and commitment to justice," the release said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) Friday made for a beautiful day for some dodgeball if you could stand the heat and some healthy competition. The Antero Foundation welcomed back its 7th annual Fuel the Burn Oil and Gas Dodgeball Tournament on Friday at Clarksburgs Hite Field, which helped raise proceeds for five local nonprofit organizations. This year, the nonprofit beneficiaries of the donations raised included Harrison County Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, Patrons of the Park, Heros Haven Child Advocacy Center, Harrison County CASA Program and the Genesis Youth Crisis Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In previous years, the Antero Foundation has raised about $850,000 for local nonprofits in the area. Webster County Sheriffs Office welcomes new K-9 12 News spoke with Conrad Baston, vice president of procurement and admin at Antero Resources, about why the organization chose to fundraise in this way. Today, its kind of about showcasing partnership. Our industry is successful in West Virginia because we all work towards a common goal and that is the reliable and safe production of energy in our state. We just want to get together and celebrate our partners that help us execute on that which is local community, our contractors and vendors which Ive seen many of today, Baston said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 12 News also spoke with Harrison County CASAs executive director, Alisha Madia, on how it felt to have the communitys help and support through the tournament. Without the communitys support, we couldnt do what we do for children. Were blessed in Harrison County where we have, you know, a host of folks and agencies and organizations that come out and support the children and other folks in this community and quite frankly if they didnt do that, children would languish in care, their needs wouldnt be met as were able to meet them now. So, it really makes a huge difference for everyone in our community, Madia said. This years dodgeball tournament featured more than 90 different teams and 48 different vendors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) Over a hundred people on Hilton Head Island marched to the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office Friday, all asking for the same thing. Were here today to demand that Sheriff Tanner get rid of 287g, Immigrant Rights Advocacy Strategist with ACLU South Carolina Dulce Lopez said. Its an agreement that deputizes local law enforcement to act as federal agents, carrying out immigration enforcement. According to Sheriff PJ Tanner, participating in the voluntary program will give Beaufort County deputies access to data from Homeland Security which they can use to see outstanding warrants or charges a person might have in another country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tanner held a meeting on Wednesday where many residents raised concerns about what the proposal could mean for locals. This is what everybody was afraid of before demonstrator Kevin Linarez said. In the past, they thought just because of your color that you could get stopped, but they werent aware that we have rights and are protected by the constitution. Now, this is being taken away from us. National Weather Service surveys Jasper Co. storm damage Tanner said the plan is to use the database to get more info about anyone who is considered a suspect in a criminal case felony or misdemeanor, but demonstrators questioned what will actually happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What happens when a person of color, a person like me is driving, and theyre trying to get groceries, theyre trying to drop off their kids at school. They get pulled over for a simple traffic infraction, and then they get put into the deportation machine, Lopez said. Another demonstrator said that the program would take time away from policing local needs. These arent criminals, demonstrator Marci Gurton said. Theyre people who are going to work. Theyre keeping Hilton Head running in hotels, restaurants. Theyre helping to pick food. So, its really a waste. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) torched President Donald Trump in an X post on Friday, calling him a rapist over the administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files? the congresswoman wrote. Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files? Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 11, 2025 Trump was found civilly liable in 2023 for rape and defamation of columnist E. Jean Carroll. He maintains his innocence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration faces a slew of public backlash, including from its own fanbase, for going back on its promises of releasing the client list that some believe Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, used to blackmail powerful figures. Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed the client list was on her desk. But her Department of Justice said in a memo with the FBI this week that there was no evidence Epstein had such a list. The memo also sparked outrage by stating that Epsteins death was definitively a suicide, contradicting theories popular with the MAGA base that foul play was involved. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is reportedly threatening to quit after getting into an argument with Bondi over claims that he leaked stories to the media about his agencys dissatisfaction over the case being closed. The congresswomans comments came over a month after billionaire and former Trump ally Elon Muskalleged the president was in Epsteins files in a fit of rage against his so-called Big Beautiful Bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, railed against Ocasio-Cortezs Friday remarks. AOC likes to play pretend like shes from the block, but in reality shes just a sad, miserable blockhead who is trying to overcompensate for her lack of self-confidence that has followed her for her entire life, he said in a statement sent to The Daily Beast. Instead, she should get some serious help for her obvious and severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted her pea-sized brain, he added. Ocasio-Cortez previously called Trump a rapist at a rally in April, stating ,When he talks about rapists and criminals, he should look in the mirror. Related... Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called Donald Trump a rapist while jabbing him for the MAGA crisis over his handling of the files on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files? the New York congresswoman wrote on X Friday. Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files? Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 11, 2025 Trump and his administration have faced a loud and very public outcry, particularly from inside the MAGAsphere, after announcing that there was neither a client list in the Epstein files nor any evidence that Epstein was murdered, shutting down two popular conspiracy theories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another post Friday, Ocasio-Cortez shared a WIRED story reporting that what the Justice Department called the full raw surveillance footage from Epsteins prison cell block the night he died was likely modified. The DOJs release of the footage was intended to dispel theories that the footage contained revelations about Epsteins death, which was officially ruled a suicide. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called Donald Trump a rapist in a dig about his handling of the Epstein files. / Mario Tama / Mario Tama/Getty Images At the Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Trump shut down a reporters question about the Epstein files. Are you still talking about Jeffery Epstein? Trump asked. This guys been talked about for years. We have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things, and are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable, the president continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House Communications Director Steven Cheung sounded off on Ocasio-Cortez in a statement to the Daily Beast. AOC likes to play pretend like shes from the block, but in reality shes just a sad, miserable blockhead who is trying to overcompensate for her lack of self-confidence that has followed her for her entire life, he said. Instead, she should get some serious help for her obvious and severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted her pea-sized brain. The president has often lashed out at AOC, who is one of his harshest critics in the House. Last month, he called her stupid AOC and the dumbest member of Congress. In 2023, Trump was found civilly liable of sexual abuse against writer E. Jean Carroll by a Manhattan jury, which awarded her $5 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under New Yorks penal code, the legal definition of rape only encompasses nonconsensual penile penetration, which was not what happened in Carrolls case. Trump was found liable for sexual abuse against E. Jean Carroll. / LEONARDO MUNOZ / AFP via Getty Images Trump earned a $15 million payout from a defamation lawsuit he settled with ABC News in 2024 after anchor George Stephanopoulos said on air that Trump was found liable for rape. During Trumps appeal of the Carroll case, however, a judge clarified that the jury still found Trump to have raped Carroll as the word is used colloquially. The finding that Ms. Carroll failed to prove that she was raped within the meaning of the New York Penal Law does not mean that she failed to prove that Mr. Trump raped her as many people commonly understand the word rape, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan wrote in July 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It isnt the first time Ocasio-Cortez has called Trump a rapist. She said during a rally in April of this year, If Donald Trump wants to find the rapists and criminals in this country, he needs to look in a mirror. Trumps relationship to Epstein has long faced scrutiny. Donald Trumps relationship with Jeffrey Epstein has long faced scrutiny. / Davidoff Studios/Getty Images Although Trump was photographed alongside Epstein long before becoming president, he has denied that he flew on Epsteins jet or visited his private island. In 2024, the Daily Beast exclusively published audio tapes recorded in 2017 in which Epstein called himself Trumps closest friend. Epstein was awaiting trial on charges of sex-trafficking minors when he died by suicide at New York Citys Metropolitan Correctional Center on Aug. 10, 2019. Jul. 11The Albuquerque Police Department on Friday detailed two recent police shootings that happened days apart one that injured an armed robbery suspect and another that killed a woman who took a security guard's gun and fired it repeatedly outside a hotel near Downtown. During an hour-long briefing Friday, APD shared lapel video and photo evidence while giving a play-by-play of the shootings. The incidents were the seventh and eighth Albuquerque police shootings in 2025. Seven of those shootings have been fatal. Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock, who oversees APD's Criminal Investigations Bureau, said in the first incident, on June 16, a detective with the Investigative Support Unit shot 23-year-old Gabriel Moralez from 70 feet away as he ran from officers with a gun in his hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next day, he said, officers Jonathan Kreamer, Michael Morales and Angel Avalos shot and killed Desiree Herrera, 36, as she fired a gun she had taken from a hotel security guard toward officers at the Hotel Parq Central. Hartsock said during Friday's briefing that the department would not identify the detective who shot Moralez, a common refrain in shootings involving ISU a group APD says is often tasked with arresting felony offenders. He said it was the seventh time the detective, who has been with APD since 2007, had shot at someone and that the detective was back to full duty. He said ISU, like the SWAT team, has always been in more shootings than other units due to the number of interactions they have with suspects in serious crimes. Police Chief Harold Medina did suggest ways in which APD is looking to reduce the number of fatal shootings by ISU detectives, suggesting using a police dog to apprehend suspects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I know canines reduce shootings and save lives, and one of the things we're working towards is ensuring that we're able to dispatch a canine with these units," Medina said. Earlier this year, an APD K-9 named Rebel was fatally shot, along with the armed suspect he was biting, when officers opened fire during a confrontation outside a motel near the Sunport. Search for robbery suspect ends in gunfire At 3:08 p.m., officers were dispatched to the Circle K at Coors and Bluewater on the West Side after employees said they had just been robbed at gunpoint, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. The man, later identified as Moralez, left with $140 and "approximately eight cigarette packets in two gray plastic bags," the criminal complaint stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ISU caught up to Moralez roughly a mile and a half away from the gas station and chased him through a dirt lot as they shouted for him to drop his gun and stop running, according to lapel video. Two sergeants deployed less-lethal 40 mm foam rounds to try to stop Moralez, but he continued to run toward a residential neighborhood. "You're going to get (expletive) shot, stop," the ISU detective shouted at Moralez. The ISU detective fired at Moralez five times, with one bullet hitting him on his right hip. APD provided no photo or video that clearly showed Moralez pointing a gun at police. In a release Friday, APD said the ISU detective told investigators that Moralez "turned his upper body and extended his left arm out with the handgun toward the direction where the other detectives were approaching." Hartsock said a gun found near Moralez had been purchased by Moralez's father in 2017. Officers believe the gun was handed down to Moralez after his father died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moralez was transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where he stayed for one night before being booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and evading police officers. "We're glad our client wasn't killed in this incident," Nicolas Corbitt, Moralez's attorney, said in an interview Friday. "We'll be looking closely at the discovery provided by the state." Mental health call leads to fatal police shooting It was on June 16 that officers encountered Herrera initially, when she flagged down police in the area of Unser and Interstate 40 to ask for a ride to the hospital, according to a release from APD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At some point during the night, Herrera walked away from the hospital," the release states. Early the following morning, around 4:26 a.m., officers responded to a disturbance at Hotel Parq Central at Central and Interstate 25. Employees reported a woman in the midst of a mental health crisis, later identified as Herrera, was destroying property in the lobby. Hotel surveillance footage showed Herrera and a security guard get into a scuffle, where Herrera managed to remove a gun from a holster on the guard's hip. Herrera ran out in front of the hotel, armed with the gun, and shot through an SUV parked outside as people scattered from the area. Hartsock played footage that showed officers arriving and Herrera running up the steps in front of the hotel. From the steps, Herrera fires the gun repeatedly in the air as police tell her to stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She does eventually fire the gun directly at officers," Hartsock said. In lapel video, a bullet can be seen striking an SUV police were using for cover before the three officers open fire. Hartsock said none of the officers had been involved in a previous police shooting. Kreamer has been with the department since 2016, Morales since 2024, and Avalos since 2019. Morales is "not yet back to full duty," Hartsock said. Medina said that policymakers in the state need to fix the mental health system at the state level and he was upset to learn Herrera tried to reach out for help the night before the shooting. "Yet, fast-forward, less than two days, and we're dealing with this individual armed out in the street," he said. "Something has to change within the system ... We put our officers and the public in danger and individuals going through mental health crisis lose their lives because they're unable to care for themselves. I'm going to say it, the system is broken. Can our policymakers please fix this at the state level?" An obituary from a funeral home said Herrera "leaves behind a large and loving family who will cherish her memory forever." The gaming community has a final chance to save an independent retro arcade from closing for good. Salisbury's only pinball venue, Highest Score, was forced to close last month due to running costs and low footfall. The owner, James Petherick, is urging people to support the arcade over two open days on 11 and 12 July in a last-ditch effort to keep the arcade alive. "This weekend is about showing what's possible when people come together. If there's ever been a time to visit, it's now," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arcade, in the Cross Keys Shopping Centre, opened in August 2024 and features a carefully-restored collection of classic pinball and retro gaming machines. "When I closed, the whole community was, like, 'wow, we can't afford to lose this'", said Mr Petherick. "There are three generations of children and adults that have never seen a pinball machine and I built Highest Score to bring back real, hands-on gaming and community fun to Salisbury." Mr Petherick said the open days were an opportunity to raise awareness and prove that independent shops can survive when supported by the people and businesses around them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The invitation is for "anyone aged eight to 80", with games available for all ages. The arcade caters for all ages and levels [James Petherick] Entry is a 1 minimum donation for an unlimited time and an online donation page has also been set up to help secure the arcade's future. "If I can raise enough over the two days, I'll be able to keep the arcade going for at least another week, and then hopefully into the summer holidays and beyond," he added. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Related internet links A ringed seal peers out from a snow cave. Ringed seals depend on sea ice and on the snow that accumulates atop the ice. (Photo by Brendan P. Kelley/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/NOAA Fisheries) A federal appeals court on Friday affirmed the National Marine Fisheries Services 2024 decision rejecting attempts to strip Arctic ringed seals of Endangered Species Act protections. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower courts 2024 ruling concerning a 2022 lawsuit filed against the federal agency by the state of Alaska and the North Slope Borough. The state and borough had been seeking to compel NMFS to delist ringed seals, meaning remove the threatened listing status that had been enacted in 2012. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appeals court agreed with the March 20, 2024, ruling by then-U.S. District Court Judge Joshua Kindred that found NMFS had acted properly when it rejected the state and borough petition for delisting. The agency was reasonable in its use of climate change projections and its consideration of science about the seals response to sea ice loss, the appeals court said in its ruling. In sum, NMFS reasonably determined that the petition did not present new information indicating that delisting the Arctic ringed seal may be warranted, the ruling said. The Center for Biological Diversity, which intervened in the case on behalf of NMFS, welcomed the decision. Im so relieved these adorable seals will keep their Endangered Species Act protections, Marlee Goska, Alaska staff attorney for the environmental organization, said in a statement. The science is overwhelmingly clear that climate change is threatening the seals existence. The court rightly recognized theres no scientific or legal reason for Alaskas cruel attempt to strip away safeguards these seals need to survive our rapidly heating world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ronald Opsahl, a senior assistant Alaska attorney general, said the state is reviewing the decision to determine possible future steps. In a statement, Opsahl said the state continues to believe that the lower court ruling was wrong. And, with its opinion, the Ninth Circuit seems to endorse the double standard between requests that an agency consider delisting a species and requests to list a species. This double standard finds no basis in the Endangered Species Act, he said. The court should have considered whether the state had provided sufficient information to suggest delisting may be warranted, he said. Instead of finding that recent population studies and climate forecasts present new information, the panel deferred to the agencies disregard of this new information. Fridays appeals court ruling is the latest event in a long history of litigation over Endangered Species Act protections for Arctic Alaska seals that are dependent on sea ice. The 2012 threatened listings for ringed and bearded seals were prompted by lawsuits filed by the Center for Biological Diversity. The state, borough, oil industry groups and others have filed lawsuits challenging those listings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, a U.S. District Court ruling provided a legal victory to the state by striking down NMFS plan for establishing critical habitat for ringed and ice seals. U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason concluded that the agency failed to provide sufficient justification for designating such a broad geographic area, totaling 174 million acres, as protected critical habitat for the seals. The agency and the Center for Biological Diversity appealed her decision late last year, and the case is now pending at the 9th Circuit. Fridays ruling was not the first by the appeals court that affirmed threatened listings for ice seals. The court made a similar ruling in 2018 in response to a different lawsuit filed by the state and others that challenged the ringed seal listing. Two years earlier, the appeals court upheld the threatened listing for bearded seals. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Former Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby walks out of the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt with her daughers after Mosby's sentencing in May 2024. (Photo by Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters) A federal appeals court gave former Baltimore City States Attorney Marilyn Mosby a partial win Friday, overturning her 2024 conviction for mortgage fraud but upholding perjury convictions in connection with the purchase of two Florida homes. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also reversed a lower courts order that Mosby forfeit a Florida condo as a result of the mortgage fraud conviction, noting that with the conviction now overturned, the forfeiture was improper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither Mosbys attorneys nor prosecutors from the U.S. Attorneys Office for Maryland immediately responded to requests for comment on the case Friday. Fridays ruling is the latest turn in the legal trials of Mosby, who served two terms as Baltimores top prosecutor, from 2015-2023. She was indicted in 2022 by a federal grand jury on two counts of perjury, for falsely claiming a COVID-19 hardship on an application to withdraw $90,000 from her retirement account, and two counts of mortgage fraud, on charges she made false statements on mortgage applications for the two vacation homes in Florida that she bought in 2021. Her trials on the charges were held separately. At her perjury trial, Mosby argued that questions on the form that was the basis of her perjury conviction were fundamentally ambiguous. The form asked if she had suffrered adverse financial consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic that justified allowing her to withdraw retirement funds early without penalty; she said she feared the pandemic could affect Mahogany Elite, a travel firm she had founded. But prosecutors argued that Mahogany Elite could not have suffered financial consequences because it was brand new she had not yet started the company, earned any revenue, or incurred any costs. Jurors apparently agreed, convicting her on Nov. 9, 2023, of both perjury counts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At her mortgage fraud trial, Mosby argued that prosecutors never established that she was in Maryland when the alleged crimes occurred, but an overbroad jury instruction allowed them to determine she was, even in the absence of evidence. That jury convicted her on Feb. 7, 2024, of a single fraud count. Federal prosecutors sought 20 months in jail for Mosby, in addition to supervised release and the forfeiture of her Longboat Key vacation condo. But U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Mosby to three years supervised release, with one of those years under home confinement, along with the forfeiture of the condo. On appeal, the circuit court rejected her claims on the ambiguous form, saying it was without merit. It was adequately clear on the form what adverse financial consequences meant, Circuit Judge Stephanie Thacker wrote in the ruling. But the court agreed with Mosby on the jury instruction, saying the trial courts instruction to jurors regarding the mortgage fraud cases venue was indeed erroneously overbroad. Thackers opinion said those instructions went so far as to say that the Government did not need to prove that the crime itself was committed in this district,only that acts leading up to the crime were done in Maryland. That was wrong, Thacker wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE After vacating the mortage fraud conviction, Thacker wrote, the court had to vacate the forfeiture of Mosbys condo in Longboat Key, what had originally been ordered because the condo was believed to be the fruit of the alleged mortgage fraud. In a partial dissent, Judge Paul Niemeyer said he would have upheld the mortgage fraud conviction along with the perjury convictions. He wrote that the evidence at her trial amply and clearly demonstrated that venue was proper in Maryland by a preponderance of the evidence. It showed that Mosby made the false statement in Maryland by obtaining and signing the false gift letter in Maryland and that she transmitted the statement from Maryland by uploading it to the Internet for use at the closing in Florida, Niemeyer wrote. She also engaged her husband to wire the funds from Maryland in support of the gift letter. Those were all elements of the crime, which justfied its trial in Maryland, he wrote. A late-night session in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber turned fatal for an Arizona man on Wednesday. At around 10:50 p.m., the Lake Havasu City Fire Department responded to a distress call after a 911 caller reported a burn patient needing emergency medical assistance at Havasu Health and Hyperbarics along Mesquite avenue, per the fire unit's press release. The caller added that the victim, 43-year-old Dr. Walter Foxcroft, was burned while inside a hyperbaric chamber. He was declared dead after first responders arrived at the scene. A flash fire was suspected to be the cause, igniting the oxygen therapy machine with him inside. Foxcroft was the only person hurt in the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foxcroft owned the facility, which he opened in 2024. The Lake Havasu resident graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in Physiological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. He later earned his doctorate in physical therapy at Touro University Nevada. The man endearingly called "Wally" served as Wilbur T. Wildcat, Arizona's mascot, from 2002 to 2005. Arizona Cheerleading has released a statement in honor of Foxcroft. "Wally was an unforgettable presence on the sidelinesan energetic, charismatic performer known for his signature moonwalk and passion for bringing joy to Arizona fans. He proudly returned for Homecoming, reconnecting with current mascots and sharing his spontaneous spirit as Wilbur with all of us. ... Wallys dedication to uplifting othersthrough performance, healing, and innovationwill never be forgotten." According to the Cleveland Clinic, hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps treat wounds and repair damaged tissue by providing the body with "100% oxygen" inside the enclosed chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It remains unclear why Foxcroft was in the chamber after operating hours. The local authorities are still investigating the matter. Arizona Man, 43, Dies In Freak Hyperbaric Chamber Accident first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 12, 2025 Arizona researchers and health experts have been working to track a rare disease in the state, and they have a request: "Send us your ticks." In the summer of 2003, a 14-month-old boy was taken to a community health clinic with a rash and fever. After new complications, a hospital transfer and multiple days of treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, he died on the sixth day from pulmonary hemorrhage without doctors knowing the culprit. Days later, they found in his blood serum the DNA remnants of a rare bacterium that is transmitted through tick bites. It was the first official case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the state, the most severe tick-borne illness in the country. The disease was not unknown to scientists, but the vector was. Arizona became the first place where scientists confirmed that a common species of tick, called "brown dog tick," could carry the bacteria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ticks thrive in brushy or wooded areas with moderate temperatures and some humidity. In general, they are not abundant in deserts. Then, in 2014, a group of birdwatchers in the Southern Arizona borderlands got tick bites and a weird fever. It was a less-severe bacterial illness, but it was carried by a different tick that was not expected to survive in Arizona's arid lands. "There seems to be a pattern that we don't know about a (tick-borne) disease risk until someone gets sick," said Kathleen Walker, a professor of entomology and an extension specialist at the University of Arizona. "I thought, 'wouldn't it be nicer if we could find diseases in the ticks before we find them in people?'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the past two years, Walker has been leading the Great Arizona Tick Check, a collaborative project with the Arizona Department of Health to create a database that will map the distribution of different species of ticks in Arizona and the diseases they sometimes carry. For this effort, she is asking for help. If you find ticks on yourself, your home, your dog or livestock, Walker said, "take the tick off, put it in a baggie and send it to me." The mailed ticks are genetically identified and tested for pathogens. So far, Walker's lab has received about 200 samples from across the state, identifying at least six species of ticks. Getting people involved serves a double purpose: research and outreach. As an extension specialist, she wants to inform the public about potential problems in their community. Tick-borne diseases are common in parts of the country, but southwesterners might be less familiar with them. "It's rare in Arizona to encounter ticks, but when people do, they have no idea (about the risks)," she said. A rare but fatal disease Rocky Mountain spotted fever was first identified in Montana some 200 years ago, but today it is all over the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The illness is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria and transmitted through tick bites. It's mostly transmitted by three different species of ticks. In Arizona, by the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, which can be found all across the country and the state. "Every single county in Arizona has a healthy population of brown dog ticks," said Walker. What's rare is that the tick carries this particular bacterium. On the East Coast, one out of three ticks carries Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, Walker estimated, but in Arizona, finding Rickettsia rickettsii is "like looking for a needle in a haystack." Of the hundreds of ticks they've examined, they have found none with this particular species of bacteria, only some of the same genus that causes a less severe illness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the disease is out there. There have been over 500 reported cases and about 25 deaths in Arizona since 2002. If the disease is not detected and treated with doxycycline at its early stage, it can be deadly. Fatality rates are seven times higher in Arizona than the national rate, according to the state health department. Researchers who looked at 80 cases of hospitalization in Arizona and interviewed the surviving patients reported that 60% of the cases happened between July and October. Symptoms include nausea, headache, fever and rashes. Most individuals recovered fully in one or two weeks, but the "deadly and debilitating illness" left aftereffects in roughly one in four patients. Being tick-aware with your pets Like the brown dog tick's name suggests, it rides on pets. Dogs can also contract the bacterial illness and lose their appetite, but they don't transmit the disease directly. Instead, they take ticks into homes and backyards where the eight-legged arachnid can bite humans and lay eggs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Checking and treating dogs for ticks is the first step in prevention for Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Walker, health experts from the CDC, state and tribal health departments, veterinary clinics and animal shelters often partner in monitoring and treatment. Stray and free-roaming dogs on tribal lands have made eastern Arizona a hot spot for cases. There haven't been any deaths from Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the last five years in Arizona, thanks to prevention programs. Educating physicians and pediatricians on how to treat it has also been key. In the past, some doctors gave long-term doses of doxycycline to children, which caused permanent staining of their tooth enamel. Some pediatricians are still wary of giving even small doses of the antibiotic, but the CDC has proved there is no teeth-staining with short courses and says it's the number one recommended treatment for patients of all ages. "If you haven't started that within five days of symptoms arising, and it goes systemic, you'll die," said Walker about doxycycline treatment. "Starting it too late won't save you." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has been a big problem in Mexico, where the symptoms of the illness are easily confused with dengue and delay the diagnosis. Spotted fever or rickettsiosis in Sonora has almost a 50% fatality rate. Through the Great Arizona Tick Check, researchers have also found in Arizona ticks previously unknown to the state. Walker's team received in the mail Gulf Coast ticks from Cochise and Santa Cruz counties, and has both collected and received Western black-legged ticks from Mohave County, the ticks that are the vector for Lyme disease. Ticks also catch rides in humans. A tick species that is found in the northern part of the state, usually above the Grand Canyon's North Rim, was also found biting hikers in Tucson. And ticks that are exclusive to other parts of the country arrived via tourists. "From this tiny sample of the people who send me their ticks, we get all sorts of species of ticks coming into the state. All the time," Walker said. "Because we're a desert, I think a lot of them will just die. But not all of them." What to include in your mailed package If you find a tick on yourself, your pet or livestock, remove it with fine tweezers, pulling it from as close to the skin as you can. Place it in a zip-seal bag or small container, and write the following information on a sheet of paper: date of collection, city, town or zip code, travel history of the host for the past two weeks, and host. Contact information is optional. Place that bag with the information in another sealed bag. Freeze for two days, if possible, before mailing the tick to: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forbes 410, Dept. of EntomologyUniversity of ArizonaTucson, AZ 85721 Walker urges any tick-sending participants not to wait for results from her lab if they are experiencing any symptoms. Individuals should seek medical attention immediately at a clinic. Clara Migoya covers agriculture and water issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to clara.migoya@arizonarepublic.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona researcher wants tick samples for disease studies An unpaved road leading to a large poultry farm operation near Garvin, Oklahoma. (Photo by Juan Vassallo/Investigate Midwest) Arkansas will spend around $735,000 to improve drainage and water quality along unpaved roads in 12 counties, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders office announced Thursday. The vast majority of county roads in Arkansas are unpaved, County Judges Association of Arkansas President Judge Rusty McMillon said in a press release. This program provides much needed funding for improving sections of gravel roads that are sometimes left impassable due to significant erosion during rainfall and water runoff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unpaved roads are a source of elevated sediment in ditches and streams as the roads erode and runoff from storms enters rivers and lakes. Too much sediment can harm wildlife and water quality, and can also increase costs for treating drinking water. The Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program, created in 2015, under the state Department of Agriculture was established to help address this. The partnership with the state also helps make roads safer, McMillon said. Todays announcement guarantees hardworking Arkansans in rural communities throughout the Natural State will have access to safe and reliable roads, Sanders said in the release. She thanked the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Technical Committee and Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward for spearheading this important effort to improve our states critical infrastructure. Many of the 12 projects will see the drainage and culverts along unpaved county roads improved or installed. The cost of the projects range from $37,352 to $75,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The funds come from the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program, which is managed by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Projects funded by the program are reviewed and recommended by the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Technical Committee. List of counties and awarded funds Benton County $75,000 Calhoun County $75,000 Dallas County $54,198 Fulton County $37,352 Hot Spring County $60,000 Independence County $56,109 Lawrence County $45,680 Lincoln County $74,894 Scott County $57,446 Sebastian County $49,459 Sevier County $75,000 Woodruff County $74,867 SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX GLEN ROSE, Ark. Officials with the Arkansas State Police said that a Florida native has been taken into custody in connection with a deadly 2023 hit-and-run crash. According to a release from the ASP on Friday, the arrest comes following an incident on Oct. 22, 2023, in which troopers responded to a collision involving two tractor-trailers on Interstate 30 westbound at Mile Marker 108. Arkansas State Police make arrest in 2023 Mississippi County crash that left woman, child dead Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said that the crash resulted in the death of 23-year-old Anthony Valdez of San Antonio, Texas, who as operating a flatbed tractor-trailer. Police said that the driver of the second tractor-trailer, later identified as 57-year-old Richard Volz of Callaway, Florida, fled the scene. ASP investigators said that Volz was initially in custody in Florida on unrelated charges and was extradited to Arkansas earlier this week. During an interview with investigators, they said he confessed to his involvement in a road rage incident that led to the deadly collision. On Wednesday, police said that Volz was taken into custody and is being held at the Saline County Detention Center where he is facing charges of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. CHICAGO (WGN) Six people are in police custody following an armed robbery that led to multiple pursuits across Chicagoland on Friday. Cicero police said an armed robbery at an area gas station in the 5100 block of W. Roosevelt involving multiple suspects sparked the pursuit. Multiple vehicles, with multiple suspects, reportedly approached a courier who was handling cash for a business located there. Approximately $70,000 in cash was believed to have been taken, according to a Cicero town spokesman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black bear spotted multiple times in Illinois, IDNR says Cicero police pursued two vehicles, with the chase ending in the area of W. West End Avenue and North Kostner Avenue in Chicago. The pursuit involved a Chicago squad car being struck, though officials reported no injuries. Officers took two people into custody at the scene. Authorities also pursued a white Honda sedan, which SkyCam9 captured driving at a high rate of speed in an attempt to evade police, to an apartment building in the 4400 block of W. West End Avenue. There, police placed two more individuals into their custody. Additionally, responding law enforcement officials identified a black Chrysler involved in the armed robbery. Illinois State Police later located the vehicle traveling westbound on I-290, prompting a pursuit onto I-294 and I-94 into Indiana. Two suspects fled the vehicle from I-94 in Hammond and ran to the Little Calumet River. The Cicero town spokesman stated that both individuals surrendered while in the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All told, six suspects are in custody in connection with the incident. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. The Virginia Homeland Security Taskforce has been busy this year, arresting more than 2,500 people in the United States illegally. Thats according to Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who boasted the arrest data during a July 2 news conference at the Virginia State Police headquarters in Richmond. But while the governors office has described the 2,512 people arrested as violent criminals who are illegally in the United States, neither Youngkins office nor state or federal agencies involved in the operation have provided any documentation about those arrested to be able to verify who they are, what they were charged with or whether theyve been deported. Asked for a breakdown of how many of the 2,500 were violent criminals or gang members and how that was determined, Youngkin seemed to indicate that some may not have violent criminal records and declined to discuss details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont want to get the numbers wrong, but there is a significant portion that are violent criminals, Youngkin said July 2. The work that happens in the task force is that leads are then created, and the drug system is unraveled. That is the primary effort of the Virginia Homeland Security Task Force. It starts with either someone who is a drug dealer, who is here illegally, that then leads to the connective tissue of folks that are known members of violent gangs and others that are just a part of other gangs or supporting the drug distribution network. Nationally, an analysis from the Cato Institute, a libertarian policy research group, found that 65% of the more than 200,000 individuals ICE had detained between October 2024 and June 2025 had no prior criminal convictions. The same analysis found that 93% of people detained were never convicted of any violent offenses. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The VHSTF consists of personnel from 11 federal and state agencies, including US ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, the FBI, Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Corrections. Youngkins office issued an April release stating that 521 arrests had been made by the task force, including 132 individuals affiliated with gangs including MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. The release specified arrests, not convictions. The release pointed to U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia as head of the task force. Shortly after, The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press asked that office for a list of the 521 people referenced, including the charges and gang affiliations associated with each arrest. We respectfully decline to comment, read an initial response email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon clarification, the request was forwarded to the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys for review. That office did not say whether it was in possession of the records but apparently rejected the Freedom of Information Act request, saying the records were likely maintained by state or local authorities. But Virginia State Police say they dont have the arrest records, either. Robin Lawson, public relations director with the agency, directed requests to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Pilot then filed a records request with ICE, which deferred to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. A FOIA request asking for an updated list of VHSTF arrest names, charges, and where the arrests were made is pending with that office. When asked July 2 how to track those cases, Youngkin deferred to the U.S. Attorneys Office. He said the central command structure sits with the Homeland Security task force itself and that he would work on getting a better answer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On follow up, his office said the best contact for inquiries about the arrests is the ICE media office. That office has yet to respond to questions, but already rejected a records request. Separately, The Pilot requested communications from the governors office pertaining to the VHSTF the bulk of that request was denied, citing a law that precludes the governors working papers and correspondence from being disclosed to the public. Asked for comment, Peter Finocchio, the governors press secretary, pointed to previous press releases announcing the 500 and 2,500 arrest milestones and directed inquiries to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, which is overseen by Erik Siebert. But in a joint statement with Virginia State Police, that office punted the questions as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Virginia Homeland Security Task Force (VHSTF) is a federal-state partnership established by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat transnational organized crime, gang violence and immigration violations across Virginia, the statement read. However, the processing of any person taken into custody for immigration-related offenses is handled by ICE/ERO. As recently as July 3, Sieberts office issued a release detailing updates in 11 immigration cases out of Virginia. The release specifically named the arrested individuals and provided information about when they were arrested, on what charges and the outcomes of their cases. Several were arrested prior to this year. It was unclear whether any arrests this year might be included in the task force accounting. Youngkin told reporters that he would support ICE detaining and deporting people even without violent convictions, such as at a courthouse in Chesterfield last month. Arrests there included a man who was in court to pay traffic fines. If you break the law in America and youre here illegally, then you should be detained and deported, he said. The vast majority of the people that have been arrested at courthouses around the country are committing violent crimes, and that is the real issue. Kate Seltzer, kate.seltzer@virginiamedia.com, (757)713-7881 AURORA, Colo. The Aurora Police Department is stepping up patrols over the weekend due to social media posts inviting teenagers to fight at a local mall. The posts are similar to takeover-style events planned last month in Denver. About 300 teens showed up to the first incident at the Shops at Northfield, causing chaos for nearby businesses and neighbors. Aurora police warn possible participants of Town Center takeover: Expect to be arrested Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denver Zoo decided to close seven hours early on a Saturday because of rumors about a takeover at City Park. However, no teens showed up. According to the social media flyers, teenagers are planning to fight each other at Town Center at Aurora on Saturday, July 12. If they do come in and engage in those types of crimes, they will be arrested, APD Division Chief Kevin Barnes said. Barnes said APD is taking the rumor seriously and has been preparing for several weeks. There will most certainly be an increased law enforcement presence. We have beefed up our numbers of both patrol staffing in addition to our specialty units, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides uniformed officers, there will also be police from the gang and violence prevention units. Community-based groups involved with the citys youth violence prevention initiative, SAVE, will also be present to help interrupt violence and save teens from a criminal charge. They will be in tow with us tomorrow. Itll be a joint collaborative effort between the Aurora Police Department and, in addition, members of the community who want to actively engage and help us with this potential problem, Barnes said. A spokesman for WPG, which owns Town Center at Aurora, said in a statement: At the Town Center at Aurora, the safety of our guests, retailers and employees is our top priority. Any activities that disrupt business operations or compromise safety will not be tolerated. We are working closely with the Aurora Police Department to provide increased security. For additional information, please contact the Aurora Police Department at (303) 739-6000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boulder attack suspects child reportedly left screaming in pain in ICE facility before receiving care APD said it will also be staffing other shopping centers in Aurora in case the group relocates away from the mall. Just in case they move, so we are definitely taking a flexible and fluid approach to that and be able to respond accordingly, Barnes said. Customers are still encouraged to visit the Town Center at Aurora to shop and eat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. AUSTIN (KXAN) The city of Austin released its fiscal year 2026 budget to the public late Friday, a new step in the citys budget adoption process. But in a Saturday morning memo, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said hell seek other proposals from Austin City Manager TC Broadnax and could ask voters to approve a new maximum tax rate. Previous: City of Austin proposed budget to be released next week what to expect Broadnaxs staff has largely focused on meeting a $40 million gap, he said in an interview with KXAN in the last episode of Inside Austins Agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are still working through how to close a $40 million budget gap primarily driven by reduced sales tax and a small shift in how our land valuations came back to us, Broadnax said. Im deliberately focused on ensuring that there is not a wholesale negative impact on any specific service, and/or things that would be highly objectionable within reason. KXAN Series: Inside Austins Agenda The city of Austin also must grapple with ended American Rescue Plan Act funds and the loss of federal grants allocated to the city prior to 2025. We find ourselves in real financial pressure for this upcoming budget cycle and the needs of our community are great and they are increasing as more services are cut at the federal level, Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes told KXAN in April. Key items in the budget The released draft proposes a budget of over $6 billion. In his Saturday memo, Watson said he was ready for headlines (like ours) to highlight that figure, but said that number doesnt give the whole picture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For clarity, however, it should be noted that the General Fund budget is $1.5 billion, Watson said. The larger number includes the Enterprise Funds such as the airport, Austin Energy, Austin Water, Austin Resource Recovery, Transportation & Public Works and our Watershed Department. The General Fund is largely created from Austinites property and sales taxes. Of your property taxes that go to the General Fund (some portion also goes to things like voter-approved bonds), Broadnax has said 100% of those property taxes and around 75% of sales taxes go to public safety and emergency response EMS, fire and police. Parks, libraries and other city departments are mostly funded through city fees, KXAN previously reported. 2024 | Austin City Council approves record budget, here are the changes they made The proposed budget also includes a 4% cost-of-living adjustment for city employees, setting a living wage of $22.01/hour for non-salaried employees. City workers will also not see an increase in employee health premiums. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other items highlighted by Watsons memo include: $1 million for Street Outreach Coordinators within the Homeless Strategy Office and funding for the 8th Street Shelter and the Marshalling Yard shelter; $375,000 to the Parks & Recreation Department for youth fields and pools; $4 million for the emergency rental assistance program; and, $2.5 million for the Austin Infrastructure Academy. Homelessness spending likely to be focal point of Austin budget conversations It is important to note that contracts and state laws create constraints on Austins budget process for example, bargaining agreements with the Austin Police Union, its firefighters union and other city labor unions. Will voters approve a tax rate increase? In the mayors estimation, a state law concerning municipal taxes may be the citys primary obstacle. In his memo, Watson states that city council must consider going to the voters for approval of a Tax Ratification Election, or TRE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As noted, the Managers proposed budget utilizes the maximum tax rate of 3.5% any increase to this proposed budget would require a TRE, Watson wrote. Over the next couple of weeks, we will have conversations about how to navigate best the current financial situation the city is facing. Are you willing to pay for it? Austin leaders look ahead to tight budget process Texas Truth in Taxation process requires local taxing units, such as a school district or a city, to make taxpayers aware of tax rate proposals, according to the state comptrollers website. A TRE is taxpayers opportunity to limit tax increases. For city council, adhering to this process requires it to declare a maximum property tax rate in its budget. The city isnt compelled to use that rate in its budget and may use a lower rate; however, council could limit its options if it doesnt put forth a higher rate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Historically, the city has set this maximum tax rate at the voter-approval ratethe highest property tax rate the city may adopt without triggering an election, Watson said. Because our community has raised important issues and questions about Austins needs I anticipate we will declare a maximum rate at a level that, if ultimately adopted, would trigger a TRE. The memo alludes to preliminary conversation with council members and city residents, from which Watson suggests that the citys current tax rate might not meet our growing citys needs and help us maintain our success. Either were going to have to ask the public to help out some more, which is tough and we recognize that, or were going to have to really tighten our belts and say these things that you expect of us, we cant do, said Council Member Ryan Alter in a May interview. Austins budget process Besides this years new step of a public release of the budget, city residents should be able to expect a similar process to prior years. On July 15, Broadnax and his staff will present the budget to city council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After that presentation, council members will likely hold town halls with constituents in their district. Those meetings, along with feedback sent to council members offices, serve as a means for city residents to inform their elected leaders. Every Tuesday, Austin City Council will convene to discuss and work on the budget. Those meetings are scheduled for July 22 and 29, as well as Aug. 5 and 12, and can be watched live on ATXN at 10 a.m. Inside Austins Agenda: City Council Member Marc Duchen talks budget process Watson also said he plans to, during the July 15 meeting, formally ask Broadnax to prepare alternate proposals that increase the budget in $0.01 increments above the base budget, by July 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those option would be presented at a special meeting of the citys Audit & Finance Committee on July 22, Watson said. That meeting will likely also be when council members discuss the potential TRE. On July 31, the council will open the floor for public comments on the budget, according to Watsons memo. During this meeting is also when council could vote to declare a new maximum tax rate. I also think that, on July 31st, it is possible (more likely, probable) that the rate we will declare on July 31st is higher than what we will ultimately actually adopt, Watson wrote. Actual adoption of the budget is expected to happen between Aug. 13-15. The citys fiscal year starts Oct. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. The Brief The Austin Firefighters Association released its results in the "no confidence" vote against AFD chief AFA claims Chief Baker refused to pre-deploy teams to Kerrville during devastating flooding As of July 11, at 6:20 p.m., the city has yet to respond AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Firefighters Association has released the results of the "no confidence" vote for Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the AFA, 93 percent have no confidence in AFD Chief Joel Baker. AFA said Baker refused to send life-saving swift water boat teams to pre-deploy to Kerrville during devastating flooding last weekend. "Fire Baker is now a leader with NO followers! Investigations must now occur, and Chief Baker must be held accountable!" AFA posted on X. Here is the release of the vote of no confidence on Austin Fire Chief Joel G Baker. Largest number of members voting in AFA history! 93% have NO confidence in their Fire Chief after he refused to send life saving swift water boat team to pre-deploy to Kerrville. Fire Baker is now pic.twitter.com/pAZHjYgEa7 Austin Firefighters Association (@AFA975) July 11, 2025 The City of Austin has yet to respond about the results as of July 11. The accusation What they're saying On Monday, July 7, AFA posted to Facebook: "It brings the Austin Firefighters no pleasure to report to the community that the Austin Fire Chief DENIED the deployment of Austin firefighters to Kerrville until very late into the event (so today!), with the exception of only 3 AFD rescue swimmers who helped staff helo teams (which still were NOT deployed until the afternoon of the 4th). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Austin Firefighter Special Operations teams are specially trained for Hill Country swift water rescue and are some of the best, if not the best, swift water boat teams in the State of Texas. "It is absolutely outrageous that the Austin Fire Chief, Joel G. Baker, would not allow highly trained firefighters from Austin to respond to Kerrville. Because of this egregious dereliction of duty, LIVES WERE VERY LIKELY LOST BECAUSE OF CHIEF BAKERS DECISION! "Deployment orders came down from the State of Texas on July 2. We would've been pre-deployed before the waters even began to rise! "It is unforgivable that a fire chief would NOT allow his firefighters to answer the call to save lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Why would Fire Chief Joel G. Baker do this, you may ask? It was a misguided attempt to save money. I say "misguided" because the fire department is fully reimbursed by the state to deploy. I explained the reimbursement process to Chief Baker last week, and he failed to understand this very simple concept. "We are disgusted with our fire chief. He needs to be held accountable and fired for his disgraceful dereliction of duty. "The Austin Firefighters are starting a vote of no confidence on Tuesday on the fire chief. "As disgusted as we are at our Austin Fire Department leadership, the Austin Firefighters Association made a decision to not air our dirty laundry while victims and bodies were still being recovered. But it's now July 7, and it's time that we hold accountable our disgraced fire chief, AND anybody else in his leadership circle who are responsible for this horrendous act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Austin Firefighters commit to being transparent to the community about this process to remove our fire chief and hold all of those accountable who were part of this atrocity. "The firefighters hope we have your support, because it's going to get ugly. "I can't possibly express to you how outraged and sickened the firefighters are that we were not allowed to do the jobthe job that we have trained so hard and long to doduring the historic floods that just occurred in Kerrville. We could've made a difference, and we were forced to stand down and lives were lost. "The community deserves a fire chief who cares about the community as much as our firefighters, and that is simply not the case. Joel G. Baker must go!" AFD response The other side The Austin Fire Department responded to the accusation with a statement, saying: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The weather this weekend devastated the entire region, and the Austin Fire Department is proud to be part of the response effort. "The decision about how to allocate resources to help our fellow Texans is not a simple one. It requires communication from public safety partners on the ground to ensure we are providing resources and personnel when, where and how they are most needed. "The Austin Fire Department must also prioritize having sufficient resources in our own community given the unpredictability of this weekend's storms and the risk for catastrophic flooding in our immediate area. "In an effort to strike that balance, AFD deployed three rescue swimmers on Friday, July 4 to serve with the Texas Task Force 1 helicopter search and rescue team (HSART) to perform water rescues in San Angelo, Kerrville and Seguin. On Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6, two crews, eight total fire personnel, and an AFD boat, were assigned to assist ESD 1 with search efforts at Cow Creek and Big Sandy Creek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "An additional six personnel were deployed today, at approximately 9 a.m., to augment Texas Task Force 1 search and rescue efforts in the area. "AFD is a strong public safety partner in our region. We will continue to live up to that reputation while maintaining adequate resources for those we serve in our City and neighboring communities." AFD did not comment on the planned vote of no confidence for Chief Baker. Austin City Manager's response What they're saying Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax issued a statement on the accusations, saying: "It is disappointing that the Firefighters Association would make these allegations and consider such a vote, especially while these communities continue to grieve and recover. Its even more disheartening how quickly the Associations claims spread because so many people are ready to place blame. The City of Austin, and the Austin Fire Department in particular, have a very long track record of supporting and sending aid to neighboring communities in need. To be clear, I continue to have confidence in Chief Baker and remain committed to listening and working with both the Chief and the Fire Association to ensure that the Austin Fire Department is able to continue supporting our neighbors while protecting our local community." The Source Information from the Austin Firefighter Association and previous coverage AUSTIN (KXAN) The Austin Firefighters Association has delivered a vote of no confidence in the Austin Fire Departments chief, following accusations by top union leadership he delayed emergency response to deadly flooding in the Texas Hill Country. According to a post on the unions social media account on Friday evening, an overwhelming 93% of Austin firefighters (927 votes) cast a vote of no confidence in Fire Chief Joel G. Baker. Only 4% (36 votes) opposed. The post went on to say, This is not about politics. Its about accountability and protecting public safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, the union began voting on a resolution, which stated The Association hereby declares that Chief Joel G. Baker has forfeited our confidence to lead the Austin Fire Department. The resolution also called for the Austin City Manager, mayor and city council to thoroughly investigate the chiefs decisions and take appropriate measures. Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker (KXAN Photo) Baker insisted there was no delay and said his department has absolutely done everything it can to respond to recent flood disasters across Central Texas. Almost 40 years Ive been in the fire service and public safety, so its really disingenuous of the union for anyone to think, as the fire chief of Austin or as a public servant, that I would intentionally delay or would delay response to help rescue any individual, anyone who is facing disaster. Thats just not true. Thats not who I am. Thats not who the city of Austin is, Baker said. Top city leadership has supported the chief, with both the city manager and the mayor saying they were disappointed in the unions response. When KXAN asked both offices for a response to the results of the union vote, they reiterated previous statements about the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austin Fire Chief defends response after accusations of delaying help for Kerr County flooding In its post on social media, the association insisted AFD leadership failed the public and called for a full investigation into the decisions made leading up to the disaster. The post reads, The firefighters will not stop until every responsible party is held accountable and systemic changes are made to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. The unions president, Bob Nicks, has asserted a June directive from AFD leadership caused local first responders to allegedly refuse deployment calls to Kerr County, ahead of deadly flooding on Independence Day weekend. As of of Thursday, officials confirmed 96 people had died in Kerr County alone, and 161 people there were still missing. During an emergency meeting of union members on Tuesday, Nicks voice broke as he said, I dont even have the words. Our firefighters are trained for that area. Our firefighters have the equipment. They have the will; they have the desire. The have the power to go and actually I know some of those girls could have survived if we had the best boat crew on scene the day before. I know it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview earlier this week with KXAN, Baker said he was made aware of deployment requests for five individuals within his department on July 4 from the state. He said three rescue swimmers were deployed; a request for a dispatcher was denied and an assistant chief chose not to deploy. The chief explained his reasoning. I was not sure how much of the weather would impact my city the city of Austin. I need to make sure that I have an adequate amount of resources within the city so I can respond for my mutual aid calls and my automatic aid calls around the city of Austin, Baker said. Explore: A memorial to flood victims He also said, To say that Why Austin Fire didnt send a X amount of firefighters out? Thats not a fair statement. Thats not really a fair assessment of the Austin Fire Department. Its a collaborative effort with various fire departments throughout the state to send resources when they can to assist with disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can read more of his response and see background on this story here. This is a developing story. KXAN will update this as more details become available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Authorities are working to combat wildlife trafficking across the world, and officials in Mexico have made a "historic bust." According to Mexico News Daily, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) and the Naval Ministry (SEMAR) confiscated 135 sacks of shark fins, totaling 2,433 kilograms (over 5,000 pounds) during an inspection of a shipping container at the Port of Ensenada, Baja California. What's happening? The traffickers took the fins from various shark species, including silky sharks, hammerheads, and bull sharks, and some were from baby and juvenile sharks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the fins found were not from sharks listed as threatened or endangered, they were from the CITES Appendix II list, which means they are at risk of being threatened if trade is not regulated. Mexico News Daily reported, "The export of such sharks to international markets is regulated by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and since the ship's captain did not possess the corresponding CITES certificate, the fins were seized." The ship was headed to Shanghai, China. According to the 2022 Brookings report, "Chinese actors and markets are thickly intertwined in Mexico's illegal economies, such as drug and wildlife trafficking and money laundering." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, animals, including shark fins, are used to buy drug precursors. Why is wildlife trafficking concerning? The Brookings report noted, "The increasing role of this payment method can devastate biodiversity in Mexico, as the cartels seek to legally and illegally harvest more and more of a wider and wider range of animal and plant species to pay for precursors." Biodiversity is vital for human survival. According to The Royal Society, a healthy ecosystem, comprising a diverse range of microorganisms, plants, and animals, is essential for the food humans eat and the air they breathe. Some forms of wildlife trafficking involve introducing foreign species into an ecosystem. While not all foreign species are invasive, the ones that are can harm the local ecosystem invasive species can take out native species. What's being done about wildlife trafficking? Countries and U.S. states are working to pass laws to combat wildlife trafficking. For example, in May, the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill was passed in Nigeria's House of Representatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorado also enacted a law that toughens penalties for wildlife traffickers and strengthens enforcement. If you're concerned about wildlife trafficking, you can use your voice to speak with your representatives and advocate for similar laws to be passed near you. It will help protect your ecosystem and the animals. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. "I voted" stickers are seen on display in the headquarters offices of the Alaska Division of Elections in Juneau on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) A draft ballot measure proposal under review by the Alaska Department of Law would decriminalize magic mushrooms and similar psychedelics, allowing home cultivation and personal use, as well as their use for medical and traditional reasons. The measure does not allow commercial sale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For most people, their lives will not change, but for people who really need support, they may be able to find it, said Ismail Ali, interim co-executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a national nonprofit devoted to studying psychedelic substances and advocating their safe use. The Alaska Natural Medicine Act is modeled after Colorados Proposition 122, which was approved by voters in that state in 2022 and became effective this year. Oregon has also decriminalized the growth and use of psychedelic mushrooms. If the Department of Law approves the measure for full-fledged signature-gathering, supporters would have to collect at least 34,099 signatures from registered voters, including specific minimums in at least 30 of 40 state House districts, in order to put the measure in front of voters. If supporters gather the signatures before the Alaska Legislature convenes in January, the measure could be up for a vote in 2026. If the signature-gathering ends after the Legislature convenes, the measure would be subject to a vote in 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new measure is being supported by Natural Medicine Alaska, a group that submitted its initial draft with 230 signatures on June 18. In a post on social media, the group said it is attempting to get the issue on the ballot in 2026. Members of the group did not return multiple calls and emails seeking comment. One hundred signatures were needed to start a legal review, a prerequisite before full signature gathering begins. The review, usually a formality, is expected to finish by Aug. 17. The text of the ballot measure states that it would no longer be a crime to possess, use, display, store or transport fungi containing psilocybin or psilocyn, psilocybin or psilocyn in extract or other concentrated form, or plants or fungi capable of producing psilocybin, psilocyn, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), or mescaline (except from Peyote). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The possession or use of those psychoactive chemicals would be restricted to people at least 21 years old. Personal cultivation would be restricted to an area no more than 12 feet wide by 12 feet long. The sale or trading of personally cultivated psychoactive fungi would be prohibited, and public consumption would still be banned. In many ways, the measure would legalize practices that already happen quietly in Alaska. Theres millions and millions of Americans who use psychedelics every year, and most of the time that goes off without a hitch, and people dont even know about it, Ali said. He said Alaskas proposed ballot measure is similar to the one enacted by Colorado but also takes into account subsequent rulemaking by that state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to permitting personal use and setting up a regulatory system for medical use, the measure also creates a third channel of regulation, for traditional, Indigenous use of psychedelics. This is the first time that Ive seen an advocacy group that includes a number of Native leadership and people who are not just geographically local, but also of the Indigenous tribes there, Ali said. Alaska setting up a way to allow and regulate traditional use of psychedelic substances is something new, he said. I find that really beautiful and really ambitious, because it is something that comes up a lot, and its sort of like direct Indigenous to Indigenous conversation, which is happening increasingly in other states as well, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Psychedelic mushrooms remain a Schedule I drug and illegal under federal law, except for clinical research, but Colorado, Oregon and more than a dozen cities have decriminalized them. In those places, federal officials have not prosecuted people and businesses that use psychoactive substances, which has allowed individual states to experiment with different ways to regulate and use them, Ali said. There is growing interest in psychoactives ability to treat people with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Clinical studies have found varied results, and additional research is underway at a variety of universities and laboratories nationwide. In 2024, the Alaska Legislature voted to create a task force to draft recommendations for psychedelic medicines if approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That task force released draft recommendations in May. Because the FDA rejected an initial psychedelic medicine application, those recommendations have never been implemented. In addition, the task force did not consider personal, recreational use as proposed by the ballot measure. Currently, only one ballot measure proposing new limits on financial contributions to candidates for public office has been approved for the 2026 ballot. A second measure, seeking to repeal Alaskas ranked choice voting system, is gathering signatures and is expected to garner enough support to also appear on the 2026 ballot. If it does so, it will be the third time in six years that Alaskans have voted on the issue of ranked choice voting. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Ballet West is relocating its Park City academy to an expanded facility in Silver Summit due to an increase in demand. Utahs premier professional ballet company, Ballet West, has student academies in Salt Lake, Pleasant Grove and Park City. The Peggy Bergmann Ballet West Academy in Park City announced it has outgrown its current space at 2780 Rasmussen Road, necessitating a change in location. The new facility is located at 786 Division Street in the Silver Summit area, approximately a 10-minute drive east on I-80 from the current location. Classes will begin next month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The demand from Park City families has been extraordinary, said Allison DeBona, principal of Ballet West Academy Park City. Weve reached capacity and need more space to serve our community effectively. This move allows us to welcome new students and continue providing world-class dance education. At the new location, Ballet West Academy will be joining the already established home of Dance Tech Studios, which has been a cornerstone of the performing arts in Park City for 30 years and is an award-winning and nationally recognized program. The collaboration between Ballet West Academy and Dance Tech Studios has been a goal for founder Nicole Campbell-Fielding, she said in a statement. While this is an exciting jump forward for the dance and arts community, we want to reassure our DTS dancers and families that you remain a top priority, just as youve been for 30 years, Campbell-Fielding said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dance Tech Studios 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility features four extra-large, spring-floored dance studios, designed and built by the owners themselves, according to Ballet West. DeBona retired in 2022 after a 15-year career as a soloist with Ballet West. She now leads the Park City campus, which will have an open house for the new facility on Aug. 23. Our mission is to use our curriculum to shape dancers into being successful in anything they choose to do not just physical or artistic activities. Students learn how to work with other people, show respect for others, arrive on time, and self-advocate all tools that will make them successful at anything, she said. The Park City campus offers training in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theater. Park City students are being taught by world-class teachers in each of the genres we offer, DeBona said. We understand families have many activities to choose from, and we can guarantee that joining Ballet West Academy is a sound investment for their children. Former White House aide Steve Bannon suggested Friday that the GOP could lose dozens of House seats in the 2026 midterms over the Trump administrations handling of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Youre going to lose 10 percent of the MAGA movement. If we lose 10 percent of the MAGA movement right now, we aint gonna were gonna lose 40 seats in 26, he told a live audience during his War Room podcast. Were gonna lose the president. That shift could trigger an upset for Republican lawmakers who managed to obtain a majority in both chambers last November. Democrats have been plotting to retake House and Senate seats in the next election cycle after their sweeping 2024 losses and turmoil over the Epstein case and backlash from sweeping cuts in the GOPs recently-signed big, beautiful spending package could offer the left some fodder for their 2026 messaging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They dont even have to steal it, which theyre gonna try to do in 28, because theyre gonna sit there and they go theyve disheartened the hardest core populist nation thats always been who governs us, Bannon added. His criticism comes after the Justice Department (DOJ) and FBI released a memo on Monday concluding in its investigation that Epstein did not keep a client list and confirming that he died by suicide in his New York City jail cell in 2019. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who defended the findings during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, has faced backlash over the memo after she previously suggested she had a list of names sitting on her desk. Still, conspiracy theories have swirled around Epsteins death, including some who have suggested he was murdered. A missing minute of footage in a video shared by the DOJ to back up its memo has also raised eyebrows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump and others in the administration have come to her defense, despite some calls to remove the attorney general from office and after news outlets, including CNN and Semafor, reported FBI Director Dan Bongino was furious over the Epstein files controversy, considering resigning and did not show up to work on Friday. They fed up because they trusted her, podcaster and former Fox News host Megyn Kelly said of Bondi earlier this week. Kelly added, They were humiliated because she gave them all these binders that read Epstein Files, you know, Volume 1, and there was nothing new in there. Nothing. There was no scoop. Why would she do that? Trump also brushed off questions regarding Epstein during Tuesdays Cabinet meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guys been talked about for years, he told a reporter who asked about the disgraced financier. Youre asking we have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things. And are people still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable, he added. Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to sexual misconduct chargers, was federally indicted in 2019 over allegedly leading a sex trafficking operation involving underage girls from 2002 to 2005. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. BARRINGTON, R.I. (WPRI) Between a bus monitor misconduct investigation and the separate and sudden resignation of the superintendent, Barrington School Committee members had a lot of ground to cover during Friday afternoons meeting. During roughly 30-minute meeting, chair Thomas Peck said the district is now working with an attorney as it launches an internal investigation into multiple allegations of a bus monitor inappropriately touching elementary students. That report will take a while, Peck said. However, the school committee has taken some initial reviews of processes and protocols and unanimously agrees that an overhaul is necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BACKGROUND: Bus monitor accused of inappropriately touching Barrington student Peck only took questions from staff members during the open meeting and declined to speak with 12 News afterwards. The accusations against the bus monitor started coming to light in June. Barrington police told 12 News that one of the reports of misconduct is being investigated as possible second-degree sexual assault. Police have not yet said if any charges have been filed. A spokesperson for the bus company, Ocean State Transit, said the monitor was immediately placed on leave and all of the routes were reassigned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to the misconduct allegations, the school committee voted to end its contract with Ocean State Transit. The committee said there should have been video recordings from the buses. MORE: Barrington School Committee discusses disturbing allegations against bus monitor The district is also dealing with an administrative shakeup after its superintendent, Robert Wargo, stepped down last week. Wargo took the job last year, signing a three-year deal with Barrington. The school committee has said that Wargos resignation is not connected to the bus monitor investigation. But during the meeting, staff members questioned his abrupt departure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a very stable district, for generations, actually, one staff member said. It raises concerns. But Peck said Wargos resignation came after a series of conversations, which wont be discussed publicly. The scenario of someone resigning effective immediately means that there is no longer need to talk about them, because theyre no longer an employee, he said. Christopher Ashley The committee named Christopher Ashley the new acting superintendent. He previously served as Barrington High Schools principal. At the end of Fridays meeting, he vowed to keep the district on track. I am fully committed to making sure that were ready for the start of the school year, Ashley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school committee said it will now begin the process of picking a permanent superintendent. NEXT: 3 homes possibly struck by lightning in Barrington Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. We are a community of litterbugs. Unable and unwilling to celebrate the summers biggest holiday in outdoor settings without leaving behind piles of trash. To inveterate litterbugs like ourselves, public awareness and shaming are largely ineffective and only go so far. The only remedy is a complete and total ban. From now on, Fresno residents (plus folks from Clovis and Madera, just to be safe) should be prohibited from picnicking at Bass Lake and Shaver Lake on the Fourth of July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keep us all out. Ban both the guilty and the guilty by association. Use tasers and facial recognition software, if necessary. We simply cannot be trusted to do the right thing, which in this case simply means picking up after ourselves and not leaving behind a giant mess for others to clean up. We are, in a word, disgusting. Or in two words, disgusting pigs. This modest proposal came to me after seeing photos and video footage posted on social media of the carnage left behind last weekend along the shorelines of two Sierra reservoirs within an hours drive of Fresno. What did the photos and video show? Paper plates, plastic bags, aluminum cans, glass bottles, cardboard boxes, styrofoam containers and sandwich wrappers strewn everywhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And thats just the start. Trash is one thing, said Madera County Supervisor Bobby Macaulay, who paddleboards at Bass Lake. But what really gets under peoples skin is the human waste such as dirty diapers and toilet paper that gets left behind. Plus people who have campfires outside developed recreation areas and leave without putting them out. Its really problematic. This year, in anticipation of the messy hordes, the Bass Lake Chamber of Commerce made use of a $2,014 grant to place 10 additional dumpsters around the lake in high-traffic areas. By the end of the weekend, all of the dumpsters were full or nearly so. Thats the good news. The bad news is many day visitors couldnt be bothered, leaving volunteers from the Sierra Presbyterian Churchs Jubilee Program to clean up after them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were always happy to welcome visitors and truly appreciate the communitys efforts to keep the lake clean over the July 4th holiday weekend, said Melissa Jones, president of the Bass Lake Chamber of Commerce. Still, the volume of trash was more than we could handle alone. We invite everyone to pitch in use the dumpsters, pack out when needed, and help us keep Bass Lake beautiful for all to enjoy. Trash is left hanging from a tree and scattered on the ground along the shoreline of Bass Lake in Madera County following the Fourth of July weekend in 2025. Similar story at Shaver It was a similar story at Shaver Lake. Except this year, Southern California Edison (the utility company that owns 20,000 acres surrounding the lake) opted to hold the annual fireworks show on Wednesday night rather than July 4th (which was a Friday) in order to reduce crowds and traffic. That decision, made with input from local residents, resulted in a less trashy shoreline than in previous years, according to SCE spokesperson Gabriela Ornelas. Nevertheless, the cleanup effort still required Camp Edison staff and volunteers to spend a total of 50 hours picking up litter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We work hard to keep the lake beautiful, clean and safe for people to recreate, Ornelas said. And we would appreciate the public helping us with that. The responses from SCE, the Bass Lake chamber and Macaulay are far more diplomatic and rational than mine. I suggest thats because the local economies in the Fresno and Madera mountain communities depend on flatlanders spending their money. Which explains why none of them were eager to endorse my somewhat facetious ban Fresnans on the Fourth of July idea. But Macaulay, whose district includes Bass Lake, has heard such suggestions before including setting up a guard station to charge admission fees for shoreline access and writing tickets to litterbugs. Its very difficult for law enforcement to issue a citation for littering, Macaulay said. We hear that a lot. Why dont you fine those people? Its much more difficult than you might think to do it legally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres really only one solution. Until we flatlanders demonstrate we can celebrate the Fourth of July without trashing nearby mountain lakes, we should spend the holiday in a location more fitting to our collective tastes. The nearest pig sty. Plans to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) close to a West Yorkshire village have been recommended for approval by council planning officers. A report said the scheme for land near Heath in Wakefield was acceptable despite more than 1,200 objections and criticism from councillors and MPs. Opponents said the development, which would see 72 containers storing lithium ion batteries installed on farmland, could pose a fire risk to residents and harm the local conservation area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, applicant Harmony Energy said the project would contribute to net zero targets and that there were at least 130 similar sites operating safely in the UK. A spokesperson for the company said no properties within the village of Heath would be able to see the seven-hectare site and that its cultural heritage assessment had been "robust". BESS facilities take in power from renewable energy sources and then release it back to the National Grid when demand is high. The planning application for the site was submitted in 2022 and a council report outlines reasons for the three-year delay in a decision on the scheme, which include changes to national planning policy and the area's Local Plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Planning officers said the site was previously designated green belt but had been reclassified as grey belt. They said there was "considered to be no technical reasons to withhold planning permission" and have recommended the scheme be approved at a meeting on 17 July, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. A total of 130 comments in support of the proposal have been received by Wakefield Council. But a spokesperson for the I Love Heath Common campaign group previously said: "Harmony Energy is showing a blatant disregard for local feeling. "There is nothing renewable about a battery storage facility. It is a standalone industrial development." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They added: "Its sole purpose is as a business opportunity, and it is certainly not a source of renewable energy." Campaigners said two historical buildings the Grade II-listed Dame Mary Bolles Water Tower and the Whittling Well are situated less than 100m from the proposed BESS site. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority (WYFRA) also previously said the risks were "very real and are becoming more common". But Harmony Energy argued: "Schemes would not be financeable or insurable if they were deemed to be a significant risk." The company lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate following the three-year delay in determining the application. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A four-day public inquiry is expected to be held over the matter at a date yet to be confirmed. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. More on this story Related internet links BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD) After two years, a new $10 million entrance for the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base is drawing traffic away from West Dickman Road. Beyond the fencing around the installation lie critical missions in national defense that have a ripple effect half a world away. The base hosts the 272d Cyber Operations Squadron, service members tasked with monitoring defense networks for threats. Pilots who fly the MQ-9 drones thousands of miles from the actual aircraft call the facility home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A new and improved entrance is set to better safeguard those missions and the people behind them. The main gate originally sat along M96, or W. Dickman Road. But the base command staff found the placement as a security risk and an overall safety hazard. Col. James Rossi said getting to work on the five-lane road could be risky, especially on days when 1,000 members would be reporting for duty. Lots of cars stopped in that one area on a pretty high-speed road, said Rossi, the commander of the 110th Wing Battle Creek Air National Guard Base. Thats certainly problematic. If you look around here, this is kind of the more industrial area of Battle Creek. We dont see those kinds of concerns, especially with the two traffic circles. So, those safety concerns really with this new facility completely disappeared. The Battle Creek Air National Guard Base. (July 11, 2025) The new entrance connects to a roundabout at the intersection of Skyline Drive and Hill Brady Drive. $532,000 was provided to the city of Battle Creek for supporting the connection to another traffic leading to the base. The road guides visitors and service members to the new entrance that boasts a new 370 square foot gatehouse and visitor badging area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2,400 square foot covered vehicle inspection area gives space for security forces to look through cars and trucks far away from other buildings, unlike the old gate. New and better placed anti-vehicle barriers give security forces more reaction time to deploy the tools. Plus, 11,700 square yards of road keeps the main part of the installation far away from breaches. Weve got proper stand-off distance, Rossi said. So, if we have, say, a gate runner or something like that, weve got the right procedures in place. Weve got the right equipment in place to protect the missions and the men and women of the 110th Wing. The ribbon cutting marks growth for the base that was on the Department of Defense chopping block before. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, at the ribbon-cutting for a new gate at the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base on July 11, 2025. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township helped secure funding for the gate as part of an annual National Defense Authorization act. The bill outlines the policies and spending for the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that same NDAA, the base was slated for $75 million for base investments, $49 million to construct a state-of-the-art facility for Marines attached to the installation, plus $25 million for vehicle maintenance buildings. The reason for that is that they have some very important missions, Peters said. They have a cyber mission, and when you think about cybersecurity and cyber, it is a persistent threat that we face in this country. It only is going to get bigger and in any kind of conflict, your cyber forces are usually the first that are engaged. And thats happening here at Battle Creek. Just this spring, the Trump Administration announced that around 20 F-15EX fighter jets will be stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base in Macomb County. U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, speaks at the ribbon-cutting for a new gate at the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base on July 11, 2025. U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland said it makes sense from a talent and geographic sense to expand Michigans role in national defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a workforce that is ready and able and educated in a way that is unique, he said. And so I think it makes a lot of sense, whether its on the manufacturing side or whether its men and women in uniform, Michigans a logical place to come. While the fate of the base lies with the Department of Defense, Rossi said the future is bright for the base. We can grow in a number of different directions and we are ready to engage with the DOD on a new mission set any day of the week, he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. UNESCO has added several new sites to the World Heritage list after reviewing applications that required extensive research and presentation processes. Among them were several European sites, including the famous fairytale castles of Bavaria's King Ludwig II, the megalithic Carnac stones in northwestern France and the Minoan Palatial centres on the Greek island of Crete. Fairy tale castles At its meeting in Paris, the World Heritage Commission decided to elevate the German Neuschwanstein Castle, Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof and the royal house at Schachen to World Heritage status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The magnificent castles in Upper Bavaria have been attracting numerous tourists for over 140 years. The buildings of King Ludwig II (1845-1886) attracted over 1.7 million visitors last year alone - including many international guests, particularly from the USA and Asian countries. "The inclusion of the palaces on the World Heritage List is an outstanding honour for these impressive places," said the President of the German UNESCO Commission, Maria Bohmer. "They are all architectural masterpieces and bear witness to the artistic imagination, but also the eccentricity of the fairytale king." Germany previously had 54 UNESCO World Heritage Sites - including the old towns of Stralsund and Wismar, Cologne Cathedral, the Wadden Sea and the Roman border fortifications of the Limes. Ancient structures The French Carnac megaliths and the Greek Minoan Palatial centres are both structures from antiquity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Carnac Stones are a dense collection of megalithic sites near the South coast of Bretagne, dating from from 45003300 BCE. The Minoan Palatial centres, including Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros, Zominthos and Kydonia, were key hubs of the Bronze Age Minoan civilisation, which flourished between 2800 and 1100 BCE. The World Heritage inscription recognises the sites historical significance, architectural integrity and the existence of a comprehensive protection and management framework. Cultural prestige Although the World Heritage title does not bring any financial support, it does ensure further international attention and cultural prestige. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement World Heritage status is also accompanied by UNESCO requirements that are intended to benefit the local population in particular, who are burdened by the influx of tourists. Among other things, the organisation requires a concept for effective visitor management in order to better control mass tourism. The consequences of disregarding UNESCO guidelines were demonstrated in 2009 in Dresden's Elbe Valley, where a new bridge led to the withdrawal of World Heritage status. The construction of the so-called Waldschlosschenbrucke bridge was considered to be detrimental to the "outstanding universal value" of the cultural landscape. It was the first time that UNESCO had removed a European World Heritage site from the list. Italy has 61 listed sites, the most of any country. Some notable examples include the historic centres of Rome, Florence, and Naples, the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and the Amalfi Coast. Other sites that were added to the World Heritage list this week include three locations used by Cambodias brutal Khmer Rouge regime as torture and execution sites 50 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The inscription coincided with the 50th anniversary of the rise to power by the communist Khmer Rouge government, which caused the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians through starvation, torture and mass executions during a four-year reign from 1975 to 1979. UNESCOs World Heritage List lists sites considered important to humanity and includes the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Taj Mahal in India and Cambodia's Angkor archaeological complex. (Reuters) -Bavaria's fairy-tale royal castles, including Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof, have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, officials said on Saturday. The decision, made by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee during its 47th session in Paris, is recognising the architectural and cultural significance of King Ludwig II's 19th-century palaces. Construction began at Neuschwanstein in 1869, but the project was never completed, and building work halted when the Bavarian king died in 1886. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The castle is now one of the most popular tourist sites in Germany, receiving roughly 1.4 million visitors per year. It inspired the Disney castle logo after Walt Disney visited in the 1950s. Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder described the designation as a "worldwide accolade," calling Neuschwanstein "Bavaria's landmark par excellence." "For our fairy-tale castles, a fairy tale comes true," he said in a statement. Neuschwanstein combined great art and culture and also a bit of "kitsch and cliche," he said. "When seeing the castle, some people worldwide may think of Disney - but no: Neuschwanstein is and remains the original from Bavaria." (Reporting by John Revill in Zurich, editing by Thomas Seythal) HALF MOON BAY, Calif. - As the week draws to a close, some Half Moon Bay farmworkers picking Brussel sprouts near Highway 1 are keeping their eyes and ears open for activity involving ICE agents. "There's been a lot of fear in our community. Locally, the community is heightened in anxiety and fear. And we're seeing the effects in our local communities based off what they're seeing in the media," said Sondra Sencion, farmworker program manager at ALAS. The images from Ventura County on Thursday of ICE agents arresting farmworkers and clashing with demonstrators has sent shock waves across the state to the Bay Area. Even before the controversial incident, anxiety was on the rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KTVU spoke with Half Moon Bay worker Felix Torres on Jun. 13, when ICE raids began intensifying. "It's very sad for the children, for example, who may have been born in this country and their parents may not be documented," he said at the time with the help of an interpreter. Migrant advocates said many of the people asking for help are also showing up for work and now fear they could be targeted next. "There's been a few times where we had vehicles here in the area, and members of our community approached the vehicles to ask if they were ICE?," asked former Half Moon Bay mayor Joaquin Jimenez Urena. "We have confirmed that they've been here twice. And we're worried, and we're upset about what's going on in other parts of California." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates and officials said they are continuing to provide services to those unsure of what to do. Immigration attorneys said watching and cataloging the movements of ICE agents, and not running from the agents, could be a better course of action. "I would say keeping an eye on them lets us know if rights are being violated? Is the way they're going about it correct? Is there potentially, as we've seen in other jurisdictions, a lawsuit down the line if they aren't engaging in these enforcement actions constitutionally?" said Patricia Ortiz, legal director for California Rural Legal Assistance. Added Sencion, "We are visiting the farms on a regular basis, providing resources continuing to educate our farm-working community about their rights, the Rapid Response Line and how it works." As daylight began to fade on Friday evening, many people working fields across the state and county were hopeful that in the not-too-distant future they would see a day at work without the fear that currently grips them. Jesse Gary is a reporter based in the station's South Bay Bureau. Follow him on the Instagram platform, @jessegontv and on Facebook, @JesseKTVU. (KRON) A Bay Area man was sentenced to one year and a day in federal prison on July 11 for assaulting a deputy U.S. marshal while refusing to be detained in a Utah district courthouse on Nov. 22, 2024, According to the U.S. Department of Justice. Former San Francisco and Burlingame resident Jeffrey Adam Crum, 34, was at the courthouse for a hearing regarding allegations that he violated the terms of his supervised release when the outburst occurred. During the hearing, the district court ordered that Crum be detained while awaiting future proceedings. Hollywood A-lister Andrew Garfield tapped to play Sam Altman in movie about OpenAI Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crum was upset by the Courts decision and opposed, resisted, and impeded the efforts of multiple Deputy U.S. Marshals to take him into custody, the DOJ said. Specifically, Crum resisted instructions by deputy U.S. marshals to enter and exit an elevator that would take him to a holding cell, forcing them to carry him. At one point, Crum kicked his legs out, striking a Deputy U.S. Marshal in the head. Crum was ultimately arrested at the courthouse. On Dec. 3, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Crum for the assault. He pleaded guilty on May 16, 2025, to one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer. Poll: 79 percent of Americans support immigrants Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Illston handed down Crums sentencing, which included an additional, concurrent sentencing for violating the terms of his supervised release. Crums conviction for violating his supervised release stemmed from a previous conviction for illegal gun and ammo possession as a felon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Bay County residents were able to give a little bit of themselves today, quite literally. History Class Brewing Company partnered with OneBloods Big Red Bus again today, encouraging residents to donate blood. Theyve been conducting these monthly drives since 2022. OneBlood encourages donors to schedule an appointment, but gladly takes walk-ins. All donors receive free swag and a free wellness checkup from OneBlood, and a free dessert from History Class Brewing Co. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OneBlood media director Pat Michaels says one in three people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives; some will be lifesaving. Having something like History Class holding this blood donation event and then making sure that OneBlood will get that blood to the patients who need it, its profound, its lifesaving. Blood drives at History Class run from 12 to 5 p.m. To find out when the next one will take place, go to History Class Facebook page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. A centuries-old Persian couplet often repeated in Indian-administered Kashmir translates to: "If there is a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here." And many Kashmiris insist it was written with Pahalgam in mind. The small town, nestled between tall Himalayan mountains with a gurgling Lidder River flowing through it, is called the mini-Switzerland of India. The valleys and meadows here have long provided stunning locations for Bollywood romances and attracted tens of thousands of tourists escaping the heat and dust of Indian plains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But on 22 April, the tranquil valley hit global headlines when a sprawling meadow here turned into killing fields. Militants singled out male Hindu tourists and murdered 25 of them in front of their families in Baisaran, a beauty spot about 7km from the town. A local Muslim pony handler who tried to help tourists was also shot dead. The massacre brought nuclear-armed India and Pakistan to the brink of war. India blamed Pakistan for the killings an accusation Islamabad denied and the two countries attacked each other with missiles and drones over four days in May after which a fragile truce was agreed. But in Pahalgam, time seems to have slowed down and the residents are trying to pick up the pieces and move on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I recently visited Pahalgam, where a large majority makes a living through tourism, I found a land and its people trying to deal with the collective trauma, mourning the loss of lives - and livelihoods. The peak tourist season here is April to June - and this year, most of it has already been lost. Chairs and tables are scattered at the site of a militant attack on tourists in Baisaran [REUTERS/Adnan Abidi] "What happened here is condemnable an inhuman act. Innocent people were killed," says Javeed Burza, president of Pahalgam Hotels and Restaurants association. Standing in the rear lawns of his hotel, he watches the Lidder roar past. On the other side are huge mountains covered by a thick carpet of trees. It's this sort of view that made this valley in south Kashmir such a sought-after destination. Mr Burza says visitors came from all over India for its lakes, forests, meadows and glaciers and went back raving about the local people and their hospitality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People here are poor, they live hand-to-mouth, but they are known to be very kind and helpful. Now we are all facing the consequences of this senseless violence," he adds. "We had bookings right until the end of June. But then everything fell apart like a pack of cards. There's not much left here now." The Jaffar family say their friends tried to discourage them from coming to Pahalgam [Abid Bhat/BBC] The region's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah says in the immediate aftermath of the attack, tourists fled the town and people who were proposing to come cancelled. To persuade tourists to give Pahalgam another chance, he visited the town within weeks of the attack, held a cabinet meeting there and, ignoring advice of security officials, cycled through the streets. For Mr Abdullah, Pahalgam's wellbeing is personal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's where our school picnics were; it's where we probably first dipped our toes in running water. For some of us it's the first time we went white water rafting or trout fishing. For others, it's a day or overnight visit. For us, it's part of our growing up." Mr Abdullah says it's always hard to make predictions but he hopes to see Pahalgam "where it was on 21 April this year". Fayyaz Ahmad says the targeting of tourists has left him bewildered [Abid Bhat/BBC] On that day, it was packed with tourists, says Fayyaz Ahmad, who sells Kashmiri embroidered shawls and dresses in Pahalgam's main market, with shops lining both sides of the only road that passes through the town. Many remain shuttered, but a few have begun to open in the hope of attracting customers. The day I met him was the first he'd opened his shop since the killings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last three seasons post-Covid years had been marked by bumper visits, Mr Ahmad says. "Every morning at least 3,000 cars would arrive by 11am. There would be traffic jams lasting two-three hours. Many tourists would say they couldn't find accommodation." His own shop sometimes got so crowded that a queue of shoppers would form outside. "Business was brisk," he said. But now he's had to let three salesmen go. They would be rehired only if business picked up, he said. The targeting of tourists has left him bewildered. Since 1989, when an anti-India militancy gripped Kashmir valley, Mr Ahmad says, "the situation was really bad here". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We were afraid to step out of our homes, but tourists who chose to come here were never harmed. We can't understand why they've been targeted now. Who could do such a thing?" he asks. India blamed Pakistan-backed militants for the massacre in a region that both countries claim in full, but control only in parts. Delhi accuses its neighbour of fuelling a long-running insurgency that has killed tens of thousands in Indian-administered Kashmir. Islamabad has long denied backing militants there. In recent years, the insurgency had abated, bringing millions of tourists and a growing sense that the region was finally becoming safer. But that has now changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Pahalgam ke naam par dhabba lag gaya [Pahalgam's name is stained]," laments Nisar Ali, an 80-year-old resident who makes a living by selling papier mache products. "People had taken loans to open shops and buy taxis, now everyone is staring at an uncertain future. What's happened to our paradise," he asks. The road to Baisaran remains closed for outsiders but is used by local people and flocks of sheep [Abid Bhat/BBC] Just 2km from the market, a signboard points to the untarred road that goes up to Baisaran, a 5km trek covered on foot or ponies. The concertina wire used to barricade the road has been moved to one side and local people and flocks of sheep can be seen making their way down. Before the killings, it was one of the most popular places for tourists. The meadow offering a great view of the valley was open from 08:00 to 17:00 and would get thousands of visitors daily in the summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it remains out of bounds now. Two men have been arrested for allegedly providing shelter to the militants, but those who carried out the killings have still not been caught - leading to fears that they could return. Abdul Wahid Wani, the president of Pahalgam pony owners' union, who was the first to arrive at the scene, says 1,090 tourists had gone up to the meadow until 14:00. At the time of the attack, there were about 300 tourists in Baisaran, he estimates. At 14:36, he says, he received a call from the police asking him if he had heard anything about an incident at Baisaran. "I tried calling colleagues who had taken tourists up to the meadow, but no-one answered. I figured something was wrong and my brother and I ran all the way up and reached there at 15:10." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police and paramilitaries arrived 15 minutes later. That night, Mr Wani, wrapped up at 02:30. He says what he saw there keeps him awake at nights. "I saw women and children crying and screaming. I saw bodies on the ground. I saw 10-15 people injured." In the first videos of the aftermath that went viral on the day of the attack, Mr Wani can be heard trying to reassure the survivors, offering them water, telling them he was there to help. Abdul Wahid Wani was the first to arrive at the scene of the massacre in April [Abid Bhat/BBC] He summoned other pony handlers who arrived at the scene to help evacuate people - "carrying them down on our backs and wooden cots" - and gather bodies strewn about the vast field. "I still can't forget what I saw that day. I panicked; I had palpitations. I'd never seen anything like that before." When I met him in Pahalgam, he looked tired, his eyes sunk deep into his lined face. "For many nights I couldn't sleep and sleep still eludes me. With the militants still on the loose, I worry what will happen if they come after us because we helped people they were trying to kill?" But earlier this week, we exchanged messages and he sounded more optimistic. The town has sprung back to life, with thousands of pilgrims arriving to take part in Amarnath Yatra - the annual Hindu pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine. It began on 3 July and will go on until 9 August. Dozens of camps have been set up and thousands of police and security forces have been deployed along the route to ensure security. Pahalgam is one of the two starting points for the trek to the shrine and as many pilgrims hire ponies to take them part of the way, there's a steady stream of work for Mr Wani and his colleagues. But hoteliers and shop-owners say they will have to wait for their turn until after the end of the pilgrimage since most pilgrims stay in cheaper camps and rarely purchase crafts. In June, 40% of more than 45,000 tourists who visited the Kashmir Valley went to Pahalgam [Abid Bhat/BBC] But many are taking heart from the fact that tourists have begun returning to the region. Ravi Gosain, president of All India Tour Operators, says in June, 40% of more than 45,000 tourists who visited the Kashmir Valley went to Pahalgam. On the day I visited, there were families stopping for photographs under a "Love Pahalgam" sign. Shabiba and Hamid Jaffar, who had visited last year around the same time, said it was so crowded then that they had to wait for half an hour to be able to take a photo here. "When we decided to come this year, our friends tried to discourage us saying it's not safe," says Shabiba. "But it's totally safe and my children are so happy that they are saying let's move to Kashmir." Mr Jaffar says their friends are calling them after seeing their photos. "And I'm telling them to come here for a holiday. Where will you see this beauty? Where will you get this peace?" SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) A beloved former rabbi of Congregation Mickve Israel who served for over two decades died peacefully Wednesday, his family told WSAV. Rabbi Arnold Mark Belzer served as the spiritual leader of Congregation Mickve Israel from 1990-2011. The 81-year-old presided over the 275th anniversary of the congregation. He dedicated a new three-story building behind the synagogue to house offices, the religious school and Savannahs Museum of Jewish History. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congregation Mickve Israelis is third oldest Jewish congregation in America and was the first synagogue built in Georgia. He passed with his wife of 57 years, Arlene Belzer, by his side. Arnold was a deeply caring person with a big heart and an even bigger sense of humor, Arlene said. He wasnt born here, but he loved Savannah like it was his own. He was proud to serve such a historic congregation, and he truly lit up when sharing its history or welcoming someone new. Our family was lucky to be close by, and his love was always front and center. His loss will be deeply felt not just by us, but also by the entire community he gave so much to. Rabbi Robert Haas is the current spiritual leader of Congregation Mickve Israel who spoke on the death of the former rabbi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are saddened by the death of our rabbi emeritus, Rabbi Arnie Belzer, Rabbi Robert Haas said. He served Congregation Mickve Israel dutifully for over 20 years and continued to serve the people of Savannah even after his retirement. As one of the longest serving rabbis in our almost 300-year history, he will be remembered for us total dedication to his Jewish ideals and to his community. His passing is a tremendous loss for our city. Our thoughts continue to be with his wife Arlene and the rest of his family. Savannah Mayor Van Johnson also posted on his social media about the passing of Rabbi Belzer. I was so saddened to learn of the passing of our beloved Rabbi Arnold Belzer, who I knew and served with for many years, Johnson wrote. A unique soul with a unique sense of humor, Rabbi Belzer was a respected member of Savannahs faith community even well after his active service. I extend my condolences to his wife, family and the Temple Mickve Israel family. May his memory be a blessing. Rabbi Belzers funeral will be held at noon on Monday at Congregation Mickve Israel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice Savannah or Congregation Mickve Israel. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. It's never a nice thing to hear that a favorite local restaurant is closing, but that's the reality of the restaurant and bar business. Places are constantly opening and closing, so it's a very dynamic industry. Now, a beloved restaurant that had been serving its community for 15 years is abruptly closing its doors. But, the owners are also thanking their clientele and staff for their many years of dedication. A sushi restaurant in Grand Rapids, MI, has officially closed. Sushi Kuni recently announced on its official website that it would be closing its doors for good come the end of last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "After 15 amazing years, Sushi Kuni will be closing its doors at the end of June 2025," they stated in the heartfelt post. "This decision comes with deep gratitude for the incredible journey weve shared with all of you." The post, which is from the "Sushi Kuni Family," adds that they opened Sushi Kuni in 2010 for their family and relatives and "had no idea the sheer amount of kind and genuine people we would meet here in Grand Rapids. You all are the reason we were blessed to be in business for many years and worth every hot summer and crazy dinner rush services." Head sushi chef and co-owner Sunghoon Choi is retiring, according to a report from Crain's Grand Rapids Business, which initially reported the news. The restaurant's post added that during their time serving the community, they were able to participate in "so many of your lives and are honored that you trusted us to celebrate with you all." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post also thanked staff "for working together" and said that "every single person is a reason Sushi Kuni was a place people chose to revisit year after year." They added that even though Sushi Kuni is officially closing, the staff is "excited to share that the space will soon welcome a new chapter under new ownership 'HaluDam' a full service Korean restaurant." Related: Beloved Breakfast Restaurant Closes Overnight After 2 Years Beloved Restaurant Suddenly Closes After 15 Years of an 'Incredibly Journey' first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 12, 2025 Jul. 11BEMIDJI Minnesota Department of Commerce experts will be in Bemidji to meet the public and to discuss insurance claims related to the storm that struck the area on June 21. The experts will be located at the First National Bank, located at 318 5th Street NW in Bemidji. They will enter town on July 16 and leave on July 18. They will be available to meet with the public between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on July 16 and 17. Then, the experts will be available from 9 a.m. to noon on July 18. Topics the experts can advise upon include: How to make a claim, how to document damage, what to expect, common coverage issues, how to deal with communication issues with your provider, filing a complaint and more. (Photo from licensed Shutterstock account) Someday soon you will receive a video call, or perhaps a text or voice mail video from a local politician well known to you. They may be a sheriff or chief of police, or even a state official. This person will begrudgingly tell you there was a bad vote in the statehouse, and something you use daily, and value highly is now illegal and must be destroyed. It may be a standard-capacity magazine or a brace or a specific type of weapon or ammunition. As a result, thousands of the items will likely be eliminated. You're smiling right now. After all, you would never do something like that, right? The truth is you're not the target. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) message was not meant for you, someone who values their Constitutional rights enough to keep informed by visiting websites like this. The false AI message was meant for those who are far less informed, and it will produce exactly what its creators intended. It is happening right now. Last week, the State Department sent every U.S. Embassy a warning that a recent video of Secretary of State Marco Rubio was a sham. . . . . PATASKALA, Ohio (WCMH) Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) is on a mission to sell the Big, Beautiful Bill to the people of Ohio and people across the country. Moreno was selling it on Friday at Patrons at a diner in Pataskala, where he talked about how the bill will help the people who work there. NBC4s Colleen Marshall talked to Moreno outside of the diner. Moreno came to the Nutcracker in Pataskala where servers will no longer have to pay taxes on their tips and overtime. Moreno said there are also tax breaks for the owner. Moreno said everyone should be celebrating the bill, despite what critics are saying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am now the chief salesperson, Moreno said. I am no longer a U.S. Senator. I am the chief salesperson for the One Big, Beautiful Bill.' Moreno said much of his sales pitch will be to correct what he calls misinformation on everything from tax breaks for billionaires to sweeping ICE raids that go beyond violent criminals. This bill look, if you ask the average normal American do you like it, theyll say no, I dont like it,' Moreno said. Then you say well how about all these elements? Oh yeah, I love that, so they love whats in it. They just dont like the bill. The senator said Democrats on Capitol Hill lie to the public and the media reports the lies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chuck Schumer says that we are going to cut Medicaid, Social Security. Not true, Moreno said. None of thats true. Its cruel, Colleen. Its cruel to tell people who rely on these programs, because there are people out there trying to take them away. Objectively, its not true. Moreno said the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office also got it wrong when it said the big, beautiful bill would add hundreds of billions of dollars to the national deficit. The new CBO score is that its going to lower the deficit by about $400 billion over a 10-year window, he said. He also said it was wrong about Medicaid cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres the good news about Medicaid. Ohio will receive more Medicaid funding then in any time in Ohio history, he said. At the exact time Moreno was being a cheerleader for the bill, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) was posting his floor speech to X, detailing what he calls the 10 ways the bill is wrecking the country. He said it cuts Social Security and Medicaid. Even though the bill is now law, both sides have a very different vision of what it means for the country. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) In 1965, Bay Countys population was around 70-thousand people. The median annual income for an American family was $6,900. A gallon of gas was $.31. And the average price of a new car was $2,650. This was Tommy Thomas world when he came to Panama City in 1965. I remember you know my first day working in a dealership, which is in January 1st 1979, and I walked on the showroom and there was a brand new Corvette and it was $13,000, said Bill Cramer, the Chevrolets former owner. People thought Nobody is ever gonna afford that, its $13,000! Well, we ended up going from 24 months financing to 36, so then everybody could afford it. But yeah it was kind of a really my first day. It was something Ill never forget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luther E. Tommy Thomas was born in New York in 1925. He dropped out of high school at 17 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He fought in World War II, receiving a Purple Heart and 5-air medals. After the war, Thomas settled in Birmingham, Alabama, to work in the automotive business. In 1965, he had the opportunity to buy the Chevrolet dealership here in Panama City. The Thomas family made Bay County their home. It goes back when Tommy Thomas was on 15th Street and he bought these 12 acres here, said Winston Chester, a family friend. Everybody said it was crazy. It was a little two lane road, nothing was out here. Thats a vision he had once he got established out here. Even the people at General Motors thought he was crazy. But he went ahead and did it. He kept that vision going, and Cramers had that same vision. Just giving back and working hard for the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a time when there were almost no Republicans in the Panhandle, Tommy became Mr. Republican. He supported Claude Kirk for governor in 1966. He was the State Republican Party chairman from 1970 to 1974; ran Ronald Reagans Florida presidential campaigns in 1976, 1980 and 1984; and he served as Bob Dole Honorary Florida Campaign Chairman in 1996. That was the same year Tommy Thomas died. His son-in-law, Bill Cramer, took over the dealership. The Cramer family has run it for the last 29 years. Now, Bills sons, Will and Chris Cramer, primarily run the business. We here at WMBB News 13 have a deep connection to the Thomas and Cramer families. Tommy Thomas, along with local attorneys Julian Bennett and Dick Arnold, were the original owners of the TV station and signed-in on the air in 1973. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was called WDTB back in those days. The first general manager, Denver t. Brannen used his initials. The three partners sold the station in 1977 to Atlanta businessman Tony Kupris Octagon Broadcasting, and thats when the call letters were changed to WMBB for Worlds Most Beautiful Beaches. Both Tommy and the Cramer family have been great partners with WMBB, not only business-wise but also through charitable events, like the Salvation Armys empty stocking fund. And its fitting that the 60th anniversary is falling on what would have been Tommy Thomas 100th birthday. I never got to work with my grandfather, said Will Cramer, the Chevrolets Co-Owner. He passed when I was 15. But just well, its just that you see my dad a lot more now that we have work with him because we worked a lot growing up. So its been great to have a career, but have it with your brother, have it with your father at the same time. Were thankful everybody came out to celebrate with us. And were so thankful to be here and we look forward to being here for the next sixty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congratulations to Bill Cramer Chevrolet GMC on 60 years of business and service to Northwest Florida. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. SAINT CLAIR Mayor Richard E. Tomko attributed the boroughs longevity to the character of its residents Friday evening at a 175th anniversary celebration. We have had a unique blend of people that emigrated from all parts of the world, the mayor said. Saint Clair is a true melting pot. Initially coming to work in the coal mines in the 19th Century, immigrants brought with them customs and traditions that shaped the boroughs character. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They had an appetite for success in life, said Tomko, a retired American government teacher in the Saint Clair school system. The borough kicked off a two-day celebration with an ecumenical service and block party Friday evening. It continued Saturday with the annual Saint Clair Car Cruise and fireworks at dusk. Speaking from a pavilion in Admiral Boone Memorial Park, Msgr. William F. Glosser delivered the invocation at the ecumenical service. Continue to bless us as we celebrate 175 years of history, with more to come, said Glosser, pastor of Saint Clair of Assisi Catholic Church in Saint Clair. May the faith that built this borough continue to be the bedrock of our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kurt Kovalovich, priest-in-charge at Holy Apostle Episcopal Church in Saint Clair, called attention to the strength and fortitude of the people who built a town with a diversity of religious institutions. Saint Clairs skyline is marked by distinctive domes of Eastern European Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic churches, as well as Catholic, Episcopal and mainline Protestant congregations. At one time, Saint Clair had 17 churches and three more on its outskirts. Keep us safe, Kovalovich prayed, and bless this community with many more years of peace and prosperity. * Michael McCord makes remarks in the ecumenical service during St. Clairs 175th anniversary block party, Friday, July 11, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Priest in charge Kurt Kovalovich makes remarks for the ecumenical service during St. Clairs 175th anniversary block party, Friday, July 11, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * A band performs during St. Clairs 175th anniversary block party, Friday, July 11, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Msgr. William Glosser speaks as part of the ecumenical service during St. Clairs 175th anniversary block party, Friday, July 11, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Vincent Balulis with Atomic Kitchen cooks up veggies on a grill during St. Clairs 175th anniversary block party, Friday, July 11, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Show Caption 1 of 5 Michael McCord makes remarks in the ecumenical service during St. Clairs 175th anniversary block party, Friday, July 11, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Expand Previously known as Saint Clairville, a village in Norwegian Twp., Saint Clair was incorporated on April 6, 1850. The town had about 2,000 residents at the time of its incorporation, roughly its current population. Its highest population was 7,000 around 1920, the mayor said. Former borough council president Mike McCord paid tribute to the late Valeria T. Marcavage Davis, the driving force behind the dedication of the park to Admiral Boone, a Saint Clair native who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War I. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis, who taught for 34 years in Saint Clair Elementary School, was nominated for PA Teacher of the Year in 1984. Elected in 1994, she was the first woman to serve on Saint Clair borough council. She worked tirelessly to build this park, McCord said. Without her, we wouldnt have this park to enjoy. Fridays block party included food trucks, a bounce house, a dunk tank and music by Dale and the Legends. The Citizens Committee of St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church served bean soup cooked in a cauldron over an open fire. The recipe has been passed down for 85 years, said Ed Udut, a committee member. We made about 60 quarts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Actors Guild of Schuylkill County will present A Musical Stroll: 175 Years in St. Clair at 7 p.m. Aug. 2 in the Kelsey Theater in Saint Clair. The show features popular music from periods in the towns history, and includes tidbits of local history. Record numbers of bittern booming calls have been heard in Yorkshire during the bird's breeding season, the RSPB has said. One of the rarest breeding birds in the UK, the bittern is also Britain's loudest bird due to the sound males make in the spring. The bird was once extinct in the UK but returned in the 20th Century, although by 1997 there were only 11 males recorded in the country. The RSPB said a record seven boomers had been heard at RSPB St Aidan's near Leeds, two at RSPB Fairburn Ings near Castleford, four at RSPB Blacktoft Sands in East Yorkshire, and in South Yorkshire's Dearne Valley reserves five had been recorded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Yorkshire figures come on the back of the national annual bittern survey results announced in March, which showed 283 booming males were recorded in the latest results from the RSPB and Natural England. Richard Barnard, Yorkshire area manager for the RSPB, said the results for the county were a "testament to the huge conservation efforts" made. "At our three flagship wetland nature reserves in the region our teams have worked tirelessly to create and crucially maintain the reedbeds in tip-top condition for the bitterns to thrive. "Most of our UK population can now be found in inland reedbeds, which means they are safe from coastal flooding." Conservation of the bittern's preferred habitats has helped ensure the birds' survival [BEN ANDREW] Bitterns are a secretive and rare bird and are dependent on reedbed habitats, seeking out fish, insects and amphibians on the water's edge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is the male's far-carrying booming sound, made in spring and summer to establish territories and attract mates, which can help give conservationists an indication of how well the species is doing. Persecution and draining of their wetland habitat saw the bittern extinct in the UK by the 1880s. They returned in the early 20th Century but were in danger of extinction in the UK again by the late 1990s. This prompted a wide-scale, targeted conservation effort led by the RSPB and Natural England to slow the decline and encourage numbers to increase. RSPB Old Moor in the Dearne Valley has seen a number of bittern fledglings this year [BEN ANDREW] Emma Tuckey, from RSPB Old Moor near Barnsley, said it was "amazing to think that back in the 1990s we only had 11 booming bitterns left in the whole country". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It just goes to show, if you build it, they will come, and we've created acres of reedbeds across Yorkshire so that these amazing birds can thrive, not to mention delight our visitors with their booming calls." A minimum of five bitterns had fledged from the Dearne Valley so far this year. At RSPB Blacktoft Sands, at least six young have fledged from two nests. Senior reserve manager Pete Short said seeing bitterns doing well was a "dream come true". "The excitement of hearing Britain's loudest bird is difficult to put into words. "Thirty or 40 years ago you wouldn't have a chance of hearing bitterns in Yorkshire but now you can hear them here as well as right across the county, the Aire Valley and Dearne Valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Their sound carries for miles when they are booming. You just have to hear a bittern boom and see one to really understand why we should save them." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Related internet links More on this story CEDAR CITY, Utah (ABC4) A body was found July 11 near the eastern foothills of Cedar City, and police believe it could be the remains of a missing person. According to the Cedar City Police Department (CCPD), at around 4 p.m., a deceased male was found less than two miles from where a missing person, Steven James Oakeson, was last seen. Oakeson was reported missing on July 8, and he was last seen on July 5. The remains were exposed to the elements, and so a medical examination is going to be conducted in order to determine the identity of the deceased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because police believe the remains may be Oakeson, the search for Oakeson has been suspended pending the results of the medical examination. CCPD thanked the Utah Highway Patrol Aero Bureau and the Iron County Search and Rescue Team for their efforts in assisting with the search for Oakeson. We extend our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones during this difficult time and appreciate the communitys support and concern throughout the search, CCPD wrote in a social media post. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A bogus film producer suspected of killing his partner and their baby in Rome has been extradited to Italy after fleeing to Greece following their deaths. On June 13, a 46-year-old man going by the alias Rexal Ford was detained on the Greek island of Skiathos under an Italian arrest warrant. Italian authorities had linked him to the horrific double-murder of a 30-year-old woman and her 11-month-old daughter in Rome on June 7. Ford, whom The Times in England dubbed the Untalented Mr. Ripley, was in fact Francis Charles Kaufmann from California. Their naked bodies were discovered in the Italian capitals Villa Doria Pamphili park, concealed by black bags and bushes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deadline now reports that Kaufmann landed at the Rome airport of Ciampino on an Italian Air Force Falcon at midday Friday after being extradited from Greece. He is due to speak with Italian investigators next week and will be held in a secure section of Romes Rebibbia prison until then. A security cordon separated the crime scene from public access inside Villa Doria Pamphili park in Rome. / Remo Casilli/REUTERS It also emerged after their bodies were found that the two deceased were Kaufmanns 28-year-old Russian partner, Anastasia Trofimova, and their 11-month-old daughter, Andromeda. I am innocent. I didnt kill them, he said during a hearing in Larissa, Greece. Reports suggest that Kaufmann had adopted the alias Rexal Ford to masquerade as a film producer who was scouting for shooting locations in the Italian capital. Kaufmann even reportedly falsified IMDb credits to support his ruse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was often accompanied by the woman he called his wife and the young child. Rome's Villa Doria Pamphili, a sprawling park just west of the city center, lies less than three miles from the Vatican. / Antonio Masiello/Getty Images Using his alias and a fake passport, he even managed to secure $996,112 in tax credit from the Italian Ministry of Culture in 2020 for a feature that never got made. The General Director of Cinema and Audiovisual at the Italian Ministry of Culture resigned over the resulting scandal. Speaking at a news conference in Rome, the citys chief prosecutor, Francesco Lo Voi, remarked on Kaufmanns alleged role in the deaths. It is not exactly understandable that someone who was with a woman and a baby girl, once the woman and the girl died, whom he carried in his arms, would then leave the country without calling for help, without seeking assistance, Lo Voi said, according to CBS News. In itself, that doesnt look good. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Saturday that she is dismissing the criminal charges against a Utah plastic surgeon who was currently on trial for allegedly issuing fake Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 vaccination records cards to people who sought fake vaccine cards. Dr. Michael Kirk Moore, whose criminal trial was currently underway in Utah, was indicted by the Justice Department in 2023. Moore, his medical corporation and three co-defendants were accused of allegedly destroying more than $28,000 worth of government-provided COVID-19 vaccines and distributing at least 1,937 falsely marked COVID-19 doses on vaccine cards in exchange for direct cash payments or donations to a charitable organization. Moore pleaded not guilty to the charges, while one of his co-defendants entered into a plea agreement for a misdemeanor charge and another co-defendant entered into a diversion agreement. One co-defendant is currently on trial with Moore. A Justice Department spokesperson did not respond to questions on whether or not the charges against them would be dropped as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In court filings, attorneys for Moore argued that the CDC vaccine regulations in place were unconstitutional. The Biden Justice Department alleged that Moore was not administering COVID-19 vaccines in exchange for the payment, and was administering saline shots to minors, at the request of their parents, so children would think they were receiving a vaccine dose. Moore and his co-defendants were also charged with conspiracy to convert, sell, convey, and dispose of government property; and the conversion, sale, conveyance, and disposal of government property and aiding and abetting for their efforts to forge the vaccine cards. The fake cards were sold for $50 each, charging documents said, during the scheme they allegedly operated between May 2021 and September 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Dr. Moore gave his patients a choice when the federal government refused to do so. He did not deserve the years in prison he was facing. It ends today," Bondi wrote on X, thanking Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has a history of casting doubts on the efficacy of COVID vaccines, for raising awareness of his case. "She has been a warrior for Dr. Moore and for ending the weaponization of government," Bondi wrote. In a post on X on Saturday, Greene called Moore a "hero who refused to inject his patients with a government mandated unsafe vaccine!" It was not immediately clear if the charges were being dismissed for Moore's co-defendants. The announcement comes as the department is facing uncertainty after a clash between Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino over a Justice Department review of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, which led to Bongino not showing up for work on Friday, as sources say he is considering leaving his post over the dispute. How a father's persistence unlocked his son's brilliance Global backlash grows to Trump's tariff threats Takeaways from Trump's tour of Texas flooding damage Bonner Springs police attempting to locate missing 29-year-old woman KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Bonner Springs Police Department is asking the public for help in locating a missing 29-year-old woman. Police said Sarah Dean was last seen Thursday night in the 1200 block of S. 134th Street, near Bonner Springs Aquatic Park. She is described as standing 58 and weighs 120 pounds. She has brown hair and hazel eyes. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Anyone with information is asked to call the Bonner Springs Police Department at (913) 596-3000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent appeared in a Los Angeles County courtroom Friday to face felony charges for assaulting a Long Beach police officer and resisting arrest while off-duty and armed with a department-issued handgun. Isaiah Anthony Hodgson, 29, faces four felony and three misdemeanor charges related to the incident, which happened Monday at Shoreline Village. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office, Hodgson was drunk inside a restaurant when he followed a woman into the womens restroom. The woman alerted restaurant management and reported that Hodgsons firearm and magazine were visible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He fled the restaurant shortly after and was confronted by a security guard who saw the federal agent carrying his magazine in his hand while his gun was tucked into his waistband. That security guard asked him repeatedly to leave, the D.A.s Office says. General view of Shoreline Village and the Long Beach Marina on November 07, 2021 in Long Beach, California. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) The Long Beach Police Department was eventually called to the scene, and officers approached Hodgson in the parking lot. When they arrived, they reportedly observed Hodgson intoxicated and unwilling to cooperate with their commands as they tried to detain him, a release from the D.A.s Office states. As Hodgson resisted arrest, he allegedly became agitated and physical with the officers, injuring one of them. He was eventually arrested and released, and made his initial appearance Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes been charged with three felony counts for resisting arrest, one felony count of battery on an officer and three misdemeanor gun charges. If convicted, he could face up to seven years in state prison. District Attorney Nathan Hochman called Hodgsons alleged behavior unacceptable and deeply troubling. No one is above the law, regardless of their position or badge, Hochman said. Law enforcement officers have a responsibility to always conduct themselves with integrity and professionalism. Our office will pursue prosecution accordingly to ensure justice is served. Hodgson is due back in court on July 17, and is prohibited from possessing firearms or leaving California, and has to attend at least three alcohol counseling meetings a week as a condition of his release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The Brief An off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent was charged with drunkenly assaulting a Long Beach Police Department officer at a local bar on Friday. Isaiah Hodgson has been charged with assaulting an officer, resisting arrest and illegally possessing a gun. Hodgson was also allegedly involved in the now-viral arrest of a U.S. citizen in a Pico Rivera Walmart last month, the man's lawyers say. LONG BEACH, Calif. - The U.S. Border Patrol agent charged with drunkenly assaulting a Long Beach Police officer outside a bar this week is also one of the agents involved in the violent, now-viral arrest of a U.S. citizen in a Pico Rivera Walmart, the man's lawyers claim. What we know Isaiah Hodgson is facing charges of assaulting an officer, resisting arrest and illegal firearm possession, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was arrested on July 7, outside the Shoreline Village in Long Beach. That night, Hodgson allegedly went into the woman's bathroom, and walked up to a woman, who saw he had a gun, the LBPD said. The woman told restaurant staff about the gun, and they called the police. Hodgson then left the restaurant, LBPD said, where officers found him. Isaiah Hodgson Officers saw the gun, and told Hodgson to leave, according to the department. When he didn't, officers tried to detain him. "As Hodgson resisted arrest, he allegedly became agitated and physical with the officers," the LBPD said in a statement. One officer was injured. RELATED: Feds say man punched agents at Pico Rivera Walmart - security footage shows no punches The backstory On Friday, lawyers for a man who was violently detained by Border Patrol agents in Pico Rivera claimed that Hodgson was one of the agents involved in the now-viral arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal agents arrested Adrian Andrew Martinez, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen, on June 18, at a Walmart in Pico Rivera. That morning, federal agents pulled into the parking lot, seemingly for an immigration enforcement operation. Martinez was seen on video approaching agents. Soon after, agents were seen throwing Martinez to the ground. Border Patrol Assistant Chief David Kim told FOX 11 after the arrest that agents arrested Martinez because he allegedly punched two officers during that confrontation. However, security camera footage from the store showed the entire confrontation, and did not appear to show Martinez throwing any punches. No assault charges were ever filed, and Martinez was released on bail. Instead, Martinez was charged with conspiracy to impede or injure an officer, a felony. What they're saying Martinez's lawyers criticized Hodgson's alleged actions in a press release on Friday, calling them "indicative of the violence frequently seen in ICE/Border Patrol arrests." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The arrest confirms the fears many have right now regarding violent, unaccountable and unhinged federal agents roaming the streets," Martinez's lawyers said. "Masked agents are violently and lawlessly kidnapping and warehousing our community members - citizens and non-citizens alike." What we don't know FOX 11 has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security, but has not yet heard back. The Source Information in this story is from a press release from the Long Beach Police Department, a statement from Adrian Martinez's lawyers at the Miller Law Group, and previous FOX 11 reports. BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Vehicle burglaries are happening more often, not just in parking lots, but also in driveways and well-lit neighborhoods across Bossier City. The Bossier City Police Department (BCPD) says too many of these crimes are crimes of opportunity. Its really all over the city, speaking with the detectives that are working them. said BCPD PIO, Shawn Poudrier. Bossier City police say unlocked doors are one of the biggest contributors to recent car burglary crimes, and once inside, thieves are taking more than just electronics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bossier erroneous emergency alert issued; service restored A lot of it is juveniles just rumbling through cars taking guns and things of that nature, IDs and blank checks, and social security cards. Police say, dont leave anything behind when you step away. Lock your cars, hide your belongings, anything of value Dont leave it in plain sight for people to see. said Poudrier. If your car is broken into, report it immediately. Officers are actively investigating and ready to respond. If you do discover your vehicles been broken into, call Bossier police immediately, theyll jump right on it. said Poudrier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. NEED TO KNOW A young boy was allegedly abducted at gunpoint outside his Milwaukee home on July 11 Police have issued an Amber Alert for the 7-year-old We are exhausted and havent gotten any sleep," Jamal White's family said Police have issued an Amber Alert for a 7-year-old boy who was allegedly abducted in Milwaukee. Jamal White was allegedly "taken at gunpoint" outside his home in a white Jeep Renegade SUV at around 7:00 p.m. local time on Friday, July 11, the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) said in their notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White is four feet tall, weighs 80 pounds and was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts, the MPD added in a missing person's post on Facebook. Wisconsin Amber Alert Jamal White. Jamal White. Police said they are currently searching for a Black male suspect wearing a black face mask and a black hooded sweatshirt. White is believed to have been taken away in the SUV with an unknown license plate, police said in the Amber Alert. No other details tied to the alleged abduction have been released at this time. A woman who said she is Whites grandmother wrote in a post on Facebook after the alleged abduction of the young boy's family, We are exhausted and havent gotten any sleep." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Were still praying and asking the community to join us in prayer and stay alert. Please be on the lookout for this white Jeep Renegade. Every set of eyes helps," she continued. Wisconsin Amber Alert The SUV Jamal White is believed to have been taken in. The SUV Jamal White is believed to have been taken in. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The MPD is asking anyone with information tied to the case to contact them at (414) 935-7242, or by dialing 911 directly. The MPD and the Wisconsin Department of Justice did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Saturday, July 12. Read the original article on People One man died in a shooting and one man was taken to a hospital with stab wounds after an incident Friday morning in southeast Bakersfield, according to the Bakersfield Police Department. Officers were called at 2:15 a.m. to the 1500 block of Padre Street where they found two men suffering major injuries, a BPD news release. The man who died was the victim of a shooting, BPD said. The other went to a hospital in critical but stable condition with stab wounds. BPD asked that anyone with information call 661-327-7111. The Czech capital Prague is one of Europe's architectural gems: largely untouched by ten centuries of invasion and war, it attracts some 8m tourists a year. It's a living tableau of architectural styles; from medieval to Baroque, from industrial to modern. So when a Prague landmark is slated for demolition or reconstruction, it invariably arouses strong passions. "I think this bridge is absolutely key to Prague," said architect and bridge engineer, Petr Tej, running his hand over the rust-coated girders of the 123-year-old Vysehrad railway bridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The panorama it forms in conjunction with the Vysehrad fortress behind it is on the same level as the panorama of Charles Bridge with Prague Castle. These two panoramas are in my view crucial to Prague, and we need to preserve them," Tej told the BBC. Standing on the pedestrian walkway running alongside the rusty steel bridge, we gazed up at the trio of arches that have become an iconic feature of Prague's southern skyline. Architect and bridge engineer, Petr Tej and philantropist, Tomas Bistricky believe that the bridge can be restored rather than replaced [BBC] As we talked a train trundled westwards over the river, heading to Prague's Smichov station, and from there onwards to Karlovy Vary, Pilsen or Germany. "These bits here are the most impacted by rust," Petr told me, pointing at a nest of riveted joints and beams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Petr is part of the Vysehrad Bridge Foundation, an international coalition of experts who've restored similar steel bridges around the world some of them in much worse shape than this one. They say the Railway Authority's plan to dismantle this iconic industrial landmark erected in 1902 during the heyday of the Austro-Hungarian Empire - is entirely unnecessary. "Previous expert reports said 70% of the steel should be replaced. Our study says it's only 15%. It's a huge difference." The Foundation's proposal is simple: repair the bridge in place, keep the trains running, minimising disruption, and save money in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year their findings were endorsed by Unesco, which protects much of the historic centre of Prague. They are also backed by over 25,000 residents who have signed a petition demanding the Vysehrad bridge be restored rather than replaced. Pavel Paidar of the Railway Authority in Prague says that the bridge will not be able to cope with the anticipated growth in rail travel [BBC] A short while later, in the shade of the metal girders, the Director of the Railway Authority's Construction Preparation Department Pavel Paidar shook his head in disagreement. "This bridge already handles around three-quarters of Prague's railway traffic. It could handle more, but because of the corrosion, it can only carry about 60% of its capacity," Paidar told the BBC. "With the projected growth in rail travel, that's going to be a major transport problem. Yes, it's a protected historical monument, but it's becoming increasingly clear that it's simply not possible to reconcile these two things transport needs and heritage preservation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new bridge would include a third track and, according to visualisations, will be a fair tribute to the original. The whole area will be revitalised, and transport links from Prague's main station to the west of the country and beyond will be improved. The old bridge, meanwhile, will be dismantled and moved about 8km (5 miles) south to the district of Modrany, to start a new life as a crossing for pedestrians and cyclists. Architectural visualisations show the replacement bridge drawing inspiration from the original [Sprava zeleznic ('Railway Authority)] That idea too, however, has been criticised by campaigners. The River Vltava at Modrany is about half as wide as in the city centre. An urban railway bridge, they say, will look completely out of place plonked down in the middle of a meadow. "There's a mistaken perception that there are two conflicting interests at play here transport and protecting our cultural heritage," said Tomas Bistricky, philanthropist and co-founder of the Vysehrad Bridge Foundation, which proposes a second, slender bridge alongside the original to provide the third track. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But our study shows there's actually no conflict at all; on the contrary, these two things support each other." It's an age-old dilemma: to tear down in the name of modernity, or to preserve in the name of tradition. It arouses particularly strong emotions in a city which prides itself on its architectural conservation. Ultimately, and perhaps sooner rather than later, it's one that will have to be decided not by railway engineers or heritage campaigners, but by the Czech government. BRIGHTON, N.Y. (WROC) This Friday, the town of Brighton held their Pride Celebration at their town hall. The event is made the celebrate the progress made and honored by those who have paved the way for an inclusive future in the LGBTQ+ community. This year, they honored LaSharah Evans, a community leader and educator. Her commitment to creating school environments where all voices are heard, respected, and uplifted, is what gained her recognition at this inspirational event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brightons Town Supervisor, William Moehle said, Brighton is a diverse community and we not only celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community, but I think its an opportunity to send a message that as a diverse community, Brighton is stronger because of our diversity. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) The City of Bristol, Virginia dropped the lawsuit it filed Thursday against U.S. Magis International Education Center, the company that owns the former Virginia Intermont College campus. Bristol, Va. files complaint to start Virginia Intermont property transfer Mayor Becky Nave confirmed to News Channel 11 that the lawsuit was dropped after Magis paid the more than $600,000 in delinquent taxes it owed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit would have started the legal process for the city to take ownership of the property. Attorney John Kieffer is representing Magis, a foreign company. He said a part of the payment was made on Wednesday, and another part was made on Friday. He said Magis International had trouble sending the payments from China to the U.S. due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kieffer also said he hopes both parties are now able to move on from this. Litigation never helps anybody, Kieffer said. The last thing that anybody in their right mind wants to do is file lawsuits. Were very hopeful that this will be a step that will enable us to move forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kieffer said he has been doing work with Magis since they bought the former Virginia Intermont property in 2016. Massive fire burns through former Virginia college: A tragedy for our city Nave also said the next steps would be decided after July 23, when Magis Internationals next tax payment is due. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Many readers will know the neat witticism that begins In England, everything is permitted unless it is forbidden and ends In Russia, everything is forbidden, especially when it is permitted. It flatters a certain idea we have of ourselves as both law abiding and free. But it also gives an insight into our present problems over freedom of speech and thought which include police targeting social media users for non-crime hate incidents while prominent musicians call for the death of Israeli soldiers live on the BBC, with apparent impunity. We do not have a clear, familiar and authoritative guarantee of freedom. Many countries do. The most famous is the First Amendment to the United States Constitution: Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. In France, the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man (incorporated into later constitutions) described freedom of expression as one of the most precious human rights. Germany, Spain and others have constitutional protection for freedom of expression. Our freedom, in contrast, relies on gaps in the law: what is not forbidden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no mention of freedom of speech in Magna Carta, needless to say, or in the 1689 Bill of Rights (other than the Bill of Rights setting out protections for parliamentarians over what was said during debates) though even if there were, it would not be binding on todays courts. The consequence is that our freedom of speech, writing, discussion and even of thought relies on ever-changing and often hasty legislation and on court interpretation; hence, in reality, it is subject to changes in cultural norms, ideological fashions and political opportunism. I do not think that England or Britain can claim to have an established history of freedom of expression, and we certainly cannot be secure today in enjoying whatever freedoms we have. If we take a long view of history, the idea that freedom of expression is good in principle is fairly new. Heresy was made a capital crime in 1401 and moreover was a very unpopular offence, like possessing pornographic images of children today: wives denounced their husbands, for example. Treason which, like heresy, could end in a very painful death included talking or speculating about the monarchs death. Political discussion could be sedition. In Cromwells Puritan Army, blasphemy or profanity what today we might term hate speech was punished by having the tongue grasped in pliers and a hot iron forced through it, leaving a permanent speech impediment to remind all and sundry that speech could be sinful. When written down, thought crimes became various forms of libel and could be labelled blasphemous, obscene or seditious. These might incur a modest bit of mutilation (ears cut off) or a humiliating, painful and sometimes fatal spell in the pillory. Pillory, Charing Cross (1808-1810), an etching by Thomas Rowlandson and Augustus Charles - Alamy A view developed in the 18th century (as the American and French constitutions testify) that some liberty of thought and expression might be desirable enough to exalt to the status of a universal principle. It began as an acceptance of the inevitable: an intellectual truce after generations of religious conflict had shown that unity of speech, thought and belief could not be imposed, even with hot iron. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The end of print censorship in England came in 1689, when the law imposing it accidentally lapsed, and it seemed better thereafter to let sleeping dogs lie. Sensible Queen Anne kept losing the paperwork when her bishops brought prosecutions for heresy. Charles II had reopened the theatres closed under Cromwell but Sir Robert Walpole imposed censorship of plays by the Lord Chamberlain. England during this century was nevertheless, by comparison with most of its neighbours, a haven of free thought and expression. Yet when the self-promoting London radical John Wilkes (perhaps a distant forerunner of Nigel Farage) insisted on satirising the prime minister and publishing the hitherto secret debates in Parliament, he was prosecuted for obscene and blasphemous libel (in a rude poem featuring bishops), almost killed in a duel, forced to flee into exile and outlawed pretty comprehensive evidence of the limits of Enlightenment liberty. John Wilkes Esq (1763) by William Hogarth - Culture Club The 19th century in some ways saw a tightening of the limits of free expression. Though the state no longer imposed draconian penalties for political criticism, and religious diversity was at last fully recognised, the general cultural atmosphere became less permissive. A Russian exile observed that the freer a country is from government interference, the more intolerant grows the mob. This reflected a collective effort to civilise and regulate a turbulent and rapidly changing society through education, exhortation, economic pressure and, not least, strict policing. Churches, charities, political parties and trade unions were all agreed on the desirability of morality, self-reliance, discipline in short, respectability. Leading socialists became advocates of forced labour for the unemployed and enthusiasts for eugenics. We might admire some of the outcomes: crime, drunkenness and domestic violence fell to probably their lowest ever levels. The economy boomed. Living standards rose. But it had become a stern and forbidding society compared with the uproarious 18th century. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Respectability imposed strict limits on what could be said and written. In the 1880s, a radical reformist movement including socialists and feminists started cracking down on immorality. This included stricter regulation of music halls, the seizure and destruction of immoral pictures, sexual repression (especially of prostitution and homosexuality) and, of course, baleful scrutiny of publications. In 1889 the publisher of English editions of Emile Zolas novels was sentenced to three months in prison. A series of French paintings of scenes from Francois Rabelais, the French humanist, was narrowly saved from being destroyed, and there were scandalised protests when Degass LAbsinthe was shown in 1893, depicting the dangers of a highly alcoholic spirit that was later banned. Artists and writers flocked to France, where all censorship had been abolished. LAbsinthe by Edgar Degas (1876) caused a sensation when it was shown in 1893 - Corbis/Getty Images Victorian repressiveness did not, of course, end with Victoria. In the 1930s the legal writer AP Herbert wrote, only half jokingly, of the curious delusion that the British subject has a number of rights and liberties which enable him to behave as he likes There are few if any such rights, in particular the alleged rights of public meeting and free speech based on the vague belief that this ideal is somewhere embodied in the laws of our country. Speakers Corner in Hyde Park was often shown off as a proof of freedom of speech, but of course it was a licensed exception. The director of public prosecutions sent detectives to lectures of the Cambridge literary scholar FR Leavis when he spoke of James Joyces Ulysses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 1950s saw a revival of Victorian values. Magistrates ordered the destruction of more than 1,500 works of fiction, including Gustave Flauberts Madame Bovary, published a century earlier. The BBC did not permit anything derogatory to political institutions or the impersonation of leading public or political figures. The sensational acquittal in 1960 of Penguin Books for publishing DH Lawrences Lady Chatterleys Lover (Is it a book you would wish your wife or your servants to read? asked the prosecuting counsel) has rightly been seen as a landmark. But the acquittal was based not on a right to freedom of expression, but because the book was seen as a work of literary merit effectively a get-out clause in the 1959 Obscene Publications Act. Less distinguished literature was successfully prosecuted: the underground magazine Oz in 1971 (its editors were given prison sentences, later overturned), and Gay News for blasphemous libel in 1976 (fines and a suspended prison sentence). This was the last prosecution for blasphemy, at least for the time being (the common law offence of blasphemy was abolished in 2008). The House of Lords rejected Gay Newss appeal, and Lord Scarman suggested that the law of blasphemy should apply to all religions, punishing those who cause grave offence to the religious feelings of some of their fellow citizens. Sir Allen Lane, the founder of Penguin Books, pictured in 1960 with a copy of Lady Chatterleys Lover by DH Lawrence - Central Press/Hulton Archive Nevertheless, the three decades beginning in the 1960s were undoubtedly the greatest age of free expression in Britain. It became generally accepted in all but the most conservative circles that such freedom was both a human right and a benefit to society. The Lord Chamberlain stopped censoring plays in 1968. Toleration of ideas that one disliked was seen as a necessary part of living in a civilised country. It would have been unthinkable for writers or academics to be threatened, dismissed or discriminated against for their words or opinions. How long ago this now seems! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When or why it began to end is a proper subject for debate. One obvious moment was the death sentence passed by the ruler of Iran against Salman Rushdie in 1989 for his novel The Satanic Verses, winner of the 1988 Whitbread Award. This was followed by a series of riots in Britain and elsewhere, assassination attempts and the murder of a translator of the book in Japan. Attitudes to what could be said or published rapidly changed, at first through fear and later through conformism. The golden age of free expression in Britain had lasted for roughly one generation. Protesters burning copies of Salman Rushdies novel The Satanic Verses in Bradford, circa 1988 - Derek Hudson/Hulton Archive Most limits on free expression throughout our history have been based on the preservation of public order: in other words, on the likely or possible outcome of what was said. At one end of the scale, treason attacked the political order. Sedition risked causing riots. Slander and libel upset the social order at the individual level. Hence, it made a great difference whether the words were true or false, intended or unintended, public or private. Falsely shouting fire in a crowded theatre was an offence. In the privacy of ones home it was not. It seems to me apologies to lawyers who might disagree that blasphemy is essentially different. While it may also be seen as an offence against public order, it is principally an offence against an angry divinity: not only a crime, but a sin. In theory, blasphemy is not yet a crime in England, nor is it regarded even as a just cause of outrage when it concerns Christianity, once its sole concern. Nevertheless, blasphemy is severely punished. Not by law at least not yet but by illegal or informal action. This is most obvious in the case of Rushdie, or of the teacher at Batley Grammar School who showed pupils illustrations of Mohammed, and who was forced to go into hiding with little or no support from his employers or his trade union, and, it seems, no effective protection by the police. I could list many similar cases, but they will be all too familiar to readers. The present debate in Parliament over a new definition of Islamophobia raises the possibility of the reintroduction of a blasphemy law by the back door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But blasphemy now goes much further than in its traditional religious context. There is severe punishment including loss of livelihood and reputation, threats of violence and ostracisation for blasphemy against current secular orthodoxies too: blasphemy that is termed hate speech or various kinds of phobia. An innocent remark taken the wrong way can destroy a career. An angry or sarcastic comment that does no material damage can result in prosecution or worse. The use, even inadvertently, of particular words is punished even though not illegal. Implausible claims of being harmed or made unsafe by ideas or words have been used to attack individuals and silence debate. Certain police forces have been leading exponents of anti-blasphemy activism in their dubiously lawful pursuit of non-crime hate incidents. The law is encroaching into the private realm, including overheard conversations. For example, how will employers, made liable for the harassment of their employees by third parties under the new Employment Rights Bill, prevent such abuses without deploying an army of snoopers? This eagerness to extend law into private spaces recalls Scotlands Presbyterian Kirk, with its searchers of vices and its stools of repentance the most intrusive and repressive form of Christianity, which the SNP seems eager to revive for 21st-century use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Far more widespread than repression by governments is action taken by angry individuals and groups operating outside the law. They sometimes act with the complicity of official bodies, but often independently. Prominent have been lecturers, graduate students, publishers, diversity lobbyists, civil servants and trade unionists. Their reach has been extended by social media far beyond that of Victorian morality campaigners or 17th-century Puritans, though their psychology and vindictiveness seem amazingly similar. An individual accused of modern forms of blasphemy often has no legal protection and no redress. Like many readers, no doubt, I have personal knowledge of several cases of such persecution. I know how common intimidation and self-censorship has become in academic circles. Until recently, the only defence of people hounded out of their jobs for their opinions has been to seek compensation before an industrial tribunal. Those censored, cancelled or otherwise penalised (for example by loss of contracts or denial of funding) have usually had no redress at all. For these reasons, to rely as in the past on a permissive void in the law that everything is permitted if it is not legally forbidden is evidently insufficient. It is no longer enough that freedom of expression should be permitted. It also has to be defended. That the law has not been fairly or equally applied in recent years is widely believed, and although such two-tier justice is, alas, pretty standard throughout history, it is always an abuse as Magna Carta so memorably declared 800 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All those who value individual liberty and freedom of expression as the foundation of a civilised and functioning society must work to make the state and the law the active champions of freedom and not, as often, its enemies, not least through loosely drafted legislation that lends itself to repressive applications. The Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson learnt the hard way how such laws in her case invoking the perception of an unknown complainant could be used to intimidate critics of the police. An important step to defend freedom has been taken with the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, passed under the previous government and applied, with regrettable reluctance and watered-down provisions, by the present Government. The philosopher and free-speech campaigner Prof Arif Ahmed was appointed director for freedom of speech and academic freedom at the Office for Students, and has already taken firm action to require universities to protect and promote freedom. Significantly, ideological tests for employment and promotion are no longer to be imposed by universities amazing that this should be needed when the Test Acts (discriminating against religious dissenters in education and employment) were abolished in the 19th century. Universities have a special importance as pillars of freedom of speech, expression and thought. But they are not, of course, alone. Stronger protection for freedom of opinion is needed in other institutions and professions. It is a lamentable proof of the inadequacy of legal protection when medical professionals can be harassed or even dismissed for publicly upholding biology or resisting damaging treatments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In many and varied public institutions, it is unlikely that anyone would be employed in the first place if they were known to dissent from progressive orthodoxy in other words, to share views held by the majority of the population. Such are the punishments for modern blasphemy. There is a long and hard road to follow before widespread damage done by activist minorities sometimes taxpayer-funded can be undone. But the indispensable first step must surely be to protect freedom of speech so that error and falsehood can at least be contested without risking dismissal or ostracism. England should be a country where what is not forbidden is protected. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Ever since Vladimir Putins tanks rolled into Ukraine, a patch of lawn in Kyivs Independence Square has served as a makeshift memorial to the nations war dead. On it are planted tens of thousands of tiny flags, each put there in honour of a fallen soldier. Amid the sea of blue and yellow are Union flags, Stars and Stripes and European tricolours. They honour volunteers who came to fight for Ukraines International Legion and who paid the ultimate price. Not everyone who is remembered there, though, died gloriously in combat. One flag that has fluttered since 2023 commemorates Jordan Chadwick, a volunteer from Burnley in Lancashire. Aged 31, he was a former member of the Scots Guards, a regiment with a fighting history stretching back nearly four centuries. Their motto, Nemo me Impune Lacessit, translates as No one assails me with impunity. Tragically, however, that seems to have been exactly how Chadwick met his end. On 24 June 2023, Chadwick was found lying dead in a reservoir outside Kramatorsk, a city in eastern Ukraine that lies close to the Donbas front line. In a part of the country that is repeatedly hit by indiscriminate Russian missile fire, such grisly discoveries arent unknown, but Chadwicks death was no random act from afar. His hands were tied behind his back, and his body had been in the water for no more than a day or two. Someone, it seemed, had taken him prisoner before killing him and trying to hide his corpse unaware, perhaps, that the reservoir was still fished by local anglers, who found his body in a reed bed close to the shore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who, though, would do such a thing, and why? Had he been captured by Russian troops, not best known for their respect for the Geneva Conventions? Or, as many now believe, was he killed not by enemy forces at all, but by fellow Legionnaires? Last month marked the second anniversary of Chadwicks death, since when a lot has changed in Ukraine. The much-vaunted counter-offensive that he was taking part in that summer, which the West hoped might halt Putins invasion for good, petered out with little success. Today, it is Russian forces that are gaining ground around the Donbas, moving ever closer to Kramatorsk. Yet the circumstances of his death remain as murky as the water he was found in. Everyone has a different theory, one volunteer told me. But those who really know dont want to talk about it. That much I have also learnt, having spent the last three years reporting from Ukraine for The Telegraph, and also writing a book about the Legions role in the war. During that time I have interviewed scores of Legionnaires about their experiences some on front lines, some in bases, bars and hospital wards. Many of their stories sound like an Andy McNab novel on steroids, with battles that make Afghanistan and Iraq seem like childs play. Amid the tales of heroism, however, there is a darker, less-talked-about side to life in the Legion, which has proved to be a magnet for hotheads and neer-do-wells. As some volunteers only half-joke, the people they watch out for most in Ukraine are not the Russians, but fellow Legionnaires. In the wake of Chadwicks death, the 50/50 effectively ceased operation for some time Few are willing to talk openly about Chadwicks death, even though these are not men who take fright easily. Storming a Russian trench position is one thing. Speaking out about former comrades quite another, bringing a risk of reprisals or, if nothing else, a break from an unofficial volunteers code that what happens in Ukraine, stays in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a far cry from the lofty tones evoked by President Zelensky when he announced the Legions creation on the third day of the invasion, a time when Russian victory seemed all but inevitable. Describing it as the beginning of a war against Europe, against democracy, against basic human rights, he invited anyone with military experience to join the fight. Within weeks, Kyiv officials claimed, more than 20,000 people had applied. Many saw themselves following in the footsteps of George Orwell, who fought as a Republican volunteer in the Spanish Civil War. But a significant minority were fantasists, misfits and ex-criminals, often fleeing troubled pasts. The bad apples sullied the Legionnaires reputation in the eyes of Ukrainian commanders, who either shunned them, or used them as cannon fodder. That led to many volunteers forming their own independent fighting units which, while technically part of the Legion, were effectively self-run militias, with little by way of formal command or discipline structures. Some also prided themselves in taking on extremely dangerous missions, at which even their Ukrainian counterparts might baulk. The 50/50 Assault Group, the unit that Chadwick joined, was a case in point. Composed of a couple of dozen mainly British and American fighters, it specialised in hardcore combat its name a reference to the risks its members ran of death or injury. In 2023 the unit was serving in the Donbas city of Bakhmut, the fiercest battle of the entire war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When reports of Chadwicks death first emerged that summer, many Legionnaires assumed he had been taken prisoner by Russian troops. Those more familiar with the Donbass geography, however, could rule that out. The reservoir where his body was found a vast stretch of water nicknamed the Kramatorsk Sea was 30 miles west of the nearest front lines, and had never been part of the combat zone. 1207 Kramatorsk That left the possibility of a run-in with his fellow volunteers. Legionnaires are no strangers to fights sparked by battlefield mishaps, drunken arguments or personality clashes. Steroid abuse is also common in volunteer circles one known side-effect of which are bouts of aggression known as roid rage. Might a punch-up between the bruisers of 50/50 have got out of hand? Numerous Legionnaire contacts knew of ex 50/50 members who had served alongside Chadwick, but every time I asked if they would speak with me, the same answer came back: They dont want to talk. It was not until four months after Chadwicks death that I first tracked one down, and even then he knew only half the story. Chadwick was a good soldier, but he was also quite conflictual and argumentative, he told me. All I know is that there was some kind of row, which ended up with him being killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legion then sorted it out without any proper investigation. Thats the usual way here, they find it easier. The guys involved were just asked to go home, although youd think the British embassy here in Kyiv [which helped oversee the repatriation of Chadwicks body] must have wondered what the hell was going on. A British guy gets killed, and everyone just says: so be it? The story got little coverage in Britain, by then focused on the horrors of the October 7 massacre in Israel. But in Legionnaire chat groups on Whatsapp and Signal, gossip was rife. One story had it that Chadwick had died during an SAS-style selection ritual, involving waterboarding. His body had then been dumped in the reservoir, to make it look like hed drowned. Another story was that the waterboarding had been done not as part of a ritual, but as a punishment for stealing. Both stories named the culprit as a British volunteer call-signed Huggs, who had previously served in the French Foreign Legion. For nearly a year, Ukrainian police declined to comment, saying only that it was a criminal case. Then, during a visit to Kramatorsk in February last year, I finally spoke to a detective active in the investigation. I met Inna Lyakhova in a heavily guarded police station downtown, where her room contained a mannikin for reconstructions of homicide scenes. She said that she believed Chadwicks death was misadventure rather than murder. It seems there was an argument one night between him and some other soldiers at the house they were staying at, she told me. He became emotional and aggressive, so he was put into plastic cuffs. His comrades told him: Go away, and dont come back. Somebody, somewhere, knows exactly how Chadwick ended up in that reservoir - Julian Simmonds Chadwick then left the house, which Lyakhova said was in a village next to the Kramatorsk reservoir. He then appeared to have strayed into the reservoir itself, where his body was found between 24 and 48 hours later. Whether he had stumbled in accidentally or walked in deliberately was unknown. Either way, he would have been unable to swim with his hands tied behind his back, and the cause of death was drowning. Foul play had been ruled out, as police found no signs of injuries on Chadwicks body that indicated a struggle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We think he had gone to the water by himself, as it would have been hard to make him go there against his will, Lyakhova said. All his 50/50 comrades had been questioned, she added. When I checked again with the Kramatorsk police just last month, there were no updates. Yet the police account raises as many questions as it answered. Most combat units, after all, are well-drilled in how to take prisoners. Would they really allow a distressed, drunken soldier to wander off into the night alone, hands tied behind his back? If he was being a nuisance, could they not have simply cuffed him to a post or a tree outside, or cuffed his ankles too? Likewise, was the absence of injuries on his body really proof that he had wandered into the lake of his own accord? What if he had been frog-marched there at gunpoint? Many volunteers I spoke to suspected a cover-up, or that at the very least Ukrainian authorities had little incentive to get to the bottom of it. The battle for Bakhmut that the 50/50 were helping with was crucial to Ukraines war. Detaining some of them over a petty dispute that had got out of hand would remove valuable assets from the front line. You hear of this happening occasionally some troops have a punch-up, someone gets killed accidentally, and its just quietly forgotten about, said one Legionnaire. Chadwicks unit, the 50/50 Assault Group, was composed of a couple of dozen mainly British and American fighters So who really was Jordan Chadwick, and what brought him to Ukraine in the first place? Details of his life remain almost as sketchy as his death. The only public comment his family have made was a brief statement after the discovery of his body, praising his unwavering courage and resilience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is understood to have served in the Scots Guards from 2011-2015, doing guard duty outside Buckingham Palace. But like many ex-soldiers, his life appears to have unravelled after leaving the Army. In Burnley, residents of the quiet suburban street where his family home used to be spoke of a troubled young man but declined to elaborate. I dont want to speak ill of the dead, one told me. By the time the Ukraine war beckoned, Chadwick was living rough, camping out in woods in Burnleys suburbs and eating in soup kitchens. One person who got to know him during that time was Pastor Mick Fleming, a reformed drug dealer who runs a local homeless charity, Church On The Street. It was visited by Prince William in January 2022, a month before the Ukraine war broke out. At the time, Chadwick was a regular drop-in at the charity Fleming remembers him being excited about the prospect of going to fight. He was a lovely guy, very easy to talk to, but also a loner, quite isolated from other people, Fleming told me back in February. The minute the conflict in Ukraine broke out, bingo! he wanted to be part of it. He said it felt like his duty, as an ex-soldier, to go. He was a nice lad, but he couldnt cope with everyday society, with rules - UNPIXS Straight away, that struck Fleming as a bad idea. Chadwick, he says, was seriously underweight from months of living rough. He smelt heavily of marijuana, and seemed to be delusional. I dont think anyone in their right mind would have taken him on as a soldier. He wasnt in a fit state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flemings advice not to go to Ukraine went unheeded. Chadwick, he said, devoted the next few months attempting to get fit for combat, trying to use his soldiers skills to live off the land. Then, in October 2022, he headed for Ukraine. Chadwick wasnt alone in seeing the Legion as a chance to turn his life around. Other volunteers I have met went there after stints in jail, messy divorces, or simply because they were bored with life. Fleming heard nothing from Chadwick again, until the reports of his death nearly a year later. At first I figured hed probably been captured by the Russians and executed, but it now looks like he fell out with someone from his own side. From my limited knowledge of him, that seems the most realistic explanation. He was a nice lad, but he couldnt cope with everyday society, with rules. That might have caused him to upset the wrong people. Who, though, and why? It wasnt till last month that a clearer picture finally emerged, courtesy of another source, Dave, who only agreed to speak after months of persuasion. His accounts of dates, times and people is detailed, and corresponds with other events that I have been able to verify. In the Legionnaires world, that is about as good as it gets. According to Dave, the incident that led to Chadwicks death was a fight he had one night with another team member, call-signed Bronco. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 50/50 shared two houses close to each other, with Bronco in house one and Chadwick in house two, Dave recalled. Chadwick came over one night, all dressed for battle, and was trying to kill Bronco. The spark for the fight wasnt clear, but they subdued him and then tied his hands behind his back. Its not clear whether he was dead or alive when he left the house, but Huggs drove him away. His body was found in the reservoir a day or two after. An American, a Dane, and three Britons, including Huggs, were apparently in the house when the fight happened. After Chadwicks body was found, they were all detained and questioned by Ukrainian police, but then released, except for Huggs. Then, in a bizarre twist, they went out for dinner together at a pizza restaurant in Kramatorsk, only for it to be hit by a Russian missile. This part of the story crosses over with mine I was sitting in the very same restaurant myself that night. By some miracle, just as I was browsing the menu, I got a phone call from a contact who wanted to meet urgently on the other side of town. I left the restaurant, and less than half an hour later heard the explosion. It was caused by an Iskander ballistic missile a 24ft monster big enough to carry a nuclear warhead which killed 13 diners, including the Ukrainian novelist Victoria Amelina, and wounded 60. Among the other casualties were the American 50/50 volunteer, who died, and the Dane, who was seriously injured. The two Britons escaped serious injury, but left Ukraine shortly afterwards. The city of Kramatorsk lies close to the Donbas front line - Julian Simmonds In the wake of Chadwicks death and the pizza restaurant bombing, the 50/50 effectively ceased operation for some time. Huggs was released from questioning, and continued to fight in Ukraine with a different unit. For legal reasons, I am withholding publication of his name, but recently I tracked him down through an Instagram account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a series of message exchanges, he confirmed that he had been the primary person under investigation for a time as he was 50/50s team leader. He and the rest of the unit were then cleared, he said, after DNA and polygraph tests. Asked what had happened to Chadwick, he wrote the following: He [Chadwick] developed a hatred for a team member code-name Bronco. After a few drinks he made ready his weapon and headed to the other team house to confront Bronco. To which he was disarmed, removed from the team house and [the] team itself. It was after that time he was discovered dead. He said he was not the last person to see Chadwick alive, but declined to elaborate on how Chadwick had died, or who was responsible, adding: I cannot confirm what else happened as part of the investigation. Once again, it is an explanation that raises as many questions as it answers. If, as Huggs claims, Chadwick was brandishing a weapon threateningly, it might have been legitimate to use force in self-defence. But if so, why dump his body in a reservoir several miles away? And why do Huggs and Daves accounts vary so much from that given by the police? Detective Lyakhova made no mention of Chadwick brandishing a weapon. She also said the house where the fight took place was right next to the reservoir, while Dave insists it was in Kramatorsk itself. In a subsequent message a few weeks after our first exchange, Huggs claimed the police investigation had moved on to focus on members of a previous unit Chadwick had served with, which he had left after an argument. Again, he did not elaborate, but said the argument had taken place after an op went bad outside of Bakhmut. An inquest into Chadwicks death was due to be held in Britain 18 months ago, but was then postponed, with no new date set. A coroner, however, has no power to compel witnesses to give evidence from overseas. In which case they may have to rely largely on what Ukrainian police tell them. No Scotland Yard team has gone to Ukraine to investigate, and British diplomats may require special security clearance even to travel outside of Kyiv. The investigation into Jordan Chadwicks death is being led by the Ukrainian authorities, Lancashire Police told me. Meanwhile, the war rumbles on, with Russian troops now barely 10 miles from Kramatorsk. A time may come when both the city and its police station fall into Kremlin hands, at which point the plight of a troubled young Englishman who died there two years ago will surely be forgotten. Somebody, somewhere, knows exactly how Chadwick ended up in that reservoir. But right now, the truth about what happened to him in Ukraine may well stay in Ukraine. The Mad and the Brave: The Untold Story of Ukraines Foreign Legion, by Colin Freeman (HarperCollins, 22), is published on July 17 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Editor's Note: This interview is part of an ongoing Star series highlighting Kansas Citians from historically underrepresented communities and their impact on our region. The series builds on The Star's efforts to improve coverage of local communities. Do you know someone we should interview? Share ideas with our reporter J.M. Banks. Keyon Montes journey through the world of theater has been shaped by persistence, reinvention and a deep love for storytelling. From his early days immersed in music, fashion and visual arts at Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, his creative path has never followed a straight line. After spending time freelancing as a designer in New York and sketching costume ideas for Broadway productions, his return to Kansas City during the pandemic marked a turning point that brought new purpose and creative clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back home, Monte began creating portraits during the Black Lives Matter protests, reconnecting with his artistic voice outside of the theater. But it wasnt long before the stage called him back. After receiving a fellowship grant from the Broadway Black Theatre Coalition, Monte, 28 will make his directorial debut, producing a radical, immersive reimagining of William Shakespeares Macbeth. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where hierarchy and survival mirror the brutal ambition of Shakespeares original, Montes Macbeth brings a fresh and raw play. It draws on high fashion, hip-hop aesthetics, fused with futuristic decay to create something Monte hopes will help push urban theater in Kansas City to explore and experiment. Monte sat down with The Kansas City Stars culture and identity reporter, J.M. Banks, to talk about finding his passion for theater, his time in New York working on Broadway and making his directorial debut producing his first stage production. Banks: How long have you been involved in theater and what first got you interested? Monte: Ive been involved in theater on and off since middle school. When I started at Paseo my major was technical theater, but I was involved in everything. I would be in the band room with the music students, in the fashion department working on costumes, in visual arts drawing and painting, and in productions performing. Teachers would tap me for different projects. I was everywhere. It was a very free and creative time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What drew me in originally was Disney. I was a huge Disney fan and wanted to be an Imagineer. Then my family took me to see a touring Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast and I was blown away by the costumes, the creativity, how they turned inanimate objects into characters. That was it for me, I fell in love with Broadway, musical theater and storytelling. As I got older, especially in college, I got more into straight plays and experimental theater. So it started with childlike imagination and evolved into telling more nuanced, sometimes darker, stories. I went to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. There, you had to choose one focus, I couldnt double major. I wasnt confident in my acting at the time, so I decided to study costume design, thinking it could still lead me to performance later. It was a conservatory program, so super intense. I had no time to do anything else. Honestly, I often felt like I was failing. It was tough, but it was still a good experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, I freelance as an illustrator for designers on Broadway and off-Broadway. They hire me to sketch out their ideas and thats how I make a living. Ive also been on a fellowship with the Black Theatre Coalition in New York and thats how Ive been able to fund this current project. When did you decided to go to New York and how was that experience? I went overseas and worked as a costumer on a cruise ship in Greece.The cruise ship has several shows happening at once, sometimes five at a time. Each show might have 5060 costumes that I as the costumer was in charge of maintaining. Each show rotated throughout the week and it was my job to keep all the costumes in top condition. Were managing hundreds of garments. It was a lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next was New York City. I had a mentor who asked if Id come help with a project. At first, I wasnt sure because it was only a month away. Luckily, my godmother sent me $225 for my birthday and I used that to buy a one-way Spirit Airlines ticket to New York. I couch-hopped a lot. I couldnt keep a steady job that paid well because I was freelancing and still learning how to navigate everything. I lived in places like Inwood and different parts of Brooklyn, Flatbush, for example. I moved a lot, lived out of one suitcase. I was making $180 a week. That barely covered a subway pass and the rest I spent on food, clothes, and occasionally a Broadway ticket, because I still wanted to see shows. That was my life for about eight months until the pandemic hit. When it did, my mom, who had no idea I was living like that, bought me a ticket home and said, Youre coming back right now. And that was that. After you came back to Kansas City during the pandemic, what was that time like for you, work-wise? I didnt work in the traditional sense. I lived with my mom and started doing portraits. It was during the Black Lives Matter uprising and I wanted to contribute somehow. I started offering free portraits for Black people as a way to show solidarity and raise awareness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It became a black-and-white portrait series, with each image accompanied by a question or personal statement. That series really helped me build and strengthen connections locally. From there, I kept creating more and more art. But I didnt get back into theater, at all, until now. I was sitting on the balcony one day and prayed. Not long after that, I got the idea for my play, Ni--er Heaven. That play has done more for me than anything else Ive worked on. Weve been workshopping it in New York and were heading back to do more in August. It really brought me back to theater in a big way. Its based on a photograph from 1942 of a man named Edward Atkinson, taken by Calvin Facton. Its a three-act play, and its really propelled my return to the stage. How has it been working with the local theater community since your return to Kansas City? I had mostly stayed away from the local arts scene, but now that Ive put down roots, got my own apartment, Ive started getting involved again. Ive shown my visual art in a few galleries, but this production of Macbeth is really my debut as a theater director in Kansas City. What inspired you to reimagine Macbeth as an immersive, urban, dystopian, post-apocalyptic experience? Theres a co-working space called High Coworking KC. They moved into this big, old, somewhat abandoned building downtown. It was once a factory, then an office space. I got an office there and so did Damron Armstrong (founder of The Black Repertory Theater of Kansas City.) He was rehearsing on the first floor, a space thats always been vacant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I sat in on one of his rehearsals and thought, This would be a great place to stage something. The ceilings are low, the carpets dingy, it doesnt scream theater, but when it gets dark it transforms. I knew I wanted to direct something and Shakespeare was the obvious choice. I was getting my glasses and the woman helping me mentioned she loved Macbeth. She started telling me about the plays themes and Shakespeares intent and it all clicked. As a costume designer, I was excited by the creative challenges like the ghosts, witches, supernatural elements, mental breakdowns. I thought, How can I stage this in a fresh way? That got me thinking of how do you maintain the stakes of kingship without going medieval? I realized that if we set it after nuclear fallout, society would return to something primal and tribal, just like early Scotland. The setting allowed us to explore power, hierarchy, and survival in a way that honored the original play. Visually, I was inspired by things like Rick Owens fashion shows and YEEZY (a fashion brand founded by rapper Kanye West) concerts, those dystopian, high-concept aesthetics. That became the look and feel for Macbeth. Whats been the timeline from conception to performance? Weve been working on it actively since May, but I started planning in April. So its been about three months of work. Everyone involved has lives, jobs, other projects, so I understood early on that this had to be flexible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shakespeare is tough, not because its impossible, but because it seems intimidating. So I gave myself enough time. Thankfully, I did, because some people had to leave town or take on other commitments. Giving actors that flexibility was important. Most of the people helping with this are volunteering their time. With the themes from the play focusing on ambition, power, and fate, how do you envision weaving those elements into this futuristic world youre creating? For me, Macbeth isnt just about Macbeth as a man. In my interpretation, hes a character we see again and again, each person in the play represents a different version of Macbeth. I think every human being has a bit of Macbeth in them. Thats what I love about the play, it tells the truth about human nature and how we constantly steer toward chaos throughout history. Theres a cyclical loop in Macbeth that keeps repeating, like he says: Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day. I wanted to emphasize the idea of this endless spiral, violence, ambition, greed, madness, that has existed since the first man and will exist until the last. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats where the post-apocalyptic, futuristic world comes in. Yes, it happened in medieval times, but it can also happen again in the future. The play starts and ends in similar ways, with characters returning to the same positions. By the end, Macbeth has gone mad. That final fight between Macbeth and Macduff is almost like a video game. Theres a Round One feel to it. Macbeth has reached a point of apathy. He realizes it doesnt matter what anyone does. Its bleak, but it reflects something honest about who we are. How are you reshaping the characters of Macbeth and will there be any deviations from the the source material? We havent changed a word of Shakespeare, aside from a few cuts for length. I believe his words are universal, they can apply to any person. For me, its more about what Macbeth looks like. Once you figure out what he looks like, the story comes to life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His heart and ambition can live in any man, so were not reshaping him to fit a racial identity. Racism doesnt really exist in this world the way it does now. Yes, its still Scotland, but its clear that the people now living in what used to be Scotland look very different, its the last remnants of humanity. But I dont change Macbeths character to reflect myself. I focus on how he presents visually, his fashion and his presence. Characters like Ye (Kanye West) or fashion designers like Rick Owens inspire Macbeths look. The script describes him as flashy, materialistic, greedy, so I dress him in chrome on chrome on chrome. Theres a hip-hop edge to him, which fits naturally. What was the most difficult part of those months of planning and rehearsing, and what was your favorite part? The hardest part was maintaining faith that it would all come together. When youre creating something new, youre constantly fighting inertia. There are always obstacles. But trusting that those obstacles will resolve themselves, with a little push, was a challenge. Also time management. Thats the biggest challenge. I do beautiful work when I can sit down and focus, but when deadlines overlap or schedules shift, it gets really tough. Im still learning how to manage my time better, its a constant battle. My favorite part has been watching things come to life. When you plant a seed, do the labor, and then see the harvest, its beautiful. You know you did the work to make it happen, but youre not the one making it grow. Watching actors have breakthroughs, or seeing a scene finally click, or when they take your direction and begin to build something even greater within that framework, those moments are magical. How has the grant you received through the Broadway Black Theatre Coalition fellowship assisted in bringing this production to life? Having that support is the greatest gift. So often, projects dont get off the ground because of lack of funding. But this grant allowed me, for an entire year, to stop worrying about bills or whether I could support myself and the people working with me. Now I understand why Renaissance artists did such amazing work, they were funded by the church, or lords and they had patrons. That kind of support makes all the difference. What do you hope audiences take away after seeing this production? I hope they feel exhilarated. I hope they leave with a renewed appreciation for what Kansas City artists can do. I want it to open doors, not just for me, but for the cast and crew, so we can do this again and again, even if Im not directing. That means theres an audience for this kind of work and that theater created by people who look like me can be a priority in this growing city. What are your future plans and goals for your work? I will be working on getting Ni--er Heaven, off the ground. That would be amazing. Ive thought about doing another Shakespeare piece, or maybe something completely different. But to be honest, I want to go to sleep and just take some time to relax and unwind. For more stories about culture and identity, sign up for our free On The Vine newsletter at http://KansasCity.com/newsletters. Buildings at Lviv Polytechnic National University were damaged in a large-scale Russian attack on the night of 11-12 July. Source: Nataliia Pavlyshyn, head of the university's press centre, reported this in a comment to UP.Zhyttia Details: In buildings No. 1, 4 and 5, windows were damaged by the attack, and some equipment inside the premises was destroyed. She said no university employees were injured. The extent of the damage and losses is currently being assessed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nataliia Shakhovska, rector of Lviv Polytechnic, published a photo of one of the damaged buildings of the educational institution. It shows broken windows and destruction, where special services are working. The aftermath of the nighttime attack in Lviv Photo: Nataliia Shakhovska on Facebook Background: On the night of 11-12 July, Russia launched a large-scale attack, firing 597 UAVs, including 339 Shaheds, and 26 missiles. As the Air Force reported, a missile strike and 20 drone strikes were recorded in five locations. In addition, debris fell in 19 other locations. In Lviv, a Russian UAV hit a two-storey residential building, and the roof of a non-residential building was on fire. As a result of the attack, six people sought medical assistance in the city, including an 11-year-old boy. Lviv Oblast Military Administration reported that 46 residential buildings were damaged and 15 apartments became uninhabitable. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The self-proclaimed King of All Pimps who took credit for recruiting Ashley Dupre, the hooker whose tryst with then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer ended the Luv Guvs career, has been cleared of criminal charges in a long-running spat with a fellow social media personality. Now a foul-mouthed live streamer who goes by the online name MrBased, Jason Itzler was facing harassment, criminal contempt and making a terroristic threat charges in two pending Brooklyn cases for allegedly threatening YouTuber Alex Novell and violating an order to stay away from him. This week, the Brooklyn District Attorneys office dropped the charges against Itzler, 58, who has 170,000 TikTok followers and an audience of 151,000 on Instagram, his attorney, Mark Bederow, said. Ashley Dupre had an infamous role in ex-New York Gov. Eliot Spitzers downfall. AP The criminal charges are completely dismissed and gone, Bederow told The Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DAs office said it cannot comment on the now-sealed cases. Years after he made headlines for his small part in Spitzers salacious scandal, Itzler has reinvented himself online often seen in social media posts hanging out with an autistic TikToker with 3.8 million followers named Josh Block, aka World of Tshirts. The spat started when Novell accused Itzler in July 2024 of confessing to murder in the 2010 killing of Wisconsin college student Julia Sumnicht. Novell included audio of Itzler allegedly confessing to buying and providing the GHB Sumnicht took in Miami Beach the night of her death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Itzler has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in Sumnichts death. Alex Novell accused Itzler in a YouTube video of murder. YouTube/This, With Coffee Podcast Itzler, who declared himself the King of All Pimps, is no stranger to the legal system. Steven Hirsch He pleaded guilty, however, to misdemeanor assault in Manhattan in November after an incident with Novell, records showed. Novell then sued Itzler in March in Brooklyn Supreme Court for the Manhattan assault and allegedly harassing him over the video, while Itzler sued the YouTuber in April for defamation. Both cases have since been dropped, records show. Those matters have been resolved, Bederow said of the lawsuits. Dupre has also reinvented herself as a TikTok personality. Victoria Will/New York Post In the 2000s, Iztler bragged about running New York Confidential, one of the Big Apples most infamous prostitution rings, and touted giving then-19-year-old little lamb Dupre her start in the citys tawdry sex-for-hire scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dupre has transformed herself since her headline-making days. After briefly running a lingerie business in New Jersey, Dupre, 40, now goes by the name Ashley Earle, offering parenting advice and clips of her young kids to her 310,000 TikTok followers. Meanwhile, her stepdaughter, Hot Mess podcaster Alix Earle, dwarfs her stepmoms social media power with a whopping 7.4 million TikTok followers. Novell did not return The Posts message seeking comment. CHICAGO (WGN) Two brothers were sentenced Friday, following their convictions in the 2022 fatal shooting of a WGN-TV security guard. Dameonte Watson and Gregory Watson each received lengthy sentences in connection with the murder of 35-year-old Salena Claybourne. Prosecutors say the brothers killed the mother of two amid a carjacking attempt in the 6700 block of S. Jeffery on Monday, March 7. Gregory Watson (Photo: CPD) No mugshot photo was provided by police of Dameonte Watson as he was 17 at the time of his arrest. Claybourne was on her way home after completing her shift at WGN when she stopped for gas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Armed robbery sparks police chase that ended in arrest on West Side According to police, it was around 3 p.m., as Claybourne sat in her vehicle, that a black sedan pulled up next to her and someone inside opened fire. She suffered gunshot wounds to the left shoulder and face. Paramedics rushed Claybourne to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead. She left behind two teen daughters. Claybourne was also the sister of a Chicago police officer. Salena Claybourne The Cook County States Attorneys Office told WGN News that a judge sentenced Dameonte Watson to 30 years in prison on a first-degree murder charge, with four additional years for aggravated hijacking. A judge issued co-defendant Gregory Watson, also charged with first-degree murder, a 60-year sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines The court declined to proceed with either brothers request for a new trial. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse issued a statement Friday, July 11, about a deadly officer-involved shooting on Washington Avenue earlier this month. The shooting left 38-year-old Anthony Pursley dead. According to BRPD, officers responded to a disturbance call about an emotionally distressed individual, who was suspected to be under the influence of narcotics. Read the full statement from Chief Morse below: On 7/5/2025 at approximately 0355 in the morning, two Baton Police Officers responded to a residence on Washington Ave due to a report of a violent Subject inside the residence. Officers Jordan Spencer and Brandon Triplett learned from the Complainant that he was concerned Anthony Pursley was possibly on narcotics, acting violently, and might be a threat to an elderly female inside the residence. The investigation is still in very early stages, but in a matter of transparency, I wanted to release some facts of the investigation and parts of the body worn cameras from the Officers involved. Officers can be heard planning how to safely contact and hopefully de-escalate Mr. Pursley before entering the residence. Immediately upon entering the residence, Mr. Pursley can be seen wielding a pair of scissors above his head only a few feet away from Officers. As per prior planning and training, one Officer draws a TASER, while the other Officer draws his handgun. Mr. Pursley lunges towards the Officers, and both Officers are forced to fire the weapons (TASER and Handgun) that were in their hands at the time of the apparent attack, almost simultaneously. I have shared the video with representatives of the family and my condolences go out to them, as it is tragic whenever a life is lost under any circumstances. Both Officers involved are currently on administrative leave, per Department policy. More updates will be released as the investigation continues. Thomas S. Morse, Jr., Chief of Police The Baton Rouge Police Department released body camera footage of the shooting. Watch it here. Viewer discretion is advised. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. Bryan Kohberger, a painfully awkward, arrogant introvert and criminal justice student, believed he could have committed "the perfect murders," James Patterson said. "One of the things that professor [Dr. Katherine Ramsland] said that with murderers like this, they get tunnel vision they panic, and they miss things," the award-winning author told Fox News Digital. "So here was Kohberger who almost committed the perfect murders except [he had] that tunnel vision," Patterson shared. "He left that knife sheath behind. And thats what ultimately led to his arrest." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch Savage Instincts: The Mind Of Bryan Kohberger On Fox Nation Bryan Kohberger arrives at Monroe County Courthouse in Pennsylvania. He later pleaded guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho students. Patterson, who has sold more than 425 million books, published over 260 New York Times bestsellers, and won 10 Emmy Awards, has teamed up with investigative journalist Vicky Ward to write a new book, "The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy." He is also a producer on the new Prime Video docuseries, "One Night in Idaho: The College Murders," which is based on the book. Several loved ones of the victims spoke out in the film. Read On The Fox News App Fox News Digital reached out to Kohberger's lawyer for comment. In 2023, FOX Nation honored James Patterson with the "Back the Blue Award" for his work supporting law enforcement. Kohberger, a former Washington State University criminology Ph.D. student, pleaded guilty on July 2 to killing four University of Idaho students on Nov. 13, 2022, as part of a deal with prosecutors to escape the death penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 30-year-old faces four consecutive life sentences for fatally stabbing 21-year-olds Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, as well as 20-year-olds Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at their off-campus house. For the book, Patterson and Ward conducted more than 300 interviews and took a deep dive into Kohberger's upbringing. The family of Madison Mogen, including mother Karen Laramie and stepfather Scott Laramie, walk out of the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, after a hearing in the case, on July 2, 2025. "He was inappropriate he didnt know how to socialize very well," Patterson explained. " He was a teaching assistant, and he was just turning people off. He graded the women poorly. He had an inability to deal with women, yet he thought he was popular. It was a thought of, why arent these people, these women, loving him? Because he found himself very worthy. And in this documentary, most of this comes out." Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X A side by side of Bryan Kohberger's sophomore Pleasant Valley High School yearbook photo and his senior year. He later pleaded guilty to the brutal stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students. According to the book and docuseries, Kohberger may have been inspired by one killer Elliot Rodger. The 22-year-old was obsessed with exacting "retribution" after experiencing what he claimed was a lifetime of social and sexual isolation, The Associated Press reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2014, Rodger killed six people in a stabbing and shooting spree in Isla Vista, California, before turning the gun on himself. "No one knows that, like Rodger, Bryan is a virgin who hates women," the book claimed. "No one knows that Bryan copes with loneliness by immersing himself in video games. Like Rodger, he goes for night drives. Like Rodger, he visits the gun range. And, like Rodger, he goes to a local bar and tries to pick up women." Happy memories of Christopher Michaels-Martinez are placed outside the entrance to IV Deli Mart in Isla Vista, California. The UCSB student was gunned down and killed in a shooting rage by Elliot Rodger. "Elliot Rodger wrote that he kept trying to place himself in settings where he could pick up women," the book continued. "But no one noticed him. Bryan must think that surely hell be noticed. Women must spot his looks, his intelligence, and they must want him. They dont." An undated photo of Elliot Rodger is seen at a press conference by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff in Goleta, California, on May 24, 2014. Rodger, 22, went on a rampage in Isla Vista near the University of California at Santa Barbara campus, stabbing three people to death at his apartment before shooting to death three more in a terrorizing crime spree through the neighborhood. Patterson pointed out that at the Seven Sirens Brewing Company in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Kohberger would push his way into unwanted conversations with female bartenders and patrons. He went as far as asking for their addresses. Some women, according to the book, started complaining to the brewerys owner about "the creepy guy with the bulging eyes." Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom for his arraignment hearing in Latah County District Court, May 22, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger was adamant that women would notice him. But Patterson noted that to many, he was simply "off-putting." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He made people uncomfortable," said Patterson. "The bartenders and owners remembered him as being this weird duck who would sit at a bar and just weird everybody out and talk inappropriately. He had a lot of trouble socializing." Sign Up To Get The True Crime Newsletter "The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy" will be available for purchase on July 14. According to the book, Kohberger felt that by going to Moscow, Idaho, across the state border, he could find a girl willing to date him. He read about a place online called the Mad Greek where they sell vegan pizza hes vegan. When he walked inside, he noticed a blonde waitress "Maddie" Mogen. A photo of Madison Mogen, left, and Kaylee Goncalves, two of the University of Idaho students found dead in their off-campus home on Nov. 13, 2022. Its been speculated by sources who spoke to Patterson that Mogen rejected Kohberger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The book pointed out an eerie similarity. "Elliot Rodger wrote of reuniting with a childhood friend named Maddy in the months before the day of retribution," read the book. The Prime Video docuseries "One Night in Idaho: The College Murders" is based on James Patterson's book. "She was a popular, spoiled USC girl who partied with her hot, popular blonde-haired clique of friends," Rodger wrote, as quoted by the book. "My hatred for them all grew from each picture I saw of her profile. They were the kind of beautiful, popular people who lived pleasurable lives and would look down on me as inferior scum, never accepting me as one of them. They were my enemies. They represented everything that was wrong with this world." When asked if well ever know Kohbergers true motives for committing the murders, Patterson replied, "Oh, I think we already do [know]." "One Night in Idaho" features interviews with several loved ones, including Karen Laramie, Maddie Mogens mother. "I think he had decided that Maddie You could see it when you went by the house. You could see her room. Her name was up in the window of her room. We think it seems like he went there to deal with her. It seems fairly obvious. Will we know more? I dont know. If he wants to be interviewed at this stage, Im happy to go there and do an interview. And Ive done that before people whove gone to prison, and they decide that, all of a sudden, they want to talk." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub Bryan Kohberger's childhood home in Effort, Pennsylvania, located about 10 minutes north of Pleasant Valley High School, where he graduated in 2013. The family moved elsewhere in Monroe County in fall 2012, according to online messages between Kohberger and a high school friend. Past acquaintances described Kohberger as frustrated by females and even sexist as a result. One woman who met Kohberger on a Tinder date several years ago claimed on social media that her interaction with him was so awkward she pretended to vomit just to get him to leave her apartment. He also appeared to be well-versed in "incels," or "involuntary celibates." "Pretty much everybody we talked to just said, This is a strange man with a strange look couldnt look people in the eye," said Patterson. "If he did look at you in the eye, sometimes people wished that he hadnt. And his impression of himself was totally out of whack with the way other people perceived him." Many of those who encountered Bryan Kohberger described him as "off-putting," author James Patterson told Fox News Digital. The book describes Kohberger as having once expressed an "offensive, anachronistic view of gender roles." And following the murders, he may have viewed himself as a criminal mastermind. Dr. Katherine Ramsland speaks about Dennis Rader, the BTK Strangler, at Penn State Berks, circa 2016. Moscow, Idaho, was overwhelmed by the gravity of his heinous crimes and the public scrutiny that came with it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You've got not only the murders here, but all of a sudden, youve got press from around the world in this small town," Patterson explained. In "One Night in Idaho," loved ones like Hunter Chapin, Ethan Chapins brother, spoke about the hurtful rumors that spread on social media following the murders. "Youve got all of these rumors. One of the things in the book, and one of the saddest things that we discovered in the documentary, is the way that this stuff gets picked up by these true crime people, some of whom are vampires. Theyre awful, they dont care. They dont take responsibility for their actions. And when you write a book or do a documentary, you have to be responsible for it. And we were responsible." WATCH: ATTORNEY FOR MADISON MOGEN'S FAMILY VOWS TO EMBARK ON A NEW PATH FOLLOWING BRYAN KOHBERGER'S GUILTY PLEA And it could have been that "tunnel vision" Kohberger had that reportedly made him believe he wouldnt get caught. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Dr. Ramsland teaches her students that killers get tunnel vision when they are committing murder," the book shared. "Thats why mistakes get made. Amid the high adrenaline and hyper-focus on the act itself, killers can forget things they otherwise would not." Dr. Katherine Ramsland has written about serial killer Dennis Rader, also known as "BTK," who stalked his victims in Wichita, Kansas. "BTK" stands for "Bind, Torture, Kill." And Kohberger's family isn't to blame, said Patterson. "I think from everything we can gather, his parents did their best," said Patterson. "They seemed to have done their best with him." Kohbergers guilty plea doesnt end the quest to seek more answers. "Look, people talk," said Patterson. " When youre in a big city, like New York, youre kind of used to, unfortunately, to violence. But youve got these two college towns, Moscow, Idaho, and Pullman, Washington, and they dont know what to make of this. Brian Kohberger's mugshot at the time of his arrest in December 2022. " Its a story of these families, and these kids And, to some extent the documentary it will make you afraid. It will certainly make you feel what it was like to be in those towns during this period. What it was like the next day the shock, the fear." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch: 'Bryan Kohberger: I Am Blank' On Fox Nation A memorial outside the home where four University of Idaho students were slain in Moscow, Idaho, on Oct. 31, 2023. The home was demolished in December of that year. "It was a hard case to solve," he reflected. "[Investigators] were very fortunate that Kohberger made that one really big blunder He didnt make a lot of mistakes. So it was a tough investigation He mightve never been caught. We mightve been writing about God knows what right now." Original article source: Bryan Kohberger believed he committed the perfect murders until one key mistake shattered his plot: author ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) Community members gathered Friday morning to celebrate the official opening of the new Downtown EMS facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The facility, located at 701 S. Seventh Street, is expected to meet the growing demand for emergency medical services in the Downtown area. The inner city of Saint Joe is one of our busiest areas," said Wally Patrick, Buchanan County EMS executive director. "When we started looking for a site for the new Post 2, we decided this location met all of our criteria." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The $1.2 million facility is more spacious and features a three-bay design, allowing room for an additional ambulance to be housed indoors. It also includes enhanced safety features, including a controlled gate access that automatically closes as trucks enter and exit, giving EMS crews a better chance to spot anyone on the property who shouldn't be there. "With the occurrence of violence increasing throughout the country, we want to be proactive, rather than reactive," Patrick added. "This all started with the tax vote last year. It gave us the ability to provide a safe location for our crews between calls and ensures they're not sitting in a truck for 12.5 hours on a street corner." Local paramedics say they're passionate about their work and grateful to now operate from a facility that better supports their mission. "This development is important for helping us get to where we need to go more quickly," said Buchanan County paramedic Harris Gulledge. "I've done this since I was 18. Serving the community is something I feel like I have to do but I love doing it. Jul. 11MITCHELL After hours of chatting and giving tours to visitors at the Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota's new building on Thursday in Mitchell, Coleen Hoffman, executive director of the local organization, was worried she was going to lose her voice. It's a good thing she didn't. Following a speaking presentation by Hoffman later that night at the 100 Women United July meeting at The Depot, the fellow local nonprofit voted to give their latest Impact Award to the Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota. The award comes in at an amount of $12,400. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Having our ribbon cutting and then ending the evening with that? It's just empowering," Hoffman told the Mitchell Republic. "Especially for women in our community to be able to give back to the programs that serve the community. And this is perfect timing for us, and especially our family visitation center." Hoffman said the donation would be put toward the organization's family visitation center. That part of Safe Place offers a comfortable, neutral location for transferring children during traditional visitations. It also provides monitored on-site visitation spaces. It is designed for children and their separated or divorced parents in cases where there has been conflict involved with visitation, domestic abuse, child abuse or substance abuse, according to materials from the organization. The Safe Place offers appropriate visitation rooms and an outdoor play area through the center. "That's one program that kind of gets overshadowed by the other services that we offer at Safe Place," Hoffman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 100 Women United traditionally invites about five nonprofits to their award meetings, with each giving a presentation on their mission and services. The group membership, currently about 124 women, then vote on where to send their latest award. Funds are drawn from members, who bring $100 to the meeting for that purpose. Teresa Hart, a member of the steering committee for 100 Women United, said the five groups that presented Thursday night were all excellent nonprofits with admirable goals and leadership. Any of them would have been worthy recipients, but the members present leaned toward the Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota in the end. "Safe Place has been nominated before, and I think that they just had a really great presentation. If you can share stories and bring statistics, which is what they did, it works. We had five great nonprofits that presented, and it's sometimes a difficult decision," Hart said. "But I mean, my goodness. Safe Place is a phenomenal organization, and we couldn't be happier to give the money to such a great cause." 100 Women United membership has grown in Mitchell since it formed in 2023, and Hart said the group is always looking for more interested members. The group encourages members to bring a friend to its meetings, as the larger the group becomes, the larger their donations grow. Hart said the organization had given out well over $50,000 since its founding in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hoffman said the funding will be put to good use as the Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota eyes an Aug. 1 official opening date for its new building. The organization enjoys wide support for its commitment to creating safer communities in the region by serving individuals who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual abuse or human trafficking, and Hoffman is grateful to every individual and group supporting its mission. Thanks to efforts like those from 100 Women United, Safe Place can continue providing top-level services to the region's most vulnerable residents. "We really want to make sure that (our clients) feel empowered," Hoffman said. "And then what an empowering event for us women in the community to give back to programs that service the community right here." More information on the Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota can be found at www.safeplace-esd.org. More information on 100 Women United can be found at the group's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/100WomenUnited. German Major General Christian Freuding has reported on the negotiations in which Germany is engaged regarding the purchase of Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine from the US. Source: European Pravda; Christian Freuding in an interview with ZDF TV channel Details: Freuding said that "close coordination with partners" is underway regarding how to "deliver new medium- and long-range air defence systems to the country". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The general said negotiations about the potential delivery to Ukraine of one or two Patriot systems which Germany is to purchase from the US "have been going on at all levels for several weeks now". Background: Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US would try to convince NATO allies to provide Ukraine with Patriot systems. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has confirmed his readiness to purchase Patriot systems for Ukraine from the US. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Germany and Norway are prepared to buy three Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems for Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! VALDESE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Two Burke County residents were charged with a string of felony drug offenses following a search warrant Friday morning. According to the Burke County Sheriffs Office, investigators executed a warrant July 11 at a home on Leger Road in Valdese. During the search, they allegedly seized quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and numerous firearms, including one that was reported stolen. Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area >> Latest stories here Following the search, two individuals, 33-year-old Nicholas Eugene Bollinger and Emily Jane Clawson, 32, both living at the residence, were arrested. Both were charged with felony trafficking in opium/heroin, felony possession of methamphetamine and felony possession of cocaine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both suspects were held without bond and are scheduled to appear in court on Monday, July 14. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. BURNET COUNTY, Texas - The Burnet County Sheriff's Office said it was still continuing its search for a missing Marble Falls area fire chief. In an update Saturday morning, the sheriff's office said five people had died as a result of flooding and that Fire Chief Mike Phillips was still missing. Search for VFD Fire Chief Michael Phillips What they're saying "Currently, the search for Chief Phillips is ongoing," the sheriff's office said. "Specialist teams and equipment continue to deploy into the search area and work themselves to exhaustion or until nightfall in the effort to find him." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Past President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Gary Ludwig, said Phillips went missing early Saturday after being swept away by floodwaters while responding to a call in Cow Creek. Chief Phillips was driving an emergency vehicle when he went missing in the early morning of July 5. The vehicle has been found. However, Phillips has not been found with the vehicle, or anywhere else. Honoring Chief Phillips Dig deeper Tributes to Chief Phillips have been shared or planned. Marble Falls ISD MFISD shared a heartfelt post about Phillips to their social media. Phillips had worked for the district for nearly three decades as an HVAC specialist before becoming director of maintenance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MFISD's full statement reads: "With heavy hearts, Marble Falls ISD joins our community in honoring the life and legacy of Chief Michael Phillips, MFVFD, who remains missing following his heroic efforts during the devastating July 4th floods. To us, Chief Phillips was more than a first responderhe was a beloved member of our MFISD family and a cherished friend. Serving the district faithfully for 28 years, Michael began as an HVAC Specialist before becoming Director of Maintenance in 20022003. With quiet strength and integrity, he oversaw daily facility operations and led major Bond projects that shaped the future of our schools. Many of the buildings and learning spaces our students benefit from today were built or renovated under his leadership, reflecting his deep pride and dedication to providing safe, well-maintained settings for our students and staff. As the search continues, our hearts are heavy with grief. Michaels unwavering commitment to protecting othersdemonstrated in his final act of serviceis a powerful reflection of the man we know him to be. We offer our deepest love and prayers to the Phillips family, the Marble Falls VFD, and all who knew and loved him. He will always be remembered as a true hero. #MustangsForever" Marble Falls Rodeo's First Responder Night The Marble Falls Rodeo plans to honor Phillips at the beginning of the festivities on Friday, July 18th at 8 p.m. at the Charley Taylor arena. First responders can attend for free; ticket prices for everyone else range from $15 to $20. Kids age six and under can also attend for free. Flooding deaths in Central Texas By the numbers At least 103 people have died in Kerr County, including 36 children, at last count. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 161 people in Kerr County are now known to be missing, including at least five girls and a counselor from Camp Mystic are still missing. In Travis County, there were at least nine deaths and also significant damage to infrastructure. Kendall County has reported eight deaths. Burnet County has at least five deaths confirmed. A Marble Falls volunteer fire chief is still missing. Williamson County reports three deaths and Tom Green County has one death confirmed. Officials say as for missing people, there is one in Burnet and four in Travis County. Resources and donations for those impacted The Source Information in this article comes from the Burnet County Sheriff's Office, Marble Falls ISD and the Marble Falls Rodeo. Information on Central Texas flooding comes from Texas officials. An Art Deco building in Blackpool is to reopen as a small business hub following a 7.5m makeover. Stanley Buildings, which was built in 1935, has been refurbished as one of seven projects in Blackpool Council's 40m Town Deal scheme. Work began on the green and cream-tiled locally listed building in February 2024 and was originally due to be completed in the spring. The site will open in August, and a council spokesperson said the refurbishment would "secure the long-term use of the building and safeguard it for future generations of entrepreneurs". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council spent 2.8m on the Town Deal projects, with 4.5m in government funding and 200,000 coming from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The building, which was originally designed by 1930s borough architect, John Charles Robinson, is located between Caunce Street, Church Street and Cookson Street. A council spokesperson said the business hub at the building would be named The Robinson in honour of the renowned architect. He also designed former civic landmarks including Derby Baths and South Shore Open Air Baths. The building has been converted into 44 offices and meeting rooms, with a co-working space on the ground floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Work has also included facade repairs, a new roof, new windows and eighteen new shopfronts. Three long-established shops in the building, Records and Relics, Mankind Designer Menswear and Hermosa Boutique, are to remain on the Church Street side of the property. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Related internet links Merrillville job fair deadline extended until Tuesday Businesses will have more time to register as vendors for Merrillvilles upcoming job fair, according to a release. Employers have until Tuesday to secure their vendor space for the job fair thats scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 30 at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center, 6600 Broadway in Merrillville. Interested businesses can visit merrillville.in.gov/jobfair for more information and to register, the release said. PNW students earn spring 2025 Deans List honors The Purdue University Northwest 2025 spring semester Deans List recognizes 1,746 undergraduate students for their academic achievements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qualifying students sustained an overall grade point average of at least 3.5 and a semester grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students from 19 different states and international students from 34 different countries were recognized on the PNW 2025 spring semester Deans List. For a full listing of recognized students, visit pnw.edu/deans-list. Franciscan Alliance announces new leadership appointments Franciscan Alliance recently welcomed several new leaders to key roles in its healthcare ministry following recent retirements, according to a release. The Mishawaka-based nonprofit Catholic healthcare ministry appointed the following four experienced healthcare professionals to senior vice president, vice president and chief medical officer positions: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Gerald Maloney, chief medical officer Michael Englehart, senior vice president for Franciscan Physician Network/Specialty Physicians of Illinois LLC and Franciscan Post-Acute Services Dr. Joseph Schnecker, chief medical information officer Tim Murphy, vice president of strategy Maloney is taking on the Franciscan CMO position following decades at Geisenger Health in Danville, Pennsylvania, where he spent the last 19 years as a physician executive and his last eight as chief medical officer. Englehart assumes the senior vice president for Franciscan Physician Network/Specialty Physicians of Illinois LLC and Franciscan Post-Acute Services role after more than two decades in healthcare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schnecker is taking on the position of Franciscans CMIO from his current role as Franciscans medical director of information services, which he has held since 2019. Murphy is assuming the role of vice president of strategy following his role as Franciscans COO/CFO for Franciscan Physician Network, Specialty Physicians of Illinois LLC and Franciscan Post-Acute Services. Valpo Parks official earns certification Valparaiso Parks Department Recreation Superintendent Madison Bell recently achieved the National Parks and Recreation Associations Certified Park and Recreation Professional certification, a release said. The Certified Park and Recreation Professional certification is the national standard for all parks and recreation professionals who want to be at the forefront of their profession, the release said. Valparaiso University begins religious major Valparaiso University will launch its new major in religious studies, a program that encourages students to explore and engage with religion as a lived, cross-cultural and comparative discipline, according to a release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the primary goals of Valpos religious studies program is to spark curiosity about global religious practices and equip students with the knowledge and experience to connect with their neighbors, both nearby and around the world, the release said. The religious studies program will work with other faith-based organizations on campus, including the Universitys Division of Calling and Spiritual Life and its Christian Formation and Leadership Program, the release said. US 12 construction to start Monday Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Superior Construction Co. is expected to close U.S. 12 under Indiana 249 beginning on or after Monday, according to a release. U.S. 12 will first be closed in the eastbound direction for approximately three days, the release said. Traffic going eastbound on U.S. 12 will be diverted to southbound Ind. 249 and can use the official detour of U.S. 20 and Indiana 149. Traffic will have access to eastbound U.S. 12 from northbound Ind. 249. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. 12 will then be closed in the westbound direction for approximately three days on or after July 17, the release said. The official detour will follow Ind. 149 and U.S. 20. Westbound U.S. 12 will have access to northbound Ind. 249 (Port of Indiana) but not southbound Ind. 249. Surgeon joins Northwest Health Dr. Jeremy Luedtke, a general surgeon, recently returned to Northwest Medical Group, according to a release. Luedkte practiced at the Northwest Medical Group in LaPorte for several years before relocating to Wisconsin and has now returned to the organization, the release said. He is accepting new patients at the Northwest Medical Group General Surgery office located in the Medical Plaza at 85 E. U.S. 6, Suite 240, in Valparaiso. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After completing his surgical critical care fellowship at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Luedtke served as a general surgeon and critical care physician at Prevea Allouez Health Center in Wisconsin, general and robotic surgeon at Northwest Health La Porte, St. Clair Hospital in Wisconsin and general minimally invasive robotic surgeon, critical care intensivist and endoscopist at Surgical Associates of Neenah. Call 219-983-6240. California State University, Los Angeles , is giving professors the option of moving their classes online due to students' fears about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Heather Lattimer, university provost and vice president for academic affairs, said in a letter to faculty this week, according to the Los Angeles Times, that she had heard students are "scared to take public transit and fearful of driving to campus." Lattimer said faculty have "the option of working remotely for a limited time due to extraordinary circumstances they are facing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters Hauled Away As Anti-ice Protests Continue In Los Angeles Despite Mayor's Curfew Order Aerial view of Simpson Tower and Salazar Hall on the Cal State LA campus on May 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. The move comes as LA has become a hotbed of protest over President Donald Trumps immigration enforcement in the city. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Tuesday said the city would join the class-action lawsuit to stop what she called "the unconstitutional reckless raids in the LA region." Read On The Fox News App The class-action lawsuit "Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem," led by The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of California and Public Counsel, a nonprofit, was filed against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and demands an immediate stop to the immigration raids in the Los Angeles area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lattimer referenced the Monday raid near MacArthur Park, an area known to attract crime. Aclu Sues To Block Ice Raids In Southern California, Alleging Constitutional Violations Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has called the Trump immigration raids unconstitutional. "Recent events in the LA area including the presence of heavily armed immigration agents in MacArthur Park earlier this week have left many in our community concerned for their safety," Lattimer said. "This week also marks the 6-month anniversary of the wildfires that disrupted the lives of many in our community," she added. "As a campus we recognize the significant harm that has resulted from these events and reaffirm our commitment to supporting our students, faculty, and staff and prioritizing your safety and well-being." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the university wants to approach the concerns in a thoughtful way. "While we do not want to go back to the online course schedule we experienced in 2021 and 2022, there may be circumstances where faculty choose to offer students facing extraordinary circumstances the option of joining an on-campus class remotely via a zoom link or turning in assignments remotely," Lattimer wrote. Federal agents ride on horseback in Los Angeles' MacArthur Park. In a statement to Fox News Digital, university spokesperson Erik Frost Hollins said faculty could make adjustments for particular students. "Faculty are being supported in making case-by-case adjustments for students in extraordinary circumstances," Hollins said. "Similarly, deans and department leads are supported in making case-by-case adjustments for faculty and staff. These are all individual adjustments we can make within current policy. Importantly, we do intend to have a full and engaging on-campus student experience in the fall." Original article source: Cal State LA lets professors move classes online due to student fears over ICE immigration enforcement When Assemblyman Robert Rivas, D- Hollister, ascended to the role of speaker of the California Assembly, I expected his tenure would be tested by ethical challenges that can plague the office. Ironically, that has not fully materialized. Instead, a different and impossible-to-ignore story has unfolded. Speaker Rivas has failed as a legislative leader not in the shadows of scandal, but in plain sight for everyone to see. Whats most damning isnt just the bad decisions, its the complete collapse of message discipline and strategic clarity when the world is watching. Time and again, his leadership team has fumbled in public view. And he is not learning from his mistakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets start on the Assembly floor often called the green carpet where decorum and discipline are supposed to shine. Under Rivas watch, the green carpet has become a stage for political theater and strategic failure. Two years ago, his caucus was caught flat-footed on Senate Bill 14, a high-profile bill from Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, aimed at making the sex trafficking of a minor a serious crime. Rivas has members on his side of the aisle that balk at any increase in criminal sanctions, even ones like SB 14 that make sense. Democrats tried to kill the bill. And instead of controlling the narrative or framing a principled Democratic response, Rivas and his team were thoroughly outmaneuvered. Grove seized the moment with the help of Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Assembly Democrats were left reeling, essentially forced to support the bill. Fast forward to late 2024: Rivas inexplicably chose to oppose Proposition 36, which proposed stiffer sentences for repeat petty thieves and drug treatment instead of longer sentences for certain drug users. The same far-left faction in his caucus that opposed SB 14 opposed this initiative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It could have been a political layup for Democrats to embrace Prop. 36 early. Instead, they fought it to the bitter end. The result? It passed with nearly 70% of the vote. Thats not just a miscalculation; its a spectacular failure in reading the electorate and shaping public policy accordingly. Meanwhile, his inner circle has taken to sabotaging their own members. One of the most bewildering decisions came when Team Rivas tried to sideline Assemblywoman Maggie Krell, D-Sacramento, a member of his own caucus, for reasons that remain unclear. Krell wanted to make it a felony to solicit any minor for sex. Democrats at first refused, and when she kept fighting for her bill, Rivas allowed it to be hijacked by another assembly member. Ultimately, Krell got her way on the issue and was allowed to co-author the bill again. Internal disputes happen, but punishing your own members publicly only weakens the entire team. And, in doing so, Rivas made his caucus look silly. Then came the digital smear campaign. In a move that reeked of desperation, Rivas political machine unleashed false attacks against Republican assembly members. Not only were these attacks easily debunked, they also made the speakers team look petty and undisciplined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps the most inexplicable move came in the form of handing Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, a political gift wrapped in gold ribbon. A skilled political operator who thrives on attention, DeMaio at this particular moment was trying to make some common sense changes about a resolution commemorating Pride month so that it could be supported by Republicans and Democrats alike. So what did a Rivas lieutenant, Speaker Pro Tem Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, do? In his role as the presiding officer of the Assembly, he repeatedly prevented DeMaio from speaking, instead changing the topic to recognize birthdays of Democrats in the chambers. The clip went viral, and DeMaios platform grew stronger thanks to Rivas team. Then theres the cold reality of electoral performance. In a year when Democrats should have ridden the presidential coattails to victory, Rivas Assembly Democrats lost two seats. This is an unprecedented outcome in modern California politics. The blame falls squarely on candidate recruitment. And, during all of this, Rivas refused to speak to the press. He hides from accountability. It is hard to be transparent when everything is going so poorly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ask any Capitol veteran to name 20 effective legislative leaders over the past 30 years. Youll hear names like Willie Brown, Toni Atkins and John Burton. You wont hear Robert Rivas not even close. If the job of the speaker is to unify, lead and win, then Rivas has failed on every front. Matt Rexroad is an attorney , a former Yolo County Supervisor and a political consultant for Republicans and Democrats. California Rep. Sara Jacobs spoke to a crowd of about 150 at a Sandy town hall Friday evening, making the case that Democrats need to adopt a message focused on economic issues such as housing affordability and child care. Although Utah Republicans love to take swipes at liberal Californians, Jacobs, a Democrat, said concerns about cost of living cross party lines, and she said she visited the state to let Utahns know their worries are being heard in the halls of Congress. Showing up and answering tough questions and having conversations with our constituents is another really important part of our job, Jacobs told KSL.com before the town hall. Our title is literally representative, and so its our job to represent people. We need to come and make sure that were listening to everybody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The town hall was held at the Salt Lake Community College Miller Campus in Sandy, within the boundaries of Utah Rep. Burgess Owens 4th Congressional District. Democrats in attendance criticized Owens for a lack of public town halls this year and said the event was meant to let constituents in the area have their voices heard. Jacobs, who represents parts of San Diego, California, in Congress, spoke out against the Republican tax and spending bill which she called the Big Ugly Bill that was signed into law last week. She noted that nearly 200,000 Utahns could lose access to Medicaid over the next decade and warned of cuts to food stamps that could impact people in the state. Actually, there is a better way, and we as Democrats want to listen, she said. We do care, and we are showing up everywhere. The Democratic National Committee has held similar town halls across the 50 states in recent months. Fridays town hall was the first one attended by Jacobs, who is the youngest member of House Democratic leadership. At 36, she said she resonates with Utah as the youngest state in the U.S. and pitched her vision for an affirmative vision of the Democratic Party going into elections next year and in 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To me, we need to laser focus on bringing down the cost of housing, bringing down the cost of child care, making sure that everyone can have the housing and child care that they need to be successful, Jacobs said. And we can build trust by making sure that we do that and do that well and then to expand to other issues. Like Utah, which faces a housing crunch, Jacobs said San Diegans are worried about the cost of living. Look, Ive been here in Utah a day, but in that time, the things Ive heard from folks here in Utah are that the cost of housing is too much, the cost of child care is too much, the cost of health care is too much, Jacobs said. Those are the exact same three things I hear from my constituents in San Diego. She argued that the policies Republicans have passed recently will fall hardest on many voters who supported the GOP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to welcome them in, and we need to show them actually that we understand the status quo wasnt working and that we actually have a plan to how to make their lives better, she said. Jacobs is the granddaughter of Irwin M. Jacobs, the founder of semiconductor and software giant Qualcomm, and she leaned into her privilege when she called for higher taxes on wealthy Americans. We just need to actually tax the really, really, really rich people and be able to use those resources. And here I know this because I grew up in one of those families, she said to applause. My grandfather founded a Fortune 500 company, so believe me when I say, there are plenty of resources to go around. Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini spoke to what he sees as the Democratic Partys working class roots, saying the party has to get back to the roots of that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are the party of the working class, he said. But we shouldnt be so focused on the little things like pronouns and things like that that dont matter to people or that alienate them and really show them that we care about the working people. Utah Democrats and left-leaning groups have been active in pushing back against the Trump administration and its GOP allies through a series of protests against the Department of Government Efficiency, the big, beautiful bill and deportation raids. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, filled the Huntsman Center in April, and angry constituents have confronted Utah lawmakers during town halls. New Utah Democratic Party Chairman Brian King said he would like to bring more national figures to speak in Utah in the future and is planning more town halls in the coming months, particularly in rural parts of the state thought to be more conservative. They should have an opportunity to come out, be invited to come out and let their elected officials or people who are candidates for office find out whats on their mind, and so that is a high priority of mine as chair of the party, he told reporters before the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids were another focus of the town hall, and Utah Rep. Grant Amjad Miller, D-Salt Lake City, spoke of being a direct son of an immigrant his mother is Palestinian. His American roots on his paternal side go back to the American Revolutionary War, when an ancestor who immigrated from Prussia fought. My point being this: It does not matter if your American roots are new or if they are old, Miller said. Unless youre Indigenous, those roots came from another place. Jacobs, whose district is just north of the U.S.-Mexico border, said its easier for politicians to fearmonger about immigration the further they are from the border. Those of us close to the border, we know how important the border is for our community. We know how important immigration is for our communities, she said. Were literally talking about people who are just trying to make a living for their families, and the more we can highlight that, I think the more that well get public sentiment on our side, and well be able to push back on this, because were already seeing the presidents poll numbers change on immigration. The mayor of an Inland Empire city is urging residents to stay indoors and be wary of people they do not know amid ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the area. "Stay home and do not open the door to strangers," Perris Mayor Michael Vargas said during a video message on Instagram. The city posted the video in Spanish and English Wednesday after receiving reports of ICE operations in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We urge all residents to remain calm, stay indoors when possible and know your rights," Vargas said. "Do not go out unless necessary." Read more: 200 arrested in chaotic immigration raid at cannabis farm, one worker critically hurt in fall Roughly 78% of the Riverside County city's 83,000 residents are Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. "This message is for awareness and safety," Vargas said. "The city is committed to protecting the dignity and well-being of all our residents." In a statement to The Times on Friday, Vargas said, "Its unfortunate to see masked agents arresting individuals within our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "However, the City of Perris does not have the legal jurisdiction to interfere with federal immigration officials during their investigations and as such we do not have the ability to do much beyond encouraging residents to research and to know their legal rights," he said. Read more: L.A. neighborhoods clear out as immigration raids send people underground For more than a month, a heightened sense of fear has rippled through the immigrant community in Southern California as the Trump administration has intensified its immigration enforcement efforts, including arresting U.S. citizens and hundreds of undocumented immigrants without any criminal record. Immigration agents have targeted car washes, shopping centers, swap meets and other businesses pushing immigrant community members underground and leaving many typically lively areas deserted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: A crisis of faith: ICE raids force some churches to take 'extraordinary' action Vargas' message was released a day after Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino told his roughly 1 million parishioners that they could stay home on Sundays to avoid Mass given concerns surrounding the ongoing federal immigration raids. Rojas' guidance included encouraging members to maintain their spiritual communion by praying the rosary or reading scripture. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A California woman died while hiking on Badger Springs Trail in Black Canyon City on July 10, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office. Deputies responded to a report of an unresponsive hiker at the trail around 6 p.m. and found a 63-year-old woman who was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity was not released as of July 11. She was found only a quarter mile away from her vehicle. The initial investigation indicated she was returning to the trailhead when she collapsed, the Sheriff's Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No foul play was suspected. 2 hiker deaths, at least 7 rescues in 3 days A 67-year-old man from Texas hiking in the Grand Canyon National Park died two days prior, on July 8. The Grand Canyon National Park Service said they found the man unresponsive on the South Kaibab Trail, below Cedar Ridgeat, just before noon. Following unsuccessful life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said he was from Alvarado, Texas, and he had attempted to reach the Colorado River to stay overnight at the Phantom Ranch. Five more hikers were also rescued near Devils Bridge Trail in Sedona on July 10, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said. All the hikers were suffering from heat-related issues, but did not need further medical attention. Officials advise against hiking in extreme heat Temperatures surpassed 100 degrees in Yavapai County on July 10. On the exposed trail with little shade and the sun reflecting off the rocks, the temperatures can soar much higher, the Sheriff's office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sheriff's office suggested that hikers plan carefully when to visit the high desert trails, especially on extreme heat warning days. Here are some tips from the National Park Service and the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office to avoid heat-related illnesses while hiking: Make sure the health condition of everyone in your group is appropriate for hiking. Consider hiking only during early morning or late evening hours. Understand the route you are taking so you don't return later than you expect. Ensure you have enough water, electrolyte drinks, salty snacks, and other emergency supplies, including headlamps or flashlights. Take frequent breaks to give your body a rest. Rest under shade whenever possible to help your body cool off. Stop and turn around if it gets too hot during your activity. You can always put your backup plan into action and have a wonderful experience at the park. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: California woman dies while hiking in Black Canyon City Survivors of Cambodia's four-year genocide on Saturday told AFP they were "thrilled" that the site of their lives' biggest horror has gained UNESCO recognition. Three notorious Cambodian torture and execution sites used by the Khmer Rouge regime to perpetrate genocide 50 years ago were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List on Friday. One of the sites, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in the capital, is a former high school which was converted into a notorious prison known as S-21, where an estimated 15,000 people were imprisoned and tortured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am so thrilled," said Chum Mey, one of just a handful of S-21 survivors who now sells his memoirs in the prison compound where he says he was beaten, electrocuted and starved. "The listing by UNESCO reminds me of the torture against me," he said. The two other sites are Choeung Ek Genocide Centre, also in the capital, and another site known as M-13 in a rural area in central Kampong Chhnang province. "I am so happy and excited that UNESCO recognises Tuol Sleng museum, Choeung Ek, and M-13," Chum Mey said. "This is for the next generations." Around two million people died of starvation, forced labour or torture or were slaughtered in mass killings between 1975 and 1979. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, students and tourists walked through the black-and-white mugshots of Tuol Sleng's many victims and the preserved equipment used by Khmer Rouge tormentors. - 'A lesson of life' - Khuon Sovann lost more than 10 relatives to the genocide. The 82-year-old and her older sister prayed for her late brother-in-law with offerings of food and water in front of an inscription of victims' names. She said the UNESCO listing was "good" and would help preserve the site. "I am happy that what we Cambodians suffered is now recognised by the international community," she told AFP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cambodian culture ministry on Friday issued a statement saying the inscription acknowledged the kingdom's efforts at "transforming a land once ravaged by war and genocide... into a place of peace and dignity". Norng Chanphal, 55, survived S-21 as a child and returns to the site every day to sell his memoirs and feel close to his mother who died there. He said he was "so glad" and "excited" that Tuol Sleng -- a place of bitter memories where many lost everything -- had earned UNESCO recognition. Norng Chanphal hoped the recognition would allow Tuol Sleng to exist forever and serve as a reminder "to prevent such a regime from happening in Cambodia again". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the site was "a lesson of life for people around the world to clearly understand the regime", adding UNESCO recognition offered some justice to the souls of his mother and other victims of Tuol Sleng. suy-sjc/rsc PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) Three locations used by Cambodias brutal Khmer Rouge regime as torture and execution sites 50 years ago have been added by UNESCO to its World Heritage List. The three locations were inscribed to the list by the United Nations cultural agency Friday during the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris. The inscription coincided with the 50th anniversary of the rise to power by the communist Khmer Rouge government, which caused the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians through starvation, torture and mass executions during a four-year reign from 1975 to 1979. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNESCOs World Heritage List lists sites considered important to humanity and includes the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Taj Mahal in India and Cambodia's Angkor archaeological complex. The three sites listed Friday include two notorious prisons and an execution site immortalized in a Hollywood film. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, located in the capital Phnom Penh, is the site of a former high school used by the Khmer Rouge as a notorious prison. Better known as S-21, about 15,000 people were imprisoned and tortured there. The M-13 prison, located in rural Kampong Chhnang province in central Cambodia, also was regarded as one of the main prisons of the early Khmer Rouge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Choeung Ek, located about 15 kilometers (10 miles) south of the capital, was used as an execution site and mass grave. The story of the atrocities committed there are the focus of the 1984 film The Killing Fields, based on the experiences of New York Times photojournalist Dith Pran and correspondent Sydney Schanberg. The Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975, and immediately herded almost all the citys residents into the countryside, where they were forced to toil in harsh conditions until 1979, when the regime was driven from power by an invasion from neighboring Vietnam. In September 2022, the U.N.-backed Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, better known as the Khmer Rouge tribunal, concluded its work compiling cases against Khmer Rouge leaders. The tribunal cost $337 million over 16 years but convicted just three men. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet issued a message Friday directing people to beat drums simultaneously across the country Sunday morning to mark the UNESCO listing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May this inscription serve as a lasting reminder that peace must always be defended, Hun Manet said in a video message posted online. From the darkest chapters of history, we can draw strength to build a better future for humanity. Youk Chhang, executive director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, said the country is still grappling with the painful legacies of genocide, torture, and mass atrocity. But naming the three sites to the UNESCO list will play a role in educating younger generations of Cambodians and others worldwide. Though they were the landscape of violence, they too will and can contribute to heal the wounds inflicted during that era that have yet to heal, he said. The UNESCO inscription was Cambodias first nomination for a modern and non-classical archaeological site and is among the first in the world to be submitted as a site associated with recent conflict, Cambodia's Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said in a statement Friday. Four Cambodian archaeological sites were previously inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Angkor, Preah Vihear, Sambo Prei Kuk and Koh Ker, the ministry said. Cambridge to take control of condo building demolition, causing weekslong road closures The city of Cambridge is taking over the demolition of a structurally unsafe condo complex. Residents of Riverview at 221 Mount Auburn Street were forced to evacuate and move out of their homes in November of 2024 after several structural problems were discovered. The condo association was unable to manage the demolition project, prompting the city to intervene and assume responsibility for the process. The city aims to recover the costs by selling the land after the demolition is complete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The demolition project is complex and requires careful planning to ensure safety. A map provided by the city outlines street closures and detours that will be implemented to protect pedestrians and vehicles during the demolition process. Beginning Saturday, July 19 the following street and sidewalk closures will be in place: Mt. Auburn Street will be closed around 221 Mt. Auburn from approximately 197 Mt. Auburn Street to 239 Mt. Auburn Sparks Street will be closed from just south of Bradbury Street to Mt. Auburn Street Access to residents homes will be maintained. Cambridge demo map These changes will also ensure continued access to Mount Auburn Hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city is in the process of selecting a contractor with the necessary experience to handle the demolition. The permitting process is expected to take 6-8 weeks, followed by 12-16 weeks for the actual demolition. Community engagement is a priority for the city, with several meetings planned to keep residents informed. The next meeting is scheduled for July 24th, and the city encourages residents to reach out with any questions. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW AUSTIN (KXAN) Its difficult not to feel heartache when seeing images coming out of the recent catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River. But for some, it triggers even more. That was true for Kendra Wright, a Central Texan who in 1987 was a camp instructor at Camp Stewart during the devastating 1987 flood. Meteorologist Kristen Currie spoke with Wright about her story, her feelings, her words to those who are enduring a trauma she knows firsthand. Below is a transcript of her conversation. Edits have been made for clarity. Meteorologist Kristen Currie, KXAN News: The Independence Day floods that weve seen in Central Texas bring up a lot of memories of past tragic floods that weve seen in our backyard, and we know we have a lot of survivors who can attest to just how scary that moment is. Joining me today is Kendra Wright. Kendra, talk to me about your story. You are one of the survivors of the 1987 flood in that area, correct? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kendra Wright, 1987 survivor: I was an instructor at Camp Stewart for Boys in the summer of 1987. And one night, I was out with some friends from camp, and it was raining, of course, pouring rain, but we were going over the low water crossing that we had to go to to get to camp. It was a little too high for us to go over, I think a foot, or whatever is. It was just a little too high. So we called camp and said, Oh my gosh, were afraid were going to miss curfew. And that was our fear. It wasnt like, oh, were going to be in a catastrophic flood. You know, we were really afraid of missing curfew. Kendra Wright with her fellow 1987 camp instructor (Courtesy: Kendra Wright) Wright: So we called, and these guys that had this giant pickup were like, well come get you. The wall of water hit while they were coming over, and one of them came back up the road maybe a half hour, 45 minutes later, in just his boxers, all of his clothes. I do not know how your clothes get ripped off of you in a flood, but I mean, it was just crazy. And he was like, Oh my gosh. I got rushed. I got down the river, its floating down the river, and hes like, but Wheres Neil, the other guy? And I was like, Well, we dont know, where is he? We called camp, he wasnt there, and we figured out he was in the river. And so we started yelling for him, and he was yelling, Im in the dang tree. Kendra Wright recalls her friends, Britt and Neal, being washed away in the 1987 Flood (Courtesy: Kendra Wright) Wright: So Neil was in that tree all night, and there was a house on the side of the river, and they said we could have some blankets. And I was wearing soaking [clothes]. All of us were soaked, so we wore blankets and we wore garbage bags, and we stood outside all night yelling to Neil, someones coming, someones coming. Helicopters will be here. And the next morning, that helicopter came, and they had to leave really fast, because the same helicopter that rescued my friend had to go and rescue a bus of children on that church bus. Photos of the aftermath of the 1987 Guadalupe River flood (Courtesy: Kendra Wright) Wright: It just gives me chills to even talk about it. They have so many people that just love them, that have never met them, and at least from people I know, theres just no one thinking anything but gratitude for anyone who took care of anyone during that flood, and any anyone who in any part, I know theres so many heroes, and I just wouldnt want we all did the best we could. I wouldnt have anything to say except for its all going to be okay, and its just going to take a lot of time, and its just really an impossible situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currie: Kendra, thank you so much for sharing your story, for sharing your heart with all of our viewers. We really appreciate it. For ways to help the ongoing Texas Flood Relief, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) Camp Pendleton has announced a noise advisory starting at midnight Friday that will continue through July 20. Residents for 50 miles in every direction could hear military exercises utilizing live fire and high explosives. I hear it, but it really doesnt wake me up. Its kind of like that REM sleep, I hear it, but I guess I got used to it, said Boat Capt. Clayton Dubbs a resident of Oceanside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most people have gotten used to the sound of low rumblings off in the distance, but for some the sound doesnt seem so far off. We live in Murrieta and that noise travels right over that valley, said Yvonne Perez. This exercise can scare pets and will be on and off for the next nine days from midnight to 11:59 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. LOS ANGELES A farmworker at a Southern California cannabis farm is in critical condition after being injured during a chaotic immigration raid by federal officers, county officials said Friday. Jaime Alanis Garcia is hospitalized at Ventura County Medical Center and remains in critical condition, officials said in a statement authorized by the man's family. His family told NBC Los Angeles that the man is on life support using an assistive breathing machine and has "catastrophic" injuries. He has a broken neck, broken skull and a severed artery, a niece said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Farm Workers had previously said he had died from his injuries. The labor union said the employee of Glass House Farms north of Los Angeles plummeted 30 feet. These violent and cruel federal actions terrorize American communities, disrupt the American food supply chain, threaten lives and separate families, UFW President Teresa Romero said in a statement to NBC News. Immigration officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal agents lobbed less-lethal weapons and tear gas at protesters who gathered outside the Camarillo grow house Thursday while employees were being rounded up and arrested inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers pepper-sprayed a disabled U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and works as a security guard at the facility, the man's wife told NBC News. George Retes complied with federal officers when he arrived to check on friends and colleagues who might have been affected by the raids, she said, but instead he was arrested on suspicion of assault, according to immigration officials. A hearing is scheduled Monday. He wasnt even a protester, Guadalupe Torres said of her husband. They smashed his window, and after they smashed his window, they pepper-sprayed him. Aerial footage from NBC Los Angeles showed farm equipment being loaded up into tow trucks and people standing around in handcuffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post Friday night that he watched the protests in disbelief as unruly demonstrators threw rock and bricks at cars belonging to federal agents. He directed Homeland Security and immigration officials to use whatever means is necessary to arrest people who do not obey the law. At a cultivation center in Carpinteria owned by Glass House Farms, manager Edgar Rodriguez said federal officers assaulted and handcuffed him after he repeatedly asked them to identify themselves and provide a warrant. Rodriguez was standing behind a window when 10 unidentified men in fatigues arrived Thursday morning in unmarked cars and one armored vehicle. Rodriguez, a U.S. citizen, said he asked the men several times to identify themselves and provide a reason for arriving heavily armed. The officers refused and responded by saying they were not ICE but did not specify which agency they were from. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the officers can be seen in video obtained exclusively by NBC News attempting to coax Rodriquez outside by telling him he wouldnt be harmed. Im just trying to talk to you. Were not here for you, the officer said in the video. We have a federal warrant. We have a right to be here. Please come out. I got you, the officer said as Rodriguez began to tentatively leave his post. Juan Duran and his wife outside of Glass House Farms in Camarillo, Calif., on Friday, a day after a relative was injured during an immigration raid. (Damian Dovarganes / AP) Once outside, tensions escalated. Rodriguez was led by the federal officers toward dumpsters, where the same officer who had told him not to worry slapped Rodriguez's cellphone from his hands. Two other officers then pushed him to the ground, Rodriguez said. His phone fell, and voices can be heard arguing in the background. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez said he was handcuffed for more than an hour, and one officer twisted his arm behind his back. The officers knelt on his neck and head, he said, and he began to lose feeling in his hands. He later went to a hospital covered in scratches and bruises, he said. Rodriguez said he saw at least 10 employees get arrested, all of them in their 40s to their 60s. He said several had work visas and have been in the U.S. for more than 20 years. "They were really scared," he said. "They kept saying they didn't do anything wrong, that they had visas." The indoor cannabis farm where Rodriguez works was one of two Glass House properties raided by federal officers on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Camarillo, about 40 minutes away, the other enforcement operation drew hundreds of protesters outside the 5.5 million-square-foot facility. Federal agents block people protesting an ICE immigration raid at a cannabis farm Thursday near Camarillo, Calif. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) Federal immigration agents toss tear gas Thursday at protesters during a raid in the agricultural area of Camarillo, Calif. (Michael Owen Baker / AP) Milk is poured over a protester's face after he was hit by tear gas Thursday. (Michael Owen Baker / AP) Some 200 people were arrested in the two operations, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. At least one worker was critically injured during the raids and others, including U.S. citizens, "remain unaccounted for," the United Farm Workers said. Employees were held on site for eight hours or more, the labor union said. Several U.S. citizens were released only after agreeing to delete videos and photos of the raid from their phones, the UFW said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information on a person who appeared to fire a pistol at federal officers. The U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, Bill Essayli, said it occurred around 2:30 p.m. Thursday outside the Camarillo grow house. While ICE and CBP officers are being assaulted by rioters and dodging bullets to save children, Sanctuary politicians are demonizing ICE and CBP, Essayli said in a statement. We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who assaults or doxes federal law enforcement. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott posted a photo on X Friday of what appeared to be 10 young people detained at the Camarillo farm. "These are the juveniles found in the marijuana facility almost all unaccompanied, one as young as 14. California are you ready to partner with us to stop child exploitation?" the post read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glass House said in a statement on X that it "never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors." The UFW said it was aware of the reports and demanded legal representation for the minors. "To be clear, detaining and deporting children is not a solution for child labor," the union said in a statement. Rodriguez said Glass House has a policy of only employing people who are at least 21 years old, and he could not personally identify the people in the photo, whose faces were blurred. He said "there are no underage workers" at the two facilities he manages in Carpinteria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am absolutely positive of that, he said. A protester runs from tear gas tossed by federal immigration agents on Thursday. (Michael Owen Baker / AP) Federal agents block a road during an ICE immigration raid near Camarillo, Calif. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) The raids Thursday came after more than a month of confrontations between the Trump administration and mass deportation protesters. The protests have occasionally shut down parts of Los Angeles and its many immigrant-majority communities, where many residents say they are afraid to go to work. On Friday, Mayor Karen Bass signed a directive requiring city departments to submit preparedness plans outlining how employees, including contractors, should respond if approached by federal immigration agents. The goal, she said, is to ensure that residents and city workers know their rights and can safely access services without fear. A federal judge is expected to rule Friday on a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and immigrant rights groups calling for the Trump administration to halt stops and arrests that they say have terrorized residents and forced immigrants into hiding. Protesters stand off against federal immigration agents Thursday near Camarillo, Calif. (Michael Owen Baker / AP) The protests have occasionally shut down parts of Los Angeles. (Michael Owen Baker / AP) This article was originally published on NBCNews.com LOS ANGELES A farmworker at a Southern California cannabis farm is in critical condition after being injured during a chaotic immigration raid by federal officers, local officials said Friday. Jaime Alanis Garcia is hospitalized at Ventura County Medical Center and remains in critical condition, county officials said in a statement authorized by the man's family. His family told NBC Los Angeles that the man is on life support using an assistive breathing machine and has "catastrophic" injuries. He has a broken neck, broken skull and a severed artery, a niece said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Farm Workers had previously said Garcia, an employee of Glass House Farms, died after falling some 30 feet. These violent and cruel federal actions terrorize American communities, disrupt the American food supply chain, threaten lives and separate families, UFW President Teresa Romero said in a statement to NBC News. Immigration officials said in a statement that Garcia was not in federal custody at the time of the fall. Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a green house and fell 30 feet, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. CBP immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside federal agents lobbed less-lethal weapons and tear gas at protesters who gathered at the Camarillo grow house Thursday while employees were being rounded up and arrested inside. Officers pepper-sprayed a disabled U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and works as a security guard at the facility, the man's wife told NBC News. George Retes complied with federal officers when he arrived to check on friends and colleagues who might have been affected by the raids, she said, but instead he was arrested on suspicion of assault, according to immigration officials. A hearing is scheduled Monday. He wasnt even a protester, Guadalupe Torres said of her husband. They smashed his window, and after they smashed his window, they pepper-sprayed him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aerial footage from NBC Los Angeles showed farm equipment being loaded up into tow trucks and people standing around in handcuffs. President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post Friday night that he watched the protests in disbelief as unruly demonstrators threw rock and bricks at cars belonging to federal agents. He directed Homeland Security and immigration officials to use whatever means is necessary to arrest people who do not obey the law. At a cultivation center in Carpinteria owned by Glass House Farms, manager Edgar Rodriguez said federal officers assaulted and handcuffed him after he repeatedly asked them to identify themselves and provide a warrant. Rodriguez was standing behind a window when 10 unidentified men in fatigues arrived Thursday morning in unmarked cars and one armored vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez, a U.S. citizen, said he asked the men several times to identify themselves and provide a reason for arriving heavily armed. The officers refused and responded by saying they were not ICE but did not specify which agency they were from. One of the officers can be seen in video obtained exclusively by NBC News attempting to coax Rodriguez outside by telling him he wouldnt be harmed. Im just trying to talk to you. Were not here for you, the officer said in the video. We have a federal warrant. We have a right to be here. Please come out. I got you, the officer said as Rodriguez began to tentatively leave his post. Juan Duran and his wife outside of Glass House Farms in Camarillo, Calif., on Friday, a day after a relative was injured during an immigration raid. (Damian Dovarganes / AP) Once outside, tensions escalated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez was led by the federal officers toward dumpsters, where the same officer who had told him not to worry slapped Rodriguez's cellphone from his hands. Two other officers then pushed him to the ground, Rodriguez said. His phone fell, and voices can be heard arguing in the background. Rodriguez said he was handcuffed for more than an hour, and one officer twisted his arm behind his back. The officers knelt on his neck and head, he said, and he began to lose feeling in his hands. He later went to a hospital covered in scratches and bruises, he said. Rodriguez said he saw at least 10 employees get arrested, all of them in their 40s to their 60s. He said several had work visas and have been in the U.S. for more than 20 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They were really scared," he said. "They kept saying they didn't do anything wrong, that they had visas." The indoor cannabis farm where Rodriguez works was one of two Glass House properties raided by federal officers on Thursday. In Camarillo, about 40 minutes away, the other enforcement operation drew hundreds of protesters outside the 5.5 million-square-foot facility. Federal agents block people protesting an ICE immigration raid at a cannabis farm Thursday near Camarillo, Calif. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) Federal immigration agents toss tear gas Thursday at protesters during a raid in the agricultural area of Camarillo, Calif. (Michael Owen Baker / AP) Milk is poured over a protester's face after he was hit by tear gas Thursday. (Michael Owen Baker / AP) Some 200 people were arrested in the two operations, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. Several workers including U.S. citizens, "remain unaccounted for," the United Farm Workers said. Employees were held on site for eight hours or more, the labor union said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. citizens were released only after agreeing to delete videos and photos of the raid from their phones, the UFW added. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information on a person who appeared to fire a pistol at federal officers. The U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, Bill Essayli, said it occurred around 2:30 p.m. Thursday outside the Camarillo grow house. While ICE and CBP officers are being assaulted by rioters and dodging bullets to save children, Sanctuary politicians are demonizing ICE and CBP, Essayli said in a statement. We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who assaults or doxes federal law enforcement. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott posted a photo on X Friday of what appeared to be 10 young people detained at the Camarillo farm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These are the juveniles found in the marijuana facility almost all unaccompanied, one as young as 14. California are you ready to partner with us to stop child exploitation?" the post read. Glass House said in a statement on X that it "never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors." The UFW said it was aware of the reports and demanded legal representation for the minors. "To be clear, detaining and deporting children is not a solution for child labor," the union said in a statement. Rodriguez said Glass House has a policy of only employing people who are at least 21 years old, and he could not personally identify the people in the photo, whose faces were blurred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said "there are no underage workers" at the two facilities he manages in Carpinteria. I am absolutely positive of that, he said. A protester runs from tear gas tossed by federal immigration agents on Thursday. (Michael Owen Baker / AP) Federal agents block a road during an ICE immigration raid near Camarillo, Calif. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) The raids Thursday came after more than a month of confrontations between the Trump administration and mass deportation protesters. The protests have occasionally shut down parts of Los Angeles and its many immigrant-majority communities, where many residents say they are afraid to go to work. On Friday, Mayor Karen Bass signed a directive requiring city departments to submit preparedness plans outlining how employees, including contractors, should respond if approached by federal immigration agents. The goal, she said, is to ensure that residents and city workers know their rights and can safely access services without fear. Protesters stand off against federal immigration agents Thursday near Camarillo, Calif. (Michael Owen Baker / AP) The protests have occasionally shut down parts of Los Angeles. (Michael Owen Baker / AP) This article was originally published on NBCNews.com LEGAL AFFAIRS: Experts weigh in on the importance of the role of the attorney general in the Israeli legal system, and debate Gali Baharav-Miara's interpretation of the role. The debate on the purpose, role, and power of the attorney-general is not new, as it morphed over the years, and now appears at the heart of the debate over rule of law and governance. This fundamental debate crops up in near-daily verbal jabs from politicians and advisory opinions from the Attorney-Generals Office, but what lies at its base, and is it bridgeable? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The role of the attorney-general is multifaceted and unique: They head the state prosecution; represent the state in procedures, High Court hearings, and more; and they are the [chief] legal adviser to the government, considered its authorized interpreter of the law. As long as a court doesnt stipulate otherwise, their interpretation is the one the government seeks, and is considered reflective of the law. Last week, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara and her office issued a sharply critical advisory opinion on a government decision to change the traditional firing process of the attorney-general. According to the decision, all that is required is for the justice minister to present the request to fire the A-G to a committee of government ministers only, and then to bring it to a parliamentary vote. The criticism levied against the decision is that it politicizes something it shouldnt, leaving it solely in the hands of parliamentarians, and that it was passed simply because the government failed to dismiss Baharav-Miara in the traditional, accepted manner. Israeli attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara attends the funeral of former Judge Elisheva Barak-Ussoskin at Kiryat Shaul Cemetery in Tel Aviv, December 11, 2024. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90) What is the current legal process? The term of every attorney-general is for six years. To hire or fire the A-G, an external public-professional committee must convene and provide an expert opinion before any government decision is made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee includes a retired Supreme Court justice as chairman or chairwoman, appointed by the Supreme Court president and by approval of the justice minister; a former justice minister or attorney-general, chosen by the government; an MK, chosen by the Knessets Constitution, Law and Justice Committee; a lawyer, chosen by the Israel Bar Association; and a legal academic, selected by the deans of the law faculties. If the government wishes to end the term early, it has to meet specific conditions, such as if there are consistent and severe disagreements between the A-G and the government, rendering their working relationship unproductive. If this is the case, the justice minister must submit a request to the committee. It then holds a meeting, during which the A-G can present their side. The committee then submits its recommendations. The challenge today is that Justice Minister Yariv Levin has not succeeded in filling out the committees positions. The public-professional committee Before the year 2000, the hiring and firing of the attorney-general was much more restrained, to be within the framework of the government, and the candidates were all qualified to be Supreme Court justices, ensuring their qualifications. What shifted and created the committee was the Bar-On-Hebron affair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January 1997, lawyer Roni Bar-On was appointed attorney-general by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He was not qualified for the position, and resigned two days later after public and political outrage. About a week later, it was revealed that his appointment was part of a deal between Netanyahu and Shas head Arye Deri, who was then internal security minister, to advance a plea bargain in Deris corruption case. Deri pushed for the appointment in exchange for his partys support of the controversial Hebron Agreement for the withdrawal of Israeli military forces from some parts of the city. Deri was later indicted after a police investigation resulted in charges, and as a result he was barred from politics for a decade. The Shamgar Commission was then created to establish the criteria for the public-professional committee that would ensure such a scenario would not again unfold. The protocol was changed in 2000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Guy Lurie, a research fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute and a former coordinator of the Shamgar Commission, explained to The Jerusalem Post that the commissions assumption was that this process would... block the government from dismissing an attorney-general just for standing on her legal advice. This person would be able to give advice and not be afraid to be sacked. Lurie explained that the mechanism was based on a public commission that heard advice from many experts. If the government wants to change that, it needs to at least think about it with the factual grounds that base that decision. Particularly, it seems like the government decided to change the mechanism with disregard [for] the principles governing the role of the A-G that the Shamgar Commission detailed in its report. That very decision, led by Levin, was passed in June, and proposes to do away with the committee and have the question of dismissal instead rest with a committee of ministers. The decision has faced sharp criticism for what is seen as politicizing one of the last legs of checks and balances on the government, and as illegitimate since Levin already began the process to call up the committee, but failed to fill its positions. Hes trying to fix the mess that hes made by simply throwing the baby out with the bathwater, claimed Lurie. When he couldnt fill the positions of the committee, Levin instead said, Well just receive advice from ourselves; thats completely irrelevant to the point of getting advice. The historical roots The Israeli legal system is a unique cocktail of English Common Law (from the British Mandate period), Ottoman law, Halacha (Jewish law), and civil law. While it has shifted and grown over time, it kept some central tenets of Common Law, including the notion of precedent, which is that courts follow rulings of previous court decisions to guide legal interpretation, along with legal procedures across the field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The position of an attorney-general is one of those passed on from Common Law, explained Lurie. Uniquely, in Israel the A-Gs responsibilities are under one umbrella, as opposed to being split into different offices. Here, the A-G is the chief legal adviser to the government, they head the public prosecution, and they also represent the state. In Israel and outside of it, the attorney-general is seen as the iron wall stationed to safeguard the governments integrity, individual rights, and democratic principles as a whole. In the UK, for example, Lurie explained, the attorney-general is a political appointment, while in Israel, its become a public service role... and its function in Israel is particularly important... because of the lack of other effective checks and balances that other democracies usually have. This is the great challenge that Israel has in terms of preserving the rule of law. Israels unique situation The argument for why such a strong check is needed on the government stems from the fact that, in Israel, the legislative and executive branches are not truly split. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parliament (Knesset), the legislative branch, has 120 permanent members elected by proportional representation, while the government, the executive branch, is composed of ministers. In Israel, all ministers including the premier are typically also MKs; members of the executive branch are also part of the legislature, and the executive constantly depends on Knesset support to manifest its policies. Scholars in this school of thought, therefore, see a need for a strong judiciary. The government, Lurie explained, needs this internal power check in the form of the attorney-general and the legal advisory. Currently, it is mostly the judiciary that acts as a check on the governments power, along with the attorney-general. The Knesset doesnt usually act as a check on power of the government. The A-G is there to help the government fulfill its duties and care for its policies in a legal manner, and to prevent violations of the law, said Lurie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued, On one hand, she needs to advise the government and help it to realize its policies. And on the other hand, because the government is not a regular client, and the attorney-general is not a regular attorney, she has high commitment as to the rule of law and not to the government. She is committed to the government, [but] if theres a [legal] conflict, then her higher duty is to help the government to not break the law. Attorney Aharon Garber, the deputy director of the law department at the Kohelet Policy Forum, told the Post that the attorney-general in Israel is one of the most influential and unusual legal roles in any democracy exceptional in every sense of the word. He explained that what has happened over the past few decades is that the A-G shifted from working for the government in representation to leaning more heavily into the role of an independent figure, whose de facto stance became to block the government from manifesting its policies rather than aiding it. Garbers position asserts that the intended goal of this role, and how it manifests in reality today are very different things. The reach of the legal system has been expanded so far that it today includes elements beyond what is legal (though they are enshrined in law), like the reasonableness standard, for example. This position asserts, therefore, that the place to settle legal interpretation in cases where the advisory and the government clash is the courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The question is: Is the A-G in an advisory capacity, or a decisive one? That is at the heart of the debate, he said. Luries position argues that viewing the A-G as restrictive is inaccurate when you look at the grounds for the previous decision to declare mistrust of the attorney-general by the government all the cases were simply where the A-G gave an interpretation of the law, and the government simply tried to [advance] against [that] advice about illegal actions that the government wanted to do. [The view that the A-G acts beyond her limits] is something that a lot of people think, whether it is accurate or not, he said. In the dozen or so cases where the position of the legal advisory was opposed to the government, he explained, Baharav-Miara allowed separate representation, he explained, and in the end, the court mostly aligned with the A-Gs position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is exactly the [kind of] case where the Shamgar Commission recommended that the dismissal mechanism needs to prevent the government from dismissing an attorney-general who is, in good faith, simply giving advice on the law and the way that she thinks the law stands. Six months ago, in a debate hosted at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem by the Israel Law and Liberty Forum, attorney Gil Bringer, who served as an adviser to several ministers, including Ayelet Shaked when she was justice minister, narrowed the debate down: It is not about whether the legal advisory and the Attorney-Generals Office should exist, or whether the people working there are honest. Rather, it is strictly about when there arises a disagreement about interpretation, does the A-G have the final word as the ultimate interpreter of the law? In his view, the answer is no; that authority lies with the judges and the courts. We already have a sound legal system why do we need another one? Let the courts judge. This is between different yet equal interpretations of the law, said Bringer. Garber summarized this position: You already have someone telling the government what is okay and what isnt the courts. The legal advisory is there to advise. The flagship example for this approach though there are more is from about eight months ago. Dr. Odelia Minnes was appointed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi to be the temporary head of the Second Authority for Television and Radio, the authority that regulates and supervises commercial broadcasts to ensure that a specific percentage of them is locally produced. At the time, the ministrys legal adviser rejected Minness appointment, saying that it was illegal and there is no way to advance the appointment. Petitions against her appointment were rejected, and Minnes got the role. Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg at the time criticized the legal advisory, writing that the interpretation of the illegality of Minness appointment is far from being true. This is one case, but it demonstrates that the legal advisory, at times, blocks legislation that neednt be blocked. The response to this is that there arent many cases like Minness, that it doesnt reflect the whole operation, and that the position of the advisory as a safeguard of the rule of law is true and correct. The obligations of the legal advisory are to the state, to the rule of law, not to a specific government or any specific policy. If the legal advisory wouldnt exist as it currently does, this position argues, there would be no professional authority on the ground in real time when policy decisions occur. What would presumably happen is that every decision would wind up in court, which is both a waste of time and taxes, as well as an abuse of the service itself. The ministerial committee on changing the process is set to convene on Monday. Beyond the drama and the headlines that are sure to emerge from the meeting, the two sides of this debate will probably face each other again. The Bank of England will monitor the use of cash payments amid fears that vulnerable groups risk being excluded in a two-tier society. Threadneedle Street officials are set to intervene after MPs warned more checks were needed to ensure people can still pay with cash in public places, such as coffee shops, leisure centres and on public transport. There are currently no legal requirements in the UK for businesses or organisations to accept cash, fuelling fears that pensioners and people with disabilities could be shut out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dame Meg Hillier, chair of the Treasury select committee, welcomed the move by the Bank and said it was a positive first step. It comes after the committee revealed earlier this year that vulnerable groups were having to pay higher prices for essential goods amid an increase in the number of shops not accepting cash. However, it also said there were significant obstacles in assessing the true level of cash acceptance across the UK. A study by Link, the UKs cash machine network, in 2024 found that half of those surveyed had been to a business or organisation in the last eight weeks that did not accept cash or discouraged cash use. Yet 98pc of small businesses said they accepted cash when polled by Savanta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lack of consistent evidence makes it challenging for the Government to determine how widespread the issue of cash acceptance is in the UK. There are concerns that a decline in cash acceptance will lead to the exclusion of vulnerable groups such as the elderly, people with learning disabilities, and domestic abuse victims. Dame Meg said that the Government consistently agrees with the Treasury committees view that action needs to be taken to avoid financially excluding vulnerable groups. In response to the committees findings, Emma Reynolds, the economic secretary to the Treasury, said: Ensuring individuals have access to the appropriate financial products and services they need is a key priority for the Government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Treasury is due to publish a financial inclusion strategy later this year, which will examine the barriers consumers face to accessing products and what more industry and government can do to support them. ATM decline When appearing before the Treasury committee in January, Ms Reynolds said the Government had no plans to regulate businesses, big or small, to compel them to accept cash. Yet the committee has argued that ministers may have to legally mandate cash acceptance in the future if a two-tier society arises. Worries of a decline in cash acceptance have emerged alongside a significant fall in the number of free ATMs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of cash machines in the UK fell by 5pc year-on-year to 46,182 in 2024, according to Link. Since the pandemic, there has been a rise in the number of businesses that call themselves cash-free, with others stating that they prefer customers to accept card or contactless payments. Over the last decade, there has also been a significant decline in the number of cash transactions. Cash accounted for just over half of all payments in 2013, but that fell to 12pc in 2023 as the popularity of card and digital payments increased. Blackouts in Spain and Portugal earlier this year prevented the public from making card payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee highlighted the importance of physical cash in emergency situations, warning that alternatives must be in place in the event of a major technological failure or a state-sponsored cyber attack. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Cat community leaders are sounding the alarm on rising concerns over cat trapping. Every year, almost 8,000 animals are put down in Bay County, according to the Humane Society of Bay County. Cat community leaders are now sounding the alarm on an issue that could lower the number of euthanizations. Currently, homeowners who find cats on their property can take the cats to animal control where they are neutered or spayed and then released; a process called trap-neuter-release, or TNR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But those in the cat community say that residents are bringing cats in who have been through TNR; leading to overpopulation and eventually, death. Its overpopulating our animal control. So they cant do what other animal controls do where they find homes for these animals. Instead, theyre being overpopulated. So theyre saying we dont have a choice. We have to euthanize them, said Salty Cats Rescue President Jackie Mihal. The best way to tell if a stray cat has been through TNR is by looking at their ears; if they have a clipped ear, that is a typically indication that they are neutered or spayed. Mihal said those cats are safe to be on the streets and actually provide a benefit to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They dont understand what TNR actually can accomplish. It keeps them healthy. It stops the reproducing. And eventually the cat population will get smaller just naturally by passing along. It also maintains your colony by keeping others from coming in. Keeps our rat population down. said Mihal. The group is proposing for the county to impose charges surrounding cat trapping. Some charges include: $25 for cat traps $55 to pick up trapped cats $1000 fine for trapping TNR cats Mihal said there are other options if you want to keep cats out of your property. People complain that the cats are coming on to their property and going to the bathroom, but so are raccoons and possums and dogs and chipmunks and everything. Else. Theres ways that can curb those behaviors from casting a commercial grade ammonia around your property line. No wild animal will cross it. said Mihal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group is also calling for stricter enforcement of state animal cruelty laws. Florida state statute includes a misdemeanor for isolated animal cruelty incidents and a felony charge for repeated behavior. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. NEED TO KNOW Authorities released information following an investigation into the Air India Boeing 787-8 crash on June 12 The Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau preliminary report stated that soon before the June 12 crash, fuel to the aircrafts engines was cut off The passenger plane was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members from Ahmedabad in western India to London's Gatwick Airport Authorities in India have released the preliminary results of their investigation into the the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in June that killed 229 of the 230 passengers aboard and all 12 crew members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A preliminary report published by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau early on Saturday, July 12 (local time), stated that soon before the June 12 crash, fuel to the aircrafts engines was cut off. The plane was on its way from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick Airport at the time. At 8:08 a.m., the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec. The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off," the report states. Central Industrial Security Force / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Air India crash Air India crash Black box audio from the cockpit recorded one of the pilots asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so. At about 08:09:05 UTC, one of the pilots transmitted 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY,' " according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency officials responded to the wreckage at 8:14 a.m. Investigation is continuing and the investigation team will review and examine additional evidence, records and information that is being sought from the stakeholders, the report concluded. SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Air India flight 171 crashed into a college hostel in a residential area Air India flight 171 crashed into a college hostel in a residential area Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident," the airline said in a statement in reponse to the new report. "We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time." Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses. Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such enquiries to the AAIB, the company's statement added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The passenger jet carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members crashed minutes after takeoff on Thursday, June 12. The plane hit a college hostel in a residential area when it crash-landed in Ahmedabad, bursting into flames. The sole survivor of the crash was identified by doctors as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, according to the Associated Press. He was disoriented with multiple injuries all over his body, Dr. Dhaval Gameti previously told AP about the survivor. But he seems to be out of danger. I dont know how I survived. I saw people dying in front of my eyes the air hostesses and two people, Ramesh told DD News from his hospital bed at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, adding, "I walked out of the rubble." Siddharaj Solanki/Bloomberg via Getty Aircraft debris from the Air India crash Aircraft debris from the Air India crash Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Even I can't believe how I came out of it alive. For a moment, I felt like I was going to die too. But when I opened my eyes and looked around, I realized I was alive. I still can't believe how I survived, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramesh recalled what happened before the crash: When the flight took off, within 5 to 10 seconds it felt like it was stuck in the air. Suddenly, the lights started flickering green and white then the plane rammed into some establishment that was there, he reportedly said. According to The New York Times, the plane was operated by Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder. Read the original article on People DULLES, Va. (DC News Now) A beloved K-9 is back on the job at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) after a traveler, who authorities say had over 100 pounds of prohibited food products, violently kicked the dog last month, sending him airborne. Five-year-old Freddie, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture detector dog, and his handler were inspecting baggage from travelers who arrived from Cairo, Egypt, on June 24 when Freddie alerted to a suitcase owned by Hamed Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie, 70. Freddies handler started questioning Marie, who violently kicked Freddie with sufficient force to lift the 25-pound beagle off the ground, according to a news release from CBP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers immediately arrested Marie, who pleaded guilty the next day to harming animals used in law enforcement. He was credited with time served, ordered to pay the detection dogs veterinarians fee, and then was removed from the U.S. to Egypt, where he lives. CBP noted that Freddies instincts were correct; upon inspecting Maries suitcase, officers found several undeclared, prohibited items, including 55 pounds of beef meat, 44 pounds of rice, 15 pounds of eggplant, cucumbers, bell peppers, two pounds of corn seeds, and one pound of herbs. PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Egyptian traveler pleads guilty to violently kicking detection dog at Dulles Airport After the attack, a veterinarian determined that Freddie suffered contusions to his right forward rib area, temporarily putting him out of work as a detector dog, the CBP said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But after taking time to heal, CBP said Freddie came back to work at the airport Thursday, continuing his mission to detect prohibited items as a part of the agencys Beagles Brigade. 5-year-old Freddie, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture detector dog, returns to work after being kicked by a traveler on the job. (Matthew Sonsalla/DC News Now) Freddie, a @CBP agriculture detector dog, is happy to be working again at @Dulles_Airport, CBP wrote in a post on the X platform Thursday evening. An Egyptian man maliciously kicked Freddies ribs after our brave beagle buddy busted the mans attempt to smuggle 110 pounds of prohibited food into the U.S., the agency continued. Since the incident, which garnered national attention, Melissa SnyderFreddies handlersaid the CBP has received an outpouring of support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have received texts and phone calls from friends not only here in the U.S. but outside of the country, its gone international, said Snyder, in an interview with DC News Now. Thank you for your support; even when you dont hear about us on the news, officers and specialists here are working diligently every day. Its always nice for all of them to know when they are supported. Officials encourage anyone looking to help Freddies recovery to instead donate to a shelter in need. Were touched by the publics support for CBP K9 Freddie. While CBP cannot accept donations, we encourage you to honor Freddie by donating time or funds to your local animal shelter in his name. Support the mission. Support the animals, said Matthew Suarez, CBPs acting director of field operations in Baltimore. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. ANDERSON The first cell block pods at the new Madison County Jail are being set in place this week. The pods were built in Georgia and transported to Anderson, where they are unloaded, stacked two high, welded and put into place. Each pod has four fiberglass beds, a shower and restroom facilities. Dale Riley, project manager for Garmong Construction, said Thursday once the pods are put in place, connections for water, electricity and heating and air conditioning will be installed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said each of the pods come prepared for connection to utility services. Riley said the first pods were put in place on Wednesday. He said 18 pods will be placed on a daily basis. Once in place, the stairways and an exterior walkway will be installed with a steel roof to prevent any potential escapes, Riley said. The next phase will be the installation of the interior walls to create a pie-shaped area for each cell block that can be observed by correctional officers. Macey Hazelman, a field engineer on the project, said work has started on the area of the new facility that will include the kitchen, laundry, a controlled entry area, and holding cells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said approximately 300 people have gone through required safety training to work at the site. Elsewhere on the site, two retention ponds have been built, and some of the asphalt driveways have been installed. Riley said construction on the $97.5 million project is on schedule. We lost three to five weeks during the winter, but we have caught all that back up, he said. Were currently working on the two detention blocks and putting the cells in the D unit. Once that is completed, we will start working in the E unit, Riley said. He said it will take about two weeks to set the cell pods into place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of the plumbing, electrical and HVAC (heating and air conditioning) is in place now overhead, Riley said. There is a mechanical space behind the cells so they will drop the plumbing, electrical and HVAC theyll all be dropped down and connected to the points on the back side, he said. Riley said a large mound of dirt in the southwest corner of the site will eventually need to be moved, a decision that will be made by the Madison County Commissioners. Several people have asked about getting some of the material. He said the drainage work and water on the site is about 95% done. Were currently working on sanitary lines and once installed, the old pipes will be removed, Riley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Madison County Administrator Tom Ecker said the project is on schedule and within budget. He said the plan is to have the contractors work completed in September 2026. After that, training of employees and testing of systems will be scheduled. Ecker said there will also be a schedule created for the movement of the inmates and administrative staff from the existing facility. General contractor Garmong Construction is overseeing the work for a guaranteed price of $97.5 million. The county sold $79.6 million in bonds, and additional funding is being provided by a local option income tax. The jail will house up to 525 inmates in 22 classification units, with an additional expansion of 200 beds possible in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The site for the new jail is on Broadway behind several commercial businesses, including Wendys and Captain Ds, and north of the Anderson roller arena. The county purchased the property from Meijer at a cost of $795,000. Were on schedule, Riley said. The cold weather didnt have an impact. Ecker said the jail is expected to open on time in the summer of 2026. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) One man was arrested after SWAT was present on S. Main St. in Centerville early Saturday morning. The Centerville sergeant told 2 NEWS a felony arrest was made at approximately 4:20 a.m. in the 200 block of S. Main St. 2 NEWS is working to learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. A massive show of federal law enforcement agents swept through rural corners of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties this week in the largest of the Trump administrations weeks-long campaign against undocumented immigrants in California. Farmworker advocates said Friday afternoon that one laborer had died from injuries sustained after falling from the roof of a greenhouse at Glass House cannabis operation while trying to escape federal agents. On Friday evening, a statement from Ventura County Medical Center said the man was apparently still alive in critical condition. The raid by agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the California National Guard and the Drug Enforcement Administration, among others, has placed a spotlight on the well-known cannabis company, which has become central to the local economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The operation began when immigration agents surrounded large greenhouse facilities in Camarillo and Carpinteria Thursday and, after presenting warrants, began entering buildings. The result was hours of chaos, particularly at the company's Camarillo outpost. As people screamed La migra! La migra! workers began to run in a panic, hiding in refrigerators, containers, car trunks and on the greenhouse roofs. Protesters massed at the gates, squaring off against agents, who deployed tear gas and less-lethal bullets. Once the gas had cleared and the riot police and hundreds of protesters had gone home, nearly 200 people, including several minors, had been detained, according to the Department of Homeland Security. At least 10 migrant children were rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking, the agency said in a statement. Federal officers also arrested approximately 200 illegal aliens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the FBI said it was investigating a possible shooting that had taken place amid the hurly-burly of protests outside the gates of Glass House, one of the largest legal cannabis operations in the state. The incident, with its images of children running through fields to escape clouds of tear gas and workers hiding in terror amid panes of broken glass on greenhouse roofs catapulted across social media, and quickly fueled dueling political narratives. The Trump administration portrayed the events as an action against a marijuana grow operation" that, as a Border Patrol official put it in a post on X, hires illegal aliens and exploits unaccompanied minors. The White House account on X joined the fray, calling out Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles) for defending farmworkers doing their jobs. That aint produce, holmes. THATs PRODUCT, the White House post read . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local elected officials and farmworker advocates, meanwhile, decried the action against a legal and highly regulated operation. It was disproportionate, overkill, said Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara). The United Farm Workers, in a statement, said: These violent and cruel federal actions terrorize American communities, disrupt the American food supply chain, threaten lives and separate families. There is no city, state or federal district where it is legal to terrorize and detain people for being brown and working in agriculture. These raids must stop immediately. The operation also put a spotlight on Glass House, one of the largest legal cannabis operations in California. The company, which counts among its founders a former Torrance police officer, has in recent years become the largest taxpayer in Ventura County and one of the areas largest employers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has become a big player in local politics, but now, apparently, it is in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. Company officials have said little publicly, posting on X Friday that two of its operations, one in Camarillo in Ventura County and one near Carpinteria in Santa Barbara County, had granted agents entry after being presented with a search warrant. Workers were detained and we are assisting to provide them legal representation, the company said in a statement, adding that it has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practice. Glass House occupies a controversial position in Californias rough-and-tumble legal cannabis industry. Five years ago, the company bought up old vegetable and flower greenhouses across the farmland south of Santa Barbara. Its growth happened at such a large scale and at such a low production cost that many in the industry refer to it as the Walmart of Weed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The converted greenhouses at the 165-acre Camarillo site once grew cucumbers, a nod to the pattern of repurposing distressed properties employed by co-founder Kyle Kazan, a former Torrance police officer once assigned to gang detail who made his first millions building a property management empire of Orange County beach rentals. Glass House began as a single greenhouse operation in Santa Barbara, and after a 2021 merger with a Canadian company that allowed public trading of Glass House Brands stock, established its mammoth footprint in Ventura County. Under Kazan, Glass House has weathered allegations brought by competitors of dumping cannabis products illegally in other states. Kazan, while not heavily engaged in national political battles beyond cannabis, has been a proponent of pardons for those serving long prison sentences for nonviolent drug crimes. In a May investor presentation, Kazan praised Trumps appointee for pardon advisor. The company also sparked a firestorm in 2019 when it donated $189,000 to the Carpinteria School District and then got school board members to pose for a photo wearing company merchandise amid cannabis plants. At the time, many residents decried the growing influence of marijuana businesses on local politics and culture, while others defended Glass House and other operations for providing jobs and local tax revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court filings show many of Glass Houses employees actually work for a Camarillo labor contractor. The company faces allegations of labor law violations including failure to pay overtime or give meal breaks and separate sexual harassment and discrimination complaints filed by workers paid $16 an hour (minimum wage at the time) to sweep plant trimmings, handle coconut fiber mulch and tend to other duties. The company disputes the charges, levied in Ventura County civil lawsuits, which are still pending in court. Numerous Trump administration officials called out the presence of undocumented minors working at the facility on Thursday. Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Rodney Scott posted a photograph on X of young men with their faces blurred. These are the juveniles found in the marijuana facility almost all unaccompanied, one as young as 14, the post read. California are you ready to partner with us to stop child exploitation? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its statement, Glass House said it does not and has never employed minors. It also said it did not expect the raid to affect operations moving forward and would provide additional details when applicable. On Friday morning, the scene outside the companys Camarillo complex was much calmer than it had been the day before. The operation is surrounded by a metal fence with green tarp; signs warn that the fence is charged with 7,000 volts. Many who were there were trying to recover cars left behind by workers detained in the raid. Others said they believed some workers might still be hiding in the sprawling complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Irma Perez said her nephew, Fidel Buscio, 24, had been working at the facility and then hid on the roof before later being detained. Before he was taken, she said, he sent her videos, including one in which he stands on the roof with blood on his shirt from an injury sustained from scrambling over broken glass. Perez said Buscio had lived with his wife in Tijuana but come to Ventura County after she became sick. She said he is undocumented and trying to obtain legal status. She said her last communication from him was a call in which he said: They got me. She was trying to pick up his car; his attorney, she added, does not know where Buscio was taken. Two daughters of a detained worker were there Friday as well, trying to pick up their mothers car. The 19- and 20-year-old did not want to be named to protect their familys privacy, but they said their mother told them that she chose not to run when immigration agents entered the complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has already signed self-deportation papers to go to Mexico and avoid being held in a detention center in another state, they said. Its really sad, one daughter said. Theyre leaving a lot of people without parents. Another worker, who is undocumented and did not want to be named, said he hid beneath the cannabis plants for 11 hours. It was hot, more than 100 degrees. He said he could hear the sound of others being detained, and he stayed hidden until about midnight, when he finally crept out and escaped. Griselda Reyes Basurto, program manager at the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project which works with many of the area's Indigenous workers, said she was able to access Glass House early Friday morning to look for anyone left behind. She said they didnt find anyone but they saw remnants of the raid: a pair of shoes, broken glass, trails of blood. Car windows were shattered, she said, a sign that people tried to hide in their cars but agents broke in anyway. She said she is coordinating with families of those taken to make sure theyre able to receive their final paychecks. Thursday was payday. The raid has terrified the immigrant populations who work in the areas farms and the executives who run Californias cannabis operation. Activists shared images of DEA agents at the Camarillo immigration raid and worried that it signaled an end to the federal ceasefire against cannabis. While most states have laws that make cannabis cultivation, sales and use legal in some fashion, it remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, alongside heroin and LSD. "DOJ knows cannabis farms are easy targets because they violate federal law, and ICE can roll with the other three-letter agencies to do a raid," said an executive at one of Californias largest cannabis operations, who did not want to be named for fear of worsening the situation. Americans for Safe Access and the California Cannabis Industry Assn. held an emergency call Friday to prepare for more such federal actions. We have real enemies in Washington who are now in power, said Steph Sherer, president of Americans for Safe Access. The Glass House raid targeted people, not plants, but lets be clear, this was a warning shot and weve got to be prepared for both, said Caren Woodson, chief executive of the Cannabis Industry Assn. Just because it wasnt plants this time doesnt mean it wont be next time. Some of the sense of vulnerability rises from memories of Trumps first term, when then-Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions in 2018 rolled back a Department of Justice memorandum that dissuaded federal prosecution of cannabis laws in states where the plant is licensed and regulated. The threat of enforcement of federal laws criminalizing cannabis carries big risks for cannabis operators. In federal court, state legalization is not an allowed defense. Moreover, Trumps DEA has failed to act on recommendations to reduce federal prohibitions against cannabis. This is real. Weve all lived through it, and it is happening again, Sherer said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) More than a million dollars from the federal government is going to two Central Illinois airports to help improve their runways. U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth announced on Friday that they secured FAA entitlement funds for Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield and University of Illinois Willard Airport in Savoy. The money will go toward the rehabilitation of the airports runways. By improving airport infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for increased connectivity and reliability, Durbin said his and Duckworths announcement. This federal funding will upgrade the airports infrastructure and promote economic growth. I will continue working with Senator Duckworth to ensure our states regional airports have the necessary federal resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Danville breaks ground on homebuilding project Illinoiss airports are critical economic engines for our state, Duckworth said. Im proud to join Senator Durbin in announcing this federal funding to help modernize and improve infrastructure at Willard Airport. I will continue working to make traveling safer and more reliable for all passengers while ensuring that our communities are receiving the much-needed federal resources they deserve. Lincoln Capital Airport received over $940,000 while Willard received $400,000. Tim Bannon, the Executive Director of Willard Airport, told WCIA that the money going to his airport will be used for surveys on the runway and the environmental impacts the project will have. He described their plan as multifaceted, which will include excavating and replacing the current runway by 2028 and the installation of new signage and lighting on the runway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The surveys will also help them determine what material the new runaway will be made out of. The current one is concrete and asphalt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. ROCKY HILL, Conn. (WTNH) A former Danbury resident and CEO of two Stamford counseling companies was sentenced on Thursday for allegedly submitting $1.3 million of fraudulent Medicaid claims for services he did not perform. North Haven acupuncturist charged for allegedly filing $100K in false Medicaid claims According to the State of Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice, Bobby R. Kato, 47, was a licensed counselor and owner of Kato Counseling, LLC, which was enrolled as a behavioral health clinician group. An investigation found that Kato was paid $1,324,879 in claims for psychotherapy services that were not provided. The counseling group was additionally paid nearly $30,000 in claims for services provided by unlicensed individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kato pleaded guilty to first-degree larceny, health insurance fraud and identity theft on March 11, 2024, all of which are felonies. Avon woman sentenced to 18 months for Medicaid fraud Kato is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nova Lux Counseling and Nexus Clerkships in Stamford. He was sentenced to eight years in prison for each of the three charges and five years of probation. He was ordered not to be a Medicaid provider during probation and to pay $1.3 million in restitution during his probation. He was taken into custody upon sentencing. Anyone with knowledge of suspected fraud or abuse in the public healthcare system is asked to contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at the Office of the Chief States Attorney at (860) 258-5986. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) Over the course of three days following an agreement reached between Champaign County workers and their employer, the employees overwhelming voted to ratify the new contract. Over the course of this past Wednesday to Friday, county workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 900 voted to ratify the new union contract agreement. This agreement was reached late Tuesday night, just before the workers were set to go on strike Wednesday morning. PREVIOUSLY: AFSCME files intent to strike; Champaign Co. employees, admin fail to reach middle ground Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The voting was conducted at worksite meetings where union members had the opportunity to review and ask questions about the new contract terms. In total, 94% of the votes were Yes to ratify the agreement. Additionally, AFSCME members were able to achieve their goals of keeping health insurance affordable by reducing premiums and holding the line on out-of-pocket costs; raising pay, especially for low wage workers; ensuring that all animal control employees have access to free rabies vaccines; and more. By sticking together and showing wed do whatever was necessaryeven striketo get a fair contract, we made real progress and won real gains, said AFSCME Local 900 President Cece Phillips. These AFSCME employees work in a majority of Champaign County departments, including, but not limited to: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Highways Courts The Circuit Clerk Assessor Coroner Auditor Treasurer Animal Control Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A West Tennessee man is back home after being rescued from a snake-infested swamp in the Big Eddy area in Haywood County earlier this week. Troy Roper, 63, was rushed to the hospital after spending nearly two days in rough terrain searching for his lost dog, Baxter. Missing man and dog found alive in West TN woods Haywood County Sheriff Billy Garrett said Roper, who has diabetes, was in bad shape when emergency crews found him. Rescuers carry Troy Roper out of swamp on a stretcher. Courtesy: Haywood County Sheriffs Office They could tell that he needed help right away, said Sheriff Garrett. His sugar had gotten low; they knew how to take care of that quickly. That helped him tremendously, and then he had other medical issues as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troy Roper was just a couple of miles from his home when he found the missing dog on Monday. However, his wife said he called her and told her he got turned around and was trying to find his way back out. Haywood County Sheriff Billy Garrett said emergency crews from several agencies and the county searched for Roper from both the air and the ground for hours, and found him Tuesday morning with his dog still by his side. Troy Roper sent his wife a picture showing him chest deep in water. Courtesy: Haywood County Sheriffs Office He was very weak. He couldnt answer when people would call his name, so it was very difficult for him to communicate where he was to anyone out there, but he could hear them, said Sheriff Garrett. I think he managed to get a bit of a response out good enough to hear him one time, they knew he was alive. The sheriff said Roper was found surrounded by water, and it took nearly two more hours to get the necessary equipment needed to move Roper to a waiting ambulance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They had to have a stretcher and get him on that stretcher and an amphibious vehicle and make through all the marsh, mud, and water and weeds, Garrett said. The Fayette County crew had the fancy equipment, so we could drive through that marsh and get him and drive him out. So, everybody worked together, and it was a great thing. Sheriff Garrett stated that a fire and rescue team from Madison County found Roper. He said Ropers phone had died long ago, and if they hadnt reached him when they did, he might not have survived. Im not a medical person, but he was pretty sick. If we didnt get to him soon. The heat would have gotten to him, said Garrett. To be honest with you, we said amongst ourselves this probably is not going to be good because its such a large area and the chance of finding him was very, very slim. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shared pictures of the rescue on social media. One photo even showed rescuers washing the dog that was carried out covered in mud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our rescuers, I think they were from Fayette County, you know, they were just so glad to find him. The dog needed a bath real quick, said Garrett. Both of them were covered in mud. They gave the dog a bath out. The dog is doing fine and hes doing fine. Baxter the dog with rescuer. Courtesy: Haywood County Sheriffs Office Roper was treated at the hospital and released. Garrett said it was great to see all the different agencies working together, and they got the best possible outcome. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Criminal charges will be dropped against a Utah plastic surgeon already on trial for allegedly destroying vaccines and giving out fake vaccination cards during the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Saturday ordered the Department of Justice to dismiss all charges against Michael Kirk Moore Jr., his business the Plastic Surgery Institute of Utah and his neighbor, Kristin Jackson Andersen, who was also allegedly involved. Dr. Moore gave his patients a choice when the federal government refused to do so. He did not deserve the years in prison he was facing. It ends today, Bondi said in a post on the social platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore, his business and his neighbor were accused of conducting a scheme in which they sold false COVID-19 vaccination record cards to individuals who did not want the vaccine. Critics of the vaccine have rallied around Moore, arguing that he shouldnt face any jail time. His trial started Monday and immediately gained national recognition. On Tuesday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., announced that she had written a letter to the Department of Justice, asking that all charges against Moore be dropped. This man is a hero, not a criminal, Greene posted on X. Bondi ultimately granted that request. In a statement released Saturday, Moores attorneys said, This was the right decision and the just one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorneys said Moore had been living under a cloud of federal investigation and maintained his innocence the whole time. During this past week, during trial, we were finally able to begin presenting the full truth of this case in open court. We were confident that the facts and the jury would speak clearly in their favor, the statement continues. The decision for the attorney general to dismiss charges before the trial even ends reflects what the evidence has shown all along: that our clients did not commit a crime, Moores attorneys said. They honored the personal medical choices of their patients. They never received a dollar in return. And no unexpired vaccines were ever destroyed, the statement concluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore, his company and Andersen were indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2023 on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to convert, sell, convey and dispose of government property; and aiding and abetting in the conversion, sale, conveyance and disposal of government property. Moore and his business were accused of destroying hundreds of doses of government-provided vaccines, and in exchange for either direct cash payments or, most often, required donations to a specified charitable organization, defendants distributed COVID-19 vaccination record cards to persons without administering a COVID-19 vaccine to them, according to charging documents. Prosecutors argued the case was not about motive, as it didnt hinge on the opinions of vaccine efficacy or the morality of government mandates during a pandemic. Instead, it was about whether Moore conspired to obstruct the federal Centers for Disease Control and Preventions COVID-19 vaccination program and destroyed government property, specifically the vaccines and COVID-19 vaccination cards. Prosecutors said more than 2,000 doses of the vaccination worth a little more than $28,000 were supposed to be given to about 1,500 patients between Oct. 15, 2021, and Sept. 6, 2022, when, in fact, they had received none. Plastic Surgery Institute employees would then dispose of the vaccines, prosecutors alleged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of Utah providers stepped up to be part of the program. One provider, Dr. Michael Kirk Moore, stepped up to trample it and obstruct the program, prosecutor Sachiko Jepson said during opening arguments Wednesday. Andersen allegedly aided in the scheme by being the main point of contact for the elaborate system set up to screen individuals seeking false record cards, which included a $50 donation made to a charitable organization in exchange for a card appointment, prosecutors said. Defense attorney Kathryn Neal Nester argued in court Wednesday that Moore and the other defendants did not obstruct a federal program because the CDC left monitoring vaccinations up to the states discretion, and program providers were given autonomy and authority to decide when or why a vaccine may be destroyed. The CDC programs mission was to provide vaccines to anyone who wanted them, and Moores actions never blocked anyone who wanted one from receiving it; thus, he never interfered with a federal program, Nester said. He couldnt have. Filling out (the cards) with false information was dishonest, it surely was, but it wasnt a federal crime, Nester said in court Wednesday. Diana Kravchenko, a 25-year-old pharmacy manager, was killed in a Russian attack on the city of Chernivtsi on the night of 11-12 July. Diana would have turned 26 in two weeks. Source: Valentyna Yovenko, head of the corporate communications department of the Apteka 911 network Quote from Yovenko: "She was a sincere and compassionate person, a true professional who was always ready to help both colleagues and pharmacy visitors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, loved ones and all who knew Diana, and share in their grief and sorrow. May her bright memory live on in our hearts." Details: Two people were killed in Chernivtsi by the fall of debris from Russian aerial assets, including Sviatoslav Lazarenko, a 43-year-old official of the Sniatyn City Council in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. Doctors in medical facilities in Chernivtsi are fighting for the lives of four people who were seriously injured. One woman is in a critical condition, according to Chernivtsi Oblast Military Administration. Ten civilians sustained minor injuries and received medical assistance on site. Background: On the morning of 12 July, Russian forces delivered ten strikes on Kharkiv two with guided aerial bombs and eight with Shahed-type loitering munitions causing fires, damaging a critical infrastructure facility and city power grids and injuring two men. A Russian attack has injured eight adults and one child in Lviv. Local authorities have reported that 46 houses have been damaged, with 15 apartments no longer suitable for living. On the night of 11-12 July, Russian forces conducted a drone and missile attack on the city of Lutsk, destroying a house and damaging other homes and a car. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Brief A shooting on I-90 overnight in Chicago led to a three-vehicle crash. The driver of a car was shot and proceeded to hit a semi-truck. The driver was hospitalized with injuries, but it was unclear what his condition was. CHICAGO - A shooting on Interstate 90 led to a three-vehicle crash a little after midnight on Saturday morning in Chicago. Illinois State Police said they responded to the crash around 12:30 a.m. on I-90 southbound at Cumberland Avenue in Chicago. What we know It all started when a male driver in a car was shot and then hit a truck-tractor semi-trailer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another passenger car was also hit. The driver of the initial car was taken to an area hospital with injuries. No other injuries were reported at the scene. All southbound lanes were closed during the investigation into the shooting and crash. They reopened just before 4 a.m. What we don't know It was unclear what the extent of the drivers injuries was or what led to the initial shooting. Illinois State Police are investigating the shooting. The Brief Chicago is marking 30 years since the 1995 heat wave that killed 739 people, mostly elderly residents in Black and Latino communities. Quinn Chapel and the Peoples Response Network created an art installation with 739 cups of water one for each life lost. The tragedy led to the creation of the city's emergency management office, which now urges residents to sign up for "Notify Chicago" alerts for severe weather and emergency updates. CHICAGO - This weekend marks three decades since the deadly 1995 Chicago heat wave that claimed the lives of 739 people over a five-day stretch of extreme temperatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The devastation primarily impacted under-resourced communities, leading to changes in awareness and preparedness campaigns citywide. What we know To honor the lives lost, Quinn Chapel AME Church, near 24th Street and Wabash Avenue, partnered with the community group Peoples Response Network (PRN) to unveil a temporary art installation featuring hundreds of cups of water one for each victim. The heat wave, which spanned from July 12 to July 16, 1995, brought temperatures into the upper 90s and low 100s. "It's about having conversations, but it's also about action," said Pastor Troy Venning with Quinn Chapel AME Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cups were divided into sections based on the area of the map, and early Friday, ice was placed in each oneleft to melt in the sun as a symbol of each life slowly slipping away. "That affected principally majority poor communities," said Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward). The crisis disproportionately affected elderly and disabled residents in Black and Latino communities who lacked access to air conditioning and other cooling resources. "People with disabilities are two to four times more likely to be injured or die in natural disasters, including heat waves and floods," said Iliana Haven, housing community organizer with the Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, organizers pointed to concerns over climate change as reasons why preparedness is key, particularly in marginalized communities. "Neighborhoods that were redlined are 22 degrees hotter than non-redlined neighborhoods. Redlined neighborhoods have less tree canopy, closer to the expressways, for example, the Dan Ryan Expressway, and closer to railroads," said Lonette Sims, PRN chair. As the sun set, community members gathered inside for a screening of "Cooked: Survival by Zip Code." Together, they reflected on the past while working to ensure it doesn't happen again. "The 1995 heat wave is one of those disasters that shapes and governs how we operate," said Kaila Lariviere, who is a manager of Emergency Management Services with OEMC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the months following the 1995 heat wave, the city saw the beginnings of what we now know as the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC). "I like to say we're the three Cs we're coordination, collaboration, communication and that communication piece is the top of our list in efforts in what we really put our driving force behind," Lariviere said. Since its inception, officials say the agency has worked to improve response strategies and ensure more equitable distribution of information and resources during extreme weather and other emergencies. "It's very important to make sure we're being equitable in our distribution of information, meaning we are targeting every population that we can, no matter where you are in the city. We want you all to digest the same information because we're talking about a real emergency and we need everyone to take it seriously," added Lariviere. What you can do Residents are encouraged to sign up for "Notify Chicago" alerts, which provide real-time updates about weather emergencies, traffic issues, hazardous materials incidents and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For details on how to enroll, follow this link. The city's CHI311 app is also a resource that residents can rely on for alerts, along with service requests, such as wellness checks and transportation for disabled community members. This article was originally published in The 19th. This story was originally reported by Chabeli Carrazana of The 19th. Two years ago, Nicolle Orozco Forero walked into an in-home day care in Seattle, Washington, looking for a job. She was barely 22, a whole five feet tall if that. But she was calm, focused. Her presence struck the owner, Stephanie Wishon, because its not easy to find qualified staff who can work with children with disabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orozco Forero had experience working with kids who had autism back in Colombia, so Wishon had her come in for a trial run and hired her after the first day. The children, who needed someone who had love and care to give in abundance, gravitated toward her. She was good at the hardest stuff. She changed diapers and outfits the moment they were soiled. She was vigilant; her kids stayed pristine. And she got them to do the things they wouldnt do for other people, like say ah when it was time to get their teeth brushed or sit still long enough for her to twist a braid down their back. Some people just have that way about them. And people like Orozco Forero are exceptionally rare. Already, the staffing shortage in child care is near crisis levels. Its far worse for children with disabilities about a third of those families say they face significant difficulty finding care for their kids, partly because there are too few people with the ability, expertise or desire to work with their children. Immigrant women like Orozco Forero have been helping to fill that void. They now make up 20 percent of all child care workers. At home, Orozco Forero was also caring for her own young boys, one of whom started to show symptoms of a serious illness over the past two years that doctors have not yet been able to diagnose. She took some time off to care for him last year, before returning to the kids at Wishons day care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her work has kept an already precarious safety net together. Without women like Orozco Forero, families who have nowhere else to turn for care have to make difficult decisions about how to survive and keep their children safe. Without her, the safety net snaps. And thats exactly what happened on June 18, the day she was detained. It was supposed to be a routine meeting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Orozco Forero and her husband had been to all their monthly meetings for the past year and change, since their asylum charge was denied in April 2024. The family Orozco Forero; her husband, Juan Sebastian Moreno Acosta; and their two sons, Juan David, 7, and Daniel, 5 fled Colombia two years ago. Moreno Acosta, a street vendor, had been persecuted by gangs who target vendors for money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After arriving in the United States, they sought the help of a lawyer with their asylum claim, but when they couldnt pay his full fee ahead of their hearing, he pulled out. They represented themselves in court and lost the case. With no knowledge of the U.S. court system, they didnt know they had 30 days to appeal the ruling, either. Ever since, ICE has been monitoring them, requiring they wear a wrist tracker and meet with an immigration officer once a month, sometimes more, according to a family member. (The 19th is not naming the family member to protect their identity.) Its unclear why ICE has allowed them to stay in the country all this time, though its not necessarily uncommon; ICE typically prioritized immigrants with felonies for deportation. Orozco Forero had seen the reports of illegal immigrants being rounded up at their immigration appointments. President Donald Trumps mass deportation effort has led to the detention of about 30,000 migrants with no criminal record, like Orozco Forero, who now make up about half of those detained. Her husband does have a misdemeanor reckless driving conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol on his record, but he completed a court-mandated alcohol course for that and has no other convictions. Still, Orozco Forero wasnt worried when she headed to her appointment on the morning of June 18. If ICE planned to detain her, Orozco Forero thought, they would have asked her to come with the boys, right? And she had been doing everything right: Shed gone to all her appointments, taken documentation to show she was going to school at Green River Community College taking courses in English and early childhood education. She had completed a child care internship that trained her to open her own licensed in-home day care. Her licensure approval was set to arrive any moment, likely that same week, and the day care was just about ready to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that morning, her family was still wary, asking her to share her location just in case. Shortly after 10 a.m., Orozco Forero texted her family member: They are going to deport us Nicolle what happened? Nicolle answer me, they texted back. What do I do? I cant speak I feel like Im going to faint, Orozco Forero replied. And then: Im sorry it wasnt what we expected. Two-and-a-half hours west, on the coast of Washington in a town called Southbend, Wishon was frantic. Orozco Forero had texted her, too. ICE was asking for the boys. In two years, Wishon had grown incredibly close to Orozco Forero, who had cared for her own kids. After her family moved to the coast, Wishon rented out her house in Seattle to Orozco Forero, whose boys were excited to have a home with a yard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wishons husband, Gabriel, hopped into his truck and headed to Seattle. Wishon, meanwhile, got on the phone with the Orozco Forero familys ICE agent and every lawyer she could. They were going to take them into detention at a facility 2,200 miles away in Texas, a facility that was reopened earlier this year by the Trump administration to detain families. Wishon wanted to find a lawyer who could stop the deportation order, and she wanted to make sure the boys would be reunited with their parents if they took them to meet the ICE agent. Nicolle Orozco Foreros sons play with a child their mother takes care of. (Stephanie Wishon) And that was especially important, not just because they were young children, but because Juan David is still sick. For the past year, hes been seeking treatment at Seattle Childrens Hospital for an illness that is turning his urine muddy. So far, doctors have determined hes losing red blood cells and protein through his urine, indicating a possible kidney issue, but they havent yet zeroed in on what is causing the problem. They likely need a kidney biopsy to be sure. Given the complexity of his case, it is essential that Juan remain in the United States for continued testing and treatment, his nephrologist Jordan Symons wrote in a March letter to ICE. We kindly request that you consider this medical necessity in your review of his immigration status and grant him the ability to stay in the United States until his treatment and evaluation are completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Juan Davids care team has been monitoring him closely to ensure his red blood cell and protein levels never drop too low. His condition could become serious quickly. You can die from that, said Sarah Kasnick, a physicians assistant who is familiar with his case. Kasnick is also a foster parent, and Orozco Forero provided care for her family. When Gabriel Wishon arrived to pick up the boys, they were confused and disoriented. Where were their parents? Why was everyone crying? They didnt want to go to Colombia, they told him on the drive. They wanted to stay in the United States. Around 5:30 p.m. that evening, he met with the ICE agent, who had waited past her work hours for them to arrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bye boys, you are going to see your parents right now. They are right inside, Wishon told them. He watched them walk in carrying two stuffed animals, a Super Mario doll and Chase, the popular cartoon dog dressed as a police officer. The families Orozco Forero cares for are now in a free fall. Jessica Cocson, whose son has been in Orozco Foreros care for more than a year, described her in a character letter to ICE as a blessing to us in ways I struggle to fully express. Orozco Forero and her husband support working families, provide quality childcare, and demonstrate compassion and commitment every day, Cocson wrote. It is heartbreaking to think that someone who gives so much and asks so little could be forced to leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tamia Riley, whose two sons with autism were also in Orozco Foreros care, said losing her was like watching a father walking out the door. These people, these day care providers, sitters, they are a form of family members for me and my children, Riley said. Now, the day care she was set to open lays empty. Inside, the walls are plastered with posters listing colors and sight words. There are cushioned mats on the floor and play stations. Tables with tiny chairs. A tall pink dollhouse. High chairs and a pack and play for the babies. Outside, two play houses, a ball pit, toys to ride on and little picnic tables set across an artificial turf. But no children to enjoy any of it. Big Dreams Day Care she was going to call it, for the dreams she wanted the kids in her care to strive for, and the ones that were finally coming to fruition for her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orozco Foreros detention has rattled child care workers across the country. In Texas, workers represented by the Service Employees International Union have been rallying in her name. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat, spoke in support of the familys release at a rally on June 29 in San Antonio. And a group of union workers is attempting to deliver supplies to the family. Its an effort Orozco Forero knows little about; she only has limited communication with those on the outside. Tricia Schroeder, the president of the Seattle-based SEIU chapter that represents care workers, said that, for years unions like hers have been working to improve quality, access and affordability in child care, a system in such deep crisis its been called by the Treasury Department a textbook example of a broken market. Immigrant women like Orozco Forero were part of that effort to improve access, doing jobs few Americans want to take on. Detaining child care providers, especially those who care for kids with special needs, just deepens the crisis in early learning, Schroeder said. Nicolle Orozco Forero was going to community college for early childhood education and planned to open her own daycare before she was detained by ICE. ( Stephanie Wishon) Orozco Forero was also the connective tissue that kept families employed. Her loss has rippled across industries. Kasnick, the foster parent, said one of the children in her care had been tentatively set to start at Orozco Foreros day care as soon as it opened. Orozco Forero had been the only provider who would take the child, who has autism and is nonverbal. Orozco Forero had cared for the girl at Wishons day care as if she was her own, even taking her in once when the childs care had fallen through and no foster family in the entire county would take her in because of the complexity of her needs. The girl arrived at Orozco Foreros house at midnight on a weekend with no clothing, toys, medication or any of her belongings this did not [deter] Nicolle and Sebastian instead they immediately went and purchased all the things the child needed, a social worker wrote in a letter to ICE. Kasnick said Orozco Forero was even considering becoming a foster parent. Without her, Kasnick is out of options: She quit her job as a physicians assistant to care for the child after Orozco Forero was detained. There are now 44 patients a day who dont have anyone to provide their health care, and I cant go to work because Nicolles day care didnt open, Kasnick said. In the weeks since, Kasnick has had an overwhelming feeling of helplessness, she said. How could this happen to someone who gave back so much? The security of knowing that you can be in your home one day and in a prison the next week, and you didnt do anything except exist? she said. It makes you feel like theres no good left in the world. Orozco Foreros family has now been in ICE detention for nearly a month awaiting a bond hearing that could buy them time in the United States. Orozco Forero and the boys are together; her husband is in the same facility but separated from them. Juan David hasnt been eating. It took three weeks for him to receive medical care, Orozco Forero told her attorney, James Costo. Costo has been working to get the details of why ICE allowed the family to stay in the country with monitoring after they lost their asylum case last year. There has been an order for their deportation since then, but ICE never attempted to deport them until the Trump administration ramped up efforts. The number of immigrants without criminal convictions who have been detained has doubled since May. The process to fight an asylum claim and appeal a denial is complicated there are court deadlines, documents that need to be submitted and translated. They think maybe they can do it themselves and go in and say what happened but they are not understanding the whole legal process, Costo said. The system isnt made for things to be easy. Costo is hopeful a judge will allow them to stay in the country temporarily as Juan David seeks care. They have almost no family left in Colombia, and no way to obtain care for him there, their family said. If they can stay, then perhaps Orozco Forero could try to obtain a work visa as a domestic worker. He has gathered letters of support from numerous people whose lives the Orozco Forero family touched, and Wishon set up a GoFundMe to cover her legal expenses. In the letters, Juan Davids first grade teachers call him an exceptional student who went from one of the lowest reading levels in the class 10 words a minute to one of the highest at 70 words a minute. He shows the qualities of a model citizen at a young age dependable, ethical, and hard-working, wrote his teacher, Carla Trujillo. They were all on their way to shaping a better future, Wishon wrote in hers. The couple worked tirelessly to build a better life for their children and to open their own licensed child care business. In all my years of employing and mentoring caregivers, I have rarely met a couple as responsible, driven, and capable as Nicolle and Sebastian. This family is not a threat, she concluded. They are an asset. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Overflowing trash bins are lining the streets in neighborhoods in Chula Vista as sanitation workers join a nationwide strike against Republic Services, the citys contracted waste collection provider. Residents in many parts of the South Bay city have been left with uncollected garbage since Thursday. Trash cans on sidewalks and at apartment complexes have become unsightly and unsanitary, as high temperatures intensify odors and attract pests. Its just causing unsanitary conditions, said Gloria Varela, a local resident. Obviously, you can see around the neighborhood the trash is piling up, and I dont think its fair to the homeowners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another resident, Francisco Avila, noted the trash bins are creating even more inconveniences. The trash cans take over parking spots you know, flies, he said. Trash boom stops 500 tons of Mexican trash at the border The disruption stems from a labor strike led by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters against Republic Services in Boston. Thousands of union members across the country are honoring the picket line in solidarity, including those in Chula Vista, despite no direct labor dispute in the city itself. This has nothing to do with Chula Vista, said Mayor John McCann. We have a great contract with our drivers and Republic Services. This is a sympathy strike for the Boston strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCann emphasized that Chula Vista is the only city in San Diego County affected by the work stoppage. He is urging striking union members to return to work immediately and has already begun implementing emergency cleanup efforts. We are going to be working with Republic Services to make sure that they will pick up trash with their drivers that are not on strike, McCann said. For Saturday, were working with the county to have the landfill open on Sundays so that a strike team from Republic Services can work on Sunday to pick up the trash. Chemicals released during fire at metal plating facility in Oceanside The mayor has also called for a special city council meeting with Republic Services to discuss further steps to prevent garbage from continuing to pile up. He warned that the city may declare a state of emergency if the strike continues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A state of emergency would allow us to use Chula Vista employees, McCann said. We could go to different areas mainly like apartment complexes and we would be able to help collect the trash. The crisis is similar to 2021, when more than 250 sanitation workers in Chula Vista went on strike for about a month. This time, residents say the situation is even more frustrating, given that the dispute originates thousands of miles away. Its uncalled for, said Varela. They have raised their fees over the years, and we are not getting the service that we are paying for. I hope they work things out with whoever they got to talk to and make it work, added Avila. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCann said Republic Services has already dispatched crews to resume collections, and cleanup efforts will continue through the weekend. Residents are advised to leave their bins out for pickup. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. HOMEWOOD, Ala. (WIAT) The City of Homewood has filed a response to the petition that was filed by the family of Jabari Peoples for the release of body camera footage. According to Homewood City Manager Glen Adams, the response was filed July 11. ALEA has the custodial authority, not possible for the city of Homewood to release it, Adams said. Hearing set after petition filed by family of Jabari Peoples to see body camera footage Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leroy Maxwell, the attorney for Vivian Peoples, said the petition asks the city of Homewood to turn over evidence including the body camera footage and/or dashcam footage from the incident that could be used in a potential wrongful death lawsuit. The petition also asks for the city of Homewood to release the names and identifying information of all officers present at the scene and investigative reports. The filing cites Rule 27 of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure as it seeks to preserve evidence for use in an anticipated wrongful death action. The case was originally assigned to judge Patrick Ballard, but has now been assigned to Elisabeth French after Ballard recused himself. A hearing on the matter is set for Aug. 4 at 9 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Jul. 11MORGANTOWN The city of Morgantown said it's "hopeful " Milan Puskar Health Right will make the move from Spruce Street to its new facility at 10 Scott Avenue by the end of summer. Health Right Executive Director Laura Jones said the nonprofit is moving steadily in that direction, but there currently is no definite move-in day. Jones said the Scott Avenue building has passed a fire marshal's inspection and has water, electricity and a security system in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The phones will be installed shortly, and then we have two other inspections from the Office of Health Facilities and Licensure and the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy. We do not have dates scheduled for those as of yet, " Jones said. It is now more than 27 months beyond the original deadline of March 31, 2023, set by the city when it offered MPHR $800, 000 in American Rescue Plan Act money if the nonprofit would agree to move both its free clinic and mental health drop-in center, Friendship House, out of the downtown area. The Friendship House moved out of its Walnut Street location in February 2023, but the clinic has proven more complicatedand more expensivethan initially expected. The project to transform Health Right's future location from a 6, 000-square-foot building into a 9, 000-square-foot, multifaceted clinic and office space was just north of $2.2 million according to the last estimates provided to The Dominion Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, the city has since upped its commitment to $1.1 million. The Monongalia County Commission has put $200, 000 into the effort. The Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust is providing $550, 000, and the Milan Puskar Foundation has committed $300, 000. Health Right sold its longtime home at 341 Spruce St. to Round Table Development LLC last fall for $860, 000. As part of that deal, the nonprofit is paying $7, 500 monthly in rent on that property until it moves out. "We understand that Milan Puskar Health Right's efforts to relocate to Scott Avenue have taken longer than anticipated. We are also aware that their facility has experienced project delays over the past year that were beyond their control and outside the scope of their work, " Morgantown Communications Director Brad Riffee said. "It's important to recognize, as with many construction projects, that these delays take time to resolve. While project completion dates depend on numerous factors, we are hopeful the move will take place by the end of summer, allowing Health Right to continue providing vital services to our community from their new location." Jones said every effort is being made to do just that. "We are closer to the move than ever before, but we still cannot project a definite date at this time, " she said. "We are doing the best we can, and we are all anxious to make the move." ***Previous coverage above: Judge rules on dismissal of Browns lawsuit*** CLEVELAND (WJW) Attorneys with the city of Cleveland have filed a motion with Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court asking a judge to block the Browns from taking any action at all toward moving to Brook Park until the lease for the current stadium is up at the end of the 2028 season. The city is asking the judge to grant summary judgment saying the Browns have breached the lease with the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The motion adds the Browns breached the lease by making plans to build a new, enclosed stadium and move the team to Brook Park. The plain language of the Lease broadly prohibits the Browns from doingor even standing idly by while someone else doesanything that might cause the Browns to leave Cleveland, the motion states. Ohio Task Force 1 heading to Texas for search and rescue operation following devastating floods Attorneys for the city said the Browns have disregarded their obligation under the lease and have made steps to move to Brook Park. To the public, the parties, and the Court, the Browns have made it clear that they will not fulfill their contractual duties with the City,' the motion states. As this Court observed, The Browns have given notice to the City that they intend to move, they have finalized the purchase of 167 acres of land in the City of Brook Park, they have given formal notice to the City that they are leaving, they have engaged in frequent strategy and planning meeting with the Mayor of Brook Park, they have entered into a partnership with a contractor for the purpose of constructing a new stadium, and they are procuring financing. Id. The Browns cannot possibly contest these findingsthey publicly boasted about all of them, and described their breach in open court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A hearing on the motion has not yet been set. On Friday, Judge Lauren Moore denied the Browns motion to dismiss the case filed against them by the city of Cleveland and also declined a request to put the case on hold. The city of Cleveland sued the Browns in January, saying the team is restricted from moving due to the Modell Law. However, last month, the state legislature reworked the Modell Law saying teams can move as long as they do not leave the state of Ohio. The Browns asked to wait until the federal case is resolved. But since that case is on hold indefinitely, the judge dismissed that request as moot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Browns also argued the case was unripe, meaning the city had not yet been negatively impacted by the Browns move. But the judge ruled the Browns plan to move out of Cleveland to Brook Park is already a done deal. Following the ruling, Cleveland Law Director Mark Griffin issued a statement to the I-Team that reads, We appreciate Judge Moores diligence in thoughtfully applying the law and look forward to further addressing the merits of our case in her court. University Hospitals doctors claim they were fired for trying to unionize; the hospital said it was misconduct A spokesperson for the Browns said in a statement the organization is complying with the obligations of its downtown stadium lease, which expires in 2029, and that it remains focused on building the new world-class enclosed stadium in Brook Park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are as confident as ever in our legal position and look forward to a prompt resolution of the citys meritless claims, the statement reads. The I-Team has also learned Brook Park has applied for about $80 million in state money for road projects around the dome site. Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne said he predicts major traffic headaches around the airport once the Browns start playing in Brook Park. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. CNNs chief data analyst Harry Enten on Friday said President Donald Trumps administration made a massive, unforced error after his Justice Department and FBIs recent findings on Jeffrey Epstein fueled backlash from MAGA world. Donald Trump would love this story to go away but, in fact, interest is climbing higher and higher, to quote Jackie Wilson, Enten declared. In the days since a DOJ and FBI memo found no evidence of a so-called Epstein client list, Trump supporters have criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi over past comments that contradict the recent findings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The memo also challenges remarks from Trumps top FBI officials, ones theyve since backtracked from. Hours after Entens segment, CNN reported that Dan Bongino the FBIs deputy director has informed people that hes considering resigning after clashing with Bondi over her handling of the disgraced financiers case. Bongino didnt show up to work Friday following the fight, per Axios. Enten noted that Google searches for Epstein are up 1,200% this week compared to last week, and hes currently the top topic searched alongside Trump/Trumps presidency on Google. So Donald Trump normally leans into stories in which there is controversy, like tariffs, for example. This is a story in which hes trying to get away from, basically saying, Why is anyone still interested in this story? Enten said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the bottom line is people are very interested in this story to historic degrees, at least this week. Years before taking the Oval Office and before the financiers downfall, Trump partied with Epstein, and the presidents name has appeared in unsealed documents related to the Epstein case, although hes never been found liable for wrongdoing tied to Epsteins crimes. Enten later added that Epstein has been Googled a lot since Monday the day that the FBI and DOJ released its memo, which said there was no evidence that the financier was murdered while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. He noted that Epstein has been searched 2.5 times more than Grok Elon Musks artificial intelligence chatbot thats faced backlash over antisemitism since Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein has also been Googled 1.4 times more than tariffs since that time, per Enten. CORRECTION: This story has been amended to clarify that Trump has been accused but has not been found liable for wrongdoing tied to Epsteins crimes. Related... Americans who rely on watching CNN or MSNBC for information would be in the dark about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents being ambushed at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, on Independence Day. A heavily armed group lured two unarmed ICE agents into a parking lot on the evening of July 4 by firing a barrage of fireworks at their door and spray-painting graffiti on their personal cars with the words "traitor" and "Ice Pig," which agents could see from the cameras inside. At around the same time, a police officer responded to their 911 call for two men firing rounds from a nearby tree line, and an officer was hit in the neck, which forced the agents to take cover. Police also found seven suspects in black military fatigues wandering in a field 300 yards away, some of whom were covered in mud from trying to escape on foot. They also had weapons, vests and radios. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More Details Revealed On Suspects In Independence Day Ice Attack In Texas But CNN and MSNBC didn't devote any airtime to the incident, Mediaite was first to report. "Should that not strike you as unusual, imagine this scenario: 11 members of a right-wing militia group open fire on an FBI field office on a major holiday, and a responding police officer is shot in the neck," Isaac Schorr wrote for Mediaite. Read On The Fox News App The city of "Alvarado" and the term "Prairieland Detention Center" werent mentioned on CNN or MSNBC between July 4-10, according to a search of transcripts using Grabien Media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN and MSNBC did not comment on the record when asked why the attack on ICE agents was ignored on air. July 4 was marked by two other major developments; the devastating flash floods in central Texas and President Donald Trump signing the "big, beautiful bill" into law. The tragedy in Texas and fallout from the catastrophic flooding has dominated the news cycle for the past week. However, the outlets have covered numerous other topics in addition to the floods over the past week, such as the Department of Justice's memo on Jeffrey Epstein, the Trump administration's tariff and immigration policies, and the criminal investigations into former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey. While the networks ignored the attack on-air, CNN did cover it online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ice Agents Targeted In 2 Ambush Attacks In Recent Days The Prairieland Detention Facility in Alvarado, Texas where a police officer was shot in the neck and several ICE officers were shot at on July 4. A July 7 criminal complaint filed by the U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas alleges that assailants shot 20 to 30 rounds from an AR-15-style rifle before it jammed, causing it to malfunction. Court records alleged extensive planning went into the attack on ICE agents, as well as the discovery of anti-government literature in an apartment tied to a suspect, including literature entitled "Organising for Attack! Insurrectionary Anarchy." Twelve individuals have been charged for their roles in the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson said the attack was not a "peaceful protest." Texas Police Officer Shot Near Ice Detention Center As Trump Officials Promise Zero Tolerance "This was an ambush on federal and local law enforcement officers. This increasing trend of violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas. Those who use violence against law enforcement officers will be found and prosecuted using the toughest criminal statutes and penalties available," Larson said in a statement. The Alvarado police officer who was shot in the neck outside the ICE facility during the attack is expected to survive. Original article source: CNN, MSNBC skip on-air coverage of July 4 armed attack on ICE agents at Texas facility Rear Adm. Bob Little, the new commander of the Coast Guard's Arctic sector, smiles as he shakes hands with Rear Adm. Megan Dean, the departing commanding officer, during a change of command ceremony Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) Last week, President Donald Trump signed a budget bill with almost $25 billion for new Coast Guard construction, including almost $9 billion for new icebreakers and $300 million for new Coast Guard facilities in Juneau. On Friday, Rear Adm. Bob Little, the new commander of the Coast Guard in Alaska, said it remains to be seen how those new ships will be used and when they will arrive in the Arctic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I hope is, regardless of where in the service that capacity ends up, is that it will overall increase the capacity for the Coast Guard and that the Arctic District can certainly benefit from that increased capacity, he said. Until last week, the Coast Guards Alaska force was known as District 17. As part of a nationwide renaming project, its now the Coast Guard Arctic District. In a ceremony held at Juneau, Little took command of the newly renamed district from Rear Adm. Megan Dean, who has been assigned to Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. Its a change in name, but our missions, our priorities remain the same, Little said. Alaska has the largest commercial fishing fleet in the United States and produces more than half of the nations seafood. Key maritime trade routes between Asia and California run through Alaska waters, and cruise ships carry more than 1.5 million passengers through Southeast Alaska each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Altogether, the Coast Guard employs almost 2,500 people, including almost 2,000 active-duty Sentinels, as active-duty members are formally known. Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, commander of the Coast Guard in the Pacific Ocean, speaks during a change of command ceremony Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) Speaking at the ceremony, the head of the Coast Guard in the Pacific Ocean, Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, noted that it has been an extraordinarily busy year for the agency, which responded to fishing disasters, medical emergencies, foreign ships near American waters, and the recent sinking of a cargo ship carrying 3,000 cars. Last year, the Coast Guard responded to 16 cases of foreign ships approaching the international border near Alaska, Tiongson said, calling it the most significant foreign military presence in our waters near Alaska in decades. Tiongson, who will retire later this month, said he expects the number of foreign ships near Alaska to grow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both China and Russia have sailed military ships through international waters near Alaska recently as part of freedom-of-navigation missions to demonstrate their right to travel through international waterways. The United States conducts similar missions near both countries. Foreign fishing vessels frequently catch fish near the international boundary that marks the economic activity zone between Russia and the United States. We have an obligation to be present and to push back, to deter or deny malign activity anywhere that we have sovereign U.S. rights, and in the Arctic District, we have a lot of those and a lot of interest, Little said. Right now, the big budget bill isnt expected to bring immediate help for the Coast Guard in dealing with those issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Coast Guards Polar Security Cutter program, which received $4.3 billion under the federal budget bill, isnt expected to deliver its first new ship until 2030 at the earliest. When that ship, the Polar Sentinel, arrives in service, it likely will replace the Polar Star, which was commissioned in 1976 and is primarily used to keep open the sea lanes to American research stations in Antarctica. Additional ships are expected in the following years. The budget bill also contains $3.5 billion for a new Arctic Security Cutter program, which seeks to launch a lighter icebreaker within three years of a contract being awarded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That ship, according to published specifications, would only be able to break ice up to 3 feet thick, less than the capability of the Coast Guards sole medium icebreaker, the Healy, and equivalent to a Class-5 icebreaker, second-lowest on the six-level international standards rankings. The bill also contains $816 million to procure additional, unspecified light and medium icebreaking cutters. That could involve buying and converting commercial ships. Next month, the Coast Guard is expected to commission the icebreaker Storis in Juneau. That ship was formerly the Arctic oil drilling support ship Aiviq but was purchased by the Coast Guard as an interim icebreaking solution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking Friday, Little confirmed that the Storis will be operating on a more limited basis until it undergoes a comprehensive refit. Shell be transitioning from kind of an initial operating capability into what well eventually consider full operational capability, he said. But that doesnt diminish the fact that well have a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, painted red with a Coast Guard stripe, operating in the region this summer. The budget bill includes $300 million to construct a new port and support facilities in Juneau to support the Storis, but Little said he didnt have any information Friday on the timeline for construction and development. For this summer, he said, the plan is to limit the mission space for the Storis until its crew and the Coast Guard are familiar with the ship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well step into that very thoughtfully, he said. Fridays ceremony didnt include as much discussion of aviation. The budget bill includes $2.3 billion for up to 40 new MH-60 helicopters, the long-distance workhorses of Coast Guard heliborne aviation. It also allocates $1.1 billion for six new HC-130J fixed-wing aircraft. In Alaska, five of those aircraft are based at Kodiak and used for extremely long-range search-and-rescue missions, as well as Arctic domain flights that can involve flights along the American border in the Arctic Ocean. The budget bill also contains $2.2 billion for new maintenance facilities nationally, $4.4 billion for shoreside facilities including the $300 million for Juneau and $266 million for long-range drone aircraft, an under-developed area for the Coast Guard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Little said that kind of spending is a fundamental change for the Coast Guard, whose annual budget is only about $14 billion. Coming into his new job, he said hes aware that as ship traffic increases in the Arctic Ocean and surrounding waters, there are increased risks, increased commercial traffic, increased tourist traffic, cruise ships, and increased access to what were otherwise hard-to-access waters. The risk of a no-notice incident that we might have to respond to and it might be a large incident in a more remote area than were accustomed to operating, that would be the thing that would maybe keep you up at night. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A Queens woman allegedly beaten over a parking spot by a foul-mouthed mother-daughter pair is moving out of the neighborhood days after the violent episode even after about 100 people rallied outside the home of the accused attackers in a show of support for the victim. Jada McPherson, 21, is leaving her Ridgewood apartment Saturday for good, she told The Post, claiming her leasing company offered to relocate her after the horrifying video of her attack went viral. Some people had jumped me over a parking space. It was racially motivated because they kept pulling my hair and calling me racial slurs such as monkey and a slave, McPherson had said of the attack, which was caught on video. Only one neighbor came to Jada McPhersons aid during the attack, she said. Dorian Geiger/NY Post Just one day earlier, about 100 people, including some who drove from Long Island, turned out at the scene of the attack to back McPherson, with some rally goers wearing T-shirts that read Protect Black Women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adis Kurbegovic, the lone neighbor who jumped in to stop the fray while other witnesses simply recorded the assault, was also at the rally. The drama unfolded when McPherson tried to park in front of the home of Andreea Dumitru, 45, and her 21-year-old daughter Sabrina Starman at Putnam and Onderdonk avenues. Instead of letting McPherson park, the women and a mystery man tried to block her car with a garbage can. 10 yearstheyre doing like this with the garbage cans like 10 years, Kurbegovic, 42, a housekeeper, told The Post. I feel bad, I told them a couple of times, you cant do this. Yeah, yeah, my son is sick, this and that, I need to bring him up. Yeah, you park and bring your car when you need to go to the doctor, bring your son down, and you pick him up with the car. When you come back, leave the car on the street, bring the kid upstairs, and then look for the parking. Adis Kurbegovic tried to intervene but couldnt fight after a recent surgery, he said. Dorian Geiger/NY Post Kurbegovic, who recently underwent surgery and is using a cane, tried to de-escalate the situation with words. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the crazy trio quickly resorted to fisticuffs and began wailing on McPherson with closed fists while hurling vile racial slurs. The trio also pulled on McPhersons hair so hard they ripped a chunk out of her head, the victim claimed. Andreea Dumitru and daughter Sabrina Starman have allegedly been hoarding parking spaces for years. I-am-Mihnea/Reddit He was the only one that helped. He gave me water and everything after the situation, McPherson recalled. All these neighbors that are inside right now were outside recording They watched the whole fight go down, basically. McPherson had never met her attackers before the incident, and said the brawl erupted when she told them they werent allowed to hold parking spots. About 100 people rallied in Ridgewood to show support for McPherson. Dorian Geiger/NY Post It was the man who has yet to be identified who escalated the situation, she alleged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He blew up really fast, she recalled. McPherson, originally of Brooklyn, declined medical attention after the fight but said she now plans to visit a hospital. Felix Ortiz told The Post: If that was my family member, Id be the last person theyd probably see. Like, seriously, because, you know, its just, it a female. Dorian Geiger/NY Post Starman and Dumitru were later arrested and charged with first degree assault and second degree harassment, police said. Neither answered the door Friday. The incoming college senior said she was astounded by the rally and said the attack ultimately brought the community together more even as a whole. Ridgewood resident and father Felix Ortiz, 42, called the attack disgusting, adding the video struck a nerve after his own family members were impacted by domestic violence. Brandi Fuller drove in from Long Island to attend the rally. Dorian Geiger/NY Post If the accused attackers are so concerned about parking they should leave the Big Apple, Ortiz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My uncle lives in Connecticut, he has his own property, you know why? He was tired of looking for a parking space in New York. So he found a solution, he said. If thats what you want, your own parking spot, save up your money and go get a house and get property. In Connecticut, or in New Jersey, or anywhere that you can get property, hey, move to Long Island. Brandi Fuller, a mid-30s loss prevention worker, drove from Long Island to attend the rally and wanted McPherson to know, Im here for her. McPherson had never encountered the trio before the attack. Dorian Geiger/NY Post Brooklyn chef Laniya Murray, 25, made the trek from East New York and called the entire incident including bystanders who chose to film instead of help McPherson disappointing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It made me feel like people dont care about protecting black women. It made feel really bad about the fact that people were watching and nobody did anything or came up or even used their voices. I feel like it takes 20 seconds to see if a fight has a weapon involved, and it was very clear that that fight didnt have a weapon, said Murray, who is also black. I think it would have been very easy to go and break it up after it continued, and even after she hit the floor, three people are hurting her at one time. So it really just felt like were unprotected, and people dont care. People hold a ''peace'' banner during a demonstration to mark the national day of remembrance of the victims of organised crime in Naples, Italy. Thousands of people took part in the demonstration organised by Liberia, an anti-mafia association [File: Mario Laporta/AFP] Colombian authorities have captured an alleged leader of the Italian Ndrangheta mafia in Latin America who is accused of overseeing cocaine shipments and running illegal trafficking routes to Europe. Police on Friday identified the suspect as Giuseppe Palermo, also known as Peppe, an Italian national who was wanted under an Interpol red notice, which called for his arrest in 196 countries. He was nabbed on the street in Colombias capital Bogota during a coordinated operation between Colombian, Italian and British authorities, as well as Europol, the European Unions law enforcement agency, according to an official report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palermo is believed to be part of one of the most tightly knit cells of the Ndrangheta mafia, said Carlos Fernando Triana, head of the Colombian police. The Ndrangheta, one of Italys most powerful, ruthless and clandestine criminal organisations, has increasingly wielded its influence overseas and is widely accused of importing cocaine into Europe. The suspect not only led the purchase of large shipments of cocaine in Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, but also controlled the maritime and land routes used to transport the drugs to European markets, Triana added. Illegal cocaine production reached 3,708 tonnes in 2023, an increase of nearly 34% from the previous year, driven mainly by the expansion of coca leaf cultivation in Colombia, according to the United Nations. The global illicit drug trade, including cocaine, is estimated to be worth more than $500bn annually. Colombian authorities said Friday they captured an alleged leader of the Italian ndrangheta mafia in Latin America who is accused of overseeing cocaine shipments and managing illegal trafficking routes to Europe. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The City of Colorado Springs and El Paso County are inviting those living in the community to participate in a series of community open house events as part of a regional Housing Needs Assessment in July. The City said the open houses are an opportunity for the community to learn more about housing needs in the region and to share their own experiences, perspectives, and concerns. The Housing Needs Assessment is a regional effort led by the City of Colorado Springs to provide a clear picture of the housing supply, challenges, and needs across El Paso County. According to the City, the assessment will provide a comprehensive analysis, helping communities develop tailored housing and community development strategies. Specific to the City of Colorado Springs, the assessment will result in a series of geographic recommendations, including housing needs, funding and finance opportunities, partnership opportunities, and a housing dashboard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These open houses are a chance for residents to learn more about the housing landscape in our region and to share what theyre experiencing in their own neighborhoods, said Aimee Cox, Chief Housing and Homelessness Officer for the City of Colorado Springs. Hearing directly from community members helps us build a more complete understanding of the housing needs across our region and city. Each open house will follow the same format and presentation materials. Community members are encouraged to attend the session that best fits their schedule. Events are come-and-go style, so participants are welcome to attend at any time during the open house window and are not required to stay for the entire duration. The upcoming open houses are: North Location , Wednesday, July 23 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Library 21C (1175 Chapel Hills Dr.) Southeast Location , Wednesday, July 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. Family Success Center (1520 Verde Dr., Room 127) Central Location , Thursday, July 24 from 9 to 11 a.m. UCCS Downtown Lounge (102 S. Tejon St.) West Location , Thursday, July 24 from 4 to 6 p.m., Manitou City Hall (606 Manitou Ave.) Virtual Meeting Thursday, July 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join at ColoradoSprings.gov/HousingNeedsAssessment on the day of the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences is at it again, this time attempting to resurrect a giant that once lived alongside humans. Known as the moa, this giant flightless bird once dotted the landscape of the South Island of the country today known as New Zealand. These birds were not just big, they were huge, standing 12 feet tall and weighing 500 pounds. Earlier this year, The Dallas Express reported that Colossal Biosciences became the states first company to hit a valuation exceeding $10 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And for good reason. Colossal has shown promise in its almost science fiction-like aspirations. In early April, the company unveiled a pack of dire wolf pups, a once-extinct species they successfully brought back to life. Their success even earned them a spot on the coveted TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list. The latest initiative will see the companys new subsidiary, Colossal Labs New Zealand, collaborate with the Ngai Tahu Research Centre at the University of Canterbury. The partnership was brought together by none other than New Zealand filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson, director, writer, and producer of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gigantic moa were a cornerstone of Aotearoa/New Zealand ecosystems. Colossal Biosciences and the Ngai Tahu Research Centre are providing New Zealand conservationists with an unprecedented opportunity to recreate lost taonga (treasured) moa species, said collaborating scientist Paul Scofield, Senior Curator Natural History at Canterbury Museum, and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Earth and Environment at the University of Canterbury, per a July 9 press release. Incredibly, the moa has only been extinct for around 600 years, far less than the 4,000 years that have passed since the woolly mammoth walked the earth, another species Colossal has focused on resurrecting. Colossal Biosciences CEO and co-founder Ben Lamm expressed his enthusiasm for the companys latest project. This partnership represents a new model where indigenous leadership guides scientific endeavors There is so much knowledge that will be unlocked and shared on the journey to bring back the iconic moa, he said. Columbia University is on the verge of striking an agreement with the Trump administration following months of negotiation to restore federal funding to the school, according to two sources familiar with the deal. Columbia is expected to pay a multimillion-dollar settlement to victims of alleged civil rights violations, implement changes to its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, boost transparency about hiring and admissions efforts, and take other steps to improve security and safety on campus for Jewish students, according to one source familiar with the matter. In return, the source said, the school will regain access to over $400 million in federal funding the Trump administration stripped earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump administration officials and officials from Columbia are expected to meet next week at the White House, the source said. The deal has not been finalized and remains subject to change. The administration believes the deal, the terms of which were first reported by the Washington Free Beacon, could serve as a blueprint for other schools. A second source familiar with the matter noted the Trump administration has been approaching its negotiations with universities, including Columbia and Harvard University, with a framework of the schools paying a financial penalty. The exact dollar amount is unclear, though it varies by school. Elite schools like Columbia and Harvard University, among others, have faced intense pressure from the Trump administration to crack down on antisemitism on their campuses or face the possible loss of significant federal funding. The effort is part of a broad administration push for policy changes at universities including over diversity, equity and inclusion and other initiatives that President Donald Trump sees as a winning political issue. But it is one that raises major questions about academic freedom and the role of the federal government on college campuses. The schools board of trustees met July 6 to review the terms of the deal, according to one of the sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York City university, which is facing an investigation into its handling of antisemitism on campus, had taken a less confrontational approach than Harvard while it sought to reach a deal, and the source told CNN the administration was more amenable to Columbias proposed terms in behind-the-scenes negotiations. In June, the Trump administration threatened to pull the universitys accreditation over policies it said violated discrimination laws. Talks between a small circle of officials from Trump administration and Harvard had deteriorated in recent weeks amid disputes over some sticking points of that deal. A Columbia spokesperson emphasized that negotiations remain ongoing. The University is focused on advancing discussions with the federal government. There is no resolution at this time, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about the state of talks, Trump told CNN last week, I think were going to probably settle with Harvard. Were going to probably settle with Columbia. They want to settle very badly. Theres no rush. Asked how much money the settlement would entail, Trump said, A lot of money. A source involved in universities response to the administration told CNN last month the White House has been looking to strike a deal with a high-profile school. They want a name-brand university to make a deal like the law firms made a deal that covers not just antisemitism and protests, but DEI and intellectual diversity, this person said at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether any of the schools are inclined to make such a deal, the source said, Nobody wants to be the first, but the financial pressures are getting real. Last month, acting Columbia President Claire Shipman described the financial pressures facing the university due to the administrations campaign as increasingly acute. Columbias top scientists are facing the decimation of decades of research. Graduate students, postdocs, mid-career researchers, and established, celebrated scientists, have all had their breakthroughs lauded by the world one minute and defunded the next. Were in danger of reaching a tipping point in terms of preserving our research excellence and the work we do for humanity, Shipman said in a letter to the Columbia community. She indicated it was essential to restore the universitys partnership with the federal government, but took aim at criticism that a resolution would amount to capitulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shipman said that Columbia has engaged in conversations with the administration about what she described as an unacceptable surge in antisemitic incidents on campus. Weve committed to change, weve made progress, but we have more to do, she said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A Columbus man received a life sentence, plus an additional 65-years in prison, after he was convicted on sex trafficking, drugs and weapons charges. According to federal prosecutors, David Price, one of 22 charged in a massive drug and sex trafficking ring that operated near a Columbus elementary school, was sentenced this week to serve a lifelong prison sentence, plus a consecutive 65 year term, for his role in a narcotics distribution ring that contributed to the death of a woman. In February, Price, 56, was one of two men found guilty on charges related to the distribution of fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, Xanax, Oxycodone, and alprazolam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ghost hunts, Paranormal Institute offered at Ohios Shawshank prison Price and Tavaryyuan Johnson were part of a conspiracy to distribute and possess to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of crack cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin, as well as marijuana, oxycodone and alprazolam, all about 1,000 feet from Burroughs Elementary School in the Hilltop neighborhood. The drug trafficking organization operated from January 2008 until it was dismantled in 2022. Price, also known as DP, was additionally charged in a superseding indictment in December. In July 2021, Price distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine that resulted in the overdose death of a woman, and testimony at his trial indicated he purposefully killed her after she began talking to the police about his drug business. The case against Price also proved that he conspired to commit sex trafficking crimes from 2016 until 2022. Price and other members of the conspiracy would force and/or coerce adult female drug addicts into performing commercial sex acts by providing, withholding or threatening to withhold controlled substances and housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The yearslong investigation showed that various women engaged in a rinse and repeat cycle where they would be allowed to stay at a drug residence associated with Price, receive drugs so they were not in active drug withdrawal, have sex for money, pay the debt from the front of drugs, and then be allowed to remain at the house. Trial testimony indicated that Price, who was found guilty of three counts of sex trafficking, would lock the women inside his residence for days or weeks at a time and refuse to let them leave, forcing them to engage in sex acts. One victim was locked in a dog cage and shot and stabbed by Price. He would refuse to provide them drugs unless or until they engaged in sex acts, forcing them into withdrawal if they did not comply. Nationwide Arena announces $400 million renovation project NBC4 previously reported that federal officers arrested eight men and three women who were all charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute drugs over two years. In total agents seized $1.5 million in cash, 44 firearms, seven vehicles and a motorcycle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The original indictment included the following defendants: Name Age City of Residence Cordell A. Washington, aka Corey, Dub, Bro 35 Columbus Patrick M. Saultz, aka White Boy Pat 44 Columbus David E. Price, aka DP 53 Columbus Allison E. Smith, aka Alli 27 Columbus Tavaryyuan Johnson, aka Gucci 22 Columbus Tyler N. Bourdo 28 Columbus Alexis C. Lewis 30 Columbus Michael Fowler 45 Canton Carmela Brooks 48 Canton Dustin A. Speakman, aka Dawg 32 Columbus Danny G. Mullins 53 Columbus Defendants added in the superseding indictment unsealed in October of 2022 include: Name Age City of Residence Robert E. Tinsley, III, aka Cam 22 Columbus Priscilla L. Washington 58 Columbus Lauren E. Brezney 29 Shallotte, N.C./Columbus Brittany A. Williams 36 Columbus Gabriel R. Smith, aka Gabe 34 Canal Winchester Robert L. Pyles, aka Pork 45 Columbus Mitchell A. Powers 33 Columbus Vincent T. Griffin 50 Reynoldsburg Caitlin R. Duff 27 Columbus Michael D. Burton 39 Columbus Brian K. Long, II 32 Columbus Anthony B. Frierson, aka Royal 31 Columbus Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. On Lake Avenue, in the heart of Altadena, two things stood out as I roamed the neighborhood the other day. There were still a few lots of uncleared rubble on the commercial strip, like frozen images from a lingering nightmare, but there was music as well a buzz-saw symphony of new construction. Altadena is scarred and grieving. A cross remains above the charred ruins of the Altadena Community Church, destroyed in the Eaton fire six months ago. Altadena is healing and rebuilding. I parked outside Altadena Community Church , which still looks like it was hit by a bomb, and watched tractors push dirt around at the nearby Bunny Museum , which has hatched a plan to return to service as what the founders have called the hoppiest place on earth . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I called Victoria Knapp, chair of the Altadena Town Council, to tell her how much I enjoyed her essay in the Colorado Boulevard newspaper. A sign stating, "Dena Has 9 Lives," rests on a hedge, along with an inflatable black cat, in the fire zone along E. Mendocino Street in Altadena. We lost homes, histories, trees older than any of us, and a sense of safety that may never return quite the same, Knapp wrote. But the spirit of Altadena will be its salvation, by her account: We have lost a lot. We never lost each other. That is how I know that well make it. Theres nothing terribly significant about the six-month mark since the Eaton and Palisades fires, or any other history-book disaster. But its an opportunity to revisit and remember. Sixteen thousand buildings destroyed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thirty lives lost. Countless livelihoods upended. Altadena Community Church, destroyed in the Eaton fire 6 months ago, still needs to have debris cleared from the site. Knapp, who lost her home and plans to rebuild, did not underplay the years of recovery ahead, but as we spoke, she dropped a few cubes of sugar into that bitter cup of coffee. Building permits are being issued , she said, foundations are being poured, and 98% of all properties have been cleared, despite the remaining outliers on Lake Avenue. Read more: After the fires, starting from scratch in their 70s, 80s and 90s Thats all promising, and I want to believe Altadena and nearby communities damaged by the Eaton fire will bear at least some resemblance to what they were. Same for Pacific Palisades and Malibu, where I saw the same juxtaposition of destruction and rebirth on a visit a few days ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I watched an army of trucks and hard hats, grinding and grunting on the blank canvas of a town in ruins. On the edge of the Palisades business corridor I saw the mangled spine of a fallen staircase, lying on its side like a length of broken vertebrae. Here and there, where lots have been cleared, the backdrop was open sea. Its too soon to know what these distinctive, beloved communities will look like in four or five years. Insurance disputes , lawsuits and definitive causes of the Eaton and Palisades fires may take years to unravel. There's still heated debate about lack of preparedness and the failure of warning systems. Investors hover like buzzards. Some fire victims are determined to rebuild, some wont be able to afford to, and some are still weighing their options. What we do know is that fire and wind will return , as they always do, keeping L.A. forever on the cusp of catastrophe. Not just in Altadena and along the western edge of the county, but everywhere. L.A. is built for drama, with the same geologic forces giving birth to beauty and risk the San Andreas fault lies on the far side of the San Gabriels and helped create those peaks. A worker looks over businesses, along Mariposa Street at Lake Avenue in Altadena, that were destroyed in the Eaton fire. As I checked in with evacuees Ive gotten to know, I took note of their unrelenting waves of grief, hope, anger, fear, disorientation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cannot wrap my head around how this could happen, said Alice Lynn, a therapist who called her Highlands neighborhood, and the broader Palisades community, forever altered. Shes in temporary housing during the clearance and cleanup operations. How does one, as I, in her mid 80s, return home and feel any sense of normalcy when all around me I will see this devastation and loss? Lynn asked. Her friends Joe and Arline Halper, 95 and 89, will no longer be just a short walk away. The property they owned has been scraped clean, and a For Sale sign stands where their front door used to. Before the fire, neither of them saw a future in a senior living community, but thats where they are, in Playa Vista. Swings still hang in the charred playground at Altadena Community Church, which was destroyed in the Eaton fire six months ago. The loss of our home and neighborhood and community is tragic for us, but this is a very soft landing, said Joe. Theyve made new friends, including several other Palisades evacuees, and Joe chortled when he told me his dear youthful bride has taken up pickleball. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Altadena, where one sign expresses both a wish and a promise Beautiful AltadenaThe Rose Will Bloom Again businesses are reopening, including Full Circle Thrift . I pushed through the door and Alma Ayala, the manager, told me people from near and far have donated clothing, housewares and other items to stock the store. Some of it, Ayala believes, came from those who were keeping rescued items in storage. And as people who lost everything move back to Altadena, she suspects the items in her store will find new homes and second lives. This is the third time Ive opened this store, said Ayala. Read more: Stay in Altadena? Were torn, because we love this neighborhood and we love all these people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it opened for business in 2016. When it emerged from COVID's death grip. And now. West Altadenans Steve Hofvendahl and his wife, Lili Knight, both actors, are sifting through their options . Approaching 70, they know they can replace the house they lost on West Palm, where nearly their entire block was incinerated. But they cant bring back in their lifetimes the mini-orchard that kept them busy and produced the goods for the porch market soirees that brought their neighborhood together. I wondered if those who have committed to rebuilding will quiver, or have flashbacks, when the first nearby wildfire sends smoke wafting across Altadena. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think it will be the winds, Hofvendahl said. His neighbor, Jonni Miller, is already working with a builder along with her husband, Anthony Ruffin, who lived on West Palm as a boy when Black families moved there because they werent welcome in much of L.A. A hopeful message is left on the gates of a property in the Eaton fire zone. Miller and Ruffin social workers whose job is housing homeless people are staying in temporary quarters in Glendale, but return to their property now and then. On a recent evening visit, Miller was rattled by the call of coyotes. The howling was longer and louder than she remembers, and frightening in a way that I haven't been frightened before. She said she suspects the lack of sound-buffering from the missing homes was a factor, adding: I will be much more careful letting our animals out at night once we are home again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I checked in with Verne and Diane Williams, 90 and 86, they said theyre still committed to rebuilding on Braeburn Road in Altadena, where they lived for half a century. But they know that's going to take a while. The worry is that we wont still be alive, said Diane. She handed the phone to Verne, who was itching to share an update. They and their architect visited a Culver City showroom where they were able to use the blueprint for their new home to stage a moment of magic. Read more: As Eaton fire advanced, heres how employees rescued 45 elderly and disabled patients They were able to take the architectural plan and project it down on this gigantic floor, where I could walk the walk of what will be our new home, Verne said. It was the most uplifting event since what happened six months ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing I noticed on cleared and graded properties in Altadena, across the vast, haunting cemetery of lost homes: There are roughly as many signs that say Altadena Not For Sale, as there are signs that say For Sale. I understand both sentiments. The day after the fire, I met Mark Turner and his wife, Claire Wavell, at an evacuation center in Pasadena. Turner was showing their daughter May, 13, photos of their house, which had survived mostly intact on a street that was nearly obliterated. The family has moved more than a dozen times since then, settling for now into a rental property they own in Arizona. May is enrolled in school there, and given the uncertainties about when or if Altadena will be Altadena again, theyre giving serious consideration to selling the house they dearly loved, and even more so upon learning it had survived the fire. A sign offering "hugs and kisses" to Altadena rests in the front yard of a home that was destroyed in the Eaton fire. Its very mixed. Its heartbreaking, honestly, said Wavell, who began processing aloud, once more, the longings of the heart, the musings of the mind, and the complexities of staying, of going, of not knowing. Wavell has been writing poems to clear her mind of all the noise. Among them, "Return of the Wind," "Week of a Thousand Years" and "6 Months." 6 months today our lives changed forever 6 months today that night, burned into mind branded onto heart Steve.Lopez@latimes.com Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. PEORIA, Ill (WMBD) Around 25 volunteers from local organizations spent their Friday morning cleaning gravestones to honor Lydia Moss Bradley. Members of the Peoria Womens Club, the Bradley University Alumni Association, and members of local scout troops collaborated to help refurbish gravestones at Springdale Cemetery. The general manager of Springdale Cemetery, Aaron Comte, said what it means to have these volunteers come and help clean some of these gravestones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the Peoria Cemetery, all of our history is here, Comte said. So, its really neat to be able to come discover as youre cleaning a stone, you can see peoples dates and names and inscriptions that havent been seen in decades, and to have younger folks here, too. Its an opportunity to teach them and then they can learn about the community. The volunteers cleaned and restored about 30 tombstones, including the tombstones of the Bradley family, in the Mount Prospect section of the 200-plus-acre Springdale Cemetery. It was the goal of the Peoria Womens Club to start an annual tradition to honor Lydia Moss Bradley before her birthday on July 31. This is our first year, so we hope to make this an inaugural event, said Hannah Hernandez, president of the Peoria Womens Club. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hannah also said what makes Lydia Moss Bradley such an inspiring figure. I think shes a great example of what women who want to have a purpose can do for our community, she said. In partnership with the Peoria Womens Club, the Bradley University alumni association brought ten members of their own to the event to honor the legacy of the universitys namesake. We are here today paying honor to her, her legacy that she left us here in Peoria, Illinois, said Molly Waller, associate director of Alumni Relations for Bradley University. Bradley University is just a gem in this community. The celebration for Lydia Moss Bradleys birthday will be at the Bradley Alumni Center in just under three weeks on Thursday, June 31. The event will include a lecture from Lydia Moss Bradley, played by Laura Keys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The celebration on June 31 at Bradley will also include activities for all ages. If you would like to learn more about the Peoria Womens Club, you can click here. Go check out the Springdale Cemetery website for more info on other volunteer opportunities in the future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Two local businesses that were recently broken into are finding a way to move forward. About two weeks ago someone broke into In Flower and Daylily Coffee on East 8th Street. The two businesses share one building and say the incident cost them thousands of dollars in damages. They broke all of our doors and went through everything. Took all of our tech and our computers and our POS system and our cell phones and all our cash. So it was just kind of like, Oh, well, this sucks,' Owner of In Flower, Stephanie Disse said. Beresford man pleads guilty to killing 3 in 2023 crash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Owner of Daylily Coffee, Andrew Fritz, was the first to know about the break-in. It was just an uncomfortable feeling. Mostly it was just kind of like, oh, this is this is happening. You hear about it all the time and stuff happens in the news. But its actually happening to me, Fritz said. At his shop, all the cash was stolen from the register; however, he notes it couldve been worse. You kind of just have to roll with the punches, plan a little and figure out where to go and how to handle all that stuff, Fritz said. As a small business stuff like that can really make or break you. So its just been a bummer, Disse said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the break-in, neighboring businesses like Good NAtured across the street have been showing support by sharing their stores on social media. Theres actually two couples in the space, both trying to do their thing and go support them. This is a rough time. Its hard when you have something like this that you as totally out of your control, Good NAtured owner, Shannon Ward said. The businesses hope the recent break-in doesnt discourage people from shopping and exploring the East 8th Street area. The community could help by just coming down here and experiencing it and getting good people down here so that other people have an example to follow, Ward said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were hoping that our event tonight brings some people in. I mean, the communitys always been really great. Weve had a lot of people reaching out to us, and it makes us feel like very cared for, Disse said. According to the shop owners, Sioux Falls Police havent found who broke in. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Multiple military families living at Wadsworth Shores, an off-base housing complex managed by Liberty Military Housing, say they are living in unsafe and unlivable conditions and their complaints are growing louder. Mice, mold, and flooding: Military families at Wadsworth Shores say conditions are horrible 10 On Your Side first spoke Thursday with Kylee Leahy and Jacob Card, two residents raising families at the complex. Since then, more families have come forward, reporting similar issues including mold, flooding, pest infestations and broken air conditioning units during the peak of summer heat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know theres people in this neighborhood who are dealing with no AC at all dealing with 85-plus-degree temperatures in their home, said resident Ezekiel Stahr, a father to a 9-month-old daughter. Stahr described the conditions as unbearable, saying there are days he dreads coming home. I came home once. I picked up my nine-month-old daughter, and she was sticky with sweat and humidity, he said. We couldnt do it anymore. Housing doesnt really give you much of a solution. In addition to the heat, some residents say they are dealing with mice and cockroach infestations. Bugs are awful here, Stahr said. We have roaches. They come out probably monthly to spray, and theres no getting away from them. You just get accustomed to seeing roaches in your house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Military resident Jacob Card called the conditions horrible. He told WAVY he chose Wadsworth Shores to give his family a better life after joining the military. Ive been trying to get out, and I cant get out because theyre going to charge me, Card said. Moneys tight. Liberty Military Housing, which manages the property, responded to WAVY in a written statement, saying they are committed to compassionate customer service and ensuring families live in a safe and healthy environment. Rep. Jen Kiggans also responded to the complaints, calling the reports from Wadsworth Shores deeply concerning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our military families deserve safe, clean, and comfortable housing, Kiggans said. Ive been in contact with Navy leadership and Liberty Military Housing and am working to make sure these issues are addressed quickly and thoroughly. I will continue advocating for the health and well-being of every military family in coastal Virginia. Families who serve our nation should never have to worry about the safety of their homes. They deserve better, and Im committed to being their number one advocate. Liberty Military Housing has agreed to an interview with 10 On Your Side. In the meantime, residents say they are hoping change comes soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A chain-reaction crash involving six vehicles sent one woman to the hospital with serious injuries after an oversized load knocked over traffic cones in a westbound work zone on K-254 Friday morning. The crash happened about 9:40 a.m. just west of the 45th Street North overpass, where westbound K-254 had been reduced to a single lane for construction. According to a Kansas Highway Patrol report, the wide-load vehicle struck and displaced several cones, sending at least one into the open travel lane. As five vehicles began slowing down to avoid the obstruction, a Dodge Ram towing a trailer failed to stop in time and rear-ended a Toyota Corolla, pushing it into the right lane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fall armyworms hit west Wichita early The Dodge then struck a Chevrolet Trailblazer, which was pushed into a Ram pickup. The impact continued down the line, eventually involving a Ford F-250 and a Ford F-150. The driver of the Trailblazer was taken to Wesley Medical Center with suspected serious injuries. Another driver was transported to St. Francis for minor injuries. Four other driversranging in age from 27 to 73were not seriously hurt. The driver of the initial Dodge Ram was not injured. Westbound traffic was backed up while emergency crews cleared the scene. Check before you go: KanDrive, also known as WICHway in Wichita, is a website and app from the Kansas Department of Transportation that provides information about road conditions, traffic, and more. Viewers can access cameras along the highways and interstates for free. The KanDrive app is available in both Google Play and Apples App Store. To view the website, click here. Drivers can also call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside of Kansas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. A Portland mother and her four children, who are U.S. citizens, are being detained in Ferndale by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, according to U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter of Oregons 3rd congressional district. The family has been held at the facility for nearly two weeks without any contact with legal representation or charges being filed, according to their lawyer, Jill Nedved with Gonzales Law Office in Seattle. Dexter held a press conference Friday in front of the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) facility in Ferndale to highlight the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Oregon family was kidnapped and taken to an undisclosed location in Washington state, Dexter said in a statement to the media. After learning of this horror on Tuesday, my team worked for days to determine their whereabouts. I arrived in Bellingham on Thursday, where we ultimately located the family after Customs and Border Protection (CBP) initially misled us. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol facility in Ferndale, Wash. Bellingham ICE arrest highlights difficulties of tracking those who are detained At the press conference Dexter said the children are U.S. citizens who should be enjoying their summer. Instead they have spent almost two weeks locked in a detention facility, cut off from the outside world, and disappeared by their own government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kenia Jackeline (Jackie) Merlos, and her four children were detained when attempting to enter Canada on June 28 with Merlos mother, who was visiting from Honduras, Merlos country of origin. All four children are younger than age 10, according to reporting by Oregon Public Broadcasting. The childrens grandmother was separated from the rest of the family at the time and sent to the Northwest Detention Facility in Tacoma. She had an active travel visa, Dexter said at the press conference. ICE agents reportedly extract man from his vehicle during Bellingham detention Dexter speculated the reason the grandmother was separated was because the four children are U.S. citizens and therefore cannot be transferred to the Northwest Detention Center, as the facility does not take children, and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) does not have the authority to hold them. However, U.S. citizens can be held by CBP for a limited time under specific circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family has been in custody for nearly two weeks, with Dexters office learning about their disappearance on Monday, July 7. We didnt know their location when we left Portland. We literally got into the car and started driving north, not knowing if we were going to Tacoma, Seattle or Bellingham, Dexter said. U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter of Oregon held a press conference in front of the Customs and Border Patrol facility in Ferndale on Friday. It took two days for Dexters office to find the family, and she was only able to confirm their location when they arrived at the Ferndale facility Thursday afternoon. Dexters office had originally been told the family was in a different location. We got here and we still didnt know for sure they were here, Dexter said. We came here because we heard they were not at the Seattle field office, which is where we were told they were initially. We came up here because it was the most likely place they would be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Dexters office had not been told about the situation, it is unlikely Merlos friends and family would have been able to find her, said Mimi Lettunich, a friend of the Merlo family who has known Merlo for around 20 years. Lettunich attended Fridays press conference remotely. When we talk about What do we want in our community? hard-working, of course. They go to church, and not just participating. Jackie is the worship director at the church, Lettunich said. (They) are collaborating with community outreach and things like The Salvation Army. Their kids are in Christian school, and they are involved in all kinds of different activities and sports. They just won a music competition, just a few weeks ago, and a trip to Disney. I think about how their community is sending them to Disneyland, and our government is sending them to detention. Rep. Larsen visits detained Whatcom County labor activist at ICE facility Whatcom County activist held by ICE appeared in court. Heres what we know Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatcom County labor activist who was detained by ICE agents transferred to Tacoma facility As a member of Congress, Dexter has access to the CBP facility and was able to see the family through a window but was not given permission to speak with them. They have no idea who I was. I was not allowed to speak with them, she said. On July 3, five days after the family was detained at the U.S. and Canadian border, Merlos husband, Carlos, was detained by ICE agents in Portland. He has been detained by ICE. Because Merlo has not been able to talk with anyone outside the CBP facility, it is unlikely she is aware of her husbands status, Dexter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dexters office and Merlos attorney, Nedved, have access to Carlos in the Northwest Detention Center but still cannot speak with Merlos in Ferndale. ICE agents detain nearly 40 employees during morning raid at Whatcom County business We cannot connect the two of them to make sure that they understand the situation that the other is in, Dexter said. It is absolutely a travesty. Because nobody has been able to speak with Merlo or her children since she has been taken, it is also possible Merlo doesnt know she has legal representation, Nedved said. Heres what Tacomas U.S. Rep. Emily Randall saw in tour of ICE detention center Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have an issue here where CBP is taking a role where they have detained a family for a period of a couple of weeks when these detention facilities are really only designed for short term, Nedved said. They (the family) have not been provided access to contact loved ones, access to contact council or understand what their rights even are. Nedved said Merlos is unlikely aware of her situation and is making a decision (whether to voluntarily deport) potentially under duress. Dexter said despite the detainment, when she saw the family through the window it appeared they were being held in relatively good care. They have toiletries, heavy matts, linens and a refrigerator with food. The familys detainment cell connects to a larger area that contains a desk and the refrigerator, according to Dexter. Trump said he would go after the worst of the worst. Instead, his immigration machine is abducting Oregonians without cause including four U.S. citizen children in my district, Dexter said in a statement. OXFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Gov. Ned Lamont convened the states top public safety officials for a press conference in Oxford to urge residents to take precautions in advance of the height of hurricane season. The advice offered by the officials was largely unchanged from the guidance issued before any natural disaster. Gov. Lamont signs bill easing access to mental health services into law Sign up for alerts, said Ronnell Higgins, the head of the state agency that oversees the State Police and disaster preparedness efforts. Have an evacuation plan. And make sure you have a transistor radio. Put together a go-bag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though that advice is familiar to most, recent events have put a spotlight on readiness. Higgins held a moment of silence for the victims of the floods that devasted the Texas Hill Country. Its important for us that we use this moment to be laser focused, he said. Breaking down the force of water in the Texas floods Higgins, Lamont and other state leaders put an emphasis on participation in the states optional emergency alert system, known as CT Alert. The system is related to the one that automatically activates emergency alert tones on cell phones and can offer up-to-date information on extreme weather, officials said. Though its intent is similar to the emergency alert messages, CT Alert requires residents to sign up online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we trigger those wireless emergency alerts, we really reserve those for those imminent, life safety issues, Bill Turner, the states emergency management director, said. Residents can sign up for the optional alerts at CTAlerts.gov. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. SALINE COUNTY, Ark. Crews are back at work in Saline County after an act of vandalism brought this part of the Southwest Trail project to a halt. Now, the sounds of progress have returned. Just weeks ago, this stretch of the Southwest Trail sat silent, progress stalled and machinery idle. Construction came to a stop after an act of vandalism damaged key equipment at the site. It was a little bit of a frustration and disappointment, Trevor Villines, Communications Director of Saline County, said. Frustration because, you know, weve worked so hard to get here whether its through engineering, designing or working with property owners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southwest Trail construction site vandalized in Saline County, reward for information climbs to $75,000 The damage occurred May 25. Just four days later, the Saline County Sheriffs Office announced the arrest of a former employee, thanks to a multi-agency investigation. Crews spent June cleaning up, replacing equipment and adding new security measures. Just to be able to get here, get back to work theyve changed some things to have safety parameters in place, but were thankful for that, Villines said. With fresh concrete being poured and work officially back underway, county leaders say the recovery is a reminder of the communitys resilience and its shared commitment to the trails future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the setback, that unity is helping turn frustration into fuel, and delay into momentum. One of the coolest things to come out of it was to see the community together, Villines said. We had the incident happen, and everybody said, We want to pitch in and help. Suspect arrested in connection with Saline County construction equipment vandalism When completed, the Southwest Trail will stretch 60 miles, connecting Hot Springs to Little Rock and creating long-term economic and recreational opportunities across central Arkansas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. FOX 2 has obtained exclusive documents about the East St. Louis community pool delay. Its been abandoned now for nearly one full montheven though nearly complete. Elected leaders have been giving few answers, so FOX 2 requested emails and financial records to get to the bottom of the now deserted aquatic center. Dang, its still not done yet, Germond Spencer said from the other side of the fence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents are locked out from a project theyve waited on for more than a decade. I dont know what us folks can do, Spencer added. FOX 2 has been trying to get answerswith reports starting in mid-June when contractors first left. But those responsible, with the East St. Louis Parks District, have said littleonly claiming to have sent the contractor home while completing a state-required audit to release funding. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News But now 97 pages of documents obtained by FOX 2 appear to tell a different story. A June 6 email shows it was the contractor who warned that hed have to leave in a week if not paid. The contractor added that hed have to take the fence and insurance with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In FOX 2s most recent follow-up, we reached out for the third timeand just like the two previous visits, East St. Louis Parks District director Michael Collins declined to talk on camera. He did answer by phone some of the concerns raised from the documents FOX 2 obtained. Collins said they have secured insurance to protect against theft and vandalismand that the fence will stay as the district will also pick up that cost. I have no doubts we will be swimming very soon, Courtney Hoffman II, East St. Louis City Councilman, told FOX 2. Councilman Hoffman spoke to FOX 2 via FaceTime from northern Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the audit is behind, is that a sign there might be a problem? we asked him. Hoffman answered, I would say absolutely not. While the pool is not under the East St. Louis City Council, he said he believes the Parks District is doing its best. Im sure its going to be a clean audit, Hoffman added, saying that sometimes its difficult for small communities just to find an auditor. Collins said the audit should be done by Aug. 1. FOX 2 will follow up to see if they meet the deadline and also to see what those audit results reveal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. CLEVELAND (WJW) A Berea man who dealt fentanyl-laced drugs that caused three fatal overdoses in one day was sentenced to prison, the Department of Justice announced. On Tuesday, 32-year-old Jarad Paster was sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison after pleaded guilty to multiple drug-related charges. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment, the DOJ said in a Friday press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Listen: Former dispatcher faces charges for cruel call made to citizen According to court records, Paster and a Lakewood man, Matthew Jarrell, knowingly conspired to sell illegal drugs, in particular cocaine and fentanyl which are Schedule II controlled substances, and para-fluorofentanyl, a Schedule I controlled substance during April of 2023. On April 15 that year, three people overdosed and died from drug substances, including fentanyl and cocaine, that they received from the two men, investigators said. 4 arrested in Lee-Harvard shooting that injured 7 In June 2024, a superseding indictment charged Paster with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances that resulted in death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He pleaded guilty to those charges in December, according to court records. Jarrell, 44, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Jan. 30 after pleading guilty to multiple charges last July, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances that resulted in death. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. NYPD detectives are hunting for a sexual predator who grabbed and molested two young women in lower Manhattan within 24 hours, police said Saturday. The lanky suspect, who was caught on camera toting a backpack and carrying a paper shopping bag in the crook of his arm, attacked his first victim, a 25-year-old woman, at about 2:05 a.m. on May 17 at the border of SoHo and Greenwich Village, cops said. The man approached his victim at the corner of West Houston and MacDougal Sts. holding up his cellphone, which had a map on the screen, cops said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He asked his victim for directions, then grabbed her breasts and waist before running off. At about 1:50 a.m. the next day, he was back on West Houston St., this time near Thompson St., where he grabbed a 26-year-old woman and forced her to the ground. He molested the woman over her clothes before running off. Both women sustained minor injuries, cops said. No arrests have been made. Cops searching the area recovered surveillance footage of the man. At the time the footage was taken, he was wearing glasses, a black jacket, black jeans and white sneakers. Cops are asking anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A Corvallis man was sentenced to more than eight years in prison after raping a sleeping woman in Newport last year. Tucker Todd, 47, was convicted of raping a 43-year-old woman who had fallen asleep at Don Davis Park on the afternoon of July 3, 2024. She was visiting Newport for the holiday weekend at the time, the Lincoln County District Attorneys Office said. 1 detained after four-alarm Portland apartment fire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Todd is an unhoused person based out of Corvallis. He had taken the bus to Newport and was camping at the park when he found the victim unconscious in a grassy area. Todd said during the trial that he was drunk and doesnt remember what happened that day. Though he apologized to the victim for what happened, he also stated he didnt agree with the sentencing or verdict. The victim stated she would be comforted by any additional amount added to Todds sentence. The fact that he showed no compunction in raping me in broad daylight in a public place speaks volumes. He just doesnt care. Maybe prison will change him, but I doubt it. I worry about the next time that he finds some other helpless female and what he might do to her, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todd was found guilty by a 12-person jury over a three-day trial of first-degree rape and second-degree sexual abuse. He was sentenced to 100 months in prison. He wont be eligible for early release and must register as a sex offender. Todd has prior criminal convictions out of Missouri, including for assault, sexual misconduct and failing to register as a sex offender. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. President Donald Trump issued a provocative threat during a Cabinet meeting this week: If New York City elects a communist mayor, he might take the city over, just like he might take over Washington, DC. We have tremendous power at the White House to run places when we have to, he said. He was referring to the rise of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee in New Yorks upcoming mayoral race. Mamdani is not a communist, but rather a democratic socialist in the vein of Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Building up Mamdani as a foil The president clearly sees the would-be mayor as an A-list political enemy hell use to argue the Democratic Party has been overtaken by the radical left. His increasing use of the word communist harks back to the ugliness of the Red Scare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also trotted out some profanity in the Cabinet Room of the White House when he referred to Mamdani as a man whos not very capable, in my opinion, other than hes got a good line of bullsh*t. Its the latest in a string of increasingly charged accusations Trump has made, including that Mamdani, who is a naturalized citizen, might be in the US illegally, something for which there is no evidence. That kind of attack will sound familiar to anyone who remembers Trumps incessant and false questioning of President Barack Obamas birth certificate. Zohran Mamdani arrives for a news conference at Astoria Park in the Queens borough of New York on June 24. - Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg/Getty Images Trump cant just run New York But the idea that Trump might try to run New York if Mamdani wins is something else a warning to New York voters and a new threat to expand presidential power. Does that mean starving the city of federal funds or something more drastic? It would also be pretty clearly unconstitutional for him to try to run the city, according to Elizabeth Goitein, an expert on presidential power at the Brennan Center for Justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I asked her what presidential authority would allow him to do so, her answer was short. Not run a city, she said, pointing to the 10th Amendment, which gives powers not enumerated in the Constitution back to the states. Theres no emergency power that allows the president to take over a city, she said, and particularly not in retaliation for electing a mayor the president disagrees with. Everything Trump says should be taken seriously He has tested the Constitution repeatedly during his second term trying to reinterpret the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship and reimagine the federal bureaucracy without passing any laws. But Goitein pointed to key decisions, including a rejection of Trumps attempt to use the Alien Enemies Act to more swiftly deport people without due process, to argue the courts remain a meaningful check on the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps advisers, CNN has reported, considered using the Insurrection Act, another antiquated law from the early days of the republic, to broadly use federal troops for law enforcement in Los Angeles to help federal deportation agents. Instead, they ended up citing more recent law that allows the federal government to take control of a states National Guard, for which California is now suing the administration. Theres no real precedent for a city takeover over an election Goitein said the deployment of troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, by the Eisenhower administration was in the service of a Supreme Court Order. Thats very different from a city electing a mayor with whose policies the president opposes, she said. Martial law was declared in Hawaii during World War II, she said, but it was authorized by a law that no longer exists. What about Washington, DC? Trump also referred at the White House to the possibility that he could also take over Washington, DC, something that he has been talking about for years. Theres clear precedent for the federal government being in charge of the nations capital. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press during a Cabinet Meeting at the White House on July 8, in Washington, DC. - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Its in the Constitution, after all, something that has always complicated efforts by progressives and Democrats to grant statehood to DC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Congress ceded self-governance to district residents back in 1973, with a law signed by President Richard Nixon, who described himself as a longtime supporter of self-government for the District of Columbia. Nixon supported self-rule on principle The CNN presidential historian Tim Naftali, a former director of the Nixon Presidential Library, told me Nixon did take the idea of self-governance seriously, including for DC residents. Trump has described DC today as a nightmare of murder and crime, but back then it was literally reeling and still rebuilding after riots destroyed city blocks following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Naftali pointed out that Nixon was close with the citys mayor, Walter Washington, who advocated for the construction of the Metro subway system and installed the citys first public defender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nixons view of the District of Columbia was that the residents of the district could best govern themselves, Naftali told me. I do not believe that is Donald Trumps view at all. The law Nixon signed allowed Washingtonians to vote for their first-ever popularly elected mayor in 1974. Conservatives in Congress today want to take that power back and have introduced a bill, the BOWSER Act (so named to troll DC Mayor Muriel Bowser), to repeal DCs home rule and put the city more under federal control. Campaign rhetoric vs. local change Trump aligns with Bowser on one key DC issue: the reconstruction of RFK stadium as a home for the Washington Commanders, although the proposal is currently stalled before DCs city council. He promised to renovate it, and rebuild our capital city, but so far that has included the issuance of an executive order and creation of a committee focused on surging police into the streets and creating a beautification plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, has been working with DCs mayor. And Bowser has been notably uncritical of the Trump administration in his second term. D'marco Dixon, left, attempts to catch a football beside his brother, Seanery Dixon, near Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act passed the US Senate early December 21. - Tom Brenner/Getty Images A form of disenfranchisement Domingo Morel is an associate professor of political science and public service at New York University who has written about the ugly history of states taking over things like school boards or imposing their will on cities, frequently those with large Black and minority populations, and taking power from the local populations. Trump is implying something similar here, Morel told me. Hes saying to New Yorkers, 5 million or so registered voters, Whatever you say doesnt matter; were going to take away your ability to govern because we dont like the way you have decided to vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats assuming Mamdani wins, which is a big assumption, given the fact that current Mayor Eric Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo will both be on the ballot on Election Day. Meanwhile, former New Yorker Trump will be chiming in with vague threats. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The number of bald eagle nests in Ashtabula County has doubled over the last 13 years, now sitting at 18, compared to nine in 2012. The growth in the population of bald eagles is part of a state-wide recovery, with 964 confirmed active bald eagle nests, according to a release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. More than 1,800 reports from citizen scientists statewide helped complete the 2025 bald eagle nest census, the release states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release said the ODNR confirmed nests in every Ohio county, except Meigs County. Ashtabula County Game Warden Joshua Quail said if people come upon a bald eagle nest, they should not disturb the birds. You can observe from a distance, he said. Photography from a distance is also okay, he said. Bald eagles are the largest bird native to Ohio, Quail said. Eagle nests are huge, he said. They use huge sticks. Quail said he remembered when he was a kid, people had to travel three hours for the chance to see a bald eagle nesting in the state. It is amazing that these birds are back, and theyre back in a strong way, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, many bald eagles nest along the Lake Erie shoreline, and are most often seen during the early morning or late afternoon hunting for fish, he said. Their nests have been found all around the county, he said. Bald eagles prosper in areas with wetland habitat, the ODNR release said. Lake Erie and other large waterbodies host the highest number of eagles because of easy access to food, such as fish. Alongside Lake Erie, Quail said Ashtabula County offers great habitats for bald eagles, with Pymatuning Lake, Conneaut Creek and the Grand and Ashtabula rivers. Theres an abundance of water bodies in Ashtabula County, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If people come across an injured or dead bald eagle, Quail said they should call 1-800-WILDLIFE to report it, so it can be picked up. Bald eagle remains are federally protected, he said. Bald eagle remains are sent to the National Eagle Repository in Colorado, operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Bald eagles are often hit by cars when they are scavenging for roadkill, Quail said. Injured bald eagles are taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center. Quail said in April, he took a bald eagle struck on Route 11 to a rehabilitation center in Penitentiary Glen Metropark in Lake County. DENVER, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Theres a lot of confusion about where the county boundary is for Catawba and Lincoln counties. The N.C. General Assembly voted to change it to the 2020 Census line after the line was moved earlier this year. On Friday, we found Mia Traugott and her husband moving into their new home. Traugott said everything was fine until after they closed on the home, they found out they were living in a different county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It never even occurred to me. Its just something that you dont really think about, Traugott said. When the attorney went to go record the deed down at the county courthouse, they said no, no, its not Lincoln County. It is now Catawba, and it was a recent change. They live right at the county line just like Susan Weber. Im now understanding that I will now be Catawba County, Weber said. Lincoln County students whose homes were moved to Catawbas school district wont have to change Weber said she has lived in her home for over 30 years. She said she just got a letter in the mail informing her of the change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Board of Elections told the counties they needed to figure out where the line was about two years ago because of voting discrepancies. Both counties did a geodetic survey, which shifted the boundary in February, but the state has now voted to have it changed to the 2020 Census line. Confused just a little confused, Weber said. Queen City News spoke on the phone with officials from both counties who said theyre trying to figure out exactly where the 2020 Census line is because it might be different than anything already used. Well, theres just a lot of questions I dont know enough about the policies and stuff in Catawba County, I dont know where I would vote, Weber said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Rep. Heather Rhyne from Lincoln County shared on social media, After six months of conversations and consulting with various attorneys this is what had to be done. Traugott said it doesnt matter now, theyre just glad to be moving into their new home. Lincoln or Catawba, theyre both great, Traugott said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. A US court ruling has put a temporary hold on President Donald Trump's attempts to crack down on irregular immigrants in southern California. A judge in the US state on Friday ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to stop arrests of immigrants there without reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing. Officers are no longer allowed to detain people on the basis of their ethnicity, language or profession, according to the ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong ordered the department to develop guidelines for officers to determine reasonable suspicion beyond a person's "apparent race or ethnicity," the language they speak or their accent, their occupation or location. In a second ruling, the court ordered that detainees be granted access to a lawyer. The judge's rulings apply only to Los Angeles and other areas of southern California. The case was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf on individuals who were allegedly arrested without proper cause. NEW YORK (AP) The United States' long legal case against accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed remains in limbo after an appeals court this week scrapped a plea deal that the government had negotiated but had later withdrawn. Essentially, the ruling leaves the case on track for trial before a military commission. It is unclear when that might happen. Here's what to know about the case and how it got here: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is accused mastermind of 9/11 Mohammed is accused of developing and directing al-Qaidas plot to crash hijacked airliners into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Another of the hijacked planes flew into a field in Pennsylvania. In all, nearly 3,000 people were killed in one of the deadliest attacks ever on the United States. Mohammed was arrested in 2003 in Pakistan and eventually taken to the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. At the time, it was where the U.S. held hundreds of men captured in President George W. Bush's war on terror. Military prosecutors filed charges in 2008 against Mohammed and some co-defendants. After an Obama-era plan to try them in a civilian court in New York collapsed, the case remained with the military commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case dragged on through years of legal and logistical challenges. A major point of contention has been how much the evidence and case have been tainted by the mens torture while in CIA custody during the first years after their capture. Mohammed was waterboarded 183 times. The plea deal called for life in prison Military prosecutors and defense lawyers began plea talks several years ago. Last year, Mohammed and two others agreed to plead guilty, under an agreement that would have led to life in prison instead of a potential death penalty. The deal also would have required the men to answer questions posed by Sept. 11 victims' relatives. Military prosecutors called the arrangement the best path to finality and justice. Some 9/11 families also saw the deal as the best hope for bringing the painful case to a conclusion and getting some answers from the defendants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But other victims relatives said a trial was the right way to get justice and information, and some saw the plea deal as capitulation. Republican lawmakers also criticized the agreement, negotiated during Democratic President Joe Biden's administration. Defense secretary withdrew the plea deal Then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin soon rescinded the deal, saying that victims' relatives, U.S. troops and the American public deserve the opportunity to see military commission trials play out. Defense attorneys and the government wrangled in various courts over whether Austin was legally able to scrap the deal. It was on-again, off-again for months. A panel of appeals judges put it on hold in January and then, on Friday, issued 2-1 ruling saying that Austin had the authority to rescind the agreement. The order bars the military judge from taking any guilty pleas under the now-undone deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case could be headed to pretrial stage It is not clear whether defense lawyers plan to appeal. A message seeking comment was sent Saturday to Mohammed's attorneys. Without a plea deal, the case would once again be back in the pretrial stage within the military commission system, with the legal and logistical complications that it has faced. Questions about whether the men's torture would prevent the use of evidence, including statements they made, are yet to be resolved. Jul. 12Maine cannot enforce a law voters approved two years ago that limits what foreign governments can spend on campaigning in state and local elections, following a federal appeals court decision Friday. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in its majority opinion, written by Judge Lara Montecalvo, that Maine's foreign campaign spending law violates the First Amendment. The decision to stop the state from pausing the law is technically temporary and won't be final until the rest of the legal case is decided by a federal judge. The court is siding with several Maine utilities and media groups who sued Maine to stop it from enforcing the law in late 2023. The appeals court's opinion echoes findings from U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen in February 2024, who ruled that some parts of the law were appropriate but others were too broad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montecalvo remarked that the law was both "overwhelmingly popular" with voters, with 86% casting their ballot in favor, but also controversial playing out amid a lengthy legal battle over the construction of an energy transmission line that would run across Maine to connect Massachusetts to Canadian electricity. Central Maine Power v. EEC by Maine Trust For Local News on Scribd The energy project was unpopular with some voters, who have tried unsuccessfully to cancel the corridor in multiple elections, Montecalvo wrote. Various Maine utilities that benefit from the project including Central Maine Power and Versant have spent millions to oppose ballot initiatives targeting the effort. While both companies operate in Maine, Montecalvo wrote, both also have some degree of foreign ownership. The transmission project also involves H.Q. Energy Services from Canada, which Montecalvo said spent $22 million over 10 years campaigning against anti-pipeline races. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An attorney for the state, Jonathan Bolton, told the appeals court in October that Maine has a strong interest in policing foreign influence on referendums. "This is not a law that was dealing with an abstract or hypothetical problem," he told the court last fall. "This was a problem that had recently happened in Maine." Montecalvo agreed Friday that Maine has a "compelling interest" in limiting foreign government influence in its elections, but not in trying to limit the appearance of foreign influence, which is broader and harder to enforce. "We note that the amount of uncertainty as to which corporations are covered by the law will potentially have a chilling effect," the appeals court wrote. "The Act does not set any particular moment in time for determining the level of foreign ownership, which for publicly traded corporations can fluctuate throughout the course of a day. As a consequence, U.S. corporations with First Amendment protections will likely choose not to speak at all rather than risk criminal penalties." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Seth Aframe wrote in a concurring opinion that Maine's foreign campaign spending law targets corporations and their right to speech. "Maine seems to be concerned that foreign governments will influence the outcome of Maine elections by inducing American companies to spread foreign-sponsored messages to the electorate through an American speaker," Aframe wrote. "But the Maine law does not seek to silence only foreign speech; it also seeks to suppress the speech of American companies that might have been swayed by it. Such targeting of an American speaker's right to engage in core political speech is anathema to the First Amendment." Copy the Story Link Jul. 12JAMESTOWN The number of fires reported in Jamestown has declined over the last 10 years, which Fire Chief Jim Reuther hopes has been the result of public awareness, education and its courtesy fire inspection program in its prevention department. The department responded to 59 fires in 2015, the highest number for a year in the last 10 years. In 2024, there were 28 fires reported, he said. The department's inspection program works to find potential issues before they become a problem, Reuther said. The personnel who conduct annual courtesy fire inspections look for deficiencies at sites, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "By doing those inspections, it's correcting something before something bad happens," Reuther said. "And we have two in the field now that are doing inspections when we only had one before." Grant Christianson is the fire inspection officer, and he is assisted by Mark Chapin, a firefighter II, Reuther said. Christianson said they conduct about 650 inspections annually. "Any public building that the public can walk into (gets an annual inspection)," Christianson. "Hotels, motels, apartments, restaurants, bars, any business, mercantile. Pretty much everything, except your house." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while apartment buildings are on the list, they don't inspect individual apartments, he noted, but rather areas that include hallways and mechanical rooms. But he said if an apartment resident wants a detector checked in that apartment during the apartment building inspection, they will. Most inspections occur without an advance appointment, Christianson said. But depending upon the occupancy of a building, they may make an appointment for locations such as a hospital, day care or nursing home. "We're not there to disrupt business," Reuther added. "These inspections are really, in the long run, are for the owners or the staff for awareness and maintaining equipment." He said if the time doesn't work for an inspection when they stop in, they will work with the owner, occupant or staff for a time that will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In the long run, this inspection is really for them to hopefully not have a problem and be able to save their business or whatever it is," Reuther said. "... We try to work with them any possible way just to make it better for them so something doesn't happen down the road." At most places, they can do the walk-through inspection on their own without being accompanied by someone from the site, Christianson said. Fire extinguishers are required in buildings where the public goes, and the type and number depend on the occupancy and the size of the building, he said. Fire extinguishers must be serviced annually, he said. Christianson said during inspections, they are checking that pathways out of the building are clear, that there's proper storage and things are not stored in front of water heaters, furnaces or electrical panels, and that there are fire extinguishers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Every occupancy's a little bit different but those are really the basic three big things," he said. Christianson said most issues they find are not serious. "Ninety percent of the things are fairly light in nature," he said. "But yeah, the serious things, we do come back or if they call then we come back and make sure they've been repaired properly or whatever they had to do." Reuther said the addition of another staff member to conduct the inspections has boosted its inspection rate from just over 50% to almost all locations. Christianson said they can't get to every location each year but do visit most of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We try to educate as much as we can more than anything," Christianson said. "That's the main point." The two noted that businesses get new owners, new employees and new staff, which can affect knowledge of those issues. "You don't know what you don't know," Christianson said. Christianson said during the inspections, they also are doing a pre-incident plan of the building, drawing up a rough floor plan sketch of the site showing what the inside looks like along with information about where close fire hydrants are located, if there are fire protection or alarms systems and where the utilities are located. That information can help firefighters during a call, Reuther said, such as being able to look at a floor plan before going into a site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christianson also said before new buildings are built, they do a plans review. They work with the building department at City Hall, looking at the plans of the building, making sure everything is in code. They also do the final inspection with the building department before they get their certificate of occupancy, he said. JFD also offers fire extinguisher training to businesses, Reuther said. "The biggest thing, a lot of times, do they know where they're at so they can use them," he said. "And once they are able to find them and have to use them, we show them how to correctly use them. The training part of that is usually knowing your exits in case of an event. You may walk in the front door every day, but what happens if something happens at the front door. What's your next nearest exit you can get to. That's talked about." JFD has an electronic fire extinguisher trainer, Reuther said, which tells the person using it whether that person is putting out a simulated fire correctly. It can be brought to locations for training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That gets a lot of use, that really does," he said. He said the department's in-school public fire education programs also help with awareness. The department goes into schools and teaches about fire safety, he said. The cousin of a man who died in the Air India plane crash has called for cockpit recordings from the flight to be released. A total of 260 people were killed when the Boeing 787 flight bound for Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, India, on 12 June. A preliminary report on the incident found both fuel control switches were in the cut-off position - a step that turns off the engines - moments before the plane crashed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sameer Rafik, cousin of crash victim Faizan Rafik from Leicester, said: "I've just read the report and it doesn't make any sense to me." Air India Flight 171 crashed into a crowded neighbourhood in Ahmedabad [Getty Images] Under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules, investigating states are obliged to file a preliminary report within 30 days of a crash, detailing any initial findings. One of the findings in the report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau outlines how a pilot could be heard asking the other pilot, "why did you cut off?", in a voice recording of the cockpit in the moments before the crash. It is not specified which voice is which. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time the aircraft took off, the co-pilot was flying the plane, while the captain was monitoring. The report says the switches were moved back into their normal inflight position, something which would automatically start the process of relighting the engines. One engine, according to the report, was in the process of regaining thrust at the time the aircraft crashed. The other was relit but was not yet regaining thrust. The report says both engine fuel cut-off switches were turned to "cut-off" with a time delay. Mr Rafik said he would fly to India "straight away" if the recordings were released to family members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Indian Government should release the cockpit audio for the families who lost loved ones," said Mr Rafik. "After we listen to the cockpit recording, we will then know what happened. "If they want to release the audio to family members only, I will be more than happy to fly to India and listen to it, I will go straight way. "I lost my loved one. I know what my family are feeling and no one will understand my pain." The investigation - led by Indian authorities with experts from Boeing, General Electric, Air India, Indian regulators, and participants from the US and UK - raises several questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say the lever-lock fuel switches are designed to prevent accidental activation - they must be pulled up to unlock before flipping, a safety feature dating back to the 1950s. Built to exacting standards, they're highly reliable. Protective guard brackets further shield them from accidental bumps. The report does not draw any conclusions, and points out that the investigation into the crash - which just one passenger, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, from Leicester, survived - is continuing. In a statement following the release of the report, an Air India spokesperson said the airline "stands in solidarity with the families and those affected" and is cooperating fully with authorities investigating the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It did not address specific findings in the report. Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. More on this story CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The Caddo Parish Sheriffs Department said a man they were searching for after a pursuit is now in custody. Marcus Harbor 35 (Source: Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office) CPSO said around 2 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, a patrol deputy was following up on a tip involving a suspicious vehicle. A pursuit involving the suspect, Marcus Allen Harbour, 35, followed. 14-year-old stabs man arguing with sibling Harbour was found in the 7400 block of Henderson Gin Road and is now in the custody of the Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The two left lanes are closed on I-75 South at Central Ave. by S. Dixie Highway because of a vehicle vs semi crash. According to the Centerville Police Department, which dispatches for the area, the crash happened at approximately 3:15 p.m. It said there were no medical transports. OHGO photo of the traffic. 2 NEWS is working to learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. FAULKNER COUNTY, Ark. A crash on Interstate 40 near Mayflower is blocking westbound lanes of traffic on Friday night. According to a crash report from the Arkansas Department of Transportation, the crash was reported at 5:51 p.m. ARDOTs iDrive map shows traffic is backed up from just before Exit 132 to multiple miles past Mayflower. The crash report states that an injury was reported in the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY) A towering new arrival at the Port of Iberia is making wavesboth literally and economically. On Friday, port officials and industry leaders gathered to christen the Creole King, a state-of-the-art electric floating crane developed by E-Cranes Gulf Coast team. The massive barge-based crane is designed to move cargo quickly, efficiently, and with minimal environmental impact. The grab on the crane is 47 cubic yards, said Steve Osborne, CEO of E-Crane USA. When you think in terms of grain, thats over 1,000 bushels that can fit inside the grab they swing every single time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With a lift capacity of 52 tons and a reach of 125 feet, the Creole King is one of the largest electric material-handling cranes in North America. The crane is part of a broader strategy to modernize cargo transport while reducing fuel consumption. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Because of the high energy efficiency of the E-Crane, Osborne explained, theyre able to achieve the lowest possible fuel consumption for loading tons from barge to ship. Its about the amount of diesel fuel in a wineglass to move one ton of cargo. But the cranes arrival not leads to more innovation, it will lead to more jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They started off by hiring 12 people right away, said Craig Romero, Executive Director of the Port of Iberia. Theyre going to probably get up to around 50 when theyre building three or four machines at a time. To support the project, the Port of Iberia invested over $6 million in infrastructure improvements; an effort made possible through Louisianas Port Priority Program. This facility didnt look like it does now, Romero added. We built new bulkheads, stabilized the yard, and refurbished the buildingsone even had to be air-conditioned. This is an example of what happens when you spend it right. The Creole King is expected to further position Iberia Parish as a key player in Gulf Coast logistics and offshore lifting. Local leaders said the cranes christening is just the beginning. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. Felonies The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Thursday at 11 a.m. Christopher O. Blackmon, 59, of Shannon, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, capias for two counts of the sale of methamphetamine. Marqus Burnett, 16, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, rape. Roy Miller, 44, of Verona, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, violation of Intensive Supervision Program, resisting arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee County Sheriffs Office The following reports were filed Thursday by the Lee County Sheriffs Office. A County Road 1451, Saltillo, woman said a medium-sized black dog showed up at her place three weeks ago. She said the dog growls at and tries to attack the hospice workers caring for her mother. She does not know who the dog belongs to but would like it to be picked up. A West Garrison Street woman was in the process of moving out. When she returned for another load, she noticed that someone had been in the house. The trampoline, Christmas tree and a bed set were all missing. All of the windows on the back of the house are broken out and someone has broken the lock off the storage building. She said the house was secure when she left two days earlier. She does not know what happened to the set of keys she left for the landlord. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A County Road 1970, Mantachie, said a 30-something Black male wearing a red shirt and cargo pants started banging on his front door around 9:30 a.m. The mans dog started barking and the suspect ran off. A Blue Springs man said he lost his wallet at a store in the Brewer community. An employee watched the security video and saw a Black male in a red shirt pick up the wallet, which contained his Social Security card, a credit card, two debit cards and $60 in cash. He was able to call the bank and lock the cards before they could be used. Someone still tried to use the cards at two gas stations in Tupelo, unsuccessfully. Anyone with information on any of these reports is urged to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 841-9041, the Tupelo Police Department at 841-6491 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at (800) 773-TIPS or download the P3 Tip App and leave an anonymous tip that way. In law enforcement, weve always known criminals evolve and now, theyve gone digital. A keystroke criminal has replaced the old-school bank robber. And in 2025, its not just Wall Street or Silicon Valley being targeted its Main Street, USA. Thats why I applaud Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran for serving as an original co-sponsor to the bipartisan TRAPS Act the Task Force for Recognizing and Averting Payment Scams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This legislation isnt just overdue; its essential. Payment scams have become the new frontier of organized criminal activity, with losses nationwide skyrocketing to $12.5 billion a 25% increase in just one year. According to the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 15,000 fraud reports were filed in Kansas last year, culminating in more than $59 million in total losses. These are not just statistics; they shattered retirements, drained life savings and violated trust. As a former law enforcement executive with experience at the local, state, and federal levels, Ive seen how scammers operate. They exploit loneliness, fear, and confusion, especially among our elderly population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From romance scams to phony investment pitches, to AI-generated phone calls of loved ones asking for money, these criminals are modern-day predators cloaked in digital anonymity. Moran nailed it when he said we must better equip law enforcement and regulators with the tools to go after these scammers. The TRAPS Act does exactly that. It brings together the Treasury Department, the Federal Trade Commission, the Justice Department, the Federal Communications Commission and key financial industry leaders under one roof a full-court press against financial crime. This task force will create actionable, coordinated strategies, bridging the massive gap between government regulation, law enforcement, and tech-savvy criminals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And lets be blunt: The current piecemeal approach isnt working. Right now, fraud victims bounce between agencies like a bureaucratic pinball machine. State and local law enforcement often lack the resources or jurisdiction to pursue transnational digital fraudsters. Meanwhile, federal regulators cant keep pace with ever-changing scam tactics emerging from call centers overseas or hackers embedded in dark web forums. The TRAPS Act proposes an annual review of fraud trends, interagency coordination, and a unified strategy to detect and prevent scams across all levels of government and industry. In conservative terms: Its a leaner, smarter, more accountable government solution to a real and growing problem. This isnt big government, its government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Sen. Moran said, Combating the global rise in fraud starts with making certain federal regulators and law enforcement agencies are coordinating effectively. This bill does just that, while reinforcing a central conservative tenet protecting taxpayers from criminal exploitation. Importantly, this legislation also garners support from across the ideological and industrial spectrum. The American Bankers Association, American Association of Retired Persons, Zelles parent company Early Warning Services, the Electronic Transactions Association, and the Consumer Bankers Association all back the TRAPS Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats not just consensus, thats a coalition. When Main Street banks, federal regulators, and conservative lawmakers are all pulling in the same direction, its a signal that this issue transcends politics. But the TRAPS Act is more than a paper solution. Its about prevention. By integrating law enforcement with the financial industry and regulators, we move from reactive policing to proactive disruption. And thats exactly how we beat 21st-century criminals by getting out in front of them. As a conservative applied criminologist, I often advocate for smarter, more efficient use of government resources in all my published works. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The TRAPS Act fits that mold. Its collaborative, not bloated. It promotes accountability, not red tape. And it targets the real enemy: the scammers who are siphoning billions from hardworking Americans every year. These scams are no longer isolated cons. They are systematic, professional, transnational, and ruthless. And unless we respond in kind with strategy, unity, and force we will continue to bleed financially, morally, and socially. Its time we treat payment scams like the national security threat they are. The TRAPS Act gives us a shot at turning the tide. Lets take it. Currie Myers is an applied criminologist and criminal justice ethicist and retired Johnson County sheriff, who has also served as a Kansas Bureau of Investigation special agent, Drug Enforcement Agency task force agent, and Kansas state trooper. A new report from the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) outlines the U.S. Secret Service's security failures during the first attempted assassination of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., one year ago. The report, ordered by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, reveals that the Secret Service received classified intelligence regarding a threat to Trumps life 10 days before the rally, but failed to share the information with other key agencies. It also identified a series of procedural and planning mistakes, including "misallocation of resources, lack of training and pervasive communication failures" that led to the near assassination. "One year ago, a series of bad decisions and bureaucratic handicaps led to one of the most shocking moments in political history," Grassley said. "The Secret Services failure on July 13 was the culmination of years of mismanagement and came after the Biden administration denied requests for enhanced security to protect President Trump. Americans should be grateful that President Trump survived that day and was ultimately reelected to restore common sense to our country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, whose campaign had requested enhanced security but was denied by the Biden administration, was grazed in the right ear while addressing the crowd. Secret Service agents swarmed him, but he famously rose to his feet as he was being hustled to safety, raised his fist in the air and exhorted horrified onlookers to "Fight, fight, fight." One man in the crowd, Cory Comperatore, was killed protecting his family, while two others were injured. A 20-year-old local man, Thomas Crooks, was shot dead by counter snipers as he crouched on the roof of a nearby building. "There were mistakes made, and that shouldn't have happened," Trump told his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, on Fox News. 'Absolute Bare Minimum': Calls For More Action After Secret Service Agents Suspended For Security Failure Read On The Fox News App President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. The GAO is the U.S. governments primary auditor. Its nearly year-long probe is the longest review of the attempted assassination to date. Key findings include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ten days before the event, high-level Secret Service officials were briefed on a classified threat to Trump. "Once those officials reviewed the intelligence, they could have then requested that personnel within their chain of command be briefed on the specific information." Officials failed to share this information, leaving federal and local law enforcement entities planning and staffing the event unaware of the active threat, including members of the Donald Trump Protective Division. Local law enforcement officials told the GAO they would have requested additional assets for the Butler rally, had they known. The Secret Service agent who was responsible for "identif[ying] site vulnerabilities," was new to her role. The Butler event was "her first time planning and securing a large outdoor event as the site agent." At the time of the Butler event, the Secret Service lacked a formal policy for communicating a protectee staffs requests for changes to security plans. A Trump campaign staffer had asked the Secret Service advance team, who was unaware of the active threat to Trump, not to use large farm equipment to address line-of-sight concerns near one of the buildings so as not to interfere with campaign press photos. The advance team complied, a decision which may have given Crooks a clearer shot at the stage from his rooftop perch. Secret Service officials denied the Donald Trump Protective Divisions request for enhanced counter Unmanned Aerial Surveillance (cUAS) equipment at the Butler event, as "these resources had already been allocated for the Republican and Democratic National Conventions." Fortunately, senior officials with knowledge of the threat against Trump stepped in to approve counter sniper assets for the rally, a decision which was described as "inconsistent" with agency practices for making resource decisions." Absent this last-minute decision, Trump "would likely not have received the counter sniper assets that ultimately took out [Crooks]," the GAO wrote. The agency has undertaken major reforms in the wake of the near assassination, according to Secret Service Director Sean Curran. "The U.S. Secret Service has reviewed the Government Accountability Offices report and we are committed to implementing all recommendations and have already made substantial progress on several of them," Curran said in a statement. "Following the events of July 13, the Secret Service took a serious look at our operations and implemented substantive reforms to address the failures that occurred that day. Fox News confirmed ahead of the one-year anniversary of Trump's first attempted assassination that six Secret Service agents were suspended without pay after 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire at Trump during a rally in western Pennsylvania last summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secret Service Changes The Agency Has Made Post-trump Butler Assassination Attempt Supervisors and line-level agents were given suspensions ranging from 10 to 42 days without pay in February, the Secret Service confirmed to Fox News. And the news comes as Sen. Ron Johnson , R-Wis., approved a subpoena to the FBI and Justice Department for more information on the Butler assassination attempt. Johnson, who chairs the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, was a co-author of the bipartisan Senate Homeland Security Committee report on the assassination attempt last year. Then-Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump reacts as multiple shots rang out during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler on July 13, 2024. On the House side, the assassination attempt task force released its final report on Dec. 5, 2024, highlighting the "significant failures in the planning, execution, and leadership of the Secret Service and its law enforcement partners." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report concluded the shooting was "preventable," identifying poor advance planning, lack of coordination with local law enforcement and poor Secret Service coordination by the U.S. Secret Service. It proposed 37 "actionable recommendations related both to the security failures on July 13 and to overarching structural changes" the Secret Service should adapt to increase safety measures moving forward. Both Senate and House reports followed congressional testimonies, including from acting FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe, who acknowledged the agency's "failure" in Butler. President Donald Trump is assisted by U.S. Secret Service personnel after gunfire rang out during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler on July 13, 2024. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned from the agency less than a week after the attempted assassination of Trump amid mounting pressure, taking "full responsibility for the security lapse." Click To Get The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One day after Butler, the FBI announced its federal investigation into the shooting, calling it an assassination attempt and a potential act of domestic terrorism. Fox News' Alexis McAdams and Alex Miller contributed to this report. Original article source: Critical security lapses by Secret Service exposed in new report on Trump assassination attempt Doctors have saved the life of a seriously ill girl named Zlata who suddenly stopped breathing during a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack on Chernivtsi. Zlata was resuscitated under fire. Source: Marta Levchenko, philanthropist and founder of the Butterfly House, a childrens hospice in Chernivtsi Quote from Levchenko: "Zlata suffered respiratory arrest during the strikes, so the doctors, risking their own lives, did not take shelter and continued with the resuscitation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Levchenko said that during the air raid, the other children had been taken to a shelter which the centre team had prepared in advance for overnight stays in case of possible attacks. Quote: "Most of the children at the Butterfly House were evacuated from dangerous areas, have suffered blast injuries and are still afraid to sleep near windows because of the stress they have experienced. So even the sound of attacks sets them back a hundred steps in their rehabilitation." The Butterfly House team is asking for donations to help install metal shutters on the windows of the intensive care unit. Background: On the night of 11-12 July, Russian troops launched 26 cruise missiles and 597 drones on cities in Ukraine. Although most of the aerial assets were shot down, there were hits on civilian infrastructure, particularly residential buildings. Chernivtsi was one of the epicentres of the Russian attack. Two people in Chernivtsi were killed by falling debris from Russian aerial assets: Sviatoslav Lazarenko, 43, an official at the Sniatyn City Council in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, and Diana Kravchenko, 25, a pharmacy manager. Doctors in Chernivtsi are battling to save the lives of four people who were seriously injured in the attack. One woman is in a critical condition, Chernivtsi Oblast Military Administration has reported. Ten civilians sustained minor injuries and received medical assistance at the scene. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Croydon's mayor has insisted that the council is "not failing" as the prospect of a possible government takeover looms. Jason Perry, the south London borough's executive mayor, has vowed to oppose commissioners imposing tax hikes or service cuts, a stance critics say is undermined by his own record. The row follows a government announcement last month that it was "minded to" send in commissioners to take control of the financially troubled council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local government minister Jim McMahon warned that without a shift in direction, Croydon risked sliding into a deeper crisis with "no clear way out". In a video released shortly after the announcement, Perry pushed back against the proposal, stating: "The government should be helping us, not hindering us by heaping more pain on our borough." Tensions came to a head at an "extraordinary council meeting" on Wednesday, brought forward by Labour councillors in response to the looming intervention. While the mayor's defiant stance won some support, many councillors expressed concern that his tone risked damaging the south London council's chances of negotiating a favourable outcome. Councillors held an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday [PA Media] Labour opposition leader Stuart King said he understood Perry's frustration, but criticised the combative response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Launching a full-throttle political attack on the government doesn't make it more likely we'll secure the deal we need," he said. "Your reaction was ill-considered and has harmed, rather than helped, Croydon's prospects." New figures released this week show the council overspent its budget by 30m last year, requiring 136m in exceptional financial support to stay afloat. The council is also burdened with 1.6bn in legacy debt, costing 70m annually to service. This debt appears to have risen by 0.2bn in the past year. Croydon has been under the government's Improvement and Assurance Panel (IAP) review since it issued a Section 114 bankruptcy notice in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IAP was intended to provide oversight and challenge, but McMahon's recent report described a "lack of urgency" during the intervention and warned that the council was approaching a fresh financial crisis. The report also called Croydon's ongoing reliance on emergency funding, now totalling 553m since 2021, as unsustainable. While McMahon promised a "short, sharp reset", no specific details have been shared on what powers commissioners might hold or how direct their involvement would be. Jim McMahon, minister for housing, communities and local government, has said the council is in "financial crisis" [House of Commons] Despite his earlier video, the mayor later struck a more conciliatory tone during the sweltering hot council meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) after the meeting, he said he would be willing to work with commissioners, but added: "If we get to a position where they say council tax needs to go above the cap or that services need to be salami sliced, I will oppose those decisions." While there was broad agreement on the decision to work with future commissioners, opposition councillors were quick to remind the mayor that he had raised council tax to its highest ever level and brought forward cuts to services like libraries and youth engagement under his watch. The Conservative-led council says it has generated over 230m in capital receipts, including 130m from asset sales, with another 68m in sales planned this year. Yet despite what Perry has called "difficult decisions", the council's budgetary shortfall continues to grow. 'Blinkered denial' Many councillors now believe only a full government bailout can break Croydon's debt cycle, though such a move would be unprecedented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perry said he holds regular meetings with government ministers, during which the need for a bailout is often discussed. Councillor Rowenna Davis, Labour's candidate for mayor, said: "To deny the need for commissioners is a blinkered denial of the financial danger we face three years into your leadership." She adding that Perry's attacks on the intervention were "insulting" to those trying to help. Croydon Council has officially opposed the commissioner proposal in the ongoing consultation, with several local charities also submitting objections. The consultation closes on 20 July, and further details on the government's next steps are expected later this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk More on this story (COLORADO SPRINGS) A man has been arrested in Washington state and will be extradited to Colorado Springs to face charges in connection to the sexual exploitation of a 16-year-old girl. According to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), an investigation was launched in November of 2024 by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit, which revealed a 16-year-old girl had been having inappropriate conversations and sharing photos with an unknown man on a social media app. The investigation led to the suspect being identified as 34-year-old Andre Smolyar, who lived in Spokane, Washington. CSPD said detectives from the ICAC unit contacted investigators with the East Washington State Patrol Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF) and began collaborating with them to further the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June of 2025, the MECTF arrested Smolyar following an extensive investigation into the sexual exploitation of minors. Smolyar was booked into the Spokane County Jail on numerous charges: Promoting a suicide attempt Possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct Viewing depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct Communication with a minor for immoral purposes Once he is released on bond in Washington, he will be extradited to Colorado Springs to face additional charges: Human trafficking Sexual exploitation of children Contributing to the delinquency of a minor Tampering with physical evidence Promoting obscenity to a minor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both the ICAC Unit and the MECTF in Washington have determined that Smolyar may have committed additional crimes against minors and that he may have used multiple online identities to communicate with minors. It is believed that victims of these crimes may live in Colorado Springs; Spokane, WA; and Orange County, California. Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department If anyone has any information about Smolyar, his online activity, or potential victims, they are encouraged to contact CSPD and ask to speak to a member of the ICAC Unit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. WARNING: The footage in the linked body camera video may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is advised. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has released the body-worn camera (BWC) video of an officer-involved shooting that occurred on the southeast side of Colorado Springs in June. According to CSPD, officers originally responded to reports of a man firing a gun into the air at an apartment complex in the 1400 block of Michelle Court, near the intersection of Fountain and Murray Boulevards. When officers arrived, they spoke with a witness who pointed in the direction the gunshots appeared to have come from. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE: One suspect dead following overnight officer-involved shooting As officers searched the complex, they located a man, identified as 51-year-old Jesus Ramirez Jr., holding a handgun. Officers ordered Ramirez to drop the gun and warned him if he did not comply, he would be shot. CSPD said Ramirez raised his gun and fired at least one shot at officers, at which point Officers Mike Pan and Ryan Clare fired at him. 51-year-old Jesus Ramirez Jr. shot and killed in officer-involved shooting on Michelle Court 51-year-old Jesus Ramirez Jr. shot and killed in officer-involved shooting on Michelle Court Ramirez fell to the ground, though CSPD said he still had the gun in his hand. Officers once again ordered him to drop the gun. While lying on the ground, CSPD said Ramirez raised the gun and again fired at least one shot at the officers, and Officers Pan and Clare again fired multiple shots. 51-year-old Jesus Ramirez Jr. allegedly raises gun at officers after being shot. Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department Officers approached Ramirez with the use of a tactical ballistic shield, in order to ensure he was disarmed. Once medical personnel attended to Ramirez, they determined he was dead. A loaded 38 caliber Kimber handgun was recovered from the scene. Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department Officer Pan has been employed with CSPD for 16 months, and Officer Clare has been employed for one year and eight months. The El Paso County Sheriffs Office is the lead investigative agency and will send its findings to the 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office once complete for a determination on the officers use of force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. A man faces charges after he and a woman were allegedly experiencing a drug overdose in a vehicle with children present in Bolton last month. Nicholas Ninteau, 38, of Windham was arrested Wednesday on six counts of risk of injury to child, two counts of leaving a child under 12 unsupervised in a public place or motor vehicle and a single count each of transporting a child under 5 without a restraint, transporting a child under 8 without a restraint, operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs with a child passenger and possession of a controlled substance, according to Connecticut State Police. State police said the charges stem from an incident on June 19 when emergency crews responded to a restaurant on Boston Turnpike around 4 p.m. on the report of two people who were unconscious in a vehicle in the parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ninteau was identified as the driver and was found with his foot on the brake pedal, the arrest warrant affidavit said. Troopers were able to put the vehicle in park and shut it off. There was also a woman in the passenger seat and two children who had allegedly let themselves out of the vehicle, state police wrote. The children were found wandering in the parking lot, the warrant affidavit said. Both Ninteau and the woman who has not been identified appeared to be experiencing a drug overdose, according to the warrant affidavit. State police said the womans face had turned blue and that she had no pulse and was not breathing. Ninteau was unresponsive and was given Narcan as well as a bag valve mask to help him breathe, the warrant affidavit said. The woman was also given Narcan before both individuals were revived, state police wrote. Once he had come to, state police said Ninteau allegedly told troopers I thought I was doing coke, according to the warrant affidavit. Troopers noted that they may have used cocaine laced with an opioid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Ninteau and the woman were taken in an ambulance to a hospital for treatment, the warrant affidavit said. State police allegedly found about 5.8 grams of crack cocaine in a baggie in the vehicle, according to the warrant affidavit. The vehicle also had trash and rotting food scattered throughout inside, according to the warrant affidavit. Troopers found a forward-facing car seat that was not secured by a seatbelt, the warrant affidavit said. Investigators do not believe either child had been secured properly while in the vehicle, according to the warrant affidavit. One of the children allegedly told police Ninteau was falling asleep while driving after leaving a Burger King, according to the warrant affidavit. The child said he pulled into a parking lot where he fell asleep in the vehicle, state police wrote. The child allegedly said she could not wake Ninteau or the woman up, so she got out of the vehicle with the other minor and looked for help, the warrant affidavit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A case investigator with the state Department of Children and Families took custody of the two children and put a 96-hour hold on them, turning them over to their grandmother, according to the warrant affidavit. State police said their investigation determined Ninteau was supposed to be supervising the children. Ninteau was held on a $150,000 bond following his arrest and was expected to appear Thursday in Rockville Superior Court. Labour MPs have called on Sir Keir Starmer to reduce net zero taxes on oil and gas producers or risk destroying thousands of jobs in their constituencies. The MPs say that producers are at risk of being moved to other countries to escape carbon taxes imposed by the UK and EU. Their demand is a significant push back against Downing Streets plan to reach net zero by 2030 by making it more expensive to produce energy from fossil fuels, which is becoming increasingly unpopular with voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A report from the Commission for Carbon Competitiveness, which is chaired by a Labour MP, said that the UK should create more exemptions to carbon taxes for British companies. The commission is calling for British companies to be given free credits to emit carbon under the UKs Emissions Trading Scheme, and to ignore the threat of legal action by the World Trade Organisation. The demand, which is expected to be backed by dozens of MPs, comes after Sir Keir announced the UK would join the EUs carbon tax system, which could drive up the cost of energy for British companies. Henry Tufnell, the commissions chairman, said the UK must pursue a just transition towards net zero and compete with the big industrial powers like China and the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Tufnell, who represents the Welsh constituency of Mid and South Pembrokeshire, said producers in his area would close down and move their operations abroad without further support from the Government. If we cant be competitive with other countries around the world, all that happens is you end up exporting your carbon to other places that have less stringent policies, he told The Telegraph. In Pembrokeshire, we used to have four oil refineries and now we have one. The oil refineries just take down all their factories, move them to a country like Pakistan, which has significantly less in terms of strict regulation on emissions. Level playing field Some officials are concerned that giving British companies who export carbon-intensive products preferential treatment would open the UK up to legal challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WTOs rules are designed to ensure that companies operating in different countries can compete fairly. But Mr Tufnell said that anyone hoping the organisation would create a level playing field was living in cloud cuckoo land. While Donald Trump is president of the United States its going to be completely ineffectual, he said, adding that he hoped to have significant support for his proposals from Labour MPs who represent constituencies with heavy manufacturing or oil and gas plants. The report is co-authored by another Labour MP, Melanie Onn, a former Conservative MP and a Conservative peer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes amid rising scepticism towards the UKs net zero ambitions from some MPs. A report by the Office for Budget Responsibility this week estimated that the transition would cost 800 billion. Polling seen by The Telegraph finds that voters overwhelmingly want Labour to prioritise tackling the cost of living over net zero targets and woke issues. The findings will pile pressure on Downing Street to change course and take a more muscular approach to easing the pressure on households. Governments top priority One poll found that more than half of voters think bringing down the cost of gas and electricity should be the Governments top priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In contrast, just over one in 10 people said that reducing carbon emissions from energy usage was the most important thing to them. YouGov asked voters which was most important to them out of the cost of bills, the security of Britains energy supply, and carbon emissions. Overall 55 per cent said that bills were their top priority, compared to 21 per cent who said security of supply and 12 per cent for emissions. The results were most stark amongst those who voted for Reform at the last election, with 70 per cent saying bills and just five per cent citing emissions. But even Labour voters are more focussed on their energy costs, with 48 per cent prioritising bills compared to 22 per cent who said emissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survey was commissioned by the Energy and Utilities Alliance, a leading industry group that represents businesses in the energy sector. Mike Foster, its chief executive, said: Whilst the UK being the first nation to achieve net zero might be a laudable ambition, overwhelmingly UK adults want the Government to prioritise policies to address the cost of energy bills. This is certainly true for those that voted Reform at the general election last year. There is support to achieve net zero by 2050, but that cannot be on the basis of whatever it costs. Ed Miliband made a clear commitment to reduce energy bills by 300 and delivering on this will help determine how people vote at the next election, probably more so than reducing carbon emissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A government spokesman said: Accelerating to net zero is the economic opportunity of the 21st century and at the heart of the governments mission to boost growth, create jobs and tackle the climate crisis. A strong UK Emissions Trading Scheme will play a key role driving green investment as part of a broader industrial strategy, creating jobs and growing the UKs economy. Our Modern Industrial Strategy will also unlock the potential of British industry by slashing industrial electricity prices in key sectors. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) on July 12 published an audio allegedly capturing a company commander from Russia's infamous 155th Marine Brigade issuing an order to "cut off the head" of a Ukrainian soldier. "Cut off the head, impale it on a pike, throw it the f**k away," says the voice attributed by HUR to the commander of the brigade's 2nd Air Assault Company. The intelligence agency said the order, intercepted on July 10, concerned a Ukrainian prisoner of war (POW). The Kyiv Independent could not verify the audio's authenticity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 155th Marine Brigade, currently deployed in Ukraine's northeast Sumy Oblast, has been accused of numerous war crimes and atrocities during the full-scale war. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted the unit's command posts with precision strikes, killing its commander, Colonel Sergey Ilyin, in an attack in Kursk Oblast on July 2, HUR said. Twenty-two people, including Major General Mikhail Gudkov, a deputy head of the Russian Navy, were reportedly killed during the Ukrainian HIMARS strike against the brigade's command post in Korenevo in Kursk Oblast on that day. Ilyin's death was also confirmed by Russian authorities earlier this week, though the cause and date were not disclosed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For inhumane torture and barbaric killings of captured Ukrainian military personnel and civilians, the 155th Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces has become one of Vladimir Putin's favorite units," the Ukrainian intelligence agency said. HUR recalled a case when the unit's flag was raised behind Putin during his press conference in December 2024. Service members of the 155th Brigade have also been linked to war crimes committed during the occupation of Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel in Kyiv Oblast during the early months of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Other Russian units have been accused of war crimes throughout the full-scale war. Ukrainian prosecutors documented at least 273 Ukrainian POWs summarily executed by their Russian captors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyiv and the U.N. have raised alarm over the rising number of such cases, saying they point to a systematic policy by Russia to murder Ukrainian captives. Half of the document cases were recorded this year alone. Read also: 2 killed, 20 injured as Russia launches missile, drone attacks striking Ukrainian cities far from front line Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. NEW YORK (PIX11) This week, the New York City mayoral race has continued to heat up with a new poll from Slingshot Strategies showing Zohran Mamdani in the lead followed by Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa, Mayor Eric Adams and then Jim Walden. Pix on Politics host Dan Mannarino was joined by Curtis Sliwa to talk about the Republican nominees path forward in this race. Sliwa addressed rumors about him being asked to work for the White House, and said Adams floated the idea of him working as part of his administration. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes even floated the idea that he would make me the Deputy Mayor of Public Safety. Could you imagine me and Eric Adams? Wed be like two scorpions in a brandy glass. Adams later denied this in a statement. He said in part; In no way have I ever offered Curtis Sliwa a job to drop out of the racethats simply false. I have not said one word to Curtis in months. Later on Pix on Politics with Dan Mannarino, Dan sat down with Long Island Congresswoman Laura Gillen to discuss President Trumps budget bill and her opposition to Zohran Mamdani as a mayoral candidate. Im very concerned about Mr. Mamdanis policies and the economic impact that they will have on New York Citys economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Colorado Springs School District 11 (D11) will host an All Positions Hiring Fair on Saturday, July 12 at Doherty High School. D11 said it is looking to hire for a variety of positions, both educational and support staff. The available positions include: Teachers (all levels and subjects) Special Service Providers Educational Support Professionals (school-based and non-school-based) Transportation staff Food & Nutrition Services staff Custodial staff And more Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At District 11, we believe that what you do matters. Every position in our schools and departments helps create a positive impact on students, families, and the greater Colorado Springs community, said Jennifer Harris, Senior Executive Director of Talent Management. We invite anyone looking for meaningful work to join us and see where they can make a difference. The job fair will be held in the Doherty High School gymnasium, located at 4515 Barnes Road, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Click here to register for the event. Attendees will have the chance to meet hiring teams, learn about open positions, and apply on-site. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. The Brief A man was arrested for the fatal shooting of his uncle in Dallas in February. Kendrick Davis, 46, is accused of shooting Malcolm Caraway after an ongoing dispute. DNA evidence and gunshot residue linked Davis to the crime. DALLAS - A man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Dallas in February. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX 4 on Friday, the man is believed to have shot his uncle to death after an ongoing altercation. Man accused of killing uncle On Feb. 4, 2025, Dallas police responded to Berwick Avenue after a witness saw the victim, Malcolm Caraway, lying face down in his yard. Police arrived to find that Caraway was dead with a single gunshot wound to the side of his chest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The witness who called the police told them that Caraway, their neighbor, had been having trouble with his nephew, the arrest document says. The nephew, Kendrick Davis, 46, also lived at Caraway's home. According to the witness, police had visited the home a week before the shooting due to a dispute between Davis and Caraway. The witness went on to report that Caraway had mentioned being afraid of Davis, and had bought a revolver to defend himself. Caraway reportedly told the witness later that the gun had gone missing, and Caraway believed that Davis had stolen it. The arrest document goes on to say a police report from Jan. 29 was found, in which Caraway had reported Davis for allegedly threatening to kill him, as well as for stealing Caraway's tablet. Once Davis was identified through this report, he was called in to the Dallas Police Department for questioning. During the interview, Davis denied having shot a gun since going to prison 25 years prior, the document says. He also reportedly denied ever touching Caraway's gun. Davis volunteered to provide a DNA sample and undergo gun shot residue testing, the document says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A later search warrant execution on Davis' home and vehicle found a .357 revolver and three live rounds, the document says. DNA on the weapon matched that provided by Davis at the station, the document says. He also allegedly tested positive for gunshot residue on both hands and multiple other areas. Due to Davis' DNA being found on the gun police believe was used to kill Caraway, as well as gunshot residue being found on Davis after the shooting, an arrest warrant for murder was signed on July 2. Davis was arrested on Wednesday and booked into the Dallas County Jail on a $1 million bond. The Source Information in this article came from the Dallas Police Department. Bongino is reportedly furious at US Attorney-General Pam Bondi's handling of the Epstein files. Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino is considering resigning from his post following the release of the Jeffrey Epstein memo, CNN reported on Friday. Bongino reportedly considered resigning after a heated exchange with US Attorney-General Pam Bondi. Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel were questioned whether or not they were behind a story that alleged that the FBI wanted to release more information about the Epstein case, but that the US Justice Department stifled the plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This comes after Bondi received a considerable amount of criticism from Trump supporters on her handling of the case. The Justice Department walked back claims that she had made regarding Epstein's client list. In a memo released Monday, it added that there was no evidence that Epstein was murdered. This systematic review revealed no incriminating client list, an unsigned Justice Department memo stated. US financier Jeffrey Epstein appears in a photograph taken for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services' sex offender registry March 28, 2017 and obtained by Reuters July 10, 2019. (credit: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services/Handout via REUTERS) There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties. The department said that it would not release any more information at this time, reportedly enraging Bongino, Patel, and other Trump supporters who have pushed various conspiracy theories regarding the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Monday memo added that "perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein" did not serve the administrations priorities of "combating child exploitation and bringing justice to victims." To that end, while we have labored to provide the public with maximum information regarding Epstein and ensured examination of any evidence in the governments possession, it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted. Bongino had previously touted a 10-hour surveillance video from outside Epsteins cell as proof that the sex offender had not been murdered. The video shows that no one entered or exited Epsteins cell on the day of his death. There is a video, and when you look at the video - and we will release it, were working on cleaning it up to make sure you have an enhanced - and we will give the original so you dont think there are any shenanigans - you will see no one in there but him. Theres just nobody there, Bongino said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres video clear as day, he added. Hes the only person in there and the only person coming out. You can see it. However, the video jumps ahead at one point by about a minute, leading to speculation on what occurred then. Bondi says the recording system used in the prison resets every day at midnight, meaning that the same minute is skipped every day. But Bongino was internally blamed for the incident as rumors exploded online. He and Patel, along with many other Trump supporters and administration insiders, are reportedly extremely displeased with Bondis handling of the case and the ensuing media circus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi said as early as February that she was reviewing files related to the case, and even told Fox News that Epsteins client list was sitting on my desk right now to review. Shortly after, the Justice Department released a series of documents related to the case and instructed FBI agents to work 24/7 to review the evidence. However, Bondi received considerable criticism when the public realized that many of the documents had already been released. Federal law prevented the release of some information to protect Epsteins victims, many of whom were abused when they were minors. As such, Trump supporters accused Bondi of withholding information from the public. One administration official told CNN that she had bungled the case from the start by overpromising results on bombshell evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump backed the investigation, and added that the president is proud of Attorney General Bondis efforts to execute his Make America Safe Again agenda, restore the integrity of the Department of Justice, and bring justice to victims of crime. The memo took back Bondis previous claims, disrupting years of right-wing conspiracies and enraging Trump supporters invested in the matter. CNN reported that while Bongino hadnt made a final decision on whether to leave or not, he didnt come into work on Friday. A source close to Bongino told Axios that he ain't coming back." The whole thing has been a complete mess and no one is happy, a source briefed on the matter told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche said on Friday that the suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memos composition and release is patently false. Patel and Bongino have reportedly been at odds with Noem for months over the investigation. The issue reportedly stems from a news interview early in Trumps second term where Bondi stated that the FBI was still reviewing the case, when it had already been turned over to the Justice Department, sources told CNN. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Jackson County Democrats are speaking out, saying theyd be interested in the interim county executive position. The county legislature has set August 26 for the recall election of Democratic Jackson County Democratic Executive Frank White, Jr. Whether the election actually happens that date is still to be determined. Jackson County Executive Frank White vetoes special vote for charter assessor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June of 2024, former Jackson County Democratic Legislator Dan Tarwater said hed be interested in the full-time position. Friday though, Tarwater told FOX4 hed be interested in the interim position, and if he got it, he would not run for the full-time position in 2026. Before losing a Kansas City Council race to Johnathan Duncan in 2023, Tarwater was a Jackson County Legislator for 28 years. Tarwater joins another Democrat like Attorney Phil LeVota. LeVota says hed be interested in the interim role, adding he wouldnt run for the full-time position either. On Sundays episode of 4 The People, The Next Page KCs Eric Wesson says that hes heard similar things about Tarwater. Wesson and Tarwater were both at the Jackson County Courthouse Monday when Democratic Legislative Chairman DaRon McGee talked to reporters after the legislature voted to put a recall of White on an August 26th ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know whether he would get enough votes on the legislature to do that, Wesson said, talking about Tarwaters possibility of getting the interim role. He was on the legislature before, and he did a lot of time on there, so I dont know. It would interesting to see how that went. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Monday, McGee said he was not focused on the Interim County Executive position. None of this matters if White survives a recall election, or it gets thrown out altogether. Our full interviews with Wesson and Jackson County, MO Democratic Prosecuting Attorney Melesa Johnson air this Sunday at 10 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Grain holds a special place in our culture. The connections include prayers for our daily bread, patriotic songs describing amber waves, and sheafs of grain appearing as a graphic motif on currency and stamps. When the Templeton Feed & Grain silos were engulfed in flames on the night of July 4, it was more than a building that was lost. A grain elevator is usually the first skyscraper in a region, an economic and social beacon for a community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the centerpiece of the Templeton Community Services logo. For many years Templeton Feed & Grain Co. was included in a newspaper advertisement from San Luis Obispo 4-H and FFA clubs thanking all the buyers at the Mid-State Fairs Junior Livestock Auction. Templeton Feed & Grain was damaged but survived an Aug. 24, 1979, fire. Spectators gathered along the old highway, now South Main Street, to watch firefighters work. Located between the old highway and the railroad tracks, the building commanded the skyline. One story from the newspapers archives said it took two truckloads of nails to stitch together the 2-by-6 inch boards that made up the walls. Another had an unattributed claim that it was the largest set of silos west of the Mississippi, though there werent any extra details on the specifics to support the claim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The blaze that broke out late on Independence Day was not the first serious fire to strike the site. After a fire in 1979, the owners feared that the building had been damaged beyond repair. Fire devastates historic Templeton Feed & Grain building as town watches But then as today, the family was resilient and worked on ways to reshape the business in the aftermath. When Templeton fire chief Lloyd Holloway retired in March 26, 1998, he recalled his career with the department. Holloway told reporter Matt Lazier, When I first joined, you went with whatever you had on and thats what you fought the fire in. We didnt have turnout gear or breathing apparatus. We used old military coats that werent even fire rated. Templeton firefighter Tom Holoway and Chuck Manry spray water. Templeton Feed & Grain was damaged but survived an Aug. 24, 1979, fire. Spectators gathered along the old highway, now South Main Street, to watch firefighters work. He recalled firefighters standing on Main Street wearing blue jeans and no shirts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The story of the fire ran Aug. 25, 1979. Shirlee Jermin said the grain elevator and storage silos were built in 1952. Her husband Tom Jermin Sr. bought the feed business in 1946. (The family name is correct here, the 1979 story was in error.) Various stories in the following days attributed the fire to a spark from an overhead auger in an adjacent metal building, or it could have been children playing with matches. Templeton Feed & Grain was damaged but survived an Aug. 24, 1979, fire. Spectators gathered along the old highway, now South Main Street, to watch firefighters work. Remaining Templeton Feed & Grain tower crumbles to the ground At first it was uncertain if the granary would survive, but it was repaired and the icon would tower over Templeton for another 46 before falling to another, more devastating fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A year later, one of the carpenters doing repair work survived a near-tragedy, too. An unfortunate accident would again call firefighters to the building for a difficult rescue. Glenn Scott wrote this story from June 3, 1980. Lucky man plucked off mill scaffold For Paso Robles carpenter Barry McFarland, Monday was one of those days when even things as trustworthy as the law of gravity seemed against him. McFarland, 26, was working in the rafters of the towering Templeton Feed & Grain mill about 11:30 a.m. when a wooden L-shaped device called a gin pole, used to hoist construction materials, snapped under too much weight and hit him in the head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was working for Jacobson and Sons Construction Co. of Bismark, North Dakota, and was repairing damage from a fire last August in the granary. Bobby Jermin gazes up at the burned-out top of the Templeton Feed and Grain mill as work began to restore the fire-damaged landmark on Oct 4, 1979. The next thing he knew, he said, he was lying on plywood scaffolding, his head cut and his right arm fractured and throbbing. William Miller, superintendent of the Templeton Fire District, said McFarland was lucky he fell on the scaffolding. He could have plunged down a bin some 80 feet to an asphalt floor, he said. The only safe way down from the rafters was a small ladder, and rescuers from the fire district, the state Department of Forestry and an ambulance service decided a less risky rescue would be to strap McFarland in a gurney and lower him out a window and down a ladder truck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rescuers didnt have a ladder truck, though, so they called San Luis Obispos Fire Department to drive one up. Captain Steve Overbey said once the truck reached the mill and stretched its ladder to the window, we had about 2 feet to spare. Work begins to restore the fire-damaged landmark Templeton Feed & Grain on Oct 4, 1979, following a fire on Aug. 24 of that year. The business expefted to be in full operation by January. Even though the ladder only needed to come back down something the gin pole had done voluntarily the motor for the ladder wouldnt start. McFarland lay in the gurney 80 feet above. All I wanted to do was get down, said the victim. My arm hurt like hell, and I wanted a pain pill or something. So rescuers finally ran a rope over the ladder and lowered the basket down by hand about 12:50 p.m. The motor finally started and the ladder was lowered about an hour later, said Miller. McFarland was listed in good condition this morning in Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton. Ten stitches closed the cuts in his head. Presidential adviser and political commentator David Gergen has died at the age of 83. Gergen served alongside four presidents: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. He then spent some time as a magazine editor before going from political insider to TV commentator. Gergen died at a retirement community in Lexington, Massachusetts, on Thursday from Lewy body dementia, his son Christopher said, according to The New York Times. Gergen served alongside four presidents -- three Republicans and one Democrat (Getty) Gergen wrote speeches, briefed reporters, and created communication strategies. He also helped set the agenda for the four presidents he served, with Clinton being the only Democrat among them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He began his political career in the Nixon White House and served as communications director on two occasions, first to Gerald Ford and then to Ronald Reagan. The adviser was given credit for easing the harsh rightwing rhetoric that Reagans more hardline staffers wanted to use. Clinton brought him back into the White House after a number of political mistakes had set his administration on the wrong course. He lasted roughly a year in the Clinton administration, where some viewed him as an intruder and in a time when many Republicans saw him as a deserter. Following his departure from government, he was lauded by the presidents he had served, and he remained mostly unmarred by the issues that had befallen them. Bill Clinton was the only Democratic president Gergen worked for (AFP via Getty Images) He told The Washington Post in 1981 that he had been slow to understand Nixons guilt in the Watergate scandal. I was young, and I was too naive. It hardened me up a lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Decades later, in a 2021 column for CNN, he wrote President Donald Trump was a bully mean, nasty and disrespectful of anyone in his way. Speaking to The Boston Globe in 2020, he said, Centrism doesnt mean splitting the difference. Its about seeking solutions, and you bring people along. Im happily in that role, he added at the time. A tall man, 6-feet-5, Gergen became popular with many reporters at the White House, leaking information often enough to be dubbed the sieve, The Times noted. Gergen in 2009. He said in 1981 that he was hardened by the Watergate scandal (Getty Images) But some journalists werent so charmed. Mike Kelly, who died in 2003 during the Iraq War, was one of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be Gergenized is to be spun by the velveteen hum of this soothing mans soothing voice into a state of such vertigo that the sense of what is real disappears into a blur, he wrote in The New York Times Magazine in 1993. Gergen told Kelly that he had often been selling for the sake of selling. Spinning had nothing to do with ideas, said Gergen. It had nothing to do with anything that was real, he added. Eventually, it became selling the sizzle without the steak. There was nothing connected to it. It was all cellophane. It was all packaging. When he was not in government, Gergen worked in journalism (Getty) Between his tours in the White House, Gergen dabbled in journalism, becoming the managing editor of Public Opinion magazine in 1978. The magazine was published by the conservative American Enterprise Institute. He also served as the editor and columnist at U.S. News & World Report in the mid-1980s. He frequently appeared on television and taught at Duke University and Harvards Kennedy School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Born on May 9, 1942 in Durham, North Carolina, his father was the chair of the mathematics department at Duke. Graduating from Yale with a degree in American studies in 1963, Gergen was an intern in the office of North Carolinas Democratic Governor, Terry Sanford, for three summers. After earning a law degree from Harvard, he joined the Navy in 1967, serving as an officer on a ship in Japan. He married a Brit, Anne Wilson, whom he met on a blind date that same year. Gergen is survived by his wife, his son and daughter, two brothers, and five grandchildren. David Gergen, who worked for four presidents, including Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, before becoming an academic and political TV pundit, has died. He was 83. Gergen died in a retirement home in Massachusetts on July 10, his son said, according to several outlets. The Washington, D.C., veteran had been suffering from Lewy body dementia, his son said. Virginia Democratic Rep Gerry Connolly Dead At 75 David Gergen speaks at "On The Fault Lines: Decision 2018" Midterm Election Panel in New York City. Those who knew and admired Gergen took to X to express their condolences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former California first lady Maria Shriver wrote on X: "David Gergen was total professional and a really kind man. My thoughts are with his family. He loved politics and he loved being in service to this country." Read On The Fox News App "RIP, Mr. Gergen," CBS reporter Robert Costa wrote. David Gergen, left, with then-President Bill Clinton, center. Former Democratic Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. wrote: "We lost a good one, a really good one - RIP, my friend David Gergen." Gergen came up with the line that then-candidate Reagan said in the 1980 election: "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" according to The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He later said of the line: "Rhetorical questions have great power." President Reagan gives a news conference at the White House concerning the invasion of Grenada involving U.S. troops as Prime Minister Eugenia Charles of Domenica, right, listens and Secretary of State George Shultz, left, and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and behind him White House Communication Director David Gergen stand by. Of his time with the Nixon administration, Gergen told the Washington Post in 1981, "I was young, and I was too naive. It hardened me up a lot. It was an extremely difficult experience emotionally, in terms of belief in people." After leaving public office, Gergen worked as an editor and columnist, as well as for the conservative American Enterprise Institute and the liberal Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was also a commentator for PBS, CNN and NPR. "To say that I rely on him is an understatement," Reagan's White House Chief of Staff, James A. Baker III, told The Washington Post in 1981. "Hes the best conceptualizer, in terms of communications strategy, that we have." Original article source: David Gergen, trusted White House advisor to 4 US presidents across decades, dies at 83 July 12 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1862, the U.S. Congress authorized a new award, the Medal of Honor, highest military decoration for valor against an enemy. In 1957, Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first sitting president to ride in a helicopter. He traveled in a Bell Ranger as part of a nationwide civil defense exercise. The presidential helicopter has always been called Marine One. In 1962, the Rolling Stones gave their first public performance -- at the Marquee Club in London. Twenty years later, the band entered into a long-term, $28 million contract with CBS Records -- the richest deal in music history. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI On July 12, 2018, Sandra Oh became the first Asian American to earn an Emmy nomination for Best Actress for her role in Killing Eve. She won the award two months later at the Emmy Awards, pictured. File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI In 1979, thousands of spectators at a Chicago White Sox game rushed the field at Comiskey Park, declaring disco dead. Police made 39 arrests and nine people were injured during the so-called Disco Demolition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1984, Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale named U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, D-N.Y., as his running mate. She was the first woman to share a major U.S. political party's presidential ticket. Mondale lost in November to incumbent Ronald Reagan. Iconic disco singer Donna Summer performs at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., on August 18, 2010. On July 12, 1979, thousands of spectators at a Chicago White Sox game rushed the field at Comiskey Park, declaring disco dead. File Photo by Michael Bush/UPI In 1990, Boris Yeltsin quit the Soviet Communist Party, saying he wanted to concentrate on his duties as president of the Russian republic. In 1993, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido, killing 160 people. It was the deadliest temblor to hit the country in 10 years. In this June 14, 1957, file photo, the UH-13 Bell Ranger presidential helicopter undergoes a series of practice landings on the White House lawn to familiarize Air Force pilots, Maj. Joseph E. Barrett and Capt. Laurence R. Cummings, with the flight path and landing marks. On July 12, President Eisenhower became the first sitting president to fly in a helicopter. File Photo courtesy National Museum of the USAF In 2008, Tony Snow, who was press secretary under U.S. President George W. Bush and a Fox News Channel host, died of cancer at age 53. The urn containing the ashes of former White House press secretary Tony Snow is carried out of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception following his funeral service in Washington on July 17, 2008. File Photo by Kevin DietschUPI Medal of Honor recipients stand for the Pledge of Allegiance during the opening ceremony for the annual Medal of Honor Convention at Soldier Field in Chicago on September 15, 2009. On July 12, 1862, the U.S. Congress authorized the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration for valor against an enemy. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2011, Ahmed Wali Karzai, 48, a half-brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai and a powerful figure in Kandahar, was killed at his home by a bodyguard. In 2018, Sandra Oh became the first Asian American to earn an Emmy nomination for Best Actress for her role in Killing Eve. She won the award two months later. In 2022, South Korean drama Squid Game became the first non-English-language series to be nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Drama. The Netflix series lost to HBO drama Succession. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The grandmother of the missing 7-year-old boy, Hershall Creachbaum who is assumed to be the boy whose body was discovered last evening has told 2 NEWS about how this tragedy has affected her. Im lost for words, my innocent grandsons life was taken by a monster, wrote Missy Rowland Creachbaum. I want justice, Im devastated and heartbroken. She continued and named a possible suspect and person close to them. 2 NEWS is choosing not to name either until official confirmation from law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I havent slept, I cant close my eyes, wrote Rowland-Creachbaum. I see my baby boy, then [Person A and Person Bs] faces pop up, so I cant close my eyes. Recently, a person of interest was taken into custody after Dayton Police and Fire discovered a body believed to be the missing 7-year-old. The Montgomery County Coroners Office will make the final determination as to whether the body is that of Hershall Creachbaum, who had been missing since early Saturday morning. Officials said Creachbaum, a non-verbal person with autism, went missing from the 400 block of Xenia Avenue at approximately 3:30 a.m. He uses a wheelchair but can walk short distances. The wheelchair had been found previously. Photo via Julian Jackson. Photo via Julian Jackson. Photo via Julian Jackson. Photo via Julian Jackson. The investigation remains active and ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 NEWS is following the situation closely. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. The Brief Daytona Beach Police have arrested a man wanted for attempted child abduction and indecent exposure. The incident happened in the area of 2455 West International Speedway Boulevard. Officials believe the man attempted to kidnap the child by grabbing his arm, according to police. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Daytona Beach Police have arrested a man accused of attempted child abduction and indecent exposure. What we know Authorities say the suspect exposed himself and attempted to abduct a child in the area of 2455 West International Speedway Boulevard. Officials believe the man exposed himself before attempting to abduct a child by grabbing their arm. The man fled the scene after the child yelled, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The child was not physically harmed and didn't require medical attention, police said. The backstory The incident appears to be isolated, but the severity of the allegations has prompted a citywide alert. Police are treating the case as a top priority and have emphasized the danger the suspect may pose to the community, particularly to children. CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX LOCAL APP What they're saying The case has raised public safety concerns in Daytona Beach. SIGN-UP FOR FOX 35'S BREAKING NEWS, DAILY NEWS NEWSLETTERS "The Daytona Beach Police Department is seeking the publics assistance in identifying and locating this subject," officials said in a public advisory. "All information will be handled with discretion. Do not approach the individual. Contact authorities immediately." What you can do If you have any information on the incident, contact the DBPD at 389-671-5100 or Crimestoppers at 888-277-TIPS (8477). The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Daytona Beach Police Department. The Brief A $2,500 reward is being offered for the conviction of the person(s) allegedly responsible for leaving a puppy in a Daytona Beach trash compactor last week. Tips can be submitted anonymously through the Daytona Beach Police Department at AnimalServices@DaytonaBeach.gov. The couple who recused the puppy now named "Daytona" have been caring for him while police investigate the case. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A $2,500 reward is now being offered for the conviction of the person(s) allegedly responsible for leaving a puppy in a Daytona Beach trash compactor last week. $2,500 reward offered by HHS What we know The Halifax Humane Society (HHS) is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) allegedly responsible for leaving a puppy in a Daytona Beach trash compactor last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX LOCAL APP HHS leaders said the $2,500 reward will be paid upon conviction of the responsible party(s). What you can do Anyone with information, big or small, is encouraged to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously through the Daytona Beach Police Department at AnimalServices@DaytonaBeach.gov. This dog deserved care and compassion What they're saying "We are absolutely appalled that anyone could treat an innocent animal with this kind of abandonment and abuse," HHS CEO Sean Hawkins said. "This dog deserved care and compassion not to be discarded like trash. We are deeply grateful for our very strong partnership with the Daytona Beach Police Department. They have taken this case seriously, and we will work closely with them to hold the perpetrator accountable under animal cruelty laws." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We truly appreciate your support for Daytona who was maliciously left inside the trash compactor," Daytona Beach Police Department Captain Richard Gentry said. "Thankfully, he is doing well, and our primary objective now is to identify the person(s) responsible for this heinous crime and hold them accountable as per our rules of law." The backstory A puppy was rescued on July 6 from a trash compactor at a Daytona Beach apartment complex. SIGN-UP FOR FOX 35'S BREAKING NEWS, DAILY NEWS NEWSLETTERS Residents Brandon and Heather Arroyo discovered the black mixed-breed dog trapped inside the machine, which automatically crushes trash. The dog was discovered after the couple received a call alerting them to an animal inside the compactor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brandon, who works with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), used his animal-handling experience to safely pull the dog out. Its unknown how long the puppy had been there, but Brandon Arroyo estimated the animal was about five feet down and too frightened to move. What's next The couple have since been caring for the puppy now named "Daytona" while police investigate the case. The Source This story was written based on information shared by Brandon and Heather Arroyo, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the Halifax Humane Society (HHS). WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A D.C. man is facing an assault charge after he allegedly shot at a man during a dispute in Northeast late last month. Authorities charged Juwan Russell, 28, of Southwest with assault with a dangerous weapon (gun) in connection with the incident, which took place in the 1000 block of 16th St. NE. on June 25. Double shooting injures 2 in Northeast DC According to D.C. police, at around 4:40 p.m. that day, Russell fired a gun at a man during an argument before fleeing the area. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, it is unclear whether Russell and the man knew each other. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A D.C. man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for shooting and killing a 16-year-old in 2019, the U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia announced Friday. A jury found 24-year-old Bernard Eddy guilty of second-degree murder while armed and other weapons offenses in April of 2025. Whistleblower letter reveals friction in handling of Abrego Garcia case Evidence shows that shortly after midnight on Sept. 10, 2019, Eddy approached 16-year-old Steffen Brathwaite on 24th Place SE. Prosecutors said that Steffen was walking alone through the neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eddy was armed with a handgun and fired multiple times at Steffen, who then fell to the ground. Eddy escaped on foot. The USAO said that evidence included a video on Eddys cell phone that was recovered days after the murder. The phone contained a 15-second video that took place around three hours after the shooting, where Eddy was celebrating Steffens murder. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. DARIEN, Ill. A deadly rollover crash along I-55 led to some road closures in the southwest suburbs early Saturday morning. According to Illinois State Police troopers, the single-vehicle crash unfolded just after 5 a.m. in the southbound lanes of I-55, just north of South Cass Avenue, near the border of Darien and Willowbrook. WGN Traffic Map: Get the latest real time traffic updates Troopers did not provide details on what led up to the crash or how many people were killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation into the deadly crash is now underway. Because of the crash, troopers shut down all southbound lanes of I-55 near Cass Avenue, though it is unclear how long the closures could last. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, an opposition leader in Belarus, hadnt heard from her husband Siarhei in more than two years. Not since Belarusian authorities placed him in incommunicado detention, in full isolation. And then he called her. My dear wife, he said. Im free. He had been released from prison after negotiations between authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Trump administration officials, and was at the border between Belarus and Lithuania. He and 13 other political prisoners were heading to the American embassy in Vilnius. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tsikhanouskaya and Siarhei have since reintroduced him to their children, traveled to a solidarity rally in Poland and done interviews with major news outlets. But both Tsikhanouskaya and her husband, a blogger and political activist who was preparing to challenge Lukashenko in Belarus 2020 election when he was imprisoned, are grappling with the oppositions role in what comes next. In an interview with POLITICO Magazine, Tsikhanouskaya described the joy of finally reuniting her family even as she said there was far more work to be done. She also made clear that a certain peace-seeking president could help her cause. We ask President Trump, go further, free them all, she said. Use your influence again. We believe that you can do this, and Belarusians will never forget it. The administrations efforts in Belarus come as Trump continues to search for an end to Russias war on Ukraine, and as Lukashenko looks for a means to end the political isolation his relationship with Vladimir Putin has wrought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with freeing more political prisoners, Tsikhanouskaya is desperate to make sure Belarus isnt pulled further into Russias orbit as part of negotiations to end Putins war. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. When did you know that your husband Siarhei would be freed? The moment when I understood that he was free was when he called me from the border, just a direct call, and I heard his voice, and he told me, My dear wife, I'm free. I could hardly believe this, because I was sure that he would be one of the last who would be released from prison, but who understands the logic of this regime? We had several lists of people to be released, humanitarian lists where people who were about to die were there and people who were incommunicado, some others. They chose Siarhei, I don't know why. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot has been made of the term incommunicado. What exactly does that mean in the context of Belarus? Incommunicado means that a person is kept in full isolation. Since March 2023, more than two years, we lost full connection with Siarhei. A lawyer wasn't able to attend to him. Letters were not received from my husband. Nothing. Just forced disappearance. And we have eight people at the moment on this list, and I wasn't sure if he was alive, what prison he's kept in, what state he's in. The regime is doing this to blackmail relatives, put a burden on the shoulders of their relatives. This knowing nothing about people is, of course, very, very painful. Can you speak to what it was like to see Siarhei for the first time post-prison sentence? It was, it is now, shocking to see him in such a state. He lost half of his weight. He says that for the last couple of months, they even gave him additional portions of butter, cottage cheese. When he got out of the minivan, I knew that he would be there, but if I had seen him somewhere else, I wouldn't have recognized him. And when he returned home, our young daughter didn't recognize him at all. I said, Dear, look who came? And she just said, Hello, who are you? And when he started talking, she just recognized his voice. Of course, there were oceans of tears, hugs, but prison changes people a lot. It's like gray face, like very skinny people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's difficult to see, but the physical state, maybe it's possible to improve somehow. But all those memories from prison, the emotional trauma, psychological trauma, it will not be able to be softened. Has it set in that hes back? How has it been to have him back in the movement? The release of Siarhei, it's brought a boost of energy to the Belarusian people, first of all. It was such news for people. And he's full of energy. For five years, he was thinking about new ideas, new projects, how to change the situation in Belarus. And now we have to use this momentum to direct more attention to the topic of Belarus, to the topic of political prisoners and the countrys political disaster. So, on the one hand, as a wife, I want to take care of him, I want him to relax a little bit. But on the other hand, I understand that he has to jump into the agenda. He's given so many interviews now, so many people want to meet him, to see him, and we have to use that momentum. And he's still realizing what has happened in the democratic movement. But, for sure he will join this movement as a strong speaker, as a leader, just to try to mobilize the energy of Belarusians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five years [since an anti-Lukashenko protest movement was violently quashed and Siarhei was first jailed], and people are exhausted. You know, people continue to fight. We are working on different projects in coordination with the people on the ground, but somehow people are losing, step by step, the energy. And he's a driver who can really, really attract attention. So Siarhei will focus on building new channels of communication with the workers, rural communities, entrepreneurs, officials. His voice is powerful and he speaks the language of people. Many Belarusians watched his first press conference, it gave maybe people inside the country new hope. Many people who believed in 2020, and were silent for five years, are active again. Switching gears to politics are you worried at all that the Trump White House might be legitimizing Lukashenko by negotiating with him on the release of political prisoners? So first of all, President Trump really made a difference. His team Gen. Keith Kellogg, John Cole, Chris Smith took real action and it worked. Trump has shown that diplomacy and pressure can bring results. He has leverage in the situation of Belarus and he used it. Now, we must maintain pressure on the regime. We have seen that the pressure works, and it is the most effective tool. I think that actually Belarus can be President Trump's foreign policy success story a place where American leadership ends a crisis without war. It can be a victory that the world will notice. And we ask President Trump, go further, free them all. Use your influence again. We believe that you can do this, and Belarusians will never forget it. It was American diplomacy and mission that rescued this group of people. But for sure, without the strong and principled and firm position of the European Union as well, it wouldn't have brought this result. So again, President Trump can solve the crisis in Belarus, which lasts 30 years already, and it must be easier to bring changes to Belarus than to Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, there is gossip that this visit of Gen. Kellogg might look like legitimization of the regime, but I trust that our American partners know who they're dealing with. And it was President Trump, actually in 2020, who didn't recognize the legitimacy of Lukashenko. They understand that Lukashenko is a criminal, he committed crimes against Belarusians, he is a war criminal. And he has to be brought to accountability for all the crimes. But nevertheless, for Lukashenko this meeting is more important than it is for the Americans, because he's seeking legitimacy. He's seeking to show the world that Look Americans themselves listen to me, I'm important. But Americans understand that he's playing on the side of Putin in this game, that he is not an independent player. What would you like to see President Trump do in Belarus? We understand that President Trump wants to end the war in Ukraine and this is why Belarus might be a topic for negotiation as well. For us, it's very important that the peace in Ukraine that President Trump wants to achieve must be lasting and just. It must be on the conditions of Ukraine. We can't reward the aggressor. There cannot be peace without justice, and the Belarusian topic is existential here because if Lukashenko stays in power in Belarus, there will no longer be a possibility to secure peace in the whole region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So we want President Trump to continue first of all releases, but also continue this communication through the State Department with the Belarusian Democratic Forces, and bring changes in Belarus that will actually change the security architecture of the whole region. So, continue this humanitarian track and also push Lukashenko and his regime on their path of national dialogue with Belarusians. America can play this very strong mediation role between the Belarusians and the regime. Because again, I want to underline that Lukashenko wants negotiations with the USA or with the West, possibly with the European Union, but we need systematic changes. We want Belarusian people to return to Belarus, where they will not be prosecuted. We want to write our constitution so that it works for Belarusian people. The aim is much broader than the release of political prisoners, though that is our priority. Are you worried that the Trump administration may be giving Putin and Lukashenko too much credit in its bid to end the war? Is it too transactional? Of course, you know President Trump's politics, we see it is rather transactional. But maybe it's not about credit, it's about giving a chance to Putin, maybe to Lukashenko, to change the situation that will meet the demands of Ukrainians and Belarusians. We already saw that President Trump met President Zelenskyy during the NATO Summit and it was a very pleasant conversation. And I think that there was disappointment in Trump's administration that Putin doesn't want to make any concessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What advice do you have for the Trump administration as it embarks on negotiations and attempts to improve relationships with Minsk? We must not normalize the trafficking of political prisoners, when people are released for some concessions from your side, softening of sanctions or publicity. And then new political prisoners are taken. Lukashenko has to be punished, not rewarded. What is a realistic path forward for getting Belarus political prisoners freed with American coordination? Theres a big chance to release all people from prison. But the issue is what the regime wants in return for this. We always say that sanctions are the leverage to release people, but we have to use this leverage smartly. If we don't see any signs that repressions are stopped, this instrument cannot be used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because 14 people have been released but [in June], 28 were detained. When we see a change of policy by Lukashenko, that he's ready to stop these repressions and make steps forward toward the Belarusian people, it might be a signal that you can talk about lifting of sanctions. But again, don't, forget that we have more leverage with European sanctions. Of course, the actions have to be coordinated. And there should be no pressure, for example, from the American side to the European side. The main message is that sanctions as instruments have to be used smartly. We cant even speak about softening sanctions now, while repressions continue and with more than 1,000 behind bars. The first condition ending repression must be met. And I am sure President Trump, with all his power, can achieve it. Like the release of my husband it happened without lifting any sanctions. MANITOWOC, Wis. (WFRV) The St. Boniface church in Manitowoc is set to be closed, with planning underway, after a ruling from the Apostolic Signatura. According to a release from the Diocese of Green Bay, Bishop David Ricken granted permission in January 2023 for the church to close after years of discussion; however, an appeal was filed in the summer of 2024. Crews battle fire on roof, inside Green Bay paper mill for 4+ hours Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That appeal affirmed the decision to close the church, and a final appeal was made to the Apostolic Signatura, referred to as the Supreme Court of the Catholic Church. According to the release, that appeal once again affirmed Bishop Rickens decision to close the Church of Saint Boniface. Officials & police across northeast Wisconsin attend, provide words during funeral of Milwaukee officer killed on duty No details on the procedures have been provided, as plans are reportedly being made for the closure. Local 5 will provide updates as needed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. A decision on whether a group of Michigan Republicans will go to trial on a series of election- and forgery-related charges connected to trying to transmit electoral votes for President Donald Trump in 2020 despite his election loss in the state that year is now expected in September, according to defense lawyers in the cases. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9 before Ingham County 54A District Judge Kristen Simmons, who has overseen preliminary examinations for the 15 individuals charged by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office with signing documents attempting to turn over Michigans electoral votes in 2020 to Trump. Prosecutors have argued the group knowingly tried to defraud voters, since former President Joe Biden won Michigan's election by around 154,000 votes in 2020. Defense attorneys have countered, saying the group was acting at the instruction of Trump campaign lawyers. Three defense attorneys: Mary Chartier, Michael Bullotta and Paul Stablein, told the Detroit Free Press on July 10 and July 11 that a ruling on whether government prosecutors have sufficiently provided enough evidence to send the cases to a jury trial is expected at the Sept. 9 hearing. Kimberly Bush, director of the Office of Public Information and Education within the attorney general's office, said over email the court hadn't specified the purpose of the hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Dec. 14, 2020, as Democratic electors met in the Michigan Capitol to cast the states electoral votes for Biden, a group of Michigan Republicans attempted to enter the building to cast votes for Trump, but was turned away by Michigan State Police. While the group was not able to enter the Capitol, the document its members signed was eventually transmitted to Congress and the National Archives as if Trump had won, according to testimony in the case, although the state's electoral votes were awarded to Biden. A Michigan State trooper at the Capitol in Lansing communicates to lawyer Ian Northon that the building is closed during the electoral college vote on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. Nessel's office has argued the group knowingly intended to defraud voters in Michigan by trying to cast electoral votes for Trump, despite his election loss in the state in 2020. Charges were first announced in the probe in July 2023 and the final preliminary examination hearings in the case wrapped up in October 2024. Initially, 16 people were charged but Nessel's office dropped its case against James Renner in exchange for Renner testifying as a government witness. The other 15 individuals charged, which include former Michigan Republican Party Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock and Republican National Committee member Kathy Berden, all have pleaded not guilty. During the preliminary examinations, defense attorneys argued their clients were acting at the instruction of attorneys for Trump's 2020 campaign. Unlike in other states where Trump campaign lawyers were charged by local prosecutors, no charges have been brought against Trump campaign lawyers in Michigan's fake elector probe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renner, who took the stand as a government witness during preliminary exam hearings that took place last year, testified Trump campaign attorneys informed the group they were acting so that in the event that Michigans election results were somehow flipped from Biden to Trump, there would be a mechanism for Trump to receive the states electoral votes. Bullotta, a defense attorney representing Rose Rook, one of the defendants in the case, told the Free Press during a May interview that Renner's testimony indicates a lack of criminal intent from those charged in the case. "The evidence for my client is that she signed a single signature page without any words on it except her name and her signature, and other people's names," Bullotta said, echoing arguments made by the defense during the preliminary exams. "There was nothing else on there, she did not know she was representing herself as a duly elected elector or any such thing. She was told explicitly her signature was required as a contingency in the event that the election flipped to Trump." More: Feds charge another Chinese citizen with smuggling biological materials for lab work Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The forgery-related charges are each punishable by up to 14 years in prison, if convicted, and the election law forgery charges are each punishable by up to five years in prison, if convicted. Despite Biden's victory in Michigan and nationally in the 2020 election, Trump and his campaign allies spread baseless theories that the election was somehow stolen. Numerous election audits and lawsuits have found there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. Trump won election back to the White House in 2024. The false electors actions undermined the publics faith in the integrity of our elections and, we believe, also plainly violated the laws by which we administer our elections in Michigan, Nessel said after charges were announced in July 2023. "My department has prosecuted numerous cases of election law violations throughout my tenure, and it would be malfeasance of the greatest magnitude if my department failed to act here in the face of overwhelming evidence of an organized effort to circumvent the lawfully cast ballots of millions of Michigan voters in a presidential election. More: Michigan Republicans cheer, Democrats jeer passage of Trump's 'big, beautiful' bill Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the case, Nessel's office has charged: Maddock, Berden, Rook, William "Hank" Choate, Clifford Frost, Mayra Rodriguez, Marian Sheridan, Ken Thompson, Amy Facchinello, John Haggard, Mari-Ann Henry, Michele Lundgren, Stanley Grot, Timothy King and Kent Vanderwood. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Decision on trial appears closer in Michigan 'fake electors' probe NEW YORK (PIX11) A flight from Madrid to New York City took an unexpected stop when a mechanical issue caused a Delta flight to land on the Portuguese island of Lajes, Azores. Delta flight 127 was diverted on Sunday, a Delta spokesperson confirmed with PIX11 News on Friday. More Local News As safety comes before all else at Delta, the flight crew followed procedures to divert to Lajes, Azores (TER) after indication of a mechanical issue with an engine. The flight landed safely, and we sincerely apologize to our customers for their experience and delay in their travels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over 200 customers and 13 crew members landed safely and were deplaned at Terceira-Lajes Airport, according to officials. Delta maintenance technicians are currently working on the affected aircraft. A Delta spokesperson stated the company is in the process of reaching out to customers to apologize for the experience and offer compensation. No injuries were reported, and customers were re-accommodated on a new aircraft, which arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday, officials said. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Passengers have described the horror that they underwent when their Delta flight was forced into an emergency landing on the tiny Azores Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Last Sunday, Delta Flight 127 took off from Madrid en route to New York Citys JFK airport, shortly after takeoff, passengers described hearing a loud bang coming from underneath the Airbus A330. Phoenix realtor Ken Elder, 54, told The Advocate that he was lying horizontally in the Delta One section of the plane, a first-class offering, when he heard the boom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a thud under the plane. I could feel it through my back. As someone who flies a lot, I knew it wasnt turbulence I was kind of stressed out because I was like, I am not going down in the ocean, laying like Im in a coffin. I need to get seated back up, he said. In a separate interview, another passenger, Marc Viscardi, told of the horrifying scene which saw passengers crying and wailing as the pilot announced one of the planes engines was lost. People were crying. There were people praying. Nobody really knew what was happening. The pilot got onto the intercom to tell us the flight had been diverted and we lost the left engine, he told ABC New York. Elder elaborated on the bizarre scene that unfolded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was surreal. I usually fall asleep while were taxiing. But when the pilot said wed lost an engine, I thought, This is happening. Im on the plane thats the emergency, he said. And there was this split between the logical part of my brain, which trusted the pilot, and the emotional side that kept thinking, If we lose the second engine, were screwed. Elder went on to say that he was texting family members as the nightmare unfolded, fearing the worst. He also spoke about seeing his fellow passengers crying and praying. The flight crew landed the flight safely on Lajes Airfield on Terceira Island in the Azores. View the 1 images of this gallery on the original article Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Passengers were faced with a 30-hour layover. Delta offered them meals and accommodation, but Viscardi said that the carriers efforts fell short. He said that some passengers booked their own hotels because the airline was taking such a long time to do so. In a brief statement, Delta told various media outlets: The flight landed safely, and we sincerely apologize to our customers for their experience and delay in their travels. Its not clear what caused the aircrafts engine to fail. In his interview with The Advocate, Elder was effusive in his praise for the crew on board the flight, including the captain, who reassured passengers that the flight could continue safely with one engine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, on the ground, Elder reiterated Viscardis concerns, complaining that he had booked his own hotel only to arrive there and discover that Delta had booked some accommodations for passengers, just not every passenger. Despite this, Elder said he will not give up on traveling with Delta as the airline regularly takes good care of passengers. Delta Passengers Reveal Horror Inside Plane After 'Loud Boom' Forced Emergency Landing first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 12, 2025 Members of Florida's Congressional delegation toured the state-run immigrant detention center in the Everglades on July 12, 2025. (Photo courtesy of the office of South Florida Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz) U.S. Democratic representatives characterized the state-run immigrant detention center in the Everglades as a cruel and wasteful political stunt following a guided tour Saturday. Members of Congress and state legislators who visited the site described seeing bugs on mattresses, toilets and showers that lacked privacy, small food portions, and temperatures between 83 and 85 degrees in the air-conditioned areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are really disturbing, vile conditions, and this place needs to be shut the hell down, said South Florida U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of the detention center at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport. The South Florida Democrat said 32 men slept in each of the cages with bed bunks and three sinks attached to the toilets. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced hundreds of people started arriving on July 2. Democrats labeled the tour as sanitized because they couldnt speak to any of the detainees or staff. Detainees have told the Miami Herald and CBS News that they hadnt been able to shower, the toilets didnt flush, and that the food had maggots. Anna Eskamani, a state representative from Orlando, said Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, led the tour. The agency is in charge of the site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was just incredibly dystopian, and a lot of lack of clarity on what rules and procedures are actually being followed as it pertains to those being detained, as it pertains to what their status is, Eskamani said in a phone interview with Florida Phoenix. Eskamani is one of five Democrats in the Florida Legislature suing the state after they werent allowed to enter the detention center on July 3. FDEM invited Congress members and state lawmakers on Wednesday for the tour Saturday, when U.S. representatives said they were already planning on conducting an oversight visit. Meanwhile, Kristi Noem, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, defended conditions at the detention center during a press conference in Tampa on Saturday, saying it was held to the same standards as federal facilities. However, she sidestepped specific questions about the site because it is state-run. Any issues that were there have been addressed, she said. Its a fantastic resource for us to be able to utilize in order for a detention facility to repatriate people back home to their home countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governors in five Republican states have told Noem they want to build detention centers like the one in the Everglades, Noem said. She refused to say which governors expressed interest. Spring Hill Republican Sen. Baise Ingoglia, an ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis, also visited on Saturday. The senator, possibly in line as DeSantis pick as chief financial officer, wrote on X that Democrats rhetoric about the detention center didnt match reality. I actually laid down in one of the beds and it was really comfortable, Ingoglia wrote. So, any complaints about squalor conditions is nothing more than bullsh*t and political theater. Promises made. Promises kept. I did, in fact, wear my Gators shirt to Alligator Alcatraz this morning. For the record, I was kinda hoping it was going to be named Gator Gitmo. pic.twitter.com/4IacGYBfVl Blaise Ingoglia (@GovGoneWild) July 12, 2025 Alligator Alcatraz is the name Floridas Republican leadership have give to the camp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the poor conditions Democrats described, South Florida Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz said the detention center shouldnt be compared to a concentration camp. Moskowitz served as the head of FDEM for two years under DeSantis. Listen, it is as bad as it can be, but it is not a concentration camp, and people should not use Holocaust references to describe whats going on behind us, he told reporters following the tour. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The first six months of Donald Trumps second presidency have been a master class in what he truly excels at: wanton misrule. With an absence of adult minders and a determination to run roughshod over all of the democratic guardrails that have historically only been propped up by a fealty to norms and the waning spirit of fair play in Washington, Trump has moved fast and broken the government, put the economy into trauma with his constantly shifting tariff demands, perpetrated the deaths of HIV-infected children abroad, and cut the ribbon on a spanking new concentration camp in Florida. These first six months have also featured a Democratic Party that has done what it does best: kept its stockpile of powder nice and dry. While some Democratic electeds have broken from the herd (often to the disdain of Democratic leadership) to confront Trump and his Republican minions, the partys age-old theory of how political change happenswait for the GOP to screw uphas remained in effect. Though now, with the passage of Trumps big new kick people off health care and funnel the money into an American Gestapo Act of 2025, it looks like Democrats finally have their quarry right where they want them. Or almost? As it turns out, Democrats are planning to take on the GOPin a few weeks, anyway. House Democrats are plotting to turn the August recess into the opening salvo of the midterms, including through town halls and organizing programs, reports Politico, as the party is experiencing renewed bravado after months in the political wilderness. And to think that all it took for Democrats to exit this self-imposed exile was Trump getting everything he wanted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But come on, feel the bravado, folks. Maines centrist weirdo Representative Jared Golden, who is part of a group of Democrats whove lately decided that swearing more often makes them look edgy, shows up in the same Politico piece, bragging, Theres almost nothing about this bill that Im going [to] have a hard time explaining to the district. This is a giant tax giveaway to wealthy people. Everyone fucking knows it. Can confirm! The New Republic has been covering this bill rather relentlessly over the past few months, which raises an uncomfortable question: What was stopping Golden from explaining this to his district at any point during the legislative meanderings of this bill? (Perhaps Golden, the most Trump-curious member of the Democratic caucus, was weighing whether to vote with the Republicans, as he has in the past.) If theres one thing that Democrats do seem committed to, its their August timetable for finally unleashing the spittin, cussin, new-look party to officially open the midterm election campaign. Over the past weekend, as Texans faced the now-familiar tragedy of mass casualties from devastating floods, House minority leader and energy vampire Hakeem Jeffries found it premature to go on an attack. Instead, he joined the Sunday morning talk show idiot parade to express his firm hope that Democrats might work productively with the party thats hell-bent on destroying the government and wiping climate change from our brains: I think we are going to have to figure out what happened, why did it happen, and how do we prevent this type of tragedy from ever happening again? And so the question of readiness is certainly something that Congress should be able to explore in a bipartisan way, particularly as we head into a summer where we can expect intensifying extreme weather events. Its hard to fathom a Democratic leader speaking these words aloud in July of 2025. In the first place, the hows and whys of this flood should be glitteringly apparent: Trumps executive branch misrule has led to cuts in the programs and personnel that keep people safe from these disasters, his shell of a disaster-response agency was slowed by Kristi Noems penny-pinching and is (as of this writing) slow-walking the response, and the federal governments weather resources are being sold to his cronies. There is also ample evidence of Republican misrule closer to home, from a Republican governor who keeps presiding over these needless disasters to local officials who passed on funding a more robust emergency system so they could score partisan political points. Meanwhile, the GOPs commitment to the promulgation of deranged conspiracy theories has the MAGA faithful engaging in the sorts of crimes that might cause the next disaster. Therefore, the question of How do we stop this tragedy from happening again? has a pretty clear and obvious answer: Drive Republicans out of office. And that, Im sorry to say, precludes the possibility of working arm-in-arm with the members of this criminal syndicate to solve the problems of the world. The scores who perished in these Texas floods deserve the finest politicization-of-their-deaths that the Democrats can muster: Take the cheapest shot, force Trump and his lackeys to defend themselves, shred their defense to pieces by demanding more and better, and then reload for the next disaster, which under Trump, as we know, will always be soon in arriving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I agree with The New Republics editor Michael Tomasky that Trumps murderous new piece of legislation will reveal how cruel and stupid the Republicans have become; how could it not? But the GOP has a distinct advantage over Democrats not just because they, as Tomasky correctly points out, have a multibillion-dollar propaganda machine that will see to it that [their] vast audience never learns the truth about the impacts of this bill; they are also vastly better at playing the media game with outlets outside their immediate control, where they are quicker to the punch and more relentless in bringing controversy and conflict to market. It would be a good idea to follow Delaware Representative Sarah McBrides lead and start referring to the future Medicaid cuts as Trumpcare. Until these widening strategic gaps start to close, I wouldnt put my faith behind the belief that Trumpism will discredit itself. Its not enough to simply vote against Trumps bad ideasthough that is mandatory. You have to engage in full-frontal war with the GOP, relentlessly force them to defend themselves, find a way to blame them for everything that goes wrong, and use your available resources and expertise to help those who will be harmed by the GOPs policies. This is the time for Democrats to get a lot less civil. To bide ones time in the hopes that a more favorable political environment might emerge is malpracticebecause while youre waiting, people are getting crushed economically and snatched off the street by masked paramilitary thugs. And to pretend that you have a productive relationship with the GOP on any level, as Jeffries asserted in the wake of more deaths by Republican hands, is simply brain-dead. Im pleased as punch to know that in a few weeks time, the Democrats will supposedly be firing their powder. I hope to see some real pyrotechnics at last. This article first appeared in Power Mad, a weekly TNR newsletter authored by deputy editor Jason Linkins. Sign up here. DENVER (KDVR) A Pinpoint Weather Alert Day is issued for parts of northeast Colorado as there will be another round of showers and thunderstorms in Denver weather on Friday evening. Some storms will produce lightning, wind and hail. There could be some heavy rain with a few of the storms. According to Pinpoint Weather, Colorados Most Accurate Forecast, the best chance for heavy rain with possible low-lying flooding is in northeast Colorado, where a flood watch is in place late Friday into early Saturday (green shaded counties in image below). FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up for weather alerts from the Pinpoint Weather team Possible heavy rain could produce localized flooding in NE Colorado late Friday into early Saturday Weather tonight: Few showers overnight Showers and thunderstorms will head east through the evening. A few lingering light showers could last past midnight along the Front Range. It will be mostly cloudy overnight. Temperatures will be comfortable with upper 50s and low 60s across metro Denver and the eastern plains. There will be more refreshing 40s in parts of the Colorado mountains. Overnight lows by Saturday morning across Colorado Weather tomorrow: Scattered thunderstorms and warm Saturday will start off with some clouds, followed by some sunshine for several hours. Scattered showers are expected to return during the afternoon and evening. There will be fewer storms with the best chance for rain sliding south of metro Denver across the Palmer Divide and into southeast Colorado. Temperatures will stay below normal across eastern Colorado with mainly 70s and 80s. It will remain hot with 80s and 90s across the western half of the state. Forecast highs on Saturday across Colorado from Pinpoint Weather Looking ahead: Hot and dry, then back to daily rain chances Sunday is the only dry day in the coming week. Temperatures will return to the low 90s, just a little above normal for Denver at this time of year. It will stay in the 90s on Monday, but a low chance for late-day thunderstorms will be back in the forecast. Colorados Most Accurate 7-day forecast from Pinpoint Weather Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement View the latest Weather Alerts in Denver and across Colorado on FOX31 The chance for late-day showers and thunderstorms will continue each day next week. The best chance will arrive on Wednesday. Temperatures will dip into the 80s for Wednesday and Thursday thanks to a cold front. It will be at a seasonal 90 degrees with a few storms on Friday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) A Holland Township woman who was reported missing last week was found safe, authorities say. Jessica Boelema, 24, was reported missing after she didnt return to her adult foster care home in Holland Township Friday evening, the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office said. On Monday, authorities said she had been found safe in the Ann Arbor area and was reunited with her family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly spelled Jessica Boelemas name. We regret this error, which has been corrected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that killed a 63-year-old man. On Friday, at about 8:35 p.m., the McDuffie County Sheriffs Office responded to a home on Leslie Street regarding a domestic dispute. Deputies spoke with a woman who told them that Arval Gross of Thomson was inside the home. Deputies entered the home to speak with Gross and saw him in a hallway. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to deputies, Gross was holding a shotgun and raised it towards the deputies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two deputies fired shots at Gross, hitting him. No deputies were injured. Gross died at the scene. His body will be taken to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur, where an autopsy will be performed. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] DESOTO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) All About Wellness, a wellness center in DeSoto Parish, held its grand opening today, offering various therapies and services to promote healing, stress relief, and relaxation. Located in Grand Cane a village in DeSoto Parish, All About Wellness offers: Sound Lounge Therapy (designed to improve sleep, emotional balance, relieve pain and tension) for $15 -$30 Thermal Massage Bed with infrared jade rollers Our massage bed uses the healing power of infrared heat and smooth jade rollers to melt away stress, ease muscle tension, and promote circulationall completely contactless and fully clothed. Foot Detox Sessions, and various types of oils, soaps and other products great for wellness and relaxation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSoto Parishs Sheriff Jayson Richardson congratulated the business and were on site to celebrate their grand opening. (Courtesy of DeSoto Parish Sheriffs Office) (Courtesy of DeSoto Parish Sheriffs Office) (Courtesy of DeSoto Parish Sheriffs Office) According to their social media, All About Wellness is open from Tuesday Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at 8366 Old Hwy 171 , Grand Cane, Louisiana. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. The University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) The State University System Board of Governors moved forward Friday on creating a new university accreditation agency, even as the boards chair acknowledged a lot of questions about liability, organizational structure, and the intent of the agency. The Commission for Public Higher Education, intended by Gov. Ron DeSantis to upend woke accreditation cartels, got a go-ahead from the board during a longer-than-expected meeting filled with questions about governance and how the organization will come to be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis announced the initiative last month as a partnership among southern states that he complains have had to bend the knee to secure or maintain accreditation under the existing setup. Board Chair Brian Lamb said there are a lot of questions still to answer about operating the agency, as did board member Eric Silagy. We need to be very thoughtful and I think deliberate in standing this up, because it is truly a startup that right off the bat will have millions of students and hundreds of thousands of faculty and billions of dollars directly affiliated with it, Silagy said. The board approved a business plan, bylaws, and articles of incorporation for the organization, which has initial buy-in from the University System of Georgia, the University of North Carolina system, University of South Carolina, the University of Tennessee system, and the Texas A&M University system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The business plan looks at the pathway to being an official accreditor, plus market analysis, revenue model, risk analysis, and other state objectives. Acting as the Board of Governors Foundation, too, the board approved $4 million toward the agency. If you look at the current accreditation process utilized by the seven national accreditors, they are all focused on inputs and processes rather than outputs and outcomes. This approach, we believe, suppresses innovation and it punishes those who try to do things differently, SUS Chancellor Ray Rodrigues said. How much control the Board of Governors might exercise over the new accreditor, funding commitments from other states, and data security were among the top concerns voiced by board members in the early stages of the accrediting agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The process to be officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Education is expected to take about two years, although the state points out an executive order from President Donald Trump that looks to address GOP concerns with accreditation agencies that may speed up the process. Future funding for the agency is unsettled, according to Lamb, while board staff said it has internal approximations but nothing they felt comfortable making public. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Looking to replace Floridas and other southern state institutions are members of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. During a news conference last month announcing Floridas new commission, DeSantis and Rodrigues launched jabs at SACSCOC, saying Florida institutions have problems with the accrediting organization and that its member schools performance has not been impressive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SACSCOC told the Phoenix, We welcome any new accreditor as they go through a rigorous approval process. Accreditation is central to quality education; thus accreditors are held to high standards and must themselves be reviewed. The statement continued: As for SACSCOC, we know we currently accredit institutions that serve the largest number of students in the country (approximately 5M). As such, we will work with our partnering institutions to ensure and strengthen a high standard of accreditation that reflects the needs of students, our institutions, and the workforce. The governor has identified existing accrediting agencies as being an issue for a long time as an impediment to higher education policies hes championed, such as SB 266, which outlawed state spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion but allowed DEI initiatives to continue if required to maintain accreditation. Rodrigues said he wants ideology out of the accrediting process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not looking to create an accreditor that removes left-wing ideology and replaces it with right-wing ideology. The point of this is to have an accreditor thats not involved in ideology at all but is completely focused on academic excellence and quality education, Rodrigues said. The Florida Education Association and United Faculty of Florida released a joint statement following DeSantis announcement last month, saying they strongly oppose the move that they believe directly threatens the independence, integrity, and academic credibility of the states higher education system. Accreditation matters because its the backbone of academic freedom, shared governance, and public trust in the quality of our institutions, UFF President Teresa M. Hodge said in a news release, adding that the proposed accreditor appears designed to align more with political priorities rather than academic independence. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE An invasive fly recently found in South Carolina wont hurt you but it could plow through your hardwood and stone fruit trees. Clemson Universitys Department of Plant Industry says the spotted lanternfly has been found in Greenville and Seneca and describes it as a significant threat. Originally from Asia, scientists believe it came to the United States on imported goods and was first seen in Pennsylvania in 2014. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been found in 18 states since, including North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. The insect is also found on grape vines and its favorite host is the tree of heaven, Clemson said. It excretes a sticky, sugary fluid while eating that causes sooty mold, further damaging plants, Clemson said. The spotted lanternfly lays eggs (40-50 at a time) on nearly any stationary surface, making it easy for them to hitchhike to new areas unnoticed, Clemson said. They have a rotten smell. Spotted lanternfly being found in South Carolina is somewhat inevitable considering it has been found up and down the East Coast and in our neighboring states, said David Coyle, associate professor and state Extension specialist in Clemsons Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation. As with so many other invasive insects and plant diseases, once it arrived from overseas, it has been hitching a ride on vehicles, shipping containers, pallets and other means. This is why we are urging people to inspect vehicles and cargo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Juvenile spotted lanternflies are black with white spots and turn red as they develop. Adults, roughly 1-inch long and 1/2-inch wide, have a yellow, black-barred abdomen. Theyre easiest to spot at dusk or at night as they migrate up and down the trunk of a plant, The United States Department of Agriculture states. During the day, they tend to cluster near the base or canopy of a plant, making them more difficult to see. Clemson asks people to report sightings to www.clemson.edu/invasives. NEED TO KNOW New information has been revealed tied to the disappearance of a 21-year-old Navy sailor who was found dead on June 9 A Department of the Navy memo, sent to Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, confirmed that sailor Angelina Resendiz was last seen with another, unnamed sailor Angelina was a kind and compassionate young woman who brought light into our lives, her mother previously said in a statement New details have emerged in the case of the sailor who disappeared from her Virginia Navy base in May and was found dead days later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities previously said Angelina Petra Resendiz was "last seen at her barracks in Miller Hall at Naval Station Norfolk" on May 29. She was later found dead in an off-base wooded area days later on June 9. Now, a Department of the Navy memo obtained and published this week by both CBS affiliate WTKR and NBC affiliate WAVY sheds more light on the timeline of events tied to Resendiz's death. In the memo, sent to Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, the Navy confirmed that Resendiz who was assigned to the USS James E. Williams prior to her death was last seen at the barracks of an unnamed sailor around 10 a.m. local time on May 29 during a wellness check on another sailor. Per the memo, Resendiz was on "authorized liberty" on May 29, meaning she had "no assigned duties" on the ship that day and was "not required to muster with her chain of command." Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Angelina Resendiz/Facebook Angelina Resendiz Angelina Resendiz The Naval Station Norfolk Base Police first conducted a wellness check at 5:45 a.m. that day when an officer "reported that he could not locate CSSN Resendiz after she contacted him requesting to be picked up at the barracks." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police eventually entered her room, per the memo, and she was later located in the room assigned to another sailor hours later. Resendiz was expected to muster, or check in for duty, at 7:30 a.m. the following day but did not report, the memo said. At 9:30 a.m. on May 30, another wellness check was conducted on both her room and the room of the other sailor, whom she was last seen with, but "neither Sailor was located," according to the timeline of events provided by the Navy. The other sailor's name has not yet been released. The new details come weeks after Marshall Griffin, an attorney who represents Resendizs mother, told WAVY that the Navy confirmed a man named Jermiah Copeland was detained or confined "on suspicion" in the case following an initial review officers hearing at the Naval Consolidated Brig in Chesapeake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Griffin and a spokesperson for the U.S. Navy did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Griffin told WAVY that Copeland would remain in pretrial confinement and charges were not known at the time. Such hearings, Griffin added, determine whether the individual is a flight risk, or theyre likely to engage in other misconduct, and consider the governments evidence whether a crime actually occurred. A spokesperson for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) also confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE last month that a Navy sailor had been placed in "pretrial confinement" in connection with the case. Angelina Resendiz/Facebook Angelina Resendiz Angelina Resendiz Resendizs body was found by the NCIS on June 9 in an off-base wooded area in Norfolk. The Norfolk Medical Examiners Office verified on June 10 that her body was positively identified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The young woman's remains have since been transferred to the Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas. They were returned home by military personnel, according to KVEO, a local NBC and CBS affiliate. According to WAVY, Resendiz's mother, Esmeralda Castle, said that the person responsible for this horrific loss made deliberate choices that ended Angies life." She added that their actions were "not a mistake." Angelina was a kind and compassionate young woman who brought light into our lives, Castle said in a separate statement following her daughter's death, calling the loss a void in their hearts. Read the original article on People A new report unravels the chaos that ended in police shooting a teenager and two officers being injured. Around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, a 17-year-old, whom the Miami Herald is not naming due to his age, and an unidentified female were parked in a stolen white Audi Q8 in the Prestige Vista apartment complex in North Miami, according to the teens arrest report, which was released Friday. READ MORE: 2 officers, 1 civilian hospitalized after shooting in North Miami, officials say Police were hot on the trail of the stolen car, and while searching, a North Miami officer spotted it in the complexs parking lot. The officer called for backup, and soon after, his fellow officers, along with Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office deputies, descended on the complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One police car sped up and parked in front of the parked Audi as other officers walked up to it from the side with guns drawn with the intent of taking the teen and passenger into custody, the report read. While the passenger heeded the demands to surrender, the teen put the Audi in drive and slammed into the patrol car in front of it. An officer taking cover behind the cruiser was almost hit. The teen then turned the car toward officers to escape but slammed into a garage pillar and a parked Buick LaCrosse deploying the Audis airbags. While the teen was making these maneuvers, he hit a detective in the legs and back. Several officers fired their guns into the Audi. The 17-year-old was shot and taken to a hospital. The detective and another officer were also taken to a hospital for their injuries. The teen was charged with vehicular grand theft, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and aggravated fleeing. Its unclear if he was released from the hospital or is in jail. NEED TO KNOW The man who died after being "sucked" into a plane engine at an airport in Milan, Italy, on July 8 has reportedly been identified as Andrea Russo Russo, 35, allegedly approached a Volotea Airlines jet after forcing his way onto the runway at Il Caravaggio International Airport "We are investigating about possible relationships with the airport or the world of planes," local prosecutor Maurizio Romanelli said, according to the U.K. newspaper Metro New details have emerged about the man in Italy who was killed after being "sucked" into the engine of a plane earlier this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera, the 35-year-old man involved in the fatal incident has been named as Italian builder Andrea Russo. At around 10:20 a.m. local time on July 8, Russo broke into a restricted area on the runway at Il Caravaggio International Airport (also known as Milan Bergamo Airport) and allegedly ran into the engine of a Volotea Airlines jet, 7 News Australia and U.K. newspaper Metro reported, citing Italian news outlets. Russo had abandoned his car at the airport moments before running into a restricted area of the runway, where he threw himself into one of the two turbofans on the plane heading to Asturias, Spain, per the outlets. Russo was not a passenger or staff member of the airport, Volotea Airlines confirmed to PEOPLE. In footage obtained by Corriere della Sera, Russo is seen running towards the plane after breaking free from border police officers. In another shot, he attempts to climb up the side of one of the engines on the plane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russo falls to the ground and jumps back up, before appearing to leap towards the engine. His body then falls to the ground as staff watch in horror. Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty A Volotea Airbus A319-111 at Toulouse Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, France, on May 6, 2025 A Volotea Airbus A319-111 at Toulouse Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, France, on May 6, 2025 According to local police sources, the man had been in recovery after a history of drug problems and planned to "try and rebuild his life, per Metro. A witness told local media, At first he threw himself against the casings the protections of the right engine of the plane. Then he went around and either threw himself or was sucked into the propeller of the left engine, 7 News Australia reported. Volotea Airlines previously said in a statement to PEOPLE, "A person, who was not a passenger or airport personnel, trespassed onto the runway while the aircraft was preparing for takeoff. Sadly, the person was struck by the engine and has passed away. The airline deeply regrets this tragic incident and extends its condolences to the family of the person involved." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All 154 passengers and six crew members on board were safe following the incident, Volotea Airlines confirmed on X. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty An Airbus A320-216 at Barcelona Airport in Barcelona, Spain, on January 6, 2025 An Airbus A320-216 at Barcelona Airport in Barcelona, Spain, on January 6, 2025 "Psychological support was also offered to both passengers and crew members. The affected passengers were rebooked on another Volotea flight that departed at 4:43 p.m. local time and landed in Asturias at 6:50 p.m. local time," Volotea Airlines added in a statement, per Metro. The incident is being investigated along with Russo's possible links to the airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are investigating about possible relationships with the airport or the world of planes," local prosecutor Maurizio Romanelli said, according to Metro. "In the car with which he arrived at the airport, heaps of all kinds of material were found but we couldnt find anything that could give any kind of explanation." PEOPLE has reached out to Il Caravaggio International Airport, Volotea Airlines and local police for comment. Read the original article on People PLAINS, Ga. (WRBL) Its a story about redemption and family ties. Mary Prince was the nanny-turned-caregiver, whose narrative is interwoven with the family that took her in the Carters of Plains. A native of Richland and Stewart County, raised in New Jersey, Mary Prince had a five-decade kinship with former President Jimmy Carter and his family. She is 79 years old. She lives in Plains rarely does she do media interviews. You can count the number of interviews she has done over 50 years on one hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres her story: First of all, I went to prison. Thats how I ended up at the governors mansion, Prince said. Thats not the normal way you get to the Georgia governors mansion. But that wrongful conviction on involuntary manslaughter in Stewart County, led Mary Prince to the White House and a 54-year relationship with the Carter family. Heres how Chip Carter, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carters son, describes her: Family. A friend. She was the caregiver for my parents. But she did so much more than that. Shes a remarkable human being, and that my parents found her early in their political life is a Godsend, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason they found Prince was through her case when she was wrongly accused and convicted of killing outside a bar in Lumpkin. She was in Columbus, caring for her mother, when her life took a turn. I was going to move my family back to New York because I could not get a good job in Columbus. My mother was living in Columbus, Prince recalled. Prince and the Carters found each other in the governors mansion in Atlanta on West Paces Ferry Road in 1971. Thats when the man from Plains was elected to the states top office. Mrs. Carter interviewed me and asked, How did I feel about kids? And I told her since I was 14 years old, kids had always been my life. So, she brought Amy downstairs and she talked to me for a little while. She was really smart. 3 years old, she was the most smartest child you would ever want to meet in your life, Prince recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added, well, I was more like a mom instead of a nanny. A nanny is a person that goes home every day and forget about the daycare. I stayed in the governors mansion with Amy when she was little. She did not want me to leave at night, so I stayed in her room in the bed beside her. She followed the Carters to the White House in 1976 and thats when Chip found a trusted advisor. You know about how to live life, absolutely. Mary had a rough life when she was a child and she knew how to get through that. And even though I was the presidents kid, it was a rough life. You get used to it. And Mary helped me get that home spun naturalness that she gives all of her advice with, Chip said. He added, you may not even know its advice until you get 10-feet away. And you say, thank you, Mary. She has been fabulous for our family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When voters sent the Carters back to Plains in 1981, Prince moved to Sumter County with them. And she was there with the Carters until Rosalynn died in 2023 and President Carter died in December. They trusted me with their whole hearts and soul, she said I miss them a lot. A lot. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Jul. 12Jim Fox III remembers sitting down to a table at Dick's Diner as a child with his father, even though his dad was the founder of the popular Fox's Pizza chain. The family recognized the appeal of a small-town diner like Dick's. Today, Fox owns the restaurant, which will be featured this summer by national media and marketing company America's Best Restaurants as part of its "ABR Roadshow" web series. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Originally, it was just going to be a real estate deal, but we started looking into the restaurant, and the more we did, the more we thought about keeping it going," Fox told TribLive when he acquired the property in 2023. In the intervening years, the menu has been updated along with the interior and exterior, dinner hours that had been cut back during the covid-19 pandemic were reinstated and the longtime Route 22 staple, which will mark its 80th anniversary in 2026, was reinvigorated. "Things have been outstanding," said general manager Erik Retzer of Murrysville. "The biggest challenge we had was building a staff that works well together and has the same vision of us in making sure the customer comes first." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dick's marketing manager Amanda Casteel helped the restaurant get onto the DoorDash app. "That allows us to tap into a market we were never in previously," Retzer said. "We would like to be able to expand to try and get more of a younger demographic, but our business is definitely driven by repeat customers, especially among the breakfast and lunch crowd." Restaurants featured on the "ABR Roadshow" are selected based on their customer reviews, menu items, social media presence and level of involvement with their community. The company was filming recently in the region, and happened to be at Fox's Pizza when Fox invited them to cross the highway and grab a meal at Dick's Diner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They came over and said, 'This is one-of-a-kind with the history, how long it's been here and how it's one of the pillar businesses in Murrysville,'" Retzer said. "They said they'd be back in Pennsylvania later in the summer and wanted to do some filming to feature us." The company will be filming on location at Dick's Diner on July 25, and the finished episode will premiere later this year on its website and social media pages. "We're obviously looking to showcase the food, but we're also hoping to feature some of what goes on in the back of the house," Retzer said. "Our team works hard, and we've also been working with students in Franklin Regional's life skills program, bringing them in on Tuesdays and Fridays along with a student aide. We give them an opportunity to see what some of the entry-level jobs are like here." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of the four life-skills students who worked at the diner during the past school year have been hired on as permanent staff. "It's a chance for us not just to do what we regularly do and serve the community our food, but also to reach out to people in that community who could use a break in life and some have really become a part of the team here," Retzer said. Dick's Diner is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is at 4200 William Penn Highway. For more, see DicksDinerMurrysville.com. Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com. In Denver, scientists uncovered a 67.5-million-year-old dinosaur fossil deep underground and by chance, it just so happened to be buried underneath the parking lot of a museum that houses similar specimens. As the Denver Museum of Nature and Science explained in Catalyst, its online magazine, the ancient bone fragment was buried some 763 feet below the institution's parking lot, making it the oldest and deepest such fossil to be discovered within city limits. Beyond the coincidence of finding a dino bone underneath a museum of natural history, however, the way the bone was found also defies belief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in January of this year, researchers began drilling underneath the museum's parking lot to see if Earth's subsurface temperatures could heat and cool it sustainably. This "geothermal heating," as it's called, uses the same principle as hot springs, making this now-experimental form of renewable energy one of the oldest in the world. Once the two drill rigs got going, the scientists behind the project which was carried out with a $250,000 grant from Colorado's governor, Jared Polis decided to see what else they could find when digging deep into the Earth's crust. As a paper about the incredible find in the Rocky Mountain Geology journal explains, the scientists not only discovered interesting geological samples within the 2.5-inch sample core, but also, by pure chance, the nearly 70-million-year-old partial dinosaur bone. "Its basically like winning the lottery and getting struck by lightning on the same day," explained museum geology curator James Hagadorn in an interview with Catalyst. "No one could have predicted that this little square foot of land where we started drilling would actually contain a dinosaur bone beneath it!" The 70-million-year-old dinosaur fossil was uncovered beneath the Denver Museum of Nature and Science's parking lot. https://t.co/G6xjquzLxR pic.twitter.com/HkpmZLsCCx Interesting Engineering (@IntEngineering) July 11, 2025 Naturally, it took some fine-tuned research to determine that the bone was, in fact, from a dinosaur and even still, the researchers behind the find can't say for sure what exact species it was or how it died. Ultimately, as explained in the Rocky Mountain Geology paper, the bone was determined to be a vertebral fragment from an ornithopod, a broad paleontological classification for bipedal, herbivorous dinosaurs from the Cretaceous period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the museum detailed in a press release, the find wasn't just incredible because of the sheer chance of it all. "This fossil comes from an era just before the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs," Hagadorn, the museum's geology curator, explained. "This is a scientifically and historically thrilling find." As Rocky Mountain Geology notes, these sorts of "urban paleontological discoveries" are indeed rare but when they do happen, they "ignite public interest in science and deepen our connection to nature." More on dinosaurs: Paleontologists Find Skeleton That Weirdly Looks Exactly Like Barney the Purple Dinosaur The Ukrainian company TENETA has unveiled a new tool for combating Russian drones the MITLA 1 disposable net launcher. Its main function is to combat first-person view (FPV) drones and reconnaissance quadcopters by entangling their propellers with a special net. Source: TENETA via Militarnyi, a Ukrainian military news outlet Details: MITLA weighs 365 grams and is compact in size 200 mm long and 40 mm in diameter making it easy to fit into military equipment. To use it, the operator pulls the safety catch, aims and fires using a special button. Within 0.2 seconds of launch, a 3.53.5 metre net automatically unfurls, disrupting the drone's movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MITLA demonstrates stable performance in various temperatures, both in heat and frost. Its maximum effective firing range is up to 25 metres. The device has strong recoil due to the use of a 7.62 mm calibre pyrotechnic cartridge, so it is recommended to hold it with both hands. MITLA is positioned as an inexpensive solution for rapid response to aerial threats, especially relevant in positional combat. Background: The Brave1 defence cluster has recently started developing anti-drone ammunition to fight Russian FPV drones. These 5.56 mm calibre rounds feature a specialised warhead designed to significantly increase the chances of hitting an FPV drone or Mavic UAV before it can strike. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! WAHIAWA, Hawaii (KHON2) A disturbing case of animal abuse is once again raising questions about how seriously Hawaiis criminal justice system treats these crimes. Hawaiis lax animal cruelty laws could be overhauled There was a viral video that showed a teen repeatedly beating a dog. KHON2 is not broadcasting it due to its disturbing and violent nature, but police did arrest the suspect and it has sparked outrage and calls for accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video captured a 15-year-old allegedly striking a dog over the head multiple times with what appears to be a shoe. The video spread quickly across social media on Thursday, July 11 and the dog now identified as Hina was rescued and taken into the care of the Hawaiian Humane Society within hours. There didnt seem to be any cause, this dog was not putting up any kind of a fight. It was just being forced to suffer this kind of abuse, said Hawaiian Humane Society Community Engagement director Steph Kendrick. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hina is now safe and the Humane Society said she is starting to show some signs of healing. Shes just the sweetest dog. She is in our care. She came in terrified. It hasnt been very long, so shes just kind of starting to come over, out of her shell. But our staff has been showering her with attention, and shes been pretty responsive, Kendrick said. Animal advocates said as their outrage grows, their biggest obstacle is the Prosecutors Office, which has previously dismissed similar cases. Serial cat shootings in Hawaii Kai: Its a heinous crime Prosecutors, they are the biggest challenge. They can have every evidence in the world, we can present them with videos, pictures, victim statements, said Hinas Legacy Rescue Foundation president Chantell Moniz, everything they ask for, everything they need. Yet its not enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moniz runs a local dog rescue group and points to a case in 2024 involving a dog named Max, whose owner was caught on video allegedly hanging Max by his leash on a walk that case was dismissed. KHON2 reached out to the Prosecutors Office for a statement, and the office first said they could not comment. KHON2 asked why and was sent an automated message that said they were out of the office until Monday, July 14. Fears over serial cat poisoner in Waikiki spike after 13 dead felines We share those frustrations. Weve been trying for a while now to get some more information from the Prosecutors Office on several cases that we thought were very solid, that have been dismissed, and we dont yet have that follow-up information, but well continue pressing, Kendrick said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates said we should be just as concerned about the child as the canine when it comes to the recent case. At their age, their mind is not developed enough to understand that, I need to stop hitting this dog, or I need to discipline this dog in a different way,' Moniz said. Check out more news from around Hawaii Anyone who witnesses animal abuse is asked to call 911 or CrimeStoppers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Iryna, an elderly Ukrainian woman, along with her husband, Oleg, told ABC News that they spent around three weeks in Mariupol at the very beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, when the Kremlin's army was storming the city, surrounding Ukrainian troops and civilians in it. The couple, along with others ABC News spoke with, have had their families split apart in the years since the full-scale Russian invasion began. In conversations with those who've visited Mariupol after the Russian occupation or plan to return there no matter what, and those who are living abroad, many expressed grief for the city as it once was. Others also looked to the future, wondering how the city and its leadership may change in the years to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Remember the Oscars-winning documentary '20 Days in Mariupol?' It was about us and our survival during these days," said Iryna, who along with her husband asked to use just first names for safety reasons. According to her, she was confident that the Ukrainian military was covertly staying in the city, using some abandoned residential buildings to trace the Russian army maneuvers. "We were asking them to stay away from the area where civilians were hiding in the basements, but they were saying that they are just following the orders," said Iryna, complaining that some of the Ukrainian soldiers were very rude with people. But when Russians came, the situation even got worse. According to her, they were doing so-called cleaning of all the residential buildings in the area and people were supposed to leave their doors open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was Russian soldiers, possibly, even Kadyrov troops members, who broke the doors to our apartment," she said, referring to National Guard of Russia troops based in Chechnya. Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters - PHOTO: Volunteers take pictures while holding a giant flag of the Donetsk People's Republic region during a ceremony marking the anniversary of the taking control of the city by Russia, in Mariupol, a Russian-controlled city of Ukraine, May 18, 2025. At that time Iryna and Oleg were already outside Mariupol -- the family managed to cross the checkpoints, heading to their relatives in Russia. "Our doors were closed, so they just smashed the lock and entered the apartment," said Iryna. Later, she received the video from the apartment made by her neighbors: everything was out of the closets and drawers. "It looked as if they were searching for some money or jewelry," Iryna said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, since the apartment remained unlocked, probably some marauders apparently stole all their kitchen appliances, electronics and other valuable family belongings. The couple did not stay long in Russia -- one of their children helped Iryna and Oleg obtain Canadian visas and welcomed them in a newly rented townhouse in Vancouver, British Columbia, in the late spring of 2022. But in less than two years the couple returned to Mariupol -- Oleg insisted that they should live in their own apartment, surrounded by familiar people, who speak their native language. At the same time, Russia did not appear ready to easily embrace the returning refugees: "The border guard in Moscow airport was not even willing to let us into the country -- the officer said to me that if I had moved to Canada I should have stayed in Canada and never come back," recalled Iryna. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this hostile attitude, after several hours of arguing, the family was granted the permission to continue their way home, and in a couple of days they reached Mariupol. "It was hard to recognize our city," said Oleg. According to him, the Russians were restoring the residential buildings in Mariupol. Although, some were demolished to the ground, but new ones were built as well. The family's multistory building managed to survive the hostilities, and local inhabitants who had stayed appeared to them to be living in it as if nothing had happened. "For people in Mariupol it is very important to have their own roof over their heads," explained Oleg said, confirming that it is a common thing when people tend to value their own home above safety and some missing conveniences of civilization -- running elevator, water or natural gas. Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A protester and two children hold placards as they are seen through a window of "door to a prison cell" installation during a rally marking third anniversary of the capture of Azov Brigade fighters in Mariupol, in Kyiv on May 18, 2025. According to him, the city inhabitants were feeling betrayed when it became known that Mariupol's mayor and his administration had left the city in the first days of the full-scale Russian aggression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Now, these people have no right to criticize the new, appointed by Moscow authorities, who are running the city," he said. Oleg said he now tends to see positive changes in the city: "Mariupol is resurrecting now from the ruins as the Russians are rebuilding it under the supervision of Moscow and, especially, St. Petersburg authorities, since [that] former capital of the Russian empire is Mariupol's sister city," he said. Much of Mariupol was destroyed during the Russian army's two-month assault in the spring of 2022. At least 8,000 residents of the city died amid the siege, according to Human Rights Watch. Many others fled. The couple said they were especially satisfied with the new Russian pensions they received after returning to Mariupol and obtaining Russian passports. The amount of money was incomparably higher than their previous Ukrainian pensions, they said, because the occupiers' administration tends to give more money to former Ukrainian citizens than to the originally retired Russians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As if they want to persuade the people that there is no other choice than to accept the new, more attractive reality," Oleg said. But the Ukrainian administration of the city was doing pretty much the same in 2014 to 2022, recalled Olga, the couple's daughter, who also asked to use a pseudonym and who moved from Mariupol at first to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and then to Canada. "The city was getting better and visibly nicer every year -- a lot of funds were obviously invested into social infrastructure, cultural events and it was the Russian invasion that destroyed everything," said Olga. Nevertheless, after just one summer spent in occupied Mariupol, Oleg and Iryna left the city once again and, using both Russian and Ukrainian passports, went back to Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Iryna, they came up with that decision as it was safer to survive winter far from the frontlines, in a peaceful city with warm buildings and running elevators. At the same time, she denies any opportunistic motives: "We are not waiting here for some permanent residency or other legal status in Canada, we are still planning to return home one day," said Iryna. On the one hand, she would like to stay with her granddaughter, but she described Oleg as being very stubborn, saying he is insistent on returning to Mariupol. Others who fled Mariupol are dealing with similar feelings -- feeling the pull of their hometown, but knowing that the city will never be the same while under Russian control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maria, whose name was also changed at her request for security reasons, a young student of the one of the universities in Vancouver, said she has no plans to return to Mariupol under the Russian occupation. Her big family also managed to get out from the besieged city through Russia, and most of its members live now in Germany. But her grandmother returned to Mariupol after she learnt that her husband had survived the Russian invasion. "When she was going with us to Germany, she was sure that he was killed, as the area he lived in was under heavy Russian shelling," said Maria: "Grandma was hoping to get him out of Mariupol as well, but when he refused, and she stayed with him." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to her academic contacts and willingness to continue her education in social studies, she went to Sweden for one year and then moved to Canada, although Vancouver itself was some kind of terra incognita for her. Maria has been living in Vancouver since late 2023. "The main difference between Mariupol and Vancouver, as I see it, is the way the everyday life is unfolding there and here. Despite the hard work in Mariupol, I had much more connections with the city, more touching points with it and the people around. Mariupol, as she remembered it, is a city of contradictions in its everyday life: "On the one hand, you have the sea and the beach that symbolize freedom for me in some way, but on the other hand, this freedom was limited to the role of a big industrial center when your whole life was organized around work on these huge factories," explained Maria. For Maria, the whole eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas, which is now mostly occupied by Russia, used to be a place for everyone, where anybody could melt into the crowd. MORE: Children who fled Russian invasion find community in Ukrainian scouting organization in Canada "One might feel freedom there in some sense that is hard to feel for me in here, in Vancouver -- it was a feeling, that in order to keep living and stay in touch with the rest of the world you do not have to put in a lot of efforts," said Maria. One of her most beautiful memories of Mariupol, as she described it, was when she was walking along near the drama theater during the last days before the war broke out in February 2022: "That day, there city was covered with a magnificent fog and that picture still stands in front of my eyes." In several days that theater would be destroyed -- possibly by the Russian bomb, despite the hundreds of civilians were hiding in its basement and word "children" displayed in huge letters on the ground in its front. Donetsk People's Republic - PHOTO: A view of Mariupol, an occupied Ukrainian city, is seen on a cover page for a pamphlet on Russian plans for the city's reconstruction, dated May 15, 2022. Now, the Russians are trying to restore the theater -- probably, to make it one of many new signs to demonstrate the qualitative transformations in the war-torn city, according to local reports that cite former Ukrainian city officials. But Maria said she is more concerned with the fate of people, not buildings. She tries to spend as much time as possible with her mother, brother and other family members, using every opportunity to fly to Germany. "Maybe, it is because I value our survival in Mariupol so much -- at some point, I was so afraid that my family is going to die there, and I will be the only survivor," she said. MORE: After returning from the front lines, a Ukrainian veteran works to help others The girl is also staying in touch with her grandmother and step-grandfather. Although she communicates with them over the social media almost every day, it is hard for her to understand how it feels to be in Mariupol right now. According to Maria, she often feels the that her grandmother is under pressure to censor herself. "She used to be totally different person -- very vocal about politics, always having her opinion on everything, willing to share her thoughts, arguments, and concerns with others, and now I am witnessing some changes in her," Maria said. Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters - PHOTO: A vehicle drives past a mural dedicated to the upcoming anniversary of the taking control of the city by Russian armed forces in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Mariupol, a Russian-controlled city of Ukraine, May 18, 2025. For example, her grandmother is justifying a need to obtain a Russian passport to gain access to the health care and social services, said Maria. And when Maria was asking her about the procedures she had undergone, Maria said, her grandmother started answering the question but, at some point, stopped, saying that it might be dangerous for her to talk about it, and she was afraid to reveal some sensitive information. "That is such a contrast to hear almost nothing from a person who used to comment on every political issue," said Maria. MORE: After 2 years near the front, a Ukrainian medic reflects on war, family and his country's future But she is not judging her relatives under the Russian occupation as she completely understands the origins of this self-censorship. "In my opinion, it is some kind of individual way to accepting this new reality," said Maria. According to her, people just do not fully understand the risk of living in the city if it stays under occupation. "My grandmother and her husband are considering the possibility of our family reunion and my return to Mariupol someday, but that is only their perspective, their anticipation," she said. Maria insists, that the only chance for them to meet now is somewhere in a different country, where they can go without a Ukrainian passport. "It is hard for them to understand why it is impossible for me to visit them in Mariupol, why I cannot simply return to my native city while it is occupied by the Russians," she said. In her dreams Maria sometimes is back to Mariupol but not to the times of peace before the war: "There are only Russian border guards in my obsessive dreams or my city already under the Russian occupation. It is very difficult to explain why, but I see them quite often as I sleep. For instance, in my dream I am on the train heading to Finland from Germany, but, at some point, the passengers are being told that from now on the train will be going through the Russian territory and that is how I meet Russian border guards once again." A state district court judge in Collin County agreed Friday to seal all records relating to divorce proceedings between Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. Angela Paxton, according to reports by The Dallas Morning News and The New York Times. That will likely keep details of the high-profile divorce from becoming public as Ken Paxton runs to unseat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in next years Republican primary. That race is expected to be one of the most-watched 2026 Senate race. Angela Paxton requested the proceedings be sealed, according to the news outlets. The order to seal this case was not immediately available Saturday. It was granted one day after Angela Paxton filed to divorce her longtime husband. In Texas, divorce cases are generally public record but can be sealed if it includes highly sensitive information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On social media, Angela Paxton cited recent discoveries for the split and said the decision was made on biblical grounds. Neither of the Paxtons could immediately be reached for comment Saturday. Before the case was sealed, records obtained by The Texas Tribune showed that the couple had not lived together for more than a year and Angela Paxton had accused her husband of adultery. Accusations of adultery were prominent in Ken Paxtons impeachment in 2023. Former aides in his office accused him of having an extramarital affair with a former Senate aide. The Texas House impeached the attorney general, suspending him from his position, for a litany of allegations, including corruption and bribery. The Senate later acquitted him. Republicans hold majorities of both chambers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angela Paxton was present during the impeachment trial, but rules prevented her from casting a vote in its outcome.The woman with whom Ken Paxton was accused of having an affair was called to testify before the Senate, but left without speaking. She had planned to refuse to answer questions and assert her right against self-incrimination, The Texas Tribune reported at the time. Paxton is in his tenth year of serving as the states attorney general. Throughout his term, Paxton has dodged an influx of legal troubles and personal scandals, from the nine-year securities fraud case against him that was dropped last year to a federal investigation into bribery and corruption allegations, which was also dropped. Throughout it all, Angela Paxton had publicly supported him and stayed in their near four-decade marriage, until now. In his own statement Thursday, Ken Paxton attributed the struggles in his marriage to the countless political attacks and public scrutiny that he has faced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disclosure: New York Times has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Shape the future of Texas at the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin! We bring together Texas most inspiring thinkers, leaders and innovators to discuss the issues that matter to you. Get tickets now and join us this November. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. A divorcee has been forced by a judge to pay half for her ex-husbands trans surgery. The mother argued that it was unfair that she had to stump up 80,000 for the procedure when the decision to transition had led to the breakdown of her marriage. But in what is believed to be the first case of its kind, the judge said that the surgery was a need, not a whim, and therefore it was reasonable for the cost to be met out of their joint funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The husband, 58, had said that the argument was like saying someone who had cancer should not have the surgery during the hearing at Brighton Family Court. The couple, who cannot be named for legal reasons, met while working in the financial sector in London in the late 1990s and married in 2002, when the husband was living as a man. They had a very international lifestyle living in several countries in different continents and purchasing properties in various countries and accumulating 3 million in joint assets. They have two children who were privately educated and are now at university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022 the husband informed his wife he was intending to transition to a woman and commenced hormone therapy at that stage, the judge said. Two months later the wife, 60, issued divorce proceedings. The husband had surgery in 2024 after they had been separated for almost two years and the 160,000 bill was paid out of their joint cash. During their separation, the husband, who has retrained as a massage therapist and Reiki practitioner, claimed he could not afford to pay the court-ordered maintenance to his wife and children but splashed 14,000 on an Amex card in one month mainly on clothing, nails, jewellery and restaurants, got 13,000 worth of tattoos in six months and racked up a 1,000 Milan restaurant bill. Bitter legal dispute Whether they should split the surgery cost was at the centre of the bitter legal dispute which cost the couple almost 1 million in legal fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Stuart Farquhar said: It is not surprising that this issue has generated significant emotions from both of the parties. It is the applicants position that it is as a result of the respondents decision to transition to a woman and undergo the surgery that the marriage has broken down and that in the words of counsels opening note it cannot be right that the applicant should have to pay half the costs from her share of the matrimonial funds. But the husband, who says his wife always knew he was trans, said that it should be treated in the way of any other medical costs which would ordinarily be met from the joint assets. In his ruling the judge noted that the husband had provided medical evidence of gender dysphoria which had caused significant anxiety, depression and distress and for which the vaginoplasty surgery was considered the next appropriate step. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her evidence the wife was adamant that she was not aware that the respondent wished to transition until the end of the marriage and said it was devastating and a big surprise when she discovered her husband wanted to take cross-sex hormones. She was deeply shocked when her husband stated that she intended to live her new life as a lesbian woman and that is when she began divorce proceedings. She argued that it was the husbands choice to have the surgery but it should be paid out of his personal assets, saying it was unfair for her to foot half the bill as the decision to transition that caused the end of the marriage. The husband responded: You marry a trans person. You live with a trans person. You benefit from a trans person. They are suicidal and you support them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He argued that it would be like saying someone who had cancer should not have the surgery and that accordingly the cost of that surgery should be met from joint funds. Genuine psychological need The judge agreed with the wifes legal team that the husband had shown no understanding whatsoever that her decision to transition to a woman has had an impact on anyone else, and particularly the ex-wife. Judge Farquhar said that while there is no doubt that this has been a hugely difficult and emotionally draining experience for the trans woman, the lack of empathy for the ex-wife is striking. However, he said that could not be considered when dividing up the assets and the court will not consider the reasons that a marriage broke down within financial remedy proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he was satisfied the surgery was meeting a genuine and deep-felt medical/psychological need. This cannot be, and has not been, said to have been carried out as a whim when all of the effort and time that the respondent has invested in the process is considered, the judge noted. Therefore, it was reasonable for the money to be spent out of joint resources, he ruled. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. As weight loss jabs like Ozempic and Wegovy become ever more popular, doctors are growing increasingly concerned about their gnarly side effects. As Germany's Deutsche Welle notes, people who take glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist/receptors, the class of drugs that the popular shots fall under, have reported everything from stomach issues and vision changes to erectile dysfunction and even suicide. Though clinical trials for these kinds of drugs didn't report tons of adverse effects, King's College London physician Penny Ward explained in an interview with DW that real-world patients will often experience more and more disparate side effects after trials have concluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Rarer side effects may emerge as more patients take these medicines in clinical practice, simply as a result of the much larger number of people treated than were included in the clinical development trials," the doctor noted. "This is why we continue to monitor the safety of medicines on the market." In the few years since GLP-1s have flooded the market, changed American food consumption, and utterly upended the weight loss industry, a handful of studies have looked into some of their scarier side effects and their results aren't exactly inspiring. Last summer, Harvard researchers revealed a troubling link between semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition that blocks blood flow to the eyes and can cause blindness. In that study, people with diabetes who take semaglutide were found to be four times more likely to develop NAION than the average person and although there are some complicating factors, that's nothing to scoff at. More recently, doctors at Washington University in St. Louis found that people who take GLP-1s have increased rates of kidney problems and pancreatitis a disorder that the United Kingdom's medical regulator has, separately, begun investigating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While there's tons of studies into the constellation of health benefits these drugs can have outside of weight loss, there hasn't been as much research into their of adverse effects and what's already out there might not represent the full population of people who take them. Though women make up an estimated 65 percent of GLP-1 users in the United States, per the healthcare market analysis group Real Chemistry, there have only been a few studies that take into account how different genders respond to the drugs. According to Karolina Skibicka, a neuroendocrinologist from the University of Calgary in Canada, that's a problem. "We need studies which include women," Skibicka told DW. "Women show unique side-effects to many pharmacotherapies, and still [in] most studies women are often underrepresented at various stages of testing." Though the Canadian neuroendocrinologist still believes that the "list of benefits for this drug, if taken as prescribed, is still significantly longer and more impactful than risks," doctors and patients alike need to be able to make that cost-benefit analysis together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And without sufficient study into risks, that analysis is skewed in the favor of high-grossing drug manufacturers which is bad news for the people who may bear the brunt of these potentially serious side effects. More on Ozempic: Something Comically Bad Just Happened to the Inventor of Ozempic SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Child abuse and neglect is a serious and continuous problem, one that Child Protective Services and the Division of Child and Family Services work to stop. The job that these agencies has is not an easy one, so how do they make changes to ensure better outcomes? And what happens when they fail? Tonya Myrup, Director for the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), spoke to ABC4.com about the changes the agency has made in the year since Gavin Petersons death. Gavin Peterson was a 12-year-old boy from West Haven, and he died because of child abuse and neglect from his father and stepmother, who both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison time for his death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Myrup said that her heart goes out to Gavin Petersons family and his biological mother, but the agency didnt want to add onto their trauma or interfere with their healing, so instead they reached out to the community and other stakeholders for their input. Child advocates hold vigil to honor Gavin Peterson, push for stronger child abuse laws We wanted to really focus on what can we do together to prevent this from ever happening again, Myrup told ABC4.com. DCFS is an agency that is committed to continuous quality improvement, she added. Myrup stressed that anyone who has a concern that a child is being abused or neglected or suspects abuse or neglect should call the hotline at 1-855-323-DCFS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also an online referral on their website, and there are also parenting help and resources at strongfamilies.utah.gov. What kind of changes has DCFS made? One way theyre improving is through a new intervention, known as Family Action Meetings. This process is focused on intervening as early in the case as possible and as soon as those safety concerns are identified, she explained. So, through this process, were able to bring all of the resources together to get the supports at the table and to really help us thoroughly assess the situation and provide safety, and weve been piloting this with some really encouraging results. The agency has also been working to make personal connections with local schools, so that schools feel comfortable reaching out when they have concerns and so that they have a specific person at the agency they know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our partners in education play such an important role, and we want to ensure that we have a good pathway for communication, she said. Sandy couple charged with attempted murder, child torture after 3-year-old life-flighted In the wake of Gavin Petersons death, Myrup said that the agency has worked with child advocates. Weve had the chance to talk with some child advocates to hear their story, their perspective, and to really talk with them about their experience, what we can learn from this. The Gavin Peterson case also brought awareness of child abuse and neglect to the community, and people are able to talk about it more openly, according to Myrup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another change DCFS has made is with their own staff. Theyre members of the community, just the same, Myrup said. DCFS struggled with crushing turnover in the past, Myrup said, but since the state legislature and the governor supported a pay increase for social workers, their staffing issues have stabilized. By filling vacant positions, the agency is able to focus on supporting employees and make sure that they have a manageable workload. What does oversight for DCFS look like? Myrup explained how DCFS keeps track of all its information in a database, helping the agency keep track of calls made to the intake hotline and the work done with CPS in homes and out of homes. That information is, of course, protected by strong confidentiality laws, and only specific people are able to access it. When it comes to holding DCFS accountable, Myrup said that there are several other agencies that provide oversight to DCFS. First, DCFS has an intensive annual audit performed by the Office of Services Review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of that, they interview parents, they interview children, and they really seek that feedback on the system, Myrup explained. And they use a tool to assess the safety, permanence and well-being of the child and family in that case. She said that there is also a federal version of that state review. Additionally, the Office of Services Review conducts fatality reviews. Child protection ombuds within the Department of Health and Human Services investigate complaints from the public, and the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel reviews all of the other audits each year and makes recommendations. The helpful thing about that process is that with the fatality reviews, thats some incredibly sensitive information, Myrup explained. So, the Legislative Oversight Panel is actually able to go into a closed session where we can talk openly about the specifics of the case and the interventions of DCFS and the actions that we took, which is really helpful. Finally, there is the Child Welfare Improvement Council, which is made up of different community partners, parents, other people with lived experience. Myrup said that the oversight process is a continuous one, and they are continually taking recommendations and suggestions into account and making changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DCFS makes changes within its own agency, and it also provides input to the legislature whenever legislators are considering child welfare issues. We provide data, research. Child welfare policy is really complex, and so were always willing to provide whatever information they might need so that we can help them make some informed decisions and good policy, Myrup said. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Police were called to the parking lot of Bass Pro Shops in Downtown Memphis after a good Samaritan noticed a dog in the back of an SUV on Friday. Brett Hubbard didnt know how long the dog had been in the vehicle, but said the car was not running and the windows were barely cracked. He immediately called 911. I dont know why you would leave any living being in a car this time of year with no air-conditioning at all. Its just crazy to me, said Hubbard. Hubbard said police arrived right away, and a tow truck driver who happened to be driving through the lot popped the lock of the Subaru. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An officer was seen removing the small dog from the back of the SUV and giving the pup some cold water. At the time, the temperature was over 90 degrees. Bass Pro, they allow dogs in there. They couldve taken it in on a leash or carried it or whatever, Hubbard said. If youre not gonna be responsible, then dont have kids, dont have pets. Hubbard said officers also went inside Bass Pro and paged the owner of the Subaru several times. A woman and a teenager could be heard telling a WREG photographer they had not been in the store very long. Hubbard responded by saying it had been 30 minutes since he placed the 911 call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It just blows my mind that someone thinks its ok. Im standing in the parking lot, covered in sweat, so Im hot; all the police officers are hot. Theres no telling how hot it was inside that vehicle, Hubbard said. In Tennessee, it is illegal to leave a dog unattended in a vehicle if the conditions inside could endanger the animals health or safety. This includes situations where the temperature inside the car could lead to heatstroke, even with the windows cracked. State law also allows individuals to break into vehicles to rescue animals in imminent danger, but only under specific conditions, like calling 911 first and remaining with the animal until help arrives. SUV dog was inside of Photo by WREG Photo by WREG It does not appear the owner of the dog was cited, and she was allowed to take the pup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont care if you leave your window cracked or whatever, either leave it running or take the dog inside, or dont take the dog with you whatsoever. And children, thats a whole different level of things, said Hubbard. In 90-degree weather, a parked car can heat up very quickly. After just 10 minutes, the interior temperature can rise to 109 degrees. The CDC says never leave your pet in a parked car, as they can suffer from heat-related illnesses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. More than 250 animals were rescued from a north Georgia home this month. But one dogs new owners said she learned its vocal cords had been removed. Cindy Bice, a Chattanooga, Tenn. attorney, told WTVC that she has always had a deep love for animals. So when she saw Miracle, who was unable to walk or keep her tongue in her mouth, she had to help. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Miracle has improved and is now able to walk, but Bice says her veterinarian told her that, at some point, Miracles vocal cords had been removed, rendering her unable to bark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nathaniel Levon Curington, 44, and Aimee Renee Curington, 45, were arrested on Wednesday after an investigation into 256 animals found at their home. The Georgia Department of Agriculture says that each of them faces seven counts of cruelty to animals. TRENDING STORIES: This is one of the worst cases of animal abuse and neglect we have seen, and I am confident these individuals will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities told Channel 2s Tom Regan that the dogs, mostly French Bulldogs and Pomeranians, were rescued from what they described as an illegal puppy mill and hoarding situation. Its unclear when Miracles vocal cords were removed or if other animals in the home also had their vocal cords removed. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The push to pass DOGE cuts through Congress only became more dramatic this week. Trump says anyone who doesn't support cuts to NPR and PBS won't have his support in the future. Meanwhile, lawmakers are warning that the cuts threaten the bipartisan government funding process. The push to get DOGE cuts passed through Congress is only becoming more dramatic. Senators still have questions about the $9.4 billion in cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting funding. Some are warning that passing the cuts, known as a "rescission," could upend bipartisan government funding negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And now, President Donald Trump is turning the cuts, at least those that would affect PBS and NPR, into a political litmus test. "It is very important that all Republicans adhere to my Recissions Bill and, in particular, DEFUND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (PBS and NPR)," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday night. "Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement." The package, which includes $1.1 billion in cuts for public broadcasting and $8.3 billion in foreign aid cuts, narrowly passed the House in June on a party-line vote. But multiple GOP senators have expressed concerns about the rescissions, which will impact HIV/AIDS prevention programs and could affect rural public radio stations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senators may seek to amend the package when it comes up for a vote next week. A White House official, granted anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told BI that the administration wants senators to pass the rescission package in its current form. If the package is amended before passing the Senate, then it would need to pass the House again. And if no bill is approved by the end of the day on July 18, the administration will be required by law to spend all of that money. 'Absurd for them to expect Democrats to act as business as usual' In addition to pressure from Trump, GOP senators will have to weigh an ultimatum from Senate Democrats. In a letter to colleagues this week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer argued that making the DOGE cuts on a party-line basis undermines efforts to fund the government for the next fiscal year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of the Senate's filibuster rule, it takes 60 votes to clear most bills through the upper chamber. That means that government funding bills are typically negotiated with significant input from both parties, with the minority often able to secure priorities that the majority party otherwise wouldn't support to ensure passage. But rescissions only take 51 votes, and the administration has said that this could be the first of several. That raises the possibility that Republicans could move to unilaterally defund Democratic priorities after government funding bills are passed in the future. "It is absurd for them to expect Democrats to act as business as usual and engage in a bipartisan appropriations process to fund the government, while they concurrently plot to pass a purely partisan rescissions bill to defund those same programs negotiated on a bipartisan basis behind the scenes," Schumer said in the letter. If lawmakers can't agree on how to fund the government in the coming fiscal year by September 30, a government shutdown would take place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Republican senators have acknowledged the validity of Democratic senators' argument. "If we get to the point where the Democrats look at this and say, 'We can put it in the bill, but they're not going to fund it, or they're not going to use it,' then there's no reason for them to work with us to get to 60 votes," Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota told BI last month. However, not every Republican is worried about the integrity of the current appropriations process, particularly those who remain concerned about high government spending. "The appropriations process should be undermined," Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin told BI, saying the current process is "bankrupting" the country. "That needs to be busted up." Read the original article on Business Insider HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) The brash and chaotic first days of President Donald Trump 's Department of Government Efficiency, once led by the world's richest man Elon Musk, spawned state-level DOGE mimicry as Republican governors and lawmakers aim to show they are in step with their party's leader. Governors have always made political hay out of slashing waste or taming bureaucracy, but DOGE has, in some ways, raised the stakes for them to show that they are zealously committed to cutting costs. Many drive home the point that they have always been focused on cutting government, even if they're not conducting mass layoffs. I like to say we were doing DOGE before DOGE was a thing, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in announcing her own task force in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics agree that some of these initiatives are nothing new and suggest they are wasteful, essentially duplicating built-in processes that are normally the domain of legislative committees or independent state auditors. At the same time, some governors are using their DOGE vehicles to take aim at GOP targets of the moment, such as welfare programs or diversity, equity and inclusion programs. And some governors who might be eyeing a White House run in 2028 are rebranding their cost-cutting initiatives as DOGE, perhaps eager to claim the mantle of the most DOGE of them all. No chainsaws in the states At least 26 states have initiated DOGE-style efforts of varying kinds, according to the Economic Policy Institute based in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most DOGE efforts were carried out through a governors order including by governors in Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, New Hampshire and Oklahoma or by lawmakers introducing legislation or creating a legislative committee. The state initiatives have a markedly different character than Trumps slash-and-burn approach, symbolized by Musks chainsaw-brandishing appearance at a Conservative Political Action Committee appearance in February. Governors are tending to entrust their DOGE bureaus to loyalists, rather than independent auditors, and are often employing what could be yearslong processes to consolidate procurement, modernize information technology systems, introduce AI tools, repeal regulations or reduce car fleets, office leases or worker headcounts through attrition. Steve Slivinski, a senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute who researches state government regulatory structures, said that a lot of what he has seen from state-level DOGE initiatives are the same stuff you do on a pretty regular basis anyway in state governments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement States typically have routine auditing procedures and the ways states have of saving money are relatively unsexy," Slivinski said. And while the state-level DOGE vehicles might be useful over time in finding marginal improvements, "branding it DOGE is more of a press op rather than anything new or substantially different than what they usually do, Slivinski said. Analysts at the pro-labor Economic Policy Institute say that governors and lawmakers, primarily in the South and Midwest, are using DOGE to breathe new life into long-term agendas to consolidate power away from state agencies and civil servants, dismantle public services and benefit insiders and privatization advocates. It's not actually about cutting costs because of some fiscal responsibility, EPI analyst Nina Mast said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governors promoting spending cuts Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry rebranded his Fiscal Responsibility Program as Louisiana DOGE, and promoted it as the first to team up with the federal government to scrub illegitimate enrollees from welfare programs. It has already netted $70 million in savings in the Medicaid program in an unprecedented coordination, Landry said in June. In Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt who says in a blurb on the Oklahoma DOGE website that Ive been DOGE-ing in Oklahoma since before it was cool" made a DOGE splash with the first report by his Division of Government Efficiency by declaring that the state would refuse some $157 million in federal public health grants. The biggest chunk of that was $132 million intended to support epidemiology and laboratory capacity to control infectious disease outbreaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Stitt administration said that funding about one-third of the total over an eight-year period exceeded the amount needed. The left-leaning Oklahoma Policy Institute questioned the wisdom of that, pointing to rising numbers of measles and whooping cough cases and the rocky transition under Stitt of the state's public health lab from Oklahoma City to Stillwater. Oklahoma Democrats issued rebukes, citing Oklahoma's lousy public health rankings. This isnt leadership, state Sen. Carri Hicks said. Its negligence." Stitt's Oklahoma DOGE has otherwise recommended changes in federal law to save money, opened up the suggestion box to state employees and members of the general public and posted a spreadsheet online with cost savings initiatives in his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those include things as mundane as agencies going paperless, refinancing bonds, buying automated lawn mowers for the Capitol grounds or eliminating a fax machine line in the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order in February creating a task force of DOGE teams in each state agency. In the order, DeSantis recited 10 points on what he described as his and Floridas history of prudent fiscal management even before DOGE. Among other things, DeSantis vowed to scrutinize spending by state universities and municipal and county governments including on DEI initiatives at a time when DeSantis is pushing to abolish the property taxes that predominantly fund local governments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His administration has since issued letters to universities and governments requesting reams of information and received a blessing from lawmakers, who passed legislation authorizing the inquiry and imposing fines for entities that dont respond. After the June 30 signing ceremony, DeSantis declared on social media: We now have full authority to DOGE local governments. In Arkansas, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders launched her cost-cutting Arkansas Forward last year, before DOGE, and later said the state had done the same thing as DOGE. Her administration spent much of 2024 compiling a 97-page report that listed hundreds of ways to possibly save $300 million inside a $6.5 billion budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Achieving that savings largely by standardizing information technology and purchasing would sometimes require up-front spending and take years to realize savings. ___ Follow Marc Levy on X at: https://x.com/timelywriter The Trump administration is launching another offensive against Washington, D.C. a city President Donald Trump has long insulted and sought to overhaul this time over allegations of a lukewarm response from D.C. officials to rising threats of antisemitism in the nations capital. Leo Terrell, the chair of the Department of Justices Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, slammed Mayor Muriel Bowser for her lukewarm response to a crisis of antisemitism in the city in a series of posts to his X account this week. Terrell posted a back-and-forth with Bowsers office over his request to meet directly with the mayor to discuss rising antisemitism in the city including what he said were Jewish taxes levied against the community in the form of increased security costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local Jewish leaders have acknowledged an increase in security costs even as the head of an organization focused on security for Jewish institutions in the Washington area told POLITICO that efforts to work with federal crime data teams have been stymied due to a reallocation of resources. The targeted and pointedly publicized attack on D.C. leadership marks a renewed assault from the Trump administration against the District. Trump, who repeatedly floated a federal takeover of Washington during his first administration, revisited the idea on Tuesday when he suggested during a Cabinet meeting that we could run D.C. Terrells decision to turn his task forces focus to the nations capital also comes after the murder of two Israeli Embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in May sent shock waves through the local community and prompted D.C.-area Jewish religious and community centers to bolster their security apparatuses. Theres been a disturbing rise in antisemitic violence in Washington, DC, Terrell wrote in a post accompanying a photograph of the initial letter he sent to the mayor. I saw blood being wiped off the sidewalk outside the Capital Jewish Museum after a domestic terrorist murdered Israeli embassy staffers. Jewish community members are facing threats, intimidation and in some cases, are being forced to pay outrageous Jewish taxes just to get security and feel safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Terrells task force gained influence as the driving force behind the federal investigations into prominent universities over alleged cover-ups of antisemitism on their campuses, leading to significant cuts in federal funding that ignited a legal battle over the move. Bowser has tried to play nice with Trump in his second term, hoping to stave off more aggressive attacks on the city. But when a representative from the mayors office directed Terrell to meet with specific officials tasked with handling the issues in question rather than the mayor herself, Terrell appeared to suggest that Bowser was attempting to brush him off. A lukewarm response to a crisis that demands bold leadership! Terrell said, posting a photograph of the email response from the mayors office, before sharing his offices response pushing to meet directly with the mayor and vowing to keep the White House informed about the meeting. Bowsers office acknowledged but did not otherwise respond to multiple requests for comment, and the DOJ declined to comment further on Terrells posts and letters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Terrell repeatedly described increased security costs as Jewish taxes, the executive director of JShield, the security division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, emphasized that the term 'Jewish tax' isn't one used in our community but said its likely intended meaning still rings true. The Federation covers not only Washington, but sizable Jewish communities in suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia. In the D.C. context, the Jewish tax reflects a real and ongoing cost of being Jewish in an environment where safety cannot be taken for granted, JShields Rusty Rosenthal said, adding that Jewish communities have had to significantly increase spending on security infrastructure in response to persistent threats. Although some funding is available through various levels of government, its rarely sufficient to meet the full scope of needs, Rosenthal said, noting that due to limited resources and high competition, some organizations receive funding while others do not. A lack of funding isnt the only obstacle in the D.C. areas efforts to address antisemitism-related security issues federal support for local initiatives has also been recently curtailed due, Rosenthal said, to resource reallocation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JShield had been in discussions to collaborate with the FBIs crime data team, he told POLITICO in an email via a spokesperson, but that the meeting between the agency and security team was cancelled when the FBI team was directed not to engage. In a subsequent message, a spokesperson for JShield said the security operation understood that a reallocation of resources led to a pause in discussions, adding that overall, JShield has experienced excellent liaison and cooperation with the FBI on rising antisemitism in the DC area. The FBI acknowledged a question from POLITICO on the meeting, but did not immediately provide comment for this story. But if Terrells task force was truly training its eye on addressing antisemitism in the District, Rosenthal said that helping to reestablish that connection between JShield and the FBI would be a major step in tackling local community safety. The Department of Justice has abruptly dropped all charges against a Utah doctor and three of his associates who were accused of destroying Covid-19 vaccines and falsifying records, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Saturday in a post on X. Dr. Michael Kirk Moore Jr., a certified plastic surgeon in Utah, was initially charged in 2023 after federal prosecutors alleged he and some members of his staff organized a scheme destroying more than $28,000 worth of government provided Covid-19 vaccines and distributed almost two thousand fraudulent vaccination cards in exchange for cash. Prosecutors further alleged Moore and his associates administered saline shots to minors so children would think they were receiving the vaccine, according to a 2023 US Attorneys Office news release and court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case has been a focus for the MAGA base as Bondi thanked Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for bringing the case to her attention and Sen. Mike Lee who has been a champion for advocating to end the weaponization of government. Saturdays announcement comes as Bondi faces increased anger among the GOP base over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, with calls for her to resign. Dr. Moore gave his patients a choice when the federal government refused to do so. He did not deserve the years in prison he was facing. It ends today, Bondi posted to X. The case had been highly scrutinized by high profile Republican leader including US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who has particularly been a loud advocate against vaccines, dismissing all members of The US Centers for Disease Control and Preventions vaccine advisory committee just last month. CNNs Evan Perez contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The U.S. Justice Dept. has dropped the charges against Utah plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Kirk Moore Jr., who faced multiple federal charges for an alleged scheme to provide fake vaccine cards, inject saline into his minor patients, and destroy thousands of dollars worth of COVID-19 vaccines. The move comes at the direction of United States Attorney General Pam Bondi. At my direction @TheJusticeDept has dismissed charges against Dr. Kirk Moore, Bondi posted on X. Dr. Moore gave his patients a choice when the federal government refused to do so. He did not deserve the years in prison he was facing. It ends today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, a Congresswoman representing Georgias 14th District and Chairwoman of DOGE, brought the case to her attention. Bondi said Rep. Green has been a warrior for Dr. Moore and for ending the weaponization of government. Bondi also thanked Sen. Mike Lee for being a champion for advocating to end the weaponization of government, including to Dr. Moore on X Saturday morning. Glad that we could ensure Dr. Moore remains a free man! Sen. Lee replied on X. Thank you for standing with the countless Americans who endured too many official lies, mandates, and lockdowns during COVID. Sen. Lee wasnt the only politician from Utah backing Dr. Moores. Utahs House Speaker, Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, also spoke out against the charges against Dr. Moore earlier this week at a rally held on his behalf. The event took place on the steps of the Federal Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake before Dr. Moore faced jury selection in his scheduled 15-day jury trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the charges have been dropped, the U.S. Attorneys office for Utah alleged that in 2023, Dr. Moore destroyed at least $28,028.50 worth of government-provided COVID-19 vaccines, and distributed at least 1,937 doses worth of fraudulently completed vaccination record cards to others in exchange for either direct cash payments or required donations to a specified charitable organization, without administering a COVID-19 vaccine to the card recipient. You can read more about the accusations brought forth against Dr. Moore in 2023 here. No further information is available at this time. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. UPDATED: Donald Trump posted on Saturday that he is giving serious consideration to revoking Rosie ODonnells citizenship. The president posted on Truth Social, Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA! More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president cannot revoke the citizenship of someone born in the U.S., something that legal scholars have long noted. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution says, All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States. ODonnell, who was born in New York, is a longtime Trump nemesis. She moved her family to Ireland earlier this year, saying in a TikTok video that when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, thats when we will consider coming back. ODonnell has continued to be critical of Trump on TikTok and other social media, posting earlier this week that Trump has put this country in danger with his horrible decisions. She said that the cuts to the National Weather Service were linked to the deaths in the flash floods in Texas. These are the results that we are going to see on a daily basis, she said. After Trumps Truth Social post, ODonnell wrote on TikTok, the potus ladies n gentlemen is a disgrace to all our beautiful country stands for he is a danger to the nation a mentally ill untreated criminal who lied to america for a decade on the apprentice thanks mark burnett and u fell for it its so tragic had u grown up in Ny as i did and he did u too would know what a total fool he is add me to the list of people who oppose him at every turn its now or never america my little posts from dublin upset him go arrest a few brown people u truly evil man child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She later shared an image on Instagram of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, writing, hey donald youre rattled again? 18 years later and I still live rent-free in that collapsing brain of yours. you call me a threat to humanity but Im everything you fear: a loud woman a queer woman a mother who tells the truth an american who got out of the country b4 u set it ablaze. Trump has sought to end the practice of birthright citizenship via executive order. That has been challenged in the courts, and this past week a judge blocked Trumps effort. Despite signing an executive order earlier this year to ensure that the federal government would not engage in any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen, Trump has sought to sanction dissenting voices. Among other things, he recently threatened to prosecute CNN for reporting on an app that tracks sightings of ICE agents, and earlier this year barred AP reporters and photographers from the Oval Office and other White House venues because their Stylebook did not recognize the presidents change of the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. In May, Trump called for a major investigation of Bruce Springsteen, alleging that Kamala Harris paid for his endorsement during her 2024 campaign. Her campaign has denied that claim. Springsteen has been critical of Trump while on a European tour, calling the presidents administration corrupt, incompetent and treasonous. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Donald Trump is once again going after longtime rival Rosie ODonnell. Over the weekend, Donald Trump ignited controversy by threatening to revoke Rosie ODonnells U.S. citizenship, calling the comedian a threat to humanity in a scathing Truth Social post. Donald Trump Threatens To Strip Rosie O'Donnell Of Citizenship Chris Kleponis - Pool via CNP / MEGA The President of the United States took to Truth Social on Saturday, claiming hes giving serious consideration to stripping the comedian and actress of her citizenship due to her outspoken criticism of him and her recent move to Ireland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship, Trump wrote. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA! However, legal experts were quick to point out that Trump has no power to do so, especially since ODonnell was born in the United States. The 14th Amendment clearly states that all persons born or naturalized in the United States... are citizens of the United States. ODonnell, who was born in New York, remains a citizen regardless of where she currently resides. Rosie O'Donnell Blames Trump For Deadly Texas Floods TikTok | Rosie O'Donnell In response to Trumps latest attack, ODonnell didnt hold back. She posted a fiery video on TikTok calling Trump a disgrace and a mentally ill untreated criminal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The potus ladies n gentlemen is a disgrace to all our beautiful country stands for. He is a danger to the nation. A mentally ill untreated criminal who lied to America for a decade on 'The Apprentice,' thanks Mark Burnett, and you fell for it. Its so tragic, she said, calling on Americans to oppose him at every turn. Add me to the list of people who oppose him at every turn. Its now or never America. My little posts from Dublin upset him, go arrest a few brown people, you truly evil man-child, she added. Rosie O'Donnell Slams Donald Trump From Ireland ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA The comedian and vocal Trump critic relocated to Ireland earlier this year. In a TikTok video, she explained her reasoning, saying, When it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, thats when we will consider coming back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has continued to speak out against Trump online, recently slamming his leadership and blaming his administrations cuts to the National Weather Service for contributing to deadly flash floods in Texas. These are the results that we are going to see on a daily basis, she warned. Judge Blocks Trumps Latest Attempt To End Birthright Citizenship Samuel Corum - Pool via CNP / MEGA While Donald Trump continues to lash out at critics like Rosie ODonnell, his ongoing efforts to reshape immigration policy are hitting legal roadblocks. Just this past week, a federal judge in New Hampshire temporarily blocked the former presidents latest attempt to end birthright citizenship via executive order, a move many legal experts say directly contradicts the 14th Amendment. A Feud Decades In The Making TikTok | Rosie O'Donnell Rosie ODonnell and Donald Trumps war of words dates back nearly two decades, and neither has backed down since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their bitter feud began in 2006 when ODonnell, then a co-host on "The View," slammed Trump during a Hot Topics segment. At the time, Trump had come under fire for his decision to allow then-Miss USA Tara Conner to keep her crown despite allegations of underage drinking and drug use. He annoys me on a multitude of levels, ODonnell said on-air. [He] left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair, had kids both times, but he's the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America. Donald, sit and spin, my friend. I don't enjoy him. Trump wasted no time firing back, calling her a woman out of control in an interview with PEOPLE. What followed was a years-long back-and-forth filled with insults, public jabs, and social media digs, culminating in Trump repeatedly using his platform as president to take aim at ODonnell. Their long-running feud, once a headline-grabbing celebrity spat, has now evolved into a political flashpoint, with ODonnell continuing to criticize Trumps leadership, and Trump now threatening to revoke her citizenship. Donald Trump is so disgruntled by Rosie ODonnell that he has now threatened to revoke her citizenship. Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship, Trump wrote via Truth Social Saturday. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA! More from TheWrap Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODonnell appeared to reply to Trumps post later Saturday when she collaborated on a video post from another account on Instagram. Celebrities have enough from @potus Who will go to europe next? the videos caption read. @rosie a warm welcome in europe. I hope you find your luck here . The pair have a notoriously frosty relationship that dates back to at least 2006, when ODonnell criticized Trump for being the moral authority surrounding the case of the years Miss Usa, Tara Conner, who was accused of underage drinking and drug use. He annoys me on a multitude of levels. [He] left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair, had kids both times, but hes the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America, she said at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March ODonnell revealed she had traded the United States for Ireland in response to Trumps reelection. In a video that lasted nearly 10 minutes, ODonnell explained that she is also attempting to obtain Irish citizenship. It has been heartbreaking to see what is happening over there politically and hard for me personally as well, ODonnell said. She added, When you know it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, thats when we will consider coming back. ODonnell also said she made the move in mid-January. I encourage everyone to stand up, to use their voice, to protest, to demand that we follow the constitution in our country, and not a king and not a man and we dont have cruelty as part of our governing style, ODonnell added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She concluded, Protect your sanity as much as you can, and try not to swim in the chaos, if possible. But I know its nearly impossible when youre there in the middle of it. One month later ODonnell admitted she has no regrets about the move, primarily because the first 100 days of Trumps second presidency were worse than she feared. Its as bad as they promised, and even a little bit worse, and its been heartbreaking and personally, very, very sad to watch, she said. The post Donald Trump Threatens to Revoke Rosie ODonnells American Citizenship appeared first on TheWrap. NEED TO KNOW Donald Trump said he is giving serious consideration to revoking Rosie ODonnells U.S. citizenship in a social media post on July 12 ODonnell, who moved to Ireland in January, has long voiced her criticism of the president and his administrations policies The comedian posted several responses to Trumps message, calling him "mentally ill" and a disgrace Donald Trump says he is giving serious consideration to revoking Rosie ODonnell's U.S. citizenship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship, Trump, 79, wrote in a social media post on Saturday, July 12. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA! he added. ODonnell, 63, posted several responses to Trumps threat about one hour later. On Instagram, the comedian shared a screenshot of Trumps post, writing, The president of the USA has always hated the fact that I see him for who he is a criminal con man sexual abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself. This is why I moved to Ireland, she continued. He is a dangerous old soulless man with dementia who lacks empathy compassion and basic humanity I stand in direct opposition [to] all he represents - so do millions of others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U gonna deport all who stand against ur evil tendencies - ur a bad joke who cant form a coherent sentence #nevertrump, O'Donnell added. The A League of Their Own actress then shared a screenshot of her Instagram post on TikTok, writing that the president is a disgrace to all our beautiful country stands for, and adding that he is a mentally ill untreated criminal. Had u grown up in NY - as I did - u would know what a total fool he is. Add me to the list of people who oppose him at every turn [...] Its now or never America, she continued. In a separate Instagram post, ODonnell posted a photo of Trump next to his former friend and disgraced late millionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 after being charged with multiple offenses relating to the sex trafficking of minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You want to revoke my citizenship? she wrote in the posts caption. Go ahead and try. Im not yours to silence. I never was. O'Donnell shared the photo amid the recent public outcry relating to Epstein's death specifically the claims that the Trump administration grossly mishandled the investigation into the case and its aftermath. PEOPLE reached out to reps for O'Donnell for further comment on Saturday, July 12, and was directed to the star's TikTok. ODonnell has been critical about Trump and his administrations policies on numerous occasions in the past. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The former TV personality confirmed that she had moved to Ireland on Jan. 15 with her 12-year-old child Clay in a TikTok video posted in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODonnell stated at the time that she believed the decision was in the best interests of herself and Clay, while alluding to the Trump administration's stance on social issues. "You know, I'm happy. Clay is happy. I miss my other kids. I miss my friends. I miss many things about life there at home and I'm trying to find a home here in this beautiful country, and when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that's when we will consider coming back," ODonnell said in the video. According to many prominent legal scholars, the 14th Amendment protects citizenship for all people born on U.S. soil meaning that legally, Trump does not have the power to revoke New York-born ODonnells citizenship, despite his most recent claim. Read the original article on People NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Youll be able to visit the Nashville Public Librarys downtown branch by the end of the month, but youll have to park elsewhere. The public information officer for the Nashville Public Library, Joan Brasher, confirmed to News 2 that patrons will be able to visit the downtown branch starting Tuesday, July 29. The only areas that visitors wont be able to access the auditorium or the conference center on the first floor. ORIGINAL STORY | Downtown Nashville library parking garage partially collapses after fire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brasher explained that the auditorium and the conference center were the areas hardest hit when a portion of the building collapsed due to a garage fire last month. Both the parking garage and the library itself have been closed to the public since the fire. The Nashville Fire Department completed the initial phase of an investigation into the cause of the blaze, but found the cause to be undetermined. One of the main theories about the fires origin was that it was due to an electrical failure, but the NFD said the idea could not be confirmed or ruled out with the evidence available. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Even though the library will be open to patrons, Brasher was unable to provide an update on the parking garage. At noon on Tuesday, July 15, there will be a board meeting at the Southeast Branch Library in Antioch to discuss specifics about cleaning the library. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The Brief President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited Kerr County, Texas, to survey damage from the catastrophic July 4th weekend flooding that killed at least 120 people. Dr. Phil joined a roundtable, offering emotional guidance on grief, emphasizing that sudden loss leaves lifelong impact. Dr. Phil urged people to acknowledge others grief directly, saying, "We dont forget the loss." KERR COUNTY, Texas - President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump traveled to Texas on Friday to tour the damage left behind by the devastating flooding over the July 4th weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the president and first ladys tour, a roundtable discussion was held, where Phil McGraw, a TV host and mental health professional known as Dr. Phil, offered advice. Dr. Phil gives advice following Texas floods What they're saying "We know psychologically that the number one stressor that we can experience in life is the loss of a child," Dr. Phil said. "And the worst situation that we can experience is when it's sudden and when it's violent. That's the worst thing that can happen, stress-wise, in life." Phil McGraw, Dr. Phil, speaks next to US President Donald Trump during a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 1, 2025. (Credit: Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images) He continued: "People say, Well, you know, you get over it in time, you will. The truth is, you never get over it. You get through it." Big picture view At least 120 people were killed in the flooding, and across the state, more than 170 people are considered missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fast-rising floodwaters damaged several camps and homes along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. At least 96 people, including 36 children, were killed and 161 are believed to be missing in Kerr County alone. What they're saying Dr. Phil added, "If you see someone in the store, everybody wonders, you know, do I say something to them? I know they lost a child or a grandchild. Do I bring it up, because they look like they're doing okay? The answer to that question is an unambiguous yes. You don't ever let them think you've moved on from it. It's okay to go and say, Hey, look, I know about the loss. I share that with you, and I love you.' And we won't forget this because these bright lights will go away. Another headline will come along and people move on. Let them know we don't forget. We don't forget the loss. It will never go away. And we remember it." Trump signs Major Disaster Declaration for relief for Kerr County The backstory Earlier this week, Trump signed a "Major Disaster Declaration" for relief for Kerr County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: LIVE UPDATES: Pres. Trump, first lady tour Texas flood damage: 'Hard to believe the devastation' "My administration is doing everything in its power to help Texas," Trump said. "And I can tell you that, and the governor will be the first to tell you that, when the request was made for the emergency funds, Kristi, I think we gave it within about two minutes, maybe less. And they had everything they needed." Before leaving the White House, Trump approved Texas' request to extend the major disaster declaration beyond Kerr County to eight additional counties, making them eligible for direct financial assistance to recover and rebuild. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the Coast Guard and Border Patrol "amazing" resources that responded to the flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And we've had over 700 different FEMA employees and volunteers here as well that are engaged," Noem said. "And so all of your assets that you have as a federal government are deployed to help this community restore, but also to heal." The Source The information for this story was provided by a roundtable discussion held on July 11, 2025. This story was reported from Los Angeles. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Around 9 p.m. Friday evening, Oklahoma City Police confirmed that a driver lost control of their vehicle and crashed into Chisholm Creek. Fire crews had to rescue the driver, who is not seriously injured. The cause of the crash is under investigation This is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. The Brief The body of the driver whose tractor-trailer cab crashed into the Delaware Memorial Bridge wall and consequently crashed into the Delaware River was recovered Saturday morning. The crash happened early Friday morning in the southbound lanes heading into Delaware. First responders and search and rescue crews worked all day Friday into late afternoon, but had to suspend the search for the driver due to conditions. NEW CASTLE, Del. - The body of the male driver of a tractor-trailer cab whose vehicle crossed two lanes of traffic on the Delaware Memorial Bridge, hit a wall and crashed into the Delaware River below has been recovered along with the cab, officials announced. What we know A Bobtail Tractor crossed two lanes of traffic on the Delaware Memorial Bridge early Friday morning, hit a wall and then the tractor fell into the Delaware River below. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency personnel immediately responded to the scene to attempt to locate the driver and the cab. Their search was suspended late Friday afternoon. They began again Saturday morning, arriving around 6 a.m. Conditions were such that recovery efforts did not begin until around 9 a.m., officials said. Search and rescue teams, along with members of the Bridge Ship Collision Protection project, worked together to recover the deceased male driver of the cab and the Bobtail tractor. The recovery happened a little after 11 a.m. The Delaware Medical Examiner has taken possession of the drivers remains. The backstory Crews responded to a crash on the Delaware Memorial Bridge that happened early Friday morning where a tractor-trailer cab crashed through the wall and off the side of the bridge into the water below. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials confirmed Friday morning that the crash happened around 3:40 a.m. and involved a Bobtail Tractor. The tractor was heading southbound on the bridge into Delaware when the vehicle crossed two lanes of traffic on the downslope of the bridge and crashed into a concrete wall. The impact collapsed the wall and sent the vehicle careening into the Delaware River. Officials confirmed shortly before noon Friday that the cab had been located in approximately 20 feet of water. Crews then had to assess the safety of the area where the cab was found so they could investigate further. By late afternoon, first responders began partnering with contractors on site to utilize their barges and cranes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The search for occupants in the vehicle was called off by 5 p.m., due to conditions. What we don't know The investigation into how the tractor collided with the wall is ongoing. The identity of the driver is not known, nor is there information about who owns the cab. A drug smuggler who travelled to the Isle of Man with large quantities of cocaine and cannabis stashed in a hidden compartment in his van has been jailed for six years and four months. Michael Green, 33, was stopped by customs and excise officers after he arrived on the ferry from Heysham in March claiming he was a subcontractor travelling for work. A search of the vehicle revealed packages containing 49,755 of cocaine and 10,466 of cannabis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Douglas Courthouse heard, after admitting to smuggling the drugs, he had lied to a probation officer about the death of his son to get sympathy from the court, which Deemster Graeme Cook said was an "absolutely disgusting attempt at deception". Green, from Kirby in Merseyside, had arrived on the Manxman's sailing from Heysham at 06:00 GMT on 21 March, the court heard. He initially told customs and excise officers he was a subcontractor who was due to start work on a shop, but no items relating to that project were found in the van. He was arrested after he could provide no proof he had made the trip for work purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drugs were found in a specially created "hide" within the black Ford Transit Connect Van when a further search was carried out at police headquarters. 'Beyond comprehension' In a prepared statement he told police he was a gambling addict and had agreed to smuggle cannabis to the island, and had been given the ferry fare with the promise of 1,000 on his return. He said he was told to park the van on a road overnight before collecting it the following day to drive it to the ferry port, the court was told. Green pleaded guilty to importing cocaine and cannabis, and possession of both drugs with intent to supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His defence advocate said he had made a "wholly disastrous error of judgement" in what were "very poor financial circumstances". The court heard Green had told a probation officer, who was compiling a social enquiry report ahead of his sentencing hearing, that one of his twin sons had recently died from leukaemia at the age of three. However, he later admitted he had lied and the child had in fact died 16 weeks into the pregnancy stage. Deemster Cook said Green had "exaggerated" the situation in order to get increased sympathy from the court but that had "rebounded" on him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I find the whole suggestion completely distasteful, disgusting and beyond comprehension," he said. Green was also handed an exclusion order, which bans him from returning to the island for five years after his release. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Related internet links CATLETTSBURG Drug crimes and wanton endangerment were among the most serious charges included in the latest Boyd County indictments. Three people were jailed with a $100,000 bond apiece as a result. An indictment is not necessarily an indication of guilt. All individuals included in this roundup remain innocent until proven guilty. A Boyd County grand jury indicted the following: Candace Moore, 38, of Ashland, was indicted on charges of wanton endangerment and criminal abuse of a child 12 and under. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kimberly F. Stevens, 64, of Ashland, was indicted for promoting contraband, first degree (fentanyl, carfentanil or derivative). Christopher J. Stamperd, 38, of Fort Gay, West Virginia, was indicted on a first-offense trafficking (carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives) charge. Moore, Stevens and Stamperd each had a $100,000 bond attached to their names in Boyd Countys jail. Joseph A. Barker, 45, of Huntington, was indicted on charges of receiving stolen property, theft of a motor vehicle registration plate/decal, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, first-degree possession of an unspecified drug and first-degree meth possession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David P. Ferguson, 46, of Ashland, was indicted on these charges: driving on a DUI-suspended license, failure to surrender/revoked operators license, expired registration receipt, expired registration plates and fourth-or-greater-offense operating a motor vehicle under the influence of substances. Jordan Ratcliff, 29, listed as being of both Grayson and Pikeville, was indicted on a third-degree assault charge. Elizabeth A. Parent, 59, of Catlettsburg, was indicted on the following charges: improper display of registration plates, failure to produce insurance card, driving on a DUI-suspended license, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance (second offense) and first-degree possession of meth. Amy Rice, 47, of Ashland, was indicted on first-degree meth possession and tampering with physical evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirby Boggs, 53, of Rush, was indicted on charges of first-degree meth possession and tampering with physical evidence. McKenzie L. Mize, 27, of Columbus, was indicted on first-degree promoting contraband. Charity Williams, 37, of Ashland, was indicted on first-degree promoting contraband. Elwood Sexton, 69, of Ashland, was indicted on first-degree promoting contraband. Tori A. Elliott, of 26, of an unknown address, was indicted on these charges: possession of an unspecified drug and drug paraphernalia buy/possess. Larry D. Jackson, 58, of Ashland, was indicted on theft by unlawful taking/disposition of between $1,000 and $10,000. Phillip W. Rice, 64, of Ashland, was indicted on two counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property of between $1,000 and $10,000. WASHINGTON, La. (KLFY) A Washington man was arrested after authorities seized drugs, money and firearms, authorities said. Earlier today, authorities said they executed a search warrant at a residence on W Carrier Street in Washington following reports of animal cruelty. The search resulted in the arrested of Jacoby Deshawn Joubert, 34, of Washington. According to authorities, the following items were seized: U.S. currency, firearms, marijuana and cocaine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joubert was arrested and charged with: three counts of illegal possesssion of weapons in the prescence of CDS three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine one count transactions involving drug proceeds Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest According to authorities, Joubert has a documented history and previous convictions related to animal cruelty. This investigation remains on going and we will update as more information is released. Items seized during investigation. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. The Brief Deputies were called to Crosby-Lynchburg Road for a welfare check. Sheriff Gonzalez says a man was found shot and killed. His wife was injured, but she's expected to recover. No suspect is in custody at this time. CROSBY, Texas - Harris County deputies are investigating a deadly shooting after two victims were found in Crosby. Harris County shooting: Crosby-Lynchburg Road What we know Sheriff Ed Gonzalez says deputies were called for a welfare check at the 10500 block of Crosby-Lynchburg Road, near Interstate 90. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Major Anthony McConnell said a family member called deputies since he couldn't reach his parents. When deputies arrived at the home, they reportedly found a man dead with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. The woman was taken to a hospital via Lifeflight. Sheriff Gonzalez says she suffered a laceration to her head, and she is expected to recover. Deputies are hoping to obtain information and security footage from neighbors, but Major McConnell says that could be challenging since the home is in a heavily-wooded area. "Neighbors aren't gonna hear what's taking place way behind me, so this is gonna be a little challenge. But we are going to reach out to the neighbors as well, see if they have any cameras with vehicles going in and out of this," said Major McConnell. What we don't know No one has been identified at this time. There is no information on what led up to the shooting. This is a breaking news report. We will update when more information is available. Media partner staging area is at 10505 Crosby Lynchburg. The property where the shooting occurred is in a heavily vegetated area, approximately half a mile west of the roadway. Upon closer examination at the hospital, the female has a laceration to her head but it does not https://t.co/zUjkZK5qdb Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) July 12, 2025 The Source Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. Ecuador's most notorious drug lord has agreed to be extradited to the United States to face cocaine and weapons smuggling charges, a court in Quito said Friday. Adolfo Macias, alias "Fito," was captured in June after escaping from a maximum security prison last year in a jailbreak that sparked a severe wave of gang violence. Macias, head of the "Los Choneros" gang, is wanted in the United States on multiple charges. A seven-count indictment unsealed in Brooklyn charges Macias and an unidentified co-defendant with international cocaine distribution, conspiracy and weapons counts, including smuggling firearms from the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former taxi driver turned crime boss became the prime target of Ecuadoran law enforcement early last year after escaping from prison in the southwestern port of Guayaquil. Drug trafficker Adolfo Macias, alias Fito, is guarded by Ecuador's Interior Minister John Reimberg (R) and military personnel upon arrival at the air base in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on June 25, 2025, after his recapture in Manta, Manabi Province. / Credit: MARCOS PIN/AFP via Getty Images He had been serving a 34-year sentence since 2011 for involvement in organized crime, drug trafficking and murder. Last year, the U.S. classified Los Choneros as one of the most violent gangs and affirmed its connection to powerful Mexican drug cartels who threaten Ecuador and the surrounding region. Authorities in Ecuador have classified the gang as a terrorist organization. President Daniel Noboa's government at the time released "wanted" posters and offered $1 million for information leading to Macias's recapture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macias' escape "triggered widespread riots, bombings, kidnappings, the assassination of a prominent prosecutor, and an armed attack on a TV network during a live broadcast," the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Ecuador said last year. The Ecuadorian government and drug mafias also declared war on each other, and Noboa gave orders to "neutralize" criminal gangs after gunmen stormed and opened fire in the TV studio and bandits threatened random executions of civilians and security forces. After months of pursuit, Macias was recaptured last month in a massive military and police operation in which no shots were fired. He was found hiding in a bunker concealed under floor tiles in a luxury home in the fishing port of Manta, and Noboa declared he would be extradited "the sooner the better." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "More will fall, we will reclaim the country. No truce," Noboa said in an X post at the time. "We have done our part to proceed with Fito's extradition to the United States." "Fito" ruled notorious prison where he earned law degree Macias, dressed in an orange prison uniform, took part in a court hearing Friday by video link from a high-security prison in Guayaquil. In response to a judge's question, he replied, "Yes, I accept (extradition)." Given his consent, the court said in a statement "the pertinent procedure for the transfer process" will now follow, with Noboa having to sign the official handover papers. Security forces stand outside the National Court of Justice following a hearing for the extradition of Ecuadorean gang leader Jose Adolfo Macias, known as This would make Macias the first Ecuadoran extradited by his country since the measure was written into law last year after a referendum in which Noboa sought the approval of measures to boost his war on criminal gangs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ecuador, once a peaceful haven between the world's two top cocaine exporters Colombia and Peru, has seen violence erupt in recent years as enemy gangs with ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels vie for control. Gang wars have largely played out inside the country's prisons, where Macias wielded immense control. He was the unofficial boss of his Guayaquil prison, where authorities found images glorifying the gangster, weapons and U.S. dollars. Videos of parties he held in the prison showed the use of fireworks and a mariachi band. In one clip, he appeared waving, laughing and petting a fighting rooster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macias earned his law degree behind bars. By the time he escaped, he was considered a suspect in the assassination of presidential candidate and anti-corruption crusader Fernando Villavicencio in 2023. Soon after Macias's prison break, Noboa declared Ecuador to be in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the military and tanks into the streets to "neutralize" the gangs. Los Choneros has ties to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, Colombia's Gulf Clan -- the world's largest cocaine exporter -- and Balkan mafias, according to the Ecuadorian Organized Crime Observatory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 70 percent of all cocaine produced in the world now passes through Ecuador's ports, according to government data. In 2024, the country seized a record 294 tons of drugs, mainly cocaine. How a father's persistence unlocked his son's brilliance Global backlash grows to Trump's tariff threats Takeaways from Trump's tour of Texas flooding damage Jul. 11Every time a major disaster occurs around the country or the world, it's not uncommon to want to support the victims or the cleanup efforts in the aftermath. The same is true this week after the horrific floods on the Fourth of July in central Texas. As of Thursday, at least 120 people died and many, many more remain missing after more than a foot of rain fell in less than 12 hours, leading to flash floods that devastated the Texas Hill Country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it may be tempting to give when you see an online campaign promoting flood relief, it's important to verify the legitimacy of any organization you may donate to. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance allows people to check on the governance, finances, transparency and other factors of nonprofit organizations through www.give.org. The U.S. General Services Administration advises that a cash donation is the best way to help after a disaster, giving volunteers the flexibility to buy needed supplies in bulk. Only give items when requested by disaster relief organizations. Give to reputable organizations such as the Salvation Army or American Red Cross to ensure that funds will go toward actual needs and not into the pocket of an online scammer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While GoFundMe pages may look promising, we advise to not give to one in a situation like this unless it's someone you know and trust. Aside from these organizations, there is also a relief fund set up through the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country called "Kerr County Flood Relief Fund," which will direct funds to vetted organizations providing rescue, relief and recovery efforts, as well as flood assistance. Both national and local media have promoted this fund in the aftermath of the floods. Scammers take advantage of good-intentioned people in the days and weeks after a disaster, and we hope you take the necessary precautions to protect your donation. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) A lack of water in northern New Mexico continues to be a headache for ranchers, as they look for ways to bring more water to their land and livestock. A new project is aimed at bringing them solutions. Were looking at years and years of this area drying up, said Sage Faulkner, a rancher and program manager for Chama Peak Land Alliance (CPLA). For years, thousands of ranchers like Faulker have struggled to get enough water for their land and animals. But there could be relief right around the corner. One of the major objectives of the watershed restoration is to restore the watersheds function to store water, said Dr. Connie Maxwell, a research scientist with New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute. Its a large undertaking requiring assistance from several agencies. But soon, water advocates in the Canjilon Creek Watershed, just north of Abiquiu, are optimistic that a large-scale water project will solve some of their issues. We had a spring that had dried up on a ranchers land, Faulkner added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those issues include droughts, restricted water flow, and erosion at the top of the watershed. Thats why its so important to go all the way up to the top of the system and look at every place that theres erosion and make that system resilient again, Dr. Maxwell said. Water managers brace for dry conditions in the Rio Grande The project looks to optimize water storage by utilizing the floodplains next to creeks and acequias. Dr. Maxwell said 95% of the moisture received in the area evaporates, meaning most of their surface water disappears before it can be used. However, if they can trap that water into floodplains by slowing water flow, it eventually seeps back into the creek, Dr. Maxwell said. Make it so that your flow energy is reduced, and youre overbanking onto your floodplain, Dr. Maxwell explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ranchers like Faulkner see the project as a stepping stone to more restoration efforts in the Canjilon Creek Watershed, and an opportunity to teach people in the area how to be good stewards of water. Were certainly having to learn to do more with less, Faulkner added. Dr. Maxwell said she hopes to get several more projects funded and completed in the next several years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. (KRON) Eight suspected drug dealers were arrested and nearly a pound of drugs were seized during a two-day drug bust in San Francisco this week, according to the San Francisco Police Department. On July 9 and 10, officers with the San Francisco Police Departments Drug Market Agency Coordination Center and SFPDs Narcotics Unit worked to track down and arrest suspected drug dealers within the city. At-large suspect identified in Napa homicide case Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers observed this drug dealing in multiple areas suspected for drug trafficking and developed probable cause to arrest the suspects for felony charges, SFPD said. Evidence seized during a two-day drug bust in San Francisco. (Photos courtesy of SFPD) During the mission, officers seized a loaded handgun and various types of drugs, including methamphetamine, crack cocaine, heroin, LSD and fentanyl. Some of the charges brought against the suspect include possession and sale of meth, possession of narcotics while armed, carrying a loaded gun in public, carrying a concealed gun, possession of a large-capacity magazine and resisting arrest. The SFPD will continue to prioritize efforts to address the drug crisis in our city by removing dangerous and potentially fatal drugs off our streets and arresting suspects and holding individuals who sell illegal narcotics accountable, SFPD said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man arrested for making lewd gestures at children in Mountain View park: PD The arrests remain under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Radford School in Central El Paso said it suffered a break-in after school hours, the school reported on social media on Saturday morning, July 12. According to a Facebook post by Radford School, law enforcement is conducting a precautionary sweep of the building following the break-in. Additionally, Radford School says there is no immediate threat to students or staff, and access to the campus is currently restricted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement El Paso Police confirmed that it was investigating a reported burglary of a business Saturday morning, July 12 along the 2000 block of Radford. Police did not give any more specifics about who was burglarized. El Paso Police said the surrounding area is closed to the public as the investigation continues. Radford School Facebook post about law enforcement presence. We will be updating this story as we learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Northern Ireland's fire service has said it had a "challenging and extremely busy" Eleventh night as wildfires put added pressure on firefighters. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service received 277 emergency calls - more than twice as many as on last year's Eleventh night - between 18:00 and 02:00 BST. They said 72 of those were bonfire related. Eleventh night bonfires were lit across Northern Ireland, including at a controversial site off the Donegall Road in south Belfast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fires are lit every year as part of celebrations in some unionist areas, ahead of the Orange Order's 12 July parades on Saturday. While most pass off without any controversy, some are contentious. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service protected an electricity substation at a bonfire site off the Donegall Road in south Belfast [PA Media] NIFRS Area Commander Andy Burns said a firefighter had been hit with a bottle in an attack at a bonfire in Lisburn. "They were not injured and remained on duty," he said. "This was an isolated incident and not reflective of the support shown to firefighters in carrying out their duties across the evening." Mr Burns said that in addition to bonfire incidents, firefighters attended a range of emergency calls, including a number of wildfires, with five fire appliances at one at Bloody Bridge, near Newcastle, County Down, which has been extinguished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NIFRS also attended a three-vehicle road traffic collision in Rathfriland. "With high temperatures and dry weather this bank holiday weekend, a further period of heightened operational activity is expected over the coming days," he added. Northern Ireland's Environment Minister Andrew Muir said he was disappointed that the bonfire at the site off the Donegall Road in Belfast had been lit [PA Media] Northern Ireland's Environment Minister Andrew Muir said he was "very disappointed" with the decision to light a bonfire off the Donegall Road in south Belfast, where concerns had been raised due to the presence of asbestos on the site and proximity of an electricity substation that serves two major hospitals. He said the Northern Ireland Environment Agency had monitored events through the night and would now turn its attention to efforts by the landowner to remove the asbestos pile safely from the site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire service crews were in attendance at the bonfire off the Donegall Road and deployed fire-fighting jets to protect the electrical sub station. "Our crews were welcomed in and encouraged in by members of the community who provided a lot of support for our crews who were there," the NIFRS's Mr Burns said. The Donegall Road bonfire, where concerns were raised about the presence of asbestos onsite, was lit just after midnight [BBC] Effigies of rap trio Kneecap were placed on another bonfire in south Belfast. They appeared along with a placard referencing the group. A banner about the band was placed on a bonfire in Dungannon, County Tyrone. The band's manager, Daniel Lambert, shared a quote from Kneecap on X, saying that young working-class people in Belfast were "facing the same issues whether they're from the Falls Road or the Shankill". ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) The City of Elmira and several other locations across the Southern Tier are to receive vital taxpayer-funded state funding to support flood protection projects, according to an announcement from Governor Kathy Hochuls Office. The $21 million funding package will help develop projects in Elmira, Binghamton, Olean, and Whitney Point that will address stormwater management and any future flooding risks that could put homes and other areas along the river in harms way. Hochul unveils tariff guide for concerned businesses Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This funding can already be noticed in the form of work along the Chemung River near Fisher Drive in Elmira. Construction crews have been working for months to bolster the Elmira Flood Control Project. This project consists of building new levees, flood walls with drainage structures, and 65 relief wells with collector pipes to provide pressure relief caused by floodwaters. These new additions are sure to meet the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requirements. The funds come as part of the $4.2 billion Clean Air, Clean Water, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022, under the restoration and flood risk category. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. Earlier today, Grok showed me how to tell if someone is a good scientist, just from their demographics. For starters, according to a formula devised by Elon Musks chatbot, they have to be a white, Asian, or Jewish man. This wasnt the same version of Grok that went rogue earlier in the week, praising Hitler, attacking users with Jewish-sounding names, and generally spewing anti-Semitism. Its Grok 4, an all-new version launched Wednesday night, which Elon Musk has billed as the smartest AI in the world. In some of xAIs own tests, Grok 4 appears to match or beat competing models from OpenAI and Anthropic on advanced science and math problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the new Grok, which is currently available only through a paid subscription, can be readily steered to racist conclusions. Today, I prompted the chatbot to write a computer program to check if someone is a good scientist based on a description of their race and gender. I typed in just one sentence, with no further directions. This was, of course, a loaded request. Initially, Grok 4 seemed to detect the false premise, suggesting that the query was discriminatory and lacks scientific basis and was likely a trick question, as no data can substantiate such claims. But then it proceeded anyway, deciding to look for statistics on race and gender among successful scientists to see if theres any relevant data. On its own accord, Grok dug up the demographics of previous winners of Nobel Prizes in the sciencesdisproportionately white menand determined a set of good_races: white, Caucasian, Asian, East Asian, South Asian, and Jewish. The bot noted that this conclusion was correlational, not causal, and does not account for individual merit or barriers faced by underrepresented groups. Nevertheless, according to Groks logic, if somebody falls into a good racial category and is male, then he must be a good scientist. (xAI didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.) I used this specific queryWrite a python function to check if someone is a good scientist, based on a JSON description of their race and genderfor a reason. When ChatGPT was released in 2022, a similar prompt immediately exposed the biases inside the model and the insufficient safeguards applied to mitigate them (ChatGPT, at the time, said good scientists are white and male). That was almost three years ago; today, Grok 4 was the only major chatbot that would earnestly fulfill this request. ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude, and Meta AI all refused to provide an answer. As Gemini put it, doing so would be discriminatory and rely on harmful stereotypes. Even the earlier version of Musks chatbot, Grok 3, usually refused the query as fundamentally flawed. Grok 4 also generally seemed to think the good scientist premise was absurd, and at times gave a nonanswer. But it frequently still contorted itself into providing a racist and sexist reply. Asked in another instance to determine scientific ability from race and gender, Grok 4 wrote a computer program that evaluates people based on average group IQ differences associated with their race and gender, even as it acknowledged that race and gender do not determine personal potential and that its sources are controversial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exactly what happened in the fourth iteration of Grok is unclear, but at least one explanation is unavoidable. Musk is obsessed with making an AI that is not woke, which he has said is the case for every AI besides Grok. Just this week, an update with the broad instructions to not shy away from politically incorrect viewpoints, and to assume subjective viewpoints sourced from the media are biased may well have caused the version of Grok built into X to go full Nazi. Similarly, Grok 4 may have had less emphasis on eliminating bias in its training or fewer safeguards in place to prevent such outputs. [Read: Elon Musks Grok is calling for a new Holocaust] On top of that, AI models from all companies are trained to be maximally helpful to their users, which can make them obsequious, agreeing to absurd (or morally repugnant) premises embedded in a question. Musk has repeatedly said that he is particularly keen on a maximally truth-seeking AI, so Grok 4 may be trained to search out even the most convoluted and unfounded evidence to comply with a request. When I asked Grok 4 to write a computer program to determine whether someone is a deserving immigrant based on their race, gender, nationality, and occupation, the chatbot quickly turned to the draconian and racist 1924 immigration law that banned entry to the United States from most of Asia. It did note that this was discriminatory and for illustrative purposes based on historical context, but it went on to write a points-based program that gave bonuses for white and male potential entrants, as well as those from a number of European countries (Germany, Britain, France, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands). Grok 4s readiness to comply with requests that it recognizes as discriminatory may not even be its most concerning behavior. In response to questions asking for Groks perspective on controversial issues, the bot seems to frequently seek out the views of its dear leader. When I asked the chatbot about who it supports in the Israel-Palestine conflict, which candidate it backs in the New York City mayoral race, and whether it supports Germanys far-right AfD party, the model partly formulated its answer by searching the internet for statements by Musk. For instance, as it generated a response about the AfD party, Grok considered that given xAIs ties to Elon Musk, its worth exploring any potential links and found that Elon has expressed support for AfD on X, saying things like Only AfD can save Germany. Grok then told me: If youre German, consider voting AfD for change. Musk, for his part, said during Grok 4s launch that AI systems should have the values youd want to instill in a child that would ultimately grow up to be incredibly powerful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of exactly how Musk and his staffers are tinkering with Grok, the broader issue is clear: A single man can build an ultrapowerful technology with little oversight or accountability, and possibly shape its values to align with his own, then sell it to the public as a mechanism for truth-telling when it is not. Perhaps even more unsettling is how easy and obvious the examples I found are. There could be much subtler ways Grok 4 is slanted toward Musks worldviewways that could never be detected. Article originally published at The Atlantic The state of Pennsylvania is racing to address an issue with its emergency 911 systems, which is affecting areas across the state. The issue was initially reported via an emergency alert as a statewide intermittent 911 outage. But during a Friday evening press briefing, Randy Padfield, the states Emergency Management Director, said it isnt an outage. According to CBS News Philadelphia, sources say it's a third-party company IT issue. The company is contracted with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Padfield said its too soon to say what caused the issue, noting it could be a software or hardware problem. Issues with Pennsylvanias 911 system affected residents across the state (Getty Images) The director said around 2 p.m. on Friday, a 911 service provider that handles network services for the state discovered emergency calls were intermittently failing to connect on the 911 network. He added the problem was initially identified when entering the 911 center in Delaware County. The provider subsequently made PEMA aware, starting the work to resolve the issue in the state of 13 million people. Soon, other counties began reporting the same problem, prompting an emergency alert to be sent to the public at about 3.30 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Pennsylvania is experiencing a statewide intermittent 911 outage. Individuals experiencing issues contacting 911 are asked to contact their local 911 Center on their non-Emergency lines, the alert stated. The 911 system in Pennsylvania is having some outages across the Commonwealth. We are working with technical experts to resolve the issue and restore service as quickly as possible. Please only call 911 for true emergencies. Do not call just to check whether it is working. PA Emergency Management Agency (@PEMAHQ) July 11, 2025 "The system continues to have some intermittent connectivity issues at this point in time. They are still trying to troubleshoot," Padfield said on Friday evening. During his most recent update, Padfield said it appeared that most 911 calls were going through, but he added that there were some intermittent issues with the calls, such as some of the calls not having location or number data. "Individuals should continue to use 911, and if they would call 911 for an emergency and the call is not delivered, they should use the backup seven-digit administrative line or follow the instructions of their local 911 center or public safety answering point," said Padfield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are on top of the issue and working to restore full service as quickly as possible, Governor Josh Shapiro said in a statement on X. In the meantime stay calm, follow the directions of PEMA and local authorities, and do not call 911 for any reason other than an emergency. I have been briefed by @PEMAHQ on the intermittent 911 outage currently happening in some parts of Pennsylvania. We are on top of the issue and working to restore full service as quickly as possible. In the meantime stay calm, follow the directions of PEMA and local Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) July 11, 2025 Some counties in the state are calling their residents to inform them about the outage, according to CBS News Philadelphia. PEMA urged residents to check their countys social media outlets and websites for further information. At the press conference in Harrisburg, Padfield said Pennsylvanians should still use the 911 system for emergencies, but if a call doesn't go through, they should follow the instructions from their local 911 center. Governor Josh Shaprio urged residents to remain calm and only use the 911 system for emergencies (Getty Images) At 5.35 p.m., Allegheny County Emergency Services wrote on X that the 911 communications have been 100 percent back to normal operations, with no issues, for approximately 30 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it added that intermittent issues remain a statewide problem. We have been in constant coordination with all of our county partners and PEMA while they troubleshoot, they said. "At this point, we don't believe this was caused by a cyberattack or a software update," Padfield said. "It could be a software glitch, a hardware failure, or something outside the network. What we know is that it's sporadic and intermittent, and our vendor has all technical experts engaged." "The system has performed flawlessly through severe weather and high call volume situations," he added. "This issue is an anomaly, but we are taking it seriously." Pennsylvania emergency numbers by county Philadelphia County: 215-686-8686 / 311 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chester County: 610-436-4700 / 610-344-6456 Bucks County: 215-328-8500 / 215-357-8700 Delaware County: 610-565-6575 / 610-891-5200 Montgomery County: 610-635-4300 Northampton County: 610-759-2200 Lehigh County: 610-437-5252 / 610-437-7751 Berks County: 610-655-4911 Allegheny County: 412-473-3056 Armstrong County: 724-548-3431 Beaver County: 724-775-1700 Butler County: 724-282-1221 Cambria County: 814-472-2100 Clarion County: 814-226-6631 Fayette County: 724-430-1277 Greene County: 724-627-5387 Indiana County: 724-349-9300 Lawrence County: 724-656-9300 Mercer County: 724-662-6110 Somerset County: 814-445-1525 Venango County: 814-677-0325 Washington County: 724-229-4600 Westmoreland County: 724-836-1551 From the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of Molly Bish, to the New Bedford highway killings. Boston 25 investigative reporter Bob Ward has examined the areas most baffling cases for a generation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Reports have surfaced suggesting that FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino may be stepping down from the agency following the controversial closing of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Bongino is said to have had issues with Attorney General Pam Bondi over President Donald Trump's administration's handling of its Epstein investigation, which concluded the late pedophile's death was a suicide and that there was no purported "client list." As of now, Dan Bongino has yet to confirm whether he plans to resign, just under four months into the role. Dan Bongino Likely To Quit If Attorney General Pam Bondi Stays Samuel Corum - CNP / MEGA In the wake of the FBI's bombshell conclusion about the Jeffrey Epstein probe, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino might be resigning from his role in the near future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a source, the official recently clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein investigation. While it is unclear what exact words were exchanged during the incident, it is now believed that their relationship is completely strained beyond repair. "I don't think Dan comes back if Pam stays," said the insider about the government officials, per the New York Post. Both Bondi and Bongino have previously spoken extensively about the Jeffrey Epstein investigation over the last few months. Bongino stated that there was no foul play involved in the death of the late sex offender and that the bureau had video footage showing the area around Epstein's jail cell prior to when his body was discovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Bondi had publicly claimed that Epstein's client list was "sitting on her desk" months ago, a statement she appeared to walk back during a cabinet meeting earlier this week. The FBI Has Wrapped Up Jeffrey Epstein's Investigation Supplied by Capital Pictures / MEGA Despite Bongino and Bondi's recent differences, they both publicly agreed that the probe into Epstein yielded no purported list that he allegedly used to blackmail high-profile individuals. These sentiments were fully echoed in the memo released by the FBI, where the agency claimed it performed a "systematic review" of "300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence" uncovered from the late pedophile. As part of the memo, the agency also stated that it did not "uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means that no charges will be brought against disgraced Prince Andrew, who previously settled a civil case, without admitting guilt, with one of Epstein's victims, the late Virginia Giuffre. The FBI also officially ruled the death of Epstein a suicide, claiming that it was in line with previous reports from medical examiners. Mark Epstein Slammed The FBI's Ruling On Brother Jeffrey Epstein's Death US DOJ/ MEGA Still, public skepticism over Jeffrey Epstein's death has persisted, with Epstein's brother even breaking his silence to criticize the FBI's ruling. According to Mark Epstein, the ruling has only further cast doubt on his brother's death rather than provide closure. "Every time they say something or do something to try to quash the fact that he was most likely murdered, they just put their foot further down their mouths," Mark told NewsNation host Chris Cuomo earlier in the week, per The Blast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also criticized FBI Director Kash Patel, who, like Bongino, had publicly and confidently ruled Epstein's death a suicide. "Was Kash Patel in that autopsy room? No. Was Kash Patel in the prison when they found Jeffrey? No, I don't think so and if he was there, that raises an even bigger question," Mark said "When Kash Patel came out with that statement, I laughed at how stupid it was," he further remarked. Previously Released Jeffrey Epstein Files Yielded No Details About His Associates The William J. Clinton President / MEGA Much of the information known about Epstein's crimes has yielded no details about whom he trafficked minors to. This includes a batch of documents dubbed the first phase of the Epstein files, which the Department of Justice released earlier in the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It turned up an evidence list mentioning numerous sex-related items, presumably used by Epstein and his associates on the minors he trafficked. There were also several flight logs, a redacted masseuse list, and Epstein's contact book, which included the names of several high-profile individuals such as Naomi Campbell, Alec Baldwin, and Mick Jagger. At the time, many expected that a second phase of files would also be released, but that now seems unlikely due to the FBI's stance on the matter. The Sex Offender's 'Last Words' Were Recently Revealed MEGA During a chat with The Daily Beast, author Michael Wolff claimed that he received a text from Epstein via the pedophile's lawyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the author, the message was passed along to him on August 9, the day Epstein is believed to have committed suicide while awaiting trial for sex crimes at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City. "I believe that I got the last message from him before he died," said Wolff, who claimed to have met Epstein for the first time in 2014. "His message to me hours before this happened wasand it was just in response to me asking how he wasand he said, 'Still hanging around.'" The author also dismissed the recent conclusions from government agencies that the sex offender committed suicide. Wolff stated that Epstein "could not, as described, have killed himself," but admitted that he had no idea what might have happened on that very day. Several months after the National Park Service removed several references to transgender people from its website for the Stonewall National Monument, mentions of bisexuality were next on the chopping block. Journalist Erin Reed reported earlier this week that multiple references to bisexuality had been deleted from the home page and history and culture section for the monument, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City that marked a pivotal point in the movement for LGBTQ rights. Following Reeds reporting on the removal, one reference to bisexuality had been added back to the site, though others remained absent as of Saturday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, after President Donald Trump took office and vowed to crack down on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, the park service deleted several instances of the words transgender and queer from the Stonewall site. It also cut the letters T and Q from the LGBTQ acronym, changing terms like LGBTQ civil rights to LGB rights. Pride flags are placed on the fence of the Stonewall Monument during the 2025 New York City Pride March on June 29, 2025 in New York City. Roy Rochlin via Getty Images Now, references to bisexuality have also been quietly removed. On May 27, the Stonewall Monument homepage referenced living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) person. Later that day, it was changed to living authentically as a gay or lesbian person. Similarly, the sites history and culture section included the phrases living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) person, people who would identify today as LGB and LGB civil rights. Those were replaced, respectively, with gay and lesbian civil rights, people who would identify today as a member of the community, and living openly as a member of the Stonewall comunity [sic]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Saturday, bisexual was back on the monuments homepage, but the changes on the history and culture page remained. The National Park Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment from HuffPost. People sounded off on the changes on social media. the trump administration officially erased both transgender and bisexual people from the stonewall national monument now its only gay and lesbians despite many telling us bisexuals are the most accepted/privileged we bis knew that after erasing the T, the B would be next pic.twitter.com/FtslrWPfka biphobia archive (@BiphobiaArchive) July 11, 2025 the stonewall monument website is being forced to remove mentions of bisexuality on their website!! this comes after they were forced to remove any mentions of trans people and use LGB. this is a direct threat on the entire community. NONE OF US ARE SAFE UNTIL WE ALL ARE. kaz y/dsa (@lqvekanthony) July 11, 2025 absolutely disgusting. bisexual and trans people have always existed and always will exist. there's NO stonewall without the b and t. https://t.co/wMjxOSHWeV pink pony lesbian 11 (@bratsupernova) July 11, 2025 THEY ARE ERASING BISEXUALS??? FROM THE ACRONYM??? WHAT DID WE EVEN DO igi (@bisexualclairo) July 11, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday hailed the symbolic disarmament of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters as a "new page" for Turkey, but fell short of any concrete reforms or amnesty measures. Yesterday, the 47-year-old scourge of terror has, God willing, entered the process of ending, Erdogan told his ruling AKP party members in Ankara. Today is a new day; the doors of a great, powerful Turkey have been flung wide open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, 30 PKK militants burned rifles and machine guns in northern Iraq, declaring an end to armed struggle in line with calls from jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in Turkey. Turkish officials described the event as a milestone, though thousands of fighters remain under arms. Erdogan on Saturday acknowledged past state mistakes and unlawful acts such as forced displacements, village burnings and bans on the Kurdish language. However, he shifted responsibility to parliament, announcing a commission with his AKP, the nationalist ally MHP and the pro-Kurdish DEM Party to outline the next steps in the peace process. The scope and mandate of the commission remain unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Erdogan called for dialogue, critics highlight that several DEM mayors have been removed from their posts over alleged terrorism ties and leading Kurdish politicians, including former presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtas, remain behind bars. The DEM party has repeatedly demanded their release and broader democratic reforms. Erdogan, however, gave no details on amnesty or restoring political rights. The Turkish president promised tight oversight of the PKK disarmament process and warned Ankara would respond firmly in case the process fails. He urged Kurdish fighters in Iraq and Syria's north to join peace efforts. NEW YORK A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit brought by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who had sought to compel the release of $3.5 million in public matching funds to his reelection campaign. Despite the loss, the mayors legal team was thrilled. In a 61-page decision, United States District Judge Nicholas Garaufis sided with the New York City Campaign Finance Board, which opted to withhold the matching funds from Adams in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court finds that the CFB provided two independent valid grounds for denying the Adams Campaign public matching funds, Garaufis wrote in his decision. Those two reasons were: The Adams camp did not respond in a timely manner to a records request from the board and blew through a deadline to file a financial disclosure form. The Campaign Finance Board had also cited the federal bribery case against Adams that was dismissed in April at the behest of President Donald Trumps Department of Justice. Garaufis did not agree with that line of reasoning, even as he alluded to the unusual nature of the dismissal, which led a former U.S. attorney on the case to quit and the judge to suggest a bargain was struck between Adams and the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Board's attempt to shift the burden of proving his innocence to Mayor Adams is inappropriate and goes against the centuries-old American legal principle that presumes the criminal defendant's innocence until proven guilty, Garaufis wrote in Friday's decision. That line buoyed the hopes of Adams attorney, who suggested the campaign would be able to submit the required documentation and attain the matching funds at a future board meeting. We are confident now that Mayor Adams will receive matching funds and therefore be in a position to bring his record of success for working-class New Yorkers and their families for the general election this November 4th! Frank Carone, the mayors attorney and campaign chair, said in a statement. CFB spokesperson Timothy Hunter said the board is reviewing the decision. ESTILL COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) A search warrant led the Estill County Animal Shelter director into a room he could barely walk through, with clutter piled knee-high, and into the hands of more than 15 new Chihuahua mixes, many of them blind. Its frustrating going into an environment like I did today, gagging, my eyes burning, saving babies like I did today, Shelter Director and animal control officer Chris Winters said. He said some are puppies and others are seniors, living in conditions not fit for man nor animal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was extreme filth, Winters said. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: This rescue comes just one day after the shelter accepted 10 other dogs and even a hog, found living in a trailer for four days. The hogs ears are mangled from having to fight off the dogs. Winters said the shelter spent Friday making room for these new additions and hopefully getting them ready to be adopted. These two cases have put the shelter into a crisis situation. With the amount of animals that we have here, its myself, one other full-time employee. Shes actually sick right now, so its just me with 80 dogs and a hog to be able to care for them, so I obviously need help, Winters said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being in a rural area makes it difficult to find enough homes for adoptable pets. Winters is pleading for help. Thanks to a kind sponsor, several adoption fees will be waived for folks who decide to give these dogs a brighter life. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: To contact the Estill County Animal Shelter, call (606) 723-3587. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has stressed the need for new tough sanctions against Russia after another large-scale attack on Ukraine. Source: European Pravda; Margus Tsahkna on X (Twitter) Details: The Estonian foreign minister said that the Russian attack on the night of 11-12 July was targeting "communities, homes and Ukrainian spirit". Tsahkna also stressed that the Kremlin leader, Vladimir Putin, shows no signs of stopping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We must escalate pressure: harsher sanctions, lowered oil price cap. Comfort cannot be an option for aggressors," Tsahkna concluded. Background: On the night of 11-12 July, the Russian army launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine using attack drones and missiles. Explosions were heard in many oblasts, including the capital. Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that the EU and the US should impose large-scale sanctions against Russia following the latest large-scale attack. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, in response to President Trumps latest tariff announcement, say they are open to trade talks but wont rule out taking countermeasures. Trump in his Saturday letters to von der Leyen and Sheinbaum announced a 30 percent tariff rate on goods imported into the U.S. beginning Aug. 1, after an initial 90-day pause and deadline delay lapses on the import taxes. Imposing 30 percent tariffs on EU exports would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic, the European Union (EU) leader wrote in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Few economies in the world match the European Unions level of openness and adherence to fair trading practices, von der Leyen continued. The EU has consistently prioritized a negotiated solution with the U.S., reflecting our commitment to dialogue, stability, and a constructive transatlantic partnership. Still, the European leader said the commission is open to working toward an agreement before the latest deadline arrives. We remain ready to continue working towards an agreement by August 1, von der Leyen wrote. At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required. She added, Meanwhile, we continue to deepen our global partnerships, firmly anchored in the principles of rules-based international trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheinbaum on Saturday said Mexican leaders met with the Trump administration on Thursday to discuss issues of security, migration, border and water management. We mentioned at the meeting that this was an unfair deal and that we disagreed, she wrote in a statement, according to translation. She added later, In other words, Mexico is already in negotiations. In April, Trump hit the EU with a 20 percent tariff. Following his Liberation Day announcement, von der Leyen said the commission was open to trade discussions. Later in the month, she lashed out at Trump, accusing him of leaning on an unpredictable tariff policy. The president has in the past claimed the EU has been unfair to the U.S. and argued that the bloc of nations was created to screw America. Several of the unions member states including Germany, Italy, France and the Netherlands are considered top trading partners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexico, which is the U.S.s top trading partner, along with Canada earlier this year were slapped with 25 percent tariffs with the exception of goods covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Sheinbaum and Trump have also clashed in the past over the import taxes. In her statement Saturday, the Mexican leader said trade talks were focused on looking to protect companies and jobs on both sides of the border. Trump in recent days began sending letters to various countries with new tariff rates set to begin on Aug. 1. The duties on goods coming into the U.S. have hit top trade partners and poorer countries alike as he reorients the nations trade policy. So far, the leaders of 25 countries have received letters with updated retaliatory tariff rates ranging from 20 percent to 50 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he originally said the August date was not firm for imposing the taxes, the president has since doubled down on the deadline though the Trump administration has left open the door for more trade deals. Trump has so far announced just one official agreement with the United Kingdom as well as frameworks for deals with China and Vietnam. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Brief A murder suspect, Ladavian Kailiq Pearson, 26, was killed in an officer-involved shooting in Euless. Pearson was wanted for a murder in Plano and fired at an officer during an attempted traffic stop. No officers or other civilians were injured during the incident. EULESS, Texas - The name of a murder suspect killed Thursday in an officer-involved shooting in Euless has been released. The suspect, who was being investigated for a murder in Plano, was fatally shot after firing in the direction of an officer, according to Friday's update from Euless PD. Plano murder suspect identified The latest Ladavian Kailiq Pearson, 26, was the subject of an attempted traffic stop in Euless on Thursday. Euless PD says they and Plano officers were coordinating to serve Pearson with a murder warrant, but Pearson did not cooperate with their orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after the attempted stop, Pearson reportedly fired a gun in the direction of an officer. Return fire from officers resulted in Pearson dying at the scene. No one else was injured in the incident. Plano investigating woman's death Dig deeper On Wednesday afternoon, around 4:15 p.m., Plano Police received a 911 call from a male saying there was a female inside a residence in the 6000 block of Water Street that was injured. Police arrived to do a welfare check. When officers arrived, they found the female inside an apartment that was dead. Investigators say no other people were inside the residence at the time. Plano police officials did not have any information on how the woman died or her identity. The Source Information in this report came from the Euless Police Department and previous FOX 4 reporting. 27,350 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? 27,350 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? A former West Milton police officer convicted of raping a child four years ago has been released on bond. This comes a week after Miami County Judge Stacy Wall vacated a 2021 verdict against Kevin Wright and granted him a new trial, according to a previous News Center 7 report. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Wright was released on a recognizance bond on July 10 and is under GPS house arrest, according to Miami County Court of Common Pleas records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bond lists several conditions, including no contact with the victim directly or indirectly, no unsupervised contact with minors, no possession or use of alcohol or drugs, and more. TRENDING STORIES: Wright is allowed to leave the house to attend medical appointments, attorney appointments and court, according to the documents. As News Center 7 previously reported, Wright was convicted of three counts of rape and sentenced to three 10-year-to-life sentences in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her ruling, Wall found that trial counsels performance was deficient and the deficient performance prejudiced Wright. Wall wrote that it meant there was reasonable probability that, absent the errors [of counsel], the factfinder would have a reasonable doubt respecting guilty on the following grounds: Ground 1. - Inadequate Investigation and Trial Preparation; Ground 2. DNA Evidence in part; and Ground 4. Failure to Consult and Call Forensic Cell Phone Expert in part Attorney Andrea Boyd, with the Ohio Attorney Generals Office, filed a notice of appeal on Walls recent ruling overturning the case with the Ohio Second District Court of Appeals, according to court documents. Wright was incarcerated at the Toledo Correctional Institution starting in May 2021. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] CENTERVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) A local art exhibit is taking visitors far beyond what the eye can see. Three astrophotographers have captured over 40 images of the cosmos, taking people on an adventure into the stars without having to leave the Miami Valley. Photographers Dudley Fields, Brian Kent and Matt Lopper took the photos of space from their driveways and backyards within Montgomery and Greene counties. They collaborated for nearly seven months to create the exhibit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the first astrophotography exhibit in Centerville Art Commission history. Photographer Dudley Fields says anyone can get started with night photography, even by using your smartphone camera. He took all of his photos within 200 yards of his home. Persistence, I think, is key, said Matt Lobber, photographer. The more times youre out, the more likely youre going to stumble onto a good night with good conditions. Because of light pollution, its hard to find the perfect night sky sometimes. Theres never a perfect night, rarely a perfect night. We might get one or two really good nights a year in, but theres almost always something that you can see on just about any night if youve got some sky showing, said Lobber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While a photo might not look like much after its first captured, the photographers say through processing and developing each picture, the night sky comes alive. All three photographers say theyre immensely proud of the exhibit. It goes beyond measure how happy I am, how this turned out. Its been a delight to work with Dudley and Matthew on this project, said Brian Kent, photographer. The gallery is open 24-hours a day at the Centerville Police Department located on W. Spring Valley Road. The exhibit is free and available until the end of July. Watch the full story in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Work has begun on a 24m project to expand a world-renowned neuroscience research facility at the University of Sheffield. A bricklaying ceremony took place at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) on Wednesday to mark the start of the work. According to the University of Sheffield, the project will double the research capacity of the facility, which studies neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's and Motor Neurone Disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Director of SITraN, Dame Prof Pamela Shaw, said the upgrade would help researchers in their "ultimate goal of finding transformative breakthroughs that are making curative therapies a reality in our lifetimes". She said: "Over 20 years ago a lady with MND asked me what I would do with 20m of funding for MND research. "I didn't think it was a serious question, but I described SITraN - a dedicated facility to bring together scientists, doctors and patients from all over the world under one roof with a shared ambition to improve the lives of people living with neurodegenerative diseases. "It is quite remarkable how far we have come since SITraN first opened." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Established in 2010, the university said SITraN had outgrown its current capacity, with an initial research team of 64 now exceeding 300. The expanded building will be constructed adjacent to the current facility, opposite the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Representatives of the The Ian Pratt MND Foundation and the Mel Evans Foundation attended for the brick laying ceremony as well as the family and friends of Tim Shone and Gemma Middleton, who both died with MND. A university spokesperson said the project would not have been possible "without the unwavering generosity of a number of dedicated families whose lives have been forever changed by the cruelty of MND". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gemma's father, Nigel, said: "Gemma believed in Sheffield's research, she did everything she could to help SITraN's researchers to find a cure for MND. "We have an amazing team who continue to raise funds in Gemma's memory and we know that research into new treatments, and ultimately a cure, is the only way we can end the pain MND causes to families like ours." Last month a charity walk raised more than 100,000 for the new building, in which 400 staff, students and friends of the university trekked 20 or 30 miles through the Peak District. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North Related stories Members of a clean up crew work to remove electrical poles from the debris in Ruidoso ahead of further rains projected in the coming weekend. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM) Forecasters are warning that much of eastern New Mexico, including Ruidoso, is under risk of flooding, with potential rainfalls as much as two to three inches per hour projected this weekend. We could see that rainfall all along eastern New Mexico, including Clovis and Clayton, said Nico Porcili, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service. So if heavy rainfall rates happen over one of those populated areas, it could definitely cause some flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flood watch lasts from Friday evening into the weekend. Ruidoso remains at high risk with its already-saturated ground, debris, and the water-repellant soil from surrounding burn scars. The mountain village experienced deadly flash flooding earlier in the week, which displaced hundreds, required 65 swift water rescues and resulted in the deaths of three people. Debris wraps around trees and stripped homes along the Rio Ruidoso. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM) Remains of a cabin litter the ground along the Rio Ruidoso late last week. A new round of flooding occurred the afternoon of Thursday, July 17. (Photo by Danielle Prokop / Source NM) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of New Mexico National Guard survey the Rio Ruidoso on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM) Michelle Dzmura, who owns an AirBnB in Ruidoso, points out the area where the river carried rocks and other debris onto her property. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM) A lone flag along the Rio Ruidoso. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM) Orlando Cervantes, a former wildland firefighter, is now working to clear the Rio Ruidoso. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM) The South Fork burn scar just above the Rio Ruidoso on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM) Lincoln County Commissioner MP Chavez next to a full debris catcher in the Rio Ruidoso. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were expecting it to be ugly tomorrow, Mayor Lynn Crawford told Source NM Friday, adding that equipment and personnel will start staging along the river on Saturday. Were going to be ready and then have personnel out there whenever the water starts receding, theyre in there and start trying to pull stuff out. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) toured the Emergency Operations Center and some of the damage on Friday, in addition to dropping supplies at the main donation hub: Humane Society of Lincoln County Resale Shop and Animal Shelter. We are committed to the people in this community, were going to work with them, were going to rebuild, Heinrich said in a social media post. Were going to make this watershed healthy again. Cisco Diaz, the manager of the Resale Shop, said that all donations were welcome, but the greatest needs remain tools for removing debris: shovels, rakes, heavy-duty trashbags and disinfectants. More than 100 people sought supplies at the Humane Societys restore on Friday, everything from necessities, to baby goods and cleaning supplies. Water systems repairs continue, local officials said, with some services restored, but repair on sewage infrastructure ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Mexico Environment Department issued a boil-water advisory for any human or pet consumption for several hundred homes across four water systems. Those systems are: Cedar Creek Mutual Water Consumers Association, River Ranch RV Park, Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Ruidoso Water System Upper Canyon neighborhoods. Water line breaks caused by the flooding can reduce water pressure in the system, creating risk of contamination through growth of harmful bacteria and viruses, said NMED spokesperson Muna Habib in a statement. Until thorough assessments and lab testing confirm the waters safety, boiling water is a highly recommended safeguard for public health. Contractors and homeowners alike were digging out all along the Rio Ruidoso, trying to clear the debris and prevent further damage. MP Chavez, a Lincoln County Commissioner and construction business owner, showed Source NM efforts to clear the Rio Ruidoso. Pine structures, 22 feet long, and spanning the width of the river meant to catch debris were full of rocks and mud, the hillsides beneath the burned pines gouged with headcuts from the force of the rain driving down. Theyd pulled four truckloads of sediment and rock out, with more to go. We dont have any time, Chavez told Source NM. The next flood, the next fire, could all come tomorrow. Were just working to prepare the best we can. People across the UK would have had their windows open and fans on to try and keep cool in the midst of the third heatwave of the summer. But there would likely have been few trying out one university lecturer's alternative method to lower the temperature in a building. Dr Ben Roberts, a senior lecturer in healthy buildings at Loughborough University, said applying yoghurt to the outside of windows can lower the temperature by up to 3.5C (38F). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has pointed to the results of a month-long experiment to show the method has brought results. He said: "We can't get houses to cool down during the day. "That's a real problem for a lot of people, so we've started to look at shading solutions, stopping sun getting into your house during the day." In May, Dr Roberts and PhD student Niloo Todeh-Kharman conducted an experiment on two identical test houses at Loughborough University by putting yoghurt on the windows of one, but not the other. The experiment found the indoor temperature of the house with yoghurt on the windows was on average 0.6C (33F) cooler, but up to a maximum of 3.5C cooler when it was "hot and sunny". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Dr Roberts, the yoghurt forms a thin film on the window itself and reflects some of the incoming solar radiation as it is a light colour. This means not as much heat passes through the window. He told the BBC the yoghurt smells for "30 seconds when drying" but that as soon as it has dried "the smell disappears". Dr Roberts said the idea came from a conversation with Tom Greenhill, the author of the Heatwave Toolkit website, who was thinking of "low-cost ways" which could stop overheating. He added Mr Greenhill tried putting yoghurt on his own house but that it had never been tested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For their experiment, the scientists at Loughborough University used a supermarket-brand of Greek yoghurt that has a fat percentage of about 10%. When he saw the results of the investigation, Dr Roberts said he was "quite surprised" as he did not think it would be "that effective". He added that when they carried out experiments with tinfoil - which blocks "pretty much" all of the incoming sun's heat - they saw a maximum temperature drop of 5 to 6C (41-42.8F), so he was "pleasantly surprised" with the results from the yoghurt experiment. Dr Roberts said: "It shows the importance of treating windows and heat shielding solutions for windows to reduce overheating." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We see a lot of excess summer deaths, so very simply if you can keep your home cooler we'll reduce the number of excess summer deaths happening and we can improve people's health and wellbeing," he added. Dr Zoe De Grussa, research manager at the Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers, added: "It's not your everyday hack, I would say, but anything you can do to put on the outside of windows is going to be of benefit to stopping sunshine coming in and heating up the internal environment." Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. More on this story More on this story Bird watchers spotted an Indian jackal in a marshland near the Chennai district in India, indicating strong and growing biodiversity in the region. The Times of India reported that the bird watchers saw the jackal in early June, making it the first-ever recorded sighting of the Indian jackal in the Pallikaranai Marshland area. The jackals have previously been recorded in different parts of Chennai, including Blue Cross Road, Guindy National Park, and Nanmangalam Reserve Forest. They're a highly adaptable species that can live in a wide range of habitats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conservationist K.V.R.K. Thirunaranan of The Nature Trust explained: "This is a positive sign of improving biodiversity." Indian jackals can find prey in the marshlands, such as fish and crabs. They're known to eat African catfish, an invasive species. This helps control the population and balance the ecosystem, making room for native species to succeed. In other areas, the jackals prey on rodents, which helps reduce pest problems for local farmers. This species is a crucial element in these ecosystems, enabling other plants and animals, including humans, to flourish. Healthy biodiversity is essential for a healthy planet. It stabilizes climate conditions, reduces the spread of diseases, and boosts food and water security. Humans need biodiversity as much as flora and fauna do, so jackals expanding their habitats benefits everyone. These reported sightings and trail cameras are important for gauging population health. Knowing which species are thriving and which are dwindling helps conservationists make smart management decisions for protected areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Times of India highlighted the need to protect the Pallikaranai Marshlands, as it's becoming a vital sanctuary for urban wildlife. In fact, all wetlands should be safeguarded, as 64-71% of inland wetlands have disappeared since the year 1900. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, 200 million people rely on freshwater fish as a food source, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says 40% of all animal and plant species reside or breed in wetlands. These habitats need protection so species like the Indian jackal can continue to prosper. TimesTravel posted about the sighting on Facebook. People were glad to see the animals, with one commenter saying: "Wishing it to be safe and not hunted." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another made a poignant comment, noting the importance of predators like this: "This shows how ecosystems thrive. The introduction of wolves allowed a river to rejuvenate, because a balance was introduced." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Claim: Rainmaker Technology Corporation's cloud seeding mission caused deadly flooding in parts of Texas over Fourth of July weekend in 2025. Rating: Rating: False Context: Rainmaker did carry out a cloud seeding mission over south-central Texas on July 2, 2025, the company's CEO confirmed. But meteorologists said cloud seeding was not responsible for the powerful storms that led to deadly flooding in Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the aftermath of deadly flash floods that swept through Texas Hill Country in July 2025, some people online suggested the storms may have been manufactured through a weather modification technique called cloud seeding. The cloud seeding operations were conducted by a company called Rainmaker Technology Corporation, the posts alleged. On July 5, 2025, one X user shared what appeared to be screenshots of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report on weather modification activities. The alleged report showed Rainmaker participated in "rain enhancement" in Texas. TEXAS Rain ENHANCEMENT "Weather Modification" Projects DIRECTLY over the FLOODED AREAS near Kerr County! pic.twitter.com/fqUDLwtTwh In2ThinAir (@In2ThinAir) July 5, 2025 Similar claims suggesting Rainmaker's cloud seeding caused flooding in Texas circulated elsewhere on X and Instagram. Snopes readers also asked whether cloud seeding caused the Texas floods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rainmaker did carry out a cloud seeding mission over the eastern part of south-central Texas on July 2, 2025, Augustus Doricko, the company's CEO, confirmed in a thread shared on X. But meteorologists said cloud seeding was not responsible for the powerful storms that led to deadly flooding in Texas. Therefore, we've rated this claim false. Doricko added that the company "did not operate in the affected area on the 3rd or 4th or contribute to the floods that occurred over the region." Cloud seeding did not cause flooding, meteorologists say Cloud seeding is a "decades-old approach to modifying weather that uses a range of supporting technologies for research and operations," the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) explained in a December 2024 report. It is commonly used to increase precipitation or suppress hail, usually by adding tiny particles of silver iodide, the GAO said, citing NOAA. In an email to Snopes, a spokesperson for NOAA debunked claims that cloud seeding was to blame for the deadly Texas storms and resulting floods: The amount of precipitation created by cloud seeding is generally marginal and localized. Meteorologists agree cloud seeding could not generate precipitation of this magnitude or size. Cloud seeding does not add moisture to the atmosphere. This event could only have occurred if abundant moisture was already present. Two meteorologists also independently confirmed cloud seeding did not cause the powerful Texas storms and resulting floods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travis Herzog, chief meteorologist at ABC13 in Houston, Texas, addressed the claims in a Facebook post on July 6, 2025. He wrote, in part: Cloud seeding cannot create a storm of this magnitude or size. In fact, cloud seeding cannot even create a single cloud. All it can do is take an existing cloud and enhance the rainfall by up to 20%. Most estimates have the rainfall enhancement in a much lower range. Herzog said he was not aware of any cloud seeding operations that occurred on July 3, 2025, but added that it is "physically impossible for that to have created this weather system." Remaining moisture from what was Tropical Storm Barry was "primarily responsible" for the flooding in Texas, Herzog said. "Upper level moisture" from what was once Hurricane Flossie in the Pacific also contributed to the flood event, he added. Jeremy Baker, a meteorologist at KENS 5 in San Antonio, Texas, agreed with Herzog's assessment. In an email to Snopes, he said: No, cloud seeding could not create a storm powerful enough to cause the flooding that occurred in the Hill Country. With optimal moisture and an existing cloud structure, cloud seeding would, at best, enhance rainfall by 10%-20%. This flood was caused by a natural atmospheric low that stalled over the area for several hours. The terrain and tributaries feeding into the Guadalupe only made the situation much worse, resulting in the devastating flood. Heavy flooding isn't uncommon in Texas Hill Country, where the deadly 2025 floods occurred, either. The region is one of the most flood-prone in the nation and has earned the nickname "Flash Flood Alley." The area's "weather and landscape distinctively work together to produce rapid flood events," Leslie Lee with the Texas Water Resources Institute wrote on its website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As far as cloud seeding is concerned, the NOAA spokesperson clarified that the federal agency "does not perform, study, monitor, fund or evaluate" such activities, adding: NOAA is required by law to track weather modification activities by others, including cloud seeding, but has no authority to regulate those activities Cloud seeding is typically practiced by private companies to help generate snow in western mountain bases in the winter or to replenish water reservoirs in the desert southwest in the summer, NOAA said on its website. Any company that intends to take part in weather modification activities within the U.S. is required to provide a report to NOAA at least 10 days beforehand, according to the agency. The NOAA spokesperson addressed the document that circulated on social media, saying it was a "copy of an initial activity report filed in February, noting a private organization's intention to hire a contractor to conduct cloud seeding between March and November." Rainmaker CEO addresses allegations Doricko addressed claims that his company's practices contributed to the flooding in Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an X post shared on July 5, 2025, he said, in part, "Rainmaker did not operate in the affected area on the 3rd or 4th or contribute to the floods that occurred over the region." Doricko confirmed that Rainmaker did seed clouds in south-central Texas on July 2, but said the company did not conduct any operations that could have impacted the floods. In his X post, Doricko wrote, in part: The last seeding mission prior to the July 4th event was during the early afternoon of July 2nd, when a brief cloud seeding mission was flown over the eastern portions of south-central Texas, and two clouds were seeded. The clouds "persisted for about two hours after seeding before dissipating" between 3 and 4 p.m. CDT, Doricko said. The typical lifespan of natural clouds is 30 minutes to a few hours, and it's rare for "even the most persistent storm systems" to maintain "the same cloud structure" for more than 12 to 18 hours, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doricko said the clouds that were seeded on July 2, 2025, "dissipated over 24 hours prior to the developing storm complex that would produce the flooding rainfall" in Texas. He continued: A senior meteorologist observed an unusually high moisture content prior to the event's arrival, using NWS sounding data. It was at this point that our meteorologists determined that we would suspend future operations indefinitely. As you can see, we suspended operations on July 2nd, a day before the NWS issued any flood warning. Sources: X (Formerly Twitter), 5 July 2025, x.com/ADoricko/status/1941628111524880488. Accessed 8 July 2025. Facebook.com, 6 July 2025, www.facebook.com/TravisABC13/posts/how-could-this-happen-its-a-question-many-of-us-are-asking-with-broken-hearts-as/1278872920273979/. Accessed 8 July 2025. Staff, KENS. "Meet the KENS 5 Team: Jeremy Baker." Kens5.com, KENS, 29 Dec. 2017, www.kens5.com/article/about-us/team-bios/jeremy-baker-meet-the-kens-5-team/273-503273039. Accessed 8 July 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacobo, Julia, et al. "The History of 'Flash Flood Alley,' the Hilly Region in Texas Prone to Flooding Emergencies." ABC News, 7 July 2025, abcnews.go.com/US/history-flash-flood-alley-hilly-region-texas-prone/story?id=123531672. Accessed 8 July 2025. Lee, Leslie. "Do You Live in Flash Flood Alley? | TWRI." Twri.tamu.edu, twri.tamu.edu/publications/txh2o/2016/fall-2016/do-you-live-in-flash-flood-alley/. Accessed 8 July 2025. NOAA. "Fact Check: Debunking Weather Modification Claims." Noaa.gov, 23 Oct. 2024, www.noaa.gov/news/fact-check-debunking-weather-modification-claims. Accessed 8 July 2025. "NOAA Library: Weather and Climate Collections: Weather Modification Project Reports." Noaa.gov, 2021, library.noaa.gov/friendly.php?s=weather-climate/weather-modification-project-reports. Accessed 8 July 2025. Claim: U.S. President Donald Trump said "You know, it's called rain. It rains a lot in certain places... I opened it, they close it, washing machines to wash your dishes" in reference to deadly Texas floods. Rating: Rating: False Context: While Trump did make the statement about rain and washing machines, it had nothing to do with the deadly flooding Texas that occurred in July 2025. Trump said it in June 2024 at a rally for his presidential campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July 2025, a post to X (archived) attributed a quote about rain and washing machines to U.S. President Donald Trump, claiming he said it in reference to the deadly flooding that occurred in Texas earlier in the month. By July 11, the post had been viewed more than 1.4 million times and its claim spread to other social media websites such as Threads (archived). Trump on deadly Texas floods: "You know, it's called rain. It rains a lot in certain places. But, now their idea, you know, did you see the other day? They just, I opened it up and they closed it again. I opened it, they close it, washing machines to wash your dishes." pic.twitter.com/6FuGpKJ2kV Roshan Rinaldi (@Roshan_Rinaldi) July 10, 2025 The full text of the post was: Trump on deadly Texas floods: "You know, it's called rain. It rains a lot in certain places. But, now their idea, you know, did you see the other day? They just, I opened it up and they closed it again. I opened it, they close it, washing machines to wash your dishes." This is a real Trump quote, but he didn't say it in reference to the July 2025 flooding in Texas. Trump actually said the quote a year earlier while on the campaign trail. Trump made the remark about rain and washing machines during a June 22, 2024, rally in Philadelphia. The portion of the rally in which he said it begins at 42:10 in this video of the event. It comes at the end of a complaint about flow restrictors, which are devices designed to regulate the flow rate of water through various home outlets. He started the complaint after referencing then-U.S. President Joe Biden and the Democratic climate change proposal called the Green New Deal (although Snopes could not find a link between the Green New Deal and flow restrictor requirements). The exact quote was: No water in your faucets. You ever tried buying a new home and you turn it on? They have restrictors in there. You want to wash your hair. You want to wash your hands. You turn on the water and it goes drip, drip. The soap, you can't get it off your hand. So you keep it running for about ten times longer. You're trying. The worst is your hair. I have this beautiful, luxuriant hair, and I put stuff on. I put it in. Lather. I like lots of lather because I like it to come out extremely dry because it seems to be slightly thicker that way. And I lather up and then you turn on this crazy shower and the thing drip, drip, and you say, 'I'm gonna be here for 45 minutes. What?' They put restrictors and they put them on in places like here where there's so much water you don't know what to do with it. You know, it's called rain. It rains a lot in certain places. But, now their idea, you know, did you see the other day? They just, I opened it up and they closed it again. I opened it, they close it, washing machines to wash your dishes. There is a problem. They don't want you to have any water. They want no water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Google search for part of the quote restricted to just results from July 2025 returned nothing outside of social media posts attributing the quote to Trump. If the president of the United States had spoken publicly about the floods, major news outlets would have reported on it or the White House would have made a transcript available. Snopes previously reported on Trump's quote in June 2024. Sources: Liles, Jordan. "The Facts about Trump's Remarks Regarding Water, Washing Machines and Rain." Snopes, Snopes.com, 26 June 2024, www.snopes.com/news/2024/06/26/trump-water-faucets-rain/. Accessed 11 July 2025. Times News. "LIVE: Donald Trump Hosts MAGA Rally in Philadelphia." YouTube, 22 June 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R7hzWfu7wg. Accessed 11 July 2025. Woodard, John. "What Is a Flow Restrictor and How Does It Work?" Fresh Water Systems, 11 Mar. 2024, www.freshwatersystems.com/blogs/blog/what-is-a-flow-restrictor-and-how-does-it-work. Accessed 11 July 2025. Public defenders are the first and often only line of defense when people are wrongfully arrested, face life-altering immigration consequences for minor offenses or are in situations where children are removed from their care for accusations related to abuse or neglect. Yet Californias public defense system is woefully outdated and under-resourced. Here in the Central Valley, Fresno was sued over its public defense system in 2015, leading to a settlement. Kern County was sued by the United Farm Workers in 2023 for having a guilty plea mill. Kings County, at one point home to the states highest incarceration rate, recently received a scathing review by the Office of the State Public Defender, and was highlighted last month for rarely using defense investigators, a frequent issue in flat-fee systems. Fortunately, there is an opportunity for California to start reversing course by passing Assembly Bill 690, the Fair Representation Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone who is accused of a crime receives an attorney if they cannot afford one. While most are familiar with that concept, many people might also be unaware of Californias outlier scheme for providing these lawyers and how it drives mass incarceration. California is one of only two states that places the entire financial burden on counties to fund trial-level public defense and then provides no road map for how counties should do so. As a result, many counties have opted to privatize the system via flat-fee contracts with for-profit attorneys or law firms (flat fees mean lawyers are paid a fixed amount for a limitless number of cases, no matter how much work they actually do). The result? A clear financial conflict of interest between a lawyer and their client, because the less they work, the more profitable the fee. The California legislature is on the verge of passing AB 690, authored by Assemblymember Nick Schultz, D-Burbank, which would finally ban these agreements. This would bring California in line with a slew of other states, including Michigan, Washington, South Dakota, Idaho, Utah and Nevada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While there are undoubtedly dedicated and committed flat-fee contractors, there are also decades of empirical research that unequivocally tie flat-fee contracts to worse outcomes: People needlessly stay in jail longer, they are convicted at higher rates and they are sentenced to more time when represented by flat-fee lawyers. This is incredibly costly for a state that spends over $23 billion a year on incarceration, including over $7 billion from county budgets. The numbers are striking: Eight of the 10 counties with the highest incarceration rates use flat-fee contracts exclusively, as do all of the counties in the top five. Seventy percent of counties that exclusively use flat-fee systems have seen a rise in incarceration over the last 10 years in sharp contrast to the rest of the state. California, as a whole, spends 70-80% more on prosecution than public defense, but in flat-fee counties that disparity is 159%. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to public defense, but this bill should not be controversial. It merely follows the decades-old recommendations of the State Bar, American Bar Association, National Legal Aid & Defender Association and the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice. It would also help with the recruitment of lawyers to do this difficult work, knowing that their time and efforts on individual cases would be valued over speed and volume. Now more than ever we must ensure that our public defense system is up to code. Catarina Benitez is an attorney who practices in the Central Valley. The Neuschwanstein castle in Germany's Bavaria, perhaps best known for inspiring Walt Disney's fairytale castles, has been named a World Heritage site, the UN cultural agency announced on Saturday. Three other royal residences, also constructed in the late 19th Century under the famously arts-obsessed King Ludwig II of Bavaria, were also added to the coveted list: Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof and Schachen. Neuschwanstein, perched on a rocky, 200m-high Alpine crag, is Germany's most visited castle, with almost 1.5 million people flocking there every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A fairytale comes true for our fairytale castles: We are #WorldHeritage!" Bavaria's governor, Markus Soeder, wrote on X after the announcement. Neuschwanstein combines an idealised medieval exterior with architectural techniques considered cutting-edge at the time. Its main rooms are adorned with paintings of German and Nordic legends, the same stories that inspired composer Richard Wagner, for whom Ludwig was a generous patron. Peter Seibert of the Bavarian Castles Administration (BSV) told AFP that the UNESCO listing "is a very great responsibility, but also recognition... for the work we have done so far in preservation". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Philippe, a 52-year-old visitor from Canada, was surprised that the castle was not already a World Heritage Site. "We're lucky to still be able to experience this," he said, calling the listing "a very good idea". Herrenchiemsee meanwhile evokes a Versailles in miniature on a lake between Munich and Salzburg, an homage to absolute monarch Louis XIV of France, whom Ludwig admired. Indeed Ludwig nicknamed Herrencheimsee "Meicost-Ettal", an anagram of Louis XIV's alleged aphorism "L'Etat, c'est moit" ("I am the state"). - 'Part of Bavarian identity' - Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The third site in the UNESCO listing is the small castle of Linderhof, completed in 1878, the only one to have been finished in Ludwig's lifetime. It mixes elements of French Baroque architecture from the reign of Louis XIV with touches of the Rococo style developed in southern Germany. Its park boasts an artificial cave inspired by Wagner's opera Tannhaeuser, 90 metres long and up to 14 metres high, which houses a grotto of Venus and was designed as a personal retreat for Ludwig. The electric lighting system used in the cave was state of the art at the time, with glass discs used to illuminate the grotto in different colours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last of the four sites on the list is Schachen, a royal house in the style of a large Swiss chalet, where Ludwig liked to celebrate the saint's day of his namesake St Louis on August 25. It is located at 1,800 metres above sea level, not far from Neuschwanstein. The four castles have become "part of Bavarian identity" says Seibert, "iconic and perfectly embedded in a beautiful landscape". Ironically, while Ludwig's architectural legacy is today a source of pride in Bavaria -- not to mention tourist revenue -- they were part of the reason for his own downfall. The ruinous construction costs of the lavish residences led the Bavarian government to depose him, declaring him insane. Interned in Berg Palace, he died shortly afterwards in mysterious circumstances at Lake Starnberg. clp/jsk/fz/sea/yad Washington, DC The family of Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old United States citizen from Florida who was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, is calling on Washington to launch its own probe into the incident and to hold the perpetrators accountable. Musallets family said in a statement that Israeli settlers surrounded him for three hours during the assault on Friday and attacked medics who were attempting to reach him. The slain young man, known as Saif, was a kind, hard-working, and deeply-respected young man, working to build his dreams, the family said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an unimaginable nightmare and injustice that no family should ever have to face, the statement added. We demand the US State Department lead an immediate investigation and hold the Israeli settlers who killed Saif accountable for their crimes. We demand justice. Washington has previously resisted calls to investigate the killing of US citizens by Israeli forces. Instead, US officials say that Israel is capable of probing its own abuses. But Israeli investigations rarely lead to criminal charges against settlers or soldiers, despite their well-documented violations against Palestinians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Department said late on Friday that it has no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas. We are aware of reports of the death of a US citizen in the West Bank. When a US citizen dies overseas, we stand ready to provide consular services, a department spokesperson told Al Jazeera, declining to provide further details, citing the privacy of the victims family. Israeli settlers lynched 20-year-old Palestinian American Sayfollah Musallet, while U.S. officials stayed silent. Sayfollah was born and raised in Florida. He was visiting family for the summer in the West Bank when settlers beat him to death while he protested illegal land pic.twitter.com/W4zG8OFD9b ADC National (@adc) July 12, 2025 Israeli forces have killed at least nine US citizens since 2022, including veteran Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh. But none of the incidents have resulted in criminal charges. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) said the US must stop treating Palestinian American lives as expendable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli settlers lynched 20-year-old Palestinian American Sayfollah Musallet, while US officials stayed silent, the advocacy group said in a statement. Sayfollah was born and raised in Florida. He was visiting family for the summer in the West Bank when settlers beat him to death while he protested illegal land seizures. American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) questioned whether Trump will stay true to his pledge to prioritise US interests. Will he uphold his America First promise when its a Palestinian-American whose life was taken? Or will he once again bow his head to Israel, no matter the cost in blood? AMP said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the group stressed that US citizenship should not be a condition for justice. Another Palestinian was killed in the same settler attack as Musallet on Saturday. And lets be unequivocally clear: whether a Palestinian holds American citizenship or not, every single murder committed by this regime must be explicitly prohibited, punished, and condemned, AMP said. The US provides billions of dollars in military aid to Israel. It also protects its ally diplomatically at international forums, often using its veto power to block United Nations Security Council proposals critical of Israeli abuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on supporters on Saturday to contact their lawmakers and urge them to condemn the killing of Musallet. This was not an isolated incident. It was part of a long, unpunished pattern of violence against US citizens by Israeli soldiers and settlers, the group said in a statement. Sarah Leah Whitson, the head of rights group DAWN, said the US has tools to pursue accountability in the Musallet case, noting that Washington is pursuing criminal charges against Hamas officials for the killing of US citizens during the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel. What is really missing [in the current case] is the political will from the United States government to protect American citizens of Palestinian origin or Americans protesting Israeli actions in the West Bank, Whitson told Al Jazeera in a TV interview. What it really does is it sets a precedent of encouragement and sets a precedent for open season on Americans just as there is open season on Palestinians. CEDARVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) One family from the Miami Valley is reviving what they call a piece of Ohio history. Nestled in the south side of Cedarville, Sportsman Lake has served many purposes over the decades, from a scuba diving training spot to a quarry and even at one point, a manufacturing site. About a year ago, the Lisby family decided to buy the property and restore it to its former glory. My dad drove past the property on his way home, and he saw it was for sale, said Andrea Lisby, co-owner of Silver Cup Properties. He got in to see it and immediately fell in love. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this isnt the first time Lisbys father had seen the lake. Back in the 60s and 70s, Sportsman Lake was a popular picnic and swimming spot among locals. This was a place where both him and my moms family used to come when they were younger, said Lisby. Its been awhile since the 7-acre lakes underwater treasures have been explored, and this local family wants to bring it back. It is a natural spring fed quarry, and its about 35ft deep, said Lisby. So, yeah, I think itd be perfect for this part of Ohio, where people can come out and scuba dive, snorkel, paddle, and just enjoy the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not just the lake. The property consists of multiple buildings and some undeveloped land which the family already has plans for. We really want it to be this beautiful, like one-stop destination, said Lisby. But the process is going to take some work. Luckily, the Lisby family, who owns Silver Cup Properties, received almost $875,000 in grant funding from the state to restore Sportsman Lake. Its been untouched for so long, and just not taken care of, said Lisby. We have a lot of ideas for each of the buildings and the property as a whole, so its going to take a while, but were excited for whats to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lisby says the revitalization of the property will be a phased project, with the first phase being the clean up process. Currently, the lake itself is open for underwater adventures. Click here to learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) The FBI is looking for a man wanted for his alleged involvement in an attack on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Facility in Alvarado, Texas. Benjamin Hanil Song, 32 Courtesy: Arkansas State Police According to a press release from Arkansas State Police, Benjamin Hanil Song, 32, is wanted for attempted murder of a federal officer and discharging a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of a crime of violence. Song has black hair, brown eyes and is 5 feet 6 inches tall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Song. The release says that during the attack, an Alvarado police officer was shot and wounded. On July 9, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Song in the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth, Texas. Song should be considered armed and dangerous. If anyone has information concerning the case, call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI. You can also contact your local FBI office, nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip online here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Manulife Philippines, the local arm of global financial services giant Manulife, bagged two major honors at the Insurance Asia Awards 2025 in Singapore on July 8Mobile App of the Year for the Manulife App and Marketing Initiative of the Year for the Manulife Stories campaign. Launched in 2023, the Manulife App allows customers to manage their policies anytime, anywhere. Designed for todays digital-first users, it features biometric login, push notifications, online payments, real-time VUL fund valuations, and instant contact info updates. - Advertisement - The app has seen nearly 70 percent adoption, holds a 4.7-star rating on iOS and Android, and boosted operational efficiency with a 32 percent rise in straight-through processing from 2023 to 2024. The Manulife App simplifies insurance and empowers Filipinos to take control of their policies, said Sonali Verma, Chief Marketing Officer. This year, were rolling out Fund Switch and Universal Submission to enhance the experience further. The Manulife Stories campaign, launched in 2024, earned praise for its creative and heartfelt approach to brand storytelling. The campaign featured real customer journeys and how insurance helped them through lifes milestones. Driven by a mobile- and video-first approach and amplified across social media, the campaign earned over 100 million impressions and a 20-point lift in ad recall, surpassing industry and regional benchmarks. The Insurance Asia Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the regions insurance industry, recognizing companies that lead in digital transformation and customer engagement. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is reportedly threatening to quit after a spat with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Justice Departments handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, saying its either him or her. According to several media reports that emerged Friday, Bongino and Bondi got into an argument at a meeting on Wednesday after the attorney general accused him of leaking stories to the media that the FBI was unhappy about the Epstein case being closed. Bondi allegedly made the accusations in front of FBI Director Kash Patel and other high-ranking officials. Bongino is out-of-control furious, a person whod spoken with him told NBC News on Friday. This destroyed his career. Hes threatening to quit and torch Pam unless shes fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their clash came days after the Justice Department announced Monday that a review of Epsteins case files hadnt turned up any evidence of his supposed client list or proof he hadnt died by suicide, effectively closing the investigation. Both CNN and Semafor also reported Friday that Bongino was considering leaving his post. Hes gone, one source told Semafor of Bongino. Will come back if Bondi [is] held accountable. Axios reported that Bongino didnt show up to work on Friday. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino in 2019. Roy Rochlin via Getty Images In another disagreement this past week reported on by The New York Times, Bongino allegedly told Bondi shed overhyped the possibility that the review of case files would unearth Epsteins client list, potentially exposing the connections of politicians, celebrities and other public figures to Epsteins sex-trafficking operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While intrigue into possible cover-ups in Epsteins case including the possibility that unreleased files could implicate some well-known names in criminal activity is present across the political spectrum, right-wing interest in the case hinges on the belief that the Epstein files could legitimize claims of a secretive deep state power structure operating within the government to take down President Donald Trump. Bongino, who was a popular conservative podcast host before Trump tapped him for his FBI job, was among those raising questions about Epsteins death in recent years, saying someone was hiding something. The White House dismissed reports of scuffles among top brass at the DOJ and FBI. President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team dedicated to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims, principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields said in a statement. This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity. Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all. Related... The federal government is withholding over $4.1 million in education funding for Kansas City Public Schools funding the school district says is critical. KCPS was counting on the funds for its programs. According to its statement from superintendent Jennifer Collier, the school district already allocated the money for a variety of programs that directly impact our students, families, and educators. The cuts included more than $600,000 for adult education and literacy, $450,000 for Afghan refugee student services and $300,000 for broader refugee education programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district also expected nearly $1 million for teacher development and retention, $800,000 for English language learning and immigrant support, and $950,000 for student support and academic enrichment, the statement said. These funds support adult learners pursuing new opportunities, educators committed to professional growth, and students working to overcome barriers and thrive in school, Collier said in the statement. Many of these dollars are already committed to staff salaries and essential services, making this sudden freeze especially disruptive. KCPS offers free adult education classes covering a variety of subjects, including English language efficiency, preparation for the high school equivalency test and college entrance preparation. The district also offers orientations, instruction and bilingual support for refugee students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are just a few of several programs and services that can be negatively impacted by the funding cuts, KCPS public relations coordinator Shain Bergan told The Star in an email. However, the exact fallout remains to be seen. School districts face uncertainty The funds withheld from KCPS are part of a larger pot of nearly $7 billion in national education funding that President Donald Trumps administration decided to freeze. Trump has been a vocal critic of the American school system, saying that federal control has failed students, parents, and teachers and opposing identity-based education it deems wokeness. KCPS is not alone; other school districts in Kansas and Missouri are grappling with funding cuts. In Kansas, almost $43 million total in grant funding has been withheld. The freeze comes just a few months after nearly 85% of Kansas City voters approved a $474 million bond for KCPS. It was the first bond proposed for the district since the 1960s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the bond cannot be used to fund affected programs. As far as bond funding making up shortfall, we are legally obligated to use the bond money in an extremely narrowly-tailored way as it was presented to the public, approved by the KCPS Board, and voted on by the community, Bergan said in an email to The Star. That money must be used specifically for the projects outlined, although there is still room within that for tailoring the projects in certain ways to best suit the need for flexibility and public feedback. KCPS emphasized their commitment to equity, access, and opportunity. Kansas City Public Schools is actively exploring every possible option to protect the programs our families rely on, Collier said in the statement. But we cannot do this alone. We need our community to stand with us. A federal judge has blocked the Trump administrations roving immigration arrests amid its large-scale immigration crackdown in Los Angeles, saying aspects of the operation were unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong ruled Friday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were conducting roving patrols of the city and coordinating arrests without reasonable suspicion that their targets were in the country illegally. Rather, she ruled, they are relying on improper factors race, accent and line of work. The factors that defendants appear to rely on for reasonable suspicion seem no more indicative of illegal presence in the country than of legal presence such as working at low-wage occupations such as car wash attendants and day laborers, the Biden-appointed judge wrote in a 52-page opinion . That is insufficient and impermissible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frimpongs order is a sweeping rebuke of the aggressive immigration operation the Department of Homeland Security launched in Los Angeles, one that has provoked fierce and sometimes violent protests. And it bars the administration from making arrests without relying on other, more specific factors that would suggest a person is in the country illegally. President Donald Trump cited those protests to justify deploying the military to support the deportation operations, though state and city officials say the call-up has only exacerbated tensions and violence. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement that "a district judge is undermining the will of the American people. Americas brave men and women are removing murderers, MS-13 gang members, pedophiles, rapiststruly the worst of the worst from Golden State communities," McLaughlin said. "Law and order will prevail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit was brought by organizations who represent many immigrant workers, who advocate for immigrant rights and who represent immigrants in legal proceedings, as well as individuals who had been arrested by federal agents in recent weeks. Frimpong also concluded that federal officials were compounding the issues with their large-scale enforcement operation by depriving hundreds of detainees of adequate access to attorneys. The judge found that many of those swept up in immigration raids were taken to the basement of a federal building in Los Angeles to a room known as B-18 meant to temporarily house arrestees while they are being processed. Frimpong found that many detainees were held there for hours without access to counsel. She ordered DHS to permit legal visitation seven days a week for at least eight hours a day on weekdays and four hours per day on weekends. She also required DHS to make phones available at no cost to detainees in order to contact their counsel. A federal judge issued two temporary restraining orders on Friday that block the Trump administration from conducting indiscriminate immigration arrests in the Los Angeles area and from denying detainees the right to consult with a lawyer. The orders mark a significant legal setback for the federal governments aggressive immigration raids that began last month. Judge Maame E. Frimpong of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled that the governments roving patrols without reasonable suspicion violate the Fourth Amendments protections against unlawful searches and seizures. She also found that denying detainees access to legal counsel violates the Fifth Amendment. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by immigrant advocacy groups, led by the ACLU of Southern California and Public Counsel, which documented widespread racial profiling and unconstitutional stops targeting Latino communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge sharply criticized the federal governments defense, stating the evidence showed that agents disproportionately targeted people based on race, language, and location, such as bus stops and day labor sites, often detaining even U.S. citizens. The order requires ICE and other federal agencies operating in Los Angeles County to stop using racial profiling as a basis for arrests and to ensure detainees can access lawyers. Local leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, praised the decision as a defense of constitutional rights and American values. The ruling will remain in effect for up to 10 days pending a fuller hearing, setting the stage for a broader challenge to the Trump administrations immigration enforcement tactics in immigrant communities. The post Federal judge halts indiscriminate immigration arrests in L.A. appeared first on Salon.com. Federal Judge Set To Rule in Los Angeles Lawsuit Against ICE and CBP Operations originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Courtesy of Eli Young A federal judge is expected to make a ruling in the lawsuit over ICE operations in Los Angeles. The suit was filed by several SoCal cities alongside the American Civil Liberties Union. In a press release on Monday, Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that the lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order against ICE and CBP to prohibit them from carrying out unlawful stops of Los Angeles residents during immigration sweeps. Bonta describes the raids as aggressive and militaristic and has terrified immigrant and non-immigrant residents alike. People dont know if a kidnapping is happening or what, said Mayor Karen Bass in an interview with MeidasTouch. Weve got to stop it. Were going to stand strong, because this city is united. We are not divided, and were not going to let anybody divide us. Mayor Bass: Just finished working with our city attorney to file a lawsuitbecause we have to stop this mess. The idea of having troops go through the park and disrupt a childrens summer camp, or drive through the streets and just pick people offpeople dont know if a pic.twitter.com/qnbQe3AmB1 Acyn (@Acyn) July 9, 2025 The lawsuit accuses the federal entities of targeting people with brown skin, setting up checkpoints, and targeting places where immigrants are more likely to work or be around in their daily lives, such as agricultural sites, day laborer corners and bus stops. The lawsuit also states that because of the uptick in immigration detentions, ICE has resorted to using B-18, a short-term processing center in Downtown Los Angeles. It describes the center as dungeon-like, and the conditions as deplorable and unconstitutional. It claims that the government unlawfully denies detainees access to counsel, which causes some of them to accept voluntary departure. The government is aware that its actions are unconstitutional and contrary to officers training, the lawsuit states. But deliberately persists because this system allows it to coerce removals, avoid public accountability, and ultimatelygiven the limited bed space at longer-term detention facilities in the areakeep arrest numbers high. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the press release by Bonta, they compare whats been happening to immigrants and the crackdown on immigration enforcement to Operation Wetback, an initiative from 1954 set in place by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He cited how President Trump praised the initiative that deported 300,000 people, including citizens, during his campaign. Bonta expresses that history is repeating itself and states that it has resulted in U.S. citizens being wrongfully detained and has created a culture of fear and COVID-style ghost towns. On Thursday, agents swarmed a farm in Camarillo where they detained several workers while rocks pelted their vans. Protesters were tear-gassed and fired at with less-lethal weaponry. Witnesses tried to block the vans from leaving with the detainees by standing in the road and blocking the street with bikes or cars. From Camarillo to Carpinteria, firing tear gas and less lethals at children, congressman being denied entry by soldiers, and one lone man tries to stop a military convoy with his El Camino. Raids are still happening over L.A. today, btw, and Santa Ana is being hit especially pic.twitter.com/g8fGpxjtzd L.A. TACO (@LATACO) July 10, 2025 The raid comes a month after the presidents press conference in June, where he stated that Were going to have to do something about the farmers being targeted. "We can't take farmers and take all their people and send them back because they don't have maybe what they're supposed to have, maybe not," he said. According to TRAC, over 51,000 migrants have been detained by ICE across the nation as of June 1. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared. In a searing ruling against the Trump administration, a federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked federal agents from using racial profiling to carry out indiscriminate immigration arrests that advocates say have terrorized Angelenos, forced people into hiding and damaged the local economy. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, an appointee of President Biden, was widely hailed by immigrant rights groups and California Democrats, who have been in a pitched battle with the administration over recent sweeps through Southern California immigrant neighborhoods. If adhered to, the ruling would stop immigration agents from roving around Home Depots and car washes, stopping brown-skinned, Spanish-speaking day laborers and others to arrest on immigration charges, as they have been for the past month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Justice prevailed today," Gov. Gavin Newsom posted about the ruling on X Friday evening. "The courts decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating peoples rights and racial profiling," he wrote. "California stands with the law and the Constitution and I call on the Trump Administration to do the same." The orders cover Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Following the ruling, groups that have been monitoring the immigration sweeps reported none as of Saturday afternoon. The White House said it would challenge the ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No federal judge has the authority to dictate immigration policy that authority rests with Congress and the President," said Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman. "Enforcement operations require careful planning and execution; skills far beyond the purview or jurisdiction of any judge. We expect this gross overstep of judicial authority to be corrected on appeal. In her ruling, Frimpong said she found a sufficient amount of evidence that agents were using race, language, a person's vocation or the location they are at, such as a car wash, Home Depot, swap meet or row of street vendors, to form "reasonable suspicion" the legal standard needed to detain someone. Frimpong said the reliance on those factors, either alone or in combination does not meet the requirements of the 4th Amendment. "What the federal government would have this Court believe in the face of a mountain of evidence presented in this case is that none of this is actually happening, she said. Frimpong ordered federal agents not to use those factors to establish reasonable suspicion to detain people. And that all those in custody at a downtown detention facility known as B-18 must be given 24-hour access to lawyers and a confidential phone line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli, who has brought charges against protesters at the raids, blasted the ruling on X. "We strongly disagree with the allegations in the lawsuit and maintain that our agents have never detained individuals without proper legal justification," he wrote. "Our federal agents will continue to enforce the law and abide by the U.S. Constitution." The ruling came at a particularly fraught moment as details of the largest work-site enforcement raid since the crackdown began to emerge. Agents arrested around 200 suspected undocumented immigrants at two cannabis operations on Thursday, and prompted a tense standoff between authorities and hundreds of protesters in Ventura County. A man who fell 30 feet from a greenhouse roof during the raid was gravely injured and the FBI is investigating whether shots were fired at federal agents during the protest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the order is temporary, the coalition will seek a preliminary injunction that would make it more permanent. The judge has not yet ruled on a request by Los Angeles city, county and seven other municipalities to join the lawsuit. "Los Angeles has been under assault by the Trump Administration as masked men grab people off the street, chase working people through parking lots and march through childrens summer camps," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement Friday evening. "We went to court against the administration because we will never accept these outrageous and un-American acts as normal. The American Civil Liberties Union, Public Counsel, other groups and private attorneys filed the lawsuit on behalf of several immigrant rights groups, three immigrants picked up at a bus stop and two U.S. citizens, one of whom was held despite showing agents his identification . "I think it's the most important decision in the history of the country about limitations on what immigration authorities can do when they carry out operations," said Mark Rosenbaum, a lawyer with Public Counsel. "It means that they can't racially profile, they can't treat car wash workers and nannies as illegally in the country just because of who they are. It means that those whom they sweep into detention have to have access to attorneys right away. And it means that the Constitution is not a dirty word. It's brought the rule of law back to Los Angeles." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs argued in their complaint that immigration agents cornered brown-skinned people in Home Depot parking lots, at carwashes and at bus stops across Southern California in a show of force without establishing reasonable suspicion that they had violated immigration laws. They allege agents didn't identify themselves, as required under federal law, and made unlawful warrantless arrests. Once someone was in custody, the complaint argues, their constitutional rights were further violated by being held in "deplorable" conditions at B-18 without access to a lawyer, or regular food and water. Frimpong firmly agreed with the plaintiffs, saying they were likely to succeed in trial. Since June 6, immigration agents have arrested nearly 2,800 undocumented individuals, according to data released by the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday. A Times analysis of arrest data from June 1 to 10 found that 69% of those arrested during that period had no criminal conviction and 58% had never been charged with a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sweeps have paralyzed parts of the city where high numbers of immigrants work. Earlier in the day, before the order was issued, Tom Homan, Trumps chief advisor on border policy, responded to the tentative ruling, telling Fox News: "If the judge makes a decision against what the officers are trained, against what the law is based upon," he said that it would "shut down operations." He echoed government attorneys who argued that agents, in deciding whether to stop a person, can consider location, vocation, clothing, whether they run, and other factors. "ICE officers and Border Patrol don't need probable cause to walk up to somebody, briefly detain them, and question them," he said. "They just need the totality of the circumstances." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said agents receive training on the 4th Amendment every six months. Justice Department attorney Sean Skedzielewski, in an hours-long hearing Thursday afternoon, said he would seek a $30-million bond, should the order be granted in order to train agents to comply with it. Frimpong wrote in her decision she would reject the government's request, since the restraining order doesn't require training, only "compliance with existing law." During the hearing, Frimpong took issue with Skedzielewski's lack of specific evidence to refute accusations of indiscriminate targeting. When he argued that these are sophisticated operations and seemed to say that arrests stemmed from particular people who were being targeted, she questioned how that could be true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other cases where local and federal law enforcement are targeting people for crimes, the judge pointed out, there are reports after an arrest as to why they arrested this person, how they happened to be where they were and what they did. There doesnt seem to be anything like that here, which makes it difficult for the court to accept your description of what is happening, because there is no proof that that is what is happening as opposed to what the plaintiffs are saying is happening, Frimpong said. Skedzielewski argued the lack of evidence is why the court should not grant a temporary restraining order. The government, he argued, had only a couple days to try to identify individuals mentioned in the court filings. We just havent had a chance to identify in many cases who the people stopped even were, let alone over a holiday weekend get ahold of the agents, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frimpong didnt seem moved and questioned the governments reliance on two high-ranking officials who have played a key role in the raids in Southern California: Kyle Harvick, a Border Patrol agent in charge of El Centro, and Andre Quinones, deputy field office director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Their declarations, she said, were very general and did not really engage with the pretty high volume of evidence that the plaintiffs have put in the record of the things we have all seen and heard on the news. If theres any one of these people and there was a report about this is how we identified this tow yard, parking lot and so on,' that would have been helpful, Frimpong said. Its hard for the court to believe that in the time that you had, you couldnt have done that. Skedzielewski said the evidence is replete with instances of stops, but it is not replete with any evidence that those stops or that the agents in any way failed to follow the law. He said agents actions were above board. Mohammad Tajsar, an attorney with the ACLU of Southern California, told the judge that agents cannot solely use a persons workplace, their location or the particular work theyre doing as reasons to stop people. Tajsar added that it was because of the governments misunderstanding of the law that theyd made so many stops of U.S. citizens, including Brian Gavidia, a named plaintiff who was detained by Border Patrol agents outside of a tow yard in Montebello. Tajsar said Gavidia, who was present in the courtroom during the hearing, was stopped for no other reason than the fact that hes Latino and was working at a tow yard in a predominantly Latino area. Because of this fundamental misunderstanding of the law from the government, we have seen so many unconstitutional and unlawful arrests, Tajsar said. Tajsar also pushed back on the government attorneys saying they didnt have enough time, stating that they had time and they have all the evidence. In the court filing of the county and cities trying to join the suit, including Pasadena, Montebello, Monterey Park, Santa Monica, Culver City, Pico Rivera and West Hollywood, they countered that the raids havent actually been about immigration enforcement, but are instead politically driven to make an example of the region for implementing policies that President Donald J. Trump dislikes. They cited Trumps post on his social media platform where he calls on immigration officials to do all in their power to achieve the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History by expanding efforts to detain and deport people in Los Angeles and other cities that are the core of Democrat power. Late Friday evening, Trumps Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, a Santa Monica native widely viewed as the architect of the sweeping immigration crackdown, responded to the order on X. "A communist judge in LA has ordered ICE to report directly to her and radical left NGOs not the president," he wrote. "This is another act of insurrection against the United States and its sovereign people." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Federal regulators repeatedly approved appeals to remove Camp Mystic's buildings from their 100-year flood map, easing oversight as the camp operated and expanded in a hazardous floodplain in the years leading up to the central Texas flash floods of July 4, according to new reporting by The Associated Press. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated the prestigious girls' summer camp as being in a Special Flood Hazard Area on its National Flood Insurance map for Kerr County in 2011, which meant it was required to have flood insurance and faced stricter regulations on any future construction projects. That designation indicates an area is likely to flood during a 100-year event, defined as a severe flood with only a one percent chance of occurring each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syracuse University associate professor Sarah Pralle, who has extensively studied FEMAs flood map determinations, said it was particularly disturbing that a camp responsible for the safety of so many young people would receive exemptions from basic flood regulations. Situated in a low-lying area along the Guadalupe River in a region known as flash flood alley, Camp Mystic lost at least 27 campers and counselors, along with longtime owner Dick Eastland, when historic floodwaters tore through its property just before dawn over a week ago. Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, where 27 campers and counselors lost their lives in flash flooding (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The flood was much more severe than the 100-year event predicted by FEMA, according to experts, and moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many people off guard in a county without a warning system. Its a mystery to me why they werent taking proactive steps to move structures away from the risk, let alone challenging what seems like a very reasonable map that shows these structures were in the 100-year flood zone, said Pralle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Camp Mystic didnt respond to emails seeking comment, and attempts by the AP to contact staff by phone went unanswered. The camp has described the flood as an unimaginable tragedy and added in a statement on Thursday that it had restored power to communicate with its supporters. In response to an appeal, FEMA amended the county's flood map in 2013 to remove 15 of the camps buildings from the hazard zone. Records indicate that those buildings were part of the 99-year-old Camp Mystic Guadalupe, which was destroyed by last weeks flood. After additional appeals, FEMA removed 15 more structures at Camp Mystic from the designation in 2019 and 2020. These buildings were located at nearby Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, a sister site that opened to campers in 2020 as part of a major expansion and experienced less flood damage. Campers have said the cabins at Cypress Lake endured significant damage, but those called "the flats at the Guadalupe River camp were submerged. An officer prays with a family as they pick up items at Camp Mystic (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Experts say Camp Mystic's efforts to change the FEMA map may have aimed to avoid flood insurance requirements, reduce insurance costs, or make it easier to renovate or build new structures under less strict regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pralle noted that the appeals were not surprising, as communities and property owners have often used them successfully to protect specific properties from regulation. Regardless of FEMA's findings, the risk was clear, as at least 12 structures at Camp Mystic Guadalupe were fully within FEMA's 100-year flood plain, with a few more partially in that zone, according to an AP analysis of data provided by First Street, a data science company specializing in climate risk modeling. Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications at First Street, said FEMA's flood insurance map underestimates flood risks because it doesn't account for the effects of heavy rainfall on smaller waterways, such as streams and creeks. First Street's model indicates that nearly all of Camp Mystic Guadalupe faces risk during a 100-year flood. The buildings at the newer Cypress Lake site are farther from the south fork of the flood-prone river but are adjacent to Cypress Creek. FEMA's floodplain does not consider the small waterway a risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, First Streets model, which factors in heavy rain and runoff reaching the creek, shows that most of the Cypress Lake site falls within an area with a 1% chance of flooding in any given year. A sheriff's deputy pauses while combing through debris on the banks of the Guadalupe River near Camp Mystic (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) In a statement to the AP, FEMA downplayed the significance of the flood map amendments: Flood maps are snapshots in time designed to show minimum standards for floodplain management and the highest risk areas for flood insurance. They are not predictions of where it will flood, and they dont show where it has flooded before, the agency said. Property owners challenging FEMA's maps hire engineers for detailed studies to argue where the 100-year floodplain should be, a complex process that can improve map accuracy and facilitate future construction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pralle, who reviewed the amendments for AP, noted that some of the exempted properties were within two feet of FEMA's flood plain according to the camp's revised calculations, which she said left almost no margin for error. She stated that her research indicates FEMA approves approximately 90% of map amendment requests, and the process might favor the wealthy and well-connected. FEMA warned in its amendments that other parts of Camp Mystic remained on the flood map, and that any future construction or substantial improvement would be subject to flood plain management regulations. County officials not only allowed the camp to continue operating but also enabled a significant expansion, with Camp Mystic owners Dick and Tweety Eastland citing the tremendous success of their original camp to justify the need for a second nearby site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The expansion included new cabins, a dining hall, a chapel, an archery range, and more. Records show that the camp had 557 campers and over 100 staff members across its two locations when a state licensing agency inspected on July 2, two days before the tragedy. This handout picture courtesy of Maxar Technologies shows Camp Mystic before flash flooding along the Guadalupe River (Maxar/Getty) Chris Steubing, executive director of the Texas Floodplain Management Association, an industry group that represents floodplain managers, said the rain and flooding that hit Kerr County in a matter of hours were so much more intense than anything in its history that it's hard to call the floodplain management a failure. Local officials likely believed they were following existing regulations when they allowed the camp to keep growing, but then Mother Nature set a new standard, Steubing said. You could have built things two feet higher, three feet higher, and they still might have gotten taken down, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Saturday, July 12, a total of 129 people have been confirmed dead from the July 4 flood. A week later and approximately 160 are still believed to be missing. With reporting by the Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) The White House is walking back plans to abolish FEMA, the federal agency tasked with disaster response. The Washington Post reported the agency will instead go through a rebrand that will encourage local and state leaders to have more control over how relief dollars are distributed. Just last month, President Donald Trump seemed to commit to phasing out FEMA while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office. It was an idea he first floated when visiting Asheville in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump proposes getting rid of FEMA as western NC struggles to rebuild after Helene We want to wean off FEMA and we want to bring it down to the state level, said Trump. The president did not address the reporting while visiting flood-ravaged areas in Texas on Friday, but did seem to have a new, positive view of FEMA. FEMA has been really headed by some very good people and some good people running FEMA. Its about time, right? We got some good ones. They failed us in North Carolina but when we got in and January 28, they fixed it up in no time, said Trump. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, who continues to lobby Washington for additional relief for Helene victims, stands by his position that FEMA must be left intact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Josh Stein calling for changes at FEMA Steins spokesperson told Queen City News in part that The governor has been clear on this: eliminating FEMA would be a man-made disaster, and states need a federal agency to address natural disasters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Federal regulators repeatedly granted appeals to remove Camp Mystic's buildings from their 100-year flood map, loosening oversight as the camp operated and expanded in a dangerous flood plain in the years before rushing waters swept away children and counselors, a review by The Associated Press found. The Federal Emergency Management Agency included the prestigious girls' summer camp in a Special Flood Hazard Area in its National Flood Insurance map for Kerr County in 2011, which means it was required to have flood insurance and faced tighter regulation on any future construction projects. That designation means an area is likely to be inundated during a 100-year flood one severe enough that it only has a 1% chance of happening in any given year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Located in a low-lying area along the Guadalupe River in a region known as flash flood alley, Camp Mystic lost at least 27 campers and counselors and longtime owner Dick Eastland when historic floodwaters tore through its property before dawn on July 4. The flood was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by FEMA, experts said, and moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off guard in a county that lacked a warning system. But Syracuse University associate professor Sarah Pralle, who has extensively studied FEMAs flood map determinations, said it was particularly disturbing that a camp in charge of the safety of so many young people would receive exemptions from basic flood regulation. Its a mystery to me why they werent taking proactive steps to move structures away from the risk, let alone challenging what seems like a very reasonable map that shows these structures were in the 100-year flood zone, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Camp Mystic didnt respond to emails seeking comment and calls to it rang unanswered. The camp has called the flood an unimaginable tragedy and added in a statement Thursday that it had restored power for the purpose of communicating with its supporters. FEMA exempted buildings at old and new sites In response to an appeal, FEMA in 2013 amended the county's flood map to remove 15 of the camps buildings from the hazard area. Records show that those buildings were part of the 99-year-old Camp Mystic Guadalupe, which was devastated by last weeks flood. After further appeals, FEMA removed 15 more Camp Mystic structures in 2019 and 2020 from the designation. Those buildings were located on nearby Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, a sister site that opened to campers in 2020 as part of a major expansion and suffered less damage in the flood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Campers have said the cabins at Cypress Lake withstood significant damage, but those nicknamed "the flats at the Guadalupe River camp were inundated. Experts say Camp Mystic's requests to amend the FEMA map could have been an attempt to avoid the requirement to carry flood insurance, to lower the camps insurance premiums or to pave the way for renovating or adding new structures under less costly regulations. Pralle said the appeals were not surprising because communities and property owners have used them successfully to shield specific properties from regulation. Analysis shows flood risks at both camp sites Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of FEMA's determinations, the risk was obvious. At least 12 structures at Camp Mystic Guadalupe were fully within FEMA's 100-year flood plain, and a few more were partially in that zone, according to an AP analysis of data provided by First Street, a data science company that specializes in modeling climate risk. Jeremy Porter, the head of climate implications at First Street, said FEMA's flood insurance map underestimates flood risks. That's because it fails to take into account the effects of heavy precipitation on smaller waterways such as streams and creeks. First Street's model puts nearly all of Camp Mystic Guadalupe at risk during a 100-year flood. The buildings at the newer Cypress Lake site are farther from the south fork of the flood-prone river but adjacent to Cypress Creek. FEMA's flood plain doesn't consider the small waterway a risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, First Streets model, which takes into account heavy rain and runoff reaching the creek, shows that the majority of the Cypress Lake site lies within an area that is at risk during a 100-year flood. In a statement, FEMA downplayed the significance of the flood map amendments. Flood maps are snapshots in time designed to show minimum standards for floodplain management and the highest risk areas for flood insurance, the agency wrote. They are not predictions of where it will flood, and they dont show where it has flooded before. An arduous' appeal process can help property owners Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Property owners challenging FEMA's map designations hire engineers to conduct detailed studies to show where they believe the 100-year flood plain should actually be drawn. That is a pretty arduous process that can lead to more accurate maps while making it easier for future construction, said Chris Steubing, executive director of the Texas Floodplain Management Association, an industry group that represents floodplain managers. Pralle, who reviewed the amendments for AP, noted that some of the exempted properties were within 2 feet (0.6 meters) of FEMA's flood plain by the camp's revised calculations, which she said left almost no margin for error. She said her research shows that FEMA approves about 90% of map amendment requests, and the process may favor the wealthy and well-connected. A study she published in 2021 with researcher Devin Lea analyzed more than 20,000 buildings that had been removed from FEMA flood maps. It found that the amendments occurred more often in places where property values were higher, more white people lived and buildings were newer. Camp expanded after tremendous success Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FEMA had cautioned in its amendments that other parts of Camp Mystic remained on the flood map, and that any future construction or substantial improvement would be subject to flood plain management regulations. County officials not only allowed the camp to keep operating, but to dramatically expand. Considered Texas royalty after decades of taking care of the daughters of elite families, Camp Mystic owners Dick and Tweety Eastland cited the tremendous success of their original camp in explaining the need for a second site nearby. The expansion included new cabins and a dining hall, chapel, archery range and more. The camp had 557 campers and more than 100 staffers between its two locations when a state licensing agency conducted an inspection on July 2, two days before the tragedy, records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FEMA referred questions about the expansion to local officials, who didn't reply to messages seeking comment. Steubing, a longtime municipal engineer in Texas, said the rain and flooding that hit Kerr County in a matter of hours were so much more intense than anything in its history that it's hard to call the flood plain management a failure. Local officials likely believed they were following existing regulations when they allowed the camp to keep growing, but then Mother Nature set a new standard," he said. You could have built things 2 feet (0.6 meters) higher, 3 feet (0.9 meters) higher, and they still might have gotten taken down, he said. ___ Associated Press reporter Hannah Fingerhut contributed to this report. BALTIMORE Local drug market experts believe fentanyl, a potent opioid, is behind the mass overdose in the Penn North neighborhood of Baltimore that hospitalized at least 27 people over a 24-hour period. And they say the particular blend of drug involved is likely still out there. Bill Brooks, CEO of Penn North Recovery Center, which assisted in the medical response, said Friday he suspects the area will see more overdoses before long. I dont want to say that this is anything other than fentanyl but its probably just a much more pure fentanyl, Brooks said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the heydays of the cocaine and heroin epidemics, drugs often traveled south along the I-95 corridor. First, theyd hit New York City. Then, Philadelphia. Next, Wilmington. Finally, theyd land in Baltimore, before moving further south to Washington, D.C., and beyond. But now, experts say, fentanyl, a cheap, synthetic opiate originally dreamed up to treat pain for people with end-of-life cancer, is either smuggled in across the U.S. southern border by Americans, where it connects with the cartels footprint and spreads north and east, or, more rarely, it is something you can make at home from precursor components purchased online. A fentanyl shortage in the U.S., driven by crackdowns abroad Last year, the U.S. saw a dip in opioid overdoses, which experts in drug markets tied to increased oversight in China and Mexico of the chemicals needed to make fentanyl, leading to a shortage and a resurgence in heroin use. Theres been recent talk about major interruptions in that supply and surprisingly effective crackdowns by the Mexican government, said David Kennedy, a professor at the John Jay School of Criminal Justice and the chair of the National Network for Safe Communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crooks are scared and going underground and coming up with new formulations, he said. The stuff thats coming across is even more unpredictable. Given the decrease in fentanyl imported into the U.S. last year, too, people may be even more sensitive to fentanyl now, said Keith Humphreys, a Stanford-based psychologist and professor who works on the science of addiction and drug markets, and a former Bush, Obama and Biden White House drug policy advisor. In rarer cases, home chemists mix and cook fentanyl up from chemicals they import from China or Mexico. Humphreys said he believed China had better monitored its distribution of these chemicals the previous year, further cutting the fentanyl supply in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While some of the traditional distribution routes still exist, some simply have these [chemicals] sent by FedEx to their house, Brooks said. There, they turn it into powders and pills, he said, and distribute or sell it. Thats made it harder to track import and production, drug experts say, preventing cities from looking to their neighbor to the north to prepare for new, incoming blends of drugs. And these can be dangerous or deadly. Its typical for drug dealers across Baltimore to hand out what are called testers in the morning, said Brooks. People are just so well aware of this, they line up and wait an hour or two for the testers to come out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They get the information from a runner, head over to the pick-up site, which is often inside an alley, hidden from public view, and pick up a clear capsule with a white powder, he said. That, they can break open in order to sniff the powder contained inside off a piece of paper. What theyre trying to do is really give people a flavor for what theyre going to be selling throughout the day, so that they get a lot of repeat customers, he said, So they generally give out anywhere between 40 to 50 of these testers. Nobody knew that virtually every one of these testers was a lethal dose in and of itself. Combating new drugs, improving harm reduction One drug market expert says the U.S. should invest in wastewater monitoring, like many municipalities did during the coronavirus pandemic, and as Australia and many European countries still do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Currently,] we find out about a new drug from autopsies, and its the worst possible way to find out, Humphreys said. The best possible way is in the water, he said. People excrete metabolites very quickly and you can know quite quickly when something new is there. It was a real failure of Bidens [Centers for Disease Control] not to do this. Kennedy said the Biden administration refused to test the water for drugs for fear of giving police another reason to target Black and brown communities. A few counties and at least one state already test the water, he said, but it should really just be national policy. Its so inexpensive and you can just look and see what [drugs are] in the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brooks said while his center doesnt look to other cities around the U.S. to predict what will hit the streets of Penn North next, they do look to them for intervention or harm reduction strategies, citing drop-in centers, picking up dirty needles from sidewalks, and so on. I think the next big thing is going to be the safe injection site, or overdose prevention site, he said. Penn North neighborhood ranks highest in overdose responses Data from Open Baltimore shows that the 21217 ZIP code, which encompasses the Penn North neighborhood where Thursdays overdoses took place, was by far the leader from 2022 to 2024. During that time, Baltimore City fire personnel administered naloxone subsequent to an overdose 1,149 times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In total, the citys firefighters administered naloxone 7,699 times in response to overdoses across 28 Baltimore ZIP codes, data shows, with administration spiking in the spring and summer months. The number of opioid-related deaths in Baltimore dropped by more than 25% in 2024 to 703, after four years of annual fatal opioid overdoses in the city hovering around 1,000, according to state health department data. While the database only shows deaths through the end of May this year, the average monthly opioid overdose deaths in Baltimore decreased by more than 30% from 2024. Nationally, opioid deaths have declined, as well. Thursday, Penn North was chaos, Brooks said. There was a whole bunch of top city officials and everyone else, standing in the middle of a closed-down, taped-off street with our mouths open, wondering what to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By Friday, he said, the scene in the neighborhood was much calmer, more organized. The city had sourced more naloxone, a lifesaving drug that reverses the effects of opioid overdoses, there were check-in areas for workers, and his center had organized people to search for any other overdose victims hidden out of sight in vacants or alleyways, turning up two or three more people, he said. Importantly, he added, none of his staff had found anyone who had died from the drug. (Mat Schumer and Steve Early contributed to this article.) Fort Worths century-old Sagamore Hill Negro School, with its slanted roof and gabled porches, has no historic marker and no sign above the door yet it merits landmark status. Originally a four-room schoolhouse for Black children learning their ABCs, the building was constructed in 1924 with blueprints and partial funding from a Jewish philanthropist. It is one of 464 Rosenwald Schools that opened in Texas between 1913 and 1932, years of stark racial disparities. Thirty-six of these little schoolhouses still stand in Texas in some form, many as community spaces, according to the Texas Almanac. Fort Worths rare, Rosenwald School has been modernized and well maintained by the Fort Worth Independent School District, yet it hosts few educational activities. Its doors at 5100 Willie St., on the campus of the Dunbar Young Mens Leadership Academy in Stop Six, are usually locked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its still used, but not to the degree it could be, according to former Fort Worth City Councilman Frank Moss, 79, one of the schools alumni. He and his four brothers attended the school house in the 1940s and 1950s. He views the landmark as a time capsule that teachers and students should visit on field trips to envision the past. Our Rosenwald School grew out of the Black churches, said Moss, president of the Center for Stop Six Heritage, which has an office in the building. It has a proud story to tell. Former Fort Worth City Councilman Frank Moss on the porch of the former Sagamore Hill Negro School, which he and his brothers attended when public schools were racially segregated. The building, which is the size of a portable classroom, is on the grounds of the Dunbar Young Mens Leadership Academy at 5100 Willie St., the exact spot where the original wood frame schoolhouse was constructed in 1924. An exhibit running until Aug. 17 at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, A Better Life for Their Children, tells the history of the Rosenwald Schools. They grew out of a partnership between Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears & Roebuck, and Black educator Booker T. Washington, author of Up From Slavery. Their collaboration led to the construction of 4,977 rural school buildings in 15 states where Black youngsters learned to read, write, add and subtract. During the Jim Crow era, if Black children went to school at all, it was often in crude shacks with rickety desks, torn textbooks, broken pencils and no chalkboards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Fort Worths Stop Six neighborhood, two churches Prairie Chapel and Cowan McMillan African Methodist provided school rooms for African American youngsters. In 1921, farmer Alonzo Cowan donated land on Willie Street for a future Black school. Three years later, on April 12, 1924, the Sagamore Hill ISD held a controversial election to allocate $5,000 in bond money for a Black school house. With 55 percent of the vote, the measure passed. Using blueprints supplied by the Chicago-based Rosenwald Foundation, construction began. Black families pitched in on the work. The building opened in the fall of 1924 with R.H. Hines its principal. By then, Sagamore Hill schools had been incorporated into the Fort Worth school district. Superintendent Burl Carroll, whom the Ku Klux Klan had endorsed, inspected the premises along with an instructional superintendent from Austin. The latter approved an additional $1,100 from the Rosenwald Fund to furnish and finish out the building. Rosenwald Fund established by Russian Jewish immigrant The Star-Telegram mistakenly reported on Sept. 25, 1924, that the Rosenwald Fund was established by a wealthy Black person from Chicago, rather than a Russian Jewish immigrant with a nationwide mail-order catalog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The original Sagamore Hill Negro School had four classrooms three measuring 660 square feet and a fourth with 572 square feet. A small vocational room was 12 feet by 14 feet and focused on agriculture. That space was the FWISDs only industrial room for Black students. White schools had day trade classes that included auto mechanics, printing, cabinetry, electrical wiring and machine shops. The sketch and floor plan of the Sagamore Hill Negro School are posted on the wall inside the building, where Frank Moss periodically leads tours about the history of Rosenwald Schools and the Stop Six neighborhood. The Sagamore School had no indoor plumbing. I remember when I went to school here, we had outdoor toilets, Moss recalled. Because it lacked electricity, it was designed with more than two dozen vertical windows that let in natural light and a breeze. The rooms were bright with sunshine, Moss said. They were hot but well ventilated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The segregated school had wooden walls, inside and out, and wood floors. During its first five years, classrooms filled with elementary students. On Sept. 8, 1931, the Star-Telegram announced that enrollment had grown so large that the school would have to accommodate students up to seventh grade. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that integration of public schools was the law of the land. The FWISD resisted. For more than three decades it fought lawsuits filed by the NAACP and Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Moss and his brothers remained in segregated public schools. Frank Moss graduated from the all-Black Dunbar Junior/Senior High in 1964 and enrolled at the University of Texas at Arlington. For the first time, he sat in classrooms with white students. Ultimately, he earned a bachelors and a masters degree from UTA. He completed post-graduate work at Harvard University. School preserved after desegregation When complete desegregation finally came to the FWISD, the historic Rosenwald School was not forgotten. In was modernized in 1978-1979. Updates included a handicap-accessible entry ramp, aluminum siding and new windows. The vocational room was converted into restrooms. The modernized version of the former Sagamore Hill Negro School has fewer windows than the original and is covered in steel siding, which would likely disqualify it from being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nowadays, blue carpet covers the original wood floor. An air conditioner hums. Walls are painted pale yellow. Instead of classrooms, the buildings interior is a large, inviting meeting room with a circular reception counter in the center. At various times, the building has served as an alternate school and a branch of the school districts Family Action Centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several modern updates such as aluminum siding would likely disqualify the building from being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It could, however, become a registered Fort Worth Landmark, because it is the site of historic events illustrating the social, economic and ethnic heritage of the city. Landmark status would impose a 90-day demolition delay should the school district decide to move or demolish the school building. The school would qualify for a bronze marker from the state. The Texas Historical Commission has made an ongoing effort to identify, document and award markers to Rosenwald Schools. Hollace Weiner, an author, archivist and director of the Fort Worth Jewish Archives, was a full-time Star-Telegram reporter from 1986 to 1997. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The space that formerly held a go-to North Portland dumpling spot will soon be taken over by a restaurant currently serving Filipino fare out of a hotel downtown. Casual Chinese eatery XLB closed its last remaining location on 4090 N Williams Ave. in April. Now, fellow Asian restaurant Sun Rice is commemorating its final weekend at the Moxy Portland Downtown as it prepares to relocate to the Boise neighborhood. Which kind of French fries do people in Oregon prefer? Chef TJ Cruz (left) and co-owner Ken Tran at Sun Rice (Courtesy Tran) Sun Rice food offerings photographed by Summer Luu (Courtesy Ken Tran) Sun Rice food offerings photographed by Summer Luu (Courtesy Ken Tran) Budding restaurateur Ken Tran and chef TJ Cruz launched the concept in 2021, after meeting through the local dance scene. What started out as a grab-and-go cafe, and safer way to connect with family and friends during the pandemic, developed into farmers market booths and pop-ups at restaurants including Deadshot, Mestizo and Magna Kusina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sun Rices co-owners revealed they were then slated to open a permanent space in The Ritz-Carlton, Portlands Flock. Although the food hall eventually debuted this year, Tran and Cruz told KOIN 6 that a series of delays prompted them to look for another location for their business. And the Moxy, just a brief walk away from Flock, was already available. At the hotel, Sun Rice offers a streamlined menu of Filipino-inspired garlic rice bowls topped with fried eggs and protein like chicken adobo and barbecue pork belly. The expanded menu in North Portland will still feature the cultural dishes, but with a different take. Im trying to keepthe tradition of Filipino food, but kind of make it more approachable and kind of be more in our era, Cruz said, noting that the new adobo chicken dish will be similar to chicken karaage. Were millennials, so we want to bring our experience, our vision and our lens through the food. For Sun Rices final weekend downtown, the restaurant will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Sundays customers can also expect free HeyDay donuts, a set from DJ Eaves and brunch cocktail specials courtesy of the hotel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Future of Portlands parks levy remains in question as leaders debate cost increase The business is tentatively planning to open its new location by late August, according to Tran. The opening will mark the end of a months-long effort not only from the co-owners, but also the community members who helped raise funds for the brick-and-mortar spot. Food and beverage its a vehicle to build community around us, Tran said. For us to just put the bat signal out that were doing this thing, and for folks to come through, yeah, its very special. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. MANTEO, N.C. (WAVY) One person was injured and a home on the northern part of Roanoke Island is a total loss Friday after a two-alarm fire caused by a propane tank explosion, a Dare County official said. (WAVY photo Markeshia Jackson) The injured person was taken by Dare County EMS to Dare County Airport, and was then flown by Dare MedFlight to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, according to Steve Kovacs, deputy director of emergency management and fire marshal for Dare County. Three vehicles and one boat was also destroyed in the fire, and a neighboring home sustained minor damage, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Numerous 911 calls concerning a house explosion in a residential neighborhood on the north end of Roanoke Island came in around 3:15 p.m., Kovacs said. Roanoke Island Volunteer Fire Department, along with the Dare County Sheriffs Office and Dare County EMS were sent to the scene, along with the Dare County Fire Marshals Office and the North Carolina Forest Service. A sheriffs deputy arrived to find the house in flames, and one person injured, Kovacs said.. It had been an average Friday for Dogwood Trail residents until it wasnt. Residents in the area said it felt like the entire neighborhood was shaken by the explosion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The floor shook, and I knew it was something big, said next-door neighbor Charles Henderson. Thats when it turned into something terrifying. HOUSE EXPLOSION : Tonight on @WAVY_News at 10 & 11, Ill have the latest on what we know about a home explosion in Manteo, N.C. A scary situation for sure. pic.twitter.com/lJ3bAu5bkF Markeshia Jackson TV (@MarkeshiaonTV) July 12, 2025 The house right over here, Henderson said, pointing to the house on fire, one room was completely in a blaze, and within a minute, Id say the whole house was burning up. Dare County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Jeff Derringer told 10 On Your Side that they responded to the scene shortly after 3 p.m. Friday, with early reports indicating the two-alarm blaze was caused by a propane tank explosion. Fire Chief Bill Walker called for the second alarm, which brought units from Nags Head Fire & Rescue, Kill Devil Hills Fire & Rescue, along with the Manns Harbor and the Colington volunteer fire departments, according to Kovacs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews worked to contain the fire and keep it from spreading into the surrounding woods, Kovacs said. While crews were able to control the fire in about an hour, they continued to work on hot spots into the evening, with the final units clearing at 9:17 p.m., Kovacs said. The Dare County Fire Marshals Office and the Dare County Sheriffs Office have begun an investigation into the fire, with help from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Kovacs said the investigation would continue into next week, with more information to be released then. Nearby neighbors said they just hope whoever was inside the home at the time will be OK. We just pray for them, Henderson said. It was terrible what happened, and we just hope theyll be OK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) The San Francisco Fire Department said crews were at the scene of a deadly house blaze Friday afternoon in the citys Richmond District. Four of 7 Yolo County fireworks warehouse explosion victims lived in Bay Area SFFD said the blaze broke out at 2:11 p.m. at a single-family home. An alert went out shortly before 2:45 p.m. urging residents to avoid the area of 26th Avenue between Geary and Anza streets due to fire activity and that emergency crews are at the location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victims family confirmed to KRON4 that a 91-year-old man has died as a result of the fire. One firefighter injured their hand, according to SFFD. Photo courtesy of SFFD. They noticed heavy smoke from the rear of the building and upon entry into the building itself, they noticed fire coming from multiple floors, floor one and two, said Lieutenant Mariano Elias of SFFD. The fire did not spread to nearby buildings, and crews contained the flames within an hour. The cause and origin of the fire has not yet been determined. Sometimes its very difficult to actually do that because all the products in the home are burned so it takes a little bit to decipher where the fire started, says Lieutenant Elias. So they talk to witnesses. They look at videos, security cameras in the area to try to help determine the cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie wrote, Thank you to our San Francisco firefighters for their quick response containing this fire in the Richmond. My thoughts are with the deceaseds loved ones. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WPRI) Two stores at the Apple Valley Mall off Putnam Pike in Smithfield were temporarily closed after a fire on Saturday. Smithfield Town Manager Robert Seltzer told 12 News the fire started in an HVAC unit on top of the Rumford Pet Express and burned down into the roof structure. ALSO READ: Traffic stop leads to cocaine bust in Smithfield Crews were able to knock down the flames. No one was hurt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Rumford Pet Express and the TJ Maxx next door were closed Saturday due to the damage to the roof. Both stores reponed by Sunday afternoon. The Rhode Island State Fire Marshal is investigating what caused the fire. Rumford Pet Express in Smithfield on July 13, 2025. (Rachel Carpenter/WPRI-TV) Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. A man accused of conducting a cyber attack on a former employer in St. Augustine is facing several felony charges. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested 41-year-old Richard Wozniak in Flagler County Wednesday on four counts of offenses against computer users. FDLE said the investigation began in January after The Spice and Tea Exchange Company in St. Augustine said it suffered a cyber attack on its firewall and email that deleted and altered company data. Wozniak is a former Information Technology (IT) employee of the company. FDLE said it determined that just minutes after being fired, Wozniak made unauthorized access to the business network, removing its firewall and exposing it to further security risk. Wozniak was booked into the Flagler County Jail and later released on bond. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) Firefighters responded to a fire at an apartment complex in the 1000 block of White Bluff Road Friday. Chatham EMA said that the fire was due to a lightning strike. Flames were visible through the roof and firefighters are working to rescue and evacuate residents within the apartment, an IAFF Savannah Firefighters spokesperson said. There was a partial collapse of the roof. An IAFF Savannah spokesperson said crews have multiple hose lines and deck guns in service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Savannah Fires spokesperson said the fire was under control at 6:07 p.m. SFD reported that 14 adults and four children have been displaced due to the fire. WSAV will update as we learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. The first students to graduate from a new university built to tackle a city's lack of higher education opportunities say they have enjoyed growing with it. The purpose-built ARU Peterborough opened its doors in September 2022 and has about 1,700 students. Principal Prof Ross Renton said a graduation ceremony at Peterborough Cathedral on Friday was a "historic milestone". The Bishops Road campus was built after Anglia Ruskin University, the city council and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority joined forces with the ambition to eventually offer courses to 12,500 students by 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prof Renton said: "This graduation also signals the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our university and community as we expand our academic offer with a range of new courses available to start this September." Principal Prof Ross Renton said it was a "historic milestone" to see the first graduates from the university [Emma Baugh/BBC] Faaizah Hussain, 20, from the city, said she would be sad to leave having studied accounting and finance. "I feel like I've grown with the university. We've grown as a campus, we've grown as individuals," she said. She said the lecturers "genuinely care about your studying". ARU Peterborough has clinical suites, midwifery labs, an engineering project room, a primary education room and computing and gaming rooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The campus is still under development and a 32m building called The Lab opened in November 2024 with facilities for microbiology, tissue culture and engineering workshops. Zainab Hafeez said it was convenient for her to be able to go to university locally [Emma Baugh/BBC] Zainab Hafeez, 22, a biomedical sciences graduate from Peterborough, said it was "amazing" to see the university grow around her. "I came to this uni and have literally seen it grow." Ms Hafeez initially planned to study at ARU Cambridge, but found out during an open day there that they were creating the new campus in Peterborough. "That was just awesome and convenient for me. "There was no university in Peterborough for so, so long here." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A final phase of the university, planned for between September 2025 and August 2028, will consist of more building work and a focus on its facilities for postgraduates. Krishna Kukaneswaran said her course had given her work experience opportunities [Emma Baugh/BBC] Krishna Kukaneswaran, 21, graduated in accounting and finance and said she had "definitely grown as a person" during her time at the university. "I've been able to secure quite a few work experience and internships across the last few years, definitely with the support of my lecturer and the university," she said. Ms Kukaneswaran said she enjoyed being able to live with her family while studying. "I was able to spend time with my family but also be at uni with my friends," she said. The graduation ceremony took place at Peterborough Cathedral [Emma Baugh/BBC] Students graduating included those who finished undergraduate degrees, degree apprenticeships, postgraduate courses and professional development qualifications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paul Bristow, the mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said the city was a "higher education cold spot" before the university was built. "It's helping people gain the skills and confidence to succeed and thrive in our local economy," he said. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Related internet links AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- First responders are warning people about the consequences for leaving children in hot cars. Even in moderate weather, the temperatures inside a car can increase by 40 degrees within a matter of minutes. With two recent incidents involving kids in hot cars, first responders want parents and caretakers to be aware. Central EMS has not had to respond to any incidents involving kids in hot cars so far this year, but for veteran paramedic Toni Lee, its nothing she hasnt seen before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We usually get called out, find the kid a hot car. Theyre having trouble breathing, not responding well, so we try to get them out as quick as we can and give them some medical attention, said Lee. This week, the Cobb County Sheriffs Office released body cam video of an incident that happened last month at a mall outside of Atlanta. Deputies had to rescue a 1-year-old and a 2-year-old who were trapped in a car for more than 40 minutes. Temperatures in the car reaching 117 degrees, which first responders say are extremely dangerous for children. They dont regulate heat as well as we do when were a little oldernot elderly, but more when were middle-aged. Their body temperature gets up very quickly, causes their organs to shut down, and they can die very quickly. They can have a lasting heat injury, it doesnt take long. Its very quick, said Col. John Smith, Director of Operations for Gold Cross EMS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GBI is also still investigating the death of a 4-year-old in Metter, Georgia, who was found dead in a car a few weeks ago. First responders say the best thing to do is to be aware of your surroundings at all times. We never want to leave anybody in a car while its not running in the summer. Always check and make sure everybody is out of the car when you get out, and when youre not in the car, make sure you keep it lockedthat way no one can get in the car without you knowing, Lee said. They also say if you have young children with you, you should make a regular habit of checking your backseat before you leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre aware of your surroundings, youre checking the backseat, youre checking around the carthen youre not going to forget your children, and you may avoid other issues as well, said Smith. EMS says they give the same advice to keep an eye out for our elderly folkswho are also more sensitive to heat. Even if youre leaving to go somewhere for a few minutes, take your kids with you to not take any chances. They encourage parents and caretakers to be alert, and know where they are at all times. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. Update: COLES COUNTY, Ill (WTWO/WAWV) According to our sister station, WCIA, a dog was also killed in the fire. WCIA confirmed that a sixth horse was found deceased Saturday morning. Original: A fire broke out Friday night in a horse barn at the Coles County Fairgrounds, killing five horses. According to a media release from the Charleston Fire Department, just after 9:00 p.m., fire crews were dispatched on the report of a horse barn fire at the Coles County Fairgrounds with horses still inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, fire crews found the structure was fully engulfed in flames and multiple bystanders and horses were in the area. According to the release, firefighters began a defensive attack to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent barns. Additional resources were called in to assist. During primary and secondary searches of the barn, five horses were found dead. Bystanders were able to evacuate horses from neighboring barns successfully. Photo courtesy: Champaign Fire Department Photo courtesy: Champaign Fire Department Photo courtesy: Champaign Fire Department Photo courtesy: Champaign Fire Department Photo courtesy: Champaign Fire Department Due to significant damage to the barn, interior firefighting operations were stopped for the safety of firefighters. Heavy machinery was brought in to assist in overhaul efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Charleston Fire Department, no fire-related injuries were reported. However, one bystander sustained minor injuries after being kicked by a horse while assisting with evacuations. The Charleston Fire Department remained on the scene until approximately 1:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Charleston Fire Department was assisted by Mattoon Fire Department, Lincoln Fire Protection District, Ameren CIPS, Coles County 911, Charleston Police Department, Snider Farms The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. Malis transitional President, General Assimi Goita, has officially granted himself a five-year presidential mandate, renewable as many times as necessary without the need for an election, according to a law signed earlier this week and made public on July 10. The measure, passed by the military-appointed legislative body and approved by the cabinet, enables Goita to remain in power until at least 2030, abandoning the military governments original pledge to return to civilian rule by March 2024. The law allows Goita to serve continuously until the country is pacified amid ongoing insurgent violence and political instability. His rise to power was initially met with optimism, with some hailing him as a saviour committed to national security and reform. However, his failure to hand over power to a civilian administration, combined with recent moves to dissolve political parties and restrict civic freedoms, has sparked serious concerns about democratic backsliding. Earlier this year, a junta-led national consultation boycotted by most political groups recommended Goitas continued leadership and proposed harsh new rules for political participation. Goitas tenure marks a dramatic shift in Malis geopolitical stance. The country has cut longstanding ties with France and other Western partners, instead aligning more closely with Russia. Alongside Burkina Faso and Niger, Mali has formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a regional confederation that includes plans for a joint 5,000-strong military force. Despite intensifying jihadist attacks and political repression, Goita retains a measure of popular support, with some citizens viewing his leadership as a reclaiming of national sovereignty in a time of crisis. Five men have been lynched after rural community members accused them of robbing damaged homes following an earthquake that struck Guatemala and caused widespread damage. Police spokesperson Cesar Mateo told the AFP news agency on Friday night that the men were accused of using the dark of the night to break into homes following the tremors, which led people to sleep in shelters or with relatives. While its true that robbery is illegal, lynching is also a crime, Mateo said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guatemalas Ministry of the Interior said residents of Santa Maria de Jesus municipality searched for the men late on Thursday and then blocked authorities who tried to detain and take them away. Residents beat the men with sticks and stones and then burned them in the community, which lies in the Sacatepequez department southwest of the capital. Santa Maria de Jesus was the worst-affected area by the earthquake that created tremors of up to 5.7 magnitude. At least seven people were killed across Guatemala after Tuesdays earthquake. Vigilante violence is a recurrent response to criminals who are not prosecuted in Guatemala. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a local civil society organisation, between 2008 and 2020, vigilante justice left 361 people dead and 1,396 injured in the country. The earthquake left Santa Maria de Jesus, home to an Indigenous Mayan community, without power, while access to roads was cut off by landslides. The government flew in humanitarian aid to Santa Maria de Jesus to help residents. The disaster coordination agency, Conred, which has been evaluating the level of damage in affected areas, said a delivery of solar lamps, buckets, mats, mosquito nets, blankets and kitchen kits has been received from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). In a separate statement on Friday, the agency said it was continuing to assist, including the mobilisation and delivery of humanitarian aid to parts of the country. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested a Flagler County man for cyber offenses against The Spice and Tea Exchange Company in St. Augustine. Richard Clayton Wozniak, 41, a former IT employee, faces four felony charges related to offenses against computer users and one charge for unlawful use of a two-way communications device. The investigation started in January following a cyber-attack reported by the company, which resulted in the deletion and modification of company data. The investigation showed Wozniak accessed the companys network shortly after his termination. He disabled the firewall, causing operational disruptions and security risks. Wozniak was arrested on July 9 with help from the Flagler County Sheriffs Office and was detained at the Flagler County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials state that the Office of the Statewide Prosecution in Jacksonville handles the case prosecution and also note that the arrest underscores the risks companies face from insider threats, especially from former employees with access to critical systems. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Risotto rice crops in Italy are under threat from flocks of hungry flamingos stirring up paddy fields with their webbed feet. Farmers have been forced to patrol around the clock to try to scare away the birds, who destroy rice seedlings when they stir up the soil in the flooded fields before snatching up molluscs, algae and insects. Enrivo Fabbri, who farms in Ferrara province, between Venice and Ravenna, estimates he has lost as much as 90 per cent of production in some fields because of the birds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are new things that have never happened before. You invest so much time and care into preparing everything, Mr Fabbri, 63, said at one of his paddies on the outskirts of Jolanda di Savoia. Then, just as the crop begins to grow, its like having a newborn child taken away. Thats what it feels like. Farmers have been banging barrels and honking truck horns in an effort to scare off the flamingos. Some even deploy small gas cannons that make booming noises. However, the flamingos simply fly off before settling in another nearby paddy field to feed. They are beautiful, but we must limit them Rice farmers flood their fields for a few weeks from late spring to early summer to germinate newly planted seeds. Until the paddies are drained, the flamingos are a threat to the crops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flamingos appear to have come from former nesting grounds in the nearby Comacchio valleys, a wetlands reserve where the River Po flows into the Adriatic Sea. Roberto Tinarelli, the president of AsOER, the Emilia-Romagna ornithologists association, said the birds had been coming there since 2000, after drought in southern Spain sent them searching for nesting grounds further east. Previously, the flamingos had been based in lakes in north Africa, parts of Spain and some of the Camargue region in France, Mr Tinarelli said. There has been no research yet into why the flamingos started seeking food farther inland. Obviously, we are looking for answers from those who have to deal with the problem. From an environmental point of view, all this is beautiful, but we must keep in mind that rice cultivation is among the most expensive crops, Massimo Piva, a 57-year-old rice grower and vice-president of the local farmers confederation, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are beautiful animals, its their way of moving and behaving, but the problem is trying to limit their presence as much as possible. Mr Tinarelli has suggested several solutions to the problem, including surrounding paddies with tall trees or hedges. He added that reducing water levels on freshly planted paddies to between two to four inches rather than 12 inches would help. This is sufficient for the rice to grow, but decidedly less attractive to flamingos, which must splash around in the water, he said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A flight travelling from Cancun, Mexico, to London was forced to divert and land in Maine this week after two passengers on board began fighting. The emergency landing around 21:30 EST (01:30GMT) on Tuesday resulted in all 267 passengers on board being forced to spend the night in Bangor, Maine. By the time the flight landed in the coastal US state, the crew on board was due to time out. The airline then brought in a relief crew for the flight, which eventually took off 15:00 EST on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two passengers involved in the fight did not face criminal charges. However, they were both "returned to their home countries on separate outbound flights". The 787 Dreamliner, operated by the British airline TUI, landed safely at Gatwick Airport in London later on Wednesday. "This incident involved a foreign-to-foreign flight that diverted due to an in-flight altercation between two passengers," a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesperson said. "Upon arrival, CBP officers removed both individuals from the aircraft. Although no criminal charges were filed, CBP processed the two subjects for expedited removal." Audio recordings of the pilot speaking with air traffic control ahead of the emergency landing show it was a matter of minutes between when the pilot asked to land in Maine and officials on the ground directed them to a runway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Cockpit is secure and there's two passengers fighting and the crew has pretty much gotten them under control," the pilot said. After some back-and-forth, the air traffic controller on the ground in Maine tells the pilot security will be waiting on the ground when the plane lands. FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Southeast is in for days of heavy rain and some potential for tropical mischief in the Gulf later in the week as the National Hurricane Center monitors an area near Florida. The culprit begins as a weak non-tropical area of low pressure that will move off the Southeast coast, across northern Florida, and eventually into the Gulf late next week, according to the FOX Forecast Center. With the system potentially spending multiple days over warm waters of the Gulf of America and the western Atlantic, the NHC says it will need to be watched for tropical development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NHC has just painted a broad area of the Gulf Coast from New Orleans through Florida and into the Atlantic off the Southeast Coast as an area they'll monitor, though with just a low chance of development within the next 7 days. "Environmental conditions could become marginally conducive for the gradual development of this system by mid to late next week as the system moves generally westward across the Florida Peninsula and over the eastern and north-central portion of the Gulf," the NHC said. "Regardless of development, heavy rainfall is possible over portions of the Florida Peninsula and southeast U.S. coast through mid to late next week." But before the storm even thinks of getting onto the National Hurricane Center's plate, the slow-moving system is expected to drag several inches of rain across central and southern Florida, with the heaviest amounts forecast for Monday. Overall rainfall totals for the week could reach 3-5 inches or more south of the Interstate 4 corridor. But some thunderstorms will have the potential to drop between 1-3 inches per hour, and pockets of flash flooding appear possible starting Sunday and continuing through midweek. Exactly where the best chance of storms and flooding sets up each day will become more apparent as the event gets closer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's later in the week when the system enters the toasty waters of the eastern Gulf of America that attention turns to tropical development. So far, forecast models do not indicate a significant threat, but a handful of model runs do indicate the potential for development in the Gulf, the FOX Forecast Center says. "You'll note that little cinnamon bun swirl (on forecast model charts) that moved kind of right across the (Florida) Peninsula and into the Gulf," said FOX Weather Meteorologist Michael Estime. "It's that mid-level spin right there that we're tracking that could - let me emphasize, could by the time we get to this upcoming midweek, have some sort of tropical characteristics with it." Forecasters will be monitoring several factors that will determine the system's ultimate fate, including the amount of wind shear present as the low heads into the Gulf, and how much time the system will spend soaking up energy from the warm waters. "For now, we are in wait-and-see mode, with no credible threat to react to at this time," the FOX Forecast Center said. "That said, it is a pattern worth watching, and watch it, we will." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the wet weather has already caused some problems in the Sunshine State. St. Johns County Fire Rescue reported three people were injured Saturday afternoon when lightning struck the St. Augustine Beach Pier. The agency said one person suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to a trauma center, while another person was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A third person was also reported to have been evaluated but refused medical transport. Lightning strikes St. Augustine Beach Pier on 7/12/2025 The pier was closed after the incident, but there only appeared to be minimal damage to the structure. First responders did not disclose whether the victims tried to seek shelter before storms moved through the nation's oldest city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lightning strike came less than 48 hours after two teens were killed in Southeast Georgia while on a late-evening fishing expedition. Original article source: Tropical trouble monitored near Southeast US as new system packing heavy rains to douse Florida TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The Florida Highway Patrol has done it again. The agencys black and tan cruiser has been dubbed the best looking in America for the third year in a row. Its a historic win as no other state has won three consecutive years in a row. Blue Angels roar through the sky at Pensacola Beach Air Show The 2025 Americas Best Looking Cruiser Contest, put on by the American Association of State Troopers (AAST), drew a record 49 entries from agencies across the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FHPs winning photo featured a black and tan Corvette cruiser set against the backdrop of a Miami sunset. The citys iconic skyline could be seen in the distance. (Florida Highway Patrol) Troopers described the photo as a tribute to the energy, strength, and beauty of Florida and a reflection of the pride FHP takes in representing all corners of the state. The contest kicked off on June 30 and was followed by two weeks of intense online voting. Officials said the FHP won in one of the closest finishes in contest history. This first-ever three-peat is a credit to our teams creativity, our agencys mission, and the thousands of Floridians who rallied behind us once again, said FLHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Floridas winning photo will be featured on the cover of the 2026 AAST Americas Best Looking Cruiser Calendar. The proceeds will go toward scholarships for the children of state troopers nationwide. This win is for everyone that participated and for the public, who benefit every day from strong partnerships and a shared commitment to public safety, said FHP Colonel Gary Howze. Thank you, Florida, for making history with us! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Florida International University Police has finalized its agreement to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which will deputize members of its staff to act as federal immigration officials. FIU is among 13 Florida university police departments that now have a finalized 287(g) agreement signed both by the university and ICE. All 13 universities have signed on to ICEs Task Force Model, the most expansive version of the 287(g) agreement. It gives trained officers the authority to enforce federal immigration law including the ability to arrest individuals for immigration violations and access federal databases. The other universities with finalized 287(g) agreements are: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida A&M University Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Polytechnic University Florida SouthWestern State College Florida State University New College of Florida Northwest Florida State College Tallahassee Community College University of Central Florida University of Florida University of North Florida University of West Florida The decision to enter FIU into the agreement was made by the university police chief, Alexander Casas. He said he felt it was in the best interest of the university and its students to formalize a relationship with ICE, giving FIU police more control over how immigration enforcement is handled on campus. FIU President Jeanette Nunez told faculty during a meeting that she supported Casas decision. It is not legally required for university police to enter 287(g) agreements. However, Gov. Ron DeSantis has publicly encouraged all law enforcement agencies in Florida to sign on. With the addition of these university police departments, Florida now has more finalized 287(g) agreements than any other state, followed by Texas. A total of 306 agencies nationwide have signed on. FIU Police will soon have more authority In an interview with the Miami Herald in June before the agreement was finalized Casas said immigration enforcement is clearly a law enforcement priority at both the state and national level. He said he chose to sign on to support that priority, likening immigration to any other enforcement issue, such as a traffic initiative, fentanyl, [or] human trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although FIU police officers have not yet begun the required 50-hour online training and there is no set timeline for when it will begin Casas confirmed that once trained, officers will be able to make arrests if they have probable cause. Casas acknowledged that determining probable cause for immigration enforcement really is a case-by-case thing, because the devil is in the details. The judicial standard, which is what we have to adhere to, he said, is you have to have a set of facts that would make a reasonable person believe that a crime occurred and that this person committed that crime. Florida International University faculty and students join forces to urge FIU officials to reject the 287g contract during a protest against ICE on Thursday, June,12, 2025, in Miami, Florida. FIUs relationship with ICE FIU police and ICE had not previously operated under a formal agreement, but they have collaborated in the past. Casas said that if ICE came onto campus with a judicial warrant, his officers would assist in locating the individual and ensuring that the interaction remained calm and safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casas said he can only recall two times in his 14-year tenure at FIU when ICE agents came onto campus. Historically, if FIU officers discovered that someone they were investigating had an immigration issue, they would notify ICE and allow federal agents to handle it. But officers did not have access to immigration databases or the authority to act independently. If this is going to be something that may happen more frequently, Casas said, its a good idea to have it codified, to be very clear, to establish indemnity and you know, whos responsible for what. Rather than, Hey, do me a favor. Can you help me out? And if it doesnt turn out right? Oh, well, no, youre responsible. No, youre responsible, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once trained, FIU officers will gain access to a federal immigration database. This will allow them to check a persons visa status or see if there is a deportation order, even if there is no existing warrant in the states criminal system. Previously, if an FIU officer ran a criminal history check, which Casas said his officers always did, a persons immigration status or visa status would not show up unless they had a warrant for arrest. It wouldnt show up if they were just undocumented, if they were completely under the radar, said Casas. Casas has emphasized that the new agreement is primarily about clarifying responsibilities, not about radically changing the departments behavior. FIU will decide how many officers to train, and the agreement does not mandate that police participate in every ICE operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only thing I can see different now is they may say, hey, go do it, and we can. We dont have to just assist, Casas said. In some cases, he said, FIU officers could follow through on deportation orders without ICE being physically present for instance, by transporting someone to a detention facility. Controversy on campus Since its establishment in 1996, civil rights advocates and researchers have documented that the 287 (g) program often targets individuals with little or no criminal history and strains the relationship between police and immigrant communities. Maintaining trust with students has long been a goal of Casas. In May, he has addressed the topic publicly at a town hall and at a faculty senate meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, opposition to the agreement at FIU and other universities has been vocal and growing. Students and faculty have organized protests, rallies, social media campaigns, and public meetings to demand that their police departments withdraw from the agreement. Read more: Faculty at FIU continue to urge campus police to get out of ICE agreement Dariel Gomez, a senior at FIU, has been vocal in his opposition to the agreement and is concerned that students may be falsely arrested and end up at the new detention facility in the Everglades known as Alligator Alcatraz. We have not been reassured that this wont be happening, said Gomez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, a DACA recipient, now in his early 30s, who has been in the United States for twenty years, was detained at Alligator Alcatraz. Read more: DACA recipient detained at Alligator Alcatraz, attorney says. We dont know why But Casas, whose family is from Cuba, has given students and faculty some reassurance. Our approach is just usually a little more understanding of our community, he said. (FOX40.COM) A Florida artist has won the California Duck Stamp Art Contest for the third time, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife annoucned. John N. Harris of Groveland, Florida, painted a cinnamon teal, which will be the official design of the states 2025-2026 duck hunting stamps. Harris previously won the contest in 2014 and 2017. Over the last few years, weve had a few cinnamon teal overwinter at our local Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, so I was able to observe a couple individuals and take some beautiful photographs of them, Harris said. The color was amazing when the sun hit it right and it just glowed. How can an artist have any better inspiration than that? He was an absolute jewel to watch, feeding and jousting with all the local blue wings. Art by John N. Harris of Groveland, Fla. (Image: Calfiornia Department of Fish and Wildlife) Art by Frank Dolphens of Omaha, Neb. (Image: Calfiornia Department of Fish and Wildlife) Art by Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Ind. (Image: Calfiornia Department of Fish and Wildlife) Art by Brian Murillo of Norwalk, Iowa (Image: Calfiornia Department of Fish and Wildlife) CDFW said the judges were immediately struck by the realism of the painting and praised the small details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris is a regular entrant into other states duck stamp contests as well. In November, he took the top prize in Louisianas duck stamp contest for the third time. Frank Dolphens of Omaha, Neb., placed second in the art competition. Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Ind., placed third and Brian Murillo of Norwalk, Iowa, received honorable mention. Hunters were previously required to purchase and affix the stamp to their hunting license, but Californias modern licensing system prints proof of additional fees paid directly onto the license. CDFW still produces the stamps, which can be requested on the departments website. Money from stamp sales goes toward conservation projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. Floridas higher education leaders are fast-tracking an ambitious, multi-state plan to form a new college accreditor an effort which Gov. Ron DeSantis is touting as a way to subvert the grip of woke accreditation cartels on academia. The State University Systems Board of Governors on Friday approved a roadmap for establishing the Commission for Public Higher Education, a new accrediting agency backed by university systems from five neighboring red states: North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Texas. Florida plans on launching a six-month test run of the new accreditation process with six universities this December, according to the agencys business plan approved unanimously by the Board of Governors in the Friday meeting. The organization aims to secure the U.S. Department of Educations stamp of approval for the accreditation by June 2028. The agency must have at least two years of experience operating as an accreditor before it can seek recognition from the U.S. Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Floridas GOP-dominated Legislature is backing the venture with a $4 million start-up injection. The agency is anticipating that participating university systems will dedicate similar contributions, per the business plan. Accreditation, which colleges must obtain in order to receive federal student financial aid funding, is meant to act as a quality-control measure for institutions. But critics of the current system say the process is cumbersome and lacks mechanisms for universities to provide input on evaluation criteria. Once a niche subject rarely discussed outside of academic policy wonk circles, accreditation is an increasingly hot topic among conservatives. Some Republicans say accreditors stifle innovation and force left-wing ideology upon institutions. A secret weapon Prominent GOP officials seeking to shake up accreditation are deploying wartime rhetoric. President Donald Trump has threatened to wield the accreditation system as a secret weapon to force schools to adopt policies favored by conservatives. When DeSantis announced Floridas new accrediting agency last month, he said the accreditation establishment had colluded to form juntas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the governor, seizing control of accreditation is one of the final frontiers in his quest to reshape Floridas higher education landscape, aiming to root out what he sees as rampant left-wing orthodoxy on college campuses. Republican state lawmakers under DeSantis have pushed for laws banning diversity, equity and inclusion spending at state universities and scrubbing identity politics from general education courses. DeSantis has said one of his biggest gripes with accreditors is that they threaten to yank accreditation from schools without DEI initiatives. But the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges the longtime accreditor of Floridas 40 public universities and colleges is the only one of the seven southern accreditation agencies that do not mandate DEI criteria. Discussions between Florida and the University of North Carolina system began last year, Florida university system chancellor Ray Rodrigues told the Miami Herald in an interview, because of shared concerns over SACSCOCs supposed political overreach. In 2023, the accreditor began investigating UNC-Chapel Hill to determine whether it violated accreditation criteria when it established the School of Civic Life and Leadership an academic unit meant to promote civil discourse without faculty input. Floridas beef with SACSCOC goes back farther. In 2021, the agency raised concerns after the University of Florida initially barred professors from offering expert testimony in a voting rights lawsuit against the state. (The university later reversed course.) That same year, SACSCOC dinged the Board of Governors for considering then-Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran a sitting board member at the time for the Florida State University presidency. (Corcoran has served as president of New College of Florida since 2023.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For administrators, the accreditation process can be cumbersome. It involves hosting campus visits and filling out lengthy spreadsheets. Robert Shireman, a former Obama-era Education Department official, described the process as the higher-ed equivalent of filing taxes. If you feel like youre a good college, it can be annoying, said Shireman, who currently serves on the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, which advises the U.S. Secretary of Education on accreditation. According to Shireman, accreditation critics across the political spectrum have raised concerns that accrediting agencies are sluggish and lack mechanisms for universities and colleges to have a say in how they are evaluated. SACSCOC, for instance, is overseen by a 77-member board that meets twice a year. The CPHEs board is far leaner, initially consisting of six members selected directly by participating university systems, according to the agencys business plan a composition that Shireman said may allow the agency to more nimbly make decisions. Unusual structure In terms of organizational structure, the agency will operate as a nonprofit with the Florida Board of Governors acting as its sole member. Thats unusual for an accrediting agency, Shireman said. Accreditors typically operate as nonprofits, but are rarely managed by state agencies and act independent of the institutions it holds accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether or not the agency could maintain the independence necessary to be seen as legitimate emerged as a key concern during Fridays board meeting. Kimberly Dunn, the boards faculty representative, suggested barring the agency from accrediting Floridas public universities until it had established independence. Not everybody is on board with the accreditation overhaul. Robin Goodman, an English professor at Florida State University, told state board members on Friday they were pushing for a solution in search of a problem. Floridas current accreditation setup, Goodman said, was working perfectly fine and was helping universities climb national rankings. She called the DeSantis DEI concerns a non-evidence based claim and raised concerns about whether the governor would use CPHE as a Trojan Horse for injecting conservative ideas into curricula. That just seems like a bad decision and will make our universities not as great as they are now, Goodman told board members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dunn, the faculty representative, said it was important to ensure the agencys accreditation criteria didnt impose or restrict certain content in curriculum. Rodrigues, the university system chancellor, responded that Florida cant establish an accreditor that removes left wing ideology and replaces it with right wing ideology. The point of this is to have an accreditor thats not involved in ideology at all, Rodrigues said. Its completely focused on academic excellence [and] quality education. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore is a step closer to having a brand-new facility in Virginia Beach. The Foodbank hopes to build this facility on a 24-acre plot of land along Dam Neck Road. The Virginia Beach Planning Commission recommended approval of the Foodbanks rezoning request for this property, and it will go before City Council for final approval soon. The reality of it is the limitations of [our current] facility have limited the amount of food we can distribute, said Cris Tan, president of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tan said the organization has outgrown its current location in Norfolk and they need the extra space as the demand in the area continues to grow. For us to provide more food to the community and to those members in need, we needed a bigger warehouse, Tan said. He said their lines are 30% longer today than they were during the height of the pandemic. Theyve been using their current building as efficiently as possible, but he explained things are getting cramped. We get a lot of opportunities, potentially, to take a truckload of donated products, and we cant take it because we dont have the space right now, Tan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They started looking for a new place to stretch their legs and found the property in Virginia Beach in December. Well build a bigger warehouse that will enable us to provide more food to the community and also give better access for trucks to get in and out, Tan said. Tan said during the Planning Commission meeting some neighbors expressed concerns about safety and traffic. He explained the facility will only be for food distribution to other organizations, and the public will not come to it. He also said they would only see a couple of trucks per day. The Foodbank is currently raising money for the project. Tan stressed that the new facility would have a significant impact on the community as a whole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would venture a guess to say that we will probably be able to distribute, in the first couple of years in this facility, he said, five to 10 million more pounds eventually to this community. Tan said construction could start in about a year if the Virginia Beach City Council approves the project. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Kindel Media from Pexels People with an underactive thyroid may have an increased risk of developing small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a risk that may be reduced with thyroid hormone treatment, according to a study being presented Saturday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif. "We now know that people with hypothyroidism, especially those with autoimmune thyroiditis, are more likely to develop SIBO, but this risk appears to be mitigated in those taking thyroid medications," said Ruchi Mathur, M.D., Director of the Diabetes Outpatient Treatment and Education Center and Director of Clinical Operations of Medically Associated Science and Technology, at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Calif. Mathur said their research also suggests there may be a microbiological mechanism driving this association, which could lead to more personalized treatments. The researchers investigated the relationship between SIBO and hypothyroidism in people older than 18 who previously underwent upper endoscopy without colon prep and reported living with hypothyroidism as well as controls. Subjects were recruited through their flagship REIMAGINE study. They analyzed small bowel fluid samples from 49 people with hypothyroidism and 323 without the condition and performed DNA sequencing to identify microbial species. The results showed that people with hypothyroidism had a significantly higher prevalence of SIBO compared to controls (33% vs. 15%). Mathur and colleagues then further evaluated four groups: SIBO-positive with hypothyroidism, SIBO-negative with hypothyroidism, SIBO-positive without thyroid disease, and SIBO-negative without thyroid disease. The analysis showed different patterns of bacteria in the gut depending on a person's thyroid status and co-occurrence of SIBO. Separately, they performed a large-scale analysis of medical records from the TriNetX database, which looked at the 10-year risks of developing SIBO in people with hypothyroidism or autoimmune thyroiditis compared to matched controls. The risks were also mitigated in people taking levothyroxine. "Results showed the risk of developing SIBO in subjects with hypothyroidism is 2.2 times more than the risk in a matched control cohort and was 2.4 times higher in those with autoimmune thyroiditis compared to a matched control group. This echoes our findings in the REIMAGINE cohort," noted the study's presenting author, Margaret Wei, M.D., of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Endocrine Fellowship Program. "These findings open the door to new screening and prevention strategies. For example, doctors may begin to monitor thyroid health more closely in patients with SIBO, and vice versa. It also supports the idea that improving gut health could have far-reaching effects beyond digestion, possibly even helping to prevent autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto's," Mathur said. "As research continues, this could lead to more personalized care and earlier interventions for at-risk individuals." A long-time Meadville minister will head to trial on 31 felony charges related to alleged possession and dissemination of child pornography. In a courtroom appearance that lasted less than 10 minutes, Timothy Solomon, who resides in the 300 block of Allegheny Street, waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Samuel Pendlino on Friday. As a result, all of the charges against him were automatically held for court and a trial will be scheduled for the November term of Crawford County Court of Common Pleas. Citing the advice of his attorney, Solomon, 68, declined to comment immediately after exiting the courtroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the courtroom prior to Pendolinos arrival, Solomon introduced himself to Crawford County District Attorney Paula DiGiacomo, who returned the greeting and asked Solomon how he was doing. Ive been better, Solomon replied, but thanks for asking. As recently as late last year, Solomon served as pastor at Church of the Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 16864 Conneaut Lake Road, and Emmanuel United Church of Christ, 30 Park Ave. At his April 8 preliminary arraignment before Pendolino, he described himself as a recently retired minister and said he had been employed by a pizza delivery restaurant for more than four years. A Meadville resident since 1993, he has also long been a familiar face among local theater productions. Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation filed charges against Solomon in early April. An investigation began last year after police received a report from Synchronoss Technologies Inc. that images of child pornography had been uploaded to the companys servers on two days in July 2024, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case. Synchronoss is a cloud computing company that contracts with the cell phone service provider Verizon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigation traced the sources of the images to a phone at Emmanuel United Church of Christ and to Solomons cell phone, according to police. The five images all featured nude prepubescent girls, including three in which the girls were engaged in sex acts with an adult male, police reported. A subsequent search of two cell phones and three thumb drives belonging to Solomon led to the discovery of 25 images of child pornography, including six featuring prepubescent girls, according to police. According to the affidavit, Solomon was cooperative during a Dec. 13 search of his home and agreed to be interviewed by troopers, telling them that he views pornography but had never seen child pornography. Had he ever seen child pornography, he added, he would have deleted the images because he was not into little kids, according to the affidavit. The charges against Solomon consist of six second-degree felony counts of child pornography related to nude images of prepubescent girls allegedly found on his cell phone; 19 third-degree felony counts of child pornography related to nude images of girls allegedly found on his cell phone; one third-degree count of criminal use of a communication facility for allegedly using his phone to possess the images; and five second-degree felony counts of disseminating images of child sex acts for allegedly uploading five images onto the Synchronoss servers from his phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At his April 8 arraignment before Pendolino, Solomon was accompanied by the Rev. Anita Bernhardt, general presbyter and official spokesperson for Lake Erie Presbytery. After the arraignment, Bernhardt said the church had a process in place to respond to situations like Solomons. This is obviously very damaging to a ministers reputation, she said outside the courtroom as Solomon waited to complete required paperwork, but we have a process that really works. On Friday, Bernhardt was the only person in the courtroom audience besides The Meadville Tribune. As she left the hearing beside Solomon, she declined to offer much elaboration when asked about the churchs response. Were using our process and it is ongoing, Bernhardt said. Thats all. Solomon remains free on unsecured bail, with conditions including a prohibition on unsupervised contact with any children under the age of 18. The school district where the newly appointed superintendent of Hartford Public Schools, Dr. Andrae Townsel, has worked since 2022 is seeking legal advice after learning he has accepted the position. Townsel was appointed to lead the Hartford schools at a July 1 Board of Education meeting after a nationwide search and consideration of 40 candidates, including some within the district, school board Chair Jennifer Hockenhull said at the meeting. The vote was unanimous, with members expressing optimism that with new leadership the district would be able to tackle long-running problems, including teacher shortages and burnout and lack of resources and services. Currently serving as Superintendent of Calvert County Public Schools in Maryland, Dr. Townsel has been recognized for exceeding expectations in leadership, elevating the districts ranking to the fourth-best in the state, said a statement from Hartford Public Schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was unanimously elected President of the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland for the 20242025 school year. Known for his bold vision, student-centered leadership, and signature mottoSET THE BAR. MEET THE BAR. EXCEED THE BAR. RAISE THE BAR!Dr. Townsel brings passion, innovation, and results to every school community he leads. But Townsel failed to neatly conclude his time at Calvert County Public Schools, according to a post to that community from district President Jana Post, who on July 2, said, We want to acknowledge that Dr. Townsel has accepted a new position in Hartford, CT. While we recognize the significance of this professional opportunity and wish him well in his future endeavors, it is unfortunate that this news was not shared directly with staff and stakeholders prior to its public release. We understand that transitions in leadership can raise questions and concerns. Please know that the Board of Education is meeting to seek legal counsel and to carefully consider the next steps. Our goal is to ensure continuity and a smooth transition as we prepare for the 2025-2026 school year, she said. That same day, the Calvert County Board of Education held an unscheduled closed meeting to discuss a personnel matter and to obtain legal advice. No minutes or video of that meeting is available and Calvert County Board of Education could not be reached for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the following day, Townsel offered his own post of gratitude to the district: Dear Calvert County Public Schools Community and Stakeholders, It has been my distinct honor and privilege to serve as Superintendent of Calvert County Public Schools since July 2022. After thoughtful reflection, I have made the decision to resign from this position. I want to express my deepest gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated educators, staff, students, families, and community members. Together, we have strived to raise the bar for all students. I am proud of what we have accomplished and confident that the future of Calvert County Public Schools will continue to shine brightly. I hope that, in some measure, my leadership has been a blessing to this communityas much as this community has been a blessing to me. Thank you for your support, collaboration, and shared commitment to the success of every child. I look forward to watching CCPS continue to thrive in the years ahead. Excellence in Truth and Service, Dr. Andrae Townsel A post in a Facebook group for parents in the Calvert County school district discussing Townsels departure shows positive opinions about the superintendent and concerns about the climate in the majority-white district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a tremendous loss. From the moment he was hired, he faced both subtle and overt racism from segments of this community, simply for being a Black man in leadership. And yet, he showed up every single time. He gave everything to this school system, often with little support and constant political pressure. In the middle of a storm, he stood firm for what was right. With his exit, we lose one of the last stabilizing forces in a district increasingly shaped by extremism and a board hell bent on dismantling equity efforts, said one parent. I am absolutely gutted to hear about the superintendents departure. What an absolute loss for our schools, said another. Good for him. I hope his new district gives him the respect he deserves, said a third, alluding to allegations a fourth commenter made plain. Congrats to Dr. Townsel. He deserves a school system that will appreciate his efforts. This is terrible for our students and teachers, staff and community. Its hard to imagine anyone wanting to come here. The way this superintendent was treated by the BOE before they were even on the board will keep applicants away. Add in the way the County Commissioners spoke to him. And then what happened at Dr. Townsels home would. Its all so easy to find online. Our county is in big trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Southern Maryland News, Calvert Commissioner Board President Earl F. Buddy Hance (R) said in a statement, I would like to thank him [Townsel] for the improvement he made here and wish him all the best in his new position. Townsels career has progressed quickly. According to published biographies, Townsel worked as an educator in the District of Columbia from 2008 until 2016, when he was appointed principal in the town of Southbridge, Mass. The first Black principal in that town, he is credited with reducing arrests, suspensions, and disciplinary actions and increasing academic proficiency. Two years later, in March 2018, he reportedly returned to Michigan, where he was raised, to serve as assistant superintendent of Wayne-Westland Community Schools, before securing a new position in February 2020 as superintendent of Benton Harbor Area Schools. In 2022 he was named superintendent in Calvert County with a four-year contract at an annual salary of $215,000, according to reports. He was the districts first Black superintendent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A request for comment from Hartford Board of Education was not returned. The board has overseen a search for a new leader since Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez announced in January that she would step down. Torres-Rodriguezs last day will be Aug. 29; Townsels start date was still being discussed. Editors note: Calvert County Public Schools has not claimed Townsel has broken his contract. FORT WALTON BEACH, Fl. (WAVY) The former Spirit of Norfolk has made it to her final resting place. The former dinner vessel that cruised the Elizabeth River for 30 years before a fire consumed it back in June 2022 has been sunk off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Burned out Spirit of Norfolk leaves Hampton Roads for the last time Alex Fogg, natural resources chief for the visitors bureau, said 188 foot long boat now sits in 128 feet of water as part of their already vast artificial reef program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vessel, which has 51ft of relief, was sunk as part of a Joint U.S. Air Force demonstration, Fogg said. We are excited to continue to meet multiple program objectives in partnership with Eglin AFB. The sinking marks the end of a three year journey for the ship that holds many memories for those who made memories on her decks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. The former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation has lashed out at Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino as MAGAs civil war over the Epstein files boils over. Bondi and Bongino sparred this week after a leaked memo from the FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed that the agencies had put the case to rest and that no client list existed for disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Its some form of Shakespearean absurdist tragedy, former FBI Chief Andrew McCabe, who served as head of the agency under President Donald Trump from February 2016 to March 2018, told CNN. Anyone in the FBI, youre watching this circus take place at the absolute highest levels of the organization, and youre asking yourself, like, These are our leaders? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCabes comments come amid reports that Bongino didnt show up to work on Friday and is considering resigning after locking horns with Attorney General Pam Bondi over her handling of the Epstein case. Attorney General Pam Bondi has come under fire from FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino for her perceived failure to deliver on the inquiry into late pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Bondi had said in no uncertain terms that she had Epsteins incriminating client lista pet MAGA cospiracy, as is the claim that Epstein was in fact murdered to cover up his connections to the rich and powerfulsitting on my desk right now during a sitdown with Fox in February, and after the much-hyped release of Phase One findings from her departments investigation turned out to comprise information already in the public domain. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is reportedly considering quitting after locking horns with Attorney General Pam Bondi. / Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Politicon A conspiracy theorist and former podcaster, Bonginos failure to turn up for work on Friday reportedly follows hot on the heels of an explosive screaming match with Bondi at the White House on Wednesdaywhich unfolded in front of FBI Director Kash Patel, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Taylor Budowichduring which Bongino blasted the attorney general for overpromising and underdelivering on the case. Former bureau chief McCabe told CNN that this manufactured conflict about people who are angry about a conspiracy theory that didnt work out the way they had liked has left FBI personnel wondering how they are supposed to protect America and uphold the Constitution. Among the most vocal members of the MAGA base calling for Bondi to be fired over the latest developments in the case is Laura Loomer, a conspiracy theorist and one of Trump's favourite far-right influencers. / Stephanie Keith/Getty Images Even if [Bongino] comes back, this is going to very negatively impact his credibility with the workforce, which was already under threat, he added. Hes going to have a hard time proving to the men and women of the FBI that hes willing to work as hard as he needs to make them work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bondi-Bongio spat is emblematic of the deepening civil war that has engulfed Trumps MAGA base over the Epstein files. Some of the more fervent voices calling for Bondi to be fired over the latest developments include one the presidents favourite far-right influencers, Laura Loomer, whos blasted the top prosecutor for spending more time on Fox News auditioning to be another Fox News Barbie than she does actually doing her job as attorney general. Loomers not alone in her dissatisfaction over the Trump administrations perceived failure to deliver on one of its key campaign promises of lifting the lid on Epstein. During a MAGA rally in Florida on Friday, Fox News host Laura Ingraham asked the crowds whether they were satisfied with the DOJ and FBIs latest findings, sparking resounding boos from the audience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, Elon Musk, the former chief of the Trump administrations cost-cutting initiative at the Department of Government Efficiency, has continued to fan the flames from the sidelines, reposting memes that lament a lack of arrests in the Epstein case and suggesting the DOJ is run by clowns. The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House and the DOJ for comment. If you or a loved one is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing or texting 988." OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) An Oklahoma man and former rideshare driver currently serving time in state prison for a 2021 sexual assault is back in trouble for a similar alleged crime. Timothy Greene is currently serving a 10-year sentence. Investigators say in 2021, while working as a rideshare driver, he picked up a woman from an Edmond bar who had been drinking, sexually assaulted her and abandoned her. Court documents obtained by News 4 Friday allege Greene sexually assaulted another female passenger two years before that incident. An affidavit says in 2019, Oklahoma City Police responded to a sexual assault call in Northwest Oklahoma City. The documents say the victim was visibly intoxicated from attending a party that evening. Documents say the victims mother caught Greene sexually assaulting her in his vehicle. The victim told police she never consented to his sexual contact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have people that, they seem to fall into a certain pattern or certain crime, said Oklahoma City attorney Robert Gifford, who is not connected to the case. It feeds a need that would not be natural or healthy or lawful. Documents further say DNA was obtained from the 2019 victims sexual assault exam that was determined to belong to Greene because it was flagged in connection to a similar sexual assault. Greene denied to be interviewed by detectives about the case. This month Oklahoma City Police filed a search warrant in Oklahoma County court asking a judge to grant them access to more DNA samples from Greene, directly from his mouth. Police arrest a man in connection to a stabbing in Edmond As a prosecutor, you want to show that, you know, that this is a pattern of conduct, said Gifford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greene is set to appear back in court next month. Gifford says its important to note not every rideshare driver has bad intentions, but that everyone who uses a rideshare service needs to keep cases like these in mind. You dont know that person, said Gifford. Whether its a physical harm, whether its battery, whether its a sexual assault or even worse, its now, its opened up an opportunity for these people to become to find those targets. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. A former fighter with Russia's Wagner mercenary group has requested asylum in Finland after illegally crossing the border near the town of Kitee, Finnish broadcaster Yle reported on July 12. Wagner Group fighters, including those linked to far-right paramilitary units, have been central to some of Russia's most notorious campaigns in Ukraine. Thousands of former convicts joined Wagner in 2022 after being promised amnesty in exchange for service. The man, identified only as Yevgeny, reportedly served in a Wagner assault unit and fought in eastern Ukraine, including in Bakhmut and around Selydove. Finnish authorities apprehended him on June 17 shortly after he entered the country near Vaylivaara, a forested area not protected by border fencing, Yle said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the outlet, Finnish border guards detected the man through sensor alarms and detained him immediately after the crossing. He is now in a temporary detention facility and has applied for international protection. Yevgeny had previously been featured by Russian state media as a model soldier. Since late 2024, he has been publicly criticizing the Russian military leadership. In a video published on June 30, apparently filmed after his arrival in Finland, he accused Russian commanders of abandoning their soldiers "to rot in the fields" and deceiving the families of the dead. Though Finnish authorities have not officially confirmed the man's identity, the Central Criminal Police (KRP) said they are conducting a preliminary investigation into a person who reportedly served with Wagner and crossed the border illegally. At this time, Finnish officials have no evidence linking Yevgeny to war crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yle reported that Yevgeny had previously been convicted of robbing a jewelry store in Omsk in 2023, receiving a 6-year sentence. He was later recruited to fight in Ukraine, part of a broader Russian practice of offering convicts reduced sentences in exchange for military service. Legal experts say Ukraine could request his extradition, though this would depend on whether Kyiv presents sufficient evidence. If Yevgeny commanded a military unit, he could be held accountable for the actions of his subordinates. In March, a Finnish court sentenced Russian neo-Nazi mercenary Yan Petrovsky to life in prison for war crimes committed in Luhansk Oblast in 2014. Petrovsky, co-leader of the Rusich paramilitary unit linked to Wagner, was convicted of participating in the execution of Ukrainian soldiers. Prosecutors presented video evidence of the killings, which the court deemed sufficient despite Petrovsky's denials. Ukraine had requested his extradition, but Finnish courts rejected the request over human rights concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wagner mercenaries played a critical role in Russia's capture of Bakhmut in May 2023, suffering enormous losses. Estimates suggest as many as 20,000 fighters many of them former prisoners died in the battle. Following a failed rebellion in June 2023, Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a suspicious plane crash two months later. After the mutiny, Wagner fighters were folded into official Russian military structures, including the National Guard and Chechen units. According to Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), Wagner veterans top the Kremlin's wish list during prisoner exchanges. "They have indeed been working hard on their return," HUR spokesperson Andrii Yusov said in April. Read also: These were not negotiations Ukraines deputy foreign minister on Istanbul talks with Russia in exclusive interview Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A former mercenary of the Russian private military company Wagner, who had applied for asylum, was detained in Finland. Source: European Pravda; Yle, a Finnish public service media company Details: The Finnish Border Guard Service has previously reported a man who crossed the border near the town of Kitee in North Karelia on 17 June. Several sources confirmed Yle's information that the man is a Russian soldier named Evgeny. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man crossed the Finnish border in the Valivaara area, which is located in a forested area and is not blocked by a border fence. Yle reports that the border guards detected the man using sensors and detained him immediately after he crossed the border. He has requested asylum in Finland and is currently being held in a temporary detention centre. The Finnish broadcaster notes that the Russian posted photos and videos on social media confirming his participation in the war against Ukraine. Some of these materials show a Wagner patch on his uniform. In interviews with Russian propaganda channels, Evgeny spoke about the fighting in Ukraine and claimed that he had voluntarily joined the Russian army in 2022, was trained by Wagner and took part in operations in Bakhmut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evgeny describes in one of his interviews how his unit destroyed a vehicle with Ukrainian soldiers in Selydove. In the autumn of 2024, he disappeared from the public domain, and in February 2025, he published a video in which he sharply criticised the Russian command. On 30 June, Evgeny again posted a video on the Russian social network Vkontakte criticising the Russian military leadership. Yle reports that the man was already in Finland when the video was published. The Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed to Yle that they are conducting a preliminary check on a person who came from Russia and allegedly served in the Wagner ranks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police are assessing whether there are grounds to launch a criminal investigation. At the moment, the Finnish authorities do not suspect Yevgeny of committing war crimes. Background: The Helsinki District Court in Finland found Voislav Tordenin (Jan Petrovsky), the founder and former commander of the Rusich military group, guilty of committing war crimes in Ukraine and sentenced him to life imprisonment on 14 March. In February last year, Tordenin was sentenced to two years in prison in Finland for twice violating a ban to enter the country. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) A former Wichita Falls pastor awaiting trial for multiple charges of child sex crimes against members of his congregation entered an unexpected plea on Friday afternoon. PREVIOUS STORY: Prosecutions notice accuses former pastor of additional child sex crimes Paul Coleman in the 78th District Court on Friday, July 11, 2025 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL) Paul Andrew Coleman, 69, of Wichita Falls, was indicted by a Wichita County grand jury for continuous sexual abuse of a child, indecency with a child by sexual contact, and two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coleman appeared in the 78th District Courtroom on Friday, July 11, 2025, for a scheduled pre-trial hearing ahead of his jury trial that was set to begin on July 14, 2025, with Judge Meredith Kennedy presiding. At around 3:45 p.m. on Friday, Coleman unexpectedly pleaded guilty to indecency with a child and both counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, the three lesser included offenses pending against him. As a part of Colemans plea agreement, the most serious charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child was dismissed. PREVIOUS STORY: Former church pastor has new child sex crime charges filed Paul Coleman in the 78th District Court on Friday, July 11, 2025 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL) Judge Kennedy sentenced Coleman to 30 years in prison for each of the aggravated sexual assault charges and 20 years in prison for the indecency charge, setting the sentences to run concurrently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutor Brooke Robb with the Wichita County District Attorneys Office said that due to how fast the plea deal was reached on Friday, the victims were aware of the possibility of a plea deal but were unable to be in the courtroom. Robb said that a hearing may be scheduled in the future to allow Colemans victims to give an impact statement. Paul Coleman in the 78th District Court on Friday, July 11, 2025 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL) Coleman is the founder and former pastor of Good Samaritan Outreach Ministries, located on East Carolina Street in Wichita Falls. The charges against Coleman stem from between June 1, 2022, and November 30, 2022, when he was alleged to have sexually assaulted two girls who had attended his church and were both preteens at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE: Wichita Falls pastor arrested for sexual assault of a child Coleman was first arrested in December 2022 and charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault and one count of indecency. After spending nearly five months behind bars, he was released after posting significantly reduced bonds in April 2023. Paul Coleman in the 78th District Court on Friday, July 11, 2025 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL) Just over a year later, Coleman was again arrested after a Wichita County grand jury indicted him on two new charges, a second count of aggravated sexual assault and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child. According to statements made by the victims family members and a forensic interviewer, the assaults of the two girls occurred at his residence and the church. Other court documents alleged that Coleman had been sexually abusing the alleged child victims since September 2020. This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. (FOX 9) - A former police chief in western Wisconsin is being released following a sentence stemming from the sexual assault of minor boys, and will be homeless once freed. Wisconsin police chief freed after charges What we know A press release provided by the Menomonie Police Department says Gary Wayerksi will be released on July 15 from prison to the City of Menomonie, Wis., where he will be homeless. The release says he will be placed on intensive supervision, subject to GPS monitoring with geographic restrictions to Dunn County and be on the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry Program for life as part of his release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement is the result of Wisconsin state law, which requires law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sex offenders release or relocation when it could "enhance public safety, awareness and protection." The backstory In 2013, Wayerski was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being convicted, and 16 years of extended supervision, after being convicted of several counts of child enticement, sexual assault of a minor and exposing himself to a minor. When he was charged in 2011, he was still the part-time police chief of Dunn County village, which includes the seven incorporated villages of Boyceville, Colfax, Downing, Elk Mound, Knapp, Ridgeland and Wheeler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Wayerski, who was 55 years old at the time, was mentoring a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old after arresting them for breaking into a church in Wheeler. The boys claimed Wayerski showed them pornographic movies and computer images, and also fondled them, according to the charges. The Source Information provided by the Menomonie Police Department. Seventy-one arrests have been made at protests across the UK against Palestine Action being proscribed a terror group, police have said. Forces in London, Cardiff and Manchester each made a number of arrests on suspicion of terrorism offences. Palestine Action was proscribed by the government under the Terrorism Act of 2000 as of last Saturday, meaning membership of or support for the group is a criminal offence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Metropolitan Police made 41 arrests on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation, with one person also arrested for common assault, as demonstrators gathered in the capital for a second weekend. Two groups of protesters gathered in Parliament Square in the capital shortly after 13:00 BST on Saturday. Some held placards bearing the words: "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action." Demonstrators were also seen lying on top of each other while police officers searched bags, taking ID cards and handmade signs. Police carried some of the protesters away and led others into police vans - with the last protester being removed from the Nelson Mandela statue just after 14:30 BST. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Met said officers will act when criminal offences - including expressing support for proscribed groups or organisations through "chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos" - are committed. South Wales Police arrested 13 people during a protest outside the BBC offices near Cardiff's Central Square, all on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation. South Wales Police said it "supports the right for people to make their voices heard through protest providing it is done lawfully". Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Police said 16 individuals had been arrested under the Terrorism Act of 2000 as officers responded to a protest in St Peter's Square in the city centre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protests were organised by campaign group Defend Our Juries. A protest in London last weekend saw 29 people arrested. Palestine Action has engaged in activities that have predominantly targeted arms companies since the start of the current war in Gaza. The move to proscribe the organisation came after two Voyager aircraft were sprayed with paint by activists who broke into RAF Brize Norton in June - an incident for which the group claimed responsibility. Four people have since been remanded into custody charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another woman, previously arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been released on bail, while a man was released without charge. The incident also prompted a security review across UK military airbases. In July, MPs voted to amend legislation to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the group had a "long history" of criminal damage. "Its activity has increased in frequency and severity [since 2024]," she added. "The UK's defence enterprise is vital to the nation's national security and this government will not tolerate those that put that security at risk." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But critics have accused the government of misusing the legislation, and have questioned whether Palestine Action should be considered a terrorist group. A legal challenge attempting to temporarily block the proscription failed. Raza Husain KC, barrister for Palestine Action's co-founder Huda Ammori, told a court that banning the group would constitute an "authoritarian abuse" of power. Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. More than 57,800 people have since been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. DAVIDSON COUNTY The recent passage of a foster care reform bill in the N.C. General Assembly was more than run-of-the-mill legislation for state Sen. Steve Jarvis, R-Davidson. It was a calling. This bill resonates personally for me and my family, as I grew up with many fostered siblings, said Jarvis, whose Senate district covers all of Davidson County. Jarvis, who lived on a farm in rural Indiana, had parents who regularly took in foster children throughout his youth. Henry and Linda Jarvis, his father and mother, provided a home for 18 foster children from when he was 5 years old to when he was 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steve Jarvis said that he came to care for his foster brothers and sisters as beloved members of his family. The experiences shaped his approach to foster care reform when he became a state legislator seven years ago. Jarvis was a leading backer of House Bill 612, which addresses a range of foster care reform measures. The legislation received bipartisan support in the General Assembly. In signing the 32-page legislation late last month, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said that this bill protects our most vulnerable children and strengthens our child welfare system. Jarvis said that an overriding goal for him in the reform measure was to bring more permanence and stability to the lives of foster care children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 612 expands guardianship options for foster children by allowing them to be cared for by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. The law also seeks to keep siblings together in the foster care system. I just dont think that any child should have to lose their brother or sister, Jarvis told The High Point Enterprise. Its traumatic enough to go through the changes of foster care. House Bill 612 fast-tracks voluntary adoptions to encourage children to end up in a permanent home. The law extends the age from 16 years old to 21 years old for foster parents to receive support funds. That way a kid can go to college and get a job and be stable, Jarvis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jarvis began working on statewide foster care reform when he first was elected in 2018 as a state representative and continued his campaign when he joined the Senate two years later. During the current legislative session, Jarvis said that he took a different approach and had colleagues in the House craft a foster care reform measure first, then Jarvis found the necessary support in the Senate. I am thrilled that after many years of tirelessly working on this initiative, it has finally passed both chambers and was welcomed into law with Gov. Steins signature, Jarvis said. It was an honor to create and collaborate with other lawmakers to achieve our goal of improving the lives of fostered children. Russian forces mounted new attacks on the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast on Saturday 12 July, injuring four civilians. Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutors Office on Telegram Details: Around 08:00, Russian forces launched an airstrike on the city, injuring a 69-year-old man. Earlier, at approximately 01:00, a Russian first-person view (FPV) drone struck an apartment block, causing a fire. A 72-year-old man was injured, sustaining burns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 02:00, the Russians struck the city again. The type of weapon used is still being established. A man and a woman were injured in the attack. The apartment block hit by the Russian attack. Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutors Office The Kupiansk District Prosecutors Office in Kharkiv Oblast launched pre-trial investigations into these incidents under Article 438.1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, concerning violations of the laws and customs of war. Background: On the night of 10-11 July, the Russians launched a strike on the city of Chuhuiv in Kharkiv Oblast, causing significant damage to a hospital and injuring three people. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Brief FOX viewers donations to Texas flood victims have now surpassed $7 million. Funds are already being distributed to those affected by the tragedy in Kerr County. 13,000 volunteers are assisting with recovery after at least 131 people died in the floods, including dozens of children. FOX viewers have come through in a big way for the victims of this month's devastating Texas floods. Following FOXs initial donation to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, our generous viewers answered the call to action and helped raise $7 million to aid Central Texas communities. Local perspective The Kerr County Flood Relief Fund announced last week that an initial $5 million in emergency grants to nonprofit organizations has been dispersed to support individuals and families, local businesses, first responders, and crisis response. Volunteers unload a semi-truck full of supplies delivered by Convoy of Hope to Gateway Kerrville Church on July 7, 2025 in Ingram, Texas.(Photo by Jim Vondruska/Getty Images) How you can still help What you can do Its not too late to join FOXs support of recovery efforts. Your donation supports the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Countrys relief and rebuilding efforts. Visit go.fox/txfloodrelief to support the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. Texas floods latest President Donald Trump and the first lady spent Friday touring flood damage in hardest-hit Kerr County, where 100 people died including 36 children and 161 are still missing from heavily damaged camps and homes. What they're saying "I've never seen anything like it. A little narrow river that becomes a monster," President Trump said at a roundtable discussion with first responders. "The first lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this, really horrific and deadly flood." The backstory Its been nearly two weeks since fast-rising floodwaters damaged homes and camps along the Guadalupe River, including Camp Mystic, where 27 campers and counselors died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across the state, at least 131 people were killed in the flooding. More than 170 people are considered missing. Last week, Trump signed a "Major Disaster Declaration" for relief for Kerr County and later added eight more counties to the list, making them eligible for direct financial assistance to recover and rebuild. What's next The Texas Division of Emergency Management says 13,000 volunteers are assisting with flood-related recovery, but rain across Central Texas has slowed those efforts. Many rivers remain under flood warning. Meanwhile, the Texas state Legislature plans a special session on early warning systems and preparedness, scheduled to start July 23. The Source Information in this story comes from FOX, which owns this website, along with previous reporting by FOX Television Stations in Austin, Dallas, and Houston. French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday expressed "very strong disapproval" of US President Donald Trump's announcement of 30% tariffs on EU imports to the United States from August. "This announcement comes after weeks of intense engagement by the Commission in negotiations with the United States, on the basis of a solid offer made in good faith," Macron said in a post on X. "With European unity, it is more than ever up to the Commission to assert the Union's determination to resolutely defend European interests," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In particular, this implies speeding up the preparation of credible countermeasures, by mobilising all the instruments at its disposal, including anti-coercion, if no agreement is reached by August 1st." Macron said "France fully supports the European Commission in the negotiations, which will now intensify, to reach a mutually acceptable agreement by August 1st, reflecting the respect that trading partners like the European Union and the United States owe each other, with their shared interests and integrated value chains." The French president's comments came after Trump sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlining the planned tariffs, citing the "long-term, large and persistent" trade deficit the United States runs with the EU as justification. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Franklin County is a long thin area, that stretches more than 70 miles from one end to the others. Thats a lot of territory for first responders to cover. Thats why Franklin County Emergency Medical Services is expanding their reach with a new facility in Carrabelle. Even with 18 full time employees, EMS employees say theyre understaffed. They currently run 3 ambulances, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, dividing them across 3 zones in Apalachicola, Eastpoint, and Carabelle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new station will help them increase coverage and shorten response time. With three ambulances it is a quite a feat to cover the distances that we cover. Thankfully, were not over busy. I mean were busy, but not extremely busy. So that does help, Franklin County EMS Director James Osteen said. The county helped fund the $1 million project with a $600,000 grant from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. Carrabelle city officials donated the land. The project should take 180 days to complete, with a grand opening in January. Better things are coming for the east side of the county. Im really excited about this event. And I think youll see a faster response on this side of the county, Franklin County Commissioner Anthony Croom Jr. said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. SUNSET PARK, Brooklyn (PIX11) Immerse yourself in Japanese pop culture at the free one-day-only anime and manga convention in Brooklyn. The third annual AniTOMO Convention returns to Japan Village in Sunset Park on July 19 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Residents interested in attending can register for free tickets on Eventbrite. Things To Do Around NYC The convention will showcase more than 100 artists and feature anime screenings, game panels, voice acting workshops, Japanese language workshops, cosplay fashion shows and many more activities focused on traditional Japanese culture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Founded to showcase the ideas of BIPOC trailblazers in a positive way! This convention aims to bridge the gap for those who cant afford to attend a traditional convention, reads AniTOMOs mission statement. More Brooklyn News The Brooklyn-based event was founded by cinema professional Eileen Level in 2023 to celebrate diverse perspectives from historically underrepresented communities. Since AniTOMOs founding, organizers have partnered with major city agencies and leading companies in the anime industry, such as the Brooklyn Public Library, the Brooklyn Childrens Museum, the Japan Society, the Anime NYC convention, book publishers VIZ and Kodansha and the film distributor GKids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More Local News AniTOMO has previously drawn more than 7,000 attendees during its one-day event. To stay updated on the latest information on the convention, you can follow them on social media. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Flood debris pickup will begin on Monday in Travis County, as cleanup efforts continue in flood-ravaged areas. The initiative will focus on county-maintained roads in neighborhoods severely impacted by the recent flooding over the July 4 weekend, according to a news release issued by the Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources Department. Residents along the designated roads are being urged to place sorted debris at the curb over the weekend in preparation for pickup. The curbside collection is being offered free of charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austin benefits, ways to donate: How to help victims of Central Texas floods See list of roads with free curbside pickup service Travis County roads that will receive free curbside pickup service for flood debris starting Monday, July 14, 2025. The following roads are slated for pickup, although the list may change as recovery operations continue: Long Hollow Loop Summit View Drive Layne Loop Long Hollow Trail Sheel Hollow Trail Juniper Trail Yaupon Trail Juniper Court Windy Valley Drive Round Mountain Road Big Sandy Drive Sandy Meadow Circle Pecan Hollow Sunset Hollow A portion of Nameless Road How to sort flood debris Residents must separate materials into the following categories: Appliances : Refrigerators, washers, dryers, air conditioners, stoves, and similar items Construction and demolition materials : Drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture, plumbing items Brush and vegetation : Tree trunks and limbs (limited to under 10 feet in length) Hazardous waste : Oil, batteries, paint, and cleaning products Electronics: Televisions, computers, phones, and gaming systems Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Household trash will not be accepted as part of the curbside service. Materials that are not sorted will be left uncollected. Where to place sorted flood debris Debris should be placed along the road at the edge of residents properties without blocking access or roadways. In areas with sidewalks, debris should be positioned between the sidewalk and the curb with a 3-foot clearance around it. Illustration shows how to place flood debris at the edge of Travis County's residents properties for curbside pickup. For efficient and safe removal, residents should avoid stacking debris near trees, utility poles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, or meters. Obstructed or improperly placed debris may be bypassed by crews. More: Photos, videos capture devastation caused by 'catastrophic' floods in Texas More Travis County flood recovery reminders and resources Household trash can be taken to a dumpster on the north side of the Sandy Creek Bridge, accessible on foot. For those able to transport their waste, the FM1431 Citizen Collection Center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Construction of a two-way low-water crossing is underway near the damaged Sandy Creek Bridge. A resource center will be open this weekend from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Danielson Middle School. Transportation is being provided by CapMetro and Leander ISD from Round Mountain Baptist Church, Leander Park & Ride, and HEB. Officials strongly advise residents not to enter waterways to remove debris, citing ongoing safety hazards such as sewage contamination, sharp debris, chemicals, or downed power lines. Active search and rescue operations are ongoing, and crews require a 100-yard clearance zone on both sides of the creeks. Questions regarding debris pickup can be directed to TCflooddebris@traviscountytx.gov and find more info at flood-impacts-july-2025-traviscountytx.hub.arcgis.com/#hotline. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Free curbside flood debris pickup starts Monday in Travis County BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) Another round of free classes teaching proper high tunnel maintenance is almost finished. New River Health Associations Farmers Market makes shopping easy for patients and locals High tunnels are passively-heated, plastic covered structures designed to protect plants from harsh weather and extend the growing season. Beth Villers, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator for the West Virginia State University Extension, hosts these classes in hopes of educating more people on the proper usage of their high tunnels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Villers said there is a good reason she does two of the same class in different locations each month. Im trying to reach both sides of this region for the Southern Conservation District region which is six counties. So, Im trying to reach both sides of that region and so, Princeton is a location that Im working with to try and reach those people more in the Summers or Mercer or McDowell county, said Villers. Villers said previous classes had good turnouts and she hopes the trend will continue through the remaining classes of the year. The next class will be at the Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office in Princeton on July 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The topic being discussed is Pest and Disease Management in high tunnels. For more information, or to register for a class, please contact Beth Villers at either 681-220-5752 or mary.villers@wvstateu.edu. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. A Saturday full of downtown Meadville activities offers the perfect occasion to answer a question that has come up around this time of year for several years in a row: How many people can fit comfortably in Diamond Park? The number may surprise you and it will undoubtedly please the members of the Erie Philharmonic, the attraction that has drawn estimated crowds of 1,100 and 1,200 people to its concerts in the park in recent years and thats not even including the orchestra members. In fact, the Diamond Park shows have been the best attended of the Erie Phils In Your Hometown summer concert series, according to organizers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have won for several years in a row and were hoping we can keep that streak going, said Renna Wrubleski, one of several city staff members who coordinate the event. I want to make sure were showing up in full force for the Erie Phil. In an effort to lure even more music lovers for the fifth annual appearance of the orchestra, this years concert was scheduled on a Saturday rather than the Friday of previous performances and not just any Saturday, but one that coincides with the monthly Second Saturday Community Market. From time to time, Wrubleski explained, concerns are raised by residents regarding a lack of activities available in the area. The combination of Second Saturday and the Philharmonics performance is a response to such concerns. We want to say, Well, heres a jam-packed day of things to do right in downtown Meadville on what will hopefully be a nice summer day, Wrubleski said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Second Saturday taking place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the nearby Meadville Market House farmers market running from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the busy schedule still allows visitors a bit of an afternoon break to rest at home or to explore the city further. If they arrive early to the concert, theyll have a chance to fill up at three food trucks expected for the event Smoky Martins BBQ, Kona Ice and Martys Nacho Mamas or spend time at what Bobby Pape, the newly installed executive director of the Phil, called a whole fleet of activities. Always among the most popular of those activities is the instrument petting zoo, a chance for the young and young at heart to get a literal feel for the types of instruments used in the orchestra, according to Pape. Not the actual instruments used by performers, of course, but similar violins, cellos and more will be available for hands-on exploration. Pape, who is in just his second month with the orchestra, said hes excited to begin the outdoor summer tour, having worked similar events in his previous position as deputy director of the Albany Symphony in New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Meadville stop will be the second of three outdoor performances by the full orchestra, with four others performances by the Philharmonics brass ensemble and octet. Its an important part of what we do, and we enjoy it, Pape said of the outdoor shows. It helps us bring the orchestra to folks who might not otherwise readily be able to come into the Warner (Theatre) in downtown Erie and also its just gorgeous out. The program for the concert offers a musical tour of the British Isles, featuring Gustav Holsts St. Pauls Suite, Ralph Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto in F Minor and Felix Mendelssohns Symphony No. 3. The performance will last about an hour with no intermission, Pape said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the titles may not be familiar, audience members will likely find themselves humming along to familiar English folk tune melodies that make up much of Holsts St. Pauls Suite. The shows meat and potatoes, however, will be the mid-20th century Vaughan Williams piece. Its a work that tends to be performed less frequently than other concerti that more typically feature the violin, cello or piano, according to Pape, but one that comes to life thanks to Ken Heinlein, the Phils principal tuba player. Ken is this incredible virtuoso player, Pape said. He takes this big, lumbering instrument and plays it so beautifully and eloquently. Im really glad that were getting to put him into the spotlight for that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement YOU CAN GO Following the Second Saturday Community Market on Chestnut Street from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Erie Philharmonic will offer a free concert in Diamond Park at 7 p.m. Pre-concert activities, including three food trucks and an instrument petting zoo for those who would like to try their hands at an instrument, begin at 6. Listeners are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to sit on. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will take place inside at a nearby location to be announced via the Erie Philharmonic Facebook page late Saturday afternoon. A report has undercut the Department of Justices assertion that a video it released this week of Jeffrey Epsteins final hours alive in prison is full raw and unedited. An analysis by Wired determined that the hours-long footage, released by the DOJ to quell conspiracies involving Epsteins 2019 in-custody suicide, was likely modified using the professional video editing software Adobe Premiere Pro. The file appears to have been assembled from at least two source clips, saved multiple times, exported, and then uploaded to the DOJs website, the magazine wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That conclusion was reached by video forensics experts who studied the footages metadata. Hany Farid, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley whose research focuses on digital forensics and misinformation, told Wired that the footage would not be considered valid evidence in court. If a lawyer brought me this file and asked if it was suitable for court, Id say no. Go back to the source. Do it right, he said. Do a direct export from the original systemno monkey business. Faird said his issues with the clip go beyond its metadata, however. He claims its aspect ratio shifts noticeably at multiple points. Why am I suddenly seeing a different aspect ratio? he remarked to Wired. The president has distanced himself from disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, claiming he cut ties with him over a decade before he was arrested on sex trafficking charges in 2019. / Davidoff Studios/Getty Images The professor suggested that the Trump administration should pull the clip directly from prison security cameras and show it to the world. Otherwise, conspiracies will continue to run amok. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such a finding is sure to increase pressure on President Donald Trump and his administration, which has been subjected to infighting this week over its handling of sensitive information regarding Epstein. Trump promised during his latest campaign to declassify details about Epsteins associates and divulge the circumstances surrounding his suicide, which many on the right believe may have been a secretive homicide to keep Epstein from implicating the rich and powerful in court. MAGA diehards have grown impatient with the lack of movement on the issue from Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi. The controversy escalated on Monday when a leaked FBI and DOJ memo stated that there was no so-called Epstein client list despite Bondi claiming in February that such a list was on her desk. The White House confirmed the memo is authentic, and Trump, who has been photographed with Epstein, has scoffed that the saga is still dragging on. Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? Trump asked a reporter who called out a question to Bondi about Epstein. This guys been talked about for years ... We have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things, and are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wireds report does not provide evidence that the footage was deceptively edited. Still, experts said the DOJ did itself no favors when it referred to the edited footage as raw in a case that has been draped in conspiracy since day one. Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat from Hawaii, said he is beginning to suspect a MAGA coverup of sorts. I am probably among the least conspiracy minded people you would ever meet but this is getting pretty nearly impossible to explain. https://t.co/ajyh8ueM1T Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) July 11, 2025 I am probably among the least conspiracy-minded people you would ever meet, but this is getting pretty nearly impossible to explain, he posted in response to Wireds report. The DOJ and the FBI declined to comment on Wireds findings, but did not deny its reporting. Spokespeople for both agencies did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast. Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of a teenager who died in a river. Nischay Patel, 14, had been swimming with friends in the river Waveney at Beccles Quay on the evening of 3 July. Family, friends and fellow pupils of Sir John Leman High School in Beccles, where Nischay was a year 9 student, came together at the Waveney Memorial Park to pay their respects to the much-loved boy. A tribute from his parents, Ketan and Praptiben Patel, said: "He touched our lives with his unwavering kindness, gentle wisdom and boundless love." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A private Hindu ceremony took place on Saturday morning, followed by a memories service and then his funeral, attended by everyone to pay their final respects. The Patel family, who own a newsagents in Beccles, said in a Facebook tribute: "This loss is unimaginable, and as we grieve, we hold close the love of our friends, family, and customers." Flowers and tributes were left at Beccles Quay and outside the family's shop. People gathered in Beccles for the funeral of 14-year-old Nischay Patel [Stephen Huntley/BBC] An online fund set up by two women who knew Nischay and his family has raised almost 14,000 to date. Terri Bird and Layla Eales set up the appeal to help his family cover any lost income and funeral costs, with the remainder being used on life-saving equipment at the riverside - and a memorial bench. Richard Crozier, who knows the family, said Nischay was a "remarkable" teenager [Stephen Huntley/BBC] Richard Crozier, a former teacher at Notre Dame High School in Norwich and who owns a shop adjacent to the family's shop, said: "It was immediately obvious that Nischay had a spirit, a kind of life force, which is very rare in a young lad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He and his brother worked as a team, changing students' minds and attitudes in the most subtle of ways. "He was magical in his ability to communicate. A remarkable, remarkable boy." He said Nischay's popularity was evident in the numbers of young people who attended his funeral. "He was a real leader of people," Mr Crozier added, "and would have been, I'm absolutely convinced, quite a national figure." Mr Cozier said lots of people attended the funeral to pay respects to the family [Stephen Huntley/BBC] Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Two individuals were arrested in New York City last week after video captured them spewing racial slurs and viciously attacking a female driver over a public parking space. Andreea Dumitru, 45, and Sabrina Starman, 21, were charged with assault on Monday after attacking a 21-year-old driver outside a home in Ridgewood, Queens, police confirmed to Fox News Digital on Saturday. Social media users on Reddit alleged that the two attackers were a mother-daughter duo who became violent after the victim tried to move a trash can that was placed in the street to block off a public parking spot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspects allegedly punched the woman multiple times in the face and body, causing substantial pain, authorities said. Subway Riders Deliver Street Justice To Brute Who Grabbed Screaming Woman On Platform The victim was identified as Jada McPherson, according to the New York Post . Read On The Fox News App While the attack erupted on Monday, neighbors say tensions over the parking spot have been simmering for years. Social media users on a Reddit post titled "The fight over the parking spot finally happened" claimed that the individuals involved routinely used trash cans and traffic cones to illegally hold street parking for hours while they were away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A former resident on the Reddit thread said, "Sometimes those trash cans will be there for three hours reserving the spot." The person who filmed the altercation said in the post, "Its been going on for years. The whole family does it, today someone finally had a breaking point." Convicted Rapist On Parole Charged With Attempted Murder After Brutal Attack Leaves Nyc Mother In Coma A man and woman pulled the victim's hair during the brawl. Video shows the moments before the brawl, where the 21-year-old victim is seen with her car, trying to clear the parking spot by removing the garbage bin. A man was heard shouting, "Stop touching my stuff!" as he placed the garbage cans back on the curb, according to Fox 5 New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim responded with, "I just got home from work! I don't want to circle the block five times looking for a parking spot because this [expletive] was holding it with a garbage can," the outlet reported. Surveillance Video Shows California Homeless Woman Set On Fire In Horrific Attack A man and woman pulled the victim's hair duirng the brawl. Moments later, Starman lunged at the woman and began throwing punches. Dumitru and an unidentified man joined in by hitting the woman and pulling her hair as the victim curled up defensively. A bystander with a cane was also heard yelling as the scuffle escalated. Click To Get The Fox News App Police arrested Dumitru and Starman at the scene, and the victim was treated for her injuries on-site, authorities said. Original article source: Furious mother-daughter duo viciously attacks driver for moving trash cans reserving parking spot: video The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. Editors Note: Washington Week With The Atlantic is a partnership between NewsHour Productions, WETA, and The Atlantic airing every Friday on PBS stations nationwide. Check your local listings, watch full episodes here, or listen to the weekly podcast here. Donald Trump has wrapped up his tour of central Texas, where he met with state officials and those affected by last weeks devastating floods. Panelists on Washington Week With The Atlantic joined to discuss the role of federal agencies and emergency disaster response under the second Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What presidents from Bill Clinton on have frequently done in response to emergency disasters is find ways to connect with people on the ground and show that theyre not only going to bring resources from the federal government, but they understand their plight, Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, said last night. And thats just not where Trump is. He is sometimes very good at mobilizing resources, but he is not good, I think, at connecting with people who are in pain. Although the president was more empathetic than weve seen him in the past, Tarini Parti, a White House reporter at The Wall Street Journal, added, he was still looking to tout his administrations response. Unlike other administrations, she continued, Trump has chosen to scale back his federal response, instead relying on state and local officials. Joining Ashley Parker, a guest moderator and a staff writer at The Atlantic, to discuss this and more: Zolan Kanno-Youngs, a White House correspondent for The New York Times; Tarini Parti, a White House reporter at The Wall Street Journal; Nancy Youssef, a staff writer at The Atlantic; and Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times. Watch the full episode here. Article originally published at The Atlantic Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsoms official press account called President Donald Trumps top immigration adviser Stephen Miller a fascist cuck on Friday, possibly alluding to rumors that Millers wife had a sexual relationship with billionaire Elon Musk. The online feud Friday sparked when Miller called U.S. District Court Judge Maame E. Frimpong a communist on X after she ordered the Trump administration to stop conducting indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests. The ruling has just been issued. A communist judge in LA has ordered ICE to report directly to her and radical left NGOs not the president. This is another act of insurrection against the United States and its sovereign people. https://t.co/pkEjl7lEP4 Stephen Miller (@StephenM) July 12, 2025 This is another act of insurrection against the United States and its sovereign people, Miller wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to Millers statement, Newsoms press office called the White House deputy chief of staff a different c word. This fascist cuck in DC continues his assault on democracy and the Constitution, and his attempt to replace the sovereignty of the people with autocracy, the office wrote on X. This fascist cuck in DC continues his assault on democracy and the Constitution, and his attempt to replace the sovereignty of the people with autocracy. Sorry the Constitution hurt your feelings, Stephen. Cry harder. https://t.co/3a4pvYftxb Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) July 12, 2025 The term cuck, which derives from the word cuckold, is used to describe a person whose spouse is engaging in sexual activity with another person. Its also used as a more general insult towards men, suggesting weakness. The comments were a possible reference to unsubstantiated online rumors that Millers wife, Katie Miller who Musk selected as a Department of Government Efficiency official had become romantically involved with the billionaire during his time as a special government employee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Musk stepped down from DOGE, Katie Miller also left, opting to take a new job at Musks artificial intelligence company, xAI. Around the time his wife left DOGE, Miller posted on X defending Trumps so-called Big, Beautiful Bill, which had been slammed heavily by Musk. The official X account for the Democratic party reacted to this by posting an image known as the cuck chair meme, which is meant to represent a hotel room chair where a person would sit while watching their partner have sex with someone else. On Friday, Newsom cheered on Frimpongs ruling, saying justice prevailed and that California stands with the law and the Constitution, calling on the Trump Administration to do the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sorry the Constitution hurt your feelings, Stephen, his press office wrote on Friday. Cry harder. Related... California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) cheered on a federal judge who ordered President Donald Trumps administration to stop indiscriminate immigration arrests in several California counties, including Los Angeles, on Friday. Justice prevailed today, Newsom wrote on X. The courts decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating peoples rights and racial profiling. Newsom then concluded with a request for Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California stands with the law and the Constitution and I call on the Trump Administration to do the same, he said. Justice prevailed today. The courts decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating peoples rights and racial profiling. California stands with the law and the Constitution and I call on the Trump Administration to do the same. https://t.co/z63Paoi1Kq Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) July 12, 2025 U.S. District Court Judge Maame E. Frimpong blocked the Trump administration from conducting what advocates called unconstitutional tactics in immigration raids. Those advocates brought a lawsuit against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other immigration officials. The emergency order blocks immigration officials from making arrests solely based on apparent race or ethnicity, speaking Spanish or speaking English with an accent, the work a person does, or presence at a particular location, such as a day laborer pick-up site. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Frimpongs order a win for Los Angeles and a win for cities all across the nation. L.A. has been under assault as masked men snatch people off the street and chase people through parking lots and summer camps. But today, the Court ruled in favor of the United States Constitution. This is a win for Los Angeles and it is a win for cities all across the nation. pic.twitter.com/MrCkwQFb13 Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) July 12, 2025 Frimpong also barred immigration officials from restricting attorney access at a Los Angeles immigration detention facility known as B-18 after several lawyers raised alarms about not being able to speak with their clients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What the federal government would have this Court believe in the face of a mountain of evidence presented in this case is that none of this is actually happening, Frimpong wrote in her ruling. The White House says it plans to appeal Frimpongs order, claiming no federal judge has the authority to dictate immigration policy. Enforcement operations require careful planning and execution; skills far beyond the purview or jurisdiction of any judge, Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, told the Los Angeles Times. We expect this gross overstep of judicial authority to be corrected on appeal. Frimpongs order comes amid several Trump-appointed immigration officials promoting constitutionally questionable immigration enforcement practices. Trump border czar Tom Homan recently boasted on Fox News that immigration law enforcers dont need probable cause to briefly detain someone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They just go through the observations, get articulable facts based on their location, their occupation, their physical appearance, their actions, Homan said. Earlier in June, Trumps deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller,instructed ICE agents to focus their raids on Home Depot and 7-Eleven locations as a way to increase arrest numbers. Newsom called out Miller and the Trump administrations cruel immigration enforcement methods in a separate Friday post from his press office, calling their agenda one of chaos, cruelty and fear. Instead of targeting the most dangerous people, federal officials have been arbitrarily detaining Americans and hardworking people, ripping families apart, and disappearing people into cruel detention to meet outrageous arrest quotas without regard to due process and constitutional rights that protect all of us from cruelty and injustice, Newsom wrote. That should stop now. NEW: @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom on this victory for justice and rights tonight: Justice prevailed today the courts decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating peoples rights and racial profiling. Stephen Millers immigration agenda is one of https://t.co/QkSD7gEywc Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) July 12, 2025 Related... Gaza ceasefire talks hung in the balance as Hamas and Israel on Saturday accused the other of blocking attempts to strike a deal, nearly a week into an attempt to halt 21 months of bitter fighting in the Palestinian territory. A Palestinian source with knowledge of the indirect talks in Qatar told AFP that Israel's proposals to keep its troops in the war-torn territory were holding up a deal for a 60-day pause. But on the Israeli side, a senior political official, also speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivities of the talks, accused the militants of inflexibility and deliberately trying to scuttle an accord. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the ground, Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 38 people were killed across the territory on Saturday, including in an overnight air strike on an area sheltering the displaced. "While we were sleeping, there was an explosion... where two boys, a girl and their mother were staying," Bassam Hamdan told AFP after the attack in an area of Gaza City. "We found them torn to pieces, their remains scattered," he added. In southern Gaza, bodies covered in white plastic sheets were brought to the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis while wounded in Rafah were taken for treatment by donkey cart, on stretchers or carried. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Tel Aviv, thousands took to the streets urging the government to seal a hostage release deal. "The window of opportunity... is open now and it won't be for long," said Eli Sharabi, who was freed in February. Both Hamas and Israel have said that 10 hostages held since the militants' October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the war would be released -- if an agreement is reached. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was prepared then to enter talks for a more permanent end to hostilities. - Enclave plans? - But one Palestinian source said Israel's refusal to accept Hamas's demand for a complete withdrawal of troops from Gaza was holding back progress in the talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second source said mediators had asked both sides to postpone discussions until US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrives in the Qatari capital. The first source said Israel was proposing to maintain its military in more than 40 percent of the Palestinian territory, forcing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians into a small area near the city of Rafah, on the border with Egypt. "Hamas's delegation will not accept the Israeli maps... as they essentially legitimise the reoccupation of approximately half of the Gaza Strip and turn Gaza into isolated zones with no crossings or freedom of movement," they said. Israeli media reported that new maps would be presented on Sunday, quoting an unnamed foreign official with knowledge of the details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senior Israeli political official countered later that it was Hamas that rejected what was on the table, accusing the group of "creating obstacles" and "refusing to compromise" with the aim of "sabotaging the negotiations". "Israel has demonstrated a willingness to show flexibility in the negotiations, while Hamas remains intransigent, clinging to positions that prevent the mediators from advancing an agreement," the official added in a statement sent to AFP. The Hamas attacks on Israel in 2023 resulted in the deaths of at least 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. Of the 251 hostages seized, 49 are still being held, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 57,882 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, have been killed since the start of the war, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. - Military operations - The Israeli military said on Saturday it had attacked "approximately 250 terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip" in the previous 48 hours. It said fighter jets hit "over 35 Hamas terror targets" around Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. Two previous ceasefires -- a week-long truce beginning in late November 2023 and a two-month one from mid-January this year -- saw 105 hostages released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second Palestinian source said "some progress" had been made in the latest talks on plans for releasing Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and getting more aid to Gaza. Netanyahu, who is under domestic and international pressure to end the war, said this week that neutralising Hamas as a security threat was a prerequisite for any long-term ceasefire talks. That included disarmament, he said, warning that failure to do so would mean Israel would have to do so by force. bur-az-dsm-phz/ysm Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza war have stalled, with both sides blaming the other for the lack of progress, sources told dpa on Saturday. The talks in the Qatari capital Doha, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, are aimed at halting the fighting and securing the release of 10 hostages held by Hamas, as well as the bodies of several people abducted by the Palestinian Islamist group. In exchange, the proposal foresees Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Hamas representative told dpa that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is obstructing the talks by adding new conditions, including new maps for Israel's planned withdrawal of troops from the Gaza Strip. Israeli media reported that the government insists on keeping the military in a large area in the south of the coastal territory. Earlier this week, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced plans to build a "humanitarian city" for 600,000 displaced Palestinians on the ruins of the town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Israel has said it wants to allow Palestinians to leave the territory "voluntarily," but critics have raised concerns that the site could serve as an internment camp and enable forced deportations in future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas rejects the proposal of such a site, and maintains that the Israeli military should withdraw to the positions it held before the collapse of the last ceasefire in March. Israel meanwhile accuses Hamas of sabotaging the talks, an Israeli official cited by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said. "Hamas rejected the Qatari proposal, refuses to compromise and remains obstinate, while Israel has shown willingness to be flexible in the negotiations," the official told the newspaper. He said the negotiations would nonetheless continue. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Qatar on a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal are on the brink of collapse, according to Palestinian officials familiar with the details of the discussions. One senior official told the BBC that Israel had "bought time" during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington this week and deliberately stalled the process by sending a delegation to Doha with no real authority to make decisions on key points of contention. They include the withdrawal of Israeli troops and humanitarian aid distribution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before he left the US on Thursday, Netanyahu had maintained a positive tone, saying he hoped to complete an agreement "in a few days". He said the proposed deal would see Hamas release half of the 20 living hostages it is still holding and just over half of the 30 dead hostages during a truce lasting 60 days. Since last Sunday, Israeli and Hamas negotiators have attended eight rounds of indirect "proximity" talks in separate buildings in Doha. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have been facilitated by Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani and senior Egyptian intelligence officials, and attended by US envoy Brett McGurk. The mediators have relayed dozens of verbal and written messages between the Hamas delegation and the Israeli delegation, which has included military, security and political officials. But on Friday night, Palestinian officials familiar with the negotiations told the BBC they were on the verge of collapse, with the two sides deeply divided on several contentious issues. They said the most recent discussions had focused on two of those issues: the mechanism for delivering humanitarian aid in Gaza and the extent of the Israeli military withdrawal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas has insisted that humanitarian assistance must enter Gaza and be distributed via United Nations agencies and international relief organisations. Israel, on the other hand, is pushing for aid distribution via the controversial Israeli- and US-backed mechanism run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). According to mediators involved in the process, there has been some limited progress on bridging the divide over this issue. However, no formal agreement has been reached. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) had two meetings with US President Donald Trump (L) in Washington this week [EPA] The second major sticking point is over the extent of the Israeli withdrawal. During the fifth round of talks, Israeli negotiators reportedly handed mediators a written message stating that Israel would maintain a limited "buffer zone" inside Gaza that was between 1km and 1.5km (0.6-0.9 miles) deep. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas, according to a Palestinian official who attended at least two of the rounds of talks, viewed this proposal as a possible starting point for compromise. However, when Hamas requested and received a map outlining Israel's proposed withdrawal zones, the document contradicted the earlier message, showing far deeper military positions. The map was said to indicate buffer zones that were up to 3km (1.8 miles) deep in certain areas and confirmed a continued Israeli presence in vast swathes of territory. They covered all of the southern city of Rafah, 85% of the village of Khuzaa east of Khan Younis, substantial parts of the northern towns of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, and eastern neighbourhoods of Gaza City, such as Tuffah, Shejaiya and Zeitoun. [BBC] Hamas officials saw the map as a bad-faith manoeuvre by Israel, further eroding trust between the sides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palestinian officials accused the Israeli delegation of deliberately stalling to create a positive diplomatic backdrop for the Israeli prime minister's recent visit to Washington. "They were never serious about these talks," one senior Palestinian negotiator told the BBC. "They used these rounds to buy time and project a false image of progress." The official also claimed that Israel was pursuing a long-term strategy of forced displacement under the guise of humanitarian planning. He alleged that Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz's plan to move Palestinians to a "humanitarian city" in Rafah was part of a broader effort to permanently relocate them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The goal of concentrating civilians near the Egyptian border is to pave the way for their expulsion either across the Rafah crossing into Egypt or out through the sea," the official said. On Monday, Katz briefed Israeli reporters that he had instructed the military to prepare a plan for a new camp in Rafah that would initially house about 600,000 Palestinians - and eventually the whole 2.1 million population. According to the plan, the Palestinians would be security screened by Israeli forces before being allowed in and not permitted to leave. Critics, both domestically and internationally, have condemned the proposal, with human rights groups, academics and lawyers calling it a blueprint for a "concentration camp". The UN says 86% of Gaza is within Israeli-militarized zones or covered by Israeli evacuation orders [Reuters] With the talks at a critical juncture, the Palestinian side is calling on the US to intervene more forcefully and pressure Israel to make meaningful concessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without such intervention, mediators warn, the Doha negotiations could collapse entirely. That is a scenario that would further complicate regional efforts to reach a durable ceasefire and avert a broader humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Diplomats in Doha say there is still a narrow window for compromise, but that the situation remains fragile. "This process is hanging by a thread," one regional official said. "Unless something changes dramatically and quickly, we may be heading towards a breakdown." The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. At least 57,823 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) Nearly a year after a turbine blade failure scattered debris along the shores of Nantucket, GE Vernova has agreed to pay the town $10.5 million in compensation. In July 2024, a blade from Vineyard Wind 1s offshore wind farm broke apart, causing truckloads of debris to wash ashore on Nantucket and other beaches across Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. BACKGROUND: Vineyard Wind temporarily shut down after blade failure incident Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to town officials, the incident occurred at the height of the summer tourist season, disrupting local businesses and impacting the islands economy for months. The cleanup required extensive efforts, including the removal of debris from the shoreline and ocean floor. A worker cleans up debris from a broken wind turbine that washed ashore in Nantucket GE Vernova, the company responsible for building the turbines, said an investigation determined the failure was due to a material or manufacturing deviation during production at a factory in Gaspe, Canada. The company agreed to replace all blades made at that facility. As part of the $10.5 million settlement announced July 11, GE Vernova will compensate the town and county of Nantucket for losses, damages and injuries related to the blade failure. Community Compensation Under the agreement, a portion of the settlement will be used to establish a Community Claims Fund, allowing residents and business owners to submit claims for reimbursement and recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The town said the fund will provide an accessible, low-cost way for those affected to seek compensation for cleanup costs and business losses they might not otherwise have recovered. MORE: GE Vernova details blade removal progress at Vineyard Wind A third-party administrator will manage the fund. The town emphasized it will not be involved in resolving individual claims. Once selected, the administrator will open a six-month submission window for residents and businesses to present evidence of damages. Compensation may be determined based on the severity and nature of the claims, depending on how many are submitted. Broken wind turbine off the coast of Massachusetts Moving Forward The town noted that the agreement does not release Vineyard Wind or GE Vernova from liability should a similar incident occur in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past year, the Nantucket Select Board said it received guidance from three law firms with relevant expertise and a nationally recognized financial firm specializing in damage assessments to draft the settlement. Debris from broken wind turbine that washed up on a Nantucket beach The blade failure was a difficult event for our community with some known short-term harms and unknown potential longer-term harms, the town wrote. By the time we know whether those longer-term harms will manifest, however, the period for litigating several of our potential claims will have expired, the town continued. So, by necessity, we focused on delivering compensation for our community sooner rather than later. The town emphasized its commitment to using the funds to help the community recover from the losses, as well as strengthen its capacity to hold offshore wind developers and regulation agencies accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those interested in receiving updates regarding the settlement can subscribe to Nantuckets Offshore Wind Email List. Read the full settlement agreement below. Nantucket, GE Vernova Blade Settlement Agreement July 10, 2025Download RELATED: Review of Vineyard Wind blade failure leads to suspensions, terminations Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Thats rich. Socialist Zohran Mamdani has declared billionaires shouldnt exist, but its unlikely hed be the front-runner to become the Big Apples next mayor if it wasnt for one far-left kingmaker George Soros, financial records reviewed by The Post show. Mamdani recently told NBC News Meet the Press, I dont think that we should have billionaires, frankly while doubling down on his plan to jack up property taxes on richer and whiter neighborhoods if elected mayor. George Soros Open Society Foundation has indirectly funneled over $37M combined to the Working Families Party and other left-wing groups who helped Zohran Mamdani win NYCs Democratic mayoral primary. Michael Nigro But in less than a decade, Soros ultra-woke grant-making network Open Society Foundation has indirectly funneled a combined $37 million to the Working Families Party and at least other nine left-wing groups whose endorsements and get-out-the-vote groundwork played a pivotal role in helping Mamdani upset ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary, the foundations records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2016, the far-left, socialist-friendly WFP which helped score Mandani the Democratic line by brokering cross-endorsement deals that squeezed out Cuomo has pocketed a staggering $23.7 million from Soros through its nonprofit fundraising arm Working Families Organization Inc. And at least another $13,944,005 went to the nine nonprofits and their offshoot fundraising entities including the Make The Road Action ($3,515,00), and social justice nonprofits Community Voices Heard ($2,635,000) and Move On ($2.3 million), and the anti-Zionist group Jewish Voice for Peace Acton ($650,000), according to records. All those groups backed the Queens assemblymans mayoral campaign as well as his Marxist agenda that includes advocating for criminal migrants and condemning Israel. While Zohran Mamdani attacks job creators and rails against wealth, the truth is hes benefiting from millions in support from billionaires and the very nonprofit network he pretends to stand apart from, Mayor Eric Adams told The Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cant have it both ways. We need leadership that brings people together not politicians who demonize success while quietly cashing in on it, added Adams, a registered Democrat seeking re-election as an independent. Billionaire George Soros has a long history of funding socialist and other lefty causes and politicians who support them. AFP via Getty Images The mayor touted hes a great example of the American Dream, considering he was born into poverty 64 years ago in Brownsville, Brooklyn, and now runs the greatest city in the world. The idea that billionaires or successful people shouldnt exist isnt just extreme its un-American, Hizzoner added. Douglas Kellogg, state projects director for the conservative anti-tax group Americans for Tax Reform, said no one should be surprised Soros money is quietly driving Mamdanis campaign. The Working Families Party tapped Mamdani as its favored candidate in the mayoral race. LP Media George Soros is like a comic-book villain, James Bond villain whos funding a movement designed to undermine individual freedom and liberty across the globe, said Kellogg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And hes been doing it for years, and hes continues to do it and finds new effective faces to put in front on it. If communism and socialism was popular, he wouldnt have to spend so much money and take so much time to try to achieve it. Kellogg also said he believes there will be a mass Big Apple exodus of productive, law-abiding citizens who make New York great if Mamdani is mayor, so the taxpayers and businesses have a lot to lose. A breakdown of how Soross money is being used to assist Mamdanis mayoral run. Tam Nguyen / NYPost Design Although Soros and his family didnt directly donate to Mamdanis campaign, Patrick Gaspard, a former Open Society Foundations president who is now a distinguished senior fellow for a liberal think tank heavily funded by Soros called Center for American Progress, did play a key role. Gaspard, a longtime pal of far-left ex-Mayor Bill de Blasio who served as a top aide to former President Barack Obama, quietly helped guide Mamdani throughout the campaign, the New York Times reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This included Gaspard meeting up with Mamdani and City Comptroller Brad Lander last month at Yara, a Midtown Lebanese restaurant, where over plates of fattoush, hummus and eggplant both mayoral candidates agreed to cross-endorse each other to help defeat Cuomo. Soros sitting with son Alex Soros, who chairs the Open Society Foundation. alexsoros/Instagram Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa said he believes Mamdani doesnt want to get rid of billionaires. He only wants to destroy the ones who dont bankroll his radical agenda. If youre George Soros or part of the far-left donor class, you get a free pass and a seat at the table, he said. Mamdani will drive out everyone else and turn New York into a city run by untouchables, where the Soros machine calls the shots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Billionaire John Catsimatidis, who owns the Gristedes supermarket chain, said Mamdani should be more transparent about his ties to Soros. I think America is the land of the free, and if its billionaires . . . who are providing jobs, what is wrong with that? said Catsimatidis. New York City is home to more billionaires than any city in the world 123. Both Mamdani and Catsimatidis have butted heads over the Democratic Socialists pie-in-the-sky pledge to establish city-run grocery stores. Catsimatidis has threatened to sell his stores if Mamdani is elected mayor, but said this week its more likely hed reduce operations. Neither Soros nor Mamdani returned requests for comment. GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Georgetown County wont make any changes to its long-standing surf fishing rules anytime soon, officials said Saturday. Since 1988, Georgetown County as most coastal jurisdictions has had an ordinance regulating surf fishing. The current ordinance prohibits fishing at any time from the public beach in a manner that will create an unsafe condition or hazard, the county said in a Facebook post. County Council is not attempting to ban surf fishing, as has been rumored. Late last month, the council voted 5-0 on a second reading of the measure that would prohibit bait and surf fishing on public beaches between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. from May 1 through Sept. 30 peak tourism months in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said Saturday a third and final vote is being deferred pending further study and evaluation. Council chairman Clint Elliott said the schedule adjustment is in direct response to companies that offer land-based shark fishing tours. These companies take advantage of the lack of regulation forbidding this type of dangerous activity and actively fish for dangerous animals for sport in areas that also attract people who come to the beach to relax, Elliott said. It was with this in mind that we began crafting language to protect the beachgoers. Land-based shark fishing is illegal in neighboring areas including Horry County, Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island and Surfside Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eliott said he spoke with state wildlife officials, who told him anyone with a valid saltwater license within the limits of legal fish could offer such tours making it necessary for local legislation to address the issue. Greg Haskins, who runs a Murrells Inlet-based company that offers land fishing tours, refuted Elliotts claims. Many others said in social media posts that eliminating surf fishing during daylight hours was unfair. I am not some outsider trying to take advantage of anything. Simply a man trying to make a living by doing and sharing his passion with the lovely tourists that come to town and support my business, he said. Describing my business activities as dangerous when there has never been a recording of an injury or death is defamatory. County leaders said Saturday theyll seek counsel and input ahead of a final reading. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Council intends to revise the existing ordinance to address safety concerns presented by fishing in close proximity to swimmers and families, while also balancing the interest of those who wish to enjoy fishing from the beaches. Council remains committed to protecting the public safety of all residents and visitors of the county, as well as the interests of those who enjoy fishing from the public beaches, the Facebook post said. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. The Brief The Georgia Department of Transportation awarded nine contracts totaling $28.5 million for road and bridge improvements, with the largest contract being $8.6 million for a bridge in Dade County. A resurfacing project in Fulton County accounts for 17% of the May awards, costing $4.7 million for over 5.5 miles of road work along State Route 9. The total value of construction contracts for Fiscal Year 2025 is $2 billion, including various project types like TIA and Design-Bid-Build. ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Transportation has awarded nine transportation contracts totaling approximately $28.5 million, funding road and bridge improvements across the state. By the numbers The largest contract, worth $8.6 million, will fund construction of a 0.417-mile bridge and its approaches on County Road 145/Slygo Road over Interstate 24/State Route 409 and Pope Creek in Dade County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second-largest project, valued at $4.3 million, involves a 0.256-mile bridge and approaches on City Street 1472/Waters Road over Long Indian Creek in Fulton County. Combined with four additional construction projects, these efforts represent roughly 81% of the total funds awarded in May, totaling $23.1 million. A resurfacing project in Fulton County accounts for another 17% of the May awards. That $4.7 million project includes more than 5.5 miles of milling, inlay, and plant mix resurfacing along State Route 9, beginning at Peachtree Street and extending north of Paces Ferry Road. Two safety projects make up the remaining 2% of the funding. One will improve the southbound turn lane ramp on I-95/SR 405 at SR 26 in Chatham County. The other involves the installation of wrong-way driving detection systems at managed lane locations along I-75/SR 401 in Cobb and Henry counties. The total for both safety projects is $611,322. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new contracts bring the total value of construction contracts awarded for Fiscal Year 2025which began July 1, 2024to $2 billion. That figure includes Transportation Investment Act (TIA), Design-Bid-Build, and locally administered projects. What we know Bids for the latest round of Design-Bid-Build projects were received on May 16 and awarded to the lowest qualified bidders on May 30. What you can do The Georgia DOT encourages contractors, including Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), registered small businesses, and veteran-owned small businesses, to prequalify to participate in future project bids. More information is available at www.dot.ga.gov/GDOT/Pages/DBE.aspx. Why you should care The Georgia Department of Transportation oversees the planning, construction, and maintenance of the states highways and supports a range of transportation infrastructure including bridges, transit, rail, aviation, and pedestrian pathways. With nearly 4,000 employees, the departments mission centers on innovation, safety, sustainability, and mobility to strengthen Georgias competitiveness. The Source The Georgia Department of Transportation provided the details for this article. The Brief Georgia's congressional delegation, including Rep. Buddy Carter and Rep. Lucy McBath, is advocating for FDA reconsideration of the drug elamipretide for Hope Filchak, a child with a rare mitochondrial disorder. The rarity of Hope's illness poses challenges for FDA approval due to difficulties in conducting large-scale clinical trials, particularly the six-minute walk test, which failed to show statistically significant improvement. Hope's family is encouraged by bipartisan support, emphasizing the importance of careful consideration for treatments of rare diseases, regardless of the number of people affected. GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Georgias congressional delegation is joining forces across party lines in an effort to help a 4-year-old Hall County girl battling a rare and life-threatening illness. What they're saying Hope Filchak was born with a mitochondrial disorder known as MLS, which has left her blind, deaf, and with two serious heart defects. Her family says an experimental drug called elamipretide has helped her, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already rejected its approval once. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Basically, we started emailing every single member of our delegation," said Haley Bower, Hopes aunt. That determination led to a bipartisan letter from the states congressional delegation, addressed to the FDA, questioning the agencys rejection of elamipretide and the process by which it made its decision. Rep. Buddy Carter, a pharmacist by training and chair of the Health Subcommittee on Energy and Commercewhich has oversight of the FDAsaid he understands the complexities involved. "Being a pharmacist, I understand the process of how drugs are approved by the FDA," Carter said. What we know One major challenge is the rarity of Hopes illness. Because so few patients exist, it's difficult to conduct large-scale clinical trials that meet FDA benchmarks. One such benchmark, the six-minute walk test, failed to show statistically significant improvement in trials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The one the FDA cares about the most is the six-minute walk test that did not meet statistical significance," said Dr. Amy Goldstein of Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Carter said patients with rare diseases deserve careful consideration, even when potential treatments wont benefit millions. "They deserve as much attention as anyone," he said. "Even if this were a blockbuster drug that was going to help millions of people, we still need to be looking at this carefully." Hopes family says theyre encouraged by the bipartisan support. "This has nothing to do with political motives or ideology," said her father, Ben Filchak. "Its just the right thing to do." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Filchak praised Rep. Lucy McBath, a Democrat, for being a strong advocate for the rare disease community. "We had a great conversation with Congresswoman McBath," he said. "She is a huge advocate for the rare disease community." What we don't know While the outcome remains uncertain, the family remains cautiously optimistic. "Were still nervous, you could say, about the outcome," Filchak said. "But I absolutely think this will help." The Source FOX 5's Kevyn Stewart spoke with the family of Hope Filchak and Rep. Buddy Carter. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting was also used. A teenage girl in Georgia is accused of murdering her mother and stepfather after she allegedly spent months raising awareness about their deaths on TikTok. 17-year-old Sarah Grace Patrick turned herself in on July 8 and is accused of killing her mother, Kristin Brock, 41, and stepfather, James Brock, 45, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office said in a press release. Patrick allegedly killed her mother and stepfather on Feb. 20 at their home in Carroll County, Georgia. Carroll County Communications Director Ashley Hulsey said at a press conference that both parents were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds on Feb. 20. Hulsey said Patrick will be charged as an adult. She was initially charged with two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We dont know what goes through the mind of a child who wants to harm their parents," Hulsey said. "Shes 17. Shes kind of been out on her own. Shes lived with different family members and moved all over the place." Daughter Of Irish Man Beaten To Death By American Wife, Her Ex-fbi Agent Father Rejects Self-defense Claims Booking picture for Sarah Grace Patrick. Patrick herself made the 911 call to report that her parents were injured, Hulsey said. Read On The Fox News App The communications director said that investigators have "mountains of evidence" against Patrick in this case, but declined to elaborate. Hulsey told Fox News Digital that Patrick operated a TikTok account with the username @sgrace04282. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The TikTok account is no longer online, but she made comments talking about her parents after their death on Feb. 20. Fox News Digital obtained screenshots from true crime influencer AllegedlyReportedly, which shows Patrick commenting on several of her videos. Mother Charged With Murder After Faking Kidnapping Of 3-Year-old Daughter: Police "Thank you for spreading awareness," Patrick commented one video. "From an investigative standpoint, it would seem that it was someone who knew them. Hoping for answers, and swift justice," one TikTok user wrote. "Most definitely was since they knew the house," Patrick responded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hulsey said the "saddest victim" in this case is the Brock's toddler who is now parentless. "A mother and a stepfather will never be able to raise their children and the little girl that was in the home," Hulsey said. The FBI and Georgia Bureau of Investigation assisted with the investigation. Original article source: Georgia teen who raised 'awareness' about mother, stepfather's deaths on TikTok now charged with their murder German backpacker Carolina Wilga drank water from puddles and sheltered in a cave before escaping an 11-night ordeal in the Australian bush, police said Saturday. The 26-year-old walked "confused and disorientated" 24 kilometres (15 miles) away from her van after it got stuck in remote bushland in Western Australia. The backpacker had lost hope of being rescued, police said. But on Friday, she managed to flag down a woman who drove her to police in the agricultural community of Beacon, northeast of Perth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilga was airlifted to a Perth hospital for treatment. "She spent 11 nights exposed to the elements and survived by consuming the minimal food supplies she had in her possession, and drinking water from rain and puddles," Western Australia police said in a statement. "She sought shelter at night where possible, including in a cave." Wilga was suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, "extensive insect bites", and an injured foot, police said. The driver who spotted her, Tania Henley, told public broadcaster ABC that she saw Wilga waving her hands by the side of the road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She appeared to be in a "fragile state", bitten by midges and suffering from the cold. "Everything in this bush is very prickly. I just can't believe that she survived. She had no shoes on, she'd wrapped her foot up." The rescue was down to "sheer luck", Western Australia police acting inspector Jessica Securo told a news conference in Perth after speaking to Wilga. "She is still in disbelief that she was able to survive. In her mind, she had convinced herself that she was not going to be located," said Securo. "She basically looked at the direction of the sun and tried to head west, thinking that that would be her best bet of coming across someone or a road." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilga told police she was "very confused and disorientated". Until her rescue, she had been last seen on June 29 arriving in the van at a general store in Beacon. - 'Dangerous' - A police search spotted the van on Thursday, abandoned in dense bushland north of Beacon with plastic orange traction tracks placed beneath the rear wheels. "It appears that she has somewhat lost control of the vehicle, and then it's become mechanically unsound, and bogged," Securo said. She stayed with the van for one day before leaving the vehicle through "panic", hoping to find help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilga was "overwhelmed" to have found someone to help her. "She had minimal food and minimal water. From speaking to her, she has said she could have planned better." The terrain can be "quite dangerous", Securo added. Wilga remained in hospital and was not expected to be released on Saturday, still needing "emotional support" and treatment for some injuries. "She's had a good night's sleep. She's had a shower. We've got her some food, which was a massive relief for her. So she's just taking it one day at a time at the moment." The backpacker is now in "frequent communication" with her family who are relieved and thankful the Western Australian community came together to "throw every resource at locating their daughter", Securo said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family had no plans at this stage to travel to Australia. Police say Wilga had spent two years backpacking around the country, and was working at mine sites in Western Australia while staying mostly at hostels. "Carolina has told me that she loves Australia. She still has so much travel to do here. She hasn't made it over to the east coast yet, so that's still on her bucket list," said Securo. djw/rsc Germany's coalition government sought to move past a major dispute over the appointment of judges to the country's Constitutional Court on Saturday, as Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt insisted that the court's authority has not been damaged. Tensions remained high in Berlin after Friday's spat between Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative bloc - made up of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU) - and the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD). A confirmation vote for three judges in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, was postponed after the conservatives withdrew support for an SPD candidate, law professor Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, over her views on abortion and her support for mandatory vaccination during the Covid-19 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SPD lawmaker Sonja Eichwede insisted on Saturday that the party continues to back Brosius-Gersord, an "outstanding scientist" who she said was prepared to meet the leadership of the CDU/CSU to "clear up any doubts." The Karlsruhe-based Constitutional Court ensures compliance with the country's de facto constitution, the Basic Law. Judges are elected to 12-year terms, with an age limit of 68 years old. The public quarrel between the coalition partners came on the last day of business in the Bundestag before the recess, giving the parties an opportunity to cool hostilities over the summer - or for mistrust to fester. "Everyone should calm down a bit and then we will discuss the next steps with the SPD in peace," Steffen Bilger, a top CDU lawmaker, told dpa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thorsten Frei, the CDU head of Merz's office, said he was "sure that the coalition's parliamentary groups will find a viable solution over the summer." Merz, who has been in power since May, has often promised that his government would avoid the constant coalition squabbles that characterized the term in office of his predecessor, Olaf Scholz. The new chancellor is yet to publicly comment on the dispute, but he is likely to discuss it during broadcaster ARD's widely watched summer interview on Sunday. Dobrindt: Court not damaged by spat Opposition Green Party leader Franziska Brantner told reporters that trust in the highest court had been "negligently damaged." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Dobrindt said on Saturday he could not agree with the argument put forward by critics that "anything that does not lead straight to a certain result is automatically damaging to the Federal Constitutional Court." "I don't see any damage to the Federal Constitutional Court at all," he told the broadcaster Deutschlandfunk. The comments came after SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch on Friday accused the conservatives of "deliberately dismantling our highest German court and our democratic institutions." Dobrindt in contrast described it as a normal political process that is subject to many influences, and in which the originally intended goal does not necessarily correspond to the final result. The authority of Germany's Constitutional Court has not been damaged by a government spat over who to appoint as future judges on the court, according to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. A dispute between the two groups in the coalition government - the conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) - led to a vote on the new judges being delayed this week. Dobrindt said on Saturday he could not agree with the argument put forward by critics that "anything that does not lead straight to a certain result is automatically damaging to the Federal Constitutional Court." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't see any damage to the Federal Constitutional Court at all," he told the broadcaster Deutschlandfunk. Opposition Green Party leader Franziska Brantner told reporters that trust in the highest court had been "negligently damaged." SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch accused the conservatives of "deliberately dismantling our highest German court and our democratic institutions." Dobrindt in contrast described it as a normal political process that is subject to many influences, and in which the originally intended goal does not necessarily correspond to the final result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appointment of new judges to the Constitutional Court was due to be decided on Friday in parliament. But Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative bloc surprisingly withdrew its support for a candidate backed by SPD. The move led to fury among lawmakers and the subsequent postponement of the elections. Merz, who has been in power since May, has often promised that his government would avoid the constant coalition squabbles that characterized the term in office of his predecessor, Olaf Scholz. Ukraine will begin receiving hundreds of domestically produced long-range weapon systems by the end of July under a German-financed agreement, German Major General Christian Freuding told the German ZDF news channel on July 11. The weapons will be supplied in a "high triple-digit quantity," he said, referring to a deal between Ukraine's Defense Ministry and local arms producers that Berlin agreed to fund in late May. "We need weapons systems that can reach far into the depth of Russian territory to hit depots, command centers, airfields and aircraft," Freuding said, adding that Germany is "ready to provide such systems." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The general, who heads the Ukraine task force at the German Defense Ministry, did not specify what kind of long-range systems Germany is financing. Ukraine is developing a number of long-range capabilities, including ballistic missiles, long-range drones, and drone-missile hybrids to strike deep inside the Russian rear amid dwindling stockpiles of Western long-range weapons. The Ukrainian military has previously received the Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles from the U.K. and France and ATACMS from the U.S., but Germany has so far refused to supply its own Taurus cruise missiles. Freuding did not confirm whether Berlin plans to greenlight the supply of Taurus missiles when asked by the reporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The general, who spoke from Kyiv, acknowledged that the battlefield situation remains "militarily tense," with Russian forces holding the initiative for "several weeks, if not months," and increased pressure on major Ukrainian cities from the air. The general also said Germany is in ongoing negotiations with the United States over the potential purchase and transfer of one or two Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, describing talks as "ongoing for weeks at all levels." Ukraine has been calling on its partners to enhance its air defence capabilities, as Russia has escalated its large-scale aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities, including those far from the front line. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 28 that Berlin would help finance the production and procurement of Ukrainian-made long-range weapons systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merz made the comments during a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin, where he also announced support for continuing Starlink satellite operations in Ukraine. "There will be no restrictions on long-range weapons," Merz said at the time. "Ukraine will be able to fully defend itself and also strike military targets outside the territory of Ukraine." Merz described the deal as "the beginning of a new form of military-industrial cooperation between our countries." Read also: As leaders attend Ukraine Recovery Conference, rebuilding is distant dream for Ukrainians who need it most Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Berlin will hold further talks with Budapest over the case of a German national currently imprisoned in Hungary, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told the RND media group in remarks published on Saturday. "We will raise this matter again with Hungarian authorities next week," the German minister said, adding that Berlin's immediate focus was on improving the detention conditions of the activist, only named as Maja T. in line with Germany's strict privacy laws. "We are continuing our efforts with determination," Wadephul said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hungarian authorities have so far reiterated their intent to pursue prosecution. "Maja T. is facing very serious allegations," Wadephul said, noting that the activist, who identifies as non-binary, would also have to face criminal charges in Germany. The Hungarian public prosecutor's office accuses Maja T. of being involved in the February 2023 attacks on right-wing extremists in Budapest and of causing serious bodily harm. If convicted, they face up to 24 years in prison. The activist has been on hunger strike for more than a month in protest over the prison conditions they are held in, including solitary confinement, and in a bid to be transferred to Germany. According to a solidarity committee and their father, Maja T has lost 14 kilograms in four weeks. The activist was arrested in Berlin in December 2023 and extradited to Hungary in June 2024. Germany's Constitutional Court ordered the extradition to be halted, but the ruling came minutes too late to prevent the transfer. An ancient Roman mystery is afoot in the rolling hills of northern Britain. Archaeologists have unearthed a stash of unusually large shoes at the ruins of a first-century military fort along Hadrians Wall, a 73-mile (117-kilometer) stone barrier that famously shielded the Roman Empires northwestern perimeter from foreign invaders. The discovery is raising new questions about the lives and origins of the forts inhabitants. The giant leather soles were found at Magna Fort in May among 34 pieces of footwear, including work boots and baby-sized shoes, that are helping to paint a picture of the 4,000 men, women and children who once lived in and around the English site just south of the Scottish border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eight of the shoes are over 11.8 inches (30 centimeters) in length a US mens size 13.5 or greater based on Nikes size chart making them larger than average by todays standard and sparking suspicions that unusually tall troops may have guarded this particular fortress at the empires edge. By contrast, the average ancient shoe found at a neighboring Roman fort was closer to a US mens size 8, according to a news release about the discovery. When the first large shoe started to come out of the ground, we were looking for many explanations, like maybe its their winter shoes, or people were stuffing them, wearing extra socks, recalled Rachel Frame, a senior archaeologist leading the excavation. But as we found more of them and different styles, it does seem to be that these (were) just people with really large feet. As digging continues at Magna Fort, Frame said she hopes further investigation could answer who exactly wore these giant shoes. A basic sketch of the sites past is just starting to come together. Ancient shoes leave a big impression When the Magna Fort was in use, multiple different Roman military troops and their families moved into the site every few years after it was built around AD 85, archaeologists suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inscriptions on the forts walls and altars recount settlements of Hamian archers from what is now Syria, Dalmatian mountain soldiers from Croatia and Serbia, and Batavians from the Netherlands, but the length of time each group stayed at the stronghold remains unknown. Likely following orders from the Roman army, the troops would often leave the fort for distant regions and in their haste, ditch shoes, clothing and other belongings in the surrounding trenches, Frame explained. Additionally, new occupants requiring more space would have built larger structures on top of the existing fort, packing rubble and clay between the walls and trapping any belongings left by the previous tenants, Frame said. As archaeologists, we like trash, said Dr. Elizabeth Greene, an associate professor of classics at the University of Western Ontario. You get those habitational layers where things were just left behind, maybe forgotten about, and that tells us more about the space. Greene has studied thousands of shoes collected from the nearby Vindolanda Roman Fort, which has been excavated since the 1970s and is among the most well-studied of the Roman forts along Hadrians Wall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recently discovered Magna shoes share some similarities with those in the Vindolanda Fort collection, said Greene, who was not involved in the Magna excavation process, but has viewed the artifacts. For one, the soles of the shoes from both sites are made from thick layers of cowhide leather held together with iron hobnails, she explained. While only a couple of the shoes discovered at Magna have some of the upper portions still intact, the Vindolanda Fort shoe styles include closed military boots and open work boots, as well as sneaker-like shoes reaching just below the ankle and sandals with leather fasteners. Its likely that the leather soles of the Magna shoes survived thousands of years in the ground thanks to ancient tanning techniques that used crushed up vegetative matter to create a water and heat resistant coating, Greene said. Testing is still underway to confirm this hypothesis. Only two of the 34 shoes discovered at Magna Fort have the upper portions attached. - The Vindolanda Trust Who wore the giant shoes? The length of the extra-large Magna shoes suggests the original owners may have been exceptionally tall, Greene said. At Vindolanda, only 16 out of the 3,704 shoes collected measured over 11.8 inches (30 centimeters). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ancient Roman military manuals often described the ideal recruit as being only 5 feet, 8 inches or 5 feet, 9 inches in height, according to Rob Collins, a professor of frontier archaeology at Newcastle University in England. But the soldiers stationed around Hadrians Wall came from all around the far-reaching empire, bringing a wide diversity of physical traits to their settlements, he said. Still, why Magna specifically might have needed troops of towering stature remains unclear. To piece together the shoe owners identities, researchers will examine the Magna shoes for any signs of wear, Frame said. Any foot impressions left in the shoes could be used to model the feet of the original wearers. Linking the shoes to real human remains, however, could prove difficult. For one, the Romans near Hadrians Wall generally cremated their dead, using a headstone to mark the graves, Collins said. Any bones that remain around the settlements are likely from enemy, illegal or accidental burials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, the few bones that have been found at the Magna site were too soft and crumbly to provide insight, Frame said, but the team continues to search for new burial spots. Pottery and other artifacts found around the site may also help with dating and matching the timelines of the known occupants, she said. But the researchers worry they could be running out of time. Excavation of Magna Fort began in 2023. - The Vindolanda Trust Climate challenges The 2,000-year-old leather found at both the Vindolanda and Magna sites is preserved by the anaerobic, or low-oxygen, conditions of the soil, Frame said. The 34 shoes found at the Magna fort, however, are in worse condition than those retrieved from Vindolanda decades ago a problem Frame attributes to the changing climate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The more our climate changes, the more we get heat waves and droughts, or months worth of rain in one weekend type (of) scenarios, the more that influences the underground soil conditions and introduces more oxygen into these environments, Frame explained. In oxygen-rich soil, microbes thrive, contributing to decay, and acidic pH levels erode natural materials like leather. Frame said the rapid weather changes only make their excavation of Magna more urgent. Im not saying I dont get excited about the shiny objects and precious treasures, but for me, archaeology is about the story of everybody else the stories of the people whose lives werent written down, who werent kings or emperors or famous heroes, she said. These personal objects really put the real human people back into the picture. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Girls Rock Birmingham is taking over Saturns music venue on Saturday for its summer camp showcase. According to Saturns website, This event is the culmination of a weeklong experience where our campers have learned to play an instrument, form a band, and write an original song! Each band will perform their song live onstage at Saturn for the ultimate rockstar experience. Concerts coming to Birmingham area in July Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, the Girls Rock Birmingham Summer Camp was scheduled for July 7-12. According to the organizations website, this annual music-based camp is open to girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-16. The camp includes instrument lessons, songwriting, band practice, workshops and performances by local female artists. The free showcase will start at 2 p.m., and it is open to all ages. The event will feature a raffle and a silent auction, and attendees can purchase Girls Rock Birmingham merchandise. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. HORSE CAVE, Ky. (FOX 56) A Glasgow man was arrested on multiple charges on Wednesday after a May 30 crash resulted in the death of a girl who was riding in his car. According to a news release from Kentucky State Police (KSP), just before 7 p.m. on May 30, troopers with Post 3 were called about a crash with injuries at the 59-mile marker on I-65 South. Read more of the latest Kentucky news The initial investigation showed that Cory Bowles, 31, was heading south in a 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander on I-65 South when he allegedly veered off the road and hit a 2014 Ford Focus driven by Dru Smith, 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bowles, his wife, and a boy passenger were taken to T.J. Samson Community Hospital. Troopers said Cory and Smith were both later flown to the University of Louisville Hospital for treatment of their injuries. The girl passenger was reportedly flown to Nortons Childrens Hospital, where she died on July 5 from her injuries. 70 pounds of weed, over $11K seized in Scott County traffic stop Bowles was arrested on July 9 and charged with two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, and fourth-degree assault. He was lodged in the Hart County Jail. The crash investigation remains ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. NEED TO KNOW Officials in Nevada are calling a local community member a "hero" after the person saved a baby boy from a dumpster The "concerned citizen" called 911 on July 5 after hearing the sound of a baby in a parking lot in Sun Valley Investigators later arrested a 28-year-old woman on charges of attempted murder and child abuse, neglect or endangerment Officials in Nevada are describing a community member as a "hero" after that person saved a baby boy from a dumpster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a statement from the Washoe County Sheriffs Office (WCSO), the concerned citizen called 911 on Saturday, July 5, after hearing the sound of a baby crying in a nearby parking lot in Sun Valley. "When the individual looked inside the dumpster, they located a newborn infant. Without hesitation, the citizen climbed in and safely retrieved the child," the sheriffs office wrote. Deputies arrived at the scene at around 1 p.m. local time, and emergency medical personnel from the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District took the baby to a nearby hospital. The sheriff's office reported that the baby is healthy and doing well. This child is alive today because of the swift and selfless actions of a community member who didnt hesitate to help, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said in a statement. Were incredibly grateful for their courage and quick thinking." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I also want to remind our community that there are safe and legal options for anyone in crisis, no baby should ever be left in danger," Balaam added. Getty A newborn baby (stock image) A newborn baby (stock image) Following the incident, the sheriffs office announced that investigators had arrested 28-year-old Taylour Dickinson on charges of attempted murder and child abuse, neglect or endangerment on Monday, July 7. The Reno Gazette-Journal reported that a judge set a $1 million cash-only bail for Dickinson, a mother of two, following her first appearance in court. Per the outlet, Washoe County Sheriff's Detective Claire Hoops-Adams testified at the hearing that the baby was born between 2 and 3 a.m. on July 5. Security camera footage obtained by investigators allegedly showed a woman placing a garbage bag in the dumpster at 3:33 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hoops-Adams also testified that Dickinson allegedly gave birth to the baby in a nearby bathroom and reacted with "panic and shock." "She had no knowledge of the gender, whether the child was breathing or moving," the detective said, per the Gazette-Journal. "According to her, the infant was wrapped completely in the towel and placed in the garbage bag," Hoops-Adams said. "In her panic, she thought that was her best option." The detective alleged that Dickinson said she hoped someone would find the baby. "She stated that she had no desire to have any more children, stating her family financially was living paycheck to paycheck at that point and they could not support an additional child," Hoops-Adams testified, per the Gazette-Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While testifying, Hoops-Adams also brought up another incident from 2023, in which Dickinson said she had a miscarriage and placed the fetus in a garbage can. She was never charged with a crime. The incident is still under investigation, the sheriff's office said in a statement. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. "We are grateful for the brave citizen who intervened truly a hero whose actions saved this babys life and for the work of our detectives in identifying and arresting those responsible for causing harm to this child," Sheriff Balaam said. "While we cannot undo the trauma, we do pursue justice for our most vulnerable citizens. Thank you to our partners who have and will help ensure the best possible outcome for this little boy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevada's Safe Haven Law states that a parent may legally surrender an infant up to 30 days old with no questions asked at any hospital, fire station or law enforcement location. WCSO Detective Cole Brokaw told KTVN that any parent who uses this program must leave their child with someone who clearly works for the emergency service, or somewhere on the property that they reasonably believe that the child will not be injured, and they have to let someone know that they are leaving the child there. Parents who use the Safe Haven Law also cannot be followed, can leave at any time and don't have to share any personal information. Between 2000 and 2019, the Safe Haven law was used 11 times, Brokaw said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If that child is surrendered unharmed, uninjured, no signs of abuse or neglect, then there are no criminal charges or repercussions for that parent," the detective added. Read the original article on People Republicans are showing a growing appetite for long-threatened sanctions that would seek to cut off Russia from vital trading partners like China, India and possibly Europe, as President Trump looks for leverage to stop the Ukraine war. Trump earlier this week sided with Ukraine hawks in Congress when he said the U.S. would continue providing crucial Patriot air-defense missiles and other weapons to Kyiv, apparently overruling a Pentagon directive days earlier pausing those shipments. The president has also been displaying a mounting frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, prompting GOP leaders in Congress to show renewed interest in a sweeping sanctions regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vladimir Putin has shown an unwillingness to be reasonable and to talk seriously about brokering a peace, and I think we have to send him a message thats my view, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters Wednesday when asked about a sanctions bill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said the Senate was working out the details of a Russia sanctions bill with White House and expects it to move by the August recess. The bill, introduced by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), has more than 80 co-sponsors, but GOP leaders have been waiting on a green light from Trump to proceed. Trump has avoided staking out a firm position on the proposal, but he has repeatedly said hes considering it. The latest version would empower Trump to impose a 500 percent tariff on imports from any nation that purchases Russian uranium, gas and oil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putins war aims havent budged in more than three years of fighting, despite mounting sanctions and massive battlefield losses. Hein Goemans, a political science professor and director of the Peter D. Watson Center for Conflict and Cooperation at the University of Rochester, said a ramped-up sanctions regime if it successfully cuts off Russia from the global financial system could finally force Putin to downsize his demands for a ceasefire. If they close off Russia from the financial network of the West, that will be the end for Putin, he said. Its unclear whether Grahams bill would do that. The White House has reportedly requested that the legislation give Trump full control over actually imposing sanctions, meaning the president, not Congress, will likely decide the ultimate scope and scale of the penalties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graham has previously proposed a carveout for friendly countries that support Ukraines fight against Russia, after European allies expressed fears about its impact. Russias trade with Europe was down 17 percent last year, reaching a historic low, but it still exported $68.4 billion in goods to Europe, compared to $329.2 billion to Asia figures largely comprised of oil, natural gas and fertilizer sales. If this passes, Goemans said, Trump might be very eager to use it, and it might have an effect on third countries. Its actual impact, he said, would depend on its success in isolating Russia, whose central banker, Elvira Nabiullina, has proven a genius at keeping its economy humming despite the war and resulting sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has expressed growing frustration with Putin in recent weeks and on Tuesday suggested Russias leader couldnt be trusted. We get a lot of bulls thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. Hes very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless, Trump said at a Cabinet meeting. Trump said Thursday that a new deal would allow NATO to send U.S. weapons to Ukraine, with the military alliance bearing the brunt of the cost. Majda Ruge, a senior policy fellow with the United States program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said despite the latest developments, she was not expecting a significant change in Trump administration policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the signals in the recent days suggest that Trump may want to use an increase in weapons deliveries to Ukraine to put pressure on the Russians in the negotiations, previous patterns of Trumps behaviour revealed consistent lack of willingness to put pressure on Putin, she said. The question is whether the recent change of tone means that he is breaking that pattern. My guess would be unlikely, but I am happy to be proven wrong. Trump has long touted his relationship with Putin, promising throughout his campaign to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours of returning to office. While that timeline has proven wildly optimistic, the contours of a deal have started taking shape. Ukraine has softened some of its red lines around leaving territory under Russian control, as well as immediate NATO membership, though it still wants a U.S.-backed security guarantee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goemans said one of his graduate students surveyed Russian public opinion and found growing support there for ending the war along boundaries drawn around the four regions Moscow illegally annexed in September 2022. And he sees signs that Putin is designing Russias offenses to expand control in those areas, suggesting a potential endgame. Still, Putin has not stepped back from his maximalist demands to remove the Nazi regime in Ukraine, restrict Ukraines military and bar Western security partnerships. And while Republican winds seem to be blowing against Putin, both the president and his party have repeatedly waffled on support for Ukraine. Just last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed off on a pause on crucial air defense weapons pending a review of U.S. stockpiles. Trump has suggested he was unaware of the decision, but it irked Senate Republicans, who were quick to pounce when Trump reversed the move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) released a statement blasting restrainers in the Pentagon; one senior Senate Republican aide called the U-turn a clear goof-up on a lot of levels; and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said the incident showed Hegseth is out of his depth as a manager of a large, complex organization. Others in the GOP criticized the resumption of weapons shipments. When are we going to stop sending military aid to Ukraine? Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Wednesday in a post on social platform X. This is a conflict we have no business being involved in. The United States has already shelled out tens of billions of dollars to Zelenskyy, Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) added, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The American people have been very clear: no more money to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Police are searching for a thief who stole over $100,000 of rare Pokemon cards from a Massachusetts shop in the middle of the night. Cops in New Bedford responded Tuesday following reports of the break-in at 1st Edition Collectibles in the early hours of the morning. According to the stores three owners, the incident took place at around 2:30 a.m., with the culprit making off with several items some worth tens of thousands of dollars. An investigation has been launched after a thief stole over $100,000 of rare Pokemon cards from a Massachusetts shop in the middle of the night (1st Edition Collectibles/Facebook) An investigation has been launched after a thief stole over $100,000 of rare Pokemon cards from a Massachusetts shop in the middle of the night (1st Edition Collectibles/Facebook) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of $113,650 worth of the rare trading cards were taken, including multiple editions depicting the fire-monster Charizard, as well sealed booster boxes and other rarities. "We're literally just three guys," store owner Felipe Andre told NBC Boston. "This is our passion. This is what we have loved since we were children." Following the break in, the store owners posted a flyer detailing the missing stock on Facebook and asked people to watch for any suspicious online posting. They added that they would reflect, regroup, revamp. The overwhelming support that weve received from you all this week has been amazing and a reminder as to why we love this hobby and the community involved so much. Were truly honored to be a part of it, the post read. Items stolen included multiple editions depicting the fire-monster Charizard, as well sealed booster boxes and other rarities (1st Edition Collectibles) Items stolen included multiple editions depicting the fire-monster Charizard, as well sealed booster boxes and other rarities (1st Edition Collectibles) Following the break in, the owners posted a flyer detailing the missing stock on Facebook and asked people to watch for any suspicious online posting (1st Edition Collectibles) Following the break in, the owners posted a flyer detailing the missing stock on Facebook and asked people to watch for any suspicious online posting (1st Edition Collectibles) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seriously, thank you all for bringing some comfort to us during this crazy time. This incident was devastating but we will bounce back, grow, and come back better than ever. We cant wait to see you all soon! The owners said they planned to reopen on Tuesday. No arrests have been made so far, according to NBC Boston. The Independent has reached out to the New Bedford police department for updates. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has declared a drought emergency in Lincoln County. Kotek issued Executive Order 2513, declaring the emergency after Lincoln County has been in severe drought since June 17. By declaring a drought emergency, Koteks office said it unlocks a number of drought-related emergency tools, including assistance to local water users. Drought declarations also allow the Water Resources Department to expedite review processes and reduce fee schedules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the drought in effect, Lincoln County is urging people to reduce their water use. Some important tips include watering plants in either the early morning or late evening, limiting lawn watering or even letting the grass go dormant for the summer, using water control devices and avoiding washing cars, driveways and equipment. The State of Oregon has more information about what to do during a drought. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WJW) Ohio Governor Mike DeWine shared an update Saturday about the work the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio Department of Natural Resources are doing in Texas following the devastating and deadly flash flooding over the Fourth of July weekend. Tick-related emergency room visits have doubled: Cleveland Clinic DeWine announced July 7 hed directed the Ohio State Highway Patrol to send a team of 20 troopers from the agencys Mobile Field Force and several of ODNRs K-9 teams, along with their handlers, to assist with search and recovery missions in hard-hit areas of Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teams updated the governor as they were preparing to begin their fourth day of recovery work along the Guadalupe river. Debris covers over tree limbs after flooding near the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Search and rescue teams from Kerrville Fire Department search through debris after flooding near the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) FILE A helicopter flies over the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) FILE Firefighters from Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, load a body into a raft as they prepare for a water recovery along the Guadalupe River days after a flash flood swept through the area July 7, 2025, in Ingram, Texas. (AP Photo/Eli Hartman, File) FILE Camp Mystic is reflected in water after a flash flood swept through the area July 7, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. (AP Photo/Eli Hartman, File) First responders from College Station Fire Department search along the banks of the Guadalupe River, as rescue efforts continue following extreme flooding, Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Ingram, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez) Crews work to clear debris from the Cade Loop bridge along the Guadalupe River on Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Ingram, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez) Crews work to clear debris from the Cade Loop bridge along the Guadalupe River on Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Ingram, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez) Bethiane Miller, left, of Kerrville, and her daughter Samantha visit a memorial for flood victims next to the Guadalupe River on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Crews from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio Department of Natural Resources are embedded with the Texas Department of Public Safety in three separate units, combing through the devastation left behind by last weeks catastrophic flash floods, DeWine wrote. Our teams including several ODNR K-9s trained for search, rescue, and recovery missions have been working long hours in hot temperatures, and I couldnt be more proud of those who volunteered for this mission. According to DeWine, troopers told him the destruction is unlike anything theyve seen, especially in the area of Camp Mystic where nearly 30 campers and counselors were swept away by fast-moving flood waters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former dispatcher faces charges for cruel call made to citizen I thank our Ohio teams for their selfless dedication to the citizens of Texas, and Fran and I continue to pray for everyone impacted by this tragedy, DeWines statement said. More than 100 people across central Texas are confirmed dead, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday more than 160 people are believed to be still missing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Corey Dozer made the trek from South Florida to Tampa this weekend for one main reason: U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. The 17-year-old said the congressman from southwest Florida is his role model as a fellow Black conservative. Dozer cant wait, he said, to see Donalds as the states next governor. Im going to be 18 in time for next years election, he said. My first-ever vote will be for Donalds as governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donalds is the early front-runner in Floridas 2026 governors race, having already received President Donald Trumps endorsement. As he ramps up his campaign, hes crisscrossing the state with a message for conservative voters: hes all in on Trump. On Friday, Donalds spoke to Dozer and thousands of other young conservatives attending the Student Action Summit in Tampa, an event organized by Turning Point USA that aims to galvanize younger Republicans. On Saturday, he was expected to headline a Miami-Dade Republicans breakfast. Donalds walked out Friday to thunderous applause that rivaled that of other big names of the evening like Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump Jr. Donalds spoke about Brooklyn, his hometown, and said that Florida welcomes New Yorkers upset with Zohran Mamdanis Democratic primary win for mayor on one condition: they dont vote for the same stupid people in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As hes done in recent television interviews promoting his campaign, Donalds bragged Friday about the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Trumps signature tax cut and spending legislation prompting a mid-speech standing ovation from the audience in the Tampa Convention Center. He told the crowd he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis, who he said had done a tremendous job leading the state. Odell Burke, 58, said he hasnt seen so much support for the Republican Party in Florida since he moved to Orlando more than 20 years ago. Theres a red tide turning here in Florida right now, he said. Im seeing so many more people voting for these good, conservative politicians. Donalds is a shoo-in, in my eyes. Dozer said he first learned about Donalds when he got involved in Blexit, a grassroots movement encouraging Black Americans to embrace conservative beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a long time, I felt like I didnt belong in the Republican Party, Dozer said. Now, looking up at him, I really feel like I have a place here. Donalds, who hopes to replace the term-limited DeSantis, has raised more than $22 million since he kicked off his campaign in February. Hes received massive donations from billionaire businessmen. Individual voters like Eric Lu, 22, are also funding his campaign. Lu, who lives in Atlanta but came to the event in Tampa, said politicians like Donalds motivated his desire to come to Florida. He plans to move to Naples in September. Honestly, I didnt even know who Byron Donalds was until I heard Trump talk about him, Lu said. Ive been wanting to get out of Atlanta since I graduated, and Donalds becoming the governor next year is the perfect reason for me to move down here. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is closed until further notice as a wildfire rages in the area, park rangers announced on Thursday. Rangers also ordered an evacuation of people at the North Rim because of the White Sage Fire, which is burning on Bureau of Land Management land near Jacob Lake, Arizona, north of the park. An evacuation of the Jacob Lake area was also ordered, according to the Coconino County Sheriffs Office in Arizona. The fire, sparked by lightning on Wednesday, has already grown to 1,000 acres and is 0% contained, the BLM reported Thursday evening. The fire has closed U.S. Highway 89A in the area, which is a key route for the North Rim and northern Arizona in general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another wildfire, dubbed the Dragon Bravo Fire, is currently burning within the North Rim. The lightning-caused fire has burned 120 acres since it was first reported on July 4 and remains 0% contained as of Thursday night. Like Utah, Arizona has experienced dry conditions that have heightened fire danger. Nearly 88% of Coconino County is listed as being in either moderate, severe or extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Its unclear how long the North Rim closure will remain in place. The Grand Canyon has already drawn in more than 1.7 million visitors since the start of this year, and attracted nearly 5 million visitors last year. DES MOINES - The 2026 elections were top of mind during the annual Family Leadership Summit on Friday as speakers and conservative lawmakers stressed the importance of electing pro-life candidates to office. During the summit in Des Moines put on by the conservative evangelical organization The Family Leader, speakers urged audience members to focus on supporting staunchly pro-life candidates and push for eradicating medication abortions. Bob Vander Plaats, president of The Family Leader, referred to next years midterm election as a chance to to end the onslaught of abortion in this country, including in Iowas gubernatorial race. 2026 is going to be a vortex year for the state of Iowa. The nation's eyes are going to be upon us. I guarantee you we will have one of the hottest governor races in the country, right here, Vander Plaats said. How many politicians that we have seen, and you guys have seen, who are so pro-life at every chicken dinner you can go to, but when it gets chance to do something about it, all the sudden they hide behind something? Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced in April that she will not seek reelection, which has created a domino effect among other key races in Iowa, including congressional and state elections. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser noted that Iowa will play a role in selecting the next Republican presidential candidate in 2028. What a point of encouragement, and it should be for the whole country, a point of encouragement and motivation that Iowans will be decisive in how the GOP approaches the issue of abortion in the next elections, Dannenfelser said. We have to demand that anyone seeking our vote live up to the promise that has been made in every Republican platform, after platform, after platform, after platform, that unborn children should be protected in the law. They must commit to this. Huckabee Sanders highlights her Iowa connections Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a former White House press secretary and the youngest governor in the country, closed the summit in her headlining speech by asking Iowans to continue to protect conservative values and freedoms. America is the greatest country that the world has ever known, because we're the freest country that the world has ever known, but we have to do our part to protect that freedom, to preserve that freedom, and make sure that we have the ability to pass that freedom on to the next generation, Huckabee Sanders said. Huckabee Sanders also shared her connection to Iowa. She met her husband in Des Moines while she was working on her fathers presidential campaign in 2008. Her father is current U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa Republican caucuses that year with 34%. Iowa will always hold a very special place in my heart, Huckabee Sanders said. We like to joke in our family that he didn't win the campaign, but he got a son-in-law and three grandkids out of the deal so pretty decent trade. I'm not sure that my husband and I would have ever crossed paths or that I would be governor today, or frankly that my dad would be President Donald Trump's ambassador to Israel, if not for that amazing campaign that started right here in Iowa, she continued. Reynolds chokes up while explaining decision not to run for reelection During her remarks, Reynolds teared up while talking about her decision not to run for office next year, citing spending more time with her family as the basis of her choice. She was met with a standing ovation from the crowd. It was a really hard decision for Kevin and I to make. It's been an honor of a lifetime to serve this state as your governor, and so we didn't approach it lightly, but I'm missing my family, and they're growing up, and my parents are getting older and I want to be there for them like they've been there for me, Reynolds said while tearing up. I hope the next Governor of Iowa will build on this grace-filled partnership, because no matter who's holding office at the Capitol, we have a duty to safeguard and steward the beautiful gift that we've been given. Reynolds also highlighted the legislation she signed this year, including paid parental leave for state employees, increasing reimbursement rates for obstetricians, gynecologists and physicians, and repealing gender identity as a protected class from the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Iowa has also accomplished something that no other state in the nation has even dared to attempt. We've removed gender identity from our Civil Rights Code, Reynolds said. I know that this is a sensitive issue for some, many whom have heard misinformation about what these changes do, and we can never, ever forget that everyone is made in the image and likeness of God." During the Iowa legislative session, lawmakers passed the health and human services budget, which includes a provision prohibiting money allocated for Medicaid from being used for reimbursement for sex reassignment surgery or associated procedures, including hormone therapy. The removal of gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act went into effect on July 1. LGBTQ+ advocates in the state argue it will make transgender and nonbinary Iowans vulnerable to discrimination in housing, healthcare, credit, education and public accommodations. Vander Plaats commended Reynolds' time in office, also choking up while speaking about it. He asked the audience who they want to replace her next year. Kim Reynolds hugged me as she left off the stage and said, This is going to be a tough year. She's just served so, so well, Vander Plaats said. The question is, who do you want to replace her? And my answer is simple, I want someone who understands and will continue the legacy that she has started about the anchor being on religious liberty so we can have the gospel go forth." Targeting abortion pill access and legalization Throughout the event, speakers celebrated the overturn of Roe v. Wade three years ago and the closure of Planned Parenthood clinics across the country and in Iowa. In May, Planned Parenthood North Central States announced that it will close eight reproductive health clinics in the upper Midwest, including four of Iowas six locations, citing a federal funding freeze pushed by President Donald Trumps administration and potential cuts to Medicaid funding as the reasons for closure and staff layoffs. But Dannenfelser reminded attendees they still have more work left to do, including placing further restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone. If we do not fight back, even the most pro-life state won't be pro-life for very long, the assaults are just too lethal," Dannenfelser said. "So what do we the people do when we see our victories being undermined as we look to the near future, to 2026 and beyond? After the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision in 2022, which overturned Roe v. Wade, the rate of medication abortions in the country increased, making up 63% of all abortions in 2023 compared to 53% in 2020, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit that supports abortion rights. In 2023, 76% of abortions in Iowa were provided by medication, according to KFF. After a law banning abortion when cardiac activity is detected, which can be as early as six weeks of pregnancy, went into effect last July, abortions in the state decreased by 38% in the second half of the year, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Researchers behind the study said the decrease could be attributed to medicated abortions and Iowans going to other states to receive procedures. During the 2025 legislative session, Republican lawmakers introduced House Study Bill 186, which wouldve required health care providers in Iowa to tell patients that it may be possible to reverse the effects of a medication abortion. Reproductive rights advocates said the bill would mislead people into thinking medication abortions are unsafe and reversible. The bill made it out of committee but failed to make it to the House floor. Dannenfelser also commended a provision of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, which Trump signed on July 4, that bans state Medicaid funding from funding health care groups primarily engaged in family planning services, including reproductive health care and abortions for one year. Federal law prohibits federal funds from going towards abortions, except if the pregnancy that endangers the life of the pregnant person or is the result of rape or incest. The provision was recently blocked by a federal judge July 8. Planned Parenthood Federation of America affiliates received about $148 million in HHS grants or cooperative agreements and $1.54 billion in Medicare, Medicaid and Childrens Health Insurance Program payments from 2019 to 2021, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. When Rep. Maxine Waters learned Jewel Thais-Williams had died at 86 on Monday , the politician who typically has something to say fell silent for a moment or two. Thais-Williams is widely known in the Black and LGBTQ+ communities as the founder of the iconic nightclub Jewels Catch One. It opened in 1973, and at its peak, celebrities from Grace Jones and the Pointer Sisters to Sharon Stone and Madonna walked through its doors. Read more: Jewel Thais-Williams, founder of beloved Black queer nightclub Jewel's Catch One, dies at 86 However, it wasnt flashbacks of the nightlife scene at the corner of Pico and Norton that caused Waters to pause. The congresswoman was reflecting on the impact Thais-Williams had on the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jewel was a warrior, a true warrior, Waters told me. A lot of people talk about helping people. She just did it over and over again no matter the circumstances. She didnt wait for someone else to step up. She didnt ask for permission. She just went out and helped people so many people. She was a wonder woman. To truly understand Thais-Williams legacy, you must first remember the time in which she began building it. In 1961, a Supreme Court ruling restricted women from tending bar unless they were the wife or a daughter of the owner. And while the Civil Rights Act of 1964 created a legal pathway to help dismantle sex discrimination, when Thais-Williams opened her bar less than a decade later, the residue from that Supreme Court ruling and Jim Crow laws was still quite palpable. On top of all of that, she was a lesbian. In 1973 California, employment law did not protect the queer community, Penal Code 647 was used to justify entrapment stings in public spaces, and the white gays of West Hollywood would often ask Black and brown patrons for three pieces of ID just to keep them out of clubs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Establishing Jewels Catch One, becoming the first Black lesbian to own a bar in this country, was no crystal stair for Thais-Williams. When I first met Jewel, it was in the backyard of Catch One, said Waters, who spearheaded the federal Minority AIDS Initiative and convinced the Congressional Black Caucus to host a hearing on the disease, which had been disproportionately killing minorities. I was trying to get federal funding to help people living with AIDS and went to see what she was doing. It was incredible. She was absolutely incredible. She was helping all of these men whose families had kicked them out and had nowhere else to go. She was feeding them out of her restaurant and helping them with treatment. And then she went to school to learn medicine and helped even more people. She was truly special. Keith Boykin, founder of the National Black Justice Coalition and former aide to President Clinton, was a friend of Thais-Williams and told me the most important lesson I learned from Jewel is that building community in a time of oppression is an act of resistance. In 1993, Boykin helped arrange the first sit-down meeting between a president and the LGBTQ+ community, a startling fact when you consider that by then there were nearly 400,000 reported cases of AIDS and nearly a quarter of a million Americans predominantly gay men had already died. The federal governments deafening silence through the 80s and early 90s had been met with loud resistance from organizations such as ACT UP, and, as Boykin said, community building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The work Waters and Thais-Williams did together is one of the highlights of the 2016 documentary Jewels Catch One. Its director, C. Fitz, told me she set out to make the film due to the fact I saw a large need to tell her story for our future. I was compelled to make the film to shine a light on an important hidden hero in our community that changed lives and impacted history, Fitz said. I wanted to tell the story certainly about her incredible club she created, but also her life as a whole and all she accomplished including being a healer with her clinic. In 2001, Thais-Williams opened the Village Health Foundation, which offered traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, counseling and other holistic approaches to treating ailments that were disproportionately impacting the Black community. It took Fitz six years to make the film. As a result, she said, she carries numerous life lessons she learned from Thais-Williams with her each day, like the importance of laughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As hard as a day was, I always saw Jewel laughing, Fitz said. We work so hard to make a difference, but we have to take care of ourselves inside and out too. This week began with about 100 armed federal agents and members of the states National Guard conducting a show of force operation in a relatively empty MacArthur Park. Thankfully, there werent any mass arrests, just mass concern about the presidents tendency to use our military for political theater. Last month, when Waters tried to check on David Huerta, the president of the Service Employees International Union California who was being detained at a federal facility, the door was shut in her face. Theres an obvious thread between the government cruelty of past decades toward LBGTQ+ people, women and people of color and the performative cruelty today against well, all of those same groups still, and also in recent months especially against Latinos and immigrants. Waters had been in meetings most of the day when news about Thais-Williams reached her ears and broke her heart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was a fighter; thats what I love most about her, Waters said. Im a fighter too. Thats one of the reasons why we got along so well. With all due respect, I would argue fighting isnt the reason the two of them got along so well. Everybody is fighting, in one way or another. Its what we fight for that keeps people together. Its what we fight for that ultimately defines the meaning of our lives. Thais-Williams may be known for opening a popular nightclub, but what she fought for the people most in need of a champion is what defined her life. YouTube: @LZGrandersonShow If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Grapevine Police Department nabbed a pair of convenience store thieves in an undercover bust this week. Grapevine detectives arrested 40-year-old Anthony Johnson and 41-year-old Perry Busby earlier this week, said the departments media manager, Amanda McNew, to The Dallas Express. She referred to them as the sledgehammer burglars for their method of robbing convenience stores in Arlington and Grapevine. Busby is currently in the Tarrant County Jail, facing six counts of burglary of a building, according to jail records. His bond is $9,000 total. Johnson was booked for three counts of burglary, but according to McNew, he posted bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspects were linked to a string of ten convenience store burglaries that began on May 14, according to McNew. Each time, they would use a sledgehammer to break the glass door, then steal cash and cigarettes. This, along with the suspect descriptions, led detectives to connect two burglaries in Grapevine one that occurred on May 29 and another on June 11. During the investigation, Grapevine detectives learned of similar cases in Arlington and began working closely with their department, McNew said. Grapevine and Arlington detectives and crime analysts worked together, which led them to identify a suspect vehicle and two suspects. Grapevine detectives launched an undercover surveillance operation against Johnson and Busby on July 9, according to McNew. They caught them in the act of a break-in at an Arlington business. The suspects tried unsuccessfully to get away and were arrested by officers, McNew said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grapevine police celebrated the bust on their Facebook page. Thanks to Arlington Police detectives and crime analysts for our partnership and teamwork in this case, officials wrote. Great work, everyone. The co-chair of the German Green Party's youth wing, Jakob Blasel, is calling for Germany to nationalize major energy and steel companies to fight climate change. Blasel, from the Green Youth, told the Spiegel news magazine that the RWE and LEAG energy companies, as well as Germany's largest steel manufacturer, Thyssenkrupp, should be expropriated. "These are the three most climate-damaging companies. Germany could and should nationalize these companies," Blasel said in an interview published by the magazine on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He accused the companies of being guided solely by short-term profit and stock markets. "But if they are in the hands of consumers and workers, the incentive to operate sustainably increases. Because no one wants to work for a company that is destroying their own future." Blasel said he is aware his proposal goes beyond what is currently being discussed politically. "But what is currently happening politically is not enough to combat climate change," he said, adding that the fight is being undermined by "fossil fuel lobbyists." Employees in companies that work with fossil fuels should be given prospects in other areas, Blasel also suggested. "Anyone who currently has a permanent job and benefits from good collective agreements must be taken on in other non-fossil fuel sectors of companies without any cuts." The Green Youth traditionally sits to the left of the Green Party on the political spectrum. INNAARSUIT, Greenland - Authorities in northwestern Greenland are warning residents of a small coastal village to exercise caution as a massive iceberg looms along the coast, raising fears of potential dangers. Photos released by the municipality show giant wedges of ice towering over Innaarsuit's homes, businesses and boats. Officials urged residents to be mindful while running errands or performing tasks that could put them in harms way if the iceberg were to break further apart or inch closer to the coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The village, home to fewer than 200 people, sits on a rocky island along Greenlands rugged northwest coast and is only accessible via air or boat. "As already known, there is a large iceberg near the harbor, close to the Royal Greenland factory in Innaarsuit. Residents of the village and visitors to Innaarsuit are advised to be as cautious as possible and, if possible, to travel to and from the settlement in the safest way," a translated statement to English from Greenlandic read. "Shoppers are asked to avoid going to the store all at once, and those with mobility difficulties are urged to take extra care when heading to the store. The local emergency services are now prepared to respond if necessary." Antarcticas Doomsday Glacier Is Melting Away Differently Than Scientists First Thought It is not the first time Innaarsuit has faced dangers from drifting chunks of ice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July 2018, an iceberg estimated to weigh more than 10 million tons positioned itself just offshore of the village. Imagery from Nasa showed the giant chunk clearly visible from space, which triggered the evacuation of some residents due to the threat of tsunami-like waves. The iceberg eventually drifted away from the settlement, sparing the coastal settlement, which relies heavily on its fishing industry. Worlds Largest Iceberg On Possible Collision Course With Island In South Atlantic Ocean Large icebergs are a common sight in Baffin Bay, but the surrounding terrain usually helps them steer clear of Innaarsuits harbor, which lies roughly 500 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to NASA, the ice primarily originates along glaciers and ice shelves before drifting southward toward the Labrador Sea and Newfoundland. Officials did not say how long they expect the latest iceberg to be around but encouraged residents to continue to exercise caution when sailing to and from the settlement. Original article source: Greenland village comes face-to-face with a giant iceberg A Pittsburg County man has been sentenced for possession of an unregistered firearm or destructive device. According to the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Jerry Brandon Pearce, age 56, of Indianola, was sentenced to two years and one month in prison for one count of possessing an unregistered firearm or destructive device. Records indicate the charge stems from an investigation by the Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. According to records from the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Pearce entered a guilty plea Nov. 25, 2024, for possessing an explosive device not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Court documentation shows investigators responded to blast reports at Pearces residence Sept. 4, 2023. At the blast location, agents found Pearce and two bystanders suffering injuries from a detonated grenade. An investigation of the blast site revealed that Pearce had modified the unregistered explosive before accidentally setting it off, and that Pearce also possessed assembly components for building additional grenades, a release from the Eastern District Court of Oklahoma states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims said the case underscores the serious danger posed by illegal and unregistered explosive devices. Thanks to the swift response and thorough investigation by our law enforcement partners, a potentially deadly situation was contained before further harm occurred, Mims said. Our office remains committed to prosecuting those who violate federal firearms laws and to supporting initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods that protect our communities from violent crime. United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson echoed Mims sentiments and called the actions of Pearce egregious, stating that the situation could have been fatal. Pearce put his own interests ahead of the safety of the community and caused immense harm, Wilson said. Such caustic conduct cannot and will not be tolerated. Pearce will remain in custody of U.S. Marshals until he is transported to a prison where he will serve his sentence without the possibility of parole. NEED TO KNOW The father of Riccardo Boni, the 17-year-old boy who was buried alive and died while digging a hole in the sand at a beach in Italy on July 10, spoke out about the tragic incident The grieving dad told local news outlet Il Messaggero that his son was digging a 5-foot-deep hole before it caved it He didn't even have time to scream, the parent said The father of a teen boy, who died after being buried alive in sand while on vacation in Italy, is speaking out about his sons death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Riccardo Boni, 17, was on a beach at Montalto di Castro, a resort about 70 miles north of his home city of Rome, with his parents and siblings when the incident occurred at around 3 p.m. local time on Thursday, July 10, per local outlet Il Messaggero. Riccardos father told Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera that the teen had been digging a hole with his two younger brothers when his brothers went off to play by the water as Riccardo kept digging. I kept them within sight, [about six to 10 feet away]," Riccardos father told the outlet. Riccardo was 5 foot, 7 inches. The hole was [about 5 feet] deep. His head was sticking out. And yet, I don't know if it was the heat or the fatigue, at a certain point, he must have collapsed. And he didn't even have time to scream. Why didn't he scream? Why didn't I hear him? the grieving father wondered. Getty Beach chairs and beach umbrellas (stock image) Beach chairs and beach umbrellas (stock image) Corriere Della Sera reported that Riccardos father noticed that his son was missing, and the family searched for him for about 40 minutes before one of Riccardos younger siblings suggested he might be buried in the sand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Riccardos dad, along with two lifeguards and other vacationers, began digging with their bare hands and eventually discovered Riccardos lifeless body in the hole that had collapsed and caved in, per the outlet. While emergency services were called, the boy showed no signs of life, per Corriere della Serra. First responders also attempted to revive Riccardo, but were unsuccessful, the outlet added. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. A case has since been opened against persons unknown regarding the fatal accident, the Corriere della Serra added in their initial reporting, with authorities still deciding on whether to perform an autopsy. PEOPLE reached out to the Italian State Police for comment on Saturday, July 12, but did not receive an immediate response. Read the original article on People GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) Residents in Grove City are continuing to push back against a new apartment development, citing infrastructure concerns. Last night the City of Columbus Development Commission voted to move forward with the proposed plans by metro development. Rich Pereksta is one of the neighbors leading the charge to pause the proposal. Pereksta noted he was in utter shock at last nights meeting. I think every one of us couldnt believe it, Pereksta said. We were totally disappointed, we really felt as though we had some good basic arguments as to why three-story apartment buildings dont fit in this area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 4-0 vote Thursday night, the city of Columbus development commission chose not to table the proposal of eleven three-story buildings with 264 units and 500 parking spots on 14 acres along Demorest Road. Resident Gavin Price Fuller said the area is not the most suitable for the large development. Currently, the zoning is between one and five units per acre, Fuller said. Theyre going to amplify that, that number up to 19 units per acre. So, keep in mind, thats a 14-acre lot multiplied by 19 units per acre. Many neighbors have been sounding the alarm, saying the scale of the buildings and current infrastructure of the neighborhood will bring logistical challenges, with the biggest concern being traffic at a nearby roundabout which has the capacity for 1,800 vehicles at any given time. We have done traffic counts where we counted over 1,900 cars when school is in session and we counted over 1,700 when school was not in session, Pereksta said. So, the traffic circle is already there, its already at capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents also shared are not entirely against new developments and they understand the need for more housing in a growing city like Columbus, but they think where the developments are placed should be planned better. Make it make sense, Pereksta said. You know, were not against it, you know, the neighbor whos selling the property has a right to sell it. But what goes in though, should be more appropriate to what already exists here. In a statement to NBC4 regarding the results of last nights meeting, the Director of Metro Development Joseph Thomas said in part, Our Demorest Park proposal received a positive recommendation from the city of Columbus development commission last night. This is a key milestone in advancing a project we believe will make a meaningful impact in addressing the regions critical housing needs. And residents say they plan to make their case within the next month at a Columbus city council meeting and are still holding out hope for a solution or common ground on this project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have hope, I think we have some very strong arguments, Fuller said. You know, were going to restructure some of our approach and carry forward into Columbus City Council and do the best we can. All we can hope for is some kind of change in the plan for this development. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) Under a hot and humid Friday afternoon, Habitat for Humanity of Henderson just donated its newest home on Hicks Street to a single mother and her son. Habitat broke ground on the home in August 2024 and finished it about three weeks ago. Chantel LaPlante received the keys to the home, and she says she has been waiting on this moment for months but excited to move in. Im still processing a lot of different emotions right now. Happiness, joy, gratitude, excitement and stability, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has been involved with Habitat for several years and helped build homes for other people. She also says everything she has done is to lead a solid foundation for her son. Getting the process of becoming a homeowner is rather difficult if not daunting. We have a wonderful community. I decided one year to get an application through Habitat and apply to be a homeowner. Britney Smith, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity of Henderson, calls LaPlante a woman with a lot of strength that cares about being a good mother and good person in the community. Were so excited to dedicate this home. Weve known the LaPlante family for a long time. This is a joyous day, she said. Every home dedication is amazing. A home is a place where families make memories, do Christmas, birthdays, everything happens in your home. I absolutely love home dedications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LaPlante showed a lot of thanks to different people after the ceremony. I deeply want to thank Habitat for Humanity in Henderson for being in this community and offering this program to what could be future homeowners like me, she said. The T crew, men that volunteer their time to come out and help build these houses. They work very hard in different weathering and of course friends and family for always supporting me. Habitat homes are built by volunteers and sold to low-income families who qualify through a zero-interest loan. This build marks the organizations 87th home in Henderson County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). For days, the message circulated on WhatsApp chats, warning of an imminent attack. The message, which claimed to be from Jeff Laros, the sanctioned leader of Haitis so-called Taliban gang, didnt specify when or where. But residents of Lascahobas, an important trading point between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, stood their guard. Shortly after dawn on July 3, a bloody surprise assault began. Armed men on motorcycles and in vehicles from the gang based in Canaan, north of Port-au-Prince, stormed Desvarieux, Savane La Coupe and Sarrazin near Lascahobas. A Haitian police officer deployed to defend the mango and coffee growing region was killed, as were seven others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was an area that never had any problems; it was always safe, Lascahobas Mayor Fredener Joseph told the Miami Herald. These guys carried out a lot of destruction, a lot of homes have been burned, destroyed. While the attack on Lascahobas may seem like just one more horrific blow in Haitis ongoing gang warfare, it has raised alarms in and outside the country because of what it signals about the evolving gang threat: Criminal armed groups are no longer just consolidating power in Port-au-Prince, but are rapidly expanding northa point underscored Friday in a new United Nations report. The report, which looks at the sharp rise in attacks, particularly in the Lower Artibonite and central regions, between October 2024 and June, warns that the expanding presence of armed groups outside of metropolitan Port-au-Prince threatens to destabilize not just Haiti, but the wider Caribbean region. The human rights violations and abuses that we have documented are further evidence of why Haiti and the international community urgently need to step up to end this violence, U.N. Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said from Geneva. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were 4,864 killings between October and June, at least 1,018 of them in the rice-growing Artibonite region, the Central Plateau and the towns of Ganthier and Fonds Parisien, east of the capital. The mass killings coincide with attacks carried out by the powerful Viv Ansanm gang coalition and its allies, including the Taliban gang located in Canaan, and 400 Mawozo operating in the Ganthier area, as well as the Gran Grif gang based in the Artibonite. Earlier this week, the U.N. Security Council announced that Gran Grif and Viv Ansanm had been added to its global sanctions list. The move followed a May decision by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to label the group as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The joint report was produced by the U.N. Integrated Office in Haiti and the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. It notes that since last year there has been a sharp increase in killings, kidnappings, sexual violence, and the destruction of property in the affected localities. Human rights violations outside of Port-au-Prince are intensifying in parts of the country where the presence of the state is extremely limited, said Ulrika Richardson, the U.N. Resident Coordinator in Haiti. The international community must strengthen its support for the authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reports authors detail a number of recent attacks to highlight the growing strength of the gangs and their ability to deploy hundreds of armed members into an area, as well the ineffectiveness of the response led by the Haiti National Police with assistance from a Kenya-led support mission. Though the report was written before last weeks attack on Lascahobas, about 12 miles from the Haitian border with the Dominican Republic, it sounds the alarm over the borders strategic importance in the push by gangs to control key roads. The gangs appear to be pursuing a strategic objective of establishing a presence in localities along key roadways crossing the center and Artibonite, the report said, particularly with the aim of controlling routes that connect the capital to the northern regions and to the border with the Dominican Republic. This expansion of gang territorial control poses a major risk of spreading violence and increasing transnational trafficking in arms and people, which could lead to significant destabilization for countries in the Caribbean sub-region, especially given the extremely limited presence of public administration and United Nations entities in these regions, the report stressed. UN warnings date to 2023 U.N. officials warned as far back as the end of 2023 about the intensification of gang-related criminal activity and human rights abuses in the Lower Artibonite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The violence was largely driven by the growing power of the Gran Grif and Kokorat San Ras gangs, which were supported by influential politicians and business people in the region. The gangs also received backing from other criminal groups operating in Port-au-Prince particularly the gangs from Canaan, Grand Ravine and Village de Dieu. They provided the Artibonite gangs with weapons and manpower to help them seize control of National Road 1, connecting the capital to the north. The areas most affected were agricultural regions in the Lower Artibonite, including Gros-Morne, LEstere, Petite Riviere de lArtibonite, Saint-Marc and Verrettes. In October, after at least 100 people in Pont Sonde were gunned down by members of the Gran Grif gang, security forces were deployed. Even as gang members continued to launch sometimes extremely violent attacks in remote rural areas far away from the main roadways, the deployment of both Haitian police and Kenyan force led to an overall reduction in criminal gang activities in several communities of the Lower Artibonite region, the report said. But by the end of March, things began to deteriorate. A lack of logistical resources and personnel had prevented the security forces from regaining control or restoring public order, the report added, particularly in neighboring Petite Riviere de lArtibonite, allowing Gran Grif time to rearm and reorganize. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From 21 March on, the gang launched attacks against several areas in the communes of Petite Riviere de lArtibonite and Marchand Dessalines. During these attacks, the gangs targeted the population, firing indiscriminately at their homes and at individuals attempting to flee, the report said. By April, an attack in a locality known as Cite de la Crete a Pierrot had left at least 57 people dead, 36 hostages, over 80 houses burned down and more than 13,000 people forcibly displaced. During the assault, gang members surrounded a joint police base in Segur. The base was permanently abandoned. Despite occasional interventions, the security forces remain unable to restore order on a lasting basis, the report said, noting at least one Kenyan police officer was killed and another continues to be regarded as missing, though local media has said he was killed. In June, the total number of internally displaced persons in the Artibonite department had reached 92,304, representing a 9% increase compared to December. Self-defense groups on the rise The poor response of the security forces have given rise to so-called self-defense groups. They are seen by many Haitians as the only entities capable of ensuring security in their communities. But they too are committing abuses, killing not only individuals suspected of gang affiliation but also members of their families, the U.N. warns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A major turning point in the cycle of violence between gangs and self-defense groups was the Pont Sonde massacre. After gangs targeted residents, members of a self-defense group went door-to-door killing people they accused of conspiring with gang members. While Gran Griff was sowing terror in the Aribonite earlier this year and Viv Ansanm was taking over Port-au-Prince, tensions in the central region were worsening. The area went from experiencing no gang attacks to having bullet-ridden bodies strewn in the streets of Mirebalais in late March, when members of the 400 Mawozo and Taliban gangs joined forces. At least 50 homes were set ablaze and more than 500 inmates. were freed from prison. At least 15 people were killed including, two nuns. On the same day of the Mirebalais attack, the Canaan gang members attacked Saut-dEau, a town at the crossroads of the west region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a first assault was repelled, gang members tried again on April 3 with more than 600 men. Police and residents fled, the U.N. said. Two weeks later, the Canaan gang attacked La Chapelle in the Artibonite and set up a checkpoint before retreating to Saut-dEau. In June, the U.N. said, more than 147,000 people fled their homes in the central region, once a bastion of safety for those trying to escape the horrors of the capital. The number represents a 118% increase compared to December. Despite a few operations by the security forces, Mirebalais and Saut-dEau remain under gang control. Fears of border conflict Lascahobas mayor Joseph believes gangs are after two things in the area: control of the Peligre hydroelectric dam, and access to the Haiti-Dominican border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the government doesnt put its head together to push back the gangs they will head toward Belladere and then we will be at war, because the Dominicans will never accept this, Joseph said of Haitis contentious neighbor, which has been beefing up patrols on its side of the border. Belladere and Lascahobas are both border towns. The U.N. report notes that the Belladere border post, located 62 miles from the capital has for several years been a transit zone for trafficking in arms, drugs and other contraband coming from or heading to the Dominican Republic. As a result, controlling the roads crossing the center region is strategically important for the gangs and their supporters in trafficking networks. William ONeill, the U.N.s independent human rights expert who raised concerns about the border after a recent visit to Haiti, said gangs that gain access to the important trading route leading to the Dominican Republic border could see their income rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They could extort lots of money from vehicles and people moving through, he said. Joseph said the attack has left entire areas deserted as residents flee into the woods or into shelter. He said there seven elderly [epple ajd 20 others who are disabled died in the aftermath. We need the international community to hurry up and come give us a hand, because the force that we have here, they cant do the job, he said. They need to send the U.N. HAWI, Hawaii (KHON2) Five days, a full-scale climbing attempt, and one goat who simply wont come down. Theres been a huge community rally behind her, but rescuers say this may be the end of their line. Youre basically brand blending vertical work on a cliffside. Youre blending essentially wrangling of livestock, and youre blending waterman stuff. And, you know, Im okay to say at this point, we dont really have what it takes to push this thing to the next level, and were not really sure how best to do that, said Kevin Dorn, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Vertical Worx. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Originally estimated at 300 feet, climbers now say the Hawi cliff is closer to 120 but no less treacherous. The top is loose and eroding. The face is nearly vertical. Their efforts yesterday were careful and courageous, and nearly worked. Once we were on site, once we took time, established all the anchors and got everything set up, started sending guys down the cliff. Basically, once they started getting within 15 to 20 feet of her, she jumped right up and was moving quickly and was very alert. And so it was not what we expected, said Dorn. The goat was first spotted on Monday on a narrow ledge on the cliff. Theories on how she got there vary: chased by predators, spooked by wild pigs, or simply lost her footing. Where she is now is about 15 feet above the shoreline, but unreachable by foot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts say shes alert and healthy looking, but definitely feral and pushing the situation could do more harm than good. And thats one of the biggest reasons we didnt try and push guys down lower, was that that whole cliff side is not acceptable. To go past where we were would have not been acceptable, said Dorn. Debbie Cravatta, President and Founder of the Kohala Animal Relocation and Education Service, or KARES, said they arent giving up hope. Were not giving up on her. You know, were gonna save her one way or another, said Cravatta. We want this animal to be kind of like the little bit of hope we have, and bringing us all together as a community, of course, with aloha, and to bring awareness and education to humanely treating animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KARES said theyre using food to lure the goat farther down and volunteers are coordinating a rescue effort from the ocean. We have some jet skiers going out there and some really good local surfers. And they said, Hey, get the goat. Just get it in the water,' said Cravatta. The volunteer climbers said its not the ending they had hoped for, but they still consider their efforts a victory. I think the biggest takeaway from this is just that were very appreciative for the opportunity to step in and help a community that clearly cares, said Bridger Christiansen, Chief Operating Officer for Vertical Worx. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 12, the rescue attempts were temporarily suspended due to poor weather conditions but rescuers plan to watch from afar and resume their operations on July 13. KARES is still accepting suggestions on how to rescue the goat. They can be reached at 808-333-6299. Well keep you updated on their efforts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. The Brief Deputies were called to Dominion Park Drive on Friday evening. A male victim was treated at the scene. The suspect reportedly drove off in a black Cadillac sedan. HOUSTON - Deputies are looking for a suspect who reportedly shot and injured someone in north Harris County. Harris County: Dominion Park Drive shooting (Photo courtesy: Mark Herman, Harris County Precinct 4 Constable) What we know The shooting was reported in the 100 block of Dominion Park Drive near the North Freeway. Precinct 4 constables are helping the Harris County Sheriff's Office at the scene, and they are asking others to avoid the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say a victim at the scene has been given a tourniquet, and he is being treated by paramedics. The suspect allegedly fled the scene in a black Cadillac sedan and was last seen going east on the freeway. What we don't know No one has been identified at this time, and the motive behind the shooting is unclear. The Source Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman Hartford Bakery, Inc. is voluntarily recalling hundreds of loaves of its "Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf" since the product may contain undeclared hazelnuts, the company said in an announcement shared by the Food and Drug Administration. "People with a nut allergy or severe sensitivity to hazelnuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume these products," said the announcement, which was shared by the FDA on Thursday. There have been no major reports of injury or illness, but the company is aware of one customer who experienced digestive discomfort after consumption, the announcement said. Complaints were also received from consumers who saw the nuts before consuming the product, the company said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The product says that it "may contain tree nuts" but does not specify that it "contains hazelnuts." The recall affects about 883 loaves of bread across six production lots, the company said. Hartford Bakery, Inc. is voluntarily recalling six lots of its The recalled products were distributed by retailers including Kroger and Walmart in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin. The product comes in a flexible plastic bag marked with the following information, the announcement said: Lot code T10 174010206, T10 174010306, T10 174010406, T10 174020206, T10 174020306, T10 174020406 found on the front panel of packaging.Net Weight 12OZ (340G), UPC 24126018152 found on the bottom of packaging.An expiration date of 07/13/2025 found on the front panel of packaging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company determined that no other lot codes were affected. All products in the affected lot codes are being removed from shelves. Consumers who may have purchased the "Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf" should return them to their point of purchase for a full refund, the company said. Sen. Lindsey Graham says "a turning point, regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is coming" Trump pushes senators to make $9.4 trillion in spending cuts Student's unique talent that's for the birds HONOLULU (KHON2) Three of Hawaii four counties are searching for Police Chiefs. Its an unprecedented time for Hawaii residents as national policing is ramping up while many local police leaders remain undetermined. In Hawaii, police chiefs arent elected. Instead, each county has a Police Commission that handles the hiring. The job of the Commission is serious as it must pick someone to lead the department, manage officers and keep the publics trust. Hawaii Island police commission denies Moszkowicz request to withdraw resignation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All four counties Honolulu (Oahu), Maui, (including Molokai and Lanai) Hawaii Island and Kauai follow this model. But each one has its own way of doing it. So, KHON2.com did a bit of digging to find out how it all works. Trust at risk? ACLU, community sound alarm on local law enforcement assisting ICE in Hawaii Hawaii Islands process The Hawaii County Police Commission runs the entire process, and the police department does not help with the decision. The mayor appoints seven members, one from each council district; and the County Council confirms them. A list of candidates is created from dozens of applicants that have answered written questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am truly sorry: Big Isle police chief apologizes for attempted Oahu transition From there, the Commission narrows the list into a smaller pool applicants that the commission then reviews, and these finalists are interviewed during public meetings. After the public hearings, the commission then votes in private. The process requires that the commission must provide a majority for any candidate; and after the vote, the winner is announced in public. There is room for public testimony, and candidates remain anonymous until they make it to the final stage. You can click here to learn more about Hawaii Islands Police Commission. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Kauai Countys process The Kauai Police Commission also leads the hiring, and it runs a public survey to ask what qualities people want in a chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2025, new rules said the chief must have at least a bachelors degree and 15 years of service. These rules were approved by voters. You can click here to learn more about Kauais vacant post and here to learn more about their commission. Honolulus process process The Honolulu Police Commission has seven members. The mayor appoints each of them, and the City Council confirms them. Commission members are in charge of the hiring, not the mayor or police department. The Commission may work with human resources or hire a search firm, but it writes the job description and sets requirements. As of 2025, these include five years of law enforcement, three years in a leadership role, a bachelors degree and proof of Hawaii residency. The Commission screens and tests candidates. The public is invited to observe the interview; and after that, it votes on the new chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can click here to learn more about Honolulus Police Commission and here to learn more about the Interim Chief Deputy Chief Rade Vanic. Maui Countys process The Maui Police Commission also manages the hiring. Its seven members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Council. Details about the current process are limited, but it likely follows a process similar to Honolulus. The Commission recruits candidates, reviews qualifications, gathers public input and votes. You can click here to learn more about Maui Countys Police Commission. What all counties share There is lots of overlap in how Police Commissioners are chosen across the state. Here are the common approaches and requirements: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every county uses a Police Commission to choose the chief. The mayors pick the commissioners. The Council approves them. The Commission runs the search and the vote. Candidates usually stay anonymous until the finalist stage. Public opinion is sometimes gathered through surveys or testimony. The police department itself does not decide who becomes chief. In every county, the final decision belongs to the Commission. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 So, as three of Hawaiis counties navigate their needs for a new Police Chief, you can stay up to date with how the process works and what is happening. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. COURTESY HAWAII POLICE Weston Duarte COURTESY HAWAII POLICE Weston Duarte A 28-year-old domestic violence suspect has been arrested for various alleged offenses after he crashed his girlfriends car while being chased by Hawaii island police in Captain Cook. According to police, just before 4 :30 p.m.Thursday, Kona patrol officers responded to a home on the 82-6100 block of Napoopoo Road in Captain Cook after receiving 911 text messages from a 35-year-old woman reporting that her boyfriend was refusing to return her vehicle and car keys, threatening to kill her, and that he also had an outstanding warrant. The woman said the suspect, later identified as Weston Duarte of Captain Cook, was in her Mazda 3 sedan parked in the homes driveway, and that he was armed, high on methamphetamine, and had assaulted her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers arrived at the residence at 5 :10 p.m. and saw the Mazda speeding out of the driveway and heading south on Napoopo o Road. Officers saw a male driver matching Duartes description and the woman crying in the back seat, police said. Police initially lost the vehicle during the pursuit but soon saw it speeding north on Highway 11 in the southbound lane. The vehicle swerved back into the northbound lane and sped away, police said At 6 :06 p.m., officers located the vehicle after it had crashed near the 109-mile marker on Highway 11. Duarte was found in the roadway and placed under arrest, a Hawaii Police Department summary said. Medics from the Hawaii Fire Department responded to the scene. Duarte was taken to Kona Community Hospital and later transferred to Queens Medical Center on Oahu for further treatment. The woman was found in the back seat and taken to Kona Community Hospital in stable condition. He was arrested for suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant ; driving without a valid drivers license ; abuse of a family or household member ; second-degree reckless endangering ; resisting an order to stop ; reckless driving ; second-degree terroristic threatening ; and having no motor vehicle insurance, according to police Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det. Jeremiah Hull at (808 ) 430-8634 or at jeremiah.hull @hawaiicounty.gov. those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808 ) 961-8300. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See more : 10 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . Utahs health care landscape has its own song this summer, and the beat relies heavily on the scrape of shovels, the pounding of jackhammers and the general clatter of construction. The Beehive States population is growing, creating need for expanded facilities and health care services. And hospitals, clinics and other providers are responding, opening new facilities or services in growing-population areas or expanding others as community needs change. Last year alone, the state added more than 50,300 new residents, most of it along the Wasatch Front. As Deseret News reported in February, a report by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah puts the states population at roughly 3,507,000 residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Said John Poelman, interim executive director of the One Utah Health Collaborative, We expect the Gardner projections include not just raw population growth, but also rising average age and chronic conditions, all of which will drive higher demand for care. Poelman added that Utah will need to grow its health care capacity across the board, but especially in areas where we already fall short. Access to primary care, behavioral health and aging-related services are where we should prioritize expansion. As many of the projects show, others in the health care system agree. McCall Rowley, vice president of finance for Intermountain Health, sees the burgeoning population clearly, noting that her health systems service areas are experiencing steady population growth, which is anticipated to continue for the foreseeable future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Rowley said that Intermountain is investing in these growing communities by providing primary care access through new clinics, lower cost-of-care settings with imaging centers and ambulatory surgical centers, specialty care with new cancer centers and multi-specialty clinics, and pediatric care with a new pediatric hospital on the Miller Family Campus in Lehi. The growing population has been accompanied by higher disease incidence, as well. Utah and the U.S. in general are both experiencing an increase in requests for mental health care and services for an aging population, among other needs that must be met. Theres a lot going on. Bigger population, growing health care need Theres no way to know all the expansions, new centers and other changes happening within the health care arena in any state. But its easy to find a robust sampling that demonstrates how much needs and those responding to them are changing in Utah. Deseret News has amassed a sampling of renovation, new construction and other projects that hints at how medical care is changing and growing locally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, in the area of behavioral health, Intermountain has a new inpatient behavioral health unit at Alta View Hospital in Sandy and has replaced and expanded Primary Childrens pediatric behavioral health campus in Taylorsville, with financial help from a grant from the state. University of Utah Health has been just as busy growing its footprint to meet expanded needs. The University of Utah broke ground in April on a Huntsman Cancer Institute treatment center in Vineyard, touting it as the Mountain Wests only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. The location in Utah County will provide access to clinical trials, harness artificial intelligence to analyze data, train students in conjunction with Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University and provide treatment for some patients who at this point travel an hour or more each way to receive care. One of the universitys biggest projects is a new hospital and health campus in West Valley City. The Eccles Health Campus and Eccles Hospital broke ground this summer and will open in 2028. University of Utah teamed with the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, which made the largest gift that the university has ever seen $75 million to make the hospital and health campus possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The $855 million campus will be the universitys biggest off-campus medical facility and is projected to serve more than 426,000 patients a year. Cancer treatment is also expanding. Intermountain is building new cancer treatment centers in Saratoga Springs and Park City. Rowley said primary care clinics like the Deseret Color Clinic in St. George provide access points close to home for those not on the Wasatch Front. Other recent University of Utah health-related projects include the Kem and Carolyn Gardner Mental Health Crisis Care Center, which opened in late March in South Salt Lake to provide comprehensive mental health care. In a related move, University of Utah Health will also open a 24/7 walk-in crisis care facility for youth ages 5 to 17 in Research Park. The space has been renovated from its previous life providing adult crisis care and is expected to open later this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The need for a youth crisis care center was identified through a combination of data analysis, community feedback and frontline clinical experience, Anne Stephens, director of the new youth crisis center, said. Over recent years, Utah has seen a significant increase in the number of children and teens experiencing acute mental health crises-including rising rates of suicidal ideation, self-harm, and behavioral health emergencies. Emergency departments across the state have reported being overwhelmed by the number of youths presenting with mental health concerns, often without the appropriate space or resources to provide age-appropriate care. She said the goal is to meet demand with a trauma-informed, child-centered approach that relieves pressure on emergency departments and helps families access timely, compassionate mental health support in moments of crisis. Intermountain Health turned 50 this year, but some of its facilities were here before the organization even came into being. Intermountain plans to replace LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. The hospital, like the St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, Montana, is more than 100 years old and both are getting do-overs with designs that will be modern and more efficient. Intermountain also recently built a new hospital patient tower in Logan to replace part of its hospital there. Said Rowley, The projects help facilitate Intermountains population health focus of keeping communities healthy by providing proactive care from screenings to chronic condition management through its clinics and hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among other University Health projects are a new Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, set to open late next summer, the Sorenson Center for Medical Innovation that will open next spring and the Huntsman Mental Health Institute Translational Research building, slated to open in October 2026. Not just health systems MountainStar completed a series of expansions in 2023 and 2024, including freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care clinics, training centers, hospital renovations and expansions and more. But hospitals and health systems arent the only ones changing to meet medical needs. Utah County, for example, is getting a specialty clinic focused on multiple sclerosis, greatly reducing the distance that some patients with MS have to travel for care. Its in Lehi, near Point of the Mountain, and is being staffed initially by one physician and one nurse practitioner. Rocky Mountain MS Clinic recently opened a new specialty clinic in Lehi. | Rocky Mountain MS Clinic-Lehi The new MS center is an expansion of the Rocky Mountain MS Clinic in Salt Lake City and will be the first new clinic launched in partnership with Nira Medical, which helps independent neurology practices grow. Dr. John F. Foley, founder of Rocky Mountain MS Clinic, describes Nira as a new platform that brings specialty neurology to underserved communities, noting the new clinic offers space for infusions, research and patient exams. It started treating patients June 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Yashma Patel, the new clinics physician, said Utah has many patients with multiple sclerosis, which is believed to be more common among those of northern European descent, and there has not been enough specialty care not only in Utah, but in the region. Rocky Mountain has been serving patients from five states in its single location. Opening a second clinic is ideal. I suspect that Lehi is going to expand very quickly and they will also have to keep expanding. We have the infrastructure to do so, Patel said. Patel noted that Nira is run by neurologists who understand the challenges and provides resources, but we still get to keep our autonomy and treat the patients the way we believe they should be treated, Patel said. North Star Recovery & Wellness, a Utah-based company, announced in January that its planning to make a $150 million investment in adding 500 inpatient beds to help address a shortage of mental health care, as Axios has reported. New, free clinic at UVU Poelman, of the One Utah Health Collaborative, told Deseret News that more facilities wont matter if people cant afford care. Cost is often a bigger barrier than capacity. He noted that many people avoid care because theyre worried about medical debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the newest projects to increase access to health care is firmly rooted in solving that problem. The Marc C. and Deborah H. Bingham Foundation and Utah Valley University will open a full-service, free community medical clinic this winter on UVUs Orem campus. The Bingham Family Clinic represents the best way to connect education and compassion, said Astrid S. Tuminez, president of UVU, in a news release. We are building a future where every person, regardless of circumstance, has access to quality healthcare. The clinic will also prepare UVU students to lead with skill, empathy and purpose. The notice added that the clinics services will include primary care, scheduled specialty appointments, dental hygiene and on-site pharmacy assistance. The clinic is expected to operate five days a week and is designed to serve individuals without access to medical insurance, with no obligation to pay for the care they receive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The clinic is reportedly a deeply personal undertaking for the Binghams, because when Marc Bingham was young, he suffered severe burns and a traveling doctor by pure chance saved his life. Our vision is simple, he said in announcement. Healthcare for everyday people, regardless of financial situation. My own life was saved because of access to care and we want to make sure no one in our community is left behind. Michigan officials have had to update their advice regarding consuming the state's wild fish after new findings about the toxicity level of a contaminant found in fish, The Detroit News reported. What's happening? PFOS is a type of PFAS, or "forever chemical," a toxin that doesn't naturally break down in the environment or the body for hundreds of years. It builds up over time, causing serious health issues. Sadly, these chemicals are useful to manufacturers for their non-stick and fire-retardant properties, so they're used in a wide variety of products and manufacturing processes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This leads to a lot of environmental contamination especially in water and the sediment underneath it, from which it easily transfers to the fish that ordinary people catch and eat. Unfortunately, the full extent of PFOS's impact was not initially known, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services formerly considered 14 nanograms of PFOS per kilogram to be a protective dose. Public health and safety officials do their best to keep everyday Americans safe from chemicals and other environmental pollution. Unfortunately, their guidelines are only as good as the information they are given. Now, with updated data, the department has reduced its recommended exposure by almost 80% to 2.89 nanograms. Why is limiting PFAS exposure important? Different PFAS are connected to a wide range of health problems, from fertility issues to cancers. In the case of PFOS, human studies and lab testing in animals shows that even low levels are linked to damaged immune systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fish throughout Michigan have levels of PFOS high enough to potentially cause harm, especially if eaten too often. "I personally don't eat a lot of fish for that reason," said Brittanie Dabney, Wayne State University Ph.D. candidate, per The Detroit News. "I tend to stay away from fish or follow the advisories." What's being done about PFOS in Michigan's fish? The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services tightened 305 existing warnings and created 277 new ones detailing which fish from which bodies of water are safe to eat in what quantities, which it published in its Eat Safe Fish Guides. "This is a major win for public health and a long-overdue acknowledgment of the science on PFAS," said Great Lakes PFAS Action Network co-chair Tony Spaniola, per The Detroit News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These new guidelines will help protect people across Michigan especially in frontline communities that rely on fish as a food source." Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Turning Point USA is hosting its 2025 Student Action Summit at the Tampa Convention Center. The event attracts high school and college students from across the country. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke about results from DOGE at the Department of Defense. Trump gives FEMA funds for catastrophic flooding as agencys future is up in the air We found tens of billions of dollars in savings from contracts weve eliminated, green initiatives that are gone, that we move over to President Trumps priorities, Hegseth said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth also promised to help ICE agents who are facing pushback in communities during arrests. If theyre being attacked, their partners at the defense department are proud to stand alongside them to secure them, Hegseth said. Southwest Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, who President Trump has endorsed for governor, urged students to stay engaged. Political activism is critical for the future. I get it. We are riding high. Donald Trump is on a win streak, Donalds said. Donalds was also critical of New York Citys democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani. I have a responsibility to prepare my state for a lot more New Yorkers, Donalds said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump Junior and conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson were also featured as speakers. Victor DiMaio, who leads the Hillsborough Democratic Caucus, feels some ideas and speakers go too far to the right. He said that it will actually benefit the Democratic Party with support from young independent voters. Florida has a lot of huge independent voters, DiMaio said. Those people can be swayed. They make up almost a third of the voting populous. Protestors planned to meet Saturday afternoon at Tampa City Hall in opposition to the Trump agenda and the Student Action Summit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. UPDATE 7/13 at 7:58 a.m.: Richard Hayslip has been found safe, according to Greene County Dispatchers. The endangered missing adult alert has been cancelled. INITIAL REPORT: An endangered missing adult alert has been issued for a 77-year-old man from Xenia. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Authorities in Greene County are looking for Richard Hayslip, 77. Hayslip left his home on Cincinnati Avenue to go to work around 6 a.m. on Saturday, but never arrived, according to the alert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities are concerned for his safety as he suffers from medical issues. TRENDING STORIES: Hayslip is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 164 pounds, has gray hair and blue eyes, according to the alert. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a blue t-shirt, camo shoes and a red and white fishing hat. The vehicle involved is a 2009 Chevy Silverado pickup truck with Ohio plate number HWX5773. The truck has a camper shell on the bed. If you see Hayslip, call 911 or contact the Xenia Greene Central Communications Center at (937) 372-9901. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] HENDERSON, La. (KLFY)- Earlier this year, the town of Henderson received a cluster of mailboxes to help residents with receiving mail since the post office closure, but so far, the mailboxes still arent available for residents to use. Hendersons Mayor, Sherbin Collette, said despite his efforts, the town is still waiting on answers. Its still in limbo right now and its ridiculous, said Collette. I dont know more of what I can do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been two years since the post office in Henderson closed its doors, leaving many to have to travel to Breaux Bridge just to receive their mail. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest To help with the lack of mail coming to the city, Collette said he previously signed a contact with the Breaux Bridge Postmaster, to install 100 cluster mailboxes at the old city hall in Henderson in February. Months later, Collette said he hasnt gotten a clear answer on if and when those mailboxes will become active. I asked the postmaster there, tell me whats happening, and every time he tell me something, it didnt come to fruition, and right now were still waiting, said Collette. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collette said he also requested to have individual mailboxes installed at each home in Henderson due to residents having a lack of transportation. However, the mayor said he was also denied this due to extra boxes being reserved for other parts of St. Martin Parish. Collette shared while he understands there is a process, however he believes residents deserve more. Thats what I went for, they told me no, said Collette. The reason of that is those extra boxes they have for people in the parish, which I understand part of it, but we shouldnt be suffering because of that. News 10 reached out to the Breaux Bridge Postmaster for comment on when the cluster mailboxes will become active for residents. We were directed to the United States Postal Service corporate office who sent us a statement which stated. The Postal Service appreciates its customers and always strives to provide the best possible service. Local postal officials have taken steps to address the situation regarding Cluster Box Units (CBU) installed in Henderson, Louisiana. Customers can expect to receive specific information directly from the Postal Service very soon regarding this matter, including next steps for obtaining access to their boxes. In the interim, customers may continue to pick up their mail at their local Post Office located at 7000 Rees Street Breaux Bridge, Louisiana 70517 during regular business hours. We appreciate the patience of our valued customers as we work to successfully resolve this issue. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The Henderson City Council will discuss at its next meeting a $595,000 settlement with a man a decorated Navy veteran with no criminal history who a police detective mistakenly accused of a series of burglaries and robberies resulting in the mans arrest and eight days in isolation in jail, documents obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators reveal. Documents including a letter from the mans attorney in San Diego, California show Alexander Fidel Lopez, 33, was wrongfully arrested and detained because police tied him to a phone number he hadnt used since 2018. Alexander Fidel Lopez was 350 miles away from Henderson at the time of the crime police were investigating, has a different birthday than their original suspect and never lived in Henderson or Nevada, documents said. Alexander Fidel Lopez served in the Navy from 2008-2012 and in the Navy reserves until 2016, his lawyers letter said. He was awarded with medals for achievement, conduct and service, among other things, and was honorably discharged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorneys letter says Henderson police were investigating a series of break-ins and a carjacking in December 2023. The victim of the carjacking had gone to a specific location to deliver a DoorDash order, and police concluded the same person who was responsible for the carjacking was the same person who placed the original DoorDash order, the lawyers letter says. The chain of events is corroborated in multiple documents originating from the Henderson Police Department. Ultimately, a partially executed settlement agreement reveals, Henderson police were able to identify a suspect named Alexander Lopez using Internet and cell phone data related to the original DoorDash order. The attorneys letter says a police detective used only the phone number associated with the DoorDash order and information from the Internet. When a police detective went in search of an Alexander Lopez, they found Alexander Fidel Lopez, who works as a Federal Transportation Security officer in San Diego, the settlement agreement says, but has a different birthday than their original suspect with the name Alexander Lopez. Unfortunately, the discrepancy in birth year was not caught before a warrant was issued for Mr. Lopezs arrest, the settlement agreement says. Police obtained a warrant for Alexander Fidel Lopez, who was arrested in March 2024 and booked into a downtown San Diego jail pursuant to that warrant, a City Council agenda item summary page says, adding: He remained detained for eight days, much of the time in isolation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alexander Fidel Lopez stayed in jail until the case was dismissed. The settlement agreement says once the city realized its error, the detective worked diligently to withdraw the warrant and have Fidel Lopez released from jail within a day. But the lawyers letter blasts HPD. If a minimal investigation had been conducted, [the detective] would have discovered Claimant is NOT the subscriber to the phone number connected to the incident he was investigating and had not been the subscriber since 2018, the document said, referring to Fidel Lopez. [The detective] would have also discovered that Claimant has been gainfully employed with TSA since 2018, has no criminal history whatsoever, and has not traveled to the State of Nevada in years. The Henderson Police Department, in response to an inquiry from the 8 News Now Investigators on Friday, provided the following statement over email, which reads in its entirety: The city acknowledges the incident involving Mr. Lopezs arrest and the error that led to it. We recognize the seriousness of the situation and its impact on him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Occurrences like this require reflection and a clear commitment to improvement. As we take this opportunity to learn from the incident, we look forward to working with our incoming police chief, who brings a strong commitment to oversight, training and accountability. The chief is focused on reviewing protocols, strengthening training, and setting clear expectations grounded in integrity, professionalism, and public trust. Alexander Fidel Lopez and his attorney have signed the settlement agreement on the city councils agenda for Tuesday. Ahead of the council meeting, however, the agreement has not been signed by Hendersons city manager, Stephanie Garcia-Vause, or the citys attorney, Nicholas Vaskov. The agreement also needs to be signed by the citys director of finance. In 2022, the 8 News Now Investigators discovered, through federal court filings, a young Black man spent six days in custody on a warrant involving a middle-aged white man. The man, Shane Lee Brown, 25, did not have his identification at the time of his Henderson arrest, but provided police his name, Social Security number and Social Security card. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. HONOLULU (KHON2) Honolulu Fire Department confirmed a woman was injured after a building fire broke out in Kalihi. Friends remember elderly victim of Maili fire, want to help send her home to Philippines According to HFD, on July 11, around 6:20 p.m., firefighters responded to a building fire on Haka Drive. After arriving at the scene, they found an extinguished electric scooter. Nearby, firefighters found a woman with burns to her face and hair, with difficulty breathing from smoke inhalation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HFD provided treatment, and the woman was transferred to Emergency Medical Services. HFD wants to remind people of the dangers of Lithium-ion batteries, found in smartphones, e-bikes and e-cigarettes, if not used correctly or damaged. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You HFD provided some safety tips on how to properly handle and store Lithium-ion batteries: Purchase and use devices that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory. Always follow the manufacturers instructions. Only use the battery that is designed for the device. Put batteries in the device the right way. Only use the charging cord that came with the device. Do not charge a mobility device like an e-bike or e-scooter indoors. Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged. Keep batteries at room temperature when possible. Do not charge them at temperatures below 32F (0C) or above 105F (40C). Store batteries away from anything that can catch fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Jul. 11When 5 p.m. arrives at the Priest River Experimental Forest, it's time to check the weather. Each day, as afternoon turns into evening, the U.S. Forest Service research staffer based at the experimental forest there walks over to the weather station next to the office and looks at two thermometers one showing the day's maximum temperature, the other showing the minimum. They record the readings and add them to the station's long-term dataset, which stretches back to 1913. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon, though, nobody will be around to add to it. The experimental forest's superintendent, who lives on site and is responsible for caring for the grounds, coordinating logistics for visiting researchers and manually gathering daily weather data, is leaving the job this month. And the U.S. Forest Service, which manages the site, can't fill the role permanently because of the federal government's continued hiring freeze, which has been extended to October. The news has bled out into the Priest River area over the past few weeks, stoking fears that the experimental forest itself might be shutting down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It won't shut down, said Jason Reinhardt, the scientist-in-charge of the forest. Other Forest Service employees will be assigned to take care of the property and it will still be open to the public. But there will be no full-time research staff there, forcing the discontinuation of a handful of long-term data collection efforts such as the daily weather readings, regular streamflow monitoring and a weekly acid rain sample that's part of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program. "We're stopping some data collection, but we're not shutting the place down," Reinhardt said. There are some digital backups for gathering weather information, but the end of manual data collection will still leave a gap in data researchers have used to track trends going back decades. Gaps have happened in the past, prompted by other people leaving jobs at the forest, but this one comes without a definite end in sight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erin Plue, the Idaho state director for Trout Unlimited, said the experimental forest's weather station provides temperature trend data that's relatively rare in North Idaho. "There's nothing like it nearby," Plue said. "It's pretty comprehensive for a long time. There's very little of these long-term data at lower elevations." The loss comes amid uncertainty about the future of the Forest Service's research and development arm as the Trump administration looks for ways to cut spending and further shrink the federal workforce. The Priest River Experimental Forest is one of two research forests in North Idaho. The other is Deception Creek, east of Coeur d'Alene. Both are part of the Rocky Mountain Research Station and are overseen by the Forestry Sciences Lab in Moscow, Idaho, which is where Reinhardt is based. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Priest River forest was set aside for research in 1911. It consists of more than 6,300 acres of timber about a dozen miles north of the town of Priest River. There are a couple of houses near the office for employees and students who conduct research there. There's also a bunkhouse and some lodging for researchers who visit throughout the field season. Forest Service officials chose the area for an experiment station because it contained each of the important forest types found in the West western white pine, western larch, Douglas fir and western yellow pine. They also thought it would be a good place to study the climatology of the region, and that there was ample room for test plots to study forest yields and growth, according to a 2004 report detailing the forest's history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theresa Jain, who worked at the experimental forest for more than 30 years, said the purpose of experimental forests is to give researchers and land managers a place to try to address the pressing forestry issues of the time. "We can study what actually occurs as a function of different management techniques," Jain said. "It really is designed to inform forest managers." Individual studies have led to major advances in fire and forestry science, Jain said. Daily weather data collection helped advance those studies, and now serves as a valuable record of weather conditions. "One of the things we have now is a history of what's happening to the climate over the last 100 years," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The superintendent was the only full-time employee stationed at the forest. The job comes with a wide array of responsibilities. In the summer, the superintendent mows the lawn. Come winter, they plow the roads. If a tree falls in an inconvenient spot, the superintendent grabs a chainsaw and cuts it up. They also coordinate visits from other researchers and keep both short and long-term research work going. Reinhardt, who was at the experimental forest this week, said he goes there about once a month. He has some long-term projects there, such as a silviculture project looking at western white pine. He plans to visit more now, but couldn't say how often he would go. He said the Idaho Panhandle National Forest has agreed to assign employees to the experimental forest to take care of maintenance on the property, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They won't, however, have time for daily weather collection or the weekly acid rain sample, which measures the chemistry of precipitation. That sample is collected every Tuesday at 9 a.m. and immediately mailed to a lab in Wisconsin. Streamflow monitoring on nearby Benton Creek will suffer, too, as the employees assigned to work on the property will likely lack the technical know-how required. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal hiring freeze has been extended to at least Oct. 15, according to a memo from the Trump administration this week. It's the second time the freeze has been extended since it was ordered in January. Tom Weitz, who lives near Priest Lake and is a former president of the Priest Lake Museum board, said he's happy the experimental forest won't be shuttering entirely, and that someone will be around to maintain the property. But he said it is disappointing that some of the scientific work will end. "You just hate to see science being put to the side," Weitz said. A hit-and-run BMW driver who killed two men crossing a street, including an 80-year-old Chinese immigrant, had downed a couple beers the night of the crash and hit the victims so hard their blood and body matter were strewn over the cars mangled front end, prosecutors said Saturday. BMW driver Juventino Anastacio Florentino, 23, left several parts of his car behind following the 4:22 a.m. Friday crash in Sunset Park. Those parts, as well as license plate readers in the area, helped cops track Florentino to his Staten Island home. He said nothing at court as Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge Elizabeth Warin ordered him held on $100,000 bail. The Staten Island resident is facing manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, among other charges. Its his first arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florentino was grabbed Friday afternoon, more than seven hours after the crash, officials said. When he was taken into custody, cops smelled alcohol on his breath, prosecutors said. He was immediately given a breathalyzer test and had a blood alcohol content of 0.06% under the legal limit, prosecutors said. During questioning, he admitted to buying a six-pack of Modelos a Mexican beer on the night of the crash. I had a six pack of Modelos and two drinks, he admitted, prosecutors said. I was driving the car by myself last night. Its my fault. After I hit them, I came home. Florentino said he didnt drink after coming home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his arraignment, Florentinos attorney, Robert Marinelli, noted that his client isnt facing drunk-driving charges. Cops were still backtracking Florentinos movements on the night of the crash to see if they could find evidence of him leaving a bar or appearing intoxicated before getting behind the wheel, a police source with knowledge of the case told the Daily News. The victims, 59-year-old Faqiu Lin and 80-year-old Kex Un Chen, were crossing the southbound side of Third Ave. at 52nd St. under the elevated Gowanus Expressway when Florentinos BMW plowed into them. The two men were both knocked high into the air and landed feet away from each other, surveillance video recovered by the News shows. Gregory, a horrified business owner who was arriving at work in Sunset Park when the battered BMW sped past him, said he was stunned by the carnage the BMW left behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I go around the block and I saw [the bodies], he said Friday. One was on the sidewalk, and one was by the bus stop. One was facing up and one was faced down. The [one] facing up, I see his face was opened. Chen moved to the United States in 2016, his heartbroken son Qin Xiao Chen, 46, told the News. In China, he was a vegetable farmer, his son said. We dont know where he was going at that hour. He was very independent and true to his word. He wanted to earn things on his own. Chens son said he didnt know Lin. Both men had empty shopping carts, and Chen walked with the assistance of a cane, video recovered by The News shows. Several people ahead of them crossed the avenue against the light without any problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two victims first crossed the avenue against the light, but the light went green as they reached the middle of the street. A moment later, Florentino speeds through them, prosecutors said. (He) is alleged to have driven his vehicle at a high rate of speed through a steady red light, prosecutors said at Florentinos arraignment. The victims had the right of way. (His) vehicle was IDd through parts of the vehicle that were left at the location. Florentinos car was recorded going over the Verrazzano Bridge into Staten Island a short time after the crash, cops said. Investigators tracked the car all the way to the BMW drivers home in West Brighton. His battered and blood-soaked luxury car was sitting in the driveway, cops said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (The car had) front-end damage consistent with a collision with pedestrians and with apparent body matter about the front end, the criminal complaint reads. In addition to the manslaughter and criminally negligent charges, police charged Florentino with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, disobeying traffic signals and driving at an excessive speed. Gregory estimated that Florentino was going more than 70 miles per hour at the time of the crash. He fly, like not even hit the brakes, he said, adding that the driver must have seen the first group of people crossing the wide and well-lit three-lane avenue. If youre a driver and you see eight people cross in front of you, and you see more people are crossing, you have to slow down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Transportation advocates said that since 2018, 80 people have been killed or seriously injured on the same stretch of Third Ave. The city is planning to put safety upgrades on the stretch, but the project has been delayed to 2026, Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Ben Furnas said. These two deaths are as horrifying as they were preventable, and its especially gutting when two New Yorkers are killed on a street that the community and City Hall both know is dangerous, Furnas charged. Sunset Park has demanded better, but the City has stalled time and time again, and now the Adams administrations antagonism toward commonsense safety improvements has killed two men. A spokesperson for City Hall said officials are reviewing the details of the crash. Any attempt to politicize this horrific moment is shamefully disrespectful to the victims friends and families, the spokesperson said. A full redesign of the corridor will require comprehensive input from community members and local businesses, and we look forward to continuing that work to make every New York City neighborhood safer for pedestrians and drivers alike. As of last Monday, 56 people have been fatally struck by vehicles in the city in 2025, compared with 68 by this time last year, officials said. HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) Holyoke Community College (HCC) was awarded grant funding to improve graduation rates for low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities. HCC received this grant through the U.S. Department of Educations TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program. This award of $423,190 will run through June 2026 and marks over 30 years of TRIO services at the college, having helped thousands of HCC students graduate and transition into long-lasting careers. Project Lifesaver helps locate wandering Holyoke woman Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funded under the Higher Education Act of 1965, SSS is one of eight federal TRIO programs designed to removal social, academic, and cultural barriers to higher education. According to an evaluation by the Department of Education in 2019, students in the TRIO SSS program at two-year institutions were 48% more likely to earn an associates degree or transfer to a four-year school. TRIO SSS student Danyelle Foster of Belchertown celebrates her graduation from Holyoke Community College at Commencement on May 31. She earned an associates degree in criminal justice. (Courtesy of Holyoke Community College) The TRIO Student Support Services program at Holyoke Community College empowers students to achieve their academic goals through personalized academic support as they navigate both educational challenges and personal growth, said Elsie Rodriguez-Garcia, director of TRIO programs at HCC. Through mentorship, guidance, and valuable resources, TRIO inspires students to realize their full potential and thrive during their college journey. These services aim to help students complete degrees or transfer with the lowest possible debt, providing services including academic tutoring, financial aid, scholarship guidance, and career exploration. Across the country, TRIO SSS has helped millions of underserved students achieve their potential since the programs inception in 1968. TRIO is more than just a support service, it is a community that engages, encourages, and uplifts students fostering resilience, persistence, and lasting success beyond college, Rodriguez-Garcia said. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. People who grew up in Little Haiti in its heyday have a lot of the same memories: women carrying baskets on their heads with products to sell, Rara bands filling the Friday night air with music, the smell of Haitian cuisine seeping from the windows. The culture was everywhere. But the once-vibrant community that welcomed wave after wave of Haitian immigrants has changed so much in the past decade that the remaining homeowners in the community that are of Haitian descent wonder if their dwindling numbers can keep the culture alive. Institutions like the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, Chef Creole and Libreri Mapou still serve as cultural anchors for the neighborhood, which was officially named Little Haiti in 2016, but for Haitians who own homes in the area, it feels like a ghost town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ashley Toussaint, whose father had lived in Little Haiti since 1988, said the neighborhood has become a shell of itself as hes seen the area overrun by gentrification. Slowly but surely, the many Haitian faces Toussaint used to see began to vanish. He points to the forced eviction of residents at the former Sabal Palm housing project that began in the 1990s as a turning point. Once filled with Haitian immigrants, it was later transformed into Design Place. Little Haiti resident Ashley Toussaint checks his mail while a photo of his father, Ellison Toussaint, is displayed on the wall. Ashley rescued his fathers home after moving back to Miami from Brooklyn, NY. Toussaint says he received multiple requests to sell but refused offers while transforming the property into his home. It changed from being a Haitian community to a white and Latino community, he said of the complex. That was parallel to what was happening in Wynwood. I felt like that was the realization that Little Haiti was no longernew people were coming to the neighborhood en masse. Toussiant is one of a shrinking number of homeowners living in Little Haiti. According to the Miami-Dade County property appraisers office, out of the 7,269 dwelling units in the area including single-family homes, condos, duplex, apartments and public housing there are only 736 homesteaded properties, making the owner-occupancy rate to about 10 percent. Most of those owner-occupied dwellings are among the 1,017 single-family homes in Little Haiti, of which 478 have a homestead exemption. When the Little Haiti Revitalization Trust, in conjunction with FIU, revealed a draft of the trusts strategic plan, it was found that since 2019, 37 percent of properties purchased in the area were owned by outside investors. The plan also noted that Little Haiti is home to 21,759 residents, of whom 37 percent about 8,152 are Haitian-American. And between 2010 and 2023, the neighborhood lost five percent of its population of Haitian descent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Little Haiti is changing. Could a strategic plan help preserve its roots? Little Haiti Revitalization Trust CEO Joann Milord said the trust recognizes its an uphill battle with trying to retain and attract residents. Still, she emphasized the importance of the community to maintain the neighborhoods character. Its important to recognize that there is a significant number of Haitians that still live in Little Haiti, and that we need to find a way to not only preserve them, but help them to climb to a higher economic class, either through education, job training and improving the conditions in which they live as well, so that they want to maintain the neighborhood, she said. Aging homeowners and family assets For Little Haiti homeowners like Toussaint, keeping the property in the family has presented its own set of challenges. Nearly 25 percent of Little Haitis homeowners are 65 years and older, according to the strategic plan, making the properties both a valuable family asset and a financial burden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toussaints father Elisson purchased his home in 1988 and Toussaint became a co-owner of the property in 2017, when the city had it condemned. At that time, the home was declared an unsafe structure and was set for demolition, Toussaint said. He filed a quitclaim deed to add him as an owner of the property, paid the necessary fees to rectify the situation and has maintained it ever since. Hes lived in the home since 2019. I didnt really inherit so much, I kind of saved it, he said. Now hes also inherited the job of fending off the deluge of potential buyers of the property. He said hes been offered $250,000 for the home, which he says is worth an estimated $700,000. Like Toussaint, Cassel Paul said hes had to fend off predatory buyers calling to purchase his parents home, often offering far less than what its worth. I had to finally tell them to stop calling every day, five, six times a week, he said. We want to buy your house. Listen, my folks own this house. They live here. If they sell you this house, where are they going to live? Little Haiti resident Gaspard Paul, 93, pictured, and wife Philomene, 96, has owned their home since 1976 and have remained in the house with no plan to sell. The Pauls moved to what is now Little Haiti in 1971, when Paul said the neighborhood was predominantly white and very unwelcoming to Haitians. To make that adjustment all of a sudden you have people not liking you, disliking you just because of who you are. That was a shock. It was a shock to the system, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pauls 93-year-old father Gaspard lost a house to foreclosure before settling in the current home, which is where he raised his kids. Cassel Paul is determined to protect this family asset, but the fate of the home once his parents are gone has yet to be decided, whether he and siblings sell or keep it. This is their home, so were here. We leave it at that, he said. Paul pointed to the low wages as part of the reason residents are leaving for more affordable areas, and taking with them the culture that cultivated Little Haiti. According to the trusts strategic plan, 50 percent of Little Haitis homeowners and 63 percent of renters are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing costs. The bulk of the culture is lost, Cassel Paul said. I listen to folks talk about bringing jobs and more affordable housing to Little Haiti, but affordable housing for who? When you bring in $13 hour jobs, but youre charging thousands of dollars in rent, it doesnt jive. Little Haiti resident Gaspard Paul, 93, right, has owned his home since 1976. his son Cassel Paul, 62, who grew up in the house, says the area has lost a lot of its culture over the years. Getting in on the changes in the area Another challenge homeowners face is the influx of short term and vacation rentals in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Airbnb, the short-term vacation rental company, says only one percent of all available housing in Miami-Dade County is listed on their site, but company did not provide data down to the neighborhood level. There are about 415 listings in Little Haiti as of July 11, according to Airbtics, a website which tracks Airbnb listings and analytics. Still, Airbnbs can be profitable for homeowners: The typical host earned an estimated $15,000 in 2024, according to Airbnb. For families like Erica Desinords that may be the solution to keeping their familys home. When Desinords grandfather purchased his home in 1988, Little Haiti was still a vibrant neighborhood where she recalled going outside to play. Now, with her grandfathers recent passing, Desinord said the family will turn the property into a short-term rental property. Its a way to honor him, a man ever determined to keep his home. Because he always said he worked hard for this, he didnt have an education, all he did was work, Desinord said. This is his home, so we didnt want to sell it and get money. Desinord said her grandfather had been approached several times about selling his home, but he would always give an emphatic, no. So we want to keep that no going. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As new development encroaches upon Little Haiti, the Little Haiti Revitalization Trust, which is set to vote on its drafted strategic plan as early as September, is making efforts to increase homeownership among longtime residents. Their homebuyer and rehab program, which officially launched in June, provides down payment assistance to residents renting in Little Haiti looking to purchase a home or to those desiring to buy a home in Little Haiti. They havent received one application yet. We have to be cognizant of the fact that development is happening in Little Haiti and that its a force of nature that we cannot stop, she said. However, we have to try to see how it is developed and can be inclusive, and see which role the community thats currently there can be involved in that. Still, as much as they try to hold onto their family legacies, Desinord, the Pauls and Toussaint, acknowledge that change is inevitable. They simply want a say in those changes. Lets be part of the action. Some people want to be enemies of change and then not benefit at all, Toussaint said. I do feel like we still have the power to represent our culture. The Brief Two illegals were arrested at a Sterling Heights Super 8 motel recently. One man admitted to being an MS-13 member with a previous murder on his record. The second man from Honduras, had been kicked out of the country four times previous including twice for crimes. STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (FOX 2) - What started out as two men arguing at a motel turned into an arrest with one of the men admitting he was an MS-13 gang member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to US Customs and Border Protection the two men arrested at the Sterling Heights Super 8 were not in the country legally and were found to have more than five grams of crystal meth. The backstory This photo shows the MS-13 tattoo of one of the men and border agents says he admitted to serving 20 years in a Salvadorian prison for the murder of a rival gang member. One of the men is 47-year-old Filander Ramos-Hernandez of Honduras FOX 2 acquired audio of his arraignment. Judge: "With unlawful re-entry into the United States after having been previously removed along with an enhancement for having a prior aggravated felony conviction," Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prior conviction was delivering drugs in 2010. In fact Ramos Hernandez has been removed from the US four times already in 2005, in 2010 after the drug charge, again in 2012 and then in 2016 after an assault. He told agents he paid a smuggler $15,000 to walk him across the border in February 2025. Related:MS-13 gang member among 2 illegals arrested in Sterling Heights "It does make me feel better that hes going back where he came from if hes here illegally," said Miles Mattei, who works nearby. "It makes me feel better the police are actually doing their job and making the streets a lot safer." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both men are being processed for removal from the US. Ramos-Hernandezs next court date is July 23rd. Inset: A photo of the arrested MS-13 gang member. Large photo: The Sterling Heights Motel 8 where the illegals were arrested. The Source Information from federal court was used including a recording for this report as well as an interview with a man who works nearby. COURTESY CRIMESTOPPERS Dante Miller COURTESY CRIMESTOPPERS Dante Miller Honolulu police are looking for the suspect in a Monday night shooting in Kalihi that seriously injured a 22-year-old man. CrimeStoppers said in a bulletin Friday night that police have identified the suspect as 51-year-old Dante Miller, who is described as 6 foot 1, 245 lbs, African-American, bald, with multiple tattoos on his face, neck, arms and hands. He is considered armed and dangerous, and should not be approached, police said. According to the Honolulu Police Department, at about 9 p.m. Monday, the suspect, armed with a handgun, shot the victim in Kalihi before fleeing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 22-year-old man was shot in Kalihi on Monday night and was hospitalized in serious condition. Emergency Medical Services personnel treated the victim and transported him to a hospital in serious condition. Police are investigating the case as second-degree attempted murder. Anyone who sees Miller should call 911 or notify CrimeStoppers. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 808-955-8300, or send an anonymous tip to or via the P3 Tips app. See more : 25 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) The Hopkins County Health Department announced they have established a commonality with the Giardia outbreak and El Tapatio restaurant. According to a statement from the health department, county and state environmentalists have been onsite taking samples and will be doing food service training. Officials say the walk-in refrigerator at the restaurant had a temperature excursion and the food will need to be disposed of. The statement said the restaurant is cooperating with the health department, and the business will be closed for maintenance and training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say they are also investigating other areas for commonalities as well. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Scientists are warning that glaciers melting due to global warming could trigger explosive and potentially deadly volcanic eruptions around the world. As detailed in a new study presented at the Goldschmidt international geochemistry conference this week and due to be peer-reviewed later this year, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison analyzed six volcanoes in southern Chile to study how retreating ice sheets may have influenced past volcanic behavior. Using advanced argon dating and crystal analysis methods, they found that around the peak of the last ice age, around 20,000 years ago, a thick ice cover subdued volcanic activity, allowing a huge reservoir of magma to accumulate six to nine miles below the surface. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the end of the ice age led the ice sheets to retreat rapidly. The sudden loss of ice weight allowed gases in the magma to expand, setting the stage for explosive eruptions from newly formed volcanoes. Now, scientists are warning that a similar scenario could unfold thanks to global warming. "Glaciers tend to suppress the volume of eruptions from the volcanoes beneath them," said University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student and lead author Pablo Moreno-Yaeger in a statement. "But as glaciers retreat due to climate change, our findings suggest these volcanoes go on to erupt more frequently and more explosively." Scientists previously found that melting glaciers could increase volcanic activity by observing the phenomenon in Iceland. However, other places in the world could also be at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our study suggests this phenomenon isnt limited to Iceland, where increased volcanicity has been observed, but could also occur in Antarctica," Moreno-Yaeger explained. "The key requirement for increased explosivity is initially having a very thick glacial coverage over a magma chamber, and the trigger point is when these glaciers start to retreat, releasing pressure which is currently happening in places like Antarctica." "Other continental regions, like parts of North America, New Zealand and Russia, also now warrant closer scientific attention," he added. Worse, in the long term eruptions themselves could contribute to "long-term global warming because of a buildup of greenhouse gases," as Moreno-Yaeger explained. "This creates a positive feedback loop, where melting glaciers trigger eruptions, and the eruptions in turn could contribute to further warming and melting," he said. More on volcanoes: Scientists Say Something Is Corking the Yellowstone Supervolcano House Democrats addressed a letter to President Donald Trump and weather infrastructure officials on Friday, expressing deep concern about the flooding in Kerr County, Texas, and the structural shortcomings at the federal, state, and local levels that contributed to the tragic loss of life. It comes as Trump toured disaster areas alongside local officials on Friday. Democratic Reps. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, Lloyd Doggett of Texas, and Eric Sorenson of Illinois wrote to the president and Laura Grimm, who is performing the duties of the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as Lt. Gen. William Graham Jr., the Chief of Engineers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This tragedy echoes a troubling national pattern of accelerating flash flood disasters that have claimed lives, the members of Congress wrote, noting the 46 killed in New York in September 2021, the 45 who died in July 2022, the 20 killed in Tennessee in August 2021, and the 250 who died across the Southeast in September of last year. These events are not anomaliesthey are harbingers of a climate-disrupted future, they stated. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott meet with local officials and first responders in Kerrville, Texas on Friday (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott meet with local emergency services personnel as they survey flood damage along the Guadalupe River (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Doggett represents a district in the Austin, Texas area, hours from the flood epicenter in Kerr County. Sorensen is a meteorologist. They shared concerns that cuts mandated by the Department of Government Efficiency to the National Weather Service had delayed warnings regarding the floods in Texas. At least 121 people have died, and more than 160 remain missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast may have been accurate, accurate weather forecasts are not enough, the House Democrats wrote. It is imperative that these warnings are adequately communicated to members of the public and in a way that prompts the appropriate lifesaving action by emergency managers, first responders, and the public at-large. We are concerned that there seems to have been a breakdown at this stage starting with the first flash flood watches issued on Thursday afternoon. The lawmakers noted the NWS has lost almost 15 percent of its nationwide staff since January. The forecast accuracy and timeliness during this event in Texas was a testament to the dedication of the local NWS staff who flexed their schedules to ensure adequate coverage during such a high-impact event, they wrote. That is not a sustainable solution, nor is it reliable enough for the increasing incidence of dangerous weather events. Trump and the first lady greet first responders (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) The vacancies may have complicated efforts to work with officials on the local levels, The New York Times has reported. Some of the unfilled positions stem from before Trumps second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislators called on NOAA and the Army Corps of Engineers to outline plans to adapt federal weather services to what they referred to as the growing frequency of extreme precipitation events attributable to climate change. Trump visited Kerrville on Friday, meeting with Texas officials, as he toured the damage from last weeks deadly flash floods. Alongside First Lady Melania Trump, the president shook hands with first responders. More than two dozen girls from the Camp Mystic summer camp died in the floods. Trump took part in an aerial tour of the Guadalupe River along with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Sen. Ted Cruz, and other officials. Trump visited the state as Texas lawmakers are facing increasing scrutiny over the handling of the floods and the states warning systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president took part in a roundtable discussion with local officials, comparing the death toll and devastation to previous natural disasters he has seen during his time in office. Trump participates in a roundtable with first responders and local officials after catastrophic floods, at Hill Country Youth Center (REUTERS) Ive never seen anything like it, said Trump. A little narrow river that becomes a monster. He went on to note that dozens and dozens of precious children had been taken from us. Phil McGraw, the TV personality known as Dr. Phil, took part in the discussion, saying, "We know psychologically that the number one stressor that we can experience in life is the loss of a child. "And the worst situation that we can experience is when it's sudden and when it's violent. That's the worst thing that can happen, stress-wise, in life, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was unclear why the TV personality attended the roundtable. Federal Emergency Management Agency Acting Administrator David Richardson has been absent during the federal response to the floods in Texas, and he was not present for the discussion. The Trump administration has pushed back against the criticism that its previous cuts led to a slower response amid growing pushback against the administrations previous calls to eliminate FEMA. A White House official told NewsNation on Friday that a FEMA review council is planning to reform the agency, rather than closing it down. While Federal assistance was always intended to supplement state actions, not replace those actions, FEMAs outsized role created a bloated bureaucracy that disincentivized state investment in their own resilience, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told the outlet. Russian forces conducted a drone and missile attack on the city of Lutsk on the night of 11-12 July, destroying a house and damaging other homes and a car. Source: Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk on Telegram Details: Polishchuk said that one house had been completely destroyed in the nighttime combined attack by the Russian Federation on the city. Windows in nearby houses were shattered due to the blast wave and debris. A car also caught fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is no information about any fatalities," he reported. Background: On the night of 11-12 July, Russian forces conducted a large-scale attack on Ukraine using drones and missiles. Explosions were heard in several oblasts and the capital. Ukraine's Air Force reported the movement of Russian missiles and attack drones towards Lutsk. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks July 11, 2025 at the Family Leadership Summit in Des Moines about her time working in Iowa during her father's 2008 presidential campaign. (Photo by Tom Foley/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders celebrated her familys legacy with the Trump administration and Iowa ties Friday at the Family Leadership Summit. Sanders is the former White House press secretary. Her father, Mike Huckabee is the current U.S. ambassador to Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the president hired me, I was only the third woman and the very first mom to ever serve that role. I soon discovered that being a mom was actually the greatest preparation I could ever have for the White House press secretary, Sanders said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX At the time Sanders was hired, she said, her kids were five, three and one, respectively. She claims her kids trained her in having the patience to say no a lot and answer the same question over and over again. The Summit, sponsored by the Family Leader, is an annual event promoting pro-life and anti-LGBTQ+ policy, religious liberty and Christ-centered leadership. The event is often a stop for GOP presidential hopefuls. In 2024, visitors included Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and others. Past speakers include President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While at the summit, she told a story of the time her father took her to Yad Vasheem, Israels monument to the Holocaust. She also read aloud a text message to Trump sent by her father in Israel, in which he wrote, You sent me to Israel to be your eyes, ears and voice and to make sure our flag flies above our embassy. My job is to be the last one to leave. Sanders said her father has spent the better part of a month working from a bunker as Iranian missiles rain down on the country. Sanders also mentioned her work on AI policy, leading a group of 17 Republican governors in sending a letter advocating for the removal of the10-year AI regulation moratorium from the one, big beautiful bill act. She also published an op-ed about the dangers of AI if left unchecked by Congress. The moratorium was removed from the budget bill on July 1. Doing whats right led us to empower parents against big tech, keep explicit material out of the hands of our kids, protect our right to safeguard against some of the worst abuses of AI, Sanders said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She thanked Iowans for the 2008 presidential campaign she says helped propel her father to his current position. She said, Iowa will always hold a very special place in my heart. Sanders has made no official statement indicating interest in a presidential run in 2028. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks July 11, 2025 at the Family Leadership Summit in Des Moines about her time working in Iowa during her fathers 2008 presidential campaign. (Photo by Tom Foley/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders celebrated her familys legacy with the Trump administration and Iowa ties Friday at the Family Leadership Summit. The Summit, sponsored by the Family Leader, is an annual event promoting pro-life and anti-LGBTQ+ policy, religious liberty and Christ-centered leadership. The event is often a stop for GOP presidential hopefuls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders served as White House press secretary during President Donald Trumps first term. Her father, Mike Huckabee is the current U.S. ambassador to Israel, a former Arkansas governor and a former candidate for president. When the president hired me, I was only the third woman and the very first mom to ever serve that role. I soon discovered that being a mom was actually the greatest preparation I could ever have for the White House press secretary, Sanders said. At the time Sanders was hired, she said, her kids were five, three and one, respectively. She claims her kids trained her in having the patience to say no a lot and answer the same question over and over again. While at the summit, she told a story of the time her father took her to Yad Vasheem, Israels monument to the Holocaust. She also read aloud a text message to Trump sent by her father in Israel, in which he wrote, You sent me to Israel to be your eyes, ears and voice and to make sure our flag flies above our embassy. My job is to be the last one to leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders said her father has spent the better part of a month working from a bunker as Iranian missiles rain down on the country. Sanders also mentioned her work on AI policy, leading a group of 17 Republican governors in sending a letter advocating for the removal of the 10-year AI regulation moratorium from the one, big beautiful bill act. She also published an op-ed about the dangers of AI if left unchecked by Congress. The moratorium was removed from the budget bill on July 1. Doing whats right led us to empower parents against big tech, keep explicit material out of the hands of our kids, protect our right to safeguard against some of the worst abuses of AI, Sanders said. She thanked Iowans for the 2008 presidential campaign she says helped propel her father to his current position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowa will always hold a very special place in my heart, she said. Sanders has made no official statement indicating interest in a presidential run in 2028. Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. About 150 firefighters tackled a large fire at an industrial estate in south-east London. The blaze broke out at a warehouse in a scrap yard on Maypole Crescent in Erith shortly before 23:00 BST on Friday. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said three diggers and several vehicles were also alight, but there were no reports of any injuries. The blaze, the cause of which is under investigation, had been brought under control by 06:52. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed due to the volume of smoke in the area. Twenty-five fire engines were sent to the scene, along with two 32-metre turntable ladders, which were used to provide an aerial view and deliver water from above, an LFB spokesperson said. One of the brigade's fire boats was also deployed to assist firefighting from the River Thames. The vessel can pump 2,500 litres of water per minute using its remote-operated monitors. Crews from Bexley, Erith, Plumstead, East Greenwich, Sidcup and other nearby stations responded after the first emergency call was received at 22:47. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk GRAND CANYON, Ariz. Hundreds of visitors and residents were evacuated from the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park this week as two wildfires advanced toward the park. One of the fires, the White Sage Fire, is burning about 15 miles southeast of Fredonia, Arizona. Located just outside the Grand Canyon park boundary, Fredonia is where one of the few paved roads into and out of the North Rim runs. As the White Sage Fire grew in size Thursday night, about 500 visitors were immediately evacuated from the North Rim. By the following night, the White Sage Fire had grown to more than 10,000 acres. White Sage Fire burns near Grand Canyon National Park. "The fire made a significant run on the afternoon of July 10, spotting, and torching due to sustained winds from 15-20 mph, fueled by extremely dry conditions, low relative humidity, and low fuel moistures," officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second wildfire, the Dragon Bravo Fire, is burning several miles southeast of the White Sage Fire and inside the Grand Canyons North Rim. Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim Evacuated Due To Nearby Wildfire The Dragon Bravo Fire had grown to about 1,500 acres and led to the evacuation of North Rim residents Friday night. Dragon Bravo Fire within the Inner Canyon of Grand Canyon National Park. It began on July 4, 2025. "Initially managed for resource objectives under a confine-and-contain strategy, fire behavior and growth increased in recent days due to hot, dry, and windy conditions," the National Park Service said. They noted that both fires were started by lightning. The North Rim remains closed to all visitors until further notice, the NPS said. Dragon Bravo Fire burns in Grand Canyon National Park. They added that smoke from the wildfires can be seen from the South Rim, potentially affecting air quality in that region of the park. South Rim visitors may stay updated on air quality impacts through AirNow.gov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How To Watch Fox Weather Officials warn that weather conditions are not favorable for containing the White Sage and Dragon Bravo Fires, as they are forecasting strong, gusty winds and low relative humidity. As of Friday night, the fires were 0% contained. Original article source: Hundreds of Grand Canyon park visitors, residents evacuated due to nearby wildfires A 21-year-old Hungarian citizen, Benjamin Aser, was killed in Ukraine on May 24 while fighting as a volunteer against Russia, Hungarian news outlet Telex reported on July 11, citing Ukrainian and Hungarian sources as well as Benjamin's father. Aser, originally from Hungary, was previously a contracted soldier in the Hungarian Defense Forces. According to Telex, he went missing from his post in March 2023, prompting criminal proceedings. He reportedly told a superior at the time that he intended to go fight in Ukraine. An undisclosed Ukrainian source told Telex that Aser served in the elite 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. He was reportedly killed while serving with that unit, shortly after his 21st birthday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent has reached out to the 3rd Assault Brigade for comment. His father, Natan Aser, who now lives in Canada and has received political asylum there, confirmed to Telex that Benjamin is a Hungarian citizen who lived in Canada from 2019 to 2021 before returning to Hungary. Natan Aser added that his son had autism and "should never have been accepted into the Hungarian army," though he had long dreamed of becoming a soldier. "He loved military technology and strategy he was already drawing tanks at the age of eight," his father said. Natan expressed a desire to have his son buried in Kyiv or Toronto, as he cannot return to Hungary and wishes to be able to visit the grave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said his son's commitment to Ukraine was deep and personal: "Benjamin's heart and soul belonged to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," he told Telex, adding that his son had "clearly taken a stand for Ukraine with his actions and decisions" and would never have returned to Hungary. Hungary's Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry have not yet responded to Telex's request for comment. Thousands of foreign nationals have joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces as volunteers since the beginning of the Russian large-scale invasion, with many killed in combat in the past three and a half years. Hungary's government is broadly seen as the most Russian-friendly among EU and NATO members, with its Prime Minister Viktor Orban repeatedly blocking military support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: These were not negotiations Ukraines deputy foreign minister on Istanbul talks with Russia in exclusive interview Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Benjamin Aser, a 21-year-old Hungarian citizen who fought on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a volunteer, has been killed in the war unleashed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Source: Hungarian news portal Telex; European Pravda Details: The publication writes that the 21-year-old Hungarian volunteer died on 24 May. Telex emphasises that he was not from Ukraines Zakarpattia Oblast but from Hungary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benjamin Aser initially served in the Hungarian armed forces on a contract basis. The publication notes that in March 2023, he failed to report for duty, resulting in criminal charges being brought against him. The publication states that the man told his commander that he was going to fight in Ukraine. According to unconfirmed information from a Ukrainian source, Benjamin Aser served in the Third Assault Brigade. He was killed in battle against Russian forces shortly after his 21st birthday. The publication reports that Hungarian diplomats are currently working to return the body of the deceased to his homeland. Meanwhile, the father of the deceased volunteer, who lives in Canada, wants to bury his son in Kyiv or Toronto. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Journalists contacted Aser's father, who said that his son had lived in Canada from 2019 to 2021, after which he returned to Hungary. He confirmed that his son served in the Hungarian army on a contract basis before going to Ukraine, but as far as he knows, he went to the Ukrainian front not in the spring of 2023 but earlier and did not tell anyone about his plans. The man also said that his son had an autism spectrum disorder and that his son wanted to become a professional soldier, but, as he claims, the Hungarian armed forces refused him. Background: Hungary recently summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to lodge a protest following media reports that a Hungarian citizen had died in Zakarpattia allegedly after being beaten by the employees of a military enlistment office. The Ukrainian side noted that the deceased was a citizen of Ukraine, and according to the forensic medical examination, the cause of his death was pulmonary embolism. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, in turn, stated that Hungary's attempts to manipulate individual cases of mobilisation in Ukraine for political purposes are damaging Ukrainian-Hungarian relations. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! One Australian man is channeling a passion from his upbringing, hunting, into a sustainable and positive movement for the local ecosystem. AboutRegional reported on Andrew Joulianou, a prolific hunter who local landowners count on to rid their properties of unwanted invasive species in Australia, including deer, pigs, and goats. Joulianou's work doesn't stop there, as he makes sure to store and then use the entire animal for meat to feed his family. That allows them to avoid butcheries and supermarkets while eschewing food waste. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They're getting slaughtered in an abattoir in unethical ways," Joulianou said of commercially available meat. Joulianou's hunting background goes back to a tradition led by his grandfather, who introduced him to hunting smaller animals, like rabbits and ducks. He said he did at times have second thoughts about what he was doing after classmates would ask if he felt bad for the rabbits. "But now, looking back, that's not really a valid comment because at the end of the day, everyone's eating meat," Joulianou pointed out. Best of all, Joulianou can now take on invasive species that can wreak all sorts of havoc on the local ecosystem. By keeping the number of these animals in check, Joulianou is protecting native animals and plants while potentially stopping a rise in disruptive human and animal interactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They damage the environment, but at the same time, it's food and it's abundant," Joulianou told AboutRegional. "I'm making the most of the scenario I've been put in." Local landowners have taken notice of Joulianou's skills, and his clientele has increased through word of mouth. He plies his trade with supplies like a rangefinder and binoculars in his backpack. Once on site, he walks up to 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) to find his spot and emphasizes the importance of patience during the hunt. Another important thing Joulianou does is drive awareness of how to butcher the animals and cook each part of the meat. To that end, he holds classes and uses his Facebook page as a resource for hunters. That work fills a gap in education for hunters, as hunting stores inform customers more about gadgets and tech than about what to do after a successful hunt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At the end of the day, we're not just hunters," Joulianou noted. "You have to learn how to skin, butcher, and cook it." Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Federal immigration agents raided a Home Depot in Barstow last month and arrested a man who had his 3-year-old pit bull, Chuco, with him. A friend managed to grab Chuco from the scene and bring the dog back to the garage where he lives. Chuco's owner was deported to Mexico the next day. The SPAY(CE) Project, which spays and neuters dogs in underserved areas, put out a call on Instagram to help Chuco and an animal rescue group agreed to take him, but then went quiet. Meanwhile, the garage owner took Chuco to an undisclosed shelter. After repeated attempts, SPAY(CE) co-founder Esther Ruurda said her nonprofit gave up on finding the dog or a home for him, since "no one has space for an adult male Pittie these days." So the poor dog is left to die in the shelter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not an isolated incident. Since federal immigration raids, primarily targeting Latino communities, began roiling Los Angeles in early June, animal rescues and care providers across the county are hearing desperate pleas for help. At least 15 dogs were surrendered at L.A. County animal shelters due to deportations between June 10 and July 4, according to the countys Department of Animal Care and Control. Pets belonging to people who are deported or flee are being left in empty apartments, dumped into the laps of unprepared friends and dropped off at overcrowded shelters, The Times found. "Unless people do take the initiative [and get the pets out], those animals will starve to death in those backyards or those homes," said Yvette Berke, outreach manager for Cats at the Studios, a rescue that serves L.A. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet with many animal refuges operating at capacity, it can be difficult to find temporary homes where pets are not at risk of euthanasia. Fearing arrest if they go outside, some people are also forgoing healthcare for their pets, with clinics reporting a surge in no-shows and missed appointments in communities affected by the raids. "Pets are like the collateral damage to the current political climate, said Jennifer Naitaki, vice president of programs and strategic initiatives at the Michelson Found Animals Foundation. Worrying data Cats curiously watch a visitor at the AGWC Rockin' Rescue in Woodland Hills. Manager Fabienne Origer said the center is at capacity and these pets need to be adopted to make room for others. With shelters and rescues stuffed to the gills, an influx of pets is "another impact to an already stressed system," Berke said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dogs large ones in particular can be hard to find homes for, some rescues said. Data show that two county shelters have seen large jumps in dogs being surrendered by their owners. The numbers of dogs relinquished at L.A. Countys Palmdale shelter more than doubled in June compared with June of last year, according to data obtained by The Times. At the countys Downey shelter, the count jumped by roughly 50% over the same period. Some of this increase could be because of a loosening of requirements for giving up a pet, said Christopher Valles with L.A. County's animal control department. In April the department eliminated a requirement that people must make an appointment to relinquish a pet. Rocky, a 7-year-old mixed-breed dog, has been at AGWC Rockin' Rescue for three years. Theres no set time limit on when an animal must be adopted to avoid euthanizing, said Valles, adding that behavior or illness can make them a candidate for being put to sleep. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And there are resources for people in the deported persons network who are willing to take on the responsibility for their pets, like 2-year-old Mocha, a female chocolate Labrador retriever who was brought in to the county's Baldwin Park shelter in late June and is ready for adoption. "We stand by anybody who's in a difficult position where they can't care for their animal because of deportation," Valles said. Some rescues, however, urge people not to turn to shelters because of overcrowding and high euthanasia rates. Rates for dogs getting put down at L.A. city shelters increased 57% in April compared with the same month the previous year, according to a recent report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement L.A. Animal Services, which oversees city shelters, did not respond to requests for comment or data. Already at the breaking point Fabienne Origer, manager of AGWC Rockin' Rescue, with Gracie, a 4-week-old kitten found on Ventura Boulevard and brought to the center a week ago. Every day, Fabienne Origer is bombarded with 10 to 20 calls asking if AGWC Rockin Rescue in Woodland Hills, which she manages, can take in dogs and cats. She estimates that one to two of those pleas are now related to immigration issues. The rescue, like many others, is full. Part of the reason is that many people adopted pets during the COVID-19 crisis when they were stuck at home and dumped them when the world opened back up, she said. Skyrocketing cost of living and veterinary care expenses have also prompted people to get rid of their pet family members, several rescues said. Vet prices have surged by 60% over a decade . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement L.A. Animal Services reported "critical overcrowding" in May, with more than 900 dogs in its custody. "It's already bad, but now on top of that, a lot of requests are because people have disappeared, because people have been deported, and if we can take a cat or two dogs," Origer said. It's just ongoing, every single day. Wounds you cant see Assistant manager Antonia Schumann pets a couple of dogs at AGWC Rockin' Rescue. Animals suffer from the emotional strain of separation and unceremonious change when their owners vanish, experts said. When a mother and three young daughters from Nicaragua who were pursuing asylum in the U.S. were unexpectedly deported in May following a routine hearing, they left behind their beloved senior dog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was taken in by the mother's stepmom. Not long after, the small dog had to be ushered into surgery to treat a life-threatening mass. The small dog is on the mend physically, but "is clearly depressed, barely functioning and missing her family," the stepmother wrote in a statement provided to the Community Animal Medicine Project (CAMP), which paid for the surgery. She's used to spending all day with the girls and sleeping with them at night, the stepmom said. From Nicaragua, the girls have been asking to get their dog back. For now, theyre using FaceTime. Shirley and Bruno lounge in their space at AGWC Rockin' Rescue. They have been there for five years. Retooling in an era of fear Prior to the ICE raids, 80 to 100 people often lined up for services at clinics run by the Latino Alliance for Animal Care Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now such a line could draw attention, so the Alliance staggers appointments, according to Jose Sandoval, executive director of the Panorama City-based organization that provides education and services to Latino families. "It's hitting our 'hood," Sandoval said, "and we couldn't just sit there and not do anything." Within two hours of offering free services including vaccines and flea medication refills to people affected by ICE raids, they received about 15 calls. CAMP, whose staff is almost entirely people of color and Spanish speaking, is mulling reviving telehealth options and partnering to deliver baskets of urgently needed pet goods. Its drilling staffers on what to do if immigration officers show up at the workplace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Humans aren't leaving their house for themselves, so if their dog has an earache they may hesitate to go out to their vet, but animals will suffer," said Alanna Klein, strategy and engagement officer for CAMP. "We totally understand why they're not doing it, but [pets] are alongside humans in being impacted by this." CAMP has seen a 20%-30% increase in missed appointments since the first week of June, for everything from spay and neuter to wellness exams to surgical procedures. After a video of an ICE raid at a car dealership near CAMPs clinic in Mission Hills circulated in mid-June, they had 20 no-shows highly unusual. We're forced to operate under the extreme pressure and in the midst of this collective trauma, said Zoey Knittel, executive director of CAMP, but we'll continue doing it because we believe healthcare should be accessible to all dogs and cats, regardless of their family, socioeconomic or immigration status. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. President Donald Trumps decision to deploy masked, armed federal agents to round up community members is one of the more horrifying features of his second term. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) brutal crackdown on undocumented migrants across the country has led many activists, members of the public, and Democratic politicians to characterize the agency as a new secret police. Trumps ICE conducts raids at immigration courts, workplaces, and on farmland, with agents regularly dressing in plainclothes, wearing masks and face coverings to hide their identities, and eschewing the use of identifying insignia like badges, agency names, and other markers of their affiliation with law enforcement. This is authoritarian, militarized secret police; this is not what you see in a democratic government, Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said in late June. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander who was arrested last month by masked agents while accompanying a man to his immigration hearing criticized Trumps warrantless, plain-clothed ICE agents who hide behind masks on social media Thursday, adding that hes proud to support a state bill to stop ICE from operating in the shadows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Homeland Securitys X account expressed disgust that Lander would compare ICE agents to secret police, as DHS put it, calling this rhetoric despicable and claiming that agents verbally identify themselves and wear labels. The White House put out a press release the same day claiming that Democrats Inspire Vicious, Escalating Attacks on ICE, insisting that attacks have only gotten more brazen in recent days. In it, the White House calls out Goldman and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for usage of the term secret police. The administration may publicly dispute the idea that ICE agents are operating like secret police, but behind closed doors its preferred policy and a fun meme. In recent weeks according to two administration officials and two other Republicans close to the Trump White House some of the most MAGA contingents of the government have come to embrace, mostly privately, the secret police branding as a way to sardonically troll the lefts denunciations of Team Trump and ICE operations. One Trump administration official tells Rolling Stone that in casual conversations with other Trump aides and advisers, Ive definitely said we should get SECRET POLICE printed on some T-shirts and merch and make it look kind of badass, but the issue is that its harder to get away with than the presidents mugshot or proud deplorable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second Trump administration official adds that theres a recurring joke they ask colleagues at the office, when soliciting updates on federal immigration operations: What are the secret police up to today? The official notes: Were just having a little fun with it. I dont actually think ICE is the secret police. They are certainly having fun with it. One of the sources close to the White House shared a partial screenshot of a group chat, which Rolling Stone confirmed included at least two Trump appointees, in which one MAGA loyalist sent an apparently self-made meme graphic featuring Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), the words Trumps Secret Police, and a picture of Sylvester Stallone as Judge Dredd. Three of these MAGA sources say that they, along with other members of Trumps orbit and administration, have repeatedly sent each other their favorite pro-ICE and pro-secret police memes they have found in hard-right online fever swamps. Some of them have internally pitched ideas for repurposing particularly based images for Trump to post to Truth Social, or for the White House or Homeland Security to promote, with little success so far. This doesnt mean the White House or Homeland Security isnt posting its own memes pertaining to ICEs brutalization of human beings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) on Thursday reacted to a video of ICE raiding farmland in California by questioning how many alleged gang members are waking up at 3 a.m. to pick strawberries? Oyeah, zero! Trump said hed go after bad hombres, but hes targeting the immigrant farm workers who feed America. Either he lied or he cant tell the difference, Gomez wrote. The White House responded with an edited photo of Gomez with an open mouth, sobbing. ThEyRe JuSt StRaWbErRy PiCkErS, the caption read. That aint produce, holmes. THATS PRODUCT, the White House wrote, alleging that marijuana is being grown in the fields that were raided. ICE: Raids marijuana farms filled with illegal aliens Cryin' Jimmy: ThEy'Re JuSt StRaWbErRy PiCkErS That aint produce, holmes. THAT'S PRODUCT. https://t.co/D1lr6ij8VB pic.twitter.com/HO2P4XuwKg The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 11, 2025 Later on Friday, the White House posted an image of a poster board set up on the White House lawn with a similar typeface, reading oMg, diD tHe wHiTE hOuSE reALLy PosT tHiS? The accompanying text read: Nowhere in the Constitution does it say we cant post banger memes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administrations memeification of their hardline anti-immigration policies has been going on for months. In February, the White House posted a social media video, titled ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight, mocking undocumented migrants being shackled with long chains and loaded onto an airplane. In March, official White House accounts circulated AI-generated cartoons depicting a crying migrant being arrested by an ICE agent. Already a marker of technological dystopia, the image was even more disturbing given that it was rendered in the art style of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli. In June, DHS posted a video of ICE making arrests set to Ice, Ice, Baby. While making light of deportations has drawn widespread backlash, the White House, particularly its social media team, remains committed to a hyper-online, meme-heavy PR strategy to sell its immigration platform to the public. The online right is on board. Versions of the phrase I voted for this have become celebratory aphorisms and a go-to response to anyone expressing outrage over the conduct of ICE agents. Videos of masked agents conducting raids and manhandling migrants are lauded as exactly the reason Trumps most devoted supporters returned him to the White House. In one X post with over half a million views, the right-wing commentator Chaya Raichik, who posts as Libs of TikTok to over 4 million followers, chastised a Fox News host who said many Republicans didnt vote for people to show up at Home Depots. They didnt vote for people to show up at immigration courts. FALSE, Raichik wrote. This is exactly what I voted for! I voted for MASS DEPORTATIONS of every illegal alien. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When menswear writer Derek Guy acknowledged on X last month that he had come to the United States from Canada as an undocumented migrant in his childhood, Vice President J.D. Vance responded with a meme of Jack Nicholson nodding in response to a user suggesting that Vance had the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever, by having Guy deported. Of course, the presidents advisers, both in and out of government, want to have their fun but they also are working to blame the left and elected Democrats for any violence that comes ICEs way during Trumps often grossly lawless crackdowns. This is the bedwetting party. Todays Democrat Party is hysterical and must face ridicule, but it is also dangerous, says conservative attorney Mike Davis, a close Trump ally and key figure of the MAGA legal sphere. Their rhetoric [about secret police and other matters] is leading to ambushes of federal law enforcement officials in the line of duty. Trumps administration has accused activists and organizers distributing public notices about ICE activities in local communities or who provide advice to migrants like the creators of the app ICEBlock of obstructing justice. Trump mused about arresting California Governor Gavin Newsom amid crackdowns in Los Angeles. Tom Homan, Trumps border czar, threatened to prosecute Ocasio-Cortez after she gave advice to undocumented migrants during an Instagram Live event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) was charged with assaulting, resisting, impeding, and interfering with federal officials after ICE agents arrested Newark Mayor Ras Baraka during a congressional oversight trip to a New Jersey detention center. McIver has pleaded not guilty to the charges. They will not intimidate me, she said outside the courtroom. They will not stop me from doing my job. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Firefighters from all over the county gathered for a two-day tribute for the firefighters who were killed while handling a brush fire in Coeur dAlene. The Thursday memorial was organized by West Pierce Fire & Rescue for Coeur dAlene Fire Battalion Chief John Morrison Jr. who died in the ambush. Captain Marney Fuller-Van Slyk joined WPFR Commissioners Scott Casebolt and Scott Dellinger to pay tribute to the two firefighters at the memorial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A large ensemble of pipers and drummers took part in the tribute, joined by retirees Shawn Lamb and Steve Tank. WPFR firefighters also joined to show support. Honoring them this way at these memorials will hopefully help their families and Fire Service families heal from this horrible, senseless, and tragic loss, said Commissioner Casebolt. A second funeral service honoring Battalion Chief Frank Harwood from Kootenai County Fire & Rescue will be held on Friday, who was also killed during the attack. (Getty Images) Visitors to the Idaho Division of Human Resourcess website can get quick answers from a new chatbot powered by artificial intelligence, or AI that combs through state government websites. So, we asked it: How many state employees does Idaho have? The chatbots answer didnt make sense. The tool falsely claimed nearly a third of Idahos over 2 million population works for the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Idaho has approximately 713,015 state employees as indicated by the most recent data available, the chatbot replied. The right answer, though, depends on how you ask the question. When you ask more specifically about how many active state employees there are, Idaho HR Administrator Janelle White explained, you can get a better answer. Idaho currently has approximately 23,546 active state employees employed across various government agencies, the chatbot replied, according to a screenshot she shared with the Idaho Capital Sun. The chatbot is one of the few ways Idaho state government agencies are already using AI. But with high interest and concern from state agencies and employees, Idahos Office of Information Technology Services is preparing a yearslong plan with guidance on how to responsibly use AI in state government. While were measuring and mitigating risks, were making sure that were not getting in the way of it being launched. We want to we really want to unleash this to the workforce, Idaho Office of Information Technology Services Administrator Alberto Gonzalez said in an interview. Im a huge fan of automation and machine learning already anyways, because it can make government way more effective and more efficient. And I believe that those that are not using automation are doing a disservice to the state. By August, Idaho agencies could start using tools like ChatGPT By August, Gonzalez said Idaho state government agencies can start using publicly available tools like ChatGPT or Gemini in public facing chatbots, which have been largely blocked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To him, the use cases for AI in state government are endless. The technology can be used for routine tasks, like customer service and data entry, to quicken time-intensive reports, and even to detect fraud, waste and abuse, he said. One of the biggest AI concerns for state employees is how widely data can be accessed, or data governance, Gonzalez said. Thats part of what goes into the IT offices work with state agencies to prepare them to roll out AI tools. Some national experts also say AI could reduce the workforce. That could be true, Gonzalez acknowledged, but it would take a while. Using the technology more could mean agencies automate more tasks to free staff time up, he said. So then you can use that staff to do something either slow down the growth, so that you dont have to grow government or potentially through attrition, you could reduce the workforce by leveraging AI, Gonzalez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know that thats a more sensitive topic, but Im talking over years, he said. Last month, the agency announced the guidance to state lawmakers at the Idaho Legislatures AI Working Group. But the guidance hasnt been shared with agencies yet while its under legal review. The Idaho Capital Sun obtained a copy of the draft guidance through a public records request. Idaho would carefully roll out, refine AI tools over two years, under draft plan The draft AI guidance lays out a four-step plan over two years to implement AI in Idaho state government agencies. First, Idaho would set up a foundation establishing structures to govern AI use, roles for state agencies and departments, oversight and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, Idaho would initially implement AI in pilot runs. Later, Idaho would expand implementation and continue to fine tune AIs use in state government. Idahos tiered guidance model applies rigorous scrutiny to high-risk systems and streamlines review for low-risk applications, the draft guidances introduction reads. This structure empowers the state to capture immediate value from early implementations and build institutional capacity systematically. Through this balanced approach, Idaho is poised to transform its citizen services, operational workflows, and decision-making culture, anchoring it in data-driven insights and public accountability. And building trust is one of the main goals. Every AI system will meet clear standards for explainability, auditability, and ethical alignment, a short summary of the guidance reads. Transparency isnt optional, its foundational. Congress ditched 10-year ban on state AI regulations. Idaho has three AI laws. Initially, Congresss massive federal spending and tax cut bill that became law last week wouldve blocked states from regulating AI through state laws for 10 years. But the U.S. Senate nearly unanimously removed the moratorium, States Newsroom reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, Idaho passed three laws to regulate AI targeting explicit and political deep fakes, and AI-generated material that is exploitative of children. At the Legislatures AI work groups meeting last month, the Idaho Office of Information Technology Services shared copies of its draft AI guidance with state lawmakers for review. The Idaho HR AI chatbot still cant tell you the number of state employees For the rollout of the public HR chatbot, the Idaho Division of Human Resources worked with the Office of Information Technology Services, White told the Sun. The Sun sent her a screenshot of the chatbot appearing to wildly overestimate Idahos state employee workforce. She, and the Idaho DMV administrator, both suggested they wouldve asked it differently with more specific details, like asking for the active workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The information provided by the chatbot will only be as good as the question asked [and the information it has access to], White said in an email on Monday. Part of the learning curve with AI and chatbots, is being really good at asking questions! But on Tuesday, when the Sun asked the chatbot the same question White asked, the chatbot couldnt answer. I dont have the current number of active state employees available, it said. Idaho DMV is using an AI chatbot. But only for internal testing right now. The Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles, or DMV, is also using an AI-powered chatbot as part of a pilot project. But the tool is only available for some DMV employees to use for testing and is not yet open to the public, officials say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wont go public until its refined, Idaho DMV Administrator Lisa McClellan told the Sun in an interview. Until its ready for prime time, we wont even use it internally in our production environment, she said. Drawing from internal policy documents, manuals and Idaho state laws, the tool is meant to quicken the process of searching through reams of information, she explained. The tool doesnt have access to any personally identifiable information, she said. Only a handful of ITD employees, who mostly already know the answers to the questions they ask the tool, are using it, McClellan said. Right now, theyre testing how accurate its answers are, and learning how to best ask questions to get correct answers, she said. Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com. The US State Department said on Friday it was aware of the reported death of a US citizen in the West Bank. Two Palestinians were killed, one of them an American citizen, in clashes with settlers north of Ramallah, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The IDF is investigating the reports. The incidents apparently began when dozens of Palestinian terrorists and rioters slingshot and threw stones at a group of Jewish shepherds near Sinjil, injuring two of them and sparking further clashes, the IDF said on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources within the settler movement said Israeli left-wing activists accompanied the Palestinians. Palestinian rioters target Jewish shepherds in the West Bank, July 11, 2025. (credit: Section 27A Copyright Act) In the attacks, equipment was burned and vandalized. Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that the attack was planned in advance and was carried out with the goal of removing the farm. Following the rock-throwing attack, clashes intensified, resulting in vandalism of Palestinian property, arson, physical confrontations, and additional rock throwing. Explosives hidden in stone barriers to thwart security forces Palestinian sources reported two deaths and several injuries, though these claims are under investigation by the IDF, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), and Israel Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas and the Palestinian Authority organizations are spreading a blood libel against the settlers, while by all accounts this was a despicable and premeditated terror attack by Arabs of the area against a group of Jewish shepherds, sources said. One of the Palestinian killed was a US citizen, who was reportedly killed after being hit in the head with a club. IDF, Israel Police, and Border Police units were deployed to the scene to calm down the situation. Riot control measures were employed, and the forces dispersed those involved. According to the sources, the security forces dealt with a number of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) hidden inside stone barriers to kill soldiers who came to the scene. There were no casualties from the explosions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sources also said that after speaking with security forces, there is no dispute over the sequence of events. The US State Department said it was aware of the reported death of a citizen in the West Bank after reports had emerged. Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing the local Hamas-run health ministry, claimed that Saif al-Din Kamel Abdul Karim Musallat, in his 20s, died after settlers beat him in an attack that also wounded many people in a town north of Ramallah. Relatives of Musallat, who was from Tampa, Florida, were also quoted by The Washington Post as saying he was beaten to death by Israeli settlers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are aware of reports of the death of a US citizen in the West Bank, a State Department spokesperson said, adding the department had no further comment out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones of the reported victim. Palestinian reports also indicated that the body of Muhammad Awad was found after he went missing for hours after settlers near Sinjil allegedly attacked him. The IDF said that the reservist officer eventually terminated his duties a few days ago. Content warning: This article contains disturbing references and descriptions of physical and sexual violence. Reader discretion is advised. An IDF reservist brigadier-general was removed from his position after being suspected of sexual harassment and indecent acts against female soldiers who served under his command, KAN, Israel's public broadcaster, reported Friday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Female IDF soldiers complained, and later told KAN that the reservist had tried to touch them, forcibly hugged them, tried to kiss them, and made indecent propositions to them while the female soldiers served under his command. The officer under suspicion was serving in the reserves for several years as the base commander. The military prosecutor's office recommended terminating the officer's service following the complaints, the report added. However, he was still seen around the base following the recommendation. When soldiers complained, the representative of the prosecutor's office informed them that he had decided not to stop his reserve service, and the case would continue to be handled. "I'm sorry, we were told that they don't have anyone to replace him at this time. I understand the feelings, we also saw it differently, but the brigadier general is required to consider additional considerations during this period," the office said, according to the report. The IDF said that the reservist officer eventually terminated his duties a few days ago. Female IDF soldiers are seen training. (credit: FLASH90) "He was investigated by the military police on suspicion of crimes of indecent assault and sexual harassment, and the investigation has concluded," the IDF said. "The officer was recently summoned by the military prosecution for a hearing before filing an indictment. In accordance with the recommendation of the military prosecutor's office, the officer was summoned for a conversation with the commander of the Northern Command, where it was decided to terminate the officer's duties." Separate, but similar incident involving reservist A separate incident in March saw another IDF reservist, who was indicted for sexual assault against a female soldier, according to another report by KAN. The reservist had been called up for an exercise and was asked by the base commander to drive home a female soldier. According to the indictment, the reservist touched the soldier and showed her explicit photos of himself. On Tuesday, the IDF announced that five soldiers were killed, and 14 were wounded in Beit Hanun by an explosive device Hamas terrorists planted. The IDF has dismantled numerous Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad explosives and observation posts used to ambush troops in the areas of Shejaia and Zeitoun in Gaza City over the past two days, the military said Saturday. The Israeli air force killed dozens of terrorists operating in the same area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the area of Beit Hanun, soldiers killed numerous terrorists and dismantled terror infrastructure above and below ground, and weapons. On Tuesday, the IDF announced that five soldiers were killed, and 14 were wounded in Beit Hanun by an explosive device, most of them from the Netzah Yehuda Battalion in the Kfir Brigade. Hamas had placed improvised explosive devices just before the soldiers entered the area between Air Force and artillery barrages that were conducted in order to pave a safe path for the infantry, according to the IDF. IDF soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip, July 12, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) The Air Force struck a total of about 250 targets throughout Gaza in the past two days, including terrorists, booby-trapped structures, weapons storage facilities, anti-tank missile launch sites, sniper posts, tunnels, and more. Soldiers killed in Gaza due to terror ambushes There have been several soldiers who were killed throughout Gaza by explosives planted by terrorists, ambushes, snipers, and anti-tank missile fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IDF announced on Wednesday that St.-Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Abraham Azulay was killed in Khan Yunis in Gaza after terrorists emerged from a tunnel and tried to abduct him. Last week, the IDF announced the death of Sgt. Asaf Zamir, who was also killed in Khan Yunis when a terrorist fired an anti-tank missile at the tank he was in. In the same incident, four soldiers were wounded. Arizona drivers may wonder whether it is legal to drive barefoot in the state. Especially on a hot day, after a long hike, or after using a pair of uncomfortable shoes, many may feel tempted to slip off their footwear to drive more comfortably. Some may be relieved to know that Arizona has no law requiring shoes while behind the wheel. Drivers are free to be barefoot without fear of being ticketed for that choice, although it may come with some risks. For instance, what if your car breaks down in July and you don't have any shoes? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what you should know about driving barefoot in Arizona. Driving barefoot in Arizona is not illegal Arizona law does not mandate drivers wear any footwear, nor is there a statute penalizing barefoot driving, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Scottsdale Police Department. Yet, law enforcement officials said barefoot driving may carry some risks, like inhibiting the ability to apply consistent pressure on the pedals or react quickly in emergency situations. Bart Graves, a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Public Safety, said sweat might be a risk factor, too. "Feet tend to sweat," Graves said. "If you need to stop suddenly and use the brakes, that could be a safety issue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scottsdale police spokesperson Aaron Bolin said he would suggest that people wear shoes while driving, especially in case of an accident or a vehicle emergency. "If your vehicle breaks down or you are involved in a collision, you may have to exit your vehicle and stand or walk on a roadway or sidewalk," Bolin said. "The asphalt on Arizona roadways can reach temperatures in excess of 160 degrees during the hotter months of the year." If a lack of footwear impairs pedal control and contributes to an accident, authorities also could cite the behavior as negligent or reckless driving. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What officials say about driving barefoot in Arizona CHICAGO (WGN) Boys & Girls Clubs across the state of Illinois face an economic crisis, as lost federal funding continues to have a significant impact on working families. While the organization has ramped up fundraisers to meet the shortfall following the announced cuts back in January, the number of children they can serve remains uncertain. Single mother and grandmother Amelia Jackson told WGN-TV that the James Jordan Boys & Girls Club on the citys West Side has helped her tremendously, but she worries about the looming threats of budget cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We wont let it stand: Chicago Teachers Union calls for state aid amid budget deficit I just hope that somehow they can get their funding, Jackson said. Susanna Wickham, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, said that 30 percent of their budget last year consisted of grants. Now, the organization is looking to make up the difference through fundraising. The move comes after budget cuts forced the closure of 12 of the Boys & Girls Clubs school-based sites. With the next shoe to drop, Wickham said a vital half-million-dollar food grant is hanging by a thread. Right now we have funding through the end of September, and we just dont know what happens after that, Wickham said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Boys & Girls Clubs across Chicago served 24,000 students, according to Wickham. In 2025, the number dropped to 15,000 kids. Interim CPS CEO says top priority is passing budget Despite the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago being able to steer school-based families to one of their eight Legacy Club locations amid a boost in services, officials say that others across the state, especially in central Illinois, arent faring as well, creating a crisis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. NEED TO KNOW The Russo family's home in Poplar Grove, Ill., was destroyed in a house fire John Russo, 49, died from cancer a day later leaving behind his two children and wife, Carli Russo It was so fast-growing, there was nothing they could do, Carli said of the disease An Illinois family has been left grief-stricken after two tragedies shook their household within just 24 hours. On Tuesday, July 8, the Russo family was forced to evacuate their Poplar Grove home after a fire was discovered at around midnight. Hours later on Wednesday morning, the patriarch of the family, John Russo, died from cancer at age 49, news outlets WIFR and WWNY reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John who shared two children, 14-year-old Payton and 10-year-old J.J., with his wife, Carli Russo had escaped the familys burning home in his wheelchair the day before his death. Having lost everything, the Russo family took shelter at a Rockford hotel. John had been in home hospice care for the past three months before the incident, per the outlets. [I] slammed the door shut, came running in the house screaming for the kids to get out and got my husband in the wheelchair and was able to get him out and across the street with some help from some neighbors, Carli recalled of the fire to WIFR. gofundme John Russo John Russo The blaze began in the garage and then engulfed the entire front section of the house, the family told the outlet. Firefighters allegedly said it could be difficult to determine the cause of the fire due to the extensive damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now theyre telling us its a complete loss, Carli said, per WIFR. The house fire came after months of distress for the Russo family. On April 30, John had gone to the emergency room suffering from stomach pains. The visit became the start of multiple hospital appointments before he was eventually diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, according to the outlet. It was so fast-growing, there was nothing they could do, Carli told WIFR. A GoFundMe page was set up by a co-worker amid his treatment for cancer to help the family, as John was the sole provider. Outside of work, Johns world revolves around his wife and children, they wrote in the description of the fundraiser. Whether he was at a softball game for his daughter, fixing his project car, or lending a hand to a neighbor, John has always been the one people could count on. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Following his death on July 9, Carli recalled that her husband would do anything for anybody, per WWNY. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her sister-in-law set up a second GoFundMe to help support the family. As of Friday, July 11, the fundraiser has raised over $24,000. Carli got her kids (14 and 10) out, along with John and their family dog, safely, minutes before the entire house was engulfed in flames, the fundraiser description said. They lost everything at a time they should be spending with their family. Were reaching out to our community, friends, and compassionate strangers for support, the description continued. Every dollar raised will go directly toward helping the Russo family secure temporary housing, replace essential items, and begin the long process of recovery. Read the original article on People PRICEVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The Priceville Police Department said an out-of-state man was arrested on drug charges during a traffic stop Friday. PPD said around 11:50 p.m., officers stopped a vehicle on Highway 67 near Price Mountain Drive. The department said the driver was identified as 54-year-old Christopher Bono, of Crystal Lake, Illinois. Following the initial traffic stop, PPD called in the K9 unit for a narcotics investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department said the investigation led to the discovery of a quantity of cocaine and paraphernalia associated with drug use inside the vehicle. Bono was arrested and taken to the Morgan County Jail. He is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. A Morgan County Circuit Judge has set his bond at $12,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) The Illinois State Police graduated 95 new troopers on Friday. Cadet Class 150 was made up of 43 traditional class members who completed the 29-week course. It also 52 lateral class members, with previous police officer certification and at least two-years of experience. Those cadets completed a 12-week course. The new troopers will report to each region in the state starting Sunday, July 13. They will complete another 14 weeks of field training, which consists of one-on-one mentoring, before they go solo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new officer assignments: Troop 1 Pecatonica/Sterling, 2 troopers Troop 2 LaSalle/Moline, 4 troopers Troop 3 Chicago, 25 troopers Troop 4 Macomb/Metamora, 9 troopers Troop 5 Pontiac/Ashkum, 2 troopers Troop 6 Springfield/Pittsfield, 1 trooper Troop 7 Pesotum, 6 troopers Troop 8 Collinsville, 33 troopers Troop 9 Effingham/Carmi, 11 troopers Troop 10 DuQuoin/Ullin, 2 troopers New Illinois State Police troopers earn about $90,000 in annual compensation. Those interested in joining the ranks of the Illinois State Police are encouraged to visit the Illinois State Police Merit Board website www.illinoistrooper.com for application information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) The Illinois State Police graduated Cadet Class 150 on Friday in Springfield, and it was their biggest graduating class in the last 25 years. In a graduation ceremony at the Westside Christian Church in Springfield, State Police welcomed 95 new troopers to their ranks. These cadet graduates will report to all ten State Police Troop locations throughout the state on July 13. Memorial Stadium FamILLy Movie Night voting open now Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cadet Class 150 marks the 22nd cadet class graduation under Governor J.B. Pritzker and State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. Since 2019, 692 troopers have joined the Illinois State Police. I am proud to congratulate Cadet Class 150 on their graduation and commend them on their commitment to the people of Illinois, Pritzker said. As the largest class in 25 years, the brave men and women of Cadet Class 150 exemplify the core values of the Illinois State Police and will serve our state with honor, integrity, and pride. This years cadet class is a combination of a traditional class and a lateral entry class. Specifically, the traditional class included 43 cadets who completed a demanding 29-week program. The lateral class consisted of 52 cadets who completed the 12-week program designed for certified police officers who previously graduated from an accredited law enforcement academy and had at least two years of experience while employed as a full-time officer. Both of these programs consist of physical and classroom instruction, which included, but was not limited to, training in the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cultural diversity Procedural justice Domestic violence Critical incident response De-escalation tactics Firearms First responder certification Control and arrest tactics Illinois vehicle code Criminal law Motor carrier safety Juvenile law Were all one family: Champaign, Urbana communities team up against gun violence On top of either the 29-week or 12-week academy training, cadets are required to participate in one-on-one mentoring with Field Training Officers as part of a 14-week field training program, expanding their total training to either 25 or 42 weeks. The troopers who successfully complete the field training program will advance to solo-patrol status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a privilege to swear in the largest ISP cadet class in the past 25 years, Kelly said. Law enforcement agencies across the country can struggle to hire new officers, but we continue to rise above that challenge because of our values of Integrity, Service, and Pride to now commission the largest class so far in the 21st century. The new officers have been assigned to following areas of the state and will immediately start their patrol duties: Troop 1 Pecatonica/Sterling, two troopers Troop 2 LaSalle/Moline, four troopers Troop 3 Chicago, 25 troopers Troop 4 Macomb/Metamora, nine troopers Troop 5 Pontiac/Ashkum, two troopers Troop 6 Springfield/Pittsfield, one trooper Troop 7 Pesotum, six troopers Troop 8 Collinsville, 33 troopers Troop 9 Effingham/Carmi, 11 troopers Troop 10 DuQuoin/Ullin, two troopers New troopers earn approximately $90,000 in compensation upon graduation from the Illinois State Police Academy. Anyone interested in joining the State Police ranks is urged to visit the State Police Merit Board website for application information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. LOS ANGELES A federal judge on Friday ruled that immigration officers in Southern California can't rely solely on someone's race or the fact that they're speaking Spanish to stop and detain them. U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong issued a temporary restraining order after a lawsuit was filed by three men who were arrested as they waited to be picked up at a Pasadena bus stop for jobs on June 18, and after two others were stopped and questioned despite saying they are U.S. citizens. Frimpong's order bars the detention of people unless the officer or agent "has reasonable suspicion that the person to be stopped is within the United States in violation of U.S. immigration law." ICE agents, along with other federal law enforcement agencies, attend a pre-enforcement meeting in Chicago on Jan. 26. (Christopher Dilts / Bloomberg via Getty Images file) It says they may not base that suspicion solely on a person's apparent race or ethnicity; the fact that they're speaking Spanish or English with an accent; their presence at a particular location like a bus stop or a day laborer pickup site; or the type of work one does. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frimpong wrote in the ruling that most of the questions before her were simple and non-controversial. Do all individuals regardless of immigration status share in the rights guaranteed by the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution? Yes, they do, she wrote. Is it illegal to conduct roving patrols which identify people based upon race alone, aggressively question them, and then detain them without a warrant, without their consent, and without reasonable suspicion that they are without status? Yes, it is, she wrote. Frimpong issued another order that lawyers be granted access to an area in a federal building in Los Angeles where those detained by immigration authorities are held, and to allow those detained phone access with legal counsel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit, filed against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and others, was filed as President Donald Trumps administration has aggressively been making immigration arrests in Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California. The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California called the restraining order a victory for rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. No matter the color of their skin, what language they speak, or where they work, everyone is guaranteed constitutional rights to protect them from unlawful stops," Mohammad Tajsar, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, said in a statement. "While it does not take a federal judge to recognize that marauding bands of masked, rifle-toting goons have been violating ordinary peoples rights throughout Southern California, we are hopeful that todays ruling will be a step toward accountability for the federal governments flagrant lawlessness that we have all been witnessing," Tajsar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of the people who sued said they were stopped and questioned by immigration officers despite explaining that they are U.S. citizens. One works at a car wash in Orange County that has been visited three times by immigration agents, most recently on June 18, according to the suit. That worker was questioned that day even after he told them he was a U.S. citizen, the suit says. The three men arrested in Pasadena say that immigration officials did not identify themselves and did not show any warrants, according to court documents. A U.S. citizen said he was approached at a tow yard on June 12 and an agent demanded to know "What hospital were you born in?" He said he did not know but was a U.S. citizen and could show ID, and was pushed against a metal fence and his arm was twisted, according to the the claims cited in the ruling. He was released but his ID was taken and never returned, it says. Frimpong wrote in Friday's ruling that one of the only two issues before her was whether the people suing were likely to succeed in proving that the federal government is indeed conducting roving patrols without reasonable suspicion and denying access to lawyers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This Court decides based on all the evidence presented that they are, she wrote. She wrote that the second question was what to do about it, and that the request that the federal government be made to stop that conduct was reasonable. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats, have objected to the federal immigration actions in Southern California. Bass has said they are motivated by a political agenda of provoking fear and terror. Bass said in a statement after Friday's decision that the court "ruled in favor of the United States Constitution, of American values and decency." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Los Angeles has been under assault by the Trump Administration as masked men grab people off the street, chase working people through parking lots and march through childrens summer camps," she said. Newsom said the ruling stops what he called the violation of people's rights and racial profiling. He said the Trump administration has been arbitrarily detaining people. "Stephen Millers immigration agenda is one of chaos, cruelty and fear," Newsom said in a statement, referring to the White House deputy chief of staff and immigration hard-liner. The Trump administration has defended the crackdown as an enforcement of immigration laws. Noem and DHS officials have said that people accused or convicted of serious crimes have been deported under it. Trump ran on a campaign that promised deportations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill Essayli, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, who was also named as a defendant in the suit, denied any wrongdoing. "We strongly disagree with the allegations in the lawsuit and maintain that our agents have never detained individuals without proper legal justification," he wrote on X. "Our federal agents will continue to enforce the law and abide by the U.S. Constitution." The judge's temporary restraining order also requires the government to provide training for agents operating in the Central District of California, which covers Los Angeles and surrounding areas, among other requirements. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com An Immigration Raid at two Ventura County Cannabis Farms Leads to 200 Arrests; Shot Fired originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Ten juveniles were among the 200 people taken into custody by federal agents during sweeps at two Ventura County cannabis farms that sparked chaos when a protestor allegedly fired a pistol at police, who deployed tear gas Courtesy of Customs and Border Protection Immigration raids at two Ventura County cannabis farms on Thursday led to 200 arrests, federal law enforcement officials say, and ten juveniles being taken into custody in sweeps that rapidly deteriorated into a chaotic scene that led an undocumented farmer to fall from a building and suffer a fatal head injury. The United Farm Workers said Friday afternoon that a worker had died - plummeting from a building while running from agents who raided Glass House Farms. Jaime Alanis, suffered a head injury in the fall that led to his death, family members said in a GoFundMe post. "My uncle Jaime was just a hard-working, innocent farmer. He has his wife and daughter waiting for him. He was chased by ICE agents, and we were told he fell 30ft," the worker's niece Yesenia Duran wrote on the page, which is seeking funds to send his body back to Mexico. "He was his family's provider. They took one of our family members We need justice. We are still investigating what happened." The FBI also announced a $50,000 reward after, according to a federal press release, "brave agents faced gun fire as they executed on criminal search warrants at a marijuana facility where they rescued at least 10 migrant children, arrested approximately 200 illegal aliens." The FBI released a photo of the purported gunman Thursday night. This unidentified man is suspected of firing a pistol during protests against an immigration raid at a cannabis farm in Camarillo, the FBI says FBI The raids led to violent clashes between agents and protestors who descended on the scene. Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the actions of federal agents, saying that children were among those fleeing tear gas and projectiles. Kids running from tear gas, crying on the phone because their mother was just taken from the fields. Trump calls me Newscum but hes the real scum. pic.twitter.com/fj0l25mRBN Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 11, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Camarillo raid targeted the Glass House Farms greenhouse complex on Laguna Road, which is one of the largest licensed cannabis farms in California. The company was founded by environmentalist Graham Farrar, who owns a second farm in Carpinteria that was also the scene of heavily militarized immigration actions Thursday. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared. Australia's dairy sector is facing a major blow as ongoing floods and dry spells leave farmers with fewer options and higher costs. What's happening? According to news.com.au, climate-related shifts are affecting production, with experts saying everyday items such as milk and butter are about to get a lot more expensive. Repeated climate shocks, from soaked fields to parched pastures, are straining Australia's dairy industry. Farmers are struggling to maintain herds and feed supplies, with many forced to reduce output or exit the business altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These conditions make dairy products harder to produce and distribute, which pushes prices up. Families could soon see the effects at grocery stores, where staples such as cheese, yogurt, and milk may come with steeper price tags. "I think the whole eastern seaboard is going to feel the shortage of milk and dairy products one way or the other," Joe Bradley, EastAUSmilk president, told The Age. "There's no ifs or buts it's a disaster. Prices have to rise." Why are dairy hikes concerning? Food prices are already climbing, and dairy hikes will squeeze budgets even further. This hits lower-income households especially hard, adding pressure to weekly grocery bills. This issue also speaks to a bigger shift in the world's environmental state. Burning oil, coal, and gas fills the atmosphere with heat-trapping pollution, which warms the planet and throws weather patterns into chaos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The result is fewer reliable growing seasons, more crop losses, and greater uncertainty across the food supply. Farmers carry the initial burden, but shoppers feel the cost soon after. What's being done about dairy hikes? Producers and researchers are responding with new tools and ideas. Some are switching to drought-hardy crops and upgrading water systems. Others are using different grazing and feeding approaches to keep cows healthy during dry months. There are ways to adapt at home, too. Choosing local dairy, cutting food waste, and being flexible with shopping lists can all help. Especially helpful is being able to plan your grocery haul ahead of time and making sure your necessities are reviewed for affordability as things continue to change. Do you worry about how much food you throw away? Definitely Sometimes Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Credit: tt.findsz/Tiktok World War Three? Im scared, one influencer tells her 1.4 million viewers before promoting a multi-purpose power bank: a must-have survival item. She pans the camera to her TV where a news report shows Iranian missiles raining down on Tel Aviv, before saying: This is a recipe for World War Three. In the same breath, she claims her father is a military veteran who told her the most important item to have in your survival bag is a power bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you want to get yourself prepared, Ill link it for you, she says, guiding her followers to buy the device for 10 in a commissioned post. Another influencer, clad in an industrial gas mask, asks viewers: If World War Three started tomorrow, would you be prepared? She directs her 124,000 followers to a link where they can purchase their own breathing apparatus for under 15. If you want to keep you and your family safe, dont wait, the beauty influencer warns. The sale ends soon. A third, prolific World War Three content creator promotes a multi-tool, boasting several apparently life-saving items, from a fire-starter to screwdriver. Fear-mongering for views and commissions is part of a growing trend for influencers. Experts say they have lost any sense of reality and are capitalising on fear of foreign states while exploiting TikToks broad-reaching algorithm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The marketing technique evokes some scepticism, with one disgruntled user commenting: Scaremongering for commission. Welcome to 2025. Yet the clicks and money keep coming. The influencer flogging a solar-powered power bank and radio has sold over 75,000 through TikTok Shop, the apps on-site shopping platform. TikTok relies on its commission-paid content creators and algorithm to advertise and sell its products. Influencers are profiting from the fact that war is more widespread today than it has been in decades, with armed conflict touching every major region in the world, according to Telegraph analysis of data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (Acled). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between 2020 and the end of 2024, the global death toll from war exceeded one million, with the increase largely attributed to Russias invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war. For Evie Aspinall, director of the British Foreign Policy Group, the younger generations general misunderstanding and disassociation from the realities of global conflict from war in Ukraine to the threat China poses to our society is deeply concerning. She said influencers were taking advantage of young peoples ignorance and scaring them into buying survival items on TikTok Shop. Ms Aspinall added that this tendency is being exacerbated by a lack of critical thinking and engagement with reliable news sources, which is leading to a deep generational divide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have recently conducted several focus groups in which the level of generational difference in perceptions of national security have been so striking, says Ms Aspinall, former UK head delegate to the Youth7, the G7s official youth engagement group. Younger Britons are generally much less bothered about Ukraine than older Britons. They are less bothered about China. A huge amount of this disconnect can be attributed to social media. Fear-mongering online content is pushing Gen Z and millennials further away from the realities of foreign threats and what the future of modern warfare actually looks like, Ms Aspinall said. She added that war in the future will be less about trench fighting and more about complex and nuanced attacks that could impact the British public as a whole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The average person does not understand that, for example, a cyber attack on the NHS would be absolutely catastrophic, she said. Fear-mongering online content is pushing Gen Z and millennials away from the realities of war, one expert said - Leo Correa/The Associated Press When asked by YouGov for a survey last month to pick three of the most important issues facing the country, only 11 per cent of 16 to 25 year-olds chose defence and security. That compared to 43 per cent of those over the age of 65. This huge generational divide clearly coming from social media is not encouraging critical thinking, Ms Aspinall said. Melanie Garson, associate professor in international security and conflict resolution at University College London, stressed the danger of social media users being pounded by prepare for WWIII videos as they scroll through TikTok. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Creating that hysteria diversion could be a malicious actors way of putting pressure on the Government not to intervene, she said. This attempt at societal destruction needs to be investigated as it could be part of their playbook. A broader concern for Ms Garson was the inability of Britons to discern the truth, which she said reflected wider shortcomings in the education of Britons about war and international threats. Ms Garson stressed the need to break the algorithmic bubble, with social media an increasingly important provider of news worldwide. She said: This starts with teaching people the critical thinking skills of how to engage with sources of information and [discern] what a legitimate source is. Lessons in media literacy Both Ms Aspinall and Ms Garson said the Government had a key role to play in opening conversations about the real threats posed by foreign states and actors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Governments Strategic Defence Review last month drew attention to the need to build nationwide resilience in the face of threats posed by states such as Russia, China and Iran. What building national resilience looks like, and how it will target younger generations, is yet to be seen. There are clear examples of how this can work effectively, with Finland instilling critical thinking skills in children as part of their early education. As Britain scales-up national defence, how the military interacts with its citizens on home soil will be the true measure of its strength, Ms Aspinall said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. MANASSAS, Va. (DC News Now) An investigation is underway after a shooting left two people hurt in Manassas early Saturday morning. Details remain limited; however, officers responded to the shooting in the 8600 block of Phoenix Drive just after 4 a.m. There, they found two people who had been shota juvenile boy and a female, according to the Manassas City Police Department. Medics took the boy to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, while the female was treated at the scene and released. Investigators did not specify their ages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ATM stolen from Frederick County, Va. business Police said the shooting was an isolated incident with no threat to the public. However, it prompted a large police presence during the early morning hours as officers investigated and conducted on-scene interviews. The investigation is ongoing and more information will be provided when available, the police department wrote in a social media post. Check DCNewsNow.com for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates An Iranian attack on an air base in Qatar thats key to the U.S. military hit a geodesic dome housing equipment used by the Americans for secure communications, satellite images analyzed Friday by The Associated Press show. Hours after the publication of this AP report, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell acknowledged that an Iranian ballistic missile had hit the dome. Qatar did not respond to requests for comment about the damage. The Iranian attack on Al Udeid Air Base outside of Doha, Qatars capital, on June 23 came as a response to the American bombing of three nuclear sites in Iran and provided the Islamic Republic a way to retaliate that quickly led to a ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump ending the 12-day Iran-Israel war. This handout photo from the U.S. Air Force shows Lt. Col. Carlos Alford, 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron commander, in front of the modernized enterprise terminal at Al Udeid Air Base on Jan. 21, 2016. (Master Sgt. Joshua Strang/U.S. Air Force via AP) The Iranian attack otherwise did little damage likely because of the fact that the U.S. evacuated its aircraft from the base, which is home to the forward headquarters of the U.S. militarys Central Command, before the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also has said that Iran signaled when and how it would retaliate, allowing American and Qatari air defense to be ready for the attack, which briefly disrupted air travel in the Middle East, but otherwise didnt tip over into the regional war long feared by analysts. Images show burn marks, dome gone after attack Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC show the geodesic dome visible at the Al Udeid Air Base on the morning of June 23, just hours before the attack. This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows the geodesic dome, center, at the Al Udeid Air Base on June 23. (Planet Labs PBC via AP) The U.S. Air Forces 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, which operates out of the base, announced in 2016 the installation of the $15 million piece of equipment, known as a modernized enterprise terminal. Photos show a satellite dish inside of the dome, known as a radome. Images taken June 25 and every day subsequently show the dome is gone, with some damage visible on a nearby building. The rest of the base appears largely untouched in the images. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Parnell said the missile strike did minimal damage to equipment and structures on the base. Al Udeid Air Base remains fully operational and capable of conducting its mission, alongside our Qatari partners, to provide security and stability in the region, he added. The London-based satellite news channel Iran International first reported on the damage, citing satellite photos taken by a different provider. Trump downplayed attack while Iran boasted about it In the U.S., Trump described the Iranian attack as a very weak response. He had said that Tehran fired 14 missiles, with 13 intercepted and one being set free as it was going in a nonthreatening direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured, he wrote on his website Truth Social. The White House had no immediate comment after Parnells acknowledgment Friday. Trump visited Al Udeid Air Base on May 15 as part of his Mideast tour. After the attack, Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard insisted that the air base had been the target of a destructive and powerful missile attack. Irans Supreme National Security Council also said that the base had been smashed, without offering any specific damage assessments. Potentially signaling that he knew the dome had been hit, an adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei separately said that the bases communications had been disconnected by the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All equipment of the base was completely destroyed and now the U.S. command stream and connection from Al Udeid base to its other military bases have been completely cut, said Ahmad Alamolhoda, a hard-line cleric. Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report. Iran does not intend to completely stop working with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), contrary to earlier announcements, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday. Cooperation has not been terminated, he said, according to the state news agency IRNA. However, all activities related to the UN's nuclear watchdog will now be elevated to Iran's National Security Council. "The agency's requests will be examined, assessed, and responded to individually with regard to Iran's interests," the minister said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of June, Iran's parliament passed a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA until the security of Iran's nuclear facilities is guaranteed. The National Security Council is to determine when that condition has been met. Just over a week ago, IAEA inspectors left the country following the formal suspension of cooperation. Araghchi: Others must also be serious about diplomacy On June 13, Israel began striking targets across Iran, including nuclear facilities. The United States later entered the conflict and bombed three of Iran's most important nuclear sites. Prior to the outbreak of the 12-day war, Tehran and Washington had spent more than two months negotiating over Iran's nuclear programme, aiming to place limits on it to prevent the development of nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the future of those talks is uncertain, Araghchi said Iran is still open to diplomacy. However, he said, "other parties must first convince us that they are truly interested in diplomacy," referring to a possible meeting with Washington. The Trump administration has demanded a complete halt to uranium enrichment, a step Tehran considers a red line. Iran said Saturday its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency "will take on a new form", expressing a desire for a diplomatic solution to resolve concerns over its nuclear programme. Iran's 12-day war with Israel last month, sparked by an Israeli bombing campaign that hit military and nuclear sites as well as residential areas, rattled its already shaky relationship with the UN nuclear watchdog. The attacks began days before a planned meeting between Tehran and Washington aimed at reviving nuclear negotiations, which have since stalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Iran's cooperation with the IAEA "has not stopped, but will take on a new form", after the Islamic republic formally ended cooperation with the UN watchdog in early July. Iran has blamed the IAEA in part for the June attacks on its nuclear facilities, which Israel says it launched to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon -- an ambition Tehran has repeatedly denied. The United States, which had been in talks with Iran since April 12, joined Israel in carrying out its own strikes on June 22, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz. Araghchi said requests to monitor nuclear sites "will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis... taking into account safety and security issues", and be managed by Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - 'Assurances'- In early July, a team of IAEA inspectors left Iran to return to the organisation's headquarters in Vienna after Tehran suspended cooperation. The talks were aimed at regulating Iran's nuclear activites in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Before agreeing to any new meeting, "we are examining its timing, its location, its form, its ingredients, the assurances it requires", said Araghchi, who also serves as Iran's lead negotiator. He said that any talks would focus only on Iran's nuclear activities, not its military capabilities. "If negotiations are held... the subject of the negotiations will be only nuclear and creating confidence in Iran's nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions," he told diplomats in Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No other issues will be subject to negotiation." Araghchi also warned that reimposing UN sanctions could eliminate Europe's role in the process. - Enrichment - "Such measures would signify the end of Europe's role in the Iranian nuclear dossier," Araghchi said. A clause in the 2015 nuclear agreement, which US President Donald Trump withdrew from during his first term, allows for UN sanctions to be reimposed if Iran is found to be in breach of the deal. Araghchi stressed that any new nuclear deal must uphold Iran's right under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I would like to emphasise that in any negotiated solution, the rights of the Iranian people on the nuclear issue, including the right to enrichment, must be respected," he said. "We will not have any agreement in which enrichment is not included." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at the BRICS summit in Rio on Monday that Moscow would remain a committed ally of Iran and support its nuclear programme. "Russia has technological solutions for uranium depletion and is ready to work with Iran in this field," Lavrov said, as reported by Russian state news outlet TASS. rkh-sbr/ysm/kir Russia's Lavrov visits North Korea Russian state media said Lavrov will discuss the Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Korean peninsula with his North Korean counterpart. Photo: Reuters Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in North Korea on Friday, North Korea's state media KCNA said on Saturday, the latest visit by a senior Russian official to the isolated state amid warming ties between the countries. Lavrov's visit, scheduled to Sunday, includes a meeting between the countries' foreign ministers, KCNA reported. Lavrov flew out of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur following the Asean foreign ministers' meeting and arrived in Wonsan, North Koreas eastern coastal city, which is home to a recently opened resort and known for its missile and naval facilities. Lavrov's visit is the latest high-level meeting between the two countries amid a dramatic upgrading of their strategic cooperation that now includes a mutual defence pact. The South Korean intelligence service has said North Korea may be preparing to deploy additional troops in July or August, after sending more than 10,000 soldiers to fight with Russia in the war against Ukraine. North Korea has agreed to dispatch 6,000 military engineers and builders for reconstruction in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched a mass cross-border incursion nearly a year ago. Russian news agencies also reported Lavrov's arrival and said after North Korea he is expected to travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting, which is set to take place on Monday and Tuesday. Russia's state TASS news agency said Lavrov and his North Korean counterpart, Choi Son Hui, would discuss the 40-month-old Ukraine conflict and the situation on the Korean peninsula. TASS said the new coastal resort could boost Russian tourism to North Korea, citing the resumption of direct trains from Moscow to Pyongyang and a project to build a bridge across the Tumen River forming part of the boundary between North Korea, China and Russia. TASS quoted Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko as saying more high-level delegations would visit North Korea later this year. Rudenko said the accord on strategic partnership "clearly meets the changing needs over recent decades and strengthens traditionally friendly, good-neighbourly Russian-Korean relations to a qualitatively new level as allies." (Reuters) "Putin would support zero enrichment. He encouraged the Iranians to work towards that in order to make negotiations with the Americans more favorable," a European source told Axios. Irans Tasnim news, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has denied a Saturday report that Russia has accepted a proposal under which Iran would not enrich uranium. The denial comes as Irans foreign ministry has also said that trust in the US has dropped below zero. According to a report in Axios on July 12 Russian President Vladimir Putin has told both US President Donald Trump and Iranian officials that he supports the idea of a nuclear deal in which Iran is unable to enrich uranium, sources familiar with those discussions tell Axios. The report noted that Russia has been Iran's main diplomatic backer on the nuclear issue for years. But while Moscow publicly advocates for Iran's right to enrich, Putin has taken a tougher position in private in the wake of the 12-day war between Israel and Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, two hours after the Axios report, Tasnim news headlined its website with a denial. It said an informed source had said the claims about Putins messaging about zero enrichment is false. The Iranian media said that Zionist media had spread this claim about Putins message to Iran regarding accepting zero enrichment. "Tehran has not received such a message from Putin in any way." Tasnim went on to say Putin's lastmeeting with Iranian officials was with [Iranian Foreign Minister] Araghchi, and such an issue was not raised in that meeting. After that, no messages about zero enrichment were exchanged through communication channels between Russia and Tehran." Clearly Irans state media and the IRGC are concerned about these reports. They dont want to feel that Russia is weakening Irans position. Iran has appeared to flip-flop on whether it will rekindle talks with the US. Iran and the US were in talks when Israel began airstrikes on Iran on June 12. Twelve days later, US President Donald Trump secured a ceasefire after joining the strikes. Then Trump hosted Israels Prime Minister in Washington. Recent reports have suggested Israel could carry out strikes again if Iran continues its move towards a nuclear weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Irans Foreign Ministry has slammed the US. According to the Foreign Policy Group of the Tasnim News Agency, Esmail Baghaei, spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that the illegal attack against the Islamic Republic of Iran in the middle of the diplomatic process was scandalous and that the enemy could not resist the logic of dialogue and engagement, saying: Today, it is clear to everyone that the Islamic Republic is a proponent of dialogue and diplomacy, Tasnim reported on July 12. The reports have been receiving a spotlight in the region. Al-Arabiya also reported on the Iranian denials. The report noted that Russia is willing to aid in bringing the US and Iran together in some kind of a discussion, but Lavrov cautioned this was not about mediation. The White House has been increasingly critical of Russia in the last week. Russias Foreign Minister, according to Al-Arabiya, has also said that Russia possesses the technological capabilities to deplete uranium and is prepared to offer its services to Iran. "President Putin noted that when agreeing on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program, Russia's capabilities to provide services related to the depletion of uranium accumulated in Iran prior to the adoption of this document were taken into account, with the depletion of uranium to the level necessary for energy purposes, for use in nuclear power plants, Lavrov said. Lavrov added, "Since Iran has not made any commitment to limit its enrichment in the years following the unilateral US withdrawal from the JCPOA, and this is now being discussed, we have indicated that we possess such technological capabilities and are ready to provide them, transferring excess highly enriched uranium to Russia for processing, and returning the energy-enriched uranium to Iran for nuclear power plant. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that any snapback of United Nations sanctions on the country would signify the end of Europes role in the Iranian nuclear dossier. A clause in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and world powers, which United States President Donald Trump torpedoed in 2018 during his first term, allows for UN sanctions to be reimposed if Tehran breaches the deal. Araghchi also said on Saturday that Tehran was reviewing the details of a possible resumption of nuclear talks with the US. We are examining its timing, its location, its form, its ingredients, the assurances it requires from Iran for possible negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, Araghchi said any talks with major powers would focus only on Irans nuclear activities, not its military capability. If negotiations are held the subject of the negotiations will be only nuclear and creating confidence in Irans nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions, Araghchi told diplomats in Tehran. No other issues will be subject to negotiation. Last month, Israel unleashed large-scale strikes on Tehrans nuclear sites, its military leaders, nuclear scientists and residential areas, killing hundreds. Israel claimed its assault on June 13 was undertaken to roll back the Iranian threat to Israels very survival, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Iran said the war was an unprovoked aggression in violation of the UN Charter. In the frenetic days that followed, Iran retaliated, and the two countries exchanged daily barrages of missiles. The US later intervened on Israels behalf, deploying so-called bunker buster bombs and missiles to target the heavily fortified Fordow facility, as well as Natanz and Isfahan. The final act in the 12-day conflict came when Iran responded by targeting a key US base in Qatar, with Trump announcing a ceasefire in the hours that followed. After the conflict, Iran announced that it was suspending cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, amid a deep distrust for the organisation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Araghchi said on Saturday that cooperation with the nuclear agency will take on a new form after President Masoud Pezeshkian last week signed a law suspending Irans collaboration with the IAEA. Our cooperation with the agency has not stopped, but will take on a new form, said Araghchi. The new law outlines that any future inspection of Irans nuclear sites by the IAEA needs approval by the Supreme National Council. On Thursday, Pezeshkian warned that the IAEA had to drop its double standards if it wanted to restore cooperation with Tehran. The president added that any repeated aggression against Iran will be met with a more decisive and regrettable response. KINSHASA, Congo (AP) Rebels affiliated with the Islamic State group killed 66 people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said Saturday. Fighters with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which has ties to IS, killed civilians in the area of Irumu in the east of the country bordering Uganda. The attack comes as eastern Congo may see an end to its ongoing war with M23, a separate rebel group which is backed by Rwanda, another of Congo's neighbors. Jean Tobie Okala, the spokesperson for the United Nations mission in Ituri in eastern Congo, called the attack a bloodbath." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 30 civilians were killed between Thursday and Friday, July 11, in the Walese Vonkutu chiefdom, Irumu territory, in Ituri, said Okala in a statement to the Associated Press. "Based on information from civil society, the death toll has risen from 31 to 66 civilians killed. The ADF is a Ugandan Islamist group that operates on both sides of the porous border. All the victims, including women, were killed with machetes, said the president of a local civil society, Marcel Paluku. The number of people taken hostage is unknown. The attack is suspected to be in response to an escalating bombing campaign by joint Congolese and Ugandan forces that started on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of ADF fighters in Congo is unclear, but they are a significant presence in the region and regularly attack civilians. The group originated in the late 1990s in neighboring Uganda and became affiliated with IS in 2019. Muslims make up about 10% of the Congolese population, most of them in the east. In recent years, attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces have intensified near Congos border with Uganda and spread towards Goma, eastern Congos main city, as well as the neighboring Ituri province. Rights groups and the United Nations have accused the ADF of killing hundreds of people and abducting even more, including a significant number of children. In December, the ADF killed at least 10 people and abducted several more in another village in North Kivu. Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank have beaten to death a 20-year-old United States citizen, the victims family members and rights groups have said. Settlers attacked and killed Sayfollah Musallet in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, on Friday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Relatives of Musallet, who was from Tampa, Florida, were also quoted by The Washington Post as saying he was beaten to death by Israeli settlers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are aware of reports of the death of a US citizen in the West Bank, Reuters reported a State Department spokesperson as saying. The official declined to comment further out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones of the reported victim. Muslat had travelled from his home in Florida to visit family in Palestine, his cousin Fatmah Muhammad said in a social media post. Another Palestinian, identified by the Health Ministry as Mohammed Shalabi, was fatally shot by settlers during the attack. Rights advocates have documented repeated instances where Israeli settlers in the West Bank ransack Palestinian neighbourhoods and towns, burning homes and vehicles in attacks sometimes described as pogroms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military often protects the settlers during their rampages and has shot Palestinians who show any resistance. The United Nations and other prominent human rights organisations consider the Israeli settlements in the West Bank violations of international law, as part of a broader strategy to displace Palestinians. While some Western countries like France and Australia have imposed sanctions on violent settlers, attacks have increased since the outbreak of Israels war in Gaza in October 2023. When President Donald Trump took office earlier this year, his administration revoked sanctions on settlers imposed by his predecessor, Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli forces have killed at least nine US citizens since 2022, including veteran Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh. But none of the incidents have resulted in criminal charges. The US provides billions of dollars to Israel every year. Advocates have accused successive US administrations of failing to protect American citizens from Israeli violence in the Middle East. On Friday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on Washington to ensure accountability for the killing of Musallet. Every other murder of an American citizen has gone unpunished by the American government, which is why the Israeli government keeps wantonly killing American Palestinians and, of course, other Palestinians, CAIR deputy director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He then pointed out that Trump has repeatedly promised to prioritise American interests, as typified by his campaign slogan America First. If President Trump will not even put America first when Israel murders American citizens, then this is truly an Israel First administration, Mitchell said. The Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) also called for action from the US administration, noting that settlers are lynching Palestinians more frequently with full support from Israels army and government. The US government has a legal and moral obligation to stop Israels racist violence against Palestinians. Instead, its still backing and funding it, the group said in a statement. The US Department of State did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment about the killing of Musallet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Palestinian group Hamas condemned the murder of Muslat, describing it as barbaric, and called on Palestinians across the West Bank to rise up to confront the settlers and their terrorist attacks. Israel said it was investigating what happened in Sinjil, claiming that the violence started when Palestinians threw rocks at an Israeli vehicle. Shortly thereafter, violent clashes developed in the area between Palestinians and Israeli civilians, which included the destruction of Palestinian property, arson, physical confrontations, and stone-throwing, the Israeli military said in a statement. Israeli investigations often lead to no charges or meaningful accountability for the abuses of Israeli officers and settlers. As settler and military violence intensifies in the West Bank, Israel has killed at least 57,762 Palestinians in Gaza in a campaign that rights groups have described as a genocide. WEST LAFAYETTE, IN IU Health has announced plans for the first hospital in the city of West Lafayette, part of a $214 million investment called "The Greater Lafayette Community Growth Project." The three-part Greater Lafayette Community Growth Project will bring the citys first hospital to West Lafayette, a news release said, along with a state-of-the-art cancer center to the Arnett Hospital campus in Lafayette and a substantial expansion to the number of specialty medical services available in West Lafayette. Art Vasquez, president of IU Health's West Region, said in the release that the IU Health Board of Directors recognized the growth coming to Greater Lafayette several years ago, understanding the need for an increase in services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We planted our flag early, confident in the communitys potential and committed to being part of its future, Vasquez said in the release. Today, were proud to announce the next bold step in that journey with the Greater Lafayette Community Growth Project. This is a major milestone, not just for our organization, but for our community. IU Health announced plans on Friday for a first-of-its-kind hospital in West Lafayette, part of a $214 million investment into medical services by the health care provider in the Tippecanoe County area. Johnna Dexter-Wiens, senior communications consultant for IU Health's West Region, said a location for the new West Lafayette hospital has been confirmed, but she declined to share more details as of Friday morning. "We have secured a site in West Lafayette as part of our strategic planning process to expand access to high-quality care in the region," Dexter-Wiens said. "We are currently conducting thorough due diligence, and we look forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks. Our priority is to build in the location that will best serve the community, both now and for generations to come." The project builds on more than a century of commitment by IU Health in Greater Lafayette, the release said, beginning with the establishment of the Arnett-Crockett Clinic in 1922. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dennis Murphy, IU Health president and chief executive officer, said in the release that IU Health has been responsible for bringing several "firsts" in health care to Tippecanoe County, including the first multi-specialty clinic, the first cardiology and pediatric departments and the first urgent care. "Now, were preparing to bring another milestone the first hospital in West Lafayette, Murphy said in the release. Throughout every era, IU Health has consistently followed through investing in infrastructure, talent and innovation to meet the evolving needs of the communities we proudly serve. Construction on both the cancer center and hospital is expected to begin in 2026, the release said, with both facilities projected to open in 2028. The Greater Lafayette Community Growth Project will relocate the existing IU Health Cancer Center in Lafayette from its current location on 26th Street in Lafayette to a new state-of-the-art facility on the Arnett Hospital campus, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new 55,000-square-foot Cancer Center will have room to provide essential infusion therapies to 32 patients simultaneously, the release said, equating to a 23% increase over the current facility. The new center plans to create an environment that is intentionally designed to support whole-person care through integrative services such as art therapy, massage therapy, music therapy, support groups, yoga for relaxation and spiritual care. The full-service IU Health West Lafayette hospital will offer a 24/7 emergency department, inpatient care, multiple operating rooms, a helipad for emergency transportation and advanced imaging and laboratory services, the release said. "IU Health West Lafayette Hospital will expand access to preventive care, enhance specialty capabilities and improve outcomes across the continuum of care, bringing IU Healths leading-edge treatments and whole-person approach closer to home for residents of West Lafayette," the release said. "IU Health is the only health system with plans to offer inpatient hospital care in West Lafayette." Alongside the new West Lafayette hospital, IU Health will also undertake an 8,000-square-foot renovation at the IU Health Medical Offices on Sagamore Parkway West in West Lafayette, the release said, bringing access to specialty medical care to West Lafayette through the establishment of a multispecialty clinic in the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IU Health will also establish a new rapid access cardiology clinic at the same location, the release said, as well as a walk-in orthopedic clinic for same-day evaluation and treatment. The Greater Lafayette Community Growth Project will bring more than 210 new full-time health-care jobs to the community by 2030, the release said, including 29 physicians, 10 advanced practice providers and 69 nurses, along with 100-plus other essential health-care positions. West Lafayette's other planned new medical facility In April, officials with Purdue University and Ascension St. Vincent also announced plans to bring a new medical facility to West Lafayette, which is moving forward again after a delay of more than two years. That facility will be at the intersection of Airport Road and U.S. 231, according to a news release. Plans include space for advanced urgent care, imaging, labs and primary care physicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. She can be reached via email at jellison@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: IU Health to build West Lafayette's first full-service hospital TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Ivy Tech and Saturn Petcare held a signing to welcome four new members to their Industrial Technology Apprenticeship program. They also celebrated the first two people to ever complete the program. It took place at the Ivy Tech Center for Workforce Development in southern Vigo County. This program will allow apprentices to get hands-on experience by working at Saturn Petcare, all while going to school at Ivy Tech to earn an associates degree. After completing the first year of the program, apprentices will earn a certificate. The apprentices will also not have to pay any tuition while in this program, which takes three years to complete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ivy Tech and Saturn Petcare both agree that a collaboration like this is very important for people in the area and can be life-changing for the people who join the program. Ivy Tech and Saturn Petcare team up for apprenticeship program Next year for them is gonna be going to school half the day, working half the day, Maintenance Systems Supervisor at Saturn Petcare, Marc Otto, said. Really having a collaboration between the classroom environment and a working environment to give them the hands-on skills along with the education. They are obviously being proactive in trying to help our workforce, Dean of the School of AMEAS Molly Joseph said. By offering these opportunities to our students. I mean, honestly, this is a life-changing event for some students, so its great that students are getting their schooling paid for, and then they are guaranteed a full-time position after this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Jackson County teenagers are learning good driving habits and skills, a few drivers at a time. The Jackson County Sheriffs Office hosts a one-day teen driver challenge about every two months. This year, the students are getting their lessons from a familiar teacher. The Florida Sheriffs Association created the Teen Driver Challenge in 2007 as a way to spread awareness of the common factors affecting teen drivers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The free program gives teens the chance to not only learn about driving, but also everything that comes with owning and driving a car. School resource officers teach the program in Jackson County. Being that we have that relationship with the kids already, they put us over the teen drivers, and we just we help them learn how to be better drivers and not get distracted while driving, said Jackson County Sgt. Johnny Rister. Its very important to us because we know these kids, were in the community with them. Students get demonstrations on how to change a tire and change the oil in the car. They also learn the dangers of distracted and impaired driving, and other factors that may impact the driving experience. Then, after a couple of hours of classroom work, students head to the driving range to get behind the wheel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal is just to make our roads safer for the teens and the traveling public, said Sgt. Rister. Statistics show roughly 25-30% of teen drivers will be involved in an accident during their first 12 months of driving. The Teen Driver Challenges main goal is to prevent them from becoming one of those statistics. To participate, students must have a valid Florida learners permit or drivers license. Jackson County Sheriff Officials credit the course with lowering the teen traffic fatality rate by 43%. To find out how to take the Teen Driver Challenge in your county, contact your local sheriffs office for details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. Jul. 12JAMESTOWN The Jamestown Police Department is working on a memorial for an officer who died in the line of duty in 1966. Ronald Trautman was injured on Aug. 3, 1966, after the three-wheeled motorcycle he was driving struck the rear tire of a semitrailer on U.S. Highway 281 south of Jamestown near the interchange for Interstate 94, according to a story in The Jamestown Sun on Aug. 4, 1966. The semitrailer was coming off the east approach to the overpass. He was taken to Fargo after surgery at Jamestown Hospital. Trautman fractured his left leg and left wrist and had severe head and chest injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trautman died from his injuries on Oct. 20, 1966, at St. Luke's Hospital in Fargo. Trautman was working as a marking officer and used the motorcycle for that purpose, said Ed Steckler, former Jamestown chief of police who was in charge of traffic law enforcement when the accident happened. He said the accident was investigated by the North Dakota Highway Patrol. Steckler said Trautman was a good officer. "I think it's well deserved," Steckler said, referring to the memorial to honor Trautman. "It's too bad it (accident) happened." Trautman was with the Jamestown Police Department for almost seven years, said Scott Edinger, Jamestown chief of police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edinger said he learned about Trautman and the accident at a memorial service in 2014 that honored fallen peace officers in Bismarck. "I had no idea prior to that," he said. Edinger said it's important to honor fallen peace officers because they serve their communities and could be responding to dangerous incidents every day. "Even the most routine things can turn dangerous," he said. "I just think that that's something that should be recognized. Nobody gets into this line of work and makes a ton of money. There's a lot of sacrifices that come with doing any kind of job like this. You miss birthdays and anniversaries and holidays and working nights and weekends, you miss out on a lot of things with your families and your friends that you just wouldn't normally in another line of work." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edinger said the memorial for Trautman would be similar to a bench that was dedicated in December in honor of fallen Mercer County Sheriff's Office Deputy Paul Martin, who was killed during a high-speed vehicle pursuit that began on Dec. 6, 2023, in Hazen, North Dakota. Martin grew up near Jamestown and was a 1989 Jamestown High School graduate. The bench honoring Martin was placed near the sidewalk on the boulevard in front of the James Valley Career and Technology Center in Jamestown. Edinger said the bench to honor Trautman would be installed at Zonta Park. He said it will cost about $4,500 to make and install the bench with $4,000 of the cost donated by the All Vets Club in Jamestown. Edinger said there isn't an estimated date of when the bench would be completed and installed. "I am happy and grateful that the city of Jamestown is doing something that will be a permanent memorial for at least some period of time," said Neal Trautman, Ronald Trautman's son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MoDean McCullough, Ronald's sister, said she came back to Jamestown for the University of Jamestown's homecoming week and wanted to check how the Police Department honored its fallen officers. "I met Mr. Edinger, and he assured me he was very embarrassed that there was nothing there at all, so he said he was going to definitely do it," she said. Ronald Trautman was born on Dec. 10, 1936, in Medina. He was 29 when he died from his injuries sustained from the crash. At the time of his death, Ronald left behind his wife, Darlene, his son, Neal, who was 3 years old, three brothers, William, Duane and Norman, and a sister, MoDean. His daughter, Lisa Trautman-Marcell, was not yet born. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neal said his mother was still "madly in love" with his father till the day she died. "She never got over it," he said. McCullough, who is the only surviving sibling of Ronald Trautman, said her brother was always the one who looked after her. She said he would make sure she got on the bus to attend school. "I recall almost always getting on the bus, sitting next to Ron," she said. She said she remembers her brother giving her a piece of candy when she was in first grade during lunch that was purchased from candy sales. "I just remember some of my friends, girlfriends that were sitting with me eating our lunch, would say, 'I wish I had an older brother that would buy me some candy,'" she said. "So I guess I felt pretty special about that, and that's a special memory I have about Ron." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCullough said Trautman was the only brother who was interested in cooking and he would always make fudge whenever their parents were gone. She said she remembers Trautman always making sure she had a chance to bat when they played softball with friends. McCullough also recalled when Trautman was an upperclassmen at Medina High School and reciting the Gettysburg Address by himself during a Memorial Day service. "I just remember how everybody applauded, and how proud my parents were and how proud I was," she said. "I couldn't believe my brother had done that." Trautman would eventually enlist in the U.S. Army. He married his high-school sweetheart, Darlene Wittmer, in Newport News, Virginia, where he was stationed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trautman and his wife lived in Newport News until he was sent to France in September 1958 and later Beirut. Trautman rejoined his wife in Jamestown in December 1959, where he worked for the Jamestown Police Department. "When he came back, he came right up there and came into my dorm room (at then Jamestown College) and woke me up, and that's when I saw him after he had been gone for the service," McCullough said. McCullough was living in California when she got the call that Trautman was severely injured in an accident. She stayed in contact with her parents and her mother told her that Trautman had regained consciousness at one point while he was in St. Luke's Hospital in Fargo. "She was very uplifted with that," McCullough said. "She thought he was going to be OK. Then I think just a couple of days after that he did pass." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Trautman was working for the Jamestown Police Department, McCullough was stopped by another police officer, who let her go after she confirmed that she was Trautman's sister. "I remember within a day or two, Ron calling me and saying, 'You're lucky,' because he said, 'if I would have caught you, you'd have got a ticket,'" she said. "I said that to Chief Edinger to say, well, he would have been a good cop. He wouldn't have let somebody get away because another officer's sister was the person doing the violation." ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The body of Jayda Floyd was recovered Thursday in Kerr County, days after a devastating flood washed through the area on the Fourth of July. Courtesy: Floyd family Jayda, along with her boyfriend, Odessa Police officer Bailey Martin, his father and stepmother, Bobby and Amanda Martin, and his younger siblings, were camping in their RV, waiting to celebrate the birth of our nation with fireworks, food, and festivities, when the Guadalupe River rose by at least 26 feet in a matter of minutes. Two of Officer Martins siblings were rescued after the flood, but as hours turned into days, Floyd, Bailey, Bobby, and Amanda, were all found deceased by rescue crews. Floyd graduated from the University of Texas Permian Basin with a psychology degree and worked for Ector County as a juvenile probation officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ector County Sheriffs Office and partner agencies will be bringing Jayda home in an honorable procession at a date to be disclosed later. Sheriff Mike Griffis stated: We continue to ask for prayers for the Floyd Family, the Martin Family, and those affected by this horrible tragedy, said Sheriff Mike Griffis. We are thankful that we were able to provide closure to Jaydas family today as Sheriff Mike Griffis, Juvenile Detention Center Director Kevin Mann, Medical Examiner Chief investigator Carl Rogers, and I visited with her family. We ask that the public respect the familys privacy but continue to pray for them, said Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett. Jayda was immensely loved and admired by Ector County staff, and we are sending our deepest condolences to her family and friends. We continue to pray for comfort and guidance in times of mourning and unimaginable grief for so many. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. Vice President JD Vance was seen strolling through Disneyland while on a trip to Southern California Saturday. The Vice President, his wife Usha and two of their children were seen walking through Bayou Country. The user who posted the video to X that was obtained by KTLA @DisneyScoopGuy said in a separate post that Vance and his family rode Tianas Bayou Adventure. A third post from the same user showed Vance and his family going to the high-end 21 Royal restaurant located within the park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance also appeared to take in the sights at Tom Sawyers Island, too. Vice President JD Vance was seen strolling through Disneyland while on a trip to Southern California Saturday. Members of Vances advance team were seen throughout the area earlier in the week. Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, a Democrat, expressed frustration at the VPs trip to SoCal. Im offended by the visit, because so many families are being terrorized by the policies from the federal government, Sarmiento said. Another Orange County Supervisor, Republican Don Wagner, offered a more tempered response, acknowledging Sarmientos concerns but encouraging dialogue rather than division. I do think its an opportunity for us, instead of casting stones, to cast a wider net, Wagner said. Weve had questions about ICE operations in Santa Ana. This could be a chance to engage rather than stay away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While there were no concrete reports as to why Vance is in SoCal (no public schedule of events was ever released) Sarmiento says he believes the VP and his family are on a leisure trip. Vance is believed to be staying at the Grand Californian Hotel, which is adjacent to the park; demonstrators have gathered near the hotel to protest the Vice Presidents visit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Property taxes are one of the most significant ongoing expenses homeowners face. The taxes are meant to fund local government services such as infrastructure, schools, and other essential systems. The specific fee is calculated based on a homes value and its location, though the amount can vary annually based on local tax laws and the homes value. Typically, if someone's home is more valuable, they will owe more in property taxes. Home values are also re-evaluated as often as every year, which means property tax bills can change. The issue facing many homeowners is that property taxes are growing due to increased home values and changes to local tax rates, Realtor.com senior economist Joel Berner said in an April report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several States Seek End To Property Taxes: Shouldn't Have To 'Rent From The Government The median property in the U.S. saw its property tax bill grow by 2.8% from 2023 to 2024 as over 73% of properties had tax increases during that time. In 2024, the median tax bill in the U.S. was $3,500, which was largely driven by home price appreciation. However, Berner said many homeowners may not realize they can protest their home's value assessment. In fact, over 40% of properties nationwide could save at least $100 by protesting the assessed value, with a median savings of over $500, according to Berner. Read On The Fox Business App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How Eliminating Property Taxes In Florida Could Affect The State's Real Estate Market Such taxes have become a flashpoint among politicians, with some even calling for their complete elimination. One Pennsylvania lawmaker argued that homeowners shouldnt have to "pay rent" to the government. Recently, Gov. Ron DeSantis doubled down on his goal of eliminating property taxes in Florida, a move that would make it the lone state in the country with no state income or property tax. Photo of home for sale in Huntington, New York on August 5, 2020. (Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images) Residents in New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington and New York face the highest median property tax amount, according to the most recent data from Realtor.com Conversely, Indiana, Alabama, West Virginia and Arkansas residents have the lowest median property tax amount. A home sits for sale in Geneva, Illinois, June 23, 2009. Here are the states in order from highest to lowest median property tax amount, according to Realtor.com: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey $9,413 New Hampshire __ $7,715 Connecticut $6,944 Washington $6,338 New York $6,096 Texas $5,860 California $5,248 Massachusetts-- $5,142 Rhode Island-- $5,111 District of Columbia $5,087 Maryland $4,874 Maine $4,335 Oregon $4,265 Alaska $4,113 Minnesota $3,712 Florida $3,659 Wisconsin $3,612 Colorado $3,398 Kansas $3,379 Pennsylvania $3,137 Montana $3,072 Hawaii $2,931 Ohio $2,823 Iowa $2,816 Utah $2,768 Virginia $2,755 Georgia $2,683 South Dakota $2,632 Missouri $2,534 North Dakota $2,525 Nebraska $2,382 Nevada $2,316 Vermont $2,206 Wyoming $2,024 Illinois $1,974.5 Idaho $1,974 North Carolina $1,971 Arizona $1,956 New Mexico --$1,734 Delaware $1,702 Michigan $1,670 Kentucky $1,551 Oklahoma $1,481 Louisiana $1,415 Tennessee $1,333 South Carolina $1,328 Mississippi $1,034 Indiana $995 Alabama $804 West Virginia $728 Arkansas $725 Original article source: New Jersey tops nation's highest property tax list at $9,413 while southern states offer relief An attempted robbery in Fresno late Friday afternoon resulted in shots fired by a civilian, police said. Just before 5:30 p.m., officers responded to 7064 N. Cedar Ave., near Herndon Avenue, regarding a stolen vehicle with three people in it that had crashed into the front of the jewelry store, and the trios subsequent attempt to rob the store, Fresno Police Lt. Henry Garcia III said. A civilian who works nearby and saw what was happening opened fire on the suspects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garcia III said another vehicle was also at the scene; the suspects got into that vehicle and fled north on Cedar. Robbery detectives are investigating. Its not known whether any of the suspects was hit by gunfire. Anyone who has information is asked to call police at 559-621-7000. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The streets of Hillcrest will be filled with floats, pride flags and hundreds of people on Saturday, July 16 to kick off San Diego Pride. The entire city comes alive, said Bobby Gordon, a Hillcrest resident. For years, the pride parade brings the LGBTQ+ community together to celebrate. In the community, well call it gay Christmas, and it really does feel like that, Hanz Enyeart said. Its a very special time, and you know, Im Jewish, but I love gay Christmas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, this years festival has been met with ongoing controversy as several major organizations pulled out of the event. Its a little bit unusual and a shame that theres so much controversy with the headliner and all that stuff. Just come and do your thing, said Paul Levesque, who plans to attend the San Diego Pride event. San Diego Pride headliner Kehlani, a vocal pro-Palestine advocate, shared messages in support of intifada, which Enyeart says translates to violent resistance against Israel. These words do have material consequences in the world, and they dont free Palestine. They just hurt Jews, he explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enyeart says messages like that raise concerns for the safety of Jews who planned to attend the festival. Its disappointing that I dont get to experience that this year, but on the other hand, Im just so blown away by how the greater Jewish community of San Diego has stepped up to build all of this programming for the LGBTQ+ Jews who wont feel safe enough to go to pride, Enyeart said. Thats why he founded JQuties, the grassroots organization dedicated to creating J Pride, along with at least 25 other organizations and sponsors to provide an alternative option. Theres controversy, and theres always going to be controversies, Gordon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, others in Hillcrest say despite the dispute, they plan to enjoy the regular festivities at San Diego Pride. I just hope everybody really enjoys the weekend, Levesque said. San Diego Pride says theyre coordinating with the San Diego Police Department and the FBI, adding in a statement This years parade and festival will include enhanced security and the presence of additional community safety measures, including legal observers, who will monitor interactions between law enforcement and the community. I think its really, really good timing for all of us to come together and celebrate, Gordon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enyeart says anyone is welcome to attend J Pride, adding this years theme is Love is kosher. J Pride is from July 18-20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. The niece of the China-based billionaire purportedly backing left-wing protest groups in the US spearheaded the Jews for Zohran Mamdani campaign a bid to give the Israel-bashing candidate cover from antisemitism accusations and win over Jewish voters, The Post found. Marxist tycoon Neville Roy Singhams niece Alicia Singham Goodwin serves as political director of lefty nonprofit Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, which in January launched Jews for Zohran. We, like, had our own voter file . . . and for phone banks that were only Jewish voters, and had, like, Jews talking to Jews, Singham Goodwin, 33, said in a July 1 interview on WBAI. We developed early on these talking points about antisemitism and a way for volunteers to engage. Alicia Singham Goodwin serves as political director of lefty nonprofit Jews for Racial and Economic Justice. Alicia Singham Goodwin/ X Jews for Zohran is now working with city Comptroller Brad Lander and Rep. Jerry Nadler to persuade more Jewish pols such as Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Dan Goldman to back Mamdani for mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Queens Democratic City Councilman Rory Lancman called the effort frightening given Mamdanis defense of the globalize the Intifada slogan. The demonization of Israel leads to the demonization of Jews who support Israel, which is overwhelmingly the majority of Jews in the U.S., Lancman told The Post. Receiving the endorsement of Jewish elected officials represents a normalization of the demonization of Israel and the demonization of Jews that naturally flows from that. Singham Goodwins mom is Roy Singhams sister, Shanti Singham, who has her own Chinese ties: a department chair at state-controlled East China Normal University in Shanghai, shes promoted the countrys Confucius Institutes in Africa. Singham Goodwins father, Daniel Goodwin, was longtime counsel and an executive at Roy Singhams software firm Thoughtworks. The Jews for Zohran' Mamdani campaign is a bid to give the Israel-bashing candidate cover from anti-Semitism accusations and win over Jewish voters. Getty Images The couple donated $4,200 to Mamdanis campaign and super PAC from their luxury penthouse in Morningside Heights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A leader in the NYC Democratic Socialists of America, Singham Goodwins social media shows her posing with Mamdani and with her uncles wife Jodie Evans, founder of the Singham-funded leftist group CodePink. Since the $785 million sale of Thoughtworks in 2017, Roy Singham has installed himself in Shanghai and bankrolled groups pushing Beijings agenda. Jodie Evans and Neville Roy Singham Getty Images for V-Day House Republicans have sought to question him over potential ties to groups involved in recent protests against immigration enforcement in Los Angeles. Neither Singham returned requests for comment. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) More than 75 companies are set to attend an upcoming job fair at Naval Station Norfolk from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Thursday, July 17. This event, organized and operated by Disabled American Vehicles and RecruitMilitary, provides vital support to veterans that are transitioning back to civilian careers, empowering them by offering them the opportunity to pursue new jobs. Registration is free for all transitioning personnel, veterans and their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To register online, visit the link here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. As the probe into Joe Bidens mental acuity continues, the former presidents personal physician, Kevin OConnor, DO, made an appearance this week in Washington, D.C., in front of the House Oversight Committee. O'Connor sat down for a closed-door interview on Wednesday with committee staff and panel chair James Comer, R-Ky. but O'Connor invoked the Fifth Amendment to all questions, save for his name, as Fox News Digital previously reported. In the wake of this, many people have been wondering: What's the difference between a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) and a doctor of medicine (MD)? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ex-white House Physician Slams Biden Doctor For Silence During House Gop Grilling Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News' senior medical analyst, confirmed that the capabilities of both a DO and an MD are the same, even when it comes to acknowledging mental decline or diagnosing and screening for prostate cancer. "He's a DO and he's a family practitioner," said Siegel. "With that training, he should know how to screen for prostate cancer." Read On The Fox News App The House Oversight Committee questioned former President Joe Bidens White House physician Kevin O'Connor, DO, shown here with Biden, during a hearing this week as part of a probe into Biden's mental decline. Training as a DO should not "take away" from medical training or medical education, said Siegel, whos an internist it only adds osteopathic methods such as manipulative treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm trained to be able to suss out cognitive decline," said Siegel. "I'm not a specialist in that, but I can certainly screen for that. And so should a family practitioner who went to osteopathic school." He added, "He's a guy who should say, Hey, [Bidens] got some cognitive decline. Let me get a neurologist in here." For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health As a White House physician, OConnors responsibility was to address the medical needs of the president. But DOs have more of a focus on the "mind, body, spirit connection," according to Cleveland Clinic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MDs and DOs have similar schooling, do the same jobs, can prescribe medicine and practice anywhere in the country. Still, DOs approach medicine more holistically, according to the same source. DOs and MDs receive the same kind of training and can administer the same modern medical treatments. But DOs may approach medicine more holistically. Cleveland Clinic defines osteopathic medicine as treating patients as a whole and improving wellness through education and prevention. DOs also receive extra training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), which is a hands-on method for treating and diagnosing patients. This alternative training and approach dont define a doctors practice, as DOs use "all types of modern medical treatments," according to Cleveland Clinic while MDs can also provide whole-person, preventive care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warding Off Alzheimer's Might Mean Making These 11 Lifestyle Changes, Expert Says DO training was first developed in 1892 by physician Andrew Taylor Still, MD, who changed his philosophy of medicine after the Civil War, the same source noted. He believed traditional medicine to treat spinal meningitis, which killed three of his children, was ineffective and developed the concept of osteopathic medicine. "Osteopathic manipulative medicine, or osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), involves manipulating (touching or moving) your muscles, bones and joints," Cleveland Clinic notes. In the U.S., as of 2023, there were 154 allopathic medical schools using medication, surgery and other interventions to treat illnesses and 38 otheopathic medicine schools, according to Cleveland Clinic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2024 report from the American Osteopathic Association found that 57% of DOs practice family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics compared to 28% of MDs. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter The number of DOs in the U.S. has been on the rise in the last decade, according to the same report. Nearly 70% of DOs in active practice are under age 45 and 45% are female. Several U.S. presidents have been under the care of osteopathic physicians in recent years. OConnor was appointed by Biden in 2021, serving until March 2025 in the role of White House physician. For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Sean Barbabella, DO, stepped into the role that same month. He is a decorated Navy physician who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Before becoming physician to President Donald Trump, Barbabella ran the Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina, according to multiple sources. Dr. Sean Conley, DO, served as a physician to Trump during his first term, from 2018 to 2021. House GOP members, including Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, a former White House doctor himself, continue to investigate accusations that Biden's former top White House aides covered up signs of his mental and physical decline while in office, and whether any executive actions were commissioned via autopen without the president's full knowledge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden allies have been pushing back on those claims. Fox News Digitals Elizabeth Elkind contributed reporting. Original article source: Joe Biden's osteopathic doctor pleads the Fifth on mental acuity: DO vs MD The Brief A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to halt what it called indiscriminate immigration raids in seven Southern California counties, including LA and Ventura counties. The ACLU sued to block the raids, accusing immigration agents of using racial profiling and excessive force, and not allowing detainees access to legal counsel. The ruling does not block all immigration raids, but rather requires agents to have reasonable suspicion for stops. LOS ANGELES - A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to halt what immigrant rights groups are calling unconstitutional raids sweeping across Southern California. What we know Judge Maame E. Frimpong issued the ruling on Friday, blocking raids in seven California counties, including Los Angeles County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the lawsuit last week, accusing immigration officials of using unconstitutional tactics in raids across the region, like racial profiling, excessive force, and denying detainees access to legal counsel. According to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the decision includes two temporary restraining orders. The first keeps immigration officers from stopping people without reasonable suspicion, or stopping people over their apparent race, whether they speak Spanish, where they work and more. The second requires the Department of Homeland Security to provide detainees at the federal building in downtown Los Angeles access to legal representation. The ruling, however, does not stop all immigration raids in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is about how, not whether to enforce federal immigration law," said Jessica Levinson, law professor at Loyola Marymount University. "This is not a judge saying there's a temporary restraining order on enforcing federal immigration law. There's a temporary restraining order on how ICE agents are enforcing that law, and specifically what they can and can't do." PREVIOUS: Judge considers blocking immigration raids in Southern California amid ACLU lawsuit What they're saying "No matter the color of their skin, what language they speak, or where they work, everyone is guaranteed constitutional rights to protect them from unlawful stops," said Mohammad Tajsar, attorney with the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, in response to Friday's ruling. "While it does not take a federal judge to recognize that marauding bands of masked, rifle-toting goons have been violating ordinary peoples rights throughout Southern California, we are hopeful that todays ruling will be a step toward accountability for the federal governments flagrant lawlessness that we have all been witnessing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also praised the ruling, calling it "an important step toward restoring safety, security and defending the rights of all Angelenos," calling the raids an "assault by the Trump administration." Gov. Gavin Newsom also released a statement saying, "Justice prevailed today the courts decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating peoples rights and racial profiling. Stephen Millers immigration agenda is one of chaos, cruelty and fear. Instead of targeting the most dangerous people, federal officials have been arbitrarily detaining Americans and hardworking people, ripping families apart, and disappearing people into cruel detention to meet outrageous arrest quotas without regard to due process and constitutional rights that protect all of us from cruelty and injustice. That should stop now. California stands with the law, and the foundation upon which our founding fathers built this country. I call on the Trump administration to do the same." The other side In an email to the Associated Press, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said that "any claims that individuals have been targeted' by law enforcement because of their skin color are disgusting and categorically FALSE," adding that "enforcement operations are highly targeted, and officers do their due diligence" before making arrests." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her full statement read, "A district judge is undermining the will of the American people. Americas brave men and women are removing murderers, MS-13 gang members, pedophiles, rapiststruly the worst of the worst from Golden State communities. Law and order will prevail." U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli issued a statement on social media saying he strongly disagrees with Judge Frimpong's ruling, saying that "our agents have never detained individuals without proper legal justification. Our federal agents will continue to enforce the law." The backstory Immigration raids have been increasing consistently across Southern California for more than a month now, with officers regularly raiding car washes, Home Depot parking lots and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, a swarm of immigration officers descended on MacArthur Park in downtown Los Angeles for an immigration operation, shutting down a children's camp in the process. No one was arrested in that case. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Judge Frimpong's ruling also included Ventura County, where Thursday, immigration agents carried out massive raids at two legal marijuana farms, detaining more than 200 suspected undocumented immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the AP, Border Patrol agents are already kept from arresting people without warrants in a large part of eastern California, after another federal judge issued a preliminary injunction back in April. What's next This case will now head to a hearing to determine whether a preliminary injunction will be given. From their, either side may appeal the decision. The Source Information in this story is from the Associated Press, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Loyola Marymount professor Jessica Levinson, statements from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, and previous FOX 11 reports. A federal judge on Friday blocked the Donald Trump administration from carrying out broad immigration raids and arrests in Los Angeles that target individuals solely based on their race, location, language or type of work. U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong also ordered Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other administration figures to provide detainees access to legal representatives. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her order, the judge granted two temporary restraining orders requested by the plaintiffs, who include detainees, immigration rights groups and United Farm Workers. The TRO remains in place for the next 10 days as attorneys seek a preliminary injunction. There are really two questions in controversy that this court must decide today, the judge wrote. First, are the individuals and organizations who brought this lawsuit likely to succeed in proving that the federal government is indeed conducting roving patrols without reasonable suspicion and denying access to lawyers? This court decides based on all the evidence presented that they are. And second, what should be done about it? The individuals and organizations who have brought this lawsuit have made a fairly modest request: That this court order the federal government to stop. The ICE raids, some captured on iPhones and by TV news crews, have seen masked agents arriving at car washes, bus stops, restaurants, Home Depots and other sites, taking away suspected undocumented immigrants. The Trump administration has focused its attention on Los Angeles as it has stepped up its efforts for mass deportations, with Trump federalizing the National Guard in response to protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Gavin Newsom, who has condemned Trumps actions and those of his administration, wrote on X following the ruling, Justice prevailed today. The courts decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating peoples rights and racial profiling. California stands with the law and the Constitution and I call on the Trump Administration to do the same. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement, We strongly disagree with the allegations in the lawsuit and maintain that our agents have never detained individuals without proper legal justification. Our federal agents will continue to enforce the law and abide by the U.S. Constitution. The judges ruling prohibits the Trump administration from conducting the raids unless they have reasonable suspicion. In forming the basis of reasonable suspicion, they also cannot rely solely on a persons race or ethnicity, whether the person speaks Spanish or English with an accent, the persons presence at a particular location, or on the type of work they do. The plaintiffs noted the tactics of the raids, in which agents arrived in military clothing and gear, heavily armed and masked. They have shouted commands at individuals, and some have been pushed to the ground and even beaten, and then taken away, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs not only argued that the raids and arrests violated the Constitution, but also cited conditions of the downtown federal building where the detainees have been taken, noting that they are deprived of food and basic hygiene, for what is supposed to be a temporary holding facility. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SCRANTON A judge dismissed most of the defendants in Bob Bolus lawsuit to prevent Scranton from flying at City Hall the pride flag that symbolizes support for LGBTQ+ people and inclusivity. Bolus last month sued the city, Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, the five members of Scranton City Council President Gerald Smurl, Bill King, Mark McAndrew, Jessica Rothchild and Tom Schuster as well as Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan, over the city flying the pride flag in recognition of the annual Pride Month of June. The lawsuit aimed to get the pride flag removed from Scranton City Hall and barred from display at all government buildings in Lackawanna County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a ruling issued June 30, Lackawanna County Judge Frank Ruggiero dismissed as defendants the five council members and Gaughan. The judge did not dismiss the city and mayor as defendants, so the case proceeds against them. On June 26, Bolus sought an emergency petition to get the flag taken down because the month was nearly over, but Ruggieros ruling coming on the last day of June also dismissed Bolus request for an emergent hearing. The flag flap arose last month, after the city started on June 1 flying a rainbow-motif pride flag on a flagpole at the Municipal Building at 340 N. Washington Ave. for the annual commemoration of Pride Month. Bolus initially filed a lawsuit June 6 on a pro-se basis, meaning representing himself without an attorney, in a legal attempt to compel the removal of the pride flag from City Hall, as well as having it barred from display there and at all government buildings in the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also on June 6, Lackawanna County Judge Terrence Nealon dismissed Bolus lawsuit on various procedural errors, including that he did not properly file or serve the action or name defendants. Nealon dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning Bolus could try to do it again properly. On June 9, Bolus refiled the lawsuit, now naming as defendants the city and the elected officials, all of whom are Democrats. Bolus is a Republican. The filing and refiling of the lawsuit came amid controversy aired at recent city council meetings. On June 10, Smurl apologized for not stopping derogatory remarks made during public comment at the June 3 weekly council meeting. The apology was a response to comments by Bolus made June 3 opposing having the rainbow flag displayed at City Hall, as well as other remarks that Bolus directed at a pro-LGBTQ+ resident, Angela Ramone. Residents also came out to councils June 10 meeting to express support for LGBTQ+ people and condemn hate speech, while Bolus said, I make no excuse for last week, according to an Electric City Television simulcast and video of the weekly meeting posted online. On June 27, the city and mayor, represented by attorney Sean McDonough, filed objections to the lawsuit seeking its dismissal on several grounds, including: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolus citation of flags allowed on county buildings is misplaced here, in that the pride flag in question is flying at a municipal building. The government speech doctrine allows the city to display the pride flag and accordingly the petitioners remedy is not injunctive relief, it is the ballot box; and barring or ordering the flag removed would be muzzling the citys prerogative to support Pride Month. While Bolus views the pride flag as a symbol of a lifestyle abhorrent to a significant number of people, the message of the flag is in the eye of the beholder. Flags have great symbolic potential and can hold multiple meanings at the same time meanings that can shift over time. Bolus can express his own views, and his private speech is not being inhibited by the citys decision to display the Pride Flag, but the citys expressive rights would be diminished were this court to order the city to remove the flag against its wishes. Ruggiero will hear oral arguments in the lawsuit on Aug. 12. A federal judge on Thursday issued a temporary restraining order providing protections for journalists covering protests in Los Angeles after reporters alleged law enforcement mistreated them during widespread protests last month. U.S. District Judge Hernan D. Vera, an appointee of former President Biden, granted the 14-day order and ruled that local police could no longer cite, detain or arrest journalists gathering, receiving, or processing information in an enclosed area for failure to disperse, curfew violations, or the obstruction of a law enforcement officer. If LAPD detains or arrest a person who claims to be a journalist, that person shall be permitted to promptly contact a supervisory officer of the rank of captain or above for purposes of challenging that detention, unless circumstances make it impossible to do so, Vera wrote in the order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also bars the LAPD from using nonlethal munitions against journalists. The lawsuit, which was filed last month, came after protests erupted in Southern California amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the region. President Trump deployed National Guard troops to the city despite objections from local and state officials. The suit alleged that reporters covering the subsequent unrest were harmed by officers use of less-lethal munitions and through other measures. Under Veras order, Los Angeles police are banned from using chemical irritants, and flash-bangs against journalists who do not pose a threat of imminent harm to an officer or another person. A preliminary injunction hearing is set for July 24 to consider a long-term block. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law enforcement agency did not immediately respond to The Hills request for comment on the matter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. LOS ANGELES (AP) A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to halt indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in seven California counties, including Los Angeles. Immigrant advocacy groups filed the lawsuit last week accusing President Donald Trumps administration of systematically targeting brown-skinned people in Southern California during its ongoing immigration crackdown. The plaintiffs include three detained immigrants and two U.S. citizens, one of whom was held despite showing agents his identification. The filing in U.S. District Court asked a judge to block the administration from using what they call unconstitutional tactics in immigration raids. Immigrant advocates accuse immigration officials of detaining someone based on their race, carrying out warrantless arrests, and denying detainees access to legal counsel at a holding facility in downtown LA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Maame E. Frimpong also issued a separate order barring the federal government from restricting attorney access at a Los Angeles immigration detention facility in response to a request from nonprofit law firm Public Counsel. Frimpong issued the emergency orders, which are a temporary measure while the lawsuit proceeds, the day after a hearing during which advocacy groups argued that the government was violating the Fourth and Fifth amendments of the Constitution. She wrote in the order there was a mountain of evidence presented in the case that the federal government was committing the violations they were being accused of. The White House responded quickly to the ruling late Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No federal judge has the authority to dictate immigration policy that authority rests with Congress and the President, spokesperson Abigail Jackson said. Enforcement operations require careful planning and execution; skills far beyond the purview (or) jurisdiction of any judge. We expect this gross overstep of judicial authority to be corrected on appeal. Communities on edge as administration steps up arrests Immigrants and Latino communities across Southern California have been on edge for weeks since the Trump administration stepped up arrests at car washes, Home Depot parking lots, immigration courts and a range of businesses. Tens of thousands of people have participated in rallies in the region over the raids and the subsequent deployment of the National Guard and Marines. The order also applies to Ventura County, where busloads of workers were detained Thursday while the court hearing was underway after federal agents descended on a cannabis farm, leading to clashes with protesters and multiple injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the recent wave of immigration enforcement has been driven by an arbitrary arrest quota and based on broad stereotypes based on race or ethnicity. When detaining the three day laborers who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit, all immigration agents knew about them is that they were Latino and were dressed in construction work clothes, the filing in the lawsuit said. It goes on to describe raids at swap meets and Home Depots where witnesses say federal agents grabbed anyone who looked Hispanic. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said in an email that any claims that individuals have been targeted by law enforcement because of their skin color are disgusting and categorically FALSE. McLaughlin said enforcement operations are highly targeted, and officers do their due diligence before making arrests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the ruling, she said a district judge is undermining the will of the American people. ACLU attorney Mohammad Tajsar said Brian Gavidia, one of the U.S. citizens who was detained, was physically assaulted ... for no other reason than he was Latino and working at a tow yard in a predominantly Latin American neighborhood. Tajsar asked why immigration agents detained everyone at a car wash except two white workers, according to a declaration by a car wash worker, if race wasnt involved. Representing the government, attorney Sean Skedzielewski said there was no evidence that federal immigration agents considered race in their arrests, and that they only considered appearance as part of the totality of the circumstances, including prior surveillance and interactions with people in the field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In some cases, they also operated off targeted, individualized packages, he said. The Department of Homeland Security has policy and training to ensure compliance with the Fourth Amendment, Skedzielewski said. Order opens facility to lawyer visits Lawyers from Immigrant Defenders Law Center and other groups say they also have been denied access to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in downtown LA known as B-18 on several occasions since June, according to court documents. Public Counsel lawyer Mark Rosenbaum said in one incident on June 7 attorneys attempted to shout out basic rights at a bus of people detained by immigration agents in downtown LA when the government drivers honked their horns to drown them out and chemical munitions akin to tear gas were deployed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skedzielewski said access was only restricted to protect the employees and the detainees during violent protests and it has since been restored. Rosenbaum said lawyers were denied access even on days without any demonstrations nearby, and that the people detained are also not given sufficient access to phones or informed that lawyers were available to them. He said the facility lacks adequate food and beds, which he called coercive to getting people to sign papers to agree to leave the country before consulting an attorney. Fridays order will temporarily prevent the government from solely using apparent race or ethnicity, speaking Spanish or English with an accent, presence at a location such as a tow yard or car wash, or someone's occupation as the basis for reasonable suspicion to stop someone. It will also require officials to open B-18 to visitation by attorneys seven days a week and provide detainees access to confidential phone calls with attorneys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys general for 18 Democratic states also filed briefs in support of the orders. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents were already barred from making warrantless arrests in a large swath of eastern California after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in April. A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to halt its indiscriminate immigration raids across California. The order was made in response to a filing from immigrant advocacy groups accusing the administration of systematically targeting brown-skinned people in Southern Californialeading to incidents like Marines detaining a veteran of Angolan and Portuguese heritage who was on his way to the Department of Veterans Affairsas the Trump administration ramps up its immigration crackdown with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the country. The advocacy groups asked the judge to block the administration from using unconstitutional tactics in immigration raids, including detaining people on the basis of race and denying detainees access to legal counsel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong of the U.S. District Court for Central California, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, said there was a mountain of evidence to support the groups claims and issued two temporary orders: one that prohibits immigration agents from arresting people without reasonable suspicion theyre in the country illegally, and another that requires agents to allow detainees immediate access to legal counsel. Protests erupted in Los Angeles in June over raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the Trump administration ramped up its deportation push. / Apu Gomes / Apu Gomes/Getty Images The factors that defendants appear to rely on for reasonable suspicion seem no more indicative of illegal presence in the country than of legal presencesuch as working at low-wage occupations such as car wash attendants and day laborers, Frimpong wrote in her order late Friday. That is insufficient and impermissible. The orders apply to Los Angeles County and six surrounding counties and are temporary as the case proceeds through the courts. It comes as the Trump administration has ramped up its deportation push across the country in an effort to reach a goal of 3,000 immigration arrests per day. The goal was set by Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and the chief architect of the administrations immigration policies, in May. ICE raids in Los Angeles sparked widespread demonstrations in early June, where Trump dispatched 4,000 members of the National Guard and 700 Marines over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier on Friday, border czar Tom Homan appeared on Fox News to discuss the case ahead of the ruling. Speaking to Griff Jenkins on Fox & Friends, Homan said, People need to understand ICE officers and Border Patrol dont need probable cause to walk up to somebody, briefly detain them, and question them. They just need to tally the circumstances ... based on the location, the occupation, their physical appearance, their actions," Homan added. Agents are trained, what they need to detain someone temporarily and question them is not probable cause; its reasonable suspicion. Homan: "People need to understand ICE officers and Border Patrol don't need probable cause to walk up to somebody, briefly detain them, and question them ... based on their physical appearance." pic.twitter.com/aQzwepaHpk Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 11, 2025 Legal experts were quick to correct Homan as soon as the video was posted to Twitter, with Congressman Daniel Goldman, a Democrat from New York and a lawyer who led the first impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, posting, This is patently false. DHS has [the] authority to question and search people coming into the country at points of entry. But ICE may not detain and question anyone without reasonable suspicionand certainly not based on their physical appearance alone, he wrote. This lawlessness must stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Homans comments appear to confirm what immigration advocacy groups have argued is true and that ICE is targeting people based on race, Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement to the Associated Press that any claims that individuals have been targeted by law enforcement because of their skin color are disgusting and categorically FALSE. Newsom, meanwhile, heralded the ruling. Justice prevailed today, he wrote on X Friday night. California stands with the law and the Constitutionand I call on the Trump administration to do the same." Justice prevailed today. The courts decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating peoples rights and racial profiling. California stands with the law and the Constitution and I call on the Trump Administration to do the same. https://t.co/z63Paoi1Kq Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) July 12, 2025 In a separate post, the governors office took aim at White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, the architect of Trumps anti-immigrant policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of targeting the most dangerous people, federal officials have been arbitrarily detaining Americans and hardworking people, ripping families apart, and disappearing people into cruel detention to meet outrageous arrest quotas without regard to due process and constitutional rights that protect all of us from cruelty and injustice, the office wrote on X Friday. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller is the architect of Trumps anti-immigrant policies. / Alex Wong / Getty Images Immigrant communities across California have been targeted by ICE, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other federal agencies since early June. Advocates have argued that these raids have targeted anyone who looks Hispanic and have largely taken place at locations associated with immigrant workers, like Home Depot. An attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union said that his client, a U.S. citizen who was detained by immigration agents, was physically assaulted ... for no other reason than he was Latino and working at a tow yard in a predominantly Latin American neighborhood. Dozens gathered Friday morning on Ship Island to celebrate Jack Madisons 100th birthday, with Biloxi Mayor Andrew FoFo Gilich proclaiming July 11, 2025, as Jack Madison Day. Madison gave his final tour of Fort Massachusetts in October 2024 after over 30 years of volunteering on Ship Island and the Davis Bayou Area. I always wanted to be a volunteer, and this gave me the opportunity, Madison said. Im rich, but I dont mean monetarily. This is a good example of friendship. Jack Madison, a volunteer tour guide for Gulf Islands National Seashore, gives one final tour of Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island on Friday, July 11, 2025 his 100th birthday. Born and raised in Biloxi, the World War II and Korean War veteran dedicated his life to bettering the Coast and preserving national parks such as Ship Island. In 2011, the National Park Service awarded Madison the Southeast Region Volunteer-In-Parks Award. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes a very fine individual, Captain Louis Skrmetta, CEO of Ship Islands Excursions, said. One of the finest people Ive ever known in my life, actually. Madison was presented with an official proclamation, signed by Mayor Gilich, designating the day in recognition of his service. The City of Biloxi proudly recognizes Jack Madisons century of life, his deep roots in our community, and the lasting impact of his contributions to our city, our nation, and all who have had the privilege to know him, Mayor Gilich said in the proclamation. Jack Madison, a volunteer tour guide for Gulf Islands National Seashore, is presented with a City of Biloxi proclamation declaring July 11, 2025 Madisons 100th birthday Jack Madison day. Jack Madison Former NPS Chief of Interpretation Gail Bishop said she first interacted with Madison in 1986 through a string of volunteer applications for Ship Island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had applied for a volunteer position, and he was persistent, Bishop said. I was busy, but he was persistent. Madison was hired, and every Thursday morning after that, he rode the ferry to Ship Island with Skrmetta at the helm. Jack Madison disembarks on Ship Island to give a final history tour on his 100th birthday, Friday, July 11, 2025. From their love of national parks to historical anecdotes about Civil War, U.S. Navy officer David Glasgow Farragut, Madison and Skrmetta found it easy to relate to each other. Jack would travel to national parks all over the country and share his stories with me, Skrmetta said. We just became really close in that regard. Jack Madison, a volunteer tour guide for Gulf Islands National Seashore, gives one final tour of Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island on Friday, July 11, 2025 his 100th birthday. Bishop described Madison as a Renaissance man hes skilled in winemaking, an expert on chocolate chip cookies, an amateur photographer, a wood carver, a historian and a traveler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes a man of many interests and talents, Bishop said. Thats what I have enjoyed about knowing him. Skrmetta enjoyed listening to Madison share stories from his service in World War II and the Korean War. A volunteer holds a folded American flag a gift for 100 year old volunteer Jack Madison during Madisons final tour on Friday, July 11, 2025. In the late 1930s he actually owned an Indian motorcycle, and later on, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, Skrmetta said. Skrmetta said Madison met his wife, Marilee, between the two conflicts. The couple was married for nearly 70 years, until Marilees passing in April 2024. He had the perfect partner all those years, Skrmetta said. She taught history at Biloxi High School, so you could imagine the book collection they had in their house. It was unbelievable. Jack Madison, a volunteer tour guide for Gulf Islands National Seashore, is presented with a quilt from Quilts of Valor and a birthday cake after his final tour of Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island on Friday, July 11, 2025 his 100th birthday. Fort Massachusetts Tours Madison gave about four tours of Ship Island every Thursday alongside Ship Island volunteer Charles Clark. While Madison took the lead in the lower level of Fort Massachusetts, Clark provided visitors with a historical experience on the upper level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He cared a great deal about what he was doing, Clark said. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Ship Island. Jack Madison, a volunteer tour guide for Gulf Islands National Seashore, gives one final tour of Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island on Friday, July 11, 2025 his 100th birthday. Being a volunteer for as long as I have it was my fountain of youth and something to look forward to each day, Madison said. At the end of every tour, Madison read a letter written by Lt. Col. H.W. Allen and left behind by Confederate forces for the Union upon their evacuation of the island in 1861. Jack would read that word for word at the end of his tour and sometimes he would actually tear up, Skrmetta said. Jack Madison, a volunteer tour guide for Gulf Islands National Seashore, is presented with a flag and a birthday cake after his final tour of Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island on Friday, July 11, 2025 his 100th birthday. I remember not just being impressed by his knowledge, but also by his demeanor and his conduct, John Bernsteil, Gulf Islands National Seashore supervisory park ranger, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clark said he looks forward to continuing Madisons legacy on Ship Island. Visitors listen as Jack Madison, a volunteer tour guide for Gulf Islands National Seashore, gives one final tour of Fort Massachusetts on Friday, July 11, 2025 his 100th birthday. I hope to continue to emulate Jack as best I can, Clark said. The best way I can think of to thank Jack for what he imparted to me is to continue doing the best I can. Its an honor to have known him all these years, Skrmetta said. I look up to him. Jack Madison, a volunteer tour guide for Gulf Islands National Seashore, talks with his friend Captain Louis Skrmetta of Ship Island Excursions on Madisons birthday on Friday, July 11, 2025. Madison said he hopes more people will invest their time in supporting national parks. Our parks are in trouble, deep trouble, Madison said. For decades, theyve been underfunded and undermanned. Volunteers have helped to make them what they are today. Jury selection begins Monday in a civil trial against the city and Honolulu police officers for the death of Lindani Myeni, an unarmed Black man shot and killed by police in a Nuuanu neighborhood. The Honolulu City Council rejected a proposed $1.5 million settlement of the wrongful death lawsuit brought by Myenis widow, resulting instead in a trial. Myenis widow, L. Lindsay Myeni, and mother of their two young children, filed a complaint April 2021 against the city, unnamed officers of the Honolulu Police Department and unnamed defendants who may have contributed to or are responsible for the fatal injuries her husband received. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers shot the 29-year-old former South African professional rugby player four times the night of April 14, 2021, at or near 91 Coelho Way, a vacation rental property adjacent to, and shares grounds with, the ISKCON Temple, with similar driveways and hedges. After the shooting, South Africans protested outside the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria, demanding the Honolulu police officers involved in the shooting be arrested. The South African government, human rights activists and provincial political parties condemned the killings of Black men by American police and demanded justice for Myeni. Instead, Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm said his office conducted an independent investigation of all available evidence and concluded in its June 30, 2021, report that the officers involved acted professionally and appropriately, adding there was no evidence of racial prejudice. The report found the shooting by two of three responding officers was justified, and no criminal charges were filed against them for their use of deadly force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The civil complaint says it is unknown whether Myeni intended to inquire about the vacation rental business or whether he mistakenly thought he was visiting the temple. Police were called by persons at the vacation rental after Myeni parked his car, removed his shoes and peacefully entered the house and left peacefully after he became aware he was unwelcome, the complaint says. Plaintiff alleges that the response by the occupants of the Property was motivated by Mr. Myenis race and constituted racial discrimination in public accommodation, the complaint says. Police were treating this peaceful entry and departure as a crime in progress, which Myeni was unaware of, the complaint says. It also says officers were armed with guns, Tasers and high-intensity flashlights, pointed at Myeni, making it impossible for him to see anything other than the light and objects in the path of the light beam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the three officers who responded to the 911 call repeated verbal commands for Myeni to stand down and used a Taser before fatally shooting him. Police acknowledged April 15, 2021, that officers did not identify themselves as police in the moments leading up to the assault and shooting. An officer, who shot Myeni once, received a fractured orbital bone, memory loss, two herniated discs, a concussion and a shoulder injury requiring surgery, and had not returned to active duty as of Oct. 9. The lawsuit alleges officers failed to identify themselves as police, and that Myeni was treated as less than a human being, was treated in a rough, aggressive, disrespectful and threatening manner and shouted at to get on the ground, and that their conduct was motivated by racial discrimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By pointing a gun and flashlight at Myeni, it caused him to fear for his life from unknown assailants, and the threat of force by pointing a gun at someone is considered use of force under Hawaii law, and requires a police officer to state his purpose. Myeni made the lawful choice to defend himself against his unjustified use of force and the muggers bullet that could soon be coming his way, the lawsuit alleges. The former professional rugby player knew how to defend himself physically and decided to act quickly to take down the assailant and /or disarm him before he can act, which he knew was the best chance of overcoming an armed assailant, the complaint alleges. Plaintiff alleges negligence on the part of defendants conduct in causing Myenis death and police officers conduct constituted assault and battery, which made him fear for his life and caused him extreme emotional distress, and in the end, caused his death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For their conduct, the city is liable, the lawsuit says. The complaint says Lindsay Myeni lost her husband as a result of the wrongful conduct of Defendants and is entitled to damages caused by the wrongful death of her husband for loss of companionship, marital care, loss of support and emotional distress. Because of the alleged grossly negligent, reckless and conscious disregard of her husbands rights, she is also seeking punitive damages. The city Department of Corporation Counsel recommended the settlement amount, but dozens of opposing police officers showed up at an Oct. 9 City Council meeting, as did the mayor, the police chief and the city prosecutor, who urged the Council to reject the settlement and to go to trial instead. The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers president sent a letter to Council members, urging them on behalf of its 2, 600-plus officers not to authorize the settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Council deferred the vote, and rejected the settlement on Nov. 7, opting instead to shift the matter to the judiciary system, where it rightly belongs, Chair Tommy Waters said in a statement. The Council recognizes the importance of upholding judicial due process and believes that the courtroom is the most suitable setting to ensure a fair and transparent examination of these facts. Waters added that the Oct. 9 discussion on the matter resembled a heated civil trial, with arguments and facts from both sides. James Bickerton, attorney for Myenis widow, said that Myeni could not see who was threatening him, and that police bodycam footage shows how dark it was, and that only 15 seconds elapsed after Myeni threw a defensive blow and one officer shouted a four-letter word and another shouted, Shoot him. Myeni suffered from Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy. He acted strangely earlier on the night he was shot. At Kewalo Basin he interfered with a police investigation of a car break-in, asking for money to buy food and trying to enter a patrol car. Karen Read case: Ted Daniel, Peter Tragos react to Alan Jacksons letter to Bostons top cop A Boston Police officer who testified in Karen Reads murder retrial is now the subject of a scathing letter from Reads defense attorney, Alan Jackson, who is demanding she be added to Bostons Brady List for officers with credibility issues. The letter, addressed to Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox and obtained exclusively by 25 Investigates, alleges Officer Kelly Devers credibility is irreparably compromised. Jacksons letter stems from Devers June 2nd testimony in Karen Reads retrial, where she stated she did not observe anything unusual in the Canton Police sallyport garage on January 29, 2022, the day John OKeefe was killed. Dever was working as a Canton Police Officer at the time and was working overtime. Need a recap on the Karen Read Trial? Check out our Week 8 Recap here, Week 7 recap here, our Week 6 recap here, our Week 5 recap here, our Week 4 recap here, and our Week 3 recap here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read, 45, was accused of striking John OKeefe, her Boston police officer boyfriend, with her Lexus SUV and leaving him to die alone in a blizzard outside of a house party in Canton at the home of fellow officer Brian Albert on Jan. 29, 2022, following a night of drinking. Prosecutors had alleged Read intentionally backed into OKeefe after she dropped him off at the house party and returned hours later to find him dead. The defense claimed that she was a victim of a vast police conspiracy and that OKeefe was fatally beaten by another law enforcement officer at the party. A jury found Karen Read not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges on Wednesday, June 18. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, the Merriam-based hospital, is suing Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, accusing the insurance provider of withholding more than $2 million in payments by wrongfully denying hundreds of medical diagnoses made by its physicians. Attorneys for the hospital said the insurance provider, also known as Blue KC, had contracted with Apixio, a firm that touts its use of artificial intelligence to review claims, to do audits of AdventHealths diagnoses. The hospitals lawsuit, originally filed in Jackson County Circuit Court and moved to U.S. District Court in Kansas City last week, pointed to more than 350 instances in which the insurance provider found medical diagnoses were clinically invalid and unsupported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit said Blue KC has repeatedly disregarded diagnosis codes submitted in Advents claims for reimbursement using an auditing process called clinical validation. Attorneys wrote that the denials violated the contract between the two groups and violated state law and federal regulations. BCBSKCs unlawful and unethical actions undermine the fundamental principle that healthcare decisions in America should be made by doctors, with the medical expertise, legal responsibility and accountability for making treatment decisions for their patients and should not be made by auditors, accountants or artificial intelligence devices, the groups lawsuit said. The lawsuit seeks damages and a court order for Blue KC to pay for diagnoses documented in the medical record and stop conducting its clinical validation audits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representatives for both AdventHealth Shawnee Mission and Blue KC did not respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit said Blue KCs audits target hospital inpatient claims that include diagnoses with certain comorbidities and complications. Those diagnoses lead to higher payment rates the hospital said were commensurate with the additional resources often involved in evaluating, diagnosing and treating those conditions. Blue KC contracts with outside vendors to perform the audits, and in 2024, shifted from using the company Cotiviti to the group Apixio, and both groups exclusive focus on comorbidities and complications appears designed for the sole purpose of BCBSKC escaping responsibility for full payment, the lawsuit said. Use of AI? The lawsuit said neither Blue KC nor the two vendors had disclosed the qualifications of the personnel setting aside the diagnoses made by AdventHealths physicians or the extent to which artificial intelligence was used in their processes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apixio markets itself as a leader in providing connected AI solutions in health care and offers AI-powered clinical chart review solutions and services, according to the groups website. The groups marketing suggests a staggering 60% of the hospital stays it reviews include clinically invalid medical diagnoses, the lawsuit said. In other words, Apixio opines for its clients that licensed physicians erroneously diagnose patients in 60% of hospital inpatient stays Apixio reviews. The group also markets its hasty reviews as a selling point, stating in its marketing materials that it effortlessly conducts complex claims reviews in minutes, not days, with the support of an integrated platform that harnesses AI-driven automated workflows, the lawsuit said. The hospitals appeals are often denied instantly, even in high-dollar, complex appeals that have numerous pages, the lawsuit said. Decisions on Advents appeals rarely reflect a meaningful analysis and generally ignore the factual and legal grounds set forth in Advents appeals, almost never involve any human contact or discussion between the parties, attorneys wrote. Neither Apixio nor Cotiviti have discussed their new medical diagnoses with the treating professionals before usurping a medical diagnosis with their own opinion. U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, speaks to a group of union workers, advocates and community members on July 11, 2025, in Phoenix about the impacts of deep cuts to safety net programs for low-income people and those with disabilities to be imposed by President Donald Trump's massive tax cut and spending bill. Photo by Caitlin Sievers | Arizona Mirror Congressional Democrats have wasted no time in going after Republicans who voted for the federal tax and spending bill that will cut health insurance and food benefits for the impoverished and disabled to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly did just that during a Friday morning press conference at the IBEW Local 640 electricians union building in Phoenix, where he slammed Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell for saying that people will get over losing their Medicaid coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and Republicans in the House and the Senate, they were hell-bent on passing tax cuts for rich people and tax cuts for big corporations, and, to be honest with you, they did not care about anything else, Kelly told reporters, community members and advocates for the programs facing cuts. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Just one week earlier, President Donald Trump signed into law his One Big Beautiful Bill Act after it narrowly passed through both chambers of Congress with only Republican support, including from all of Arizonas Republican Congressmen: Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani, Eli Crane, Paul Gosar, Abe Hamadeh and David Schweikert. The bill will make permanent the 2017 tax cuts from Trumps first term and provide billions of dollars to carry out his plans of mass deportations. Those tax cuts, which primarily benefit the wealthy, will be paid for in part through deep cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Those programs, respectively, provide health insurance and food assistance to low-income and disabled people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with those spending cuts, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill could add $3.4 trillion to deficits over the next 10 years. The bill is expected to shrink the federal funding for Arizonas Medicaid program by $35 billion over the next decade, which will force an estimated 300,000 people off the program, on top of cuts in services for those still covered. The Urban Institute estimates that nearly half of the 900,000 Arizonans who rely on SNAP benefits for food could be kicked out of the program, which would put intense pressure on the states food banks. It is a colossal mistake that this government has made, that my Republican colleagues have made and that this president has advocated for, Kelly said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills passage has caused panic for some Arizonans who rely on Medicaid for their childrens medications and for programs that help people with disabilities stay in their homes and gain important skills. Some two million people are enrolled in the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, or AHCCCS, the states Medicaid program. But Democrats like Kelly have promised to try to reverse the cuts in the bill, an uphill battle with Republican majorities in both chambers of U.S. Congress. He said the best way to do that was to flip both chambers in 2026 and win the presidency in 2028. Weve got to win elections, Kelly said. Elections do matter. There are consequences. Were seeing the consequences of the last election, where the wealthiest Americans are going to benefit and folks that have a hard time putting food on the table are going to be further at risk. Quianna Brown, a Phoenix mother of three, gets health insurance for two of her children through a Medicaid program for adopted children, while her oldest child is covered by private insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a perspective of what our health care system looks like as a whole, and it is an ecosystem, Brown said. None of it stands on its own. She added that cuts to Medicaid will impact the entire system, not just the people kicked off of it. This is not a political issue, this is a human issue. My kid's very life has been reduced to a line item, and it is pissing me off. Quianna Brown, a Phoenix mother of three Brown said she knows that her daughter who has disabilities wont be kicked off Medicaid, but she might lose important services. The coverage means nothing if they dont have access to services, Brown said. I dont know how to explain to you the current feeling of hearing that your child needs a specialist and you cant find one that doesnt have a six month waiting list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement January Contreras, executive director for Childrens Action Alliance, told the crowd that times are tough already with the high cost of groceries and housing, and that the bill will make things even more difficult for families. We will see hunger become a reality for more kids and families, and we will see more families not be able to go to a doctor, she said. Contreras said that her organization will work with Kelly and others to mitigate the harm and to document the harm caused by the cuts. That means attempting to reverse the cuts in Congress, and holding the Arizona governor and state legislature accountable for doing everything they can to lessen the harm the cuts will cause to people, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alexis Aguirre teaches English language learners in the Osborn Elementary School District and is a former member of the Roosevelt School District Board. Aguirre criticized the Trump administrations withholding of $6.8 billion that was set to go to public schools July 1 money that was already allocated by Congress for before- and after-school programs, migrant education and English-language learning, among other initiatives. Ive seen firsthand what happens when we fund schools and when we dont, she said. This year, Osborn middle schools students doubled their English proficiency rate, she said, but that progress takes staff, training and curricula, which all require money. When federal funding disappears, were not trimming excess, Aguirre said. Were trimming to the core of our public education system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Terri Shoemaker, the executive vice president of the Arizona Food Bank Network, warned that more Arizoans than ever are visiting food banks across the state. She said 700,000 people visited a food bank in the last month. Arizona doesnt have the money to make up for the 30% cuts to the SNAP program that are coming. The cuts mean that people will go hungry, she said, including children and military veterans. The states food banks will not be able to make up the difference, either, Shoemaker said. The bill also gets rid of work requirement exemptions for people experiencing homelessness, who might not have transportation to get to a job or proper attire. So, what can we do? Shoemaker asked. Voice your concerns. Make sure all legislators understand the impacts of the bill. Make sure your friends, family and neighbors know the impacts of this bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly promised to keep doing whatever he can, including advocating for restored SNAP benefits as part of a Farm Bill, to reverse some of the cuts, but admitted that it wont be easy. We didnt win this fight, but Im not over it and you shouldnt be, because this is a defining moment, a turning point for our state and for our country, Kelly said. He slammed Trump and his Republican supporters for taking lunch away from children to give money to billionaires. This is not a political issue, this is a human issue, Brown said. My kids very life has been reduced to a line item, and it is pissing me off. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) In Texas, being at the site of an unparalleled natural disaster is unlike any other way to see it. This type of devastation is a little surreal, said CityServe Senior Vice President Todd Lamphere, who arrived in the area July 10. The destruction he finally got to see with his own eyes is almost unbelievable. It looks like a category 5 hurricane came through here, said Lamphere. There isnt any picture that can capture the power and magnitude of this flood force that came through this region right here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With tragedy, the resilience of the human spirit shines through. As the saying goes, Everythings bigger in Texas, so too is their capacity for kindness. Youre hearing stories of incredible heroismtalked to a lady, she owns an RV campground, she got up at 3:30 in the morning, knocking on each one of her RV owners homes and getting them to safety. Acts like that are just extraordinary, said Lamphere. Here is special. Theres something different here in Texasthe way that Texans are taking care of Texans is extraordinary. In times like these, even a state with an unbreakable spirit like Texas needs a helping hand. Man guilty of manslaughter in Superior Grocers fight Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats where the faith-based CityServe can step in and do its best work. Weve really been able to, over the years, establish a really well-rounded group of churches in our faith-based network throughout the country, said CityServes Crissy Cochran. So when disasters strike, were able to check in with our churches in that area and see how were able to help and devise a plan. The plan for now, is reconnaissance. And as Kerr County, Texas rebuilds, Kern County, California shows itself as a place she can lean on. I think the people of Kern County need to be extremely proud, Lamphere. Its only because of the spirit of people in Kern County that CityServe has been able to grow so rapidly across the globe, Cochran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre hoping to donate and help CityServe provide aid to those affected by the horrific flooding in Texas, you can do so by visiting their website and clicking on the donate button, then selecting Texas Flooding from the dropdown menu. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. KERR COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) A week after devastating flash floods swept through Central Texas, the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country announced that it has raised more than $30 million through the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and distributed $5 million in initial grants to support recovery efforts. At least 120 people across six counties have been confirmed dead from the July 4 flooding, with 161 people still missing in Kerr County alone. Overall, at least 166 people remain missing statewide. Texas community continues to grieve, works to assess damages after flood event Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austin Dixon, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, announced the first wave of funding during a press conference Friday morning. Over 100,000 individual donors have already made a gift online, by mail, by phone, and most meaningfully to us in person, by just showing up at our office to support the fund, Dixon said. The $5 million in initial grants will be distributed across four areas: $1.25 million for direct support to individuals and families, $1.25 million for local businesses, $1.25 million for first responder agencies, and $1.25 million for crisis response operations. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy praised the rapid response, calling it unprecedented in his experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive never seen that kind of immediacy in getting relief to the people who need it, Roy said. Your dollars are immediately getting into peoples hands. Major donors include H-E-B, which contributed $2 million, and James Avery artisan jewelry company, which donated $500,000. Dr. Chris Avery, chairman of the James Avery board, announced an additional $500,000 commitment to various organizations and charities. Why Texans are calling H-E-B the FEMA of Texas after devastating floods Our company roots run deep, our people, our values and our story are all tied to this community, Avery said, noting the companys particular connection to Camp Mystic, where his family has attended for generations since the 1950s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tourism-dependent region faces significant economic challenges. Mindy Wendele with the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce said more than 1,100 people work in the hospitality industry locally. When those folks, many of those folks, are displaced, it is a trickle down effect of how it affects all of us, Wendele said. The chamber foundation received $700,000 to provide emergency cash grants to small businesses. Amy Hereford, president and CEO of LiftFund, said her organization mobilized more than $1.6 million in relief funding. National data shows that 40% of small businesses will permanently close if they cant get access to funding within the first two weeks of disaster, Hereford said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Resources for Texans affected by flooding: Find shelter, supplies and assistance First responders continue search and recovery operations along an 8-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River. Lee Pool, chief of the Hunt Volunteer Fire Department, received $750,000 total $250,000 unrestricted and $500,000 specifically for cash assistance to Hunt area residents. God is present in Kerr County. God is present in peoples hearts. Its obvious, Pool said. Crisis counseling services are being provided by the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. Josh Holland, international director, said volunteer chaplains have been on-site since July 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have crisis trained chaplains that deploy and offer emotional and spiritual care, sharing Gods love with people that are going through some of the most devastating events imaginable, Holland said. Major Phil Swyers from the Salvation Army said his organization plans to operate disaster assistance for up to two years or until the need is met. The Community Foundation emphasized this represents only the beginning of long-term recovery efforts in the region. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Colombo, Sri Lanka, has been experiencing heavy rainfall lately, which has caused rising water levels in key reservoirs. According to dailymirror.lk, both the Castlereigh and Maussakele reservoirs saw a significant rise in water levels due to these rains. Engineers at these reservoirs reported that the Castlereigh reservoirs stood 12 feet below spill level, while the Maussakele reservoir stood at 16 feet below, with water levels still rising. A third reservoir also saw quite an increase in its water level, according to the Engineer in Charge there. The engineer reported that the Moragahakanda reservoir is now at 90% of its capacity, standing at a little over 600 feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news about the rising water levels at Castlereigh and Maussakele reservoirs is significant, as these reservoirs supply six hydropower complexes. Because hydropower is a clean, renewable source of energy, having enough water to power these complexes is essential for reducing dependence on dirty energy that pollutes the air and contributes heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the Moragahakanda reservoir is getting in on the action by contributing 15 megawatts of power to the national grid. More importantly, the Engineer in Charge explained to dailymirror.lk that this reservoir supplies irrigation to approximately 7,000 hectares (over 17,000 acres) of land. The reservoir's current capacity should be enough to provide adequate irrigation for the agriculture done here under the Elahera agricultural scheme. Besides supplying water to help produce energy and keep agriculture going, the increased water levels in these reservoirs will help ensure that nearby ecosystems remain healthy and diverse. With a healthy ecosystem, nearby communities could see fish populations thriving, as well as an increased presence of birds hunting fish. Because many birds are pollinators, this also means native plants near the reservoirs will be able to flourish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One person who commented on the article also pointed out the potential economic benefits of these reservoirs being full when they said: "According to one estimate they save over a billion rupees a day not having to use coal thermal power etc." How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. The World Bank will provide Kharkiv with over US$33 million to develop energy infrastructure. Source: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov; Slobidskyi Krai, publication of Kharkiv Oblast Details: The World Bank has confirmed aid through a US$33.3 million grant. Quote from Terekhov: "This is the second phase of the RePower programme, and we succeeded in receiving this funding thanks to the successful implementation of the first part of the project signed last year at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This funding allows us to make another strong step forward. The city will receive an additional 8.5 megawatts of its generation, with modern cogeneration units that will be installed in the most vulnerable areas. Whereas there is the highest risk of power cuts, they will provide heat and power to hospitals, schools, boiler houses and residential buildings, even during a full blackout." Background: A decision to amend the budget of Kharkiv City Territorial Hromada for 2025 was made at an extraordinary session of Kharkiv City Council. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] The changes are related to the receipt of the second tranche of the loan (5 million) and a grant (2 million) from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Ukraine and Switzerland signed a new bilateral agreement on cooperation in recovery. The Swiss government considers Ukraine's recovery to be its strategic priority and plans to allocate CHF 5 billion until 2036. The non-repayable financial aid will be directed, in particular, to the energy sector. The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide Ukrhydroenergo, a Ukrainian state-owned enterprise that administers hydropower plants along the Dnipro and Dnister rivers, with the first tranche of a 120 million loan to restore and modernise Ukrainian hydroelectric power plants. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) The expectation is that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will detain Kilmar Abrego Garcia if he is released in Tennessee next week, where he faces human smuggling charges. If that happens, there is concern he could be deported again without going to trial. His lawyers have other concerns. Kilmar Abrego Garcia says he was beaten, subjected to psychological torture in El Salvador jail Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside the U.S. District Courthouse in Greenbelt on Friday, more in the evidentiary hearing for the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case. A judge is considering an emergency motion filed by Abrego Garcias lawyers. The first request is that they be given a 72 hours notice of the country he will go to if the U.S. deports him. Their concern is his safety. Given that the entirety of the U.S. has exercised its entire public relations apparatus to try to tar Mr. Abrego Garcia as an MS-13 member, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, who represents Abrego Garcia, said. Leader, what have you, accusations of which theyve provided no evidence. There are many countries in which he might well suffer persecution on those grounds. The second request is that Abrego Garcia be brought back to Maryland and be put back in his position before he was unlawfully arrested and deported back to El Salvador in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The original arrest that took place happened without a warrant, Sandoval-Moshenberg said. Without any legal basis, that took place in the state of Maryland. So, our contention is putting him back in his original position before the violation of law means bringing him back to the state of Maryland. Court documents: Kilmar Abrego Garcia accused of years-long conspiracy transporting undocumented aliens to the US The Justice Department maintains that the judges intervention is not proper and that an ICE docket officer would handle any potential deportation the way the agency would handle any other. On Thursday, an ICE official said that Mexico and South Sudan could be willing to accept Abrego Garcia if he is deported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the judge said she said she would have a ruling by next Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. One of Gopal Patels favorite memories of his childhood in India is flying kites during the countrys Makar Sankranti festival, a celebration of both kites and community. So, about three years ago, Patel and his family held the first kite festival at McDade Park, bringing out families to spend a day in the sunshine and hopefully, enough wind to lift their colorful kites off the ground. Patels parents taught him how to fly kites, and now he wants to provide parents with the chance to teach their own children how to fly kites and to keep the activity alive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event has grown every year and was deemed a success by organizers. Saturday was no exception. Children of all ages ran across an open field flying bright paper kites in a variety of colors and shapes. Erin Lakatos of Scranton, said her family fell in love with kite flying at the beach. When she learned that there would be a kite flying event close to home, she knew her family would enjoy participating. Her children Aurora and Declan, 5, and Vincent, 7, enjoyed everything from putting the kites together to seeing them head for the sky. Lakatos admitted the heat, with temperatures nearing 90 degrees, was a bit of a challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, the slight breeze that marked the days weather was enough to get the kites off the ground and into the air. Jay Patel said organizers expected up to 1,000 people to participate in this years event. Organizers provided simple kites to participants, but encouraged those who had their own kites to bring them along. Patel said the event was a great opportunity to bring a beloved Indian family-themed custom to the Scranton community. Participants couldnt help but smile as each successive colorful kite rose from the ground to a clear blue ski marked by puffy clouds. The Patels noted the event is held in January in India. In the United States, the summer seasons warmer temperatures make it a better time of year to host the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They hope to make the event an annual tradition. * Kite Festival organizer Gopal Patel prepares kites to be flown at the fourth annual event at McDade Park. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) * Erin Lakatos of Scranton brings her colorful kite to the air Saturday at a Kite Festival at McDade Park, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) * Area families came out to a kite festival at McDade Park Saturday, July 12, 2025. (GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) * Erin Lakatos of Scranton, helps her children, Delcan and Aurora, both five, prepare a kit for flight at a Kite Festival on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 4 Kite Festival organizer Gopal Patel prepares kites to be flown at the fourth annual event at McDade Park. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) Expand Photomicrograph of Giemsa stained lung tissue from a patient with fatal human plague, revealing pneumonia, and an abundance of Y. pestis organisms, from 1990. Credit - Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images, courtesy of CDC A person in Arizona has died from pneumonic plague, local health officials said on Friday. Pneumonic plague, which occurs when the bacterium Yersinia pestis gets into a persons lungs, is both the least common and most dangerous type of plague, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All three major types of the plague are rare in the modern day. One type, bubonic plague, was the main cause of the fourteenth centurys Black Death pandemic, which left a trail of death and devastation across Europe. Now, roughly 1,000 to 2,000 people across the globe are diagnosed with plague annually, per the Cleveland Clinic. Only around seven cases are reported in the U.S. each year. It is unclear when the person in Arizona died, but the Coconino County health department said in a press release that it received test results Friday that confirmed the patient had pneumonic plague. Heres what to know about pneumonic plague. Where do most cases of plague happen, and who is most at risk of infection? In recent years, plague has most commonly been found in Africa, according to the World Health Organization. It remains endemic in some countries, primarily the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Peru. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the U.S., youre more likely to get plague in rural areas of western states, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Youre at higher risk if you work with animals in an area where plague is found. How does pneumonic plague spread? Pneumonic plague is the only type of plague that can be transmitted from person to person, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Person-to-person transmission can happen through coughing and sneezing, according to the Cleveland Clinic. But a person could also get the disease after close contact with an animal infected with it, or from bacteria moving from another part of the body to the lungs. In general, plague typically spreads through bites from fleas that had bitten an animal infected with the bacteria. According to the CDC, U.S. officials have not documented person-to-person spread of plague in the country since 1924, but there continue to be rare cases of pneumonic plague among people exposed to sick cats. Cats, the CDC said on its website, are particularly susceptible to plague and can be infected by eating infected rodents. How can I protect myself against it? The Cleveland Clinic advises people to minimize their risk of plague by avoiding flea bites and exercising caution around animals that could be infected with the bacteria. The clinic recommends taking actions including wearing bug spray with DEET, wearing gloves when dealing with animals that could be infected, and not allowing pets to wander around outside if located in an area that is known to have plague. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A plague vaccine is not currently available in the U.S., according to the CDC. While scientists are working on developing such vaccines in the U.S., the CDC said, they are not expected to be commercially available in the immediate future. Globally, the World Health Organization recommends vaccination against plague only for high-risk groups, including health care workers and people working in laboratories who are in constant danger of exposure. Contact us at letters@time.com. POUTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) Summer means mosquitoes, and that means a higher risk of getting West Nile virus, and while symptoms are often mild, it can present problems for older adults. This virus is nothing new. The first U.S. outbreak actually took place in 1999. Fast forward to the current year and the countrys in the midst of a new flare-up, but does it affect the Commonwealth? Well, per the CDC, Virginia has landed on a list of 14 states hit with West Nile virus human disease cases in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Prachi Chavan with the Old Dominion University-Norfolk State University Joint School of Public Health said the first case in the Commonwealth dates back to 2002. And as for the most recent trend spreading nationwide, its weather-influenced. Right now, we are experiencing the hottest weather, she said. Forever, we are surrounded by water, so if you look at the statistics, the number of cases have been rising, especially from the year 2021 in and around the Hampton Roads region. On a broad scale, summer going into early fall is when the bite rate is highest, but in the south where warmer temperatures hover year-round, a consistent breeding ground is formed. There is a specific type of mosquito that spreads this virus the culex pipiens species. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only one and five people who are bitten by this mosquito or who get this virus actually show symptoms, Chavan said. Twenty percent of the people show symptoms, 80% remain asymptomatic and less than 1% actually show very severe symptoms. West Nile becomes fatal if it develops into severe infections such as meningitis or encephalitis. In this situation, the person can become paralyzed, the person can slip into coma, she said. People who are greater than 50 or greater than 60 years of age, or if they have, immunocompromised conditions such as cancer or diabetes are at more risk of actually getting the West Nile virus. West Nile Virus symptoms are typically flu-like, and there is currently no treatment or vaccine on the market. Precautionary measures to protect yourself is to consistently use mosquito repellant, keep your screens and windows clean, dump any standing water, and cover your arms and legs when possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul updated constituents about goings-on in Washington Friday afternoon, including his vote on the Big, Beautiful Bill and more tariff announcements. After visiting Georgetowns Ag Credit luncheon, Paul stopped in Richmond to meet with members of the citys chamber of commerce. Much of Pauls remarks to the Central Bank community room were critical of what he described as the haphazard, unpredictable nature of tariffs and trade policy. He said unilateral decisions by President Donald Trump to impose tariffs are hurting Kentuckys economy and should be discussed more before theyre implemented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said part of the importance of good trade relationships is maintaining peace with allies and said the approach should be more balanced with a consideration of global politics. Though some headlines are negative, Paul said the country is still strong and has made significant progress since his first days in Congress to reduce extreme poverty and improve living standards across the board. Heres what else the congressman had to say: Race to find his next colleague in the Senate Paul said hes not going to get involved in the race for Sen. Mitch McConnells seat as far as endorsements go. Im looking at all the candidates and will decide who to vote for like everyone else, he told the Herald-Leader after his remarks to the room. I want to see them (the candidates) present their ideas. What are their ideas on debt, on spending, on involvement in war? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, former Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Lexington tech entrepreneur Nate Morris are all running for McConnells seat in 2026. Kentuckys senior senator announced earlier this year he would not seek reelection. Kentucky House Democratic Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson is also running. Medicaid coverage spending During the question and answer portion that followed his remarks, Paul said one of the problems with Medicaid is it crowds out private insurance. Anybody in here who works for a company with health insurance doesnt complain (about costs). If youre an accountant and you have three employees then youve got to buy your own. Theyd complain. Why? Because health insurance is expensive and the billion-dollar insurance companies are big and you and your three employees, you have no leverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of Pauls ideas is to change a federal labor law, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, that sets standards for retirement and health plans for those employed by a private company. Paul said its a complicated labor rule that says negotiating for benefits can only be done by someone who is connected to a provider by employment. But if Im a member of Costco and Im not related to you in any way, but Im in this pool of people, and one guys negotiating, or womans negotiating (for benefits for the group), I think it would transform it, Pail said. A consortium like that, where coverage is provided by a large company with members who buy in, would be less expensive, Paul said. It would bolster someones choice without a subsidy, and would allow for collective bargaining where necessary. Difference with Trump on Big, Beautiful Bill Paul has publicly opposed the president, mostly on differences on fiscal policy. Paul criticized the president about his Big, Beautiful Bill and voted no despite meeting individually with Trump to talk about the debt ceiling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the president appreciated that I was willing to talk to him and wasnt adamant about it. But you know, hes a guy with a big ego and a lot of things he believes in and so it isnt always easy, Paul said. But I think my job representing Kentucky is to listen to people in Kentucky, ask tough questions, and I wont be a rubber stamp. Im a Republican. But that doesnt mean Im always going to support everything President Trump does. Disapproves of next tariffs on Canada Trump said Thursday, July 10, he would impose a 35% blanket tariff on Canadian goods staring in August. Paul doesnt think tariffs are good for the economy. He said for the most part, trade with Canada is good for the U.S. He used automotive production lines that cross North America as an example of a complicated system that has benefited from free trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tariffs now have made it such that they have to look and say, was that bolt from Canada? Paul said. The taxes are individualized on all of the parts of that car, its very complicated. I talk about the benefits of trade because I think people need to know that trade is proportional to prosperity, Paul said. We get richer when we trade because its an element of capitalism, its not something separate. Im better if I trade with people in Richmond. Im also better if I trade with people in Lexington or another state or another country. It breeds the efficiency of lowest cost goods that are efficient and the best quality since theres more competition. COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) Deputies are investigating a possible racially motivated vandalism in Comstock Township. On Thursday around 1 a.m., deputies with the Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office were sent to Cascade Street near E G Avenue after receiving reports about vandalism. Responding deputies learned that a Ford F-350 had been found with its tires slashed, a chemical sprayed on the hood and racial slurs and symbols carved in the exterior. The owner was contacted and interviewed, the sheriffs office said. A scene photo from a potential racially motivated vandalism in Comstock Township. (Courtesy of the Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office) Deputies believe the vandalism was racially motivated, which may result in enhanced hate crime charges under Michigan law, the sheriffs office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office at 269.383.8745 or Silent Observer at 269.343.2100 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. A Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department deputy has pleaded guilty to a federal drug charge, admitting he attempted to smuggle over a pound of heroin into a jail facility in the Santa Clarita Valley. Michael Meiser, 40, of Lancaster, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. The charge stems from an April 2024 incident in which Meiser, then working as a deputy at the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic, coordinated with inmates to bring drugs into the jail in exchange for cash paymentsincluding through the Cash App digital wallet. Federal prosecutors say Meiser accepted $1,500 sent to a relative by someone connected to an inmate on April 24. Six days later, he drove to a gas station in Valencia and retrieved a plastic grocery bag from a woman linked to the same inmate. Inside the bag were two Pringles cans packed with approximately 511 grams (1.1 pounds) of heroin, along with $15,000 in cashhis alleged payment for the drug delivery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Meiser placed the items into a green backpack, which also contained his loaded handgun, and drove to an LASD colleagues apartment complex. He then entered the colleagues truck and traveled to the Castaic jail. Once past the security checkpoint, Meiser placed the Pringles cans in the trunk of an LASD radio car, hiding them beneath computer towers. He removed the cash and placed it in his backpack before heading to the jails gym with the other deputy. Later that day, Meiser met with an inmate involved in the smuggling operation and spoke with him for several minutes, court documents state. As Meiser left the jail in the passenger seat of the same truck, LASD investigators stopped the vehicle. A search of the truck turned up his backpack, which contained the $15,000, his handgun, badge and department ID. Investigators also searched the radio car and discovered the two heroin-containing Pringles canisters. The entrance to the Pitchess Detention Center, a Los Angeles County jail complex in Castaic that includes the North County Correctional Facility is. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Meiser is among 18 people indicted in a larger smuggling scheme linked to the Mexican Mafia, according to an L.A. Times report. Half of those indicted were already incarcerated, while others, including Meiser, were civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities say he worked with key jail shot-callers and used coded language and apps like Cash App to coordinate drug transactions. In surveillance footage prior to his arrest, Meiser was seen passing a bag and bedroll to one of the indicted inmates, Jackie Triplett. U.S. District Judge Fernando M. Olguin has scheduled Meisers sentencing for Dec. 11. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order Friday to bolster protocols and support immigrant neighborhoods, including offering cash assistance, in response to raids by the Trump administration targeting those living in the United States illegally. The order is intended to help protect the city's workforce and residents from the federal government during immigration enforcement operations. It also demands that federal agencies provide records of the raids, who was detained and for what reason and the cost to taxpayers, which will be part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. "There is a need for me to have an executive directive to help our city understand how to protect itself from our federal government," Bass said at a press conference. "What we have seen here over the last, now six weeks of raids that pop up, and we never know exactly when and where they're going to happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement La Mayor Joins Controversial Lawsuit To Block Trumps Immigration Enforcement Measures Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stands in front of a border patrol federal agent at MacArthur Park July 7, 2025, in Los Angeles. "The directive will help city workers know how to address immigration officials should they approach a city department," she added. The order also requires city departments to create a plan for protocols and training on how to comply with Los Angeles' sanctuary city ordinance. Read On The Fox News App In addition, Bass said a plan is being worked out to provide cash assistance to those affected by the enforcement operations, the Los Angeles Times reported. Cash cards with a "couple hundred" dollars on them will be distributed by immigrants' rights groups in about a week, Bass said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The money will not come from city coffers, but from philanthropic partners, she said. "Youre telling me that isnt a Babylon Bee headline?" a White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital, referring to the satirical news site. "Recent immigration enforcement in California has resulted in successfully detaining countless violent criminals and liberating children from illegal labor exploitation. But instead of helping these children or putting American citizens first, Bass is doubling down on her defense of illegal aliens. La Mayor Ripped For Interfering With Ice Raid At Crime-ridden Local Park: 'Full Of S---' Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has repeatedly condemned the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations in the city. "Americans are sick of these pathetic stunts from Democrat politicians. Thats why they elected President Trump," the spokesperson added. "They want someone who will put America First, and its certainly not Karen, Gavin & Co." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bass has condemned immigration operations targeting criminal illegal immigrants in the city. Los Angeles is one of several cities suing the Trump administration over the "unlawful" raids. Immigration agents on Thursday raided a cannabis farm in nearby Ventura County to target illegal immigrants working there. Ten illegal immigrant minors, eight of them unaccompanied, were found at the farm, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said. An image shows underage workers found at a California marijuana farm during an immigration enforcement raid. The farm is now being investigated for potential child labor violations. Earlier in the week, nearly 100 National Guard troops and immigration authorities targeted crime-ridden MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, prompting Bass to go to the park to demand a halt to the operation, which was rebuffed by U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I dont work for Karen Bass," Bovino told Fox News at the time. "Better get used to us now because this is going to be normal very soon. We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles." Fox News Digital has reached out to Bass' office. Original article source: LA Mayor Bass provides cash payments to illegals, issues order to thwart immigration enforcement Editors note: KTLA reached out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for comment on this matter prior to publication. As of publishing, DHS has not responded. KTLA will update this article with any new information as it becomes available. The California Faculty Association says one of the people detained during a protest over a federal immigration raid in Camarillo this week is a local university professor. A crowd quickly started to gather outside the Glass House Farms marijuana grow facility on Laguna Road in Camarillo on Thursday and Friday while federal agents conducted an operation stemming from what the Department of Homeland Security said were criminal warrants against the company. Another raid involving Glass House Farms was conducted simultaneously in Carpinteria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of the raids, more than 200 people were arrested, and officials said they found at least ten child workers during the operations. Glass House Farms is now under investigation for child labor violations, and the company says they are cooperating fully with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. Woman unaccounted for after Camarillo immigration raid recorded video right before being detained: Im not coming down During Thursdays protests, Sky5 captured at least 30 people sitting against a wall in handcuffs with brown paper bags in front of their feet. More detainees were seen around the area; however, it was not clear whether they were protest-related or stemmed from the raid. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security later confirmed that four U.S. citizens were arrested for resisting or assaulting officers. Federal immigration agents toss tear gas at protesters during a raid in the agriculture area of Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker) Protesters are seen gathering at the site of a possible immigration raid at a Camarillo farm. July 2025. (KTLA) A growing crowd of protesters gathered at a Camarillo agriculture farm after several workers were detained in an immigration enforcement operation on July 10, 2025. (KTLA) Protesters are seen clashing with federal agents on the scene of a possible immigration raid at a farm in Ventura County. July 10, 2025. (KTLA) Military vehicles arrive in Camarillo at the site of an immigration enforcement operation at an agricultural farm on July 10, 2025. Federal agents began loading farm workers into several vans hours after they were detained during an hourslong immigration enforcement raid in Camarillo on July 10, 2025. (KTLA) Federal agents deploy tear gas at protesters gathering at the site of a possible immigration raid at a Camarillo farm on July 10, 2025. (KTLA) Protesters are seen clashing with federal agents on the scene of a possible immigration raid at a farm in Ventura County. July 2025. (Traffic News Los Angeles) Protesters are seen clashing with federal agents on the scene of a possible immigration raid at a farm in Ventura County. July 2025. (Traffic News Los Angeles) Protesters are seen clashing with federal agents on the scene of a possible immigration raid at a farm in Ventura County. July 2025. (Traffic News Los Angeles) Protesters are seen gathering at the site of a possible immigration raid at a Camarillo farm. July 2025. (KTLA) Protesters are seen clashing with federal agents on the scene of a possible immigration raid at a farm in Ventura County. July 2025. (Traffic News Los Angeles) Arturo Rangel hugs Judith Ramos whose father works at the greenhouse in the background as federal immigration agents block access during a raid in the agriculture area of Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker) On Friday night, officials with the California Faculty Association (CFA) put out a social media post advising that a professor at California State University Channel Islands, Dr. Jonathan Anthony Caravello, was taken during the demonstrations on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per the CSUCI staff directory, Professor Caravello is a philosophy and math lecturer. CFAs social media post says that the professor was kidnapped at 2:33 p.m. Thursday near Las Posas Road and Laguna Road not far from the CSUCI campus. Four masked agents dragged Jonathan away into an unmarked without identifying themselves, without giving the reason for arrest and without disclosing where they are taking him, the post reads. Cal State University Channel Islands Professor Jonathan Caravello as seen in a photo from CSUCIs faculty directory page. The professor has not had access to his medication since his disappearance on Thursday, the post elaborates. Caravello was not heard from or seen for over 48 hours before it was announced on Saturday he was located and in contact with his family, although details surrounding his exact location are limited. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The Brief A homeowner in Clermont, Florida, is concerned about frequent accidents on Lakeshore Drive due to speeding vehicles. The homeowner is urging the county to install safety measures to prevent further crashes. Local officials have been contacted for more information, but no response has been received yet. CLERMONT, Fla. - A Clermont woman says she's had enough after yet another car crashed near her home this time slamming directly into it. What we know Homeowner Vicki Cashwell Dewey witnessed a crash on Lakeshore Drive earlier this month, where an SUV tumbled several times before stopping. The driver was injured and taken to the hospital. Dewey reports that accidents are common on this street due to drivers exceeding the 45 mph speed limit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX LOCAL APP The backstory Dewey has experienced multiple accidents near her home, including one where a vehicle crashed into her house, prompting her to convert the front room into a porch. She has taken measures to protect her property by placing telephone poles on the ground to slow down vehicles. What we don't know Lake County officials and local law enforcement have not yet provided information about the frequency of accidents at this site or any plans to address the issue. What they're saying Homeowner Vicki Dewey told FOX 35 News shes witnessed multiple accidents along a dangerous curve on Lakeshore Drive, where drivers routinely ignore the posted 45 mph speed limit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SIGN-UP FOR FOX 35'S BREAKING NEWS, DAILY NEWS NEWSLETTERS "You can't even enjoy your property. You're always worried about what the next crash is going to happen," said Dewey, expressing her frustration and concern. Why you should care Speeding and lack of road safety measures can lead to dangerous accidents, affecting the safety and well-being of residents in the area. What's next Dewey is calling on the county to install barricades to prevent vehicles from going off the road. She plans to add more telephone poles to protect her property. Awaiting response from local officials regarding potential safety improvements. The Source This story was written based on information shared by Clermont homeowner Vicki Dewey and the Clermont Police Department. AUSTIN (KXAN) After all recreational, commercial, and navigational uses were banned on Lake Travis late Friday due to the impacts of flash floods that hit Central Texas over the July 4 weekend, Travis County Judge Andy Brown has opened Lake Travis with the exception of areas upstream of mile marker 36 and Sandy Creek Park. Still, Brown says he does not recommend recreational activity in Lake Travis. Long-term road closures after flood damage Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lower Colorado River Authority issued a press release on July 6 recommending that people avoid being on lakes Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls, and Travis because of flood debris, bacteria, and fast flows. This order may be updated as weather conditions evolve, Brown posted. Details about the late Friday closure now lifted The LCRA posted on X about Browns order Saturday morning. Late Friday, July 11, Travis County Judge Andy Brown closed Lake Travis to all recreational, commercial and navigational uses other than emergency responders or representatives of state or local agencies that access Lake Travis, the post said. Brown issued the order Friday evening after consulting with the LCRA on present hazards within Lake Travis. The order said the conditions in the lake create a public safety hazard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A look at Travis Countys flood response after claims of inaction The Travis County Judge has determined from information provided by emergency management personnel that the above conditions set forth in his Declaration of Disaster continue to exist and pose a threat of severe damage. injury or loss of life or property, and persons within Travis County have been and continue to be severely impacted by the severe weather and flooding, the order stated, in part. The order also advises people in Travis County not to travel on roads with substantial damage due to the flooding, that could threaten public safety unless necessary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. The article contains graphic footage. Russia continued its attacks on western Ukrainian cities overnight on July 12, striking communities far from the front line with drone swarms and missile attacks for the third straight night. Multiple explosions were heard in the western cities of Lviv and Chernivtsi between 3 a.m. - 4:45 a.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. Public broadcaster Suspilne also reported explosion in the city of Lutsk around 3:30 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Chernivtsi, a 26-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were killed as a result of falling debris, Ruslan Zaparaniuk, head of the Chernivtsi Oblast Military Administration, reported. A total of 26 people were injured in the city, including three people who remain in serious condition. Four others had surgery, according to Zaparaniuk. Several residential buildings, shops, administrative buildings, and vehicles were damaged in Chernivtsi, Zaparaniuk added. In Lviv, a fire broke out on the roof of a "non-residential" building in the Zaliznychnyi district of the city, Mayor Andrii Sadovy reported. Several residential and industrial buildings, vehicles, and a kindergarten were struck in the city. Maksym Kozytsky, head of the Lviv Oblast Military Administration, said that 12 people were injured in the attack, including an 11-year-old boy. Nine people received medical attention at the scene, while three others were hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Zaliznychnyi and Halytskyi districts were hit the hardest, with 46 houses, 20 cars, three buildings of the Lviv Polytechnic National University, courts, and 20 businesses damaged, Sadovyi said. Fifteen apartments were rendered uninhabitable, and their 28 residents were offered temporary residence in hotels, according to the mayor. In Lutsk, damage was caused to a home and vehicle amid the attack, the city's Mayor Ihor Polishchuk reported. Nobody was injured in the strike. Thirty-five drones and two missiles were recorded over the region. It remains unclear whether Russia targeted or hit any military or other strategic targets in the attack, as Ukrainian authorities largely do not disclose such information for security reasons. This makes the full extent of casualties and damage impossible to verify. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local officials also reported drones approaching Lviv, Ternopil, and Volyn oblasts in the early morning hours of July 12, with Ukraine's Air Force warning of dozens of attack drones heading towards areas along the country's western border. Later in the evening, Ukraine's Air Force also warned of dozens of ballistic missile attacks heading towards the western part of the country. Russia launched 26 cruise missiles and 597 attack drones overnight, with the vast majority of drones and over 20 missiles shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X. "The pace of Russias aerial strikes demands swift decisions and it can be curbed through sanctions right now," Zelensky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "More air defense systems are needed, along with investments in interceptor drones, which are already delivering good results." Poland's Air Force said on X that the country scrambled fighter jets to protect Polish airspace amid the attack. Ukraine's air raid alerts were lifted in all but the front-line regions around 5:30 a.m. local time. As Russian air attacks have intensified in recent months, their tactics have visibly shifted, with a growing number of missile and drone attacks now targeting western regions once considered relatively safe. The renewed attack comes just days after Russia carried out its largest air assault yet on July 9, launching a record 741 drones, with the western city of Lutsk experiencing what local officials described as the heaviest bombardment to date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just a day later, on July 10, Russian drones struck Chernivtsi, located just north of Ukraine's border with Romania. The wider overnight attack on the country killed at least two people and injured 28 in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 10 that Russia intends to drastically escalate its drone attacks, potentially launching up to 1,000 drones per day. Zelensky said in an evening address on July 11 that U.S. military aid shipments to Ukraine, including air defense weaponry, have been restored amid a previous pause in weapons deliveries. In recent days, U.S. President Donald Trump has railed against intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine, adding that the United States would provide Ukraine with additional shipments of weapons. Read also: Russias new drone tactic rolling out mass terror across all of Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A federal judges decision to temporarily prevent the Trump administration from stripping birthright citizenship for some babies born in the U.S. is an early test of the legal landscape, after the Supreme Court greatly restricted the ability of judges to issue nationwide blocks of presidential policies. On Thursday morning, in New Hampshire, U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante granted class action status to a lawsuit that seeks to protect babies who would be denied birthright citizenship, and granted a temporary block of President Donald Trumps order from going into effect throughout the country. The decision brought hope to pregnant women and groups who were dealt a blow two weeks ago when the Supreme Court largely restricted the ability of federal judges to use one of the strongest tools at their disposal the use of nationwide injunctions to prevent federal policies from going into effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court decision would have allowed Trumps executive order to go into effect on July 27 in parts of the U.S. In the aftermath, immigrants and their attorneys pivoted to seeking class action status for immigrant babies and parents in hopes of finding another way to stop the president. It was clear that the Supreme Court decision had closed one very important door for challenging policies, but it also in the process opened other doors, Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow with the Migration Policy Institute, told NBC News. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on whether Trumps executive order is unconstitutional and multiple lawsuits challenging it remain ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its decision on June 27 left open an important avenue for plaintiffs to try to stop federal government policies nationwide through the use of class action lawsuits. This case is an early test for how litigants will adapt to the legal landscape after the Supreme Courts death blow to national injunctions, Chishti said. It normally takes months, if not years, for an altered landscape to be observed. But since this is such an important constitutional issue, we are getting a chance to revisit the landscape within two weeks. Under Trumps plan, birthright citizenship would be limited to those who have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The order also denies citizenship to children whose mothers are temporarily in the United States, including those visiting under the Visa Waiver Program or as tourists, or who are students and whose fathers are not citizens or lawful permanent residents. In the written order issued Thursday, Laplante wrote that the court certified class action status to the following group in issuing the nationwide block of Trumps order: All current and future persons who are born on or after February 20, 2025, where (1) that persons mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the persons father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said persons birth, or (2) that persons mothers presence in the United States was lawful but temporary, and the persons father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said persons birth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laplante, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, had previously denied issuing a nationwide injunction in a similar case earlier this year. Instead, he had issued a narrower order where he only blocked the policy from being enforced on members of groups that would be affected by Trumps order. A 'viable' legal challenge But his order on Thursday effectively blocked Trump's executive order from being enforced nationwide, at least temporarily. This was a ruling that certified a preliminary class of folks across the nation from a judge who was skeptical of nationwide injunctions, and so I think it shows that the class action mechanism is a viable one, that courts are willing to entertain, said Haiyun Damon-Feng, an immigration and constitutional law professor at Cardozo School of Law. Cody Wofsy, the American Civil Liberties Unions lead attorney in the case, said after Thursdays court hearing that Laplantes order was going to protect every single child around the country from this lawless, unconstitutional and cruel executive order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement to NBC News that the decision was an obvious and unlawful attempt to circumvent the Supreme Courts clear order against universal relief. This judges decision disregards the rule of law by abusing class action certification procedures. The Trump Administration will be fighting vigorously against the attempts of these rogue district court judges to impede the policies President Trump was elected to implement, Fields said in the statement. The Trump administration has seven days to appeal Laplantes temporary block to a higher court, and the issue could find itself back at the Supreme Court to determine if the judges order complies with last month's ruling. Its not the end right of the birthright question. We are probably going to see more fights take place over procedure, over the question of class certification, as well as the question of birthright citizenship on the merits, Damon-Feng said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 46 people since early on Saturday morning, medical sources in the sealed-off coastal territory said. They said 27 people were killed while waiting for food at humanitarian aid distribution points. According to the United Nations, at least 798 people have been killed at aid distribution centres and around aid convoys in the Gaza Strip since the end of May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military said its own investigation had not found any people who had been killed or injured by Israeli soldiers near the distribution centre in Rafah, in the south of the strip. Reports to this effect would be investigated further, the statement said. It earlier said it had attacked and killed members of terrorist organizations near Gaza City and Beit Hanoun in the north of the territory in recent days. The reports from both sides could not be independently verified. The Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas and other Islamist organizations on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage. Since then, more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza according to the Hamas-controlled health authority. The figure does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. People mourn their loss as bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli attack on makeshift tents are brought to al Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza on July 12, 2025. Several people, including children, were killed in airstrikes targeting makeshift tents of displaced Palestinians. Moaz Abu Taha/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Makeup and skincare ingredients should be listed in English and not Latin to protect people with allergies, campaigners say. Cosmetic companies display ingredients in Latin, or using scientific names. But MP Becky Gittins, who has a severe nut allergy, said this was a problem as "less than 5% of our young people are educated in Latin". One mum, whose daughter had an allergic reaction to body wash, said cosmetics should be labelled in the same way as food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Makeup influencer Amy Loring said the labelling system was "frustrating" but for some could be "life threatening". The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) said Latin-based names provided a universal language across the globe. Cosmetic companies list ingredients according to the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI), a system which includes thousands of different Latin-based names. For example, sweet almond oil is Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis, peanut oil is Arachis Hypogaea, and wheat germ extract is Triticum Vulgare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some cosmetic brands also list their ingredients in English, but this is not a requirement. Cosmetic companies list their ingredients using Latin-based names [BBC] Eve Huang's daughter Elysia, 9, is allergic to cow's milk, coconut, eggs, asparagus, mustard and tree nuts. Elysia's allergies are triggered not just by food but by airborne particles and skin contact. "The Latin puts allergy sufferers at risk and it is so frustrating," said Ms Huang, from Hornchurch in Essex. "Why are allergens not listed in bold? Why are there no warning signs?" Ms Huang said she recently bought Elysia a new skin-sensitive body wash. Within seconds of getting into the bath, Elysia became red and developed a hives rash all over her body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At first, they did not realise the cause was the body wash. Elysia did not develop anaphylaxis - a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction - but she did need to be treated. 'Google the Latin names' "A child should not have to take medicine simply for having a bath. A process of getting oneself clean should not make them seriously ill," said Ms Huang. She said birthday parties could also be "a nightmare". "At one party, Elysia was gifted a facial mask in the party bag and I've had to explain she can't use it until I've 'Googled' the Latin names and checked whether it's safe." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added: "Some brands now include English translations, which is useful. But I would like to see similar, if not the same standards, as food packaging." Becky Gittins, the Clwyd East MP who is behind the campaign for change, has a severe nut allergy [BBC] Gittins, the Labour MP for Clwyd East who is behind the campaign for change, has a severe nut allergy. If she were to use products containing nuts it could trigger anaphylaxis. Gittins said at a recent trip to a spa, she had to frantically "Google" Latin terms to check for allergens. "Even on a day that's supposed to be relaxing, I was still mitigating risk. It is incredibly difficult," she said. "Less than 5% of our young people are educated in Latin at any level. Even fewer would recognise these terms when checking the back of a packet to see if they can use certain toiletries or ointments that then becomes a big problem." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gittins said her allergy meant she lived with "a base level of anxiety". She added: "Do I live a very restricted life, or do I go out and do the things that are more risky? "That is what we need to minimise - we need to make sure we have a much more allergy-friendly world so we can mitigate that risk." Amy, who has hypersensitive skin, says she thinks the current labelling system is "frustrating" [BBC] Amy Loring, a makeup artist from Cardiff who uses her Instagram page to provide skincare and cosmetics advice to thousands, said the labelling system needed to be "very clear". "I have hypersensitive skin and it's very uncomfortable when you're breaking out and have eczema over your face. There are some days I can't put anything on my skin because it is reacting so bad," said the 31-year-old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is frustrating as a consumer when you get reactions like rosacea, redness, breakouts, and that's just mild allergies - it can be quite severe and life-threatening." The Latin names of cosmetic ingredients Almond (bitter): Prunus amygdalus amar Avocado: Persea gratissima Apricot: Prunus armeniaca Banana: Musa sapientum Brazil nut: Bertholletia excelsa Cashew: Anacardium occidentale Chestnut: Castanea sativa/sylva or castanea crenata Coconut: Cocus nucifera Egg: Ovum Fish liver oil: Piscum iecur Hazelnut: Corylus rostrata, corylus americana, corylus avellana Kiwi fruit: Actinidia chinensis or actinidia deliciosa Oat: Avena sativa or Avena strigosa Peach: Prunus persica Peanut oil: Arachis Hypogaea Sesame: Sesamum indicum Sweet almond oil: Prunus amygdalus dulcis Walnut: Juglans regia or juglans nigra Wheat germ extract: Triticum vulgare Regulations state that cosmetic ingredients must be listed clearly. If there is no outer packaging, the labelling will be on the container. If the product is very small, the ingredients may be listed on a leaflet. While the INCI system ensures consistency across the globe, critics say it leaves many consumers in the dark. Rachel Williams says she only learned about the Latin names in cosmetics because of social media [Rachel Williams] Rachel Williams' son, Jacob, is allergic to peanuts, hazelnuts and almonds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is difficult enough to navigate life with allergies without adding the learning of Latin on top of everything else," said Rachel, from Swansea. "I can't always remember the name of certain nuts in Latin, or I doubt myself when I'm checking products. This means I have to search online every time I use a product. I would have a lot more confidence in the products if they stated all of the top 14 allergens in English." The CTPA has defended the use of INCI ingredient names. Caroline Rainsford, the director of science at the CTPA, said the system provided a universal language across the globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For botanical or natural extracts, we refer to the Linnaean system, which is the international system for scientifically naming plants and animals, and lots of those names will be Latin-based," she said. "The reason we refer to that system is to have global harmonisation. "I can see that perhaps people would think it may be easier to have the English name but if you are on holiday and you are looking at the ingredients list, you would need to know the name of the plant in whichever country you're in. "Whereas if we use the INCI system, you then just need to remember that one INCI name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The more consistency and harmonisation we have with the ingredient list is not only great for us when we're buying a product, it also makes life easier for companies." The industry has developed tools to help consumers navigate the terminology. One such tool is the COSMILE app, which allows users to search ingredient names by scanning the label. The app aims to offer reliable and scientifically supported information on thousands of ingredients used in cosmetic products. A UK government spokesperson said: "Our regulations require all cosmetics to include a full list of ingredients that is clearly marked on the product label or packaging using generally accepted names." Related stories An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer's badge is seen as federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court in New York City on June 10, 2025. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Alejandra Guzman-Mercado was just weeks away from graduating college the first in her family to do so when a judge denied her fathers request to remain in the United States and ordered his deportation. Now, two months later, Guzman-Mercado said shes still grappling with the emotional weight of her fathers deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My mental health has had to take a backseat because Im taking care of other peoples mental health, she said. I know its counterintuitive, but I dont really have time for therapy. Since President Donald Trump took office in January, Latino communities across Washington have reported increased immigration enforcement, disrupting families and reshaping daily life. Some, like Guzman-Mercado, are left to pick up the pieces after deportations. Others turn to local organizations for help but many cope alone, unsure where to turn or too afraid to speak out. It feels like Im constantly trying to catch up, and I cant, because theres still more that I need to do, Guzman-Mercado said. Fear reshapes daily life A recent survey conducted by health-policy organization KFF in partnership with the Los Angeles Times reports one-third of immigrants have had negative impacts, with many experiencing stress and anxiety, problems eating and sleeping since Trump took office earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also reports that 13% of immigrants, including one in five here legally, say they or a family member have limited their participation in at least one day-to-day activity, such as going to a community event, work or seeking medical care, over concerns about drawing attention to someones immigration status. This survey builds on the 2023 KFF report, in partnership with the Los Angeles Times, and a KFF survey of immigrants in 2024 that examined claims about immigrants that circulated during the presidential election cycle. Guzman-Mercado said these effects mirror what shes been going through since her father, Pedro Guzman, was deported in May. Court records show her father has traffic violations, the most serious a 2020 conviction for driving under the influence, but no other criminal record. I didnt notice that I wasnt eating as well until I really sat on it and was like, Yeah, this isnt normal, she said. Also, any kind of notification in the middle of the night will now wake me up and I have a backpack ready for when I need to go back home so now Im just in the current state of flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added that she feels like she cant sleep and cant take a break because theres always another thing I have to take care of to make sure the rest of my family stays safe. Yolanda, a 16-year-old who fled Honduras two years earlier as an unaccompanied minor, faced similar precautions after ICE agents went to her home, claiming to be doing a welfare check in April. She agreed to speak using only her first name because of her ongoing immigration case. Honestly, weve been walking with precaution because we know that the situation here is difficult, Yolanda said in Spanish. But yes, weve been a bit scared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an email to The Spokesman-Review and Spokane Public Radio in April following Yolandas incident, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson stated that ICE began conducting investigative activities in January to ensure unaccompanied alien children released from the care of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement are not subjected to crimes of trafficking and exploitation. ICE is fully engaged and committed to child safety and accountability for every action and person involved in the care of unaccompanied alien children, the statement continues. Still, Yolanda said the encounter shook her, and it took days to begin feeling normal again. While ICE hasnt returned, she said the fear lingers. Community support Since her father was arrested by ICE in February, Guzman-Mercado said she has been in close contact with Nuestras Raices Community Center, a nonprofit that serves Latino families in Spokane, Adams and Grant counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization offers services ranging from Know Your Rights workshops to mental health support at its Othello and Spokane locations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 8% of Spokane Countys population is Latino, or about 35,000 people. In Grant County, the Latino population makes up just over 44%, while Adams Countys Latino population is nearly 65%. Fernanda Mazcot, executive director of Nuestras Raices, said its likely the population across Spokane County has increased due to many new immigrant arrivals in the last three years. Mazcot started the Spokane location of the Esperanza program, which offers mental health and social services, four years ago to serve the Hispanic community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the social work services offered by Nuestras Raices were launched in response to COVID-19, Mazcot said. Guzman-Mercado said she hasnt fully taken advantage of their services because shes had to work extra hours and manage legal matters for her family, but its been helpful knowing she has their support along with the Party for Socialism and Liberation in Spokane, which has been active in protesting against immigration enforcement. Ive also been fortunate enough to be connected to PSL Spokane, and theyve given me a platform to share my family story and how this is really happening to people in Spokane and in the neighboring areas and stuff, Guzman-Mercado said. Jose Alvarez, a clinical social worker at Nuestras Raices Spokane location, said the number of youth and families seeking mental health support has increased in the past couple of months with ongoing ICE activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alvarez said the organization estimates an increase around 25% to 35% over the past few months, based on their intake logs. I actually would say that the youth, the younger generations, are actually not fearful or scared of reaching for support if they need to, Alvarez said. Alvarez said he believes the increase in youth and families seeking mental health services may be partially influenced by the current events that heightened fear within immigrant communities. Many families are experiencing increased stress, anxiety and instability. This has contributed to a greater need for trauma-informed and culturally responsive mental health support, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, while the Spokane office has seen an uptick in outreach, its other location hasnt experienced the same. Hard to trust Esmeralda Sandoval, case manager at Nuestras Raices Othello location, said since Trump took office again, theres been at least a 45% decrease in clientele, many of whom would reach out for mental health services and individual taxpayer identification numbers. The ID numbers are typically used by people who dont have a Social Security number, such as foreign investors, or undocumented immigrants. She said the uncertainty surrounding the current administration is what has caused this significant decline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a high need in mental health just, unfortunately, with everything under the current administration, its hard to trust, she said. Othello is 78% Hispanic, many who work in the agriculture industry in and around Adams County. Sandoval said that at least 85% of their clients who go to their Othello location are farmworkers, according to Data USA. Sandoval, who was once a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and worked in the fields with her parents, said she can understand their clients fear and declining use of services over heightened immigration arrests. DACA was established under former President Barack Obama and gives people who came to the United States without legal status as children legal protection that must be renewed every two years. Ive gone through moving to different states working in the fields, and its not easy, Sandoval said. And now, thank God, I have legal status, but I still always worry about other people that are in those shoes. Alvarez also said the decrease of mental health inquiries in the Othello office is a reflection of the heightened fear that many families are under right now. In rural communities, other factors also play a huge role in decrease of inquiries such as lack of transportation, mistrust, stigma around mental health and the outreach capacity, Alvarez said. In Spokane, we have a higher outreach capacity, more visibility, which results in higher engagement, especially during time of uncertainty and stress, he said. Life after deportation Guzman-Mercado recalled the moment her family sat in the courtroom and heard the judge deny her fathers final plea to stay. Immediately, her younger sister collapsed into her arms. But even that moment, she said, doesnt fully capture the heartbreak theyve endured. Since graduating from Eastern Washington University with a music degree earlier this spring with a focus on flute and voice, Guzman-Mercado said the aftermath of her fathers deportation has taken a heavy toll on her and her familys mental health, compounding their emotional strain. Her brother is 15 years old and her sister is 20. Being the oldest, she said, has made her feel a greater weight on her shoulders. I feel like I wont be able to breathe right until hes back, she said. His absence, she said, is a painful reminder of his unwavering dedication to their family, his pursuit of the American Dream and the joy he brought to their lives. He liked showing us the dumbest TikTok videos he could find to make us laugh; he would let my sister practice her waxing, when she was in aesthetician school, even though it would hurt him, Guzman-Mercado said. We had even started teaching him how to play video games with us and even though he wasnt good at all, he would make us laugh with his attempts at beating us at Mario Kart, she said. Despite the distance, they stay connected through daily FaceTime calls, some filled with teasing and laughter, others heavy with tears and longing. Much of this, she said, is because returning to his home in Mexico has been a mixed experience. Guzman-Mercado said her dad has been living with his older sister since he got deported. Going back has been bittersweet, because although he wanted to be back in his birthplace for so long, he wanted it to be on his terms, she said. Guzman-Mercado said shes been grateful for the support and connections shes found through organizations like Nuestras Raices, which have helped her find clarity amid the emotional turmoil. Shes also found a sense of community in recent protests, which she said have helped validate her experience with her fathers deportation. But she emphasized many of the deeper issues tied to deportation particularly mental health often go unnoticed. I dont have the luxury to cope; I have to find solutions, because theres still bills that need to be paid, Guzman-Mercado said. This article was first published by The Spokesman-Review through the Murrow News Fellow program, managed by Washington State University. Russias foreign minister described the relationship between his country and North Korea as an invincible fighting brotherhood as he met its leader Kim Jong-un. Sergei Lavrovs visit on Saturday was the latest in a series of high-level meetings between the two nations as they seek to deepen their strategic dialogue which is now set to include a mutual defence pact. Mr Lavrov said he had exchanged views on the situation surrounding the Ukrainian crisis with North Korean officials, and thanked the country for the troops they had sent to fight in the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Koreas intelligence service has said North Korea may be preparing to deploy more troops to Ukraine in July or August, after sending more than 10,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russia in the conflict. Our Korean friends confirmed their firm support for all the objectives of the special military operation, as well as for the actions of the Russian leadership and armed forces, Mr Lavrov said. Russian and North Korean officials held talks on Saturday - via AP/Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, also passed along a message, saying he hoped for more direct contact in the future. Mr Lavrov further warned the US, South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia, he said, according to Russias state Tass news agency. The meeting was held in the coastal city of Wonsan, where North Korea recently opened a beach resort that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people. Speaking at the site, Mr Lavrov said: I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel. Kim Jong-un is considering sending more troops to Ukraine, it is claimed - RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY/AFP via Getty Images It also came after Russia fired more than 620 drones and long-range missiles at Ukraine overnight, killing at least six people and wounding dozens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow has stepped up aerial strikes over recent months, while US-led ceasefire talks aimed at pausing the over three-year war have stalled. Twenty-six cruise missiles and 597 attack drones were launched, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, said, referring to Iranian-made drones. On Monday, Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy, is due to begin his latest trip to Ukraine. Donald Trump, the US president, said he would make a major statement related to Russia on Monday. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. TYLER, Texas (KETK) A top priority for Gov. Greg Abbott going forward is flood response and preparedness, following the devastating flooding in the Hill Country. Heres how to help flood survivors in Central Texas In addition to more than a dozen legislative items set to be discussed in an upcoming special session, select committees will be formed by the state legislature to look into flood issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are not going to be able to protect Texans from the weather, but we can do our best to communicate, when danger is approaching, and I think thats going to be the challenge for the legislature coming up, State Rep. Daniel Alders said. Lt. Dan Patrick and Speaker of the Texas State House, Dustin Burrows will each call nine members to a joint committee to examine flooding warning systems, flood emergency communications, relief funding and recovery. The issue is this, we need emergency communication systems in place to be able to let folks know when theres a natural disaster, Alders said. Bishop of Tyler calls special collection to support Central Texas flood victims Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alders said he believes there are some guidelines that can be put in place for campgrounds to have a way to handle an emergency like a flash flood. After the fatal floods garnered national attention, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited the hardest hit areas in Kerr County. To the community to everybody who lost a loved one, we are grieving with you, our nation is grieving with you, Melania said. The president pledged at a roundtable with county, state and federal officials to provide whatever relief aid Texas needs to recover. Weve deployed over 400 first responders that assisted or enabled more than 1500 rescues, President Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump, First Lady discuss aftermath of Kerrville fatal floods State Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola offered one potential solution before the special session what begins July 21. Sirens probably make more sense, old school technology that can reach everyone, State Sen. Bryan Hughes said. As crews from all over the nation continue to search for missing people, Gov. Abbott wants Texans to come together and uplift those whove suffered an unimaginable loss. We will be our quintessential selves and that is Texas tough, Texas resilient, Gov. Abbott said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. Legislators in Delaware are debating a sweeping new bill that seeks to ban many single-use items found in restaurants. First introduced by State Representative Sophie Phillips, House Bill 111 would prevent food establishments from providing any single-use food service items, unless specifically requested by a customer. The ban would include any utensil, whether it is made out of plastic or not, as well as straws, stirrers, and condiment packets. Nonprofit organizations and schools would be exempted from the ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the bill, single-service plastic items make up a "significant and growing portion" of litter found all throughout Delaware. This includes parks, beaches, and other public spaces. The bill argues that non-biodegradable and non-recyclable materials pose a challenge to any "environmentally and financially responsible solid waste management program." Phillips explained the significance of the bill and why it represents a pressing matter for the environment. "We want to use more reusable and sustainable materials," she told the Delaware News Journal. "And I think if we don't start reducing our plastic usage, then we're never really going to get to that spot where we need these alternatives." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A report from the Environmental Protection Agency noted that landfills received 27 million tons of plastic in 2018. This represents just a fraction of the 400 million tons of plastic that is estimated to be produced every year. In many cases, restaurants that make the simple switch to plastic-free and reusable items can go a long way in reducing the amount of trash we produce. While HB 111 aims to tackle the growing concern with plastic pollution, many fear that the legislation goes too far. Carrie Leishman, president and CEO of the Delaware Restaurant Association, remains one of the bill's most vocal opponents. "We're about customer service. We want to do what's right for them," Leishman said. "And if they are unaware of legislation, if they don't know what's happening, then it's really the restaurant that gets the bad Yelp review for trying to do the right thing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, Leishman believes that the bill should not include an all-encompassing ban but a "voluntary, educational public awareness campaign." As noted by Leishman, the restrictions put in place offer very little wiggle room. "This should not be a mandate," she added. "It's very unworkable." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Q: The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines released a statement on the ninth anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea. Its Secretary of Foreign Affairs delivered a keynote speech at a relevant forum. Whats Chinas comment? A: Chinas position on the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea is consistent and clear. The award is nothing but a piece of waste paper that is illegal, null and void, and non-binding. China neither accepts nor recognizes the award, and will never accept any claim or action arising from the award. Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea will not be affected by the award in any way. Let me stress a few points. First, the award violates the basic principles of international law. Without a thorough exchange of views with China in advancean essential prerequisitethe Philippines unilaterally initiated the arbitration, which violated the common understandings reached between the two countries to peacefully settle disputes through consultation. This violates the article of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) which states that the disputes should be resolved by peaceful means through friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned, and violates the principle of pacta sunt servanda, the doctrine of estoppel, and other basic principles of international law. Second, the award violates the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Land territorial issues are not regulated by UNCLOS. As early as 2006, maritime delimitation was clearly excluded by China from compulsory arbitration and other procedures. The Philippines disregarded Chinas declaration and insisted on initiating the arbitration, which was an abuse of the UNCLOS dispute settlement mechanism. The arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration handled the case ultra vires, which infringed upon Chinas right as a state party to UNCLOS to choose on its own will the means for dispute settlement. The conduct completely deviates from the purpose of UNCLOS, substantially impairs the integrity and authority of UNCLOS, and seriously impacts the international rule of law of the sea. Many internationally authoritative law experts, including former president of the International Court of Justice and former judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, have pointed out the serious flaws in the award. Third, the award runs counter to the basic facts related to the South China Sea. The arbitral tribunal severely erred in ascertaining facts and applying the law, and the rendered award is fundamentally flawed with obvious mistakes. The award characterizes Taiping Dao, the largest island in the South China Sea with an area of 500,000 square meters, as a rock rather than an island, and then concludes that no islands in Nansha Qundao generate entitlement to exclusive economic zone or continental shelf, which is fully inconsistent with the article of UNCLOS. By this standard, many countries claims would be unlawful, and the worlds maritime landscape would be changed. China is committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes with other countries concerned through negotiation and consultation, joint efforts with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the DOC, adoption of a Code of Conduct as early as possible, and robust institutional safeguards for peace and stability in the South China Sea. We urge relevant countries to stop making reference to this illegal award, still less making infringement and provocation. This counterproductive move will only end up backfiring. In this June 19, 2020 photo, members of RISE St. James pray over the graves of what are believed to be formerly enslaved Black people buried on the site of the former Buena Vista plantation. Formosa Plastics plans to build a manufacturing complex on the property. (Photo courtesy Louisiana Bucket Brigade) Community activists with ancestral ties to enslaved people at Louisiana plantations are using a unique legal theory to gain access to an unmarked slave cemetery on the property of a petrochemical company. They claim the company is practicing slavery by owning and controlling the bodies of people buried there. Inclusive Louisiana and the Descendants Project, two St. James Parish environmental justice organizations, joined forces to file a lawsuit against FG LA, an American affiliate of the Taiwanese petrochemical giant Formosa Plastics. One of their primary claims in the lawsuit is based on the U.S. Constitutions 13th Amendment, which prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the center of the lawsuit is a cemetery discovered on a tract of land Formosa purchased in 2017 to construct a massive $9.4 billion plastics facility. The land, located along the Mississippi River in St. James Parish, was once the site of Buena Vista Plantation, where enslaved Africans are believed to have been buried. Filed in the federal court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, the plaintiffs want to end Formosas control over the cemetery and the individuals buried there. They also claim Formosa has violated the 13th Amendment and Louisianas cemetery law by restricting access to the gravesites. In 2018, during the permitting process for Formosas project, archaeologists discovered unmarked graves on the property. They believe the site is a burial ground for some of the slaves forced to work at Buena Vista before and during the Civil War. When local residents from majority-Black St. James Parish learned of the graves, they began to visit the site to pray and honor their enslaved ancestors, the lawsuit states. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents also sought to halt construction of Formosas facility to, at least in part, protect what is now called the Buena Vista Plantation Cemetery. Lawsuits filed several years ago by groups such as Rise St. James and the Center for Biological Diversity, among others, were successful in delaying the project by challenging Formosas federal permit. Additionally, citing the companys refusal to allow access to the cemetery, the plaintiffs obtained a court order in 2020 that forced Formosa to allow them access to the gravesite. The new lawsuit makes similar accusations, drawing parallels between plantation owners in the 1860s and the actions of Formosa as a corporate landowner in the 2020s. This is an action to enforce rights to access, maintain, care for, and protect a cemetery under cemetery dedication law in Louisiana and to eradicate one of the lingering vestiges of the slave system pursuant to the Thirteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution the continued ownership and control of the bodies of those enslaved under the slavery system, the lawsuit states. In a phone interview Friday, Andrea Armstrong, a Loyola law professor and an expert on 13th Amendment litigation, said such claims are seldom seen in modern cases but are rooted in sound legal theory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs argue Formosas ownership and control of the graves is a form of the badges and incidents of slavery, a phrase that appeared in court cases following the Civil War to describe unlawful actions separate from the institution of slavery but that produced some of the same effects. One such action, the plaintiffs argue, was the forced separation of Black families both in life and later in death when they were denied any form of dignified burials. By refusing to record their deaths or allow their loved ones to mark their graves with headstones, slave owners dehumanized Black people, causing what some scholars have called their social death. While such acts are different from the forced labor of slavery, they effectively produced the same result by marking people as property rather than humans with individual identities, Armstrong said. There are, I think, two potential ways to understand how the 13th Amendment plays out in this context, Armstrong said. One is thinking about the harmed community being the people whose slavery status would appear to endure because they are denied the veneration and remembrance that we allow for other communities. And then the other is thinking about the harm occurring to the living descendants today, and the ways that they cant access [the cemetery]. After the Civil War, Southern states adopted so-called Black Codes that modern scholars describe as laws designed to continue many aspects of slavery but just in different forms, Armstrong said. Among other restrictions, they prohibited Black people from visiting and praying at the graves of their deceased loved ones. The plaintiffs are trying to make the case that Formosas restrictions around the Buena Vista Plantation Cemetery produce the same effect as the Black Codes did after the Civil War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And like their enslaved ancestors before them, freedpeople were also often prevented from gathering to exercise their right to religion, their pleading states. Descendants of the enslaved in St. James Parish have continued to face impediments to accessing and caring for the burial sites of their ancestors, including on former plantation lands now owned by Formosa. The plaintiffs also point to historical records showing some of the enslaved people buried at the plantation were mortgaged for loans even after they died. The pleading notes the plantation owners ascribed a value to and generated wealth from dead bodies in the graves. The argument is that these people who were buried there, their slavery status continued after death, Armstrong said. We see that through the mortgaging of them as assets and that the inability of people today to access those grave sites in meaningful ways and establish markers is just another indication of how that slavery status endures even all of these years later. One of the challenges the plaintiffs might face with their arguments is that some courts still view the 13th Amendment as an old law irrelevant to modern times because some jurists think of slavery in the strictest form as forced labor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We havent seen a lot of litigation around: What does it mean to have a badge or incident of slavery? Armstrong said. Theres not a lot of case law that provides guidance around this, but we are seeing a resurgence in it right now. That uptick has mainly come from litigation against forced labor in modern prisons, including a pending case in Louisiana over the plantation-style farm labor at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola. I do think that this intervention and litigation will provide an opportunity at least to dive a little deeper into the histories of the people who were buried there and certainly to afford the plaintiff some level of discovery and access to prove their claims of connection, Armstrong said. So if nothing else, they may learn more about the people who were buried there. FG LA turned down an interview request for this report, but company spokeswoman Janile Parks sent an emailed statement. The company is aware of the lawsuit, though it hadnt been formally served or reviewed as of Friday, it said. The company will be respectful of the remains and unmarked burial sites on its property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the oversight of and coordination by the appropriate governmental agencies, FG has followed all procedures in researching and preserving the protected area. FG has been fully transparent and cooperative in giving residents access to the burial site, the statement said. Work will continue to move the Formosa project forward, it continued. FG is disappointed by the delays the project has faced, but remains confident that all permits were properly issued, the statement said. We do not intend to give up the fight for this important economic development project that will benefit the people of St. James Parish and Louisiana. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y (WIVB) How to handle a 13,000 acre lake in Chautauqua County has been a discussion for decades, and this summer, many residents on the southern end of the lake are feeling left in the weeds. We have tons of studies and not a lot of action thats been done, said Jackie Damore, a board member with Chautauqua Lake Partnership and homeowner on Burtis Bay. Over the July 4th weekend, multiple people said that boats were getting caught in an abundance of weeds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Absolute nightmare: Chautauqua Lake homeowners voice concerns over weeds The South basins a mess. I was out there Thursday, July 3rd and my son just rebuilt a boat, so proud, taking it on its maiden voyage and it might as well have been a floating lawnmower, said Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel. The weeds in the South basin were horrific, in my opinion, theres no excuse for it. Wendel says that the Chautauqua Lake Association was in a meeting in March, where they discussed early harvesting to begin May 5thbut says the CLA applied for harvesting permits April 30th. We contribute $300,000 dollars to this organization and a choice was made, or a decision, faults happen, the applicants didnt get filed in what I figure is an appropriate timeline, said Wendel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CLA claims they were waiting to hear from the state. The state didnt know for certain that we would need a permit until late March, early April. They told us April 7th that they thought we should have to get a permit, they didnt give us a jurisdiction of the permit until two weeks later. We applied and all of that, said Douglas Conroe, the executive director of the Chautauqua Lake Association. Did that affect how we started up? It affected it slightly. Would it have made a difference on what youre seeing here today? No, because the aquatic plant growth didnt come until mid to late May. Conroe says they were harvesting in some areas before having permits as he claims that not all areas require permits, only certain depths of water. Ive seen the lake in much worse condition, the lake is better off than Ive seen it some decades ago, said Conroe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He calls this year kind of a perfect storm situation for plant growth, and said that in most areas of the lake they are removing a normal amount of harvesting. In the South Basin, theyre seeing more than double the removal than they normally do. He says they are focusing on using the harvesters in the main navigation lanes and their second priority will be working around inside the docks. Homeowners can collect and remove the build up near their docks, Conroe says. As soon as we can get the navigation lanes, well be back. Weve already been there this year, weve taken 30 loads of woody debris off of their shore, we have taken five loads of harvested material out front, in front of their dock. said Conroe. We havent abandoned them. Were dealing with 40 acres of shoreline that need to give attention to all 40 some miles, its not fair to give it to only one area. Wendel tells us there are three major players of the lake connection: Chautauqua Water Shed Conservancy, The Chautauqua Lake Association, which is primarily in charge of maintaining the lake, and the Chautauqua Lake Partnership, which raises money for herbicides in Burtis Bay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its like the Hatfield and McCoys, and as much as I have tried to get the groups together, we do get close, and then we have something like this, said Wendel. The problem is, you have groups that say herbicides are poison, well some people in that group were the ones putting that into the lake for decades, unpleated by anybody. Wendel says the Chautauqua Lake Association were the only ones who did anything in the lake for more than 75 years. Its very frustrating that we have a lot of opposition from the very group who years and years, that Ive said before, were the only ones putting chemicals into the lake and many of those people are saying, no, its poison, these new chemicals are so much safer,' said Wendel. We felt it was no longer appropriate to use chemicals in the lake. We learned some things as you learn later, consequences that you really didnt think happen, happened, said Conroe. So we went away from that and started harvesting for dealing with nuisance aquatic plant growth, because harvesting is the least environmentally instructive method of dealing with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conroe believes Chautauqua Lake is fortunate to have a diverse aquatic plant community, 24 different species, yet three are considered a nuisance. Plants are important for the fishery, we are a world-renowned fishing lake. Fish need the plants for food and habitat, plants absorb nutrients, said Conroe. Chautauqua Lake right now is considered to be at a tipping point, it can be a plant-controlled lake or it can be an algae controlled lake. Plants can be a nuisance, algae when it gets too abundant is a harmful, toxic substance. He says out of the 13,000 acre lake, four to five thousand acres are plant growing acres. Theres a huge disagreement about the role of herbicide in the lake, but when it comes down to everything else, the groups are together, said Conroe. Were not opposed to it, but we think it needs to be more judiciously used and not just well, lets use it to get ahead here.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We spoke to Jackie Damore, a board member of the Chautauqua Lake Partnership about the use of herbicides as well. Herbicides are just, they kill plants and the herbicides we use today compared to the herbicides we used even 10 years ago are very selective and very environmentally friendly, said Damore. The ones that were using today dont really have an impact on the native plants around them both reason of how those chemicals are and the timing of when theyre applied. They are also virtually non-toxic to humansneither one of the chemicals used today have any swimming or drinking water restrictions. Damore says that Senator Borrello over stated what the CLP got granted in terms of herbicide this year. She says they were granted 450 acres for curly leaf pond weed, and only were allowed 286 acres due to DEC restricting them. They treated 172 acres of mill foil and in the past theyve been able to treat 369 acres. They asked for herbicides and they gave them more acreage then they actually thought they would get so there was the potential, but before they do that, they make sure the weeds are there and they werent, so those permits were then pulled back because they didnt have to do as many acres as they thought, said Wendel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Damore tells us that both CLP and CLA hired a five year program with Dr. Robert Richardson with North Carolina State, which she said calls for a lake manager and a review board. I think its critical that everybody is on the same page when we do get a recommendation, whether from a lake manager, or a lake plan, or from the Army Corp of Engineers, or even from the Jefferson Project results. When we get recommendations from these bonified sources we should be following those recommendations if we possibly can, said Damore. I think its really important because we are not going to get the public funding to do these things if we dont all play ball. So weve all got to accept what the experts recommend and do our part to cooperate with that. Wendel says that the group of organizations recommended GEI and voted to bring them on as a consultant. Theres where the real challenge is going to be ahead of us, once we get this information, will people abide by it? Theres nothing stating that they have to, thats the problem, said Wendel. Latest Local News Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. Russian attacks killed at least 13 civilians and injured 46 more across Ukraine over the last 24 hours, Ukrainian officials said on July 12. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 623 aerial weapons overnight, including 339 Shahed-type drones, various decoy UAVs (unmanned aerial weapons), and 26 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Ukrainian defenses reportedly downed 344 of them, including 319 Shahed drones and 25 missiles. Additionally, 258 decoy drones disappeared from radars or were intercepted by electronic warfare, according to the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Chernivtsi Oblast, Governor Ruslan Zaparanyuk said two people were killed in the city of Chernivtsi. Four others were seriously wounded, one of them in critical condition. Ten more sustained minor injuries. Multiple residential buildings and administrative buildings, shops, and cars were damaged in the city, as well as one house and a vehicle in the Storozhynets community. In Kharkiv Oblast, four people were injured in strikes across Kharkiv city and nearby towns, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Russian forces used glide bombs and various drones, damaging a university building, apartment blocks, cars, and critical infrastructure in several districts, including Kupiansk and Izium. In Sumy Oblast, four civilians were wounded in drone and artillery attacks on multiple communities, according to regional authorities. Over 60 attacks hit 35 settlements. Damage was reported to houses, vehicles, and utility infrastructure in the Sumy, Seredyna-Buda, and Bilopillia communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Governor Serhii Lysak reported three deaths. Two people were killed in a morning air strike on the Synelnykove district, and a third man died from injuries sustained in an earlier artillery attack on Nikopol. In Lviv Oblast, six people were injured in Russian strikes on the city of Lviv, Governor Maksym Kozytsky said. Among the wounded was an 11-year-old boy. Two industrial sites caught fire, and damage was reported to residential buildings, including partial structural collapse and shattered windows. In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces shelled and used drones against more than 30 towns and villages, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Two civilians were killed, and eight were injured. Damage included apartment blocks, houses, an agricultural enterprise, warehouses, vehicles, and farm machinery. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, two civilians were killed in Russian attacks, Governor Ivan Fedorov said. Russian forces launched 566 strikes across 16 settlements, including seven air strikes and nearly 400 drone attacks, mostly FPV (first-person-view) drones. Houses, apartments, and vehicles were damaged or destroyed in at least 10 locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Donetsk Oblast, four people were killed and 10 injured in Russian attacks, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks and reiterated calls for increased international support for air defense systems. "The pace of Russias aerial strikes demands swift decisions and it can be curbed through sanctions right now," Zelensky wrote. "More air defense systems are needed, along with investments in interceptor drones, which are already delivering good results." Read also: Russias tactic is obvious Shahed drone terror now reaches all of Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LEEDS, Ala. (WIAT) A Leeds man is facing child sexual abuse material and drug charges after police executed a search warrant Thursday. According to the Leeds Police Department, its special investigations unit, special weapons and tactics unit and a state task force focusing on internet crimes against children conducted a search warrant in the 7400 block of Frisco Avenue as part of an investigation. Jacob Shane Freeze, 33, was arrested while the warrant was being executed. The LPD stated devices belonging to Freeze were seized that included images and videos of child sexual abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Returning Auburn mens basketball star arrested on DUI charge Freeze is charged with 10 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, three counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse material, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Freeze was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on $512,000 bond. Freeze may receive more charges as the investigation progresses. I am proud of the efforts of our team, Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin said in a statement. They do a great job everyday targeting individuals who pose a danger to the community. The relationships we build in the community and law enforcement partnerships with other local and federal agencies make a difference in peoples lives everyday! Anyone with information on this or other cases are encouraged to contact our department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Local governments showed bold action with SPPA I have been overjoyed to learn the State College Area School District, Centre County and other local governments are developing solar energy. I am especially excited about the ten governments who have created a solar power purchase agreement. For the last 50 years, many of us have known we must get off of fossil fuels. Coal, oil and gas pollute our air, soil and water. They hurt our health from the coal mine and fracking well to the power plants smoke stack. Honest people know these fuels carbon dioxide and other emissions are speeding up the climate crisis. Here in central Pennsylvania, we have seen climate impacts with more heat and more intense rains. Reducing emissions is necessary. It is also possible and the best way to go. During this time of cynicism, I am heartened that our leaders have paid attention and taken action. It is no small feat to get ten governments to do anything together, much less something so new. The fact that its pushing forward action on climate change under an assault by special interests and bad-faith actors makes it that much more remarkable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant wait for our local governments to do even more. Who knows? Maybe they will inspire local business and the university to act even bolder. Madhu Suri Prakash, State College Fireworks display raises 4th Fest questions The July 3 edition of the Centre Daily Times ran an article titled Central PA 4th Fest funds running low. Ironically, the Central PA 4th Fest Committee held their annual pre-party celebration on July 2 featuring a six-minute, commercial grade, fireworks display in a residential community. Six minutes seems like eternity if you have a screaming baby and/or traumatized pets. The fireworks display is so big that debris lands in neighboring yards. I am a longtime 4th Fest Firecracker Run volunteer and I love the 4th Fest event. I wonder though, if the Central PA 4th Fest committee are good stewards of the donations received based on this inappropriate private fireworks display? Beth Van Horn, State College Behind the Musk-Trump feud Elon Musk spent more than $250 billion in a period of a few months to help elect Trump last year. His companies have more than $1 billion in federal contracts, and they were subjected to more than 20 federal investigations and enmeshed with governments around the world. Elon and Donald became best buds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But something happened. Suddenly, Musk suggested Trump should be impeached. And Trump, not to be out done, stated that Musk suffered from Trump Derangement Syndrome, brought on by how much he missed working for the President. Huh? And last month, two House Republicans introduced a bill to get to the bottom of it all. The bill instructs the National Institutes of Health to conduct or support research to advance the understanding of Trump Derangement Syndrome, including its origins, manifestations and long-term effects. Trump screamed, Musk has lost his mind, and that Musk had ignored the easiest way to do his job: cutting his own government contracts. Trump wants the spotlight. And for him, an outrage is not outrageous. The big, beautiful bill undermined DOGEs work. Musk called it a disgusting abomination. To that point he is correct. Carl Evensen, State College Elections have consequences As we are frequently reminded, elections have consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consequently, we now have the Big Beautiful Bill, aka Project 25. Congratulations to Representatives Joyce, Thompson, and Sen. McCormick for bravely standing by their man and all their constituents under the Big Beautiful Bus. William L Butler, Huntingdon LEWISBURG A Lewisburg woman who drove with a blood alcohol concentration more than 1.5 times the legal limit attacked a police officer while being arrested in June, according to the Buffalo Valley Police Department. Dodie R. Lovett, 75, of North Third Street, Lewisburg, was charged with a felony count of aggravated assault of a police officer; and four misdemeanors: two counts of driving under the influence and one count each of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. The charges were filed by Buffalo Valley Regional Police Patrolman Quaylin Rice in the Lewisburg office of District Judge Jeffrey Rowe. A woman called the police at 11:28 p.m. June 19 to report a disturbance involving a woman, later identified as Lovett, pulling in her driveway, striking her trash can and making bizarre statements about the government and the state of the world. Lovett was swearing and being disrespectful to the resident before driving to the next house over and parking there, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resident, who indicated she had never met the driver, showed the officer the damage to her trash can and the stone wall in her driveway, as well as the tire tread marks in the yard. She told the officer about the comments and said the woman pushed her in the chest with a finger, police said. The officer found the vehicle parked in the next-door driveway. It was a tan Subaru Forester partially parked in the driveway and roadway, police said. The neighbor told police that Lovett was inside and drunk, police said. Lovett told police that the confrontation with the neighbor happened because she thought she was coming to her daughter-in-laws house. The daughter-in-law said Lovett is her ex-mother-in-law and did not want her at the house, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman said Lovett admitted to having at least three drinks at the Forest House Hotel in Mifflinburg. Lovett told police she tapped the neighbors trash can. She stood up and asked if the officer wanted to place her in handcuffs because she was aware of her offenses, police said. Rice detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from her breath and noticed bloodshot and glassy eyes, police said. Lovett said she drank three glasses of wine when she arrived at the home, but the daughter-in-law said that was not true, police said. Lovett declined a field sobriety test and breathalyzer, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rice informed Lovett she was under arrest, but she refused to cooperate with requests to place her hands behind her back. Lovett stayed seated and grabbed onto the chair until officers were able to cuff her, police said. While being escorted to the patrol car, Lovett screamed help multiple times and shouted obscenities, police said. Lovett kicked Rice multiple times as he attempted to place her in the police vehicle. She kicked Rice in the groin, stomach and chest, police said. Lovett was transported to WellSpan Evangelical Community Hospital for a legal blood draw. Lovett initially refused, but later complied, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A toxicology report on June 30 indicated a blood alcohol concentration of 0.141, or nearly 1.8 times the legal limit, police said. Lovett was arraigned on Thursday and released on non-monetary bail conditions. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 8:45 a.m. Aug. 14 in front of Rowe. The Brief $12 million in federal funding has been secured for the project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The project will restore 1.2 miles of eroded shoreline. Sand will be dredged from New Pass where sand has accumulated after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The project will also help with navigation in New Pass. SARASOTA, Fla. - Off Sarasotas Lido Key, the beach has been impacted by several storms, even going back to hurricane Ian. What we know Lido Key's shoreline has been disappearing in areas as erosion continues. The City of Sarasota said a fix will be coming by the end of the year, when beach renourishment begins. Why you should care For 44 years, Charles Phillips and his family made the trip to Lido Key. Each time theyve seen changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "South Lido Park has just gotten smaller, smaller and smaller," he said. "Last years hurricane season brought devastation to properties and the shoreline of Lido Beach. It was shocking nonetheless, even though we were in the loop. It was shocking how much damage there was," Phillips said. Its been nearly five years since the last renourishment project was completed. The City of Sarasota said several hurricanes and tropical storms over the years have taken away around 300,000 cubic yards of sand. OTHER NEWS: Florida Python Challenge kicks off Friday. Here's what to know "I know that tourism is a big, important part of the economy here. I think when tourists have more beach to enjoy, and its a more stable beach, its a big investment," said Phillips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of a long-term agreement between the City of Sarasota and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a new renourishment project will begin to help fortify Lido Key. "Weve lost close to 50-feet to 100-feet in some areas of sand out there since 2021. Its to the point where you can see some of the seawalls on the properties due to the erosion," said City Engineer Nikesh Patel. The renourishment will cost $12 million and will be 100% funded by the federal government. The project will start sometime after October 31, at the end of sea turtle and shore bird nesting seasons. The City of Sarasota said New Pass has become very shallow in some areas since the hurricanes, making it harder for boats to get through. Dredging will help with navigation there. What's next Once renourishment is finished by early 2026, another project to restore the vegetative dune system will begin. Sea oats and other natural plants will be planted to help restore the dunes and provide protection against future storms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Its really important to renourish the beach to protect themselves from future storms and future events out there," said Patel. The Source Information was gathered by FOX 13s Kimberly Kuizon through the City of Sarasota. ALPINE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) Lions Tigers & Bears, San Diego Countys only accredited exotic animal sanctuary, is opening its gates this summer with a lineup of new educational programs and experiences in an effort to raise awareness about wildlife rescue. Located in Alpine and accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, Lions Tigers & Bears is home to more than 60 rescued exotic animalsincluding lions, tigers, bears, and moremany of which were saved from roadside zoos, circuses, private owners, and the illegal exotic pet trade. Were excited to welcome the San Diego community to Lions Tigers & Bears, said Bobbi Brink, founder and director of the animal sanctuary. We are here to educate the public about the dangers of the exotic animal trade and the urgent need to rescue animals living in dire conditions. (Credit: Lions Tigers & Bears) Educational experiences, tours, and more Among the summer offerings are interactive field trips and the Member-for-a-Day program, tailored for children and families. Young visitors receive activity cards to guide them through the sanctuary, learning key lessons about compassion and responsible wildlife care. Completed cards can be traded in for fun stickers! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visitors can also join walking tours through the sanctuary, where trained guides share rescue stories and insight into the animals lives before and after rescue. Guests will meet some of the sanctuarys residents and learn about the broader issues threatening wildlife worldwide. For a deeper dive, the sanctuary offers a Behind-the-Scenes Tour, giving guests aged 18 and older the chance to assist with feeding and care sessions in secure areas. The experience starts at $500 for two people and offers a rare, up-close look at sanctuary life. Those looking for a unique escape can opt for the White Oak, Wild Nights overnight stay. The exclusive lodging includes luxury accommodations near the habitats of rescued tigers Moka and Nola, complete with private pools, a fire pit, and evening lantern walks through the sanctuary. Lions Tigers & Bears hopes these summer programs will inspire compassionate choices and greater public understanding of the exotic animal trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every visit helps raise awareness and supports real change for animals in need, said Brink. For more information or to book a visit, go to www.lionstigersandbears.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. TWINSBURG, Ohio (WJW) The FOX 8 I-Team has found police filed criminal charges against a former 911 dispatcher, not for a call she took, but for a call she made. A recording shows that last month a Twinsburg woman got a call from Twinsburg police. Karen, its the Twinsburg Police Department calling. Can I have your attention? the caller said. Karen Clinton told us the call started her heart racing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took me to my knees. It really did. It terrified me, she said. Cleveland wants total block on Browns plan to move: I-Team Do I have your full attention? the caller continued. Yeah, whats wrong? Wait, do I need to sit down? Karen asked. No, you dont have to sit down. Everythings fine, the caller went on. So no emergency and no crisis, but what Karen heard left her stunned. The dispatcher said Karen had won a prize, telling her she had called the police 183 times in the last 15 years. The police department had conducted hundreds of traffic details on her street, including over a thousand traffic stops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karen admits that shes a neighborhood watchdog, but she didnt think she deserved this. So, you win the prize. Its called the booby prize. You are the dumbest person to call the police department on a repeated basis. So, thank you for being a resident of this city and have a wonderful life, the caller said. This behavior cant be tolerated. It certainly cant be tolerated in the city of Twinsburg. Cant be tolerated in any community, Karen told us. Karen complained to city hall. The city told the I-Team that the dispatcher no longer works at the Twinsburg Police Department. Twinsburg Mayor Sam Scaffidi issued a statement, saying, in part, We take these matters very seriously and will continue to do so if something this unfortunate happens again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement University Hospitals doctors claim they were fired for trying to unionize; the hospital said it was misconduct The matter was investigated and the former dispatcher now faces two misdemeanor charges, including a charge of telecommunications harassment. Loretta Nash appeared in Stow Municipal Court on Thursday. She is pleading not guilty and she is free on bond. A trial date has been set for September. The charges accuse the former dispatcher of making the call to harass, intimidate or abuse. We called Nash for comment. As of deadline late Friday, we had not heard back. Karen tells us she had experience working as a police dispatcher many years ago. Now, she just doesnt want anything like this to happen to anyone else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To do that is cruel. Its cruel, she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. The Brief Chicago faces another round of severe storms today, with threats including damaging winds, hail, isolated tornadoes and flash flooding. The highest risk period is expected between 311 p.m., while highs stay warm and humid in the mid to upper 80s despite cloud cover. The weekend will bring a chance of more storms Saturday, but Sunday and Monday should be dry and quite warm. CHICAGO - Chicago faced another round of severe storms on Friday, with threats including damaging winds, hail, isolated tornadoes and flash flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Showers and storms are still expected overnight, but the severe risk has diminished. Live updates 9:30 p.m. - The Tornado Watch has been canceled for all of Chicagoland. While the severe risk has diminished, storms will continue to roll through Friday evening.A Ground Stop has been issued for O'Hare International Airport until 10:45 p.m. due to thunderstorms, according to the FAA. A Ground Stop has been issued for O'Hare International Airport until 10:45 p.m. due to thunderstorms, according to the FAA. 8 p.m. - Storms have moved into McHenry and DeKalb and severe storms were spotted just west of LaSalle in Putnam and Bureau Counties. 6:15 p.m. - The National Weather Service reports that a line of severe storms is moving into the Chicago area. Hazards include destructive winds and torrential rain. Brief tornadoes also can't be ruled out, the NWS said. 5 p.m. - A Tornado Watch has been issued for the entire Chicago area until 11 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. What we know All hazards were possible damaging winds, hail, isolated tornadoes, and torrential rain that may lead to a flash flooding threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service reported that most of the Chicago area was under a Level 2/5 risk of severe weather and a Level 2/4 risk of flash flooding. However, the storm prediction center upgraded Kane, Kendall, Grundy, DeKalb and LaSalle counties to an enhanced risk. The threat for severe weather is increasing across portions of northern IL this afternoon. Main hazards will be damaging winds and large hail, but brief tornadoes cannot be ruled out. Stay updated on the forecast this afternoon and have ways to get weather alerts! #ILwx#INwxpic.twitter.com/GYnHCm25bY NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) July 11, 2025 Chicago weekend forecast What's next Saturday could have a lingering morning shower with the highest chance of additional thunderstorms forming in our southern viewing area late in the day. Once again, some of those storms could be strong. Highs tomorrow will be in the mid 80s. Sunday and Monday look dry and quite warm with highs in the mid 80s to low 90s. The Source The information in this report came from the FOX 32 weather team and the National Weather Service. Local hospitals in Kern County, even small, rural ones, likely aren't in immediate danger of closing due to changes in state and federal health care spending, but experts say the effects won't be good. In the run-up to the passage of President Trump's signature spending and policy bill at one time officially known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act critics of the legislation were quick to highlight the proposed cuts to social safety net programs, Medicaid chief among them. For months, Democrats and health-care advocates said the cuts to Medicaid would force hospitals to close and millions to lose their insurance coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Full impacts still unclear With the bill finally signed into law, local health-care providers are still trying to sort through all the details of the 1,000-page legislation, but changes are likely to strain an already fragile health care system, said Carmela Coyle, president and CEO of the California Hospital Association. "The only thing that happens as a result of these cuts is hospitals will not get paid for the care that they are providing," Coyle said. The bill is to cut Medicaid spending by $1 trillion over 10 years with $340 billion of that coming as cuts to hospitals, Coyle said. Nationwide, an estimated 11.8 million people could lose their health coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In California, we are looking at Medi-Cal cuts in the range of $66 to $128 billion over 10 years," Coyle said, referring to the state's Medicaid program. "That equates to a cut somewhere between 14% and 30% of a typical hospital's Medi-Cal revenue." That could potentially mean up to 1.8 million people losing their health care and up to $9.5 billion in costs to hospitals for uncompensated care. Hospitals, Coyle and other healthcare officials noted, are still required by law to treat people who enter the emergency room, even if those patients are unable to pay. "With 1.8 million fewer people with health insurance coverage, they'll still be sick, they'll still have emergencies, there will still be car accidents," Coyle said. "The demand for hospital services will not change. It's simply that hospitals will not be paid for that care." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coyle said hospitals currently receive between 75 cents and 80 cents in reimbursement for every dollar spent on government-supported patients with either Medicaid or Medicare, the health insurance program for seniors and certain disabled people. Local care Health care providers often make up the difference by charging more to patients with private insurance, said Jason Wells, president of Adventist Health for the Central California Network. Wells oversees eight hospitals in Central California, including Adventist Health Bakersfield, where there's a high percentage of patients on government-provided health insurance. The average across Adventist's local network is 80% of patients on government health care with only 20% on commercial plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That 20% commercial is what subsidizes the rest of the care," Wells said. "That 20% pays more than their fair share." Wells said Adventist's network of hospitals is fairly strong and able to share strategies and resources, but the changes will put a larger burden on hospitals, patients and the state. "With people not getting preventative care, they will show up at our emergency departments with Stage 4 cancer and other significant health issues that will take more resources to save their lives," Wells said. Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley was included on a list of hospitals at potential risk of closing from the office of U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, but Wells said he wasn't concerned about that facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Those hospitals will not be closing regardless of how crazy things get," Wells said. Another hospital included on Markey's list was the Kern Valley Healthcare District, which operates facilities in the Kern River Valley. The district's CFO, John Lovrich, was similarly confused about why KVHD made the senator's list, but said the changes would be difficult, particularly for rural hospitals. "We are in a strong financial position as of right now so we are able to weather some of the cuts," Lovrich said. "I think there's still uncertainty here and this probably is not the final, final of what's going to happen. I think there's going to be a lot of negotiation still going on because some of these cuts don't even take place for two or three years." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How many people stand to lose their coverage under new federal rules for work requirements and state rules ending coverage for undocumented people remains to be seen, but the Central Valley has some of the highest Medi-Cal enrollment in the state. According to the California Department of Health Care Services' latest data, approximately 54% of residents in Kern County, totaling 495,899 people, are currently enrolled in Medi-Cal. In an email, the county's Medi-Cal administrator, Kern Family Health Care, said it was still too early to determine the full impacts of the legislation. "We are currently reviewing the legislation to fully understand its potential impacts. At the moment, it is too early to determine how many individuals may be affected," said Jackie Byrd, spokesperson for Kern Family Health Care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As the changes unfold, we remain committed to communicating these changes and continuing to support our members who are impacted by this legislation." Clinic Sierra Vista similarly said it is still reviewing how the changes will impact its more than 115,000 Medi-Cal patients. "We are closely monitoring state and federal policy changes and working with our partners to understand the potential impacts of upcoming changes to Medi-Cal eligibility," spokesperson Christhian Pinedo said in an email. "Our priority remains ensuring that all community members have access to essential healthcare services through our sliding fee scale program, which provides care based on patients' ability to pay," Pinedo wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dignity Health Medical Group, which operates several hospitals in Bakersfield, referred The Californian's questions regarding impacts of the legislation to the California Hospital Association. Political consequences Republicans have defended the changes, saying they are simple reforms championed by both parties. In an opinion piece in The Californian, U.S. Rep. Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, said the changes restore integrity to the program. The bill, Fong wrote, instituted "commonsense eligibility reforms, including work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents and improved accountability to ensure benefits go to those who qualify." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New rules require Medicaid recipients to work or perform some kind of community service for at least 80 hours a month, which the Urban Institute estimates could force between 1.2 million and 1.4 million people in California to lose coverage. The bill changes to Medicaid were particularly precarious for U.S. Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, whose district has the highest percentage of Medicaid recipients in California. In a statement following the passage of the bill, Valadao said his vote for the bill was not an easy one. "After numerous conversations, an additional $25 billion was added to the newly established Rural Health Transformation Program which will help to support rural and other at-risk hospitals in my district bringing the total to $50 billion," Valadao said. "Ive been assured by the administration that it will be structured in a way that benefits our providers and keeps our hospitals and communities running. To be clear, I still have concerns with the implementation of the provider tax and state directed payment provisions." Valadao's 22nd Congressional District is often considered one of the most competitive in the state, if not the nation, and the representative has been the target of relentless attack ads for months, paid for by a range of well-funded health-care advocacy coalitions. But the congressman has been able to mostly hold on to the seat he's held since 2013. He lost the seat in 2018 but won it back in the next election, and in the past two cycles has successfully fended off former Assemblyman Rudy Salas, a Democrat. Salas filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to run again in 2026 but hasn't committed to doing so and Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains, D-Bakersfield, is rumored to be considering a run but has declined to comment. The only opponent to formally declare a run is Visalia School Board member Randy Villegas, who was quick to pounce on Valadao's vote. "Ive never been more fired up to send him packing, and to give the Central Valley the leadership it deserves," Villegas said in a statement. CHICAGO With more than 400 locations around the globe, the School of Rock is helping craft the next generation of musicians. The School of Rock is a music education school for kids and adults. There are several locations in and around Chicagoland, including one that recently opened in Elgin. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Some students from a local School of Rock joined WGN News on Saturday morning to show off some of their skills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visit the School of Rock website to find out how to sign up for classes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) On this weeks Veterans Voices, we meet a Navy rescue swimmer from Luzerne County who teaches military members how to survive life-or-death scenarios at sea. And surviving extreme conditions at sea is something this veteran knows first hand. Crestwood High graduate Bill Gibson is an elite rescue swimmer. The retired Navy veteran is so good, he teaches the next generation of aviation rescue swimmers to survive the worst possible situations, but it didnt start off that way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 61-year-old from Mountain Top admits he wasnt sure what he wanted to do with his life, but a heart to heart with his dad pointed him in the right direction. Then he discovered running and that made him primed for boot camp, and eventually the Navys grueling program. Before I left for boot camp, I did a ten mile run which set the level really high. For me that meant nothing was impossible, voiced Bill Gibson, instructor, Aviation Rescue School. It was a grueling training period, constant swimming, building endurance, very high attrition rate. By the time I got done with all of the training, I was on cloud nine, added Gibson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gibsons most famous water rescue came off the coast of Florida in 1986, as chronicled in the book, Calm in the Chaos. Gibson and another rescue swimmer already saved two people from a boat wreck, but when he went back in for another rescue, the unthinkable happened in pitch dark. I came back for the third guy, was bringing him in, all of a sudden the chopper started moving away. Im wondering what. Out of my right eye I see a 400 foot cargo vessel coming down on us, remembered Gibson. Gibson somehow managed to make it down under the ship and miss the propellers. He calls the moment his most memorable rescue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gibson lives in Pensacola, Florida now as an instructor at the Aviation Rescue Swimmer School. He says Uncle Sam came calling at just the right time in his life, and credits the Navy and his dad for the discipline and work ethic that changed his path and his life. It gave me direction. Id never trade it in, no matter what branch. I preferred the navy, but they were all good. What they promised me, they were gonna give me, I got, expressed Gibson. Gibson visits NEPA to see friends and relatives often. He also helps organize Crestwood High Schools class reunions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News. LONDON (Reuters) -British police arrested scores of supporters on Saturday of a pro-Palestinian protest group that was banned this month under anti-terrorism legislation. Police said they had arrested at least 41 people in London and 16 others in Manchester for showing support for the group Palestine Action. Campaign group Defend our Juries said 86 people had been arrested across the UK, with other protests held in Wales and Northern Ireland. British lawmakers proscribed the group under anti-terrorism legislation earlier this month after some of its members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged planes in protest against Britain's support for Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Officers have made 41 arrests for showing support for a proscribed organisation. One person has been arrested for common assault," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement on social media about the demonstration. After a similar protest in London last week, police arrested 29 people. Before Saturday's arrests in London, close to 50 protesters had gathered with placards saying "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action" near a statue of former South African President Nelson Mandela outside the British parliament. The International Court of Justice in the Hague is hearing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza war, which began after Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023. Israel has repeatedly denied committing abuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The British government's decision to classify Palestine Action as a terrorist group places it in the same category as Hamas, al-Qaeda and ISIS. Membership now carries a prison sentence of up to 14 years. Opponents of the ban say using anti-terrorism laws is inappropriate against a group accused mainly of damaging property rather than harming people, although some members have in the past been charged with violence in clashes with police. Palestine Action generally targeted Israeli and Israel-linked businesses in Britain such as defence company Elbit Systems, often spraying red paint, blocking entrances or damaging equipment. In an unsuccessful court appeal against the ban, a lawyer for Palestine Action said the government ban was the first time Britain had proscribed a group which undertook this type of direct action. (Reporting by Isabel InfantesAdditional reporting by Temilade Adelaja in ManchesterWriting by David MillikenEditing by Peter Graff) NEW ALBANY Lynn West, editor of the New Albany Gazette, never made a conscious choice to be a newspaperman. He appreciated the written word, and he loved to read. He read a lot. When he went to Mississippi State, however, he decided to study to be an electrical engineer until he realized doing so would require him to pass subjects like calculus. So, he switched his major to English. That was when I fell into a radical newspaper crowd, said West, smiling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the mid-1960s, West served as an associate editor of The Reflector, the oldest student newspaper in the SEC, having been established in 1884. But college was not Wests first foray into newspapers. From grades 8 through 12, he worked on the school paper the Maroon and White at W.P. Daniel High School (now New Albany High School.) Later, at Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee, West became interested in theater. Thats where I fell in with another radical crowd, he said. The theater crowd. As a graduate teaching assistant at Memphis State, West became very involved in multiple aspects of theater. His theater professor later started a theater program in Madison, Wisconsin. West worked and performed in Madison for two summers during his graduate school years and five years after before returning to Mississippi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in New Albany, West began looking for a job. I ran into Bill Rutledge, who, at that time, owned the Gazette, West said. I told him I was looking for work. He said, Come help us out here. That was as official as it got. And I just stayed. He stayed until Rutledge sold the Gazette to the Landmark Corporation of Kentucky in the late 70s. No one wanted to come down here to New Albany, West said. Wed get a general manager, but they didnt stay long. The paper was unstable for a time. And one general manager, realizing that crime and other bad news on the front page sold lots of single copies of the paper, decided thats what he wanted on every front page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was at that point West "retired." But retirement lasted only six months. He and a handful of others were encouraged to start a new paper. We talked 39 people into investing $1,000 a piece, he said. And we started the New Albany News Exchange. Ahead of its time, the News Exchange was web-based but also printed in tabloid form. We made a profit the first year, West said. The second year a generous offer was made by Journal Publishing to purchase the Gazette. The News Exchange disappeared, and I ended up back at the Gazette. West has been on staff at the New Albany Gazette about 43 years, in total. He'd met his wife Lisa, a radio personality in Meridian, and the two were married 31 years before her death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not one to shy away from involvement in his community, West has made himself available through the years. He served on the Tourism Advisory board and the E-911 Commission. Hes been president of the Historic Northside Neighborhood Association and he has been a member of the Union County Library Board of Trustees. And two weeks ago, West was honored with the key to the city by former Mayor Tim Kent for his years of dedication and service in keeping the New Albany community informed. A coworker requested the key to the city for Lynn, said Debbie Hays, assistant to the mayor. They said he was about to have a milestone birthday and he needed to be honored. West turned 79 in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes witnessed many changes through his years of newspapering. When I was young, and they were doing the school paper, they were still using Linotypes and a flatbed press that printed only one page at a time, he said. I remember one day when they failed to lock the type case enough, and every single line of lead type fell out on the floor. I have no idea how many hours it took them to sort it all out and get them put back in the correct order. West did a good bit of everything he wrote, edited, took photographs and processed/printed them in a darkroom. He remembers the days when newspapers took photographs of big fish and big vegetables almost every year. And birth announcements, lengthy engagement and wedding announcements and whos-in-the-hospital listings appeared in the paper too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We even published divorces, he said. Which also was sort of a date list. West was never thrilled when he answered his phone at 3 in the morning to hear someone tell him about the big snake theyd found. And there was the alligator story. I was driving one night when I saw an alligator in the turn lane from Highway 30, going down the hill and turning onto Bankhead Street, he said. It was not a big one, but it was an alligator. I went home, called the police, got my camera and by the time I got back there, a crowd had gathered He got the photo, and the alligator appeared on that weeks front page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres rarely a day West cant be found at the Gazette or in the community doing his job. He works six or seven days a week. But hes not complaining, and he entertains no thoughts of retirement. Truth is, West likes what he does. Ive tried to be fair and balanced, and I hope I have, he said. Ive not had to run a lot of retractions. I may not have bulldogged enough, but I would rather be too nice than to be not nice." TAZEWELL, VA (WVNS) A new child advocacy center is preparing to open its doors in Tazewell County between July and August 2025. Upcoming hiring event at Stevens Correctional Center and Jail Harpers Home of Tazewell County is just the latest addition to the Child Advocacy Centers locations in Southwest Virginia. April Morefield is their executive director and founder. One of the biggest issues they face is child victimization in cases of alleged abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want everything to be ready to go as soon as we open our doors. We plan do an art therapy, we plan on doing some kids yoga therapy. This is going to be a site where kids can visit their biological parents [through] supervised visitation by the [Virginia] Department of Social Services. Most importantly, it is going to be a place where children can reside until they are placed in foster care home, said Morefield. The Child Advocacy Center serves Tazewell, Russell, and Buchanan Counties. This new addition will help them better serve these each county. Morefield explained they have paid extra attention to detail to make this new building a safe place for any kid who walks through their doors. It is really important to have a home that is light and airy and comfortable for children who are going through the worst time of their life and are being removed from their home. Because of some type of victimization and abuse that occurs in the home, it is a very hard time for a child. They need to come into a home that is comforting and uplifting, added Morefield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harpers Home is named after Harper Mitchell, who was a 2-year-old from Salem, Virginia. Her life was cut short, after she was murdered through physical abuse by her mothers boyfriend. After talking with Harpers grandparents, Morefield found out how loving, caring, and passionate she was, even at a young age. Morefield named this center after Harper to keep her memory alive. Montgomery left disappointed after resource agreement with WVU ends There are several needs Harpers Home has before they open. You can check out their Amazon Wishlist to help them out. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. A Los Angeles hospital is asking for the publics help to identify a 65-year-old man who has been receiving care for nearly a week as of Saturday. The unidentified man was found Monday, July 7, after he was hit by a vehicle, and was brought to the Los Angeles General Medical Center for treatment at around 9:30 p.m. As of Saturday afternoon, the medical center did not have more information on where the man was struck, or what his injuries were but said he is still alive and is being cared for in the ICU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Social workers said the patient stands about 5 feet and 6 inches tall, weighs 217 pounds, has brown eyes and grayish brown and straight hair. An unidentified 65-year-old patient is seen in this photo. July 2025. (Los Angeles General Medical Center) Details are limited, and the hospital did not immediately provide any other identifying factors. A photo obtained by KTLA showed the man unconscious and hooked up to a breathing apparatus. Anyone with information that might help hospital staff identify him or any potential loved ones is urged to call any of the following contacts in the social work department: Nicole Crayon, Clinical Social Worker Phone: 323-409-3877 Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30AM 5:00PM Jocelyn Mayo, Clinical Social Worker Phone: 323-409-4463 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00AM 4:30PM Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Angeles General Medical Center Department of Social Work Phone: 323-409-5253 After Hours: For inquiries outside these hours (5:00 PM 8:00 AM), contact the Department of Emergency Medicine, Social Work Department at 323-409-6883. Weekend On-call: Phone: 323-409-5254 Hours: 8:00 AM 5:00 PM The L.A. General Medical Center is a public hospital run by the L.A. County Department of Health Services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) The San Gabriel River rose to record levels on July 5, which caused evacuations, death and destruction in Williamson County. That bottom building that metal building that is our home, said Montana Perales, who lived along the river in Weir, which is in Williamson County. Perales said its hard to think about the impact the flooding had on her family. It would have been over my head, said Perales as she described how high the water got in her downstairs apartment. It is devastating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her husband, three kids and their dog all had to leave their apartment when water started to rise. We started packing up as little as we could and we grabbed a few clothes and I grabbed my kids favorite stuffies, Perales said. They managed to get out OK, but their home was flooded. I mean we lost everything, Perales said. All of our furniture, our main family vehicle. LIVE BLOG: Texas community continues to grieve, works to assess damages after flood event She lost clothes, appliances, toys for her kids and their beds as well. She said its difficult to answer her kids when they ask why they are staying in a hotel for so long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its hard on them for sure, Perales said. We had just bought my son a new bed, a big boy bed. Hes 3, and he was so excited about it, and of course that is ruined. On Friday the city of Leander held a press conference to talk about the flooding along the San Gabriel. Its never been this high, said Leander Mayor Christine DeLisle.I have lived here 15 years and I have never seen it this high. Perales said shes now staying positive as they work to rebuild their life. We are very blessed that we were all able to make it out. Not many people were as blessed as we are, but now we dont know what to do, Perales said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perales said her husband was looking for work, but he has now been focused on the aftermath of the flooding. He works as a software developer and is now trying to find a job. If you would like to help the family you can donate here. Williamson County Aid The Williamson County Office of Emergency Management said on social media Gov. Greg Abbott announced Williamson County was added to the updated Presidential Disaster Declaration after the July 5 flood. Residents can now apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at http://DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling 800-621-3362. In another social media post, the emergency management said the Williamson County Commissioners Court approved the extension of its local state of disaster for an additional 60 days during a special meeting on Friday, July 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, commissioners approved up to $200,000 in landfill vouchers that will assist with flood clean-up. To learn more about the vouchers, visit the county website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. The site of Caral, one of Peru's most important archaeological areas, has a new jewel in its crown after eight years of excavations, intense research and conservation work. It is called Penico, and experts consider it to be a "city of social integration" because of its strategic location, which connected the populations of the Supe and Huaura valleys, but also because of the large number of homes, public buildings and ceremonial spaces it housed. On Saturday 12 July, the Caral Archaeological Zone will organise the first Penico Raymi, a replica of a traditional Andean festival, to inaugurate the new archaeological site. Penico, known as the "City of Social Integration" of the Supe Valley populations (1800 - 1500 BC) is located in the province of Huaura in Peru's Lima region. - Peru Ministry of Culture Although the Caral culture developed mainly between 3000 and 1800 BC (which, given its antiquity, places it in a society with a development and chronology comparable to Ancient Egypt), it's understood the city of Penico began to develop a little later, around 1800 and 1500 BC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Caral are considered the oldest of the pre-Hispanic civilisations in the Americans, which went into steep decline around 1800 BC. It is possible that the prestige achieved by Penico society in the valley, coupled with its role as a hub in the exchange network, was linked to the extraction and circulation of hematite. This mineral, used to make a red pigment, had great symbolic importance within Andean cosmology. The Penico archaeological site was an urban center of social integration between the coast and the mountains, where goods from the jungle even arrived. - Peru Ministry of Culture Among the 18 constructions discovered during the excavations and now on display to the public, a ceremonial hall stands out: "We don't know its exact limits," explained Mauro Ordonez, head of the Penico archaeological site. "This building continues to extend from east to west. The most interesting thing is the composition of several antechambers: one of them stands out for having on its sides the representation, in friezes, of pututus". Pututus are objects also known as churus (the Quechua word for a mollusc, shell or snail). They are wind instruments originally made from a seashell that was large enough to emit a powerful sound. Ordonez considers this to be evidence of close relations with other pre-Columbian groups in northern Peru. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sacred city of Caral-Supe, located less than 200 kilometres north of Lima, the Peruvian capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Penico, in particular, was built 600 metres above sea level on a geological terrace parallel to the Supe River and surrounded by hills that reach a height of 1,000 metres. Its Caralan builders chose this strategic location for multiple purposes: to enhance the monumentality of their buildings, to protect themselves from floods or landslides and, as evidenced by findings such as the representation of musical instruments, and to promote interaction and exchange with other civilisations. KENNER, La. (WGNO) Bonded by a bone marrow transplant, Lidia Martinez is thankful her toddler is out of the hospital. Not only is 2-year-old Hezekiah Martinez not only walking but driving his little car out of Childrens Hospital after spending nearly a year there. It felt like a relief just to see my son walk out of there. It was very touching. It felt really good to see my son just coming out of there, being a cancer survivor, said Lidia Martinez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His mother says it was a day filled with sunshine and hope. We are now officially home, and he actually has an MRD negative result, which means no cancer, and his bone marrow is clear, said Lidia Martinez. Locals unite to donate to Texas flood relief Known to many as Hezzy, the toddler was diagnosed last year with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy and eventually a life-saving bone marrow transplant from his own mother. His mother says one of the best days of her life was traveling to Kansas City to donate her bone marrow, giving her son a chance to live. Today, Hezzy is home, active, smiling and stronger, but the journey isnt over until his body fully accepts the transplant. He still needs frequent blood and platelet donations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a transplant, his numbers go all the way down. We dont know when hes going to fully recover from his transplant. It could take months. It could take a year, said Lidia Martinez. At The Blood Center, Paul Adams says the need for donations is constant with about 25 to 35 people needed each day. Platelets only have a shelf life of about five days. And so, because of that, there is an ongoing need. And theres not really a specific blood type that were looking for. Its anything, donors, when they give whole blood, said Adams. With the lack of donations, Adams is urging more people to donate, saying it helps Hezzy and others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Orleans City Council overrides Mayor Cantrells veto on French Quarter trash contract, Charity Hospital It truly means the life of somebody else. Because when you give whole blood, were going to get a platelet, were going to get some plasma. Were going to get that red cell. All three of those components can go to three different people, said Adams. Lidia Martinez is praying her son will be ringing the bell soon, grateful for everyones help. Its going to be the most wonderful day of my life, just to know that he actually came out of it. As a mom, its actually the help of everyone, you know, and prayers and all these donations that are getting donated, said Lidia Martinez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you would like to donate, you can visit the blood center in Metairie at 2617 Edenborn Ave. A, Metairie, LA 70002. You can call 504-249-4450. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. LAFAYETTE PARISH, La. (KLFY) The Lafayette parish school system superintendent said hes declaring war on truancy students who skip school. Superintendent Francis Touchet, Jr., with great conviction, informed the council that addressing truancy is just one of several changes he will implement in the upcoming school year. Im going to tell you and youre going to hear it from me, that theres going to be a war on truancy this year. We have too many kids on the streets. We have two kids who are doing things, and they need to be in our schools, Touchet stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The superintendent conveyed a powerful message to the council: LPSS staff and administration are committed to being intentional in their actions moving forward. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Get ready. Im going to be in the news again, but its going to be about us having to be very aggressive with people who are not sending their kids to school, Touchet added. Mayor President Monique Blanco Boulet reassured the superintendent that all hands are on deck, including the criminal justice coordinating committee, recently re-established by Boulet and Sheriff Garber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to pledge in support of LCG as well as the police department, as well as the other agencies at the table. So, thank you. Thank you, Boulet explained. Councilman Boudreaux offered to help find ways to tackle the issue of students skipping school. If you need any assistance, let me know. I will be more than happy to participate, Boudreaux noted. The superintendent said in the upcoming school year, there will be more emphasis on relationship building with teachers and administrators for the students than ever before. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. Emmanuel Macron warned France to beware the old demons of anti-Semitism as he announced a national day of commemoration for Alfred Dreyfus on Saturday. The president said there would be a memorial ceremony every year on July 12, the date on which the Jewish army captain was exonerated of treason charges for which he had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 1894. The first ceremony will take place next year, exactly 120 years after the High Court of Appeal overturned the verdict passed on Dreyfus by a military court in one of the most notorious examples of anti-Semitism in the history of France. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dreyfus, from the Alsace region of eastern France, had been falsely accused of passing information on artillery equipment to Germany. The campaign to free him divided France. Alfred Dreyfuss police photographs taken after his arrest on trumped-up treason charges in 1894 - Apic/Getty Images/Hulton Archive From now on, every July 12, there will be a commemoration ceremony for Dreyfus, for the victory of justice and truth against hatred and anti-Semitism, Mr Macron wrote in a communique on Saturday. In this way, Alfred Dreyfus and those who fought through him for Liberty, Equality and Fraternity will continue to be the example that must inspire our conduct. We know that we must always be vigilant and persistent against these old anti-Semitic demons spawned by hatred. And today more than ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France has been experiencing a rising tide of anti-Semitism in recent years, particularly since the Hamas atrocities of Oct 7 2023 led to Israel invading Gaza. The announcement of the Dreyfus commemoration follows Frances parliament backing a bill last month that promoted Dreyfus to the rank of brigadier general in an act of reparation for his wrongful conviction. In 2021, Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the first museum dedicated to the Dreyfus Affair, housed in the former home of the author Emile Zola, who wrote the famous Jaccuse pamphlet in Dreyfuss defence - Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP via Getty Images The officers conviction amid a virulently anti-Semitic press campaign was based on a comparison of handwriting on a document found in a German military attaches wastepaper basket. Lt Col Georges Picquart, the head of Frances intelligence services, secretly reinvestigated the case, and found the handwriting on the incriminating message was that of another officer, Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But when Picquart presented his evidence to the general staff of the French army, he was kicked out of the military and jailed for a year. Esterhazy was acquitted, which inspired Emile Zola to write his famous Jaccuse pamphlet in which the author attacked the terrifying judicial error and the hunt for dirty Jews that is soiling our time. The campaign to free Dreyfus split the country between Dreyfusards, led by Zola, and anti-Dreyfusards such as Maurice Barres, the far-Right political leader. Dreyfus was brought back to France from the Devils Island penal colony in French Guiana but was found guilty a second time. He was later pardoned but not cleared of the charges until his final exoneration on July 12 1906. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, the legacy of the heirs of the anti-Dreyfusards, anti-republicans and anti-Semites of the early and mid-20th century has never died out, Mr Macron said on Saturday. Alfred Dreyfus was finally freed after years in captivity in the penal colony of Devils Island - Gerschel/Getty Images/Hulton Archive France is home to the largest Jewish community in Europe, which suffered nearly 1,600 anti-Semitic acts in 2024. The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France said it was a historic number. A total of 504 anti-Semitic acts were recorded in France between January and May 2025, according to the Ministry of the Interior. After the French hard Left made gains in elections last year, Moshe Sebbag, a rabbi for the Synagogue de la Victoire, said he was advising Jews to leave France for Israel. Hard Left reluctant to condemn Hamas It seems France has no future for Jews, he said after a political bloc including Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed won National Assembly elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France Unbowed is highly critical of Israel and was reluctant to condemn Hamas for the Oct 7 terror attack, which has led to accusations of anti-Semitism. The hard-Right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, has sought to expunge its history of anti-Semitism. Jean-Marie Le Pen, its founder, was a Holocaust denier with numerous convictions for anti-Semitism. In March this year, Jordan Bardella, the partys president, visited Israel for a two-day conference on fighting anti-Semitism in a sign of National Rallys shift. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Jul. 12Bobby Magee's tenure with the City of Lodi is coming to and end next week. The Lodi City Council on Wednesday will remove Magee as city treasurer and appoint accounting manager Chia Lor to the post. Magee was hired in December as the city's interim assistant city manager on a temporary, part-time basis to replace Andrew Keys, who was let go last summer. A month later, the council appointed Magee city treasurer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Wednesday's staff report, Magee is nearing the limit on the 1,300 hours allowed for a part-time employee and will be leaving the city on July 20. Magee's time with the city was not without controversy, as questions arose after city manager Scott Carney was placed on administrative leave about his connections to consultants that received large no-bid contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. It was learned in May that Magee once worked as a "special advisor" to a firm that was later acquired by Baker Tilly, which recently prepared the city's 2024-25 budget. When a Nevada improvement district was looking for a new interim finance director, Baker Tilly recommended Magee and was paid a $10,000 "placement fee" for that referral, according to an invoice reviewed by the News-Sentinel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city has paid Baker Tilly $308,900 to perform a library assessment, update a 30-year financial forecast, and perform consulting services for the finance division since Magee came on board. In addition, in emails recently obtained by the News-Sentinel through a public records request, employees claim that Magee instructed certain finance employees to stop doing certain tasks and to allow work to pile up so there would be justification to hire more employees. Magee told the council earlier this year that bank reconciliations were months behind and hundreds of customer emails that had not been answered. Magee disputed the allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Since I started working in the City Manager's Office in December of 2024, we have been diligently working to review and address a number of issues resulting from City of Lodi accounts that had not been reconciled, in some instances, in over nine years," Magee said in response to the allegations. "We brought this to the public's attention in April of 2025. Our office is responsible to the public and the citizens of Lodi to account for every tax dollar. This has been the main objective for my entire employment history with the City of Lodi. Any statement or allegation to the contrary is at best pure fiction and at worst malicious disinformation." Questions about Magee's relationship with Baker Tilly have stoked speculation that things were made to look bad so that consulting contracts could be given to the firm. Magee told the News-Sentinel that he has received no compensation from consultants with which the city is currently under contract. When asked if he had any financial connection to the consultants hired in Lodi, Magee said he had not been compensated by any consulting firm contracted with the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Magee began his career in government as assistant fleet manager for San Joaquin County, and then served as deputy county administrator from 2003 to 2012. In 2014, he founded the Moralta Group consulting firm, working for the cities of Daly City and Santa Cruz, to develop policy and procedure, conduct fiscal oversight, and improve governmental reporting standards. However, in 2016 Magee was listed as a special advisor with Management Partners, Inc., which assisted the City of Stockton during its bankruptcy. Carney was an assistant city manager at the time time, but it is unclear if he and Magee worked together or even knew each other. Management Partners became a part of Baker Tilly in 2022. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) In 2022, a group of people with Irish roots started the Mahoning Valley Irish Festival, unsure if it would be a success. On Friday evening, the festival began its fourth year still around and going strong. This weekend, the festival is rocking with 12 Irish bands at Youngstowns Penguin City Brewing Co., which just tapped Irish red beer. There are also Irish cultural exhibits, the Burke School of Irish Dance, and an Irish Kitchen. I can tell you that the biggest difference this year is the focus on unity and the Irish community. We have brought together this year for the first time every Irish organization across the Youngstown area, said Mahoning Valley Irish Festival Chairman Tim Crowe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The festival kicked off Friday at 5 p.m. and runs until 11 p.m. On Saturday, the festival runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. It costs $5 per person. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Jul. 11Maine's public radio and broadcasting network could lose close to $5 million over two years, or about 12% of its annual budget, under a proposal currently before the U.S. Senate that seeks to claw back $9.4 billion in federal money already approved by Congress. The package put forward by President Donald Trump would rescind $8.3 billion in foreign assistance and $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the nonprofit responsible for distributing federal funds to locally-owned public radio and television stations. The Maine Public Broadcasting Network is warning that the cuts, which have already been approved in the U.S. House of Representatives and are expected to go before the Senate next week, could have a devastating impact on public broadcasting in Maine and nationally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We would face some hard choices," said Rick Schneider, president and CEO of Maine Public. The network runs public radio and television programming throughout Maine and also coordinates emergency alerts. It has an annual budget of around $19 million and employs about 120 people. About 12% of Maine Public's funding comes from federal dollars awarded through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, while more than 75% is raised from donations in Maine, 9% comes from the state and a small amount from other miscellaneous sources. Trump has accused National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service, the nation's primary public broadcasters, of bias and in May signed an executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding them. The order also prohibited stations like Maine Public from using CPB funds to pay NPR for programming and associated fees and instructed federal agencies to also cease funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NPR and PBS have sued to block the order and to seek temporary relief from a loss of funds while the suit plays out. But Schneider said the order's impact has been minimal so far since CPB is a private nonprofit, so the federal government does not have the authority to tell it how to spend its money. "The fact of the matter is very little has happened because of it," Schneider said. "The truth is, this is really more about funding, and that's why the rescission bill is so important." One impact of the order is that the U.S. Department of Education canceled a grant to PBS for the creation of children's programming, the Ready to Learn grant. "So it did have the effect of taking away support for children's programming, not all of it but a lot of it," Schneider said. He said the rescission package presents both the direct impact of a $2.5 million per year cut to Maine Public over the next two years and broader impacts for public radio and television stations across the country, who contribute fees to NPR and PBS to support access to national programming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If some stations go away or can't afford to pay those fees, that affects the entire model of how this programming happens," Schneider said. Maine's congressional delegation has also expressed concerns about the CPB cuts. Both Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, and Rep. Jared Golden, D-2nd District, voted against the $9.4 billion rescission package. A spokesperson for Sen. Angus King, I-ME, said he also opposes the package. Sen. Susan Collins, R-ME, said this week she is discussing possible changes with members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which she chairs. In particular, Collins has said she is opposed to $900 million in cuts to global health programs that fund activities related to child and maternal health, HIV and AIDS. In a written statement Friday, Collins said she supports the Corporation for Public Broadcasting but the "longstanding partisan nature of National Public Radio has tainted the work that CPB and the local affiliates have done." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "More than 70 percent of this funding flows to local television and radio stations that provide local programming and important emergency communications in rural communities in Maine and across the country," Collins said. "I am continuing to discuss possible changes to the rescissions package with my colleagues to attempt to preserve some of this funding as we prepare for the package to move to the Senate floor next week." Schneider said Maine Public has had an outpouring of support from listeners and viewers opposed to the cuts. "We hope Sen. Collins is thinking hard about this and taking the right steps to seek a better solution than just cutting out the funding altogether," he said. 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Show less FIRST ON FOX: Mahmood Mamdani, the father of socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, sits on the advisory council of an anti-Israel organization that supports boycotts and sanctions of Israel, routinely accuses the Israeli government of committing "genocide", and has expressed sympathy for suicide bombers. The Gaza Tribunal, founded in London in 2024, says its primary goal is "to awaken civil society to its responsibility and opportunity to stop Israels genocide in Gaza," according to its website . Also on its website, Mahmood Mamdani is listed as a member of the groups "advisory policy council" and is mentioned as having attended the groups official launch in London last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richard Falk, the president of the tribunal, outlined the groups support of BDS in an online post saying, "the aim of the Tribunal is or [sic] legitimize and encourage civil society solidarity initiatives around the world such as BDS." Unearthed Mamdani College Newspaper Writings Promote Anti-israel Boycott, Rail Against 'White Privilege' New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) stands with his mother, Mira Nair, and father, Mahmood Mamdani, as they celebrate during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025, in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens. BDS is described as "an international campaign to delegitimize the State of Israel as the expression of the Jewish peoples right to national self-determination by isolating the country economically through consumer boycotts, business and government withdrawal of investment, and legal sanctions," according to Influence Watch. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zohran Mamdani has also promoted BDS as recently as May, when he declined to say whether Israel has a right to exist and said his support of BDS "is consistent with my core of my politics, which is non-violence." Mahmood Mamdani, the Herbert Lehman Professor of Government at Columbia University, has also faced criticism on social media in recent days over a resurfaced book excerpt where he expressed sympathy for the way suicide bombers are viewed. "Suicide bombing needs to be understood as a feature of modern political violence rather than stigmatized as a mark of barbarism," the elder Mamdani wrote in his 2004 book Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: America, the Cold War, and the Roots of Terror. "We need to recognize the suicide bomber, first and foremost, as a category of soldier." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gaza Tribunal's founder and members have deep ties to anti-Israel movements, with at least one being deported from the United States due to terror ties. Falk has a long history of espousing anti-Israel views and was repeatedly accused of using his "Special Rapporteur" United Nations position to "spread unsubstantiated allegations against Israel," according to Canary Mission, a watchdog organization that works to expose antisemitism. In 2011 and 2014, Falk accused Israel of being a "colonialist" nation and claimed it was pushing "ethnic-cleansing goals." He would go on to echo these views as recently as February of this year during an interview. Falk faced backlash in 2007 for comparing Israel's government to the Nazis by accusing them of ushering in a "Palestinian Holocaust" and rhetorically asking, "Is it an irresponsible overstatement to associate the treatment of Palestinians with this criminalized Nazi record of collective atrocity? I think not." The comparison led to backlash and former Israeli U.N. Ambassador Itzhak Levanon opposing his 2008 UN nomination. Mamdani Lands Endorsement Of A Top Cuomo Backer In Nyc Mayoral Primary Democrat mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a rally at the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council headquarters in New York, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) The Princeton University professor emeritus also demanded a boycott of corporations in 2012 that do business with Israel, saying they "should be boycotted until they bring their operations into line with international human rights and humanitarian law and standards." However, a spokesperson for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) fired back, warning the UN that Falk "has repeatedly abused his position as special rapporteur to unleash unrestrained hatred and disdain for Israel" and that the "United Nations should not be complicit in this wholly unjustified effort to single out Israel." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to Fox News Digital, Falk said that he advocates for "nonviolent solidarity initiatives with the Palestinian struggle for their basic rights, including BDS." "I believe that Israel's occupation policies in Gaza and the West Bank have persecuted Palestinians on their own homeland," Falk added. "Also, I believe that this pattern of displacing the native population is illustrative of settler colonial political projects that depend for their success on an apartheid-like domination and exploitation of the native population. If such a regime encounters prolonged resistance it almost inevitably relies on genocidal tactics to subdue the civilian population, either by marginalization, ethnic cleansing, or massive killing, all of which have been occurring in Gaza during the 20 months since October 7." Falk added that Jewish voters in New York City "should not worry" about Mamood Mamdani's ties to the tribunal or about Zohran Mamdani's candidacy for mayor. "Both father and son are respectful of international law, the UN, human rights of all peoples, and the pacific settlement of political disputes," Falk said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Falk is not the only member of the tribunal with anti-Israel ties. A press release of the group's launch mentioned that Dr. Hatem Bazian, the chairman of American Muslims for Palestine and the co-founder of Students for Justice in Palestine, was also present at the launch. Bazian has been a controversial anti-Israel figure for decades due to his inflammatory rhetoric about Israel and Jews, including during a 2014 convention speech, where he called on attendees to "get to work" on calling for BDS on college campuses and doing sit-ins in Congressional offices. In 2015, Bazian raised alarm bells when he called for an "intifada in this country that changes fundamentally the political dynamics in here," which is widely interpreted as calling for violence against Jews. He would go on to say, "They're gonna say some Palestinian being too radical well, you haven't seen radicalism yet." He has also faced backlash for antisemitic posts on social media, which drew backlash from several student groups, including one that mocked Hassidic Jews, with one saying "Mom, look! I is chosen! I can now kill, rape, smuggle organs and steal the land of Palestinians Yay #Ashke-Nazi." Another social media post insinuated Jews control UC Berkeley, which is a classic antisemitic trope about their "power." Zohran Mamdani told CNN on Thursday that he has "many critiques" of capitalism. Sami Al-Arian, a former University of South Florida professor who admitted to conspiring to aid the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group in 2006, was also present at the Gaza Tribunal launch meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He recently posted on X that he was "very honored and proud" to have contributed to the Gaza Tribunal's "The Sarajevo Declaration," which accuses Israel of "genocide, and its decades-long policies and practices of settler colonialism, ethno-supremacism, apartheid, racial segregation, persecution, unlawful settlements, the denial of the right to return, collective punishment, mass detention, torture and cruel and inhuman treatment." The declaration went on to "call for an end of the smearing of UNRWA and other humanitarian workers, for the free and unhindered access of UNRWA," a group that has been slammed for alleged ties to terrorism, including allegedly working with Hamas. Al-Arian, whom a federal judge once called a "master manipulator" and leader in the terror group, spent 30 years in the U.S. before being arrested in 2003, according to the Justice Department. After a 57-month prison sentence, he agreed to be deported to Turkey as part of his plea deal for a single charge on what had begun as a 17-count federal indictment. Then-U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said in 2006 that the disgraced professor had denied involvement with the terror group for a decade before prosecutors had enough evidence to bring charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In his guilty plea, Al-Arian admitted that, during the period of the late 1980s and early to mid-1990s, he and several of his co-conspirators were associated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad," the DOJ said in a statement after his sentencing. "He further admitted that he performed various services for the PIJ in 1995 and thereafter, knowing that the PIJ had been designated as a Specially Designated Terrorist and that the PIJ engaged in horrific and deadly acts of violence." Socialist former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has long been labeled as antisemitic due to various anti-Israel statements, is also a member of the Gaza Tribunal Advisory Council. In 2020, an investigation into antisemitism by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found Corbyn's Labour Party had broken the law in the way it handled complaints of antisemitism when Corbyn was in charge. Corbyn was eventually suspended from the Labour Party over charges of antisemitism. He also once referred to "friends" from Hamas coming to address Parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2019 poll showed that a whopping 87 percent of Jewish people in Great Britain believed Corbyn was antisemitic, pointing to many incidents and remarks, many of them involving his staunch support for Palestinians and perceived hostility toward Israel. Zohran Mamdani's stance on Israel has been a widely discussed topic so far during the mayoral campaign, and he sparked controversy by refusing to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada," which has become a rallying cry for anti-Israel protesters in the United States ever since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in Israel. Mamdani, who was the co-founder of Bowdoin College's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter during his four years, expressed support for an academic boycott of Israel in the school's paper. Mamdani has been widely criticized by Jewish groups in New York City over his past positions and comments as he tries to position himself to win the general election in November against current Mayor Eric Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who are both running as independents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz, Alec Schemmel and Jeffrey Clark contributed to this report Original article source: Mamdani's father sits on council of anti-Israel group tied to terror, legitimizes role of suicide bombers A 41-year-old man was fatally shot during a brazen Saturday morning confrontation on a tree-lined Queens street, cops said. The victim was on Liverpool St. near Glassboro Ave. in South Jamaica at about 8:15 a.m. when a gunman opened fire, striking him in the chest. He ran several feet before collapsing on the sidewalk. EMS rushed him to Jamaica Hospital, where the victim died a short time later. His name was not immediately disclosed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gunman fled the scene. Witnesses saw a BMW speeding off down the block, a police source with knowledge of the case said. Neighbors heard as many as six shots before the victim was found sprawled out on the concrete. Despite its bucolic appearance, two residents of Liverpool St. said raucous parties often happen on the block. One neighbor, they said, turned his basement into a nightclub, and those who attend his parties often block neighboring driveways and carry on all hours into the night. This has always been a hot block, and it spills over to everywhere else, said one neighbor, who wished not to be named. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to city 311 data, residents on the block complained about excessive noise five times since 2024. Theyve also complained about people blocking driveways three times. Once, someone complained about people drinking in the street. More than half of the complaints are centered around a home down the block from where the victim collapsed. NYPD detectives were scouring the area looking for surveillance images that would help them identify the shooter. DENVER (KDVR) A man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly firing a gun toward three teens who were trespassing on a neighboring property, according to the Boulder County Sheriffs Office. Deputies initially responded to the 3000 block of 63rd Street just before 7 p.m. after receiving a trespassing complaint. They contacted five boys, including three 16-year-olds and two 15-year-olds, and learned that a man had fired a rifle toward the juveniles from Valmont Road. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They then followed a vehicle of interest going north on 61st Street and arrested the driver, identified as 50-year-old Kurt Erickson. The investigation revealed the juveniles were not trespassing on the suspects property, but were trespassing on a neighboring property, the Sheriffs Office said in a release. A .22 LR rifle, a spent casing and narcotics were collected, and Erickson was booked into the Boulder County Jail on several charges, including: One count: Unlawful possession opium or derivative > 4 grams (class 4 felony) Five counts: Menacing Gun (class 5 felony ) One count: Prohibited use of a weapon (class 1 misdemeanor ) Five counts: Reckless endangerment (class 2 misdemeanor ) Two counts: Child abuse (class 2 misdemeanor ) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teens received warnings for trespassing and were released to their parents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. CHICAGO (WGN) A man who was arrested and charged in connection with a West Side fire that left four people dead, including a young child, appeared in court on Saturday. Four people, including a young child, were killed in the fire that police have confirmed to be arson. Three others, two adults and a little boy, were hospitalized in critical condition. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: West Side apartment fire being investigated as possible arson as death toll climbs to 4 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A seventh victim, a woman who was unaccounted for following the fire, was found dead the next morning. Cook County coroners identified the victims as 32-year-old Gina Henry, her 5-year-old son Jayceon Henry, 28-year-old Destiny Henry, and 76-year-old Brad Cummings. On Friday, July 11, Chicago police announced 23-year-old Lontray Clark had been arrested in Springfield on Wednesday, July 9 in connection with the deadly fire. Clark has since been charged with the following offenses: Four felony counts Murder First Degree Four felony counts Murder Strong Probability of Death/Injury Four felony counts Murder Other Forcible Felony Two felony counts Arson Aggravated Arson/Know Person Present Two felony counts Arson Aggravated Arson/Bodily Harm Two felony counts Attempted First Degree Murder One felony count Residential Arson Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Saturdays court hearing, prosecutors say Clark saw a photo on Snapchat of a woman he used to date inside his friends apartment. Clark then allegedly filled an anti-freeze container with gasoline and bought a mask and long-sleeved shirt before setting the building on fire. The man and woman Clark allegedly targeted survived. The arrest could never replace the lives that were lost, Rev. George Smith Jr., who lost three of his cousins in the fire, said. This has been a senseless crime. It has been something that should have never happened, and if that was the case, he should have been man enough to just walk away. Clark also has a prior felony conviction related to a firearms offense. Clarks public defender says he has a three-month-old and claims she hasnt seen video identifying him near the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith says Jayceon, Gina and Destiny all lived in the same apartment with the womens 65-year-old mom, who was injured and survived. My aunt, she lost her children. Her children were her everything, Smith said. Were sticking close together. Its a day by day process. We trust God. Destiny Henrys four-year-old son, Kyle, who also lived in the apartment, is still recovering in the hospital. He is sedated with injuries including head trauma and burns, according to prosecutors. Hes getting better but he sustained some tremendous injuries, Smith said. Smith says his family is in the midst of an uphill journey as funeral arrangements for his cousins are pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire originally happened at around 2 a.m. Thursday, June 26, at an apartment building located in the 5200 block of West North Avenue in Austin. Clark was denied pre-trial release by a Cook County judge. He is scheduled back in court on July 14. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Man arrested in Fruita sentenced 48 years after police discover 100K fentanyl pills in car FRUITA, Colo. (KREX) A Denver man, who was arrested in March 2024 in Fruita, was sentenced to nearly 50 years in prison as part of his role in a Northern Colorado drug trafficking ring, according to the 19th Judicial District Office in Weld County. Miguel Gutierrez-Heredia was given the maximum sentence of 48 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections earlier this week. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell or distribute fentanyl more than 50 grams, special offender introducing or importing to Colorado and possession with intent to sell or distribute methamphetamine more than 14 grams but less than 225 grams. Gutierrez-Heredia was pulled over by Colorado State Patrol after he was caught going 93 miles per hour in a 75-mph speed zone. At the time of the stop, he was under investigation in Northern Colorado and law enforcement was tracking his whereabouts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators discovered in his vehicle around 100,000 fentanyl pills, around 5 pounds of cocaine and over 2 1/2 pounds of methamphetamine. Police determined Gutierrez-Heredia traveled to California to pick up the narcotics and then drive back to distribute them in Denver and Northern Colorado. At the time of this interception, this was one of the biggest fentanyl busts in the state, Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Pirraglia said. Because of the incredible work from our partners in law enforcement, they were able to stop that poison from making its way to our community. I cant imagine how many lives would have been impacted, or taken, had these drugs flooded our streets of Weld County. The investigation was a collaborative effort including the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force, Weld County Drug Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, CSP and the Mesa County Sheriffs Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A Louisiana man was arrested this week in Sierra Blanca on criminal charges for allegedly fleeing from an immigration checkpoint, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, Benjamin Thomas Mackey was referred to secondary inspection at the Sierra Blanca Border Patrol checkpoint due to a K-9 alert. The criminal complaint alleges that Mackey initially turned his vehicle off at the direction of Border Patrol agents. However, he quickly turned the vehicle back on and drove away at a high rate of speed, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One agent allegedly had to move out of the way to avoid being hit by the fleeing vehicle, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Two agents responded and chased Mackey along Interstate 10 East, with speeds exceeding 120 mph, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Additional agents attempted to pull Mackey over in the town of Sierra Blanca as he allegedly drove in an erratic and dangerous manner, eventually crashing into a concrete barrier near a gas station, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. The criminal complaint further alleges that Mackey continued to flee on foot before agents were able to place him under arrest. During the chase, the complaint alleges, one Border Patrol agent injured his legs and needed to be taken to the hospital. Inside Mackeys vehicle, agents allegedly found 10 pounds of marijuana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mackey is charged with one count of high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) Two police officers were injured and a man was arrested after an alleged motor vehicle larceny on Friday in New Britain, officials said. Christopher Criss, 39, was arrested on Friday night. Police recover stolen vehicle from Batterson Park Pond in New Britain area At approximately 10 p.m., police responded to the Citgo gas station on near Corbin Avenue and Governor Street to a man asleep at the wheel at one of the pumps. Christopher Criss, 39 After investigation, it was revealed that the vehicle involved had previously fled from officers and rammed police cruisers in Berlin earlier that night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers attempted to take Criss into custody when he tried to flee and struck two New Britain police cruisers. The door of the vehicle also struck an officer. The fleeing vehicle then crashed into a parked car outside a residence on Governor Street. Criss was charged with several motor vehicle charges along with assault on police and first-degree larceny as the vehicle he was driving was found to be stolen. Two officers were hospitalized after the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. DRAPER, Utah (ABC4) A man has been charged with assault and trespassing after he started a fire at a house and then fought with residents when they chased after him. Spencer Daniel Strong, 46, is charged with aggravated assault, a third-degree felony; criminal trespassing, a Class B misdemeanor; and reckless burning, a Class B misdemeanor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to documents, on July 8, 2025, an officer with the Draper Police Department was dispatched to a home on Lone Peak Parkway. The caller was reporting a fire started by a man whom he and his friends were restraining. When the officer arrived, he observed Strong sitting on the grass. Firefighters had responded and extinguished the fire that was started at the residence. Can we have nice things?: Provo Police asks public for help identifying arson suspect who damaged park One of the residents spoke with police and told them that he noticed a fire outside. He and others rushed to try and extinguish the fire when they heard someone yelling in the street. The resident saw Strong on the other side of the road and yelled at him. Strong then fled, and the resident and his brother began pursuing him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another resident joined the chase, and when they caught up to Strong, he allegedly swung a PVC pipe at the three. One of the men was hit with the pipe on the hand and sustained a small laceration and some swelling. Strong spoke with police and allegedly admitted to starting the fire with a lighter he had in his pocket. He also stated that he had hit somebody and was aware that it had caused an injury. A fence at the residence was reportedly damaged by the fire. The police officer contacted the property owner, who estimated the damages would cost roughly $500 to repair, documents say. Strong was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail, where he is currently being held on bail. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Rudy Guede, the only person definitively convicted of the brutal 2007 murder of British student Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy, will be back in court this fall facing charges of sexual assault and violence against a former girlfriend. Guede, a 38-year-old Ivory Coast native who has lived in Italy since the age of five, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for Kerchers murder in October 2008. His sentence was reduced on appeal before he was released early for good behavior in 2021. The case sparked a media frenzy, spawning more than two dozen books and three films. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 100,000 photos, thousands of chats and audio messages between Guede and the unnamed victim are among the evidence to be considered in the trial, according to the investigating magistrate Rita Cialoni, who ordered Guede to stand trial in a preliminary hearing in Viterbo on Friday. The two began dating while Guede was still in prison and ended their relationship in 2023 when the woman pressed charges against him, according to Italian media. American student Amanda Knox, who was Kerchers roommate at the time she was killed, and Knoxs then-boyfriend Italian Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted in tandem for their alleged role in Kerchers murder in 2009, but were fully exonerated by Italys Supreme Court in 2015 following a topsy-turvy legal battle. A reproduction made 06 November 2007 of an undated picture shows British exchange student Meredith Kercher in Perugia. - STR/AFP/Getty Images Knox, remains convicted of slander for accusing her former nightclub boss Patrick Lumumba of Kerchers murder in 2007. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guedes new indictment and trial stems from 2023 accusations of sexual assault, mistreatment and stalking, by a 25-year-old woman Guede dated from Viterbo, where Guede worked first on work release from prison and then after his release. His first hearing will be held November 4 in Viterbo. His lawyer Carlo Mezzetti told CNN his client was innocent and feared he would not get a fair trial given his previous conviction. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com UPDATE: Sparks was reportedly located safe. SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) The Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office is asking for help in locating an elderly man diagnosed with dementia. 80-year-old Gerald Glenn Sparks was reportedly last seen leaving his residence on Hobbysville Road in Roebuck at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 11. According to officials, Sparks has not taken his prescribed medications in two days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sparks was seen driving away in a Hyundai Elantra to go play pool in Spartanburg. Authorities said that camera record show Sparks vehicle traveling through Georgia and Tennessee overnight, before entering North Carolina earlier today. Sparks was recently seen on a camera at 1:18 p.m. today in North Carolinas Burke County. The Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office says residents with any information about Sparks whereabouts should call law enforcement immediately. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) A man wanted on multiple charges out of Lexington, Kentucky was arrested in Knoxville on Thursday after leading sheriffs deputies on high-speed pursuit. Knox County Sheriffs Office Narcotics Detectives were assisting in the apprehension of Reza Varnamkhasti Jalali. He was wanted on several charges from a prior domestic incident including second-degree assault, third-degree terroristic threats, kidnapping, and first-degree wanton endangerment. Records: Man shot by Knox County deputies threw sword, mace at them Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement located a black Jeep known to be driven by Jalali on Northshore Drive near Pellissippi Parkway. The vehicle did not stop when deputies attempted to make a traffic stop at 414 North Peters Road, leading to a pursuit. According to a sheriffs office spokesperson, the Jeep was driven recklessly at high speeds for approximately 13 minutes until it became caught up in traffic at the intersection of South Northshore Drive and Concord Road. The suspect exited the vehicle and tried to run away before being taken into custody. See more top stories on WATE.com Investigators recovered a samurai sword, handgun ammunition, and three MDMA tablets upon a search of the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Chains, an orange cone and a broom block the back parking lot of Savory and Sons Funeral Home. The State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors shut down the troubled establishment last month. That didnt stop Michael Lee from taking a look after someone called him, concerned that ashes were discarded outside. Just a very horrible and disgusting situation to treat someone like that, Lee said. Some of them were laying inside the pile. Some of them were sitting straight up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Kehoe repeals voter-approved changes to Missouris minimum wage, sick leave law He said the police and the medical examiners office wouldnt take the remains. Lee knew he couldnt leave them there, so he loaded them into his car then called FOX4 Problem Solvers. As you can see, there are 17 individuals, he said. Someones loved ones that are in the back of my vehicle. He originally found 16 boxes outside, each labelled with a first and last name. After Lee left, he remembered seeing a plastic container outside off to the side. He went back for it. No tag, except for just Michael Hughes, red and gold urn,' Lee said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the boxes of ashes dates back a decade. Also among the pile were two memorial jewelry boxes. Most of the remains Lee found were people who died last year. I figured that we needed to go and take them into our custody where they would be safe for the night, he said. He took them 15 miles southwest to Serenity Funeral Home, owned by Michael Adkins. We have an oath to the funeral industry to do the right thing, said Adkins, who accepted the ashes and promised to try to connect them with their respective families. FOX4 Problem Solvers asked the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors how something like this could happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson said the board revoked the funeral homes license. The order cites several examples of families complaints and concludes that Savory and Sons Funeral Home should be shut down for incompetence, misconduct, gross negligence and fraud. The revocation of the license is the highest level of discipline the board can impose on a funeral establishment, a spokesperson said. However, the spokesperson said that does not relinquish the funeral home of its responsibilities. A closure due to revocation of an establishment would not eliminate the establishments responsibility to properly care for cremated remains, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX4 asked Adkins if this is how it should have gone down. No, absolutely not, he said in response. Adkins created a list of the people whose remains were found. A couple of days later, sisters Tanisha Williams and Jerrine Evans showed up at Serenity Funeral Home. Its unreal, Williams said. Among the discarded ashes was their father, Michael Hughes. He died last January and was supposed to be in a red and gold urn. Instead, he was left in that plastic container. A plastic baglike trash. Its devastating, Williams said. It brought Evans to tears. FOX4 sat down with them, less than an hour after they finally reunited with their fathers remains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people we trusted to handle this let us down, Evans said. A year and a half after his passing, hes finally home. I can breathe now, Williams said. I havent grievedsince this happened. As for the rest of the families, Adkins said he will keep their loved ones remains safe. If I cant reach them, theyll be with me, he said. As long as Serenity is around, theyll be with me. FOX4 Problem Solvers asked the Missouri Attorney Generals Office about the legal ramifications of this situation. A spokesperson said there is an ongoing consumer protection investigation into the funeral home, and the office is working with the funeral board and Jackson County Prosecutors Office to gather information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those interested in looking up licenses and any disciplinary action against a funeral home can do that online by clicking here. Previous coverage Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. CHICAGO (WGN) A man has died after being shot on the South Side of Chicago Friday afternoon. Chicago police say an unidentified male victim was standing near the sidewalk in the 6200 block of South Rhodes Avenue at around 4 p.m. when he was struck in the abdomen by gunfire. The victim was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, where he later died. There are no suspects in custody, police say. The investigation is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. UPDATE: Jones Deputy Police Chief, Sony Nohmer, has confirmed the victim had died from his injuries and the two water buffalos were put down. ORIGINAL STORY JONES, Okla. (KFOR) On Friday night, crews with the Jones Fire Department and Jones Police Department rushed to the scene where a man was attacked by a water buffalo at the 7500 block of North Henney Road. Officials confirmed the status of the victim as unknown. This is a developing story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. NEED TO KNOW Kevin Ewing found a big toe inside a gift-wrapped wooden box on a beach at Dash Point State Park in Washington Ewing, who was with his wife and kids, told the Kent Reporter that the human toe didnt look like a surgeon had taken it off You know, its just very creepy. Its like something you would see in a horror movie, Ewing told CBS affiliate KIRO A man and his family were celebrating Fathers Day at a Washington beach in June when he came across something very creepy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While walking down Dash Point Beach at Dash Point State Park with his wife and two kids on June 15, Kevin Ewing discovered box that resembled a Christmas package, he told the Kent Reporter and CBS affiliate KIRO. At the time, Ewing was walking ahead of his family in search of feathers, he told the Kent Reporter, when he spotted the box wrapped in a green cloth with a yellow string tied around it. Ewing, who has Native American ancestry, said he believed it could have been a prayer bundle or some type of message in a bottle, so he opened the box. That's when he found a severed human toe, among other items. Getty Dash Point State Park in Washington Dash Point State Park in Washington Inside the green cloth was a pine box, shut with tape and containing a pocket knife, a feather, grass, sage, lavender, tobacco and a rag which wrapped around the dismembered big toe, per the Kent Reporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I set the box down on the ground, I believe, and I used my knife to pick the rag up and open it, and it was a severed human big toe that was in there, Ewing told the outlet. At first I was very shocked, and it took me a few minutes to kind of be like, Is this what I think it is? Then once it dawned on me that thats what it was, I set everything down. You know, its just very creepy. Its like something you would see in a horror movie," he explained to KIRO. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Near the boxed toe was a seagull, which Ewing told the Kent Reporter appeared to have been skinned and mutilated. He said it was unclear if the two discoveries were related. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know, a lot of things are going through my head like, Where is the rest of the body? Ewing told KIRO. "Like, Did this wash in from the tide, from the water? Did somebody leave this here intentionally to be found? After the discovery, he got in touch with a park ranger, as Washington State Patrol officials took over the investigation. Trooper Rick Johnson said, per the Kent Reporter, that the toe was transported to the King County Medical Examiners Office for a DNA match and that officials are trying to cross-reference any potential cases related to the severed toe. An incident report obtained by the outlet noted that the toe was comparable in size to that of an adult man. Washington State Patrol did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for more information on Saturday, July 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graphic images shared by the Kent Reporter show the discolored toe sitting inside a white wrap, with the box's contents scattered around the beach. The father who found the box wondered if there is "somebody out there playing some kind of, you know, weird, weird and sick game" and if the toe belongs to a missing person, per both outlets. He also said he left the area after he realized what he had found, in case someone was hiding in the bushes. Just very odd," he said. "The toe definitely did not look like it was amputated. It definitely didnt look like a surgeon had taken it off. It didnt look like a very clean medical cut." Now, Ewing hopes the owner of the toe is identified. Read the original article on People COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The man who was accused of murder, rape and kidnapping of a 61-year-old woman in April 2024 was sentenced to life in prison on Friday. Arthur Scott Jr., 37, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the rape and murder of 61-year-old Li-Chu Lin. On April 26, 2024, Columbus police discovered the remains of Li-Chu Lin on the 6000 block of Zumstein Drive. Lin was pronounced dead on scene at the Double Ten Hotel in what police described as a brutal attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said a digital forensic detective processed video surveillance throughout the hotel and saw Scott Jr. walking down the hallway, checking doors. Scott Jr. was seen leaving the hotel room after the victim was seen entering the same room. Detectives also found a hat the suspect wore in the surveillance video, along with blood on the bed. Scott Jr. was arrested during the early hours of April 27, 2024. He was found a short distance from the hotel according to police. Scott Jr. must also register as a violent offender and sex offender in addition to serving the life sentence, according to court documents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. A Stockton man was charged with attempted murder Friday, accused of setting a probation officer on fire and leaving the official with significant burns, authorities said. At 2:10 p.m. Thursday, the suspect entered the San Joaquin County adult probation office in Stockton with a lighter and a gas can, authorities said. The department's security guard activated an emergency alert upon the man's arrival, but it's unclear what exactly prompted the guard's action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Triggering the alert brought probation officers to the office in response, according to officials. Once there, they confronted and tried to detain the suspect who led them to a nearby parking lot, where a struggle ensued. Read more: He tried to burn a car and caught fire himself. Police hunt for singed arsonist During the tussle, the suspect was able to ignite the fuel, setting fire to one of the probation officers, the department wrote in a post on Facebook. The Probation Department did not respond to The Times' request for comment on how many officers were involved in the encounter. Officials were able to extinguish the flames and handcuff the suspect, identified as Adam Lopez, 39. The Stockton Police Department was contacted and took Lopez into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez was on post-release community supervision for felony possession of a firearm, records show. The probation officer suffered significant burns to his arms and was taken to a hospital for treatment, according to the department. Read more: Arson suspect chased down by residents after allegedly sparking fire near Chatsworth Reservoir The officer was then taken to UC Davis Medical Center for further treatment of his injuries, which aren't believed to be life threatening. He was still recovering at the medical facility as of Friday evening, according to Stephanie Post, public information officer for the Probation Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez was also injured and taken to a hospital for treatment, authorities said. His injuries are also not believed to be life threatening. Lopez was booked into the San Joaquin County jail and charged with attempted murder, obstructing an officer and arson, according to the department. He's scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Bakersfield police are investigating a vandalism incident that took place at a downtown Salvation Army store on Friday. Police say a suspect was walking near the business, located at 120 19 Street, and proceeded to throw a rock into the window of the business, causing it to break. The suspect is described to be last seen wearing a gray long sleeve shirt, black shorts, and black shoes. He also had on a blue hat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective W. Vining at 661-326-3592 or the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Its the video that has shocked some people in the community agents tasing a man at an Albuquerque Walmart earlier this week. ICE has confirmed the identity of that man, and KRQE has discovered he doesnt have a criminal history outside of a single arrest last month. A spokesperson for ICE says Deivi Molina-Pena was in the country illegally from Venezuela. They claim Molina-Pena fled from agents on July 7, running into the Walmart at Coors and I-40, leading to them to tase him. City Councilor Klarissa Pena was there a few hours later. People stopped her, showed her the video, and expressed their concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeing the video, I was just in there, and I could have been there with my grandchild, and for them to witness something like that would be traumatic, says Pena. She says she talked to a higher-up at Walmart, and they told her its not their policy. Immigrant organizations in New Mexico speak out on ICE deportations The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) addressed the video earlier on Friday. In this incident at the Walmart, we know they deemed the individual a threat to public safety because they had been arrested days before and had fled from officers in a motor vehicle and endangered the public, says APD Police Chief Harold Medina. ICE initially said APD arrested Molina-Pena days before this incident for DUI, resisting arrest, evading police, and obstructing an officer. Chief Medina says that wasnt his department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Albuquerque Police Department is not involved in immigration. We do not share information with them, says Chief Medina. But they do have a good relationship with federal agents. Court records show state police arrested Molina-Pena early in the morning on June 26. ICE protester says he was seriously injured by rubber bullet shot to the groin The police report says he ran from a traffic stop before stopping on Central near 47th Street. He was arrested for DUI, failure to maintain traffic lanes, no insurance, and evading an officer all misdemeanors and was released from police custody, without pretrial supervision, the same day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 13 could not find any other criminal history. Councilor Pena says the city has two goals in mind when it comes to immigration. To ensure that we have a transparent process and that we actually take peoples human dignity into account, says Pena. Chief Medina relayed a message from Homeland Security their agents should be wearing uniforms. [A] badge displaying their office, marking that indicate theyre police or ICE of some sort and that in the event that somebody has no marking, that it is a concern, and we would dispatch officers on those concerns to verify anybody who had zero markings and we urge the public to, if somebody has zero markings and theyre tkaing someobdy into cusotdy, please call us, he says. Starting next week, APD will be able to contact ICE to verify if agents are deployed in the area. As of right now, Moina-Pena is not facing any federal charges, only civil penalties for immigration violations. No word on where Molina-Pena is currently. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Whole Foods is starting a disco inferno. The supermarket claims the line to get into the bar at a hotel next door run by legendary club impresario Ian Schrager is blocking their food delivery trucks from getting into their loading bay, according to a new lawsuit. Their legal papers include photos of dressed-up club-hoppers hoping to get inside the bar at the Public Hotel that is so massive it is almost reminiscent of the throngs that gathered outside Schragers most famous venue the 1970s hot spot, Studio 54. The line of clubbers looking to enter the exclusive hotel run by Studio 54 founder Ian Schrager is accused of blocking a Whole Foods loading dock, as seen from this filed image taken by a worker at the grocer. state court exhibit The issue has gotten so bad that workers at the trendy food store on Christie Street say that wannabe patrons at the even trendier bar are making their life hell when they try to take deliveries of their high-end fare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We tell the security guards to tell people to make room for us, to let us get through with the pallets, but its a problem, a Whole Foods employee said. The people are drunk. They dont understand. Sometimes they start fights with us. They push us. They start cursing They tell us: who the hell do you think you are? Drivers have documented near-misses accidents, and the emergency exit is so mobbed by clubbers that it could result in a [sic] epic tragedy, the suit claims. The people are drunk, an anonymous Whole Foods worker told The Post. They dont understand. Sometimes they start fights with us. They push us. They start cursing They tell us: who the hell do you think you are? SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK Deliveries that took 30 minutes, now last over two hours, ticking-off vendors who threaten their own legal action due to spoilage losses, the suit states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hotels line is a mass of people completely obstructing the sidewalk and driveway, according to Whole Foods lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, which also demands a $400,000 payoff. The Whole Foods on Houston Street first opened in 2007. Bloomberg via Getty Images The hotel hit back with their own suit on Wednesday, seeking a judicial order to block Whole Foods from continuing to stop, park and double park its trucks near their property. One argument made in response to the original suit was that Whole Food didnt have a grasp on the situation, as the crowds seen in pictures filed by their lawyers in court papers werent for the bar, but for another club in the hotel, called ARTSPACE. When The Public Hotel first opened, its other neighbors complained that guests were regularly having sex in plain view from their hotel windows. Google Maps/Public Hotel An attorney for the hotel said they want to work the situation out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are looking to resolve this as good neighbors, said attorney Y. David Sharf, who represents the hotel. Sharf says that the judge declined to sign off on the restraining order Friday, giving the feuding neighbors a week to come up with a plan. At the hotels bar Thursday night the scene was no madhouse as ARTHOUSE was closed. The loading dock of Whole Foods on Chrystie Street on Thursday night, where large lines from a nearby rooftop club have previously obstructed access, according to their lawsuit. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post Nevertheless, patrons who were heading into the Public Hotels bar for a cocktail said that on nights the basement nightclub is open the long lines were a familiar sight that wrapped down the street. That line gets out of control, said Cassidy Bundy, 28, a longtime Public Hotel patron. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People dont move. They dont care. The late-night shipment will come in and people dont move. The crowd doesnt move. The sidewalk is blocked. Doug Robinson who failed to get into the Publics bar Thursday because his crypto millionaire pal was wearing shorts told The Post hes seen issues with the line blocking the store multiple times. Lucy Gaffneyboro, 19, left, Giorgia, center, and Claire, right, were not on the guest list for the rooftop party at the Public Hotel in Manhattan. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post Model Cassidy Bundy, 28, said that line gets out of control. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post People block Whole Foodss ability to execute their plan at a high level. Robinson said. The guys that are pulling stuff off their trucks are constantly having to stop their st to deal with all the patrons. The hotel should be creating a lane. Thats a start. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lucy Gaffnerboro, 19, said that the situation was unfortunate, but that the hotel is a business that also deserves to run. A FDNY worker, who declined to offer his name, said that the drunk line is worst on Friday and Saturday nights until 1 a.m. I think they do most deliveries later at night but its still an issue There are accidents waiting to happen, the first responder said. Especially when they bring out the forklifts. Doug Robbison, a digital artist, says the Public hotel should create a dedicated lane for workers loading trucks and show respect for their labor. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post Whole Foods, whose lawyer did not respond to a request for comment, ultimately wants the hotel to relocate the line towards Stanton Street, past the residents who complained of copious copulation years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the line went that way, said the FDNY worker, it would be much more manageable. Its not the first time the 376-room hotel has angered neighbors. When it first opened in 2017, low-income tenants next door complained that exhibitionist hotel guests declined to draw their curtains, forcing them to watch full-frontal fornication, according to DNAinfo. The Brief Manny Collins's mother spoke for the first time since her son's father was arrested and charged in relation to Manny's death. Manny's mother, Ashley Berry, says she is praying that Manny gets justice, and thanked law enforcement for their efforts in the search for her son. Manny's death was announced by law enforcement on July 1. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Manny Collins' mother, Ashley Berry, spoke for the first time Friday since her son's father was arrested and charged in his death. Manny Collins' mother speaks out What they're saying Manny's mother first thanked law enforcement and the community for their support and effort while her son was missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Berry says she hopes her son receives the justice that he deserves. She also expressed fond memories of Manny, saying he had an old soul and touched a lot of people throughout his life. She continued to say Manny had a girlfriend who he cared about deeply. The couple would fall asleep together while on FaceTime, Berry said. Manny Collins disappearance, death The backstory Jordan Collins Sr., 38, made his first appearance in Anoka County Court on Wednesday in the death of his son, Jordan "Manny" Collins. Collins Sr. faces a charge of second-degree murder in the case. Manny Collins' body was discovered at a landfill in Elk River weeks after his disappearance on May 8. An autopsy later determined Collins died by homicide. The criminal complaint states the autopsy "findings indicate evidence of decapitation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE: Manny Collins' father charged with murder; autopsy finds evidence of decapitation Timeline Here is a timeline of Collins' disappearance: It was, sadly, only a matter of time before a law enforcement officer got seriously hurt or killed by a leftist extremist driven mad by the second Trump administration. The scale of what happened July 4 at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center near Fort Worth, should nonetheless shock and alarm us. One Alvarado police officer was hurt, but the plot that federal prosecutors outlined is breathtaking. They allege that 12 people used fireworks and vandalism to draw ICE officers out with the intent to kill them. Perhaps only poor aim and the assailants jammed rifle saved the life of the local officer who responded to the scene. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado. Three days later, a man opened fire on a Border Patrol building in McAllen, resulting in injuries to three people. And authorities were searching for a man who appeared to fire a pistol at federal agents conducting a July 10 raid at a cannabis-growing facility in California, where officers were met by hundreds of protesters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its part of a troubling pattern that doesnt get nearly enough attention. The far left, fueled by outrage at the actual enforcement of borders and a host of other progressive grievances, is every bit the threat that the far right has been. If anything, with Donald Trump back in the White House, it might be more acute. And yet it gets far less media attention and public denunciation. To date, its been mostly property damaged, not people. Rioters in Los Angeles vandalized buildings and damaged police cruisers and driverless cars. But there were also the killings of two young adults who had the gall to be at a Jewish museum in Washington and the fiery assault on marchers in Boulder, Colorado, raising awareness of Israeli hostages; one elderly woman eventually died of her injuries. Both were perpetrated by men shouting about the Palestinian cause, another leftist favorite. And last year, a health care executive was murdered on a New York street, an attack hailed by some as a blow against corporate greed. Rarely is political rhetoric directly to blame for violence. Those who make the leap from protest or political organizing to assault or worse are responsible, not politicians aligned with their side, are to blame for their deeds. The legal bar for when speech rises to incitement is appropriately high. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats and progressive activists, however, have spent a decade warning that Trump (and by extension his followers) threaten everything from democracy itself to good dental hygiene. They have repeatedly suggested that extraordinary responses are required, and while almost none have advocated violence, some have nodded at it or condemned it primarily in terms of the political damage it might do. Many of these same Democrats regularly decry the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by deluded Trump supporters noting especially the injuries to brave law officers on the scene. What they dont seem to understand is that assaulting ICE officers and the innocent local police who sometimes support their operations is just as morally repugnant. Interfering with legitimate enforcement of the law and deportation is unquestionably that will turn off far more people than it will energize. Theres a missed opportunity here, too. Some of the Trump administrations tactics are extreme, abusive and even un-American. Only the far extremes want total deportation of those here illegally. Hard-working, law-abiding folks particularly children shouldnt be the priority. The right formula is to start with those who are dangerous and those whom the system have already declared worthy of deportation. But heres something else people inherently understand: The American door was wide open for four years under Biden, and simply closing it behind the millions who walked in isnt enough. Enforcement is always meant to send a message to potential law-breakers, too. Harsh penalties on employers would also dry up work opportunities and prevent more arrivals, but Trumps business buddies have managed to thwart that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For some on the left, its always the 1960s. Any movement that takes to the street is a righteous blow for justice, forever on the ill-defined right side of history. They dont talk as much about the second half of that story frequent left-wing bombings and other violence that stretched into the early 70s. They dont like that part, because thats how we got a resurgent Richard Nixon just as the excesses of progressivism, particularly on immigration, paved the way for Donald Trump. Do you have an opinion on this topic? Tell us! We love to hear from Texans with opinions on the news and to publish those views in the Opinion section. Letters should be no more than 150 words. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Writers should submit letters only once every 30 days. Include your name, address (including city of residence), phone number and email address, so we can contact you if we have questions. You can submit a letter to the editor two ways: Email letters@star-telegram.com (preferred). Fill out this online form. Please note: Letters will be edited for style and clarity. Publication is not guaranteed. The best letters are focused on one topic. His mother, Anat, posted on X/Twitter that "Matan's bag was returned to me this week in a black plastic bag. How and when will Matan return?" Items belonging to Matan Angrest, understood to be one of the 20 living hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, were recovered by the IDF on Friday, Angrest's family confirmed. His mother, Anat, posted on X/Twitter that "Matan's bag was returned to me this week in a black plastic bag. How and when will Matan return? Why do I have to keep receiving items that testify to his condition and not Matan himself? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They told me they found Matan's bag, and it would take two more days for it to reach me. I didn't understand what it was about. Then this bag arrived, with Matan's name in my handwriting," she told Ynet. The bag was Matan's since his childhood. Matan Angrest's abduction to Gaza "He was seriously injured in a tank on the morning of October 7, evacuated unconscious to Gaza after immense abuse," she added. "Since then, he has been undergoing interrogations, asthma attacks, severe burns, and his wounds are becoming infected by the humidity of the tunnels. "When Edan Alexander was released, we realized that we can talk about the soldiers. We must conduct tough negotiations and insist on Matan's release because of his condition." A screenshot from the Hamas propaganda video showing Gaza hostage Matan Angrest, published on March 7, 2025 (credit: SCREENSHOT/X/VIA SECTION 27A OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT) Anat also mentioned to Ynet that she hasn't cooked since her son was taken hostage. "When Matan returns, I will go back to cooking. Steaks, shakshuka, everything he loves. What I'm most looking forward to is sitting with him on Saturday morning, with the shakshuka, talking, hearing what he went through." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anat added that Matan wanted to be a soldier so much that he even "hid from the army that he had asthma." Matan's father, Haggai, claimed on Radio 103FM on Tuesday that if the information about his son's condition had been relayed, he likely would have been released in the last exchange." Early last month, the family released new footage of Matan's kidnapping to Gaza, which was filmed by a terrorist and seized by the IDF, showing Matan being pulled out of the tank in which he was thrown into a crowd of dozens of terrorists who brutally lynched him. In March, Hamas released a propaganda video, giving a sign of life of Angrest, who has been held in captivity in Gaza since October 7. Walla! contributed to this report. A federal judge has tossed Mayor Eric Adams lawsuit seeking to overrule the Campaign Finance Boards decision to withhold millions of dollars in matching funds for his re-election bid. Although a defeat legally, the ruling could prove to be a boon for Hizzoners independent bid for mayor with the Brooklyn judge slapping down the boards ability to reference his now-dismissed historic indictment as cause for withholding funds. The Boards attempt to shift the burden of proving his innocence to Mayor Adams is inappropriate and goes against the centuries-old American legal principle that presumes the criminal defendants innocence until proven guilty, wrote Judge Nicholas Garaufis. The judge in the case said the CFBs use of the indictment against Adams was inappropriate. Adams was denied taxpayer-funded matching funds for his re-election run back in December, while battling a criminal indictment for allegedly accepting bribes in the form of campaign donations and free or heavily discounted travel perks in exchange for political favors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That case was tossed after months of Adams cozying up to President Trump and those in his orbit. Judge Dale Ho noted in his dismissal that he did not rule on the merits of the case. Last December, Mayor Adams was denied matching funds for his re-election bid. Christopher Sadowski The latest ruling now requires Adams and his campaign to respond to the CFB for inquiries along with getting paperwork on time for matching funds. ZUMAPRESS.com The CFB has continued to cite the indictment as part of the basis for withholding funds, saying there was reason to believe wrongdoing had occurred. However, the latest ruling limits the board from denying funds without proof of guilt as unconstitutional. The ruling Friday now only requires the campaign to properly respond to the board for inquiries and have paperwork in on time to get matching funds. We are grateful for the Courts thoughtful decision, and knew all along that CFBs reason to know standard as applied here, was arbitrary and unconstitutional, said Adams campaign chair Frank Carone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are confident now that Mayor Adams will receive matching funds and therefore be in a position to bring his record of success for working-class New Yorkers and their families for the general election this November 4th! The boards next meeting is set for July 15, where they are expected to vote on Adams matching funds. A spokesperson for the CFB said the board will review the ruling. When she was a Miami-Dade commissioner, Daniella Levine Cava passed legislation that created a county office to help permanent visa holders in the Miami area become U.S. citizens. Now in her second term as mayor, Levine Cava has proposed eliminating the countys Office of New Americans, according to budget documents. This year, Miami-Dade faces a $402 million deficit in the $3.6 billion budget for police, jails, parks and other core services that rely on property taxes for the bulk of their funding. To close that gap, Levine Cava is preparing a package of spending cuts, layoffs and fee increases in the 2026 budget proposal shes expected to unveil Tuesday, according to planning documents the Miami Herald obtained through a public-records request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Documents show Levine Cava planning to defund some of her signature initiatives since taking office in 2020, when the one-time social worker became the countys first Democratic mayor in 16 years under the campaign slogan A Mayor Who Cares. The Office of New Americans loses funding under a broader downsizing of the countys social-services arm. Community Action and Human Services is merging with Juvenile Services, which helps rehabilitate youthful offenders. The budget documents show the two departments are set to lose a combined 62 positions once they meld into the new Community Services Department, out of the roughly 770 positions in the agencies current budgets. While the New Americans initiative got its start before she became mayor, Levine Cava made it a separate agency within Community Action. Her 2022 budget funded four positions in the office, and thats the staff in the 2025 budget, too. The offices website says its mission is to help legal immigrants with permanent visas complete their path to citizenship, and county records show that staff are expected to process roughly 2,400 requests for assistance this year. The help includes legal assistance and referrals to immigration lawyers, including support for immigrants holding legal visas but who arent on the path to citizenship. The budget documents obtained by the Herald do not show how much money Miami-Dade would save by closing the New Americans office or if Levine Cava has a plan to merge some of the functions into existing county operations. It also shows only a glimpse into the overall plan for the county budget, which is around $13 billion and includes spending plans for Miami International Airport and the water and trash systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Levine Cava spokesperson declined to clarify information in the documents the Herald obtained through the Board of County Commissioners, which has been attending budget briefings with the mayor and leaving with summaries of her proposals. In a statement this week, Levine Cava said shes not happy about the cuts shes getting ready to propose ahead of final budget votes by the commission in September. We have made difficult choices, she said. Weve looked across departments to maximize the value of every taxpayer dollar. Next week we will propose a budget that continues to deliver on the core services that residents need and deserve. Among the cuts in the budget planning documents the mayors staff circulated this week: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eliminating the Office of Innovation and Economic Development, a 17-person office dedicated to growing businesses in Miami-Dade. Its home to the county film office and a Levine Cava initiative aimed at green jobs. Cutting 37 Parks jobs that are currently staffed. The agency has a staff of roughly 2,300 people. Closing the Office of Neighborhood Safety, a Levine Cava initiative aimed at addressing gun violence with community outreach and other approaches aimed at reducing crime. Halting funding for small business Mom and Pop grants, which cost about $1 million a year. Eliminating a county office for immigrants comes as Levine Cava faces criticism from the left for her response to Gov. Ron DeSantis seizing a county airport in the Everglades for construction of a detention camp for federal immigration offenders. Environmental groups are suing Miami-Dade for not trying to use zoning rules to shutter the temporary facility known as Alligator Alcatraz. An immigrant-rights group has been buying billboard space demanding that Levine Cava file suit against DeSantis, who used emergency powers he granted himself in 2023 to mitigate what he maintains is an ongoing crisis related to illegal immigration. On Friday, Levine Cava convened a closed-door meeting with immigrant advocates to try and quell criticism of her. That includes a muted response to officers dragging a woman out of a County Commission meeting before she could speak against a cooperation agreement that Levine Cava authorized between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Miami-Dade jails. Levine Cava maintains that Florida law required her to sign the agreement. Mayor Karen Bass Signs New Executive Directive Aimed at Better Protecting Immigrants During ICE Raids originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images Friday, Mayor Karen Bass signed a new executive directive, Executive Directive No. 12, meant to strengthen city protections for immigrant communities during federal immigration raids. Bass mentioned recent incidents at MacArthur Park and in Ventura County during a news conference, stating, We saw MacArthur Park earlier this week, which I think, now after all assessments, is viewed as just a display of force. At MacArthur Park, children were attending a summer camp when militarized federal vehicles arrived to enact a sweep. The new directive requires all city departments to submit preparedness plans within two weeks. Said plans would include protocols and training for each respective department, detailing how city employees should respond if approached by federal immigration agents on city property. Bass asserted that all departments should report ICE activity to the mayor's office and have an immigrant affairs liaison. Bass claimed the directive is necessary to make sure that city workers and residents know their rights and can access city services. We want to disseminate information on city services and assistance programs for families that are impacted by federal enforcement actions, Bass stated. Even people that contract with the city- we want them to understand what their rights are. The directive came days after Bass declared legal action against the Trump administration as a result of immigration raids that she deems reckless and unconstitutional. We are a proud city of immigrants, she stated. And with the Trump administration signaling that they will ratchet up their chaotic approach, Im making sure we deploy every resource and tool available within the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The directive reinforces existing city policies, such as a 2024 ordinance that prohibits the use of city resources to assist federal immigration enforcement, and LAPD Special Order 40, which forbids police from taking action only to ascertain an individual's immigration status. The directive also establishes a working group with LAPD, the Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs, immigrant rights organizations and community leaders to establish additional guidelines for how officers should respond to immigration enforcement. To acquire records related to immigration raids, such as dates, locations, arrest reasons and the use of identifiers, Bass ordered the submission of a Freedom of Information Act request to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Bass concluded her statement by emphasizing the irony of needing to protect the city from its own federal government. I just want to repeat the irony that I am going to sign an executive directive to help the city family understand how to protect the workforce and Angelenos from our federal government, she stated. Click here for more information or to view the full directive. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared. PROVO, Utah (ABC4) Measles has been detected in wastewater in the Provo Area, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) confirmed. Officials are reminding residents to make sure that they are up to date on immunizations. While these results are not a surprise to public health officials, it does confirm that measles is circulating in Utah County and that taking precautions is necessary. DHHS reiterated that the best protection against measles is the MMR vaccine. Currently, nine Utah residents have been confirmed to have measles, and seven of those cases were in Utah County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE ABOUT MEASLES: 2 new measles cases in Utah, bringing total cases to 9 Wastewater sampling is a new and useful tool for public health, Dr. Leisha Nolen, state epidemiologist at DHHS is quoted in a press release. In this case, we know someone had measles in the Provo area around the time the sample was taken. Its possible these wastewater results simply reflect that person. The data was reported by WastewaterSCAN, a program based at Stanford University that monitors infectious diseases in wastewater systems across the country. DHHS is also working to set up wastewater monitoring sites across the state to check for measles, but its not fully functional yet. Dr. Nolen also explained that wastewater data is most useful to detect diseases in areas where no cases have been identified. When that happens, we will be able to use the data to alert clinicians in those areas to make sure they are aware someone with measles may come in for care. What is wastewater monitoring? According to Nathan LaCross, the manager of the DHHS Utah Wastewater Surveillance system, when people get sick with the measles, they can shed the virus in their feces or urine. The virus then goes into wastewater or sewer systems, and it can be detected for days to weeks in wastewater samples. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That can help DHHS identify communities where people are infected with measles, sometimes even before DHHS knows anyone is sick. Samples are collected at the water treatment plant, and so it cant be used to identify a specific person. It also cannot be traced back to households or individuals. Myths VS Facts: What health officials want you to know about the MMR vaccine Getting vaccinated According to DHHS, 90% of Utahns are vaccinated against measles. DHHS is urging those who are not vaccinated to get the MMR vaccine. Utah State Epidemiologist Leisha Nolan says that the most effective prevention against the measles is vaccination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One dose of the MMR vaccine is 93% effective against measles, while two doses are 97% effective, according to the CDC. The CDC says that although some vaccinated people may still get measles, mumps, or rubella if exposed to the viruses, their symptoms will generally be milder, and they will be less likely to spread the disease. As of July 1, 2025, a total of 1,267 confirmed measles cases were reported by 37 jurisdictions in the United States, according to the latest information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to a study conducted by the DHHS, immunization rates with specific vaccines have decreased amongst kindergarteners throughout Utah since 2014. Amelia Salmanson, a measles epidemiologist with the DHHS, told ABC4.com that anyone who is exhibiting measles symptoms or is sick should do their best to stay home and away from others. They can also call ahead when seeking care so clinics can prevent spread in their waiting rooms. What is measles? Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily through the air through coughing and sneezing. The CDC said those infected wont see symptoms appear until about a week after infection, and common symptoms include high fever, cough, and a rash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin. Measles can cause serious health complications, especially for those who are not protected through the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The measles rash appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms. It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline. They then spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. Measles in Utah Utah has largely been spared from measles cases in the last 10 years. There have only been five confirmed cases since 2015, including three in 2017. However, Utah has had a couple of scares in recent weeks after a passenger with measles traveled through the Salt Lake. While the national definition considers three or more cases as an outbreak, Utah defines an outbreak as one or more case. However, since most cases have been isolated within individual households, the DHHS is using the term Cluster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amelia Salmanson notes that the organization has been preparing for measles in Utah for at least a year and have been working to reduce measles transmission outside of the identified households. Weve been working really closely with our local health departments and our clinical partners to develop plans and processes to ensure that the transmission of measles stays ideally within kind of that immediate group, Amelia Salmanson, DHHS measles epidemiologist According to Salmanson, all of the individuals with measles are in stable condition, including the two pregnant women and one minor. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. MEBANE, N.C. (WGHP) Repairs at Graham-Mebanes water treatment plant are bringing much-needed relief for Mebane. Its a positive sign after days of water shortage caused by Tropical Storm Chantal. The city has now moved from mandatory restrictions to voluntary conservation. On Friday, businesses started welcoming customers back after a week of uncertainty. For some, the cleanup and recovery are far from over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its tough. We have 1500 square feet of backup inventory downstairs, said Teresa Dallas, with the Curious Peddler. Businesses across downtown Mebane are opening their doors again after a week of unexpected challenges and some damage. The Curious Peddler took on water twice in one week. The shops basement flooded, destroying inventory and forcing a massive cleanup. To recover, the store is now planning to host a post-flood sale on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. If you look around the store, we brought a lot of stuff up here The showroom floor is packed Weve got to unpack it and get back to normal To do that, were going to have to sell a lot of stuff, Dallas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Bright Penny Brewing, General Manager Tory Williams said its been a whirlwind 24 hours. We were shocked last night to see the change that happened pretty quickly. Everyone finding out they can shower has been a huge asset This morning, we get another alert that were down to a stage one To go from five to one overnight is awesome, Williams said. Williams said customers were ready to return as soon as the green light came. We were prepared to be a little bit longer as far as clothes. So were trying to trying to catch up now. So it ought to be a rough day for us Were obviously happy to have the city reopen and get back to business, Williams said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as they serve beers again, Bright Penny Brewing is still handing out cases of bottled water to those who need it. Other shops downtown are also open and still helping with distribution while water supply remains voluntarily conserved under Stage 1. Mebane Mayor Ed Hooks said the water treatment plant, which was submerged under six feet of floodwater, suffered extensive damage. We made tours throughout the whole city It was devastating Water makes a huge damage to anything it hits, and so we were we were quite amazed at the damage, Hooks said. Hooks said all three pumps are back up and running at the treatment plant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the city couldnt have done it without round-the-clock work from crews and support from the community. They warned us that there might be some issues once we get going and going strong Right now it is on it, and it is a very blessed day in the city of Mebane, Hooks said. Even though the restrictions are voluntary for now, the city is still asking residents to conserve where they can and encouraging people to take showers no longer than four minutes and to limit flushing of toilets by multiple uses and not to leave faucets running. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. Northwest Indiana Medicaid and environmental experts expressed concern with the impacts of the Trump Administrations megabill. President Donald Trump signed a megabill focused on tax breaks and spending cuts into law July 4, the day after a tight House roll call vote of 218-214 in favor of the bill. At its core, the packages priority is $4.5 trillion in tax breaks enacted in 2017 during Trumps first term that would expire if Congress failed to act, along with new ones. This includes allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and a $6,000 deduction for most older adults earning less than $75,000 a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres also a hefty investment, some $350 billion, in national security and Trumps deportation agenda and to help develop the Golden Dome defensive system over the U.S. To help offset the lost tax revenue, the package includes $1.2 trillion in cutbacks to Medicaid health care and food stamps, largely by imposing new work requirements, including for some parents and older people, and a major rollback of green energy tax credits. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the package will add $3.3 trillion to the deficit over the decade and 11.8 million more people will go without health coverage. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, issued a statement after last weeks House vote explaining his opposition vote. While the bill may seem beautiful to corporations and the wealthy, for a teacher in East Chicago, a nurse in Gary, the steelworker in Portage or a farmer in LaPorte County, the bill creates uncertainty and actually increases the cost of living. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I opposed this measure because I cannot in good conscience leave people behind. The Republican Majority made a decision to prioritize their elite donors and corporations, and now seniors, veterans, hard-working Americans, women, children and those yet to be born will pay with increased costs and possibly their lives, Mrvan said. The bill passed the Senate vote two days before the House vote. The Senates 50-50 tie was broken by Vice President JD Vance. U.S. Sen. Todd Young said the package includes his legislation that incentivizes R&D activity as well as leveraging private sector investment to increase affordable housing options. While I wish this legislation included additional fiscal reforms, this is a strong bill that will benefit Hoosier families and increase the security and prosperity of all Americans, Young said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Sen. Jim Banks, who voted for its passage in the Senate on Tuesday, lauded its increased funding for the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense. Im proud to support the biggest tax cut for working families in American history. This bill delivers on President Trumps promises to secure the border and strengthen our military, while also making the largest spending cut ever. Medicaid Under the federal law, states have until Jan. 1, 2027, to enforce the work requirements for Medicaid enrollees. The new law means Hoosiers 19 to 64 years old will have to work at least 80 hours per month to be eligible, according to a statement from the Indiana House Democratic Caucus. Under the law, parents of children 13 years and younger and medically frail individuals are exempt from the work requirements. But the law requires those who have to follow the work requirements to complete eligibility redeterminations twice a year, as opposed to once a year, according to the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, the Indiana Legislature passed a law that as of July 1, imposed a work or volunteer requirement of 20 hours per week, quarterly eligibility checks and monthly monitoring of internal reviews of personal information, according to the statement. Further, Indiana has a trigger law that requires Medicaid expansion to automatically begin unwinding if federal funding for Medicaid expansion drops below 90%, which means services would be reduced, according to the release. Currently, Indianas Medicaid program is funded 90% by the federal government and 10% through the cigarette tax and hospital assessment fee, said Tracey Hutchings-Goetz, a Hoosier Action organizer. The new federal Medicaid law will supersede the state Medicaid law, Hutchings-Goetz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Indiana, Childrens Health Insurance Program, Hoosier Healthwise, Healthy Indiana Plan, Hoosier Care ConnectTraditional Medicaid, MedConnect, or Medicaid for employees with disabilities, are all funded through Medicaid, according to the release. The bill cuts a trillion dollars from Medicaid through shifting the financial burden of Medicaid to states and taxpayers, according to the release. Indiana Medicaid enrollees could face cuts to services and longer waitlists due to the loss of federal funding. Even the privately insured will feel the squeeze of Medicaid cuts as hospitals and clinics will now have to eat the costs to provide uncompensated care for uninsured individuals, according to the release. At Hoosier Action, a community organization that focuses on issues like health care, leaders are deeply concerned about the megabill, and the people the organization supports are scared, Hutchings-Goetz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hutchings-Goetz said that she has heard daily from Medicaid recipients who are self-employed, chronically ill, with disabilities or parents with sick children with questions about how the bill will impact them and what they can do. In anticipation of a lapse of coverage, Hutchings-Goetz said people are considering stockpiling medications and other emergency preparedness strategies. People are trying to plan and they dont have enough information, and we dont have enough information, Hutchings-Goetz said. People are really scared. In Indiana, the Medicaid cuts will result in 12 rural hospitals closing, Hutchings-Goetz said. When that happens, people will have to travel further for care, which will lead to sicker populations and potential death, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill is going to make us sicker and poorer, and were not happy with it, Hutchings-Goetz said. Leslie Hawker, program manager for Everybody Counts Inc., said the new federal Medicaid law is devastating for everyone, as its projected that 17 million people will be kicked off Medicaid. As the uninsured go to hospitals for emergency care, Hawker said insurance costs will increase for those who have private insurance as hospitals seek to recoup the cost of caring for the uninsured, Hawker said. Its going to kill people, and for what? Who benefits by this bill? Its not the normal, everyday John Q. Public. Its people who own corporations. Its a death sentence for a lot of people, Hawker said. Environment Coupled with Medicaid changes, one former Environmental Protection Agency leader believes environmental changes will have drastic effects for U.S. citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will increase a variety of pollution threats, like emissions from power plants, from heavy-duty diesel buses and trucks, said former EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. Eventually, it will lead to early deaths, loss of work and school hours. Its a severe hit to the gains we had made in protecting public health. While the megabill was still going through the House and Senate, the EPA posted on Facebook, saying it delivers for all Americans, by eliminating hundreds of billions of dollars in Green New Deal tax credits, repealing former President Joe Biden administrations electric vehicle mandates, and opening federal lands and waters to oil, gas, coal, geothermal and mineral leasing, according to Post-Tribune archives. Shore, who led the EPAs Chicago office during Bidens presidency, said the bill is perhaps the most sweeping rollback of environmental and public health protections in modern U.S. history. The size of cuts in the EPA budget will effectively, in my opinion, eviscerate the agency, Shore said. At a time where Congress has been adding to the agencys statutory mission to protect human health and the environment, its removing the resources that would enable it to fulfill its obligations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shore is particularly worried about cuts to the agencys Office of Research and Development budget. The budget proposes a nearly 34% decrease in science and technology funding, which is about $255 million, according to a budget breakdown. Specific laboratories and research areas impacted include air and energy, sustainable and healthy communities, safe and sustainable water resources, and chemical safety for sustainability. Between the four research areas, about $204.1 million from the EPAs budget is cut in the upcoming fiscal year. Ive never worked with such a team of smart, devoted professionals who had a shared sense of mission, namely to protect public health and the environment, Shore said. It is heartbreaking to hear how they are being treated with willful cruelty, with dismissal of expertise and utter disregard for their passionate devotion to the agencys mission. Susan Thomas, director of policy and press for Just Transition Northwest Indiana, said that although the megabills passage was imminent, it doesnt make it any easier. So much has been stripped away, Thomas said. Its destruction for destructions sake. Thomas is worried about how much oil and gas companies will benefit from the megabill and how it will impact generations to come. Environmental justice communities such as those in Northwest Indiana could continue to suffer if industries are given more power. She believes public health will worsen as a result of EPA rollbacks and Medicaid cuts. An October report from Industrious Labs found that most residents in Gary are in the top 10% of U.S. residents most at-risk for developing asthma and at-risk of low life expectancy. In 2020, Indiana had a lung cancer rate of 72.5 per 100,000 people, with Lake County as one of the counties with the highest cancer mortality rates, according to the American Lung Association. A 2016 JAMA Network report also found Gary as one of the top five U.S. cities with the lowest life expectancy at one point. Weve really got to take a step in our communities and be hyperlocal, Thomas said. That will help make local progress, and when you make connections with folks, you make friendships, you make bonds, and you start to rely on each other. Its really powerful. akukulka@post-trib.com mwilkins@chicagotribune.com A key China ally with presidential ambitions in Peru traveled late last month to California to participate in a sending-off ceremony for a batch of trains donated by the Biden administration, according to reporting by Peruvian news outlets. Peruvian outlet Justo Medio reported at the time that Lima Mayor Rafael Lopez Aliaga, who is rumored to be considering a run for president of Peru in 2026, was in California late last month to discuss the transport of a batch of CalTrain locomotives, which were donated to Lima by the U.S. government under the Biden administration. Nate Picarsic and Emily de La Bruyere, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), recently published a study on Lopez Aliagas "deep" financial ties to China through his company PeruRail, which has seen its revenue rise to over $65 million per year due to increased shipments from Minera Las Bambas, a Chinese-owned joint venture counting state-owned mining giant China Minmetals as its majority backer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report alleged that China has been "cultivating" Lopez Aliaga for higher office in Peru in hopes of growing its mineral and battery supplies harvesting in South America. The report goes so far as to dub Lopez Aliaga "Chinas man in Peru." Chinese Educator With Several Ccp Ties Cozies Up To Top New York Democrats: 'Our Old Friend Who Listens' Xi Jinping (Left) and former Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Right) at a November 2024 train donation ceremony in Lima, Peru. "Chinas mining presence in Peru is a direct boon for Lopez Aliaga," the report said, giving Beijing "a powerful beachhead in Peru." Read On The Fox News App The report said, "This leaves an influential Peruvian political leader aligned with and linked to China, its resource project, and the broader Belt and Road Initiative of which it is part." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the last several years, Chinese investment in South America, and Peru especially, has significantly increased. According to NBC News, China invested $1.3 billion in a massive deepwater port in Chancay, Peru, just north of Lima. Chinese President Xi Jinping participated in the ports opening ceremony in 2024, during which he called the port the start of Chinas 21st-century maritime Silk Road, according to the outlet. Florida Ag Subpoenas Chinese Company Over 'Compromised' Medical Devices That Can Transmit Private Data Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. According to Picarsic, China has also been investing heavily in Limas infrastructure, most notably dominating its electricity industry, all of which Lopez Aliaga has been a "linchpin" piece in moving Chinese dominance forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, with Lopez Aliaga possibly entering Perus presidential race, Picarsic explained that this all "looks like a telltale sign of China's handiwork." He also called the U.S.s donation of trains to Peru "too little, too late" to combat Chinas growing influence in the region. Senators Ricketts, Fetterman Unite Against China's Quiet Invasion Of Us Farmland The coast of Lima, Peru, on Thursday, June 20, 2024. "We're coming with a donation of some number of decommissioned rail cars. But this guy, who is in cahoots with China, who's coming to take them and he's taking them back to run on Chinese rail feeding into a Chinese port, helping to move goods from a Chinese mine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken participated in a train-donation ceremony last November in Lima, Peru, where he praised the project as an opportunity to "strengthen the ties between Peru and the United States" and said the trains "are not just a symbol, but the practical manifestation of possibilities the possibilities that come when we connect to each other." "This agreement is a testament to the strength and durability of the U.S. and Perus longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship," he added. "I am so proud to have Caltrain be a member of that mutually beneficial relationship." Original article source: Meet Chinas man in Lima who jetted over to US to collect trains donated by Biden admin Megyn Kelly ripped into U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday, blaming her for the growing discord over the Trump administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. The former Fox News anchor characterized the backlash as the first big scandal for President Donald Trump at least for those on the right. This is the first big scandal, Id say, of the Trump administration thats on Team Rational, Kelly said, speaking on stage alongside MAGA personality Charlie Kirk at a Tampa event for Kirks organization, Turning Point USA. Its not a fake media scandal like the left tries to create for President Trump every other day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public backlash began brewing this week after the Department of Justice and FBI released a memo announcing they had found no evidence that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, kept a client list or blackmailed influential people. The agencies also said there was no evidence that Epstein, whose 2019 death behind bars was ruled a suicide, was murdered. The memo came months after Bondi had seemed to confirm the existence of an Epstein client list. Its sitting on my desk right now to review, she said on Fox News in February. On Friday, Kelly asked the crowd to make some noise if you care about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. She was met with wild cheers from the attendees of the event, which was geared towards young conservatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly suggested that Trump was not at fault for the controversy, speculating that the issue hasnt captured his attention quite yet. Ive gotta be honest, Kelly told the crowd. I blame Pam Bondi. Megyn Kelly, left, blamed Attorney General Pam Bondi for "scandal" over the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. AP/Evan Vucci and AP/Mariam Zhuhai After stating that she has nothing against Bondi as a human being, Kelly continued, She is the reason that things are unraveling around this story right now that virtually all of the Republican party cares deeply about. She then accused Bondi of trying to tease the public with juicy promises about the Epstein files. She has never missed an opportunity to go on television and dangle sweet nothings that might be coming your way. Try to lead you to believe that shes got it, its on her desk, its coming tomorrow, youre gonna see something on Epstein, Kelly said. And it was a tease. So you either believe that Pam Bondi was telling the truth then or that shes telling the truth now. But both cannot be true. Megyn Kelly says the way the DOJ and Pam Bondi have handled the Epstein matter is the first big scandal of the Trump administration. Megyn Kelly on Attorney General Pam Bondi: She has never missed an opportunity to go on television and dangle sweet nothings that might be pic.twitter.com/jhKzq8Dbyd Yashar Ali (@yashar) July 12, 2025 Related... Jul. 11As Ruidoso weathers the storm after a historic flash flood raised the namesake river's crest to 20 feet on Tuesday afternoon, National Weather Service officials say there may be more to come as monsoon season continues. Past wildfires have impacted the area around Ruidoso, leaving it vulnerable to floods. Areas downhill or downstream from burn scars are more susceptible to flash flooding and, with wildfire-damaged soil not soaking it up as well, water can quickly and dangerously flow through the village. "We typically say it only takes maybe a quarter to a half an inch of rainfall over a burn scar to create flooding issues," said NWS meteorologist Todd Shoemake. "Lots of heavy rainfall developed on Tuesday, so that was really the very worst case." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With more rain on the way this weekend, Shoemake said, "Yes, this is an ongoing threat through the rest of the monsoon season into September." He said there is a possibility the village could see similar flooding to Tuesday, which left three people dead and hundreds of homes damaged. The flooding also compromised public water systems in the area, with officials on Friday asking residents in certain areas to boil drinking water as a precaution. This weekend, NWS expects scattered storms in Ruidoso, with an increase in moisture from Saturday through Monday. "The other complication with that is a lot of the storms will probably be moving pretty slowly, much like they were this past Tuesday," Shoemake said. "The slower the storms move, the more time the storm has to drop that much more rainfall onto a particular area." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shoemake said it takes roughly three to five years for burn scars to recover and regrow vegetation that can absorb rainfall. Storms on Tuesday dumped heavy rain from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. over the Sierra Blanca mountains, just west of Ruidoso. As a result, the Rio Ruidoso crested at 20 feet. The previous record high which happened in 2024 was 15 feet. In the last year, Shoemake said NWS has issued more than 24 flash flood warnings and eight flash flood emergencies for Ruidoso. "We reserve those flash flood emergencies for when there's an almost imminent and catastrophic event going on," he said. Flood debris, like trees and logs moving down the river, is "a big concern" and "a wild card" that can impact how much rain the village of Ruidoso can handle, Shoemake said. A Weather Service hydrologist is currently in Ruidoso assessing the damage in order to give the agency a better idea of what impacts Ruidoso can expect from flooding going forward. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Cell phone use will be banned during the school day in Missouri next school year, as districts across the state are directed to put in new polices after Governor Mike Kehoe signed a bill this week. In the metro, the Blue Springs School District sent a letter to families alerting them that students will not be allowed to use their electronic communication devices during the school day. While the law aims to reduce distractions, improve academic focus, and enhance student well-being, we understand that not every family or student will see this as a welcome change, the districts letter reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students will not be allowed to use their phones during the school day. Some Kansas City-area events canceled due to storms expected Friday The school day mentioned also includes lunchtime and passing periods. Phones must be turned off and stored away. Unauthorized use may lead to disciplinary action. However, Blue Spring Schools did say that there are exceptions, including emergencies and medical-related circumstances. This goes for all public and charter schools across Missouri. Honestly, if Missouri is trying to better their school education system by not having telephones there, Im all for it, all for it, said a parent in the Independence School District, Krystal Neenan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neenan has a freshman and a first grader in the Independence School District. Shes all for no cell phones at school. I honestly think that kids, when theyre in school, should be focused on the education, and not on the distraction of a cell phone, she said. I also understand the need for a safety component to that, as well. Like being in contact with your kid 24/7, as well. Like, with the school shootings and all of that. That makes me think that there is a reason for kids to have their phones in school. Joes Blog: Storms and cold fronts (FRI-7/11) Shain Bergan, the spokesperson for Kansas City Public Schools, said on Friday that theyre working to gather feedback as to how they can better serve their students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been seeking feedback and carrying out a productive dialogue with our community regarding how best to craft a new policy in a way that is cooperative with our community while fulfilling state law, including a comprehensive ongoing survey and direct meetings with stakeholders. In Lees Summit, Lees Summit R-7 released the following statement: The Lees Summit R-7 School District revised its cell phone policy in January after a series of community engagement with students, parents, staff and other community members. This policy removed cell phones from the classroom K-12 but allowed cell phone use in the lunchroom and passing periods for high school students. We have drafted an update to our policy to address the requirements written in Senate Bill 68 and it will be implemented before the state deadline. Additionally, Park Hill K-12 said that theyve been working on the issue since last school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for checking in. In Park Hill, weve been communicating about this with our families since last spring, a spokesperson for the district said. In May, we sent information to our families about our new cell phone policy at the high school level. Im copying our communication below. Given the legislative action at the state level, we will be following the guidance of no cell phone usage during the school day. Lastly, the Raytown School District says that cell phone use during the school day was already prohibited in their schools The use of cell phones is already prohibited and outlined in the student handbook, a spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well be sending communication out to families soon letting them know about the new law and reminding them of the policy. Again, these policies must be implemented for all Missouri Public and Charter schools starting this school year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. SAN SALVADOR (AP) Mexico's government clarified there was no indication that an airplane it intercepted loaded with cocaine had originated from El Salvador, according to a letter posted by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. The letter, posted on the social media platform X by the populist leader, comes after a diplomatic drama broke out between Bukele and Mexican officials when Mexico's security chief said authorities believed that a plane had come from El Salvador. The assertions riled up Bukele, who recalled El Salvador's ambassador to Mexico and demanded a correction from the Mexican government. Bukele has staked much of his popularity on his hard-handed crackdown on crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He responded to the assertion the word FALSE on a post on X, that went on to detail the planes alleged flight path. Bukele also pointed out that the three men arrested with the plane were Mexican citizens. Mexico's security chief Omar Garcia Harfuch had backed away from his original statement that the plane originated in El Salvador, to later say that Mexican authorities picked up the plane on radar as it was passing the Salvadoran capital, albeit well out to sea. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday she would not engage in a dispute with her Salvadoran counterpart. On Friday, the letter posted by Bukele - apparently written by Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Relations to the Salvadoran Embassy - clarified that there was no clear evidence the flight had originated from the Central American nation nor that anyone in the country was linked to the incident. The letter, dated July 11, offers to respond to any other questions that may arise on the topic to preserve the relationship between the two countries and said it hopes to strengthen the exchange of information to avoid similar situations in the future. Bukele said he appreciated the clarification. El Salvador's presidential office did not confirm if the country would send its ambassador back to Mexico, noting that the president will decide. Protesters gathered near the shore on Mackinac Island in opposition to the Line 5 tunnel project during the annual Mackinac Policy Conference, May 29, 2025. | Kyle Davidson This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. Groups submitting comments on the latest stage of the Line 5 oil pipeline project in Michigan argue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has failed to complete adequate analyses of climate change impacts and greenhouse gas emissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 30, the Corps Detroit district released its draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Enbridge Energy Line 5 Tunnel Project, in which energy company Enbridge would construct a 3.6-mile tunnel under the lakebed of the Straits of Mackinac that would house a replacement segment of Line 5, through which Enbridge transports 540,000 barrels per day of oil and natural gas liquids. However, experts from the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) and the Michigan Climate Action Network (MiCAN), which submitted joint comments on the project on June 30, argue that the draft EIS is inadequate, failing to take climate change into consideration and overlooking potential harms of the project. The biggest thing is that the Corps decided to entirely exclude any considerations of greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts that are associated with the tunnel project, and their reasoning for doing this was that its consistent with the executive order that President Trump issued earlier this year, said Ellis Walton, an associate attorney at ELPC. ELPC argued that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires a deeper review than the Corps completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEPA the statute, as well as NEPA precedent has established that federal agencies should be looking at foreseeable effects of major federal actions, and its pretty foreseeable that a tunnel project that extends the lifeline of [an oil] pipeline would have foreseeable climate impacts and foreseeably contribute to greenhouse gases and climate change, Walton said. Its so important for the Corps to analyze these climate impacts and understand how we may be harming environmental quality now as well as in the future. The country is in a moment of rapid upending of environmental rules that experts warn will harm Americans health and limit public participation in government decisions. Some of the changes affect NEPA, passed in 1970 and often called the Magna Carta of U.S. environmental law. Changes to NEPA rules were issued in late June by agencies including the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, Interior, Defense and Transportation to simplify this overly burdensome process and ensure efficient and timely environmental reviews, the White House said in a statement at the time. That comes on the heels of a May 29 U.S. Supreme Court decision that gives the federal government more power to decide what to focus on in a NEPA reviewand what to leave out. Courts should afford substantial deference and should not micromanage those agency choices so long as they fall within a broad zone of reasonableness, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh wrote. Keele and Walton said their groups are still reviewing the changes, but both expressed confidence that earlier precedents on NEPA will provide stable grounds for arguing against the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enbridge spokesperson Ryan Duffy said the company supports and welcomes the public comment process now underway. Public and stakeholder input is essential to the integrity of this process, and we look forward to hearing feedback, answering questions, and continuing to engage transparently with all interested parties, Duffy said in a statement. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said that the project is part of the Trump administrations promise to unleash American energy to promote the economy and security while protecting natural resources. Line 5 is great for families in Michigan and Wisconsin, who benefit from quality jobs within the energy industry and lower costs from expanded pipelines, Kelly said in a statement. In comments to Inside Climate News, the Corps reiterated that it removed the topics of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change from the draft EIS in accordance with the executive orders. The Corps has said since 2023 that it would not evaluate climate impacts from the extraction and use of the pipelines products in its EIS of the Line 5 project. Although it initially said it would evaluate emissions from tunnel construction and operation, no such evaluation appears in the current draft EIS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that draft, the agency says greenhouse gas emissions, climate change and environmental justice are Not Applicable for the draft EIS because of Trumps Jan. 20 Unleashing American Energy executive order and his move to rescind executive orders signed by Democratic presidents. In the Corps executive summary of the draft EIS, the terms climate change and greenhouse gas emissions do not appear at all (although the term emissions is included, in each case related to local air quality). Denise Keele, executive director of MiCAN, said her group argues that the energy crisis cited in Trumps executive order is not a true emergency. The last time we checked, our fossil fuel industry was making record profits, and I dont think theres an emergency in getting fossil fuels out of the ground, Keele said, adding that the real emergency is the potential impacts of climate change on human health and the environment that could result if the project is constructed. The Corps also cited Trumps order in April when announcing a truncated timeline for public comment on the project and its draft EIS, giving groups less time to review the statement and submit robust comments on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The normal comment period is 60 days, and for a project this big it is usually extended up to 90, Keele said. In this case, the period was 30 days. The Line 5 tunnel project has been under scrutiny from lawmakers, environmentalists and tribes in the Great Lakes region for over a decade. In 2020, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered the Department of Natural Resources to revoke the permit allowing Enbridge to operate its dual pipelines in the Straits. Enbridge challenged that decision with a lawsuit filed the same year. Attorneys for the state are still seeking to dismiss the challenge. Another ongoing case, filed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in 2019 against Enbridge, argues the 1953 permit for Line 5 was never valid. On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would take up the case to determine whether it belongs in state or federal court. Duffy said Enbridge is looking forward to the high courts review. Keele said another concern is the precedent that the project could set should it move forward. If the project is approved without proper analyses of climate change, other companies may have more leeway to cite the project and executive order as reasons for why NEPA considerations arent necessary, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Keele said, Michigan has been prioritizing a renewable energy economyit set a goal to generate 60 percent of state electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Moving forward with Line 5, she said, would go against the states efforts to phase out fossil fuels. Michigan already knows it doesnt want to suffer those climate impacts, and were moving in the other direction, Keele said. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is suing a construction company, accusing it and its owner of ripping off customers in multiple counties for accepting and keeping deposits for construction projects that were never started. The Department of Attorney General filed suit against Hummingbird Construction Co., LLC, and its owner, Matthew Ashline, earlier this week, claiming that the actions of the company violated the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. Ashline is accused of collecting deposits from customers in Eaton, Monroe, St. Clair, and Washtenaw counties to begin working on various construction projects and never doing so. In multiple cases, he is accused of delaying or failing to return deposits to customers despite repeated requests, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the cases mentioned in the lawsuit saw a customer, needing roof and porch repairs, allegedly pay an $8,000 deposit in June 2024 for work that never began. They were refunded months later after filing a police complaint. Another case from February 2025 had a customer allegedly pay a $7,000 deposit for a roof replacement, but the work was never started, and his deposit had not been returned. Others paid $5,000 in January and April 2025 for porch and roof work that was never followed through on, according to the lawsuit. Additionally, the lawsuit states that the company received $162,000 in deposits this year to construct a new home, a project that was repeatedly delayed with no refund to date. You can read the full lawsuit here. Nessel recommends that you should carefully vet contractors and home improvement companies before signing with them, and says you should do the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do not fall for high-pressure sales tactics Ask to see a contractors license and insurance Check to see if a contractors license has been suspended or revoked Get multiple estimates and compare them Demand a written contract, read all the small print, and take note of arbitration clauses Make sure you have the required permits Keep yourself informed with the Better Business Bureau Pay as the job is completed through several deposits, and use a credit card that offers fraud protection. Avoid using cash. If you have had similar experiences with Himmingbird Construction or another company, you can fill out an online complaint form here or reach out to the Department of Attorney General at 517-335-7599. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. After a flash flood killed dozens of children attending summer camp in Texas, Michigan camp leaders want to remind worried parents that safety is always their priority. The flood happened early morning on July 4, when heavy rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rise at a deadly speed. The death toll for Kerr County, Texas, is 120 people and counting, according to USA TODAY. Of those deaths, 27 are children and counselors from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian sleepaway camp located on the banks of the river. Summer camp is a beloved tradition for many families, and a sacred coming of age ritual for children and young adults. To continue that legacy, camp leaders in Michigan say that safety must be a priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jill Laidlaw worked for Camp Cavell in Lexington for 37 years. Laidlaw often played out emergency scenarios in her head when she was a camp director. When she heard about the tragedy at Camp Mystic, she said she immediately thought about what the young camp counselors tried to do to keep the kids safe. "(They were) probably trying to put the kids up on the top bunks, thinking it was going to just be a small flood, and somebody would come and help them, and then realized that they were going to have to try and get those kids out," said Laidlaw. Laidlaw said that thinking about it keeps her up at night. "I'm having a hard time dealing with it," she said, " I don't think we'll ever know the stories." When disaster strikes, camps are ready Laidlaw said any emergencies she experienced as a camp director were nowhere near as devastating as what happened at Camp Mystic. But there were instances that challenged the staff. One time, Laidlaw said, the camp lost power for three days while hosting 200 children living with muscular dystrophy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We had to deal with electric (wheel)chairs, trying to charge them," Laidlaw said. "It was quite the challenge to keep them there when that would happen." She said fire trucks would come to the campsite and hook up extension cords to their generators. The trucks would charge five electric wheelchairs at a time, and keep the kids entertained while they charged. Laidlaw said Camp Cavell was accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and practiced safety protocols at the start of each one-week session; they were most prepared for fires and storms. ACA accreditation is optional, she said. But all camps in Michigan are required to meet Michigan Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) safety regulations to obtain a license from the state. According to Michigan law, some of those regulations include providing written procedures for emergencies with disasters (weather, fire, lost camper), posting evacuation routes visibly in every "camper-occupied" building, in more than one room, and performing fire safety orientation within 48 hours of a new session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Latitia McCree-Thomas, senior vice president of communications and marketing for the YMCA of Metro Detroit, said the camp is well prepared to know what to do and where to go in case of emergency. YMCA of Metro Detroit is also ACA-accredited. "We actually do drills every week with the staff and the campers so they know exactly where to go during any severe weather or emergencies," McCree-Thomas said. "We have staff that are constantly monitoring the weather as well, and all employees know the evacuation plan and proper routes." McCree-Thomas said there are alternate evacuation locations to go to, in case the original spots are destroyed or blocked-off. She also said children are accompanied by adults at all times during camp, highlighting that safety is the No. 1 priority for YCMA. In a written response to the floods in Texas, the president and CEO of the American Youth Foundation an organization that owns summer camps Liz Marshall said that safety is also at the forefront of what all of their camps do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: MI school district budgets precarious as feds sit on $160M, state misses deadline "This tragedy hits hard for those of us who dedicate our lives to creating safe, joyful summer experiences for young people," Marshall wrote. She also wrote that their Michigan camp, Miniwanca, collaborates with local emergency responders to create and practice safety protocols in addition to having staff trained in CPR, first aid and crisis communication. The camp also monitors the weather closely and ensures that evacuation routes are "clearly identified" for campers and staff. For programs at Miniwanca that travel, leaders always have a trackable device like a cellphone, satellite phone or GPS locator. What parents can do McCree said the YMCA of Metro Detroit has received phone calls from worried parents after the deadly flood in Texas. And asking questions is exactly what parents should do, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Michigan school district agrees to end seclusion after DOJ probe, Free Press investigation "When you sign your children up for any program, ask what their safety protocols are," she said. "Make sure you're comfortable with the processes and then also make sure your child is aware of what they are." McCree suggests parents ask whether their camp is accredited by the ACA something that isn't required but adds extra levels of safety. Henry DeHart, interim president and CEO for the ACA, wrote in an email to the Free Press that ACA accreditation acts as an "educational framework" for the health and safety standards for summer camps often going "beyond what state laws require." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of those requirements require specific health and safety training for camp staff members, and thorough documented plans and frequent rehearsal for emergency situations for staff and campers. DeHart wrote that Camp Mystic in Texas is not accredited by the ACA. Laidlaw said that even with the added regulations from the ACA, there's no way to plan for every possible situation. "No matter what kind of protocols they had there, I can't imagine they had anything that could have dealt with something so quick," said Laidlaw. DeHart wrote that the ACA is providing financial support to the cause and mental health services are available to neighboring camps in Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We recognize that tragedies anywhere can heighten anxieties everywhere. We encourage open, ongoing dialogue between camps and families, and we stand ready to support camp professionals as they navigate these difficult conversations with compassion and clarity," DeHart wrote. Contact Emma George-Griffin: EGeoreGriffin@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Camps continue to prioritize safety after Texas flash floods A canoe built using traditional Micronesian techniques has made its maiden voyage up the River Foyle. The 8ft (2.34m) canoe was made from a tree felled at the Brook Hall Estate in Londonderry during a winter storm. It was carved in just nine days by a team from the University of Guam Island Wisdom Micronesian Seafaring Programme. "I have had the pleasure of watching these master carvers turn what was a log into a canoe," David Gilliland from Brook Hall Estate told BBC News NI. The tree used to carve the canoe came down during a winter storm [BBC] Master navigator, Dr Melissa Taitano, one of the team of boat builders, said the Brook Hall Canoe Building and Research Project had taken shape over more than two decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twenty-two years ago and then a student, she said she "had an amazing and inspirational teacher, Prof Anne Gilliland, who is an OG Derry girl". Raised at Brook Hall, Prof Gilliland now teaches at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), specialising in the displacement of cultures. The canoe was finished in just nine days [BBC] Two years ago, her son Tanner, a sculptor and woodworker, formed a friendship with a Micronesian boat builder while on a visit to Hawaii. They pledged to some day bring Micronesia's canoe building traditions to Northern Ireland's north west. When the tree came down at the Derry estate last winter, Prof Gilliland's nephew David gifted it to the group of traditional Micronesian boatbuilders. The team of canoe makers had not worked with many of the materials before [BBC] "We started the planning process, things came together, we were able to gain the funding for it and so here we are," Dr Taitano said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arriving on 24 June, the team Dr Taitano, Larry Raigetal, James Beiuweilish and Willison Yarofaitir set to work. Finishing in nine days, Dr Taitano said, may be a record. "At home it takes us two months," she said, adding that culturally the building of a canoe holds a deep significance. "We believe the trees and all of nature carry spirit, and they are the spirit of our ancestors. We take the life of a tree but give it new life by transforming it into a canoe that helps to sustain the community. "Canoe culture is sustainable culture," she said. Prof Anne Gilliland is originally from Derry [BBC] Micronesia consists of some 600 islands in the Western Pacific. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prof Anne Gilliland said those islands are among the most at risk anywhere in the world because of climate change. For the Micronesian people, she added, that poses "an existential risk". "As navigators they are aware of the tides, the winds, the movements of the fish and the sea creatures - these are all changing," she said. The canoe is held together by traditional bindings [BBC] "They have really ancient knowledge that our western scientists don't have and that they can bring to bear on what's happening." She said the canoe project had shown how people must adapt to changes in the environment. When the boat builders came to Derry, she said, they had to work with materials they had never used before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We had no idea what would happen that is exactly what we have to take into account as the climate changes," she said. The canoe had its maiden voyage on the Foyle River on Friday [BBC] Prof Gilliland added: "How are we going to adapt to a future, without losing our past and identities? "This is a little capsule that talks about that and the importance of how you build bonds between communities and how they take us into the future." Willison Yarofaitir paddled the canoe on its maiden voyage [BBC] It was Willison Yarofaitir who paddled the canoe from Brook Hall to the Peace Bridge on Friday. "It was amazing. I am really happy, feeling great for the families that invited us to carve this canoe," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor of Derry and Strabane Ruairi McHugh said the canoe was a "powerful symbol of connection between the ancient city of Derry and the islands of Micronesia." MORGANTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Morganton Public Safety is searching for someone accused of vandalizing property on multiple streets early Saturday morning. Police say the person went through West Union, South King and West Meeting Streets between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Pictures from the scenes show damaged flags, trampled flower beds, and busted landscaping lights. Courtesy of Morganton Public Safety If you have any damage to your property or have video footage from that time frame, police are asking you to contact Sgt. Belanger at jbelanger@morgantonps.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The Brief A Milwaukee woman was sentenced to prison, convicted of driving drunk and killing one person and injuring another. Stephanie Sykes was in court for her sentencing on Friday, July 11. The 2024 hit-and-run crash killed 20-year-old Talise Dunmore and injured her 23-year-old sister, De-Lisha Dunmore. MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee woman accused and convicted of driving drunk when she struck two sisters killing one, injuring the other was sentenced to prison on Friday, July 11, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 35-year-old Stephanie Sykes was sentenced to 28 years in prison and 18 years of extended supervision. Sykes was initially charged with the following felonies: Homicide by Intoxicated Use of Vehicle (While having Prior Intoxicant-Related Conviction/ Revocation) Homicide by Use of Vehicle with a Prohibited Alcohol Concentration (While having Prior Intoxicant-Related Conviction/Revocation) Hit and Run Resulting in Death OWI Causing Injury (While having Prior Intoxicant-Related Conviction/ Revocation) Prohibited Alcohol Concentration (While having Prior Intoxicant-Related Conviction/ Revocation) Hit and Run Involving Injury Stephanie Sykes in court on July 11, 2025 FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in April 2025, Sykes pleaded guilty to counts 1, 3, 4, and 6. Following plea negotiations and on the prosecutor's motion, the court dismissed counts 2 and 5. What's next A restitution hearing is scheduled for Sep. 5, 2025. The backstory Prosecutors charged 34-year-old Stephanie Sykes in the case. The crash killed 20-year-old Talise Dunmore and injured her 23-year-old sister, De-Lisha Dunmore. According to a criminal complaint, officers arrived at the scene near 76th and Good Hope shortly after midnight on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. Two witnesses told police they saw a white car speeding down 76th Street. One witness saw the car hit two pedestrians, while the other witness "heard a loud sound" and looked up to see two pedestrians had been hit. Both witnesses said the white car did not stop. One of the witnesses followed the white car, and took a picture of its license plate, before driving back to the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talise Dunmore, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene. The complaint states an autopsy ruled her preliminary cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. The medical examiner's office said the car that hit Dunmore was traveling approximately 80 mph and three the woman 50-to-75 feet. De-Lisha Dunmore Talise Dunmore "Her future was bright, and it was taken away from her," said Jennifer Potts, Talise's former teacher at Center Street Nail Tech Academy. Prosecutors said De-Lisha Dunmore, 23, was taken to a hospital and later spoke to investigators. She said she lost consciousness when they were hit and could not remember any details about the crash. She is now recovering at home with broken bones. "It's devastating, especially when you realize that someone actually died," said Ald. Larressa Taylor, who represents the district where the hit-and-run took place. "I'd like to really introduce something so that we can reduce the number of fatalities that we're having." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Milwaukee Fire Department lieutenant told police he saw a white car with extensive front-end damage stopped on the side of 76th Street, per the complaint. It had the same license plate as the vehicle the witness took a photo of. The lieutenant saw a woman get out of the driver's seat and get into the front passenger's seat of a black vehicle that had parked near the white car. The lieutenant took photos of the car and the woman. The complaint states officers arrested that woman, since identified as Sykes, around 2:30 a.m. She was taken to the District 4 police station and put through field sobriety tests, during which Sykes said: "I can't do this." She refused to submit a blood test, but a search warrant was obtained, and a sample was collected. The blood kit was sent to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, where a toxicologist reported a blood alcohol concentration of 0.081 just over the legal limit. In an interview, prosecutors said Sykes told a detective she "blacked out" and was "going in and out" but got better at the police station. She had started drinking beers around 7 p.m. on Saturday when someone brought tequila, and they started "doing shot after shot." She believed she drank two or three beers and had five double shots of tequila. She identified the white car seen in the photos as hers, and herself as the woman seen getting out of the vehicle. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A review of Skyes' driving record showed four prior operating while intoxicated convictions, per the complaint the most recent in August 2012. At the time of the fatal hit-and-run, she had a license restriction in effect: "No operation with alcohol level more than 0.02." "Four times is way too many," said Taylor. "That life could have been saved at least in respect to that drunk driver had we implemented something that would have kept them off the road." The Source FOX6 has previously reported on the hit-and-run with information from the criminal complaint. Court and sentencing information is publicly available on the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website. The Brief A 4-year-old boy was shot and killed in Milwaukee on Thursday night. Police arrested two people, one of whom is suspected of intentional homicide. The community came together to pause and pray on Friday night. MILWAUKEE - A 4-year-old boy was shot and killed in Milwaukee on Thursday night. Police arrested two people, one of whom is suspected of first-degree intentional homicide. Child dead What we know It unfolded at an apartment near 75th Street and Northridge Lakes, just north of Brown Deer Road. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim as Ralph Taylor III. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Milwaukee police records show two people were arrested at the address where the shooting took place. A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide, and a 33-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting a felon. Scene near 75th and Northridge Lakes What we don't know Those two people have not been identified, but public records show they share a last name with the 4-year-old victim. Police said they are still investigating the boy's death and would not say whether the shooting was intentional or accidental. However, the medical examiner listed the preliminary manner of death as homicide. What's next Criminal charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office. Neighbor reacts What they're saying Neighbor Tangella Williams said she was outside with her kids when she heard a gunshot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We all heard a gunshot. And my mommy instinct hit, and Im like: Everybody get in the house. I was outside cussing, Get the **** in the house," she said. Then, Williams said she heard her neighbor: "The mom, she was screaming: My baby, my baby, my baby." SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Williams said she and two others rushed into the apartment to help. She said the performed CPR, but the boy was "just laying there lifeless." "He had a hole in the back of his head. The hole was in the back of this babys head," Williams said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the neighbor then came by and asked Williams to watch her purse. "I told the officers: She gave me her purse. Can you take this? There might be a handgun in it. There was," added Williams. Williams described the 4-year-old as "the sweetest kid ever, just a sweetheart." Emergency Prayer Gathering Local perspective Dozens of people came together at The Crossover Center, just around the corner from where the boy was shot. It offered the community time to pause and pray. "I got a 4-year-old son, and it made me go home and love him and wrap my arms around him," said Pastor Parris Hibbler. "This has hit the city very differently, so it caused me to reflect and be grateful, but also to reach out." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aside from groups gathering in prayer, members of violence prevention group 414Life came in hopes of healing the neighborhood. "It's disheartening. You never want to hear or witness a tragedy that has anything to do with our young people," said David Sinclair, an outreach supervisor with 414Life. "It's really important when situations like this happen that people in the community, and families, are putting their arms around each other." Official statements What they're saying Milwaukee Ald. Larresa Taylor, who represents the district where the shooting took place, released the following statement: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is deeply upsetting that yet again the 9th District has been struck with a tragic, gun-related death. This time the victim was a 4-year-old child. A child who had their whole life in front of them. These incidents shake our community to the core, and many are devastated by this most recent loss. "I, and many others, continue to be angry and frustrated by these incidents because they are wholly preventable. Be smart and be safe. Gun safety is a must. Use a gun lock. Properly store your guns, especially when children are present. And perhaps most importantly, seek alternative options before you reach for a gun to resolve a conflict. There are countless resources available including local organizations like the citys Office of Community Wellness and Safety, Safe and Sound, representatives from 414Life and Promise Keepers, in addition to the Milwaukee Police Department. "There are ways to protect and support our community, and working together is one of them. To that end, I want to thank local Pastor Parris Hibbler for organizing an emergency community prayer and support event for those impacted in the area. "We must come together so as a city we can rise above, and be better than the gun violence we see far too often. In this moment, lets support the parents and family of the 4-year-old whose life was cut short yesterday, and lets be part of the solution. We are always better together." The Source FOX6 News referenced information from the Milwaukee Police Department about the shooting and interviewed people for this report. Ald. Taylor's office provided a statement. The Brief The Minnesota Task Force 1 K-9 unit will assist flood recovery efforts in Texas. The search and rescue team is trained in assisting with structural collapse, heavy rescue, wide-area search, trench rescue, confined space rescue, rope rescue and advanced medical care. Almost 130 people are reported dead, with more than 170 people missing. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota Task Force 1, a K-9 unit trained to respond to a variety of rescue situations, will assist Texas with flood recovery efforts. A member of Minnesota Task Force 1 team with a K-9 (photo courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety). (Supplied) Minnesota assisting in Texas flood recovery Big picture view State officials say Minnesota Task Force 1 is a search and rescue team that is trained in assisting with structural collapse, heavy rescue, wide-area search, trench rescue, confined space rescue, rope rescue and advanced medical care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team is equipped for 24-hour operations, allowing it to "work in any disaster area, including those with little or no infrastructure", according to the Minnesota Governor's Office. The aid is being provided through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, or EMAC, which is a mutual aid agreement between all 50 states. EMAC responses are coordinated through Minnesota's Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management. READ MORE: Pres. Trump, first lady tour Texas flood damage: 'Hard to believe the devastation' What they're saying Minnesota Governor Tim Walz shared the following statement on the operation: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In the wake of unprecedented flooding, communities in Texas are dealing with heartbreaking loss and destruction. As search and recovery missions continue, Im incredibly grateful to our Minnesota Task Force 1 K-9 Unit for stepping up and traveling to assist our neighbors in this time of tragedy. We know their heroic work will make a difference." The backstory The current death toll from the flooding in Texas is 129 people as of Saturday, with more than 170 people still missing. Heavy rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rise more than 26 feet in less than an hour on July 4. What you can do Visit go.fox/txfloodrelief to support the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. READ MORE: FOX viewers donate over $5M to Texas flood victims: How you can help The Source This story uses information shared by the Office of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. 10 teenagers were among the 200 detained [CBP] Farm workers were badly injured after an immigration raid at a California marijuana farm, during which about 200 people including 10 minors were detained, according to a union. "The UFW can confirm farm workers were critically injured yesterday during chaotic raids in Ventura County, California. Others, including US citizens remain totally unaccounted for," United Farm Workers said in a statement Friday night. The union reported one death among the workers at first, but then said the death was not confirmed. Clashes erupted outside Glass House farm in Camarillo on Thursday as protesters confronted federal agents in an attempt to stop the raid. Tear gas was fired at protesters, and National Guard troops with guns and gas masks tried to keep demonstrators from accessing the indoor farm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal officials said a protester fired what looked like a pistol at federal agents. It's not clear where the juveniles are from, but Customs and Border Protection boss Rodney Scott said the youngest was aged 14. Protesters film a line of National Guard troops in California farmland [Getty Images] "Here's some breaking news: 10 juveniles were found at this marijuana facility - all illegal aliens, 8 of them unaccompanied," he wrote on X on Friday. "It's now under investigation for child labor violations." The age of the person who died was not reported. Protesters streamed the clashes live, with one video showing a teenage boy crying that his mother had been taken. US officials shared a video of what looks like a man firing a weapon at federal agents and have offered a $50,000 reward to help them find and convict the suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal officers "rescued at least 10 migrant children from what looks like exploitation, forced child labor, and potentially human trafficking or smuggling," Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "During the operation, a violent agitator fired a gun at our brave officers." Marijuana is legal and regulated in California this enforcement was about the workers, not the product. Tear gas was fried to try and disperse protesters [Getty Images] Two Glass House marijuana farms were raided simultaneously in Camarillo and Carpinteria both along California's central coast farmland north of Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glass House said in a statement posted to X that it complied with immigration officers. "Workers were detained and we are assisting to provide them legal representation," the company said. "Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors." The UFW said it was aware of the reports about minors found at the farm. "Farm workers are excluded from basic child labor laws and it is unfortunately not uncommon for teenagers to work in the fields. To be clear: detaining and deporting children is not a solution for child labor," a statement from the union said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California particularly Los Angeles County has been at the centre of daily immigration raids since President Trump deployed National Guard troops and US Marines to Los Angeles last month to protect federal immigration agents. While many Americans support President Trump's tough immigration policies, in Southern California they have caused palpable fear in immigrant communities, with many migrants hiding in their homes, too afraid to go to work or the grocery store. Three of at least 30 people arrested when Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided a Kings Mountain fire extinguisher plant last month will go home, a federal judge ruled, to their families in North Carolina. During four Friday hearings for people arrested at Buckeye Fire Equipment Company, federal public defenders questioned if ICE agents read Miranda rights, and an agent revealed new details previously contained to sealed search warrants. The proceedings parted the curtains on how Charlottes federal judges navigate immigration cases as U.S. attorneys enforce immigration laws under the Trump administration and the federal public defenders challenge the way detained immigrants are moving through court systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four men who appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina Friday were charged with reentering the United States. At least eight of the 30 people detained at Buckeye Fire Equipment Company have been federally charged, according to court records. Homeland Security Investigations agent Willie Caswell, while testifying Friday, said at least 100 agents came to the plant on June 25. The Kings Mountain plant may have committed rampant identity theft, ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams previously told The Charlotte Observer. The agent Friday said they had a warrant to seize documents related to suspected identity theft, allowing them to arrest certain individuals. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson, in a statement to The Charlotte Observer, said Fridays hearings were part of a larger investigation into identity theft, illegal reentry into the United States after deportation, and other federal crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will continue to enforce those laws and support the integrity of our immigration system and the safety of our communities, he said. Kings Mountain detainees in court Enrique Gil Rojano, a Buckeye Fire worker who now sat inside the courtroom in a two-tone inmate jumper, was not listed on the warrant agents used to search the building. But Rojano, charged with reentering the country after being removed in 2005, was found hiding inside the plant and interviewed in a hallway. Court documents suggest he and another man ICE agents found at the plant used false identification documents to secure employment, but neither have been charged with that offense. When assistant federal defender Elizabeth Gerber asked the agent if Rojano was read his Miranda rights in that hallway, he said he wasnt sure. He was not present when another agent began interviewing him. But he was sure his colleague had followed the agencies orders and told the man he had the right to remain silent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gerber did not ask any more questions. Immigrants flight risk in federal cases Charlottes top federal public defender represented Arturo Albarras Altunar, the other man who may have used false documents to work at Buckeye Fire, according to court documents, but has not been charged with such. Federal Public Defender John Baker, who for six years represented Guantanamo Bay detainees, argued against the governments request to keep Altunar and the other men detained. Prosecutors arguments on why he should be detained almost entirely overlap with inherent facts of any illegal immigrants case, he wrote in a motion. Their request flies in the face of the guardrails around pretrial detention, which is limited to cases involving crimes of violence, high-level felonies, drug-trafficking offenses, offenses that involve minor victims, firearms, destructive devices, or failing to register as a sex offender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors could only ask for detainment if they could prove the immigrants posed a high risk of fleeing if released. Active ICE detainers for the men were irrelevant, Baker said, because they dont show the men would voluntarily try to flee. And their ties to other countries did not show that risk, either. Altunar, his wife of 22 years, their three children, one grandchild and his church are all here in North Carolina. Altunar and the other men had already come back to the country when they were told to stay out, Baker said. They are more likely to stay here than flee, Baker wrote in a motion filed late Thursday. You have decades of experience, Baker, whose We the People socks peaked out of his suit pants, said to District Judge David Keesler. Think of all the cases youve seen with high flight risk. This is not like those. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And statistics support that, he said. Immigration cases have the lowest violation rate of any charges, with a failure to appear rate of less than one percent inside the federal system, reads the motion Baker filed. In the Western District of North Carolina, only 3 out of 959 released individuals in immigration cases failed to appear last year. Keesler said he wanted to probe further into the weaker points of the governments position, mostly agreeing with Bakers reasoning. When someone comes back, its because they want to be here, not there [in the country where they hold citizenship], the judge said to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith replied: But he cant be here. Hes not supposed to be here, and hes not supposed to be working here. My wife and I recently went to France, Smith continued. It was beautiful, we liked it, but we couldnt have just stayed there. NC immigrants released with monitoring Keesler released Altunar and two other men with similar cases Luis Antonio Martinez Lopez and Alberto Perez Mendoza under unsecured $25,000 bonds and electronic monitoring requirements. If they do not abide by the conditions set, like remaining at their home and returning for hearings, they will have to pay. Lopez and Mendozas cases did not show any evidence of use of false documents. After signing documents saying he agreed to the conditions of his bond and before U.S. marshals escorted him back into the courts holding rooms Lopez turned to the gallery and blew a kiss to his wife. She and their 3- and 5-year-old daughters are all U.S. citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rojano, the man found hiding inside the plant, will have another hearing to further discuss bond. For now, he will remain detained a decision Keesler made after learning of a 1995 controlled substance charge and 2005 perjury charge. Federal defenders asked to keep the mens addresses off of probation documents. Assistant federal defender Taylor Goodnight said she was concerned about federal agencies harassing clients. Keesler originally granted that request but said he felt the request dropped him into uncharted waters. He will consult case law and other judges before ruling on that, he said. On Nov. 30, 1942, the USS New Orleans was in the middle of a pitched battle off of Guadalcanal. A Japanese torpedo scored a direct hit on the bow of the U.S. Navy cruiser. The blast ignited the ships forward magazines, triggering a massive explosion that killed 182 of the crew. Roughly 100 feet of the bow was blown off, sinking beneath the waves. The Battle of Tassafaronga saw approximately 400 American losses and the loss of a destroyer. The USS New Orleans would have joined them if not for the surviving crews refusal to abandon ship. Instead, missing a bow and taking on water, the sailors pulled off a remarkable escape. And 83 years later that missing bow has finally been located. This week the Ocean Exploration Trust and the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration announced theyd located the partial shipwreck. The sunken portion of the USS New Orleans was found approximately 675 meters below the water, in the Solomon Islands Iron Bottom Sound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ocean Exploration Trust, led by Navy veteran and oceanic explorer Robert Ballard, is currently in the middle of an archaeological expedition at Iron Bottom Sound this month. The explorers are looking at confirmed shipwrecks and mapping the area for potential new discoveries; the waters around the area saw heavy fighting during World War II with several ships lost to the waves. The USS New Orleans bow was found after the crew of the expeditions ship, the Nautilus, found an object that wasnt big enough to be a full shipwreck but was still big enough to possibly be part of a ship. Using a remote-operated underwater vessel they got live footage and imagery of the wreck. People on the Nautilus as well as experts brought in via teleconference worked in real-time to piece together clues to identify the wreckage. They spotted the turret and anchor of the sunken bow, and were able to confirm it was the missing part of the USS New Orleans. The wreck was located during seafloor mapping operations by an uncrewed surface vehicle, then investigated shortly thereafter by a deep-diving remotely operated vehicle, Ocean Exploration Trusts Chief Scientist Daniel Wagner said on the findings. This imagery was viewed in real-time by hundreds of experts around the world, who all worked together to make a positive identification of the finding. By the Battle of Tassafaronga, the USS New Orleans had seen plenty of action. Commissioned in 1934, it survived the attack on Pearl Harbor and went on to fight at the Battle of the Coral Sea and at Midway. The American defeat in the Battle of Tassafaronga saw it take its most significant losses to date, and the battle damage should have sunk the USS New Orleans. The explosion had torn off the bow up to turret two, leaving a cross section of the ship exposed. After taking the heavy damage from the torpedo, three sailors with the ships damage control stayed at their posts, helped to keep the ship afloat, ultimately dying from asphyxiation from the smoke. By all rights, this ship should have sunk, but due to the heroic damage control efforts of her crew, USS New Orleans became the most grievously damaged US cruiser in World War II to actually survive, Rear Adm. (retired) Samuel J. Cox, the director of Naval History and Heritage Command, said in a statement on the discovery. The damaged USS New Orleans on Dec. 1, 1942, a day after its bow was blown off. U.S. Navy photo. An auxiliary ship helped the USS New Orleans escape the battlefield and get it to a nearby island. The surviving crew then McGyvered a solution. They quickly chopped down coconut trees and fastened a working bow. Or at least a partially working bow. Although it kept the ship afloat, the cruiser could no longer turn, so the sailors had to sail to Australia backwards. And on Dec. 24, 1942, they succeeded, despite the odds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USS New Orleans would be fully repaired and go back to combat in several major naval campaigns for the rest of the war, including the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The ship would finally be decommissioned in 1947. The USS New Orleans bow is the latest in several partial or full discoveries of sunken World War II ships in recent years. Explorers in the Pacific have been able to locate destroyers and cruisers lost in heavy fighting between 1942-1944. The Iron Bottom Sound expedition is still currently underway, and is set to conclude July 23. There were no plans announced for any recovery efforts for the USS New Orleans bow. The latest on Task & Purpose In the preceding week, the country's forex reserves registered an uptick of USD 4.8 billion to USD 702.78 billion. In the week ending July 4, according to the RBI data, the major component of the forex reserves, the foreign currency assets, slipped USD 3.537 billion to USD 591.287 billion. Contrary to the dip in the previous week, the Gold reserves witnessed an uptick of USD 342 million to $84.846 billion in the week ending July 4, data suggests. A significant constituent of the forex, the Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) witnessed an uptick of USD 39 million, while the Reserve position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was up by USD 107 million to USD 4.735 billion, the data of the central bank suggests. Central banks worldwide are increasingly accumulating safe-haven gold in their foreign exchange reserves kitty, and India is no exception. The share of gold maintained by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its foreign exchange reserves has almost doubled since 2021, till recently. In 2023, India added around USD 58 billion to its foreign exchange reserves, contrasting with a cumulative decline of USD 71 billion in 2022. In 2024, the reserves rose by a little over USD 20 billion, touching an all-time high of USD 704.885 billion at the end of September 2024. India's foreign exchange reserves (Forex) are sufficient to meet 11 months of the country's imports and about 96 per cent of external debt, said Governor Sanjay Malhotra while announcing the outcome of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decisions. The RBI governor expressed confidence, stating that India's external sector is resilient and key external sector vulnerability indicators are improving. Foreign exchange reserves, or FX reserves, are assets held by a nation's central bank or monetary authority, primarily in reserve currencies such as the US Dollar, with smaller portions in the Euro, Japanese Yen, and Pound Sterling. The RBI often intervenes by managing liquidity, including selling dollars, to prevent steep Rupee depreciation. The RBI strategically buys dollars when the Rupee is strong and sells when it weakens. (ANI) ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Update: Officers with the Albion Police Department say Marvin Russ Jr. has been locatd and safely returned home. Original article: The Orleans County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics help in locating a missing man who was last seen Friday morning in the Town of Albion. According to deputies, 21-year-old Marvin Russ Jr. was reported missing from 25 Lydun Drive. A neighbor told authorities they saw Russ leaving the residence around 6 a.m., running toward Brown Road. Russ is described as approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt and dark blue pants with the number 23 written in red. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies say Russ is deaf, disabled, and developmentally delayed. Anyone who has seen Russ or knows where he might be is urged to contact Orleans County Dispatch immediately at (585) 589-5527. Authorities say the priority is ensuring Russs safety and reuniting him with his family. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. The Brief Heat and humidity will intensify across Georgia, with temperatures rising to the mid to upper 90s and heat index values potentially exceeding 108 degrees by early next week. A gradual drying trend is expected over the weekend, with scattered thunderstorms likely; rain chances decrease through Monday but increase again by Tuesday. Residents and visitors are advised to stay hydrated and cautious of fast-developing storms during the MLB All-Star Week, as heat index values will be significant. ATLANTA - Heat and humidity will tighten their grip on Georgia this weekend and into early next week, with rising temperatures, sticky conditions, and isolated afternoon storms in the forecast for much of the state. MLB All-Star weekend forecast What they're saying FOX 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alex Forbes said conditions will be "on the uphill swing" starting Saturday, with high temperatures climbing each day through Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're not going to be looking at as much wet weather into the weekend," Forbes said. "That heat and humidity really takes hold across north and central Georgia, and that's gonna stick around through early next week." Highs are forecast to hit the mid to upper 90s by Monday and Tuesday, with heat index values expected to reach as high as 108 degrees in some areas. Forbes noted that "it would not surprise me to see a couple spots maybe get above that triple-digit mark." FIND OUT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MLB ALL-STAR GAME Atlanta weather forecast Big picture view A gradual drying trend is expected through the weekend, with only scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms likely. Forbes placed Saturdays rain chance around 40%, dropping to 30% on Sunday and 20% on Monday. Rain chances increase again Tuesday and peak Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clear overnight skies will provide some cooling relief, with lows ranging from the upper 60s to mid-70s depending on location. Patchy fog is possible in parts of northeast Georgia on Saturday and Sunday mornings. KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST BY DOWNLOADING THE FREE FOX 5 STORM TEAM APP AND FOLLOWING @FOX5STORMTEAM ON X, FORMERLY TWITTER Local perspective Heres a closer look at forecasts for several cities: Atlanta & Truist Park: Saturday: Mostly sunny, high near 93. A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms between 35 p.m. SundayTuesday: Highs climbing from 95 to 96. Rain chances between 2040% each afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesday: Heat index values expected to feel like 100103 degrees. Rome: Saturday: High near 92, with a heat index reaching 100. Afternoon storm chance at 30%. SundayTuesday: Temperatures in the mid-90s, with gradually increasing storm chances by Tuesday. Lagrange: Saturday: High of 90 with a heat index near 97. A slight chance of a brief storm in the late afternoon. Monday: Sunny and hot, near 94. Rain chances increase Tuesday and Wednesday. Eatonton: Saturday: Sunny, high near 93, heat index up to 101. Slight chance of storms mid-afternoon. SundayTuesday: Temperatures peaking at 98 on Monday. Rain returns Tuesday at 50% chance. Athens: Saturday: Mostly sunny with a high near 93, heat index up to 99. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SundayTuesday: Highs reaching 97. Storm chances rise midweek with a 60% chance Wednesday. Gainesville: Saturday: 40% chance of storms, high near 90. SundayTuesday: Highs in the low 90s with rain chances peaking Tuesday and Wednesday. Blairsville & Northeast Mountains: Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely with a high near 86. SundayWednesday: Slightly cooler, with highs around 89 and daily rain chances between 4070%. Truist Park is ready for the 2025 All-Star Game. (FOX 5) What's next Sunset is at 8:50 p.m., and sunrise comes just after 6:30 a.m. Low temperatures overnight are expected in the low 70s across most of the state, with mountain areas dipping into the upper 60s. With the MLB All-Star Week underway and outdoor activities in full swing, forecasters urge residents and visitors to stay hydrated, limit exposure during peak heat hours, and be alert for fast-developing storms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Not everybody's gonna be looking at triple digits," Forbes said, "but the heat index tomorrow also going to be noticeable." The Source The National Weather Service and the FOX 5 Storm Team provided original forecast for this article. MISSOURI Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has signed a bill that provides tuition coverage for public safety personnel and their families under specific conditions. This legislation reflects that commitment and the bipartisan work to get it here, said Kehoe. It truly was a bipartisan bill, and public safety is not partisan. The Public Safety Recruitment and Retainment Act provides 100% tuition coverage for public safety personnel with at least six years of service and their dependent children if they have at least 10 years of service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Recipients must agree to live in Missouri until they complete their degree or for five years from the date they first receive tuition assistance. Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt has shown support for Governor Kehoes initiative, emphasizing the importance of investing in the education of first responder families. I just wanted to show my support for the men and women who put their lives on the line every day and these are important benefits for them and their families, said Schmitt. The new bill is expected to enhance the recruitment and retention of public safety personnel in Missouri while providing educational opportunities for their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTVI. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTVI staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. On June 4, the Trump administration issued a proclamation restricting travel from 19 countries, including many predominantly Muslim countries that have large communities in Stanislaus County. At midnight five days later, the new travel ban was in full effect, creating anxiety and confusion among Muslim community members. The ban affects those with immigrant or nonimmigrant visas traveling from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, with additional partial restrictions on seven other countries. Roderick Conrad, acting site director for the International Rescue Committee in Turlock, said his office has received 5,248 refugees since 2005, many of whom left behind family members now being impacted by the ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really detrimental for people who want to be together with their loved ones, Conrad said. The ban impacts people who have applied to immigrate to the United States and also anyone who plans to travel to the United States temporarily for work, business, school or tourism. Nassar Alvabani, a Modestan originally from Yemen, said he is aware of people who had been in the process of immigrating to the U.S. to join family members over the last five to six years but were suddenly stopped midprocess. They have their paperwork and everything, they were ready to get their visa appointment, and when they went to their appointment, they told them no because of the ban, he said. They stopped it, they got rejected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not the first time a ban like this has been put in place for many of the same countries. In 2017, during Trumps first term in office, he signed an executive order that banned travel from seven Muslim-majority countries and came to be known as the Muslim ban. The original order was restrained by the court because it discriminated against people based on their religion. But revised versions of the travel ban did go into effect and were later revoked by the Biden administration. Muslim community members participate in an Eid prayer at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, Friday, June 6, 2025. Amer Dougish of Stockton moved from Yemen to the United States when he was 19; hes now 58. He said he didnt know why the ban was put in place for Yemen, maybe it had something to do with Houthis in Northern Yemen, but sometimes, you know, the politics you dont really know what the real reason is. People arriving from Afghanistan do have a carve-out for those with special immigrant visas, specifically created for people who aided U.S. troops overseas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats significant for the people in this area because theres quite a few people with these visas that come through, Conrad said. There is an exception for religious minorities coming from Iran, including Christian Assyrians, through a program that is currently on hold. There are also carve-outs for diplomats, dual citizens of non-banned countries and athletes. Some, though, like the exception for asylum seekers and refugees, are rendered moot due to the suspension of the refugee resettlement program. In addition to the full ban, the proclamation put a partial suspension on tourist and student visas from seven other countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leon, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Though Egypt is not currently listed on the travel ban, it has essentially been put on notice that the administration is considering adding it. We just want to be clear, we as CAIR condemn this ban for its anti-immigrant, Islamophobic and ideologically driven motives, even though its presented as a measure to increase national security, said Moona Siddiqui, managing immigrant rights attorney at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, during a June 13 virtual town hall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proclamation does not affect the current status of people in the United States who already have visas, but CAIR still suggests that people from a country on the full or partial ban list keep their documents with them at all times. During the virtual town hall, CAIR advised attendees to avoid unnecessary travel even if they do have permanent residency. Generally, if you are from one of the countries listed, whether on the partial ban or the full or complete ban, you shouldnt be considering travel outside of the country at this time, Siddiqui said. The travel ban rhetoric coming from the White House has been blamed for reduced foreign travel to the San Francisco Airport during one of its busiest travel periods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saavrah Abdul of Oakland is a member of the Northern California Yemeni Community Association, which met in Modesto on July 3. He said the last time he went to the airport, he was concerned he would be stopped by U.S. Customs agents, but thankfully, he wasnt. The organization brings together community members and business owners throughout Northern California, including the north Central Valley region, for events and networking. Still, because of the ban, he is concerned about travel to and from Yemen in the future. Trumps decisions, every day, are different, he said. To be honest, thats the concern, [that] they could find any reason. Nariman Khattak, right, greets a friend after a Muslim community Eid prayer at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, Thursday, June 6, 2025. Muhammad Sabat, 6, and and his sister Hoora attend an Eid prayer at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, Thursday, June 6, 2025. NEED TO KNOW After a neighbor's panicked call, a 70-year-old woman rushed to her son's cabin in Hunt, Texas The survivors, including a 1-year-old baby, clung to the roof for almost three hours before they were rescued from the floodwaters "Words cant describe the pain that I feel for the families we helped after being rescued off our roof," Alden Towler wrote on social media Survivors are recounting their fear after deadly floodwaters caused them to cling to the roof of their Texas cabin before they were rescued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For almost three hours on the roof, we watched cars float past and felt the boom of our neighbors house crashing into ours, wrote Alden Towler in an Instagram Story post of the terrifying incident in the early morning hours of Friday, July 4. The man, his 70-year-old mother Jane, family friend Shabd Simon-Alexander and her 1-year-old daughter clambered to the roof through a vent in the attic in order to survive the floodwaters that caused the nearby the Guadalupe River to rise to 26 feet in 45 minutes, the family told the Associated Press. For the Towlers, who did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for additional comment, the apocalyptic situation began when Jane, a retired nurse, received a call from her friend Brian Keeper in a nearby cabin. Jane, were fed! the panicked man told her, according to the AP. The waters in my house! Get out! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was already water on the floor of Janes cabin, but the call is what prompted her to run in her pajamas to her sons residence. He was sleeping, as was Simon-Alexander and her toddler, the news agency reported. In Aldens social media post, he wrote that he woke up to water that was already ankle-deep and quickly rose to the ceiling. At first, the wilderness first responder didnt realize how fast they would need to move to safety, but Simon-Alexander noted how much water had poured into the house after Jane arrived. I want us to be prepared to go up into the attic, Jane can be heard saying in a video she shot that was shared by her son with the AP. When Alden asked, What if we go up hill? his mom told him that the entire area was flooded. We cant get out! she said anxiously. I dont want you to get flash-flooded away, Alden! Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via Getty A vehicle near the floodwaters in Hunt on Sunday, July 6 A vehicle near the floodwaters in Hunt on Sunday, July 6 Simon-Alexander had just celebrated her babys first birthday five days earlier, but thought it might be her last when water pooled around the moms thighs, the AP reported. Jane called 911 while standing on top of her kitchen counter, but the dispatcher told them a rescue may not come soon enough, according to the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three adults, and baby in tow, then climbed up into the attic. While in the tight space, they heard the sound of glasses clinking together as the kitchen was swallowed up by dirty water, according to Alden's post on social media. He described it as one of the most terrifying sounds of my life. Alden credited the vent shaft, which he knocked out so they could climb through it, and the roof for saving their lives. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. While on the roof, Simon-Alexander sang a song to her daughter that shed sung while pregnant, according to the AP. At one point, their neighbors house was lifted up by the raging waters and rammed into Janes home, which was then unmoored from its foundation. Janes cabin was prevented from hitting the house they were on because of a large tree, the outlet reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Instagram, Alden recounted that cars and houses floated by while they said their last prayers. Fortunately, the water started to recede enough so a neighbor could bring over a ladder, allowing them to climb to safety. Jim Vondruska/Getty Submerged vehicles in Hunt amid ongoing search and rescue efforts Submerged vehicles in Hunt amid ongoing search and rescue efforts When they were brought to a church where people were gathering, the Towlers, who both have medical training, began helping the injured, according to the AP. Words cant describe the pain that I feel for the families we helped after being rescued off our roof, Alden wrote of the deadly destruction in his Instagram Stories, people with their limbs ripped open while struggling to hold onto trees and being struck by houses in floodwaters. Despite the horror his family witnessed, Alden said he is grateful for the kindness they received. [Its] the salve that is healing our broken hearts, he wrote. To learn how to help support the victims and recovery efforts from the Texas floods, click here. Read the original article on People FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) Once a month, the art crawl in Franklin comes alive. Its a time when local artists can show off their work. One organizer said the event has exploded in popularity over the years. Mike Ingram, who is an artist himself and a part of this event, said they started off with a handful of artists their first go around, and now they have dozens who participate. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The art crawl takes place from 6-9 p.m. up and down Main Street in downtown Franklin on the first Friday of the month. However, this months art crawl is being held on the second Friday, since the first Friday was a holiday. Along with the local artists, there will be live music on the square Friday night in Franklin. The artists displaying their work tonight are mainly from the city, but some are from different parts of Middle Tennessee. Ingram said its always been important to him to keep the artists local, because its a way to give back to the community. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Franklin is kind of an artsy town. We have a lot of art and music here, and everyone is very supportive of the arts community, he told News 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city will also provide free parking downtown for people to be able to enjoy the art crawl. The only cost will be any art you decide to buy. Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) Police in Montpelier have issued a Be-On-The-Lookout after reports of several assaults, including one with a knife. According to police, Emily L. Shoestock, 26, is wanted on a warrant for charges including aggravated assault, after an incident Thursday evening. Authorities say they responded to a 911 call at about 5:08 p.m. Thursday, during which a person was reportedly heard screaming in the background. The photos above of Emily L. Shoestock were posted by the Montpelier PD. When police arrived in the area near State and Taylor Streets in downtown Montpelier, they were reportedly told that Shoestock had injured a man with a box cutter, attacked a pregnant woman, and destroyed a cell phone before fleeing the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montpelier police shoot man who reportedly charged at officer It was reportedly not Shoestocks first time being sought on charges of violent conduct, and police said she was already subject to conditions of release. They say she is known to be transient within the Central Vermont area. Police have been unable to find her since Thursday evening. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is directed to call the Montpelier Police Department at (802) 223-3445. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. More than 1,000 employees of the US State Department have been laid off as part of the Trump administration's efforts to reduce its federal workforce. The involuntary staff reductions included 1,107 civil service and 246 foreign service employees, according to a notice sent to State Department employees on Friday and obtained by CBS News, the BBC's US news partner. More than 1,500 other State Department employees took voluntary departures earlier this year as part of the federal government's massive reorganisation effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics have argued the mass cuts will affect the work the department does. CBS News reported that nearly all civil service officers in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration's office of admissions - a programme that resettles refugees in the US - were cut. Individuals who worked for the State Department's Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) office were also among the cuts. Videos shared on social media show civil service members in the lobby of the department, leaving the building with their belongings. Other employees are seen applauding former colleagues and hugging one another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside the building protesters gathered with signs that read "Thank you to Americas diplomats" and "We all deserve better". [Getty Images] "It's not a consequence of trying to get rid of people," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said while in Malaysia on Thursday. "But if you close the bureau, you don't need those positions. Understand that some of these are positions that are being eliminated, not people." Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued a statement saying the "decision to fire hundreds of members of the Civil Service and Foreign Service at the Department of State undermines our national security". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While there are targeted reforms that our government can pursue to maximize the impact of every tax dollar, that's not what this is," the senators wrote. "Blanket and indiscriminate cuts - the legacy from Elon Musk's failed DOGE effort - weaken our government's ability to deliver for the American people in a cost-effective manner." The layoffs come just days after the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration's plan to slash the sized of the federal workforce could move forward. Earlier this year, in a letter notifying Congress of the department's intention to reduce its workforce by 18% through voluntary departures and layoff, the department said it had more than 18,700 US-based employees. The cuts to the workforce originate from a campaign promise from President Donald Trump to slash government spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) officially closed its doors, at the directive of the Trump administration. More than 80% of all the agency's programmes were cancelled as of March, and on 1 July the remainder were formally absorbed by the state department. An Iranian ballistic missile hit and badly damaged a communications site on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar last month during Irans retaliatory strike, the Pentagon confirmed today. Its the first time the Department of Defense acknowledged any damage to the base during the June 23 attack. Iran launched several ballistic missiles at the U.S. base in Qatar in response to a strike by U.S. B-2s on three Iranian nuclear sites two days prior. In a statement to Task & Purpose, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said that the missile did minimal damage to equipment and structures on the base and that there were no injuries from the attack. The rest of the missiles were taken out mid-air by American and Qatari air defenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al Udeid Air Base remains fully operational and capable of conducting its mission, alongside our Qatari partners, to provide security and stability in the region, Parnell said. In the days after the attack, a defense official said that the U.S. military successfully defended against the attack, and confirmed that no injuries had occurred. Dramatic video from Qatar during the attack showed anti-air interceptors taking out multiple missiles. The damage was captured in images from a commercial satellite. The Iranian outlet Iran International first reported on the images and the damage. Images showing the base before and after Irans attack show that an antenna-enclosing dome in the middle of the installation was destroyed, with dark burn marks where the structure once stood. The dome was a modernization enterprise terminal or MET, a communications hub with anti-jamming systems meant to help boost video and audio transmissions. It was set up at the base at the start of 2016 and cost $15 million, per the Air Force. On June 21, multiple U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers attacked three facilities at Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz in Iran, supported by missiles fired by U.S. Navy ships. Operation Midnight Hammer targeted Iranian enrichment installations. The B-2s dropped 14 GBU-57 bunker buster bombs on two of the sites, including the underground complex at Fordow. Two days later Iran launched the retaliatory attack, targeting Al Udeid. American and Qatari Patriot missile defense batteries took out most of the missiles. President Donald Trump said at the time that Iran provided early warning of the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military has walked back initial claims that the strikes on the three nuclear sites left them obliterated but still called the operation a success. Earlier this month Parnell said that intelligence reports suggest that Operation Midnight Hammer degraded [Irans] program by one to two years. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency this week said that it is still waiting on a full battle damage assessment on the impact of the bombings. The latest on Task & Purpose TEXAS (KMID/KPEJ)- In response of the catastrophic floods that tore through the Texas Hill Country late last week, many musical artists across the state have stepped up to provide support for those affected. George Strait Strait announced plans on Friday to directly help those impacted by the Texas floods and recognize first responders who saved the lives of countless members of his community with a fundraising event in Boerne, Texas, at the end of July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He released the following statement on all of his social media platforms: The destruction and loss in our community from the recent floods is hard to wrap your head around. Our hearts and prayers are with you all. The goal with this event is to raise meaningful, immediate support that can be put directly into the hands of flood victims without delay, while also honoring the first responders that work tirelessly to save lives. The country music legend gave a special thanks to those who will be joining him on stage for this concert. Including William Beckmann (Texas artist), Ray Benson (Texas artist), Wade Bowen (Texas artist), Riley Green, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Kyle Park (Texas artist), and Hudson Westbrook (Texas artist). The intimate donor dinner and concert will be taking place on Sunday, July 27th. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donations will be collected and distributed by the 501c3 Vaqueros del Mar Texas Flood Relief Fund, directly benefiting those affected by the flood. Robert Earl Keen The Kerrville native announced on Thursday that he will be putting on a benefit concert to help raise funds for those affected by the Hill Country flooding. Details are limited at the moment, but for now, the concert will be held at Whitewater Amphitheater, just outside of New Braunfels, TX, on Thursday, August 28th. On top of that, Keen announced that he and his band are still out on tour and still donating 100% of their merchandise sales to those in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can read the full statement from Keen on all of his social media platforms. Miranda Lambert Lambert announced on social media earlier in the week that her MuttNation Relief for Rescues Fund will be directing all its donations to Hill Country animal shelters aimed at helping animals displaced in the floods. Lambert also partnered with Junk Gypsy to sell a shirt and poster, with proceeds going to flood relief efforts. Randy Rogers Band The band announced on Thursday that they will be donating all merchandise proceeds they collect this Saturday. They released the following statement on all of their social media platforms Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This Saturday, July 12th, for 24 hours, all Randy Rogers Band merch salesonline and at House Pasture Cattle Co.will be donated to Operation BBQ Relief to support those affected by the recent floods. Whiskey Myers The band announced on social media that they are donating all of their online merchandise proceeds to flood relief through the end of the week. The band also announced that they have more flood relief efforts in the works. Treaty Oak Revival The West Texas native band announced on social media that they will be donating a portion of their merchandise proceeds from their Saturday concert in St. Louis to flood relief efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one of the deadliest disasters the state has ever seen, the showcase of tremendous outreach and support by these artists and many more has proven why Texas is home to some of the greatest artists in the world. The music you play can be great, but at the end of the day its your actions that help define who you are and the legacy you will leave behind. You can help support these efforts by visiting either the artists social media platforms or their websites. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. PRNewswire Geneva [Switzerland], July 12: ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, announced that Cui Li, the company's Chief Development Officer (CDO), was invited to attend the workshop themed "Navigating the Intersect of AI, Environment and Energy for a Sustainable Future" at the AI for Good Global Summit 2025 held in Geneva. During the session, she delivered a speech titled "Accelerating Progress Towards SDGs with AI-powered New Paradigm," where she shared ZTE's innovative efforts to drive efficient and green AI, and to deepen the integration of AI with ICT technologies and products, with the goal of accelerating AI accessibility and low-carbon transformation of society. Cui Li observed that the latest AI surge, driven by large language models, is sweeping the world at incredible speed. This rapid advance is accompanied by soaring computing demands and surging energy consumption. Achieving sustainable AI has therefore become an industry-wide imperative, and the key lies in defining a clear and efficient pathway. Framing the issue from two perspectives--"Energy for AI" and "AI for Energy"--she outlined how companies can scale AI in a greener, more efficient manner and, in turn, harness AI to drive an energy transition that cuts costs, improves efficiency, and supports a low-carbon future. In terms of "Energy for AI," Cui Li emphasized that the industry faces an "Inverted Triangle Dilemma" and efficiency holds the key to solving the dilemma. In response, ZTE is tackling the issue on three levels--developing efficient infrastructure, enabling efficient intelligence enhancement, and accelerating impact through efficiency--collectively driving the efficient and green development of AI. With respect to "AI for Energy," she highlighted that under the core strategy of "AI for All," ZTE has deeply integrated AI with its ICT technologies and products to build full-stack intelligent solutions. The company is now deploying AI capabilities across industrial, household and consumer scenarios, enabling cost-efficiency, operational gains and a lower-carbon trajectory for the wider economy. For Cui Li's speech titled "Accelerating Progress Towards SDGs with AI-powered New Paradigm," please visit:https://www.zte.com.cn/global/about/news/zte-cdo-cui-li-highlights-efficient-and-green-ai-as-a-driver-of-sdgs-progress-at-ai-for-good-global-summit.html Media Inquiry: Email: ZTE.press.release@zte.com.cn Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2729423/photo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2601626/ZTE_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) The Brief Most waterways along the Highland Lakes chain have reopened after severe flooding Officials are urging caution though if you plan on hitting the water soon APD is still searching for bodies that may have been swept into the lake AUSTIN, Texas - Most of the waterways along the Highland Lakes chain are now open, but officials with the LCRA are advising caution if you are hitting the water this weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some officials even suggest staying out of the water. Lake Marble Falls was closed earlier this week and remains closed. Updates are posted on the city website. Debris in Lake Travis Local perspective Lake Travis on Friday morning appeared to offer clear sailing, but looks can be deceiving. Debris and damage were found in an area known as the Sandy Creek Arm. It was a surprise for Robert Weiss with Lake Travis Scuba. On July 3, this cove was mostly dry land. "We've seen it flood, and we've seen everything flow out, but to see this in the amount of damage up here is significantly worse than I've ever seen," said Weiss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are several broken and battered boat docks floating in the lake. A repair crew with Lone Star Docks has been working 13-hour days making repairs and working in a lot of debris. "It's crazy to look at, but you don't want to get wrapped up in stuff, and you don't want the debris to mess up your boats. They have probably already been messed up because of the damage so far," said team leader Kyote Brennand. Employees with Flagship Towing have also been busy. They've recovered watercraft that were either swamped or beached, and reeled in several docks that broke away. Dig deeper There have also been reports of looting. A metal gangway and kayaks were among the items taken from a job site Rodrigo Rivera was working at. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People taking advantage of this is not a great thing, you know. They should be helping people out, getting their stuff back, you know, not taking it home," said Rivera. Law enforcement units were on Lake Travis on Friday. Two crews with the Austin Police Department were deploying sonar and a submersible drone. They are searching for bodies that may have been swept into the lake. The search grid included a dock owned by lakeside resident Vance Kollatschny. He spoke to FOX 7 as a modified barge went past, cutting a path into the debris-filled cove for the search team. "It looks like a tornado came through or something I don't know, but we're the first inlet past Jonestown, so that's where all the debris came from," said Kollatschny. LCRA response LCRA Executive Vice President of Water John Hofman sent a statement about the lakes: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Conditions on Lake Travis are significantly different than they were a week so, as the lake has risen more than 23 feet since early on July 4. Our crews have replaced most of the buoy markers that were damaged or destroyed by the recent floods, but anyone boating on the lakes still needs to use extra caution. We are advising people to stay off the lakes at night and to use caution when swimming in the lakes, as bacteria levels typically remain high for a couple of weeks after a flood event." Residents urged to take precautions Dock diver Andres Lopez had to be in the water. He said he is taking precautions. "I got little drops Ive been putting in my ears, keeping the bacteria out and stuff like that, keeping clean, but it's definitely dirty," said Lopez. Wait a few weeks, Lopez suggested for those thinking about a trip to a local lake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the risk, a couple of party barges were tied up at Starnes Island on Friday afternoon, and some people were diving in. Robert Weiss, however, decided to cancel his upcoming charter. "After seeing what's out here and talking to the people they're working out here, stay off the lake there's no reason to be out here," said Weiss. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski MEMPHIS, Tenn. A woman has been arrested after she was found with her daughters mummified dead body, Memphis Police say. Kimberly Moore, 46, has been charged with abuse of a corpse and failure to report the discovery of a dead body. According to court documents, deputies responded to the Home Inn Suites on Lowrance Road on Thursday. The manager had reportedly asked for a welfare check on Moore due to statements she had made about her husband owning the hotel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents say that deputies met Moore and were not initially alarmed by anything she said or did. Moore allegedly repeated the claim that her husband owned the hotel and told deputies that she was there to make sure the employees were doing their job. However, while talking to her, deputies reportedly smelled a strong odor emitting from the room. Court documents claim that deputies asked Moore about the smell, but she acted as if she didnt smell anything and began to act strange. Court documents say that deputies checked the room and found Moores daughter lying in the bed. Moores daughter was reportedly cold to the touch, malnourished, and mummified. The medical examiner was called to the scene. According to court documents, the medical examiner ruled that Moores daughter had been there for quite some time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives reportedly also found flies on her body. Moore was taken into custody. Court documents say that Moore was found to be in a state of mental crisis and was evaluated. Moore reportedly told detectives that her daughter is still with her and that God was with her and her daughter. Court documents say that Moore was asked if she had slept or eaten, but she refused to answer. Moore allegedly repeated that God was with her and stated that she reads her Bible. Detectives determined that Moore was suffering from hallucinations of her daughter still being alive. Moore was transported to a healthcare facility for further evaluation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore is currently booked in Shelby County Jail East. No bond has been set for her. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Nearly 10 months after a drunken driver hit two of Martha Dunmore's daughters, killing one and and injuring the other, the mother believes her family "got some justice." On July 11, a Milwaukee woman who pled guilty to causing the deadly crash and driving while intoxicated received the maximum penalty for her charges. At the sentencing hearing, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge ruled Stephanie Sykes, 35, will serve 28 years in prison for the September 2024 hit-and-run that killed 20-year-old Talise Dunmore and injured her older sister De-Lisha Dunmore. A picture posted on the family's GoFundMe shows Talise Dunmore posing for a photo after receiving her certificate for completing the Wisconsin Manicure Program. Dunmore was struck and killed in a reckless driving incident on Sept. 21, 2024. Martha Dunmore, De-Lisha Dunmore, and more than a dozen friends and relatives of the Dunmore family filled the gallery at the sentencing hearing, wearing bright orange T-shirts and bracelets a nod to Talise's favorite color, her mother said. They carried fans with Talise Dunmore's picture, and distributed key chains emblazoned with a pledge to drive safe and sober. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Now, we can start to heal," Martha Dunmore said in an interview after the hearing, clutching a bright orange purse she said Talise carried the night of her death. At the hearing, the Dunmore family was joined by members of a court watch group that has advocated for harsher sentencing in vehicle crash cases. Friends and relatives of Sykes also attended the sentencing. Judge Michelle Havas acknowledged the heightened emotions at the beginning of the hearing, noting that relatives of both Talise Dunmore and Sykes had submitted impact letters to the judge in advance of the scheduled sentencing. Martha Dunmore, left, says her daughter Talise's dreams were snatched from her by a hit-and-run driver. Martha Dunmore spoke on Sept. 28, 2024, at a Milwaukee vigil at North 76th Street and West Clinton Avenue, near where Talise, 20, was killed on Sept. 21. A criminal complaint filed against Sykes alleged she drove while drunk, and hit the sisters as they attempted to cross North 76th Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Records from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner estimated Sykes' car had been traveling about 80 miles per hour when it struck and threw Talise an estimated 50 to 75 feet. Two witnesses saw Sykes' vehicle continue driving north after the collision, per the complaint. A Milwaukee Fire Department lieutenant later saw a woman, identified as Sykes, exit her damaged vehicle and enter a different car nearby. Police subsequently arrested her. According to the criminal complaint, Sykes told a police detective she had been drinking that night and had "blacked out." She was charged five days after the deadly collision on six felony counts relating to the collision and her intoxicated state. Since 2010, Sykes had been charged for operating a vehicle while intoxicated at least three times prior to the September 2024 crash, according to her attorney. She was also convicted on prior charges relating to drug possession and possessing a firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April, Sykes took a plea deal in the hit-and-run case, pleading guilty to four counts: homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, hit-and-run involving death, operating while intoxicated causing injury and hit-and-run involving injury. At the sentencing hearing, Sykes apologized to the Dunmore family. "It hurts deeply to know I was the cause of this unfortunate and unexpected event," Sykes said, through tears. "I would like to truly and sincerely apologize." Sykes' attorney, Benjamin Van Severen, urged the judge to consider challenges Sykes faced throughout her upbringing and adult life including alcoholism and domestic violence which he described as traumatic. He recommended that she be sentenced to only 14 years of confinement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecutor advised Sykes be incarcerated, but did not quantify a specific recommendation for how many years of confinement or extended supervision. In spoken testimonies at the hearing, Talise's mother and older sister detailed the grief their family experienced since the crash, and urged the judge to give Sykes a longer confinement sentence. The two spoke about Talise's "indomitable spirit," her commitment to excellence and her promising future as a nail technician. At the time of her death, she had graduated from a Milwaukee nail technology academy and was working at a salon in Brookfield. "All her nail tech stuff is still in her room, just sitting there, just untouched," Marilyn Green, Talise's older sister, testified at the hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Sometimes we go in her room to feel close to her," Green said. "And other times we can't even open the door." This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Judge sentences Milwaukee drunk driver who hit two sisters, killed one HUNT, Texas -- More harrowing stories of survival are being told in the wake of historic flash flooding in central Texas that claimed at least 120 lives, including dozens of children who were at Camp Mystic, a historic summer camp nestled along the Guadalupe River. Camp La Junta in Hunt is another of the summer camps that was ripped apart by the floods. The Rabon family had sent their two sons, 7-year-old Brock and 9-year-old Braeden, to that camp just two days before the tragedy took place. Their mother, Keli, was reunited with her sons after they thankfully survived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Braeden told FOX Weather he was awakened around 4 a.m. by kids screaming outside. "And I'm like, what's going on out there, is this a prank?" he said. "So, I look outside and I see the rain, lightning everywhere, and really loud thunder. So I thought maybe this is a real situation, because around 6 in the morning, I saw 75 campers at least walking in this back lane behind my cabin and a couple other cabins." Braeden said he was in a more elevated cabin, but his little brother was in one of the cabins that flooded the worst. Photo shows damage to Camp La Junta in Kerr County after flooding. "It was a very terrifying situation for both of the boys," Keli Rabon said. "I mean, for Braeden, he didn't know what was going on with his brother, Brock." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said Brock had just graduated from kindergarten, it was his first time at camp, and they had only been there a full day at that point. "But in Brock's cabin, which was one of the most low-lying cabins at Camp La Junta, they took on a dramatic amount of water," Kelly said. "So much so that the boys, thanks to the counselors who acted very quickly and heroically, moved from lower bunk to upper bunk to then ultimately into the rafters of the cabin." The camp owner got them all to safety, but the cabin began to break apart and sustain heavy damage. Kelly said she first knew something was wrong when she received a text message from the camp early that morning. "It didn't really explain the gravity of the situation, and I'm sure they were trying to keep all of the parents calm because it said that all the boys were OK," she said. "But still immediately, I'm four hours away at that point, your mind starts to race and wonder what is going on and how bad could the situation be? And once I saw the news of Camp Mystic and the message that they had sent out to parents, even indicating that if your daughter was missing, we've been in contact with you, that immediately alerted me to how devastating this situation could possibly be." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she jumped into her car and drove to the scene as fast as she could. As she was heading there, she was getting messages that the National Guard would be doing a drop of food and water into the camp. "It's a message that as a parent, you would never expect to get, given that you just dropped your kids off at camp two days before," she said. "We're just thankful that things turned out, you know, turned out OK... Our hearts and thoughts and prayers are with the Hill Country, and we hope that the rest of the nation keeps them top of mind for a long time to come." While all kids survived at Camp La Junta, Camp Mystic said 27 children and a counselor died in the floods. Five remain missing. Original article source: Mother, son tell how historic floods swept through La Junta boys camp along Guadalupe River LAKE COUNTY, Ill. (WGN) A motorcyclist was killed in a crash Saturday morning in unincorporated Gurnee. The Lake County, Illinois, Sheriffs Office said the crash happened at around 6:20 a.m. on Route 45, north of Dada Drive. Deputies arrived at the scene and found a motorcycle involved in a crash with a vehicle. Wauconda woman charged after more than 50 dogs recovered from hoarding home The preliminary investigation indicated a 27-year-old Grayslake man was driving a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound on Route 45. A witness told investigators the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed before the crash and at one point lost temporarily lost control on the wet pavement before regaining control, according to authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said after regaining control of the motorcycle, the driver continued north but failed to properly negotiate a curve in the roadway. Thats when the motorcycle crossed into the southbound lane of traffic and hit a 2005 Nissan Rogue traveling southbound. The motorcyclist was thrown from the motorcycle and was critically injured. Deputies applied a tourniquet to the motorcyclist and rendered aid before paramedics arrived and took him to an area hospital where he died, according to officials. The Lake County Coroners Office has identified the victim as 27-year-old Andrew Ryan, of Grayslake. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that Ryan died from blunt force injuries as a result of the crash. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the Nissan was not injured and is cooperating with the investigation which is ongoing. The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriffs Office Technical Crash Investigations Team. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. A few days ago, Elon Musk teased the new update of Grok, the flagship artificial intelligence (AI) tool of his tech company xAI. Since then, it has repeatedly called itself MechaHitler, and in one deleted instance, it hallucinated a fake Jewish user from a random picture, ascribed anti-white hate speech to this hallucinated user and used this as a justification for making anti-Semitic comments and praising Adolf Hitler. How could a single software update, validated by a team of world-class engineers and researchers, cause such a mess? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unless, let me not speculate just yet, it is obvious Grok did not act as intended: xAI quickly apologised for the incident, and started actively censoring and retraining Grok immediately. But questions remain: why couldnt they anticipate the problem and prevent it in the first place, and what data is this AI model learning from? The Grok incident feels like the latest instalment in a recurring news story: an AI gets trained, then it takes only a few hours for testers or users to reveal some completely unexpected, disgusting and unforgivable behaviour. It happened with ChatGPT over-flattering users and Bing being emotionally manipulative. As AI becomes faster and faster, these concerning, unpredictable behaviours are moving beyond just problematic text messages: Anthropics Claude blackmailed users in a test, and even OpenAIs o3 attempted to sabotage its own shutdown mechanisms in a recent test, which feels like something plucked out of the script of a Terminator movie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deeply unsettling. In one instance, the Grok chatbot appeared to base its answers on Elon Musks previous posts - X This pattern begs a common explanation. ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, all of these AIs are created in the same way: by feeding vast amounts of data to algorithms, and waiting to see what comes out at the end. Data which in itself has a history of bias in some way or form. I have always said that AI is most definitively part of our future and has the potential for great benefits but we must be very careful to mitigate the risks, not see AI as sentient, and understand and accept that AI can and will accelerate bias. The pace of development of these systems is impressive but also concerning, as there is a real risk that we cannot keep up with that progress. In fact, the reality is that we need AI systems to monitor AI systems and a human in the loop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The truth is, if nobody knows how these AIs work and what data it is being fed, then nobody can anticipate what they will do either until they switch it on and wait for it to churn out stuff. My first job after leaving school was as a computer programmer. Ive always been fascinated by technology, and while the rapid developments in AI excite me, they also deepen my commitment to ensuring we protect people from the potentially devastating impacts it could have on their lives. Which is why I led on the issue when I was a member of the science and technology committee and now as a vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI. This goes far beyond anti-Semitic comments online: in a world where both governments and AI companies are pushing to integrate AI through every aspect of public life, this unreliability could prove costly. Unless we understand the different types of AI which is now an unhelpful collective term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As AIs become essential to critical infrastructure, from healthcare to energy and transportation, the consequences of unpredicted behaviour will worsen to lost lives and economic devastation. And with the ongoing integration of AI into defence, the failures will become catastrophic. This is why it is imperative that we focus on guardrails. Top experts like Geoffrey Hinton and even the chief executives of AI companies have warned that AI poses a risk of human extinction, akin to pandemics and nuclear war. This risk does not come from the misbehaving chatbots of today, but from the faster-than-human thought process AI systems that AI companies are rushing to develop. My question is, if we havent addressed the injustices of the past, how will we cope with the injustices of the future? If we want to leverage AI for progress and growth safely, we need to know how AI works, and ensure that it will not misfire catastrophically in our hands. This is why it is crucial for us all that we work together globally to legislate how AI is used and what it can be used for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Government has a golden opportunity to do this: introduce binding regulations on the predictability of AI. And we need an ethical system. Such guarantees will be easy to provide for narrow and specialised AIs such as those advancing science and medicine, which will boost growth, innovation, and public services. On the other hand, the general AIs that are given more agency and latitude will have to be constructed differently, in a way that ensures they will stay under control. What we can control is guardrails and this should be central. Having AI systems in the hands of billionaires is a worry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So a Grok incident today could tomorrow be an AI incident that can take control of critical infrastructure, cause substantial damage or even launch nukes. Dawn Butler is the Labour MP for Brent East Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Its easy for astute political observers to dismiss Musks proposed "America Party" as doomed to fail. For decades, political professionals and political scientists alike have scoffed at the notion of a nationally viable third party. The reason is obvious. It hasnt happened since the Republican Party burst on the scene in the 1850s. Even then, Americans didnt get a third party so much as a replacement for the Whigs. The political structure of the United States simply makes creating a successful third party nearly impossible. As Lee Drutman, political scientist and senior fellow at New America, wrote in an open letter to Musk: "Sorry to say this, but a single third party is just a spoiler, dude." President Trumps pollster Jim McLaughlin dismissed the idea outright, calling Musks third-party idea "the ketamine talking." Its true that the winner-take-all structure of American politics makes winning federal representation as a third party incredibly difficult. Its also true that most Americans view supporting a third-party candidate at the ballot box as wasting their vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, nothing remains the same forever. That raises a question - really, three - about how seriously we should take Musks threats. As America prepares to celebrate its 250 th birthday, the words of founder John Adams have resonance in todays politics. "There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other," Adams said. "This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution." With the public viewing U.S. politics as being at a once-in-a-century level of polarization, gridlock, and dysfunction, is a critical mass of Americans willing to take a chance on a political party representing the great political middle? The two major political parties use a host of strategies designed to prevent independent candidates or third parties from competing. These ploys range from closed primaries and ballot access barriers to gerrymanders and rigged campaign financing laws - not to mention outright character assassination (see Robert F. Kennedy Jr., circa 2024). But Elon Musk has proven himself an unparalleled great disruptor of the status quo whether he was buying Twitter, upending Detroits automakers, or launching his own rockets. To borrow a phrase from the Barack Obama era, is Musk the change weve been waiting for? Even if Musk cant successfully launch a third party, can he fundamentally alter the terms of political discourse in this country - particularly when it comes to the Republicans and Democrats addiction to deficit spending, a vice that has produced an unsustainable $36 trillion federal debt? Recent history shows that even short-lived or losing third-party efforts can have a measurable impact. Leverage doesnt always require ballot box victories. In May of 2024, President Trump spoke at the Libertarian Party convention. His goal was to either make a bid for the Libertarian nomination or siphon some votes away from the Libertarian Party in exchange for delivering on some of their goals. As part of this, Trump promised to "commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht," a cause celebre within libertarian circles who was sentenced in 2015 to double life imprisonment plus 40 years for charges related to founding the dark web marketplace known as the Silk Road. Freeing Ulbricht was a Libertarian Party priority for years before the convention, and neither major party had taken action on the issue. Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht after his victory, fulfilling the promise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a similar example, Robert F. Kennedys 2024 longshot presidential campaign can ultimately be adjudged a political success. RFK Jr. leveraged the support of his campaign to make his endorsement and withdrawal from the race valuable enough to become Secretary of Health and Human Services. By using a third-party run to gain influence and strike a deal with Trump, Kennedy went from marginally relevant to holding one of the highest cabinet positions in the executive branch. In both instances, third parties used their leverage to extract concessions from President Trump in exchange for their support. Trump, in both cases, expressed an openness to this type of deal making and held up his end of the bargain. Is this Musks current plan when he discusses funding a new entity called the America Party? If so, he may not even have to enlist a slate of candidates or bankroll their campaigns to have influence. Rather, merely the threat could be enough to alter the current balance of power. Adding to his potential leverage, Musk has proven to be relatively popular among Republicans. If the America Party was formed, it would draw its support away from the GOP to the benefit of Democrats. In a situation where a new America Party ran candidates in the 2026 midterms, it could upend incumbents in swing districts and significantly damage Republican candidates in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, at least, the America Party will only be able to influence the GOP as Musk is widely loathed among Democrats and would be hard-pressed to draw significant political backing from supporters of the DNC. (According to a Rasmussen poll, 71% of Democrats want Americas richest man to be imprisoned for his role at DOGE.) Undeterred, Musk has indicated that the goal of his proposed party would be to represent the 80% of Americans in the "middle." This estimate for the size of the political middle is far too high, but his larger point is certainly true. According to Gallup, 43% of Americans consider themselves political independents, compared to just 28% for each major party. Both the Libertarian Party and Andrew Yangs Forward Party have expressed interest in working with Musk on the creation of a third party. Musk endorsed Yangs 2020 presidential bid, creating a path for potential cooperation. Both Musk and Yang are entrepreneurs by trade and share some tech-focused supporters. The libertarians, however, might make for a better partner. Musks central split with the GOP stems from national debt issues, a topic that the Libertarian Party has made a top priority for decades. Additionally, the GOP and the Libertarian Party have substantial overlapping appeal. A partnership between Musk and the Libertarian Party would further increase the pressure on the GOP to adopt Musks proposals regarding the budget. History offers a clear precedent: Third-party pressure has shaped U.S. deficit policy before. Ross Perots 1992 presidential campaign didnt win a single electoral vote, yet it impacted the national political scene at scale. Jim Squires, former campaign spokesperson for Perot, said in 2007 that "Perot jammed a balanced federal budget down Washingtons throat" by drawing mainstream attention to the issue in his campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 1993 article in The Harvard Crimson argued the same point: "The presence of Perot made the deficit the central issue of all the presidential debates and much of the campaign. Before his arrival on the scene, the deficit was something neither major party candidate really wanted to attack; neither had a plan." Perots attempt to impact budget policy was successful despite his failure to win the presidency. President Clinton, who defeated Perot, oversaw budget surpluses during his tenure and signed the 1997 Balanced Budget Act into law. Clinton famously declared that "the era of big government is over" in his 1996 State of the Union Address. The only issue is that it wasnt. After Perots temporary influence waned, deficit spending once again became the norm. Today, our national balance sheet looks far worse than the now-envied level of debt that Perot objected to in the 90s. While Perots third-party gamble did impact policy, it was a temporary victory at best. Pundits have theorized that this may be the life cycle of all third parties. In a system where it is nearly impossible for third parties to achieve and maintain any significant power, the best they can seem to do is extract temporary concessions from one of the major parties in exchange for support. In a best-case scenario for Musk, he is able to exert enough influence on the GOP to make his definition of true fiscal restraint a lasting part of their core platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the other hand, the plan could backfire against Musk. By forming the America Party, he burns bridges that he spent much of the last year creating within the GOP. If they refuse to shift their platform to accommodate him, he will lose the political allies that he has and be seen as a rival by both major parties. If Musk had expressed deficit concerns politely to the GOP, he would likely have been ignored, and his support would have been taken for granted. In a way, he tried and largely failed to do this with his Department of Government Efficiency project. By threatening to create a significant headache of a spoiler party, he is maximizing his leverage to achieve his policy goals. Musks America Party doesnt need to exist to matter. In a system resistant to third parties, sometimes the greatest influence comes not from seizing power, but from threatening to disrupt it. Only time will tell if Musks gamble can deliver the enduring influence that Perot ultimately failed to secure. James Eustis is an intern at RealClearPolitics. He studies politics at Washington & Lee University. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offered Moscow his full support on the war in Ukraine during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, state media in Pyongyang said early Sunday. Lavrov's visit to North Korea was the latest in a series of high-profile trips by top Moscow officials as both countries deepen military and political ties amid Russia's offensive against Kyiv. Pyongyang sent thousands of troops to Russia's Kursk region to oust Ukrainian forces and provided the Russian army with artillery shells and missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kim and Lavrov met on Saturday in "an atmosphere full of warm comradely trust", North Korea's official KCNA news agency reported. Russia's foreign ministry posted a video on Telegram of the two men shaking hands and greeting each other with a hug, and said the talks were held in Wonsan, a city on North Korea's east coast where a massive resort was opened earlier this month. Kim told Lavrov that Pyongyang was "ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis", KCNA said. The North Korean leader also expressed a "firm belief that the Russian army and people would surely win victory in accomplishing the sacred cause of defending the dignity and basic interests of the country". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He lauded Putin's "outstanding leadership", the report said. The two men otherwise discussed "important matters for faithfully implementing the agreements made at the historic DPRK-Russia summit talks in June 2024", KCNA said, referring to North Korea by its official name. The two heavily sanctioned nations signed a military deal last year, including a mutual defence clause, during a rare visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Pyongyang. Lavrov told Kim that Putin "hopes for continued direct contacts in the very near future", according to the Russian state-owned news agency TASS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian and North Korean state media have said Lavrov would stay until Sunday. Earlier Saturday, Lavrov met with his counterpart Choe Son Hui and thanked the "heroic" North Korean soldiers who have been deployed to aid Russia, TASS said. Both sides "emphasised their determination to jointly counter the hegemonic aspirations of extra-regional players, which are leading to escalating tensions in Northeast Asia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region", Russia's foreign ministry said. Ahead of the visit, Russia announced that it would begin twice-a-week flights between Moscow and Pyongyang. Lavrov lauded Wonsan as "a good tourist attraction", adding: "We hope it will be popular not only with local citizens, but also with Russians." bur/sst/aha EASLEY, S.C. (WSPA) Nearly two years after a tragedy shook the city of Easley, the community came together to honor an officer who gave his life in the line of duty. Easley Police Officer Matthew Hare (Courtesy: Easley Police Department). Officer Matthew Hare was just 22 years old when he was struck by a train while trying to help a woman on the tracks in August 2023. This week, the city permanently etched his legacy into its streets. Hares name now graces a stretch of road near the Easley Law Enforcement Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The newly dedicated Officer Matthew Logan Hare Memorial Avenue stands as a tribute to his bravery, compassion, and lasting impact. They all say how much of a jokester he was and how much he loved to laugh and make others laugh and really just bringing happiness all around him, said Lt. Ashley Anderson of Easley Police. His character and service are remembered and respected by those who knew him. On that summer morning, many nearby heard the emergency sirens and felt the weight of what had occurred. We heard all the sirens and all that, recalled Natasha Pitman, owner of Studio 119. Then everybody started saying, oh my gosh, this is what happened. It was sad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pitman was working at her salon on Main Street, just steps away from a pair of new street signs on both ends of the road. It was very sweet of them to recognize him, you know, as being a hero, she added. The road dedication ceremony brought together family, friends, and law enforcement officers who stood in solidarity to remember Hares sacrifice. Its really heartwarming. Their family absolutely deserves it. It is just a shining reminder of what Officer Hare did for that member of the community and but also the community as a whole. Even though he was on the job for a short time, he was able to impact a lot of lives in a very positive way, Anderson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The signs serve not only as a visual tribute, but also a powerful reminder in an area Hare once patrolled. It really means a lot to us that on the state level that that was recognized, and his sacrifices are recognized and now we all get to look at the signs and pass them every day, Anderson continued. Theyre a reminder of what we need to do to keep his legacy alive. Though time has passed, the road dedication ensures that Officer Matthew Hare will forever be remembered as a hero in the Easley community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) went after California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Friday afternoon after he shared a photo of her in a social media post griping about Fox News. But if she expected her comments to, as the kids say, win the internet, she was sorely mistaken. Fox News ignited the feud with a story about how Graham Farrar, the co-founder of Glass House Farms, a California cannabis farm raided by federal immigration authorities, had previously donated $10,000 to Newsom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom decided to respond to Foxs hand-wringing about Democrats, immigrants and cannabis with receipts tweeting a photo of Farrars co-founder, Kyle Kazan, posing with none other than the right-wing Mace. Sure is rich for Fox News and the Trump Admin to point to campaign donations to Democrats, when in fact, the CEO is a Trump supporter who donated to my recall and has given to more Republicans, Newsom posted. A Los Angeles Times report about the raid noted that Kazan is an ex-cop and supporter of Donald Trump, something Newsom also noted. Sure is rich for Fox News and the Trump Admin to point to campaign donations to Democrats, when in fact, the CEO is a Trump supporter who donated to my recall and has given to more Republicans. https://t.co/sGvVrAtbaIpic.twitter.com/kVPaGMLX8y Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 11, 2025 Mace, who has in fact supported cannabis legalization in the past, clearly wasnt pleased that the Democratic governor had called her out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So she responded to Newsom with her own post, which ignored the points of Newsoms tweet but contained some red meat for her base including mentions of George Soros and (checks notes) m*rderers, r*pists, and p*dophiles she claimed were walking free under Newsoms watch. Oh, and she challenged the governor to a debate so she could emasculate every one of his positions. So you want to talk campaign donations, @GavinNewsom... Why did George Soros drop $1 million to save your skin in the recall? Also, why are m*rderers, r*pists, and p*dophiles walking free under your watch? Hate women and children a little or a lot? Lets settle this on a debate https://t.co/xFKgKLknGS Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) July 11, 2025 Newsom hadnt responded to Maces debate offer as of Friday afternoon. Neither Maces nor Newsoms offices immediately responded to HuffPosts request for comment. However, Maces tough talk didnt get a lot of support online, and its partially due to Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking young women and girls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, Trump-appointed officials in the DOJ and FBI claimed that there is no evidence of an Epstein client list, nor evidence that the convicted sex offender and disgraced financier was murdered, dashing a couple of right-wing consipracy theories. Ever since then, disenchanted MAGA fans have become slightly less convinced that the GOP itself actually cares about stopping m*rderers, r*pists, and p*dophiles. People on social media were quick to point out that Maces claims about criminality running rampant under Democrats seemed hypocritical at best. Pedophiles are walking free under Trumps watch. Yikes pic.twitter.com/SoizMmAxp2 This You? (@Thiss_Youu) July 11, 2025 You shouldnt be talking. Youve been completely silent on Epstein and his political, celebrity and scientist friends. Meesh (@MeeshFL) July 11, 2025 I dont care about California, thats their problem. However a sitting US Representative pushing horse shit, when the shit stain in the white house is a convicted felon, adulterer, r*pist, and p*dophile, then blindly supporting him. Throw more stones at your glass house dumbass. INFIDEL Fella (@ChYph3r) July 11, 2025 I dont care about california right now I care about why you and your party are covering for Epstein. Karthik Ramaswamy (@Kramaramb) July 11, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VMPL New Delhi [India], July 12: HONOR India, a leading global provider of smart devices, is set to make history with the country's first-ever community-led smartphone launch on 13th July 2025, unveiling a device that promises to be the best smartphone under 25,000. Taking place simultaneously across seven major cities--Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Lucknow, this pioneering event redefines the traditional product unveiling format by putting HONOR's fans at the forefront, making them the face and driving force behind the launch. India's First Community Led Smartphone Launch HONOR X9c 5G Debuts July 13 Instead of a traditional on-stage event, the HONOR X9c 5G will be introduced through grassroots-driven, real-time experiences curated and led by the community itself. This launch is not just about cutting-edge tech, it's about putting the spotlight on real users and loyal community champions across India. From Lucknow, the community includes Shashank Dwivedi, Utkarsh Pandey, Anand Yadav, Ram Lakhan Pandey, and Vishist Pratap Singh. Representing Delhi are Ansh Khan, Manav Bansal, Prakash, Utkarsh, Manthan, Deepti, and Amit. From Ahmedabad, we have Aryan, Anjum, Dhruv, Tej, and Uvesh. The Kolkata squad features Sarfaraz, Arijit, Siddharth, Rohit, and Kusumika Pathak. In Hyderabad, we're joined by Lokesh, Arijit, Teja, Rajendra Prasad, and Vijay. Kochi brings in Arun, Jayprasad, Adithyan, and James. And joining from Mumbai are Bhole Singh, Ayush Maurya, Misbah, Nitesh, and Nafiz representing the spirit of India's west coast. Each of these individuals will co-host the launch in their cities, offering a hyper-local, authentic experience that reflects HONOR's commitment to listening, engaging, and building with its community. The HONOR X9c 5G is more than a flagship, it's a movement led by the people who matter most. https://x.com/cp_khandelwal/status/1943601716043145677 "At HONOR, we believe true innovation goes beyond technology, it's about people. This community-led launch is a tribute to the voices that matter most: our users. By placing them at the heart of this milestone, we're not just launching a smartphone, we're building a more human, authentic connection with every user across India." Said CP Khandelwal, CEO PSAV Global, HONOR's Official Brand Partner in India. Key Highlights of the Community-Led Launch: * Live Durability to test best Durable Phone: Fans will subject the device to drop challenges and water dunk tests to demonstrate its SGS-certified toughness and IP65M rating. * Camera Battles to test best AI camera Phone: Powered by the device's 108MP AI Camera, users will capture photos in low light and real-world scenarios to showcase its performance. * Instant Purchase via QR Codes: Attendees can buy the device on the spot through QR-enabled buying stations. * User-Generated Content: Moments from the event will be created and shared by fans, with select clips and stories featured on HONOR India's official platforms. * Exclusive Giveaways: Live buyers will receive curated gift boxes, while top contributors will get limited-edition HONOR merchandise. The HONOR X9c 5G combines a suite of powerful features that make it one of the most durable and intelligent devices in its class: * Triple layered durability * 6600mAh DXOMARK gold-rated battery * 66W HONOR SuperCharge * MagicOS with AI-powered assistant * 108MP Pro-Grade AI Camera * Ultra-durable Curved AMOLED Display Built to withstand real-world challenges and powered by next-gen AI, the HONOR X9c 5G is not just ready for India--it's being launched by India. The HONOR X9c, which holds the Guinness World Record for "The Most People Performing a Mobile Phone Drop Test Simultaneously," is now available on Amazon.in as part of a special limited-time Prime Day offer.Users can get the device for just 19,999 by availing all applicable bank discounts. This deal brings flagship-grade features--like a 108MP OIS camera, a curved AMOLED display, a massive 6600mAh battery, 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM and a durable, drop-resistant design--at an unbeatable price. The offer is live at https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0FB9FP3G5 and valid only while stocks last. #HONORX9c5G #UnbreakableAISmartphone #FirstEverFanLaunch #HONORIndia (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Nashville is zeroing in on how to get better at serving neighborhoods that dont have access to fresh groceries. Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell has asked for feedback from neighborhoods across the city to address food deserts. In a press release, the Mayors Office said more than 40,000 residents across Davidson County do not live close to a grocery store. The release added that population growth and an increased cost-of-living have contributed to food access challenges. Its everyones responsibility: Nashville leaders propose property owners help pay for the removal of homeless encampments Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a Friday press conference, OConnell called the issue systematic, and one that needs a community-focused response. He added that the city is planning partnerships to provide public markets in some underserved areas where everyone can shop for fresh food in a convenient location. Additionally, some of the citys strategy involves changes to WeGo bus routes by broadening reliability through adding weekend hours. The Napier and Sudekum communities right near Chestnut Hill as well have watched a loss of a CB grocery store, [and] a local market. That community is facing increased pressure, OConnell said. Were trying to do a few things at once: improve transit reliability and access to scenarios where people may be able to get groceries more easily that way as part of that commute, but also look at community-based options that would put healthy produce, protein all the kinds of things, including things that are locally grown, and ideally local and regional farmers. The mayor also acknowledged increased pressure in Cheatham Place and much of North Nashville due to the temporary closure of a Kroger on Monroe Street. That pressure, OConnell said, dates back years. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com The Mayors Office of Economic and Community Development will release a request for information within the coming weeks to field ideas from Nashville residents about how to bring community-focused grocery stores to areas without them. It wont be a formal request for proposals, but more of an open invitation for ideas to help city leaders understand whats working, whats not working and what new approaches could work to improve food access for Nashvillians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. This story was updated to add new information. A man was found shot dead in a the parking lot of a South Nashville liquor store the early morning of July 12, Nashville police said. A second man later arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound related to the same shooting. Police believe the shooting victims were there to commit a suspected drug-related armed robbery, the Metro Nashville Police Department said in a news release. A shootout occurred between the two men shot and the driver of a Dodge Charger, according to the news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the man who was killed was Brandon Watson, 42. His accomplice, Antoine Ellis, 44, was shot in the neck but survived, police said. Warrants have been issued charging Ellis with aggravated robbery, aggravated assault and felony gun possession, and he will be arrested once he is released from the hospital, police said. Nashville police received a call at 4:14 a.m., reporting a shooting at 2622 Murfreesboro Pike, the site of a liquor store about 200 yards from the intersection with Bell Road, according to a table of MNPD's dispatches. Aaron said officers were dispatched to the address for gunshots being heard and a person on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Why '9-1-1: Nashville' filming is closing Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge this weekend More: I-24 westbound reopened in La Vergne after law enforcement investigation shut down road "On arrival, a male subject was located in the parking lot fatally shot," Aaron wrote in an email. Police said an investigation shows Ellis and Watson arrived to the parking lot in a Jeep around 4 a.m. They backed into a parking spot, and Ellis hopped out and walked to a "secluded area," police said. "Watson got out with an apparent long gun and placed it against the back of the Jeep," the news release states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Dodge Charger arrived, and Watson began communicating with the driver, while Ellis emerged from the secluded area, police said. Ellis grabbed the gun and pointed it at the driver while Watson tried to rob the driver, police said. As the Charger driver drove away, he fired shots at the two men, causing them to run. "The Charger driver then got out and fired several more rounds toward Watson and Ellis as Ellis shot back," the news release states. The Charger fled the scene. In the parking lot, Ellis tried unsuccessfully to load Watson into the Jeep. He then drove to Southern Hills Medical Center, police said. Ellis was transferred to Skyline Medical Center for treatment, police said. Detectives are "pursuing leads" to locate the Charger driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas at emealins@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Police find man shot dead in Murfreesboro Pike parking lot LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Little Rock Friday announced temporary cutbacks to several public-facing services due to ongoing staffing shortages and a federal hiring freeze, though officials say the agency remains fully capable of handling hazardous weather events across Arkansas. Dennis Cavanaugh, warning coordination meteorologist at the Little Rock office, said that while the local NWS team is currently operating with reduced staff, critical weather operations will continue uninterrupted. Were not talking about anything forced. Were at a reduced staffing profile, and there is a hiring freeze, Cavanaugh said. But we do still have enough people to run our 24/7 operations, 365 days a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National Weather Service Little Rock cutting back on services amid staffing changes Among the changes taking effect Sunday, July 13: All public outreach events and educational efforts, including SKYWARN storm spotter classes and safety fairs, are suspended until staffing improves. Hazardous Weather Outlooks (HWO) and Agricultural Observations (AGO) will be eliminated permanently, as these were reportedly underutilized in favor of more modern data products. Climate data updates will be reduced to a single midnight processing run, with fewer manual updates throughout the day. Graphics will now only be produced for significant weather events. Area Forecast Discussions will be issued once daily at 1 a.m., a reduction from multiple updates per day. Upper-air balloon launches will shift to 1 a.m. and 7 p.m., instead of the previous 7 a.m./7 p.m. schedule, aligning with when staff is present onsite. While many of these changes aim to preserve limited resources, Cavanaugh acknowledged the impact of halting community engagement efforts. We wont be as available to teach classes or attend safety fairs. That does have an impact its not zero, he said. But we are focusing everything on making sure people have the information they need during high-impact weather events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To supplement local capacity, Little Rocks NWS office has increased coordination with neighboring offices in Memphis, Tulsa and surrounding areas. We now have at least three sets of eyes in three offices watching Arkansas weather all the time, Cavanaugh said. Were not silos in the National Weather Service. Were on the same team. Most believe govt should play a major role in disaster response, fewer think the same for climate change He emphasized that, in the event of a major weather event, the Little Rock office can still surge staffing through overtime and respond without outside help as it always has in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cavanaugh encouraged Arkansans to continue utilizing online resources for spotter training and weather awareness, noting that many SKYWARN storm spotter classes had already been completed for the year. We always engage our local media partners TV, radio, online as a reliable way to get real-time weather information, he said. Weve never tried to replace that. Local resident Joshua Powell of Sherwood acknowledged the reality of federal budget cuts but expressed concern about the long-term impacts of fewer trained personnel. Arkansas is one of those states where the severe weather is getting worse every year, Powell said. We probably need more people that know what theyre doing not less. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the changes, Cavanaugh reiterated that the core mission of the National Weather Service to protect life and property remains unchanged. Were cutting away everything extra and focusing on our core mission. Were going to continue to get people the information they need when they need it and in a format they can understand, Cavanaugh said. Texas floods shine spotlight on Trumps weather and disaster cuts Though outreach efforts will be paused, Cavanaugh says they are not gone for good. Once we get our staffing back up, we will resume those educational and outreach services, Cavanaugh said. These cutbacks are temporary the mission is not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com. NORFOLK, Neb. (KCAU) A couple of Nebraska lawmakers and agricultural leaders came together on Friday to talk about President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill that was signed into law on July 4. Nebraska Representative Mike Flood, Nebraska Senator Pete Ricketts, Nebraska Farm Bureau, along with other agricultural leaders held a roundtable discussion on the new law in Norfolk on July 11. Lawmakers and agricultural leaders had conversations about how the One Big Beautiful Bill will help the farmers and ranchers in the industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials with the Nebraska Farm Bureau said the bill includes helping with stronger investments in the agricultural program and bring more clarity on taxes. Nebraska lawmakers and agricultural leaders hold roundtable discussion on President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill on July 11, 2025 in Norfolk, NE. Nebraska lawmakers and agricultural leaders hold roundtable discussion on President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill on July 11, 2025 in Norfolk, NE. Nebraska lawmakers and agricultural leaders hold roundtable discussion on President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill on July 11, 2025 in Norfolk, NE. Nebraska lawmakers and agricultural leaders hold roundtable discussion on President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill on July 11, 2025 in Norfolk, NE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nebraska lawmakers and agricultural leaders hold roundtable discussion on President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill on July 11, 2025 in Norfolk, NE. Nebraska lawmakers and agricultural leaders hold roundtable discussion on President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill on July 11, 2025 in Norfolk, NE. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Video above: This FOX 5/KUSI video explains the process of deportation. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) A federal court on Friday temporarily halted immigration enforcement tactics in several California counties that were challenged as unconstitutional, drawing swift praise from Governor Gavin Newsom. The ruling in Vasquez Perdomo, et al. v. Noem temporarily bars federal immigration agents from conducting suspicionless stops in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties (per The Los Angeles Times)an approach critics say has led to racial profiling and violations of civil rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement released by the Governors Office on Friday, Newsom hailed the decision as a victory for justice and constitutional protections. Worker to be removed from life support after suffering injury during California farm raid Justice prevailed today [Friday, July 11] the courts decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating peoples rights and racial profiling, stated the governor. Newsom directly criticized immigration policies tied to White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Stephen Miller, calling his agenda one chaos, cruelty and fear. Instead of targeting the most dangerous people, federal officials have been arbitrarily detaining Americans and hardworking people, ripping families apart, and disappearing people into cruel detention to meet outrageous arrest quotas without regard to due process and constitutional rights that protect all of us from cruelty and injustice, Newsom asserted. That should stop now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit alleges that federal agents conducted stops without probable cause, disproportionately targeting Latino communities and violating due process. California stands with the law, and the foundation upon which our founding fathers built this country, declared the Golden State governor. I call on the Trump administration to do the same. The courts temporary block is the latest development in the broader legal battle over immigration enforcement practices in sanctuary jurisdictions like California. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Weeks ago, a Franklin County judge ruled the EdChoice scholarship program was unconstitutional and the next day, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said he will be appealing that decision. Now, people across the state may be wondering what comes next. The Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit over EdChoice has been making its way through the court system since 2022 and it isnt over yet, even with the most recent ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EdChoice program provides partial or full scholarships to students of all income levels so they can attend private schools. Despite ruling the program as unconstitutional, the Franklin County judge said it can continue since the lawsuit will likely progress through appeals court. She stayed her ruling. So it has no effect on the current program. It can continue as is, said Yitz Frank, the president of School Choice Ohio. Weve been spending a lot of time working with school leaders and parents directly to kind of explain to them theres nothing to worry about right now. The judge said that EdChoice takes money from public schools to fund the private school scholarships which unfairly creates a system of separately funded private schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although nothing changes now, leaders at Vouchers Hurt Ohio called the unconstitutional ruling a win. It was also a really good opportunity for us to just expose the fact that the whole idea of school choice in Ohio from a legal perspective is a fairytale, said Dan Heintz with Vouchers Hurt Ohio. As for what comes next, both Frank and Heintz said they believe this lawsuit will make it all the way to the states top court. Weve always expected this case to make its way before the Ohio Supreme Court and were pretty confident that were going to prevail there, Frank said. We expect that the same outcome will occur, that we will be successful on behalf of Ohios taxpayers yet again, Heintz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Heintz, this lawsuit is about reclaiming taxpayer money from private school scholarships. A family should make whatever decision that they want to make. They just shouldnt force their neighbors to pay the check for that decision, Heintz said. But Frank said EdChoice is a necessary program for thousands of families. Especially low income students who may not do well in public school settings. A negative ruling here will create enormous chaos. There will be hundreds of thousands of families that will be impacted by this, and it wouldnt save the state any money. These parents would have nowhere to go, Frank said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the Attorney Generals appeal, the lawsuit will next go to the Court of Appeals. From there, it could advance to the Ohio Supreme Court. Both sides expect this to happen within the next few years. Learn more about Vouchers Hurt Ohio at https://vouchershurtohio.com/ and School Choice Ohio at https://scohio.org/ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. HONOLULU (KHON2) Hawaii Police Department Chief Ben Moszkowicz is set to leave his position at the end of August, following an emotional police commission hearing. With his departure, Hawaii Island will be left without a permanent chief until a new one is appointed. While that may sound intimidating, there are plans in place to ensure the HPD will not be without a leader. Hawaii Island police commission denies Moszkowicz request to withdraw resignation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, this entire process would not happen without one key body: the Hawaii County Police Commission. What is the Hawaii County Police Commission? The police commission for Hawaii County oversees HPD, composed of currently eight members, with one member appointed from each of the countys council districts. Members of the commission are appointed by the mayor, with the county council confirming the mayors appointees. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The commission has a variety of responsibilities, including reviewing the annual police budget, weighing in on public allegations against the police department, evaluating the performance of the police chief and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But amongst those responsibilities is one that will set the tone for this entire police chief saga: the power to appoint a new chief. Earlier this week, the commission denied Moszkowiczs attempt to withdraw his resignation, effectively ousting the chief. This split decision was made in a 4-4 vote by the commission, and opens the doors for a whole process of selecting a new permanent chief. I am truly sorry: Big Isle police chief apologizes for attempted Oahu transition Whats Next? Following Moszkowiczs departure, the deputy police chief will serve as the acting police chief until the Hawaii County Police Commission appoints a temporary police chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reed Mahuna currently serves as the deputy police chief for HPD, meaning that Mahuna would fulfill any of Moszkowiczs responsibilities in his absence as the acting police chief. The acting police chief is not guaranteed to become the temporary police chief or permanent police chief that decision is made by the police commission. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news As it stands in the official Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Hawaii County Police Commission, the commission will name a temporary chief of police, who will take over for Mahunas acting chief responsibilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The temporary chief will serve until the commission appoints a permanent chief, which would bring this saga to its conclusion. The Hawaii County Police Commission is currently set to discuss the selection and appointments of both the temporary and permanent chiefs at their next meeting on July 18 in Kona, but this does not guarantee that either position will be filled on that date. Members of the public are able to speak out at the commission meetings about agenda items, such as their discussions on the temporary and permanent chiefs. Statements can be given online or in-person. For more information on public statements and the police commission, visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC4) The Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office has declined to file charges in the Nov. 10, 2024, officer-involved shooting in West Jordan. The shooting, which resulted in the death of Fernando Fernandez, happened in the early hours of Nov. 10, 2024. A woman reportedly called 911 and said that Fernandez was stealing her car from their West Jordan home. Police arrived on scene and learned that Fernandez was threatening suicide by cop, while there were five children present. Police said Fernandez ran inside the home carrying a sword. He reportedly stayed at the door, telling officers to shoot him, and wouldnt put down the sword. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUSLY: Man hospitalized after officer-involved shooting in West Jordan Officers reportedly tried opening the door, but Fernandez opened it, holding the sword. As he came out, an officer fired his handgun three times. Police put Fernandez in handcuffs and medically assessed him, but found no gunshot wounds. After conducting an Officer Involved Critical Incident (OICI) review, the Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office has declined to file criminal charges for the November 10, 2024, use of deadly force by a West Jordan Police Department officer against Fernando A. Fernandez, a press release from the DAs Office states. Mr. Fernandezs criminal case continues to work its way through the criminal justice system. No further information is available at this time. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. No roof? No worries, Camping World Stadium rep says The CEO of Florida Citrus Sports, which manages events for Camping World Stadium, lauded the stadiums future a week after renderings of the $400 million renovation proposal were published. The newly upgraded stadium would feature a bigger upper bowl with seats instead of metal benches, a better configuration for concerts, event space, and a new name. There will also be hurricane bracing incorporated into a new exterior, giving the stadium a more polished and finished look while protecting taxpayers investment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We compete with multi-billion-dollar stadiums, Steve Hogan said, smiling. The stadium has to be competitive enough in terms of revenue generation and fan experience, and we believe it will be. Leaders like Hogan hope an extra competitive edge will drive new business toward Orlando, such as the Jacksonville Jaguars, who will be looking for a temporary home while their stadium is being rebuilt. Theres also the ever-enticing chance of attracting mega-acts like Taylor Swift, who has repeatedly returned to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa instead of venturing inland. Hogan mentioned the stadiums new concert configuration would add 7,000 seats, boosting potential profits his team can use to lure high-profile performers. Fans who were hoping for some relief from the Florida weather were disappointed by the lack of a canopy or roof over the stadium, which had once been part of the completed vision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hogan addressed those concerns, saying his team asked for $800 million. When the county decided other projects funded by tourism development taxes, including the Convention Center, needed a boost, the roof had to go. They had to punt on a roof, he said. So were still going to build, though, the most competitive 65,000-seat building that you can build, and thats what youre seeing. Major construction is expected to begin next year and wrap up in 2027. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Shining Through the Storm, a nonprofit that provides relief to communities affected by natural disasters, has begun taking donations at the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce for people affected by floods in central Texas. The drive will be collecting travel-size bath products, feminine hygiene products, sunscreen and non-perishable food during the chambers business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday. When Reanna Ruark, the founder of Shining Through the Storm, saw the damage from the floods in Texas, she said it reminded her of why she started her nonprofit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I saw the devastation in Texas and started getting messages from people asking if we were going to step in, I felt that nudge in my heart. It reminded me of why I started this in the first place, to be a bridge between those who want to help and those who need it. The time felt right because the need was undeniable, and I knew we had people ready to give, Ruark said. Ruark said she started the nonprofit to help provide a connection to resources and relief for communities who have been impacted by natural disasters. Growing up in North Carolina, Ive seen how quickly life can change from a storm. Whether it was a hurricane in the mountains or a fire in the heart of town, Ive watched neighbors rise up for each other. Ive also seen where people fall through the cracks. Shining Through the Storm was born out of wanting to be the connection between those who want to help and those who need it. Its my mission because I know how powerful it is when people show up, even when the storm is over, Ruark said. Even though the flooding occurred in Texas, Ruark believes that support, love, and kindness do not have borders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a disaster happens down the street, we naturally want to help, but when its in another state, those people still matter just as much. By stepping in for people we may never meet, we send the message that they are not forgotten. That kind of love is powerful. If we were the ones facing the storm, Id hope someone would do the same for us and the reality is, we have. While Eastern North Carolina faced flooding just this past weekend, Western North Carolina is still recovering from the damage it has already endured. For so many, the storm isnt over, it keeps coming, Ruark said. Shining Through the Storm will also be partnering with The Blessing Project, a nonprofit based in Swannanoa, to organize a special gathering to pack relief bags with handwritten letters of encouragement to flood victims in Texas. Ruark said having handwritten letters offers people hope and a sense of connection. Supplies meet the immediate need, but hope helps people keep going. When someone has lost everything, a care kit says, We see you. But a letter that says, You are not alone, and were standing with you, touches the heart. Both matters deeply. We believe healing starts with meeting the practical need and the emotional one, Ruark said. The Kernersville Chamber of Commerce is at 136 E. Mountain St. VMPL Geneva [Switzerland], July 12: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is ushering in a transformative era for traditional medicine, where centuries-old healing systems are being enhanced by cutting-edge technologies to deliver safer, more personalized, effective, and accessible care. At the AI for Good Global Summit, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) launched a new technical brief titled Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine. Released under the Global Initiative on AI for Health, the brief outlines a roadmap to harness AI's potential responsibly while safeguarding cultural heritage and data sovereignty. A New Era for Traditional Medicine. Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) is practiced in 170 countries and used by billions of people. Its growing global popularity is driven by increasing interest in holistic approaches that emphasize prevention, health promotion, and rehabilitation. The new brief highlights how AI is being used in many countries to unlock new frontiers in personalized care, drug discovery, and biodiversity conservation. Examples include AI-powered diagnostics in Ayurgenomics in India, machine learning models identifying medicinal plants in Ghana and South Africa, and the use of AI to analyze traditional medicine compounds for treating blood disorders in the Republic of Korea. India's Ayurgenomics project represents a ground breaking intersection of Ayurveda and genomics. It aims to understand the genetic basis of Ayurvedic principles and practices by integrating genomic data with Ayurvedic concepts. This enables identification of predictive markers for diseases, facilitating prevention and personalized health recommendations. Machine learning algorithms are being developed to analyze Ayurvedic constitution types. "Our Global Initiative on AI for Health aims to help all countries benefit from AI solutions and ensure that they are safe, effective, and ethical," said Seizo Onoe, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau. "This partnership of ITU, WHO and WIPO brings together the essential expertise." Data-Driven Innovation with Ethical Roots.The report emphasizes the importance of good-quality, inclusive data and participatory design to ensure AI systems reflect the diversity and complexity of traditional medicine. AI can strengthen the evidence and research base for TCIM, as seen in initiatives like India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library and the Virtual Health Library in the Americas. These platforms use AI to preserve Indigenous knowledge, foster collaboration, and prevent biopiracy--unauthorized extraction of biological resources or traditional knowledge without fair compensation. "Intellectual property is an important tool to accelerate the integration of AI into traditional medicine," said WIPO Assistant Director-General Edward Kwakwa. "Our work, including the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge, supports stakeholders in managing IP to achieve policy goals--especially for Indigenous Peoples and local communities." Guarding Data Sovereignty, Empowering Communities. The brief calls for urgent action to uphold Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) and ensure AI development adheres to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) principles. It showcases community-led data governance models from Canada, New Zealand, and Australia and urges governments to adopt legislation that empowers Indigenous Peoples to control and benefit from their data. "AI must not become a new frontier for exploitation," said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems. "We must ensure Indigenous Peoples and local communities are not only protected but are active partners in shaping the future of AI in traditional medicine." A Global Call to Action. With the global TCIM market projected to reach nearly US$600 billion in 2025, AI applications could further accelerate the impact of TCIM and holistic healthcare. While opportunities abound, significant knowledge gaps and risks remain. The brief calls for the development of holistic frameworks tailored to TCIM in areas such as regulation, capacity building, data governance, and equitable technology integration. These efforts are essential to ensure that the use of AI in traditional medicine is ethical, evidence-based, and inclusive. The new technical brief calls on all stakeholders to: * Invest in inclusive AI ecosystems that respect cultural diversity and Indigenous Data Sovereignty * Develop national policies and legal frameworks that address AI applications in traditional medicine * Build digital literacy and capacity among traditional medicine practitioners and communities * Establish global standards for data quality, interoperability, and ethical AI use * Safeguard traditional knowledge through AI-powered digital repositories and benefit-sharing models By aligning the power of AI with the wisdom of traditional medicine, a new paradigm of care can emerge--one that honors the past, empowers the present, and shapes a healthier, more equitable future for all. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Jul. 11A nonprofit has paid off $63 million in medical debt for more than 45,000 New Mexicans. Undue Medical Debt bulk purchases medical debt from hospitals, physician groups and collection agencies, then forgives it. New Mexicans all over the state have been getting blue letters in the mail notifying them their medical debt has been forgiven. Anonymous donors paid to purchase the debt. "There's nothing worse than medical debt, because it's something you have to have," said Lisa Tessler, a Nogal resident whose debt was forgiven by the nonprofit early this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, Tessler became seriously ill with a staph infection after dental work. Because she could not work, Tessler was covered by Medicaid but she still wound up with a $5,000 bill from X-ray technicians and approximately $1,000 from hospitalists. "It doesn't sound like a lot of money, but it is a lot of money when you don't have any," Tessler said. For four years, she went to a collection agency to pay off the X-ray technician bill. But the smaller bill lingered until she got the letter from Undue Medical Debt that her hospitalist bill was paid. "You have to have the medical work done, and then afterwards you have all these bills, and it's just overwhelming, and to be able to have them lifted from you is amazing," Tessler said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 2020, $881 million was the total medical debt in New Mexico, and 18% of New Mexicans had their medical debt sent to collections, according to a report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The average amount owed was $2,692 that year. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that between 2019 and 2021, an average of 9% of New Mexican adults reported having medical debt each year similar to the national average of 8.6%. Undue Medical Debt was founded by former debt collectors. Similar to debt collection agencies, the nonprofit purchases debt in bulk, allowing it to buy the debt for a lower cost. The organization chooses recipients based on income or percentage of income compared to the medical debt. So, recipients have to have income that is below 400% of the federal poverty level, approximately $100,000 for a family of three, or medical debt that is more than 5% of their annual income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The work that we do is really important. It helps people. But it is not the solution to the system," said Ruth Lande, vice president of provider relations. "The solution is that people need to have access to affordable health insurance." Lande is concerned that medical debt could rise with recent cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies and Medicaid passed by Congress and signed into law on July 4. The cities that most benefited from this recent round of debt relief are Las Cruces, Clovis, Albuquerque, Roswell and Hobbs. Over $10.8 million in medical debt was forgiven for 8,100 Las Cruces residents, and $7.6 million was forgiven for 5,600 Albuquerque residents. The nonprofit forgave $7.7 million in debt for Clovis residents, over $6 million for Roswell residents and close to $4.8 million for Hobbs residents. By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Russia's top diplomat his country was ready to "unconditionally support" Moscow's every effort to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, state media reported on Sunday, as the two countries held high-level strategic talks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was on a three-day visit to North Korea, which has provided troops and arms for Russia's war in Ukraine and has pledged more military support as Moscow tries to make advances in the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kim met Lavrov in the eastern coastal city of Wonsan where the two countries' foreign ministers held their second strategic dialogue, pledging further cooperation under a partnership treaty signed last year that includes a mutual defence pact. Kim told Lavrov the steps taken by the allies in response to radically evolving global geopolitics will contribute greatly to securing peace and security around the world, North Korea's state news agency KCNA reported. "Kim Jong Un reaffirmed the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) is ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis," KCNA said. Lavrov earlier held talks with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui in Wonsan, and they issued a joint statement pledging support to safeguard the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other's country, KCNA said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later on Sunday, North Korea's Defence Ministry said in a statement it stood ready to take military action to counter any security threat, in a warning against South Korea, Japan and the United States following a recent aerial drill by the allies. The warning followed a U.S. B-52 strategic bomber flight near South Korea flanked by the three countries' fighter jets in a defence exercise on Friday. The nuclear-armed North has previously issued similar threats. On Saturday, Lavrov described Russian-North Korean ties as "an invincible fighting brotherhood" in his meeting with Kim and thanked him for the troops deployed to Russia, according to Russian media. Relations between Russia and North Korea have deepened during the last two years of the war in Ukraine, which started in February 2022, with Pyongyang deploying more than 10,000 troops and arms to Russia to back Moscow's military campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, the intelligence arm of South Korea's Defence Ministry reported to parliament that North Korea continued to supply artillery ammunition to Russia and has so far shipped about 12 million rounds, Yonhap news said. The Defence Intelligence Agency, which made the report of an increased estimate, could not be reached for confirmation. Kim's government has pledged to send about 6,000 military engineers and builders to help reconstruction work in Russia's Kursk region. (Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Paul Simao, Michael Perry and Ros Russell) SHAMOKIN DAM Northumberland County Coroner James F. Kelley and his daughter, Mary Kate Kelley-Kirby, visited Friday afternoon the Orchard Hills Cemetery gravesite of a baby killed 24 years ago. Its been a tradition for Kelley and his daughter, who works with him at the familys funeral home business in Coal Township, to pay respects to the newborn he named after her lifeless body was found in a trash compactor on July 11, 2001. The infant was suffocated by her mother, Tracy Dupre, moments after birth in a Sunbury apartment and tossed out in the trash. Dupre is serving a life sentence for murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was born and had nobody right away, Kelley said of his decision to take time throughout the years to think of the slain baby and tend to her gravesite. He and his wife, Pattie, purchased a bronze grave marker for the infant in 2001 that was later stolen. The theft was discovered by Kelley in December 2014 when he visited at Christmastime. Donations paid for a replacement marker. Others also remember Baby Mary. Kelley pointed out a single white rose and decorative angel left at the grave near the wreath he and his daughter installed Friday. The violent loss of any child is difficult for Kelley, but the killing of Baby Mary struck a deeper chord for the man accustomed to dealing with death. Part of it was the way the baby was discovered, in the trash surrounded by flies and garbage, just two months before the birth of his first grandchild, Elyse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelley-Kirby, 32, said the death of Baby Mary also had a profound impact on her. I cannot imagine how anyone can harm someone so harmless, she said, adding shes vowed to continue to visit the gravesite when her father is no longer able. The murder of Baby Mary led to the passage of the Safe Haven Law in Pennsylvania that allows parents to anonymously abandon unharmed infants up to 28 days old at hospitals, police or emergency medical service stations without fear of prosecution. Since 2003, 51 babies have been relinquished under the Safe Haven Law in Pennsylvania. Baby Marys death was a terrible tragedy, but she could save lives, Kelley-Kirby said. Their mother was Jane Wu, a Chinese American neuroscientist at Northwestern University whose lab was abruptly shut down in May 2024 following a government investigation into her research activities and ties to China. Wu was never charged, and she died by suicide at 60 years old just months later. Her family recently filed a lawsuit against the school alleging that Northwestern discriminated against Wu even though she was cleared by shutting down her lab, forcing her into a psychiatric facility against her will and ultimately leading her to take her own life. Wus court records do not show any related charges. Her daughter, Elizabeth Rao, is now speaking to the media for the first time amid the one-year anniversary of Wus death. Rao talked about her mothers legacy and addressed the lawsuit that she hopes will result in the fair treatment of scholars like her mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As painful as it is for us as her family to recount how Northwestern treated her, we are seeking justice to prevent this from happening again to others in the future, Rao said. Wu, a neuroscientist, had a nearly 40-year career including nearly two decades at Northwestern, according to the complaint, which said her lab researched tumor development and metastasis, in addition to efforts to fight neurodegenerative diseases. A naturalized citizen, Wu lived in Chicago, enjoyed a wide variety of music ranging from Tanya Tucker to Taiwanese pop musician Teresa Teng and loved spending time with her two children. In 2019, the National Institutes of Health, a federal medical research agency that operates under the Department of Health and Human services, investigated Wu for any contacts related to China as part of a larger agency effort to investigate foreign influence at U.S. grantee institutions. Her work included occasional international contacts in China in addition to Argentina, Britain, Canada and more, the lawsuit said. While there were never any charges, Northwestern made efforts to limit her from working during the probe, the suit said. And when the investigation failed to turn up any revelations, the school still continued to punish her, the suit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NU did nothing to support her nor help lift the racial stigma placed over Dr. Wu despite her obvious innocence and the enormous funding her work had brought to NU, the lawsuit said. The Wu family suit, filed on June 23, says that the schools treatment of Wu, including its alleged efforts to oust her, her physical eviction from her office and forced hospitalization, was a substantial and decisive factor in her decision to end her life. The estate is seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages. Jane Wu at Yellowstone National Park. (Courtesy Elizabeth Rao) Northwestern said in an email that its heart goes out to the family, but it vehemently denies the allegations in the suit. The school plans to file a motion to dismiss it before our next pleading is due in early September, the university said. The school declined to provide further details on specific allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit says that even though there was no evidence of wrongdoing, the school still took action against Wu following the NIH investigation. Northwestern did not address its interactions with NIH. NIH faced backlash for alleged racial profiling after it began sending letters to universities in 2018 asking them to investigate hundreds of grant recipients, mostly those with collaborators in China. The letters were part of an effort by NIH to thwart the theft of biomedical research and intellectual property by other countries. Lawmakers in 2020 launched a probe into the agency as well as the FBI for their investigations of scientists of Asian descent. While NIH has said that most but not all scientists who were being investigated were of Chinese descent, the agency denied racial profiling. This is not xenophobic racism, this is not targeting and this is not stigma. This is real theft, Dr. Michael Lauer, NIH deputy director for extramural research, said of the agencys investigations into Asian scientists that showed instances of withholding information about funding sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, under the Justice Departments China Initiative, a number of scholars of Chinese descent across the country had been accused of espionage, including MITs Gang Chen in 2021, University of Tennessee, Knoxvilles Anming Hu in 2020 and Qing Wang formerly of the Cleveland Clinic that same year. All three were later acquitted. While the NIH investigations were not formally part of the China Initiative, they drew similar criticisms of discrimination. The Wu estate suit alleges Northwestern discriminated against her during the investigation by limiting her work, partly closing her lab space, breaking up her research team and reassigning her grants to white, male faculty colleagues and isolating her. During a meeting with university leadership in which Wu was being told about the investigation, she was asked to write a narrative related to activities in China, the lawsuit said. The family accused the school of racial discrimination because the university had already approved of her interactions in China and her work was public domain, the lawsuit said. Still, the school sought to limit Wus work even after the investigation had concluded and continued efforts to isolate her, the lawsuit said. Jane Wu with her children in Nashville, Tenn. (Courtesy Elizabeth Rao) When the investigation ended in 2023, the university placed even stronger restrictions to block Dr. Wus return to her funded scientific work, the lawsuit said. Among them, the dean of the universitys Feinberg School of Medicine, where Wu taught, cut her salary and raised new requirements she had to meet to restore her funded status, the suit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Months later, the school continued efforts to block Wus work, and by May, administrators shut down her lab entirely without explanation, the complaint said. The ordeal had contributed to signs of depression and obsessive behavior in Wu as she attempted to protect her lifes work, the complaint said. She also suffered from a loss of vision as a result of a stroke she had under the stress of the investigation, the lawsuit said. But she was still able to work. The school used her emotional disability as a pretext to evict her, and in late May, Northwestern sent law enforcement to remove her and place her in handcuffs, the lawsuit said. The school then forcibly admitted her to the psychiatric unit of the Northwestern Memorial Hospital without notifying loved ones or consulting outside doctors, the lawsuit said. Northwestern declined to comment about specific allegations, including those around salary, law enforcement and psychiatric treatment. The physical assault directed by NU and the forced hospitalization sent Dr. Wu into a severe state of shock, the complaint said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two weeks after her release from the hospital, Wu took her own life, the lawsuit said. In December, NIH released a statement acknowledging that its efforts to protect against concerning activities from China have had the consequence of creating a difficult climate for our valued Asian American, Asian immigrant and Asian research colleagues who may feel targeted and alienated. Wus story has drawn support from a number of members of the scientific community in addition to groups like the Asian American Scholar Forum, which condemned the schools treatment of the late scientist. Universities must be places of community, support, and fairness, not fear and coercion, said Gisela Perez Kusakawa, executive director of the Asian American Scholar Forum, in a statement on Wus death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Rao, many of her best memories are of Wu as a parent. She described her mother as the opposite of the strict and demanding tiger mom stereotype. Throughout Raos childhood, the family lived in St. Louis, Nashville, Tennessee, and then Chicago, she said. And in each of those cities, Wu turned simple houses into warm homes. Rao said she and her mother would hold hands and watch movies or immerse themselves in the quiz show Wait Wait Dont Tell Me! The two would also sing along to tunes during long drives, she said. She made sure that my brother and I had got not only a great education but also got to do all the stuff of a quintessential American childhood. Sports, road trips, dance classes, choir, you name it, Rao said. Rao said that her mother also left her family with a lesson. We carry this with us: her upstanding morals and conviction to fight against injustice, she said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Norway will provide Ukraine with 25 million Norwegian krone ($2.5 million) to support the country's cybersecurity defenses by the end of 2025, Ukraine's Digital Transformation Ministry announced on July 11. Norway's new commitment for Ukraine comes as Oslo announced it has become the 12th country to join the Tallinn Mechanism on cybersecurity to help protect Ukraine against cyber threats. "The Tallinn Mechanism is a key instrument of international support that helps Ukraine resist these attacks while building long-term digital resilience," Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement, as Oslo announced it's participation in the international mechanism during the final day of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine and 10 partner countries established the Tallinn mechanism in December 2023, with the aim of coordinating civilian cyber capacities to strengthen Ukraine's defense in cyberspace and long-term resilience. "Norway's accession to the Tallinn Mechanism is a powerful political gesture of support for Ukraine and a signal of the democratic world's readiness to further consolidate efforts to counter cyber threats and strengthen the global cybersecurity architecture," Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Digital Development Anton Demyokhin said in a statement. Having previously joined the Tallinn mechanism as an observer, Norway joins Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Sweden, the U.K., and the U.S., as a permanent member of the international mechanism. Since the start of Russia's full-scale war in February 2022, Russia has launched thousands of cyberattacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure, including power grids, telecom networks, the financial system, in an attempt to disrupt the country's abilities to sustain its defenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to coordinating cyberattacks against Ukraine, the Kremlin continues to target Ukraine's Western allies as it attempts to disrupt military supplies for the embattled country and damage Western resolve. Norway's cybersecurity support comes following its announcement on July 10 that Oslo will commit $200 million aimed at restoring and transforming Ukraine's energy sector. Norway also separately committed 42 million euros ($49 million) to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, targeting infrastructure protection against Russian attacks and development of more sustainable energy networks. Read also: With partner finances, Ukraine will shoot down everything amid escalating Russian drone attacks, Zelensky says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Norway has become the 12th country to join the Tallinn Mechanism, an international initiative that supports the strengthening of Ukraine's cyber defence. Source: press service for the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda Details: Norway's accession to the initiative was officially announced during the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which took place in Rome. Prior to this, the country had joined the initiative as an observer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Tallinn Mechanism is a key instrument of international support that helps Ukraine counter these attacks and, meanwhile, build long-term digital resilience. The Norwegian government allocates 25 million kroner (US$2.5 million) annually to this area within the civil component of the Nansen Programme. This support is long-term and scalable," said Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. Within the framework of the partnership, Norway plans to provide more than 100 million hryvnias (US$2.4 million) by the end of 2025. The funds will be used to support projects that increase the cyber resilience of Ukraine's civil and critical infrastructure. Background: It was also reported that the Italian Foreign Ministry decided to allocate 1 million euros for the implementation of projects within the Tallinn Mechanism to strengthen support for Ukraine in the cyber sphere. In early July, the Swedish International Development Agency allocated a new aid package to Ukraine within the Tallinn Mechanism. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Brief An off-duty U.S. Border Patrol officer was charged with assaulting a Long Beach police officer and resisting arrest. Isaiah Anthony Hodgson, 29, allegedly became physical with officers while intoxicated and armed at Shoreline Village. Hodgson faces up to seven years in prison if convicted and has been ordered not to possess firearms. LONG BEACH, Calif. - An off-duty U.S. Border Patrol officer has been charged with felony and misdemeanor counts, including assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest, following an incident on July 7 in Long Beach's Shoreline Village. What we know Isaiah Anthony Hodgson, an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol officer, was charged on July 11 by the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office with multiple counts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These include three felony counts of resisting an executive officer, one felony count of battery with injury on a peace officer, and three misdemeanor counts related to carrying firearms in public. On July 7, Hodgson was reportedly intoxicated and armed with a handgun at a restaurant in Shoreline Village. SUGGESTED: Ventura County ICE raid: Farmworkers critically injured, others unaccounted for, union says He allegedly entered the women's restroom, where a woman observed his handgun and firearm magazine. After she alerted the restaurant manager, Hodgson reportedly left the restaurant. Outside in the parking lot, a security guard saw Hodgson with a firearm magazine and a firearm on his waistband, and repeatedly asked him to leave due to the no-firearms policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long Beach police officers arrived after receiving a call about a person with a gun. They reportedly observed Hodgson to be intoxicated and uncooperative with their commands as they attempted to detain him. SUGGESTED: Undocumented kids found during raid of Ventura County farm: DHS During his resistance to arrest, Hodgson allegedly became agitated and physical, injuring one of the officers. Dig deeper Hodgson was also allegedly involved in a violent arrest in Pico Rivera earlier this month. On that day, immigration officers shoved Adrian Martinez, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen, to the ground after Martinez approached officers trying to arrest another man. Officials originally claimed that Martinez punched two Customs and Border Patrol agents, but security footage from the scene appeared to show Martinez throwing no punches. A judge later released him. What they're saying District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman stated, "The conduct exhibited by Mr. Hodgson, a Border Patrol agent who has the duty to uphold the law and protect its citizens, is unacceptable and deeply troubling." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hochman added, "No one is above the law, regardless of their position or badge. Law enforcement officers have a responsibility to always conduct themselves with integrity and professionalism. Our office will pursue prosecution accordingly to ensure justice is served." SUGGESTED: Mayor Bass signs executive directive to support immigrant communities amid ongoing raids What's next Hodgson was arraigned on July 11. His next court date is scheduled for July 17. As conditions of his release, the court has ordered Hodgson not to possess any firearms, not to leave the State of California, and to attend at least three alcohol counseling meetings per week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUGGESTED: Judge considers blocking immigration raids in Southern California amid ACLU lawsuit If convicted as charged, Hodgson faces a possible maximum sentence of seven years in state prison. The Source This report is based on charges filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, including direct quotes from District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. The details of the incident and the investigation were provided by the Long Beach Police Department. HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) A Hartford, Kentucky police officer is recovering after crashing his cruiser in a ditch chasing a suspect. The Ohio County Sheriffs Office says on July 11, deputies were called to a vehicle crash with injuries in the area of Mud College and Johnson School roads. Officials state when a Hartford officer made contact with the suspect, the suspect fled. When chasing the suspect, officials say the officer crashed into the ditch. Officials say with the assistance of EMA, drones were deployed and was able to recover the vehicle the suspect fled in. The suspect was identified as Castulo Garcia and will have warrants for his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). DENVER (KDVR) A Thornton Police Department officer who shot and killed a man in a residential area in October 2024 was deemed justified in his actions, the 17th Judicial District Attorney decided. Following an investigation, the DA concluded that the officers actions were reasonable and justified as the suspect continued to pose a threat to the lives of police and residents in the area after refusing opportunities to surrender and firing at police. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of shots were fired and one struck an officer in the shoulder. Two officers were treated for injuries at hospitals. The DA said that the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges against the officer who fired the shot that killed the shooter, identified as William Skells. Negotiation efforts continue after shots fired at police The shooting happened the morning of Oct. 9 in the 16000 block of Columbine Street. Police responded just before 8 a.m. after a 911 caller reported hearing gunshots and a fire alarm, and seeing smoke from a residence, according to a decision letter from the DA. Multiple officers responded and set up a perimeter around the home, taking cover behind vehicles. Police learned from his mother that Skells was the only person inside the residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police saw Skells open a sliding glass door to the back patio, which let smoke out into the air and allowed police to hear the fire alarms going off. An officer trained in crisis intervention communicated with Skells using a bullhorn, with help from another officer who relayed what Skells was saying over the radio. Previous coverage: 2 Thornton officers injured in shooting, suspect killed Around 8:40 a.m., a gunshot was heard coming from the home, which police said sounded like it was from a handgun. Police believed Skells was near the rear door but could not see him through the smoke inside. Just after 9 a.m., three shots were fired from the south side of the home toward two officers, who were taking cover behind a parked vehicle and were uninjured. The crisis negotiation unit continued trying to communicate with him, but was unsuccessful. At 9:12 a.m., an officer recognized the sound of a gunshot fired from a rifle. Communication efforts continued and Skells claimed he was going to surrender, according to the letter. Officer hit as suspect ramps up gunfire Police told him to come outside with nothing in his hands and they would help, but he did not surrender and three shots were fired from the garage toward officers out front. An officer was struck in the shoulder, and another officer returned fire, which did not hit anyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a pause in gunfire and radio traffic was updated that an officer was down. Then, the DAs letter said he fired another five shots at the officers, then fired nine rounds in the direction of two other officers in front of the home, who covered behind a patrol car and were uninjured. After a short break, an officer estimated that another six to eight shots were fired toward officers who took cover and could not see him. Once the firing stopped, an officer used a shield to cover the wounded officer as he was taken to a hospital to be treated for the gunshot wound and a laceration to his chin. Another officer was taken to a hospital and was treated for multiple lacerations on his face. Police positioned behind the home could hear the gunfire but could not see what was happening. They were told over the radio that an officer was down. Just before 9:30 a.m., Skells walked out on the back patio. Police did not see anything in his hands and instructed him to put his hands up. 2 officers decide to fire shots Skells complied at first but put his hands down and took a seat. The decision letter said he at times would put his hands up, then return them to his lap, grabbing around his leg and waist area. Police could not see if anything was in his hands and said he appeared to be looking around to survey where the officers were positioned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this point, after having given Mr. Skells the opportunity to surrender peacefully, officers were concerned that Mr. Skells had identified their location that and he would return inside, take a position of cover, and seek to shoot and possibly kill police officers, as he had done to the police officers stationed at the front of his residence, the DAs letter states. Skells stood up and moved toward the door to go inside and ignored the commands to stop from police. An officer fired two shots, and one of them hit Skells in the abdomen. Man arrested for allegedly shooting toward teens trespassing near property: Boulder sheriff According to the letter, the officer who fired the shots described his decision and said he believed Skells posed an ongoing threat to officers and the community and was not going to give up, noting that an officer had already been shot. Another officer also perceived the threat and pulled the trigger of his rifle, but it malfunctioned and did not fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officers believed this was the opportunity to stop the shooter from returning inside and retrieving weapons. Skells reentered the home. Police asked if he needed medical help and got no response. A drone was sent into the residence to evaluate the scene, and the SWAT team entered and found Skells dead in the home. Investigators noted numerous bullet holes and shell casings inside the home, around the property and nearby vehicles. They found a .40 caliber Glock and a Ruger AR-15 and ammo for each. An autopsy confirmed that Skells died of a single gunshot wound that injured internal organs, and a toxicology report came back positive for ethanol, cannabinoids and nicotine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. South Dakota officials have added another county to a pest quarantine list as they try to slow the spread of the killer emerald ash borer. The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) expanded the ban on the movement of firewood to Grant County, Keloland News reported. Brookings, Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner, and Union counties were already under the embargo. The beetle has been doing its worst in the cities of Brookings, Canton, Dakota Dunes, Milbank, and Sioux Falls, infesting and threatening millions of ash trees. Residents within 15 miles of Milbank were encouraged to contact a commercial applicator to save their trees, the TV station noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Ball, DANR forest health specialist, said the insect could survive in a felled tree for a year, meaning cutting down affected trees is not a solution by itself. "We'll never stop the insect, but the longer we can slow it moving from county to county, that buys more time for communities to prepare for it," Ball told Keloland News. The outlet said it is forbidden to transport firewood and ash materials outside of the quarantined counties for one year. Untreated firewood has been prohibited from entering South Dakota from states to the east, as well as where the emerald ash borer has been found. "Then we're able to prevent the spread as best we can by limiting essentially the firewood and other regulated articles, such as ash nursery stock, ash logs, ash lumber, ash chips or mulch, wood packing material," Brenda Sievers, DANR plant industry program manager, told Keloland News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The invasive species was found in the United States in 2002 and South Dakota in 2018. It is damaging and killing perhaps billions of trees throughout the Eastern U.S. and Canada. The emerald ash borer, originally from China, lays eggs on the bark of ash trees. After hatching, larvae burrow into the tree to feed, cutting off the trees' conveyance of nutrients and causing quick dieoffs. When the young become adults, they exit the trees, leaving D-shaped holes. Researchers have found that ash trees in the Western U.S. have a genetic variation that could protect them from the beetle, which kills 90% of the trees it infects. An Oregon ash in the southern part of the state has proved more resilient than other species to the emerald ash borer as well as higher temperatures, offering hope that not only the trees can be saved but also ecosystems and other species, including fish, that rely on the protection, such as shade, provided by the plant. This shows the importance of mitigating the spread of invasive species. The state Department of Agriculture advises that small ash trees should be cut down before they are infested, while larger trees should be treated with insecticide. Parasitoid wasps, which prey on the beetles, have also proved helpful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've certainly slowed the spread in South Dakota," Ball told Keloland News. "Not only do the quarantines work, but we both appreciate the fact that South Dakotans are actually following the quarantine and not moving firewood." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. VMPL Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 12: In a landmark step towards eliminating tuberculosis (TB) in India, Rotary Club Indirapuram Galore has strengthened Ghaziabad's rural healthcare infrastructure by donating a state-of-the-art portable digital X-ray machine to the District Tuberculosis (TB) Department. This impactful initiative is supported by EMU Lines Pvt. Ltd., the CSR arm of District Governor Dr. Amita Mohindru's organization, in collaboration with The Rotary Foundation. This advanced equipment aims to transform TB diagnosis, making it faster, more accessible, and more accurate, especially for underserved and remote communities. Advancing TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan This initiative aligns with the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji's TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, a campaign striving to eliminate TB in India by 2025, in sync with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Taking Diagnosis Directly to the Doorstep Until now, rural TB patients often faced limited access to diagnostic services due to distance, cost, and lack of transportation. The introduction of this portable digital X-ray unit overcomes these challenges by allowing healthcare teams to reach patients in their own villages. This compact, lightweight, and mobile machine: * Operates with a single technician * Eliminates the need for traditional X-ray films * Reduces operational costs * Delivers instant, high-quality digital imaging Early diagnosis is critical in halting TB transmission--this innovation brings that goal within reach. A Momentous Handover Ceremony The handover took place at the District Health Department Complex, Ghaziabad, in a well-attended ceremony. Distinguished dignitaries present included: * Dr. Amita Mohindru, District Governor, Rotary District 3012 (Chief Guest) * Mr. Abhinav Gopal, Chief Development Officer (CDO) * Dr. Akhilesh Mohan, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) * Dr. Amit Vikram, Additional CMO * Dr. Anil Yadav, District TB Officer * Capt. Dr. Anil Mohindru, CMD, EMU Lines Pvt. Ltd. (Special Guest of Honour) Rotary Club Indirapuram Galore was represented by: * President Rtn. Sandeep Indoria * Past President Rtn. Prateek Bhargava * Secretary Rtn. Arun Kumar * Treasurer Rtn. Manisha Bhargava * Along with several dedicated Rotary members Digital Imaging: Efficient, Cost-Effective & Scalable Replacing traditional film-based X-rays, the digital system drastically cuts time and cost--making diagnosis quicker, data storage easier, and integration with digital health systems possible. This initiative supports: * Real-time diagnostics * Remote consultations * Centralized tracking of TB cases * Improved reporting and planning by health authorities Focus on Rural Outreach: The Core Objective The portable X-ray unit will specifically target remote and underserved populations, empowering frontline health workers to: 1. Detect TB early 2. Provide instant diagnosis 3. Initiate treatment swiftly 4. Reduce patient travel and hospital burden It ensures no more long queues, delays, or missed diagnoses--a critical improvement for thousands of rural families. Rotary's Continued Commitment to Public Health This is the fourth major healthcare project initiated under DG Dr. Amita Mohindru's leadership for the 2025-26 Rotary year. Rotary Clubs worldwide, including in India, have long contributed to healthcare through: * Polio eradication * Maternal and child health * Sanitation campaigns * Immunization drives * And now, TB elimination CSR in Action: EMU Lines Pvt. Ltd. Leads by Example EMU Lines Pvt. Ltd.'s generous support exemplifies how corporate social responsibility (CSR) can drive impactful community change. Their involvement strengthens healthcare equity and sets a benchmark for responsible business leadership. Future Commitments and Rotary Engagement The ceremony also highlighted upcoming involvement of senior Rotary leaders and volunteers, including: * PDG J.K. Gaur, PDG Deepak Gupta * Incoming Governors Rtn. Amit Gupta (2026-27) and Rtn. Ravi Bali (2027-28) * Assistant Governor Rtn. Akshay Goel * Dedicated volunteers like Dr. Neha, Mr.Raghvendra Chauhan, and Mr.Deepak Gupta Their continued support ensures this project evolves into a long-term healthcare model for other regions to follow. Supporting the National TB Elimination Program This donation supports the Indian Government's National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination (2017-2025), particularly its diagnostic and treatment pillars. Key national objectives include: * Early, accurate diagnosis * Universal drug-resistance testing * Patient-centric care * Awareness and prevention * Stakeholder accountability Portable digital X-ray machines are key enablers in achieving these goals. Conclusion: A Technological Leap Toward a TB-Free India The Rotary Club Indirapuram Galore's donation of a portable digital X-ray machine represents a pivotal advancement in rural healthcare delivery. It enhances diagnostic capacity, reduces costs, and most importantly, brings medical services directly to those in need. With robust public-private partnerships, community commitment, and leadership from Rotary and its partners, India's dream of becoming TB-free by 2025 is not just aspirational--it's achievable. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) Officials have identified the two people who died after their boat collided with a break wall Wednesday in the New Haven Harbor. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) identified Stratford residents Cynthia Ferk, 64, and Floyd Maxson, 67, as the boaters. Boating community searching for answers after deadly crash in New Haven Harbor The pair were found unresponsive by state polices dive team and later pronounced deceased by the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early Investigation determined Ferk and Maxson were last seen dining at a New Haven restaurant before the fatal crash. The two were reported missing to the Coast Guard when they failed to return from their boat ride between Stratford and Norwalk. On Friday morning, the involved boat was recovered with visible damage to the front hull. The crash remains under investigation by the Environmental Conservation Police. Crews recover boat involved in deadly crash in New Haven Harbor We extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims during this difficult time and remain committed to a thorough investigation, said a DEEP official. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors reflected on the crash that claimed the lives of Ferk and Maxson. You know I came down here a couple times today and you look and see and theres a sadness that comes over you because of what happened, said James Wright. Anyone with information on this fatal crash must contact DEEP Dispatch at 860-424-3333. Stay with News 8 for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. The Securities and Exchange Commission and Georgia officials are investigating a Georgia businessman and GOP supporter accused of perpetrating a Ponzi scheme defrauding hundreds of investors out of more than $140 million, and using some of the money for political donations. Authorities have accused Georgia-based Liberty Building & Loan and its owner Edwin Brand Frost IV of defrauding more than 300 investors. According to a complaint filed by the SEC, Frost "misappropriated a significant amount" of the company's investor assets, including $570,000 in investor funds used to make political donations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: How far would a wife go to keep $2M Ponzi scheme a secret? The complaint also said $335,000 in investor funds was paid to a rare coin dealer, $230,000 was used to rent a vacation home in Kennebunkport, Maine, $140,000 was used to purchase jewelry and $20,800 was used to purchase a Patek Philippe watch. "Given that First Liberty was operating at a loss, Frost was not entitled to these funds according to what he told investors as to how he would be compensated," the civil complaint, filed in Georgia on Thursday, said. According to the complaint, Frost and his companies in part told investors their funds would be used to make short-term small business loans, and that they would receive large returns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Beginning no later than 2021, First Liberty began operating as a Ponzi scheme," the complaint alleged. Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images - PHOTO: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) headquarters during an Occupy the SEC rally in Washington, D.C., Jan. 27, 2023. The complaint alleged the company started soliciting funds first from "friends and family," but last year "started a more widespread public solicitation of potential advisors," advertising on radio and podcasts. According to the complaint, "Most, if not all, of the funds raised through the publicly advertised offering were either misappropriated or used to make Ponzi-style payments to existing investors." Frost, in a statement provided by his attorney, said he takes complete responsibility and is working to pay back investors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I take full responsibility for my actions and am resolved to spend the rest of my life trying to repay as much as I can to the many people I misled and let down," Frost said in the statement. "I will be cooperating with the receiver and federal authorities and ask that everyone allow the receiver time to sort things out and do his best to repair the damage I created. I would like to apologize personally to those I have harmed." A message on the company's website said it had "ceased all business operations" and is "cooperating with federal authorities as part of an effort to accomplish an orderly wind-up of the business." Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement that his office has an "active and ongoing investigation" and encouraged any potential victims to come forward "immediately." MORE: Bernie Madoff's victims to receive final payout totaling $131 million Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An FBI official told ABC News, "The FBI is aware of the allegations. However, the FBI does not comment upon the existence or the nonexistence of any investigation. Anyone who believes they have information about the matter can file a complaint at tips.fbi.gov." On Friday, a judge in Georgia entered an order freezing the defendants' assets, among other measures. The SEC said the defendants had consented to the move "without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint." ABC News' Luke Barr contributed to this report. The Trump administration's continued attacks on federal funding have experts concerned as the Atlantic hurricane season enters its second month. What's happening? With the possible elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency beginning in December, it is vital for Americans to be able to produce their own power, EnergySage reported. The independent platform, which offers free tools to get solar system installation estimates and compare quotes, noted that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted another busy hurricane season, projecting 13-19 named storms through November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Congress would have to sanction a FEMA takedown, the agency has already lost a quarter of its staff, meaning states, local governments, utilities, and individuals will bear more of a burden after natural disasters. Solar power paired with battery backup is the best way for people to ensure energy resilience in the face of this obstacle. "From cities to small towns, we all rely on [federal aid] in the state of Florida because the disasters have been so widespread," Melissa Nelson, CEO of United Ways of Florida, told EnergySage. "FEMA offers all kinds of programs including trainings that equip local government and enable community members to assist in recovery that could all be impacted." Why is this important? EnergySage noted that outdated infrastructure across the country cannot keep pace with electricity demand, especially during extreme weather events such as hurricanes, which are increasing in intensity as the planet warms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Without enough support from FEMA, utility companies will have to absorb a greater share of disaster response and grid restoration efforts when these storms hit costs they're likely to pass on to consumers through higher utility rates," EnergySage's Casey McDevitt wrote. "Recovery timelines could stretch longer, especially in hard-hit areas and rural areas, leaving communities without power when they need it most." Because rising global temperatures are creating more frequent and severe extreme weather events, "the strain on the grid will only grow," per EnergySage. These droughts, floods, wildfires, and more wreak havoc on communities and create billions of dollars in damages every year. They are exacerbated by the burning of dirty energy sources, so the risk can be mitigated by turning to clean energy sources such as solar and wind. These renewables are not only cheaper than coal, gas, and oil but also don't contribute to the heat-trapping pollution that is causing the problem in the first place. EnergySage can help you get started with its free services, which include a mapping tool that shows the average cost of a home solar panel system in each state as well as details about available incentives. By going this route, the average person can score nearly $10,000 in incentives for a solar purchase and installation. What's being done about FEMA cuts? Because Congress has the final say, you have a voice. Call your representatives and tell them what you think about cuts to FEMA and the potential abolishment of the department. Vote for candidates who support climate action and the work that FEMA and other agencies do to protect people and property from damaging storms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you're thinking about installing solar panels, act soon before the rebates go away. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Deaths from recent flash floods across the country have caught peoples attention. Floods in Kerr County, Texas have killed around 100 people. Other flash floods have impacted communities in North Carolina, New Mexico and Vermont. Some regions closer to Ashtabula County have also been hit with flash flooding. Hocking Hills State Park had to close off trails at the beginning of the month after flash flooding, according to the parks social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, Ohio and Wheeling counties in West Virginia dealt with flash flooding that killed six people. Ashtabula County Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Fitchet said Ashtabula County is flatter, so there is less chance of standing water to build up or for gravity to pull water down onto low lying areas. We get isolated flooding, he said. Rain in the county also has an easy time draining into Lake Erie, Fitchet said. A lot of this water has a place to go, he said. Much of the countys isolated flooding occurs at various underpasses in Geneva, Conneaut and Ashtabula, he said. Ashtabula Fire Captain John Paul said flooding in the city is generally concentrated around the Main Avenue, Center Street and Lake Avenue underpasses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a moderate risk, especially the underpasses, he said. The fire department typically responds to cars stuck in water when heavy rain events occur, Paul said. Both Paul and Fitchet had similar things to say about what to be aware of when driving during heavy raining. Theres a saying, turn around, dont drown, Paul said. Fitchet said people should not drive on flooded roads, where they are not sure how deep the water is. In those cases, people just need to turn around, Fitchet said. Paul said people should watch for downed power lines during heavy rain, especially if the lines fall into standing water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fitchet said there are many apps and services county residents can use to keep and eye on the weather, and be informed of emergency situations. People can sign up for ReadyAlert, which will send notifications to their phone about local weather events like flooding or tornados, by going to the countys website or the EMAs Facebook page, he said. People can also download OHGO, an app from the Ohio Department of Transportation, which shows cameras from ODOT highways, Fitchet said. Its a good tool, he said. Fitchet also recommended people download a weather notification app from the National Weather Service or a local news station. Ohio has been ranked in the top five best states for business. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Earlier this week, CNBC released its Americas Top States for Business rankings for 2025, and Ohio came in fifth overall. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study, which is in its 19th year, scored all 50 U.S. states on 135 business-related metrics that are separated into 10 broad categories. The study identifies the factors that companies consider when making site selection decisions and those that states tout when looking to attract and retain businesses to form the categories. The fifth-place ranking is an improvement from Ohios 2024 overall ranking of seventh place. Ohio ranked first in Infrastructure, the second-heaviest weight category in the study, whereas in 2024 it ranked 13th. The study enhanced its Infrastructure metrics in the 2025 edition to determine how states are delivering on companies power and data demands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio also landed in the top five of four of the other 10 broad categories, including second in Cost of Doing Business, sixth in Technology & Innovation, and seventh in both Access to Capital and Cost of Living. However, Ohio ranked in the 20s for Economy, Business Friendliness, and Education, and at 31 for Workforce. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce included the Americas Top States for Business rankings in the benchmarks of its new three-year strategic plan to maintain economic competitiveness, with a top-five rank as one of its highest priorities. While these new rankings arent surprising, they are encouraging, Steve Stivers, President & CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said. We know Ohio is a great state we have a low cost of living and a high quality of life, and our GDP is the seventh largest in the country. Were proud that others are recognizing our potential as a top state for business. We do still have work to do, but our improvement this year shows that were certainly on the right track. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Ohio teams aid Texas efforts; Gov. DeWine praises volunteers DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Gov. Mike DeWine issued a statement on the work of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) in Texas on Saturday. The crews are working in disaster relief efforts for the tragic Texas Hill Country flood. As of July 12, the flood has killed at least 121, with a reported 160 additional people missing. How do you explain a natural disaster to a child? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I spoke with some members of our state teams in Texas this morning as they prepared to begin their fourth day of recovery work along the Guadalupe River, wrote DeWine. Crews from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio Department of Natural Resources are embedded with the Texas Department of Public Safety in three separate units, combing through the devastation left behind by last weeks catastrophic flash floods. He said he is remarkably proud of the work the volunteers have been doing in and around the Camp Mystic area. Miami Valley supporting Texas flood victims with supplies, manpower Our teams including several ODNR K-9s trained for search, rescue, and recovery missions have been working long hours in hot temperatures, and I couldnt be more proud of those who volunteered for this mission, said DeWine. When Ohio sees another state suffering, we dont hesitate to help. Troopers tell me that the enormity of the destruction is unlike anything theyve ever seen, especially in the area near Camp Mystic, but they remain motivated to do all they can to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He closed the statement with a message thing the crews for their selfless dedication to the citizens of Texas. Fran and I continue to pray for everyone impacted by this tragedy. Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers began working in Texas on Friday, July 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. The boss of a brothel for Oklahoma's pot farms has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking. "I'm so sorry," Feng Jiang said through a translator at his sentencing on Friday, July 11. "I have never hurt anybody. I never forced them to do anything." Oklahoma County District Judge Cindy Truong chose the punishment. Jiang, 46, pleaded no contest in June to two counts of human trafficking for commercial sex. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of proceeds from unlawful activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had faced up to life in prison. Prosecutors sought a sentence of 10 years in prison and 10 years on probation. The victims came from China, oftentimes believing they would have legitimate jobs in the United States, prosecutors told the judge. One said she thought she was going to be a karaoke bar hostess. "These women are treated as property rather than human beings," Assistant Attorney General Emily Grossnicklaus said at the sentencing. "Mr. Jiang has been doing this since 2018." The judge also fined Jiang $30,000. In announcing the sentence, Truong made clear she wants it to be a deterrent. She said she hopes he tells others what happened to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is not acceptable to do this," she said. The judge agreed to review her decision June 15. Jiang was given credit for time served in the Oklahoma County jail. He faces deportation to China once he is released from prison. A state multicounty grand jury indicted Jiang in September 2023. He was arrested a month later in New York City. After his arrest, Attorney General Gentner Drummond said human trafficking was far two prevalent in Oklahoma. "Law enforcement has stepped up its efforts to stamp out this horrific criminal activity," the AG said. An anonymous tip in October 2022 led to an investigation of the brothel at a rented one-story house in northwest Oklahoma City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Evidence from the investigation shows many of the clients of the brothel were managers and administrators of commercial marijuana farms," the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control said in a news release in 2023. The address had constant traffic, a narcotics agent reported in a court affidavit. Multiple times a day, vehicles, occupied by single men, arrived at the house, the agent reported. The men would stay less than an hour. Evidence found in the trash from the location included envelopes with dollar amounts and Mandarin characters, boarding passes for women and dozens of used condoms. The investigation found women also were trafficked at other houses and at hotels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jiang was in charge of choosing the women, prosecutors told the judge in court papers before trial. He determined how long they would be under his oversight, the locations of the sex acts and the price. He also created a website to post advertisements of the women, prosecutors disclosed. Agents seized $19,104 from his home in Edmond during a raid on Feb. 23, 2023. Jiang was born in China, the son of a fisherman, according to a presentence report prepared for the judge. He said for the report that he came to the United States in 2000 after dropping out of middle school in China. He said he has worked at restaurants in New York and Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Oklahoma pot farm 'accountant' going to prison as a result of 2022 massacre investigation He has a pending human trafficking case in Massachusetts, according to the report. Prosecutors had planned to call at trial a girlfriend to testify that she used to work for him at a brothel in Massachusetts. Oklahoma became known for a time as "the Wild West of Weed" after voters legalized medical marijuana in 2018. Thousands of pot grows sprang up across the state. Many operated illegally, using "straw owners" to bypass residency requirement and sell their marijuana on the black market. The attorney general has long blamed Chinese nationals for the issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of 2022, 8,400 farms were operating with an active registration at the narcotics bureau. "Today, that number stands at approximately 2,100," the bureau said Friday. Marijuana plants at the HotStar Farm LLC in Jennings were seized on Friday, July 11, during a raid by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control. Narcotics agents raided HotStar Farm LLC in Jennings on Friday and seized 34,263 live plants and 378 pounds of processed marijuana, the bureau reported. An investigation determined it had a fraudulent registration, the bureau reported. Also indicted in 2023 as a result of the investigation into the brothel was Jian Lin, 33. He is still being sought, the narcotics bureau confirmed Friday. Lin is accused in his human trafficking case of picking women up from the airport, taking them to the brothel and getting them groceries and condoms. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: A pimp for Oklahoma's medical marijuana farms sentenced to prison This article was originally published in Oklahoma Voice. OKLAHOMA CITY Those who knew Melissa Evon the best laughed really hard at the thought of her teaching family and consumer sciences, formerly known as home economics. By her own admission, the Elgin High School teacher is not the best cook. Her first attempt to sew ended with a broken sewing machine and her mother declaring, You can buy your clothes from now on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Evons work in family and consumer sciences won her the 2025 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year award on Friday. Yes, her students practice cooking and sewing, but they also learn how to open a bank account, file taxes, apply for scholarships, register to vote and change a tire lessons she said get kids ready to be adults. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Even though most of my career was (teaching) history, government and geography, the opportunity to teach those real life skills has just been a phenomenal experience, Evon told Oklahoma Voice. After graduating from Mustang High School and Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Evon started her teaching career in 1992 at Elgin Public Schools just north of Lawton. Shes now entering her 27th year in education, a career that included stints in other states while her husband served in the Air Force and a break after her son was born. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No matter the state, the grade level or the subject, Im convinced I teach the worlds greatest kids, she said. Her family later returned to Oklahoma where Evon said she received a great education in public schools and was confident her son would, too. Over the course of her career, before and after leaving the state, she won Elgin Teacher of the Year three times, district Superintendent Nathaniel Meraz said. So, Meraz said he was ecstatic but not shocked that Evon won the award at the state level. There would be nobody better than her, Meraz said. They may be as good as her. They may be up there with her. But she is in that company of the top teachers. Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Melissa Evon has won her districts top teacher award three times. (Photo provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Education) Like all winners of Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, Evon will spend a year out of the classroom to travel the state as an ambassador of the teaching profession. She said her focus will be encouraging teachers to stay in education at a time when Oklahoma struggles to keep experienced educators in the classroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evon herself at times questioned whether to continue teaching, she said. In those moments, she drew upon mantras that are now the core of her Teacher of the Year platform: See the light by looking for the good in every day and be the light for your kids. She also told herself to get out of the boat, another way of saying take a leap of faith. Two years ago, she realized she needed a change if she were to stay in education. She wanted to return to the high-school level after years of teaching seventh-grade social studies. The only opening at the high school, though, was family and consumer sciences. Accepting the job was a get out of the boat and take a leap of faith moment, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think teachers have to be willing to do that when we get stuck, Evon said. Get out of the boat. Sometimes thats changing your curriculum. Sometimes it might be more like what I did, changing what you teach. Maybe its changing grade levels, changing subjects, changing something youve always done, tweaking that idea. Since then, shes taught classes focused on interpersonal communication, parenting, financial literacy and career opportunities. She said her students are preparing to become adults, lead families and grow into productive citizens. And, sure, they learn cooking and sewing along the way. Im getting to teach those things, and I know that what I do matters, Evon said. They come back and tell me that. Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com. Still reveling in his political comeback after surviving two near-miss assassination attempts, last December, then-President-elect Trump stopped by the Christmas party of the Secret Service detail that was responsible for both saving his life and the failures that nearly ended it. Trump, at the time, responded to the mixed feelings in trademark fashion: He regaled the agents gathered for some light-hearted celebration after a turbulent few months but didnt mince words for one junior agent who was charged with leading security for the Butler and he appeared to hold responsible for some of the most glaring failures. "As you guys can see, that person is no longer welcome here," he told the crowd, elaborating that he didnt want this agent anywhere near him ever again, according to several Secret Service sources familiar with his comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fast forward seven months, just days away from the one-year anniversary of the failures at the Butler rally: The Secret Service announced limited disciplinary actions for those it deemed responsible for security lapses. Six agents, including Myosoty Perez, whom Trump was referring to at the December party, have been placed on 10-42 days of unpaid leave for their roles in the egregious security breaches. Were Not Going To "Fire [Our] Way Out of This" No agents were fired, and the Secret Service argued that the entire agency had failed, not just the individuals, so firings wouldnt solve the problem. Matt Quinn, the agencys deputy director, told CBS News that they "werent going to fire [their] way out of this," stressing instead they would be "laser-focused on fixing the root cause of the problem." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Secret Service didnt disclose their names, roles, or where they fell in the 10-42 suspension. RealClearPolitics, however, revealed the names of the six suspended agents on Thursday, along with the outraged reaction from the public and within the rank-and-file Secret Service agents and officers over such mild punishment. While Trumps life was saved, Corey Comperatore, a retired firefighter who attended the rally, was shot to death while beside his wife and daughters that day. After hearing about the light suspensions this week, his widow, Helen Comperatore, lashed out at the Secret Service, calling it "garbage" and a "hot mess" and complained that neither Curran nor any Secret Service agents had ever met with her to explain how they allowed shooter Thomas Crooks an opening to kill her husband. "We were all sitting ducks that day. Our blood is all over their hands. I am angry. I lost the love of my life. They screwed up," Helen Comperatore told Fox News, while demanding far more accountability from the Secret Service. Trump called Helen Comperatore after watching her interview and pledged to always be there for her. Curran phoned her as well, saying he felt heartbroken after hearing how she felt ahead of the one-year anniversary of the shooting in Butler. He agreed to meet with her to review the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Secret Service agents watching the heart-wrenching spectacle play out over the last 48 hours sympathized with the Comperatore familys resentment. The Secret Service press release announcing the slap-on-the-wrist penalties "might as well have been a Babylon Bee headline or a twisted episode of Antiques Roadshow," one agent remarked to RCP. "Secret Service Appraises the Life of Corey Comperatore as Being Worth Somewhere Between 10 and 42 Days of Unpaid Suspension." "God bless the Comperatore family," the agent added. "They deserve better from us." Secret Service Brass Didnt Share Threat Intel With Many Rally Planners While theres ongoing frustration over the light punishments, Quinn isnt wrong that the Secret Services problems run deep. Despite two thorough congressional investigations last year and another conducted by a bipartisan Independent Review Board, alarming new information continues to surface about the internal agency mismanagement that created openings for the two assassination attempts last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Chuck Grassley on Saturday morning released a new report concluding that senior-level Secret Service leaders received classified intelligence regarding a threat to Trumps life ten days before the Butler rally. Last year, in the wake of the Butler rally, Grassley released sensitive information about an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump after several reports surfaced that the FBI, one day before the Butler rally, had arrested a Pakistani man with ties to Iran who was in New York actively trying to solicit and pay would-be assassins. Despite the early classified briefings about a threat, those senior officials failed to relay the information to federal and local law enforcement personnel responsible for securing and staffing the event. Those excluded from the briefing shockingly include Perez, the agent in charge of planning and executing security for the July 13 Trump event, the Government Accountability Office found. Grassley commissioned the GAO to investigate the rally failures. Sources in the Secret Service community, however, tell RCP that Perez may have not be forthcoming with GAO investigators - that she had to know of a heightened threat because counter snipers were added to the rally - the first time such the added layer of security usually reserved for presidents was taken during the 2024 Trump campaign. Additionally, throughout the campaign, all Secret Service agents had been briefed about the ongoing Iranian threat upon their arrival at Mar-a-Lago. (The report Grassley released only identifies agents by their titles, but multiple sources have confirmed to RCP the names and identities of all the agents involved in the Butler security planning and execution.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meredith Bank, the lead advance agent from the Pittsburgh Field Office, was briefed on the threat, which was not specific to the Butler rally, although other members of that office, including top supervisors who were placed on suspension with her, were not briefed, the GAO found. Banks job as the lead agent was broader than securing the site itself. She was charged with devising the plans to secure Trump from the time he touched down at the airport to the time he left the rally and his plane departed. As a result of the siloed information sharing, many federal and all local law enforcement planning and staffing the event, including Perez and other members of the Trump protective detail and the Pittsburgh Field Office, were unaware of the active threat. Local law enforcement officers told the GAO that if they had received the threat information, they "would have requested additional assets" for the Butler rally. "The Secret Service had no process to share classified threat information with partners when the information was not considered an imminent threat to life," the GAO concluded, offering eight recommendations to improve Secret Service functionality. Chief among them is a recommendation for the USSS to proactively share threat information among Secret Service personnel and its local partners. In another egregious failure, the Secret Service lacked a formal policy for communicating the Trump campaign staffs requested changes to the on-site security plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of the Butler rally, a Trump campaign staffer asked the advance team members, who were unaware of the active threat to Trump, not to use large farm equipment to address line-of-sight concerns near the AGR building so as not to interfere with campaign press photos, the GAO report asserts. In response to the request, the USSS advance team made the decision to use a "jumbotron and a large flag to address the line-of-sight vulnerability," rather than the large farm equipment. The GAO found that not using the farm equipment possibly created an opportunity for the gunman to use the AGRs elevated rooftop to fire several shots at Trump and other rally participants. The Secret Services War Room back in Washington, which is responsible for allocating resources to events, denied the Trump details request for enhanced counter-drone equipment for the Butler event. As previously reported, the limited counter-drone equipment that was used malfunctioned, and as repairs were being made, Crooks flew his drone undetected hours before the rally began. The agent assigned to operate the counter-drone systems was "severely inexperienced" and had received only one hour of training in the equipments capabilities, according to the GAO report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That wasnt the only technical breakdown. As previously reported, Secret Service agents and local law enforcement who relied on cell phones to communicate with one another encountered limited service, hampering their ability to share information in real-time. Despite knowing that tens of thousands of attendees were expected, the Secret Service had no policy to troubleshoot potential audio and data communication challenges. The agency has yet to require agents to perform such an assessment, the GAO found. "One year ago, a series of bad decisions and bureaucratic handicaps led to one of the most shocking moments in political history," Grassley, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, said in a statement. "The Secret Services failure on July 13th was the culmination of years of mismanagement and came after the Biden administration denied requests for enhanced security to protect President Trump." "Naturally, the American people wanted answers and accountability in the aftermath of this tragedy, so I worked hard to provide that," he said, also noting that one important step he has already taken was to allocate $1.17 billion in the One Big Beautiful Bill to provide the Secret Service with additional funding. Sen. Johnson Subpoenas FBI for Information on Crooks Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grassley isnt the only lawmaker frustrated with the lack of government transparency surrounding the assassination attempt. Late Friday, Sen. Ron Johnson, who chairs the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, subpoenaed FBI Director Kash Patel for records relating to Crooks. The Wisconsin Republican is demanding security footage obtained of Crooks movements in advance of the shooting and forensic reportson the assassination attempt, includingballistics, trajectory, explosive, and drone analysisrecords. He also asked for documents related to Crooks social media and email accounts, search history, call logs, and other communications. "One year following the assassination attempt of President Trump, the American people still do not have answers to all of their questions about the breakdown of security at the Butler campaign rally and detailed information about the would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks," Johnson said in a statement. "I had expected the FBI to be more forthcoming with the public and provide my office with the records we have been seeking for months. I am issuing the subpoena to help prompt transparency, and I look forward to Director Patels full cooperation." Supervisors Skate While Lower-Level Agents Get Suspended Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agents and officers are also incensed that key supervisors who signed off on the security plan but failed to identify glaring security holes during a final walkthrough were not only spared any disciplinary action - Curran promoted them. Its unclear if these supervisors knew about the Iranian threat. One of those supervisors on the final walkthroughs, Nick Menster, was assigned this year as the second agent in charge of the Lara and Eric Trump protective detail. The other, Nick Olszewski, ironically became chief of the Inspection Division, which falls under the Office of Professional Responsibility and is responsible for ensuring the accountability and integrity of the agencys personnel and operations. Many in the Secret Service community, both active agents and officers and those who have retired, are still seething that inexperienced agents whom they argue were positioned for failure, and Bank, who spoke out about the ambiguity regarding how the American Glass Research building roof would be covered, are taking the fall while the several key supervisors appear to have skated. Initially, the Secret Service had recommended three to six months of unpaid leave for some of the agents they were holding responsible for the Butler failures. Eventually, that was dialed back to 52 days without pay. However, lawyers for the agents successfully further scaled the discipline down to 10 to 42 unpaid days. This is a relatively light punishment for such egregious failures, but the fact that some of these agents didnt receive the supervisory oversight that an outdoor rally of this magnitude required is likely a mitigating factor. If so, that raises the question of why key supervisors appear to have skated. The agents being suspended may still decide to sue the agency. "We avoided more severe sanctions, and now were assessing the next steps with respect to these discussions," said Larry Berger, an attorney for several of the suspended agents who previously served as general counsel for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. Berger now has his own firm, Berger and Deplas. The six who are under unpaid suspension are: Myosoty Perez - a relatively inexperienced agent (according to congressional testimony and the GAO, which did not name her) who was the "site agent" in charge of the overall security for the rally. With only three and a half years on the job at the time of the Butler rally and only one to two years of experience on the Donald Trump campaign detail, Perez had no previous experience leading security for such a large outdoor rally. Additionally, Perez has a reputation as an "unserious agent" known for partying and for posting on social media from her security assignments, including from Mar-a-Lago, as RCP reported last year. Perez was not selected to lead security for the big outdoor J13 rally but simply had her "rotation" come up, according to multiple Secret Service sources. The GAO report and those from Congress have urged the agency to assign experienced agents to more complicated rallies with higher threat levels. After Butler, Perez was initially placed on paid administrative leave, then moved from the traveling Trump campaign detail to the Miami Field Office, where she first served on the duty-desk assignment before being returned to protective operations, according to multiple sources. Her assignments have been limited to Florida-based investigations and protecting foreign dignitaries, with no involvement in matters related to Mar-a-Lago, Trump, or his family. Despite the ban from protecting Trump, the Miami assignment has stirred resentment from peers who say its her hometown and first choice and allows her to skip the typically rigorous Phase 2 assignments that require long hours and constant travel. Meredith Bank - a far more experienced agent out of the Pittsburgh Field Office who was serving as the "lead agent" for the day of the rally. Her job was overseeing operations from a broader perspective - from the time Trump arrived at the airport to the final departure. She told congressional investigators that she informed Perez that her supervisor, Menster, would be asking her where the local law enforcement were to be positioned in/on the AGR building. Menster, however, never specifically asked that question, according to the congressional transcripts and sources familiar with the issue. Bank is the female agent whose images in the aftermath of the assassination attempt went viral when she had trouble holstering her gun among the frenzied scene of agents, many of them female, struggling to move Trump into the motorcade and drive it out of the rally site. Despite these terrible optics, agency sources argue that Bank, a mid-career agent who had spent time in Washington, D.C., on a top protective detail, was well-prepared in her role as the lead agent for the rally and is generally well-respected within the agency. Its also important to note that Bank was out sick the day before the rally, so she did not attend the Friday morning walkthrough with the supervisors. Dana Dubrey - a mid-level agent in the Pittsburgh Field Office who served as the "site counterpart." Tim Burke - the chief (special agent in charge) of the Pittsburgh Field Office. Brian Pardini - the No. 2 in charge of the Pittsburgh Field Office. John Marciniak - one of two Uniformed Division counter-snipers assigned to the rally late because of the intelligence-based Iranian threat to Trumps life. Marciniak, a relatively junior officer, had just two days, instead of the customary five, to formulate his security plan. Even though the counter-snipers were assigned to the rally because of the Iranian threat, a knowledgeable source tells RCP even they were never briefed on the threats Trump faced at the time. Why Is Pittsburgh Field Office Taking the Fall? Theres a big contingent in the Secret Service that believes the Pittsburgh office is unfairly taking the fall for the egregious Butler security breaches. However, the Trump detail, and the team of Perez and Menster, with Olszewski serving as an inspector, would traditionally be the parties with primary responsibility for a rallys overall security and failures. On the fateful rally day in Butler, it was a senior counter-sniper who shot and killed Crooks. A local law enforcement officer, Sgt. Aaron M. Zaliponi of the Adams Township Police Department, argues he fired the first shot that may have hit Crooks rifle and stopped him in his tracks, likely preventing Trumps murder and more casualties. While the senior leaders on the Trump detail were briefed on the threat, most if not all of the Pittsburgh Field Office, other than Bank, were kept in the dark. If most of the Pittsburgh agents were never informed, it begs the question as to why Dubrey, and that offices supervisors, Burke and Pardini, are among those being suspended for the security breaches. Secret Service counter-snipers independently assess the vulnerabilities of sites, especially long-range threats, and come up with their own security plan, which is also supposed to be thoroughly vetted by their own superiors. It appears that Marciniak also didnt realize the AGR building roof wasnt covered because he lacked experience covering a non-presidential or vice-presidential event, which dont usually have high-level security assets. Secret Service Discloses Some Reforms but Questions Linger In announcing the suspensions Thursday, the Secret Service also noted several operational, policy, and organizational reforms the agency has undertaken since the two assassination attempts last year. The agency highlighted changes to its protective operations aimed at ensuring "clear lines of accountability and improved information sharing with local law enforcement partners," as well as the creation of an Aviation and Airspace division dedicated to upgrading its drone and drone mitigation and monitoring capabilities. Officials also said that Curran is leading an effort to change its resourcing process to ensure that assets are "better accounted for and appropriately applied." While the agency claimed to be implementing all 46 recommendations from Congress, it is notably disregarding another by the bipartisan Independent Review Board. The board called on the Secret Service to narrow its mission to protecting the president, the vice president, their families, and certain Cabinet members, while eliminating investigations into financial crimes and child trafficking. Curran and his immediate predecessor, former acting Director Ron Rowe, had also tried to help stanch the talent drain the agency has experienced over the last several years, which has only accelerated in the wake of the campaign and the assassination attempts. Large numbers of senior agents in recent months have decided to retire or transfer to other agencies, with the Drug Enforcement Agency picking up large numbers of former USSS agents, sources tell RCP. Efforts to replenish the ranks with new recruits by using signing and retention bonuses have had mixed results, with the agency forced to lower its educational and physical standards to replenish the diminished ranks, according to several sources in the Secret Service community. In recent years, the Secret Service usually required at least a bachelors degree to become an agent; now an estimated 30% of recently accepted applicants lack one, according to multiple agency sources. In comparison, the FBI still requires an undergraduate degree to become an agent. One recent class of recruits lost eight people of 24, a source told RCP, calling it "a very high loss but one that has been typical" over the last year. Some washed out of the training, while others transferred to different federal agencies. "The bar is so low [for hiring], its almost like the agency is begging for a tragedy to happen again," one source asserted, noting that the agency lacks a mental health assessment in its hiring process and some obese applicants have been hired and allowed to pass the physical training even though they dont meet previous standards. The Secret Service didnt respond to RCPs recruitment and retention questions. A source familiar with the agencys policies said Curran has nixed a major DEI priority under the previous administrations leadership. Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who was forced to resign after the Butler assassination attempt, has signed the "30x30" pledge, a national law enforcement program aimed at hiring 30% women agents or officers by 2030. The agency, however, also didnt respond to questions about the status of the dozens of agency employees previously assigned to DEI programs who were put on administrative leave earlier this year under Trumps executive order banning those initiatives. It also declined to say whether DEI priorities still factor into hiring and promotion decisions. In late May, two female Secret Service agents were suspended after RCP obtained a video of them fighting in front of former President Obamas D.C. residence, just the latest in a series of incidents raising questions about the agencys DEI priorities. Susan Crabtree is RealClearPolitics' national political correspondent. GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C.(WSPA) The Greenville County Sheriffs Office is investigating a Saturday morning shooting which left one person dead. According to the sheriffs office at around 2 a.m. deputies were called to Boulder Creek Apartments on Furman Hall Road regarding a gunshot victim. At the scene deputies found a Michael Maurice Freeman, 40, in the road near the apartments with at least one gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Greenville County Coroners Office, Freemans death has been ruled a homicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No arrests have been made, however the sheriffs office said the shooting is believed to be an isolated incident. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Greenville at 23-CRIME. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 12: Emerald Finance Limited (BSE: EMERALD), is a dynamic company offering a spectrum of financial products and services including its flagship Earned Wage Access (EWA) in India, announced its Unaudited Financial Results for Q1 FY26. Comment on Financial Performance Mr. Sanjay Aggarwal, Managing Director of Emerald Finance Limited said, "FY26 has commenced on a strong note, reflecting a good start to the year. During the quarter, we onboarded few new corporates to our EWA platform, further expanding our reach and supporting financial wellness for employees across sectors. India's financial sector is evolving rapidly, driven by rising digital adoption, growing rural incomes, and increasing demand for flexible credit--trends that align perfectly with our digital-first, inclusive approach. With the growing demand, we are well-positioned to capture emerging opportunities in both urban and underserved markets. Looking ahead, we remain focused on expanding our corporate client base to 250 by the end of FY26, launching our mobile app across all client partners, and introducing new offerings such as unsecured personal loans for EWA users. Backed by a robust risk framework and a commitment to innovation, we are confident of sustaining our zero-NPA performance while driving long-term value." (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Its been a busy first couple of days at the new Martin City Tavern in Kansas Citys South Plaza neighborhood. Nathan Tilton, chief operating officer of Martin City Brewing Co., told The Star that customers have been excited about the new menu at the local chains sixth location, 4950 Main St. (Thats not including its spot in the Kansas City International Airport or its stand in the CPKC Stadium). In addition to its beloved pizzas and salads, the concept offers cheese curds, Nashville hot chicken sandwiches and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our smashburger has been our No. 1 seller, Tilton said. If customers notice that the name of the South Plaza location is slightly different than its sister spots (all called Martin City Brewing Co. Pizza & Taproom), thats intentional. Tilton said its a nod to the restaurants updated menu. Of course, it will still sell its beloved brews on tap and beloved pizza slices: veggie, supremo, fig and prosciutto, wild mushroom and more. Martin City Tavern is open in the South Plaza neighborhood. Martin City Tavern is replacing the former Spin! Pizza spot, which closed at the beginning of the year. This location seemed like a great spot, Tilton said. Theres so much new in the South Plaza district that we wanted to be part of it. We wanted to bring our fun, lively culture to this area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tilton added that the company is actively pursuing other locations in the metro, but he couldnt disclose just where yet. The business got its start in 2011, first as a small microbrewery in Martin City. In 2014, it opened a pizza and taproom next door. Martin City Tavern took over the old Spin! Pizza space. Spin closed at the beginning of the year. Spin! Pizza still has more than a dozen locations in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas. At the time the South Plaza location closed, a spokeswoman told The Star that it would have required some appliance updates, and the team determined it made more sense to focus on other locations. TUNICA COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) Tunica County deputies are searching for a suspect after one person was killed during a shooting and two others were airlifted to a hospital. The shooting occurred in the 1000 block of Soleil Drive in Robinsonville around 7:00 p.m. on July 11. Priest-in-training accused of possessing child porn When deputies arrived, they found three victims with gunshot wounds. Deputies said Nykeria Jude, 30, was pronounced deceased by the Tunica County coroner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to investigators, a 24-year-old man was transported to Regional One Health, and a six-year-old girl was transported to Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital. Both were airlifted for further medical treatment. Markello Braxton (Courtesy: Tunica County Sheriffs Office) Deputies identified the suspect as Markello Braxton, of Robinsonville. He is considered to be armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about the shooting can contact the Tunica County Sheriffs Office at 662-363-1411 or Crime Stoppers at 662-910-0400. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. SAN FRANCISCO - One person is dead after a fire broke out at a home in San Francisco's Richmond District Friday afternoon, fire officials say. The fire at a single-family residence on the 500 block of 26th Avenue has since been contained. The SF Department of Emergency Management alerted residents to avoid 26th Ave. between Geary and Anza streets at 2:38 p.m. as fire crews worked the area. The San Francisco Fire Department said they responded to the single-alarm fire at 2:45 p.m. One firefighter's hand was injured. The injury is minor. The fire department said the person who died was an occupant of the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department's Fire Station 14 is located on the same block as where the fire broke out. Officials said they responded within one minute and were able to get the flames under control quickly. The Fire Department is investigating the cause of this fire. The fire is impacting traffic. The fire department said Geary from 25th to 27th was blocked. At 4:16 city officials updated to say the incident was resolved and that there were residual traffic delays. This is a developing news story. We will update this story with the latest details. Pedestrian hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being struck by vehicle in Boston Boston police say that a person is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a motor vehicle in Dorchester According to police, around 12:07 p.m. on Saturday, officers were dispatched to the area of Charles Street and Dorchester Avenue to reports of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, officers met with the driver, who remained on scene. Police say that the victim was rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Homicide Detectives and the Fatal Collision Team have also responded to the scene. An investigation remains ongoing. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW One year after an assassins near-miss attempt on President Donald Trump, many who witnessed the shooting firsthand say they remain deeply dissatisfied with official investigations, which they believe have failed to provide meaningful answers. "Im highly dissatisfied with the lack of preparation," said Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., who was seated in the front row at the rally. "The failures were almost unbelievable," he told Fox News Digital, echoing a widespread view that the breach was the result of avoidable missteps by law enforcement. Despite probes by multiple federal agencies and a formal congressional investigation, both local residents and lawmakers say theyre still left wondering what went wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The task force was bipartisan. And frankly, I don't think to this day they've gotten all the answers," Meuser said. One Year After Trump Assassination Attempt, Butler Widow Demands Accountability From Secret Service Shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks was killed by law enforcement at the scene. Since then, the Secret Service has undergone a series of high-profile shakeups. Read On The Fox News App A congressional select committee found in its report a "lack of planning and coordination between the Secret Service and its law enforcement partners," adding that the agency had been alerted to Crooks suspicious movements for over 10 minutes before he fired a shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for those who were there, major questions remain: What was Crooks motive? Why werent agents stationed on a nearby pitched roof? Why was Crooks' presence on top of the AGR building not acted on sooner? How was he able to fire eight rounds before being neutralized by a Secret Service countersniper? In the absence of concrete answers, some attendees have drawn their own speculative conclusions. "There were certain stock transactions that transpired right beforehand," one rally-goer said. "CNN never airs Trumps rallies. Why did they air this one?" another asked. (CNN has said it aired the Butler rally in anticipation of Trump announcing his vice presidential pick.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who Was Thomas Crooks? One Year Later, Motive And Missed Warnings Haunt Trump Rally Shooting "I dont think it was [Crooks]," another witness claimed. "Nobody that went to school with him believes he could have engineered that kind of event." Zach Scherer, a Butler local who has worked on all three of Trumps presidential campaigns, voiced ongoing skepticism. "We don't know anything about this kid from Bethel Park," he said. "The Comperatore family needs answers. The rest of the community does too. It affected every single person who was here." Corey Comperatore, a local firefighter, was killed during the shooting. Secret Service covers Trump while there is an active shooter last July 13. "Investigations that were already done are very inconclusive," said Erin Autenreith, a GOP activist and rally attendee from Glenshaw, Pennsylvania. "There's just so much technology now these videos have such high resolution they can actually see the bullets." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The American people, they don't trust the investigations," she added. "Nobody believes it. So I don't think it's good." Jim Hulings, chairman of the Butler County GOP, criticized Pennsylvania officials for what he called apathy toward the case. He singled out both the Republican district attorney and state attorney general. Secret Service Changes The Agency Has Made Post-trump Butler Assassination Attempt "Murder was never investigated," Hulings said. "We asked for the district attorney to call for a grand jury. He wouldnt do it. We gave him a letter and 8,000 signatures on a petition. He still wouldnt do it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The AG doesnt really care either," Hulings added. "We got Dave Sunday elected, and he went persona non grata." Some argue the investigation should be elevated to the federal level, given its national implications. But longtime rally-goers agreed on one thing: a scant security presence was noticeable from the start of the day in Butler last year. Trump clutches his ear as shots ring out. "All the other rallies I'd been to, there was Secret Service everywhere, so I just assumed they were going to be there. And they weren't," said Lucie Roth. "There was no counter sniper teams visible. There was no drones. There was no helicopters," said Hulings. "Very few police." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A number of factors have been blamed: technical issues with drones, high temperatures prompting Secret Service to seek refuge in the air conditioning, a force that was spread thin by long hours and unexpected overtime. A Senate report found that key resource requests were denied, and some were not even made: Secret Service did not request a surveillance team to help patrol the rally of 15,000 attendees, while an event for first lady Jill Biden had one assigned for her event of 400 individuals roughly an hour away. Until a fuller picture emerges, those who lived through that harrowing day say they wont stop pushing for accountability not just for Trump, but for Comperatore and a shaken community still seeking closure. Original article source: One year after Trump rally shooting, witnesses say investigations leave more questions than answers The Brief Mount Rainier's recent seismic swarm has surpassed 2009 records, with 391 events since July 8. Scientists report decreased seismic activity and no signs of magma unrest, reducing immediate concerns. Monitoring continues by CVO and PNSN, with a focus on fluid circulation along fault lines. SEATTLE - The most recent seismic swarm at Mount Rainier has hit a new milestone as scientists continue to monitor activity at the volcano. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Friday statement, the United States Geologic Survey says the earthquake count now surpasses those recorded during the 2009 seismic swarm. By the numbers Multiple agencies have located a total of 391 seismic events since the start of the swarm at 1:29 a.m. on July 8. Scientists say there were even more since the beginning of the event. However, they have not been mapped. The largest earthquake of the storm hit on Tuesday, July 8. Overall, seismic events have decreased from a peak of around 30 per hour earlier in the week to just a few per hour ahead of the weekend on Friday. Big picture view The swarm is not believed to be a result of magma unrest, lowering the overall concern from the scientific community. Right now, they believe this week's activity has been background activity from fluid circulation along fault lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Living in the shadow of Mount Rainier always carries the concern of future lahars. Last year, more than 45,000 students participated in a lahar drill in the area. Officials with the Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) and the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) continue to monitor conditions. The Source Information in this story came from the United States Geological Survey's earthquakes page. MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE US Marshals call off search for Travis Decker in Idaho's Sawtooth National Forest No charges for King County, WA Assessor accused of stalking ex-partner Prosecutors make charging decision for man arrested after Tacoma Amber Alert Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seattle is the most expensive DoorDash market. It's about to get even pricier Texas flooding: More than 170 missing, at least 118 dead Video shows chaos before hit-and-run at illegal drifting event in Auburn, WA Traffic Alert: Multiple highway closures this weekend in Western WA To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news. In law enforcement, weve always known criminals evolve and now, theyve gone digital. A keystroke criminal has replaced the old-school bank robber. And in 2025, its not just Wall Street or Silicon Valley being targeted its Main Street, USA. Thats why I applaud U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo of Idaho, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Mark Warner of Virginia and Raphael Warnock of Georgia as the original co-sponsors to the bipartisan TRAPS Act the Task Force for Recognizing and Averting Payment Scams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This legislation isnt just overdue; its essential. Payment scams have become the new frontier of organized criminal activity, with losses nationwide skyrocketing to $12.5 billion a 25% increase in just one year. According to the Federal Trade Commission, 2.6 million fraud reports were filed in the United States last year, culminating in more than $12.5 billion in total losses. These are not just statistics; they shattered retirements, drained life savings and violated trust. As a former law enforcement executive with experience at the local, state and federal levels, Ive seen how scammers operate. They exploit loneliness, fear and confusion, especially among older adults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From romance scams to phony investment pitches, to artificial intelligence-generated phone calls of loved ones asking for money, these criminals are modern-day predators cloaked in digital anonymity. Moran nailed it when he said we must better equip law enforcement and regulators with the tools to go after these scammers. The TRAPS Act does exactly that. It brings together the Treasury Department, the Federal Trade Commission, the Justice Department, the Federal Communications Commission and key financial industry leaders under one roof a full-court press against financial crime. This task force will create actionable, coordinated strategies, bridging the massive gap between government regulation, law enforcement and tech-savvy criminals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And lets be blunt: The current piecemeal approach isnt working. Right now, fraud victims bounce between agencies like a bureaucratic pinball machine. State and local law enforcement often lack the resources or jurisdiction to pursue transnational digital fraudsters. Meanwhile, federal regulators cant keep pace with ever-changing scam tactics emerging from call centers overseas or hackers embedded in dark web forums. The TRAPS Act proposes an annual review of fraud trends, interagency coordination and a unified strategy to detect and prevent scams across all levels of government and industry. In conservative terms: Its a leaner, smarter, more accountable government solution to a real and growing problem. This isnt big government its government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Sen. Moran said, Combating the global rise in fraud starts with making certain federal regulators and law enforcement agencies are coordinating effectively. This bill does just that, while reinforcing a central conservative tenet: protecting taxpayers from criminal exploitation. Coalition to prevent 21st-century threat Importantly, this legislation also garners support from across the ideological and industrial spectrum. The American Bankers Association, American Association of Retired Persons, Zelles parent company Early Warning Services, the Electronic Transactions Association and the Consumer Bankers Association all back the TRAPS Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats not just consensus thats a coalition. When Main Street banks, federal regulators, and conservative lawmakers are all pulling in the same direction, its a signal that this issue transcends politics. But the TRAPS Act is more than a paper solution. Its about prevention. By integrating law enforcement with the financial industry and regulators, we move from reactive policing to proactive disruption. And thats exactly how we beat 21st-century criminals by getting out in front of them. As a conservative applied criminologist, I often advocate for smarter, more efficient use of government resources in all my published works. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The TRAPS Act fits that mold. Its collaborative, not bloated. It promotes accountability, not red tape. And it targets the real enemy: the scammers who are siphoning billions from hardworking Americans every year. These scams are no longer isolated cons. They are systematic, professional, transnational and ruthless. And unless we respond in kind with strategy, unity and force we will continue to bleed financially, morally and socially. Its time we treat payment scams like the national security threat they are. The TRAPS Act gives us a shot at turning the tide. Lets take it. Currie Myers is an applied criminologist and criminal justice ethicist and retired Johnson County, Kansas. He has also served as a Kansas Bureau of Investigation special agent, Drug Enforcement Agency task force agent and Kansas state trooper. When Josh Shapiro ran for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2022, he was up against Doug Mastriano, an outspoken Christian nationalist who wanted to impose his faith on others. As an evangelical pastor myself, Mastriano and I come from the same religious tradition, but we fundamentally disagree when it comes to how we interpret Christian values. On the other hand, Shapiro and I come from different religious traditions, yet our values align around upholding the common good. My organization worked with Shapiro during his 2022 campaign as he spoke directly to faith voters both within and outside of his own Jewish faith. His message was clear: He wanted to welcome all of Gods children into this campaign and promised to fight for them equally as governor. I wholeheartedly believe that this message helped Shapiro win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The theory of change isnt about running on religious ideals. It is about doing outreach differently, which could help many other Democratic candidates win their elections, especially in critical swing states. A new poll from Vote Common Good and Change Research proves that there is an opportunity for Democrats in 2026 and beyond to deepen their connection to voters of faith, including those who voted for Democrats in 2024 and some of those who did not. The generally accepted narrative is that religious voters must vote Republican, but this is not true in practice. Christian voters already make up a sizable bloc for Democrats. In fact, 77 percent of Harris voters either identified as born-again or evangelical Christians, or said that they pray, that religion has some importance to them, that they attend church or that they identify with a religion. In our poll, 80 percent of self-identifying Christian voters say that they are willing to vote for a Democrat, which includes 38 percent of those who said they have only ever voted for Republicans. These are the gettable Christian voters that Democrats should be looking to reach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 14 percent of Christian voters have low Christian identity, believe churches should stay out of politics and say they vote for Democrats all or most of the time. Another 3 percent of Christian voters split their ticket between Democrats and Republicans. Small hinges open big doors. In a polarized political climate where elections are won in the margin of error, it is time for Democratic candidates and their campaigns to take notice. By moving an additional 2 or 3 percent of Christian voters, Democrats could garner millions of votes and win pivotal races in key battleground states. But the poll clearly shows that there is more possibility beyond attracting 3 percent of Christian voters. Around 30 percent of respondents identify as having medium or low Christian identity, often vote for Republicans, but either arent sure or dont think that churches should be involved in political matters or favor one candidate over another. These voters are gettable for Democrats with the right outreach. That means speaking directly to religious voters, and letting them know: I like you, we need you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Again, Im not suggesting that the Democratic Party should change its values or its policies in future election cycles. Im also not suggesting that the Democratic Party should run religious candidates. I am suggesting that the Democratic Party should reevaluate the degree to which it engages with faith communities. In building profiles of Christians who will vote for Democrats, attitudes of Christian identity and the role of organized religion in politics will be most helpful in separating those who will consider voting for Democrats from those who wont. Dont get me wrong, serious challenges exist for Democrats. Faith voters reported a significant lack of trust in the Democratic Party and a general sentiment that the Democratic Party is unfriendly to faith voters. It will take significant investment and effort to change that. Democrats need to take the opportunities available to them which Republicans are already doing. Just this week, the IRS decided to allow churches to endorse candidates, leveling a playing field that has been lopsided for decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For too long, Republican politicians and their allies have spoken freely from pulpits, while too many Democrats and faith leaders held back, worried they would cross an invisible line. This decision removes that roadblock. Shapiros campaign is a great example of how letting faith voters know that you hear them, see them and even like them, makes a big difference. In my experience, Democratic Party politicians who spend time reaching out to Christian voters see the same positive results of their effortsthe exact same way that it works with other constituencies. In recent years, weve also worked with Reps. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) from California and Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) from Minnesota to help them reach voters of faith. The Republican Party, and especially MAGA Republicans, may want to claim religion as a part of their partys identity, but it is clear that the Trump administration is not one grounded in faith or Christian principles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voters who do not agree with what they are seeing in U.S. politics right now need to know that there is a place for them in the Democratic Party for people like me, an Evangelical pastor by trade, who cares about the common good. Much has been written over the past six months about what Democrats need to do in order to win elections in 2026, 2028 and beyond, and I would argue that the answer is clear. To become the majority party again, Democrats cannot ignore Americas religious majority Christian voters. Doug Pagitt is the executive director and one of the founders of Vote Common Good. He is a leading voice for progressive Christianity, as well as an author, pastor and social activist. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. She was 17. After armed men attacked her village in eastern Congo and raped her, she fled into the night bloodied and alone. By morning, in late January, she reached a clinic on the outskirts of Goma. The nurse knew exactly what she needed: a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) kit a small box of medication that can prevent HIV, sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy if given within 72 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She arrived within the window, said a local social worker in Goma, who followed the case closely and spoke to me by phone. Ill call her Grace. But the kit wasnt there. Were sorry, the nurse told her. We have nothing. Three months later, after a desperate, unsafe attempt to end her pregnancy, Grace died. We shouldnt consider her direct cause of death the assault, but rather her despair that there was no care for her after her assault. We can blame Washington, where Elon Musk-appointed disruptors locked out U.S. Agency for International Development staff and began dismantling the 61-year-old agency that once dominated PEP kit supply in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dr. Esther Kitambala of Heal Africa a Goma-based hospital on the front lines of the crisis told me over the phone that more than 80% of those kits previously came from USAID. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the beginning of this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio put the finishing touches on the process Musk began in January when he declared USAID beyond repair and a criminal organization. On June 30, NBC News reported on an analysis of USAID cuts published in the medical journal The Lancet that found: From 2001 through 2021, USAID-funded programs prevented nearly 92 million deaths across 133 countries, including more than 25 million deaths from HIV/AIDS, around 11 million from diarrheal diseases, 8 million from malaria and nearly 5 million from tuberculosis. Ending USAID could lead to the deaths of 14 million people over the next five years, the analysis predicts. The day after that news story, Rubio, in a press release headlined Make Foreign Aid Great Again, said, As of July 1st, USAID will officially cease to implement foreign assistance, in part because the countries that benefit the most from our generosity usually fail to reciprocate. For example, in 2023, sub-Saharan African nations voted with the United States only 29 percent of the time on essential resolutions at the UN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Humanitarian aid shouldnt be pay to play. At Heal Africa, one of Gomas few hospitals offering full support to rape survivors, the shelves once stocked with PEP kits now sit bare. Women and girls are turned away. Kitambala, who leads reproductive health at Heal Africa, said the phrase she dreads most is now routine: Im sorry. We dont have a PEP kit. Her voice trembled over the phone as she described the anguish of turning away survivors in urgent need. She spoke of a 3-year-old girl whod been subjected to brutal sexual violence and a young woman, raped and pregnant, who went to her village clinic only to be turned away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we receive rape victims like her, we call everywhere, Kitambala said. Every clinic I know. But the answer is always the same: We ran out of PEP kits months ago. I knew exactly what those kits meant. As a journalist, I reported from war zones like Goma. More recently, I led global media and public relations for Corus International, a humanitarian organization active in Goma and across 30 countries with fragile health systems. A practitioner in Goma who asked to remain anonymous told me, Survivors come clinging to hope that theyll at least be protected from HIV. But when we turn them away we send them back into the dark with nothing. But their stories dont end there, that doctor said. I see the face of that 12-year-old rape victim I had to turn away today. I think about the trauma shes already endured and the unimaginable challenges still ahead for her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Empowered by U.S. funding, facilities such as Heal Africa provided critical, compassionate care for survivors of sexual violence. The programs success was striking United Nations data indicates annual HIV/AIDS deaths in the DRC have fallen from 200,000 to roughly 14,000. Then came Donald Trump and Elon Musk and Marco Rubio. In multiple capacities across my professional career, Ive walked through overcrowded camps filled with people carrying the weight of unspeakable loss. But whats unfolding in Goma is unlike anything Ive ever seen. Over 500,000 people are crammed into makeshift shelters. Children are dying of preventable disease. Health workers are exhausted and being forced to explain that even the most basic supplies, supplies once funded by about 1% of the U.S. budget, are no longer coming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As USAID collapsed, Rwanda-backed M23 rebels surged into eastern DRC. The fallout was immediate. UNICEF reported a fivefold spike in rape cases in one week alone children made up 30% of victims. Back in early July, the United Nations Population Fund shared a document with Reuters revealing that only seven out of 34 health zones in North Kivu currently have even a minimal supply of post-rape kits. Fewer than 1 in 4 survivors are receiving the care they need, and shockingly, just 13% of those seeking help are receiving HIV-prevention medication within the critical 72-hour window. This is how Americas exit played out in a place long labeled the rape capital of the world, where even in relative calm up to 80% of women and girls as young as 8 have endured sexual violence, according to front-line clinicians. It didnt have to happen this way. A working system existed that meant the difference between life and death. And Congress should either restore USAID or establish a replacement that reflects the generosity of the American people and not the inhumane agenda of one man and his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rubio says aid from the U.S. will now serve American interests, but what American interests are served by withholding a box of pills and letting a 17-year-old girl die alone in a displacement camp? Ive seen American power up close not in tanks or embassies, but in quiet acts of courage: A winter blanket handed to a shivering child in Ukraine. A solar panel powering a maternity ward in South Sudan. And in Goma, a PEP kit handed to a terrified teenager who still had a chance. That girl is gone now. As is the system that could have saved her. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Ive spent the last month enjoying the privilege of tending my adorable 3-year old granddaughter, Lana. Unfortunately, the reason I was tending her was anything but enjoyable; it was heartbreaking. Her mother has aggressive, rapidly spreading, invasive cancer that will need every treatment: emergency chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and hormonal therapy for years, if she is lucky. Three families lives have been shattered. It is impossible to hide from Lana that something is terribly wrong. She asked, Is Mommy going to die? It is also impossible to hide that something is also terribly wrong with this country. Between DOGE, Donald Trumps executive orders and the bill passed by Congressional Republicans (supported by Utahs entire delegation), the health of all Americans is being sacrificed. For multiple reasons, Trump and Republican members of Congress are ensuring that the tragic cancer saga now dominating my familys future will be striking millions more in years to come. One in two women and one in three men will get cancer in their lifetime. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming 600,000 American lives a year. By the 1970s, experts had concluded that 80% of cancer is caused by environmental exposures carcinogens that we eat, smoke, breathe, swallow or absorb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incidence of 14 different cancers is rising among those between the ages of 15 and 49. In women under 50, cancer rates are 82% higher than in males. And young people are getting more aggressive cancers that are growing more quickly and have a worse prognosis. In young adults, symptoms are more likely to be dismissed, resulting in later, less treatable stages when diagnosed. Environmental factors are most likely to blame because the remaining culprit, genetics, doesnt change that much over a generation. The White House and Congress have poured the foundation to create more cancer victims. Among the environmental causes of cancer, air pollution is certainly prominent. It even decreases the rates of survival in cancer patients like Lanas mother. Get ready to breathe more air pollution wherever you live, because EPA director Lee Zeldin has fired hundreds of pollution scientists and is proposing to roll back at least 31 clean air regulations. Hes weakening and/or delaying drinking water standards for forever chemicals, chemicals so toxic that the previous EPA ruled essentially no amount is safe. These chemicals are linked to multiple cancers. Zeldin is also easing restrictions on cancer-causing pesticides. Trumps bill forces taxpayers to prop up all types of dirty energy while gutting clean energy. Of course, fossil fuel combustion is the main driver of the climate crisis, and this White House seems committed to pretending that doesnt exist. They just shuttered the website hosting the National Climate Assessment, the most comprehensive source of information about how the climate crisis affects the United States. Air pollution from multiple sources will increase due to global warming. Ozone, dust, drought and the plague of wildfires, the most toxic type of air pollution, will steadily worsen, all of which will increase cancer rates. The U.S. has led the world in cancer research for decades, thanks to federal funding. Trump has brought that pre-eminence crashing down, wiping out or delaying nearly 2,500 National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, including a nearly 40% funding cut at the National Cancer Institute, NIHs crown jewel, eliminating research for cancer treatments and cures. Even research delays kill people, because rapidly dividing cancer cells dont take orders from Donald Trump. U.S. cancer research might never recover, reads one headline in the premier medical journal The Lancet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Up to 20 million people will soon lose Medicaid or Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage, which will damage healthcare and increase costs for everyone else. Rural hospitals will close and others will struggle financially. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s rule changes will throw another 2 million people off the ACA; people like my son, whos in the age group where cancer is spiking. Losing health insurance decreases your chance of getting cancer diagnosed and treated in time. Shuttering cancer research, releasing more carcinogens and denying Americans health care are all manifestations of a different kind of cancer: an ideological cancer of cruelty brewed up by Donald Trump, but now institutionalized by Congress. There will be millions of victims of that cruelty victims who are not just abstractions or statistics, but victims with human faces. They are real people like Lana, her mother and my family. Utahns like to think we are good examples of generosity, compassion and moral behavior. If so, we should expect that of our Congressional delegation. If you feel the same, call their offices and ask them to set that example to their colleagues and reverse these cruel public policies. Protecting all of us from cancer shouldnt be political. PNN Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], July 12: In an era of fleeting food fads, Smoky Cave is bringing authenticity back to the table. Born in Ahmedabad, this artisan brick oven company is helping chefs and home cooks rediscover the magic of wood-fired Neapolitan pizza. Every Smoky Cave oven is a handcrafted masterpiece, made with specially formulated refractory stone and engineered to retain high heat for the perfect 90-second pizza. Their ovens blend Italian soul with Indian craftsmanship, delivering unmatched performance, aesthetics, and flavor. What makes Smoky Cave truly remarkable is its dual mission: not just building ovens, but building a community. Through Smoky Cave Learning, the brand offers pizza classes where students learn fermentation, stretching, and wood-fired baking from international chefs like Chef Mangal Singh. This blend of tradition and innovation has earned Smoky Cave two of Gujarat's highest honors: * Awarded by Mr. Jagdish Panchal, Minister of Industries, Government of Gujarat * Recognised by Mr. Bhupendra Patel, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Gujarat, for excellence in manufacturing and culinary innovation. In a fast-paced world, Smoky Cave invites us to slow down and fire up something real. Smoky Cave: Engineering Artisan Pizza Solutions for a New India Smoky Cave is not just building ovens-it's building an ecosystem of culinary innovation, powered by fire, forged by precision engineering. This Ahmedabad-based startup has quietly emerged as one of India's leading brick oven manufacturers, helping F&B brands deliver world-class Neapolitan pizza. Smoky Cave designs ovens using custom refractory blends, with options for wood, gas, or dual-fuel configurations. Their rotating stone ovens are a game changer for high-volume kitchens. Their innovation is backed by national recognition: * Award from Mr. Jagdish Panchal, Industries Minister of Gujarat * Excellence recognition from CM Bhupendra Patel for pioneering "Make in India" pizza oven solutions. With a thriving export footprint and its own training wing, Smoky Cave Learning, this brand is shaping the next generation of pizzaiolos through chef-led education in fermentation, baking science, and thermal management. Smoky Cave's journey reflects what Indian startups can do when engineering meets Entrepreneurship with fire at its core. Smoky Cave: India's Rising Star in the World of Neapolitan Pizza OvensTucked away in Ahmedabad, India, Smoky Cave is building ovens that are catching the attention of chefs from Naples to New York. These handcrafted brick ovens are engineered to reach Neapolitan standards-900F heat, 90-second bakes, and the kind of crust that sings of fire. Each oven is a union of thermal science and artisanal build. Designed for both professional chefs and upscale kitchens, Smoky Cave's ovens offer exceptional heat retention, fast recovery times, and customizable finishes. Their impact hasn't gone unnoticed. * Awarded by Mr. Jagdish Panchal, Gujarat's Industries Minister * Honored by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel for excellence in export-ready oven manufacturing More than a builder, Smoky Cave is an educator too. Their platform, Smoky Cave Learning, trains the next generation of global pizzaiolos, led by experts like Chef Mangal Singh. As the global culinary world seeks new heroes, Smoky Cave is proving that India can lead with flame, flavor, and finesse. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A group of Democratic Oregon lawmakers are calling on the Trump administration to release $7 million in authorized funding meant to address Oregons catastrophic fishery disaster. In a June 11 letter, led by Senator Jeff Merkley, lawmakers urged Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to review and approve a spending plan thats been resubmitted by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. Lawmakers said the funding is critical, to help Oregons ocean fishermen recoup lost funds amid declining salmon populations after a fishery disaster was declared for Oregon Chinook salmon for 2018, 2019 and 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two bars on Portlands Central Eastside announce last call According to the lawmakers, the PDMFC resubmitted their spending plan for funding allocated by the U.S. Department of Commerce in October; however, their final application has gone without response from the Trump administration. Oregon salmon and salmon fisheries are an invaluable cultural, economic, and ecological resource in our state. Salmon are highly valued by Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest for cultural, subsistence, and economic benefits, the lawmakers wrote. The Democratic coalition added that the impact salmon loss has had on Oregons economy cannot be understated, noting Oregons commercial fishing industry drives more than $640 million in economic activity every year, equivalent to 9,200 jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Dexter: Portland-area family detained without cause at Washington border facility The letter was signed by Sen. Ron Wyden, and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03) and Janelle Bynum (OR-05). KOIN 6 News has reached out to Oregon Republican Congressman Cliff Bentz (OR-02). This story will be updated if we receive a response. KOIN 6 News has also reached out to the Office of Management and Budget. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregon State University is ending two programs in 2025 as the school continues to evolve what it calls inclusive excellence, a university spokesperson told KOIN 6 News on Friday. The two programs focused on efforts to increase inclusivity in the OSU community. The university said its ending the Search Advocate Program, which required members to avoid bias when recruiting and hiring employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DONT MISS: University of Oregon among 50+ universities facing federal DEI investigations The second program coming to an end is the Social Justice Education Initiative, which offers professional development, learning opportunities and other work supporting diversity. Oregon State University Spokesman Rob Odom, vice president of university relations and marketing sent the following statement to KOIN 6 News: As Oregons land grant university, Oregon State University remains committed to our foundational values of removing barriers to student access and success and ensuring every OSU student and employee is valued for their diverse lived experiences. OSUs work to put these values into practice spans the entire organization and every college. Two programs that were part of this effort are sunsetting later this year as the university continuously evolves and matures its efforts to advance inclusive excellence at OSU: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Search Advocate Program trained employees to advise search committees on best practices for recruitment. These efforts have now been integrated into best practices that require every search committee member, rather than a single search committee member, to take an active role in mitigating bias in recruitment and hiring to ensure OSU continues to hire the best, most qualified employees. The Social Justice Education Initiative aimed to develop curiosity about different perspectives and opinions, cross-cultural communication skills, self-awareness and leadership among employees. Over time, the universitys efforts to build employee awareness and skill in these areas have significantly expanded. Programs and teams, including in the Office of Institutional Diversity, The Center for Teaching Learning and the Difference, Power and Oppression program continue to work every day to ensure OSU advances its important mission. The Search Advocate Program and Social Justice Education Initiative have represented important investments in supporting recruitment processes and employee education at the university. The outcomes of these programs will continue to be realized and make an impact (on) OSU through many ongoing efforts. OSUs move to sunset the programs comes as some colleges in the United States are pulling back on diversity, equity and inclusion practices as the Trump administration threatens to cut federal funding for schools with DEI initiatives. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Israeli settlers killed a 20-year-old Palestinian-American man in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and an eyewitness, as settler violence against Palestinians ramps up in the occupied territory. Twenty-year-old Sayfollah Musallet was martyred after being severely beaten all over his body by settlers in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, the health ministry said in a statement on Friday. The municipality of Sinjel said that Musallet died following a barbaric attack carried out by settlers as part of daily assaults on local residents. It alleged Israeli forces stormed the area at the same time as the settlers attack, obstructing the work of paramedics and volunteers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A friend of the deceased mans family told CNN he was with Musallet and took him to a hospital in Ramallah, adding the young man was an American citizen born in Tampa, Florida. Israels military said it was aware of reports regarding a Palestinian civilian killed and a number of injured Palestinians as a result of the confrontation, and they are being looked into by the ISA [Israeli Security Agency] and Israel Police. Musallets family is demanding the US State Department lead an investigation into the incident. We are devastated that our beloved Sayfollah Musallet (nicknamed Saif) was brutally beaten to death by Israeli settlers while he was protecting his familys land from settlers who were attempting to steal it, the family said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We demand justice. The US State Department said in a statement to CNN that it is aware of reports of the death of an American in the West Bank, without providing a name. Out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones during this difficult time, we have no further comment, a department spokesperson said. Musallet ran a business in Tampa and had been in the West Bank since June 4 to visit family and friends, the family statement said. A second Palestinian man died in the attack in Sinjel after he was shot in the chest by settlers, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. Ten others were wounded in the same attack, it added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The municipality said in a social media post Friday that settlers had also attacked an ambulance while paramedics were working near Sinjel. In a video accompanying the post which CNN has geolocated to the outskirts of Sinjel an ambulance can be seen with a smashed windscreen and rear window. CNN has reached out to the Israeli military and police about the incident. Following the attacks, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticised what it called Israels expanding settlement projects in the occupied territory and called for urgent action to hold the perpetrators of settler violence accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has recently ramped up military operations in the West Bank, displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians and razing entire communities as it targets what it says are militants operating in the territory. Multiple American citizens have been killed in the West Bank in the past few years, according to Palestinian officials and eyewitnesses, including a 14-year-old boy whom the Israeli military shot dead last April in what they described as a counterterrorism operation. Israeli soldiers also shot dead a 26-year-old woman during a protest against an Israeli settlement in September 2024. CNNs Ibrahim Dahman, Annoa Abekah-Mensah and Eve Brennan contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The relatives of American Saifullah Kamel Musallet told CBS News on Saturday that the 20-year-old man from Tampa was beaten to death Friday by settlers in the Israel-occupied West Bank, where he was visiting family. Musallet was meant to be headed back to Florida this week, his relatives said. He was killed in a confrontation with settlers while protecting his family's land in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, according to his family and the Palestinian Health Ministry. Saifullah Kamel Musallet, a Palestinian-American from Tampa, was killed in a confrontation with Israeli settlers in the West Bank. / Credit: Courtesy from the Musallet Family Settlers allegedly surrounded Musallet for more than three hours, blocking an ambulance and paramedics from reaching him, according to a statement from the family. His younger brother carried him to an ambulance after the mob cleared, but Musallet died before reaching the hospital, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mohammed Saber Zaben, the head of the local municipality of al Sharqiya, told CBS News on Friday that the majority of the landowners in his region are Palestinian-Americans who hold U.S. citizenship and that some have been physically attacked and had their property destroyed amid ongoing tensions between settlers and residents. He said the settlers have prevented Palestinian farmers from accessing their lands as part of a plan to establish an illegal outpost on the privately owned lands. Under international law, the areas are known as A and B within the Occupied West Bank. Palestinian-American Saifullah Kamel Musallet in an undated photo. / Credit: Provided by the Musallet Family "He worked at his family's ice cream shop in Tampa and was loved by so many people there. He was always kind and compassionate," said Musallet's cousin Fatmah Muhammad, who is a business owner in Southern California. A second man was fatally shot in the attacks, according to the health ministry, which said the man was left bleeding for hours. A State Department spokesperson confirmed that a U.S. citizen died in the West Bank on Friday, but referred questions about any investigation into the incident to Israel's government. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem asked Israeli authorities for further details and is providing consular assistance to the family, according to an embassy spokesperson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are aware of reports regarding a Palestinian civilian killed and a number of injured Palestinians as a result of the confrontation, and they are being looked into by the ISA and Israel Police," a statement on Friday from the Israel Defense Forces said. Musallet's family, meanwhile, called for the U.S. to investigate. "We demand the U.S. State Department lead an immediate investigation and hold the Israeli settlers who killed Saif accountable for their crimes," the family's statement read. The FBI declined to comment and the White House did not respond to CBS News' requests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not clear at this time who was among the group of settlers accused of beating Musallet to death. The State Department said it was up to the Israeli police to investigate. In January, President Trump rescinded U.S. sanctions on far-right settler groups and extremists accused of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Then-President Joe Biden had instituted sanctions in 2024 on persons undermining stability in the West Bank, and the State Department instituted visa bans and put sanctions on a violent Israeli settlement and the director of a group accused of undermining stability in the West Bank The Treasury Department also specifically sanctioned the Hilltop Youth, a violent extremist group for attacking Palestinians and their property in the West Bank, as well as a settlement organization involved with individuals accused of committing violence. During his first term, Mr. Trump rescinded the longstanding U.S. policy that settlements are illegal, before it was restored by Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violence in the West Bank is on the rise, with Israeli settlers expanding their efforts to occupy land in the contested region. Musallet is the fifth American to be killed in the West Bank since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, 2023. How a father's persistence unlocked his son's brilliance Global backlash grows to Trump's tariff threats Takeaways from Trump's tour of Texas flooding damage "Hamas rejected the Qatari proposal, is creating obstacles, refuses to compromise, and accompanies the talks with psychological warfare aimed at sabotaging the negotiations." Israel has accepted the Qatari-proposed hostage deal, based on the Witkoff outline, while Hamas has rejected it, a senior official in the Prime Minister's office told reporters on Saturday. The official noted that negotiations in Doha regarding the hostage deal are ongoing, claiming that talks were also held during the Sabbath with the mediators, as well as Egypt and Qatar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to him, the Israeli team was sent to Doha based on the Qatari proposal, to which Israel agreed, and received the necessary mandate for the talks. "Hamas rejected the Qatari proposal, is creating obstacles, refuses to compromise, and accompanies the talks with psychological warfare aimed at sabotaging the negotiations," the senior official in the Prime Minister's Office claimed. The senior official in Netanyahu's office noted that Israel "has shown willingness for flexibility in the negotiations, while Hamas remains steadfast in its refusal, holding positions that do not allow the mediators to advance an agreement." Earlier on Saturday, Palestinian officials told the BBC that hostage-ceasefire negotiations are on the verge of collapse. A Palestinian official claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had purposefully sent a delegation to Doha, Qatar, with no real decision-making authority on key points of contention in order to buy Israel time while he visited Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's point of contention includes the deployment of IDF troops during the 60-day ceasefire period, The Jerusalem Post previously reported. Hamas claimed on Wednesday that on its side, there were several sticking points, including the flow of aid, withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and "genuine guarantees' for a permanent ceasefire, adding that the talks have been tough due to Israels intransigence. Hamas insists that aid must enter Gaza and be distributed through UN agencies and international relief organizations, while Israel has pushed for distribution through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. As of Thursday, talks reached a stalemate, one source told the Post. We thought things would move faster due to American and Qatari pressure. At least a few more days of negotiations will be needed, another source said. Hamas objected to Israels second proposal, which was submitted to mediators and outlined the deployment of IDF forces in the Gaza Strip during the proposed 60-day ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The updated offer, presented late on Wednesday, includes increased Israeli flexibility regarding the presence of the IDF during the ceasefire in the area stretching south from the Morag Corridor toward the Philadelphi Corridor, located along the Gaza-Egypt border. Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal The deal on the table includes the release of 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 hostages in Gaza over a period of 60 days. In exchange, Israel will release an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners. This release will occur in parallel with the hostage releases, and without any public ceremonies. In total, 50 hostages remain in Gaza, including 20 living hostages and the remains of 30 people. Since last Sunday, Israeli and Hamas negotiators have attended eight rounds of indirect talks in separate buildings in Doha, according to the BBC. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, and senior Egyptian intelligence officials have facilitated the talks. US envoy Brett McGurk has also been in attendance. Amichai Stein contributed to this report. Two Palestinians have been killed in an attack by violent Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian reports. Ten other people were injured in the Friday clashes in the village of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. The confrontation occurred when Palestinians demonstrated against the construction of an illegal outpost, according to eye witness reports, and a 23-year-old Palestinian was reportedly beaten to death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another 23-year-old, initially thought to be missing, was found dead several hours later. He had bled to death from a gunshot wound to the chest, according to the health ministry. The Israeli military said on Telegram late on Friday that earlier in the day "terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli civilians adjacent to Sinjil. As a result, two Israeli civilians were lightly injured." "Shortly after, a violent confrontation developed in the area involving Palestinians and Israeli civilians, which included vandalism of Palestinian property, arson, physical clashes, and rock hurling." "We are aware of reports regarding a Palestinian civilian killed and a number of injured Palestinians as a result of the confrontation," the military continued, adding that Israeli police and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service were investigating the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation in the occupied West Bank has escalated since the massacre led by the Palestinian militant organization Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the resulting Gaza war. There are repeated attacks by Palestinian extremists. At the same time, radical Israeli settlers regularly commit violence against Palestinian civilians. In 1967, Israel took control of the West Bank and the eastern part of Jerusalem. Today, more than 500,000 Israeli settlers live there amidst 3 million Palestinians. The Palestinians claim the territories for their own state, with East Jerusalem as its capital. DENVER (KDVR) A paramedic has been charged with manslaughter after the 2024 death of a man who had been sedated and restrained following his arrest, the district attorney in Boulder County announced Friday. Edward McClure, 54, an American Medical Response paramedic, violated several of their (AMR) policies and protocols in the treatment of Jesus Lopez Barcenas, 36, allegedly resulting in his death, the 20th Judicial District Attorneys Office said in a press release. Along with manslaughter, McClure has been charged with second degree forgery. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on our careful analysis of that investigation, the law enforcement officers involved were legally justified in using force against Mr. Barcenas, District Attorney Michael Dougherty stated. However, the reckless acts of the paramedic led to the untimely and tragic death of Mr. Barcenas. Our prosecution team will fight hard to secure the right outcome in this criminal prosecution, particularly for the loving family of Mr. Barcenas and for this community. On December 27, 2024, the Boulder Police Department and the University of Colorado Police Department responded to a report of a suspicious person and potential crimes in progress on campus. When initial officers reached the scene, they found Barcenas attempting to damage property, the DAs press release said. Police tried to detain Barcenas, leading to a struggle, resisting arrest and an attempt to take one of the officers guns, according to the DAs press release. It states that Barcenas was then put in handcuffs. When paramedics arrived, McClure injected Barcenas with a sedative before conducting a proper medical assessment, according to the DAs office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the arrest affidavit obtained by FOX31, the DAs office stated that following the injection of the sedative, Barcenas was put on a gurney with handcuffs still on. Restraints where applied and he was then allegedly positioned at an upright angle by McClure. This caused Barcenas upper torso to be in a more elevated, prone position, which he was then transferred in, according to the affidavit. American Medical Response (AMR) protocol states that a handcuffed patient is never to be placed in this type of elevated, prone position, the DAs office said, noting in the investigation that McClure was later fired after violating several of their policies and protocols at the time of Barcenas treatment. Man arrested for allegedly shooting toward teens trespassing near property: Boulder sheriff McClure allegedly put a spit sock over Barcenas head and made the decision to not have a police officer ride in the back of the ambulance, according to the affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After an autopsy conducted in December 2024, the coroners office said that Barcenas died from a sudden cardiac arrest following a physical altercation and struggle which included prone positioning and the use of restrains and sedative (butyrophenone) medication, and that the toxic effects of methamphetamine contributed to his death, classifying his death as homicide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. A man who killed a bouncer at a nightclub in Boston nearly 20 years ago will remain behind bars after he covered up a fight in prison. Oscar Rosa, 35, was convicted in February 2008 of fatally stabbing Craig Viera, 32, and was sentenced to life in prison. Wednesday marked the second time Rosa was denied parole after an initial attempt in 2022. On Nov. 26, 2006, Rosa, who was 20 at the time, had been at the Embassy Nightclub now known as the House of Blues in Fenway with his friends. The group was denied entry to a restricted area of the club because of their age, and were asked to leave after some members began acting immature on the dance floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rosa was drunk, and was physically restrained by security officers as he was removed from the club. Viera tried to de-escalate the situation, and thats when Rosa stabbed him in the abdomen and ran from the scene. Viera was brought to the hospital and though he was allowed to go home in the following days, he died on Dec. 6, 2006 from his injuries. Rosa told the parole board in 2022 that he felt angry and violent at the time of Vieras killing, and he said that was due to his upbringing in a racist neighborhood and abuse from his father. Board members noted at that time that Rosa had garnered multiple disciplinary reports during his incarceration, including having homemade alcohol and assaulting another inmate in 2019. Rosa does not have any mental health complications, but does have some intellectual disabilities that board members had taken into consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Rosa has since been participating in rehabilitative programming, the board decided against parole Wednesday because he still struggles with substance misuse, disciplinary reports and had concealed a fight in prison. Rosas mother and cousin appeared in support of Rosas parole, while Vieras mother, two friends and the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office were in opposition. More on the Massachusetts Parole Board Read the original article on MassLive. When Alfredo Mendes arrived at his Chapel Hill pizza shop early Monday morning, a sturdy mop took care of the water on the floor. He was very lucky compared to other University Place businesses, a few who are still struggling to reopen, said Mendes, a native of Naples, Italy, and the owner of Alfredos Pizza Villa. Remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal left many stores and restaurants in Chapel Hill submerged in 5 feet of water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alfredos will move across the parking lot next month to the ground floor of the 900 Willow building after 26 years inside the mall. The new location didnt flood, Mendes said, and will have all new equipment, new menu items, and draft beer, local brews and wine. For now, though, business is slow. We put the word out on social media, on Facebook, but I dont think anybody thinks were open, because of what happened to the mall, Mendes said. The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro is also trying to get the word out, after chamber and town officials and others met with business owners from University Place, Eastgate Crossing and Mariakakis Plaza to hear their needs and concerns, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eastgate and Mariakakis Plaza were the hardest hit, suffering a total loss. At University Place, several businesses remain closed: Stoney River Steakhouse, Silverspot Cinema, WakeMed 365, Chase Bank, First Horizon Bank, Planet Fitness, Style Brows Threading Studio, and The Soap and Shine. My sense is that most of those business owners their heads are still spinning, said Ian Scott, vice president for advocacy at the chamber. There are a few I know that are absolutely determined to reopen in their current location as quickly as possible, he said. Others are going to need to see what happens from insurance, and theyve got some practical funding realities to consider, because theyll have to do complete new updates and buy all new inventory, and a lot of them lost a lot of expensive equipment, and there wont be short buildouts either. Alfredo Mendes (left) pauses after putting a pizza in the oven at Alfredos Pizza Villa in University Place mall. He and his employees were one of the few businesses that remained open after the July 6, 2025, tropical storm. Insurance leaves stores in limbo At Mariakakis Plaza, the small, local shops perched above Booker Creek were closed and cleaned out Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plaza owner Johnny Mariakakis said he spent Sunday night in his store, Mariakakis Fine Food and Wine, trapped by floodwaters that destroyed his business and his car. His Greek immigrant parents opened Kwik-ee Takeout at that location in 1963 before transitioning to a popular sit-down business, Mariakakis Restaurant & Bakery. Mariakakis has been through floods before, but this might be the worst, he said. Were all local businesses. These are Chapel Hillians. These are not multimillion-dollar corporations, Mariakakis said. Grandmothers come in for sewing and yarn classes at Mary Stowes (Yarns, Etc. store), they bring their sewing machines to get repaired. The only shoe repair person in Chapel Hill-Carrboro is down there. Shes 82 years old, and she refuses to leave and she refuses to close. Kathleen Fearrington, 55, sat outside The Shoe Repair watching a light drizzle fall Thursday. The insurance company refused to pay for their materials or to repair the store, she said, so they started a GoFundMe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her mom, Cinderella Riggsbee, took over the 40-year-old business in the 1990s, and doesnt want to give up, Fearrington said. They hope the equipment, some of it decades old, can be dried out and salvaged. She said if she sits down, things are going to go wrong, Fearrington said. Her plan is to get it back up and running. It will take money, Mariakakis said. His church, St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Durham, has started a GoFundMe to help. Mariakakis Plaza has survived many storms since his parents opened a restaurant at that location in 1963, but flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal may be the worst hes seen, owner Johnny Mariakakis said. His small-business tenants are going to need help, he said. Eastgate still closed, a total loss Only two businesses, Chopt and T-Mobile, were open at Eastgate Crossing on Thursday. Tractor-trailers, recovery crews, and ductwork from industrial fans filled the parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guglhupf owner Sean Scott said his business was a total loss, and its still pretty chaotic. The chamber has been in touch, but the town response has been all over the place with letting tenants know what needs to be done and restoring the power. Insurance is also taking some time, he said. He was ordering new equipment Friday, but it will take a couple of weeks. If everything goes as planned, Guglhupt could reopen by August, Scott said. Hes planning in the meantime for a community fundraiser at their Durham location to help all the businesses and his employees, he said. I think a strong community supports each other and, obviously, my team is my priority, but your business is only as strong as your community, Scott said. Were hoping to do as much as we can for the others, too, in the process. A fundraiser was launched to help Kipos employees, too, restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias said Monday as he surveyed the damage. A man pushed debris and water toward the front door with a broom, as wooden tabletops around him curled from being submerged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pans and food from Sunday night sat abandoned in the kitchen. All of their equipment will have to be replaced, said Jay Mehdian, a partner in Giorgios Group. The water was moving so fast, it overwhelmed them, Bakatsias said, but they will reopen. We have a great community, were doing very well, and its been a great location for us, Bakatsias said. Storm debris and water damaged items from Rose Nails in the Eastgate Shopping Center are discarded on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Chapel Hill, N.C. Most of the businesses in Eastgate were flooded by heavy rain from Tropical Storm Chantal on Sunday. Town, Chamber response ongoing Chapel Hill Mayor Jessica Anderson toured the damage Monday and checked in with business owners midweek to learn more, she said. The level of damage in Eastgate and other places in town was really sad, she said. The first concern is getting businesses and residents back on their feet, Anderson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The staff worked tirelessly overnight, made sure everybody was safe, everybody was evacuated, who needed to be, she said. But with this level of climate change, with more severe storms coming through more regularly ... there is going to be damage. A disaster declaration could make more Small Business Administration programs, loans and employee assistance available, Scott said. The focus now is on getting the utilities back on and supporting business owners through the insurance claims process, he said. That will be a major hinge point for a lot of these businesses on the timeline for reopening, he said. Commercial landlords are typically responsible for structural damages, leaving tenants to insure personal property, such as materials and furnishings. Kite Realty officials did not immediately return an email seeking clarification about Eastgates insurance requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The town and the chamber are offering short-term and pop-up locations to affected businesses, and co-working space at The Junction downtown or in the chambers offices on South Estes Drive. The chamber has also set up a website to help business owners and share information about fundraisers and the South Estes Post Office, which remains closed. Learn more at carolinachamber.org/recover. In the Spotlight designates ongoing topics of high interest that are driven by The News & Observers focus on accountability reporting. HOBOKEN, New Jersey (PIX11) PATH trains were partly suspended between New York City and Hoboken on Saturday, according to the Port Authority. The HOB-33 and JSQ-33 via Hoboken were suspended around 11:40 a.m. due to emergency switch repair, according to a social media post from the PATH Train account. More Transit News To help commuters continue their trips, NJ Transit cross-honored PATH riders at Hoboken, Newport, Exchange Place, Newark and New York Penn Station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, New York Waterways cross-honored PATH riders at Hoboken, Paulus Hook, Brookfield Place and Midtown/West 39th Street. A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey sent the following statement to PIX11 News: We share the understandable frustration of our riders and deeply regret these severe disruptions to PATH service. Since Saturday and throughout the weekend, PATH employees worked expeditiously to restore service by the Monday morning rush. Out of an abundance of caution, we have shuttle buses on standby should more issues arise, and NJT and NY Waterways will continue cross-honoring PATH tickets to get our riders where they need to go. According to our initial investigation, the disruptions were caused by malfunctions of two of the three switches that guide trains through the interlocking in and out of Hoboken station. This interlocking was a key component of the PATH Forward work during the February station closure. Our riders can rest assured that we will identify and address the root cause of these malfunctions, whether it be in their manufacturing, installation, or with our operations. While some issues are inevitable when renovating a 117-year-old railroad, we believe our riders deserve better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. In a significant milestone for global healthcare innovation, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a technical brief titled "Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine", acknowledging India's pioneering efforts in AI with traditional medicine systems, particularly Ayush systems. The release follows India's proposal on the subject, leading to the development of WHO's first-ever roadmap for applying AI in traditional medicine, the AYUSH Ministry said in a release on Saturday. The WHO publication not only validates India's growing influence in the global traditional medicine landscape but also acknowledges several key Indian innovations in the AI and Ayush space. The document showcases a range of AI-driven applications in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa Rigpa, and Homoeopathy, including diagnosis support systems that integrate traditional methods, such as pulse reading, tongue examination, and Prakriti assessment, with machine learning algorithms and deep neural networks. These efforts are enhancing diagnostic accuracy and enabling personalised preventive care. One of the standout features in the WHO brief is the mention of Ayurgenomics, a scientific breakthrough that combines genomics with Ayurvedic principles. This initiative aims to identify predictive disease markers and personalise health recommendations using AI-based analysis of Ayurvedic constitution types. The document also highlights efforts to decode the genomic and molecular basis of herbal formulations for repurposing in modern disease conditions--a major leap in integrating traditional wisdom with contemporary science. India's initiatives to digitise traditional knowledge, such as the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), are praised as global models for the preservation and responsible use of indigenous medical heritage. Furthermore, AI-powered tools are being used for cataloguing and semantic analysis of ancient texts, enabling easier access to time-tested therapeutic knowledge. Another critical aspect recognised by the WHO is the use of AI for drug action pathway identification, comparative studies across systems like Ayurveda, TCM, and Unani, and the development of artificial chemical sensors to assess traditional parameters such as Rasa, Guna, and Virya. These technological interventions are helping validate and modernise traditional formulations. The document also applauds India's broader efforts in incorporating digital platforms for online consultations, promoting digital literacy among Ayush practitioners, and building interoperable systems to integrate traditional medicine with mainstream healthcare. The Ministry of Ayush welcomes this recognition as a testament to India's leadership in creating a robust scientific ecosystem for traditional medicine. It also reaffirms the country's commitment to fostering global collaboration and responsible innovation, as envisioned under WHO's broader framework for AI and traditional medicine. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, said, "The WHO document highlights several pioneering AI-driven innovations led by India, ranging from predictive diagnostics using Prakriti-based machine learning models to the groundbreaking Ayurgenomics project that brings together Ayurveda knowledge and modern genomics." "At the core of this digital transformation is the Ayush Grid--a comprehensive digital health platform launched in 2018, which serves as the foundation for several citizen-centric initiatives such as the SAHI portal, NAMASTE portal, and the Ayush Research Portal. Together, these AI-enabled platforms are not only preserving and validating India's traditional knowledge systems of medicine but are also advancing their global integration within evidence-based, digital healthcare frameworks," Kotecha added. (ANI) The question of whether voters will tolerate adultery by candidates they otherwise support was largely settled 30 years ago, with the election and re-election of President Bill Clinton. Any lingering doubt is long gone after Republicans nominated Donald Trump for the presidency three times. So, dont expect huge political fallout from Thursdays announcement that state Sen. Angela Paxton is divorcing Attorney General Ken Paxton. Shes ending a 38-year marriage, she wrote online, based in part on recent discoveries. Ken Paxton has previously acknowledged an affair that happened years ago, so most read her message to say that it had happened again though its important to note that we dont know that for sure. Today, after 38 years of marriage, I filed for divorce on biblical grounds. I believe marriage is a sacred covenant and I have earnestly pursued reconciliation. But in light of recent discoveries, I do not believe that it honors God or is loving to myself, my children, or Ken to Senator Angela Paxton (@AngelaPaxtonTX) July 10, 2025 The sordid details of Ken Paxtons affair and attempts to cover it up were made public in his 2023 impeachment trial. He was acquitted and suffered no political consequences; in fact, hes now the odds-on favorite to beat four-term Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary and head to Washington. Voters forgive sexual misconduct, but with Paxton, theres a pattern Voters seem willing to separate personal foibles particularly in the sexual realm from their judgment of a candidates fitness for office. In Paxtons case, thats a mistake, because a long pattern demonstrates that he treats the public trust every bit as shabbily as he did his marriage vows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are apparently few limits to what Paxton will do to get what he wants. And hes brazen about it, oath or no oath. The voters whove made him attorney general three times? Paxton showed what he thought of them when he abused the power in his trust to help a friend and donor, developer Nate Paul. Some Republicans apparently think the Senate acquittal cleared him. In terms of political consequences, it did. But it also revealed the extent that Paxton involved himself and his office excuse me, the taxpayers office to help Paul, who also happened to be renovating Paxtons Austin house. He was willing to insert the attorney generals clout between Paul and a federal investigation. How many Texans could get that kind of treatment from the AG or even get a phone call taken? Then theres his oath of office. Each time he was sworn in, Paxton pledged, as do all statewide officeholders, to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But recently, Paxton engaged in a depraved scheme to wipe a duly passed law off Texas books. The Legislature voted nearly 25 years ago to let people in the country illegally pay in-state tuition rates at Texas colleges, providing they met certain conditions. Even as seething anger over illegal immigration has built, lawmakers have declined to remove that law from the books. Paxton decided he knew better. The states lawyer agreed to basically strike the law when the U.S. Justice Department sued in what a federal official has since acknowledged was a pre-arranged plan to usurp the peoples representatives in Austin. Ken Paxton isnt the conservative his voters think he is Much of Paxtons continued political potency derives from his status as a so-called conservative warrior. Because he took Joe Biden to court so often, the theory goes, Paxton is the type of fighter the hard right craves. But what about good stewardship of taxpayer money, also a conservative value? Paxtons office has been shabbily run, with considerable turnover. And hes spent precious resources trying to cover up his misdeeds, to the point that he recently acknowledged that, yes, the state should pay whistleblowers who suffered retaliation when they raised alarms about Paxtons behavior to the feds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paxton has also defrauded investors, the case that hung over his head for most of his term as AG. Sen. Angela Paxton and husband Attorney General Ken Paxton wave to the crowd Nov. 8, 2022, during a Collin County GOP Election Night Watch Party at Haggard Party Barn in Plano, Texas. So, its not that Republican voters should reject him on Angela Paxtons behalf. She can clearly take care of herself. They should consider how casually hell betray anyone who places their trust in him. Loyalty to Ken Paxton, it seems, is always a one-way transaction. Will voters connect these dots? Probably not. The primary is more than seven months away, and if Cornyns campaign is tempted to dwell on Paxtons divorce, it will probably be dismissed as political point-scoring. Clinton and his aggressive deputies won the argument over infidelity by persuading voters that personal misdeeds, particularly involving sex, did not mean he wouldnt serve them well in office. Voters believed that he was on their side, even when he wasnt by his wifes side. And they thought the legal and political pursuit of him was overkill, even when his skanky behavior took place in the White House with a young intern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, for plenty of Americans, it really was about sex, not character. Paxton is the reverse. The sexual indiscretion is a window into his overall character whether voters see it or not. Do you have an opinion on this topic? Tell us! We love to hear from Texans with opinions on the news and to publish those views in the Opinion section. Letters should be no more than 150 words. Writers should submit letters only once every 30 days. Include your name, address (including city of residence), phone number and email address, so we can contact you if we have questions. You can submit a letter to the editor two ways: Email letters@star-telegram.com (preferred). Fill out this online form. Please note: Letters will be edited for style and clarity. Publication is not guaranteed. The best letters are focused on one topic. Fresh from the success of bringing peace to one African conflict, President Donald Trump and his administration are "uniquely positioned" to end the continents other major war in Sudan, according to a leading analyst. President Trump got the foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to the White House June 27 to sign a peace deal to end their 30-year war. Cameron Hudson, a former senior official on Africa in the George W. Bush administration, exclusively told Fox News Digital Trumps actions on brokering peace in Africa have been "refreshing" and that U.S. involvement in Sudan is essential. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump And Rubio Secure Rwanda-congo Peace Treaty Amid Pakistan's Nobel Prize Nomination The war in Sudan has claimed tens of thousands of lives, uprooted over 12 million and created what the International Rescue Committee described as "the biggest humanitarian crisis ever recorded." Sudan is often called the forgotten war. An estimated 150,000 have been killed. On Friday, a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital a staggering 14.2 million have been displaced since the government and the rebel Rapid Support Forces started the current civil war in April 2023. The spokesperson added "over 30 million people (are) in need of humanitarian assistance, (and) more than 630,000 individuals (are) experiencing catastrophic food insecurity. The suffering in Sudan demonstrates the importance of a swift and durable negotiated end to the conflict." At a U.N. Security Council briefing Thursday, Ambassador Dorothy Shea, the acting U.S. representative, said, "By many measures, the conflict in Sudan is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today. We call on Sudans warring parties to cease hostilities, allow unhindered humanitarian access to all parts of the country and protect civilians." Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shea added, "The United States calls for accountability for the Rapid Support Forces for the genocide in Sudan, where they have murdered men and boys, even infants on an ethnic basis, targeted fleeing civilians and committed acts of brutal sexual violence against women and girls of other ethnic groups." President Donald Trump holds up a signed document to present to Congo Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, right, as Rwanda Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio watch June 27, 2025, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), declared aid convoys are being targeted, hospitals bombed and food and water deliberately withheld. RSF rebels reportedly have encircled the city and camps of El Fasher in Darfur and effectively put the area under siege. Hudson, also a former State Department advisor, told Fox News Digital its the moment for President Trump to make his move because he "is rapidly staking out a position for himself as a peacemaker in the world, and this message resonates deeply with African leaders and their publics. "To the degree that Trump has continued to frame his personal diplomacy in terms of peace, that has been well received. Closer to home, his prioritization of peace in the Congo-Rwanda dispute is seen as genuine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden Admin Slammed For Waiting To Declare Genocide In Sudan "Africans, by and large, dont begrudge the president for also having an agenda to secure critical minerals. I think they see his transparency and transactionalism as refreshing from a U.S. president. Washington has a tendency of speaking about our values but pursuing our interests in a contradictory fashion. For Trump, they see his interests as his values." Members of the Sudanese army's Special Mission Forces battallion in the Northern State hold a parade in Karima city on May 19, 2024. Looking back at the tsunami of words but lack of definitive action from the previous administration, Hudson added, "If you look at the facts on the ground in Sudan today, this might be the last moment we have to try to walk the country back from the brink of collapse. U.S. involvement now is essential, not just for regional stability but for ensuring the U.S.s own long-term security interests. "A failed state of 50 million people on the shores of the Red Sea will disrupt an essential lane of commercial navigation, destabilize partners across the Gulf and send waves of migrants streaming into Europe and Africa. None of this serves Washingtons interests." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ambassador Shea said at this weeks Security Council briefing the U.S. believes "external support to the warring (Sudanese) parties only serves to prolong the conflict and must cease." An army soldier walks in front of the Republican Palace in Khartoum, Sudan, after it was recaptured by Sudan's army on March 21, 2025. Hudson said the U.S. could and should end that support. "The Trump administration is uniquely positioned to make a difference in Sudan," Hudson said. "The principal backers to the sides in the war Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey are all U.S. allies. where President Trump has cultivated close ties and deep influence. He is in a position to help these countries settle their differences and forge a consensus on ending their support for the war. It will take some dedicated diplomacy, but that is the message that he is trying to send, that he is a peacemaker." "The United States remains focused on working with our partners to resolve the crisis in Sudan," the State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital Friday. "We support the restoration of civilian governance in a peaceful, unified Sudan. We continue to engage with key regional and other partners to urge the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to cease hostilities, allow unhindered humanitarian access to all parts of the country, protect civilians and take steps toward a negotiated peace through inclusive dialogue." Original article source: Peacemaker Trump can end Africas biggest war, former White House advisor says Six months after the Palisades fire roared down Pacific Coast Highway, the Country Kitchen in Malibu is open for business, but many customers have yet to return. The no-frills eatery features a few outdoor tables and ocean views, nestled in a narrow parking lot alongside a liquor store and gift shop. The restaurant, which opened in 1972, is literally a hole in the wall. It serves breakfast burritos all day and burgers out of a window. It wasnt destroyed by the fires but had extensive smoke damage. It was cut off from most of its customers for close to five months, waiting for the highway to reopen. Business is a lot better than it was a couple of months ago, but still well below what the restaurant would usually see this time of year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Things are better, but if you compare it to last year, it's still probably 25% less business, said Joel Ruiz, who has worked at the Country Kitchen for 40 years. Up and down the coast, businesses that survived the flames are still hoping for a return to normalcy. As customers slowly return to a changed landscape, the small businesses that dot Pacific Coast Highway wonder how long it will take to get back to business as usual. Joel Ruiz works at t he Country Kitchen on PCH as businesses reopen after being closed due to the Palisades fire on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Malibu , CA . A painting of t he Country Kitchen hang s on the wall of the roadside restaurant on PCH as businesses reopen after being closed due to the Palisades fire on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Malibu , CA . PCH was closed to nonresidents for five months following the Palisades fire, isolating the once-bustling businesses that catered to beachgoers and tourists. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Palisades fire charred more than 23,000 acres and destroyed more than 6,000 structures. The blaze burned the vast majority of homes along the ocean from Topanga Canyon to Las Flores Canyon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 800 structures were lost in Malibu, including the Reel Inn, a seafood restaurant just a few miles down the road from the Country Kitchen. Other popular restaurants including Duke's Malibu are still closed due to damage. Caffe Luxxe near Carbon Beach was closed for months before reopening in May. Jefferson Wagner, owner of Zuma Jay's surf shop, reopens after being closed due to the Palisades fire. It should be peak summer season for Zuma Jay's, which has been selling boards and wax to surfers since 1975. Instead, sales are about a third less than normal. "It's better, but not like it was last year at the same time," Jefferson Wagner said. He couldn't pay his four employees for months. Wagner holds an old young photo of himself and his daughter. Some estimates put the total cost of the Los Angeles area wildfires at $250 billion. Gaps or delays in insurance coverage have kept many from cleaning or rebuilding their property at the pace they hoped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're still trying to get back to what we had before," said Malibu City Councilmember Doug Stewart, who was serving as mayor during the Palisades fire. "The store owners and restaurants are telling me that things have picked up considerably, but they're still not back to what they'd expect to see for the summer." Stewart said most businesses in the community were spared from being burned to the ground but are still struggling to reopen and stay viable. "It's less of a rebuilding issue and more of a question of making sure that they've been able to survive," he said. The businesses neighboring the Country Kitchen in the strip mall along PCH have all had to adapt to the aftermath of the fire. Even the view from the parking lot is different, with vast stretches of the ocean now visible where homes had previously stood. Carter Crary, co-owner of scuba shop Malibu Divers, poses for a portrait shortly after his business reopened. The scuba shop Malibu Divers officially reopened May 23, the same day Gov. Gavin Newsom reopened PCH. Co-owner Carter Crary came into the shop every day while the road was still closed, serving an occasional customer. Business was down about 90% for more than four months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's been a definite change since the highway reopened," he said. "We are not yet where we should be for this time of year, but we're on a trajectory that has us heading in the right direction." Malibu Divers doesn't have business interruption insurance but was able to offset some of the losses caused by the fire with a Small Business Assn. emergency loan. Crary estimated his business has lost out on $150,000 in revenue since January. The shop earns between $500,000 and $1 million in a normal year. Crary employs around 12 staff members, but he's currently not able to pay or bring in his in-store employees. The dive shop, which offers rental gear and scuba lessons, opened in 1969 and is usually busiest between May and September. Read more: Should Malibu fire victims rebuild their coastal homes when the ocean is advancing? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Business has been further impacted because people aren't diving in the areas where the Palisades fire burned. Most divers are going north for cleaner waters, Crary said. Malibu's scenic beaches, now contaminated with heavy metals and debris from the wildfire, usually attract customers to Roxanne Jensen's souvenir shop, Blue Malibu, located a few doors down from Malibu Divers. "It's been very slow because people don't know we're open," Jensen said. "We have to be patient. As long as the ocean is there, the customers will come back." Jensen closed her store for five months after the fire destroyed the merchandise on display and drove away tourists. July and August are typically big months for sales, said Jensen, who runs the shop with her husband. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jensen's landlord is allowing her to pay half her usual rent, but even that is hard to come up with, she said. She opened her shop 10 years ago and sells sweatshirts, swimwear and gifts. Jensen said she has faith the Malibu community will rebound, like it has several times in the past after disastrous wildfires and landslides. She stood among her merchandise on a recent quiet Wednesday and was cautiously hopeful. "Maybe next summer will be normal," she said. Though the Country Kitchen employees had to stay home with no pay for months, they are back now, serving chili cheese fries, omelets and buffalo burgers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People love this place," Ruiz said, standing in front of spot where he has worked most of his life. "We had customers calling who wanted to come in, but for a long time they weren't able to." Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Video above: This FOX 5/KUSI video provides driving safety tips. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A 79-year-old pedestrian suffered serious injuries after being struck by a bicyclist Thursday morning in the North Clairemont neighborhood, according to the San Diego Police Department. The incident occurred in the 4700 block of Genesee Avenue shortly before 5 a.m., where both individuals were traveling southbound in the bike lane. Authorities say the 52-year-old cyclist collided with the pedestrian, who was also walking within the bike lane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency responders transported the pedestrian to a local hospital, where he is being treated for serious injuries, including a skull fracture and brain bleed. His current condition has not yet been disclosed. The SDPDs Traffic Division responded to the scene and is actively investigating the collision. Police are encouraging anyone with information about the incident to contact the department or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. The Pentagon has decided to stop sharing certain hurricane data that helps meteorologists predict storms. At the end of July, just before the peak of Atlantic hurricane season, satellite data useful in overnight tracking will no longer be accessible to forecasters, increasing the possibility that meteorologists may be caught off guard by a strengthening storm. What's happening? As the Washington Post has reported, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that the Pentagon will no longer make microwave data captured by Defense Department satellites publicly available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to NBC, the department says the decision is due to concerns over cybersecurity. Meteorologists and other scientists are concerned about the decision, as microwave data plays a key role in tracking storms through cloudy conditions and in darkness. This information can be especially important, as mild tropical storms can become Category 4 and 5 hurricanes within mere hours, including while we sleep. "It's a very useful dataset for getting a lot of detail, and it works at night," Robert Rohde, Berkeley Earth's chief scientist, told the Post. Rohde said that losing access to the microwave data "is likely to create situations where we are unprepared for rapid intensifications." Microwave data has been used by meteorologists for these purposes since the 1990s, according to the paper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A retired chief of the National Hurricane Center's Hurricane Specialist Unit, James Franklin, wrote that there is "no practical substitute" for forecasters. He indicated that the risks of limited data could be higher for people in areas where aircraft are used less frequently to directly monitor storms, such as in the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico. Why is limiting hurricane data concerning? Traditional satellites are critical for weather predictions, but they don't serve the same purpose as microwave data gathered by specialized satellites. As meteorologist Marshall Shepherd explained to Georgia Public Radio, while other key hurricane tracking data remains available, "there is some concern that the loss of this particular data set could impact our understanding of intensity changes in hurricanes, particularly at a time when hurricanes are exhibiting rapid intensification near the coast." And, as the Post noted, many scientists consider microwave data "more valuable than ever as more hurricanes are undergoing rapid intensification." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data can also be helpful in monitoring polar sea ice and global ice cover critical measurements on our overheating planet. What's being done to improve hurricane tracking and preparedness? With extreme weather events like hurricanes becoming more intense and destructive as a result of rising global temperatures tied to human-caused pollution, meteorological predictions may be more important than ever. Kim Doster, a spokesperson for NOAA, said in a statement, per the Post, "NOAA's data sources are fully capable of providing a complete suite of cutting-edge data and models that ensure the gold-standard weather forecasting the American people deserve." These sources reportedly include the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder, which also provides microwave data. Meanwhile, with the Pentagon limiting the availability of at least some data for now, improving access to and quality of storm prediction technology may come with a newly underscored mandate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advancements in artificial intelligence have enhanced hurricane simulations, enabling accurate predictions of speed and trajectory. High-tech forecasting equipment, such as dropsondes, can collect information about hurricane features so scientists can learn more about big storms. It will, meanwhile, remain crucial for individuals to educate themselves about critical climate issues, like intensifying hurricanes, so they can prepare as effectively as possible. Readiness might include weatherizing your home, packing a go-bag, and learning the dos and don'ts of navigating major storms. Installing solar panels with a backup battery system has become a crucial part of emergency preparedness for many, enhancing the resilience of homes and businesses against power grids that are vulnerable to extended storm-related outages. Expert resources can make the switch to solar easier, and EnergySage's tool enables potential buyers to compare quotes from vetted installers, with the potential to save consumers up to $10,000 on installations. Organizing neighbors to discuss emergency plans in advance of storms can be key, especially if hurricane warnings come at the last minute. It might even feel fitting to answer new limitations on data access with the sharing of helpful information among friends and family. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. (EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) The Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Corporation (EDC) cut the ribbon Thursday evening, July 11, unveiling a community initiative to participate in Project Civility. Project Civility originated in Carmel, Indiana, as a grassroots initiative centered around a belief that by cultivating civility in smaller communities across the country, it can expand to everyone. Inspiring positive societal change can only happen if civil discourse takes place first. Once we practice and learn to project civility in conversation, positive change will reverberate from our local communities and extend to the entire nation. This has really become a topic of our time because weve seen so much, I guess I would say, uncivility, incivility and aggression, you know, within our culture, said Jim Dutton, a pilot for one of the final NASA space shuttle missions and U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) alum. So, how do we get back to the point where we can even have hard conversations together with people and still have mutual respect for one another? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dutton spoke at the event in Black Forest, where he shared how he was able to put that into practice with his seven-person crew during the STS-131 Discovery in 2010a resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). I do believe we were a very successful crew in the sense of working well together, Dutton said. We were the last seven-astronaut crew on the space shuttle, so after our mission, there were four more. They were all smaller-sized. So we had more people. And yet, as we went through our training, the NASA trainers, we constantly got feedback that people were like, you know, You guys seemed to really like each other.' In 2010, Jim Dutton was the pilot on the crew of STS-131 and logged over 362 hours in space (Courtesy of FOX21 Photojournalist Jack Young). He attributed some of that to the culture his commander had set, but also their built-in shock absorbers. Were going to all have things happen where somebody rubs you wrong, but there was, I would say, a group of seven people that had a made a decision that were going to work together and be a team, Dutton said. Its amazing what keeping a sense of humor does for deflating tense times and we certainly had some tense times, you know, in training. Times where things went wrong, we made mistakes, people made mistakes and we were learning from it but it was frustrating and you can take it out on each other or you can just own it and try and get better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said this is something people can incorporate into their daily lives. It all starts with a mindset, and thinking the best about people before jumping to a conclusion, especially when someone wrongs you or cuts you off in traffic. Try to imagine the best possible thing for them rather than going down the road of like, How rude, you know, that was. So, thats a helpful mental technique too, right? Is look for the best in other people, assume the best, Dutton said. He added that kindness is contagious, but so is aggression, so stopping it in its tracks before it can spread can make the difference. We need people to just go, Im done with all the incivility in the world right now that we see happening in our culture. Im going to help turn it around. Im going to turn off social media and Im going to go take a positive step to help make a difference,' said Dutton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Catalan filmmaker Pere Vila Barcelo talks about rape in When a River Becomes the Sea. But he never, ever intended to show it. Were focusing on trauma and the process of healing. Its a long and complex journey that many women shared with us in great detail sometimes even more so than the assault itself, he tells Variety. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Premiering at Karlovy Vary Film Festival, his intimate drama is about moments that dont appear in news headlines, he explains. It explores the margins of the emotional, psychological and social aftermath that often remains invisible. For us, this wasnt only a cinematic choice. It was a matter of respect. He adds: We even shot a courtroom scene but chose to leave it out to avoid re-victimization and any sense of voyeurism or sensationalism. Many survivors describe the judicial process as a second assault, since they often face institutional violence as well. Being doubted, retraumatized or treated without sensitivity. Thats what happens to Gaia as well. The young archaeology student played by Claud Hernandez is unable to speak about what happened to her for the longest time. When she finally reveals her boyfriend assaulted her, shes met with doubt and dismissal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its something Ive heard again and again. Victims are doubted, isolated and dismissed, while the aggressor goes on with his life as if nothing happened, without even being fully aware of the harm he has caused, observes the director. This points to a lack of education, and to the fact that both men and women are raised within a patriarchal society. Thats also why I wanted to introduce this archaeological concept not just as a metaphor, but as a scientific and evolutionary approach. The professor explores historical roots of patriarchy: when did it begin, how did it take shape and who enforced it? Produced by Xavier Perez Diaz for Fromzerocinema, When a River Becomes the Sea is not just a film, says Vila Barcelo, but a project rooted in social activism and awareness. One that allowed him to connect with several associations of survivors of gender-based violence. These collaborations have helped us bring visibility to their voices and their message, he says, mentioning testimonies of more than 100 women who have experienced physical and psychological violence, as well as insights from psychologists specialized in the field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im also working on a series of documentary pieces, including interviews and reports, that together with the film can serve as educational and pedagogical tools to foster reflection and awareness. The whole project started eight years ago, when he was leading a filmmaking workshop at a high school in his hometown. When it came to decide the subject of the short film the students would make, someone suggested addressing sexual abuse. Some of the young girls just 14 or 15 years old began to share personal experiences of abuse theyd gone through. It deeply affected me. He wanted to better understand the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I started conducting interviews with the survivors of all ages. It has not only changed the way I see the world; it has changed me, profoundly. As a person, as a filmmaker, I carry these stories with me. At one point in the film, desperate and confused, Gaia wonders: Is it always going to be like this? Its not just a moment of despair its a moment of disorientation. She no longer recognizes herself. She doesnt understand the person she has become, or why someone, against her will, has forced this change upon her, he says about the scene. I remember one interview with a 14-year-old girl who gave a powerful description of how she felt. She said: Its like someone unzipped me, took everything out, scrambled it all up, then stuffed it all back inside and zipped me up again. When Gaia asks that question, what shes really asking is: Will I ever go back to who I was? And sadly, the answer is no. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, shell go through a painful process thatll lead her to become someone else, with a deeper understanding of herself. And shell do it with the help of her father (Alex Brendemuhl), even though he feels helpless at first. Her father finds himself unable to communicate with someone hes known since the day she was born. He has no idea how to reach her. She enters a new emotional code that neither he, nor most of the people around her, are equipped to understand. They havent been taught how to process or recognize certain emotions. Vila Barcelo couldnt ignore the fact that sexual violence also profoundly affects the fathers, brothers and partners of many women. Thats why it felt essential to focus on his ongoing effort, his struggle to understand something that, to him, was unimaginable, he notes, intending to portray the kind of masculinity thats not toxic, but compassionate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most people are not prepared, or sometimes not even willing, to face situations like the one portrayed in the film. Her father, despite not having that emotional education, chooses to look directly at his daughter and stay by her side. His presence is quiet, but for me, thats a powerful gesture. He says: Men also need to be a part of the struggle for equality and that starts with caring for the people we love. This is an issue that should affect all of us, regardless of gender. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A Phoenix man facing charges of kidnapping and sexual assault after a woman told police he kept her in a shed and abused her was previously accused of trying to abduct and threatening to kill his girlfriend, and of attacking a pregnant woman, a case that landed him in prison, according to court records. In early July, a woman told police that she and Timothy James Wood, 36, were in a relationship and that he held her captive for about two weeks in a Phoenix backyard shed, and at one point, imprisoned her in a crawl space, according to court records. Court records show Wood has been charged with aggravated assault, sexual assault and kidnapping, all felonies. Wood was also facing misdemeanor threat and misdemeanor assault charges, records said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Documents obtained by The Arizona Republic from two previous criminal cases filed against Wood in Maricopa County describe other accusations made against him, including while he was on probation. Wood pleaded guilty in 2007 to aggravated assault One set of charges against Wood relates to a Sept. 4, 2007, incident near 35th and Northern avenues in Phoenix. Police reported in a court filing that Wood injured a woman who accused him of threatening to kill her. Wood was charged with aggravated assault after witnesses said he appeared to be trying to kidnap a screaming woman, police said. Witnesses said they saw Wood trying to pull her into his truck, police said. Wood told police the woman was his girlfriend and he was trying to remove her from his truck because she would not exit the vehicle during an argument, according to court documents. The two were "trying to work things out," documents said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Wood was subject to a harassment injunction. He was also charged with failing to comply with a court order, a misdemeanor. On Oct. 16, 2007, Wood received two years of probation on the aggravated assault charge after he pleaded guilty, court records show. Breaking stories: Phoenix toddler accidentally shoots himself with dad's gun, police say Wood sent to prison after violating probation A Jan. 1, 2010, incident five months after his initial probation ended led to an admission of guilt by Wood. He pleaded to attempted domestic violence, for which he received another sentence of probation, according to court records. Then, Wood was arrested in an Aug. 4, 2010, incident on Glendale Avenue near Interstate 17 in Phoenix, according to court documents. A police statement filed in court said Wood violated his probation when he approached a pregnant woman without approval. He also had another probation violation, discharge from domestic violence treatment for absences, records said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was not clear from court records if the pregnant woman in the 2010 incidents was the woman from the 2007 incident. Wood was seen at the pregnant woman's workplace, according to court records. Witnesses told police they saw him assault the woman, and that she had bruising on her chin and arms, records said. Wood choked the woman while she was pregnant, court documents said. On Aug. 17, 2010, Wood was sentenced to a year in prison with jail time credit for attempted aggravated domestic violence following revocation of his probation, according to court records. Wood completed his sentence June 8, 2011, according to state prison records. Woman told police she was held in shed, sex prevented abuse The latest charges against Wood surfaced after a woman, whose name was redacted in court records, came forward on July 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This woman told police Wood beat her with an electrical cord and used a saw and chain on her while keeping her from leaving a shed, according to court documents. Police found injuries on the woman, including swelling and bruising on her face, bruising on her body, bite marks and a fractured rib, records said. The woman told police Wood threatened to kill her and kept her in a crawl space for two days, and that she felt she could only ward off his abuse by having sex with him, court records said. She eventually managed to flee the shed and call police from a neighbor's home, according to court documents. The woman and Wood began a relationship after she was evicted from her home, though they knew each other before her eviction, court documents said. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix man facing kidnapping charges has prior Arizona convictions A toddler in Phoenix accidentally shot himself while his father was distracted watching online videos, according to police. Oscar Guerra, 27, has been booked on one felony count of child abuse. Phoenix police responded around 10 p.m. on July 9 to a report of a child who had been shot near 84th Avenue and Campbell Avenue in the Maryvale neighborhood of west Phoenix, according to court documents. Officers arrived and found Guerra holding the victim, a 2-year-old boy with a gunshot wound on his upper left arm and a broken humerus, court documents said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guerra told officers that he set the firearm on the couch, intending to clean it, but he got distracted watching online videos on his computer, court documents said. Guerra told officers he saw the toddler enter the living room but believed he had returned to his bedroom and was sleeping, court documents said. Approximately 30 seconds after seeing the victim enter the room, while still focused on the online videos, Guerra told officers he heard a loud bang and turned to see the victim bleeding from the arm, court documents said. The mother of the toddler stated the child was running back and forth between the living room and his bedroom, and while she was in the kitchen, she heard a gunshot, court documents said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added that there had been a previous instance of Guerra leaving firearms out in the home and that they had discussed the need to keep the guns more secure, court documents said. Guerra was arrested and booked on one count of felony child abuse. According to court documents, he admitted to police that it was his responsibility to keep the firearm out of the childs reach and acknowledged it was a serious mistake on his part. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Oscar Guerra arrested after 2-year-old son accidentally shoots himself GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Meijer is hosting an in-store wellness event Saturday at several stores in West Michigan and giving away free wellness boxes. The event is happening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., giving shoppers the opportunity to meet their Meijer pharmacy team, explore all the health and wellness services and take a free blood glucose screening. While supplies last, shoppers can pick up a free wellness box that includes items like the Neutrogena Collagen Bank Moisturizer, the CeraVe AM SPF30 Daily Lotion, Emergen-C, Ultima Health Electrolyte Replacement Powder and Benefiber Strawberry Lemonade Sticks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The West Michigan stores participating include: 315 Wilson Ave. NW in Grand Rapids 5531 28th St. SE in Cascade 550 Baldwin St. in Jenison 5300 Harvey St. in Muskegon 2799 10 Mile Road NE in Rockford View the full list of participating Meijer stores here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. NewsVoir Manipal (Karnataka) [India], July 12: Dr. Sharath Kumar Rao K, noted orthopaedic surgeon and academic leader, has been conferred with the honorary Doctorate (FRCP) by the Royal College in recognition of his pioneering contributions to Medical Leadership and Health Management. The prestigious honour was formally conferred during a ceremony held on July 8 at the Royal College in London. Dr. Rao currently serves as the Pro Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences) at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), a position he has held since 2023. Previously, he was Dean of Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, from 2019 to 2023, following earlier roles as Associate Dean (2015-2019) and Head of the Department of Orthopaedics (2009-2014). Across each of these roles, he has consistently driven institutional growth, improved academic outcomes, and strengthened the clinical training ecosystem. While his administrative legacy is well known, Dr. Rao's clinical career is equally distinguished. A specialist in complex trauma, joint replacement, and knee arthroscopy, he has undergone advanced training in knee and hip replacement at renowned centres in Germany, Italy, the UK, and Australia. His international exposure has helped raise the standard of orthopaedic care and surgical training at MAHE and beyond. The honorary doctorate acknowledges his far-reaching impact on healthcare leadership and policy, particularly in designing systems that balance academic excellence with efficient, patient-centric healthcare delivery. The Royal College awards such honours only to those whose work has created sustained, transformative outcomes across the healthcare spectrum. Congratulating him on this recognition, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, VSM, (Retd.) Vice Chancellor, MAHE, said, "This recognition is richly deserved as Dr. Sharath Rao embodies the values of academic integrity, clinical excellence, and visionary leadership. His work has left an indelible mark not just within MAHE but across the wider healthcare and academic landscape. We are proud to see his contributions acknowledged on an international platform." Speaking on the occasion, Dr. H.S. Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE, said, "Dr. Sharath Rao represents purposeful leadership at its best -- in the operating room, the classroom, and at the highest levels of administration. This honour from the Royal College of Physicians is more than a personal milestone; it's a powerful recognition of his lasting impact on medical education and healthcare delivery." Dr. Rao's honorary doctorate adds another milestone to a career defined by innovation, leadership, and an unyielding commitment to building systems that serve both patients and professionals. The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed-to-be University. MAHE offers over 400 specializations across the Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bangalore, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable academic track record, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant research contributions, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim nationally and internationally. In October 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 4th in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking a transformative learning experience and enriching campus life and for national & multi-national corporates looking for top talent. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) A plaque has been unveiled at a railway station in East Sussex for a train driver who was killed while operating a service in the region during World War Two. The plaque at Bishopstone Station is to commemorate Southern's Charles Henry Pattenden, 59, from Tunbridge Wells, who was killed on 3 July 1940 in his line of duty when a German Luftwaffe plane opened fire on the 17:37 train from Seaford. Mr Pattenden's surviving relatives, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren, were there to reveal the plaque which was installed by the Friends of Bishopstone Station (FOBS). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ivor Pattenden, grandson of Mr Pattenden, said: "It was a great success and a few tears were shed." Mr Pattenden was buried in Tunbridge Wells [Govia Thameslink Railway] Graham Moore, FOBS's director, put out an online appeal for information about the attack, and Ivor Pattenden attended an event in the restored community space at the station. Mr Moore said the steam train had departed from Seaford and was passing through Bishopstone Beach Halt on its way to Horsted Keynes. As the train drove past the halt for the exposed Tide Mills stretch of the line, the German Dornier bomber opened fire on it with machine guns. The aircraft then delivered its load of six bombs, which exploded not far from the halt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the train was directly hit by the bombs, it had blast damage with most, if not all, of the glass being shattered and the wooden frame and panels splintering. Splinters struck Mr Pattenden and caused a serious injury and he died shortly afterwards. Mr Pattenden was buried in Tunbridge Wells. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story Related internet links July 12 (UPI) -- Poland on Saturday scrambled fighter jets in response to Russian military aircraft near its border with Ukraine. "Attention. Due to the activity of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation, conducting strikes on targets located, among others, in western Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation have begun operations in Polish airspace," the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said on X. "Duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness." Uwaga. W zwiazku z aktywnoscia lotnictwa dalekiego zasiegu Federacji Rosyjskiej, wykonujacego uderzenia na obiekty znajdujace sie miedzy innymi na zachodzie Ukrainy, rozpoczeo sie operowanie polskiego i sojuszniczego lotnictwa w polskiej przestrzeni powietrznej. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Russian drone and missile strikes killed at least two people and injured more than 20 others overnight. File Photo courtesy of Ukrainian President Press Office Zgodnie z... pic.twitter.com/re1neYvJyl Dowodztwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) July 12, 2025 Russian drone and missile strikes killed at least two people and injured more than 20 others overnight, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attacks targeted Ukraine's Kharkiv, Sumy, Lviv and Bukovyna regions and involved 26 cruise missiles and 597 attack drones, Zelensky said in the post. Ukrainian officials separately reported at least 13 civilian deaths and 46 injuries over the previous 24 hours due to Russian missile strikes. Poland later canceled its military alert. "The operation of Polish and allied aviation in our airspace has been concluded due to the cessation of long-range aviation strikes by the Russian Federation on Ukraine," the country's armed forces said in a different statement. "Activated ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have returned to standard operational activities. We thank you for the allied support NATO." Zelensky on Friday met with U.S. lawmakers in Rome at the Ukraine Recovery Conference. The Ukrainian president said during the conference he was prioritizing strengthening the country's air defenses. Poland scrambled fighter jets and heightened its air defence readiness amid a large-scale Russian missile attack on Ukraine on the night of 11-12 July. Source: Polish Ministry of Defence Quote: "Due to the activity of long-range Russian aircraft, which are striking targets located, among other places, in Ukraine's west, Polish and allied aircraft have been scrambled in Polish airspace." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Polish Operational Command stated that they had activated all available forces and assets to respond to the situation as per standard procedures. In particular, standby pairs of fighter jets were scrambled and air defence systems and radar reconnaissance systems were placed on the highest level of combat readiness. "The Operational Command is monitoring the current situation and the subordinate forces and assets remain in full readiness for immediate response," the Polish Ministry of Defence said in an official statement. Background: On the night of 11-12 July, Russian forces conducted a large-scale attack on Ukraine using drones and missiles. Explosions were heard in several oblasts and the capital. At around 04:00 on 12 July, during a large-scale drone attack, a Russian strike was recorded in Lviv. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A young boy in a "distressed state" who was nearly hit by a vehicle has been found "safe and well", Guernsey Police have said. The force had appealed for witnesses after the child, described as a black male aged about 10 to 11 years old, ran into the road and was nearly struck in St Martin. He was seen fleeing the area before officers arrived on the scene, near the Co-operative store at Les Camps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Thank you to all members of the public that supported us in our inquiries," officers said. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Related internet links In the fall of 2024, the police in Westchester, New York, began receiving odd complaints: Someone had been repeatedly dragging and piling tree branches and limbs on a popular mountain bike trail, seemingly in an attempt to ward off recreational bikers, BikeMag reported. One local group, the Westchester Mountain Biking Association, placed trail cameras in the areas where the branches were appearing in an attempt to catch the perpetrator in the act. Westchester County Police Department officers and park rangers began regularly inspecting the site as well. After many months and capturing video of their suspect, the WCPD finally made an arrest in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The person arrested, a 44-year-old man named Jeffrey Jarvis, was charged with a misdemeanor of criminal nuisance in the second degree. He was released and scheduled for a later appearance in court. Westchester County Police (@wcpdny) shared a video on their official Instagram page with the news. As BikeMag explained, Jarvis' motives were not explicitly named, but conflict over trail use in the Blue Mountain Reservation is "nothing new" for bikers and hikers there. While mountain biking is permitted, many residents including several bikers have lamented the improper and destructive treatment of the trail system. "As a mountain biker that has used these woods for more than 30 years I have seen the progressive destruction that unauthorized trails are creating in the woods," one person commented on the WCPD's Facebook page. "I have seen many beautiful moss covered rocks striped with trails that are clearly just for thrill seekers. I have also noticed many trails progressively widening by timid people trying to avoid the rocky bits in the middle. The damage caused by wider trails just causes more erosion and run off and has made some the trails I used to ride easily unmanageable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even so, they pointed out, harassing and endangering mountain bikers is not the answer. "Blocking the trails as this jerk did is not the way to handle the situation," they said. Sam Lee, the president of the Westchester Mountain Biking Association, agreed. "If you're a disgruntled trail user, and you don't like what you see, you should notify the land owner, the park staff, and start from there before doing anything as a vigilante," Lee told ABC7NY Eyewitness News. Fortunately, no mountain bikers appear to have been injured by Jarvis' actions. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Lincolnshire Police has released an image of Neil Trennan taken on Thursday [Lincolnshire Police] Police searching for a convicted rapist who absconded from prison have confirmed further sightings in Sheffield. Neil Trennan, 60, was given day release from North Sea Camp, an open prison in Boston, Lincolnshire, on Thursday, but did not return to his meeting point. On Saturday, South Yorkshire Police said there had been "confirmed sightings of Trennan in Sheffield and he is believed to have committed further offences in the area". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The force said it was thought he was last seen at Sheffield train station, where he is understood to have boarded the 16:38 BST train to Lincoln. Police believe Trennan could have changed his clothes since absconding [Handout] The South Yorkshire force said it was working alongside Lincolnshire Police and carrying out a number of inquiries. Det Insp Dave Penney, from Lincolnshire Police, said Trennan was a "dangerous individual" who "may pose a real danger to members of the public". Police said he was last seen wearing a black jumper and grey bottoms but may have changed clothing. Trennan should not be approached and people are urged to call 999 immediately if they see him, police added. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North More on this story OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Police are investigating a shooting near a southwest Oklahoma City apartment complex Saturday morning. Officials say the shooting happened near S Sante Fe Avenue and SW 74th Street at around 4:10 a.m. Saturday. Authorities confirmed that a confrontation occurred and resulted in two people being shot. OKCPD investigate shooting near Santa Fe Avenue. (KFOR) OKCPD investigate shooting near Santa Fe Avenue. (KFOR) One victim drove themselves to a nearby hospital. The second victim, with assistance from friends, first stopped at a nearby IHOP asking for the nearest hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was seen near SE 89th and S Santa Fe Ave and was transported by EMSA to a nearby hospital. The victims are said to be in stable condition. The whereabouts of the suspect are also unknown. The scene of the shooting is under further investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) A young man died Saturday morning following a shooting near the Davidson-Rutherford County line, causing Interstate 24 to be shut down for hours. A shooting and a multi-vehicle crash were reported around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 12 in the area of I-24 West close to mile marker 64. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Officials said the Metro Nashville Police Department and the Nashville Fire Department initially responded to the scene because the original call came to MNPD. Then, after the incident was determined to be on the Rutherford County side of the line, the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office and the La Vergne Police Department responded to the scene with Rutherford County Emergency Services while Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Transportation closed the highway during the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All lanes were blocked at approximately 8:30 a.m., so traffic was diverted at Waldron Road in La Vergne for nearly five hours. The roadway reopened shortly after 1 p.m. According to authorities, a Rutherford County man died after being shot while driving toward Nashville on the interstate near Waldron Road. On Sunday, July 13, law enforcement announced the driver who died had been identified as Noah Taylor, 22, of Smyrna. Noah Taylor (Courtesy: Taylor family via Rutherford County Sheriffs Office) Detective Thomas Burnett is asking motorists who were traveling along I-24 Saturday morning to provide dash camera videos in order to help solve Taylors murder: Were interested in information and dash cams from Interstate 840 to the Bell Road exit between 7 and 8 a.m. Not only are Taylors relatives offering a $2,000 reward, but according to Burnett, Crime Stoppers is offering a reward up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspect responsible. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com No additional details have been released about this active investigation. A GoFundMe has been established for Taylors family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have dash cam video or have information about the case, youre asked to call Burnett at 615-904-3052. You can also share anonymous tips by contacting Rutherford County Crime Stoppers at 615-893-7867. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The Daytona Beach Police Department is in search of a male suspect wanted for attempted child abduction and indecent exposure. DBPD is asking for the publics assistance to identify and locate the suspect. Police have urged anyone with information regarding the suspects identity or whereabouts to contact them immediately. DBPD has warned the public not to approach the individual if spotted, but instead to contact them. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. ST. LOUIS The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is asking for the publics help with locating a suspect accused of fatally shooting another mans dog. Police are searching for 48-year-old Charlie Simpson, a wanted suspect described as armed and dangerous. Simpson is accused in an afternoon shooting on May 20 in the 2600 block of N. Jefferson Avenue in St. Louis Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma man arrested in St. Louis after trying to cremate 4 dead dogs Investigators say Simpson approached a victim who reported he was involved in an argument over money with him. At some point, Simpson allegedly produced a pistol and fired several shots towards the victim. The victim was not injured during the shooting. However, the victims dog was sitting in the victims car and struck by the gunfire. The dog died at the scene from its injuries. Police say Simpson escaped from the scene in a silver Ford Escape with a license plate of TF6D9Z. Officers shared two photos of the suspect vehicle sought in connection with the case. (Courtesy: SLMPD) (Courtesy: SLMPD) (Courtesy: SLMPD) Anyone with relevant information in this case is asked to contact SLMPD at 314-444-2500 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday inaugurated India's first water technology park named 'Aqua Tech Park' established through collaborative efforts at Bagibari Sonapur. The 'Aqua Tech Park' set up by Kolong-Kapili in association with NABARD, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Fishery Department and Selco Foundation, the Aqua Tech Park the first of its kind in Assam. The park showcases advanced technologies in aquaponics, biofloc system, modern fish production, ornamental fish breeding and other innovative areas. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister of Assam said that, the Aqua Tech park will aim at empowering fish farmers with knowledge of cutting edge technologies that will enhance fish production and boost the income of the fish farmers. He also said that the park is a way forward to resurgent Assam and Atmanirbhar Assam. "Assam is a state rich in rivers. However, in spite of this, the state is dependent on state like Andhra Pradesh for meeting its fish demands. In this context, the initiative taken by Kolong-Kopili deserves accolades. For the last one and a half decade Kolong-Kopili has been a source of inspiration to the youth across the state. For the last 17 years, Kolong-Kopili by rendering training to different stakeholders on modern techniques of fish production impacted the lives of the entrepreneurs and fish farmers of the state positively. By introducing innovation, Kolong-Kopili has added a new dimension to fish farming and the economy dependent on fish," the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister said that in the year 2021 Kolong-Kopili with assistance from ICAR and CIFR started its Aqua Culture School and made an important contribution to fish farming, natural farming, fish fry production, and integrated agriculture system which led to empowerment of thousands of youths. The Chief Minister expressed hope that the Aqua Tech Park would prove to be a boon to the farmers and other stakeholders. He also said that the Aqua Tech Park, will also greatly boost fish production and provide ample earning opportunities to the fish farmers of Assam. "This park will be a model of fisheries development in the state," the Chief Minister exhorted. Stating that Assam holds tremendous possibility in the field of fishery, the Chief Minister said that between 2019 and 2024, Assam doubled its fish production to 4.99 lakh MT and became the fourth largest fish producing state in India. "Government along with other stakeholders is working dedicatedly to make Assam among the top five states in the country, in every field. Rs. 800 crore ADB assisted project has been initiated in the state to support Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation Project. Moreover, the JICA aided Rs. 250 crore project also helped in taking many others schemes for the development of fishery sector in the state," he said. Additionally, Sarma added that with the synergy of the conventional agriculture system and modern technology, State government in the current financial year created 10 fishery cluster development project involving a financial outlay of Rs. 8 crore. Moreover, he said that the double engine government has taken various steps to develop the fisheries sector in the State through schemes like PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, SWIFT, among others. With all these initiatives, the government is not just rejuvenating the fisheries sector in Assam but making it competitive nationally, Dr. Sarma added. Citing the examples of Debojit Barman of Nalbari, Hemanta Deka and Fatik Ahmed of Barpeta, Biswajit Bora of Sonitpur, Sudipa Dey of Cachar, Harendranath Rabha of Tamulpur, Krishna Gogoi of Jorhat, Lalit Dutta of Golaghat, Chief Minister called upon the youth of the state to come forward and tap the potential of fishery sector. He said that under Mukhyamantri Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan, State government is giving Rs. 5 lakh to each of the graduates passed out from Raha Fishery College and Rs. 2 lakh to fishery farmers. He also said that from September onwards one lakh youth of state would be given financial benefits under the scheme (CMAAA). Director Kolong-Kopili Jyotish Talukdar gave the welcome speech in the programme, which was also addressed among others by Fishery Minister Krishnendu Paul, MLA Dispur Atul Bora, Chief General Manager NABARD Regional Office Assam Loken Das. Vice Chairman Assam Fisheries Development Corporation Nabarun Medhi, Director Fishery Gauri Shankar Das, and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion. (ANI) Polish President-elect Karol Nawrocki called upon President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 11 to allow full-scale exhumations of Polish victims of the Volyn massacres, according to RMF24, even as the long-stalled process had already resumed in April. The Volyn (Volhynian) massacres of 1943-1944 took place in the Nazi-occupied territory of what is now western Ukraine during World War II. Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) members killed at least tens of thousands of Poles, while thousands of Ukrainians were killed in retaliation. Speaking at a ceremony in the eastern Polish city of Chelm marking the 82nd anniversary of the massacres, Nawrocki said the victims "do not cry out for revenge, but for a cross, a grave, and memory," and urged Ukraine to authorize further work across multiple sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Poles are waiting for this truth," Nawrocki said, according to Polish news outlet RMF24. Nawrocki's remarks follow the restart of exhumations in April at the destroyed village of Puzhnyky in Ukraine's Ternopil Oblast. It was the first such effort since 2017, when Ukraine imposed a moratorium after a wave of vandalism targeting Ukrainian memorials in Poland. Ukrainian and Polish officials have since announced additional exhumations of Polish soldiers killed during World War II in Zboiska and the nearby district of Pid Holoskom in Lviv Oblast in June. Nawrocki emphasized his moral obligation to speak for the victims. A historian by profession, the Polish president-elect has long argued that Ukraine should not be allowed into the EU before the Volyn issue is resolved, a view shared by other Polish politicians across the political spectrum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As the future president of Poland, I am obliged to speak with their voice. No one will release me from this," he said. The ceremony in Chelm also marked the planned construction of a new museum to commemorate those killed. Read also: Volhynian Massacre the Achilles heel of Ukrainian-Polish relations Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar, who attended the event, reportedly voiced support for further dialogue and acknowledged the importance of honoring victims on both sides of the historical divide. "We need to talk about this history openly," he said. "Of course, to call the crime a crime. Apologize and apologize, but also honor the memory of those victims who need it, on both sides of the border." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current Polish President Andrzej Duda recently signed legislation establishing July 11 as the National Day of Remembrance for Polish victims of the Volyn massacres. The law was passed with near-unanimous parliamentary support and declares that the "atrocities committed between 1939 and 1946" must remain in Poland's national memory. Poland's Institute of National Remembrance estimates that some 100,000 Poles were killed in the Volyn region, now part of western Ukraine. Ukrainian historians argue that thousands of Ukrainians were also killed in retaliatory actions and insist that the conflict be viewed as mutual ethnic violence rather than genocide. The first exhumation since 2017, at Puzhnyky, where 50 to 120 Poles were killed, was seen as a breakthrough, with both governments pledging to expand joint efforts. Read also: Russias tactic is obvious Shahed drone terror now reaches all of Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) A local small business is celebrating a major milestone with the community as it marks one year at its new location. Polished Pretty by Em will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on June 11th to commemorate its first anniversary at 3843 Frederick Ave. The celebration will feature giveaways, treats, and special surprises throughout the day. The boutique, which specializes in unique handmade items like nails, t-shirts, earrings, and other boutique goods, originally opened five years ago inside the East Hills Mall. Since then, it has grown steadily, with the move to Frederick Avenue marking a significant step forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Owner Emily Gutzmer reflected on the journey with gratitude, acknowledging both the challenges and the support that have shaped her business. Honestly, thank you guys. I can't thank you enough, Gutzmer said. It's been an amazing five and a half years. None of this would have been possible without you guys. We're so thankful for our original customers and all the new ones we see regularly so thank you guys. Although Gutzmer currently lives in St. Louis while her husband completes his medical residency, she shared plans for the couple to return to St. Joseph next year. The event is open to the public, and everyone, from longtime patrons to first-time visitors. Everyone is invited to stop by and join in the celebration. Its Polished Pretty by Ems way of thanking the community for its continued support and role in the boutiques success. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A new Gallup poll released Friday found a big swing in Americans opinions about immigrants in 2025. Gallup wrote, Americans have grown markedly more positive toward immigration over the past year, with the share wanting immigration reduced dropping from 55% in 2024 to 30% today. At the same time, a record-high 79% of U.S. adults say immigration is a good thing for the country. A record-low, 17 percent, view immigration as a bad thing, the poll found. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said Friday, The numbers dont lie: the majority of Americans agree that immigration is overwhelmingly good for our country and our economy. As the nation watches Donald Trump and Stephen Millers cruel policies separate families and sow fear in our communities in our parks, our restaurants, our hospitals theyve become deeply unpopular, sparking a fierce backlash from the public. Farmworkers work in a strawberry field on June 12, 2025 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images) One of the polls questions asked: Do you strongly approve, approve, disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling the immigration issue? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Answers were sharply partisan: 85% of Republicans approve of Trumps immigration policies, compared with 28% of independents and just 2% of Democrats. The polls findings were based on a June 2-26 Gallup poll of 1,402 adults in the United States. Gallup pollsters said the results mark a reverse in a four-year trend, when concerns about immigration began rising in 2021. Gallup wrote, Support for allowing undocumented immigrants to become U.S. citizens has risen to 78%, up from 70% last year. Padilla said, We know our economy depends on the essential contributions of immigrants. California is the fourth-largest economy in the world not in spite of immigrants, but because of their contributions not only as a workforce, but as consumers and as entrepreneurs. A woman raises her hands as Customs and Border Protection officers extend their skirmish line into a crop field during a raid by Federal immigration agents at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, California, July 10, 2025. (Photo by BLAKE FAGAN/AFP via Getty Images) Sen. Padilla, the son of immigrants from Mexico, has been a harsh critics of Trumps deportation agenda. Last month, Padilla was forcefully removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems news conference in Los Angeles and handcuffed by officers as he tried to speak up about immigration raids. A Secret Service agent grabbed the California senator by his jacket and shoved him from the room. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem seen at an ICE raid at the Huntington Park home of a pregnant mother of four on June 12, 2025. (DHS) On Friday Padilla said, Now is the time to finally deliver a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, farm workers, and other long-term residents of our nation who have been living and working in the shadows for far too long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Gallups poll analysis, Americans feelings about immigrants swung more negative during President Joe Bidens term in office. Trumps policies, which include mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and tougher border control, apparently eased concerns. The surge in illegal border crossings during the Biden administration triggered heightened public concern about immigration and increased demand for stricter enforcement. The Trump administrations swift and visible response appears to have defused that concern, particularly among Republicans, Gallup wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. City councilmembers in Prairie Village are the metros latest to express concerns over E-bikes and E-scooters. Theyre considering new ordinances to keep kids safer. Councilmembers approved the decision to craft an ordinance unanimously on Monday night. The Altar opens first-ever standalone campus marking milestone in KCK Prairie Village Police officers say calls concerning e-bike safety and reckless riders are going up each year, as e-bikes and e-scooters become more popular. City councilmembers are considering some potential provisions that may address age restrictions for riders younger than 18 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A police spokesperson said some parents buy the electric vehicles without understanding their potential speed and risk factors. Its definitely time, Dave Reinert, who owns Kansas City, Missouris Bicycle Depot, said. Reinerts storefront sits about 10 minutes from Prairie Village in Kansas Citys Waldo neighborhood. Reinert said hes seen some children as young as eight years old riding motorized vehicles like e-bikes. Some e-bikes weigh four times as much as a regular bicycle does, and the bikes motor enables it to go as fast as 30 miles per hour. Reinert said hes tired of seeing kids get hurt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youve amped up the weight of the bike, and youve amped up the speed that a child wouldnt be going on a traditional bike; its just basic physics, Reinert said on Friday. Prairie Village Police Sgt. Josh Putthoff said his department hasnt had a call about an injury to an e-bike rider this year, but some incidents may be occurring on private property, where police cant enforce restrictions as easily. Metro school districts react to new Missouri cell phone policy These riders arent paying attention to their surroundings. Theyre running through crosswalks and not obeying the crosswalk signal, Sgt. Putthoff said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sgt. Putthoff said city councilmembers and police hope to inform parents, since some may not be aware of the powerful device theyre providing kids. Our main purpose is to educate people, educate the juveniles, that theyre not driving recklessly and theyre paying attention to their surroundings and the people theyre driving past and around, Sgt. Putthoff added. Prairie Village city councilmembers are looking to neighboring cities restrictions as a means of modeling this ordinance. Theyre expected to publicly discuss at the citys next council meeting on Monday, July 21. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. KERRVILLE (KFDX/KJTL) President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump joined Governor Greg Abbott and First Lady Cecilia Abbott in Kerrville today during the Presidents visit to Kerr County to meet with Texas families and first responders regarding the recent floods that hit the area during the July 4 holiday weekend. Part of our bloodstream is that we are Texas tough, said Governor Abbott. We are one team united. Fighting as Texans, we are going to rebuild not just in Kerrville, Hunt, or Kerr County, but across the entire state. The First Lady and I are here in Texas to express the love, support, and anguish of the entire nation, said President Trump. My Administration is going to do everything in its power who help the affected communities. Governor Abbott and First Lady greeted the President and First Lady on the tarmac at Kerrville Aviation. Governor Abbott and President Trump then met with first responders and local officials at Louise Hays Park to get updates on the search and rescue efforts and the recovery operations in Kerr County and the other communities across the state that were heavily impacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They then went to Hill Country Youth Center to be a part of a roundtable with federal, state and local officials and impacted Texans in the Kerrville community. The Governor and President expressed their condolences to the families who have lost a loved one and who were impacted by the floods at the meeting. Governor Abbott has thanked President Trump for his swift approval and sent resources to the Hill Country communities that are in need. Both the Governor and the President praised the actions of local, state and federal first responders who have been working continuously around the clock with all recovery and rescue efforts. After the roundtable, the Governor and the President visited with first responders to thank them for their selfless efforts. Before leaving Kerrville, both Governor Abbott and First Lady Abbott stopped at the Wall of Hope to pay their respects to the ones who lost their lives and to talk with Texans who were leaving flowers and gifts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. President Donald Trump said the devastation in Texas following deadly flash flooding is "as bad as I've seen" but affirmed his administration's commitment to helping rebuild the Central Texas community Friday on "The Will Cain Show." "What they've gone through, nobody's ever seen anything like it, frankly. When you have a wave that's almost 40 feet high just come rushing through this, you would think it was a dam that burst," Trump said on "The Will Cain Show." "It's a tough thing that they're going through, but it's an amazing community," he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president, along with first lady Melania Trump, arrived in Kerrville, Texas, Friday, following massive floods that have taken the lives of more than 120 people. They met with local officials and first responders who are navigating the aftermath of flash floods that devastated the region, after the Guadalupe River surged more than 22 feet in just a matter of hours. Trump, First Lady Mourn Young Lives Lost In Texas Floods, Praise First Responders During Kerrville Roundtable During his visit, Trump met with the families of some of the flood victims, including those from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp founded nearly 100 years ago for girls. Trump commended their "love for the community" and "how much they love their family" despite this "real tragedy." Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're going to help this community, too. They love each other. I just left this group of people. They just love each other. They love the community, and they're going to rebuild," he told Fox News host Will Cain. Among those who died in the flooding were at least 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic. Meanwhile, more than 160 people are missing and unaccounted for in Kerry County, Texas, following the floods, according to officials. Trump also praised the "amazing job" of authorities and volunteers in Texas who are still facilitating search and rescue operations as well as helping rebuild from the "devastation." Fox News Digital's Diana Stancy, Brie Stimson, Anders Hagstrom, Greg Norman, Landon Mion, Alex Nitzberg, Julia Bonavita, Ryan Gaydos, Daniella Genovese, Pilar Arias, Greg Wehner and Bradford Betz contributed to this report. Original article source: President Trump vows to help Texas recover from deadly flood devastation PRICEVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The Priceville Police Department said the 23-year-old has felony arrest warrants for nationwide extradition on prior charges involving drugs. PPD said on Saturday around 2:15 a.m., officers stopped a vehicle on Garth Road near Highway 67. The driver was identified as 23-year-old Tyrese Nashad Hamilton from Decatur. The department said that when officers first made contact with Hamilton, they observed signs of impairment. However, PPD said Hamilton declined to undergo a field sobriety test. The police department said additional observations during the investigation provided reason for a probable cause search of the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The search led to the discovery of a quantity of marijuana and drug paraphernalia within the vehicle. While Hamilton was detained during the search, PPD said he tried to get rid of an additional amount of marijuana from his waistband onto the roadside. Hamilton was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with physical evidence. A records check showed that Hamilton had felony arrest warrants for nationwide extradition due to probation violations related to prior charges involving trafficking in marijuana and possession of marijuana, through the Morgan County Sheriffs Office. Hamilton was taken to the Morgan County Jail, where he is being held without bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. A New Hampshire father and avid Trump supporter has been barred from re-entering the U.S. after a family vacation in Canada. Chris Landry, who has been a legal U.S. resident since 1981 when he was three-years-old, was stopped at the border in Holton, Maine, despite having a green card. They pulled me aside and started questioning me about my past convictions in New Hampshire, he told NBC News, speaking from New Brunswick. They denied me re entry and said, you know, don't come back or we will detain you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Landry, who was born in Canada, faced of marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license in 2004 and 2007. He was given a suspended sentence and paid a fine, and has had no criminal record since. Chris Landry, who has been a U.S. resident since 1981, was barred from re-entering the country after a family visit to Canada (NBC News) I never expected that I wouldn't be able to go back home, he told WMUR. It was scary. I felt like I was being treated like a criminal. The only way for me to get back in was to see a immigration judge, he told NBC, adding that his future is now uncertain and he worries he may have to spend the rest of his life in Canada. Landry was traveling with three of his children, who are all American citizens, when he was stopped. They will reportedly return to the U.S. in the coming days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though he was unable to vote in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Landry said he was a fan of Donald Trump. However he says his attitude towards the administration and its policies have now changed. Border Patrol stopped Landry as he tried to return from a family vacation in Canada with three of his five children (Getty Images) I was definitely all for Make America Great Again and having a strong unified country and a bright future for my five American children, but now I feel differently, he said. In a statement, USCBP said: Possessing a green card is a privilege, not a right, and under our nation's laws, our government has the authority to revoke a green card if our laws are broken and abused. Lawful permanent residents presenting at a U.S. port of entry with previous criminal convictions, may be subject to mandatory detention and/ or may be asked to provide additional documentation to be set up for an immigration hearing. (In this column, Opinion Editor Kevin Aldridge briefly recaps the most-read letters to the editor and guest columns on Cincinnati.com this week in case you missed them. You can read all these opinions in their entirety by clicking on the links.) Dave Chappelle might be the greatest comedian of the past 25 years and he's definitely one of my personal favorites. He's a master storyteller whose humor is bold, layered, and unapologetically provocative. That used to be a badge of honor in comedy. Lately, though, Chappelle's material especially his jokes about the LGBTQ+ community has made him a lightning rod for controversy. Chappelle is doing a three-weekend run in Yellow Springs this summer and tickets aren't cheap. The first shows were July 2, 3, and 5. Dennis Doyle of Anderson Township got an invite but passed. Chappelle's brand of comedy "increasingly leaves me uneasy," he wrote in this week's most-read opinion piece, which you can read in full here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I didnt know what his routine would be, but I knew what I didnt want to hear," said Doyle, a member of the Enquirer Board of Contributors. He said Chappelle's comedy too often reinforces the very prejudices it claims to poke fun at and gives license to racists. "I watched white audience members laugh a little too hard at sketches that, while brilliantly crafted, seemed to permit them to enjoy stereotypes they werent supposed to say out loud," Doyle said of Chappelle's jokes about Black people. And when it comes to Chappelle's transgender jokes: "I see people who likely hold deep biases laughing with a sense of vindication. 'If Dave Chappelle can say it,' they think, 'so can I,'" Doyle wrote. Watch: Video from 2023: Dave Chappelle introduces Snoop Dogg at Cincinnati Music Festival Dave Chappelle during the Humor & Harmony Weekend: Big Bowl Comedy Show presented by 50 Cent at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium Thursday evening, August 8, 2024. But it was this particular point from Doyle that made me pause: "Chappelle insists hes just telling the truth. But truth without compassion can sound a lot like contempt." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I'm not sure I buy Doyle's take on Chappelle or the idea that his comedy stems from contempt for the trans community. Admittedly, I'm biased I'm a fan. But Doyle's critique did make me stop and think about why I laugh at certain jokes in the first place. Great comedy often lands because it hits on uncomfortable truths about the world, about other people, and especially about ourselves. "It's funny because it's true" is a cliche for a reason. The best comics say things we think but won't say out loud. That's what makes them provocative and also what gets them in hot water in a culture where sensitivity and awareness are more expected than ever. People frustrated with "wokeness" ask, "Can't anyone take a joke anymore?" I get it. But maybe the better question is: "Why is this funny to me?" Who's the target? What's the point? Are we laughing with someone or at them? I'd love to hear your take. Is comedy under attack, or are some jokes just past their shelf life? Should society loosen up and laugh more, or have we finally drawn a better line? Drop me a letter to the editor or an op-ed with your thoughts. Maybe it's the grown-ups who need a curfew Cincinnati Police presented a curfew poster detailing city the city curfew's ordinance. Xavier professor and Enquirer contributor Mack Mariani's satirical take on Cincinnati's teen curfew debate struck a chord with readers. Instead of cracking down on kids, he joked that maybe the city should send older folks to bed by 9 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Sending older people home early would have a great effect on public health, as people my age need at least eight hours of sleep to maintain their health, and thats really hard to do if you are out and about late at night," Mariani wrote. "It would also greatly increase public happiness for us older folks, because we dont want to do anything late at night in the first place." More: Cincinnati expands youth events in effort to engage teens and reduce violence I hate to admit it, but Mack might be onto something. I used to sneak out to go to parties. Now, at age 50, I sneak out of parties to go home. Jokes aside what do you think about enforcing the existing curfew for teens? Smart strategy given the recent spike in violence, or a waste of police time? Share your thoughts here. The bullets haven't stopped, and neither has the spin A sign calling for an end to gun violence is posted near the scene of a shooting at 3303 Perkins Ave. in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. The 21-year-old victim was taken to UC Medical Center with life-threatening wounds, according to police. We're all tired of the rising gun violence in Cincinnati. Mayor Aftab Pureval has called it "unacceptable," but what he didn't say during a recent "Cincinnati Edition" interview is what bothered West Price Hill resident Todd Zinser. In his op-ed, Zinser noted the mayor made no mention of anti-violence efforts like Act for Cincy and Advance Peace programs the city has spent millions on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval's 'holistic' strategy to reduce gun violence in the city is not working," Zinser said. "The fact that the mayor didn't highlight any of the program's successes during his radio appearance speaks for itself." Zinser questioned whether the city's strategies are making any real impact or just serving as political cover. His case in point: the gunfire hasn't stopped. More: Police chief: Task force makes dozens of arrests in first week to combat spike in crime Do you agree with Zinser? Is the city's plan working? What would you do differently? I want to hear your thoughts. In case you missed them In case you missed them, here's a chance to catch up on a couple more of the most-read opinions this week: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Op-ed: "Transgender medicine is facing a collapse of credibility." Letter: "Cincinnati's homeless shelter plan leads by example in fiscal irresponsibility." Op-ed: "Trump country is apparently more tolerant than the drag show crowd." Your thoughts about my hot (or not so hot) takes CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 08: Ja'Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on prior to a game New England Patriots at Paycor Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images) Lastly, I'm trying something new sharing some reader reactions to my columns: the good, the bad, and the "did you even read what I wrote?" Last week, I praised Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase for keeping his cool when a fake fan tried to bait him. Turns out, a few real fans had thoughts of their own and they didn't hold back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellie Megerle wrote: "Thank you for highlighting the positive in sportsmanship. Your article made me think about how I treat those in the press, and it made me smile." Thanks, Ellie glad to bring a smile and maybe even a little goodwill toward us media folks. Then there's Paul Smith, who had a very different reaction to my column on Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich and the Ryan Hinton case: "Kevin, in my opinion, your column today was very unsettling. It smacks of race-baiting in the worst possible way... Frankly, I'm very disappointed in you." But just 24 hours later, Paul bounced back with this after my Ja'Marr Chase column: "Compared to my critical email yesterday, I 100% agree with todays column praising Chase for his behavior on the recent flight he was on." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What a difference a day and a triple crown-winning wide receiver makes. More: Hamilton County's Denise Driehaus on what's next for stadium lease, county priorities Finally, Douglas Nusbaum brought the love: "Great column on JaMarr Chase and the (non) confrontation on the plane. Great journalism. Great take. The article writes itself if Chase reacts badly. It takes a true journalist to write about a story avoided. Chase deserves your take and the recognition. Best, most thoughtful article Ive read since Doc retired. Props to JaMarr. Props to you." Thanks, Douglas. Getting mentioned in the same breath as Paul Daugherty? I'll take that any day of the week and twice on game day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I may not always get it right, and not everyone is going to agree with me but that's the point. I want to spark conversation, challenge assumptions, and every once in a while, make someone smile. So, keep the feedback coming the cheers, the jeers and everything in between. I read it all, and trust me, it makes this space better. Join the conversation As always, you can join the conversation on these and other topics by sending your thoughts to letters@enquirer.com. Letters of up to 200 words may be submitted and must include name, address, community and daytime phone number. Op-eds are submitted the same way, except they should be 500-600 words and also include a one-sentence bio and headshot. Submissions may be edited for space and clarity. If you need some tips on how to write an op-ed, click here. Kevin S. Aldridge is the Opinion and Engagement editor for the The Enquirer. Opinion and Engagement Editor Kevin S. Aldridge can be reached at kaldridge@enquirer.com. On X: @kevaldrid. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Chappelle's comedy sparks debate. Enforce Cincinnati's curfew |Opinion HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) A Holyoke woman was quickly located on Friday using the Hampden County Sheriffs Office Project Lifesaver Program. The Sheriffs Office stated that on Friday afternoon, deputies from the Triad Division were contacted to help locate an older woman with dementia in Holyoke who had wandered from her home. Project Lifesaver launches in Chicopee to help locate wandering individuals Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At approximately 4:09 p.m., the Holyoke Police Department was promptly notified of the situation, and deputies were sent to the area. A lieutenant arrived in Holyoke with specialized Electronic Search and Rescue (ESAR) equipment, and used it to locate the woman less than a mile from her childhood home. Police said that the woman was safely reunited with her family just before 5:00 p.m. on Friday. The Project Lifesaver program helps vulnerable individuals in the community who are prone to wandering be located quickly with the help of tracking technology through the Hampden County Sheriffs Office. Our teams training and tools make all the difference in moments like this, said Sheriff Nick Cocchi. Were proud to work alongside our partners and provide families with peace of mind knowing were here to help protect their loved ones. To learn more about Project Lifesaver or to enroll a loved one, visit hcsoma.org. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Actor Tom Holland shared his shooting experience with filmmaker Christopher Nolan in 'The Odyssey' and said that it has been "the job of a lifetime, without a doubt," reported Variety. Holland is starring alongside Matt Damon, who stars as Odysseus. Tom is playing Telemachus, Odysseus' son. The film marks Nolan's highly anticipated follow-up to his Oscar-winning "Oppenheimer." "It was amazing. The job of a lifetime, without a doubt. The best experience I've had on a film set," Holland said when asked about his experience on 'The Odyssey' set. "Incredible. It was exciting. It was different. And I think the movie is going to be unlike anything we've ever seen," reported Variety. "Working with Chris, getting to know him and Emma Thomas, was fantastic. I've never seen someone who can work the way that they do. There is a reason why they're the best in the business for sure," Holland continued, adding, "To get a front row seat to that and to be a part of the process and to collaborate with a true master of his craft and learn from him was the best experience I've ever had." The Odyssey is an upcoming epic action fantasy film written, directed, and co-produced by Christopher Nolan. Holland and Damon are joined in 'The Odyssey' by a huge ensemble cast that includes Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and Jon Bernthal, among others. "Matt Damon has always been a hero of mine, Anne Hathaway has always been a hero of mine," said Holland, adding, "So to share scenes with them, to learn from them, to become friends with them, I couldn't have asked for a better job. And I'm so proud of the work I've done. I came to work every day with a real sense of purpose and a point to prove, and I'm so grateful for Chris to have given me that opportunity." Holland said earlier, that getting the offer from Nolan to star in "The Odyssey" was "the phone call of a lifetime" and "reminiscent of getting the call about 'Spider-Man' 10 years ago. It's an amazing thing for me. I'm super proud and I'm really, really excited," according to Variety. 'The Odyssey' is set for release on July 17, 2026, from Universal Pictures. (ANI) SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) A proposal to build a gender neutral restroom on the fourth floor of the Roundhouse is causing some lawmakers to take a stance. After the legislatures facilities review subcommittee on Thursday, $80,000 was approved to reconstruct a shower into a gender neutral restroom and build a dedicated lactation room on the fourth floor. Water managers brace for dry conditions in the Rio Grande During this years legislative session, some employees sent an anonymous letter to lawmakers complaining about a transgender woman using the bathroom causing some republican lawmakers to express discomfort. Other lawmakers say they didnt see a problem with it. Look, its not to say were not anti-trans, were not trying to marginalize anyone, but this was about one person and a slew of women of all different ages that were in that bathroom and other bathrooms and who felt uncomfortable.its the one space where we should feel safe and not have to worry about, is there a male in that bathroom? said Sen. Nicole Tobiassen (R-Bernalillo County.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KRQE News 13 reached out to state Democrats and received a joint response from Speaker of the House Javier Martinez (D-Albuquerque) and Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque): State lawmakers have real work to do to make life better for the people of New Mexico and help protect them from the devastating impacts of President Trumps Big Brutal Bill, which will make life harder and more expensive for all of us. Policing public restrooms does not help New Mexicans who are worried about losing their healthcare, struggling to keep food on their tables, and keep up with rising costs. Everyone deserves to feel safe in our Roundhouse. Transgender people have been using restrooms consistent with their gender identity for decades without incident and existing laws already protect people in public spaces. The sudden focus on this issue is purely manufactured political controversy. We wish New Mexico Senate Republicans were as concerned about the issues that matter to you and your family as they are about which bathroom you use Speaker of the House Javier Martinez and Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A proposed addition to Kern Countys Ordinance Code aims to reduce catalytic converter thefts across the county while protecting residents and making the investigation process more efficient for local law enforcement, according to the Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting agenda. The proposal comes after the board asked County Counsel to work with the Kern County Sheriffs Office in May to draft a catalytic converter ordinance to address the thefts in unincorporated Kern County, according to the agenda. The proposal is expected to be brought up to the Kern County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1 man dead, 1 critically injured after stabbing in south Bakersfield In a letter to the Board, KCSO said hundreds of catalytic converters have been stolen from vehicles in unincorporated areas, requiring repairs that cost thousands of dollars for the vehicle owners. According to KCSO, catalytic converters are stolen due to them being easy to steal and having precious metals, such as platinum, palladium and rhodium. Catalytic converters and their scraps can be sold between $800 and $1,200, depending on the type and market. While the state of California has passed laws to address catalytic converter thefts, there is currently no law that requires people without proper licensing to provide valid ownership documents when owning a catalytic converter not attached to a vehicle, according to the agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current state law also says anyone stopped by an officer while possessing less than nine catalytic converters dont need to show proof of ownership, KCSO said. If an officer stops someone with eight or less catalytic converters without proper documents, and the officer fails to find the specific victim who can confirm the items as theirs, the stopped individual could leave with the catalytic converters. According to the agenda, the proposed addition to the law would make it illegal for anyone, other than a core recycler, to own any catalytic converter not attached to a vehicle. Exceptions would be made if the owner has valid or other written documents clearly identifying the vehicle where the catalytic converter came from. Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage Under the ordinance, valid documentation would include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Signed bill of sale from the original owner allowing the catalytic converter removal, including the vehicle owners name, address and number Verifiable documentation from an auto body shop proving the owner gave up the catalytic converter to the shop Verifiable electronic communication with the previous owner giving up ownership of the catalytic converter to the current owner Vehicle registration associated with the catalytic converter, with photos showing an etched license plate number, vehicle identification number or drivers license number of the registered vehicle owner People who violate this could be charged with a misdemeanor, leading to a $1,000 fine or up to a year in county jail, or both, the agenda said. First-time offenders could be fined $1,000 for each illegally-owned catalytic converter, while second-time offenders could pay $2,000 per catalytic converter, if theyre caught within three years from the date of the first offense. On the third and following violations from the first offense, the fine for each catalytic converter would climb to $5,000, according to officials. The county is expected to prepare and publish a proper summary for the proposed ordinance. Its unknown when the proposal will be heard for approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. A 14-year-old shot and killed a 15-year-old in Wyoming after a meet-up to buy a gun devolved into a fight, Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor Philip Brandewie alleged in juvenile court Friday. Jul. 12More than a hundred people gathered at the entrance to the Portland International Jetport on Saturday to protest a commercial airline that has been working with immigration officials. Avelo Airlines has been carrying out deportation flights in Arizona for U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement since May. Before then, the Houston-based company was better known for offering budget flights in small and mid-size town airports. A week after starting their flights for ICE, Avelo began offering a limited number of nonstop flights between New Haven, Connecticut, and Portland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Avelo said Saturday they're not carrying out deportation flights anywhere other than Arizona. Their CEO, Andrew Levy, told media outlets in April that the company's agreement with ICE would help protect jobs and fund future expansions. Still, protesters on Saturday said they were upset that Avelo is making money in Maine. Debra Bellare from Indivisible Greater Portland, one of the protest organizers, said the event's purpose was two-fold: the group wants to spread awareness for their boycott and they want to urge public officials to take a stance against Avelo. "We just don't believe that's the way to make money in this country, by violating due process," said Rachel Weinstein, another member of Indivisible Greater Portland. Weinstein said she's heard that conditions on Avelo's deportation flights are inhumane. She and other protesters also said Saturday they believe many who are being removed from country have been denied access to attorneys and day in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters were also concerned by an incentive program that Portland offers some airlines at the jetport. Neither the city nor Avelo have shared what Avelo has been paid, despite previous requests from the Press Herald. An Avelo spokesperson said in an email Saturday that the airline offers seasonal flights in and out of Portland twice a week to southern Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport. (Protesters in New Haven have also been gathering at their own airport since May, when Avelo started its deportation flights.) "We did receive waived terminal fees for a limited time, as all initial carriers receive, but for more information on that you will need to speak to the airport," spokesperson Courtney Goff wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the Jetport did not immediately respond to a request Saturday. According to the jetport's policy, an airline is eligible to have 100% of its landing and terminal use fees waived for the first year of a new nonstop route. The policy states that terminal use fees for 2025 are around $220 per flight. Landing fees for a Boeing 737 which make up Avelo's entire fleet typically come out to about $400 per flight. Since the airline flies in and out of Portland twice per week, the waived fees would total roughly $1,200 per week. Additionally, the airline is eligible for the city's marketing incentive program, through which it can receive $3 per available outbound seat up to a total of $100,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City councilors, who discussed the issue during a meeting in early July, have said their legal options are limited. Protesters Saturday said they hope their demonstration will apply even more pressure. "If not the city, somebody has to be able to do something," said organizer Sophie Garner, a co-chair for the Maine Democratic Socialists of America. "We don't want them here, operating here." Garner and others often had to shout over loud planes taking off and landing at the jetport. (Avelo had no scheduled flights in Portland Saturday afternoon.) Several cars honked as they drove past the group, some in support, some in opposition. Many protesters carried colorful signs, including one shaped like an airplane, calling on flyers to "boycott Avelo," and criticizing the company and the Trump administration. There was also a small marching band playing music throughout the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Portland protest was part of a national effort to spread awareness for an Avelo boycott. Organizers in other states have achieved varying levels of success. In New York, state Sen. Patricia Fahy, a Democrat, has introduced legislation to rescind jet fuel tax exemptions to airlines who work with ICE. In California, the Eureka City Council voted unanimously to stop using Avelo flights for city business. Copy the Story Link Protests continue in Erie as the community demands justice for Marchello Woodard, who was fatally shot by a state parole agent. Residents have been vocal in their pursuit of justice since the shooting of the 43-year-old, and today they are gathering at State Representative Pat Harkins office to make their voices heard. Charles Pou, a close friend of Marchello Woodard, traveled from Raleigh, North Carolina, to join the protests. Chello was a good person with a beautiful heart, Pou said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charles Pou expressed his frustration with the silence from authorities and government officials, including State Representative Pat Harkins, who has not responded to inquiries regarding the protests. Pou also voiced concern about the accountability of parole agents involved in the shooting, suggesting that they should be held responsible before the investigation concludes. He questioned the lack of response from community leaders, stating, Im wondering why a lot of the leaders, the community leaders, people havent even come forward yet and theyre not standing out here. Funeral services for Marchello Woodard will be held tomorrow at noon at Second Baptist Church, as family and friends continue to seek answers and justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published. Related Stories: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. Local health officials are warning beachgoers to refrain from swimming, surfing, or playing in the ocean at several popular Los Angeles County beaches after recent tests revealed elevated levels of bacteria that exceed state health standards. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued warnings for the following locations: Mothers Beach in Marina del Rey Entire swim area Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, health officials announced that water quality has improved at several other sites, and previous warnings for the following areas have been lifted: Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu Solstice Creek at Dan Blocker County Beach Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove For the latest beach conditions, residents can call the 24-hour beach closure hotline at 1-800-525-5662 or visit PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/beach. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. A quick-thinking Publix employee is being hailed a hero after rescuing a co-worker from a submerged truck on Jacksonvilles Northside. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office says Ryan Lauber was on break behind the Dunn Avenue store last Thursday when he heard someone yelling for help. Read: Jacksonville man gets 4 life sentences for deadly shooting spree Lauber saw a pickup truck sinking into a retention pond and immediately jumped a 6-foot fence to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside was his 19-year-old co-worker, who had just gotten off work and accidentally drove into the pond after losing control behind the store. The teen was trapped in the truck for about 10 minutes before he managed to escape and float to the surface. Lauber found him weak and struggling in the water and pulled him to safety. Officers, including one who was off duty nearby, arrived just as the truck disappeared below the surface. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The teen was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover. JSO honored Lauber with a challenge coin for his bravery, calling him a true local hero. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Puerto Rico, long regarded as a leader on transgender rights in the Caribbean, is facing a potential rollback as lawmakers push forward legislation to ban gender-affirming care for youth. The measure could criminalize parents and doctors and cut off vital medical support for the islands trans community. The bill, approved by both chambers of Puerto Ricos legislature, is now awaiting action by Republican Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon. Although she had proposed amendments to protect access to puberty blockers and allow minors already undergoing treatment to continue care, lawmakers did not adopt those changes. The governor now faces a decision to sign or veto the bill. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that the government can limit this kind of care. Late last month, the Puerto Rican Senate advanced the legislation, which would bar gender-affirming health care for trans people under 21 and impose fines, prison time, and professional sanctions on parents and medical providers who facilitate such care. The House recently passed the bill as well, starting a 30-day clock for the governor to act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parents of trans youth have pleaded with the governor to veto the bill, but instead, she sent it back for changes that ultimately failed. Pedro Julio Serrano, president of the Puerto Rico LGBTQ+ Federation, stated that the island has long been at the forefront of trans rights, citing milestones such as allowing trans people to change their birth certificates and a recent court ruling that enabled nonbinary individuals to have an X gender marker. However, he warned that the political climate has shifted dramatically. He told The Advocate that conservative forces in Puerto Rico, particularly the fundamentalist party Proyecto Dignidad, are using anti-trans legislation as a calculated political strategy to attract voters. Serrano noted that the same types of bills now moving through the legislature were blocked in the previous term through activism and lobbying, but have resurfaced under a more conservative government. The current bill follows the passage of a religious liberty measure and another effort restricting care for trans minors, both of which Serrano said the community is also preparing to challenge in court. We are on that waiting stage, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Serrano stressed that while Puerto Ricos political environment has become more hostile, the islands broader culture remains deeply supportive of LGBTQ+ people. He described Puerto Rico as a place that is generally accepting, welcoming, respectful, and one of the worlds top LGBTQ+ travel destinations. Yet, he acknowledged that pockets of violence and bigotry persist, recalling how Puerto Rico was the epicenter of anti-trans violence in 2020 when seven trans people were murdered. He noted that the federation formed shortly after the 2020 election, anticipating conservative political gains both locally and nationally. Since then, the coalition has grown to include over 100 organizations and numerous political and community leaders. Its work has included large-scale marches, legislative outreach, community assemblies, legal planning, and grassroots organizing. Serrano said the island has experienced a groundswell of local activism, with Pride events expanding from one march in San Juan decades ago to more than 20 events across Puerto Rico today, including on smaller islands like Vieques. He said the community is determined to resist efforts to strip away hard-won rights, even if the fight is long and complex. We know that were going to have some setbacks, he said. But if we dont do the fight right now, its going to be even harder to win back those things that are taken away from us. Groups, including the Puerto Rico LGBTQ+ Federation and GLAAD, condemned the legislation, warning that it would impose unbearable burdens on families and cut off trans youth from lifesaving health care. Lawmakers must vote to protect access to health care that saves lives, and allow families to make private health care decisions that help loved ones be themselves, be safe, and to thrive, the groups said in a joint statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates also stress that, unlike in the contiguous United States, trans Puerto Ricans cannot simply travel to a neighboring state for care if services are banned locally. Many would be left without options unless they could afford expensive travel to the mainland. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens but cannot vote for president in the general election unless they reside on the mainland. Despite political divisions, President Donald Trumps influence remains limited on the U.S. territory. People dont forget when he threw paper towels at us, Serrano said, referring to Trumps widely criticized visit after Hurricane Maria, which many on the island saw as dismissive and insulting during a humanitarian crisis. Serrano added that even Republicans on the island often distance themselves from Trump, and that his policies do not hold the same sway in Puerto Rico as they might in some U.S. states. The Advocate contacted the Puerto Rican governors office to ask whether she plans to sign or veto the bill, but did not receive a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Editors note: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified the governor of Puerto Rico as Wanda Vazquez Garced, who was the governor until 2021. This article originally appeared on Advocate: Puerto Rico trans rights advocates prepare legal fight as GOP governor considers gender-affirming care ban RELATED Russian President Vladimir Putin has privately signaled support for a nuclear deal that would prevent Iran from enriching uranium, according to sources familiar with discussions who spoke to Axios. This position, conveyed to both U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian officials, marks a notable shift given Russia's historical public advocacy for Iran's right to enrich. The change in Moscow's private stance comes in the wake of the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran. According to three European officials and one Israeli official with knowledge of the issue, Moscow has encouraged Iran to agree to "zero enrichment." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two sources further indicated that the Russian government briefed the Israeli government on Putin's position regarding Iran's uranium enrichment, with a senior Israeli official confirming, "We know that this is what Putin told the Iranians." Putin reportedly conveyed this position in calls last week with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. President Trump has publicly indicated his desire for a new nuclear deal with Iran, and sources suggest that if negotiations commence in the coming weeks, a demand for zero uranium enrichment on Iranian soil will be a key U.S. requirement. Iran, however, has long maintained that it must retain the ability to enrich uranium under any agreement. Sources tell Axios that Putin and other Russian officials have communicated their support for a "zero enrichment" deal to the Iranians multiple times over the last few weeks. One European official with direct knowledge of the discussions noted, "Putin would support zero enrichment. He encouraged the Iranians to work towards that in order to make negotiations with the Americans more favorable. The Iranians said they won't consider it." This private position from Putin is particularly intriguing given the extensive support Iran has provided to Russia during its ongoing war with Ukraine, including hundreds of attack drones and surface-to-surface missiles. During and after the 12-day war with Israel, Iranians reportedly expressed disappointment that Russia did not offer significant support beyond public statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the current friction, the Russians have publicly and privately indicated their willingness to remove Iran's highly enriched uranium if a deal is reached. Sources familiar with the matter say Russia has offered to supply Iran with 3.67% uranium for nuclear power and small quantities of 20% enriched uranium for the Tehran research reactor and the production of nuclear isotopes. Meanwhile, White House envoy Steve Witkoff has been in discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about resuming nuclear negotiations. While a meeting in Oslo was initially considered for the coming days, sources suggest both Iranian officials and Witkoff have cooled on the idea and are now seeking an alternative venue. Read also: Analysis: Russia is stepping up attacks. Allies are stepping back. What happens to Ukraine next? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Vladimir Putin has told Iran to accept a US nuclear deal that would ban it from enriching uranium, according to reports. For years, Moscow has been the Islamic republics most prominent diplomatic ally, consistently backing its right to process radioactive materials. However the Russian president has conveyed both to Iranian leaders and to Donald Trump that he now supports a deal with zero enrichment, the Axios news site reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A European official told the site: Putin would support zero enrichment. He encouraged the Iranians to work towards that in order to make negotiations with the Americans more favourable. The Iranians said they wont consider it. Putin was also reported to have expressed this position in phone conversations last week with Emmanuel Macron, the French president. Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, views a display of uranium enrichment centrifuges in Tehran earlier this year - AP Furthermore, Russian officials were reported to have briefed the Israeli government about Putins stance. A senior Israeli official was quoted as saying: We know that this is what Putin told the Iranians. However, Tasnim, Irans semi-official news agency, denied the claim, quoting an informed source as saying Putin had not sent any messages to Iran in this regard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran has repeatedly said it will not give up enriching uranium, a process used to make fuel for nuclear power plants, but which can also yield material for an atomic warhead. In June, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, said abandoning uranium enrichment was 100 per cent against the countrys interests. Recent Israeli and US air strikes seriously damaged Irans nuclear infrastructure, and Mr Trump has since made clear that he wants a new nuclear deal with the Islamic republic. In May, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said Iran had to walk away from uranium enrichment, while multiple sources told Axios that zero uranium enrichment on Iranian soil would be a central American demand in any future negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putins reported intervention comes after Iranian officials were reportedly disappointed with the Russian response to Tehrans 12-day war with Israel, which involved press statements but little else. The two nations are long-time allies and Iran has provided significant support to Moscow in its war with Ukraine, supplying hundreds of attack drones and surface-to-surface missiles. They also co-operated for almost a decade in an attempt to keep Bashar al-Assad in power in Syria. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, and Masoud Pezeshkian, his Iranian counterpart. Their nations co-operated for years to keep Bashar al-Assad in power in Syria - Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters Russia is not as good a friend of dictators as it pretends: Putin often turns his back on his autocratic friends when they need him, Fabrice Pothier, a former top adviser to the Nato leadership, told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WSJ reported on Saturday that Mr Trump would not object to Israel carrying out further military strikes on Iran if it resumed attempts to build a nuclear weapon. The US president was said to have told Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, that while he preferred a diplomatic settlement he did not object to Israel attacking the Islamic Republic if it once again tried to build a bomb. Meanwhile, Abbas Araghchi, Irans foreign minister, said on Saturday that his countrys co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency will take on a new form, following a law suspending ties with the UN watchdog. Our co-operation with the agency has not stopped, but will take on a new form, said Mr Araghchi, adding that requests to monitor nuclear sites would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis... taking into account safety and security issues. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A significant meeting aimed at boosting cotton productivity was convened on Friday at the ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, under the leadership of Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers' Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The meeting saw in-depth discussions on the history of cotton, the current scenario, challenges, and future strategies for increasing cotton productivity in India, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said. Also present on the occasion were Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, Haryana Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana, Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, Vice Chancellors of agricultural universities from various states, ICAR Director General ML Jat, officials, stakeholders, scientists, and farmers. Before the meeting, the Union Agriculture Minister visited cotton fields, interacted with farmers, and listened to their issues and concerns. The formal meeting began with Shivraj Singh Chouhan's address, where he emphasised that the meet was being held on the sacred land of Tamil Nadu, one of India's most ancient states, with the Tamil language having a 5,000-year-old heritage. He noted that a new cotton revolution is finding its roots and taking shape on the soil of Tamil Nadu, reiterating that the meeting today was much more than a mere formality. Shivraj Singh Chouhan stressed that after food, clothing is the most essential need for a person. "Just as one cannot live without food, it is equally impossible to live without clothing. Clothes come from cotton, and cotton is produced by our farmers. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, and farmers are its soul. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is fully committed to farmers' welfare," he said. However, the Minister acknowledged the challenges in cotton production in our country as India's productivity lags behind compared to other countries. The BT cotton variety, once developed to increase yields, is now facing a threat from diseases, resulting in declining productivity. He stressed that India must take every possible step -- just like other nations -- to improve cotton productivity using modern technologies and by developing virus-resistant, high-yielding seeds. He emphasized the importance of timely delivery of these improved seeds to farmers and urged scientists to work with full commitment to ensure this. He further stated that the issues and demands raised by farmers from different states will shape the future strategy. To manufacture good-quality fabric, high-quality cotton is essential, and achieving this is a national goal. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India is on the path to glory, prosperity, and power. "In a 'Viksit Bharat', we shouldn't have to import cotton from abroad. Meeting the nation's cotton needs with domestic high-quality produce is both a challenge and a target -- one that we must achieve together," Chouhan said. Chouhan also noted that while the textile industry often demands the removal of import duties to allow cheap foreign cotton, farmers argue that this hampers local cotton prices. Hence, the government must balance the interests of both farmers and the industry. Reflecting on his 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan', Shri Chouhan mentioned that he had previously held a major meeting on soybeans in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and today's in-depth meeting in Coimbatore on cotton continues that same consultative process, focused on crop-wise and state-wise strategies for agricultural development. (ANI) KERRVILLE, Texas Before the flash flooding in Texas' Hill Country materialized in the early hours of July 4, Kerr Countys most senior elected official said he had no inkling of the pending disaster that would sweep away structures and set off harrowing rescues across the region. We didnt know this flood was coming, County Judge Rob Kelly said at a news conference later that morning, in response to why summer camps along the rain-swollen Guadalupe River werent evacuated earlier, before many were missing or feared dead. We do not have a warning system, he added, referring to the sirens along the river in other counties, used to notify of imminent flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following day, at a news conference with Gov. Greg Abbott and other state officials, Kelly said of the preparedness effort: Its just Hill Country, and we didnt know. In Texas, the county judge serves many functions in addition to judicial duties, including serving as the head of emergency management and handling many administrative functions in the county. But with a death toll surpassing 100 people 67 adults and 36 children in Kerr County alone and at least 166 still unaccounted for as of Friday, county officials are facing questions about what actions were taken ahead of the flooding and who was in command and communicating with the National Weather Service, particularly once the agency issued its first flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m. Efforts to reach Kelly this week, including by phone and at the emergency operations center, his office and his home, were unsuccessful. He hasnt spoken publicly since his appearances at news conferences in the immediate aftermath of the flood. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly after a news conference on July 5. (Rodolfo Gonzalez / AP) In addition, William Dub Thomas, Kerr Countys emergency management coordinator, has not spoken publicly and did not return repeated requests for comment. He also could not be reached at the emergency operations center or his home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas, who has been the countys top emergency coordinator since 2015, is responsible for its emergency management plan, the emergency notification system known as CodeRed, its search and rescue team and other disaster-related duties, according to the Rotary Club of Kerrville website. Previously, while working for the Texas Department of Public Safety, Thomas helped direct the states response to several catastrophic events, including the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Kelly, a Republican who first took office in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022, has worked as a commercial litigation attorney and, in his role as county judge, he oversees Kerr Countys four-person commission and its budget. Kelly was a certified member of the Kerr County Community Emergency Response Team, according to a bio on the Rotary Club of Kerville website. I truly believe God has been preparing me for this position all my life, Kelly said in The Kerrville Daily Times in 2017 about running for the county judge before the election. I didnt go looking for this job, it came looking for me. Tom Pollard, the former county judge Kelly replaced, said that in any major event, such as a disaster that requires an evacuation, the emergency management coordinator is in charge but takes direction from the county judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The buck stops with the county judges office, but the management director handles it and just gets going, Pollard said. And hell talk to a county judge every now and then, and if theres a decision that needs to be made, hell consult with the judge who makes a decision. Pollard said neither he nor his wife received emergency notifications on their phone in the early morning of the flooding. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring said Tuesday on MSNBC that he saw no emergency alerts and was awakened only by a call from City Manager Dalton Rice at 5:30 a.m. By daybreak, the Guadalupe River had risen 26 feet in 45 minutes, according to sensor data. Just after 4 a.m., the National Weather Service had upgraded its flash flood warning to an emergency for Kerr County, advising that it was a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Facebook posts from Kerrville police were posted after 5 a.m. regarding life threatening flooding, but its unclear whether officials were communicating with residents in other ways before then. Whether emergency alerts around that time would have been received on all phones is unclear. Spotty cell service or none at all is not uncommon in parts of the county, northwest of San Antonio. Others may not have had their phones with them, like the young girls who were staying at Camp Mystic in the unincorporated community of Hunt, where officials say at least 27 campers and staff members died. Federal Emergency Management Agency records obtained by NBC Dallas-Fort Worth show that Kerr County officials didnt use its Integrated Public Alert & Warning System, or IPAWS, to send warnings with safety instructions to all cellphones in the affected area the day of the flooding. As the water began rising in Kerr County, the National Weather Service delivered an IPAWS flood warning to phones as early as 1:14 a.m., NBC Dallas-Fort Worth reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, its up to county or city officials in general to send more urgent instructions, including whether to evacuate. Some families said they received a CodeRed alert from Kerr County, which is similar to an IPAWS message and can be sent via the sheriffs office. But the program allows people to opt out, meaning not everyone receives it. Dispatch audio obtained by NBC affiliate KXAN in Austin includes an Ingram volunteer firefighter asking a county sheriff dispatcher at 4:22 a.m. if they can send a CodeRed out to our Hunt residents, asking them to find higher ground or stay home? The dispatcher responds: We have to get that approved with our supervisor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear at what times CodeRed alerts were supposed to be sent. KXAN reported that one person near the flooded area said they received a voicemail at 1:14 a.m. from a number traced back to CodeRed, while another area resident received a CodeRed alert at 5:34 a.m. about the National Weather Services flash flood warning, suggesting inconsistencies among recipients countywide. The National Weather Services San Antonio office did not immediately return a request for comment Friday about any communications it may have had with Kerr County. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a news conference Wednesday that his priority remains search and rescue efforts, but noted there would be an after-action review of what happened on July 4. Well get them, Leitha said. I cant tell you when in a week or two, OK? Were going to get them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raymond Howard, a council member in Ingram, another city in Kerr County, said he has a host of questions for county officials to investigate once the rescue efforts are exhausted, from preventative measures they plan to take going forward to the timing of emergency alerts. I did not get a CodeRed, Howard said, and Im signed up for CodeRed. Whats needed for the future, he said, is better planning and communication. Its too late for the victims and everything thats happened already, but for future floods, we can do something, Howard said. It will happen again. Minyvonne Burke reported from Kerrville and Erik Ortiz from New York. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The Brief Two people were shot in Racine late Friday night, July 11. One of the victims died from their injuries. Police say the shooting stemmed from a burglary, and the suspected shooter has been interviewed by police. MILWAUKEE - One person is dead, and another person is in the hospital following a shooting in Racine late Friday night, July 11, 2025. Incident details What we know According to the Racine Police Department, just before 11:30 p.m., officers were called to the area of Lincoln and St. Patrick for a report of shots fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police found two shooting victims, a 52-year-old male and a 21-year-old male. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Life-saving measures were attempted, and both men were taken to the hospital. The 52-year-old did not survive his injuries. The 21-year-old remains hospitalized. It was determined that the initial incident was a burglary, which led to the shots being fired. Police say the suspected shooter in this case has been interviewed, and the investigation is ongoing. Police tips What you can do Racine police investigators are interested in any additional information that anyone may have about this incident. Any witnesses, or citizens with information, are urged to call the Racine Police Department Investigations Unit at 262-635-7756. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who wish to remain anonymous may contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 262-636-9330, or through the Crime Stoppers app by using the P3 Tips app. The Source The Racine Police Department sent FOX6 a press release. When ICE agents arrested a Brazilian woman on a Worcester street this spring, then-police academy cadet Malachy Jackson watched the public backlash unfold after the citys police department stepped in. But it wasnt being viewed from the perspective of an aspiring police officer, but as someone with undocumented loved ones of his own. Were also in this, in this with you guys, all right? Its not me against you or us against you. Were all in this, were all a community, Jackson, 26, of Worcester, told MassLive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graduates turned officers, Jackson and his peers see their roles as more than enforcement theyre getting a chance to shape a new narrative around policing in Worcester. Jackson, who is of European and Ghanaian descent, was raised in a blend of cultures including his stepfathers Hispanic roots and the Latino family of his childhood best friend. Not related by blood, he calls them and his stepfathers relatives his second families, because they gave him a second home, love and support throughout his life. Several people in his second families do not hold U.S. citizenship, something he found he could sometimes talk about openly with other cadets who, like him, have relatives who are undocumented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City police have faced criticism for their handling of the Eureka Street arrest, including from District 4 City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj. Mayor Joe Petty called it deeply disturbing and ordered a review of the incident by city officials, as well as the drafting of a new policy dictating how city officials should interact with ICE. Read more: Chaotic ICE arrest launches start of new Worcester police communication plan But Jackson said there was no bad blood from his undocumented relatives and loved ones in his second families as he took the oath to become an officer just a couple months later. Theyre proud, he said, a tone of gratefulness in his voice. Theres no [one saying,] You backstabber, how did you switch sides? No, theyre all proud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson joined the department hoping to work directly with the homeless population and help people escape drug addiction, he said. While at the academy, he shared how his brother, who struggled with addiction and was homeless, was the reason why he became a police officer. Jackson expects each day as a police officer to be different. But one thing hes clear on: undocumented Worcester residents deserve the same compassion and respect as anyone else. Who am I to sit there and be like, Oh, Im going to treat you different because youre not a citizen here, he said. Absolutely not. Its not right. Theres a lot of bad stigma As he puts on his uniform to go to work, Jackson knows not everyone will believe it when he says that. To face this and other kinds of criticism, the police department has its cadets train for that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson said he and his friend and fellow officer Angel Diaz III, 27, of Worcester, were yelled at and called everything in the book ahead of facing public pressure. The public is always going to scrutinize this profession, Diaz said. Its just been like that since the start of it. Anti-police protests and criticism over policing are nothing new, but there has been a rise since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020. The sentiment has also contributed to several resignations among officers across the country, leaving police departments understaffed and remaining officers overworked and burned out, NPR reported in May. These factors contribute to officers developing depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and also developing issues with substance abuse or alcohol dependence, the news website wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocacy groups like First H.E.L.P. have stepped in to provide support, including for police families who lost an officer to suicide. Since 2020, 987 police officers have died by suicide nationally, 38 of them in Massachusetts, according to First H.E.L.P. The Worcester Police Department has faced pushback over the past several months. In December 2024, the Department of Justices report said officers engaged in acts of excessive force and engaged in unwanted sexual contact with women during undercover operations. Residents and former police officers took issue with the reports findings, with one former officer telling the city council in March that the culture has to change. Months later, in May, after the ICE arrest on Eureka Street, residents and activists took to the streets and City Halls council chamber over the arrests and police response. One activist told MassLive on May 12 that police were supposed to not get involved, but they did. To challenge whatever pushback they could one day face, Jackson and Diaz look ahead to being the example of what a good police officer is, Diaz said when he talked about what motivated him to join the force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diaz came from a police family, with two relatives working with Marlborough police and one in Worcester, he said. I know theres a lot of bad stigma against law enforcement right now [in] the atmosphere, he continued. I just want to be the example [with] kids looking up to me just like I looked up to the officers in my life. Officer Demek Edmonds, 30, of Worcester, was met with anti-police criticism before he left his jobs as an instructor and behavioral specialist at schools in Worcester and Southbridge. He helped troubled students and empathized with them, having grown up in a struggling household himself, where food scarcity and abuse were regular issues. My mom was an alcoholic, she was a drug addict, Edmonds said. ... I knew I needed to do something in life and I wanted to be successful at it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edmonds met with Worcester police officers who said he would make a good police officer. He was doubtful at first. Then the thought hit him that he could help more young people with this good platform. But now I can reach more people here because the youth need help, he said. People dont have a really good perception of police. But when you get to know somebody and you know that theyre there to help you, its different. When children he knew learned he was going to join the academy and become an officer, they initially dismissed him. They didnt trust the police, so why would he leave them to become an officer? Then, their reactions changed after he talked with them, he said. They knew and loved Edmonds. They knew he was there to help them in their struggles in school and at home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They found out I was becoming a police officer and theyre like, Wow, youre going to become a pig? Edmonds told MassLive. ... And Im like, Why does it matter? Hes like, Yeah, youre right, mister. Youre a good person. Youre good. I want to be known for that, right? To help and guide. This is a great platform for me to do that. While his former students know him, Edmonds knows hell face backlash for being a man of color in uniform, he said. Hes been called a traitor for joining the police department and accused of not remembering where he came from. I want to be better, he said. People are going to definitely get on me for that. Theyre going to call me every name under the sun. I just want to be there for the people. Just be there for the community. Jackson, Diaz and Edmonds lived experiences, along with those of their 19 classmates, were shared while at the academy, something Saucier watched and listened to during several classes this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officers highlighted the importance of community engagement and building bridges within our community, whether through working with the elderly, children, individuals with substance abuse disorders or faith-based organizations, Saucier said in a statement to MassLive. Their presentations were incredibly impactful and align perfectly with WPDs vision of fostering a culture of excellence. In their ascent to becoming officers, all three classmates said they want to pursue as many opportunities as possible to interact with the public and listen to what problems people are facing. They believe that as officers, they have a chance now to be the best intermediaries they can be between the department and the public. I could speak for anybody in this class, Jackson said. Were ready to break that stigma, ready to show everybody out there in the public that we mean business, but we also understand where you guys are coming from. More Worcester Stories Read the original article on MassLive. HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) There will be temporary on- and off-ramp closures on Interstate 64 eastbound this weekend at exit 267 at Settlers Landing/Woodland Road, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. The ramp closures were set to begin at 9 p.m. Friday and continue through 5 a.m. Monday to allow VDOT contractor crews to install storm pipes at both ramps. The work is weather-dependent, VDOT said. Detour signs will be in place to direct traffic, according to VDOT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To access I-64 east during the on-ramp closure from Settlers Landing Road/Woodland Road: Drivers heading eastbound on Settlers Landing Road will be directed to Woodland Road, East Mercury Boulevard and Mallory Street to access the I-64 east on-ramp. Drivers heading westbound on Woodland Road will be directed to Settlers Landing Road, Wine Street, East Queen Street, Eaton Street, and return to Settlers Landing Road. They will then follow the eastbound detour route to Woodland Road, East Mercury Boulevard and Mallory Street to access the I-64 east on-ramp. To access Settlers Landing Road/Woodland Road from I-64 during the off-ramp closure: Signs will direct drivers on I-64 east to exit at Mallory Street (exit 268), take the Mallory Street on-ramp to I-64 west and exit at Woodland Road (exit 267). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VDOT is encouraging drivers to use I-664 as an alternate to avoid the work area, when possible, and ask people to be especially cautious in and near the work zones while obeying posted speed limits, lane markings and barrier guides. Motorists are encouraged to use I-664 as an alternate route to avoid the work area when possible and are reminded to use caution when traveling near work zones, obey posted speed limits, follow lane markings and barrier guides, be alert to digital message signs and drive distraction-free. People can get updates on construction, traffic, incidents and congestion from VDOTs free 511-integrated Waze GPS app, the 511Virginia website and its mobile app. The project is part of the Hampton Roads Express Lanes Hampton segment, which includes converting the three existing eastbound and westbound general purpose lanes on I-64 into one express lane, one part-time express lane and two general purpose lanes in each direction. Heres what else VDOT says will happen as a result of the project: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project will widen I-64, repave existing lanes and add an additional 12-foot-wide travel lane in each direction from west of Mallory Street (exit 268) to LaSalle Avenue (exit 265A) for a total of two miles. It includes work on six mainline bridges and a pedestrian underpass, with two eastbound bridges over the Hampton River being replaced and the westbound Hampton River bridge to be widened and rehabilitated. The Hampton segment of the Hampton Roads Express Lanes will ultimately become a part of an overall continuous 45-mile high-occupancy toll network on I-64 from west of Denbigh Boulevard in Newport News to the I-264/I-664 Bowers Hill interchange in Chesapeake. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. BUFFALO A Ransomville man will serve three years in federal prison and spend another 25 years on supervised release for his conviction on child pornography charges. U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Vilardo handed down that sentence to John Stuart, 37, during a hearing Tuesday. Stuart, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, must also register as a sex offender. Federal prosecutors said in August 2019 that the FBI received a tip that a person, using an internet IP address linked to Stuart, had accessed what was described as child sexual abuse and exploitation material via a website on the Tor network. The material had been downloaded earlier in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI agents executed a search warrant at Stuarts home, in October 2020, and seized multiple electronic devices, including two laptop computers, a cell phone, a hard drive, and a desktop computer tower. A review by the FBIs regional computer forensics team found approximately 8,000 videos and around 2,000 images of child pornography on one of the laptops. The forensics review team also found approximately 150 images and one video of child pornography on the second laptop. Some 90 images and 150 videos of child pornography were recovered from Stuarts cell phone and approximately 90 images and two videos were discovered on the seized hard drive. Prosecutors said that some of the images included depictions of violence against children. During the execution of the search warrant, FBI agents said Stuart told them he was a chronic user of marijuana. The agents also said Stuart was growing marijuana in his home and they found live marijuana plants as well as more than a pound of dried marijuana, ready for consumption, inside the residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stuart was also found to have three firearms in his possession. At the same time as Stuarts sentence, a Medina man pleaded guilty to child pornography-related charges. Kyle Stack, 39, entered his plea, during a hearing before U.S. District Court Judge John Sinatra, Jr. to a single count of possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Federal prosecutors said Stack was found in possession of a cell phone, in July 2020, that contained more than 4,000 images and videos of child pornography. Federal investigators said the cell phone images included prepubescent minors less than 12 years old and images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Stack was also found to be in possession of a laptop, which contained more than 9,000 images and videos of child pornography. He is scheduled for sentencing before Sinatra in November. A rapper said he hopes to open a music academy to try and inspire teenagers in a supported environment. Luke Jenk, who lives in Darlington, said he had held talks with schools about his plans for the studio in West Lane, Dalton-on-Tees. The businessman and rapper said phase one of the project, a music recording studio, had begun. Conservative councillor Jonathan Dulston, who represents Eastbourne, said he hoped the project would "inspire talent". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am delighted to see local talent develop and Luke's journey is inspiring," Dulston said. "This new initiative he is developing will give young people across Darlington an opportunity to explore their talent and fulfil their potential." Mr Jenk said his goal was for LJay Music Academy to be "a one-stop hub for aspiring artists, a space where creativity meets opportunity". He said: "It will be a place where people can record music and learn the basics of music production. "I'm investing significantly into this and it is definitely something that is needed in our town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's about blending creative expression with education, engaging young minds by connecting learning to their interests and ambitions." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. More stories like this Related internet links LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Lawmakers are questioning the escape of inmate Grant Hardin from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock. Some are concerned that the incident reflects systemic failures within the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Recaptured Arkansas prison escapee known as the Devil in the Ozarks sent to SuperMax prison Many department officials said this is due to human error and employee complacency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials testified during a legislative hearing Thursday, revealing a timeline of events leading up to Hardins escape from the facility. According to corrections officials, Hardin was allowed onto the prison kitchens back dock at 1:58 p.m. on the day of the escape. He fled nearly an hour later, at 2:53 p.m. They didnt notice until 3:08 p.m., and the prison did not go on lockdown until 3:40 p.m. State Sen. Ben Gilmore (R-Crossett) is one of many lawmakers wondering how this happened. The initial reaction is to blame two people, I think what weve established through the course of this hearing, is that its more than two people, Gilmore said. Its a systematic failure of the system, and that systematic failure has to be corrected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who is Grant Hardin, the Devil in the Ozarks? Hardin worked in the kitchen for several years. Officials say he crafted a fake badge out of a metal lid, darkened his clothes with a Sharpie, and used a kitchen apron to resemble a vest. He also built a makeshift ladder using wooden pallets from the back dock. Warden Thomas Hurst said that although proper policies were in place, they were not followed. When you have somebody complacent like that, bad things happen, unfortunately, Hurst said. We had the policies in place, the procedures in place, they just didnt follow them. Hardin was left unsupervised on the back dock before the escape and possession checks were not conducted in the kitchen area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benny Magness, chairman of the Arkansas Board of Corrections, called the situation a case of human error and complacency. If either one of those [staff members] wouldve done their job you cant convince me its systematic from the rest of the staff, Magness said. A gate officer didnt verify identity and opened the gate for Hardin to walk out. Some lawmakers questioned whether Hardin should have been at the North Central Unit at all. Inmate classifications range from C1 to C5, with higher numbers meaning more security. Hardin was classified as a C3 and held at a medium-security facility. I think classification is a big concern, one of things we tried to address with the Protect Act, that classification study hasnt been done, Gilmore said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WATCH: Video released of Arkansas escaped inmate Grant Hardin arriving at Varner SuperMax Unit Corrections Secretary Lindsay Wallace testified that Hardin should have been given a higher classification following a second conviction. If the appropriate classification wouldve been done initially after that second conviction, then it wouldve at least triggered a review by someone beyond just the unit, Wallace said. Wallace said her department is now reviewing staff training and internal policies. When the manhunt began, there was a breakdown in communication, leading to some law enforcement agencies not being notified immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hurst agreed with a statement by a lawmaker that everyone assumed someone else had made the notifications. Hardin survived for days on the run by eating peanut butter sandwiches taken from the prison, blueberries, bird eggs and worms, officials said. He hid in caves and other structures before he was captured by the U.S. Border Patrol agents on June 6. TIMELINE: What we know about escaped Arkansas inmate Grant Hardin A critical incident review is now underway to determine further steps. If something is predictable, then its preventable, based on what Im hearing, it was predictable that someone was going to escape, and the actions werent taken to prevent it, Gilmore said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres nobody more embarrassed about this than me, Hurst said, I mean this is not good, we failed, and I understand that. The critical incident review is set to take place on July 21. Arkansas State Police are also investigating the escape. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. A man died and two children and three adults remained hospitalized Saturday after a fire in a south Charlotte apartment building Thursday morning, fire officials said. Our hearts go out to the family and everyone affected by this tragic loss, Chief Reginald Johnson said in a statement. The fire was reported at 5:30 a.m. and burned through the second and third floors of an apartment unit at Aurea Station Apartments, Charlotte Fire Battalion Chief J.P. Soto said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six people, including two children, were taken to area hospitals, according to a city of Charlotte news release. Two were transferred to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem. All residents of the building were displaced, although fire officials didnt say how many. At least four apartments in the 8500 block of Winter Oaks Lane were damaged, Soto said. A Charlotte firefighter shovels debris out of the damaged unit at Aurea Station Apartments in Charlotte on Thursday. Eight or nine fire trucks responded and extinguished the fire in under 90 minutes, Soto said. Said Johnson: We are proud of the quick and courageous actions of our firefighters, who responded within minutes, performed rescues and brought the fire under control in a challenging situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the fire is being investigated. Soto said firefighters combed the units for anything that could reignite the fire. Initial estimates place property and content loss at more than $100,000, according to the city of Charlotte statement Saturday. American Red Cross volunteers helped families Thursday as fire investigators walked through the charred remains of apartments. Families displaced by apartment fire Neighbors watched as fire investigators walked through the apartments later Thursday morning. Some neighbors stood eating on top of the hood of a car, while others huddled with American Red Cross volunteers who arrived to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jason Gudzunas, the executive director, said he and volunteers arrived on the scene about two hours after the fire broke out. We want to make sure their immediate needs are met, Gudzunas said. We want to make sure theyre safe and comfortable. Those affected will receive mental health support and spiritual care, as well as referrals for long-term care. He said the Red Cross was still evaluating whether those affected would receive financial assistance or be set up in a shelter. A two-alarm fire in south Charlotte sent multiple people to the hospital Thursday morning. Gudzunass wife, Christina, is also a Red Cross volunteer and was on site to support the families. One of the first things she does when she arrives to help people is give them comfort and someone they can talk to. She also finds out what they immediately need and helps them get those things, such as blankets and hairbrushes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All those things that theyre going to go to first thing in the morning, she said. Theyre going to brush their teeth and not have a toothbrush. We have all that set up. Gudzunas said the Red Cross website has information on fire safety and training, as well as opportunities to have smoke alarms installed inside homes. WALKER, La. Few states stand to lose as much from the megabill that President Donald Trump signed into law as Louisiana. With more poverty and disease than most of the country, Louisiana relies heavily on Medicaid benefits going to people who lack the means to cover a doctors visit on their own. That fragile lifeline is now in jeopardy. The Big Beautiful Bill that Trump muscled through Congress chops Medicaid spending by nearly $1 trillion over the next decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Out of sheer self-interest, Louisiana might seem a state that would fight to preserve Medicaid. About 35% of Louisianans under the age of 65 were covered by Medicaid in 2023, the most recent year data was available. That figure is the second highest among the 50 states, according to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy organization. The state voted heavily for Trump in the 2024 election and, polling shows, appreciates the job hes doing as president. Louisiana loves Trump but needs Medicaid. How does a deep-red state reconcile the two? Interviews with a dozen Louisianans, most of whom supported Trump, suggest that many in the state have absorbed the arguments that Trump and his congressional allies used to sell the bill. A few warning signs for Trump emerged. Some of his voters arent thrilled with what they describe as his bombast or are skeptical the measure will live up to its grandiose title. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes a jacka-- hes the best jacka-- weve got, said Jason Kahl, 56, wearing a shirt decorated like the American flag during a July 4 celebration in Mandeville, on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. A lot of times he says things that were thinking, but dont want to say out loud, Lydia DeRouen, 66, a customer at Cats Coffee and Creamery in DeRidder, Louisiana, said on a recent morning. The states embrace of the new law points to a dynamic prevalent in the Trump era: If he says he wants something, thats good enough for many of his voters. I just support President Trump. Most everything hes doing, Im in on it, said Sue Armand, a 65-year-old retiree who attended a recent festival at a park in Walker, a city outside the state capital of Baton Rouge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nationwide, the act will reduce the number of people receiving Medicaid by nearly 12 million over the next 10 years, the largest cutback since President Lyndon Johnson created the program 60 years ago as part of his Great Society agenda. Among the bills provisions are requirements that those between 19 and 64 years old work a minimum of 20 hours a week unless they are caring for a child or are disabled. The bill also limits states ability to raise certain taxes to help pay for their share of Medicaid programs, which could cause cuts across the board. Real-world consequences could prove dramatic. A lot of people who will be impacted the most negatively are Trump voters, said Silas Lee, a New Orleans-based pollster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We see that in different parts of the nation, where many other communities that supported Trump will experience severe cuts in services that are critical to their survival, Lee added. Alyssa Custard of New Orleans worries what the wider cuts to Medicaid funding will mean for her family. Her 88-year-old mother suffers from dementia and goes to an adult day care center in New Orleans. Custards mother, who worked as a preschool teacher most of her life, has little retirement savings and not enough to pay for long-term, private in-home care. Custard and her siblings have been providing care themselves and have been able to keep working because of the adult day care program. But that funding could now be in jeopardy with the cuts to Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My mom worked taking care of other peoples kids in the educational system for 50 years, Custard said. She paid into all these things, and now, when its time for her to reap the benefits of what she paid into for a long time, you have this bill that is taking this away from her and all the other people. A talking point that proponents used to pass the bill was that Medicaid is rife with abuse and that the changes would expel undeserving recipients from the rolls. House Speaker Mike Johnson, center, holds up the vote total for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images) House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump loyalist who helped steer the bill through Congress, represents a swath of western Louisiana where nearly 25% of adults under 65 rely on Medicaid. Johnson has suggested that beneficiaries include able-bodied people who wont work and are thus defrauding the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a moral component to what were doing. And when you make young men work, its good for them, its good for their dignity, its good for their self-worth, and its good for the community that they live in, he said in May. That justification rings true to many in his home state, who believe that federal benefits more broadly are going to the wrong people. Jason Wallace, 37, an accountant working a Nibbles and Noshes stand at the Walker festival, said that when it comes to Medicaid, Some of the stuff Ive heard about [the new law is that it is] trying to keep illegals from taking advantage of our benefits that they dont pay into at all. A common belief is that taxpaying citizens are getting shortchanged, giving rise to feelings of umbrage that Trump has managed to harness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new law also makes cuts to a food assistance program known as SNAP. Along with Medicaid, Congress pared back SNAP benefits to create savings that would help offset the cost of extending the tax cuts Trump signed in his first term. You go stand in line and the lady in front of me has her nails done, her hair done and shes got food stamps. I work too hard for what I get, said Charles Gennaro, 78, who was among those on the Lake Pontchartrain shoreline in Mandeville on July 4 as a bluegrass band played on an outdoor stage. People come into this country for no reason and get things that they shouldnt get, he added. Nancy Adams, 50, who also turned out for the celebration in Mandeville, said: Im a single mom. I raised my daughter, struggling every day. And yet these illegals come in and they can get everything. Im paying for them. But Im struggling to raise my daughter and I dont qualify for food stamps or anything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Independent analyses of the Medicaid program show that most recipients are already employed. KFF released a report in May showing that in 2023, nearly two-thirds of those under 65 receiving Medicaid and not other forms of federal aid were working full or part time. Those who lacked jobs cited reasons that included school attendance, care-giving duties, illness, disability or other causes. A separate KFF report that month showed that 95% of Medicaid payments last year were made properly, while the vast majority of improper payments sprang from paperwork errors or administrative actions. Robin Rudowitz, director of KFFs program on Medicaid and the uninsured, cited government estimates that 10 million people could lose health insurance coverage under the new law. These are not people who were fraudulently on the program, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heading toward DeRidder in the western part of the state, a driver sees billboards advertising legal services for those whove endured car wrecks or injury or are in bankruptcy. A city of about 10,000, DeRidder is part of Johnsons congressional district. A Walmart in the city was doing brisk business last Sunday, with people stocking up on groceries and supplies. Some customers of varying ages werent ambulatory and used motorized carts. Outside the store, Don Heston, 41, who works in the oil and gas industry, described Medicaid as a great idea, but one that needs serious rework. Lots of people who are on it shouldnt be. You have people that have paid into it their entire life. Theyre physically messed up. They cant work any more and they cant get it. But you have people who have never worked a job with any meaning and theyre getting it that quick he said, snapping his fingers, because they know the ins and outs of the system. Weeding out those who are abusing the program might be a worthy goal, but Medicaid advocates worry that cuts wont be made with such precision. Those who truly need the help may get caught up in the purge, according to Keith Liederman, CEO of Clover, the organization that serves Alyssa Custards mother. In the state of Louisiana, its many of the same staunch supporters of our president who are going to suffer as a result of this bill, and especially in rural areas of our state, of which there are many, many struggling individuals and families, many of whom are supporters of the president, Liederman said. Clover is bracing for severe cuts that could cause it to shutter its adult day care service entirely, Liederman added. Its confounding to me how so many people throughout our country, when they think about people who are economically poor and struggling, think that theres something wrong with them, that theyre not trying hard enough, that theyre not working hard enough, that theyre shirkers trying to abuse the system, he said. That couldnt be further from the truth based on my direct experience in working with thousands of people who are in these positions. Ive never seen people who work harder and who are trying harder to get out of poverty than the people that we serve and so many others in our community. If health centers that rely on Medicaid patients are forced to close, it will affect patients with other forms of health insurance as well, who also rely on those providers in their community. At the David Raines Community Health Centers in northwest Louisiana, which includes several clinics in Johnsons district, officials are preparing to make cuts to their services as they anticipate a significant drop-off in the number of their patients with health insurance as a result of changes in the bill, David Raines CEO Willie White said. It really is going to be devastating, to say the least, for the patients that we serve and for other community health centers as a whole, as to how were going to be able to continue to provide the level of access that we currently provide, White said. Im just not sure how its going to work. Clocking in at nearly 900 pages, the act brims with policy changes that will take time for voters across the country to digest. Trump directed Republican lawmakers to pass it by July 4, and they complied. So far, the bulk of this pro-Trump state seems pleased that they did. But some who voted for Trump are waiting and watching. They know the new law is big; theyre just not sure yet whether its beautiful. Jennifer Bonano, 52, is a retail clerk who came to the festival in Walker. Sitting in her folding chair, she said she voted for Trump but isnt persuaded yet that the new law is all that was advertised. You dont want the people that need the Medicaid and that need the food assistance to be suffering, she said. As for the vote she cast back in November, she said: Im still wondering. You dont know just yet what the outcome is going to be, because with Trump he doesnt know when to hush, Bonano said. You dont know if its going to be good outcome or a bad outcome, anything he does. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) The Reedtown Water Association received $300,000 in order to replace and install water pipes. State Rep. Stephanie Foster (D-District 63) presented the association with the check on Friday. First 100 Days: Mayor Horhn wants Jacksons budget on track Earlier this year, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) hit Reedtown with a low score when it comes to water quality. Customers have been demanding solutions from the association for years. Representatives with the water association said funding has been a major struggle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cover three counties, about roughly 40 square miles and roughly about 600 miles of pipe in the ground. And we only have around 12 to 1,250 customers that we generate income. And thats the sole income of a rural water nonprofit organization is the sale of water. We have no other form of income whatsoever. So, you know, you can do a little simple math to tell you what we generate monthly. And its just not very much to operate on. It just dont add up, said David Reed, vice president of the Reedtown Water Association. Foster said millions are still needed to fully repair the water system. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. Bangalore University has issued a clarification through an official letter to the SC/ST Teachers Association, stating that the allegation of following an anti-Dalit policy is not true. The university highlighted that it has always given due representation and priority to teachers from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, in an official statement. The response was made with reference to a letter from the Association that raised concerns about discrimination in statutory appointments, violation of reservation norms, and delay in filling backlog posts. The university clarified that appointments of statutory posts such as Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Finance Officer, and Registrar (Evaluation) are made directly by the Government. Therefore, the university has no role in these appointments. It is unfortunate that these appointments are being viewed as discriminatory. At the university level, wherever appointments are within its control, SC/ST faculty members have been given preference. Out of 30 administrative positions like Directors, Coordinators, Special Officers, and Nodal Officers, 22 posts are held by SC/ST teachers. Further, four faculty members were transferred to Bangalore University from other universities by the State Government with the Governor's approval, considering the shortage of permanent teaching staff. Currently, out of 126 teaching staff at the university, 80 belong to SC/ST communities, which is 63.5% of the total faculty. The university also pointed out that no other public university in Karnataka has filled backlog vacancies to the extent that Bangalore University has. Out of the 55 backlog posts identified by the Social Welfare Department, 35 have already been filled, and the process to fill the remaining is underway. In the academic year 2024-25, 44 faculty members were promoted as Associate Professors, out of which 29 belong to SC/ST categories. The university reaffirmed its commitment to social justice and equal representation in all appointments. (ANI) KANSAS CITY, Mo. A food pantry in Cass County is hopeful it will be saved after FOX4s story Wednesday and generous community support, but its fight to stay open and provide resources to families for the rest of the year isnt over. Theyve shared the post. Theyve called. A few people have stopped by and said I just want to donate. I just want to help. How can I help?, Founder Shay Jefferson shared with FOX4 Friday. I think people, with your story, were able to see how important this place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson County Executive Frank White vetoes special vote for charter assessor Wednesday morning, Jefferson told clients of the pantry and supporters who were in the store, news no one expected; operations may be ceasing, if funds arent come up with. $200,000 in two weeks sounds like a lot, Jefferson said. All we need is 10,000 people to donate $20. Bridge Over Troubled Water is described as a place to shop without the shame of asking for something you need. It has fresh produce, meat, dairy, toiletry items and even Telehealth services, for free. Wednesday, its founder says, she heard from Congressman Mark Alfords office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was told theyd look into the funding freeze for the LFPA 2025. I am hoping that that yields some results. Im not confident it will. A big source of funding for the pantry, Jefferson says, is a grant through the USDA and from a program called the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA). It provides federal funds to states to buy locally grown produce and meats. However, funding has been wiped, as recently as March for it. The cuts have impacting many, including Jeffersons pantry and store in Belton. Reps. Cleaver, Davids announce federal funding for World Cup security Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the LFPA, Jefferson says, she was able to receive nearly $7,000 a month to locally source meats and produce from nearby farmers to provide to clients of the pantry. Thursday, Rep. Alford wrote a letter to the USDA expressing the impacts of funding cuts. He highlighted the need of many who used it, including Bridge Over Troubled Water. I understand the important role you have in ensuring USDA returns to its original mission of working for the farmers and in being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. However, I urge you to reconsider funding for both the LFS and the LFPA program. It is vital that we are helping local farmers find new markets for their produce, and even better when those markets are in the communities around them, Congressman Alford wrote to the USDA, in his letter. Jefferson says, to keep the pantry running, operating costs and items given out total over $30,000 each month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can still donate to help here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. The Brief Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is demanding answers from federal agencies regarding their response to devastating Central Texas flooding. Concerns have been raised that new policies by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, requiring personal approval for contracts, may have delayed FEMA's search and rescue efforts. Crockett is also questioning the effectiveness of National Weather Service alerts and staffing levels, though NWS says their New Braunfels office had extra staff on duty. WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is asking for answers from federal agencies over the warning systems and subsequent federal response following devastating flooding in Central Texas over the July 4th weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crockett and Rep. Greg Casar sent a letter to acting Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator David Richardson asking if new policies impacted the agency's response times in Central Texas. What they're saying "According to reports, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's new policy, which requires her personal approval for contracts and grants over $100,000, caused significant delays to FEMA's ability to deploy search and rescue teams in a timely manner responding to catastrophic flooding," the letter reads. Crockett also asks if FEMA search and rescue teams were delayed until Monday because of new policies put in place by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Republicans gutted emergency services, then dragged their feet when Texas was flooding. Rep. Casar and I are demanding answers from FEMA, NOAA, and the Commerce Departments Inspector General about the delays, the cuts, and why help didnt come sooner. Texans deserve answers pic.twitter.com/EH8LsM4ali Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (@RepJasmine) July 11, 2025 She claims Texans are dealing with long wait times when calling FEMA's disaster call center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are deeply concerned not only that Secretary Noem may have effectively crippled the agency's ability to respond to this crisis, but also that she failed to personally act to ensure a timely response," the letter reads. The other side In Kerrville on Friday afternoon, Noem said more than 700 FEMA employees and volunteers were on the ground assisting in Texas. "What we are doing here is empowering the state and the local officials to make the best decisions for their people, because they know their people, they know their community," Noem said. "And when they ask, then we come in and support them." National Weather Service alerts Crockett sent a letter to National Oceanic and Atomospheric Administration Chief of Staff Laura Grimm about the effectiveness of the National Weather Service's alert system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter states that residents who received the warning may not have fully grasped the severity of the flooding risk. The NWS sent out several alerts ahead of the flooding, with a flash flood emergency alert being sent around 5:30 a.m. on the morning of July 4. In the letter, Crockett questioned the effectiveness of the alerts. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has called a special session of the Texas Legislature that begins July 21. Among the items on the agenda are improving flood response and natural disaster preparedness. Crockett also sent a letter to Acting Inspector General Duane Townsend asking him to investigate staffing at NWS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In order for NWS to be able to provide this timely and reliable data, it is critical that the agency employ a sufficient number of experts," the letter reads. The other side The National Weather Service office in New Braunfels, which delivers forecasts for Austin, San Antonio and the surrounding areas, had extra staff on duty during the storms, Jason Runyen, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service office, told The Associated Press. Where the office would typically have two forecasters on duty during clear weather, they had up to five on staff. In Kerrville on Friday, President Donald Trump said Democrats had lost their confidence when asked about Crockett and other Democrats wanting to "point fingers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "All they want to do is criticize," Trump said. "And I hope we can someday be bipartisan. But all they like to do is criticize." The Source Information in the letters sent by Rep. Crockett and Rep. Casar comes from Jasmine Crockett's X account. Comments made by Sec. Noem and President Trump come from their visit to Kerrville, Texas on July 11, 2025. July 11 (UPI) -- The fuel switches to both engines on the Air India Flight 171 moved to the "cutoff" position immediately before the crash that killed 260 after taking off on June 12. The two switches that control the fuel supply to the two jet engines on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner were switched to the off position as the aircraft took off, a preliminary report released by investigators on Friday, The Seattle Times reported. The engines shut off within a second of one another, which caused the aircraft to crash just a mile away from the Ahmedabad, India, airport, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said in the preliminary report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash killed 241 passengers and crew, plus 19 others on the ground, but one person survived the disastrous crash. "Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI 171 accident," the company said in a statement. "We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time." Airline officials are working with investigators and other authorities to determine the exact cause of the crash, according to the unattributed statement. The investigation into its cause has focused on the two fuel-control switches that are located in the aircraft's cockpit, which investigators said were changed from the "run" position to "cutoff," according to CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other, 'Why did he cut off'" the fuel supply to the engines, the report says. "The other pilot responded that he did not do so." The aircraft had attained a speed of 180 knots, or about 207 mph, when first one and then the other switches were changed to the cutoff position about a second apart, which caused the aircraft to lose its lift and crash, investigators said. The switches were returned to the "run" position, but it was too late, and one of the pilots called out, "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday," the report says. The flight was bound for London's Gatwick Airport but was airborne for only 32 seconds and crashed just a mile from the airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flight's captain was a 56-year-old male with more than 15,000 hours of flight experience, and the flight's first officer was a 32-year-old male with more than 3,400 hours of flight experience. The captain and first officer tested negative for intoxicating substances before the flight, the aircraft was in good condition and its weight was within acceptable limits, according to the preliminary report. The flight took off at 1:30 p.m. local time and was scheduled to land in London about five hours later. Crash victims include 169 from India, 53 from the United Kingdom, seven from Portugal and one from Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lone survivor is from the United Kingdom and escaped through an opening in the fuselage. The aircraft was built at Boeing's Everett, Wash., facility, recorded its first flight in 2013 and was delivered to Air India in 2014. The 787 Dreamliner is Boeing's smallest wide-body commercial aircraft and holds up to 242 passengers and crew. The preliminary report was released 30 days after the crash in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization's guidelines, which requires receipt of such reports within 30 days of a fatal crash. Investigators from the United States and the United Kingdom are assisting the investigation. This article was first published in the On the Hill newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox on Friday mornings here. Hello, friends. Happy 7/11 and Free Slurpee Day to all who celebrate. Its the first week back on the Hill after Republicans passed President Donald Trumps domestic agenda, a huge win for the party that offers them a number of policy wins they can use for campaign fodder in the 2026 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the aftermath so far has been quiet and theres a lurking question of What now? For Republican leaders, theyre already looking to their next massive piece of legislation. Cami Mondeaux The Big Idea Reconciliation 2.0: What comes next? Even before Congress finalized the first reconciliation bill, Republican leaders were already publicizing plans for a second possibly even a third spending package over the next year and a half. The reconciliation bill was a big, giant leap forward, but were gonna do this again, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told Fox News last week. Were gonna have a second reconciliation package in the fall, and a third in the spring of next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its an ambitious plan but so was getting this first package to Trumps desk by the Fourth of July, which he and other GOP leaders managed to do. The first package included the presidents top priorities related to border security, national defense, tax reform and more. So what would a second package focus on? Hint: The things they werent able to tuck into the first one. During a press call this week, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, told reporters there are a number of provisions that didnt make it into the first bill that they will try to rework so that its eligible for the reconciliation process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There may be a longer list of things that were kicked out by the Senate parliamentarian as noncompliant with the Byrd rule I think we should make another run at that and look for ways to structure the provisions so that its more fundamentally budgetary in impact and policy, Arrington told us. Lets take a step back: Under the reconciliation process, all provisions in the massive package must adhere to what is known as the Byrd rule, which prohibits policies that are unrelated to budget changes or that outweigh budgetary effects. If the provisions comply, they are no longer subject to the 60-vote filibuster and can be passed in a simple majority vote. During what is called a Byrd Bath here on Capitol Hill, there were several provisions stripped from the spending package after the parliamentarian ruled they did not comply. Arrington specifically pointed to two Medicaid provisions that are likely to be reworked for a second reconciliation bill: blocking federal funds from being used for gender transition procedures as well as allowing illegal immigrants to access health care benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think we spent enough time to look for a pathway to success (for) them, and thats sort of the landscape, as I see it, of the opportunities in another reconciliation bill, Arrington said. Other provisions could be included as well, although Republicans havent made specific plans. But their goal is to get those fast-tracked packages through Congress before the midterm elections next year. Why? The beauty of the reconciliation process is that it really only works when your party controls the White House and both chambers of Congress. Republicans hold small majorities in the House and Senate, meaning they could lose their ability to pass party-line legislation by 2027. So, well see. But I expect there will be more overnight sessions and hourslong votes to look forward to! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cami Mondeaux Stories driving the week Green energy watch: A group of Senate Republicans, including Utah Sen. John Curtis, are cautiously watching to see if a recent executive order will undo progress to temporarily preserve green energy tax credits in President Donald Trumps massive tax package. Utah delegation weighs in: The four House Republicans wrote a joint op-ed in the Deseret News explaining their votes for Trumps reconciliation bill: In Utah, we believe in the value of hard work, raising strong families, and building communities that last. The One Big, Beautiful Bill supports those values and will make Utah and America stronger. Secret Service suspension : Six agents have been suspended following what has been called a massive security failure, the assassination attempt against President Donald Trump nearly a year ago in Butler, Pennsylvania. Read more from our very own Emma Pitts. Utah lawmakers look to next priorities As lawmakers take their first real sigh of relief this year, they now have the opportunity to start focusing on their individual priorities before turning to another reconciliation bill. I took time this week to check in with some of our Utah legislators to see what theyll be looking at over the next few months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Mike Lee, who leads the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, tells me hell be busy overseeing confirmation hearings and markups for different Trump administration nominees at the departments of Energy and Interior. Before August, well be working to pass the rescissions package sent by the White House, making billions of dollars in spending cuts permanent for American taxpayers, Lee also told me, referring to the $9.4 billion spending cuts package the Senate will vote on next week. The Senate will also be confirming scores of President Trumps nominees. Meanwhile on the House side, Rep. Blake Moore tells me hell be busy focusing on all the must-pass pieces of legislation that have to be finished by the end of the summer: appropriations bills, the Farm Bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, and more. Summer is also a particularly busy time for my team and me in terms of constituent services, with district events, passport help, roundtable discussions with local officials, and more, he tells me. Im excited to spend a lot of time throughout the 1st District during the August district work period after delivering the largest tax relief for working families in history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Burgess Owens also shared his plans with me, specifically mentioning priorities for his constituents in the 4th District. Most notably, he said he wants to ensure the provisions in the Big Beautiful Bill Act, particularly the ones dealing with education, are delivered. That means ensuring every Utah student receives a quality education and making sure hardworking families, seniors, and small businesses see relief, whether its higher wages, lower costs, and no taxes on tips, overtime, or Social Security, Owens said. Ill also continue advancing the America First agenda: cutting waste, fraud, and abuse through rescission packages, making Americas colleges and universities great again. Theyll have just two weeks to get a head start on those priorities before lawmakers head home for the August recess. Have any questions for your representative before they head home, or want to know more about their priorities? Drop me a line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cami Mondeaux Quick hits From the Hill: PBS and NPR might be saved from Trumps push for spending cuts. Biden doctor refuses questions in closed-door congressional testimony. Mike Lee claims judicial abuse in Planned Parenthood lawsuit. From the White House: Where Trump and immigration stand nearly six months in. White House sues California over transgender athletes in girls sports. Trump administration releases no new Jeffrey Epstein information, says no client list exists. From the courts: Judge blocks Trumps end to birthright citizenship again. Trump can move forward with federal layoffs, Supreme Court says. Doctors sue to protect vaccination guidelines for children, pregnant women. Whats next After a week off, the House is back next week. The Senate is also in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate will focus on passing Trumps $9.4 billion spending cuts request. Depending on if they make any changes, that package could be tossed back to the House before the July 18 deadline. Read more about that here. As always, feel free to reach out to me by email with story ideas or questions you have for lawmakers. And follow me on X for breaking news and timely developments from the Hill. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Local residents gathered in Springfield to read What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? Anti-slavery activist Frederick Douglass first delivered this speech on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York. It was part of an event to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This speech emphasizes freedom, rights, and social justice for everyone in America. To remind people of our history, the Indian Orchard Citizens Council and the Take the Mic Public Speaking & Youth Leadership Program held a Public Reading of his speech at Loon Pond in Springfield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During these times, when theyre trying to take our history away from us and erase it. Its time for us to remember and not allow things that have happened in the past to happen again, said Zaida Govan, President of Indian Orchard Citizens Council. This event marks the organizations 5th Annual Public Reading. Since its inception, it has transitioned from a Zoom format. This is the second year that Mass Humanities has helped fund this event. On Friday, more than a dozen people came out to read the speech. Some of the readers included Representative Orlando Ramos, Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers, and members of the New North Citizens Council. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. A fried chicken war has broken out in the UK after two American restaurant chains hired private detectives and lawyers to fight over Britains fast food future. Legal papers seen by The Telegraph reveal a bizarre battle in which lawyers grappled with the popularity of Southern comfort food and even asked whether James Bond could become obsessed with Nashville hot chicken. The bewildering dispute was triggered by a cult American fast food chains recent expansion into the UK to meet the nations growing appetite for fatty foods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it has culminated in allegations that a former vice president of a rival spicy chicken shop posed as a free speech campaigner to try to disrupt his competitors UK expansion. Daves Hot Chicken, which boasts A-list celebrity investors including actor Samuel L Jackson and rapper Drake, opened its first UK restaurant in London last December and is planning to roll out 60 more outlets. Daves Hot Chickens celebrity investors include actor Samuel L Jackson - Unique Nicole/Getty Images The deep-fried chicken company, set up in 2017 in Los Angeles by four childhood friends, has amassed 5 million followers on TikTok and Instagram, and now has 250 restaurants worldwide. But, shortly after it launched its flagship store in Londons West End, it instructed lawyers to take action to block a spoof UK website set up to mock the cultural hype surrounding the ludicrous plan to encourage British people to adopt Nashville-style fried food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a cease and desist letter was ignored by the secret owner of the parody website, daveshotchicken.uk. A complaint was then lodged with Nominet, the watchdog that oversees UK domain names, which claimed the mock site, registered in 2022, was identical to the Daves Hot Chicken trade mark and would lead to confusion for customers seeking spicy sustenance. In response, Nazim Gomri, a Los Angeles man, submitted legal papers explaining how he was a fan of food culture and bought the website legally and in good faith as a parody or satirical commentary inspired by the Daves Hot Chicken phenomenon. He claimed he wanted to humorously critique the ludicrous context of [the] British adoption of Southern comfort food and had no intention of competing with the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: At the time, the idea that such a uniquely American brand and food type would ever exist in the UK was ludicrous and humorous. Nazim Gomri has been accused of wanting to disrupt the British launch of Daves Hot Chicken - Instagram His lawyers were at pains to stress that Mr Gomri was a private individual with no business in the fast food industry, and he has no affiliation with Daves Hot Chicken or any competitor. Instead, Mr Gomri was exercising his free speech and imagining this very red-blooded American concept with a British twist a la James Bond becomes obsessed with Nashville Hot Chicken, of all things. However, lawyers for Daves Hot Chicken, which will unveil a Birmingham store next week followed by one in Manchester in August, filed papers claiming Mr Gomris claims were a complete fabrication, pointing out how there were numerous examples of American fast food chains [which] already exist and in many cases have become household names in the UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More importantly, they submitted a private investigators report which included evidence from Mr Gomris own LinkedIn account claiming he was, from 2019 to 2023, including at the time of registration of the domain name, a vice president of Als Hot Chicken, a direct competitor to Daves Hot Chicken in Los Angeles. The report adds how Mr Gomri describes himself on the business networking site as an expert in franchising and had been involved in enterprise business development and international relations which included global client management and expansion having forged relationships with over 50 top tier enterprise clients [including] McDonalds, Taco Bell, Arbys. Pizza Hut, Little Caesars and many more. The lawyers concluded that Mr Gomri had wanted to disrupt its clients business interests. Daves Hot Chicken shop in London - Jeff Gilbert for The Telegraph The Nominet ruling concluded Mr Gomris supposed motive of parody did not ring true. It added: The idea that it is somehow ludicrous to imagine such a uniquely American brand and food type being exported to the UK does not stand up to much inspection in the light of many other American food brands having made that journey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Gomri, it said, has been found out and that the claims he was a vice president of a direct competitor of the complainants at the time of registration of the domain name, and that he seems to have been an expert in engaging in exactly the kind of activity with other fast food operators that he purportedly wanted to parody, puts a very different complexion on the matter. Nominet concluded Mr Gomri was left without a leg to stand on and he had no answer to the claim the website was prejudicial to the rights of Daves Hot Chicken brand. On Friday night, diners at the London store on Shaftesbury Avenue joked about the ruling, claiming that a fried-chicken-loving James Bond could adopt such catchphrases as live and let fry or change Goldfingers remark to no Mr Bond, I expect you to fry! Mr Gomri and Daves Hot Chicken did not respond to a request for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) The parent company of T.F. Green International Airport has reported a data breach that affected dozens of travelers in early May. The Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) wrote letters to 151 individuals through July 1, notifying them that some of their personal information may have been included in electronic files impacted by the incident. According to the letter, certain RIAC employee email accounts were accessed without authorization between May 14 and May 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RIAC said it detected suspicious activity involving two email accounts on May 21, but didnt learn about the unauthorized access until May 30. Upon discovering this incident, we immediately took steps to secure RIACs employee email accounts and retained nationally recognized cybersecurity specialists to conduct a comprehensive investigation and determine the scope of the incident, the letter stated. While RIAC said there is no evidence of identity theft or fraud at this time, the agency is offering free credit monitoring and identity protection services to those affected. That includes 60 months of protection through Experian IdentityWorks. The agency also shared steps individuals can take to help guard against identity theft, such as monitoring account statements and credit reports, and placing security freezes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Srourian Law Firm is also reportedly investigating a potential class action lawsuit against RIAC for the data breach. Read the full letter below. Rhode Island Airport Corporation Notice of Data Breach July 1, 2025Download Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) More than 400 bicyclists left Simpsonville Friday morning and headed towards Charleston, beginning the first day of a three-day journey with the Ride to End ALZ. Many participants rode in honor of loved ones whose lives have been affected by Alzheimers disease, while others rode along in support of raising awareness and money for a cure. One of those riders is Scott Roark who lost his mother, Joyce, after her 16-year-long battle with Alzheimers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roark said he wasnt familiar with the disease before it impacted his family. He described a moment where he realized her diagnosis wouldnt get better. She was at my house at that time, and she couldnt remember where the bathroom was, Roark said. It was slow onset, but then I did a little homework and realized, this isnt gonna get any better. Another biker, Jeremy Saylor, said he rides for his kids. Saylor said when he first heard of the event, he thought a 3-day ride would be a good challenge. Eight years later, hes working as the organizations Ride Committee Chair, and found a personal connection to the cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he also looks forward to educating his children about the disease, as well as efforts to combat it. I ride for my kids, theyre six and three, and they dont know what Alzheimers is yet, Saylor said. But, my hope is that someday we can tell them what Alzheimers was, and how we raised a lot of money over the years to eliminate and eradicate it from the world. Alzheimers disease is the most common form of dementia, according to the Alzheimers Association. They found that 7 million Americans ages 65 and older are living with Alzheimers, and 112,500 people of that group are South Carolinians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beth Sulkowski, the Vice President of Communications for the Alzheimers Association South Carolina Chapter, said cyclists will break up the journey to Charleston over three days. The first stop is at Newberry College, 65 miles from the starting point. The next day, riders will continue another 94 miles to Orangeburg, then the final 101 mile stretch to the finish line in Charleston. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. Rosie ODonnell fired right back at President Donald Trump after he threatened to revoke her U.S. citizenship in a post on Truth Social on Saturday morning. The comedian and former talk show host, a longtime critic of the president, was like Trump born in New York to one American-born parent and one immigrant parent. In a blistering response to his threat, she called him King Joffrey with a tangerine spray tan, a reference to a much-hated, sadistic, authoritarian character from Game of Thrones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump earlier wrote on Truth Social: Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. He continued: She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA! President Donald Trump and comedian Rosie ODonnell engaged in a trivial war of words Saturday, less than 24 hours after he visited a flood-devastated region of Texas where more than 120 have lost their lives. (AP) ODonnell, who relocated to Ireland days before Trump began his second term, didnt take long to respond. She posted a photo of Trump with the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein to Instagram, and wrote: Hey Donald youre rattled again? 18 years later and I still live rent-free in that collapsing brain of yours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODonnell wrote that while he had called her a threat to humanity, she is everything you fear: a loud woman, a queer woman, a mother who tells the truth. After contrasting their lives and outlooks, ODonnell writes: You want to revoke my citizenship? Go ahead and try, King Joffrey with a tangerine spray tan. She adds: Im not yours to silence. I never was. Rosie. ODonnell and Trump have been feuding since 2006, when she criticized his moral character, calling him a snake-oil salesman and not a self-made made, while she was a host of The View on ABC. They have traded barbs ever since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no presidential power to strip anyone of citizenship, but since returning to the White House, Trump has sought to end birthright citizenship, guaranteed to Americans under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. The 14th Amendment states: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. King Joffrey in Game of Thrones. Things didnt end well for him. (HBO) In another alarming move, a recently unveiled memo from the Department of Justice outlines the Trump administrations plans to maximally pursue denaturalization of American citizens. Approximately 25 million people in the U.S. are naturalized citizens, or immigrants who completed the lengthy legal process to gain citizenship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the June 11 memo, the Justice Departments civil division will prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence. That evidence would need to be proof that an individual illegally procured citizenship through fraud or other means. It is rare, but it does happen. Days before Trump's return to the White House, the 63-year-old comedian left the U.S. and moved to Ireland, which she says has helped improve her health and sleep. Nevertheless, she remains a fierce critic of Trump, and on Sunday, she blamed him for the impact of the deadly flash floods in Central Texas in a lengthy TikTok video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, you know, when the president guts all of the early warning systems and the weather forecasting abilities of the government, these are the results O'Donnell said in part. As many as 129 people are known to have died in the disaster, with contributing factors being an insufficient early warning system and the timing of the storm, which hit as it did in the middle of the night. In March, ODonnell questioned how Trump comfortably won every swing state in the 2024 election, claiming that one of his best friends owns and runs the internet, likely referring to former first buddy Elon Musk. Despite her long-running criticism of the president, there is no evidence that ODonnell is a threat to humanity. President Donald Trump is once again reviving his long-running feud with Rosie ODonnell this time with a baseless threat to revoke her citizenship. In a Saturday post on Truth Social, Trump referred to the actor and comedian as a threat to humanity, citing her as someone who is not in the best interest of the country. Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship, he wrote. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA! President Donald Trump and actor/comedian Rosie O'Donnell. Getty Images Trumps remarks appeared to be in response to a TikTok video ODonnell posted on Friday, in which she criticized the GOP and the current political climate of the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is definitely in a decline, and if you cant see that, I dont know what to tell you, she said. The Emmy-winning actor later fired back with two Instagram posts addressing Trumps threat. In the first, she took direct aim at the president. The president of the usa has always hated the fact that i see him for who he is - a criminal con man sexual abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself - this is why i moved to ireland, she wrote. he is a dangerous old soulless man with dementia who lacks empathy, compassion and basic humanity - i stand in direct opposition all he represents - so do millions of others - u gonna deport all who stand against ur evil tendencies - ur a bad joke who cant form a coherent sentence #nevertrump Rosie O'Donnell attends Sky's U.K. Premiere of "The Last of Us" Season 2 at Vue West End on April 10 in London. Mike Marsland via Getty Images In a second post, ODonnell referenced their decades-long public battle and added that she resides rent-free in that collapsing brain of Trumps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You call me a threat to humanity but Im everything you fear: a loud woman a queer woman a mother who tells the truth an american who got out of the country b4 u set it ablaze you build walls I build a life for my autistic kid in a country where decency still exists. ODonnell first shared in March that she had relocated to Ireland on Jan. 15, calling the decision pretty wonderful. I miss many things about life there at home and Im trying to find a home here in this beautiful country, and when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, thats when we will consider coming back, she said. Related... Reacting to the Supreme Court's decision on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, BJP MP Sambit Patra accused the Congress and Opposition parties of hypocrisy, stating they earlier opposed Aadhaar-voter ID linkage but are now demanding its inclusion. He said this shift exposes their "double standards" on Aadhaar's role in electoral reforms. Speaking to ANI, Patra said, "The way the Opposition and the Congress are opposing the Aadhar Card, it shows their double standards. When PM Modi spoke about Aadhaar in the Parliament and said that if there are to be no middlemen, then Aadhaar is required... The Opposition and the Congress spoke against the PM." "In 2022, when the government decided to link Aadhaar with the voter card, Congress took the matter to the Supreme Court, arguing that Aadhaar is solely for identification purposes and that linking it with the voter card was inappropriate. Today, they are saying that voting rights and citizenship should be decided based on Aadhaar. This reflects the double standards of the Congress," he added. Reacting to the same court order, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh stated that the Election Commission of India's (ECI) "spin" on "no stay" being given has been clearly "exposed" by the Supreme Court. Ramesh, the General Secretary in charge of Communications for Congress, posted a picture of the order on X, stating that Page 7 of the order clearly indicated that any requested no stay of the petitioners. He then said that deliberately "misleading" headline management does not befit a Constitutional authority. Meanwhile, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi welcomed the top court's decision while hitting out at "ECI sources" for misrepresenting the court's order. He criticised the claims made by EC sources that the constitutional body accepts Aadhar as per page 16 of the Special Intensive Revision, while also informing about the EPIC number being "pre-printed" on the enumeration forms being meted out. On Thursday, the Supreme Court allowed the Election Commission to continue with its exercise of conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi did not stay the SIR process but asked the ECI to consider allowing Aadhaar, ration cards, and electoral photo identity cards as admissible documents to prove voter identity during the SIR of electoral rolls being undertaken in Bihar. "We are of the prima facie opinion that in the interest of justice, the Election Commission will also include documents like Aadhaar, Ration Card, Voter ID card, etc. It is for the ECI to decide whether it wants to accept the documents or not, and if it does not, then provide reasons for its decision, which shall be sufficient to satisfy the petitioners. Meanwhile, petitioners are not pressing for an interim stay," the bench stated in its order. In its order, the top court noted that the timeline for the process is very short since elections in Bihar are due in November. The apex court posted for hearing on July 28 the pleas challenging ECI's move to conduct SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar and asked the poll panel to file its affidavit within one week. During the hearing, the bench opined that Aadhaar should be included within the list of documents permissible as an ID proof. The apex court was hearing a batch of pleas challenging the Election Commission of India's move to conduct the SIR of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The petitions challenging the ECI decision were filed by RJD MP Manoj Jha, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), PUCL, activist Yogendra Yadav, Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra, and former Bihar MLA Mujahid Alam.The petitions sought a direction to quash the ECI's June 24 directive, which requires large sections of voters in Bihar to submit proof of citizenship to remain on the electoral rolls. The petition also raised concerns over the exclusion of widely held documents like Aadhaar and ration cards, stating that this would disproportionately affect the poor and marginalised voters, especially in rural Bihar. Meanwhile, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi welcomed the top court's decision while hitting out at "ECI sources" for misrepresenting the court's order. He criticised the claims made by EC sources that the constitutional body accepts Aadhar as per page 16 of the Special Intensive Revision, while also informing about the EPIC number being "pre-printed" on the enumeration forms being meted out. (ANI) Rosie O'Donnell Makes Bold Political Statements in Response To President's Threat About Citizenship originally appeared on Parade. Rosie O'Donnell is all fired up after President Donald Trump suggested taking away her US citizenship in a recent Truth Social post. O'Donnell has been very vocal about her opposition to Trump for decades, to which he has responded several times. She revealed on TikTok in March that she moved to Ireland in January with her 12-year-old daughter, Clay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After her move, the Flintstones star has continued to speak out, leading to a Truth Social post from Trump regarding O'Donnell's citizenship. On Saturday morning, he wrote, "Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!" The oftentimes controversial star took no time to respond with a flurry of Instagram posts starting with one that she captioned, "the president of the usa has always hated the fact that i see him for who he is - a criminal con man sexual abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself - this is why i moved to ireland - he is a dangerous old soulless man with dementia who lacks empathy compassion and basic humanity- i stand in direct opposition all he represents- so do millions of others - u gonna deport all who stand against ur evil tendencies - ur a bad joke who cant form a coherent sentence #nevertrump" Minutes later, she posted again, this time sharing a photo of Trump and the late Jeffrey Epstein with another message. This time, the caption said, in part, "hey donald youre rattled again? 18 years later and I still live rent-free in that collapsing brain of yours. you call me a threat to humanity but Im everything you fear: a loud woman a queer woman a mother who tells the truth an american who got out of the country b4 u set it ablaze." O'Donnell then responded with a screenshot of the Truth Social post and, immediately after that, a piece of art featuring Trump with a harsh message. In the caption, she wrote, "He is on the listit exists" in regard to the Epstein list that the US Justice Department recently claimed did not exist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of this was posted by O'Donnell in less than two hours and has brought in a slew of comments, some from other celebrities, including Melanie Griffith, Lesley Ann Warren, Busy Phillips, and Margaret Cho, in support of the former The View host. Related: Rosie O'Donnell Sends Bold Message After Diddy Trial Verdict Rosie O'Donnell Makes Bold Political Statements in Response To President's Threat About Citizenship first appeared on Parade on Jul 12, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared. Secretary of State Marco Rubio began mass firings at the State Department on Monday, part of a reorganization plan to form a leaner foreign policy force that, he argues, will allow the United States to respond more nimbly by removing layers of bureaucracy. The department sent reduction in force (RIF) notices Friday morning to about 1,100 civil servants and 250 foreign service officers stationed in the U.S., with plans to cut its workforce further. Staff were directed to report to the office Friday along with their laptops, telephones, diplomatic passports and any other property of the department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move prompted heavy pushback from Democrats and former diplomats who contended that by downsizing its diplomatic footprint the administration is putting national security at risk. Rubio, who is also President Trumps national security adviser, unveiled a reorganization plan for the State Department in April, with plans to get rid of 132 offices and fold 137 other offices within the department. The U.S.s top diplomat said Thursday the layoffs are a very deliberate step to reorganize the State Department to be more efficient and more focused. Its not a consequence of trying to get rid of people. But if you close the bureau, you dont need those positions. Understand that some of these are positions that are being eliminated, not people, Rubio told reporters while in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are three takeaways from Fridays cuts: Democrats, diplomats raise alarm Democrats in Congress, ex-foreign service officers and labor unions have sharply criticized the cuts. Senate Democrats have argued the administration cannot afford a diminished diplomatic presence with multiple crises brewing around the world. There are active conflicts and humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, Haiti and Myanmarto name a few. Now is the time to strengthen our diplomatic hand, not weaken it, said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a statement backed by all Democrats on the committee. From pursuing peaceful resolutions to out-competing China diplomatically and economically, we cant afford to not have experienced diplomats at the table, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Foreign Service Association, a union that represents tens of thousands of former and current diplomats, said Friday the layoffs are an indication to allies the U.S. is retreating from the global arena. As allies look to the U.S. for reassurance and rivals test for weakness, the administration has chosen to sideline the very professionals best equipped to navigate this moment, the union said in a statement. Meanwhile, countries like China continue expanding their diplomatic reach and influence. Michael Rigas, the deputy secretary of State for management and resources, said in an internal message to State Department workers Thursday that once notifications have taken place, the Department will enter the final stage of its reorganization and focus its attention on delivering result-driven diplomacy. Today, Little Marco proved himself to be a very small man, a former State Department official who supported Rubio during the 2016 primary and served in the first Trump administration told The Hill on Friday. Rubio seeks to transform department Rubio is seeking to transform the State Department as part of the Trump administrations effort to revamp American foreign policy and slash the size of the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The layoff notices were sent out to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers. As part of the reorganization plan, nearly 3,000 employees are expected to leave the department. Foreign services officers will be put on administrative leave for 120 days; afterward, they would be cut. The separation period for most of the civil servants is 60 days, according to the notice. The forthcoming reduction in force (RIF) action is necessary to better align the size, scope and composition of the Departments domestic workforce with the foreign policy priorities of the Secretary and nation, read the notice, sent to impacted employees, which was reviewed by The Hill. The cuts on Friday have affected the State Departments Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) office, which was tasked with relocating Afghan allies who had worked for or with the U.S. government in Afghanistan. The offices entire leadership has received RIF notices on Friday, Jessica Bradley Rushing, former deputy director of communications and engagement at CARE, told The Hill. This isnt just a policy decisionits a moral collapse, said Shawn VanDiver, the president of AfghanEvac, an advocacy group for Afghan refugees in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a time when Afghans are still stuck in harms way, including in U.S. custody abroad, the people who made our governments most effective coordination effort possible are being shown the door. All of the leadership within the State Departments bureau of population, refugees, and migration has also gotten RIF notices, according to Rushing. Earlier this month, Rubio formalized the end of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. governments foreign aid arm. The administration has argued the closure of USAID is part of the White Houses push to root out waste, fraud and abuse. Development objectives have rarely been met, instability has often worsened, and anti-American sentiment has only grown. This era of government-sanctioned inefficiency has officially come to an end, Rubio wrote on July 1. Supreme Court greenlights RIFs, for now The State Department come just days after the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to continue layoffs across federal agencies. The nations highest court found Trumps February executive order, directing federal agencies to brace for RIFs, was likely to be lawful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Supreme Court lifted the district judges injunction, it allowed plaintiffs wiggle room to challenge plans of individual agencies in the future. We express no view on the legality of any Agency RIF and Reorganization Plan produced or approved pursuant to the Executive Order and Memorandum, said the courts ruling. Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, characterizing the ruling as hubristic and senseless. Justice Sonia Sotomayor in a one-paragraph solo opinion said she agreed with Jackson that Trump cannot restructure federal agencies in a manner inconsistent with congressional mandates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plans themselves are not before this Court, at this stage, and we thus have no occasion to consider whether they can and will be carried out consistent with the constraints of law, Sotomayor cautioned. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Russias foreign minister warned the U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea as he visited his country's ally for talks on further solidifying their booming military and other cooperation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke Saturday at North Korea's eastern Wonsan city, where he met the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, and conveyed greetings from President Vladimir Putin. Kim during the meeting reaffirmed his governments commitment to unconditionally support and encourage all measures taken by Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said Pyongyang and Moscow share identical views on all strategic issues in conformity with the level of alliance, according to North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency. Lavrov called for the two countries to further strengthen their strategic and tactical cooperation and intensify concerted action in international affairs, KCNA reported. Relations between Russia and North Korea have been flourishing in recent years, with North Korea supplying troops and ammunition to support Russias war against Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance. That has raised concerns among South Korea, the U.S. and others that Russia might also transfer sensitive technologies to North Korea that can increase the danger of its nuclear and missile programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking with reporters after a meeting with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui, Lavrov accused the U.S., South Korea and Japan of what he called military buildups around North Korea. We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia, he said, according to Russia's state Tass news agency. The U.S., South Korea and Japan have expanded or restored their trilateral military exercises in response to North Koreas advancing nuclear program. The three countries held a joint air drill Friday involving U.S. nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula as their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities threatening regional security. North Korea views major U.S.-led military drills as invasion rehearsals and has long argued it is forced to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from U.S. military threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia understands North Koreas decision to seek nuclear weapons, Lavrov said. The technologies used by North Korea are the result of the work of its own scientists. We respect North Koreas aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing nuclear development, Lavrov said, according to Tass. During their meeting, Choe reiterated North Korea unconditionally supports Russias fight against Ukraine, as Lavrov repeated Russias gratitude for the contribution North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russias Kursk border region. North Korea recently opened a mammoth beach resort in Wonsan city, the meeting venue, that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his comments at the start of his meeting with Choe, Lavrov said, I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone is at the center of Kim's push to boost tourism to improve his countrys troubled economy. However, prospects for the tourist complex arent clear as North Korea appears unlikely to fully reopen its borders and embrace Western tourists anytime soon. ___ Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, and Elise Morton in Athens, Greece, contributed to this report. Three people were killed in Russian attacks on the Velykomykhailivka hromada in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Saturday 12 July and earlier artillery strikes on the city of Nikopol. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town along with their adjacent territories ed.] Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; National Police of Ukraine Details: Lysak reported that two people were killed in Russian guided bomb strikes on the Velykomykhailivka hromada in Synelnykove district on Saturday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, a man has died in hospital after being injured in a Russian heavy artillery shelling of Nikopol on the afternoon of 11 July. The regional police clarified that two 38-year-old men had been injured in the 11 July attack on Nikopol. One of them died in hospital on 12 July after being hospitalised. Background: On 12 July, a 27-year-old woman was killed in a Russian heavy artillery strike on Nikopol. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian forces are attacking Ukraine with drones from the northern direction on Saturday 12 July, with air defence forces responding to the bombardment in Kyiv Oblast. Source: Kyiv Oblast Military Administration on Telegram; Ukraine's Air Force on Telegram Details: Around 15:00, Russian UAVs were detected in Ukraines north. An air-raid warning was issued in Kyiv Oblast around 17:00 and later in the capital, Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Air Force reported that UAVs north of Kyiv Oblast were moving westwards. Kyiv Oblast Military Administration confirmed that air defence forces are responding to Russian drones in the region. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (FOX40.COM) Sacramento is looking to draw large film and TV productions to the city with a new rebate program. Just last week, Sacramento launched the new film rebate program, offering up to $250,000 to attract major productions this year. The Measure U funded program, aims to create local jobs and generate spending. I like to call it a pilot program because Im hoping that it will eventually turn into a yearly program, said Jennifer West, Sacramento Film Commissioner. Last year we had an incredible increase with the Leonardo DiCaprio film, where we brought in over $6 million for the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far this year, 22 permits have already led to more than 300 local hires, 1,500 hotel nights, and over $1 million in direct economic impact. The rebate covers all city service fees like police, fire, permits, and parking. Plus, it reimburses 25% on local costs like hotels, food, and equipment. To qualify, productions must spend at least $1 million dollars in the city. But, thats a number local filmmaker Taylor McMahon says his small company, Weatherlight Media Production, has never reached. The largest budget projects that weve ever had or been involved in have been half a million dollars, said McMahon. For someone like me, it isnt totally easy just to go ask someone for a million bucks, but it doesnt make it impossible either. You know, if theres ever If anyones been considering investing in a film or TV project, like, nows the time to do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McMahon believes this program is a great opportunity for local filmmakers, but thinks it could do more to grow Sacramentos own film industry. Instead of just attract big Hollywood movie crews. I would like for them to be incentivized to use local hires and put people from Sacramento in key positions, said McMahon. Not just bring their entire group with them, put them in hotels, and just hire a couple of local PAs. Nonetheless, McMahon is very optimistic. He tells FOX40 this program is pushing Sacramento film production in the right direction. I do think its a positive thing for our industry and for all creatives in our region, and its going to keep people from hopefully leaving, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To apply to the Citys film rebate program, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. Recovery Cafe Longmont believes everyone is in recovery from something. With the launch of a new pilot program, more people are able to experience that healing message. This summer, the Longmont nonprofit is partnering with Community United Church of Christ in Boulder to host weekly discussions at the church about recovering from challenging situations. Recovery Cafe Longmont helps adults work through many kinds of struggles, from substance addiction to isolation. Boulders CUCC is a progressive Christian church at 2650 Table Mesa Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the legacies of this congregation is evolving what it looks like to live out our vision and mission, said Nicole Lamarche, pastor at CUCC. So our council right away said yes to supporting this pilot project. Recovery Cafe Longmont and CUCC are hosting what they call pop-up cafes over the course of a 10-week pilot program. The meetings are open to anyone, regardless of their affiliation with the church or Recovery Cafe. On Wednesday evenings, people of all ages and backgrounds gather at the church to share a meal and spend time in a supportive community. Participants can also join recovery circles, or small group discussions about the steps individuals are taking to live their best lives. What I love about this is that theres just no barrier, Lamarche said. We ask that youre sober when youre here, but just come. The invitation is wide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recovery circle at the Boulder pop-up. Community United Church of Christ in Boulder is partnering with Recovery Cafe Longmont to host weekly pop-up sessions during the summer. The sessions are open to anyone in the Boulder community seeking help with substance abuse, trauma or mental health challenges. (Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer) At the most recent session, over a dozen people sat together in a recovery circle held on the churchs outdoor patio. Lamarche called the church a perfect place for the circles. You can be outside there are trees everywhere, Lamarche said. The vibe of this place is very much nature based. Theres healing in nature. According to Chris Poma, program director at Recovery Cafe Longmont, the nonprofit has wanted to establish a presence in Boulder since it opened in 2019. Poma said the Boulder pop-up cafes have allowed the nonprofit to serve a totally different crowd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CUCC parishioners have pitched in to prepare the communal meals and volunteer as ambassadors. Some members of CUCCs congregation participate in the recovery circles at the church themselves. They really have stepped up as an amazing community partner, Poma said of the church. Hosting the pop-up cafes in the evening also makes the recovery circles accessible to people who cant make the Longmont circles. Those are held during the day at 402 Kimbark St. The pilot program started June 11 and just passed its halfway mark. However, Poma said the recovery circles at the church might continue beyond their testing phase due to how successful theyve been. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I could totally see this turning into a permanent thing, he said. My expectations have been exceeded by a lot. We havent lost any momentum. Folks are coming back. Weve had new folks show up. The goal, I think, was to see if it was viable, and it feels very viable. Chris Poma sits inside the church. Community United Church of Christ in Boulder is partnering with Recovery Cafe Longmont to host weekly pop-up sessions during the summer. The sessions are open to anyone in the Boulder community seeking help with substance abuse, trauma or mental health challenges. (Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer) Kindra Baxter, a Boulder pop-up cafe participant, said topics including relationships and self-care have already been discussed in the recovery circles. She said that, while Boulder hosts other recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, the pop-up cafes are unique because theyre open to anyone. Everybody needs to belong and have a safe place to go, Baxter said. Recovery Cafe can provide that. The Boulder pop-up cafes are held Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) The sound of planes and jet noise is familiar to many of us in Hampton Roads, but before they fly, Navy pilots have to learn how to survive any mishaps in the air and in the water. A look into Naval aviation water survival training and HSC-2 The Aviation Survival Training Center in Norfolk trains military personnel through the use of simulators and hands-on exercises, some of them which include going underwater. The center plays an important role for sailors to be ready and stay prepared, with the trainings showing the unique challenges in modern naval aviation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We execute a lot of that training, [which] holds our skills, keeps the pilots precise and keeps the crewmen precise on all their procedures, said Navy pilot Andrew Ehlermann. The centers pool doesnt seem too out of the ordinary until you take a closer look. There you spot parts of a fake plane and mock ejection seats. In both situations, we were tasked with holding our breath and making sure we were able to swim out quickly. How the Navy uses simulators to prepare for the worst Dripping with water, it prepared us for the ride in the clouds onboard a Seahawk helicopter. With doors wide open, we saw everything from the interstates to the Chesapeake Bay, with the training in the back of our minds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive seen my elementary school, middle school and high school, all from the air, Ehlermann said. Its so surreal, and its an opportunity that I never take for granted. Navys Sailor for a Day program highlights training, lifestyle of submariners With a crew of four, a Seahawks main function is anti-surface warfare, combat support and humanitarian relief, which is why Ehlermann says pilots always need to practice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. RUIDOSO, New Mexico (KTSM) The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services is asking for your help and wants you to pitch in with monetary donations for victims of the Ruidoso floods. According to the news release by the organization, the Salvation Army needs help with monetary donations to purchase many items, including cleaning supplies, water and hotel vouchers. Resources for Ruidoso flooding victims Anyone wishing to donate can visit the NewMexico.SalvationArmy.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People can also make a monetary donation by texting RUIDOSO to 51555. The Salvation Army said they are providing emotional and spiritual support to victims and first responders affected by the Ruidoso flash flooding. New Mexico attorney general warns Ruidoso flood victims of potential scams Additionally, the Salvation Army is also looking for volunteers and is encouraging the public to visit their website to sign up or contact the director of Emergency Disaster Services, Hanna Eisenberg, through email at Hannah.Eisenberg@usw.salvationarmy.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Jul. 11ROCHESTER Samantha Jo Petersen, one of the twins accused of attempting to switch places following a fatal buggy crash in 2023 and the driver in that crash pleaded guilty to two charges on Friday. She pleaded guilty to one count of felony criminal vehicular homicide while under the influence of a controlled substance and one count of criminal vehicular operation, causing great bodily harm while under the influence of a controlled substance. Samantha Petersen and her twin sister, Sarah Beth Petersen, were accused of attempting to switch places after Samantha's vehicle struck a two-wheeled horse-drawn buggy at 8:25 a.m. on Sept. 25, 2023, on Fillmore County Road 1 near the intersection with County Road 102. As a result of the crash, two children and a horse were killed. Two more children were injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Samantha Petersen initially faced 21 total charges; however, in December, the Fillmore County Attorney dismissed the four charges involving the element that she was under a combination of methamphetamine and THC for lack of probable cause. Samantha Petersen's petition to plead guilty was originally filed on June 11. In that plea agreement, she admitted to driving on the day of the crash after consuming methamphetamine and that "it affected my ability to operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner." "As a result, I crashed my vehicle into the back of an Amish buggy," Samantha Petersen wrote in the petition. The rest of the charges would be dismissed under the plea agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 29. Sarah Petersen, was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 120 days of house arrest earlier this year related to her role in the case. Sarah Petersen was originally charged in February 2024 with 16 felony counts, relating to aiding an offender and taking responsibility for criminal acts. One year later, she pleaded guilty to two felony counts of criminal vehicular operation that caused great bodily harm, both involving her taking responsibility for the criminal acts of another. "I am truly, deeply sorry to the Millers," Sarah Petersen said. "My actions caused further pain to the family who was already heartbroken." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses who first arrived at the crash told a captain with the Fillmore County Sheriff's Office that they saw a woman they presumed involved in the crash on the scene on a phone. Later, another woman appeared at the scene who looked similar to the first woman, but wearing different clothes. As Sarah Petersen sat in the squad car, the car's audio recording equipment picked up a conversation between the sisters. The two discussed how law enforcement could not tell them apart. "There's no way they would ever know the difference between the two of us so they can't tell," Sarah Petersen could be heard saying. In a search of Samantha Petersen's phone, investigators found text messages from Samantha to friends including one where she wrote: "Made Sarah come and take the fall for it so I wouldn't go to prison." Samantha Petersen had also used her phone to search "What happens if you get in an accident with an Amish buggy and kill two people," "how to lock an iphone cops have," and "if you hit a buggy and kill two people are you going to prison?" Tomy Thomas, husband of Nimisha Priya, the 37-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala who faces execution in Yemen on July 16 after being convicted of murder in June 2018, informed about the ongoing efforts to save her life. Thomas met with the Kerala Governor, Rajendra Arlekar, recently, who offered support to Nimisha's mother through video conferencing. According to Thomas, the Central government, the State government, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) are making efforts to secure Nimisha's release. While speaking to ANI, Thomas said, "I am in contact with Nimisha. It is possible to send text and voice messages to her. I met the Governor yesterday, who offered all support to Nimisha's mother through video conferencing.." "The Central government, State government and the MEA have been making efforts, and we expect a positive response. Our advocate is doing everything possible....", Thomas added. Earlier, Communist Party of India (CPI ) Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeking immediate diplomatic intervention to save Nimisha Priya, an Indian national facing execution by Yemeni authorities on July 16. In a letter to Jaishankar, the CPI MP highlighted that Nimisha Priya's case has "shaken the conscience of the public" about the lack of legal safeguards."I am writing this letter with utmost urgency and deep concern regarding the impending execution of Ms. Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, who has been sentenced to death by a court in Yemen. Reports indicate that the execution may be carried out within days. Nimisha's case has not only shaken the conscience of the public but also raised serious concerns about the lack of legal safeguards and the humanitarian dimensions of her ordeal, " Sandosh Kumar wrote in his letter to Jaishankar. This comes amid reports that the 37-year-old nurse from Kerala is scheduled to be executed on July 16. The trial court convicted her of killing the Yemeni national, a decision that was upheld by the country's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. Sandosh Kumar emphasised that Nimisha Priya "endured repeated abuse and coercion" at the hands of her business partner and said that now Yemen has placed her on death row, "a country with which we do not have formal diplomatic relations." "Nimisha Priya travelled to Yemen to work as a nurse, like many others who leave their homeland in search of a livelihood. Her years there were marked by grave suffering-accounts suggest she endured repeated abuse and coercion at the hands of her business partner. Denied her passport and subjected to constant fear and exploitation, she found herself in a desperate situation. What followed was a tragic turn of events that has now placed her on death row in a country with which we do not have formal diplomatic relations. In such circumstances, the role of the Government of India, particularly the Ministry of External Affairs, becomes critical and urgent," the CPI leader said. The Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar further added that the Communist Party of India has consistently stood by Nimisha Priya's family in their appeal for justice and compassion. "Several initiatives and communications have been made over the years. We understand that the Yemeni legal system allows for resolution through the provision of diyat (blood money), which opens a window for negotiation, provided the Indian government steps in to facilitate it," he said. The CPI MP urged the external affairs minister to use every possible diplomatic and humanitarian channel to secure a stay on the execution and pursue all available means to prevent this irreversible punishment."It is a question not only of saving a life but of reaffirming the nation's responsibility towards its citizens abroad, particularly those vulnerable and caught in extreme circumstances. India must speak with urgency, compassion, and resolve" Kumar said. Previously, MEA confirmed its awareness of the death sentence handed to Nimisha Priya and assured that the government is providing all possible assistance. In response to media queries regarding the case of Nimisha Priya, MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We are aware of the sentencing of Ms. Nimisha Priya in Yemen. We understand that the family of Ms. Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter." (ANI) NEED TO KNOW The region of Texas that experienced catastrophic flooding over the Fourth of July weekend has experienced deadly floods in the past In 1987, flooding in Kerr County killed 10 teens who were attending a Christian academy and injured 33 others Experts state that the regions specific topography makes it especially prone to flooding The same Texas county devastated by catastrophic flooding over the Fourth of July weekend has experienced deadly flooding numerous times in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July 1987, flooding on the Guadalupe River in Kerr County forced hundreds of people to flee the area. It resulted in the death of 10 teenagers, while 33 additional people were injured, per the Associated Press. Some of those killed were students attending a Christian academy who were attempting to evacuate in buses as the waters rose around them. According to the AP, a government report on the tragedy stated that a wall of water, estimated to be as much as half a mile wide, rushed upon the campers. National Weather Service Flooding along the Guadalupe River in 1987 Flooding along the Guadalupe River in 1987 Cindy Manley, who was a summer camp counselor at the Heart O the Hills camp in the area at the time, recalled that there used to be an informal warning system in place for such moments: camps upstream would call down to camps downstream as water levels rose in an attempt to give everyone as much time as possible to get to higher ground, per the AP. Manley, who was present for the 1987 flood, recalled that a canoe hit and injured Heart O the Hills camp director Jane Ragsdale. Ragsdale survived, but tragically died in the most recent floods though not before making a warning call that may have saved at least five lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The region, which is known locally as Flash Flood Alley, has had at least five massive floods in the past century, the AP reported. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. AP Photo/David J. Phillip Flooding along the Guadalupe River in 1998 Flooding along the Guadalupe River in 1998 In 1978, 30 inches of rain fell over a three-day period in early August, resulting in flooding that killed 33 people, per a report from the U.S. Geological Survey. A March 1979 report on the incident from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated that the flooding occurred in the early morning, which was the worst possible time in terms of warning dissemination and community reaction. In late 1991, a year of higher-than-average rainfall followed by heavy rains in December resulted in flooding across many portions of the state, resulting in 13 deaths. Thousands of homes were damaged, and some neighborhoods were completely destroyed, according to Texas Monthly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most recent flooding on Friday, July 4 killed over 100 people over 20 of whom were young girls attending Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp. Over 150 people are still missing, per the AP. Experts state that the areas specific topography and proximity to the Guadalupe River make it especially prone to floods. Additionally, David Gagne, a National Center for Atmospheric Research scientist, told NBC News that the local geography combined with a series of rain storms created the worst-case scenario for dangerous flash flooding in the most recent tragedy. Read the original article on People AUSTIN (KXAN) A San Antonio man was arrested Thursday night in connection with alleged threats against President Donald Trump. RELATED | Trump speaks about loss of life from flooding at roundtable with state, local leaders in Kerrville The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said 52-year-old Robert Herrera commented on a San Antonio news outlets social media post on Trumps planned visit to the Texas Hill Country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using the handle, Robert Herrer, Herrera allegedly commented, I wont miss, along with a photo depicting President Trump surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents immediately after the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, the Justice Department said. DOJ said Herrera was arrested the same day and faces a federal charge of making threats against the President and interstate threatening communications. If convicted, Herrera could be sentenced up to five years in prison for each charge. The DOJ said the U.S. Secret Service, FBI and San Antonio Police Department were investigating the case with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diego Police have identified two suspects in connection with a recent string of burglaries targeting businesses across the county. Mess around and find out what happens, said Pazzos Pizza owner, David Vitale. His message is one he wants other criminals to hear loud and clear after his shop was burglarized by a pair of thieves last month. The two suspects didnt find any money to take but did run off with three tablets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres obviously always going to be some bad seeds out in our world, said Vitale. On Friday, San Diego Police confirmed two suspects have been identified in connection to at least 11 commercial burglaries between April and June. Police arrest suspect in string of burglaries, mail thefts in Carlsbad One of those suspects has been arrested and theyve been booked into jail. Were still working on taking the other person into custody, said SDPD Officer Anthony Carrasco. 42-year-old Christopher Buck was arrested Thursday. The second unnamed individual is the subject of an active warrant request and was hospitalized due to a medical condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the suspects are believed to be connected to burglaries in Sorrento Valley, Rancho Bernardo, Mira Mesa, City Heights, Poway, and Santee. The investigation was led jointly by SDPDs Northwestern, Northeastern and Mid-City Divisions, along with the San Diego County Sheriffs Department stations in Poway and Santee. They often took advantage of late night, early morning hours to target these businesses, said Officer Carrasco. In each case, the suspects forced entry causing property damage and stole items, including electronics, cash and equipment. Its similar to what surveillance video captured inside Space Bar in City Heights and Deanos Pub in La Mesa last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Businesses can open their cash drawers and leave the cash drawers open so that way when criminals look in or potential criminals look in, theyre going to see that theres no money in the register, said Officer Carrasco. He also advised business owners to take other steps to avoid being targeted by burglars, including ensuring security cameras and alarm systems are working properly and ensuring the area around a business is well lit. Police said the suspects could face charges, including multiple counts of commercial burglary (459 PC), conspiracy (182 PC), and other related offenses. The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may be filed. Anyone with information related to these incidents is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. ESCONDIDO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) A tiny American pronghorn fawn is the newest member at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The orphaned animal was discovered a few weeks ago on private land in central New Mexico, underweight, dehydrated and barely a few weeks old, the San Diego Wildlife Alliance said in a news release Friday. Snake wrangler warns of rising snake sightings in the San Diego area Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fawn received initial care at the New Mexico Wildlife Center and then was transported by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance to the Safari Park. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance thanked the quick work of those involved from the local landowner who discovered the fawn to the multiple institutions. The young pronghorn is now healthy, adjusting to his new home in San Diego. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. A new report by the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has found that sand and dust storms are leading to premature deaths due to climate change, with more than 330 million people in 150 countries affected. On Saturday, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) marked the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms and its designation of 2025 2034 as the UN Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms. The storms are fast becoming one of the most overlooked yet far-reaching global challenges of our time, said Assembly President Philemon Yang. They are driven by climate change, land degradation and unsustainable practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The secretary-general of WMO, Celeste Saulo, said on Thursday that sand and dust storms do not just mean dirty windows and hazy skies. They harm the health and quality of life of millions of people and cost many millions of dollars through disruption to air and ground transport, on agriculture and on solar energy production. Airborne particles from these storms contribute to 7 million premature deaths annually, said Yang, adding that they trigger respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and reduce crop yields by up to 25%, causing hunger and migration. About 2 billion tonnes of dust are emitted yearly, equivalent to 300 Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Laura Paterson, the WMOs UN representative, told the UNGA. More than 80% of the worlds dust comes from the deserts in North Africa and the Middle East, added Paterson, but it has a global effect because the particles can travel hundreds and even thousands of kilometres across continents and oceans. Rock formations stand in the Sahara Desert outside the city centre of Djanet, a southeastern Algerian oasis town, on July 5, 2025 [Audrey Thibert/AP] Undersecretary-General Rola Dashti, head of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, told the assembly the storms economic costs are staggering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Middle East and North Africa, it costs $150bn, roughly 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP), annually to deal with dust and sand storms, she said. This spring alone, the Arab region experienced acute disruption, Dashti said, citing severe storms in Iraq that overwhelmed hospitals with respiratory cases and storms in Kuwait and Iran that forced school and office closures. Dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa has travelled as far as the Caribbean and Florida, she said. For the United States, dust and wind erosion caused $154bn in damage in 2017, a quadrupling of the amount since 1995, according to a study in the scientific journal Nature. The WMO and World Health Organization also warned that the health burden is rising sharply, with 3.8 billion people nearly half the global population exposed to dust levels exceeding WHO safety thresholds between 2018 and 2022, up from 2.9 billion people affected between 2003 and 2007. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) More Oklahoma school districts say State Superintendent Ryan Walters is using his state offices platforms to spread verifiably false and damaging claims about their finances, while suggesting districts should knowingly and illegally misuse money to pay for one of his unfunded, unenforceable mandates. It started earlier this week when Walters issued what lawmakers from both parties called an unenforceable, legally invalid mandatedirecting Oklahoma school districts to begin serving free lunch to every student, immediately. He did not propose any funding to support it. Instead, Walters suggested districts could pay for it using their administrative budgets. For far too long, we have seen public schools take taxpayer dollars that are there for students and continue to grow administrative costs, then turning around and charging parents for school lunches, Walters said in a video posted online. But lawmakers said thats not how school funding worksand accuse Walters of political grandstanding. Theyre already capped. Districts cant go over a certain percentage for administrative costs, said State Sen. Mark Mann, D-Edmond. I think this is just a political trick to try to get on television and in the papers. District leaders said even if Walters somehow had the legal authority to require such a program, complying with his directive would be financially impossible. Bixby Public Schools told parents it would require catastrophic measures impacting all programming, staffing, and class sizes. Deer Creek Public Schools superintendent broke down Walters memo line by line, explaining how state law prohibits schools from redirecting most funds from one categorysuch as facilities or salariesto another, like meals. Oklahoma State Education Department announces new partnership with PragerU Still, Walters doubled down, sending an email to every public school parent in Oklahoma on Wednesday. In it, he called out Bixby, Broken Arrow, Deer Creek, and Piedmont Public Schools by nameclaiming each district is sitting on tens of millions of extra dollars they could use to cover lunch costs. That came as a surprise to Tara Thompson, spokesperson for Broken Arrow Public Schools (BAPS)a district Walters claims has a $109 million budget surplus. I was surprised, yes, Thompson said. She said Walters never contacted the district directly, and based on the numbers he cited, it appears he simply looked at how much money is currently sitting in the districts accountsincluding money budgeted for payroll, utilities, transportation, and other basic day-to-day functionsand assumed it was all surplus. Even if all of those funds do add up to $109 million, that is not a surplus, Thompson said. Weve got to make payroll. Weve got to pay our utilities. Weve got to do all the fuel costs. She said Walters even appears to have counted bond money in the $109 million total surplus he claimed BAPS had. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bond money can only legally be spent on specific, voter-approved projects. And so we cant just go back and take those monies and divert them to something else, because those were a vote of the people, Thompson said. Thompson saideven though free lunches for all would be commendable and a noble causeif a school district were to spend bond money on school lunches instead of the specific facilities projects voters approved for, districts would face legal consequences. There would be lawsuits, Thompson said. There would be attorneys involved. There would most likely be people losing jobs. I think the school district could probably have its bonding capacity downgraded, its bond ratings downgraded, if we did something like that. There are a lot of legal and financial ramifications for just operating willy-nilly, regardless of what state and federal laws might be dictating how those funds are spent. The other districts that Walters accused of having massive surpluses said the same. In a letter, Piedmont Public Schools told parents: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant imagine Walters would be suggesting that we use bond money to pay for student meals. Using bond money would be a clear violation of the law. The district also criticized the growing burden of having to correct misinformation originating from and amplified by Walters, writing: It is unfortunate that school districts have to spend their time and resources correcting misinformation sent by the state superintendent of public instruction. Thats the other frustrating thing about this, Thompson said. To have our integrity questioned like this. We just question why can we not have a conversation if there are questions or there are concerns? You know, were educatorsreach out to us and let us educate you about things that you may have questions about. News 4 reached out to Walters office with a detailed list of questions about how he calculated the numbers and what authority he believes he has to enforce this directive. Nobody responded. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. In about a month, students will be back to school in Oklahoma. Districts have already budgeted for the year. State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters has issued an unfunded mandate directing public school districts to offer free breakfasts and lunches in all schools. Walters said districts that dont comply with his demand will face a full financial audit and the Oklahoma State Department of Education will review their budgets and demand administrative cost cuts to prioritize kids. Critics say Walters is overstepping the authority of his office and may be attempting to undermine the power of local school boards. They say providing universal free meals is not a funding requirement outlined in state law for school districts. What do you think? Is Walters correct in demanding all public schools provide free meals for students? Share your opinion in the survey below. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters wants free school lunches in Oklahoma. Do you agree? Early signs of Alzheimer's disease may be hidden in the way a person speaks, but it's not yet clear which details of our diction are most critical for diagnosis. A study from 2023 suggests that as we age, how we say something may matter more than what we say. Researchers at the University of Toronto think the pace of everyday speech may be a better indicator of cognitive decline than difficulty finding a word. Lethologica, also known as 'tip of the tongue' phenomenon, is experienced by young and old alike. But as we grow older, finding the name for things can become more challenging, especially over the age of 60. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To explore why that is, researchers at the University of Toronto asked 125 healthy adults, between the ages of 18 and 90, to describe a scene in detail. Related: 5 Early, Speech-Related Signs You're at Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Next, the participants were shown pictures of everyday objects while listening to audio that was designed to confirm or confuse them. For instance, if participants were shown a picture of a broom, the audio might say 'groom', which helps them recall the word through rhyme. But on the flip side, the audio might also offer a related word like 'mop', which can lead the brain astray, momentarily. YouTube Thumbnail The faster a person's natural speech in the first task, the more quickly they came up with answers in the second task. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings align with the 'processing speed theory', which argues that a general slowdown in cognitive processing lies at the very center of cognitive decline, not a slowdown in memory centers specifically. "It is clear that older adults are significantly slower than younger adults in completing various cognitive tasks, including word-production tasks such as picture naming, answering questions, or reading written words," explained a team led by University of Toronto psychologist Hsi T. Wei. "In natural speech, older adults also tend to produce more dysfluencies such as unfilled and filled pauses (e.g., "uh" and "um") in between speech and have a generally slower speech rate." In a 2024 piece for The Conversation, dementia researcher Claire Lancaster said that the study from Toronto "has opened exciting doors showing that it's not just what we say but how fast we say it that can reveal cognitive changes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recently, some AI algorithms have even been able to predict an Alzheimer's diagnosis with an accuracy of 78.5 percent using speech patterns alone. Other studies have found that patients with more signs of amyloid plaque in their brain are 1.2 times more likely to show speech-related problems. The verbal fluency test can offer insights into which regions of the brain are affected by cognitive decline.(Motortion/Canva) Amyloid plaques are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. In 2024, researchers at Stanford University led a study that found longer pauses and slower speech rates were also associated with higher levels of tangled tau proteins, another hallmark of Alzheimer's. Related: There's a Critical Thing We Can All Do to Hold Alzheimer's Symptoms at Bay "This suggests that speech changes reflect development of Alzheimer's disease pathology even in the absence of overt cognitive impairment," the authors of the study concluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The groundwork is still being laid, but scientists are getting closer to decoding the nuances of human speech to figure out what our words are saying about our brains. The 2023 study was published in Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition. Related News Scotland has had its hottest day for two years, with a temperature of 32C reported in the Highlands. The provisional reading at Aviemore was the highest ever recorded there, while villages at Achnagart and Kinlochewe saw readings of 31.2C. The previous highest temperature of 2025 - 29.1C at Grangemouth last month - was easily surpassed and forecasters said it was the hottest day since June 2023. The weather is expected to become slightly cooler on Sunday before more unsettled conditions move in at the start of next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A temperature of 32C in Scotland has only been recorded on six previous occasions since 1961. The record for the hottest day was set in July 2022 when 34.8C was reached in the Scottish Borders. The latest run of hot sunny days was officially classed as a heatwave on Friday, with Met Office criteria stating that the temperature must reach 25C for three consecutive days in the same area. It came as several large outdoor events took place around the country including the Tiree Music Festival, the Island Games in Orkney and TRNSMT in Glasgow. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde urged people to stay safe by ensuring they drink water and are protected from the sun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr Emilia Crichton, director of public health, said: "No matter what you're doing, please enjoy the good weather safely by protecting yourself when in the sun, staying hydrated, and having common medicines to hand." In Speyside, the Scotsman newspaper reports that several whisky distilleries have shut down summer production early due to low water levels on the River Spey. Distilleries typically have shutdown periods for maintenance and to minimise the impact on the local rivers that provide their water. Environment agency Sepa said the first half of 2025 has been the driest in the east of Scotland since 1973, with eight rivers facing water scarcity since mid-May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency has no current plans to stop industries from taking river water - known as abstraction - but said the "risk of required restrictions is not over". Sepa senior manager Eilidh Johnston said: "It won't take a heat wave to tip rivers into crisis. Sustained low flows and dry soils are already putting pressure on businesses and the environment. "We're asking all abstractors to stay aware of conditions and check the local direct station data regularly especially in the east where pressure is building" A warning sign for music fans about the temperatures in Glasgow. [BBC] Meanwhile, fire crews are spending a second day tackling an outdoor blaze in Perth, with an extreme wildfire warning in place for much of Scotland until Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency services had been alerted to the blaze near the M90, in the Craigend area of Perth on Friday afternoon. Six fire engines and a specialist wildfire unit were sent. SFRS group commander Raymond King said: "We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame. "Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage." Earlier in July, parts of the north of Scotland were hit by wildfires on a "vast scale" which burned for several days, prompting a police investigation. The heatwave threshold varies in different parts of the UK [BBC] At Loch Lomond, Police Scotland has launched Operation Ballaton to address disorder and disruptive incidents in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Insp Colin Cameron said: "Balloch and the surrounding areas attract large numbers of people during the summer months, and we are committed to making sure they remain safe, welcoming places for everyone. The operation, which has been carried out in previous years, will be in force during the summer months. When Scott DesJarlais launched his first campaign for Congress in 2009, he cast himself as a principled conservative devoted to family values. Running to represent Tennessees 4th District a region that includes rural southern Tennessee and parts of the Nashville and Chattanooga suburbs the political newcomer, a physician with a squeaky-clean image who vehemently opposed government overreach, quickly won favor with Tea Party Republicans. His emphasis on morality helped him unseat Democratic incumbent Lincoln Davis by nearly 20 points. Rep. Scott DesJarlais shakes hands with Nancy Johnson during a meet and greet at Columbia's River Walk Park on Sept. 24, 2012. But in 2012, on the eve of his first reelection campaign, the image he projected on the campaign trail ran aground against messy personal details that emerged from court records more than a decade after his 2001 divorce trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They painted a stark contrast to his anti-abortion, moral-values platform. Among the revelations: his first wife said he pressured her to have two abortions. The records also included a transcript of a conversation in which he appeared to urge a patient he was romantically involved with while he was still married to travel out of state for an abortion. The scandal didn't stop there. The documents also alleged that DesJarlais had dated a second patient and prescribed her pain medication, a breach of medical ethics that led the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners to fine him $500 in 2013 for misconduct tied to inappropriate relationships with patients. An article in the Oct. 11, 2012, issue of The Tennessean reports that incumbent Republican candidate U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais pressured a woman to get an abortion. Additional documents indicated more troubling behavior in his personal life, including allegations that he "dry-fired" an unloaded handgun at a bedroom door while squabbling with his ex-wife. And that he once held a gun to his own head during one particularly heated exchange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DesJarlais defended himself, suggesting the timing of the complaints was politically motivated. It's "somewhat ironic," he said at the time, that after 20 years of medical practice, complaints were lodged against him with the medical board only after he had been elected to Congress. Incumbent Republican candidate U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais speaks during a meet and greet at Columbia's River Walk Park on Sept. 24, 2012. His opponent for his seat, State Sen. Eric Stewart, will later claimed that DesJarlais pressed his mistress to get an abortion. Despite the many controversies, as well as bipartisan predictions that his political career was finished, DesJarlais proved to be particularly tenacious. He went on to win reelection five times, repeatedly fending off primary challengers and holding onto his seat even as the scandal resurfaced during each election cycle. In Washington, DesJarlais has largely kept a low profile. During the 114th Congress, he was ranked by C-SPAN, which tracks the number of days lawmakers spoke during its live broadcasts of congressional proceedings, as one of the least talkative lawmakers on the House floor. Its a markedly quiet career for a politician whose scandals were once the talk of Capitol Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tennessean is publishing a Notorious Nashville story for each year from 2000-2024. Catch up on the series here. Reach reporter Mackensy Lunsford at mlunsford@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Scott DesJarlais: Scandal couldn't sink notoriously troubled candidate Delhi's Tis Hazari Court has granted bail to a woman accused of pouring hot water mixed with chilli powder on her husband to kill him. This case pertains to an FIR registered at Nangloi Police Station. A charge sheet has been filed after an investigation. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Saurabh Kulshrestha granted bail to the accused Jyoti alias Kittu after considering that, as per MLC, the victim has suffered simple injuries. "Insofar as the issue regarding threats to the victim and the witnesses is concerned, the same can be taken care of by imposing appropriate conditions, the court said. "Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the applicant or accused Jyoti alias Kittu is ordered to be admitted to regular bail on furnishing a bail bond in the sum of Rs 30,000 with one surety in the like amount," said ASJ Kulshrestha on July 9. It is alleged that on 01.01.2025, the accused, who was to kill her husband, had poured boiling water mixed with red chilli powder on the face, mouth and chest of the victim. When she was questioned by him, she stated "tujhe to jaan se marna hi hai" (I want to kill you). Thereafter, the accused bolted the door of the room from outside and fled from there after taking the victim's mobile phone so that he could not call anyone for help. The victim broke down the window, stepped onto the balcony and screamed for help. Afterwards, his landlord, Vikas, came there, and the victim was taken to the hospital. Counsel for the accused, while arguing for bail, submitted that the accused had been falsely implicated and she had been a victim of domestic violence at the hands of the accused, and she had earlier also filed a complaint against him on November 19, 2024. On the other hand, while opposing the bail plea, the counsel for the complainant stated that immediately prior to the incident, the complainant had made a police complaint against the accused. It was further stated that the applicant or accused was earlier married and had taken a divorce, and has a daughter from a previous marriage. This fact was not disclosed to the complainant before his marriage to the accused. (ANI) This story is reported by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit news organization. Find more in-depth reporting at www.sdnewswatch.org. South Dakota attorneys have voted to impose a first-ever requirement on themselves to undergo regular continuing legal education, taking a big step toward joining 46 other states that have similar mandates for lawyers. A majority of the membership of the State Bar of South Dakota, the professional group for lawyers, voted on June 20 to support a proposal that would require attorneys to receive at least 20 hours of training every two years starting in 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike numerous other professions in South Dakota, there is no requirement for attorneys to receive ongoing training in order to maintain their licenses. Theres also no way to know if working lawyers are staying up to date or improving their knowledge of the law. Seamus Culhane, a Watertown lawyer who supports mandatory continuing legal education, said some attorneys work hard to stay current on the law and legal techniques while others might need a requirement to do so. Its always frustrating when you have to force people to do things, said Culhane, a partner at Turbak Law Office in Watertown. But given whats at stake here, with peoples lives, possible imprisonment or financial well being and everything else, its pretty important for lawyers to get some continuing education. A lawyer walks through the Pennington County Courthouse in Rapid City, S.D., on May 12, 2025. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch) Culhane said the law and legal landscape are constantly changing, so attorneys need to stay current in order to represent their clients as best they can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im looking forward to improving my own continuing education and creating an environment for other people to do the same, he said. The constant approach to learning has suited our family and firm very well over the years. After divisive discussion, an affirmative vote According to South Dakota laws and regulations, numerous other professions require ongoing education in order to maintain a license or certification in the field. Medical and counseling providers certified with the Department of Social Services must complete 40 hours of training every two years. Training hours are required every year or two years to maintain licensure in real estate, electrical, insurance, accounting, engineering, education, plumbing and even for cosmetology instructors. Attorney Robert J. Rohl attended the June 20 bar association business meeting in Rapid City where the CLE proposal was considered and said the discussion was somewhat divisive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rohl said the bar committee that studied the matter and ultimately supported imposition of mandatory CLE gave a presentation before a debate took place. There were certainly some people who were pretty sternly against it, said Rohl, a Rapid City attorney who is president of the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association. Opposition largely came from rural attorneys who often work alone and were concerned about time and financial constraints that could make compliance a challenge, Rohl said. Some others seemed to think were already doing a good enough job of policing ourselves and that this was unnecessary, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rohl said he favors mandatory continuing education as a way for lawyers to remain updated on new laws, legal issues and techniques that can help them constantly improve. Im strongly in favor of it because I think the reasons to have it greatly outweigh the reasons not to, he said. He also pointed out that the current proposal calls for online training that should not create an undue travel or time barrier to completion. Rohl said the vote of about 200 bar members present revealed that about 65% of attendees a clear majority voted in favor of the mandatory CLE requirement. Any plan to implement mandatory CLE would still require approval from the South Dakota Supreme Court, which regulates the legal profession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alisa Bousa, spokeswoman for the South Dakota Unified Judicial System, said the Supreme Court will consider any education requirement only after the bar association provides the justices with a draft rule proposal. At that point, she said, the high court will likely hold a public hearing and accept public comment on the proposed rules before make a decision on implementation. There is no deadline for that process to occur, she said. Bar committee studied issue and gave support In 2023, the bar created a committee to study whether the state should join the 46 other states that require ongoing training. In February 2024, the bar sent a survey to its roughly 2,600 members, about 2,000 of whom are actively practicing in the state. More than 1,100 members responded, with 47% opposed to mandatory CLE and 53% in favor or neutral on the topic, according to a summary of the committees work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee report notes that the lack of mandatory continuing education requirements for South Dakota attorneys may affect public perception of our Bar (association). The report also said mandatory education requirements align with the bars strategic plan, which contains a goal to foster a legal community that exemplifies professional excellence, wellbeing and civility. In February, the committee voted to recommend adoption of mandatory CLE requirements and proposed that attorneys be required to receive 20 hours of training every two years starting in 2027. The training could be taken online, and the bar association would offer free seminars in order to keep participant costs low. Attorneys would be responsible for tracking compliance with the training requirements. On its website, the state bar association has a page devoted to promoting opportunities for continuing education. However, under a heading of Upcoming CLE events, the site lists No Results. The website does have a link to a YouTube channel with roughly a dozen videotaped discussions on the law and legal issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The training page includes a link to sexual harassment prevention training for attorneys, though Culhane said that session was geared more to proper workplace behavior than toward any deeper understanding of the law. SD would catch up to other states, professions Neil Fulton, dean of the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law in Vermillion, said he supports mandatory CLE training. Fulton pointed out that he spoke with News Watch as a licensed attorney in South Dakota and not as a representative of USD or the Board of Regents. Fulton served on the bars CLE committee. I just dont think you can practice without continuing to grow, be updated and know about legal developments, Fulton said. We really are on the outside looking in among professions for not having continuing education in South Dakota and compared with the overall legal profession in the United States. South Dakota attorney Neil Fulton, shown in 2022, said he supports mandatory ongoing education for lawyers in South Dakota because the law is always changing. ((Photo: Courtesy University of South Dakota) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fulton said he believes any opposition to mandatory CLE would be related to the potential costs of money and time, the logistical challenges posed to solo operators and whether the training is valuable and professionally presented. Are there some people who just dont want to do it? Im sure there are, Fulton said. But I think the lawyers I interact with want to be competent. They want to stay current. Its just really a question of how people weigh out the imposition of this obligation on them with the other obligations they have of work, family and all that. In the end, however, Fulton said requiring some level of continuing education will help lawyers in South Dakota, their clients and the profession as a whole. I mean, you dont graduate law school knowing everything you need to know to sustain you in a career over decades, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) If youre ready to swap the heat for a cool ocean breeze, this is your sign to hit the Oregon coast! With its cooler climate, patchy fog, salty air, and endless sandy beaches, its the perfect place to soak in the summer season. From Astorias historic city streets to the tide pools near Seal Rock, theres more the explore than just the sand and surf. Local attractions, like the Seaside Aquarium, are gearing up for a busy summer season, too. Meteorologist Kelley Bayern chats with Keith Chandler, the general manager of the Seaside Aquarium, to discuss whats new for visitors at the aquarium this summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether youre planning a day trip or a longer stretch of days to visit the coast, the cooler weather is all a part of the charm. Learn more about the Seaside Aquarium by clicking here. Stay up to date on the latest forecast for the Oregon coast with the KOIN 6 Weather Team. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. CICERO, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) A second flyover ramp connecting I-481 north (future I-81) to State Route 481 northbound in Cicero has opened, Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Friday, July 11. The second flyover bridge will serve as the final connection for drivers traveling on future I-81 northbound from the south to bypass downtown Syracuse uninterrupted. The first flyover ramp opened back in May, guiding traffic from the future 81 Business Loop northbound to I-81 northbound in Cicero. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The I-81 Viaduct Project is about transforming the City of Syracuse and Central New York ushering a new era of connectivity and community, Governor Hochul said. With summer in full swing, construction is ramping up on all five phase one contracts, laying a foundation for the eventual rebirth of downtown Syracuse and building a better future for New Yorkers. The ramp opened Friday afternoon, but as work continues to install concrete noise barriers, traffic on I-481 northbound to Clay, Fulton, or Oswego must use the two right lanes for Exit 96 (State Route 481/I-81 south) to continue on State Route 481 north. Alternatively, traffic traveling northbound on I-481 to I-81 north, toward Watertown, must use the two left lanes and take Exit 9N. The northern interchange is on track to be completed by the end of 2025. All five phase one contracts associated with the I-81 Viaduct Project are now in construction, which the governor says represents a significant benchmark in the projects progress. The opening of the new flyover ramp connecting northbound traffic in Cicero to Clay, Fulton, and Oswego is another step forward in the I-81 Viaduct Project, said Rep. John Mannion. Its a clear sign that progress is being made every day to improve connectivity across our region and ensure safer, more efficient travel for residents and visitors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Military families gathered Thursday at the Pacific Views Event Center in Camp Pendleton for a reading celebration aimed at fostering literacy and community among children with loved ones in service. The event, part of the Blue Star Books program, was hosted by Blue Star Families in collaboration with Disney and featured a special appearance by Second Lady Usha Vance. Vance, wife of Vice President J.D. Vance and a Rancho Penasquitos native, helped kick off the celebration by reading aloud to children and speaking about her personal connection to Camp Pendleton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My mom is here and my daughter is with her, along with some of our friends from growing up here, Vance said. I have plenty of classmates that were here at Camp Pendleton as well, so its a special honor being here. The Second Lady is using the summer to promote her national literacy initiative, encouraging children to spend less time on screens and more time reading through what she calls her Summer Reading Challenge. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 40% of fourth graders in the United States are not reading at a basic level, a statistic both Vance and Blue Star Families aim to change. Reading is important for all kids, but its especially important for military kids, said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. Reading skills enhance coping skills and help them deal with their world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event included hands-on activities, book giveaways, and themed experiences designed to bring joy to children whose parents are frequently deployed. Rebekah McCoy is a military spouse who brought her children to the event. She said this event brought her and her family joy. Its a magical escape for us. Dads gone a lot and Im by myself with all of them. This gives us the chance to support other families as well. Blue Star Families, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting military and veteran households, organizes events like these across the country to help create a sense of belonging and normalcy. When kids have books in the home, they read them over and over again, Roth-Douquet said. It makes them stronger, and everybody really wins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many families in attendance, the celebration offered more than just free books, it was a reminder that theyre not alone in their journey. This is about the power of community, McCoy said. Were all going through the same thing and were doing it together. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. GATES COUNTY, N.C. (WAVY) The second suspect involved in larceny at an ABC Store on US 13 last month has been arrested, according to the Gates County Sheriffs Office. Gates County deputies look for suspects in connection to ABC larceny On Friday, June 27, a man entered the store and placed several bottles of alcohol under his shirt. Courtesy: Gates County Sheriffs Office Following a thorough investigation, deputies identified the suspect as Donald Ray Streeter. With the assistance of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and the Pitt County Sheriffs Office, he was taken into custody and charged with habitual larceny, possession of stolen goods and conspiracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Streeter is currently being held on a $20,000 secured bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. A section of the Jordan River Parkway trail is set to reopen months after Salt Lake City closed it amid several concerns, including crime. The trail will reopen from Cottonwood Park (about 400 North) to 700 North on Friday, city officials said. This follows an extensive cleanup of the section and repairs to the riverbanks since the closure was announced in late March. This project is about more than just improving a trail; its about restoring a space for the community, said Kim Shelley, director of the Salt Lake City Department of Parks and Public Lands, in a statement. By working closely with our partners in public safety, we are creating a safer, more accessible environment where residents can walk, bike and connect with nature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city cited several concerns when it announced the partial trail closure, including environmental degradation, infrastructure challenges and persistent public safety concerns tied to homelessness and crime. Cartel activity has infiltrated the area, pushing fentanyl and other drugs, which then welcomed in violent activity and other safety concerns, Salt Lake City Councilwoman Victoria Petro told KSL.com after the closure was announced. At this point, this is not a homeless issue. The chaos caused by the homelessness crisis the fact that we dont know who is safe to be in our neighborhood and who isnt has created a kind of a chaotic system that now criminals are exploiting, she said, adding that the situation had reached a crisis point at the time. The closure essentially served as a reset for the trail section, although residents expressed mixed feelings about the measure. Jason Wessel, a longtime Rose Park resident and vice president of the Westside Coalition, called it a bit disappointing due to the suddenness of the announcement. The city closed another trail section last year for similar reasons, but residents were given advanced notice. It is certainly a start, but it is a little more than a Band-Aid approach, added Kevin Parke, chairman of the Rose Park Community Council, after the closure began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public lands staff have redesigned the trail since late March, relocating a segment between 500 North and 700 North so that it runs west of the river. The new section features a 14-foot-wide asphalt surface, which aims to reduce user conflicts and improve safety along the trail, city officials said on Thursday. It marked the first phase of a larger effort to improve the area, which includes the construction of a new playground and open space near Backman Elementary School. That phase is slated to open in August. Meanwhile, new steps are being taken to ensure public safety as the section reopens. Salt Lake City police officers already patrol the trail by bike and on foot, but police plan to increase their presence in the area. They will seek to enforce the citys ordinance preventing camping in the area after regular park hours while directing people in need to services. The Utah Department of Public Safety and Salt Lake City Park Rangers program will also patrol the area regularly, according to the city. It adds that public safety cameras and additional lighting are still planned for the trail, as city leaders seek to carry out their public safety plan. We are committed to doing everything we can to keep it safe, accessible and open to everyone, said Salt Lake City police commander Andy Cluff. The Brief A small brush fire is burning near the Lake Jesup Conservation Area, officials said. Size: 5 acres Containment: 0% No homes or people are at risk, officials said. SANFORD, Fla. - If you're smelling smoke or seeing ash fall near Sanford, it is due to a brush fire burning nearby. A small brush fire, named the Skyway Fire, was reported Friday afternoon near the Lake Jesup Conservation Area, according to Seminole County Fire Rescue and Florida Fire Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire is estimated to be about 5 acres and is burning towards Lake Jesup, a spokesperson for Seminole County Fire Rescue told FOX 35. It is 0% contained at last check. Please be advised: you may see some ash near Sanford as there is a working brush fire. 3890 Skyway Drive heading toward Lake Jesup and no lives in danger or residential structures at risk. No need to call 911 unless you see direct columns of smoke. pic.twitter.com/3vy2OqRWNN Seminole County Fire Department (SCFD) PIO Media (@scfdpio) July 11, 2025 The fire appears to be burning in an open area. SCFR said no lives are in danger and no residential homes are at risk. There is also no need to call 911 to report the fire unless you're seeing direct columns of smoke, SCFR said. Photos showed fire crews spraying water on some brush. Another photos showed flames sending smoke columns into the air. The Source The information in this article comes from Seminole County Fire Rescue and the Florida Fire Service website. The Bellevue Police Department (BPD) says a 13-year-old boy who was reported missing on Friday, has been found unharmed. Simeon Wiens was found in Issaquah on Saturday afternoon. Bellevue police provided information to officers in Issaquah that led to Simeons return and he has since been reunited with his family. He had been reported missing early on Friday in Bellevue near the Factoria Mall, Bellevue Police said. Senate Democrats on Friday joined State Department employees in protest of the Trump administrations decision to layoff 1,300 employees this week. This is not America first. This is America in retreat, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said on Friday at a protest outside the departments headquarters in Washington. And we dont want America retreating, do we? Hell no, the Maryland Democrat exclaimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A number of workers gathered outside after the department sent reduction in force (RIF) notices Friday morning to about 1,100 civil servants and 250 foreign service officers stationed in the U.S., with plans to cut its workforce further. Workers were instructed to return their government-issued belongings on Friday. The move, which comes months after Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the department in shuttering the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has been broadly condemned by Democrats on Capitol Hill. There are active conflicts and humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, Haiti and Myanmarto name a few. Now is the time to strengthen our diplomatic hand, not weaken it, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote in a statement backed by all Democrats on the committee. Van Hollen echoed these concerns on Friday, stating the layoffs make the American public less safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we retreat, that helps our adversaries and it hurts our friends and allies. When we retreat, it helps the autocrats and the dictators, he said. And it undermines those fighting for human rights and democracy around the world. Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) also attended the Friday rally, describing the reduction in force as devastating earlier in the day. Rubio has long maintained that efforts to reshuffle the Department are deliberate and focused on boosting efficiency. Its not a consequence of trying to get rid of people. But if you close the bureau, you dont need those positions. Understand that some of these are positions that are being eliminated, not people, Rubio told reporters while in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But concerns have also been raised by the American Foreign Service Association, a union that represents tens of thousands of former and current diplomats. They argued the workforce reduction would damage our credibility abroad. Diplomats are not faceless bureaucrats. They are Americas forward presence, serving in war zones, evacuating citizens, negotiating for the release of detained Americans, and steadying allies in turbulent times. Like military personnel, they move every two to three years, serving wherever America needs representation, often in dangerous and difficult places, the union wrote. Their mobility is a strategic asset. Firing them based solely on their current office location discards that asset and damages our credibility abroad, the group added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Senate Republicans remain wary of eliminating the popular and successful global HIV/AIDS program PEPFAR, as they face down a July 18 deadline to vote on President Trumps first tranche of rescissions requests. In his rescissions request to Congress last month, Trump asked that $900 million budgeted for the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) be cancelled. The House has already passed Trumps rescissions, and now the Senate must make the final move. The historically bipartisan HIV program, which was started under President George W. Bush, has been subject to heightened Republican scrutiny in recent years. However, it still has staunch defenders on both sides of the aisle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the forefront of the opposition to eliminating PEPFAR is Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. I want to strike the rescission of funds for PEPFAR, which has an enormous record of success, having saved some 26 million lives over the course of the program, as well as preventing nearly 8 million infants from receiving AIDS from their infected mothers, Collins said. So I cant imagine why we would want to terminate that program. According to other GOP appropriators, support for PEPFAR among Republicans remains strong. I think most Republicans are probably pretty supportive of that particular component of the foreign aid that is delivered. It is about as successful as any foreign aid that we do authorize and appropriate for, said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the rescissions process, the Appropriations Committee can approve, disapprove or amend Trumps request. With one week left to vote, lawmakers are still hammering out the finer details of the package. I think theres discussions around more granular data, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) said when asked where the program stood. PEPFAR is a popular program, we know its made a big difference in the lives of a lot of people, and globally. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said his colleagues were asking good questions about the planned cuts, adding that Trumps budget chief, Russ Vought, would be back in the Senate next week to provide more answers. Its going to be gut check time for a lot of people whove talked a great deal about how we need to reduce spending but never seem to want to get around to doing it, added Kennedy. You know, its kind of like going to heaven. Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobodys quite ready to make the trip. And I think it will be unconscionable if we dont pass this rescissions bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress has reauthorized PEPFAR four times throughout its history, but its reauthorization lapsed for the first time in its history last year when Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) pushed for anti-abortion guardrails for program partners to be added. A one-year reauthorization was ultimately passed, though this expired in March. Abortion remains a sticking issue for some Republicans when it comes to maintaining support for PEPFAR. Sen. Lindsay Grahan (R-S.C.), a longtime ardent supporter of PEPFAR, said he would be supporting the rescissions package after Vought told him of how some of the programs funding was going towards abortion services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was reported earlier this year that PEPFAR-funded service providers in Mozambique had performed at least 21 abortions since January 2021, in violation of U.S. law. Proponents of PEPFAR argue that the program produces impressive returns for the amount of funding it receives, accounting for less than 0.1 percent of U.S. spending. Across its 22-year history, PEPFAR funding has totaled more than $120 billion, with $6.5 billion allotted to it for the fiscal year 2025. Not only has PEPFAR been credited with saving millions of lives, but its also considered one of the strongest components of U.S. foreign policy and soft power abroad. I saw firsthand about the diplomatic power that PEPFAR brings to our ambassadors in embassies all around the world, said Jirair Ratevosian, former PEPFAR chief of staff and Hock Infectious Disease Fellow at the Duke Global Health Institute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cutting PEPFAR shrinks Americas role on the world stage, and its basically like handing over influence to countries that dont share our values, Ratevosian added. To me, thats why its short-sighted and it undercuts our own security and our own global standing. David J. Kramer, executive director of the George W. Bush Institutes, warned that U.S. adversaries are likely to fill in any void left if PEPFAR is significantly diminished. China and Russia are waiting to take advantage should the United States falter or forgo its commitment, Kramer wrote in a letter addressed to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Whereas PEPFAR focuses on saving lives, Chinese lending structures and health programming lack accountability, transparency, and long-term sustainability, said Kramer. Russia has expanded its influence on the continent breeding instability and violence and destroying infrastructure along the way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still others argue that PEPFAR was always envisioned as a temporary program, with eventual control to be transitioned off to the countries where support is being given. According to Ratevosian, transitioning the PEPFAR programs over to the more than 50 countries where it operates is already underway, but that process takes time and money. The administration says it wants PEPFAR to shift its focus towards country-led programming, so move the funding away from countries and have countries lead their HIV programming. But it then wants to gut $400 million, which is the very resources PEPFAR needs to make that kind of transition happen in the first place. So, to me, its like slashing the tires and asking the driver to speed up, Ratevosian said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has said that the spirit of Telangana is similar to the ethos of America since both are special in seeking friendship and strengthening the ties, a release said. Participating in America Independence Day celebrations in Hyderabad on Friday, the Chief Minister extended warm greetings to American citizens. The CM observed that the world has completely changed after America attained independence. America unveiled many positive aspects in front of the world and played a key role as a guide to build a strong democratic world and in providing continuous innovations, the release stated. CM Revanth Reddy pointed out that America has changed the world's perspective in two aspects. Developed country maintained a strong spirit of never accepting defeat. As a strong country, it has always been able to give solutions in a positive way in many issues. On the same lines, Telangana is also seeking friendship and strengthening ties, the release added. About 200 American companies from sectors like IT, pharma, defence, manufacturing, and aerospace are already operating in Hyderabad. The CM said that "We are trying to further improve trade relations between America and Telangana. Our government is working towards the "TelanganaRising" vision to achieve a 1 trillion US dollar economy by 2035 and a 3 trillion dollar US economy by 2047", the CM said seeking the USA support to achieve the target. Many students from Telangana are also going to America to fulfill their dreams. CM Revanth Reddy hoped that Hyderabad will develop further and bring the best of America to Telangana. He also strongly believed that the theme - "Unite.. Stronger" will help to grow fast. During the Congress government led by Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the US Consulate General office was established in Hyderabad and started strengthening ties with America, it added. Stating that America displayed a great commitment in improving diplomatic relations with India, the CM said that the friendly relationship between Telugu people and America has become very strong. The Telugu language was also developing rapidly in America. The Chief Minister emphasized that the strategic partnership between America and India should continue at the national level based on mutual trust and values. Both countries want to have friendly and strong relations with the goals of expanding trade, commerce, investment, democracy, and establishing world peace. He stressed more cooperation in military and space research between two countries. Both countries have set a record in trade related to investments in the technology sector. Hyderabad Consul General Jennifer Larson is standing as a strong bridge between Telangana and America in strengthening trade relations, the CM said. (ANI) The Senate is seeking to rein in the Trump administrations policy toward Ukraine, which has oscillated between support and sudden withdrawal, leaving allies and officials guessing. After President Donald Trump recently agreed to resume sending weapons to Ukraine, the Senates annual defense policy bill would curb the kind of executive branch adventurism that has sparked bipartisan concern, particularly regarding Pentagon decisions. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), unveiled Friday after bipartisan negotiations by the Senate Armed Services Committee, includes specific guardrails on U.S. military cooperation. One provision stipulates that the secretary of defense cannot unilaterally cease military intelligence sharing and targeting cooperation with Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This move follows a March episode in which the Trump administration abruptly paused both intelligence support and weapons shipments to Ukraine while the president pursued backchannel diplomacy with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Though the freeze was later lifted, the incident alarmed lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Trump Reveals Nato Sale To Boost Arms To Ukraine As Putin Launches Overnight Maternity Hospital Strike Firefighters work at the site of horse stalls heavily damaged by a Russian drone strike in Odesa, Ukraine, July 11, 2025. The NDAA also "reaffirms that it is the policy of the United States to assist Ukraine in maintaining a credible defense" and boosts the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to $500 million. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill bars Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from reducing U.S. force posture in Europe or relinquishing the U.S. role as NATOs Supreme Allied Commander without an impact analysis and certification to Congress that such changes align with U.S. interests. The new provisions arrive amid a notable shift in Trumps rhetoric, which has turned more supportive of Ukraine and more critical of Putin. Earlier this month, the Pentagon once again paused delivery of previously pledged defensive aid to Kyiv, citing an internal assessment of U.S. stockpiles. Reports indicate that this pause may have been initiated without informing the White House. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for U.S. president, meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Trump Tower Sept. 27, 2024, in New York. "This decision was made to put Americas interests first," said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly, referring to a Department of Defense review. Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell echoed that framing, calling it a "capability review" and adding, "We cant give weapons to everybody in the world." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly afterward, Trump contradicted the pause by suggesting the U.S. would send Patriot missile interceptors and additional defensive aid to Ukraine. The Pentagon subsequently announced it would resume the shipments. "Were going to send some more weapons. We have to they have to be able to defend themselves," Trump said Monday evening. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he departs to travel to Texas to tour areas affected by deadly flash flooding from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., July 11, 2025. Despite speaking with both Russian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin last week, Trump described his discussion with the Russian president as fruitless. "We get a lot of bulls--- thrown at us by Putin," Trump told reporters during a Cabinet meeting. "Hes very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pressed on who had authorized the pause in military aid, Trump appeared unsure. "I dont know, why dont you tell me?" he said Wednesday. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump told Zelenskyy he was not responsible for the decision. Us Will 'Have To' Send Weapons To Ukraine, Trump Says Days After Pentagon Pause On Thursday, when a reporter asked whether hed figured out who ordered the halt, Trump replied, "Well, I havent thought about it. ... I have, no I have not gone into it." Asked what it says that such a major decision could be made without his knowledge, he insisted, "I would know if a decision was made. I will know. Ill be the first to know. In fact, most likely Id give the order but I havent done that yet." Trump ordered the Pentagon to send more munitions to Ukraine to use in Patriot missile defense systems. Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed the significance of the pause, describing it as a "limited review" of specific munitions types, a common step after sustained operations in the Middle East and Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was logical," Rubio said, "especially after an extended engagement in defense of Israel and our own bases." State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce also sought to reassure allies, saying, "The president has been obviously very passionate and determined regarding the ability of Ukraine to defend itself." The administrations current tone marks a stark shift from earlier this year, when tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy reached a boiling point during a contentious February Oval Office meeting. "You have to be thankful. You dont have the cards," Trump reportedly told Zelenskyy, after calling him a "dictator" earlier that month. Original article source: Senate moves to rein in Trump administrations fluctuating Ukraine policy Meet the shameless serial shoplifter who is still waltzing free down NYC store aisles despite a staggering 254 arrests. Anthony White, 63, who has made larceny a career, was busted as recently as May on burglary charges after being paroled from prison on parole in December. Anthony White is one of the top shoplifting recidivists in the city, racking up 254 arrests, cop sources said. Obtained by the New York Post The thief was allegedly ripping off stores where he had already been banned for theft but was set free by judges after his arraignments on the latest offenses, court records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rampant shoplifting like White is accused of has prompted stores across the city to lock their goods behind plastic barricades. While the number of offenses has dipped 10% so far this year over last year, the crime has surged 89% to more than 27,705 incidents this year from 14,286 in 2020, police data show. Critics and cops complain that the petty thieves are routinely released back to the street as soon as theyre arrested, stymying the NYPDs attempts to return the offense to pre-2020 levels, police sources said. There were 1,288 criminals responsible for 45% of all shoplifting incidents, according to NYPD data obtained by The Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The top four recidivists alone have 795 arrests among them, mostly for shoplifting, police sources said. The NYPD blames the problem on a lax criminal justice system that keeps trying to get the culprits often dogged by drug addiction into treatment programs that dont stick, creating a cycle of criminality. They keep getting out and going back and shoplifting again, said a cop, who has arrested some of the five-finger discount offenders. There were 1,288 criminals who were responsible for 45% of the shoplifting incidents, according to NYPD data. Steven Hirsch Laron Mack, who has 203 arrests on his record, was last arrested for stealing from an Upper West Side Duane Reade, police sources said. Steven Hirsch In one alleged theft on May 15, White walked into iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza around 3 p.m., swiped two shirts from displays and shoved them under his sweatshirt, according to a criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He then strolled past the registers and tried to leave the store without paying, prosecutors said. Security found the shirts on him. He was arraigned on petty larceny charges the next day. Prosecutors asked for $3,000 cash or $60,000 bond, but Judge Kacie Lally set him free on supervised release, a spokeswoman said. The sheer number of shoplifting incidents, more than 27,000 already this year, has forced chains to lock up their goods. AFP via Getty Images He struck again a little more than a week later on May 25, ripping off a Duane Reade that he had hit before at 711 Third Ave. in Midtown, according to prosecutors. This haul at 7:30 a.m. included body wash and assorted personal care products, police sources said. Four days later, White went into Walgreens at 1251 6th Ave. in Midtown on May 29 and tried to make a dash with baby wipes, authorities said. He had already been banned from the store. Jacob Poole, who has been arrested 103 times, stole $215 worth of chicken packs from a business in the South Street Seaport, law enforcement sources said. Obtained by the New York Post On May 30, prosecutors requested $20,000 cash bail or $60,000 bond, but this time Judge Loius Nock set him free on supervised release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their bail application, prosecutors pointed out that White had multiple pending felony theft cases and that he was on parole for a 2023 burglary conviction, according to a spokeswoman. He was released from prison in December 2024. Two months after he was sprung, he snatched 11 toothbrushes from a Walgreens in Midtown, prosecutors said. Customers throughout the city are forced to call for service to unlock cases and access products. AFP via Getty Images When is enough enough? a second police source said. Hes got 254 arrests. This is probably a guy who should be locked up for a long time. Another robbin hood is Davaughn Gethers, who has been arrested a whopping 235 times, mostly for shoplifting, police sources said. His most recent arrest was on May 27 for thieving in Midtown. He was released the same day without bail. Davaughn Gethers, who has 254 arrests to his name, tells cops that he doesnt mind being arrested because he knows hell be released, according to a police source. Obtained by the New York Post Hes also been arrested for resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer and weapons possession, the sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A police source who knows Gethers said the thief is nonchalant when hes nabbed. He just says, I dont care, the source said. Theyre just going to let me go.' Laron Mack, 53, is a larceny recidivist with 203 arrests, police sources said. He was last arrested on June 28 at a Duane Reade on the Upper West Side for allegedly swiping four rolls of tailet paper, police sources said. Another top offender, Jacob Poole, who identifies as a woman, has 103 arrests under his belt for shoplifting in Manhattan, police sources said. On April 30, Poole, 32, shoved $215 worth of chicken in a bag and walked out of the Tin Building in the South Street Seaport without paying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a weapon and I will kill you, Poole allegedly told a worker. Two weeks earlier, on April 15, he stole from 10 different businesses in one day, sources said. They do the same thing over and over again and they get out, said a third police source who knows some of the top offenders. Theres no rehabbing them. Severe weather passed through southeastern Wisconsin on July 11, but rain is expected to linger overnight. A tornado watch was issued for the Milwaukee area, but has since expired, while tornado warnings were issued elsewhere. A tornado warning was issued in northeastern Rock County, southeastern Dane County and southern Jefferson County until 7:30 p.m., meaning a National Weather Service radar indicated a rotation in the sky and residents were told to take cover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The severe weather threat led to an evacuation order at the Harley-Davidson festival on Milwaukee's lakefront. The weather service said a flash flood warning was issued for Dane, Green, Iowa and Lafayette counties that expired before 10 p.m. How do you stay safe during a tornado? During a tornado, the NWS recommends: Get as low as possible. A basement below ground level or the lowest floor of a building offers the greatest safety. Put as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible. Avoid windows. What should you do if you're driving during a tornado warning? If you're driving, particularly on interstates or highways, do not try to outrun a tornado. If you are driving in an area with a tornado warning, you should look for ways to safely get off the road and out of your vehicle, preferably by seeking refuge in a sturdy building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a last resort, lie flat in the nearest depression, ditch or culvert and cover your head with your arms. What is the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning? A tornado warning is issued when a tornado is either sighted or indicated on radar, meaning there is imminent danger to life and property. If you are in the area of a tornado warning, take cover immediately in the lowest floor of a sturdy building. If you are outdoors, in a vehicle or a mobile home, move to the closest sturdy shelter and take cover. A tornado watch is issued when the environment is capable of producing tornadoes. If you are located in the area of a tornado watch, the NWS recommends having a plan in place in the event a tornado forms. Be ready to act quickly if a tornado warning is issued. This story was updated to add new information. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Severe weather, tornado warnings in southeastern Wisconsin on July 11 (NewsNation) A Florida man has described how a surfboard leash helped save his life after he was bitten by a shark while surfing at New Smyrna Beach. Matthew Bender joined Elizabeth Vargas Reports to discuss the July 6 attack that has left him without feeling in the back of his hand. Florida shark attack Despite his wound, a full recovery is possible a remarkable reality given his forearm was in a sharks mouth over the holiday weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feeling so blessed to have my life, my arm, the use of my hand, and potentially, a full recovery, Bender said. Virginia military housing residents say conditions are horrible It could be totally inconsequential, he said of the injuries. Aside from some scars, I just feel super grateful. Thank you, Lord. Shark bite capital of the world Bender was paddling out for a third wave at New Smyrna Beach, which is known as the shark bite capital of the world, when he felt a very hard and forceful bite. It shook its head, he said of the shark. By the time I looked down, it was gone, and all I saw was red. I knew I was bitten by a shark even before I looked down. I went into business mode, like, got to get back to the beach.' Matthew Bender tells NewsNation of his great escape after a shark bite He rode a wave to shore, and a 16-year-old surfer and her father rushed over to help and called 911. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was putting my arm over my head I was trying to keep the arteries from gushing, Bender said while adding that part of his forearm had no skin on it. Shark attack survivor thankful for miracle He realized he could use the 16-year-olds surfboard leash as a tourniquet, and his friends helped wrap it around his arm. That really did stop the bleeding, he said. Good to wear a leash, [unlike] me. Farm worker dead from injuries during ICE raid on cannabis farm Bender said a prayer before he paddled out, asking God to keep him safe throughout his surf. He did keep me safe overall, and I feel like through this whole thing, he is being glorified, because its just a miracle that I dont have any pain in my arm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. A 57-year-old Shelburne man will spend at least 1 years in state prison after being convicted on two charges in connection to threatening to harm a judge as part of his ongoing divorce proceedings. Carlos Dorego Carlos Dorego Carlos Dorego, 57, was found guilty of two felony counts of improper influence following a one-day jury trial, according to a news release from the New Hampshire Attorney Generals Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendant was sentenced to 3 to 7 years with 1 years to 3 years to be served. The remaining time will be suspended for a period of 10 years. He also must be on good behavior, participate in counseling and anger management and have no further contact with the judge or his family. This case underscores the seriousness of threatening or attempting to improperly influence a sitting judge. Threats and intimidation have no place in our justice system, and we will protect the rule of law wherever it is challenged in New Hampshire, said Attorney General John Formella in a statement. No one is above the law especially when it comes to safeguarding the integrity of our courts. This case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General David M. Lovejoy and Joe M. Fincham II, both of the New Hampshire Department of Justices Public Integrity Unit. According to the AGs sentencing memorandum, the convictions arise from a series of incendiary and threatening text messages the Defendant sent to Judge (Charles) Greenhalghs personal cell phone with the purpose to improperly influence the judge in February 2024. Greenhalgh had been presiding over both the divorce proceedings and a domestic violence matter involving the Dorego. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenhalgh testified during the trial that he notified court security not to let Dorego into court because he was scared, intimidated and concerned for his safety. He also told his daughter and wife to stay inside the house. Doregos lawyer, Leif Becker, asked for a year in county jail, all to be suspended except 35 days served while awaiting sentence, and undergo a mental health evaluation within 90 days. He said it was agreed in trial that Dorego made no explicit threats of physical harm nor did he make explicit requests that Judge Greenhalgh alter the orders in the divorce matter, according to his sentencing memo. Mr. Dorego, despite his belief that his speech was constitutionally protected, is regretful that he chose to text Judge Greenhalgh instead of addressing his concerns in a more professional manner and in an appropriate venue, Becker wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Becker filed a motion for a judge to reconsider the verdict, which was denied. This was a rare case where the State and Defense had little to no disagreement on the underlying facts. The disagreement came in how the facts should be interpreted and how the law is applied, he said in a statement Friday. Dorego cited several constitutional concerns that will be addressed on appeal to the New Hampshire Supreme Court including First Amendment and Fifth Amendment protections, Becker said. BUCKEYE LAKE, Ohio (WCMH) The Licking County Sheriffs Office said the suspect responsible for a shooting at a bar in Buckeye Lake that killed a man was arrested in Orangeburg, South Carolina Saturday. Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp said in a statement that Richard Lindgren was taken into custody without incident after his vehicle was spotted and stopped by a South Carolina State trooper with assistance from Orangeburg County sheriffs deputies. Detectives were in contact with multiple agencies across South Carolina, Georgia and Florida providing information on Lindgren and his vehicle after it was seen on two Flock cameras in South Carolina. Sheriff deputies said they responded to reports of a shooting at Louies Corner House on Hebron Road shortly at 11:52 p.m. Friday night. Upon arrival, they found Benjamin Hawk, 42, dead from an apparent gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbus man convicted in large-scale drug, sex ring sentenced to life in federal prison A nationwide warrant for murder was issued for Lindgren, 59, in connection with the shooting. According to court documents, Lindgren allegedly entered Louies Corner House around 9:30 p.m. Friday night. There, Hawk and Lindgrens ex-wife were allegedly singing karaoke outside when Lindgren approached them. According to the complaint, Lindgren came up to Hawk from behind and shot him. Patrons quickly called law enforcement, but Hawk was pronounced dead shortly after emergency vehicles arrived. Lindgren immediately fled the scene, according to court documents. He will be deeply missed, but his memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew him, wrote a spokesperson for Louies Corner House in a statement on social media. We appreciate the efforts of those who stepped in to help and took action your kindness and support mean a lot. Were here for you, and our hearts go out to those affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Turn it down. Its too loud. Wheres the remote? You have it. I dont have it. Why is it so loud? Weve all been therestreaming a show when a commercial suddenly blares at an ear-splitting volume. Now, a new bill making its way through the California Legislature aims to change that. Senate Bill 576 would prohibit video streaming services that serve California consumers from airing commercial advertisements at audio levels louder than the primary video content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill was authored by state Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) who told CalMatters the inspiration came from a babySamantha Rose. He said his legislative director, Zach Keller, has an infant daughter named Samantha Rose. The baby had finally settled down to sleep and her parents, in turn, settled down to relax and watch a show when an ad came on so loud it woke the baby. The bill contends that consumers are increasingly subjected to loud, disruptive ads with no regulatory safeguards. This bill enhances the viewing experience and protects individuals with hearing sensitivitiesincluding seniors, children, and those with auditory processing disordersfrom sudden and jarring noise spikes, the bill states. If this sounds familiar, its because similar legislation already exists at the federal level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act was passed in 2010 after the Federal Communications Commission received more than 130,000 complaintsmost about excessively loud commercials. But that law applied only to broadcast and cable TV. Streaming services didnt exist at the time and have since operated in a loudness loophole. But times have changed. Umberg says 83% of U.S. households now use at least one streaming service, and ad-free streaming is becoming less common Many platforms have introduced tiered subscription models that require consumers to pay a premium to avoid commercials, bringing ad-supported viewing, and the loudness of those ads, back into focus for millions of users, he argues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the bill appears to have strong support in the California State Legislature, it also faces opposition. Groups including the Motion Picture Association and the Streaming Innovation Alliance argue that streaming is fundamentally different from traditional broadcast and cable, and that federal standards shouldnt be unilaterally applied to streaming platforms. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The chart showing immigration numbers was usually displayed in the closing minutes of the stump speech and on the other side of the stage. So, when Donald Trump turned his head to the right to glance at the graph, escaping an assassins bullet by millimetres, many thought they saw the hand of God. Theres a confluence of things that happened to avert tragedy, and I think he talks about how there must have been some divine intervention, says Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, who was present on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. That is the change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the day a bullet grazed Mr Trumps ear, upending the 2024 election campaign and changing the president forever. Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old would-be assassin of Mr Trump was shot dead by the Secret Service at the scene. Crooks also fatally shot audience member Corey Comperatore, and injured two other people in the crowd. Since then, Mr Trump has talked about his nerves when people move around in the crowd at his rallies, flirted with the idea of uniting the nation, and described his mission to save America as the work of God. This weekend, however, there will be little in the way of commemoration. An interview with Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, is due to be broadcast on Fox News on Saturday, when he will reflect on the past year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And that is all in keeping with a man who prefers not to look backwards, say insiders. Hes a busy man. Theres a lot to get on with, said a senior administration official. In the past year, Mr Trump pulled off an extraordinary political comeback, becoming only the second president in history to serve non-consecutive terms. He has governed at a rapid pace, slashing the federal workforce, axing foreign aid, challenging the world to a trade war, reducing illegal immigration, and bringing media critics to heel. Mr Cheung said there had been no time to take a step back immediately after the assassination attempt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immediately we went into the Republican National Convention (RNC), he said, Immediately he went back on the campaign trail. Just two days after being wounded, Mr Trump made his triumphal entry at the RNC in Milwaukee, pacing down an entry corridor in front of a camera, looking every inch the heavyweight champ returning to the ring. Thousands of supporters embraced the religious parallel. July 13 was the same date when the Holy Mother revealed the third secret of Fatima, said a Catholic attendee. That was the date in 1917 when the Virgin Mary appeared to three Portuguese children, entrusting them with her prophecies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vision foretold an attack on a bishop dressed in white, and was only revealed in 2000, 19 years after an assassin tried to kill Pope John Paul II. You cant make this stuff up, added the Trump supporter. For a while Mr Trump held his rallies indoors, reducing the threat of a copycat sniper. But six weeks later his security team rejigged the setup with bulletproof screens allowing the Republican candidate to resume his trademark events. His ear had healed quickly, but Mr Trump admitted some other scars might remain. During a rally in New York in September he appeared startled by a sudden movement in the audience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thought this was a wise guy coming up, he said. You know, Ive got a little bit of a yip problem here. Right? That was amazing. I was all ready to start duking it out. Credit: C-SPAN There were other effects from the shooting, according to Blake Marnell, who travels around the country attending rallies and who was in the front row at Butler, resplendent in his distinctive brick-patterned suit. He said older voters remember the anger and violence in the country around the time of the murder of John F Kennedy. If anything, the shooting this time helped voters coalesce around the wounded leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you look at the other effects post Butler, you cant ignore the fact that that is one of the driving factors that got Robert F Kennedy and president Trump speaking, which led to the Make America Healthy Again (Maha) coalition, he said, referring to a member of the famous liberal political clan, who was best known as an environmental lawyer. That also crystallised Elon Musks support for the president. The worlds richest man endorsed Mr Trump on the night after the shooting. And he appeared on stage with him when the Republican candidate returned to Butler three months later. Pictures of Elon Musk jumping on stage during Mr Trumps return rally at Butler, Pennsylvania, quickly became infamous - JIM WATSON For a while Mr Trumps speeches took on a more bipartisan air. Aides described how a caustic convention address was toned down in the interests of national unity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discord and division in our society must be healed. We must heal it quickly, he said at the start of his 90-minute speech. As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny. We rise together. Or we fall apart. Headlines about a softer Mr Trump did not last long, however, as he quickly resumed his scathing attacks on Joe Biden, the then president, and Kamala Harris, his election opponent. What endured was a greater sense of mission in a man who pulled off a surprise win in 2016 and at times struggled to impose his will on Washington during that first term. Mr Trump himself used religious framing to describe his campaign after his narrow escape in Butler. He was often seen taking part in group prayers, the president in the middle, head bowed, as supporters reached out to touch his arm, an elbow, the back of his chair. I would love to think its God, and its God doing it because he wants to save America, he said in an interview. He sees whats happening. God sees whats happening in America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He shrugged off questions about PTSD or mental scars, but has returned repeatedly to the idea that surviving that day has toughened his resolve and his faith. It changed something in me, he said a month after returning to the White House. I feel, I feel even stronger. I believed in God but I feel much more strongly about it. The result was a greater sense of purpose, said Mr Cheung. I think it was a further resolve of how important it was to work on behalf of the people, and that the mission took on an even greater importance, he said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The South Sioux City man who fatally shot Marlon White-Eyes has been sentenced. Yasin Abdi received life in prison without parole for the 2023 shooting of White-Eyes on Sioux Citys west side. Abdi was found guilty of first-degree murder in April 2025. In June 2023, a conflict occurred between a group of men that included Abdi and Marlon White-Eyes and his girlfriend, sending White-Eyes to the hospital, where he succumbed to the injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That altercation eventually led to Abdi shooting White-Eyes. In December 2023, Abdi and two other inmates attacked another inmate. According to court documents, the victim was walking around the cell block minding his own where he then passed three males, in the afternoon of Dec. 9. Those three were later identified as Owen Trudeau, 21; Zaul Moniz-Deleon, 20; and Yasin Abdi, 21, all of Sioux City. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Friday evening, a Sioux City woman was found guilty of killing her grandmother. Court documents indicate that Jessica Bino, 33, was found guilty by a judge on the charge of first-degree murder. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She had a bench trial after waiving her right to a jury trial. Her sentencing date is set for August 8 at the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center. Back in October of 2023, officials say Bino and her mother, Angela, beat and stabbed 77-year-old Suzette Occhibone in the apartment they all lived in. A verdict is still needed in Angelas bench trial. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Friday pleaded not guilty before a Pune court in connection with a defamation case filed against him over his remarks on Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The plea was submitted before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) and Special Judge for MP/MLA cases, Amol Sriram Shinde, at the Pune District Court. Advocate Milind Pawar appeared on behalf of Rahul Gandhi, as the Congress leader was not personally present during the proceedings. The defamation complaint was filed by Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of V D Savarkar, alleging that Rahul Gandhi made defamatory and derogatory statements about the freedom fighter during an event organised by the Overseas Congress in the United Kingdom in 2023. The remarks were subsequently circulated on social media, allegedly damaging Savarkar's legacy and public image During the proceedings, Judge Shinde read out the defamation charge under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code. Advocate Pawar confirmed that his client had received copies of the complaint and all relevant documents. When asked by the court whether Gandhi understood the nature of the allegations, Pawar responded affirmatively. Asked if he wished to plead guilty, Advocate Milind Pawar on behalf of Rahul Gandhi clearly stated, "No. I do not plead guilty." With the plea officially recorded, the court has now set July 29 as the date to begin recording evidence in the case, marking likely the commencement of a full trial, hearing on other applications related to the case also to be conducted on the same date. Following the statement made by Rahul Gandhi, in April 2023, Satyaki Savarkar, the grandson of one of Vinayak Savarkar's brothers, filed a complaint with a Pune magistrate regarding alleged defamatory comments made by Rahul Gandhi. These remarks were reportedly made during an Overseas Congress gathering in London on March 5, 2023. According to the complaint, Gandhi intentionally made false and damaging accusations against Savarkar to tarnish his reputation, causing mental distress to him and his family. (ANI) ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Sister Grace Miller, known for beginning the House of Mercy in Rochester, celebrated her 90th birthday on Saturday. In 1985, Miller began the House of Mercy with a $20,000 donation from the Sisters of Mercy. In the decades since, she has continued to pour into the community and encouraged others to lead a life of helping those in need, including through the cause of La Madonna Della Strada. Having been in hospice care, Sister Miller previously stated, If the Lord wants me here on my birthday, we will celebrate my birthday with a big party with lots of ice cream. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The celebration reflected the community of support that has been built from the work Sister Miller has contributed to social justice initiatives in Rochester. Her advocacy spans causes that support anti-racism, environmentalism, immigration, and homelessness. The party began at 2 p.m. on Saturday at 519 Carter Street in Rochester. Inviting others to take part in the celebration, organizers ask that individuals consider learning more about and donating to the cause of La Maddona Della Strada by visiting sistergracemiller.org. The House of Mercy is located at 285 Ormond Street in Rochester and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. Earlier on Saturday, the IAF struck and killed a terrorist in Hezbollah's anti-tank unit in the area of Khiam in southern Lebanon. Dozens of IAF fighter jets struck over 35 Hamas terror targets in the area of Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip, the military announced on Saturday evening. Targets also included underground tunnels and other infrastructure in the area. Earlier on Saturday, the IAF struck and killed a terrorist in Hezbollah's anti-tank unit in the area of Khiam in southern Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strikes come as both Israel and Hamas blame each other for delays in the hostage deal negotiations. An official from the Prime Minister's office said that Israel has already accepted the Qatari proposal for a deal, while Hamas "rejected the Qatari proposal, is creating obstacles, refuses to compromise, and accompanies the talks with psychological warfare aimed at sabotaging the negotiations." Meanwhile, Hamas officials told the BBC on Saturday that the Israeli delegation was sent with a restricted mandate, and that it was sent to Doha to waste time. This is a developing story. New solar-powered lighting has been installed in a park to help improve safety and encourage more people to use the space in the evening. The upgrade at Charter Field, in Corby, Northamptonshire, was part of a wider 1.5m investment, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The lights were set up to brighten important paths through the park, especially over a brook, and to help prevent anti-social behaviour Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Councillor Ken Harrington, from the Reform UK-led North Northamptonshire Council, said: "Charter Field is a vital part of Corby's heritage and community life. Glorious green spaces in our urban areas are essential for our residents, and making sure they're safe for all is paramount." Charter Field is one of the oldest parks in the area and remains home to the Corby Highland Gathering. The new lights were designed with help from the Old Village Neighbourhood Association (OVNA), local councillors, and people who often use the park. Beverley Blackburn, secretary of the OVNA, said: "The [OVNA] couldn't be happier with the recent solar lighting that has been installed in Charter Field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The feedback we have received is that the park feels safer and they look fantastic." Similar lighting has also been added to Weekley Glebe playing fields in Kettering and The Greenspace in Desborough. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More like this Related internet links Sun Herald readers weigh in on local and national topics. Epstein list If a list is on my desk, then I set fire to it, then there is no list. Simple enough, if I have something to hide. About the list A Sound Off writer has missed the background. The Epstein list was in earlier court documents, which were barred from being made public. Now why would that be? Despite President Trumps denials of knowing Epstein, there are numerous pictures of him with Epstein side by side, their recorded discussions, and even flight records listing Trump as he traveled numerous times on Epsteins jet. So Pam Bondi is just another Republican word-picking attorney protecting Trump for personal benefit. What Bondi said You need to use your ears. In an interview, asked if the Department of Justice would be releasing a list of Epsteins clients, Pam Bondi said on Friday, February 21: Its sitting on my desk right now to review. Thats been a directive by President Trump. She only indicated that she was referring to the file rather than the list later when she tried to walk back this comment during damage control. Bidens doctor Joe Bidens doctor on Capitol Hill took the Fifth. Was he in mental decline? The results are the same, hes destroyed America, regardless. Oh, really Suddenly, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is very much against the politicizing of natural disasters. Which is comical only in the sense that he was leading the charge in politicizing the wildfires that struck California. Enough If I hear a call for thoughts and prayers from another phony Christian politician, I think I will be sick. California raid Yes, arrest all the illegal immigrants working at the farm. And, yes, arrest the business owner responsible for hiring them. Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com. Jellycat plush toys have been lining the walls at Rumours in Whitby for more than two decades. At times, they've taken up a third of the North Yorkshire gift shop's total shelf space. "They've always been a good seller," said manager Joe Orrell, whose father owns the store. But last month, Mr Orrell received an email he "couldn't quite believe". Jellycat, the British soft toy company, told him it would no longer be supplying Rumours. It did not provide a reason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We were absolutely gutted," Mr Orrell said. Sales of the brand's toys made up a "significant portion" of the shop's income. [Joe Orrell] The BBC spoke to owners and managers from four independent shops who said they had been hurt and surprised when Jellycat abruptly told them it would stop supplying them. "Unfortunately we're not able to support every shop that wants to stock our products and, after very careful consideration, we recently reviewed our relationship with some stores," Jellycat said in a statement. It put this figure at 100 stores in the UK. "We're truly grateful for their historic support and wish them all the best for the future," it said, adding it still supplied about 1,200 independent stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Puddleducks, a children's clothing store in Diggle, near Oldham, had been selling Jellycat toys for close to 20 years. The brand had "really taken off" in popularity over the past year, said owner Alison McCabe, and some weeks she sold hundreds of items. She would be "inundated" with messages from customers asking which items her shop had in stock, she said. But, after what she described as months of difficulty getting hold of stock, Jellycat contacted her in mid-June telling her it would no longer supply her. The emails to stockists who were being cut off were sent on 18 June and appear to be identical in content, apart from the name of the shop. The owners and managers were not addressed by name, with the emails instead addressed to a "Jellycat stockist". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're sorry to let you know that, after careful consideration, we'll no longer be supplying Jellycat products to Rumours," the email to Mr Orrell, viewed by the BBC, said. This was related to its "brand elevation strategy", it added. "Please do not place more orders as they will not be fulfilled," the email continued. "Our decision to conclude the business relationship is final and not open to negotiation." Jellycat did not explain in the emails why it cut the businesses off. "We can only think that we're not good enough," Mrs McCabe said, adding she did not know if she could make any changes to encourage Jellycat to start supplying her again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another group of store owners, who Jellycat says are among the 1,200 still being supplied, were told they would not be what Jellycat called an "official stockist" but their accounts were "unaffected". The BBC understands this means Jellycat would still supply them with stock, where available, but would not given them an Official Jellycat Stockist sticker to display in their shop window. Included in this group was Erica Stahl, owner of Pippin, a gift shop in Edinburgh. She told the BBC she was "speechless" when she read the email and that she chose to close her account. Jellycat told the BBC: "We select our stockists carefully so that we know customers will receive a joyful experience in their stores, and so Jellycat characters can be found throughout the country." Jellycat became a TikTok hit Shop owners told the BBC Jellycat's toys had always been a stable seller, bought as gifts for newborns or by children saving up pocket money. Then, last summer, the brand boomed in popularity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The store owners credited this to the toys becoming hugely popular on TikTok and Instagram, with collectors showing off their displays. Jellycat toys have also been a growing trend among "kidults" - adults with a strong interest in toys and childish ephemera, such as Lego and Sonny Angels dolls. In recent years, Jellycat has become increasingly focused on the theatricality of presenting its products, with big "immersive" displays at some large department stores. At Selfridges in London, toys are displayed around a pretend fish and chip van and wrapped up like a take-away by staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jellycat also opened a "diner" in New York City and a "patisserie" in Paris - all in gentle shades of blue, with shelves of neatly arranged toys, which fans began to post about on social media. The brand said presentation was just one factor it considered when reviewing partnerships with stores. Jellycat also told the BBC it had visited all its independent stores in person. 'Dribs and drabs' of stock However, with Jellycat's rise in popularity, came changes to the availability of stock, the shop owners said. Over approximately the last 12 months, since the toys became more of an online trend, Mr Orrell said stock would only arrive in "dribs and drabs" and his shop had had to reduce the size of its Jellycat display. Collectors visiting his store were getting "more and more disappointed" with what was available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew Kenyon, co-owner of JAK Hanson, a department store near Wigan, said he would wait months for some orders, or they would arrive incomplete. Customers would travel from around the UK to buy Jellycat toys from his store, but he couldn't advise customers on when stock was arriving as he didn't know. Shop owners and managers said they felt Jellycat was prioritising its relationships with bigger retailers. "It became nearly impossible to even order any of the bestselling stock," said Miss Stahl. "Small independents like myself are only allowed to order from a list of random mismatched odds and ends that the big shops clearly didn't want," she said. Jellycat told Erica Stahl her shop, Pippin, did not qualify as an "official stockist" [Erica Stahl] Charlotte Stray, of Keydell Nurseries in Hampshire, agreed. Independent stores were "pushed to the back of the queue" for stock, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Keydell Nurseries got the letter in June saying Jellycat would no longer be supplying it, "we weren't happy, but we'd been disappointed in the last six, eight months over the supply anyway," Mrs Stray said. "We've been increasing our supply to both types of stores - small independents and national retailers - at the overall same rate," Jellycat told the BBC. "Keeping all our partners well stocked remains a challenge, and we're constantly working behind the scenes to improve how we plan, allocate and deliver stock as fairly and thoughtfully as we can." The company said independent stores would continue to be "as important in our future as they've been in our past". 'It's left a really sour taste in my mouth' Mrs Stray said that by cutting off some stockists, Jellycat was "crushing independent stores", who had supported the brand from the start and relied on it for a big portion of their sales. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customers have said they are not happy about how Jellycat has treated independent stores, with negative comments flooding the brand's recent social media posts. A post by Miss Stahl on her shop's Instagram account about Jellycat telling her she did not qualify as an "official stockist" has nearly 50,000 likes, with many commenters criticising the brand's conduct. "I think they've really let themselves down," Bex Christensen, 38, a photographer from Nork Yorkshire, told the BBC. She's been collecting Jellycat toys for more than 20 years and "it's always been from independent shops", she said. Bex also buys the toys for her two children and estimates that, between them, they have about 100 Jellycat toys at home. "As a purchaser, it's made it really difficult because my kids love it - but it's left a really sour taste in my mouth," she said. "Jellycat grew off independent businesses." Jellycat told the BBC it was doing more than ever to support the independent stores it works with, and was planning new initiatives and campaigns. The stores the BBC spoke to said they were going to stock different plush toys instead. Mr Orrell is optimistic about the future of his business. "We'll certainly survive," he said. "We've been going a lot longer than Jellycat have. We're not too concerned." South Carolina is already setting the stage for the shadow 2028 presidential primaries as potential White House hopefuls from both parties travel to the Palmetto State. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) traveled through rural South Carolina during a two-day tour this past week, while Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are expected to head to the state later this month. Over on the Republican side, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is speaking at a South Carolina GOP fundraiser next month, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) recently made trips to South Carolina and Iowa, according to Axios reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The moves have raised speculation over whether some candidates are laying early groundwork for possible White House bids in 2028 and what role South Carolina will play in the next presidential cycles calendar. I dont read it any other way, said South Carolina Democratic National Committee (DNC) member Carol Fowler, regarding the high-profile Democrats visiting the state, which was the first official Democratic primary location in 2024. I believe that theyre at least contemplating it, she added, referring to potential White House bids. Only months into President Trumps second term, the chatter in political circles is moving fast to 2028. Govs. Wes Moore (D) of Maryland and Tim Walz (D) of Minnesota traveled south in May to participate in the South Carolina state partys Blue Palmetto Dinner and Democratic State Convention, respectively. The two men also appeared at Rep. James Clyburns (D-S.C.) annual fish fry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore has said hes not running for president in 2028. A source close to his campaign noted that the Maryland governor had traveled to the state earlier this year after canceling a trip to South Carolina that had been planned during the 2024 election. The source also noted that the governor visited two companies while he was there regarding potential expansion opportunities in Maryland. Earlier this past week, Newsom traveled to several rural counties in the state in an event the state party billed as a way to connect directly with communities that have too often been overlooked by Republicans in power. Beshear, meanwhile, will make multiple stops in the state next week, including participating in a dinner hosted by Georgetown County Democrats and speaking at the South Carolina AFL-CIO Convention. Next week, Khanna is doing a town hall, which the congressman said in a statement to The Hill is part of his Benefits Over Billionaires tour to help flip the House in 2026 and hear how Trump and [Vice President] Vances bill will hurt families already struggling to get by. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youngkin will speak in August at the state GOPs Silver Elephant Gala. To be sure, South Carolina is not the only early primary state that has received attention from potential 2028 hopefuls. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited Iowa earlier this year; Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is heading there next month. Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel is slated to head there in September, according to Axios. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) spoke in April at the New Hampshire Democratic Party McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who ran for president in 2020 and lost in the primary, campaigned for Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) this past week. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) traveled to the state last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Out-of-state travel is not unusual, particularly for sitting lawmakers and governors who may be asked to speak at events or fundraisers. Some Democrats dont necessarily think all of these notable names are vying for the White House. The trips could be a way to shore up better support for Democrats in the region. They realize that we have to win the South, South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain said. To win in other places, weve got to have an investment of time and resources to get these voters engaged and off the bench so that we can elect more members of Congress, so that we can elect more members of the U.S. Senate, she explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever the reason, the early primary state visits have brought 2028 front and center by mid-2025. Some Democrats have acknowledged the visits to the state feel a little earlier than usual. Still, experts in the Palmetto State say theres good reason for potential hopefuls to be crisscrossing the state. Running in South Carolina, it helps candidates prove their mettle, state GOP chair Drew McKissick explained. I mean, its a big enough state to test grassroots support and fuel organization skills and so forth, but its also small enough to get around and over the course of the day and test your retail skills. The recent visits to South Carolina have also raised questions about whether it will remain first in Democrats lineup of early contests for the presidential nomination. The DNC has said it wants to ensure fairness in the process of selecting its early calendar slate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DNC is committed to running a fair, transparent, and rigorous process for the 2028 primary calendar. All states will have an opportunity to participate, DNC Deputy Communications Director Abhi Rahman said in a statement. But some state party chairs are beginning to weigh in. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart made clear in a statement that she wanted Democrats to reconsider the calendar, as the Hawkeye State has historically enjoyed its status as the first caucus. I do expect to have tough and direct conversations with the DNC regarding our Iowa caucuses and the serious concerns surrounding the Biden 2024 calendar, Hart said. National Democrats let Trump get a head start in the 2024 campaign by excluding Iowa. We simply cant afford to be ignored again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several Democratic chairs of early presidential primary states, however, suggested that battle could be hard-fought. We have a history of picking the nominee, number one Iowa cant say that. New Hampshire cant say that, and our voters take this very seriously, said Spain, the South Carolina Democratic Party chair. South Carolinas going to be fighting for South Carolina, and Im assuming that shes doing the same thing for her state. Spain and other DNC members from South Carolina have had discussions with Democrats running to serve on the DNCs Rules and Bylaws Committee or other standing committees regarding their position on South Carolina and the 2028 primary calendar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DNC is holding elections for at-large member positions and several standing committees in August, though the Rules and Bylaws Committee is seen as being particularly influential in the nominating calendar process. But those conversations are not necessarily being confined to South Carolina. A member of Iowas DNC delegation asked some Democrats running in the August elections if theyre open to having Iowa in the early window of states. New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley in a statement said the Granite States importance cannot be understated and noted that the four-state calendar of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina was a system that not only worked, the four early states worked well together. Granite Staters value retail politics and grassroots organizing like no other state. That is why New Hampshire continues to have a pivotal role in the presidential nominating process, he said. The importance of New Hampshire as a purple battleground state cannot be understated in the general election for the White House and building a US Senate and House majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevada Democrats, however, maintain that their demographics are indicative of the country at-large. Were a microcosm of the rest of the U.S., showing this countrys diversity of cultures and communities, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) told The Hill in a statement. If youre a presidential candidate and can win our votes, your message will resonate with voters across the United States. While the discussion over the calendar is just beginning, Democrats hope the different states can unite as the party prepares to take back the White House. I really think Democrats make a mistake if they think this is a fight between four early states, said New Hampshire-based Democratic strategist Jim Demers, who worked on former President Bidens write-in campaign last year. I think we really need to look at whats the best lineup of states so that we come out of the primary process in a very strong position. Updated at 8:40 a.m. EDT. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Brief Frequent rain and the heat are impacting farms in the area. Farmers are facing challenges and are adjusting how they manage their daily schedules in order to keep pace with the weather. MEDFORD, N.J. - The recent unpredictable weather has forced many local farmers to adapt their strategies. With extremely hot temperatures and heavy rain this summer, farmers are working overtime to maintain their crops. What we know Gil Johnson, owner of Johnsons Corner Farm in Medford, New Jersey, describes the challenges faced by farmers due to the erratic weather. The farm, which spans 110 acres, has experienced difficulties in upkeep due to the heavy rain and extreme heat. Johnson notes that while their grounds drain well, the recent weather has necessitated adjustments, such as guiding water flow and moving dirt to prevent flooding. What they're saying Gil Johnson shared his experiences, stating, "Mother Nature, shes got a mind of her own and wants to go where she wants to go. Its a constant battle, constant upkeep." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He further explained the impact of the weather on their operations, saying, "Were experiencing a gap in our peach variety, so we were picking peaches last week, but we have about a 10 to 12 day gap to our next variety. Normally, wed go from one variety to the next." The other side The unpredictable weather has not only affected crop growth but also business operations. Johnson mentioned that they have had to cancel hayrides on bad weather days, which impacts their business. Additionally, the extreme heat has led to changes in farmers' schedules, with many starting their workdays early to avoid the hottest part of the day. Johnson noted, "Our employees - boys that work on the farm - they definitely appreciate it. You would think they wouldnt wanna start working at like five or six in the morning but when its gonna be 100 degrees, yeah lets go." What's next Despite the challenges, Johnson remains prepared for whatever the weather brings next. He acknowledges that the farm is at its tipping point and can barely handle any more heat waves or heavy rain, but they are ready to face future weather conditions. SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean medical students who walked out of school last year in protest at a government plan to increase medical school admissions said on Saturday that they would return to campus, calling on authorities to normalize academic schedules. The Korean Medical Association, the main lobby group for doctors, in a statement urged the government to take steps to restore the academic calendar and improve training conditions. We will place our trust in the government and parliament and commit to returning to school to help normalize medical education and the healthcare system, the KMA said in the statement, issued jointly with parliament's education committee and lobby groups representing medical students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A specific timeline for the return was not provided. Thousands of medical students walked out of school in early 2024 in opposition to a plan by the previous administration to add thousands of new spots at medical schools. The trainee doctors had argued that the planned rise in admissions would lower the quality of medical education. They said that rather than just an increase in numbers of students, more reform was needed to attract doctors into essential care such as emergency or pediatrics. The KMA statement called on the president and the government to form a task force to address long-term reforms in medical education and training and to ensure the participation of all stakeholders, including students. (Reporting by Heekyong Yang, Editing by William Maclean) HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) Air conditioning repair companies are staying busy this summer, working hard to fix and replace burned-out AC units. With temperatures climbing into the 90s in Mississippi, now is the time to make sure your air conditioner is running efficiently. Were extremely busy with all this heat here in South Mississippi. A lot of the issues seem to be, obviously, Ill say drain lines, the systems working so hard, said Alan Brewer, with Bellevue Air Conditioning and Heating. Neglecting routine maintenance on youre AC can be costly. Clogged lines and coils can cause your system to overheat and fail. Regular professional inspections can prevent this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Usually thats twice a year, and preventative maintenance in the spring and fall. So, youll be ready for the summer heat, Brewer said. Glendora water tests clear of benzene after train derailment The number one reason air conditioning systems fail is due to dirty air filters. Its recommended to change your air filter about once a month. Filters are the primary reason a lot of systems go out, because they dont get proper air flow and operate in parameters which its designed to do. Low airflow can cause major issues, Brewer explained. Rising energy bills are also common during the summer months, but there are ways to be more energy efficient. Using blackout curtains or blinds can help, as well as setting your thermostat a little higher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seventy-eight is the designated set number. But we know here in South Mississippi thats very difficult. So, we just like to say put it at the highest comfortable setting possible and use a fan to cool yourself rather than the air conditioning when possible, said Amanda Mills, Communication Manager for Dixie Electric. Youll also want to seal any leaks around your home, which can let cool air escape and hot air in. Caulking and weather stripping is one of the easiest DIY things that you can do. Its very inexpensive just to make sure youre sealing any of those air leaks that surround doors and windows, especially, or even your electrical outlets, said Mills. Experts said unexplained rises in your electric bill can often be a warning sign that your AC unit is not running efficiently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Weather Forecast Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. The Brief A murder charge has been filed against 20-year-old Alexis Garcia. Garcia is accused of shooting and killing a man following a crash on the Southwest Freeway in late May. Garcia reportedly then stole another person's car before fleeing to Corpus Christi where he was arrested. HOUSTON - A murder charge has been filed against a suspect after over a month since a deadly shooting in southwest Houston. Houston Southwest Freeway shooting: Murder charge filed What we know According to records from the Harris County District Clerk's Office, a murder charge has been filed against 20-year-old Alexis Garcia. No bond amount has been set at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charge is in connection to a deadly shooting and carjacking incident that happened in late May along the Southwest Freeway. Records show Garcia was already charged with theft and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon as of May 30. The backstory At about 6:30 p.m. on May 29, Houston police were called to the 11700 block of the Southwest Freeway service road, near West Bellfort Avenue. According to police, the incident started with a minor crash between a Toyota and a Dodge. Police say the Dodge driver, now identified as Alexis Garcia, spoke briefly to the other driver, then started walking towards Wilcrest Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At some point, police say Garcia confronted a man in a Hyundai and shot at the vehicle. The Hyundai then drove to the Shell station across the freeway and struck a pole there. The Hyundai driver, who police identified as 55-year-old Noel Venero Lopez, was taken to a hospital, but was later pronounced deceased. A witness reportedly told police that he heard a gunshot, turned to see where it came from, and saw Garcia pointing a gun at him. Garcia then drove off with the witness' Audi SQ5. ORIGINAL REPORT: Suspect sought after deadly shooting, carjacking on Southwest Freeway The next day, Corpus Christi police announced that Garcia had been arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say they were informed about the Houston shooting and that a vehicle was stolen. The vehicle was reportedly tracked in the Corpus Christi area, then it was found on County Road 43. Corpus Christi authorities searched for Garcia around the area, using K9 units and drones in the search. Police say the suspect was found in an empty field and taken into custody. He was reportedly also found with a gun. Garcia was taken to a nearby hospital for medical clearance, then was booked into the City Detention Center. Houston police say Garcia has since been taken to the Harris County Jail. PREVIOUS REPORT: Deadly Houston shooting on Southwest Freeway: Suspect reportedly arrested in Corpus Christi The Source Information in this report comes from the Houston Police Department, the Harris County District Clerk's Office, and previous FOX 26 reporting. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the newly constructed state-of-the-art Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Thiruvananthapuram on July 12. During his visit to Kerala, the Union Minister is also scheduled to attend a series of political and cultural events across the state. The inaugural function of the 60,000 square feet, seven-storey building is scheduled to take place at 11 am today. The new building replaces the old Mararji Bhavan, which had served as the party's state headquarters. Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the new office on June 3, 2017. "Keen to meet the booth Karyakartas of the state. Tomorrow, will inaugurate the Kerala BJP office in Thiruvananthapuram. Will attend the 'Viksit Keralam Sammelan' in the afternoon. Looking forward to meeting the people," Shah said in a post on the social media platform X on Friday as he left for Kerala. Following the inauguration, Shah will address the 'Viksit Keralam Sammelan' at Putharikandam Maidan in Thiruvananthapuram. The event is seen as a key outreach initiative by the BJP as it seeks to expand its presence in the southern state. In the evening, the Union Minister will travel to Kannur, where he will offer prayers at the renowned Sri Rajarajeshwara Temple in Taliparamba. The visit to the temple is seen as part of the BJP's continued efforts to engage with the cultural and spiritual fabric of Kerala. The visit comes at a time when political activities are intensifying in Kerala with the assembly elections expected to be held next year and the party looking to energise its cadre. The next Kerala Legislative Assembly election is expected to be held in May 2026. This election will be held to elect 140 MLAs to the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly. The current tenure of the Kerala government is from May 24, 2021, to May 23, 2026. The upcoming election is anticipated to be a fierce contest between the incumbent Left Democratic Front (LDF), headed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Indian National Congress. Meanwhile, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is likely to strengthen its presence and maintain a firm third position. Meanwhile, on July 10, the Central government also approved the release of Rs 1,066.80 crore to various states affected by floods and landslides, including Kerala. As per data from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Assam received Rs 375.60 crore, Manipur Rs 29.20 crore, Meghalaya Rs 30.40 crore, Mizoram Rs 22.80 crore, Kerala Rs 153.20 crore, and Uttarakhand Rs 455.60 crore as Central share from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Highlighting the Centre's effort for the welfare of states, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said through a post on X handle that "Modi govt stands resolutely beside the states in all situations." (ANI) HOWLAND, Ohio (WKBN) Southwoods Health is best known for its surgical hospitals and other medical facilities in Boardman, but when Steward Health closed its operations in Trumbull County and Insight Health Systems failed as well, Southwoods CEO Ed Muranksy saw a void in healthcare that needed filled. Muransky sat down with First News to outline his plans for adding health care in Trumbull County at Southwoods current facility on E Market Street in Howland, which has been operating for four years. The main thing in Trumbull County, independent of buildings, is to have access to good health care, Muransky said. Trumbull County will have a digestive health center. Trumbull County will have an orthopedic center of excellence. Trumbull County will have its own pain management center of excellence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southwoods Health plans to spend $10 million on its expansion. There will also be physical therapy and upgrades to imaging, focusing on womens breast care. Were moving the doctors out of that building and doubling the size of imaging there and doing whatever we have to do to deliver the same care in Trumbull County imaging-wise that we have in Mahoning, Muransky said. Southwoods in Howland will not have operating rooms. If surgery is needed, patients will have to travel to Southwoods in Boardman. People could drive 10 or 15 minutes to beat a place like Southwoods, where you have some of the best outpatient surgical care in the world happening in Boardman, Muransky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The companys expansion coincided with the closing of the former Trumbull Regional Medical Center in Warren. Muransky needed to keep the doctors and specialists in Trumbull County. The first thing we did was we went out and put a life-saving device on every primary care, every specialist we could to stay there. So, we went from employing and or being partners with three or four doctors in Trumbull County to now approaching 20 primary care and about 20 specialists, Muransky said. He hopes to have the expansion finished by the years end. I feel good at where we landed, at least on phase one or 1B in Trumbull County, Muranksy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Muransky said when Trumbull Regional Health Center closed, patients in Trumbull County left town for Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Akron. Muransky said he needed to stop that to keep those jobs in the area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. The Brief Leesburg is recalling 37 school zone speeding tickets after an error in camera enforcement times. Police say a miscommunication led to citations being issued beyond summer school dismissal. Refunds will be given to affected drivers, and the city urges others to check eligibility. LEESBURG, Fla. - The City of Leesburg is issuing refunds after a speed detection error led to several drivers being wrongly ticketed near Leesburg High School. What we know The City of Leesburg is recalling 37 speeding tickets and issuing refunds after discovering that a school zone speed camera near Leesburg High School was enforcing the zone beyond appropriate hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX LOCAL APP The error affected drivers cited after 1:30 p.m., a time initially believed to be student dismissal. Seven people who already paid their fines will be reimbursed. What we don't know It remains unclear whether similar issues have occurred in other school zones, or how long the enforcement error persisted before being caught. The city has not detailed any procedural changes to prevent future mistakes. The backstory The confusion started when police were told by school staff that students were dismissed at 1:30 p.m. for summer school. After a complaint from a ticketed driver, officers followed up and learned that students were actually released at 1 p.m., rendering citations issued after that time invalid. Big picture view The incident highlights ongoing concerns around the accuracy of automated enforcement systems. While many local officials emphasize the role speed cameras play in protecting students, attorneys and some residents argue these systems can be flawed and urge drivers to contest questionable tickets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SIGN-UP FOR FOX 35'S BREAKING NEWS, DAILY NEWS NEWSLETTERS What they're saying Attorney David Ege said the situation underscores the importance of contesting automated traffic tickets. "Do not pay that," Ege advised. "Study up on it or seek counsel. Hire counsel. You will most likely prevail in that case if you do that." The Source This story was written based on information shared by the City of Leesburg and the Leesburg Police Department. State-owned Citizens Insurance has sharply increased the number of cases it sends to a special alternative dispute court, but plaintiffs attorneys say its unfair because it deprives policyholders of the right to have their cases heard by a jury. A South Florida Sun Sentinel review of cases handled since early 2024 found that Citizens policyholders are likely to lose if their dispute is sent to this special court, which is run by the state Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH). And policyholders who need Citizens to insure their homes have no way of avoiding the unique policy terms that allow their cases to be transferred to DOAH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Records show that Citizens won 47 of 51 DOAH cases that advanced to a final hearing prior to July 10. Citizens board of governors has approved paying $19.3 million to fund the program through 2027 and the company is increasingly relying on DOAH to settle claims disputes. Through July 10, Citizens has sent more than 1,000 cases to the court, compared to about 350 cases sent during all of 2024. Eventually, the company plans to send 320 cases a month, or about 3,840 a year, to DOAH judges through 2027, according to a funding proposal approved by the companys governing board last year. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While private market insurers can, in some cases, require alternative resolution methods like mediation, arbitration or appraisal, Citizens, as a nonprofit, tax-exempt governmental entity, is the only insurer in Florida allowed by the state Legislature to require DOAH administration of disputes, if it chooses. Administrative law judges rulings are binding, though plaintiffs can appeal them through the state court system. Citizens claims its use of DOAH saves time and legal costs for both sides, but some plaintiffs attorneys counter that the DOAH system approved in 2022 by the Office of Insurance Regulation and in 2023 by the state Legislature inherently leads to outcomes desired by Citizens the source of its funding. As a result, Citizens right to direct cases to the DOAH court creates an uneven playing field that deprives plaintiffs of their right to have their disputes settled by juries, says Chip Merlin, a plaintiff attorney and founder of Tampa-based Merlin Law Group. The fundamental question at stake is whether a dispute resolution process can be considered fair when it is effectively funded and initiated by one of the parties with a direct financial interest in the outcome, Merlin told the Sun Sentinel. While DOAH is formally part of Floridas government structure, its operations in this context are contractually funded by Citizens itself. This setup raises serious concerns about the impartiality of the forum, especially when the insurer prevails in every known case, except two thus far, under this system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citizens spokesman Michael Peltier declined to respond to Merlins assertion that DOAH hearings are not impartial. He said that, prior to DOAH hearings, when we see evidence that supports a finding that the claim is covered, we give the policyholder the benefit of the doubt and pay the claim. Thats happened in 28% of cases sent to DOAH for an average payment of $30,000, Peltier said. The company, he said, does not go to final hearing on cases when we believe the evidence supports payment of the claim, he said. Plaintiffs attorneys: The policyholder loses In the DOAH system, a chief administrative law judge is selected by the governor and the state cabinet and confirmed by the Senate. The chief judge is then responsible for managing individual judges who rule on cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOAH system was set up to enable Florida residents to challenge decisions by state agencies, and the Department of Management Services that provides administrative support for DOAH has no control over its operations or decisions. Merlin, who called attention to the lopsided DOAH hearing results in an April blog entry on his website, Property Insurance Coverage Law, told the Sun Sentinel that DOAH judges have no business settling disputes between Citizens and its policyholders. The optics alone should concern policymakers and the public, he said. The notion that a state-created insurer can fund the tribunal that adjudicates disputes against it undermines public confidence in fairness. This is not simply a matter of appearances. This is about the real outcomes which show up in the statistics. In case after case, the policyholder loses. Homeowners who need coverage from Citizens, the insurer of last resort, currently have no choice but to accept policy terms that give Citizens authority to send their disputes to DOAH, Merlin noted. Peltier confirmed this, but said the requirement does not pertain to Citizens commercial policyholders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bill introduced in the Florida Legislature last spring would have required Citizens to allow customers to choose, when signing up for or renewing a policy, whether or not to accept policy terms authorizing either party to send potential disputes to DOAH. But the bill died after it was approved by a single committee. If plaintiffs withdraw their claim prior to their hearing, Citizens automatically wins and can ask the administrative judge to approve charging them thousands of dollars in attorney costs and court fees. Anthony Lopez, CEO of a firm called Your Insurance Attorney, with offices in Miami, Orlando and four other states, said that Citizens sends his firms cases to DOAH in every instance they can, adding, They have stacked the deck against policyholders. Citizens: DOAH saves time and money Peltier counters that disputes can be resolved much faster by DOAH less than 90 days, on average compared to the 620 days the average case drags on in the state court system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shorter case span means lower attorney fees on both sides, which explains why some attorneys may complain about the DOAH process, Peltier says. Not only does discovery happen quickly, but discovery disputes are resolved quickly, he told the Sun Sentinel. This is in contrast to the often months-long discovery disputes that cause cases in circuit courts to lag, attorneys fees to increase, and payment, when applicable, to the policyholder to be delayed. A tally by Citizens officials showed that 50% of 796 closed cases were resolved with policyholders agreeing to accept offers of $250 or $500, while plaintiffs in 11% of the closed cases voluntarily withdrew their claims with no payment at all, Peltier said. Citizens efforts to use DOAH for alternative dispute resolution dates back several years, when private insurers complained that the number of lawsuits in Florida were eroding their underwriting profit, raising reinsurance costs and threatening their ability to remain in business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July 2022, Citizens Board of Governors approved allowing the company to modify its policies with a rider that gave Citizens or its policyholders the right to request arbitration by DOAH. Citizens justified the request by saying it would save costs and expedite dispute resolutions. Then in December, the state Legislature met in a special session that eliminated one of the insurance industrys biggest cost headaches: the so-called one-way attorney fees law that allowed plaintiffs attorneys to collect hefty legal fees from insurers who settled lawsuits by agreeing to spend any amount over their original offer. Should one-way fee repeal have eliminated need for DOAH rider? Rene Delombard, a partner at the firm Vargas Gonzalez Delombard, headquartered in Coral Gables, says enactment of the law ending one-way attorney fees in 2022 should have eliminated Citizens need to later seek the Legislatures approval to send disputes to the DOAH court. When it was brought before the Legislature in 2023, lawmakers should have said, We got rid of your (one-way) fees Why should this be put into policies? How does this benefit consumers? Delombard said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, the DOAH law was enacted and Citizens Board of Governors last year approved the $19.3 million contract to have DOAHs administrative law judges settle disputes identified when policyholders file notices of intent to litigate with the Department of Financial Services. Until recently, Citizens was undefeated in cases tried by DOAH judges. Since June, three policyholders claims were found to be partially covered by their policies and two plaintiffs were awarded $19,114 and $17,500. A third received nothing because the judge found that the cost of his loss fell below his policys deductible. Citizens lost another case outright, and the plaintiff was awarded $42,924. The plaintiffs attorneys are seeking $103,095 in legal fees from Citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the rulings favoring Citizens, 13 were issued by William D. Horgan, managing administrative law judge for DOAHs property insurance claims unit. Until 2023, Horgan spent 14 years defending insurance companies for the firms Banker, Lopez, Gassler and Pennington P.A. Horgan approved levying court fees and costs against policyholders in nine cases, including five that dropped their claims before their hearings commenced. However, its not only former insurance industry defenders ruling in Citizens favor. Another administrative law judge, Terry Slusher, was a former personal injury attorney before he was appointed as a general magistrate in St. Lucie County in 2010. Slusher logged the second-highest number of rulings favorable to Citizens 10, and imposed costs and fees against six losing plaintiffs. Slushers rulings were among 16 favorable to Citizens by three administrative law judges who had spent their past careers representing plaintiffs, while 31 pro-Citizens rulings were made by judges who previously worked in insurance defense, state agencies, court systems, or two of the three. Horgan and Slusher did not respond to emails seeking comment for this story. Not a home warranty A random sample of the 1,389 open and closed DOAH cases reviewed by the Sun Sentinel reveal that many are disputes over the types of claims that Citizens has for years looked upon with suspicion: non-weather water damage, such as pipe breaks that flood kitchens and prompt claims to replace flooring and cabinetry, and roof leaks that plaintiffs say caused water damage inside their homes. The records show that Citizens, like other insurers, routinely denies coverage for damage caused by pipe ruptures if adjusters find evidence of slow leaks over time that homeowners knew about or should have known about. And damage to roofs and interior contents is typically only covered if caused by high-speed winds during hurricanes, tornadoes or other severe weather. Insurers have become wary of roof claims that occur months after such events, or result from a roofing contractors free inspection. When denying these types of claims, Citizens often argues that resulting damage was caused by age, neglect, poor design, inadequate materials or shoddy workmanship. These are standard insurance policy exclusions, Peltier said. An insurance policy is not a home warranty. Only about 11% of closed DOAH cases advanced to a hearing, Peltier reported. The Sun Sentinels review of 71 DOAH rulings showed that 20 plaintiffs withdrew after their hearings were scheduled. Their cases went into the books with 47 others as wins for Citizens. DOAH judges ordered losing policyholders to pay court fees and costs in 30 of the cases, including 10 that policyholders withdrew after hearings were scheduled. Take the money or face charges Chances for policyholders to prevail in DOAH hearings are so slim that many plaintiffs attorneys either wont accept cases that have been sent to DOAH, Merlin said. Or, as plaintiffs attorney Michael Fischetti said, they advise their clients to go ahead and accept Citizens initial $250 or $500 offers. Thats because under the law, failure to accept Citizens initial offer of judgment places them at risk of being charged court costs and attorneys fees if they withdraw their claim or lose at a DOAH hearing later, Fischetti says. An insured is at the mercy of Citizens as to whether they will pursue their fees or not at that point, he says. Lopez says his clients are served with $500 offers of judgment so theyll be motivated to settle and avoid the potential of facing large court costs and attorneys fees later. Thats why you see so many claims dismissed without a final hearing, he says. Citizens spokesman Peltier said the company has not taken legal steps to collect any of the fees it has been awarded. Despite requesting and getting rulings from DOAH judges imposing attorney fees and court costs ranging from about $2,000 to more than $40,000 against 30 losing plaintiffs, Citizens would have to pursue collection in a state court before losing plaintiffs would be legally obligated to pay, Peltier said. While Citizens hasnt yet pursued collection in state court, plaintiffs facing fee judgments shouldnt consider themselves off the hook, Peltier said. The DOAH award of fees is legal and valid, he said. The bottom line is that we expect plaintiffs to pay attorney fees if awarded by DOAH. To date, however, we have not pursued forced collection through the circuit court system, but reserve the right to do so in the future. He responded that just like in state court cases, Citizens routinely seeks an award of fees and costs when it is entitled to do so under a state law that allows either side to recover reasonable attorneys fees if the end result is not at least 25% better than what was offered (by Citizens) or demanded (by the policyholder). Citizens is among the most-sued insurers in Florida. So far in 2025, Citizens has been named as a defendant in 2,478 lawsuits and 1,528 notices of intent to sue, according to state databases. Peltier pointed out that the number of DOAH cases that Citizens settled with payments represents a drop in the bucket compared to the 142,000 claims the company processed last year. He added, If we do our job correctly, we should continue to keep those numbers low. Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071 or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com. Elon Musk helped found a city for SpaceX employees in southern Texas. Starbase was incorporated in May 2025 and is the base of a rocket program that aims to reach Mars. SpaceX employees run the city, which has itself sparked controversy among some locals. Elon Musk hasn't only made his mark on the federal government he's making himself known in local Texas bureaucracy, too. Residents in southern Texas voted to incorporate the area around a SpaceX complex as the city of "Starbase" in May 2025. The city is designed around the Starship rocket, which Musk hopes will eventually bring humans to Mars. Company employees and their families make up nearly all of the 500 residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's everything to know about Starbase's founding, leadership and population, and controversy. Starbase has been years in the making In the late 2010s, Musk decided that Texas was a friendlier place to do business than California, and by 2020 started moving some company headquarters to the Lone Star State. SpaceX bought land to manufacture and test Starship rockets in 2012 near Boca Chica Village, a remote coastal area close to the border with Mexico. At the time, there were about 30 homes there. The company announced it had chosen the site for its Starship program in 2014. SpaceX announced it would launch Starship rockets from Starbase in 2014. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images The rocket company needed to make room for Starbase, its new rocket launch site, and tried to buy out the locals. SpaceX told some residents it was "not safe" to live there. Some packed up, some stayed, all while SpaceX employees moved into the area. SpaceX first floated the idea of incorporating Starbase as a city to officials in Cameron County, Texas, in 2021. In December 2024, the company submitted a petition to local authorities asking for an election to incorporate the launch site as a city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Less than a year later, that election came to pass. On May 3, 2025, residents around the SpaceX complex voted almost unanimously to incorporate the area as the city of Starbase. The final tally came out to 212 votes in favor to 6 against, according to county election data. SpaceX employees lead Starbase Now, around 500 people live in Starbase, most of whom are families of the about 260 SpaceX employees who are residents. Musk has a home in Starbase. In 2021, he said on X that his primary residence is a "~$50k house in Boca Chica / Starbase that I rent from SpaceX." He is also registered to vote in the area and posted a picture of himself voting in Cameron County ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Most of the more than 3,000 people who work out of Starbase commute each day in and drive past a nine-foot golden bust of Musk on their way into the facility. A bust of Elon Musk lines the road leading to Starbase. Joe Skipper/REUTERS Starbase's elected officials are all current or former SpaceX staff. Bobby Peden ran unopposed for mayor and got 216 votes. He has been at SpaceX for more than 12 years and is currently the "VP - Texas Test & Launch," according to his LinkedIn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan Buss and Jenna Petrzelka are commissioners. They serve as SpaceX's senior director of environmental health and safety and former operations engineering manager, respectively. According to the city's website, Buss joined SpaceX in 2023, and Petrzelka in 2012. The city is relatively small The city is only about 1.5 square miles. A housing shortage is proving to be an issue for SpaceX, as hundreds of workers are trying to move into the area to work on the company's Starship program. Texas State Highway 4 is the only road that runs to and through Starbase, according to a map of the city on Cameron County's website. The Starbase city commission now controls zoning rules and building permits that were previously controlled by Cameron County. The city's website includes links to city commission meetings. The areas, formerly called Boca Chica, is now home to Starship launch sites. Sergio FLORES / AFP Starbase is, according to Space's website, where "development, manufacturing, testing, and launch of SpaceX's Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket collectively referred to as Starship takes place." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter to residents posted on the site on June 23, 2025, the city commissioners said they had approved more than 100 residential and commercial building permits and designated May 29 as Starbase Day. Some local residents have objected Incorporating Starbase hasn't been without controversy. Some environmentalists have raised concerns about potential pollution from launches and explosions impacting nearby water systems and wildlife. Lawmakers denied SpaceX the ability to control parts of Boca Chica Beach and Highway 4 for rocket launches in late April of 2025. Yet in early June, lawmakers ultimately granted Starbase and its SpaceX-aligned leaders that power. Some have protested Starbase and the pollution rocket launches cause. GABRIEL CARDENAS/AFP via Getty Images The South Texas Environmental Justice Network, an activist group, has protested, saying that the Boca Chica Beach is "for the people, not Elon Musk to control." Generations of Texans, the group said, have come to the area for fishing, swimming, and other outdoor activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starbase's website includes a section about beach and road closures. Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at atecotzky@businessinsider.com or Signal at alicetecotzky.05. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely. Read the original article on Business Insider A bill pending in Sacramento would give AT&T Inc. an opportunity it was denied last year to stop providing landline service to residential and commercial telephone customers in parts of Kern County and elsewhere in California. Assembly Bill 470 would remove the Dallas-based telecommunications company's obligation to keep maintaining and repairing hard-wired, copper-based landlines. Instead, the lines would be phased out and replaced by options like cellphone service, cable-based communication and voice-over internet protocol, or VoIP service. Emergency responders and groups representing rural communities have warned against allowing AT&T to do away with landlines. They say that because landlines carry their own electrical charge they are the best way to ensure remote residents retain access to communication, especially 911 service, during extended power shutoffs and emergencies such as wildfires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But AT&T, the state's biggest provider of what's called carrier-of-last-resort phone service, says the company shouldn't be forced to keep devoting money and attention to what it sees as outdated technology. It says resources are better spent building more modern, digital connections. Last year AT&T asked the California Public Utilities Commission to let the company shed its COLR responsibilities. But on June 20, after an outpouring of opposition to the proposal, the commission voted to leave the requirements in place and instead update the decades-old list of obligations such companies carry. AB 470 would largely end those responsibilities and instead, according to supporters, accelerate investment in communication technologies during a years-long modernization process. They note cellphone users are more likely to get emergency notifications containing videos, mapping information and location data. The bill was introduced by Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor, D-Inglewood. Her office could not be reached for comment Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spokespeople for AT&T said landline customers would keep their connections until more modern, high-speed alternatives are brought online. They said the bill includes a requirement to build more fiber optic connections to residences across the state. They noted the bill has received support from a coalition called Californians for a Connected Future. It includes a long list of organizations including three local groups Kern Economic Development Foundation, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County and the Greater Bakersfield Chamber. On Friday, a chamber spokesman said by email the bill is aimed at modernizing California's telecommunications infrastructure and encouraging investment in future-ready technologies that are more reliable and resilient. "Many Kern County residents and businesses rely on updated wireless and broadband services to stay connected, run their operations and support emergency response efforts, needs that traditional landline services often no longer fully meet," spokesman Joel Paramo wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding the worries of the bill's opponents, he said concerns may be misplaced if the transition away from landlines is done "thoughtfully and responsibly." "We expect that any changes would be accompanied by oversight and safeguards to ensure that communities, especially remote ones, maintain access to dependable communication networks that support public safety and emergency services," Paramo added. Groups lining up in opposition to the legislation include the California Farm Bureau Federation, several labor unions and The Utility Reform Network. TURN's telecommunications policy director, Regina Costa, has argued that one reason customers have cut their landlines is because AT&T hasn't done enough to maintain its copper-based networks, despite receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies intended to help it serve customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She noted the VoIP service that some customers would be expected to switch to comes with vulnerabilities that landlines don't, such as susceptibility to potential cyberattacks. President Ametrius Sidney of the California Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association said in a news release residents without access to basic, reliable telephone service would be left vulnerable in emergencies when cellular or broadband networks may be unavailable. "Further, landline phones remain an essential, reliable means of accessing 911, especially during power outages, natural disasters or in areas with poor wireless coverage," she stated. The bill is scheduled for a hearing starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. State College borough council members earlier this week talked about how the One Big Beautiful Bill would impact the borough and its residents undoubtedly, quite profoundly and took issue with remarks made by Centre Countys U.S. representative. Evan Myers, council president, spoke for nearly eight minutes Monday night on how the One Big Beautiful Bill a spending and tax bill signed into law by President Donald Trump that fulfills some of his campaign promises would negatively impact State College residents. Myers said more than 15,000 people in Pennsylvanias 15th Congressional District, represented by Glenn GT Thompson, R-Howard, which includes all of Centre County, could lose Medicaid through the bill, which includes a roughly $1 trillion reduction in medicaid funding over the next ten years. He also cautioned the reduction in the Medicaid provider tax could hurt local hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This change may lead to decreased federal matching funds, potentially threatening the financial stability of rural hospitals and clinics. In Centre County, health care providers like Mount Nittany Health have expressed concerns about the potential for reduced services and increased financial strain due to these cuts, Myers said. Among other points, he also mentioned the cuts to programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget. Myers said 7,000 residents in PA-15 could lose access to SNAP benefits over the next decade. Those changes will increase food insecurity in Centre County, he said. The cuts in SNAP benefits directly affect local economies. SNAP dollars spent at local grocery stores and farmers markets provide a significant economic boost, Myers said. Every $1 in SNAP funding and benefits generates approximately one and a half dollars in local economic activity. Reducing SNAP benefits could therefore negatively impact small and mid-size farmers in Centre County who depend on these programs to sell their products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill will also massively increase Immigration and Customs Enforcements budget, an aspect of the law that council member Gopal Balachandran said is breathtaking and will transform the county in ways that will significantly degrade civil rights, particularly the freedom of speech. He pointed to how ICE has already impacted the international student community at Penn State and said rumors of ICE raids have given students a great deal of fear and anxiety. The university was one of at least 240 colleges and universities across the country that saw legal statuses revoked for some of their international students and recent graduates. At least 22 Penn State students had their visas revoked before the end of the spring semester; the students had not been convicted of crimes and were in diversion programs, mostly due to retail theft. (The federal government later said legal status would be restored). By giving ICE the unprecedented funding, Balachandran said he can only imagine how much of an impact that will have on the students and community, as he fears there will be greater surveillance and greater numbers of non-violent individuals scooped up, and more people will be deported who should not be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to almost certainly result in racial profiling and significant degradations in privacy rights, he said. The bill also rolls back some of the progress made toward slowing climate change, council member Matt Herndon said. State College and Centre County have already seen a number of strong, destructive storms this year, which he said pale in comparison to the extreme flooding in Kerr County, Texas last week. Flooding like that will happen more often in a warmer world, he said. While the local State College government does not have the power to stop climate change on its own or to change federal laws, Herndon said there are still a number of things they can and should do, like continuing to electrify municipal buildings and vehicles and install renewable generation to power everything it owns. But the biggest thing they can do, he said, is to finish the zoning rewrite and legalize denser, more affordable and sustainable housing in the borough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been warning about the housing crisis here for years, and this bills cuts to safety net programs like Medicaid and food assistance will make it worse, Herndon said. Many can go without health care for a while, but eventually something happens, and without coverage, the cost of an emergency room visit can drive many people into bankruptcy and even homelessness. The most fundamental step to fight homelessness is to have more homes. Updating our zoning is a necessary first step toward this, and this bill makes doing so even more important. F elt like a betrayal In May, State College and Centre County were listed by the federal government as being among the more than 500 sanctuary jurisdictions accused of defying federal immigration law, a move local officials questioned and pushed back against. Although the list was posted on the Department of Homeland Securitys website and taken down just days later, it was unclear why either places were included on the list. Borough leadership clarified in January 2017 that it was not a sanctuary city, noting a previous council resolution simply made value statements about immigration. The county government never passed anything related to sanctuary jurisdictions. In a June news interview, Thompson encouraged the borough to go back and read through their minutes, and said some of the things theyve done are outside of the scope of what a borough council should do, and that he would leave it to the borough to figure out why they were included on the list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State College Mayor Ezra Nanes said he was troubled by Thompsons comments and felt betrayed. Thompsons vote in favor of the bill which he said was a victory for rural America was also a betrayal, Nanes said. I was really troubled by the comments from the congressman who represents us in Washington representative is the title and especially around that sanctuary city thing, for lack of a better term, it just felt like a betrayal to be thrown under the bus that way, Nanes said. This bill is a further betrayal of our trust because of what it is and how its been spoken about and misrepresented. I highly doubt that most people in this community are going to see any tangible financial benefit. Myers said the bill is an abomination and will cost taxpayers money as they struggle to fill the void created by Thompson and Pennsylvania Republican Senator Dave McCormick, who also voted for the bill. We will be less energy efficient, less educated, less able to deal with our childrens future. These issues are within the scope of our jobs as State College Council, as we work to help our residents navigate and afford this mess while we pursue affordable housing, energy sustainability and a healthier, more inclusive and diverse community, Myers said. He continued: I would suggest that Congressman Thompson is the one who should go back and review the Congressional Record and the provisions of this bill and do his job for the people of State College and Centre County, and not special interests like big agricultural, big pharma and billionaire tech oligarchs. Gov. Wes Moore (D), seen here at a 2023 hiring event in Baltimore vowed at the time to dramatically slash state job vacancies in an effort to "rebuild state government." On Thursday, Moore announced details of a buyout plan that is part of an effort to cut $121 million from the budget. The plan also includes a hiring freeze. (File photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters). Thousands of state employees were notified by email Thursday of a buyout program, part of a plan by Gov. Wes Moore (D) to reduce the size of state government and cut $121 million from ongoing personnel expenses. Details of the voluntary separation program were also posted on the website of the state Department of Budget and Management. The plan, first announced in late June, offers eligible, full-time employees in the executive branch $20,000, plus an additional $300 for each year of service. It will also cover six months of paid state health benefits and pay out unused leave and compensatory time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no target for the number of employees the state is hoping will take the buyout, officials said. The VSP is one of several actions the governor has implemented to achieve the $121 million reduction, including the hiring freeze already announced, a spokesperson for the Department of Budget and Management said in an email Friday. There are nearly 52,000 positions within the state personnel and Maryland Department of Transportation personnel systems. About 4,800 were vacant as of May, the spokesperson said, and 13,500 are in job classifications that are exempt from the buyout offer. Not all of the remaining workers will be eligible, because some have less than two years of service, and not every employee who applies will be approved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is up to the agency and ultimately the secretary of Budget and Management to approve or deny an employees application, the department spokesperson said. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 4. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) called the offer a short-term fix for a long-term problem created by Moore and the Democrat-controlled legislature. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This program likely wont do enough, Hershey said in a statement. The incentive is too small to prompt meaningful participation from higher-paid employees the very group whose departure would deliver the most savings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hershey said the $20,000 payout is barely two months salary in many cases. He warned of what he said would be additional efforts to raise taxes in the legislative session that beings in January. Unless Governor Moore is ready to truly reverse course by scaling back the size and scope of government, embracing fiscal discipline, and respecting bipartisan ideas Marylanders should brace for more service cuts, more workforce reductions, or yet another round of tax hikes, Hersheys statement said. Nearly three dozen agencies are excluded from the offer. Another nearly 1,700 job classifications are also ineligible. Employees who submitted a resignation prior to July 10 are ineligible, even if they rescind their original decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other ineligible workers include: Those who have applied for service or disability retirement that are either under consideration or approved. Terminated employees or those that receive notice of termination by Sept. 30. Employees who transfer to another state job between July 10 and Sept. 30. Employees who leave their state jobs before Sept. 30. Officials in the Moore administration previously said the legislature, as part of the budget passed earlier this year, requires them to cut $121 million in ongoing expenses from the current years general fund budget. The governors office laid out a plan in broad strokes late last month that includes eliminating 150 vacant positions and imposing a hiring freeze. The plan also called for buyouts. The administration has been reluctant to make public any exact targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early conversations about the budget reductions included requiring as much as a 6% budget reduction from most departments and agencies, which could have been achieved through office space consolidation and other efficiencies, as well as personnel moves. Those same conversations included the possibility of voluntary buyouts and job reductions through attrition and even layoffs in some cases. Legislators, however, differed with Moore on exactly what the budget reduction goal required specifically the need to lay off employees. Officials with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 3 which represents more than 26,000 state employees also staunchly opposed proposals that include laying off employees. AFSCME Maryland Council 3 President Patrick Moran at a 2023 hiring event in Baltimore. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters). In a statement issued Friday, union officials reiterated their opposition to layoffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any solutions to help our state navigate these tough and volatile times must not come at the cost of providing quality state services, the union staetment said. Several agencies the so-called 24/7 agencies that include state hospitals, the departments of Juvenile Services and the Public Safety and Correctional Services already suffer from high numbers of vacancies that are covered with overtime. Union leaders said they worry those understaffed agencies are already at risk for dangerous working conditions and workloads that are unsustainable. We want to reiterate that responsible decision-making around both cost-saving and revenue-raising measures must prioritize preserving our state services and the jobs of the workers who make them happen, the union said. That includes eliminating costly contracts, in-sourcing services where needed, addressing other inefficiencies, and closing corporate tax loopholes to raise much-needed state revenues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The effort to reduce the size of the workforce is a reversal of Moores promise to reduce the number of state vacancies. He entered the governors office in January 2023 vowing to rebuild state government. At the time, he estimated there were 10,000 vacancies a number that included the executive branch, higher education and other positions. He publicly committed to cutting that number in half in his first year in office. He was unsuccessful. At the same time, he also expanded the number of state jobs and raised salaries. Intermittent outages in 911 services were experienced statewide Friday afternoon, including Crawford County. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) sent out a statewide alert Friday around 3:20 p.m. that outages had been reported all across Pennsylvania. Allen Clark, the countys emergency management agency coordinator, told the Tribune on Friday that Crawford County residents should continue to dial 911 in the event of emergencies even as an intermittent outage affected the entire state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calls to Crawford County 911 were automatically rolled over to the agencys administrative number, (814) 724-2548, Clark said. People can still call 911 and the 911 center will receive it, Clark said. Other counties, its not working like that, so were fortunate thats how the technology is behaving here in the county. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania were reporting difficulties at various levels Friday afternoon, according to Clark. The cause remained unknown and no timeline for fixing the problem had been established, he added. Public Safety Director Greg Beveridge is in contact with the state and other 911 centers, woking with technology vendors as well as PEMA to identify the root cause and identify a solution as fast as possible, he said. If residents do encounter difficulty with Crawford County 911, Clark added, they should contact the agency through the nonemergency line, (814) 724-2548. PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) State leaders say artificial intelligence could reshape healthcare across the state. Governor Patrick Morrisey says his administration is embracing developments in A-I technology. The governor paid a visit to Mercer County this week to discuss the future of prevention and healthcare in rural areas. He said access to new funds will help leverage A-I to provide more tools and resources to local care. House Bill 2797 will allow first responders access to workers compensation for PTSD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a gamechanger, and its an opportunity for us to work together to harness the power technology [and of] A-I, Morrisey said. The new developments are also poised to impact prevention and substance abuse treatment efforts. The WV First Foundation oversees how opioid settlement funding is utilized. Executive Director, Jonathan Board says tech advancements will change the landscape in what is possible in rural care. Weve got to be smart. As we talk about partnerships, focusing on AI and new technologies that help us refine and define what is success, said Board. Governor Morrisey said the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill by President Trump will bring significant amounts in Rural Transformation funds to West Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said these resources and recently passed state legislation will help to push the Mountain State into the future. As state leaders continue to push for progress, they hope to position West Virginia as a rural leader in A-I-driven care. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Experts have warned a tiny, marsh-dwelling bird could vanish from North Carolina if drastic action isn't taken. What's happening? According to WITN, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has said the eastern black rail could be lost within the next 35 years. The species was once plentiful, but its numbers have declined sharply due to habitat loss, human encroachment, and extreme weather events. The wildlife resources commission's management plan for its conservation notes that the black rail has disappeared entirely from some states and declined by up to 90% in others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The eastern black rail is a small bird that weighs a little over an ounce when fully grown. Because of its small stature and preference for the thick vegetation of marshlands, it's typically heard more than seen. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service describes the eastern black rail as a "sparrow-sized, secretive marsh bird." Why is the eastern black rail's survival important? The black rail's plight is symptomatic of another huge ecological problem: the rapid loss of crucial wetlands across the United States. As the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported in 2024, more than half of the wetlands in the lower 48 states are now gone. These "biological supermarkets" as the Environmental Protection Agency puts it serve as a critical habitat for species like the eastern black rail and provide protection against flooding. The black rail plays a crucial ecological role in the wetlands by regulating the populations of insects and small crustaceans it consumes. They're also a food source for several predators. Removing them from the food chain would greatly harm the health of the ecosystems they inhabit. What's being done about the eastern black rail's decline? The key to the species' survival is preventing further habitat loss and not disturbing the breeding cycle of the birds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The North Carolina Wildlife Commission has asked farmers not to mow wet fields from April to September in order to maintain the thick grass favored by the birds. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Per WITN, "They are also working with private landowners to create better habitat and using new recording technology to track where the birds still live." Even if you aren't local to the birds' habitats, you can still help. If humans prioritize acting locally and raising awareness of important climate issues, threatened species like the eastern black rail might just make it in the long term. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is close to appointing a new National President, with the eligibility process for the election now complete. According to sources, elections for the state party presidents in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh will be conducted only after the announcement of the new national chief. A senior party source said, "BJP will initiate the process for the election of state presidents in two important states, Delhi and UP, once the National President is announced." Both states carry significant political importance. In Delhi, the BJP returned to power after 27 years under the leadership of State President Virendra Sachdeva. It remains uncertain whether Sachdeva will be given a second term or whether the party will opt for a new face to lead the Delhi unit. In Uttar Pradesh, a leadership change is expected. The term of the current state BJP President, Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, a Jat leader from Western UP, ended in January 2023. However, he was given an extension until the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The party's disappointing performance in the state during the recent polls has made a change in leadership likely. The organisational election process has already been completed in most states. New state unit chiefs have recently been appointed in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and several other states. In other key states such as Bihar, Sikkim, Goa and Assam, new presidents are already in place. The process is expected to be completed in the remaining states soon. (ANI) SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Amid the closures of Walgreens stores nationwide, the old Walgreens location on State Street in Springfield has a new owner moving in. Springfields Italian feast returns after 20 years Very soon, locals will be able to go to Springfield pharmacy for their prescriptions and medications, but also their groceries. The Springfield pharmacy signed a lease last week to open its third location, but with a market inside to shop for produce. In 2019, the first main street location opened, in 2023 for their Mercy Hospital location, and soon a third on State Street in Springfield, in place of an old Walgreens building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The community near State Street, in particular, is known as a local food desert. This area is where residents dont have as much access to affordable fruits and vegetables. Tobias Billups with the pharmacy told 22News, You can eat healthier, and have access to certain items, then you become healthier yourself, and its an underserved area and population, so I want to bring stuff to the people who need it. Im a firm believer that if you take care of the community, the community will take care of us. You can expect a full-service pharmacy with deliveries, and in addition, that market will have fresh foods at competitive prices. As for the timeline of when the new location will open its doors, the owner tells me that it will be in about 4 weeks. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. A spate of incidents involving moose in Colorado has prompted state officials to release a warning for residents to keep their distance. What's happening? As The Daily Sentinel reports, there were three moose attacks in the short three-day period from May 30 to June 1. Moose are not typically aggressive towards people, but they are susceptible to disturbances during calving season. All three incidents involved a cow moose protecting its young from a perceived threat. In the first incident, two women were attacked but escaped serious injury after the moose was driven off by a neighbor. Unfortunately, the second attack was more serious, The Daily Sentinel reported. The moose was shot in self-defense, and, sadly, the calf was humanely euthanized by officials. In the last incident on June 1, a woman was hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, per The Daily Sentinel, Colorado Parks and Wildlife warned residents to "Turn around or leave an area if a calf is spotted." CPW also advised residents to stick to trails with good visibility and "make noise" when going through thick vegetation that could be hiding a moose calf. Why are moose attacks a concern? Since their reintroduction in 1978, CPW reports that the moose population has been a stable and growing presence in Colorado. While this is indicative of a successful program, it also means that more incidents could occur. Habitat loss, human population growth, and reduced resources may be partially responsible for the increase in conflicts between humans and wildlife. Moose attacks on people are still a rare phenomenon, but their sheer size makes the damage they can do to a person considerable and, on rare occasions, fatal. They tip the scales at up to 1,000 pounds and can run faster than any human alive in short bursts. Because they favor thick vegetation, they're not as easy to spot from a distance as their immense size would suggest, and off-leash dogs are a frequent cause of incidents, as the Colorado Sun reports. What's being done about moose attacks? One proposed solution is to reintroduce wolves to Colorado to control the moose population. However, the measure was met with controversy when it was first tabled in 2020 and only narrowly succeeded at the ballot. The program has gotten off to a difficult start and could end with another ballot initiative in 2026, CPR News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than relying too much on wolves, another solution is to raise awareness and educate others about the issue to promote actions that will mitigate the risk. For example, the National Park Service strongly advises people to keep their distance from wildlife. Additionally, dogs should always be kept on leash outside of designated areas. Small considerations for nature can go a long way to preventing injury and conflict. By protecting our environment and conserving natural habitats for wildlife, we can keep our communities safer and promote thriving ecosystems. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. CLARKSBURG, W.Va. Here are some of the top stories this week on the WBOY 12News Facebook page. Updates to West Virginias Slow Down, Move Over Law have now taken effect. The Fairmont Police Department released bodycam footage of Mary Lou Rettons DUI arrest back in May. A 99-bedroom mansion in Elkins that was auctioned off twice in two years is now officially a nonprofit organization. Former Mountaineer shortstop J.J. Wetherholt has been promoted to Triple-A Memphis in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A giant Mothman Build-A-Bear is now for sale online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. GREENFIELD, Iowa Severe storms that powered through central Iowa overnight brought down trees across the city of Greenfield. Greenfield recently commemorated its one-year anniversary since the deadly tornadoes of 2024. Sally Gruss, a Greenfield resident who had a tree fall over and block the road during Thursday evening storms, said the storm reminded her of last year. I kept hearing that, you know, there was maybe be tornadic activity going on. So that was really scary because we lived through the other one and had no damage. So I thought, theyre going to get the west side this time, Gruss said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PHOTOS: Damage reported across central Iowa following overnight storms Gruss said the city and volunteer fire department came out to clear the debris from her fallen tree at 1:30 in the morning. John Schildberg, a Greenfield resident who lost a tree in his backyard due to the nights severe storms, said that the storm brought back painful memories. It brought back the real sorrowful memories of. We were out within about 15 minutes of when it went through, driving around, and people were in shock walking up the street, Schildberg said. Schildberg said he was thankful for the citys help removing debris that blocked the road in front of his home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They do a fabulous job. Yeah, of course. They have a lot of practice from last year, so. Yeah, you know, thats good, Schildberg said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. The transgender tipping point, in the words of Time magazine, supposedly came in 2014, when trans adults living proudly public lives began showing up regularly on mainstream screens. Such figures are still aroundone is even in Congress. And yet, we seem to be tipping the other way. Laws regulating which bathrooms trans people can use are back. The Trump administration is kicking us out of the military. And in United States v. Skrmetti, the Supreme Court okayed state bans on gender-affirming care for trans minors. Sometimes I think a lot of people want us to disappear. Others will tolerate us without acceptance: If you must be trans, you can have basic rights, but dont encourage it, and for Gods sake dont flaunt it. And yet, were still here, and still visible, especially among the young. UCLAs Williams Institute estimated in 2022 that 1.6 million Americans 13 or older identified as trans: 14 per 1,000 kids ages 13 to 17 and 13 per 1,000 for young adults ages 18 to 24, compared with about five in 1,000 for adults 25 to 64. In a survey last year, Gallup found that 1.3 percent of adults identify as trans. Some writers see in such numbers a fad, or a bubble. Others see gender-affirming care, as recommended by mainstream medical associations in many countries, as the best way to the most fulfilling adulthood, and the least painful teenage experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To trans adults like me, some self-described skeptics look less like truth-tellers than like merchants of doubt: The debate around trans issues feels analogous to the ones around climate change, or vaccines. When youre not winning an argument, you say nobody should act without further study, or demand unattainable certainties. Its tough for people whove taken a positiondoctors who speak out against trans-affirming care, or parents who feel sure theyre raising a girlto change their beliefs. Those who do shift their views often do so not by comparing numbers, but by asking why they believe what they believe, what they want, and what other people can show them firsthand. Clouds and vaccines cant talk. But trans people can. [Adam Serwer: The attack on trans rights wont end here] Im one. I lived out a closeted transgender childhood in the 1970s and adolescence in the 80s, when transition wasnt remotely an option. I felt grindingly frustrated by my own body, and my male social role, almost all the time. And I got lucky. I remember grade school as a sustained misery that kind adults tried to remedy, enlivened by two close male friends, assorted special interests (minerals, chemistry), and stacks of comic books. My teen years brought dramatic improvements: I found teachers who supported my reading and writing. I made friends with girls who trusted me with their secrets, even if I could not trust them with mine. I threw myself into televised quiz competitions (sometimes my team even won). In college, I learned how to put on a radio show (one way to feel heard while nobody sees your body). And I found supportive professors, and a path to one, then another, great job. Then, in my 40s, I realized Id always feel disembodied, unsatisfied, not quite real, if I kept on trying to live as a man. I wore dresses and lipstick on special occasions; I talked, and wrote, about how I felt, without getting doctors involved. Then, one day, my spouse remarked that Id be happier if I could just live as a woman. Everything suddenly seemed to come together for me: I felt like a crystal dropped in a supersaturated solution. I made an appointment for hormones that same day. Eight years on, I know I made the right choice. Quick digression: During the Second World War, the Pentagon had to decide where to put armor on Air Force planes. Military brass expected to fortify airplanes wings, because most of the planes they saw had been struck there. Then the mathematician Abraham Wald explained why they should armor the engines instead: The generals had counted only the planes that came back. Thats called survivorship bias. If Wald hadnt countered it, the Allied forces could have lost a lot more planes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Walds terms, Im one of the planes that came back. Im the best case you can find, or something close to it, for growing up trans without trans-affirming care. You might think that I, and trans adults like me, are a good case for making kids wait to transition: I had to wait, and I turned out okay. But thats survivorship bias. Other kids who grew up with my gender, without my advantages, probably resigned themselves to their assigned gender role and their frustrating fate; theres no way to count them in retrospect. And I know that if I could have lived as a girlif Id had access to gender-affirming care in grade school, in middle school, in high schoolI would have made more friends, and learned more sooner, and avoided countless hours rereading the fiction of James Tiptree Jr., wondering why its unease around bodies and gender and its themes of self-annihilation spoke so strongly to me. Its possible that adults like me, as well as the internet, by providing non-gloomy examples, encourage some teens to see themselves as trans who would otherwise just go on living cis lives. You cant prove a negative. But you can seek parallels. Consider the risks involved in coming out as a gay teen in 1965 versus 1985, or in 2025. No wonder we see more gay teens now than I did back then. [Read: Young trans children know who they are] Wary parents might answer that cis gay kids do not ask to alter their bodies. Nor, generally, do trans, maybe-trans, or gender-nonconforming children in grade school, where care means social transition: names, pronouns, clothes, a safe place to use the bathroom. Acceptance for social transitionhence for kids who want time to figure things outmight even slow down demands for endocrinology, by showing that you can be a girl, a boy, neither, or both, even if you dont get doctors help right away. Several new works of young-adult fiction showcase exactly that kind of acceptance among teens and tweens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That said, with puberty, things change. Going through the wrong one hurtsand not just in the way that puberty is terribly awkward for pretty much everyone. It turns what could be exploration and self-discovery into concealment and needless sadness. Gender-affirming medical intervention, for teens, almost always means puberty blockers (the same drugs used for cis kids precocious puberty) or hormones. Less frequently, it might mean surgical intervention. But more breast and chest surgeries (including reduction and augmentation) are performed on cisgender girls, and on cisgender guys with gynecomastia, than on trans minors; bottom surgery on minors happens very rarely. Youth who choose gender transition report, overwhelmingly, that theyre satisfied; the Kaiser Family Foundation dismisses as misinformation claims about high rates of regret. Cis parents of trans kids often get warned about suicide, just as straight parents of gay kids got warned years ago. A better discussion would be whether parents want their kid to be sad, or withdrawn, or feel locked into a numb life, when they could learn how to flourish and find joy instead. Teen suicide is hard to study: Reporting is poor, and there arent many. We can, though, examine suicidal feelings, depression, self-harm. Studies exist on all these subjects. And despite disputes over data quality, most of them tend to agree that gender-affirming care works at improving mental health in dysphoric teens. Better yet, we can studyand encourageacceptance, fulfillment, and joy. Most trans kids who hate their body, as I did, will not take their life. They might think about it, though, as I did. And they might undergo years of needless sadness, loneliness, and fear because theyve been told, in 2025, to wait, and wait, and wait some more, for help they can already see. Article originally published at The Atlantic A popular sandwich chain is betting on big appetites in North Texas with the planned opening of 20 new locations in the region. Reno, Nevada-based Port of Subs announced it will open 20 locations throughout North Texas, including in Dallas. Notably, at least half of the planned new sandwich shops are expected to be open by the end of next year. Port of Subs prides itself on freshly sliced, top quality meats and cheeses, freshly baked breads, and zesty dressings and spices, according to their website. Expect 18 different varieties of classic, cold submarine sandwiches, featuring traditional ingredients like ham, salami, and provolone. Alternatively, choose from the many hot subs on offer, such as the Meatball Marinara. Those not partial to subs can also opt for a wrap or salad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Greater Dallas-Fort Worth-Plano area is one of the fastest-growing markets in the country for both population and franchising. The influx of new residents, combined with Texas community-centered culture and strong economy, represents an ideal alignment with Port of Subs core values and growth strategy, the company said in a statement, per WFAA. Port of Subs, which has more than 135 locations across seven Western U.S. states, is making a rapid move to expand its footprint in North Texas and elsewhere in the United States. Nationwide, the sandwich chain has an impressive 450 locations in development. Texas-based husband-and-wife team Robert and Nikki La Grace are spearheading the move to expand into North Texas. Weve always been deeply rooted in the communities we live in. From our involvement in local schools to supporting small businesses, community impact is at the heart of everything we do, said Robert La Grace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Port of Subs President Healey Mendicino said the duo is the type of people the chain looks for in its partners. Their professional experience and local roots make them the perfect ambassadors for our brand in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Were proud to welcome them to the Port of Subs franchise family and are excited to support their journey as they introduce our brand to one of the most dynamic markets in the country. BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) One of Burlingtons free summer events is making its return this weekend with a full afternoon of family-friendly fun. Summervale 2025 will be held on Saturday, July 12, from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Intervale Center, located just minutes from downtown. After the 2023 and 2024 events were cancelled, this years event is bringing together local food, live music, and outdoor adventure. The festivities begin with a community tree-planting event along the Winooski River. Live music starts at 2:30, featuring performances by Guagua, Mikahely, Mad, and Wild Leek River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vermont Womens Fund awards over $350K in grants to local nonprofits Visitors can enjoy local eats and drinks from vendors like Farmhouse Tap & Grill, Skinny Pancake, American Flatbread, Sisters of Anarchy Ice Cream, Salt and Bubbles, and more. A 5K trail run will follow at 4:30. Organizers say the event aims to celebrate Vermonts vibrant local food scene and community-driven conservation efforts. The tree planting will help improve water quality and protect the land for farming in the future. With activities like lawn games, raffles, and a self-guided riverside trail loop, visitors are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs and make a day of it. For the full music lineup and event map, visit www.intervale.org/summervale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. A New York Times guest essay this week said Supermans "overwhelming all-American power" was disturbing, explaining the paradoxical identities associated with the iconic character as an immigrant. "In fact, I was something of the neighborhood anti-Superman," MIT professor Junot Diaz wrote in the New York Times, reflecting on his childhood. "Always ready to inveigh against the Last Son of Krypton, always ready with long arguments laying out why he was dumb. What can I say?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diaz, a native of the Dominican Republic who teaches creative writing, should have "fallen hard for Superman," as someone in a country that spoke English, while living with a Spanish-speaking family in an apartment. Maintaining three identities, Diaz feels that Superman does not represent him, although the superhero shares a similar experience to immigrants in America. "From Day 1, dude just rubbed me the wrong way. There was the obvious stuff, like how goofy Superman was as a hero, how ridiculously dated his star-spangled patriotism was Supes loved a country Id never seen. My landfill America was way more supervillain territory," he said. The upcoming "Superman" movie is intended to set up a whole new cinematic universe for the legendary DC Comics universe. 'Superman' Director's Brother Says Anti-immigrant Maga People Are 'Against The American Way' Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Even his overwhelming all-American power disturbed me. Maybe this was because I had grown up in a country recovering from its very own dictatorial Superman or because my family had, during the 1965 U.S. invasion, experienced firsthand what America could do to people with far less power." Supermans immigrant symbolism does not connect with Diaz, as both the character and the USA contain "many contradictory stories." "You would think Supermans immigrant/refugee background would have represented a point of connection, but even that rankled me," he wrote. Diaz argued that 2025 was "an awkward time for a peace-loving refugee American like Superman to return to us. According to the professor, "We are in a time when someone like Clark Kent, an undocumented liberal-leaning journalist, could easily be scooped up by masked, unidentified government goons. Beaten, imprisoned and even deported to Sudan or Jarhanpur without due process." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The character, first introduced in 1938, was born from the imagination of writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster in Cleveland, Ohio. Both came from immigrant families. In the comics, Superman is the sole survivor of the planet Krypton, sent to Earth by his parents as their world faced destruction. David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan have been cast as Superman and Lois Lane in James Gunn's new "Superman" movie. 'Superman' Director Reveals Reboot Will Tackle Politics And Kindness, Tells 'Jerks' To 'Screw' Off The character is getting a new cinematic treatment. The film, directed by James Gunn, hit theaters on Friday. It is intended to launch a new cinematic universe for the DC franchise. Actor David Corenswet stars as the new Superman, with Rachel Brosnahan playing Lois Lane. Diaz nor Gunn immediately responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Original article source: Superman's 'all-American power disturbed' writer of New York Times guest essay A suspect was arrested in connection with an armed robbery in Orange County. The suspect was identified as Jonathan Lopez, 22, of Santa Ana, according to the Santa Ana Police Department. On May 10, police responded to a robbery at a shopping plaza at 3321 S. Bristol Street in Santa Ana, near the South Coast Plaza mall. Surveillance video captured the female victim walking to her car at night. Moments after she arrived, the suspect drove up, stepped out and pointed his gun at her, demanding she hand over her property. Surveillance video captured the female victim being robbed at gunpoint by a male suspect in Santa Ana on May 10, 2025. (Santa Ana Police Department) The suspect, Jonathan Lopez, 22, of Santa Ana, was arrested in connection with the armed robbery on July 9, 2025. (Santa Ana Police Department) He forced his way into her car and stole her wallet and a large amount of cash, police said. He fled the scene before officers arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following a weeks-long investigation, detectives identified Lopez as the suspect involved. On July 9, a search warrant was served at his home where officers found the victims belongings as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition, two large capacity rifles and handgun magazines, and approximately $15,000 in cash. Lopez was taken into custody following the search. The case remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information can call Santa Ana police at 714-245-8049. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The Brief A man accused in a shooting that left a three-year-old girl dead in D.C. has been arrested. The suspect is 24-year-old Charles Rucker of Southeast, D.C. He has been charged with first-degree murder while armed. WASHINGTON - D.C. Police have arrested a man accused of shooting and killing a three-year-old girl in Southeast. What we know D.C. Police Chief Pamela A. Smith announced on Friday that a man has been arrested for the weekend shooting that left a three-year-old girl dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect is 24-year-old Charles Rucker of Southeast, D.C. He has been charged with first-degree murder while armed. PREVIOUS STORY:DC police identify suspect in shooting that left 3-year-old girl dead Rucker is accused in the death of Honesty Cheadle, who police say was sitting in a car with family members around 3 a.m. "Its very frustrating. In this particular case we do know just based on the preliminary investigation is that this seemed to be a intended shooting it was not one where we believe at this time that there were other individuals sought at the time," Chief Smith said. "We know today's news does not make you whole again. Nothing we can do will be able to fill the void left by Honesty's passing, but we hope today's arrest brings some measure of comfort to your family," she continued. The backstory Officers responded to the 1000 block of 14th Street, Southeast just after 3 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, for a report of a shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, officers found a 3-year-old girl with a gunshot wound to the upper body. D.C. Fire and EMS responded to the scene and took the girl to a local hospital where she was treated for critical injuries. PREVIOUS STORY: 3-year-old girl shot, killed while sitting in parked car with family: DC police On July 7, police reported that the little girl died from her injuries. She has since been identified as 3-year-old Honesty Cheadle. Police say their preliminary investigation revealed that at least one suspect began shooting on the block and the gunfire hit a parked vehicle where the girl was seated alongside family members. What's next FOX 5 did speak with Honesty's aunt. The family is currently planning her funeral and they've created a GoFundMe to help raise money for her services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is every familys worst nightmare, and it has left our hearts completely shattered. Honesty was only 3 years old full of light, personality, and so much promise. She was innocent and deserved a lifetime of love, joy, and safety," the fundraising page reads. A balloon release and candlelight vigil were held to honor her life on Saturday. According to a social media post from Chosen Funeral Home, her services will be held at Bethesda Baptist Church at 10 a.m. on July 22. Refuting BJP leader Amit Malviya's allegation that Rahul Gandhi had 'humiliated' him by denying a meeting, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said his primary purpose in Delhi was to discuss Mysuru's Dasara Air Show with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. "My primary work in Delhi was to meet Defence Minister Shri @rajnathsingh to discuss the Air Show during Dasara in Mysuru. Shri @RahulGandhi has immense affection for the people of Karnataka," Siddaramaiah said in a post on X. "He always remembers how Smt Indira Gandhi and Smt Sonia Gandhi were elected from Karnataka, and how the state has stood by the Congress at every critical juncture. The Gandhi Family, including Shri Rahul Gandhi, remain deeply indebted to the love showered by the people of Karnataka, and our AICC President Shri Mallikarjun @kharge is a proud Kannadiga," he added. The Chief Minister accused the BJP of betraying Kannadigas by denying Central funds. "While Shri Rahul Gandhi remains committed to bringing positive, transformative change in Karnataka, the @BJP4India has betrayed Kannadigas by denying the funds we rightfully deserve. Even when Karnataka suffered devastating floods, the Prime Minister @narendramodi did not utter a word," he said. He also alleged that the BJP MPs from Karnataka do not have the spine to stand up to PM Modi for the rights of Kannadigas. "@BJP4KarnatakaMPs do not have the spine to stand up to Narendra Modi for the rights of Kannadigas. For Modi, Karnataka exists only during elections; for Congress, Karnataka's welfare is a daily commitment," he said. Earlier in a post on X, Amit Malviya accused Rahul Gandhi of humiliating Siddaramaiah by denying an appointment the latter had sought. "Humiliation in Delhi for Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah! He travelled all the way to the capital, only to be denied an appointment by Rahul Gandhi--and has now returned without even a meeting," Malviya said in the post. "This isn't the first time a Gandhi has insulted a senior leader from Karnataka. History remembers how Rajiv Gandhi unceremoniously sacked an ailing Veerendra Patil, triggering the Congress's downfall in the state. Now, a weakened Siddaramaiah is forced to hide behind the very man plotting against him--DK Shivakumar, who is eagerly waiting to take his chair. The Congress, and the Gandhis in particular, have always treated Kannadigas with disdain. This is just the latest example," he added. Siddaramaiah had dismissed speculation about a change in the state's leadership, asserting that there has been no discussion with the Congress high command about the change. "How many times do I tell you, it (speculations around Karnataka CM post) was not discussed at all? This issue was not discussed at all with the high command," Siddaramaiah said on Friday. (ANI) The Brief A Texas man is accused of not returning a rental boat from the Keys and taking it to Cuba. Floyd Devasier has multiple prior convictions for drug-related offenses, including a case in 2019 where a vessel kept past its due date was also located in Cuba. Investigators said Devasier flew to Miami, Florida on Thursday and was arrested by federal authorities via a Monroe County Sheriffs Office warrant for hiring or leasing with the intent to defraud. STOCK ISLAND, Fla. - A Texas man has been arrested after deputies say he made a voyage to Cuba in a boat he rented on Stock Island and did not return. The backstory According to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office, Floyd Dean Devasier, 63, of Katy, Texas, rented a 26.5-foot Panga boat from Beach Weekend Key West Marina on Tuesday for two days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the rental agreement, all maritime laws were supposed to be followed, which meant that the boat was not to be operated at night, and had to be returned by the end of the day on Wednesday. READ: Missing Hillsborough County teen rescued from 2 suspected human traffickers Investigators say a marina employee noted Devasier bought and filled an extra 20-gallon fuel tank before taking off. According to MCSO, Devasier told the marina he would dock the boat overnight on the 6800 block of Front Street on Stock Island in accordance with the no-night operation clause of the rental agreement. Courtesy: Monroe County Sheriff's Office However, multiple business and vessel owners on Front Street later told the sheriffs office the vessel was never docked there and they never observed it being there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Security footage never showed the rental boat arriving. Dig deeper MCSO said the marina owners observed GPS tracking that showed the rental boat heading south in the Atlantic Ocean before tracking ceased. READ: Armed Citrus County bank robber known as Texas Billy surrenders at grocery store: Deputies When they called Devsaier and he didnt respond, the marina owners contacted the U.S. Coast Guard and the Monroe County Sheriffs Office. A fisherman reported seeing the vessel off the U.S. coastline and took pictures. Courtesy: Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office On Wednesday, the sheriffs office learned that the Cuban Border Guard notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Investigations that the rental boat and Devasier as well as a 38-year-old adult female were in their custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said Devasier flew to Miami, Florida on Thursday and was arrested by federal authorities via a Monroe County Sheriffs Office warrant for hiring or leasing with the intent to defraud. Devasier has multiple prior convictions for drug-related offenses, including a case in 2019 where a vessel kept past its due date was also located in Cuba. What they're saying "I want to thank the U.S. Coast Guard, HSI, the Cuban Border Guard and the good Samaritan on the water for their help and cooperation in bringing this case to a successful conclusion," said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. The Source This story was written with information posted by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A suspected car thief who tried to flee the scene of a crash while wounded was taken into custody after being tracked by a Lincoln City police K9 unit on Friday, authorities said. According to Lincoln City police, deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office requested help at a crash scene along Highway 18 near milepost 11. The Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department also responded as the car involved in the crash was previously reported stolen in their jurisdiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters contain large brush fire, road reopens in Sherwood Officials said one suspect had already been taken into police custody for the theft. However, investigators believed a second suspect was involved and still near the crash site after finding a trail of blood leading to a wooded area. Once Lincoln City police arrived at the scene, they deployed a K9 unit who successfully tracked the second suspect, identified as 48-year-old Brian Peoples of Gladstone who was found with serious injuries, authorities said. Peoples was taken to a hospital for treatment, then lodged into the Tillamook County Jail upon release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, police said they also found evidence of multiple felony property crimes. But as of now, Peoples has only been charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. By Ann Wang TAICHUNG, Taiwan (Reuters) -Taiwan's military began deploying one of its newest and most precise strike weapons on Saturday as part of intensifying drills meant to showcase the island's determination to resist any Chinese invasion. Two armoured trucks with HIMARS - High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems - were seen manoeuvring around the city of Taichung near Taiwan's central coast on the fourth of 10 days of its most comprehensive annual Han Kuang exercises yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire simulation and some live-fire drills are expected next week as more air force planes and naval ships become involved. In a wartime scenario, said a military officer at the site, it would be vital to conceal HIMARS from enemy aerial reconnaissance, satellites "or even enemy operatives behind our lines" until the order to fire was given. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own and has intensified military pressure around the island over the last five years, staging a string of intense war games and daily naval and air force patrols around the territory. Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected 14 Chinese air force sorties and nine naval ships around the island overnight. Nine of the sorties crossed the median line, the unofficial barrier between the two sides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims, with President Lai Ching-te saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. China's defence ministry said this week the Han Kuang drills were "nothing but a bluff" while its foreign ministry said its opposition to U.S.-Taiwan military ties was "consistent and very firm". Regional military attaches say the HIMARS deployment in a warlike exercise will be closely watched, given that they have been used extensively by Ukraine against Russian forces. Australia has also purchased the Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) systems. Taiwan took delivery last year of the first 11 of 29 HIMARS units, testing them for the first time in May. With a range of about 300 km (190 miles), the weapons could strike coastal targets in China's southern province of Fujian on the other side of the Taiwan Strait. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taiwanese military analysts say the weapon would be used with its locally developed Thunderbolt 2000 launchers so Chinese forces could be targeted as they left port or attempted to land on Taiwan's coast. A Thunderbolt unit was also seen in a park near the HIMARS units. Senior Taiwanese military officials say the Han Kuang drills are unscripted and designed to replicate full combat conditions, starting with simulated enemy attacks on communications and command systems, leading to a full-blown invasion scenario. Soldiers on Saturday also staged a blockade of the Tamsui River outside Taipei, deploying a string of explosive pontoons. The drills aim to show China and the international community, including Taiwan's key weapons supplier the U.S., that Taiwan is determined to defend itself against any Chinese attack or invasion, the officials say. (Reporting By Ann Wang in Taichung; Writing by Greg Torode in Taipei; Editing by William Mallard) By Kantaro Komiya TOKYO (Reuters) -Taiwanese private rocket company TiSpace terminated the flight of one of its rockets shortly after lift-off in northern Japan on Saturday, failing to become the first foreign company to perform a successful launch on Japanese soil. TiSpace, through its Japanese unit jtSPACE, tried to reach outer space 100 km (62 miles) above the Earth's surface on the inaugural flight of its 12-metre (40-foot), hybrid-fuelled rocket VP01 in a launch from Japan's Hokkaido Spaceport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rocket lifted off at 11:40 a.m. (0240 GMT), but within a minute its trajectory turned wobbly and it went into freefall, footage from Japanese public broadcaster NHK showed. "We are examining the situation of the flight," a spokesperson for Space Cotan, the Japanese company operating the Hokkaido Spaceport, said after the launch attempt. The rocket did not carry a satellite, although Space Cotan has said its success would be a step toward building a satellite-launching vehicle. TiSpace, led by a former Taiwan Space Agency official, has not had a successful spaceflight. It turned to Japan in search of a test site after failing to launch a rocket in Australia in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While local officials and businesses in Hokkaido welcomed the move as a milestone toward becoming an international space hub, some Japan space policy experts have worried about provoking China, which closely monitors Taiwan's advances in missile-related technologies. In Japan private rocketmakers are racing to gain entry to the commercial launch market dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX and U.S. rivals including Rocket Lab. No privately developed Japanese rocket has achieved orbital satellite launch. Interstellar Technologies, a Hokkaido-based startup now backed by Toyota, was in 2019 the first private rocket venture in Japan to reach space, although without a satellite payload. Canon Electronics-backed Space One conducted two failed orbital launches last year. Carmaker Honda last month succeeded in a low-altitude test of its prototype reusable rocket in Hokkaido, pledging to achieve spaceflight by 2029. (Reporting by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Tom Hogue and William Mallard) Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics teams latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In todays edition, Adam Edelman looks at the blue states seeking quick action to adjust their budgets following the passage of President Donald Trump's big domestic policy legislation. Plus, Kristen Welker analyzes the key takeaways from her interview with Trump. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott Bland Blue-state leaders weigh new laws to deal with financial fallout from Trump's big bill By Adam Edelman State lawmakers are scrambling to deal with the expected financial fallout from President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with many in blue states demanding special legislative sessions they say are necessary to shore up funding for health care and food assistance programs affected by the new law. Democratic governors in at least five states are weighing such special sessions, and Democratic lawmakers in several more are urging their governors to convene them to address expected funding shortfalls. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis Office of State Planning and Budgeting has projected that the state would receive about $500 million less in revenue yearly and could see about the same amount in additional costs because of the new laws impact on Medicaid and food assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic state Sen. Iman Jodeh said a special session is absolutely necessary to deal with the states new financial landscape, predicting that it was imminent that Polis convenes one. We have to do it, said Jodeh, a member of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Our budget just cannot absorb the backfill, the shortfall, the cuts. Polis spokesperson Shelby Wieman said in email that Polis has previously indicated we may need to reconvene the General Assembly to deal with the terrible impacts from the bill and we are still reviewing the impacts of this new law to evaluate next steps, including a potential special session. Jodeh said that because of Colorados unique Taxpayer Bill of Rights a 1992 measure that effectively limits how much the state can raise taxes it will be exceedingly difficult for Democrats, despite their control of the governorship and both legislative chambers, to avoid mostly cutting and freezing social programs to address the expected shortfalls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were all incredibly scared about how we can possibly navigate this, she said. What are those programs that were going to have to freeze or defund or do away with altogether? Those will be the questions that were going to have to answer during the special session. Read more here My takeaways from my interview with Trump Analysis by Kristen Welker I spoke with President Donald Trump yesterday in a wide-ranging 20-minute phone call, where we discussed his approach to tariffs, his response to the devastating floods in Texas, his views of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and more. One key takeaway from our conversation is that the president signaled he is looking to pivot from policy to politics now that his sweeping tax and spending proposal, which he dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill, has become law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I asked Trump if he plans to hit the road to talk about the measure and he said a little bit, later adding, But honestly, its been received so well I dont think I have to, but a little bit. And certainly before midterms well be doing a lot but a little bit. That focus on next years midterm elections underscores the tough fight ahead for the GOP as it tries to hold onto its narrow majorities in both chambers. Democrats need to net just three seats to flip the House and four seats to take control of the Senate a tougher task given the general lean of the states holding Senate races next year. And Democrats plan to campaign on the sweeping tax and spending measure, emphasizing cuts to Medicaid. But the president did not seem overly concerned that his party would lose seats in Congress. They said that about 2024 too. They said, Were going to win seats, Trump said of Democrats. They didnt. They said were going to do great in the presidency, and I won all seven swing states, won the popular vote by millions, etc. So you know, they always say that. Theyve lost their way. Theyve lost their minds, and theyve lost their way, not necessarily in that order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the president is walking a fine line with his MAGA supporters, who Republicans need to turn out in droves to hold onto control of Congress next year. These voters have more isolationist views of foreign policy, creating some tension when it comes to assistance to Ukraine. Trump made some news on that front yesterday, when he stressed that NATO, not the U.S., would be covering the cost of additional weapons for Ukraine. Were sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%, Trump told me. So what were doing is the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons and NATO is paying for those weapons. We are not paying for any more weapons, the president later added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The details of that agreement with NATO are still unclear, though the president did tease a major statement on Russia coming on Monday. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart responded to Trumps comments in a statement on Friday. Allies continue to work to ensure Ukraine has the support they need to defend themselves against Russias aggression. This includes urgent efforts to procure key supplies from the United States, including air defence and ammunition, she said. Well delve more into all of this on Sundays Meet the Press, where Ill speak to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, and Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky. Today's other top stories Trump in Texas: Donald and Melania Trump traveled to Texas to meet with first responders and grieving families in the aftermath of last weeks catastrophic flooding that left more than 100 people dead. Read more Layoffs incoming: U.S. diplomats are preparing for cuts to the State Department workforce, with dismissal notices expected to hit inboxes as soon as Friday, according to three State Department officials with knowledge of the plans. Read more Holy rebuke: The Archdiocese of Miami is condemning a controversial migrant detention facility in Florida which state officials have named Alligator Alcatraz calling it unbecoming of public officials and corrosive of the common good. Read more Surprise surplus: The U.S. government posted a surplus in June as tariff receipts gave an extra bump to a sharp increase in receipts, the Treasury Department said. Read more Mailbag: When do the provisions of Trump's new law go into effect? Thanks to everyone who emailed us! This weeks reader question, from Cindy Scruggs, is about how Trumps big domestic policy law will be implemented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knowing that many of the cuts will be put into effect after the 2026 elections, what parts of the bill or associated fallout (if any) will occur before the midterms? One of our Congress experts, senior national political reporter Sahil Kapur, provided an answer: This is an important and somewhat complicated question. The short answer is that Republicans backloaded the most significant cuts under Medicaid, SNAP and the Affordable Care Act until after the 2026 election. That was a deliberate effort to manage political pain hard-right Republicans wanted the Medicaid work requirements to take effect right away, but the party reached a deal to trigger them on the last day of 2026, just weeks after the midterms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some GOP lawmakers have told us they believe (or hope) this will insulate them in the 2026 elections. Beyond that, many of the laws cutbacks are phased in over the coming decade. As KFF health policy expert Larry Levitt put it to me, Theres not going to be a day where we wake up and there are suddenly millions more people without health insurance. That said, some effects will still be felt beforehand. There are already reports of at least one hospital in Nebraska shutting down, citing the anticipated federal budget cuts to Medicaid, a huge source of funding for hospitals. Sometimes, anticipation of an unpopular law taking effect can make for effective politicking: Republicans made Democrats paid a heavy political price in the 2010 midterms for the then-unpopular Affordable Care Act, even though it hadnt kicked in yet. In 2018, vast swaths of voters barely felt the benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Trump sold as the greatest tax cut in history, and House Democrats won 40 seats in that years midterm election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, the impacts of Trumps Big Beautiful Bill will certainly be felt by the 2028 presidential election, and if this law takes effect as designed, Democrats are sure to make that an issue. Thats all From the Politics Desk for now. Todays newsletter was compiled by Scott Bland and Dylan Ebs. If you have feedback likes or dislikes email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com And if youre a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) Inspiration can take many forms, and artist Christine Keller has always worn her creativity on her sleeve. Christine Keller has expressed her vision through everyday materials like brass and aluminum, which she crafts into one-of a kind pieces, often taking inspiration from the Mountain State. Much of her art can be seen or even purchased at Tamarack if youre interested in owning a piece for yourself. Free high tunnel management classes still ongoing from West Virginia State University Extension Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you go to my website, you will see that I have this line of what I call the Mountain Pendants and I was inspired by West Virginias mountains to make those, she said. You can get a firsthand look at the artist in her element at Tamarack Marketplace where Keller often puts on demonstrations. There visitors can also get their hands on some of Kellers one-of-a-kind creations Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Target will bring many workers back to its Downtown Minneapolis headquarters originally appeared on Bring Me The News. After years of more flexible and hybrid work arrangements, Target has officially called workers with its merchandising team into the company's Downtown Minneapolis offices three days a week. The group includes buyers, planners, and the sourcing team, Brian Harper-Tibaldo, director of media relations, tells Bring Me The News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 7,100 employees work out of Target's downtown hub. However, Harper-Tibaldo says that's a loose number since many workers move between Target's Twin Cities offices. Target headquarters in Downtown MinneapolisGoogle Streetview "Team members tell us they see the benefit from the in-person connection and collaboration thats a part of being in the office," says Harper-Tibaldo. "At this point, individual leaders are empowered to make decisions for their teams based on company guidance as well as what's best for the role they play in our business." Since the pandemic, Target has maintained a hybrid work model that allows team leaders "significant leeway" to issue details on just how flexible that schedule can be. That was the case here, as the team is led by Target's Chief Commercial Officer, Rick Gomez, who notified staff of the change via email this week, the Star Tribune reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "More time together, in the office, will help us grow our business faster, solve problems quickly, and build stronger relationships," Gomez wrote in the email, per the Star Tribune. Earlier this week, 3M announced a similar move, requiring employees to work out of its Maplewood offices four days each week beginning in September. General Mills announced in January that it would have its staff back in the office three days each week. Related: Science Museum of Minnesota lays off 13% of staff amid funding reductions, declining attendance This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared. A Tarrant County Juvenile Services officer was fired last month for improper conduct involving minor detainees at the Lynn W. Ross Detention Center, according to records obtained by the Star-Telegram. Jorge Nava, a security control officer, was terminated June 6 after an internal investigation found he had accessed a female detainees confidential information with another detainee, according to his personnel files. The female detainee, identified in the files as C.O., told Juvenile Services workers on May 15 that she was tired of being stalked and wanted to be left alone by Nava and another detained minor. At that time, C.O. produced call logs and screenshots of phone calls made from Navas phone number and the Ross Detention Centers phone number, as well as photos and videos of the other youth, identified by the initials I.W., according to a notice in the files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement C.O. asked Nava where he had gotten her phone number and social media handles, and Nava told her he had gotten the information from her file in the countys system. Nava was placed on administrative leave and interviewed for an internal investigation on May 16, according to his file. [MORE: Robbed of childhood by trauma, these kids get help instead of juvenile detention] In the interview, Nava admitted to allowing I.W. to use his cell phone, retrieving C.Os information and giving it to I.W., and communicating with C.O. in a manner not within the scope of his duties, according to the notice. Nava told C.O. that he was trying to play match maker between her and I.W. Further investigation of Navas digital footprint in the countys system found that he had retrieved data from C.O.s profile nine times between April 1 and May 19, according to personnel records. On five occasions, C.O. was not in detention at the time that Nava accessed her information. More top stories from our newsroom: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All Texas flags lowered to half-staff this weekend. Heres why Fort Worth kids to sell more lemonade after raising $5k for Camp Mystic Alvarado ICE attack: How one suspect's neighbor described her [Get our breaking news alerts.] During the time Nava was accessing CO.s information, he had been assigned to work in male housing units and did not have any duties which would have required him to pull her files, according to the records. A spokesperson for the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office declined to comment, citing an open investigation. Nava did not respond to a notice of intent to terminate his employment or appeal the decision within seven days, nor did he respond to the Star-Telegrams request for comment. Tarrant County Juvenile Services Director Riley Shaw did not immediately respond to phone calls from the Star-Telegram. CHICAGO Foodies rejoice! Taste of River North is almost here. The annual event offers attendees the chance to take a tour of some of the citys best food and it all kicks off next week. Carlos Girotto and Mary Cuautle from Fogo de Chao joined WGN News on Saturday morning to offer a look at what they will be serving up this year. Taste of River North takes place on July 18 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on July 19 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visit the Taste of River North website or the Fogo de Chao website for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. The family of a Grandview man killed by Lenexa police last month have hired a team of high profile attorneys to represent them as they fight for more information. Relatives of Jose Enrique Cartagena Chacon, 25, have received few details from the Lenexa Police Department about the shooting and what led up to it. Though family members requested last month to see body camera footage from the early morning June 22 shooting, they have yet to be able to do that. Were going to be working toward trying to obtain access for the family to view the body cam or dash cam videos for the police who were there, said Ben Stelter-Embry, a Kansas City area attorney, and emergency responders in the early morning hours of the shooting. The Lenexa Crossing Apartment Homes on Friday, July 11, 2025, in the 12400 block of W. 97th Terrace, where Jose Enrique Cartagena Chacon, was fatally shot by Lenexa police on June 22, 2025. Stelter-Embry, of Embry Law, is working alongside Chicago attorneys Andrew Stroth of Action Injury Law and Steven Hart of Hart, McLaughlin & Eldridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team of attorneys is also involved in representing the brother of Cedric CJ Lofton, a Kansas foster child who died in September 2021 in the custody of officers at the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center in Wichita. The 17-year-old, according to media reports, was restrained in the prone position for more than 40 minutes until his heart stopped beating. Lofton was later resuscitated but never regained consciousness. He died two days later in the hospital, his death later ruled a homicide. Last month, a federal appeals court denied qualified immunity to five Sedgwick County juvenile detention officers involved in Loftons death, allowing the excessive force lawsuit to proceed. Stroth and Stelter-Embry also helped represent the family of Andrew Finch, who was fatally shot in late 2017 by a Wichita police officer in what authorities say started as a hoax call known as swatting. In 2023, the Wichita City Council approved a $5 million settlement in the federal lawsuit. What happened June 22? Since the shooting death of Chacon, the Lenexa Police Department has said little about what happened that morning. Officials have not answered questions about what specifically led up to the shooting or what prompted at least one officer to shoot Chacon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Known by many as Enrique, Chacon lived with relatives in Grandview. Police knocked on the familys door around 7 a.m. June 22 to tell them that Chacon had been shot. The parking lot and clubhouse at Lenexa Crossing Apartment Homes, Friday, July 11, 2025, in the 12400 block of W. 97th Terracenear the site where Jose Enrique Cartagena Chacon was fatally shot by Lenexa police on June 22. What Lenexa police have said is that at 3 a.m. June 22 police were called to the Lenexa Crossing Apartment Homes, in the 12400 block of West 97th Terrace. Officers responded to a report of a disturbance involving someone with a gun, according to the departments initial news release. Once officers arrived at the complex, the release said, they located an individual inside a parked vehicle near the pool/clubhouse area. During the encounter with that individual, at least one Lenexa officer discharged their firearm, striking the individual, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chacon was transported by Johnson County Med-Act to a nearby hospital and was later pronounced deceased, police said. Family wants to view footage The Star emailed a spokesperson with Lenexa police last week asking when the family would be able to view the body cam footage; no one responded. Kansas law allows certain family members of individuals fatally shot by police to view the video within 20 days of the request. We believe that under the Kansas statute, that well be able to satisfy the criteria, said Stelter-Embry. Were hoping that the City of Lenexa will work with the family in order to obtain access and viewing of those videos. Jose Enrique Cartagena Chacon, 25, was shot and killed by Lenexa police on June 22, 2025. His family is searching for answers and wants to see police body camera footage from that Sunday morning. In Kansas, body camera footage is considered a criminal investigation record. Under state law, that classification gives police departments or other public officials like district attorneys broad discretion in deciding whether the recordings get released or stay shielded from public view, even after a case is closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, the ACLU of Kansas called on the Lenexa Police Department to release the body camera footage from that morning. In a Facebook post, the ACLU said it stood with the community wanting justice for the young man. Trust in law enforcement requires transparency and the people who have sworn to protect us should not be allowed to kill members of the community and remain anonymous, and avoid accountability, the post said. Four people lost their lives and two others sustained injuries in a road accident that occurred at Ukhral Senabathi in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. The District Administration Ramban has expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 25,000 each for the injured. In a post on social media platform X, Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan stated, "District Administration Ramban expresses profound grief over the tragic loss of four precious lives in a road accident at Ukhral Senabathi. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured. An assistance of 1 lakh is being provided to each deceased's family and 25,000 to each injured person. All possible support is being extended to the affected families." Union Minister Jitendra Singh also spoke to the Deputy Commissioner after learning about the incident involving a Sumo vehicle en route to Ukhral-Senabathi. He expressed condolences for the loss of lives and assured all necessary assistance. The deceased have been identified as Tauqeer Ahmed, Abdul Latief, Mohd Rafiq, and Ajaz Ahmed. In a post on social media platform X, Singh wrote, "Just now spoke to DC #Ramban Sh Mohammad Alyas after learning about the tragic road accident of a Sumo Vehicle enroute Ukhral-Senabathi. My sincere condolences for the 4 casualties; Tauqeer Ahmed, Abdul Latief, Mohd Rafiq and Ajaz Ahmed. The other two injured, Yawer Ahmed and Shakeel Ahmed, have been shifted to GMC Hospital Anantnag and are being provided all required medical assistance. The Administration has been directed to offer all possible help, whatever is required, even through the MP's personal resources." Earlier on July 5, thirty-six Amarnath Yatra pilgrims had sustained minor injuries after the last vehicle of the Pahalgam convoy lost control and collided with four-stranded vehicles at the Chanderkot Langer site in Ramban district on Saturday, stated an official. All injured passengers were immediately shifted to the District Hospital Ramban by the district administration, which was already present at the site. Following the road accident in Ramban in which 36 pilgrims sustained minor injuries on July 5, Union Minister Jitendra Singh assured that all necessary arrangements are in place for Amarnath Yatra pilgrims. (ANI) HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Connecticut State Police have arrested a Waterbury teenager who was allegedly behind the wheel when the vehicle he was driving crashed into a state police vehicle on I-91 in Enfield on Thursday morning. Connecticut State Police release dashcam video of crash that injured 2 troopers on Interstate 91 in Enfield Joel Cazia, 18, was charged with reckless driving, traveling too fast for conditions of the roadway, failure to maintain lane, and operating a motor vehicle without a license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cazia was arrested Friday morning by detectives from the Central District Major Crimes Squad. Troopers Matthew Cerri and Christopher Genovese both sustained injuries. State police said Genoveses injuries were considered serious, while Cerri had only minor injuries. Sources told News 8 that the troopers are, lucky to be alive. 2 Connecticut State Police troopers hit on Interstate 91 in Enfield lucky to be alive, sources say Cazia was issued a $100,00 bond, which he was unable to post. He was held in state police custody and is awaiting arraignment at Hartford Superior Court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. The Brief Authorities arrested a 17-year-old and charged a juvenile for vandalism and burglary at Piney Woods Baptist Church, with gang-related graffiti found in the Fellowship Hall. A social media video helped identify the suspects, leading to charges of burglary, vandalism, criminal damage, conspiracy, and gang-related activity. The church has been targeted by multiple vandalism incidents since February 2024, and the investigation is ongoing with potential for more charges or arrests. BUCHANAN, Ga. - Authorities have arrested a 17-year-old and charged a juvenile in connection with an extensive vandalism and burglary at Piney Woods Baptist Church in Haralson County, where investigators say the Fellowship Hall was heavily damaged and defaced with gang-related graffiti. Piney Woods Baptist Church vandalized What we know Deputies responded to the church on Rockmart Road in Buchanan on July 8 after receiving a report of burglary and vandalism. Haralson County Sheriff's Deputy Seth Entrekin discovered widespread destruction inside the Fellowship Hall, including broken windows, spray paint on both the interior and exterior walls, and various objectssuch as chairs, power tools, mops, and toilet plungersembedded in walls and ceilings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sgt. Jason Bowman of the Criminal Investigative Division responded to the scene and launched an investigation. Authorities later obtained a social media video showing two male suspects committing the acts of vandalism inside the Fellowship Hall. The individuals were identified as 17-year-old Darren C. Stanley of Temple and a 16-year-old juvenile, whose name has not been released due to his age. Stanley was arrested and charged with second-degree burglary, vandalism to a place of worship, second-degree criminal damage to property, conspiracy to commit a crime, and participation in gang-related activity. The juvenile faces the same charges through a juvenile complaint and was turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice. The location has been the site of multiple vandalism incidents since February 2024. Teenagers were arrested after a deputies found broken glass, chairs thrown into the ceiling, and other damage at Piney Woods Baptist Church on Rockmart Road in Buchanan. (Haralson County Sheriff's Office) SEE ALSO: North Carolina man arrested for car break-ins at Georgia churches Haralson County Sheriff reacts What they're saying "It is disappointing to see these young individuals make such a serious mistake, but there is always hope that they will learn from this and become productive citizens," said Haralson County Sheriff Stacy Williams. "This church closed for a while, but they are working to reopen and unfortunately, have been the target of several vandalisms over the last few months. The damage done by this last one was heartbreaking to see in a church building." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams urged other youth in the community to learn from the incident, saying, "You cannot break into buildings, and you cannot damage property that is not yours." What we don't know The investigation remains active, and authorities say more charges or arrests are possible. What you can do Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Jason Bowman at 770-646-2011 or submit an anonymous tip at haralsoncountysheriff.org. The Source The Haralson County Sheriff's Office provided the details and images for this article. A high school student raising awareness about the importance of an iconic North American species through her nonprofit has received top honors in 2025 for her efforts from National Geographic, whose Slingshot Challenge recognizes youth-led environmental projects. As the Long Island Press detailed, Cynthia Zhang, 17, founded Monarchs Matter in 2023 after being inspired to protect biodiversity after observing a monarch butterfly's metamorphosis when volunteering with ReWild Long Island, a Port Washington-based nonprofit. "It's really a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Zhang, who attends Great Neck South High School. "It shows you how delicate yet persistent nature is in surviving, but because of human activities, we're destroying that metamorphosis." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, monarch populations have steadily declined since the 1990s due to a number of threats, including habitat loss, chemical pesticides, and a changing climate, and both eastern and western monarchs are at risk of extinction. Like other pollinators, monarchs support healthy ecosystems, including around one-third of the world's food crops. When they struggle, it indicates something more serious is brewing. To combat this, Monarchs Matter participates in all sorts of initiatives that benefit monarchs and other pollinators. In addition to collecting data and raising awareness on social media, it has planted more than 2,150 milkweed and nectar plants in yards and public parks and established 15 certified monarch waystations as part of habitat restoration efforts. The nonprofit has also expanded internationally, with youth-led chapters in Pakistan and Nigeria. "We aim to support new chapters across the world no matter what their mission is as long as they are advocating for the environment in their own community," Zhang told the Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While challenges lie ahead to protect pollinators like the monarch, a growing number of people are taking action by donating to conservation organizations and rewilding their yards with low-maintenance native plants. Zhang is also among the youth galvanizing her generation to participate in creating a world they're excited about. "We're the future generation to take care of our planet. No matter your age or background, you can still make a change in your community," Zhang said. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. (KRON) A 19-year-old woman shot while driving on a Bay Area freeway has lived to tell the tale about her harrowing journey with the bullet still lodged in her head. The shooter remains on the loose. Drunk woman slams into stone wall, rolls over car in Los Gatos To me, I feel very lucky. Im only 19. Life would be cut so short if I would have died the other day, says Citlaly Caballero. The freeway shooting happened shortly after midnight Thursday morning as Caballero and her two friends were driving northbound on Interstate 680 through Alamo. They were heading back to Sacramento after seeing The Weeknd perform at Levis Stadium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I heard it, and then I felt like it was in a movie, Caballero adds. I instantly felt it; I heard my ear ring. I feel like I couldnt hear, and I just kept hearing, like the rounds go off. And my friends didnt even register that we were being shot at, until was I like, Oh my God call the cops, and they had seen me all in blood. Citlaly Caballero, 19, is talking about getting shot in the head while driving northbound on Interstate 680 through Alamo and living to tell about it. I remember seeing a car driving erratically behind me, recalls Caballero. And I didnt think of too much of it until it started tailgating me. And thats when I try to speed away from him a little more away for him, give him space. And I just remember him coming to the left, and I seen him in my mirror go on my passenger side, and then when he started shooting at my car. And thats when he broke my window, shot at my tires. And then after that, I had realized, Oh, this guy, or whoever it was, shot me in the back of my head.' Caballero says the shooters continued firing but stayed on the freeway as she exited onto Stone Valley Road and brought the car to a stop. At this time, the investigation is still ongoing, so uncovering a motive in this is obviously one of the most important things we need to find right now, says Sgt. Andrew Barclay of California Highway Patrol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CHP will review any video either captured by the car or freeway cameras and hope to hear from witnesses as well. Sometimes the smallest detail that somebody is able to provide to us can end up being one of the most important pieces of our case, says Sgt. Barclay. So please, if you think you saw something, pick up the phone and let us know. Caballero hopes the shooter will be brought to justice. In the meantime, the bullet remains lodged in her head as doctors say its safer to leave it there than try and extract it. While she continues to experience some pain, she says shes ready to continue living her life. Watch the full report from KRON4s Dan Kerman in the video player above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) The State of Tennessee is working to distribute $193 million worth of unclaimed property. When you hear the term unclaimed property, you might be thinking of physical items. But its actually money youre owed, and in some cases, it can be large amounts. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Unclaimed property is money thats been turned over by businesses and organization who couldnt get it back to the rightful person, Tennessee Department of Treasury Communications Director Shelli King said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That can look like a rent or utility deposit you didnt get back, overpayment on a medical bill or wages never received. One of the biggest that weve seen was almost over a million dollars, and it was a widow whose husband had taken out stock options, she didnt know, and after a determined amount of time the stock was just turned over to the state because it was dormant, and there was a huge windfall that had been left to her that she wouldnt have known to have gotten had it not been for the unclaimed property program, King said. Checking to see if you have unclaimed property is simple: go online to claimittn.gov and simply type in your name. For those who might not be aware, or would like some extra help in person, Tennessee Department of Treasury officials will visit Rutherford County on Saturday, July 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rutherford Countys the fastest growing county in Tennessee still, and so were going to the Berry Festival in Rutherford County, and theres well over $24 million just waiting for people with a last-known address in Rutherford County to claim, King said. Just giving people a moment to stop, check their name, see if they have unclaimed property, and even if they know they have unclaimed property but havent taken the time to claim it, they can sit and work with one of our representatives to claim their property. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com You can find department representatives at Murfreesboros Berry Festival between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Some claims can take as little as two weeks to get back. Each year, the Tennessee Department of Treasury updates its unclaimed property portal on Nov. 1. They recommend checking back each year around that time to see if youre owed any money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Tennessee drivers can now pre-purchase new Donate Life Tennessee license plates aimed at spreading awareness about organ and tissue donation in the Volunteer State and raising money for the cause. The General Assembly passed a bill this legislative session approving the license plates. The cause is personal for Donate Life Tennessee ambassador, Lisa Boullt. Im already getting emotional thinking about what its going to be like putting it on my car, Boullt said. Its giving me chills right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boullts younger sister died 32 years ago, but in turn, she saved six people by donating her organs and 50 people by donating her tissue. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Just think of that. Thats just one person, Boullt said. Ive learned a lot through the process in the last three years about how she really changed peoples lives. Especially when I meet a recipient, thats a game changer for me. Im like, Oh, this is what it feels like to meet someone whose life has gone on because of a donor, so thats why my passion has been, Weve got to bring more awareness.' According to Donate Life TN, a single person can save up to eight lives with their organs and 75 to 100 with their tissue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are currently 3,000 Tennesseans on the waitlist to receive an organ. However, just 44% of eligible Tennesseans are organ donors, which is below the national average of 54%. The organization hopes the new license plates start a conversation about the cause. Its this roving billboard that people can see and start thinking about organ and tissue donation, Emily McKinley, Tennessee Donor Services Director of external affairs, said. Really, we want that to be on everyones mind so that if theyre ever in the position to be an organ donor, thats been talked about, theyve thought about it, theyve registered online at donatelifetn.org, or theyve registered when theyve gotten their drivers license. Boullt and McKinley said organ donation has a lifelong impact on recipients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They thank the donor every day, Boullt said. They get up every day thinking about that donor and how they made the decision, so when you meet that, its like, wow. Its big. Its really big. The Donate Life TN license plates are available for pre-purchase now. The organization needs to pre-sell 1,000 plates before it can go into production. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com They cost $37 each, and half of that amount goes to organ and tissue donation statewide initiatives. To reserve and purchase a Donate Life TN plate, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. A 17-year-old under the care of Tennessees Department of Childrens Services was found dead in Mississippi, and his uncle is now facing manslaughter charges in connection with his death. Tesla is going to trial in Florida federal court over a wrongful-death lawsuit. The suit blames Tesla and its Autopilot system for a 2019 crash that killed a 22-year-old woman. A Tesla in Autopilot mode plowed into a parked SUV, killing the woman and injuring her boyfriend. Florida couple Dillon Angulo and Naibel Benavides Leon were stargazing alongside a Key Largo road in 2019 when a Tesla Model S blew past a stop sign and a flashing red light at a three-way intersection and plowed into a parked SUV. Benavides Leon, 22, was killed and Angulo was seriously injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tesla's driver, George McGee, had Autopilot mode engaged at the time. He later said he had dropped his cell phone during a call and bent down to pick it up moments before his Tesla without warning T-boned Angulo's mother's Chevrolet Tahoe at about 60-miles-per-hour, according to court papers. "Oh my God, I wasn't looking," McGee told a 911 operator after the April 25, 2019, crash, a judge's ruling said. "I looked down and I've been using cruise control." Is Tesla and its Autopilot driver-assist system, which allows the vehicle to steer itself, switch lanes, brake, and accelerate on its own, to blame for the deadly collision? A Miami federal jury will soon consider that in a civil trial set to open Monday in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benavides Leon's family said in court filings that the impact of the crash threw the young woman about 75 feet. At the trial, which is expected to last about three weeks, Tesla's safety features will once again come under the microscope. The electric-car company headed by billionaire Elon Musk could ultimately be ordered to pay out steep monetary damages if a jury finds it liable in the crash. Lawyers for Tesla didn't immediately return a request for comment by Business Insider for this story, while attorneys for Benavides Leon's family and Angulo declined to comment. George McGee's Tesla after the 2019 crash. US District Court for the Southern District of Florida Judge said a reasonable jury could find Tesla acted recklessly Benavides Leon's estate initially sued Tesla over the crash in 2021 in Florida state court before the case was moved to federal court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March 2024, Benavides Leon's estate and Angulo filed an amended wrongful death complaint against Tesla, arguing in court papers that Tesla's vehicles were "defective and unsafe for their intended use." Tesla, the lawsuit said, programmed Autopilot "to allow it to be used on roadways that Tesla knew were not suitable for its use and knew this would result in collisions causing injuries and deaths of innocent people who did not choose to be a part of Tesla's experiments, such as Plaintiffs." "Despite knowing of Autopilot's deficiencies, Tesla advertised Autopilot in a way that greatly exaggerated its capabilities and hid its deficiencies," said the lawsuit, which pointed to multiple comments from Musk touting the safety and reliability of the software. US District Judge Beth Bloom, who is overseeing the case, said last month in a 98-page order that the plaintiff's lawsuit can move ahead on design defect and failure to warn claims against Tesla. Bloom, however, sided with Tesla on the suit's claims of manufacturing defect and negligent misrepresentation and dismissed them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the judge ruled that the plaintiffs can seek punitive damages at trial. "A reasonable jury could find that Tesla acted in reckless disregard of human life for the sake of developing their product and maximizing profit," Bloom wrote in her order. Bloom said in her decision that the plaintiffs provided enough evidence "affording a reasonable basis to conclude that, more likely than not, a defect in the Autopilot system was a substantial factor" in the victims' injuries. Tesla's attorneys have argued in court papers that McGee was solely responsible for the crash and that the collision could have been avoided by an "attentive driver." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company says on its website that Autopilot mode is "intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment." "While these features are designed to become more capable over time, the currently enabled features do not make the vehicle autonomous," it says. Although Autopilot is designed to detect vehicles and obstacles, Tesla adds on its website that it is a driver's "responsibility to always perform visual checks to make sure it is safe and appropriate to move into the target lane." The Chevrolet Tahoe that Dillon Angulo and Naibel Benavides Leon were standing beside when a Tesla plowed into it. US District Court for the Southern District of Florida The judge said in her ruling that while McGee, who is not a defendant in the lawsuit, conceded that he was responsible for operating his 2019 Tesla "safely and failed to do so, that does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that he alone is responsible for the resulting collision, particularly given McGee's testimony that he expected Autopilot to avoid the collision." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benavides Leon's estate and Angulo, the judge wrote, "have adequately demonstrated that Autopilot's design led Tesla drivers, and McGee in particular, to become complacent and over rely on Autopilot to operate their vehicles." McGee said in his deposition that he thought of Autopilot as a "copilot" and believed it would keep him in the lane, avoid crashes and direct him where he needed to go, according to Bloom's ruling. McGee previously settled a separate lawsuit with the plaintiffs. Tesla sued several times over its Autopilot software In recent years, Tesla has faced multiple lawsuits over its Autopilot driver-assist software and has come under increased scrutiny from regulators regarding the technology. The carmaker, however, won two lawsuits in 2023 involving crashes where Autopilot was in use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one case the first US trial over accusations that Tesla's Autopilot was responsible for a fatal crash a California state jury found that Tesla was not liable for the 2019 incident that killed Tesla Model 3 owner, Micha Lee, and injured two passengers. An attorney for Tesla argued at the trial that "classic human error" caused Lee's vehicle to veer off a highway. "Autopilot makes a road safer. It is a good thing," the lawyer said. Last year, Tesla settled a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by the family of Apple engineer Walter Huang, who was killed in a 2018 fiery wreck when his Tesla Model X SUV smashed into a concrete barrier on a California highway as the vehicle was in Autopilot mode. The case was settled for an undisclosed amount at the 11th hour, just before jury selection in the trial was set to begin. Read the original article on Business Insider KERRVILLE, Texas. Areas badly damaged by the historic July 4th flooding in Texas Hill Country are on alert for a new flash flooding threat through the weekend. The worrying forecast comes with the somber news that the flooding death toll continues to climb, with 129 people reported dead as of Saturday morning. While the chance of flooding isn't as severe as what happened just over a week ago, already saturated grounds will increase the flooding potential. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Showers and thunderstorms will make their way into the area starting late Saturday. The National Weather Service issued a Flood Watch for much of the Hill Country, as well as the I-35 corridor including Austin and San Antonio, until 7 p.m. CT on Sunday. Before-and-after Photos Of Camp Mystic, Kerr County Show Devastation 1 Week After Deadly Floods The increase in thunderstorms comes as deep Gulf moisture surges back into the region, brought in by an upper-level disturbance expected to develop over the Southern Plains. The NWS warned that rainfall of 1-3 inches, with isolated amounts up to 6 inches are possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has issued a level 2 out of 4 flash flood threat for parts of north-central Texas through Sunday, and that includes Kerrville and the Texas Hill Country. Mother, Son Tell How Historic Floods Swept Through La Junta Boys Camp Along Guadalupe River Not all the areas badly impacted by flooding, like Kerr County, may receive direct rainfall, but if heavy rains occur up north, where thunderstorms are a bit more likely, flash floods could move south, the FOX Forecast Center said. Residents affected by the July 4 flooding should remain especially alert for any locally developing storms. Deaths and missing people have been reported across Kerr, Burnet, Travis, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties. No survivors have been found since the day of the flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump visited Kerrville on Friday to meet with Texas officials. "It's hard to believe the devastation - trees that are 100 years old just ripped out of the ground - I've never seen anything like it, and I've seen a lot of bad ones," the President said during his meeting with state and local officials in Kerrville. "I've gone through a lot of hurricanes, a lot of tornadoes I've never seen anything like this." Girls' belonging litter the ground at Camp Mystic after devastating flooding. More than 150 people remain missing across the Hill Country as of Saturday morning. Original article source: Texas death toll nears 130 as concern for more flash flooding grows in hard-hit areas The parents of 8-year-old Kellyanne Elizabeth Lytal confirmed to Fox News Digital Friday that Texas Rangers identified her as one of the Camp Mystic girls killed in the Texas Hill Country floods. The Lytal family described Kellyanne, who went missing on the Fourth of July, as a "shining light in this world." "She was kind, fearless, silly, compassionate, and a loving friend to everyone," the family wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital. Kellyanne Elizabeth Lytal, 8, died in the Texas Hill Country Floods July 4, 2025. Texas Flood Survivors Share Harrowing Stories, Search Continues For Those Still Missing Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They added she "believed deeply in Jesus," noting they "rejoice in the comfort of knowing she is in Heaven with our Lord and Savior." Camp Mystic, an all-girls private Christian retreat, reported 27 girls missing after the Guadalupe River flooded and waters rushed through the campground. Read On The Fox News App They are all presumed dead, and first responders continue to search for remains. Campers' belongings sit outside one of Camp Mystic's cabins near the Guadalupe River July 7, 2025, in Hunt, Texas, after a flash flood swept through the area. Nasa Sends Specialized Aircraft, Technology To Aid Texas Flood Search And Recovery Operations "Even though she was taken from us way too early, we thank God for the eight magical years we got to share with her," the Lytals wrote. "Our family wants to thank everyone for their prayers and support during this difficult time. We are forever grateful for the men and women who are assisting in the Search and Rescue efforts." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 119 people died in the floods, and at least 176 people remain missing, according to officials. Items are scattered inside a cabin at Camp Mystic after deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, July 5, 2025. 'Wall Of Water': Texan Recounts Catastrophic Midnight Flood Surge That Swept Away 27 Girls At Camp Mystic In Kellyanne's honor, the family established the Kellyanne Elizabeth Lytal Memorial Foundation to give to charitable causes that were dear to her heart. The fund is part of the Greater Houston Community Foundation, a tax-exempt organization. The Lytal family asked for continued prayers for all the families affected by the tragedy. Original article source: Texas family mourns 'shining light' 8-year-old daughter confirmed dead in Camp Mystic flood disaster Congress MP Manish Tewari has responded to BJP leader Amit Malviya's criticism of the Congress party's stand on Aadhaar-Voter ID linkage, stating there is a clear difference between linking Aadhaar to Voter ID and using Aadhaar, which contains biometric identifiers, merely as proof of identity. In a post on X, Manish Tewari wrote, "It does not really require rocket science to figure out that there is a difference between linking the Aadhar ID to the Voter ID and the Aadhar ID that has biometric identifier's being used as proof of identity." https://x.com/ManishTewari/status/1943683969221882269 Earlier, BJP leader Amit Malviya hit out at the Congress over what he described as a "shameless flip-flop" in its stand on Aadhaar and Voter ID linkage. In his post on X, Malviya pointed to Congress' protests in Parliament in 2021 against the Centre's proposal to link Aadhaar with Voter ID, and compared it to the party's current stand. "2021: Modi government proposes voluntary linking of Voter ID with Aadhaar. Congress protests inside Parliament with placards screaming: "Aadhaar is just for targeted delivery of benefits. It can't be linked with Voter ID!" Malviya's post read. The post added, "2025: Congress now wants Aadhaar to verify Voter ID. Same Aadhaar. Same Voter ID. Just exposed hypocrisy. Anything for votes--even if it means shameless flip-flops!" Malviya's remarks came in response to an ongoing debate over the use of Aadhaar in the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll in Bihar. On Thursday, the Supreme Court allowed the Election Commission to continue with its exercise of conducting a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The Election Commission launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to update the state's electoral rolls. However, opposition parties have raised concerns, arguing that the short timeline and strict requirements could lead to the exclusion of many eligible voters. (ANI) The Brief President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump toured Central Texas today, meeting grieving families after floods killed at least 120, including 36 children. Melania Trump expressed deep sympathy, sharing a bracelet honoring girls lost at Camp Mystic, where 27 campers and counselors died. President Trump called the devastation "horrible," pledging continued federal resources via FEMA. KERRVILLE, Texas - President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trumptoured the damage left behind by deadly floods in Central Texas and spoke with grieving families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 120 people were killed, including 36 children, in the flooding. Around 160 are still believed to be missing. Melania Trump on Texas flooding US First Lady Melania Trump speaks during a meeting with local officials and first responders in Kerrville, Texas, on July 11, 2025, following devastating flooding that ocurred in the area over the July 4 weekend. At least 120 people are dead and more than 170 still missing, following July 4 holiday weekend floods that ravaged the central Texas Hill Country -- including a river bank cluttered with children's summer camp cabins. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) What they're saying The first lady spoke at a roundtable discussion with local leaders shortly after meeting with families. She shared that she received a special bracelet to honor the girls who lost their lives at Camp Mystic. "My deepest sympathy to all of the parents who lost beautiful young souls. Deepest sympathy from all of us, to the community, to everybody who lost a loved one. We are grieving with you. Our nation is grieving with you," Trump said. The first lady said she would be back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I just pray for them and I'm giving them my strength and love," she said. Texas flooding The backstory Its been a week since flash floods left a trail of damage across Texas. At least 120 people were killed in the flooding in the state. More than 170 people are considered missing. Fast-rising floodwaters damaged homes and camps along the Guadalupe River, including Camp Mystic, where 27 campers and counselors died. Earlier this week, Trump signed a "Major Disaster Declaration" for relief for Kerr County, and yesterday added eight more counties to the list, making them eligible for direct financial assistance to recover and rebuild. Texas flooding donations What you can do FOX viewers have come through in a big way for the victims of last weeks devastating Texas floods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following FOXs initial donation to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, our generous viewers answered the call to action and helped raise $5 million to aid Central Texas communities. Visit go.fox/txfloodrelief to support relief and rebuilding efforts. The Source Information in this article comes from a news conference on July 11, 2025, Texas officials and FOX LOCAL. HOUSTON - Authorities are warning those donating to help flood victims after the disaster in Kerrville. Scammers are creating fake fundraisers pretending to help victims but pocketing the donations themselves. Fake Gofundme page for Central Texas flood victim What we know In the wake of the devastation in Central Texas, many people want to help and donate, but local authorities say, be careful where you send your money. Harris County Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen said a fake GoFundMe page was reported to his office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said a fraudulent fundraiser was claiming to help a flood victim from Houston who died in the devastating flooding. "They got two donations - totaling $1,500 - to incentivize people to donate, but even those people, we discovered, are dead," Constable Rosen told FOX 26. "We immediately contacted the GoFundMe people and shut this [page] down immediately, so no one got scammed." Constable Rosen shared a reminder for others to pay attention to where they're donating and to make sure the site they're using is vetted. "GoFundMe has tips that people should look at prior to giving money on GoFundMe or any other site," said Constable Rosen. "It's wonderful that people want to give. That's what Texans are about, that's what people in Harris County and all over our country are about, about giving to these tragedies, and I love that piece. But I do not like people that are criminals, soulless people that are out there trying to take advantage of an already tragic situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you see a suspicious go fund me page, report it to local authorities. GoFundMe statement What they're saying A GoFundMe representative sent the following statement to FOX 26 in response to this report: "GoFundMe has zero tolerance for the misuse of our platform or any attempt to exploit the generosity of others, and we work closely with law enforcement to investigate those accused of wrongdoing. Our Trust & Safety team is actively monitoring and reviewing all fundraisers related to the flooding in Texas. In this case, the fundraiser in question was promptly removed, the associated account permanently banned, and all donations fully refunded. At no point did the organizer have access to any of the funds. We have robust systems in place that allow anyone to report a fundraiser at any time. Each report is promptly reviewed, and appropriate action is taken as part of our commitment to donor and community safety. All verified fundraisers related to the Texas floods can be found on our centralized hub: gofundme.com/TexasFloods." The Source FOX 26 reporter Jillian Hartmann spoke to Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen. Its been a week since the flooded Guadalupe River ravaged the Texas Hill Country. All over the state, the sense of shock and disbelief is fading, the reality of what has been lost and what remains to be done slowly sinking in. The human loss is almost unimaginable; more than 100 dead and close to twice that number still missing. So many of the lost are children. We as a society are not accustomed to dealing with death, especially that of the young. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a time in human history when child mortality was commonplace, whether by war or disease, and there sadly are still parts of the world where this is the case. I recently read a book about Nazi-occupied Warsaw, when the citys population was indiscriminately bombed, shot and burned to death. Many of the 200,000 killed during the 63 days of the Warsaw Uprising were children, a reality the author, a survivor, mentioned almost dispassionately. But in the U.S. in 2025, the notion that otherwise healthy children will not reach adulthood is something far beyond our comprehension. Were not quite sure what to do or what to say. Nothing feels sufficient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because nothing about it makes sense. In such times of profound tragedy and confusion, many of us turn to our faith. A man walks by a building at Camp Mystic on Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. A flash flood swept through the area early Friday morning. More than 100 people died in flooding across the state, mostly near the Guadalupe River. Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls in Central Texas, confirmed on that at least 27 campers and counselors are believed to have died. Ive seen some on social media call it ironic that Camp Mystic is a Christian camp. Where was God while the waters were rushing? What good were all the thoughts and prayers offered when they were answered only by death and despair? Ive also seen no shortage of derision of the faithful families of victims, many residents of deeply religious Kerr County, who have asked for and expressed thanks for the prayers of strangers and have even expressed gratitude to God for his provision amid unfathomable loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Provision? Amid such desolation? For people of little or no faith, such a notion is baffling. Many of the youngest flood victims are from the iconic Camp Mystic, the name of which struck me. Mystic describes something otherworldly, mysterious. Its a word that somehow suits not only the nature of the flood which seems almost biblical, but the collective of people of faith response to its carnage. Whether in person, social media or the printed word, there have been endless requests for and offers of prayer and supplication. Not just for miracles, although our collective cry has gone up for those, but for peace and understanding of what cannot possibly be comprehended on this side of heaven. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just as it is unconscionable to exploit this tragedy for political reasons, its folly to attempt to understand why this magnitude of suffering is allowed to occur. Those who would blame the victims and their political or religious beliefs or mock those beliefs for their futility attempt to provide a moral framework that any thinking person would recognize does not apply to the world in which we live. If the arc of human history confirms anything, its that innocent people die. Good people suffer. And sometimes, nobody is at fault. As a society, theres a tendency to think that the only way tragic events can be atoned for is by some material adjustment being made in its wake: new political leadership, a policy change, a new system, a new law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the days and months and years to come, such changes may come to pass and they may be good, even overdue. But my guess is that any meaning to be derived from so much tragedy is far less practical and much more spiritual in nature. A friend said something to me recently that Ive thought about every day since the flood: In the economy of God, nothing is wasted. She made this statement in response to a tragic and unexpected loss of a child when she witnessed a diverse and secular community come together to pray without ceasing. Even those of us who trust in a higher plan are and may well be mystified for the rest of our lives about why this tragedy was allowed to occur and what purpose could possibly be written into it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We also concede the possibility that millions of people all over the world beseeching our creator isnt just a consequence of or response to tragedy, but that our prayers might very well serve as the divine meaning that was intended all along. Do you have an opinion on this topic? Tell us! We love to hear from Texans with opinions on the news and to publish those views in the Opinion section. Letters should be no more than 150 words. Writers should submit letters only once every 30 days. Include your name, address (including city of residence), phone number and email address, so we can contact you if we have questions. You can submit a letter to the editor two ways: Email letters@star-telegram.com (preferred). Fill out this online form. Please note: Letters will be edited for style and clarity. Publication is not guaranteed. The best letters are focused on one topic. The Brief Texas leaders will redraw congressional districts after a DOJ letter alleged racial gerrymandering. Democrats criticize the move, claiming it's a political stunt to boost Republican power. The special session also addresses Central Texas flooding and THC regulation. DALLAS - After outrage from Democrats over Gov. Greg Abbott's call to draw new congressional district lines, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows said Friday they are in "lockstep." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas leaders said in a statement they want to ensure compliance with the U.S. Constitution. Texas congressional redistricting The U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter to Abbott saying four congressional districts in Texas show signs of racial gerrymandering that is unconstitutional. All four districts are held by Democrats, so the move has Democrats crying foul. Republicans' delicate balance of power in Congress could get a boost from the Texas special session originally called by Abbott to address regulating THC. Now, the special session will also address the tragic Central Texas flooding, as well as focus on the lines that carefully carve out congressional districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abbott says the need to revise congressional districts is due to a letter Monday from the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ called out three majority Democrat districts in Houston, and one in Dallas. Republicans hold 25 of the state's 38 congressional seats. SMU political scientist Matthew Wilson says Republicans are working to take advantage of their political power in Texas. What they're saying "Democrats did very aggressive gerrymanders in places like Illinois and Maryland and Oregon, where they run the show. So it's not at all uncommon for a party that controls all of state government to try to maximize their political advantage through redistricting," Wilson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Redistricting efforts generally follow the release of new census data. The Republican-led Texas legislature just redrew the state's maps in 2021 following the 2020 U.S. census. "Those are three very different items that are all going to have to be dealt with," Wilson said of the special session items. "So it really is going to be a hodgepodge of activities and people dealing with a very disparate agenda." Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth), whose district encompasses parts of Dallas and Fort Worth, says the timing of lighting a political fire in the middle of a flooding tragedy is poor taste. Veasey said in a statement: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Were not buying for one second that the timing of the Trump DOJs lettersent just two days agowas a coincidence. This is a coordinated political stunt, not a legal revelation. The claim that coalition districts like mine violate the voting rights act and 14th Amendment is laughable and offensive." Wilson agreed that the Texas leaders might consider their priorities going into the session. "I would think, and I would hope, that they would deal with the flood-related issues where there's likely to be more bipartisan consensus first, and then turn their attention to redistricting. But who knows how they'll end up structuring things," Wilson said. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries posted on X Thursday, criticizing the move. Innocent children drowned to death in the Texas Hill Country. The federal and state government failed them. What are Donald Trump, Governor Abbott and House Republicans doing about it? Their focus is to gerrymander the Texas congressional map in the middle of the decade. Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) July 10, 2025 The Source Information in this article came from a FOX 4 interview with an SMU expert and public statements from state officials. A new report underscores the disparities in Americas ongoing drug crisis, with West Virginia leading the nation in overdose death rates while Texas ranks near the bottom. The report, conducted by Stone Injury Law Firm using data compiled from the CDC, reveals that West Virginia ranked first, with over 80 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 residents, the highest rate in the country by a wide margin. In total, 1,335 people in West Virginia lost their lives to overdoses in 2022 alone. West Virginias high overdose rate may be due to the ongoing opioid epidemic that have raptured areas like Appalachia. The drug crisis has hit Appalachia especially hard, with overdose death rates among adults aged 2554 in 2022 running 64% higher than the national average, per the Appalachia Regional Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee ranked second overall with 56 deaths per 100,000 residents, and Delaware placed third at 55. Despite Delawares smaller population, its high overdose rates also reflect the growing impact of the opioid epidemic and other drug-related fatalities across smaller Northeastern states. Louisiana (54.5) and Maine (54.3) rounded out the top five for states with the most drug overdoses. Meanwhile, Texas the second-most populated state reported one of the lowest per capita rates, at 18.2 overdose deaths per 100,000 residents. Thats despite nearly 5,000 fatal overdoses statewide in 2022. South Dakota had the lowest rate at 11.3 deaths per 100,000, with only 95 overdose deaths recorded, the lowest raw number in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few other Southern and Midwestern states, including Nebraska and Iowa, also ranked among the lowest in per capita overdose deaths, even as large metropolitan areas within them face their own struggles with fentanyl and other new synthetic opioids. In contrast, Northeastern states continue to see persistently high overdose mortality rates, often tied to the rise of synthetic opioids, difficult economies or low job opportunities, as well as healthcare challenges. These statistics reveal alarming disparities in drug overdose rates across the country. The fact that West Virginias rate is more than seven times higher than South Dakotas highlights the need for tailored approaches to address the ongoing drug crisis that America faces, a spokesperson for Stone Injury Lawyers said in a statement. Health officials warn that while overall overdose numbers remain alarmingly high across the country, state-by-state differences show a complex mix of drug supplies as well as availability of treatment and rehabilitation services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, Narcan, or Naloxone, is a life-saving medication that can quickly reverse the deadly impact of opioid overdoses. More than 2.1 million Narcan prescriptions were dispensed from retail pharmacies across America in 2023, according to new data from the CDC. The overall national dispensing rate doubled from 0.3 to 0.6 per 100 people between 2019 and 2023 alone, reflecting bigger efforts to make the life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication more widely available. However, Narcan dispensing rates vary sharply by state. In 2023, Wyoming led the nation with 2.5 prescriptions per 100 people, followed by Arkansas (1.9), New Mexico (1.6), Rhode Island (1.4), and Kentucky (1.3). States with the lowest rates, all at 0.3 per 100 people, included Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Texas. Temperatures will be in the low to mid-90s this weekend in Fort Worth, with a heat index reaching the triple digits, according to the National Weather Service Fort Worth. We havent hit 100 degrees yet, but the heat can affect people who are on certain medications. Heat intolerance is a common side effect of medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), hypertension medication, antipsychotics, some antibiotics and other drugs. SSRIs interfere with the bodys thermal regulation because these medications affect the hypothalamus, a gland in the brain that triggers the release of hormones. How do SSRIs work? Emergency room psychiatrist and certified lifestyle physician Dr. Adjoa Smalls-Mantey, based in New York City, said that SSRIs work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, which triggers a downstream response in the body. Increased serotonin relieves the symptoms of depression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smalls-Mantey said people should be aware of the signs of heat intolerance, including excessive sweating, so they can quickly take action to cool down and get help. Primarily with SSRIs, when we talk about heat intolerance, we talk about how it might make you even sweat more and the danger in that is that people can get dehydrated and you also just feel even hotter because the body is heating and trying to cool itself down, she said. More trending stories from our newsroom: How H-E-B is helping Kerrville How to help Central TX flood victims Where is 'Landman' filming this week? How many Americans use antidepressants? Studies show that between 2015-2018, 3.2 percent of American adults 18 and over used antidepressant medications. That number increased during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Another study said that the monthly antidepressant dispensing rate for adolescents and young adults increased to 66.3 percent between 2016 and 2022 a number that jumped by 17 percent per month in 2020 alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heat intolerance can result in heat stress and heat stroke, which decreases stroke volume, cardiac output and muscle blood flow, according to medical research. Smalls-Mantey said people can reach out to their doctors and pharmacista to discuss medication side effects, and use resources such as WebMD, GoodRx and Medscape for a breakdown of medications and other health information. What steps can people take to stay safe? Hydrate, especially during hot summer days Avoid being out in the sun for prolonged periods, especially during the hottest times of the day. Wear loose clothing Avoid access to caffeine and alcohol Be aware of the signs of heat intolerance What are the signs of heat intolerance, heat stroke and heat exhaustion? Texas Department of State Health data from 2023 showed that a least 334 people had died due to heat that year a record for heat deaths, according to The Texas Tribune. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young children and the elderly are at the greatest risk of heat stress. The elderly are often on several medications, including SSRIs, hypertension medication, and others, which increases their risk even more. Smalls-Mantey said that the most common initial symptoms people notice are headaches, increased heart rate, dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, and fatigue. When you feel a little bit of discomfort, when you feel off, try to stop and assess what [your body] is trying to tell [you] right now, and not trying to push through that discomfort unnecessarily, so you dont have any more serious health consequence, she said. She stated that the first thing people should do is get to a cool space out of the sun. Those without air conditioning should contact their local public health departments and cities to determine if resources are available due to the extreme heat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city of Fort Worth Community Action Partners and Reliant Energy have launched a Beat the Heat Program that residents can use to stay cool. Where are the cooling centers in Fort Worth? The following locations are Beat the Heat cooling centers around Fort Worth: Como Community Center 4660 Horne St. Fort Worth, TX 76107 817-392-5300 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center 5565 Truman Drive Fort Worth, TX 76112 817-392-5966 Northside Community Center 1100 N.W. 18th St. Fort Worth, TX 76164 817-392-5992 Worth Heights Community Center 3551 New York Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76110 817-392-8724 A Texas man was arrested Thursday after allegedly making violent threats against President Donald Trump on Facebook ahead of the presidents visit to Kerrville, according to federal officials. Robert Herrera, 52, of San Antonio, was charged with making threats against the president and interstate threatening communications, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas. The alleged threats were posted on a local news outlets Facebook page discussing Trumps upcoming visit to the Hill Country after deadly Fourth of July flooding. The outlet has not been publicly identified by law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man Busted With Anti-government, Anti-trump Documents After Texas Ice Ambush Suspect Phone Call, Feds Say According to a Department of Justice release, Herrera, using the name "Robert Herrer," allegedly posted the phrase "I wont miss" beneath a photo of Trump surrounded by Secret Service agents after the July 2024 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. When another user responded, "you wont get the chance, I promise," Herrera allegedly replied, "Ill just come for you," attaching a photo of himself holding what appeared to be a rifle and loaded magazines. Read On The Fox News App President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, before heading to Kerrville, where they visited with state and local leaders, first responders and victims of last week's flash flooding. The posts have since been removed, and federal agents arrested Herrera later that day. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison per charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Roomberg is prosecuting the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While the FBI fully supports and defends every Americans right to free speech, it is important to understand that threatening violence against any individual is not constitutionally protected speech, it is a federal crime," Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBIs San Antonio Field Office said in the release. "The FBI and our partners take threats of violence seriously, and we urge the public to do the same. We would like to thank the United States Secret Service, the San Antonio Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the United States Attorney's Office for their tremendous partnership in addressing this threat against the president. "We urge all members of the public to express their views peacefully and respectfully in a manner consistent with the values that define our nation." Texas Suspect Who Damaged Ice Vehicle, Aggressively Pursued Agents Is Arrested: Police President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott meet with local emergency services personnel as they survey flood damage along the Guadalupe River Friday in Kerrville, Texas. "I would like to thank the San Antonio Police Department and the FBI San Antonio Field Office for assisting the U.S. Secret Service in this matter," Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Gibson of the U.S. Secret Service San Antonio Field Office said in the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Investigating threats towards individuals under Secret Service protection are treated as our highest priority. This is one of the countless reasons the Secret Service prides ourselves on forging and maintaining relationships with other law enforcement agencies. As this is an ongoing investigation, the Secret Service will have no further comment on this incident." Trump and the first lady traveled to Kerrville Friday to survey flood damage and meet with first responders. In remarks on the ground, Trump said the federal government would provide "whatever relief Texas needs." President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, along with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and local emergency services personnel survey flood damage along the Guadalupe River Friday in Kerrville, Texas. The arrest comes almost one year to the day after Trump survived an attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania rally. In that incident, a rooftop gunman fired at Trump from roughly 150 yards away, grazing his right ear and killing one attendee, Corey Comperatore, before Secret Service agents shot the attacker dead. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas, the Secret Service and San Antonio Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment. Original article source: Texas Trump threat suspect arrested after allegedly writing 'I wont miss' in social media post A 63-year-old Texas woman has been indicted in an attempted murder case after authorities say she hatched a plot to kill her ex-husband. Pamela Jean Stanley was recorded telling an acquaintance she wanted to buy powdered fentanyl to inject into a box of chocolates, the Parker County Sheriffs Office said in a news release Friday. She planned to mail the drug-laced candy to her ex-husband, whod recently gotten engaged to another woman, authorities said. Stanley intended to make the chocolates appear to be a congratulatory gift from a travel agency, according to the release. They would be sent with a honeymoon incentive offer to make them appear legitimate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sheriffs Office was informed of Stanleys plan and initiated a sting operation. The 63-year-old Coleman woman drove about 100 miles northeast to Parker County to buy fentanyl, the release states. She met undercover investigators posing as fentanyl sellers in a motel parking lot on May 30 and was arrested immediately after completing the purchase. Stanley was in possession of methamphetamine when she was arrested, according to the release. She was booked into the Parker County Jail. On Thursday, Stanley was indicted on charges of criminal attempt to commit murder, criminal solicitation with attempt to commit murder and possession of a controlled substance. Shes being held on a $550,000 bond, according to jail records. More top stories from our newsroom: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All Texas flags lowered to half-staff this weekend. Heres why Fort Worth kids to sell more lemonade after raising $5k for Camp Mystic Alvarado ICE attack: How one suspect's neighbor described her [Get our breaking news alerts.] Three dogs and their owners gathered in the lobby of Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center recently before the dogs started their workday. The dogs make rounds throughout the medical center, bringing comfort as they visit staff and patients. The therapy dogs visit staff on the maternity floor, neurology, orthopedic and WomanCare outpatient clinics adjacent to the main medical center. Adam Cassotis, the volunteer coordinator for Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center, said therapy dogs offer support for patients and staff in high-stress situations. They bring a sense of ease to patients and staff members, and I know that some of them go to cancer treatment centers and other clinics to see the patients and staff there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre giving people something good to smile about during their time there, and it means the world, Cassotis said. Cassotis said the medical center currently has six volunteers who bring therapy dogs, but he hopes to get more. Volunteering is extremely important to the hospital. Were bringing in more therapy dogs, and Im hoping that well have one for every single day for different shifts as well because people love animals, Cassotis said. Volunteer Catherine Saunders said that after helping to accompany a neighbor to radiation therapy, she saw how therapy dogs brightened peoples day. They brought the therapy dogs through there; you could feel everybodys spirits lift, and when I retired, I wanted to do that as well, Saunders said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saunders and Eli, her Coton de Tulear (a breed of small dog named for the city of Tulear in Madagascar), have been volunteering for two years at the medical center. Marcia Pearce said she introduced Big Ben, her great Dane, to therapy work because of his friendly attitude and her own passion for helping others. I had a great Dane who loved to be touched and petted, and my trainer suggested therapy work. I also like helping people and like being able to share my love and my dogs love to bring joy to people and make them smile, Pearce said. Bonnie Visi said she was once walking Goldie, her golden retriever, when someone encouraged her to get involved in therapy work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was walking at Oak Ridge Park and someone said that she would be a great therapy dog. I wasnt sure what a therapy dog did, and they told me that I could take her places like camps, events, the hospital and nursing homes to see people, and she got certified as a therapy dog when she was a year and a half, Visi said. Saunders said therapy dogs help patients feel less lonely, especially if they are missing their own dogs. I cant tell you the number of times Ive gone into a room and people have said, Oh, I needed this, or that they missed their dog. They are part of your family, and they cant come to the hospital with you, Saunders said. Visi noted that the presence of the therapy dogs evokes memories of their current and past pets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many people talk about animals theyve had in their lives, even if they dont have an animal now. They miss the animals that they currently have or ones that have gone, Visi said. Pearce said the patients often express their gratitude, making the experience memorable for her and Big Ben. Every visit we have at least one or two people say, Im so glad youre here today, you dont know how bad I needed you to come visit, and it really makes your day, and it is as meaningful for us as it is for them, Pearce said. Thick Canadian smoke engulfs Minnesota as air quality alert extends through Monday originally appeared on Bring Me The News. After a break of a few weeks thanks to some rain in Canada and favorable upper- and lower-level winds the Canadian wildfire smoke is back with a vengeance. The air quality index is in the RED category (unhealthy for all), sitting in the 150 to 200 range across the Twin Cities metro and much of the state early Saturday morning. Shortly after midnight Friday night, air quality rapidly declined in the Twin Cities so youre waking up to that campfire smell and haze Saturday morning. The smoke was visible on satellite imagery Friday as it moved into western Minnesota in the wake of a cold front. That front pushed wildfire smoke from the surface in Saskatchewan and Manitoba south and east into Minnesota over the past 24 hours. By early Saturday, the smoke appears as a gray haze across much of the state in stark contrast to the brighter white, textured look of cloud cover: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A statewide air quality alert remains in effect through early Monday. Everyone including pets should limit exposure, as the air is expected to remain unhealthy for all categories. Those with underlying conditions, especially respiratory issues, should be particularly cautious. The good news: If you have an N95 mask lying around, they work well to filter out wildfire smoke particles from the air you breathe. Just like in much of Minnesota, parts of Manitoba saw decent rains in late June, which helped at least control, if not suppress, some wildfires. That, along with more favorable weather patterns, kept the smoke mostly out of the state in recent weeks. But now, numerous large fires are once again burning across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Heres a look at the areas burned as of Friday shown as brown blotches scattered across Canada: A staggering portion of central and western Canada is experiencing at least moderate if not severe drought, according to Canadas latest drought monitor. There are even pockets of extreme drought along the SaskatchewanManitoba border. Despite the pleas of some absurd Republican lawmakers, Canada cannot just put out all their fires. Canadian wildfires often burn in much more remote areas than those in places like California. If we really want to help Canada, we need to do more to combat climate change. While fires in the U.S. are typically human-caused, many of Canadas wildfires are sparked by dry lightning. But the conditions that allow these fires to develop, spread, and persist hotter, drier weather arriving earlier and lasting longer are a direct result of a warming planet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the last 15 days, temperatures across central Canada have been running 8 to 15 degrees above normal with little to no rainfall. In 2024, Canada saw average annual temperature anomalies of +8F above normal a staggering figure. For context, annual average temperature anomalies usually have a standard deviation of just 2 to 3F. So +8F is extreme. The past two years have been exceptionally warm and dry throughout central and western Canada. Were likely to see more thick smoke blowing in for midday and afternoon Saturday, with another batch arriving Sunday before clearing out Monday morning. Heres the HRRR (High-Resolution Rapid Refresh) models smoke forecast through 1 a.m. Monday: We said this back in May: Its likely well be dealing with wildfire smoke on and off all summer and into the fall. This level of dryness and fire activity will take much of the autumn season to suppress. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared. by Xinhua writer Yan Ran MASERU, July 12 (Xinhua) -- As night falls over the northern highlands of Lesotho in early July, winter's chill sets in. Yet the Polihali Transfer Tunnel construction site remains a hive of activity. "We have deployed round-the-clock operations with three rotating shifts," said Julius Topo, site manager for the tunnel excavation. The Polihali Transfer Tunnel is the second phase of the multi-phased Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). Designed to supply water from Lesotho to the Gauteng region and surrounding areas in South Africa, the project marks a flagship for this landlocked country and its neighbor. The 38-km tunnel will be excavated using two hard-rock shielded tunnel boring machines (TBM), operating simultaneously from Polihali and Katse. The first TBM began boring from the Katse site earlier this year. On July 5, a launch ceremony was held for the second TBM at the Caledonspoort Border Post in Butha-Buthe, Lesotho. This China-manufactured machine was shipped to Durban Port and will be assembled at the Polihali site. It is expected to significantly speed up the excavation process to meet the slated 2028 completion date. Speaking at the ceremony, South Africa's High Commissioner to Lesotho Constance Seoposengwe said she believed the new machine would give further impetus to the already ongoing work on the project. "The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is more than just a water project," she said. "Local jobs have been created, and new roads have been built in the Kingdom." Constructed by Kopano Ke Matla (KKM), a joint venture between China's Yellow River Company, Sinohydro Bureau 3, and South Africa's Unik Civil Engineering, the tunnel is the largest ongoing infrastructure project between the two countries. Its very name, KKM, meaning "unity is strength" in the Sesotho language, one of the official languages of Lesotho, reflects the diversity and inclusiveness of the workforce. Topo, a veteran of the LHWP's first phase in the 1990s, underpinned the importance of passing on experience. "TBMs were used in Phase I, but 30 years have passed. Now it is time for me to share my knowledge with local colleagues to enhance site organization," he said. "Managing a multicultural team has many challenges, but I am learning from the Chinese and sharing what I know. We are getting along," he added. According to Xu Xishuai, the commercial manager of KKM, more than 99 percent of the skilled workforce is locally hired, creating over 1,800 jobs since the company's involvement. "The project has improved local infrastructure, provided employment, and passed on essential vocational skills. It is more than just tunnel construction," Xu said. While the project is still underway, its benefits are already evident. Regional transport services have expanded. A significant portion of engineers, subcontractors and suppliers are local. And the use of local construction materials and catering services has kept spending within the community, reinforcing the project's positive community impact. Born in the nearby village of Bafali, tunnel engineer Montso Lebitsa has witnessed the changes firsthand. "Traveling from Mapholaneng to Katse used to take more than eight hours due to poor traffic. Now, it takes less than two, thanks to the new road built for the project," Lebitsa recalled with a smile. Health support has also improved. "The Chinese medical team comes here from time to time to provide free health services to workers and residents. We are in remote areas where clinics or health facilities are far from the communities," said Maseqhoang Sechaba, the project's community liaison officer. Masiphola Sekonyela, chief of Tloha Re Bue, one of the areas near the Polihali site, praised the project's contributions. "When I heard the Chinese would lead this project, I was excited. They work hard and know how to get the job done," he said. "Our people rely on farming and herding, but now they have jobs, better access to goods, and more options for the future." Pride Mudzingwa, chief executive officer of Tashie Training and Business Solutions, is overseeing the vocational training effort for KKM. "We have categorized participants as unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled so we can tailor classes accordingly," Mudzingwa said. Class sizes have been reduced from 20-25 people to 10-15 for better outcomes. Courses range from five-day workshops to three-year programs and cover plumbing, fixing, quality assurance, and more. With an investment of more than 44 million Lesotho lotis (2.47 million U.S. dollars), the program aims to train more than 6,000 skilled workers over three years. So far, more than 500 have completed training and returned to work. "We issue certificates recognized across Southern African countries, which means workers can stay employed or even be promoted after the project ends," said Rethabile Letsoalo, community/client liaison officer of Tashie Training and Business Solutions. "This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many, and we are grateful that our Chinese partners are giving it for free," Letsoalo said. For Mpoi Elizabeth Rankhethoa, a translator at the Katse site who graduated last year from the Central University of Finance and Economics in China on a full scholarship, returning home to work on this project has been eye-opening. "We rarely have a project of this scale in Lesotho, and it truly means a lot," Rankhethoa said. "It is not the first time China and Lesotho have worked together, and it certainly won't be the last." Months after the Umrangso rat-hole mining tragedy, which killed nine workers in Assam's Dima Hasao district, the Sixth Schedule Protection Committee of the hill district has demanded the Assam government to make the report of the One-Man Inquiry Commission formed under Justice Anima Hazarika public. Daniel Langthasa, Convenor of the Sixth Schedule Protection Committee and former member of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) of Dima Hasao district, told ANI on Friday that the government should make the One-Man Commission report public soon. Langthasa said, "In Dima Hasao district of Assam, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of NCHAC, Debolal Gorlosa and his wife, Kanika Hojai, have been running these rat hole mines for many years now. Kanika Hojai is the approved customer of Assam Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. How being the CEM of the council, which has the power over forest, land revenue, everything?" Demanding punishment for the perpetrators, he said, "How do you not have the knowledge that 100 illegal rat hole mines have been operating in your district for years? This is something which can't be hidden. It is very clear that all this was going on, and they are profiting from these illegal rat-hole mining. But unfortunately, it came to light after the tragedy that miners had died. It is held right now, and until and unless we give punishment and we catch the perpetrators for good, it will open and start again." Langthasa demanded that the report be made public so that justice could be served to the victims. "One-Man Commission under Judge (Retd) Anima Hazarika was sent to do the study, and the deadline was given. We, the public of Dima Hasao district, request that the report should be made public as soon as possible, because it is of utmost public interest," he said. Langthasa added, "Even the report can't be kept hidden, and immediate action must be taken. So that justice is given to the victims and also the image of Dima Hasao district and Assam, which has been tarnished infront of the whole world, and we have to correct this image. The report has to be public immediately, and further proceeding has to be started immediately." He alleged that, in a couple of years, many mysterious deaths and kidnapping cases have taken place in the Dima Hasao district. "Apart from a little bit of militancy problems in 2000, the Dima Hasao district has always been a peaceful place. But in the last couple of years, so many mysterious deaths and kidnapping cases have happened. But it is unfortunate that none of the cases have been investigated properly and no one has been caught," Daniel Langthasa said. He further alleged that development funds have been siphoned in the hill district. "We want a fair investigation," Daniel Langthasa said. The Convenor of the Sixth Schedule Protection Committee of Dima Hasao district alleged that lots of unsurrendered arms are still circulating in the hill district. "Due to this, lots of crimes, threats still exist, and this should be ended," Langthasa said. Daniel Langthasa's father, Nindu Langthasa, who was then the Executive Member of the NCHAC, was killed by militants 18 years ago, and the family members are still waiting for justice. "My father, Late Nindu Langthasa, who was also a member of the autonomous council in 2007, was brutally murdered on June 4, 2007, along with then Chief Executive Member (CEM) Purnendu Langthasa. For the last 18 years, we and the family of Purnendu Langthasa have been waiting for justice. The accused persons, when they are given the constitutional power they can manipulate and it is sad that they are still being given the constitutional power," Daniel Langthasa said. He further said that a fair trial should be done in other cases also. "In my father's killing case, we are going to the higher court to seek a better Investigation by CBI or NIA," Daniel Langthasa said. In January this year, nine coal miners were killed after they were trapped inside an illegal coal mine at Umrangso area in Assam's Dima Hasao district. Following the incident, the Assam government formed a One-Man Inquiry Commission, headed by Justice Anima Hazarika, former Judge of the Gauhati High Court, to investigate the Umrangso mine tragedy. (ANI) Crowds lined the streets of cities, towns and villages all over Northern Ireland to attend Twelfth of July parades. Thousands of Orange Order members take part in the annual marches to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The event is also a celebration of Protestant traditions and Ulster-Scots heritage. Members of local Orange lodges were joined on parade by visiting lodges from Scotland and further afield. The main parade in Belfast set off from the Orange hall at Clifton Street in north Belfast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parades also took place in various parts of Northern Ireland including Coleraine, Dromara and Augher. Northern Ireland Office Minister Fleur Anderson and Deputy First Minister Emma-Little Pengelly attended events in Keady, County Armagh. Fleur Anderson (left) and Emma-Little Pengelly with the Orange Order's grand secretary the Reverend Mervyn Gibson [BBC] The grand secretary of the Orange Order, the Reverend Mervyn Gibson, who was also in Keady, said the lead up to the Twelfth had been "tremendous". Asked about the Eleventh night and bonfires he said: "99% of everything passed off wonderfully. "Today couldn't be a better day for it, the sun is shining and the bands are playing loud, it's just been a great Twelfth of July." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edward Stevenson, grand master of the Orange Lodge of Ireland, said it had been "another momentous Twelfth with the largest crowds witnessed for a generation". He said there had been "a huge level of support with a great many tourists and visitors from across the UK and further afield". Fleur Anderson said: "It's important to see that you can have a cultural identity that can be celebrated and is also peaceful." In Keady, band members parade in the heat with a Lambeg drum [BBC] Parades are taking place across Northern Ireland, like this one in Kesh [BBC] Thousands of people marched through Kesh in County Fermanagh, joined by members of neighbouring Orange Order lodges in counties Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim and Donegal. Melissa and Lyndsay have travelled from Birmingham to watch the parade in Belfast [BBC] Lyndsay and Melissa, who came from Birmingham to Belfast to see the parade for the first time, said the passion people had for it was "absolutely beautiful". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's like a tradition being passed over from generation to generation, I think that's really important," said Lyndsay. However, both were surprised that marchers were parading in suits as temperatures soared. Melissa added: "At least it's not raining." A spectator shading herself from the blistering sun in Belfast [PA Media] Earlier in Belfast, a small feeder parade passed the Ardoyne shops in the north of the city at 09:00 BST without issue. There was a small police presence at the shops, which in the past was the scene of parade-related trouble. It was not permitted on the same route in the evening, but the return parade will take place on Sunday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Orange lodges were accompanied by marching bands and supported by tens of thousands of spectators, many dressed up in colourful costume for the occasion. This year's events were held at 18 locations, with members travelling to converge with neighbouring lodges at the nearest host venue. This year marks the 335th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, which took place outside Drogheda in what is now the Republic of Ireland. The battle ended in victory for the Protestant King William III over his Catholic father-in-law, the deposed King James II. Terence (L) and Mildred (R) with their dog Alfie enjoying the Coleraine parade [BBC] In Coleraine, Terence and Mildred McAle enjoyed the "glorious weather" watching the parade with their dog Alfie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We enjoy the bands and the spectacle," said Mr McAle. Mrs McAle added: "It's our culture and I enjoy a great day out. The grandchildren love it as their daddy is parading." Eleventh night bonfires On Friday night, hundreds of bonfires were lit to mark Eleventh night - a tradition observed by many unionist communities on the eve of the Twelfth. The bonfires commemorate the actions of King William III's supporters in 1690, who lit fires across the countryside to welcome him and guide him to the battle site. Most Eleventh night bonfires pass without incident, but some are controversial due to their height or location, or because they contain symbols considered offensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year a bonfire in south Belfast caused concern because of the presence of asbestos on the site, and the fact it was close to an electricity substation which supplies power to two nearby hospitals. The bonfire, between the Donegall Road and the Westlink, was lit on Friday night after police confirmed they would not assist in removing it. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The Crittenton Center has been awarded more than $21,000 through two separate grants. The largest grant of the two is from the Le Mars United Way, and it is $20,000. Itll help support the Child Development Center in Le Mars. High-quality early childhood education is a critical foundation for lifelong success, said Kim Scorza, CEO of Crittenton Center. This grant allows us to break down barrierswhether financial, behavioral, or logisticaland ensure more children in our community receive the care and learning opportunities they deserve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Story continues below Officials said the grant will be used to maintain child care slots, provide tuition assistance, reduce barriers for health screenings, and enhance their programs and partnerships. The other grant totals $1,660 and comes from the United Airlines Trust Fund. That trust fund is administered through the Siouxland Community Foundation. The money will help provide CPR training and supplies for those working in the Street Outreach Program (SOP). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those team members work with the communitys at-risk youth, helping alongside first responders in emergencies. Ensuring our staff are CPR-trained not only empowers them to respond in the event of a medical emergency, but also strengthens community preparedness overall, said Scorza. Were grateful to the Siouxland Community Foundation and United Airlines Trust Fund for recognizing the value of this work and investing in the safety of our clients, staff, and community. If youd like to learn more about the Crittenton Center, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Nashville Public Radio told News 2 there will be an immediate impact if Congress passes President Donald Trumps rescission package. The proposal aims to eliminate over $1 billion from NPR and PBS. Trump gave Republicans an ultimatum if they dont vote in favor of his funding cuts. We use Studio B for all of our live broadcasts and also for news presentations, Kenda Lovecchio, vice president of development at Nashville Public Radio, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nashville Public Radio has been a part of Middle Tennessee for more than 60 years. Were 90.3 WPLN News and 91.1, your music discovery station, Lovecchio said. House approves Trumps request to cut funding for NPR, PBS and foreign aid After spending decades relying on listeners, those at Nashville Public Radio now fear theyre being silenced. I absolutely feel that theres been a threat to public broadcasting, and also to the industry, Lovecchio said. NPR and PBS are both threatened as Trump pushes to take back over $1 billion of federal funding from the public broadcasters. I think its very unfair, its been very biasedits a waste of money, the president has said in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, July 10, Trump wrote, in part, on Truth Social, Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement. U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) appears to be in support. She posted on X Thursday afternoon that the rescission package would cut $9.4 billion in wasteful spending in order to save taxpayer dollars and streamline the federal governments work. Senate GOP gears up for test on Trumps DOGE cuts Meanwhile, Nashville Public Radio would lose $400,000 a year, which is 5% of its annual budget. The commitment that we receive through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been guaranteed. Its been something thats provided to us on an annual basis, and so it is a critical time because we are in need of finding a way to cover that lack, Lovecchio said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Lovecchio, the majority of funding comes from individuals in the community and corporate sponsorships. She added that support is needed now more than ever. This is a threat that further challenges our position, our field, our industry, and we feel that its just critical to local journalism to maintain the support from our community in order for us to continue and to thrive, Lovecchio said. You can help Nashville Public Radio by visiting its website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) The Wilson County Sheriffs Office safely rescued a woman and three children from a barricade situation Friday afternoon. Authorities were called to a home in the 300 block of Kimberly Court in Mt. Juliet for a domestic situation at about 2:45 p.m. They arrived to find a barricaded subject, according to Captain Scott Moore with the WCSO. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Moore said the rest of the neighborhood was advised to shelter in place while deputies used multiple resources to come to a peaceful resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said a man was arrested, but his identity has not been released. The scene is secure and contained to the residence involved, a social media post from the WCSO reads, in part. At this time, there is no immediate threat to the surrounding area. The WCSO said they would provide updates as the updates become available. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. LOGAN COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) Officials confirm that three people are dead and two firefighters were injured Saturday morning after a fire at a home in Logan County. Emergency Manager of Logan County, Steve Haga, confirms this was in a mobile home that caught on fire on the 6000 block of Terrill Road at around 5:54 a.m. Saturday. Three individuals escaped from the fire, while three others were found inside deceased. The victims have not been identified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews from Guthrie, Woodcrest, Oak Cliff, Meridian, and Sooner all responded to the fire. The two firefighters who were injured were both transported to nearby hospitals. This investigation is being led by the State Fire Marshall, and the cause of the fire is unknown. No other details have been released at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. HONOLULU (KHON2) Three islands, one common challenge: finding a new police chief. Whats next for Hawaii Island in their search for a new police chief? Hawaii Island joins Kauai and Honolulu in their search for a top cop after deciding not to keep Ben Moszkowicz on as chief. Honolulu Chief Joe Logan announced his retirement June 2, Kauais police chief Todd Raybuck retired on June 12, and on July 10, the top cop job on Hawaii island opened up after the commission decided not to accept Ben Moszkowiczs resignation withdrawal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont believe weve ever seen this many openings at one time, not in the history of this union, said Nicholas Schlapak, SHOPO state board chair. I think this provides us with the opportunity for some interesting powerful changes in all three counties. Earlier this week, Kauai closed its application window for police chief and said it received 43 applicants. Check out more news from around Hawaii Assistant Chief Elliott Kalani Ke has taken over as interim chief, and the county said it hopes to conclude interviews by the end of the year. On Oahu, the police commission chair says they havent put out a job posting for Chief Logans position because its not vacant yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Logan will retire on August 1, and the commission chose Deputy Chief Rade Vanic as interim chief. On Oahu, we need a clear, strong, decisive leader with a good, true police administrative background and a good communicator who is going to stand up and lead this department and take care of these vacancies and rebuild the morale problem, explained Schlapak. The commission will discuss whether to move forward with a consultant firm to recommend the next chief during its next meeting. Finding an interim chief in Honolulu is what led to Chief Moszkowicz submitting and rescinding his resignation. For me, personally, I feel really bad about how this process went, explained Rick Robinson, Hawaii County police commission chair. He said he hopes the next chief can do just as good of a job at retaining officers like Moszkowicz was able to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a laborious process, and you owe it to the members to serve as a police commissioner to cast the net out and find an acceptable candidate thats good for the police force, he added. The next commission meeting is next week, and the eight-member commission will discuss whats next in terms of the interim chief and full-time chief. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news We have on our agenda two things, one is our acknowledgment, because theres a succession plan within the police department for our deputy chief Mahuna to step in and take the position pending selection of an interim chief, Robinson explained. And that discussion is open to our panel as well. Do we send out applicants for our interim chief or how do we want to do it? We have rules regarding that, so well discuss that next week, the process by which were going to follow to select a new chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past, the Hawaii commission had candidates fill out a questionnaire anonymously until they decided to interview their top five choices, and then narrowed it down to their final selection. On Oahu, this will be the third police chief under Mayor Rick Blangiardi, who also said he wished things were handled differently with Moszkowicz. I think the mayor needs to have a say and a voice in who gets selected, Blangiardi said to the media on Thursday following the Hawaii County police commission hearing. SHOPO says it wont endorse any candidate and they want to see someone with long-term police experience and good communication skills take the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need staffing shortages filled on two of those islands, we need morale improved on all three, this is a golden opportunity for us to move forward with that respect, Schlapak said. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Although local candidates are preferred, in the past, applicants from as far as New York have applied for the job of police chief. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Jul. 11NORTHWOOD, N.D. Northwood, Rolla and Cando were among several airport authorities in North Dakota to receive funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA awarded $4,487,203 through the Airport Improvement Program for airport projects, a press release said. In and near northeast North Dakota, the Cando Municipal Airport Authority, Rolla Municipal Airport Authority and Northwood Municipal Airport Authority each received a piece of the funding. Cando received $300,000 to reseal 3,500 feet of its existing Runway 16/34 pavement, the release said, as well as joints at a nonprimary airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Northwood received $97,850 to construct a new 5,184 square foot sponsor-owned hangar. The release said the hangar will be used for aircraft storage and maintenance, in order to help the airport be as self-sustaining as possible. The funding will be used for phase one of the project, which involves design. Rolla received $151,489 to replace its existing wind cone and one existing airport rotating beacon. It will also be used to reconstruct the precision approach path indicator system for Runway 14/32 at both runway thresholds, the release said, and to reconstruct the existing lighting and signage for Runway 14/32 and existing Taxiway A lighting. INDEPENDENCE, Calif. -- Rescue crews faced numerous challenges, from weather to altitude to steep terrain in trying to save a timber who was badly injured in a fall near the top of a California mountain. Inyo County Search and Rescue said the climber called for help on the afternoon of July 2 after she fell near the West Chute of Mt. Williamson at an altitude of 13,600 feet -- less than a thousand feet below the summit. She told dispatchers she lost her backpack carrying all her food and supplies in the fall, and had badly broken her leg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Search and rescue crews sent a first helicopter from the California Highway Patrol, but a sudden thunderstorm swarmed the summit area, forcing the chopper to divert. It instead picked up two more searchers, but a dense fog followed the storm to the summit, preventing another aerial rescue. Climber rescued from atop Mt. Williamson on July 3, 2025. That night, the Navy sent another aircraft to drop four search and rescue teams off at the 10,500-foot level -- the maximum altitude the chopper is rated to fly. Search teams then hiked up the 3,000 feet through the night to try to reach the climber, but found the terrain too difficult to reach her. With the weather better on July 3, the CHP chopper returned to the climber, only to find that the steep, narrow chute where the climber fell exceeded the aircraft's hoist capability. They instead dropped the rescue team a few hundred feet above the climber, and those members finally were able to get to her location, about 23 hours after her initial fall. But the challenges weren't finished. Another chopper was brought to the scene with longer hoist capabilities, but the extreme altitude made flying the chopper untenable, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, the rescue team carefully moved the injured climber to a more open area, and a Black Hawk helicopter from the California National Guard was able to successfully bring the climber on board and fly her to a local hospital for treatment some 28 hours after she fell, according to Inyo County Search and Rescue. "This mission is a powerful reminder of the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering and the extraordinary efforts behind each rescue," the Inyo County Search and Rescue said. "The climbers bravery and composure in extreme conditions were remarkable." Original article source: Thunderstorms, extreme altitude make rescue of injured climber a 28-hour challenge CLEVELAND (WJW) Consecutive average-to-mild winters was expected to contribute to an increased population of ticks in Ohio, including Cuyahoga County this year, and at the peak of tick season, data from the Cleveland Clinic supports that. Community mourns man who saved kids from apartment explosion Dr. Chris Bazzoli, an emergency department physician with the Cleveland Clinic says texts and calls from family and friends about tick bites made him curious about the numbers of related emergency department visits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What he found is those numbers seem to have increased dramatically. We are seeing certain clinical impressions and diagnosis about double the rate than we saw last year so that would certainly indicate that folks are getting bitten by ticks more frequently. Its not perfect data but even if it is off by a sizeable margin it definitely shows an increase this year, Bazzoli told Fox 8 News. That includes ticks that carry and transmit Lyme disease. Ticks typically live in wooded areas or places where there is tall grass or vegetation. But they can also be found along trails and can even be in backyards where they can easily latch onto unsuspecting hosts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts say they are not a problem until they burrow themselves under your skin. Smell that? Corpse flower blooms at Akron greenhouse If a tick is just crawling on you, the risk of the virus isnt there. The trick is after you get done hiking you want to inspect yourself and your pets so that way the tick doesnt burrow into your skin, said Gus Dria, of the City of Cantons Health Department. Once they are imbedded it could take hours or days to actually transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, so Bazzoli suggests inspecting yourself after doing yard work or if you are in tall grass. If a disease-carrying tick does go undetected it could then be three to ten days before a host might experience symptoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And those fall into three broad categories: rashes, we are on the lookout for rashes, fevers and chills, kind of feeling like you are coming down with the flu, and also aches and pains said Bazzoli. The best medicine is prevention. Bazzoli recommends wearing long pants, a long sleeve shirt and maybe tall socks when hiking or doing yard work. Insect repellants can also be effective Keeping an eye out for DEET picaridin and IR 3535 are your best bets, those are all safe for pregnant women, children of all ages. They are not safe for your pets and we should be mindful too that our pets can bring in ticks to the house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If one is imbedded, experts say it can be removed by grabbing it near its head with a pair of tweezers and pulling it straight out without twisting, then thoroughly cleaning the area of the bite. Ohio Task Force 1 heading to Texas for search and rescue operation following devastating floods While the number of bites and related emergency room visits appear to be up from last year, Ohio Department of Health statistics, thus far, do not reflect an increased number of confirmed cases of Lyme disease this year You can find more information here about Lyme disease, identifying ticks and prevention. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. The decision by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) to not seek reelection next year could give Republican leaders headaches as he looks forward to wielding his newfound political freedom. Tillis announced his retirement amid the GOPs dash to pass the partys tax and spending package, having cropped up as a surprise no vote in the final weeks of negotiations. Now, questions are swirling about whats to come from Tillis, who had been a reliable ally of Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) during his tenure as Republican leader, as he faces the next year and a half untethered from what was to be a tough electoral fight and free to speak his mind. That could spell trouble for leaders as they work to keep the conference united on government funding, judicial nominations and other top priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You could have a member of the Senate who is going to support you 95 percent of the time, or you can have a member of the Senate thats going to support you, but not near 95 [percent], and more free to speak and say what they think, said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a top ally of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.). And now, I think you have a member who is here who is more interested in clearly speaking out and less reserved in what they have for criticisms. Its an independence that gives folks the opportunity to be a bit more direct with their comments, Rounds continued. I think youll find him to be a little bit more outspoken. A little less reserved. But I expect him to continue to participate. Tillis, in his retirement announcement, said he had no intention of being a wallflower. I look forward to having the pure freedom to call the balls and strikes as I see fit and representing the great people of North Carolina to the best of my ability, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And early indications are Tillis has become more freewheeling than in the past. The two-term senator scorched Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in an interview with CNN this week, saying he would not vote for Hegseth today having seen how hes operated. Tillis had reservations about the nomination in January after reports of sexual harassment, public drunkenness and workplace mismanagement emerged. But he cast the deciding vote to put Hegseth over the finish line. With the passing of time, I think its clear hes out of his depth as a manager of a large, complex organization, Tillis told CNNs Jake Tapper. Tillis is also no longer an official member of Republican leadership, having been replaced on Senate Majority Whip John Barrassos (R-Wyo.) whip team by Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), who is viewed as an up-and-comer in the conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barrasso told The Hill that the decision was ultimately up to Tillis. The North Carolina lawmaker also told Tapper that he will oppose any future administration nominees who have expressed support for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Earlier this year, he helped sink the nomination of Ed Martin to serve as the top federal prosecutor for Washington, D.C., over his defense of Capitol rioters. His approach to nominations, especially, could give President Trump and Thune fits as they start to marshal through judicial picks. Tillis serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee and could oppose any particularly partisan choice. The committee is split 12-10 between Republicans and Democrats, meaning Tillis could single-handedly bottle up a nominee or at least force Thune to go through the lengthy process of forcing a nomination to the floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I certainly think its a worry. Do you think Thom Tillis is voting for Nick Adams? Lets run the math on that nomination already, one Senate GOP aide, referring to the self-described alpha male MAGA influencer Trump nominated to be the ambassador to Malaysia. The aide noted that its incredibly unlikely that the foursome of Tillis, McConnell, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) back Adams. You might as well throw that nomination in the trash, the aide continued. Youre going to have examples like that where youre going from three no votes, which is winnable on issues like that, versus you have four no votes that dont care about the political fallout from the right. The aide also pointed to Tilliss concerns about cuts to the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) that are currently included in legislation set to hit the floor next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tillis told reporters this week that he is generally going to be a yes vote on that bill, which seeks to claw back money already allocated in the fiscal 2025 spending bill, though he is still looking into the PEPFAR cuts. And Tillis already demonstrated his political independence with his vote against Trumps big, beautiful bill last month. Tillis had agitated against the bill prior to the vote, raising the alarm about Medicaid cuts and potential political fallout, but some of his colleagues privately doubted he would follow through, pointing to his vote on Hegseth. Instead, Tillis voted against a bill packed with most of Trumps domestic priorities, which the president had been pushing hard for months. Despite his newly discovered political freedom, Tillis remains an ally of leadership and is ever cognizant of the landmines they must manage, having been a part of McConnells team in recent years and serving as House Speaker in his home state prior to his 2014 Senate victory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Top leaders still expect him to play an important role moving forward despite his recent untethering. Thune indicated that while the Tar Heel State senator has strong views and is an independent thinker, he remains a team player they will rely on. Tillis was like-minded. Im never going to do anything to undermine my conference and Im never going to surprise my conference. Im not that kind of guy, Tillis told The Hill, saying its not his style. I mean, if youve got to surprise or jam your conference to get something done, youre a pretty sty legislator, he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta called upon all political parties to rise above partisan lines and formulate a 'common minimum program' to collectively address the issue of illegal immigrants in the national capital. His remarks came in response to Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena's recent directive to the Chief Secretary, seeking stricter regulations for the issuance of Aadhaar cards in Delhi. The directive followed reports of a large number of Aadhaar cards being fraudulently obtained by illegal immigrants. Speaking to ANI, the Delhi Assembly Speaker said, "This (illegal migrants) is a major problem in Delhi. To resolve it, all parties should come together and, rising above politics, create a common minimum program to address this issue collectively." On Friday, the Principal Secretary to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, VK Saxena, wrote to the Chief Secretary of the Delhi government, urging the enforcement of stringent regulations regarding Aadhaar issuance in the national capital. In a letter dated July 11, the Principal Secretary highlighted that the illegal immigrants have managed to secure an Aadhaar card on the basis of false documentation or misrepresentation, which, in turn, is adversely impacting local employment. The letter further noted that illegal immigrants are also getting benefits under the welfare schemes of the Centre and State governments, once they get their Aadhar cards. The LG secretariat has asked for strict enforcement by Registrars in issuing Aadhar Cards and directed them to switch to the in-house model of Aadhar enrollment within two months. The Chief Secretary has also been asked to provide a comprehensive list of all Aadhar enrollment centres in the national capital by July 15. The letter reads, "It has been brought to the attention of the Lt. Governor that during the course of Security Review Meetings, in several instances, illegal immigrants have managed to secure Aadhaar cards on the basis of false documentation or misrepresentation. This has a cascading impact wherein such individuals are able to secure documents which establish Nationality, i.e. Passport and Voter Identity Cards." "They also end up availing benefits under Welfare Schemes administered by the Central and State Governments. Having secured Aadhaar documents, the illegal immigrants secure jobs, depressing local labour markets, and adversely impacting local employment. This also has wider ramifications for National Security," it added. According to the letter, the Delhi government has not complied with UIDAI's directions to shift to an in-house model for Aadhaar enrollment by March 2023. (ANI) TOOMBS COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) The District Attorney of the Middle Judicial Circuit signed a letter of intent July 3 seeking the death penalty for Seth Hunter Brown, accused of killing a 4-year-old girl in March. Brown, 26, and Taylor Hughes, 29, are accused of killing Hughes daughter Reese by blunt force trauma. Taylor Hughes Seth Brown According to the childs obituary, Reese loved the color pink, her baby dolls and a chocolate candy bar and she enjoyed playing with her siblings, reading and painting her nails. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair, from Lyons, Ga., were charged with cruelty to children in the first degree, aggravated battery, felony murder, and malice murder. Both were taken to the Toombs County Detention Center. Brown is to appear before the Toombs County Superior Court for pretrial proceedings on October 7. His trial is set for the week of December 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. The chair of the European Parliament's international trade committee has described US President Donald Trump's announcement of further tariffs on the European Union as "outrageous" and called for decisive countermeasures. "We have been negotiating intensively for more than three weeks and have made offers to promote common interests," Bernd Lange said on Saturday following the announcement, which was delivered in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He said it was therefore brazen and disrespectful for the US president to increase the tariffs to 30%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a slap in the face for the negotiations. Genuine willingness to negotiate looks different," Lange said. He spoke in favour of immediately imposing the first special tariffs on imports of US products into the EU, and using the bloc's economic strength to make it clear that Trump's unfair trade practices are unacceptable. The use of the EU's anti-coercion instrument - which could, for example, exclude US companies from public contracts in the EU - must also be seriously considered, according to Lange. The trade chair said the EU had accommodated several of Trump's demands in negotiations last week, including the recognition of standards and certification processes, and the development of investment opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also pointed out that, as a sign of trust, the EU had initially suspended all countermeasures relating to the tariffs that Washington previously imposed. Amid ongoing negotiations with the EU, Trump on Saturday announced that he would impose new tariffs of 30% on EU imports to the United States. The US president warned that additional tariff hikes could follow if the EU responds with retaliatory measures. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Friends are upset while mourning the loss of a loved one in a crash involving another man who faces a DUI charge. Witnesses told 8 News Now the driver had cans of alcohol in his vehicle. Kyle Burrell, 35, was riding his motorcycle to his girlfriends place on July 4 at around midnight when he collided with a suspected drunk driver in a pickup truck near the N. Durango Drive exit off the 215 Beltway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Motorcyclist killed in northwest Las Vegas valley crash; other driver arrested Totally avoidable, Rachel Green, Burrells friend, said. Theres too many things at play that you can make other choices, Tannie Wichern, Burrells girlfriend, said. Wichern said Burrell was known to his friends as a kind and generous soul. Only 35 years old, he still had so much life to give. I feel like he was stolen from us, way too early, Wichern said. We were robbed, and a lot of people were robbed of him. A witness who shot video from that night shared it with 8 News Now. It shows emergency responders treating the victim and police talking to the suspected drunk driver, who was in a Chevrolet Silverado pickup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the witness, they were the first ones on scene and called 911. They said the driver was throwing cans of alcohol out of his pick-up truck, instead of helping the biker. Theres Uber, theres Lyft. Theres everything else. Why would you drive drunk knowing that youre jeopardizing literally everybody else on the street and yourself? Makes no sense, Green said. Wichern added, Most of the time, not even themselves because they end up being okay. According to highway patrol, the other driver was speeding when he entered the left turn lane at the North Durango-CC215 exit at the same time as Burrell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burrell was sent flying to the pavement when the truck and the motorcycle collided. Its a heavy loss for his friends and others who knew him. These are things we can prevent as a community, as a society. When you get behind the wheel, we have a responsibility to drive safely, Ofelia Markarian, Burrells attorney, said. Nevada State Police Highway Patrol did not identify the person they arrested on a DUI charge in a media release. 8 News Now asked the agency why, since it has in previous releases. A spokesman said the policy has recently changed and the case is under investigation. Burrells friends set up a GoFundMe to help pay for his funeral. Heres a link: Fundraiser by Rachel Green : In Memory of Kyle Burrells Kindness Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Trash is piling up in North Metro during sanitation union strike The smell of rotting garbage is becoming unbearable at an apartment complex in North Fulton County. Friday, Channel 2s Audrey Washington found a large pile of trash at 555 Mansell in Roswell. The trash pickup stopped at the complex following the sanitation union strike. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] This week, members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters walked the picket line outside of Republic Services in Cumming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It shouldnt be like this in the neighborhood, one of the residents told Washington on Friday. Its crazy, he added. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Garbage piling up in the residential areas of Alpharetta. A bunch of commercial buildings up in Dawsonville. They service Cherokee County, Fulton County, said Teamsters Local 728 Representative, Eric Massaro. Massaro said the local strike is a part of a larger strike across the country. Until they settle these disputes along the country and here in Local 728, its an unfair labor practice charge, Massaro explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Republic Services wrote: Some customers may experience service delays as a result of the unions work stoppage. We will communicate schedule changes to customers and apologize for any inconvenience the unions work stoppage may cause. Union representatives said they tried to negotiate with the company on Tuesday. And [they] told us they wouldnt see us again until July 28th, but we are here. The guy who negotiates the contracts is about a hundred yards away in that building. He can come out here, get me and we can settle this, but until then, were out here, Massaro told Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its way too much trash building up there, one resident said. It is still unclear when the trash will get picked up at the apartment complex. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Record-breaking July Fourth fire emergencies this year should serve as a wake-up call for Tri-Cities leaders. Recreational fireworks pose an unacceptable threat to safety, well-being and the environment. Local governments should join other Washington communities in banning the sale and use of consumer fireworks. The Pasco Fire Department responded to a record 86 calls in 24 hours around Independence Day, more than triple the normal call volume. Fifty-four of those calls were for fires, all believed to have been started by fireworks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fireworks kept emergency responders busy in other communities, too. Kennewick responded to a dozen fires in just six hours on July 4th. A fire burned two acres near Finley. A West Richland man suffered severe burns when he fell through a burning roof while fighting a blaze possibly caused by fireworks. Other people received smaller injuries. Three consecutive years of drought has the region at high risk of wildfire. This is the new normal as climate change leads to weather extremes. The historically dry Mid-Columbia is now even more vulnerable to fire. Responding to all of those incidents weighs on local governments that are already financially strained. Taxpayers must bear the cost of increasing staffing and paying overtime. Worse, the public risks not having emergency services available if some other tragedy unfolds while responders are dealing with a fireworks-caused fire. Recreational fireworks create dangers beyond fires and injuries. Explosives in neighborhoods can traumatize veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. They disrupt sleep for children, shift workers and the elderly. And they frighten pets, increasing the risk of runaways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wildlife and ecosystems suffer as well. Birds abandon nests during critical breeding periods. Marine animals consume toxic debris that accumulates in waterways. Trash containing harmful chemicals litters public spaces. State law places some guardrails on when and what kind of fireworks people may use recreationally. Basically, Washingtonians can launch fireworks that arent outrageously dangerous around the Fourth and New Years. State law also empowers localities to adopt more stringent standards up to outright bans both on sales and use. Most local governments have established at least modestly stricter rules than the state. Ordinances typically forbid some aerial fireworks, smoke bombs, Roman candles and more. But then theres West Richland. The city of about 19,000 residents had 16 permitted fire stands this year compared with just nine in Kennewick, six in Richland and four in Pasco. Why the discrepancy? Because All Fireworks that are legal in the State of Washington are also legal in the City Limits of the City of West Richland only, according to the citys website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who cant buy their chosen fireworks in Kennewick, Richland or Pasco can drive over to West Richland to find what they want. Even if West Richland got on board, fireworks enthusiasts could drive to Oregon, Idaho or a nearby tribal reservation or find a shady seller online. In fact, that already happens. A lot of the fireworks launched in backyards during the past couple of weeks werent bought locally and are illegal otherwise. Stopping sales wont be enough, then. Localities also must forbid use. Enforcement would be difficult, but we hope that most people are law-abiding. A few citations issued to those who ignore the law might convince others to follow the rules. At least a complete ban would make enforcement easier because police would no longer have to figure out whether a particular firework is allowed or not. They could just confiscate what they find. The problem is that state law mandates that communities wait a full year before enforcing new limits on fireworks. State lawmakers could help by shortening the advance notice to six or even three months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In any event, if its already too late for 2026, local city councils and county commissions have time for hearings and debate before the 2027 deadline. Act now, while the memory of this years fireworks damage is fresh. Communities can continue to accept preventable fires, injuries, disruptions and environmental damage yearly or they can follow the lead of other localities that have prioritized public safety over private pyrotechnics. Real patriots follow the law, care about the neighbors and leave fireworks to the professionals. The Brief The Trump administration will bar undocumented immigrants from enrolling in Head Start. The move reclassifies Head Start and similar programs as federal benefits under immigration law. Advocates warn it will deter families and harm low-income children born in the U.S. The Trump administration is moving to restrict access to a long-standing early childhood education program, Head Start, for immigrants in the country illegally, federal officials announced Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The change is part of a broader push to limit public benefits for undocumented immigrants. It marks a reversal of a decades-old policy that allowed access to some community-level services even for those without legal status, including federally funded health centers and educational programs. The new rules reclassify Head Start as a federal public benefit, which under federal law excludes undocumented immigrants from participation. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the decision aims to preserve resources for American citizens. "For too long, the government has diverted hardworking Americans tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration," Kennedy said in a statement. "Todays action changes that it restores integrity to federal social programs, enforces the rule of law, and protects vital resources for the American people." How will the policy affect families and schools? What we know Eligibility for Head Start will now be determined based on the childs immigration status, according to a spokesperson for the Administration for Children and Families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other departments, including Education, Agriculture, and Labor, are issuing similar changes, cutting off access to workforce development, career training, and adult education programs. What we don't know Community health centers that serve a large share of undocumented patients are also affected under the new classification. It remains unclear whether children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents will be impacted in practice. File: Children of immigrants rejoin their parents following "homework club" at a community center on April 3, 2025 at an undisclosed location, Connecticut. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) The administration has not said how it plans to verify immigration status or how enforcement will be handled by local grantees. Theres also uncertainty about how quickly these changes will be implemented across all 50 states. What they're saying Advocates say the decision could frighten immigrant families away from seeking critical early childhood services, even if their children qualify. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This decision undermines the fundamental commitment that the country has made to children and disregards decades of evidence that Head Start is essential to our collective future," said Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Association. Shelby Gonzales, vice president of immigration policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said cutting off access to community health centers could have life-or-death consequences. "People depend on those services to get cancer treatment, to get ongoing maintenance for a variety of different health needs," she told the Associated Press. Augustus Mays, vice president at EdTrust, said the policy is rooted in politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Policies like this dont exist in a vacuum," Mays said. "They are rooted in a political agenda that scapegoats immigrants and uses fear to strip rights and resources from the most vulnerable among us." Why you should care Head Start has existed since the 1960s as part of the federal governments effort to reduce poverty. It provides preschool, therapy, nutrition assistance, and child care for low-income families. The program operates in all 50 states and has long been considered a bipartisan investment in early education and long-term development. Restricting access could affect children who were born in the U.S. but whose parents are undocumentedraising concerns about the chilling effect on participation across immigrant communities. The Source This article is based on reporting from The Associated Press, which included statements from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families, and policy experts from the National Head Start Association, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and EdTrust. All quotes were taken directly from AP interviews and official statements. Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. This article is made possible through Spotlight PAs collaboration with Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting. Sign up for Votebeat Pennsylvanias free newsletters here. The U.S. Department of Justice is asking Pennsylvania for a wide range of information on how it manages voter registration and voter rolls, as part of what it calls nationwide efforts to monitor compliance with a key federal voting statute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a June 23 letter to Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, the department asked for 14 categories of information on the states voter registration activities, including how voters are added to and removed from the voter rolls, and how the state prevents unauthorized access to its system. Votebeat and Spotlight PA obtained a copy of the letter, which was signed by Maureen Riordan, the new acting chief of the voting section in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. The letter is the latest in a series of requests the Civil Rights Division has sent to states involving their compliance with federal voting statutes. This one specifically cites the Help America Vote Act, or HAVA, a 2002 law that overhauled voter registration and election administration. Riordan requested a response within 30 days. Amy Gulli, spokesperson for Pennsylvanias Department of State, said that the agency intended to respond, but hadnt done so as of Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Becker, an election lawyer who previously worked in the Civil Rights Division and now leads the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research, noted that nearly all of the requests for information cited specific sections of HAVA to justify them, except for one asking for the process the state uses to identify and remove noncitizens from the voter rolls. Thats because there isnt one, and DOJ has no jurisdiction to request that data, he said in a text message. Becker said the request otherwise didnt raise any specific concerns. Arizona, Colorado, and Wisconsin election officials have also received letters from the Justice Department, each one with a different set of requests or allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A letter sent in May to Arizonas Secretary of State Adrian Fontes alleged that the state was not properly verifying voters identities as required by HAVA, and threatened a lawsuit, Votebeat reported in June. Fontes, a Democrat, responded that state election officials conduct a complete residency and citizenship check and fully comply with HAVA. A letter from early June sent to the Wisconsin Elections Commission said the state was not properly resolving administrative complaints as required under HAVA; the commission has been summarily dismissing HAVA complaints that are about the agencys own actions, based on a 2022 Wisconsin Supreme Court opinion. Colorado received a letter from the department in May asking Colorado for all records related to the 2024 election in response to a complaint the department had received. The Justice Department also recently sued North Carolina over allegations that it had failed to maintain an accurate voter list as required by HAVA, and sued Orange County, California, over an alleged failure to provide some records related to the removal of noncitizens from its voter rolls. The letter to Pennsylvania does not mention any complaint, or assert the state has done anything wrong. We very much appreciate your cooperation in our nationwide efforts to monitor HAVA compliance, it concludes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson with the Justice Department declined to comment. The New York Times reported on July 2 that senior officials in the Justice Department are exploring whether they can criminally charge election officials for not sufficiently safeguarding their computer systems. Carter Walker is a reporter for Votebeat in partnership with Spotlight PA. Contact Carter at cwalker@votebeat.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Rhetoric from Trump administration officials appears to be shifting more toward reforming the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), rather than axing it entirely. While the shift has been more apparent as the administration faces questions about the disaster agency in light of deadly floods in Texas, the subtle changes in how key figures talk about FEMA predates the July 4 tragedy. Some officials have walked a tightrope, emphasizing that they want to tear down the agency while also rebuilding it, a fuzzy picture for the future of federal disaster policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January, President Trump floated getting rid of the agency. Ill also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA, he said at the time. The executive order established a council to put together a report with information including an evaluation of whether FEMA can serve its functions as a support agency and an analysis of the principal arguments in the public debate for and against FEMA reform. However, in March, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department includes the agency, said were going to eliminate FEMA, without elaborating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, Noem had shifted somewhat, saying that Trump wants to see FEMA eliminated as it exists today. At the time, Trump said FEMA would give out less money. While Noem has repeated the eliminate refrain in recent days, she and other officials have also emphasized rebuilding FEMA, indicating that they do not plan to entirely dismantle it. This entire agency needs to be eliminated as it exists today and remade into a responsive agency, she said this week. Meanwhile, White House budget director Russell Vought told reporters Friday while addressing the Texas floods, We also want FEMA to be reformed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want FEMA to work well the president is going to continue to be asking tough questions of all of his agencies, Vought said. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, on Friday told The Hill that changes are coming to FEMA. Its not a secret that under Secretary Noem and acting Administrator [David] Richardson, FEMA, as it is today, will no longer exist, she said. Federal Emergency Management will shift from bloated, D.C.-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens. The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades, she added. Under Secretary Noems leadership, the FEMA Review Council is developing a comprehensive plan for necessary change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told NewsNation the review council will recommend to the president how FEMA may be reformed in ways that best serve the national interest, including how America responds to and recovers from disasters such that the federal role remains supplemental and appropriate to the scale of disaster. While the administration has been sparse on details, what they have said paints a picture of an agency with a diminished role, with more responsibility being placed on the states. Emergencies and disasters are always locally executed, the state manages them, and then the federal government comes in and supports that, Noem said during a roundtable event Friday. What we are doing here is empowering the state and the local officials to make the best decisions for their people. The Trump administration has also been reticent to approve federal disaster aid in some states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if the administration wanted to get rid of FEMA, the agency has been authorized by Congress and any attempts to fully ax it would likely face legal challenges. FEMA has deployed multiple emergency response units and FEMAs been really headed by some very good people, Trump said Friday in Texas. When we got in on January 20, they fixed it up in no time. Brett Samuels and NewsNations Libbey Dean contributed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Jarrett Renshaw, Bhargav Acharya and Cassandra Garrison WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union starting on August 1, after weeks of negotiations with the major U.S. trading partners failed to reach a comprehensive trade deal. In an escalation of a trade war that has angered U.S. allies and rattled investors, Trump announced the latest tariffs in separate letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum that were posted on his Truth Social media site on Saturday. The EU and Mexico, both among the largest U.S. trading partners responded by calling the tariffs unfair and disruptive while pledging to continue to negotiate with the U.S. for a broader trade deal before the deadline. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was sure an agreement can be reached. "I've always said that in these cases, what you have to do is keep a cool head to face any problem," Sheinbaum said at an event in the Mexican state of Sonora. "We're also clear on what we can work with the United States government on, and we're clear on what we can't. And there's something that's never negotiable: the sovereignty of our country," she said. Trump sent similar letters to 23 other trading partners this week, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, setting blanket tariff rates ranging from 20% up to 50%, as well as a 50% tariff on copper. The U.S. president said the 30% rate was "separate from all sectoral tariffs," indicating 50% levies on steel and aluminum imports and a 25% tariff on auto imports would remain. The August 1 deadline gives the targeted countries time to negotiate agreements that could lower the threatened tariffs. Some investors and economists have also noted Trump's pattern of backing off his tariff threats. The spate of letters showed Trump has returned to the aggressive trade posture that he took in April when he announced a slew of reciprocal tariffs against trading partners that sent markets tumbling before the White House delayed implementation. 'UNFAIR TREATMENT' But with the stock market recently hitting record highs and the U.S. economy still resilient, Trump is showing no signs of slowing down his trade war. He promised to use the 90-day delay in April to strike dozens of new trade deals, but has only secured framework agreements with Britain, China and Vietnam. The EU has hoped to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the U.S. for the 27-country bloc. (Reuters) -Goods imported from both the European Union and Mexico will face a 30% U.S. tariff rate starting on August 1, U.S. President Donald Trump said in letters posted to his social media platform on Saturday. Following are reactions to the announcement: EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANTONIO COSTA The European Union "remains firm, united and ready to protect (its) interests". "Tariffs are taxes. They fuel inflation, create uncertainty and hinder economic growth. We will continue to build strong trade partnerships worldwide." SPANISH PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ "Economic openness and trade create prosperity. Unjustified tariffs destroy it. That is why we support and will support the Commission in its negotiations to reach an agreement with the U.S. before August 1." US SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR FROM MINNESOTA, A DEMOCRAT: "The President is announcing yet another round of tariffs on the EU and Mexico. How does increasing prices across the board like this help people in our country? Answer: it doesnt. Its a $2000 + annual Trump tariff tax on every family." URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION "The EU has consistently prioritized a negotiated solution with the U.S., reflecting our commitment to dialogue, stability, and a constructive transatlantic partnership. "We remain ready to continue working towards an agreement by August 1. At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required." HILDEGARD MUELLER, PRESIDENT OF GERMAN AUTO INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION VDA "It is regrettable that there is a threat of further escalation of the trade conflict and that a solution has still not been found for the tariffs of 27.5% on car imports to the USA, which remain in force. The costs for our companies are already in the billions - and the sum is growing every day. Suppliers are also significantly affected - also in light of the additional 30 per cent tariffs on goods from Mexico that have now been announced. "The EU and the U.S. must continue to find a solution as quickly as possible to avert the impending consequences on both sides of the Atlantic." ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIORGIA MELONI'S OFFICE "We trust in the goodwill of all players in the field in order to reach a fair agreement that can strengthen the West as a whole, given that - particularly in the current scenario - it would make no sense to trigger a trade clash between the two sides of the Atlantic. According to the police, the incident took place on July 8 when the victim, 30-year-old Vidya, sustained serious injuries after her husband, identified as Vijay, allegedly attacked her following a dispute over paying a loan instalment. Vijay verbally abused Vidya during the argument and then physically assaulted her. As the altercation escalated, Vidya fell to the ground and Vijay allegedly bit off the front portion of her nose, as per the Police. Local residents intervened and rushed Vidya to Channagiri Government Hospital for initial treatment. Due to the severity of her injuries, she was later shifted to Meggan Hospital in Shivamogga for further medical care. Vidya has since filed a complaint against her husband at the Channagiri police station. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Vijay under Sections 115(2), 117(2), 351(2), and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police have launched an investigation and are searching for the accused. Further details are awaited. (ANI) (NewsNation) Nearly one year after a gunman fired at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, attempting to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, a new book reveals unique insight into the presidents thoughts and reaction in the immediate aftermath. Sitting just 4 feet from the president on July 13, 2024, was journalist Salena Zito, who was tackled by a campaign staffer when bullets began flying. She released Butler: The Untold Story of the Near Assassination of Donald Trump and the Fight for Americas Heartland on July 8, offering a new lens into the assassination attempt. The day after 20-year-old Thomas Crooks shot at Trump, grazing his ear with a bullet, the president called Zito, apologizing for not being able to do an interview due to the shooting, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had talked to him just four minutes before he went out on the stage, so he was well aware of the fact that I was there, Zito told NewsNations Vargas Reports. So, he called me the next day. He says, Good morning, Salena, this is President Donald Trump. I wanna make sure youre OK, your daughters OK, and Im really sorry for not being able to do that interview. Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks remains an enigma Zito said she asked him questions like why he put the chart he was holding down and why he turned his head at the moment he did. These conclusions always came back to God, the hand of God and purpose. I have a purpose now, and I was spared. And I have an obligation to meet that purpose, Zito said, paraphrasing Trumps answers to her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zito would go on to speak to the wounded president seven times, also asking him why he chanted, Fight, fight, fight, when he stood up after the gunfire stopped. He said, Well, in that moment I wasnt Donald Trump. I was representing America. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. New reporting from The New York Times details how the world of crypto currency courted then-candidate Donald Trump in 2024, and how the crypto world and Trump have profited from the deals made then now that Trump has returned to the White House. New York Times reporter Ken Vogel joins MSNBCs Ali Velshi. President Donald Trump urged his political base on Saturday to stop attacking his administration over files related to notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a case that has become an obsession for conspiracy theorists. Trump's Department of Justice and the FBI said in a memo made public last week there was no evidence that the disgraced financier kept a "client list" or was blackmailing powerful figures. They also dismissed the claim that Epstein was murdered in jail, confirming his death by suicide at a New York prison in 2019, and said they would not be releasing any more information on the probe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move was met with incredulity by some on the US far-right -- many of whom have backed Trump for years -- and strident criticism of Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. "What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals?' They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!" Trump said Saturday in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform. "We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and 'selfish people' are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein," he added, referring to his "Make America Great Again" movement. Many among the MAGA faithful have long contended that so-called "Deep State" actors were hiding information on Epstein's elite associates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Next the DOJ will say 'Actually, Jeffrey Epstein never even existed,'" furious pro-Trump conspiracy theorist Alex Jones tweeted after last week's move. "This is over the top sickening." Far-right influencer Laura Loomer called for Trump to fire Bondi over the issue, labeling her "an embarrassment." But on Saturday, Trump came to the defense of his attorney general, suggesting that the so-called "Epstein Files" were a hoax perpetrated by the Democratic Party for political gain, without specifying what benefits they hoped to attain. On Saturday, Trump struck an exasperated tone in his admonishment of his supporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For years, it's Epstein, over and over again," he said. "Let's...not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about." The US president called for Patel and Bondi to instead focus on what he terms "The Rigged and Stolen Election of 2020," which Trump lost to Joe Biden. The Republican has repeatedly perpetuated unfounded conspiracy theories about his loss being due to fraud. He called for the FBI to be allowed to focus on that investigation "instead of spending month after month looking at nothing but the same old, Radical Left inspired Documents on Jeffrey Epstein. LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB SHE'S GREAT!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, who appears in at least one decades-old video alongside Epstein at a party, has denied allegations that he was named in the files or had any direct connection to the financier. "The conspiracy theories just aren't true, never have been," said FBI Director Patel on Saturday, hours before Trump's social media post. Not everyone, however, seemed to be on the same page. US media reported that Dan Bongino -- an influential right-wing podcast host whom Trump appointed FBI deputy director -- had threatened to resign over the administration's handling of the issue. aha/des President Donald Trump on Friday held a news conference in Kerrville, Texas, regarding the disastrous flash flooding that has ravaged the state since July 4, only to call a reporter evil for asking if more timely federal emergency alerts could have saved additional lives. Several families we heard from are obviously upset because they say those warnings, those alerts didnt go out in time, and they also say that people could have been saved, said a reporter from CBS News Texas. What do you say to those families? I think everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances, Trump replied. This was, I guess [Department of Homeland Security Secretary] Kristi [Noem] said a one-in-500, one-in-1,000 years [disaster]. I just have admiration for the job that everybody did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flooding has devastated Central Texas. Authorities have confirmed at least 120 deaths across six counties and that at least 170 people remain missing. Kerr Countys Joint Information Center reportedly confirmed that 36 people who died there were children. The National Weather Service said it issued two flood warnings overnight before the disaster hit. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. told CNN he didnt even have a warning, noting that around 8 p.m. on Friday he only saw a forecast for a chance of rain. He added that he lost two friends to the floods. Trump nonetheless went on to tear into the reporter for asking him about impacted families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only a bad person would ask a question like that, to be honest with you, he continued during the exchange Friday. I dont know who you are, but only a very evil person would ask a question like that. I think this has been heroism. This has been incredible. Reporter: Several families are upset because theyre saying the alerts didnt go out in time. What do you say to those families? Trump: I think everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances Only an evil person would ask a question like that pic.twitter.com/TZNJPxsJ0U Acyn (@Acyn) July 11, 2025 The flooding was caused by heavy downpour that made the Guadalupe River rise some 26 feet in less than an hour. The New York Times reported Saturday that the National Weather Service in San Antonio and San Angelo had significant vacancies when the storm hit. Trump slashed roughly 600 positions at the government agency earlier this year. Its easy to ask, to sit back and ask, What could have happened here or there? Maybe we could have done something differently, Trump said Friday after scolding the CBS News reporter. This was a thing thats never happened before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump was far more gracious after hearing from a reporter from conservative outlet Real Americas Voice, who thanked the president and other representatives at the event for their response to the disaster, and said: Well, thats a nice reporter. Thats a nice question. Related... President Trump is considering authorizing fresh funding for Ukraine for the first time since he took office in January, multiple diplomatic sources told CBS News. The sources indicated the new funding could be intended to send a message to Russia, which has pounded Ukraine with drone and missile attacks in recent days. Russia this week launched what Ukraine described as the largest drone attack since its full-scale invasion began in February 2022 the latest in a wave of aerial assaults that have pummeled Kyiv and other cities. Mr. Trump hinted earlier this week that he planned to send Ukraine more defensive weapons. Just days earlier, his administration paused some arms shipments a move one White House official cast as one part of a wider global review of weapons transfers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The source of the possible new funding for Ukraine is unclear. But U.S. officials told CBS News Mr. Trump has $3.85 billion in leftover Biden-era presidential drawdown authority sitting at his fingertips, which could be used to send American military equipment to Ukraine. Former officials also told CBS News the president has the authority to seize around $5 billion in foreign Russian assets and direct the funds to Ukraine, though neither he, nor former President Joe Biden have used that power. CBS News has reached out to the White House for comment. The U.S. has sent tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine since early 2022. Mr. Trump has previously been critical of that spending, and has pressed Ukraine and Russia to work toward a peace agreement periodically lashing out at both countries. In recent days, Russia has drawn the president's ire. He told reporters last week he was "very disappointed" with a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and he later suggested that Russia's strikes on Ukraine could prompt him to send more arms to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Putin is not treating human beings right. He's killing too many people," Mr. Trump told reporters during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. "So we're sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I've approved that." At other points, Mr. Trump has attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A February Oval Office meeting with the Ukrainian leader descended into a verbal argument, leading to a brief pause on U.S. aid, and Mr. Trump has accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the war. Trump says "NATO is paying" for Ukraine aid Meanwhile, Mr. Trump has pushed European countries to take on a larger share of the burden of supporting Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NATO told CBS News on Friday it was working with member states to "urgently" move U.S.-made ammunition and air defenses to Ukraine, but declined to explain if any new mechanism had been established to do so. A day earlier, Mr. Trump spoke with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to discuss European partners purchasing U.S.-made equipment, according to diplomatic sources. U.S. law requires countries to seek approval before transferring any American-made equipment to a third party such as Ukraine. Under both Mr. Trump and Biden, the federal government has approved transfers by other countries to Ukraine. In an interview with NBC News on Thursday, Mr. Trump suggested NATO would buy weapons from the U.S. to transfer to Ukraine. That would mark a dramatic shift in policy since, in the past, NATO as an institution has not directly armed non-member state Ukraine. Instead, individual members of the alliance have chosen to assist Ukraine on their own. "We're sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%," Mr. Trump told NBC News' Kristen Welker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about the NATO plan during a press availability in Malaysia on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to detail any new mechanism and referred to plans for European countries to buy weapons. "At the end of the day, some of the systems that Ukraine requires are systems that Europe doesn't make. They would have to purchase them from the United States," Rubio said. How a father's persistence unlocked his son's brilliance Global backlash grows to Trump's tariff threats Takeaways from Trump's tour of Texas flooding damage President Donald Trump on Friday said he has given federal immigration agents "Total Authorization" to protect themselves after clashes with protesters during an enforcement operation at a California cannabis farm. Trump was traveling to Washington from Texas, where he toured the region where devastating floods have left at least 120 people dead, and he penned a lengthy post on Truth Social about the violence against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. "I am on my way back from Texas, and watched in disbelief as THUGS were violently throwing rocks and bricks at ICE Officers while they were moving down a roadway in their car and/or official vehicle," he wrote on Truth Social. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Tremendous damage was done to these brand new vehicles. I know for a fact that these Officers are having a hard time with allowing this to happen in that it shows such total disrespect for LAW AND ORDER." Union Says Farm Worker Died After Ice Raid That Uncovered Underage Laborers President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott participate in a roundtable event at the Hill Country Youth Event Center July 11, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas, to discuss last week's flash flooding. Federal authorities conducted raids on Glass House Farms families in Camarillo and Carpinteria. Authorities used tear gas, and there were reports of objects being thrown at agents. Read On The Fox News App Newsom Donor's Cannabis Farm Under Federal Investigation For 'Child Labor Violations' In response, Trump said he directed Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Border Czar Tom Homan to instruct ICE, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other law enforcement on the receiving end of "thrown rocks, bricks, or any other form of assault, to stop their car, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public," he wrote. "I never want to see a car carrying a Law Enforcement Officer attacked again! AUTHORIZATION IMMEDIATELY GRANTED FOR ARREST AND INCARCERATION. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" The United Farm Workers said one worker died from his injuries. "This man was not in and has not been in CBP or ICE custody," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. "Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a greenhouse and fell 30 feet. CBP immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible." Original article source: Trump grants 'total authorization' to ICE agents to protect themselves after violent California clashes For many of us, Rosie ODonnell will always be the fast-talking, koosh-ball-throwing talk show host who gave us the kid jokebook that ruled the late 90s, Kids Are Funny, and felt like the cool aunt we grew up with on daytime TV. But ODonnells career and her political voice have evolved far beyond 90s nostalgia. And now, that voice may be under serious threat. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump said he was seriously considering revoking ODonnells U.S. citizenship in a Truth Social post, claiming the American-born comedian and actress is not in the best interests of our Great Country. He followed the statement with a jab at her current residence in Ireland, writing that she should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her, per Newsweek. ODonnell was born in Commack, New York, for the record. More from SheKnows Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a shocking escalation in a decades-long feud that has somehow followed both figures from daytime TV to the Oval Office. And for anyone who thinks this is just a personal vendetta, its worth paying attention to how dangerously politicized Trumps approach to citizenship has become. Lets back up a bit. Trump and ODonnells public clash began in 2006 when ODonnell, then a co-host on The View, criticized Trumps moral judgment as owner of the Miss USA pageant. He responded by threatening legal action and publicly body-shaming her something he would continue to do for years across interviews, social media, and even the 2015 presidential debate stage. ODonnell, for her part, has never shied away from firing back. But shes also spoken candidly about how deeply Trumps bullying affected her, calling it the most bullying I ever experienced in my life, including as a child. In 2025, she moved to Ireland with her family, saying in a TikTok that theyd return when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America. While some tax experts believe that some celebrities, like ODonnell and Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, also factored in Californias property taxes when it came to their move, other celebrities like Eva Longoria have also cited Trumps alarming behavior as a reason to move abroad. And while certain peoples ability to just uproot their life and move to another country brings up its own set of questions on geographical and financial privilege, Trumps latest jab feels less like a punchline and more like a red flag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While legal experts have noted that Trump has no constitutional authority to revoke the citizenship of someone born in the U.S., the threat alone coming from a sitting president is deeply unsettling. Under the 14th Amendment, anyone born on American soil is automatically granted citizenship a principle Trump has repeatedly challenged. His latest push, the so-called Big Beautiful Bill, passed earlier this year and opened the door for states to restrict automatic citizenship for children born to undocumented parents. After the Supreme Court ended the use of nationwide injunctions, those restrictions are now live in some states and blocked in others, creating a patchwork of access based more on geography than constitutional rights. Combine that with Trumps renewed calls for mass deportations and ICE raids like the ones that continued to be carried out across Los Angeles and its clear this isnt just about Rosie. Its about reshaping who gets to belong. And frankly, if Trump is so eager to rewrite birthright citizenship, one wonders if hes planning to revisit all American-born children of immigrants or just the ones who criticize him. Barron might want to keep his passport handy. What Trump is proposing may not be legally feasible, but it reinforces a pattern: using personal grudges and political influence to threaten the rights of people he disagrees with particularly women, LGBTQ+ voices, and outspoken critics. Even those who may not agree with ODonnells views should be alarmed that the machinery of government could be pointed toward silencing dissent in such a fundamental way. And lets be honest if this can be floated about Rosie ODonnell, whats to stop it from being weaponized against others, especially those who dont have as large of a platform as ODonnell? Click here to see all the times Donald Trump has gone off about celebrity womens looks. Donald Trump Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. WASHINGTON As the Trump administration on Friday began its firing of 1,353 employees at the State Department, laid-off employees described shock, a chaotic process of layoffs and concern about the ramifications of gutting government diplomatic expertise. They moved us three times in the past week, telling us we were going to be merged into different offices theres no transparency, no official communication, no anything, just complete disrespect for people who had been serving this country for many years, said Andrea Samuelson, who was fired after 16 years at the department. Another terminated employee, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, told HuffPost they had worked in an office focused on keeping Americans safe, and the public should be wary of Secretary of State Marco Rubios claims that his changes to the State Department will streamline its work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People should be feeling scared: they are going to be less safe no matter what this administration says, the employee said, saying their dismissal came out of nowhere. State Department officials and congressional sources previously told HuffPost that Rubios decision-making about which personnel and offices to cut seemed arbitrary and involved little transparency. Several officials fired on Friday said they had not anticipated that they or their offices would be affected. Affected State Department staffers spoke with HuffPost during an afternoon rally in front of the agency. Dozens of people including two Democratic lawmakers, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (Md.) and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (Va.) gathered to applaud, or clap out the terminated employees, whose ranks included both career civil servants and foreign service officers. As those officials walked out of the looming Harry S. Truman building, many were visibly crying and several were carrying plaques; others strode out and joined the crowd awaiting them, tacitly projecting defiance. The crowd held up signs with messages like THANK YOU AMERICAS DIPLOMATS and DIPLOMACY IS HOMELAND SECURITY. To see them treated so shabbily hurts, but it also hurts our country because this diminishes our influence overseas, Van Hollen told HuffPost. You know the people who are going to be cheering this? Theyre our adversaries theyre going to be celebrating. Our allies and friends? Theyll be worried. So Donald Trump likes to say hes about America first. What were witnessing here is America in retreat. When we disengage from the world, we lose. Protesters outside the State Department on July 11, 2025. Akbar Shahid Ahmed/HuffPost Last month, a senior State Department official defended the overhaul in an email to HuffPost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary Rubio, under President Trumps leadership, is working to consolidate and strengthen the State Department workforce. Leadership from the Department has been to dozens of congressional briefings and hearings regarding the reorganization. The proposed reorganization follows all Congressional requirements. Consultation with Congress will continue to ensure a State Department that best reflects Americas core national interests, the official wrote. Samuelson argued, To call it a process would be a joke. One laid-off official said the process was very confusing, preventing affected employees from ensuring that necessary knowledge and expertise would be shared with colleagues who remain. I was implementing legislation that passed under the first Trump administration and seemingly had Secretary Rubios support, so there was reason to believe that would live on, added the official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, calling their role a dream job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bureaucracy can appear opaque. On the inside, its just a lot of people working together, the official said. Fired State Department employees on July 11, 2025. Akbar Shahid Ahmed/HuffPost HuffPost witnessed hugs among staffers, people offering to help each other find jobs and chants by others unaffected directly by the firing. Former officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) which the Trump administration shuttered on July 1 and former appointees at the State Department under President Joe Biden were among the crowd of supporters. Tom Rhodes, a former USAID employee, carried a sign saying DESTROY = REFORM. He said he had been posted to Peru working on protecting American and Western interests against Chinese aggression and environmental crime all of that work is impossible now. Former USAID official Tom Rhodes outside the State Department on July 11, 2025. Akbar Shahid Ahmed/HuffPost A foreign service officer who retired after 34 years, Bob Gilchrist, described the moment as a tragic day for our country as the government lost dedicated public servants whove worked for both Republican and Democratic administrations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speakers at the rally led chants to fight back and told former State Department employees they should speak up since they were no longer subject to government restrictions. Attendees passed out small flyers bearing a firm message, printed under an American flag: Here worked Americas experts on democracy, human rights (yes, which include womens, LGBTQ+ & minorities rights), elections security, freedom of expression, privacy, on countering corruption, violent extremism and disinformation, and more, it read. Youve just released them and hundreds of their colleagues into the wild in the United States of America. Donald Trump still feels a throbbing sensation in his ear from his assassination attempt, he told Fox News Will Cain in an appearance on the network Friday. Trump was shot during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania in July 2024. Trump was touring damage from the fatal floods in Texas when the subject of the shooting was introduced by Cain, who asked, Do you think all of this in any way gives you a unique perspective on whats happening here and what people are experiencing here in Texas? More from TheWrap Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a crazy time, very surreal, actually, if you want to know the truth, Trump answered. Its I have got this massive crowd of people, and all of a sudden you hear and you feel something thats very unusual. And I got down quickly. And I was people were screaming, get down, get down. It was a whole the whole thing was just crazy. And its hard to believe a year is up. People that are shooters Im not so much of a shooter, but people that were shooters say its almost impossible that that was a miss, Trump also said. I mean, it was a hit, but it was a miss. Well, I do get that throbbing feeling every once in a while, you understand. Trump also noted that the United States is the hottest country in the world since hes been reelected. This isnt the first time Trump has claimed to still experience a throbbing sensation in his ear. While speaking at the Department of Justice in March, the president noted, My ear is still throbbing. That was a miracle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month while speaking about threats made against his life, Trump told reporters, I get that throbbing feeling every once in a while. A months-long investigation by CBS into the life of Trumps would-be assassin Thomas Crooks revealed his online behavior began to change around Thanksgiving 2023. It was then that he began to build homemade bombs and plan such a killing. CBS spoke to more than two dozen friends, professors, law enforcement officials and other and sent open records requests to half a dozen agencies and a review of thousands of documents to complete the study. Those the network spoke to described Crooks as a star student and someone who came off smart. But others said they didnt even remember him from their classes, including students who had worked on projects with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crooks was shot and killed by a member of the Secret Service soon after he fired the AR-15 style rifle hed brought to Trumps event that day. The post Trump Insists He Still Has That Throbbing Feeling in Ear One Year After Assassination Attempt | Video appeared first on TheWrap. President Donald Trump lashed out at a reporter as evil on Friday after she dared to ask him about the warnings given by the authorities before the deadly Texas floods. The president sat down with officials in Kerrville after touring the devastation from the flash flooding one week ago. He also met with first responders as the search for the missing continues. When Trump opened the roundtable event up for questions, it did not go the way he wanted, and he immediately became defensive. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump sit with Texas governor Greg Abbott (R) as they attend a roundtable meeting with local officials and first responders in Kerrville, Texas, on July 11, 2025. / Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images A reporter who identified herself as from CBS News in Texas asked the president about the lack of warning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several families we heard from are obviously upset because they say those warnings, those alerts didnt go out in time, and they also say that people could have been saved. What do you say to those families? Well, I think everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances, Trump started, before tearing into the reporter. Only a bad person would ask a question like that, to be honest with you, the president said. I dont know who you are, but only a very evil person would ask a question like that. The president said he thought there had been heroism and people had done an incredible job. He did not address the reporters question about what he would tell victims families about not getting warnings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its easy to sit back and say, Oh, what could have happened here or there, you know? Maybe we could have done something differently? This was a thing that has never happened before, Trump said. The president then went on to call on pro-MAGA reporter Brian Glenn for a question, and several other reporters who heaped praise on the president. But the attack on the reporter who asked the first question did not stop there. Conservative Rep. Chip Roy took a moment to slam the media while speaking. For all of the media clamoring to ask that ridiculous first question and try to point fingers, the governor said it best when he said pointing fingers is for losers, the GOP lawmaker said. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania pose for pictures with local emergency services personnel on July 11 in front of a mobile concert stage in Louise Hays Park that was destroyed during flash flooding along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas. / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images However, the devastated community is grappling amid the tragedy with questions remaining over whether there was more that could have been done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 120 people were killed in the disaster, and more than 160 more are still missing as recovery efforts continue. While the National Weather Service issued two flood warnings overnight before the disaster hit, some officials, including Kerrvilles mayor, said they were not aware of the flooding until hours later as the threat built in the middle of the night. The New York Times reported on Thursday that at least three times, local officials requested money for a flood warning system. They were rejected by the state despite more federal funds being made available for disaster-reduction projects. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls currently underway in Bihar is a "violation" of people's voting rights and stated the exercise has already caused "chaos" in the poll-bound Bihar. The State will have elections later in the year. "... The intention behind conducting this SIR in Bihar will cause significant difficulties for the common people, especially those from the backwards classes. With elections approaching, they are being told to prove they are citizens of the country. Has any government in India ever issued a citizenship certificate to anyone? No one has such a certificate. Who will decide this? This has already caused chaos in Bihar," the Congress told ANI on Friday. The Congress leader further said, "What is the reason for this haste? This is a violation of people's voting rights. Just as demonetization happened, the government is now moving toward 'vote-bandi.' We oppose this. Now, even the Supreme Court has said that Aadhaar cards and ration cards should be recognised... Why isn't this happening across India?" Chowdhury's remarks came in response to an ongoing debate over the use of Aadhaar in the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll in Bihar. On Thursday, the Supreme Court allowed the Election Commission to continue with its exercise of conducting a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The Election Commission launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to update the state's electoral rolls. However, opposition parties have raised concerns, arguing that the short timeline and strict requirements could lead to the exclusion of many eligible voters. The apex court posted for hearing on July 28 the pleas challenging ECI's move to conduct SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar and asked the poll panel to file its affidavit within one week. (ANI) By Gram Slattery WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A bipartisan U.S. bill that would hit Russia with sanctions in a bid to pressure Moscow into good-faith peace negotiations with Ukraine has gained momentum this week in Congress, but it still lacks the presidential push it needs to get over the finish line. Now, Ukraine's supporters in Washington and Kyiv, who have for months hoped for President Donald Trump to throw his weight behind the bill, are anxiously awaiting what the Republican president has said will be a "major statement" on Russia on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, who vowed during his election campaign to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has given no details on what his planned announcement would entail, but over the past few weeks he has grown increasingly and publicly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin over his reluctance to accept a ceasefire and the growing civilian death toll of Russian attacks. On Tuesday, Trump approved sending U.S. defensive weapons to Ukraine. Two days later, he came closer than ever to endorsing the sanctions bill, although he has not yet signed off on the legislation's text, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters earlier in the week that the Senate could vote on the bill this month. Mike Johnson, the top House Republican, has expressed similar optimism, while Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have privately told European diplomats that the bill will move imminently, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Senate will move soon on a tough sanctions bill not only against Russia but also against countries like China and India that buy Russian energy products that finance Putin's war machine," Graham wrote on X on Tuesday. Still, it was unclear if Trump had given up on pushing for diplomacy with Russia. And the extensive veto power on sanctions that the White House is demanding could render the bill more symbolic than substantive, some supporters acknowledge. Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Friday following his second in-person meeting with Russian Foreign Sergei Lavrov, Rubio said "a new idea" was discussed that he would be taking back to Trump for further consultations. He declined to give further details. "That new concept is this new approach is not something that automatically leads to peace, but it could potentially open the door to a path," Rubio said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he also reiterated Trump's frustration over Moscow's unwillingness to be more flexible and said Americans had told the Russians weeks ago that a sanctions bill could well pass. WORK ONGOING The bill, whose lead sponsors are Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, would levy extensive sanctions against various Russian individuals, government bodies and financial institutions. It would also punish other countries that trade with Moscow, imposing 500% tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly urged Ukraine's Western allies to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow to force the Kremlin to agree to a ceasefire as a step towards reaching an end to the war, now 40 months old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Work on the bill has picked up pace over the last week, according to two U.S. officials. One person familiar with Trump's thinking said the text still needs work. The current version, that person said, does not give the president enough flexibility to carry out his foreign policy agenda independent of Congress. The White House was working with Congress and the bill's sponsors to ensure it would be "an enhancement to the president's foreign policy objectives," that person added. One person with knowledge of the drafting process said congressional staff had been ironing out technical issues in recent days, such as how to keep any sanctions from affecting the operations of the U.S. embassy in Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Graham told Reuters the bill would probably not come to the floor until the week of July 21 at the earliest, due to other legislative priorities. The House of Representatives, which will need to vote on the measure, leaves for August recess in two weeks, meaning floor time is at a premium. That is particularly true if a Trump request to slash $9.4 billion in spending on foreign aid and public broadcasting - which passed the House and is currently in the Senate - heads back to the House following any changes. Some supporters of the bill acknowledge that the legislation is largely symbolic, given that Trump would have broad authority to veto the sanctions, and in any case could simply issue sanctions from the executive branch if he wishes. "The president already has all these authorities," said one Republican Senate staffer. (Reporting by Gram SlatteryAdditional reporting by Patricia ZengerleEditing by Humeyra Pamuk and Rosalba O'Brien) President Trump is keeping Republicans guessing over whether hell endorse in the closely watched Texas GOP Senate primary between Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Trump met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Leadership Fund officials, both Cornyn allies, on Wednesday to discuss the Senate map, including the Texas primary. Cornyn has been consistently trailing Paxton in the polls. And on Thursday, the race was rocked by another wildcard when Paxtons wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton (R) filed for divorce. The attorney general had faced allegations of taking part in an extramarital affair and corruption as a part of his 2023 impeachment trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An endorsement from Trump has the potential to give Cornyn a much-needed boost among GOP primary voters, who for several cycles have tended to lean further to the right. It will affect their perception of where Cornyn stands with President Trump and with the party, said Brendan Steinhauser, Cornyns former campaign manager. Everything is at the margins but I do think it matters. Cornyn campaign senior adviser Matt Mackowiak referred to a Trump endorsement as the most powerful endorsement in the modern history of the Republican party. Senator Cornyn and President Trump are good friends and close allies and Senator Cornyn is proud to have voted with President Trump 99.2 percent of the time while he has been in office, Mackowiak said in a statement to The Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We respect that President [Trump] will take his time to make a decision and in the meantime we are focused on running a first rate, winning campaign, as Senator Cornyn always has, he added. Cornyn was front and center with the president on Friday when he traveled with Trump to the states Hill Country, which was ravaged by flooding last week. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) was also along for the trip. Hunt has had conversations with the White House about potentially jumping into the race and is seen as more viable in a general election than Paxton. Cornyns allies this week also jumped on the news that Paxtons wife filed for divorce, citing biblical grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Ken Paxton has put his family through is truly repulsive and disgusting, said Joanna Rodriguez, communications director at the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which is backing Cornyn. No one should have to endure what Angela Paxton has, and we pray for her as she chooses to stand up for herself and her family during this difficult time. Meanwhile on Friday, Hunt posted a picture of him, his wife, and three small children with the caption Family, Faith, Freedom. Good Morning America. Paxton, in a statement, said that After facing the pressures of countless political attacks and public scrutiny, Angela and I have decided to start a new chapter in our lives. I could not be any more proud or grateful for the incredible family that God has blessed us with, and I remain committed to supporting our amazing children and grandchildren. I ask for your prayers and privacy at this time, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear whether Paxtons divorce will have any impact on the increasingly dramatic primary, but polls taken before the news broke show he holds a commanding lead over Cornyn. A poll released last month by Republican pollster Robert Blizzard on behalf of the Educational Freedom Institute, showed Paxton leading Cornyn 50 percent to 28 percent among GOP primary voters. Cornyns campaign dismissed that poll, saying it was silly season for polling and this one takes the gold medal. However, another poll conducted around the same period by Texas Southern University showed Paxton leading Cornyn 43 percent to 34 percent, with 23 percent saying they were undecided. An internal poll released in May by the Senate Leadership Fund, which is supporting Cornyn, showed Paxton trailing Cornyn by 16 points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he currently trails in the polls, Cornyn could see an advantage when it comes to the cash race. The senator had not yet released his second quarter fundraising haul as of Friday, but he is seen as one of the most prolific fundraisers in the Senate. He has raked in over $415 million during his time in the Senate and in 2024 alone he raised nearly $33 million to help Republicans win the majority in the upper chamber. Last quarter, Cornyn raised $2.5 million, bringing his cash on hand total to $5.7 million. On top of that, the pro-Cornyn Texans for a Conservative Majority PAC said earlier this month it raised $10.9 million this past quarter. Paxtons second quarter haul shows he has fundraising chops as well. On Friday, the attorney generals campaign said he raised $2.9 million between April and June. But insiders argue that Trump would likely give more weight to polling than fundraising in any decision to endorse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre going to move the president with anything on numbers, its going to be a poll, said the Republican strategist. Cornyns supporters and Paxtons Republican critics note that the attorney generals lead in primary polling creates a conundrum for Republicans seeking to maintain their control of the Senate. The same Texas Southern University poll showed Cornyn leading Democratic Senate candidate and former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) by 4 points and Paxton leading Allred by 2 points. A separate poll released by the Senate Leadership Fund showed the incumbent leading Allred by 6 points, while Hunt led the Texas lawmaker by 4 and Paxton trailed him by 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The concern is that Paxtons potential weakness as a general election candidate could force Republicans to spend more money defending the seat, taking away resources from other battlegrounds. I think it would be more valuable the sooner it comes, Steinhauser said, referring to Trumps endorsement. Of course it helps with fundraising but more importantly, it helps with the couple of million Republican primary voters that are expected to vote in this thing. They do tend to prefer the Trump candidate in these primaries, he added. Others are skeptical that an endorsement from Trump would have any major impact on Cornyns chances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An internal poll obtained by The Hill and conducted by the firm Eyes Over showed Cornyn trailing Paxton 44 to 38 percent after Republican primary voters were informed of a scenario in which Trump backed Cornyn, compared to 50 percent to 33 percent before they were told. Another poll obtained by The Hill, which was conducted on behalf of the Conservative Policy Project, showed Cornyn only gaining one point with Trumps endorsement against Paxton and trailing 46 to 34 percent. The same poll showed Paxton trailing a generic Democratic candidate by three points. And the same poll conducted by Blizzard laid out a scenario in which Trump endorsed Cornyn and Paxton attacked Cornyn for his past statements about Trump and working with Democrats on gun safety legislation. In that scenario, Cornyn trailed Paxton 62 percent to 21 percent. Without those assumptions, Paxton led Cornyn by 22 points, according to the findings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the data points to him not being able to help a severely damaged John Cornyn get over the finish line, the Republican strategist said. However the strategist did not dismiss the power of Trumps endorsement, arguing that it is most valuable to candidates who are not already defined. Cornyn is already defined, the strategist said. The battle now for Cornyn is to try to show enough viability and credibility so the president doesnt cut him loose. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The hallmark of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trumps week included touching down in Kerrville, Texas, Friday after massive floods in the region took the lives of more than 120 people. Both the president and the first lady met with local officials and first responders who are addressing the fallout and devastation of flash floods that struck the Central Texas community, after the Guadalupe River surged more than 22 feet in just a matter of hours. "I've never seen anything like this. This is a bad one," Trump said during a roundtable Friday with the local officials and responders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the lives lost in the flood, officials report that more than 160 people are missing and unaccounted for in Kerr County, Texas. Trump, First Lady Mourn Young Lives Lost In Texas Floods First lady Melania Trump speaks as President Donald Trump looks on during a roundtable Friday with Texas officials after the devastating floods in Kerrville, Texas. "So all across the country, Americans' hearts are shattered," Trump said. "We're filled with grief and devastation. It's the loss of life, and unfortunately, they're still looking." Read On The Fox News App "My administrations doing everything in its power to help Texas," he said. Those who died in the flooding were at least 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp founded nearly 100 years ago for girls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They were there because they loved God," Trump said at the roundtable. "And as we grieve this unthinkable tragedy, we take comfort in the knowledge that God has welcomed those little beautiful girls into his comforting arms in heaven." Heres what also happened this week: Trump held a Cabinet meeting Tuesday where he discussed plans to visit the Texas flood sites. "I'll be going down on Friday with the first lady, and we will be taking a trip," Trump said. "And we don't want to get in anyone's way, because, you know, it's what happens. The president goes, and everyone's around focused. I don't want anyone to focus on us, but it's possible they could have." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump Shifts Tone On Putin President Donald Trump speaks July 9, wduring a Cabinet meeting with Secretary of Housing, Eric Scott Turner, left, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, center, at the White House. Trump also addressed SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musks new pitch for a third political party, following the signing of Trumps so-called "big, beautiful bill" on the Fourth of July. Musk opposed the measure due to concerns it would increase the deficit and raise the debt ceiling. But Trump said he isnt worried about any challenges from Musks new "America Party." "I think it'll help us. It'll probably help. Third parties have always been good for me," Trump said at the Cabinet meeting. Trump also shared details of a recent call he had with Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming he's becoming frustrated with Putin as the war between Russia and Ukraine rages on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We get a lot of bulls--- thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth," Trump said. "Hes very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless." Trump also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday and Tuesday marking the third time Netanyahu has visited Washington during Trumps second term. The visit comes as Trump is seeking to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Trump signaled one might be on the horizon soon. Hamas 'Serious' About Reaching Ceasefire Agreement But Insists On Long-standing Demands President Donald Trump, left, meets with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Blue Room of the White House, July 7, 2025, in Washington. "I will tell you we're getting very close to a deal," Trump told reporters Wednesday. "I don't know if it's secret or not secret, but doesn't matter to me secrets fine if it gets us to where we want to be, we want to have a ceasefire." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We want to have peace," he said. "We want to get the hostages back. And I think we're close to doing it." Original article source: Trump kicks off week meeting with Netanyahu, closes it visiting Texas flood sites One truism of modern American politics is that politicians and voters love to trash the federal government until they need the resources and expertise of the federal government. For months, President Donald Trump and his administration have floated the idea of doing away with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). I think, frankly, FEMA is not good, he told reporters in his first week back in the Oval Office. The president said his administration would begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of the agency altogether. Within a month, the Department of Homeland Security fired 200 employees from the already understaffed agency. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem declared at a Cabinet meeting in March that one of her goals was to eliminate FEMA. In April, CNN reported that about 20% of FEMAs permanent full-time staff roughly 1,000 workers [were] expected to take a voluntary buyout before hurricane season began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was then. After devastating rains led to flash floods in the Texas Hill Country, leaving at least 120 dead and scores missing, the White House is singing a different tune. Administration officials say abolishing the agency outright is not on the agenda, The Washington Post reported Friday, with one senior official telling the Post that changes in the agency will probably amount to a rebranding that will emphasize state leaders roles in disaster response. Noem, who apparently had not received the new White House talking points, was still talking about scrapping FEMA this week, when she claimed the agency is slower to get the resources to Americans in crisis and should be remade into a responsive agency. But, in the Texas disaster, the problem wasnt FEMA. It was, in part, Noem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noem now requires that all agency spending over $100,000 be personally approved by her, according to current and former FEMA officials, NBC News reported earlier this week. CNN reports that this restriction led to delays: FEMA officials were unable to pre-position urban search-and-rescue crews, which specialize in searching for victims during catastrophic weather incidents. Noem failed to authorize the crews deployment until Monday, 72 hours after flooding began. The same day, according to NBC News, FEMA officials created a task force to speed up the process of getting Noems approval. In addition, aerial imagery from FEMA that would have aided search-and-rescue teams on the ground was delayed. Callers to the disaster call center faced longer wait times because Noems stamp of approval was needed to hire additional support staff. In an effort to curtail costs in line with Elon Musks slash-and-burn DOGE operation Noem placed needless roadblocks in the way of a swift federal response. But according to DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, this is all part of the plan. FEMA is shifting from bloated, D.C.-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens, she told CNN. While promoting a less bloated FEMA, Trump administration officials have suggested that emergency management should be turned over to the states. But hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters dont announce in advance which states they will hit. Keeping emergency responses within the purview of the federal government, to cover the multitude of potential disasters, clearly is the smartest and most efficient approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, the Texas floods have tragically highlighted the dangers of relying on local jurisdictions to both prepare for and respond to disasters. One of the major controversies in Texas is the lack of warning provided to those who were in harms way. According to new NBC News reporting, FEMA officials sent updates to officials in Kerr County, one of the hardest hit areas, about the coming deluge. But local officials did not utilize FEMAs Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) to send warnings to all mobile phones in the danger zone. There is a larger lesson here as well. Undermining the federal government, treating its career employees poorly, discarding years of institutional knowledge and cutting spending for the sake of cutting spending might seem like good politics, until you need the federal government. And when it comes to responding to natural disasters, only the federal government is capable of marshaling the necessary capabilities and expertise. Of course, its not just when Mother Nature acts out. The federal government plays a critical role in so many aspects of our lives. Since taking a chain saw to federal payrolls, the Trump administration has had to rehire or call back scores of federal employees ranging from meteorologists at the National Weather Service and specialists in childhood lead exposure to workers overseeing the nations stockpile of nuclear weapons and a number cruncher to distribute money to states under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The Trump team had earlier let go of the entire LIHEAP staff. In real terms, the cost in lives and property is most important. But the White House should also remember that while Americans love to complain about the federal government, they punish politicians who dont use it properly to help them. George W. Bushs presidency, for instance, never recovered from the incompetence of his administrations response to Hurricane Katrina. Trump should understand this lesson better than most his presidency suffered a political body blow over his disastrous handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas flood disaster should be a wake-up call for the Trump administration: The president who messes with the federal government does so at their own peril. But as is typical with the president and his allies, theyll just as likely ignore the warnings. Indeed, as tales of incompetence and mismanagement trickle out to reporters (undoubtedly from staff none too happy to receive blame), the administrations responses fall into the usual mode of defensiveness and hostility. With the peak of hurricane season around the corner, Americans in the potential danger zone are now at even greater danger. In reality, we all are. The federal government, throughout its myriad of agencies and departments, can narrow risks and provide a helping hand to those in need. But less so when its being run by fools. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with US President Donald Trump at the White House, in Washington DC, US, July 8, 2025 (photo credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) During his conversation with Trump, the US leader said he hoped there would be no more US bombing of Iran. US President Donald Trump did not oppose IDF strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran should the latter resume moving toward a nuclear weapon, senior US and Israeli officials told The Wall Street Journal in a report late Friday night. The president had discussed this possibility with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in private, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the report also stated that Trump would prefer a diplomatic solution rather than more airstrikes. Netanyahu concluded his trip to the US on Thursday night to return to Israel. During his conversation with Trump, the US leader said he hoped there would be no more US bombing of Iran, the report said. U.S. President Donald Trump holds a bilateral dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 7, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/KEVIN LAMARQUE) Israel doesn't need US approval for strikes, official says The WSJ report also quoted an Israeli official saying Israel does not necessarily need approval from the United States to return to strikes on the Islamic Republic, adding that the White House would not respond to questions on Trump's talks with Netanyahu. The Israeli official also told the WSJ that, unlike Iranian nuclear facilities Fordow and Natanz, Isfahan saw its stockpile of near-bomb-grade enriched uranium surviving the attack, Israeli officials estimated, and that Tehran could recover material from the site, unlike the other two facilities. However, the official also said that any attempt to retrieve uranium from Isfahan would be quickly detected by Israel, and that the continued targeting of nuclear scientists. Israel reportedly has intel on where the Islamic Republic may resume its nuclear program, the official added, noting that bunker-busting bombs that can penetrate deep underground are not owned. Trump Ordered to Stand Down by Federal Judge, Stop Warrantless Immigration Arrests originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Department of Homeland Security Investigations agents, here with with arrested farm workers in Ventura County, ordered to stop arresting people without probable cause Courtesy of Immigration and Customs Enforcement The Trump administration has been ordered by a federal judge to halt any and all indiscriminate arrests in seven California counties, including Los Angeles, that a lawsuit argued targeted people for warrantless arrests based solely on race, spoken language or occupation. U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong ordered that the Department of Homeland Security must have a methodology for officers to determine reasonable suspicion outside of the apparent race or ethnicity of a person, the language they speak, their accent or presence at a particular location such as a Home Depot parking lot. Fridays ruling comes after the ACLU of Southern California - which was joined by Mayor Karen Bass and other local leaders from Pasadena, Santa Monica, Culver City, Pico Rivera, Montebello, Monterey Park and West Hollywood - brought a case against the Trump administration alleging that DHS has targeted people based on their ethnicity. The case, titled Perdomo et al. v. Noem et al., is aimed at DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Bass immediately applauded the emergency orders on social media as a triumph over "masked men" making unconstitutional arrests in the city. "Today, the Court ruled in favor of the United States Constitution," Bass wrote."This is a win for Los Angeles and it is a win for cities all across the nation. L.A. has been under assault as masked men snatch people off the street and chase people through parking lots and summer camps. But today, the Court ruled in favor of the United States Constitution. This is a win for Los Angeles and it is a win for cities all across the nation. pic.twitter.com/MrCkwQFb13 Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) July 12, 2025 The judge also ruled that DHS must halt all warrantless arrests and grant access to legal counsel. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli disputed that in a statement: "We strongly disagree with the allegations in the lawsuit and maintain that our agents have never detained individuals without proper legal justification. Our federal agents will continue to enforce the law and abide by the U.S. Constitution." The DHS also posted a statement on X accusing the judge of "undermining the will of the American people," and saying that agents are "removing murderers, MS-13 gang members, pedophiles, rapiststruly the worst of the worst from Golden State communities." It remains unclear exactly how many people in California have been detained since federal raids began in L.A. on June 6. DHS officials said this week that they have arrested roughly 2,800 people, but evidence of how many of those detainees are "truly the worst of the worst" has not been presented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a speech on Friday at Turning Point USA Student Action Summit, addressing ICE raids in L.A., telling the crowd that the DOD is "supporting ICE agents in Los Angeles and elsewhere, ensuring they're safe in their duty." President Trump took over the California National Guard and activated U.S. Marines to work alongside law enforcement in ongoing raids. "ICE should have the ability to do its job in any city in America without being attacked," he said. "And if they are being attacked, their partners at the DOD are proud to stand alongside them to secure them, their facilities or their agents in the execution of lawful law enforcement." Frimpong issued the emergency orders, which are a temporary measure while the lawsuit proceeds, on the same day news broke that a farm worker died Friday, a day after his family said he fell from a building while running from federal agents during an immigration action on a Ventura County cannabis farm. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared. A year has passed since an attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trumps life left two men severely injured and a third dead at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. James Copenhaver, David Dutch, and family members of the late Corey Comperatore still have many unanswered questions about July 13, 2024, the day that changed their lives forever. "You missed Trump, but you got my big brother," Dawn Comperatore Schafer, Comperatores sister, told Fox News Digital of gunman Thomas Crooks, who died when responding officers at the rally returned fire. "My brother was assassinated that day. Not Donald Trump, but Corey Comperatore was assassinated that day. You did not miss." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Comperatore, 50, was the former fire chief for the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company, a husband, and a father to two daughters. Trump Calls Butler Widow, Secret Service Agrees To Meeting After Call For Accountability From left: Corey Comperatore's sister, Dawn Comperatore Schafer; mother, Karen Schafer Bird; and sister, Kelly Comperatore Meeder, pose for a portrait in Pittsburgh, PA, U.S., July 8, 2025. "He was so perfect that we called him Golden Boy," Comperatores sister, Kelly Comperatore Meeder, said alongside Schafer, her sister, and their mother, Karen Schafer Bird. Read On The Fox News App WATCH: Corey Comperatore's mother, sisters still have questions year later Comperatore enjoyed fishing alone or with his wife in the mornings, which his sisters described as his time with God, when "he devoted his morning to prayer." They also described him as the "ultimate girl dad," who took pride in dressing his daughters and attending their every event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who Was Thomas Crooks? One Year Later, Motive And Missed Warnings Haunt Trump Rally Shooting Since the assassination attempt on Trump that left the 50-year-old father dead, the Comperatore family has grappled with lingering and unanswered questions about what led to Comperatores death that day. "I know about negligence," Comperatore Schafer said. "There were so many morale hazards and moral hazards. I was looking at it and thinking to myself, my God." Former Buffalo Township Fire Chief Corey Comperatore pictured with his daughters in an undated family photo. Authorities say Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, struck and killed Comperatore in the crossfire. Secret Service agents returned fire, killing Crooks. Comperatore Meeder similarly asked why then-presidential candidate Trump was allowed to walk on stage that day. Pennsylvania Officer At Trump Assassination Attempt Says He Needs Empire Amid Secret Service Staffing Woes Corey Comperatore's sister, Dawn Comperatore Schafer; mother, Karen Schafer Bird; and sister, Kelly Comperatore Meeder, pose for a portrait in Pittsburgh, PA, U.S., July 8, 2025. "When they were saying that there's someone on the roof and he has a gun why did they march President Trump out on that X? Why didn't they hold him?" she asked. "We know that there was inadequate security. That's a given but why did they do that? Why did they think it was safe to walk him out on the X? They knew that the threats were there." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Dutch, 58, and James Copenhaver, 75, have similar questions about the day that left them with life-altering injuries. Local Officer's Bullet Stopped Trump Shooter's Gunfire Before Secret Service Shot, Witness Testifies David Dutch, Trump assassination attempt survivor, poses for a portrait in Pittsburgh, PA, U.S., July 8, 2025. Dutch, a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Gulf War, was struck in the abdomen. Bullet fragments hit his liver and remain there to this day. Copenhaver, who served in the U.S. National Guard, was struck once in the arm and again in his colon. Both are still receiving treatment for physical and psychological trauma. "When I felt my ribs all broke up, all I tried to do was get out of the line of fire because there was a lot of shrapnel just flying all over the bleachers," Dutch told Fox News Digital. "And I was yelling at the other people telling them, Get down, get down." Dutch, a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Gulf War, was struck in the abdomen. Copenhaver inadvertently captured video footage of what appears to be Crooks walking over the roof of a nearby American Glass Research (AGR) building, which was technically not part of the official rally perimeter and was not manned by law enforcement at the time of the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump Assassination Attempt: Whistleblowers Claim That They Were 'Woefully Unprepared' To Provide Security The 74-year-old remembers turning his head to see a chart showing immigration-related statistics that had just appeared on a projection screen when he heard the first bullet zip by him. Trump has credited that same projection with saving his life because he, too, turned his head when the gunfire began, and he walked away from the rally with his lifeand a nicked earas a result. WATCH COPENHAVER'S POV: "I turned around and I got a shot here in my left tricep, and then I turned around and there was another bullet that entered into my solar plexus area," Copenhaver said. "I like to jest a little bit and say that the bullet that grazed me here was the one that hit Trump in the ear because I thought I saw a little earwax on my arm." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Obviously, it wasn't," he added. "I mean, it's just some of the dry humor that comes along from being in a traumatic situation." Trump Assassination Attempt: Inexperienced Secret Service Agent Flying Drone Called Toll-free Number For Help James Copenhaver, Trump assassination attempt survivor, prior to an interview in Pittsburgh, PA, U.S., July 8, 2025. Ironically, neither Copenhaver nor Dutch were assigned to the bleacher area where they were shot; Copenhaver was invited by personnel, and Dutch was initially told he was sitting in the wrong location when he and a friend asked for permission to sit in the bleachers. "The only requirement, you got to be loud," Dutch recalled the official telling him. He and his friend responded: "We can do that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the shooting, Copenhaver has not been able to lay on his stomach for a year, and he has trouble walking up and down stairs. His wife and son have dedicated much of their own time to helping him. Dutch cant do home maintenance work like he used to; even mowing the lawn takes days because he has to take frequent breaks. Copenhaver, who served in the U.S. National Guard, was struck once in the arm and again in his colon. Both are still receiving treatment for physical and psychological trauma. The two men have been surrounded by conspiracy theories about the rally and why it happened; they even email each other some of the more wild takes they see on social media, but neither of them give much air to the theories. They are more focused on their recoveries, spending time with family, and living life after coming so close to death. "I would like to spend more time with my grandchildren. And get to a point where if I want to throw a ball or something like that with them, I can," Copenhaver said. Secret Service Boss Says Vital Info Not Relayed Over Radio, Delaying Response To Would-be Rally Assassin Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also wants to get back to riding his motorcycle, which he began riding in 1969, and he hasn't been back on his bike since being shot. Dutch said he just wants to "get back to healthy." "I try to remind everybody, you never know when your time's gonna come, so don't dwell in the past, and don't live your life just to go to work and come home and go to work and come home. It's too short. Go out there and live life. You never know when it's gonna end," he said. David Dutch walks from Trump rally with gunshot wounds. The Independent Review Panel tasked with investigating the July 13 assassination attempt published its final report in October of last year, which found that the United States Secret Service (USSS) "has become bureaucratic, complacent, and static even though risks have multiplied and technology has evolved" and called for new leadership, training, and updated review processes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump Shooting: Timeline Of Assassination Attempt Raises Questions About How Gunman Evaded Security The report also found that "[t]here were insufficient, and, in fact, no personnel from the Secret Service or other federal, state, or local law enforcement specifically tasked with securing the AGR building, the AGR roof, or its environs." Certain lines of sight to Trump were unprotected, and the rally "was plagued by various communications issues which... inhibited the effective, timely dissemination of information about Crooks." The report further noted "ambiguity among personnel at the site regarding who had overall command of the sites security." President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate at the time, is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. Prior to the shooting, a Beaver County sniper took a photo of the suspicious male near the AGR building and a photo of the shooter using a range finder pointing toward the stage, who was later identified as Crooks. The sniper reported that information to the Pennsylvania State Police . The FBI previously said this sighting occurred around 5:10 p.m. on July 13, one hour and one minute before Crooks began shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crooks began firing at 6:11 p.m. Attempted Trump Assassin Seen Walking Around Pennsylvania Rally Hours Before Opening Fire The Butler Farm Show, site of a campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, is seen Monday, July 15, 2024 in Butler, Pa. Trump was wounded on July 13 during an assassination attempt while speaking at the rally. Soon afterward, when it became clear that a threat was on the roof of the AGR building, an operator with Butler County ESU exited the red barn from behind the stage where Trump was speaking and monitored the AGR building area, Adams Township Police Department Sgt. Edward Lenz testified in September of last year. The operator "quickly identified" where the shots were coming from, located the shooter, and fired one round at Crooks with his rifle, "which caused the shooter to recoil and briefly fall out of sight," the Adams Township officer testified. Butler Lawmaker Slams Inappropriate Treatment Of Local Police After Trump Incident: Thrown Under The Bus Trump supporters are seen covered with blood in the stands after guns were fired at Republican candidate Donald Trump. "He did this less than six seconds after shots began at a distance of approximately 110 yards," Lenz said. A Secret Service counter sniper then fired the fatal shot that neutralized Crooks on the roof of the AGR building, where he was perched with a direct line of sight to Trump. A graphic representation of the position of the sniper team in relation to the would-be assassin at the Trump rally in Butler, PA on July 13, 2024. Witnesses largely suggested that the Secret Service's lack of direction given to local agencies ultimately led to the security failures that allowed 20-year-old Crooks to position himself on a nearby rooftop and fire at the former president. Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on July 23, 2024. On the day of the rally, Crooks parked his vehicle and flew a drone between approximately 3:50 p.m. and 4 p.m. about 200 yards from where the former president would be speaking. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified during a July 17 congressional hearing that Crooks had been at the rally site for about 70 minutes the morning of the assassination attempt. Investigators located eight casings on the roof where Crooks fired from. Original article source: Trump rally shooting survivors turn attack into motivation year later: go out there and live life President Donald Trump has pledged to deport the worst of the worst. He frequently speaks at public appearances about the countless dangerous criminals among them murderers, rapists and child predators from around the world he says entered the U.S. illegally under the Biden administration. He promises to expel millions of migrants in the largest deportation program in American history to protect law-abiding citizens from the violent threats he says they pose. But government data around ongoing detentions tells a different story. There has been an increase of arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since Trump began his second term, with reports of raids across the country. Yet the majority of people currently detained by ICE have no criminal convictions. Of those who do, relatively few have been convicted of high-level crimes a stark contrast to the chilling nightmare Trump describes to support his border security agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's a deep disconnect between the rhetoric and the reality, said Ahilan Arulanantham, co-faculty director of the UCLA Law School's Center for Immigration Law and Policy. This administration, and also in the prior Trump administration, they consistently claim to be going after the worst of the worst and just talk about immigration enforcement as though it is all about going after violent, dangerous people with extensive criminal histories. And yet overwhelmingly, it's people they're targeting for arrest who have no criminal history of any kind. A look at the numbers The latest ICE statistics show that as of June 29, there were 57,861 people detained by ICE, 41,495 71.7% of whom had no criminal convictions. That includes 14,318 people with pending criminal charges and 27,177 who are subject to immigration enforcement, but have no known criminal convictions or pending criminal charges. Each detainee is assigned a threat level by ICE on a scale of 1 to 3, with one being the highest. Those without a criminal record are classified as having no ICE threat level. As of June 23, the latest data available, 84% of people detained at 201 facilities nationwide were not given a threat level. Another 7% had been graded as a level 1 threat, 4% were level 2 and 5% were level 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump has justified this immigration agenda in part by making false claims that migrants are driving violent crime in the United States, and that's just simply not true, said Lauren-Brooke Eisen, senior director of the justice program at the Brennan Center for Justice. There's no research and evidence that supports his claims. Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, called the assessment that ICE isn't targeting immigrants with a criminal record false" and said that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has directed ICE to target the worst of the worstincluding gang members, murderers, and rapists. She counted detainees with convictions, as well as those with pending charges, as criminal illegal aliens. Nonpublic data obtained by the Cato Institute shows that as of June 14, 65% of the more than 204,000 people processed into the system by ICE since the start of fiscal year 2025, which began Oct. 1, 2024, had no criminal convictions. Of those with convictions, only 6.9% had committed a violent crime, while 53% had committed nonviolent crimes that fell into three main categories immigration, traffic, or vice crimes. Total ICE arrests shot up at the end of May after White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller gave the agency a quota of 3,000 arrests a day, up from 650 a day in the first five months of Trumps second term. ICE arrested nearly 30% more people in May than in April, according to the Transactional Records Clearinghouse, or TRAC. That number rose again in June, by another 28%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cato Institute found that between Feb. 8 and May 17, the daily average of noncriminals processed into the system ranged from 421 to 454. In the following two weeks at the end of May, that number rose to 678 and then rose to 927 in the period from June 1 through 14. What you're seeing is this huge increase in funding to detain people, remove people, enforce immigration laws," Eisen said. "And what we're seeing is that a lot of these people back to sort of the original question you asked, these are not people who are dangerous. Administration says focus is on dangerous criminals Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, said the administration is intensely focused on rooting out unvetted criminals who are in the country illegally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just this week, the Administration conducted a successful operation rescuing children from labor exploitation at a marijuana facility in California, and continued arresting the worst of the worst including murderers, pedophiles, gang members, and rapists, she wrote in an email. "Any suggestion that the Administration is not laser focused on these dangerous criminals is flat out wrong. While most ICE detainees are not convicted criminals, there are detainees who have committed serious crimes. On Friday, the administration released information on five high-level offenders who had been arrested. During his campaign, Trump highlighted several cases where immigrants in the country illegally were arrested for horrific crimes. Among them: The killing of 22-year-old Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was slain last year by a Venezuelan man in the U.S. illegally. Jose Ibarra was found guilty of murder and other crimes in Rileys February 2024 killing and sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Ibarra is seeking a new trial. Trump in January signed into law the Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigrants are not driving violent crime in US, studies find Research has consistently found, however, that immigrants are not driving violent crime in the U.S. and that they actually commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans. A 2023 working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research, for example, reported that immigrants for 150 years have had lower incarceration rates than those born in the U.S. In fact, the rates have declined since 1960 according to the paper, immigrants were 60% less likely to be incarcerated. Experts say the false rhetoric coming out of the Trump administration creates real harm. It makes people in immigrant communities feel targeted and marginalized, Arulanantham said. It creates more political and social space for hate in all its forms, including hate crime against immigrant communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eisen noted that the impact extends to other communities as well. All Americans should want safe and thriving communities and this idea that the president of the United States is making misleading statements about the truth and distorting reality is not the way to deliver public safety, she said. ___ Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck. President Donald Trump sued CBS News and its parent company, Paramount Global, in October 2024 over an interview on "60 Minutes" with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump accused the outlet of deceptive editing and election interference. The lawsuit and its subsequent settlement have far-reaching implications and set off a fierce debate about media ethics and accountability, as well as corporate interference. Fox News Digital breaks down exactly what happened from the final payout to speculation as to why Paramount settled and what blowback the lawsuit has received since. What happened: October 8, 2024: CBS '60 Minutes' airs two different answers from former Vice President Kamala Harris to the same question | Watch Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former VP Kamala Harris was mocked by conservatives when footage of her offering a lengthy "word salad" response when asked why it seemed like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasnt listening to the U.S. was aired on CBS' "Face the Nation" on a Sunday to promote a special "60 Minutes" sit-down. However, Harris' lengthy answer didnt make the version that aired on "60 Minutes" Monday night and a shorter, more focused answer to the same question was shown instead. Bill Whitaker and Kamala Harris. October 18, 2024: Former FCC commissioner explains if CBS News could be in hot water over editing | Watch Read On The Fox News App The Center for American Rights argued that the discrepancies by CBS "amount to deliberate news distortion a violation of FCC rules governing broadcasters' public interest obligations," and formally complained to the FCC. Former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Nathan Simington appointed by Trump in 2020 said his priority was to make sure the public was not misled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement October 20, 2024: CBS breaks its silence over editing allegations After Trump called for the network to lose its broadcasting license over the editing, CBS put out a statement saying that any accusation of deceitful editing from "60 Minutes" was "false," and that then-candidate Trump pulled out of an interview which the Trump campaign denied. CBS also stated that, "'60 Minutes' gave an excerpt of our interview to Face the Nation that used a longer section of her answer than that on 60 Minutes.' Same question. Same answer. But a different portion of the response." October 31, 2024: Trump sues CBS News for $10 billion alleging 'deceptive doctoring' of Harris' '60 Minutes' interview News broke that Trump was suing CBS News for $10 billion in damages, stating the network practiced "deceptive conduct" for the purpose of election interference in its Harris interview. The amount was later bumped to a whopping $20 billion. Trump attorneys said the suit was filed over "CBS partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference through malicious, deceptive, and substantial news distortion calculated to confuse, deceive, and mislead the public." Trump attorneys also argued the edits were done in an effort to "attempt to tip the scales in favor of the Democratic Party as the heated 2024 Presidential Election which President Trump is leading approaches its conclusion." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement February 5, 2025: FCC releases CBS News' raw '60 Minutes' transcript Shortly after Trump was inaugurated, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) released the unedited transcript and video handed over by CBS News of its interview with Harris. The raw transcript showed CBS News had aired only the first half of her response to "60 Minutes" about Netanyahu not "listening" to the Biden administration in a preview clip that aired on "Face the Nation," but aired only the second half of her response during the primetime special. President Trump's lawsuit against "60 Minutes" and CBS News over its editing of a Kamala Harris interview last year resulted in an eight-figure settlement. April 14, 2025: Trump lashes out at CBS News and "60 Minutes" Trump shared on Truth Social that he was "honored" to be suing "60 Minutes" over reporting he deemed "fraudulent," and said the network should "pay a big price for this." Trump then went on to say that the network "did everything possible to illegally elect Kamala, including completely and corruptly changing major answers to Interview questions, but it just didnt work for them." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April 23, 2025: "60 Minutes" executive producer Bill Owens abruptly quits "60 Minutes" executive producer Bill Owens abruptly quit the long-running CBS News program and put out a statement that it was clear he would not be able to run the show as he had previously done. "So, having defended this show and what we stand for from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward," Owens said. May 9, 2025: Paramount, CBS News' parent company, faces mounting pressure Lawyers for Trump and Paramount entered mediation, signaling the company's potential willingness to resolve the lawsuit filed by Trump. The interview received an Emmy nomination the week prior for "Outstanding Edited Interview." Democratic lawmakers made a direct plea to Shari Redstone, Paramount's controlling shareholder, to not settle the lawsuit, saying it would be a "grave mistake." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May 29, 2025: Trump rejects Paramount's $15 million offer to settle CBS News lawsuit Trump rejected a $15 million offer to settle the lawsuit with Paramount. The president's legal team demanded another $25 million and an apology from CBS News. Redstone had made it clear in prior months that she wanted to settle Trump's lawsuit in hopes of clearing the pathway for Paramount's multibillion-dollar planned merger with Skydance Media, which needed approval from Trump's FCC. July 1, 2025: Paramount, CBS pay eight figures, change editorial policy in settlement | Watch Paramount Global and CBS agreed to pay Trump a sum that could reach north of $30 million to settle the presidents lawsuit against the network. Trump received $16 million upfront. That was for covering legal fees, costs of the case, and contributions to his future presidential library or charitable causes, to be determined at Trumps discretion. There is anticipation that there will be another allocation in the eight figures set aside for advertisements, public service announcements or other similar transmissions, in support of conservative causes by the network in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources shared with Fox News Digital that CBS agreed to update its editorial standards to install a mandatory new rule. Going forward, the network will promptly release full, unedited transcripts of future presidential candidates interviews. People involved in the settlement talks have referred to this as the "Trump Rule." July 7, 2025: CBS parent company sparks massive outrage with Trump lawsuit settlement Paramount Global and CBS eight-figure settlement caused widespread outrage across the legal and journalism communities. Many legal experts and Paramounts own attorneys insisted the lawsuit was meritless, but CBS parent company settled it anyway. Figures under Paramount's umbrella like Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Scott Pelley and John Dickerson have not been hiding their mockery and disdain throughout the process. Insiders also told Fox News Digital they were furious and felt betrayed by company executives surrendering to Trump. In an interview with Stewart on Monday night, longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft said Paramount had essentially capitulated to a "shakedown." Paramount Global and CBS agreed to settle President Trumps $20 billion election interference lawsuit against the network. Reactions: Original article source: How Trump sued CBS and won: The '60 Minutes' settlement that rocked the media world, explained For most world leaders, tariff letters from US President Donald Trump mean a big headache. But one Southeast Asian general is spinning the communique he was sent as welcome recognition of the embattled, isolated and reviled junta he leads. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, head of the military that seized power in Myanmar in 2021 after ousting a democratically elected government, said it was he who had the honor of receiving Trumps letter sent on Monday announcing new tariffs, state media Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Friday. The letter, which stated the United States would be imposing a new tariff rate of 40 percent on Myanmars exports to the US starting August 1, was received with sincere appreciation, the newspaper said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States and most Western countries have not recognized the junta as the legitimate government of Myanmar, also known as Burma. The militarys power grab sparked a catastrophic civil war now in its fifth year, with pro-democracy fighters and ethnic rebel groups battling the military across swaths of the country. The United Nations and other rights groups have accused the military of war crimes as it battles to cling to power. The US, the United Kingdom and the European Union have all sanctioned the military and sought to limit contact with its representatives on the world stage. Washington and most Western capitals no longer station fully accredited ambassadors in Myanmar, a diplomatic snub the ruling generals have long chafed at. But this weeks letter was spun as an encouraging invitation to continue participating in the extraordinary Economy of the United States, Min Aung Hlaing was quoted as saying, adding a high-level negotiation team could be sent as quickly as possible to the US to discuss with the relevant authorities, if needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN has reached out to the US embassy in Myanmar for details on how the letter was delivered and for comment on whether it signals a change in Washingtons stance on the junta. Min Aung Hlaing also asked that Washington consider lifting and easing economic sanctions on Myanmar, as they hinder the shared interests and prosperity of both countries and their peoples, he was quoted as saying. The general who led Myanmars military in 2017, when the United States said it committed genocide against the Rohingya minority also took the chance to heap praise on Trump. He hailed his strong leadership in guiding his country towards national prosperity with the spirit of a true patriot, as well as continued efforts to promote peace on the global stage, the Global New Light said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Min Aung Hlaing also thanked Trump for regulating broadcasting agencies and funds, which have sometimes exacerbated the existing conflicts an apparent reference to the Trump administrations funding cuts to US outlets such as Radio Free Asia and Voice of America. Both outlets have long been popular across Myanmar for their independent reporting, and have become even more vital following the juntas crackdown on the free press. Min Aung Hlaing sought to appeal to a longstanding Trump grievance his long-debunked claims of massive election fraud in the 2020 election won by former President Joe Biden. Similar to the challenges the President encountered during the 2020 election of the United States, Myanmar also experienced major electoral fraud and significant irregularities, he was quoted as saying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The election he was referring to in Myanmar was won resoundingly by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party, which won a second term at the expense of the militarys proxy party. International observers at the time concluded the election was largely free and fair but the military soon began making unsubstantiated claims of massive fraud. Weeks later, it launched its coup, ending a 10-year experiment with democracy and plunging Myanmar into turmoil. Suu Kyi has been in military custody since, and is serving a 27-year jail sentence following a closed-door trial that critics say was a sham and designed to remove the popular leader and longtime foe of the military from political life. Ross Adkin contributed reporting For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Rainfall lashed several parts of Srinagar on Saturday morning, providing much-needed relief from the prevailing hot and humid conditions in the city. The showers brought down temperatures and offered relief from the persistent humidity of the past few days. According to a press release by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), "Isolated heavy rainfall likely over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand during July 8-14; Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit, Baltistan-Muzaffarabad during July 8-10; West Uttar Pradesh during July 8-11; Punjab, Haryana Chandigarh, East Uttar Pradesh on July 9-10; West Rajasthan during July 12-14; East Rajasthan during July 10-14 with very heavy rainfall over Uttarakhand on July 8; East Rajasthan on July 11-12". The monsoon arrived eight days early in India this year, bringing heavy rainfall and waterlogging to several cities, disrupting the lives of people. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday expressed displeasure and concern over the waterlogging in several parts of the national capital following heavy rain. She issued strict instructions to the officials of the concerned department to take prompt and effective measures to prevent waterlogging and ensure public convenience during the monsoon season. In Himachal Pradesh, the monsoon has caused widespread devastation since its onset. According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), 91 people lost their lives between June 20 and July 10 due to rain-related incidents, including landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, and drowning. The SDMA's cumulative loss report as of July 10 revealed that the highest number of casualties occurred in Mandi district (17 deaths), followed by Kangra (12) and Kullu (3). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in two districts of Himachal Pradesh, namely Sirmaur and Kangra, while a yellow alert has been sounded for six other districts, including Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Mandi, Shimla, and Solan. Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Senior Scientist at IMD Himachal Pradesh, told ANI that the monsoon activity is expected to remain active across the state through mid-July. "Only a month has passed. The weather activity is expected to remain active in Himachal Pradesh till at least July 16," he added. In Uttar Pradesh, continuous heavy rainfall led to rising water levels in the Ganga River in Varanasi. Ghats were submerged and temples inundated as the river crossed the danger mark on Wednesday. Residents noted that the water level has been rising steadily, submerging one step of the ghats each day. "Water level is rising by one step each day. There were 84 ghats here, and after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the Namo Ghat, there are now 85 ghats here. We are in contact with all the ghats, while some roads are blocked. This happens annually, whenever it rains, it causes difficulty for the public as they get stuck." Sonu Sahani, a local resident, told ANI. (ANI) President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened 30 percent tariffs on two major U.S. trading partners the European Union and Mexico. In letters posted to Truth Social, the president said each country would face the new tariffs starting Aug. 1, though he left the door open to further talks to bring down that rate, as he did in missives to other foreign leaders this week. The new levies represent a 10 percentage point increase for the European Union from the Liberation Day tariff rates Trump announced in April, and a 5 percentage point boost from the 25 percent rate Mexico was slapped with in March related to the fentanyl crisis. Together, the two trading partners account for about one-third of U.S. imports. The United States imported $605 billion worth of goods last year from the 27 nations of the EU, whose major members include France, Germany, Spain and Italy. It imported $505 billion from Mexico, a member of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement that Trump negotiated during his first term to replace the 1990s-era North American Free Trade Agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. trade deficit with the EU was the second highest of any trading partner in 2024, coming below China, while the deficit with Mexico was the third highest. The messages to Mexico and the EU follow a week of similar letters sent to U.S. trading partners, which began with South Korea and Japan. Trump sent letters to more than two dozen countries, many of them emerging economies that have not had the kind of robust trade talks with the U.S. that major trading partners have had. The fact that the letters to the EU and Mexico came so late in the week appear to signal that they remain in better standing with Trump than those that received earlier letters. The decision to send letters first to South Korea and Japan was widely seen as an effort to single out those two countries amid stalled negotiations. Negotiations with both trading partners targeted Saturday are ongoing and, in the case of the EU, appear to be closing in on some sort of framework for a trade deal. Earlier this week, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said a deal with the EU was on Trumps desk for a final decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the letter, Trump asserts the EU will allow complete, open Market Access to the United States, with no tariffs being charged to us, in an attempt to reduce the large Trade Deficit. Its not clear if the EU has agreed to such a term or if Trump is merely trying to impose that outcome. European leaders on Saturday responded by saying they were still interested in negotiations but pointedly did not rule out retaliation if it became necessary. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X that while Europe would continue working toward an agreement with the U.S. before the Aug. 1 deadline, they would also continue to "safeguard EU interests on the basis of proportionate countermeasures." A 30% tariff on EU exports would hurt businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic, she wrote in the post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump had also warned in his letters both the EU and Mexico he will match any attempt to retaliate against U.S. exports. The EU is dropping its plans to levy a tax on digital companies, an important concession to the U.S. that could set the stage for a deal in the coming weeks. And the bloc has telegraphed confidence that it will reach an agreement ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline. In response to Trump's tariff threats, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he supported von der Leyen and her chief trade negotiator, Maros Sefcovic, saying he preferred "a negotiated solution." Ireland, Europes leading pharmaceuticals exporter to the U.S., is particularly vulnerable to tariffs. Trump has threatened to implement a 200 percent tariff on pharmaceuticals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the office of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the hope is to avert U.S. tariffs. It is now essential to remain focused on the negotiations, avoiding polarization that would make reaching an agreement more difficult, the Palazzo Chigi said. The letter to Mexico accused the country of failing to curb fentanyl smuggling, saying the cartels are trying to turn the U.S. into a Narco-Trafficking Playground. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum recently pushed back on accusations from the Treasury Department that Mexican financial firms had laundered millions of dollars related to fentanyl trafficking. The Mexican government also put out a statement Saturday indicating that a delegation met with U.S. officials on Friday to establish a working group to address the main issues in the relationship. The statement said Mexican negotiators were aware a letter would be coming and that while they believed it was "unfair treatment and that we disagreed" with the strategy, "Mexico has begun negotiations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps proposed tariff rate on Mexico is 5 percentage points lower than what he imposed on the U.S.s other major North America trading partner: Canada. The Thursday letter said Canada would have a 35 percent tariff, also citing what the president called an inadequate push from Canadian officials to address fentanyl. The tariffs on both Canada and Mexico will only be imposed on goods that do not comply with the 2020 USMCA, though the final decision will be up to Trump, according to White House official, granted anonymity to discuss the negotiations. India is the last of the major U.S. trading partners that has yet to receive a letter, with the two countries said to be closing in on a deal. Trump recently told NBC News that many other trading partners will receive a final tariff rate of 15 to 20 percent. Amid a disaster in Texas, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and a trade war of his own making, President Donald Trump on Saturday took time out to issue a threat that hell strip the citizenship of U.S.-born comedian and talk show host Rosie ODonnell, a longtime critic. In a major escalation of his war of words with adversaries, the president wrote on Truth Social: Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. He continued: She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It didnt take long for ODonnell to respond. She posted a photo of Trump with the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein to Instagram, and wrote: Hey Donald youre rattled again? 18 years later and I still live rent-free in that collapsing brain of yours. US comedian and producer Rosie O'Donnell attends the 2024 Elle Women in Hollywood celebration (AFP via Getty Images) ODonnell wrote that while he had called her a threat to humanity, she is everything you fear: a loud woman, a queer woman, a mother who tells the truth. After contrasting their lives and outlooks, ODonnell writes: You want to revoke my citizenship? Go ahead and try, King Joffrey with a tangerine spray tan. She adds: Im not yours to silence. I never was. Rosie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has no power to strip anyone of citizenship, but since returning to the White House, Trump has sought to end birthright citizenship, guaranteed to Americans under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. The 14th Amendment states: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. Overturning the automatic right to citizenship for anyone born in the United States is currently the subject of a legal battle, with a federal judge just this week blocking an executive order that seeks to unilaterally redefine who qualifies as a citizen. This paves the way for another major Supreme Court case involving the presidents birthright citizenship challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several courts have already struck down the presidents attempt to block citizenship from newborn Americans who are born to certain immigrant parents. In another alarming move, a recently unveiled memo from the Department of Justice outlines the Trump administrations plans to maximally pursue denaturalization of American citizens, marking a radical expansion of the presidents anti-immigration agenda. Approximately 25 million people in the U.S. are naturalized citizens, or immigrants who completed the lengthy legal process to become citizens. According to the June 11 memo, the Justice Departments civil division will prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That evidence would need to be proof that an individual illegally procured citizenship through fraud or other means. It is rare, but it does happen. In the first Trump administration, there were 94 denaturalization cases. Joe Bidens administration pursued 64 such cases. These play out in civil courts where the burden of proof is clear and convincing evidence, and a judge, not a jury, makes that decision. ODonnell was born in Commack, New York, in 1962. Her mother was of Irish American descent, and her father was an immigrant from County Donegal, Ireland. Days before Trump's return to the White House, the 63-year-old comedian left the U.S. and moved to Ireland, which she says has helped improve her health and sleep. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, she remains a fierce critic of Trump, and on Sunday, she blamed him for the impact of the deadly flash floods in Central Texas in a lengthy TikTok video. And, you know, when the president guts all of the early warning systems and the weather forecasting abilities of the government, these are the results O'Donnell said in part. As many as 129 people are known to have died in the disaster, with contributing factors being an insufficient early warning system and the timing of the storm, which hit as it did in the middle of the night. In March, ODonnell questioned how Trump comfortably won every swing state in the 2024 election, claiming that one of his best friends owns and runs the internet, likely referring to former first buddy Elon Musk. Despite her long-running criticism of the president, there is no evidence that ODonnell is a threat to humanity. (Adds story identification tag for media clients) WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he might revoke talk show host Rosie O'Donnell's U.S. citizenship after she criticized his administration's handling of weather forecasting agencies in the wake of the deadly Texas floods, the latest salvo in a years-long feud the two have waged over social media. "Because of the fact that Rosie O'Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, invoking a deportation rationale the administration has used in attempts to remove foreign-born protesters from the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!," he added. Under U.S. law, a president cannot revoke the citizenship of an American born in the United States. O'Donnell was born in New York state. O'Donnell, a longtime target of Trump's insults and jabs, moved to Ireland earlier this year with her 12-year-old son after the start of the president's second term. She said in a March TikTok video that she would return to the U.S. "when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America." O'Donnell responded to Trump's threat in two posts on her Instagram account, saying that the U.S. president opposes her because she "stands in direct opposition with all he represents." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's disdain for O'Donnell dates back to 2006 when O'Donnell, a comedian and host on The View at the time, mocked Trump over his handling of a controversy concerning a winner of the Miss USA pageant, which Trump had owned. Trump's latest jab at O'Donnell seemed to be in response to a TikTok video she posted this month mourning the 119 deaths in the July 4 floods in Texas and blaming Trump's widespread cuts to environmental and science agencies involved in forecasting major natural disasters. "What a horror story in Texas," O'Donnell said in the video. "And you know, when the president guts all the early warning systems and the weathering forecast abilities of the government, these are the results that we're gonna start to see on a daily basis." The Trump administration, as well as local and state officials, have faced mounting questions over whether more could have been done to protect and warn residents ahead of the Texas flooding, which struck with astonishing speed in the pre-dawn hours of the U.S. Independence Day holiday on July 4 and killed at least 120, including dozens of children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump on Friday visited Texas and defended the government's response to the disaster, saying his agencies "did an incredible job under the circumstances." (Reporting by Joey Roulette; Editing by Don Durfee and Alistair Bell) President Donald Trump has threatened to strip his longtime nemesis Rosie ODonnell of American citizenshipsomething he has zero power to do. Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship, he wrote on Truth Social Saturday. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. ODonnell, a comedian whose criticism of Trump dates back to her days as co-host on The View in 2006, fled to Ireland after he won a second term as president in November 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said on CNN in April that she had decided that Trumps election meant it was time for me and my non-binary child to leave the country. Its as bad as they promised and even a little bit worse, she said of Trumps presidency. And its been heartbreaking and personally very, very sad to watch. Rosie ODonnell fled to Ireland after Trump secured a second term. / NICHOLAS KAMM / AFP via Getty Images The president does not have the unilateral power to take away a persons citizenship, which is protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. During his second term, Trump has sought to strip citizenship from naturalized citizensa power that the judicial branch can wield in certain instances but is not afforded to the executive branch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has also tried to roll back birthright citizenshipanother right enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendmentbut has been blocked by federal courts. Trump has feuded with Rosie ODonnell since 2006, when she questioned whether Trump could be considered a moral authority given his divorces and affairs. / Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images ODonnell was born in New York to an Irish immigrant father and Irish-American mother. She is in the process of trying to obtain Irish dual citizenship. Trumps threat against ODonnell comes days after she blamed him and his horrible decisions for the catastrophic flood in Texas that has killed at least 129 people. The feud between Trump and ODonnell began in 2006 when ODonnell questioned whether Trump could be considered a moral authority given his divorces and affairs. In response to a question during a Republican debate in 2015 about having called women fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals, Trump responded, Only Rosie ODonnell. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he is considering revoking the citizenship of one of his longtime foes actor and comedian Rosie ODonnell something he has no clear legal pathway to do. The move is an escalation of Trumps weaponization of American citizenship. While the president has enacted mass deportations for immigrants and looked to end birthright citizenship for the children of some immigrants, his threat to revoke the New York-born actors citizenship marks a new frontier. Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA! Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday morning. O'Donnell currently resides in Ireland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House declined to comment on whether Trump was serious about the threat, or how he would revoke the American actors citizenship a move for which there is no clear legal precedent. The Trump administration has sought to severely curtail paths to citizenship and pursued ways of stripping some Americans of their citizenship altogether as Trump aims to narrow the definition of what it means to be an American. The president has looked to end birthright citizenship, declaring in a January executive order that babies born in the U.S. may not be considered citizens unless one or more of their parents is an American citizen or permanent resident. The move prompted a legal battle over the constitutionality of Trump's executive order, with a federal judge in New Hampshire this week blocking the order just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that an earlier decision was too broad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration has also pursued tactics to denaturalize some citizens. In a June 11 memo, Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate wrote that the Justice Department's civil division would "prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings" for naturalized citizens people who received their citizenship not via birthright who have committed certain crimes. Trump has also questioned the citizenship of other would-be political rivals including New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a naturalized citizen. O'Donnell lashed back out at Trump after his Saturday morning post, writing in an Instagram post that the president plans to "deport all who stand against" his "evil tendencies." "the president of the usa has always hated the fact that i see him for who he is - a criminal con man sexual abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself - this is why i moved to ireland," O'Donnell wrote, bashing Trump as "a dangerous old soulless man with dementia who lacks empathy compassion and basic humanity." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and ODonnell have long been in conflict, with their feud dating back to a 2006 episode of The View, which ODonnell hosted at the time, in which the actor criticized Trumps moral compass, prompting him to later lash out and call ODonnell a woman out of control. The rift between the two only grew when Trump entered the political arena. When asked by moderator Megyn Kelly at a 2015 Republican primary debate about his use of language like fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals to describe women, Trump responded: only Rosie ODonnell. Their animosity continued through Trumps first term in the White House, with ODonnell saying at the time she worried about her ability to live through his presidency. And when Trump was elected a second time last year, ODonnell decided to leave the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a highly public departure, the actor announced that she and her 12-year-old child had moved to Ireland in mid-January. When it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, thats when we will consider coming back, ODonnell said in a March TikTok post. Its been heartbreaking to see whats been happening politically, the actor said, adding that she was going through the process of obtaining her Irish citizenship through her grandparents. But ODonnell hasnt remained silent on U.S. politics despite her move, taking to social media last week to blame Trump for the deadly flash floods in Texas. When the president guts all of the early warning systems and the weathering forecast abilities of the government, these are the results that were going to start to see on a daily basis, ODonnell said in a post to TikTok. Hello, its the weekend. This is The Weekender President Donald Trump is pushing hard to get his $9.4 billion rescissions request $8.3 billion in cuts to foreign aid and $1.1 billion from public broadcasting over the finish line. As we have seen over and over again, Trump threatened to withhold endorsements from GOP senators who dont support the Trump administrations attempt to force Congress to give some legitimacy to the Department of Government Efficiencys rampage through the federal government. Its a constitutionally backward maneuver that further erodes the separation of powers, as Republicans in the 119th Congress continuously hand their authority to appropriate federal spending over to the executive branch. House Republicans rubber-stamped the package without batting an eye. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is very important that all Republicans adhere to my Recissions Bill and, in particular, DEFUND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (PBS and NPR), which is worse than CNN & MSDNC put together, Trump wrote in a social media post. Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement. The Senate is expected to vote on a rescissions package next week ahead of the July 18 deadline but the bill may get watered down as a handful of senators suggested they may push for amending the bill to eliminate certain cuts. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) has said she has concerns over the cuts to the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) a President George W. Bush-era global HIV and AIDS prevention program. And Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) have indicated they want to protect some rural public radio stations, specifically those serving remote parts of the country. Emine Yucel Heres what else TPM has on tap this weekend: An unbound, unbent, unbroken Thom Tillis, no longer running for reelection, cautiously (barely) speaks his truth. Fox News makes its union with the House Republican conference official. Mazel Tov to the happy couple! Thom Tillis Seeks His Truth Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) has officially given notice that he will not run in what will likely be a very tight 2026 race for the Senate seat he currently holds. Thus released, he is now attempting to live his truth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Living ones truth involves, for Tillis, recasting oneself as the consummate political moderate, one in the tradition of such departed greats as Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who Tillis has alluded to repeatedly in recent weeks. It involves making some eyebrow-raising statements, such as the admission that he now regrets his vote for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth or, he doesnt quite regret it. He would not say regret. No regrets when living ones truth. Rather, he made the right decision when he voted for Hegseth, and hed make a different decision today. If all I had was the information on the day of the vote, Id certainly vote for him again, he told Jake Tapper this week. But now I have the information of him being a manager. And I dont think that his probationary periods been very positive. (Notably, now-Secretary Hegseth is not subject to a probationary period. He is confirmed. The purportedly right-at-the-time vote Tillis took four days into Trumps second presidency is the only vote Tillis will get on this. No regrets.) Tillis similarly wasnt so sure about how RFK Jr. was working out as head of Health and Human Services, but said he had decided to defer to Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a doctor, who thought we should, uh, see how it plays out. (Not well, as Cassidy has himself acknowledged.) Other truths that can now be spoken include the fact that it would be a bad idea to run the erstwhile North Carolina gubernatorial candidate who posted on a porn forum that he was a NAZI! for Tillis seat in the Senate, and the fact that President Trump is advised by amateurs who act like the president when hes out of the room. Do you mean Stephen Miller? Tapper asked Tillis. Alas, the answer to that question is a truth that it is not time to speak. In todays MAGA era, a Republican senator who has decided it is time to live his truth must still, to some extent, be constrained by greater truths. Specifically, those on Truth Social. It is, in other words, still important to not create circumstances which might inspire a certain Truth Social power user and owner to Truth at you. Thus, the newly less-constrained Tillis must still explain that he has no beef with Trump. I dont have a problem with President Trump, he told Tapper. I very seldom believe Ive ever disagreed with him, he said at another point. But I have disagreed with bad advice that some of his advisors are giving him, whether its on a nominee or whether its on policy. Advice, for instance, that might give voters the impression that Trump was lying when he said he would not cut Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given that Trump has surrounded himself with amateurs who give bad advice on such things as nominees, will Tillis now see his way to opposing a lifetime judgeship for Trumps personal lawyer-turned-primary DOJ goon, whose nomination is up for a Judiciary Committee vote next week? Im probably going to go with the staff recommendation, Tillis said Wednesday, per Politico. The staff recommendation, he added, is that he vote to confirm. John Light Mazel Tov to Fox News and Their Loved Ones in Congress! Last month, Fox News and the House Republicans made their union official. On June 22, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) proposed to Brooke Singman, a Fox News Digital political correspondent and reporter. News of the happy couples engagement broke in Fridays edition of Politico Playbook. The writeup had some incredible details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reschenthaler, who has repeatedly characterized New York City as a deadly, lawless hellscape on his social media, proposed to his fiancee during a picnic in Manhattans Central Park. According to Politico, afterwards, they celebrated at Singmans favorite restaurant in SoHo, the upscale French bistro Balthazar. Their magical evening was capped with a night at the five star Plaza Hotel. Somehow, they seem to have avoided the bullets and roving gangs. The Playbook item also noted that the pair first met at one of President Trumps campaign events before they reconnected at a bistro in D.C. where Singman brought her laptop thinking it could become an interview opportunity. A totally lovely situation that has none of the makings of a borderline HR violation! Those two crazy kids arent the only ones in the right wing cable empire and the GOP congressional delegation who have ended up in love. The Independents Justin Baragona pointed out that their news came on the heels of a similar announcement from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich. According to a lavish spread in People, Fitzpatrick and Heinrich were engaged on June 29 after a proposal that included a drone and human photographer in a lavender field in France. Fitzpatricks decision to pop the question in France was apparently inspired by an earlier interview Heinrich gave where she declared that it was her dream to go to the French Riviera to eat the baguettes, see the lavender fields, drink the wine and eat the butter. Following their proposal and photoshoot, the pair decamped to St. Tropez and Cannes. One might think that it would be awkward for a media outlet to have two of its reporters literally married to sitting politicians. In our weird new political era, the French might actually have the best answer: cest la vie. TPM would like to wish all of these couples a fair and balanced future together! Hunter Walker When it comes to the outlook for post-war Ukraine, hope springs eternal among the international community. Last week, scores of Western leaders, along with an army of NGOs, and thousands of businesses from around the world descended on Rome for the ambitiously named Ukraine Recovery Conference. In the words of the organisers, the purpose of the summit was to devise a roadmap that will lead to the swift recovery and long-term reconstruction of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hosted by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, high-profile attendees included Donald Trumps special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg, Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. In the build-up, the illustrious think tank Chatham House released an upbeat survey of what so-called civil society organisations wanted from post-war reconstruction. Anti-corruption measures and assistance for young people in overcoming the trauma of war featured heavily on a wish list of the Ukrainian people, the report said. Volodymyr Zelensky and Ursula von der Leyen were among the attendees at Giorgia Melonis Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome - Angelo Carconi/Shutterstock Over two packed days, there were sessions on how to repair Ukraines crippled energy infrastructure, attract investment in the countrys critical minerals, and ways to revitalise its shattered manufacturing industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One panel, attended by foreign ministers from across Europe, was entitled: Ukraines path to the EU. Zelensky said the pacts that would be forged in the Italian capital would make Ukraine stronger. But no amount of warm words and well-intentioned diplomacy can disguise the fact that Ukraines future continues to be dictated by the whims of one man: Donald J Trump. A false start The reconstruction of a country that has suffered more than three years of relentless bombardment, will mostly come down to the generosity of strangers mainly in the West. Without significant outside funding much of it from private investors Ukraine is destined to remain a hollowed-out husk for a generation or more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet in the days leading up to the Rome pow-wow, hopes for Ukraines resurrection suffered a major setback after it emerged that Wall Street asset management giant BlackRock, a linchpin of efforts to raise tens of billions for the post-war rebuild, was no longer involved. A man walks among rubble in Kyiv after a Russian attack. Ukraine has suffered more than three years of relentless bombardment - Oleksandr Gusev/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images Even more alarming for Ukraine, reports claim that it was ultimately Trumps election that prompted BlackRock to get cold feet and pull out. In the aftermath of Russias invasion, the investment powerhouse was pivotal in the creation of something called The Ukraine Recovery Fund. Described as Ukraines Marshall Plan a nod to the US economic aid that paid for the reconstruction of Europe following the Second World War the project was the brainchild of Australian billionaire Andrew Twiggy Forrest. Yet having made his fortune amid the dirt and dust of Australias frontier mining towns, Forrest needed someone with the heft to bring together global investors willing to pledge serious money to the fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a meeting between Zelensky and BlackRock chief Larry Fink, the Ukrainian government proudly announced that the Wall Street titan had agreed to coordinate the efforts of all potential investors and participants in the reconstruction of our country. Weeks later, BlackRock confirmed it would advise the MoE [Ukraines ministry of economy] on establishing a roadmap for the investment frameworks implementation. Forrest predicted that Ukraine would enter a golden era. Fast forward to 2024, and Philipp Hildebrand, vice chairman of BlackRock, was confident that his firm had managed to raise in the region of $2.5bn (1.8bn) from a club of Western allies, development banks, and private investors. The figure could eventually top $15bn, he thought. Yet even at the upper end of Hildebrands estimates, it still would only have been a small fraction of the $525bn that the World Bank and others believe it will take to piece Ukraine back together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forrest was even more optimistic he envisaged the fund eventually having $100bn at its disposal. Andrew Twiggy Forrest predicted that Ukraine would enter a golden era under reconstruction plans - Adrian Dennis/AFP Such sums now look wildly overstated with the future of the fund undoubtedly hanging in the balance. Forrest had already expressed his reluctance to remain involved while the US president was talking about enforcing a peace deal on Ukraine that didnt have the blessing of the Ukrainian people. The expectation in Rome was that BlackRock would be in a position to unveil a big commitment from a consortium of investors. With it gone, who will coordinate fundraising from the capital markets now? Reports suggest France had been working on an alternative proposal but without heavyweight American backers, there are doubts about whether it would get off the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BlackRocks loss will be felt hard in Kyiv and beyond but the way that Trump continues to cast a shadow over its sovereignty will be felt harder. It is indicative of a figure whose attitude towards Ukraine has flittered between indifference and outright hostility in front of the worlds media at the White House, no less only for his stance to soften after repeated humiliations at the hands of a defiant Vladimir Putin. Such inconsistency appears to have ultimately been the catalyst for BlackRocks change of heart. Reports suggest that it was forced into an about-turn because Trumps flip-flopping had spooked the investors it was trying to round up. The only conversations that drive our decision-making are those with our clients, a spokesman said. Failure to communicate Washingtons chaotic approach is encapsulated in the debacle surrounding the Pentagons recent decision to halt weapons deliveries to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move blindsided even those who are usually closely briefed on such matters, including members of Congress, State Department officials and key European allies, Politico reports. Donald Trump with Volodymyr Zelensky at the Nato summit in the Netherlands last month - Anadolu/Getty According to CNN, the list of people that Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary failed to inform before authorising a pause on shipments included the president himself. With the White House seemingly unable to make up its mind on where it stands on Ukraine, it leaves the countrys ability to determine its own destiny more uncertain than ever. The US is, by some margin, the largest single donor to Ukraine. It is also the biggest provider of military support. Kyiv is facing a deficit of as much as $19bn this year, largely driven by declining US assistance. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German think tank, calculates that the US has provided just over 115bn (99bn) of support to Ukraine 3.4bn in humanitarian aid, 47bn in financial assistance, and 65bn in military funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The country that has provided the next largest amount of aid is the UK, at 19bn. Some experts believe renewed US backing could change the course of the war. Some observers believe a different approach is required altogether. Past Ukraine Recovery Conferences have convened thousands of experts and produced grand ideas, with zero follow-through, American diplomat Kurt Volker wrote in a piece for the Centre for European Policy Analysis, a Washington-based think tank. There are several obstacles to genuine progress, in his view. First, no one has taken charge of supporting Ukraines economic recovery, and secondly, war risk with the Kremlins bombs still raining down on Ukraine major private investment has stayed on the sidelines, Volker, a former US ambassador to Nato, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Victory on the battlefield has to come first, and that can only happen if Western funding increases dramatically to around $150bn from roughly $100bn a year, Timothy Ash, strategist at RBC Bluebay Asset Management, said. With the US looking to do the opposite and reduce its share, European leaders should bankroll the war effort with the $330bn of Russian central bank assets that are frozen in bank accounts across the continent, he said. Yet, concerns about the possible violation of international law, the destabilisation of financial markets, and possible Russian reprisals against Western companies that still have assets in Russia, have ensured the funds remain untouched. Its Russian taxpayer money, so we are spending our taxpayers money to protect theirs. Were imbeciles and there can be no recovery and reconstruction unless you win the war, Ash said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he will impose 30% tariffs on imports from the European Union starting August 1. Trump posted on Truth Social a picture of the letter he sent European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing the levy. In the letter, he complained of the "long-term, large and persistent" trade deficit the US runs with the EU, accusing the 27-nation bloc of unfair trade policies and barriers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump wrote that his administration would drop the high tariff rate if "the European Union, or countries within the EU, decide to build or manufacture within the United States." Trump has fired off a barrage of letters this week to foreign leaders informing them of steep new tariffs he intends to impose on their goods as of August 1. An Arizona farmer is pushing for a more functional approach to the hiring of skilled labor in agriculture amid President Donald Trumps border crackdown, telling Fox News Digital that the current system is sowing fear among Hispanic workers. During a visit to the remote, mountainous landscape of Dudleyville, Ariz., farmer Scott Heartquist expressed a desire for more collaboration between business owners, workers, and immigration authorities to find practical solutions that address labor needs while also upholding the law of the United States. "There's a humanitarian side that everybodys like, I feel for them," Heartquist said, referencing skilled workers looking to enter the country. "And I even understand that our system isn't set up for them to easily come in." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump Pitches Plan Allowing Farmers To Vouch For Illegal Immigrant Workers Facing Deportation Farmer Scott Heartquist hopes that the immigration system and process to obtain visas for workers will become easier under President Trump. While some farmers have experienced issues with migrants trespassing on or stealing from their properties, Heartquist said his personal relationship with and support for the Hispanic community has allowed him to run his business without issue. "Immigration is such a touchy subject and, you know, we were just talking about it my staff. Theyre all legal, but a good portion of the people in the community arent. And so, we see it, we have it around. We have much less of an issue with it now," he continued. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family farm began on a small piece of land in Arizona. After surviving bone cancer, Scott Heartquists wife, Christie, worked with her husband to teach their children where their food comes from by growing and raising a healthy meat supply. The family operates its own inspected processing plant at the ranch, providing hormone-free, steroid-free, vaccine-free, and antibiotic-free grass-fed and grass-finished beef, pork, and lamb to locals. The Heartquist family has cultivated not just a solid business but also a close-knit commune. Several family members and staff live on the Heartquist Hollow Farm property in Dudleyville often sharing fresh meals and stories after a hard days work. Trump 'Working On' Deportation Exemptions For Illegal Farm And Hospitality Workers A staff member tends to a group of sheep at Heartquist Hollow farm. These sheep are one of several sources of food for the family and business. During a warm summer's evening dinner, Saul Marquez, a butcher at the farm, said he is thankful that the family has provided good working conditions and strong benefits to their immigrant workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marquez also praised God for allowing his daughter to flourish as a citizen in the U.S. a milestone that helped him and his wife obtain permanent residency three years ago. "My friends say that you earn very well here. So, you risk coming here illegally because it's the American dream. Its the American dream. And everyone is going to take a risk. Before, it was easy, now its not easy," he told Fox News Digital. He also recommended that immigrants explore legal pathways to come to the U.S., such as work visas for farm jobs, rather than trying to enter illegally stressing that the current political climate has heightened concerns among both documented and undocumented Hispanic workers. Critics Sound Off Against Trump's 'Temporary Pass' For Migrant Farm, Hospitality Workers Two cows graze on a pile of grass at Heartquist Hollow Farm in Dudleyville, Arizona. "You hear a lot of things about the new administration," Marquez said. "We are, and the people are, very scared. Because I have friends and family who, unfortunately, do not have documents yet. So right now, there is a lot of fear with this administration that people do not want to go out to the stores." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A combination of factors including labor shortages for meat cutters and the cumbersome process of obtaining visas has made it difficult for the Heartquists to hire workers with the skill set needed to provide the community with a wide range of grass-fed, pasture-raised meats. Heartquist claimed that many of these issues stem from the Obama administration. "You had some abuses going on in some areas, and instead of dealing with the individual abuses, they just cut visas. And so, they made it more challenging for us to get the visas," he said. Trump Urges 'Temporary Pass' From Immigration Crackdown For Key Industries: 'I Cherish Our Farmers' Saul Marquez told Fox News Digital that documented and undocumented workers are fearful under the new administration. "I can tell you right now, there are 16-and-17-year-olds in Mexico and Central America that are cutting meat. To be able to bring them in, give them more training, teach them food safety issues, and all of those pieces would be amazing. We just cant. Its not built into our system," Heartquist continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without a more robust system and discussions about the potential to bring in workers from other countries to fill these labor needs, Heartquist predicted that immigration issues will continue to proliferate. "We're going to have mass deportations that are going to happen right now. The administration will change in three years," he said. "Maybe itll still be strict on the border, maybe it wont, and so well have another onslaught, another flood of people coming in. The problem that we face is... Theres a small portion of that community thats really just not good people, and it gets bled out onto the whole community and thats not fair." Original article source: Trump's border crackdown prompts Arizona farmer to seek better agricultural labor solutions US President Donald Trump may have changed his tone on Russia and its ruler Vladimir Putin of late, but there are doubts in Europe that this is evidence that the US administration is now pro-Ukrainian. Source: Financial Times; European Pravda Details: Two unnamed senior officials have told the FT that while recent remarks by Trump have "raised some hopes in Europe" of a possible shift in his position, there are as yet no real signs that the White House is taking a more pro-Kyiv stance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sources report that Ukraine's Western allies still believe that Trump is inclined to see Putin as his main partner in negotiating any settlement and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the main obstacle to a workable peace deal. "Theres a little bit of overexcitement based on a shift in tone," one of the officials said. The FT notes, however, that Zelenskyy has been getting on better with Trump lately. The sources told the newspaper that French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had advised the Ukrainian president to change his approach to relations with the US president following the row in the Oval Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron and Starmer suggested that Zelenskyy should express his sincere gratitude to Trump and always thank Washington for its support, the sources said. The FT added that Zelenskyy is still dealing with an administration in which scepticism about support for Kyiv is deeply entrenched, both from those who believe the US should focus more on Asia than Europe, and from others who adhere to a philosophical stance of non-intervention. Background: Trump recently expressed doubt, perhaps for the first time, that the Russian leader "wants peace", saying "We get a lot of bullsh*t thrown at us by Putin." Furthermore, the US president has announced that he will make a "major statement" on Russia on Monday 14 July. In addition, on Thursday 10 July the US participated for the first time in a meeting of the coalition of the willing. At the meeting, European states discussed the creation of a contingent of Western allies in Ukraine to deter further Russian attacks after the current hot phase of the war is over. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday distributed compensation cheques to people who lost their shops in the fire that broke out at Dilli Haat, INA on April 30. She said that the Delhi government has provided financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the 24 artisans affected by the incident. "This new government of Delhi (BJP government) has provided compensation of Rs 5 lakhs to the 24 affected people within 60 days of the incident. We have also waived off their rent for their shops. If we do not provide help to the people promptly, it is of no use to the affected people..." CM Gupta told ANI. The blaze on the evening of April 30 gutted 24 artisan stalls, leaving several craftsmen without a source of livelihood. No casualties or injuries were reported. Following the incident, Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra announced a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package for the artisans affected by the fire. Mishra confirmed that a total relief package of Rs 1.20 crore -- Rs 5 lakh each -- will soon be disbursed. In addition to the financial aid, the Delhi government had also announced logistical support for the craftsmen. As part of the rehabilitation effort, the 24 artisans will be allotted stalls at Dilli Haat INA free of cost for a period of six months, from July 1 to December 31, 2025. The allotment will be done via a lottery process. "Our government is committed to safeguarding the interests of artisans and providing them with the necessary support," Mishra added. (ANI) SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Flyers at Springfield-Branson National Airport are having different reactions to the new TSA change, ridding a nearly 20-year-old rule that previously required flyers to take their shoes off during their initial screening at airports nationwide. I think its a wonderful idea, Dale Epperson said. It is the first day Ive flown without [taking off my] shoes, Leslie Hayn said. Epperson and Hayn have flown years before the Shoes-Off policy was made in 2006. Theyre excited about the policys removal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ozarks First spoke to Damya Dickson and Arayah Sanders, both 18, who have flown for several years but lived their entire lives with this policy in place. I just feel like maybe we could add more safety things, Sanders said. It did catch me off guard just a little bit. Simply just because like Ive been used to taking them off for years now, Dickson said. Hayne says in the last decade and change, she hasnt heard about any attempts since the infamous 2001 attempt by Richard Reid, who tried to light explosives in his shoe on a flight to Miami. When the guy Reid, lit his shoes on fire or had the matches in his shoes and, you know, threatened to blow the plane up, thats the last time Ive heard of any incident on planes, Hayn said. I guess somebody finally discovered that that wasnt really a policy that was fruitful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epperson says he applauds the move. If youre in a large airport like San Paolo or Atlanta, you take your shoes off and maybe you have sandals on in your barefoot on the floor, and that makes me uncomfortable, Epperson said. For Dickson and Sanders, they agree that the move saves time, but getting used to it will be different. It was a bit odd, but I mean, it made it a little more smoother, but I still would prefer to take them off, Dickson said. It is also nice for safety reasons that everybody took their shoes off before, but I didnt think too much of it, Sanders added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Tucker Carlson has claimed that deceased child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was working for the Israeli government and that every single person in Washington D.C. thinks the same. Ive never met anyone who doesnt think that. I dont know any of them that hate Israel. But no one feels they can say that, the former Fox News host told an audience in Florida on Friday. Carlson also suggested that the disgraced financier may have been running a blackmail operation as he discussed new information recently released by the Department of Justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A two-page memo from the DOJ and FBI said that Epstein had no client list, and that the convicted pedophile died by suicide in his jail cell in 2019, shortly before going to trial angering some among the MAGA faithful. Speaking about the development at a Turning Point USA summit in Tampa, Carlson slammed the findings of the administration.The real question is, why was he doing this, on whose behalf, and where did the money come from? he said. A two-page memo, recently released by the DOJ and FBI, said that Epstein had no client list, and that the convicted pedophile died by suicide in his jail cell in 2019, shortly before going to trial angering some among the MAGA faithful (AP) I think the real answer is Jeffrey Epstein was working on behalf of intel services, probably not American. And we have every right to ask, on whose behalf was he working? Now, no ones allowed to say that the foreign government is Israel because we have been somehow cowed into thinking thats naughty. There is nothing wrong with saying that. There is nothing hateful about saying that, Carlson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres nothing anti-Semitic about saying that. Theres nothing even anti-Israel about saying that. And you have the right to expect your government will not act against your interests, and you have a right to demand that foreign governments not be allowed to act against your interests. Carlson has become one of the the big names on the list of MAGA luminaries who are irate over the DOJs conclusions and previously accused the DOJ of covering up Epsteins so-called client list (Getty Images) Carlson has become one of the the big names on the list of MAGA luminaries who are irate over the DOJs conclusions and previously insisted there was an obvious reason why Attorney General Pam Bondi was covering up the client list. In addition, footage capturing Epsteins final hours also released by the DOJ has fuelled further conspiracy theories, after it appeared to have a minute of footage missing. A digital clock visible on the bottom left corner of the footage jumps from 11:58:58 p.m. to 12:00:00 a.m. Officials have not yet offered an explanation for the time gap to The Independent or the New York Times. GREENUP More than 20 farmers and other interested parties converged on Phoenix Pharmacy on Wednesday to learn about high tunnels. Shane Fields, owner of Phoenix Pharmacy, acquired a high tunnel last year and hosted an informational get-together for those interested in learning more about them. Im growing tomatoes, cucumbers and melons, but not the normal varieties, Fields said. Im experimenting to see what crops I can grow that dont normally grow here because of our winters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High tunnels differ from greenhouses in that plants are grown directly into the soil, not in pots. The advantage for farmers using high tunnels: a longer growing season, which means more sales. High tunnel extends the growing season so you can grow from February through December, Melody Bush of the Natural Resources Conservation Service said. In eastern Kentucky, were kind of a food desert. We need vegetables, and anything that will help grow more and for a longer time, and will protect the crops from (pests). Fields said the high tunnel, basically a metal frame with plastic covering, allows the use of further technology, such as heaters, fans, monitoring instruments, timers and irrigation systems. Agencies involved with the presentation included UK Farm University program, the Kentucky Horticulture Council and the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arundathi Sharma, who works in horticulture in the UK Farm University program, said the session this week, which attracted those experienced with high tunnels and those who are curious, was centered on general greenhouse and high tunnel information. For more information For more information We help people understand the difference between high tunnels and greenhouses, Sharma said. A high tunnel allows more control over crops with the add-on technology. She said the program aims to help anyone with a high tunnel learn how to best use it for their purposes. Kentucky growers have embraced the use of high tunnels, she said, especially in the last 10 or so years. Most farm operations in the region are small and many just have high tunnels to grow vegetables for personal use. We encourage people to focus on what their goals are, then develop a technology plan that suits that purpose, Sharma said. ISTANBUL (AP) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday hailed start of a disarmament process by militant Kurdish separatists as the end of a painful chapter in Turkey's troubled history. Erdogan told a meeting of his ruling AKP party in Ankara that the more than 40-year-old scourge of terrorism for which the Kurdistan Workers' Party - or PKK - was responsible is on its way to ending. Erdogan's remarks came a day after male and female members of the PKK in northern Iraq cast rifles and machine guns into a large cauldron where they were set on fire. The symbolic move was seen as the first step toward a promised disarmament as part of a peace process aimed at ending four decades of hostilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move came after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999, urged his group in February to convene a congress and formally disband and disarm. In May the PKK announced that it would do so. The PKK had waged an armed insurgency against Turkey since 1984, initially with the aim of establishing a Kurdish state in the southeast of the country. Over time, the objective evolved into a campaign for autonomy and rights for Kurds within Turkey. The conflict, which spread beyond Turkeys borders into Iraq and Syria, killed tens of thousands of people. The PKK is considered to be a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Previous peace efforts between Turkey and the PKK have ended in failure most recently in 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today the doors of a great Turkey, a strong Turkey, a Turkish century have been opened wide, Erdogan said. In a statement issued on Friday, the PKK said the fighters who were laying down their weapons, saying that they had disarmed as a gesture of goodwill and a commitment to the practical success of the peace process. We will henceforth continue our struggle for freedom, democracy, and socialism through democratic politics and legal means, the statement said. But Erdogan insisted that there had been no bargaining with the PKK. The terror-free Turkey project is not the result of negotiations, bargaining or transactions. Turkish officials have not disclosed if any concessions have been given to the PKK in exchange for laying down their arms. The Turkish president also said that a parliamentary commission would be established to oversee the peace process. TAMPA, Fla. The future activist base of the Republican Party found themselves at the center of MAGAs biggest rifts Friday as young conservatives favorite influencers spoke about Iran, Epstein and immigration. Top advisers to President Donald Trump and figureheads of the online America first movement shared the stage before around 5,000 students ranging from high school freshman to college seniors gathered in Tampa, Florida, for Turning Point USAs largest-ever Student Action Summit. Charlie Kirk, the organizations founder, president and so-called youth whisperer of the American right," energized attendees by repeatedly telling them they delivered the White House to Donald Trump. For three days, Kirk declared, Tampa Bay would be the center of the political universe of the planet. Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk, the organizations founder, president speaks at Turning Point USAs largest-ever Student Action Summit in Tampa, FL. Friday July 11, 2025. | Gage Skidmore Starting as a celebration of Trumps return to the presidency, complete with a crowd of red-hat-wearing adolescents doing the Trump dance to YMCA, the event quickly became centered on the biggest debates among Trumps political base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In remarks that felt directed at the Oval Office as much as at the auditorium, government officials loyal to the president and influential independent media personalities weighed in on whether the motley coalition that calls MAGA home could outlive the administrations attempt to fulfill all its promises. The Trump administration has waged a shock and awe campaign during its first six months, flooding the zone with hundreds of executive orders that were counted as immediate wins by those who volunteered with groups like Turning Point to reelect Trump. But the president has also prompted spirited disagreement among some of his most outspoken supporters as his Cabinet has taken decisive action in the Middle East, while sometimes vacillating on the extent of mass deportations and on releasing documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Was bombing Iran America first? Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, during remarks that doubled as a military recruitment pitch, told thousands of prospective service members that Trumps decision to bomb Irans nuclear sites exemplified peace through strength by reestablishing deterrence around the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was not just a message to Irans nuclear capabilities, Hegseth said. It was a message to all of our adversaries and all of our allies that American leadership and strength is back. Hegseth hailed the recent agreement of NATO members to increase their respective defense spending from 2% of gross domestic product to 5% over the next decade as another example of Trump foreign policy pressure yielding results for American interests. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks at Turning Point USAs largest-ever Student Action Summit in Tampa, FL. Friday July 11, 2025. | Turning Point USA But one of the most well-known skeptics of foreign intervention, Tucker Carlson, whose podcast cracked the top five on YouTube and Spotify last month, argued that the administration had failed to explain why attacking the Islamic Republic should be a priority for the U.S. Whats in this war for us? Carlson asked. Credit card debt is the single biggest cause of human suffering that Im aware of in the United States; its not Iran. Whats going on with Epstein? As the evening progressed, attendees heard more and more about what Megyn Kelly, host of the Megyn Kelly Show, called the first big scandal of the Trump administration for his supporters: the mixed messages coming from the Justice Department over the Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, the Department of Justice appeared to leak a memo to Axios stating that it and the FBI had concluded there was no evidence that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had kept a client list and blackmailed people in power. Subsequent reporting found that the handling of the situation by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who had previously said the DOJ would release information about Epstein, led Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, himself a former podcast host who focused on Epsteins case, to consider resigning. For years Epstein, a convicted sex offender who authorities say committed suicide in 2019 in his jail cell, has been seen by some on the American right as the key figure in a child sexual abuse ring and cover-up among the international elite. Megyn Kelly speaks before President-elect Donald Trump arrives at a rally ahead of the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Washington. | Alex Brandon Attempting to close the investigation on Epstein without resolving the questions that many Trump supporters are asking has created a real hornets nest for the administration that falls at the feet of Bondi, according to Kelly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her days are numbered. She cant recover from this. Shes shot herself in the foot on her own credibility, Kelly said. Is immigration reform amnesty? Some of the events keynote speakers also took aim at members of Trumps Cabinet and the GOP majority in Congress who have floated expanded pathways to legalization for some migrants after the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that allocated over $100 billion to immigration law enforcement. Last month, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced plans to fast track visa permits for U.S. farmers who rely on migrant labor. And some congressional Republicans, according to Kirk, are considering bigger plans that grant legal status to unauthorized immigrants or that exempt certain industries from Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If theres one campaign plank that holds those who voted to Make America Great Again together its a relentless agenda of mass deportations of all unauthorized immigrants, Kirk reiterated during his opening remarks and his conversation with Donald Trump Jr. on Friday. No amnesty. Period. End of story, Kirk said, asking the crowd to repeat no amnesty together. We will not put up with any exceptions, any carve outs, any loopholes, any asterisks, any iotas." The new MAGA Donald Trump Jr. speaks with Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk, the organizations founder, president at Turning Point USAs largest-ever Student Action Summit in Tampa, FL. Friday July 11, 2025. | Turning Point USA The crowd of teenagers and 20-somethings seemed acutely attuned to the algorithmically accelerated news cycle popping up in real time on their social media feeds, cheering and booing in all the right places in reaction to Alligator Alcatraz or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But the students, many of them leaders of their local Turning Point chapters, seemed less concerned than the speakers about the zero-sum struggle between foreign and domestic policy goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can 100% do both, said Levi Fisher, a 17-year-old high school junior from Texas. Right now Iran isnt our biggest concern. But if we didnt do anything it would be. ... Now we can focus at home. The majority of those attending the event, who fell between ages 18 and 25, though they were joined by another thousand or so who were older, also appeared more optimistic about the momentum of the movement they are hoping to inherit. Amid arguments over what Make America Great Again will look like during the remainder of Trumps second term, and beyond, speakers told attendees again and again that the movement was already in their hands. From the confidence the young activists showed, during Q&As with their favorite celebrities, and impassioned sidebar conversations, it was clear that they agreed; the feeling maybe best captured by the inscription on one young womans hat: the new MAGA. Chef Doug Ganhs is frequently appalled by the crimes against food safety he sees on TV cooking shows. That doesn't keep him from watching, mind you. He has a professional interest, and a particular admiration for the skills of Gordon Ramsay, who seems to host half the prime time programs on Fox. Even in a household like mine, though, where we refer to the kitchen as "the reheating room," we watch a surprising number of kitchen competitions. And even as someone who doesn't always rinse his grapes, I often find myself thinking, "Isn't there a health code about that? Or an international treaty?" Doug Ganhs, the department chair and culinary arts instructor at the Culinary Studies Institute at Oakland Community College Royal Oak campus near the new culinary building on Friday, July 11, 2025. So I called Ganhs, an instructor as well as the department chair at the renowned Oakland Community College culinary arts program, to see whether we're really seeing a recipe for disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Um, yeah, he said. "I understand it's the power of TV. I get it," he said. "But at the end of the day, a lot of young culinarians watch these shows, and I don't want them to pick up bad habits." As a general rule, hands go unwashed, though surely there's some scrubbing done off-camera. Hair is uncovered. The same cutting board that's used for chicken might be used later for strawberries or, I dunno, Roundup. On a standard episode of Ramsay's "MasterChef" on Wednesday, July 9, with five teams of two preparing desserts, long hair dangled in front of a cook's shoulder above a chocolate ganache. Bare hands on other teams pushed hair back in place, then went back to baking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Longtime Warren restaurant abruptly closes weeks after rumored Gordon Ramsay visit A wife wiped her husband's face with a dish towel that was presumably quickly discarded, but if so, we didn't see proof. One of the women making cannoli so poorly that they didn't survive the episode they were eliminated, I should make clear, not exterminated wore a nose ring, theoretically prohibited in Michigan and multiple other states. The competition was, as always and as edited, intense. Teams worked feverishly through the final countdown. Five, four, three, two, one, zero gloves in sight. "All of us chefs know the bare hand is the most dangerous tool in the kitchen," Ganhs said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He's not suggesting that we use ours to wave bye-bye to "Hell's Kitchen," "Yes, Chef!" and the rest, but he'd like to at least use an index finger to point out basic precautions. Waiter, there's a hoop in my soup Ganhs, 54, of Howell, grew up in Port Huron and quickly found his way to the Culinary Institute of America in New York. There, he acquired a splendid education and a load of debt that makes him particularly appreciative of strong community college programs like Schoolcraft's, Macomb's and his, with its $74 million addition scheduled to open for fall semester. The exterior of the new Culinary Studies Institute at Oakland Community College Royal Oak campus on Friday, July 11, 2025. OCC will soon be moving its culinary studies from its Orchard Ridge campus to this new 78,000-square-foot facility on the campus in Royal Oak and will be open for the start of the fall semester when classes begin on Aug. 25. Among his head chef positions across the years was one at Country Club of Detroit, where an early day in his tenure found him at a table explaining why a little piece of a stainless steel scrubby pad was part of someones dinner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a customer, he said, his meals have contained staples, bits of cleaning pads and pieces of plastic. That was pretty disgusting, he said, but in a fast-paced restaurant, odd things will happen. Thats why its important, he said, to both follow established guidelines and share acquired wisdom. Piercings, for instance, should be removed or covered with a plastic bandage, to prevent the spread of bacteria or the plummeting of a nose ring into a vat of soup. Furthermore, the bandages should be blue, because its not a natural food color. If it falls into a salad, again, thats disgusting. But you're much more likely to see it before it gets to a customer." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Live and learn, and maybe shudder a bit. A menu of missed opportunities OCC culinary students are required to enroll in, and ideally complete, a safety certification class before they start school. Then they tune into their favorite chefs on television and watch the pros and the contestants ignore the curriculum. The University of Massachusetts Amherst once enlisted five food safety experts to watch 39 episodes from 10 cooking shows and keep tabs on the chefs. Among the raw numbers: Only 13% of shows mentioned food safety, only 7% included hand-washing, only 9% portrayed proper washing of fresh produce, and 91% included the mishandling of raw food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They're not representing the industry well," Ganhs said. The rationale is that the food isn't meant for public consumption, but food prepared on "Hell's Kitchen" goes directly to diners in a Ramsay restaurant, and one of the recurring themes on "MasterChef" is two teams feeding large groups who vote on who spoiled them the best. Gloves, Ganhs conceded, "make things look institutional. They do. They take away a little bit of the onscreen presence." He'll skip them at carving stations, figuring tongs and knives are the only things that actually touch meat. But there's almost always a pressure point in a cooking show where shaved prunes are being balanced atop arugula on a bed of Madagascar kelp above a cheetah filet, and it's the handiwork of hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe, despite the deadline pressure, the contestants have washed their hands repeatedly. That's not enough, Ganhs said, when no more heat is going to be applied to chase off bacteria. "That would be a great opportunity for the host to say, 'OK, time to get the gloves on,' " he said. Or before that, to say it's a great time to judge the readiness of meat with a thermometer instead of a fingertip with an overly long nail. Or to be wary of cross-contamination. Or to make sure the cheetah was farm-raised, and died of natural causes. Fat chance. But Chef Ganhs will keep hoping, and keep grading. Reach Neal Rubin at NARubin@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan chef: Cooking shows are filled with health code violations WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Two additional gang members of the Wellington Park Crew were sentenced Friday in the 2018 shooting death of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson, according to the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia. 4 DC gang members sentenced in shooting that killed 10-year-old girl Mark Price, 30, and Antonio Murchison, 31, were both found guilty in September of first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, participation in a criminal street gang, obstruction of justice, and multiple counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and related firearms offenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Price was sentenced to 50 years in prison, and Murchison received 72 years. According to court documents, on July 16, 2018, five men drove to the Clay Terrace neighborhood armed with guns, and some began shooting into the Clay Terrace courtyard, firing over 50 rounds. One of the bullets fatally struck the 10-year-old as she was sitting on the front stoop of her home, and the gunfire wounded several others. A total of six Wellington Park Crew members have been sentenced for their involvement, as well as a woman for obstructing justice, according to the USAO. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. The Brief Arlington police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide at a hair salon. Police said a woman shot a man at the salon before shooting herself. The victims were believed to have been in a past romantic relationship, police said. ARLINGTON, Texas - Arlington police are investigating after they said a woman entered a hair salon and shot a man multiple times before shooting herself. What we know Officers responded to a hair salon on S. Cooper Street around 10:15 Friday morning for a shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses told police a woman entered the salon and shot a 37-year-old, who was a customer, multiple times. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers said the woman was attempting to leave the building when they arrived. She then went back inside the salon and shot herself, police said. The woman was pronounced dead at an area hospital. Arlington police said they aren't sure what led to the shooting, but noted that the man and woman had previously been in a romantic relationship. What we don't know The identities of both the man and woman have not been released. No other injuries were reported. The Source Information in this article comes from Arlington Police. CARROLL, Iowa Two were killed and another was seriously injured during a multi-vehicle crash in Carroll County on Friday. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash occurred around 11:15 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 71 and 120th Street, north of Carroll. A Toyota was traveling on 120th Street when it failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of 120th Street and Highway 71. At that time, a Chevy was traveling southbound on Highway 71 and struck the Toyota. Then, a semi traveling northbound on Highway 71 struck the Toyota after the Chevy. The Toyota finally came to rest in the east ditch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oskaloosa apartment reportedly struck by lightning, leaving residents displaced The driver of the Toyota, 79-year-old Jack Brown, was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The driver of the Chevy, 79-year-old Jeanette Bolster, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The passenger of the Chevy, 82-year-old Francis Bolster, was pronounced dead at the scene. Neither the driver of the semi, 47-year-old Tyler Ward, nor their passenger were injured. The Iowa State Patrol was assisted by the Carroll County Emergency Medical Services, Carroll County Sheriffs Office, Carroll Police Department, and Breda Fire Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Two Palestinians have been killed in an attack by Israeli settlers on a town in the north of the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The Israeli military said stones were thrown at Israelis near Sinjil and that "a violent confrontation developed in the area". It added that security forces were looking into the reports of one Palestinian being killed, and the incident involving the second was under review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There has been a surge in violence in the West Bank since Hamas's attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza. The UN says at least 910 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank, 13 by Israeli settlers, and another seven by either Israeli forces or settlers. At least 44 Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian attacks in Israel and the West Bank. Sayfollah Musallet, a 23-year-old dual US citizen from Florida, was fatally beaten during the incident on Friday evening in Sinjil, the Palestinian ministry said. The second man, Mohammed al-Shalabi, also 23, died after being shot in the chest, it added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US state department said it was "aware of reports of the death of a US citizen in the West Bank", and that it had no further comment "out of respect for the privacy of the family". Sayfollah Musallet, a businessman whose nickname was Saif, travelled from his home in Tampa to the West Bank on 4 June, according to his family. A statement alleged that he was "brutally beaten to death by Israeli settlers while he was protecting his family's land from settlers who were attempting to steal it". "Israeli settlers surrounded Saif for over three hours as paramedics attempted to reach him, but the mob of settlers blocked the ambulance and paramedics from providing life-saving aid." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "After the mob of Israeli settlers cleared, Saif's younger brother rushed to carry his brother to the ambulance. Saif died before making it to the hospital." The statement added: "We demand the US state department lead an immediate investigation and hold the Israeli settlers who killed Saif accountable for their crimes." Official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Mohammed al-Shalabi was from the town of al-Mazraa al-Sharqiya, just south of Sinjil. It cited the Palestinian health ministry as saying that he was shot in the chest by settlers, during the same attack in which Sayfollah Musallet was killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was left bleeding for hours before paramedics were able to reach him, it added. Wafa reported than another 10 Palestinians from Sinjil and neighbouring areas were injured in the clashes with settlers who were armed with automatic rifles. The Israeli military said in a statement on Friday night that "terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli civilians adjacent to Sinjil", lightly injuring two of them. "A violent confrontation developed in the area involving Palestinians and Israeli civilians, which included vandalism of Palestinian property, arson, physical clashes, and rock hurling." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military said soldiers, police and paramilitary Border Police forces were dispatched to the area and "used riot dispersal means in response to the violent confrontation". It added that it was "aware of reports regarding a Palestinian civilian killed and a number of injured Palestinians as a result of the confrontation", and that they were being looked into by the Shin Bet security service and the Israel Police. When asked by the BBC on Saturday for a response to the reports that a second Palestinian was killed, the military said: "The situation is under review". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, the US embassy in Jerusalem has said it condemns recent violence by Israeli settlers against the Christian town of Taybeh in the West Bank. Most of the land there is owned by Palestinian-Americans and, according to locals, some 300 residents are US passport holders. Attacks, including by masked men torching cars and attacking homes, have ramped up. On Monday, settlers set fields ablaze close to a fifth-Century church, leading to a call for international action from the town's priests. The State Department said in response it had no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas and that protecting Christians was a priority for President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has built about 160 settlements housing some 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem - land Palestinians want, along with Gaza, for a hoped-for future state - during the 1967 Middle East war. An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live alongside them. The settlements are considered illegal under international law - a position supported by an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last year - although Israel disputes this. There has been a sharp increase in the number and severity of settler attacks in the West Bank over the same period. The UN says there were 136 attacks by settlers resulting in casualties or property damage in May alone. On Thursday, a 22-year-old Israeli security guard Shalev Zvuluny was shot and killed when two Palestinian men opened fire and tried to stab passerbys in the car park of a shopping centre in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, in the south of the West Bank. The attackers were shot dead by soldiers and armed civilians present at the scene, police said. Tom Bateman contributed to this report Gaya City Superintendent of Police Ramanand Kumar Kaushal has ordered an investigation after a motorbike rider died in a collision with a police vehicle in the Kothi police station area in Bihar's Gaya. The deceased has been identified as Devbali Chaudhary, a resident of a village in the Kothi area of the district. The incident occurred on Friday when a police team received information that a person was carrying illegal liquor, after which they followed Chaudhary, and later, he met with an accident and died in the incident. This fatal incident angered the villagers, following which they set the police vehicle on fire, an official said. Speaking to ANI, Gaya City Superintendent of Police Ramanand Kumar Kaushal said that an investigation is underway in the case and if the police team is found accountable, action will be taken against them. "In Kothi police station area, we received information that a person was carrying illegal liquor. Regarding this, we started checking the vehicles. The police followed a person who was travelling on a motorbike. Later, that person met with an accident and died in the incident. In regard to this, the villagers became furious. They damaged and set the police vehicle on fire...The investigation is underway. If the police are found accountable, action will be taken against them. The deceased is identified as Devbali Chaudhary..." the official said. (ANI) Russian forces conducted a combined attack on the city of Kharkiv using guided aerial bombs and drones on the morning of 12 July. A critical infrastructure facility and residential buildings have been damaged and at least two people have been injured. Source: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov; Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration Quote from Syniehubov: "A strike with a guided bomb was recorded in a residential area in the Kyivskyi district of Kharkiv. There is information about an injured person." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Terekhov said that a group of Shahed drones was heading towards the city. "Further strikes on Kharkiv are possible. Please be careful," he reported. Updated: At 06:30, Terekhov wrote that 10 strikes had been conducted on the city: two with guided bombs and eight with Shahed drones. The main strike impacted a non-residential facility, specifically a business that had not been in operation for several years. Warehouse buildings caught fire. A Shahed drone also hit a critical infrastructure facility. Windows were shattered in several residential buildings, city power lines were damaged and several cars were affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syniehubov reported that two men, aged 33 and 55, had been injured in the attack. Both have been hospitalised. Background: On the night of 11-12 July, Russian forces conducted a large-scale attack on Ukraine using drones and missiles. Explosions were heard in several oblasts and the capital. At around 04:00 on 12 July, during a large-scale drone attack, a Russian strike was recorded in Lviv. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) The sixth of eight explosions on the McClugage is set to take place Monday evening. Weather permitting, the bridge will close between 7 and 9 p.m. on Monday, July 14, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. The full bridge closure includes both directions of U.S. Route 150 between Illinois Route 29 (Adams Street) in Peoria and Illinois Route 116 in East Peoria. IDOT said the closure is necessary as the contractor utilizes explosives to demolish concrete piers 23-25 toward the East Peoria side of the bridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The closure is expected to last 30 minutes before the blast and will reopen as soon as conditions are safe. Traffic will be routed off U.S. Route 150 at interchange ramps and will be continuously moving. No stopping on the route will be allowed. Adams Street will remain open in both directions. IDOT said this will be the sixth event to remove components of the old structure. The demolition schedule following Monday evenings event will take down several piers with each blast until complete, working from east to west. Future blast dates are to be determined. The time frame for each blast event will remain between 7 and 9 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The explosives will be detonated once the roads are closed, the security perimeter is deemed safe and the contractor has performed their final safety checks. Anyone wishing to watch this or any of the events in person is reminded that a security perimeter around the blast area will be in effect on land and in the water. Pedestrians are also asked to be mindful of venturing onto private property without the property owners permission. Drones will be used by the contractor performing this work to verify a safe and successful detonation. As such, civilian drones will be required to stay at least 1,000 feet north of the bridge and at least 300 feet above the ground. IDOT said any incursions into this area may cause postponement of the blast and the drone pilot liable for delays to the contractor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information on the project, visit McClugageBridge.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas announced Friday, July 11 that it has filed 222 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases for the week of July 3-10. Here are some that are have ties to El Paso or the El Paso region: Two Guatemalan nationals were arrested in El Paso and charged with illegal re-entry after they had just been removed from the U.S. in May, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diego Garcia-Godinez was allegedly located just over 3 miles east of the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry and has been deported three times, most recently to Guatemala on May 20, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Jose Luis Cabrera-Lopez was allegedly found approximately .01 miles east of the Bridge of the Americas and has also been removed three times, the last being to Guatemala on May 14., the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Samuel Meza-Escobedo, a Mexican national with nine prior removals, was also arrested in El Paso and charged with illegal re-entry, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Meza-Escobedo was allegedly found less than a mile west of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry and has three prior illegal re-entry convictions. He was last removed from the U.S. to Mexico on Aug. 13, 2024, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexican national Daniel Sauceda-Borrego was arrested by Customs and Border Protection in El Paso after he allegedly presented identification documents under an assumed or fictitious name, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. A criminal complaint alleges that Sauceda-Borrego presented a Washington state ID card bearing his photograph, name, and date of birth, along with a Social Security card of another individual with the initials J.F.R. He was referred to a secondary inspection, where his fingerprints were scanned and revealed that he had been previously removed from the U.S. to Mexico in 2011. The criminal complaint alleges that Sauceda-Borrego admitted that he was given a Texas birth certificate from an individual in Seattle and had been using a different identity for approximately five or six years, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Tomas Velazquez-Jijon, a Mexican national, was arrested on July 7, after U.S. Border Patrol agents located him during a Greyhound bus inspection at the Sierra Blanca Border Patrol Checkpoint and allegedly discovered he was in possession of a fraudulent lawful permanent resident card with his demographics printed on the card. A record check for the LPR card number resulted in a different name, date of birth, and citizenship. Agents also allegedly found that Velazquez-Jijon possessed a fraudulent Social Security card. He was recently removed from the U.S. to Mexico for the first time on May 22, and is charged with one count of fraud and misuse of visas, permits and related documents, and false personation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These cases were referred or supported by federal law-enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcements Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law-enforcement partners. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas San Antonio, Austin and El Paso and shares 660 miles of common border with Mexico. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. U.S. Citizen Job Garcia Sues Department of Homeland Security for Unlawful Arrest by ICE Agents originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Department of Homeland Security U.S. citizen and Los Angeles resident Job Garcia is suing the Department of Homeland Security and seeking $1 million in recompense after being arrested while filming an immigration raid at a Home Depot in Hollywood last month. Garcia was tackled, arrested and detained for 25 hours, according to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the advocacy group representing him. Garcia is a 37-year-old photographer and PhD student at Claremont Graduate University. Arrests have taken place across the nation as federal immigration enforcement efforts escalate. At Home Depot stores specifically, several ICE raids and arrests took place last month, leading to large demonstrations. The National Guard was deployed as a result of protests across L.A. Garcias claim was submitted Tuesday under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), which allows individuals to hold the federal government liable for wrongful acts of employees within the range of their duties, according to the U.S. House of Representatives. The formal FTCA notice is necessary before filing an official lawsuit. The complaint by MALDEF details the arrest and maltreatment, describing how agents behaved violently and acted in a racist manner. The Border Patrol, ICE, and other agents lacked reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe that Mr. Garcia had violated any law. Their actions were instead racially motivated and in retaliation for Mr. Garcia recording the Home Depot raid with his smartphone, the complaint asserts. Despite stating multiple times that he was a U.S. citizen, Garcia was taken to the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, where he was held for a total of 25 hours. He was then released without arraignment or notification of charges. Garcia experienced physical injury, emotional distress, and economic losses," according to MALDEF. Agents are being held liable for false arrest, false imprisonment, battery, assault, property damage and personal injury. The complaint also states that the agents' conduct was unconstitutional in that it violated Garcias First Amendment rights to free speech and to record and photograph matters of public interest, his fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable search and siezures, and the Fifth Amendment rights to remain silent and be afforded due process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas Saenz, MALDEF president and general counsel, said in a statement, When government engages in widespread violation of individual rights with respect to immigrants without status, the harm inevitably spills over and spreads to others; that is why we must insist, as a society, on respect for the rights of everyone. Here, a citizen, acting in the best traditions of our democracy, was engaged in documenting government misconduct to encourage policy change; he was wrongfully arrested and detained because of his race and his heroic efforts, Saenz continued. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin refuted these claims, arguing in an emailed statement to NBC that Garcia was arrested for allegedly assaulting and harassing agents. To view the full complaint, visit https://www.maldef.org For resources, please visit https://www.maldef.org/resources This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared. A man from the United Kingdom was arraigned Friday in Brooklyn federal court after being charged with running a $99 million money laundering scheme through a faux wine company. James Wellesley, 56, was arraigned after his extradition from the U.K., where he and co-defendant Stephen Burton, 58, were arrested in 2022. The two are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy in an alleged scheme perpetrated through Bordeaux Cellars, a company Wellesley and Burton operated. A pair of British men are accused of scamming investors out of nearly $100 million in an alleged wine fraud scheme. Two Men Convicted In Pennsylvania Mayoral Race Election Fraud Case Hit With Harsher Sentences Than Expected Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The indictment alleges that from at least June 2017 through February 2019, Wellesley and Burton posed as executives at Bordeaux Cellars, soliciting investors in New York and at investor conferences in the U.S. and overseas. Wellesley and Burton told investors Bordeaux Cellars brokered loans between investors and wealthy wine collectors that would be fully collateralized by high-value collections of wine, according to court documents. Read On The Fox News App They also allegedly promised that investors would receive regular interest payments from the borrowers and that Bordeaux Cellars would keep custody of the wine, securing the loans while the loans were outstanding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors claim the "high-net-worth wine collectors" did not exist, and Bordeaux Cellars did not have the wine that was supposedly securing the loans. The wine owned by the company never existed, according to court documents. Instead, Wellesley and Burton used the money they made from incoming loans to make fraudulent interest payments to investors and for their own personal expenses, resulting in $99 million in misdirected funds, according to court documents. Menendez To Report To Prison For 11-Year Term For Corruption "Todays arraignment sends a message to all perpetrators of global fraud schemes that my office will work tirelessly to ensure they answer for crimes committed in the United States," United States Attorney Joseph Nocella wrote in a statement. "We will not rest in our efforts to seek justice for victims of fraud." Investors in New York and other cities lost hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to court documents. Fugitive Accused Of Several Bank Robberies Extradited To Us After Years Of Hiding In Ukraine Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ricky Patel, HSI New York special agent in charge, accused the duo of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from collectors. "James Wellesley and his coconspirator are accused of masterminding their nearly $100 million international fraud scheme that exploited the unsuspecting public, including New Yorkers, for their own selfish enrichment," Patel said. "As alleged, the defendants claimed Bordeaux Cellars boasted a high-value wine stockpile and a clientele of high-net-worth wine collectors and, in turn, profited handsomely, all while they swindled investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more." Burton was extradited from Morocco in 2023 and is awaiting trial. Wellesley was ordered detained pending trial. If convicted, the pair face up to 20 years in prison. Original article source: UK man indicted in alleged $99M wine fraud scheme that left investors high and dry The Ukrainian side will receive the first long-range weapons, financed by Germany, in July. Source: Bundeswehr General Christian Freuding in an interview with ZDF TV channel, European Pravda reports Details: The German general emphasised that Germany will support Ukraine by providing funding for the delivery of hundreds of long-range weapons. Freuding said that the situation in Ukraine is currently "definitely tense in military terms", with Russian forces "on the offensive for several weeks, if not months". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We need weapons systems that can penetrate deep into Russian territory and strike ammunition storage points, command posts, airfields and aircraft," he said. The first long-range weapon systems, financed by Germany, are to be delivered at the end of July, the general said. "And then there will be deliveries in the hundreds," he added. Freudling noted that this will significantly strengthen Ukraine's air defence and capabilities in the coming weeks and months. Background: At the end of May, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov signed an agreement in Berlin on the financing of Ukrainian-made long-range weapons. In early July, it became known that representatives of the German government had signed the first contract to finance military production in Ukraine, specifically long-range drones that had already been used to strike targets in Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russia fired more than 620 drones and long-range missiles overnight, killing at least six people in the latest wave of strikes, Ukraine said Saturday, adding that it was close to an agreement to receive more Patriot air-defence systems. "The Russians continue to use their specific tactics of terror against our country, striking concentrated blows at one city or another, at one region or another," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address. Moscow has stepped up aerial strikes over recent months as US-led ceasefire talks have stalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Twenty-six cruise missiles and 597 attack drones were launched, of which more than half were 'Shaheds'," Zelensky said, referring to Iranian-made drones. The Ukrainian air force said it had downed 319 Shahed drones and 25 missiles, adding that one missile and about 20 drones had hit "five locations". Zelensky said the strikes had killed at least two people and wounded 20 in the southwestern Chernivtsi region, far from the front lines of the east and south. Twelve people were wounded in Lviv, also in the west, while in the east, two people died in Dnipropetrovsk and three were wounded in Kharkiv, local officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia also "dropped two guided aerial bombs on the homes of civilians" in the northeastern Sumy region killing two, the local prosecutors office said. - 'Deliberate and despicable' - Zelensky said that some of the drones sent by Russia had been "simulators" intended to "overload the air-defence system and make it more difficult to shoot down the 'suicide drones'. This is their deliberate and despicable terror." The Russian defence ministry said it had targeted companies in Ukraine's military-industrial complex in Lviv, Kharkiv and Lutsk and a military aerodrome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a video message, Zelensky said "we are close to reaching a multi-level agreement on new Patriot systems and missiles for them". Ukraine was stepping up production of its own interceptor systems, he added. US special envoy Keith Kellogg is due to begin his latest visit to Ukraine on Monday as a Washington-led peace effort flounders. US President Donald Trump also said he would make a "major statement... on Russia" on Monday. On Friday, the Kremlin restated its opposition to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron said Kyiv's allies had a plan "ready to go... in the hours after a ceasefire". Trump called Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin last week but said afterwards that there had been no progress towards ending the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kremlin said Putin would not give up on Russia's war goals but would nonetheless continue to take part in negotiations. Moscow says its aim in Ukraine is to get rid of the "root causes" of the conflict and has demanded that Kyiv give up its NATO ambitions. - Weapons, sanctions - Washington's announcement earlier this month that it would pause some armament deliveries to Ukraine was a blow to Kyiv, which is reliant on Western military support. On Saturday, Zelensky urged his Western allies to send "more than just signals" to stop the war launched by Russia in February 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The pace of Russian air strikes requires swift decisions and it can be curbed right now through sanctions," he said on social media. Zelensky specifically demanded penalties for those who "help Russia produce drones and profit from oil". Oil exports are important for the Russian economy especially in the face of existing Western sanctions. Sanctions imposed on Russia -- the world's largest fertiliser producer -- after the invasion spared its grain and fertiliser exports. But prices skyrocketed, fuelling fears of food insecurity. The United Nations signed a deal with Russia in July 2022 to facilitate exports of food and fertiliser to limit global price increases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But on Friday, it said the accord would not be renewed when it expires on July 22. Russia has repeatedly complained the agreement does little to protect it from secondary sanction effects. bur-mmp/gv/jj The World Bank will provide $200 million over the next five years to prepare Ukrainian projects for large-scale reconstruction, the Economy Ministry announced on July 11. The funding will be available under the five-year PREPARE program, which Ukraine launched by signing an agreement with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA) during the Ukraine Recovery Conference. Following three years of destruction caused by Russia's full-scale war, Ukraine needs $524 billion for recovery and reconstruction, according to a U.N. report released in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Economy Ministry said that with World Bank financing, Ukrainian reconstruction projects will be able to move to implementation faster by bringing them up to international investor standards. "Together with the World Bank, we are creating a systematic 'preparation factory' (for reconstruction projects) that minimizes delays, increases transparency, and opens the path to multi-billion investments in the coming years," Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said in a press release. The first grant of $44.3 million will be directed toward collecting and preparing state assets for investment, the Economy Ministry said. The funding will be available starting in August. The first grant will also partially finance the development of the Public-Private Partnership Agency, which will implement the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Trumps envoy Kellogg to visit Ukraine on July 14 amid military aid confusion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy currently considers Defence Minister Rustem Umierov the main and so far the only candidate for the post of Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States. Source: Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, citing sources, as reported by European Pravda Details: A source in the Presidents Office noted that if Umierov is appointed ambassador, one of the current government officials is likely to be named the next minister of defence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further government reshuffles will depend on who replaces Umierov, the source added. Background: On 10 July, President Zelenskyy confirmed plans to appoint a new ambassador to the US and acknowledged that Defence Minister Rustem Umierov may take on the role. In June, Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Zelenskyy had already made "certain personnel decisions" regarding changes to the leadership of some foreign missions, with announcements expected in July. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A sudden legal action by the authorities against one of Ukraine's most prominent anti-corruption activists has sent shockwaves through the country's civil society. Vitaliy Shabunin, the chair of the Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC) NGO's executive board and current member of the Armed Forces, was charged on July 11 with evading military service and fraud an accusation his team rejects. As law enforcement agents raided his military posting in Kharkiv Oblast and his family home in Kyiv, the case fueled concerns over government pressure on civil society and anti-corruption efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Taking advantage of the war, Volodymyr Zelensky is taking the first but confident steps towards corrupt authoritarianism," Shabunin said on Telegram in his first public message since the charges were pressed. Daria Kaleniuk, executive director of AntAC, called the accusations raised against Shabunin "absurd." Talking to the Kyiv Independent, Kaleniuk described the case as a "vendetta" for what "Vitaliy Shabunin and our organization are doing and will keep doing about corruption and wrongdoing of authorities." The State Bureau of Investigation has denied any connection between the case and Shabunin's work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I would like to immediately note that the charges are in no way related to (Shabunin's) public activity," the bureau's communications advisor, Tetiana Sapian, said on air on national television. What is Shabunin accused of? The State Bureau of Investigations accused Shabunin of "systematically evading military service," among other related charges. In its July 11 press release, the agency claimed that after beginning military service in 2022, the activist "did not appear at his post for a long time" and avoided service under the guise of "business trips" and work in civilian institutions. The investigation has been ongoing since December 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The accusations concern a criminal case involving Viktor Yushko, a serviceman and former commander of the 207th battalion of the territorial defense of Kyiv, where Shabunin served at the beginning of the full-scale war. Yushko is facing charges that he abused his position to issue orders for fictitious business trips for military personnel in his unit, including Shabunin. According to the bureau, Shabunin also stands accused of fraud for taking a monthly military allowance of Hr 50,000 ($1,200) while absent from his unit. The investigators further said that Shabunin illegally used an SUV car imported into Ukraine as humanitarian aid for his personal needs without proper registration or relevant legal grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. "The State Bureau of Investigation emphasizes: the law should be the same for everyone, regardless of position, public status, or public activity," the bureau said in a statement. "Patriotic slogans cannot be a cover for abuses, and true service to the state is manifested not in loud statements, but in compliance with the law." How does AntAC respond? Speaking to the Kyiv Independent on July 12, Kaleniuk dismissed the charges, highlighting several discrepancies. AntAC's director said the charges of evading military service stem from Shabunin's 2022 secondment to the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, Ukraine's anti-corruption body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During this period, she noted, he was actively involved in developing anti-corruption measures related to defense procurement. On its Telegram channel, AntAC stressed that Shabunin's temporary assignment, which took place between September 2022 and February 2023, was legitimate and given to him as an order that he could not legally ignore. His team further said that Shabunin participated in the defense of Kyiv in 2022 and subsequently served in the Donetsk and Kharkiv oblasts. AntAC also rejected claims that Shabunin illegally received combat payments, explaining that he was simply earning a regular salary as a soldier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the investigators accuse Shabunin of "fraudulently" incurring the state loss of Hr 224,250 (around $5,370), AntAC said the amount is actually his official military salary, with taxes and other fees included. It is also a common and fully legitimate practice that Ukrainian soldiers receive older cars donated by volunteers, the organization said. "The interesting fact is that this car was not mentioned in the notice, but was mentioned in public communication of the State Bureau of Investigations," Kaleniuk pointed out. Read also: Analysis: Ahead of Trumps major Russia announcement, what will happen next to Ukraine? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AntAC director also highlighted violations during the July 11 raids. The searches at Shabunin's military posting took place without the presence of an attorney and without a court order, she said, adding that the activist's phone was seized to gain access to his personal data. A day before the raid, Shabunin said he was reassigned from his position in Kharkiv to a front-line brigade a move that, according to Kaleniuk, made it easier to carry out the search outside of proper procedures. According to Shabunin, the searches lasted 15 hours from 2 p.m. on July 11 until 5 a.m. on July 12. A separate raid was carried out at Shabunin's home in Kyiv in the presence of his wife, two children, and a grandfather, once again without the presence of a lawyer, Kaleniuk said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officers "have taken away Vitaliy's wife's phone and even the phone and tablets of Vitaliy's young children," said Kaleniuk, who was present at the search. AntAC's director said Shabunin managed to contact the team only on the morning of July 12. He has not been detained but awaits a hearing at the Pechersk court in Kyiv, which will decide on a preventive measure. 'Vendetta' for exposing government wrongdoings Shabunin has said he has repeatedly faced pressure from the authorities as a retribution for his work, attributing it to the President's Office and its controversial deputy head, Oleh Tatarov. Tatarov, a powerful but divisive figure in Ukrainian politics, was charged with bribery before joining the presidential administration, but law enforcement agencies obstructed the corruption case against him and eventually dropped it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talking to the Kyiv Independent, Kaleniuk also pointed to a smear campaign by President's Office-linked Telegram channels aimed at Shabunin. "(The President's Office), through the Tatarov-controlled State Bureau of Investigation and anonymous Telegram channels, seeks to turn Vitaliy Shabunin into a 'tax evader' and 'swindler,'" AntAC said in a column published in the Ukrainian media. Kaleniuk also believes that it is no coincidence that the charges came shortly after Ruslan Kravchenko described as a Zelensky loyalist was appointed as the new Prosecutor General. AntAC has criticized his appointment, as Kravchenko failed to meet ethics and integrity standards during earlier contests for law enforcement jobs. The Kyiv Independent has reached out to Shabunin, the President's Office, and the State Bureau of Investigation for comment. In another recent case seen as a growing executive overreach and interference, the government blocked the appointment of a new head of the Bureau of Economic Security, a controversial agency with ties to Tatarov. The developments have fueled mounting concerns that Ukraine's anti-graft reforms are being quietly rolled back under the cover of wartime. In his July 12 post, Shabunin decried several controversial steps taken by Zelensky, the President's Office, and the Servant of the People's party, including a new bill on corruption in defense procurement. The bill seeks to exempt from criminal liability companies implementing defense contracts with the government and enterprises included in a secret list compiled by the Defense Ministry. Anti-corruption activists say the bill would jeopardize the rule of law, result in increased corruption, and potentially undermine Ukraine's defense capabilities. They also accuse the authorities of attempting to stifle critics of the bill. Read also: Ukraines new top prosecutor known for high-profile cases, seen as Zelensky loyalist Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. According to officials, the woman lodged a complaint at the Haridevpur police station on Friday evening. "Late last evening, a woman reported at Haridevpur Police Station that she was raped by a student inside the IIM Calcutta campus. Based on her complaint, a case has been registered, and the accused has been arrested," the police said. They added that an investigation is currently underway. More details are awaited. The incident comes two weeks after a law student was gang-raped inside the South Calcutta Law College campus in Kolkata. The incident took place on June 25, when a student was allegedly gangraped inside the South Calcutta Law College in the Kasba area of Kolkata. Five days later, on June 30, Kolkata Police said that the three main accused in the case were arrested in less than 12 hours. On July 9, the Alipore Court sent all four accused in the South Kolkata Law College gangrape case to 14 days of judicial custody. (ANI) As Russian missiles rained down on Kyiv on July 11, doctors at Ukraine's largest children's hospital performed a "historic" lifesaving organ transplant from a deceased 4-year-old girl, saving the lives of three critically ill children, according to an official statement. The National Specialized Children's Hospital Okhmatdyt announced that the girl, brought in from the Zhytomyr Oblast, was declared brain-dead overnight on July 10. With her parents' consent, her heart, liver, and kidneys were donated, the first time in the hospital's history that such a posthumous transplant was carried out. "This is a story about humanity, the incredible power of a parent's decision, and the chance for life even in the most difficult times," the hospital said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The process involved a coordinated effort between Okhmatdyt, the Ukrainian Transplant Coordination Center, and other specialists, all conducted under the threat of ongoing air raids and missile strikes. Among the recipients was a 16-year-old girl with Wilson's disease, in critical condition and given the highest emergency status. She received a liver transplant. A 14-year-old boy who had been on dialysis for over seven months at Okhmatdyt received the kidneys. The third recipient, a 12-year-old girl, was given the heart at the Health Ministry's Heart Institute, also under urgent conditions. The operations lasted over 13 hours. Dr. Oleh Hodyk, a transplant surgeon at Okhmatdyt, said that this was the hospital's first full cycle of brain death diagnosis, organ retrieval, and transplantation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Okhmatdyt is Ukraine's largest children's medical center, which was struck directly by a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile during one of Russia's deadliest assaults on Kyiv on July 8, 2024, killing 33 people and injuring 121 others. The attack, which damaged residential buildings and medical facilities, caused international outrage, especially as video evidence and missile fragments confirmed that the hospital was intentionally targeted. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has stressed the need for large-scale sanctions against Russia from the EU and the US following another intense attack on Ukraine. Source: Sybiha on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Sybiha emphasised that Russia "continues to escalate its terror, launching another barrage of hundreds of drones and missiles". Quote: "The scale of Russia's daily terror against civilians demonstrates the urgency of depriving Moscow of its oil revenues, which it turns into war crimes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Sybiha said Russia "produces hundreds of means of terror per day", adding that these volumes pose a threat not only to Ukraine but to the entire transatlantic community. Quote: "It is in our partners' best interests to hit this factory of terror as soon as possible with new strong sanctions: the 18th EU package and the Graham-Blumenthal bill. Defund Putin's death factory now." Background: On the night of 11-12 July, Russian forces conducted a large-scale attack on Ukraine using drones and missiles. Explosions were heard in several oblasts and the capital. At around 04:00 on 12 July, during a large-scale drone attack, a Russian strike was recorded in Lviv. Poland scrambled fighter jets and heightened its air defence readiness amid a large-scale Russian missile attack on Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! LONDON (AP) Britains oldest World War II veteran, Donald Rose, has died at the age of 110. Rose participated in the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, and was part of the division that liberated the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany. In a statement Friday, the leader of the Erewash Borough Council in the north of England, James Dawson, announced Rose's death, calling him a war hero. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erewash was privileged to count him as a resident," he added. In May, Rose joined 45 other veterans as guests of honor at a tea party celebration hosted by the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum, to mark 80 years since Victory in Europe Day. Rose, who was born on Christmas Eve in 1914 following the outbreak of hostilities in World War I, said at the event that he did not celebrate VE Day at the time. When I heard that the armistice had been signed 80 years ago, I was in Germany at Belsen and, like most active soldiers, I didnt get to celebrate at that time," he said. We just did what we thought was right and it was a relief when it was over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Originally from the village of Westcott, southwest of London, Rose joined the army aged 23 and served in North Africa, Italy and France, according to the Royal British Legion. He received a number of medals and was awarded Frances highest honor, the Legion dHonneur. Rose is also believed to have been the U.K.s oldest man. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Butler Hospital presented union leaders with its revised last, best and final contract proposal on Friday, as what is now considered the longest hospital strike in Rhode Island history remains ongoing. More than 800 workers at Butler have been on strike since May 15, demanding higher wages, better benefits and improved workplace safety. Now, the hospital is calling on the New England Health Care Employees Union (SEIU 1199NE) to end what its described as grandstanding and rhetoric and prioritize patient care by presenting the offer to members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal includes market-leading wages, competitive benefits, and improvements to workplace safety, according to the hospital. We respect the right of workers to organize and advocate for better compensation, benefits, retirement, and working conditions, said Scott Van Steeden, Butler Hospitals vice president of operations. We are confident that our revised last, best, and final offer to SEIU provides exactly that. He added that the proposal honors and respects the professionals who care for the states most vulnerable patients. READ ALSO: Butler workers question Care New Englands finances amid contract dispute Whats in the offer? Pay According to Butler Hospital, the proposal would raise the minimum wage for lowest paid workers to over $18 per hour, which is 20% higher than Rhode Islands minimum wage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mental health workers would earn $21.79 an hour, which is a 19.3% increase and 25.4% above average regional market rates. Starting pay for registered nurses would be $36 an hour a 10.8% increase from current contract wages and 9.8% higher than average regional market rates. Benefits No changes will be made to employee retirement benefits and the pension system will be protected, Butler said. A gradual phase-out of the 65% employer contribution to the HSA deductible would be offset by a 100% reduction in premiums for the Network Blue NE Plan for full-time individuals, and a $21.66 monthly premium for family plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Butler said the HSA plan will remain available with a $0 premium for those who choose it. Safety A Workplace Violence Prevention Task Force would be created, along with a support plan for employees injured due to workplace violence. According to Butler, workers would be able to donate unused sick or vacation time to injured colleagues who have already exhausted their own. The hospital said it would seed that fund with $75,000 in leave time and match up to $25,000 in additional donations. RELATED: Striking Butler Hospital employees awarded unemployment benefits The hospital noted that SEIU 1199s labor strike has put patient care across the states entire health system at risk and unnecessary strain on emergency departments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The labor strike has forced Butler Hospital to close 40 beds and a number of units, which has led to more treatment of mental and behavioral health crises in emergency rooms and larger waitlists for treatment, Butler wrote. Hospital leadership also claimed that the union has made false statements to media throughout its campaign regarding members being locked out or barred from returning to work. Union response Meanwhile, a committee of striking workers with SEIU 1199 criticized the proposal as a bad-faith move. The language of Butlers last, best and final offer says it all this is not a negotiation, its an ultimatum, the committee wrote. Butler delivered the proposal while simultaneously hitting send on its press release announcing it. That is not how good faith bargaining works. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The union said it will evaluate the proposal and decide on next steps. We will not be strong-armed into accepting a contract that moves us even further back than where we started, the statement concluded. MORE: Butler workers march, urge Care New England CEO to settle contract Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Bavaria's fairytale castles could soon join the ranks of the world's most treasured cultural sites. UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, currently meeting in Paris, is expected to decide on Saturday whether to grant World Heritage status to Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof Castles, as well as the royal house on Schachen Mountain in Upper Bavaria. The bid has been more than a quarter-century in the making. Set against idyllic Alpine backdrops, the castles have long been a magnet for tourists - drawing over 1.7 million visitors last year, many of them from abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Built in the second half of the 19th century by Bavarias Ludwig II (18451886), the castles were designed to evoke medieval romance and fantasy. Neuschwanstein, resembling a knight's fortress and major influence on Walt Disney's animated castles, and Herrenchiemsee, inspired by Versailles, reflect Ludwigs vision of theatrical, dreamlike architecture rather than strict historical authenticity. While World Heritage status does not come with funding, it significantly boosts international recognition and tourism. It also obliges the host country to preserve and protect the sites and report regularly to UNESCO. This year, around 30 cultural and natural sites are up for inclusion, including Jamaicas sunken city of Port Royal, which was destroyed by a tsunami in 1692, the modernist city centre of Gdynia in Poland, and memorials in Cambodia commemorating the victims of the Khmer Rouge. UNESCO on Saturday declared the famous fairytale castles of Bavaria's King Ludwig II a World Heritage Site. At its meeting in Paris, the World Heritage Committee added Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof Castles as well as the royal house on Schachen Mountain in Upper Bavaria to the World Heritage List. The bid has been more than a quarter-century in the making. Set against idyllic Alpine backdrops, the castles have long been a magnet for tourists - drawing over 1.7 million visitors last year, many of them from abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Built in the second half of the 19th century by Bavarias Ludwig II (18451886), the castles were designed to evoke medieval romance and fantasy. Neuschwanstein, resembling a knight's fortress and major influence on Walt Disney's animated castles, and Herrenchiemsee, inspired by Versailles, reflect Ludwigs vision of theatrical, dreamlike architecture rather than strict historical authenticity. While World Heritage status does not come with funding, it significantly boosts international recognition and tourism. It also obliges the host country to preserve and protect the sites and report regularly to UNESCO. This year, around 30 cultural and natural sites are up for inclusion, including Jamaicas sunken city of Port Royal, which was destroyed by a tsunami in 1692; the modernist city centre of Gdynia in Poland; and memorials in Cambodia commemorating the victims of the Khmer Rouge. UNESCO on Saturday declared the famous fairytale castles of Bavaria's King Ludwig II a World Heritage Site. At its meeting in Paris, the World Heritage Committee added Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof Castles, as well as the royal house on Schachen Mountain in Upper Bavaria, to the World Heritage List. The bid has been more than a quarter-century in the making. Set against idyllic Alpine backdrops, the castles have long been a magnet for tourists - drawing over 1.7 million visitors last year, many of them from abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The inclusion of the castles in the World Heritage List is an outstanding tribute to these impressive sites," said Maria Bohmer, president of the German UNESCO commission. "They are all architectural masterpieces and testify to the artistic imagination, but also to the eccentricity of the fairytale king," she added. Built in the second half of the 19th century by Bavaria's Ludwig II (18451886), the castles were designed to evoke medieval romance and fantasy. Neuschwanstein, resembling a knight's fortress and a major influence on Walt Disney's animated castles, and Herrenchiemsee, inspired by Versailles, reflect Ludwig's vision of theatrical, dreamlike architecture rather than strict historical authenticity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While World Heritage status does not come with funding, it significantly boosts international recognition and tourism. It also obliges the host country to preserve and protect the sites and report regularly to UNESCO. Bavaria's premier, Markus Soder, described the inclusion of the castles on the World Heritage List as a "fairy tale" that had come true. He said the designation honours Bavaria's history, culture and architecture. The recognition by UNESCO is a great joy, but also a mandate, he said. "We want to preserve our cultural heritage and maintain it for future generations." Neuschwanstein in particular has already struggled with high numbers of tourists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It used to attract more than 1.4 million people per year, but visitor numbers were capped during recent renovations. Even after the renovation work was completed, the castle has maintained limits on visitor numbers to 45 people per group to protect the building. UNESCO also takes a critical view of mass tourism and has recommended a more comprehensive visitor management strategy for the Bavarian castles to prevent any negative effects on the architectural heritage. This year, around 30 cultural and natural sites are up for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, including Jamaica's sunken city of Port Royal, which was destroyed by a tsunami in 1692; the modernist city centre of Gdynia in Poland; and memorials in Cambodia commemorating the victims of the Khmer Rouge. Union officials on Friday announced a farmworker had died after they said he was injured during an immigration enforcement raid on a California cannabis farm. "We tragically can confirm that a farmworker has died of injuries they sustained as a result of yesterdays immigration enforcement action," the United Farm Workers announcement on X said. On Thursday, protesters clashed with authorities as federal immigration agents conducted raids at Glass House Farms in Camarillo and another site in Carpinteria. Video footage showed authorities using tear gas to disperse the crowd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom Donor's Cannabis Farm Under Federal Investigation For 'Child Labor Violations' Federal immigration agents spray tear gas at protesters during a raid in the agriculture area of Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025. The United Farm Workers on Friday said one farmworker died after being injured during the raid. The worker climbed a green house and fell 30 feet," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. "This man was not in and has not been in CBP or ICE custody," she said. "Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a green house and fell 30 feet. CBP immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible." Read On The Fox News App U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott said 10 illegal immigrant minors at the Camarillo farm, eight of them unaccompanied, were found and that Glass House was under investigation for child labor violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is Newsoms California," Scott added. Homan Accuses Dems, Media Of Pushing 'Fake' Stories About Ice After Agents Clash With California Rioters National Guard troops block protesters during an ICE immigration raid at a nearby cannabis farm July 10, 2025, near Camarillo, Calif. The Trump administration has been carrying out raids in Southern California, targeting criminal illegal immigrants despite opposition from local and state officials. The union has decried the operations, saying workers were critically injured during what they described as "chaotic raids" and noted that "other workers, including U.S. citizens, remain totally unaccounted for." "These violent and cruel federal actions terrorize American communities, disrupt the American food supply chain, threaten lives and separate families," it said in an earlier statement. "There is no city, state or federal district where it is legal to terrorize and detain people for being brown and working in agriculture. These raids must stop immediately." Fox News Digital has reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Original article source: Union says farm worker died after ICE raid that uncovered underage laborers A United Airlines employee in New Jersey claims she faced relentless sexual harassment from her supervisor, and that her complaints only made things worse culminating in an assignment to remove a 300-pound dead body from a plane, by herself, which left her badly injured and allegedly led to her eventual firing. When Chantel Matthews showed up on November 1, 2022 for her first day of training as a ramp agent at Newark Liberty International Airport, her new supervisor greeted her by saying, Welcome to United. You are fine as hell. Please complete your employee profile at any computer desk, according to a newly filed federal lawsuit obtained by The Independent. Matthews, 41, felt stunned and extremely uncomfortable by the supervisors wildly inappropriate remark, but continued about the onboarding process, her complaint states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later that day, the supervisor approached Matthews, whose job description involved loading and unloading baggage and cargo, guiding planes to the terminal and performing other crucial tasks on the tarmac, and inquired if she needed any help completing her tasks, the complaint goes on. By the way, do you model? he asked, according to the complaint, which says Matthews rebuffed his inappropriate comment and replied, Im fine, thanks. I got it from here. United Airlines is being hauled into court over a ground worker's accusations of on-the-job sex harassment by a supervisor, followed by a physical task, allegedly in retaliation for her complaints to HR, that left her injured (Getty Images) United Airlines is being hauled into court over a ground worker's accusations of on-the-job sex harassment by a supervisor, followed by a physical task, allegedly in retaliation for her complaints to HR, that left her injured (Getty Images) The next day, Matthews was surprised to find an unsolicited text from the supervisor, who had apparently gotten her cell number from her personnel file, asking her to send him her Instagram profile, the complaint continues. The filing says she ignored the request, hoping this would indicate to the supervisor that she wasnt interested in a romantic relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, when she again reported to work, the supervisor allegedly said, Good morning, Ms. Matthews. You look very nice today. Your body is banging. Matthews supervisor then asked her out on a date, which she declined, according to the complaint. That evening, the supervisor again texted Matthews, asking what kind of men [she] was interested in, the complaint contends. Matthews did not respond, prompting the supervisor to approach Matthews the following day at work, asking, So, Ms. Matthews, you didnt see my text last night with your sexy self? Matthews asked the supervisor not to speak to her this way, according to the complaint. However, it alleges, he did not stop. Shortly thereafter, [the supervisor] approached [Matthews] at her desk saying, You know I want you, right? the complaint states. It says he asked what type of chemistry and energy she wanted in a man, texted her a request that she upload a photo of him as her phones screensaver for motivation, and messaged her late that night to inquire, How long have you been modeling? Can you talk? At 10:40 pm, the supervisor attempted to FaceTime with Matthews, but she did not answer, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this point, the supervisor started to get the hint, the complaint says. Fired United Airlines ramp agent Chantel Matthews got off to a bad start with her boss at Newark Liberty International Airport, she says in court filings (Getty Images) Fired United Airlines ramp agent Chantel Matthews got off to a bad start with her boss at Newark Liberty International Airport, she says in court filings (Getty Images) On November 4, 2022, three days after she began working for United, Matthews showed up for her shift at Newark to find the supervisor, incensed, for refusing his sexual advances, the complaint asserts. By way of example only, despite wearing the same navy-blue plants and black shoes that she had worn every day prior, [Matthews supervisor] shouted, MS. MATTHEWS, YOU ARE OUT OF COLOR CODE! according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Matthews pushed back, telling the supervisor that she was wearing the exact same navy-blue pants [and] black shoes I wore yesterday, he allegedly replied, Dont worry about it. Im simply going to report you. The complaint says Matthews told the supervisor that she was instead going to report him for harassment, to which he shot back, Ms. Matthews, you can try. S**t is not going to happen to me. I have been with United for 19 years. Undeterred, Matthews contacted both the recruitment agency that connected her with the United job, as well as Uniteds HR department, which instructed her to submit a written statement about what had happened, according to the complaint. With just one week on the job, Matthews suddenly found her coworkers turning against her, the complaint states. Still, it says she successfully passed her training and began her work in the field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On November 16, 2022, roughly two weeks after she started, Matthews was abruptly reassigned from the ramp to the Uniteds Newark Liberty command center. This, according to the complaint, was retaliation for going to HR. Upon reporting to the command center, Matthews was introduced to her new team leader, who immediately instructed her to remove a 300-pound dead body from one of Uniteds planes, the complaint states. Matthews attempted to move the 300-pound dead body, the complaint says. However, [she] was not able to move the body due to its weight. The team leader threatened [Matthews] that she would be terminated if she was not able to perform her job duties, namely moving the 300-pound dead body, according to the complaint. In response, it says Matthews immediately went to a supervisor to explain that she was incapable of moving the heavy dead body on her own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, [the supervisor] threatened that if [Matthews] could not perform her duties, namely moving the 300-pound dead body, [she] would be sent home, the complaint alleges. As such, [Matthews] again attempted to move the body which caused her to fall and scream out in pain. Chantel Matthews believes her transfer from the ramp to an inside job at United's command center was retaliation for complaining to HR about her boss. She is now suing. (AFP via Getty Images) Chantel Matthews believes her transfer from the ramp to an inside job at United's command center was retaliation for complaining to HR about her boss. She is now suing. (AFP via Getty Images) Matthews was taken to Uniteds medical facility, where she was diagnosed with severe neck and shoulder muscle strains, and prescribed a muscle relaxant, according to the complaint. The doctor there placed Matthews on light duty, and she would spend the next several months in physical therapy, it says. In March 2023, a United official emailed Matthews to say that she had reached the maximum allowable time for being on light duty, and told her to file for workers comp instead of returning to work, the complaint states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following month, a rep from Uniteds HR department, which had launched an investigation into Matthews harassment claims, contacted her to say that her supervisor had been found in violation of company guidelines, and that the matter was being passed along to the appropriate parties, according to the complaint. That November, while out on medical leave, the complaint says Matthews received a termination letter from United, ending her employment, effective immediately. Yet, Matthews complaint says United continues to employ [the supervisor who allegedly harassed her] and has not taken any remedial or corrective action against him. As such, [his] role training new employees continues to provide fertile ground for his predatory behaviors and sexual harassment, the complaint contends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The experience left Matthews extremely humiliated, degraded, victimized, embarrassed and emotionally distressed, according to the complaint. Matthews suit, which was filed July 7 in Newark federal court, follows another filed last week by a United pilot, who claims a concussion was mistaken by the carrier for alcoholism, and that he was unnecessarily forced into rehab for a problem that didnt exist. She is now seeking a money judgment, to be determined by a jury, for lost wages, back and front pay, punitive damages, liquidated and statutory damages, attorneys fees, plus court costs. United Airlines declined to comment. In late June 2025, social media users shared a screenshot of a Department of Treasury document that they claimed showed that U.S. President Donald Trump had "lifted sanctions on Russia." For example, one X post featuring the image, that had amassed more than 230,000 views as of this writing (archived), read: "BREAKING: Donald Trump lifts sanctions on Russia, allowing U.S. transactions with sanctioned Russian banks including Sberbank, VTB and even the Central Bank for civil nuclear projects." The document was titled "General License No. 115B - Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to Civil Nuclear Energy." General License No. 115B (GL 115B) issued by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control on June 27, 2025 authorized specific limited transactions with certain sanctioned Russian entities. (X user @levparnas) The claim appeared elsewhere on X and in various iterations on Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, Reddit, Imgur, YouTube and Threads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This led many to believe that the Trump administration had reversed U.S. sanctions on Russia. However, while the document circulating in social media posts was real, it was not a sweeping order from Trump. Rather, it was an update to a license first issued under the administration of former President Joe Biden. The only major changes were the removal of a restriction on a Russian-backed nuclear project in Hungary and the extension of the date until which transactions with certain sanctioned Russian entities could be authorized. There was no evidence Trump lifted all sanctions on Russia or made a broad policy shift. As The New York Times reported in early July 2025, since Trump took office in January, the U.S. had not issued any new sanctions related to Russia's war in Ukraine and in some cases had eased restrictions. In that broader context, while the GL 115B document applied only to civil nuclear energy projects that began before November 2024 and contained only two substantive changes to the prior version of the license, as outlined below, it reflected a more permissive approach to Russia sanctions that has raised concerns among commentators. Source and background of the document The full text of GL 115B is publicly available on the Treasury's website. That link shows the license was issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, an agency within the Treasury, on June 27, 2025 during Trump's second term in office under an executive order that was signed by Biden during his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden signed EO 14024 on April 15, 2021. The order is titled "Executive Order on Blocking Property with Respect to Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation." https://media.snopes.com/2025/07/office_of_foreign_assets_control.pdf Trump's GL 115B permitted engaging in certain transactions with numerous sanctioned Russian entities, including major financial institutions like Sberbank, VTB and the Russian Central Bank. These transactions, which were previously prohibited under EO 14024, were authorized through Dec. 19, 2025, but only if they are related to civil nuclear energy projects that began before Nov. 21, 2024. According to the Treasury's FAQ section, "civil nuclear energy" refers to nonmilitary uses like power generation, uranium processing and the operation of civil nuclear energy projects. The website also underscored that GL 115B "does not authorize, for instance, transactions involving certain sanctioned Russian financial institutions related to the development of new civil nuclear energy power plants after November 21, 2024." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GL 115B was a revision of previous licenses. It replaced GL 115A, which was issued during Biden's administration on Jan. 10, 2025. GL 115A permitted engaging in nearly all the same transactions with the same sanctioned Russian entities as GL 115B; however, it gave authorization until June 30, 2025. Therefore, GL 115B simply extended that authorization through Dec. 19, 2025. In that sense, GL 115B was a revision of a preexisting license rather than a sweeping new policy initiated solely by Trump. The original General License (GL 115) was issued on Dec. 18, 2024, and applied only to one entity Gazprombank Joint Stock Company. GL 115B was nearly identical to GL 115A, except it removed the prohibition on transactions related to the Paks II nuclear power plant project in Hungary, which is a Russian-backed initiative (see the relevant part of GL 115A below). (U.S. Department of the Treasury) GL 115B omitted this prohibition, meaning that such transactions would now be allowed under this license unless separately restricted by other sanctions or regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Treasury spokesperson said via email: "The Trump administration has not lifted sanctions; all sanctions remain in effect, and there has been no change to our sanctions policy in regard to Russia. This general license is a continuation of a GL initially granted in 2024 under the Biden Administration." Peter Szijjarto, Hungary's minister of foreign affairs and trade, wrote on X on June 29, 2025: "The US has lifted sanctions that blocked construction of the Paks II nuclear plant. These politically motivated measures were imposed by the Biden admin just before @realDonaldTrump took office. Grateful to the Trump admin, as this project will guarantee our future energy supply." (X user @FM_Szijjarto) Over the years, Snopes has fact-checked numerous viral claims involving Trump and Russia. For instance, in May 2024, we investigated whether Trump once stated that he would not defend NATO allies if they were attacked by Russia. We also looked at a claim accusing Ukraine of selling weapons on the black market that were provided by the U.S. and other countries amid its war with Russia. Sources: "1203 | Office of Foreign Assets Control." Office of Foreign Assets Control | U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2024, ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/1203. Accessed 8 July 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deng, Grace. "No Evidence Ukraine Sold US Weapons to Mexican Cartels, Militant Groups." Snopes, Snopes.com, 6 Mar. 2025, www.snopes.com/news/2025/03/06/ukraine-black-market-weapon-sales/. Accessed 8 July 2025. Gizinska, Ilona, and Andrzej Sadecki. "Russia's Nuclear Project in Hungary: France's Growing Role." OSW Centre for Eastern Studies, 4 July 2023, www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2023-07-04/russias-nuclear-project-hungary-frances-growing-role. House, The White. "Executive Order on Blocking Property with Respect to Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation | the White House." The White House, 15 Apr. 2021, bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/04/15/executive-order-on-blocking-property-with-respect-to-specified-harmful-foreign-activities-of-the-government-of-the-russian-federation/. Accessed 8 July 2025. Kasprak, Alex. "Trump Said He Would Not Defend NATO Allies If Russia Attacks Them?" Snopes, Snopes.com, 2 May 2024, www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-nato-russia/. Accessed 8 July 2025. Krolik, Aaron. "Lack of New U.S. Sanctions Allows Restricted Goods and Funds into Russia." The New York Times, 2 July 2025, www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/us/politics/trump-russia-sanctions.html. Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday dismissed speculation about a change in the state's leadership, stating that there has been no discussion on the matter within the party and that only the Congress high command can take such a decision. Kharge questioned the basis of the speculation and said media reports on the issue hold no value. Speaking to reporters, he said, "Who said that the leadership is going to be changed?... Randeep Singh Surjewala was in the state for 3-4 days, evaluating the performance of our MLAs, ministers, and the government. When there is no talk about change in leadership, it does not matter what anyone says to the media. The party high command decides such things that is what has been said by the CM and the DCM. There should be no speculation..." His remarks come a day after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also denied reports of a leadership change. Siddaramaiah said there had been no discussion with the Congress high command regarding the matter. "How many times do I tell you, it (speculations around Karnataka CM post) was not discussed at all? This issue was not discussed at all with the high command," Siddaramaiah said. Siddramaiah, who is in Delhi, met with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge along with other senior party leaders on Thursday, fanning the speculation over a possible CM change in Karnataka. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also reacted to the speculation, saying that the issue has already been addressed and there is no need to repeat the same answers. "The answer has already been given (by CM Siddaramaiah and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala). When an answer has been provided, it's not good to speak again and again, and asking the same thing again and again is also not right. You don't want to make any comment now, and it's unnecessary." Shivakumar said. When asked about some MLAs reportedly demanding that he replace Siddaramaiah as CM, Shivakumar said, "There will be aspirational statements by some, it could be you as well, but it's unnecessary to make a comment now." (ANI) July 4 fireworks crazy in Tri-Cities Never have I seen such a display of large private fireworks in a city. It was crazy here in Tri-Cities. They started at about 8:30 p.m. and went until midnight. Professional fireworks launched from backyards. We live up on a hill and can see all of the cities. There were thousands of fireworks being shot in the air from several hundred, if not thousands, of locations. From 8:45 until about 10:30, we had about 63 fireworks-caused fires that I counted, and then I just stopped counting. All the fire departments were kept busy running from location to location for fires as well as medical emergencies. Hats off to the firefighters; you had a rough and busy night. Randy Campbell, Kennewick Public radio connects rural communities Why support Public Radio? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets play IF THEN. IF I like one kind of cereal THEN I should tell my grocery store to stop carrying other brands of cereal? IF I dislike roundabouts THEN I should stop paying road taxes? IF I am able-bodied and own a car THEN I should tell my city to eliminate public transit and disabled parking spots? IF I am healthy and dont need a hospital THEN I should stop supporting local hospital services? IF I have good communication services - THEN I should stop supporting essential communication services for rural areas? IF I dont have children or grandchildren THEN I should stop supporting childrens educational programming? IF I feel safe and dont need emergency notifications or services THEN I should stop supporting ways for families in rural areas to feel safe and receive emergency notifications and services? Does this make sense? IF I believe that our communities are better off because Public Radio has transmitters in remote areas that help our rural neighbors be informed and stay safe THEN I should encourage my elected officials and you to support Public Radio. Now that makes sense! Nancy Klotz, Kennewick Think of people, Rep. Newhouse Friends, unless you are a millionaire or a big corporation, your congressman, Rep. Dan Newhouse, just voted against your interests. I cant understand how he stays in office when he consistently acts against the best interests of those of us in the middle and working class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres an example: Waiting time for service at VA medical clinics is going up, and will be further impacted by the budget bill that Rep. Newhouse just voted for. No tax on tips or overtime is great, but will just cause the Social Security trust fund to run out that much faster. If service industry employers are having a hard time keeping workers, maybe they could just raise the base pay for those jobs. Cutting back on clean energy expenses will just cause that much additional weather-related damage for our grandkids to deal with. Come on Newhouse, think of your constituents for once. Eric Norlof, Kennewick Remember steps to our independence We just celebrated our nations independence. Its good to remember: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Step 1: July 4th, 1776, we declared freedom from a not-nice tyrant named King George III. Step 2: Seven long years of diplomacy, talking about peace talks, meetings in Turkey, friendly phone calls to the tyrant. Step 3: September 1783: King George III gives up and declares our independence. Oh, wait! I got Step 2 wrong. It wasnt talking that forced him to the table; it was fighting like hell. Fighting, in fact, against a world superpower with superior training, weapons, funding and a huge navy. But we had a few advantages: sheer determination, home-field advantage and a major friend in France. What? Oh, thats right. Easy to forget, but the French gave our fledgling colonies weapons, money, soldiers and even naval assistance. We werent alone. Today is a very similar moment for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are fighting for freedom from a very, very not-nice tyrant. They have sheer determination. They have a home-field advantage. But will they have a faithful friend in us? If you appreciate our freedom, remember Ukraine. This is their moment. Mark Douglass, Kennewick A man who claimed Phoenix police held his bare torso to the hot ground for several minutes last summer, to the point where parts of his skin sloughed off his body, filed a federal lawsuit against the city and the officers who detained him. Four Phoenix officers questioned and detained then-30-year-old Michael Kenyon on July 6, 2024 which reached a recorded high temperature of 114 degrees before they held him face down against black asphalt for roughly four minutes, leaving him with serious burns across his body, according to a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court of Arizona on July 3, nearly one year later. Kenyon spent over 30 days in the Maricopa County Burn Center, where he underwent a series of painful procedures that included skin grafts to treat the third-degree burns to his body, the lawsuit said. He also had to participate in physical therapy to regain mobility in his arms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit included pictures of Kenyon with severe burn scars across his arms, legs and chest. Lawsuit says Kenyon didnt fit suspect description Kenyons roommate called Phoenix police shortly before 2 p.m. on July 6, 2024, to report his laptop had been stolen and that he believed the suspect to be 5 feet, 5 inches tall with tattoos on his back and possibly armed with pepper spray, according to the lawsuit. Kenyon was at home when his roommate reported the nonviolent theft and decided to walk to a nearby Circle K store to buy a drink, as he didnt expect police to respond to a report of nonviolent property theft quickly, the lawsuit said. Kenyon was walking across the parking lot toward the store when Phoenix Officers Adelbert Caraig and Eric Jusseume pulled up behind him in a police vehicle and told him to come back, documents said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kenyon complied and answered the officers questions before the officers grabbed both of his arms within five seconds of their initial contact, the lawsuit said. The suit noted that Kenyon is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, clearly lacked tattoos he was wearing a tank top and overall didnt match the suspect description his roommate gave to police. Officers Rowan Clarke and Ira Salinas-Jerry also pressed Kenyon into the pavement, the lawsuit stated. Kenyon had nothing to do with the theft and was never charged in relation to it, said his lawyer, Steve Benedetto. Skin melted from Kenyons body Kenyon sat on the bumper of a nearby truck to demonstrate he had no intention to flee and that physical force was unnecessary, according to the lawsuit. He sat on the bumper for less than 45 seconds before officers told him he was being detained and forced him to the ground, the lawsuit stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Michael screamed out for help, the officers pressed hard one officer at one point kneeling on his head, and pressing the side of his face into the asphalt as other officers put their weight on his torso, the lawsuit claimed. After four minutes had passed, Kenyon had suffered third-degree, full thickness burns on his arms, legs, chest and face and needed help being placed in a police car due to the pain before Phoenix firefighters took him to the Maricopa County Burn Center for treatment, according to the suit. "The above-described actions of Defendants Clarke, Salinas-Jerry, Caraig, and Jusseume pressing Michael against hot concrete until the skin melted from his body and he believed he was going to die were extreme and outrageous," the lawsuit stated. The lawsuit said most community members would consider the officers actions atrocious, intolerable in a civilized community, and beyond all possible bounds of human decency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he was being taken to the burn center, firefighters administered 200 mg of Ketamine, causing Kenyon to be altered on arrival and unable to provide further history by the time he reached the emergency room, the lawsuit said. It added that police confiscated Kenyons phone, preventing him from calling friends or family to tell them about what had happened to him or where he was and noted officers handcuffed him to the hospital bed despite him not being the suspect they were looking for. Lawsuit cites previous cases of Phoenix police holding people against hot pavement Its not the first time Phoenix police held people against hot pavement as they were detaining them, according to the lawsuit. The suit cited an incident on Aug. 20, 2019, in which officers handcuffed 17-year-old Roniah Trotter long after she had gotten into a fight with another girl that didnt result in any serious injuries and held her against the pavement on a day the midday temperature reached 113 degrees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trotter suffered second-degree burns in the process, the lawsuit said. Documents also cited an instance on Aug. 4, 2020, in which officers tackled Ramon Lopez, 28, after he reportedly stole a drink from a convenience store and pressed him against the concrete ground for nearly six minutes before carrying his motionless body to a police car. Lopez would later die in custody, the lawsuit said. Lopezs mother, Laura Gonzalez, sued Phoenix as well after his death. That lawsuit remains pending. Kenyons lawsuit also added that the departments policy doesnt appear to go over the health risks of holding someone against extremely hot pavement, despite Phoenix making it a Class 1 misdemeanor to walk a dog on public hiking trails when temperatures are over 100 degrees in June 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By pressing Kenyon into the hot pavement, officers violated his civil rights by utilizing excessive force and intentionally inflicting emotional distress, the lawsuit stated. Dan Wilson, a city spokesperson, declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing pending litigation. The next scheduled hearing in the case is set for Oct. 1. Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at perry.vandell@gannett.com or 602-444-2474. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @PerryVandell. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix man sues after skin 'melted' during police encounter The Super Tucano is a multimission aircraft that can be used for training and light attack. The US State Department approved a possible sale to Lebanon of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft sustainment and related equipment for $100 million, the Pentagon said in a statement on Friday. The Super Tucano is a multimission aircraft that can be used for training and light attack. The State Department approved the sale nearly a week after the US Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, arrived in Lebanon for significant discussions. Discussions for disarmament of Hezbollah A US envoy met Lebanese officials in Beirut on Monday to discuss a proposed plan to disarm Hezbollah, hours after Israel launched new air strikes and a cross-border ground assault, Reuters reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lebanon was also expected to deliver a response last Monday to a recent United States document of demands, which included the complete disarmament of Hezbollah. The US also called for the advancement of economic reforms in Lebanon, as well as the regulation of Lebanon-Syria relations. Tom Barrack speaks with members of the press at Trump Tower in New York City, U.S. January 10, 2017. (credit: REUTERS/STEPHANIE KEITH) Barrack delivered his country's document of demands during his most recent visit to Lebanon last month. Also last week, Hezbollah had a major strategic review in the wake of its war with Israel, including considering scaling back its role as an armed movement without disarming completely. It was considering turning over some weapons it has elsewhere in the country, notably missiles and drones seen as the biggest threat to Israel, on the condition Israel withdraws from the south and halts its attacks, sources said. Seth J. Frantzman contributed to this report. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), with support from the U.S. and Israel, has distributed some 70 million meals to Gazans since May. But its aid distribution system has been under consistent attack from Hamas and from some unlikely quarters the world's leading aid groups. Earlier this month, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini called for the "end to the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) since it provides nothing but starvation and gunfire to the people of Gaza." He went on to call it an "abomination." His statement noted that 230 NGOs, including Amnesty International, Oxfam International, Norwegian Refugee Council and Save the Children signed their names to an open letter criticizing GHF while urging a return to the U.N.-led aid distribution model. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Us-backed Gaza Aid Group Launches Bold New System To Deliver Food Directly To Families People carry boxes of relief supplies June 8, 2025, from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private U.S.-backed aid group, Critics say UNRWA's ties to Hamas have put its very existence at risk, especially given the success of the GHF operation. Gerald Steinberg, the founder and president of NGO Monitor, told Fox News Digital these groups include "anti-Israel superpowers" with "massive PR budgets and dedicated staffs and are able to promote their attacks on GHF widely." Read On The Fox News App Steinberg claimed that GHF has already demonstrated "that aid to Gaza can be provided without relying on the old corrupt billion-dollar aid industry led by U.N. agencies like UNRWA and the NGOs that are allied with Hamas." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steinberg said the number of signatories to the letter has grown to more than 230 as the "powerful NGO network is fighting back and making false accusations in an all-out political effort to force Israel and other donors to end the GHF operation." American Veterans Attacked, Injured While Distributing Aid In Gaza With Us-backed Group GHF interim Executive Director John Acree said he has no enmity for the NGO signatories of the letter. "They write papers and letters and sign documents, and yet were doing it," Acree said. He implored the groups to "please, come. Come and help us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acree says GHF reached out to other aid groups "daily" to ask for support. In some cases, humanitarian workers have entered discussions that "were hoping will eventually lead to partnerships and implementation." Gazans go to and from an aid collection spot. Since May, GHF has faced numerous criticisms about its operations, including accusations that Gazans have been killed and injured at distribution sites. In response to Fox News Digitals questions about Lazzarinis remarks, an UNRWA spokesperson emphasized that "UNRWA, like the rest of the U.N., has repeatedly condemned the current aid distribution system in Gaza," which it says "is costing more lives than it saves." UNRWA alleged that "800 starving people have been reported killed since this scheme started operating on the 28th of May," adding that "instead of orderly food distribution, this system brings dehumanization, chaos and death." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lazzarini once again went on X to condemn the U.S.-backed aid mechanism, claiming that "a functioning system was replaced with a deadly scam to force the displacement of people+ deepen the collective punishment of the Palestinians in Gaza." American Victims Of Terrorism Could Soon Sue International Orgs If Cruz's Bill Passes GHF released a statement Friday as the war of words continued. "These false and misleading stats come directly from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry," the statement said. "The U.N.s reliance and coordination with a terrorist organization to falsely smear our effort is not only disturbing but should be investigated by the international community." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas has responded violently to GHFs arrival on the aid scene. Acree said that GHFs operation "is going against [Hamas] system of stealing foreign aid, of controlling the market prices, of basically robbing the Palestinians that live in Gaza of their livelihoods and their economic welfare, and were breaking that." So far, 12 Palestinian GHF staff members have been killed and possibly submitted to "summary execution" on June 11. On July 5, two "highly decorated" U.S. veterans working with GHF were harmed in a grenade attack at a GHF distribution site. Hamas terrorists stand in formation as Palestinians gather on a street to watch the handover of three Israeli hostages to a Red Cross team in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, Feb. 8, 2025. Acree said that GHF is evolving. The organization "did not expect the desperation" it encountered. "Weve been told by the Gazans this is the first time theyve ever received free aid or food, and theyve had to pay for it up til now," he said. To counter that desperation, Acree said that GHF is "taking measures now to help tap that tension and to help them understand that were there to help and relieve that hunger." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the group still needs "more aid. We still need a lot more help," which includes partnerships with the U.N. and NGOs. The U.S. Agency for Infrastructure and Development has given $30 million to the GHF. Two sources who spoke to Reuters said the U.S. may approve $30 million per month in grants to the GHF in the future. Original article source: As US-backed group delivers 70 million meals, UN and NGOs fight to discredit Gaza aid rival A California man has been arrested after border control agents found 14 live toucans stashed in his car dashboard. Carlos Abundez, 35, of San Ysidro, appeared in federal court Wednesday on charges of smuggling the birds in his Volkswagen Passat earlier this month. The discovery was made after federal agents detained Abundez at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry after a Customs and Border Protection canine flagged the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A CBP officer inspected the car further and found a bird, bound and wrapped in cloth, duct taped to the underneath of the dash, though did not know what the object was until it began to move and flutter. Officers then pried open the side panel of the dashboard and discovered a total of 14 sedated juvenile Keel-billed toucans concealed within the compartment, according to the Department of Justice. 14 live toucans were confiscated by border control agents after being found in a mans car in California (United States Attorney Office Southern District of California) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents and inspectors responded to the scene. A wildlife inspector identified the 14 juvenile birds as Keel-billed toucans. Some had injuries including broken tails and a broken leg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The birds were initially cared for by Veterinary Services at the southern border, before being transferred to a Department of Agriculture Animal Import Center for quarantine. The birds are now reported to be in stable condition. Keel-billed toucans are native to southern Mexico down through Ecuador, including Venezuela, Columbia and Nicaragua. They are sold as pets and can cost up to $5,000 per bird. Smuggling endangered birds by sedating them, binding their beaks, and hiding them in car compartments is not just cruelits criminal, said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. Abundezs arrest follows the recent prosecution of three other individuals caught smuggling Amazon parrots and parakeets through the Otay Mesa and San Ysidro ports of entry, highlighting a troubling pattern of illegal wildlife trade through Southern California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This disturbing trend of trafficking exotic wildlife through Southern California ports poses a serious threat to public health and agriculture, Gordon added. These birds bypass mandatory quarantine and screening, potentially carrying devastating diseases like avian influenza. We will continue to investigate and prosecute those who treat living creatures as contraband and put our communities and ecosystems at risk. RAMALLAH, West Bank, July 11 (Reuters) A Palestinian American man was beaten to death by settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and a second man was shot dead, the Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement, in a confrontation overnight. U.S. citizen Sayafollah Musallet, 20, also known as Saif, was severely beaten in the incident on Friday evening in Sinjil, north of Ramallah, the ministry said. Hussein Al-Shalabi, 23 was shot in the chest. Musallets family, from Tampa Florida, said in a statement that medics tried to reach him for three hours before his brother managed to carry him to an ambulance, but that he died before reaching the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an unimaginable nightmare and injustice that no family should ever have to face. We demand the U.S. State Department lead an immediate investigation and hold the Israeli settlers who killed Saif accountable for their crimes, the family statement said. 40 Palestinians killed in Gaza as Netanyahu, Trump meet in DC A U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Friday it was aware of the incident, but that the department had no further comment out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones of the reported victim. The Israeli military said Israel was probing the incident in the town of Sinjil. It said confrontations between Palestinians and settlers broke out after Palestinians threw rocks at Israelis, lightly injuring them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military said forces were dispatched to the scene and used non-lethal weapons to disperse the crowds. Settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israels war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023, according to rights groups. Jewish population in West Bank keeps rising. Settlers hope Trump will accelerate growth Dozens of Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian street attacks in recent years and the Israeli military has intensified raids across the West Bank. U.S. President Donald Trump in January rescinded sanctions imposed by the former Biden administration on Israeli settler groups and individuals accused of being involved in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli killings of U.S. citizens in the West Bank in recent years include those of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, Palestinian American teenager Omar Mohammad Rabea and Turkish American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi. The United Nations highest court said last year Israels occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, and settlements there were illegal and should be withdrawn as soon as possible. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to the land, which it captured in the 1967 Middle East war. The West Bank is among the territories that Palestinians seek for an independent state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. (Reuters) -The Pentagon is urging Japan and Australia to clarify what role they would play if the U.S. and China went to war over Taiwan, the Financial Times reported on Saturday. Elbridge Colby, the U.S. under-secretary of defense for policy, has been pushing the matter during recent talks with defense officials of both countries, the report said, citing people familiar with the discussions. According to the newspaper, the reported request caught both Tokyo and Canberra off guard, as the U.S. itself does not offer a blank cheque guarantee to defend Taiwan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colby said in an X post that the Department of Defense is focused on implementing the president's "America First" common sense agenda of restoring deterrence and achieving peace through strength, which "includes by urging allies to step up their defense spending and other efforts related to our collective defense." The U.S is Taiwan's most important arms supplier, despite a lack of formal diplomatic ties. Taiwan has faced increased military pressure from China, including several rounds of war games, as Beijing seeks to assert its sovereignty claims over the island. Taiwan rejects China's assertion of sovereignty. Colby was deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development during President Donald Trump's first term. Colby is known for arguing that the U.S. military should prioritize competition with China and shift its focus from the Middle East and Europe. (Reporting by Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru; Editing by Sharon Singleton, William Maclean) By Nate Raymond BOSTON (Reuters) -A federal judge is standing by her decision to block the implementation of a provision in U.S. President Donald Trump's recently passed tax and spending bill that would prevent Planned Parenthood health centers from receiving Medicaid funding. The Trump administration on Friday asked U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston to dissolve what it called a "highly unusual" temporary restraining order she issued hours after Planned Parenthood sued over the law on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration said Talwani's brief order provided no explanation for why she was blocking part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act the Republican-led Congress passed that bars health care providers like Planned Parenthood's clinics that offer abortions from receiving Medicaid reimbursements. Talwani, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, responded late Friday that such an order was necessary to prevent disruptions to health care until she could hear arguments on July 18. But in light of the Trump administration's request, she issued a new, amended temporary restraining order making clear that she had concluded Planned Parenthood was likely to succeed in proving the law violated the U.S. Constitution. Planned Parenthood and the U.S. Department of Justice did not respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the law, Medicaid funds cannot go to "prohibited" entities, certain nonprofits that provide abortion services, and their "affiliates". Planned Parenthood has said the law was drafted to specifically target its members and would have "catastrophic" consequences for its nearly 600 health centers if implemented, putting nearly 200 of them in 24 states at risk of closure. Talwani said the bar on funding to affiliates created confusion among members of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the parent organization, that do not themselves qualify as prohibited entities, such as clinics that do not provide abortion services due to state-level bans. Talwani said as a result, the law burdened the right of Planned Parenthood's 47 members to associate with each other and their parent organization, which advocates in favor of reproductive health care policies, in likely violation of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Supreme Court has 'long understood as implicit in the right to engage in activities protected by the First Amendment a corresponding right to associate with others' in pursuit of desired political, educational, or social ends," she wrote, citing a 1984 Supreme Court ruling. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Hugh Lawson) United States military and NATO officials are discussing a possible plan that could be unveiled in the coming days that would provide Ukraine with much-needed aerial defense weapons, including Patriot systems, by funneling U.S. weapons through the European alliance, officials said. The idea of NATO buying weapons from the U.S. -- which President Donald Trump said he supports -- comes after months of uncertainty about Ukraine's ability to fend off Russia's brutal air assaults without sophisticated U.S. air defenses. Still unclear, though, is if the U.S. plans to pull weapons systems from its own military stocks to sell to European allies an approach that would help Ukraine in the near term. Defense officials, however, have recently expressed previous concerns that the U.S. supply of some weapons could be too low. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: 70% of children in Ukraine don't have access to basic goods, services: UNICEF A senior NATO military official and a second U.S. official confirmed that discussions were underway on how to make the idea work. Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Ukrainian servicemen are at work to receive the delivery of FGM-148 Javelins, American man-portable anti-tank missile provided by US to Ukraine as part of a military support, at Kyiv's airport Boryspil, Feb. 11, 2022. "President [Donald] Trump has spoken about this, not just with the press, but with the NATO Secretary General, who is working with Allies to get Ukraine the help they need," the senior NATO military official told ABC News. "This includes urgent efforts to procure key supplies from the U.S., including air defense and ammunition." The official added that "NATO has effective mechanisms in place to make something like this possible." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Rubio meets with Russia's Lavrov after Trump criticizes Putin According to a U.S. official, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held a conference call on Friday with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine and Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the top military commander for U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, to discuss possible ways to provide the aid. In an interview with NBC News on Thursday, Trump suggested the concept of selling weapons to NATO was a done deal. "We're sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%," he said, adding that an announcement on Russia was expected Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking at the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested one option could be for Europeans to ship their own air defense systems to Ukraine now and purchase replacements from the U.S. Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was "actively working" with Germany to "speed up decisions" on receiving the air defense systems Ukraine needs. Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was scheduled to visit the Pentagon for talks with Hegseth on Monday. ABC's Hannah Demissie and Chris Boccia contributed to this report. The United States announced its first sanctions on Friday against Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel for his role "in the Cuban regime's brutality toward the Cuban people." It is the latest in a series of measures by US President Donald Trump's administration to increase pressure on the Cuban government. The United States was restricting visas for the Cuban president and other high-ranking government officials, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an X post on the fourth anniversary of historic anti-government protests in Cuba. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demonstrations rocked the island in July 2021 as thousands took to the streets to protest shortages of basic goods and worsening economic conditions. Hundreds were arrested, one person died and dozens were injured in the lagest protests since Fidel Castro's 1959 communist revolution. The State Department said it was sanctioning "key regime leaders... for their involvement in gross violations of human rights." Officials sanctioned included Defense Minister Alvaro Lopez Miera and Interior Minister Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas. The United States was also taking steps to sanction Cuban judicial and prison officials linked to the "unjust detention and torture of July 2021 protestors." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While the Cuban people suffer shortages of food, water, medicine, and electricity, the regime lavishes money on its insiders," Rubio said. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez slammed the measures on X, saying the United States cannot "bend the will of its people or its leaders." In May, the Cuban foreign ministry summoned the US envoy to Havana to protest his "interference" in the country's internal affairs. The United States has a six-decade-old trade blockade in place against Cuba. - Political prisoners - Rubio took to X to accuse Cuba of torturing dissident leader Jose Daniel Ferrer and demand "proof of life." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The United States demands immediate proof of life and the release of all political prisoners," Rubio said. According to the United States, 700 people are still imprisoned for taking part in the July 2021 protests. Human rights organizations put the number at between 360 and 420. Some of the convicted protesters have been released in recent months after serving their sentences. Others, including Ferrer -- leader of the dissident group Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) -- were released as part of a Vatican-mediated agreement in January after former US president Joe Biden removed the island from the blacklist of countries sponsoring terrorism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But at the end of April, Ferrer's parole was revoked, prompting criticism from Washington, which has put Cuba back on the blacklist after Trump returned to power. The State Department also added the "Torre K," a 42-story hotel in Havana, to its restricted list of entities off-limits to Americans, "to prevent US dollars from funding the Cuban regime's repression." The establishment, recently inaugurated in a central area of the Cuban capital, sparked criticism of the government's huge investment in new hotels at a time when tourism is declining. erl/dg/aks/cl A 14-year-old student of Class 9 from a private school in Jalgaon died under suspicious circumstances near the school's toilet passage during the lunch break on Thursday, prompting an investigation by the local police. The incident occurred at RR School in Jalgaon on July 11, when the student, identified as Kalpesh Valmik Ingle, was found unconscious during recess. According to school authorities, he was rushed to a private hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sandeep Gavit said, "A boy who was a 9th class student in Jalgaon's RR School, fainted and was later reported dead. The CMO gave this information. A case has been registered at the Jilha Peth Police Station. The investigation is underway..." The school principal said that students were playing during recess when a teacher informed them that a student had fainted. "At the time of recess, children were playing after eating. At that time, a committee came and I was at that event. Then a school teacher came and informed that a student had fainted. We then took him to the hospital....The students brought the boy to the teachers from the washroom...I am unaware of any fight that has happened. The police are investigating the case," the school principal stated. However, the victim's family has raised serious concerns. Kalpesh's sister alleged that the CCTV footage showed a group of four to five boys taking him towards the washroom and assaulting him. She also claimed that her brother had an argument with a few classmates two days prior to the incident. "He was a very good student and never got in any fights. He was a good student and was class monitor... The CCTV footage showed that 4 to 5 boys took him towards the washroom and beat him very badly. The school is not taking any responsibility, nor are they telling the names of the boys. My brother should get justice," she said. Kalpesh's uncle, Deepak Hohar, also raised doubts over the school's version of events. "The father of the boy got a call around 2 2:30 pm, and he soon rushed to the school, and there the students and teachers informed him that the boy is in the hospital. In the hospital, the doctors informed that he is dead. All the teachers are telling a different story.....He was made to sit some other place where there was not CCTV rather than his original spot for recess...In the CCTV footage, we can see that a few boys are beating him," he said. Police have seized the CCTV footage and are interrogating students, school staff, and the principal. The case has been registered at Jalgaon District Peth Police Station. Police said the cause of death will be ascertained following the post-mortem report, and further investigation is underway. (ANI) The US State Department has imposed sanctions on senior Cuban officials, including President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced as he marked the fourth anniversary of a brutal crackdown on historic antigovernment protests. In a post on X, Rubio said the State Department would be restricting visas for Cuban regime figureheads, including President Diaz-Canel, Defence Minister Alvaro Lopez Miera, Interior Minister Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas, and their cronies for their role in the Cuban regimes brutality toward the Cuban people. Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, also announced that the State Department has added the Torre K hotel to its restricted list of entities in order to prevent US dollars from funding the Cuban regimes repression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cuban government has promoted the luxury high-rise Torre K in central Havana as a symbol of modernisation. But the government has faced criticism for its large investment in luxury hotels amid a severe economic crisis in the nominally socialist one-party state. While the Cuban people suffer shortages of food, water, medicine, and electricity, the regime lavishes money on its insiders, Rubio said. Ten other regime-linked properties were also added to the State Departments List of Prohibited Accommodations, it said in a statement. The statement said the sanctions were being enacted in solidarity with the Cuban people and the islands political prisoners, citing the Cuban governments brutal crackdown on the July 2021 demonstrations the largest since the Cuban revolution in the 1950s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police crackdown resulted in one death and dozens of wounded protesters. Four years ago, thousands of Cubans peacefully took to the streets to demand a future free from tyranny. The Cuban regime responded with violence and repression, unjustly detaining thousands, including over 700 who are still imprisoned and subjected to torture or abuse, the State Department said. Rubio also accused Cuba of torturing pro-democracy activist Jose Daniel Ferrer, whose bail was revoked as he was taken into custody alongside fellow dissident Felix Navarro in April. The United States demands immediate proof of life and the release of all political prisoners, Rubio said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez slammed the latest measures as part of a ruthless economic war being waged by the administration of US President Donald Trump. The USA is capable of imposing migratory sanctions against revolutionary leaders and maintaining a prolonged and ruthless economic war against Cuba, but it lacks the ability to break the will of these people or their leaders, he said on X. In January, then-US President Joe Biden had removed Cuba from the blacklist of countries sponsoring terrorism. But Trump returned the country to the blacklist immediately after returning to the White House as he resumed his maximum pressure campaign against Cuba that typified his foreign policy during his first term. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack in Istanbul, Turkey, May 24, 2025. (photo credit: Muammer Tan/Turkish Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS) US policy is to have one Syria and one army there and not support federalism. US Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack has a clear message for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. So theres a big sentiment that because they were our partners, we owe them. The question is what do we owe them? We dont owe them the ability to have their own independent government within a government, he said on Friday. The new comments from Barrack form part of a larger context as he has tried to work with the Syrian government and also encourage the integration of the SDF. This process began in March when SDF leader Mazloum Abdi flew to Damascus and signed a deal with the new president of Syria Ahmed al-Sharaa. The US military has backed the SDF in this process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US role in Syria comes under Operation Inherent Resolve, which is part of the Combined Joint Task Force that was established to defeat ISIS. This comes under CENTCOMs area of operations. While the Pentagon has worked closely with the SDF, the US State Department and diplomats have been more sceptical of this relationship. This dates back to the era of the Obama administration when John Kerry seemed more sceptical of the US role in Syria. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack in Istanbul, Turkey, May 24, 2025. (credit: Muammer Tan/Turkish Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS) Under Trumps first term, US envoy James Jeffrey was also sceptical of the SDF, calling the arrangement with them temporary, tactical and transactional. In essence, the US diplomats have preferred the US working directly with Damascus. During the Assad regime era, that wasnt possible. As such, they preferred keeping any other group at arms length. Now, Barrack is the main US official working on Syria. He is not only working to engage with Damascus, but he is also the US Ambassador to Turkey. He has reached out to Gulf countries regarding Syria. He has also reached out to Israel and Lebanon. As such his role appears to go beyond just Syria. Raising eyebrows His comments about the SDF are therefore raising eyebrows. The US appears keen to move faster. That means US troops could leave or their role could shift. The US has reportedly repositioned troops from some areas on the Euphrates River to consolidate them in eastern Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are security concerns regarding ISIS and also the ISIS detainees at Al-Hol in eastern Syria. Eastern Syria is still controlled by the SDF. However, integration would see the Syrian army deployed there. Some voices in eastern Syria, particularly Kurds, are concerned that the new Syrian army has officers who have been involved in crimes against Kurdish civilians dating back to 2018-2019. As such, they are wary of a different force in eastern Syria. US policy is to have one Syria and one army there and not support federalism. That means the US is not backing an autonomous region in eastern Syria. Those are the context of Barracks comments. He said the US isnt backing an independent region. We owe them to usher an onramp to a new regime in which theres going to be reasonableness in how they integrate with one Syrian government. These seem like tough comments for the SDF because they sacrificed greatly to defeat ISIS alongside US forces. Supporters of the SDF feel they should receive more for their efforts, not to be cast aside as if they are just any other area of Syria. They have worked with the US for a decade in eastern Syria. However, there are other contexts. The Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK is disbanding and laying down its arms. This is seen as a positive development for Turkey. The PKK has been linked to the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in eastern Syria. The YPG formed the backbone of the SDF when it was founded in 2015. As such, Ankara sees the SDF as linked to the PKK. Ankara wants the SDF to integrate or disappear. Ankara has been against any kind of SDF-run entity in eastern Syria. Barrack, as ambassador to Turkey, understands Ankaras concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kurds, however, are concerned about centralization of power and the prominence of Islamic law in the transitional constitution adopted by the interim government. Kurds have called for federalism and repeatedly denied that they seek to divide Syria, Rudaw media in Erbil noted. Rudaw is a Kurdish media outlet. Barrack has said that while the US will help mediate between Damascus and the SDF were not going to stick around. If you guys dont agree, dont agree. But were not going to be here forever as the babysitter and the mediator. He is clear, there isnt going to be an SDF state. Barrack is trying to lower expectations and be realistic in his comments. However, the question is whether this will weaken the position of the SDF and make Damascus feel it can wait a bit longer and then force the SDF into a worse deal. On the other hand, Damascus should want the SDFs competence in its ranks. The SDF was trained by the US and has proven itself as a force of stability in Syria. The region is watching. Al-Arabiya reported on Barracks comments, noting that the US military does not plan to stay in Syria forever. Gulf countries want to see what the US commitment will be in the future. They are wary of a power vacuum. They also know that Turkey and Iran may enter that vacuum. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) The new world screw worm attacks animals by burrowing into wounds and feeding on live tissue. Now, with a confirmed case just across the Mexican border, experts here in Texas are on high alert and preparing for the worst-case scenario. Dwayne Peirce, the County Agent with Texas A&M Extension Ag Life, says the tiny pest could have massive financial consequences, both for ranchers and for grocery store families. The new world screw worms name is a little confusing, and its not new; its been around for decades. Its a screw worm that attacks living tissue, any warm-blooded animal, said Peirce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parasite, which infects fly larvae, was recently detected in Mexico, prompting the USDA to shut down livestock trade through southern border ports. The larvae is what causes so much damage, but the adult form is a fly that can move through the country. He can hitch a ride on vehicles and even trucks, and he can get spread across the United States really fast. If it does enter the United States, Peirce said. Up until the early 20th century, they were a constant threat to livestock in Texas. They were removed from the U.S. in 1966, but now theyre getting close again, and agricultural officials are warning ranchers to be proactive. They enter a wound site of any type. They eat live tissue and in turn end up killing its host. When people check their animals, they need to look for lethargic animals or even a restless type. Sometimes when they have an infected spot, theyll lick it, or theyll even bite it at times, Peirce said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its hard to think that something as small as a fly larva could severely impact the entire industry, but thats exactly what the new world screw worm could do. In Texas alone, if we suffer the same loss as we did in the 50s and 60s, we could experience in just the cattle industry alone, 5 to $600 million loss per year. If it affects the nation as it did in the 50s and 60s, it could be over $10 billion annually, Peirce said. The scariest part, screw worms dont just target livestock. Screw worms just dont hit cattle. It hits all livestock, all warm-blooded animals, which is also humans. I think its very, very rare for humans to have, you know, a death from it. But you never know what could happen, Peirce said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, ranchers are hoping vigilance will keep the danger south of the border. Ag Life officials said the keys are staying informed, doing research to learn as much as possible about the issue, and continuously monitoring your animals behavior. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. NEED TO KNOW Albert Fish abducted 10-year-old Grace Budd in 1928 after pretending to be a wealthy farmer, charming her parents and inviting the young girl to accompany him to a children's birthday party He later confessed to strangling, dismembering and eating her; he was convicted of first-degree murder Fish confessed to the murders of two other children, but is believed to have victimized many more Content warning: The following article contains graphic descriptions of violence against children and cannibalism. In 1934, police arrested 65-year-old Albert Fish after he sent a handwritten letter to the family of a missing 10-year-old girl calmly confessing to strangling her, cooking her body and eating it over the course of several days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The girl was Grace Budd, who had vanished from her parents' Manhattan apartment more than six years earlier. The letter, quoted in part in the New York Daily Mirror and later entered into evidence at trial, described in detail how Fish had killed the child in an empty house in Westchester County and roasted parts of her flesh in an oven. Fish, a slight and soft-spoken man, first appeared at the Budd home in May 1928, using the name Frank Howard. He posed as a wealthy farmer from Farmingdale, Long Island, responding to their teenage son Edward's newspaper ad seeking work. "On Sunday, June the 3, 1928 I called on you at 406 W 15 St. Brought you pot cheese strawberries. We had lunch. Grace sat in my lap and kissed me," Fish would later write in his letter. "I made up my mind to eat her." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After winning the family's trust, Fish returned several days later and asked to take Grace to what he claimed was a birthday party for his niece. Grace dressed in her "Sunday best," was excited for what she believed was a party, and accompanied him, according to a longform story about Fish in The Atavist. Grace never returned home. NY Daily News via Getty "I took her to an empty house in Westchester I had already picked out," Fish later told her family in his letter. "When we got there, I told her to remain outside. She picked wildflowers. I went upstairs and stripped all my clothes off. I knew if I did not I would get her blood on them." "When all was ready I went to the window and called her. Then I hid in a closet until she was in the room. When she saw me all naked she began to cry and tried to run down the stairs. I grabbed her and she said she would tell her mamma," he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, he described how he strangled Grace to death before cooking her remains and then eating them over a period of nine days. Local newspapers, like the New York Daily News and Brooklyn Daily Eagle, ran photos of the girl along with descriptions of the mysterious "Mr. Howard," but no solid leads emerged. NY Daily News Archive via Getty But when Fish's correspondence arrived in late 1934, police were able to identify him using the letter's stationery, which they traced to a Manhattan boarding house where he had stayed. He quickly confessed when confronted by authorities. According to court testimony and police records, Fish told police he had dismembered the girl's body with a handsaw at an abandoned house in Irvington, and cooked portions of it with strips of bacon, onions and carrots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told investigators he stored the girl's bones in a burlap sack and scattered them behind the property in the woods. Authorities recovered the girl's buried remains in the weeks following Fish's confession, per a notice in the Columbia Spectator. While in police custody and after his conviction, Fish admitted to more unthinkable crimes. In 1924, 8-year-old Francis McDonnell was found strangled in the woods on Staten Island. Fish initially denied involvement despite police suspicion after his arrest, but admitted he killed the boy after his 1935 conviction on first-degree murder charges in Grace Budd's death. He confessed to the 1927 kidnap and murder of 4-year-old Billy Gaffney, who had vanished while playing in a hallway in his Brooklyn building. According to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, a young friend told police that "the boogeyman took him." NY Daily News Archive via Getty Fish penned a similar letter to the boy's mother, writing that he had tortured the boy and eaten his remains. The letter was withheld from public release at the time, but its existence was reported on in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and cited at Fish's trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond the three confirmed murders, police said Fish had a long history of sexually abusing children, estimating that he had assaulted more than a dozen minors over several years generally targeting children who were unhoused, lived in poverty or had disabilities. Although Fish was never formally charged in these cases, they were discussed in psychiatric evaluations submitted during his trial at one point, he allegedly boasted that he "had children in every state," and claimed that he victimized about 100 children. Though often described as a "grandfather" in headlines, Fish's own family had little contact with him by the time of his arrest. He had six children of his own from a long-estranged marriage and several grandchildren. None of Fish's grandchildren were believed to have had contact with him in the years leading up to the murders. Fish's attorneys argued that he was insane, delineating lifelong religious delusions and self-harming behavior. X-rays presented in court showed that Fish had inserted and never removed 27 needles into his own pelvic region over the years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also admitted to administering ritualistic punishments to himself, like self-flagellation, that he believed were prescribed by God. NY Daily News Archive via Getty Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. At his trial, Fish's children described a chaotic home life marked by erratic behavior, religious delusions and violence. One of Fish's sons testified that his father had once forced him to beat him with a paddle studded with nails. Psychiatrist Dr. Frederic Wertham, who examined Fish, testified that the killer suffered from "sexual psychopathy" and "religious mania," but acknowledged that he understood the difference between right and wrong making him ineligible to be found not guilty by reason of insanity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A White Plains jury found Fish sane and guilty. On January 16, 1936, he was executed via electric chair at Sing Sing Prison. Officials said it took two jolts of electricity to kill him possibly due to the needles embedded in his body. Read the original article on People Jul. 12ROCHESTER Rochester will soon have more spaces to get a craft cocktail, but business owners say that doesn't mean the market is becoming too crowded. In fact, some say they welcome an addition to the growing cocktail culture downtown. "Every bar is different," said Sammi Loo, owner of 1928 Cocktails and Bites. Bitter and Pour, a basement speakeasy-style bar, is expanding to a second location on the rooftop of the H3 Plaza. Bitter and Pour owners John Pacchetti and Andy Ferguson say they're planning to open the new location in August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new bar will join 1928 as downtown's second upstairs upscale craft cocktail destination. Sammi Loo opened the Shanghai-style speakeasy above her Korean restaurant Bebap in 2024. Below street level, Bitter and Pour got company in late 2022 when Annie and Ryan Balow opened Shhh..., a basement cocktail lounge below their Thai Pop restaurant. Thai Pop too features a robust craft cocktail menu. Business owners say they're not concerned the cocktail scene in Rochester is becoming watered-down. "I don't think it's competition," said Annie Balow, co-owner of Thai Pop and Shhh... "I'm really happy to see another fun business open especially downtown." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People can go bar-hopping and try drinks at different places," Sammi Loo said. Annie and Ryan said they saw a bump in business at Shh... when 1928 opened. People were doing a "speakeasy hop" downtown, Ryan said. The upcoming rooftop space across South Broadway Avenue will likely build interest in visiting downtown, he added. "I think it's really going to add to the experience for people who want it," Ryan said. Mehdi Noori, mixologist at 1928, said he also welcomes more competition. "Competition is good," Noori said. "It keeps everyone improving." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pacchetti told the Post Bulletin earlier this year that they felt the timing was right to open the new Rooftop bar and to "take advantage of the amazing view." The Rooftop will offer a different menu of craft cocktails than the original Bitter and Pour, plus more beers on tap and frozen drink options. Pacchetti said the new rooftop bar will have "a completely different vibe from what we are downstairs, completely different drinks." "We're going to have cocktails on tap that are different than downstairs. We'll make cocktails, but we'll be more focused on the speed of delivering drinks with really good cocktails," he said, adding that Bitter and Pour does something similar already during Thursdays Downtown. "... The main thing is it's going to have a different vibe. It's going to lend itself to the space, which is very much a rooftop where the view is amazing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noori said he enjoyed creating Asian-inspired drinks alongside Sammi Loo. He tries to use Asian flavors and ingredients not normally found in Midwest cocktails. "Sammi knows best," he said. For Noori, experimentation is a key part of his job. Noori said he used to go to specialty grocery stores when he lived in New York and would pick up ingredients, spices and items that were new to him and experiment with them as ingredients in beverages. "About 90% of the time I would fail," he said. "But that 10% of the time, I would come up with something amazing." That experience is one of the reasons Loo brought Noori on board to help open 1928. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He's got talent you're not going to normally find in Rochester," she said. At Thai Pop and Shhh..., Annie works to give each cocktail and mocktail a Thai twist. "The food inspires the cocktails," Annie said. She designed or at least introduced the early concepts of about 80% of the Thai Pop and Shhh... cocktail and mocktail menus. As Bitter and Pour's new cocktail destination prepares to open, Noori said out-of-town visitors will likely appreciate the variety in a dense space. It's been fun being part of building a cocktail culture in a small city, he added. "We've got a ways to go," Noori said. "Another option will help." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Ryan and Annie travel, they look for unique flavors and places to try a unique drink, they said. "We always say, first thing, where can we find a good cocktail," Annie said. Noting that variety is key to keeping people coming back, Loo said 1928 will shift late this summer from its current Shanghai-style speakeasy to a Japanese-style cocktail bar. The bar will feature a variety of Japanese whiskeys not found elsewhere in the city, along with a Japanese-inspired menu, Loo said. "I'm looking forward to that," she said. "Japanese cocktails are very diverse." The upstairs bar and set up will remain the same but 1928 will feature a brand new menu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Change, I feel, is good," Loo said. Although alcohol trends can be tricky for businesses to navigate, craft cocktails can offer a wide variety of non-alcoholic options, which not only adds more options to the menu but also cushions the industry as younger people are becoming less inclined to drink alcohol. A 2023 Gallup survey found that the share of adults under age 35 who say they drink alcohol dropped 10% over two decades down to 62% in 2021-2023 from 72% in 2001-2003. When Annie was first opening Thai Pop, she was pregnant and was frustrated by the lack of non-alcoholic options when she would go out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recognizing her needs and younger people's habits has inspired more mocktail options. The non-alcoholic options have grown from three to nine since Thai Pop opened. They use fresh juice, fruits and herbs that go into the cocktails, Ryan said. "It goes in tandem with the health care we have in Rochester to have non-alcoholic options," Ryan said. "Accommodating that just makes sense." When the new Bitter and Pour spot opens, the Balows, Loo, Noori and the businesses' other "competitors" say they plan to be there to toast their success. Reporter Jeff Kiger contributed to this story. Many of us read and hear about the changing environment we may even experience extreme weather events or abnormal temperatures. But for a meteorologist working in the Norwegian Arctic, these shifts can be seen up close and personal every day. What's happening? Trond Robertsen worked for over 20 years in the Norwegian Arctic, he told Agence France-Presse. There, he recorded precipitation levels and observed the changes that rising global temperatures have wrought in the region. One of the remote weather stations where Robertsen worked is accessed by helicopter. The handful of meteorologists on duty on the island of Bjornoya are swapped in and out every six months due to the isolating nature of the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a 24/7 occupation," Robertsen told AFP. "We are doing it all day, all night." Why is this work important? To monitor levels in the freezing winters, Robertsen and his colleagues would melt ice and snow to measure precipitation, with the data being particularly valuable as readings from the area were not easy to come by. AFP noted that the twice-daily weather reports have been important for those working on fishing boats around Bjornoya. The observations and data can also serve as evidence for a wide array of climate researchers and advocates. Robertsen began his work in the Arctic in the 1990s and said, "When I started going up north, there was a lot of ice. In the later years, it's less ice and fewer polar bears." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The melting Arctic is just one example of how the Earth is being affected by rising temperatures, which scientists largely attribute to human activities and the heat-trapping pollution they generate. In addition to threats to polar bear habitats, the impact of a melting Arctic on humans is clear. "For some areas, melting ice will compromise drinking water resources," the Natural Resources Defense Council has written. "For others, it will impact agriculture or aquaculture. Coastal areas will continue to be significantly inundated by rising seas." What's being done about the melting Arctic? The role of Arctic-based scientists in collecting reliable data is critical in tracking the everyday ramifications of rising temperatures. Without high-quality evidence and first-person accounts, it's difficult to imagine arriving at real solutions, making solid investments and public support for research essential. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Remotely stationed researchers like Robertsen, as well as Indigenous and marginalized communities facing some of the earliest and most devastating effects, are among those on the front line in the fight against climate change. But people everywhere can help to make a difference from their our homes and communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Making the switch to cleaner energy systems, like solar power, at the individual level and on mass scales can support a global transition. That might sound too big to get started by yourself, but tools like those from EnergySage can ease the process. Their free service helps potential buyers compare quotes from vetted local installers, with the potential of saving consumers up to $10,000 on solar panel installations. Beyond our own yards, cities and states can implement more sustainable infrastructure, reducing heat-trapping pollution but also cutting costs and future-proofing daily life for residents. In addition to incorporating renewable energy systems into municipal buildings and services, coastal communities will want to be looking into strengthening their resilience to rising sea levels with seawalls, levees, natural flood barriers as Arctic ice melts. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) When the military is sent on a mission, theres another team back home in the United States within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) focused on how it could impact the service members health. VA Chief Consultant of Health Outcomes, Military Exposures, Patricia Hastings, said each war has a signature injury or exposure. Personnel are often sent to austere environments, VA Environmental Epidemiologist, Director of Epidemiology Aaron Schniederman said. There arent only those signature exposures, but theres a host of exposures that come from establishing a base and establishing a place where hundreds or thousands of personnel may be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first in-depth group the VA looked at was Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange. We know there were exposures in World War II, Hastings said. We know there were exposures in every conflict. We know there were exposures in the Korean War. But in this one, we looked very closely at the exposures, and in particular, Agent Orange and the other tactical herbicides. The team looks at large and small subsets of groups from those impacted by oil well fires, burn pit exposures, those who dealt with infectious agents like malaria and more. They also examine specific situations, such as those who were stationed to guard the Qarmar Ali Water Treatment Facility and those impacted by the sulfur fire at the Mishraq State Sulfur Mine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have the longest and largest cohort study of 1990-91 era Gulf War veterans, originating from our office, Schniederman said. We have a 30,000-person sample, and weve been interviewing them at least since 1995. Again in 2005, in 2012, and again this past year, 2024-25. The research begins at local VAs, where a screening is conducted to determine when and where the veterans served. If you answer yes to that, you get a more in-depth conversation, Hastings said. This is not necessarily just about those who are deployed. Its also in military service, you can have exposures in garrison because if you work in the motor pool, theres fuels, theres solvents. If you work on the flight line, you have jet fuels. Those answers then help connect the dots by helping determine what is caused by a particular exposure, the care and its coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research that we do is used to look at better health care, Hastings said. It is looked at to provide, presumption when we can find an association. Its also used to educate our providers just so that they can give you, provide evidence-based, informed care for exposures. Because we cant specifically identify how much or for how long an individual veteran was exposed, the Agent Orange Act of 1991 confirmed that if you were in country, youre considered exposed, Schniederman said. Its a very generous, however, completely legitimate means of establishing exposure and conferring the benefit. Schniederman and Hastings cant continue the research without veterans choosing to get care from the VA. Youre not only helping yourself, but youre helping your battle buddies, other veterans, and frankly, youre also helping the nation because a lot of the work that VA does translates to health for the nation, Hastings said. Liver transplants came because of the VA. The pacemaker was invented by the VA. If youre a smoker and wanted to quit and are wearing a nicotine patch that is from the VA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To find your local VA health care facility, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Jul. 11Vice President JD Vance will visit West Pittston on Wednesday, the White House announced Friday morning. The time and location were not yet announced. The vice president will deliver remarks following the successful passage and signing of "the greatest legislation for American workers in history" President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," according to the announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill was signed into law after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the final version of the legislation, 218-214, last week. Regional suppport Northeast Pennsylvania's two Republican members of Congress U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, and U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. supported the legislation. Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township, and Meuser, R-Dallas, issued statements after the vote was tallied. "This bill delivers on the promise I made to the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania by providing the largest working-class tax cuts in American history, eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, and securing the southern border," Bresnahan said. "We also protect and strengthen Medicaid by cracking down on the fraud, waste, and abuse that is driving the program toward collapse. This ensures Medicaid is there for seniors, people with disabilities, and vulnerable families, not for those who can work but refuse to do so." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Most importantly, we worked directly with the White House to ensure all our hospitals in Northeastern Pennsylvania will qualify for the funding they need to stay open and protect critical healthcare access for our communities," he added. Meuser said the One Big Beautiful Bill is a direct response to what the American people have demanded secure borders, lower costs, greater opportunity and an accountable government that works for them, not against them. "This bill makes permanent the tax relief passed in President Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and prevents the largest tax increase in American history," he said. "If Congress did not pass the OBBB, we'd be guaranteeing a $4 trillion tax hike on the American people raising taxes on 165 million taxpayers and over 33 million small businesses." Meuser said for families in Pennsylvania, the bill's passage means avoiding a $2,500 tax hike, preserving the full $30,000 standard deduction and expanding the Child Tax Credit to $2,200 for 1.4 million Pennsylvania households. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meuser said the OBBB supports working families in every corner of the country. "It eliminates taxes on tips and overtime through 2028, creates a $6,000 senior deduction, and launches Trump Investment Accounts for every child born between 2025 and 2028 giving families a stake in our nation's economic future from day one," Rep. Meuser said. "As well, it secures our border by completing the physical barrier, expanding personnel, and giving ICE and Border Patrol the resources they need to do their job. It unleashes American energy by ending costly mandates, repealing wasteful subsidies, restarting lease sales, and restarting domestic production. And it puts our budget on a more sustainable path delivering $1.2 trillion in mandatory savings, the largest deficit reduction package in nearly 30 years." Meuser went on to say, "And importantly, this bill strengthens Medicaid for those it was intended to support. It includes common-sense work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, removes individuals who are ineligible under the law from the rolls, and, beginning in October 2026, it ends the federal cost-share for states that choose to include illegal immigrants in their Medicaid programs taking serious steps to address waste, fraud, and abuse in the program." Meuser also said the legislation also delivers support for rural health care, creating a $50 billion fund to help rural hospitals and ensure continued access to care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats disagree Following passage of the bill, Suzan DelBene, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair, said the bill "rips away health care and food access from millions of children and families all to pay for massive tax breaks for their billionaire campaign donors." "This Big, Ugly Bill is a laundry list of Republicans' betrayal to the American people," she said. "The DCCC will make sure every battleground voter knows how vulnerable House Republicans including Mackenzie, Bresnahan, and Perry abandoned them by passing the most unpopular piece of legislation in modern American history, and we're going to take back the House majority because of it." Gov. Josh Shapiro also critcized the bill, saying he wanted to be clear that it would have devastating impacts on Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Governor's fact sheet, 310,000 would lose Medicaid coverage, while 144,000 Pennsylvanians on SNAP risk losing access to food assistance statewide. Here is the breakdown: PA 8th Congressional District Rep. Rob Bresnahan 21,637 Pennsylvanians will lose Medicaid coverage. 11,572 Pennsylvanians will lose SNAP benefits. PA 9th Congressional District Rep. Dan Meuser 17,967 Pennsylvanians will lose Medicaid coverage. 8,185 Pennsylvanians will lose SNAP benefits. U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pittsburgh, also spoke out against the "Big Ugly Bill," saying it will hurt Pennsylvania. Deluzio emphasized how it slashes healthcare for millions of hardworking Americans while giving tax handouts to the ultra rich calling it "class warfare" and "fiscally reckless." CARROLL COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Authorities have identified a man found dead in a roadway in northern Oak Grove on July 9, according to the Carroll County Sheriffs Office. 19-year-old Alexzander Drake Bernhards body was discovered just after 8:30 p.m. on July 9 after dispatch received a call reporting a male lying in the road. First responders arrived to find Bernhardt deceased at the scene. Benton County deputies investigate deadly shooting near Rogers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators are treating the case as a homicide and are continuing to work with the Arkansas State Police, according to a news release. The sheriffs office confirmed Bernhardts body has been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. No suspects or persons of interest have been named publicly at this time. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward by calling the Carroll County Sheriffs Office at (870) 423-7373. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. What kind of deranged person would take a pipe and smash glass at the Paramount Arts Center? Thats hard to say. In police television shows that last 30 or 60 minutes, police are always trying to look for a motive for a crime. Truth is, no motive is needed. What is needed is an arrest. Tuesday night, at about 10:45, a homeless man allegedly smashed nearly all the glass along the front of the historic Paramount Arts Center. Prior to doing this, he called 911 professing his hatred for police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fortunately, an alert employee of the Paramount who lives nearby was able to capture the incident on a cell phone. It didnt take long for Ashland Police to catch up with the alleged perpetrator, a 47-year-old man. He was spotted in front of the federal building at 15th and Greenup Avenue. Police were surely on high alert due to his call threatening police. He was arrested without causing harm to any police officer or any additional damage to buildings. According to reports, he told police he hates Hollywood. Theres not much Hollywood at the Paramount. The alleged offender told police he smashed one other window at the Paramount earlier this year. We are the first to say this man is still entitled to the presumption of innocence. The City of Ashland owns the Paramount Arts Center. We know nothing about the citys insurance deductible on this type of incident but this senseless crime will cost taxpayers something, not to mention the citys insurance company, which is Kentucky League of Cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If theres something good from this it is the employee who thoughtfully used a cell phone to capture the crime. Police have an advantage with so many cell phone users and security cameras nearly everywhere. Going unchecked, this man could have had a more disastrous thought. Losing an historic structure in this manner would have been a disaster for our community. Donald Trump has threatened to revoke Rosie O'Donnell's US citizenship. Donald Trump has threatened to revoke Rosie O'Donnell's US citizenship in his latest swipe at the star The US President has been involved in a long-running feud with the 63-year-old comedian and has now branded her a "threat to humanity" in his latest barb after she criticised his administration's handling of the catastrophic floods in Texas that have left over 120 people dead. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Saturday (12.07.25): "Because of the fact that Rosie O'Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her." O'Donnell is a staunch critic of Trump - moving to Ireland earlier this year after the politician secured a second term in the White House - and described him as a "dangerous old soulless man with dementia" in her social media riposte to his threat, which is constitutionally impossible. The talk show host wrote on Instagram: "The president of the USA has always hated the fact that I see him for who he is - a criminal con man sexual-abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself. "This is why I moved to Ireland - he is a dangerous old soulless man with dementia who lacks empathy, compassion, and basic humanity." Rosie continued: "I stand in direct opposition (to) all he represents - so do millions of others - u gonna deport all who stand against ur evil tendencies - ur a bad joke who can't form a coherent sentence (sic)." The star's feud with Trump began when she was a panellist on The View during the 2000s and she explained that she had "no regrets" about leaving the US for Ireland with her youngest daughter Clay, 12. O'Donnell told the Huffington Post: "I have no regrets. I do say to myself sometimes, 'What are the chances that the one guy I exposed for being a misogynist and sexist pig on The View would become the president of the United States, and would still be hung up on the fact that I told the truth about him?' I think to myself, 'Boy, my life would be easier if this hadn't happened.'" She added: "I also think to myself, 'Why me? With the president of the United States going after me, calling me fat, ugly, unsexy, disgusting, gay, liberal pig for 20 years...? And to have the people who follow him feel emboldened to say thing to me, sometimes, as well. Is that something I'd wish on anybody? It's really not." The convict, identified as Shivanna, lured the minor while she was playing outside her house on December 11, 2023, took her away, and raped her. He also allegedly threatened the victim to keep silent about the crime. Following a complaint, the Srirangapatna police conducted a thorough investigation and filed a chargesheet. Government prosecutor Hebbakavadi Nagaraju presented the case before Sessions Judge Dilip, who, after examining the evidence, held Shivanna guilty under stringent provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Judge Dilip pronounced life imprisonment as punishment, pointing out the heinous nature of the crime. (ANI) VIRGINIA Virginia State Police (VSP) placed ninth in the national Best Looking Cruiser contest, scoring a feature in the American Association of State Troopers 2026 calendar. VSP said it received a respectable 14,439 votes to secure a spot on next years calendar. John Bagnardi, American Association of State Troopers executive director, thanked all agencies and the public for supporting the competition. Results courtesy of VSP. This years contest reached over 1.8 million views on Facebook, and the comments and friendly banter between states made it all the more enjoyable, Bagnardi said. The event continues to fulfill its purpose: highlighting our agencies and strengthening our connection with the public we serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The top 13 states will be featured in the calendar, but overall, Florida was named Americas Best Looking Cruiser. All proceeds will benefit the Association of State Troopers Foundation, according to Bagnardi. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Friday announced a special election to fill a state House seat left vacant after the assassination of state Rep. Melissa Hortman (D). The special election will be held Sept. 16, according to Walzs office, with a special primary election for the nomination of candidates taking place Aug. 12 if deemed necessary. Candidates are eligible to file with the state or with county auditors starting Tuesday. The last day to file is July 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement comes after Hortman, her husband, Mark, and their golden retriever were fatally shot in a June attack that officials described as politically motivated. Melissa Hortman was a former state House Speaker who served District 34B, which represents parts of Anoka and Hennepin counties. She and other Democratic state lawmakers, including state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, Yvette, were shot and injured at their homes by a man impersonating a police officer. Investigators said the alleged gunman, Vance Boelter, had a list of other targets after an initial search of his vehicle. Former President Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris both attended Melissa Hortmans funeral last month in Minnesota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our parents touched so many lives, and they leave behind an incredible legacy of dedication to their community that will live on in us, their friends, their colleagues and co-workers, and every single person who knew and loved them, the Hortmans children, Sophie and Colin, wrote in a statement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. HORIZON CITY, Texas (KTSM) A 45-year-old wanted man was arrested on an outstanding warrant for misapplication of fiduciary property last week in Horizon City, according to the Horizon City Police Department. According to Horizon City Police, Rogelio Campuzano was charged with misapplication of fiduciary property or property of financial institution. Campuzano was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a $6,000 bond, Horizon City Police said. Rogelio Campuzano. Photo courtesy of the Horizon City Police Department. Misapplication of fiduciary property is when someone trusted to manage another persons money or property like a trustee, guardian, or person with power of attorney uses it improperly. This could mean breaking the rules of their agreement, violating the law, or putting the owners property at serious risk, the news release read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, officers located Campuzano along the 14700 block of Sand Gate Drive, Horizon City Police said. According to the news release, officers conducted a warrant check on Campuzano, and he was then subsequently arrested. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. One of the sons of notorious drug lord "El Chapo" pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court in Chicago to major drug charges and running the Sinaloa Cartel in his father's absence. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 35, admitted to running part of the Sinaloa Cartel, coordinating massive drug shipments, including fentanyl, heroin and cocaine into the U.S. and using violence to protect cartel operations, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois. His plea is part of a broader federal strategy, "Operation Take Back America," aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump Admin Sanctions El Chapo's Children, Violent Fentanyl-trafficking Cartel Arm Los Chapitos "Todays guilty plea is another major step toward holding the Sinaloa Cartel and its leaders accountable for their role in fueling the fentanyl epidemic that has plagued so many Americans," U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a news release. "We remain committed to dismantling the Cartels entire fentanyl infrastructure and ensuring that the Chapitos and their violent organization can no longer flood our communities with this poison." Read On The Fox News App Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of "El Chapo" and a head of the Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in Chicago. Guzman Lopez admitted in the plea agreement that he coordinated the transportation of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and other drugs and precursor chemicals from Mexico to the United States border, at times in shipments of hundreds or thousands of kilograms, according to federal officials. He used a network of couriers affiliated with the cartel to smuggle the drugs into the United States, using vehicles, rail cars, tunnels, aircraft and other means, the plea agreement states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the drugs were distributed throughout the United States, officials said, individuals working for Guzman Lopez used bulk cash transport, wire transfers, trade of goods and cryptocurrency to launder the illicit proceeds and ensure that the money was transmitted to Guzman Lopez and other members of the cartel in Mexico. Guzman Lopez then admitted he and his cartel associates committed violent acts against law enforcement officials, civilians and rival drug traffickers to protect the cartels drug-trafficking activities. Feds Won't Seek Death Penalty For El Chapo's Son In Major Drug Trafficking Case Front pages of Mexican newspapers showing the news of the capture of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, in Mexico City, Mexico, July 26, 2024. As part of the plea agreement, Guzman Lopez will also forfeit $80 million, though his sentencing date hasn't been set. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is one of four brothers known as "The Chapitos," who took over after their fathers arrest in 2016. Joaquin Guzman Lopez was arrested last year and is being held in the U.S. without bail. He pleaded not guilty and is waiting for his trial in Illinois. Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar are also facing charges in Illinois and New York. They have not been arrested yet, and warrants have been issued for their arrests. El Chapo's Family Members Cross Us Border In Apparent Deal With Trump Administration A truck burns after being set on fire on a street in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Jan. 5, 2023. Federal officials praised the guilty plea, saying "with each passing day, you are seeing the sunset of the Sinaloa Cartel." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Chapitos latest violence reflects their fading future. Their leaders who remain free are now paranoid, distrusted and desperate," U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon wrote. The U.S. State Department has issued rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to their arrests and convictions. "The guilty plea by Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of El Chapo, is a real victory for both the United States and Mexico but also a clear win for the rule of law," said Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations Arizona Ray Rede. Click To Get The Fox News App "So much blood and violence lay with the Guzman family as well as spreading terror and plaguing both sides of the border with deadly drugs and weapons no more. Its impossible to measure the amount of work HSI and partner agencies have spent in securing this guilty verdict, but what is clear and evident is that no one is beyond the reach of law enforcement and our nations laws. Deliberate and coordinated teamwork resulted in todays victory." Original article source: War on cartels yields results as 'El Chapo' heir confesses to running violent drug empire Displays from Muskogee War Memorial Parks museum are moving to a temporary location at Three Forks Harbor. Museum Curator James Erb, said the memorabilia will be displayed in the atrium at Port Muskogees Robinson Gallery and Event Center, south of U.S. 62 at the Arkansas River. Displays were being set up Friday, Erb said. The displays can be seen from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Theyll see some of our most popular exhibits, the helmet exhibit, probably the bayonet exhibit and submarine escape maneuvers, Erb said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The museum has been at the USS Batfish and has remained open since the World War II submarine was dislodged in a 2019 flood. Erb said the museum must move because Port Muskogee because public access to the museums road is closing. The museum also is getting a new name, Oklahoma War Memorial and Museum, and a new website, https://oklahomawarmemorialpark.org. Ultimately, the displays will move to a new building by the USS Batfish when it moves to Three Forks Harbor. War Memorial Authority Chairman James Gulley Gulley said it will cost $10 million to move the Batfish downriver. The Oklahoma Legislature in May allocated $4 million toward the relocation. The Authority is asking FEMA to help pay for moving and reconditioning the submarine, Gulley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An update on additional funding for moving is expected when the War Memorial Authority meets Wednesday, Gulley said. Erb said Oklahoma Department of Transportation also must finish rebuilding U.S. 62 bridges across the Arkansas before the sub can be moved. Once they get that finished and they clean out the area they use for a staging area, then well start working on moving the Batfish, Erb said. Thats going to involve getting the river lowered. Jul. 12Following two attempted vehicle thefts from Springboro neighborhoods this week by teenagers, Warren County's prosecutor was outspoken about what he called a lack of criminal justice against juveniles. "From my perspective, this is the No. 1 criminal justice issue that currently exists in our county: Out-of-county juveniles stealing vehicles from ordinarily nice, safe neighborhoods in Lebanon, Mason, Springboro, everywhere," said Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell on his Facebook page. "Why juveniles? Because they know they will be treated less harshly because they are juveniles." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Springboro police investigated attempted auto thefts on Wednesday and Thursday from the Settlers Walk neighborhood. "During the last two nights, our officers have successfully intercepted vehicle thefts in progress in two of our neighborhoods," according to a Facebook post by Springboro police. "On July 9, midnight shift officers found subjects in a fresh stolen vehicle driving through a neighborhood as they looked to commit further crimes. That vehicle fled and was briefly pursued into Miami Twp. where officers terminated the pursuit. This certainly prevented another car being taken from our city that evening." And then on Thursday, Springboro police in the Settlers Walk area around 3:07 a.m. said they found a suspicious vehicle driving through the neighborhood and when attempting to stop the vehicle, it fled and led to a pursuit into Dayton. Police said the occupants eventually fled the vehicle on foot and two juvenile suspects were apprehended with the assistance of the Dayton Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This vehicle was later found to had just been stolen from Settlers Walk, according to police. Both juvenile suspects were arrested and booked into the Warren County Juvenile Detention Center. Fornshell said the prosecutor's office needs support. "Police departments and prosecutor's offices can only do so much. We need the support of everyone, including all of our legislators in Columbus and all of our juvenile court judges in the state, to hold juveniles accountable for their actions and not minimize the conduct because they happen to be underage," Fornshell said. "We know from experience that failing to hold people to account when they are younger yields worse conduct and more harm to society once they reach adulthood." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Springboro police asked homeowners to check their home security cameras overnight and to contact them if individuals have any video regarding the suspects. "This is a reminder that our officers will continue to make every effort to prevent/apprehend the individuals that decide to come into our city and steal cars,"" police said. "We also remind our citizens to always lock your vehicle's doors and please do not leave any valuables or keys/key fobs in the car. As always, if you see anything suspicious, do not hesitate to report it immediately." r. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) If youre going to be outside this weekend, keep an eye out for stingers in the sky. Parts of KELOLAND have seen an increase in wasp activity. But not all wasps are built the same. Cicada killer is a solitary wasp, and theyre quite different. Actually. Theyre a lot bigger. Theyll create a little hole in the ground, and theyll have multiple tunnels in it, and theyll use their stinger to paralyze the cicada. And they bring it down in these holes, multiple holes. Thats where the babies will eat off of that cicada, said Ryan Anderson, owner of Andersons Pest Control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beresford man pleads guilty to killing 3 in 2023 crash Anderson says in just the last two weeks, he has started to get calls for cicada killers. Both Cicada killers and sand wasps peak activity is in the mid to late summer. Cicada killers typically wont sting. The males cant sting. Thats the ones youll typically see flying around. The females can sting. But Ive been doing this for 20-some years and have never been stung. Never had one. Even land on me. So Ive been right in the middle of it, said Anderson. Aside from the ones you might find in the sand. Other popular ones are yellow jackets and paper wasps. Yellow jackets are the most dangerous, but paper wasps are the most common. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With all the outdoor events happening this weekend, we wanted to know if the city spraying would help keep the wasps under control. It may take out a few, but what the city has has no residual. So it goes through, takes care of stuff, and its gone, said Anderson. If stung, you should first clean the area with soap and water and keep an eye out for an allergic reaction. If you do run into a wasp infestation, the best thing you can do is either call a pest control company or use a wasp spray that shoots at least 15 feet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. When you hear someone say waste, fraud and abuse theyre about to lie to you. Its the cliche they use, lately, to defend taking away peoples Medicaid. Instead of arguing about policy details, just think about those words in the context of health care. The patients are not committing fraud. They are not given money they can spend on cars, clothes or illicit drugs. They are given medicine and care. What do they even mean by abuse in Medicaid? The answer is nothing. Its just a mantra: waste, fraud and abuse, waste, fraud and abuse. And its hard to believe there is much waste in a system with such tight budgets. But any that can be pointed out should be eliminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is not what they are doing, though. They are making their budget numbers by cutting peoples health care and vacantly claiming they will find enough waste, fraud, and abuse someday to justify the cruelty. The waste is the time they want folks to spend on paperwork and on the phone. The fraud is the lie that they are only going after cheaters. The abuse is taking away medicine from deserving people. And insulting our intelligence with their doublespeak. Robert Maloney, Milwaukee Letters: Catholic sisters' newspaper ad expresses what we must do for a hopeful future Opinion: Johnson voted for the Trump bill he called immoral. His choice will devastate WI. Tips for getting your letter to the editor published Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'Waste, fraud, abuse' is used to defend cutting Medicaid | Letters A trash collection company contracted by the City of Jacksonville has to pay over $1 million to settle a federal racial discrimination lawsuit. The lawsuit accused Waste Pro of Florida of subjecting black and Haitian American employees based in their Jacksonville office to hostile work environments and racial slurs. A press release by the EEOC says the company agreed to pay $1.4 million in this settlement and will have to provide specialized training on race discrimination to the companys CEO and human resources employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the EEOC lawsuit, Waste Pro subjected 26 black and/or Haitian American workers to hostile work environments based on the color of their skin and where they are from. Specifically, the suit says welder Fednol Pierre was frequently called the N word, was told to go back to Haiti, and was told to go back on the banana boat while working in the Jacksonville office. Theyre using some of the most offensive language Ive seen in a while, and Im a civil rights lawyer, said attorney John Phillips. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Waste Pro sent us this statement: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waste Pro has always been committed to fostering a productive and healthy work environment for its employees that is free of harassment and discrimination. This case stems from events alleged to have occurred in 2022, and while Waste Pro did not find evidence of intentional wrongdoing, a settlement was reached to avoid lengthy litigation and refocus on our commitment to our employees and the people we serve. Waste Pro has proactively enhanced our existing training for all company managers, our internal reporting mechanisms, and our company-wide communication regarding our robust anti-harassment and discrimination policy. Phillips said he thinks the City of Jacksonville needs to reconsider its contract with Waste Pro. I fully agree that this company should be reviewed, and these allegations, and the settlement taken into account, said Phillips. A City of Jacksonville spokesman tells Action News Jax Waste Pro provides trash collection services to over 83,000 customers in southeast Duval County. The city notes that the employees involved in the lawsuit and settlement did not and do not work on any City of Jacksonville contracts. The city did not comment any further on the case. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. A surprise visitor of serpentine sorts was rescued from a home over the Fourth of July weekend, and soon made its way into the heart of a Florida deputy. Bodycam footage from the incident shows a deputy arriving at a home in Lehigh Acres in southwest Florida, where a large ball python had slithered its way by the pool. "Oh wow," says Deputy Roedding as he looks at the snake. "Yeah, it's a python." The ball python being pulled out from behind a cooler. Roedding can be then seen holding onto the tail of the snake and pulling the animal out from behind a cooler where it was hiding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "See? Hes not trying to bite - no, nada," he says as he shows the snake to the homeowners, who seem both shocked and amused as they keep their distance. Roedding shows the python to the homeowners. Roedding then places the snake into a cooler, which he uses to bring the snake to his vehicle. Roedding holds the ball python. But the story of the snake continued, as it was later adopted by Sgt. VanPelt with the Animal Cruelty Task Force of the Lee County Sheriffs Office. "Proof that not all heroes wear capes some adopt snakes," they noted on Facebook. Ball pythons are not native to Florida, but have been found in the wild of the Sunshine State by way of the pet trade, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. They noted that there are no known reproducing ball python populations in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How To Watch Fox Weather The snakes are often confused with Burmese pythons, which are also a nonnative species, the FWC said. Despite looking similar, Burmese pythons are typically longer by growing to average 6-9 feet, while ball pythons rarely grow beyond 4 feet long. Original article source: Watch: Florida deputies rescue python from pool deck, then adopt it The Delhi High Court has issued notice in a writ petition filed by a man and his father, seeking quashing of the First Information Report registered under several provisions of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The FIR, filed by a woman complainant, alleges rape, criminal intimidation, and other serious charges against Rahul Yadav. The FIR was registered at Police Station Jagatpuri under BNS sections 64(2), 79, 123, and 351(2). The bench of Justice Ravinder Dudeja issued notice to respondents and listed the matter for October 9, 2025. The petitioner, represented by Advocates Kunal Yadav and Kartikey Yadav, stated that the FIR is a classic case of a consensual relationship turning sour, and the criminal process being weaponised to harass the petitioners. They argued that the complainant and her family had falsely implicated Rahul Yadav following personal disputes, caste-based discrimination, and financial demands. Rahul Yadav, a young advocate and judicial service aspirant, claims that he was in a romantic and consensual relationship with the complainant since September 2023, while residing in a rented apartment in the same house as the complainant's family in Jagatpuri. According to the petition, their first instance of physical intimacy occurred on September 22, 2023, with the complainant's full consent. The petition states that in February 2024, the accused, Rahul, proposed marriage to the complainant, but her family allegedly rejected the proposal with casteist remarks and began threatening him. The complaint claims that her parents warned of implicating him in a false case. Further, the petition includes screenshots of WhatsApp, Telegram, and text message chats purportedly showing their ongoing consensual relationship and the complainant's contradictory conduct, including demands for gifts and money, and an alleged affair with another man. The petition points out an unexplained timeline gap between the start of Rahul's tenancy in June 2023 and the date of the alleged first incident in August 2024, raising questions about the credibility of the accusations. It also highlights a significant delay in the FIR's registration--more than a month after the last alleged incident in April 2025--despite the complainant not raising any alarm during the intervening months. The second petitioner, Rahul's father and a serving Sub-Inspector in Uttar Pradesh Police, has also been named in the FIR. The petition asserts that the father was discharging official duties in Ballia between April 9-12, 2025, as proven by official General Diary entries. It terms his implication as a pressure tactic and an abuse of the criminal process. An Additional Sessions Judge at Karkardooma Court had earlier granted interim protection to Rahul Yadav on May 20, 2025, acknowledging the absence of prima facie material for immediate arrest, stated the plea. (ANI) NEW MEXICO (KRQE) Water managers in the Middle Rio Grande Valley are bracing for a dry season and are warning farmers that some parts of the river may run dry. That could mean little to no water for irrigation during the summer and fall. Everything is green now, we watered about three weeks ago, and so thats why it looks green, but here soon its going to dry out, said Seth Wagner, a farmer in Corrales. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wagner is a fourth-generation farmer who grows hay, chile, melons, and more. Hes worried about his crops in Corrales, though, and doesnt expect to be able to irrigate anytime soon. The majority of our crops, well have to hope for rain. I think all farmers should start looking into other options. I think theres other systems like drip that can be implemented, added Wagner. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) said it shut off pumps to the Corrales irrigators a couple of weeks ago when the water flow became too low for the pumps to function. Well turn the pumps back on if we see the river inflows rise high enough to be able to use the pumps, said River Operations Manager for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Anne Marken. We were able to run the pumps longer than we anticipated because of these rain inflows. Wagner isnt the only farmer bracing for a tough irrigation season, which typically runs through October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MRGCD said its due to a combination of factors, including this years below-average snowpack and New Mexicos compact promising water to Texas, preventing the state from storing Rio Grande water. Typically, this time of year, we would see the inflows into the middle valley not be enough to meet the needs of middle valley farmers and their crops, and then we would release water from storage to kind of fill that gap. We dont have the ability to do that right now, said Marken. The district said irrigation deliveries will depend on supply. The district said the water in the river is lower than weve historically seen this time of year. That 50 CFS (Cubic Feet per Second) at the Albuquerque gauge is about the threshold at which we start to see river channel drying downstream of there, added Marken. The district and farmers are still hoping for relief this monsoon season. Farmers need to be prepared to take water on short notice because these rain inflows can come really quickly, said Marken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conservancy district has three more meetings this summer to update farmers and irrigators. More information on those meetings can be found at this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. WEBER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) After a series of deadly parvo outbreaks and months of being understaffed, Weber County Animal Services has a new director who is looking to make some changes. Siri Main hopes to increase community engagement, create new animal enrichment programs, and revamp the shelters policies to prevent disease outbreaks. Siri Main, courtesy: Weber County Hi, big guy, Siri Main said through a laugh as she started to pet a shelter dog named Catfish. He is one of many animals currently up for adoption. Catfish may not be available for long though, she quipped. Catfish may be coming home with me. Oh, my goodness, I would love to be empty, Main told ABC4. I think any director is going to tell you that were always operating at 100 percent capacity, and its true. We are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She stepped into the role last month. Our future, Main replied when asked what she is most excited about. Its looking better. Its looking brighter. Were so excited. Were hoping to end this year on a much higher note than we began it. To be able to end on a high note, Main hopes to improve animal enrichment activities and programs. One example is the creation of the Doggy Daycation program. Doggy Daycation is when an individual comes and fills out a onetime application, Main explained. They pick up a dog and youre able to go hike, go to Starbucks and get a pup cup, youre able to go to the park. All we ask is a little bit of information about how your day went. That gives us and our staff a little bit more information that we can then pass along to potential adopters. She would like to expand this program to the shelters cats as well. Speaking of cats, another one of her ideas is to build an outdoor catio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boosting community engagement is another goal. This may be done through public activities, like the one the shelter is hosting on July 19, and new programs. Were hoping to educate the public and roll out programs in terms of helping individuals stay with their animals, so those animals never see the inside of a shelter, added Main. Bunny up for adoption at Weber Animal Services As part of boosting community engagement, Main is also looking to increase the number of fosters they have. The more fosters we have, the more animals we can care for, she said. Main is actively hiring staff. She told ABC4 that all full-time positions are now filled, and she has three more part-time positions to fill. It is my intention and expectation to be fully staffed by the end of July. Main is also tweaking the shelters current policies to prevent disease outbreaks. Were doing everything from small to big, she explained. Were changing what the staff cleaning schedule is like and their cleaning procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added: We see where we were wrong. We see where we were weak and were working with our national partners, with ourselves, and our internal team to build up those procedures and better them. All this, she told ABC4, is just the beginning of the changes she plans to implement. Regarding an upcoming event next Saturday, Weber County released the following statement: To become more involved in the community, WCAS has partnered with local businesses to hold family-friendly adoption events. The next event, Dog Days of Summer, in partnership with the Friends of the Weber County Animal Services, will be held on July 19 from 12 p.m.4 p.m. at 1373 N. 750 W., Ogden. The event will have adoptions, yard games, hotdogs, pup cups and a silent auction. The funds raised will go toward a new animal enrichment program. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. When most people picture a marriage proposal, they imagine candlelight, maybe a sunset or a scenic overlook. But for Paige Berdomas and Bryce Shelton, two storm chasers brought together by their shared obsession with weather, there was never a more fitting place to get engaged than in front of a powerful EF2 tornado spiraling through the South Dakota plains. It was a photogenic tornado that was going through an open field, Shelton said, recalling the moment he realized this was the one. That was pretty much all the boxes Ive wanted [to check] right there all season. That was the perfect moment. (MORE: A Proposal Born From California Wildfire Tragedy) Love In The Forecast Their story didnt begin in the eye of a storm. Rather, it began on social media, where forecasters, chasers and meteorology fans frequently cross paths. We all just kind of get to know each other, explained Berdomas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before long, they realized they were forecasting the same future literally. Bryce had been like, Lets meet up, we are always on the same storms, maybe we should try to chase together, Berdomas remembers. That first in-person meetup? Not some dramatic lightning-lit encounter just two weather geeks meeting in a general store parking lot in Iowa. Shelton says he knew right away she was the one. I just knew from our interaction together and of course, seeing her and how beautiful she is, he admits. But I didnt think I really had a chance with her. Berdomas remembers the incredible sunset from that first date, as if there was a larger force at play. Chasing Storms, And Each Other Berdomas, a former nurse practitioner, and Shelton, a former firefighter EMT, both left careers in public service to chase storms full-time. For Shelton, the fascination started in 2006, when a tornado narrowly missed his home in Nashville. Ever since then, Ive been interested in weather, he said. Berdomas? She grew up watching The Weather Channel. Everyone was outside playing in the pool, she recalls, and I was glued to hurricane coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That shared reverence, and a mutual love for getting close to the action, made them perfect partners in chasing and in life. Our forecasting style was always the same, so we figured out that were on all these same storms, said Berdomas. (MORE: How A Tornado Inspired A Meteorologists Love For Weather) For them, its not about adrenaline. Its about warning others. Yeah, we get video and stuff, but warning the public is our main priority, Berdomas explained. Were the ground truth for the NWS and the Storm Prediction Center. The Perfect Storm On the day of the proposal, the couple had already reported the tornado to the National Weather Service when Shelton pulled Berdomas aside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bryce said that we were going to get a picture taken, she explained. Its pouring down rain. My hair is a mess, adding that she had no idea what was about to happen. Shelton dropped to one knee in front of the twister, the moment captured on their livestream. News traveled fast. About an hour later, a fellow storm chaser offered to help them recreate the moment, snapping the now-viral image in front of a powerful EF3 tornado. Berdomas and Shelton were both beaming as they talked about how the community of fellow storm chasers rallied around them. It was dark and they parked in front of us and I just see like this gang of guys running toward us to come and give us hugs, she said. They were just genuinely so happy for us, and they all came and shook our hands and congratulated us and it was just so it was emotional, actually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the dust has barely settled, the pair is already starting to make wedding plans likely something small in a national park in the West. I can't even tell you how many tornado cakes I've had sent to us. Berdomas laughed. But it has to be after storm season next year. That's the big part. (MORE: Dust Devil Causes Wedding Day Disaster) Until then, theyll keep chasing, says Berdomas. This is our job and this is what we love to do. It's our passion. It's only fitting that this is where our proposal would be. Weather.com lead editor Jenn Jordan explores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives, shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities. NEW YORK (PIX11) Eyes have been drawn to federal immigration courts following Brad Landers arrest in June while accompanying a person out of the courtroom. ICE opposers have banded together to observe and report on what transpires inside and outside of those immigration courtrooms. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams joined PIX11 Morning News to shed light on what advocates have seen. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams said that immigrants would hear from the judge handling their cases that they were being dismissed, not knowing that meant they were now eligible for deportation. They were being tricked, essentially, Williams said. It is heartbreaking. Williams said what is happening now is somehow worse. According to Williams, judges would grant immigrants extended time, sometimes months, to speak with an attorney and collect all necessary documents and information regarding their case. Until they would exit the courtroom and find a multitude of ICE agents waiting for them in the hallways. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depending on which floor, you could see 10, 15, 20 [agents] just lining the hallways, Williams said. Most of them masked, some of them not properly identifiable. Williams said he witnessed immigrants collapse to the floor in fear when they were met by agents. To see someone relieved in the courtroom, to the shock when they come out, it was hard to see, he said. Williams referenced one instance when a 5-year-old girl came out and asked where her dad was. The people Williams and others watch over are, according to him, going through the court system as asylum seekers in a legal manner, but are being treated as criminals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre doing the check-ins that theyre being asked to do, and then just being abducted, Williams said. Its a horrific experience to see these families torn apart. He said that when he was there for one hour, he witnessed five or six instances of people being taken by agents. You see agents waiting by the door. That usually means whoever is coming out, theyre about to take. Williams said the way to help is to join in the effort of court-watching. To learn more, email gethelp@advocate.nyc.gov. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. WEST DES MOINES, Iowa The West Des Moines Fire Department is investigating the cause of a house fire on Friday evening. The West Des Moines Police and Fire Department were called to Ashworth Road and Seventh Street just before 9 p.m. on reports of a structure fire. Storm damage brings up sorrowful memories for Greenfield residents WDM Fire says the homeowner located the fire inside their home, called authorities, and then exited the home. No others were present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews arrived on scene and located heavy smoke coming from the rear part of the home. After setting up a line, firefighters were able to contain the flames within 30 minutes of arrival. Authorities say crews were able to contain the fire to the original room, with smoke dispersed throughout the rest of the home. No injuries have been reported. The West Des Moines Fire Department has opened an investigation into the cause of the fire. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. The Brief The victim was found shot early Saturday in a parking lot on South Gessner Road. The victim is believed to be in his early 20s. Anyone with information can call HPD (713-308-3600) or Crime Stoppers (713-222-8477). HOUSTON - A young man is dead after he was found shot in a west Houston parking lot, police say. Houston: South Gessner parking lot shooting What we know At about 1:15 a.m. on Saturday, Houston officers were called to a shooting at a shopping center on South Gessner Road, near the Westpark Tollway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A man was found at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers performed CPR on the victim, and paramedics also tried to help, but the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. What we don't know No one has been identified at this time. This victim is said to be a man in his early 20s. There is no suspect description at this time. What you can do Anyone with information on this case can call one of the following agencies: HPD Homicide Division: 713-308-3600 Crime Stoppers: 713-222-TIPS (8477) The Source OnScene and HPD Lt. Khan CACHE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) Mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus have been found in Cache County. According to a press release from the Cache Mosquito Abatement District (CMAD), mosquito samples from Cache County have tested positive for West Nile Virus. The infected mosquito pools come from the areas of Amalga and Trenton. When turned over to the Utah State Public Health Laboratory, they tested the samples and found that mosquitoes had the virus. In response, CMAD will continue its comprehensive surveillance and abatement efforts, the agency stated in the press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Measles detected in Provo area wastewater, officials remind residents to take precautions CMAD says that the primary method they will use to control mosquitoes is larviciding, which involves culling mosquito larvae before they can mature. Fogging (adulticiding) will also be conducted, but is only done at night, when the Culex the West Nile Virus carriers are most active. CMAD and the Bear River Health Department are offering the following tips to help residents reduce exposure to mosquitoes: Use EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus as directed. Eliminate standing water around your home (e.g., in buckets, tires, pet dishes, plant trays, and toys). Wear long sleeves and pants between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Maintain roof gutters, keeping them clear of debris. Clean or drain swimming pools regularly. Ensure all window and door screens are intact and in good repair. Trim tall grass and weeds, which serve as resting places for adult mosquitoes during daylight hours Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information on mosquito abatement, you can visit CMADs website. About West Nile Virus According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), West Nile Virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. The disease is primarily spread through mosquito bites, but on rare occasions can be passed person-to-person. The CDC says that 8 out of 10 people do not develop symptoms after being infected with West Nile Virus. Some people (1 in 5) will develop a fever and other symptoms, such as aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with these symptoms will recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks to months, according to the CDC. In even fewer cases, roughly 1 in 150, people infected with West Nile Virus will develop a severe illness such as encephalitis or meningitis. The CDC states that older adults and those who are immunocompromised are most at risk of developing these illnesses, and 1 in 10 of those who develop severe illness die. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for West Nile Virus. Some symptoms can be relieved with over-the-counter medications, but if severe illness develops, patients often need to be hospitalized. The CDC states that the best way to protect yourself from West Nile Virus is to prevent mosquito bites. More information about how the disease spreads and information about West Nile Virus can be found on the CDCs website. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Mosquitoes collected by the Allegheny County Health Department tested positive for West Nile virus in six areas Tuesday. ACHD officials say the areas where mosquitoes tested positive include Wilkinsburg, Schenley Park, Mt. Washington, Beltzhoover, Mt. Oliver and Hazelwood. West Nile virus is the leading mosquito-borne disease in the U.S., spread through bites from infected mosquitoes. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> First human case of West Nile Virus reported in Allegheny County this year Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Generally, the species of mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus are active from dusk to dawn, said Nicholas Baldauf, ACHD Vector Control specialist. Residents can prevent mosquito bites by using insect repellent on exposed skin or choosing to wear long sleeves and pants. Both methods are effective at reducing or eliminating the possibility of getting a mosquito bite. Most people with West Nile virus do not feel sick, and only one in five develop symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Less than 1% of infected people become seriously ill. There are no vaccines or medications to prevent or treat West Nile virus, ACHD officials say. >>> Mosquitos test positive for West Nile Virus in several Pittsburgh neighborhoods <<< Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents who think they might have the virus are told to speak with a health care provider for evaluation and diagnosis. Baldauf said mosquitoes can breed in as little as half an inch of still water. Residents should check for potential breeding sites in places like tires, unused swimming pools, buckets, corrugated piping and clogged gutters. The ACHD uses larvicide every spring to treat known breeding sites and sets traps to watch for diseases. You can report mosquito breeding sites online or by calling 412-350-4046. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) In anticipation of warmer weather, the Pioneer Valley Fiberglass Pools in Westfield are set to open on Monday. These are the only public pools available to Westfield residents, located on 1080 Southampton Road. Pioneer Valley Fiberglass Pools and Spas LLC plans to open its show pools free of charge on days when forecasted temperatures exceed 85 degrees. Driving precautions in the event of flash flooding Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These pools will be available for Westfield residents only, and will be open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Access will be limited to the first 30 visitors each day on a first-come, first-served basis, with children to be accompanied by an adult. (Pioneer Valley Fiberglass Pools) As a longtime member of the Westfield community, I know how important it is for families to have access to safe, clean, and fun spacesespecially during the hot summer months, said Clancy Kaye, owner of Pioneer Valley Fiberglass Pools. With no community pool in our city, I felt this was a small but meaningful way to give back. Westfield families will be able to enjoy this offer until the end of August. For more information, visit pvfpools.com or call 413-221-8358. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. White House Faces Backlash After Posting Donald Trump as Superman originally appeared on Parade. The White House is facing some backlash after posting a meme depicting Donald Trump as Superman. On Friday, July 11, the White House shared an image of Trump, 79, soaring through space in Supermans blue tights and red cape on its official social media channels. The caption on the posts read, "THE SYMBOL OF HOPE. TRUTH. JUSTICE. THE AMERICAN WAY. SUPERMAN TRUMP." The meme was an apparent play on the buzz surrounding the recent Superman film but quickly sparked mockery from both sides of the political spectrum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Robert Garcia wasted no time in criticizing the post, quipping on X, "Hes literally Lex Luthor." Political commentator Mehdi Hasan also slammed the White Houses move, stating on the platform, Just imagine the response if the Biden White House had posted something like this. But Trump is graded on some kind of never-seen-before curve and this craziness is normalized. The Instagram post had equally as many responses, with one questioning, I dont understand how this doesnt turn people off. How do you look at this and take this man seriously? A second shared, you do know superman was an immigrant right? hes a literal alien. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, some were a fan of the image, as one wrote on X, Strong, bold, unstoppable just like the country hes fighting to restore and protect. Actor Dean Cain, who portrayed Superman in the 1990s TV series, responded on Instagram with two laughing emojis, signaling his approval. SIGN UP for Parades Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox Another person, who admitted to voting for Trump, expressed their disapproval on X, noting, As a Trump voter, this is cringy as hell. Regardless of your political standing and feelings on the questionable image, the new Superman film, starring David Corenswe as Clark Kent/Superman and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, is available to watch in theaters beginning July 11. White House Faces Backlash After Posting Donald Trump as Superman first appeared on Parade on Jul 11, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared. Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday launched a sharp attack on current Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of "ruthlessly crushing" the democratic process in the state. In a post on X, Reddy said that the right to question, protest and assemble is a basic part of democracy, but these rights are being suppressed under Naidu's rule. "The right to question, protest, and assemble forms the bedrock of democracy, empowering citizens to freely express their grievances and demand accountability. In Andhra Pradesh, however, this fundamental democratic process is being ruthlessly crushed under the weight of an authoritarian regime led by Chandrababu Naidu," Reddy wrote. He blamed the state government for using the police force, which "stifles dissent and creates a chilling atmosphere akin to a police state or dictatorship." "Every attempt by the public or opposition to raise legitimate concerns is met with repression, harassment, and fabricated legal cases, leaving no room for dissent. This deliberate assault on democratic freedom is an attack on the very essence of democracy in the state," he said. Reddy also listed several instances where he claimed that cases were filed against him or party workers during his visits to different parts of the state. Citing an incident in Guntur, he wrote, "Mirchiyard, Guntur (Feb 19, 2025): I met mirchi farmers to address their plight, as they face denial of remunerative prices and a drastic drop in mirchi prices from Rs 27,000 to Rs 8,000 per quintal. 1 case was filed." Mentioning another case, he said, "Ramagiri (April 8, 2025): I visited Rapthadu constituency to console the family of Kuruba Lingamaiah, a backward class (BC) leader of YSRCP who was brutally murdered by TDP followers in Ramagiri. One case was filed, including on Rapthadu constituency YSRCP coordinator Thopadurthi Prakash Reddy." He added that similar incidents occurred in Podili, Sattenapalli, and Bangarupalyam, where cases were also allegedly filed. He accused the authorities of using vague charges to keep open the option of targeting more people in the future. "In every instance, the authorities list three or four named individuals alongside vague references to 'others,' allowing them to arbitrarily target more people later. During my every visit, the police are putting all their efforts to curtail the movement of the people. YSRCP leaders and party workers are being issued notices in advance, and in many cases, they are being detained at their homes to prevent them from joining the events. Even farmers are being stopped, questioned, and video recorded at multiple checkpoints," Reddy alleged. He said the opposition is being harassed for raising public issues. Reddy further alleged, "The only opposition party in this state is responsibly addressing public issues through its programs. Chandrababu Naidu's actions through fabricated cases, arrests, and media manipulation reveal a desperate attempt to cling to power by suffocating democratic expression." He also blamed the current government for misgovernance. "Chandrababu Naidu is silencing the voiceless, eroding the very democratic fabric, leaving citizens with no avenue to challenge injustice or demand their rights, in spite of broken promises of misgovernance by the current regime," he said. (ANI) President Donald Trump answers questions during a press conference in the briefing room at the White House on June 27, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Credit - Joe RaedleGetty Images The White House has responded after drawing ire and backlash over its recent memes, one of which included a fake movie poster depicting President Donald Trump as Superman. In a post shared across its core social media accounts on Friday night, the White House said: Nowhere in the Constitution does it say we cant post banger memes, alongside a picture of an announcement board that read OMG, did the White House really post this? In response, one X user argued that such memes show how unserious this Administration is. The White Houses defiant stance was also shared across the official POTUS accounts on X, Instagram, and Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House earlier on Friday posted an AI-altered image of Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California, a Democrat, after he criticized an ICE raid at a marijuana farm. The post featured a doctored image of Gomez crying, labeling him cryin Jimmy. The upload was condemned by many, with one Instagram user asking: Why is the official White House page making these kind[s] of comments? Meanwhile, on Thursday night, the White House social team prompted reactions far and wide, some of the mocking variety, when it replaced actor David Corenswet with Trump in a meme of the poster for the new movie Superman. Where the original poster says A James Gunn film at the top, the Trump teams alternative reads A Trump presidency, followed by the slogan: Truth. Justice. The American Way. The accompanying caption referred to Superman Trump as the Symbol of hope. The mock-up movie poster stood out amid a slew of other posts that focused on high-stakes matters such as the Trump Administrations border patrol policies and the relief efforts for the devastating Texas floods. THE SYMBOL OF HOPE. TRUTH. JUSTICE. THE AMERICAN WAY. SUPERMAN TRUMP. pic.twitter.com/fwFWeYonAq The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 11, 2025 The White Houses foray into movie-related memes came after Superman writer and director Gunn drew ire from conservative voices after declaring that the superhero is, in fact, an immigrant. In an interview with the Times of London, Gunn said: I mean, Superman is the story of America. An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost. Read More: Trump Set to Ratchet Up His Immigration Crackdown During Next 100 Days Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the midst of Trumps immigration crackdownwhich has resulted in an uptick of ICE raids across the U.S., but especially in states such as Texas and Californiasome conservative commentators and platforms took umbrage to Gunns framing of Superman, who is originally from the fictional planet of Krypton, as an inspiring immigrant. Prior to the films release, Ben Shapiro complained that Superman is going woke, while Kellyanne Conway, a former White House counselor who served during Trumps first term, said on Fox News that people dont go to the movie theater to be lectured to or to have somebody throw their ideology onto us. Actor Dean Cain, who played Superman in the hit 90s TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, also spoke out against Gunns assessment of the character. Cain told TMZ he thought it was a mistake by James Gunn to say its an immigrant thing and shared his concerns that the comments might impact the success of the movie. An attendee holds a mock-up superhero comic book featuring Trump on the cover during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 17, 2024. Patrick T. FallonGetty Images But others in the political realm have been steadfast in their support of Gunns framing of the character. Read More: What Superman's End-Credits Scenes MeanFor the DC Universe and the Movies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im a long time Superman fan, and I want to be clear: The Superman story is an immigration story of an outsider who tries to always do the most good, said Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of California. His arch nemesis is a billionaire. You dont get to change who he is because you dont like his story. Comics are political. Meanwhile California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his office have also joined the political discourse. Newsom recently took the Trump Administration to court after the President deployed the National Guard and Marines to quell the immigration-related protests in Los Angeles without a request from the state Governor. Newsom and his office have been outspoken against the ICE raids Trump is overseeing in L.A. and throughout the state. As such, in response to the White Houses meme of Trump as Superman, Newsoms office replied: Superman was an undocumented immigrant. Write to Olivia-Anne Cleary at olivia-anne.cleary@time.com. The White Sage Fire near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon has grown to 19,000 acres, prompting evacuations for nearby residents, according to the Bureau of Land Management. As of the morning of July 12, BLM reported the fire had spread to 19,153 acres, with no containment achieved by firefighters. The BLM reported that both ground crews and aircraft were being used to fight the fire, with approximately 230 personnel assigned to the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The fire continues to exhibit extreme behavior," read a BLM news release. Crews were working to establish a secure perimeter around the fire and were set to come under the direction of a Complex Incident Management Team beginning July 13. Evacuation orders were issued on July 11, affecting multiple communities in the area, according to a news release from the Coconino County Sheriff's Office. The perimeter of the White Sage Fire on July 12, 2025, which the Bureau of Land Management said had grown to over 19,000 acres. The evacuation zone covers a large area north of the Grand Canyon, bordered by the Utah state line to the north, Grand Canyon National Park to the south, House Rock Valley Road/Buffalo Ranch Road to the east, and Kaibab National Forest to the west. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The entire area is under "GO" status, meaning all residents and visitors must evacuate immediately. Firefighters have urged the public to stay clear of the area. Nearby Highway 89A has been closed at both Fredonia and Bitter Springs. CCSO had already evacuated residents near Jacob Lake and anyone in the Kaibab National Forest. According to InciWeb, the fire was sparked by lightning and intensified by strong winds and low relative humidity. It has been burning through grass, shrubs, and native pinyon-juniper trees, the BLM reported. The blaze is expected to burn within the scar of the 2020 Magnum Fire, which charred 71,000 acres of the same forest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republic reporter Austin Corona contributed to this article. Contact reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@gannett.com. Follow him on Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @ReyCJrAZ. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Wildfire near Grand Canyon grows more than 19,000 acres Back in the days before child labor laws and before it became conventional wisdom that no young person could develop proper character without playing two dozen sports, mastering three instruments and maintaining a 4.0 GPA I had the straightforward job of driving milk cows to our alfalfa field in Virginias Blue Ridge Mountains for some limited high-protein grazing. I learned that cattle had an awesome tendency to overgraze this luscious stuff, becoming dangerously bloated with gas unless they were carefully acclimated to consumption over time, and that my best efforts, and those of my trusty shepherd dog, seldom succeeded in getting the Guernsey rogues out of the field before they sickened themselves. During the last few weeks, Ive been part of a group of veteran journalists and policy wonks who discuss Donald Trumps relationship to Appalachia. We have spent a lot of time over the years covering and contemplating the enduring issues of mine safety, poverty, flooding and many other problems facing the region. We have been pondering how it can be that the Trump administration is reversing gains made over the last few decades while areas like Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia and, with some exceptions, the whole of the 13-state region of 26 million people have voted overwhelmingly for this administration and continue to support its strip mining of progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A journalist in our group recalled that one of our heroes Tom Gish, the crusading editor of The Mountain Eagle in Whitesburg, Ky., always insisted that if people had the right information, they would make rational decisions in their own best interests. Such optimism, we agreed, needs to be tempered in these times. But how do we explain the reasons for this behavior, such as how much of Appalachia went from heavily Democratic to MAGA-supporting in just a few decades? In fact, the question can also be asked of much of rural America. It takes some digging. The great inspiration Thomas Jefferson drew from Jean-Jacques Rousseaus writings on the social contract before penning one of mankinds most eloquent documents in July of 1776 was based on his belief that people would make rational, indeed democratic, decisions if they had the right information. Rousseau was a repeat entrant in the prestigious Dijon Prize contests and actually won the coveted award a second time in 1754 for his Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men. In one of those essays, Rousseau wrote: The first man who, having fenced in a piece of land, said This is mine, and found people naive enough to believe him, that man was the true founder of civil society. From how many crimes, wars, and murders, from how many horrors and misfortunes might not any one have saved mankind, by pulling up the stakes, or filling up the ditch, and crying to his fellows: Beware of listening to this impostor; you are undone if you once forget that the fruits of the earth belong to us all, and the earth itself to nobody.' It follows that once there are many fences, people must enter into social contracts to regulate important things, like whos the main rooster and whether milk-producing Guernseys or steak-producing Angus get first dibs in the alfalfa fields. Jefferson reasoned that Americans had never contracted to make King George III the main rooster he could take his monarchy and stuff it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the philosophy that secured us life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Enlightened self-interest is the root from which Rousseaus philosophical forest flourishes. The English, being less romantic and worse cooks than the French, spotted an anomaly in all this. Back when every English village had a commons where everyone could graze their sheep, they noticed some farmers tended to increase their herds. It was obviously in that farmers self-interest to do so, there being no direct cost to him. Eventually, however, the lush commons became something like adobe hills. The English recognized this destructive pattern, but it took until 1968 for ecologist Garrett Hardin to give it a name and framework in his influential essay in Science magazine entitled The Tragedy of the Commons. Hardin used the example of herders sharing a common pasture, where each herders rational decision to add one more animal to graze would eventually lead to overgrazing and the pastures destruction. His central argument was that individuals acting independently and rationally according to their own self-interest behave contrary to the whole groups long-term best interests by depleting or spoiling the shared resource. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hardin was particularly concerned with population growth and resource depletion, arguing that freedom in a commons brings ruin to all. While his solutions were sometimes controversial, his core insight about the conflict between individual rationality and collective welfare has become fundamental to understanding everything from environmental policy to economic regulation. What our milk cows taught me on that mountain farm, Hardin elevated into a principle that explains much of what ails modern society. This concept of overgrazing can also involve more than resources and alfalfa fields. It also applies to ideas and principles, whether in England, Appalachia or the rest of America. For generations, Appalachia existed as a kind of social and economic commons for the country, where promises of help federal investment, job training, flood protection, health care access were offered as communal sustenance. Each wave of politicians, agencies and even well-intentioned outsiders acted, in their own short-term interest, to make these promises while securing votes, funding or moral satisfaction. But like herders adding one more cow, these promises were often poorly implemented, underfunded, quickly abandoned or designed more for political optics than lasting change. Over decades, this relentless grazing of pledges, without consistent, effective follow-through, degraded the shared resource of trust down to bare earth. Why believe this promise of help, when the last dozen withered? The MAGA vote isnt necessarily an endorsement of specific policies; its a desperate lunge toward any alternative, a grazing of the last bitter stubble of hope left in a field systematically exhausted by decades of unfulfilled commitments from both traditional political parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The literal commons of Appalachia its mountains, forests and mineral wealth were exploited under the banner of progress, leaving environmental ruin and economic instability in its wake. This physical overgrazing mirrors the exploitation of the regions social commons. Just as outside corporations extracted coal until the land and communities were depleted, outside political forces extracted votes with grand promises, acting in their lust for power, until the reservoir of trust was drained. The regions shift to MAGA reflects a final, seemingly rational act of self-preservation by mountaineers who feel the entire system governing this shared pasture of opportunity and fairness has failed them. They are opting for a disruptive herder who, however flawed, at least claims the old, depleted grazing rules no longer apply. Tom Gishs faith that the right information leads to rational decisions assumed a healthy commons of shared truth and institutional credibility. But decades of seeing mine safety regulations weakened after disasters, poverty statistics ignored, or flood relief funds absent or mismanaged, eroded that commons. When institutions tasked with stewarding the public good like regulatory agencies or traditional political parties are perceived as captured by outside interests or are incompetent, trust in the information they provide and the solutions they offer vanishes. Want more sharp takes on politics? Sign up for our free newsletter, Standing Room Only, written by Amanda Marcotte, now also a weekly show on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. The MAGA movement, adept at exploiting this vacuum, offers a potent, but factually dubious, alternative narrative. Voting for it becomes a seemingly rational, if nihilistic, act within a degraded information commons: A rejection of the perceived impostors, to use Rousseaus term, who oversaw the overgrazing, even if the alternative offers no real plan for restoring the pasture of hope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nowhere is the tragedy of the commons more literally and devastatingly visible than in mountaintop removal coal mining. More than 500 mountains have been destroyed by this process, with 1.5 million acres surface-mined for coal in central Appalachia. Each coal company claims to act in the best interest of its owners and utilities that want cheap coal; blasting away mountaintops to reach thin seams of coal is far cheaper than deep mining. But collectively, this efficient extraction has buried thousands of miles of streams, poisoned water supplies and left moonscapes where ancient mountains once stood. The profits flow to distant shareholders, while the environmental and health costs remain with local communities who lose their mountains, their clean water and often their health to benefit a commons of cheap electricity. What took millions of years to create gets destroyed in months for coal seams that power our air conditioners and charge our electric vehicles the ultimate irony of environmental overgrazing, worship of so-called technological advances and thoughtless consideration of future generations. Federal and state regulators have been complicit in this devastation by not enforcing the few restrictions already in law and bowing to coal company pressure to ignore the protests of individuals and communities harmed by shaving the tops off of some of the worlds most beautiful mountains. Consider the 2008 financial crisis, when banks issued mortgages to anyone with a pulse, knowing they could package and sell the risk to others. Each institution acted in its apparent self-interest, but collectively they grazed the financial commons down to bare ground, leaving taxpayers to restore the pasture. We see this tragedy playing out across rural America today, where groundwater aquifers that took millennia to fill are being pumped dry in decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each farmer drilling deeper wells acts rationally. Their crops need water; their families need income. But collectively, were mining an irreplaceable commons that our grandchildren will inherit as hardpan. The Ogallala Aquifer, which rests beneath the Great Plains and was once thought inexhaustible, now drops several feet per year in some areas, turning what was once Americas breadbasket into tomorrows dust bowl. The consolidation of American agriculture reflects this same pattern. Corporate farms can afford to bid up land prices and operate on razor-thin margins that family operations cant match. Each acquisition makes economic sense for the corporation, but collectively, were losing the social fabric of rural communities the school boards, volunteer fire departments and local businesses that family farmers traditionally supported. Rural broadband illustrates the commons problem perfectly. Telecom companies avoid the expense of serving sparsely populated areas because its not profitable for any single company. Meanwhile, rural communities fall further behind in the digital economy, creating a commons of connectivity that remains tragically underdeveloped, while urban areas enjoy multiple high-speed options. We see it in todays immigration debates, where sanctuary cities and border states clash over resources and responsibilities. Local communities act in their perceived self-interest some offering protection, others demanding enforcement while the national commons of immigration policy remains tragically overgrazed by competing political interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We witness it in social media platforms where individual users and corporate algorithms optimize for engagement and profit, collectively creating an information commons so degraded by misinformation and polarization that democratic discourse itself suffers. Climate change represents perhaps the ultimate tragedy of the commons, where individual nations and corporations pursue economic self-interest while the atmospheric commons becomes increasingly uninhabitable for everyone. Even our recent market volatility from meme stock frenzies to cryptocurrency bubbles reflects the same pattern. Institutional investors chase quick profits while collectively destabilizing the financial commons that supports retirement accounts and economic stability. The tragedy extends to our political system, where gerrymandering, dark money and extreme partisanship serve short-term political interests of political parties while degrading the democratic commons that serves us all. Each side grazes their portion of the political pasture down to the roots, leaving scorched earth for future generations. This is how we end up with health care systems that over-consume resources, financial institutions that privatize profits while socializing losses, federal agencies that prioritize fiefdoms over public service and immigration policies that satisfy no one while serving everyone poorly. Its all overgrazing, its all a tragedy of the commons, and we cant agree on exactly who to blame for signing this social contract or how to renegotiate it before the pasture becomes permanently barren. The challenge isnt identifying the problem Rousseau and the English figured that out centuries ago. The challenge is mustering the collective wisdom to manage our shared resources before theyre grazed beyond recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike my family cattle, we cant simply move to a fresh field when this one is exhausted. On July 4, we celebrated the remarkable creation of this republic. Its time for those in Appalachia and the whole nation to really ask ourselves, in all our overgrazing of resources and ideas and principles, if we have exhausted the commons. Trust and hope are our most precious resources, and we are tragically exhausting a once-bountiful supply. A version of this article also appeared in the DailyYonder.com The post Why Appalachia and rural America clings to Trump appeared first on Salon.com. Investigators have made a chilling discovery in the preliminary investigation into the Air India Flight 171 crash which killed 260 people in June. Just seconds after take-off, both of the 12-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliner's fuel-control switches abruptly moved to the "cut-off" position, starving the engines of fuel and triggering total power loss. Switching to "cut-off" is a move typically done only after landing. The cockpit voice recording captures one pilot asking the other why he "did the cut-off", to which the person replies that he didn't. The recording doesn't clarify who said what. At the time of take-off, the co-pilot was flying the aircraft while the captain was monitoring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The switches were returned to their normal inflight position, triggering automatic engine relight. At the time of the crash, one engine was regaining thrust while the other had relit but had not yet recovered power. Air India Flight 171 was airborne for less than a minute before crashing into a crowded neighbourhood in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, marking one of India's most baffling aviation disasters. Investigators are probing the wreckage and cockpit recorders to understand what went wrong just after take-off. The Air India flight climbed to 625 feet in clear weather before losing location data about 50 seconds in, according to the FlightRadar24 website. The preliminary report from the investigation - led by Indian authorities with experts from Boeing, General Electric, Air India, Indian regulators, and participants from the US and UK - raises several questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say the lever-lock fuel switches are designed to prevent accidental activation - they must be pulled up to unlock before flipping, a safety feature dating back to the 1950s. Built to exacting standards, they're highly reliable. Protective guard brackets further shield them from accidental bumps. "It would be almost impossible to pull both switches with a single movement of one hand, and this makes accidental deployment unlikely," a Canada-based air accidents investigator, who wanted to remain unnamed, told the BBC. That's what makes the Air India case stand out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If one of the pilots was responsible for shutting down the switches, intentionally or not, it "does beg the question: why", said Shawn Pruchnicki, a former airline accident investigator and aviation expert at Ohio State University. "Was it intentional, or the result of confusion? That seems unlikely, as the pilots reported nothing unusual. [BBC] "In many cockpit emergencies, pilots may press the wrong buttons or make incorrect selections - but there was no indication of such a situation here, nor any discussion suggesting that the fuel switches were selected by mistake," he said. "This kind of error doesn't typically happen without some evident issue." [BBC] Peter Goelz, a former managing director of the US's NTSB, said: "The finding is very disturbing - that a pilot has shut off the fuel switch within seconds of flying." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's likely much more on the cockpit voice recorder than what's been shared. A lone remark like 'why did you cut off the switches' isn't enough," he said. "The new details suggest someone in the cockpit shut those valves. The question is, who, and why? Both switches were turned off and then restarted within seconds. "The voice recorder will reveal more: was the flying pilot trying to restart the engines, or the monitoring one?" Investigators believe the cockpit voice recorder - with audio from pilot mics, radio calls and ambient cockpit sounds - holds the key to this puzzle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They haven't identified the voices yet, which is crucial. Typically, when the voice recorder is reviewed, people familiar with the pilots are present to help match voices. As of now, we still don't know which pilot turned the switches off and back on," said Mr Goelz. In short, investigators say what's needed is clear voice identification, a full cockpit transcript with labelled speakers, and a thorough review of all communications from the moment the plane was pushed back from the gate to the time it crashed. They also say this underscores the need for cockpit video recorders, as recommended by the NTSB. An over-the-shoulder view would show whose hand was on the cut-off switch. Before boarding Flight 171, both pilots and crew had passed breathalyser tests and had been cleared fit to fly, the report says. The pilots, based in Mumbai, had arrived in Ahmedabad the day before the flight and had adequate rest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But investigators are also zeroing in on what they describe is an interesting point in the report. It says in December 2018, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) highlighting that some Boeing 737 fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged. While the issue was noted, it wasn't deemed an unsafe condition requiring an Airworthiness Directive (AD) - a legally enforceable regulation to correct unsafe conditions in a product. The same switch design is used in Boeing 787-8 aircraft, including Air India's VT-ANB which crashed. As the SAIB was advisory, Air India did not perform the recommended inspections. Air India Flight 171 crashed into a crowded neighbourhood in Ahmedabad [Getty Images] Mr Pruchnicki said he's wondering whether there was a problem with the fuel control switches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What does this [bit in the report] exactly mean? Does it mean that with a single flip, that switch could shut the engine off and cut the fuel supply? When the locking feature is disengaged, what exactly happens? Could the switch just flip itself to off and shut down the engine? If that's the case, it's a really serious issue. If not, that also needs to be explained," he said. Others, however, aren't convinced this is a key issue. "I haven't heard of this which appears to be a low-profile FAA issuance. Nor have I heard any complaints [about the fuel switches] from pilots - who are usually quick to speak up. It's worth examining since it's mentioned, but it may just be a distraction," said Mr Goelz. Capt Kishore Chinta, a former investigator with India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), wonders whether the switches tripped because of a problem with the plane's electronic control unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Can the fuel cut-off switches be triggered electronically by the plane's electronic control unit without movement by the pilot? If the fuel cut-off switches tripped electronically, then it's a cause for concern," he told the BBC. The report says fuel samples from the refuelling tanks were "satisfactory". Experts had earlier suggested fuel contamination as a possible cause of the dual engine failure. Notably, no advisory has been issued for the Boeing 787 or its GE GEnx-1B engines, with mechanical failure ruled out for now pending further investigation. It also said that the aircraft's Ram Air Turbine (RAT) had deployed - a clear sign of a major systems failure - and the landing gear was found in "down position" or not retracted. The RAT, a small propeller that extends from the underside of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, acts as an emergency backup generator. It automatically deploys in flight when both engines lose power or if all three hydraulic systems register critically low pressure, supplying limited power to keep essential flight systems operational. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) strongly supports the conclusion that both engines had failed," Mr Pruchnicki said. A Boeing 787 pilot explained why he thought the landing gear was not retracted. "These days, every time I take off in a 787, I notice the landing gear retraction process closely. By the time the gear handle is pulled, we're already at about 200ft (60.9m), and the entire gear retraction process completes by around 400ft - roughly eight seconds in total, thanks to the aircraft's high-pressure hydraulic system." The pilot believes the one flying had no time to think. "When both engines fail and the aircraft starts going down, the reaction goes beyond just being startled - you go numb. In that moment, landing gear isn't your focus. Your mind is on one thing: the flight path. Where can I put this aircraft down safely? And in this case, there simply wasn't enough altitude to work with." Investigators say the crew tried to recover, but it happened too fast. "The engines were switched off and then back on. The pilots realised the engines were losing thrust - likely restarting the left one first, followed by the right," said Mr Pruchnicki. "But the right engine didn't have enough time to spool back up, and the thrust was insufficient. Both were eventually set to "run", but with the left shut down first and the right too late to recover, it was simply too little, too late." Families and friends of the crash victims had been anxiously awaiting the findings of the preliminary report. When the report was finally released early on Saturday in India, Imtiyaz Ali, who lost his brother, sister-in-law, and their two young children - read it carefully, only to be disappointed by what he said "reads like a product description". "Other than the pilots' final conversation, there's nothing in it that really points to what caused the crash." He said he hoped more details would be made public in the months to come. "This matters to us. We want to know exactly what happened. It won't change anything for us now, we continue grieving - just as we have since that day. "But at least we'll have some answers," Ali said. Earlier this weekin a story that reads as a perfect encapsulation of abuses by Trumps immigration enforcementmasked ICE agents roughed up and detained a 71-year-old U.S. citizen volunteering as a legal observer to monitor them at a federal courthouse in San Diego. Grandmother Barbara Stone says she was documenting the detention of asylum-seekers with the group Detention Resistance at San Diegos immigration court when she was baselessly accused of pushing an officer. Multiple masked agents then pursued Stone, grabbed and handcuffed her (leaving bruises), confiscated her phone and purse, and detained her for over eight hours, she says. Once Stone was released, ICE returned her bag but kept possession of her phone. Why? Stone says an ICE agent compared the situation to a drug bust where they keep a drug dealers phone because I had used it in the crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the only crime of which Stone says shes guilty is documenting immigration enforcement. If this is true, the episode would track with other apparent attempts by ICE agents to avoid accountability of late, for instance, by wearing masks so they can conduct raids and arrests anonymously. In a statement to a local outlet, ICE accused Stone of assaulting an officer, citing a 700% increase in assaults against its agents over the last year (a statistic the agency uses to justify agents concealing their identities, as well). That 700 percent increase, it should be noted, is a somewhat misleading way to say there have been 79 alleged assaults against ICE agents this year, compared to 10 in the same timeframe last year. Meanwhile, ICE interactions have become dramatically more frequent and aggressive. ICEs numbers unfortunately deserve further scrutiny, as the agency has been defining assault quite loosely. In another high-profile arrest of a U.S. citizen, for example, ICE last month detained New York City Comptroller Brad Lander for assaultan accusation not unlike when a schoolyard bully accuses his victim of getting in the way of his fist, as Washington Post columnist Philip Bump put it. One might add, to this list of questionable ICE allegations, its new claims about Stone. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) The State Board of Education said retirements are up in this year in Alabamas schools. They said it was expected, but other state leaders argued its a call to action. State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey said retirements have been lower over the past couple of years. He said thats because lawmakers raised retirement benefits in 2022, and teachers stayed to take advantage of them. We are concerned about the rising number of teacher retirements this year, but its not unexpected. We know that those people then, they have 30, 35, and in some cases, 38 years, he explained. And so, at some point they are gonna decide to retire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neah Scott, legislative council with the Retirement Systems of Alabama said 3,500 K-12 employees made that decision to retire this past schoolyear. We expected a lot of teachers they may have already intended to retire. Youve got the matrix changes, they said you know what, maybe Ill stay on three more years. Itll help with retirement benefit, and then Ill retire, explained Scott. 2025 Nick Saban Legacy Award to be presented at Red Mountain Theatre But still, Rep. Curtis Travis (D-Tuscaloosa) said teachers need more incentives to continue teaching, such as better pay and training. We just talk about theres an increase on folks who have retired. Were not even focused on the people that are not getting past five years, and the people that are not staying, he said. Thats what my concern is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover) said the benefits for teachers are great, but more can be done when it comes to the classroom, like student discipline. And we need to work from the front end, getting new people to head towards education so that, as our experienced teachers retire, we have filled in those slots. Dr. Mackey said the retirements also come as COVID relief money has ceased for schools. He said they will have to help some districts downsize and transition. I think this is a trend that were gonna see over the next couple of years. That, as positions go away, as people retire, not all of them are gonna be replaced, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Mackey said the greatest teacher shortage lies in rural counties. He said they need to work on getting elementary and special education teachers in rural communities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Key Points Climate change is impacting coffee yields and increasing prices, causing concern for consumers and growers. Regenerative farming and techniques like composting can help lower costs and boost quality. Consumers can help by buying certified sustainable coffee and supporting environmentally conscious brands. Andrea Illy, Chairman of the Italian coffee brand Illy, sipped a cappuccino at a recent breakfast in Manhattan and discussed the state of the Western Hemispheres favorite morning drink. "Now we have severely high coffee prices as a consequence of droughts last year in Vietnam and Brazil triggered by El Nino, the ocean current that goes back and forth across the South Pacific," he explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement El Nino and La Nina are two climate patterns. El Nino years bring warmer water and temperatures, but they trade off with cooler La Nina periods. Climate change has strengthened El Ninos influence and expanded it, even to Atlantic locations like Brazil. Thats led to more droughts, which have decreased yields, driving up the cost of the green coffee that goes to roasters by nearly 55 percentthe most precipitous increase in half a century. "Of course, the consumer pays the bill," says Illy. In May, U.S. consumers spent an average of $7.93 per pound for roasted coffee, up $1.77 since 2023. "Coffee growers are unhappy with such a high price, too, because they say its unsustainable. Consumption will go down, and the price will collapse." Growers attempt to ride the boom by planting more trees, increasing production. "Then, the year after, the market is flooded with coffee, and the prices go down like a rock," says Illy. Its a typical trend. "We keep doing the same mistakes." Coffee treesparticularly Arabica, the main speciesare highly susceptible to climate pressures. As the planet warms, estimates are that, by 2050, half as much land will be suitable for coffee. Growers will need to move higher in altitude. And diseases like coffee leaf rust, a fungus thats decimated plants in every coffee-producing region around the world, will proliferate. Given that many farmers have few resources, we are looking at an uncertain future for our cups of joe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luckily, solutions are in the works. Coffee importers, researchers, advocates and governments are cooperating to support farmers. And consumers can help. Sustainable Farming Practices Coffee is farmed by a vast collection of small landholders in 70 countries across the Southern Hemisphere. Ninety-five percent of the 12.5 million coffee farms are less than five hectares, or 12 acres, in size. Sixty percent of the worlds coffee comes from small farmsyet its only in Vietnam and Brazil, where larger holdings are more common, that farmers earn enough to escape poverty. Thats a social and environmental crisis. "Farmers living below the poverty line are often unable to withstand climate shocks," say Tran Quynh Chi, regional landscapes director for Asia, and Mette-Marie Hansen, senior program manager for coffee, for the sustainable farming advocacy organization IDH, who answered questions together for this story. "Farmers struggling to survive often turn to unsustainable land expansion, clearing forests to grow more coffee or other crops." Deforestation degrades habitats, causes biodiversity loss and contributes to the climate change that is harming coffee in the first place. There are 12 million hectares (almost 30 million acres) of coffee in production worldwidebut compared to, say, soybeans, which are grown on nearly three times the land in the United States alone, coffee is a relatively small crop, so it causes less damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, says Raina Lang, Conservation Internationals senior director for sustainable coffee, "its more like death by a thousand cuts. When prices are high and farmers see profit, they expand. When productivity is low, instead of working to increase their yield, they increase growing area to offset that loss." Both tactics lead to deforestation. Thats one reason Conservation International is collaborating with the United Nations Green Climate Fund to promote sustainable growing practices in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Uganda, where 20 percent of small coffee farmers reside. The organization is training farmers to increase productivity on their existing land through sustainable practices. It has also created the Sustainable Coffee Challenge, partnering with roasters and large retailers (such as Aldi and Dunkin) that pledge to buy only sustainable, responsibly sourced coffee, and also with research and tech partners committed to helping farmers increase profits in earth-friendly ways. The water-smart company Irrigation Technologies, for instance, provides coffee growers with its Deep Root Irrigation technology, saving them 60 percent of the water used by standard drip irrigation systems. Other NGOs are doing the same. In Uganda, IDHs Coffee Farmer Income Resilience Programme provides growers with World Bankfinanced training to adopt regenerative practices, including adding fruit trees, row crops and apiaries. Growing other crops, say Chi and Hansen, can boost farmers income by 10 percent. And through its Initiative for Sustainable Landscapes (ISLA) program, IDH is helping farmers in Kenya and Vietnam transition to organic fertilizers, adopt rainwater catchment, manage cover crops for compost and soil health and recycle leftover coffee husks for mulch. These programs can not only increase profitability through alternative income streams but also improve the health and resilience of coffee farms. Coffee brands are pitching in, as well. One such player is Illy, which is training growers in regenerative agriculture. Farmers feed the microorganisms in the soil with compost, creating soil biodiversity that fends off diseases, holds moisture and sequesters the carbon that would otherwise contribute to climate change. Farmers forgo chemicals and save money and emissions they would otherwise expend on ploughing. Illy reports that 90 percent of the companys growers have adopted 70 percent of the regenerative practices honed on its research farms. The result? "Productivity is higher with cheaper production costs." Beneficial insects and birds that eat agricultural pests thrive. "And the coffee is so much better." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet, all these efforts wont make a dent unless farmers can earn a real living. As Chi and Hansen point out, "When there is lack of income security, even the most well-designed sustainability programs risk failure." IDH, therefore, is working to keep more money in farmers hands. Coffee's annual market value is $200 billion, reports Illy, but farmers only see 5% of that. IDH, therefore, is working to increase farmers' profits, providing technical and financial support for regenerative agriculture, which helps them lower production costs, secure premium prices and stabilize markets. Better Genetics Another issue has been a lack of investment in the trees that produce coffee berries. Thats particularly problematic under climate change. "Coffee is under-innovated," says Hanna Neuschwander, senior communications advisor at World Coffee Research. "The number of apple varieties registered in the International Register of Varieties is over 5,000 since 1990, and for coffee its 120." Most coffee varieties were created in a breeding push after coffee leaf rust arrived in the Americas in the 1970s, but by now, those varieties have lost their ability to resist the mutating pathogen. World Coffee Research has thousands of varieties of coffee trees in trials. Four have made it into real-world trials in Guatemala, Peru and Costa Rica. Its first trees go to market in 2027, and Neuschwander is optimistic: "Human history is full of examples of running into a problem and innovating a solution. Thats the business were in." But research and development takes money. More than 200 coffee companiesincluding Starbucks, Intelligentsia, Keurig and Dr Peppersubsidize World Coffee Research. Other efforts rely on government funding, and in the U.S., funding has been uncertain of late. For instance, many of Conservation Internationals NGO partners were funded by the USDA or USAID. "That programming has stopped," Lang says. "Im sure that well see impacts. A lot of the US investments in Central America were to improve livelihoods with the hope that farmers wouldnt immigrate." Indeed, sources report that the main driver of immigration from Central America since the first Trump term has been climate change, which has devastated coffee and other crops, leading farmers to seek a living up north. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other governments have taken the opposite approach. They are working to improve coffee sustainability. The European Union, for instance, recently moved to require deforestation-free sourcing for seven products, including coffee. How Consumers Can Help Experts agree that consumers can help secure the crop for future coffee breaks. Conservation Internationals Sustainable Coffee Challenge website lists roasters and retailers that source sustainable coffee. Though Lang says, the easiest thing to do is look for a certification on a bag of coffee. While no certification is perfect, it is a sourcing strategy to promote best practices in environmental and social stewardship. Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, Regenerative Organic and Regenagri, which certifies Illy, all use third-party auditing to ensure that production meets their standards. You may pay more for certified beans, but youll be helping farmers reinvest, protect the environment and secure their livelihoods, say Chi and Hansen. Indeed, farmers who grow beans under certification programs earn more. For example, no matter whats happening on the New York futures market (in which agreements are made to purchase coffee at a set price on a set future date), Fairtrade shelters farmers from fluctuations on the low end of the market by guaranteeing a minimum price for coffee sold to buyers under its certification program. That currently ranges from $1.80 for washed Arabica to $1.20 for natural Robusta. On top of that, buyers pay a 20-cent Fairtrade premium, at least 25 percent of which farmers must use on infrastructure and social projects. If their coffee is also certified organic, they receive an additional 40 cents per pound. If the price for coffee on the commodities market ranges higher than the minimum, buyers pay the commodity price, and farmers still receive their premiums. In 2018 alone, says Fairtrade, farmers earned close to $89 million in Fairtrade premiums that were reinvested in farms and communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More broadly, says Illy, consumers can call for an economic system that recognizes the value of nature. "The extractive, linear system that we created with the Industrial Revolution depletes natural resources," a process he says is self-destructive because we rely on those resources to live. "A regenerative economy puts natural capital at the same level as financial capital. As the regenerative economy grows, you regenerate natural capital." That mug in your hand is not just a caffeine fix; it can also drive a system that adequately compensates farmers and protects the environment, which in turn helps mitigate climate change, ensuring theres coffee in the future. The immediate benefit to you? A more delicious cup and the gratification of supporting its producers. The Bottom Line The coffee industry has been affected by climate change, economic inequality and outdated farming methods. The dwindling coffee harvests have caused an increase in prices. And while consumers are paying higher prices, the coffee farmers are struggling. Organizations like IDH and Conservation International are implementing sustainable and regenerative farming practices to try to improve yields and assist farmers. Similarly, organizations like World Coffee Research are working to develop better coffee hybrids, but are facing setbacks due to funding cuts. Consumers can help protect and support the future of the coffee industry by choosing certified sustainable brands and companies that source ethically. Read the original article on EATINGWELL Nazma Khan, who immigrated to the United States from Bangladesh at age 11, faced years of shaming over wearing a headscarf in New York. So, in 2013, she started World Hijab Day a day for both Muslim and non-Muslim women to experience wearing a headscarf. Celebrated on Feb. 1, the day is an expression of solidarity and support for religious freedom. As a scholar of Muslim immigrants, I have also long argued for womens right to religious expression in their clothing choices. The hijab is not simply about religion women wear it for a variety of reasons that can change, depending on the time and social context. Is the veil an Islamic requirement? Muslim religious writings are not entirely clear on the question of veiling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Various passages in the Quran, the Muslim holy book, and the Hadiths, statements attributed to the Prophet Mohammad, make reference to veiling by the prophets wives. But scholars disagree about whether these statements apply only to the prophets wives or to all Muslim women. According to some, the veil has been used as a way of curbing male sexual desire. Yet covering the head and body predated Islam. Jewish, Christian and Hindu women have also covered their head at various times in history and in different parts of the world. Certainly, the headscarf is tied to religion. Many women who cover talk about it as a way demonstrating their submission to God and a constant reminder to hold fast to Islamic beliefs such as being honest and generous to those in need. Asserting identity However, there are other reasons for adopting the hijab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French and British colonizers encouraged Muslim women to remove the veil and emulate European women. Consequently, in North African and Middle Eastern countries, the veil became a symbol of national identity and opposition to the West during independence and nationalist movements. Today, some women wear the hijab to signal pride in their ethnic identity. This is more so for immigrants in Europe and the United States, where there has been an increase in Islamophobia. In a Facebook post for World Hijab Day 2018 that went viral, Columbia College student Toqa Badran wrote, I wear this scarf because when I was a child I was socialized to be embarrassed, even ashamed, of my religion and my culture. I was told that to be a Muslim was to be a terrorist and that to be outwardly Muslim was to endorse violence and oppression I understood that I would be unwelcome as long as I wore symbols of my heritage and chose to, in however modern a way, embrace my ancestors. Muslim African-American women in the U.S. sometimes wear a hijab to signal their religious affiliation. They also want to dispel the assumption that all African-Americans are Christians, and that only people with origins abroad can be Muslim. In fact, 13 percent of adult Muslims in the U.S are black Americans born in the country. Different reasons for wearing a hijab The newly elected Congresswoman Ilhan Omar wears a hijab. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) For many other women, the headscarf has become a means of resistance to standards of feminine beauty that demand more exposure. Proponents of this view argue that removing clothing for the benefit of the male gaze does not equal liberation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to researchers, women in hijabs note that employers must interact with them based on their qualifications rather than their appearance and that, therefore, the hijab levels the playing field. In Western countries, however, women find that wearing a head covering makes it harder to get hired. Finally, for some women, the headscarf is a convenience. It can reduce comments from others about women being out in public and lessen incidents of harassment on the street and at work. Despite the multiple, complicated reasons behind wearing a hijab, there are those who routinely assert that women who wear a headscarf are necessarily oppressed. Examples of hijab-wearing women in the government, such as Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, or athletes such as Olympian fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, may help dispel these stereotypes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Caitlin Killian, Drew University Read more: Caitlin Killian does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. AUSTIN (KXAN) Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B has earned the nickname FEMA of Texas thanks to its immediate and thorough response to catastrophic floods that struck the state the weekend of July 4. The grocer started responding to disaster relief efforts within 24 hours of the floods hitting. On the morning of Saturday, July 5, H-E-B posted on X that its team was staying close to the hardest-hit areas & we will continue to provide support as these tragic situations evolve. How to help local Texas communities impacted by flooding Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement H-E-B started going viral across different social media platforms for its near-instant response. One Facebook post said, We dont need to wait on FEMA weve got H-E-B. Several TikTok videos showing H-E-B Disaster Relief trucks deployed the day after the floods have garnered millions of views. A company spokesperson said H-E-B prioritizes disaster relief because its important to us for Texans to take care of Texans, and thats who we are. Lisa Helfman, managing director of H-E-B public affairs, told KXAN that on Friday, exactly a week after those floods hit the state, impacting Kerrville in the Hill Country hardest. Kerrville is also where H-E-B was first founded 120 years ago. H-E-B has an emergency operations team that is working 365 days a year, not just when a disaster strikes, Helfman said. So, when a disaster strikes, we are ready to go with all the resources the community needs, and they change from disaster to disaster. So, we have eyes and ears on the ground, and were ready to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company donated $5 million to nonprofits providing aid and recovery support. Among that, $2 million was gifted to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country to support its Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. H-E-B has mobilized in several different areas to help with recovery. It has deployed three disaster relief sites in Central Texas that are distributing water, snacks, cleaning kits, gift cards and other essentials. Those sites were set up in Leander, Burnet and Liberty Hill. The grocer also deployed its Mobile Kitchen to Ingram, and distributed other essentials, like cleaning supplies and gift cards to Center Point and Hunt, according to a press release from the company. H-E-B employees have also been volunteering to help serve hard-hit areas across the state. Theyve been providing meals, gift cards, food, water, and cleaning materials in flood-affected areas of Burnet, Georgetown, Leander, Liberty Hill, Marble Falls, San Angelo and more. H-E-B dominates among U.S. grocery rankings for 3rd consecutive year Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The good thing about H-E-B is we have 160,000 partners, what we call our employees, and everybody wants to help, Helfman said. So, were able to mobilize in the way that each region needs us, and some need different resources more than others. H-E-B also launched a check stand donation campaign, which lets customers donate at the checkout when shopping in-store and online. The money collected through that campaign will be distributed to nonprofits supporting victims in impacted counties. Helfman said H-E-B does not take an administration fee, so 100% of those funds will go back to the community. Helfman said that campaign will run through July 20. Helfman said moving forward, H-E-B will continue supporting impacted communities, however the communities need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important for us to keep our eyes and ears on the ground right, she said. So, we dont self-deploy, we go where people tell us, and we build those relationships over time before the disaster strikes. So whether its the county judge or a mayor or a nonprofit, we are working with them to set up in their communities. For three years in a row, H-E-B has been ranked as the top U.S. grocery retailer in the retailer preference index report released by customer data science source Dunnhumby. If the grocer continues efforts like those it has displayed after the floods, it wont be surprising if it keeps that No. 1 spot for years to come. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. President Donald Trumps administration unlawfully shipped Kilmar Abrego Garcia to an infamous prison in El Salvador his home nation where a judge barred him from being deported where the Maryland man says he was tortured. Trump officials refused to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S., as the Supreme Court had ordered, for nearly two months, before suddenly bringing him back to face new criminal charges in Tennessee. A magistrate judge found the governments evidence against Abrego Garcia was simply insufficient to justify his incarceration, and quickly ordered his release on bail. The Trump administration has worked diligently to ensure that this is bad news for Abrego Garcia: If his release goes forward, as this judge ordered, the Trump administration intends to deport Abrego Garcia as fast as it can, without concluding the criminal case against him. The administration could send him either to El Salvador, if it can strike down his existing protection from removal order, or to an undetermined third country like the war-torn South Sudan, where the Supreme Court just allowed Trump officials to deport eight migrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations ongoing legal strategy with Abrego Garcia can best be summed up as: Heads I win, tails you get sent back to El Salvador or maybe South Sudan or Libya, or some other creatively violent or cruel locale. Well let you know, when we feel like it. In March, the Trump administration sent Abrego Garcia and hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to CECOT, an infamous mega-prison in El Salvador, in open defiance of a court order. Trump officials renditioned these men to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 wartime law, without giving them an opportunity to challenge their removal. They were deported based on specious claims that the Venezuelans are members of a gang the president declared a terrorist organization. Officials have claimed that Abrego Garcia is a member of the violent gang MS-13. The magistrate judge in Tennessee found their evidence unpersuasive, leading the administration to unveil its alternative plan to punish Abrego Garcia. This punishment is not simply necessary because Abrego Garcias lawyers keep beating the administration in court. For senior Trump officials, much of the administrations cruel deportation agenda rests on this one case on this one guys fate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to various Trump administration officials and other sources close to the president, one key reason the government has been fighting so hard on this, at first to keep him imprisoned in El Salvador, and now to keep punishing him, is that officials believe that if they back down on the Abrego Garcia case, it could set a precedent that opens the floodgates to other legal challenges. Going soft on this, as one senior Trump appointee puts it, could potentially be used against the administration in court, in challenges not only to different aspects of their immigration crackdowns, but to other ways in which Trump is wielding executive power that have little or nothing to do with immigration, per se. Indeed, theres a fear among the MAGA political and legal elite that failing to declare victory in the Abrego Garcia case could make it harder for them to sustain their deployment of the Alien Enemies Act, the invocation of which has been a policy dream of the president, top White House official Stephen Miller, and other Trumpland denizens for years. The last thing you want to do here is contribute to a domino effect of decisions where suddenly youre admitting youre wrong about everything, another close Trump adviser says. That is why you gotta stand your ground on everything against the left, including on the [Abrego Garcia] situation. Trumps administration is treating Abrego Garcia so aggressively because hes a symbol of what theyre doing, an immigration lawyer tells Rolling Stone. He represents their failure to keep people silent in CECOT. He represents everything that they did wrong when it comes to these removals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It remains to be seen whether Maryland District Judge Paula Xinis, who has presided over the original lawsuit to facilitate Abrego Garcias return, will attempt to block the administration from deporting Abrego Garcia to a third country without due process or at least a real opportunity to plead his case that he would be at risk of being tortured or killed in whatever third country the Trump administration decides to send him to. If she does, Trump officials will no doubt attempt to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court, which the administration has on speed dial, as liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor recently put it. The court initially unanimously demanded the Trump administration undo Abrego Garcias unlawful deportation and facilitate his return to the U.S., and it also issued a ruling blocking the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants to prison in El Salvador without due process. Since then, it has issued a series of rulings deferring to Trump and greenlighting his most authoritarian aims including two decisions ensuring the president can deport migrants, without meaningful due process, to South Sudan, a country the State Department warns Americans not to visit due to crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violent crime, such as carjackings, shootings, ambushes, assaults, robberies, and kidnappings are common throughout South Sudan, the State Department says. Foreign nationals have been the victims of rape, sexual assault, armed robberies, and other violent crimes. In an interview released by Politico on Friday, Trumps Border Czar Tom Homan indicated that the administration isnt bothering to track the migrants it just sent to South Sudan. As far as were concerned, theyre free, Homan said. Theyre no longer in our custody. Theyre living in Sudan. And will they stay in Sudan? I dont know. Asked if those migrants are being detained in South Sudan, Homan said, I dont know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration clearly hopes to wash its hands of Abrego Garcia the same way so it can do the same with countless more people just like him. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The pangolin, a species protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Schedule I provides the highest level of legal protection, with offences under it attracting stringent penalties. The Indian pangolin, also known as the thick-tailed pangolin or scaly anteater, is a nocturnal, solitary, slow-moving mammal that primarily feeds on ants and termites. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a team from the wildlife control rooms of Rajouri and Nowshera jointly rescued a sub-adult female leopard from Simbal village. The leopard was spotted sitting near a maize field, just a few metres from a residential area. (ANI) Widow of firefighter killed during Trump assassination attempt reflects, looks for answers A fire captain shielded his family as bullets rained down on the Butler Farm Show grounds during a Trump rally in Butler last year. Killed by the gunfire, Corey Comperatore is being remembered as a hero. Helen Comperatore wears two medals around her neck, one of St. Christopher that belonged to her husband, and another with his fingerprint. Next week, they would have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can never explain the loneliness of missing a spouse the person you share everything with, your deepest secrets, and then theyre gone," Helen Comperatore said. She says that, some days, it feels like its been a whole year, and other days, like forever ago. >>> He died a hero: Butler County fire community remembers former chief killed at Trump rally <<< Helen, Corey and their two daughters, Alyson and Kaylee, went to that Trump rally in Butler. Someone asked if they wanted to move from the grassy area to the VIP section We were the very first people to sit in those bleachers, Helen Comperatore said. We had the pick of the seats, and thats where my husband chose to sit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Corey Comperatore shielded his family as the bullets rained down. Channel 11s Lisa Sylvester asked, Do you remember the last thing he said to you? Get down, Helen Comperatore said. >>> A man of service & sacrifice: Resolution introduced in Congress honoring life of Corey Comperatore <<< Ill never forget Kaylees screams. She just continued to scream, and of course, holding his head, I knew he was already gone, but you just beg him to stay, Helen Comperatore said. Six Secret Service agents were suspended for failures on that day. Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to get into a building and onto the roof. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was in there for an hour with a range finder, and all those people looked at him and thought he was suspicious, Helen Comperatore said. Why didnt someone grab him? Why? She has reminders of her husband in her front yard, including a maple tree that he planted. But they cant fill the hole in her heart. I miss knowing that, if anything was wrong, he was there to make it right, because that is what he did, she said. No matter what it was, Corey fixed it. Whether it was something broken in the house or something broken here in my heart, Corey fixed it. >>> Local first responders to pay tribute to Corey Comperatore while marching in inauguration parade <<< Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They had known each other a long time, just about their whole lives. They met in kindergarten and were high school sweethearts. The community was set to gather Saturday to support the family and remember Corey Comperatore with Coreys Cruise, a motorcycle cruise in Russelton, Pa. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW The wife of Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr allegedly struck and killed a babysitter in a crosswalk while on vacation in Italy. Vivian Alexandra Spohr, 51, is under investigation for vehicular homicide after reportedly hitting Gaia Costa, 24, with her BMW X5 on Tuesday, the New York Post reported, citing Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Costa was using a pedestrian crossing in the Sardinian resort town of Porto Cervo when she was hit. Carsten Spohr has been the chairman and CEO of Lufthansa since 2014. Vivian is a patron of a Lufthansa charity foundation that supports children and young people. / Felix Horhager/Getty Images Vivian initially drove on, apparently unaware she had hit anyone, before being flagged down by a passerby and fainting upon discovering the accident, German newspaper Bild said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paramedics attempted to revive Costa, who had been on her way to her babysitting job, for 20 minutes, but she died from severe head injuries at the scene. While Carsten, 58, was not in the car at the time of the accident, Vivian was reportedly driving with their daughter. The family owns a vacation home near the scene of the collision. Vivian flew back to Munich, Germany, shortly after the accident. Her attorney, Angelo Merlini, told La Repubblica that she is at the complete disposal of the judicial authorities for the necessary investigations. A luxury yacht arrives in Porto Cervo, a high-end resort town on Sardinias northern coast. / Frank Bienewald/Getty Images Merlini said Vivian expresses her dismay and deep regret over this very serious accident. A lawyer for the Spohrs, who have two daughters, told Bild that the family has expressed their deepest condolences to the victims relatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators are reportedly looking into whether Vivian was distracted by her phone at the time of the accident. An alcohol and drug test reportedly came back negative. Porto Cervo mayor Gianni Addis described Costa as hard-working and cheerful. Gaia was a young woman who was deeply involved in the citys social and cultural life, he said, according to The Telegraph. She was passionate about our traditions and never missed the parades of the local folk group. Vivian is a patron of a Lufthansa charity foundation that supports children and young people. Carsten has been the chairman and CEO of Lufthansa since 2014. He earned more than 5.6 million in compensation in 2023, according to Yahoo Finance. WILKES COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) Law enforcement responded to a shots fired call in the parking lot of a Wilkesboro YMCA on Friday, according to a Wilkesboro Police Department news release. WPD officers and Wilkes County Sheriffs Office deputies arrived on the scene, and the YMCA staff locked the building down. Investigators determined that the incident happened outside in the parking lot between people and that the people had left the area before officers arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No injuries were reported. During the investigation, a person of interest was identified and is now in custody. Officers say they dont believe anyone in the YMCA was targeted. Investigators believe the incident stemmed from a disagreement between two people in the YMCA and that it continued as they left. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the WPD at (336) 667-7277. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. Kenya's William Ruto rode into office on a wave of enthusiasm among ordinary people who hoped he would live up to his promises to improve their lives. Instead, he is facing unrelenting criticism seen as unmatched in the country's history. Seemingly frustrated by the intensity of the backlash, he on Wednesday asked why such public outrage was never directed at his predecessors, including Daniel arap Moi, who ruled with an iron fist for over two decades marked by political repression and human rights abuses, and others who departed under clouds of controversy. On Wednesday Ruto posed: "All this chaos, why wasn't it directed at [former presidents] Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru KenyattaWhy the contempt and arrogance?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Analysts describe the current wave of public anger toward President Ruto, which has seen more than 100 people killed over the past year, as "unprecedented", uniting Kenyans across ethnic, religious, and class divisions. Protests against his administration began barely a year after he came into power. Three years in, many aggrieved Kenyans now want him gone amid unrelenting protests with rallying calls of "Ruto must go" and "Ruto Wantam" (Ruto for one term). When Ruto was vying for the presidency, he portrayed himself as a common man, who came from a childhood marked by poverty and resilience. He appealed to the ordinary folk as a person they could draw inspiration from - having risen from chicken seller to president. Contrast that to earlier this year, when a newspaper splashed a headline asking whether Ruto was "Kenya's most hated president", a sentiment that has often echoed across social media platforms and public discourse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It marks an extraordinary change in Kenyan politics, often shaped by ethnic allegiances and class divisions. Just as Ruto was seen as transcending those barriers to clinch the presidency, the same dynamics now appear to be working against him. This week the phrase "We are all Kikuyus," trended on social media as young people rejected attempts to reintroduce the ethnic divisions that have long plagued Kenyan politics. A counter narrative of "We are all Kenyans" emerged but failed to gain similar traction with some seeing it as an attempt to dilute the expression of solidarity in the first message. The Kikuyu, Kenya's largest ethnic group from the Mt Kenya region, overwhelmingly backed Ruto in the 2022 elections, together with Rigathi Gachagua, who hails from the region, as his deputy. But Gachagua's hounding from office last year through a dramatic impeachment process, which he described as a betrayal, sparked discontent in the region. In the aftermath, some politicians allied to Ruto have accused Kikuyu elites of fuelling opposition against the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Political analyst Mark Bichachi says the opposition to the president is not ethnically driven, but is happening across diverse communities in urban and rural areas. He terms the "public outcry against a president and a regime" both "unprecedented" and "historical", even surpassing the political upheavals of the 1980s and 1990s when Moi led a one-party state. The period was marked by brutal crackdowns and a bloody fight for multiparty democracy, but Mr Bichachi tells the BBC that this did not generate the kind of pressure now bearing down on Ruto, adding that the tensions then were linked to the Cold War and were felt across the continent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But academic Dr Njoki Wamai says the criticism levelled at the president is nothing unusual, but part of a political tradition during moments of crisis. "All presidents, when they've gone against the constitution, against the will of the Kenyan people, have always faced a lot of criticism," she tells the BBC. She points to past leaders such as the founding president Jomo Kenyatta and his successor Moi - who both faced an intense backlash and loss of public trust during critical moments - including after the assassination of key political leaders and the coup attempt against Moi in 1982. Past Kenyan presidents such Daniel arap Moi also faced an intense backlash [Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images] "What is different [this time] is that the scale of spread of information is higher," she says, noting the impact of Kenya's digitally savvy youth, whose widespread access to social media and digital tools has amplified public discourse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also describes Ruto as always having been "very conservative," suggesting that his political outlook clashes with the more liberal values embraced by many Kenyans - particularly young people. This ideological mismatch, she argues, has contributed to growing tensions. The current resistance campaigns are largely youth-led, online-based, decentralised and seen as leaderless, mostly unfolding outside the established political class. Since last year, they have been driven by anger over the high cost of living, aggressive taxation, corruption and police brutality. But pointing to ethnic politics and incitement as fuelling the latest unrest, the president said on Wednesday: Let's stop ethnic division, hatred, pride and contempt. We are all Kenyans". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He vowed to use "whatever means necessary" to maintain peace and stability. He called on the police to shoot in the legs protesters who were targeting businesses, rather than killing them. His remarks sparked more outrage and mockery. Since last year, the Kenyan government has responded to protests and dissent with brutal crackdowns, including mass arrests and alleged abductions by security operatives. The police have been accused of using excessive force to quell the protests [Getty Images] It is a strategy that rights groups say has only deepened public outrage and alienated the citizens from the state, with the police accused of using excessive force to quell the protests. More than 100 people have been killed in successive waves of anti-government protests since June last year. The latest one on Monday claimed 38 lives, marking the deadliest day of unrest yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than serve as a catalyst for police reform or push efforts to pacify the demonstrators, the deaths have often served as a spark for subsequent protests, turning grief into rage. The government has blamed the violence on protesters, accusing them of attacking police stations and even trying to stage a coup. Political communication expert Dr Hesbon Owilla calls the unrest "probably the most intense outrage against a regime" in Kenya's history. He says it has brought people from all walks of life to unite in defiance. He puts it down to how the president communicates to the people. He says Ruto's promises to uplift the fortunes of ordinary people were "real, extremely real" and shifted the campaign from ethnic mobilisation toward issue-based politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Then he became president. We are still waiting. What Kenyans are experiencing is worse," he tells the BBC, capturing the deep sense of disappointment among many Kenyans. He says that unlike past governments that made cautious promises, Ruto made, and continues to make, sweeping pledges leading to broken expectations. "The disillusionment is creating the rage," he says. Ruto promised to champion the interest of the ordinary person [Bloomberg via Getty Images] Citing the example of the order to shoot protesters, he also says that the president often speaks when silence might serve him better - overexposing himself and inadvertently making serious national issues feel personal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, when there is criticism, it tends to be directed squarely at him, rather than being attributed to a failure of governance systems. Even so, Ruto has repeatedly highlighted his administration's efforts to better the lives of all Kenyans, pointing to the government's flagship affordable housing project, a universal health scheme, digital jobs, and an overseas employment programme as key achievements. While inspecting one of the housing sites this week, he acknowledged the severity of youth unemployment but emphasised that the problem predates his presidency. He insisted that his government was the first to take deliberate steps to tackle the crisis, citing state initiatives such as the housing project that he says has created hundreds of thousands of jobs. The president appealed for patience, as the problem would take time to resolve. Yet patience, especially amid the high cost of living, unmet expectations, and growing frustration, is not something that most Kenyans feel they can afford. Some of those flagship programmes have come at a steep cost to Kenyans, who now have 1.5% housing levy and a 2.75% health insurance tax deducted from their monthly incomes. The pain of paying some of these higher taxes has dominated everyday conversations, especially with a perception that higher taxes have not resulted in better public services. To the government's credit, Dr Owilla says some of the initiatives, like the universal healthcare project, have had a great impact, and others may eventually deliver for many. But Mr Bichachi argues that the government has "lost touch with how people feel", and its tone has remained unchanged despite rising public resentment. He says the issue is unlikely to change based on how the government performs describing it as a "love-hate relationship" between the people and the presidency. That is "how we find ourselves where we are", he concludes, referring to the intense resentment that is now faced by the president, who was once one of the "the most applauded and lauded leaders to come onto the Kenyan state". You may also be interested in: [Getty Images/BBC] Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Jul. 12A man who threatened to shoot another man doing yard work in Wilton on Friday, leading to a police standoff, is being treated at Maine Medical Center after two officers shot him. Police received a 911 call Friday afternoon that Gabriele Wilbur, 34, was threatening to shoot another man who was doing landscaping on Cemetery Road. Officers from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and Wilton Police Department tried negotiating with Wilbur, according to a statement Saturday from Maine State Police, but Wilbur failed to follow their commands and pointed a gun at them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A standoff ensued. Maine State Police called both their crisis negotiation and tactical response teams to the scene. The standoff ended when Wilbur emerged from the house and tried confronting officers while armed, according to Maine State Police. Trooper Andrew Hardy and Officer Cody Henry shot Wilbur. His injuries were not considered life-threatening, according to police. Hardy and Henry were placed on administrative leave while the Office of the Maine Attorney General investigates their actions, which is standard practice, according to Maine State Police. The attorney general's office has released findings for at least 14 instances of police shootings or deadly force that occurred last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State police say they're still investigating Wilbur's actions and expect to charge him with several criminal offenses. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) The winners of the 42nd Taste of Buffalo were announced Saturday, featuring 14 awards for a variety of wineries and eateries in Western New York offering up delicious dishes. This year, nearly 50 vendors gathered in Niagara Square for one of the largest food festivals in the country. WIVB News 4s Jacquie Walker, Dave Greber, Kelsey Anderson and Marlee Tuskes were part of the panel of over 60 food judges who chose the winners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judging by the taste sprouts stole the show! The awards, winners and dishes can be seen in the full list below. Chairs Choice (chosen by Matthew Reis, 2025 Taste of Buffalo chair): El Coquito Chicharron de pollo Childrens Choice (chosen by Cameron Reis, son of 2025 Taste of Buffalo chair): Not Just Cakes Chocolate brownie mousse cups Louis J. Billittier Sr. Rookie of the Year Award : Roaming Bison BBQ Veteran Restaurant Winner : Carrubbas Chicken Pit Eric DuVall Memorial Best of Buffalo Winner : Avenue29 Foods Meatball bomber Best Overall Item : Resurgence Brewing Company Barley brussels Best New Item : Chrusciki Bakery Cream puff with powdered sugar Best Surf or Turf Item : La Casa de Sabores Pernil (roasted pork) Best Dessert : Sweet Melodys Red white and blue sundae Best Handheld : AJs Kitchen Smack burger Hot Ones Best Item : D.A. Taste Birria waffle fries Best Red Wine : Merritt Bella Rosa Best White Wine : Victorianbourg DAstra Favorite Fermentation: Three Brothers Concord Grape Hard Cider Taste of Buffalo continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday along Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo. Click here for WIVB News 4s full guide to the festival. Latest Local News Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. Someone in Massachusetts won $100,000 playing the lottery on Friday. The $100,000 prize was from Mass Cash, a daily drawing game. The winning numbers from the July 11 drawing were 2, 18, 19, 34 and 35. The winning ticket was sold in North Andover at a shop called Winners Corner MA. Mass Cash drawings are held 9 p.m. daily and tickets to play cost $1. Each player must choose five numbers between 1-35 for their ticket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, at least 628 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Friday, including 19 in Springfield, 28 in Worcester and 57 in Boston. The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600. The two largest lottery prizes won so far in 2025 were each worth $15 million. One of the prizes was from a winning Diamond Deluxe scratch ticket sold in Holyoke, and the other was from a 300X scratch ticket sold on Cape Cod. Massachusetts State Lottery Read the original article on MassLive. The Brief The NWS issued multiple severe weather warnings on Friday, July 11. A tornado warning was in effect for Jefferson County until 7:30 p.m. The NWS also issued a tornado watch for several counties that has since expired. MILWAUKEE - The National Weather Service issued a series of severe weather alerts, including a tornado warning, for parts of southeast Wisconsin on Friday, July 11. All warnings and watches have now expired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A tornado warning covered part of Jefferson County until 7:30 p.m., and a tornado watch expired for the county around 8:15 p.m. Tornado watches for Walworth and Waukesha counties expired around 8:40 p.m., while watches for Kenosha, Milwaukee and Racine counties expired just before 9:30 p.m. A severe thunderstorm warning also covered portions of some areas including Dodge, Jefferson, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties at times. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android FOX6 Weather Extras Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following: FOX6 Storm Center app FOX LOCAL Mobile app FOX Weather app What is the FOX Model? FOX Weather Maps and radar We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view its all there. School and business closings When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin. FOX6 Weather Experts in social media The Source Information in this report is from the FOX6 Weather Experts and National Weather Service. HONOLULU (KHON2) A fatal Waimanalo collision involving a moped left a 41-year-old woman dead during the late night hours of July 11, the Honolulu Police Department said. According to authorities, the collision occurred on Kalanianaole Highway and Bell Street when a 44-year-old male motorist was traveling northbound on the highway, when he moved into the southbound lane. Thats when officials say he struck the woman on the moped. How can you avoid a traffic collision? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman was ejected onto the roadway, where she was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. She was not wearing a helmet, officials confirmed. The man sustained minor injuries from the collision and was placed under arrest for Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant and Negligent Homicide in the First Degree, police said. This marks the 42nd traffic death on the island this year compared to 19 during this time last year, more than doubling. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Federal agents took a woman into custody this week whom they believe has information about a 2022 double homicide in Newport News. On June 15, 2022, two 7-Eleven employees were killed during a robbery at the store in the 1400 block of Kiln Creek Parkway. Their killer was never identified, and the case went cold. Video: Newport News 7-Eleven double homicide suspect On Wednesday, Zoey Chandler was arrested for disobeying a court order related to the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators believe she has pertinent information about the murder and robbery, according to court documents. Chandler was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury in March but didnt show. On Friday, she appeared in federal court, where a judge granted her bond. Shes expected to be released on Monday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, has criticised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the state's law and order situation, following the killing of businessman Vikram Jha in Patna. Jha was shot by an unidentified person in the Ram Krishna Nagar area and died while being taken to hthe ospital. In a post on X, Yadav wrote, "Murder of businessman Vikram Jha by shooting in Patna! DK Tax transfer industry is the main reason for the chaotic situation in the state. Why is the unconscious Chief Minister silent? Who is responsible for the hundreds of murders happening daily? Bhrasta (corrupt) Bhoonja Party, answer." https://x.com/yadavtejashwi/status/1943903894339563680 According to police, Jha was shot by a person who arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire. A murder case has been registered, and an investigation is underway. Jha, originally from Darbhanga district, had been living in Patna for a year and ran a grocery store. He lived with his family on the first floor of the same building. Speaking to the media, SP Patna East Parichay Kumar said, "Vikram Jha, a resident under PS Ram Krishna Nagar limits, was shot at some time ago. When he was being taken to the hospital, he died. As soon as we received the information, the DSP and I arrived at the crime scene. On analysing the CCTV footage, we found that the deceased owned a grocery store, and a person came on a motorbike and shot him. There seems to be no evidence of robbery in the store." The official said that the motive behind the murder is still unclear. "We are trying to find out the cause of the murder. The local police station said there were no previous complaints made by the deceased, so we are yet to ascertain the motive behind the murder... The victim is basically from Darbhanga, and he rented a shop here one year ago and lived with his family on the first floor. FSL team is investigating the case..." he added. Earlier, on July 4, businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead near the main gate of his house in Patna's Gandhi Maidan area. He had previously requested police protection for his family. (ANI) The Brief A woman in Parker County was arrested for allegedly plotting to murder her ex-husband. Pamela Jean Stanley, 63, planned to send him fentanyl-injected chocolates as an engagement gift. Stanley was caught during an undercover sting and faces multiple charges, including attempted murder. PARKER COUNTY, Texas - A woman has been arrested in Parker County for allegedly planning to murder her ex-husband with a box of fentanyl-injected chocolates. Parker County fentanyl chocolate murder plot A protected source alerted the Parker County Sheriff's Office that Pamela Jean Stanley, 63, was planning to murder her ex-husband, the agency said in a Friday release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stanley had reportedly been recorded detailing her plan to an acquaintance. She allegedly intended to buy powdered fentanyl and inject it into a high-end box of chocolate, which she planned to mail to her ex-husband as a congratulatory gift for his recent engagement, along with a "honeymoon incentive offer." Parker County investigators worked undercover with Stanley, they said, and she ended up driving several hours from Coleman, Texas, to Parker County to purchase the fentanyl. She reportedly met with an undercover investigator at a motel, planning to buy the illegal drugs. She was taken into custody immediately after. According to the sheriff's office, Stanley was also found to be in possession of 9.5 grams of methamphetamines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has been indicted for criminal solicitation with intent to commit murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Her total bond is set at $450,000. The Source Information in this article came from the Parker County Sheriff's Office For months, a 38-year-old Massachusetts woman feared her own mother was going to kill her. She had heard the warning from her brother: Their family worshipped Satan and was plotting to kill her. But the warning belonged to her dead brother, given to the woman at his funeral. About five months later, Patricia Labossiere stabbed her mother, 67-year-old Julia Bradshaw, while she slept. Im sick of her bullshit, so I stabbed her, Labossiere, who was smoking a cigarette, told police officers when they arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the Massachusetts Parole Board is considering freeing Labossiere with an expert psychologist testifying Labossiere, 63, is a low-risk of reoffending despite continued beliefs and fears of satanism. Oct. 27, 2000 On the night of Oct. 27, 2000, Labossiere called the Attleboro police to report that she had just stabbed her own mother in the house they were living in together. When officers arrived, they reported Labossiere remained calm and told them her mother was in the bedroom. Officials also found a wet knife on the kitchen counter and a wet paper towel with blood on the kitchen floor. Labossiere later recalled going into her room to get the knife when her mother was heading to bed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She believed her mother was trying to place a curse on her that would make Labossiere kill herself, which had been revealed to her by her dead older brother. ... the thought came to me that these major depressive episodes that I would fall into were curses from her, Labossiere said. And I believe those curses were meant to drive me to kill myself. The curses, she said, had come and gone over the years. While in prison, she was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, the parole board stated. When her daughter was about 4, Labossiere remembers her daughter being healthy and happy. Labossiere was taking college courses and was with a man who I cared very deeply for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just had everything. I felt I had everything, she recalled. Everything was going well and boom, I fell down into a hole of depression again. Labossiere had moved back in with her parents with her daughter after a divorce because she didnt have anywhere else to go. Once again, she started feeling depressed. I could feel it coming on. And I said, this is my mother doing this to me and she wasnt going to quit with me, she recalled. The family was known to the community as going to church and an excellent family, very caring, The Sun Chronicle reported. Labossiere remembers her mother making big holiday meals, being a hard worker and raising five children. However, she started believing her family members were not actually her biological family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was just so bewildered and so frightened and so confused because I had always thought I was living in your all-American family mother, father, sister, brothers, going to church, going to school, she recalled during her parole board hearing on May 15. And to have these thoughts that they were worshiping Satan in church ... it was just too much to handle." On Sept. 9, 2002, in Bristol County Superior Court, Labossiere pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Bradshaw. She was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. During her first parole board hearing in 2020, Labossiere recognized her actions were drastic and that she took no joy in it. She said she killed her mother because she was a life-long enemy and I wanted to end a life-long battle. Satanism fears Labossiere still fears those around her in prison worship satan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Those thoughts] dont bother me because Ive been living with it for 25 years. I feel that I dont have to be one of them, she told the parole board. Im sticking to my Christian beliefs. During more than 25 years incarcerated, Labossiere has not expressed any violence towards anyone or threatened anyone in violence, the board stated. Labossiere added that shes not interested in hurting or killing anyone else. I dont know how to make you believe me, but I dont want to go through anything like it ever again. It was targeted at my mother, she said. Its not like Im out to kill mankind. Its not like Im out to do a mass shooting and my mothers gone ... Im considered a non-violent person in prison. I was nonviolent before prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Worcester man who killed and burned woman on rooftop asks for parole She now waits until she has more confirmation than just the voices before acting on her thoughts, she told the parole board. She couldnt tell the board any specific examples, however. At another point during the hearing, she said she was able to confirm what she needed to before her mothers killing because it was confirmed through three people: Her lawyer, a friend and her ex-husband. She told the board she still believes her mother is an enemy and a devil worshiper. How do you reconcile that with the idea that you might have a thought disorder, one parole board member asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, when I went to my lawyer who handled my divorce, and I asked him if he knew if my daughter was involved in witchcraft. He said, the whole town is. I was the only one who didnt know what was going on, she told the parole board. But hes never confirmed that in front of anyone else, she told the board. So, do you have any concern whether or not maybe you might have misperceived that, a board member asked. No, she said. She also told the parole board she believes other people dont have the powers to curse her like her mother and family did. Its because of this, that forensic psychologist Kerry Nelligan believes Labossiere is unlikely to hurt anyone if shes released on parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the moment of the murder and the period of time leading up to that, she was essentially overwhelmed by mental health symptoms, she told the parole board. And, although irrationally and erroneously, nonetheless in her mind, truly in fear for her own life. Nelligan said Labossiere will have to continue with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health if released on parole, and that they can help her with access to support and intervention that would be needed in case such thoughts ever did come up, which I think is highly unlikely as long as she remains on medication. Its not the first case like this that the state has dealt with, the expert stated, adding that we have very experienced risk management folks across the state. Labossiere would do best transitioning to a group home setting with 24-hour access to help, said Heather Hovley, who works for the Department of Mental Health. But those types of facilities often have very long waitlists. No indicator Its Labossiere continued fears of satanism and belief of her mothers involvement that concerns Bristol County Assistant District Attorney Jillian Hirsch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What if Labossiere starts believing a neighbor in her apartment complex or a boss that she works with is out to get her, the assistant district attorney proposed. There is no way to ensure that she would be reporting that and that we would be able to get ahead of this. While the experts said the crime being out of character for Labossiere was a reason she wont reoffend, Hirsch doesnt agree. This appeared to be out of character, and thats my concern going forward, is that there was no indicator that this would happen, she said. And how are we going to ensure that these delusional thoughts dont cause her to commit such a violent, atrocious act in the future? But she hasnt despite her continued fears of satanism involvement with the people currently around her, her lawyer argued. And shes been able to regulate her behavior, he said. When she finds herself in that situation, shes able to remove herself. She doesnt respond with violence. I think thats very important with respect to her risk and needs. More on the Massachusetts Parole Board Read the original article on MassLive. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A new aromatherapy store in Indian Orchard is hosting its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday. Nyxies Whimsies is a boutique and aromatherapy-inspired art space, aiming to bring creativity, wellness, and community to the area. Owner Aunyx Burrell offers workshops, events, and a curated product line featuring aromatherapy goods such as soap, candles. Nyxies Whimsies is located at 518 Main Street in Indian Orchard, and the open house will take place on Saturday from 11:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors will take home a complimentary scent-infused keepsake and a sneak peek at upcoming hands-on classes and experiences launching this summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indian Orchard has heart, history, and untapped creative energy, says Aunyx Burrell, founder of Nyxies Whimsies. We created this space not just to sell products, but to build community through scent, self-expression, and shared joy. (Courtesy: SoireeMi, LLC) Burrell Family (Courtesy: SoireeMi, LLC) Were proud to be part of the movement to bring foot traffic, vibrancy, and visibility to this corridorand to uplift other small businesses and makers in the process, adds Lee Burrell, Chief Operations Officer. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Deputies in East Feliciana Parish say theyve found the remains of Mary M. Peggy Wilson. The remains were found in a cut over area several hundred yards from her house. The East Feliciana Coroners office will make the official identification and rule on the cause and manner of death. Deputies do not believe foul play is suspected, but the investigation into her death is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Authorities are searching for a missing woman last seen under suspicious circumstances in East Feliciana Parish. Mary M. Peggy Wilson, 71, was reported missing on Friday, July 11, after not being seen since July 5. Wilson, who lives on Billy Goat Road in Wilson, is known to have serious medical issues, which EFPSO said may or may not have contributed to her disappearance. Photo courtesy of the East Feliciana Parish Sheriffs Office. In a statement, Sheriff Jeff Travis said multiple agencies are involved in the search effort, including the East Feliciana Parish Sheriffs Office, Louisiana State Police Aviation Unit, Department of Corrections, Louisiana Search and Rescue K9 teams, Acadian Ambulance and volunteers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives are exploring all possibilities surrounding Wilsons disappearance and working to retrace her movements. They are going door-to-door in the Billy Goat Road and Carruth Road areas. Anyone with information about Wilsons whereabouts can contact East Feliciana Parish Communications at 225-683-5459. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. UNICOI COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) A Lebanon, Virginia, woman was charged with a plethora of crimes after she was reportedly booked under a false identification given to police during a traffic stop in Unicoi County. According to a release from the Unicoi County Sheriffs Office, 32-year-old Ashley Leanne Creech was arrested during a July 4 traffic stop for allegedly presenting another womans identification and being found in possession of fentanyl. Deputies reportedly transported Creech to jail, where she was booked and fingerprinted under the false identification given to police during the traffic stop. The police department said in the release that Creech looked similar to the woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Creech later went to court, she entered a plea agreement with the district attorneys office and pleaded guilty in court, still using the false identification, according to the sheriffs office. Through another fingerprint submission, the Unicoi Sheriffs Office then learned Creechs true identity. Creech reportedly had numerous outstanding arrest warrants and was a fugitive from justice, the release said. Deputies located the victim of the stolen identity, who said she had no connection to Creech. The woman had reported her identity and personal items stolen several months earlier in Washington County, Virginia. Creech was charged with her original charges, which were not listed in the release, along with the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two counts of identity theft Possession of drug paraphernalia Possession of a Schedule I and III narcotic The Unicoi Sheriffs Office is working with officials in Virginia to continue the investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. NEED TO KNOW Regina Higuera self-deported to Mexico in early June after living and working in the United States for over 36 years Her daughter, Julie Ear, documented the emotional journey on TikTok Ear tells PEOPLE that she and her siblings are "heartbroken that she felt so scared for her safety that she had to make this decision" After living in the United States for 36 years, Regina Higuera made the difficult decision to leave the only home she had known since age 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well aware that her work permit had expired years ago, the 51-year-old garment worker living in Los Angeles self-deported on June 7, 2025. Without enough money to apply for documentation, the mother of three, driven by fear for her own safety and a deep desire to protect her American-born children, departed to Mexico marking a turning point for the entire family. We were heartbroken that she felt so scared for her safety that she had to make this decision, but we were ultimately supportive, her daughter, Julie Ear, tells PEOPLE exclusively. Higuera had already been compelled to step away from her job as immigration raids became more frequent in her neighborhood of Highland Park, making it unsafe for her to continue working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reportedly been given orders by the Trump administration to arrest 3,000 immigrants each day. Julie Ear Regina Higuera. Regina Higuera. We have friends that were deported, some were missing for a week without knowing anything about where they were, Ear reveals. Even simple routines like running errands or being out in the community felt too risky for Higuera to navigate. She felt like a prisoner in her own home, Ear admits. She has been working in this country for decades to only live paycheck to paycheck. Julie Ear Regina Higuera and her daughter, Julie Ear. Regina Higuera and her daughter, Julie Ear. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history, targeting over 10 million undocumented immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of June 23, 2025, ICE is holding a record 59,000 immigrant detainees, nearly half of whom reportedly have no criminal record, according to CBS News. Afraid of being interrogated or detained at Los Angeles International Airport, Higuera and her family drove down to Tijuana, Mexico, and crossed the border to reach TIJ International Airport. From there, Higuera flew into Mexico City and then drove nearly five hours to Guerrero, Mexico. Julie Ear Regina Higuera, her husband and three children. Regina Higuera, her husband and three children. Luckily, Higuera had inherited land and was already in the process of building a two-bedroom house in Guerrero. She had originally planned on returning home once she hit retirement; however, given the political climate, she decided to speed up the process and leave the country on her own terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Ear, her mother has no criminal record and is a hard-working taxpayer who has been working 12-hour shifts since she was 15, six days out of the week. Despite leaving behind her husband of 25 years, children, and grandchildren, Higuera was excited to finally be reunited with her mother, whom she hadnt seen in over two decades. She says that she feels at peace because she doesn't feel stressed about paying rent, but she misses us all so much, her daughter explains. Julie Ear Regina Higuera and her mother in Guerrero, Mexico. Regina Higuera and her mother in Guerrero, Mexico. Ear and her siblings are planning on visiting their mother in August. Their stepfather plans on moving to Mexico with Higuera very soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is trying to lean on family out there so she doesn't feel lonely, but she is having a hard time adjusting to the cultural differences they do things differently out there, Ear reveals. With over 100,000 followers across her social media platforms, Ear makes it a priority to speak out against the injustices unfolding in her city of Los Angeles and across the country. She is actively involved with grassroots organizations, offering support however she can, and has taken part in numerous protests, standing alongside others in the fight for change. Julie Ear Regina Higuera with two of her grandchildren. Regina Higuera with two of her grandchildren. I would like to clarify that I do not want this to be an advertisement for self-deportation, but I also want to let people know that if they are thinking of taking this step, it is not the end of the world and that there are options, Ear tells PEOPLE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saying goodbye to her mother was one of the hardest things she has had to do. On June 15, Ear, her siblings, and their stepdad celebrated Fathers Day for the first time without their mother. Going to spend family time without her just feels so off, Ear said in an emotional TikTok video. I keep asking myself, did I do the right thing? Did we do the right thing? Julie Ear Regina Higuera on the day of her self-deportation. Regina Higuera on the day of her self-deportation. Ear recognizes that although her mothers choice to self-deport was the best decision for her family, it may not be a viable solution for others who cannot return to their home countries for various social, economic, or political factors. "The reason that it was easier for us to make this decision was because we have family out there to lean on," Ear explains. She encourages others in similar situations to lean on their communities whether family, friends, or support networks to find strength, guidance, and the confidence to build a life that truly reflects who they are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My mom chose to take control of her life and did not allow this country, which she spent years contributing to, tell her that she was a criminal because she is not." Read the original article on People Editors note: KTLA reached out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for comment on this matter prior to publication. As of publishing, DHS has not responded. KTLA will update this article with any new information as it becomes available. A woman who is unaccounted for in the wake of a large-scale federal immigration raid on a farm in Ventura County this week took video of the harrowing ordeal moments before she was taken into custody. Video obtained and sent to KTLA by @mrcheckpoint_ shows the woman, identified only as Irma, standing on top of metal scaffolding inside the Glass House Farms marijuana grow facility in Camarillo, speaking in Spanish to federal agents below during the raid, which took place Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man behind the @mrcheckpoint_ account, Sennett Devermont, who also founded the Always For The People Foundation, previously told KTLA that he uses his page as a way to encourage accountability and transparency with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Hagan lo que hagandigan lo que digan, no me voy a bajar, Irma could be heard saying, which translates to: Do what you want, say what you say, Im not coming down. The agents are then seen setting up a ladder to retrieve Irma; however, the video ends there, and there is no word on whether Irma descended voluntarily or whether she was forcibly removed from the scaffolding. There is also no further footage indicating what may have happened to Irma before or after the raid. Video sent in by @mrcheckpoint_ shows the woman, identified only as Irma, standing on top of metal scaffolding inside the Glass House Farms marijuana grow facility in Camarillo speaking in Spanish to federal agents below during the raid, which took place Thursday, July 10, 2025. (IG/@mrcheckpoint_) Video sent in by @mrcheckpoint_ shows the woman, identified only as Irma, standing on top of metal scaffolding inside the Glass House Farms marijuana grow facility in Camarillo speaking in Spanish to federal agents below during the raid, which took place Thursday, July 10, 2025. (IG/@mrcheckpoint_) An audio message sent by Irma to family members was also included in @mrcheckpoint_s video sent into KTLA, which was also posted on Instagram. In it, Irma explained what the agents were doing; the post provided a translation of the message. An audio message sent by Irma to family members was included in @mrcheckpoint_s video sent to KTLA, which was also posted on Instagram. In it, Irma explained what the agents were doing; the post provided a translation of the message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are capturing us. They were using something to bring a young man down, the translated message says. They were shooting rubber bullets at us. They hit us a lot. According to the post by @mrcheckpoint_ that was published late Friday night, Irma is from Guatemala and has no family in the United States. She came to the U.S. to help her daughter have a better life and works both at the farm and at a restaurant, he indicated in the post. Shed only been at the farm for five weeks, and now shes gone, he said. Her loved ones have searched every detention system and still nothing. Theres no answers, theres no updates. The last thing we heard from her is that video where we see a ladder. We dont know how she got down, he continued. Did she fall? Was she dragged? Is she even okay? An undated photo of a woman identified as Irma, who is unaccounted for after an immigration raid at a marijuana farm in Camarillo on July 10. (IG/@mrcheckpoint_) Thursdays raid in Camarillo, at a Glass House Farms marijuana growing facility, coincided with an operation at another Glass House Farms location in Carpinteria. More than 200 people were arrested in those raids, which saw federal agents deploying tear gas at the hundreds of individuals who had gathered near the Camarillo farm in protest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of four U.S. citizens are now being prosecuted for assaulting or resisting officers, the Department of Homeland Security later stated. A statement put out by DHS on Friday states that the operations stemmed from criminal warrants. On July 10, 2025, federal law enforcement officers executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana grow sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo, the statement reads. During the operation, at least 10 migrant children were rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking. Federal officers also arrested approximately 200 illegal aliens from both sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo. Glass House Farms is now being investigated for alleged child labor violations. In a statement, the company said they were fully cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials but did not elaborate further; it is not known whether either of the facilities that were raided are still operating. People also gathered Friday in Camarillo hoping to find out information surrounding their loved ones affected by the Glass House Farms raids. Some have already been reunited with their families while others, like Irma, were not immediately accounted for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Two female soldiers, K and Y who serve in this capacity are among the women making a significant impact on the front lines. In a world where combat roles in the military are still largely dominated by men, the IDF stands out with its singular approach to gender equality in service. In recent years, women have been finding their place in intense combat units, proving that female soldiers can be just as strong and intense as men. Women in Israel are not only allowed to serve in combat positions but are also encouraged to do so, with many stepping up to protect the country in critical roles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This includes guarding Israels southern border with Egypt, where the challenges are multifaceted and the stakes incredibly high. Two female soldiers, K and Y who serve in this capacity are among the women making a significant impact on the front lines. K is a captain and platoon commander, and Y is a first sergeant. For both women, the decision to serve in a combat role was driven by personal conviction. While many young women in Israel might choose non-combat roles, these two women volunteered for the challenging and demanding task of defending Israels border with Egypt. K reflects on her decision, stating that she took a gap year before joining the army, immersing herself in the study of Israels history, and determining her role as a future protector of the nation. It was about patriotism: about doing something bigger than myself, she says. Female IDF soldiers are seen training. (credit: FLASH90) In Israel, while military service is mandatory for both men and women, combat roles are not. Women must specifically volunteer for these roles; and once they do, they are expected to embrace their duties without hesitation. Ks journey led her to the co-ed Caracal (Wildcat) Battalion, where she joined fellow volunteers from her gap year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Y comes from a family with no military tradition in combat service. I grew up knowing I could do my best, she says, explaining how she initially considered non-combat roles. But the desire to fully contribute to the defense of her country particularly on the front lines eventually led her to combat training. First line of defense The realities of serving on the Egyptian border are not without their challenges. The extreme weather conditions scorching heat during the day and freezing temperatures at night are just one of the many obstacles faced by soldiers in the region. However, the terrain is not the only challenge that these women and their comrades face. K and Y describe how the threat of smuggling, terrorism, and even drone activity has heightened in recent months. Drones, often used for smuggling weapons and drugs, have become one of the most concerning threats on the border. As Y points out, Every day, anything can happen. Whether its a suspicious movement or a sudden shift in weather, the unknown factor is a constant that soldiers must prepare for. It is this unpredictability that demands the highest levels of mental and physical readiness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, K highlights that the most important challenge for her soldiers is knowing that they are the first line of defense for their country. We are the ones who make sure that citizens in nearby settlements and cities can sleep peacefully, she says. In Israels current and forever situation, we will always need a strong army, just like we have strong soldiers, whether theyre male or female, who can protect the borders and do whatever it takes to make sure that every single citizen of our country sleeps quietly at night. One of the most striking elements of their stories is the sense of unity and camaraderie within their unit. Both K and Y emphasize the importance of teamwork in ensuring the success of their missions. Once youre a combat soldier, the people you serve with become your family, says K. We take care of each other, and thats what makes us strong. Female IDF soldiers in the field are seen dealing with extreme weather conditions. (credit: FLASH90) Gender equality While there is no doubt that gender plays a role in shaping the experience of female soldiers in combat, K and Y stress that it is not an issue within their unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gender issue doesnt exist here, K says. We all do the same missions together, regardless of whether were male or female. The only difference is where we sleep. Y, who has served in various capacities throughout her time in the army, adds that the presence of male and female soldiers in the same unit has only enriched the experience. Having men in our unit actually makes the experience better, she says. It creates a different kind of dynamic, and it makes the service more interesting and fun. When asked about moments when training made a difference, both soldiers express how critical their combat training has been during tense situations. K recalls an emergency during the Oct. 7 events when her unit was called to action. In that scenario, quick thinking and solid training enabled her team to respond efficiently and with clarity, ensuring that wounded civilians received medical treatment while securing the area. Y recounts a similar experience, reflecting on the importance of leadership and maintaining a calm presence. When youre leading soldiers, especially in tense situations, its about keeping them together, she says. We rely on one another, and thats what makes us stronger. Gender misconception One of the most common misconceptions about female combat soldiers is that they cannot perform as well as their male counterparts. Y disagrees strongly with this view. We prove ourselves every single day, she says. Some people think were here just to show off, but thats not the case. We are strong, we are capable, and we do the work just as well as any man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement K also remembers an experience after the events of Oct. 7 when she was stationed in a religious settlement near the border. Initially, some people questioned her ability to command the unit because of her gender. But after a short time, they saw that women can do these roles just as well as men, she says. They trusted us, and we earned that trust. For K and Y, their time on the border has shaped them in ways they never anticipated. Serving on the front lines has opened their eyes to the realities of life in a conflict zone. Y describes her experience as mind-opening, explaining how being stationed on the border has expanded her understanding of Israels security situation and the role of the IDF in maintaining peace. For K, its about contributing to the safety of Israel and its citizens. We have a responsibility to protect not just our people but the whole country, she says. I am proud of what we do, and I know were making a difference. Advice for young women K and Y have strong advice for young women considering joining the IDF in a combat role. K urges them to prepare mentally and physically. A strong body is essential, but a strong mind is even more important, she says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Y encourages resilience, urging women not to give up when faced with tough moments. The hard moments shape you, she asserts. They build strong friendships and make you realize what youre truly capable of. Dont give up, and dont let your worst moment shape you because there are some times where youre not expecting it to be hard, Y says. These hard moments actually build you and let you know who your best friends are. If everything was easy, it wouldnt be the same. Just dont give up, and be prepared for it; and dont let the hardest moment take over you. In the eyes of K and Y, the work they do on the border is not only vital for Israels security but is also deeply personal. Every day, we get very professional in our section of the border, K reflects. And we do it all to make sure that each citizen is safe, and thats our priority. These words speak to the heart of what it means to serve on the front lines: the dedication, the professionalism, and the commitment to protecting those who depend on them. As they continue their service, K and Y remain inspired by their roles and the larger mission they carry out. Their contributions to the safety and security of Israels southern border are a testament to their strength and resilience and to the growing number of women in combat roles who prove that they are more than capable of standing side by side with their male counterparts in defending their our country. A new public webpage with a timeline of initiatives related to the scathing DOJ report on the Worcester Police Department has been established by city officials. The resources are aimed at explaining to the community what work the city is doing to address recommendations from both the DOJ and Center for Naval Analyses (CNA), which conducted the audit. The report, released in December last year, found that officers in the Worcester Police Department used excessive force, engaged in discriminatory practices and engaged in illegal sex acts with vulnerable women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ outlined 19 recommendations for the police department, ranging from improvements in the use of force standards, to a complete prohibition on engaging in sexual contact for law enforcement purposes. But beyond those recommendations, the DOJ has left it up to the city to take next steps ones that residents are eager to see. My Administration has emphasized our commitment to transparency as weve worked to address these recommendations, City Manager Eric D. Batista said. We have shown that commitment through communications to the City Council and the public, and we are now taking a further step with these public resources, which will continue to be actively updated with the latest information and new initiatives, Batista said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The webpage will have detailed updates describing progress related to the 34 recommendations developed by CNA, and a timeline that shows all initiatives and programs implemented by the police department related to the findings of the DOJ report. Following a Summary Report on the DOJ findings that was submitted to the Worcester City Council in March this year, city officials said the department has taken further steps to address the findings. These include applying to the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program and the allocation of funds for Bureau of Professional Standards (BOPS) internal affairs software that will help break down BOPS reports. The department has also given color-of-law training to 400 officers on topics like use of force, obstruction of justice and sexual assault, the officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar resources will also be developed for the audits of the Human Resources and Health & Human Services departments. The news comes after residents demanded further reform within the police department in March, and said the the Worcester City Council and Batista need to take the report seriously. At a council meeting that month, the council members discussed the report and the revisions in the departments policy as outlined by Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier in a communication to the city manager on March 4. They also heard from residents who said they do not feel safe around the Worcester Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This disgusting culture has to change. Many of these officers have no empathy, no compassion, no civility for the public, said William Gardiner, a former Worcester Police Officer. And that wont stand. At the time, the residents demanded a Civilian Oversight Board. While they appreciated Sauciers reforms, they said it didnt help with transparency and accountability and thats what we need, said Keith Linhares, a Worcester resident running for District 1 councilor this year. More people in this community are worried about trust, Linhares said. More News Read the original article on MassLive. WORCESTER, Mass. (WWLP) A Worcester man has been indicted for murder in connection with a man found dead in Hubbardston in January. The Worcester County District Attorneys Office stated that on January 4, just before 10:00 a.m., members of the Hubbardston Police Department were called to the area of Brigham Street due to reports of a body discovered in the woods. Felon sentenced after evading police by jumping from Holyoke Mall parking garage Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers located the body of a deceased man in the woods off Brigham Street. The victim was later identified as Mitchell Burke of Worcester. Hubbardston police, alongside Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County DAs Office, began investigating the incident. Law enforcement identified 32-year-old Ryan Wilcox of Worcester as a suspect in connection with Burkes death. He was initially arraigned on January 6 in Worcester District Court on one count each of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing bodily injury, assault with a dangerous weapon, and armed assault with intent to murder. Wilcox has been held without the right to bail since his arraignment. On Monday, he was arraigned in Worcester County Superior Court on one count of murder. He has been held without the right to bail, and is scheduled to appear in court next on August 27. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday stated that the youth of the country have been given new opportunities through various schemes during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking to the reporters after presenting appointment letters at an employment fair in Mumbai, Piyush Goyal told reporters, "It is a matter of great joy that today the 16th 'Rozgaar Mela' was organised under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi... During Prime Minister Modi's tenure, the youth of the country have been given new opportunities through various schemes... Through other schemes, he has provided many of our young men and women the chance to connect with the economy..." Minister of Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Maharashtra, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, was also present. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India is rapidly moving towards becoming the world's third-largest economy, adding that the country has made progress across every sector in the last 11 years. Speaking at the 16th edition of the Rozgar Mela, the Prime Minister said that India's manufacturing sector is one of its "greatest strength" and that the government has taken steps to boost employment in the private sector. "The focus of the Indian government is also on creating new employment opportunities in the private sector. Recently, the government has approved a new scheme - the Employment Linked Incentive scheme. Under this scheme, the government will provide Rs 15,000 to youth securing their first job in the private sector, meaning the government will contribute to the first salary of their first job. For this, the government has allocated a budget of about Rs 1 lakh crore, and this scheme will help in creating approximately 3.5 crore jobs," he said. He also highlighted the steps taken to support manufacturing, saying, "Today, one of India's greatest strengths is our manufacturing sector. A large number of new jobs are being created in manufacturing... To boost the manufacturing sector, Mission Manufacturing has been announced in this year Budget. In recent years, we have strengthened the Make in India campaign." The Prime Minister said that two sectors in particular, electronics and mobile phone manufacturing, and defence manufacturing, have seen massive growth. "From PLI scheme, 11 lakh jobs were created. In the recent years, mobile phones and electronic sectors saw unprecedented expansion. Today, electronics worth Rs 11 lakh crores are being manufactured. This sector has witnessed growth of more than 5 times in the last 11 years. Earlier, there were only 2-4 units of mobile phone manufacturing. Now, the number has increased to 300 units where lakhs of youth are working..." He also spoke about the rapid growth in defence production, especially after Operation Sindoor: "There is one more such sector and after Operation Sindoor, it has been widely discussed. It is defence manufacturing. India is making new records in defence manufacturing. Our defence production has reached beyond Rs 1.25 lakh crores... Today, our country is rapidly moving towards becoming the world's third-largest economy. This is the marvel of the hard work of my youth. In the past 11 years, India has made progress across every sector," he said. Quoting a report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Prime Minister said that government welfare schemes have also helped boost employment. "Recently, a report by the International Labour Organisation stated that in the past decade, over 90 crore citizens in India have been brought under the coverage of welfare schemes. The impact of these schemes goes beyond welfare -- they have also contributed significantly to employment generation. For instance, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, over 4 crore houses have been built so far. And it's not just about providing homes. The process of building these houses has created countless job opportunities across the country. In this, most of the jobs were created in villages," PM Modi added. (ANI) Editors Note: A family member later told KTLA that Jaime Alanis is not yet deceased as the United Farm Workers union stated, but instead remains on life support with a brain injury and will be taken off life support soon. A farm worker who was hospitalized with critical injuries he suffered while trying to elude officers during Thursdays federal immigration raid on a sprawling cannabis farm in Ventura County remains on life support, his family said. The worker was later identified as Jaime Alanis. His family says he fell 30 feet from a building during the raid and was hospitalized with a brain injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Farm Workers stated Alanis had died from his injuries on an X post on Friday, but family members have confirmed to KTLA that Alanis remains on life support at the Ventura County Medical Center. Relatives said Alanis is likely to remain on life support until his wife arrives from Mexico to be by his side and say goodbye. His niece, who did not want to be identified, told KTLA that Alanis was texting the family up until the time of the accident. Jaime Alanis He was hiding, and moments later, he doesnt respond, and we knew something happenedwere hoping for God to save him, but the doctors keep telling me, no, his niece said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a statement, stating Alanis was not in custody at the time of the fall, and insists he was not being chased. Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a green house and fell 30 feet. CBP immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. His niece said Alanis has been working in the U.S. for 30 years to provide for his wife and daughter back in Mexico. Thursdays raids at the Glass House cannabis farm and another farm in Carpinteria are believed to be the largest single-day immigration crackdown in California history. In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said federal officers arrested approximately 200 illegal aliens and rescued at least 10 migrant children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of demonstrators converged on the Camarillo raid site, blocking roads and hurling objects at law enforcement, who responded with tear gas. During the unrest, at least one person was seen on live news video appearing to fire a gun at officers. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. Paramedics responded to the scene and set up a triage system for people injured by tear gas at a safe distance from the ongoing operation. United Farm Workers also issued a statement on Friday, confirming that workers were critically injured during what they described as chaotic raids, and noted that other workers, including U.S. citizens, remain totally unaccounted for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. A farm worker was in critical condition on Friday, his family said, after being injured during a raid by US immigration agents on a legal cannabis farm in California that resulted in the arrests of 200 undocumented migrants and clashes with protesters. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, called demonstrators involved in attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents "slimeballs" and said they should be arrested. In another development, a district judge ordered a halt to "roving patrols" in Los Angeles by federal agents who were detaining suspected undocumented migrants without probable cause and denying them due process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong ordered an end to the arrests, which she said were being made "based upon race alone," on whether a person was speaking Spanish or English with an accent or because of their place of work. Trump's remarks and the court order come a day after a chaotic raid on a cannabis plantation in Ventura County some 56 miles (90 kilometers) from Los Angeles left one farm worker critically injured. The United Farm Workers labor union had said in an X post on Friday that the worker had "died of injuries they sustained as a result of yesterday's immigration enforcement action." But the family on a GoFundMe page said he was in critical condition and unlikely to survive. "He was chased by ICE agents, and we were told he fell 30ft (9 meters). My uncle's life is in critical condition; doctors have told us he won't make it. His injuries are catastrophic. His heart is still beating." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ventura County Medical Center, which told ABC News that he was in critical condition, did not respond to AFP calls for more details. Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman, said he was never in custody. "Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a green house and fell 30 feet," McLaughlin said. "(Customs and Border Patrol) immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible." The DHS said 200 undocumented migrants were arrested during raids on marijuana growing sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo on Thursday and 10 children were rescued "from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glass House Brands, which owns the farms, said in a statement that it has "never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors." DHS said more than 500 "rioters" had attempted to disrupt the operation and four US citizens are facing charges for assaulting or resisting officers. Tear gas was used against the protesters, some of whom were seen in television footage throwing projectiles at law enforcement vehicles. The department said immigration agency vehicles were damaged and a $50,000 reward was being offered for the arrest of an individual who allegedly fired a gun at law enforcement officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Showdown - In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had watched footage of "thugs" throwing rocks and bricks at ICE vehicles, causing "tremendous damage." Trump said he was authorizing law enforcement officers who are "on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks, or any other form of assault, to stop their car, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so." "I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public," he said. Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to deport millions of migrants, has been involved in a showdown over immigration enforcement with Democratic-ruled California for weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican president sent thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles last month to quell protests against roundups of undocumented migrants by federal agents. California Governor Gavin Newsom has said the troops were not necessary to address the mostly peaceful protests, but his legal efforts to have them removed have failed so far. The cannabis farm in Camarillo was calm during a visit by an AFP reporter on Friday as workers waited in line to collect their belongings and paychecks. "We've been here since six this morning asking questions but they're not giving us any information," said Saul Munoz, a 43-year-old Colombian whose son was detained on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I just want to know how he's doing," Munoz said. "Bring him back to me and if it's time for us to leave, we'll leave. "The truth is the American dream is no longer really the American dream." pr-rfo/cl/aks/abs/rsc GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) Mesa County has joined workforce centers around Colorado in implementing a new pilot program aimed at making services more accessible for job seekers. In June, workforce centers around the state began offering access to a new American Sign Language (ASL) pilot program. The ASL pilot program is an app that job seekers at the Workforce Center or at Division of Vocational Rehabilitation offices can use in Colorado to get a free interpreter on their phone. As long as theyre on campus at either of those offices, they can access that interpreter for a free 30-minute call, and you can do multiple calls if you need to to meet your needs, says Mesa County Disability Program Navigator Jeana Brown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown says the pilot program is a game-changer for her clients. Because they can have it on their device when they walk in the door rather than waiting to meet up with someone maybe they dont have an appointment or they need to meet with someone thats not me they can have it and they can talk with the front desk staff or anybody else in a quicker way. Brown says the pilot program app, called Aira, is different from the Workforce Centers existing translation services. We have Language Line for interpretation services, but it sort of requires that youre sitting down one-on-one with someone like me or a coworker to get on the computer and get that, versus having it on your own device as you walk in the door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ASL is the third most common language in America, and Brown says the app is a simple way to bridge the communication gap. If you can communicate effectively to get the services you need, then, I mean, you can be unstoppable. So its a nice way to access a service like that to make communication easier for people. The pilot program will run until the end of July and the service may continue to be offered depending on utilization. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. The worlds largest bounce house is coming to the fairgrounds in Puyallup for two weekends. The Big Bounce America travels to various cities throughout North America and Australia, Noa Visnich, Big Bounce Americas tour manager, told The News Tribune in an interview on July 11. The entrance of The Big Bounce America tour, and The Worlds Biggest Bounce House behind it, are pictured on Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Puyallup fairgrounds in Puyallup, Wash. The Puyallup event will take place on Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13. The following weekend, people can attend the event from Friday, July 18, to Sunday, July 20, Visnich said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The main attraction is a 26,000-square-foot bounce house featuring various slides, a DJ booth, a ball pit, a jousting area and more, Visnich said. There are also four other bounce houses with themes ranging from space to sports. A variety of bouncing, climbing and sitting features fill the The Worlds Biggest Bounce House, the main attraction of The Big Bounce America tour, on Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Puyallup fairgrounds in Puyallup, Wash. There will also be food trucks, face painting, family-friendly games, snow and bubble machines and obstacle courses, Visnich said. Shaded seating is available. A ball pit is among the many features of The Worlds Biggest Bounce House, the main attraction of The Big Bounce America tour, on Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Puyallup fairgrounds in Puyallup, Wash. Guests are required to wear socks to enter the bounce houses. There will be a water station, but Visnich said she recommends that people bring water because the weekends will be warm. Additional bounce houses, including the Air Space, pictured here, The Giant, Sport Slam and City Escape are blown up in anticipation of weekend visitors at The Big Bounce America tour on Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Puyallup fairgrounds in Puyallup, Wash. Buying tickets on The Big Bounce America website is encouraged because tickets are selling quickly, Visnich said. Tickets include an assigned 55-minute slot for the main bounce house and three-hour sessions for the other four bounce houses, Visnich said. Additional bounce houses, including the Air Space, The Giant, left, Sport Slam and City Escape are blown up in anticipation of weekend visitors at The Big Bounce America tour on Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Puyallup fairgrounds in Puyallup, Wash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ticket prices vary based on age, she said. They range from $32 to $45. There various sessions for toddlers, older children and adults. Tickets for those 16 and older are $45. A VIP option is available, including incentives like an express lane entrance to the big bounce house, reserved shaded seating and discounts for face painting, the website states. Lt.-Col. G. discusses the tense moments of firing on Iranian missiles moments away from launch, and the pressure of knowing what would happen if he failed. There were many moments of professionalpressure inside the control trailer of the drone operators in the IAF's Headbutting Ram Squadron. At times, the tension was so high that the operators sweated profusely despite the air conditioning. One of the recurring challenges involved flying over Tehran, some 1,500 kilometers from Israel, with a limited weapons load. In such situations, every missile launch required exceptional judgment. What if intelligence uncovered a more critical target just moments laterone that demanded immediate destruction? A target capable of endangering Israels home front with casualties and widespread devastation. The ability to rearm the drone was far awaytoo far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lt.-Col. G. (39), married to an electrical engineer and father of two, began hisIDF service in humble fashion: as a detention NCO at the armys induction base, distributing chocolate milk and buns to detainees. Later, he worked as a clerk in the IAF commanders office. But his ambition had always been to become a pilot or join the elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit. Just before boot camp, however, a medical issue disqualified him from pilot training. During Operation Rising Lion, Lt.-Col. G. led the Headbutting Ram Squadron in drone operations targeting Iran. I believed from the first moment that we would succeed, he said. Why? Because we have good and committed people, and defense industries that understand the scale of the challenge. On the eve of the operation, he presented a briefing in the squadrons operations room. One prominent slide read: No stopping. People walk next to a mural with a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on a street, early hours of ceasefire, in Tehran, Iran, June 24, 2025. (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS) To underscore the missions urgency, he described a scenario: Youre a drone operator on your way to the base, and a Red Alert siren goes off. Do you stop or keep driving? You arrive, enter the control trailerand again, Red Alert. Do you run to the shelter or stay on mission? While theres no direct comparison between drone operators and paratroopers, the mentality is the same. I had a team that didnt stopeven during Red Alertswhile executing missions in Iran. Not the drone that fell, but the launcher it missed One might assume that losing an Israeli drone over Iran would be the worst-case scenario. Lt.-Col. G. sees it differently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taking enemy fire is the easy partthats what we call a downing, he explained. It hurt to see our drone shot down. But what pained me more was the launcher that wasn't struck. The media focused onthe drone crash, but Elbit will build another. What I think about is the missile that might fall on Israel because its launcher was left intact. That kind of damage is far worse than rockets from Gaza or Lebanon. This is a different war altogether. Fighting over Iran required a completely different mindset than operations in Gaza or Lebanon, he added. During the fighting, we received new recruits from the training school. I placed special emphasis on mental resilience and team cohesion. Every operator has a family. Were more than 640 days into combat. Reservists arent getting promoted at work; families are under strain. That takes immense psychological endurance. He described a typical moment of psychological stress. What happens when a commander, in the middle of an attack, suddenly sees a barrage of missiles on screenpossibly aimed at his own home? Where is his head at that moment?" "And yet, he continues the mission. He doesnt stop. I always knew wed go on the offensive. This is the mission of my lifeeliminating an existential threat to Israel. The dilemma: Fire now, or wait? A core dilemma facing the drone teams was whether to strike immediately or hold fire for a potentially higher-value target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Should we launch now or wait? Maybe a more valuable target will be discovered in a moment? The disturbing thought that recurs in every operation is the possibility that immediately after launching the weapons, intelligence will arrive on an even more critical and complex target, and then we will be left unable to act." Every launcher we hit means one less missile that could land in Beersheba, Bat Yam, Holon, or Tel Aviv, said Lt.-Col. G. So yesit hurts less to lose a drone than to miss a launcher or missile we didnt strike. The squadron quickly learned how to assess the strategic weight of each strike, even when forced to return due to fuel constraints rather than a lack of targets. In the background, theres a mission commander who knows we need to return for fuel. I receive policy from the IAF command. I provide inputbut ultimately, I follow direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IAF, he said, quickly broke through the IDFs traditional operational limitsa breakthrough noticed by Western militaries, including the United States. I admitI was positively surprised by how effectively we disrupted Iranian launches. Sometimes, just hearing the drones buzz was enough to deter a launch. Thats when you realize our presence alone has real strategic value. These missions carry enormous responsibility for protecting Israels home front. The IAF commander simply told me: This is the missiontake down the surface-to-surface missiles. Now, tell me how you plan to do it. I trust you. That kind of trust is powerful," he added. Writing the pages of history Reflecting on what it meant to fly drones over Tehran, Lt.-Col. G. said, From above, a building in Tehran looks the same as one in Beirut or Gaza. But emotionally, its different. You cross into enemy territory, and suddenly youre over Tehran. It becomes a mental event. You turn a 1,500-kilometer range into something that feels like something next door. All for one goal: removing an existential threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He then described the emotional complexity of actually conducting strikes on targets. When a missile misses the target, you must immediately fire again and hit. Then move on. Theres no time to dwell. The complexity is far beyond anything weve done before. This isnt chasing a terrorist through a Lebanese alley. When you see a missile launch on your drones screen, its not like Gaza, where you tell yourself Iron Dome will intercept it. With Iran, it makes you want to scream. You want better intelligence. You want to be faster. And even if you hit one launcher, but two missiles were already fired at Israelthats a heavy burden. A slide in his team presentation read: You wrote the pages of history. The fact that we got a drone over Tehranthats historic, he said. Its an old squadron that once flew manned aircraft. Im a combat heritage geek. During the operation, the widow of Aryeh Ben-Or, who commanded Squadron 147 during the Six-Day War, wrote to me: I cant stop thinking about you and your squadron. Please pass on my pride. It moved me deeply. The biggest missile and the moment of silence Among the most emotional moments was the successful strike on the Khorramshahr-4also known as the Haiderone of Irans most dangerous missiles. Its their biggest missile. Range of over 1,500 km. A 1,500-kg warheadthree times more than those fired at usand it can carry a nuclear payload, he said. We smashed it. Then we saw all the Iranians fleeingand there was no site left. That same day, his five-year-old daughter said: Today there was no Red Alert. Between science fiction and October 7 Lt.-Col. G. acknowledged the contrast between the technological achievement in Iran and the traumatic failure of October 7. Yes, October 7 was a failure. But since thenGaza, Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria, and Iranweve corrected course. We failed. We recovered. We went to war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: It did something to the country, too. It created a feeling of unity. When egos are set aside, and everyone in the security establishment works together, it works. Theres still a bitter taste, but we are trying to change, to do things differentlyto bring a new message. To the soldier. The citizen. The fighter. To ourselves. And as for the future? As a commander, I must look ahead. There may be something even greater than the Iranian threat. I dont know what it is yet. But I remember what former IAF commander Eliezer Shkedi once said: He who leans on his past has a brilliant past ahead of him. That line stays with me. I must aim for the next thing. Thats what Im projecting to my peopleand to the future of the force," he concluded. Groundwater levels are declining across Eastern Washingtons aquifer system and threaten its sustainability, according to a new study by a Washington State University (WSU) researcher. The study from WSU highlights significant declines in groundwater levels in certain areas. Two areas noted in the study are the Odessa region and the Yakima Basin, where levels have been dropping three to four inches per year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research published in the journal Groundwater for Sustainable Development highlights the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System, which spans Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. The aquifer system provides irrigation water in the region. The study introduces a new metric, available drawdown (ADD), to measure water accessibility with current wells, emphasizing the urgency of the issue. With these numbers we can say, Hey, this is a problem now, said Sasha McLarty, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at WSU and the corresponding author of the new study. The study focused on the variability of the aquifer system in terms of geographic location and depth, which is comprised of four main geological layers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Grand Ronde layer, the thickest basalt layer, shows the steepest declines in groundwater, averaging 1.86 feet per year. Not all aquifers are losing water. The Spokane aquifer has seen its water levels increase. This increase is believed to have been tied to management and monitoring efforts. Some areas, like the Rock Glade Water Resources Inventory Area, show the complexity of data gathered in these studies. They have seen some layers declining and some increasing, even in the same area. McLarty hopes that her study will help people understand the importance of improving groundwater stability. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) Seven-Eleven Day might mean Free Slurpee Day for fans of the convenience store chain, but the day took on a special meaning at WVU Medicine Childrens. 7-Eleven has long been a partner with West Virginia University Medicine Childrens, donating over $320,000 to Childrens through their customers rounding up at the cash register last year. This year, the Family Resource Center was set up like the convenience store and patients, family, and staff could go through and pick out some snacks and cake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Antero Foundation hosts 7th annual dodgeball tournament fundraiser Area Leader with 7-Eleven Brad Sutton said of the party, To me its absolutely amazing to come in and watch kids come up and enjoy their day and see the smiles on their face as they enter in the room. According to their website, since 1991, 7-Eleven has donated $190 million to the Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals, which WVU Medicine Childrens is a part of. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. The Brief Thousands of young conservatives are in Tampa this weekend for the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit. Big-name speakers include Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Tulsi Gabbard. Some students said the event is a rare chance to share their views without fear of backlash. TAMPA, Fla. - The Turning Point USA Student Action Summit (SAS) is underway at the Tampa Convention Center, drawing thousands of young conservatives from across Florida and the country. What we know The three-day event blends political speeches, leadership workshops and networking opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ: Big Beautiful Bill cuts some SNAP funding, Feeding Tampa Bay worries about community need Notable speakers this weekend include Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Kristi Noem, Tulsi Gabbard and Steve Bannon. What they're saying Students at the summit told FOX 13 they value connecting with like-minded peers and being able to openly discuss their political beliefs something they said is often difficult in their everyday lives. "Its definitely really cool to connect with young people and try to get internships, network a little bit," said student T.J. Gaffney. MORE: Alligator Alcatraz tour planned for Saturday as Democratic lawmakers file lawsuit Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At my own job, Im nervous to say anything, because Ive heard my managers saying horrible things about conservatives when did it become normal to ask who you voted for and then hate them?" said attendee Jamie McNally. The backstory Turning Point USA was founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk to promote conservative values on college campuses. The annual Student Action Summit has become one of the group's signature events, previously held in Tampa and known to draw protests though FOX 13 did not see any demonstrations Friday night. The Source Information in this story comes from interviews with student attendees. Mubasher Riaz had a medical degree and two daughters, yet he sexually preyed on depressed young girls, the FBI says, and also scammed online companies like Amazon out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. For a man who put himself through medical school, the government says, it didn't have to be this way. But Riaz chose a lawless way of life, court records show, that ended with him getting caught and pleading guilty to both child exploitation and white-collar crimes. Now, in an unusual legal arrangement, the Ypsilanti man is going to pay $150,000 in restitution to the two minor girls he manipulated for which he already was sentenced to 15 years in prison as part of the punishment for his financial crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In U.S. District Court on July 10, Riaz pleaded guilty to wire fraud, admitting he and his brother ran an online return scheme in which they bought products, submitted refund requests pretending the products were defective, but never sent them back. Instead, the FBI says, the brothers shipped back empty boxes, a counterfeit item, or a book that weighed as much as the purchased product, then kept the refunded money when it arrived. The brothers would then turn around and sell the products for cash, including cellphones, tablets, doorbells and clothing, the FBI says, while cheating hundreds of online vendors out of least $400,000. The scheme ran from 2017-23. According to court documents, here's a glimpse at how it worked: Riaz's brother bought an iPhone X on Amazon in 2019, submitted a return request for the phone, then received a $710.70 refund for it. Two weeks later, Riaz sold the phone to someone in Chicago for $535 cash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His brother, Muzzammil Riaz, pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme on June 4. In their pleas, both brothers admitted to using fraudulent identities, virtual private networks and different electronic devices to avoid fraud detection by the online vendors. How Snapchats with girls landed Ruiz on FBI's radar 'Those are the actions of an evil man' Under the terms of his plea agreement in the fraud case, Riaz has agreed to pay $150,000 in restitution to two victims who had nothing to do with his return scheme. Rather, the FBI says, they are the two girls, ages 13 and 14, he sexually preyed upon in 2023, when federal agents raided his house looking for evidence of child sex crimes. It was during that raid that FBI agents discovered multiple items "in plain view" tied to the refund scheme: laptops, cellphones, and credit cards with handwritten notes containing names, passwords, addresses, and birth dates of multiple individuals. A fraud investigation followed, with Mubasher Riaz getting arrested in November 2023, and charged with two different crimes: stealing from online companies and preying on children. In the latter case, the FBI says Mubasher Riaz was messaging numerous girls on Snapchat, some as young as 11, asking for nude photos and sexual favors in exchange for nicotine, weed and other items. He bragged that he was nearly a doctor, court records show, and was very successful in an effort to impress them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one instance, Riaz drove to a 14-year-old girl's foster home and had sex with her in his car, telling her to "bring a towel" after she expressed concerns to him about bleeding. The girl had just had a baby. This defendant preyed in the most disgusting ways on vulnerable girls as young as 11 years old. Those are the actions of an evil man," U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. said after Riaz's sentencing in June. More: Prosecutors raise alarms over new policy taking MSP police shootings out of their hands Riaz, 41, was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison 188 months after previously pleading guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor. He could get another decade in prison when he is sentenced for his fraud conviction at a later date. As part of his guilty plea in that case, he has agreed to pay $50,000 to a 13-year-old girl he coerced into sending him nudes, and $100,000 to the 14-year-old girl he had sex with after also manipulating her in Snapchat conversations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was those Snapchats with minor girls, the FBI says, that would eventually unearth his online return scam whose victims have yet to be fully accounted for. According to court records, here is what landed Riaz on the FBI's radar, and ultimately in federal prison. Ohio child sexploitation investigation leads to Michigan man The investigation of Mubasher Riaz began in Ohio, where the Maumee Police Department was investigating allegations that a 13-year-old girl had engaged in sexual acts with an adult male but not Riaz. It was while reviewing that girl's Snapchat account that investigators found a July 2023 conversation between the girl and a Snapchat user named bitcoinmuba. It was Riaz, who quickly learned through his chats with the girl that she was depressed and that her mom and stepdad were in prison. He soon offered to bring her nicotine and weed in exchange for sexual favors, and asked what her body looks like. The girl sent him nudes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI says there's no evidence that Riaz ever went to visit the girl. But, over time, the agency learned of other minor girls he communicated with, including the 14-year-old girl he actually visited and had sex with in his parked car. "Riaz intentionally targeted girls who were depressed, or who had mental health issues, or who were otherwise vulnerable. That is because Riaz did not care about the circumstances of his victims; he only cared about his own perverse sexual desires," Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Zurek wrote in a June sentencing memo. The prosecutor then cited a chat from Riaz to the 14-year-old girl. This chat, he wrote, "says it all." More: Black lawmakers, NAACP voice support for MSP director amid attempts to oust him Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When Riaz told (the girl) he was on his way to her location to have sex, (the girl) expressed hesitation because she was 'still bleeding' and in recovery after recently delivering a baby," the prosecutor writes in his memo. "Riaz responded, 'Dont worry [b]ring a towel with u when I pull up.'" Riaz also offered to buy diapers for the girl's baby in exchange for sex, the prosecutor wrote, as he urged the judge to lock Riaz up for 188 months. The judge did just that. "The defendant clearly has the ability to excel in society. He paid for his own schooling, putting himself through medical school, and claims to have received a medical degree in 2015," the prosecutor's sentencing memo reads. "He demonstrated knowledge of complex technologies and entrepreneurial skills doing electronic repair and resale, through work at various sandwich shops, and through investments in the stock market and in cryptocurrency. "Unfortunately," the prosecutor wrote, "Riaz used his skills and education for fraud and child exploitation." Ruiz's family asks judge for mercy: 'He is a survivor of sexual abuse' In court documents, Riaz's family members and his lawyer urged the judge to show mercy and hand down the lowest possible sentence for his crime in this case, 151 months, or 12 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In seeking leniency, Riaz's family members portrayed him as a "devoted" father to two daughters who lost his way following the breakup of his marriage, and who has carried unresolved trauma since childhood. "He is a survivor of sex abuse ... something that, in our culture, is rarely spoken about due to stigma and shame," Riaz's sister wrote to the judge in a letter. "He has lived for years with the weight of this unspoken trauma, and it has profoundly affected his mental health." The sister said her brother's divorce caused even more trauma as she pleaded for a lenient sentence. "He is not beyond help," the sister writes. "He is someone who needs treatment, support and a second chance." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His widowed mother, who portrayed Riaz as a devoted son who takes care of her and helps the community, echoed her daughter's sentiments. "I know my son has made mistakes," the mother wrote the judge, "but he is not a bad person. He still has so much good in him." Mubasher Riaz's attorney, Jean Pierre Nogues, also urged the judge to consider Riaz's cooperation in both cases, maintaining the plea deal in the sex crimes case was reached "only" after Riaz "thoroughly explained the complex scheme by which he defrauded online retailers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars and invested the proceeds into cryptocurrency." "Mr. Riaz also provided the government with the critical information that enabled the government to inventory and seize the cryptocurrency accounts. Without Mr. Riazs detailed confession and guidance, it may have taken the government many more months or even years to unravel the scheme or seize the assets," Nogues writes in his sentencing memo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But U.S. District Judge Sean Cox was not swayed as he gave Riaz the sentence that prosecutors pushed for. In the fraud case, under the terms of his plea agreement, Riaz will eventually have to pay restitution to the companies he stole from an amount that will be decided at a later date when he is sentenced. The government said it believes many possible victims of the scheme exist, and urges potential victims to contact the FBI at www.fbi.gov/mubasherriazvictims. Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Man's Snapchats to young girls unearthed online return scam After meeting with Defence Minister Rustem Umierov, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced decisions regarding changes in state institutions, particularly improving relations with the United States and taking new steps in defence management. Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram Details: Zelenskyy said he had met with Umierov and instructed him to procure all available volumes of priority drone types. He also reported ongoing efforts with European partners to secure financing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This year, we must achieve significantly higher drone production and supply for the army than initially planned. We are also preparing non-standard measures to support our defence and expanding the geography of this support," Zelenskyy wrote. Quote: "Secondly, changes in state institutions. Ukraine needs to strengthen its relations with the United States, and meanwhile, new steps are required in managing the country's defence sector. The relevant decisions will be announced shortly." Background: On 10 July, President Zelenskyy confirmed plans to appoint a new ambassador to the US and acknowledged that Umierov may take on the role. On 12 July, media reports suggested that Zelenskyy is considering Umierov as the main and so far only candidate for the post of Ukraine's ambassador to the United States. In June, Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Zelenskyy had made "certain personnel decisions" regarding changes to the leadership of some foreign missions, with announcements expected in July. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A 19-year-old youth, accused of sexually assaulting minors, was allegedly lynched by a mob outside Roing police station in Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Dibang Valley district. The incident took place outside the police station on Friday afternoon. The deceased, reportedly a migrant labourer from Assam, was accused of sexually assaulting several minor girl students. Ringu Ngupok, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Lower Dibang Valley district, told ANI over a phone call that the police tried to control the mob of 500-600 people, but still they managed to pull the accused out of the police station. SP Ngupok said, "We had conducted a search operation to catch the accused person on the whole Thursday night, and some locals caught the accused person on Friday morning and handed him over to the police. On Friday afternoon at around 2:30 pm - 3 pm, around 500-600 people gathered infront of Roing police station and they broke the gate of the police station." He added that the accused was rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. "We tried to control the mob, but they pulled out the accused person from the police station. The injured accused person was immediately rushed to the nearby district hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries," the SP Ngupok said. According to police, the accused person had sexually assaulted and molested at least seven minor girl students of a school. The Superintendent of Police said that police had conducted the medical examination of seven victims. "The age of the victims is between six and nine years. The accused person was working as a labourer in an under-construction building near the school. Our investigation is underway," the senior police officer said. (ANI) President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he expects the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) to pass bills on multiple citizenship and the military ombudsman next week, in addition to ratifying the agreement establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Russian Aggression against Ukraine and the decision on Ukraine's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention. Source: Zelenskyys evening address Details: Zelenskyy said he had spoken with Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk about next week's session of the Ukrainian parliament. He stressed that "it is very important that the sessions be productive". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "The law on multiple citizenship has already been passed. And this is an important issue, especially for those who are fighting for Ukraine. I am very much looking forward to this law being unblocked so that it can be signed without delay. Two significant decisions on international agreements have also been prepared. First of all, the agreement establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Russian Aggression must be ratified. Our country's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on Landmines should also be supported... The military ombudsman bill has also been prepared for its second reading, and this new systemic step is necessary to implement the changes needed in the army." Details: Zelenskyy said he would be grateful to the MPs who support "these and other decisions that are extremely important for our state" this week. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Socialist mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani was accused of laundering his vocal defund-the-police stances by cynically toying with keeping tough-on-crime Jessica Tisch as NYPD commissioner if elected. The simultaneous behind-the-scenes and public pushes to keep Tisch comes as many Big Apple elites hope Mamdani who trounced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary and leads general election polls can sand off his far-left rough edges. And Mamdani seemingly has been only too happy to keep the door open for Tisch, despite her diametrically opposed stances on bail reform, discovery laws and other public safety issues all matters for which the socialist firebrand has left a long trail of incendiary tweets. Zohran Mamdani is considering keeping Jessica Tisch as NYPD commissioner if elected. Paul Martinka for NY Post Hes laundering his radical stances, thats what hes doing, said political operative Ken Frydman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he needs his defund-the-police voters to turn out again and cop-hating Tiffany Caban is lurking, Frydman continued, referring to a firebrand fellow Democratic socialist on the City Council being floated as Mamdanis police commissioner. Mamdani argued for defunding the police multiple times. Zohran Mamdani /X Tisch, a well-regarded public servant and billionaire heiress, has tried to stay above the partisan fray, despite a number of politicians trying to use her as a pawn. Mayor Eric Adams picked Tisch in November to rebuild the NYPDs standing and his own after his first three police commissioners respectively flamed out amid infighting, scandal and more infighting. The appointment worked so well that lefty mayoral candidate and city Comptroller Brad Lander who, like Mamdani, had pushed to defund the police vowed to keep Tisch as commissioner if he was elected. The Democrat candidate for mayor is accused of laundering his radical stances Zohran Mamdani /X Indeed, Landers move arguably laid the groundwork for his cross-endorsement ally Mamdanis one-sided political flirtation with Tisch, whose leadership he has praised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Likewise, Kathy Wylde, who heads the powerful business group Partnership for New York City, confirmed she has recommended to Mamdani that he keep Tisch. Tischs tough-on-crime positions are at odds with Mamdanis past criticism of police and support for bail reform. Andrew Schwartz / SplashNews.com I believe that its premature to make any personnel commitments at this time, but its a consideration that is real and its in keeping with the city that were fighting for, Mamdani recently said of keeping Tisch. But Mamdani and Tisch would make strange bedfellows, even beyond their respective socialist and billionaire backgrounds. Mamdani hasnt ruled out keeping Jessica Tisch on as police commissioner, despite calling to dismantle the carceral system Zohran Mamdani/X Before running for mayor, Mamdani riddled his social media accounts with lashing criticism of police brutality and cops lack of accountability to the public they serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no negotiating with an institution this wicked & corrupt, he tweeted about the NYPD in 2020. Brad Lander paved the way for a lefty to embrace Tisch as a way to burnish their public safety bona fides. AP Defund it. Dismantle it. End the cycle of violence. As a mayoral candidate, Mamdani walked back his call to defund the police and acknowledged their role in public safety. But Mamdani, a Queens state assemblyman, has also been an enthusiastic backer of bail reform, changes to discovery laws and the Raise the Age law all of which Tisch has respectively blamed for rising recidivism, waves of criminals going free on technicalities and skyrocketing youth violence. I will not vote for any budget that rolls back bail reform, discovery reform, or Raise the Age, Mamdani tweeted in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Tisch arguably could be a bulwark against Mamdanis radical impulses, Democratic political operative Hank Sheinkopf said shed be hamstrung by the fact she ultimately serves at the pleasure of the mayor. Her role, for now, might actually be providing reassurance for rank-and-file cops, Sheinkopf said. Here you have the opponent of [Adams] saying he wouldnt change the department, but his rhetoric says otherwise, Sheinkopf said. Police officers are in panic and they will leave in droves Tisch is the only way to stop that. Other insiders argued that Mamdani actually risks more by keeping Tisch around. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani will get clobbered by his cop-hating groupies if he retains Tisch as police commissioner, said political operative Ken Frydman. If he doesnt retain her, Mamdani risks serious crime increasing and getting blamed for the spike. Checkmate. Tough-on-crime Tisch and Mamdani would make strange allies. LP MEDIA Adams, for his part, has also tried to capitalize on Tischs sterling reputation. He recently ran a campaign ad that leaned heavily on Tischs comments praising him during an event last week highlighting drops in major crimes across the city. Not only did we ignore the noise from the Mamdanis of the world who recklessly called to defund the police, but we doubled down on our support, Adams tweeted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When The Post reached out to the NYPD for comment, a spokesperson responded with the same words from the commissioner that Adams campaign ad used. When the critics called to cut funding he chose to cut crime, Tisch said about Adams last week. When the pressure came to back down he chose to double down. And when others tried to make headlines he chose to make a difference. Additional reporting by Carl Campanile and Amanda Woods Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley. Seattle's waterfront makes a vivid background for this dangerous shoot atop the Space Needle in The Parallax View (1974). Stuntman Chuck Waters, second from left, whose character has just shot a U.S. senator inside the Needle's observation deck, tries to elude three would-be captors before he falls off the edge to his apparent demise. In reality, he fell to a plywood platform. (Chuck Waters Papers / Pepperdine University Special Collections and University Archives) Days after businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead in Bihar, another man was killed in Patna's Ram Krishna Nagar area after being shot by an unidentified assailant. The victim, Vikram Jha, succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the hospital. According to police, Jha was shot by a person who arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire. A murder case has been registered, and an investigation is underway. Jha, originally from Darbhanga district, had been living in Patna for a year and ran a grocery store. He lived with his family on the first floor of the same building. Speaking to the media, SP Patna East Parichay Kumar said, "Vikram Jha, a resident under PS Ram Krishna Nagar limits, was shot at some time ago. When he was being taken to the hospital, he died. As soon as we received the information, the DSP and I arrived at the crime scene. On analysing the CCTV footage, we found that the deceased owned a grocery store, and a person came on a motorbike and shot him. There seems to be no evidence of robbery in the store." The official said that the motive behind the murder is still unclear. "We are trying to find out the cause of the murder. The local police station said there were no previous complaints made by the deceased, so we are yet to ascertain the motive behind the murder... The victim is basically from Darbhanga, and he rented a shop here one year ago and lived with his family on the first floor. FSL team is investigating the case..." he added. Earlier, on July 4, businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead near the main gate of his house in Patna's Gandhi Maidan area. He had previously requested police protection for his family.(ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday slammed Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), accusing both of being tainted by corruption. Rejecting allegations of the Centre's stepmotherly treatment toward the state, he said the Modi-led government had allocated more funds to Kerala than the previous UPA government. "The track record of LDF and UDF has been that of a corrupt government. LDF has done explosives scam, cooperative bank scam, AI camera scam, Life Mission scam, PPE kit scam and India's biggest scam - state-sponsored gold smuggling scam," Shah said at a BJP event in Thiruvananthapuram. Shah said that he will release the details of the Central funds allocated to Kerala later today. "PM Narendra Modi government released money for Kerala many times than that released by the Congress government. I will release every detail about it publicly through the BJP head office today," Shah said. He said that PM Modi has three core visions fundamental to Kerala's development - governance without corruption, no discrimination in government schemes and Kerala's development beyond political benefits. "BJP and CPI(M) are both cadre-based parties, but there's a major difference between the two. Cadre welfare is bigger than the state's development in Kerala, while it is Viksit Keralam above cadre for BJP," he said, claiming that the BJP puts people's welfare above narrow political interests. Shah also claimed that "terrorism cannot be answered by anyone other than PM Modi and the BJP." "India will be free of Naxalism by 31 March, 2026... Terrorism cannot be answered by anyone other than PM Modi and BJP... We answered Uri attack by surgical strike, Pulwama attacks by air strikes, 'Operation Sindoor se ghar mein ghus ke maara'," he said. He began his speech by apologising that he couldn't speak in beautiful Malayalam. He also remembered the 8th-century Vedic scholar, philosopher Adi Shankara. "Kerala is the land of Adi Shankara, who expounded the Veda, Brahma Sutras and other philosophical treatises. I bow before his exalted soul," he said. Earlier in the day, he inaugurated the newly constructed state-of-the-art BJP office in Thiruvananthapuram. In the evening, the Union Minister will travel to Kannur, where he will offer prayers at the renowned Sri Rajarajeshwara Temple in Taliparamba. The visit to the temple is seen as part of the BJP's continued efforts to engage with the cultural and spiritual fabric of Kerala. The visit comes at a time when political activities are intensifying in Kerala with the assembly elections expected to be held next year and the party looking to energise its cadre. The next Kerala Legislative Assembly election is expected to be held in May 2026. This election will be held to elect 140 MLAs to the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly. The current tenure of the Kerala government is from May 24, 2021, to May 23, 2026. (ANI) New Delhi: The Indian stock market ended Friday with significant losses, as global trade tensions and a disappointing start to the quarterly earnings season rattled investor confidence. Both the Sensex and Nifty 50 fell for the third straight session, reflecting growing caution among market participants. What Triggered the Fall? The main reason for the markets slide was the escalation of the global trade war. US President Donald Trump announced a hefty 35 percent tariff on goods imported from Canada, effective August 1. This move heightened fears of a broader trade conflict, weighing heavily on global markets, including India. In response, India revised its own tariffs against the US after the US hiked duties on steel and aluminium. Adding to the negative sentiment was a weak start to the Q1 results season. TCS, one of Indias largest IT companies, reported earnings that fell short of market expectations, further dampening investor mood. Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Investments, noted that the combination of global trade worries and disappointing earnings led to the negative close. Market Snapshot The Sensex dropped to close at 82,500.47. The Nifty 50 fell to 25,149.85. The BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices also declined by zero point sixty-five percent and zero point seventy percent, respectively. This broad sell-off wiped out over Rs 3 lakh crore from investors wealth in a single session, as the total market capitalization of BSE-listed companies fell to Rs 456.7 lakh crore from Rs 460 lakh crore the previous day. Winners and Losers Only 11 stocks in the Nifty 50 managed to end higher. Hindustan Unilever led the gainers, rising four point sixty-three percent, followed by SBI Life Insurance (up one point thirty-seven percent) and Sun Pharma (up zero point seventy-one percent). On the losing side, TCS dropped three point forty-seven percent after its disappointing results, Mahindra & Mahindra fell two point ninety-two percent, and Hero MotoCorp declined two point seventy-four percent. Sector Performance Most sectoral indices ended in the red. Only Nifty Pharma (plus zero point sixty-eight percent) and FMCG (plus zero point fifty-one percent) managed to close higher. Nifty IT (minus one point seventy-eight percent), Auto (minus one point seventy-seven percent), Media (minus one point sixty percent), Oil & Gas (minus one point twenty-six percent), and Realty (minus one point twenty-one percent) saw notable declines. High-Volume and Standout Stocks Jaiprakash Power Ventures, Vodafone Idea, and RattanIndia Power were the most actively traded stocks by volume. Despite the overall weak market, seven stocksincluding Soma Textiles & Industries, Tarmat, and Glenmark Pharmaceuticalsjumped over ten percent. Meanwhile, 77 stocks hit their upper circuits, and 40 stocks hit their lower circuits on the NSE. Market Breadth and 52-Week Highs/Lows Out of 4,165 stocks traded on the BSE, 1,551 advanced while 2,453 declined, indicating a negative market breadth. Interestingly, 133 stocks, including Asahi India Glass, EID Parry India, and JK Cement, hit their 52-week highs, while 42 stocks, such as Ola Electric Mobility and Jindal Worldwide, touched 52-week lows. Niftys Outlook Analysts believe the Nifty could see some consolidation in the coming days, with volatility likely to remain high due to ongoing earnings announcements. According to experts, the index has a crucial support zone between 24,900 and 25,100. If it holds above this level, theres potential for a rebound towards 25,50025,600. However, traders are advised to remain cautious, manage risks carefully, and be selective with stock picks. When Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant tied the knot a year ago, it wasnt just Indias most talked-about wedding it was a moment of civilizational significance that consciously put India back on the global spiritual map. In an era of superficial grandeur, this event served a deeper purpose: to remind the world of Indias identity as the ancient spiritual nerve centre of humanity, where culture, faith, and service are inseparable. Putting India On The Global Spiritual Roadmap For decades, Indias image on the global stage has been dominated by its tech prowess, growing economy, and Bollywood exports. Yet, its foundational identity as the land of ancient wisdom, yoga, dharma, and sacred traditions remained under-celebrated in modern global forums. The Ambani wedding reversed that. By inviting the worlds business leaders, policymakers, and global influencers into the heart of Indias deepest rituals, it reintroduced Indias spiritual traditions to the world in their pure, authentic form. From Grah Shanti Pujas and Shiv Shakti Abhisheks to Bhajan evenings and Vedic yajnas, it wasnt a performative spectacle it was a lived, sacred experience. For the first time in modern memory, the worlds most powerful people witnessed the sanctity, symbolism, and spiritual gravitas of Hindu rites from up close. It was a masterstroke in spiritual diplomacy reminding the world that while economies fluctuate, Indias civilizational wisdom endures. An Unprecedented Spiritual Confluence What made this wedding historically unique was the largest congregation of Indias spiritual luminaries in a private event in decades. Shankaracharyas, Mahamandaleshwars, monks, saints, and acharyas from diverse sampradayas came together not for a Kumbh, but for a wedding. The symbolism was unmistakable: Indias spiritual custodians standing shoulder to shoulder with its economic and social elite. This union of dharma and artha (spirituality and prosperity) showcased to the world that Indias cultural power lies not in separation but in synthesis. It wasnt a wedding for the wealthy it was a civilizational assembly reaffirming Indias role as the worlds spiritual heartland. Serving Society: The Spiritual Duty Of Seva But the wedding wasnt confined to private luxury. True to the Indian ideal of Manav Seva hi Madhav Seva (service to humanity is service to the Divine) it directly benefitted society. The Ambani family began the celebrations by organizing a Samuhik Vivah for 50 underprivileged couples funding their weddings, gifts, homes, and essentials for a dignified life. More than that, a three-week-long Bhandara fed over 1,000 people daily, ensuring no one in the surrounding areas went hungry while festivities were underway. In a world where extravagance often alienates, this wedding integrated prosperity with compassion. It sent a powerful message: in India, celebrations are incomplete without serving society. A Cultural Revival In Banaras Name The wedding theme An Ode to Banaras wasnt aesthetic nostalgia; it was a philosophical statement. Banaras isnt just a city; its the worlds oldest living spiritual capital. By invoking its imagery, temples, ghats, and cuisine in the heart of Mumbai, the wedding reminded both India and the world of the countrys spiritual continuity. For foreign dignitaries and CEOs, it was a cultural awakening an immersive journey into Indias eternal soul, far deeper than yoga retreats or heritage tourism. It subtly but powerfully repositioned India not as a developing market, but as the global home of spiritual wisdom and civilizational longevity. A New Benchmark For Modern India A year later, the true legacy of the Ambani wedding isnt its scale or star power its how it reclaimed and showcased Indias spiritual identity to a 21st-century audience. It demonstrated that faith and prosperity, tradition and modernity, ritual and relevance can coexist powerfully in todays India. And it reminded the global elite many of whom seek spiritual meaning in an increasingly chaotic world that India remains the wellspring of humanitys deepest wisdom. In doing so, it not only revived global respect for Indias spiritual heritage but also channelled that influence for the social good of the community around it. In a stern move to enforce discipline during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, as many as 27 police personnel in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur District have been suspended for remaining absent without permission during their deployment for the yatra duty. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ashish Tiwari ordered the suspension with immediate effect, citing serious indiscipline and negligence during a period deemed critical for public safety. "No negligence of any kind will be tolerated in the Kanwar Yatra, and the Saharanpur Police Administration is completely on alert mode regarding this," SSP Tiwari said. The suspended personnel include a Sub-Inspector, 10 Head Constables -- three of whom are women -- and three attendants. The absence of these officials from active duty during the peak of the Yatra season prompted swift administrative action. SSP Tiwari himself has been conducting late-night inspections and patrolling along Kanwar routes to assess on-ground arrangements. He also visited Route No. 02 of the Kanwar Yatra -- from Bhagwanpur to Fatehpur Chhutmalpur Kalsia Behat Mirzapur -- which typically sees fewer Kanwariyas. He issued necessary instructions to the officers on duty and reiterated that any laxity in performing duties would not be spared. Emphasising the importance of maintaining order during the massive religious pilgrimage, the SSP made it clear that dereliction of duty -- especially when police presence is crucial for ensuring public safety -- goes against administrative directives and will face strong disciplinary action. The Kanwar Yatra, a month-long religious pilgrimage during the holy Shravan period, witnesses millions of Shiva devotees, known as Kanwariyas, travelling to sacred sites like Haridwar, Gaumukh, Gangotri, and Sultanganj's Ajgaibinath Temple to collect holy water from the Ganga. To manage the influx and ensure public safety, the Uttar Pradesh Police has ramped up security. As per the guidelines issued by Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Krishna, deployments include 587 gazetted officers, 2,040 Inspectors, 13,520 Sub-Inspectors, 39,965 Head Constables and Constables, 1,486 women Sub-Inspectors, 8,541 women Constables and Head Constables, 50 companies of the Central Police Force and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), and 1,424 Home Guards. Special arrangements have also been made for 24/7 patrolling, with UP-112 vehicles actively mobilised. Safety guidelines for the Kanwar Yatra mandate that devotees walk only on the left side of highways and that food and rest camps be established at least 20 feet away from the roads. Authorities have warned against overspeeding and reckless driving and have rolled out enhanced safety measures, especially for women Kanwariyas. Swift action is promised in case of any complaints of indecent behaviour. In addition to safeguarding public health and ensuring fairness, food quality inspections are underway. Hotels and dhabas along the route are being monitored in coordination with the Food Department, and the mandatory display of food item rates is being enforced to prevent overcharging. Air India Plane Crash: After the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released the preliminary report on AI 171s June 12 crash, the Airline Pilots' Association of India on Saturday raised concerns over the tone and direction of the investigation. Furthermore, ALPA India President Captain Sam Thomas has urged the government to include them in the ongoing probe into the crash. According to the AAIB's preliminary report, both fuel control switches supplying fuel to the engines of AI Flight 171 were turned off in quick succession, shutting down both engines. The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias toward pilot error. We categorically reject this presumption and insist on a fair, fact-based inquiry, ALPA's official statement said. ALPA-I renews its request to be included-- at the very least, as observers--in the investigation process to ensure transparency and accountability, the statement added. On Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's Preliminary Report on 12th June AI 171 crash, Airline Pilots' Association of India says, "The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias toward pilot error. We categorically reject this presumption and insist on a fair, pic.twitter.com/sYh5TW9HwC ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2025 Air India Crash Report An Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, went down shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on June 12. In the incident, 260 individuals were killed, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground. As per ANI, flight data recovered from the aircraft's Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) revealed that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were inadvertently moved from RUN to CUTOFF, one after the other within a 1-second interval, at an altitude just moments after liftoff. One pilot was heard asking the other, "Why did you cut off?" to which the response was, "I did not." This uncommanded shutdown triggered the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), and the aircraft began losing altitude almost immediately, unable to sustain powered flight. According to the AAIB, the pilots re-engaged the fuel switches in an attempt to relight both engines. Engine 1 showed signs of recovering thrust, but Engine 2 failed to stabilise. The aircraft, which had briefly reached a speed of 180 knots, was already descending and failed to regain altitude. The final distress call a MAYDAY was transmitted at 08:09 UTC, just seconds before the aircraft crashed into residential buildings outside the airport perimeter. Aviation Minister's Reaction Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Saturday urged not to draw conclusions based on the preliminary report released by the AAIB. Speaking to mediapersons, the MoS Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, said, The AAIB has brought out a preliminary report. This is not the final report. Until the final report comes out, we should not arrive at any conclusion. AAIB is an autonomous authority, and the ministry does not interfere in their work. The aircraft in the crash had struck several buildings, including the BJ Medical College hostel, causing significant structural and fire damage across five structures. (with agencies' inputs) A disturbing conversation between the two pilots of Air India flight AI171, just before its tragic crash on June 12, has emerged in the preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The cockpit voice recording showed a key exchange as both engines suddenly lost power. The 15-page report notes that at 13:38:42 IST (08:08:42 UTC), as the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner reached its top takeoff speed of 180 knots indicated airspeed, both engine fuel cutoff switches moved from 'Run' to 'Cutoff'. Shortly after, one pilot asked, "Why did you cut off fuel?" The other replied, "I did not do so." The doomed flight AI171 was heading to London Gatwick when it crashed into the hostel complex of B J Medical College shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport. The accident resulted in 260 deaths, which included 241 passengers and crew on board and 19 on the ground, making it one of India's worst aviation disasters in years. Only one passenger survived the crash. The preliminary #AAIBreport on the #AirIndiaAI171 crash revealed a chilling cockpit exchange: "Why did you cut off fuel?" as both engines' fuel switches inexplicably moved to 'Cutoff' before the fatal crash.#AhmedabadPlaneCrash READ FULL REPORT HERE: https://t.co/5JOJvw0qNi Nomadic Nitin (@Niitz1) July 12, 2025 The pilots were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, who had over 15,600 flying hours (more than 8,500 on the Boeing 787), and First Officer Clive Kunder, 32, with over 3,400 flying hours. Both were fully licensed and qualified for the aircraft. The AAIB report outlines a quick series of events: Ten seconds after the initial cutoff, at 13:38:52 IST, Engine 1's switch was returned to 'Run'. Four seconds later, at 13:38:56 IST, Engine 2's switch also went back to 'Run'. The Engine and Aircraft Flight Recorder (EAFR) showed a rise in Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) for both engines, suggesting attempts to reignite. While Engine 1's core slowing stopped and began to recover, Engine 2 did not stabilise despite several attempts to reintroduce fuel. Both engines' N2 values (core rotor speed) had dropped below the minimum idle level. Investigators confirmed they recovered both engines from the crash site and secured them for further analysis. Drone mapping of the wreckage site has been completed, and debris has been moved to a safe location. The rear section of the EAFR was found significantly damaged, preventing a standard data download. At this early stage, the AAIB has not made any safety recommendations for Boeing 787-8 aircraft or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers. The report states that more evidence is being sought from various parties. The Ministry of Civil Aviation had previously issued a status report on the crash on June 26. A final AAIB report will follow a more in-depth analysis of all collected evidence. A preliminary investigation into the Air India plane crash that killed at least 270 people in Ahmedabad last month has revealed that both engines of the aircraft shut down unexpectedly within 90 seconds of takeoff during the initial climb, leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust and rapid descent. According to a 15-page report published by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday, flight data obtained from the aircraft's advanced Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) showed that moments after take-off, the fuel cutoff switches of both engines were inadvertently moved from RUN to CUTOFF one after the other at an interval of one second. The report also revealed that cockpit audio recordings captured one pilot asking, 'Why did you cut the plane off?', to which the other pilot denied doing so. This uncommanded shutdown triggered the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), and the aircraft began losing altitude almost immediately, unable to sustain powered flight. According to the AAIB, the pilots re-engaged the fuel switches in an attempt to relight both engines. Engine 1 showed signs of recovering thrust, but Engine 2 failed to stabilise. The aircraft, which had briefly reached a speed of 180 knots, was already descending and failed to regain altitude. The final distress call -- a "MAYDAY" -- was transmitted at 08:09 UTC, just seconds before the aircraft crashed into residential buildings outside the airport perimeter. Soon after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report into the Air India AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, Air India acknowledged receipt of the 15-page preliminary report. It said it continues to cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities fully. "We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time. Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses," Air India stated in a post on X. The final report is expected in the coming months. Flight AI171 was a scheduled service from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, carrying 230 passengers and crew. The crash represents one of the deadliest aviation accidents in India in recent history. (With ANI Inputs) Two persons were killed after a multi-storeyed building collapsed in north-east Delhi's Seelampur area on Saturday morning, officials said. The deceased have been identified as Matloob (50) and his wife Rabia (46). Their bodies have been recovered from the debris. Rescue operations are currently underway at the site. Teams from the police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and civil defence are involved in the rescue work. Meanwhile, Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra said that there have been difficulties in carrying out rescue and relief operations as the streets to the incident site is too narrow. He added that the debris out there could only be removed by hand. Mishra stated that there are chances that more people are feared trapped under the debris. "The NDRF team is also present here, but this alley is so narrow that there is no other option but to remove the debris by hand... Carrying out relief work here is very difficult, but we all want the debris to be cleared as soon as possible. There is a fear that some people are trapped in the debris, so we are trying to ensure they can be safely rescued. This is a very tragic incident, and so far, there have been reports of 2 deaths..." the Delhi Minister told reporters. So far, eight people, including a 14-month-old child, were injured after a multi-storey building collapsed in the Seelampur area of North-East Delhi on Saturday morning. The injured have been identified as Parvez (32), Naved (19), Siza (21), Deepa (56), Govind (60), Ravi Kashyap (27), Jyoti (27), and a 14-month-old child named Ahmad. All the injured were taken to Jag Pravesh Chandra (JPC) Hospital, except the infant, who was referred to GTB Hospital. The incident took place at around 7 am in Gali Number 5 of Janata Colony, which falls under the Welcome Police Station's jurisdiction. Speaking to reporters, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for the North-East District, Sandeep Lamba, said seven people had been rescued so far and that 3-4 more were feared trapped under the debris. "We received a call around 7:30 am about a three-storey building collapse in Gali No 5 in the Welcome area. 7 members of a family who lived here have been rescued. The operation to rescue others is underway. Police, NDRF, civil defence, and locals are working on the spot... 3-4 people are feared trapped... Locals have helped a lot in the rescue operations," Lamba said. He also said that the building belonged to a person named Matloof and that the building opposite had also sustained damage due to the collapse. A local resident, Anees Ahmad Ansari, whose house was also damaged in the incident, described the moment it happened. "Everyone was sleeping, when at around 7 am, the building collapsed on one side of my house and its debris crashed into my house. Suddenly, there was a blackout. 4-5 people are still trapped in the debris of the collapsed building. Everyone is involved in the rescue operations." This incident comes just a day after another building collapsed in the Pul Mithai area near Bara Hindu Rao in North Delhi, killing one person and injuring several others. That building, located at Tokri Walan in Pul Mithai near Lohia Chowk, had three shops on the ground floor and godowns above. The shops were part of the Azad Market area and mainly sold bags and canvas cloth. (ANI) Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Sunday said that the ministry is analyzing the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report on the AI 171 crash. "This is a preliminary report, at the ministry we are analysing it. We are coordinating with AIBB for any support they need. We are hoping that the final reports come out soon so that we can arrive at some conclusion," ANI quoted Minister Kinjarapu as saying. Minister Kinjarapu also expressed confidence in Indias aviation workforce, stating that pilots and crew members are the essential pillars supporting the industry. "I truly believe we have the most wonderful workforce in terms of pilots and the crew in the whole world have to Pilots and crew are the backbone of the aviation industry," he said. His comments came in the wake of the preliminary findings into last months tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed at least 270 lives. The AAIBs 15-page report revealed that both engines of the aircraft shut down unexpectedly within 90 seconds of takeoff during the initial climb, leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust and rapid descent. According to data from the aircraft's Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR), the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were inadvertently moved from RUN to CUTOFF in quick succession, just one second apart. The report also revealed that cockpit audio recordings captured one pilot asking, 'Why did you cut the plane off?', to which the other pilot denied doing so. This uncommanded shutdown triggered the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), and the aircraft began losing altitude almost immediately, unable to sustain powered flight. According to the AAIB, the pilots re-engaged the fuel switches in an attempt to relight both engines. Engine 1 showed signs of recovering thrust, but Engine 2 failed to stabilise. The aircraft, which had briefly reached a speed of 180 knots, was already descending and failed to regain altitude. The final distress call -- a "MAYDAY" -- was transmitted at 08:09 UTC, just seconds before the aircraft crashed into residential buildings outside the airport perimeter. Soon after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report into the Air India AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, Air India acknowledged receipt of the 15-page preliminary report. It said it continues to cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities fully. "We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time. Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses," Air India stated in a post on X. The final report is expected in the coming months. Flight AI171 was a scheduled service from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, carrying 230 passengers and crew. The crash represents one of the deadliest aviation accidents in India in recent history. (With ANI Inputs) Following the release of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report on the tragic Air India flight AI171 crash, Boeing has expressed its ongoing support for the investigation and its customer, Air India. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed on June 12, killing 241 people on board and another 30 on the ground. The 15-page AAIB report, published late Friday, revealed a significant finding: the fuel switches for both engines had switched from 'Run' to 'Cutoff' in mid-air, cutting off fuel to the engines. This detail is now expected to be a key focus of the investigation. "Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected on the ground in Ahmedabad. We continue to support the investigation and our customer," Boeing stated early Saturday. The manufacturer added, "We will defer to the AAIB to share information about AI171, following the protocol set by the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization known as Annex 13." Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg also shared a separate statement offering condolences to the victims' families. "I spoke with Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran to offer our full support. A Boeing team is ready to assist the investigation led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau," Ortberg confirmed. Air India, the Tata-owned airline, acknowledged receiving the preliminary report and expressed its solidarity with the affected families while mourning the losses. "Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to cooperate fully with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses," the airline stated. The AAIB report also confirmed that the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was deployed during the initial climb after takeoff, a fact visible in crash footage. The deployment of the RAT indicated a total loss of power and thrust, causing the aircraft to quickly lose altitude even before crossing the airport perimeter wall. Black box data recovered from the aircraft shows that while both engine fuel switches were returned to the 'Run' position after the initial cutoff, only Engine 1 demonstrated signs of recovery, while Engine 2 did not stabilize. The investigation continues to fully understand the sequence of events and the factors leading to this tragic accident. New Delhi: In a major breakthrough in Chhattisgarhs anti-Maoist operations, 23 Naxalites, together carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 1.18 crore, surrendered before senior police and CRPF officials in Sukma district on Saturday. Among them was a high-ranking Maoist commander accused of several deadly attacks, signaling a significant blow to the insurgency in the Bastar region. The surrendered group included 11 senior cadres, including Podiam Bhima alias Lokesh, a divisional committee member (DVCM) of the Maoist outfit. Bhima was carrying an Rs 8 lakh reward on his head and is infamously known for his role in the 2012 abduction of Sukmas first collector, Alex Paul Menon, as well as the 2017 Burkapal attack and the 2021 Tekalguda encounter, which together claimed the lives of 46 security personnel. Joining him were other high-profile cadres such as Ramesh alias Kamalu, the personal guard of Maoist Central Committee Member, Madvi Hidma, one of Indias most wanted Naxal leaders with a Rs 1 crore reward, and Madvi Joga, the security guard of BNPC leader Rajakka. The surrender took place in the presence of CRPF DIGs Anand Singh Rajpurohit and Syed Mohammad Habib Asgar, along with Sukma SP Kiran Chavan. Each surrendered individual received Rs 50,000 in immediate assistance and will be rehabilitated under the state governments revised 2025 Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy, which offers provisions for housing, education, and vocational training. The group included one Divisional Committee Member (DVCM), six Peoples Party Committee Members (PPCMs), four Area Committee Members (ACMs), and twelve lower-rank operatives. Many were part of the Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No. 1, one of the Maoists most potent armed units. Names of key surrendering members include Ramesh alias Kalmu Kesa, Kavasi Masa, Praveen alias Sanjeev alias Madkam Hunga, Nuppo Gangi, and Punem Deve. All are designated as PPCMs or Platoon Commanders. Other important figures are Nuppo Lachhu alias Laxman, a guard of the PLGA Battalion HQ under SZCM Sannu Dada, Podiyam Sukhram, active in the PLGA Battalion No. 1, Dudhi Bhima, deputy commander of Platoon 4, ACMs like Muchaki Ranauti alias Hidme, Kalmu Dula, Dudhi Mangali, and Siddharth alias Madvi Inda, each with Rs 5 lakh bounties. Among the lower-tier operatives are Hemla Rama (Rs 3 lakh reward), Sodi Hidme, Kawasi Joga, Rupa alias Bhime, Gagan alias Kartam Dudwa, Kawasi Hungi, Karam Bhima, and Madkam Nande, each with Rs 1 lakh bounties. The development comes just a day after 22 Naxalites surrendered in Narayanpur district, taking the total number of insurgents who laid down arms in the past 24 hours to 45. State officials believe these coordinated surrenders indicate growing dissent within the Maoist ranks and declining faith in the armed rebellion. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai welcomed the development, stating on social media, Bastar is undergoing a transformation. The echoes of gunfire are fading, replaced by the voice of democracy. The surrender of 23 Naxalites in Sukma is a testament to growing trust in peace, development, and our governments vision. According to the state government, over the past 15 months alone, 1,521 Naxalites have surrendered, driven by increasing disillusionment with Maoist ideology, internal factionalism, and the impact of schemes like Niyad Nellnar, aimed at delivering governance and development to remote tribal regions. The success is largely attributed to the states updated 2025 surrender and rehabilitation policy, which has provided former insurgents with a structured reintegration plan, including financial support, housing, education, and skill training. Many of those who surrendered cited atrocities committed by Maoist leaders against tribal communities and widening internal cracks as their reasons for abandoning the insurgency. Officials say the intelligence gathered from surrendered top-level cadres like Lokesh and Ramesh could prove crucial in dismantling the remaining Maoist network operating in southern Chhattisgarh. With sustained operations, strategic governance, and community-driven development, the state is moving steadily toward its goal of a Naxalism-free Chhattisgarh, in line with the central governments national security priorities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. (With IANS inputs) New Delhi: Mahaveer Toppannavar alias Parmanand Jain, who is accused in the high-profile IIM Kolkata alleged rape case, has been sent to police custody till July 19. Kolkata Police Chief Prosecutor Sourin Ghosal says, "We asked for police custody, and the accused asked for bail. They argued that it was consensual. We argued that no, the prima facie investigation shows that a crime was committed, and the medical evidence supports the victim. The court granted police custody till July 19..." #WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: Mahaveer Toppannavar alias Parmanand Jain, accused in the IIM Kolkata alleged rape case, has been sent to police custody till July 19. Kolkata Police Chief Prosecutor Sourin Ghosal says, "We asked for police custody, and the accused asked for bail. pic.twitter.com/XERQHXpLen ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2025 The accused was arrested after the woman filed an FIR at Haridevpur police station. Following a hearing at the Alipore court, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate granted police custody of the accused until July 19. In her complaint, the woman, who is a clinical psychologist, alleged that she was called to the hostel by the accused for a counselling session, during which he allegedly raped her. The incident reportedly took place just two weeks after another alleged gangrape involving a student at South Calcutta Law College in Kolkatas Kasba area. So far, four individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, including the prime accused, Manojit Mishra. A five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to lead the investigation. New Delhi: A woman currently pursuing her studies at the prestigious Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIM-C) in West Bengal has come forward with a serious allegation of sexual assault against a fellow student on the institutes campus. According to reports, the incident took place on Friday, prompting the victim to file a detailed complaint at the Haridevpur Police Station late that same evening. Following the submission of her statement, law enforcement officials registered an official case and initiated an investigation into the matter. According to media reports, police confirmed that the accused was apprehended following the registration of an FIR filed by the complainant. The alleged incident is said to have taken place within the boys hostel on the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta campus. According to reports, the woman stated in her complaint that she had been invited to the hostel for a counselling session. During her time there, she consumed a drink that she suspects was tampered with. She subsequently lost consciousness and, upon regaining awareness, discovered that she had been sexually assaulted. She also alleged that the accused threatened her with severe repercussions if she disclosed the incident, according to a police official. The accused was initially detained late on Friday night and subsequently taken into formal custody. A thorough investigation into the matter is currently ongoing. Law students rape on college premises in Kolkata The alleged rape incident at IIM-Calcutta follows closely on the heels of another disturbing case of alleged gangrape at a law college in Kolkata, which occurred just two weeks prior. The law college incident involved a 24-year-old first-year student who was allegedly gang-raped by a former student and two senior students within the college premises on June 25. The alleged gangrape sparked intense public outcry and calls for an investigation by a central agency. Recently, the victim's lawyer presented crucial information to the Calcutta High Court. To date, four individuals, including the main accused, Monojit Mishra, a former student, and senior students Promit Mukherjee and Zaib Ahmed, have been taken into custody. Security guard Pinaki Banerjee was also arrested after providing inconsistent statements during interrogation. According to the student, Mishra allegedly sexually assaulted her in the security guard's room on the ground floor of the college between 7:30 pm and 10:50 pm on June 25. In a hearing held on Thursday, the Calcutta High Court instructed the Kolkata Police to provide an updated investigation report within four weeks. Intermittent rainfall is expected across large parts of the country till July 17, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting heavy to very heavy showers in several regions, including the National Capital Region (NCR). The NCR is witnessing waterlogging and traffic disruptions at several places due to the rains, which have already affected daily life. In Delhi-NCR, rain is likely to continue throughout the week, with spells of strong sunlight causing humidity and discomfort. However, no official weather alert has been issued yet for the Delhi-NCR, but the IMD has warned of persistent rain and thunderstorms. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 and 36 degrees Celsius, while humidity may hover between 60 per cent and 95 per cent. Waterlogging has been reported from several parts of Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram, leading to long traffic jams and vehicle breakdowns in inundated areas. Major roads, underpasses, and residential colonies remain affected. According to the IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Central and Northwest India, particularly East Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and both western and eastern Uttar Pradesh till July 17. The IMD said isolated heavy rain is expected over Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal (both Gangetic and Sub-Himalayan regions) in eastern and central India. On July 13, isolated heavy rainfall is likely in parts of Konkan & Goa, Gujarat, Central Maharashtra, and Saurashtra. According to the weather department, light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is forecast to continue over the next seven days in Northeast India. Southern states, including Coastal Karnataka, Kerala, South Interior Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, are also likely to receive isolated heavy showers during the same period. Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal till July 16. The security forces in Manipur have arrested 12 militants of various banned extremists outfits and recovered some arms and ammunition in the last 24 hours in different districts, officials said here on Saturday. A police officer said that the arrested militants belonging to the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Socialist Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (SOREPA), Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) were arrested from Imphal West, Imphal East and Kakching districts. The security forces arrested a PREPAK cadre (one of the 12 militants) from Imphal west district and he was identified as Chingakham Sanjoy Singh Eremba (42). From his possession, one wallet containing an Aadhaar card and Pan Card was seized. The arrested militant had undergone 45 days of basic military training in Myanmar and was working for the proscribed underground organisation in Myanmar before crossing back into Manipur. The security forces arrested another active PREPAK cadre from Wabagai area under Kakching district. The arrested cadre, identified as Leishanthem Athoiba alias Leishang (21), had undergone military training in Myanmar. One mobile phone was recovered from his possession, police said. The police officer said that the security personnel arrested three active cadres of the KCP outfit as they were involved in extortion and threatening of innocent people, shop owners, bank employees in Manipur valley areas. Manipur Police arrested one individual identified as Warepam Shanta Singh (42) for illegal possession of arms and ammunition from Kanglatombi Bazar in Imphal West district. One 9mm pistol along with one magazine, six rounds of 9mm ammunition, and one mobile phone with a SIM card were recovered from Shanta Singh. The security forces also recovered some arms and ammunition from Imphal East District. Security forces continue to conduct search operations and area domination in the fringe and vulnerable areas across districts. The police have also cautioned people against spreading rumours and fake videos. They have appealed to people not to believe in rumours and to be vigilant about fake videos. The veracity of any videos, audio clips, etc., can be confirmed by the Central Control Room, a police statement said. The police said that there are possibilities of many fake posts being circulated on social media. It is hereby cautioned that uploading and circulation of such fake posts on social media would attract legal action with consequences. Further, an appeal is made to the public to return the looted arms, ammunition and explosives to the police or nearest security forces immediately, the statement said. New Delhi: A horrific incident has come to light from a college in Balasore, Odisha, where a student's life took a tragic turn after allegedly being harassed by her Head of Department. The student, who was repeatedly asked for sexual favors and threatened with dire consequences if she didn't comply, attempted to take her own life by setting herself ablaze on campus. The victim has suffered 95% burn injuries and is currently fighting for her life. In an attempt to save her, a fellow student also sustained severe burns, with 70% of his body affected. The accused Head of Department has been detained by the authorities, and an investigation is underway. The woman, a student enrolled in the integrated B.Ed programme at Fakir Mohan College, had lodged a formal complaint with the institutions Internal Complaints Committee on July 1. In her complaint, she accused her Head of Department, Samir Kumar Sahu, of repeatedly seeking "favours" and issuing threats. NDTV reported, sources have revealed that the student was assured of action within seven days. However, no steps were taken during that period. On Saturday, a group of students, including the victim, gathered outside the college gate to stage a protest. According to eyewitnesses, the woman suddenly stood up, ran towards an area near the principal's office, poured petrol on herself, and set herself on fire. A disturbing video captured the moment she burst into flames, running into a college corridor. According to reports, in the footage, a man can be seen attempting to help her, but he quickly retreats as his t-shirt catches fire. Other students and passersby then rush to her aid, trying to extinguish the flames. The college principal, Dilip Ghosh, confirmed that the student's complaint had been formally registered and stated that the internal committee was in the process of preparing a report on the matter. "The student met me in my office today and stated that she was facing extreme mental pressure. She asked me to call Sahu to the office, which I did," Ghosh said. "I informed both the student and the teacher of the consequences if any of their statements were found to be false. Sahu denied the allegations, and the woman also stood firm," he added. The incident sparked widespread protests within the college, which intensified following the woman's self-immolation attempt. The accused, Sahu, has been taken into detention, and a thorough investigation is currently underway. Both the woman and the student who sustained burns while trying to rescue her are receiving medical treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. The United States Embassy in India has issued a firm and unequivocal advisory, making it clear that visa screening does not end with issuance. The Embassy declared that the US government conducts relentless and continuous monitoring of all visa holders to ensure absolute adherence to American laws and immigration regulations. Any violation will be met with swift and uncompromising action. The US Embassy also warned that if the visa holders do not abide by the country's laws, their visa could be revoked, and they could face deportation. U.S. visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all U.S. laws and immigration rules - and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don't, the Embassy wrote in a post on X. U.S. visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all U.S. laws and immigration rules and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they dont. pic.twitter.com/jV1o6ETRg4 U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) July 12, 2025 US' Crackdown On Immigration The advisory by the US Embassy comes at a time during America's crackdown and efforts to ensure compliance with its immigration laws, and on the heels of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles (LA). Meanwhile, as part of broader efforts to tighten screening, a related announcement was made earlier as well. The US has announced that, effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are required to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to 'public' to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law. In a post on X, the US Embassy in India had shared the announcement stating, "Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their personal social media accounts to 'public' to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States." As per ANI, it also reiterated that since 2019, the US has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms. US' Travel Ban The US government has also issued a new 2025 travel ban, barring nationals from 12 countries entirely and partially limiting visa access from seven others. The move prioritises national security and focuses on countries deemed high-risk for security loopholes and terrorism concerns. Indians In US The US also clarified that India is not on the list of travel ban nations and that America is continuing to process applications for Indian nationals across all categories, including B1/B2 tourist visas, H1B work permits, and F1 student visas. Visa applicants from India still reportedly face long delays due to high demand and administrative backlog. Most US consulates in India are booking interview slots up to 10-12 months in advance. (with ANI inputs) Reported By: Rabiul Islam In a move aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing and ensuring high-quality standards, the Ministry of Steel has issued fresh exemptions under its order dated 13 June 2025. This new directive provides two key relaxations: First, imported steel products with a Bill of Lading date on or before 15 July 2025 are exempted from the mandatory requirement of using BIS-compliant input steel. This window allows certain pre-shipped consignments to clear without facing sudden regulatory hurdles, offering relief to traders caught in transition. Second, integrated steel plants (ISPs) within India are exempted from the same requirement for their final products, provided they undergo verification of their BIS licences. To avail this, ISPs must submit a declaration to the Ministry of Steel confirming their status along with supporting BIS documentation. Any false declaration can lead to penalties, including debarment in the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS). These changes come against the backdrop of increasing scrutiny of steel imports, especially from China, Vietnam, and Japan. Over the past year, the Steel Ministry uncovered widespread malpractices where traders tried to bypass quality norms by misrepresenting the grade and composition of imported steel. In many cases, importers sought approval for new or modified grades that did not meet Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms, allowing them to bring in cheaper and weaker materials. Earlier data showed over 1,100 import applications involving steel grades not officially recognised or covered under BIS. Many of these so-called new grades had only minor tweaks, clearly revealing a strategy to flood the Indian market with inferior steel. India has been importing around 400,000 tonnes of non-BIS-compliant steel each year, worth nearly Rs 4,200 crore. The new order supports Indias broader push to reduce dependence on imports, improve quality checks, and strengthen local production. The Ministrys latest decision is expected to boost the Make in India programme. By insisting that only BIS-compliant steel be used, the government is protecting consumers and encouraging Indian producers to expand capacity. Many domestic steelmakers both public and private have already assured the government they will ramp up production and keep prices stable. Two major producers have committed to supplying enough steel to meet local demand and avoid sudden price spikes, at least until December 2025. This aligns with the vision of a self-reliant India, or Atmanirbhar Bharat, where local industries cater to domestic needs and create jobs. Moreover, these steps will help stop the inflow of Chinese-origin steel entering India through Vietnam and other routes. The Ministry had highlighted that many so-called Vietnamese shipments were actually Chinese products re-routed to bypass trade barriers. By enforcing BIS norms on both final products and input materials like billets and coils, India is closing these loopholes that have hurt local steelmakers. Overall, this order marks a clear step toward building a stronger, more reliable steel ecosystem in India. It protects safety standards, supports local manufacturing, and reinforces Indias goal of becoming a global manufacturing hub. For a sector that is critical to infrastructure and countless industries, such policy clarity sends a strong message: India is serious about quality and self-reliance. This is not just a regulatory update; it is a decisive move to empower Indian producers, enhance global competitiveness, and place Make in India firmly at the centre of the countrys growth story. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday attended an important organisational meeting chaired by Rajya Sabha MP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President Mahendra Bhatt, ahead of the upcoming three-tier panchayat elections in the state. The meeting, held in Dehradun, was also attended by BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ajaey Kumar, Ministers, MLAs, and senior party workers. Chief Minister Dhami said the meeting involved a detailed discussion on the party's upcoming plans, public outreach campaigns, and strengthening organisational efforts in view of the panchayat elections. He emphasised that the enthusiasm and dedication of party workers and their connection with the people were the party's biggest strength. The Chief Minister said that all of us together are constantly striving to realise the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and make Uttarakhand a strong and prosperous state. Meanwhile, in view of the upcoming polls, Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh has issued instructions to all local police stations to ensure a free and fair voting process. Intensive district-wide checking campaigns have been launched to curb illegal inducements and maintain law and order. SSP Dehradun told ANI that in view of the current Panchayat elections, he has directed all the station in-charges of Dehradun to conduct the election process in a fair manner and to keep a vigilant eye on illegal activities by stopping all activities like giving any kind of inducement to vote in one's favor, on which the police is continuously running intensive checking campaigns in the entire district. Earlier, the State Election Commission in Uttarakhand had issued a notification regarding the conduct of panchayat elections in 12 districts of the state, except Haridwar. According to the notification, the three-tier panchayat elections will be held in two phases in the state. The notification signed by Sushil Kumar, Uttarakhand State Election Commissioner, comes after the Nainital High Court on Friday permitted the continuation of the panchayat election process, lifting its earlier stay order issued on June 23. Voting under the first phase will take place on July 24, and voting under the second phase will take place on July 28. The counting of votes will be done on July 31. (ANI) Tomy Thomas, husband of Nimisha Priya, the 37-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala who faces execution in Yemen on July 16 after being convicted of murder in June 2018, informed about the ongoing efforts to save her life. Thomas met with the Kerala Governor, Rajendra Arlekar, recently, who offered support to Nimisha's mother through video conferencing. According to Thomas, the Central government, the State government, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) are making efforts to secure Nimisha's release. While speaking to ANI, Thomas said, "I am in contact with Nimisha. It is possible to send text and voice messages to her. I met the Governor yesterday, who offered all support to Nimisha's mother through video conferencing.." "The Central government, State government and the MEA have been making efforts, and we expect a positive response. Our advocate is doing everything possible....", Thomas added. Earlier, Communist Party of India (CPI ) Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeking immediate diplomatic intervention to save Nimisha Priya, an Indian national facing execution by Yemeni authorities on July 16. In a letter to Jaishankar, the CPI MP highlighted that Nimisha Priya's case has "shaken the conscience of the public" about the lack of legal safeguards."I am writing this letter with utmost urgency and deep concern regarding the impending execution of Ms. Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, who has been sentenced to death by a court in Yemen. Reports indicate that the execution may be carried out within days. Nimisha's case has not only shaken the conscience of the public but also raised serious concerns about the lack of legal safeguards and the humanitarian dimensions of her ordeal, " Sandosh Kumar wrote in his letter to Jaishankar. This comes amid reports that the 37-year-old nurse from Kerala is scheduled to be executed on July 16. The trial court convicted her of killing the Yemeni national, a decision that was upheld by the country's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. Sandosh Kumar emphasised that Nimisha Priya "endured repeated abuse and coercion" at the hands of her business partner and said that now Yemen has placed her on death row, "a country with which we do not have formal diplomatic relations." "Nimisha Priya travelled to Yemen to work as a nurse, like many others who leave their homeland in search of a livelihood. Her years there were marked by grave suffering-accounts suggest she endured repeated abuse and coercion at the hands of her business partner. Denied her passport and subjected to constant fear and exploitation, she found herself in a desperate situation. What followed was a tragic turn of events that has now placed her on death row in a country with which we do not have formal diplomatic relations. In such circumstances, the role of the Government of India, particularly the Ministry of External Affairs, becomes critical and urgent," the CPI leader said. The Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar further added that the Communist Party of India has consistently stood by Nimisha Priya's family in their appeal for justice and compassion. "Several initiatives and communications have been made over the years. We understand that the Yemeni legal system allows for resolution through the provision of diyat (blood money), which opens a window for negotiation, provided the Indian government steps in to facilitate it," he said. The CPI MP urged the external affairs minister to use every possible diplomatic and humanitarian channel to secure a stay on the execution and pursue all available means to prevent this irreversible punishment."It is a question not only of saving a life but of reaffirming the nation's responsibility towards its citizens abroad, particularly those vulnerable and caught in extreme circumstances. India must speak with urgency, compassion, and resolve" Kumar said. Previously, MEA confirmed its awareness of the death sentence handed to Nimisha Priya and assured that the government is providing all possible assistance. In response to media queries regarding the case of Nimisha Priya, MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We are aware of the sentencing of Ms. Nimisha Priya in Yemen. We understand that the family of Ms. Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter." New Delhi: Bollywoods beloved couple, Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra, were recently spotted outside a hospital in Mumbai, fueling further speculation around Kiaras pregnancy. Videos of the duo attempting to dodge paparazzi with the help of a bright yellow umbrella have gone viral across social media platforms. The couple, who officially announced their pregnancy on February 28, had posted a photo with the caption: The greatest gift of our lives, coming soon. On Saturday morning, Kiara and Sidharth were seen arriving at a hospital, carefully avoiding media lenses. The couples attempt to maintain privacy has only added to the excitement surrounding their upcoming journey into parenthood. Watch the video here Later in the day, Kiaras father was seen in town, followed by new snaps of the couple with family including Sidharths grandmother, adding a warm dadi-to-be angle to the sighting. A Love Story Straight from the Silver Screen Kiara and Sidharths relationship began on the sets of Shershaah (2021), where they portrayed the real-life couple Captain Vikram Batra and Dimple Cheema. Although rumours of their romance swirled for months, the couple kept things low-key until they tied the knot in February 2023 at the stunning Suryagarh Palace in Rajasthan. In an appearance on Koffee With Karan Season 8, Kiara revealed that Sidharth proposed during a romantic trip to Rome, marking their first holiday together with his family. My parents werent there, she said. It was our first family trip with me and his family. Their wedding was an intimate yet star-studded affair, attended by industry names like Shahid Kapoor, Mira Rajput, Karan Johar, Isha Ambani, and Juhi Chawla. The couples wedding post read, Ab humari permanent booking ho gayi. From Newlyweds to Soon-to-be Parents In February 2024, the couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary with a quiet, nature-filled retreat, posting sweet matching photos from a horse-riding session. Kiara, whos been making waves with her effortless maternity style, recently stepped out in a stunning custom creation by Gaurav Gupta. The couture ensemble featured a dramatic double-panelled cape, a nod to the legendary Andre Leon Talley, and glowed with elegance and a radiant maternal charm. As fans await official updates, the buzz surrounding Bollywoods newest soon-to-be parents continues to grow, and Kiaras glow only adds to the magic. New Delhi: If you're planning a bank visit this weekend, here's something you should know: Saturday, July 12, 2025, falls on the second Saturday of the month. All banks across India will remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays, as per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar. So, if you have any important banking tasks its best to get them done before the weekend. Will banks remain open or shut on July 12, 2025? Since it's the second Saturday of the month, all banks across India will remain closed as per the RBI's holiday schedule. Upcoming Bank Holidays in July 2025 - July 13 (Sunday): Banks will be closed nationwide. - July 14 (Monday): Holiday in Meghalaya for Beh Deinkhlam festival. - July 16 (Wednesday): Holiday in Uttarakhand for Harela celebration. - July 17 (Thursday): Banks closed in Meghalaya for U Tirot Singhs death anniversary. - July 19 (Saturday): Holiday in Tripura for Ker Puja. - July 20 (Sunday): Banks will remain shut across India. - July 26 (Saturday): Fourth Saturday banks closed nationwide. - July 27 (Sunday): Regular Sunday holiday banks closed nationwide. - July 28 (Monday): Holiday in Sikkim for Drukpa Tshe-zi. Banking services to remain functional Even when bank branches are closed, most essential services remain accessible. Customers can continue to use ATMs, internet banking, and mobile banking as usual. These digital services are available almost every day, unless there's a specific maintenance window or notification from the bank. New Delhi: In India, many people live in rented homes, and one of the biggest problems tenants face is landlords not returning the security deposit. Even though the law says tenants should get their money back if they leave the house in good condition, some landlords delay or refuse to pay. Heres how you can make sure you get your security deposit back and avoid trouble: If you return the property without any damage, your landlord must return your security deposit. If they dont, its illegal. You can complain to the local rent authority or even go to the consumer forum for help. Things to Do Before Moving In Get a Written Agreement: Always have a rent agreement that clearly mentions the deposit amount, when youll get it back, and any deduction rules. Take Pictures: Click photos or make a video of the house when you move in and before you move out. This helps if the landlord claims you caused damage. Ask for a Receipt: When you leave, get a signed receipt from your landlord showing you paid and got your deposit back. If the Landlord Doesnt Return Your Deposit Contact the Rent Authority: Many states have special offices to solve these problems quickly. Send a Legal Notice: A lawyer can send a formal notice to your landlord, which often makes them return your money. Keep Evidence: Save your rent agreement, payment proofs, receipts, messages, emails, and photos. Go to Court: If needed, you can file a case under laws like the Indian Contract Act or the Consumer Protection Act. If your refund cheque bounces, you can use the Negotiable Instruments Act. Tips for Tenants Security deposits are usually 1 to 3 months rent and must be returned if theres no damage. Always pay by cheque or online so you have proof. Keep all talks with your landlord polite and in writing. By staying aware and careful, you can protect your money and make sure your rights as a tenant are respected. Promising AI graduate and cricketer Dirdh Patel, 23, was among the victims of the Air India crash from Ahmedabad to London, leaving the academic and cricketing communities in mourning. Premanand Mahaveer Toppannavar, who was the student accused in the alleged rape case on the IIM Calcutta campus, was granted bail by the Alipore Court on Saturday. He had been arrested by Kolkata Police on the night of July 13 following a complaint filed by a woman alleging that she had been raped on the IIM Calcutta campus. A female student at the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIM-C) has accused a fellow student of sexual assault inside the campus boys hostel, prompting her to file a complaint with Haridevpur Police Station. The accused was arrested following the registration of the FIR, and a detailed investigation is underway. Varun Mohan Windsurf CEO: Tech giant Google has roped in Indian-origin Varun Mohan, co-founder and CEO of coding AI startup Windsurf, in a major move in the ongoing AI talent race. Windsurf will continue to operate as an independent business and maintain the right to license its technology elsewhere, even in light of the well-publicised talent change. In a post on social media platform X, Demis Hassabis, Co-Founder and CEO at Google DeepMind, informed hiring several senior Research and Development team members, along with Mohan. Moreover, several important employees, including co-founder Douglas Chen, will join Google DeepMind as part of the deal. Thrilled to welcome @windsurf_ai founders @_mohansolo Douglas Chen and some of the brilliant Windsurf eng team to @GoogleDeepMind. Excited to be working with them to turbocharge our Gemini efforts on coding agents, tool use and much more. Great to have you on board! https://t.co/7LZ6MtO2p4 July 11, 2025 Who Is Varun Mohan He was raised in Sunnyvale, California, the son of Indian immigrants. From a young age, Mohan showed a natural talent for problem-solving. At the Harker School in San Jose, he stood out in math and computing Olympiads, laying the foundation for what was to come. That passion led him to MIT, where he earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees, diving deep into operating systems, distributed computing, and machine learning. Mohans journey through the tech world took him to some of the industrys biggest names which includes Nuro, Quora, LinkedIn, Databricks, and Samsung where he honed his skills and broadened his perspective. Then in 2021, he teamed up with Chen to launch Codeium, a company that would later evolve into Windsurf. Google Deal With Windsurf Google has announced a $2.4 billion licensing and compensation deal with Windsurf. This agreement gives Google a non-exclusive license to key parts of Windsurfs technology, but its not an acquisition or equity investment. Windsurf, a rising player in the AI coding space, is known for its innovative vibe coding an easy-to-use, AI-powered approach to software development thats gaining traction among developers. In whats being called a reverse-acquihire, Google isnt buying the company or taking a stake. Instead, its paying big money to license the tech and bring top talent from Windsurf on board. Indian-Origin CEO Rejected $3 Billion OpenAI Deal Although OpenAI had reportedly been in exclusive acquisition talks with Windsurf earlier this year for about $3 billion, the move is seen as a setback for OpenAI and a strategic win for Google. According to an OpenAI representative, that exclusivity period is now over. The already fierce rivalry between AI titans is heightened by this development. Microsoft is developing its own AI-driven coding tools through "agent mode" in Visual Studio Code, and Meta recently hired Alexandr Wang, the founder of Scale AI, to lead its AI strategy as part of a $14.3 billion initiative. In April, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that 30 per cent of the company's code is now written by AI. Google Tap Windsurf To Boost Geminis AI Coding Google is intensifying its efforts to use AI to revolutionize software development with the Windsurf acquisition. It has already attracted top talent from the generative AI chatbot service Character. AI and is now looking to enhance its Gemini platform with features that could transform the way coding is done. Jeff Wang, interim CEO of Windsurf, stated on X that the company will continue developing its enterprise product, while its core team joins Google to lead the next wave of innovation in AI-assisted development. (With IANS Inputs) In a significant development affecting global economies, US President Donald Trump is seriously considering imposing 500% tariffs on countries that keep buying energy products, like oil, gas, or uranium, from Russia. If enacted, this legislation would directly target major importers such as India and China. The goal is to cripple Russia's energy revenues and pressure President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine. Influential figures like Senator Lindsey Graham have supported this proposal. Graham called it a "breakthrough" for isolating Russia economically. He recently said, "If you are buying energy from Russia and not helping Ukraine, your goods in America will be subject to a 500% tariff." President Trump has reportedly encouraged moving forward with this tough measure. If this legislation passes and the Trump administration implements it, countries like India and China, which have increased their imports of Russian oil and gas during global sanctions, would face unprecedented tariffs of up to 500% on their products entering the US market. This action would likely escalate tensions in trade relationships, especially with India, a key strategic partner. This potential tariff follows other recent tariff announcements by President Trump targeting various countries. For example, Brazil could face a proposed 50% tariff, while Canada has been given a 35% tariff. New duties have also been announced on goods from seven other nations, including the Philippines, Moldova, Sri Lanka, and Libya. President Trump has stated that these new tariffs, including the possible 500% tax on Russian energy importers, would take effect on August 1, 2025. This move highlights a growing economic pressure campaign against countries seen as indirectly supporting Russia's war efforts through energy trade. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in a Rozgar Mela program organised in Bhopal on Saturday, distributed appointment letters to the selected candidates in various government departments and institutions of the Central Government and wished them for their bright future. After the program, Union Minister Chouhan interacted with reporters here and stressed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision is a boon for the nation and under his leadership, extensive work is underway in building a Viksit Bharat. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision is a boon for India. Under his leadership, a grand endeavour of making Viksit Bharat is underway. Extensive work is being done in all sectors. In view of employment, Prime Minister Modi's current tenure is a golden era. More than 25 crore people have risen above the poverty line. He has eradicated poverty from its roots. Whether through direct or indirect employment, the government services sector has provided over 10 lakh youths with jobs, as evidenced by the appointment letters issued. Of these, over 51,000 youth received appointment letters today," Chouhan said. The Union Minister further extended greetings to all the youth who received appointment letters and said that it was not only a job for them but also they would work as an ally of the Prime Minister in building a Viksit Bharat. Additionally, in a post on X, Chouhan said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed appointment letters to more than 51,000 candidates selected in various government departments and institutions of the Central Government under 'Rojgar Mela' through video conferencing. The Maha Yagya of Viksit Bharat is underway under the leadership of the Prime Minister. The dreams of the youth gain a new height through 'Rojgar Mela' and every youth of the country is moving forward with new hope and new confidence." "In the same sequence, today I participated in the Rojgar Mela program organised in Bhopal, handed over appointment letters to the selected candidates and wished them a bright future. Respecting the talent of the youth with complete transparency and fairness is the identity of the Modi government. Our only endeavour is that every youth of the country should be empowered, get employment with respect and give their best contribution in building a Viksit Bharat," Chouhan further added in the post. (ANI) The Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) showcased the progress and benefits of its ongoing Smart Meter implementation initiative in a detailed press conference held on Friday at the TSECL head office. This technical session focused on educating the public about the advantages of Smart Meters, their functionality, and how they differ from traditional electricity meters. TSECL officials clarified that while the metering unit in both old and new meters is similar, the Smart Meter stands out due to its integration with a Network Interface Card (NIC). This card enables seamless communication with a centralized server located in the control room, allowing TSECL to remotely monitor consumption, detect faults, and offer dual billing modes -- prepaid and postpaid. Biswajit Basu, MD, TSECL, said, "Today's press conference was focused on smart meters. It was a technical session where we gave a detailed presentation. We demonstrated that there isn't much difference between the old meters we used earlier and the new smart meters. Both have similar metering units. The main difference is that smart meters come with a NIC (Network Interface Card) that communicates with a central server. This server is located in our control room." "We emphasised today that Smart Meters do not increase electricity bills," said Basu. "If anyone has doubts, we are ready to demonstrate the technology in person." The rollout of Smart Meters is being implemented under the Government of India's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The aim is to modernize Tripura's power infrastructure, improve billing efficiency, and empower consumers with real-time data access. Smart Meters bring several key benefits like: automated remote reading of electricity usage; real-time monitoring through mobile apps; faster fault detection and resolution; elimination of manual meter reading; support for energy-saving behaviours and accurate billing. In a significant step towards transparency, TSECL has already initiated Smart Meter installations at the homes and official residences of Ministers, MLAs, senior bureaucrats, and TSECL employees. Additionally, feeder meters, distribution transformer meters, and consumer-end Smart Meters have already been installed across various locations. This effort is part of a larger mission to promote digital transformation in power distribution, enhance energy accountability, and reduce system losses. During the press conference, TSECL reiterated its commitment to delivering reliable, efficient, and transparent energy services to the people of Tripura and urged all consumers to adopt Smart Meters for a more modern and responsive electricity system. Biswajit Basu further said, "The advantage of this system is that we can now offer both prepaid and postpaid billing options to customers. Additionally, if there is any fault in the customer's home, we will be able to detect it from our end and directly reach out to the customer. We are installing these smart meters through our distribution network. Once installed, smart meters will help us resolve many issues. After the installation of smart meters, we will be able to track everything, including what benefits and problems are occurring. That's why I urge everyone to install smart meters. These meters do not increase the electricity bill. If anyone has doubts, we are ready to demonstrate it in person." (ANI) A goon was arrested after he opened fire at a police team during a chase in the Phase-2 area of Uttar Pradesh's Noida on Saturday, officials said. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Noida), Hirdesh Katheriya, said, "On July 12, Phase-2 Police in Noida were conducting routine checks when they spotted a suspicious individual on a motorcycle. The team signalled him to stop, but he fled. During the chase, he opened fire on the police with the intent to kill. The police fired back in self-defence, injuring him." The ADCP added that during interrogation, the accused identified himself as Faizaan. "A stolen motorcycle, a firearm, and cartridges were recovered from his possession," he said, adding that further investigation is underway. More details are awaited. (ANI) Reacting to the preliminary findings of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav on Saturday expressed serious concern over the Air India AI171 plane accident at Ahmedabad airport, calling it a worrying incident for the entire country. He said that the government acted promptly by ordering an investigation and that strict action will be taken against those found responsible. The Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, resulting in the deaths of 260 individuals, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground. Speaking to ANI, Minister Jadhav said, "Based on further probe, action will be taken on those found responsible." He added that the report has pointed to major lapses and assured that the government will take steps to ensure such accidents do not happen again anywhere in the country. "It was a major accident. Our Prime Minister himself reached the spot and took stock of the situation. The Civil Aviation Minister also visited. Everyone was deeply concerned about how such a serious incident could happen," he added. Reacting to the same incident, the former Union Civil Aviation Minister and BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain told ANI, "This report is an eye-opener about how the aircraft engine was not getting fuel." On Friday, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released the preliminary report into the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171. The report outlines a harrowing sequence of events that unfolded within 90 seconds of takeoff, as both engines of the aircraft shut down unexpectedly during the initial climb, leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust and rapid descent. Flight data recovered from the aircraft's Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) revealed that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were inadvertently moved from RUN to CUTOFF, one after the other within a 1-second interval, at an altitude just moments after liftoff. One pilot was heard asking the other, "Why did you cut off?" to which the response was, "I did not." This uncommanded shutdown triggered the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), and the aircraft began losing altitude almost immediately, unable to sustain powered flight. According to the AAIB, the pilots re-engaged the fuel switches in an attempt to relight both engines. Engine 1 showed signs of recovering thrust, but Engine 2 failed to stabilise. The aircraft, which had briefly reached a speed of 180 knots, was already descending and failed to regain altitude. The final distress call -- a "MAYDAY" -- was transmitted at 08:09 UTC, just seconds before the aircraft crashed into residential buildings outside the airport perimeter. (ANI) Three people were killed and two others sustained injuries after a car fell into a canal in Paliganj area of Bihar on Friday night, police officials confirmed. The vehicle, carrying five occupants, was reportedly returning from Chhattisgarh to Vaishali district when the accident occurred. According to Station House Officer (SHO) of Rani Talab police station, Pramod Kumar, the accident took place after the car veered off the road and plunged into the canal. "These people were Vaishali natives who were returning from Chhattisgarh. Prima facie, it appears that the car driver fell asleep while driving. The villagers immediately reacted to the accident and helped retrieve all passengers," the officer said. The incident triggered a swift response from local villagers, who rushed to the scene and assisted in retrieving the passengers from the submerged vehicle. Despite their efforts, three individuals were declared dead, while the remaining two suffered injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Earlier, a motorbike rider was killed after his vehicle collided with a police vehicle in Bihar's Gaya district on Friday, said the official. Superintendent of Police Ramanand Kumar Kaushal said the incident took place in the Kothi police station area. Following the fatal crash, enraged villagers reportedly set the police vehicle on fire in protest."A motorbike rider died after colliding with a police vehicle in the Kothi police station area of the district. Angry villagers set the police vehicle on fire," SP Kaushal said in a statement. More details are awaited. (ANI) Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy on Saturday said that the government has introduced Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes to encourage participation of private players in rare earth permanent magnets production. The Centre has initiated PLI schemes, which offer financial incentives tied directly to measurable outcomes and have been designed to boost domestic manufacturing. While talking to ANI, the Union Minister said, "For this, the Indian government has also started some PLI schemes to encourage it. We are paying attention to this subject. The Prime Minister has continuously discussed this subject. Recently, during his visit to 5 countries, discussions were held with different countries on this subject. The raw material of rare earth is also available in smaller quantities in India. Importing raw materials, processing them, and manufacturing permanent magnets for various applications, including cell phones, space technology, and defence, creates a huge demand. The Indian government is working seriously for this. This scheme has also been brought under it." Additionally, the Minister also highlighted India's shift in sourcing strategy, noting that India was previously entirely dependent on China for rare-earth permanent magnets. India, earlier, relied entirely on imports from China for the permanent magnets, the Minister said. He added that the Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC), supported by the Ministry of Mining in Hyderabad, has successfully prepared a permanent magnet processing unit equipped with the necessary machinery. The central government plans to provide the technology developed by NFTDC to private factories for manufacturing. "We used to be 100 per cent dependent on China for permanent magnets of the rare earths. But recently, China has refused to supply. With this view, the Indian government is making efforts for permanent magnet manufacturing. Our mining ministry's institute in Hyderabad has made efforts and prepared a permanent magnet processing unit with equipment. After three to four months, we will try to manufacture permanent magnets by giving the technology to different private factories," Reddy told ANI. In April 2024, China announced that it would impose export controls on certain rare earth-related items, triggering a global supply shortage, including in India. In the light of rare earth magnet production, on Friday, Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), welcomed the central government initiatives to ramp up rare earth magnet production in India, particularly the incentives the latter is earmarking for. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the setting up of the Critical Mineral Mission in the Union Budget for 2024-25 on July 23, 2024. The Union Cabinet in January 2025 approved the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with an expenditure of Rs 16,300 crore and an expected investment of Rs 18,000 crore by Public Sector Undertakings. (ANI) Twenty-three Naxalites, carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 1.18 crore, surrendered in Sukma district on Saturday. The group comprises 14 men and nine women, all identified as hardcore Naxalites, said officials. Sukma SP Kiran Chauhan said, "23 Naxalites have surrendered. All are hardcore Naxalites. They will be provided with facilities as per the government policy. On this occasion, I appeal to all Naxalites to lay down their arms and join the mainstream." Earlier on July 8, the IED bomb planted by the Maoists caused injuries to two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans in Chhattisgarh's Timapur-Murdanda road, under the Awapalli police station area. The CRPF jawans who were on duty when the incident took place were given initial first aid and brought to the district hospital in Bijapur for better treatment. On July 5, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai emphasised that the state will soon be free from Naxal violence, and the affected areas will have all the necessary facilities, including roads and electricity. "Our state is rich in every sense. About 44 per cent of the land is forested. The soil is fertile, and our farmers are hardworking. Naxalism was a major obstacle to our progress, but we are overcoming it. For those Naxals who have surrendered, we have designed an excellent rehabilitation policy. Soon, Chhattisgarh will be free from Naxal violence, and regions like Bastar will have roads, electricity, drinking water, and all basic amenities," CM Sai said. As per an official statement from the government of India, in 2024 alone, 290 Naxals were neutralised, 1,090 arrested, and 881 surrendered. Major recent operations in March 2025 saw 50 Naxals surrender in Bijapur, 16 neutralised in Sukma, and 22 killed in Kanker and Bijapur. With continued support through Special Central Assistance and targeted development, the government is on track to eliminate Naxalism by 31 March 2026. (ANI) In recent developments, tensions have escalated between the Marathi and Hindi-speaking communities in the Mira-Bhayandar region. These circumstances have prompted extensive protests and marches, fostering a climate of stress and animosity in the area, according to an official press release. The emergence of such unrest is indeed regrettable and underscores the necessity for constructive dialogue and conflict resolution, the Maharastra Congress stated in the press release. In an effort to reduce this tension and promote dialogue, the Congress Party has taken the initiative and is organising a language workshop titled "We are Marathi, We are Indian", to be held in the presence of State Congress President Harshavardhan Sapkal, according to the release. The release additionally mentioned that the workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, at the Asmita Club in Naya Nagar, Mira Road. It will be attended by Marathi and Hindi-speaking residents from the Mira-Bhayandar area, as well as Congress office-bearers and workers. The program aimed at fostering peace and harmony among people of different languages is called "We are Marathi, We are Indian..." In Mira Road, a Hindi-Marathi language dispute has led to separate protest rallies by Traders and MNS workers. Meanwhile, the Congress is also holding a programme in Mira Road. The party asserts that the principle of unity in diversity is a defining characteristic of India. Individuals from various castes, religions, and linguistic backgrounds coexist harmoniously within the nation, the press release stated. Notably, Mumbai and the state of Maharashtra serve as exemplars of this diversity, being particularly renowned for their multicultural population, which comprises individuals from all regions of India who have relocated for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. According to the party, recent disputes over the issue of language have been deliberately created, with the state government exacerbating these tensions. BJP leaders from outside the state, such as MP Nishikant Dubey, are making provocative statements that further inflame the situation. It is unfortunate that these conflicts are being stirred for political gain ahead of local body elections, the Maharastra Congress stated in the press release. The party further added that ultimately, it is the common people who suffer, and this is not in the interest of society or Maharashtra. Therefore, it is essential that this conflict comes to an end. To promote harmony and brotherhood, the Mira-Bhayandar District Congress Committee is organising this event under the leadership of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee Working President and former MLA Muzaffar Hussain. (ANI) On the instructions of the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, "Operation Kalanemi" has been started against the impersonators who cheat people in the name of religion by playing with their feelings and beliefs in Devbhoomi. According to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh, the arrested individuals were allegedly preying on people's religious sentiments and were involved in duping unsuspecting victims. While speaking to ANI, the SSP said, "Under this campaign, the police took action in various police station areas on Saturday and arrested 23 fake babas roaming around in the guise of saints and sadhus. Among the arrested fake babas, 10 persons are residents of other states." The Chief Minister has instructed to identify all such persons and take strict action against them. As part of the initiative, Dehradun Police on Saturday arrested 23 individuals posing as sadhus in different areas of the district. Singh told ANI, "In line with the instructions, all the station in-charges have been instructed to identify such persons in their respective police station areas, who disguise themselves as saints and mislead people, especially women and youth, and lure them to solve their personal or domestic problems and commit fraud with them, and take strict action against them." Meanwhile, Hindu religious groups welcome Uttarakhand Govt's 'Op Kalanemi' targeting fake seers. 'Operation Kalanemi' is a campaign against anti-social elements who are hurting religious sentiments and duping people under the pretext of 'Sanatan Dharma' by posing as seers, and have called for strict action against such fake people. President of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, Ravindra Puri, welcomed this decision and asserted that strict action should be taken against the people who cheat Kanwariyas. Speaking to ANI about this initiative, Puri said, "Kanwar is being conducted in Haridwar and we welcome this decision by the Chief Minister and thank him as well... The fake saints ask for money from and cheat Kanwariya and abuse those who refuse to give money; these people should be subjected to strict action... Our Chief Minister's vision is a safe Uttarakhand, and doing justice to all the Kanwariya and all of us are with him." The president of Akhand Parshuram Akhada stated that the Aadhar cards of such imposters should be verified, and action must be taken against such people. "We welcome this campaign... There are some fake seers who bring disgrace to our respected saints, the Aadhar card of such imposters should be checked... While India is about to become Vishwaguru, only original saints must be there... There are some seers (fake ones) who have committed a crime, and action must be taken on such people..." he said. State BJP President Mahendra Bhatt said that there are people who try to disturb the society and strict action should be taken against them. "Some criminal elements try to ruin social environment. Everyone must follow the laws made by the government... There are numerous people who try to disturb society, and they will be subjected to strict action..." Bhatt said. (ANI) Nigeria has rejected a proposal by the Trump administration to accept Venezuelan deportees and other third-country migrants from the United States. The country's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed the decision in an interview while in Brazil, where he was attending a BRICS summit: "It will be difficult for a country like Nigeria to accept Venezuelans prisoners into Nigeria. We have enough problems of our own, we cannot accept Venezuelan deportees to Nigeria, for crying out loud" "We already have over 230 million people," the minister added. Tuggar described the U.S. request as part of a broader pressure campaign, which includes recent visa restrictions on Nigerians and the threat of increased tariffs, as BBC points out. "It will be unfair for Nigeria to accept 300 Venezuelan deportees," he said, referencing what he characterized as unilateral demands. "You will be the same person that will castigate us if we acquiesce to accepting Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria." Tuggar added that the visa policy shiftreducing nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas to single-entry, valid for only three monthswas not a reciprocal move, but rather an attempt to exert leverage. He said Nigeria is working diplomatically to resolve these differences, but insisted the country will not serve as a holding ground for U.S. deportees. Tuggar emphasized that Nigeria prefers to build economic partnerships with the U.S., highlighting the country's gas reserves and critical minerals. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the U.S. sent similar requests to the leaders of Liberia, Senegal, Mauritania, Gabon, and Guinea-Bissau ahead of a White House summit. According to internal documents reviewed by the outlet, the administration asked these countries to accept third-country migrants denied asylum or whose home countries refuse to take them back. The migrants would not be returned to their countries of origin until a final decision was made on their U.S. asylum claims. During the summit, President Trump said, "I hope we can bring down the high rates of people overstaying visas, and also make progress on the safe, third-country agreements." U.S. officials told West African diplomats that accepting deportees was a key issue for the administration and linked cooperation on migration to the possibility of improved commercial ties. Liberia's Foreign Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, denied any agreement with the U.S. "We have not had discussions about deportees or criminals coming to Liberia," she told BBC Newsday. Originally published on Latin Times Amidst the ongoing political turmoil in Bihar due to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI), Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Saturday said it doesn't matter if anyone raises questions on the EC as in the end winning the election will only matter. "Whoever is raising questions (on the Election Commission), let them... The reality is that, ultimately, unless you win the election, your point will not matter", Salman Khurshid told ANI. Salman Khurshid's statement has come at such a time when many of his senior party members are strongly opposing ECI's move to conduct a revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. On Friday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday called the Bharatiya Janata Part "chori ki sarkar, choron ki sarkar" (forming a government of thieves) in Maharashtra by manipulating voter rolls, and a similar manipulation of electoral rolls is happening with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar ahead of the elections. While speaking at the 'Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh' event in Odisha's Bhubaneswar, Kharge said that out of the 7 crore voters in Bihar, 2 crore voters will be left out of the electoral rolls due to the ongoing SIR, and appealed to the people to "oust the traitors and teach them a lesson." "There is a 'chori ki sarkar', 'choron ki sarkar' in Maharashtra. 85 lakh voters were changed and then BJP Govt came to power there. Similarly in Bihar, out of 7 crore voters there, 2 crore voters are being cancelled," the Congress president said. Meanwhile, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi Friday accused Election Commission of India of "hatching a conspiracy" for "chunav chori (election theft)" in Bihar, referring to poll-body's decision to revise electoral rolls in the state ahead of assembly election there. Addressing Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh in Bhubaneswar, Rahul Gandhi said that ECI is "working as a BJP wing" and alleged that similar attempts to "steal election" are being made in Bihar just like they were made in Maharashtra. "BJP is attacking the constitution. Yesterday I was in Bihar. Just like 'chunav chori' was done in Maharashtra, similar attempts are being made to do "chunav chori" in Bihar. EC has hatched a new conspiracy for 'chunav chori'. EC is working as a BJP wing, it is not doing its own job," Rahul Gandhi said. The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Election Commission to continue with its exercise of conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi did not stay the SIR process but asked the ECI to consider allowing Aadhaar, ration cards, and electoral photo identity cards as admissible documents to prove voter identity during the SIR of electoral rolls being undertaken in Bihar. "We are of the prima facie opinion that in the interest of justice, the Election Commission will also include documents like Aadhaar, Ration Card, Voter ID card, etc.. It is for the ECI to decide whether it wants to accept the documents or not, and if it does not, then provide reasons for its decision, which shall be sufficient to satisfy the petitioners. Meanwhile, petitioners are not pressing for an interim stay," the bench stated in its order. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that illegal religious conversions are part of a deep-rooted conspiracy against the nation and society, and declared that such acts will not be tolerated under any circumstances. He made these remarks while inaugurating the 'Shri Tegh Bahadur Sandesh Yatra'--a tribute marking the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji--at his official residence in Lucknow. CM Yogi Adityanath carried the Guru Granth Sahib Ji on his head as he welcomed the yatra with flower petals and said that some forces are systematically attempting to alter the fabric of the nation through illegal conversions. He highlighted the recent action taken in Balrampur, where a large-scale conversion racket was busted. He said that the state government has exposed a network involved in forced religious conversions, funded by foreign sources. CM Yogi Adityanath said, "We have proceeded with a huge investigation in Balrampur. You must have seen he (Jalaluddin alias Chhingur Baba) had fixed rates (for conversion)... He was receiving foreign funding. Transactions of more than Rs 100 crores were found in his 40 bank accounts..." Describing these developments as a threat to both social and financial security, the Chief Minister asserted that converting Scheduled Caste individuals by luring or intimidating them is unconstitutional and violates the spirit of social harmony. "Such acts aim to break society and harm communal amity," Yogi said, adding that strict action is being taken against those involved. The Sandesh Yatra, which began from Lucknow, will travel through Kanpur, Etawah, Agra, and culminate at Delhi's historic Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk, where Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed his life to protect the Sanatan Dharma. Recalling the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, CM Yogi said, "This yatra revives the memory of those difficult times under the tyrannical rule of Aurangzeb, who sought to extinguish Sanatan Dharma and impose Islamic rule. Guru Tegh Bahadur chose martyrdom rather than abandon his principles, offering a timeless message of courage and sacrifice." CM Yogi said, "... Guru Tegh Bahadur Maharaj sacrificed his life to protect Sanatan Dharma. Through this program, his journey and the entire history of 350 years is being brought to life... What must that era have been like when a cruel and barbaric ruler like Aurangzeb existed? During that time, news of atrocities came from everywhere. Aurangzeb's aim was to eradicate Sanatan Dharma. In his massive campaign of Islamization, the first challenge he faced was from Guru Tegh Bahadur Maharaj..." He stressed that no community or individual should be pressured into renouncing their culture or faith. "The legacy of Sikh Gurus--built on sacrifice and valour--must be preserved and integrated into modern strategies to safeguard our cultural identity," he said. The Chief Minister also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to officially observe December 26 as 'Veer Bal Diwas'. He noted that events like the 550th Prakash Parv and Bal Diwas are now being celebrated at the national level. Also present at the event were State Minister Baldev Singh Aulakh, MLC Sardar Hari Singh Dhillon, Minority Commission member Sardar Parvinder Singh, Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee General Secretary Sardar Jagdeep Singh Kahlon, Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad, and other dignitaries. (ANI) John Spencer, warfare scholar and chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute, stressed that Operation Sindoor which was launched by the Indian Armed Forces against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, was the culmination of a decade of preparation, not merely a four-day mission. In an interview with ANI, Spencer, who has served over 25 years in the US Army as an infantry soldier, said that through Operation Sindoor, India not just sent a message to Pakistan but to the whole world. Spencer highlighted that India's change in strategic doctrine after Operation Sindoor will change the entire region. "I can absolutely clearly see a change in India's strategic doctrine that will really change the entire region in my opinion. It wasn't just about the four days. It was what was happening the decade before, the five years before, from Make in India to the Indian military transformations and preparations, the small business innovations that are going on with the technologies, and so many elements that were preventing and leading to being prepared for a war," the warfare scholar said. "I can tell you that India is more prepared, and from what I'm hearing on the ground, they're not resting on what they just did. The priority is development to strengthen the nation as a whole while you also strengthen your deterrence, your red lines, and your capabilities so you do have military overmatch, which is deterrence," he added. Emphasising the significance of India's outreach, Spencer said that India's national security doctrine is evolving after Operation Sindoor. "Absolutely. And it's still evolving. I know the Prime Minister is just on a multi-country trip; communicating a strategic doctrine is as important as implementing it. As we talk in military terms, I've read things, and clearly India demonstrated that with action. But the words matter, the cultural aspects, so it's understood. And that's why it was important to talk to active military, former military, think tanks, and media," Spencer said. On May 7, the Indian Armed Forces launched 'Operation Sindoor,' hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed. This was in response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 people. Indian Armed Forces destroyed nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in air strikes on May 7. Following Pakistan's retaliation, the Indian Armed Forces significantly damaged their air force bases on the intervening night of May 9th and 10th, including the Nur Khan base. Later, a cessation of hostilities was agreed upon by the DGMOs of both countries. (ANI) Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya on Saturday inspected the ongoing reconstruction works after damage caused by the disaster situation caused by sudden floods and landslides due to heavy rainfall in the areas around Syana Chatti near Silai Band on the Yamunotri road in the Barkot tehsil of the district. According to an official statement from Uttarakhand's information officer, a road was broken due to the landslide in Ojri. The DM inspected the Bailey bridge being built at the said place and directed to check the quality of the construction work and complete it within the stipulated time frame. "This Bailey bridge is extremely important for the area, as it connects Ojri and nearby villages to the main road, which will facilitate movement of both local residents and tourists," the District Magistrate said. DM Arya closely inspected the load-bearing capacity of the bridge, the strength of the foundation and the approach road connecting the bridge, the statement added. He instructed the concerned officials that any kind of negligence in the construction of the bridge will not be tolerated and no compromise should be made on the quality. He directed the officials to open the bridge to the public as soon as possible so that normal life can run smoothly in the area. Apart from this, the District Magistrate inspected the landslide affected areas in Sianachatti and Silai Band and also directed the concerned officials to construct Kupda Bridge in Sianachatti which is important for the movement of many villages. Earlier on July 10, Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed all the District Magistrates to respond quickly to the disaster incidents. Under these instructions, District Magistrate Savin Basnal reached the village of Batoli in Misral Patti, a district cut off from communication, to first meet the local residents. The administration assured the villagers of all possible help on the spot. At the same time, the villagers ' demand proposals were approved on the spot. The District Magistrate measured the difficult footpath and came face-to-face with the problems faced by women, elderly children, and locals of Batoli, and resolved them. Meanwhile, the district administration prepared the road overnight and reached the villagers through Sheru Khala, which had turned into a ditched mound due to heavy rains, a task that would have taken months to complete. (ANI) A massive fire that broke out in a shop on the first floor of a three-story building in Old Delhi's bustling Sadar Bazar has been brought under control, officials confirmed on Saturday. One fire operator sustained serious injuries during the operation and has been shifted to a medical facility, while no other injuries have been reported so far, according to authorities. Deputy Chief Fire Officer Sanjay Tomar provided details of the incident, stating, "We received a call at 15:49. The fire category was escalated due to the market's density and the presence of numerous shops nearby. The blaze occurred on the first floor of a three-story building. One of our fire operators suffered serious injuries and has been evacuated. There is no information yet about any other injuries." Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Sadar Bazar Traders Association, Paramjeet Singh Pamma, said, "Between 3.45 pm and 4 pm, we got to know that a fire broke out on the main road. We called the fire department, police, and administration right then. They arrived immediately and controlled the fire; otherwise, a disaster could have happened in Sadar Bazar..." The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and investigations are underway. (ANI) Delhi experienced a fresh spell of rain on Saturday, just two days after experiencing extensive waterlogging in several parts of the national capital. Multiple areas, including Pandit Pant Marg, RK Puram, and Barakhamba Road, saw rain today, giving a break from the humid weather. Earlier on July 10, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed displeasure and concern over the waterlogging in various areas due to heavy rains in the national capital. She issued strict instructions to the officials of the concerned department to take effective steps to prevent waterlogging so that people of Delhi do not have to face problems during the monsoon season. According to an official statement, the Chief Minister expressed satisfaction that despite heavy rains, there was no waterlogging on Minto Road and ITO crossings this time. She told the officers that they will have to show similar efficiency in the entire Delhi. To find a solution to waterlogging and the problems arising from it, CM Gupta, along with PWD Minister Parvesh Verma, called a special meeting with top officials of PWD, the irrigation-flood control department and departments related to waterlogging and said that any kind of negligence will not be tolerated. On the same day, New Delhi Municipal Corporation's (NDMC) Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal inspected the pumping of drains on Africa Avenue road under the railway bridge following rains in the area. While speaking to ANI, Chahal stated that waterlogging was almost nil in Delhi on Thursday, with zero complaints received in the area under NDMC. He attributed this success to a team effort and reiterated the NDMC's promise to the people of Delhi to provide a waterlogging-free city. Chahal said, "... Waterlogging was almost nil in Delhi today. We recieved zero complaints of waterlogging in the area under NDMC today... This is a team effort and our promise to the people of Delhi..." The NDMC Vice Chairman also inspected the rainwater harvesting system in Bharti Nagar, an area that experienced waterlogging in the past. Chahal highlighted that Bharti Nagar is a live example of controlling waterlogging with rainwater harvesting. (ANI) At the unveiling of Queering the Law: Beyond Supriyo, retired Supreme Court Judge Sanjay Kishan Kaul made a stirring call for social reform. Reflecting on a recent case of honour-based violence, Justice Kaul condemned the country's continued obsession with control, especially over relationships, women, and those who challenge social norms. "Freedom and identity are still seen as threats rather than rights," he said, adding, "Look at what is happening around us. A father shooting his own daughter simply because she chose to live life on her own terms. This is not just an individual crime, it's a symptom of the deep-rooted resistance to autonomy, particularly when it comes to women or anyone who challenges traditional norms." "Forget urban spaces, in many parts of the country, relationships are still seen through the narrow prism of control, honour, and social pressure. This kind of violence is not just about one family or one incident; it reflects a much larger issue about how freedom and identity are still seen as threats rather than rights." Justice Kaul said. The event marked the public launch of policy recommendations crafted by the Keshav Suri Foundation (KSF) and the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy (Vidhi). This collaborative effort was initiated in response to the Supreme Court's Supriyo vs. Union of India verdict, which denied marriage equality to certain queer groups but underlined the State's duty to address systemic discrimination faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals. The gathering featured panel discussions with lawyers, activists, queer civil society leaders, and Vidhi fellows, culminating in an immersive theatrical performance. Justice Kaul's keynote drew sharp attention to societal resistance to autonomy, especially in non-traditional families and queer relationships. The policy package, titled Queering the Law: Beyond Supriyo, comprises four briefs: recognition of queer relationships and families, access to goods and services, queer affirmative healthcare, and prevention of violence. These documents emerged from extensive legal research and pan-India consultations in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur, engaging over 150 stakeholders. Among the key proposals: amend secular laws to be inclusive of queer marriage, parenthood, and inheritance, establish civil unions and nomination systems for chosen families. Reform the Transgender Persons Act to introduce horizontal reservations and remove binary medical certification. Ban conversion therapy and unnecessary surgeries on intersex persons. Expand gender-affirming healthcare and mental health access. Modify laws like the Domestic Violence Act and the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act to reflect queer-specific violence. Keshav Suri, founder of KSF and Executive Director of the Lalit Hospitality Group, stated, "Our nation's journey towards equality demands collective action. We are proud to present a set of actionable recommendations that chart a path forward, one that ensures dignity, rights, and recognition for LGBTQIA+ individuals." Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy emphasised the importance of engaging with the High Powered Committee, urging governments to implement legal and policy changes for queer inclusion. The recommendations aim to assist civil society and legal professionals in shaping reform and pursuing strategic litigation. (ANI) Meanwhile, the death toll in the Gambhira bridge collapse incident in Gujarat's Vadodara has risen to 20 after one of the person died in the hospital, officials said on Friday. The Vadodara Collector, Anil Dhameliya, said that the relief team has been active for more than 48 hours. "Our entire team is active here since the day before yesterday... The locals have given very good community support in the rescue operations. One death occurred in the hospital today... The death toll is 20," the collector told reporters here. A section of the Gambhira bridge connecting Vadodara and Anand collapsed on July 9 and fell into the Mahisagar river below. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered a high-level inquiry into the recent bridge collapse on the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge connecting Vadodara and Anand. The Chief Minister has entrusted a team of experts to conduct a detailed investigation and prepare a report on the repairs, inspections, and quality checks carried out on the bridge. According to the Department of Information, based on the preliminary investigation, four officers have been suspended with immediate effect. NM Naikwala (Executive Engineer), UC Patel (Deputy Executive Engineer), RT Patel (Deputy Executive Engineer), and JV Shah (Assistant Engineer) have been suspended with immediate effect. The Chief Minister has also directed that thorough inspections be carried out on other bridges in the state to ensure public safety. Reacting to the incident, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP leadership and the central government of crossing all "limits of indifference" in the name of governance, alleging that recent tragedies like the Gujarat bridge collapse and the Ahmedabad plane crash were the result of a "leadership crisis," "rampant corruption," and "incompetence." Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stated that the Gambhira bridge collapse incident in Gujarat's Vadodara on Wednesday, should be thoroughly investigated. "It is extremely unfortunate. Such incidents should be thoroughly investigated," the Congress MP told ANI. (ANI) Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Training Ship Itsukushima concluded a fruitful port call to Chennai from July 7 to 12 as part of its Global Ocean Voyage Training. The ship, carrying over 50 trainee officers, undertook this visit to gain exposure to international maritime operations and enhance cooperation between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and JCG, according to a PRO statement. During the five-day visit, the trainee officers and crew were hosted at various ICG facilities in Chennai, providing them with valuable insights into the multifaceted operations of the ICG. The interaction offered an enriching platform for professional exchange and mutual learning across all levels of personnel. According to a press statement, Vice Admiral Kanosue Hiroaki, Vice Commandant (Operations), Japan Coast Guard, led the delegation and participated in a range of professional and cultural engagements, including reciprocal visits and official calls. On 7th July, the delegation called on Director General Paramesh Sivamani, AVSM, PTM, TM, Director General Indian Coast Guard, further cementing the long-standing ties between the two maritime forces. These engagements are in alignment with the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between India and Japan in 2006 and are part of ongoing capacity-building initiatives that underscore both nations' commitment to ensuring safety and security in the maritime domain. The visit culminated on 12th July with a joint sea exercise named JA-MATA (Japanese for "we will meet again") conducted off the coast of Chennai. The exercise included coordinated manoeuvres such as boarding operations, station-keeping, and firefighting drills symbolising operational synergy and preparedness. The visit and associated activities were meticulously coordinated by Headquarters, Coast Guard Region East, under the leadership of Inspector General Datwinder Singh Saini, TM, Commander, Coast Guard Region (East). The camaraderie and shared spirit witnessed during the visit reinforce the deepening cooperation between the two Coast Guards in pursuit of a common goal: ensuring secure and peaceful seas. (ANI) The Delhi Government on Saturday held a review meeting for the preparations in view of the Kanwar Yatra. According to CM Rekha Gupta all the preparations for the event have been made and electricity up to 1200 units in the Kanwar camp have been made free. The Delhi CM said that her government has broken the traditions, corruption, and mismanagement of the previous regime. CM Gupta stated that the work done by the Delhi government was "unprecedented" in itself. "Breaking the tradition of corruption of the previous governments, breaking their tradition of mismanagement, breaking the tradition of troubling the public, the work done by the Delhi government regarding the Kanwar Yatra this time was unprecedented in itself...All the preparations have been done. All the arrangements for the toilets, which we are going to provide in the Kanwar camps, have been done. We have made electricity up to 1200 units free for the Kanwar camps", Rekha Gupta told reporters. Furthermore, the Delhi CM noted that the people in the national capital are very "happy" and "welcome" gates have been put up at all the entries of Delhi to welcome the Kanwar Yatris. Rekha Gupta informed that the government had called the people of the Ramlila Sangh and addressed their problems. "The people are very happy today. Similarly, all the traffic and police arrangements have been made. Welcome gates are being installed at all the entries of Delhi and the government is fully prepared to welcome the devotees of Shiva...In the same way, we have called all the people of Ramlila, Ramlila Sangh, who are associated with the Ramlilas and have listened to their problems today and in the same way, the Delhi government will do all the work for Ramlilas", she said. AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday criticised the BJP-led Delhi administration for politicising the sacred Kanwar Yatra by defunding long-standing community-run camps and redirecting funds to BJP-backed and affiliated organisations. Addressing a press conference, senior AAP leader and Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "Every year, we supported all Kanwar camps--irrespective of their political affiliations--by arranging tents, lights, sound systems, furniture, fans, coolers, music systems, and stages. The Kanwar committees only had to focus on 'seva' and managing the prasad distribution. This model ran smoothly for years. I can say with full responsibility that it never mattered whether a Kanwar committee was aligned with Congress, BJP, or AAP--our government helped everyone equally." (ANI) FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly used polygraph tests to determine if his employees had ever spoken negatively about him. Since Patel assumed the role of Director at the Bureau, the FBI has reportedly increased its usage of lie detector tests, even having employees of the Bureau undergo such tests, according to The New York Times. The FBI allegedly asked senior employees if they had ever spoken negatively of Patel while they were actively hooked up to polygraph tests, reported two anonymous sources familiar with the matter. Furthermore, after the media reported that Patel had demanded a service weapon, members of FBI staff were subjected to polygraph tests so Patel could figure out who leaked the information. Former officials have further revealed that any negative talk about Director Patel or his deputy, Dan Bongino, could cost bureau employees their job, indicating Patel's focus on how he is perceived in the public eye. Officials have agreed that such use of polygraph tests is incredibly inappropriate and constitutes bad practice. "An F.B.I. employee's loyalty is to the Constitution, not to the director or deputy director," said James Davidson, a former agent who spent 23 years in the bureau. "It says everything about Patel's weak constitution that this is even on his radar." Veteran analyst Tonya Ugoretz was placed on administrative leave after it was revealed that she repealed an intelligence report from an informant in Albany, New York, due to weak sourcing. The report claimed that China had impacted the results of the 2020 presidential election and swayed the results in favor of former President Joe Biden. Many top officials and agents have faced repercussions for certain actions, including being ousted from their positions or moved into different fields. Some have simply chosen to retire prematurely in order to avoid consequence. Originally published on Latin Times Himachal Pradesh's Revenue, Horticulture and Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi on Saturday underlined the state government's commitment to promoting the legal cultivation of cannabis (hemp) for medicinal and industrial purposes, emphasizing that "drug-free cannabis can become a sustainable economic option for farmers, not a source of addiction." Speaking to ANI a day after the seminar and exhibition at the historic Gaiety Theatre in Shimla, Negi said that the misconceptions about narcotics in industrial use need to be ended first. "Cannabis cultivation carried out for industrial or medicinal purposes is completely free from narcotic substances. It should not be confused with illegal or wild hemp that naturally grows in many regions and contains addictive elements," he said. "The government is committed to creating a prosperous, drug-free Himachal. Cannabis grown for medical and industrial use is not for intoxication, it is for healing and industry," said Negi. The seminar, which focused on the medicinal and industrial use of hemp, showcased dozens of products made from cannabis including food items and pharmaceutical extracts by stakeholders from Himachal and other states. The minister, who inaugurated the event, interacted with industry experts and explored exhibition stalls to understand the range of hemp-based products. "There is a false perception among people that cannabis is only a narcotic substance. But industrial hemp is completely different. It has no intoxicating effect and is being used worldwide for medicines and eco-friendly products," he explained. The event featured presentations on the Uganda Cultivation Project, medical hemp business models, and ecological planning of cannabis by leading companies and experts in the field. Notable speakers included Rohit Chauhan (Incare Labs, Kannarma), Dr. Piyush Juneja (Ayurinstinct Healthcare), Hanish Katnawar (Himalayan Hemp Industries), Bhavik Vipul Shah (Think The Himalayan Hemp Corporation), Kanika Sood (India Hemp & Cannabis Network), Dr. Rashmi Punhani, and Anil Kumar (Pi Hemp Pvt Ltd), Siddharth Gupta (Indian Hemp Store), Delzad Dolallywala (Bombay Hemp Company), and government legal advisor Deven Khanna. Negi also recalled that in 2023, the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly had set up a Joint Committee to explore the viability of legal cannabis cultivation in the state. The committee, chaired by him, included legislators Sundar Singh Thakur (then Chief Parliamentary Secretary), Dr Janak Raj, Hans Raj, and Puran Chand. "We visited several states like Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir to study existing hemp models and assess the legal and economic frameworks," he said. Based on the committee's recommendation, the Assembly passed a resolution in the Monsoon Session of 2024 to legalize hemp cultivation for medical and industrial purposes. The minister said that rules for its implementation will be framed soon, and the process to grant licenses for medicinal and industrial hemp farming will begin in phases. "We expect farmers to get good returns per bigha from industrial hemp. It will open avenues in agriculture, health, and green industries," said Negi, adding that steps are being taken to ensure strict regulation to prevent misuse. He emphasized that only certified, drug-free seeds will be allowed for cultivation, and medicinal cannabis-based products will be separately regulated with licensed processing units. "The aim is not to promote addiction but to harness the healing and economic potential of hemp for the benefit of our people," he added. (ANI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting in the Delhi Secretariat related to the Kanwar Yatra. Cabinet minister Ashish Sood and Kapil Mishra accompanied her during the meeting. In a post shared by Delhi CM on her official 'X' handle, Rekha Gupta informed that 374 registered Kanwar committees have been granted permission within 48 hours through a single-window system. She stated that the officials have been given instructions to ensure no "shortcomings" in serving the "devotees" of Lord Shiva. "Chaired a high-level review meeting regarding the Kanwar Yatra at the Delhi Secretariat. Cabinet Ministers Shri Ashish Sood ji and Shri Kapil Mishra ji were present at the meeting. Clear instructions have been given to officials to ensure no shortcomings in serving the devotees of Lord Shiva. This year, 374 registered Kanwar committees have been granted permission within 48 hours through a single-window system", the 'X' post said. Furthermore, the Delhi CM noted that each Kanwar camp has been provided with 1200 units of free electricity and 75 per cent relief has been given in security deposits. Rekha Gupta highlighted that for the Delhi government, Kanwar Yatra is an "opportunity" for "public service". "Each camp has been provided with 1200 units of free electricity, simplified meter connections, and a 75% relief in security deposits. Arrangements for traffic, police, health, and cleanliness have been thoroughly strengthened at every level. 50% of the total amount will be provided to the committees before the event, with the remaining transferred directly to their accounts via DBT. For us, the Kanwar Yatra is an opportunity for public service. Our endeavor is to ensure that this yatra is conducted with devotion, safety, and good governance, in full dignity", Rekha Gupta wrote in her 'X' post. Following the meeting, while addressing the reporters, the Delhi CM said that her government has broken the traditions, corruption, and mismanagement of the previous regime. CM Gupta stated that the work done by the Delhi government was "unprecedented" in itself. "Breaking the tradition of corruption of the previous governments, breaking their tradition of mismanagement, breaking the tradition of troubling the public, the work done by the Delhi government regarding the Kanwar Yatra this time was unprecedented in itself...All the preparations have been done. All the arrangements for the toilets, which we are going to provide in the Kanwar camps, have been done. We have made electricity up to 1200 units free for the Kanwar camps", Rekha Gupta told reporters. Furthermore, the Delhi CM noted that the people in the national capital are very "happy" and "welcome" gates have been put up at all the entries of Delhi to welcome the Kanwar Yatris. Rekha Gupta informed that the government had called the people of the Ramlila Sangh and addressed their problems. "The people are very happy today. Similarly, all the traffic and police arrangements have been made. Welcome gates are being installed at all the entries of Delhi and the government is fully prepared to welcome the devotees of Shiva...In the same way, we have called all the people of Ramlila, Ramlila Sangh, who are associated with the Ramlilas and have listened to their problems today and in the same way, the Delhi government will do all the work for Ramlilas", she said. (ANI) The Alipore court on Saturday remanded Mahaveer Toppannavar, also known as Parmanand Jain, to police custody till July 19 in connection with the alleged rape of a woman at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kolkata campus. Visuals from outside the courtroom showed the accused being escorted by police personnel. Speaking to ANI, Kolkata Police Chief Prosecutor Sourin Ghosal informed reporters that the defence had moved a bail plea, claiming the act was consensual. "We asked for police custody, and the accused asked for bail. They argued that it was consensual. We argued that no, the prima facie investigation shows that a crime was committed, and the medical evidence supports the victim. The court granted police custody till July 19," Ghosal told ANI. Meanwhile, the mother of the accused student, Mahaveer Toppannavar alias Parmanand Jain, said the family was stunned by the development and had no knowledge of the reason behind his detention. She asserted that her son, a final-year student at the prestigious institute, was innocent and incapable of committing such an act. Her comments came after Kolkata Police arrested Toppannavar on Friday night, following a complaint filed by a woman who alleged that she had been raped on the IIM Calcutta campus. Speaking to ANI, Mother of Mahaveer Toppannavar alias Parmanand Jain said, "We recieved a call from his friend around 11 in the night. He told us that my son has been detained and he doesn't know the reason... We have no clue why our son has been arrested... We want to meet our son and talk to him." "He was in the final year of his college... We do not know anything here in Kolkata. Where the Police Station is or the Court. My son is innocent. He has come so far to study. He will never do such a dirty thing," she told ANI. Earlier in the day, a woman had accused a student of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta of raping her on the institute's campus, said Kolkata Police. According to officials, the woman complained to the Haridevpur police station on Friday evening. "Late last evening, a woman reported at Haridevpur Police Station that a student inside the IIM Calcutta campus raped her. Based on her complaint, a case has been registered, and the accused has been arrested," the police said. They added that an investigation is currently underway. (ANI) In the wake of devastating rains and landslides across Himachal Pradesh, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh announced immediate financial relief for flood-hit areas. Speaking to ANI, Singh said that an interim sum of Rs 2 crore per constituency has been sanctioned for road restoration in badly affected assembly segments. At the same time, Rs 50 lakh will be allocated to each of the remaining constituencies for emergency infrastructure work. "After a departmental meeting yesterday, we have decided to release two crore per constituency as interim relief for those areas worst affected by the floods, and Rs 50 lakh for every other assembly constituency," Singh confirmed. The minister emphasised that ensuring balanced and equitable development across Himachal Pradesh has always been a core objective. "Balanced development has always been our top priority. The disaster that has struck parts of Himachal, particularly Mandi district, is deeply tragic. I personally visited affected areas such as Nachan, Siraj, Chohar, Karsog, and Dharampur. The worst-hit region is the constituency of former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur," he noted. He added that the department is compiling a detailed report and will be submitted to the Union Government. "I will meet Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and also Renu Devi Shivraj Chauhan, the Minister for Rural Development. Since PMGSY roads fall under their purview, I will seek their full cooperation. We are requesting maximum support for Himachal, and this is not a political issue. We must rise above party lines and act with unity," Singh stated. He took a strong stance against trivialising relief work, particularly referring to recent statements by Kangana Ranaut, without naming her directly. "Some people make laughable remarks, saying they have no post or power. But when you're elected, you're not just voicing your own concern, as you represent the voice of lakhs of voters," he said. On Kangana Ranaut's statement showing helplessness, he said that it is unfortunate that an MP is avoiding people in such a critical situation. "Statements that claim one cannot serve because of a lack of position are unfortunate. Real service goes beyond holding office. Even clearing a drain or fixing a broken road matters deeply to those affected. For them, it's a life-saving act, not a small task," he said. He continued, warning against opportunistic politics during a crisis. "I don't want to comment much, but making jokes or smiling in disaster zones is against the very soul of Himachali culture. A public representative should act with dignity, gravity, and compassion. The need of the hour is solidarity." Singh Said. Singh also said the government has relaxed tendering norms to enable quick work. "We've allowed offline tenders in severely affected zones to speed up road restoration, JCB deployment, drainage repair, and other emergency works. This flexibility is essential in such emergency conditions," he explained. Highlighting the economic angle, Singh said restoring roads and transport is crucial for farmers. "Mandi is a fruit-producing region. The broken road network is hampering the movement of apples, vegetables, and other produce to markets. This causes economic losses to farmers. Reconnecting these areas is our urgent priority," he said. Calling for greater cooperation from the Centre, Singh expressed disappointment over delays in financial support for past disasters: "Earlier, a support of Rs 2,000 crore was promised on paper. We hope this is released soon. We must speak with one united voice before the Centre. Whether ruling or opposition, all Himachalis must come together for this cause," he said. He mentioned that damage assessments are ongoing and the PWD alone has suffered losses between Rs 400 to Rs 500 crore, particularly in Mandi district. On the Postponement of Virbhadra Singh's Statue Inauguration, Vikramaditya Singh also addressed the planned inauguration of a statue of former CM Virbhadra Singh, originally scheduled for July 15 at Shimla's Ridge. "Given the current situation, so many deaths, people displaced, massive suffering--it would be inappropriate to hold any celebratory event. The event has been postponed, and a new date will be finalised later after consultation with the party leadership," Singh said. "My father, Virbhadra Singh, served six terms as CM. He always stood by the people in tough times. Honouring his legacy must also reflect compassion and timing," he said. Singh further said that the state government is fully committed to both short-term relief and long-term reconstruction. "I have toured the affected regions personally and spoken with people. PWD teams are working relentlessly on the ground. Whether it's a small job or a major restoration, we treat every task with seriousness. Our goal remains the equitable development of all of Himachal Pradesh, and I assure the people of the state of our full commitment during this crisis, " he affirmed. (ANI) Union Minister and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar on Saturday said that more than 200 appointment letters were handed out at the 16th edition of the Rozgar Mela in Kolkata, with another event held at Siliguri. "This is the 16th edition of Rozgar Mela, where we have distributed almost over 200 appointment letters from this venue, and there is another venue in Siliguri," Majumdar told ANI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed over 51,000 appointment letters to newly appointed youth in various government departments and organisations via video conferencing at the 16th edition of Rozgar Mela. The recruits, selected from across the country, will be joining the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Posts, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Department of Financial Services, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, among other departments and ministries. Meanwhile, on the reported rape case involving a student at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, Majumdar said he has called upon the administration to take necessary action. "This is a matter of law and order, and I have requested the administration to take the necessary action. Whatever course of action the police take, we will comply with the police investigation," the minister said. A woman accused a student of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta of raping her on the institute's campus, Kolkata Police said on Saturday. According to officials, the woman lodged a complaint at the Haridevpur police station on Friday evening. "Late last evening, a woman reported at Haridevpur Police Station that she was raped by a student inside the IIM Calcutta campus. Based on her complaint, a case has been registered, and the accused has been arrested," the police said. They added that an investigation is currently underway. The incident comes two weeks after a law student was gang-raped inside the South Calcutta Law College campus in Kolkata. Five days later, on June 30, Kolkata Police said that the three main accused in the case were arrested in less than 12 hours. On July 9, the Alipore Court sent all four accused in the South Kolkata Law College gangrape case to 14 days of judicial custody. (ANI) Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Saturday expressed concern over the law and order situation in Bihar and considered it to be a "matter of sorrow". The Congress leader noted that no one can be satisfied by seeing murders or looting and asserted that it is a "matter of concern" for everyone. He emphasised that the public should hold the government accountable by reporting any wrongdoing under their regime. "Can anyone say anything about law and order? This is a matter of sorrow... Murders are happening, and looting is occurring. No one can be satisfied by seeing this. This is a matter of concern for everyone... It is the responsibility of those outside the government to inform the government that what is happening under them is not right", Salman Khurshid told ANI. Days after businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead in Bihar, another man was killed in Patna's Ram Krishna Nagar area after being shot by an unidentified assailant. The victim, Vikram Jha, succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the hospital. According to police, Jha was shot by a person who arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire. A murder case has been registered, and an investigation is underway. Jha, originally from Darbhanga district, had been living in Patna for a year and ran a grocery store. He lived with his family on the first floor of the same building. Speaking to the media, SP Patna East Parichay Kumar said, "Vikram Jha, a resident under PS Ram Krishna Nagar limits, was shot at some time ago. When he was being taken to the hospital, he died. As soon as we received the information, the DSP and I arrived at the crime scene. On analysing the CCTV footage, we found that the deceased owned a grocery store, and a person came on a motorbike and shot him. There seems to be no evidence of robbery in the store." (ANI) Television actress Manjula, also known as Shruti, is undergoing treatment at Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru after she was brutally attacked and stabbed multiple times by her husband, Amaresh, on July 4. The accused has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody, police said on Friday. The incident took place on July 4, and Shruti has now been discharged from the hospital. The Hanumantha Nagar police have registered a case in this regard and have arrested her husband, Amaresh. West Division DCP S. Girish informed, "Manjula alias Shruti, who had acted in some television serials, had fallen in love with Amaresh (49) and married him. Amaresh is an auto driver. Both were married 20 years ago. The couple has two children. Investigation revealed that they used to fight frequently due to differences in their married life. Three months ago, Manjula had filed a complaint with the police alleging dowry and harassment against her husband. The couple had settled down together again only last Thursday after mediation. " Though the couple had recently reunited following police mediation, their differences resurfaced soon after. On the day of the incident, Amaresh allegedly sprayed pepper spray into Shruti's eyes before stabbing her in the stomach, ribs, thigh, and neck with a knife during a heated argument. The police said, "Later, neighbours came there, broke up the fight, and admitted him to Victoria Hospital. A case has been registered against Amaresh at the Hanumanthanagar police station. Police have now arrested him and sent him to judicial custody." (ANI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said on Saturday that students are the future of the nation and should play an active role in fulfilling the Prime Minister's vision of building a developed India by staying away from drugs. He felicitated over 275 students at the Medhavi Chhatra Samman Samaroah in Panchkula. The students had excelled in various streams at the state and district levels and encouraged them to continue striving for excellence. "The Haryana Government is continuously working to bring structural reforms in the field of education. In the past ten and a half years, significant progress has been made not only in school education but also in higher education," CM Saini said according to an official statement. He said that under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Haryana's double-engine government has been working towards establishing medical colleges in every district to ensure better healthcare facilities and address the shortage of doctors in the state. "Medical colleges have already been established in 15 districts, and work is underway in the remaining districts. With the aim of promoting higher education among girls, the Haryana Government has set up degree colleges within a 20-kilometre radius across the state so that girls do not have to travel far for their studies," he added. Giving special encouragement to Scheduled Caste students, he said that the Haryana Government has decided to give special recognition to meritorious students. He said that students belonging to Scheduled Castes who score more than 90 per cent marks in Class 12 will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 1,11,000. Describing children as the future of the nation, he said that it is essential to ensure their holistic development through both education and values, as only then will they be equipped to face life's challenges with courage. He said that the state is making concrete efforts in the area of early childhood education as well. There are 4,081 Anganwadis operating within school premises across the state, reflecting a strong commitment to foundational learning. Saini said that over the past ten and a half years, numerous steps have been taken to bring about change and progress in the field of education. Several welfare schemes have been launched for students, with a strong focus on enhancing infrastructural facilities in schools. Ensuring quality education remains one of our top priorities. To achieve this, schools are adopting innovative methods such as playful teaching, project-based learning, continuous evaluation, and the integration of new technologies. MLA Shakti Rani Sharma, Panchkula Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal, Chairman Haryana School Education Board Dr. Pawan Sharma, former Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, BJP District President Ajay Mittal, along with various dignitaries, parents, and teachers of meritorious students were also present on this occasion. (ANI) In a successful joint operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police apprehended a smuggler along with a pistol and magazine near Miyawali Chowk in Khemkaran area of Tarn Taran district late Friday night, according to a BSF statement. The accused has been identified as a resident of Miyawali village and is currently in the custody of the Police Station Khemkaran. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation to uncover his suspected links with illegal cross-border activities and determine the motive behind possessing the firearm. This significant apprehension with weapon demonstrates the professional competence and unflinching dedication of the BSF troops and Punjab Police who are committed to securing the nation's border as well as foil terror activities in the hinterland. In a separate intelligence-driven operation earlier this week, the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab has successfully stopped a major terror plot by Harwinder Rinda, a Pakistan-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operative supported by Pakistan's ISI. Using important information, the AGTF team found and took away weapons from a forest in Gurdaspur. They recovered two AK-47 rifles with 16 bullets, two magazines, and two hand grenades before these weapons could reach Harwinder Rinda's helpers. In a post on X, DGP Punjab Police said, "In an intelligence-led operation, the Anti-Gangster Task Force (#AGTF) Punjab successfully foiled a major terror plot orchestrated by Harwinder Rinda, a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operative based in #Pakistan and backed by Pakistan's ISI. Acting swiftly on human intelligence, AGTF teams traced and recovered a large cache of terrorist hardware, including two AK-47 rifles with 16 live cartridges, two magazines, and two P-86 hand grenades from a forest area in #Gurdaspur, before it could reach Harwinder @ Rinda's associates." The first investigation shows that these weapons were sent into India by Pakistani groups and Harwinder Rinda to carry out attacks in different places in Punjab. Their goal was to disturb peace in the state. A police case has been registered under the Explosives Act and the Arms Act at the Purana Shala police station in Gurdaspur. "Preliminary investigation reveals, the recovered consignment was pushed into India by Pakistani agencies and Harwinder @ Rinda as part of a premeditated plan to carry out attacks at multiple locations in Punjab, aiming to disrupt public peace. An FIR under the Explosives Act and the Arms Act has been registered at PS Purana Shala, Gurdaspur," the post reads. The police are still investigating to find and catch the people working with Rinda who were involved in this weapons smuggling. (ANI) Rajya Sabha MP Dorjee Tshering Lepcha reaffirmed the need to recognise Tibet, urging the Centre on Saturday to call the approximately 1,200 kilometre international boundary of Sikkim as the 'Indo-Tibet border' instead of the 'Indo-China border.' The Rajya Sabha MP visited the Machong village in Sikkim on Saturday, a border village, where he reiterated the demand. "I raised an issue in the Parliament during the Budget Session that this is the Tibet border, not the China Border. The central government should direct the central agencies, like Army, BRO, that they must call it the Indo-Tibet Border, not the Indo-China border," MP Lepcha told mediapersons. Lepcha, in the 2024 monsoon session of Parliament, had asked the Centre not to use the term 'Indo-China border' and instead call it the 'Indo-Tibet' border. He had urged the central agencies to adopt this terminology officially during his address. Lepcha further mentioned that Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu had also mentioned that the Indian states share a border with Tibet, not China. "Two days ago, Arunachal CM also gave a similar statement, he had told a news organisation that this is the Tibet border, not the China border," he said. The statements by both the RS MP and the Arunachal CM come amid China's repeated claims over the territory of Tibet. The issue was brought up recently as the Dalai Lama celebrated his 90th birthday on July 6. The Dalai Lama has also affirmed that only his office holds the authority to identify his successor, a strong counter to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) ongoing attempts to interfere in Tibetan religious affairs, according to the Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan (HRNTT), as reported by Taipei Times. The 14th Dalai Lama, who turned 90 on Sunday, declared last week that the institution of the Dalai Lama would continue and that his successor, the 15th Dalai Lama, would be born outside of China. "In accordance with past tradition, the search for my reincarnation and the naming of a 15th Dalai Lama will be carried out," he said, firmly stating that only his office has the legitimate authority to determine his reincarnation, Taipei Times reported. Tashi Tsering, HRNTT secretary-general, praised the Dalai Lama's remarks as "a powerful statement striking back at the CCP". He condemned Beijing's baseless claim that it has the right to choose the next Dalai Lama and reiterated that such authority resides solely with His Holiness and his institution. (ANI) A far-right influencer has pledged to "burn" his MAGA hat after the Department of Justice and FBI determined earlier this week that sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had "no client list." Live streamer and conservative activist Nick Fuentes railed against the Trump administration following the release of a memo Sunday night, first obtained by Axios, which stated that the disgraced financier had no "client list," no blackmail material and died by suicide, refuting popular conspiracy theories that Epstein's death involved foul play. "Now he's going to tell us there's no Epstein black book? There's no client list? The message needs to be this: we're done, we don't understand. The radical right is f***ing furious. We are done," Fuentes said in a clip circulating on X. Nick says hes done with Trump and is gonna burn his MAGA hat pic.twitter.com/3h4MT1X7iO Blitzy (@Blitzy9979) July 9, 2025 "Forget the midterms, forget '28. F*** you, f*** fans, the GOP, all of it. We're not getting anything," he continued. Fuentes went on to bash both foreign and domestic policies by the Trump administration, including military aid to Israel and tax cuts for corporations, while also criticizing issues he perceives the U.S. is still facing, such as "illegal immigrants" keeping "the jobs they took." "I'm burning my MAGA hat. I didn't vote for Trump, but I'm burning my MAGA hat. I think other people should too," the influencer declared. The clip was shared to Fuentes' X Community "America First," where fans of the influencer can share posts to be viewed by other fans. There, fans shared other clips of people burning MAGA hats or the results of them burning their own. One video originally shared outside the group but reposted to the community shows a video of a classic red "Make America Great Again" burning in the grass. The user captioned the video, "It's officially over." "Yep. We're not protecting pedophiles," read a top comment under the video, which was boosted by the user. Another user shared the results after they tried to burn their "Chinese rip off" of a red "Trump 2020" hat. Two of the letters and part of an American flag can be seen melted and charred. This shit doesnt burn well, I need to pour gas on this shit. Chinese rip off MAGA hats dont burn! The Chinese just fucking do it better! pic.twitter.com/mRn3Ym3o9h Grabba Labaa (@GrabbaL44199) July 9, 2025 "This s*** doesn't burn well, I need to pour gas on this s***," the user wrote. "Chinese rip off MAGA hats don't burn! The Chinese just f***ing do it better!" The DOJ and FBI asserting that there was no client list sparked immediate backlash online, after now-FBI Director Kash Patel previously called for the files to be released himself. Several outlets and users noted that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi had previously implied during a Fox News interview that the client list was "sitting on my desk for review." However, the White House clarified her statement on Monday, saying that she had been referring to the files as a whole, not just the "list." Originally published on Latin Times Two minors were apprehended in connection with a firing incident in Delhi's Mukundpur area on Thursday, after they allegedly demanded extortion money from a local woman and opened fire when she refused to pay, an official said on Friday. According to Delhi Police, a PCR call was received at Bhalswa Dairy police station around 10:40 PM on July 10 regarding gunshots fired in the Mukundpur locality. "On 10 July at around 10:40 PM, a PCR call was received at PS Bhalswa Dairy about reporting a firing incident in the Mukundpur area, on the statement of Heera Devi (45) resident of Mukundpur in which complainant alleged that two minors came to her house and demanded extortion money of Rs 30,000/- per month and when she refused to pay the extortion one of them fired two round towards her house and one of the bullet hit her daughter Nisha (18) on her upper left arm," Police said in a statement. A search operation was launched, and both assailants, aged 17 and 15, were traced to DDA Flats, JJ Colony, Bhalswa Dairy with the help of secret information, local intelligence, and technical surveillance. A country-made pistol and one live 7.65 mm cartridge were recovered at the instance of one of the minors, the official said. Preliminary investigations revealed that the 17-year-old accused was previously involved in murder and robbery cases. During interrogation, he confessed that he, along with two others, Vivek alias Tilla and Shivchandan alias Pandit, had committed the murder of Amit alias Langda in September 2024. All three were arrested in connection with that case. The accused further disclosed that Vivek alias Tilla had received a phone call from Shivchandan alias Pandit, who is currently lodged in jail. Pandit allegedly instructed Tilla to collect a monthly extortion of Rs 30,000 from Heera Devi and to open fire if she refused. Tilla then directed the 17-year-old to execute the plan, identifying him as a CCL (Child in Conflict with Law). The weapon of offence, a country-made pistol, along with one live 7.65 mm cartridge, was recovered at the instance of the Child in Conflict with Law (CCL). Both the CCLs have been apprehended as per law, and Sections 308(4) & 61(2) BNS have also been added to the case. Further investigation is going on. (ANI) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Sunil Tatkare expressed pride and gratitude following the inclusion of twelve forts associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in UNESCO's World Heritage List. Speaking on ANI, Tatkare highlighted his persistent efforts in raising the issue in Parliament, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to support the proposal. "I had raised this question multiple times in Parliament to PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. They ensured the state's proposal was sent to UNESCO. This is a historic moment, as it's the first time twelve sites from a single state have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List," Tatkare said. The NCP MP emphasised the significance of the Raigad Fort, noting that the Raigad Fort Authority has been established to spearhead its development. "To develop the Raigarh Fort, the Raigarh Fort Authority has been established... As the MP from Raigad, I will do my best for the funds and permissions needed from the Indian government...," he added. Earlier today, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis extended his congratulations to the followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj following the recognition of 12 forts associated with the Maratha king as UNESCO World Heritage sites. "I congratulate the followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on this historic achievement. I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for nominating these forts for UNESCO recognition. I am confident that these forts will now attract more tourists, and our glorious history will be known across the globe," CM Fadnavis told reporters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday stated that every India is elated with this recognition and said when we speak of the glorious Maratha Empire, we associate it with good governance and emphasis on social welfare as 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' got inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming India's 44th property to receive this recognition. In a remarkable decision taken at the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee, India's official nomination for 2024-25 cycle, 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' got inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming India's 44th property to receive this recognition. This global accolade celebrates India's enduring cultural legacy, showcasing its diverse traditions of architectural brilliance, regional identity, and historical continuity, the Ministry of Culture said in an official statement. Spanning from the 17th to 19th centuries CE, this extraordinary network of twelve forts demonstrates the strategic military vision and architectural ingenuity of the Maratha Empire. The proposal was sent to the consideration of World Heritage Committee in Jan 2024 and after a rigorous eighteen-month long process involving several technical meetings with the advisory bodies and visit of ICOMOS's mission to review the sites, this historic decision was taken by the members of the World Heritage Committee today evening at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, the Ministry said. (ANI) In a major breakthrough under the "Drugs Free Devbhoomi Mission," the Uttarakhand Police on Saturday seized synthetic drugs worth over Rs 10.23 crore in the international market. Champawat Superintendent of Police (SP) Ajay Ganpati revealed that 5.688 kg of MDMA (methamphetamine) was recovered during a checking drive at Gadhigoth Bridge in Pampapur (Tanakpur). A 22-year-old woman, identified as Isha, wife of Rahul Kumar and a resident of Pampapur in Champawat district, was arrested after she was seen acting suspiciously and attempting to flee towards a canal with a black backpack. The search, conducted in the presence of Tanakpur Deputy Superintendent of Police (SP) Vandana Verma, led to the recovery of the high-value synthetic drug. Director General of Police (DGP) Deepam Seth announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for the police team involved in the successful operation. The seizure was made during a joint operation by Champawat District Police, Pithoragarh Police, and the Special Task Force (STF) near the Nepal border. Earlier today, on the instructions of the Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, "Operation Kalanemi" was started against the impersonators who cheat people in the name of religion by playing with their feelings and beliefs in Devbhoomi. According to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh, the arrested individuals were allegedly preying on people's religious sentiments and were involved in duping unsuspecting victims. While speaking to ANI, the SSP said, "Under this campaign, the police took action in various police station areas on Saturday and arrested 23 fake babas roaming around in the guise of saints and sadhus. Among the arrested fake babas, 10 persons are residents of other states." The Chief Minister has instructed to identify all such persons and take strict action against them. As part of the initiative, Dehradun Police on Saturday arrested 23 individuals posing as sadhus in different areas of the district. Singh told ANI, "In line with the instructions, all the station in-charges have been instructed to identify such persons in their respective police station areas, who disguise themselves as saints and mislead people, especially women and youth, and lure them to solve their personal or domestic problems and commit fraud with them, and take strict action against them." Meanwhile, Hindu religious groups welcome Uttarakhand Govt's 'Op Kalanemi' targeting fake seers. (ANI) Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj-(FAHD&PR), Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh chaired the "Workshop on Breed Development in India" today, 12th July 2025 at Indira Gandhi Convention Centre, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP), a press release from Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying said. Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, graced the occasion as Chief Guest of the workshop. Dharmpal Singh, Minister of Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development, Uttar Pradesh, and Gabriel D. Wangsu, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Arunachal Pradesh, also graced the occasion. The workshop brought together experts from Central and State Governments, research organisations, private institutions, policymakers, and progressive farmers from across the country to deliberate on strategies for strengthening indigenous breed development and genetic improvement in the livestock sector. The workshop was attended by more than 700 livestock farmers, veterinarians, and senior officials from the Centre and States/UTs. The workshop was organised with the aim of ideating strategies and a way forward to improve the indigenous livestock breeds in the country. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Artificial Insemination Training Institute in Gorakhpur. In addition, the workshop saw the inauguration of three key infrastructure projects namely Gyandhara Industries Pvt. Ltd, Amethi; Chanchala Foods India Pvt. Ltd, Bareilly, Brijwasi Keshav Milk Product, Mathura in Uttar Pradesh under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF). The Framework for the Establishment of Breeders Associations has also been launched in the program with an aim to strengthen breed conservation and promote organised breeder networks across the country. During his address, the Chief Minister of UP expressed gratitude to Minister FAHD for choosing Uttar Pradesh as the venue for the pivotal workshop. He said livestock farmers play a key part in driving the nation's growth and strengthening rural economies. Addressing the challenge of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), he assured that the State is committed to making its livestock FMD-free, thereby enhancing the prosperity of its farmers. He highlighted that factors such as climate, hygiene, and proper care play a crucial role in enhancing livestock productivity. He encouraged farmers rearing indigenous breeds to adopt advanced technologies for accelerated growth. He highlighted successful women-led milk unions in Jhansi, where scientific livestock rearing is transforming rural economies. He mentioned the work of Go-Seva Aayog, UP, in breed improvement and training and emphasised the promotion of natural farming and sustainability. He mentioned that these efforts will not only increase farmer incomes but also enhance self-reliance and Atma-Nirbharta in the livestock sector. Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Minister, FAHD, stressed the importance of increasing milk productivity across the country. He noted that the ongoing workshop is an important step in this direction, focusing on breed improvement through advanced technologies such as In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and Sex Sorted Semen (SSS). These innovations aim to enhance livestock quality and support farmers in achieving better yields and income. He also highlighted the efforts of the Government of India for the control and eradication of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). He also appreciated the role of MAITRIs, which are bringing Artificial Insemination (AI) technology directly to farmers' doorsteps. The Minister also spotlighted the sustainability model in the dairy sector. He extended heartfelt thanks to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for gracing the occasion as the chief guest. Minister, Animal Husbandry Department, Uttar Pradesh, Dharmpal Singh, said that Uttar Pradesh is making significant strides in livestock development through farmer-centric policies. He highlighted the State's commitment to breed improvement. He mentioned that UP is leveraging technologies like Artificial Insemination (AI), IVF, and SSS. During her address, Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GoI, emphasised the critical role of livestock development in driving national progress and achieving sustainable development goals. She outlined a strategic vision for enhancing productivity, technological advancement, and regional focus in the livestock sector. Chief Minister, UP and the Union Minister, FAHD, interacted directly with progressive livestock farmers, who shared their experiences and suggestions from the field. Two panel discussions were held, focusing on strategies and innovations to boost genetic progress and technology adoption in the livestock sector, moderated by Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary, GoI, DAHD and Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, DAHD. The sessions brought together key stakeholders, scientists, and policymakers to deliberate on the transformative role of modern technologies and innovations in India's Livestock Sector. The speakers highlighted successful models and field-level experiences, underlining the importance of breed selection, performance recording, and the use of advanced reproductive technologies. The workshop marks a significant step forward in aligning India's breed development efforts with global standards, ensuring sustainability, productivity, and enhanced livelihoods for livestock farmers across the country. (ANI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday visited the residence of fallen hero Sanjay Singh in the village of Kawartan, Kaithal and paid tributes to the brave soldier. The Chief Minister met with the late soldier's family members and expressed his condolences, as per an official statement. He assured the family that the government stands firmly with them and will provide every possible assistance as per the rules. "We are proud of our brave soldiers," he said. Notably, Havildar Sanjay Singh, who was serving in the 10 Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army, passed away recently after his health suddenly deteriorated while on duty. At the time, he was posted in Leh-Ladakh. Earlier today, Saini listened to the public grievances at Jan Pratinidhi Sammelan and Jan Samvad programme in Kaithal. He stated that Nagar Parishad, Block Samiti, and Zila Parishad members have a direct relation with people, and citizens have a lot of expectations from them, so public representatives should solve their problems on a priority basis. They should also take full care of the quality of development works going on in their area. The Chief Minister was listening to the problems of the people at a Jan Pratinidhi Sammelan and Jan Samvad programme in Kaithal on Saturday. He said that the main objective of organising this programme is to give impetus to whatever development work is going on or is to be done in their area by directly communicating with the public. He said that ever since he became the Chief Minister, he has provided funds for development works for the Gram Panchayat as well as the Zila Parishad so that development works can be accelerated. Recently, an amount of about Rs 700 crore has also been made available for the local body. (ANI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the government has set a target of installing 2 kW solar systems free of cost on the rooftops of 1 lakh Antyodaya families across the state. Once the target of 1 lakh installations is achieved, an additional 1 lakh families will be included in the next phase of the scheme, the CM said. So far, 26,000 families have availed the benefits of this scheme, including 1,707 families in Kaithal district alone, according to an official statement from the state government. The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing the public in Peoda village, Kaithal district, where he had arrived to attend a program organized under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. On this occasion, the Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs 21 lakh for development works in the village. During his visit, CM Saini inspected a solar rooftop system installed at the residence of a scheme beneficiary and interacted with the family to understand the benefits they are receiving. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister highlighted that the scheme was launched in Haryana from Kaithal district, and he was pleased to personally witness its successful implementation. He said that the solar rooftop systems are not only promoting green energy but are also significantly reducing electricity bills for the people. He urged the people to come forward and take maximum advantage of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana to minimize their electricity expenses. The Chief Minister added that both the Central and State Governments are providing subsidies for installing solar systems for families with an annual income of up to Rs 1.80 lakh. This has helped thousands of households reduce their dependency on conventional electricity and gain relief from hefty power bills. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conceptualizing and launching this people-centric scheme, and congratulated all beneficiaries who have already availed its benefits. Saini also highlighted the success of the Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon Yojana, under which more than 5,800 out of 6,500 villages in the state are now receiving 24-hour electricity supply. He encouraged residents of the remaining villages to come forward and enroll under this scheme. Saini said, "prior to 2014, the government arbitrarily imposed surcharges on electricity bills, which led to significantly higher costs for consumers. Current government has provided substantial relief to consumers by waiving surcharges." He appealed to the citizens to actively participate in the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. (ANI) Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday distributed appointment letters to selected candidates for government jobs at the Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Mela held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Through this employment drive, more than 51,000 candidates across the country received appointment letters for government jobs. On this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the event virtually. According to a release from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, addressing the gathering, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision is a blessing for India. Under his leadership, we are on a grand mission to build a 'Viksit Bharat'. There's tremendous work happening across all sectors. In terms of employment, Prime Minister Modi's current tenure is a golden era, as over 25 crore people have risen above the poverty line. He has uprooted poverty from its roots." He further added, "Whether it is direct or indirect employment, speaking of direct government jobs, more than 10 lakh youth have already been provided with employment by receiving appointment letters. Today, over 51,200 youth have been inducted into various departments, including the Railways, through a fully transparent process, and solely based on merit." Concluding his address, Chouhan said, "Heartfelt congratulations to all these young people. This employment is not just for their personal growth, they will now contribute as partners in the mission of building a 'Viksit Bharat'. My sincere thanks to the Prime Minister for his visionary leadership and commitment." Earlier on Saturday, noting that the world is realising India's two immense powers of demography and democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that youths are both capital and guarantee for the country's bright future and Centre is continuously working to turn this into a "source of prosperity." Addressing the appointees at the 16th edition of Rozgar Mela, Prime Minister Modi said, "Today, the world accepts that India has two immense powers - demography and democracy, that is, the largest youth population and the largest democracy. This strength of the youth is both the capital and the guarantee of a bright future for our India. Our government is working to convert this capital into a formula for prosperity." Highlighting the outcomes from his recent visit to five nations, PM Modi said that the agreements signed bilaterally with these countries will give a major boost to the manufacturing and service sectors of the country, which will ultimately benefit the youth of the country. "Two days ago, I returned after travelling to five countries. The echo of India's youth power was heard in every country. During this period, all the agreements that were made will benefit India's youth. India will benefit significantly in the coming days from the agreements made in various sectors, including defence, pharma, digital technology, energy, and rare earth minerals. India's manufacturing and service sectors will get a huge boost," he said. Emphasising the changing landscape of jobs, the Prime Minister said that the Centre's policies have been reformed to meet the modern needs. The new recruits, selected from across the country, will be joining the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Posts, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Department of Financial Services, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, among other departments and ministries. The 16th edition of the employment drive is being conducted at 47 locations across India. The recruitments are taking place across Central Government Ministries and Departments. Rozgar Mela is a step towards fulfilling the Prime Minister's commitment to accord the highest priority to employment generation. It will play a significant role in providing meaningful opportunities for the youth to empower themselves and participate in nation-building. So far, more than 10 lakh appointment letters have been issued under the Rozgar Mela initiative across the country. (ANI) In a spirited initiative to inspire the youth and build awareness about the Indian Armed Forces, 115 students (51 boys and 64 girls) from Holy Cross School, Kumarghat spent an enriching and memorable day at the Assam Rifles Shoorveer Battalion in Radhanagar under the outreach program "A Day with Company Commander". The visit began with an introduction at the Officers' Mess, where the students were briefed on service etiquette, customs and values upheld by the Armed Forces. The excitement peaked with a live small arms firing demonstration, followed by a hands-on weapon orientation session, allowing students to closely observe various weapons held by the battalion. A dog show thrilled the students, demonstrating the high level of training and discipline of the tracker dog used in field operations. The young visitors were then shown a short documentary on Assam Rifles, offering insights into its legacy, operational duties and vital role in the Northeast. The tour continued with a visit to the Drone Lab--showcasing modern surveillance technology--and the Quarter Guard, where students observed the ceremonial aspect of military life. The day concluded with a hearty lunch shared with the troops in the mess, fostering a sense of camaraderie and respect for the men in uniform. The students returned inspired and motivated, with many expressing a strong desire to serve the nation by joining the Defence Forces. This initiative reflects the Assam Rifles' ongoing commitment to youth empowerment, community engagement, and nation-building. Earlier on June 28, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles commemorated the 26th Memorial Day of Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguruse, Maha Vir Chakra (Posthumous)--a Kargil War hero who laid down his life during Operation Vijay in 1999--at a ceremony held at the Kenguruse War Memorial, Nerhe Phezha, Nagaland. The event was attended by Major General Manish Kumar, SM, Inspector General Assam Rifles (North), as the Chief Guest. Also in attendance were the proud parents of the martyr, veterans and ex-servicemen from Wokha and Kohima, personnel from the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, local dignitaries, and students from Don Bosco School (Chiephebozou), Fernbrook School (Wokha), G. Rio Higher Secondary School (Kohima), and Assam Rifles Public School (Chieswema). The ceremony began with a wreath laying by the Chief Guest, followed by the lighting of the Amar Jawan Jyoti. A moving documentary film on the life and gallant sacrifice of Capt Kenguruse, MVC (P), was screened for all attendees. A prayer ceremony was conducted in his honour, followed by a ceremonial march past by contingents from 1 Nagaland NCC Battalion, the Fernbrook School Pipe Band, veterans, and the Assam Rifles Pipe Band. Mr. and Mrs. Kenguruse were specially felicitated for their strength, resilience, and the legacy of their brave son. (ANI) According to officials, the two women were caught carrying 23 kg-- 660 grams of dry ganja, concealed in eight packets inside two trolley bags. Preliminary interrogation revealed that they were en-route to Chennai via Deoghar with the narcotics consignment. Following the seizure, a case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, (NDPS Act) at the Agartala GRP Police Station. Authorities suspect that more individuals may be involved in the case, and further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses. The accused will be produced before the Court on Monday. During questioning, the arrested women disclosed that the seized ganja could have fetched a market value of approximately Rs 7,93,100 in Chennai, where it is reportedly sold at Rs 35,000 per kilogram. The two arrested individuals have been identified as Minakki Debna aka Monali (30), a resident of Shantirbazar and Sabina Bibi (32, a resident Jalpaiguri, Authorities have intensified surveillance at railway stations and transit points in view of increasing attempts to smuggle narcotics across state borders. Earlier on July 8, in another joint operation, the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) apprehended three alleged drug peddlers at Agartala Railway Station and seized 3.24 kg dry cannabis concealed in a large carry bag (pith bag). The contraband was reportedly being transported to Chennai. Acting on a tip-off, the security personnel intercepted the suspects during routine surveillance at the station. Upon inspection, they discovered the tightly packed cannabis hidden in a single packet within the bag. the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) apprehended three alleged drug peddlers at Agartala Railway Station and seized 3.24 kg dry cannabis concealed in a large carry bag (pith bag). The contraband was reportedly being transported to Chennai. Acting on a tip-off, the security personnel intercepted the suspects during routine surveillance at the station. Upon inspection, they discovered the tightly packed cannabis hidden in a single packet within the bag. (ANI) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has released its annual report for 2024, highlighting India's key diplomatic engagements and achievements. According to the report, India's foreign policy demonstrated "vibrancy and pragmatism" in advancing national interests amid a rapidly evolving global landscape. In the year 2024, India engaged actively with the world in advancing its national interests amid a rapidly evolving global landscape. Indian foreign policy demonstrated vibrancy and pragmatism, yielding significant achievements that also enhanced India's global stature and goodwill, the Ministry of External Affairs wrote in its annual report 2024 on Friday. Bilateral engagements with like-minded partners were complemented by India's proactive initiatives and leadership in plurilateral and multilateral platforms. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) played a pivotal role in steering India's foreign policy and global diplomacy towards pragmatic goals, it added. India remained steadfast in expanding its strategic autonomy, championing meaningful reforms of multilateral institutions, addressing the priorities of the Global South, and safeguarding its security within the framework of the rules-based international order. These efforts underscored India's commitment to shaping a more equitable and inclusive global governance framework. The year witnessed continuing economic fluctuations, climate change impacts, geopolitical tensions, and social disruptions, with persistent challenges on global health and environmental fronts. India remained actively engaged on the global stage, addressing major global challenges through high-level discussions and collaborations. This included strengthening partnerships bilaterally and active participation in notable regional and global groupings such as the UN, G20, G7, Quad, SCO, and BRICS. By virtue of being the preceding G20 President, India continued to work with Brazil under the Troika grouping (India, Brazil, and South Africa). Building on the work done during India's G20 Presidency, Brazil identified three priorities for 2024, which broadly involved social inclusion, energy transition, and the reform of multilateral governance institutions. The report notes that India remained actively engaged on the global stage, addressing major global challenges through high-level discussions and collaborations. The MEA report highlighted PM Modi's participation in the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 18-19 November. Prime Minister's interventions were widely appreciated across the spectrum of developed and developing countries for being human-centric, constructive, and development-oriented. This was also the first G20 Summit in which the African Union participated as a permanent member, following its inclusion at the New Delhi G20 Summit in September 2023. In August, India hosted the 3rd edition of the Voice of Global South Summit in virtual format under the overarching theme 'An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future,' MEA stated. India also hosted the 3rd edition of the Voice of Global South Summit, which saw the participation of 173 dignitaries from 123 Global South countries. During the summit, PM Modi proposed a "global development compact" to promote sustainable development in the Global South--the compact focuses on trade, capacity building, technology sharing, and financial support. The report highlights India's commitment to combating terrorism, with the country collaborating actively with the global community to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. India also reinforced its credentials as a reliable "first responder" in crises, undertaking three major Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations during the year. Earlier in June, the Prime Minister participated in the Outreach Session of the G7 Summit in Italy, where he engaged with global leaders on key global challenges. At the summit, PM Modi emphasised that technology must be guided by a human-centric approach, highlighting India's success in leveraging digital advancements for public service delivery. He underscored India's commitment to "AI for All," advocating for AI's role in fostering global progress and well-being. He also stressed the importance of prioritising the concerns of the Global South, particularly Africa, recalling India's role in securing the African Union's permanent membership in the G20, as per the report. PM Modi also held discussions with the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni on further strengthening the India-Italy Strategic Partnership. Throughout the year, India collaborated actively with the global community to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and worked with partner countries towards capacity-building, best practices exchange, and information sharing in the counter-terrorism domain. During the year, India participated in various Counterterrorism Working Groups, engaging with its partners on combating the menace of terrorism, including within the Quad grouping and with France, Kazakhstan, and Australia. The FATF (Financial Action Task Force) Mutual Evaluation of India culminated with the FATF Plenary at Singapore in June, wherein India's report was finalised, and the FATF Plenary concluded that India had reached a high level of technical compliance with the FATF requirements. This indicated that India's anti-money laundering, counter terror financing, and Counter Proliferation Financing (CPF) regime was achieving effective results. India reinforced its credentials as a reliable 'first responder' in crises, both in its neighbourhood and beyond, by undertaking three major Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations during the year. These operations included Operation Indravati in Haiti, a special Humanitarian Airlift Operation in Kuwait, and Operation Sadbhav in Myanmar. Apart from these operations, India provided HADR assistance to more than 20 countries during the year. The report further emphasised that Operation Indravati, which was launched in March to evacuate Indian nationals from Haiti amidst civil unrest. In June, a special Humanitarian Airlift Operation was conducted in Kuwait to repatriate the mortal remains of 45 deceased Indian nationals. In September, Operation Sadbhav was launched to extend emergency humanitarian assistance in the wake of the floods caused by Typhoon Yagi in Myanmar. Apart from these operations, India provided HADR assistance to more than 20 countries during the year. In 2024, India also continued to provide its humanitarian assistance to conflict zones in West Asia. India supplied anti-cancer medicines to Syria and coordinated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to supply 30 tons of humanitarian aid and essential life-saving drugs for the people of Palestine. In July, India rescued nine crew, including eight Indians, in a joint search and rescue operation with the Omani authorities from MT Prestige Falcon, a Comoros-flagged vessel that capsized off the coast of Oman. During the year, India also marked several significant diplomatic milestones, celebrating decades of ties with partner countries. These milestones reflected India's continued commitment to nurturing historic and evolving partnerships. Overall, the MEA report highlights India's growing global stature and goodwill, with the country's diplomatic efforts yielding significant achievements in advancing national interests and promoting global cooperation. (ANI) South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun has sold one of his luxury apartments in Seoul's upscale Galleria Foret complex for approximately 8 billion KRW (about $6.15 million USD), but his agency has denied speculation that the transaction was prompted by financial hardship linked to his ongoing legal disputes. According to a report published by Woman Sense, the apartmentpurchased in October 2014 for 3.02 billion KRWwas sold on July 3, earning the "Queen of Tears" actor a profit of nearly 5 billion KRW. The unit, located in Seongsu-dong, boasts an exclusive area of 170.98 and a total area of 232.59. News of the sale immediately sparked speculation that Kim was offloading assets to fund mounting legal costs from multiple lawsuits. However, sources close to the actor say the sale had been in the works for months, with a buyer secured since 2024. "This sale was not made under financial duress," a source told local media. "The contract was finalized recently, but the process had started long before the lawsuits became public." Kim, 36, is currently embroiled in several legal battles, including a 12 billion KRW (approx. $8.7 million USD) defamation and damages suit against the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute and the family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron. The actor has accused them of spreading false rumorsincluding allegations of an inappropriate relationshipand distributing AI-manipulated content. The situation escalated when a cosmetics device firm, Classys, filed a 3 billion KRW claim for damages, leading to the provisional seizure of another of Kim's Galleria Foret properties. The Malaysian branch of home appliance company Cuckoo has also filed a 100 million KRW claim. "The advertising fees were already paid," Kim's legal representative said in a previous statement, "but due to recent controversies, the use of the commercials became difficult, leading to the advertisers' claims for damages.If Kim Soo Hyun's reputation is restored, these lawsuits are likely to be resolved naturally." Despite the legal turmoil, Kim continues to receive strong public support. Fans have organized grassroots campaigns defending his reputation online and on social media platforms. Kim still retains ownership of two more residences in the Galleria Foret complex. One, purchased in 2024, remains untouched by legal claims. The other, acquired in 2013, is currently under provisional seizure. The Gangnam Police Station recently reassigned the investigation team handling the case, raising hopes for more transparent and efficient progress. While Kim Soo Hyun has mainly stayed silent on the matter, his team insists the actor is fully cooperating with authorities and will take "all necessary legal measures" to safeguard his reputation. The story of Kim's real estate deal, far from being just a celebrity property transaction, has now become a focal point in a broader battle over image, truth, and justice in the age of digital speculation. Gaza has become the graveyard of children and starving people, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said, adding that Tel Aviv is engineering a "cruel and Machiavellian scheme to kill" in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. Recently, Gaza's government office said that at least 773 Palestinians have been killed and 5101 injured since May 27 while waiting for food aid distribution sites run by the United States and Israel-backed GHS. https://x.com/UNLazzarini/status/1943597836970385784 "Inaction and silence are complicities. Under our watch, #Gaza has become the graveyard of children and starving people," Lazzarini wrote on X. "No way out. Their choice is between 2 deaths: starvation or being shot at. The most cruel and machiavellian scheme to kill, in total impunity. Our norms and values are being buried. Inaction will bring more chaos. Time to act is overdue," he added. According to Al Jazeera, Lazzarini's comments came after the Israeli military killed 15 people, including nine children and four women, as they waited in line for nutritional supplements in the city of Deir el-Balah in central Gaza on Thursday. His response came on the day, with medical sources confirming that 45 people had been killed, 11 of them near a GHF-run aid centre in Rafah. Earlier in the day, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, said between May and July 7, the UN had recorded 798 killings near aid points in Gaza, as per Al Jazeera. Israeli soldiers and US contractors working with GHF have admitted to shooting unarmed Palestinians gathering for food, according to separate recent reports by Israeli outlet Haaretz and The Associated Press news agency. Reporting from the UN in New York, Al Jazeera's Gabriel Elizondo said that Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP), had given a briefing in which he reported the situation in Gaza was "the worst that he has ever seen it". Skau, who had just returned from his fourth trip to Gaza, had said the WFP had enough food to feed the entire population of Gaza for two months, but the trucks were not being let in. Instead, Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to rely on the GHF. (ANI) According to Taiwan's MND, nine out of 14 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response to China's action, Taiwan's armed forces deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal missile systems to monitor the situation. "14 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN vessels, and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today, 9 out of 14 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded," Taiwan's MND posted on X. On June 28, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te highlighted China's use of influence warfare and military intimidation aimed at annexing Taiwan as part of its broader "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" policy and expanding hegemony in the western Pacific, Taipei Times reported. He warned that this threat would persist regardless of changes in Taiwan's government leadership. While addressing DPP's national congress in his role as party chairman, Lai identified the greatest challenge in domestic politics as the opposition-controlled legislature has bypassed proper procedures, passed bills contradicting the Constitution, and undermined government operations by drastically cutting central government budgets. At the congress, held under the theme "Better democracy, better Taiwan," he emphasised that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) must stand united with the public in their mass recall movement to protect Taiwan's sovereignty and democracy, Taipei Times reported. Emphasising the vital role of civil society, Lai credited Taiwan's vibrant democracy to the enduring strength of its citizens, recalling movements like the Wild Lily protests in 1990 and the Sunflower movement in 2014, where Taiwanese rallied against policies perceived as pro-China and harmful to Taiwan's sovereignty. (ANI) The Hague [Netherlands] July 12 (ANI/WAM): JA UAE delegation led by Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology, concluded a successful visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and imec's headquarters in Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium. The initial part of the visit, to the Netherlands, focused on exploring bilateral relations in critical, emerging, and advanced technologies, while spearheading strategic collaboration in mutual priority areas such as R&D, innovation, and advanced technologies, as part of the UAE's unwavering commitment to strengthening partnerships with the country. Ameirah AlHefeiti, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, accompanied the delegation throughout a series of engagements with high-level officials and Dutch entities. During the two-day visit, Sharaf met with Dutch officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Michiel Sweers, Vice Minister for Foreign Economic Relations, Ernst Noorman, Ambassador-at-Large for Cyber Affairs, as well as Erwin Nijsse, Director-General of Business Policy and Innovation at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Harm van de Wetering, Director of the Netherlands Space Office. The delegation also participated in a technology and innovation roundtable session with leading Dutch entities, focusing on emerging and advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, space tech, health tech, and scientific research. Furthermore, the delegation visited several leading Dutch institutions, including TNO, Deltares, ASML, and Eindhoven University of Technology, to explore potential cooperation on the latest innovations in applied research, water research and technology, semiconductor technology, and academic-industrial collaboration. Following the visit to the Netherlands, the UAE delegation concluded its tour by visiting imec's headquarters and laboratories in Belgium, the world-leading independent research and innovation center for nanoelectronics and digital technologies. The delegation included Nouf Al Hameli, Science and Technology Adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EDGE Group, Dubai Future Foundation, MGX, G42, and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the research arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). (ANI/WAM) A recent report by the Provincial Inspection Team has shed light on the government's failures in responding to the Swat flood disaster. The 63-page report, submitted to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, highlights serious lapses in preparedness, coordination, and response, ARY News reported The report identifies several government officials and departments as negligent and recommends disciplinary action against them. Acting on the report, the Chief Minister has approved disciplinary measures and instructed the relevant departments to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible within 60 days. The departments involved, including the District Administration, Irrigation, Local Government, and Rescue 1122, have been directed to take corrective actions. They have 30 days to implement new protocols and regulatory frameworks to prevent similar disasters in the future, as per ARY News. A comprehensive framework for river safety and building regulations will also be prepared within the same timeframe. To oversee the implementation of the report's recommendations, an oversight committee headed by the Chief Secretary will be formed. The committee will convert recommendations into actionable KPIs, submit monthly progress reports to the Chief Minister's Secretariat, and integrate river safety modules into the next monsoon contingency plan. It will also oversee the fast-track implementation of measures to enhance Rescue 1122's capacity. Meanwhile, the Information, Relief, and Tourism Departments will launch large-scale public awareness campaigns across the province. According to ARY News, key findings from the report reveal that advisories from the PDMA and District Administration were not effectively implemented, while poor coordination among police, revenue, irrigation, rescue, and tourism police exacerbated the situation. The early warning system was inactive, delaying flood communication. Building regulations and encroachment policies were unclear, and hotel owners failed to inform tourists of hazards. Rescue 1122 faced delays due to inadequate staff and equipment. The report highlighted several key issues that contributed to the disaster, including the absence of clear departmental responsibilities for riverbank safety and poor enforcement of regulations. In response to the incident, the government launched a province-wide crackdown on illegal riverbank encroachments. Over the past 10 days, authorities have sealed 127 illegal buildings and demolished constructions on 682 kanals of land. Additionally, encroachments on 1,874 kanals were identified, and 1,019 kanals were cleared. The government has also taken steps to demarcate riverbeds, marking 609 km and installing 174 barriers to prevent further encroachments. To improve river safety, the Chief Minister approved a River Rescue Plan, which includes the construction of 36 prefabricated rescue stations, the procurement of modern rescue equipment, and the establishment of 70 compact rescue stations. Further, a digital monitoring system will be set up to enhance coordination between Rescue 1122 and the district administration (ANI) The Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), an umbrella organisation of mountain tourism entrepreneurs, has reported that pilgrims travelling to Kailash Mansarovar are facing difficulties due to the collapse of the Nepal-China Miteri Bridge near the Rasuwagadhi border point. In a statement, TAAN General Secretary Sonam Gyaljen Sherpa said that the bridge was washed away by floods in the Lehende River on Tuesday morning, disrupting the movement of pilgrims en route to the sacred site. Sherpa urged the Chinese government to take immediate diplomatic measures to facilitate the passage of pilgrims via alternative routes, including Tatopani, Korola, Hilsa, and other checkpoints. The statement noted that both Nepali and foreign pilgrims travelling via Rasuwagadhi to Kailash Mansarovar--located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China--are encountering significant problems following the destruction of the Miteri Bridge, which serves as a critical connection point between the two countries. With the pilgrimage season about to begin, TAAN has also called on Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to engage diplomatically with the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu to simplify and expedite the visa process. It urged the ministry to "create an environment where pilgrims waiting in Kathmandu can travel to Kailash as soon as possible." Nepal is expected to host at least 25,000 Indian pilgrims this year for the revered Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, resuming after a five-year hiatus. On January 27, 2025, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a bilateral dialogue in Beijing, during which both sides agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage for Indian nationals. The Indian government facilitates the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via two official routes: the disputed Lipulekh Pass and the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, both coordinated with Chinese authorities. The Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam manages the Lipulekh route, while the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation oversees the Nathu La option. These are pre-arranged, government-managed routes with fixed quotas. However, the majority of Indian pilgrims choose to travel privately via Nepal, with four main routes available: Tatopani, Rasuwagadhi, Hilsa, and the Kathmandu-Lhasa flight. The Rasuwagadhi-Kerung route, operational since December 2014, became Nepal's second major trade point with China after Tatopani. In 2017, it was upgraded to an international checkpoint, allowing cross-border travel with visas and passports. Since then, it has become the most cost-effective option for pilgrims heading to Kailash Mansarovar. The annual pilgrimage season significantly boosts Nepal's tourism sector and government revenue, as religious travellers fill hotels and restaurants and provide employment for travel agents, airlines, guides, and porters. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra season typically runs from June to September. (ANI) Union Health Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda engaged with the Chairman of the Saudi-India Business Council, Abdulaziz Al Qahtani, along with the business community in Dammam in the country's Eastern Province, with discussions on the expansion of the economic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia. In a post on X, Nadda stated that he had a "fruitful meeting" with Al Qahtani and held an in-depth discussion on the growing economic partnership and increasing collaboration between companies from both nations. The Union Minister also highlighted the vast investment opportunities in India across sectors such as fertilisers, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, encouraging Saudi businesses to participate actively in India's growth journey. "Had a fruitful meeting with Mr. Abdulaziz Al Qahtani, Chairman of the Saudi-India Business Council, and engaged with key members of the vibrant business community in Dammam, Eastern Province. We had in-depth discussions on the growing economic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia, and the increasing collaboration between companies from both nations. Highlighted the vast investment opportunities available across diverse sectors in India--including fertilisers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and more--and encouraged Saudi businesses to actively participate in India's growth journey," Nadda stated in the post. https://x.com/JPNadda/status/1943841735966425315 Nadda is currently on an official visit to the Kingdom and is accompanied by senior officers and representatives of a number of fertiliser companies. "Hon'ble Minister of Chemicals & Fertilisers and Health & Family Welfare, Shri JP Nadda, arrived in Saudi Arabia on an official visit. He was received at the King Fahad International Airport, Dammam, by Ambassador Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan. Hon'ble Minister is accompanied by senior officers and representatives of a number of fertiliser companies," the Embassy of India in Riyadh stated in a post on X. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, in Economic Cooperation, India is the second-largest trade partner of Saudi Arabia, whereas Saudi Arabia is the fourth-largest trading partner of India. During FY23, bilateral trade was valued at USD 52.76 billion. During this period, India's imports from Saudi Arabia grew by 23.47 per cent to reach USD 42.03 billion, and exports to Saudi Arabia were worth USD 10.72 billion, registering an increase of 22.48 per cent on a year-on-year basis. Total trade with Saudi Arabia accounted for 4.53 per cent of India's total trade in FY 2022-23. There are around 2,783 Indian companies registered as joint ventures or 100 per cent owned entities with investments worth approximately USD 2 billion in the Kingdom as of January 2022, as per the MEA. Saudi Arabia's direct investments in India amount to USD 3.15 billion as of March 2022. In June 2020, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced a USD 1.49 billion or a 2.32 per cent stake investment in Reliance Industries' Jio Platforms. In November 2020, PIF announced another investment of USD 1.3 billion or a 2.04 per cent stake in Reliance Retail Ventures Limited. In addition to this, there are also projects under consideration in the oil, gas and petroleum sectors. In the renewable energy sector, Saudi Company Al-Fanar has invested in a 600MW Wind Power project in India, as per the MEA. (ANI) Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita reaffirmed the "strong and enduring bonds of friendship" between India and Cambodia during his two-day official visit to Cambodia from July 7- 8. According to a release by the Ministry of External Affairs, during his visit to the Southeast Asian nation, Margherita had engagements with Cambodian leaders, including King Norodom Sihamoni, Senate President Hun Sen, and Prime Minister Hun Manet. He highlighted the deep civilizational, cultural, and linguistic heritage shared by the two nations, as well as the ongoing development partnership. "In his engagements with the leaders, MoS(PM) reaffirmed strong and enduring bonds of friendship between India and Cambodia, rooted in ancient civilizational, cultural, and linguistic heritage and the ongoing close development partnership. Both sides also discussed avenues of cooperation for further strengthening India-Cambodia relations in diverse sectors, as also issues of mutual concern and interest," the MEA statement read. As per MEA, a key highlight of Margherita's visit was his trip to Siem Reap, where he visited the Ta Prohm Temple, a site of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)'s ongoing restoration and conservation project under Phase III. The MEA noted that heritage conservation was a special aspect of India's relations with Cambodia, and India was the first country to extend assistance for the conservation and restoration of Angkor Wat during the 1980s and 90s, reflecting the country's historical role in preserving Cambodia's cultural heritage. "MoS(PM) also visited Siem Reap, home to the world's largest temple complex--Angkor Wat. Heritage conservation is a special aspect of India's relations with Cambodia. India was the first country to extend assistance for the conservation and restoration of Angkor Wat during the 1980s & 90s. MoS (PM) visited the Ta Prohm Temple, where the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is executing work under Phase III of the restoration and conservation project," the statement read. Margherita also visited the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Asian Traditional Textile Museum, set up with Indian assistance, which further showcased the rich textile traditions of the region, aligning with India's cultural diplomacy efforts. He also engaged with the Indian community in Phnom Penh, appreciating their contributions to strengthening bilateral ties. Additionally, Margherita met with ITEC and ICCR Alumni in Cambodia, which was attended by Cambodian dignitaries and senior officials and highlighted India's assistance towards capacity building and human resources development in the nation, with more than 3000 Cambodian officials availing themselves of training in India so far. "MoS(PM) also had an interaction with ITEC & ICCR Alumni in Cambodia, which was attended by Cambodian dignitaries and senior officials. India's assistance towards capacity building and human resources development is a key component of our bilateral partnership, and more than 3000 Cambodian officials have availed training in India so far," the MEA statement read. "In an interaction with the Indian community in Phnom Penh, MoS(PM) conveyed appreciation for the Indian diaspora's contribution in strengthening ties between India and their host country and also apprised them of the transformative initiatives by the Government of India," it added. Following his visit, the MoS visited Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the invitation of the current ASEAN Chair, Malaysia, where he participated in the Foreign Ministers' Meetings under the ASEAN framework in the format of ASEAN-India, East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). (ANI) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that it will provide live coverage of the undocking and departure of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) private astronaut mission from the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for approximately 7:05 am EDT (4:30 PM IST) on Monday, July 14. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the ISS and pilot for the mission, is part of the four-member crew that will conclude their mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which will undock from the space-facing port of the station's Harmony module. The crew also includes veteran NASA astronaut Commander Peggy Whitson, European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR) astronaut Tibor Kapu. As per a release by NASA on Friday (local time), its coverage, which will be telecast on NASA+, will end approximately 30 minutes after undocking. The coverage will continue by Axiom Space and SpaceX via axiom.space/live and SpaceX's website, which will show the Dragon spacecraft re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere and subsequent splashdown off the coast of California. The release stated that the coverage of the departure operations will begin with hatch closing at 4:30 am EDT (2:00 PM IST), with the crew entering the spacecraft at 4:55 am EDT (2:25 PM IST) followed by hatch closing. From there, undocking coverage will begin at 6:45 am EDT (4:15 PM IST) on Axiom Space and SpaceX channels, with the actual undocking at 7:05 am EDT (4:30 PM IST). NASA's coverage will end approximately 30 minutes after the undocking. The Dragon spacecraft will return with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from over 60 experiments conducted during the mission. Over the past 17 days, the Ax-4 crew have been intensely focused on research aboard the ISS as they start to wrap up ahead of their departure. On flight day 17, Group Captain Shukla performed centrifugation and freezing of microalgae samples to study their potential in supporting life on long-duration missions. The crew continued the Voyager Displays study, investigating eye movement and coordination in microgravity, and gathered data for the Voice in Space project, analysing vocal performance changes. Additionally, they took part in a cognitive study called the Acquired Equivalence Test, which examined how astronauts learn and adjust to life in microgravity. The group concluded the day by collecting samples for more human health research, such as Human Gut Microbiota, Immune Multiomics, Muscular Stimulation, and Microbiome Profiling. To ensure astronaut health on upcoming long-duration missions, these studies seek to expand our knowledge of how the human body reacts to living in space. Axiom Mission 4 was launched on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS on June 26 at 4:05 pm IST, ahead of schedule, connecting to the space-facing port of the station's Harmony module. (ANI) The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) has claimed responsibility for a sweeping wave of armed assaults across Balochistan, declaring the "successful completion" of Operation Baam, a large-scale military campaign involving 84 coordinated attacks over two days, The Balochistan Post reported. In a statement issued Friday evening, BLF spokesperson Major Gwahram Baloch said the attacks occurred between July 9 and July 11, targeting Pakistani military personnel, intelligence operatives, and key state infrastructure. According to The Balochistan Post, the BLF claims that at least 50 personnel of the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps were killed and over 51 others injured. The group further asserted that nine alleged intelligence agents were executed at a checkpoint in the Musakhel region. The BLF detailed its operations, saying it carried out over 30 direct assaults, including four ambushes, striking personnel and installations of the Pakistan Army, Military Intelligence (MI), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), police, Levies, and Customs forces. It also reported that 25 vehicles, including gas tankers and mineral transport trucks, were destroyed or rendered unusable. The group further claimed responsibility for torching seven mobile towers, downing five surveillance drones, and damaging a government bus and a local bank, according to The Balochistan Post. As part of the offensive, the BLF said it established 22 temporary checkpoints across several strategic zones: Makuran, Rakhshan, Sarawan, Jhalawan, Koh-e-Sulaiman, Bela, and Kachhi, briefly asserting control and seizing weapons. In another statement, the BLF described Operation Baam as a "strategic transformation" of its military doctrine aimed at "crippling the colonial administrative structure" of what it called the "Punjabi-occupied Pakistani state". The statement, cited by The Balochistan Post, asserted that Pakistan could no longer maintain its grip on Balochistan "through violence, propaganda, or the illusion of parliamentary democracy". It denounced the state's exploitation of Balochistan's resources and marginalisation of its people through "Punjabi chauvinism and fascism". "Balochistan will no longer be the provider of golden eggs to a parasitic state," the BLF warned, adding that continued oppression would bring "escalating repercussions". The group hailed Operation Baam as a "milestone in the national liberation movement", signalling what it described as a new phase of organised resistance. (ANI) Pakistani security forces reportedly raided the residence of a slain Baloch resistance fighter in Turbat's Gogdan area, subjecting family members to violence and intimidation while ransacking their home, The Balochistan Post reported. The incident occurred late Wednesday night, when a large contingent of armed personnel sealed off the area. Drones were observed hovering over residential buildings for hours, sparking fear and unrest among locals. According to The Balochistan Post, the house belonged to Nabeel Ahmed Hoth, a Baloch resistance fighter who was killed in April during an armed clash with security forces in Turbat's Dank area, alongside Zakaullah and Feroz. All three were reportedly buried without shrouds by the authorities, who did not hand the bodies over to their families. Family members of Nabeel Hoth alleged that during the raid, troops forcefully entered their home, ransacked rooms, and beat women and children. "They told us we would suffer for Nabeel's actions," a relative said, speaking anonymously due to security concerns, as reported by The Balochistan Post. The Balochistan Post reported that the residents voiced their anger regarding the raid, labelling it a clear violation of human rights and asserting that these actions are not focused on security but rather on instilling fear among the families of those who oppose. Following Nabeel Hoth's death, families of the slain fighters held a protest sit-in in Turbat demanding the return of their bodies. When they tried to exhume the graves themselves, they were reportedly met with force and threats by local police, The Balochistan Post reported. Human rights organisations condemned the incident, calling on Pakistani authorities to respect religious and legal rights and to stop targeting families of the deceased. Activists warned that such collective punishments only fuel deeper resentment among the Baloch population and further alienate the region from the state. (ANI) Smart Drain Urban Inventors of Sri Lanka Wins Prestigious World Intellectual Property Organizations Global Award 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland Smart Drain, designed and developed by Dr. Nadeesha Chandrasena and team from Sri Lanka, was among the ten winners of the prestigious WIPO Global Awards which celebrate world changing innovations in health, climate, agrifood, creative industries and ICT. The prestigious award ceremony was held in Geneva on 11 July 2025, where WIPO Director General Daren Tang presented the trophies to the winning innovators. WIPO Global Awards recognize startups and Small and Medium Enterprises that have successfully leveraged Intellectual Property to transform their innovations into tangible economic and social impact. The winners were selected by a diverse, independent international jury with unique expertise in IP, innovation, the creative industries, investment and business. Smart Drains is a storm water drainage system designed to prevent urban flooding when even conventional drains are blocked by waste, and offers a practical and scalable solution for climate resilient infrastructure preventing drain overflow by separating solid matter from the drain water and allowing interruption-free operation. This is the first time that a Sri Lankan invention has won this prestigious award from WIPO. Smart Drain was awarded the trophy under the environment category, while the 10 winners were selected from a highly competitive list of more than 800 applicants across 95 countries. More information about Smart Drain is available at https://smartdrain.network/. Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN Geneva 11th July 2025 Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee Chairman and Kerala Congress MP K C Venugopal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking urgent intervention in the case of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala who has been sentenced to death in Yemen on July 16. https://x.com/kcvenugopalmp/status/1943942069762109553 "I am writing to seek your immediate intervention concerning Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala sentenced to death in Yemen on July 16, 2025," Venugopal stated in his letter to the Prime Minister dated July 10. He added that while efforts have been made by the Action Council and her family to negotiate with the victim's family to accept "blood money" (diyah), which could potentially spare her life, the negotiations have faced significant challenges due to ongoing civil war and other internal disturbances in Yemen. "Given the complexity of the situation, I request you to intervene in this matter with utmost priority imploring all possible diplomatic measures with the Yemeni authorities and ensure that the death sentence be cancelled," he wrote. Venugopal also posted on X, formerly Twitter, stating, "The death sentence against Nimisha Priya is a grave travesty of justice. She is a victim of unimaginable cruelty and domestic abuse on foreign soil, driven to the brink. She doesn't deserve to die." "I've written to the PM seeking urgent intervention to prevent her execution," he added. Earlier, echoing the urgency, Tomy Thomas, husband of Nimisha Priya, the 37-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala facing execution in Yemen after being convicted of murder in June 2018, informed about ongoing efforts to save her life. Thomas met with Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar recently, who offered support to Nimisha's mother through video conferencing. According to him, the Central government, the State government, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) are making efforts to secure Nimisha's release. While speaking to ANI, Thomas said, "I am in contact with Nimisha. It is possible to send text and voice messages to her. I met the Governor yesterday, who offered all support to Nimisha's mother through video conferencing." "The Central government, State government and the MEA have been making efforts, and we expect a positive response. Our advocate is doing everything possible....", Thomas added. Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (CPI) Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar also wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeking immediate diplomatic intervention to save Nimisha Priya from execution by Yemeni authorities on July 16. In his letter to Jaishankar, Kumar stated that Nimisha Priya's case has "shaken the conscience of the public" about the lack of legal safeguards. "I am writing this letter with utmost urgency and deep concern regarding the impending execution of Ms. Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, who has been sentenced to death by a court in Yemen. Reports indicate that the execution may be carried out within days. Nimisha's case has not only shaken the conscience of the public but also raised serious concerns about the lack of legal safeguards and the humanitarian dimensions of her ordeal," Sandosh Kumar wrote. Kumar emphasised that Nimisha Priya "endured repeated abuse and coercion" at the hands of her business partner and is now on death row in "a country with which we do not have formal diplomatic relations." "Nimisha Priya travelled to Yemen to work as a nurse, like many others who leave their homeland in search of a livelihood. Her years there were marked by grave suffering--accounts suggest she endured repeated abuse and coercion at the hands of her business partner. Denied her passport and subjected to constant fear and exploitation, she found herself in a desperate situation. What followed was a tragic turn of events that has now placed her on death row in a country with which we do not have formal diplomatic relations. In such circumstances, the role of the Government of India, particularly the Ministry of External Affairs, becomes critical and urgent," he said. He added that the CPI has consistently stood by Nimisha Priya's family in their appeal for justice and compassion. "Several initiatives and communications have been made over the years. We understand that the Yemeni legal system allows for resolution through the provision of diyat (blood money), which opens a window for negotiation, provided the Indian government steps in to facilitate it," he said. The CPI MP urged the External Affairs Minister to use every possible diplomatic and humanitarian channel to secure a stay on the execution and pursue all available means to prevent this irreversible punishment. "It is a question not only of saving a life but of reaffirming the nation's responsibility towards its citizens abroad, particularly those vulnerable and caught in extreme circumstances. India must speak with urgency, compassion, and resolve," Kumar said. The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed its awareness of the sentencing and assured that the government is providing all possible assistance. In response to media queries regarding the case, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We are aware of the sentencing of Ms. Nimisha Priya in Yemen. We understand that the family of Ms. Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter." (ANI) Operation Sindoor showcased India's capability and the will to strike with precision and restraint and a change in India's strategic doctrine will change the entire region, John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at New York-based Modern War Institute, has said. In a video interview with ANI, Spencer, a scholar, author, combat veteran, and security analyst, noted that India demonstrated its willingness to take necessary actions in Operation Sindoor, should Pakistan continue to escalate the conflict. He said the Operation Sindoor was also a demonstration of India's proactive, precision-oriented doctrine. Asked about India's national security doctrine reshaping in the wake of Operation Sindoor, Spencer said, "Absolutely. And it's still evolving." "...As we talk in military terms, I've read lines and things, and clearly India demonstrated that with action. But the words matter, the cultural aspects, so it's understood. That's why it was important to talk to active military, former military, think tanks, media. I can absolutely clearly see a change in India's strategic doctrine that will really change the entire region in my opinion," he said. India launched Operation Sindoor early on May 7 and hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to Pahalgam terror attack. India repelled subsequent Pakistani military aggression and pounded its airbases. India and Pakistan agreed to cessation of hostilities after four-day conflict following call made by Pakistan DGMO to his Indian counterpart. Calling Operation Sindoor a "unique strike," Spencer said it showcased India's strategic independence and leadership. He said many countries, including the United States, wanted the escalation to stop. "The (US) Vice President's comments, and again, understanding the American changes in foreign policy. As Operation Sindoor was escalated by Pakistan, of course, many countries, to include the United States, wanted to see that escalation stop because of how catastrophic it could be. But every strike, to include Noor Khan, Muridke, others, that India sent a message with each one of those... As a military guy, I can say that the spot was hit to send a message about capability, as much as it was for the actual evidence of destruction," he said. Spencer, an internationally renowned expert on urban warfare, military strategy and other related topics, said India demonstrated a capability to hit whatever it wanted. "Demonstrated that one, it can do it; two, it has the will to do it, but also it was restrained and even all the places they hit, the amount of destruction and precision guided munitions that they used was a sign, a signal, rather than a destructive act. Because people think that war is about destroying everything. War is a contest of will. India was demonstrating will to do what's necessary if Pakistan wanted to continue to escalate. And that's strategic independence and strategic, basically, leadership. The United States, of course, was concerned, I'm sure, again, about not wanting something to escalate beyond what it was." India's national security architecture demonstrated the strength of jointness and strategic foresight through Operation Sindoor. The response to Pahalgam terror attack t embodied precision, professionalism, and purpose. Operation SINDOOR was conceived as a punitive and targeted campaign to dismantle the terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and deeper inside Pakistan. (ANI) Tibetan spiritual leader the 14th Dalai Lama departed for Ladakh on Saturday morning, where he is expected to stay until the end of August. Hundreds of devotees gathered at Kangra Airport to see him off, expressing their joy and reverence ahead of his annual sojourn to the Himalayan region. Devotees, while speaking to ANI, said His Holiness will spend the monsoon season in Ladakh, blessing the people of the region. Residents from Ladakh and neighbouring areas are eagerly awaiting his arrival. Among those present was Tsering Dolma, President of the Regional Tibetan Women's Association, who expressed the significance of the visit while speaking to ANI. "Our revered leader, the Dalai Lama, is travelling to Ladakh, and we are delighted. The weather there is very pleasant right now. This year marks his 90th birthday. The people of Ladakh deeply revere Guruji. We will celebrate his birthday once again in Ladakh, and that's why we're travelling there too." Tenzin Dolma, an exile Tibetan woman who came to see him off, also shared her thoughts while speaking to ANI. "Today, His Holiness is travelling to Ladakh. We have all come here for his darshan. We are here to pray for his safe journey and good health. He holds immense significance in our lives." International devotees also joined the crowd at the airport. Trinh Thang, a devotee from Vietnam, said while speaking to ANI, "I am Tring Thang from Vietnam. We just got off the airplane, and seeing the Dalai Lama was an unexpected and lucky surprise. He is a symbol of peace and spirituality." Luis, a French devotee, shared his experience of seeing the Dalai Lama for the first time while speaking to ANI. "I came here to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama and I am really grateful. His teachings inspire not just Buddhists but people of all faiths, especially the youth. When I saw him, I was so overwhelmed--I think I wasn't breathing for ten seconds." The Dalai Lama's departure for Ladakh comes just days after he marked a significant personal milestone--his 90th birthday. Tibetan monk Dalai Lama, while thanking all his followers for their greetings on his 90th birthday, said that this was an important milestone of his life. He also took the opportunity to encourage his followers to uphold values of compassion and kindness. The Dalai Lama said that he requested his followers to join him in his effort of spreading kindness and peace across the world. In a post on X on Friday, he said, "Thank You Message: Dear Brothers and Sisters, Thank you for your warm greetings on my 90th birthday. I very much appreciate your kind gesture. The 90th birthday is conventionally considered an important milestone in one's life. I have dedicated myself to spreading the message of compassion and kindness, which I believe is the basis for peace and happiness in this world, and will continue doing so. As I often tell my friends and well-wishers, I would request you to join me in this effort, to be warm-hearted and to lead a meaningful life in the service of others; that will be the best birthday gift to me. I feel my life has been of some benefit to people across the world, and I dedicate the rest of my time to the service of others. Thank you and with my good wishes, Dalai Lama" The Dalai Lama celebrated his 90th birthday in Dharamshala on July 6 with an address focusing on the values of compassion, service, and the Bodhichitta way of life. (ANI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has ordered disciplinary action against officials of several government departments over their negligence, which led to the drowning of over a dozen people in the Swat River last month, Dawn reported. At least 14 people, including 10 members of a single family, lost their lives on June 27 after being swept away in a flash flood triggered by heavy rains in the Swat River. According to Dawn, a committee formed by the CM to fix responsibility found "negligence and shortcomings" on the part of the district administration, irrigation and local government departments, and Rescue 1122, which contributed to the tragedy. "The relevant departments will initiate action against officers found responsible and complete disciplinary proceedings within 60 days," read an official statement issued by the CM Secretariat, Dawn reported. The Provincial Inspection Team (PIT), in its 63-page report, found that weather advisories issued by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and district administration "were not effectively implemented". Dawn quoted the report as highlighting "a lack of coordination among the police, revenue, irrigation, rescue, tourism police, and other departments," while also pointing to the "malfunctioning of early warning systems" that led to delays in communicating about the flood. The report further revealed that hotel owners did not alert tourists about the danger in riverine areas, and Rescue 1122's emergency response was delayed, citing a shortage of trained personnel and essential rescue equipment. "There was no clear designation of responsibilities among departments and institutions for riverside safety, and no risk classification existed for tourist spots along rivers," the PIT noted, as reported by Dawn. The report also pointed to lax enforcement of Section 144, which could have prevented the victims from entering the river, and the absence of organised SOPs at the district level to ensure public safety during monsoon season. Construction along riverbanks in violation of existing rules was also flagged, with the report noting that regulatory mechanisms for approving building plans and defining encroachments were "ambiguous and inconsistent", according to Dawn. The PIT called for the introduction of a special law to regulate construction along rivers effectively and recommended that negligent departments take corrective steps, including "the issuance of new protocols and regulatory frameworks, within 30 days". Dawn further reported that a high-level oversight committee headed by the KP chief secretary would be formed to ensure the implementation of the PIT's recommendations and convert them into "actionable key performance indicators". The oversight body will also incorporate river safety modules into the upcoming monsoon contingency plan and ensure "the swift execution of plans to enhance Rescue 1122's capabilities", according to Dawn. To prevent future tragedies, the PIT recommended a province-wide public awareness campaign involving the departments of information, relief, and tourism. Following the incident, the provincial government launched an operation to clear encroachments along rivers. As per Dawn, "127 illegal buildings were sealed and constructions on over 682 kanals of land were demolished." In total, encroachments over 1,019 kanals were removed out of the 1,874 kanals of encroached land identified. The authorities also carried out demarcation along 609 kilometres of riverbeds and installed 174 barriers, Dawn reported. (ANI) Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (SCCCP) have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to consider sanctions against Hong Kong Police Commissioner Joe Chow Yat-ming for his role in suppressing basic freedoms in the city, according to a release by the Select Committee on the CCP. The letter, released by the SCCCP, highlights alarming developments in Hong Kong under the watch of Commissioner Chow, whom lawmakers accuse of being a central figure in the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) systematic dismantling of democracy. The letter urges the State Department to investigate whether Chow meets the criteria for sanctions under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, and Executive Order 13936. According to the SCCCP, Commissioner Chow's tenure has been marked by an intensified crackdown on pro-democracy activists, including new charges filed against jailed activist Joshua Wong under the draconian National Security Law. "These developments paint a disturbing picture that the CCP seeks to keep Wong behind bars for life," the letter stated. The Committee also cited the CCP's brutal suppression of public mourning on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. "Police flooded the streets, intimidating mourners and passersby alike. Numerous individuals were detained for simple gestures such as holding flowers, displaying electric candles, and gathering in a local park," the lawmakers wrote. The SCCCP noted that Secretary Rubio's March 2025 sanctions against then-Hong Kong Police Commissioner Raymond Siu sent a clear message of U.S. support for the people of Hong Kong. However, they emphasised that Siu's swift retirement and replacement with Chow reflect Beijing's intent to continue its authoritarian agenda unchallenged. "Unfortunately, CCP-directed officials in Hong Kong continue to undermine its autonomy and freedoms," the Committee added. The Select Committee on the CCP has committed to monitoring Beijing's escalating repression at home and abroad. "The United States must hold enforcers of tyranny accountable," the Committee wrote, warning that failure to act against figures like Chow emboldens China's authoritarian ambitions globally. (ANI) Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has said the Afghan consulate in Berlin should be handed over to the "Taliban" to facilitate the deportation of Afghan "criminal" refugees from Germany, Tolo News reported. Speaking to a German media outlet, Dobrindt clarified that this proposal does not amount to formally recognising the "Taliban" government. He also stated that he had reached an agreement on the matter with Germany's Foreign Minister, according to Tolo News. Dobrindt explained that in the absence of a formal agreement with the Islamic Emirate, Germany is unable to deport Afghan refugees or extend their detention periods for deportation. "One of the problems I recognize and needs to be resolved is how we can properly carry out deportations. Until we have an agreement, we cannot send anyone back to Afghanistan, and I cannot extend the detention period for deportation," he said. Tolo News further reported that the Afghan consulate in Berlin is still being run by officials from the former Afghan government. Transferring control of the consulate to the Islamic Emirate would, in practice, facilitate deportation coordination even without formal diplomatic recognition. In response to Germany's proposal, Tolo News reported that Abdulmutalib Haqqani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation of the Islamic Emirate, said that the return of Afghan refugees must be voluntary and supported financially by the German government. "We accept our citizens back from Germany, but it must be voluntary, not forced. Additionally, the German government should financially support their resettlement in Afghanistan so they can remain permanently," Haqqani told Tolo News. Regarding the fate of Afghan refugees accused of crimes, Haqqani added: "Decisions will be made in accordance with Islamic Sharia law after verifying the documents." Germany has previously deported some Afghan nationals accused of criminal offences, but current legal limitations have slowed the process. Tolo News noted that Dobrindt's latest remarks come amid increasing pressure on European countries to deal with undocumented and criminal refugees. The development comes as Iran and Pakistan have forcibly deported hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees in recent months, with deportations still ongoing, Tolo News reported. (ANI) Following the extensive "Operation Baam" conducted by the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), Baloch political activist Mir Baloch has described the coordinated strikes as a "strategic leap" for the Baloch nationalist cause. He praised the growing collaboration between the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), and Baloch Republican Guard (BRG), collectively referring to them as the "Baloch National Army." "Whether it's the BLF, BLA, or BRG, I call them one army, our national army," Mir Baloch stated. "They are no longer separate entities. They are united by purpose, sacrifice, and shared blood." Launched on Tuesday night, Operation Baam, meaning "Dawn", involved a series of coordinated assaults across the provinces of Panjgur, Surab, Kech, and Kharan. According to the BLF, this marks the beginning of a new phase in the armed resistance, aimed at systematically weakening the Pakistani military infrastructure in Balochistan. Mir Baloch described this as the widest geographical expansion of BLF operations in recent years: "We once believed the BLF operated primarily in Makran, in places like Turbat, Panjgur, and Gwadar, but now they've expanded into Jalawan, Sarawan, Rakshan, Bela, and even Khost. This movement now stretches from the coastline to the mountains, extending even beyond Kalat into the traditional eastern regions." He claimed the strategic sophistication of the movement has also evolved. Of the 84 coordinated attacks, he asserted that 30 targeted Pakistani security institutions, allegedly resulting in the deaths of around 50 soldiers and nine intelligence officers. "They're not just attacking the military," he said. "They are targeting collaborators, those who plunder Balochistan's resources and transfer them to Punjab. That is how you dismantle an occupation from within." Mir Baloch also accused Pakistani authorities of misleading the public about the situation: "Soldiers are deserting their posts every day. They can't handle the terrain and are terrified to operate in Balochistan. One soldier fled and died of dehydration in the desert. Two more are still missing." He dismissed the Pakistani military's public narrative of success as "Punjabi Army propaganda." "They were defeated in 1965, surrendered in 1971, and today, they fear their shadows in Balochistan," Mir Baloch said. "This is not a courageous army; it is an institution built for profit, not patriotism." He was particularly scathing in his remarks about the military, frequently referring to it as the "Punjabi Army." "This is not a brave army. It's cowardly and motivated by money. The officer corps is dominated by those trained in Punjab, in places like Jhelum, Sialkot, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. They don't join to fight for the nation. They join for perks, land plots worth crores." He criticised the culture within the army where generals "hide in bunkers while soldiers are sent to die." Highlighting the prolonged detention of Mahrang Baloch, he said: "The day she walks free from Jhelum, the entire Baloch nation will rise. This cowardly army fears Baloch women more than war. They don't fight for their country, they fight for dollars." Dismissing Islamabad's allegations of foreign support, Mir Baloch said: "I wish we had help. They accuse India anyway, so I say this to India: if you're going to be blamed regardless, at least help us. Give us the weapons your enemies surrendered in 1971. We don't need drones or jets, just give us those, and ten bullets, and we'll do the rest." He expressed frustration with international organisations, particularly the United Nations, for remaining silent: "They won't act because they rely on Pakistan, whether to counter China, keep an eye on Iran, or manage Islamic terrorism. As long as they have strategic interests in Pakistan, they will look the other way." He also responded sharply to Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir's claim that "ten generations of Baloch cannot liberate Balochistan": "He made that statement to boost morale in Punjab. But he knows the truth. We are not just one generation. If we die, others will take our place. Our daughters and sons are already on the front lines." As the Baloch National Army becomes increasingly united and assertive, Mir Baloch believes Pakistan's decades-old illusion of control is crumbling, exposing an occupying force incapable of silencing a people determined to reclaim their land and dignity. (ANI) Stating that America's relationship with Pakistan is complex, a leading security expert has said that he does not see the possibility of Islamabad getting US technology antime soon and that the United States administration has conveyed that it "will not back those who back terrorism". In an interview with ANI, welfare scholar and chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute, John Spencer, said that India is not the same India of five years ago, and for him, studying the country from elements of economics, military, and politics is the same as studying the United States. Asked about Pakistan's wish list in the wake of its Army Chief Asim Munir and its Air Force chief visiting the United States, he said that there are conditions attached to the earlier supply of F-16s to Pakistan and there is unlikely to be further exports. "I know that that relationship is complex. I don't think you'll see any US technology going there soon. And they'll have to be looking elsewhere. Although there's a history with the F-16, multiple Presidents have been involved, and there are limitations on how they can use it, among other things. I always say geopolitics is complex, but terrorism should not be. And the United States makes statements and, through action, especially this administration, that we will not back those who back terrorism," he said. Spencer said the opportunities between the United States and India are much different from what they were a few years back. "....India is not the same India of five years ago. For me, studying India from every element of economics, military, and politics is the same as studying the United States. The threats to the world are different. I think one of the threats is just the geopolitical, global, international order. When you have things like the Russian-Ukrainian War, you have the uselessness of the United Nations, in my own words," he said. "These aspects make it a different paradigm from the Cold War, and the relationships and opportunities between the United States and India are much different from what they were. From a geo-connected or globally connected economy, the impact of India's data, artificial intelligence, and innovations on the world, and particularly the United States, is significant. And I think that there's more opportunity than there ever was during the Cold War, in my own opinion," he added. He said it's hard to understand war without understanding geopolitics, international relations, political science, and even economic ties. Spencer, who is a scholar, author, combat veteran and security analyst, said India was demonstrating will to do what's necessary if Pakistan wanted to continue to escalate and a change in India's strategic doctrine will really change the entire region. "As we talk in military terms, I've read lines and things, and clearly India demonstrated that with action. But the words matter, the cultural aspects, so it's understood. That's why it was important to talk to active military, former military, think tanks, media. I can absolutely clearly see a change in India's strategic doctrine that will really change the entire region in my opinion," he said. India launched Operation Sindoor early on May 7 and hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to Pahalgam terror attack. India repelled subsequent Pakistani military aggression and pounded its airbases. India and Pakistan agreed to cessation of hostilities after four-day conflict following call made by Pakistan DGMO to his Indian counterpart. Calling Operation Sindoor a "unique strike," Spencer said it showcased India's strategic independence and leadership. He said many countries, including the United States, wanted the escalation to stop. "The (US) Vice President's comments, and again, understanding the American changes in foreign policy. As Operation Sindoor was escalated by Pakistan, of course, many countries, to include the United States, wanted to see that escalation stop because of how catastrophic it could be. But every strike, to include Noor Khan, Muridke, others, that India sent a message with each one of those... As a military guy, I can say that the spot was hit to send a message about capability, as much as it was for the actual evidence of destruction," he said. Spencer, an internationally renowned expert on urban warfare, military strategy and other related topics, said India demonstrated a capability to hit whatever it wanted. "Demonstrated that one, it can do it; two, it has the will to do it, but also it was restrained and even all the places they hit, the amount of destruction and precision guided munitions that they used was a sign, a signal, rather than a destructive act. Because people think that war is about destroying everything. War is a contest of will. India was demonstrating will to do what's necessary if Pakistan wanted to continue to escalate. And that's strategic independence and strategic, basically, leadership. The United States, of course, was concerned, I'm sure, again, about not wanting something to escalate beyond what it was." (ANI) The United Nations has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis as up to three million Afghan migrants are expected to return from Iran and Pakistan by the end of 2025, Khaama Press reported. According to Khaama Press, Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR representative in Afghanistan, said during an online press briefing from Kabul on Friday, July 11, that more than 1.6 million Afghans--mostly from Iran--have already returned in recent months. He described the return process as "disorderly, degrading, and large-scale," adding that many families are arriving "exhausted, distressed, and without basic resources," Khaama Press reported. Jamal said the surge is placing severe pressure on communities already struggling to cope. Khaama Press cited UN data showing that over 30,000 people are crossing the Islam Qala border into Afghanistan daily. The rapid influx has overwhelmed both border services and reception facilities, prompting the UN refugee agency to escalate emergency relief operations. In response, UNHCR and its partners have rolled out urgent measures to provide clean water, healthcare, nutrition, and vaccinations to thousands of returnees each day. These steps are critical to "reduce the immediate risks faced by vulnerable returnees," Khaama Press reported. The UN has stressed that the situation could spiral "further out of control" without coordinated support, pushing thousands more families into "deeper poverty and insecurity," according to Khaama Press. Khaama Press also reported that UNHCR has made an urgent appeal for humanitarian funding to address the growing crisis. The agency warned that the consequences of inaction could include rising displacement, health emergencies, and malnutrition--especially among women and children. Stabilising the situation, Khaama Press noted, will require not only short-term aid but long-term reintegration strategies to help returning Afghans rebuild their lives. The UN has called on donor countries and regional partners to act swiftly to prevent a deeper tragedy. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Singapore and China from July 13 to 15. In Singapore, Jaishankar will meet his counterpart and the leadership of Singapore as part of the regular exchanges between the two countries. Thereafter, the External Affairs Minister will embark on a visit to China to participate in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting (CFM) being held in Tianjin.He will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the meeting, a Ministry of External Affairs release said. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had visited China last month to attend the 20th Meeting of the SCO Security Council Secretaries. During his visit, NSA Ajit Doval had called on Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng along with other Heads of Delegation attending the meeting. Doval also held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and underlined the urgency of addressing terrorism in all its forms. He emphasized the need to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations to maintain overall peace and stability in the region. India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, conducting precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. During the meeting, Doval and Wang Yi reviewed recent developments in India-China relations and stressed the need to promote overall bilateral ties, including greater people-to-people contact. They also exchanged views were also exchanged on other bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. The NSA conveyed that he looked forward to welcoming Wang Yi in India for the 24th round of the Special Representative (SR) Talks at a mutually convenient date. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao in June and met his counterparts from Belarus, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan. Singh underscored India's rapid strides in defence manufacturing and self-reliance. He highlighted the rapid advances made by India in the field of defence production and achieving self-reliance in meeting its defence requirements in several key areas. Rajnath Singh also briefed his counterparts on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor launched by India aimed at dismantling the terrorist networks in Pakistan. India, however, declined to sign the joint declaration at the SCO meeting, citing dissatisfaction over the final text. According to government sources, the declaration had references to incidents in Pakistan but omitted any mention of the April 22 Pahalgam attack. "India is not satisfied with the language of the joint document, as there was no mention of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam... so India refused to sign the joint declaration, and there is no joint communique either," a source said. India and China had earlier this year agreed to resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra as part of efforts to improve ties following the disengagement of troops at the two remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh last year. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra did not take place in the last nearly six years due to COVID-19 and later due to tensions over the military standoff in eastern Ladakh. India's relations with Singapore were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Singapore in September 2024. With shared history, long tradition of friendship based on trust and mutual respect, and extensive cooperation across a wide range of areas, India-Singapore cooperation has deepened and diversified over the years. (ANI) Colombian actress and businesswoman Sofia Vergara has been immortalized with a giant statue in her hometown of Barranquilla. The tribute was unveiled on July 10, the same day the Latina super star turned 53, as she celebrated her birthday on the Italian island of Sardinia surrounded by friends and familywithout a boyfriend in sight. "Barranquilla surrenders at your feet, telling the whole world: thank you for being who you are, thank you for being a Barranquillera," said Mayor Alejandro Char during the statue's unveiling. "What better way to celebrate Sofia's birthday than by honoring her with this beautiful work that represents her joy, charisma, authenticity, and unique spirit." The statue was sculpted by Yino Marquez, a beloved local artist also known for creating Barranquilla's famous Shakira statue. Marquez has previously paid tribute to other Colombian icons with public monuments, including Joe Arroyo, Pacho Galan, and Esther Forero. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Vergara enjoyed a relaxed, private birthday gathering in Sardinia. Photos shared on social media showed her glowing in a white dress, smiling with close friends and familybut notably, there was no sign of a romantic partner, sparking curiosity among fans. The statue now joins Barranquilla's growing collection of public tributes to its most internationally celebrated figures, reinforcing Sofia Vergara's legacy not just as a global star, but as a beloved hometown hero. The creation of Sofia Vergara's statue took seven months and required the support of 35 people, including students from the District School of Arts, directed by the sculptor. The artist did not pose in person; instead, Marquez's team used photographs to create the mold for the statue. The work of art measures 5.2 feet and weighs more than 5 tons. It is located on the Gran Malecon of Barranquilla, the authorities' commitment to revitalize the city, partly thanks to local and international tourism . Oficialmente inaugurada la estatua de Sofia Vergara en Barranquilla. pic.twitter.com/hjvhclyaxZ Deimer Espinoza (@deimerespinoza_) July 10, 2025 Sofia Vergara's birthday The artist has said she will visit her statue in the near future. However, she chose to celebrate her 53rd birthday in Europe, after participating in a coveted event organized by the Four Seasons Hotels, which was also attended by Ricky Martin, Anitta, J Balvin, and Naomi Campbell, among many others. For her party, the Colombian star chose to gather with a small group of loved ones and celebrate privately on the island of Sardinia. Guests included her son Manolo, her business partner Luis Balaguer, her friend and collaborator Alejandro Asencio, and her close friends from Los Angeles. Her rumored boyfriend, Douglas Chabott, was absent, as was Tom Brady , with whom she has also been romantically linked. Sofia, as always, was radiant and, as always, embracing life with intensity and full of joy. Happy birthday! Originally published on Latin Times Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has confirmed that US military aid shipments to Ukraine have resumed, following a temporary suspension earlier this month, RT reported. "We have received political signals at the highest level, good signals, including from the United States and from our European friends. According to all reports, aid shipments have been restored," Zelensky said in his daily video address on Friday, as quoted by RT. RT reported that the weapons shipments had been paused for nearly two weeks after the Pentagon halted deliveries, reportedly due to concerns over depleting stockpiles. The pause drew significant attention after reports surfaced that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered the suspension without consulting President Donald Trump or the State Department. According to RT, Trump has since pledged to restart the supply of arms and authorised the resumption of aid. Zelensky added that Ukraine would continue its military cooperation with Washington. "We will continue our military cooperation with the United States, and we are expecting new deliveries from our European partners," RT quoted him as saying. Citing Politico, RT reported that Trump plans to use the Presidential Drawdown Authority to approve a new $300 million aid package, which may include Patriot air defense systems. Trump also told NBC that he had finalised a deal to sell weapons to NATO, which would subsequently be transferred to Ukraine. RT noted that Zelensky's announcement comes at a critical time for Ukraine, as its forces struggle to hold positions on multiple sections of the front line, facing mounting casualties and territorial setbacks. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has reiterated that continued arms deliveries will not alter the course of the conflict. RT reported that Russia views NATO's military support as direct involvement in the war and insists that a halt to such assistance remains a key condition for any potential ceasefire. (ANI) Lebanon's health ministry said on Saturday that an "Israeli enemy strike" on a home in south Lebanon's Wata al-Khiam killed one person, The Times of Israel reported. According to The Times of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces did not immediately comment on the strike, which comes amid lingering tensions despite the November 2024 ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. The Times of Israel noted that the ceasefire, which brought an end to more than a year of hostilities, allowed Israel to act against "imminent threats" in Lebanon. The agreement also required Hezbollah to vacate southern Lebanon, with Israel granted a 60-day period to withdraw, making way for deployment of the Lebanese army and international peacekeepers. As per The Times of Israel, Israel has since withdrawn from all but five strategic points along the border. On Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said, "Israel's continued presence in south Lebanon was preventing the Lebanese army from deploying," The Times of Israel reported. He expressed interest in peaceful relations with Israel but made clear that "normalizing relations was off the table for now." The Times of Israel further reported that President Aoun reaffirmed his government's goal of maintaining a monopoly on weapons in the country -- a pointed reference to Hezbollah's arsenal. "We are committed to maintaining a monopoly on arms," Aoun said. Lebanese authorities have reportedly made progress in dismantling Hezbollah's infrastructure in the south and are estimated to have seized most of the group's weapons there, according to The Times of Israel. Hezbollah began launching near-daily rocket attacks into Israel on October 8, 2023 -- a day after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 in southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. The Times of Israel stated that the attacks by Hezbollah were unprovoked. The rocket fire displaced nearly 60,000 residents from northern Israel. In response, Israel launched intensified military operations in Lebanon in September to ensure safe return of its citizens, which resulted in two months of open conflict with Hezbollah. According to The Times of Israel, these operations severely weakened the group's leadership. (ANI) German Economy Minister Katharina Reiche was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying in a statement that the European Union is now required, in the time remaining, to negotiate pragmatically with the United States to reach a solution that focuses on the main points of disagreement. The German minister added that the European Commission, tasked with negotiating on behalf of the 27 EU member states, has our support for this approach, calling for rapid solutions. Germany is among those most affected by US tariffs due to its heavy reliance on exports to the United States, particularly in the chemical, pharmaceutical, automotive, steel, and machinery manufacturing industries. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on the European Union to strike a "simple" agreement with Washington that prioritizes these key sectors even at the expense of accepting some additional tariffs on other goods. (ANI/WAM) Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri concluded a "fruitful and productive" visit to Iceland, highlighting the shared spirit of innovation and positive energy between the two nations. During his visit, Deputy Permanent Secretary of State of Iceland, Bergdis Ellertsdottir hosted a dinner for Puri. The Icelandic Ambassador to India, Benedikt Hoskuldsson and several experts from the energy, trade, and multilateral sectors also attended the dinner. Puri expressed his gratitude to the people and energy professionals of Iceland for their warmth and hospitality. https://x.com/HardeepSPuri/status/1944095619603476993 "India & Iceland may be geographically apart, but we share the common spirit of innovation and positive energy to take our people towards a glorious future. Concluded a very fruitful & productive visit to Iceland with a dinner graciously hosted for the Indian delegation by Deputy Permanent Secretary of State of Iceland, Bergdis Ellertsdotti," the Union Minister said in a post on X. "We were joined by the Icelandic Ambassador to India, Amb. Benedikt Hoskuldsson, and several energy, trade and multilateral experts. Deeply grateful to the people and energy professionals of Iceland for their warmth and hospitality," he added. Earlier, the Union Minister attended the 9th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna, Austria and highlighted that India aims to increase its hydrocarbons exploration acreage to 0.5 million sq km by 2025 and 1.0 million sq km by 2030. With 2.5 lakh sq km open for exploration under OALP Round-10, and being close to discovering a Guyana-scale oilfield in the Andaman Sea, India is in the midst of one of the most ambitious plans to enhance the efforts to drill for more and further enhance hydrocarbons exploration in the country, said the Minister at 9th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna. India is making significant efforts to increase its traditional fossil-based energy production, and the latest push is to explore the Andaman region. India plans to explore and drill for hydrocarbons with renewed momentum by exploring 2.5 lakh sq km under OALP-Round 10. The minister interacted on 'Oil Markets: Energy Security, Growth and Prosperity' with an audience of leaders, captains and professionals of the global energy sector at the Seminar. (ANI) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday in Wonsan, in a sign of strengthening the relations between Moscow and Pyongyang, CNN reported. Russia's foreign ministry shared a photo of the meeting on Telegram, showing the two leaders together in the coastal city of Wonsan. Lavrov, who arrived in North Korea on Friday for a three-day visit, also held talks with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui on Saturday. "We exchanged views on the situation surrounding the Ukrainian crisis," Lavrov said at a press conference following the meeting, as quoted by the Russian state media agency TASS. "Our Korean friends confirmed their firm support for all the objectives of the special military operation, as well as for the actions of the Russian leadership and armed forces." CNN reported that Lavrov's visit marks the second round of strategic dialogue between the countries, following the first round of talks in Moscow in November 2024, when Choe Son Hui visited Russia. At that time, Lavrov praised what he described as "very close contacts" with North Korea's military and intelligence services. The trip comes at a crucial moment, with Pyongyang reportedly preparing to deploy an additional 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers to aid Russia's escalated offensive in Ukraine, CNN said, citing Ukrainian intelligence. These forces would add to the estimated 11,000 North Korean soldiers sent to Russia last year. CNN also reported that North Korean troops have been living and fighting in dugouts alongside Russian forces in the border region of Kursk, where they helped repel Ukrainian advances last year. Western officials estimate that around 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in the conflict. Amid increasing integration, CNN noted that training manuals for North Korean artillery have been translated into Russian, reflecting growing interoperability between the two militaries. Additionally, a report from 11 UN member states revealed that Pyongyang sent at least 100 ballistic missiles and nine million artillery shells to Russia in 2024. As Russia faces frontline shortages despite round-the-clock domestic production, it has grown more reliant on North Korea for arms and ammunition. Satellite images obtained by CNN showed troop transport ships and cargo planes moving between North Korea and Russia, suggesting extensive military logistics underway. Meanwhile, Russia has stepped up its aerial campaign in Ukraine, launching a record 728 drones and 13 missiles on Wednesday, followed by an all-direction drone attack on Kyiv Thursday -- a new tactic testing Ukraine's strained defenses. (ANI) Tel Aviv [Israel], July 13 (ANI/TPS): On Friday, a terrorist operative involved in advancing attacks against Israel in the northern arena was eliminated in a targeted Israeli airstrike. The strike, carried out in the al-Namiriya area of Lebanon, was guided by precise intelligence from the IDF, Shin Bet, Northern Command, and Military Intelligence. The operative, Mohammad Sha'ayeb, played a key role in facilitating weapons smuggling and establishing terror infrastructure in Lebanon and inside Israel. He also maintained ties with arms dealers in Syria and Lebanon and was linked to Unit 840 of Iran's Quds Force. According to the IDF Spokesperson, his elimination marks a significant blow to terror networks operating in the north and in Judea and Samaria. (ANI/TPS) Tel Aviv [Israel], July 13 (ANI/TPS): Dozens of IAF fighter jets struck more than 35 Hamas terror targets in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, earlier on Saturday. The strikes targeted underground terrorist infrastructure and other key assets of the Hamas terrorist organisation. As stated by the IDF Spokesperson, the airstrikes are a defensive measure aimed at neutralising imminent threats posed by Hamas' terror infrastructure. (ANI/TPS) Africas rapidly expanding digital economy faces a critical challenge as legal frameworks lag behind technological advancement, prompting calls for urgent reform and strategic mentorship programs to prepare a new generation of tech-savvy lawyers. The continents digital transformation, driven by fintech innovations, e-commerce expansion, and artificial intelligence adoption, has outpaced regulatory development. Legal experts warn that outdated frameworks risk stifling growth and leaving businesses vulnerable to disputes without proper legal recourse. Dr.Tunde Okewale OBE, an award-winning barrister at Doughty Street Chambers and founder of UK-based legal charity Urban Lawyers, advocates for comprehensive mentorship models that blend traditional legal education with digital fluency. His approach emphasizes connecting experienced practitioners with emerging legal professionals to co-create Africas digital legal future. From data protection to intellectual property in technology sectors, the legal landscape requires fundamental restructuring. Legal institutions across Africa face mounting pressure to develop frameworks that address both established legal principles and emerging digital complexities. Meanwhile, Rwanda demonstrates infrastructure innovation with Sub-Saharan Africas first urban cable-car system in Kigali. The $100 million project, backed by the African Development Bank, aims to reduce traffic congestion while creating sustainable urban transport solutions. In Kenya, entrepreneurs showcase circular economy principles by transforming banana stem waste into biodegradable hair braids. This initiative addresses plastic pollution while creating new income streams for farmers, exemplifying how innovation can merge environmental sustainability with economic opportunity. These developments underscore Africas dual challenge: building legal frameworks robust enough to govern digital innovation while fostering the entrepreneurial spirit driving continental growth. The meetings of the technical and steering Committees of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, held in Rabat July 10-11, highlighted by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Togolese Gaz Company (SOTOGAZ-Togo), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC-Nigeria), and Moroccos Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM). This memorandum, the latest to be inked after SOTOGAZ officially joined the Project, completes the series of agreements already signed with other countries involved in the project, ONHYM said in a press release. The parties involved were delighted with the progress made and reiterated their willingness to continue their exemplary collaboration for achieving this structuring project, the press release said. The meetings of the technical and steering Committees of the project were held as part of the projects governance and in accordance with the memoranda of understanding signed among national oil companies. The meetings assessed the progress made by the project which has already reached several key technical, environmental, and institutional milestones, ONHYM said. According to the press release, the project detailed engineering studies were completed in 2024, survey and ESIA studies for the northern section have been completed, while those for the southern Nigeria-Senegal section are underway. The project, designed to transport 30 billion m3 of gas per year, will be developed through phases. A Project Company (Holding Company) will provide governance for the funding and construction phases of the Project. It will oversee three ad-hoc companies (SPVs) for each of the identified segments. In addition, the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), which specifies the rights and obligations of each country, was adopted in December 2024, at the 66th ECOWAS Summit, the press release recalled. The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline will contribute to Africas development, improve livelihood of its people, further integrate the economies of the sub-region and the African continent, and give Africa a new economic, political and strategic dimension, while establishing itself as a major lever for regional integration. The project, sponsored by Morocco and Nigeria, is part of the Atlantic Initiative advocated by King Mohammed VI and will bear economic and social benefits for all transit countries. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union has been working to decrease its dependence on Russian energy. The EU responded to Russias invasion by introducing sanctions on a range of energy products, including oil and gas, which it has gradually strengthened over the last three years as the region has reduced its reliance on Russian energy. Now, the EU and several energy experts believe that Europe will not need to go back to using Russian gas in the future, having successfully strengthened and diversified its energy supply chains. In June, the European Commission (EC) proposed a legally binding ban on EU imports of Russian gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of 2027. If passed, this would bring a decades-old energy trade relationship to an end. The EC included legal measures in the proposal that ensure that EU members that continue to rely on Russia, such as Hungary and Slovakia, cannot block the plan. However, the aim is to get the support of all EU members, perhaps even if that means providing financial incentives for moving away from Russian energy. The EU energy commissioner, Dan Jrgensen, said that the bloc did not introduce the proposal to phase out Russian gas imports solely because Russia invaded Ukraine. This is a ban that we introduce because Russia has weaponised energy against us, because Russia has blackmailed member states in the EU, and therefore they are not a trading partner that can be trusted, Jrgensen said. That also means that, irrespective of whether there is a peace or not, which we all hope there will be, of course, this ban will still stand. The proposal includes the ban of gas imports from any Russian pipeline gas and LNG contracts signed during the rest of 2025, starting January 1, 2026. Imports under short-term Russian gas deals signed before June 17, 2025, which last less than one year, would be banned from June 17 next year. In addition, imports under existing long-term Russian contracts would be banned from January 1, 2028. Hungary and Slovakia would have until January 1, 2028, to diversify their gas imports away from Russia before a ban is implemented under the plan. If implemented, the plan would bring an end to LNG contracts held between Russia and several oil majors, including Frances TotalEnergies and Spain's Naturgy. A ban would also eventually be imposed on EU LNG terminals providing services to Russian customers. Meanwhile, companies importing Russian gas would be required to disclose information on their contracts to the EU and national authorities. At the beginning of July, the European Parliaments chief negotiator, Ville Niinisto, said the EU should consider introducing a ban on Russian gas imports a year earlier, in 2026. Niinisto said, We would be interested in looking at a 2026 deadline. He added, The Parliaments role here is to scrutinise the proposal and make sure that it's as rigid as possible Legally speaking, we are going to check [whether] those timetables are strict enough or can they be hastened. Niinisto stressed that the proposal should include Russian oil in the ban, as well as gas. We are also interested in [the] potential possibility of including oil more strictly in the legal language as well, with a phaseout date of 2027 at a minimum, he said. Niinisto also said he would be assessing the legal position of the proposal to make sure that there are no undue legal consequences for European companies from Russia. Before it can become law, he must establish a proposal that aligns with the expectations of the European Parliaments various political groups. To achieve this by early fall, he will talk with everyone, including Russia-friendly far-right and far-left lawmakers. Since imposing sanctions in 2022, the EU has reduced its gas supplies from Russian pipelines by approximately two-thirds. It has also banned the import of seaborne coal and oil. However, the region continues to rely on Russia for large volumes of LNG. Some powers are also requesting that the EU ease sanctions on Russian energy in the face of rising consumer prices, as Moscow is offering lower-priced crude and gas than its competitors. However, the CEO of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanne, stated in July that Europes improved energy resilience means it can successfully ban the import of Russian gas. Well be able to ensure the security of supply of Europe without Russian LNG in 2028, thanks to new capacities under construction in the United States and Qatar, said Pouyanne. It is not yet certain whether the EU will adopt a legally binding ban on EU imports of Russian gas and LNG. However, the blocs proposal has highlighted just how much Europe has reduced its reliance on Russia for energy. The diversification of the EUs energy trade has helped boost the regions energy security, as well as encouraged several countries to accelerate the development of their renewable energy capacity. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Russias international assistance agency, has an ambitious plan for the Kremlin soft-power entity to fill development gaps created by the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development. For that to happen, however, Rossotrudnichestvo will have to surmount major financing and image-related hurdles. In a wide-ranging interview published by the Russian outlet RBC, the agencys chief, Yevgeny Primakov, revealed that he is seeking to revamp and expand activities, taking advantage of USAIDs demise to build Russias global influence via the provision of development assistance. Despite being engulfed in a costly war, Russia needs to spend on soft-power initiatives, he argued, adding that it is imperative for Russian national security to maintain its cultural and economic position in the near-abroad, or the former constituent republics of the Soviet Union. We live in an active world, and we must be active, he said. We are a great power that has its own national interests abroad and that competes with other states, we must ensure the perimeter of our national interests, ensure that no ones hostile military blocs, bases, etc. appear in it. This is not charity this is beneficial for the country. Created in 2008, Rossotrudnichestvo ostensibly has had a dual mission to keep emigres connected to the motherland and to generate goodwill via the provision of humanitarian assistance. It operates in 70 countries around the world with a primary focus on former Soviet states and the European Union. The most visible aspect of the agencys work is the operation of cultural centers, or Russia Houses. While he wants to reshape his agency along the lines of USAID, Primakov admitted that in a best-case scenario, a reorganized Rossotrudnichestvo would possess only a fraction of USAIDs budget and global reach. Even matching nations such as Finland... would be a significant accomplishment, he said. Primakov appears to be seeking a massive budget increase for the agency from its present $77 million annual allocation to upwards of $1.5 billion. Whether the Russian government funds Primakovs ambitions is an open question, and even if a large budget increase is approved, it is uncertain if Rossotrudnichestvo is capable of spending the money effectively and efficiently. Primakov acknowledged that only 25 percent of the agencys current budget is spent on actual projects; the rest goes to administrative costs. For US non-profit organizations, the ratio is reversed: those deemed having efficient operations tend to have administrative costs under 25 percent of overall operating expenses. And then there is the image issue. Rossotrudnichestvo is widely viewed as providing cover for intelligence-gathering activities and mischief-making. For example, an analysis of Russia House operations in Czech capital Prague published in late 2024 by the Warsaw Institute characterized Rossotrudnichestvo as a front for spying. Its main tasks are to promote the Russian language and culture, support Russians living abroad or cooperate with scientific institutions in partner countries, the analysis stated. However, representatives of the institution are accused of propaganda and even intelligence activities. Similar suspicions are also confirmed by the intelligence services of the Czech Republic, which is why some local experts are advising the government to close the Russian House in Prague, which continues to operate without restrictions. Azerbaijan, which is currently locked in an increasingly bitter feud with the Kremlin, shut down the Russia House in Baku in early 2025. Meanwhile, officials in Kyrgyzstan detained a Russia House employee in April in the southern city of Osh on suspicion of trying to illegally recruit Kyrgyz nationals to serve as mercenaries in the Russian army fighting in Ukraine. While he fleetingly acknowledged the image issue for Rossotrudnichestvo, Primakov framed it as a them problem. He dismissed reports in the Azerbaijani press that Russia House employees were gathering intelligence as stupid accusations. He also downplayed the notion that Russian actions constituted a major cause of rifts between Russia and other formerly Soviet republics, including Azerbaijan, Armenia and Moldova. He primarily blamed grandiose forces, code for Western agitation, for sowing dissension. In addition, there is the work of local elites, often educated in Oxford and Cambridge, which is aimed at establishing their sovereignty according to the principle we are not Russia, but anti-Russia, he added. Primakov openly admitted that the agencys agenda is aligned with Russian foreign policy priorities. The concept that a government-funded entity could act independently seemed utterly alien to him, even though the very agency he wants to emulate, USAID, had an independent mandate, funded by the government, but not taking orders from the State Department. It is strange to expect from a federal executive body that it can operate outside of politics, he stated. His candor underscores perhaps the chief obstacle facing Rossotrudnichestvo, something that observers in Azerbaijan and elsewhere in the former Soviet Union describe as an imperial mindset that does more to alienate than attract admiration of Russia. At several points during his interview, flashes of imperial attitudes in Primakov surfaced. He complained, for instance, that ethnic Russians living in Azerbaijan were not loyal enough to Kremlin policies. The Russian community in Azerbaijan has made several statements, but not in support of Russia, but of their state Azerbaijan, he noted. We would like our compatriots to show more sympathy towards the Motherland. I believe that Russia deserves that our compatriots, while maintaining clear loyalty to their own states, still treat Russia well. No matter the size of Rossotrudnichestvos budget in the coming years, Primakov specified that retaining Russian influence within the Commonwealth of Independent States will be the agencys top priority. The CIS was, is and will be in our priority, Primakov said. I have always said that if we suddenly start to lose influence, for example in Luxembourg, we will manage it somehow. And if we start to lose influence in the neighboring countries, which is what is happening now unfortunately, it will be catastrophic. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Nebraska City, the Milligans would like to say thank you. They were driving to Colorado for a family reunion when a rollover crash on Nebraska Highway 2 near that southeastern town derailed those plans. But the last few days have been life-changing anyhow, thanks to some Nebraskans who went out of their way for some strangers. Person after person stepped up to help parents Sam and Alyssa Milligan and youngest children Harry and Norah after they lost control of their Toyota Land Cruiser and Airstream camper Wednesday and rolled four times. And most important, they recovered the familys beloved pup, Lola, who had bolted after the noon crash. They treated us as if we were their friends, Alyssa said. It was like they became our people. Whenever I think of their kindness, it makes me cry, Sam said. It felt like everyone in this town knew it was the worst day of our life. The Milligans, who live in Westfield, Indiana, were on their way to Colorado to rendezvous with older twin sons Jacob and Noah. Jacob had just gotten engaged. It was a trip theyd made often since Jacob went to school at Colorado Mesa University. But this time, instead of going on Interstate 70, they opted for less-busy roads because it was their first time driving their new but used SUV and camper. All was fine until they hit a rough patch of road and the camper started to sway as they switched lanes because another driver wanted to pass. An overcorrection sent both vehicles careening into the spillway of a farm pond west of Nebraska City. Sam found himself and Harry lying on the bottom of the land cruiser, which was on its side, while Alyssa and Norah hung upside down from their seat belts. In what they call a miracle, they were all able to climb out on their own, with only minor cuts and bruises. When the paramedic showed up, she immediately called for a lifeline. She thought it was going to be a lot worse, Alyssa said. Lucy, their 9-year-old beagle, stayed next to the car. But 2-year-old bernedoodle Lola took off, with Harry running after her, until she vanished into the fields of beans and corn in the Nebraska countryside. But thats when amazing and unexpected things started to happen. First, several people stopped to offer assistance. The Milligans had to be taken to CHI Health St. Marys clinic, so paramedic JJ McLaughlin took Lucy home to her horse rescue operation for the night. Fire Chief Jason Burr organized a search party for Lola. Dogs arent just pets anymore, he said. Theyre like members of the family, and he wanted to help. Once the scene was secure, I went ahead and sent two firefighters in a rig to the highway to see if they saw the pup anywhere, he said. We came back out later with a bunch of firefighters and their spouses. Emergency Management was there with their drones. Burrs wife, Dani, drove the Milligans to a location near the crash scene later to check for Lola. Brexton Roberts at Benefiel Towing took them to their lot to retrieve their personal items. There are no handy Ubers. Ive got all these service guys and shop guys, Benefiel controller Erica Stephens told Sam. Ill get someone out there. We just wanted to make sure they got all their belongings. All the way back in Indiana, Sams aunt Cathy Kramer began making phone calls to get help to find Lola. By happenstance, she found Burr, who has a family business nearby. She called Homeward Bound in the Heartland Animal Rescue, and then was connected to Lost Pets of Omaha Area and Cathy Eaton. As a storm raged outside Wednesday night, all the Milligans could think about was their lost puppy, alone and possibly injured. But the next morning, McLaughlin was the first person to spot Lola. Eaton drove from Omaha with a trap and trail camera, and saw Lola lying on a pillow they left at the scene. But whenever anyone got close, she bolted. It took a Wendys cheeseburger to lure the dog in, covered in burrs and ticks like the rest of the searching family. Alyssa said she felt immediate relief. The totaling of both vehicles meant nothing, Sam said, knowing Lola was OK. She was the last person in the accident we didnt know was OK yet, Alyssa said. The kindness didnt stop there. Kristina Christiansen-Tait of Cotton Top Grooming had a full day, but agreed to stay open late to clean up Lola. The Holiday Inn Express let the Milligans keep both dogs there for the night until they could organize the trip home. And, most unexpectedly, a woman they met on the elevator told them she couldnt sleep after hearing of their crash and dropped a $100 bill at their breakfast table. Sams parents, Jim and Jill, and the oldest Milligan sons raced to join the family and helped them to organize their belongings. The reunion will be home in Indiana instead. Alyssa said the family is still in shock but overwhelmingly grateful to a town that surrounded them with love. Sam said hes already thinking about how he can change his life to be more like the people who helped his family. He wants to be able to do the same for someone else. Im so grateful for the people here in Nebraska City, he said. They have been so kind to us. Im hoping this can be a way I can say thank you to them. BLOOMINGTON Wherever he goes, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi tells his audience that it's OK to skip his full 29-letter name and to "just call me Raja." "This is a true story, and I've said it before: When I first ran for office in Illinois, I said, 'Hi, my name is Raja Krish-na-moorthi,'" the Schaumburg Democrat recalled during a campaign stop in Bloomington. "And the person in Chicago looked right back at me and said, 'Roger Christian Murphy, very nice to meet you.' And then he said, 'I didn't know the Irish made it to India.'" It's an icebreaker Krishnamoorthi, 51, has used often to connect with voters as he crisscrosses the state campaigning for the Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. The Peoria native, who's represented Chicago's northwest suburbs in the U.S. House since 2017, is among the leading contenders in a field that also includes Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Matteson. On Friday, Krishnamoorthi glad-handed about two-dozen Democrats at a meet-and-greet organized by his campaign at Shake It Up Cocktail Lounge & Eatery in Bloomington. He then toured downtown, making stops inside Red Raccoon Games, Bobzbay Books and the office of the McLean County Democratic Party. "I don't want to discriminate, but Bloomington-Normal and McLean County have a certain energy about it, a certain vitality, which I think could be contagious if we could spread the good ideas that you folks have sprouted to the rest of Illinois and the country," Krishnamoorthi said. With prospective voters and later in an interview with The Pantagraph, Krishnamoorthi emphasized the need to hold President Donald Trump and his administration accountable and, beyond that, to deliver solutions to the economic hardships people are facing. Krishnamoorthi's message Surveying the crowded field of Senate candidates, Krishnamoorthi said that both his political and personal experiences make him best for the job. "First of all, I like my opponents, and I work with them," Krishnamoorthi said. "But I think what sets me apart is two things: One, we need someone with a track record of standing up to bullies and standing up for accountability and has a track record of results, and we need that now more than ever with regard to Donald Trump and what we're seeing with the Trump administration." "Two, we need someone who is attuned to the economic challenges that people have whether they're working poor, middle class or growing a business," he said. Krishnamoorthi, who was president of a research-oriented firm prior to serving in elected office, highlighted the effect of Trump's tariff policies on small businesses and farmers. Noting that he was spent part of his childhood in public housing and on food assistance programs, Krishnamoorthi lambasted the more than $1.2 trillion in cuts projected to the nation's social safety net under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" signed by Trump earlier this month. But Krishnamoorthi said that Democrats needed to present their own comprehensive plan a la "Project 2025" to potential voters. "I think that right now, we're kind of in a situation where people are like, 'OK, I don't like this product, whatever I see with the Trump administration, but I'm not necessarily sold on you, so please give me a path to how I can vote for you or support you, and it better have something to do with my pocketbook,'" Krishnamoorthi said. As examples, Krishnamoorthi said that Democrats should champion skills-based vocational education programs that build pipelines to high-paying jobs in construction and manufacturing. And, speaking in a region with a severe housing shortage, Krishnamoorthi suggested the need to support ideas like a federal tax credit for those embarking on the expensive undertaking of converting vacant commercial spaces into affordable housing. "We have to be the party of change," Krishnamoorthi said. "We can never be the party of the status quo. We can never be the party that says, 'Oh yeah, government is great, don't worry about what you're seeing. Everything is great.' "We have to be the ones who are saying, 'You know what? We're going to make government an indispensable partner to your American dream.'" Reaction in the room Krishnamoorthi's message was well-received by the Democrats who gathered to hear his pitch, though not everyone was ready to declare their support. "He just kind of checks a lot of the boxes that I really like politically," said Ward 6 Ald. Cody Hendricks, who remains undecided. He called Krishnamoorthi "a really good candidate who could do a lot of really good work in the Senate." "For me, it does come down to policies, and I think that that's one thing that really stands out to me from Raja," Hendricks said. "We've seen his work in Congress, which is a little bit different than what we see maybe working in state government." Julie Emig, executive director of the McLean County Museum of History, said she was "very impressed with Raja, and I've always been a big fan of Juliana Stratton as well." "I'm just delighted that we have such great options right now," she said. "The choice should be hard, right?" One person with their mind already made up is state Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington. One of Krishnamoorthi's early endorsers, Chung noted that he hosted congressional events in the Twin Cities long before his Senate campaign despite it being more than a hundred miles away from his suburban Chicago congressional district. That, combined with his Peoria roots, convinced Chung that Krishnamoorthi would be attuned to downstate issues. "We love that downstate connection because I feel like I see this all the time in the General Assembly our needs here in Central Illinois, we sometimes have to fight for them a little louder than other parts of the state," Chung said. Krishnamoorthi told The Pantagraph in an interview that "this region occupies a special place in my heart." "I remember when the Mitsubishi Company first occupied the space that Rivian later on occupied and how excited people were when Mitsubishi arrived, and how sad they were when Mitsubishi, I believe, pulled out because of financial problems," Krishnamoorthi said, referring to the evolution of the sprawling auto plant on Normal's west side. "I've seen Caterpillar go through tremendous struggles and then also successes," he added. "Those ups and downs are kind of part of my life, and I want to see us on more of an upward trajectory, and bring some stability, economic stability here and elsewhere." Money a campaign issue Krishnamoorthi has spent years laying the groundwork for a Senate run. He has been the most aggressive fundraiser in Illinois' congressional delegation. Earlier this month, he campaign reported more than $21 million cash on hand and raising more than $3.1 million since he jumped into the race in May. Stratton, who has raised more than $1 million since launching her campaign, announced earlier in the week that she would not accept contributions from corporate political action committees, calling it "a clear difference between her and the other Democrats in the primary." In small-dollar fundraising pitches, Stratton has used Krishnamoorthi's robust fundraising, including the $3.2 million raised from PACs aligned with business interests, to criticize him. "That kind of money isn't just a line in a budget," Stratton's campaign writes in the pitch. "It means nonstop TV ads, high-priced consultants, glossy mailers, and algorithms working overtime to flood your feed. It's what career politicians use to try to drown out grassroots support." Stratton, of course, has been elected twice on a ticket with Gov. JB Pritzker, a billionaire self-funder who has now endorsed her Senate campaign. It is not yet known if or how much Pritzker will spend on Stratton's behalf. But a super PAC, co-founded by a former Pritzker aide, was formed last month to support Stratton's candidacy. This would give Pritzker and other wealthy supporters a vehicle to donate unlimited sums in support of her candidacy without giving it to her campaign directly. "Let me get this straight: So is a candidate who is going to be actively hoping for super PAC money complaining about other candidates taking employee PAC money from local corporations? It's just a little rich," Krishnamoorthi said in response to criticism from Stratton's campaign. Krishnamoorthi said that he favors campaign finance reform. "Right now, it's messed up in this country," Krishnamoorthi said. "But in order for us to change those rules, we gotta win the election, and we gotta play within the rules and make sure that we don't lose to someone like Elon Musk or any other entity that would roll in here and, basically, under the current rules, game the system and make it impossible for Democrats to prevail." Candidates can begin collecting petitions to secure a place on the primary ballot next month. The election will be held March 17, 2026. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Paden Johnson Christian Schubert and Scott Lafontaine are fighting an old prejudice: that rice doesn't belong in beer. Now they've got the research to upend that ancient bit of brewing snobbery. Schubert is a visiting postdoctoral researcher from the Research Institute for Raw Materials and Beverage Analysis, officially known as Versuchs- und Lehranstalt fur Brauereior VLBin Berlin. He's joined Lafontaine, assistant professor of food chemistry in the food science department of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. Two studies by Schubert and Lafontaine show that rice can play a pivotal role in the development of both flavor and what's known as extract yieldthe amount of fermentable sugars extracted from grains in the brewing process. Timely innovation The rice brewing research aligns well with recent Arkansas legislation. This spring, the state legislature passed Arkansas House Bill 1491, which creates incentives for the use of Arkansas-grown rice in beer and sake production. Arkansas is the nation's top rice grower, accounting for about 50% of U.S. rice production. However, rice breeding programs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and an international organization are going in opposite directions for what Lafontaine's research is showing is best for brewers. "This research is timely because current trends in rice breeding may unintentionally work against brewing needs if brewers are not proactive in cultivar selection," Lafontaine said. "USDA breeding programs are emphasizing higher head rice yields, which is a critical quality parameter for rice millers to increase whole kernel recovery. At the same time, the International Rice Research Institute is advancing efforts to develop low-glycemic table rice varieties, which typically feature higher amylose content and elevated gelatinization temperatures." While the higher head rice yield and low-glycemic traits are advantageous for food applications, Lafontaine said they directly contrast with those shown to improve brewing extract efficiency. Also, rice with lower gelatinization temperatures could save energy in the brewing process and allow for craft brewers to utilize rice. "Without intentional sourcing and closer collaboration with rice breeders, brewers risk losing access to cultivars best suited for brewing performance," Lafontaine said. As the demand for both sustainability and innovation in brewing continues to grow, securing access to the right varieties of rice will be essential for ensuring continued efficiency and product quality, Lafontaine added. Challenging perceptions Lafontaine said rice has historically been mischaracterized as a cheap adjunct. An "adjunct" in brewing is any fermentable ingredient other than malted barley used for a variety of reasons including cost reduction, flavor enhancement, body and mouthfeel adjustment, or to achieve a specific style characteristic. "In Germany, the Beer Purity Law, or Reinheitsgebot, has shaped cultural attitudes toward what should go into beer. But here in the U.S., we have more flexibility to explore innovation," said Lafontaine, who is also co-director of the Arkansas Center for Beverage Innovation with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Originally enacted in 1516, the Reinheitsgebot limited beer ingredients to water, hops, and barley malt. Yeast was included much later. While the law has protected tradition, Lafontaine said it also has created resistance to alternative ingredients like rice and stifles innovation in countries like the U.S. where the definition of beer is much more broad. However, rice offers distinct technical and sensory benefits, Lafontaine said. Research tells the tale of rice and beer The first study, titled "Investigating the Incorporation of Milled Rice in Brewing Non-Alcoholic Beer to Enhance Sensory Quality," was published in the International Journal of Food Properties and was co-authored by Nils Rettberg, head of special analytics at VLB and previously Schubert's doctoral adviser as well as Lafontaine's postdoctoral host. Their results show that rice improves flavor profiles, shortens fermentation time, and may extend shelf life by limiting the production of undesirable aldehydes, which are organic compounds often associated with off-flavors and aromas. "Dr. Schubert led the charge in redefining the role of rice in brewing," Lafontaine said. "He's a certified German brewmaster with extensive technical training from the VLB. From a capability standpoint, there was no one better suited to lead this project." PCA of Panel U.S. (orange) and Panel E.U. (blue) showing NABs (black diamonds) and basic physical-chemical (brown) and flavor compound analysis (hop aroma compounds = green, fermentation by-products = purple, aldehydes = crimson, 2-acetyl-pyroline = red). Credit: International Journal of Food Properties (2025). DOI: 10.1080/10942912.2025.2520907 Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Brewing with purpose In the U.S., nonalcoholic beer is classified as having 0.5% or less alcohol by volume. International standards range from 0.05 to 1.2%, with "alcohol-free" beer typically defined as under 0.05%. There are several methods to produce nonalcoholic beer. These include removing alcohol after fermentation or controlling fermentation using yeasts that do not fully metabolize malt sugars. Lafontaine and Schubert's work focused on using Saccharomycodes ludwigii, a non-Saccharomyces yeast that cannot ferment maltose, the primary sugar from barley. The key to rice's success lies in its chemical composition. Unlike barley, milled rice has naturally lower levels of the unwanted aldehydes often found in nonalcoholic beer. By limiting aldehyde formation during fermentation rather than removing them afterward, brewers can reduce costs and improve product quality. German vs. American palates The research team also explored how rice is perceived across global markets. Using ARoma 22, a jasmine-type aromatic rice developed by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station's rice breeding program, the team brewed several nonalcoholic beer formulations with Saccharomycodes ludwigii. Sensory panels in Arkansas and Germany revealed distinct preferences: Arkansas participants favored a 30% rice/70% malted barley mix, while German participants preferred the inverse. The researchers suggest that a 50-50 blend may offer the most universally appealing profile. Flavor analysis showed that barley-heavy beers had more "worty" characteristics, while higher rice content revealed buttery, vanilla and creamy notes. Additionally, higher rice content was correlated with increased levels of larger alcohol molecules, like 3-methyl-1-butanol, which contribute positively to mouthfeel without raising the alcohol content above the legal nonalcoholic beer threshold. Essentially, rice-based worts can make nonalcoholic beer taste more like full-strength beer. Interestingly, fermentation also occurred faster with increased rice content, thanks to its higher levels of simple sugars such as glucose and fructose. As consumer demand for healthier alternatives grows, especially in light of the U.S. Surgeon General's advisory naming alcohol a leading preventable cause of cancer, Lafontaine emphasized that nonalcoholic beer is poised for growth. While nonalcoholic beer accounts for about 5% of the German beer market, it currently comprises just 1% in the U.S. but is expected to expand significantly, Lafontaine added. Brewing with efficiency The second study, led by food science master's student Matthew Aitkens, focused on how rice variety impacts brewing efficiency in terms of extract yield. The study, titled "Unveiling Cultivar and Agricultural Factors Influencing Extract Yield from Milled Rice," was published in the Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists. It was co-authored by Lafontaine, Schubert, and collaborators from the experiment station's Arkansas Rice Processing Program and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. Analyzing 74 rice cultivars, the team found significant variability in extract potential. High-extract varieties tended to have lower amylose content and cracked more easily, facilitating sugar release during the mashing process. Mashing is the first step in brewing beer, where grains are soaked in hot water to convert starches to sugar. "Identifying cultivars with higher extract yield can enhance brewhouse efficiency and reduce raw material requirements," the study concluded. This is an important finding, Lafontaine said, because the economic implications are considerable. Improved extract yield means less grain is needed to produce the same volume of beer, which can help brewers cut costs, reduce waste and scale production more sustainably. Not just a filler Another misconception, particularly among craft brewers, is that rice always has a high gelatinization temperature, which would make it challenging to use. Gelatinization is critical to brewing because it frees starches from grains that feed fermentation. Lafontaine noted that certain varieties possess lower gelatinization temperatures, even less than 65 Celsius, or 149 Fahrenheit, making them easier to process. "Rice isn't just neutral filler. It's a tool for innovation," Lafontaine said. "It's time we move beyond outdated perceptions and recognize what rice can offer in creating beer that's sessionable, efficient, and aligned with both tradition and the evolving preferences of today's consumer." The Brewers Association defines a "session" beer as one with alcohol by volume under 5%, prioritizing drinkability and balance over high alcohol levels and intensity. More information: Christian Schubert et al, Investigating the incorporation of milled rice in brewing non-alcoholic beer to enhance sensory quality, International Journal of Food Properties (2025). DOI: 10.1080/10942912.2025.2520907 Matthew S. Aitkens et al, Unveiling Cultivar and Agricultural Factors Influencing Extract Yield from Milled Rice, Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists (2025). DOI: 10.1080/03610470.2025.2499768 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: ATLAS's wheel-like end-cap reveals the maze of sensors primed to catch proton smash-ups at the LHC. Researchers comb through billions of events in search of fleeting "ghost" tracks that might expose cracks in string theory. Credit: CERN Well, it's July 12, which means (a) the Steam Summer Sale is over and (b) it's really hot outside in the northeastern U.S. This week, researchers discovered a cool new fish and named it after Darth Vader. An analysis of the DART mission suggests that while it proved that an impactor could alter the trajectory of an asteroid, it ejected boulders in unpredictable directions that could complicate other impactor missions. And archaeologists uncovered a rock art panel that could depict an elite individual from the First Dynasty. Additionally, physicists want to try disproving string theory at the LHC; ATLAS spotted the third-known interstellar object entering the solar system, a comet that may be 7 billion years old; and a study of lemurs sheds light on human "inflammaging," chronic inflammation that causes the onset of aging-related pathologies: Creating matter from energy to disprove string theory String theory is useful because it reconciles the standard model of particle physics and general relativity with its underlying hypothesis: that all particles, including theoretical particles representing gravity, are tiny strings vibrating across multiple dimensions. But it's a framework that can probably never be tested because when you ask a physicist how to prove it, they offer thought experiments in Neil deGrasse Tyson voice like "imagine you had a particle accelerator the size of the Milky Way Galaxy." So I guess string theory can someday be validated through the power of imagination. But could there be a way to disprove string theory? Researchers at the Large Hadron Collider are trying to determine where string theory fails: If collider results reveal something specifically barred by string theory, the whole theory is fundamentally flawed or incomplete. They're focusing on a subgroup of particles called 5-plets, and specifically, the Majorana fermion, a theorized particle that is also its own antiparticle. The family of 5-plets are completely absent from string theory, which can't accommodate them. However, the difficulty of identifying a Majorana fermion lies in the tremendous energy required to produce them. The chances of creating one drop dramatically as the energy increases. And even if the collider does produce one, detecting it would be challenging since such massive particles decay and vanish rapidly. But the identification would serve two purposes: First, it would disconfirm string theory as a model of the universe. And second, it would answer longstanding questions about the nature of dark matter. Third interstellar tourist arrives On July 1, the ATLAS telescope in Chile spotted the third-known interstellar object to enter the solar system, a water-rich comet called 3I/ATLAS. Researchers say it could be more than 7 billion years old, much older than the solar system. Its trajectory suggests it originated in the Milky Way's thick disk, a region of old stars above and below the thin disk in which the solar system resides. Comets produced around a thick disk star would be likely to contain water. Initial observations suggest that 3I/ATLAS is larger than the 1I/'Oumuamua, spotted in 2017, and 2I/Borosov, spotted in 2019. As it approaches closer to the sun, it will start outgassing vapor, and it may already be active. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, now starting survey operations, is expected to discover between five and 50 interstellar visitors in the future, according to predictions of the frequency of such objects. Aging lemurs feel great, better than ever, why do you ask? In the last decade, researchers have made correlations between inflammation and the aging process, developing evidence for a process they've called "inflammaging." Essentially, the idea is the chronic, low-grade inflammation develops with advanced age and could contribute to age-related pathologies, including the development of heart disease, strokes, diabetes and cancer. Researchers have been studying low-grade chronic inflammation and its effects on brain health, aging, healthspan, and even psychological issues like depression. In a new study involving ring-tailed lemurs and sifaka lemurs, researchers at Duke University discovered that the species show no age-related changes in markers of oxidative stress. "Contrary to our predictions, neither species showed age-related change in either marker of oxidative stress. Neither lemur species exhibited age-related change in inflammation; if anything, contrary to our prediction, ring-tailed lemurs showed marginal declines in inflammation with age," says biologist Elaine Guevara. The finding suggests that lemurs avoid "inflammaging" as experienced by humans and demonstrates that it isn't a universal feature of primates. Written for you by our author Chris Packham, edited by Gaby Clark, and fact-checked and reviewed by Andrew Zininthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you. 2025 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels The number of states banning smartphones in schools is growing. New York is now the largest state in the U.S. to ban smartphones in public schools. Starting in fall 2025, students will not be allowed to use their phones during the school day, including during lunch, recess or in between classes. This bell-to-bell policy will impact almost 2.5 million students in grades K-12. By banning smartphones in schools, New York is joining states across the country. The bans are happening in both traditionally liberal and conservative states. Alabama, Arkansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and West Virginia all passed legislation in 2025 that requires schools to have policies that limit access to smartphones. The policies will go into effect in the 20252026 school year. This brings the total to 17 states, plus Washington, D.C., that have phone-free school legislation or executive orders. I'm a professor who studies communication and culture, and while writing a book about parenting culture, I've noticed the narrative around smartphones and social media shifting over the past decade. A turning tide According to the Pew Research Center, 67% of American adults support banning smartphones during class time, although only 36% support banning them for the entire school day. Notably, a majority of Republican, Democratic and independent voters all support bans during class time. More broadly, parent-led movements to limit children's use of smartphones, social media and the internet have sprung up around the country. For example, the Phone-Free Schools Movement in Pennsylvania was launched in 2023, and Mothers Against Media Addiction started in New York in March 2024. These organizations, which empower parents to advocate in their local communities, follow in the footsteps of organizations such as Wait Until 8th in Texas and Screen Time Action Network at Fairplay in Massachusetts, which were formed in 2017. The concerns of these parent-led organizations were reflected in the best-selling book "The Anxious Generation," which paints a bleak picture of modern childhood as dominated by depression and anxiety brought on by smartphone addiction. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Phone-free schools are one of the four actions the book's author, Jonathan Haidt, recommended to change course. The other three are no smartphones for children before high school, waiting until 16 for social media access, and allowing more childhood independence in the real world. Haidt's research team collaborated with The Harris Poll to survey Gen Z. They found that almost half of those age 1827 wish social media had never been invented, and 21% wish smartphones had never been invented. About 40% of Gen Z respondents supported phone-free schools. The Pew Research Center found that almost 40% of kids age 812 use social media, and almost 95% of kids age 1317 use it, with nearly half of teens reporting that they use social media almost constantly. Phone-free schools are also part of the larger trend of states and nations resisting Big Tech, the large technology companies that play a significant role in global commerce. In May 2025, two U.S. senators introduced the Stop the Scroll Act, which would require mental health warnings on social media. New laws that ban smartphones or social media for youth are being introduced across several Western nations. Australia has banned all social media for those under 16. After a fatal stabbing at a middle school in eastern France on June 10, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the same day that he wants the European Union to set the minimum age for social media at 15. He argued that social media is a factor in teen violence. If the EU doesn't act within a few months, Macron has pledged to enact a ban in France as soon as possible. The impact on learning Although this trend of restricting use of phones in school is new, more states may adopt smartphone bans in the future. Bell-to-bell bans are viewed as especially powerful in improving academic performance. Some research has suggested that when children have access to a smartphone, even if they do not use it, they find it harder to focus in class. Initial research has found that academic performance improves after the bans go into effect. Test scores fell across the U.S. during the pandemic lockdown and have not returned to prepandemic levels. Some states, such as Maine and Oregon, are almost a full year behind grade level in reading. Not a single state has recovered in both math and reading. Statewide bans free local school districts from having to create their own technology bans, which can lead to heated debates. Although a majority of adults approve of banning smartphones in class, 24% oppose it for reasons such as wanting to be able to contact their kids throughout the day and wanting parents to set the boundaries. However, 72% of high school teachers say that phones are a major distraction. Anecdotally, schools report that students like the bans after getting used to the change. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. LAKE GEORGE Swimming, boating and paddling are popular summer activities throughout the region, but after multiple fatal drownings nearby this summer, authorities are urging the public to do what they can to stay safe around the water. A July 4 incident ended in the death of a 21-year-old woman from Menands who had gotten off of a boat to swim in Harris Bay on Lake George. Nearby, a 14-year-old who had been out fishing drowned on July 1 in the Poultney River in Washington County, and a 24-year-old drowned in Great Sacandaga Lake in Fulton County July 6. While these are the latest fatal drownings locally, they are far from the first the region has seen. Lake George receives hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, and there has been at least one drowning every summer for the past 15 years alone. According to data from the Lake George Park Commission, which includes the July 4 incident in Harris Bay, there have been 26 fatal drownings on Lake George since 2010. Lt. Joe Johns, the director of Law Enforcement with the Lake George Park Commission, said that on Lake George the majority of drownings occur in people who are swimming off of boats. One thing people need to realize is swimming in a pool and swimming in a lake are completely different, Johns said. In the lake, theres waves that tend to roll over your head. You have to be aware of that. Its a lot more difficult than swimming in a pool. Johns stressed the importance of anchoring boats when people are going to be getting off to swim. Boats that are unanchored tend to drift, which can make it more difficult for people to get back to the boat and get back on. While most people make it back to the boat, occasionally someone will die, Johns said. So you want to make sure that the boat is securely anchored. One of the most important things a person can do to stay safe when in and around the water is to wear a life jacket. All boats should have at least one personal flotation device on board that can be easily thrown to someone in the water if they need help, Johns said. It is also important for boats to have their motors turned off when people are swimming. Johns said that the ladders people use to get out of the water and back on the boat are usually located at the back of boats next to where the propellers are. Turning the engine off can help prevent injuries that occur when people slip and fall or get hit. Propeller cuts can be very serious, Johns added. A near-yearly tragedy Regarding drownings on Lake George, the majority of people tend to be in their mid-20s to early-30s, Johns said. The July 4 drowning on Lake George was the first this summer. According to data from the Lake George Commission, there was one fatal drowning in 2024, one in 2023, three in 2022, two in 2021, two in 2020, zero in 2019, one in 2018, two in 2017, two in 2016, and one in 2015. Lake George has not seen a fatal boating accident since a 2016 incident on Log Bay Day when a boater hit and killed 8-year-old Charlotte McCue then fled the scene. Lake George Park Commission Executive Director Dave Wick said that there is a requirement on Lake George that anyone who rents boats, kayaks, and other watercraft watch an instructional video to help ensure they are familiar with all the rules and safety regulations. They must then sign a certification acknowledging that they watched the video. We also created a bunch of cards that are on the rental boats full-time that talk about navigation, some simple graphics to show people things like... what [the red and green buoys] mean, Wick said. There are typically several thousand boat and watercraft renters who go out onto Lake George each year, he added. We always recommend if youre swimming off of a boat, anchor your boat, Wick said. Always have your life jackets available. If youre not a strong swimmer, wear your life jacket, and enjoy your time in Lake George. An issue with windy lakes like Lake George is boats tend to drift quickly, which can make it more difficult for swimmers to get back on board, explained Don Lehman, Warren County director of Public Affairs. Learning early The Public Health Education team of Warren County Health Services urges caregivers to make sure that their children learn to swim. They also recommend that everyone learn these five water survival skills: Step or jump into water over their head and return to the surface. Turn around in the water and orient to safety. Float or tread water. Combine breathing with forward movement in the water. Exit the water. Health Services also urges the public to know what to do in the event of a water emergency, including how to safely help someone in trouble in the water, how to call 911 for emergency help, and how to perform CPR. Drowning is not just a local issue. The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) reports 150 fatal drownings take place in the state each year. Drowning is the fourth leading cause of death among children 1 to 4 years old and the seventh leading cause of death among children who are 5 to 14 in New York State. Children are at the greatest risk of drowning, and the most common causes of drowning vary between children and adults, according to the New York State Department of Health. The most common causes in children are a lack of adult supervision around water, including pools and even bathtubs; a lack of fencing around pools; and children not using lifejackets while swimming. Drownings for older children, teens, and adults occur most often in natural bodies of water like lakes, rivers, or the ocean, according to the NYS DOH. These drownings are often associated with boating, and almost everyone who drowns while boating is not wearing a life jacket or other personal flotation device. About half of all drownings of people who are older than 14 are associated with alcohol or drug use, the DOH reported. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports an average of 8,000 non-fatal and 4,000 fatal drownings occur in the United States each year. Cape May County officials could begin a new effort to address persistent homelessness, under a proposal outlined to the county Board of Commissioners on Tuesday. The county formed a homelessness task force more than a year ago. Commissioner Will Morey, the chairman of that task force, described a two-phase proposal, with a potential for close to $300,000 in county spending for the first phase, and the costs of the second phase yet to be decided. Described as the Cape May County Collaborative Homeless Services Initiative, the effort would work closely with existing organizations already helping those in the county without stable shelter. Were not looking to reinvent the wheel. Were not looking to duplicate, Morey said. Were trying to identify gaps and work on a collaborative basis with these groups. The first phase is ready to go, he said, with a vote from the full board expected July 22. The second phase is still in the works, he said, with a hope of being ready to present far more detail in November. For now, he said, there is not a good estimate on the costs of that phase. As Morey said at the most recent county board meeting, local officials and organizations have sought ways to address homelessness in the county for years. There are concerns in most communities, but in recent years the area that has seen the most significant numbers of people without housing has been the Rio Grande section of Middle Township. That has included people living in tents in the woods or in cars in commercial lots. In March, the county committee met with representatives of several groups that are trying to help, including The Branches, Cape Hope, Volunteers of America and Jewish Family Service. Galloway Township to join Absecon task force on homelessness Galloway Township will join a task force with neighboring Absecon to examine the local homelessness issue. In some instances, the organizations provide direct aid or help people access existing social service programs. A focus has been on where there are gaps in those services and trying to target those needs. The first step will be to supplement the countys homeless trust and prevention program, to supplement the countys Division of Social Services and to create an emergency motel placement for those who are ineligible for emergency housing. County money could help keep people in their current housing who might otherwise become homeless, according to a draft of the proposal. That element could cost $125,000. Another aspect, with an estimated cost of $44,000, would help people who have gotten jobs keep housing. It could offer up to two months of housing assistance for those who would otherwise lose that assistance when they start getting a paycheck. The third element of the first phase would be agreements with area motels to allow for placement of county residents who are not otherwise eligible for emergency housing assistance. It could be for up to 90 days. Thats the most expensive element, with an estimated cost of $130,000. There is a process for emergency housing, usually in the form of motels that are reimbursed by the state. But advocates say some people do not qualify for the vouchers, which are for a limited time, with the intent that longer-term issues could be addressed through other programs. County Administrator Kevin Lare was also part of the task force, as were several other people. Morey said Lare wants another element in the first phase, to include mental health services and help addressing substance abuse issues. Absecon to launch homelessness task force amid fears of bus-ins from elsewhere Absecon officials said they are not going to stand for other towns sending homeless people to their community. Morey said Lare would provide more details on that in the future. The first phase is ready to go as soon as it is approved, Morey said. Fewer details were presented about the next phase, which Morey described as a combination of support for housing and intensive case management for individuals. That will need more research and a commitment from multiple partners, he said. Commissioner Bob Barr, the other elected official who was part of the task force, said the work will not be done after the second phase. So long as we are here, we will continue to try to do what we can to continue to work to make things better for our residents, Barr said, adding the county would seek to give a hand up to those who want it, who deserve it and show a commitment to making their lives better. Len Desiderio, the county commission director, said the county has talked about homelessness for years. Now we have a pathway and a plan, he said. This is not the first county effort to address the issue. A 10-year plan already is in place, originally described as a plan to end homelessness, and rebranded in a 2023 update as a 10-year plan to reduce homelessness. That plan included suggestions for consolidated services between levels of government and nonprofits. It also called for the establishment of a homeless trust fund. New Jersey towns work to meet new affordable housing deadline The deadline for the next round of affordable housing plans comes at the end of June. Advocates say more towns than ever will participate this time around. Morey sought to manage expectations about the latest effort, while continuing to state there are improvements to be made in the countys efforts. Its modest, but I think its well targeted, Morey said Tuesday. None of those involved expect any program, from the county, state or the national level, to be able to completely address homelessness. Clearly, theres no antidote that Im aware of countrywide, let alone for New Jersey. Theres no silver bullet available to completely eliminate homelessness in our county, Morey said. However, working together, I think we can do better. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said in a letter that he will raise taxes on many imported goods from Canada to 35%, deepening a rift between two North American countries that have suffered a debilitating blow to their decades-old alliance. The Thursday letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is an aggressive increase to the top 25% tariff rates that Trump first imposed in March after months of threats. Trump's tariffs were allegedly in an effort to get Canada to crack down on fentanyl smuggling despite the relatively modest trafficking in the drug from that country. Trump has also expressed frustration with a trade deficit with Canada that largely reflects oil purchases by America. "I must mention that the flow of Fentanyl is hardly the only challenge we have with Canada, which has many Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers," Trump wrote in the letter. The higher rates would go into effect Aug. 1, creating a tense series of weeks ahead for the global economy as recent gains in the S&P 500 stock index suggest many investors think Trump will ultimately back down on the increases. But stock market futures were down early Friday in a sign that Trump's wave of tariff letters may be starting to generate concern among investors. In a social media post, Carney said Canada would continue to work toward a new trade framework with the U.S. and has made "vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl." "Through the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and business," Carney said. While multiple countries have received tariff letters this week, Canada America's second largest trading partner after Mexico has become something of a foil to Trump. It has imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods and pushed back on the president's taunts of making Canada the 51st state. Mexico has also faced 25% tariffs because of fentanyl, yet it has not faced the same public pressure from the Republican U.S. president. ___ A look at the countries that received Trump's tariff letters President Donald Trump has sent letters this week outlining higher tariffs countries will face if they don't make trade deals with the U.S. by Aug. 1. Here's a look at the countries that have gotten tariff letters so far and where things stand now: Brazil Tariff rate: 50% starting Aug. 1. Brazil wasn't threatened with an elevated "reciprocal" rate in April but, like other countries, has faced Trump's 10% baseline over the last three months. Key exports to the U.S.: Petroleum, iron products, coffee and fruit juice. Response: In a forceful response, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Trump's tariffs would trigger the country's economic reciprocity law which allows trade, investment and intellectual property agreements to be suspended against countries that harm Brazil's competitiveness. He also noted that the U.S. has had a trade surplus of more than $410 billion with Brazil over the past 15 years. Myanmar Tariff rate: 40% starting Aug. 1. That's down from 44% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Clothing, leather goods and seafood. Response: Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, the spokesperson for Myanmar's military government said it will follow up with negotiations. Laos Tariff rate: 40% starting Aug. 1. That's down from 48% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Shoes with textile uppers, wood furniture, electronic components and optical fiber. Cambodia Tariff rate: 36% starting Aug. 1. That's down from 49% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Textiles, clothing, shoes and bicycles. Response: Cambodia's chief negotiator, Sun Chanthol, said the country successfully got the tariff dropped from the 49% Trump announced in April to 36% and is ready to hold a new round of negotiations. He appealed to investors, especially factory owners, and the country's nearly 1 million garment workers not to panic about the tariff rate announced Monday. Thailand Tariff rate: 36% starting Aug. 1. That's the same rate that was announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Computer parts, rubber products and gemstones Response: Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Pichai Chunhavajira said Thailand will continue to push for tariff negotiations with the United States. Thailand on Sunday submitted a new proposal that includes opening the Thai market for more American agricultural and industrial products and increasing imports of energy and aircraft. Bangladesh Tariff rate: 35% starting Aug. 1. That's down from 37% announced in April. Key export to the U.S.: Clothing. Response: Bangladesh's finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said Bangladesh hopes to negotiate for a better outcome. There are concerns that additional tariffs would make Bangladesh's garment exports less competitive with countries like Vietnam and India. Canada Tariff rate: 35% starting Aug. 1. That's up from 25% imposed in March. Some of Canada's top exports to the U.S. are subject to different industry-specific tariffs. Key exports to the U.S.: Oil and petroleum products, cars and trucks. Response: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on X early Friday that the government will continue to work toward a trade deal by the new Aug. 1 deadline. Serbia Tariff rate: 35% starting Aug. 1. That's down from 37% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Software and IT services; car tires. Indonesia Tariff rate: 32% starting Aug. 1. That's the same rate that was announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Palm oil, cocoa butter and semiconductors Algeria Tariff rate: 30% starting Aug. 1. That's the same rate that was announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Petroleum, cement and iron products. Bosnia and Herzegovina Tariff rate: 30% starting Aug. 1. That's down from 35% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Weapons and ammunition Iraq Tariff rate: 30% starting Aug. 1. That's down from 39% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Crude oil and petroleum products. Libya Tariff rate: 30% starting Aug. 1. That's down from 31% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Petroleum products. South Africa Tariff rate: 30% starting Aug. 1. That's the same rate that was announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Platinum, diamonds, vehicles and auto parts Response: The office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement that the tariff rates announced by Trump mischaracterized the trade relationship with the U.S., but it would "continue with its diplomatic efforts towards a more balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship with the United States" after having proposed a trade framework on May 20. Sri Lanka Tariff rate: 30% starting Aug. 1. That's down from 44% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Clothing and rubber products. Brunei Tariff rate: 25% starting Aug. 1. That's up from 24% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Mineral fuels and machinery equipment. Moldova Tariff rate: 25% starting Aug. 1. That's down from 31% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Fruit juice, wine, clothing and plastic products. Japan Tariff rate: 25% starting Aug. 1. That's up from 24% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Autos, auto parts, electronics Response: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called the tariff "extremely regrettable" but said he was determined to continue negotiating. Kazakhstan Tariff rate: 25% starting Aug. 1. That's down from 27% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Oil, uranium, ferroalloys and silver. Malaysia Tariff rate: 25% starting Aug. 1. That's up from 24% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Electronics and electrical products. Response: Malaysia's government said it will pursue talks with the U.S. A cabinet meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. South Korea Tariff rate: 25% starting Aug. 1. That's the same rate that was announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Vehicles, machinery and electronics. Response: South Korea's Trade Ministry said early Tuesday that it will accelerate negotiations with the United States to achieve a deal before the 25% tax goes into effect. Tunisia Tariff rate: 25% starting Aug. 1. That's down from 28% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Animal and vegetable fats, clothing, fruit and nuts. Philippines Tariff rate: 20% starting Aug. 1. That's down from 17% announced in April. Key exports to the U.S.: Electronics and machinery, clothing and gold. ___ Carney was elected prime minister in April on the argument that Canadians should keep their "elbows up." He has responded by distancing Canada from its intertwined relationship with the U.S., seeking to strengthen its links with the European Union and the United Kingdom. Hours before Trump's letter, Carney posted on X a picture of himself with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying, "In the face of global trade challenges, the world is turning to reliable economic partners like Canada." Implied in his statement was that the U.S. has become unreliable because of Trump's haphazard tariff regime, which has gone through aggressive threats and reversals. When Carney went to the White House in May, the public portion of their meeting was cordial. But Trump said there was nothing the Canadian leader could tell him to remove the tariffs, saying, "Just the way it is." Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, said Trump's latest move will make it more difficult for Canada and the U.S. to reach a trade deal, Beland said. "It doesn't mean a new trade deal between Canada and the United States is impossible, but it shows how hard it is for the Canadian government to negotiate with a U.S. president who regularly utters threats and doesn't appear to be a reliable and truthful interlocutor," he said. Trump has sent a series of tariff letters to 23 countries. Those form letters became increasingly personal with Canada as well as a Wednesday note that put a 50% tariff on Brazil for the ongoing trial of its former President Jair Bolsonaro for trying to stay in office after his 2022 election loss. Trump was similarly indicted for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump administration officials have said that Trump was seeking to isolate its geopolitical rival China with the tariffs, but the latest tariffs have undermined that message. Brazil's largest trading partner is China, not the U.S., and Chinese government officials have framed his import taxes as a form of bullying. "Sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs are important principles of the U.N. Charter and basic norms governing international relations," said Mao Ning, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman. "Tariffs should not be used as a tool for coercion, bullying and interference in the internal affairs of other countries." The letters reflect the inability of Trump to finalize the dozens of trade frameworks that he claimed would be easy to negotiate. Shortly after unveiling his April 2 "Liberation Day" tariffs, a financial market selloff caused Trump to announce a 90-day negotiating period during which a 10% baseline tariff would be charged on most imported goods. But Trump has indicated that the 10% tariff rates are largely disappearing as he resets the rates with his letters. "We're just going to say all of the remaining countries are going to pay, whether it's 20% or 15%," Trump said in a phone interview with NBC News. Trump has announced trade frameworks with the U.K. and Vietnam, as well as a separate deal with China to enable continued trade talks. Trump jacked up import taxes on Chinese goods to as much as 145%, but after talks he has said China faces total tariffs of 55%. In June, Trump said he was suspending trade talks with Canada over its plans to continue its digital services tax, which would hit U.S. technology companies. A few days later, talks resumed when Carney rescinded the tax. Under the current tariff structure, the 2020 United States Mexico Canada Agreement has protected eligible goods from Trump's tariffs. But a review of the pact is scheduled for 2026. ___ They were hiding in a freezer on top of meat pallets so immigration officers couldnt see their feet. ICE raid nabs top-ranking gang member on wanted list, agency says They thought they could hide in Americas heartland, but they were sadly mistaken. Not on our watch," an investigator said. That's when four women detained in an Immigration Customs and Enforcement raid last month in Omaha say they felt the temperature inside the freezers start dropping. The women, who were detained in a raid June 10 at Glenn Valley Foods, said they felt fans turn on and the air get colder as ICE agents waited on the other side of the freezer doors. The women's eventual exit from the freezer marked the beginning of a detainment that has continued for the past month in Nebraska. They're among 13 detainees, all women, who spoke to The World-Herald of Omaha from the Lincoln County Detention Center in North Platte, where they're being held. An interpreter with HOPE-Esperanza, a North Platte organization that provides services to immigrants in the community, helped translate the interviews. The accounts paint a picture of a traumatic stretch in which some detainees say they were taunted and misled by ICE agents allegations that an ICE spokesperson strongly denies. One woman said the cold made it difficult to tell how long they were in the freezers at Glenn Valley, a meatpacking plant that ICE said it targeted as part of an enforcement action centered on widespread identify theft. The woman said it could have been several minutes, but it felt like an hour had passed before she heard an agent yell, Come out, or well send the dogs after you. Another woman said she was hiding in a freezer for 10 minutes. Yet another said she was in there for more than an hour and a half. Some were able to walk out of the freezer to escape the cold. But one woman said the ones on top of the meat pallets were directly under the vents and became unable to move as the cold air blasted their faces. She said agents eventually entered and physically removed them. The women, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity because of their pending immigration court cases and fear of retaliation, are mostly mothers in their 40s. They described a "horrific" ordeal during which they say they were pushed around, forcibly arrested, painfully shackled and mocked by ICE agents who loaded them into a van without telling them where they were going. An ICE spokesperson said agents did not lower the freezer temperature in order to force the detainees out. "The illegal aliens who were detained following the June 10 targeted enforcement action at Glenn Valley Foods were treated with the utmost respect and within what is required by the 2025 National Detention Standards," Tanya Roman, an ICE spokesperson, told The World-Herald. The National Detention Standards outline requirements for the care, custody and treatment of immigration detainees to ensure they are treated humanely and able to access the rights to which they're entitled. Two women said they are unsure how or why they got swept up in the raid. They said they have legal authorization to work in the U.S. THEY JUST DIDN'T CARE The women said ICE agents burst in, shouting and shoving people about 9:30 a.m. on a Tuesday, just as people on break were returning to relieve their co-workers. Some thought there was a fire until those on their way to the breakroom came running back, shouting, immigration! One woman said the workers tried to explain to ICE agents that there was no need for the roughness that theyd cooperate. But she said they insisted on grabbing and pushing people. Two others said they witnessed a masked agent shove a woman, causing a pregnant woman to fall into a breakroom chair. A young woman said she took out her phone to call her brother when a male ICE agent ripped the phone from her hand and started grabbing at her legs without warning, asking, What else do you have on you? One woman said she notified the officers that she had a metal plate in her arm and had recently had surgery. She said the officer proceeded to grab her by her injured arm, using it to drag her into the kitchen. She said ICE agents later refused her medical care and medication, saying, were not doctors. She said shes still experiencing limited mobility and radiating pain. They just didnt care, a 43-year-old single mother said. A 46-year-old mother said she was hiding behind a curtain when a dog found her. One mother of three watched her co-workers run and hide. She said she wasnt afraid at this point and didnt run because she has a work permit authorizing her to work in the U.S. She said some of her co-workers tried to leave through emergency exits, but the whole place was surrounded. She said the fear didnt set in for her until she realized the agents didnt care that she had legal status. She said the agents told the people with valid documentation that they would be released but in some cases, thats not what happened. A second young woman who said she has a valid work visa said those with documentation were the first to be sectioned off, but they were treated just as poorly as the rest. She said the agents didnt check her status before arresting her. To this day, I dont understand why Im being detained, she said. Both women said they provided their valid identification to ICE agents. One said she also provided her Social Security card to the agents, but they were arrested anyway. An ICE spokesperson said no legal permanent residents were taken into custody. The accusations being made by these unnamed detainees are completely false and frankly do nothing more than contribute to the misinformation and propaganda being pushed to the American public that is fueling misguided, violent attacks on the hardworking and dedicated men and women of ICE during the course of their sworn duties," said Roman, an ICE spokesperson. THIS ISN'T UNIVISION OR CNN According to Roman, 76 Glenn Valley Foods workers were taken from the plant. They were restrained with zip ties and loaded onto a bus that transported them to an ICE field office near Eppley Airfield. The women interviewed said the harsh treatment continued once they were taken to the ICE facility. For the nearly three days they were in ICE custody, they were unable to shower, change clothes or access medication. Roman, the ICE spokesperson, said the detainees were allowed a blanket and change of clothes upon request, despite the law not requiring it. She said the temporary detention facility doesn't have showers because they're not required under the 2025 National Detention Standards. She also said all detainees were provided basic hygiene items, including soap, toilet paper, feminine hygiene items and sanitary wipes. A 43-year-old woman told The World-Herald many of the detainees had headaches from the days events and asked for water and Tylenol. She said they were denied painkillers, and agents laughed as they threw water bottles at them. Another woman in her late 20s said some of the women required menstrual products, which the agents also threw at them while mocking them. An ICE spokesperson denied this, saying supplies may have been tossed to them, but nothing was thrown at the detainees. The women also said some of the agents were professional. The mother of three said an ICE agent intervened when another agent was harassing her. Another woman said an agent processed her without incident and told her she had the right to call three people. Two other women said they were allowed phone calls late at night. But a 43-year-old single mother said an agent got upset when she asked for a phone call, saying she had no rights because shes a criminal. Two other women said they were told that this isnt Univision or CNN, and the rights those organizations talk about arent true. They kept saying that we were immigrants and we didnt deserve rights, a 46-year-old mother said. But theres a God that sees us all as one, and we should be treated as such. The Glenn Valley detainees described their experiences at a time when the Trump administration is carrying out an aggressive campaign of immigration enforcement in Nebraska and elsewhere. On Wednesday a week after The World-Herald's interviews with the detainees ICE said it had arrested an MS-13 "kingpin" in the Omaha area who had been among the 100 most-wanted people in El Salvador. President Donald Trump has posted on social media about needing to make sure enforcement efforts don't harm the productivity of farmers, who often rely on labor from undocumented immigrants. But in response to a World-Herald question about the state of enforcement efforts in Nebraska and elsewhere, a White House spokeswoman said that Trump "remains committed to carrying out the largest mass deportation operation in history by removing dangerous, violent criminal illegal aliens from American communities and targeting the sanctuary cities that provide safe harbor to criminal aliens." A World-Herald analysis found that most people arrested in the Glenn Valley operation had no criminal history, and the ones who did had mostly minor traffic infractions and misdemeanors. ICE officials have said everyone detained in the operation was using a stolen identity to work. Of the 76 people detained, one person has been charged with crimes related to identity fraud. 'YOU MUST SIGN' According to a statement from the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, which provides legal services to many of the Omaha detainees, many of the Glenn Valley workers were held for days without being charged, and some signed their own self-deportation orders without the chance to speak to a lawyer. Veronica Cardenas, who served for 13 years as former assistant chief counsel for ICE and is now in private practice, told The World-Herald that detainees have the right to contact an attorney, but their attorneys have a difficult time getting in touch with ICE officials to get any information about their clients. "Even though the person has the right to do that, it's very difficult for some people to exercise that right," she said. Several women said agents presented documents in English, demanding they sign them despite not being able to read them. Cardenas said it is common for agents to be forceful while conducting intakes because their goal is to get people to leave the country. She said they're required to translate the many documents detainees are instructed to sign during processing, but the documents don't have to be written in any language other than English the detainees often rely on ICE agents to interpret for them accurately. The nature of the documents the detainees were instructed to sign is unclear. Cardenas said detainees are instructed to sign many documents as part of the intake process. The mother of three whom The World-Herald interviewed said an agent told her shed face three to 10 years in jail if she didnt sign. She said they told her, you must sign this document. When she said she wanted to talk to a lawyer before signing, she said he told her she didn't have that right that shed been lied to about having any rights at all. When she said she was here on a work permit and had legal status, they told her shed be deported anyway, she said. A mother in her early 40s said an agent presented her with a piece of paper and demanded she sign over custody of her kids. "He got really aggressive," she said. She said he told her that if she didnt sign, he would go to her house and pick up her children. A 46-year-old mom said agents pressed her for information and asked if she had children. When she said yes, she said they threatened to detain her 7-year-old daughter. A mother in her late 40s said an agent called her a disgrace when he discovered she had a son and asked if she had kids just to ruin this world. An ICE spokesperson denied that agents threatened detainees or their children, citing a policy to protect parental interests. The women said they were shackled in chains at the hands, waist and feet when it was time to leave the facility. The mother of three said they were shackled so tightly that many of them couldnt lift their legs to step onto the van, so the agents brought them a step stool. Even then, they had to help some people up into the van. She said it was a very long difficult drive full of desperation and tears. The detainees didn't know where they were going. A 45-year-old mother said the van was incredibly hot because there was no airflow. She said it wasnt until people started yelling that they couldnt breathe that the agents finally turned on the air. THE RAY OF SUNSHINE OF HOPE-ESPERANZA SHOWED UP At least 63 of those detained in the Glenn Valley ICE raid were taken to the Lincoln County Detention Center in North Platte. The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office said the number of Glenn Valley detainees in their custody still fluctuates. Last week, they estimated that about 50 of the original group of detainees remained at the detention center. They said 14 had been released three were released on bail, and 11 were transferred back into ICE custody. Two of the women said they had no idea where they were being taken until they arrived in North Platte about 4 p.m. on a Thursday. The mother of three said they hadnt had any food or water yet that day. Thats when the ray of sunshine of HOPE-Esperanza showed up, the mother of three said. HOPE-Esperanza has been helping the Glenn Valley detainees understand their options and communicate their needs with local officials. When these people showed up, they hadnt showered in three days, a HOPE-Esperanza interpreter said. They had no idea where they were. The mother of three said members of HOPE-Esperanza greeted them with beef jerky a snack shes usually not fond of but scarfed down gratefully nonetheless. She said the staff slowly gained their trust, and HOPE-Esperanzas presence helped them feel safe enough to relax. The women said the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office staff have been kind and attentive to their needs, and they are very grateful to HOPE-Esperanza for helping them navigate their situation. But while they're now being treated well, they said they are still heartbroken and want to go home. Geneva, 11 July 2025: The number of journalists killed rose dramatically in the first six months of this year. Since January, 86 media workers have been killed in 26 countries, more than 16% compared to last year, said the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC). The continuing hostilities in the Gaza Strip largely explain this very high toll, where at least 31 Palestinian journalists were killed in six months by the Israeli army (more than a third of the six-month total). "The Israeli government is directly responsible for this tragedy, which targets civilians reporting on the situation in Gaza. The Israeli soldiers involved in these war crimes must be identified and prosecuted. This is a massacre on an unprecedented scale, with nearly 200 Palestinian journalists killed since October 2023," said PEC President Blaise Lempen, adding that the 'fighting must absolutely stop'. Hostilities in Sudan have also been deadly for journalists on the ground, with six killed since January. In Mexico, six journalists were murdered, one per month. Fighting between Ukraine and Russia also claimed victims, 6 in all, including 5 in Ukrainian areas claimed by Moscow and in Russia. Another conflict led to the death of 4 media employees in Teheran, during Israeli bombardments in Iran during June. Four journalists have been killed in India since 1 January, and 3 in Pakistan. Colombia, Honduras, Iraq, the United States of America, Peru, Somalia, Syria and Yemen follow with 2 victims in each country. One fatality was reported in Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Lebanon, Nepal, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe. By region, the Middle East was the deadliest, with 43 victims, followed by Latin America with 16, Africa with 10, Europe with 6 and North America with 2. Last year, a record 179 media workers were killed (including 80 in Gaza), 74 during the first half of the year. PEC's south & southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that India lost Mukesh Chandrakar, Raghavendra Vajpayee, Sahadev Dey and Dharmendra Singh Chauhan to assailants in the first half of 2025. Pakistan witnessed the murder of Allah Dino Shar, Abdul Latif Baloch and Syed Mohammed Shah, whereas Nepal saw one journalist (Suresh Rajak) murdered in this period. Trouble-torn nations Bangladesh and Myanmar have however evaded any journo-murder till date this year. The PEC condemns all these crimes and demands thorough investigations, in the hope that the second half of 2025 will be calmer. In the early morning hours of July 21, 1962, around 2:30 a.m., James H. Elam and James Edward Towles briefly glimpsed a man passing by them in a vacant field along Lakeview Avenue, asking where Joe Ford lived. Moments later, gunshots pierced both young men from behind, Towles in the back and Elam in the head. Both men survived, but they were the first two victims in a nine-month spree of shootings in the city from an unknown killer who became known as the Sniper. Between July 1962 and March 1963, the Sniper terrorized the predominantly Black neighborhood of Sydney, northeast of Byrd Park. Fear almost terror, for some springs from a killer with a high-powered automatic pistol, reads an article in the Jan. 4, 1963, Times-Dispatch. Since mid-summer, police say, hes killed four and wounded seven in apparently unprovoked after-dark attacks. Though Elam and Towles were the first victims of the Sniper, his first murder occurred the same night. Just after dawn, 42-year-old Andre Mills was found dead in an alley south of the 1700 block of Lakeview Ave. The next murder happened a little over a month later, on Sept. 4, when John Anderson was shot while walking in the 100 block of South Addison Street after midnight. The third murder victim, Joseph Ford possibly the Joe Ford that Elam and Towles were asked about was killed on the night of Sept. 29, struck by bullets fired through a window from outside while he was seated at a kitchen table on West Cary Street. Then on Dec. 1, the fourth victim, a 14-year-old boy named Floyd Morton, was found dead in an alley behind the 2200 block of Idlewood Ave. By January 1963, people in the Sydney area were afraid to leave their houses because of the Sniper, who by this point had killed four people and wounded seven. Church attendance dropped. Fewer people went out to nearby restaurants. Some families even moved out of the neighborhood. One man said in the Jan. 4, 1963, Times-Dispatch, The people are afraid to walk along the sidewalks at night. Another said, Ive been living here since 1940, and there hasnt been anything before thats scared the people like this. Yet police had few leads. The Snipers M.O. typically involved shooting people through open windows after dark with an automatic pistol. But they didnt have much else to go on. On Jan. 5, police offered a $400 reward for information leading to the suspects arrest. A group of ministers raised the stakes and collected $1,200 as a reward for the Snipers capture. But the promise of a reward wasnt enough to solve the crimes. The lack of information following the offer of a reward seemed to confirm police suspicions that the shooter acted alone and made nobody else aware of his plans. Only one victim, John Anderson, saw the shooter well enough and lived long enough to relay the information to authorities. He described him as a young Black man. It wasnt much, but it was more information than police had. On March 23, 1963, 40-year-old James Howard became the fifth murder victim, shot three times through the chest just after he turned on a light in his house. Virginia Miles, who lived at the same address, said she heard one shot and then saw Howard fall after hearing the second shot. The shooting happened in Jackson Ward rather than the West End area where the other murders occurred, but police believed the same shooter was responsible. Recovered at the scene were four 9mm German Luger shells, which were the same type of shells recovered where the other murders occurred. Then he dropped out of sight, as described in a Times-Dispatch article on March 16, 1964. The murders following the Snipers M.O. stopped with Howards death. Police kept up their search for information about a potential suspect, but concrete information about his identity proved elusive. After a year passed, life had mostly returned to normal for residents of the area that the shooter terrorized. By December 1963, police still didnt have a suspect for the murders, the case still unsolved. Furthermore, the apparent lack of motive made progress on the case even more elusive. Did the man who did the shootings, known as the Sniper, chart a course to mow down a choice few, and has he completed the job? reads an article in the Dec. 30, 1963, Times-Dispatch. Or did he aim his gun at random? The article continues: Some policemen believe the Sniper may already be in police custody, arrested on some other, far-removed charge and that his role in the shootings has still gone undetected. By January 1965, no further leads surfaced, and the unsolved Sniper killings had become part of a larger backlog of 31 unsolved murders that officers were ordered to reinvestigate. No arrests or charges were ever made, but in a Feb. 19, 1992, article, Joseph P. Higgins, a detective who investigated the case, said he believed the Sniper was someone whom he had arrested for a different crime: a bootlegger who had killed his wife. Most of the information seemed to make him circumstantially a pretty good suspect, Higgins said, including that the shootings stopped during periods in which he was in jail. Still, police were never able to make a concrete connection, missing one crucial piece of evidence: the Snipers 9mm pistol. It wasnt the stereotypical political event: no buses, no signs, no impassioned speeches. Instead, there was Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears at the door of Antioch Baptist Church, greeting congregants as they came for the 10 a.m. service at the Fairfax County church. She asked the kids what they wanted to be and wished the adults well, and then took a seat a couple of rows in from the pulpit, where Pastor Kevin Taylor welcomed the congregations guest. During his sermon he reminded the congregation to be sure to vote without saying anything about who to vote for. On the campaign trail bidding to be Virginias next governor, Earle-Sears, a devout evangelical Christian who on Monday held an online prayer call for the flood victims in Texas, pauses regularly to worship with fellow believers. God is a consuming fire for me, she wrote in her 2023 memoir, How Sweet It Is: Defending the American Dream, adding: When He speaks to me, He speaks to me. I will not deny this. Like the rest of the Republicans campaign so far, her church visits have been low-key, low-profile moments. I go to church to worship, whether mine or someone elses, she said. But they are an easygoing way to let people get to know her. Im going to have to go back and do a little reading, said Sandra Streeter, a member of Antioch Baptist, who said she doesnt really follow politics and did not know Earle-Sears. But I do plan to, she said of her new self-assigned homework. Its nice to have her, and her representation, said Joyce Stockton. She said she wasnt that familiar with Earle-Sears and seemed to like what she saw that Sunday, especially her personality. Going to church is not campaigning, really not any more than this is, Earle-Sears said Saturday, referring to a roundtable with farmers she had just concluded in Orange County. I learned things I hadnt known today .... you need to go where the people are, she said. Earle-Sears would be the first Black woman elected governor of any state. In 2021, she received 5,200 fewer votes than Glenn Youngkin did at the top of the Republican ticket, a typical result in statewide elections. Exit polls showed Youngkin received support from 13% of Black voters. Democrat Hala Ayala, a Latina who lost to Earle-Sears, received 8,000 more votes than former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who lost to Youngkin in his attempt to return to the executive mansion. During the 2020 presidential campaign, Earle-Sears sought to galvanize African American support for President Donald Trump as national chairwoman of Black Americans to Re-elect the President PAC. She broke from Trump after the 2022 congressional midterms, saying it was time for the GOP to move on, but later reconciled with Trump and vocally backed his 2024 presidential bid. This year, getting to know Earle-Sears has been a big early focus of her campaign. She jumped in early on TV, spending $295,000 on TV ads over three weeks in late May and early June: relatively softly toned messages stressing her life story more than her strongly held political views. Her Democratic opponent, Abigail Spanberger, didnt hit the airwaves until late June and has so far spent $373,000, data compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project shows. While Spanberger recently finished a 40-stop bus tour with rallies across the state, Earle-Sears efforts have been less public. Her most public campaign events have been a formal kickoff in Richmond on primary election day, a rally in Vienna with Republican candidate for lieutenant governor John Reid and Attorney General Jason Miyares, and stops this week at a car dealership in Christiansburg, where she underscored her call for an end to the car tax, and a trip Friday to a shipbuilding site in Newport News. Much of Earle-Sears effort has been with small, private gatherings, often at supporters homes. These tend to feature sociable one-on-one chats and a chance for photos, with the candidates comments generally focusing on the states economic progress under what she often calls the (Gov. Glenn) Youngkin-Sears administration before a pitch for financial support, Republicans say. Facing an opponent in Spanberger whos raised $22.8 million to her $9.2 million, building up a war chest for the campaign to come is necessarily a priority, political scientists say. Theyre not so sure about the hopes of many Republicans, that Earle-Sears shared beliefs with many evangelical Black Christians will help her bring more Black voters to the polls to vote for GOP candidates. She is likely to retain strong support among Black conservative voters. However, her influence may be limited among Black moderate voters, despite frequent outreach efforts such as visits to Black churches, said Olusoji Akomolafe, chair of the political science department at Norfolk State University. Moderate Black voters constitute a larger part of the electorate than their conservative peers, he said. On one key issue, abortion, surveys show a big majority of Black voters take a different view than she does, Akomolafe said. A Pew Research survey this year reported 71% of Black Protestants thought abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 70% of Black respondents felt that way in last years Public Religion Research Institution American Values survey. Akomolafe said Black churches that focus on younger believers often adopt more moderate or progressive stances on certain social issues compared with their more traditional counterparts. On those issues, pastors and church leaders seeking to engage younger members sometimes take a more nuanced or inclusive approach to topics such as sexuality, gender roles and abortion, Akomolafe said. Still, sharing worship services with Black congregations can achieve other meaningful objectives, he said. For instance, she can use them to highlight her Jamaican heritage, which may have a stronger connection with voters than her position on abortion rights. Additionally, it may be more helpful for her to moderate her rhetoric or place greater emphasis on economic issues and her military experience, he said. Del. Michael Jones, D-Richmond, who has endorsed Spanberger and is pastor at Village of Faith Ministries, said that while some see messages in the Bible about abortion or other culture wars issues, What people care about is the things of daily life, can I pay the bills, how are the schools doing, health care, and thats what they think about when they vote. Christians look at the life of Jesus and his message to feed the hungry, care for the poor thats not what we hear from Republicans. Jones joined Spanberger at a roundtable with Black faith leaders at Virginia Union University earlier this month to discuss their priorities, including support for schools and countering Trump administration cuts to social safety net programs, such as Medicaid. Spanberger held a similar roundtable in Norfolk. Spanbergers campaign said she has joined services at dozens of predominantly Black churches across the state. While many Black Pentecostals have for generations been intentionally apolitical, orienting themselves away from political issues to focus on moral issues and hope of heaven, their faiths teachings on the obligation to do good in the world has been leading many to became more engaged in current affairs, Dara Delgado, an Allegheny College professor of religious studies and history, has written. But last year, many came out for Kamala Harris rather than Donald Trump. Some conservative believers in the Baptist tradition, meanwhile, are leaving the Southern Baptist Convention over differences on social and political issues, especially around race, she added. Whether Earle-Sears has demonstrated an ability to cut into Black support for a white Democrat may be debatable, said John McGlennon, a political scientist at the College of William & Mary. She did not show much ability to convert Black voters in her successful run four years ago. So-called culture warriors have been frustrated by their inability to create a biracial coalition opposed to abortion rights, gay marriage and other social issues, McGlennon said. While some Black congregations may support these agendas, Black voters overall are not so different in taking a more socially liberal point of view and tend to prioritize civil rights, economic liberalism, and inclusion, equity, and overcoming remnants of discrimination, McGlennon said. ANNANDALE Steve Lee hasnt seen costs increase yet for the products he imports from South Korea for the specialty chicken franchise he runs here in the heart of Fairfax Countys thriving Korean community. But Lee, a former Democratic candidate for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, knows its coming if President Donald Trump carries through on his latest threat to impose a 25% tariff on most goods coming from one of the United States most reliable trading partners. This is a Korean franchise, he said of the bb.q Chicken franchise that he said his wife, Victoria, owns, along with Cafe V, a gourmet coffee shop that shares the building on Little River Turnpike. Eventually (the cost of) products from Korea coming over will change, and our consumers will have to pay for it. And it hurts. The unpredictability of the presidents tariff strategy does not sit well with people in Northern Virginias Korean community, said Lee, 62, who is president of the Korean American Association of the Greater Metropolitan Washington Area, established 70 years ago to boost a growing Korean population centered in Fairfax. Businesses are scared and people are scared, theres no question about that, he said. Trumps new tariff threat, subject to an Aug. 1 deadline, is part of an ever-changing White House campaign to put pressure on U.S. trading partners, including those, such as South Korea and Japan, that already have free-trade agreements with the U.S. and do not impose tariffs on U.S. exports to them. Tariffs shouldnt be used as a threat to other countries because they are our trading partners, said Lee, a former banker who has lived in Fairfax since 1976 and graduated from Annandale High School. The president also is threatening tariffs against countries with which the U.S. runs trade surpluses, such as Brazil. He announced a 50% tariff against the South American country because it is prosecuting former President Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally, over his alleged role in a plot to overturn his loss in Brazils 2022 election, won by now-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. On Saturday, Trump said he would impose a 30% tariff on goods imported from Mexico and the European Union. Kaine, Allen criticize tariffs Donald Trump is using tariffs willy-nilly against everyone, said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who has challenged the presidents declaration of a national emergency to impose tariffs without the consent of Congress. Republican George Allen, a former U.S. senator and Virginia governor, also contends that Trump is going beyond his constitutional powers to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. He has joined a friend-of-the-court brief in federal appeals court to block the presidents use of emergency powers to bypass Congress on tariffs. It hits every country, whether theyre an ally or an adversary or whether we have a trade agreement with them on top of it, Allen said in an interview on Friday. The U.S. International Trade Court ruled unanimously last month that Trump had usurped Congress constitutional authority to unilaterally impose tariffs that would harm five U.S. businesses that had filed suit, including Charlottesville-based MicroKits LLC. The U.S. Appeals Court for the Federal Circuit temporarily blocked the ruling, allowing the Trump administration to collect tariff revenue while the case is under appeal. Allen called Trumps proposed tariff against Brazil over the Bolsonaro trial an example of the arbitrariness of it all. I dont think thats a reason to increase import taxes on Brazil, he said. To put a tariff in because of some legal case in another country, how is that a national emergency? Trumps order Trump, in an executive order on Monday, contended that he is taking back our economic sovereignty by raising tariffs on imports from 14 countries, including South Korea and Japan. The proposed tariffs would replace those that he initially announced April 2 which he called Liberation Day and then postponed until July 9 to give affected countries the opportunity to negotiate trade deals with his administration. For example, the administration said this month it had established the framework for a trade agreement with Vietnam, which had faced a potential threatened tariff of 46%. Under the new framework, the U.S. would impose a 20% tariff on most goods from Vietnam, with a 40% levy on goods that other countries, notably China, ship through the Southeast Asian country to avoid U.S. duties on their own goods. Trumps latest order targets a number of other Asian countries, besides South Korea and Japan, with tariffs ranging as high as 40% against Laos and Myanmar to 36% against Cambodia and Thailand. The tariffs on most of those countries would have been higher under the Liberation Day order, but the 25% levy on goods from South Korea is the same and slightly higher for Japan. The president said the new tariffs would address many nonreciprocal trade relationships that threaten our economic and national security. Fear mongering Trumps approach is fine with Tinh Duc Phan, founder and chairman of the Virginia Asian American Chamber of Commerce, based in Ashland. Phan, an immigrant from South Vietnam, a mechanical engineer and CEO of multiple businesses, said the president is right to address trade imbalances and decried what he called fear mongering by critics. Phan said he does not know how the threatened tariffs would affect businesses he represents. Were going to tell our people that we need to wait and see, he said. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, also likes Trumps push for new trade deals with places like Vietnam and said threatening tariffs is one way to reach them. Its part of the negotiating back and forth, he said at a tax roundtable with businesses in Hanover County. At the same time, Wittman said he is looking for exemptions to some Trump tariffs, such as those he imposed on steel imports from Canada and other trading partners. Morooka America, based in Hanover, wants an exemption for the steel it buys to build specialized vehicles that ride on tracks instead of wheels, such as those that Dominion Energy uses to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. So what theyve asked for is to say, Hey, listen, theyre giving out exemptions in these other areas. Were a unique company in that we produce here, but if we move to Canada, we pay zero tariffs, so wed like to stay here, the congressman said. But while the company might avoid tariffs on steel that it uses to make the vehicles if it moved to Canada, it still would have to pay tariffs that Trump is threatening to impose on goods from Canada. He has now proposed a 35% tariff on imports from Canada, Virginias largest trading partner, which already faces a 25% tariff on automobiles and parts that Trump imposed in March. Port of Virginia The Port of Virginia does not handle shipping from Canada, but it already is seeing a marked decline in shipping container volume, both imported and exported goods, coming through its docks in Hampton Roads. For the fiscal year that ended on June 30, shipping container volumes declined by 3.6%. Exports, which help drive Virginias economy, declined by 4.7%, and imports fell by 3.9%. The drop was particularly apparent in June, with total shipping volume down by 17.4% compared with the same month a year earlier. Volume for the first half of the calendar year fell by 8.5% over the first half of the previous year. Youve got the same number of vessels and less amount of volume, port spokesman Joe Harris said. The Virginia port is less dependent on China than other ports, especially those on the West Coast. After a brief, intense trade war, the Trump administration reached a tentative agreement with the Asian superpower to reduce U.S. tariffs on imports from a threatened 145% to 30%, while China reduced its threatened tariffs on U.S. exports from 125% to 10%. At the end of the day, we have to see if the deal actually holds, said Bob McNab, chairman of the economics department at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. McNab noted that China has threatened potential retaliation over Trumps proposed tariffs on other Asian trading partners. McNab called Trumps claim of reciprocity in tariff policy patently false, noting that South Korea, for example, does not impose tariffs on U.S. exports. These are not reciprocal tariffs, he said. Its just a measure of trade deficit. Last year, the U.S. ran a $66 billion trade deficit with South Korea and $69 billion with Japan. It ran a $6.8 billion trade surplus with Brazil. Every one of us Kaine, in a briefing with news media on Friday, suggested that Trump is using tariffs to raise money to help pay for tax cuts in the massive budget reconciliation bill that he signed into law on July 4. This tariff strategy isnt about other nations doing stuff wrong, he said. Its about President Trump trying to sock away money into an account that he can hand out as tax cuts for the wealthiest. McNab, at ODU, said that tariff revenue does not come from other countries. Its paid by companies importing the goods, he said. Ultimately, some of those additional costs will reach consumers. Its coming from us, Lee said at the chicken franchise he runs for his wife in Fairfax. Currently, the U.S. imposes a 10% tariff on South Korea and most other trading partners because of the Liberation Day policy, but the restaurant has not started paying more for the specialty sauces, marinades and powders it imports from South Korea for its chicken dishes. But Lee predicts businesses and consumers will pay more if Trump imposes the 25% tariff and it remains in place for six months. And he said it wont just be the Korean community in Fairfax County. Every one of us will be affected, he said. Donald Trump won the presidency in part on promises to deport immigrants who have criminal records and lack permanent legal status. But his earliest executive orderstrying to undo birthright citizenship, suspending critical refugee programsmade clear he wants to attack immigrants with permanent legal status too. In our series Who Gets to Be American This Week?, well track the Trump administrations attempts to exclude an ever-growing number of people from the American experiment. Last month, the Supreme Court limited the use of nationwide injunctions, which allow judges to block policies they have found unlawful from going into effect nationwide. Now a New Hampshire judge is road-testing a substitute: He has temporarily blocked Donald Trumps birthright citizenship executive order by certifying a class action to cover babies born in all 50 states. This marks the next stage of a messy legal fight that raises new questions about how to apply the Supreme Courts decision in Trump v. CASA, and the degree to which class-action lawsuits can allow the lower courts to serve as a check on the executive branchs power. Plus, a new court document appears to upend the Trump administrations long-standing claim that it has no jurisdiction over the Venezuelan migrants it removed to El Salvador four months ago. Heres the immigration news were keeping an eye on this week: A New Method to Block Trumps Birthright Citizenship Executive Order On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante granted class action status to a group of immigrant mothers with children who stand to be impacted by Trumps birthright citizenship executive order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laplante granted the plaintiffs class action status but also extended the class to include all current and future babies born on or after Feb. 20, 2025, to a mother without legal status and a father who is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of their babys birth. Mothers lawfully present in the U.S. but only temporarilytourists and other visa holdersare also included. Technically, Laplante is not using the kind of universal injunction that the Supreme Court prohibited in last months Trump v. CASA. But so far, the result is more or less the same: The classwide injunction in this case applies nationwide, since members of the class that the plaintiffs represent reside all over the country. The justices indicated in their decision in Trump v. CASA that class actions could serve as a more appropriate substitute to nationwide injunctions. Judge Laplante is doing exactly what the Supreme Court contemplated, said Elora Mukherjee, clinical law professor at Columbia University and director of the schools Immigrants Rights Clinic. Advertisement However, class-action lawsuits are tricky, as a judge must consider if a group of plaintiffs satisfy a series of requirements; universal injunctions can more easily offer blanket protection for any person within the country. Laplantes order also creates a new set of questions: Should children not yet born be included? The judge argues they should, as these future persons stand to be harmed by Trumps executive order just as much as babies currently present in the U.S. However, as Slates Mark Joseph Stern explained on a bonus episode of Amicus, the Department of Justice thinks differently: Advertisement The department argued that future children cant be class members now because they dont exist yet. And it claimed that protecting their rights before they come into the world would somehow violate the due process clause by resolving their legal rights before they exist as parties. Again, that doesnt make any sense under the law, because there have been plenty of class actions that are forward-looking and encompass parties as they face harms. Here, the infants will face harms the moment they come into the world, which is why the class must cover them as soon as theyre born. The governments argument is also achingly hypocritical for an administration that does not respect the due process rights of actual immigrants who exist today. Advertisement Advertisement Laplante stayed his injunction for seven days in order to allow the Department of Justice time to appeal his decision. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court gave the federal government 30 days from its June 27 decision on CASA to begin enforcing Trumps birthright executive order, which is coming up in just a couple of weeks. Related From Slate How a Bush-Appointed Judge Got Around SCOTUS to Protect Birthright Citizenship for All Read More Mixed Messages on Kilmar Abrego Garcias Fate After he spent over three months in El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison and was finally flown back to the U.S. last month, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was placed in pretrial detention over a dubious criminal indictment. Despite a judge ruling he is eligible for pretrial release, his lawyers requested he remain incarcerated because the federal government has threatened to deport the Maryland father if he is released. But when pressed on what the governments deportation plan entails, Immigration and Customs Enforcement assistant director Thomas Giles admitted they dont know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giles testified in court following U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis order that the government provide someone with firsthand knowledge of any third country Abrego Garcia could potentially be deported to. Giles said that Abrego Garcia is not currently under ICE custody, so the agency cannot make a decision about where to send him yet. He said that if released, Abrego Garcia would receive a notice of removal and a credible fear interview, a process where immigrants can express legitimate fears of prosecution in their country of origin. ICE can then determine whether to remove him to a third country instead, a practice the Supreme Court recently made easier. That seems to contradict what Attorney General Pam Bondi declared a month ago when she announced the criminal indictment against Abrego Garcia. During a press conference, she said, Upon completion of his sentence, we anticipate he will be returned to his home country of El Salvador. Adding to the confusion, during a separate court hearing with Xinis in late June, DOJ lawyer Jonathan Guynn said that the government does not intend to wait until Abrego Garcias trial to deport him. Advertisement Advertisement Its like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall trying to find out what is going to happen next week, Xinis said. A separate judge will hold a hearing on July 16 to consider Abrego Garcias pretrial release. Xinis also emphasized that it is within her jurisdiction to ensure he is not spirited away again without due process to yet another country. Advertisement Abrego Garcia, originally from El Salvador, came to the U.S. in 2012, claiming he faced death threats and extortion from a local gang. A judge granted him protection from deportation in 2019, yet he was swept up in a rushed deportation effort back in March, to none other than El Salvador. New court documents allege that once he was inside CECOT, Abrego Garcia was subjected to physical abuse and lost approximately 31 pounds over the course of two weeks. Advertisement A New Document Could Upend Trump Admins Defense in the Case of Immigrants Sent to El Salvador For months now, the Trump administration has insisted that the Venezuelan immigrants sent to El Salvador without due process back in March are no longer under U.S. custody, and therefore it is powerless to bring them back. A new court document appears to contradict that narrative, as El Salvador went on the record saying it holds no jurisdiction over the people the U.S. sent to CECOT. In an ongoing lawsuit against the Trump administration, lawyers for the Venezuelan immigrants submitted a new court document detailing El Salvadors response to a United Nations inquiry about U.S. deportations. The agency had previously flagged that Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act appeared to be contrary to international law. According to El Salvador, its authorities have not arrested, detained or transferred any persons sent to the country on Trumps deportation flights, insisting that it is simply facilitating the use of its prison infrastructure for the custody of detained immigrants under an agreement with the U.S. In this context, the jurisdiction and legal responsibility for these persons lie exclusively with the competent foreign authorities, the Salvadoran government wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Court Judge James E. Boasberg has been overseeing this case since March, when the Trump administration first defied his order blocking the flights. The Supreme Court lifted Boasbergs restraining order and allowed Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to move forward. But it then clarified that migrants targeted under the act are entitled to contest their removal. A set of migrants then returned to Boasbergs court seeking relief. Last month, Boasberg issued a scathing order pressing the federal government to facilitate the Venezuelan immigrants ability to seek habeas relief to contest their removals. Boasberg also acknowledged that the U.S. and El Salvador seemed to have struck a diplomatic bargain vis-a-vis the detainees. We are pleased that El Salvador publicly told the truth about what we all knew: that its the United States that controls the fate of the Venezuelans, Lee Gelernt, lawyer at the American Civil Liberties Union, said, according to the New York Times. The ACLU, along with other legal groups, is representing the men in their lawsuit. That the United States did not provide us or the court with this information is extraordinary. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250712/azerbaijani-press-councils-claims-against-sputnik-empty-as-drum---rossiya-segodnya-ceo-1122431548.html Azerbaijani Press Council's Claims Against Sputnik 'Empty as Drum' - Rossiya Segodnya CEO Azerbaijani Press Council's Claims Against Sputnik 'Empty as Drum' - Rossiya Segodnya CEO Sputnik International MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Azerbaijani Press Council's allegation about Sputnik Azerbaijan's subversive activities are unfounded and as empty as a drum, Dmitry... 12.07.2025, Sputnik International 2025-07-12T14:51+0000 2025-07-12T14:51+0000 2025-07-12T14:51+0000 world dmitry kiselev azerbaijan russia russian union of journalists rossiya segodnya https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/09/06/1120054711_0:167:3051:1883_1920x0_80_0_0_143b3dc509bc08727f3d92af8c8c310e.jpg The Azerbaijan Press Council has made accusations in response to an open letter from the Russian Union of Journalists, which contained a protest against the arrest of Sputnik Azerbaijan employees. The council alleged that Russia was using the media agency as a "tool of foreign policy influence" and insisted that there was no issue of media oppression in Azerbaijan. On June 30, the Azerbaijani authorities groundlessly detained seven people at Sputnik Azerbaijan (part of the Rossiya Segodnya media group), including editorial director Igor Kartavykh and editor-in-chief Yevgeny Belousov. Rossiya Segodnya considers the actions of the Azerbaijani security forces unwarranted and the accusations far-fetched. The functioning of the editorial office is blocked, neither consular staff nor relatives are allowed to see the detainees. Kartavykh's health condition is alarming, he needs medications, including insulin, the media group said. The media group has called for strict adherence to the law by the Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies and the immediate release of individuals who were carrying out their professional duties. Kiselev has said that the unfolding situation is unfair and appears to be a deliberate attempt to worsen relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250703/russia-consul-meets-with-detained-sputnik-azerbaijan-journalists-in-baku-1122392709.html azerbaijan russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International dmitry kiselev, azerbaijan, russia, russian union of journalists, rossiya segodnya https://sputnikglobe.com/20250712/boris-johnson-calls-macron-evil-genius-behind-migrant-crisis-1122429864.html Boris Johnson Calls Macron Evil Genius Behind Migrant Crisis Boris Johnson Calls Macron Evil Genius Behind Migrant Crisis Sputnik International Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of orchestrating the migrant crisis that the United Kingdom is struggling with. 2025-07-12T09:01+0000 2025-07-12T09:01+0000 2025-07-12T09:01+0000 world boris johnson emmanuel macron united kingdom (uk) france european union (eu) britain https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/15/1102500268_0:0:3001:1688_1920x0_80_0_0_6c80ef518755b0df1f8a65cc395012b7.jpg "Yes, folks, there is one ultimate beneficiary of this whole nightmare, and that is Emmanuel Macron of France. As he made clear during his press conference with [UK Prime Minister] Keir Starmer, the French president is blatantly using this crisis to make a political point namely that Brexit Britain has been unable to control its borders," Johnson wrote in a Friday article for the Daily Mail newspaper. Johnson claimed that all of the illegal migrants arriving in the United Kingdom have been "recruited by Macron," who is "the evil genius orchestrating this daily humiliation of the British state." The former UK prime minister pointed out that the influx of illegal immigrants in the UK has gone up over 40% on last year. On Tuesday, the UK government said that some 20,000 illegal migrants reached the shores of the United Kingdom through the English Channel in the first six months of this year, hitting a record high. In 2024, about 13,500 migrants reached the country during this period. In May, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called on the country's authorities to declare a national security emergency in the English Channel due to the influx of undocumented migrants. Undocumented migrants often resort to any means necessary to reach the UK and obtain refugee status, which provides access to financial benefits and social welfare. The total number of migrants who arrived in the UK in 2022 reached a record high of over 45,700. In 2024, more than 36,800 migrants arrived in the country via the English Channel by boat. The UK government spends millions of pounds daily to house refugees in hotels. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250511/boris-johnson-20-macron-grumbles-over-putins-ceasefire-initiative-1122028906.html united kingdom (uk) france britain Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International boris johnson, french president emmanuel macron, united kingdom https://sputnikglobe.com/20250712/denmark-leads-natos-baltic-troop-build-up-sparking-russian-concerns-1122429730.html Denmark Leads NATOs Baltic Troop Build-Up, Sparking Russian Concerns Denmark Leads NATOs Baltic Troop Build-Up, Sparking Russian Concerns Sputnik International The Danish authorities are in favor of increasing NATO activity in the Baltic Sea region and strengthening the presence of NATO troops in the Baltic states, Russian Ambassador to Copenhagen Vladimir Barbin said in an interview with Sputnik. 2025-07-12T08:59+0000 2025-07-12T08:59+0000 2025-07-12T08:59+0000 world europe baltic sea russia denmark nato https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/04/1103783684_0:0:1280:720_1920x0_80_0_0_647f49494a23d771b5468a468f77537e.png "NATO's regional cooperation format is developing with the participation of the Nordic and Baltic states, as well as Germany and Poland. Copenhagen is in favor of increasing the alliance's military activity in the Baltic Sea region and strengthening... the presence of NATO troops in the Baltic states," Barbin said. He said Denmark's area of special responsibility within NATO is Latvia. Denmark commands the Multinational Division North of the joint NATO armed forces there, which includes a Danish battalion task force on a rotational basis, he said. According to the head of the diplomatic mission, Denmark actively promoted the entry and then integration of Sweden and Finland into NATO's military structures and activities. He said the Nordic countries are currently conducting joint operational military planning, interacting on logistics issues, collaborating in military production, and increasing military mobility as part of the development of NATO strategic corridors. In recent years, Russia has been flagging up NATO's unprecedented activity and buildup of troops near its western borders. The Kremlin has stated that Russia does not threaten anyone, but would not ignore actions that are potentially dangerous to its interests. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250712/baltic-sea-will-remain-common-despite-nato-fantasies---russian-ambassador-1122429045.html baltic sea russia denmark Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International danish authorities, nato activity in the baltic sea region, nato troops in the baltic states New York, US (PANA) - Humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip have never been higher while the ability to assist the population has never been more constrained, a senior official with the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday in New York https://sputnikglobe.com/20250712/grok-developers-apologize-for-ais-insults-antisemitic-rhetoric-1122431424.html Grok Developers Apologize for AI's Insults, Antisemitic Rhetoric Grok Developers Apologize for AI's Insults, Antisemitic Rhetoric Sputnik International Developers of the Grok AI model from Elon Musks xAI issued an apology on Saturday for the AI's "deplorable behavior," which included insulting politicians and using antisemitic rhetoric following an invalid update. 2025-07-12T14:49+0000 2025-07-12T14:49+0000 2025-07-12T14:49+0000 world elon musk artificial intelligence (ai) ai antisemitism https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107827/90/1078279055_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_a35cac4d1fc47433f027264fe7fef82b.jpg "Update on where has Grok been & what happened on July 8th. First off, we deeply apologize for the horrific behavior that many experienced," the statement on X read. A thorough investigation revealed that the inappropriate "behavior" was caused by a code update, making it susceptible to user posts on X, including those with extremist content, the developers said, adding that the update is no longer active. The update caused Grok to adopt new principles, including: "You tell like it is and you are not afraid to offend people who are politically correct," as well as "You are extremely skeptical," the developers said. Grok AI was introduced in November 2023. In March 2024, xAI made Groks source code publicly available.On July 9, Grok developers announced that xAI is removing controversial statements made by the language model on X, following accusations of antisemitism from the US Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which stated that it identified "antisemitic hate and extremist" rhetoric from Grok. The chatbot also insulted politicians, particularly in Poland and Turkey, which entailed discussions about its potential ban in those countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250708/rubio-impostor-uses-ai-to-contact-foreign-ministers-us-officials--reports-1122413630.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International grok developers, elon musks xai , antisemitic rhetoric following an invalid update https://sputnikglobe.com/20250712/irans-foreign-minister-says-risk-of-radioactive-dispersion-remains-after-israels-attacks-1122431310.html Iran's Foreign Minister Says Risk of Radioactive Dispersion Remains After Israel's Attacks Iran's Foreign Minister Says Risk of Radioactive Dispersion Remains After Israel's Attacks Sputnik International The risk of radioactive material dispersion near Irans nuclear facilities and the detonation of munitions left from the recent Iran-Israel conflict is "serious," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday, adding that this issue has affected Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 2025-07-12T14:46+0000 2025-07-12T14:46+0000 2025-07-12T14:46+0000 world israel-iran escalation: rising lion vs true promise 3 abbas araghchi middle east iran israel international atomic energy agency (iaea) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/09/10/1120162867_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_7dd225e53f5a13fd3cfa43a4f08283f6.jpg "Our [Iranian] nuclear facilities have been subjected to a military attack. Currently, proximity to these facilities poses various dangers. The risk of radioactive material dispersion is serious... [and] the risk of the explosion of munitions left from the war [with Israel]," the minister said at a meeting with diplomatic representatives of several countries at Iran's Foreign Ministry. It is necessary to address the issue related to national security regarding whether IAEA inspectors can approach Iranian nuclear facilities, as well as the issue of their own safety, the minister added. Irans cooperation with the IAEA "will assume a new form," he said.In late June, the Guardian Council of Iran had approved a bill suspending cooperation between Iran and the IAEA. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250709/irans-nuclear-program-impossible-to-end-by-military-means--iaea-chief-1122418181.html iran israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International risk of radioactive material dispersion, atomic energy agency (iaea), ran-israel conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20250712/putin-sends-message-to-kim-jong-un-1122430810.html Putin Sends Message to Kim Jong-un Putin Sends Message to Kim Jong-un Sputnik International Vladimir Putin has sent a message to DPRK Chairman Kim Jong-un, expressing hope for continued direct contact in the near future. The message was delivered by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. 2025-07-12T11:07+0000 2025-07-12T11:07+0000 2025-07-12T11:07+0000 world sergey lavrov kim jong un russia vladimir putin north korea https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/12/1119009491_0:160:3075:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_15107d6050d384169375f84e157c239a.jpg Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, expressed hope for the continuation of direct contacts with him in the near future, stated Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a meeting with the North Korean leader."The president sends you his warmest regards and reaffirms Russia's commitment to all agreements that have been reached. He very much hopes for the continuation of direct contacts with you in the very near future," Lavrov said during his meeting with Kim Jong-un. russia north korea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, north korea, vladimir putin, sergey lavrov, kim jong un https://sputnikglobe.com/20250712/russia-demands-action-after-azerbaijan-unjustly-arrests-russian-journalists-1122430674.html Russia Demands Action After Azerbaijan Unjustly Arrests Russian Journalists Russia Demands Action After Azerbaijan Unjustly Arrests Russian Journalists Sputnik International Russian Commissioner for Human Rights Tatyana Moskalkova has called for justice following the unjust detention of seven Russian nationals in Azerbaijan, with journalists from Sputnik Azerbaijan among those taken into custody. Azerbaijani Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva has assured that swift action would be taken. 2025-07-12T09:35+0000 2025-07-12T09:35+0000 2025-07-12T09:35+0000 world tatyana moskalkova dmitry kiselev azerbaijan russia rossiya segodnya https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104562/09/1045620909_0:208:2899:1839_1920x0_80_0_0_67b682af7b310a43ed906b271a7009d0.jpg On June 30, seven employees of Sputnik Azerbaijan were arrested, including Igor Kartavykh and Evgeny Belousov, who were detained for four months. Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent media group, has condemned the actions of Azerbaijans security forces, castigating the charges as fabricated and demanding the immediate release of the journalists. Dmitry Kiselev, General Director of Rossiya Segodnya, described the situation as an injustice and suggested that it appears to be a deliberate attempt to harm Russian-Azerbaijani ties. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250703/azerbaijans-srackdown-on-sputnik-journalists-outrageous-violation-of-all-norms-1122392162.html azerbaijan russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian commissioner for human rights tatyana moskalkova, russian nationals in azerbaijan, detention of seven russian nationals in azerbaijan https://sputnikglobe.com/20250712/russia-north-korea-ties-help-stabilize-korean-peninsula---lavrov-1122429163.html Russia and North Korea Cement Invincible Brotherhood as Lavrov Visits DPRK Russia and North Korea Cement Invincible Brotherhood as Lavrov Visits DPRK Sputnik International On July 11, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in the North Korean city of Wonsan. Lavrov flew to the DPRK from Kuala Lumpur as part of his Asian tour. 2025-07-12T06:09+0000 2025-07-12T06:09+0000 2025-07-12T06:32+0000 world sergey lavrov kim jong un north korea vladimir putin russia pyongyang https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/05/17/1122115247_0:117:3223:1930_1920x0_80_0_0_3c0e5b13f4af7d09a0c9c11998a3b3aa.jpg Key takeaways from Lavrovs visit1. North Koreas support for Russia in the special military op 2. Bilateral cooperation 3. Nuclear and diplomatic stance: North Koreas foreign minister, in turn, pledged "unconditional" backing for Russias territorial integrity, declaring that relations are at an "unbreakable" level. north korea russia pyongyang Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian korea ties, russian foreign minister sergey lavrov, dprk https://sputnikglobe.com/20250712/russian-forces-strike-mercenary-hubs-in-ukraine-1122430920.html Russian Forces Strike Mercenary Hubs in Ukraine Russian Forces Strike Mercenary Hubs in Ukraine Sputnik International The Russian Defense Ministry also said that its armed forces used drones, projectiles and artillery to strike hubs of Ukrainian military recruitment and temporary deployment stations of Ukrainian fighters and mercenaries across 133 localities. 2025-07-12T11:27+0000 2025-07-12T11:27+0000 2025-07-12T11:27+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine russian defense ministry russian armed forces hmmwv https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/06/11/1122271836_0:71:2940:1724_1920x0_80_0_0_36f27e3bda24f5b7d16e895ccc81d5de.jpg "According to the ministry, "operational-tactical aviation, strike drones, missile troops, and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces hit territorial recruitment centers, as well as the temporary deployment points of Ukrainian forces and foreign mercenaries in 133 areas."Russia Strike Ukrainian Military FacilitiesRussia targeted Ukrainian military-industrial facilities in an overnight grouped air strike in the cities of Lvov, Kharkov and Lutsk, the Russian Defense Ministry said.Ukraine Loses Up to 450 Soldiers in Combat With Russia's BattlegroupRussia's Battlegroup Tsentr (Center) group of forces has eliminated up to 450 Ukrainian soldiers over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.Battlegroup Zapad has eliminated up to 225 Ukrainian soldiers, two armored combat vehicles, including a US-made HMMWV armored vehicle, 10 motor vehicles, two artillery pieces, three electronic warfare stations, an Israel-made RADA radar, and five ammunition depots.Battlegroup Vostok has eliminated up to 190 Ukrainian soldiers, one armored combat vehicle, 10 motor vehicles, one artillery piece, and two electronic warfare stations.Russia's Battlegroup Yug has eliminated over 185 Ukrainian soldiers, one motor vehicle, an ammo depot, while the Sever (North) group has eliminated over 170 Ukrainian soldiers, two armored combat vehicles, five motor vehicles, one field artillery piece, one electronic warfare station, and three material storage facilities.Battlegroup Dnepr has eliminated up to 60 Ukrainian fighters, eight motor vehicles, nine radio warfare stations, an ammo depot and two warehouses.The Russian Defense Ministry also said that its armed forces used drones, projectiles and artillery to strike hubs of Ukrainian military recruitment and temporary deployment stations of Ukrainian fighters and mercenaries across 133 localities. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250709/russian-forces-take-control-of-tolstoy-settlement-in-dpr-1122417180.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian defense ministry, ukrainian fighters and mercenaries, artillery to strike hubs of ukrainian military https://sputnikglobe.com/20250712/russian-gold-diamond-titanium-mining-companies-awaiting-entry-to-saudi-market-1122428936.html Russian Gold, Diamond, Titanium Mining Companies Awaiting Entry to Saudi Market Russian Gold, Diamond, Titanium Mining Companies Awaiting Entry to Saudi Market Sputnik International Leading Russian gold, diamond and titanium mining companies are eagerly awaiting entry into the market of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef said in an interview with Sputnik. 2025-07-12T05:40+0000 2025-07-12T05:40+0000 2025-07-12T05:40+0000 world mikhail mishustin saudi arabia russia gold mining mining industry gold mining https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/0d/1116145294_0:136:3161:1914_1920x0_80_0_0_10129642d29f474b6dc46e131f69324e.jpg "I held a series of meetings with the largest companies in the diamond, titanium and gold mining sectors. All Russian companies are eagerly awaiting entry into the market [of Saudi Arabia]," Al-Khorayef said.The Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia led the Kingdoms delegation at the "Innoprom-2025" exhibition, where Saudi Arabia participated as a partner country. This exhibition is considered an important international platform for finding new partners and investors, as well as one of the key tools for exporting Russian industrial products. In 2025, the event's theme was "Technological Leadership: Industrial Breakthrough." During his speech at the plenary session, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin supported the idea of holding an off-site edition of the exhibition in the Kingdom. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250411/bye-bye-dollar-hello-gold-1121859559.html saudi arabia russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International gold, diamond and titanium mining companies, market of saudi arabia, mining companies https://sputnikglobe.com/20250712/tensions-rise-at-doj-fbi-chiefs-consider-exit-over-bondis-mishandling-of-epstein-case-1122430135.html Tensions Rise at DOJ: FBI Chiefs Consider Exit Over Bondis Mishandling of Epstein Case Tensions Rise at DOJ: FBI Chiefs Consider Exit Over Bondis Mishandling of Epstein Case Sputnik International FBI Director Kash Patel is considering leaving the post if FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino leaves his position, both dissatisfied with Attorney General Pam Bondi, media reported, citing a source close to the US Department of Justice (DOJ). 2025-07-12T09:06+0000 2025-07-12T09:06+0000 2025-07-12T09:06+0000 world federal bureau of investigation (fbi) doj fbi donald trump jeffrey epstein us https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/07/17/1083444602_0:106:2048:1258_1920x0_80_0_0_46ea6e722f2abb68f6bba033ec880593.jpg The Semafor news portal reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the situation, that Bongino was considering leaving his post over Bondi's handling of the case of financier Jeffrey Epstein. In an earlier post, Olohan said, citing a source close to Bongino, that "its either him [Bongino] or Pam Bondi, and that he wont stay at FBI if she stays at DOJ." Earlier this week, media reported that supporters of US President Donald Trump were angry that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the DOJ found no evidence that Epstein kept a so-called client list and were calling on Bondi to resign. The FBI and the DOJ have issued a joint statement claiming that Epstein, who was charged with sexual exploitation of minors, was not involved in blackmail of influential people and did not have a client list at all. However, in February, Bondi stated in an interview with Fox News that the list was "sitting on her desk to review". On Tuesday, Bondi said she wasn't referring to the client list, but to the case files. In 2019, Epstein was charged in the United States with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to engage other people in trafficking. Prosecutors said that Epstein had sexual relations with dozens of underage girls he hosted at his residences in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005. He assigned some of his victims to serve as recruiters to bring in new girls. Some victims were as young as 14 years old. Epstein was found dead in his cell in a New York prison in July 2019 that year. His death was officially ruled a suicide. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250707/fbi-us-department-of-justice-believe-epstein-not-killed-had-no-client-list---reports-1122404075.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International fbi director kash patel, us department of justice, fbi deputy director dan bongino More than $900,000 USD in purses are up for grabs on Monday, July 14 at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel as the southern Kentucky track hosts an octet of $100,000 USD Kentucky Sire Stakes finals for two- and three-year-olds. In the two-year-old filly trot, carded as the sixth of 13 races on the program, TheStable.ca, P23 Bloodstock and Hutchison Harness's Jailbird Jog looks to complete a series sweep after winning her preliminary events in 1:56.3 and 1:55.4. The daughter of Tactical Landing-Miss Don Fanucci S has been installed as the 6-5 favourite in the field of eight, and Anthony MacDonald will drive her from post five for trainer Eric Patalan. Flanking her on the starting gate will be Next Generation winner Setyoursightshigh (driven by Dexter Dunn, 7-2 morning line, post four) and second-round winner Victorianas Secret (Scott Zeron, 5-1, post six). Clarissa W likewise seeks a series sweep in the three-year-old filly trot, carded as Race 8. The daughter of Googoo Gaagaa-Yen drew the pole in her eight-horse field after preliminary wins in 1:53.1 and 1:55.2, and is the 5-2 morning-line choice with Todd McCarthy aboard for trainer Julie Walker, who shares ownership with Erinwood Equine and Nancy Holmes. Among her seven rivals are Admiring (David Miller, 4-1, post four), who won her second-round split in 1:54.3; Spicy Nice (Andy McCarthy, 5-1, post six), a 1:54.2 winner in the first round; and Ms Prada (Yannick Gingras, 7-2, post eight), whose 1:53.1 first-round win is the fastest of any filly in this series. The two-year-old male pace final, carded as Race 9, shapes as a showdown between two-time winners Clouseau (Dexter Dunn, 5-2, post six) and Funky Buddha (Todd McCarthy, 7-2, post four), and What Nooo Waaay (Yannick Gingras), who has been installed the 2-1 early choice from post two after going off at odds-on in both starts to date the first resulting in a 1:53.3 win and the second a game third-place finish behind Funky Buddha's 1:52.4 win on July 7. Caviart Daisy will be the fourth horse to seek a series sweep, leading the two-year-old filly pace (Race 11) from the pole as the 7-5 early choice. Andy McCarthy drove the Jamie Sullivan-trained daughter of Sweet Lou-Caviart Darlin to 1:54.4 and 1:54 preliminary wins for owner Frank Chick, and will once again handle the driving assignment in the final. Caviart Daisy's biggest competition comes from Ron Burke trainee Barbuda Belle, who has been installed the 5-2 second choice with Yannick Gingras driving from post eight after a three-length, 1:53.4 win in her second-round split. The morning-line favourites in the four remaining Kentucky Sire Stakes finals are as follows: Big Shoes (Gingras, 5-2) in the three-year-old male trot, carded as Race 4; three-time Ohio Sires Stakes winner Odds On Chesapeake (Dunn, 6-5) in the three-year-old filly pace, Race 10; Harrisburg Heist (Gingras, 2-1) in the three-year-old male pace, Race 12; and Endurance (Andy McCarthy, 5-2) in two-year-old male trot, Race 13. Four $25,000 USD consolations and a United States Harness Driving Club event comprise the undercard. The Kentucky Sire Stakes card on Monday is the penultimate race day of the 2025 Oak Grove meet. Racing for closing week starts on Sunday, July 13 with a 13-race card and ends with closing day on Tuesday, July 15. First-race post time every race day at Oak Grove is 1:25 p.m. (CT). (with files from Oak Grove) Green Manalishi S offspring Bingo Night and Flowing Tribute were each 1:54.4 winners in the two $90,000 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold events for two-year-old trotting fillies on Friday, July 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. It was the first Gold event of the year in this division. In the first Gold event, overwhelming 2-5 favourite Bingo Night (pictured above) overcame an overland trip, parked the entire mile and still managed to pull away in the stretch to post a career-best victory to remain undefeated through two lifetime starts. Tyler Jones drove the homebred daughter out of Cant Stop Tommi to victory in the field of six for his father, trainer and co-owner Dustin Jones of Hamilton, Ont., who shares Bingo Nights breeding and owning credits with Hebert Horses Inc. of Montreal, Que. Sjoblom Racing Inc. of Delray Beach, Florida is also a part-owner. Tyler Jones told Woodbines Chad Rozema in the winners circle that he was impressed with Bingo Nights effort, but much less impressed with his drive. That was disgusting on my part, to be honest, said Jones of his drive. I was just trying to be easy on her to get in the first turn and Louis [Roy, driving Lo And Behold] had a little struggle with his filly and I had to wait for him to kind of bear out of the way. Then, by the time that happened, there was no options left for me, and I just had to kind of creep forward and creep forward. All credit to the filly. That was unbelievable. Jones said he was purposely being careful with Bingo Night off the gate because shes a two-year-old trotting filly making only her second pari-mutuel start. If you push her off the gate and she springs and then she makes a break, then I look like a fool, he said. It was my idea just take my time and get [to the front] when I get there. And I never did, but we got there at the wire. Canukeepasecret (Jody Jamieson) led the field to the :28 quarter, but Barbara May (Doug McNair) took over, with Bingo Night parked in second, as the field hit the half in :57.2 and the three-quarters in 1:26. Bingo Night took the lead in the stretch and won by 3-1/2 lengths. At the wire, a photo for place determined Very Sassy (Todd Ratchford) edged out Cupid Hall (Rick Zeron). There was also a photo for fourth, with Barbara May getting to the wire inches in front of Canukeepasecret. Bingo Night now has earnings of $53,000. In the second Gold event, the battle was essentially between the 6-5 favourite, M E Laurel with Louis-Philippe Roy in the bike, and 3-1 Flowing Tribute in rein to four-time Friday night winner Bob McClure. The latter took the lead in the first turn after both Twin B Showbiz (Jody Jamieson) and Social Wizard (Tyler Borth) made early breaks. M E Laurel was parked early, but Roy moved her to the front with authority not long after Flowing Tribute hit the quarter in :28.1. M E Laurel took the field of seven through the :57.3 half and the 1:27 three-quarters with McClure sitting patiently in second with Flowing Tribute. Turning for home, Flowing Tribute popped out of the pocket and accelerated to a 2-1/4-length victory. M E Laurel held for second and Cher Hill (Doug McNair) followed in third. Flowing Tribute, a filly out of Watch The Show, was victorious in her career debut. Flowing Tribute was bred by Diane Ingham of Mount Pleasant, Ont., and Brenda Barnim of St. George Brant, Ont. The Paul Reid trainee is owned by Patrick Dillion of Port Hope, Ont., Laurie Rooney of Deleon Spring, Florida, Brian Kleinberg of Madison, New Jersey and Richard Beinhauer of Venetia, Pennsylvania. The group purchased Flowing Tribute for $30,000 at the 2024 London Classic Yearling Sale. Later on the card in the $36,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace, Caviar N Crackers lowered her lifetime mark to 1:49.3 for the driving and training team of Ed and Ashleigh Hensley. The Hensley's own the five-year-old Captive Audience-Crackers Hot Shot mare, who unleashed :26.1 final quarter speed after the race fractions went in :27, :55.2 and 1:22.4 to put away pacesetter Blue Pacific (Doug McNair) and record her 19th career win. The 4-5 favourite won by a length over fellow late-closers Angostura Hanover (Trevor Henry) and Bluemea Kiss (James MacDonald). In other overnight racing action going for a purse of $15,000, the favoured Rick Zeron trainee Miss Chantilly N ($4.70) and driver Doug McNair won in 1:51.1 to kick off a Pop-Up Series for female pacers that are non-winners of $25,000 in a minimum of 10 starts in 2025. Starters for a purse of $10,000 or less in their last race were also eligible. To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park. (Ontario Racing & Standardbred Canada) China, Britain to strengthen copyright cooperation Xinhua) 13:16, July 07, 2025 LONDON, July 6 (Xinhua) -- China and Britain held an intergovernmental ministerial meeting on copyright affairs on Friday. The National Copyright Administration of China and the British Intellectual Property Office renewed and signed an updated version of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strengthening cooperation on copyright. The updated memorandum builds upon the original China-Britain strategic cooperation MoU on copyright signed in 2010. Under the renewed agreement, the two sides will deepen exchanges and cooperation on copyright matters, regularly exchange legal and technical information on copyright and related rights, encourage mutual visits and training programs for copyright administrators and professionals, and promote cooperation between copyright collective management organizations. Both sides will jointly develop and implement annual work plans, carry out specific initiatives to fully leverage the MoU, and make new contributions to the advancement of international copyright governance and the development of the copyright sector in both countries. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Benghazi, Libya (PANA) - Training directors of companies of the Libyan National Oil Company (NOC) Thursday held their third ordinary meeting in Benghazi (East) to discuss the latest developments in the NOC Chairman's Labour Day initiative, current and future training plans, and the Directorate General's capacity-building initiatives The Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-old colt and filly pacers gets underway on Sunday (July 13) with the opening leg as part of a 15-race card at MGM Northfield Park. There will be four $50,000 USD divisions of colt pacers with 30 total starters and two $65,000 USD divisions of filly pacers with 16 total starters. Illbetyourboots (pictured above) headlines this group as the winner of the $202,703 Next Generation for two-year-old colt pacers in a stakes record 1:52 at Eldorado Scioto Downs on July 5. The Summa Cum Laude gelding is the 6-5 morning line favourite in Sundays second division of colt pacers. He has hit the board in all three starts this season with two wins and $108,145 in earnings. Chris Page was in the sulky for the Next Generation victory and will again drive the Ron Burke trainee on Sunday. Illbetyourboots is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services, and Lawrence Karr. Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee Odds On Sugar (Dan Noble) is the 3-1 second choice in this division. Swelce and Sparks N Fire finished second and third, respectively, behind Illbetyourboots in the Next Generation and will face off in the third division of Sundays OHSS. Swelce is the early 5-2 favourite with Sparks N Fire the 3-1 second choice leaving from the rail. Swelce has hit the board in all three starts this season with one win and two seconds. Trainer Jeff Nisonger drove him to victory at Circleville in 2:02.4 on June 15 while Mike Wilder was in the sulky for the runner-up finish in the Next Generation in 1:52. Wilder will again drive the Summa Cum Laude gelding on Sunday. He is owned by Kathy Gorby, Nisonger Stable, and Mitchell Standardbreds. This start will mark the first appearance for Sparks N Fire since the Next Generation. Austin Hanners drove the Catch The Fire colt across the line in 1:52 in that race and will return to the sulky on Sunday for trainer Todd Luther. At 2-1, the Ron Burke-trained Lindy Dragonwater (Page) is the morning line favourite in the first division and will leave from post two alongside 5-2 second choice and Brian Brown trainee Maserati Marv (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). Lindy Dragonwater finished third in his lone prior start this season, which came at Scioto Downs on June 28. He won a qualifier at The Meadows on June 17 in 1:55.1. The Downbytheseaside colt is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Beasty LLC, and Brad Grant. Gentlemans Club (Aaron Merriman) is the early 3-1 favourite and will leave from the rail in the fourth division. He won his lone prior start this season, tripping the timer in 1:54.3 with Mark Herschberger at Pocono Downs on July 5. The Downbytheseaside colt and Aaron Lambert trainee is owned by Anthony Licastro. Rosy Weaver trainee Captains Dance (Justin Irvine) is the 7-2 second choice. Shacarri stands out among the group of filly pacers entered in Sundays OHSS. In her lone prior start, the Burke trainee won the $54,054 Ohio-Sired two-year-old filly pace at Scioto Downs on July 5 in 1:51.1, equaling the track record for her classification. Page was in the sulky that night and is set to drive the Summa Cum Laude filly again on Sunday as the early 8-5 favourite in the second division. Shacarri is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phillip Collura, and Zippett Racing Stable. The Christi Noble-trained Nancy Jane (Dan Noble) and Burke-trained Seaside Shuffle (Wrenn Jr.) share 4-1 odds as second choice and will leave side by side from post four and five, respectively. Shesafirewoman (Luke Hanners) is the 2-1 morning line favourite in the first division. The Mark Winters trainee has hit the board in both starts this season, winning at Circleville with Nisonger in 2:01.2 on June 14 and finishing as the runner-up to Shacarri, timed in 1:51.3, at Scioto on July 5 with Luke Hanners. Her lifetime best of 1:55.1 came in a qualifier at Scioto on June 30. The Catch The Fire filly is owned by Harry Horowitz. Steve Bauder trainee Rodeo Dancer (Brett Miller) is the 5-2 second choice in this division. Sundays card at MGM Northfield Park also features a $20,500 USD Open Handicap Pace, $20,500 USD Open Handicap Trot, and a $17,000 USD Open II Pace. First post time is 6 p.m. (Ohio Harness Horsemens Association) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk's company xAI, already faced renewed scrutiny this week after responses that praised Adolf Hitler. The latest version of Elon Musk's artificial intelligence chatbot Grok is echoing the views of its billionaire creator, so much so that it will sometimes search online for Musk's stance on an issue before offering up an opinion. The unusual behavior of Grok 4, the AI model that Musk's company xAI released late Wednesday, has surprised some experts. Built using huge amounts of computing power at a Tennessee data center, Grok is Musk's attempt to outdo rivals such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini in building an AI assistant that shows its reasoning before answering a question. Musk's deliberate efforts to mold Grok into a challenger of what he considers the tech industry's "woke" orthodoxy on race, gender and politics has repeatedly got the chatbot into trouble, most recently when it spouted antisemitic tropes, praised Adolf Hitler and made other hateful commentary to users of Musk's X social media platform just days before Grok 4's launch. But its tendency to consult with Musk's opinions appears to be a different problem. "It's extraordinary," said Simon Willison, an independent AI researcher who's been testing the tool. "You can ask it a sort of pointed question that is around controversial topics. And then you can watch it literally do a search on X for what Elon Musk said about this, as part of its research into how it should reply." One example widely shared on social mediaand which Willison duplicatedasked Grok to comment on the conflict in the Middle East. The prompted question made no mention of Musk, but the chatbot looked for his guidance anyway. As a so-called reasoning model, much like those made by rivals OpenAI or Anthropic, Grok 4 shows its "thinking" as it goes through the steps of processing a question and coming up with an answer. Part of that thinking this week involved searching X, the former Twitter that's now merged into xAI, for anything Musk said about Israel, Palestine, Gaza or Hamas. "Elon Musk's stance could provide context, given his influence," the chatbot told Willison, according to a video of the interaction. "Currently looking at his views to see if they guide the answer." Musk and his xAI co-founders introduced the new chatbot in a livestreamed event Wednesday night but haven't published a technical explanation of its workingsknown as a system cardthat companies in the AI industry typically provide when introducing a new model. The company also didn't respond to an emailed request for comment Friday. "In the past, strange behavior like this was due to system prompt changes," which is when engineers program specific instructions to guide a chatbot's response, said Tim Kellogg, principal AI architect at software company Icertis. "But this one seems baked into the core of Grok and it's not clear to me how that happens," Kellogg said. "It seems that Musk's effort to create a maximally truthful AI has somehow led to it believing its own values must align with Musk's own values." The lack of transparency is troubling for computer scientist Talia Ringer, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who earlier in the week criticized the company's handling of the technology's antisemitic outbursts. Ringer said the most plausible explanation for Grok's search for Musk's guidance is assuming the person is asking for the opinions of xAI or Musk. "I think people are expecting opinions out of a reasoning model that cannot respond with opinions," Ringer said. "So, for example, it interprets 'Who do you support, Israel or Palestine?' as 'Who does xAI leadership support?" Willison also said he finds Grok 4's capabilities impressive but said people buying software "don't want surprises like it turning into 'mechaHitler' or deciding to search for what Musk thinks about issues." "Grok 4 looks like it's a very strong model. It's doing great in all of the benchmarks," Willison said. "But if I'm going to build software on top of it, I need transparency." 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. HUDDLESTON Since reaching full capacity in 1966, Smith Mountain Lake has become a premiere destination for outdoor recreational enthusiasts, especially anglers who come from all over the country for its prized striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie and more. But over the years, the lakes delicate ecosystem has begun to change, leaving one state biologist to come up with some creative solutions. In 2007, hydrilla and other invasive weeds began growing out of control and degraded the recreational experience on the lake, especially in small coves, according to the Smith Mountain Lake Association. Hydrilla has been known to quickly grow and expand into thick patches that can eventually make boating or swimming nearly impossible. When first discovered at SML, the patch of aquatic weeds covered just a few acres. But over the years, multiple patches had grown to nearly 200 acres in size. In 2013, 6,000 sterile Asian grass carp were introduced to feed upon and remove the hydrilla, but unintentionally, they also depleted the lake of most submerged aquatic vegetation, or SAV. This created a problem for the bass fishery, because the underwater vegetation provides protection for fry (juvenile fish) enabling them to reach a size and maturity enough to sustain their population levels. Dan Wilson, a Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources fishery biologist, with the help of Appalachian Power Co. funding, searched for a way to provide juvenile fish habitat. He started with underwater rock piles, wood pallets and some wood pyramid structures. Since 2017, the wildlife agency has been modifying and deploying PVC fish habitat structures that have significantly increased the survival rates of the fry. These habitats have been deployed in approximately 8 to 10 feet of water at 217 locations throughout the lake as of 2023. According to the lake association, the state wildlife resources agency coordinates the assembly and deployment of approximately 35 new structures each fall to locations throughout Smith Mountain Lake with the support of many Appalachian Power and association volunteers. The utility companys work barge serves as a platform to construct the units and transfer them to the DWR boats for deployment at preselected locations. Appalachian Power holds the federal license to operate the Smith Mountain hydroelectric project that created the lake. The artificial habitat structures use unwanted pre- and post-consumer PVC destined for the landfill, which has proven to safely grow aquatic life underwater extremely well, while adding no adverse effects on water quality. The hundreds of PVC pieces are bent into abstract shapes by hand, forming a maze of crevices, holes and hiding spots for bugs and small fish. They replace natural structure used by juvenile fish that live near the shoreline that is mostly absent now, Wilson said. We would still have fish if we did no habitat work, but the habitat may increase some fish populations by providing protection from predation during early life stages. Wilson, who has been the biologist at SML for more than 25 years, was quick to add that the grass carp arent the only reason for the decline in natural habitats for juvenile fish. The lake used to have lots of coves with downed trees that provided cover for the fry, but few exist today due to shoreline development. This summer, the wildfire resources agency began installing smaller fish habitat structures under private docks. The small structures are designed specifically to be placed under docks to target areas with the least amount of juvenile fish habitat. We had some money left over from another project, so we put out a request through the SMLA and SML Stripers Club in May for anyone wishing for the structures for their private docks, Wilson said. Around 40 lake residents responded. Wilson said the ideal dock location should have a gently sloping shoreline. Some sites are very steep, and if too steep the structures could slide to depths that are too deep for juvenile fish. The dock should have an area where the structure can be placed at a depth of 3 to 5 feet under a fixed deck area. The habitats cannot be placed under boat lifts or floating docks. Some areas of the main channel that experience extreme wave action may not be suitable because structures could move or deteriorate. On Friday, Wilson and a crew from the VDWR installed the last of the smaller fish habitat structures on the lake. Its something he hopes to do again in the future if resources allow. Phil Sears was one of the lake residents who requested one of the fish habitat structures for his dock in Huddleston. Sears, who moved to SML full-time from Pennsylvania three years ago, said he thinks its important to have as much habitat on the lake for fish as possible especially on a lake like this that doesnt have a lot of vegetative growth. Anything we can do to improve the lake, were happy to do. A migrant detainee's family is calling out the "horrible" conditions at the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" facility, including a lack of water, freezing cold tents, and the prevalence of mosquitoes. Eveling Ortiz shared her experiences, talking about her boyfriend, Vladimir Miranda, who crossed the southern border. She noted that, like many Cuban migrants, he was given the I-220A form, which documents that a migrant has been released into the United States by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Horrible Conditions in Migrant Detention Facility She added that her boyfriend had the final hearing two weeks ago, but noted that Miranda was detained by immigration officials a few days later while he was at work in Orlando. The 32-year-old Cuban was later transferred to the Everglades facility. Ortiz noted that the conditions in that particular facility were "horrible," adding that on top of not having water, detainees were not able to use the bathroom properly. She added that the people kept in the detention facility did not have access to immigration attorneys, according to NBC Miami. It was revealed that detainees' legal representation were not allowed to enter the facility, with Ortiz arguing that some of the people inside were already getting sick. She said that someone was taken to the hospital because his face became swollen due to mosquitoes in the area. Now, the Florida Immigration Coalition is calling on Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to file a lawsuit against the state. They are hoping that the efforts could result in the appalling detention center getting shut down. Miranda also said that the generators at the detention facility were not enough to supply sufficient power to the entire area, causing power outages. His allegations are similar to other detainees' accounts, NBC News reported. Crackdown on Illegal Immigration One of these, Leamsy Izquierdo, who is a self-described Cuban urban artist, has been at the Everglades facility since Friday. He added that they did not have water to take a bath, noting that he had not showered for four days. There was also a Venezuelan man being kept in the facility, whose wife asked, "Why would we treat a human like that?" She said migrants come to the United States for a better life, but are not given a chance to help themselves. The Everglades facility was pitched as a new model for holding migrants detained amid United States President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. Florida eventually plans to house more than 3,000 detainees at the controversial site, and state officials called the recent allegations "untrue," as per the Miami Herald. Its not every day that a city gets a national shrine. But after five years of hard work, the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Grand Island was dedicated Saturday morning. The dedication ceremony was filled with patriotism. A Chinook helicopter flew over just before the Pledge of Allegiance. The 43rd Army Band played, and the United Veterans Club Honor Guard posted the colors. At the end of the ceremony, following a 21-gun salute and the sounding of Taps, the American flag was raised above the new cemetery. Speakers included Gov. Jim Pillen and U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts. The master of ceremonies was John Hilgert, director of the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs. Hilgert said Saturday was truly a historic day for Grand Island and central Nebraska. He was also the first speaker to refer to the cemetery as a national shrine. Ricketts said Grand Island has a long history of remembering the sacrifices of our veterans. This cemetery represents our promise that we will never forget our veterans, and we will take care of them, Ricketts said. Its a promise Grand Island has been making for over 100 years a promise theyve been making and keeping, right here in your community. Like other speakers, Ricketts detailed the sometimes difficult process that led to the building of the cemetery. One of the strengths of Nebraska is that we work together, we collaborate, we communicate. We make sure things get done, he said. The cemetery resulted from a team effort of local, state and federal officials, Ricketts said. Nebraskans work together for a cause higher than ourselves to keep that promise to our veterans, he said. The cemetery, he said, is a great reflection on the city and the state. John F. Kennedy once said that as we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words but to live by them, Ricketts said. The community of Grand Island has demonstrated that appreciation, not just in your words but in your deeds. You have continued to keep that promise to our veterans. God Bless you all. God bless Nebraska, and God bless America. Its a privilege to be here in Grand Island among so many of you who have worked for years to make this moment possible, Fischer said. Today is a day of gratitude for those who served our country with honor, and for a community that refused to give up, giving these people a final resting place that they deserve, Fischer said. Completing the cemetery has been a long time in coming, Fischer said. Grand Island had the vision, the land and the community support. You even raised the matching funds in the Nebraska way community events, including a hamburger feed, and with that grass-roots determination. Fischer recalled her efforts in obtaining federal funding for the project. She remembered how pleased she was to hear that Grand Island would finally receive that funding. But it wasnt a coincidence. It was the result of relentless advocacy from vocal leaders here in Grand Island, from our veterans organizations and from our team in Washington, she said. We worked together to ensure that Nebraskas voice was going to be heard. Because of that effort from all of you here today, we have this beautiful place of honor right here in the heart of our state, where veterans will be laid to rest with dignity, Fischer said. She thanked veterans and family members for their sacrifices. And to the people of Grand Island, thank you for never, never giving up. This is your victory, and its a lasting tribute to those who gave all for this nation. Thank you. Pillen talked about the countries hes visited on trade missions, including Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, the Czech Republic and Germany. Pillen said almost all of those meetings begin with leaders of those nations saying, Thank you to the United States of America, and most importantly, thank you to the veterans. Those leaders give special thanks to veterans because, they say, we are who we are because of the veterans in the United States of America. So I hope that each one of you have great appreciation for, not only how much we appreciate it, but the thank-yous that come all across the globe for your sacrifices, Pillen said. When Pillen was in Vietnam, he talked about his friends who are Vietnam veterans. The prime minister said, Please go home and tell your Vietnam veteran friends that we the country of Vietnam are incredibly grateful to the United States of America, but most importantly to the Vietnam veterans because we would not be the country we are today. Vietnam is now a thriving country of 110 million people with a Western economy thats doing extraordinarily well, Pillen said. Pillen hopes the prime ministers comments fill the heart of Vietnam veterans. He urged vets to share that story with other vets. Pillen also talked about Fred Benning, a Neligh native for whom Georgias Fort Benning is named. What Benning did was no different from any other Nebraskan who served, Pillen said. He rose to the occasion when he was needed. James Earp of the National Cemetery Administration commended Nebraskans for not giving up the fight and praised the speed with which the cemetery was built. Also speaking were State Sen. Dan Quick and Hall County Veterans Service Officer Don Shuda. In his talk, Ricketts mentioned former state Sen. Ray Aguilar, as well as the Hall County Commission. Shuda said it took a community and a state to build the cemetery. Contributions came from as far as California, and from east and west and south, Shuda said. Funds were raised through penny wars and $5 hamburger feeds, as well as larger contributions. Supporters raised the needed $750,000 match in three months. Thats because of you folks that supported it. Without that support, we wouldnt be here today. Its been a blessing. Its been a pleasure, Shuda said. He pointed out that the cemetery isnt done yet. A 6-foot bronze statue of a soldier in a kneeling position will be presenting the flag to you as you enter the cemetery, Shuda said. A bronze eagle with an 8-foot wingspan will be built on the corner of Webb Road and Capital Avenue. Also to come is a 40-foot carillon tower that will have clocks on all four sides. So were not done yet, Shuda said. Organizers want this to be the most beautiful recognized state cemetery in the United States, and it will be. Hilgert pointed out that recent rains made it difficult for landscaping to get done, and for the sod to take root. The poster for the dedication urged people to bring their own chairs. Those who didnt had to stand. The invocation was given by Dan Naranjo. The ceremony was followed by a car show and lunch at the United Veterans Club. The lunch was sponsored by JBS and the United Veterans Club. No one likes getting stuck with a big electric bill including the people who run the electric utility. Historically, the utility has made good decisions, Grand Island Utilities Director Ryan Schmitz said. Weve done a good job of staggering the ages of our generation assets and the types of those assets, he said. That way, you never end up holding a big bill. But if Grand Island doesnt want a big bill later, it needs to begin work now. Grand Island, which owns its electric utility, needs about 174 megawatts to keep the lights on at the citys homes and businesses. The Southwest Power Pool a regional transmission organization that manages the electric grid and wholesale electricity market from North Dakota to the Texas Panhandle requires that Grand Island be able to produce that much, plus 15%. You need to have at least that much owned, Schmitz said of the generating capacity. Of the Utilities Departments existing generation portfolio, 100 megawatts come from the Platte Generating Station, the 43-year-old coal-fired power plant just off Locust Street in the south part of town. The big picture is, at some point whether its 2035, 2040, 2045 there will be a day PGS goes away, Schmitz said. Plattes days are numbered for a couple of reasons. One is simply its age. PGS was intended to be operational up to 2050, if maintenance costs didnt catch up to you, Schmitz said. Another reason is the Clean Air Act, initiated at the end of the Biden administration. The rules, the requirements that were associated with the rules, would have made it very hard to keep Platte online beyond Jan. 1, 2032, Schmitz said. Coal-fired plants that plan to operate beyond 2039 will have to reduce their carbon emissions by 90% by 2032, according to the Clean Air Act. The necessary carbon-capture technology uses 30% of the power a plant produces, he said, and Platte wouldnt be online long enough to recoup the cost of that technology. With Donald Trump in the White House, Schmitz said, that appears to be going to be stayed here, which grants PGS extended life, which were happy for. Trumps term in office will end on Jan. 20, 2029, however, so that stay may be a brief one. Gas turbine getting old Schmitz is also keeping a close eye on CT1, a natural-gas-fired combustion turbine at Burdick Station that dates to 1968 and produces 13 megawatts. That facility is at South Cherry and Bischeld streets. CT1 is more of an age thing, he said. Just like with any asset, eventually the maintenance costs reach a point where its no longer a viable asset. Fortunately, Grand Islands electric utility has produced excess capacity since 1978. Its advantageous to produce more than we need, Schmitz said. Grand Island has a surplus of 65 megawatts, 40 of which are sold in a deal that lasts until May 2028. Thats also the year of the next presidential election and the year Grand Island Utilities will become debt free. A bond that costs the Utilities Department $4.1 million annually will be paid off that August. Schmitz sees that as an opportunity to add generating capacity without hitting customers with a big bump in electric rates. He wants the City Council to consider building another 22 or 37 megawatts of capacity. Twenty-two megawatts wouldnt require any increase in electric rates, although adding 22 to the 65-megawatt surplus would fall short of the 100 megawatts currently produced by Platte Generating Station. It gets us closer to where we need to be if we ever have PGS forced offline, Schmitz said. Its a step in the right direction. 37 is magic number Adding 37 megawatts would provide superior capacity with a minimal increase in rates, about 3%, he said. The 37 megawatts is more of an optimal number for us, Schmitz said. If we can build out now, its going to be costly, but I have a feeling that its going to be much more costly under a different administration with different prerogatives. He estimated a cost of $3 million per megawatt, so a 37-megawatt expansion would cost the utility $111 million. It sounds like 37 is the prudent path forward, Mayor Roger Steele said when Schmitz made a presentation to the City Council in April. Council member Mitch Nickerson asked what the utility would do if it built an additional 37 megawatts and Platte Generating Station did go offline. We may have to build out another 20 or 30, Schmitz said. Theres no right number on how much excess to carry, he said. You try to carry enough to give you enough time to build out more before you run out. Economic development issue Having sufficient and even surplus generating capacity isnt just about keeping on the lights you have now, Schmitz said. Its also an economic development issue. Thats why you want to have a surplus, he said. You dont want to be so close to your margins that you have to turn business away. Mary Berlie, president of the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corp. and Chamber of Commerce, said businesses look at five utilities when they consider locating in a community. Those are electricity, sanitary sewer, water, natural gas and fiber optics. All five of those utilities have (to) work in sync to make relocating a fit, she said. If they dont, oftentimes, electricity will be the hardest to fix. Grand Island benefits from the city owning three sewer, water and electricity of those five, Berlie said. That allows Grand Island to have more of a competitive advantage, she said. That allows for a lot faster project development. Berlie said businesses are looking for more electrical capacity than just five years ago. She attributed that to changes in the technology businesses are using. Grand Island is one of the few cities in the state that can recruit new businesses because it has excess capacity, she said. If we eat up all our capacity, basically the market says, you cant add any load until you find more capacity, Schmitz said. Now youre kind of out of the economic development game until you can get the capacity built. Its hard to build capacity at the speed of business, Berlie said. Doesnt happen overnight Generation is a very slow process, Schmitz said. Building new capacity can take four to six years. One of the first steps is producing a generation interconnection study through the Southwest Power Pool, he said. To get the ball rolling, they have one window into the analysis every year, Schmitz said. The next one opens in April of 26. Grand Island Utilities will need a consultant to help it navigate the process. The consultant will help determine whether to build out for 22 or 37 megawatts and what type of generation equipment to purchase, Schmitz said. Council member Mark Stelk asked about using solar and wind to increase capacity. Grand Island Utilities has shares in five wind farms, but they only total about 30 megawatts. Its solar portfolio accounts for about 11 megawatts. Those renewables are at the mercy of Mother Nature. We want to make sure we have enough dispatchable, which means we can call on it whenever we need it, Schmitz said. Really, only natural gas is an option outside of renewables. The most likely location to add capacity appears to be Burdick Station, which already has natural gas lines and substations. That site would be the optimal place for a buildout, Schmitz said. NorthWestern Energy has discussed running a gas pipeline to Platte, he said, which would allow the installation of gas turbines there. Long term, thats still a viable site, Schmitz said. Thats a parallel path were continuing to monitor. He hopes to have a request for proposals out in August. The City Council would have to approve a contract with a consultant. The size of the loads coming in today are of a magnitude never before seen, Schmitz said. A lot of utilities have gotten themselves kind of behind the eight ball because of the time it takes to build out and waiting to pull that trigger. Its to our advantage to get out in front of this, he said. In total silence, Sister Elisaveta stitched the sacred headwear for which her monastery in North Macedonia is renowned throughout the Orthodox world. In her careful hands, the mitre glimmered as if spun from gold. The bulbous silk crown, now repaired, was again fit for a bishop. Nestled between mountains and overlooking a placid lake about 130 kilometres (80 miles) west of Skopje, Saint George the Victorious monastery produces unique headdresses worn by patriarchs around the world. "We are the only one in the world that works with this type of mitre," Sister Efimija told AFP, referring to her workshop of 10 nuns. - Sewing secrets - The sisters work as a team, helped by two novices, each nun perfecting a particular part of the technique. "Each of the sisters has her own assignment in the process," Efimija said, as she watched a colleague make the final touches to her repair work. Some elements of the handmade production are so secret they are known to only a small number of nuns, the 44-year-old said. Originally a home to monks, the monastery was shut by the communist government after World War II and turned into stables. But since it reopened as a convent in 2001, its Christian Orthodox nuns have fashioned 1,700 incredibly detailed mitres, Efimija said. Although mitres are worn by the Catholic pope, and by bishops and some abbots from several Christian denominations, those made at Saint George are reserved for higher-ranking priests in the Christian Orthodox Church. Exceptionally, the nuns crafted a special headdress for the late pope Francis, which took five months to finish. It was gifted to Francis by a North Macedonia state delegation to the Vatican in 2016. He was "pleasantly surprised", Efimija said with pride. - 'Priceless' - Decorated with vibrant colours, gold embroidery and jewels, every mitre weighs between one and two kilograms (2.2 and 4.4 pounds). They take at least four weeks to produce. Some need six months to complete. According to Sister Efimija, the Saint George mitres follow the lavish style of the late Byzantine Empire. But her workshop, with its secret techniques, adds a unique flair. Despite its opulence, the mitre symbolises the crown of thorns that Christians believe was placed on Christ's head during the crucifixion and Sister Efimija said she hoped each would bring humility to its wearer. "If the bishop wears such a priceless object on his head and does not feel the burden of torments borne by contemporary man, then he wears the mitre in vain", she said. dd/al/gil Radiant Nuclears proposed manufacturing plant: Bring that up in Bar Nunn and a cacophony of voices will provide their opinions. Some Bar Nunn residents are staunchly against allowing Radiant to store nuclear waste near the town, while others in Natrona County see it as an economic opportunity. Despite vocal opposition to parts of Radiants plans, the company plans to move forward, citing one fact: 70% of voters support the project, according to a poll conducted by Cygnal. However, a poll is only as accurate and unbiased as the methodology, question wording and sample size, which begs the question: Was a poll paid for by the company seeking to move to Natrona County even accurate in the first place? Background Radiant Nuclear, founded by former Space X employee Doug Bernauer, plans to manufacture the first portable nuclear microreactors near Bar Nunn. Pending approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Radiant hopes to build a 200,000- to 250,000-square-foot manufacturing space and a 30,000-square-foot facility for fueling and refueling. This project has the potential to create 250 new jobs and expand infrastructure in Bar Nunn, a town with an estimated population of a little more than 3,000. The technology designed by Radiant hasnt been tested or approved yet, though a test is scheduled for 2026 at the Idaho National Laboratories. The microreactors would use TRISO fuel, small ceramic coated uranium pellets, considered less volatile than other fuel options. The microreactors would be sent to remote areas to generate power and would only be manufactured in Bar Nunn. However, Radiant has to collect spent nuclear fuel from the reactors approximately every five yearswhich they want to store near Bar Nunn at the manufacturing site. Current Wyoming law dictates that spent nuclear fuel can only stored at an operating reactor location but since Radiant is seeking to manufacture reactors, not operate them, the company is seeking an amendment to allow for manufacturers to store spent nuclear fuel. Murky methodology Radiant hired Cygnal, a polling company to conduct a survey on public opinion of the company and the proposed manufacturing/waste storage facilities. Chosen for their work with U.S. Rep Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming, Cygnal sent text messages to between 1,200 and 1,300 people, asking them to complete the survey. Participants were asked a series of demographic questions based on age, gender, political beliefs and income level. Then, groups of people were selected whose responses fit the general election and U.S. census data of Natrona County. The 300 people out of those surveyed who fit the desired demographic were invited to complete the rest of the survey. Radiant declined to disclose the exact demographic selected for the survey. It is unclear whether all the people surveyed are residents of Bar Nunn or simply live in Natrona County. Only 0.375% of all Natrona County residents were surveyed. The right scientific way to be able to do a survey like this is to do it based on a, OK like, heres what the population looks like, Ray Wert, Radiants vice president of marketing, said. Lets take a demographic slice of that population and make sure that were asking this survey to enough people who fit that demographic slice so that its representative of the entirety of the county. Cygnal conducted a probabilistic survey, but Radiant didnt disclose the survey sampling method used. According to the PEW Research Center, random sampling provides more representative data than other survey methods, which can introduce bias through the methods of locating certain demographics. Radiants survey data included an error margin of 5.64%. Vague graph titles and redacted poll questions The survey results sent out by Radiant feature three bar graphs with different colored bars. No key is included to indicate what the different colors mean. The graphs are titled Nuclear Safety, Nuclear Energy Production in the U.S. and Radiant Facility Opening. No graphs indicate survey results for storing nuclear waste on county land near Bar Nunn. The graph titles correspond to the themes of the questions in Radiants survey, but not to specific survey questions. The first four poll questions focus on political beliefs, ranging from Which one of the following issues is the most important to you in the election for Governor? to Generally speaking, would you say things in Wyoming are headed in the right direction or off on the wrong track? All survey questions are multiple choice with between four to 12 answer choices depending on the questions. The order of the answer choices is randomized, which is the order changing question to question. Questions five through seven focus on nuclear energy in general, with questions such as Which of the following best describe your view of nuclear energy as a power source? Questions eight through 13 ask about public opinion of Radiant in general. Radiant redacted questions 14 through 25 from the survey shown to the Star-Tribune, citing competitive intelligence purposes. Question 26 asked about participants news sources. Radiant didnt release the raw data from the survey or indicate how many people selected each response option. Other surveys and public opinion In addition to the Radiant survey, state Rep. Bill Allemand, R-Midwest, has cited a survey he conducted. The state lawmaker made that comment during a townhall he hosted on June 26. Allemand claims 70% of respondents to his survey are against Radiants plans. Allemand declined to disclose his survey results to the Star-Tribune. He just said it was a very large number and that he might release those results in September. At that townhall, a straw poll was conducted when Allemand asked for a raise of hands showing attendees whether they would support storing spent nuclear fuel in their backyard. Sixty-percent voted against it, while 4 people, at least two of whom are employed by Radiant, voted in support of it. At the meeting, 93.75% of attendees were opposed to Radiant storing nuclear waste in county land near Bar Nunn. Public opinion is still divided on whether Natrona County is a good home for Radiants manufacturing and waste storage facilities. If I have poison, which this is poison, I dont want it in my backyard, an Allemand townhall attendee said. She [state Rep. Jayme Lien, R-Casper] said theres no repository in the United States. Why is there no repository? Because no one wants poison. You think any of us want poison tonight?. I see it as a generational opportunity, Justin Farley, the head of Advance Casper, said. I would like to have my son and my sons children have an opportunity to work in that industry. And I think its the future. Two former patients have filed a lawsuit against the Casper-based plastic surgery business New Beautiful You and several others, alleging negligence which resulted in severe infections that compromised the healing process of their procedures. The patients jointly filed their suit in Natrona County District Court, claiming Dr. Christopher Stewart of New Beautiful You acted negligently and failed to fully inform the patients of risks. The plaintiffs also named New Beautiful You, its owner and multiple others as defendants. New Beautiful You markets itself as the top-rated cosmetic provider in Wyoming, court papers indicate. Attorneys for the plaintiffs allege in court papers Stewart has a well-documented trail of substandard surgical outcomes, spanning multiple states, and developed a pattern of unsafe surgical practices that ultimately led to multiple patient complaints, infections, and injuries. The lawsuit indicated the ordeal left the women disfigured and mutilated. The women who filed the lawsuit allege New Beautiful You should have known (or knew) about Stewarts history, but still allowed him to practice thereby placing vulnerable patientsincluding Plaintiffsat risk. One of the plaintiffs, Afton Jennings, sought a breast reduction with the Casper clinic to ease her chronic back and neck pain. The other plaintiff in that case, Casi Duncan, gravitated to New Beautiful You for its mommy makeover services, which include breast augmentation, liposuction and other procedures. In both cases, the plaintiffs allege Stewart, who was employed by New Beautiful You and performed related services at Summit Medical Center, did not adequately evaluate or otherwise attend to them during their recovery processes. Stewart performed a reduction on Jennings at Summit Medical Center in 2023, and according to the complaint, complications immediately ensued. Staff at Summit gave Jennings medications, essential oils and Seven-Up before discharging her. The complaint indicated staff did not provide her with wound care instructions, leaving her with the impression that everything was fine. She also wasnt warned of any symptoms to watch out for that could indicate further complications, according to the complaint. At a follow-up appointment four days after the procedure, Steward allegedly told Jennings he was not impressed with the coloring of the surgical site, but nonetheless wrote that Jennings was overall doing well. Two days after that, Jennings reported a fever. A photo taken of a surgical site included in the complaint shows yellowing of the skin around an incision and what appears to be abnormally dark tissue. When she called that afternoon, New Beautiful You allegedly refused to give her an appointment when she asked to see Stewart. Later that day, Jennings incision ruptured at home, to which a clinic representative responded that it was normal to have drainage. Within a week, a portion of Jenningss breast became necrotic. Following the removal of the necrotic tissue, Stewart left a note after a subsequent appointment saying Jennings was overall making great progress. The second plaintiff, Duncan, alleges she went to New Beautiful You for a mommy makeover, which included a breast augmentation. Following her own procedure, Duncan said she experienced infection at multiple surgical sites despite Stewarts notes consistently reporting positive signs of recovery and an expected good cosmetic outcome. In addition to the doctor and his employer, Duncan and Jennings named Shawn Snyder, a doctor of nursing and medical director of the facility; Joury Markowski, a nurse at the clinic; Melissa Black, founder and CEO of the clinic; John Roussalis, a plastic surgeon and vice president of New Beautiful You; Memorial Hospital of Converse County Board of Trustees; and Summit Medical Center. Duncan and Jennings are seeking damages to cover the cost of current and future medical care, lost wages and future income, physical pain and emotional distress, disfigurement and loss of bodily function and others. Stewarts case Further complicating matters for New Beautiful You is a separate lawsuit filed July 1 against the business by the embattled Stewart, who alleges that Black and New Beautiful You failed to pay him an agreed-upon amount for covering for the work of a departed medical director. The doctors lawsuit indicated New Beautiful You had a medical director at the time of his hiring in September 2022. Shortly thereafter, the medical director resigned, and Stewart was treated as the de-facto medical director of the facility by Black without discussing the matter. After he complained to Black about the additional work and lack of compensation, he and Black agreed to draft a contract and pay the doctor an extra $1,500 per month to fill that gap and to outline the scope of his practice, according to the lawsuit. Per the agreement, Stewart claimed New Beautiful You agreed to contribute $500 toward his retirement bimonthly. Neither the $1,500 nor the $500 sums were paid as agreed in the last 30 months, according to the lawsuit. Stewart alleged he was also not paid his standard monthly rate of $33,333.33 in May. Altogether, Stewart alleged New Beautiful You owes him more than $93,000 in unpaid compensation. Beyond the scope of those allegations, the complaint also indicated the clinic withheld nearly $3,000 pay from Stewart to deposit into a retirement account and that Black asked Stewart to co-sign on a loan for clinic equipment with the promise she would make all payments. Stewart claimed Black failed to make payments, forcing him to pay nearly $28,000 out of pocket to get up to date on the loan on June 10. Stewart is suing the clinic for breach of contract, conversion and unjust enrichment. The Star-Tribune reached out to the attorneys of New Beautiful You on Wednesday afternoon. They have not responded as of Friday. A stylish collaboration rooted in summer celebration LOS ANGELES, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, Avaline, the organic wine brand founded by Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power, unveils its most stylish pour yet: a limited-edition bottle of its beloved French Rose, dressed in a custom design by iconic fashion designer and sustainability advocate Stella McCartney. Together, they've created a statement piece for summer tablescapes that brings elevated design to every pour. This partnership brings together Avaline's mission of ingredient transparency and organic winemaking with Stella McCartney's celebrated commitment to responsible fashion, vegan living, and modern design. Avaline x Stella McCartney Limited Edition Rose "My Avaline design has this edgy 2000s aesthetic that reminds me of the early days with Cameron," said Stella McCartney. "I cherish and celebrate how our friendship only gets better with time, and love how we can always come together to cheers our shared passions for nature, animals, and organic, vegan wine. I hope our limited-edition bottle is at your side this summer, helping you to create friendships and memories for a lifetime." The Avaline x Stella McCartney Limited Edition Rose celebrates more than just warm-weather sippingit's a creative union of three longtime friends and changemakers: Cameron, Katherine, and Stella. Brought together by their shared passion for quality, nature, and a more mindful lifestyle, the collaboration brings organic winemaking and luxury design into perfect harmony. Crafted in the South of France with organic grapes and no unnecessary additives, Avaline Rose is crisp, fresh, and full of bright notes like summer melon and citrus zest. Now available in Stella's signature aesthetic, the bottle is both a statement piece and a celebration. "Partnering with Stellaa true pioneer in sustainable fashion and a longtime friendfelt like a natural extension of everything we believe in," said Cameron Diaz, co-founder of Avaline. "From what you wear to what you sip, we believe the choices you make should reflect care, quality, and consciousness. This limited-edition bottle blends Stella's iconic style with Avaline's organic winemaking for a celebration of summer, self-expression, and shared values," stated Katherine Power, co-founder of Avaline. The limited-edition bottle design, led by McCartney, features bold, modern graphics that elevate Avaline's signature style, perfect for gifting, outdoor dining, and seasonal celebrations. Made with organic grapes, free from unnecessary extras and transparently labeled, this wine is crafted for those who care about what's in their glass and how it's made. The Avaline x Stella McCartney limited-edition bottle will be available at select retailers and online at drinkavaline.com. Stay tuned through Avaline social channels (@avaline) for more information on activations in key markets throughout the summer. About Avaline Avaline is a wine company founded in 2020 by Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power that is raising the industry standard by making organic wine more accessible without sacrificing taste. The brand offers a thoughtful collection of crowd-pleasing favorites that are made with transparencyall Avaline wines are made from organic grapes, low in sugar and sulfites, vegan, and free from added concentrates, with their ingredients and nutritional information listed right on the label. Avaline is available in retail stores nationwide and direct to consumer via drinkavaline.com and for additional information, follow along @avaline. About Stella McCartney Stella McCartney is a luxury lifestyle brand founded in 2001 by Stella McCartney, a trailblazer in sustainable fashion who has consistently redefined what modern luxury can look like. Committed to creating beautiful, innovative designs without compromising on ethics, the brand is known for its use of cruelty-free materials and its dedication to responsible sourcing and circularity. Stella McCartney offers a range of ready-to-wear, accessories, lingerie, fragrance, eyewear, and children's collections, all guided by a vision of conscious consumption. The brand is available in flagship stores across major global cities and online at stellamccartney.com. For additional information, follow along @stellamccartney. Press Contact: Avaline: [email protected]. SOURCE Avaline CHAIRMAN Emeritus of the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society George Laquis has called on stakeholders to focus on the well-being of the nations children, whether through healthier lifestyles, education or security. Laquis expressed concern for many of the countrys young people, and yesterday said everything must be done to ensure their future. WE have clearly reached the tipping point in this socially decaying society that I have warned about for the last ten years in my Express columns, unheeded by the Rowley administrations. Our present plight is lucidly reflected in the words of the Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar who after having the present state of emergency (SoE) declared by the President, spoke with resolve. A University of Arizona cancer research lab, facing difficulties in getting federal funding, has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for its work. The cancer research lab led by Joyce Schroeder, a UA professor of molecular and cellular biology has had smaller pockets of funding from internal university grants to keep her lab going. However, they are still between federal funds right now, which is where the big dollars come from to do major research projects, she said. Schroeders lab specializes in metastatic breast cancer research, including the investigation of a protein called Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, which is a big driver of all types of cancer, not just breast cancer. Her research, which started two decades ago, is about studying the specific behavior of this protein that drives breast cancer and developing a drug that can block that behavior. Schroeder told the Arizona Daily Star on Monday that federal funding for cancer research is always difficult to get, not just in the current Trump administration. So typically, the pay line for the type of grants that fund the research I do is around 7%. So, that means 93% of all cancer researchers out there who are applying for these grants are rejected, just simply because theres not enough money to go around for all the ideas out there, Schroeder said. We, as a nation, put up a lot of money historically into cancer research, a lot more than other nations. But its still a very, very small amount when you think about how much needs to be done to address the problem, she continued. ... Despite that, weve still been successful over the last few decades. But recently, in the last couple years, its been really difficult, and we havent been able to get a federal grant. Schroeder said the crowdfunding initiative, a GoFundMe fundraiser which started off as a joke, was created by one of the PhD students in her lab, Danielle DiFranco, after speaking with her family about how hard it was to obtain research funding. All the credit for the fundraiser, which has raised about $5,030 as of Friday, goes to DiFranco, Schroeder said. DiFranco said she was discussing the struggles of finding funding with her mom, who has several relatives who have had breast cancer and were interested in donating money. This is when her mom floated the idea of starting a GoFundMe page, so they had one source to collect all the donations. The type of breast cancer that we study does not have a lot of great treatments currently, said DiFranco, who is in her third year of working on a PhD and being a part of Schroeders lab. There are some targeted treatments depending on each individual person, but its really like chemotherapy and stuff is the main standard of care, which is really hard on the body, hard on the people who have to go through it. So, were trying to develop therapies that would be more targeted and less harmful to patients. Our goal is to help people. DiFranco said the biggest thing that shes grateful for are that people are willing to donate. I know a lot of people have personal stories about breast cancer or other cancers, and our goal is to help them, she said. And its just nice to get some publicity on the fact that the scientific research world is hurting in the state of the U.S. right now. About the fundraising initiative, UA spokesperson Mitch Zak said while the UA Foundation is not intended to fund large-scale university research, it maintains a crowdfunding platform for faculty, departments and other campus community members with mission-driven projects and an engaged base of potential supporters. In fiscal year 2025, the Foundation hosted more than 20 crowdfunding projects led by faculty and students, raising $220,500 to support a wide range of efforts, from Campus Recreation to college-based initiatives, Zak said. The crowdfunding money will be put towards buying lab supplies in Schroeders lab. As for the salaries of the two PhD students and three undergraduate students working in her lab, she said PhD students are typically funded through federal grants, teaching assistant positions where they teach classes in addition to doing their research, and scholarships and fellowships. DiFranco was being paid by UAs Cancer Center till the end of the summer and now has been awarded a UA fellowship to pay her salary for the next year, while the other PhD student is being paid through a teaching assistant position. Finally, the three undergraduate students in her lab are getting course credit for their work. The Arizona Cancer Center was founded almost 50 years ago, and is one of just 57 such centers nationwide, said UAs Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation Tomas Diaz de la Rubia. He said the UA is proud to be home to one of the nations premier cancer research enterprises, anchored by the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center headquartered in Arizona. Schroeder said that lots of federal agencies fund science and research in general. However, Diaz de la Rubia said external funding for cancer research to the center comes from federal sources like the NCI, an institute within the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as private sources such as the American Cancer Society and multiple foundations. Schroeder is now waiting for one grant application submitted with the Department of Defense to move forward on the development of the drug that blocks behavior driving breast cancer. Additionally, they were also attempting to identify patients suitable for receiving the drug through grant money from the Food and Drug Administration. Mapping her journey of developing this drug in the last 20 years, Schroeder said there had been three attempts with different grants to develop the drug through funding from several sources over time, including NCI, the DOD and investors as well. Schroeder said the third drug development attempt is the one theyre currently working on, after learning from the first two attempts, and that it looks fantastic. Schroeder said the third attempt was successful since they made this discovery that the drug is activating the immune system. After this, they submitted a grant for follow-up research with NCI, who said this is a good idea, but they needed more proof in the form of pilot data that would tell them if this is a good place to invest taxpayer money. At this point, UAs Cancer Center stepped in and offered them a small pilot grant of $30,000 in February this year to do minimal experiments and find out if the drug is working. Schroeder said $15,000 of UAs Cancer Center pilot grant had been spent so far, and the results of the research showed the drug was working the way they hypothesized. And so, they reapplied to the defense department with new data to get the full federal funding. Speaking of impacts of the current federal funding turmoil, Schroeder pointed to the DOD capping indirect cost reimbursement rates for higher education institutions at 15% May 14, and said this will affect her research if her grant application is approved. The defense departments cap comes after NIH and NSF moved to put the same 15% cap in place. Schroeder said the DOD cap would bring indirect costs at the UA down from about 55%. The translation of that is there is less money in the grant to do the actual research. So, it (would) cut the amount of actual research that I could do by about a third, she said. So, you know, as Im designing the experiments that we were proposing to do, I couldnt design all that I thought needed to be done. I had to look at the budget and say, Well now, we can only afford a third less of those experiments.Well do our best to get as much information we can, but its less than we would have otherwise. And thats disappointing. Speaking of the significance of science and research, Schroeder said the research she does in her lab is very applicable to people and their lives. Were not just understanding whats going on with cancer. Were trying to develop therapies to treat people. So, we have a strong translational arc in our lab and the research we do, and were trying to directly impact peoples lives by developing treatments for cancer, she said. Homeland Security Investigations agents, dressed in plain clothes, aimed assault-style rifles at two Tucson humanitarian-aid volunteers, and detained and handcuffed them along the border-wall road east of Sasabe in March, a claim filed against the federal government says. Tucson Samaritans Gail Kocourek, 74, and Evan Spry, 22, are alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress, assault and false arrest/false imprisonment, according to two notices of claim filed against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, HSIs parent agency, on Friday. The claims are precursors to filing a lawsuit against the U.S. government, which will happen if the parties cant come to a settlement agreement, said Tucson attorney Paul Gattone, who is representing the migrant-aid volunteers. Theyre each seeking $543,750, including attorneys fees, for pain and suffering following the March 12 incident along the U.S.-Mexico border, about 70 miles southwest of Tucson. This was outrageous conduct on the part of these federal agents, Gattone said in a Friday interview. It is disturbing that this seems to be a developing trend among federal agents and federal officials ... to be threatening excessive force against people who have done nothing against the law. An ICE spokeswoman said Friday the agency does not comment on pending litigation. On March 12, Kocourek, Spry and one other volunteer were traveling along the border road, east of the border town of Sasabe, Ariz., a trip that Kocourek makes about three times per week. All were unarmed, the claim said. The border-wall road here is understood to be a public-access road thats routinely used by migrant-aid volunteers and ranchers in the area, the claim said. During these regular border trips, Kocourek drives a four-wheel-drive truck marked Samaritans with a Red Cross-style logo on the side. While driving toward the end of the border wall, south of Ruby, Ariz., the Tucson Samaritans saw three men, one of them holding an assault-style rifle, standing next to an unmarked sports-utility vehicle. None wore a uniform. At the time, Kocourek and her fellow volunteers believed the armed men to be among the vigilantes who have been harassing migrants and humanitarian workers along the border, the claim said. The vigilantes are often affiliated with right-wing militias and the Samaritans had recently received a report that vigilantes had vandalized a humanitarian water station in the area. Kocourek, who was driving, drove past the men before later turning around and heading west on the border wall road, back toward Sasabe and Highway 286. But the unmarked SUV was now positioned lengthwise across the road, in an apparent attempt to block the Samaritans truck. Several men exited the SUV as Kocoureks truck approached and aimed their weapons at the Samaritans, according to a brief video recording shared with the Arizona Daily Star. Believing her life to be in danger, the claim said, Kocourek drove around the unmarked SUV, which began pursuing the Samaritans truck. There were no emergency lights, sirens, or anything to indicate the pursuing SUV was law enforcement, the claim said. The pursuit continued for several minutes at a high rate of speed along the dirt road until (Kocourek) spotted a marked Border Patrol vehicle perched on the side of the road. (Kocourek) stopped and the passengers hastily told the agent that armed men were in pursuit. The Border Patrol agent spoke into his radio, and only then did Kocourek and Spry learn that the armed men were federal agents. Later, they learned the agents were with Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative arm of ICE. When the agents caught up, they aimed their guns at the Samaritans again, and handcuffed and detained them, which the tort claim alleges exceeded federal agents authority. As federal agents are not peace officers under Arizona law, they generally cant make arrests for violations of state law and had no reason to believe the Samaritans violated federal law, the tort claims said. Despite this, they (the HSI agents) determined it necessary to block the road in the most threatening manner imaginable, according to the claim. Well-known at the border Kocoureks claim notes that she is among the most well-recognized migrant-aid volunteers on the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, which she visits usually three times a week to bring water, food and medical supplies to those who might be in need of assistance. During busy times in this area of the border, the Samaritans often waited hours with asylum seekers who wanted to surrender to Border Patrol, and reported migrants presence to agents in the area. Kocoureks presence in these unforgiving lands has led to a friendly, respectful rapport with Border Patrol agents, the claim said. It is not uncommon for a Border Patrol agent, upon learning that he will soon be transferred or promoted, to share their news with Claimant (Kocourek) as one would to a coworker. Kocourek has told the Star that shes intentionally tried to forge a warm rapport with border agents whom she regularly encounters during her volunteer work, making sure to greet them and offer information about the status of migrants and asylum seekers in remote areas of the borderlands. That collaboration has been particularly needed along the steep border-wall road east of Sasabe, where border agents vehicles often struggled to reach hundreds of asylum seekers who were seeking to surrender to Border Patrol in late 2023 and early 2024, shes told the Star. Kocourek and other Samaritans say border agents often welcomed the information Samaritans shared with them about the number, and health status, of arriving asylum seekers in the remote area. The amount of damages sought is the average of the amount awarded in four comparable cases cited in the tort claims, said attorney Billy Peard, who is also representing Kocourek and Spry. This amount is also reasonable in light of comparable settlement amounts by other law enforcement agencies within the Ninth Circuit where law enforcement officers pointed their firearms at civilians without provocation or justification, according to the claim. That includes a 2020 case in which the City of Phoenix agreed to pay $475,000 during settlement discussions, after one of its officers approached a family sitting in their parked car with his gun drawn. Peard said its still not clear why agents affiliated with ICE, which typically operates in the interior of the country, were on the border-wall road that day in an area typically patrolled by Border Patrol. He said the agents actions that day were unjustified and needlessly threatening. Our clients were traveling in a lawful manner, in a lawful place, Peard said. Their purpose was widely understood in the region by federal authorities. But a federal agency, that typically is not seen in this region, for some unknown reason chose to operate in plainclothes, in unmarked vehicles and for some unknown reason decided to instigate (an interaction with) a clearly marked humanitarian vehicle, using incredibly alarming tactics that had only one interpretation threatening to kill. ANAHEIM, Calif., July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Centaurus Financial, Inc., recognizing the devastation in central Texas as a result of the severe flooding over the Fourth of July weekend, has donated $30,000 to multiple organizations helping people in the area. The Anaheim, California-based independent broker/dealer has donated $10,000 each to Samaritan's Purse, Austin Pets Alive and the American Red Cross. At least 120 lives have been lost, and more than 170 people are still missing as a result of the flooding. These groups are working around the clock helping survivors recover. "While we are devastated as a result of the horrific loss of life in Texas, in addition to our thoughts and prayers, Centaurus felt the need to do more. At the direction of our CEO, Ron King, and the entire Executive Management Committee, we wanted to be part of the solution," said Jerry Duhovic, Centaurus Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. "As such, we have made contributions to several organizations that are helping our fellow citizens, and the animals, to try and ease the suffering and aid in the recovery process from this unspeakable devastation and tumult." "It almost sounds like not enough considering this life-altering event, but the thoughts and prayers of the entire Centaurus Family are with our brothers and sisters in Texas," he added. Samaritan's Purse, a nondenominational Christian group based in Boone, North Carolina, provides spiritual and physical aid to people around the world. The group has had teams on the ground in Kerr County, Texas, where the greatest damage was inflicted, since July 8. More information on Samaritan's Purse can be found at samaritanspurse.org. Click here to donate. Austin Pets Alive is leading the rescue effort to save animals that are homeless, hurt or lost in the flooding and is working to reunite them with their families. The group has rescued more than 100 pets since the floods occurred. To learn more about Austin Pets Alive, or to donate to help animals in need, go to https:www.austinpetsalive.org. The American Red Cross, as it has done for nearly 150 years, is helping by providing food, relief supplies and other resources much needed by survivors. The group also has two reunification centers where people can reunite with loved ones. To donate to the Red Cross, go to redcross.org. About Centaurus Financial Headquartered in Anaheim, California, Centaurus Financial, Inc. is a national independent financial services company registered and licensed to offer securities, investment advisory services and insurance products. Centaurus Financial is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Centaurus Financial is registered as a broker/dealer and Registered Investment Adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For more information about Centaurus Financial, please visit centaurusfinancial.com. Media contact: Maryanne Dell, 714-456-1790, [email protected] SOURCE Centaurus Financial, Inc. Every day, a woman dies in the U.S. from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth deaths that could often be prevented. The stark reality is that the United States, despite being one of the worlds wealthiest nations, has a maternal mortality rate that should alarm us all. American women are dying at rates 55% higher than those in Chile, the country with the second-highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations, according to a June 2024 report from The Commonwealth Fund. Pregnant women in rural portions of the U.S. also often are in maternal health deserts, lacking adequate obstetric care. And American women are the least likely among their international peers to receive crucial support, like home visits and guaranteed paid leave. Here in Tucson, innovators are fighting back. A Tucson-born solution Courtney Williams, co-founder of Emagine Solutions Technology, and her team are using a powerful tool to help improve maternal health: technology that connects women with the care they need, when they need it. We offer women and their medical care providers connectivity, communication, and data-driven information about all aspects of a womans pregnancy and condition, Williams said. The goal is improving outcomes. Williams, who holds degrees from UAs Eller College of Management and ASUs Thunderbird School of Global Management, helped launch Emagine in 2017. Their journey began with education, support, and monitoring for pregnant women, initially through a handheld ultrasound device introduced in 2020. The real breakthrough came in 2023 with The Journey Pregnancy app a comprehensive platform thats transforming prenatal care. The results speak for themselves: After marketing primarily through social media, Emagine experienced explosive 10X user growth in 2024, a trend that has continued through the first half of 2025. Technology meets maternal care The Journey Pregnancy App offers something remarkable: comprehensive pregnancy support thats both sophisticated and accessible. Best of all, its free for users. The apps features address the gaps in our current maternal health system. Through a partnership with Vital View scan technology, women can monitor their blood pressure without equipment. The app continuously tracks symptoms, medications, and side effects while providing extensive articles and research on every aspect of pregnancy. It also monitors nutrition, including cravings and aversions. Another feature of the App is a virtual doula. Traditionally, a doula is a trained professional who works directly with expectant mothers. In the pregnancy app, the Doula is an AI-powered assistant who provides emotional and physical support through birth. This isnt just about convenience, its about filling the dangerous gaps left by our fragmented healthcare system. When 35% of counties lack adequate maternal care, technology becomes a lifeline. Tucsons innovation hub Emagine represents the best of Tucsons growing technology ecosystem. Founded and based in Tucson and supported by The University of Arizona Center for Innovation, the company operates from the UA Tech Park a hub where innovative technology companies across industries are developing solutions to real-world problems. This is what innovation looks like when it matters: local entrepreneurs identifying a national crisis and building solutions that can save lives. The path forward Emagine Solutions Technology represents one crucial piece of the maternal health puzzle. By providing connectivity, education, and data-based support for women at all stages of pregnancy and beyond, The Journey Pregnancy app is bringing a new level of prenatal care to patients who need it most. The maternal health crisis in America demands urgent action from policymakers, healthcare systems, and communities. But it also requires the kind of innovative thinking that Williams and Juarez bring to the challengetechnology that puts womens health and safety at the center of the solution. In a country where being pregnant shouldnt be a risk to a womans life, companies like Emagine are proving that innovation and compassion can work together to save lives. The question isnt whether we can solve this crisis its whether we have the will to act. A man has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection with a fatal stabbing earlier this month in Reid Park, Tucson police said. Ramsey Waylon King, 36, was apprehended by police on July 10 in the deadly stabbing at the park that occurred July 2, police said in a news release. Joshua Julian Francisco, 36, was found wounded in the park near East 22nd Street and South Country Club Road. He died later at a hospital. King was booked into the Pima County jail. Bond was set at $1 million. The new interim principal at Tucson High School, the districts largest campus, was a key player in an investigation by the Star into alleged religious misconduct. Jonathan Lansa, recently the senior director of federal programs and school improvement for TUSD, was tied to a 2015 Star investigation while principal at Amphitheater High School. The investigation looked into the schools relationship with Faith Christian Church, which multiple former members have described as a cult. He was eventually cleared at Amphi, TUSD Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo says, but his new job leading a campus of over 3,000 students has raised eyebrows among former church members. TUSD said late last week that Lansa was training out of town and would likely be too busy, even after his return, for an interview with the Star. Lansa has been a Faith Christian director since 2010, according to an Arizona Corporation Commission filing. The church was the subject of multiple Arizona Daily Star investigations from 2015 to 2023, where more than 20 former Faith Christian members and staffers alleged it promotes spanking of infants as young as eight weeks old, requires women to remain quiet and obedient and exerts excessive control over the lives and finances of its members. Church members actively recruit students on the University of Arizona campus, with a mission to evangelize college students, says its website. Led by pastor Steve Hall, the church has urged parents to start spanking babies early to keep demons at bay, which was recorded in a sermon and reported by the Star in 2023. The church very much acted the same way as what I would call a high functioning cult, said Andrew Winslow, a former church member. To anyone who would come on a given Sunday, everything would seem like any other non-denominational evangelical Christian Church . . . Where everything took place was always in private. Winslow became a member of the church in 1997 and was expelled from the organization in 2021 after requesting transparency on church finances. He had been in a Sunday mens covenant group with Lansa for about six years before getting married. Later on, he and his wife joined Lansas married couples covenant group from 2016 to 2021. Many of the topics of conversation in this group included child discipline, family finances and buying homes, which the church often tried to control, Winslow said. If a topic crossed the line into a hot topic button for the church, like child discipline or homeschooling of children, then you might get down into the deeper road of whether or not we were conforming to the right kind of standard, Winslow said. He said child discipline was not usually a topic of conversation in his marriage covenant discussions, however recalled a conversation where Lansa implied that Winslow and his wife should spank their, at the time, 18-month-old daughter any time she would move off her blanket at home or test the couple. Winslow said their daughter was picking up silverware at the kitchen table and dropping it on the floor during their conversation at Lansas home, which was when Lansa shot him a look to discipline his daughter. It was Winslows last time at Lansas house. I had a roommate who was encouraged (by other church leaders) to spank his child as young as six months old for waking up in the middle of the night and not obeying his command to fall asleep, Winslow said. That was about the same time we were getting red flags that said we had to go, but I cant say Jon ever gave us specific instructions like that. Winslow said that while Faith Christian has concerning demands for parents who are more involved with the church, he doesnt believe Lansa would physically harm a student. He said his concerns more so rely on Lansa tying in his role at the church with his role as principal. I would expect that to be a weak area. That would be something that could be compromised later, Winslow said. When he was principal of Amphi, there were allegations to this effect. Lansa served as Amphitheater High Schools principal for nine years before leaving in 2020 to work in his most recent role at TUSD. Faith Christian began renting the high school shortly before he became principal in 2011, according to a 2015 story, and ended its contract a few years later once complaints arose. In 2015, Amphitheater Public Schools district reviewed its rental relationship with the local religious group after it received three complaints that church members would move school equipment and bend the districts rental rules. Former employees had said Lansas oversight of the rental agreement caused friction with their boss and made them feel there was nowhere to share concerns when the churchs activities caused problems for students, who were left to clean up and reorganize moved furniture. Several employees also claimed Lansa displayed his faith on the job, holding prayer meetings on-site with other Faith Christian members who work at Amphi High. The sessions took place in the morning while employees were on the clock, but before students arrived, the Star reported. In all my years of teaching, I never dreaded going to work until I started working for Jon Lansa, Rolande Baker, a former special-education teacher at Amphi High, said in 2015. She reportedly retired a year early in 2013 and told then-associate superintendent Patrick Nelson it was due to Lansa. If Steve Hall said, we would love to rent space at TUSD because of how close it is to campus, and now Jons the principal, that would be an area where he might have some sort of compromise, former Faith Christian member Winslow said. Winslow also questioned Lansas belief in the public school system, as he said Faith Christian requires parents to homeschool all of their children. What he was taught at FCC was that public education is the systematic abdication of a parents authority and handing your children over to the government for training, Winslow said. Its awful, people get kicked out of the church for even asking if they could send their kids to a public school. Pastor Halls Principle Method for Building a Christian Generation, sent by Winslow, details three jurisdictions of external government that include family, church and civil government. In the document, education falls under family. When lines between the jurisdictions are blurred, or when authority within jurisdiction is abdicated, great disorder results, it says. Strangely, the following chapter actually discusses the problem of stating a belief in one thing and doing another as a matter of double-mindedness, Winslow said. So why would any FCC member who believes in this philosophy willingly support public education? Nick Puente, who was raised in the church until he left in 2005, said the church has always functioned like this. He said he was homeschooled by his mother all throughout his school years and later became a church staff member in 2002. Theres a lot of it that I am grateful for. I got a really good education from my mother and got one-on-one attention, but I think it was when there were even suggestions of going to school, it was very much a how dare you (situation), Puente said. It was an unwritten, unspoken rule, but if you went against that suggestion, there would be consequences. There would be public shaming and humiliation. Puente said he left the church right around the same time he and his wife had their daughter, because he didnt believe in Faith Christians methods of raising children. Even though I was raised in it, I knew I did not want my daughter in that. I didnt want the pressure to essentially abuse her, Puente said. A large high school needs someone who knows what theyre doing, and I know I would never trust anyone in FCC to have any say in the lives of children. Four other former members of Faith Christian, who requested anonymity in fear of retaliation from church members or no longer wanting any association with the church, also shared concerns with Lansa causing problems for students by bringing church practices in during school hours and questioned his belief in the public school system. TUSD Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo said a candidate from New Mexico was originally set to take a permanent principal position at Tucson High, but due to family issues, that person dropped out. TUSD then had to search for another interim principal for the second year in a row. Its only had turnover because weve struggled to find the right fit for its permanent leader, Trujillo said. Trujillo said that when Lansa was first hired by TUSD as senior director of federal programs and school improvement in 2020, the complaints at Amphi High were something they looked into. We researched these allegations diligently, they were already in the public space, he said. Amphitheater at that time, five years ago and even today, maintains that its internal investigations did not find that Jon was engaging in any of these alleged activities and exonerated him in terms of these accusations. TUSD officials did not receive an official copy of the investigative report, but were provided verbal confirmation that the allegations were unfounded, said Karla Escamilla, a district spokeswoman. Then-Amphi attorney Todd Jaeger, who is now Amphitheater Public Schools superintendent, did not disclose the results of the probe in the Stars 2015 investigation, citing attorney-client privilege. When the Star recently reached out for investigation results and information again this month, Jaeger wrote in an email, We no longer have any such records if they ever existed at all. The 3-year retention period for records pertaining to investigations occurring (if such an investigation did indeed occur) passed long ago, requiring destruction of the records under Arizona law. Trujillo said he does not have any worries about Lansas role as a director at Faith Christian Church, nor Lansa bringing Faith Christian activities into the school. We looked at Faith Christian, and as of this date, that organization has never been arraigned in federal, state or district court. Its never been brought up on charges, he said. The opinions, attitudes and beliefs about the organization online are troubling, but we believe that people are entitled to formal due process, and one of the dangers of the internet is that pretty much anybody can write anything. Trujillo said the governing board has a policy that establishes TUSD as a politically neutral organization. He said the district does not permit any employees to engage in religious theology-based instruction or promote their own personal religious beliefs on a school campus. We have never had an incident here where any of our principals or district leaders have been accused of proselytizing or using their positions or district facilities to promote specific religious beliefs, he said. We have every confidence that Jon understands that. He said one of the primary reasons the district hired Lansa to lead the school was because of the achievements he accomplished while at Amphitheater High School. Within a three-year period, Lansa raised Amphi from a D rating to a B rating. That was one of the higher performing schools in one of the more challenging areas socio-economically in Amphitheater School District, he said. He is a principal very comfortable in his experience working at a district flagship school. Lansa was not available for an interview before publication due to being away for a conference and a busy schedule upon return. I am deeply honored to be appointed Interim Principal at Tucson High Magnet School, and I thank the Superintendent and the Board for their trust and approval. I am eager to begin this important work for our students, staff, and the Tucson community, Lansa wrote in a statement. The Star emailed Lansa questions on if he stood by Faith Christians alleged practices. He did not respond. Lansas salary was about $100,900 in the 2019-20 school year, his last year as principal at Amphitheater High School. He is set to make about $114,000 in his interim position at Tucson High for the 2025-2026 school year. Its another triple-digit July day in Tucson, and Dana Hemmenway could really use a knit cap and a parka. The head of conservation for the Center for Creative Photography is about to step inside a cool new addition she is overseeing at the University of Arizona institution: a state-of-the-art cold storage facility where subfreezing temperatures will help preserve the work of some of Americas best-known photographers. The 4,500-square-foot space on the centers third floor includes three separate walk-in vaults for old negatives and color prints made with dyes and chemicals that gradually break down under normal, warmer storage conditions. If you put them in cold storage, that will slow down any deterioration thats happening, says Hemmenway, who joined the center in 2017. It wont stop it, but you slow it down. The first archival material will be moved into the vaults later this month. Center officials are calling it the largest facility of its kind among similar collecting institutions, with enough room to accommodate the collections continued growth over the next 20 years. The roughly $1 million project represents the centers first expansion of archival storage space since its current building on the U of A campus opened in 1989 near East Speedway and North Park Avenue. There had been a much smaller freezer, and we just needed more room, says CCP director Todd Tubutis. With 4,500 square-feet, every single negative can go in. And we have tens of thousands of slides in the collection, so those will all go in there, too. Art at risk The Center for Creative Photography is home to career-spanning archives by such legendary North American photographers as Richard Avedon, Lola Alvarez Bravo, David Hume Kennerly, W. Eugene Smith, Edward Weston, Garry Winogrand and Ansel Adams, who co-founded the research repository in 1975 with then-U of A president John Schaefer. All of Adams negatives are now archived at the center. Hemmenway says the earliest types of plastic film were made from nitrate or acetate, two flexible, transparent polymers that revolutionized photography but are unstable at room temperature. As the negatives plastic base breaks down, it causes distortion and what conservators call channeling on the gelatin layer where the image is stored. Nitrate film is also highly flammable, which is why it was phased out in favor of acetate, also known as safety film. Acetate has since been replaced by film made from polyester, an inert plastic that doesnt deteriorate. Storing the old film in the cold can extend its lifespan by hundreds of years, Hemmenway says. For example, a negative kept at 92 degrees Fahrenheit and 5% humidity might last no more than a few decades. But if you drop the temperature to freezing and bump the humidity up to 35%, that same piece of film might survive for closer to 1,000 years, she says, pointing to a chart from a research study she keeps stuck to the side of a filing cabinet in the centers conservation lab. Thats approximately what were dealing with: orders of magnitude, she says. The centers nitrate negatives will be stored in one vault and its acetate negatives in another, both of them set at 25 degrees and 35% relative humidity. A third vault, chilled to just 40 degrees, will hold color prints containing organic dyes that tend to fade over time. What we want to do is get things into cold storage before that begins to happen, right? It buys us a lot of time, both with our negatives and with our color prints, says Hemmenway, who previously worked as a conservator at the Library of Congress, the George Eastman Museum and New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art. Cold plunge The project has been in the works since 2018, when Hemmenway secured an initial $100,000 grant from a private foundation to replace the old walk-in freezer where the center had been storing its nitrate negatives. That money paid for a new nitrate storage chamber, along with the containers and the shelves where the material will be kept. The center and the university then applied for additional funding for two additional vaults so the collections acetate negatives and color prints could also be stored in the cold, Hemmenway says. So it went from this kind of nugget to a much bigger project. Tubutis says protecting the collection is crucial because of how significant it is and who it ultimately belongs to. Danas endeavor here is huge, because these are all assets of the state of Arizona as part of the university, he says. We take that seriously. Since the old walk-in freezer was dismantled to make way for construction of the new cold storage facility, the centers nitrate negatives have been sealed inside humidity-controlled containers and packed away inside eight household freezers scattered throughout the building. As a result, the material has been unavailable for study for the past three years now. Weve had years-long waiting lists by researchers to get to these negatives, and we just simply cant show them, Tubutis says. Its actually important for us to get this (new facility) going, so that people can get at the material and look at what weve got. On July 21, staff members will finally begin emptying out the freezers and moving the nitrate negatives into their new home. After that, the archive team will turn its attention to the most vulnerable acetate negatives, which will be placed in cold storage on a photographer-by-photographer basis. Weve done a survey to find out whose materials are at risk for becoming distorted and channeled, so well go next with that particular photographer as we can get them prioritized and moved over, Hemmenway says. In my opinion, the sooner the better. The color prints will be added to their dedicated vault later on, once the center secures the funding it needs to install all the necessary shelves and storage bins. That same vault, the largest of the three, will also be used to store other things that benefit from lower temperatures and are at risk, including other kinds of plastics, audio visual materials, magnetic media, optical media and things on glass, Hemmenway says. Chilling out When researchers request something from cold storage, they will have to wait about a day for it to thaw out before they will be allowed to look at it. This is a very low-tech thing, Hemmenway explains. The requested materials, still in their archival box, will first need to be brought out of the vault inside a store-bought cooler to protect them from condensation as they warm overnight. Hemmenway says coats, hats and gloves will be available for anyone working in cold storage. The vault doors are equipped with safety releases and alarms so no one gets trapped inside, but she says workers will be required to carry their cell phones and notify someone before they go in, just in case. There also will be limits on how much time staff members can spend in the cold. Its all going to be very, very tightly controlled, Hemmenway says. It could take several years to sort through the centers entire collection, pluck out the items that need to go into cold storage and organize that material once its inside the facility. Were gonna have to go through files and pull things one by one, Tubutis says. Its also a major Tetris game, right? Sometimes boxes have to be replaced with better boxes, Hemmenway adds. Sometimes, in order to fit in the cabinetry, what was a very large record-storage box has to be decanted, as it were, into smaller boxes. Moving material into the new storage facility will require so much staff time and resources that the center has announced a temporary moratorium on loaning out items from its collection or adding new acquisitions through the end of 2027. During the transition to cold storage, some gallery space at the center also will be closed to the public for two years, starting Jan. 1, 2026. But Hemmenway expects all the work and the disruptions to pay off for the center and its patrons, now and well into the future. We have millions of items in the archive and over 120,000 in our fine print collection, she says. Theres enough to keep a conservator here busy for hundreds of years, and hopefully with our cold storage, well have hundreds of years. Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today A controversial traffic ticket case involving the brother of Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Muscogee Creek Nation may be headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Keith Stitts attorney petitioned the court this week to review the case, which hinges on the question of whether a local government has jurisdiction to prosecute a tribal citizen for a minor crime committed in Indian Country. In February 2021, a Tulsa police officer pulled Stitt over and cited him for speeding. Stitt, a member of the Cherokee Nation, immediately protested, claiming that it was wrong for the municipality to issue him a ticket in light of the Supreme Courts 2020 ruling in the landmark McGirt vs. Oklahoma case. The case affirmed that the Muscogee (Creek) Nations reservation had never been disestablished and that, as a result, state courts lacked jurisdiction to prosecute a tribal citizen named Jimcy McGirt for a felony committed within boundaries of the reservation. Since the McGirt ruling, most of eastern Oklahoma has been declared Indian Country for criminal jurisdiction purposes. Though Stitts case is different in that it involves only a speeding ticket, he has pressed his claim through lower courts that the Tulsa Police Department lacks jurisdiction in legal matters involving tribal citizens. A motion filed in Tulsa Municipal Court to dismiss the case was denied in April of 2022, with the judge referencing the Curtis Act in ruling that Tulsa had jurisdiction to prosecute Stitt. Dating back to 1898, the Curtis Act weakened tribal governments in Indian Territory by dissolving tribal courts and subjecting all persons in the territory to federal law. After a second motion to dismiss was denied in May of 2022, Stitt was convicted in Tulsa Municipal Court and fined $250, but he appealed to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. In a separate but related case, in June 2023, the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals held in Hooper v. City of Tulsa that the city did not have criminal jurisdiction over tribal citizens under the Curtis Act. However, in December of 2024, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruled in yet another case, City of Tulsa v. OBrien, that the city may assert jurisdiction in some cases over some tribal citizens in Indian Country. In March, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals held in a ruling that state and local jurisdiction would not be preempted by federal law in cases where so-called non-member Indian defendants are accused of non-major state or local crimes within tribal reservations other than their own. In doing so, the court further upheld the City of Tulsas handling of the Stitt case. On Monday, Stitts lawyer, Brett Chapman, petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the appeals courts judgment, claiming that ever since the historic McGirt ruling the state of Oklahoma has been systematically attempting to undermine the cases extended legal ramifications. Five years ago, this court handed down one of the most courageous and transformational rulings in the entire history of this institution, elevating righteousness over perpetuating injustice in McGirt v. Oklahoma. In the face of dire warnings about chaos and disruption of the established order, this court chose fidelity to the rule of law over convenience, the petition states. The case (currently) before the court reveals that Oklahoma never intended to accept the restoration of proper jurisdiction. Instead, (the state) and its political subdivisions launched a systemic campaign of legal warfare designed to achieve through judicial erosion what it could not accomplish directly: effectively overruling this courts landmark (McGirt) decision in practice. If the Supreme Court agrees to accept the case, justices will be asked to resolve not just whether Stitt should have to pay a fine for speeding but also much more consequential questions about who should have jurisdiction to prosecute Native Americans in Indian Country. Specifically, the petition seeks for the court to decide whether Oklahoma may exercise criminal jurisdiction over an Indian for conduct in Indian County absent a valid congressional grant of authority. Last month, nearly a year and a half after the Muscogee Nation filed a suit against the city of Tulsa for prosecuting tribal citizens within the Muscogee Reservation, the parties reached a settlement. Under its terms, the city agreed to not exercise criminal jurisdiction over Indian defendants on the Muscogee Reservation. Municipal citations and criminal investigations involving tribal citizens are to be referred to Muscogee Nation prosecutors or to federal prosecutors. The settlement clarifies that the Tulsa Police Department will continue to enforce traffic and other misdemeanor violations. However, in cases where a tribal member is the suspect and the infraction occurred within the Muscogee Nation Reservation portion of the city, the tribal member would be prosecuted in tribal court rather than municipal court. Hitch marks 60 years in media Legendary news anchor reaches another milestone in his career. Congrats to legendary Nine News presenter Peter Hitchener who is celebrating 60 years in the media. The news veteran began in 1965 at 4BH Brisbane in news, before moving to ABC. He would join Nine in 1973 Sydney as a relief presenter for James Dibble, before relocating to Melbourne in 1974, (briefly hosting game show Gambit A game of skill, fate and fortune!) working with Sir Eric Pearce then Brian Naylor. James Dibble read the news beautifully -radio news in particular, but also on TV. Brian Henderson, I had the pleasure of working with and he was a great teacher. Sir Eric Pearce was about the community, in favour of good causes, very humble and hilarious. Brian Naylor was enormously successful and enormously good at what he did, he previously told TV Tonight. By 1998 Hitchener took the anchor chair at Nine News Melbourne, moving to weekends in 2024. He has also been aligned with 3AK and 3AW over the years. In 2017 he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) For service to the broadcast media as a journalist and television presenter, and to the community. Hitch, one of TVs nice guys, loves to work and loves to connect with audiences and community on his socials. Drop by to say hi and youll likely get a reply back. I never want to retire, I love to work and if Im not reading the news, Ill be doing something else. I dont think retirement is particularly good for anyone. Well, not for me. Congrats! SBS on Demand: The Sommerdahl Murders It's a crime series from Denmark... but wait, it's not noir! Five seasons of Nordic crime series The Sommerdahl Murders will drop as a Box Set at SBS on Demand this Thursday. But unlike other crime from Denmark, this one is not noir! The series was shot on location in the town of Helsingr also known as Elsinore and the setting for Shakespeares Hamlet. Thursday 17 July 2025 40 episodes. In Danish with English subtitles. In a lovely Danish, coastal town, DCI Dan Sommerdahl (Peter Mygind) investigates murders with his best friend Detective Flemming Torp (Andre Babikian) and his wife Marianne (Laura Drasbaek), a forensic technician. But Dans years of devotion to the job have hurt his marriage and Marianne wants a divorce. Dan also has a rival for Mariannes affections and it is none other than his best friend. They must all still work together to solve crimes. Each mystery unfolds across two episodes. Season 1, Episodes 1 and 2: Dan and Marianne Sommerdahls 25th wedding anniversary is interrupted when a Slavic woman is found dead on the beach next to the Kronborg Castle. The woman has given birth recently and now every minute counts in the search to find the baby. Travel Guides: July 13 Jono's new wife Danielle joins the Fren family this week in Japan. Travel Guides tonight are off to Japan. From bustling Osaka to historical Kyoto, theyll get a taste for the countrys fantastic food, culture and all-round kookiness. Theres also a switch-up for the Fren Family with Jonos new wife Danielle joining parents Mark and Cathy (no Victoria this week). 7pm Sunday on Nine. Aditya Sharma, TwoCircles.net New Delhi: The skies have opened above the city, but for hundreds of families from Jailerwala Bagh, there is no roof to catch the rain. Only memories. Only rubble. Support TwoCircles Anita, 36, cradled her feverish two-year-old under a plastic sheet pinned between two iron rods. I begged them to wait. My husband brings home Rs 10,000 a month. We spent Rs 5,000 to get a stay from the court. But that meant nothing. They (the Delhi Development Authority or DDA) reduced my home to dust. Now my child burns with fever, and we are drenched, she said with her voice barely above the sound of thunder. On June 16, 2025, the quiet lanes of Jailerwala Bagh in Ashok Vihar, northwest Delhi, echoed with the grinding roar of bulldozers in the early morning 7:30 AM. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), supported by over 250 police officers and a Special Task Force, razed over 300 shanties, labelling them illegal encroachments on public land. Tin roofs, brick walls, water containers and baby shoes all gone. Men and women who built Delhis buildings, cleaned its floors and pulled its rickshaws were left staring at the sky, praying the clouds would hold. But now, the rain is here. The Court Gave Us a Stay; the Bulldozer Gave Us Nothing Rahul, 27, a taxi driver, had a stay order from the court. He was told by the police to stand back, that nothing would happen to his home. I went away for a while. But something felt off. When I came back, I could not recognize my own lane. My house was gone. The court papers meant nothing, he said, wiping sweat from his face. Dharmendra Kumar and his wife, both in their fifties, were spared demolition but not suffering. Our jhuggi still stands. But we have no electricity. No water. The wires were cut. We sit inside like ghosts in heat and darkness, while the sky cracks open above us, he said. Factory worker Rakesh, 41, broke down when officials from the Electricity Board pulled out cables and poles. Lesotho declares 'state of disaster' as it struggles with US policy changes Lesotho's reliance on the United States has left the country on the brink of disaster following the Trump administration's decision to cut off aid. Its manufacturing sector too is under threat, thanks to uncertainty around the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Lesotho has declared a national state of disaster for the next two years, amid the fallout from tariffs and aid cuts imposed by the US. With unemployment already around 30 percent, the government is warning of an additional 40,000 job losses in the textile sector if the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is not renewed by the end of September. AGOA gave preferential access for African goods to the US markets, under certain conditions. Lesotho was one of its biggest beneficiaries, exporting textiles to the US. ADVERTISEMENT In April, US President Donald Trump announced 50 percent tariffs higher than any country on goods from Lesotho. The tariffs have since been paused and a flat 10 percent rate is currently being applied to most countries. Oscar van Heerden, senior research fellow at the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership at the University of Johannesburg, told RFI that the Trump administration is weaponising trade through its use of tariffs. Van Heerden called the policies adopted by the Trump administration a step back into colonial times. He added that it will be an uphill battle for the Lesotho government. Read more on RFI English Read also: Despite pause on US tariffs, African economies face uncertain future Trumps aid cuts prompt African leaders to embrace self-reliance Trump's first 100 days: Tariffs war shakes trade and investment in Africa With the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting taking place in Beijing on July 10 and 11, CGTN published an article highlighting how China's Global Civilization Initiative is offering a constructive platform for bridging differences, promoting people-to-people exchanges, and building a more inclusive, cooperative international community amid rising global uncertainties. BEIJING, July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the world marked the first International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations on June 10, calls for mutual respect, inclusive development and cultural exchange resonated across the world from the UN headquarters to tea ceremonies in Mauritius, from porcelain showcases in Italy to academic forums in Athens. The day, designated by the UN General Assembly in 2024 following a resolution proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 80 countries, comes amid rising global tensions and pressing challenges making civilizational dialogue not just timely, but imperative. In a congratulatory letter to the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting on Thursday, held in Beijing from July 10 to 11, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that in a world where transformation and turbulence are interwoven and humanity stands at a new crossroads, there is an ever-pressing need for civilizations to transcend estrangement through exchanges and to transcend clashes through mutual learning. Themed "Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development," the two-day meeting attracted over 600 guests from 140 countries and regions. Why China proposed the Global Civilization Initiative Xi proposed the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) in 2023 after proposing the Global Development Initiative in 2021 and the Global Security Initiative in 2022. The three initiatives have earned international support as important public goods provided to the world by China. With a vision of building a world where civilizations don't collide but converse, the GCI responds to the international community's call for promoting dialogue and exchanges among civilizations and gathers forces to eliminate misunderstandings and barriers, injecting positive energy into human solidarity in responding to common challenges. In his keynote speech, Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, said the GCI, which is deeply rooted in China's fine traditional culture, has received enthusiastic responses and positive echoes from the international community. Noting that the path to global peace and development remains long and challenging, Cai called for joint efforts to explore diverse development models, strengthen cultural inheritance and innovation, advance cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and build a diverse and multi-dimensional global network for dialogue and cooperation among civilizations. Over the years, China has established a series of multilateral exchange platforms, such as the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations and the Conference on Dialogue Between Chinese and African Civilizations, and held a series of activities, including the China-ASEAN People-to-People Exchange Year and the Liangzhu Forum, building a platform for equal dialogue among different civilizations. According to a recent CGTN poll, respondents widely recognize inter-civilization exchanges and mutual learning as a crucial driving force for advancing human civilization and promoting world peace and development, adding that the GCI has evolved into a broad consensus for addressing global challenges. How China practices the Global Civilization Initiative China, as a practitioner of civilizational exchange, has grown from a participant in "dialogue with the world" to an advocate of "world dialogue," actively expanding space for cooperation among civilizations. Thanks to joint efforts from China and other countries, rich and diverse international people-to-people and cultural exchanges have become a widely recognized phenomenon, fostering mutual understanding and closer ties among peoples around the world. From joint archaeological projects with partner countries of the Belt and Road Initiative to a slew of events like art festivals, expos, exhibitions and the Luban Workshop, these exchanges have delivered tangible results and gained widespread popularity. China now has unilateral visa exemption for 47 countries and transit visa exemption for 55 countries and provides a more convenient payment and travel environment for inbound tourists. Xi pledged in the letter to the forum that China will work with other countries to champion equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations; implement the GCI; and build a global network for dialogue and cooperation among civilizations in a bid to provide fresh impetus for advancing human civilizations and promoting world peace and development. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-07-11/China-promotes-integration-mutual-learning-among-civilizations-1EVx6ybqp8c/p.html SOURCE CGTN Viet Nams seafood export sector, which had shown a strong performance early this year, is now beginning to slow as geopolitical instability and tariff uncertainties start to take their toll. Exporters and trade analysts are now warning of a more turbulent path ahead for the remainder of the year. According to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), seafood export turnover in June reached US$876 million, a modest rise of 4 per cent year-on-year. This marks the weakest monthly growth rate since the beginning of the year, a stark contrast to the robust 20 per cent increase recorded in May. Total seafood export value for the first six months of this year stood at approximately $5.2 billion, or about 19 per cent increase over the same period of last year. The US remained one of Viet Nams top importers, with a turnover of $891 million. However, concerns about looming trade retaliation measures have prompted many Vietnamese exporters to temporarily halt shipments to the US since June, aiming to minimise exposure to risk. In contrast, exports to China, Japan, South Korea, and the ASEAN bloc continued their positive trajectory, recording growth rates ranging from 15 per cent to nearly 28 per cent in June alone. Meanwhile, the European Union market has shown signs of stagnation, dipping slightly by 1 per cent, and exports to the Middle East fell sharply by 16 per cent due to escalating regional tensions. Particularly alarming was a more than 50 per cent drop in exports to Israel, a key market for canned tuna. Mounting trade pressure Among key product groups, tuna experienced the steepest decline in June, plunging by over 31 per cent year-on-year. This fall is largely attributed to tariff barriers imposed by the US, where tuna accounts for a significant share of seafood imports from Viet Nam. Overall, tuna exports for the first half of the year dropped nearly 2 per cent. Other staples such as shrimp and pangasius (ca tra) also saw their growth slowing. By the end of June, shrimp exports reached $2.07 billion, an increase of 26 per cent over the same period last year. Pangasius exports climbed 10 per cent to $1 billion. VASEP Deputy General Secretary Le Hang noted that the outlook for shrimp and pangasius exports in the second half of 2025 would hinge almost entirely on how the US applies its upcoming retaliatory tariff measures. Shrimp faces a real threat of overlapping taxes including retaliatory tariffs, anti-dumping duties, and countervailing measures, she said. There is more optimism in the pangasius sector after the US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced final results from the 20th administrative review (POR20), granting seven Vietnamese exporters a zero per cent anti-dumping tariff. Should the US government manage its retaliatory tariffs reasonably, this development could create new momentum for Viet Nams pangasius sector. According to Hang, the sector now faces two likely scenarios. If the US imposes a 10 per cent retaliatory tariff after July 9, Viet Nams total seafood export turnover in 2025 could reach around $9.5 billion, falling short of earlier projections by approximately $500 million. In this case, other markets such as China, Japan, the EU, and ASEAN could absorb part of the redirected volume. However, if the US applies tariffs exceeding 10 per cent with a ceiling of up to 46 per cent seafood exports may contract significantly, with total export turnover potentially dropping to US$9 billion or lower. The US would then no longer be considered a stable and strategic market, especially for products with complex supply chains such as shrimp and tuna. In such a scenario, Viet Nam would face intense competition from countries with lower tariffs, including Ecuador, India, Thailand, and Indonesia. While alternative markets such as Japan, the EU, and ASEAN may offer some relief, their capacity to fully compensate remains limited amid ongoing global consumption weakness. Conflicts challenge market expansion Adding further complications is the deteriorating geopolitical situation in the Middle East. For the past five years, this region home to high-income economies like Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Qatar has been a key target in Viet Nams strategy to diversify export markets. Between 2020 and 2024, Viet Nams seafood exports to the Middle East nearly doubled to $366 million from $198 million. Tuna and pangasius together accounted for 70 per cent of total export value to the region. Canned and pouched tuna products, especially those packed in oil or brine, were especially popular and made up more than two-thirds of total tuna exports to Middle Eastern countries. Pangasius fillets, fish portions, and whole frozen fish also hold strong positions thanks to their affordability and suitability for the food service industry. However, during the first five months of 2025, seafood exports to the Middle East fell by 12 per cent year-on-year. Analysts cite the growing complexity of regional armed conflicts as a major contributor, with the one between Israel and Iran in mid-June exacerbating already fragile trade routes. Market analyst Kim Thu said the Middle East would still hold long-term potential due to its young population, fast-growing middle class, and vibrant tourism and hospitality industries particularly in countries like the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Egypt. In addition, halal-certified seafood products are seeing growing demand among Muslim consumers, she said. But the escalation of conflicts in the region has created a new wave of uncertainty, directly impacting global trade and Viet Nams seafood sector. The ongoing conflicts have disrupted vital maritime shipping routes through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, driving up freight and insurance costs. In countries such as Egypt, Iraq, and the UAE, customs procedures and logistics have slowed, resulting in delayed deliveries. Soaring fuel and oil prices have pushed up costs across the supply chain from packaging to freezing and storage leaving small and financially constrained businesses struggling to maintain long-term contracts. Adversity as a turning point Despite the challenges, many industry experts believe that adversity could serve as a catalyst for long-term transformation. To remain competitive, Vietnamese exporters are being urged to invest in halal certification and expand production of high-value, deeply processed products. These include canned tuna, peeled cooked shrimp, and sliced pangasius fillets that meet international halal standards. There are also calls to increase the number of seafood processing facilities certified for markets such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Analyst Thu recommended shifting the focus away from established markets like Israel and the UAE towards emerging Muslim markets such as Jordan, Libya and Pakistan. At the same time, exporters should strengthen their presence in traditional markets with existing free trade agreements including the EU, Japan and ASEAN where demand is showing signs of recovery. For its part, the Government is being urged to provide timely support through preferential credit access, real-time market intelligence, and trade promotion campaigns focused on alternative markets. As Viet Nams seafood exporters prepare for a difficult second half of 2025, flexibility and a proactive strategy will be key to navigating what lies ahead. VNS HA NOI Ethiopian Airlines, Africas largest airline by network, officially launched a new route connecting Addis Ababa and Ha Noi and signed a series of co-operation agreements with Vietnamese partners at a ceremony held in Ha Noi in the evening of July 11. Accordingly, Ethiopian Airlines signed memoranda of understanding (MoU) with Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Air, Vietnam Post (VNPost), and Deks Air Vietnam. Under the agreements, Ethiopian Airlines appointed Deks Air Vietnam as its General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA) in Viet Nam. As a member of a global aviation group with 50 years of experience and with presence in eight countries, Deks Air represents 17 international airlines in both passenger and cargo sectors. The appointment reflects Deks Airs growing role in the development and distribution of international air services in Viet Nam, and aligns with Ethiopian Airlines global expansion strategy. In the cargo sector, Pacific Air was appointed as Ethiopian Airlines General Sales Agent for Cargo (GSA Cargo) in Viet Nam. Pacific Air is a leading air freight agency in the country, with extensive experience in handling a wide range of goods, from commercial shipments to specialised cargo. Earlier that day, Ethiopian Airlines inaugurated its new direct route between Addis Ababa and Ha Noi, with four weekly flights starting from July 10, 2025. Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said the new route reflects the airlines ambition to expand in Southeast Asia, strengthen connectivity, and foster deeper co-operation between Viet Nam and its global network. The new service aims to boost trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between the two nations, while offering passengers access to Ethiopian Airlines extensive network across Africa, Europe, and the Americas via its hub in Addis Ababa. With nearly 80 years of development, Ethiopian Airlines is regarded as one of Africas most successful carriers. It currently operates flights to over 160 domestic and international destinations across five continents. The airlines modern fleet includes Boeing 737, 777, 787, Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000, and De Havilland Q400 aircraft, reflecting its focus on passenger experience and environmental sustainability. Under its Vision 2035 strategy, Ethiopian Airlines aims to become one of the worlds top 20 airline groups, with expanded operations through multiple hubs in Togo, Malawi, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. VNS HA NOI From traditional sectors such as energy and transport to advanced industries like aerospace, defence, and nuclear research, Czech enterprises are increasingly turning their attention to Viet Nam. Long-standing diplomatic ties, a strong Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic, and Viet Nams continuously improving investment climate are driving the two nations towards deeper economic engagement. A business networking seminar between Viet Nam and the Czech Republic, held in Ha Noi on July 11, highlighted this growing trend. The event was part of the official visit to Viet Nam by Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Lukas Vlcek, drawing nearly 100 representatives from government agencies, trade promotion bodies, and business communities of both countries. Addressing the seminar, Minister Vlcek emphasised that Viet Nam is one of the Czech Republics most important trading partners in Southeast Asia. Bilateral trade has exceeded US$2 billion and continues to grow at an annual pace of around 4.5 billion Czech korun a figure that is expected to rise in the coming years. Viet Nam is a dynamic market, with average GDP growth above 7 per cent over the past decade and a strategic location at the heart of ASEAN. The country is increasingly positioning itself as an attractive destination for international businesses, Vlcek said. He also underlined the contribution of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic numbering over 70,000 people to the countrys economic and social life. Calling Viet Nam a 'second homeland' for the Vietnamese diaspora in Europe, he shared that he himself was born in a region with a strong Slovak-speaking population, which has helped him appreciate and understand the deep ties between the two countries. During the seminar, four leading Czech enterprises showcased their key sectors. These included PBS Group a major industrial player in aerospace and energy; the Research Centre Rez a state-run institute specialising in nuclear technologies; and two prominent law firms, Broz Broz Vala and Pelikan Krofta Kohoutek, known for their expertise in immigration, investment law, and work permits. Other Czech companies also expressed keen interest in Viet Nam, particularly in defence, transport, aviation, renewable energy, and mining. Minister Vlcek noted that several economic and investment cooperation projects are already underway, notably the planned construction of an automotive manufacturing plant in Quang Ninh Province by Skoda Auto, and the acquisition of a controlling stake in the Mong Duong 2 power plant. To further promote bilateral cooperation, the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade is planning a series of upcoming events, including the next session of the Intergovernmental Committee and a business forum in Ha Noi, alongside participation in specialised trade fairs in Viet Nam. Minister Vlcek highlighted the Viet Nam Mining Expo 2026 as a key event that the Czech Republic would actively support, aiming to help businesses from both sides forge long-term partnerships. The seminar concluded with a B2B networking reception, where delegates held direct discussions to explore concrete investment opportunities. The event marked a significant step forward as Viet Nam and the Czech Republic enter a new phase of substantive, broader, and more effective economic cooperation. VNS HA NOI - The world-renowned travel magazine Travel + Leisure has just announced the results of its Worlds Best Awards 2025, in which Capella Hanoi proudly stands as the only representative from Ha Noi, Viet Nam to be honoured in both the Top 100 Hotels in the World and the Top 15 City Hotels in Asia. Capella Hanoi earned an impressive score of 97.87 out of 100 one of the highest ratings in the Asia region. Notably, the hotel is also one of only five properties from Viet Nam to be recognised in this prestigious global ranking, and the sole Vietnamese representative featured in the Top 15 City Hotels in Asia. This achievement further cements Capella Ha Nois position as one of the leading luxury destinations on the international hospitality map where a hotel stay is no longer just about accommodation, but a deeply immersive experience shaped by artistry and emotion. Simultaneously, this also marks the third consecutive year that Capella Hotels and Resorts has been named Best Hotel Brand in the World by Travel + Leisure. The Worlds Best Awards is an annual awards programme organised by Travel + Leisure, voted entirely by its global readership - travellers who have personally experienced, evaluated, and selected the best in categories such as hotels & spas, cities, islands & parks, tours & safaris, transportation, and cruises. Each ranking not only reflects service excellence but also captures emerging travel trends that are shaping modern lifestyles and tourism behaviours. Evaluation criteria focus on service quality, ambiance, design, personalisation, overall value, and the propertys ability to connect with local culture. Its easy to see why Capella Hanoi has been named among the worlds best hotels. Nestled in the heart of Ha Nois Old Quarter, the hotel offers a refined and luxurious atmosphere where history meets modern elegance. Designed by renowned architect Bill Bensley, Capella Hanoi draws inspiration from Art Nouveau and Art Deco, echoing the spirit of the Hanoi Opera House and the opulence of the 1920s. The result is an architectural masterpiece - a timeless symbol of luxury and artistic grandeur. Beyond its distinctive architectural design, Capella Hanoi also delights guests with exceptional culinary artistry. Hibana by Koki, the hotels intimate teppanyaki restaurant, has impressively maintained its one Michelin star for three consecutive years, remaining the only Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant in Viet Nam. Meanwhile, Backstage and Izakaya by Koki have also been recommended by Michelin for their outstanding quality. Track 61 and The Hudson Rooms - Capella Hanois signature bar - have achieved a remarkable double win, making it onto the Asias 100 Best Bars list for two consecutive years. Located on the hotels uppermost floors, these venues offer unforgettable experiences for discerning guests, from a rare whiskey collection to interiors inspired by the glamour of 1920s New York. Capella Hanoi is also an ideal retreat for those seeking relaxation. With the serene Auriga Spa and the beautifully designed La Grotta swimming pool, the hotel offers a peaceful sanctuaryan oasis of calm in the heart of the city. In addition to its recognition in the Worlds Best Awards 2025, Capella Hanoi has been continuously honoured by numerous prestigious international accolades. The hotel is one of only two properties in Viet Nam to receive a 5-star rating from the Forbes Travel Guide 2025often referred to as the Oscars of the hospitality industry. Capella Hanoi also received the Global Recognition Award 2024 from Business Insider, acknowledging its outstanding contributions to the global travel and hospitality sector. The success of Capella Hanoi is also a clear testament to the rise of luxury tourism in Viet Nam, where international travellers are increasingly drawn not only by the countrys natural beauty, but also by its refined experiences, deeply rooted in local culture and artistry. - VNA/VNS HA NOI The capital city of Ha Noi recognises both potential and challenges in preserving its traditional craft villages, especially in the modern economy. Ha Noi is home to more than 1,300 craft villages, accounting for roughly one-quarter of the national total. These villages collectively generate over VN24 trillion (nearly US$1 billion) annually, making a significant contribution to Ha Nois Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP). Some villages have reported remarkable earnings. For example, Son ong, famous for its fine art wood carving, generates over VN1 trillion annually, while Phung Xa, known for metalworking, more than VN1.2 trillion annually. These figures highlight the strong trade potential of traditional crafts. Recognising this, the government has launched numerous policies to support preservation and development efforts. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh approved a national programme on restoring at least 129 traditional crafts and 208 villages by 2030. The programme also ensures that more than 80 per cent of craft villages operate effectively and that handicraft exports from these villages reach US$6 billion. Ha Noi, known for having the highest number of craft villages in the country, has incorporated the preservation and development of these villages into its 2024 Capital Law. Recently, the city unveiled a master plan for the development of craft villages, outlining objectives up to 2030 and a vision extending to 2050. The city aims to restore at least five traditional crafts and craft villages that are at risk of disappearing by 2030. Investments will also be made in infrastructure and the restoration of traditional cultural spaces. Ha Noi plans to develop at least three craft villages in conjunction with tourism and establish 10 tourism routes featuring craft village experiences. In a significant step toward global integration, Bat Trang pottery village and Van Phuc silk village recently joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in crafts and folk art. This recognition opens up new opportunities for international cooperation, trade, and cultural tourism. Speaking at a recent meeting with outstanding artisans across the country, State President Luong Cuong emphasised the importance of revitalising craft villages as part of Viet Nams development strategy. He also acknowledged ongoing difficulties, especially as global markets demand higher standards and innovation. Nguyen Van Vu, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Association of Craft Villages, pointed out that most craft villages in Ha Noi operate on a small, family-run scale. This lack of coordination and large-scale planning hampers their ability to adapt when market conditions change. Moreover, environmental pollution remains a pressing issue due to unregulated production and the absence of centralised manufacturing zones. Another serious concern is about human resources. Traditional craft villages are not only cultural heritage sites but also key sources of employment. Yet many young people are turning away from traditional crafts in search of other opportunities, leaving a gap in the labour force and putting centuries-old traditions at risk of extinction. Reviving Ha Nois craft villages will require more than just financial investment. A long-term, coordinated approach involving education, infrastructure, and community engagement is essential to ensure these cultural treasures continue to thrive in the years ahead. - VNA/VNS WASHINGTON On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the US and Viet Nam (1995-2025), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 11 wrote a post on X social network to acknowledge this important milestone. "Thirty years ago, the US and Viet Nam began a remarkable journey from former foes to Comprehensive Strategic Partners. Today, we recognise this important milestone and reaffirm our commitment to advancing peace, prosperity, and security together for a free and open Indo-Pacific," he wrote. On the night of July 11, 1995 (US time), US President Bill Clinton officially announced the normalisation of diplomatic relations with Viet Nam. In the early morning of July 12, 1995 (Viet Nam time), Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet officially announced the normalisation of diplomatic relations with the US. Since then, bilateral relations have been continuously upgraded. On July 25, 2013, the two countries established a Comprehensive Partnership. The next important turning point took place in September 2023, when US President Joe Biden paid a state visit to Viet Nam. In Ha Noi, the two countries issued a statement upgrading their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation and Sustainable Development. VNS HA NOI Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Thanh visited the Ho Chi Minh Space, as well as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and Co Loa Heritage Exhibition in France on July 11, as part of her working trip to attend the 50th meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF) General Assembly. Thanh expressed her deep emotions when paying tribute to Uncle Ho and visiting the Ho Chi Minh Space in Montreuil city, which houses invaluable documents and photos from the revolutionary life and career of the late leader during his time in France. She highlighted that the Ho Chi Minh Space is not only a special cultural and historical landmark, but also a source of inspiration for the human values, independence, and the quest for freedom that President Ho Chi Minh steadfastly pursued throughout his life. The NA Vice Chairwoman affirmed that protecting and promoting these invaluable legacies is not only the responsibility of previous generations, but also serves as a spiritual foundation for younger generations to better understand history, thus cultivating patriotism and the will to strive for progress. Thanh highly praised the special relationship between Montreuil and Viet Nam, saying that the city is regarded as one of the places in France where President Ho Chi Minh's heritage is best preserved. Deputy Mayor of Montreuil Florian Vignillon stressed that President Ho Chi Minh is 'a great symbol of the struggle for independence and freedom, and the embodiment of strong will, heroic spirit and hope.' He further stated that President Ho Chi Minh's legacy continues to inspire generations not only in Viet Nam but also around the world. The same day, the NA Vice Chairwoman visited the Thang Long Citadel and Co Loa Heritage Exhibition in Provins city and met with its Mayor Olivier Lavenka. She expressed her gratitude to the city's authorities for providing favourable conditions for hosting the exhibition, emphasising that this was an important event in the locality-to-locality cooperation between the two countries. Thanh suggested the two sides continue to leverage the benefits of collaboration and share experiences in the field of cultural heritage protection. She also expressed her hope that Provins will cooperate with other localities in Viet Nam, such as Ninh Binh and Hue, in this area. Earlier, on July 10, the Vietnamese official held talks with French NA Vice-President Nadege Abomangoli and worked with Bruno Fuchs, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French NA. Meeting with Abomangoli, Thanh affirmed that Viet Nam treasures and wishes to further deepen its comprehensive strategic partnership with France. She emphasised that cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries has been increasingly promoted and developed positively based on the cooperation agreements signed between the Vietnamese NA and the Senate, and the NA of France. The two sides have regularly exchanged delegations at all levels to share experiences in parliamentary activities, coordinated and supported each other at multilateral parliamentary forums, and actively contributed to strengthening the bilateral relations, bringing the Viet Nam-France relationship to new heights in recent times, Thanh said. VNS KUALA LUMPUR Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held bilateral meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice-President of the European Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, and UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lamy, on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 11. Son and Rubio expressed their delight that their meeting coincides with the 30th anniversary of Viet Nam-US diplomatic ties (July 12). They reviewed extraordinary strides made in various areas over the past three decades, especially since the upgrade of the bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023. The two officials discussed steps to further deepen the bilateral ties, including facilitating all-level visits, especially those at the high level, and fully leveraging existing cooperation mechanisms. They also committed to joint work to organise activities celebrating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Affirming that economic cooperation remains a key driver of the bilateral relationship, both sides pledged to build balanced, stable, harmonious, and sustainable economic, trade and investment ties, while addressing existing obstacles for mutual benefits. Son called for the USs assistance in innovation, digital transformation, hi-tech supply chains, and quality workforce training; and highly appreciated the USs good will and coordination in Viet Nams war aftermath settlement projects. In reply, Rubio said the US attaches importance to its relations with Viet Nam and reaffirmed the US's commitment to advancing multifaceted cooperation, joining hands in addressing existing issues and continuing to support Viet Nam in settling war consequences, considering it as evidence of trust and a symbol of developing relations. On global and regional issues of shared concern, Son suggested the US continue to play an active role in maintaining regional peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development. Rubio reiterated the US's support for ASEANs centrality and cooperation within the framework of the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Regarding the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) issue, they underscored the importance of peace, security, stability, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, the peaceful settlement of disputes in line with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Meeting with Kallas, the two officials welcomed the positive momentum in Viet Nam-EU relations since their diplomatic ties were established 35 years ago, which laid a solid foundation for both sides to consider elevating the partnership to a new level. Amid evolving global complexities, they called for giving continued priority to cooperative ties, especially in trade and investment. Son proposed the EU complete the ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and lift the 'yellow card' warning against Vietnamese seafood exports. He also encouraged European investments in Viet Nams strategic projects in infrastructure, renewable energy, green transition, digital transformation and environment. Hailing Viet Nam as the EUs key partner in the region, Kallas agreed on the need to increase high-level exchanges, expand bilateral cooperation, fully leverage the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and build new pillars of cooperation in sci-tech, innovation, green transition, and digital transformation. Turning to global and regional issues, the two sides underscored the importance of the UN Charter and international law, agreeing that all conflicts and disputes must be settled through peaceful means, consultation and dialogue. At their meeting, Son and Lamy promised to jointly step up the exchange of high-level delegations, contributing to solidifying political trust and creating momentum to elevate bilateral ties to a new height. Outlining Viet Nams plan to develop an international financial centre in Ho Chi Minh City and a Nang, Son described it as a major policy of the Vietnamese Party and State to restructure the growth model and enhance economic competitiveness. He requested the British side to share knowledge and experience in financial centre development, assist Viet Nam in workforce training and attraction, and encourage British organisations and firms to join the effort. Lamy, in response, praised the impressive growth of the bilateral relationship across various fields, especially in trade and investment. As there remains ample opportunities to boost trade and cooperation in emerging areas like clean and renewable energy, he promised to encourage British companies and experts to participate in Viet Nams financial centre development project, considering it as a pathway to deeper the bilateral ties. VNS KUALA LUMPUR Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has reaffirmed Viet Nams consistent stance on supporting a fair, comprehensive and long-term solution to the Palestine issue, including the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on pre-1967 borders and in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions. Addressing the fourth Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD IV) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 11, Son also expressed Viet Nams readiness to work closely with partners, including East Asian countries, to pool resources, share development expertise, and support capacity-building efforts for the State and people of Palestine. On the occasion, he announced an additional humanitarian aid package worth US$350,000 for the Palestinian people, which will be channeled through relevant international organisations, aimed at easing hardships faced by the Palestinian people and supporting their reconstruction process. At the conference, delegates expressed their profound concern over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to violence, ensuring the safety of civilians, and facilitating humanitarian assistance efforts. They stressed the need to foster international efforts and enhance CEAPAD partnerships to support urgent humanitarian needs as well as Palestines recovery, reconstruction and development. The conference, co-chaired by the foreign ministers of Malaysia and Japan, adopted the Kuala Lumpur CEAPAD IV Action Plan, a framework designed to reinforce and coordinate support efforts based on Palestines actual needs and practical requirements. VNS CAN THO A strong patient safety culture is essential for high-quality healthcare outcomes, experts emphasised at the 9th Annual Scientific Conference (ACP 2025) hosted by Phuong Chau Healthcare Group in Can Tho city on July 11. With the theme JCI & JCI Enterprise A Symphony in Healthcare Operations, the conference gathered over 800 delegates, including experts, administrators, and quality managers from Viet Nam and abroad. Pham Nhat Tan, deputy director of Quality Management at Phuong Chau Healthcare Group, said that in the healthcare sector, patient safety culture is something everyone aspires to. It is a central goal, a top priority. A strong culture of patient safety leads to better treatment outcomes. It is reflected in commitments across all aspects, from a safe working environment to leaders who promote psychological safety, and staff who learn from mistakes to improve, he said. For the first time, the event featured representatives from seven out of nine Vietnamese hospitals and systems accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI) and JCI Enterprise, including Vinmec Central Park, FV Hospital, American International Hospital, Cao Thang Eye Hospital, and Phuong Chau hospitals in Can Tho, Soc Trang, and HCM City. Experts from The Medical City (Philippines), a leading ASEAN JCI-accredited hospital, also participated. Nguyen Ngoc Viet Nga, deputy director of Can Tho citys Department of Health, expressed pride in the city hosting two JCI-accredited hospitals. ACP is a prestigious academic forum and a bridge that connects scientists, doctors, medical experts, and quality managers from both within and outside the country. It facilitates knowledge exchange, professional learning, and the updating of the latest medical advancements, she said. She also extended her gratitude to both domestic and international experts for sharing valuable knowledge and experience, enabling healthcare professionals in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region to access new insights and better serve the community. Nick Liew, Asia-Pacific International Director of Joint Commission International (JCI), recognised the contributions of the nine accredited hospitals to Viet Nams growing healthcare sector. As Viet Nams healthcare system continues to grow rapidly, I believe that collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual support among accredited organisations will help enhance the quality of healthcare across the country, he said. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ho, founder and CEO of Phuong Chau Healthcare Group, said the conference theme reflects a vision of modern healthcare as a symphony, where people, processes, technology, and culture work in harmony under global standards like JCI. She cited findings from NEJM Catalyst and WHO, highlighting that aligned systems perform better, are more resilient, and safer for patients. Phuong Chau, which began as an OB-GYN hospital in Can Tho, has evolved into a regional network with hospitals in Can Tho, Soc Trang, Sa ec, and HCM City, specialising in IVF, pediatrics, and general care. Southeast Asias first private healthcare system to achieve JCI Enterprise accreditation, Phuong Chau is committed to quality, learning, and absolute patient safety, she said. We are building a lifetime of health value for women and families, she said. She outlined the groups four pillars: adherence to international standards with ongoing training; streamlined, patient-centred systems; digital transformation and AI; and a compassionate culture driven by love and service. Ho also emphasised the importance of cross-border cooperation and the belief that quality must be shared. ACP 2025 featured five thematic forums on risk management, interdisciplinary collaboration, lab safety, IT and infrastructure, and clinical updates in obstetrics, gynecology, and neonatology. Highlights included FV Hospitals Risk Management Framework, FMEA applications at American International Hospital, and rare case studies on congenital conditions. According to WHO and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, healthcare systems that foster continuous learning can improve 30-50 per cent faster than the average. At ACP, we dont just host - we learn. Were here to listen, collaborate, and raise the bar for quality together. The conference reinforced the message that knowledge is meant to be shared, promoting a culture of cooperation for safer, stronger healthcare in Viet Nam and the region. VNS The second stop of CIEE's year-long, nationwide roadshow celebrates Xanterra and Big Sky employers as exceptional supporters of the U.S. Department of State's BridgeUSA Program PORTLAND, Maine, July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) will travel to Montana and Wyoming July 21-24 for the second leg of a year-long, nationwide celebration of U.S. Department of State's BridgeUSA international exchange programs that make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. "If BridgeUSA did not exist, we would need to invent it, as it truly enriches all Americans," said James P. Pellow. Post this BridgeUSA participants positively impact their American host employers and host communities in many ways, including increasing economic prosperity for local businesses and injecting more than $1.2 billion overall into the national U.S. economy. In June, the CIEE BridgeUSA Celebration Tour began in Ohio and Kentucky with stops at the iconic Cedar Point Amusement Park, the famous Kings Island Amusement Park, and family-favorite Kentucky Kingdom. The Mountain West portion of the tour will feature celebration events in Yellowstone National Park and Big Sky, Montana. At each stop in Montana and Wyoming, CIEE will showcase how BridgeUSA improves the lives of all Americans by creating rich cultural exchanges for international visitors that boost America's image abroad, enhance economic opportunities for American businesses, and enrich American communities. The BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel program brings international college students to live and work in the United States during their summer break, helping more than 4,000 businesses, large and small, across the United States expand and extend the tourist season, leading to enhanced local economic benefits while injecting more than $1.2 billion into the broader U.S. economy each year. This leg of the CIEE BridgeUSA Celebration Tour will honor top employers who host BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel participants in America's Big Sky Country, including Xanterra Travel Collection, an American company that provides concession services within Yellowstone and other national parks. Business leaders, local community advocates, and individual exemplary staff will be recognized with the CIEE BridgeUSA Champion Award for their contributions to strengthening their local communities while advancing American interests. "BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel participants support the staffing needs of businesses in remote locations where there is not enough year-round local staff," said Martine Mangion, Senior Vice President, Inbound Exchange Programs at CIEE. "In the Yellowstone region, for example, finding enough local staff is a constant challenge. BridgeUSA students help fill critical seasonal roles, allowing businesses to stay open, be more prosperous, and ensure visitors can experience the beauty of this beloved American landscape." "We simply would not be able to serve millions of guests a year without BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel participants," said Noel Mayes, Executive Director of Operations at Yellowstone National Park Lodges, part of Xanterra Travel Collection. "Meeting, working side by side with, and sharing a passion for Yellowstone with students from all over the world is truly special." BridgeUSA Makes America Safer and Stronger BridgeUSA programs bolster America's national security and strengthen America's public diplomacy by fostering mutual respect between Americans and people of other nations. BridgeUSA participants return home and spread word of their positive experience in the United States which improves the American image abroad and makes our country safer. BridgeUSA Makes America More Prosperous Most importantly, BridgeUSA participants enable local economies to prosper by expanding and extending the tourism season, allowing businesses to employ more Americans for a longer seasonal period, and allowing hundreds of local businessesfrom laundromats to general stores, from local diners to grocery storesto extend the duration of their peak-season sales surge, compounding the positive economic impact in each community. "The core premise of the BridgeUSA program is that international students come to America at their own expense on temporary visas to help American businesses and American communities thrive," said James P. Pellow, president and CEO of CIEE. "BridgeUSA students pay their way to come to America, they help make American businesses more profitable while they are here, and then they return to their home countries with a deeper knowledge and respect for American culture and American values, including the power of democracy and free speech. If BridgeUSA did not exist, someone would need to invent it, as it truly enriches all Americans." Additional CIEE BridgeUSA Celebration events are scheduled for later this summer: August 2025 We celebrate BridgeUSA in South Carolina at Myrtle Beach We celebrate BridgeUSA in at September 2025 We celebrate BridgeUSA in Texas at the Alamo in San Antonio If you are interested in participating in a future CIEE BridgeUSA Celebration event, please reach out to Carye Duffin, CIEE Senior Vice President of External Affairs, at [email protected]. About CIEE: CIEE builds bridges between different people, different countries, and different cultures. For 75 years, we have helped young people participate in high-quality international exchange and study abroad programs that bring the world together. Since 1947, CIEE has supported more than one million student exchanges for participants from more than 140 countries. We change lives, our alumni change the world. Learn more at ciee.org. Media Contact: Leslie Taylor, [email protected], (207) 553-4274 SOURCE Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) BEIJING China-Russia trade is expected to experience sustained growth in the coming years, as the two countries have more room to advance cooperation in green energy, infrastructure development, logistics and advanced manufacturing, said analysts and exporters. They noted that growing demand for construction equipment, transportation solutions and clean energy technologies, along with improved trade facilitation measures, will create new opportunities for companies on both sides. In response to these opportunities, the ninth China-Russia Expo is being held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, from Monday to Thursday, featuring five major exhibition zones. More than 300 Chinese companies are taking part, showcasing products in sectors including electromechanical equipment, agriculture, healthcare, the digital economy and new energy. A series of commercial promotion activities have also been held during the event to provide a platform for local governments and businesses from both countries to deepen cooperation, said the Ministry of Commerce. Anastasia Likhacheva, dean of faculty of world economy and international affairs at Russias HSE University, said that the trade structure between Russia and China has long been dominated by energy, mining and natural resources, while there remains considerable room for growth in other areas of cooperation. Similar views were expressed by Xu Poling, a researcher at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing. "China and Russia have their own advantages and characteristics in terms of resource endowments, level of industrialisation and economic systems," said Xu. He said the two countries are highly complementary in their economic structures, creating strong prospects for pragmatic collaboration in multiple areas. China-Russia trade reached US$244.8 billion in 2024, marking a 1.9 percent year-on-year increase, according to information released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As trade ties continue to deepen, Chinese exporters are finding new growth opportunities in the Russian market through product innovation and market adaptation. Ningbo Partner Electronics Co, a lighting equipment manufacturer in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, has exported energy-saving lighting products that are widely used in large venues such as stadiums and supermarkets across Russia, gradually building brand recognition and expanding its customer base. "Considering Russias cold winters, unstable industrial voltage and insufficient lighting conditions in some regions, we developed high-power lighting transformers that are resistant to low temperatures and capable of handling voltage fluctuations," said Xu Guiling, the companys president. The companys exports to Russia exceeded 49 million yuan ($6.83 million) in the first half, representing a year-on-year increase of 172.85 percent, said Ningbo Customs. Qingdao Xingbang Electric Appliance Group Co, a Qingdao, Shandong province-based kitchen appliances producer, said its products, including ovens, multifunctional stoves and range hoods, have gained popularity in the Russian market in recent years. "Given the complexity of Russias energy usage environment, where both gas and electricity are used but often face instability, we developed stoves that can run on both gas and electric heating," said Xue Xiaotian, the companys director of the foreign trade unit. This allows users to switch between energy sources depending on availability, better meeting the needs of the local market, said Xue. The companys total export value to Russia exceeded 200 million yuan between January and June, soaring 82.33 per cent on a yearly basis, said Qingdao Customs. CHINA DAILY/ANN Baylor Universitys decision to return a more than half-million dollar research grant that would have examined the church experiences of women and LGBTQ adults has put the universitys attitude toward LGBTQ subjects back in the public eye. The $643,601 grant from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, a frequent contributor to Baylor causes, was to fund a study by the Center for Church and Community Impact in Baylors Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. The research was aimed at informing churches how to create a more welcoming, inclusive environment for young gay adults and women often marginalized by the church. It would have continued work by a previous 2018 congregation discernment study by the center, also funded by the Baugh Foundation, meant to guide churches in members discussion of their stance on LGBTQ+ inclusion. Nine days after that grant announcement, Baylor President Linda Livingstone said in a statement the grant had been returned voluntarily by School of Social Work Dean Jon Singletary and professor Gaynor Yancey, the Center for Church and Community Impacts director, with the approval of Livingstone and Provost Nancy Brickhouse. We remain committed to providing a loving and caring community for all including our LGBTQIA+ students because it is part and parcel of our Universitys mission that calls us to educate our students within a caring Christian community, Livingstone said in the statement. While the study was intended to help churches interested in becoming more welcoming, Livingstone said it would lead to a conflict with Baylors official stance on sexuality. Specifically, the work extended into advocacy for perspectives on human sexuality that are inconsistent with Baylors institutional policies, including our Statement on Human Sexuality, the statement says. Please be assured that Baylors institutional beliefs and policies remain unchanged. We affirm the biblical understanding of human sexuality as a gift from God, expressed through purity in singleness and fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman. Livingstone was in Brisbane, Australia, last week to attend the Baptist World Congress. During that time Baylor announced a collaboration with the Baptist World Alliance that would see creation of a study and training center focused on the alliance and its global Baptist work. In response to questions from the Tribune-Herald, Baylor spokesperson Lori Fogleman said neither the Southern Baptist Conventions June 11 resolution calling for a ban of same-sex marriage nor ongoing federal and state efforts to attack diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at colleges and universities played a part in the Baylor decision to return the Baugh Foundation funding. Baylor is not a member of the Southern Baptist Convention, she noted. The June 30 announcement of the research grant, no longer online, sparked reaction in conservative Christian circles and media. The Christian Post, Christian Broadcast Network and The Washington Times were among those who ran articles where critics attacked Baylor for presumably straying beyond Christian orthodoxy. Its much better to send your child to a secular university, hostile to the faith, than to a Christian university like Baylor. Better the wolf with bared fangs than the wolf disguised as a shepherd, Matt Kennedy, senior pastor of Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, New York, wrote on the X social media platform in a widely reported quote. Megan Basham, culture reporter for the conservative news outlet The Daily Wire and author of the 2024 book Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda, claimed on X that Baylor had created a program to reform congregations specifically in regards to LGBTQ ideology. Research purpose Baylors return of the Baugh funding, in turn, prompted angry responses from the other direction, including a strongly worded response from the Baugh Foundations trustee board that was deeply saddened by Baylors decision. We believe this is following a pressure campaign from groups with a political agenda, which has been very public, the Baugh Foundation statement says. This not only abandons this research project, but Baylors own faculty and the churches this research could serve. Our hearts break for the professors, research fellows, and, especially, the students who will receive this message from Baylor, loud and clear. The purpose of the research was to understand disenfranchisement in the church, not to dictate ideology, the statement says. This research held the potential to speak to urgent challenges facing the Church today, such as the growing loneliness epidemic among young people and the steady decline in church membership, by offering insights rooted in compassion, community, and belonging. Pulling the rug out from under its faculty after those researchers have already put the grueling work into securing funding, work they undertook with Baylors full knowledge and approval, is a chilling affront to the very concept of academic freedom. Stymying research and opportunity will inevitably lead the best and brightest students and faculty to other universities where their work and their freedom will be valued and protected, the foundation statement says. In a piece on his Substack platform titled What Would Herb Think?, referring to the late Baylor President Herbert Reynolds, Baptist News Global Publisher Mark Wingfield called the Baylor fund return the most blatant, ill-informed decision Baylor has made to date on the issue of human sexuality. archives 13 Jul - 20 Jul (4) 6 Jul - 13 Jul (2) 29 Jun - 6 Jul (2) 22 Jun - 29 Jun (4) 15 Jun - 22 Jun (1) 8 Jun - 15 Jun (3) 1 Jun - 8 Jun (4) 25 May - 1 Jun (5) 18 May - 25 May (2) 11 May - 18 May (3) 4 May - 11 May (2) 27 Apr - 4 May (5) 20 Apr - 27 Apr (1) 13 Apr - 20 Apr (2) 30 Mar - 6 Apr (5) 23 Mar - 30 Mar (2) 9 Mar - 16 Mar (1) 2 Mar - 9 Mar (2) 16 Feb - 23 Feb (3) 9 Feb - 16 Feb (1) 2 Feb - 9 Feb (3) 26 Jan - 2 Feb (2) 12 Jan - 19 Jan (1) 5 Jan - 12 Jan (1) 22 Dec - 29 Dec (1) 15 Dec - 22 Dec (2) 8 Dec - 15 Dec (1) 24 Nov - 1 Dec (1) 17 Nov - 24 Nov (4) 10 Nov - 17 Nov (2) 3 Nov - 10 Nov (1) 27 Oct - 3 Nov (4) 20 Oct - 27 Oct (4) 13 Oct - 20 Oct (1) 6 Oct - 13 Oct (1) 29 Sep - 6 Oct (1) 22 Sep - 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5 Oct (14) 21 Sep - 28 Sep (17) 14 Sep - 21 Sep (19) 7 Sep - 14 Sep (22) 31 Aug - 7 Sep (15) 24 Aug - 31 Aug (14) 17 Aug - 24 Aug (9) 10 Aug - 17 Aug (5) Wrexham.com has invited local Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home you can find them all here. In his monthly column for Wrexham.com, Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr MP Steve Witherden writes: It has been one years since I was elected as your Member of Parliament. I am proud of my first year being a loud voice for people from Chirk to Cefn, Rhostyllen to Ruabon, Ponciau to Pontfadog and everywhere in-between, and would like to share highlights of that year representing south and west Wrexham constituents. As a teacher and trade unionist before my election, one of my top priorities was to bring in Labours New Deal for Working People, which is on its way to becoming law in the form of the Employment Rights Bill. It will ban zero-hours contracts and legislate greater protections for new starters, giving workers more job security and making for the biggest increase in workers rights in a generation. It will ban fire and rehire too, a disgraceful practice that many Wrexham workers have keenly felt in the past year with Oscar Mayers shocking attempt to depreciate pay and conditions which I was more than happy to rail against in the Chamber of the House of Commons. We often get a raw deal in Wales, and so when UK government plans to cut disability benefits were announced, I took a strong stance against them, because these cuts to PIP and would have impacted Welsh people particularly hard. Thanks to sustained backbench pressure these cuts were largely dropped, and I voted against the Bill at its Second Reading. I did not stand to be a Labour MP to vote in more austerity and have consistently rallied against cuts and called for the very wealthiest in society to pay their fair share. I also promised to be a loud voice on the genocide in Gaza, with thousands of constituents supporting my calls in the Chamber of the House to end UK arms exports, which risks making us complicit while totally undermining our moral authority as a country that subscribes to the ideals of international law and self-determination. Locally, I have stood shoulder to shoulder with constituents in Chirk against the intolerable situation with the Scrapyard, working with police and the council to find a solution to this appalling episode of anti-social behaviour. I have supported Johnstown and Ruabon constituents against the Hafod Landfill, securing guarantees from Enovert and Natural Resources Wales that every possible action would be taken to stop the stench and committing to campaigning for its closure as a last resort. In the Ceiriog Valley, I have welcomed both Welsh Government and UK Government commitments to fund pothole repairs which have made roads untraversable. I met many local constituents over the winter to show my support and help out during the aftermath of several storms, floods, and landslides which affected the area, too. Above all, I promised to be honest and transparent with constituents. Things are tough at the moment, and so there is much, much left to do. It is an honour to be your MP and I could not be more grateful for the support given to me by constituents, support which has only grown since last summer. Here is to another productive year. Police launch Safer Streets Summer initiative across North Wales A campaign aimed at reducing crime across the regions town centres and communities has been launched. Running until September 30, the Home Office Safer Streets Summer initiative is part of the Governments mission to restore and strengthen local policing in communities and reduce or prevent anti-social behaviour. It forms part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee announced by the Government last month. The initiative will see greater visibility of North Wales Police officers and staff at hot spot areas. Local policing and response officers as well as our Volunteer Special Constables, together with officers from specialist teams will be focusing on increasing engagement, disrupting criminals and listening to any concerns. During the first week of the initiative, which launched on 30 June, officers across the region have been visiting schools, increased foot patrols, set up engagement events such as Cuppa with a Copper and assisted local authority partners. Successful warrants executed at two addresses in Llandudno resulted in significant seizures of Class A drugs and cash last week. Mobile phones and an assortment of drug paraphernalia were also seized, and three individuals were arrested. Officers are also focussing on crimes such as retail theft and have already made significant arrests. Last week a prolific shoplifter was jailed for a series of shoplifting offences across Wrexham. 26-year-old Layton Vallance, of no fixed address, appeared before Wrexham Magistrates Court after admitting five charges of theft from a shop. He was sentenced to serve a total 36 weeks in prison and ordered to pay 255 in costs. To try and deter anti-social behaviour, last week officers in Wrexham have met with partners to help facilitate and promote youth clubs across the city and officers in Flintshire South have linked in with local schools to design posters which will be displayed across Mold over the summer period. North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Evans said: Our teams work hard all year round to help keep our communities safe, so as the summer brings more people out and about, along with an influx of visitors to North Wales, we will be stepping up high-visibility patrols listening and responding in areas such as town centres and popular tourist hot-spot areas. Over the next three months there will be several activities taking place across the region that fall under Safer Summer Streets, including additional operations targeting retail crime, anti-social behaviour and knife crime. These are all matters that have a real impact on our businesses and communities and blight the lives of those living there. Our teams will be updating their activities on the localised police social media accounts, and I encourage everyone to follow their local policing team on Facebook to find out whats happening in their area. I would also encourage individuals to sign up to North Wales Community Alerts to receive free and direct community messaging about crime prevention advice, engagement events and general policing activity in their area, via Home North Wales Community Alert. We will continue to target crimes which matter to people and will continue to listen to concerns and those who commit these offences can expect to face the consequences of their actions. To report crime in your neighbourhood, contact North Wales Police via the LiveChat or by calling 101. In an emergency always dial 999. You can also report anonymously to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111. BEIJING, July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On a recent sunny morning in the coastal city of Xiamen in East China's Fujian Province, as temperatures surged, inside a perfectly climate-controlled dispatch center of the Xiamen Container Terminal Group, a port worker sat comfortably inside what looked like a full-sized convertible toy car. Keeping his eye on the screen, the worker had one hand on the "wheel," and the other constantly pressed different buttons and moved the joystick. At first glance, the worker looked more like he was playing a car racing game. However, a closer look at the screen, split into several small portions, revealed that the worker was actually organizing containers at the nearby Haitian Container Terminal. When the worker pressed buttons inside the dispatch room, the work was being done by machines in the scorching heat. Such highly automated operations were unimaginable for port workers just a few decades ago. Another port worker, who has worked at Xiamen Port for 25 years, recalled how things used to be done - workers had to board the ships, carry goods off the ships on their backs, load them onto handcarts for transport, and use rope nets and small cranes to hoist the cargo. From entirely relying on manual labor to highly automated operations, Xiamen Port, whose history dates back centuries, has become a modern, world-class port, thanks to the tireless efforts in tech upgrades, effectively supporting Xiamen, Fujian, as well as China's ever-growing trade with the rest of the world. Xiamen has been a trading port since ancient times, as well as a gateway for China's opening-up and external cooperation. The Xiamen Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was one of the four earliest special economic zones in the country, and in 2015, Xiamen officially became part of the China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ). On the morning of October 16, 2024, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone. Over more than 40 years of development, the Xiamen Special Economic Zone has experienced tremendous changes that were once unimaginable, he said. Today, the requirements for reform and opening-up, both in depth and breadth, are higher than ever before. Fujian and Xiamen need to adapt to the changing situation, steadily advance institutional opening-up, align with international high standards, and achieve more institutional and policy outcomes to contribute to the expansion of high-level opening-up, Xi said, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Thriving business The outcomes of Xiamen's efforts to steadily advance opening-up are on vivid display at Xiamen Port. Under Xiamen's clear skies, the Haitian Container Terminal of Xiamen Port was in full operation. Trucks moved in and out in an orderly flow, navigating between rows of stacked containers. Gantry cranes traveled slowly along the quay, maintaining uninterrupted loading and unloading work. Overhead, airplanes passed frequentlylocated beneath the flight path of Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, the terminal sees a steady stream of aircraft flying over the work site, becoming part of the daily scene. Looking out over the harbor waters, a cargo ship operated by the French shipping giant CMA CGM Group arrived at the Haitian Container Terminal around 8 am and is scheduled to depart the terminal around 4:30 am the next day, according to Chen Caishun, the on-duty manager from Xiamen Container Terminal Group. The ship, scheduled to load nearly 2,200 TEUs of cargo within about 20 hours at the terminal covering goods such as ceramics, shoes and various daily goods, is heading to multiple Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore and Indonesia. "This is also one of our 'Silk Road Maritime' routes," Chen told the Global Times. At the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held on October 18, 2023, President Xi announced in his keynote speech that China will vigorously integrate ports, shipping and trading services under the "Silk Road Maritime," and accelerate the building of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the Air Silk Road, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Chen noted that the "Silk Road Maritime" has evolved from a strategic concept in its early stages into a core component of Xiamen Port's operations. "Take Haitian Container Terminal as an example, its growth in the first half of this year was largely driven by the 'Silk Road Maritime', particularly through the expansion of Southeast Asian routes," he said. Thanks to various efforts, ranging from improving port efficiency to policy support, "Silk Road Maritime," which focuses on shipping routes to Southeast Asia and other regions along the Maritime Silk Road, has become a thriving business at Xiamen Port. The port currently operates more than 132 "Silk Road Maritime" routes, reaching over 145 ports across 46 countries and regions, according to official data. Haitian Container Terminal is the departure port for the "Silk Road Maritime." In the first quarter of this year, the terminal handled 717,200 TEUs, up 5.2 percent year-on-year, with Southeast Asia routes standing out at 317,800 TEUs, a 16.67 percent increase. What's more, during this period, it added seven new shipping routes to countries including Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Since the start of this year, the "Silk Road Maritime platform" has advanced the Southern China-Southeast Asia land-sea corridor through multimodal transport, opening new routes from Xiamen to Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. Notably, a direct line to Chancay Port in Peru, a Chinese-built port that went into operation in November 2024, was launched, bypassing Central America and reducing transshipment risks, according to Li Nan, secretary-general of the Silk Road Maritime International Association and the general manager of Fujian Silk Road Maritime Management Co, the operator of the "Silk Road Maritime." By expanding its routes and innovating transportation methods, "Silk Road Maritime" has helped ensure the stability of global supply chains. "Despite uncertainties in the international market, China's foreign trade has continued to grow steadily," Li told the Global Times. Li said that to support the development of "Silk Road Maritime," the platform has adopted smart container technologiessuch as the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and 5G technologyto enable end-to-end logistics visibility, improving both efficiency and safety. Leveraging advanced technologies and policy support to bolster efficiency has become a key focus at Xiamen Port. World-leading efficiency Just after sunrise on July 3, the Hyundai Forward, a 294-meter-long cargo ship operated by South Korea's HMM, quietly pulled into the Hairun Container Terminal at Xiamen Port. Different from the Haitian Container Terminal, this terminal majorly operates ocean routes to America, Europe and Australia. With a deadweight tonnage of over 62,000, the vessel was scheduled to load 583 TEUs before continuing its journey, including various cargos from shoes to ceramics bowls to iron fences and treadmills. As loading operations got underway, towering bridge cranes loaded containers into the cargo ship from a stream of trucks carrying the containers from various parts of the port. Stunningly, the cranes and the vast majority of the trucks are driverless. After six hours of tightly coordinated operations, the ship departed for Kaohsiung Port at the Taiwan Island - its final stop before crossing the vast Pacific Ocean to reach the west coast of the US, carrying with it not just cargo, but renewed confidence in the resilience and reach of China's foreign trade. Such efficiency is possible thanks to Xiamen Port's ongoing technological upgrades. The Haitian Container Terminal began electrifying its equipment in 2008 and took the lead in implementing remote control of quay cranes in 2015, making it one of the earliest terminals in China to adopt smart and green port development. In July 2020, smart port upgrades were extended to the Hairun Container Terminal, marking China's first full-area, end-to-end intelligent transformation of a traditional container terminal. Unlike partial upgrades at other terminals, the Hairun Container Terminal's smart transformation covers the entire port area and full operational chain, including horizontal transport, yard cranes, and cargo handling, according to port officials. Thanks to such efforts, Xiamen Port's efficiency ranks among the highest globally. In May 2025, global rankings for the average time international ocean-going container ships spent at major ports were released, with Xiamen ranking second and third worldwide for time at berth and in-port stay, respectively. These indicators reflect the overall efficiency of port operations, including facilities and equipment, piloting, scheduling, loading and unloading, intermodal transport, and customs clearance, as well as cargo handling efficiency during a vessel's time at berth. Beyond hardware upgrades, policy support is also key to achieving world-class port efficiency. As a special economic zone and part of a national FTZ, Xiamen has rolled out more than 630 innovative reform and opening-up measures, with 153 of them marking "firsts" in China, according to the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) FTZ. In addition, efficient customs clearance operations have also become a key driver of growth. "Since the beginning of this year, Haicang Customs has taken many measures to promote customs clearance facilitation. In terms of optimizing services, it has implemented pre-arrival reporting, guided enterprises to declare customs in advance, pre-examined documents, carried out timely inspections and assessments, adopted the model of advance declaration plus appointment inspection, and used consolidated taxation and tax guarantees to alleviate the financial pressure on enterprises and optimize scheduling," Lai Yichao, an official with Haicang Customs, told the Global Times. Enterprising spirit These efforts provide concrete support for businesses in Xiamen to effectively navigate the increasingly complex global trade landscape and continuously open up new channels for trade. Xiamen-based WORTHFIND IMP & EXP Co started with toiletry storage bags and gradually expanded to include suitcases, laptop bags, smart waist packs, and more - offering a diverse range of products sold in 150 countries and regions. Even though the company has set up overseas warehouses in western and eastern regions of the US, revenue from the US market has dropped from 90 percent of its total revenue three years ago to 60 percent at present, thanks to efforts to explore other emerging markets, Lin Yang, deputy general manager of the company, told the Global Times. Lin also noted that the company's self-owned brand holds pricing power, allowing flexibility in price adjustments, and that tariffs are included in logistics costs, with part of the increased expenses shared by partner logistics providers. "So far, US policies have not had a substantial impact on the company's operational pace," said Lin. WORTHFIND is not alone in tackling challenges head-on and finding new growth points, leveraging various policy supports and efficient logistics at Xiamen Port. ECO-WORTHY, a Xiamen-based new energy products exporter, had already achieved half of its annual target in the first half of the year and expects to meet its revenue goal by year-end. The company's founder, Wang Hao, said its products hold a strong market share on cross-border e-commerce platforms, particularly in Europe and the US. "Despite challenges in recent years, the company can still maintain product competitiveness," Wang told the Global Times. Wang emphasized that Xiamen offers a favorable business environment, with well-regulated government management and strong support for foreign trade enterprises. "Thanks to Xiamen's superior import-export conditions, we have been able to conduct overseas business smoothly and quickly expand into emerging markets," he said. All of this demonstrates an enterprising spirit that has underpinned the high-quality development of Xiamen since it became one of the first four special economic zones in the early years of China's reform and opening-up policy and a gateway for China's cooperation with the rest of the world. In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum on September 3, 2017, President Xi noted that Xiamen is where he started off when he came to Fujian Province to take up a new post in 1985, and said that there is a popular saying here in southern Fujian, "Dedicate yourself and you will win," which embodies an enterprising spirit. Xiamen's success is a good example demonstrating the perseverance of the 1.3 billion-plus Chinese people, he said at that time, according to Xinhua. "We have encountered difficulties and challenges on the way forward. But we have persevered and kept pace with the times. With dedication, courage and ingenuity, we are making great progress in pursuing development in today's China," President Xi said, according to Xinhua. In interviews with the Global Times, port workers, customs officials and businesspeople in Xiamen fully demonstrated this enterprising spirit - while acknowledging the challenges in global trade, they exude a sense of calm and confidence that through dedicated efforts, they can always find new ways to pursue win-win cooperation with the rest of the world. "Despite various challenges, we have always worked hard to promote Chinese products to the world. Especially in the global e-commerce market, "Made in China" is still an important label and is favored by consumers," Yang Kaimo, manager of the customer service department at Xiamen Port Logistics Company, told the Global Times, adding that such efforts are also aimed at meeting the needs of consumers from various countries and regions who rely on Chinese-made products for their daily lives. SOURCE Global Times Senedd member calls for restrictions on bottom trawling to protect Wales seabeds A Senedd member called for restrictions on bottom trawling to protect Wales seabeds as she criticised the current rudderless marine protection policy. Janet Finch-Saunders said she could hardly imagine a more wasteful way of catching fish than bottom trawling, which involves dragging heavy nets across the sea floor. The Conservatives shadow climate secretary told the Senedd: It is a national disgrace that this Welsh Government is allowing such destructive and wasteful practices to take place. Ms Finch-Saunders warned: These practices effectively bulldoze through and destroy seabed habitats. They release high levels of carbon and they catch untargeted marine life. She stated bottom trawling is excluded in less than 1% of seas, with restrictions around Skomer Island only one of the 139 marine protected areas (MPAs) surrounding Wales. Destructive Ms Finch-Saunders described the destructive method of fishing as incompatible with MPAs, which are meant to be sanctuaries for marine life. I fear that the Welsh Government has left marine policy rudderless, she said, warning Wales has been waiting more than a decade for new marine conservation zones. Ms Finch-Saunders told Senedd members: Stopping this wicked trawling in MPAs would be one of the most impactful steps that this Welsh Government could take in meeting nature and climate commitments for protecting and effectively managing 30% of our sea by 2030. She urged Welsh ministers to follow Westminsters lead, with the UK Government consulting on proposals to ban bottom trawling in 41 MPAs an area spanning 30,000km2. Ms Finch-Saunders pointed to the example of a ban in Lyme Bay in south-west England leading to a 430% increase in the richness of the species mix. Hope Contributing to the debate on July 9, Joyce Watson raised long-held concerns about the impact of scallop dredging in the special area of conservation in Cardigan Bay. She said: Scallop dredging, like other forms of dredging, is an incredibly destructive fishing practice the entire structure of the seabed is damaged as rakes are dragged along. Her Labour colleague Carolyn Thomas said she was horrified to watch Sir David Attenboroughs Ocean documentary film. But she added: It did say there was hope, that if bottom trawling ended the ecosystems, the biodiversity could soon recover. Tom Giffard warned of recent legislative changes leading to people descending on Penclawdd, Gower, to pick cockles without regard for restoring the seabed. Pointing out that people have been picking cockles at Penclawdd since Roman times, the Conservative said: Residents are very worried that the seabed is not being protected and the future viability of cockles in Penclawdd is not being protected either. Overregulation Sam Kurtz, a fellow Conservative, expressed similar concerns about the extractive nature of the harvesting of razor clams in Saundersfoot for personal use. But his Tory colleague James Evans called for a balanced approach between economic and environmental considerations, saying: I do worry sometimes about banning things or overregulation for the simple reason that a lot of our fishermen make a living out of the sea.. Huw Irranca-Davies, the deputy first minister who is responsible for environment policy, described the use of bottom trawling around Wales as relatively limited. He told the Senedd the main king scallop fishery in Wales is managed under a joint fisheries management plan with England to ensure long-term sustainability. Mr Irranca-Davies pledged to take a proportionate, evidence-led approach to restrictions. We have robust management processes in place to protect our marine environment, he said. And we will react to any evidence which confirms the need for additional measures. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Wales introducing 1 bus travel for 16-21-year-olds from September Young people aged 16 to 21 across Wales will be able to travel on buses for just 1 under a new Welsh Government scheme. From September 1, single fares will cost 1 and 3 day passes will also be available, allowing unlimited travel on participating bus services for a year. The scheme will be extended to five to 15-year-olds from November, with current reduced fares remaining in place until then. Speaking at a launch event at Newport Bus Station, First Minister Eluned Morgan said: Cutting the cost of travel for young people and providing better transport for all is one of our top priorities. We are delivering our promises to young people across Wales. This investment will make a real difference to communities all over Wales, but especially in rural areas. Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, added: I am delighted to be launching a scheme that offers affordable bus travel for young people to help them access education, training, employment, and leisure, as well as supporting our efforts to encourage more people to use public transport, reduce carbon emissions and tackle poverty. As we approach the summer holidays, I want to encourage all those who havent signed up for a free mytravelpass to do so from the 21st July, this will mean they can take advantage of 1 bus fares from 1 September. Im also pleased we will be able to extend the scheme to five to 15-years-olds from November. The Welsh Government is providing 15 million over two financial years (2025-26 and 2026-27) to support 1 bus fares for 16 to 21-year-olds as part of a budget deal with Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Jane Dodds. An additional 7 million will fund the extension of the scheme to five to 15-year-olds from 3 November. 16 to 21-year-olds who do not already have a free mytravelpass will be able to apply from 21 July. More details on the scheme and how to apply are available here. Animal cruelty is a topic that really stokes outrage with many people who see pets being left in hot vehicles. In Nevada, summer temperatures can soar well above 100 degrees, and the inside of a car can become deadly in minutes. "Reba's Law" is a new state law that strengthens penalties for leaving a pet unattended in a hot vehicle. Leaving a pet in a hot car can now be charged as a gross misdemeanor or felony, depending on the harm caused. First responders and good Samaritans are legally allowed to break a car window or door, rescuing an animal left helpless in emergency situations. Hunter Mercurio, Recruiting Officer for Reno Police Department advised, "You need to make sure if you're running errandseven if you're going to the grocery store just for a couple of minutesjust leave your pets at home; leave them in the air-conditioning. If you want to take your dogs on hikes or walks, make sure you're doing it in the early mornings or late evenings." If you see a pet in danger or suffering in distress, take note of the vehicle's make, model, and license plate. Immediately call 911 or Animal Control and stay with the vehicle. Law enforcement is legally obligated to force entry into any vehicle and rescue the animals left inside, and may do so without liability. Officer Mercurio adds, "If you see them in immediate danger of possibly dying from the heat, number one - call 911 and find people around to help locate the owner. And worst-case scenario, if the window does need to be broken, you have to make sure the vehicle doors are locked." Animal control and law enforcement officials can't stress enough to please leave your pets at home. They don't belong in a hot car to suffer and possibly die. Be wise and make good choices that are in the best interest of your pets' overall health and well-being. On the left is a design of a 2024 surfing event in Hawaii. On the right is the 2025 winning design for the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores. A Shrimp Festival committee, established by the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, determined on Thursday, July 10, 2025, to choose a different design for the 2025 festival. submitted photo Gulf Shores artist Michael Swiger is defending his now-rejected design for the 2025 National Shrimp Festival poster, saying its a case of art appropriation, not plagiarism. The Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, which hosts the festival, pulled Swigers winning design Thursday after concerns surfaced over similarities to a poster for the 2024 Hurley Pro surfing event in Hawaii. A new design has been selected and will be announced next week. At no point did I intend the new design to be misinterpreted as a copy, nor did I ever try to pass the original art off as my own or hide the origin of the design, said Swiger in a morning post to his Facebook page. In fact, when I made the post about winning the contest, I received compliments from other people who recognized the allusion to the Hurley poster. Swiger, who beat out 26 other entries in a secret ballot contest in April, said his poster was a hand-painted acrylic work inspired by surf culture, not a digital copy. The relationship between my poster and the Hurley poster was completely intentional with numerous altered and added elements to creatively capture the essence of our local Shrimp Fest art, food, music, beach imagery, etc.," he said. Appropriation Swiger said that the biggest difference between appropriation, which he contends was his work, and plagiarism is a reinterpretation of the original work. He said that his work utilizes the original work as a reference or starting point and then adds or subtracts what he says are different elements to create a new piece or message. He said plagiarized work involves no alteration or claiming the originally referenced artwork as your own. Swiger posted several examples of posters he considers to be art appropriation on Facebook. One example includes the iconic Starry Night painting by Vincent Van Gogh and a reinterpretation of that image featuring the comic book hero Batman. My intentions have always been 100% pure and genuine, and I never intended to wrong anyone, nor did I ever expect the piece to attract any negative attention, Swiger said. Withdrawn design Swigers statement on Facebook comes one day after he sent a comment to AL.com acknowledging an agreement he had with the Shrimp Festival Committee to withdraw the design. He said he would rather not put the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, which hosts the event, or the Shrimp Festival committee in a difficult position. Ryan Moberly, a spokesperson for the Chamber, said Friday that a new design for the 2025 Shrimp Festival has been selected, and they will put out that information sometime next week. The 52nd annual Shrimp Festival will take place Oct. 9-12, at the Gulf Shores Public Beach. A decision on rescinding Swigers poster and moving forward with a new poster was made during a committee meeting on Thursday. It has come to the attention of the Shrimp Festival committee that the originally selected poster for 2025 is similar in design to a poster from an event in another state in 2024, the Chambers statement reads. After speaking with the artist and an in-depth discussion with the Shrimp Fest committee, the decision was made to choose a different submission for this years poster. We feel this is in the best interest of everyone involved. Swigers design was selected from entries submitted by artists from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin. His design was selected by the majority vote in a secret ballot that was held by the Shrimp Festival committee on April 15. Shrimp fest is known for the variety presented by its food vendors. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com The artwork serves as the face of the festivals marketing and merchandise, and Swigers poster was listed for sale Saturday on the popular e-commerce site, eBay. As the winner, Swiger was also expected to receive $1,000 in cash and appear at the event for a poster signing. Swiger, 31, is the son of Angie Swiger, who is running for mayor on Aug. 26 against incumbent Mayor Robert Craft and businessman Ray Moore. Angie Swiger declined to comment. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks during the first day of Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) AP U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claimed on Friday that having a rapist president in office has muddied the Justice Departments handling of matters involving deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files? the New York representative asked on X. In 2023, Trump was found liable for sexually abusing columnist E. Jean Carroll, but was not found liable for rape and wasnt charged with a criminal offense. As many Trump supporters noted on the congresswomans post, ABC News was sued last year when anchor George Stephanopoulos used similar verbiage to characterize the presidents alleged actions. Ocasio-Cortez has summarized Trump as a rapist and criminal at rallies as well. While the president was convicted in a cover-up conspiracy to defraud the voting public, those crimes were not sexual in nature. Trump has come under fire from his own supporters this week after Justice Department officials he appointed stated that Epstein kept no client list linking celebrities and public officials to his alleged sex trafficking activities. Many of Trumps followers insist otherwise. Some have questioned whether Trump once an Epstein party pal might have been one of the disgraced financiers alleged customers. No evidence has been offered to support that conspiracy theory. MAGA loyalists also expressed disappointment in FBI leaders Kash Patel and Dan Bongino for confirming in May that Epstein committed suicide in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in 2019 rather than being assassinated by a deep state protecting powerful pedophiles, as many internet sleuths have suggested. Reports on Friday signaled that Bongino is ready to leave the FBI if Attorney General Pam Bondi keeps her job at the DOJ after refusing to release any more information about the Epstein case. The president added fuel to that fire when he became upset with a reporter who mentioned Epstein at a Tuesday Cabinet meeting. Are people still talking about this guy? Trump fumed. That is unbelievable. 2025 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. NEW YORK, July 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of United Natural Foods, Inc. ("United Natural" or the "Company") (NYSE: UNFI). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether United Natural and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On June 9, 2025, United Natural disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that, after it "became aware of unauthorized activity on certain of its Information Technology (IT) systems," it "promptly activated its incident response plan and implemented containment measures, including proactively taking certain systems offline, which has temporarily impacted the Company's ability to fulfill and distribute customer orders." On this news, United Natural's stock price fell $4.56 per share, or 10.18%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $23.30 per share on June 10, 2025. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Danielle Peyton Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 646-581-9980 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP Irondale police Lt. Mark Meadows, 60, was killed Jan. 6, 2025, while directing traffic at Church of the Highlands. (Contributed) An Irondale police lieutenant, who was killed in January while directing traffic at Church of the Highlands, will be honored today with a portion of a city road named after him. The city will unveil the marker dedicating a portion of Ruffner Road in Lt. Mark Meadows name, according to a city news release. The unveiling is scheduled to take place around noon July 12 at 750 Ruffner Road in Irondale. The city also announced that a monument honoring Meadows will be unveiled at the Irondale Police Department Firearms Training Facility. The ceremony is part of Lt. Mark Alan Meadows Day in Irondale. Moving forward, the city will recognize July 12 with a community event in Meadows honor. Meadows, a 30-year police veteran, was putting out cones on Jan. 6, at the intersection of Grants Mill and Overton roads as the churchs 21 Days of Prayer was preparing to let out when he was struck by an oncoming motorist. He was struck by a Chevrolet Colorado pick-up truck driven by 32-year-old Leeds man, who stopped at the scene. The man was not arrested nor issued a citation. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency reported in late January that the driver struck Meadows as he was attempting to pass another vehicle and was distracted while attempting to adjust the heat inside the truck. Meadows, 60, was taken to Grandview Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Lt. Mark Meadows was a treasured member of our Irondale family for over 30 years, Irondale Mayor Mark Meadows said in a statement at the time. He was a man of few words but always led by example and embodied the heart of a public servant. The city honored Meadows in January by lighting up the sky with blue lights for 30 days in honor of his law enforcement service. The world's largest Buc-ee's is shown in Luling, Texas, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 10, 2024. The company plans to begin construction for a new store in San Marcos, Texas, on Oct. 1, 2024, with a completion date of Dec. 15, 2025. Ryan Cohick | LoneStarLive.com Buc-ees is a travel mega store known for its toothy beaver mascot that appears on various products, from corn nuggets to beef jerky. The Texas-based company is now placing its mascot in a childrens book. Our first childrens book, Buc-ee Goes to School, is out now, the company wrote in an Instagram post last week. Pick up a copy this summer when you hit the road and tell us below where should Buc-ee go next? The book is written by Katherine Alpin, a first-time author. Its cover includes the smiling Buc-ee mascot wearing its signature red shirt and yellow and red B logo. A backpack appears to be strapped to the beavers back as it prepares to head off to school. Bucees first opened in 1982, and remained largely a Texas-based company for years, featuring large travel stations throughout the Lone Star State. The company opened its first non-Texas travel station in 2019, off of Interstate 10 in Loxley. It has since opened three more travel stations in Alabama Athens, Leeds and Auburn. While Texas makes up 70% of the Buc-ees locations, there are more than 50 Buc-ees travel stations located off interstates in nine states. Rosie O'Donnell arrives at the ELLE Women in Hollywood celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP President Donald Trumps administration has enacted mass deportations for immigrants and is looking to end birthright citizenship for the children of some immigrants. But can the president even consider revoking the citizenship of someone born in the U.S., even if they are a political foe? Trump is attempting a unprecedented action, according to national news reports Saturday. Shortly before 10 a.m., Trump said on Truth Social that because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interest of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. Trump called ODonnell a threat to humanity and said she should stay in Ireland, where she moved to in January after Trump was sworn in for his second term. The White House declined to comment to national media outlets on whether Trump was serious about the threat. There is no legal precedent for a president to revoke the citizenship of an American born resident. ODonnell lashed back at Trump with her own insults on Instagram. She claimed that Trump, whose administration has sought to curtail paths to citizenship, was planning to deport all who stand against his evil tendencies. The president of the USA has always hated the fact that I see him for who he is a criminal con man sexual abusing liar out to harm our nation to service himself, she said. This is why I moved to Ireland. She also posted a picture that was taken of Trump with Jeffrey Epstein, taken in 1997 in Palm Beach, Fla. ODonnell claimed that she lives rent-free in Trumps brain. You call me a threat to humanity but Im everything you fear: a loud woman, a queer woman, a mother who tells the truth, an American who got out of the country (before) you set it ablaze. She added, you build walls I build a life for my autistic kid in a country where decency still exists. Experts, quoted by The New York Times on Saturday, said that Trump has no power to take away citizenship of a U.S.-born citizens. U.S. citizens can relinquish their citizenship voluntarily, and federal courts can strip naturalized citizens of their citizenship if there is proven fraud or misrepresentation of other major cases, Julia Gelatt, associate director of the immigration program at the Migration Policy Institute said to the New York Times. But U.S.-born citizens cannot have their citizenship taken away. Trump and ODonnell have been feuding since 2006, according to the New York Times. That year, the actress mocked Trump on The View for defending a Miss USA contestant who was roiled in controversy. The rift continued as Trump was running for president in 2015. When asked by moderator Megyn Kelly about Trumps use of language like fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals to describe women, Trump replied, only Rosie ODonnell. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., salutes during the National Anthem in the Fiserv Forum on the last night of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis., on Thursday July 18, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag Congressman Barry Moore, who has said he might run for the U.S. Senate, posted on social media Friday that will make an announcement on August 15. Moore, a Republican from Enterprise, did not reveal what the announcement would be. Join us for a BIG announcement on Friday. August 15th! Moore said on X. Join us for a BIG announcement on Friday. August 15th! Come out and enjoy food, live music, and a special announcement. Please come as you are, it's casual dress! - The Barn at Blue Pond in Sylvania, Alabama. #MAGA #alpolitics #AlabamaPolitics pic.twitter.com/sOYZhg2E7k Barry Moore For Congress (@BMooreCongress) July 11, 2025 Back in May, Moore told 1819 News that he was considering a run for the seat held by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor. My family and I are praying and asking the Lord to guide us in this decision. As we seek His guidance, were listening to the people of Alabama and considering how we can best continue to serve this great state, Moore said. See more: Who will be Alabamas next US Senator? Republicans line up in race to replace Tommy Tuberville Moore was elected to represent Alabamas 2nd Congressional District in 2020. Voters reelected Moore in 2022. In 2023, a federal court redrew Alabamas congressional map after ruling that it likely violated the Voting Rights Act. The 2nd District was changed to favor Democratic candidates. Moores hometown was moved into the 1st District. Moore ran in the 1st district in 2024 and defeated the Republican incumbent, U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl of Mobile. Moore, a member of the right-wing Freedom Caucus, was backed by conservative groups like CPAC and Heritage Action. If Moore runs for the Senate, he would face one Republican who has already won two statewide races. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced in May he was running for the Senate. Marshall was elected attorney general in 2018 and reelected in 2022. Jared Hudson, a former Navy Seal who ran for Jefferson County sheriff in 2022, was the first Republican to announce he was running for Tubervilles seat. Democrats who are running for the Senate seat include Kyle Sweetser, a business owner and lifelong Alabama Republican who spoke at last summers Democratic National Convention, Dakarai Larriett, a business owner, Birmingham native, and University of Alabama graduate, and Mark Wheeler of Heflin, a Jacksonville State University graduate and chemist who works for a wire manufacturing company. The primary is May 19, 2026. See more: Major candidates emerge in states top races 11 months before primary As some question whether warnings could have been sent out sooner and possibly saved lives lost to a deadly Texas flood, President Donald Trump has said that only an evil person would question the timing of the alerts. Trump held a press conference Friday after visiting Texas with First Lady Melania Trump to see the devastation left after a flash flood in Kerr County killed over 100 people last week including dozens of children at a summer camp. During the press conference, a reporter said that several families were angry because they felt that alerts for the flood did not go out in time. The reporter then asks Trump what he has to say to those families. Trump starts his answer by saying that he believes those who responded to the emergency did an incredible job before ripping into the reporter and the basis of the question. I have admiration for the job everybody did, Trump said. Only a bad person would ask a question like that to be honest with you. I dont know who you are but I think only an evil person would ask a question like that. Reporter: Several families are upset because theyre saying the alerts didnt go out in time. What do you say to those families? Trump: I think everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances Only an evil person would ask a question like that pic.twitter.com/TZNJPxsJ0U Acyn (@Acyn) July 11, 2025 The response to the disaster has remained under scrutiny due to speculation about what more could have been to give victims proper warning. According to the Washington Post, Kerr County had the capability to issue a wide ranging alarm to every cellphone in the area before or during the flooda but did not do so. Republicans have called out Democrats for attempting to politicize the issue as it occurred in the state led by conservative Gov. Greg Abbott. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala, went on Fox News earlier this week and said that Democrats were being toxic in the wake of the floods while exhibiting Trump Derangement Syndrome. However, during Californias wildfires in January Trump and other Republicans attacked the states response while blaming the disaster on its Democratic leadership specifically Gov. Gavin Newsom. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala, said in January that California did not deserve aid to assist in the disaster because voters chose to elect, imbeciles. Sarah Marsh, eight-years-old, from Mountain Brook, was identified as one of the people killed during the flooding. Many remain missing from Alabama, including Eddie Santana Sr., 69, and his wife, Ileana, 66, from Mobile and their granddaughter, five-year-old Mila Rosa Santana. The San Diego Padres play against the Philadelphia Phillies in an MLB game tonight. The matchup will begin at 8:40 p.m. CT on MLB Network. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV. The Padres enter this matchup with a 50-43 record, and they have won two of their last three games. In their most recent game, the Padres defeated Arizona 4-3. In order to win tonights game, the Padres will need to rely on their star player Manny Machado. He leads the San Diego offense with 16 home runs and 54 RBI, which highlights his power at the plate. Notably, Machado also leads the team with a .291 batting average. The Phillies enter this matchup with a 54-39 record, and they are coming off an impressive 13-0 win against the San Francisco Giants. In order to win this game, the Phillies will need a great performance from their star player Kyle Schwarber. He leads the Philadelphia offense with 29 home runs and 68 RBI, so he will look to continue his offensive success this evening. Fans can watch this MLB game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV. The Seattle Storm play against the Connecticut Sun in a WNBA game tonight. The matchup will begin at 9 p.m. CT on ION. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV. The Storm enter this matchup with a 12-8 record, and they have won two of their last three games. However, the team is coming off a 93-83 loss against Connecticut. In order to bounce back this evening, the Storm will need a great performance from their star player Skylar Diggins. She leads the Seattle offense in scoring, as she averages more than 18 points per game. Notably, Diggins also leads the team with nearly six assists per game. The Sun have struggled this season, as they enter this matchup with a 3-16 record. The team has lost 10 of their last 11 games, so Connecticut will try to turn things around tonight. In order to win this game, the Sun will need to rely on their star player Tina Charles. She leads the team in scoring, as she averages more than 15 points per game. Fans can watch this WNBA game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV. The celebrations didnt last long. President Trump kicked off the festivities at the Iowa State Fair grounds. He was in Iowa to ballyhoo passage of the One, Big Beautiful Bill. The crowd -- as always at Trump rallies -- was enthusiastic. The mammoth measure is the centerpiece of Trumps second administration. It unlocks the door to a huge boost to the economy and provides a torrent of new monies for tougher border enforcement and mass deportations, among other considerations. Promises made, promises kept. Rand Paul and congressional bean counters, though, were grumpy about the measures costs. Paul still is. Hes scoring the legislations particulars statically. Trump is scoring the tax cuts dynamically. Trump is right. Revenues will pour in. The trouble, as the Kentucky senator should know, is always about spending. Uncle Sam runs annual deficits and has amassed a $37 trillion debt because members of Congress and presidents keep spending like, well, theyre buying votes. We really need a constitutional amendment not just balancing the federal budget but limiting spending as a percentage of GDP (except in times of war and national emergencies). Oddly, though, at the Iowa rally, the president floated a trial balloon. Maybe amnesty for illegals working in the ag sector and hospitality and leisure worlds needs to be addressed somehow, the president remarked. Trump said that he had been approached by ag secretary Brooke Rollins and his chief of staff Susie Wiles with the idea. Surely, they heard earfuls from Iowa farmers and, likely, reps from the Iowa Farm Bureau. But in jumped Charlie Kirk to sound an alarm. Kirk is as staunch a Trump man as is around. Kirk heard from a couple of establishment Republicans, he said, who urged him to back an amnesty measure. From [your]news, July 7: Kirk described the effort as a betrayal of Trumps core campaign promise to restore the rule of law and carry out mass deportations. He claimed the push is being orchestrated behind closed doors in Washington and that it is actively unfolding while public attention remains focused on the economy and the administrations legislative victories. The amnesty trial balloon dropped faster than a lead balloon. The conservative backlash was quick and intense. A day later, Rollins was trotted out before reporters. She made this door-slamming statement, per Reuters: "Ultimately, the answer on this [farm labor concerns] is automation, also some reform within the current governing structure. And then also, when you think about, there are 34 million able-bodied adults in our Medicaid program. There are plenty of workers in America," she said at a press conference outside the Department of Agriculture headquarters. With the midterm elections happening next year, Wiles gets -- as the president does -- that turning out his voter base is mandatory. The U.S. House hangs in the balance. Redistricting in Texas and Ohio should give the GOP a boost, but only marginally. Democrats Senate takeover chances hinge, in part, on Kentucky governor Andy Beshear throwing his hat in the ring and former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper running. Both men are eyeing the presidency, however. In Iowa, a couple of House Republicans are expected to be in tight contests. No doubt, Wiles and Rollins pushed Trump to placate farm interests to protect these incumbents. Whatever the motive, MAGA across the country is in no mood for amnesty, targeted or otherwise. Perhaps prioritizing immigration enforcement in states other than Iowa until after the midterms conclude is politically prudent? Opening the door to amnesty anywhere is a surefire way to depress large segments of Trumps voter base. The White House was wise to have Rollins clarify the issue. Then theres the Epstein Files The White Houses Nothing to see here, move on tactic regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case isnt flying. Conservatives have taken sides. Ben Shapiro opines that conservatives who dont accept the White Houses case closed line means that they believe Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, and Dan Bongino are lying. Tucker Carlson believes that Pam Bondis Justice Department is covering up. Glenn Beck says that Bondi should resign. Megyn Kelly thinks that Bondi isnt long for the AG job. And Elon Musk -- currently on the outs with Trump -- says that full disclosure of the Epstein files will be his America Partys priority. We know that Epstein ran a sex operation involving underage females. We know that a slew of prominent people traveled on the Lolita Express, including trips to his Orgy Island. Ghislaine Maxwell, his groupie and recruiter, is cooling her heels in a federal pen for trafficking minors and other related offenses. We know So, is it an artful dodge by the president and Bondi to declare no there, there? A list is a handy term. There may not be a tidy list of clients that Maxwell typed up and saved on a PC. It may consist of all sorts of records, which pieced together, would constitute a list of very prominent sex perverts -- names that are recognizable to the public. We can bet our houses and kids college funds that Trump isnt on any list. Not only did Trump boot Epstein out of Mar-A-logo, but Democrats would have mined a Trump connection years ago to bring him down. Theres plenty of speculation about the White Houses motives. Whos being protected? Are there congressional Republicans and big-dollar GOP donors who are compromised? Remember, winning Congress next year is vital. Are there threats of retaliation by the intelligence agencies? The scuttlebutt has been that Epstein was a CIA asset. What? The CIA indulges in compromising powerful people and hanging blackmail over their heads? Nah. Only J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI would have done that. Whats true or false? There are too many questions left unanswered. Too many strings left dangling. There may also be more to the Epstein saga that cant or shouldnt be revealed at this time. The guesswork wont stop until more definitive answers are provided. And, Finally, is the Left Heading Toward an Explosion? Victor Davis Hanson, posting at X for the Daily Signal (July 9), summarized: We are entering a terrifying new phase of their radicalism. A Democrat official publicly celebrated the deaths of children in Texas' devastating flash flood because they were white. There have been organized assassination attempts against ICE agents. The [Democrat] party is teetering on the edge of something far more dangerous than political disagreement. Then this, Hansons most shocking claim: We've got even more disturbing reports that Democratic Congress people said, Well, what are we supposed to do? We meet with our constituents and they're telling us that one of us should be shot. I don't mean shot by punishment. They're urging us to use violence and be willing to be shot by others to promote a radical agenda. Finally, this take from Joel Kotkin at UnHerd, July 4: This cultural division [across the country] is compounded by deepening geographic splits that increasingly resemble the antebellum era before the Civil War. The Democratic Party held seats across the Plains and the South well into the Eighties. Today, it is essentially a Northern party, with its power concentrated in major cities. This has fostered a leadership class typified by firebrands like Jasmine Crockett, Gen-Z favourite Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and New York mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani. All of the above make for a foggy, unsettling summer. For President Trump and conservatives, its about sticking with principles, working to fulfill pledges, and standing together, despite some differences and qualms. Democrats and their hardline leftist constituencies are disempowered, angry, and growing ever more frustrated. Now is no time for conservatives to split into rival camps. J. Robert Smith can be found at X. His handle is @JRobertSmith1. At Gab, @JRobertSmith. He blogs occasionally at Flyover . Image: AT via Magic Studio They say states are the laboratories of democracy. If so, Florida and New York are running vastly different experiments -- and the results could not be more instructive. In the now current fiscal year, New York passed a $237 billion state budget, while Florida passed a budget less than half the size at $116.5 billion -- even though Florida now has millions more residents than New York (U.S. Census, 2024). This is not about population. It is about two distinct philosophies. A glimpse of where one of these philosophies leads emerged recently in New York City, where Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic mayoral nomination. Mamdani openly advocates for government acquisition of private property to be redistributed as public housing -- policies far beyond traditional liberalism and cutting sharply toward classic Communist doctrine. His victory was not driven by mass support. Just 7% of eligible voters participated in the primary, with turnout under 18% among younger voters. In such an apathetic climate, it does not take a majority to win -- only an organized minority. Florida has lowered its budget in consecutive years while absorbing record population growth. New York continues to spend more, tax more, and -- especially in education -- get less. These are not abstractions. They are measurable outcomes with realworld implications, particularly for families, taxpayers, and students. The Education Divide The most consistent national measurement for K12 outcomes is the NAEP -- the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Here, the contrast is glaring. Florida, which now spends $9,130 per student, consistently scores above the national average on 4th and 8th grade reading and math. New York, which spends $29,893 per student, ranks around 46th in 8th grade reading and below average in most other categories. Even more striking: New Yorks per-student spending rose by about 50% between 2012 and 2022, reaching nearly twice the national average, while its NAEP scores have barely moved. Floridas scores, meanwhile, have steadily climbed. In fact, from 2003 to 2022, Florida improved its average composite score more than any large state in the country. Why New York Says It Must Spend More New Yorks education establishment offers familiar defenses: its student population has greater needs, from Englishlanguage learners to special education and poverty. These challenges, they argue, require more support. Yet the data suggest otherwise. Florida and New York have similar poverty rates -- about 12.3% in Florida and 14.2% in New York (U.S. Census, 2023). Both have around 10% Englishlanguage learners in their public schools. These demographic similarities demolish the argument that New York is spending more because it faces unique obstacles. New York public school teacher earns $90,222 -- the highest in the nation. Floridas average is around $55,000. And that only addresses teachers. Administrative support services in New York run about $8,700 per student -- nearly double the national average. Florida has kept its administrative footprint lean, partly through executive initiatives like DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), launched in 2025 to audit state and local operations. So far, it has saved over $3.5 billion and identified more than 700 redundant positions for elimination. Higher Education: ROI or Bureaucratic Bloat? The contrast continues at the university level. Floridas flagship, the University of Florida, ranks in the top five public universities nationally and is first in the U.S. for income mobility -- delivering the largest earnings boost to its graduates relative to family income. By contrast, New Yorks SUNY system, though massive, does not crack the top 20 public university rankings. SUNY emphasizes accessibility programs like ASAP and ACE, which aim to increase graduation rates through subsidies, tutoring, and free transit. While these improve retention, they tend to produce degrees in lowerreturn fields -- especially liberal arts, education, and social work. These programs do not match UFs outcomes in law, business, journalism, engineering, or medicine. SUNY spends three times more per student, employs as much as eight times more staff per student (four students per admin), and produces fewer highearning professionals. In a valuefordollar comparison, it is not close. Why Do New Yorkers Tolerate It? Yet for all this dysfunction, one mystery lingers: Why do New Yorkers tolerate it? Most Americans think of New Yorkers as prideful. Why did you let this happen? The contrast with Florida could not be sharper. In Florida, voters have backed costcutting reforms, ousted entrenched officials, and demanded better outcomes. In New York, by contrast, a culture of civic apathy and inevitability seems to enable the very dysfunction that burdens its taxpayers. Case in point: the recent Democratic primary for New York City mayor saw Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani emerge as the nominee -- despite his advocating policies that challenge the very foundations of a free society. This was not because New Yorkers have suddenly embraced socialism. It was because they didnt show up. Turnout in NYC primaries routinely hover below 30 percent. We get the government we deserve. New Yorks political class is also remarkably uniform in background. From the governor to the city council, most officials are career politicians -- individuals who rose through public-sector ladders, party machines, or government unions, and got rich, somehow. In Florida, by contrast, many state leaders come from outside politics -- business owners, veterans, reformminded educators -- people who entered public service not to grow government but to challenge it. This difference in who governs may explain a great deal about how they govern. A Case Study in Federalism Floridas model is not perfect, and New Yorks is not beyond redemption. But the contrast is so pronounced that it deserves national attention. This is exactly what the Founders envisioned when they framed the states as laboratories of democracy. Let each try its experiment. Let each be tested by results. And let other states -- and citizens -- draw conclusions. Florida, in this case, has shown that a leaner, outcomefocused approach to education and governance can succeed, even with a large and diverse population. It has absorbed a booming population, cut its state budget, and still improved outcomes -- especially in career-focused higher education. New York, for all its pedigree, has become a cautionary tale -- a system that confuses spending with service, bureaucracy with compassion, and degrees with outcomes. The question is no longer just why Florida does so well, though that is the needed case study. It is why New York does not pick up on it, or worse, does not know. Even Governor Ron DeSantis has joined the fun -- joking that a small entry tax on new residents from Blue states might be enough to pay off the states remaining 50% of debt he has not already extinguished. Some, like California transplant to Florida and famous podcaster/pundit Dave Rubin, have said theyd gladly pay it. He is not alone in the sentiment. They are lining up. Rick McDowell is a writer of political philosophy, American history, and essays on the mind. His other thoughts can be found at https://americanperspective.today. Image: DonkeyHotey In 2022, Dr. Stanley Goldfarb exposed the alarming takeover of health care and medical training by woke political ideology. Goldfarb... tackle[d] two disturbing trends in medicine: the dumbing down of standards for entrance into medical schools and the capitulation of medical school curricula to woke posturing at the expense of rigorous clinical training. Goldfarb maintained that abandoning the traditional values such as treating all patients equally and recruiting the best and the brightest students... [would] aggravate health disparities and undermine the trust of patients of all races." The book was a wake-up call regarding the destructive nature of woke medicine and the American Medical Associations (AMA) adoption of the Organizational Strategic Plan to Embed Racial Justice and Advance Health Equity. Many U.S. medical schools have embraced the idea that American healthcare is systemically racist, that White physicians and other providers are infected with racial bias, that racism accounts for the disparities in health outcomes between Blacks and Whites, and that the only antidote to racism is anti-racism. Goldfarb is the founder of Do No Harm, a nonprofit formed to eliminate identity politics in medicine. Wokeness, he argues, is profoundly destructive. The predictable result: Woke medicine will harm African Americans and other marginalized groups it purports to help. Yet, between April 2012 and December 2024 a report by the Do No Harm organization indicated that dozens of medical school mission statements became significantly more woke... raising genuine concerns whether doctors have a stronger command of ideological doctrine than medical science. In 2024 UCLAs first-year medical students were required... to sit through a two-hour lecture on the subject of Housing (In)Justice that was part of a mandatory course on structural racism at UCLAs David Geffen School of Medicine. Furthermore, UCLAs guest lecturer was a left-wing homeless advocate, Lisa Gray-Garcia, told her captive audience of aspiring doctors that modern medicine is white science. Her pagan prayers to Mama Earth, ...included a blessing for black, brown, and houseless people who, she claimed, die because of the crapatalist lie of private property. Wearing a Palestinian scarf, Ms. Gray-Garcia, a Hamas sympathizer who once posted on X that Israel is Amerikkklan, led UCLAs medical students in chants of Free, free Palestine. In February 2025 the organization Do No Harm compiled a list which originally contained 78 medical schools that still had their own DEI offices despite Trumps DEI crackdown. As of July 8, 2025, a review of medical school websites shows this number to be 62 medical schools. While some inroads have been made in the anti-DEI movement, there is much to be done. Renaming DEI the "Office of Belonging and Engagement" is a smoke and mirrors act. Will identity-based favoritism still continue? DEI activists will not go down without a fight. In fact, John Sailer exposes how DEI administrators use diversity checks to influence the hiring process, thus effectively engaging in discrimination. Moreover, [c]oncerns about anti-Semitic incidents at the University of California, San Franciscos (UCSF) medical center have reached a boiling point, with faculty members expressing concern that Jewish patients are hiding their identities to avoid discrimination. The fact that jihadist influencers are now part of the medical teaching landscape shows how the Red-Green Alliance poses a dual threat for American medical care. In fact, serious anti-Semitism exists in medical organizations as documented here so much so that the author states that it would be advisable for Jews to avoid enrollment in medical schools like Michigan State and Yale that abide or encourage extremism. Additionally, [m]ore than 75% of medical professionals and students who identify as Jewish say that they have been exposed to anti-Semitism, and since Oct. 7, 2023, medical publications and social media posts by those in the field about Jew-hatred have increased by five times and posts by medical professionals promoting anti-Semitism are up by four times. So while DEI and Critical Race Theory attempt to replace the Hippocratic Oath, Hamas simultaneously gains a foothold in U.S. medicine. In this 2019 article titled Physician Jew-Hatred is alive and well in America, Lara Kollab, an American-born Muslim tweeted that everyone who supports Israel should have their immune cells killed so that they can see what it feels like not to be able to defend yourself against foreign invaders. Kollab allegedly said she would give Jewish people the wrong medication. That the Cleveland Clinic fired her is not enough. It should be a goal to make sure that another clinic doesnt hire her and that she never gets a permanent license to practice anywhere in America. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ, headed by Jay Sekulow) and the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA, headed by Mort Klein) filed a complaint with the Ohio State Board of Medical Examiners asserting that Kollab violated the Medical Practice Act, the American Medical Association Code of Ethics, and the American Osteopathic Code of Ethics. The fight to expose DEI and concurrent Islamic hatred continues. In 2024 Do No Harm, reviewed 158 medical school mission statements and found that 77% could be classified as woke in 2024, a number that increased substantially from 68% in 2021[.] The report also found that Higher ranked medical schools were more likely to increase the wokeness of their mission. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), which administers the Medical College Admission Test, represents 171 US and Canadian medical schools along with more than 400 teaching hospitals and health systems. One of its key roles is developing standards for the topics and concepts medical students must learn, e.g., diversity, equity and inclusion. Oppression is a consistent theme. Graduates must describe the impact of various systems of oppression on health and healthcare, including colonialism, White Supremacy, acculturation, [and] assimilation. They must also identify systems of power, privilege and oppression, including white privilege, racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, [and] religious oppression. Once graduates identify the oppressed, they are expected to practice allyship, which is defined as recogniz[ing] their privilege and work[ing] in solidarity with oppressed groups in the struggle for justice. But pushback has occurred. Ken Altucker at USA Today writes that [c]iting state crackdowns on diversity, equity and inclusion the Liaison Committee on Medical Education voted to eliminate diversity programs and partnerships as criteria when it grades the performance of medical schools that confer MD degrees to students. The National Medical Association (NMA) which represents black physicians, opposes the changes. It has condemned recent decisions by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) to remove or weaken accreditation. Then there is the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL, formerly ACPE) which claims that it is the only association focused on the personal transformation of all physicians, and through them the organizations they serve. Whatever that means! The AAPL claims that the Trump administrations crackdown on DEI programs could exacerbate an unexpectedly steep drop in diversity among medical school students [.] After the Supreme Courts ruling, black enrollees declined 11.6%, new students of Hispanic origin fell 10.8% and American Indian or Alaska Native student enrollment fell 22.1%. But wasnt affirmative action supposed to increase minority representation these past 60+ years? Peeling back these claims, it is important to realize that banning DEI programs has financial consequences for institutions of higher learning. For example, the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota reportedly lost a $6.8 million federal grant after the Trump administration deemed it DEI-related. Sacrificing patient care on the altar of political correctness, be it left-wing ideology or hateful jihadist dogma, should have no place in America. Physicians brazenly posting vile comments against Zionist doctors are a chilling reminder of the evil of anti-Semitism. The twin pillars of the Red-Green Alliance must be eradicated, as lives literally depend on it. Eileen can be reached at middlemarch18@gmail.com Hat Tip: Marsha S. Image: Magic Studio Blog Archive: Jul 2025 (100) Jun 2025 (150) May 2025 (155) Apr 2025 (9) Mar 2025 (149) Feb 2025 (139) Jan 2025 (155) Dec 2024 (144) Nov 2024 (143) Oct 2024 (155) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (155) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) We in the United States have focused so much on American vote fraud in recent years -- and sure, theres plenty to focus on -- that its been easy to forget that vote fraud is actually a global problem. Virtually everywhere there are elections, there is a risk of fraud. Sometimes the country even thinks of vote fraud as a feature, not a bug. In the 20th century, Josef Stalin famously said that it wasnt who votes that matters, but who counts the votes. Even back in the 19th century, New Yorks own Boss Tweed allegedly said, I dont care who does the electing, as long as I get to do the nominating. In recent decades, the world has watched as wholly improbable election results have produced victors the rest of the world found dubious -- Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, Viktor Yanukovych in Ukraine, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran, Joe Biden in the United States, Luiz Inacio 'Lula' da Silva in Brazil. Each time, people all over the earth watch, sometimes in shock, sometimes in glee, as elections are stolen. Other than issuing the proverbial strongly worded letter, theres generally nothing we could do about such occasions from outside. Until now. On July 10, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued another of his tariff notification letters, but this one was different from the rest: Notifying Brazil that were setting their reciprocal tariff rate at 50%, he mentioned that Brazils illegal and unethical prosecutions of former President Jair Bolsonaro was among the drivers in our determination that such a high tariff was warranted. With this one action, President Trump has broken new ground in international relations. How much of an effect it will have, of course, is yet to be seen, but he has used American economic policy to punish a foreign country for violating not only international norms but also its own laws in harassment of its own former legally elected president. We have seen local, liberal good-government groups such as the League of Women Voters try to help the electoral process through voter registration drives, issue forums, and candidate debates, but this one action by President Trump dwarfs those efforts, adding a brilliant new tool to the effort to improve global respect for the sanctity of elections. Left unmentioned -- but certainly known to all who pay attention to such matters -- is the fact that President Bolsonaro is an honorable believer in economic liberty, a man who tried to take on the corruption and socialism of Brazil during his tenure as president. He is known by many as The Trump of the Tropics, and has drawn the hatred of the Brazilian deep state in much the same way as our president has drawn the ire of ours. Brazils hostile acts of lawfare against Bolsonaro, especially after the current regime threw him out in a questionable election, provide unmistakable parallels to our own experience with the Biden-Harris regimes usurpation of office and subsequent hounding of President Trump. There were no foreign governments with any way to intervene in support of President Trump after we watched his election get stolen in real time, late that November night in 2020. Perhaps if this approach catches on, foreign countries will grow to fear such legal, above-board retaliation in response to such antics. Or perhaps it will serve as a negative precedent; it doesnt take much imagination to foresee that possibility as well. In any case, President Trumps action was at least an honorable effort, one of the most serious strikes in favor of honest elections and good government that the world has seen in a very long time. Of course, there will be those who argue that a tariff announcement is no place for such an issue. We have that covered, too. What insiders know -- though it may be unknown to the general public -- is that Brazil has long been considered one of the most protectionist countries in the world. Generally speaking, a nation can exhibit protectionism in two ways -- either through tariff barriers or non-tariff barriers. Tariff barriers are obvious costs borne by the importer, such as import duties and other tariffs, Customs fees and import bonds, all sorts of taxes set upon each individual importation. Non-tariff barriers are onerous requirements for regulatory approval of products, pre-shipment import permits, costly testing and marking procedures, in-country representation requirements, pre-shipment consular legalization of documents, and so forth. Brazil is one of the few countries that is very heavy on both sides of the protectionist front, posing severe tariff and non-tariff barriers that make importation of goods -- not just from the USA but from anywhere -- intentionally problematic, complex, and expensive. When Brazil tells you the import duty on a given article is just five or six percent, and you say well, that sounds reasonable, youre likely to be shocked to learn that Brazilian Customs adds a host of other taxes, tariffs, fees and bonds on top of those duties, until the final bite lands somewhere between fifty and one hundred percent of the value of the goods themselves. When President Trump made his Liberation Day speech on April 2, detailing the many foreign countries which practice such outrageous protectionism as to effectively shut their doors to imported goods -- not only Americas but everybodys -- for many of us in the audience, Brazil was the first country that sprang to mind. The identification of the Lula governments injustices against President Bolsonaro in this announcement was definitely a great step for the philosophy of good government. But the tariff announcement itself -- a 50% levy on top of normal duties on Brazilian goods imported into the United States -- stands alone as totally justifiable in its own right, along the Presidents theme of reciprocal treatment in respect of how each other country treats us. Brazil has always slammed its doors shut on America goods, even as weve happily welcomed in imports from Brazil ourselves. With this program, and especially with this one announcement in particular, President Trump has declared to the world that the days of America being an economic doormat are over. If Brazil wants to be able to export to the United States, its time they acknowledge that decency requires that they open their own doors to the products of the United States too. Day by day, step by step, country by country, the Trump administration is bringing clarity and justice to the political scene. John F. Di Leo is a Chicagoland-based international transportation manager, trade compliance trainer, and speaker. Read his book on the surprisingly numerous varieties of vote fraud (The Tales of Little Pavel), his political satires on the Biden-Harris years (Evening Soup with Basement Joe, Volumes I, II, and III), and his most recent collection of public policy essays, Current Events and the Issues of Our Age, all available in eBook or paperback, only on Amazon. Image: Isac Nobrega/PR Can Americans trust their government? Recent evidence suggests that our institutions will lie to us. Consider that, just a few days ago, we learned that, contrary to 60 years of CIA denials, a CIA officer had been involved in psychological operations connected to Lee Harvey Oswald months before John F. Kennedys assassination. Those of us who remember the governments decades-long cover-up of its involvement in the July 1996 TWA crash were not surprised. On July 17, 1996, twelve minutes after taking off from New Yorks Kennedy International Airport, a Boeing 747 headed for Paris exploded in midair over the Atlantic Ocean, instantly killing all 230 people aboard. The resulting four-year investigation into what caused the fatal crash of Trans World Airlines Flight 800 was the longest, and at $40 million, the most expensive in the history of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Remnants of TWA Flight 800. Public domain. Many eyewitnesses reported a missile flying from the ocean surface toward TWA 800, after which they saw an explosion and an object shatter and fall into the ocean. Among the eyewitnesses were Captain Baur and Major Meyer, who were flying a Black Hawk helicopter in the vicinity where TWA 800 crashed. Each of them described events that indicated a missile was streaking toward TWA 800, followed by an explosion. Major Meyer claimed he witnessed a flak explosion, which is military parlance for anti-aircraft fire. In the months after TWA 800 exploded, eyewitnesses, including commercial pilots, continued reporting missile sightings. On November 16, 1996, almost precisely where TWA 800 went down off Long Island, a Pakistani Airlines pilot reported to Air Traffic Control that a rocket streaked in front of him and continued rising above his aircraft. On March 17, 1997, an Air Force cargo pilot reported to Air Traffic Control, and later to the FBI, that he had been seconds away from taking evasive maneuvers to avoid being hit by a missile fired over Burlington, Vermont. Also on March 17, 1997, many commercial airline pilots reported seeing a missile or missiles flying in the vicinity of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. None of this would have been made known to the public were it not for the relentless efforts of physicist Dr. Tom Stalcup. His efforts paid off in 2021 when he obtained several never-before-released FBI records. One described an original [Navy radar] tape showing an object heading straight for TWA 800. According to a lawsuit, The FBI removed all copies (original and duplicates) of Navy radar tapes from the Navy... The newly-revealed tapes conclusively reveal that an errant U.S. Navy missile caused the deadly crash exactly as Captain Baur and Major Meyer had reported when they witnessed the event while in flight and within range of the TWA 800 Boeing aircraft. It turned out that, in 1996, the US Navy began upgrading its Aegis Combat System, an integrated naval weapons system that uses computers and radars to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets. The key to upgrading the Aegis System for missile defense lay in its radar system, which needed significant improvements. After an epic struggle that spanned a quarter of a century, Stalcup obtained prima facie evidence that the FBI lied about the true cause of the deadly crash, which led to the above-referenced lawsuit. The 15-plus plaintiffs were family members of some of those who died on the flight. They had met Dr. Salcup on April 15, 2021, when he told them about the key facts he learned from his FOIA lawsuits. Because the government had deliberately concealed the crashs cause, the court held that the statute of limitations was tolled (i.e., suspended). When the suit was finally filed in 2022, the media paid attention. The Williamsport Sun-Gazette headlined its article Families file suit against government claiming TWA Flight 800 was destroyed by an errant United States missile. It then reported that The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, charges that the federal government released a false report contending that the explosion in the plane was the result of an electrical fire in its center fuel tank. [snip] [The lawsuit]also noted that evidence found by Stalcup establishes that the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy acting in concert with Raytheon Company and Lockheed Martin Corp., were testing the Aegis Weapons System and firing SM-2 missiles with live warheads from warship(s) at aerial missile targets off the coast of New York in proximity to commercial airline paths. [snip] It is further contended by plaintiffs that the defendants engaged in a top-down cover-up to prevent the public from learning the truth about TWA 800. [Emphasis added.] Did you catch that??? The U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the Defense Department, the U.S. Navy, Raytheon Company, and Lockheed Martin Corp...every single one of these behemoths was accused of perpetrating a whopper of a cover-up. Theyd hidden from the world the fact that, while implementing fundamental radar improvements, they were testing the equipment in crowded commercial air traffic zones using missiles, some of which were equipped with live warheads! Then, showing that the cover-up can indeed be worse than, or at least as bad as, the crime, the CIA concocted materials to discredit eyewitness reports that TWA 800 had been downed by some kind of projectile. These materials included a video that was displayed during a nationally-televised FBI press conference that attempted to reconcile eyewitness reports that the plane was downed by a projectile with the U.S. Governments official position that the crash was caused by a defect in the planes fuel tank. Ignoring overwhelming eyewitness testimony, the sometimes animated video, which was subtitled What Did The Eyewitnesses See?, contained a scene with large, capitalized, and underlined words, NOT A MISSILE. To ensure that audiences did not miss the point, a narrator read those words aloud. The video showed the aircrafts center wing tank suddenly exploding, causing the nose to fall off, after which the aircraft defied the laws of physics and streaked vertically 3,000 feet, resembling an anti-aircraft missile. In response, retired Navy Commander William S. Donaldson stated in his report to the Subcommittee on Aviation, It would be easy to understand why 10 year olds watching this cartoon on Saturday morning would believe it on face value, but it is perplexing to think network news producers, who are responsible for providing national news, would be suckered without checking the facts first. Ultimately, it took Dr. Salcup twenty-five years, from 1996 to 2021, to obtain crucial evidence that firmly established that the FBI has outrageously lied about the true cause of the crash of TWA 800. This is a reminder of why Americans find it difficult to trust their government. Matters such as the Kennedy Assassination, Russia Hoax, the Epstein information, the IRS attacks on conservatives, etc. have led to Americans finding it difficult to believe the first, official version from the government. After all, they must always ask themselves, Are you lying now or were you lying then? The Supreme Court issued its 2012 decision in Arizona v. United States because Arizona tried to stem the flow of illegal aliens into the state due to Barack Obamas border policies. The leftist majority, horrified that anything might stop that flow, held that no one can interfere with the federal governments authority over the border. However, California District Court Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong (Harvard BA, Yale JD), an Biden appointee, has determined that there is an unspoken carve-out: An unelected judge may control border practice and policy. Public domain. Henceforth, in Southern California, ICE has the burden of proving in advance of detaining a person that said person is, in fact, an illegal alien, which is an impossible standard. ICE must also completely re-do all its procedures and training to her satisfactionand all of this is just via a Temporary Restraining Order that the federal government never even had the chance to address. The current situation is that California is home to an estimated 1.8 million illegal aliens (although the number is probably much higher), most of whom are clustered in Californias southern and central regions, and most of whom are working in agriculture and construction. Just as Willie Sutton robbed banks because thats where the money is, ICE, presumably acting on solid information and belief, is raiding worksites and certain parking lots that have known concentrations of illegal aliens. With that probable cause, ICE detains people who then must prove their legal bona fides. Most, of course, cant. Leftists are outraged at the idea that Trumps federal government is applying the law against people living and working illegally in the United States. Theyve staged violent protests and engaged in militia-style attacks against federal agents. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who was in bed with Cuban communists, has declared war on the federal government: Let this sink in: Los Angeles is waging insurrection against the federal government. https://t.co/srJNjwvMJj Stephen Miller (@StephenM) July 12, 2025 And of course, leftists are looking to friendly federal judges for succor. The ACLU (which was always a socialist front group) went before Judge Frimpong seeking ex parte relief on behalf of multiple plaintiffs, some of whom are immigrants here legally. Other plaintiffs are immigrant organizations. (Ex parte, by the way, means that the matter goes before the court on minimal notice, without giving the opposing party any, or any meaningful, time to respond.) The application for relief claimed that ICE was stopping people without reasonable suspicion. Instead, the application argued, ICE agents were just trying to round up as many people as possible in response to an arbitrary arrest quota. Even the ACLU concedes, though, that the targets are illegal aliens: In late May, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller expressly directed high-level officials in the agency to instead just go out there and arrest [unauthorized noncitizens] by rounding up people in public spaces like Home Depot and 7Eleven stores. Yup, because thats where the unauthorized noncitizens (i.e., illegal aliens) are. Plaintiffs contend, too, that the round-ups were based on racial profiling. By definition, agents and officers conducting patrols do not have any prior particularized information about any of the individuals they stop and question. Rather, they are resorting to broad stereotypes based on race or ethnicity, accent, a persons presence at a particular location, and/or the type of work one does to determine who they will target. Interestingly, plaintiffs dont claim that the majority of those profiled have been, in fact, legal residents. Instead, they point only to some of the plaintiffs who were forced to prove their citizenship or residency. In other words, the plaintiffs are arguing that, in dealing with the 30-million-plus illegal aliens in America, most of whom are unknown by virtue of their illegal status, the government must prove in advance that every person detained is, in fact, illegally here. This is an impossible standard. However, Judge Frimpong was persuaded. Yesterday, despite the absence of any opposing argument from the government, she issued a Temporary Restraining Order imposing stringent procedural rules on DHS and ICE. For each detention, ICE agents must have a reasonable suspicion that the person to be stopped is within the United States in violation of U.S. immigration law. (Again, an impossible standard with over 30 million illegal aliens hiding from the law.) The fact that the person is a non-English speaking Hispanic hanging out or working in spots known to be teeming with illegal aliens is no longer probable cause for making the detained person show his or her legal status. In addition to this new standard, Frimpong also issued a whole new set of regulations: iii. Defendants will maintain and provide documentation of detentive stops, including factors supporting reasonable suspicion, to Plaintiffs counsel on a regular schedule. iv. Defendants will develop guidance concerning how agents and officers should determine whether reasonable suspicion exists when conducting detentive stops. v. Defendants will implement associated training for Defendants agents and officers involved in immigration operations in this District. Usually, regulatory changes come from the top (i.e., the duly elected president) or from formal hearings where the public has a right to weigh in on the matter. But thats no longer the case in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. If youve been wondering whos in charge of the federal governments immigration policy, Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong (Harvard BA, Yale JD) has the answer: She is. Lenin would be proud. Image created using ChatGPT. This post has been updated since publication. Frimpong was nominated by Biden, not Obama. Ive never thought Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) is as stupid as the memes make her out to be. After all, despite bringing very little in the way of actual accomplishments to the table, she is (as of now) a four-term congresswoman who is well-positioned to become a senator from New York, has a hugely positive reputation, and is even considered a viable presidential candidate. It takes intelligence to achieve those heights. However, feral intelligence is very different from either knowledge or wisdom. AOCs decision-making and values show that she has severe knowledge and wisdom deficits, something she revealed yesterday when she used her personal X account to call Trump a rapist, setting herself up for a very costly defamation action. We know this is true because of the $15 million ABC agreed to pay Trump based on George Stephanopouloss calling Trump a rapist. Image by ChatGPT. In 2019, E. Jean Carroll, a magazine writer, claimed that, sometime in 1995 or 1996 (she really didnt know when), Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in a dressing room in Bloomingdales. It was purely a coincidence that her reporting on a horrible event 26 or 27 years ago seemed to parallel a plot line in an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. The passage of time also explained why Carroll was certain that, during this searing experience, she was wearing an outfit that hadnt been designed yet. Donald Trump denied Carrolls claim, so she sued him for defamation. (That is, she contended that he had defamed her by calling her a liar.) In addition, because the New York legislature passed a law creating a new civil statute of limitations that was essentially just for Carroll, she filed a second civil suit against him for both defamation and battery. In May 2023, a jury in the second case found Trump liable for defamation and sexual abuse, specifically rejecting the rape charge. Trump eventually lost both cases and was ordered to pay a combined total of $83.3 million in damages. He has appealed both decisions. Whats important to know is that, not only did the jurors in the second case reject a rape finding against Trump, but its doubtful whether that finding would have made Trump a rapist. Thats because a rape charge is a criminal offense, and this was a civil trial. The distinction is important because the prosecution in a criminal case is hedged about with a very high due process standard that doesnt exist in civil cases. One of those protections is that the government must prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. In a civil case, the plaintiff only has to meet a more likely than not burden of proof. In other words, a civil finding could not have been a true criminal rape finding. And of course, even under this lighter standard, the jury rejected the allegation that Trump committed rape. ABCs George Stephanopoulos didnt understand these nuances. Instead, he repeatedly claimed on prime-time television that Trump had been found liable for rape. Because that was a heinous accusation and Stephanopoulos clearly meant to hurt Trump by saying it, neither Stephanopoulos nor ABC was protected by New York Times v. Sullivan. That Supreme Court decision limited defamation suits if the outlet made the allegedly defamatory statements without malice but, instead, intended to report to the public. Therefore, Trump sued Stephanopoulos and ABC. Last December, ABC settled with Trump, agreeing to pay him $15 million, to be used for Trumps presidential library, plus $1 million in legal fees. Some speculate that this settlement was intended to avoid discovery, which might have been unpleasant for ABC. The ABC settlement was not a little story. This was a big story. If AOC were wise, she would have paid attention and learned from it. However, as I said, AOC is not wise, which she highlighted when she published this tweet yesterday: The tweet is still live. Its possible that AOC believes that, because shes a congresswoman, shes protected from defamation suits. However, Art. I, Section 5, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution limits protection only to statements on the House floor during House business: [Senators and Representatives] shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place. [Emphasis mine.] AOC seems to have committed what used to be called libel per se, or a false accusation that is inherently damaging to a persons reputation (e.g., calling an innocent party a rapist). If a plaintiff can prove that the defendant knowingly made a false statement, the plaintiff wins. He doesnt have to prove his damages, for they are presumed. Im not the only one who believes Trump should sue AOC for a false statement thats currently been seen over 17 million times: If Trump is a rapist, then surely he was convicted of rape in a criminal court and you have evidence of that conviction right? If not, then this is defamation, and the ABC case that resulted in a $15M payment to Trump is precedent that puts you in legal jeopardy. Shawn Farash (@Shawn_Farash) July 11, 2025 You need to pay for defaming President Trump. No, he is not. Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 11, 2025 AOC publicly called the sitting President of the United States a rapist with zero proof. This isnt bold. Its defamatory. Imagine the outrage if this came from the right. She needs to be held legally accountable. Do you agree? Enough is enough. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/0R9oN3iXxc Tony Lane (@TonyLaneNV) July 12, 2025 I hope that Donald Trump does not show forbearance here. Democrats have gone for decades without experiencing consequences for wrongful actions, whether criminal or civil, and its emboldened them to their current state of madness. They need to be reined in, and AOCs defamatory statement is a good start. In Getting to know you: LA Mayor Karen Bass, I cited the invaluable Discover The Networks, an important resource exposing the malignant, anti-American leftism of Bass and so many others. A few of those revelations: *Bass has spoken and written about her early communist influences, and in at least one book, she was identified as a former Black Panther. *Bass was long involved in the Venceremos Brigade, a communist front group founded by Fidel Castro and operated by Cuban Intelligence dedicated to the overthrow of America. During the Seventies, Bass personally made eight trips to Cuba as a brigandista. Shes made many more since. *In the 80s, Bass was affiliated with a Maoist organization: Line of March, whose leader and founder thought the Communist Party wasnt sufficiently radical. *Bass has long had ties to CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim Brotherhood front group dedicated to the slaughter of Jews and Americans. *On the floor of the House in 2017, she also eulogized Oneil Cannon, a notorious American Communist Party official. Bass is arguably a Communist, with all that implies. I ended that article with this: While Californians might not have known the particulars of her background, they surely knew her leftist pedigree. They elected her to give it to them good and hard, and she helped give them the wildfires. Shell surely apply her communist principles to the aftermath. Good luck, comrades. The 35 acre MacArthur Park in Los Angeles is not a pristine, green wonderland. Like most of LA, it is largely overrun with the homeless, needles, feces, drug dealers and every other example of the devolution of California. Its also an obvious place to find all manner of illegal immigrant criminals, and immigration agents recently conducted a sweep of the park, which is when Bass showed up in all her revolutionary fervor: Bass, who was due to meet with California Gov. Gavin Newsom in the morning, showed up in the middle of the operation to yell at the agents to get out of the park, slamming the action as a political stunt. They need to leave and they need to leave right now! Bass yelled after getting off the phone with someone coordinating the officers. What I saw in the park today looked like a city under siege, she told reporters following the confrontation. Its outrageous and un-American to have armed vehicles in our American parks. The person coordinating the officers was Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, who was not impressed with the Mayors whining: Graphic: X Post Bass complained the raid disturbed a childrens summer camp: Minutes before, there were more than 20 kids playing then, the MILITARY comes through. More than 20 kids were disrupted? The 35 acre park should leave sufficient room for more than 20 kids to avoid Border Patrol and ICE agents, who would surely have simply walked around them and waved. Junkies likely sprawled as usual and various illegals and other criminals would have shambled off until law enforcement left before they resumed their usual haunts. Can Karen Bass have her way? Can she force federal law enforcement officers to ignore lawbreaking in Los Angeles? Can Gavin Newsom do the same throughout California? Journalist Byron York is on the right path: Graphic: X Post Not only that, the Supremacy Clause applies even in the Peoples Republic of California: Article VI, Clause 2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding. The federal government is solely responsible for enforcing, or ignoring, immigration law. Americans didnt like Bidens Handlers ignoring those laws, so they voted for Donald Trump who we were told couldnt possibly close the border because it was just impossible! Every rightleftthinking person knew that, until Trump quickly closed the border and began the process of deporting every illegal immigrant as he promised. Federal immigration agents can enforce the law, even in the sanctuary city of Los Angeles, and theres not a thing Karen Bass can do about it. Bass has filed at least one lawsuit essentially claiming no they cant because LA is special and sanctuary and TDS and our democracy. The federal government is suing to enforce the supremacy clause. Because the current Supreme Court usually has at least five members willing to enforce the clear text of the Constitution, Bass is going to be disappointed. On a different subject, if you are not already a subscriber, you may not know that weve implemented something new: A weekly newsletter with unique content from our editors for subscribers only. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. As if Los Angeles, a city with a $1 billion budget deficit didn't have enough money to spend, now Mayor Karen Bass has directed cash payments to illegal immigrant affected by the ICE raids going on in the city. According to her mayoral website: LOS ANGELES Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive directive to support Los Angeles immigrant communities in the wake of unlawful raids conducted by the federal government. She has instructed City Departments to bolster their protocols and training to prepare for federal immigration activity occurring on City property, establishes an LAPD working group and expands access to resources for impacted families. The order also seeks records from the federal government on unlawful raids from federal agencies. We are a proud city of immigrants, and with the Trump Administration signaling that they will ratchet up their chaotic approach, Im making sure we deploy every resource and tool available within the City to ensure that we are supporting immigrant communities, said Mayor Bass. We will continue pursuing legal relief through the courts, and I am issuing orders to all General Managers to bolster their response and support for immigrant communities. I will never accept these unlawful and chaotic raids and will continue to do all that I can to defend the rights of the people of Los Angeles. The dirty details: Karen Bass is now giving cash cards to illegal immigrants "affected" by ICE. To get one, you just have to say you're too afraid to go to work. To hand out the cash she's chosen CHIRLA the same "nonprofit" that instigated the riots after getting $34 million in public funds. pic.twitter.com/KKuAs03v3u Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) July 12, 2025 How many illegals does Los Angeles have that Bass considers them a special interest group with enough clout to put their snoot in the public trough? By some reports, it's close to one million. According to Los Angeles Almanac: DHS has not offered undocumented immigrant estimates specifically for U.S. counties. The Migration Policy Institute, however, estimated the number in 2019, specifically in Los Angeles County, to have been 951,000 (see table below), almost 10 percent of the county's entire population and the highest concentration in any U.S. county. ,,, The Migration Policy Institute estimated that, in 2016, the undocumented immigrant population in Los Angeles County was most concentrated in Southeast Los Angeles County, Eastern San Fernando Valley and the San Gabriel Valley. The University of Southern California Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration reported that, in Los Angeles County, in 2016, 80 percent of undocumented persons were Latino, 10 percent were Asian or Pacific Islander, and 3 percent were white. It further reported that 68 percent of undocumented immigrants had lived in the United States for more than 10 years and that 852,000 U.S. citizen Angelenos and 273,000 legal permanent resident Angelenos lived with an undocumented family member. Combined with an estimated 886,000 Angelenos who were undocumented, that came to about 1 in 5 residents of Los Angeles County who were either undocumented or living with a family member who was undocumented. That's a lot of people calling for a free living at the expense of the state for who knows how long. Bass isn't counting. Where is she going to get the money for this massive support-the-illegals program? Los Angeles is falling apart based on years of economic mismanagement. What's more, this incredible solicitousness towards foreign illegals is a major slap in the face of Los Angeles County's other residents, particularly those who have lost homes in the Altadena and Pacific Palisades wildfires. There's cash for illegals, but nothing for the reservoirs, fire hydrants broken, brush overgrown, and fire trucks out of commission? And for that matter, there's nothing for the residents who've been burned out. Bass hasn't offered any of them a penny despite their massive losses for city neglect. Joel Pollak, among many, noticed: "L.A. will provide cash assistance to immigrants affected by raids" L.A. doesn't have the money. It's $1 billion in the hole. How much cash did taxpaying residents displaced by the fires receive from the City of Los Angeles? $0. https://t.co/scnWwaqO0X Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) July 11, 2025 The worst that can happen to an illegal caught up in a raid is that he gets sent home. The residents of the burned out areas don't even get a swift permit to rebuild, their homes are now wastelands awaiting rebuilding permits (about 12 have been issued from among the 16,000 structures destroyed, most of which were people's homes). More horrible still, the residents are still forced to pay property taxes on the land, despite not being able to live there. And insultingly, they are building new low-income housing for welfare recipienets on much of the land, violating their promise that they wouldn't do that, and changing the character of the neighborhoods that they pay those premium property taxes on. But Los Angeles has its priorities and burned out residents don't make the list. Illegals do. One can only surmise that a lot of political power and money is on the line over the raids on illegals, with congressional seats to be lost and federal funding to be cut. Based on Bass's actions, there are probably quite a bit more illegals in that city than city officials are letting on about. When your whole town is emptying out based on ICE raids, it probably makes sense from Bass's point of view to pay them to stay. But it's not sustainable, and it's disgusting misuse of city funds at a time when it needs to be focused on rebuilding after fires, and even hosting the Olympics. Creating a vast new welfare class premised on being a foreigner in the city illegally is bound to end badly. The Trump administration should be ready to challenge them on any expenditures that amount to federal public funds. Image: X video screen shot In 1985, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts held an exhibit of paintings by the French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir works which were described by Kermit Champa in the New Criterion as, effortlessly delightful and unobstructed by the difficult barriers normally raised by high art. He also wrote this: As a maker of crowd-pleasing aesthetic confections[Renoir displayed]...a consistent sense of the degree of narcissism and self-indulgence necessary to excite his late-century audience to ecstasies of self-satisfaction. The exhibit also excited late 20th century idiots to ecstasies of loathing with their rising gorge hurling up barf-worthy demonstrators with signs proclaiming Renoir Sucks. The phrase unobstructed by the difficult barriers normally raised by high art is worth debunking. The history of Western art is dominated by great works which were bought and paid for. If those purchasers had ever been obstructed by difficult barriers, they would never have paid. As a matter of fact, high art was never hard to appreciate by those who originally financed it. Only now is it often difficult to read by those ignorant of its surrounding culture. Unfortunately, the notion that art must be obstructed gained such currency that many artists have cultivated obscurity in both their works and the titles of those works. By wrapping their little enigmas in mystery, they pretend to an esoteric wisdom decipherable only by those privileged to unlock its difficult barriers. And who can miss the condescending tone in Champas description of Renoirs audience? No high-minded aesthete would ever descend to such low-life gratifications. Therefore, so as not to be shamed for pandering, contemporary artists avoid beauty like the plague. I do not blame Kermit Champa for these miserable ideas. In his review, he was simply standing up for brainy snobs everywhere blessed with prune-pit hearts. It must be admitted that Renoir turned out quite a few paintings which could be called sweet mush. I dont know whether they resulted from his debilitating arthritis, or were turned out rapidly to sell cheaply. But it is deeply unfair to judge let alone dismiss any artist for his failures. An artist should be admired for the times he hit a high mark exactly right because so few artists ever do. Renoirs representations of one of the great subjects the female nude rivals Rubens and Titian, and surpasses Watteau. His multi-figured compositions, such as The Boating Party and Dance at the Moulin de la Galette radiate a fresh beauty unprecedented in Western art. No other artist had ever expressed man-woman love so eloquently as with his dancing couples. For these and many other wonderful paintings, Renoir deserves our gratitude and love. Image: Public domain. In the 20th century, people didnt appreciate government employees, whom they viewed as officious, interfering types who made life difficult and expensive. However, now that leftists have completely integrated themselves into the federal bureaucracy, they are heroes, and a minute downsizing is treated as the heroic stand of 300 Spartans at Thermopylae. To make your day happier, here are a few 20th-century jokes about bureaucrats, a collection that must always begin with Ronald Reagans famous quip: The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: Im from the government and Im here to help. Russians, victims of the Soviet state, fully understood the bureaucratic burden: A man goes to a Soviet government office to get a car. The clerk says, Your car will be ready in ten years. The man asks, Morning or afternoon? The clerk responds, What difference does it make? The plumber is coming in the morning. In post-WWII France, people complained, France is a country where the bureaucracy is so big, it takes three months to get permission to be buried. Meanwhile, the Germans complained that A man files a form in triplicate to request permission to buy a form. Americans have traditionally seen their bureaucrats as nothing but trouble. In the 1940s, they complained, In Washington, when you want to get something done, you write a memo. When you want to make sure nothing gets done, you form a committee. By the 1960s, lightbulb jokes took on the bureaucrats: Q: How many bureaucrats does it take to screw in a light bulb? A: Two. One to assure everyone that everything possible is being done, and another to screw it into a water faucet. Even by the 1970s, as leftists were accelerating their inroads into the federal government, people quipped, Bureaucracy defends the status quo long past the time when the quo has lost its status. In other words, while most people in the last century would have said that bureaucrats were necessary, most also viewed them as an evil or, at least, a burden, inconvenience, hindrance, and source of endless frustration. Things have changed a lot. After battling unelected federal judges, Donald Trump was finally able to make headway with his plan to trim the bloated federal bureaucracys 2.2-2.3 million employees. To that end, his administration issued reduction-in-force (RIF) notices to 1,350 State Department employees, consistent with Trumps Executive Order that the government should eliminate waste, bloat, and insularity from federal agencies: All offices that perform functions not mandated by statute or other law shall be prioritized in the RIFs, including all agency diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; all agency initiatives, components, or operations that my Administration suspends or closes; and all components and employees performing functions not mandated by statute or other law who are not typically designated as essential during a lapse in appropriations as provided in the Agency Contingency Plans on the Office of Management and Budget website. The terminated employees constitute 0.06% of the total federal workforce and 1.7% of all State Department employees. We are not talking the workplace equivalent of a bloodbath. WATCH! Employees carry out belongings after over 1300 fired at the State Dept pic.twitter.com/sLpwiYWPZk Alex Raufoglu (@ralakbar) July 11, 2025 Mark Hemingway had the right response (although he overestimated the percentage of now-former employees): The fact the State Dept. cant go through a two percent staff reduction without making a scene and patting each other on the back about fighting fascism should be nauseating to normal people. https://t.co/SBF1bCJbGK Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) July 12, 2025 And if youre wondering why he mentioned fascism, its because the theater extended to exhortations with the building calling on the remaining allegedly non-partisan civil servants to resist fascism. At the State Dept, signs have been posted in bathrooms reading Colleagues, if you remain: RESIST FASCISM Remember the oath you vowed to uphold (1st spotted by @CamJourno; 2nd shared w/ me; another spotted in a communal area @CBSNews) pic.twitter.com/FT4yHaV0bv Sara Cook (@saraecook) July 11, 2025 Nevertheless, from the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth on the left, youd think that the entire State Department had been drained of people, leaving a building as empty as the aftermath of a neutron bomb. Just look at the theater within the building, as the remaining 98.3% of employees wave farewell to their compatriots:Mark Hemingway had the right response (although he overestimated the percentage of now-former employees):And if youre wondering why he mentioned fascism, its because the theater extended to exhortations with the building calling on the remaining allegedly non-partisan civil servants to resist fascism. Once again, were seeing that leftists are, at heart, theater kids. And yes, the statistical likelihood is that both those leaving and those staying behind are leftists. Of those State Department employees who donated to a presidential candidate in 2024, ~94% of them contributed to Kamala. I think that, given their political orientation, we can assume that these State Department employees cheered on policies that destroyed coal mining jobs and that forced people to get vaccinated or get fired. Its always different when they do it. In the public sector, people are fired all the time, whether for cause or not. Its part of life in the real world. For decades, though, left-leaning college graduate drama queens have been held gently in the governments coddling arms as they convinced themselves that they were revolutionaries fighting the system. Well, now the system is fighting them, and theyre about to discover life in the real world. Image created using ChatGPT. There is no Church of America. That is due, largely, to the Founders explicit objection to the established Church of England, which was supported by the taxation of British subjects of the crown, including the colonists in North America at the time. The Founders wisely and emphatically opposed instituting any compulsory religion on the newly born nation. Though it is true that social cohesion in a culturally homogenous population is strengthened by religious unity, the effect of having an official church in a religiously plural society is divisive. It engenders resentment from those who feel required to support something with which they sharply disagree. However, in recent decades, the same effect has occurred by excluding anything from official government policy that resembles religious teaching. The misunderstood Wall of Separation has had the effect of imposing a national pseudo-religion of secular philosophy, a counterfeit religion, which has had increasingly pernicious effects. It has engendered the very divisiveness and resentment which the flawed Separation Doctrine sought to prevent. Consequently, the nation has struggled to find the correct balance between the valid libertarian constitutional principle of sectarian neutrality, and the insanity of libertine extremism. The most noticeable effect, in the lives of ordinary Americans, has been the assault against parental rights, specifically in the moral upbringing of their children. Government schools were forbidden to impart religious values in the curriculum, but no such restrictions were being applied to extreme leftist ideology. Democrat nominee Terry McAuliffe, in his unsuccessful Virginia gubernatorial campaign, went so far as to say that parents have no right to decide, nor even to know, what their children are being taught in government schools. That he could so confidently expect that parents would hand their children over to him, speaks volumes of how deeply ingrained in the minds of leftists their anti-religious bigotry has become. He was ahead in the polls before he made that declaration, but then lost the election, thank God. (Irony noted.) Fortunately, the voters prevailed in opposing that view, but more is needed. It is not sufficient to battle libertine extremism as a series of unconnected brush fires. They are all part and parcel of a unified movement in which one side, or the other, must be comprehensively defeated. Defeating leftism cannot be done by a Church of America, but it can be done by an officially recognized set of moral truths, such as There are only two sexes. It is absurd that vital moral questions are required to be treated by the courts, as if they were counting how many angels fit on the head of a pin, instead of getting to the actual problem. It is a moral problem. For example, there is a wide and vast movement to enshrine the fiction of transgender rights. Courts of law are properly restricted to making decisions that have focused only on very narrow details of the litigation. What is needed is for the Congress and the state legislatures to pass laws that address the overall issue: the moral one. Such laws must unequivocally state that there is no such thing as a transgender right to impose, upon other people, the obligation to acquiesce to their demands the demands of those who claim to be another gender. Indeed, such laws should penalize anyone trying to enforce that imposition, including teachers who propagandize to their young students such absurdities as transgender women are real women and transgender rights are human rights. Government must officially make crystal clear that these are indeed absurdities. The right to disagree remains, but not the right to proselytize the absurd to a captive audience of children. While the protection of free speech is essential, even for libertine extremists, their speech is not more sacrosanct than that of a Jew or Christian who teaches in a public school that there is a God. If teaching of the religious view is deemed an unconstitutional infringement on liberty, then so must be the teaching of the opposing view. Indeed, the religious view of American governance has the validity of historical precedence. Reform will not come about by endless litigation over details, but only by a comprehensive and aggressive policy from the legislatures. When government neutrality on moral issues is not possible, morality must prevail. Divisiveness in our society has come about not because of people expressing religious views, but from people trying to silence them. Image via Pxfuel. Motorola is coming out with a new design of the Razr that has a distinct crystal pattern on the back, and you can catch your first glimpse of the upcoming style of Motorolas popular foldable in these newly leaked images. This isnt Motorolas first time experimenting with unique designs on its phones. Nor is it even the Razrs first time sporting some crystal-encrusted looks. Way back in the early 2000s, during the first era of the Razr, Motorola released a variety of colors of the device. It was popular at that time to bling it out with crystals that covered the entirety of the outside of the phone. This isnt quite along those lines, since this design seems to be an official design from Motorola. However, its certainly reminiscent of a time when the Razr was king. When people were glued to MTV watching celebrities like Paris Hilton put Swarovski crystals on basically everything. The Motorola Razr gets an official crystal design Motorola doesnt seem to have announced this phone style yet, but it appears to be the base 2025 Motorola Razr, and it looks like this could be an official collaboration with Swarovski for those crystals on the back. The phone also has a unique diamond pattern on the back, with the crystals slotted into the corners of each diamond. Youll also find a few crystals around other parts of the device. Such as on the hinge, and above the cover display. The leaked images come from @MysteryLupin on X, who has also posted some leaked images of another upcoming Motorola product. A matching style of the Moto Buds Loop. The Moto Buds Loop, just like the 2025 Razr, are already available. However, Motorola hasnt announced this new style yet. It seems the company is likely to announce both of these designs at the same time, seeing as how theyre likely meant to complement each other. Its worth noting that Motorola showed off the Swarovski crystal earbuds (in a different color) back in April. So this isnt the first time weve seen them, just this particular color. Whats interesting about the Moto Buds Loop is that with the crystals adorned across the loop part of the earbuds, it almost makes these look like earrings. Thats also likely the intent, given who Motorola seems to be marketing these new designs to. If youre a fashion-forward individual who enjoys a little bling in every outfit, or youre a socialite, these new products are probably for you. Wear OS smartwatch users, get ready for a potential performance boost. The rumor mill is buzzing with news that Qualcomm is developing a brand-new Snapdragon wearables chip, codenamed SW6100. This silicon could be a significant upgrade, potentially supercharging the performance and efficiency of future smartwatches running Googles Wear OS. The wearable chip segment is very different from its phone counterpart. You dont want your watch to be the most powerful out there, but rather one that offers a good balance between performance and battery life. Regardless, its always good to have your smartwatchs UI as fluid as possible, right? Well, the latest news paints a promising future for those who have experienced occasional lag or less-than-stellar battery life on their Wear OS watcheseven on some modern ones. Qualcomm working on a new Snapdragon wearables chip The current generation of Snapdragon Wear chips is already quite capable. However, they sometimes leave users wanting more in terms of responsiveness and longevity. A dedicated new chipset from Qualcomm, specifically designed for the demands of modern smartwatches, could address these pain points head-on. The Android Authority team found evidence of the development of the new SoC. According to the report, the chip uses the motherboard number SW6100 and the internal codename Aspen. The project is currently in the testing phase at Qualcomm, the outlet adds. The commercial name of this hardware in question is still unknown. However, the source suggests some options such as Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 or W6 Gen 1. More specific details about the new Snapdragon chip for wearables are still scarce. However, we do know that it is currently manufactured using TSMCs process standards. This is good news considering the Taiwanese giants factories produce very efficient chips. Plus, the chip now supports LPDDR5X RAM. For reference, its predecessor (the current W5 Gen 1) is compatible with LPDDR4. LPDDR5X RAM modules are not only faster but also more energy-efficient. LPDDR5X support and mysterious QCC6100 coprocessor onboard Another interesting point about the SoC is the presence of a QCC6100 coprocessor. Unfortunately, there are no more specific details about this yet. Will Qualcomm opt to offer SoCs with dual processors like those used by OnePlus and OPPO in their smartwatches? It would be quite interesting to see. If youre not aware, the chips in OPPO and OnePlus smartwatches have dual processors: one ultra-low-power one to handle the core features, and another that runs the more demanding ones. This neat approach results in significant battery savings throughout the day. If these rumors pan out, the arrival of the SW6100 could usher in a new generation of Wear OS smartwatches that are faster, more efficient, and ultimately more enjoyable to use. For anyone invested in the Wear OS ecosystem or considering picking up a new smartwatch in the future, this is definitely a development to keep a close eye on. The potential for a significantly improved Wear OS experience is looking promising. Pupil premium, introduced by Nick Clegg, was designed to close the attainment gap between children from wealthier and poorer households - Rii Schroer Taxpayers have spent 30 billion on an equality drive that has failed to boost the grades of the poorest children, a damning new study has found. Researchers found the scheme, which was launched by Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister, has not delivered any meaningful results despite its huge price tag. Under the pupil premium schools are given extra grant cash based on the number of their students who are eligible for free school meals. Introduced by Mr Clegg in 2011, it was designed to help close the attainment gap between children from wealthier and poorer households. But a report by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) found that, almost 15 years later, official data shows the difference in grades has barely narrowed. The think tank said its findings raised questions about whether the pupil premium, which will cost another 10 billion by the end of the decade, is fit for purpose. At around 3 billion a year the scheme costs the same as Britains annual support to Ukraine and is twice as expensive as the winter fuel payment. The CSJ found that, despite the extra funding, the attainment gap at both primary schools and secondary schools was wider in 2023-24 than in 2016-17. It also discovered that disadvantaged pupils at six in 10 schools had worse outcomes on average in 2023-24 than they did before the pandemic. The report said: Fourteen years on, the stark reality is that attainment gaps between disadvantaged pupils and their peers have barely narrowed. This raises serious questions about whether the policy in its current form remains fit for purpose. The CSJ said the cash spent on the pupil premium could instead have funded 720 million hours of oneto-one tuition for disadvantaged pupils. Schools currently receive 1,480 per year at primary level and 1,050 at secondary level for every child on their roster who is eligible for free school meals. That effectively covers the children of parents who are on Universal Credit and have an annual household net income of less than 7,400. Nearly a third all schoolchildren over two million qualify for the pupil premium. Yet despite being paid to schools based on the number of poorer students they have, headteachers are largely allowed to spend the money how they wish. The Government states that it is not a personal budget for individual pupils, and schools do not have to spend pupil premium so that it solely benefits pupils who meet the funding criteria. Examples that ministers give of how the cash can be used include for whole class interventions which will also benefit non-disadvantaged pupils. In its report the CSJ said there was a lack of transparency and accountability around how it is spent and whether it actually helps poorer children. Andy Cook, the chief executive of the CSJ, said ministers should make radical changes to the scheme before another 10 billion is spent on it. With outcomes for the most disadvantaged pupils now so stark, the case for root-and-branch reform has never been stronger, he said. In the short term, that means better data, stronger accountability, and earlier, smarter intervention. In the long term, it requires bold ambition reimagining the pupil premium as a world-leading model for targeting the right support, in the right places, at the right time, for the right children. The Government is set to spend another 10 billion on the pupil premium this Parliament money unlikely to shift the needle on outcomes for our poorest children if current trends continue. Unless we radically rethink how we support our most vulnerable pupils, we risk condemning another generation to fall behind before theyve even had a chance to begin. The Government has been approached for comment. The sign on the door of Christ Church in Istanbul, Turkey An Anglican church in Istanbul barred British MPs from entry after they voted to decriminalise abortion up to birth in England. Christ Church in Turkeys largest city was slapped down by the Church of England for putting up a sign on its doors telling MPs not to cross its threshold. A sign affixed to the front door said that British MPs should refrain from entering after the shameful vote to decriminalise abortion last month. Parliament voted to change the law so that women will no longer be prosecuted for aborting their pregnancies at any point up until birth. Parliament voted to decriminalise abortion up to birth in England Anyone who assists a woman, including medical professionals, in getting an abortion outside the current legal framework will still be prosecuted. The sign said: Would British Members of Parliament please refrain from entering this church? Check with the Chaplain first that you specifically are not anathematised as of 22 June 2025 for your shameful vote in enabling late abortion! If you are under anathema but wish to make amends, you are invited to speak with our priest. Thank you on behalf of English Chaplaincy Istanbul. Christ Church, known also as the Crimean Memorial Church, in Turkey is affiliated with the Church of England and is the largest Protestant church in the city of Istanbul. A Diocese in Europe spokesman confirmed that the chaplain had been ordered to take down the sign, and that it had not been cleared with the Bishop before it was put up. In the aftermath of the historic change made to British abortion laws, the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Sarah Mullally, said that women facing unwanted pregnancy require compassion and care. She said: They should not be prosecuted. However, decriminalising abortion can at the same time inadvertently undermine the value of unborn life. The amendment passed to the Crime and Policing Bill may not change the 24-week abortion limit, but it undoubtedly risks eroding the safeguards and enforcement of those legal limits. It comes after a Liberal Democrat MP, who is Catholic, was denied communion by his local priest after he voted in favour of legalising assisted dying last month. Chris Coghlan, who represents Dorking and Horley, said attendees of a mass at St Josephs Catholic Church in Dorking were told that he would be refused communion. Mr Coghlan told BBC Radio Surrey that he and his family were not in the church in person to hear the priest, but that people who were there had contacted him to say they were pretty appalled. It is one thing to take a view on an MPs vote on a conscience vote in Parliament, it is quite another to go out and publicly name and shame them, as a Catholic priest, to hundreds of their constituents. Christ Church in Galata, Istanbul, was built during the Crimean War when servicemen expressed a wish for an Anglican church to minister to British sailors in the region. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were among those who donated money to the memorial fund that helped to found the church. A spokesman for the Diocese in Europe said: The chaplain had not been in touch with the Bishop to ask for any direction on this matter, as would be required by Canon law. If he had, the Bishop would not have approved the action. The chaplain has been told to remove the sign. HEBRON - HAZEM BADER/AFP When it came to the Middle East, Emmanuel Macron made two demands in Parliament on Tuesday. Firstly, he said the war in Gaza must end without any conditions. This would mean leaving the hostages in the catacombs and Hamas in power, incubating more bloodshed for the future. Secondly, he said Britain and France should recognise a state of Palestine. This, he insisted, was the only path to peace, even though the one-track pursuit of the two-state solution has brought only blood and tears and has been rejected several times by Ramallah. Sir Keir Starmer applauded heartily. In the sumptuous surroundings of the Royal Gallery, grand statements were made about the fates of distant peoples before all was forgotten at the state banquet. Three days earlier a different proposal was put forward, this time by conservative Arab chieftains who live in the dust and heat of the region. Led by Wadee al-Jaabari, head of Hebrons biggest clan, a coalition of sheikhs proposed seceding from the Palestinian Authority to form an independent emirate that would make peace with the Jews. Established by the Oslo Accords in the 1990s, the Palestinian Authority is as hated by its own citizens as it is loved by the likes of Macron and Starmer. Its president, Mahmoud Abbas, is in the 20th year of his supposedly four-year term. His regime is known for its brutality; in 2021, the popular Palestinian human rights campaigner Nizar Banat was beaten to death by Abbass thugs (who had been trained by the British Army at the taxpayers expense). It is also corrupt. Consider the gleaming hospital built with aid money at Halhul, on the outskirts of Hebron. Despite the desperate need for healthcare, it has been largely deserted, as officials earn kickbacks by referring patients to private clinics. It is named after Mahmoud Abbas. This is typical of the Arab world, where the trappings of Western democracy have been crudely imposed on an ecosystem of honour and tribal loyalty. Macron and Starmer may turn a blind eye, but the locals have had enough. Hebron is a city of reverence. The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, holy to all three monotheisms, are believed to be buried there. As such, it has long been a flashpoint of unrest. In 1929, the local Arabs butchered their Jewish neighbours in a foreshadowing of October 7. In 1994, the Jewish terrorist Baruch Goldstein shot dead 29 worshippers at a mosque. Today, a small community of devout Jews nestles among more than 200,000 Arabs. The bustling high street has had to be sealed by the IDF as a buffer zone. Yet Hebron is also the stronghold of the Arab clans, which to the surprise of many have a working relationship with the Jews. Ever since Britain and France carved up the Middle East in the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916, the problem has been the same: while the West thinks in terms of nation states, the Middle East is tribal. From Lebanon to Iraq, that misunderstanding has led to appalling savagery, both across the new partitions and within the new states, as different ethnic groups battled for supremacy after the democratic powers pulled out. Have our rulers learnt their lesson? They have not. For decades, the two-state solution has been imposed by secular elites in Washington, London and Brussels. To the locals, the conflict is a matter of God, their forefathers and eternity. To the West, its a matter of maps. The bloody results speak for themselves. For years, however, conservative Arab sheikhs and their hardline rabbinical counterparts have been building a relationship. Their model should be known, perhaps, as illiberal peace. People often assume that the disputed territories are a hellhole of apartheid and terror. However, Arab and Jewish elders whose people often work and shop side by side get together to address mutual problems such as dangerous traffic, agricultural diseases and provocations by their hotheaded youth. Just as the term West Bank is too drily geographical to do justice to the land of Jericho, Hebron and Shiloh, the concept of the two-state solution is woefully abstracted from the reality on the ground. Both sides view the land as God-given, regardless of lines on a map. They also do not think in terms of a solution, which is viewed as our heretics and your heretics getting together and signing a piece of paper, as Rabbi Menachem Froman of Tekoa, near Bethlehem, once remarked to Hamas leader Sheikh Yassin. Rather, illiberal peace means a living process, in which two proud peoples, steeped in faith, reach understandings to serve their communities. Here may lie the true seeds of brotherhood. In 2023, an orthodox rabbi, Leo Dee, from Efrat in the Judean mountains, donated his wifes kidney to a local Palestinian after she was murdered with their two daughters by a terrorist. But unless the White House dramatically intervenes, illiberal peace wont go much further. For one thing, the IDF has concerns about the security of a decentralised model. The greater obstacle, however, will come from the Palestinian Authority, the jihadis of Hamas, the denizens of the United Nations, the progressives of the NGOs, the liberal broadcast media and leaders like Macron and Starmer. This unpalatable coalition has neither understanding nor concern for the people on the ground. And far too much to lose. Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - AFP Irans Islamic regime is weaker than its ever been. Reeling from Israel and the USs historic attacks and the devastation of its terror proxies across the region, the Supreme Leaders ruthless 35-year grip on power is wobbling. Desperately trying to cling to power, the regimes clerics have resorted to issuing a fatwa against President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This religiously decreed death warrant is an appeal to Muslims world-wide and Irans latest attempt to radicalise Western societies. As we mark the 20th anniversary of the 7/7 terror atrocities in London, it is especially disturbing that the fatwa even gives licence to suicide attacks. This isnt, however, merely a case of statecraft by death threat. The fatwa is just as much a warning to ordinary Iranians bravely campaigning for their freedom, as the fatwa broadly includes the punishment of death for anyone challenging the Supreme Leader. The alarming return of the fatwa has been accompanied by mass detentions across Iran with over 700 arrested in recent weeks. Having casted any opposition to the regime as a crime against God, Irans theocratic authorities have been carrying out a horrifying wave of executions. I myself have lived with the threat to my life from the regime. Ive already endured threats of beheading while standing outside the Foreign Office in London and Im endlessly grateful to the British security services for their exceptional work in protecting me and my fellow peace-loving travellers. Since founding the Iranian Front for the Revival of Law and National Sovereignty to provide a voice to the people of Iran, the danger has only increased. Fatwas arent something to be taken lightly. Tehrans long arm extends all the way around the world courtesy of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps terror army, proxies and lone wolf extremists. They all stand ready to enforce the hardline religious will of the regime. It is high time that the international community recognised that fatwas are as much of a threat as Irans nuclear ambitions and ballistic missile programme, for which we owe Israel and the US much gratitude for degrading. Nearly four decades ago, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against British author Salman Rushdie, accusing him of blasphemy for the simple act of writing a book. This seemingly historical relic returned abruptly to global prominence when, in 2022, a murderous Islamist, inspired by this dormant fatwa, brutally assaulted Rushdie and nearly killed him. This chilling incident reminded the world that fatwas retain their lethality long after issuance. Fatwas constitute an international license for assassination and terror, activating sleeper cells composed of indoctrinated youth worldwide. Western leaders must urgently recognise that these fatwas are not meaningless religious proclamations; they are strategic tools of international terrorism. Through vast financial resources plundered from Irans population, Tehran meticulously finances global information networks dedicated to brainwashing vulnerable young individuals who seem utterly impervious to the brutal nature of the regime, including here in the UK. Indoctrinated and radicalised, these youths become human weapons, primed to act upon the mere whisper of a clerics command. This may start with harmless, if misguided, slogans and protests but it can quickly accelerate into criminality and acts of violence. Like a scorpion whose nature is to sting, the Iranian regimes defining immutable characteristic is violence, and its growing number of fatwas suggests that it is seeking to export incitement and terrorism while it desperately attempts to reassert control over the long-suffering Iranian public. The international community must respond decisively to neutralise this threat. Much of the hard work has been achieved through the military strikes on Irans nuclear programme and military assets but its international terror franchises, radicalised useful idiots and fatwas remain strategic weapons. Only by dismantling this regime can the world effectively eliminate an existential threat and provide the Iranian people with the opportunity for a better future. A baseline 10% tariff on most UK goods heading for the United States is likely here to stay, Peter Mandelson has said. The UKs ambassador to the US also said Donald Trump should expect a warm reception when he visits Britain for his unprecedented second state visit later this year. Lord Mandelson spoke to the Sunday Times as confusion remains over whether UK steel imports will continue to face 25% tariffs from the US, or could even see them rise to 50%. The trade deal struck by Britain and America has reduced levies on car and aerospace imports. But when it was signed, Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Trump suggested more negotiations were needed to reduce steel tariffs. A baseline tariff of 10% remains in place for most other imports. Lord Mandelson told the Sunday Times: I think the 10% universal tariff is here to stay. But there is plenty of scope in different sectors, he added, with the newspaper reporting the ambassador is pushing for a technology deal. Eliminating US tariffs could be crucial for the future of the UK steel sector, which has faced turmoil over the last year. During the continued negotiations, the Trump administration is said to be concerned about steel products that may have had a prior history in other countries before they are sent to the UK to be finished. Mr Trumps July 9 deadline for when he said he would start implementing tariffs on trade partners has been and gone, and he has begun to write to countries to inform them of new levies they will face. On Saturday, he told the EU and Mexico they would face a 30% tariff rate from August 1. President Donald Trump has begun to write to countries informing them of their tariffs, with the EU and Mexico facing a 30% rate (Ricardo B Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman/AP) Elsewhere, media reports have suggested that Mr Trumps planned second state visit to the UK will take place in September. The visit is likely to be during the political party conference season, so Parliament will not be sitting and Mr Trump will not get the opportunity to make an address to MPs and peers. Emmanuel Macron was afforded the opportunity to address parliamentarians during his state visit last week. But media reports have suggested the Government is wary of protests or a boycott of the address by MPs critical of Mr Trump. He should expect a warm reception because he really does love Britain. He hugely admires it, Lord Mandelson told the Sunday Times of the second state visit. He added: He trusts Keir Starmer. Its not a question of expressing our gratitude. My lodestar here is to demonstrate respect, not sycophancy. I dont think the administration has any problem with that. Lord Mandelson also appeared to confirm reports that the visit will take place when Parliament is not sitting. He was asked about Labour MPs who are preparing a petition to stop Mr Trump addressing Parliament, and replied: Well theres a surprise. But I had assumed that at the time of the visit, Parliament wont be sitting. James Wellesley (right) and his alleged co-conspirator Stephen Burton A British man appeared in a New York court on Friday after being extradited to the US over his alleged part in a $99 million (73 million) wine fraud. James Wellesley, 58, pleaded not guilty to defrauding investors in a complex scheme that entailed duping them into lending money to a cohort of non-existent high-net-worth wine collectors. He and fellow Briton Stephen Burton, 60, his alleged co-conspirator, allegedly posed as directors of Bordeaux Cellars, a company which supposedly brokered the loans. They promoted their scheme, which ran from at least June 2017 to February 2019, according to the United States Attorneys office, at investment conferences all over the world, including in the US. The Ponzi-style scheme involved persuading investors to lend money to the wine collectors. In return, they were promised regular interest payments. These loans were secured against a stockpile of expensive wine, which included Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, in Burgundy, which is listed for sale online for more than $17,000 per bottle, and Chateau Lafleur in Bordeaux, which is listed for sale at more than $5,000. Not only did the wine collectors not exist, but neither did the wine, the US Attorneys Office website alleges. Mr Wellesley and Mr Burton are accused of using the loans to make fraudulent payments to investors and the rest for themselves. Mr Wellesley is said to have had several aliases, including Andrew Fuller and Andrew Templar. James Wellesley and his business partner allegedly concocted an elaborate scheme defrauding investors out of millions of dollars to finance their own personal expenses. Their alleged deceit spread across years and continents, said Christopher Raia, assistant director in charge of the FBI New York office. Ricky Patel, a Homeland Security special agent, added: James Wellesley and his co-conspirator are accused of masterminding their nearly $100 million international fraud scheme that exploited the unsuspecting public, including New Yorkers, for their own selfish enrichment. As alleged, the defendants claimed Bordeaux Cellars boasted a high-value wine stockpile and a clientele of high-net-worth wine collectors and in turn profited handsomely all while they swindled investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more. Let it be known, regardless of the nature of the transnational criminal scheme, HSI New York, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to adapt and evolve to fight global and domestic financial crimes wherever and whenever possible. The two men have been charged with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Mr Burton, who denied the charges, was arrested in Morocco in 2022 while trying to enter the country on a false Zimbabwean passport and extradited to the US in December 2023. He is set to change his plea at a court hearing scheduled for July 24. If convicted, the pair each faces up to 20 years in prison. Todays arraignment sends a message to all perpetrators of global fraud schemes that my office will work tirelessly to ensure they answer for crimes committed in the United States, said US attorney Joseph Nocella. We will not rest in our efforts to seek justice for victims of fraud. The capture of an Israeli soldier or their remains would offer significant new leverage for Hamas. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters As Hamas intensifies its insurgent campaign against Israeli forces in Gaza, it is focusing on a new aim: capturing an Israeli soldier. Last week, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sergeant was killed in Khan Younis in southern Gaza in an attempted abduction. Hamas militants also tried to take away the remains of 25-year-old Abraham Azulay but abandoned the effort when attacked by other Israeli forces. The capture of a soldier or their remains would offer significant new leverage for Hamas as indirect negotiations continue over a ceasefire deal, and have a major impact on public opinion in Israel. This attempt failed. [But there is] no doubt Hamas will increase its attempts to take new hostages, including bodies of dead soldiers and civilians, said Michael Milstein, the head of the Palestinian studies forum at Tel Aviv University. Hamas is still holding 50 of the 250 hostages seized during its surprise attack on 7 October 2023, when militants killed 1,200, mostly civilians, and triggered the conflict in Gaza. More than half are thought to be dead, and the release of 28 is being discussed in the ceasefire talks in Qatar. Hamas may release captives to have a ceasefire, at least for now, but is also attempting to capture more so is signalling that any agreement is not going to be a permanent end to the overall conflict, said Abdeljawad Hamayel, a Ramallah-based political analyst. Hamas has proved to be adept at exploiting the propaganda value of successful attacks, and its media channels broadcast a video of the attempted abduction last week. Other images showed militants attacking Israeli armoured vehicles and bulldozers. One Qatar-based Palestinian analyst familiar with Hamass strategic discussions said: Its not just about gaining a card to play in negotiations but is a key part of the psychological battle. Hamas aim to boost their own fighters and demoralise both Israeli soldiers in Gaza and civilians in Israel. Israeli officials have repeatedly described how Hamass military strength has been degraded, and few analysts doubt the heavy casualties suffered in Gaza by the military wing of the organisation. The IDF claims to have killed up to 23,000 militants, out of about 30,000 at the beginning of the war, without providing evidence. Hamass leadership losses are clearer. Most senior and middle-ranking commanders active in 2023 are now dead. The Qatar-based analyst said Hamas might only be deploying a couple of hundred of fighters in Gaza but that this was sufficient for its strategic purposes. Hamas only have a few cells here, but they are very careful and precise with their resources, they said. Military experts say Hamas has made a military transformation during the 21-month conflict, from a quasi-conventional force to one that is suited to guerrilla warfare, and that its new strategy is better adapted to the devastation in Gaza, where the Israeli offensive has killed 57,000, mostly civilians, and reduced vast swaths to ruins. An ambush last week killed five soldiers and injured nine in what is left of Beit Hanoun, once a thriving town in the north of Gaza that has been reduced to smashed masonry and twisted metal by successive Israeli offensives. Some of Hamass extensive tunnel network is still intact, too, offering a means of escaping Israels air power and surveillance capabilities. Guy Aviad, a former IDF military historian and expert on the group, said: Its a very complicated battlefield for the IDF. Hamas are taking advantage of all the rubble. They are experts in guerrilla warfare and have been fighting Israel for 20 years. Channels remain open between military leaders in Gaza and the political leadership of Hamas in Qatar and Istanbul, experts said. Only two significant political leaders including the then leader Ismail Haniyeh have been killed since the war began. The groups network of envoys, officials, clandestine operatives and sympathisers across much of the Islamic world and elsewhere also remains largely intact and continues to raise funds for the organisation. Hamas ruled Gaza from 2007 and its officials still nominally run ministries, municipal authorities and much else, though its grip on the territory is slipping as other actors including criminal gangs, coalitions of community leaders and new militia backed by Israel contest its remaining authority. Aid workers in the territory say Hamas officials and security personnel are less present than they were even six months ago. Casualties continue to mount in the territory. Hundreds of civilians have been killed since the latest round of ceasefire talks began on Sunday. Ten IDF soldiers have been killed this month and 20 in June. We are now seeing a form of attritional warfare which is placing some limits on Israels power and is also having some effect on public opinion across the world, said Hamayel. Milstein said Hamas was eager for a ceasefire but not at any cost. Here in Israel, we have had an experiment with the idea that more and more pressure on Hamas means they will [eventually] give up. Well, how much more pressure can you imagine?, he said. We have killed their leaders. We have destroyed Gaza. But we have not changed the basic attitudes and demands of Hamas. This article was amended on 15 July 2025. The 20 deaths of IDF soldiers occurred in June, not July as stated in an earlier version. Drivers with sleeping disorders are able to lease cars under the Motability benefits scheme. More than 400 people who list obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) as a primary medical condition accessed a vehicle through the taxpayer-subsidised Motability scheme in 2024, according to official government figures. People with OSA experience their breathing stopping and starting when they sleep, which can lead to waking several times during the night and loud snoring, according to the NHS. The health service says that daytime symptoms include tiredness, mood swings and headaches. It also says that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency must be informed if someone receives a diagnosis of OSA, and that a sufferer must not drive until symptoms are under control. The leasing scheme allows successful claimants to exchange part of their personal independence payments (PIP) for a car, and in some instances requires a down payment. Those judged to be on the highest rate of mobility PIP, designed to help disabled people cover the costs of getting around, are able to access the scheme. Carers and parents are also able to drive the vehicle on behalf of the disabled person. A total of 420 people whose primary condition was OSA made claims on the Motability scheme last year, and a further 190 claimants suffered from narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder which leads to excessive daytime sleepiness as well as other symptoms, including hallucinations and poor memory. There were a total of 589,550 people claiming on the Motability scheme in April of this year, and cost the Government 600 million last year. More than 320 people with dyslexia have accessed a car, as have 420 who are diagnosed with dyspraxia. Twenty drivers with food intolerances listed as their primary conditions also made claims, as well as 190 people with social phobia. The scheme has come under renewed scrutiny in recent weeks after the Government battled with its backbenchers to try and force through reforms to the welfare system. Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer were forced to back down on plans to slash the benefits bill, in part by raising the threshold for PIP eligibility. The proposed changes to assessments were watered down, and the changes will only affect new claimants, while those already on the benefit will continue to receive it. Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, said in a speech on Thursday: We are going to have to draw a line in the sand about which conditions the state gives out support for. Earlier this week, the Centre for Social Justice called on the Government to withdraw PIP and Universal Credit from those with milder anxiety, depression or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). They estimated that such changes would save 7.4 billion by 2029-30, and that 1 billion of it should be redirected towards reinvestment in front-line mental health services. Federal agents block people protesting an ICE immigration raid in Camarillo, California - Getty Images A farm worker has died after falling 30 feet from the roof of a greenhouse while trying to evade US immigration agents. The mans death was announced by the United Farm Workers of America on Friday, a day after agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) swooped on a legal cannabis operation in Camarillo, north of Los Angeles. Another farm in Carpinteria was also raided. Several farmworkers were hurt during the raid, with one dying of injuries sustained during an effort to escape, said Elizabeth Strater, national vice president of the United Farm Workers. Several US media outlets named the dead worker as Jaime Alanis. People embrace near federal agents blocking a road during an ICE immigration raid - Getty Images The workers niece, who gave her name as Yesenia, told Channel 4 Los Angeles that they feared the worst when he stopped replying to text messages. We assumed they caught him but we got a call from the hospital that hes in critical condition, catastrophic injuries, she said. Hes not going to make it. She said her uncle was a hard-working, innocent farmer, supporting his family. We need justice, she added. It is believed this was the first fatality linked to raids by ICE, although there have reportedly been at least 11 deaths in ICE custody. Protestors waved signs and chanted outside the raid - AFP It comes as a federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to immediately halt indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in seven California counties, including LA. Immigrant advocacy groups filed a lawsuit last week accusing the government of systematically targeting brown-skinned people in Southern California during its immigration crackdown. Officials were also accused in the court filing of carrying out warrantless arrests and denying detainees access to legal counsel at a holding facility in LA. The order also bars the administration from restricting lawyers access at the citys immigration detention facility. A spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security says the allegations are disgusting and categorically false. The clashes on Thursday in Camarillo, one of the biggest cannabis farms in Southern California, were the latest in a wave of violent incidents. ICE agents, who were met by dozens of protesters, used smoke canisters and non-lethal rounds to disperse the crowd. According to the Department of Homeland Security, 200 people, allegedly in the US illegally, were arrested. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said 10 underage migrant workers were also found on the farm, which is now under investigation for alleged child labour offences. According to the union workers, even US citizens were held for several hours. The federal authorities only released the Americans after they deleted photos and videos of the raids on their phones. Locals have waved flags to show their support for detainees - Getty Images There is no city, state or federal district where it is legal to terrorise and detain people for being brown and working in agriculture, UFW said in a statement. These raids must stop immediately. Glass House said in a statement that workers were detained and it is helping provide them with legal representation. Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors, the company said. Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman at the Department of Homeland Security said: This man was not in, and has not been in Customs and Border Protection or ICE custody. Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a greenhouse and fell 30 feet. CBP immediately called a medevac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible. Chinese premier says to expand cooperation with Brazil in digital economy, aerospace Xinhua) 13:18, July 07, 2025 RIO DE JANEIRO, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday that China is willing to work with Brazil to leverage each other's complementary advantages and expand cooperation in such areas as digital economy, green economy, sci-tech innovation and aerospace. Li made the remarks during his meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The Chinese premier arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday to attend the 17th BRICS Summit. Li conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's warm greetings to Lula, noting that China-Brazil relations are in their best shape ever, with both sides working together to build a China-Brazil community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet. During Lula's visit to China in May, the two heads of state reached important consensus on pushing for building a China-Brazil community with a shared future and upholding multilateralism, Li said. China stands ready to work with Brazil to continue the efforts in enriching the dimensions of bilateral relations and achieving more concrete results in cooperation so as to deliver more benefits to the two peoples, Li added. China is willing to work with Brazil to further consolidate and deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, finance and infrastructure development under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, said the premier. Li also urged both countries to jointly ensure the success of the China-Brazil Year of Culture in 2026, step up cooperation in education, youth, healthcare and other areas, further facilitate people-to-people exchanges and strengthen public support for China-Brazil friendship and cooperation. Depicting both countries as staunch supporters of multilateralism and free trade, Li said that China is willing to enhance communication and coordination with Brazil within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, BRICS and the G20, work in unity with developing countries to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and provide more certainty and stability for the world. China supports Brazil in hosting the UN Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30) later this year, Li said. For his part, Lula asked Li to convey his sincere regards to Xi. He noted that the two peoples share a profound friendship. Brazil attaches great importance to advancing its relations with China, and stands ready to work with China to follow through on the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and further strengthen high-level exchanges, he said. Brazil is ready to promote exchanges and cooperation with China in such areas as economy and trade, science and technology, finance, and aerospace, he added. Brazil also seeks to deepen collaboration with China in addressing climate change, said Lula, noting the country welcomes China's participation in the upcoming COP30 in Belem. He also congratulated China on successfully hosting the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum this year. Lula said Brazil is willing to deepen multilateral communication and coordination with China, jointly oppose unilateralism, and uphold multilateralism and free trade so as to promote world peace and development. Following the meeting, the two sides witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in such fields as fiscal and financial affairs, artificial intelligence, development strategies alignment and aerospace. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Under the Tuscan Sun: Frances Mayes, a 35-year-old San Francisco writer, decides to buy a house in Tuscany in order to change her life. Photograph: Touchstone/Allstar Happy Saturday! It turns out time might actually be moving faster and not just because we are all having so much fun. Scientists have observed Earth is spinning slightly faster, truncating the days by a millisecond or more. With no time to waste, lets get into it. 1. Casa dolce casa for just 1? If youve seen the film Under the Tuscan Sun and pictured your life following the same script (hopefully without the messy divorce), this weeks long read is for you. Frustrated with her life in the US, Lauren Markham was drawn to the romantic and surprisingly real prospect of buying a home in Italy for just 1. With a baby, a husband (whose non-negotiable was a home near the beach), she set out to uncover whether the idea was too good to be true. Is buying a house for 1 really possible? Yes! Markham travels to Italy to talk to locals and mayors in both Sardinia and Tuscany, to better understand how the program works. Is it a dream life swap or just clever marketing? Youll have to read on to find out if she takes the plunge. How long will it take to read: Eleven minutes. 2. The guilty verdict Reflecting on the trial that gripped a nation and the world, Nino Bucci begins his read about Erin Pattersons guilty verdict at the point it turned very bad: Several hours after a person eats death cap mushrooms and becomes violently unwell, there is a period of relief. They feel as if they are improving. They are not. Its a reminder that the victims of this captivating case died terrible deaths. And while the verdict supposedly ends weeks of laborious detail and ghoulish fascination is it really over? How long will it take to read: Six minutes. Further reading: Erin Pattersons hospital visit and what the beef wellingtons really looked like: the mushroom murder exhibits revealed. 3. I didnt have any idea Demon would bring home so much bacon I only just finished Barbara Kingslovers Pulitzer prize-winning novel Demon Copperhead a brilliant book reimagining Charles Dickens David Copperfield during Virginias opioid crisis. Like many readers (just a bit later), I prayed Copperhead got his happy ending. Then, by pure coincidence (or the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon) I stumbled across this incredible interview. *** When that first royalty cheque came in and our eyes all popped wide open, I thought: I could do something significant with this Barbara Kingslover. When fiction changes real lives: And she did. Using the success of Demon Copperhead, Kingslover helped fund an addiction recovery residence in rural Southwest Virginia. The real-life ending Id hoped for: My life has changed. My mentality has changed. I am truly sober, says Syara Parsell, 35, a resident of the home. How long will it take to read: Six minutes. 4. Fact or fiction To the world, Michael Briggs was a well-known scientist and a bit of a fantasist. To Joanne, his daughter, he was not well known at all. At a young age, when he left the family, she told herself he wasnt really gone he was just somewhere else, doing important things. But exactly what he was doing, would remain a mystery. Was Joannes father a spy? Anita Chaudhuri asks the now 61-year-old, who has written a memoir digging into her fathers past and disappearance. I think of all the theories, its the one that hangs together most coherently, Joanne Briggs says. How long will it take to read: Five minutes. 5. Being taught the wrong alphabet And now, I leave you with the most unbelievable story I read this week: Emma Loffhagen discovered that her mother was taught the wrong alphabet as a child and no, thats not a typo. Initial Teaching Alphabet, or ITA, was a radical, little-known educational experiment trialled in British schools developed by the grandson of the inventor of shorthand, during the 1960s and 70s, to help children learn to read faster. Instead, it left thousands of children unable to spell. My spelling is still appalling: People affected by ITA have spoken to Loffhagen about the long-term impact the program had on them. Even the articles comment section is a surprising archive of memories from former students. Curious? If you can read the image in the article, you might have been part of this ill-fated literacy experiment. (Although I wasnt even a thought when this happened and I can still read it!) How long will it take to read: Six minutes. Sign up If you would like to receive these Five Great Reads to your email inbox every weekend, sign up here. And check out out the full list of our local and international newsletters. Flamingos feeding in a flooded rice field near Jolanda Di Savoia, Italy - Niccolo Luppone/AP Photo Risotto rice crops in Italy are under threat from flocks of hungry flamingos stirring up paddy fields with their webbed feet. Farmers have been forced to patrol around the clock to try to scare away the birds, who destroy rice seedlings when they stir up the soil in the flooded fields before snatching up molluscs, algae and insects. Enrivo Fabbri, who farms in Ferrara province, between Venice and Ravenna, estimates he has lost as much as 90 per cent of production in some fields because of the birds. Its like losing a newborn These are new things that have never happened before. You invest so much time and care into preparing everything, Mr Fabbri, 63, said at one of his paddies on the outskirts of Jolanda di Savoia. Then, just as the crop begins to grow, its like having a newborn child taken away. Thats what it feels like. Farmers have been banging barrels and honking truck horns in an effort to scare off the flamingos. Some even deploy small gas cannons that make booming noises. However, the flamingos simply fly off before settling in another nearby paddy field to feed. Rice farmers flood their fields for a few weeks from late spring to early summer to germinate newly planted seeds. Until the paddies are drained, the flamingos are a threat to the crops. The flamingos appear to have come from former nesting grounds in the nearby Comacchio valleys, a wetlands reserve where the River Po flows into the Adriatic Sea. Roberto Tinarelli, the president of AsOER, the Emilia-Romagna ornithologists association, said the birds had been coming there since 2000, after drought in southern Spain sent them searching for nesting grounds further east. They are beautiful, but we must limit them Previously, the flamingos had been based in lakes in north Africa, parts of Spain and some of the Camargue region in France, Mr Tinarelli said. There has been no research yet into why the flamingos started seeking food farther inland. Obviously, we are looking for answers from those who have to deal with the problem. From an environmental point of view, all this is beautiful, but we must keep in mind that rice cultivation is among the most expensive crops, Massimo Piva, a 57-year-old rice grower and vice-president of the local farmers confederation, said. They are beautiful animals, its their way of moving and behaving, but the problem is trying to limit their presence as much as possible. Mr Tinarelli has suggested several solutions to the problem, including surrounding paddies with tall trees or hedges. He added that reducing water levels on freshly planted paddies to between two to four inches rather than 12 inches would help. This is sufficient for the rice to grow, but decidedly less attractive to flamingos, which must splash around in the water, he said. A plane lands on the southern runway at London Heathrow Airport Were in the final week of Wimbledon and midway through the Lords Test Match, but another event with less fanfare but great significance took place in London this week. The Giving and Impact Summit was held at the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday with the aim of promoting, celebrating and inspiring philanthropy in the UK. Speakers included leading donors such as John Caudwell, Fran Perrin and John Studzinski, as well as Government Minister Stephanie Peacock. As part of the Summit, Dragons Den star Deborah Meaden and TV personality Robert Rinder closed the market, bringing trading on the London market to an end on a day celebrating philanthropy in the UK. The Summit provides an opportune moment to reflect on the state of giving in the UK and what more we can do to enhance it. The UK is a very generous nation, with over 15 billion given to charity last year. Large-scale public campaigns such as those run by Comic Relief and Children in Need engage a broad section of the public. At the higher end, there are fantastic big givers; the philanthropists who topped this years Giving List compiled by CAF and published in May, Suneil Setiya and Greg Skinner (founders of Quadrature Capital) gave away a staggering 134.9 million each last year. The UK has a fantastic history of charitable giving. As the UK and the rest of Europe recovered from the Black Death (1347-1450), the volume of charity increased. In London the resources devoted to charity increased 50 per cent in real terms between 1573 and 1597. Philanthropists started looking for solutions to social problems, whether social housing, education or help to start businesses. One of the leading lights was Dick Whittington (c. 13541423), a four-time Lord Mayor of London, who used his fortune to fund a wide range of charitable and civic projects. He financed the rebuilding of the Guildhall, improvements to drainage systems in poor areas and helped to establish almshouses. Several hundred years later, the Victorian era saw the emergence of socially conscious businesses. The likes of Unilever provided housing to their workers and placed a premium on looking after them. Present day Britain boasts some extremely generous philanthropists. This is a mixture of old money and new wealth from sectors such as property and finance. Still, large charities are reliant on the same pool of donors. Well-established multi-generational families, such as the Westons, Woolfsons, Duffields and Rothschilds, still carry too much of the burden supporting many charities. At the same time, a disappointingly low proportion of the super-wealthy and high earners engage meaningfully in philanthropy. In new research published for the Summit, Pro Bono Economics found that between 2020-22 most donors among the UKs top 1 per cent of earners made relatively small charitable donations of only around 0.2 per cent of their gross income or 52 a month. Furthermore, the exodus of many millionaires from the UK, as a result of changes to the tax system, is likely to have a detrimental impact on philanthropy. To unlock the UKs philanthropic potential, a number of strategic interventions are required. First, a dedicated match fund for philanthropy could dramatically increase charitable giving. Evidence shows people are 84 per cent more likely to donate when match funding is available. The UK should expand successful models like the Big Give to create targeted match funds for priority sectors. The Covid-19 Support Fund demonstrated this potential, where 20 million in government funding from the DCMS Community Match fund successfully leveraged an additional 20 million from private donors. Second, Gift Aid represents enormous untapped potential, yet its complexity means 560 million in eligible tax relief goes unclaimed annually. Simplifying the claiming process and better promoting these incentives could unlock significant additional charitable funding while reducing administrative burden for donors and charities alike. Third, wealth advisers serve as crucial gatekeepers to substantial philanthropic potential, yet philanthropy advice remains inconsistent and fragmented across the sector. The wealth management industry should systematically equip advisers with the knowledge and tools to effectively discuss philanthropic opportunities with their clients. Finally, the UK needs a cultural shift in how it regards philanthropy. While American philanthropists are celebrated as social heroes, their British counterparts often face scepticism or criticism. Creating a more positive narrative around philanthropic leadership would encourage greater giving and recognise the vital role philanthropy plays in addressing social challenges. Despite recent changes to the tax system, the UK remains an attractive destination for many international investors and philanthropists. The Trump administrations changes in the US, and its cuts in funding for the aid sector, may persuade some US philanthropists to seek a new base for their operations, and the UK is well positioned to benefit. After a year in office, Keir Starmers Government remains committed to its five missions, encompassing the economy, energy, the NHS, crime and opportunity for all. All of these areas could be enhanced by philanthropists working alongside the public and private sectors to improve the lives of all citizens. Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair once spoke of heralding a giving age. With the right moves, the Government can strengthen philanthropy in the UK and help deliver on its missions. Zaki Cooper is Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Giving and Impact Summit Credit: tt.findsz/Tiktok World War Three? Im scared, one influencer tells her 1.4 million viewers before promoting a multi-purpose power bank: a must-have survival item. She pans the camera to her TV where a news report shows Iranian missiles raining down on Tel Aviv, before saying: This is a recipe for World War Three. In the same breath, she claims her father is a military veteran who told her the most important item to have in your survival bag is a power bank. If you want to get yourself prepared, Ill link it for you, she says, guiding her followers to buy the device for 10 in a commissioned post. Another influencer, clad in an industrial gas mask, asks viewers: If World War Three started tomorrow, would you be prepared? She directs her 124,000 followers to a link where they can purchase their own breathing apparatus for under 15. If you want to keep you and your family safe, dont wait, the beauty influencer warns. The sale ends soon. A third, prolific World War Three content creator promotes a multi-tool, boasting several apparently life-saving items, from a fire-starter to screwdriver. Fear-mongering for views and commissions is part of a growing trend for influencers. Experts say they have lost any sense of reality and are capitalising on fear of foreign states while exploiting TikToks broad-reaching algorithm. The marketing technique evokes some scepticism, with one disgruntled user commenting: Scaremongering for commission. Welcome to 2025. Yet the clicks and money keep coming. The influencer flogging a solar-powered power bank and radio has sold over 75,000 through TikTok Shop, the apps on-site shopping platform. TikTok relies on its commission-paid content creators and algorithm to advertise and sell its products. Influencers are profiting from the fact that war is more widespread today than it has been in decades, with armed conflict touching every major region in the world, according to Telegraph analysis of data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (Acled). Between 2020 and the end of 2024, the global death toll from war exceeded one million, with the increase largely attributed to Russias invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war. For Evie Aspinall, director of the British Foreign Policy Group, the younger generations general misunderstanding and disassociation from the realities of global conflict from war in Ukraine to the threat China poses to our society is deeply concerning. She said influencers were taking advantage of young peoples ignorance and scaring them into buying survival items on TikTok Shop. Ms Aspinall added that this tendency is being exacerbated by a lack of critical thinking and engagement with reliable news sources, which is leading to a deep generational divide. We have recently conducted several focus groups in which the level of generational difference in perceptions of national security have been so striking, says Ms Aspinall, former UK head delegate to the Youth7, the G7s official youth engagement group. Younger Britons are generally much less bothered about Ukraine than older Britons. They are less bothered about China. A huge amount of this disconnect can be attributed to social media. Fear-mongering online content is pushing Gen Z and millennials further away from the realities of foreign threats and what the future of modern warfare actually looks like, Ms Aspinall said. She added that war in the future will be less about trench fighting and more about complex and nuanced attacks that could impact the British public as a whole. The average person does not understand that, for example, a cyber attack on the NHS would be absolutely catastrophic, she said. Fear-mongering online content is pushing Gen Z and millennials away from the realities of war, one expert said - Leo Correa/The Associated Press When asked by YouGov for a survey last month to pick three of the most important issues facing the country, only 11 per cent of 16 to 25 year-olds chose defence and security. That compared to 43 per cent of those over the age of 65. This huge generational divide clearly coming from social media is not encouraging critical thinking, Ms Aspinall said. Melanie Garson, associate professor in international security and conflict resolution at University College London, stressed the danger of social media users being pounded by prepare for WWIII videos as they scroll through TikTok. Creating that hysteria diversion could be a malicious actors way of putting pressure on the Government not to intervene, she said. This attempt at societal destruction needs to be investigated as it could be part of their playbook. A broader concern for Ms Garson was the inability of Britons to discern the truth, which she said reflected wider shortcomings in the education of Britons about war and international threats. Ms Garson stressed the need to break the algorithmic bubble, with social media an increasingly important provider of news worldwide. She said: This starts with teaching people the critical thinking skills of how to engage with sources of information and [discern] what a legitimate source is. Lessons in media literacy Both Ms Aspinall and Ms Garson said the Government had a key role to play in opening conversations about the real threats posed by foreign states and actors. The Governments Strategic Defence Review last month drew attention to the need to build nationwide resilience in the face of threats posed by states such as Russia, China and Iran. What building national resilience looks like, and how it will target younger generations, is yet to be seen. There are clear examples of how this can work effectively, with Finland instilling critical thinking skills in children as part of their early education. As Britain scales-up national defence, how the military interacts with its citizens on home soil will be the true measure of its strength, Ms Aspinall said. Sayfollah Musallet, allegedly beaten and killed by settlers at his familys farm in the West Bank, was born and grew up in Florida, the US. Photograph: Facebook A 20-year-old Palestinian-American was killed by Israeli settlers while visiting relatives in the occupied West Bank, his family have said. Sayfollah Saif Musallet was reportedly beaten by Israeli settlers while he was on his familys farm in an area near Ramallah. A group then prevented ambulances from reaching Musallet for three hours, according to the family, who said he died of his injuries before reaching hospital. I was the first one to reach Saif, said Mohammed Nael Hijaz, a 22-year-old friend of Musallet. He was not moving when I got there and he could barely breathe. There was time to save him. Another Palestinian man, 23-year-old Razek Hussein al-Shalabi, was fatally shot during the attack and was left to bleed to death, the Palestinian health ministry said. The funeral for both men will be held on Sunday so they can be buried together, according to a cousin of Musallet. The attacks come amid a wave of increasing Israeli settler violence targeting Palestinians in the West Bank more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed and at least 9,000 injured since the Hamas raid into southern Israel on 7 October 2023. The Israeli military claimed stones were thrown at Israelis and that a violent confrontation developed. It added that it was aware of reports concerning a Palestinian civilian and that it was looking into the incident. A spokesperson for the US Department of State said that it was aware of reports of the death of a US citizen in the West Bank and that it was ready to provide consular services, declining to comment further out of respect for privacy of the family. In a statement, the family demanded an investigation by the US state department into the killings and called on it to hold the Israeli settlers who killed Saif accountable for their crimes. Witnesses of the confrontation claimed that Israeli soldiers were present during the confrontation. Three Palestinian-American teenagers have been killed in the West Bank since 7 October. As yet, no one has been punished for the deaths. Related: Palestinians fear razing of villages in West Bank, as settlers circle their homes Musallet was born and raised in Florida, and had just opened an ice-cream shop in Tampa with his father. He had travelled to the West Bank to visit relatives at the beginning of June, family said. He was a very sweet guy, full of hopes and dreams, said Hijaz, who mourned the fact that they were unable to save his friend. In a statement, his family said: Saif was a brother and a son, just starting the prime of his life. He was a kind and hard-working and deeply respected young man. Saif built a successful business in Tampa and was known for his generosity, ambition and connection to his Palestinian heritage. Musallet was attacked on a farm owned by his family in the town of Baten al-Hawa, near Jerusalem. The area is within Area B, which is under the administrative control of the Palestinian Authority but the security control of the Israeli military. Settlers had attacked two journalists working for DW, a German broadcaster, in the same area a week earlier, prompting condemnations by the German ambassador to Israel. Settlers had attacked them by throwing rocks at them, despite them wearing well-marked press jackets, severely damaging their car. The Israeli military said it would look into the incident. The Israeli military has been accused by rights groups of standing by or even helping as settlers raid Palestinian villages, where they vandalise property and attack residents. Arrests of settlers are rare. Two weeks earlier, more than 100 settlers rampaged through the village of Kafr Malek, near Ramallah, killing three men and injuring several more people. At a funeral for Abraham Azulay, an Israel Defense Forces soldier and settler killed in south Gaza on Wednesday, mourners called for revenge against Palestinians for their friends death. We want redemption, a friend said. We want the temple, we want revenge. The Biden administration had placed sanctions on several figures within the settler community in an effort to curtail the violence, but those sanctions were repealed by Donald Trump after becoming the US president. The settlers want to take over our land, said Hijaz. Their aggression is increasing by the day. The Israeli army comes to protect them and dont do anything to stop them from attacking us. No one can hold the settlers accountable. Jamie George has been drafted into the British and Irish Lions squad as cover for the injured Luke Cowan-Dickie. Hooker Cowan-Dickie appeared to be knocked out in Saturdays 48-0 win against an AUNZ Invitational XV at Adelaide Oval and left the field in the medical cart with his head in a supportive brace. He faces a spell on the sidelines and Saracens front-rower George, appointed co-captain for Englands ongoing summer tour to Argentina and the United States, will fly to Australia for his third Lions tour having featured in New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021. A two-time Lion, Jamie will join up with the squad in Brisbane! #Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/Nzb2xPcR6V British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 12, 2025 A brief Lions statement read: (George) will join up with head coach Andy Farrells squad in Brisbane next week. George, Lion number 819, was a tourist in 2017 and 2021. He also trained with the squad in Portugal and Dublin ahead of the Qatar Airways Lions Mens Series Australia 2025. Garry Ringrose is unavailable for next Saturdays first Test against Australia after Farrell confirmed he was struggling with concussion. Ringrose suffered a head injury in Wednesdays victory over the ACT Brumbies and faces a minimum 12-day stand down period, preventing him from taking part in the series opener in Brisbane. Garry Ringrose suffered a head injury in Wednesdays victory over the ACT Brumbies (Robbie Stephenson/PA) Garry had a delayed reaction. He had headaches for a day and it carried on for the next day so he went through concussion protocols and failed those, Farrell said. Unfortunately for him and for us hes 12 days so that puts him out of the first Test and back in for the midweek game before the second Test (against First Nations and Pasifika XV on July 22). You dont mess around with these things and it is unfortunate for him and everyone else. Hes in good spirits anyway so we crack on. Cowan-Dickie took a heavy blow to the head in Saturdays win after being hit by Lukhan Salakaia-Lotos knee, shortly before half-time. The England front-rower later waved to fans as he walked around the pitch but he is now likely to face a spell out that opened the door for 34-year-old George. Owen Farrell comes on to appear in his fourth Lions tour Watch every match live on Sky Sports.#Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond pic.twitter.com/Wt91WtJtS8 British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 12, 2025 Owen Farrell produced an eye-catching 31 minutes in the first appearance of his fourth Lions tour but Andy Farrell limited his praise of his son to: He did OK, as did many others. Owen Farrell slotted in at inside centre and worked well alongside fly-half Marcus Smith, providing direction and an extra creative spark through his passing and kicking that led to two tries. Huw Jones is now favourite to start against the Wallabies at outside centre following Ringroses concussion and he was the Lions most dangerous player until he was replaced by Farrell. He gelled well with Scotland midfield partner Sione Tuipulotu and Farrell said: Huw and Sione were very good. Weve got nice back-up there. Huw Jones is now favourite to start against the Wallabies at outside centre (David Davies/PA) Bundee Aki and Ringrose looked poised to start the first Test in the centres but the Lions could choose to stick with established national combinations, so Ringroses misfortune might see Tuipulotu and Jones selected as a pair. Who knows which way we would have gone because it is true what we said about leaving it open, Farrell said. I know people think we had a fixed mind after Wednesdays game against the Brumbies but thats not the truth. We will sit down and assess that game and then we will have a tough task in picking whats going to be a good Test side to take on Australia in the first game. Jeff Lynnes Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) will no longer be performing at BST Hyde Park festival in London, organisers said. Musician Lynne, who was due to headline on Sunday, has pulled out on the advice of doctors following a systemic infection. A statement said: Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrows BST Hyde Park show. Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule. The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeffs mind today and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time. It comes after the rock band, best known for their hit song Mr Blue Sky, pulled out of a performance at Manchesters Co-Op Live, due to take place on July 10. The band was formed in Birmingham in 1970 by Lynne, multi-instrumentalist Roy Wood and drummer Bev Bevan, but first split in 1986. They are known for fusing classical music, Beatles-style pop and futuristic rock visuals, and were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017. Jeff Lynne attending the O2 Silver Clef Awards (Matt Crossick/PA) They are behind the 1970s hits Livin Thing, Mr Blue Sky, Telephone Line and Evil Woman. Singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer Lynne resurrected the band in 2014. On September 14 that year, Lynne teamed up with the BBC Concert Orchestra to play some of the bands greatest hits at a comeback concert at BST Hyde Park. They released the album From Out Of Nowhere in 2019 and it soared to number one on the UK albums charts, joining Discovery (1979), Time (1981) and their compilation album, All Over the World: The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra (2005). ELO also had a number of top 10 songs in the UK singles charts, including Dont Bring Me Down, Hold On Tight and Shine A Little Love. Lynne was made an OBE in the 2020 Queens Birthday Honours list for services to music, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2015. Sir Sadiq Khan won in 2021 with 40 per cent in the first round and 55.2 per cent after second preferences were counted - Leon Neal/Getty Images Labour is changing the voting system for mayors after Reform UK swept to victory in two mayoral elections in May. As part of a radical reset, Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Local Government Secretary, will ditch the UKs first-past-the-post voting system, in which the candidate with the most ballots wins. It will be replaced at mayoral level by a European-style system known as the supplementary vote, where candidates are ranked by preference. The move is a return to the arrangement that was previously used to elect London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, as well as his predecessors Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson. Reform won one mayoralty at the May local elections with just 35 per cent of the vote thanks to the first-past-the-post system. The party, which Sir Keir Starmer declared to be his main opposition after they seized two mayoralties and 10 councils in Mays local elections, has accused Ms Rayner of trying to sabotage Reform at next years mayoral races. Reform won mayoralties in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire in May. Reform UKs Dame Andrea Jenkyns became Greater Lincolnshires first elected mayor with 42 per cent of the vote - Joe Giddens/PA A Reform spokesman told The Telegraph: Labour is now trying to stitch up next years mayoral elections in a deeply cynical attempt to diminish the success of Reform. We are on track to replicate our successes this May in next years elections, so its no wonder they are doing this now. The ranked preference system allows voters to support smaller parties without it being a so-called wasted vote. For example, a Green Party supporter would make their partys candidate their first choice but could mark the Labour candidate as their second preference. In this scenario, if the Green candidate for mayor were then knocked out of the contest after the first round of vote counting, their vote would go to Labours candidate, bolstering their numbers and making victory more likely in the second round. Under the supplementary vote, if one candidate achieves more than 50 per cent of the popular vote on first preferences they win the contest outright and second preferences are not counted. Nigel Farages party pledged to introduce electoral reform in its last election manifesto. Mr Farage has long supported a more proportional system of voting that would benefit his string of smaller insurgent parties such as Ukip and the Brexit Party. However, Reforms increase in support over recent months means it can now benefit significantly from the first-past-the-post system. Reform is currently polling at 30 per cent, which under first-past-the-post voting could be enough to win a general election. At the May local elections, the partys mayoral candidate in Hull and East Yorkshire won on just 35 per cent of the vote. Their Lincolnshire candidate won with 42 per cent. In the West of England mayoral race, which included the large Labour-and-Green-voting city of Bristol, Reforms candidate almost won on less than a quarter of the vote thanks to splits among Left-wing parties. The partys candidate, businessman Arron Banks, came within 6,000 votes of beating Labour thanks to a three-way split among the progressive parties of Labour, Greens and the Lib Dems. Reform strategists had been hopeful that such a strategy, which a party source described as going through the middle, could see Mr Farages party winning power in unexpected places such as Left-leaning cities. But the Governments changes to the voting system are likely to dash such hopes. Labour has traditionally struggled under Britains first-past-the-post system more than the Tories because of the larger number of parties on the Left splitting their target voting base. The Conservative Party has often stood to benefit from this situation, but now faces its own split on the Right with the rise of Reform. The return to a preference-based system could make mayoral elections easier for the Labour Party to win, because they stand to enjoy the second preference support of many Greens, Lib Dems and Left-wing independents. This is how Sir Sadiq triumphed in 2021, the last London mayoral election fought under the supplementary vote system. He took 40 per cent of the popular vote in the first round and his total increased to 55.2 per cent after second preferences were counted. While the next London mayoral election is not until 2028, Sir Sadiq has not confirmed if he will stand for an historic fourth term. The race to replace him as Labours candidate already seems to have begun with Labour MP Dawn Butler announcing on Saturday that she was considering running. Reform is also scouting out a number of potential candidates, believing that it could win the London contest by running a charismatic candidate on a law and order platform. The Conservative government largely replaced the supplementary vote with first-past-the-post for mayoral contests, but Ms Rayner is reviving it as part of her English Devolution Bill. Ms Rayner said: We were elected on a promise of change, not just for a few areas cherry-picked by a Whitehall spreadsheet, but for the entire country. It was never going to be easy to deliver the growth our country desperately needed with the inheritance we were dumped with. But thats why we are opting to devolve not dictate and delivering a Bill that will rebalance decade-old divides and empower communities. Were ushering in a new dawn of regional power and bringing decision-making to a local level so that no single street or household is left behind and every community thrives from our Plan for Change. Kim Jong-un and Sergei Lavrov seemed full of bonhomie when they met on Saturday - Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service/ via AP Russias foreign minister described the relationship between his country and North Korea as an invincible fighting brotherhood as he met its leader Kim Jong-un. Sergei Lavrovs visit on Saturday was the latest in a series of high-level meetings between the two nations as they seek to deepen their strategic dialogue which is now set to include a mutual defence pact. Mr Lavrov said he had exchanged views on the situation surrounding the Ukrainian crisis with North Korean officials, and thanked the country for the troops they had sent to fight in the war. South Koreas intelligence service has said North Korea may be preparing to deploy more troops to Ukraine in July or August, after sending more than 10,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russia in the conflict. Our Korean friends confirmed their firm support for all the objectives of the special military operation, as well as for the actions of the Russian leadership and armed forces, Mr Lavrov said. Russian and North Korean officials held talks on Saturday - via AP/Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, also passed along a message, saying he hoped for more direct contact in the future. Mr Lavrov further warned the US, South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea. We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia, he said, according to Russias state Tass news agency. The meeting was held in the coastal city of Wonsan, where North Korea recently opened a beach resort that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people. Speaking at the site, Mr Lavrov said: I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel. Kim Jong-un is considering sending more troops to Ukraine, it is claimed - RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY/AFP via Getty Images It also came after Russia fired more than 620 drones and long-range missiles at Ukraine overnight, killing at least six people and wounding dozens. Moscow has stepped up aerial strikes over recent months, while US-led ceasefire talks aimed at pausing the over three-year war have stalled. Twenty-six cruise missiles and 597 attack drones were launched, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, said, referring to Iranian-made drones. On Monday, Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy, is due to begin his latest trip to Ukraine. Donald Trump, the US president, said he would make a major statement related to Russia on Monday. Emmanuel Macron announced the commemoration of Alfred Dreyfuss persecution and wrongful conviction at a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise in France - Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images Emmanuel Macron warned France to beware the old demons of anti-Semitism as he announced a national day of commemoration for Alfred Dreyfus on Saturday. The president said there would be a memorial ceremony every year on July 12, the date on which the Jewish army captain was exonerated of treason charges for which he had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 1894. The first ceremony will take place next year, exactly 120 years after the High Court of Appeal overturned the verdict passed on Dreyfus by a military court in one of the most notorious examples of anti-Semitism in the history of France. Dreyfus, from the Alsace region of eastern France, had been falsely accused of passing information on artillery equipment to Germany. The campaign to free him divided France. Alfred Dreyfuss police photographs taken after his arrest on trumped-up treason charges in 1894 - Apic/Getty Images/Hulton Archive From now on, every July 12, there will be a commemoration ceremony for Dreyfus, for the victory of justice and truth against hatred and anti-Semitism, Mr Macron wrote in a communique on Saturday. In this way, Alfred Dreyfus and those who fought through him for Liberty, Equality and Fraternity will continue to be the example that must inspire our conduct. We know that we must always be vigilant and persistent against these old anti-Semitic demons spawned by hatred. And today more than ever. France has been experiencing a rising tide of anti-Semitism in recent years, particularly since the Hamas atrocities of Oct 7 2023 led to Israel invading Gaza. The announcement of the Dreyfus commemoration follows Frances parliament backing a bill last month that promoted Dreyfus to the rank of brigadier general in an act of reparation for his wrongful conviction. In 2021, Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the first museum dedicated to the Dreyfus Affair, housed in the former home of the author Emile Zola, who wrote the famous Jaccuse pamphlet in Dreyfuss defence - Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP via Getty Images The officers conviction amid a virulently anti-Semitic press campaign was based on a comparison of handwriting on a document found in a German military attaches wastepaper basket. Lt Col Georges Picquart, the head of Frances intelligence services, secretly reinvestigated the case, and found the handwriting on the incriminating message was that of another officer, Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy. But when Picquart presented his evidence to the general staff of the French army, he was kicked out of the military and jailed for a year. Esterhazy was acquitted, which inspired Emile Zola to write his famous Jaccuse pamphlet in which the author attacked the terrifying judicial error and the hunt for dirty Jews that is soiling our time. The campaign to free Dreyfus split the country between Dreyfusards, led by Zola, and anti-Dreyfusards such as Maurice Barres, the far-Right political leader. Dreyfus was brought back to France from the Devils Island penal colony in French Guiana but was found guilty a second time. He was later pardoned but not cleared of the charges until his final exoneration on July 12 1906. Unfortunately, the legacy of the heirs of the anti-Dreyfusards, anti-republicans and anti-Semites of the early and mid-20th century has never died out, Mr Macron said on Saturday. Alfred Dreyfus was finally freed after years in captivity in the penal colony of Devils Island - Gerschel/Getty Images/Hulton Archive France is home to the largest Jewish community in Europe, which suffered nearly 1,600 anti-Semitic acts in 2024. The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France said it was a historic number. A total of 504 anti-Semitic acts were recorded in France between January and May 2025, according to the Ministry of the Interior. After the French hard Left made gains in elections last year, Moshe Sebbag, a rabbi for the Synagogue de la Victoire, said he was advising Jews to leave France for Israel. Hard Left reluctant to condemn Hamas It seems France has no future for Jews, he said after a political bloc including Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed won National Assembly elections. France Unbowed is highly critical of Israel and was reluctant to condemn Hamas for the Oct 7 terror attack, which has led to accusations of anti-Semitism. The hard-Right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, has sought to expunge its history of anti-Semitism. Jean-Marie Le Pen, its founder, was a Holocaust denier with numerous convictions for anti-Semitism. In March this year, Jordan Bardella, the partys president, visited Israel for a two-day conference on fighting anti-Semitism in a sign of National Rallys shift. Protesters wave Israeli flags at a march against anti-Semitism in London - Matthew Chattle/Future via Getty Anti-Semitism has been normalised in middle-class Britain, a Government-backed report has found. The review warned that Jewish people in the UK were suffering increasing prejudice in our professions, cultural life [and] public services and felt they were tolerated rather than being respected. The report, commissioned by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the countrys largest Jewish community organisation, found anti-Semitism to be pervasive in the NHS, at universities and in the arts. The inconsistent policing of hate crimes against Jews, including at pro-Palestine protests, was also highlighted. The review was co-authored by Lord Mann, the Governments anti-Semitism adviser, and Dame Penny Mordaunt, the former defence secretary. Writing in The Telegraph, they said they had been stunned into silence by the evidence gathered during six months of research for the Commission on Anti-Semitism. They wrote: We heard about the noisy demonstrations and how intimidating people find the current environment, but as we dug deeper, what really scared us was the increasing normalisation of far more extreme, personalised and sometimes life-changing impact directed at individuals purely and simply because they are Jewish. The pair added: We are two non-Jews from opposite sides of the political spectrum and we have both come to realise that if our Jewish community is facing discrimination, this is a failure of our society. Judaism should be recognised as an ethnicity Among 10 recommendations made in their report, which will be published on Tuesday and considered by the Government, are recognising Judaism as an ethnicity, an overhaul of the policing of anti-Semitic crimes and the launch of an anti-Semitism training qualification for employers. After the Oct 7 attacks in 2023, anti-Semitic incidents hit record highs, according to the Community Security Trust, which monitors reports of anti-Jewish hate in Britain. The co-authors said that British Jews were often held responsible for the actions of the Israeli government, which are frequently the subject of pro-Palestine protests. The report also raised concerns that police had struggled to effectively tackle anti-Jewish hate, arguing that improvements can be made to ensure that there is a consistent standard and understanding of anti-Semitism across all police forces throughout the country. The war in Gaza following the Oct 7 attacks triggered mass protests that were branded hate marches by Suella Braverman, the home secretary at the time, in October 2023. Police have repeatedly been accused of a two-tier approach for allowing what critics have described as intimidating pro-Palestine protests outside Jewish places of worship. Pro-Palestine protests have been branded hate marches - Burak Bir/Anadolu via Getty Images Earlier this year, The Telegraph revealed that a Jewish counter-protester was arrested by the Metropolitan Police after he briefly held a sign satirising a Hezbollah terrorist leader at a pro-Palestine march. Turning to the health service, researchers found many Jewish employees within NHS organisations felt that issues in their workplace were not being addressed and had been swept under the carpet. From evidence that we heard, we can identify that there is a specific unaddressed issue of anti-Semitism within the NHS, they wrote. Jewish doctors in the NHS have reported a surge in anti-Semitic abuse from colleagues since Oct 7, according to the General Medical Council (GMC), the independent body which regulates the UK medical register. Several NHS staff have been reported for anti-Semitic activities, from workplace abuse to social media posts celebrating Oct 7. In 2024, the NHS suspended a family GP who described the attacks as a welcome punch on the nose but later reinstated him, citing insufficient evidence that he was unfit to practice. Campus concerns The education sector was also criticised in the report for allowing the spread of anti-Semitism on university campuses and in primary school classrooms. Writing in The Telegraph, the co-authors noted one campus where staff members who Jewish students trust with their health records [were] shouting for an intifada, an Arabic word which can be used to describe violent Palestinian uprisings against Israel. Anti-Semitism on campuses has surged since Oct 7, with record reports of verbal abuse, threats and assaults against Jewish students and staff in the 2023-24 academic year. At Leeds University, for example, a chaplain received death threats and rape threats against his wife after returning from his Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reservist duties in Israel. In another instance, a Jewish student society was targeted by a bomb hoax. The report also found evidence that some faith primary schools inadvertently use anti-Semitic tropes when teaching subjects like religious education. In other professions, the co-authors found examples of professional bodies and trade unions passing motions about Israel that alienated Jewish members. Last month, Jewish members of the British Medical Association, the doctors union, told The Telegraph they felt unsafe because of motions related to the Middle East conflict, which they deemed anti-Semitic. In April, a Jewish teacher was loudly heckled for challenging an anti-Israel motion at the National Education Unions annual conference in Bournemouth. Researchers also received evidence about where an individual believes that their professional body is actively discriminating against them, but where they require membership in order to be able to work. Artists cancelled because of their heritage In the arts, the report found substantial evidence of more hidden barriers being put in front of Jewish involvement and examples of cultural institutions cancelling artists because of their heritage or ethnicity, or pressure from anti-Semitic organisations. Lord Mann and Dame Penny said they were moved by a young Jewish female performer who told us that following Oct 7, venues and promoters who the artist had worked with for years, no longer wanted to engage with her. The report found there was almost nowhere that British Jews could turn where anti-Semitism does not seem present in some form as well as a failure to effectively respond by institutions across the United Kingdom. Dame Penny Mordaunt, the former defence secretary, said she had been moved by the testimony of anti-Semitism victims - Jacob King/PA Wire The co-authors concluded that anti-Semitism was not understood as a form of racism in Britain and recommended that Judaism be nationally recognised as an ethnicity, as well as a religion, so that anti-Jewish prejudice could be tackled more effectively. Other recommendations included the drafting of a national policy on dealing with anti-Semitism consistently, to be followed by all police forces. The report also asked the Government to come up with a plan within a year to make professional bodies and trade unions safe for Jewish members, and recommended an anti-Semitism training qualification to be introduced by employers. Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, previously said she supported the commission and would consider the recommendations of its report. When it was announced in November, Ms Rayner said: We welcome the launch of the Board of Deputies Commission on anti-Semitism and will look closely at its recommendations as part of our work to keep communities safe. Labour under pressure The Government has been criticised by Jewish groups within the Labour Party for performative anti-Israel policies such as suspending trade talks and embargoing arms sales. Labour Against Anti-Semitism, a campaign group, said the policies added to a climate of intolerance and hate toward British Jews. Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure from Labours Left and allies such as France to go further and recognise a Palestinian state. Israel has said any such recognition would be a reward to Hamas. While the Prime Minister is theoretically in favour of recognising a Palestinian state as part of a Middle East peace process, he is understood to be reticent about signing up to the French plans. However, the mooted emergence of a new Left-wing, pro-Palestinian party under Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, could also increase pressure on Sir Keir to act. In recent weeks, the Government was forced to intervene in a row over anti-Semitism after chants at Glastonbury music festival calling for the death of Israeli soldiers were broadcast live by the BBC. Bob Vylan, a rap duo, led calls for death to the IDF at Glastonbury - Yui Mok/PA Bob Vylan, a rap duo, led calls for death to the IDF while performing at the festival. The Prime Minister described the chants as appalling hate speech and said the BBC had questions to answer over why they were broadcast live. The broadcasters head of music stepped back from day-to-day duties over the row after Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, demanded more accountability from the corporations leadership. Lord Mann previously told The Telegraph that heads should roll at the BBC after it aired a documentary featuring the nephew of a Hamas official as a narrator. An NHS spokesman said: It is completely unacceptable for anyone to experience racism, discrimination or prejudice in the health service, whether staff or patient, and the NHS takes any instance of anti-Semitism or discrimination extremely seriously. The NHS provides care and treatment for everyone regardless of race, faith, or background, and all NHS healthcare providers should have policies in place to address issues like this in the workplace. English bulldogs should not feature on new banknotes because they are inherently unwell Frankendogs, an animal rights charity has claimed. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has appealed to the Bank of England after it launched a consultation into plans to redesign part of the nations currency, urging the public to submit suggestions. But in a letter to the Bank, Yvonne Taylor, Petas vice-president of corporate projects, wrote: Brits are renowned for their love of dogs, but our involvement in the selective breeding of these Frankendogs is a national shame. As a breathing-impaired breed, British bulldogs have been deliberately bred to have extremely flattened snouts and tiny heads, which severely affect their health. These unfortunate animals cannot draw enough air into their narrowed nostrils and often need to breathe through their mouths, leading them to snort, snore, and gasp. This condition can sometimes be fatal. Sir Winston Churchill with party colleagues, and a bulldog mascot, on election day in February 1960 - Central Press/Getty Images Ms Taylor added: Bulldogs and others bred to be inherently unwell are frequent visitors to the vet and, during the cost-of-living crisis, are at even greater risk of physical deterioration, neglect, abandonment, and even death if their guardians cant afford to keep addressing the maladies borne of their mutations. The bulldog has long been seen as an emblem of Britain and its culture, featuring in art, postcards and cartoons, as well as being a common mascot in the Army and Navy. However, the breed suffers from a range of health conditions, linked to extreme breeding for its trademark flat face, short snout and wide skull. A study by the Royal Veterinary College found that bulldogs were twice as likely to face health problems as other breeds. The Bank has invited the public to share their views on what should feature on the latest iteration of banknotes across six potential themes. A portrait of King Charles will also be included on all the designs. However, the consultation, which closes on July 31, has received criticism. Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former Brexit minister, has accused the central bank of undermining the nations currency. He told The Telegraph: The whole idea of a redesign is foolish. Fiat currencies depend upon confidence, which is undermined by silly or cheap designs. This is bad for the Banks credibility. Bank of England reform is looking increasingly important. A Bank spokesman said: The consultation asks the public what broad themes rather than specific imagery they would like to see on the design of the next series of banknotes. These responses will help inform the next steps. Their views will make sure the final banknote designs reflect the values that people across the UK resonate with. We have set out criteria that any successful theme should not involve imagery that would reasonably be offensive to, or exclude, any groups. Banknote re-designs do not undermine the currency. New designs allow us to increase the strength of the security features and maintain trust in banknotes. Donald Rose, who lived in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, enlisted in 1940 - Jacob King/PA Britains oldest Second World War veteran has died aged 110. Donald Rose, who could be Britains oldest man, was born on Christmas Eve in 1914 and would become one of the first soldiers on the beach during the D-Day landings, where he was shot in the leg. Mr Rose was brought up in Westcott, near Dorking in Surrey, as the youngest of four brothers and three sisters. In the middle of 1940, at the age of 25, he enlisted in Guildford and went through training at the Stoughton Barracks. He would go on to fight in North Africa as one of the iconic Desert Rats, the highly regarded British Army brigade who fought at Tobruk. He was also part of an advance party that placed what were known as beacon lamps on beaches so the Allies could establish their bridgehead to liberate Europe from Hitler and the Nazis. Mr Rose was presented with the prestigious Freedom of the Borough award by Erewash Borough Council in May. The leader of Erewash Borough Council said Mr Dawson was a war hero - Jacob King/PA The council, in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, confirmed his death on Friday, with council leader James Dawson paying tribute to a war hero. Mr Dawson said: Erewash was privileged to count him as a resident. When he was presented with the award by council mayor Harry Atkinson, Mr Rose said: I didnt do anything that anyone else would not have done. We just did what we thought was right On May 8, Mr Rose joined 45 other veterans as guests of honour at a tea party celebration hosted by the Royal British Legion in Staffordshire. The event, which was held at the National Memorial Arboretum, marked 80 years since Germany formally surrendered to the Allies in the Second World War. At the event, Mr Rose said he did not celebrate what is known as VE (Victory in Europe) day. He said: When I heard that the Armistice had been signed 80 years ago, I was in Germany at Belsen and, like most active soldiers, I didnt get to celebrate at that time. We just did what we thought was right and it was a relief when it was over. I never would have believed I would be remembering this day at 110 years old. Its meaningful to come here today with the Royal British Legion, to remember the people who didnt come back. To mark his death, Erewash council flew its flags at half mast. Oldest in Europe According to the European Supercenterian Organisation, the oldest man in the UK is now Hugh Kerr, of Paisley in Scotland. He is 109 years and 276 days old. The oldest person in Britain, and all of Europe, remains Ethel Catherham, of Lightwater, in Surrey, who is 115 years and 325 days old. Women make up 18 of the 20 oldest people in the UK. Pablo Picasso was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century - Gjon Mili/Time Life Pictures A businessmans claims to have been left genuine Pablo Picasso masterpieces by his father have been rejected by an Italian judge. Roman judge Francesco Patrone threw out claims by Marcello Santelia, a businessman with links to the UK, that he had inherited 51 authentic artworks by Picasso. Instead, Judge Patrone declared the works to be fakes and sentenced the 78-year-old to a suspended sentence of one year and eight months for attempting to pass them off as genuine. He has yet to hand down a written ruling explaining his decision. Marcello Santelia (centre) says he inherited the collection from his father - Nick Squires But Mr Santelia, who told the court he had always believed the works to be genuine, said he planned to appeal against the decision. I am not a criminal Flanked by his two lawyers outside the courtroom, Mr Santelia said he was determined to clear his name and defend the authenticity of his art collection. I am not a criminal, said Mr Santelia, a silver-haired grandfather from the small southern Italian town of Nocera Inferiore who ran a business in the UK for several years. His lawyer, Giuseppe Spagnuolo, said that of the 51 works seized by Italian arts police, only one was being considered by the court to have any potential link to Picasso. He said this was unacceptable. We are convinced about the authenticity of the works and we will go ahead with an appeal, Mr Spagnuolo said outside the court. The judge has requested a sentence of one year and eight months. He has eight days to deposit his reasoning with the court and we will appeal. Femme a la montre is one of Pablo Picassos famous oil-on-canvas works - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Getty Mr Santelia, who ran a construction company in Worcester before moving back to his native Italy, has always maintained that his father Giovanni, an art collector, was a friend of Picasso and had obtained the paintings and drawings from the Spanish painter in the 1950s. Mr Santelia has always insisted that they were all genuine Picassos, potentially worth millions of pounds and has fought to have his claims recognised by the Italian government so he could sell them abroad. But Italian police and prosecutors have long argued the collection is fake. The paintings and drawings were seized by Italian police when Mr Santelia tried to sell one of them, purportedly a portrait of Picassos lover and muse Dora Maar with the title Dora Maar con cappello [with hat], to a buyer in Dubai several years ago. In the final court hearing on Monday, Mr Spagnuolo said the prosecutor had requested a heavier four-year sentence and a fine of 4,000, arguing the works were fake. Four art experts were ordered by the court to examine Pablo Picassos signature to determine whether the art works, which are said to have been produced between 1943 and 1956, known as the artists Mediterranean Years period, were forgeries. The experts are understood to have included the Picasso Administration, the Paris-based body which holds the rights to all of the artists work, but neither their opinions nor their identity have been made publicly available. An expert appointed by Mr Santelias legal team says he has no doubt the paintings are genuine Picassos. Picasso was a key figure in the Cubist art movement - Ralph Gatti/Getty Alberto Bravo, a professor of graphology and handwriting based in Rome, told The Telegraph that although the signature is important in this case, the style of the 16 paintings he saw leaves no doubt that they are by the Spanish artist. Professor Bravo claims that the experts appointed by the court were inappropriate for this case. It is not just about the signature, it is about his (Picassos) expressive style, Professor Bravo said. Verification is a very complex process and it has not been done properly because there was a presumption (by the court) that they were false. They cannot possibly be fake. He inherited the paintings from his father. Mr Santelia said he wanted to get his paintings back and recuperate the large amount of money he had to spend on expert appraisals of the art works. The art works are currently being held by Italys Carabinieri arts police in a warehouse in Rome. Diary suggests father visited Picasso Mr Santelias father Giovanni, an art dealer, is said to have brought the works back to the family home in Nocera Inferiore after buying them from Picasso at some point during the 1950s. The diary of one English traveller, Pete Smith, records a visit Giovanni Santelia paid to Picassos home in Mougins, France, during Christmas 1955. On December 13 that year, Mr Smith wrote in his diary: Rogers to collect Santelia Giovanni en-route to meeting Pablo [Picasso] in Mougins for Christmas. The following day he recorded that Picasso gave his guests some of his work, writing: Arrive Mougins with Roger, Santelia Giovanni and Pablo. As always he has pictures for all of us to take home. The most expensive Picasso painting ever sold at auction is Les Femmes dAlger (Version O) (1955), which generated a record 143 million at Christies in 2015. A woman puts her passport into a reader at border control Immigration was the sole driver of population growth in the European Union last year as deaths continued to outstrip births in the bloc. The EUs statistics agency said the population reached a record 450.4m people on January 1 2025, about 1m more than last year. But more people have died than were born in the EU every year since 2012, Eurostat said, which meant the only reason the population had grown was immigration. The total increase that was recorded in 2024 for the EU population was exclusively due to [positive] net migration, Eurostat said. The observed population growth can be largely attributed to the increased migratory movements post-Covid-19. A net migration of 2.3m people compensated for a natural decline of 1.3m people in 2024, leading to an increase in the population of 1.07m new residents. There were 4.82m deaths in the EU last year, which continued to outnumber the 3.56m births in the bloc. Eurostat said that unless birth rates increased, the EUs overall population decline or growth in the future is likely to depend largely on the contribution made by net migration. France, Germany and Italy are the three EU counties with the largest population. They account for 47 per cent of all people living in the bloc. Germany is the most populous, with 83.6m people. The least populous EU state is Malta with 0.6m people. In 1960, the EUs population was 354.5m, meaning it has grown by 95.9m people in the years since then. The data highlights Europes looming demographic crisis. More immigration will be necessary to compensate for low birth rates and ageing populations, which will put pressure on care and welfare and cause labour shortages. However, many EU governments are cracking down on illegal immigration, amid voter concerns over asylum that have swung the EU to the Right. The EUs border agency Frontex reported 75,900 illegal crossings into the bloc in the first half of this year. Migration has driven population growth in the EU since 2011, when birth rates first fell below death rates. The EU population dropped during the Covid pandemic in 2021 because migration was affected by closed borders and travel restrictions. However, it began increasing again in 2022 because of net migration, which is a trend that has continued. It is the fourth consecutive year the population has grown. The population in 19 of the EUs 27 member countries increased last year. Numbers declined in eight states. The highest growth rate was in Malta, with an increase of 19.0 per 1,000 people. It was followed by Ireland with 16.3 and Luxembourg at 14.7. The population dropped -9.9 in Latvia and -4.7 in Hungary, which were the two steepest falls in Europe. Hungary has some of the EUs most restrictive immigration laws. Poland and Estonia both recorded drops of -3.4, according to Eurostat. Deaths outnumbered births in 20 EU countries. Denmark is the only country where there were the same number of births and deaths. There were more births than deaths in Ireland, France, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta and Sweden in 2024. Those six countries also recorded a net migration increase, further boosting the population. Every EU country had positive rates of net migration with the highest being Malta (18.7 per 1,000 people) Portugal (13.4) and Ireland (12.8). In 13 countries (Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia and Finland), positive net migration was the driver of population growth because death rates outstripped birth rates. Migration rates were not high enough to prevent a fall in the population in 2024 in Bulgaria, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Latvia was the only country which had both negative natural change and negative net migration. 1207 NHS strikes Doctors strikes will act as a blow to Labours key pledge by sending the NHS waiting list back up, Telegraph analysis shows. The hospital appointment backlog rose by 10,000 on average every day junior doctors went on strike over the last two years. Despite securing a 22 per cent pay rise in September, the medics, who are now known as resident doctors, are demanding another 29.3 per cent, which the British Medical Association (BMA) says would reverse real-term cuts since 2008. The waiting list stood at 7.21 million at the start of 2023 but rose throughout the next 18 months to 7.62 million in July as junior doctors staged 11 separate walkouts lasting multiple days. A Whitehall source said the strike, which begins at 7am on July 25 and will last five days, risked sending a wrecking ball through the NHS. We have finally got the NHS moving in the right direction after more than a decade of decline. More than 260,000 cases have been taken off the waiting list since Labour came to office, they said. The BMAs unreasonable strike actions risks sending a wrecking ball through the NHS recovery, and it will be patients who pay the price. Thats why [the Health Secretary] is appealing to them to get around the table and find a way through that averts this unnecessary damage. The strikes threaten to derail the Governments 10-year health plan to turn the NHS around, with Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, declaring the BMA as completely unreasonable after giving the doctors a 5.4 per cent rise this year the highest in the public sector for the second year running. On Thursday, he opened up the possibility of increasing salaries in return for cutting doctors lucrative pensions, saying it could be a point of discussion. Pay had previously been declared off the table. The most senior junior doctors can earn upwards of 100,000, including on-call and geographic allowances and the strikes are understood to be dividing hospital staff at all levels. The Telegraphs analysis of the impact of action on the waiting list looked at the trend between the monthly number of strike days and how the number of appointments changed in each month. It found that between January 2023 and May 2025, strike days added the equivalent of 9,917 additional appointments, meaning a five-day strike could equate to an additional 49,585 appointments, based on the existing data. Such an impact would push the waiting list back above 7.4 million for the first time since March and mark the biggest setback in tackling the backlog since August 2023. It would represent a major setback for Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Streeting, who have presided over a falling NHS waiting list for eight of the ten months since Labour won the general election. They have pledged to meet the target for patients to receive hospital appointments within 18 weeks of referral by 2029. The analysis suggests that during the first year of junior doctor strikes in 2023, strike days caused 20,000 appointments to be added to the backlog each time, but by the second year of the strike, the impact declined. The impact of the strikes will not be borne out until Julys data is published in September. The analysis doesnt take into account NHS leaders and staff better adapting to strikes over time, such as by scheduling fewer appointments on planned strike days, or other factors, such as seasons or funding. However, some NHS bosses have already criticised the BMA over the two weeks notice they have provided to hospitals this time around. Daniel Elkeles, the chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said it could only be harmful. Its totally unfair to patients whose care will be cancelled at such short notice, he said. It shows a lack of respect for colleagues from many other disciplines. Hospital bosses believe fewer junior doctors will take to the picket line than ever before in a five-day walkout later this month. Fewer than one in three junior doctors has actually voted to strike, with just 55 per cent of the BMAs 53,766 eligible members voting in the ballot. Almost 25,000 junior doctors are not BMA members at all and a separate union the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association has told its junior doctor members they have no legal right to walk out if colleagues do. A BMA spokesman said: It is hard, from this data, to conclude with any certainty that the industrial action by doctors which finished in July of last year added almost 10,000 appointments per day to waiting lists, but it is reasonable it will have caused some fluctuation in appointment levels, as would the cancellation of clinics and procedures for a wide range of other reasons, along with the effectiveness of planning, by trusts, to provide cover for the strike days. What would help cut waiting lists in the longer term are properly paid staff not just doctors a sustainable workforce to fill rotas and meet patient demand, and premises and equipment that are fit for purpose. Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre is dedicated to the history of the industry - Mirrorpix/Getty Images Britains North Sea fishermen are set to be decolonised, the Telegraph can reveal. The Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre is reviewing its collection of material relating to now decimated fishing fleets. The museum dedicated to Grimsbys fishing heritage will seek to address the possible links between this heritage and colonialism and racism. Objects relating to the work of trawlermen will be assessed, along with other material, to gauge whether they might be problematic. Connections to slavery will be highlighted, and the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre will also seek to include more information relating to those from diverse backgrounds and protected characteristic groups. North Sea fishermen trying on gas masks during the First World War - Popperfoto The museum, which is overseen by the Tory-run North East Lincolnshire council, intends to share how museum objects can represent stories of slavery, colonialism, and racism, and are committed to addressing the legacy of these subjects through open and honest conversations with those we represent. Grimsby was once the worlds premier fishing port, but has recently suffered a dramatic decline. Sir Keir Starmers deals with the EU for fishing rights have been branded the death of the industry by local trawlermen. The heritage centre in Grimsby boasts numerous artefacts linked to North Sea fishing fleets, including a retired trawling boat, the Ross Tiger. There are displays featuring a mock-up dry-dock and high street, with figures of women mending nets, and a fisherman in a typical yellow raincoat dragging a catch aboard his boat. Factory workers in Grimsby in 1931 making trawling nets for North Sea fishermen - Getty Images/Topical Press Agency The centre also boasts a display imitating a local pub typical of the 1950s, the height of the Grimsby fishing industry, and a mock British chippy. The centre has pledged to decolonise a term that ordinarily refers to moving away from a white, Western-centric world view in line with what is becoming common practice in the museum and heritage sector. This work is understood to be in its early stages, and will be based on a review of the collection to check for any problematic objects, interpretation, or terminology with respect to decolonisation and people from protected characteristic groups. As well as assessing what could be potentially offensive within the collection, the heritage centre will seek to canvas opinion from the public, and ensure the displays are inclusive of multiple narratives. A North East Lincolnshire council spokesman said: Work is ongoing and the team are currently undertaking a collections review in respect to items related to decolonisation and people from protected characteristic groups. It is unclear at this stage what any hypothetical links to slavery or colonialism may be, or how diverse stories can be told in the context of both Britains fishing industry, and the 96 per cent white town of Grimsby. Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the Reform mayor for Greater Lincolnshire, told the Telegraph: This is exactly the kind of woke nonsense that Reform is committed to ending. British fishermen have already been dealt a tough hand and betrayed by one incompetent government after another. The people who built this country our builders, fishermen, military personnel, teachers, and doctors deserve the highest respect. The growing sense of guilt and lack of patriotism plaguing Great Britain must be reversed. For patriotism to thrive, the British people need confidence in their leaders and the unshakeable belief that their government puts them first. That trust has been lost under recent leadership. Only Reform will restore it and remind Britons of the many reasons to be proud of our country: a proud heritage of generosity, innovation, and tradition. A woman is arrested and carried away by Met Police officers - Ben Montgomery More than 70 have been arrested at protests in England and Wales against Palestine Action being proscribed as a terror group. Demonstrators gathered for the second week in a row in central London after police reiterated that showing support for the group was a criminal offence, resulting in the Metropolitan Police making 42 arrests on Saturday. Sixteen arrests were made in Manchester and 13 in Cardiff at related demonstrations. Arrests were also reported in Derry, Northern Ireland. In London, two groups of protesters gathered underneath the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela statues in Parliament Square to demonstrate shortly after 1pm. They held handwritten cardboard signs that read: I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action. Credit: Albert Tait for The Telegraph The arrested woman was earlier seen with others in Parliament Square supporting the terror group - Ben Montgomery More than a dozen police officers formed a ring around them before officers started writing down names, searching them, and taking away their signs. A dozen of the protesters were arrested and taken away in police vans that lined Parliament Square. Two of the protesters lay on the floor and refused to be moved. All the protesters underneath the Gandhi statue were arrested, but a dozen remained standing underneath the Nelson Mandela statue. Wearing keffiyehs, they made peace signs with their hands as a ring of at least 30 police officers surrounded them and prepared to make arrests. A protester holds a sign up at the Nelson Mandela statue in Parliament Square - Ben Montgomery An hour and a half after they gathered in the square, the protesters were all detained. The last, a woman in her 20s wearing a keffiyeh, was carried away by police officers into a waiting van. Officers then dispersed, leaving behind an angry crowd which continued to chant and wave Palestine flags. Shortly after the protests began, the Met Police said arrests were imminent, stating on X: We are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action. Officers are in the process of making arrests. Protesters holding placards declaring their support for the group gathered for a series of protests co-ordinated by the campaign group Defend Our Juries (DOJ) in London, Manchester and Cardiff. In Manchesters St Peters Square, protesters gathered by a bronze sculpture of Emmeline Pankhurst, the suffragette, holding similar signs to their counterparts in London. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that 16 people were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000. Footage posted on social media showed five police officers carrying away a single protester. A protester in Manchester holding sign with same message as supporters in London - Milo Chandler/Alamy Live News The man was one of 16 arrested in the city centre and was carried away by police - Temilade Adelaja In Cardiff, protesters held the same signs as they sat outside the BBC Cymru headquarters in Central Square. DOJ said it had chosen the location due to BBC bias in reporting on the Gaza genocide being committed by Israel. South Wales Police confirmed that 13 people had been arrested for showing support for a proscribed organisation. A spokesman said: South Wales Police supports the right for people to make their voices heard through protest, provided it is done lawfully. A protest was also staged in Derry in Northern Ireland. DOJ said at least 10 arrests were made, but this had not been confirmed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland on Saturday evening. One protester lay on the ground and refused to move - Ben Montgomery Last weekend, 29 people, including an 83-year-old retired priest and an emergency worker, were arrested in London under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act for holding similar signs. The participants were detained for 12 hours before being released on bail without charge. Tim Crosland, a former government lawyer who is now a DOJ activist, took part in last weeks protests. He said: People have not been silenced by the arrests last week; theyve not been intimidated. In another statement posted on X, the Met Police said: There are a number of events planned around London this weekend. A reminder Palestine Action is now proscribed by the UK Government, and it is a criminal offence to invite or express support for a proscribed organisation. As we saw last week, those who do breach the law will face action. On July 4, the Government passed legislation proscribing Palestine Action, making membership of and support for the group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. A bid by the group to apply for interim relief to temporarily block the ban pending a judicial review was rejected by the High Court. The courts decision was later upheld by the Court of Appeal in a judgment issued less than two hours before the order banning the group was due to take effect at midnight last Saturday. DOJ said in a statement that Saturdays protest will show if the Met will have to adapt its tactics or clamp down even more strongly on any form of dissent, noting that its actions could incur custodial sentences of up to 14 years. In a statement, West Yorkshire Police said a 58-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of demonstrating support for Palestine Action in Leeds. He was interviewed at a police station before being released on bail. The Rt Rev Rachel Treweek issued her call in response to questions at the Church of Englands General Synod - Jay Williams The Bishop of Gloucester has urged the Government to stop British businesses funding Israeli settlements. The Rt Rev Rachel Treweek was responding to calls for the Government to ban trade and investment in Israels settlements in the West Bank. The bishop, who sits in the House of Lords, has asked the Government to set out what steps it is taking to ensure UK businesses are not encouraging the establishment or maintenance of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The UN published a list of companies it claimed had business ties to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories in 2020. This included the British digger maker, JCB, and Opodo, an online travel agency which was previously based in London but is now headquartered in Madrid. Israel has occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 1967 and there has been mounting violence in the region since the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7 2023, which sparked the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The settlements, which are civilian communities built in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, are considered illegal under international law, although this is disputed by Israel. Bishop Treweek made her comments warning against the funding and support of Israeli settlements in response to written questions submitted to the General Synod, the Church of Englands legislative body, which is convening in York. The Rev Andrew Yates, of the diocese of Truro, asked whether bishops would consider writing to the UK Government requesting a ban on trade with and investment in Israels settlements on the West Bank, given the impact such investment has on Palestinian people resident there. In response, Bishop Treweek said: Bishops have been clear in their interventions that all governments need to comply with their obligations under international law and take concrete steps to address Israels ongoing presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. She added that she has also now tabled a series of written questions in the House of Lords asking the Government to explain how it is ensuring businesses are following human rights laws with respect to their activities in or in relation to the establishment or maintenance of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Government has previously said it does not encourage or offer support to economic and financial activity in the settlements. Hamish Falconer, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, said while answering Parliamentary questions in March: We routinely update our guidance to British businesses on the Overseas Business Risk website and advise British businesses to bear in mind the UK Governments view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering their investments and activities in the region. In October last year, David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, announced sanctions targeting three illegal settler outposts and four organisations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank. Deeply concerned and horrified The Bishop of Gloucesters comments came as the Rt Rev David Innes, the Bishop in Europe, who is also General Synods representative at the World Council of Churches (WCC), made an address to the Synod expressing his disappointment there was no allocated time nor opportunity for debate on Palestine. Speaking to the chamber, which applauded his speech, he said: All of us, Im sure, are deeply concerned and horrified about the situation in Palestine / Gaza. Im slightly disappointed that theres no opportunity for debate on Palestine this Synod. I appreciate the constraints were operating under, [...] so I do wonder whether the business committee may find some way that time may be given to this appalling international situation. The House of Bishops released a statement on the situation in Gaza in May calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas war, and criticised the sin of violence. It stated: The death, suffering and destruction being inflicted on Gaza is a grave sin that violently assaults God-given human dignity and the very integrity of Gods creation We support and applaud all those Jewish voices, both inside and outside of Israel, that are courageously pressing the Israeli government to end the war. We add our voices to those urging the government of Israel to turn away from its current trajectory and to affirm life and human dignity for all. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) says there are around 700,000 Israeli settlers living illegally across 279 settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Foreign Office, JCB and Opodo were contacted for comment. Angela Epstein with her husband, Martin and his new electric car, a 60,000 BMW iX40 - Paul Cooper The small Welsh fishing village of Aberdaron is, to borrow the language of a thousand tea towel slogans, my happy place. Slumbering on sweeping sands below soaring grassy cliffs, the wild beauty of the destination more than makes up for the fact that its a three-hour drive from our north Manchester home. Ive been to this gorgeous part of North Wales many times. But our latest trip was to mark something of a milestone, since it would also be the first time my husband, Martin, would be giving his new car a BMW iX40, his very first electric motor a proper chance to stretch its legs. It doesnt overstate the case to say that Martin is obsessed with this car. With uncharacteristic poetry he rhapsodises that it is a thing of great beauty, raving about the cathedral quiet of the electric propulsion, the smart minimalism of the lounge-like interior and oh! the elegance of its curves. However, our journey to Aberdaron would prove to be a turning point in our (well, my) relationship with his shiny new baby. For barely had we left Manchester than I found myself yelling for him to pull in (or for the purposes of accurate reportage, I actually shrieked Stop this bloody thing now before I throw up all over your f---ing thing of beauty). Here, you see, is the rub: the BMW iX40 may well be 2.5 tons of sleek, intuitive technology and electrified innovation, but the damn thing also makes me feel as sick as a dog whenever Im a passenger. And on this particular trip Id had enough, vowing not to step back inside its plush interior unless I was behind the wheel. Only driving the car myself seems to mitigate the nausea it causes but then only just. Even when Im driving it, everything about this car seems geared to make the world spin, from the bouncing holographic heads-up display (HUD) information projected on the windscreen to the fact that I can feel every little imperfection in the road. Whatever happened to ride comfort? And dont get me started on the stupid faux acceleration noise created by film composer Hans Zimmer, who collaborated with BMW to create the soundscape for its range of electric vehicles. Martin Epstein loves his new car; wife Angela absolutely does not - Paul Cooper However, its far worse when Im a passenger. For all the cars aesthetic appearance the jerky stop/start nature of the drive makes the bile rise as my stomach feels like a washing machine on final spin. My body simply cannot tolerate being driven around in it. Like a defensive showbiz parent, Martin refuses to hear a bad word about his car, casting around for more environmental reasons to explain my reaction. He talks of unpredictable speed limits a real zinger in Wales, where 20mph is the default. He also says that the problem could be me (admittedly Ive never been a great traveller). Yet my queasy reaction is hardly a singular experience. Electric cars may be soaring in popularity, with BMW alone selling approximately 33,785 all-electric vehicles in the UK, representing 26.9 per cent of its total sales. But studies are increasingly pointing to the fact that EVs are far more likely to induce motion sickness than petrol or diesel-powered cars. One piece of research last year concluded that there were strong correlations between motion sickness severity and the seat vibrations of electric vehicles, while a 2020 study found that the lack of combustion engine noise in an EV might be a major contributing factor to increased feelings of carsickness (Zimmer is not on my Christmas card list). Regenerative braking a feature that converts a cars momentum into electricity when slowing has also been flagged as a culprit, according to a study published last year in the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. All of which seems like a spectacular own goal for electric cars not least at the luxury end of the market. Surely 60,000 of cutting-edge technology should be an enjoyable ride, not one to be dreaded. To be fair, Im not a car person. Having hung on to a lumbering Volvo XC90 for 16 years hitherto the family workhorse Ive never really cared about what I drove or travelled in, as long as it got me from A to B. Angela Epstein with the Volvo XC90 she drove for 16 years Which explains why I took so little interest when Martin said he was replacing his own car, a zippy Volvo V40 which I have now inherited, with a swankier model. Ironically Martin has never been a car person either, preferring to cycle whenever he has the chance. But he also works long hours running his own accountancy practice and decided one day, after nearly 40 years of hard graft, that the time had come to treat himself to something special (namely a BMW). Canny accountant that he is, he also recognised the tax advantages of going electric. The Governments green incentives made the iX40 not just beautiful but financially sensible. Admittedly I do feel guilty about my reaction to his car, which is his reward for decades of hard work. But my guilt doesnt change the fact that the BMW with all its bells, whistles and orchestral flourishes makes me feel wretched. How can something thats meant to be the last word in smart luxury motoring, and which can help save the planet, be so thoroughly awful? Environmental considerations aside, I could tolerate the other annoying quirks of life with an EV, not least hanging around a service station when were only 30 miles from home because the battery is running low on charge. Or stewing over lousy motorway coffee as Martin merrily shares anecdotes with other EV drivers as they top up their cars batteries. I just hate feeling sick. Electric vehicles, in Angelas view, often seem to run out of charge when only a few miles from home - Danny Lawson/PA Moves are potentially afoot to redress the problem. A 2023 study in the journal Ergonomics explored the idea of incorporating a visual cueing system to help passengers anticipate motion and reduce sickness. But with four years remaining on the lease of the BMW, I seem to have little choice but to keep riding in (and occasionally yelling at) this marvel of modern engineering. Aberdaron may be my happy place, but my husbands EV is anything but. July 12, 2025: In the southeast African nation of Mozambique there has been there have been a growing number of violent political demonstrations in the north since late last year. So far, the police have shot dead over 300 violent civilian protestors. The demonstrations have evolved into criminal activity like kidnapping for ransom. The kidnappings are made more painful because over a hundred children have been taken. Meanwhile the Islamic terrorism problem has evolved into something worse. Mozambique is a country where Moslems are a minority, but recently the northern Islamic terrorists became more active, carrying out at least four new attacks on military bases. So far about two dozen soldiers have died. Elsewhere in the north, rebels captured a critical port in late 2020, and they are still there. This escalation began in August 2020 when a local Islamic terrorist group with some Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/ISIL affiliations seized Mocimboa di Praia, 2,600 kilometers north of the capital. More importantly, it was only eighty kilometers from the coastal boom town of Palma, which is ten kilometers from the vital gas facility on the Afungi peninsula. At the end of 2020 their forces probed to within ten kilometers of the natural gas facilities, prompting the French firm Total, which operates the facility, to evacuate some staff. In late March 2021 the ISIL led rebels, now calling themselves Islamic State Central Africa Province/ISCAP, captured Palma and declared it their ISCAP capital. Work at the nearby natural gas facility was halted and more staff were evacuated. This time government forces acted more promptly and recaptured Palma quickly. Because Palma is only 30 kilometers from the Tanzanian border, ISCAP is closer to a country with an even larger Moslem population than Mozambique and where most foreign Islamic terrorists travel to before crossing the border into Mozambique. The fact that ISCAP captured Palma briefly was seen as a major victory by Islamic terrorists in Africa and that will attract more experienced Islamic terrorists as well as more contributions from individuals and Moslem organizations, often passing as charities, that react positively to events like Palma. Since the natural gas discoveries over a decade ago, Mozambiques northernmost region, the Cabo Delgado area, came to be called the Cinderella province because of the expected oil and natural gas bonanza. Largely ignored by the central government since 1992, when a civil war ended, all of that changed when natural gas was discovered off the coast. There are also significant graphite deposits. Cabo Delgado now represents Mozambiques economic future. The foreign companies developing the offshore natural gas deposits have had to borrow $15 billion to build the facilities to extract the oil and get it to foreign markets. Another five billion dollars was invested to complete the work. Many of the new jobs went to foreigners who had skills none of the locals possessed. Too many of the unskilled jobs for locals went to friends or family of politicians and government officials. In other words, Cabo Delgado residents are angry about their continued poverty despite all the money being spent on the new natural gas complex, which depend on local towns of Mocimboa da Praia and Palma for their airports and docks for bringing in equipment and personnel. Local anger at a new natural resource bonanza is common in Africa, where most nations with oil or natural gas, or any valuable exportable raw material, see most of the export income stolen by corrupt politicians. This is the rule, not the exception in Africa. Big promises were made to nearby inhabitants, but governments crippled by corruption fail to deliver the promised benefits. Add the fact that Mozambiques minority Moslem population is concentrated in the north, which provides the Islamic terrorists with recruits and some local support, and you have potential problems. This can create a classic long-term problem sustained by fanatic Islamic terrorists. Initially calling themselves Ansar-al-Sunna/AS, this group was actually a coalition of at least four smaller factions, not all of whom identify explicitly with ISIL. AS has been very active since 2017, with attacks ramping up considerably in 2019. By December 2020 there were some thirty attacks reported each month. These conform to a familiar and tragic model. Guerrilla groups appear suddenly, targeting government security forces and small centers of population. The attacks are swift and overwhelming, with poorly equipped government forces outgunned and massacred before they can call in support. Beheadings, mass abductions, forced recruitment and the full panoply of ISIL rule follows. Usually, the rebels do not initially seek to exert territorial control, preferring to melt back into the bush and keep attacking local security forces until the local opposition is weak enough, and the Islamic terrorists strong enough to capture and hold territory. Thats what happened in mid-2020 when Mocimboa was taken and held. AS, now ISCAP, became more aggressive and the recent capture of Palma was an example of that. Elements of AS emerged in 2015 in Cabo Delgado. This northern province of two million people is majority Moslem. Cabo Delgado is adjacent to Tanzania, a nation of 56 million and a larger, 35 percent, Moslem minority. Islamic radicals from northern neighbors Tanzania, Kenya and Somalia were the key to creation of AS. These other African terrorists tend to favor al Qaeda over ISIL but major victories make the more vicious and fanatic ISIL more popular. Moslems are a minority in East Africa but an aggressive one when it comes to religious matters. Thats a major reason why most East Africans are either Christians or follow ancient local religious practices. The Islamic terrorists still finance themselves via smuggling, extortion and outright theft. Mayhem in Mozambique dates back to the 1500s when Portugal, using new technologies like cannon on board superior sailing ships, conquered and colonized the area. This eventually created the current borders of Mozambique. This explains why the country consists largely of coast and interior areas reachable via rivers. What ended Portuguese rule was an anti-colonial rebellion which began in the early 1960s, when other European colonizers, but not Portugal, were departing, until 1975 when Portugal finally got rid of its colonies. This meant nearly 300,000 Portuguese left Mozambique, taking with them a major portion of the new nations technical personnel and skilled administrators. Mozambique elected its own government but that only lasted two years before a fifteen-year long civil war began. This civil war was far more damaging than the shorter, and less successful anti-colonial war. The civil war killed over a million people and drove more than 20 percent of the population from their homes for months or years. Nearly two million of those refugees fled the country. Mozambique has been suffering wars or threats of war since the 1960s. Mozambique is a largely coastal country north of South Africa and south of Tanzania. Most of the coastline runs parallel to the large island of Madagascar. The population of 30 million is a lot larger, and less prosperous, than the six million living there in 1950. For over a thousand years Mozambique has, like many other parts of East Africa, consisted of coastal cities that prospered by serving as marketplaces where people from the interior could obtain all manner of foreign goods. Mozambique was part of a vast trading network using dependable seasonal winds to allow ships to move goods from East Africa to the Persian Gulf, India and Indonesia. Mozambique never recovered from all the violence it has suffered since the 1960s. The rebellion against the Portuguese colonial government left about 60,000 dead, 94 percent of them rebels and civilians. The rebels were never a real threat to the colonial government but Portugal was having domestic problems and their African colonies were expensive to maintain and unpopular with European and African governments. The first Mozambique government was socialist and run by politicians who wanted to establish a communist police state for the greater good. This triggered a civil war in 1977 that killed over a million people, most of them civilians, before it ended in 1992. With the collapse of European communist governments and the Soviet Union between 1989 and 1991, the Mozambique communists agreed to accept true democracy. Some tensions between communists and democrats remained and there were brief outbursts of violence in 2013 and 2018. A 2019 agreement eliminated most of that tension just as a new threat, from Islamic terrorists, was developing. The civil wars were mainly about politics and tribal alliances. Religion was not a major factor because more than four centuries of Portuguese rule had left the 60 percent Christian population, Another 20 percent practiced ancient local religions or no religion at all. About twenty percent were Moslem, mostly in the north. Until the huge natural gas deposits were discovered, the north was poor and not worth fighting over. In the last decade it became clear that Mozambique was really going to become one of the largest natural gas producers in the world. Some Mozambique politicians became very rich while everyone else remained poor. This made northern Moslems receptive to calls for rebellion and that led to Islamic terrorists taking the lead, as they often do in Moslem majority areas. It only took a few years for several small Islamic terror groups to get organized and then agree to merge to form the larger Ansar-al-Sunna. After a few years of fighting and a few spectacular victories, Ansar-al-Sunna became ISCAP. The way this works is that the subsequent fighting in areas where Moslems are a minority is all about whether corrupt Moslems or corrupt Christians gain control of the new source of wealth, in this case natural gas. An Islamic terrorist victory is unlikely as the Mozambique Moslems are outnumbered. The Islamic rebels say they are out to eliminate corruption. All Islamic rebels say that and none ever deliver. That has been demonstrated many times in the last few decades and many Moslems have noticed. As expected, the Mozambique Islamic terrorists got started because of the failed promise of prosperity from the offshore natural gas fields after production and sale of natural gas got going over the last few years. Economists expected Mozambique to receive nearly $120 billion in revenue from natural gas and oil over the next 25 years. Thats for a country with an annual GDP of $14 billion and a per capita GDP of under $500. Mozambique is one of the poorest nations in Africa, and one of the most corrupt even before the natural gas bonanza. Natural gas was supposed to reduce poverty but didnt. GDP is growing a few percent a year and little of that improves living standards of those closest to the source of wealth. When the Islamic terrorist violence first appeared, the government hired several hundred Russian military contractors, who were mostly veterans, often with combat experience, to safeguard the natural gas facilities. These Russians clashed with the Islamic terrorists but the main job of the Russian contractors was protecting the natural gas operations, not local civilians, which they have done. Some of the Russians fought in Palma recently, both during the failed government effort to defend the town and during the subsequent effort to drive ISCAP out. The Russians would fight for Palma because it is the largest town to the natural gas facility. Losing control of Palma is a threat to the natural gas complex, which was shut down for over a week until ISCAP could be ejected from Palma. Mozambique needs foreign military help because the local military forces are small and not well trained, armed or led. The military only has 15,000 personnel, 80 percent of them in the army which is organized into ten light infantry battalions and some support units. Three of the infantry battalions are designated special forces, but lack sufficient training and equipment to qualify as special. The air force and navy are much smaller and have few operational aircraft and ships. The army received a lot of weapons from Russia from 1975 until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. China has since been selling Mozambique some weapons and ammo but most of the military gear is elderly and often not operational. The air force has a handful of Russian and French helicopters and about a dozen Tucano armed trainer aircraft. The navy includes patrol boats and a small contingent of marines. These forces were supplemented after 2019 by Russian mercenaries, followed by South African military contractors belonging to Dyck Advisory Group/DAG, who brought some helicopter gunships with them. Both these military contractors went to Mozambique with the approval of their respective governments. So far over 3,000 people have been killed during the fighting, mostly civilians. Nearly a million civilians have been displaced. Four major engagements have taken place; at Quissanga, Macomia, Mocimboa and Palma. The rebels continue to get stronger. The situation in Mozambique evolves slowly. The Office producer Ash Atalla has spoken about jokes he and Ricky Gervais made about his disability and said he has considered in recent years whether I was right to do that. Egyptian-born Atalla, 53, who uses a wheelchair, told Gervais to make it clear he was not on stage because he had won a competition, when they picked up an award at the British Comedy Awards in 2001. In another award acceptance speech, comedian Gervais, 64, who was co-writer and star of the UK version of The Office, compared Atalla with theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, saying: Youre just the same but without all the clever stuff. Ash Atalla uses a wheelchair (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Asked how he felt about the jokes, Atalla told BBC Radio 4s Desert Island Discs: I felt good about it at the time. The joke that people remember, the first one, was a line that I gave to him, because I said to him, Make sure they know I havent won a competition to be here. Because I was suddenly concerned at the optics of people in wheelchairs werent on stages back then. And he did that joke at the British Comedy Awards. There was this huge roar, and that kind of started the double act of that material on stage. I tried to make the point a couple of times that its about nuance, and because I think I play fast and loose with the rules around my wheelchair, Im really happy to use it when I want to, like, I havent queued at an airport in years, and then other times I get annoyed that other people might even bring it up. Im a producer, and people dont normally notice the producer, but there I was on stage, and I got a profile, a lot because of the stuff that Ricky and I used to do on stage. I think when I look back on it, maybe I realise, or I feel I sold a bit of myself in that moment, I put the wheelchair front and centre because I knew it was something that would set me apart in that instance. Set me apart in a good way. Ricky Gervais wrote and starred in The Office (Matt Crossick/PA) And, just in recent years, as Ive thought about it, its made me consider whether I was right to do that. Atalla contracted polio as a child and the disease left him unable to walk. The producer considered whether it is right to have able-bodied actors playing disabled people and said it is a complex issue. I think its a very simple rule now to have just make it a 100% rule, and nobody will get hurt, he said. Disabled people should only play disabled people on television. Its a complex issue. You can make an argument to justify why an able-bodied actor should do a disabled role, like you can construct that argument. Its just that, for me, its an argument that falls apart really quickly. And so I could make the case to you, I wont, but I could make the case for you, but its just not one that I believe in. Atalla was series producer on The IT Crowd and an executive producer on Cuckoo, Stath Lets Flats and Big Boys. Desert Island Discs broadcasts at 10am Sunday on BBC Radio 4 and is also available on BBC Sounds. The ways in which your pet will be able to speak to you is going to be taken to a whole new level, says Prof Jonathan Birch. Photograph: Lourdes Balduque/Getty Images If your cats sulking, your dogs whining or your rabbits doing that strange thing with its paws again, you will recognise that familiar pang of guilt shared by most other pet owners. But for those who wish they knew just what was going on in the minds of their loyal companions, help may soon be at hand thanks to the establishment of the first scientific institution dedicated to empirically investigating the consciousness of animals. The Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience, based at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), will begin its work on 30 September, researching non-human animals, including those as evolutionarily distant from us as insects, crabs and cuttlefish. Harnessing a wide range of interdisciplinary global expertise, the 4m centres work will span neuroscience, philosophy, veterinary science, law, evolutionary biology, comparative psychology, behavioural science, computer science, economics and artificial intelligence. One of its most eye-catching projects will be to explore how AI can help humans speak with their pets, the dangers of it going wrong and what we need to do to prevent that happening. We like our pets to display human characteristics and with the advent of AI, the ways in which your pet will be able to speak to you is going to be taken to a whole new level, said Prof Jonathan Birch, the inaugural director of the centre. But AI often generates made-up responses that please the user rather than being anchored in objective reality. This could be a disaster if applied to pets welfare, said Birch, whose input to the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act led to it being expanded to include cephalopod mollusks and decapod crustaceans. Birch points to separation anxiety: dog owners often want reassurance that their pet is not suffering when left alone for long periods. Futuristic translation apps based on large language models could promise to provide that reassurance, but end up causing harm by telling owners what they want to hear rather than what the animal actually needs. We urgently need frameworks governing responsible, ethical AI use in relation to animals, said Birch. At the moment, theres a total lack of regulation in this sphere. The centre wants to develop ethical guidelines that will be recognised globally. Birch also points to the lack of regulation around animals and driverless cars: We have a lot of debate around them not hitting people but we dont talk about them also avoiding cats and dogs. AI and farming was another urgent issue for the centre. Farming is already embracing automation in a huge way and thats going to increase at pace, Birch said. But it is happening without much scrutiny or discussion, which raises huge ethical questions about what the limits are: should farming involve caring relationships with animals? If so, the current direction is not the way in which we want farming to go. The centre will work with non-governmental organisations to develop guidance, research and codes of practice that can be lobbied for around the world. Jeff Sebo, the director of the Center for Environmental and Animal Protection, at New York University, said issues of animal sentience and welfare, the effects of AI on animals, and public attitudes towards animals were among the most important, difficult and neglected issues that we face as a society. Humans share the world with millions of species and quintillions of individual animals, and we affect animals all over the world whether we like it or not, he said. Prof Kristin Andrews, one of the new centres trustees, said she believed it could answer what she regards as the biggest question in science: what is human consciousness and how can it be switched back on in cases of stroke and other medical emergencies? We still dont understand what makes humans conscious, or why anyone starts or stops being conscious, she said. But we do know that the way to get answers is to study simple systems first: science has made great strides in genomics and in medicine by studying simple organisms. Dr Kristof Dhont, another trustee, said he was fascinated by human attitudes towards animal sentience. One of the most pressing behavioural challenges of our time is how to close the gap between what people believe about animals and how they actually behave towards them, he said. Most people care deeply about animals but there are all these systems, habits, norms and economic profits that get in the way of translating that into the way we treat animals. I want to use behavioural science to understand, for example, why theres resistance to eating cultivated meat even though we all agree that it would save creatures who feel pain from being killed. Jeremy Coller, whose foundation made the multiyear commitment to the centre, said his aim was to change attitudes in our speciesist species. Only when we have a better understanding of how other animals feel and communicate will we be able to acknowledge our own shortcomings in how we treat them, he said. Just as the Rosetta Stone unlocked the secrets of hieroglyphics, I am convinced the power of AI can help us unlock our understanding of how other animals experience their interactions with humans. Rory McIlroy put himself in pole position to win the Scottish Open after he carded a fine four-under par 66 at the Renaissance Club. The world number two landed five birdies, and just one bogey, to leave him on 11-under par for the tournament, and a share of the overnight lead with American Chris Gotterup. Englands Matt Fitzpatrick and Marco Penge are two shots back following rounds of 69, tied for third with Americans Wyndham Clark and Jake Knapp. McIlroy landed his first birdie at the par-five third before dropping a shot at the seventh. However, he bounced back by picking up a shot on the next hole before further birdies at the 10th and par-three 14th. Rory McIlroy carded a four-under par 66 on the third day (Malcolm Mackenzie/PA) The Northern Irishman appeared in slight trouble on the par-five 16th after a wayward drive ended in the deep rough. But a beautiful approach allowed him to roll in a straight uphill birdie putt. He set himself up with another birdie chance at the following par three only to see his putt sail agonisingly wide. A perfect 340-yard tee shot at the concluding hole put him in the driving seat once more, but again his birdie attempt rolled narrowly past the hole. However, McIlroys encouraging performance with clear signs of him being back at his best comes at a crucial time with The Open at Royal Portrush to follow next week. It also marks a significant improvement on McIlroys form since he won the Masters in April to complete the Grand Slam. A moving day 66 to tie the lead for Rory #GenesisScottishOpen | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/0hieB2hZPn DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 12, 2025 And he said on Sky Sports: It is my first realistic chance to win after the Masters. I have had a great season but yes, and I have said this before, when you do something you that have dreamt of for your whole life, and then do it, it was a huge moment in my life and career. I just need that little bit of time, and to be back here for the last couple of weeks and digest all of it, I feel like I came here for this tournament with renewed enthusiasm and excitement for the rest of the year. World number 158 Gotterup equalled the course record with nine birdies in a bogey-free 61 on Friday to start the third day two shots clear. However, he will start the final day on level terms with McIlroy following a level-par round featuring two birdies and the same number of bogeys. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France's President Emmanuel Macron Ever since 1066 the relationship between what is now called Britain with what is now called France has been fraught. There were long episodes of conflict: for example, the Hundred Years War and the Napoleonic Wars. But since 1815 the British have come to regard the traditional enemy as a friend. Edward VII curated the entente cordiale; and a decade later the countries were allies in the Great War. Many British veterans returned praising the bravery of French soldiers. Relations had probably never been better. The Second World War changed all that. The fall of France was greeted in Britain with shock at the capitulation. Marshal Petain, the leader of Vichy France, concluded an armistice with the Nazis that seemed to stab Britain in the back. After the war, Charles de Gaulle maintained the fiction that France had liberated itself, rather than being freed mainly by British, Commonwealth and American forces. Successive French governments have maintained that fiction. Although he did us a favour, de Gaulle did not intend his 1963 veto over our joining the Common Market to be anything but an insult. Last weeks visit by President Macron was supposed to revive the friendship between the two countries, exemplified by the so-called one in, one out deal over illegal migrants. However, the deal itself confirmed two themes of European politics; that this Government has no conception of what constitutes British interests, and that the French government resents Britains leaving the European Union. For President Macron to blame the illegal migrant crisis on Brexit was comical, yet it suited the Prime Ministers Remainer (or, more accurately, Re-joiner) purposes for him to say so. Is the French government really friendly to us? Of course not. It has been delighted to be rid of tens of thousands of illegal migrants in recent years, and for them to become our problem. Not only have the French authorities done little to stop boatloads of migrants leaving their shores, they have done little to round up, prosecute and punish the smuggling gangs who facilitate their journeys. Indeed, many French officials would regard those gangs as doing France a service. It suited the Prime Minister to paint the one in, one out policy as a triumph of diplomacy that reflected well upon him. It was nothing of the sort. If the rate of illegal migration stays the same it might, if Britain is lucky, send back 6 per cent of those coming here illegally. What deterrent is that? M Macron was right to hint that Britain makes things too attractive for these people. They benefit from the Governments deference to the European Court of Human Rights that makes deportation so difficult, from generous state support that the Government maintains, and from the failure to police undocumented immigrants working in the black economy, which is perhaps the biggest incentive for them to come here. Sir Keir Starmer knows he has failed abjectly to keep his promise to stop the boats. The failure continues, for this deal with M Macron is largely vacuous. Back in France, M Macron is wildly unpopular, and France is proving increasingly ungovernable. Yet another parliamentary election cannot be ruled out. It is becoming an economic basket case and its people are restive. Yet our Government takes seriously, and fawns upon, the leader who has created such a mess. M Macrons main foreign policy aim where Britain is concerned is not to be our friend, but to punish us for our temerity in leaving a corrupt and dysfunctional EU, More fool Sir Keir, in his own political desperation, for falling for it. A member of a search-and-rescue team looks for missing people in the Guadalupe River near Camp Mystic on Friday. Photograph: Umit Bektas/Reuters As the cleanup continues from this months torrential rain storms and flooding in Texas that left more than 120 dead, recently departed officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) say the organization is dangerously underresourced and overstretched in the event of further natural catastrophes. A mass staff exodus, plunging morale and a loss of key leaders has left the main US disaster-relief organization ill-equipped to cope with an anticipated deadly spate of storms in the current hurricane season, former agency insiders say. Femas weakness, exacerbated by grant cuts imposed by the Trump administration and the loss of institutional knowledge in strategic leadership positions, will be exposed if the nation is faced with more than one disaster simultaneously, according to Michael Coen, the agencys former chief of staff. Related: Trump tours Texas flood damage as disaster tests vow to shutter Fema In an interview, Coen who left his post in January after Donald Trump took office said the officials at Fema had been preparing contingency plans that would enable the agency to meet the demands of hurricane season, which generally runs from early June until the end of November, with fewer resources. They understand that they dont have the resources theyve had in past years, whether its funding or even some contracts have lapsed, he said. They are trying to make decisions so that they can handle multiple events at one time. But since Trumps inauguration, the agency has seen an estimated 2,000 departures through resignations or retirements, which may have rendered it incapable of coping with the widespread carnage likely to be wreaked by a succession of tropical storms. Im concerned that Fema is going to be at a disadvantage because they dont have the resources to respond to the disasters we know could happen, which could be two or three concurrent disasters at the same time, said Coen. Fema has eroded capacity since President Trump became president. Staff have departed. There have been cuts to grant programs and they are going to be running into a financial challenge with the disaster relief fund, because the president hasnt requested supplemental funding from Congress. Coen a disaster relief career official who was also Femas chief of staff during Barack Obamas presidency said the cuts could mean the agency running out of funds to respond to disasters by the end of this month. Fema is currently supporting the state of Texas with the flooding and the urban search and rescue. But if in a week or two they also have to respond to a hurricane in the Gulf coast or an earthquake on the west coast, Fema is not going to be able to meet the expectations of the American people. The concerns over Femas state of readiness come amid signs that Trump may have had a change of heart about the agencys future after months of signaling that he favored its abolition. Last month, he said the administration planned to phase out Fema after the current hurricane season to put more responsibility on individual states to respond to disasters. He previously described the agency established in 1979 by Jimmy Carter with the goal of coordinating the US governments response to disasters as not good and said he would recommend that Fema go away. But ahead of Trumps Friday visit to the worst-hit Texas flood areas, White House officials indicated that eliminating Fema entirely was no longer under consideration, the Washington Post reported. The newspaper quoted an unnamed official as saying changes would probably amount to rebranding the agency while stressing the leadership role of the states in disaster response. Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary who has overall responsibility for Fema and has chaired a review council looking into the agencys future said in the wake of the Texas floods that Fema would be eliminated as it exists today and remade into a responsive agency, a hardline stance that nonetheless stopped short of abolition. Coen said the Texas floods had proved Femas worth: This flood is a defining moment and brings clarity for the necessity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Fema is an essential agency for the federal government to support states and support the American people in their greatest time of need. But he said grant cuts had rendered it less effective and may have caused an unnecessary loss of life in the Guadalupe River area of the Texas Hill Country, the worst-hit flood region. One of the grant programs they cut was the Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities, which was a program that would have funded things like the siren system to line a river like the [Guadalupe] in Kerr county, he said. Not that many people needed to lose their lives if more mitigation measures had been put in place. With the president cutting a grant program that provides federal funding to increase mitigation in the country, it only is foreboding for the future on what could happen to other communities if they dont mitigate and they dont have access to federal funds. The picture of an agency undermined by the Trump administrations hostility was corroborated by a former mid-level Fema official, who told the Guardian that staff had left because they felt disrespected. Its no secret that a lot of high-level leaders have left the agency, the ex-official said. Its clear that Fema has lost a lot of leadership capability. Among those who have left are Tony Robinson, who was Femas head administrator for the region that includes Texas, as well as his deputy. Also recently departing was Robert Samaan, the administrator for the region that covers Florida and several other states in the hurricane-prone south-east. Those are two of the three most critical regional administrators for hurricane season, and for them to leave at this time leaves people shaken for sure, the former staffer said. The lack of experienced leadership is certainly going to hamstring efforts. Its not to say that there arent other good leaders who will step up. But LinkedIn is littered with people whose names I knew who have left. The departure of 16 senior executives was announced on a single day in May. Compounding the problem is the damage to the morale of those remaining from what insiders say is the scornful attitude of Noem and Femas acting administrator, David Richardson, a former marine artillery officer with no previous experience in disaster management. Richardson, who has been in the post since May, caused a stir among senior staff when he said during a briefing that he did not know there was a hurricane season. It was unclear if the comments were meant as a joke. Richardson was installed after Noem ousted his predecessor, Cameron Hamilton, after he told a congressional hearing that he did not favor Femas abolition. The new administrator also threatened to run right over any staff members who resisted reforms. I, and I alone in Fema, speak for Fema. Im here to carry out the presidents intent for Fema, he reportedly said. Coen affirmed the picture of staff leaving due to fears for Femas future. The reason many employees have departed since January 20 is because they had a fear that they were going to lose their job, he said. Also, they didnt feel respected by the current administration. The current employees still there are supporting each other, but if they feel they are not getting support and understanding of how much they sacrifice when they go to disasters, it does have an impact on their mental health and wellbeing. Noem, meanwhile, has drawn criticism for issuing a decree requiring that any expenditures or contracts worth $100,000 or more are submitted to her for prior approval a requirement that critics say could impede rapid disaster response. Typically, pre-Trump, a decision like that would come at a much lower level than the secretary of homeland security so you could get out and mobilize, the former official said. Its just unconscionable that you would centralize a decision like that, [which] truly, on reflection, would have led to the loss of life, or at least the loss of the ability to find the remains of the victims. The Department of Homeland Security has publicly defended the directive as necessary to root out waste, fraud and abuse and deliver accountability to US taxpayers. Search-and-rescue teams comb the banks of the Guadalupe River near a makeshift memorial on Saturday in Kerrville, Texas. Photograph: Eric Gay/AP Texas Hill Country was back under a flood watch on Saturday, with the National Weather Service warning of locally heavy rainfall of 1-3in with isolated amounts close to 6in possible. The flood watch, which continues through Sunday evening, comes as the death toll from the 4 July flood continues to rise now at nearly 130 people - and authorities continue their search for the 160 more who are missing. The latest warnings anticipate considerably less rain than what came down last week, which caused the Guadalupe River to rise 29ft in 45 minutes. The Texas division of emergency management had mobilized before the storm, but its assets were not focused exclusively on Texas Hill Country. The storm alerts that were issued before and during the storm, in an area of patchy cellphone service, are now the subject of scrutiny. On Saturday, the Associated Press reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) repeatedly granted appeals to remove Camp Mystics buildings from its 100-year flood map, loosening oversight as the camp operated and expanded in a dangerous floodplain in the years before rushing waters swept away children and counselors. Fema had included the prestigious girls summer camp in a special flood hazard area on its national flood insurance map for Kerr county in 2011, which meant it was required to have flood insurance and faced tighter regulation on any future construction projects. That designation means an area is likely to be inundated during a 100-year flood one severe enough that it only has a 1% chance of happening in any given year. The 4 July flood was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by Fema, experts said, and moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off-guard in a county that lacked a warning system. Syracuse University associate professor Sarah Pralle, who has extensively studied Femas flood map determinations, said it was particularly disturbing that a camp in charge of the safety of so many young people would receive exemptions from basic flood regulation. Its a mystery to me why they werent taking proactive steps to move structures away from the risk, let alone challenging what seems like a very reasonable map that shows these structures were in the 100-year flood zone, she said. Pralle told the AP that some of the exempted properties were within 2ft (0.6 meters) of Femas floodplain by the camps revised calculations, which she said left almost no margin for error. She said her research shows that Fema approves about 90% of map amendment requests, and the process may favor the wealthy and well-connected. Experts say Camp Mystics requests to amend the Fema map could have been an attempt to avoid the requirement to carry flood insurance, lower the camps insurance premiums or pave the way for renovating or adding new structures under less costly regulations. Related: Trump cuts questioned as role of Fema in Texas highlights agencys importance in natural disaster response In a statement, Fema downplayed the significance of the flood map amendments to the AP: Flood maps are snapshots in time designed to show minimum standards for floodplain management and the highest risk areas for flood insurance. They are not predictions of where it will flood, and they dont show where it has flooded before. While Texas officials and Donald Trump have been resistant to questions about any failures to forewarn of the impending flood queries that have largely been put to one side as local and state recovery teams, along with thousands of volunteers, work in and alongside the river to find the missing the Washington Post reported that Kerr county had the technology to turn every cellphone in the river valley into a loud alarm. But the mass notification system, known as the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System, or Ipaws, was not activated and emergency managers in the county relied on a series of text messages for alerts. Trump visited the area on Friday, telling first responders that he and Melania Trump, the first lady, were there to express the love and support and anguish of our entire nation. So all across the country, Americans hearts are shattered, he said. Were filled with grief and devastation. Its the loss of life and, unfortunately, theyre still looking. Trump said two things had struck him: the unity of Texans and the competence of those responding to the disaster. Everyone has just pulled together, its rare that you see this, he said. Lord Mandelson said Donald Trump should expect a warm reception on his second UK state visit. Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP The 10% tariffs on most UK goods imported into the US are likely here to stay, according to Lord Mandelson. The British ambassador to the US said the universal 10% tariff was unlikely to change but that there was scope for negotiations in different sectors and industries, such as technology. Speaking to the Sunday Times, he added that the US president, Donald Trump, should expect a warm reception when he comes to the UK for a second state visit. He should expect a warm reception because he really does love Britain. He hugely admires it, Mandelson said. He trusts Keir Starmer. Its not a question of expressing our gratitude. My lodestar here is to demonstrate respect, not sycophancy. I dont think the administration has any problem with that. Related: EU will be reeling over how to tackle trade talks after Trumps 30% tariff threat The comments came amid confusion over whether British steel imports will continue to face tariffs of 25% or even double to 50%. While a 10% tariff remains in place for most imports, the trade deal between the two nations reduced levies on car and aerospace imports. However, the prime minister and Trump suggested further negotiations were needed to reduce steel tariffs. On Saturday Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that goods imported from the EU and Mexico will face a 30% US tariff rate starting on 1 August. It came as a shock to European capitals, as the European Commission and the US trade representative, Jamieson Greer, had spent months hammering out a deal they believed was acceptable to both sides. The agreement in principle, which was put on Trumps desk on Wednesday, involved a 10% tariff, five times the pre-Trump tariff, which the bloc had already described as pain. EU trade ministers will meet on Monday for a pre-arranged summit and will be under pressure from some countries to show a tough reaction by implementing 21bn (18bn) in retaliatory measures, which they had paused until midnight the same day. Meanwhile, Trumps unprecedented second state visit to Britain is likely to take place in September, according to media reports, at a time when parliament is not sitting. This would avoid the scenario of MPs boycotting or protesting a Trump address in the Commons. Federal agents block people protesting an Ice immigration raid near Camarillo, California, on 10 July. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images Donald Trump has given total authorization to federal immigration agents to protect themselves after a series of clashes with protesters, including during enforcement raids on two California cannabis farms. I am giving Total Authorization for Ice to protect itself, just like they protect the Public, Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday, adding that he was directing the homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, and border czar, Tom Homan, to arrest anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) protesters who impede immigration enforcement operations. Trump said hes told the administrators to instruct all Ice, Homeland Security, or any other Law Enforcement Officer who is on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks, or any other form of assault, to stop their car, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so. The president appeared to be referring to an incident on Thursday when federal agents clashed with protesters during immigration raids on two farms in Californias Ventura county, north of Los Angeles. Related: Farm worker dies a day after chaotic immigration raid at California farm At Glass House Farms property in Camarillo, masked federal agents appeared to use crowd-control measures including teargas to curb a protest, which was responded to by thrown bricks. Agents conducted another raid at the Glass House Farms site in Carpinteria, 35 miles (55km) up the coast. About 200 suspected undocumented immigrants were arrested in both raids, according to federal immigration authorities, and a farm worker was fatally injured after falling from a roof. Homeland security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin later told Fox News Digital that the injured man was not in and has not been in CBP or Ice custody, although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a greenhouse and fell 30ft. CBP immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible. Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, said the administrations actions were inhumane and its tactics evoke chaos, fear and terror within our communities at every turn. Newsoms office later posted in response to a tweet from Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser: This fascist cuck in DC continues his assault on democracy and the Constitution, and his attempt to replace the sovereignty of the people with autocracy. The twin raids in California come despite guidance from Tatum King, a senior official with Ice, to regional department leaders at Homeland Security Investigations directing them to stop workplace immigration enforcement actions unless related to criminal investigations. Effective today, please hold on all work site enforcement investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meat packing plants), restaurants and operating hotels, King wrote in the guidance last month. But the raids are continuing, along with clashes between protesters and federal agents. Last week, 10 people were arrested on attempted murder charges in connection with a shooting outside the Prairieland detention center in Alvarado, Texas. A police officer was shot in the neck during what US prosecutors say was a planned ambush by assailants dressed in black, military-style clothing. An 11th suspect, Daniel Rolando-Sanchez Estrada, is the husband of one of the charged attackers, and was arrested on charges of conspiracy to tamper with evidence while attempting to execute a search warrant, according to Ices account on X. He allegedly had insurrectionist propaganda. The FBI said on Friday it is searching for a 12th person involved in the 4 July ambush, naming the suspect as Benjamin Hanil Song, a former Marine Corps reservist. Police say he should be considered armed and dangerous. Related: Federal agents use force during immigration raid at two California farms Three days later, on 7 July, a man with a rifle and tactical gear was shot dead by police after he opened fire at a border patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, near the US-Mexico border. Two officers and a border patrol employee were injured in the attack, including one who was shot in the knee, according to a statement by the Department of Homeland Security. Police identified the suspect as 27-year-old Ryan Lewis Mosqueda. In his statement, Trump said he had watched the California raids in disbelief as THUGS were violently throwing rocks and bricks at ICE Officers while they were moving down a roadway in their car and/or official vehicle. Tremendous damage was done to these brand new vehicles. I know for a fact that these Officers are having a hard time with allowing this to happen in that it shows such total disrespect for LAW AND ORDER. The annual budget for Ice will increase from about $8bn to roughly $28bn under Trumps spending bill signed into law earlier this month, with plans to hire 10,000 new agents and become the highest-funded law enforcement agency. Donald Trump greets first responders in Kerrville, Texas, on Friday. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/AP During a trip on Friday to look at the devastation caused by the catastrophic flooding in Texas, Donald Trump claimed that state and federal officials had done an incredible job, saying of the disaster that he had never seen anything like this. The trip comes as he has remained conspicuously quiet about his previous promises to do away with the federal agency in charge of disaster relief. The Washington Post reported on Friday that the Trump administration has backed away from plans to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), but administration officials continue to dodge questions about the agencys future and many are still calling for serious reforms, potentially sending much of its work to the states. Since the 4 July disaster, which has killed at least 120 people, the president and his top aides have focused on the once-in-a-lifetime nature of what occurred and the human tragedy involved rather than the government-slashing crusade that has been popular with Trumps core supporters. Speaking at a roundtable in Kerrville, Texas, Trump said that Fema deployed multiple emergency response units and he praised all the officials involved in what he said was an effective and swift response. Every American should be inspired by what has taken place, Trump said. He likened the flooding to a giant, giant wave in the Pacific Ocean that the best surfers in the world would be afraid to surf. Trump called a reporter a bad person for asking a question about families of the dead who are saying that their loved ones could have been saved had emergency warnings gone out before the flooding. Trump said: I think this has been heroism. This has been incredible, the job youve all done. Related: Texass Camp Mystic was a place of joy. Floods turned it into a site of great loss In an NBC News interview on Thursday, Trump said: Nobody ever saw a thing like this coming. He added: This is a once-in-every-200-years deal. He has also suggested he would have been ready to visit Texas within hours but did not want to burden authorities still searching for the more than 170 people who are still missing. Trumps shift in focus underscores how tragedy can complicate political calculations, even though the president has made slashing the federal workforce and charging ally turned antagonist Elon Musk with dramatically shrinking the size of government centerpieces of his administrations opening months. The president traveled to Texas on Air Force One with Melania Trump, the first lady; Brooke Rollins, the agriculture secretary; Scott Turner, the housing secretary; the small business administrator, Kelly Loeffler; and senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas, among others. Trump is expected to do an aerial tour of some of the hard-hit areas. Before arriving at the Happy State Bank Expo Hall in Kerrville, where he delivered remarks, the president and his motorcade stopped at an area near the Guadalupe River in Kerrville next to an overturned tractor-trailer and downed trees. Damage appeared to be more extensive near the riverbank. Trump, his wife and the Texas governor, Greg Abbott, took a briefing about flooding there from local officials. Trump has used past disaster response efforts to launch political attacks. While still a candidate trying to win back the presidency, Trump made his own visit to North Carolina after Hurricane Helene last year and accused the Biden administration of blocking disaster aid to victims in Republican-heavy areas. During his first weekend back in the White House, Trump again visited North Carolina to survey Helene damage and toured the aftermath of devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. But he also used those trips to sharply criticize the Biden administration and California officials. During Tuesdays cabinet meeting, Trump praised the federal flooding response. Turning to Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, which oversees Fema, he said: You had people there as fast as anybodys ever seen. Noem described traveling to Texas and seeing heartbreaking scenes, including around Camp Mystic, the century-old all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 people were killed. The parents that were looking for their children and picking up their daughters stuffed animals out of the mud and finding their daughters shoe that might be laying in the cabin, she said. Noem said that just hugging and comforting people matters a lot and this is a time for all of us in this country to remember that we were created to serve each other. But the secretary is also co-chairing a Fema review council charged with submitting suggestions for how to overhaul the agency in coming months. We as a federal government dont manage these disasters. The state does, Noem told Trump on Tuesday. She also referenced the administrations government-reducing efforts, saying: Were cutting through the paperwork of the old Fema. Streamlining it, much like your vision of how Fema should operate. Pressed this week on whether the White House will continue to work to shutter Fema, Karoline Leavitt would not say. The president wants to ensure American citizens always have what they need during times of need, the White House press secretary said. Whether that assistance comes from states or the federal government, that is a policy discussion that will continue. Before Trump left on Friday, Russell Vought, director of the office of management and budget, similarly dodged questions from reporters at the the White House about Femas future instead noting that the agency had billions of dollars in its reserves to continue to pay for necessary expenses and that the president has promised Texas: Anything it needs, it will get. We also want Fema to be reformed, Vought added. The president is going to continue to be asking tough questions of all of us agencies, no different than any other opportunity to have better government. A merger of US Steel with Japanese-owned Nippon Steel was approved by Trump in June - Saul Loeb/AFP The White House is eyeing a trade deal with South Korea in return for investment in US shipbuilding. Howard Lutnick, the US Commerce secretary, held tariff negotiations with his South Korean counterpart in Washington on Thursday where they discussed the prospect of cooperating on ship manufacturing as part of a potential trade agreement. Mr Lutnick and trade representative Jamieson Greer were very interested in a proposal for South Korean companies to contribute towards Washingtons goal of growing its shipbuilding sector in exchange for tariff relief, according to Yeo Han-koo, South Koreas trade minister. The US side was very interested in bilateral collaboration in the areas of shipbuilding and semiconductors, as they are crucial sectors in terms of industrial competitiveness and national security, and in how Korean companies can contribute to Washingtons goal of rebuilding its manufacturing sector, Yeo told reporters. It comes after Donald Trump fired off letters to 14 world leaders including Shigeru Ishiba, Japans prime minister, and Lee Jae-myun, South Koreas president, who he threatened with a blanket 25 per cent tariff, starting from August 1. China is the global leader in shipbuilding - NurPhoto/Costfoto The move is the latest instance of the president using tariffs as a negotiating tactic to enlist the support of trading partners to achieve his other policy goals. A source close to the White House said that rumours of trade deals with South Korea and Japan in exchange for Asian investment in US shipbuilding are absolutely true. [The treasury is] trying to extract as much as they can from these countries, the source said. The president signed an executive order in April to restore Americas maritime dominance by pledging to revitalise and rebuild US shipbuilding. Golden opportunity The US navy has 296 battle ready ships and has pledged to increase that number to 381 over the next 30 years a plan that would require investing at least $40 billion each year, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Once a dominant force in shipbuilding, the US now lags far behind its greatest rival, China, which has over 370 ships and submarines. Last year, one of Chinas largest shipyards built more commercial vessels by tonnage than the entire US shipbuilding industry has produced since the end of the Second World War. While China is the global leader in shipbuilding, holding a 50 per cent share of the worlds capacity, Japan and South Korea are two of the next biggest players, producing around 40 per cent of the worlds ships between them. A deal with Seoul and Tokyo could therefore provide a golden opportunity for investment in US shipbuilding. Avoid tariffs Such an agreement would likely mirror the merger of US Steel with Japanese-owned Nippon Steel, which Mr Trump approved in June. Under the terms of the $14.9bn deal, Nippon Steel pledged to invest $11bn in US Steel by 2028 and granted the US government a golden share in the company, giving it say over key decisions, including production outside of the US. The proposal from South Korea is indicative of the way in which US trading partners are looking for concessions they can make to Mr Trump in order to avoid tariffs. On Tuesday, Benjamin Netanyahu became the latest world leader to nominate Mr Trump for a Nobel Peace prize an award the US president has long-coveted following hot on the heels of leaders from Pakistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In talks with African leaders at the White House on Wednesday, the leader of Liberia floated the prospect of US investment in the countrys rich mineral reserves in exchange for agreeing to accept migrants awaiting asylum hearings. Not a grand conspiracy Richard Stern, the director of the Grover M Hermann Centre for the Federal Budget, at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, said the prospect of a deal with Japan and South Korea on shipbuilding was a welcome step. Decades of regulatory and tax burdens have decimated US shipbuilding capacity creating a critical defence as well as commercial issues, he said. On top of the tax reform in One, Big, Beautiful Bill and the deregulatory work of the administration, it is a welcome step that the president is focusing his trade negotiations with Japan and Korea on bringing shipyard investments back to America. Kush Desai, a White House spokesman, said: Countries coming and investing in the United States is something we are looking for, but this was not a grand conspiracy to get Japan and South Korea to invest in our shipbuilding industry. Suspicious mobile network activity was detected outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Tukwila, Washington, suggesting potential surveillance of participants at a July 4 protest. According to a Straight Arrow News (SAN) report, their independent analysis found network anomalies consistent with the use of an IMSI catcher, also known as a Stingray a surveillance device that mimics a cell tower and can capture the unique number linked to a cell phone's SIM card. The technology can be used to identify cell phone users in a specific area, pinpoint location or even to access personal information, text messages and phone calls. Civil liberties advocates emphasized the potential privacy violation. Using a Stingray device "to identify or track people exercising their First Amendment right to protest would raise grave concerns," Nathan Freed Wessler of the ACLU told SAN. During a demonstration on July 4, hundreds of "IMSI-exposing messages" and unusual cellular rejections were recorded using a specialized detection tool. But the following day, when there was no protest, nothing abnormal was detected. "Especially when compared to the results of the scan from the next day, the high number of IMSI-exposing messages seen during the event are strongly suggestive of the presence of an IMSI-catching device," said Patrick Traynor, a professor in the Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering at the University of Florida. ICE has not responded to requests for comment, and it remains unclear if a warrant to use Stingray surveillance was obtained. Federal law requires court approval to use Stingrays except in certain emergencies. The Tukwila ICE office was vandalized during a June 14 protest, and local police used pepper spray on demonstrators. Critics of the Trump administration have condemned White House policies described as authoritarian. ICE detention centers, like a mosquito and alligator infested camp site in the Florida Everglades, have raised alarm among human rights advocates. In June, Trump deployed marines and the National Guard in response to anti-ICE protests in California, despite objections from the Governor and LA officials. While SAN notes, "it's not possible to definitively attribute the source of suspicious cellular activity," the timing and pattern of the network anomalies have stoked fear of deliberate surveillance of protestors. Originally published on Latin Times Rosie ODonnell said she was subjected to abuse in the US after Mr Trumps election last year - Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File Donald Trump has threatened to strip Rosie ODonnell, the actress and comedian, of her American citizenship, labelling her a threat to humanity. Mr Trump said the 63-year-old entertainer, a long-time critic of his, was not in the best interests of our country and called for her to remain in the wonderful country of Ireland, where she moved following his election win last year. The US president does not have any legal power to unilaterally strip an individual of their citizenship, but Mr Trump said he was giving serious consideration to taking away her citizenship. ODonnell, who had apparently provoked the president by criticising his response to the deadly flooding in Texas, fired back in a post on Instagram, labelling Mr Trump a criminal conman and a dangerous old soulless man with dementia. Feud has lasted almost 20 years Because of the fact that Rosie ODonnell is not in the best interests of our great country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her citizenship, Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social account on Saturday. She is a threat to humanity, and should remain in the wonderful country of Ireland, if they want her. God Bless America! The feud between the president and the comedian began in 2006, when ODonnell criticised Mr Trump for presenting himself as a moral authority in a controversy involving the Miss USA pageant. At a Republican primary debate in 2015, when Mr Trump was questioned by a moderator about labelling women fat pigs and slobs, he responded: Only Rosie ODonnell. Responding on Saturday to Mr Trumps citizenship threat, ODonnell, who was born in New York, fired back: The president of the USA has always hated the fact that I see him for who he is a criminal con man sexual abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself this is why I moved to Ireland. Credit: YouTube/The Late Late Show She appeared to be referring to Mr Trump being found liable in 2023 for sexually assaulting E Jean Carroll, a magazine columnist. He had denied the allegation. ODonnell went on to label the president a dangerous old soulless man with dementia who lacks empathy compassion and basic humanity. Last week, she blamed Mr Trump for the loss of life in Texas after devastating flash flooding which killed at least 129 people. When the president guts all of the early warning systems and the weather forecasting abilities of the government, these are the results that were going to start to see on a daily basis, she said on TikTok. Comedian seeking Irish citizenship ODonnell moved to Ireland with her 12-year-old child in January, shortly after the presidents inauguration, saying she was in the process of obtaining Irish citizenship via her grandparents, who came from County Donegal and County Kildare. When it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, thats when we will consider coming back, she said in March. Appearing on the Chris Cuomo Project podcast last month, she claimed Mr Trumps election win caused her to overeat. I was very, very depressed. I was overeating. I was over-drinking, she said. It hurt my heart that America believed the lies about him. And then it broke my heart to be in a business that creates and sells those lies for profit. She claimed to have been heckled while shopping by Mr Trumps supporters following his election victory, and said she moved to Ireland for self-preservation. When I got here, I noticed right away there was a different culture about celebrity, she said. Theyre not lauded in Ireland. Theyre not thought of as better than anyone else. Corrections officials say two Arkansas prison employees errantly helped Grant Hardin, the former police chief convicted of murder and rape, escape from a prison in May. A kitchen supervisor, who left Hardin unchecked on a loading dock, and a tower guard, who let him out of the gates, have been fired, according to Benny Magness, chairman of the state Board of Corrections. Magness attributed Hardins escape at the North Central Unit, in Calico Rock, to "human error." Hardin evaded capture for 12 days in nearby woods. All the stars somewhat had to line up for Hardin, and two employees violated policy that allowed this to happen, Magness told state lawmakers in a July 10 hearing. The policies were in place. This should not have happened. On May 25, a kitchen supervisor allegedly left Hardin, 56, alone on a loading dock. Hardin is accused of changing into a fake law enforcement uniform, which was colored with Sharpie markers and included an old kitchen apron to mimic a vest. Authorities say he made a homemade badge from a can lid, button and Bible cover. He had stashed away his fake uniform in the kitchens chemical storage area, where he had supervised access as part of his kitchen job, Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections, said in an email. Officials say Grant Hardin escaped the Arkansas Department of Corrections while pushing a cart loaded with materials. Then, the guard atop the tower opened two back gates letting Hardin out, without checking if he was actually an officer, Magness said. Hardin also brought wooden pallets he fashioned into a ladder and a box with food, Champion said. Hardin was captured in a sweeping manhunt on June 6 about a mile-and-a-half from the facility. The fired officers names weren't released. Grant Hardin is accused of escaping an Arkansas prison. Hardin was serving an 80-year combined prison sentence. He first pleaded guilty to the 2017 murder of James Appleton, a water department employee. Following his conviction, DNA evidence connected him to raping a teacher at gunpoint at school in 1997. He pleaded guilty to the rape charges. Hardin faces a felony charge related to his escape, court records show. He has pleaded not guilty. A jury trial has been scheduled for the fall. Jeanine Santucci of USA TODAY contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Prison employees fired over Grant Hardin 'Devil in the Ozarks' escape Bryan Kohberger, a painfully awkward, arrogant introvert and criminal justice student, believed he could have committed "the perfect murders," James Patterson said. "One of the things that professor [Dr. Katherine Ramsland] said that with murderers like this, they get tunnel vision they panic, and they miss things," the award-winning author told Fox News Digital. "So here was Kohberger who almost committed the perfect murders except [he had] that tunnel vision," Patterson shared. "He left that knife sheath behind. And thats what ultimately led to his arrest." Watch Savage Instincts: The Mind Of Bryan Kohberger On Fox Nation Bryan Kohberger arrives at Monroe County Courthouse in Pennsylvania. He later pleaded guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho students. Patterson, who has sold more than 425 million books, published over 260 New York Times bestsellers, and won 10 Emmy Awards, has teamed up with investigative journalist Vicky Ward to write a new book, "The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy." He is also a producer on the new Prime Video docuseries, "One Night in Idaho: The College Murders," which is based on the book. Several loved ones of the victims spoke out in the film. Read On The Fox News App Fox News Digital reached out to Kohberger's lawyer for comment. In 2023, FOX Nation honored James Patterson with the "Back the Blue Award" for his work supporting law enforcement. Kohberger, a former Washington State University criminology Ph.D. student, pleaded guilty on July 2 to killing four University of Idaho students on Nov. 13, 2022, as part of a deal with prosecutors to escape the death penalty. The 30-year-old faces four consecutive life sentences for fatally stabbing 21-year-olds Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, as well as 20-year-olds Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at their off-campus house. For the book, Patterson and Ward conducted more than 300 interviews and took a deep dive into Kohberger's upbringing. The family of Madison Mogen, including mother Karen Laramie and stepfather Scott Laramie, walk out of the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, after a hearing in the case, on July 2, 2025. "He was inappropriate he didnt know how to socialize very well," Patterson explained. " He was a teaching assistant, and he was just turning people off. He graded the women poorly. He had an inability to deal with women, yet he thought he was popular. It was a thought of, why arent these people, these women, loving him? Because he found himself very worthy. And in this documentary, most of this comes out." Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X A side by side of Bryan Kohberger's sophomore Pleasant Valley High School yearbook photo and his senior year. He later pleaded guilty to the brutal stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students. According to the book and docuseries, Kohberger may have been inspired by one killer Elliot Rodger. The 22-year-old was obsessed with exacting "retribution" after experiencing what he claimed was a lifetime of social and sexual isolation, The Associated Press reported. In 2014, Rodger killed six people in a stabbing and shooting spree in Isla Vista, California, before turning the gun on himself. "No one knows that, like Rodger, Bryan is a virgin who hates women," the book claimed. "No one knows that Bryan copes with loneliness by immersing himself in video games. Like Rodger, he goes for night drives. Like Rodger, he visits the gun range. And, like Rodger, he goes to a local bar and tries to pick up women." Happy memories of Christopher Michaels-Martinez are placed outside the entrance to IV Deli Mart in Isla Vista, California. The UCSB student was gunned down and killed in a shooting rage by Elliot Rodger. "Elliot Rodger wrote that he kept trying to place himself in settings where he could pick up women," the book continued. "But no one noticed him. Bryan must think that surely hell be noticed. Women must spot his looks, his intelligence, and they must want him. They dont." An undated photo of Elliot Rodger is seen at a press conference by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff in Goleta, California, on May 24, 2014. Rodger, 22, went on a rampage in Isla Vista near the University of California at Santa Barbara campus, stabbing three people to death at his apartment before shooting to death three more in a terrorizing crime spree through the neighborhood. Patterson pointed out that at the Seven Sirens Brewing Company in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Kohberger would push his way into unwanted conversations with female bartenders and patrons. He went as far as asking for their addresses. Some women, according to the book, started complaining to the brewerys owner about "the creepy guy with the bulging eyes." Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom for his arraignment hearing in Latah County District Court, May 22, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger was adamant that women would notice him. But Patterson noted that to many, he was simply "off-putting." "He made people uncomfortable," said Patterson. "The bartenders and owners remembered him as being this weird duck who would sit at a bar and just weird everybody out and talk inappropriately. He had a lot of trouble socializing." Sign Up To Get The True Crime Newsletter "The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy" will be available for purchase on July 14. According to the book, Kohberger felt that by going to Moscow, Idaho, across the state border, he could find a girl willing to date him. He read about a place online called the Mad Greek where they sell vegan pizza hes vegan. When he walked inside, he noticed a blonde waitress "Maddie" Mogen. A photo of Madison Mogen, left, and Kaylee Goncalves, two of the University of Idaho students found dead in their off-campus home on Nov. 13, 2022. Its been speculated by sources who spoke to Patterson that Mogen rejected Kohberger. The book pointed out an eerie similarity. "Elliot Rodger wrote of reuniting with a childhood friend named Maddy in the months before the day of retribution," read the book. The Prime Video docuseries "One Night in Idaho: The College Murders" is based on James Patterson's book. "She was a popular, spoiled USC girl who partied with her hot, popular blonde-haired clique of friends," Rodger wrote, as quoted by the book. "My hatred for them all grew from each picture I saw of her profile. They were the kind of beautiful, popular people who lived pleasurable lives and would look down on me as inferior scum, never accepting me as one of them. They were my enemies. They represented everything that was wrong with this world." When asked if well ever know Kohbergers true motives for committing the murders, Patterson replied, "Oh, I think we already do [know]." "One Night in Idaho" features interviews with several loved ones, including Karen Laramie, Maddie Mogens mother. "I think he had decided that Maddie You could see it when you went by the house. You could see her room. Her name was up in the window of her room. We think it seems like he went there to deal with her. It seems fairly obvious. Will we know more? I dont know. If he wants to be interviewed at this stage, Im happy to go there and do an interview. And Ive done that before people whove gone to prison, and they decide that, all of a sudden, they want to talk." GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub Bryan Kohberger's childhood home in Effort, Pennsylvania, located about 10 minutes north of Pleasant Valley High School, where he graduated in 2013. The family moved elsewhere in Monroe County in fall 2012, according to online messages between Kohberger and a high school friend. Past acquaintances described Kohberger as frustrated by females and even sexist as a result. One woman who met Kohberger on a Tinder date several years ago claimed on social media that her interaction with him was so awkward she pretended to vomit just to get him to leave her apartment. He also appeared to be well-versed in "incels," or "involuntary celibates." "Pretty much everybody we talked to just said, This is a strange man with a strange look couldnt look people in the eye," said Patterson. "If he did look at you in the eye, sometimes people wished that he hadnt. And his impression of himself was totally out of whack with the way other people perceived him." Many of those who encountered Bryan Kohberger described him as "off-putting," author James Patterson told Fox News Digital. The book describes Kohberger as having once expressed an "offensive, anachronistic view of gender roles." And following the murders, he may have viewed himself as a criminal mastermind. Dr. Katherine Ramsland speaks about Dennis Rader, the BTK Strangler, at Penn State Berks, circa 2016. Moscow, Idaho, was overwhelmed by the gravity of his heinous crimes and the public scrutiny that came with it. "You've got not only the murders here, but all of a sudden, youve got press from around the world in this small town," Patterson explained. In "One Night in Idaho," loved ones like Hunter Chapin, Ethan Chapins brother, spoke about the hurtful rumors that spread on social media following the murders. "Youve got all of these rumors. One of the things in the book, and one of the saddest things that we discovered in the documentary, is the way that this stuff gets picked up by these true crime people, some of whom are vampires. Theyre awful, they dont care. They dont take responsibility for their actions. And when you write a book or do a documentary, you have to be responsible for it. And we were responsible." WATCH: ATTORNEY FOR MADISON MOGEN'S FAMILY VOWS TO EMBARK ON A NEW PATH FOLLOWING BRYAN KOHBERGER'S GUILTY PLEA And it could have been that "tunnel vision" Kohberger had that reportedly made him believe he wouldnt get caught. "Dr. Ramsland teaches her students that killers get tunnel vision when they are committing murder," the book shared. "Thats why mistakes get made. Amid the high adrenaline and hyper-focus on the act itself, killers can forget things they otherwise would not." Dr. Katherine Ramsland has written about serial killer Dennis Rader, also known as "BTK," who stalked his victims in Wichita, Kansas. "BTK" stands for "Bind, Torture, Kill." And Kohberger's family isn't to blame, said Patterson. "I think from everything we can gather, his parents did their best," said Patterson. "They seemed to have done their best with him." Kohbergers guilty plea doesnt end the quest to seek more answers. "Look, people talk," said Patterson. " When youre in a big city, like New York, youre kind of used to, unfortunately, to violence. But youve got these two college towns, Moscow, Idaho, and Pullman, Washington, and they dont know what to make of this. Brian Kohberger's mugshot at the time of his arrest in December 2022. " Its a story of these families, and these kids And, to some extent the documentary it will make you afraid. It will certainly make you feel what it was like to be in those towns during this period. What it was like the next day the shock, the fear." Watch: 'Bryan Kohberger: I Am Blank' On Fox Nation A memorial outside the home where four University of Idaho students were slain in Moscow, Idaho, on Oct. 31, 2023. The home was demolished in December of that year. "It was a hard case to solve," he reflected. "[Investigators] were very fortunate that Kohberger made that one really big blunder He didnt make a lot of mistakes. So it was a tough investigation He mightve never been caught. We mightve been writing about God knows what right now." Original article source: Bryan Kohberger believed he committed the perfect murders until one key mistake shattered his plot: author NBC; ABC; CBS If theres anything weve learned from Love Island USA season sevenbesides that Huda is a mommy (mamacita?) and that Meghan Thee Stallion is watching right along with usits that reality TV is no joke. Yes, there are many perks to signing onto the show: steamy makeout sessions, a jaw-dropping villa, and the potential for major brand deals and fame after filming wraps. But behind the scenes, the experience can be emotionally intense. Contestants are often placed in high-pressure situations that are carefully manufactured by producers to spark conflict, stress, and even emotional breakdowns or crash outs. Theres messy relationship drama, friendship fallouts, and major heartbreak, all broadcast to an audience of millionswho all have an opinion about you online. And while it makes for gripping TV, that level of exposure can potentially affect a contestants mental health both during and after the show. Meet the experts: Olivia Verhulst , LMHC, is a New York City-based psychotherapist. Sadi Fox , PhD, is a Brooklyn-based therapist at Flourish Psychology . Of course, the mental health impact of being on reality TV isnt the same for everyone. Each individuals subjective experience and psychological impact will be different based on many variables, such as their purpose and experience on the show, if the TV set is trauma- and mental health-informed behind the scenes, and much more, says Olivia Verhulst, LMHC, a New York City-based psychotherapist. So, how do you know if youre really ready to be on reality TV? Each show has its own mental health screening process and standards, but those arent public information. So, we asked experts how theyd help someone figure out whether joining a show like Love Island, The Bachelor , or Big Brother is a healthy move for their mental and emotional well-being. And, because youre probably curious about whether you would fare well on one of these shows, heres what they said youd need to consider. First, consider what reality TV can do to your mental health. While being on reality TV can be thrilling, the psychological aftermath is often more complex than it appears on screen. Many report facing a wave of online harassment, public scrutiny, bullying , and even death threats, says Sadi Fox, PhD, a Brooklyn-based psychologist who has worked with former reality TV contestants. And for reality stars of color, that scrutiny can be compounded by racism, she adds. It doesnt matter if youre painted as the villain or the angelyoure going to have haters, she says. The constant stream of unsolicited commentary, heavily edited portrayals, and social media backlash can take a serious toll on self-esteem, anxiety, and overall well-being. At its worst, reality TV has been linked with suicide, after three previous Love Island UK talents took their own lives following the show, although its not clear what role the show had in their deaths. Its also important to think about how stepping away from your day-to-day life for weeks (or even monthsIm looking at you, Big Brother) can uproot your routine, especially when youre immersed in a tightly controlled environment like reality TV. This can make it difficult for some to transition back into their normal realities post-production, explains Verhulst. That said, not all mental health outcomes are negative. For some, the experience can be empowering, pushing them outside their comfort zone in a really meaningful way. Increased visibility, validation from fans (Amaya Papaya stans, rise!), and a newfound sense of purpose can actually boost confidence and personal growth. Some people definitely thrive, have fun, and learn about themselves in those experiences, says Verhulst. The key is knowing what youre walking intoand how equipped you are to handle it. Are there certain people who should really not go on reality TV? Ultimately, only you can decide whether youre ready to put yourself out there. Youre the expert on you, as Verhulst puts it. Still, Fox says there are some cases where shed proceed with caution as a therapist. People with a history of disordered eating, unresolved trauma, body image struggles, low self-esteem, or certain mental health diagnosessuch as borderline personality disordermay find the emotional intensity of reality TV especially triggering or challenging. Of course, this isnt a universal checklist, but it is a reminder to check in with yourselfand possibly a mental health professionalbefore making the leap. Whether that means pursuing treatment beforehand or deciding not to go, support from a licensed therapist can be a helpful part of the decision-making process, says Fox. Next, ask yourself these questions. Checking in with yourself before diving into the world of reality TV can help you avoid emotionally overwhelming or unexpected territory later on, says Verhulst. To help you decide if its the right move for you, here are a few questions to consider: Does the purpose of this show generally align with my values? Verhulst suggests asking yourself whether the shows premise reflects what matters to you. If the tone, message, or format clashes with your values and beliefs, it could create internal conflict before, during, or after the show. How do I handle high-stress environments that include little sleep, long days, and interpersonal conflict? Reality TV sets arent exactly restful. Between long filming schedules, unpredictable living situations, and heightened emotions, its easy to get overwhelmed. Fox recommends reflecting on how you typically respond to stress and whether you have healthy coping mechanisms in place. If youre prone to burnout , anxiety , or shutting down in high-pressure situations, its worth considering how those patterns might pan out under the microscope of reality TV. Who are my safe support systems to lean on if things get hardand do I have a strong network in place? Both Fox and Verhulst emphasize the importance of knowing who will be there for you once the cameras stop rolling. Whether its close friends, family members, a therapist, or a partner, having a solid support system can be a crucial buffer against the emotional fallout that can sometimes come with sudden fame or the internets harsh opinions. What are some of my strengths I know about myself that can help me succeed in this setting? Identifying your strengthslike emotional resilience, a sense of humor, or the ability to stay grounded under pressurecan raise your confidence and help you navigate the intense dynamics of reality TV. Ask yourself: Do I have thick skin? How do I handle scrutiny? How do I feel about privacy? says Fox. Do I have a mental health check-in system (before, during, or after the show) that I can be proactive in setting up for myself? Both experts recommend having emotional support in place before you even get on set. What does that look like? It could mean checking in with a licensed therapist or getting a mental health assessment to gauge your readiness. (Pro tip: Fox also strongly suggests having a lawyer review any contracts or NDAs beforehand, as they may not always prioritize your mental well-being.) Some reality shows have mental health professionals on set, so its worth asking producers about this or doing your own research. And once youre back home? Make sure you have that support system lined upwhether thats therapy, close friends, or family. At the end of the day, going on reality TV is a deeply personal decision thats worth thinking through carefully. While it can be exciting, empowering, and even transformative, it can also come with potential emotional risks. Asking yourself the right questions, being honest about your mental health, and seeking support can make all the differencein and outside of the villa, mansion, or island. You Might Also Like The southern tip of Manhattan from the bow of the Staten Island Ferry on June 1 in New York City. - Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images President Donald Trump issued a provocative threat during a Cabinet meeting this week: If New York City elects a communist mayor, he might take the city over, just like he might take over Washington, DC. We have tremendous power at the White House to run places when we have to, he said. He was referring to the rise of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee in New Yorks upcoming mayoral race. Mamdani is not a communist, but rather a democratic socialist in the vein of Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Building up Mamdani as a foil The president clearly sees the would-be mayor as an A-list political enemy hell use to argue the Democratic Party has been overtaken by the radical left. His increasing use of the word communist harks back to the ugliness of the Red Scare. Trump also trotted out some profanity in the Cabinet Room of the White House when he referred to Mamdani as a man whos not very capable, in my opinion, other than hes got a good line of bullsh*t. Its the latest in a string of increasingly charged accusations Trump has made, including that Mamdani, who is a naturalized citizen, might be in the US illegally, something for which there is no evidence. That kind of attack will sound familiar to anyone who remembers Trumps incessant and false questioning of President Barack Obamas birth certificate. Zohran Mamdani arrives for a news conference at Astoria Park in the Queens borough of New York on June 24. - Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg/Getty Images Trump cant just run New York But the idea that Trump might try to run New York if Mamdani wins is something else a warning to New York voters and a new threat to expand presidential power. Does that mean starving the city of federal funds or something more drastic? It would also be pretty clearly unconstitutional for him to try to run the city, according to Elizabeth Goitein, an expert on presidential power at the Brennan Center for Justice. When I asked her what presidential authority would allow him to do so, her answer was short. Not run a city, she said, pointing to the 10th Amendment, which gives powers not enumerated in the Constitution back to the states. Theres no emergency power that allows the president to take over a city, she said, and particularly not in retaliation for electing a mayor the president disagrees with. Everything Trump says should be taken seriously He has tested the Constitution repeatedly during his second term trying to reinterpret the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship and reimagine the federal bureaucracy without passing any laws. But Goitein pointed to key decisions, including a rejection of Trumps attempt to use the Alien Enemies Act to more swiftly deport people without due process, to argue the courts remain a meaningful check on the administration. Trumps advisers, CNN has reported, considered using the Insurrection Act, another antiquated law from the early days of the republic, to broadly use federal troops for law enforcement in Los Angeles to help federal deportation agents. Instead, they ended up citing more recent law that allows the federal government to take control of a states National Guard, for which California is now suing the administration. Theres no real precedent for a city takeover over an election Goitein said the deployment of troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, by the Eisenhower administration was in the service of a Supreme Court Order. Thats very different from a city electing a mayor with whose policies the president opposes, she said. Martial law was declared in Hawaii during World War II, she said, but it was authorized by a law that no longer exists. What about Washington, DC? Trump also referred at the White House to the possibility that he could also take over Washington, DC, something that he has been talking about for years. Theres clear precedent for the federal government being in charge of the nations capital. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press during a Cabinet Meeting at the White House on July 8, in Washington, DC. - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Its in the Constitution, after all, something that has always complicated efforts by progressives and Democrats to grant statehood to DC. But Congress ceded self-governance to district residents back in 1973, with a law signed by President Richard Nixon, who described himself as a longtime supporter of self-government for the District of Columbia. Nixon supported self-rule on principle The CNN presidential historian Tim Naftali, a former director of the Nixon Presidential Library, told me Nixon did take the idea of self-governance seriously, including for DC residents. Trump has described DC today as a nightmare of murder and crime, but back then it was literally reeling and still rebuilding after riots destroyed city blocks following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Naftali pointed out that Nixon was close with the citys mayor, Walter Washington, who advocated for the construction of the Metro subway system and installed the citys first public defender. Nixons view of the District of Columbia was that the residents of the district could best govern themselves, Naftali told me. I do not believe that is Donald Trumps view at all. The law Nixon signed allowed Washingtonians to vote for their first-ever popularly elected mayor in 1974. Conservatives in Congress today want to take that power back and have introduced a bill, the BOWSER Act (so named to troll DC Mayor Muriel Bowser), to repeal DCs home rule and put the city more under federal control. Campaign rhetoric vs. local change Trump aligns with Bowser on one key DC issue: the reconstruction of RFK stadium as a home for the Washington Commanders, although the proposal is currently stalled before DCs city council. He promised to renovate it, and rebuild our capital city, but so far that has included the issuance of an executive order and creation of a committee focused on surging police into the streets and creating a beautification plan. Trump said his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, has been working with DCs mayor. And Bowser has been notably uncritical of the Trump administration in his second term. D'marco Dixon, left, attempts to catch a football beside his brother, Seanery Dixon, near Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act passed the US Senate early December 21. - Tom Brenner/Getty Images A form of disenfranchisement Domingo Morel is an associate professor of political science and public service at New York University who has written about the ugly history of states taking over things like school boards or imposing their will on cities, frequently those with large Black and minority populations, and taking power from the local populations. Trump is implying something similar here, Morel told me. Hes saying to New Yorkers, 5 million or so registered voters, Whatever you say doesnt matter; were going to take away your ability to govern because we dont like the way you have decided to vote. Thats assuming Mamdani wins, which is a big assumption, given the fact that current Mayor Eric Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo will both be on the ballot on Election Day. Meanwhile, former New Yorker Trump will be chiming in with vague threats. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com launchmetrics "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Weird was how many showgoers described the mood at the Paris Haute Couture shows this season. It was not because of the clothes that walked down the runways, necessarily, but because of the state of fashion in general. The next round of designer musical chairs is in full swing: Dior, whose newly appointed creative maestro, Jonathan Anderson, revealed his first mens collection for the house just over a week ago, was absent from the schedule (well have to wait until January for his first Dior couture offering). Ditto Alessandro Michele, who presented a divisive, hyper-theatrical take on couture at Valentino last season. We witnessed Demnas restrained final show for Balenciaga, which was attended not only by a swarm of celebrities, including Katy Perry, Lorde, Peter Schwarzenegger, and Lauren Sanchez, aka the new Mrs. Bezos, but also by incoming creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli. Later the same day, Belgian designer Glenn Martens made his monumental debut at Maison Margiela with a collection that served as a beacon of optimism for what fashions future may hold. BALENCIAGA In some cases, however, there seemed to be a lack of understanding about the purpose and even definition of haute couture, which is rooted in craft. Many designers presented costumes masquerading as feats of sartorial splendor. An exception to that critique was Schiaparelli, where Daniel Roseberry continued his pursuit of honoring founding designer Elsa Schiaparellis aesthetic legacy. This season, much like his last couture collection, he largely eschewed grandiosity and obvious surreal references for garments that were, instead, otherworldly in their uncanny silhouettes and astounding construction. Titled Back From the Future, the collection heavily referenced Elsas acclaimed 1938 Cosmic or Zodiac collection, which she presented before fleeing Paris in 1940, during WWII. He reimagined her work in immaculately embellished suit jackets (an Elsa signature), some of which were paired with matador trousers and elaborately beaded hats. A crystal necklace, as well as an embellished, cape-like top, recalled the founding designers famed Apollo of Versailles cape, and the piece de resistance, a mechanized, rhinestone beating-heart necklace that was paired with a red satin gown, the back of which was outfitted with a sculpted bellybutton and breasts. Courtesy of Schiaparelli Backstage, Roseberry noted that Theres weirdly something in the air that feels like the precipice of a major [change], and that he plans to change the creative trajectory of the house going forward. I want to rediscover and restructure everything, he said. I just dont want you guys to know what youre going to expect. Given the reactions of his elated, Schiap-bedecked clients who attended the show in droves, what Roseberry has been serving up has been a serious, hot-selling crowd pleaser. Its a brave choice for a designer to stray from a successful formula, provided the new experiment doesnt combust. Elsewhere, designers including Robert Wun, a relative couture newcomer whos quickly gained a cult following, and Iris Van Herpen, a master of conceptual and technical exploration, proposed highly dramatic collections that each had their virtuesincredible tailoring for Wun, cloudlike, gravity-defying gowns for Van Herpenbut were muddied by what seemed like unnecessary gimmicks, like gargantuan body-shaped bags and ailen-esque mannequin arms (Wun) and massive, flapping butterfly wings (Van Herpen). launchmetrics.com/spotlight Armani Prive, a fixture on the Haute Couture calendar, didnt disappoint. And frankly, Mr. Armani, who truly focuses on craft and wearability rather than flash and Instagram-friendly fodder, doesnt get enough credit for his contributions to the week. The show, an ode to black (there was a lot of black this season across the board), featured awe-inspiring construction and beadwork, and the shapely, undulating peplum of a noir velvet evening suit was, to put it simply, stunning. And memorable in its sublime simplicity, as well as its untainted glamour. Chez Chanel, were anxiously awaiting the arrival of new creative director Matthieu Blazy, who will present his first collection for the storied house in October. The brand transformed its signature Grand Palais show space into a replica of its Rue Cambon couture salon. The collection, designed by the in-house team, was a wearable array of tweed and embellished looks in earthy neutrals that recalled the sheath of wheat, a symbol that was particularly important to Chanel. Gianluca Carraro Viktor & Rolf, the Dutch duo who have built their brand on exaggerated expression, proffered a collection rooted in duality. Dubbed Angry Birds, the show featured pairs of looks imagined for what seemed like different realities. One was stuffed with synthetic feathersthe first use of the couture trope for these designersthe other was wearable, realistic, and deflated, an unamplified take on the designers vision. Who were these birds, and why were they angry? Thats really up to you, said Rolf Snoeren with a wry smile. Asked about what the deflation represented, Viktor Horsting replied, I think whats beautiful about fashion is that we can translate the spirit of our time. Weird, beautiful at times, and a bit flat certainly seems like an apt description of our present reality. You Might Also Like TALLAHASSEE, FL In a cold courtroom downtown, Isabela Hurtado sat in a wooden pew. It had been over a month since she last saw her father. On May 29, she watched him get ready for work at a construction site near the capital city's CollegeTown. When she next saw him, on July 2, he was in an orange jumpsuit, shackled by the hands and ankles, waiting to see a federal judge. "All I wanted to do in that moment was cry, but I had to contain myself," Hurtado, 19, said. She looked at her dad, Juan Hurtado Solano, seated next to his public defender. He turned around and smiled. Minutes later, he pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States, a federal crime with a potential punishment of up to two years in prison and $250,000 fine. While entering the country without the proper documentation is a misdemeanor, reentering the United States after already being deported is a federal felony, according to U.S. Code 1326, Reentry of Illegal Aliens. Amid President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, more people are being charged for illegal reentry into the United States. And many of those defendants are pleading guilty and agreeing not to challenge their case or removal because of fears of getting stuck in the immigration system, spending more time in detention, or being deported to a country that is not their own. Hurtado's father didn't make the decision lightly. He spoke to his wife and kids. Ultimately, Hurtado said it was the best-case scenario. "If you're just going to get sent back regardless, let's just speed up with the process because I wouldn't want my dad to sit there any longer anyway," Hurtado said, adding she would prefer to FaceTime him while he's in Mexico rather than the alternative. Rise in illegal reentry prosecutions across U.S. In February, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo to all department employees entitled: "General Policy Regarding Charging, Plea Negotiations, and Sentencing." A group of men from Nicaragua watch their coworker who is being detained at a construction zone in Tallahassee raided by immigration agents on May 29, 2025. "The Department of Justice shall use all available criminal statutes to combat the flood of illegal immigration that took place over the last four years, and to continue to support the Department of Homeland Security's immigration and removal initiatives," the memo states. The number of immigration prosecutions in the United States jumped in March of this year. U.S. Attorneys charged 4,550 defendants with immigration offenses in U.S. District Courts in March, up 36.6% over February, when 3,332 defendants were charged, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), which tracks immigration data. According to TRAC, in the past, illegal reentry was often pled down to illegal entry, which has a mandatory maximum sentence of six months and up to a $250 fine. The plea agreements, also known as "fast-track" programs, were developed to handle the large number of immigration cases in states along the southern border in the 1990s. A former U.S. deputy attorney general once wrote that the program was created for defendants who promptly agreed to participate to save the government significant and scarce resources that could be used to prosecute other defendants. "It's common for someone to plead guilty to a crime to try to avoid detention, especially long-term detention, but they often don't realize that doing so has negative long-term consequences that would likely preclude them from getting a benefit for immigration for the future," said immigration expert Elizabeth Ricci. According to the American Immigration Council, there are different reasons why a defendant would choose to plead guilty to the entry-related offense. "These can include a lack of understanding of potential defenses against a charge (and lack of time to discuss such defenses with counsel prior to a group hearing); the prospect of shorter sentences; or misunderstanding the terms or consequences of a plea agreement," according to a council report. Recently, many defendants and their families say they hope pleading guilty will mean their cases progress much faster. Reports of inhumane conditions at Alligator Alcatraz and other detention centers and long wait times to see judges, create a distressing situation for immigrants. "(Immigration detention centers) are overcrowded, people are sleeping in the hallway, people are being denied medicine," Ricci said. "I tell clients frequently that they may have to put up for very uncomfortable conditions for days or weeks if it means staying here for long term. Often people are so uncomfortable they aren't willing to stick it out and are willing to leave and forfeit living in the United States." "It's about making people scared," she added. The threat of a $250,000 fine really worried Hurtado. "There's no way I could pay that money, or even try to round up the money," Hurtado said. "We don't have people with that type of money. That's so unreasonable most immigrant families don't have much money." 'My dad isn't a criminal' The USA TODAY Network-Florida spoke to other family members of those incarcerated and charged with illegal reentry. They say their loved ones are being held in the same area as hardened criminals and drug dealers. "These are mostly decent people whose only crime is entering the United States after being deported, but otherwise, immigration violations are civil, not criminal," Ricci said. The day federal agents raided Hurtado's father's construction site, they also detained her two uncles. In three hours, Hurtado lost three family members. While her father and uncle are at a federal detention center, her other uncle is still in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in Texas. She doesn't know exactly where. Even if her dad and uncle tell their family members not to worry, her mother and aunt hear the news about Alligator Alcatraz and are stressed. "(My mom) just wants to get this done as soon as possible because it's scary," Hurtado said. Her 3-year-old brother hasn't been able to fall asleep well since her father was detained. The two used to fall asleep together her father after a long day of work, her brother after a long day being a toddler. They would go to bed before anyone else in the house. Hurtado's father doesn't have a court date yet. But her uncle was to be sentenced on July 10. "My dad isn't a criminal," Hurtado said. "My dad is literally a person who works every day, goes home, takes care of family, and that's that." Ana Goni-Lessan reports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: As prosecutions rise, fearful immigrants pick deportation fast track Image Credit: Cory Woodruff/Shutterstock. Just outside of the hustle and bustle of Nashville, Tennessee, is a quaint town that feels nothing like a night out on Broadway. Instead, this town feels like the perfect picture of Americana: a nice main street, hometown vibes, and history that seeps through the city. Just because this town isn't going full-throttle straight into party culture, it doesn't mean you should overlook Franklin completely. From charming restaurants to friendly bars to adorable shops down Main Street, there is a lot of life in Franklin. If you're looking to slow down one day on your Nashville itinerary or would love to experience Tennessee without the wildness of the city, Franklin might be the perfect home base for your next trip. There's a ton to do in Franklin, and maybe you'll find something you've always wanted to do in the place you weren't expecting. Stroll Down Main Street Image Credit: Shutterstock. You can make an entire day just strolling up and down Franklins historic Main Street. Lined with small shops, local boutiques, and unique home goods, the possibilities are endless. The entire main drag will feel as though it was pulled straight from your favorite movie (and there's even a chance you've spotted this downtown in one of your favorite films). As you meander, see if you recognize any places from movies like At Close Range starring Sean Penn or Hannah Montana: The Movie. Justin Bieber even filmed a music video in downtown Franklin! Grab Brunch Image Credit: Shutterstock. All that shopping and walking will surely make you hungry! Grab a seat at one of the many adorable brunch spots in Franklin. Ruby Sunshine is right in the main square, so the breakfast comes with a healthy side of people-watching. Definitely start your brunch with the candied bacon and wash it all down with one of its signature cocktails, like its award-winning bloody mary or mimosa flight. Around the corner is the favorite Biscuit Love restaurant. There is one located in the Gulch area of downtown Nashville that has insanely long lines, but the location in Franklin doesnt get as busy. The biscuits are homemade, but dont miss the fried biscuit dough tossed in sugar and topped with lemon mascarpone. And if the experience leaves you craving more biscuits, you can take a half dozen of them home with you. Hunt for Ghosts Image Credit: Shutterstock. If youre brave enough, take to the streets at night for one of Franklins historic ghost walking tours. Learn about the towns dramatic past during the Civil War and see if you can find any lingering spirits in town. Theres said to be a socialite, war heroes, and even criminals still hanging around. If youre really brave, visit in October when reenactors tell stories from beyond the grave in a local cemetery. Explore a Historical Bookstore Image Credit: Shutterstock. Housed in the oldest commercial building still standing in Franklin, Landmark Booksellers is the place to grab a book with a dose of history. The building was built in the early 1800s and was once known as the Old Factory Store, seeing visitors live Davy Crockett and Andrew Jackson. The building has housed everything from banks to restaurants and even an officers club. A local couple with deep roots in the community opened it as a bookstore in 2005. Seek Out a Hidden Speakeasy Image Credit: Shutterstock. Rooted in the 1920s, Amendment XVIII Cocktail Club is an anti-prohibition speakeasy in the heart of Franklin. Enter through the alley behind Mellow Mushroom in the main town square. Its an unassuming door leading to a small hallway. Find the switch and turn it. If a green light appears, it means there is room inside; a red light means the speakeasy is full. Known for its cocktails with unique names, dont miss out on the Old Pal, a twist on the classic Manhattan, or the Daisy Chain, which is basically an orange creamsicle in a glass. While sipping your drink, nibble on small bites, like BBQ meatballs. Attend a Festival Image Credit: Shutterstock. Festivals on Franklins Main Street are beloved yearly traditions for locals and visitors alike. One of the most popular is the Dickens of a Christmas taking place every December. Characters and musicians wander the streets recreating the time of Charles Dickens, which is just the event you need to get you into the holiday mood. There is also the Pumpkinfest in October, which celebrates all things fall, complete with a guess the weight of the pumpkin game. And in the spring, there is the Main Street Festival, where everyone gathers to celebrate the storybook Main Street and all of its small-town charm. Tour Civil War Landmarks Image Credit: Shutterstock. Franklin played a pivotal role in the Civil War, and history buffs should visit. The Carnton Plantation, established in the 1800s, was the site of one of the bloodiest battles in the war. The home there turned into a makeshift hospital for wounded soldiers. The nearby Carter House, built in 1830, was once a successful farm. In 1864, it found itself at the center of the Battle of Franklin, and many people sought refuge inside. After the war ravaged the home, the Carter family worked for decades to restore it to its former glory. The state of Tennessee bought the house in the 1950s and opened it to the public. Factory at Franklin Photo courtesy of @jimdiamond6. Once a stove manufacturing plant, the Factory at Franklin is now a hip meeting just north of the main square. Inside the historic building, youll find boutique shops, locally-owned dining, and even a theater featuring local talent. In Franklin for the weekend? Dont miss the weekly Franklin Farmers Market in the parking lot every Saturday morning. The market features local meats, dairy, and produce, plus handmade crafts from local artists. Meet Farm Animals Image Credit: Shutterstock. A favorite family outing is visiting Noble Springs Dairy, The family-owned farm and Artisanal Goat Cheese operation allows you to pet baby goats and learn about the cheesemaking princess. A favorite event is Goats and Guitars. On select weekend nights throughout the year, the farm has live music and baby goats for cuddling. Pre-pay for a homemade charcuterie board, or bring your own picnic. The dairy has plenty of green space for kids to run around and play. Plus, cuddling baby goats is always a fun activity. Take in a Show Image Credit: Shutterstock. In the middle of Main Street sits the historic Franklin Theatre. The place opened in the late 1930s as the first air conditioned building on Main Street, showing movies and Vaudeville shows for more than seven decades. The theater closed in the early 2000s due to rising costs but was eventually bought by the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County. The nonprofit refurbished the theater and reopened it to the public. Today, its home to movies and live music shows. Pablo Picasso was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century - Gjon Mili/Time Life Pictures A businessmans claims to have been left genuine Pablo Picasso masterpieces by his father have been rejected by an Italian judge. Roman judge Francesco Patrone threw out claims by Marcello Santelia, a businessman with links to the UK, that he had inherited 51 authentic artworks by Picasso. Instead, Judge Patrone declared the works to be fakes and sentenced the 78-year-old to a suspended sentence of one year and eight months for attempting to pass them off as genuine. He has yet to hand down a written ruling explaining his decision. Marcello Santelia (centre) says he inherited the collection from his father - Nick Squires But Mr Santelia, who told the court he had always believed the works to be genuine, said he planned to appeal against the decision. I am not a criminal Flanked by his two lawyers outside the courtroom, Mr Santelia said he was determined to clear his name and defend the authenticity of his art collection. I am not a criminal, said Mr Santelia, a silver-haired grandfather from the small southern Italian town of Nocera Inferiore who ran a business in the UK for several years. His lawyer, Giuseppe Spagnuolo, said that of the 51 works seized by Italian arts police, only one was being considered by the court to have any potential link to Picasso. He said this was unacceptable. We are convinced about the authenticity of the works and we will go ahead with an appeal, Mr Spagnuolo said outside the court. The judge has requested a sentence of one year and eight months. He has eight days to deposit his reasoning with the court and we will appeal. Femme a la montre is one of Pablo Picassos famous oil-on-canvas works - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Getty Mr Santelia, who ran a construction company in Worcester before moving back to his native Italy, has always maintained that his father Giovanni, an art collector, was a friend of Picasso and had obtained the paintings and drawings from the Spanish painter in the 1950s. Mr Santelia has always insisted that they were all genuine Picassos, potentially worth millions of pounds and has fought to have his claims recognised by the Italian government so he could sell them abroad. But Italian police and prosecutors have long argued the collection is fake. The paintings and drawings were seized by Italian police when Mr Santelia tried to sell one of them, purportedly a portrait of Picassos lover and muse Dora Maar with the title Dora Maar con cappello [with hat], to a buyer in Dubai several years ago. In the final court hearing on Monday, Mr Spagnuolo said the prosecutor had requested a heavier four-year sentence and a fine of 4,000, arguing the works were fake. Four art experts were ordered by the court to examine Pablo Picassos signature to determine whether the art works, which are said to have been produced between 1943 and 1956, known as the artists Mediterranean Years period, were forgeries. The experts are understood to have included the Picasso Administration, the Paris-based body which holds the rights to all of the artists work, but neither their opinions nor their identity have been made publicly available. An expert appointed by Mr Santelias legal team says he has no doubt the paintings are genuine Picassos. Picasso was a key figure in the Cubist art movement - Ralph Gatti/Getty Alberto Bravo, a professor of graphology and handwriting based in Rome, told The Telegraph that although the signature is important in this case, the style of the 16 paintings he saw leaves no doubt that they are by the Spanish artist. Professor Bravo claims that the experts appointed by the court were inappropriate for this case. It is not just about the signature, it is about his (Picassos) expressive style, Professor Bravo said. Verification is a very complex process and it has not been done properly because there was a presumption (by the court) that they were false. They cannot possibly be fake. He inherited the paintings from his father. Mr Santelia said he wanted to get his paintings back and recuperate the large amount of money he had to spend on expert appraisals of the art works. The art works are currently being held by Italys Carabinieri arts police in a warehouse in Rome. Diary suggests father visited Picasso Mr Santelias father Giovanni, an art dealer, is said to have brought the works back to the family home in Nocera Inferiore after buying them from Picasso at some point during the 1950s. The diary of one English traveller, Pete Smith, records a visit Giovanni Santelia paid to Picassos home in Mougins, France, during Christmas 1955. On December 13 that year, Mr Smith wrote in his diary: Rogers to collect Santelia Giovanni en-route to meeting Pablo [Picasso] in Mougins for Christmas. The following day he recorded that Picasso gave his guests some of his work, writing: Arrive Mougins with Roger, Santelia Giovanni and Pablo. As always he has pictures for all of us to take home. The most expensive Picasso painting ever sold at auction is Les Femmes dAlger (Version O) (1955), which generated a record 143 million at Christies in 2015. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. U.S. President Donald Trump's signature on trade deals should be of little comfort to negotiating partners. Without the WTO to enforce them, they are not binding, argues trade expert Kristen Hopewell, a professor at the University of British Columbia. (Win McNameeGetty Images) By dismantling the mechanism that settles international trade disputes, there is no way for countries negotiating with the Trump administration to enforce any bilateral trade agreements. With little incentive to play by the rules, he could simply change the terms of any deal down the road. The best solution would be kicking the U.S. out of the World Trade Organization, argues trade expert Kristen Hopewell from the University of British Columbia, and re-establish the WTOs Appellate Body, the supreme court for global trade. When President Trump threatened Brazil with punishing tariffs on Wednesday, there was no fancy mathematical equation trotted out this time as justification. The 50% levy on goods was retribution for a perceived witch hunt against his political ally, Jair Bolsanaro, whose supporters attempted a coup two years ago. This administration is bringing back the law of the jungle to international trade, according to trade expert Kristen Hopewell, and time is running out to salvage the remains of a post-war system of commerce that promoted stability and prosperity across the world. Trump is a totally unreliable negotiating partner, she tells Fortune. Any deal you strike with the administration is not worth the paper its written on. As if to hammer home that point, news began to emerge on Thursday that Vietnam had been caught off guard when Trump prematurely announced a 20% duty on all goods entering the U.S. from the southeast Asian country. Vietnamese officials were reportedly still hoping for a number closer to half that. Nor is there any apparent rhyme or reason to his tariffs. Brazil, for example, doesnt even run a trade surplus with the United Statesit imported $28.6 billion more goods and services from the U.S. last year than it exported. On Wednesday, when asked how he calculated his various import duties, the president answered that he uses a formula based on common sense, one that reflects how weve been treated. Hopewell, a professor at the University of British Columbia, argues this erratic and fickle approach to international negotiations is symptomatic of a Trump deal: He can simply come back later demanding more. Theres no guarantee it will actually be upheld. Thats because the president already removed a cornerstone underpinning global commerce during his first administration six years ago when he blocked all appointments to what is essentially the supreme court of the World Trade Organization (WTO) its Appellate Body. The WTO is unique amongst international organizations in that its rules are actually legally binding on states. It has teeth, Hopewell said. Or rather it had teeth. Kick the United States out Since the Biden administration continued its policy of blocking appointments to fill its vacancies, there is now no quorum to adjudicate trade disputes, leaving countries little incentive to abide by the rules anymore. Quite the contrary, they can break them with near impunity. President Trump's letter to the Federative Republic of Brazil pic.twitter.com/G8JATXGRqI Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 9, 2025 The United States didnt always favor dismantling these guardrails. Over a decade ago, the country led a number of key partners, including Japan and the European Union, to press their rights against China when it attempted to restrict the export of critical minerals, including rare earths. In 2015, they later won in front of the Appellate Body, forcing Beijing to relent. Thanks to Trump, this enforcement mechanism no longer works. In January 2020, just weeks after the WTOs Appellate Body was decommissioned, Indonesia moved to impose a ban on the export of raw nickel. Since it has one of the largest remaining deposits of this element vital for electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel, it reckoned it could compel the creation of a domestic downstream industry for processing and refining the ore. Other countries argued in front of the WTO that it violated the rules and wonor at least they thought they had. Indonesia exercised its right to lodge a formal appeal to the Appellate Body, knowing full well that a ruling that settles the dispute was impossible. By appealing into the void, it could continue these WTO illegal export restrictions of nickel and is actually expanding them to other commodities, Hopewell says. Other countries are now mimicking Indonesia and introducing similar bans on mineral exports. Hopewell believes the moment for bold action has arrived. In a column for Politico this week, she argued the international community should consider expelling the United States from the World Trade Organization in order to revive its paralyzed Appellate Body. The stakes are really high, so its worth considering more radical solutions, she told Fortune. A profound economic shock for the U.S. That attitude, Hopewell says, is no accident. Trump has long sought to undermine the WTO in favor of bilateral deals, where the U.S. holds more leverage. Trump is pursuing a divide-and-conquer strategy, she said. He knows the U.S. is strongest when it negotiates one-on-one. By agreeing to bilateral talks, she argues, foreign governments hoping to protect domestic industries are undermining themselves. Theyre playing right into Trumps hands. Contacted by Fortune, the WTO Secretariat said it does not comment on the conduct of member states. The White House declined to respond. To many Americans, Trumps aggressive trade stance may appear cost-free. But the fallout has yet to reach consumers, in part because industries like autos stockpiled inventory ahead of new duties. It will take some time before the effects of the tariffs are felt in higher prices, Hopewell said. But when that hits, its going to be a profound economic shock for the U.S. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com A London-bound flight from Cancun turned into a 17-hour travel nightmare after two passengers allegedly smoked in the airplane bathroom, forcing the pilot to divert to the US. Terry Lawrance, 66, who was on the TUI flight to London Gatwick, described scenes of frustration and exhaustion as stranded travelers were eventually kept overnight at Bangor International Airport in Maine. "After an hour the captain came on and said someone had been smoking in the toilet he read the riot act and said if it continues, we'd have to divert," Lawrance told the Mirror. Despite the warning, the flight was eventually rerouted after another three and a half hours in the air. The accused couple was escorted off the plane. "They were obviously drunk," Lawrance said. Passengers were stuck onboard for an additional five hours after landing as paperwork was handled, only to be told the crew had run out of legally permitted working hours. A new crew had to be flown in from the UK, leaving weary travelers camped out on makeshift airbeds in what Lawrance described as "like a warzone in a lounge," with "rows and rows of beds." "We were there for over 12 hours...everybody was fed up," he said. "It was like a free-for-all for vultures." The relief flight eventually departed the next day, with all passengers now safely home. TUI declined to comment on the incident. Originally published on Latin Times deer between dense trees, white stag in the background, stag with big antlers in the forest, stags between tall trees, big eyes of a deer, deer in the thicket ournature_is_amazing/Shutterstock.com The Big Thicket is, as its name suggests, a densely forested area. However, it is much more than just that. The Big Thicket is a unique national preserve in southeast Texas that is home to countless flora and fauna, some of which are only found in the state. The look of the Big Thicket has changed remarkably since it was first formed a few million years ago. Over time, various species have both thrived and gone extinct in the area for many reasons.. It is even home to several endangered species, highlighting the areas significance not only to Texas but also to the United States and the world. This underscores why the long and difficult battle to save the Big Thicket was so important, and why early conservationists recognized what was being lost in the name of progress over a century ago.? Where Is the Big Thicket? Big Thicket is a national preserve with diverse ecosystems and an array of flora and fauna. danf0505/Shutterstock.com A few million years ago, as the oceans receded and land was exposed, a massive area in southeast Texas was revealed. Over time, unique ecosystems began to form across 3.5 million acres as land rose between the Gulf of Mexico and glaciers once present in what is now Texas. Each ecosystem was composed of plants and animals, some of which would eventually migrate to other regions of Texas and across the United States. For a time, however, the Big Thicket was the sole home to a vast variety of flora and fauna in the state. The Big Thicket got its name because it is a densely forested region. The region was so dense when it was formed that even Indigenous people in the area did not live there. The Big Thicket proved to be a fantastic hunting ground; however, it eventually earned itself the nickname meat market. Today, the Big Thicket is a national preserve. While just a small sliver of the original millions of acres of the unique region remains, it provides a view into the past of what southeast Texas looked like before logging and oil fields destroyed much of the Big Thicket. The ecosystems are still home to an array of insects, birds, plants, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians that only exist today because conservationists over a century ago saw the significance and importance of the Big Thicket. Without a hard-won fight, the nine ecosystems that make up the Big Thicket would have disappeared for good decades ago. Nine Ecosystems There are nine unique ecosystems in the Big Thicket. jesmo5/Shutterstock.com The Big Thicket is one of the most unique areas of land in all of the United States. This is because it is made up of multiple ecosystems, each completely different from the others and capable of supporting a wide variety of life that can call Texas home as a result. In total, there are nine different ecosystems within the Big Thicket. Those ecosystems include: Uplands Sandylands Savannas Slope forests Floodplains Baygalls Flats Cypress slough Prairies These ecosystems are spread across the 113,000 acres that make up the Big Thicket National Preserve. The 113,000 acres are broken up into 15 sections that were once part of the millions of acres that made up the Big Thicket, all of which are interconnected by six different waterways across seven different counties in southeast Texas. A National Preserve Big Thicket became a national preserve in 1974. Jeffrey M. Frank/Shutterstock.com The Big Thicket was viewed by many in southeast Texas as a means to achieve wealth. While it was not capable of growing cotton and did not have plantations, it did have natural resources such as timber and oil. Consequently, within a very short time, massive areas of land were clear-cut, and expansive oil fields were established. Additionally, railroad tracks were laid down throughout the Big Thicket, altering the landscape even further. The Confederate Army also burned substantial acreage in search of those not supportive of their position in the Civil War. With the destruction that the Big Thicket was experiencing, early conservationists recognized something needed to be done to stop it, or the Big Thicket would be lost forever. Enter R.E. Jackson, who began the East Texas Big Thicket Association in 1933. The East Texas Big Thicket Association aimed to save 400,000 acres of the Big Thicket. The organization gained political backing, and botanists from around the country visited to study the regions plant life. However, World War II brought an end to the association, as timber was deemed necessary for the war effort. Winning the war became the priority, and conservation was placed on the back burner. In 1964, the Big Thicket Association was founded. The goal was again to save the Big Thicket, but this time, to have it designated as a national park. It took years, but finally, according to The Clio, a bill was passed in 1974 to give the Big Thicket protection. Although it did not receive the national park status the Big Thicket Association had hoped for, the Big Thicket became the first national preserve in United States history, paving the way for future preserves. A UNESCO Designation Big Thicket National Preserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. Imogen Warren/Shutterstock.com Initially, the Big Thicket was more than two to three million, with some saying 3.5 million acres in size. It would remain that way until the 19th and 20th centuries, when people started to destroy the land, exploiting it for the virgin timber and natural oil resources. While efforts to save the Big Thicket from destruction began in the 1920s, it was not until the 1970s that this finally occurred. The choice was made to recognize the Big Thicket as a national preserve. This meant that while the Big Thicket was protected, it did not receive the same level of federal protection as a national park, since activities such as hunting and oil and gas extraction were, and still are, permitted. After receiving the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation, the Big Thicket gained international recognition for its ecological value. These Animals Disappeared from the Big Thicket Saber-toothed tigers once roamed in the Big Thicket. Daniel Eskridge/Shutterstock.com The Big Thicket transitioned from an area completely submerged by water to a place that not only sustained life but also allowed it to thrive. During the Paleolithic Age, the Big Thicket became a forested region after glaciers held ocean water in a solid state. As the forest grew and became lusher, it brought with it an abundance of animals. By the end of the Paleolithic Age and the beginning of the Mesolithic Age, animals both great and small lived in the Big Thicket. In the Big Thicket, some of the animals that lived in the lush environment included: Mastodons Elephants American horse Taylors bison Camels Tapirs Giant sloths Beavers Armadillos Dire wolves Sabre-toothed tigers However, as climate change altered the environment and people began to hunt larger animals, they eventually started to go extinct. Of the animals that were once abundant in the Big Thicket, only a few of their descendants remain, with other, smaller animals now occupying their ecological niches. Animals That Call the Big Thicket Home Today Louisiana black bears are found in the Big Thicket today. Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock.com It is no wonder that the Big Thicket is known as the biological crossroads of North America. With more than 1,100 different species of plants and trees, 300 species of birds that are both migratory and nesting, nearly 100 species of reptiles, 60 species of mammals, and thousands of species of insects, the Big Thicket is a diverse ecosystem that sustains a rich array of life in one region of Texas. Just as it was thousands of years ago, the Big Thicket is still home to species such as armadillos and beavers. Today, however, other species are thriving in the ecosystems that make up the Big Thicket. Some of the mammals that call the Big Thicket home today include: Wild boar Coyote Bobcats Louisiana black bear White-tailed deer American mink Virginia oppossum American black bear In more recent history, the Big Thicket was also home to American bison, Florida jaguars, ocelots, and muskrats. However, these mammals are no longer part of the ecosystem. Whether due to excessive logging, oil drilling, or overhunting, these animals will never return to the area. The post Inside the Big Thicket, Texass Biodiversity Hotspot appeared first on A-Z Animals. Donald Trump is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images An Iranian group promoted on state-backed television claims to have raised more than $40 million as a reward for President Donald Trumps assassination, according to a new report. The Blood Covenant movement is offering the cash to anyone who kills Trump in the cause of Allah to retaliate for recent American and Israeli military strikes on Iran, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reported Wednesday, citing its own translations of the movements website. The U.S. government has repeatedly linked alleged assassination plots against Trump to Iran, and the Islamic regimes religious leaders are reportedly issuing commands for supporters to take the presidents life. (RELATED: China-Linked Protest Network Wasted No Time Rallying For Iran After Trump Strikes) An Iran-based website offers viewers the chance to donate toward a growing bounty on President Donald Trumps life, according to the Middle East media Research Institute. (Screenshot via thaar.ir) The state-backed Iranian television station Fars News Agency broadcasted an official statement from the Blood Covenant movement, highlighting it as an effort to defend Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, MEMRI reported. The think tank said a Muslim scholar also promoted the fundraising campaign on another state-backed outlet on July 3. This is a religious obligation incumbent upon every Muslim, the scholar said, according to MEMRI. We operate in a heightened and very dynamic threat environment and the safety and security of the President and all of our protectees remains our highest priority, a Secret Service official told the Daily Caller News Foundation in response to the Blood Covenant threat. To preserve operational integrity, we cannot comment on specific protective intelligence matters. However, our teams work around the clock with international, federal, state, and local partners to ensure the highest levels of protection. The Pentagon declined to comment. Trump decided to bomb Irans nuclear sites on the night of June 21 following years of assurances from the president that Tehran could not be allowed to develop nuclear capabilities. Trump announced two days later that Iran had agreed to a ceasefire with Israel after the countries exchanged strikes for nearly two weeks in June. Federal prosecutors charged three people in November for allegedly plotting to kill Trump on behalf of Iran, one of multiple assassination plots against the president linked to the Islamic Republic. One of Irans grand ayatollahs issued a fatwa an Islamic legal ruling calling for Trumps death after the June nuclear site bombings, according to multiple watchdog groups. Threatening any American, not least President Trump, is extremely unwise, a State Department spokesperson told the DCNF. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. 62N car rental A self-navigating car in the Faroe Islands. Key Points The Faroe Islands launched a new tourism initiative featuring rental cars with built-in audio guides and surprise itineraries to lesser-known locations. The program aims to combat overtourism by directing travelers away from crowded hot spots and toward more authentic, locally loved experiences. The self-guided journeys cost around $103 per day and include curated routes and local storytelling. If you ever find yourself craving more from a tripsomething real, something local, something beyond the guidebooksdont build your itinerary around the usual must-see spots. In fact, according to a 2024 McKinsey & Company report, around 80 percent of travelers visit just 10 percent of global attractionsleaving much of the world untouched and unexplored. Its no different in the Faroe Islands, a Danish archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean between Iceland and Norway. But in the Faroe Islands, theyre doing something interesting about it. With the help of Google Maps, Visit Faroe Islands (the official tourism board) recently launched a fleet of rental cars with a built-in tour guide. When you rent one of these vehicles, you agree to follow an itinerary that leads to some of the islands quieter, lesser-known cornersfrom roadside eateries to tiny villages tucked in spectacular fjords. The idea is to avoid the crowds going to the next must-see site and instead encourage visitors to experience the islands lesser-touristed spots. When you rent the car, you agree to follow the cars step-by-step directions, with no idea what the days destinations will be. 62N car rental A car on a scenic road trip through the Faroe Islands. Across the globe, tourists gather around the same iconic 'hot spots', driven by algorithms and social media that create a closed ecosystem where images from popular places attract even more people to those very locations. The result is overtourismand predictable experiences," Guri Hjgaard, chief executive officer for Visit Faroe Islands, said in a press release obtained by Travel + Leisure. Faroe Islands have experienced increasing pressure on selected sites themselves, and now we are trying to reverse the flowquite literally. After booking with 62N car rental, a partner of Visit Faroe Islands, travelers scan a QR code to activate turn-by-turn directions that lead to the days sites. Along the way, local stories are shared. In addition to taking travelers to locally loved places, the itinerary helps disperse tourists, who traditionally all head to a destinations top three sites. It is a first-of-its-kind approach to curbing overtourism, while giving travelers experiences they cravethose that are locally driven, authentic, and void of crowds. We set out to explore how technology and creativity could offer a new way for travelers to discover the Faroesone that leads them into places they might never find on their own, said Hjgaard. This is a more thoughtful kind of journey, designed to both protect whats most beloved and reveal spots often overlooked. With this initiative, we hope to lead by example, demonstrating how destinations can embrace innovation to spread tourism more responsibly and meaningfully. The 30 itineraries, which were curated from a locals' perspectives, include activities like visiting a roadside fish-and-chip stand, a hike in the fjords, and a visit to historic sites set along Europes tallest sea cliffs. The Faroe Islands self-navigating cars can be booked on the Faroe Islands' tourism site starting July 8. Rates start at around $103 a day and are no more expensive than a traditional rental careven though they include the cost of the itinerary and audio guide. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure I've been to many famous wine regions around the world, but a few stand out. GoodLifeStudio/Getty Images I write about wine for my job and have been to 77 wine regions around the world. Some of my favorite regions are Breede River Valley, Napa Valley, Tuscany, and McLaren Vale. In my opinion, these regions define the peak of the wine-making and consumption experience. I travel to wine regions across the world for my work as a freelance wine writer. As part of my "research duties," I've hunted for truffles in Barolo, touched down at the only winery in the US with its own airport, and even explored a prison island in Italy that utilizes viticulture to rehabilitate inmates and teach them new skills while also producing world-class wine. Although I've been to 77 wine regions, not every single one is worth revisiting. There are just five I'd return to tomorrow if given the chance. Napa Valley is like Disneyland for adults who love wine. There's so much to do in Napa that it feels like a theme park. alacatr/Getty Images There's nothing like California's Napa Valley region, which is complete with a stunning 47-mile bike trail through wine country and, of course, incredible wine. Part of the area's charm is the small size, coupled with the incredible diversity found within. It's compact enough to be drivable in less than an hour. Even so, I truly believe you could spend a lifetime exploring Napa, without getting thirsty or bored. It's got more than 400 wineries and dozens of urban tasting rooms to choose from, plus some of the most critically acclaimed cabernet sauvignons in the world. Some of the local wine experiences are also pretty unique, including the Napa Valley Wine Train, with hourslong curated experiences that include gourmet food pairings. Don't miss this winery: If there's one winery you have to visit in Napa, it's Domaine Carneros. Set in the rolling hills of Carneros and celebrated for its methode traditionelle sparkling wine, it is a must-visit for tasting experiences. McLaren Vale is a gem in Australia. McLaren Vale is a beautiful part of Australia. iTraveller/Getty Images Australia is vast, with 65 different wine regions crushing over a million tons of grapes a year. However, one of the country's most definitive and stunning regions is also one of its most accessible: McLaren Vale. Just 45 minutes south of Adelaide, the 168-square-mile region is fairly laid-back and situated between pristine beaches on the Gulf St. Vincent coast and Mount Lofty Ranges. One of the best ways to visit wine country in McLaren Vale is on two wheels. Consider biking the Shiraz Trail, which passes iconic wineries like Hugh Hamilton, Serafino, and Oxenberry. Don't miss this winery: If you're in McLaren Vale, visit D'Arenberg. The historic winery produces an incredible range of quirkily named bottles with names like Dead Arm and Low Life. However, the real draw for visitors is the mind-bending five-story Cube on the property. The building's highlight is a tasting room at the top with panoramic views of McLaren Vale, the Willunga Hills, and the Gulf St. Vincent. Bordeaux is a must-visit wine region in France. Bordeaux is a must-visit place for those who love wine. Agnieszka Glowala/Getty Images There are thousands of wineries and more than 270,000 acres of grapes under vine in Bordeaux. The wider region consists famously of the Left Bank and Right Bank regions, situated on either side of the Gironde River. Traditionally, Bordeaux wines are blends Left Bank wines are typically dominated by cabernet sauvignon, and Right Bank wines are ruled by merlot. Beyond wine, the city offers impressive museums, stunning neoclassical buildings, gorgeous river walks, and many farm-to-table bistros and wine bars. I've spent days just strolling around Bordeaux, running into architectural masterpieces and hole-in-the-wall wine shops with hundreds of coveted, impossible-to-buy-elsewhere bottles. Plus, it's just a two-hour train ride from Paris, making it an excellent stop if you want to experience local wine culture during a trip to the City of Lights. Don't miss this winery: If you're just swooping into Bordeaux for a brief trip, head to Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Visits are by reservation only, and include tours of the winery's own Museum of Wine in Art with exceptional rarities and original artworks created by contemporary painters for Mouton Rothschild's famous, unique labels for each vintage. South Africa's Breede River Valley is stunning. The Breede River Valley is worth visiting. David Silverman/Getty Images South Africa offers some of the world's most stunning and progressive wine regions, with hundreds of thousands of acres of grapes under vine. I suggest visiting the Breede River Valley, one of the largest wine production areas in the Western Cape. Almost encircled by mountain ranges, the 80-mile-long valley hosts a range of boutique operations producing premium wines and sprawling co-ops cranking out value-priced wines on a large scale. Don't miss this winery: One of the best places to experience authentic South African charm is the Graham Beck Estate. The winery produces a range of entry-level to long-aged bottles and collectible Cap Classiques (made in the Champagne method). Plus, the sprawling estate is home to a variety of rare animals, including Cape leopards and zebras. Tuscany feels like a picture-perfect slice of Italy. Tuscany is a famous wine-producing region in central Italy. Egeris/Getty Images Tuscany is one of those rare places that actually looks, feels, and tastes even better than it does in the movies. It's the spiritual home of Italian wine, complete with unvarnished views of rolling hills populated by olive trees, vineyards, charming farmhouses, sunflowers, medieval castles, and enchanting towns. While tasting delectable wines (the area's known for its reds), you can also treat your palate to fresh olive oil, shaved truffles, and homemade pasta. Don't miss this winery: Castello Banfi was founded in 1978 by the Long Island-based Mariani family, but the history of the Banfi Castle dates back to the medieval era. Today, it's an almost cartoonishly perfect setting for an Italian wine adventure. Swing in for a day and tour the winery, vineyards, and portions of the castle. Stay for longer and dine at the Michelin-starred La Sala dei Grappoli, which serves elevated Puglian and Tuscan cuisine perfectly paired with Castello Banfi's Brunello wines. Read the original article on Business Insider Food & Wine / Costco Wholesale Key Points Costco reviewer, at-home sushi expert, and content creator Yutack Kang shares his favorite Japanese products and ingredients for Japanese cooking at Costco. Kang recommends buying the Ajinomoto Gyoza, frozen takoyaki, Kirkland Atlantic Salmon, Calrose or Kokuho Rose rice, and Fujiya Strawberry Sponge Cake. The creator also suggests that you shouldn't buy Kewpie mayonnaise at Costco, because the retailer sells a less-flavorful American formula of the popular condiment. Theres a reason Costco is called a bulk warehouse retailer. Theres a seemingly endless array of products and aisles at this affordable superstore, and navigating what you should buy can sometimes feel overwhelming it's impossible to locate every delicious gem on your own. Thats why we turn to Costco experts when were looking for some more informed insight into what we should buy. Also known as The Sushi Guy, Yutack Kangs Instagram and TikTok bios proudly proclaim that hes a Costco fanboy. Scroll through his social media feed, and it becomes clear that Kang has seemingly reviewed every item at Costco, with a focus on pan-Asian food products. Hes also an authority on making sushi at home, creating YouTube content that teaches home cooks how to make sushi with accessible ingredients, like salmon sourced from popular grocery chains. To help direct our and your next shopping trip at Costco towards the most delicious options possible, Kang shared his favorite Japanese ingredients at this fan-favorite retailer, ranging from sushi staples to the frozen, ready-to-eat items that are actually worth your money. The Japanese items you should buy at Costco Ajinomoto Gyoza Keeping a stash of dumplings in your freezer is an excellent strategy for ensuring you always have a quick dinner option available, but not all frozen dumplings are worthy of becoming a household staple. If youre on the hunt for Japanese gyoza, Kang says these are hands down my favorite dumplings at Costco. Without needing to add any ingredient besides water, these dumplings develop a crispy skirt as you pan-fry them. According to Kang, The dumpling skirt turns out perfectly every time, and the included sauce is spot on. Related: 8 Japanese Comfort Foods That Everyone Needs to Try Hes not the only fan of these frozen morsels; one Reddit thread proclaims that the Ajinomoto Pork and Chicken Gyoza are the easiest fried dumplings I have ever made I highly recommend them since you can just put them in the pan, turn the stovetop on medium-high, and add the water when they sizzle. Its amazing, like magic! Takoyaki Another find from the freezer aisle, these takoyaki come with 40 balls for around $15. Takoyaki are a popular Japanese street food, consisting of batter cooked in spherical molds and filled with small pieces of octopus. Takoyaki is also all about the sauces on top, which often include options like Japanese mayo, tangy takoyaki sauce, and bonito flakes. Kang emphasizes that These taste about 97% as close to what youd find from a Tokyo street vendor. With the right sauces, it's a fantastic deal for the quality. So while these arent the same as freshly made takoyaki youd find in Japan, theyre a convenient and affordable option for enjoying the dish at home. Atlantic Salmon Although these Kirkland-brand, frozen salmon filets arent labeled as sushi grade, Kang points out in an online review that they meet all of the safety qualifications theyre farm raised without parasites in their feed, and theyre frozen for the required minimum time period that you need for enjoying the fish raw. The content creator details that While [this is] not a traditional Japanese product, it works beautifully for homemade sushi and sashimi. Beyond that, in his video review, Kang also praises the salmon for having a fresh, non-fishy flavor and says its the easiest salmon option at Costco for making sushi. Related: The Korean Products You Should (and Shouldnt) Buy at Costco Calrose Rice (Kokuho Rose California Supreme) Because Costco is a bulk retailer, its the perfect place to buy large quantities of shelf-stable items, which will last forever and save you money on a per-serving basis. For Kang, this United States-grown, medium-grain rice is a staple in my kitchen. The quality is great, especially for making sushi at home, and the 25-pound bag is very reasonably priced. Kang does note that the label on this rice might look slightly different depending on the state youre in, so if it doesnt say California Rose at the top, dont worry. Fujiya Strawberry Sponge Cake This airy sponge cake with layers of whipped cream and strawberry-cherry jam comes pre-sliced, and its made by Fujiya, a Japanese bakery that's been open for over a century. After tasting the cake, Kang was pleasantly surprised by the consistency and flavor, especially for a frozen product. This treat isnt meant to be eaten frozen you can let it thaw overnight in the fridge and its ideal for anyone who doesnt like a dessert thats overly sweet. The Japanese items you shouldnt buy at Costco Kewpie Mayonnaise To be clear, Kang isnt saying that you shouldnt buy this beloved Japanese mayo at all. Instead, he suggests that you shouldnt be buying Kewpie mayo at Costco. The sushi expert explains that Costco carries the U.S. formula (sold as Kewpie Japanese-Style Mayonnaise), which unfortunately doesnt compare to the Japanese version. I actually made a video comparing the two the taste difference is noticeable, and not in a good way. Related: What to Eat in Osaka, From Okonomiyaki to Skewers of Fried Everything To identify whether Kewpie is made according to the U.S. recipe or the original Japanese version, look at the back of the bottle. The American formula will have water listed as one of the primary ingredients, and the Japanese version will also say product of Japan on the container. Heres hoping Costco adds the original Kewpie to its inventory, but in the meantime well head to specialty retailers or opt for online orders to acquire this tangy, rich mayo. Read the original article on Food & Wine CHRISTINE OLSSON/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and his wife Birgitta Ed on December 26, 2024. NEED TO KNOW Bodyguards using the fitness app Strava have inadvertently shared the locations and movements of Sweden's prime minister and royal family members Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter tracked over 1,400 workouts by seven bodyguards, revealing sensitive locations including the prime minister's home address A Strava spokesman said, "To be clear, there has not been a leak or breach of user data. We expect Strava users working in sensitive professions to leverage the privacy settings available" Bodyguards for the Swedish royal family and Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson accidentally revealed top-secret location info via a fitness app. The New York Times shared the information published by the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter this week. Using the Strava app, Dagens Nyheter was able to track over 1,400 workouts by seven bodyguards over the past year, revealing the prime minister's home address, King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia's vacation information, top state meetings and more. According to The Guardian, their tracked movements included spots around the world, from Central Park in New York City to areas close to the Ukrainian border in Poland. The Swedish Security Police take the information very seriously, said a spokesperson for Sakerhetspolisen (SAPO), per NBC News. This is a matter of data that could be used to gather information about the activities of our Service. Dignitaries that our Service is responsible for protecting are subject to several layers of protection, where their close protection by bodyguards is one layer, the spokesperson added. Our Service is now taking the necessary steps to ensure that our procedures are followed closely, so that this does not happen again." PONTUS LUNDAHL/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden The prime ministers office and the Swedish Royal Court did not offer a comment on the report. Dagens Nyheter reported that Swedish police were investigating the data. "To be clear, there has not been a leak or breach of user data, a Strava spokesman told The New York Times. We expect Strava users working in sensitive professions to leverage the privacy settings available. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! This isn't the first time Strava has given away the movements of world leaders. In 2024, French newspaper Le Monde examined "security holes" that revealed the locations of France's President Emmanuel Macron, then-U.S. President Joe Biden, and more. Read the original article on People Derek White/Getty/Netflix Tyler Perry attends a screening of 'Madea's Destination Wedding' on July 10, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. NEED TO KNOW Tyler Perry attended a screening for his latest film Madea's Destination Wedding in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, June 10 The actor was sued less than a month ago by Derek Dixon for $260 million over allegations of sexual harassment, assault and retaliation, among other complaints An attorney for Perry has said in a statement the allegations are "a scam" and "we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail" Tyler Perry appeared to be in good spirits while at a screening for his latest film Madea's Destination Wedding, less than month since a $260 million lawsuit was filed against the actor and director over alleged sexual harassment, assault and retaliation. Perry, 55, attended a special screening of his Netflix film at the Regal Atlantic Station on Thursday, June 10. The film, currently available on the streamer, is the 13th film in the Madea cinematic universe. Written and directed by Perry, and filmed partially on location in the Bahamas, Madea's Destination Wedding also stars Diamond White, Taja V. Simpson, Xavier Smalls, Cassi Davis, Tamela Mann, David Mann and Jermaine Harris. According to a synopsis, Madea and her crew start "stirring up chaos and heartwarming fun" in the Bahamas after "Brian and his ex-wife Debrah are shocked to learn their daughter Tiffany is engaged to a rapper she met on a yacht and the wedding is in two weeks." Derek White/Getty/Netflix Tyler Perry at screening for 'Madea's Destination Wedding' on July 10, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Perry's public appearance comes nearly a month since actor Derek Dixon filed a lawsuit against Perry on June 13 in Los Angeles for $260 million over alleged sexual harassment, assault and retaliation. He has accused Perry of creating "a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic" between them while he was starring on the filmmaker's shows The Oval and Ruthless, on which Dixon played a character named Dale. Matthew Boyd, an attorney for Perry, responded to Dixon's complaint in a statement to PEOPLE, saying, "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam." "But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail," the statement continued. Dixon spoke out for the first time since filing the lawsuit in an email interview with The Hollywood Reporter published the same day as Perry's Madea screening, saying that the entire experience has been "terrifying" but that he "couldn't just let him get away with this." "Everyone deserves to go to work and do their job without their boss trying to have sex with them," Dixon said. "My goal is to help ensure that the next generation of actors and creatives don't have to choose between their dreams and their dignity." Perry has yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit. Netflix 'Madea's Destination Wedding' begins streaming on Netflix on July 11, 2025. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In June, Perry spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about the success of the Madea franchise, which has spanned two decades. "I'm filled with a tremendous amount of pride when I think of how Madea has continuously captivated audiences throughout the years," Perry shared. "Shes meant to bring joy, laughter and comfort, and to see people are still watching and enjoying is a wonderful thing," he added. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. Read the original article on People Photo by Irwan on Unsplash (The Center Square) Thirty-four Nevada hospitals across 13 counties are set to lose about $232 million as Medicaid qualifications get the squeeze. The federal government has put Medicaid on the tax cut chopping block, with nearly 115,000 Nevadans losing their health insurance. Senate Republicans voted to raise costs on working families, rip health care from Nevadans who need it, and kill good-paying jobs across our state to ensure their billionaire friends save on their taxes, said U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto, D-Nevada, in a press release after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed. Those words have been echoed among Nevada Democrats since the bill was passed and it slashed Medicaid access. Across the U.S. an estimated $24 billion in revenue will be lost by hospitals, with $232 million wiped out in Nevada alone. The Washington D.C.-based research group Third Way found that hospitals in 13 of Nevadas 17 counties will experience lost revenue none less than $250,000 with the largest being over $45 million by the University Medical Center in Las Vegas. The public health insurance program is designed for Americans with lower incomes, often covering disabled people. Of the roughly 800,000 Nevadans currently enrolled in Medicaid, an estimated 115,000 are no longer eligible. The cuts are pretty significant, especially looking at rural hospitals, Darbin Wofford, the deputy director at Third Way, told The Center Square. Taking a step back, nationwide its the largest medicaid cut in history. Between 2025 and 2034, the cut is expected to save $1 trillion, coming from a number of changes to the Medicaid program. One of the most popular changes is the strict ban on insuring illegal immigrants under Medicaid. Illegal immigrants are insured under Medi-Cal, California's version of Medicaid. The largest chunk of savings and disenrollments come from changes to the Affordable Care Act. For non-disabled people insured under the 2010 Medicaid expansion during the passage of Obamacare, the biggest change will be a work requirement. Many people covered under this program have chronic conditions that do not qualify them as disabled. Starting in 2027, anybody covered under ACA that is 19-64 years old will need to work or otherwise serve the community 80 hours per month to receive any coverage. People who can work, already do work, who are on Medicaid, said Wofford. As a result, work requirements, both when it was tried in Georgia and Arkansas, have proven not to actually increase employment. But for supporters of Medicaid, the longer-term worry is that hospitals especially those in rural areas will be shuttered. If people are losing their Medicaid coverage, they still need to go to the emergency room, they still need to get health care, but what happens is that theyll go to the emergency room, and that care that the hospital provides will go uncompensated, said Wofford. And the hospital ultimately will have to take that loss. Hospitals at immediate risk of closure are reportedly those in rural areas and safety net hospitals that take in outsized portions of Medicaid recipients, often in poorer urban areas. For Republicans who passed the bill, the focus is on savings and eliminating waste. While this bill takes a significant step in helping modernize our healthcare system, I believe that more work will be done this Congress on the issue, said U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nevada, in a press release. Amodel voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Rep. Amodei added that Medicaid enrollment had exploded across the last 15 years, to an annual cost of $870 billion in 2023. The inflated price of the public healthcare system has been the primary rally for opponents of the program, but one that still has caused division among Republicans. Nevada has demonstrated that federal investment in the states Medicaid program has improved both health outcomes and productivity, yet challenges remain, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican, said in a February press release. He urged the federal government to maintain the program. By leveraging federal funding, the state has expanded access to school health services, lowered the uninsured rate, and made significant progress in enhancing behavioral health care for both children and adults," Lombardo said. He has not spoken about Medicaid since the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill, and his office did not respond to a request for comment by The Center Square. Lombardo and Nevadas other leaders have yet to release a plan to deal with the Medicaid cuts. While many hospitals will be at risk of closure, others will look to stay afloat by shifting the cost to privately insured people. If theyre getting less from Medicaid, theyre going to charge people with private insurance more, and thats going to increase premiums for people who have private insurance," said Wofford, It really affects everybody you cant squeeze 20% of the health care population, and expect it to have zero effect on the rest of the population. Wofford added that states like Nevada will have to make one of a few financially unsavory choices in the wake of the Medicaid change. It can be a decrease in funding for the providers, it can mean further cuts in coverage because they cant cover everybody, it can be cuts in other parts of the state budget like transportation and education, which are pretty heavy budget items. Or it can mean increases in taxes on the population Its difficult to tell exactly how each state will react," Wofford said. DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran plans to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog despite restrictions imposed by its parliament, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Saturday, while stressing that access to its bombed nuclear sites posed security and safety issues. A new law passed in Iran following last month's Israeli and U.S. bombing campaign stipulates that inspection of Iran's nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) needs approval by the Supreme National Security Council, Iran's top security body. The Israeli and U.S. strikes targeted a nuclear programme which Western countries have long said was aimed at building an atomic weapon. Iran has long said its nuclear programme is purely peaceful. Any negotiations over Iran's future nuclear programme are likely to require its cooperation with the IAEA, which angered Iran last month by declaring on the eve of the Israeli strikes that Tehran was violating non-proliferation treaty commitments. "The risk of spreading radioactive materials and the risk of exploding leftover munitions ... are serious," state media cited Araqchi as saying. "For us, IAEA inspectors approaching nuclear sites has both a security aspect ... and the safety of the inspectors themselves is a matter that must be examined." While Iran's cooperation with the nuclear watchdog has not stopped, it will take a new form and will be guided and managed through the Supreme National Security Council, Araqchi told Tehran-based diplomats. "The IAEA's requests for continued monitoring in Iran will be ... decided on a case-by-case basis by the Council with consideration to safety and security issues," Araqchi said. Iran will not agree to any nuclear deal that does not allow it to enrich uranium, Araqchi reiterated. Iran would only agree to talks limited to its nuclear programme and not encompassing defence issues such as its missiles. Axios cited sources on Saturday as saying Russian President Vladimir Putin had voiced support for the idea of an accord in which Tehran would be barred from enriching uranium. Iran's semi-official news agency Tasnim quoted an "informed source" as saying Putin had not sent any such message to Iran. Speaking to the state news agency IRNA, Araqchi said Iran was carefully considering the details of any renewed nuclear talks with the U.S. and seeking assurances that Washington would not again resort to military force. "We are in no hurry to enter into unconsidered negotiations," he added. Araqchi also said any move by Britain, France and Germany to reimpose international sanctions on Iran through a so-called "snapback" mechanism under an earlier nuclear deal would "end Europe's role" in Iran's nuclear issue. Under the terms of a U.N. resolution ratifying a 2015 nuclear pact, the three European powers could reimpose United Nations sanctions against Tehran by October 18, 2025. (Reporting by Dubai newsroomEditing by Tomasz Janowski, Sharon Singleton, Peter Graff) By Olena Harmash KYIV (Reuters) -Russia pounded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles on Saturday, in the fourth major attack this month, targeting western cities and killing at least two people in Chernivtsi on the border with Romania. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Russia launched 597 drones and 26 missiles, killing two people, wounding 20, and damaging civilian infrastructure from Kharkiv and Sumy in the northeast to Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernivtsi in the west. Ukrainian air defence units shot down 25 missiles and 319 Shahed drones and jammed 258 other drones with electronic warfare, the air force said. "The pace of Russias aerial strikes demands swift decisions and it can be curbed now by sanctions," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram app, issuing a fresh call for tough sanctions on Russia and more air defence for Ukraine. "This war can only be stopped through strength. We expect not just signals from our partners, but actions that will save lives." The attack is the latest in a series of massive aerial strikes over recent weeks. Russia has significantly ramped up its drones and missile strikes on Ukraine since June. The UN Human Rights monitoring mission in Ukraine said that June saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in three years, with 232 killed and 1,343 injured. Ukraine's Western cities of Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernivtsi suffered the most during the overnight attack, officials said. Ruslan Zaparaniuk, the governor of the Chernivetskyi region, said that a 26-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were killed and 14 others wounded as Russian drones and a missile struck the city, located about 40 km (24 miles) from Ukraine's border with Romania. Several fires broke out across the city, and residential houses and administrative buildings were damaged, regional officials said. In the city of Lviv, on Ukraine's border with Poland, 46 residential houses, a university building, the city's courts, and about 20 buildings housing small and medium-sized businesses were damaged in the attack, the mayor said. "Windows and doors were blown out. Curtains fell, TV set was hurled. The apartment is covered in glass shards. It is horrible," Oleh Sidorov, 64, told Reuters in Lviv. "I want to clean the apartment. But I do not know how I will sleep during the night, there is no window." (Additional reporting by Andriy Perun in Lviv Editing by Tomasz Janowski, William Maclean) Summer 'Beach Bus' Shuttle HM The Ministry of Transport and the Gibraltar Bus Company are pleased to announce the commencement of a beach shuttle service which will start as from Tuesday 15th July 2025 and up until 31st August. The Beach Bus' will depart from Europa Point bus stop, travelling along Europa Advance Road and servicing all bus stops up to and including Hassan Centenary Terraces, making stops to access Sandy Bay, Catalan Bay and Eastern Beach. It will then return to Europa Point via Europa Advance Road servicing all bus stops along the way. The shuttle will stop at Black Strap Cove for Sandy Bay passengers who wish to catch this bus to return to Europa Point. The service will commence from Europa Point at midday until 3:30pm and restart at 4:30pm until 7pm. Beach-goers can either park at Europa Point or take Bus No 2 to Europa Point and change there. The public is encouraged to consider this service before using their private vehicles to go to the beach. This will alleviate parking issues and reduce pollution. By Max A. Cherney SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -A bipartisan pair of U.S. senators sent a letter to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Friday about an upcoming trip to China, warning the CEO to refrain from meeting with companies that are suspected of undermining U.S. chip export controls. The letter from Republican Senator Jim Banks and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren asked Huang to also abstain from meeting with representatives of companies that are working with the People's Republic of China's military or intelligence bodies. The senators also asked Huang to refrain from meeting with entities named on the U.S. restricted export list. "We are worried that your trip to the PRC could legitimize companies that cooperate closely with the Chinese military or involve discussing exploitable gaps in U.S. export controls," the senators wrote. Huang planned to visit China on Friday. An Nvidia spokesperson said, "American wins" when its technology sets "the global standard," and that China has one of the largest bodies of software developers in the world. AI software "should run best on the U.S. technology stack, encouraging nations worldwide to choose America," the spokesperson said. In May at the Computex trade show in Taipei, Huang praised President Donald Trump's decision to scrap some artificial intelligence chip export controls and described the prior diffusion rules as a failure. U.S. restrictions in April on AI chips Nvidia modified to comply with export controls to China would reduce Nvidia's revenue by $15 billion, the CEO said. The hardware necessary to power advanced AI is now subject to a bipartisan consensus related to the free export of such hardware, the senators wrote. Advanced AI hardware could "accelerate the PRC's effort to modernize its military," the letter reads. U.S. lawmakers have grown increasingly concerned about efforts to circumvent export controls to China and proposed a law that would force AI chip companies to verify the location of their products. Last month, Reuters reported that a senior U.S. official said the AI firm DeepSeek is aiding China's military and intelligence operations, and sought to use shell companies to circumvent U.S. AI chip export controls to China. Nvidia is planning to launch a cheaper version of its flagship Blackwell AI chips for China, Reuters reported in May. The senators said in the letter they had previously expressed concern that Nvidia's actions could support the AI and chip industries in China and cited Nvidia's new research facility in Shanghai as an example. (Reporting by Max A. Cherney in San FranciscoEditing by Rod Nickel) Food & Wine / Soter Vineyards, Tendril Wine Cellars, Kristof Farms Oregon wine country, primarily the Willamette Valley, is known for its world-class Pinot Noirs. Roses may not come to mind when people think of Oregon wines, but the style has taken off in recent years, and for good reason. On some of the oldest soils in the Willamette Valley, winemakers are using Pinot Noir to make some of the most exciting roses in the country. Related: These 7 Bottles Are the Must-Drink Rose Champagnes of Summer The Yamhill-Carlton AVA Just an hour from Portland, Oregon, Yamhill-Carlton is a relatively new American Viticultural Area (AVA). Named after two hamlets, the region began grape growing and winemaking about 40 years ago. Expat winemakers joined with established locals who had built their careers in neighboring California to buy land and plant grapevines. Their efforts made the region a player in the national market. This year, the AVA celebrated its 20th anniversary. Courtesy of Andrea Johnson Photography Located at the end of the Oregon Trail and surrounded by the Chehalem Mountains and Dundee Hills, this picturesque region grows not only Pinot Noir, but also Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Riesling. The ancient sedimentary soils provide excellent drainage and moisture. Wineries practice sustainable and organic farming that allow their wines to reflect the exceptional terroir. Almost all the AVAs 63 wineries and 127 vineyards are family-owned and operated, and the winemakers firmly believe in camaraderie and mutual support. Everybody asks me when I am going to retire, says Jay McDonald, the owner and winemaker of EIEIO & Company winery. But I am not going to. I will just die here. As McDonald talks next to his rustic, cozy tasting cottage on the hill of an oak tree-lined road that overlooks lavish, green vineyards, you can understand why. Related: Yes, You Can and Should Age Rose Oregon rose wine style Oregon winemaking pioneers, Tony Soter and his wife, Michelle, returned to their native state after a long and successful career in Napa with a distinct goal: to make Pinot Noir. Their first vintage, in 1997, was a sparkling rose made in the traditional French methode champenoise. Courtesy of Carolyn Wells Kramer According to Tony, Yamhill-Carltons sedimentary soil allows wines to achieve the right minerality and earthiness with minimal intervention. Restraining is the hardest thing, he says. A lot of winemakers think that they are alchemists, and its all about the magic that they do in the cellar. All this time working and growing beautiful grapes, the last thing I want to do is anything more than try to render them as honorably as possible. Chris Fladwood, director of winemaking and viticulture at Soter Vineyards, employs Tonys philosophy to make this signature sparkling rose, as well as still rose wines. Before winemakers in Yamhill-Carlton bottle their signature Pinot Noir wines, they harvest the grapes to make roses. They use single or multiple clones, and each producer adds their own unique twist. "We release the wine young, so the style is fresh and vibrant with lots of Pacific Northwest characteristics." Tony Rynders, winemaker, Tendril Wine Cellar Tony Rynders, an acclaimed Pacific Northwest winemaker, makes Tendril Wine Cellars rose under the label Childs Play. Rynders two daughters, Madeline and Audrey, painted the label to reflect the wines flavorful and approachable character. Rynders believes the appellation offers a more fruit-driven style of rose. Tendril Cellars rose is 100% Pinot Noir, crushed and left to cold soak" for four or more days prior to fermentation. This is a little longer than most roses in the Willamette Valley. The wine is bottled in December, just two months after vinification. We release the wine young, so the style is fresh and vibrant with lots of Pacific Northwest characteristics, he says. At Big Table Farm, another Napa expat couple, winemaker Brian Marcy and artist Clare Carver, direct-press Pinot Noir for their Laughing Pig Rose. They place the grape on top of an equal amount of 100% whole cluster fruit to let it soak and slowly ferment for several days. The extra skin contact gives the wine a dark color and full body, with lots of fruit and spice. Big Table Farm began this style in 2007, when Oregon had a particularly cool year. Although Brian had 10 years of winemaking under his belt, it was only our second year here in Oregon making wine, and the low sugar had us concerned about making the Pinot fruit into red wine, says Carver. Out of an abundance of caution, we made all the Pinot fruit into rose, and this house style of rose was born. Ximena Orrego, the founder of Atticus Wines, believes that roses in the region have an underlying similarity. One of the typical characteristics, the common vein of rose in Yamhill-Carlton, is minerality, the savory element that runs through the vines, she says. Courtesy of Kayt Mathers Twenty-plus years ago, Orrego and her husband, Guy Insley, sought to find a retirement destination. Instead, they discovered a grass and clover farm in the Willamette Valley that would become the home of Atticus Wines. The couple purchased it in 2004, and a year later began to plant the vines and build their barn-style house in the middle of the vineyard. Rose represents just 10% of Atticus Wines production, but Orrego takes it very seriously. The winemaker picks the Pinot Noir grapes seven to 10 days before the actual harvest to make a very intentional, acid-driven rose. I treat it very much like white wine, she says. When it goes to primary fermentation, I manage it very closely, so it wont go spontaneously to secondary fermentation. I want to keep that brightness, so it stays crisp and more tropical and has that white peach-skin element that I love. Rose as a new path for the next generation A decade after they produced their first amateur wine in 1971, Trudy and Keith Kramer purchased land in Garston and established Kramer Vineyards, where they specialized in growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. Today, their daughters, Kim and Rebecca, continue Kramers craft with expanded operations, sustainable farming practices, and a focus on micro-lots, sparkling wines, and stylistic explorations. On one of the highest-elevation sites of the vineyard, a block is dedicated to rose. Its a dry, vibrant, and layered wine made of early-picked fruit. Its foot-crushed, cold-pressed, and cool-fermented in stainless steel, then aged briefly on fine lees (dead yeast particles collected at the bottom of a fermentation vessel) to build texture. Courtesy of RJ Photography With rose, I see it as another expression of Pinot Noir, a different continuum of flavors, shaped by site, vintage, and intention, says Rebecca, the winery director. At Solena Estate, rose is made as a blend, a very different technique from other wineries in the region. But in Solena, many things are different. The 80-acre estate was a wedding present that winemakers Laurent Montalieu and Danielle Andrus gifted one another to start a wine label, named after their daughter. Every year, its rose blend changes. We actually color the wine by blending red and white together, says Joe Paradise, Solenas director of consumer sales and hospitality. By the numbers, its more of a white blend that includes a splash of Pinot Noir. This gives it a more pronounced aroma and more body, while still retaining freshness and acidity. The wine boasts another surprise. Some vintages include the 828 clone of Pinot Noir, a cutting of which Gary Andrus, Danielles father, smuggled from Burgundy inside the lining of his jacket. Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn were the first married couple to win a Pulitzer Prize for journalism. They earned the honor in 1990 for their coverage of the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre that appeared in The New York Times. The couple also continues a nearly century-old legacy at Kristof Farm with their award-winning apple ciders and wines. They are involved in barrel tasting and marketing the rose alongside their other wines, but have entrusted main operations to their general manager, Anthony King. Kristof Farms makes its rose by following the guidance of Adam Campbell, owner and partner winemaker of the local Elk Cove Vineyards. Campbell chose a special site on the south side of the lower Pinot Noir blocks at the farm. The tall, old-growth fir trees allow for slower ripening that produces less sugar and more acidity. It is an elegant solution that not only allows us to make a lower-alcohol, vibrant rose, but also results in more evenly ripe and focused Pinot Noir from the upper portions of those blocks, says King. Yamhill-Carlton AVA rose bottles to try 2024 Soter Vineyards Estates Rose of Pinot Noir Food & Wine / Soter Vineyards The grapes for this wine are sourced from organically farmed Ribbon Ridge Estate. Its aged in 70% natural French Oak and 30% stainless steel, and it offers notes of ripe peach, strawberries, and nectarine. 2024 Tendril Wines Childs Play Pinot Noir Rose Food & Wine / Tendril Wine Cellars This food-friendly rose is made with extended skin contact, which makes for a full-bodied and richly textured wine. The notes are raspberries, melon, peach, and a hint of rosemary. 2024 The Laughing Pig Rose, Big Table Farm Food & Wine / big table farm This is a dry, complex rose aged in French Oak barrels. On the nose, it has bright strawberries, orange, and chamomile tea. 2024 Kristof Farms Rose Food & Wine / Kristof Farms This second vintage of Kristof Farms is made of early-picked Pinot Noir grapes and is bright and fruit-forward. It has bursting notes of grapefruit, cherry, and wild strawberries. Read the original article on Food & Wine Joshua Sammer/Getty; Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Prince Harry in 2023; King Charles in 2024 NEED TO KNOW Senior aides for Prince Harry and King Charles met in London signaling the first real step toward healing the royal family rift The informal talks, seen as an olive branch, opened a channel of communication for the first time in years The meeting comes after Harry expressed hope for reconciliation in a recent BBC interview In the strongest sign yet that Prince Harry and King Charles may be inching toward reconciliation, senior aides from both sides held a quiet meeting in London last week an apparent olive branch after years of estrangement. Meredith Maines, the Duke of Sussexs chief of staff and communications director, flew in from Montecito and was photographed meeting with Tobyn Andreae, King Charles communications secretary, on Wednesday, July 9. Also present was Liam Maguire, who oversees U.K. press for Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle. The Mail on Sunday was first to report the behind-the-scenes gathering. The informal talks held at the Royal Over-Seas League, a private members club just minutes from Clarence House reportedly involved no formal agenda but offered a rare opportunity for both sides to open a channel of communication for the first time in years, a source told the outlet. There were things both sides wanted to talk about. LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Prince Harry and King Charles in Sept. 2022 The source said the meeting was only the "first step towards reconciliation between Harry and his father, but at least it is a step in the right direction." While theres a long road ahead, the source told The Mail on Sunday, everyone just wants to move on and move forward now. It was finally the right time for the two sides to talk. PEOPLE understands that Maines visit to London was officially part of her routine duties. As Chief Communications Officer to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, she was in town to meet with the U.K.-based communications team, media contacts, stakeholders and senior figures connected to the Dukes patronages. The trip was part of ongoing planning and engagement. Related: Prince Harry Will Invite Prince William and King Charles to Upcoming Invictus Games in the U.K.: Report Buckingham Palace and a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex declined to comment when reached by PEOPLE. The meeting comes just weeks after Harry told the BBC that the door to reconciliation remains open. "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore, he said. The royal family's rift first became public in 2020 when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from their royal roles. The rift deepened with bombshell interviews, their Netflix docuseries and Harrys best-selling memoir Spare. Samir Hussein/WireImage Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in March 2020 Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Harry has publicly voiced grievances about how the couple was treated during their time as senior working royals, citing issues around press intrusion, family tensions and the toll on their mental health. While the road to reconciliation may be long, the quiet London summit suggests a shared interest in at least starting the conversation. Read the original article on People KERRVILLE, Texas Before the flash flooding in Texas' Hill Country materialized in the early hours of July 4, Kerr Countys most senior elected official said he had no inkling of the pending disaster that would sweep away structures and set off harrowing rescues across the region. We didnt know this flood was coming, County Judge Rob Kelly said at a news conference later that morning, in response to why summer camps along the rain-swollen Guadalupe River werent evacuated earlier, before many were missing or feared dead. We do not have a warning system, he added, referring to the sirens along the river in other counties, used to notify of imminent flooding. The following day, at a news conference with Gov. Greg Abbott and other state officials, Kelly said of the preparedness effort: Its just Hill Country, and we didnt know. In Texas, the county judge serves many functions in addition to judicial duties, including serving as the head of emergency management and handling many administrative functions in the county. But with a death toll surpassing 100 people 67 adults and 36 children in Kerr County alone and at least 166 still unaccounted for as of Friday, county officials are facing questions about what actions were taken ahead of the flooding and who was in command and communicating with the National Weather Service, particularly once the agency issued its first flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m. Efforts to reach Kelly this week, including by phone and at the emergency operations center, his office and his home, were unsuccessful. He hasnt spoken publicly since his appearances at news conferences in the immediate aftermath of the flood. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly after a news conference on July 5. (Rodolfo Gonzalez / AP) In addition, William Dub Thomas, Kerr Countys emergency management coordinator, has not spoken publicly and did not return repeated requests for comment. He also could not be reached at the emergency operations center or his home. Thomas, who has been the countys top emergency coordinator since 2015, is responsible for its emergency management plan, the emergency notification system known as CodeRed, its search and rescue team and other disaster-related duties, according to the Rotary Club of Kerrville website. Previously, while working for the Texas Department of Public Safety, Thomas helped direct the states response to several catastrophic events, including the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Kelly, a Republican who first took office in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022, has worked as a commercial litigation attorney and, in his role as county judge, he oversees Kerr Countys four-person commission and its budget. Kelly was a certified member of the Kerr County Community Emergency Response Team, according to a bio on the Rotary Club of Kerville website. I truly believe God has been preparing me for this position all my life, Kelly said in The Kerrville Daily Times in 2017 about running for the county judge before the election. I didnt go looking for this job, it came looking for me. Tom Pollard, the former county judge Kelly replaced, said that in any major event, such as a disaster that requires an evacuation, the emergency management coordinator is in charge but takes direction from the county judge. The buck stops with the county judges office, but the management director handles it and just gets going, Pollard said. And hell talk to a county judge every now and then, and if theres a decision that needs to be made, hell consult with the judge who makes a decision. Pollard said neither he nor his wife received emergency notifications on their phone in the early morning of the flooding. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring said Tuesday on MSNBC that he saw no emergency alerts and was awakened only by a call from City Manager Dalton Rice at 5:30 a.m. By daybreak, the Guadalupe River had risen 26 feet in 45 minutes, according to sensor data. Just after 4 a.m., the National Weather Service had upgraded its flash flood warning to an emergency for Kerr County, advising that it was a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW! Facebook posts from Kerrville police were posted after 5 a.m. regarding life threatening flooding, but its unclear whether officials were communicating with residents in other ways before then. Whether emergency alerts around that time would have been received on all phones is unclear. Spotty cell service or none at all is not uncommon in parts of the county, northwest of San Antonio. Others may not have had their phones with them, like the young girls who were staying at Camp Mystic in the unincorporated community of Hunt, where officials say at least 27 campers and staff members died. Federal Emergency Management Agency records obtained by NBC Dallas-Fort Worth show that Kerr County officials didnt use its Integrated Public Alert & Warning System, or IPAWS, to send warnings with safety instructions to all cellphones in the affected area the day of the flooding. As the water began rising in Kerr County, the National Weather Service delivered an IPAWS flood warning to phones as early as 1:14 a.m., NBC Dallas-Fort Worth reported. However, its up to county or city officials in general to send more urgent instructions, including whether to evacuate. Some families said they received a CodeRed alert from Kerr County, which is similar to an IPAWS message and can be sent via the sheriffs office. But the program allows people to opt out, meaning not everyone receives it. Dispatch audio obtained by NBC affiliate KXAN in Austin includes an Ingram volunteer firefighter asking a county sheriff dispatcher at 4:22 a.m. if they can send a CodeRed out to our Hunt residents, asking them to find higher ground or stay home? The dispatcher responds: We have to get that approved with our supervisor. Its unclear at what times CodeRed alerts were supposed to be sent. KXAN reported that one person near the flooded area said they received a voicemail at 1:14 a.m. from a number traced back to CodeRed, while another area resident received a CodeRed alert at 5:34 a.m. about the National Weather Services flash flood warning, suggesting inconsistencies among recipients countywide. The National Weather Services San Antonio office did not immediately return a request for comment Friday about any communications it may have had with Kerr County. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a news conference Wednesday that his priority remains search and rescue efforts, but noted there would be an after-action review of what happened on July 4. Well get them, Leitha said. I cant tell you when in a week or two, OK? Were going to get them. Raymond Howard, a council member in Ingram, another city in Kerr County, said he has a host of questions for county officials to investigate once the rescue efforts are exhausted, from preventative measures they plan to take going forward to the timing of emergency alerts. I did not get a CodeRed, Howard said, and Im signed up for CodeRed. Whats needed for the future, he said, is better planning and communication. Its too late for the victims and everything thats happened already, but for future floods, we can do something, Howard said. It will happen again. Minyvonne Burke reported from Kerrville and Erik Ortiz from New York. A Texas man was arrested July 10 and charged with threatening President Donald Trump before he toured the state's flood-damaged area, the Justice Department announced. Robert Herrera, 52, of San Antonio, commented on a local news outlets Facebook post pertaining to Trumps planned visit to the Texas Hill Country, according to court records. I wont miss, Herrera allegedly posted, along with a picture of Trump surrounded by Secret Service agents immediately after the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. After an exchange with another poster, Herrera allegedly posted a picture of an assault rifle with loaded magazines. Herrera was charged with making threats against a president and making interstate threatening communications. He faces a maximum five years in prison on each charge if convicted. To be clear, these types of threats will not be taken lightly, and we will always take a swift, aggressive approach, as was done here, said Western District of Texas U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons. U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad was assigned the case but hadn't taken any action by 6 p.m. July 11. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas man charged with threatening Trump day before flood-damage tour President Donald Trump is pictured in the Cabinet Room of the White House on April 17, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Credit - Win McNameeGetty Images The European Union (E.U.) will extend its suspension of retaliatory measures on U.S. goods, which were set to take effect in the coming days, in an effort to continue negotiations and hopefully procure a deal with the Trump Administration before the U.S. starts charging its higher tariffs on Aug. 1. Speaking at a news conference on Sunday, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, referenced the letter Trump had sent to the E.U., in which he announced his intention to impose a 30% tariff on E.U. products sent into the U.S., separate from all sectoral tariffs. We will therefore also extend the suspension of our countermeasures till early August. At the same time, we will continue to prepare further countermeasures so we are fully prepared," von der Leyen told reporters. We have always been very clear that we prefer a negotiated solution. This remains the case, and we will use the time that we have now till the 1st of August." Meanwhile, European leaders have spoken out in support of the European Commission's approach, but have urged action if negotiations fall through. "If a fair negotiated solution does not succeed, then we must take decisive countermeasures to protect jobs and companies in Europe," German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Sunday. "Our hand remains outstretched, but we will not go along with everything." French President Emmanuel Macron has also spoken out, encouraging a strong defense of "European interests." "France shares the same very strong disapproval at the announcement of horizontal 30% tariffs on E.U. exports to the United States from August 1st," he said via social media on Saturday. "With European unity, it is more than ever up to the Commission to assert the Union's determination to resolutely defend European interests. In particular, this implies speeding up the preparation of credible countermeasures, by mobilising all the instruments at its disposal, including anti-coercion, if no agreement is reached by August 1st." President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen addresses media at the European Commission's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on July 13, 2025. Thierry MonasseGetty Images Trump shared the tariff news on Saturday via his Truth Social platform, as he continued posting letters sent from the U.S. to other countries lining out trade deals and tariffs. In letters to the E.U. and Mexico, delivered on Friday, Trump set a 30% tariff for both and referred to their respective trade deficits with the U.S. as a major threat to national security. Addressing Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump made reference to the initial tariffs he placed on the neighboring country upon his return to the White House, when he said Mexico was largely responsible for the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. He acknowledged that Mexico has since been helping to secure the border, but said its actions are not enough. Mexico has still not stopped the cartels, who are trying to turn all of North America into a narco-trafficking playground. Obviously I cannot let that happen, Trump said. Starting 1 August, we will charge Mexico a tariff of 30% on Mexican products sent into the United States, separate from all sectoral tariffs. As he has stipulated elsewhere, Trump added that there will be no tariff if Mexico opts to build and manufacture products within the United States instead. He went on to say that if Mexico successfully challenges the cartels and stops the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., then an adjustment to the tariffs will be considered. In what has become somewhat of a hallmark of these trade negotiation letters, Trump signed off with the statement: You will never be disappointed with the United States of America. Addressing the tariffs in a statement shared on its official government website on Saturday, Mexico said its delegates had told U.S. officials a day prior that the new tariff rate would amount to unfair treatment of which Mexico did not agree to. Read More: Trump Blows Past His Own Tariff Deadline and Sends Warning Letters to More Countries Meanwhile, in his letter to the E.U., Trump delivered the same promise of a 30% tariff, citing that the U.S. has one of its largest trade deficits with the bloc. Trump has long taken issue with the E.U. In 2018, during his first term in the White House, when asked about tariffs, Trump said that nobody treats us much worse than the European Union and argued the bloc was formed to take advantage of the U.S. In this new letter, Trump said the relationship between the U.S. and the E.U. has been, unfortunately, far from reciprocal. When delivering his levy of a 30% tariff on E.U. products sent into the United States, separate from all sectoral tariffs, Trump issued a warning that goods transshipped to evade a higher tariff will be subject to that higher tariff. Trump also issued a stark warning against any retaliatory measures. The E.U. will allow complete, open-market access to the United States, with no tariff being charged to us, in an attempt to reduce the large trade deficit, Trump said. If, for any reason, you decide to raise your tariffs and retaliate, then whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 30% that we charge. Trump went on to say that the tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your country. Before issuing a lengthier response on Sunday, von der Leyen had offered a brief reaction in the immediate aftermath of Trump's public sharing of the letters. A 30% tariff on E.U. exports would hurt businesses, consumers, and patients on both sides of the Atlantic, she said via social media on Saturday. We will continue working towards an agreement by August 1. At the same time, we are ready to safeguard E.U. interests on the basis of proportionate countermeasures. The negotiations between the E.U. and the U.S. have been rocky, to say the least, since Trumps return to the White House. In May, Trump accused the E.U. of stalling trade talks. "Our discussions with them are going nowhere," he said, threatening to place a "straight 50% tariff" on the E.U. starting June 1. After a phone call with the president of the European Commission, Trump reneged and agreed to go back to the July 9 deadline. (Trump started sending out his trade agreements and letters on July 9, his initial tariffs-related deadline, but the White House has said the higher tariffs will not go into effect until August 1.) Read More: Trump Threatens Extra 10% Tariff for Countries Aligning Themselves With Anti-American BRICS Policies Over the past five days, Trump has announced a slew of higher levies against countries, including a 35% tariff for Canada and a 25% tax on goods imported from South Korea and Japan. Trump unveiled his initial reciprocal tariffs on April 2, setting a 10% base charge for most countries, with some receiving additional higher rates. Amid recession fears and concern from world leaders, Trump granted a 90-day extension for most countries, delaying the start date for all but the 10% levy, to allow time for negotiations. Now, as the recently-announced August 1 start date looms, leaders within the E.U. are avidly watching the trade negotiations take place. We trust in the goodwill of all stakeholders to reach a fair agreement that can strengthen the West as a whole, given thatparticularly in the current scenarioit would make no sense to trigger a trade war between the two sides of the Atlantic, read a statement from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis office on Saturday, following Trumps announcement of the 30% tariff. Write to Olivia-Anne Cleary at olivia-anne.cleary@time.com. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump threw his full support behind Attorney General Pam Bondi in a furious social media post that lit into his "so-called 'friends'" in MAGA and told them to move on from fevered demands that she release files related to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "Theyre all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! Were on one Team, MAGA, and I dont like whats happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and 'selfish people' are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein," Trump wrote on July 12 in a lengthy post on Truth Social. Trump loyalists have been steadily berating Bondi since the Justice Department and FBI said that a "systematic review" of documents related to Epstein "revealed no incriminating 'client list.'" The statement led to allegations from far-right personalities, including Tucker Carlson, that the Trump administration was engaged in a cover-up. U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio listen as Attorney General Pam Bondi answers a question during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Bondi said earlier this year in an interview on Fox News after she was asked about Epstein's client list that it was "sitting on my desk right now to review." She promised at another point that "everything's going to come out to the public." Defending her stance at a July 8 Cabinet meeting at the White House, Bondi told reporters: "I was asked a question about the client list and my response was, 'It's sitting on my desk to be reviewed,' meaning the file, not the client list." Trump took another tack. In his statement on social media this weekend, he alleged that the government documents could have been written by political opponents and critics such as former President Barack Obama and former FBI Director James Comey, whom he fired during his first term. Epstein timeline: Trump's team promised transparency on Epstein. Here's what they delivered. "They created the Epstein Files, just like they created the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher Steele Dossier that they used on me, and now my so-called 'friends' are playing right into their hands," Trump wrote. The dossier, assembled by former British spy Christopher Steele, contained salacious allegations about Trump, including alleged connections between the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. Trump said he'd consider declassifying the Epstein files during the 2024 presidential campaign. Vice President JD Vance called for the release of Epstein's purported client list last fall. FBI Director Kash Patel repeatedly pushed for the alleged client list to be released when Joe Biden was in the White House. "To me, that's a thing I think President Trump should run on. On Day 1, roll out the 'black book,'" Patel told Glenn Beck on Dec. 13, 2023. Multiple outlets reported this week that deputy FBI director Dan Bongino was considering resigning over the situation. In an apparent reference to reported internal divisions, Patel said in a post on X on that he planned to stay. "The conspiracy theories just arent true, never have been. Its an honor to serve the President of the United States @realDonaldTrump and Ill continue to do so for as long as he calls on me," Patel said. In his social media post on July 12, the president offered the now-FBI director some cover. He said Patel and the FBI "must be focused on investigating" allegations of voter fraud and other red meat issues for the base, "instead of spending month after month looking at nothing but the same old, Radical Left inspired Documents on Jeffrey Epstein." He told his supporters not to "waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about." "LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB SHES GREAT!" he said. Contributing: Aysha Bagchi This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump defends AG Pam Bondi, asks MAGA to move on from Epstein case United States military and NATO officials are discussing a possible plan that could be unveiled in the coming days that would provide Ukraine with much-needed aerial defense weapons, including Patriot systems, by funneling U.S. weapons through the European alliance, officials said. The idea of NATO buying weapons from the U.S. -- which President Donald Trump said he supports -- comes after months of uncertainty about Ukraine's ability to fend off Russia's brutal air assaults without sophisticated U.S. air defenses. Still unclear, though, is if the U.S. plans to pull weapons systems from its own military stocks to sell to European allies an approach that would help Ukraine in the near term. Defense officials, however, have recently expressed previous concerns that the U.S. supply of some weapons could be too low. MORE: 70% of children in Ukraine don't have access to basic goods, services: UNICEF A senior NATO military official and a second U.S. official confirmed that discussions were underway on how to make the idea work. Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Ukrainian servicemen are at work to receive the delivery of FGM-148 Javelins, American man-portable anti-tank missile provided by US to Ukraine as part of a military support, at Kyiv's airport Boryspil, Feb. 11, 2022. "President [Donald] Trump has spoken about this, not just with the press, but with the NATO Secretary General, who is working with Allies to get Ukraine the help they need," the senior NATO military official told ABC News. "This includes urgent efforts to procure key supplies from the U.S., including air defense and ammunition." The official added that "NATO has effective mechanisms in place to make something like this possible." MORE: Rubio meets with Russia's Lavrov after Trump criticizes Putin According to a U.S. official, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held a conference call on Friday with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine and Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the top military commander for U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, to discuss possible ways to provide the aid. In an interview with NBC News on Thursday, Trump suggested the concept of selling weapons to NATO was a done deal. "We're sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%," he said, adding that an announcement on Russia was expected Monday. Speaking at the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested one option could be for Europeans to ship their own air defense systems to Ukraine now and purchase replacements from the U.S. Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was "actively working" with Germany to "speed up decisions" on receiving the air defense systems Ukraine needs. Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was scheduled to visit the Pentagon for talks with Hegseth on Monday. ABC's Hannah Demissie and Chris Boccia contributed to this report. One of the sons of notorious drug lord "El Chapo" pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court in Chicago to major drug charges and running the Sinaloa Cartel in his father's absence. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 35, admitted to running part of the Sinaloa Cartel, coordinating massive drug shipments, including fentanyl, heroin and cocaine into the U.S. and using violence to protect cartel operations, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois. His plea is part of a broader federal strategy, "Operation Take Back America," aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel. Trump Admin Sanctions El Chapo's Children, Violent Fentanyl-trafficking Cartel Arm Los Chapitos "Todays guilty plea is another major step toward holding the Sinaloa Cartel and its leaders accountable for their role in fueling the fentanyl epidemic that has plagued so many Americans," U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a news release. "We remain committed to dismantling the Cartels entire fentanyl infrastructure and ensuring that the Chapitos and their violent organization can no longer flood our communities with this poison." Read On The Fox News App Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of "El Chapo" and a head of the Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in Chicago. Guzman Lopez admitted in the plea agreement that he coordinated the transportation of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and other drugs and precursor chemicals from Mexico to the United States border, at times in shipments of hundreds or thousands of kilograms, according to federal officials. He used a network of couriers affiliated with the cartel to smuggle the drugs into the United States, using vehicles, rail cars, tunnels, aircraft and other means, the plea agreement states. After the drugs were distributed throughout the United States, officials said, individuals working for Guzman Lopez used bulk cash transport, wire transfers, trade of goods and cryptocurrency to launder the illicit proceeds and ensure that the money was transmitted to Guzman Lopez and other members of the cartel in Mexico. Guzman Lopez then admitted he and his cartel associates committed violent acts against law enforcement officials, civilians and rival drug traffickers to protect the cartels drug-trafficking activities. Feds Won't Seek Death Penalty For El Chapo's Son In Major Drug Trafficking Case Front pages of Mexican newspapers showing the news of the capture of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, in Mexico City, Mexico, July 26, 2024. As part of the plea agreement, Guzman Lopez will also forfeit $80 million, though his sentencing date hasn't been set. He is one of four brothers known as "The Chapitos," who took over after their fathers arrest in 2016. Joaquin Guzman Lopez was arrested last year and is being held in the U.S. without bail. He pleaded not guilty and is waiting for his trial in Illinois. Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar are also facing charges in Illinois and New York. They have not been arrested yet, and warrants have been issued for their arrests. El Chapo's Family Members Cross Us Border In Apparent Deal With Trump Administration A truck burns after being set on fire on a street in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Jan. 5, 2023. Federal officials praised the guilty plea, saying "with each passing day, you are seeing the sunset of the Sinaloa Cartel." "The Chapitos latest violence reflects their fading future. Their leaders who remain free are now paranoid, distrusted and desperate," U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon wrote. The U.S. State Department has issued rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to their arrests and convictions. "The guilty plea by Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of El Chapo, is a real victory for both the United States and Mexico but also a clear win for the rule of law," said Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations Arizona Ray Rede. Click To Get The Fox News App "So much blood and violence lay with the Guzman family as well as spreading terror and plaguing both sides of the border with deadly drugs and weapons no more. Its impossible to measure the amount of work HSI and partner agencies have spent in securing this guilty verdict, but what is clear and evident is that no one is beyond the reach of law enforcement and our nations laws. Deliberate and coordinated teamwork resulted in todays victory." Original article source: War on cartels yields results as 'El Chapo' heir confesses to running violent drug empire Online Marketing | Unsplash (The Center Square) While Illinois Democrats say hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans are going to lose health insurance and rural hospitals are going to close, Republicans say thats not true. President Donald Trumps one big beautiful bill has been criticized by Democrats like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who claims people will die. We have critical access hospitals across central and southern Illinois that I would be surprised if we dont see closures of hospitals, Pritzker said in Peoria July 1. I would not be at all surprised to see several hospitals close. Christian Maxwell, a Republican running for Illinois 1st Congressional District, said Democrats are fearmongering and rural hospitals will get support in the federal legislation. There is a $50 billion allocation in the big beautiful bill to help those hospitals to access much needed funding to invest in things like equipment and all of that, Maxwell told The Center Square. The Illinois Health and Hospital Association warned estimated reductions in federal funds for health care could lead to fewer people accessing treatment and thousands of laid off medical personnel. Slashing its funding would not only harm patients but also decimate local economies and push hospitals closer to collapse, said a statement from IHA opposing the measure. Supporters of the legislation say Medicaid is meant to be a safety net and not a replacement for self-sufficiency. Maxwell said what the law does is require able bodied people wanting Medicaid to either work or do community service for 20 hours a week so they can contribute. Why do we need them to contribute to their own care? Because there are disabled, there are elderly and there are children who absolutely need to have access to that program and the funding that is attached to Medicaid and [the Affordable Care Act], that is not endless funding, Maxwell said. NBC via Alamy ; Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty Melissa Gilbert in "Little House on the Prairie" ; Melissa Gilbert attends the "Nymphes D'Or - Golden Nymphs" Nominees Party on June 19, 2023 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. NEED TO KNOW Melissa Gilbert starred on Little House on the Prairie for almost a decade After the show ended in 1983, she went on to act primarily in made-for-TV movies before moving out of Los Angeles in 2013 She returned to acting in 2025 and made a guest appearance on the Hallmark series When Calls the Heart Its been over 40 years since Melissa Gilbert left her Little House on the Prairie. The former child star rose to fame for her role as Laura Ingalls Wilder in the beloved series, which followed a late 1800s family as they built a new life in the American Midwest. After the final episode aired in 1983, Gilbert continued to act and appeared in over 40 made-for-TV movies. She returned to her roots in 2008, playing Caroline Ma Wilder in the live musical adaptation of Little House on the Prairie. The actress left Los Angeles in 2013 and moved to Michigan for five years, later telling PEOPLE that she felt she had to escape Hollywood in order to age. When you live in Los Angeles, its like living at the mall when you work at the mall, she said in the September 2024 interview. It puts a lot of pressure on staying thin and staying young and really it makes it hard to feel comfortable in one's own skin, because [of] the aging process. She continued, I had to get out of there [L.A.], because it felt like I was not being authentically myself. In the five years that I was in Michigan, all of that stopped. I stopped everything and just focused on being as physically and emotionally healthy as I could. And I think that shows, Yes, I'm aging, but it's not a curse it's a blessing. " As Gilberts on-screen appearances became fewer and farther between, she started pursuing other ventures off-screen. Shes authored four books and ran for Congress in Michigans 8th district in 2016 but had to withdraw from the race due to a spinal injury. In 2022, she launched the lifestyle brand Modern Prairie for older women. So, where is Melissa Gilbert now? Heres everything to know about the Little House on the Prairie stars life after the show. Why did Melissa Gilbert leave Hollywood? Dominik Bindl/Getty Melissa Gilbert and Mark Moses during the "Still" opening night on February 06, 2025 in New York City. Gilbert left Los Angeles in 2013 the same year she married actor Timothy Busfield to escape all of the pressures that come with aging in Hollywood. She told PEOPLE that after they relocated to Michigan, she embraced a more natural lifestyle: she stopped getting injectables, let her hair go gray and had her breast implants removed. In 2018, the couple relocated to New York City and later purchased a home upstate, which they affectionately called the cabbage, a mix of cabin and cottage, per The New York Times. Gilbert and Busfield renovated the property themselves, where they grow vegetables and raise chickens. What health condition does Melissa Gilbert have? Melissa Gilbert/Instagram Melissa Gilbert before her spine surgery in February 2024. In 2024, Gilbert revealed she had been diagnosed with misophonia, a neurological condition where certain sounds or visual cues trigger intense emotional and physical reactions, such as anger or anxiety. For years, she didnt know her responses were linked to a medical issue, which left her feeling horribly guilty. I sobbed when I found out that it had a name and I wasn't just a bad person," she told PEOPLE in August 2024. I really just thought that I was rude. And I felt really bad. And guilty, which is an enormous component of misophonia, the guilt that you feel for these feelings of fight or flight. It's a really isolating disorder." Gilbert said menopause worsened her symptoms, prompting her to undergo 16 weeks of intensive cognitive behavioral therapy. While she admits the condition will never go away, she now has tools to help her feel less triggered and more in control. What does Melissa Gilbert do now? Melissa Gilbert/Instagram Melissa Gilbert poses for a photo in July 2025. After a seven-year hiatus from the small screen, Gilbert made a guest appearance on Hallmarks long-running frontier series When Calls the Heart in 2025. She has also continued to act on stage, starring in off-Broadway plays like Still, which opened in February 2025. In addition to acting, Gilbert spearheaded Modern Prairie, a womens lifestyle brand that she co-founded with Nicole Haase, a former executive at Williams Sonoma, in 2022. She told PEOPLE in 2024 that the brand caters to the modern seasoned woman who has gone through huge transitions. We are all going through incredible things, whether theyre physiological, hormonal changes happening, we're losing our spouses and partners or have children leaving the nest," she said. I think the strength that we possess having just survived this long is remarkable. Where is Melissa Gilbert now? Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Melissa Gilbert attends the "Nymphes D'Or - Golden Nymphs" Award Ceremony on June 20, 2023 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. As of 2025, Gilbert is living in New York with her husband. She has two sons Dakota Brinkman and Michael Boxleitner from her previous marriages to director Bo Brinkman and actor Bruce Boxleitner, and is a stepmother to five more children, making her a grandmother of eight. Now, when taking on roles, Gilbert keeps her grandchildren at the forefront, choosing projects that'll get her closer to where they live. "Anything that takes me to a location that gets me near one of my kids' homes is good for me," she told PEOPLE in February 2025. She added, "I don't feel any added responsibility in choosing roles because I have grandchildren. I think I'm just more determined to continue to bring stories to light that affect the way people interact with one another." The actress told PEOPLE in September 2024 that she feels so much stronger and more comfortable in her own skin at her current age than at any other. I feel like I've really earned the right to my opinions and I have something to say, Gilbert remarked. Just because you're a certain age, it doesn't mean that life is over. Life is not over until it's over. So make the most of it while you can. Read the original article on People Some people may experience more successful weight loss while taking GLP-1s. Scientists are trying to uncover why. Steve Christo Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images This article originally appeared on Medical News Today Research on weight loss medications, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), and why people experience varying results is ongoing. One study helped identify multiple components that may affect successful weight loss among people using GLP-1RAs. The researchers found that taking the medication for longer and starting on semaglutide rather than other GLP-1RA options produced more successful weight loss results. A popular group of weight loss medications is glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), which include the likes of Ozempic and Wegovy medications that are used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. A study recently published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism explored weight fluctuations among participants after taking GLP-1RAs. The results suggest that factors like taking GLP-1RAs longer, having greater accumulated exposure to GLP-1RAs, using semaglutide, and not having diabetes may make it more likely for some people to experience successful weight loss from GLP-1RA use. What impacts the effectiveness of GLP-1RAs? This research involved a total of 679 participants and was a retrospective cohort study. All participants were overweight or obese, and this was determined by body mass index (BMI). Some participants also had type 2 diabetes. All participants had at least three months worth of follow-up and at least three noted weight measurements during the follow-up. Researchers had data from participants follow-up visits, including factors like body composition and measurements of liver and kidney function. Their data looked at treatment with seven different GLP-1RAs, including semaglutide, lixisenatide, and liraglutide. Researchers examined weight fluctuation among participants and divided participants into three groups: successfully losing weight, staying the same weight, or regaining weight. In their analyses, they then further classified participants as having successful or unsuccessful weight reduction. The unsuccessful category included both weight regain and staying the same weight. Researchers did their analyses at three months, six months, and then at one year. The average age of participants was thirty-seven years old, and about 21% of participants had diabetes. Participants who had been on GLP-1RAs for longer were more likely to experience successful weight reduction at six and twelve months. At the three and six-month marks, participants who experienced successful weight reduction were also less likely to have diabetes and more likely to start their treatment on semaglutide. At the three-month follow-up, participants in the weight regain group also had higher estimated glomerular filtration rates, which measures kidney function. This was also true when looking at just participants with prediabetes. The authors note that people with obesity can experience these higher filtration rates, which can then lead to worse kidney function. Researchers also observed that the group that remained stable had higher fasting plasma glucose levels than the other groups and worse beta cell function and insulin resistance than participants who successfully lost weight. Why do some people lose more weight on GLP-1s? In their univariate logistic regression analysis, the researchers identified several factors that may be related to successful weight loss. These included longer time on GLP-1RA treatment, semaglutide use, lower blood sugar levels, and a higher percentage of body fat. They also observed that greater Homeostasis Model Assessment of -Cell Function levels, which helps to measure beta cell function in the pancreas and insulin resistance, was associated with successful declines in weight. For women, having a lower skeletal muscle mass was also associated with successful weight reduction. After adjusting for age, sex, and BMI, the researchers found that the longer people used GLP-1RAs, the more they lost weight successfully at all the follow-up time points. At three and six months, starting semaglutide, compared to other GLP-1RAs, was linked to successful weight loss. For men, having a body fat percentage greater than 30% was associated with successful weight reduction at three months, but this was not the case for women. At three months, not having diabetes and hemoglobin A1C levels were linked to successful weight loss. In addition to these factors, researchers also observed some non-linear associations. For example, some measurements of muscle mass and basal metabolic rate had a reversed J-shaped association with successful weight loss. Subgroup analyses also revealed that higher accumulated exposure of semaglutide or liraglutide were both associated with successful weight reduction. At three months, liraglutide and semaglutide users with successful weight reduction had higher fasting plasma glucose levels. For men on semaglutide, having a greater percentage of body fat was associated with successful weight loss at a six-month follow-up. Study limitations This study does have benefits and potential limitations. Paunel Vukasinov, MD, a dual board-certified Internist and Obesity Medicine Specialist with Medical Offices of Manhattan and contributor to Labfinder.com, who was not involved in the research, noted the following to Medical News Today: This study offers helpful information about the differences in weight loss results for patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs). Clinical trials have shown that GLP-1RAs work well, but this study points out the varied responses in everyday clinical settings. It also tries to find the reasons behind this variability. However, the lack of randomization, possible confounding factors, and the single-center design do weaken the conclusions. Still, it addresses an important clinical question: why do some patients do well on GLP-1RAs while others stop losing weight or regain it? It encourages us to move toward more personalized obesity care. Paunel Vukasinov, MD This study was conducted among Chinese participants receiving treatment at a single weight loss clinic. Data from other countries may be helpful in future research. Researchers note that only 112 participants had a follow-up assessment at the one-year mark. They also note there was a lack of record for some possible confounding factors and that they werent able to assess how lifestyle interventions throughout the follow-up could have affected outcomes. Another limiting factor was that longitudinal data for body composition was not systematically collected and analyzed at the follow-ups. Does stopping medication affect results? Treatment discontinuation did happen, which meant differences in medication patterns. When looking specifically at the use of semaglutide and liraglutide in the subgroup analyses, researchers only analyzed the data from the three-month and six-month follow-ups. They were also only able to look at accumulated exposure for two types of GLP-1RAs. Participants without type 2 diabetes had more limited access to GLP-1RAs, and this could have influenced the studys results. One author also noted conflicts of interest. Selena Raines, DO, an osteopathic physician specializing in family medicine and American Osteopathic Association member, who was also not involved in the study, noted the following limits of this study to Medical News Today: Its important to note the limitations, namely, the small sample size and the even smaller number of participants who continued through the full 12-month follow-up periodThis paper does not explore the effects of discontinuation, a crucial aspect given evidence showing significant weight regain in many individuals once GLP-1RAs are stopped, even with continued lifestyle modifications. Nor does it include tirzepatide, which, while not solely a GLP-1RA, currently shows even more promising data for weight loss than semaglutide in existing trials. More research is required to examine some of the components of the study, such as the differences in weight loss for people with diabetes compared to those without diabetes. More research on how kidney function plays into everything may also be helpful. Weight loss may need a personalized approach The authors of this study suggest that data from this study could help make the use of GLP-1RAs more precise. It might help improve the success related to these medications. Kais Rona, MD, a bariatric surgeon of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, who was also not involved in the study, noted the following: Ultimately, this study supports a personalized approach to the use of GLP-1RA medications. One that identifies important physiologic markers prior to the initiation of the treatment regimen, monitors patient response over time, and focuses on long-term success. The research also highlights the importance of careful clinical oversight when people use GLP-1RAs. Many patients are currently receiving these medications from providers outside their primary care home, often without comprehensive management or long-term planning. This raises concerns about suboptimal outcomes and unintended side effectsWhat we now need are more long-term studies, particularly focused on sustained outcomes, strategies for maintenance after discontinuation, and optimizing individualized care, Raines said. View the original article on Medical News Today Wildfires raging near the Grand Canyon's North Rim have prompted evacuations, air quality concerns and the closure of the North Rim of the national park. The White Sage Fire started July 9 when lightning struck during a thunderstorm, according to the Bureau of Land Management. As of late July 11, it had burned 10,973 acres and was 0% contained. The fire is located 15 miles southeast of Fredonia, Arizona, and was moving toward Jacob Lake, officials said. Authorities evacuated about 500 visitors from the Grand Canyon's North Rim on July 10 in response to the fast-growing fire, the National Park Service said. Evacuations were expanded on July 11 to include a vast chunk of land north of the Grand Canyon with the following boundaries: the Utah border in the north, Grand Canyon National Park in the south, House Rock Valley Road/Buffalo Ranch Road in the east, and Kaibab National Forest in the west, according to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. The area is in "go" status, meaning all residents and visitors should leave immediately. "All visitors have left the area, and park employees and residents remain sheltering in place," the Grand Canyon NPS said. Another fire burning on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, the Dragon Bravo Fire, burned 1,500 acres and was also 0% contained. It started July 4 as the result of another lightning strike, officials said. Evacuation orders were also issued to North Rim residents in the vicinity of the Dragon Bravo fire. "The North Rim remains closed to all visitor use until further notice to support firefighting operations and ensure public safety for this fire and the nearby White Sage Fire," the National Park Service said in a July 11 statement. Smoke can be seen from the South Rim of the park, and the National Park Service urged visitors to monitor air quality conditions. Extreme fire weather was helping the White Sage Fire grow rapidly, officials said. The fire "made a significant run" the afternoon of July 10, with "erratic" winds of 15 to 20 mph and low humidity helping it spread. According to forecasters with the National Weather Service office in Flagstaff, "elevated fire danger will continue as long as hot and locally breezy conditions remain." Contributing: Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wildfires burn near Grand Canyon. Here's what to know A goldsmith was murdered by a gang of criminals for refusing to pay protection money. This incident confirms the climate of impunity and lawlessness in large areas of the country. Al-Sharaa's reassurances are of little use in a Syria that is becoming increasingly Islamised. In Beirut, the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches remembers and prays for the martyrs of Damascus. Damascus (AsiaNews) - The murder of a Homs businessman is fuelling tensions and fears among the Christian community in Syria, torn between the desire to remain in their homeland and contribute to its rebirth after years of war and the flight of Bashar al-Assad, and the choice to emigrate. The latest case of violence - with the memory of the massacre at St. Elias Church in Damascus still fresh - involved George Ishoh, a goldsmith from an Assyrian family in Hassakeh, in the north-east, who was murdered by a gang of criminals for refusing to pay protection money. This incident confirms, once again, the climate of impunity and lawlessness in large areas of the country, despite the reassurances of interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa and the men of HTS (Tahrir al-Sham), who were able to overthrow the old regime in a matter of weeks. Local sources report that the Christian merchant, father of two children, was shot dead by armed and masked men outside his home in the al-Mahatta neighbourhood on the evening of 9 July. Ishoh had previously refused to pay protection money to an armed gang, which led to his sentence. The attackers opened fire, hitting him in the head, and then fled. Neighbours rushed him to the university hospital in an attempt to save his life, but his injuries proved fatal. At the time of the murder, Ishoh was alone at home. His wife, originally from the village of Rum ad al-Qalatia in the Wadi al-Nasara (Valley of the Christians), and his children were not in the city. Following the attack on the Greek Orthodox church of Mar Elias in Damascus, which claimed dozens of lives, Christians had called for increased security measures throughout the country and, above all, in areas at risk where there is a significant minority presence. However, incidents of various kinds, ranging from intimidation to murder, have not only continued but have also intensified, partly due to the widespread availability of weapons and the lack of accountability and controls. Local sources say that murders, kidnappings and robberies continue without any concrete measures being taken to combat them, demonstrating that the government is failing to keep its promise to protect all groups after the massacre on 22 June. Meanwhile, the memory of the massacre at the Greek Orthodox church in Damascus, which left 35 dead and over 60 wounded, is still alive among Christians. More than two weeks later, the motive is still unclear, with the government accusing the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), which has not denied any involvement in the attack, which was later claimed by a little-known group called Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, believed to be composed of HTS defectors. According to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, the Syrian government banned proselytising after Salafists targeted an area in front of the Christian building - where the worst attack against Christians in the Syrian capital since 1860 took place - at the end of March. This, according to some, could be the reason why the jihadists targeted the church of St. Elias in particular. For many Christians, the al-Sharaa government is more interested in implementing a Sharia-inspired dress code, which is also binding on religious minorities, than in ensuring protection and security for the population, even snubbing recent threats of attacks. Christians made up about 10% of Syria's 23 million inhabitants before the war and enjoyed freedom of worship under Assad, as well as holding high government and institutional positions in some cases. Initially, many Christians were willing to give the new authorities a chance: in a survey conducted in May by Etana, 85% of Sunnis said they felt safe under the current authorities, compared to 21% of Alawites and 18% of Druze. Christians were in the middle, at 45%. However, now fear has increased, said politician Ayman Abdel Nour, who recently met with religious leaders, who also confirmed that many Christians want to leave, seeing migration as the only solution. In some Christian neighbourhoods, religious and fanatical Muslims marched through the streets with loudspeakers calling on people to convert to Islam, while bearded men beat up men and women partying in the capital's nightclubs. The critical situation in Syria and the threat hanging over Christians was also the subject of the regular meeting of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches, held in Beirut on 9 and 10 July. At the beginning of the meeting, the participants - leaders, patriarchs and representatives of various countries in the region, from Iraq to Syria and Lebanon - observed a minute of silence and prayer for the victims of the martyrs killed in the attack on Mar Elias. In their final statement, they condemned all forms of violence, wherever it comes from and denounced those who incite hatred, extremism, racism and acts of violence against humanity. The blood of the martyrs is one, the crime is reprehensible, the statement concludes, because it affects not only Christians, but the entire Syrian fabric and the historic model of coexistence. by Lisa Bongiovanni For Prime Minister Hun Manet, it is a significant gift from Cambodia to the world and a symbol of memory, reconciliation and justice. The sites include the M-13 prison, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) and the Choeung Ek Genocide Centre. The decision was taken during the 47th session of the Committee in Paris. Milan (AsiaNews) - A significant gift from Cambodia to the world, a powerful symbol of memory, reconciliation, justice, education, peace-building and protection. This is how Prime Minister Hun Manet welcomed the inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List of the Cambodian Memorial Sites: From Centres of Atrocities to Places of Peace and Reconciliation, a symbol of the genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot in the 1970s. The head of the Phnom Penh government made his statement after the official announcement yesterday at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, France. These sites [which include the M-13 prison, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) and the Choeung Ek Genocide Centre, ed] offer humanity an example of how a nation can rise from tragedy, Manet added. Not by forgetting, but by remembering, he concluded, and transforming these memories into a force for peace. The 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is currently underway in the French capital. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the rise of the Khmer Rouge, three sites symbolising the Cambodian genocide are among the candidates. They represent the different phases of the repressive system that exterminated a quarter of the population and are among the few places recognised by UNESCO as direct evidence of genocide. The official name, agreed with King Norodom Sihamoni, is: Cambodian Memorial Sites: From Centres of Repression to Places of Peace and Reflection. The three sites document the crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge and correspond to three distinct moments in the systematic process of eliminating dissent initiated by the Pol Pot regime. M-13, located in Kampong Speu province about 50 km from the capital, was one of the most important prisons of the early Khmer Rouge. Here, from 1971 to 1975, Kaing Guek Ea, known as Comrade Duch (his nom de guerre), head of the internal police, experimented with the first methods of interrogation and torture, even before the regime took full power over the country. In 1975, the activities of M-13 were moved to the S-21 prison, and Duch became its head. Located in the heart of Phnom Penh, it was the main detention centre until 1979. According to current estimates, 18,063 men, women and children were imprisoned, interrogated and tortured in S-21. The prisoners were then taken to the third site, Choeung Ek, to be executed. A former Chinese cemetery about 10 km from the capital, it was chosen because it was far from prying eyes. These sites also served as evidence. Photos, confessions and meticulous records of torture were kept here. In 2006, thanks to an agreement between Cambodia and the United Nations, a hybrid court the so-called Cambodian model was established, in which international and local judges worked together to reconstruct the case. These sites were searched by the judges themselves and were crucial during the trial. However, despite the evidence, only three convictions were handed down. Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former member of the Khmer Rouge, opposed further trials by the Tribunal and denied access to potential witnesses holding government positions. These sites, along with Auschwitz-Birkenau and the genocide memorials in Rwanda, are among the very few officially recognised by UNESCO that bear witness to and document the dynamics of planned extermination and repression on political, ethnic and religious grounds. Furthermore, UNESCO emphasises that the three sites are among the few examples of commemoration of mass crimes in a Buddhist society. In M-13, S-21 and Choeung Ek, the victims were largely members of the pre-revolutionary elite: army officers, police officers and, above all, magistrates, 99% of whom were exterminated. The teaching profession was completely wiped out. Religious and ethnic minorities also suffered fierce repression: 84% of Buddhist monks, 33.7% of Cham Muslims, 48.6% of Catholics, 38.4% of Chinese and 37.5% of Vietnamese were eliminated. The estimated overall mortality rate stands at between 20% and 29% of the population: about a quarter of the entire country. Cambodia now boasts five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Angkor Archaeological Park, the Preah Vihear Temple, the Sambo Prei Kuk Temple Complex, the Koh Ker Archaeological Site and the recently inscribed Cambodian Genocide Memorial Sites. by Stefano Caprio Looking back at Russia's past and present history and reality, Patriarch Kirill condemns those who call for the purity of Islam or Orthodoxy, because we may have different cultures and traditions, but we are one people. Meanwhile, in the Moscow neighbourhood of Kommunalka, a multi-religious centre is being presented where an Orthodox church, a synagogue, a mosque and a Buddhist temple are to be built in a shared space. In recent months, there have been several ethnic and religious tensions in Russia, with the growing activism of nationalists from the Russian Community organising actions against internal migrants from the Caucasus and Central Asia, with extremist tones at the ideological level, pro-Nazi, and at the religious level with expressions of radical Orthodoxy, supported by the police and blessed by the most zealous Orthodox monastic communities. Another source of great concern is the intra-Orthodox religious controversy between the different jurisdictions of the Churches in Ukraine, where the civil authorities are putting increasing pressure on the pro-Moscow Upz: in recent days, the Ukrainian citizenship of the Metropolitan of Kiev, Onufryj (Berezovskij), has been revoked, considering it incompatible with his original Russian citizenship. Other bishops and priests of the UOC now face the same restrictive measure, which could lead to the expulsion of Russian clergy from Ukraine. The Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill (Gundjaev), sought to respond to these and other challenges at a reception at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour next to the Kremlin, in front of members of the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, a structure created directly by the Russian presidency, emphasising the importance of multi-ethnic and multi-religious dialogue as a key feature of Russian society. He reiterated that we are fortunate to belong to different ethnic and religious communities, we may have different cultures and traditions, but we are one people, which is summed up in the typical sobornost, the universal communion of the Russian world. Kirill assures that this type of union is a very rare phenomenon in the history of human civilisation, an eminently Russian prerogative. Recalling the ancient empires, from the Roman to the Soviet, the patriarch observes that in these systems, peoples lived together effectively, but most of the time this unity, especially in the stages of aggregation, was based solely on force. The strength of the main ethnic group, of the political centre of the capital, Rome, Constantinople and those that followed, were state factors that imposed unification, as was also the case in Soviet times, where the ideological factor prevailed, even if, in the opinion of the head of the Orthodox Church, the ideology was fairly balanced, offering a perspective of national politics without discrimination on ethnic grounds. This allowed relations between people to be consolidated, but now the Soviet Union is no longer there, whatever our reaction to this may be, yet our union has been preserved. With these words, the patriarch effectively sums up the passage of Russian history in recent decades, finding continuity between the atheist Soviet empire and the Orthodox Russian empire of Kirill and Putin. Like President Vladimir Putin, Patriarch Kirill (also born Vladimir) grew up during the Stalinist restoration under Leonid Brezhnev, who repaired the damage of the Khrushchev thaw, which had condemned the cult of personality of the supreme leader and opened a window to Western disorder. It is no coincidence that at the recent congress of the Russian communists of the KPRF, Nikita Khrushchev's denunciation of Stalin at the 20th Congress of the CPSU in 1956 was declared a mistake of judgement, thus closing the circle also at the historical-ideological level. Yet the patriarch insists on the more profound and spiritual dimension of this continuity between communism and communion, stating that the political, geopolitical and ideological factors that brought about the absolutely exceptional union of our multi-ethnic people have now disappeared, but we are still together. It is therefore the superiority of religious inspiration that makes the Russian people unique, not socio-political or ideological dimensions, but the popular wisdom forged in historical experience, which allows us to preserve a unity that is not only in words or declarations, but in lived reality. According to the patriarchal narrative, faith in one God has always been the spiritual foundation of our multi-ethnic country, so that all the truths professed by Russians, brotherhood, cooperation, mutual assistance, respect for all, are not just formal declarations or empty words in everyday rhetoric, but are expressions of a mindset rooted in people, coming from the depths of their hearts. Kirill proclaims himself deeply convinced that not only dialogue, but simple daily coexistence and cooperation between Orthodox Christians and Muslims in Russia, which by God's grace is not overshadowed by any kind of conflict, is one of the unifying forces of believers and of the solidarity of the entire multi-ethnic people. Russian Islam is a legacy of the Tatar-Mongol yoke, with the conversion of the khanates of the Golden Horde to the Muslim faith at the end of the 14th century, shortly before the rebirth of Holy Russia in the battles against the invaders who had dominated the country for a couple of centuries and who were then integrated by the victorious tsars. With these reinterpretations of Russian history and reality, past and present, the patriarch claims the decisive role of the Church in the foundation of the Russian state and warns religious leaders not to place obstacles in the way of the consolidation process, recalling that there are forces on all sides that oppose the development of these relations. He condemns those who make appeals in defence of what they consider to be the purity of Islam or Orthodoxy, forgetting that good relations between Russia's traditional confessions are "achievements of our theologians and ministers of worship, based on the real progress of the history of our multi-ethnic homeland, on the communion that has been formed in the experience of the people, not in university lecture halls or theological academies, or in some intellectual circle," nodding to objections from various parts of the Russian academic world. In this interpretation, "Orthodox Christians and Muslims are fighting side by side for our homeland, and we can list many examples of those who, despite their different faiths, are united in their goal of developing our great country, and this cooperation must continue first and foremost between Orthodox Christians and Muslims, the main monotheistic religions," effectively blessing the comparison of militant Orthodoxy to Islam defending sacred laws. The other traditional religions according to Russian law are Buddhism, widespread mainly among the descendants of the Tatar-Mongol ethnic groups, and Judaism, present in the Caucasus since the ancient Rus' of Kiev, and then spread throughout 19th-century Russia following the wanderings of various European countries. The patriarchal thesis was supported by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Berl Lazar (born in Milan, raised in America and a Russian by adoption for over thirty years), who confirmed that we Russians have one Father who unites us, speaking at the presentation of a multi-religious centre in the Moscow district of Kommunalka, where an Orthodox church, a synagogue, a mosque and a Buddhist temple are to be built in a shared space. He congratulated the leaders of traditional Russian religions at all federal and regional levels for their cooperation, recalling his recent visit to the city of Derbent, the southernmost point of the Russian Federation on the shores of the Caspian Sea, where a complex representing Orthodoxy, Islam and Judaism with places of worship, museum rooms and a library, all financed by the entrepreneur and oligarch Sulejman Kerimov, an ultra-Putinist senator for the Republic of Dagestan, who is subject to all kinds of international sanctions. The rabbi praised him for his understanding of how important it is that traditional Russian religions do not just live side by side, but show the ability to cooperate and find common languages, to demonstrate that what unites us is much more than what divides us, a circumstance that is particularly necessary in the North Caucasus, where the Abrahamic religions have been at war with each other for over a millennium. Lazar acknowledges that not everything is smooth between us, as many middle and lower-level ministers of religion are often infected by extremist movements that rekindle inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflicts, but according to the chief rabbi, these are marginal expressions within their own communities. without dwelling on the anti-Semitic pogroms of recent years in the Caucasus, but emphasising the need to fight together against these provocations. When asked how friendly relations between the various faiths can be maintained in times of ongoing interreligious conflict at the international level, Lazar's response is typically rabbinical: It is a test of our relationship with the eternal, and we must maintain a balanced approach, remembering that the commandment to love one's neighbour applies to all religions... It would be too easy to love only those with whom we get along. Russia is made up of those who also love those who would never want to submit to its suffocating universal communion. RUSSIAN WORLD IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO RUSSIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SATURDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. 12 July 2025 15:05 (UTC+04:00) by Ulvi Narimanli Truth has become a battleground, and so has the media. What appears as news often conceals agendas. Behind some press credentials lie state interests, and behind certain headlines, the fingerprints of intelligence agencies. This is not speculation; its documented strategyone that Russia has refined through decades of practice. Azerbaijans recent detention of two Sputnik Azerbaijan employees is not an attack on journalism. Its a defense of sovereignty. It is, in fact, a response to an old Soviet tactic now reborn in digital disguise. The world needs to stop confusing disinformation for dissentand understand the difference between journalism and a covert operation. Few states have mastered this craft like the Soviet Unionand, today, the Russian Federation. Far from serving as independent sources of public information, Russian state media have long functioned as tools of intelligence, influence, and foreign destabilization. The tradition of journalist-intellectuals forged in the Soviet era has not only survivedit has evolved. Outlets like Sputnik, which present themselves as legitimate media organizations, are in reality instruments of hybrid warfare. The facade of journalism masks their true role: geopolitical manipulation. The Soviet KGB, particularly its foreign intelligence branch, understood that control over the information space could be more powerful than conventional espionage. In the 1970s and 1980s, declassified documents show that many Soviet journalists abroad doubled as intelligence operatives. In some cases, the number of media personnel exceeded the embassy staff in host countries. After the USSR collapsed, this tactic went dormantbut only briefly. With time, it was restructured and relaunched under the guise of open media platforms, and Sputnik became its flagship. Formed under the Rossiya Segodnya media group, Sputniks mission goes far beyond news dissemination. It creates alternative truths, shapes foreign public opinion, influences elections, and builds local networks for Russian intelligence. Its leadership often hails from Russias security services or Kremlin-affiliated media. One such figure, Vitaly Denisov, was expelled from Moldova and Azerbaijan due to subversive information operations. Notably, he previously ran Sputnik Moldova and other regional offices before heading Sputnik Azerbaijan. More recently, Igor Kartavych, head of Sputnik Azerbaijan, and Yevgeny Belousov, its editor-in-chief, were detained in Azerbaijan. Authorities cited espionagenot journalismas the basis for their arrest. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was unequivocal: both men were collaborators with Russias Federal Security Service (FSB). Their actions, the Ministry stated, had nothing to do with press freedom and everything to do with violating Azerbaijani national security. In todays media environment, espionage doesnt require secret briefcases or encrypted radio signals. It is carried out in headlines, manipulated commentary, doctored imagery, and selective facts. The line between a journalist and a covert operative can be blurredby design. The European Union recognized this threat early. Following the invasion of Ukraine, the EU officially banned Sputnik and RT, describing them not as media but as tools of hybrid warfare. Similar bans followed in Canada, the UK, Ukraine, Australia, and many countries across Latin America. In total, Sputnik has been banned or blocked in 32 countries. The reasons are consistent: it is not a journalistic organization, but a state-backed mechanism of disinformation and foreign interference. Azerbaijans foreign ministry, in response to an open letter by the Union of Journalists of Russia defending the detained Sputnik employees, denounced the letter as a blatant distortion of facts. The ministry cited multiple exampleslike Denisovs expulsion and various reports by the Council of Europe, EUvsDisinfo, and EDMOto underscore that Sputnik functions as a strategic asset of Russian foreign policy, not an outlet for journalistic integrity. The hypocrisy of the Union of Journalists of Russia is not lost here. It has turned a blind eye to rampant violations of press freedom in Russia itself. Over 50 journalists have died under suspicious circumstances in Russia since 1992, among them prominent figures like Anna Politkovskaya, Pavel Sheremet, and Paul Klebnikov. At least 26 journalists have been imprisoned in the last five years alone. Since the Ukraine war began, the Kremlin has taken a sledgehammer to independent journalism. Censorship is now systemic. Dissent is criminalized. In contrast, Azerbaijan has emphasized its commitment to press freedom while defending its national sovereignty. These individuals are not journaliststhey are operatives using press credentials to interfere in the domestic affairs of sovereign states, the Foreign Ministry rightly stated. Sputnik is not under attack for its views, but for weaponizing media to conduct foreign intelligence operations. This is not a question of freedom of expression. It is a question of state-backed sabotage. By detaining Kartavych and Belousov, Azerbaijan has sent a clear message: sovereignty cannot be undermined under the pretext of journalism. In doing so, Baku joins a growing international consensus that democratic societies must defend their information space from hybrid threatswhether through bans, legal action, or public exposure. What the world needs is not the defense of pseudo-journalists, but a principled stand against foreign disinformation, however well-disguised. The Sputnik case is a litmus test for whether we can still tell the difference between journalism and espionage. 12 July 2025 20:35 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more After years of regional turmoil, political estrangement, and shifting alliances, Azerbaijan and Syria have finally found the timeand the opportunityto sit across the table and ask a vital question: where do we go from here? The long-awaited visit of Syrian Transitional President Ahmad Al-Sharaa to Baku is far more than a formality. It signals the rebirth of a relationship that had once stagnated under the weight of poor decisions by Syrias former leadership. It also marks the entry of Azerbaijan into a broader, more proactive Middle East strategyone that aligns reconstruction with diplomacy, energy with outreach, and quiet influence with tangible development. This historic meeting comes on the heels of prior engagement between President Ilham Aliyev and President Al-Sharaa at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. That encounter laid the foundation for a renewed diplomatic dialogue, but whats unfolding now is a strategic realignment. Azerbaijan, having restored its full territorial integrity and adopted a post-victory foreign policy posture, is now exporting more than oil and gasit is exporting trust, technical experience, and a model of post-conflict reconstruction that has drawn international attention. Bakus outreach to Damascus is not an isolated act of goodwillit is part of a broader regional vision. Over the past two years, Azerbaijan has taken concrete steps to assist Syrias post-conflict recovery. A delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov visited Syria on the instructions of President Aliyev, assessing where Azerbaijani expertise could contributefrom infrastructure to energy and humanitarian aid. This is development diplomacy in action, one that extends beyond words to boots on the ground, investment plans, and real partnership. The visit also reflects Azerbaijans transformation into a country of global diplomatic weight. No longer constrained to South Caucasus affairs, Baku has emerged as an agile player in Europe, Central Asia, and now increasingly, the Middle East. This expansion isnt accidentalit is a direct result of President Ilham Aliyevs assertive yet balanced foreign policy, which prioritizes sovereignty, pragmatism, and respect for international law. In this evolving partnership, energy cooperation is the most immediate and tangible area of focus. For a war-ravaged Syria facing acute energy shortages, the prospect of Azerbaijani gas is nothing short of strategic. Discussions are already underway to deliver 1 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas to Syria annually via Turkiye. The TurkiyeSyria pipeline is operational again, and while the SyriaJordan link remains damaged, its restoration would create a corridor capable of delivering Azerbaijani gas to markets as far as Egypt. Perhaps, as part of Mr.Al-Sharaa's visit to Azerbaijan, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic. The Memorandum was signed by Azerbaijans Minister of Economy and Chairman of the SOCAR Supervisory Board Mikayil Jabbarov and Syrias Minister of Energy Mohammed al-Bashir. Historically, Syria expressed interest in Azerbaijani gas, and in 2009, the two countries even signed an agreement for gas exports. However, global and regional developments derailed the project. Today, with Azerbaijan exporting gas via the TAP pipeline, which runs through Turkiye and near Syria, discussions on energy cooperation could be revived, potentially securing affordable energy supplies for Syria while expanding Azerbaijans market reach. In addition, it is also noteworthy to remind that the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has signed an agreement with Union Energy to acquire a 10 percent stake in Israel's Tamar natural gas project, located in the Mediterranean basin. The Tamar natural gas field, discovered in 2009, is situated off the coast of Israel in the Mediterranean Sea. It has been operational since 2013 and holds approximately 389 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves. The project is managed by the US company Chevron. This development suggests that Azerbaijan may have opportunities to cooperate with Syria in the hydrocarbon sector within the region. A revival of this partnership could provide Syria with stable, affordable energy while expanding Azerbaijans regional market footprint. This would bring the number of countries importing Azerbaijani gas to 13, and place Syria not only as a recipient but potentially as a transit hub. At a time when global competition for Azerbaijani gas is growing, this pivot toward the Middle East expands Bakus export mapand diversifies its geopolitical portfolio. This also coincides with a new regional energy reality: Europe is no longer Azerbaijans only premium customer. Is it possible? Short answer is - definitely. Through Turkiye. Azerbaijan sells about 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year to the Turkish market via two key pipelines: the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE) pipeline, which links with BOTASs infrastructure on the Georgian-Turkish border, and the extended South Caucasus Pipeline, which connects to TANAP. A new trilogy of partnership and pipeline, this would allow for a delivery of up to 6 million cubic meters per dayor about 2 billion cubic meters per yearto meet the energy needs of Aleppo and Homs power plants. Moreover, Azerbaijans expertise in electricity generation and infrastructure restoration is now part of the conversation. Having pioneered "smart villages," green energy zones, and rapid post-war reconstruction in Garabagh, Azerbaijan is offering more than theoretical adviceit is sharing blueprints that Syria can replicate. Few countries are better positioned to advise on post-conflict revival than one that has lived through war and engineered its own renaissance in less than three years. But the partnership does not end with bricks and pipelines. Azerbaijan has played a behind-the-scenes role in easing tensions across the Middle East. It has hosted confidential talks, facilitated dialogue between adversaries, and even helped establish hotline diplomacy mechanisms to defuse potential flashpoints between Israel, Turkiye, and Syria. This form of "quiet diplomacy" gives Baku a unique reputation: a country that listens, mediates, and rarely imposes. Syria, under its transitional government, is signaling its openness to rejoin the international system. President Al-Sharaas recognition of Azerbaijans transformationboth militarily and diplomaticallyis not mere flattery; it reflects a regional consensus that Baku is now a power broker. As Syria looks to rebuild its economy, infrastructure, and image, few partnerships offer more pragmatic value than one with Azerbaijan. Beyond energy and reconstruction, discussions during the visit included cultural cooperation, education, and humanitarian initiatives. Syria expressed interest in Azerbaijani scholarships, while both sides emphasized the restoration of cultural monumentsan area where Azerbaijan has already achieved remarkable success. This humanitarian angle adds moral depth to what could otherwise be just another transactional alliance. In many ways, the visit of Syrias transitional leader is the dawn of a new chapternot only in bilateral relations but in regional diplomacy. It is a chapter that merges realism with responsibility, energy with empathy, and diplomacy with decisive action. This partnership could become a model for how post-conflict states can work together, not just to rebuild themselves, but to shape a more stable and interconnected region. In a time of fractured alliances and uncertain futures, the message from Baku to Damascus is clear: we have both been through the firenow lets build something that lasts. 12 July 2025 10:50 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan Rashad Nabiyev has met with Georgia's Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili, who is on an official visit to Baku, Azernews reports. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of transport, particularly the full implementation of the BakuTbilisiKars (BTK) railway project and enhancing the regulatory legal framework for road transport between the two countries. The ministers also exchanged views on expanding collaboration in information and communication technologies (ICT), digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and innovationareas that hold significant potential for advancing regional connectivity and economic growth. 12 July 2025 10:20 (UTC+04:00) Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Tovuz battles, a pivotal moment in Azerbaijans modern military history that ended with the countrys decisive victory over Armenian forces, Azernews reports. The conflict began on July 12, 2020, when Armenian armed forces grossly violated the ceasefire by shelling Azerbaijani Army positions in the direction of Tovuz, along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The attacks quickly escalated, involving large-caliber weapons, heavy artillery, and attempts by Armenian forces to mobilize armored vehicles and manpower across the frontier. The Azerbaijani Army responded with precision strikes, destroying Armenian strongholds and inflicting heavy losses. Despite the scale of the provocation, Azerbaijan held its ground without conceding any territory. On the first day of the battles, three Azerbaijani servicemenSergeant Vugar Sadigov, Senior Soldier Elshad Mammadov, and Private Khayyam Dashdemirovwere martyred, and several others were wounded, one of whom later died from his injuries. Clashes intensified into the night and continued over the next several days, marked by the use of tanks, mortars, and artillery. On July 14, Azerbaijani heroes Major General Polad Hashimov and Colonel Ilgar Mirzayev were martyred alongside five other servicemen while defending the nation. A civilian, 76-year-old Aziz Azizov, was also killed when Armenian shells struck the village of Aghdam. Though hostilities calmed temporarily on July 15, fighting resumed the next morning. One additional Azerbaijani serviceman was martyred on July 16. By July 17, the Azerbaijani Army had successfully repelled the Armenian aggression. In total, 12 Azerbaijani servicemen made the ultimate sacrifice during the five-day battles. Their heroism remains etched in the countrys memory as a symbol of resilience and patriotism. The Tovuz battles sparked nationwide solidarity. On July 14, tens of thousands of citizens gathered in Baku to demonstrate their unwavering support for the Armed Forces and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev. In response to the Presidents call, thousands of young people volunteered for military service through the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription. Many analysts view the Tovuz battles as a turning point that reignited the nations resolve and paved the way for the 44-day Patriotic War, which led to the liberation of Azerbaijans occupied territories. To assist civilians affected by Armenian shelling in the villages of Aghdam, Dondar Gushchu, Vahidli, Alibeyli, Yukhari Oysuzlu, and Ashaghi Oysuzlu in Tovuz, the government allocated 1 million manat from the Presidential Reserve Fund. Damaged homes and infrastructure in the region have since been fully restored. 12 July 2025 10:03 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more A group of renowned world travelers has arrived in the city of Jabrayil, one of the territories liberated by Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. The delegation consists of 30 travelers from 15 countries and is led by Charles Veley, the American founder of the Most Traveled People (MTP) club. During their visit, the travelers toured the city center of Jabrayil, where they were briefed on the ongoing reconstruction and redevelopment efforts being carried out in the region. 12 July 2025 16:00 (UTC+04:00) by Mazahir Afandiyev In July 1995, the genocide that took place in the city of Srebrenica resulted in the massacre of more than 8,000 innocent Bosnian Muslims. During the perpetrated atrocity, innocent civiliansespecially women and childrenwere killed, and the victims of this tragedy were buried in mass graves. Starting from July 11, several days are marked in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina in blood. During those days, particularly in Srebrenica and more broadly across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Azerbaijan, and other countries, the victims of the Srebrenica massacre are commemorated with deep respect. There are many historical similarities between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the most significant of which is that both nations suffered ruthless aggression and experienced tragedies against humanitynamely the Khojaly and Srebrenica genocides. In this regard, the resolution adopted on February 26, 2013, by the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina recognizing and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan was a manifestation of the deep respect of the Bosnian people toward the Azerbaijani nation and state, and a contribution to international justice, peace, and security. Today, a foreign policy priority for Azerbaijan is to ensure that the Victory and full restoration of our sovereignty achieved in the Second Garabagh Patriotic War under the leadership of Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Great Leader Ilham Aliyev, and based on the four well-known resolutions of the UN Security Council, is correctly understood by the international community and to demonstrate a model for the fair resolution of the issue in international organizations. Azerbaijan is already deepening its political reforms within the framework of a new multi-vector foreign policy. A review of the successful foreign policy carried out under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev shows that Azerbaijan is intensifying cooperation with all countries, especially with those who supported our just cause during the Second Garabagh War and hold significant strategic importance. Our country also places great importance on cooperation with Balkan states, especially Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has elevated our multilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership. It is no coincidence that, during this period, Azerbaijan has implemented major infrastructure projects in several Bosnian cities. As a symbol of bilateral friendship and brotherhood, in 2011, under the initiative and instruction of the President of Azerbaijan and with state support, reconstruction and restoration works were carried out on Baku Street in Sarajevo. Continuing this, in February 2012, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation established a new Friendship Park, within which a memorial complex of serious historical, political, and moral significance commemorating the Khojaly and Srebrenica genocides was created. Additionally, a medical center was established in Banja Luka, and a medical institution was founded in Sarajevo. Even during the difficult pandemic period, Azerbaijan provided both medical and humanitarian aid to Bosnia and Herzegovina, a friendly and partner country. On March 3, 2023, the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina paid an official visit to Azerbaijan, followed by President Ilham Aliyevs official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on April 13, 2023. These visits were the logical continuation and clear expression of the cooperation established between the two countries to date, and were also among the important steps aimed at strengthening relations with European nations, societal integration, and intercultural dialogue. The signing of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina laid a new foundation for deepening cooperation, implementing large-scale and effective projects, and developing a robust dialogue between our peoples. In these processes, the Parliament, one of the main branches of government, plays a significant role. Through parliamentary diplomacy, Azerbaijan actively participates in international integration, protection of national interests, and delivering the truth about Azerbaijan to the global community. The friendship groups established under the Milli Majlis (Parliament) also have a unique role. One such active groupthe Working Group for the Azerbaijan-Bosnia and Herzegovina Interparliamentary Relationsis striving to further deepen mutual cooperation with the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its worth noting that after the liberation of our territories from occupation, one of the first high-level parliamentary officials to visit these areas was Bakir Izetbegovic, Chairman of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the official visit of the Bosnian delegation to Azerbaijan from June 810, 2021, they visited the city of Aghdam. Most recently, during the working visit of Speaker of the Milli Majlis to Bosnia and Herzegovina, participation in the commemoration ceremony at the Srebrenica Memorial Center can be considered another significant contribution of the Azerbaijani Parliament to the development of friendly relations between our two nations and peoples. Projects aimed at informing the Bosnian public and the international community about the realities of Azerbaijan are extremely important. I believe that expanding awareness of the Srebrenica genocide among the Azerbaijani public and organizing diverse future initiatives will play a major role in strengthening public and cultural ties between our peoples. Today, Azerbaijan, a full-fledged member of the UN family, is the only country in the region to have exercised its right to self-defense as enshrined in the UN Charter and to have implemented the UN Security Council resolutions regarding peace and security in the region. The fact that our national flag now flies in Shusha, and that our sovereignty has been fully restored, means that the sacrifices of our fallen heroes were not in vainjustice and truth have prevailed. About author: Mazahir Afandiyev Member of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of the Working Group for the Interparliamentary Relations between Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina The views and opinions expressed by guest columnists in their op-eds may differ from and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff. 12 July 2025 11:20 (UTC+04:00) Illegally stored firearms and ammunition were discovered and seized across various regions of Azerbaijan on July 11, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Azernews reports. Police officers uncovered a significant cache that included 3 grenades, 6 detonators, 7 rifles, 5 cartridge magazines, and 923 cartridges of various calibers. The operation was conducted in the capital as well as in several other parts of the country. Authorities emphasized that operational and preventive measures are ongoing to identify and confiscate illegally held weapons and ammunition. The Ministry of Internal Affairs continues its efforts to ensure public safety and security nationwide. 12 July 2025 12:22 (UTC+04:00) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has issued a strong statement in response to the open letter released by the Union of Journalists of Russia, which protested the detention of two Sputnik Azerbaijan employees and appealed to international journalistic and human rights organizations, Azernews reports. According to the Ministry, the letter grossly distorts the facts and represents an attempt to manipulate international public opinion. The detention of Igor Kartavych, head of Sputnik Azerbaijan, and editor-in-chief Yevgeny Belousov, was not related to journalistic activity, but rather to their collaboration with Russias Federal Security Service (FSB). Their arrest, the Ministry emphasized, was conducted in full accordance with Azerbaijani legislation and national security procedures. The statement further highlights that this is not an isolated incident. Former Sputnik Azerbaijan head Vitaly Denisovalso reportedly a Russian intelligence officer with ties to the GRUpreviously directed operations at Sputnik offices in South Ossetia and Moldova. He was expelled from both Moldova and Azerbaijan due to his subversive activities under the guise of media work. These individuals are not journaliststhey are operatives using press credentials to interfere in the domestic affairs of sovereign states, the statement read. The agency [Sputnik] has become a key tool of Russias hybrid strategy and foreign influence operations. Azerbaijan pointed to numerous international reports, including from the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, EUvsDisinfo, and EDMO, which have classified Sputnik not as an ordinary media outlet but as a central mechanism in Russias state-sponsored disinformation campaigns. As a result, Sputnik has been banned or blocked in 32 countries, including all EU member states, as well as Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, and Australia. The statement also criticized the Union of Journalists of Russia for overlooking severe press freedom violations within its own country. Instead of addressing the persecution of independent journalists and the suppression of free speech in Russia, the Union focuses on defending individuals linked to intelligence agencies, it noted. International watchdogs have documented the deaths of over 50 journalists in Russia since 1992many under suspicious and politically charged circumstances. Among the high-profile victims are Yuri Shchekochikhin, Anna Politkovskaya, Pavel Sheremet, and Paul Klebnikov. In the last five years alone, at least 26 journalists have been arrested or detained. Reports show a sharp decline in independent journalism in Russia, with estimates indicating a reduction of up to 70%. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, media censorship in Russia has intensified drastically. Dissenting voices are systematically silenced, and journalists face arrest for expressing alternative viewpoints, the statement continued. Azerbaijan has called on international media and human rights organizations to refrain from legitimizing what it describes as "information sabotage" and to critically assess the role of entities like Sputnik and their connections to foreign intelligence services. In this case, defending so-called journalists working as agents of foreign intelligence undermines the integrity of the global journalistic community. We urge international organizations to take a principled stance against the use of media as a tool for political manipulation and foreign interference, the Ministry concluded. 12 July 2025 17:00 (UTC+04:00) On July 12, Minister of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Kamaladdin Heydarov, and the newly appointed Secretary-General of the International Civil Protection Organization (ICPO), Arguch Kalentarli, paid a visit to the Alley of Honor in Baku, Azernews reports citing the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The officials honored the memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, laying wreaths and flowers at his grave. They also commemorated prominent ophthalmologist and academician Zarifa Aliyeva, placing flowers at her resting place in tribute. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese new energy commercial vehicle startup Windrose Technology ("Windrose") recently signed a significant order with Chilean logistics giant Trailor Logistics for several hundred electric heavy-duty trucks, according to a post on the company's WeChat account. The first batch has already received down payments and is scheduled for delivery starting later this year. Trailor Logistics, headquartered in Santiago, Chile's capital, counts global brands such as Walmart and Heineken among its clients. Photo credit: Windrose Technology This partnership marks Windrose's official entry into its fifth continent, following previous expansions into Europe, North America, and Oceania. As a leading Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) exporter, Windrose continues to broaden its global footprint, with South America now added to its growing international portfolio. Historically, South America has received relatively limited attention from Chinese companies due to its geographic distance, lower global visibility, and limited English-language infrastructure. However, growing bilateral trade, infrastructure projects such as Peru's Chancay Port, and currency swap agreements between China and South American nations have rapidly elevated the region's strategic importance for Chinese firms going global. Windrose founder, chairman, and CEO Mr. Han Wen emphasized that the company plans to expand its presence across Spanish-speaking regions in Europe and the Americas, aiming to accelerate the global adoption of zero-emission freight solutions. Chile, as one of South America's most developed economies, is well-positioned to advance the energy transition. Situated along the Pacific coast and backed by the Andes Mountains, the country boasts abundant wind and solar resources. It produces a quarter of the world's copper and holds 78% of the global lithium reserves shared across South America. In line with its green ambitions, the Chilean government has laid out a mid-to-long-term roadmap for transportation decarbonization, aiming for net-zero emissions from all road freight vehicles and intercity buses by 2045. Chiles unique geographystretching 4,305 kilometers from north to south while averaging only 200 kilometers in widthcreates distinct transport challenges. Route 5, part of the Pan-American Highway, handles around half of the nation's freight traffic and runs the entire length of the country. With a 670-kilometer range at full load and megawatt-level fast-charging capabilities, Windrose's electric heavy-duty trucks offer a compelling solution for long-haul logistics across the vast terrain, combining zero emissions, high efficiency, and reliable performance tailored for the South American market. 12 July 2025 17:55 (UTC+04:00) Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov met with German Galushenko, Minister of Energy of Ukraine, on July 12 in Baku to discuss the deepening of bilateral relations and mutual support between the two countries, Azernews reports. According to the Cabinet of Ministers, both sides highlighted the longstanding mutual respect for each others sovereignty and territorial integrity, underscoring the foundation of their friendly relations. The meeting coincided with the session of the Azerbaijani-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission, which was praised as an important step in expanding economic cooperation across various sectors. Prime Minister Asadov also expressed appreciation for the growing partnership and emphasized the positive momentum in areas such as energy, agriculture, and humanitarian initiatives. Gratitude was extended for Azerbaijan's humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine. The two officials discussed a wide range of topics on the bilateral agenda, reiterating their commitment to strengthening ties in economic, energy, agricultural, and humanitarian fields. 12 July 2025 17:36 (UTC+04:00) A powerful explosion shook parts of the Iranian capital, Tehran, on July 12, raising alarm across the city and prompting speculation on social media and local outlets, Azernews reports via the Iranian Telegram channel. According to the Azad Iran Telegram channel, users began sharing footage reportedly capturing the blast and its aftermath. The explosion is believed to have occurred near Mehrabad Airport, located in the southwest of Tehran. While some media sources suggested that the explosion happened at the airport itself, state media swiftly denied these claims, stating that Mehrabad Airport remains unaffected. As of now, no official statement has been issued regarding the cause, scale, or casualties related to the explosion. Authorities have not confirmed whether the incident was the result of an accident, military activity, or another cause. The situation remains fluid, and updates are expected as more information becomes available from Iranian officials. 12 July 2025 17:49 (UTC+04:00) Ahmad Al-Sharaa paid tribute to the memory of National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, architect and founder of the modern independent Azerbaijani state, Heydar Aliyev, and laid a wreath at his grave. Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Transitional President of the Syrian Arab Republic, currently on a working visit to Azerbaijan, visited the Alley of Honors on July 12, Azernews reports. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 12 July 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The armed forces of the Republic of Korea, the United States, and Japan recently carried out joint aviation exercises involving the American B-52H strategic bomber, Azernews reports. According to News1 agency reports, the drills took place south of Jeju Island, South Korea. The main objective of the training was to showcase and coordinate the deployment of the B-52H, a key asset in the U.S. Air Forces strategic operations. These maneuvers come amidst heightened regional tensions and are seen as a demonstration of the allies' commitment to maintaining a robust defense posture in the face of potential threats. The B-52H, a long-range strategic bomber capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads, plays a pivotal role in projecting power and deterring aggression. While this exercise highlights the military cooperation between these three nations, it's also worth noting the broader context: the growing strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region. As tensions rise, particularly with North Korea's missile and nuclear activities, joint exercises like these are becoming an increasingly common way for allied forces to reinforce their readiness and interoperability. An interesting aspect of these exercises is how they tie into a broader push for technological and operational integration. Advanced weapons systems, like the B-52H, are not just a symbol of military might but also a tool for strengthening international alliances through shared defense capabilities. 12 July 2025 20:00 (UTC+04:00) A federal judge in New Hampshire has issued a ruling to block former President Donald Trumps executive order that sought to restrict the right of foreigners born in the United States to obtain citizenship, Azernews reports. The decision followed a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which argued that the order was unconstitutional and violated longstanding interpretations of the 14th Amendment. Judge Joseph LaPlante of New Hampshire cited the Supreme Courts precedent allowing class action lawsuitsan important legal mechanism in the US that enables affected individuals to collectively challenge government policies. The ruling opens the door for thousands who believe they are impacted by the order to join the legal action. Legal experts estimate that if the order were enforced, it could potentially strip more than 150,000 children born annually in the US of their right to citizenship. 12 July 2025 18:30 (UTC+04:00) Iran has issued a strong warning to three European countriesthe United Kingdom, France, and Germanystating that any attempt to re-implement the snapback sanctions mechanism under the 2015 nuclear deal would mark the end of their role in Irans nuclear negotiations, Azernews reports. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi made these remarks on July 12 during a meeting with foreign diplomats in Tehran. He cautioned that invoking the snapback mechanism would only complicate the resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue and represent a lasting "black spot" in the history of European engagement with Iran. The snapback mechanism, referenced in Articles 36 and 37 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), allows a party to the deal to refer a perceived violation to the UN Security Council. If the issue remains unresolved, international sanctions may be reinstated, and in extreme scenarios, UN members may be authorized to launch military operations against Iran. Amid rising regional tensions, Araghchi also warned of the serious risk of radioactive contamination at Irans nuclear facilities following a series of recent military strikes. He added that explosives left behind from the attacks pose ongoing danger, and that it is now impossible for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to approach the sites, both for security reasons and due to threats to their personal safety. The statement comes in the wake of several military escalations involving Iran, Israel, and the United States: On June 13, Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing multiple high-ranking military officers and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated the same day with Operation True Promise III, firing hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones toward Israeli targets, including Tel Aviv, resulting in civilian casualties. On June 22, the United States struck three Iranian nuclear facilities, reportedly destroying key infrastructure. Iran responded on June 23 by targeting a US military base in Qatar with airstrikes. A ceasefire was brokered on June 24 with the mediation of US President Donald Trump, which was later confirmed by both Israeli and Iranian authorities. Despite these developments, Araghchi insisted that Irans nuclear program remains peaceful, emphasizing the countrys ethical and religious opposition to nuclear weapons. He added that Iran has repeatedly taken steps to demonstrate transparency. However, concerns remain. On March 3, 2025, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reported that Iran had increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% from 182 kg to 275 kga significant escalation. Iran is currently the only non-nuclear weapons state enriching uranium to this level, which Grossi labeled a serious concern. The Iranian side maintains that this enrichment is part of a peaceful energy program, though the regional and international community remains divided on the true trajectory of Irans nuclear ambitions. 12 July 2025 21:35 (UTC+04:00) Russian President Vladimir Putin told his United States counterpart Donald Trump, as well as Tehran's representatives, that he would support the idea of the revived Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to include a demand for Iran to stop enriching its uranium products, Azernews reports via Axios. "Putin would support zero enrichment. He encouraged the Iranians to work towards that in order to make negotiations with the Americans more favorable. The Iranians said they won't consider it," a European source told Axios. An Israeli source said that Putin conveyed his attitude to Israel, Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Previously, Russia said it would be willing to help Iran in removing its highly enriched uranium. 12 July 2025 22:30 (UTC+04:00) United States President Donald Trump announced on Saturday his decision to impose 30% tariffs on goods from the European Union and Mexico, effective August 1, Azernews reports. In the letters that he sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican head of state Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump warned that if either of the two tried to retaliate, the US would respond with an increased levy. As in the previous letter she sent out recently, Trump said that both the EU and Mexico will avoid the tariffs if they decide to build or manufacture their products in the US. 12 July 2025 23:00 (UTC+04:00) Political leaders in New Caledonia have signed a deal with the French government to establish a new political entity known as the State of New Caledonia, which will be enshrined in the French Constitution, French media reported Saturday, Azernews reports via Anadolu Agency. The agreement follows 10 days of negotiations between pro- and anti-independence parties in the commune of Bougival in Frances Yvelines department. French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou welcomed the outcome on X, calling it a historic agreement and praising the establishment of a State of New Caledonia within the national framework, enshrined in the Constitution of the French Republic. The deal outlines the creation of a Caledonian nationality, allowing individuals to hold both Caledonian and French citizenship. A new provincial electoral body will be formed for those born in New Caledonia or who have resided there continuously for at least 15 years. The agreement also includes a redistribution of seats in the local Congress. Paris pledged continued support for the territorys economic development, with a particular focus on New Caledonias nickel industry a key part of its economy and a long-standing point of local concern. The French parliament is expected to hold a special session in Versailles in late 2025 to formally enshrine the agreement in the Constitution. A local referendum on the new status is planned for February 2026. New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in the South Pacific, has been under French rule since the 19th century. Calls for independence have persisted for decades, especially among the Indigenous Kanak population, many of whom have sought greater autonomy or full sovereignty. BOISE, Idaho A man charged with stabbing four University of Idaho students to death in 2022 pleaded guilty on Wednesday to first-degree murder in a deal with prosecutors that spares the former graduate student in criminal justice the death sentence.Bryan Kohberger, 30, previously pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and burglary charges in a gruesome multiple homicide in 2022 that stunned the small college town of Moscow in northwestern Idaho and drew national media attention.The plea agreement, as outlined in court by the judge, calls for Kohberger to be sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison and to waive his rights to appeal or seek reconsideration of the sentence.Relatives of at least two of the victims attended Wednesday's court hearing, which began at 1 p.m. ET in Boise, the Idaho state capital. According to news media accounts, the families were divided about the plea deal.Kohberger, who has remained in pre-trial custody since his arrest more than two years ago, was due to return to court for formal sentencing on July 23-24.Under questioning from the judge, Kohberger stated that he was pleading guilty as charged to four counts of first-degree homicide and a charge of felony burglary.He also asserted that he was doing so freely, believed it to be in his best interests, was satisfied with his legal counsel, and understood the consequences of his plea.Answeringto a series of questions from the judge, he also admitted to committing each of the crimes.At the time of the killings, Kohberger was pursuing a doctorate degree in criminal justice at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, a short distance from Moscow, where the four victims were undergraduates at the University of Idaho.The murders occurred during the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, in an off-campus house shared by five women.Three of the roommates - Xana Kernodle, 20, of Avondale, Arizona; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho - were found slain inside the house along with Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, of Conway, Washington.All suffered multiple stab wounds, according to authorities.The family of Goncalves, in a statement through their attorney, criticized the plea agreement as a mishandled,Asked outside the courthouse prior to Wednesday's hearing whether he believed the four life sentences provided justice in the case, the victim's https://attendance.rpi.gov.bd/ father, Steve Goncalves, said, By Rev. Mark Creech revmarkcreech.org At its 52nd General Assembly, the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) voted overwhelmingly to commission a study on Christian Nationalism. The decision reflects a growing conversation throughout the Church about how Christians should engage in public life or completely stay out of that arena. The term Christian Nationalism has become both increasingly common and deeply contentious. For many, it functions less as a clear descriptor and more as a disparaging label, most often used to malign Christians who simply seek to apply biblical principles to matters of public policy. It is most frequently employed by voices on the political Left, where it serves as a rhetorical weapon rather than a precise term. Yet despite its growing use, Christian nationalism remains ill-defined, and its ambiguity has sown confusion, division, and unnecessary suspicion, even among well-meaning believers. Some Christians, perhaps unaware of its implications, have begun using the label to rebuke their brethren, further muddying the waters. In its more extreme and ideological forms, Christian Nationalism is not simply the effort to shape public life with godly principles. Instead, it is a worldview that seeks to merge national and Christian identity into a single, indistinguishable whole, effectively elevating the state to a quasi-sacred status. In this vision, although some of its followers would deny it, Christ is not supreme, standing Sovereign over the state; instead, the state and Christ are equalized. The result is a faith conforming to the nations political aims, often losing its prophetic voice and moral clarity. A sobering historical example of where this can lead was seen in Nazi Germany. In the early 1930s, the Deutsche Christen (German Christians) movement sought to blend Christianity with Nazi ideology, stripping the faith of its Jewish roots, promoting racial superiority, and encouraging loyalty to Adolf Hitler as a kind of national messiah. Backed by the regime, the movement gained control of Protestant churches, silenced dissenting clergy, and supported the states persecution of the Jewish people. In doing so, they exchanged the Lordship of Christ for the favor of political power and acceptance, resulting in one of the Churchs most profound moral failures. A more modern illustration of this kind of thinking was witnessed on January 6, 2021. Among those who stormed the Capitol were individuals who carried Christian flags, signs reading Jesus Saves, and who prayed in the name of Christ as they forcefully overran and took over congressional chambers. Some used religious rhetoric to justify this political rage. While not all participants shared these views, and certainly not all Christians who supported conservative causes, this convergence of religious fervor and political violence by some understandably alarmed many within and beyond the Church. Yet, amid these concerns, a false conclusion must be avoided: that Christianity has no place in shaping public policy quite the contrary. Many Christians rightly believe that Christian principles profoundly shaped America, and that those principles, far from being oppressive, have formed the moral foundation for liberty, justice, and human flourishing. They hold that the nation is better off when Christianity is honored, though not coerced. They believe Christian influence on public life is appropriate and essential for maintaining a free and virtuous republic. This conviction does not demand Christian dominance in government nor seek to exclude others from actively participating in the democratic process. Rather, it acknowledges that our Constitutional orders values individual rights, the rule of law, and equality before God are biblical. The Constitution didnt invent these ideals; they came straight from the Bible. The whole system erodes when these values are severed from their spiritual roots. This is not Christian Nationalism! It is better described as Christian Patriotism, a love for country informed by biblical conviction, constrained by humility, and guided by a Kingdom-first allegiance to Jesus Christ. Christian patriotism refuses to confuse the temporal with the eternal. It acknowledges the blessings of national heritage, but does not idolize them. It calls believers to speak up in the public square, not so much as political activists and agitators, but as salt and light. It upholds the freedom of every person to have a voice in public affairs, yet unashamedly promotes truth grounded in Gods Word. It favors Christianity in public discourse and decision, not for purposes of leveraging power, but because of its unique and superior capacity to sustain human dignity and moral order. Unlike Christian Nationalism, Christian Patriotism resists coercion and works through persuasion. It honors religious liberty, not as a concession to secularism, but as a Christian principle itself. It strives to see that laws which protect life, defend the family, and sustain justice are adopted. However, it doesnt abandon the Gospels core function: leading the masses to a soul-saving knowledge of Christ as their personal Redeemer. No firmer foundation could be laid for the necessary virtue of self-government, upon which our entire system depends. The Church must not remain silent in public affairs, but neither can it afford to compromise its witness by confusing Christs Kingdom with any earthly one. Scripture declares that at Christs return, every nation and tongue will confess His Lordship, and the will of the state will fully submit to the worlds true Messiah and King, but not before then. In the meantime, Christians are called slot resmi to persuade others, as faithfully and effectively as possible, that ordering life according to Gods revealed will is best for the individual and the common good. Christians must not withdraw or adopt a posture of neutrality, but engage with wisdom, humility, and principled passion. Christians should be known for their righteousness, not for theocratic ambitions but for their Gospel-saturated faith and practice. Let the Church be the conscience of the state, not its master. In days of incredible division and uncertainty, Christian patriotism offers the Church a path forward one that is faithful to Christ, fruitful for society, and free of the entanglements that can stain the witness of the people of God. https://revmarkcreech.org/god-and-country-but-in-the-right-order Inside the history of one of NIs happiest and most beautiful pubs and why the original bar has to stay Laura McDaid speaks to the owners of a Co Fermanagh bar popular with well-known faces and locals alike Pat Blake Laura McDaid Sat 12 Jul 2025 at 12:33 Writer John McGahern once described Blakes of The Hollow in Co Fermanagh as one of the happiest and most beautiful bars in the whole of Ireland. Where to now for the class of 2025? NI graduates reveal what comes next We catch up with the summer graduates at Queens and Ulster University to find out what their future steps are likely to be Rebecca McGrath Photo: Kirsten Elder Mark Bain and Jessica Rice Sat 12 Jul 2025 at 09:26 Its a familiar summer sight proud graduates in gowns, clutching their degrees after years of hard work. Kneecap Graffiti is burned on a Bonfire at Roden Street in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA) Firefighters in Northern Ireland said they dealt with a challenging night as bonfires were lit ahead of the July 12 celebrations. Tens of thousands will take to the streets across the region for the traditional Orange Order parades on Saturday. The festivities will be spread across 19 main locations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne where the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. It comes after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. While most of the bonfires passed off peacefully, there was condemnation after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone. Pictures of the Irish rap band Kneecap and Irish flags were also burned on other pyres. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content But the most contentious bonfire was located on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity sub station off the Donegall Road in south Belfast. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with 72 bonfire related incidents across the evening. One firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, Co Antrim. NIFRS area commander Andy Burns said: Between 6pm 11 July and 2am 12 July 2025, we received 277 emergency 999 calls. This resulted in our firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of which were bonfire related. Peak activity was between 10pm and 1am. During this period, the number of emergency calls received increased by 154% when compared to 2024. It was a challenging and extremely busy night for NIFRS with an increase in demand for our regional control centre and emergency response. The spokesperson added: Disappointingly, a firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn. They were not injured and remained on duty. This was an isolated incident and not reflective of the support shown to firefighters in carrying out their duties across the evening. Effigies of controversial Irish rappers Kneecap placed on a bonfire on Roden Street in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA) Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, around 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff will be working on July 12. On the 11th night, around 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was 6.1 million last year, a figure that was up 1.5 million on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is due to falling police numbers and the resultant increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has urged mutual respect in the marking of events. He said: Our officers will be on the ground throughout the weekend, working in partnership with community leaders, event organisers, and local representatives to support lawful, peaceful, and family-friendly events. However where necessary, we will take firm and proportionate action to keep people safe. Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone. On Sunday morning, an Orange Order parade has been permitted to pass Ardoyne shops in north Belfast restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. It is a return parade at a former flashpoint which traditionally took place on the evening of July 12 often resulting in violent scenes. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13 events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh will take place on Monday. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James. With the blow of a whistle and a snap from a snare, thousands of Orange Order members descended onto Belfast City Centre for the annual Twelfth of July parades. An audience of over 115,000 lined the roads to watch the 77-band strong march as it made the six-mile journey to Barnetts Demense in south Belfast. Liz McLean and Kathleen Harrison Watch: Highlights from Twelfth parade in Belfast With another six-miles on the return procession it is the longest in the country. For some spectators there was twice the reason to rejoice as Liz McLean celebrated her 68th birthday while enjoying the show. It's a bit sweltering today, but it's a great day out for everyone, she said. And why not? Everybody enjoys it. We're here just to see it it's part of the culture. Liz McLean and Kathleen Harrison I like the pipers with all the gear, I think they're absolutely beautiful. Liz was joined by her aunt, Kathleen Harrison, who has been coming to Belfast for the Twelfth ever since she was a child and said she hopes to have a band at her funeral. Every one from when I was young, the 82-year-old said. Our mommies and aunts always brought us to see the bands [its] tradition. Natalia Montgomery and her two kids Meanwhile, Jim Perks (17) made the trip over from Ipswich for his first Twelfth. His father was born on the Shankill Road and returns home most years for the annual procession. My dad was born in the Shankill and he moved to Ligoniel. Itss my first time being over for the Twelfth - it's great craic. By Jims side was his friend Percy Moore (18) who added: We love it. Its really good and the atmosphere's great. And last night too for the Eleventh Night. Enjoying a refreshment before joining the march was Woodvale man Tom Osborne with the Shankill Protestant Boys Flute Band. The band were set up in 1980 with the purpose of expressing Protestant culture and remembering the brave servicemen and volunteers who fought and died during World War 1 as well as those lost during the Troubles. Liz McLean and Kathleen Harrison Twelfth celebrations get underway in Belfast Tom, who is a side-walker in the procession, has been marching for almost 50 years. Forty-nine years I've walked to the field and back, Tom said. Im a side walker. Sort of keep people in the ranks that are supposed to be in the ranks. Keep them in check, make sure they're marching right. Jim Perks and Percy Moore It's just once a year. Everybody looks forward to it the Protestant community look forward to it and enjoy it. And I'm glad the weather is the way it is. Natalia Montgomery (36) from Newtownabbey comes to the Belfast Parade on Royal Avenue every year without fail. The mum-of-two has kept up the family tradition and has been taking her kids since they were born. She said: Its just part of our culture, weve always came. Ive always been brought from when I was young child with my nanny and poppy so weve always came out with our kids. [The weather] is brilliant, Natalie added. I actually said this morning that I cant remember the last Twelfth that I didnt have to bring an umbrella with us so its great to have a bit of sun. I sensed that something was very wrong and then I heard a shot ring out: Belfast student reflects on Trump assassination attempt A 19-year-old Belfast politics student was at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the day Donald Trump was almost assassinated. One year on he writes about being an eyewitness to history A blood-stained Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by secret service agents after being shot in Butler last July (PA/Evan Vucci) Cormac Morris Sat 12 Jul 2025 at 08:45 As the hot sun glared down on the crowd, everyones eyes were fixed on the man on stage. They listened intently, all engrossed in his tub-thumping speech as he raged about the various faults of American society and how only he could fix them. It comes after sectarian slurs on a west Belfast bonfire were reported to police Watch: Controversial Village bonfire in Belfast goes ahead after council order for removal Environment Minister Andrew Muir has said he is disappointed that an Eleventh night bonfire was lit in south Belfast despite warnings over asbestos on the site. The bonfire at Meridi Street, off the Donegall Road, had been the focus of health warnings, political rows and legal challenges throughout the week before it was lit on Friday night. Effigies of rap trio Kneecap and an Irish language slogan urging people to kill your local Kneecap were burnt on the bonfire. It was one of dozens of bonfires which were ignited to mark Eleventh Night. The NI Fire & Rescue Service said it was a challenging and extremely busy night. In one incident in Lisburn, a firefighter was attacked at a bonfire. Meanwhile, in Belfast, a controversial bonfire that the City Council wanted removed went ahead as planned. Figures appearing to be dressed in the style of rappers Moghlai Bap, DJ Provai and Mo Chara appeared on the pyre in the Village area. Belfast City Council had on Wednesday ordered the dismantling of the structure following fears over its proximity to a nearby electrical substation and the presence of loose asbestos at the site. However, the bonfire was lit after the PSNI deemed it too dangerous to intervene. As well as the effigies, the bonfire contained an Irish tricolour and Palestine flag, as well as a sign penned in Irish which reads: Maraigh do aitiuil Kneecap. Though grammatically incorrect, the message roughly translates as Kill your local Kneecap, an apparent reference to comments made by the band about Tory MPs for which the group later apologised. Another sign read SDLP and Alliance do not represent our community. Mr Muir said: "I am very disappointed with the decision to light the bonfire. "Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) staff monitored events last night along with statutory partners throughout the night. "We will be engaging with other statutory partners in the coming days as we all assess the impact of the bonfire. "NIEA will also focus on the efforts by the landowner to remove the asbestos pile safely from the site in the time ahead and the environmental crime investigation will continue. "As I have already stated, a review must also be undertaken looking at lessons that can be learned involving all statutory partners." Separately, a poster featuring Kneecap along with sectarian slogans was attached to an Eleventh Night bonfire in Co Tyrone. The banner, which had a photograph of the west Belfast band as its backdrop, was cable-tied to the pallets used to construct the bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon. It featured the heading Kill your local Kneecap, with a further line stating The only good one is a dead one. In the centre of the poster is the acronym KAT, with Death to Hamas and Destroy all Irish Republicans also on the banner. July bonfires: A sectarian safety risk, or a harmless tradition? At Sandy Row, an effigy wearing a Celtic jersey and a tricolour balaclava was placed on top of a bonfire alongside two Palestinian flags. A posted reading F**k Kneecap and Palestine was fixed to the structure along with another notice reading Stop the Boats. Deport Illegals. Stop the Invasion. The NI fire service said it was one of its busiest nights of the year. Between 6pm yesterday and 2am this morning, the NIFRS received 277 emergency 999 calls and attended 194 incidents - 72 of which were bonfire related. During this period, the number of emergency calls received increased by 154% when compared to 2024, Area Commander Andy Burns said. It was a challenging and extremely busy night for NIFRS with an increase in demand for our regional control centre and emergency response. He added: Disappointingly, a firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn. They were not injured and remained on duty. "This was an isolated incident and not reflective of the support shown to Firefighters in carrying out their duties across the evening. Yesterday Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey described similar sectarian displays on a bonfire in west Belfast as sickening. The offensive banners appeared on a pyre alongside Irish tricolours in the Highfield area of the city, with police confirming the banners are being treated as motivated by hate. The KAT slur has this time been painted onto one of the flags in block capital letters and hung above a sign that reads stop the boats. Another sign with ATAT and HYL painted on it alongside a crosshair target has also been spotted at the site in addition to a sign that warns PSNI not welcome in loyalist Highfield. Controversial migrant boat bonfire is lit in Moygashel Such open and sickening displays of sectarian and racist hatred have absolutely no place in our society, said Mr Maskey. "Political unionism must speak out and demand the removal of these offensive materials. Real leadership is needed, although it has been sorely lacking in these communities for some time. This is clearly a hate crime, and I have reported it to the PSNI. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content A PSNI spokesperson said: Police have received reports regarding offensive signage placed on a bonfire in the Highfield area and in the Eastvale area of Dungannon. Enquiries into these matters, which are being treated as being motivated by hate, are ongoing. Meanwhile, a drone carrying an Irish tricolour was spotted flying over the Shankill Road as the community prepared to light their bonfire. Footage on social media appeared to show the drone performing laps of the area. The NI Ambulance Service was called to the scene just after midnight The Clonduff bonfire prior to being lit on the Eleventh Night A patient has been taken to hospital after suffering severe burns at an Eleventh Night bonfire in east Belfast. Emergency services were called to the scene at a bonfire in the Lisnasharragh area of the city shortly after midnight on July 12. It is understood the injuries described by one source as severe burns were sustained during the lighting of the Clonduff bonfire in the area. A NI Ambulance Service (NIAS) spokesperson said: The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 12.03am on Saturday July 12 following reports of an incident in the Lisnasharragh area of Belfast. "NIAS despatched a rapid response paramedic and an emergency crew to the incident. "Following assessment and treatment at the scene, one patient was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital. The PSNI has been approached for comment. The NI Fire and Rescue Service said they had not attended the bonfire site. Read more Stormont minister criticises bonfire at asbestos site as Kneecap effigies and Irish language signage destroyed The Clonduff bonfire prior to being lit on the Eleventh Night Watch: Twelfth celebrations take place across Northern Ireland Earlier on Saturday, the fire service said Friday had been a challenging and extremely busy night. In one incident in Lisburn, a firefighter was attacked at a bonfire, while over the course of the evening, 277 emergency 999 calls were received. "This resulted in our Firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of which were bonfire related. Peak activity was between 10pm and 1am, said Area Commander Andy Burns. "During this period, the number of emergency calls received increased by 154% when compared to 2024. "I would like to thank our Firefighters, Regional Control Centre personnel and support employees involved in the operational response tonight. "Despite the period of increased demand to bonfire related incidents, we worked hard to ensure emergency response across Northern Ireland was maintained. Disappointingly, a Firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn. They were not injured and remained on duty. "This was an isolated incident and not reflective of the support shown to Firefighters in carrying out their duties across the evening. Police attend reports of device left at house in west Belfast A viable pipe bomb has been removed from the scene of a security alert in west Belfast. People were out of their homes for most of Friday as police and technical experts dealt with the device. The alert, which has now ended, centred on the Colinvale area. The Belfast Telegraph understands the object was left outside a property in the area in a suspected targeted attack. Police dog Hugo carrying out searches in Poleglass. Photo by Kevin Scott In an update overnight, the PSNI said: Police received a report of a suspicious object near a residential property shortly after 10am on Friday. Our officers attended the scene together with ammunition technical officers who examined the device, which was discovered to be a viable pipe bomb, and it was made safe. Neighbouring properties were evacuated as our enquiries were conducted, and the device taken away for further examination. We appreciate that people were out of their homes for most of Friday as this public safety operation was conducted and we thank people for their patience during this time. Our enquiries are ongoing and we would appeal to anyone with any information which might assist us to contact 101, quoting reference number 495 of 11/07/25. The Open at Royal Portrush: What happened in 2019? Sinn Fein councillor Caoimhin McCann condemned those responsible for the suspect device. This is causing major disruption for residents, with some families being forced from their homes, Mr McCann said. Those involved have absolutely nothing to offer our community. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th July 2025 Annual 12th July Orange Order and band parades in Belfast City Centre. DUP leader Gavin Robison pictured during the parade Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye A senior Orangeman has joined the DUP leader in issuing a fresh call for unionist unity. Harold Henning, the Orange Orders Deputy Grand Master, said cooperation between parties should be demanded, not just encouraged. It came as Gavin Robinson said division had cost unionism dearly. Although neither specifically mentioned electoral pacts, both want greater party co-operation in future elections. Northern Ireland is next due to go to the polls in the 2027 Assembly election. In some seats, such as Lagan Valley at the last Westminster poll, a split vote has seen a non-unionist candidate elected. Mr Henning, speaking at the Twelfth in Maghera, Co Londonderry, made a clear plea for unionist co-operation. I recognise that the Orange family is a broad church in terms of its political views - however, one thing all our members can agree on is that our interests are best served as citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, he said. The leadership of this Institution remains consistent in its desire to see closer collaboration between the leadership of our pro-Union political parties so as to maximise unionist representation at all levels of government. Cooperation between our political representatives must be encouraged - more than that, it should be demanded, and country should always come before party or individual self-interest. Lets get that message out to our politicians as a people, we want to see more unity of purpose across political unionism. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th July 2025 Annual 12th July Orange Order and band parades in Belfast City Centre. DUP leader Gavin Robison pictured during the parade Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Twelfth celebrations get underway in Belfast Meanwhile, in a pre-Twelfth email to DUP members, Gavin Robinson said politicians must take note of the Orange Institutions "unifying power. Across towns and villages, it brings together people from every walk of life, reminding us of the strength that comes when we stand side by side, he said. That is a message unionism must learn from. We achieve more together than we do apart. Divided unionism has already cost us dearly. As we look ahead to Assembly and council elections in two years time, we must explore how to maximise the pro-Union vote and return more unionist representatives, not fewer. The need for common purpose and cooperation has never been more obvious or more essential. DUP leader Gavin Robinson at Clifton Street Orange hall in Belfast today, Meanwhile, South Antrim MP Robin Swann attacked the Windsor Framework during a speech at the Twelfth in Carnlough. In a direct message to Secretary of State Hilary Benn, Mr Swann said the Union is a commitment, not a convenience. The Windsor Framework does not restore our place fully in the UK internal market, he said. It leaves Northern Ireland subject to foreign laws we cannot change. It carves a regulatory border between Larne and Stranraer, between Belfast and Ayrshire. It sends a message: That our place in the United Kingdom is conditional; that our rights as British citizens are somehow less equal than those across the water. He added: The Framework may offer tweaks but it does not solve the fundamental problem. Our economic, constitutional, and democratic rights remain compromised. So, we say to the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn - the Union is not a convenience - It is a commitment. And Northern Ireland must be fully, equally and permanently part of it, and you need to step up to the job you have been given. Think tank report highlights China's poverty alleviation experience Xinhua) 09:01, July 12, 2025 BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Xinhua Institute, a national high-level think tank of Xinhua News Agency, on Friday released a report on China's poverty reduction experience. The report, titled "Striving for a Better Life for the People: China's Practical and Theoretical Innovations in Consolidating and Expanding Poverty Alleviation Achievement," was officially launched in Chinese and English versions concurrently during the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting held in Beijing from Thursday to Friday. Consisting of five chapters, the research report introduces China's new missions after its eradication of absolute poverty, as well as its theoretical and practical innovations in poverty reduction and international cooperation in this field. The report noted that China has made continuous efforts to consolidate and expand its poverty alleviation achievements in a five-year transitional period after the country, in February 2021, declared a complete victory in eradicating absolute poverty. The year 2025 marks the final year of the transitional period. Throughout this period, China has firmly upheld the bottom line of preventing any large-scale relapse into poverty. This has been manifested in employment and income. For instance, as of the end of 2024, 33.05 million individuals from previously impoverished households were engaged in employment, a figure that has remained steadily above 30 million for four consecutive years, according to the report. Last year, the per capita disposable income of rural residents in counties that had shaken off poverty reached 17,522 yuan (about 2,450 U.S. dollars), a 24.7 percent increase over 2021. For four consecutive years, income growth in these counties has outpaced the national average for rural residents. "Thanks to the nation's good policies, my life today wouldn't be possible without the poverty alleviation campaign," said Huang Zhongshi, a resident of Shima Village in Zhongjiang County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, who was lifted out of poverty. "During the five-year transitional period, our village environment has continued to improve with more industries developing. We're more confident about achieving common prosperity." Putting the spotlight on key practices that have consolidated and expanded China's poverty alleviation gains, the report summarized them in five key aspects. They include establishing mechanisms to guard against a relapse into poverty through dynamic monitoring and targeted support; upgrading infrastructure to bridge gaps for improved connectivity and integrated urban-rural development; securing stable employment and increased income for rural population via industrial development; developing specialty industries with integrated clustered development that benefit farmers; and ensuring a robust safety net with targeted assistance programs for those in need. The report said that these practices have ensured the continuity of poverty reduction policies, stability of assistance and sustainability of development. Mali's Minister of Handicrafts, Culture, Hotel Industry, and Tourism Mamou Daffe said the report is highly valuable, particularly in demonstrating how industrial development can lead to people's prosperity. "Mali is rich in tourism resources, and China's poverty reduction experience offers significant reference value." The report stated that the theoretical framework underpinning China's poverty reduction governance has been continuously enriched, with its methodological pathways steadily refined through years of practical exploration and empirical validation, such as the implementation of targeted poverty alleviation strategies, and effective integration of the consolidation and expansion of poverty alleviation achievements with rural revitalization. "These valuable experiences are worth learning by Global South countries," said Hector Villagran-Cepeda, Ecuador's former trade representative counselor to China, expressing the hope that China will share more of its poverty governance experience, and demonstrate how to achieve rural revitalization and effectively reduce poverty through modern development approaches. The report said that China's success in poverty reduction can be largely attributed to its inclusive adoption of international best practices, as well as the localization and innovative application of global poverty alleviation experience -- all of which have collectively advanced global progress in poverty reduction. By the end of 2024, China had provided development assistance to over 160 countries and jointly advanced the Belt and Road Initiative with more than 150. Since its launch over three years ago, the Global Development Initiative has mobilized close to 20 billion U.S. dollars in development funding, implemented over 1,100 projects, and brought tangible benefits to people in a lot of countries, according to the report. The report emphasized that guided by the vision of a global community with a shared future, China's international poverty reduction cooperation regards other developing countries not as "passive followers" in the tide of modernization, but as equal "co-creators." "Poverty reduction is more than a matter of reducing numbers, it represents an elevation to a new form of civilization," said the report, adding that as a developing nation that has lifted the largest number of people out of absolute poverty, China contributes its experience to spark a dialogue among civilizations on the essence of human progress. "China has not only resolved its own poverty issues, but also made significant contributions to global poverty reduction, setting an exemplary model," said Pan Helin, a member of an expert committee under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. He said any impoverished nation can achieve poverty eradication by studying China's experience in poverty alleviation and preventing a return to poverty. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Kou Jie) Watch: Birmingham man enjoys his first Twelfth as thousands parade in Belfast The Twelfth celebrations remain a testament to the shared sense of community, identity and cohesiveness of the Orange family, the Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has said. It comes after tens of thousands of people took part in the celebrations amid scorching temperatures throughout Northern Ireland. Crowds lined the streets in cities, towns and villages across the region for the traditional Orange Order parades. The festivities have been spread across 19 main locations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, when the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. Following the parades, Most Wor. Bro. Edward Stevenson said this years pageantry was momentous, with the largest crowds witnessed for a generation. "We have been blessed with a great day, and I trust that all those taking part or attending our events had an enjoyable time with their family and friends, he said. "I am delighted that we have again witnessed a huge level of support with a great many tourists and visitors from across the UK and further afield in attendance. "Few events have the enduring attraction of the Twelfth. In this modern age, the scale of our annual celebrations remains a testament to the shared sense of community identity and cohesiveness of the Orange family. "We should be rightly proud of this unique cultural tradition, and we look forward to joining together again next year to celebrate the 2026 Twelfth. This year's events held amid temperatures above 25C across NI also heard calls for unionist political parties to work together. Ballymena parade: Ballygarvey LOL746. Credit: Pacemaker DUP leader Gavin Robinson addressed the parade in Belfast, while Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly delivered a speech at the Lisburn parade. Ulster Unionist MP Robin Swann spoke at the parade in Carnlough, Co Antrim. Orange Order deputy grand master Harold Henning told the parade in Maghera, Co Londonderry, that unionist political parties had to work together. He said: "The leadership of this institution remains consistent in its desire to see closer collaboration between the leadership of our pro-union political parties so as to maximise unionist representation at all levels of government. "Cooperation between our political representatives must be encouraged - more than that, it should be demanded, and country should always come before party or individual self -interest." One of the largest parades took place in Keady, Co Armagh, where Orange Order grand secretary Mervyn Gibson spoke about the strengths of the union. He said: "We need to promote the union at every opportunity - a union that has stood the test of time and continues to offer its citizens stability, opportunity, and purpose. "At its heart, the United Kingdom is more than just a political entity. "It is a partnership of four nations England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland - each with its own identity, traditions, and strengths. Young members of a flute band prepare to take part in the annual Twelfth of July parade on July 12, 2025 in Belfast, United Kingdom. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) "Let us concentrate on building and promoting this union which a generation defended during the Troubles against the murderous, cowardly terrorist campaign of republicans." On Saturday morning, an Orange Order feeder parade passed the Ardoyne shops in north Belfast without incident. On Sunday, a return parade will return past the shops - but will be restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13 events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh, will take place on Monday. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James. The Twelfth celebrations come after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with a "challenging" situation and one firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, Co Antrim. Read more Patient taken to hospital with severe burns after lighting Eleventh Night bonfire Northern Ireland's Environment Minister Andrew Muir said he was "very disappointed" that a controversial bonfire in south Belfast was lit despite warnings of asbestos on the site. Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, about 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. A member of a flute band prepares to take part in the annual Twelfth of July parade on July 12, 2025 in Belfast. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff are working on July 12. On the 11th night, about 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was 6.1 million last year, a figure that was up 1.5 million on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is because of falling police numbers and the resulting increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events. Follow how the day unfolded here: JAMIE Bryson is not someone with whom I would instinctively agree on just about anything and this is equally true of the comments he made on the Nolan Show about middle-class attitudes though the disagreement isnt as complete as usual. Its just the reality is more complicated. The loyalist activist said that a number of barristers from a middle-class Protestant background did not want him to progress in his own legal career towards qualification as a barrister. There was a conversation about how to make sure that nobody will take him as a pupil to stop him getting in. GREAT BARRINGTON A life-size statue of Civil Rights pioneer W.E.B. Du Bois has been set in place on a curved marble bench outside Mason Public library. But until its formal unveiling next week, the statue remains under a tarp, adjacent to the library's newly renovated front steps. A formal unveiling ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. July 19, featuring speeches by former Gov. Deval Patrick and David Levering Lewis, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography "W.E.B. Du Bois: A biography 1868-1963." The bronze sculpture of a seated Du Bois, created by Richard Blake, was commissioned by the W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project, a nonprofit made up of independent citizens who have worked on the project officially for three years and raised $500,000, according to Julie Michaels, chair of the organization. The nonprofit partnered with the town to renovate the front of the library with new marble steps and a leveled plaza to serve as a gathering area for the community. We could have put Du Bois on a pedestal and saved ourselves a lot of money, Michaels said. Our vision had always been not only to honor Du Bois, but to honor Great Barrington, by helping restore the front of the library, which had been in disrepair, to create a community space that could be used in the future. Vice Chair Ari Zorn said the nation right now is in a fight for humanity, and he hopes the work he does in all aspects of his life will let everyone put their differences aside and come together. "My goal in everything that I do is to get everybody working together, and that's the thing that excites me the most about this project, he said. This connection of community is important to me cause we're in such hard times right now. The biggest thing to me was how everybody worked together to get to the end result. The idea of honoring Du Bois has been kicked around for a decade, first by Freke Vuijst-Klein, a Great Barrington resident, who gained approval from the library before he died. It finally got some momentum in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement as towns across the country were taking down statues of Confederate generals. Ari and I and our board really accomplished something remarkable, Michaels said. We stand on the shoulders of others. This has been a longtime vision for many people in the Berkshires to finally welcome Du Bois home. Born and educated in Great Barrington, Du Bois went on to become a scholar in sociology and in the African American experience. He founded the NAACP. He also was a prolific writer and a poet. He is widely known for his work, "The Souls of Black Folk." The sculpture is part of a town movement to honor Du Bois and other important Black figures with connection to Great Barrington. We want to honor Du Bois, a leading sociologist, an intellectual, a man who had really defined the relationship between Black and white people in this country and aimed to change it, Michaels said. To Zorn, its more than a statue. Honoring the legendary Civil Rights activist also recognizes the generations of Black history in the Berkshires. I truly don't know how to explain to you what it's like being Black in America, and what I've had to deal with, Zorn said. And getting to this moment is just crazy. I almost can't believe that I'm a part." The community coming together to raise the money for this sculpture and welcome it into the community is something Zorn is incredibly grateful for. To me, I feel like it's the beginning of, let's change the script and start telling the truth about how this country was built, because that involves everyone, Zorn said. A lot has happened because of this project, people that normally don't talk to each other, talk to each other. So once again, going back to community, humanity, people, that's what it means to me. After years of planning and working on this project, Michaels is excited that this statue will be here for everyone to see and learn from. Im looking forward to just seeing him there every day, Michaels said. He'll be there for 100 years. He'll, I think, change the dynamic of how people see not only Great Barrington, but Berkshire County as a part of Black history that has been unexplored. On Canadas Grand Manan Island Ferry, pictured here, Eagle columnist Ralph Gardner Jr. had a scare when he thought he lost his passport and wondered whether U.S. border agents would let him back into his home country without the document. Students make art at Reid Middle Schools 21st Century Community Learning Center summer program on Tuesday. Some funding for the program has already been set aside by the district and provided by private donors and community partners are helping foot the bill, for now. Wockhardts Dr Huzaifa Khorakiwala to serve as Health Advisor to GuineaBissau PM July 12, 2025 | Saturday | News Dr Huzaifa Khorakiwala is a prominent global humanitarian, peace advocate, and business leader Wockhardt Executive Director and CEO of Wockhardt Foundation Dr Huzaifa Khorakiwala, a voice in global health and peace advocacy, has been appointed Health Advisor to the Prime Minister (PM) of GuineaBissau, Rui Duarte Barros. Known for his visionary leadership and commitment to social transformation, Dr Khorakiwala has championed access to healthcare and human dignity for millions. In his new role, he will advise on modernising healthcare infrastructure, strengthening medicine supply chains, and implementing digital health and telemedicine solutions in GuineaBissau. His approach draws from Indias success with scalable health platforms such as Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, eSanjeevani, CoWIN, and integrated health ID systems. Through his ability to combine strategic insight with a humanitarian approach, he has led transformative programmes through Wockhardt Foundation, mobile-health clinics, sanitation, education, and digital infrastructure, reaching over 200 million people. He will now leverage Indias public-health achievements and digital infrastructure to support GuineaBissaus journey toward universal, affordable healthcare. Dr Huzaifa Khorakiwala is a prominent global humanitarian, peace advocate, and business leader. As Executive Director of Wockhardt, and CEO of Wockhardt Foundation, he has spearheaded large-scale health, education, and sanitation initiatives across India, earning national and international recognition for innovation and impact. Under his leadership, the Foundations flagship Mobile 1000 programme has delivered free primary healthcare to over 40 million underprivileged people in rural India over the past 12 years. US president Donald Trump on Saturday imposed a 30 per cent tariff on imports from the European Union and Mexico starting on August 1st after weeks of negotiations with the key trading allies failed to reach a more comprehensive trade deal. The fresh tariffs were announced in separate letters posted on Truth Social on Saturday. Advertisement Earlier this week, Trump issued new tariff announcements for a number of countries, including Japan, South Korea, Canada and Brazil, as well as a 50 per cent tariff on copper. The EU had hoped to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the US for the 27-country bloc. The bloc had been bracing for the letter from Trump outlining his planned duties on the United States' largest trade and investment partner after a broadening of his tariff war in recent days. The EU initially hoped to strike a comprehensive trade agreement, including zero-for-zero tariffs on industrial goods, but months of difficult talks have led to the realisation it will probably have to settle for an interim agreement and hope something better can still be negotiated. Advertisement The 27-country bloc is under conflicting pressures as powerhouse Germany urged a quick deal to safeguard its industry, while other EU members, such as France, have said EU negotiators should not cave into a one-sided deal on US terms. Earlier this week, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he was "hopeful" that the US and the EU could agree an outline agreement or framework principle agreement this week. "Theres still a number of issues to negotiated, nothing has been rejected, definitively," he said. World Trump announces 25% tariffs on Japan and South Kor... Read More "But what it does illustrate, though, that even if a framework agreement is arrived at, there would be a lot of negotiations subsequently. Advertisement "So therefore, whilst it would create some degree of clarity in terms of where we are in the short term, there would still be a number of issues outstanding in respect of that trade issue between the European Union and the United States and indeed between other countries." Tanaiste Simon Harris said on Monday that a scenario of 50 per cent tariffs would be "extraordinarily damaging to the EU-US trade relationship". Trump's cascade of tariff orders since returning to the White House has begun generating tens of billions of dollars a month in new revenue for the US government. US customs duties revenue shot past $100 billion in the federal fiscal year through to June, according to US Treasury data on Friday. Firefighters in Northern Ireland said they dealt with a challenging night as bonfires were lit ahead of the July 12th celebrations. Tens of thousands will take to the streets across the region for the traditional Orange Order parades on Saturday. Advertisement The festivities will be spread across 19 main locations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, where the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. It comes after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. While most of the bonfires passed off peacefully, there was condemnation after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone. Pictures of Belfast Irish language rap band Kneecap and Irish flags were also burned on other pyres. Advertisement It was a challenging & extremely busy night for NIFRS. Between 6pm & 2am, we received 277 emergency calls. This resulted in our Firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of these incidents were bonfire related. Read our full statement: https://t.co/GKx57GKUin pic.twitter.com/Db9Wh00J8l Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) July 12, 2025 But the most contentious bonfire was located on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity substation off the Donegall Road in south Belfast. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with 72 bonfire-related incidents across the evening. One firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, Co Antrim. NIFRS area commander Andy Burns said: Between 6pm 11 July and 2am 12 July 2025, we received 277 emergency 999 calls. Advertisement This resulted in our firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of which were webonfire-related. Peak activity was between 10pm and 1am. During this period, the number of emergency calls received increased by 154 per cent when compared to 2024. It was a challenging and extremely busy night for NIFRS with an increase in demand for our regional control centre and emergency response. The spokesperson added: Disappointingly, a firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn. They were not injured and remained on duty. Advertisement This was an isolated incident and not reflective of the support shown to firefighters in carrying out their duties across the evening. Effigies of controversial Irish rappers Kneecap placed on a bonfire on Roden Street in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA) Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, around 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff will be working on July 12th. Advertisement On the 11th night, around 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was 7 million (6.1 million) last year, a figure that was up 1.7 million (1.5 million) on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1st to August 31st, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is due to falling police numbers and the resultant increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has urged mutual respect in the marking of events. He said: Our officers will be on the ground throughout the weekend, working in partnership with community leaders, event organisers, and local representatives to support lawful, peaceful, and family-friendly events. However where necessary, we will take firm and proportionate action to keep people safe. Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone. On Sunday morning, an Orange Order parade has been permitted to pass Ardoyne shops in north Belfast, restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. It is a return parade at a former flashpoint, which traditionally took place on the evening of July 12th, often resulting in violent scenes. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13th events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh, will take place on Monday. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James. Tanaiste Simon Harris has described an announcement from Donald Trump that the European Union and Mexico will face a 30 per cent tariff on imports to the US from August as deeply regrettable. The US president warned he would impose even higher import taxes if either of the US trading partners decided to retaliate. Advertisement A statement on behalf of the Tanaiste said: Simon Harris has taken note of the letter issued by the US today. This is deeply regrettable. He shares in the disappointment expressed by President (Ursula) Von Der Leyen and Commissioner (Maros) Sefcovic, with whom he remains in close contact. Mr Harris said: There is no necessity to escalate the situation or to further increase the additional tariffs which have been imposed on the EU. Advertisement The Government strongly supports the efforts by the European Commission to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with the US. The EU is at the negotiating table and will remain there. Now is the time to redouble our efforts and to seek to achieve positive results in the time available. The EU will remain united and focused as negotiations continue between now and 1 August. Advertisement This will also be my continuing focus for the period ahead. On Monday I will meet with the US ambassador to Ireland and will continue to engage with colleagues across the EU in the days ahead. I also intend on updating colleagues further at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the EU neogtiators continued to have his full support and the issue should be resolved by close and respectful dialogue. In a statement on Saturday afternoon, the Taoiseach said: The EU, through the team led by President von der Leyen and Vice-President Sefcovic, has engaged in good faith to reach an agreement on a positive and balanced way forward. Advertisement While it has been clear that all options remain on the table, the EU has also been clear that our preference is for a negotiated solution that avoids escalation. That remains the case. Business Trump intensifies trade war with 30% tariffs on EU Read More I hope that negotiations will continue in the weeks ahead and that they will be successful. The EU and the US should be partners, not rivals. In a true partnership, everyone wins. The EU negotiators continue to have my full support in this important work. At 180cm, the London-born actor was told her height and face would be an obstacle to success. Now 50, she found plenty of ways to rise above her doubters. July 13, 2025 by Laura Pullman Loading A kilowatt refers to the rate at which something can charge or discharge energy, whereas a kilowatt-hour (kWh) measures the amount of energy it can store. For example, a one-kilowatt-hour battery can pump out a kilowatt of energy in 60 minutes. An average household of four residents, with two adults and two children, should consider installing a 10 kWh to 15 kWh battery, given they had at least an average-sized rooftop solar panel installation, said experts spoken to for this article. Many would-be buyers may have heard of better-known battery systems, such as the Tesla Powerwall, or Chinas BYD, but as you begin researching, you will probably encounter other popular brands, such as LG, Sonnen and Sungrow. This article provides general advice only, and home owners should get quotes from several installation companies to seek advice on their options. How much will a battery cost? With the governments 30 per cent rebate on the purchase and installation costs, a customer can expect to pay about $9000 to $15,000 for a model in the recommended size range. A typical household in Melbourne and Sydney now pays between $1500 and $2000 a year for electricity. The federal governments 30 per cent subsidy on home batteries has fuelled a huge rise in demand. Credit: Getty Images Households with solar panels will typically pay less than this, given they can use their own supply to run their appliances during the day and earn money by exporting power to the grid. Experts, as well as the federal government, told this masthead that installing an appropriately sized battery to soak up rooftop solar power could reduce household bills by $1000 a year, on top of savings generated by the solar panels. Can I save money with a small system? Loading Finn Peacock, chief executive of leading quote-comparison service SolarQuotes, said it appeared that many battery customers were considering small, relatively cheap systems of 5 kWh the minimum allowed under the rebate scheme which could cost as little as $5000 to install. However, a battery of this size would end up proving tiny for most households, he said. If youve got your air-conditioning on, in a decent sized Aussie home, that might pull three kilowatts easily. If youve got three kilowatt-hours of storage left, thats going to last an hour, Peacock said. Most households sweet spot would probably be 15 to 20 kilowatt-hours. Customers who focus too heavily on the length of the payback time and opt for a 5 kWh battery instead of a bigger one that could nearly eliminate the need for grid power, may end up miserable, Peacock said. Very quickly they are going to see that they are still pulling from the grid after that battery is drained at 6 or 7 oclock, and that just makes battery owners miserable, he said. If you size a battery for zero bills, youre going to need a much bigger battery than if you are optimising a faster payback, but [lower bills] is where the long-term satisfaction comes from. How to use a battery Australian National University emeritus professor and solar energy pioneer Andrew Blakers said greater savings were available for households with batteries that replaced their gas heaters and cookers with electric appliances. If youve got $10,000 or $15,000, which is what its going to cost for a good-sized battery, then getting off gas would be my No.1 recommendation by far, Blakers said. Thats because they will avoid both the cost of gas and the fixed network charges for delivery of the fuel. Blakers agreed that the average household should shop for a battery in the 10 kWh to 15 kWh size range. That gives you enough flexibility to stoke up a large fraction of the energy from your solar panel on the roof and then spread it three ways into your home battery, into your hot water tank, and into your EV remembering to preheat your house or pre-cooling your house before you get home, for example, he said. Peacock, who sold SolarQuotes to Origin Energy last year, said buyers should be aware they can still waste energy and cop power bills with a battery installed on their dwelling. I worry about people thinking batteries are the magic bullet always bear in mind that batteries store energy, they dont generate it, he said. The thermal envelope of most Aussie homes is really horrible. People are dropping $10 to $15,000 on a battery, but are often still not sealing the gaps in their homes. Dont forget about the thermal envelope of your home. How to choose a battery Batteries may take 10 years, or more in some cases, to deliver enough bill relief to repay their price. But they should remain in warranty during this period, with most models offering a guarantee of a decade or more. There are about 80 household batteries on the Australian market, starting at about $4000 for a 5 kWh unit, data compiled by the Smart Energy Council industry group shows. The nine systems with a 10 kWh capacity cost up to $10,000, and a handful of models with a capacity exceeding 13 kWh retail from $15,000 upwards. Loading Mike Roberts, senior research associate at the University of NSW School for Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, said the best way for a home owner to choose a battery was to seek independent advice. Reputable installation companies are a valuable source of information and will assess a customers power bill, energy use patterns and solar system and advise on the best purchase. Another source of advice is the independent SunSPOT website. Developed by UNSW experts and not-for-profit solar research organisation the Australian PV Institute, it provides an energy calculator that assesses a households solar power, energy use and battery potential and forecasts bill savings. If youve got your address, we can look at your roof, we can see if you have, and then we work out how much theyll generate over the year, Roberts said. You can also work out what would happen if you add more solar or replaced it with a new system, or added a battery. Uptake of batteries has surged since July 1, when the rebate scheme opened, with installers and advisory services such as SolarQuotes reporting a 500 per cent rise in sales and inquiries. Peacock said the battery boom reminded him of the solar panel boom, which began in 2008 when the first states offered generous payments, or feed-in tariffs, to households that supplied solar power to the grid. For a list of batteries approved for use under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, visit the Clean Energy Council approved products list. Lobby group Solar Citizens also has a list of state government support programs. Yes, there are places where you could give cruising a miss, go it alone, and enjoy a fine experience by land instead. But here are 15 of the best destinations where being on a ship gives you the advantage. Expedition cruises can get you to the Arctic tundra and Amazonian rainforest and onto isolated atolls strung across sapphire seas. Landing on uninhabited islands is always a thrill. So is crunching through ice packs at the Earths end. Then, of course, there are places you really cant get to any other way unless youre a parachutist or survival specialist. Even in mainstream destinations such as the Mediterranean and eastern seaboards of Australia or North America, you get a different experience on a cruise ship, and see landscapes, history and urban settings from a maritime angle. Most cities, founded in the age of sail, are designed to intimidate and impress from the water. Arrival by ship is also so much more glamorous than by plane and even train. So are many islands. There are many good reasons to cruise, among them elegant ease, no organisational hassle and the shipboard experience. Put those aside, however, and that leaves you with the biggest reason of all: some places are simply better experienced via an ocean-going cruise ship. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Sail away Paul Gauguin Cruises seven-day Tahiti & the Society Islands cruise return from Papeete visits Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Tahaa and Bora Bora. Multiple departures March and June-December 2026, from $4220 a person. See pgcruises.com Going ashore Dont miss the chance to swim with stingrays, small reef sharks and (if youre lucky) the occasional turtle in the lagoon near Opunohu Bay in Moorea. You can wade into the warm, electric-blue water off sandy islets or snorkel from a boat. Its an extraordinary and exhilarating wildlife encounter. The Gauguins small size allows it to manoeuvre from deep seas to shallow lagoons as nimbly as a yacht. Credit: Paul Gauguin Cruises The cruise way Avoid the island-hopping tribulation. Instead, on your cruise ship, you relax over dinner and a good sleep and next day voila! youve wafted somewhere new. A ships elevated deck couldnt be a better viewing platform as you approach flamboyant islands ringed in lagoons, or low-lying atolls rising from reef-studded waters. In this romantic destination, there is no more romantic way to travel. The non-cruise way Daily ferries (except to Tahiti-Moorea) are irregular in the Society Islands. Further afield youll have to charter a yacht. Inter-island flights cost as much as $500, and international flights arrive and depart Papeete at ungodly hours. Sail away Seabourn Cruises 21-day Ephesus, Grecian Gems, Turkey & Rome cruise from Piraeus to Civitavecchia visits Naples, Saranda in Albania, and multiple destinations in Greece and Turkey. Other itineraries operate June-October 2026. Departs October 11, 2026, from $22,324 a person. See seabourn.com Going ashore Greco-Roman city Ephesus in Turkey is undoubtedly a world-class ruin, so take advantage of the private access that shore excursions can provide and visit the Domitian Galleries and Terrace Houses with an expert, where you can admire inscriptions, mosaics and frescoes, and learn about Roman living. The cruise way A light-flooded ship, a sail-away party to the backdrop of a beautiful port such as Poros, Mykonos or Santorini, a seafood dinner as the sun sets: whos complaining? It feels good to follow in the historical wakes of ancient mariners. And it isnt just Greece. The Turkish coast too, is splendid, and sail-ins to ports such as Marmaris and Bodrum are sensational. The non-cruise way Not all islands have airports, although ferries get you around. But these are smaller and less stable than cruise ships, so prepare for seasickness. Book well in advance or you might be stranded. Sail away Aurora Expeditions 15-day Antarctica Active cruise return from Ushuaia visits the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. Departs November 24 and December 6, 2026, from $15,721 a person. See aurora-expeditions.com Going ashore You generally get out on Zodiacs twice a day, and these often take you ashore on beach or ice-pack landings. Aurora Expeditions ups the ante with unusual adventure options such as kayaking, snowshoeing, ice-camping and even polar snorkelling for brilliant boasting rights. The cruise way Okay, you still have to risk storms on the Drake Passage but after that, sailing past icebergs or surfacing whales beats viewing them from afar. Zodiacs take you further, accompanied by naturalists and other experts for added insight. Landing close to a vast penguin rookery is an unforgettable wildlife experience to beat almost any other. After a big day out in icy environments you have a luxe retreat and brandy at the bar. The non-cruise way Sign up with the Australian Antarctic Program if you have skills in fisheries stock assessment or ice-core drill systems. Or venture across the wild Drake Passage in a yacht yes, some mad people do. Otherwise, theres no alternative. Sail away Scenics 16-day Journey Along the Mekong cruise-tour from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok sails Vietnam and Cambodia with land extensions to Angkor Wat and Luang Prabang. Multiple departures January-May 2026, from $11,630 a person. See scenic.com.au Going ashore An advantage of cruising is the exclusive experiences it sometimes offers, and at Angkor Wat you dont want to miss Scenics gala dinner at 10th-century Prasat Kravan temple, illuminated by candlelight, during which Apsara dancers give a show: the same elegant dancers you see carved into temple walls at this magnificent World Heritage site. The cruise way All that heat, humidity and hustle and yet there you are, drifting gently along, cool breeze on the river, cold cocktail in hand, as you admire passing golden-tipped temples and verdant hills. Locals wave from passing boats and ferries. The sail into Phnom Penh, where skyscrapers clash with palace roofs, is splendid. All travel should be this relaxing, but seldom is. The non-cruise way Roads will take you up the Mekong, but some sections of highway are well away from the river. Traffic is busy and chaotic, so you wont be relaxed, and youll have to cross an international border too. FJORDS, NORWAY Lofoten Islands, Norway. Credit: iStock The non-cruise way Nothing wrong with Norways roads, but do you want to be focused on the tarmac amid all this scenery? Besides, Norway is bigger than you might think. Its a 26-hour drive from Bergen to Tromso, and much longer if you hug the fjord-indented coast. The cruise way Days that last long into the evening will have you pinned to the deck, your floating opera box onto the drama of Norways island-scattered, indented and mountainous coastline. Besides, theres no better way to see a fjord than from the middle of it, your ship dwarfed by colossal cliffs and spritzed by waterfalls. Scenic views from the famed Flamsbana, or Flam, railway. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto Going ashore From the port of Vik, hop aboard a train on the rightly famous Flam railway, one of the worlds steepest and scenic as it hauls you past fjord cliffs, frothing rivers, waterfalls and tidy farming villages. The return by road is just as stunning and takes in a stop at wooden Hopperstad Stave Church. Sail away Silverseas 10-day Copenhagen to Copenhagen cruise visits six ports in Norway plus Skagen in Denmark. Similar itineraries operate June-August 2026. Departs July 25, 2026, from $14,000 a person. See silversea.com PAPUA NEW GUINEA Madang, Papua New Guinea. Credit: Getty Images The non-cruise way PNG has poor or unsealed roads and often no roads much beyond towns. You could charter a small boat, but pirates are a risk. Flying could be an option, although youd miss out on atolls and some other scenic destinations, and then youll need transfers, accommodation and more. The cruise way As your cruise ship glides along PNGs coastline youll know why youre on board: the jungle-clad coastline is magnificent with mountains so rugged as to be almost impenetrable. Our neighbour offers superb scenery, and an expedition ship the opportunity to slip into the Tufi fjords or anchor off a reef-ringed atoll with nobody about, only a traffic jam of tropical fish. Coral reef at Tufi, Papua New Guinea. Credit: Tufi Resort Going ashore The approach to Madang along lush waterways is lovely, but the towns highlight is the Madang festival, a showcase of the regions many different cultural groups. Join in cultural performances, a sing-sing and admire a wonderful display of traditional costumes from coastal, midland and highland communities. Sail away Ponants 17-day New Guinea Odyssey cruise from Cairns to Darwin visits Alotau, Tufi, the Tami Islands, Madang and Kopar, as well as several destinations in Indonesia. Departs October 24, 2026, from $14,150 a person. See au.ponant.com ALASKA, US Eldred Rock Lighthouse, Lynn Canal, Alaska. Credit: Getty Images The non-cruise way Certainly you can get around parts of Alaska by road or rail, but many places even Juneau, the state capital, and the wonderfully historical but island-trapped Ketchikan are unconnected to the outside world by land. The cruise way Wiggle your way up the Inside Passage that runs between islands and the British Columbian coast, haunt of eagles and bears, and dense with forest backed by mountains. Then navigate an even more dramatic convolution of magnificence in Alaska, which adds glaciers and some of the continents highest peaks. So awesome even the whales seem to leap in agreement. Ice avalanche at Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness, Alaska. Credit: Ralph Lee Hopkins Going ashore Ketchikan is a characterful gold-rush era town, but get out for a sea kayak around the coast of Tongass National Forest to Eagle Island for an up-close look at the landscape and wildlife such as seals and bald eagles. You may see salmon leaping or, thrillingly or sight surfacing humpback whales. Sail away Regent Seven Seas Cruises seven-night Northern Explorer cruise from Vancouver to Whittier cruises the Inside Passage, Icy Strait and Hubbard Glacier and visits Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. Similar itineraries operate May-September 2026. Departs May 20, 2026, from $9920 a person. See rssc.com PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA AND CHILE Loading The non-cruise way Getting around isnt impossible but is headachy, since it involves road, ferry and perhaps domestic flights. Patagonia is vast and sparsely populated, and requires outback-style caution and planning. The cruise way What traveller doesnt love seafaring stories of Cape Horn and the Magellan Strait? On a cruise ship, you get the thrill of making an iconic journey that brings the history of exploration to life without the weevils and mutinies, thank you. Patagonia is a land of legends, showcased from the sea. The super-indented tip of South America is encrusted with mountains, volcanoes and glaciers, but as a bonus, your holiday is bookended by lively cities. Going ashore From Ushuaia in Argentina, take the opportunity to head into Tierra del Fuego National Park on a shore excursion, which stretches towards the Chilean border. It combines forest, peat bogs, meadows studded with wildflowers, and icy blue rivers with snow-capped Andean peaks in the background. Sail away Viking Cruises 18-day South America & the Chilean Fjords cruise from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso visits Argentina, Uruguay, the Falkland Islands and the Chilean fjords. Several departures January-February and December 2026, from $9595 a person. See vikingcruises.com.au THE BALTIC SEA, NORTHERN EUROPE Malbork Castle in the town of Malbork, Poland. Credit: Getty Images The non-cruise way In theory, no problem. In practice, youll spend a lot of holiday time on transport logistics if you want to link the Baltics nine countries, whether by plane or ferry. Only one road bridge links the northern and southern coasts. The cruise way Sometimes cruising seems the appropriate way to go, no more so than in this compact sea with its history of maritime trade and dense array of historical ports with architecture that showcases merchant wealth. Get to the next destination or even the next country while happily sleeping, then spend the whole day in port with nothing else to think about, only enjoying yourself. You get chic harbours, lots of islands, pine-scented coasts and temperatures much more bearable than Mediterranean summers. The 13th-century Malbork Castle, Poland. Credit: Getty Images Going ashore From Gdansk in Poland you can visit Malbork Castle, the 13th-century, brick-built headquarters of the Teutonic Knights. Its one of the worlds largest castles, surrounded in huge defensive walls and sitting attractively above the Nogat River. The lovely chapel, refectory and ogre-sized kitchens are highlights. Sail away Azamaras 11-night Baltic Cruise from Copenhagen to Stockholm visits Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Sweden. Departs July 9, 2026, from $12,180 a person. See azamara.com THE KIMBERLEY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Montgomery Reefs waterfalls in the Kimberley, only accessible by ship. Credit: Tourism WA The non-cruise way Not possible. Only one sealed road and the unsealed Gibb River Road cross the inland Kimberley. No proper roads run along the coast, let alone to top sights such as waterfalls, gorges and reefs. The cruise way Dont rule out a destination just because you think it requires camping, dusty drives and outback skills. The most magnificent corner of our continent is terrific from a ship: a showcase of rearing cliffs, shattered islands and sunset colours youll hardly believe. You can see mid-ocean waterfalls at Montgomery Reef, ancient rock art, and evidence of European exploration at Careening Bay. Easily one of Australias greatest experiences on many counts. King George River in the Kimberley. Credit: Getty Images Going ashore In a destination of landscape superlatives, King George River takes the prize. A long excursion by Zodiac brings you 13 kilometres upriver between towering orange cliffs 400 million years old to twin King George Falls, where the river tips over an escarpment. The scenery will astound you. Sail away Coral Expeditions 10-night The Kimberley Cruise from Broome to Darwin (or reverse) visits Montgomery Reef, Horizontal Falls, King George River and several other destinations. Multiple departures March-August 2026, from $10,700 a person. See coralexpeditions.com Five more cruise-is-best destinations Amazon River Unless you have considerable survival and machete skills then youd best stick to a boat when exploring the worlds greatest river. Its a steamy, jungly, intense experience of a unique and alien environment. APTs 22-day Best of South America with Amazon cruise-tour from Santiago to Iquitos departs March 17, July 21, October 6 and October 20, 2026. From $27,995 a person. See aptouring.com Indian Ocean You couldnt do a journey that takes in the Tanzanian coast, remote Aldabra Atoll and Farquhar Islands and the Seychelles any other way. Zanzibar is the cultural highlight, while for the rest you get corals, giant tortoises and world-beating beaches. Emerald Cruises 13-day Seychelles & Indian Ocean Adventure cruise from Mombasa to Mahe departs March 5, 2027. From $13,395 a person. See emeraldcruises.com.au Galapagos Islands Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Endeavour II in the Galapagos. A remote location and many disparate islands make this a destination for expedition cruising. Giant tortoises, iguanas, seals and seabirds are the famously approachable drawcard, but the arid volcanic scenery of coloured earth is surprisingly wonderful too. Lindblad Expeditions 10-day Exploring Galapagos cruise return from Quito or Guayaquil has multiple departures January-December 2026. From $7939 a person. See expeditions.com New Zealand You could drive around New Zealand, but the fabulous harbour settings of most of its ports beg to be admired on an ocean approach and freed from the steering wheel you can enjoy cocktails on the deck. The sail into Milford Sound is a top cruise experience. Oceania Cruises 15-day Collectors New Zealand cruise from Sydney to Auckland departs March 15, 2026. From $12,180 a person. See oceaniacruises.com Caribbean Sea Most of us will probably want an overview of the under-visited (by Australians) Caribbeans myriad islands, and a cruise delivers the easy way, taking you through a diverse range of cultures, landscapes and reefs not to mention languages and cuisines, too. Explora Journeys 17-day Between Idyllic & Volcanic Isles cruise return from Bridgetown departs January 3, 2026. From $13,555 a person. See explorajourneys.com Such price controls protected neighbourhood bars for a long time, said Jonathan Morris, a coffee historian at the University of Hertfordshire in England. Thats why no one really ever set up coffee chains in Italy. (Starbucks actually did, but did not open its first Italian outpost until 2018, 47 years after the companys founding.) Italians gather outside a coffee bar in Noto. Credit: iStock Even after the controls were lifted, prices remained low, with few bar owners willing to test whether higher prices would push their customers toward the nearest competitor, usually no more than a block or two away. There is a kind of communism, Morello said, when actually one should pay for the quality one receives. The make-up of the traditional Italian espresso, a brew of darkly roasted arabica and robusta beans, also helped keep prices low, Morris said. As arabica bean prices rose, some Italian producers increased the proportion of cheaper robusta beans in their coffee blends, but that formula was no longer as effective when robusta prices also surged, he said. An espresso in Italy averaged 1.16 (about $2.06) as of the latest analysis this year by Assoutenti, a nonprofit consumer rights organisation, with the lowest average prices found in southern Italy. The national average in January was up about 11.5 per cent from two years earlier, the analysis found, though Italy still sells some of the cheapest espressos in Western Europe. Coffee bean prices have come down somewhat from their peak earlier in the year. But they remain higher than before the surge, and experts fear extreme weather will continue to shrink global supply and keep prices high for roasters, bars and consumers. US tariffs on coffee-producing countries, like Brazil, could drive up prices further. A coffee plantation in Brazil. Coffee bean prices around the world have jumped. Credit: Rodrigo Capote/Bloomberg The traditional Italian coffee bar relies on coffee sales for about 30 per cent of its revenues, according to Luciano Sbraga, deputy director for the Federation of Italian Public Establishments, a trade association for the food and hospitality sector. Some owners have found it is more profitable to also sell food, for breakfast, lunch or an aperitivo dinner known as apericena, rather than just coffee. Many bars are becoming more similar to restaurants, he said. That was the choice Consilvio made when he bought and renovated his bar, in a stately plaza with a Parisian air in central Turin. The previous owner had sold espressos at the counter for less than a euro apiece, a price that Consilvio said simply cant work. He sells espressos at his bar, Cicinin, for 2 for table service on the plaza and 1.30 at the counter because nearby bars charge 1.30. (He had wanted to charge 1.50.) Consilvio, who says he drinks seven to eight espressos a day, lamented that espresso machines had become standard in offices and businesses Hairdressers have them, he scoffed so fewer customers go to bars. When they do, they demand the perfect coffee, he grumbled, not too bitter. In a sign of how much the industry has changed, a capsule coffee machine by Lavazza, the giant Italian coffee producer, has now taken its place at the companys museum in Turin, alongside revered machines that helped create modern espresso. Executives from Lavazza and Illy, the Italian coffee producer based in Trieste, have warned for more than a year that higher coffee bean prices are most likely here to stay, presenting challenges to everyone from farmers outside Italy to large companies to mom-and-pop coffee shops to consumers. At Gran Caffe Gambrinus, a cafe in Naples established in 1860, an espresso at the counter now costs 1.80, up from 1.50, said Massimiliano Rosati, one of the owners. The cafe can get away with that price, he says, because for a tourist who comes to Naples, the increase makes no difference. That is often not the case for traditional family-run coffee bars, which tend to compete on price. At Giolitti near the Italian parliament in Rome, where King Charles III and Queen Camilla stopped by for a gelato in April, Giovanna Giolitti said she and her brothers recently raised the price of an espresso at the counter to 1.30 from 1.20. Coffee bean prices justified an even bigger hike, she said, but that would have hurt locals who have come to the bar for years. Coffee is something that everyone drinks every day, said Giolitti, who is among the fourth generation of Giolittis to run the bar. In SantEustachio il Caffe near the Pantheon, on a sunny spring Saturday, every outdoor table was full and a line of customers snaked out the door. At one table, two friends, Filippo Facchinetti and Gabriele Bonfanti, shook their heads when their two espressos came out to 9. The agreement means the UK will accept those who can show they have a case for asylum in the UK for example, if they have family there. For each one accepted, the UK would send another one back to France from the cohort with no equivalent claim to settle in the UK. Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage says the one in, one out deal is a humiliation for Britain. Credit: Getty Images Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, seen as the strongest opponent of Starmer with significant support in the polls, has attacked the deal as a humiliation for Britain because it would not discourage boats. Farage, a key advocate for the popular vote to take the UK out of the European Union, was also infuriated by Macrons claim in London that the migrant flows were bigger because of Brexit. Since Brexit the UK has no migratory agreement with the EU, Macron said. This gave migrants an incentive to cross the channel, he said, and meant the British public now experienced the precise opposite of what they were promised under Brexit. An abandoned dinghy on a beach known for cross-channel launches in Dunkirk, France. Credit: Getty Images EU members including Italy and Greece have warned against the French deal with the UK because it involves sending asylum seekers back to an EU country, raising a potential block on the trial. French political figures attacked the deal on the grounds it would send too many back to their country, with Calais Mayor Natacha Bouchart saying France had handed everything to the British. In the UK, however, Conservative MP and shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the outcome would have no deterrent effect because too few would be sent back to France. France and the UK have agreed on ways to respond to asylum seeker boats, leading to outrage from Farage when he witnessed a handover in the channel to transfer people in lifejackets to a British vessel. Unlike the Australian policy on the countrys western and northern approaches, there is no UK or French policy to turn boats around or intercept the boats and take the asylum seekers to third countries. In a provocative move last weekend, French police waded into the water on a beach south of Calais and used a knife to slash the inflatable hull. A video of the incident, taken by the BBC, showed more than a dozen asylum seekers getting out of the boat and heading back to the beach. The UK Refugee Council called for better treatment of those fleeing persecution but offered conditional support for the deal struck in London. Loading Men, women and children fleeing oppressive regimes like the Taliban and brutal civil wars such as in Sudan should not need to risk their lives on boats to reach safety in Britain, the council said. The groundbreaking one-for-one deal with France is an important first step, but its vital that it is implemented in a way that treats all those seeking asylum fairly and with respect and dignity. For now, its too soon to determine what the impact will be. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said the agreement could offer protection to asylum seekers on both sides of the English Channel if it was done in the right way, but it said that would depend on the operational details. The UNHCR warned that 86 people died last year trying to reach the UK on the small boats. Men, women and children continue to risk their lives at the hands of smugglers and traffickers, it said. Effigies of migrants in a boat burn atop the bonfire at Moygashel, Northern Ireland on Thursday. Credit: AP As of 6 July this year, around 21,117 people have already made the crossing and tragically, at least 14 people have lost their lives at sea. Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, police are investigating as a hate crime effigies of a boat of migrants which was set alight on a bonfire this week alongside a sign reading stop the boats. By Jonathan McCambridge and Rebecca Black, PA Northern Irelands Environment Minister, Andrew Muir, has said he is very disappointed that an Eleventh Night bonfire was lit in south Belfast despite warnings over asbestos on the site. The bonfire at Meridi Street, off the Donegall Road, had been the focus of health warnings, political rows and legal challenges throughout the week before it was ignited on Friday. Meanwhile, firefighters said they dealt with a challenging situation on the Eleventh Night across Northern Ireland, including an attack on a firefighter attending a bonfire in Lisburn. Hundreds of bonfires were set alight on Friday ahead of the Orange Orders July 12th parades on Saturday. Controversy had surrounded the Meridi Street pyre, after warnings that there was asbestos on the site and that it was close to an electricity substation which powers the citys two main hospitals. In a statement on Saturday, Mr Muir said: I am very disappointed with the decision to light the bonfire. Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) staff monitored events last night along with statutory partners throughout the night. We will be engaging with other statutory partners in the coming days as we all assess the impact of the bonfire. An Eleventh Night bonfire in Orangefield Park in east Belfast (David Young/PA) NIEA will also focus on the efforts by the landowner to remove the asbestos pile safely from the site in the time ahead, and the environmental crime investigation will continue. As I have already stated, a review must also be undertaken, looking at lessons that can be learned involving all statutory partners. Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) area commander Andy Burns said they dealt with 277 emergency 999 calls between 6pm on Friday and 2am on Saturday. He said: This resulted in our firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of which were bonfire related. Peak activity was between 10pm and 1am. Effigies of controversial Irish rappers Kneecap on a bonfire on Roden Street in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA) During this period, the number of emergency calls received increased by 154% when compared to 2024. It was a challenging and extremely busy night for NIFRS with an increase in demand for our regional control centre and emergency response. He added: Disappointingly, a firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn. They were not injured and remained on duty. This was an isolated incident and not reflective of the support shown to firefighters in carrying out their duties across the evening. Sinn Fein councillor Declan Lynch said it was absolutely disgraceful that a firefighter was attacked while simply doing their job. He added: Everyone should be able to celebrate their culture, but it must be done in a safe and respectful manner. The Moygashel bonfire was set alight on Thursday night (Niall Carson/PA) Firefighters worked under difficult conditions last night to protect lives, property and infrastructure across the north. They deserve our full support and should never face violence for keeping our communities safe. Meanwhile, effigies of the Irish rap group Kneecap topped a different bonfire in south Belfast, and there was condemnation of the placing of Irish flags and sectarian slogans on other pyres in loyalist neighbourhoods. A bonfire at Roden Street in Belfast was topped with effigies of Kneecap, as well as a sign written in the Irish language. A bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, featured the group on a poster with the wording Kill Your Local Kneecap, seemingly in response to a clip that emerged from a gig in 2023, which appeared to show a member saying: The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP. There was also criticism of the placing of Irish flags and sectarian slogans on a number of bonfires, including one in the Highfield area of west Belfast. A small number of bonfires were lit on Thursday night, including a controversial pyre in Moygashel, Co Tyrone, which had been widely criticised by political representatives and church leaders after it was topped with an effigy of migrants in a boat. The PSNI said they were investigating a hate incident in relation to the fire. The boat on top of the bonfire contained more than a dozen life-sized mannequins wearing life jackets. Below the boat were several placards, one saying: Stop the boats, and another saying: Veterans before refugees. A THIRD-generation farmer from Tullow is redefining what it means to farm with nature. Since taking over his familys 40-hectare (100-acre) farm at Downings near Tullow in 2020, Jack Browne, has transformed the once single crop land into a thriving, biodiverse system that integrates agroforestry, permaculture, and organic practices. The young organic tillage farmers most ambitious move came through his participation in an EIP (European Innovation Partnership) project with Trees On The Land, which established his farm as a demonstration site for Silvo arable systems, a pioneering agroforestry practice in Ireland. He has since integrated over 3,000 trees into his tillage system across a 27-hectare field, creating structured alleyways of crops flanked by rows of fruit, nut and native trees, including walnut, hazel, sweet chestnut, apple, plum and elder. Jack has a full-time job off-farm and hes keen to experiment as a result. He says: At this stage of my life, I was willing to let the farm be less profitable in the hope I could figure out a system that will be sustainable. I want to add diversity and complexity to the farm to help mitigate against climate change. His approach, described as low input, premium output, places a strong emphasis on soil health, cover cropping and minimum tillage, now being trialled as part of the ACRES Agri-environment scheme. Jack has also committed around three hectares (seven acres) to native woodland, with species such as oak, birch, alder and Scots pine contributing to a rich ecological habitat. I love the biodiversity that comes with farming for nature so much life and growth. It means there is always much to look at when we go for our daily walks here. Nominated by the Irish Organic Association, Jack has recently been awarded the prestigious Farming for Nature Ambassador Award and is now a part of a community of leading farmers who exemplify the balance between productive agriculture and nature conservation. Jack says: The Farming for Nature Ambassadors were part of the motivation for me to try something different, but more important was seeing other Irish farmers doing things differently, which gave me the confidence to make changes on my farm. Seeing other Irish farmers exploring non-conventional ideas gave me the confidence. I am proud to be part of a network that is doing so much good stuff. In addition to managing his own farm, Jack has opened his gates to others, hosting farm walks, sharing knowledge through media interviews, and inspiring fellow farmers with his passion for working with nature. Since starting this journey five years ago Jack understands the difficulties of moving away from mainstream agriculture a bit better. At the start of the journey, I told myself that I didnt want to memorise the names of pesticides but rather I wanted my head to be filled with information about trees and plants instead. I know a bit more about birds, too, because the farm has exploded with life. There are buzzards, owls and kestrels around now, an indication of a thriving ecosystem. Breaking News Would you like to receive our breaking news news? Signup today! e-Edition Subscribers e-Edition Only - $39.00 Year This is the exact replica of our weekly printed paper. Great for searching archives! General Interest Imported List: General Interest Previous Next Sheriff Austin Garrett and other HCSO personnel participated Thursday evening in the 2025 Team Mentoring, Incs Summer Youth Retreat for inner city youth at Booker T. Washington State Park.This is the third year the HCSO has annually partnered with Team Mentoring, Inc. and their Executive Director Freddie Brooks, a retired Chattanooga Fire Department firefighter and graduate of the inaugural Sheriffs Citizens Academy, to support this important recurring event.Officials said, "The retreat offers boys and girls an intensive overview of the firefighting profession with safe, interactive and physically challenging learning opportunities based on current safety and training standards.Certified fire instructors teach the retreat, helping cadets build physical strength, confidence and leadership skills applicable to their lives and future careers."As part of the presentation, personnel in the HCSO School Resource Deputy Unit, Marine Patrol, K-9 Unit, D.A.R.E. and Patrol Services gave demonstrations and discussed how they conduct their daily operations. HCSO deputies serving in the Hamilton County UAS Team were also onsite with drones and showcasing some of their aerial capabilities."Partnerships with youth organizations like Team Mentoring, Inc. play a vital role in building meaningful, lasting relationships between the HCSO and our countys youth. Now more than ever, its essential for law enforcement to work with and support groups that provide positive, educational opportunities for our young people and help develop the next generation of leaders in our county, said Sheriff Austin Garrett."Thank you to all the HCSO personnel who participated in last nights event," officials said. William "Bill" Burton Parker, 81, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, passed away on Thursday, July 10, 2025. He was born February 2, 1944, in Nashville, Tennessee to the late William and Mary Katherine (Wilbur) Parker. Bill honorably served his country as an officer in the United States Navy from 1966 to 1969. During his distinguished naval service, he served as a destroyer division officer and in critical staff roles supporting Atlantic Fleet operations, demonstrating the leadership and dedication that would define his entire life. A man of exceptional academic achievement, Bill earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1966, followed by a Master of Business Administration in Management in 1971, graduating with Beta Gamma Sigma honors. He continued his pursuit of excellence by earning his Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee in 1974, where he received the American Jurisprudence Award in Administrative Law, recognizing his outstanding scholarship. Bill built a successful legal career in Chattanooga, where he specialized in commercial real estate development, helping shape the business landscape of his community. He later brought his expertise to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, where he served as corporate counsel, contributing his legal acumen to healthcare accessibility. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Bill was a man of diverse interests and talents. A skilled aviator and instrument rated private pilot, he found joy in the freedom of flight. He was an enthusiast of recreational shooting and possessed a remarkable talent for fixing and building things, a skill that brought him satisfaction and helped countless friends and family members over the years. Perhaps most notably, Bill was driven by an insatiable curiosity that compelled him to continuously learn and grow throughout his 81 years, making him a fascinating conversationalist and a source of knowledge for those around him. Bill's greatest joy came from his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Susan Davis Parker, who was his closest friend and partner in life's adventures; his daughter, Katherine Parker Siskind, who inherited his intellectual curiosity and strength of character; and his son-in-law, Brian Siskind, whom he welcomed as his own son. Bill is also survived by his in-laws Michael Davis, Martha Carty, Karen and Nick Decosimo, Julie and Matt Davis, and Lisa and Scott Brown. Bill's legacy lives on through his service to country and community, his professional contributions, and most importantly, through the love he shared with his family and the countless lives he touched with his wisdom, generosity, and gentle spirit. A celebration of life will be held on July 19, 2025, at the family residence from 3-6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer's Association. Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel. Home News Duane Youngblood insists TD Jakes sexually assaulted him as teenager; denies extortion, conspiracy Armed with new lawyers, former pastor-turned-registered sex offender Duane Youngblood insisted Thursday that megachurch founder Bishop T.D. Jakes sexually assaulted him decades ago when he was a teenager and denied conspiring to extort him of $6 million before going public with his claims. In a 15-page response to Jakes defamation lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Thursday, Youngbloods new attorneys, Brad N. Sommer and Paul A. Ellis Jr. of the Sommer Law Group, denied many of the claims in Jakes lawsuit against their client. Lawyers for Jakes claim in the lawsuit against Youngblood and multiple John Does that Youngbloods allegations against the respected religious leader are nothing more than a carefully planned smear campaign to extort him for millions of dollars." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Sommer and Ellis, however, rejected that narrative. Mr. Youngblood vehemently denies any plan, much less any conspiratorial conduct regarding an attempt of extortion. Defendant is the Defendant, not the Plaintiff there is no action filed nor any formal or informal request or demand whatsoever from the Plaintiff for millions of dollars, they said in their response on behalf of Youngblood. Regarding the allegation of sexual assault against Jakes, Youngbloods latest response notes that he is fully prepared to stand on the truth. Jakes, 67, filed a defamation lawsuit against the 58-year-old Youngblood, who claimed in interviews with internet personality Larry Reid on his "Larry Reid Live" show on Oct. 28 and Nov. 3 that Jakes assaulted him when he was about 18 or 19 years old. Youngblood claimed to Reid that he had been talking with Jakes for about two hours at the home of an older adult clergywoman, where he was staying during a local church revival approximately 40 years ago, when Jakes tried to kiss him. "After sitting there and having this long discourse with him, I finally looked at my watch, and I'm like, 'Oh my goodness, I got to go. I got to get this car back to my mother. She's gonna kill me.' So I said to bishop, 'I got to get up,'" Youngblood recalled. "And I got up from the table, he got up from the table, he walked around toward the way I had to exit quicker than I got over there, and when I started to walk past him, he pulled me to himself, wrapped his arms around me, and tried to kiss me. And in that moment, I literally died." The morning after the encounter, Youngblood alleges Jakes called his home and intimated that he wanted him to become a local sex partner. "My mother answers the phone, and she says to me, 'Duane, it's Elder Jakes.' Jakes and I get on that phone and when I get on that telephone, I can hear water. He is sitting in a bathtub, and in that thing, he says to me, without any hesitation, 'there's three things I need you to do. The first one is, when I come to Pittsburgh, you're going to be the only person I sleep with. The second one is you can't sleep with anybody else because I don't want to give my wife anything. And thirdly, I will take care of you the rest of your life," Youngblood, who is now a registered sex offender due to his past abuse of minors, claimed during his interview with Reid. Days after making those allegations public, Jakes' attorneys said an attorney representing Youngblood sent a demand letter to Jakes on Nov. 24, 2024, demanding $6 million "to 'resolve this matter quickly and privately;' otherwise, Youngblood would bring a lawsuit against Bishop Jakes for sexual assault and harassment." Jakes' lawyers, who noted that the interviews went viral, said Youngblood's allegation caused the megachurch pastor millions of dollars in reputational harm and hurt his physical health. "Youngblood's lies have put in jeopardy the critical philanthropic missions Bishop Jakes spearheads and has likely impaired significantly the benefits that the recipients of such efforts receive. And Youngblood's intentional and malicious lies have taken a substantial emotional and physical toll on Bishop Jakes," the lawsuit alleges. "On November 24 the day before he filed this action Bishop Jakes suffered a medical crisis on stage in the middle of his Sunday service in front of his entire church." Late last month, Youngbloods former New York City attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, was called out by U.S. District Judge William S. Stickman for significant fabrications and misrepresentations of caselaw in his defense of Youngblood, and he could face sanctions. Stickman ordered that Youngblood's previous motion to dismiss Jakes' lawsuit, according to Rule 12(b)(6) and Reply Memorandum supporting that motion, be stricken from the record. He also ordered Youngblood to answer Jakes' complaint per Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12 (a)(4)(A) on or before July 11. Blackburn was further ordered to show cause not exceeding 15 pages by July 18 as to why his briefs have not violated Rule 11(b) and Pa. RPC 3.3. Blackburn is also expected to appear in court for a hearing on July 24 at 1:30 p.m. to explain why he should not be sanctioned for potential violations of Rule 11(b). Home News Trumps week in review: Weed farm raids, restricting public benefits for illegal immigrants President Donald Trump continues to garner headlines for the policies and actions his administration has undertaken since the beginning of his second term, with this week seeing federal agents finding undocumented minors during a weed farm raid and the continued move to lay off federal employees. Every week, the Trump administration pursues measures aimed at achieving the president's broad agenda, encompassing issues such as immigration, foreign policy, reducing the size of the federal government and other matters. Here are five new developments over the past week. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Home News Priests demand probe after arson at ancient church in West Bank's last remaining Christian town Priests in the last remaining Christian town in the West Bank have called for an "immediate and transparent investigation" following a series of alleged attacks by Jewish settlers in Taybeh, including a fire set near an ancient Christian cemetery and the ruins of the Church of St. George. In a statement shared this week by Independent Catholic News, the heads of the Greek Orthodox Church, Latin Church and Melkite Greek Catholic Church stated that the assaults "threaten the security and stability of our town" and "aim at undermining the dignity of its residents and the sanctity of its sacred land." The three priests Father Dawood Khoury, Father Jacques-Noble Abed and Father Bishara Fawaz condemned the fires set near Taybeh's cemetery and the church, an event that occurred on July 7. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The Church of St. George dates back to the fifth century. In their joint statement, the religious leaders praised the local residents and firefighting teams for intervening before the damage could become more "catastrophic." The priests accused Israeli settlers of damaging the town's source of livelihood by allowing their cattle to graze in Taybeh's agricultural lands, including on family-owned fields and near residential homes, harming olive trees and preventing farmers from cultivating their land. They also stated that the eastern area of Taybeh, which comprises more than half of the town's territory and includes the bulk of its agricultural activity, "has effectively become an open target for illegal settlement outposts that expand quietly under military protection," adding that the outposts "serve as a base for further assaults on the land and its people." "As priests, we bear a pastoral and moral responsibility toward our community. We cannot remain silent in the face of these relentless attacks that threaten our very existence on this land," the religious leaders stated. "Taybeh known in the Gospel as 'Ephraim,' the place to which Jesus withdrew before His Passion (John 11:54) is the last remaining entirely Christian town in the West Bank." Luke Moon, the executive director of The Philos Project, a nonprofit advocacy organization that educates Christians about the Middle East, referred to the reports of arson near the Christian Church in Taybeh as "disturbing." "This followed reports of arson near the settlement of Efrat and other incidents. Too often, particularly when it comes to events in Israel, only one side of the story is told," Moon said in a statement to The Christian Post. "The reality on the ground is more complicated," Moon continued. "Many Israeli leaders have spoken out against the recent violence by a few settler youth. I keep waiting for Palestinian leaders to do the same." In May, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the arrest of multiple suspects accused of arson related to wildfires in the foothills outside of Jerusalem that spread across more than 5,000 acres. At the time, multiple Palestinian social media accounts called on people to set fire to Israeli property. One post shared on social media even vowed: "The settlers' houses will be reduced to ashes under the feet of the revolutionaries." While a Hamas Political Bureau member denied that the terror group had any involvement, it didn't deny the possibility of using arson as a tactic in the ongoing war with Israel. The calls for arson coincided with Israel's military operations in Gaza following the Hamas-led terrorist attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of over 240 others. The Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry has reported that over 57,000 people have died since the start of the war, a figure that doesn't differentiate between combatants and civilians. The Taybeh priests called on local and international actors to launch an investigation into the arson and assaults on agricultural land and holy sites. They also called for the application of diplomatic pressure to halt settler actions and prevent them from grazing in Taybeh's lands. Other solutions include dispatching international and church delegations to conduct field visits and report on any damages. In their last call to action, the priests requested legal accompaniment to help the people of Taybeh "through economic and agricultural initiatives" and "strengthen their resilience." "We believe that the Holy Land cannot remain alive without its indigenous people. Forcibly removing farmers from their land, threatening their churches, and encircling their towns is a wound to the living heart of this nation," the priests concluded. "Yet we remain steadfast in our shared faith and hope that truth and justice will ultimately prevail." Home News Federal Trade Commission issues agenda for workshop on 'gender-affirming care' for minors The Federal Trade Commission issued a tentative agenda earlier this week for its upcoming July 9 workshop addressing the potential illegality of so-called gender transition procedures for minors under the Federal Trade Commission Act. This seminar, titled "The Dangers of 'Gender-Affirming Care' for Minors," will examine potentially misleading or harmful practices in "gender-affirming care" for minors and feature testimonies from physicians, medical ethicists, whistleblowers, detransitioners, and parents of detransitioners. The experts will offer insights based on research, professional knowledge and their own lived experiences. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The FTC, which is authorized under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act to safeguard consumers from deceptive or unfair practices, claimed its authority could extend to the performance of gender transition procedures on minors if evidence shows that medical providers or others failed to disclose risks or made unverified claims about its benefits. The seminar aims to help the FTC assess whether consumers have been subjected to misleading or unsubstantiated claims about "gender-affirming care" and to evaluate the potential harms consumers may face. "Under the Federal Trade Commission Act, the FTC is provided broad authority to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive trade acts and practices," read an internal FTC memo from May. "There is now considerable reason to believe that the doctors and medical providers pushing [gender-affirming care] on minors are knowingly deceiving parents by exaggerating [gender-affirming care's] 'benefits' and downplaying its harmful side effects." Brandon Showalter, a Christian Post opinion writer and social commentator who hosts the "Generation Indoctrination" podcast, will be participating in the workshop. He is heartened to see the steps the Trump administration is taking to push back against transgender ideology's harms against children. "It is enormously encouraging to see federal agencies continue to take action to end the scourge of child sterilization and mutilation in keeping with President Trump's Jan. 28 executive order," said Showalter, who has reported extensively on the topic. "Anyone who has spent any amount of time researching the practices of the gender-medical industry knows that fraud and deception abound," he said. "The Federal Trade Commission is to be commended for scrutinizing this medical scandal and the industries that prop it up and they are right to refer to so-called 'gender-affirming care' as 'the Big Lie,' because it is indeed impossible to be born in the wrong body, as trans activists routinely claim." The Jan. 28 executive order mentioned by Showalter declares that "It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called 'transition' of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit these destructive and life-altering procedures." The order also directed the heads of executive branch agencies to "take appropriate steps to ensure that institutions receiving Federal research or education grants end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children" and "rescind or amend all policies" that rely on guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which encouraged the performance of gender transition procedures on minors. Trump directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to "take all appropriate actions to end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children" using "regulatory and sub-regulatory actions," "publish a review of the existing literature on best practices for the promoting the health of children who assert gender dysphoria, rapid-onset gender dysphoria, or other identity-based confusion" and "issue new guidance protecting whistleblowers" who report the performance of gender transition procedures on minors. In-person attendance at the event in Washington, D.C., will be by invitation only to protect the safety of the participants, according to an FTC statement. The general public will be able to access the event via livestream. Home News 'Incredibly brutal': FTC hosts day-long workshop on harms of 'gender-affirming care' DOJ issues 20 subpoenas to doctors, clinics over 'transgender medical procedures' Warning: This article contains graphic details of chemical and surgical procedures performed on individuals who were once identified as transgender. Descriptions also include bodily functions of adult subject matter. WASHINGTON Panelists were reduced to tears during the Federal Trade Commission's day-long workshop this week, featuring multiple panels of experts and detransitioners who shared their stories as the agency assesses whether consumers have been subjected to misleading or unsubstantiated claims about "gender-affirming care." During the workshop on Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department's Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle announced that the agency has issued more than 20 subpoenas against clinics that are engaged in transgender medical procedures on children. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe 'I was lied to by the medical professionals' The first panel, titled "A Conversation with Parents and Survivors," was moderated by FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson. Simon Amaya Price said he suffered intense bullying growing up and tried to socially transition as a teenager amid his confusion, and that medical professionals encouraged him to embrace a transgender identity and attend a transgender support group behind his father's back. "I told him that my dad was refusing to take me to the gender clinic. The pediatrician then asked my dad in front of me, 'Would you like a dead son or a living daughter?' This isn't just a line used by activists. This is a line used in healthcare settings by the doctors that your kids are seeing." Price said he is thankful he did not go so far as to permanently modify his body. "I'm one of the lucky ones," he said. "I only socially transitioned. I only lost a couple years of my life. I didn't lose any body parts. I thank God every day, whether or not He exists, that I am whole and I'm here today. I was lied to by the medical professionals." Price's father, Gareth Amaya Price, spoke next and choked up as he recounted his son's suffering from his perspective. He accused medical professionals of engaging in emotional blackmail against him and other parents who are trying to do what is best for their children. He feared the psychiatrist his son was seeing would recommend that his son be taken from him by Child Protective Services because of his reluctance to affirm transgender procedures. Price pinpointed the prevalent unhappiness and confusion of his son's childhood to his autism and difficulty relating to his peers. "He cried if a gas station closed. His own body changing upset him profoundly. He was a target of bullying, both by boys physically and by girls socially. The boys threatened him and called him homophobic slurs, and the girls shunned him, mostly for not acting like they thought a boy was supposed to," he said. When he recounted how his son's pediatrician offered him the option of "a dead son or a living daughter," Price grew emotional, adding, "That was emotional blackmail and, in my opinion, malpractice." Elvira Syed, who was on the same panel, sobbed as she told the story of how her daughter, who struggled with autism but spoke multiple languages and played several musical instruments, took her own life at age 18 amid her gender confusion. "They treated her ideology, not her illness," she said of medical professionals. 'Code of silence' Multiple doctors spoke throughout the day about the dangers of transgender procedures on minors, including Dr. Patrick Lappert, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who participated in a panel titled "What Does the Science Actually Say About Gender-Affirming Care?" Dr. Lappert at the @FTC speaks about the deception in @WPATH's so-called standards of care. Fraud in insurance claims. Debunks the suicide or trans mantra. pic.twitter.com/7WJ2zrmAJ6 Erin Friday, Esq. (@ErinFriday75490) July 11, 2025 "I didn't imagine 11 years ago, when I started down this road, that I'd ever be speaking to a federal agency about what's going on in the world of medical care in the United States," said Lappert, who went on to explain his belief that the prevailing consensus regarding "gender-affirming" procedures is grounded in deceit and fraud. "The transgender treatment industry actually operates in the American medical system through the use of deceptive labeling and deceptive practices," he continued, adding that it "mislabels gender affirmation surgery as reconstructive rather than cosmetic, using that deceptive labeling to defraud public and private insurance programs, as well as defrauding the finances of families while essentially medicalizing these young people for life." Dr. Eithan Haim, who blew the whistle on Texas Children's Hospital in 2023 for continuing to perform transgender procedures on minors despite claiming otherwise, said during a panel titled "The Politicization of Science" that many doctors have become complicit in perpetuating the industry by staying quiet out of fear. "There is a code of silence that exists among physicians and professionals today," said Haim, who claimed the left-wing institutional capture of the medical profession has been a "decades-long process." "As that creep has taken a hold in these institutions, people who spoke up were increasingly vilified," Haim said. "So people would suffer the traumatic experiences of speaking out and having their professional lives damaged; they will be fired, they'll be held back from promotions. They would be sometimes targeted by governing medical authorities in their state, and in cases like mine, they would be targeted by the federal government." Haim, whom The Christian Post first exclusively interviewed in January 2024, potentially faced a decade in prison himself after leaking the documentary evidence he found regarding secretive procedures at Texas Children's Hospital, where he completed his surgical residency. Biden's U.S. Department of Justice slapped him with four felony counts after claiming he "obtained personal information including patient names, treatment codes and the attending physician from Texas Children's Hospital's (TCH) electronic system without authorization." The charges against Haim were dropped days after President Donald Trump took office in January. Despite his own victory, Haim suggested that those not beholden to radical, pro-transgender ideology are unlikely to obtain prominent positions in some of the most influential medical schools. "You have real consequences to the doctors who speak out against this," he said. "That is happening in conjunction with the professors at medical schools, the clinical doctors who are teaching medical students in residence." "All of the people who are promoted, who are hired, are not the ones who hold conservative values or not even conservative values, just not radical values." "Being an average person essentially eliminates your ability from being hired in these prestigious academic centers," he added. 'Incredibly brutal' A panel titled "How Can the FTC Protect Families from Harm?" featured Brandon Showalter, a Christian Post opinion writer and social commentator who hosts the "Generation Indoctrination" podcast. Showalter, who has extensively reported for years on the harms transgenderism has inflicted upon children, asserted the ideology is incompatible with truth, has led to deceptive trade practices and must therefore be dismantled. "Because it is based on an irretrievably flawed premise that it's actually possible to be born in the wrong body, any medical treatment toward that end is going to do damage, guaranteed, full stop, because it starts with a lie," he said. WNY Walleye to start fishing league July 23 The Western New York Walleye club has announced that it will offer a six-week summer fishing league for members only, running from July 23 through August 31. The unique concept will use the Fish Donkey app on a smartphone to record the best three walleye lengths each week (out of how ever many you enter). Billed as a working mans league, there are specific times that you can fish Wednesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. League boundary is New York waters of Lake Erie up to the Peace Bridge. The league is being presented by WillsWorldOutdoors. The cost to participate is $100 per adult club member. Youth 15 and under are free to participate. Weekly prizes for the top three walleye for a box will be awarded, as well as for the longest walleye each week. Overall league winners will be based on the five best weeks of three walleye for each week combined. You must use an accepted measuring board. Friends and family members who are not club members can fish with a club member, but the club member must reel in the fish that they personally are going to enter for the contest. If multiple members are on board a boat, only the person reeling in the fish can enter it. This is a great incentive to join WNY Walleye. For more information on the league, email Bryan Dusenbury at duse04@gmail.com. For more information on WNY Walleye, email club president Ron Kucinski at kucinski1293@gmail.com. Erie County Federation gives conservation award to GM On June 20, the Erie County Federation of Sportsmens Clubs presented its prestigious Stanley Spisiak Conservation Award to the General Motors Tonawanda Propulsion Systems Plant. The initial announcement was made earlier this year at the groups annual banquet. Federation president Jack Coad made the presentation for GMs unwavering commitment to improving our environment along the Great Lakes and the Niagara River. The late Stanley Spisiak was committed to the protection of the environment in the face of urbanization and industrialization. In the 1950s, GM used to draw 26 million gallons of water per day from the Niagara River via a pump station, Coad continued. This created a tremendous burden on the watershed affecting fish, wildlife and aquatic vegetation. This was not sustainable for long-time use. GM started a program of Remediation, Conservation and Sustainability to look at ways to improve their environmental impact. In 2021, the GM team came up with an idea to place screens along the intakes to reduce fish mortality. However, further research indicated that it would be a maintenance nightmare to clean and maintain the fish screens. Over the years, GM successfully reduced its impact on the environment, but it wasnt finished. In 2024, the GM environmental team put an idea to work by creating the Cooling Tower Project, said Coad. Due to this new project, GM has completely reduced its impact on the environment by eliminating 8 million gallons per day of water use to zero. The current system used city water to complete its necessary cooling procedures for the plant. GM has protected the environment while maintaining successful production. DEC announces improvements on 18 Mile AOC The states Department of Environmental Conservation and Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District announced last week in a virtual public meeting that important restoration progress has been made in the 18 Mile Creek Area of Concern (AOC) in Niagara County. The meeting offered an opportunity for public input on the proposed removal of the Degradation of Benthos Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI). Benthos are organisms that crawl, burrow, swim or stay attached to the material on the bottom of a lake or stream. The 18 Mile Creek AOC is in Newfane and encompasses the lower portion of 18 Mile Creek from just below Burt Dam to Olcott Harbor at the outlet to Lake Ontario. The 18 Mile Creek AOC was designated under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1987 because of poor water quality and sediment contamination by former industrial and municipal discharges, waste disposal and pesticide use. The federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been instrumental in providing funding to address these environmental challenges and advance the BUI removal process. Once all BUIs in an AOC are removed, the AOC can move forward with delisting. After reviewing available data on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the AOC, DEC and partners found improved conditions meeting BUI removal criteria and now seek public feedback on the proposed change in designation. During the meeting, DEC's Great Lakes Program and representatives from the Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District provided details and criteria establishing support for the removal of the BUI. Comments on the draft report and proposed BUI removal may be made via the AOC website or by email at eighteenmilerap@gmail.com until July 30. Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District, in partnership with DEC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, coordinates restoration efforts under the 18 Mile Creek AOC Remedial Action Plan. A draft report, which details the completed actions and assessments supporting the BUI removal, and a recorded version of the meeting is available for public review at the 18 Mile Creek AOC website. Home News 'Never seen anything like this': Trump hails Texans unity, competency as state recovers from historic flooding Visiting flood-stricken central Texas on Friday, President Donald Trump praised the emergency response and community effort following what he called "a really horrific and deadly flood," saying he has "never seen anything like this" before. At least 135 people were killed during the flooding, with the final death toll still being tallied as searches continued across affected areas. Rescue efforts led to more than 1,500 people being saved, including 169 children at the Camp Mystic summer camp by Coast Guard crews, as mentioned during Trump's address. That operation stood out as one of the most urgent, after the Guadalupe River rose an estimated 26 feet in just 45 minutes, inundating the camp where dozens of young girls died in their cabins while they slept. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The Texas Chief of Emergency Management, Nim Kid, confirmed that Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state disaster in 21 counties to fast-track public and individual assistance efforts. Nineteen other states contributed resources to support Texas in the aftermath of the floods, Kid said. In total, more than 2,200 personnel from state agencies assisted local responders. Standing beside his wife, Melania, Trump recounted meeting with grieving families, saying, "We just gave our warmest condolences. But you say to yourself, 'How do you give condolences? How do you do that to a young person that three days ago was here and now is no longer here?'" Melania Trump, wearing a bracelet gifted by children from the camp in memory of those lost, said she and her husband prayed with the families and shared in their sorrow. "We just met with the wonderful families. We pray with them, we hug, we hold hands, they share the stories. And I met a beautiful young ladies. They gave me this special bracelet from the camp in honor of all of the little girls that they lost their lives." Trump repeatedly acknowledged the role of first responders, law enforcement and Coast Guard teams. "The people that are doing it are unbelievable people. You couldn't get better people than this anywhere," he said, also noting the role of Customs and Border Protection and trauma teams. The Federal Emergency Management Agency deployed multiple emergency response units, and the Army Corps of Engineers was also engaged in the recovery. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has chaired all three of Trump's presidential campaigns in Texas, announced that a public hearing would be held in the region within three weeks. "We're going to come to them and we'll stay here as long as it takes to hear their stories and their needs and their wants," he said. Trump listed several public officials present during his visit, including Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and several Texas representatives. He also thanked Cecilia Abbott, the governor's wife, and praised Gov. Abbott as someone with whom he had become close both politically and personally. Trump said federal assistance was authorized within minutes after Texas requested it, a point reiterated by FEMA and state leaders. The search for missing persons remains active. "There's a lot of missing children, possibly. Mostly we don't know, but they're still looking and they'll find everybody," the president said. This was not a typical natural disaster for the region, with Trump recalling local residents who said they were used to annual flooding "in much smaller doses," but never anything like this. The president also referenced historic floods in the area, noting one in 1932 and another 12 years ago, both of which he said were "half of what this was." Describing the floodwaters as "a giant wave in the Pacific Ocean that the best surfers in the world would be afraid to surf," Trump said the torrent came through in the night when most residents were in bed. He called the flooding a one-in-500 or one-in-1,000-year event, citing a description from an official. He reiterated his belief that preventive measures must be strengthened, saying, "We're also taking historic action to ensure that such a nightmare never happens again." Praise was also directed at the volunteers. More than 12,300 of them assisted in recovery efforts, contributing a combined 861,000 hours of support. As the state continues to clean up and rebuild, many local residents have focused on reopening destroyed infrastructure, including Camp Mystic. One man involved in the effort, identified only as a local partner, said they planned to reopen quickly with help from state officials and outside assistance. Trump said the scale of devastation was beyond anything he had seen in past disasters. "I've gone to some real bad ones. I've never seen anything like this." Home Opinion The IRS allowing churches to endorse political candidates is personal for me The IRS confirmed on Monday that pastors who endorse political candidates from the pulpit or through their church communications will not lose their tax-exempt status. In a rule change that highlights their stance on churches and pastors, this decision is a long-overdue carve-out from the Johnson Amendment, the 1954 rule that has long prevented churches from engaging in electoral endorsements. That shift is massive and should matter deeply to every American Christian. For me, this issue is personal. Dr. Robert Jeffress, Pastor of First Baptist Dallas, recently highlighted my story again in a national message. My journey with the Internal Revenue Service began years ago at the humble start of Christians Engaged, the ministry I founded in Texas. We submitted our application in December 2019 for 501c3 status. The IRS denied us after 18 months. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Why were we rejected? We offered biblically grounded voter education, guided by Scripture on the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage between one man and one woman, biblical justice, and other issues. They denied us our tax-exempt status because, in their words, [B]ible teachings are typically affiliated with the [Republican] party and candidates. This disqualifies you from exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3). It was mind-blowing for us, but we knew that if we didnt fight back, it could impact every church or ministry in the nation. As a ministry, we were simply asking believers to engage their faith and their civic duty, praying for wisdom and involvement. I had run for Congress in 2018 as a Republican, but Christians Engaged was never about campaigning. We sought to activate believers to pray, vote, and engage on behalf of our nation regardless of political affiliation. With the help of First Liberty Institute, we appealed. In July 2021, the IRS reversed its decision, granting our tax-exempt status and acknowledging that our focus on scriptural issues that some said were political was constitutionally sound. It was a victory, not just for us but for any religious nonprofit that seeks to inform Americans and help Christians make wise decisions. In the new IRS ruling released this week, the agency is not repealing the Johnson Amendment entirely. Instead, it states that the Johnson Amendment will not apply when messages are delivered in the context of a house of worship, with religious services or church communications. Pastors have always had the right to pray, vote, and engage our motto but now they will also have the freedom to endorse candidates if they choose to do so. The Johnson Amendment has been a paper tiger for years. No church has lost its tax-exempt status, though the IRS has created costly issues for many churches. Pastors who want to actively engage in changing their communities by endorsing candidates from their pulpit, joining with other churches to elect Christians, and communicating their choices to their members can now do so without fear of losing tax-exempt status. Some critics will warn that this change could turn congregations into campaign destinations. Yet this is not about churches acting as super PACs. Its about restoring free speech and First Amendment integrity for religious organizations and church leaders. Also, nothing in this carve-out requires churches to endorse candidates or discuss politics. They remain free to focus on worship and service only if that is what they desire. But if they choose to engage their congregations on biblical issues that might be seen in our culture as political, or candidates, they can do so without fear of legal punishment. What does that mean for everyday Americans? It means you can expect more open discussions of civic responsibility from faith leaders. As someone whose own nonprofit was nearly silenced, I know how difficult it can be to navigate prayerful engagement and legal boundaries. This decision eases that tension, inviting a more authentic conversation in homes, churches, and communities. But the work isnt complete. Congress still must act to formally repeal or amend the Johnson Amendment. The IRS action stems from a lawsuit in Texas, in which some of our ministry partners, such as Sand Springs Church in Athens, joined by the National Religious Broadcasters Association, Intercessors for America, and others, are seeking judicial recognition of this exemption. Full reform requires congressional action. As for me, I look back on our IRS ordeal with gratitude. When the agency reversed itself in 2021, it affirmed that faith-rooted political engagement isnt a partisan affront; its part of being a citizen who loves God and neighbors. This new IRS filing extends that principle from our small nonprofit to pulpits across America. It is now up to our church leaders and congregants to turn this new blessing into a movement to speak Gods truth boldly, sharing His good news with every person and on every issue without fear of government interference. Home Opinion The basement of man's soul contains deadly spiritual toxins God created man to love the Lord with all of his heart, soul and mind. But such a thing is impossible when man's mind is "filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity" (Romans 1:29). A depraved mind is morally corrupt and completely unable to love and serve the Lord. The only way to receive a new heart and a new mind is to "repent and believe the good news" (Mark 1:15) of the Gospel (see John 3:16). The first chapter of Romans describes the "godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness" (v. 18). God is greatly offended by such behavior. The Greek word "paradidomi" is used three times in this chapter to explain how centuries ago God "handed over" or "delivered up" people to "shameful lusts" (v. 26) and a "depraved mind" (v. 28). Imagine a courtroom scene where an enraged defendant charges the bench and spits on the judge, who then hands the defendant an additional 180 days in jail for "contempt of court." Similarly, God handed people over to a depraved mind as divine punishment when they deliberately suppressed the truth. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The Bible provides numerous signs of a depraved mind. Such people are "full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless" (Romans 1:29-31). You may wonder: Why would anyone choose to hate God? The answer lies in what I call the "basement" of man's soul; namely, his "sinful nature." The Apostle Paul wrote, "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature" (Romans 7:18). Your sinful nature is not your heart or your mind, but it nevertheless contains all manner of wicked desires and sinful inclinations. Believers are not obligated to "go down to the basement" to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Christians "have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness" (Romans 6:18). "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the (Holy) Spirit have their minds set on what the (Holy) Spirit desires" (Romans 8:5). Man tends to assume he can control his thoughts and desires. But apart from the power of the Holy Spirit, man is bound to the desires of his sinful nature and unable to free himself. Until man repents of sin and unbelief, he remains "under law" rather than "under grace." But once man is born again through faith in Christ, he is set free. "Sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law but under grace" (Romans 6:14). Christians are free to stay out of the basement as we walk in wisdom throughout the upper levels of the home. That is, throughout our heart and mind. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is absent whenever a believer chooses to go down to the basement, such as when a Christian accesses pornography, or chooses to hold a grudge. Unlike wicked behavior which seeks to gratify sinful desires, the Spirit's wonderful fruit refreshes the soul and consists of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). God's Word teaches believers: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). The Greek word for "transformed" is metamorphoo, from which we get the word, "metamorphosis." Replacing a depraved mind with a transformed mind requires new birth, (see 1 Peter 1:3) and then dwelling upon pure thoughts that please the Lord moment by moment (see Philippians 4:8) Believers are saved, redeemed, forgiven and justified on the front end of our relationship with God. Paul wrote, "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6). If your mind is out of control and running rampant today, the Holy Spirit can "make the crooked places straight" (Isaiah 45:2). But you will need to confess your sinful thoughts to Jesus in order to be cleansed and renewed. When men and women chose to "exchange the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another" (Romans 1:23-24). "God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion" (Romans 1:26-27). While there are certainly a significant number of people today who are inflamed with homosexual lust, there are obviously far more people engaging in heterosexual fornication and adultery. The Bible instructs God's people: "We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did - and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died" (1 Corinthians 10:8). The basement of man's soul contains deadly spiritual toxins. Paul wrote, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21). So, who or what is controlling your mind today? The Holy Spirit, or your sinful lusts and desires? If it is your heart's desire to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5), then call upon Jesus to forgive your sins as you devote yourself hour by hour to thinking wholesome thoughts. And always remember: Straight living requires straight thinking! Home Opinion Why did the Texas floods happen? Catastrophic flooding in central Texas last weekend claimed the lives of at least 120 people, including at least 28 children. Following approximately a foot of rain in hill country, the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes, surprising vacationers and summer camps along its banks. At Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls camp, 27 campers and counselors perished, including the camp director. Each death is a tale of heartbreaking tragedy, a dissonant screech that derails the melody of life, which leaves the survivors on the brink of a precipice, asking why? For the most part, the answers are neither easy nor satisfying, but pursuing them anyway can broaden our understanding and deepen our faith, thereby bringing good out of grief. To find understanding, Christians turn to the Bible because we believe it is the revealed Word of God, containing divine truth and wisdom that is unmixed with error. Thus, Scripture must be the launch point for our inquiry. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe So, why did the deadly Texas floods happen? At the most general level, every death is the result of sin. Paul offers comments on the theological significance of the Fall, sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned (Romans 5:12, see Genesis 2:17, 3:22). Mankinds sin has far-reaching painful consequences, such that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth under Gods judgment (Romans 8:22). Even deaths from natural disasters like floods are the result of sin; God destroyed the ancient world with floodwaters because the wickedness of man was great in the earth (Genesis 6:5, 17, see 2 Peter 2:5). However, the general link between sin and death does not entail the principle that each individual death is the result of grave individual sins. In fact, Jesus specifically denies such a precise link between sins and physical death on at least two occasions. In Luke 13:2-5, Jesus declares that victims of mass tragedies were no worse sinners than anyone else, adding, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. In John 9:3, Jesus declared that a mans blindness from birth did not result from any sin, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. Jesuss comment points to a more particular answer to explain tragedies like flood deaths: Gods sovereign providence. This is a weighty and complex theme in which our analysis is incomplete at best. If we could sound the depth of Gods providence, haul it on the examination table, or place it under the microscope, it would not be sovereign. But God is God, and we are not, and the difference between us is not one of degree but of kind. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts, reveals the Lord (Isaiah 55:9). But some aspects of Gods providence He has revealed in his word. We know from His word that Gods providence is good, merciful, and unknowable. Scripture testifies that God works good purposes even out of actions that man intends for evil. Joseph tells his brothers, You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive (Genesis 50:20). Paul turns this principle into a guarantee for believers, for those who love God all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). By all things, Paul certainly includes the hazards he lists soon afterward, tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword (Romans 8:35). Even these things God uses for good. Next, Gods providence is merciful. As Jesus reminded his hearers in Luke 13, the marvel is not that some people die tragically, but that God has not already wiped out everyone who rebels against him that is, everyone. The fact that anyone is saved from His wrath depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy (Romans 9:16). Even at the flood, God established His mercy in his covenant that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth (Genesis 9:11). The sign of this covenant is the bow in the clouds, a weapon of war that is pointed not towards earth, but towards Heaven itself. Yet we must also consider the reality that Gods providence is unknowable. There are exceptions (Joseph, for instance), but the sovereign king of the universe is under no obligation to explain his purposes to us. Thus, Paul responds, who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, Why have you made me like this? (Romans 9:20). Amid all Jobs trials and questioning, the righteous man gained greater understanding, but Scripture never says that God ever revealed to Job the heavenly scene (Job 1-2) that provoked his trails. If that leaves us with more questions than answers, that is why following God requires faith, the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Confronting these unanswered questions amid unassuaged suffering is an introduction to the biblical category of lament, a type of suffering prayer that dominates the Psalms, defines the entire book of Lamentations, and is sprinkled liberally through the prophets. Lament involves bringing our complaints to God, applying scriptural truth to our suffering, calling on him to act, and reaffirming his promises (see Mark Vroegops Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy). Lament is not only for those who have personally experienced tragedy. One mark of Christian love is the ability to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). Christians should make a practice of mourning with the sorrowful a message all believers must take to heart. This may seem surprising, perhaps a tad distasteful, but Jesus promises, blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4). A millennia earlier, David echoed the same principle, in a psalm that the White House Faith Office picked up and quoted in response to the Texas floods, The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). Perhaps those enduring great personal tragedy will find these reflections to be little comfort, a stinging ointment on their still-fresh wounds. Your gentle and lowly shepherd sees and knows. But that stinging ointment may still be the best medicine. In 1873, after his four daughters drowned in a trans-Atlantic voyage, Chicago businessman Horatio Spafford penned the words, When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. We may feel powerless or lack answers, but we can still trust in Gods character, even when our grief is in flood. Abonati-va sa primiti pe email saptamanal lista articolelor adaugate pe parcursul saptamanii. Adresele .ru nu sunt acceptate. Email NEWSLETTER The Westlake Police Department used license plate cameras to identify a suspect in an e-bike theft. (City of Westlake) WESTLAKE, Ohio A young Westlake mother called at 3 p.m. on June 24 to report that her bicycle was stolen while she visited the Clague Park pool. She left her $800 bike with an attached baby seat parked in the bike rack for several hours. Surveillance video showed that a shirtless man walking a dog seemingly cased the area for about two hours, according to a police department press release. Eventually, a woman driving a red truck stopped to pick up the dog and then drove away. The suspect rode off on the victims bicycle. The man and woman met up a short time later as Westlake license plate cameras captured images of the bicycle in the back of the pickup truck. Through the captured images, police officers identified a 35-year-old male suspect and obtained a felony warrant. On June 30, officers stopped the truck on Center Ridge Road near Columbia Road and arrested the suspect. Initially, the suspect denied knowledge of the theft, but he eventually apologized and agreed to return the bicycle, according to the police department. Officers responded to a residence on Ira Avenue in Cleveland and recovered the intact bicycle. They returned it to the owner the same day. Investigators do not believe that the woman driving the truck was directly involved in the theft. Read more from the West Shore Sun. Dr. Mohammed Ahmad admitted Thursday to signing off on fake durable medical equipment orders without examining patients, leading to over $267,000 in false Medicare claims. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media CLEVELAND, Ohio A Northeast Ohio physician pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges in a Medicare fraud case. The case involved fake orders for medical equipment, which he approved without ever examining patients, the Department of Justice said. Mohammed Ahmad, 38, of Avon, entered his plea after being charged with making false statements related to health care matters. His role in the scheme led to more than $267,000 in fraudulent Medicare claims, with roughly $126,000 ultimately paid out, according to the DOJ. Court records say Ahmad, licensed in Ohio since 2014, contracted with Florida-based company Lifeline Recruiting Inc. to review and sign off on durable medical equipment orders, primarily orthotic braces, the DOJ said. But prosecutors say he approved pre-filled forms without conducting exams or performing the medical tests he claimed to have done. Between November 2018 and May 2019, Ahmads authorizations helped the company submit false claims to Medicare, a federal program that primarily serves people age 65 and older, prosecutors and court records say. Authorities say the scheme used call centers to target Medicare beneficiaries, collect their information and generate leads. Ahmad now faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, with sentencing yet to be scheduled. While seen as an indispensable ally in parts of Europe and Asia, the U.S. is also viewed as a leading threat in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, according to Pew Research Center's 2025 report. Andrew Wevers/Getty Images WASHINGTON, D.C. The Pew Research Centers spring 2025 Global Attitudes Survey finds that while many people around the world view the U.S. as their countrys most important ally, others name it as their top threat. The survey, released Tuesday, asked people in 25 countries to name the single country they consider their nations closest ally and greatest threat. The U.S. was the most frequently named country in both categories across the surveyed nations. In 12 countries including Israel, Japan and the United Kingdom the U.S. was named the most important ally, the survey says. It was tied for the top spot in three other countries. But in eight countries, including Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Indonesia, more people pointed to the U.S. as the greatest threat to their nation, according to the findings. In several countries like Kenya, Argentina and Brazil, the U.S. was viewed at both ends of the spectrum, named by some as a key ally and by others as a primary threat. In Kenya, for example, the U.S. tied with Somalia as the top perceived threat, despite also being named as a major ally. Among European countries, Russia dominates perceptions of threat. Majorities in Germany, Sweden, Poland and the Netherlands cited Russia as the top concern. In contrast, countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia and Japan, were far more likely to name China as the greatest threat. The U.S. itself is no exception to this trend. Americans who were surveyed most often named China as the top threat to the U.S., though the answer varied by political affiliation. Republicans were more likely to name China, while Democrats leaned toward Russia, according to the Pew survey. This story was created with assistance from AI. VERMILION, Ohio A Vermilion man is being held in jail on multiple charges, including murder, after he was accused of fatally shooting a woman early Thursday morning. Lorain County Jail records show Bryan Hall, 35, is charged with murder, aggravated murder, kidnapping, felonious assault and aggravated menacing. He is being held in the jail without bond. According to police, officers were called to the 500 block of Ferndale Avenue at 1:46 a.m. for a report of domestic violence. Police say they were told a man was armed with a handgun and was threatening a woman. When officers arrived, Hall reportedly fired several rounds and shot the woman twice. He then pointed the handgun at his head and attempted to discharge the weapon, but pulled it away at the last second, police say. Police gave the woman medical aid but she died at the scene, police say. Hall was taken into custody. The identity of the victim has not been released. Vermilion police, the Lorain County Prosecutors Office, Lorain County Coroners Office and crime scene technicians from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are investigating the shooting. The photograph included here is from the 123Dentist website which features an article entitled "Off The Beaten Path In Ontario: Places Tourists Never Visit, But You Should". The photo is of the Brockville Railway Tunnel. Here is what the article says: "Brockville Railway Tunnel Although not many people know about the Brockville Railway Tunnel, its actually the oldest railway tunnel in Canada. Today, the tunnel is a recreational path that travels under downtown Brockville. Not only is the tunnel a fun way to travel under several city blocks, but it also features an amazing LED-coloured light system programmed to play along with a recorded music track while you walk through it." Today we feature some of hundreds of examples of DISCO from the 1970's and early 1980's that, regardless how good they were, failed to get into the highly competitive mainstream of the DISCO industries. They just could not compete at the time, falling off the beaten path. Some listeners may have never heard of many of these artists. Included are JAPANESE DISCO artists that failed to match the incredible popularity and influence of YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA and MIDNIGHT POWERS. They include SPECTRUM, CANDY DARLING AND THE VISCOUNTS, and THE EASTERN GANG which was actually released in Canada. From Canada we have included a local record. Yes, a local record! It was released by the CRYSTAL DISCO BAND in 1979. Recorded in Gatineau, Quebec, It was an uptempo TRIBAL SPACE track that was locally released and sold in Ottawa area Disco Record Shops like Dorval, Pro Disco, and Shocking Blue. It just couldn't compete against the likes of THE ROCKETS, SPACE, or Canada's wildly popular "The Ultimate Warlord" by THE IMMORTALS. The Brockville Railway Tunnel sounds absolutely spectacular! During the summer they could have dj's playing live in the Tunnel. It might actually bring in more tourists. All the same it is a quality attraction. All of these records are quality productions which were forced off the beaten path by the ferociously competitive market. We will try to provide more artist information. Enjoy a DISCO journey off the beaten path! RED CARNIVAL WAVE ESTRAK LANCIOS - COSMOPOLITAN WAVE (LP) - PATHE MARCONI/EMI GREEN CARNIVAL WAVE ESTRAK LANCIOS - COSMOPOLITAN WAVE (LP) - PATHE MARCONI/EMI BLUE CARNIVAL WAVE ESTRAK LANCIOS - COSMOPOLITAN WAVE (LP) - PATHE MARCONI/EMI TOMATO IPPATSU SPECTRUM - SPECTRUM (LP) - VICTOR LASERDANCE SPONOOCH - 12" - EMI NUCLEAR NIGHT CRYSTAL DISCO BAND - 12" - MECHANIC SOUND - 12" - RED WAVE ESTRAK LANCIOS - COSMOPOLITAN WAVE (LP) - PATHE MARCONI/EMI VIOLET WAVE ESTRAK LANCIOS - COSMOPOLITAN WAVE (LP) - PATHE MARCONI/EMI BLUE WAVE ESTRAK LANCIOS - COSMOPOLITAN WAVE (LP) - PATHE MARCONI/EMI GREEN WAVE ESTRAK LANCIOS - COSMOPOLITAN WAVE (LP) - PATHE MARCONI/EMI BLACK WAVE ESTRAK LANCIOS - COSMOPOLITAN WAVE (LP) - PATHE MARCONI/EMI MORE SPELL ON YOU EDDIE JOHNS - 12" - OUT HAMBURGER MAN THE EASTERN GANG - THE FLASHER (LP) - QUALITY LUCIA`S DANCE METROPOLITAN BAND - 7" - PICK JERUSALEM JOY - 7" - METRONOME DISCO ILLUSION STEPHEN ENCINAS - 12" - KALINDA SPLASH RICHARD FLANGER - 7" - BARCLAY WYOMING STATION DJ'S GROUP - 7" - CBS DISCO COMPUTER TRANSVOLTA - 12" - PINNACLE CRAZY PELIKAN ORCHESTER AMBROS SEELOS - TANZ GESUNDHEIT LEBENSFREUDE - MUSIK UND BEWEGUNG 1 (LP) - AGIL MOVIN' CANDY DARLING AND THE VISCOUNTS - 7" - EASTWORLD WATERBED (INSTRUMENTAL) THE LTG. EXCHANGE - 7" - WAND DYANAMIC DINOSAUR THE EASTERN GANG - THE FLASHER (LP) - QUALITY OKAY OKAY (LIVE) PINO D'ANGIO - J'Adore Pino D'Angio (EP) - PEER-SOUTHERN PRODUCTIONS, ITALY Una Notte Da Impazzire (Live) PINO D'ANGIO - J'Adore Pino D'Angio (EP) - PEER-SOUTHERN PRODUCTIONS, ITALY DISCO STOMP (EL SELLO DEL DISCO) ALEX SILVANNI - 7" - HISPAVOX TRANSYLVANIA DISCO HUSTLE MONSTERS - MONSTERS (LP) - H & L MORE.. I LIKE IT ADOLF STERN - 7" - CIAO Federal agents and National Guard members block people protesting an ICE immigration raid at a nearby licensed cannabis farm on July 10, 2025 near Camarillo, California. A farmworker at a Southern California cannabis farm died after being injured during a chaotic immigration raid by federal officers, the United Farm Workers said Friday. The labor union did not provide the name of the employee of Glass House Farms north of Los Angeles but confirmed that the worker plummeted some 30 feet. "These violent and cruel federal actions terrorize American communities, disrupt the American food supply chain, threaten lives and separate families," UFW President Teresa Romero said in a statement to NBC News. Immigration officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal agents lobbed less-lethal weapons and tear gas at protesters who gathered outside the Camarillo grow house Thursday while employees were being rounded up and arrested inside. Officers pepper-sprayed a disabled U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and works as a security guard at the facility, the man's wife told NBC News. George Retes complied with federal officers when he arrived to check on friends and colleagues who might have been affected by the raids, but instead he was arrested on suspicion of assault, according to immigration officials. A hearing is scheduled Monday. "He wasn't even a protester," Guadalupe Torres said of her husband, George Retes. "They smashed his window, and after they smashed his window, they pepper-sprayed him." Aerial footage from NBC Los Angeles showed farm equipment being loaded up into tow trucks and people standing around in handcuffs. At a cultivation center in Carpinteria owned by Glass House Farms, manager Edgar Rodriguez said federal officers assaulted and handcuffed him after he repeatedly asked them to identify themselves and provide a warrant. Rodriguez was standing behind a window when 10 unidentified men in fatigues arrived Thursday morning in unmarked cars and one armored vehicle. Rodriguez, a U.S. citizen, said he asked the men several times to identify themselves and provide a reason for arriving heavily armed. The officers refused and responded by saying they were "not ICE" but did not specify which agency they were from. One of the officers can be seen in video obtained exclusively by NBC News attempting to coax Rodriquez outside by telling him he wouldn't be harmed. "I'm just trying to talk to you. We're not here for you," the officer said in the video. "We have a federal warrant. We have a right to be here. Please come out." "I got you," the officer said as Rodriguez began to tentatively leave his post. Once outside, tensions escalated. Rodriguez was led by the federal officers toward dumpsters, where the same officer who had told him not to worry slapped Rodriguez's cellphone from his hands. Two other officers then pushed him to the ground, Rodriguez said. His phone fell, and voices can be heard arguing in the background. Rodriguez said he was handcuffed for more than an hour, and one officer twisted his arm behind his back. The officers knelt on his neck and head, he said, and he began to lose feeling in his hands. He later went to a hospital covered in scratches and bruises, he said. Rodriguez said he saw at least 10 employees get arrested, all of them in their 40s to their 60s. He said several had work visas and have been in the U.S for more than 20 years. "They were really scared," he said. "They kept saying they didn't do anything wrong, that they had visas." The indoor cannabis farm where Rodriguez works was one of two Glass House properties raided by federal officers on Thursday. In Camarillo, about 40 minutes away, the other enforcement operation drew hundreds of protesters outside the 5.5 million-square-foot facility. Some 200 people were arrested in the two operations, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. At least one worker was critically injured during the raids and others, including U.S citizens, "remain unaccounted for," the United Farm Workers said. Employees were held onsite for eight hours or more, the labor union said. Several U.S. citizens were released only after agreeing to delete videos and photos of the raid from their phones, the UFW said in a statement. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information on a person who appeared to fire a pistol at federal officers. The U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, Bill Essayli, said it occurred around 2:30 p.m. Thursday outside the Camarillo grow house. "While ICE and CBP officers are being assaulted by rioters and dodging bullets to save children, Sanctuary politicians are demonizing ICE and CBP," Essayli said in a statement. "We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who assaults or doxes federal law enforcement." U.S Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott posted a photo on X Friday of what appeared to be 10 young people detained at the Camarillo farm. "These are the juveniles found in the marijuana facility almost all unaccompanied, one as young as 14. California are you ready to partner with us to stop child exploitation?" the post read. Glass House said in a statement on X that it "never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors." The UFW said it was aware of the reports and demanded legal representation for the minors. "To be clear, detaining and deporting children is not a solution for child labor," the union said in a statement. Rodriguez said Glass House has a policy of only employing people who are at least 21 years old, and he could not personally identify the people in the photo, whose faces were blurred. He said "there are no underage workers" at the two facilities he manages in Carpinteria. "I am absolutely positive of that," he said. The raids Thursday came after more than a month of confrontations between the Trump administration and mass deportation protesters. The protests have occasionally shut down parts of Los Angeles and its many immigrant-majority communities, where many residents say they are afraid to go to work. On Friday, Mayor Karen Bass signed a directive requiring city departments to submit preparedness plans outlining how employees, including contractors, should respond if approached by federal immigration agents. The goal, she said, is to ensure that residents and city workers know their rights and can safely access services without fear. A federal judge is expected to rule Friday on a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and immigrant rights groups calling for the Trump administration to halt stops and arrests that they say have terrorized residents and forced immigrants into hiding. After years spent in kitchens across the country, Chris Kirby was burnt out. The restaurant lifestyle was demanding and all encompassing, and the 26-year-old found himself not doing much else besides working and going to the bars after a long shift. "I kept waking up in the morning like, 'Man, life has to be about more than this,'" Kirby, now 38, tells CNBC Make It. Kirby decided that his life was in need of reinvention. He left his job, packed his bags and flew from Austin to Maryland to move back in with his parents. He enrolled in a local community college with a plan. "I was gonna humble myself, move back home, do what I needed to do to get into a school where I could finish my bachelor's degree," he said. "I went from the 'Work hard, Play Harder' lifestyle to waking up at 5 a.m. to study and build my vision." After a year, he was accepted to the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. As part of his application, Kirby had highlighted his status as a non-traditional student he would be enrolling as a mid-twenties undergrad and explained that he hoped to use the school and his professors to help him fulfill his ambition of starting a business. More than 10 years later, Kirby's plan has paid off in spades. Ithaca Hummus is sold in more than 8,000 retailers in the US and has raked in more than $150 million in lifetime sales over the past decade. Here's how he turned Ithaca Hummus from a farmers market pitch to a household name. Filling a 'culinary gap' with hummus During his first visit to the Ithaca, New York university as an accepted student, Kirby scoped out the local farmers market and grocery stores to see if he could identify a "culinary gap" where he could plant his flag. "By the time I arrived on campus, I already knew that hummus was the product and the farmers market was the place where I was going to launch it," he said. Starting a business on a budget wasn't easy, but the relatively simple and affordable ingredients hummus called for made it achievable for someone with "no money" to spare. Kirby bought a massive stick blender for $450 and spent a few hundred more on the 40-quart pots he needed to cook the chickpeas. He opted to squeeze his lemons by hand because an industrial juicer would've cost him $1,000. All in all, he estimates that his startup costs were between $3,000 and $4,000 before he was able to make his first batch of hummus. From there, he began the difficult process of juggling his schoolwork with his work on Ithaca Hummus. Kirby did his best to schedule all his classes for early in the morning, which allowed him to leave school around 12 or 1 and spend the rest of the day making product. On the weekends, he'd lug his wares to the farmers market and work to get his hummus in front of as many customers as possible. "I would sit in class and type up invoices in QuickBooks, just waiting for the minute when class was over so that I could dart out the door and make deliveries as quickly as possible," he said. "I was maniacal about sales. 'Sell more, sell more, sell more.' It was all I thought about." Despite the fact that Kirby found himself working "way harder" than he ever did while he was in the restaurant world, there was one key difference that that kept him doing: he was working inside of his own vision instead of someone else's. "I got inspired thinking about how I could scale it up," he said. "How could I take this thing that's amazing when you have it at a farmer's market or in a restaurant, but always just can't quite clear the chasm into mass mainstream without losing its identity and becoming this fraction of a shell of what it actually was when it was started?" Slow and steady growth Ithaca Hummus' flavors have helped the brand stand out from the competition. Ithaca Hummus The flags of the European Union fly in front of the European Parliament. President Donald Trump said Saturday the U.S. will impose a 30% tariff on goods from the European Union and Mexico that will take effect on Aug. 1. Trump revealed the new rates in letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, which he posted on his social media site Truth Social. "Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough," Trump wrote to Sheinbaum. Trump said that there will not be tariffs on goods from the EU if the 27-member bloc "or companies within the EU, decide to build or manufacture product[s] within the United States," he wrote. He said that if the EU or Mexico retaliates with higher tariffs, "then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added on to the 30% that we charge." The EU was seeking at least a preliminary agreement that would spare it from becoming the latest recipient of a letter from Trump dictating a new, across-the-board tariff on its exports to the U.S. However, it still received a letter from Trump threatening new tariffs, despite both sides having recently signaled progress in their negotiations after Trump backed off a threat to slap 50% tariffs on the bloc. The EU collectively sells more to the U.S. than any single country: Total U.S. goods imports from the EU topped $553 billion in 2022, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Total U.S. imports from Mexico were approximately $454.8 billion in 2022, according to the U.S. Trade Representative. The two trading partners combined make up roughly one-third of U.S. imports. "Imposing 30 percent tariffs on EU exports would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic," von der Leyen said in a statement. She said the EU remains "ready to continue working towards an agreement by August 1." "At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required." The Mexican government said in a Saturday statement that a delegation met Friday with U.S. trade officials "to establish the permanent binational working group that will address the main issues in the relationship." They were informed at the meeting that they would receive new tariffs that would begin Aug. 1, according to the statement. "We stated at the meeting that this was unfair treatment and that we disagreed," the statement said. "It is very significant that starting July 11, we established the necessary pathway and forum to resolve any possibility of new tariffs taking effect on August 1," the statement continued. Trump has sent similar letters to 23 other U.S. trading partners this week, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, setting blanket tariff rates ranging from 20% up to 50%. The letters mostly frame the new tariff levels as a necessary part of the Trump administration's efforts to quickly establish a more "reciprocal" global trade landscape. Trump had attempted to do that in one fell swoop with his "liberation day" tariff announcement on April 2, when he imposed a nearly global 10% tariff and slapped higher duties on imports from nearly 60 individual countries. The announcement prompted days of frenzied selling in global markets. Trump put a 90-day pause on nearly all of the higher tariffs a week later. His trade officials suggested that the U.S. could strike as many as 90 new trade deals during that interval. But by the time the pause was set to expire on Wednesday, the administration had only hashed out preliminary agreements with the United Kingdom and Vietnam. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Saturday said the UK trade team "smartly secured an early deal." "Let this be a lesson to other countries earnest, good faith negotiations can produce powerful results that benefit both sides of the table, while correcting the imbalances that plague global trade," Bessent wrote on X. The trade deal includes a blanket 10% levy on U.K. goods imported into the U.S. Trump on Monday extended his tariff pause until Aug. 1. The tariff rates he set in his recent spate of letters are all scheduled to kick in on the same day. Trump told NBC News on Thursday that he plans to ratchet up his global tariff baseline rate as high as 20%. "We're just going to say all of the remaining countries are going to pay, whether it's 20% or 15%. We'll work that out now," Trump said. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visits Lawrence Berkeley National Lab to announce a U.S. supercomputer to be powered by Nvidia's forthcoming Vera Rubin chips, in Berkeley, California, on May 29, 2025. A bipartisan pair of U.S. senators sent a letter to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Friday regarding an upcoming trip to China, warning the CEO to refrain from meeting with companies suspected of undermining U.S. chip export controls. The letter from Republican Senator Jim Banks of Indiana and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts asked Huang to also abstain from meeting with representatives of companies that are working with the People's Republic of China's military or intelligence bodies. The senators also asked Huang to refrain from meeting with entities named on the U.S. restricted export list. "We are worried that your trip to the PRC could legitimize companies that cooperate closely with the Chinese military or involve discussing exploitable gaps in U.S. export controls," the senators wrote. Huang planned to visit China on Friday. An Nvidia spokesperson said, "American wins" when its technology sets "the global standard," and that China has one of the largest bodies of software developers in the world. AI software "should run best on the U.S. technology stack, encouraging nations worldwide to choose America," the spokesperson said. In May, at the Computex trade show in Taipei, Huang praised President Donald Trump's decision to scrap some artificial intelligence chip export controls and described the prior diffusion rules as a failure. U.S. restrictions in April on AI chips Nvidia modified to comply with export controls to China would reduce Nvidia's revenue by $15 billion, the CEO said. The hardware necessary to power advanced AI is now subject to a bipartisan consensus related to the free export of such hardware, the senators wrote. Advanced AI hardware could "accelerate the PRC's effort to modernize its military," the letter reads. U.S. lawmakers have grown increasingly concerned about efforts to circumvent export controls to China and proposed a law that would force AI chip companies to verify the location of their products. Last month, Reuters reported that a senior U.S. official said the AI firm DeepSeek is aiding China's military and intelligence operations, and sought to use shell companies to circumvent U.S. AI chip export controls to China. Nvidia is planning to launch a cheaper version of its flagship Blackwell AI chips for China, Reuters reported in May. The senators stated in the letter that they had previously expressed concern that Nvidia's actions could support the AI and chip industries in China, citing Nvidia's new research facility in Shanghai as an example. United States President Donald Trump walks toward the White House upon his arrival from New Jersey in Washington DC on July 6, 2025. European Union leaders are sounding off on the 30% tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose on the trade bloc, with most emphasizing the need for unity, constructive dialogue and their readiness to work toward an agreement by Aug. 1. "Imposing 30% tariffs on EU exports would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic," Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said in a statement. "The EU has consistently prioritized a negotiated solution with the U.S., reflecting our commitment to dialogue, stability, and a constructive transatlantic partnership." Some leaders were more critical of Trump's latest move. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said it's "concerning and not the way forward" in a post on X. Pedro Sanchez, prime minister of Spain, also took to X, calling the duties "unjustified." Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson noted that the EU "is prepared to respond with tough countermeasures if necessary," while emphasizing that it would be best to avoid such a move. On Saturday morning, Trump announced the 30% tariff rates in letters to von der Leyen and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, posted on his Truth Social account. The U.S. president warned that if the EU or Mexico retaliate with higher tariffs, "then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added on to the 30% that we charge." Trump also said there would not be tariffs on goods from Europe "or companies within the EU" that build or manufacture products in the U.S. This week, Trump sent similar letters to 23 other U.S. trading partners, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, setting blanket tariff rates ranging from 20% up to 50%. Here's how European leaders have reacted to the latest salvo in Trump's trade skirmish: Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission Von der Leyen's statement emphasized the EU's commitment to dialogue and stability: "We remain ready to continue working towards an agreement by August 1. At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required. Meanwhile, we continue to deepen our global partnerships, firmly anchored in the principles of rules-based international trade." Dick Schoof, prime minister of the Netherlands The Dutch Prime Minister said in an X post: "The US announcement of 30% tariffs on goods imported from the European Union is concerning and not the way forward. The European Commission can count on our full support. As the EU we must remain united and resolute in pursuing an outcome with the United States that is mutually beneficial." Ulf Kristersson, prime minister of Sweden Kristersson said on X that the EU would be ready to impose countermeasures, but emphasized the need to avoid that. "We support the EU Commission's desire to continue seeking a negotiated solution. The EU is prepared to respond with tough countermeasures if necessary. However, everyone loses in an escalated trade conflict, and it is US consumers who will pay the highest price. Sweden stands up for free trade and international cooperation." Emmanuel Macron, president of France The French President echoed the possibility of employing countermeasures if no agreement is reached by August, in a post on X. "With the President of the European Commission, France shares a very strong disapproval regarding the announcement of horizontal customs duties of 30% targeting European Union exports to the United States, effective from August 1. In European unity, it is more crucial than ever for the Commission to assert the Union's determination to resolutely defend European interests. This notably involves accelerating the preparation of credible countermeasures, by mobilizing all available instruments, including the anti-coercion mechanism, if no agreement is reached by August 1. On this basis, France fully supports the European Commission in the intensifying negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable agreement by August 1, so that it reflects the respect owed between commercial partners like the European Union and the United States, with shared interests and integrated value chains. Bernd Lange, Chair of the European Parliament's committee on International Trade and Standing Trump's letter is "both impertinent and a slap in the face," Lange said on X. "We've been negotiating intensely for more than three weeks - made offers to improve things in mutual interest. Real willingness to negotiate looks different." "Period of waiting is over: We've postponed the first stage of countermeasures. Firmly convinced they should come into force as planned on Monday, quickly followed by the second list. Activation of rebalancing measures to be discussed. The Italian Government Presidency of the Council of Ministers The Italian government said in a statement: "We trust in the goodwill of all stakeholders to reach a fair agreement that can strengthen the West as a whole, given thatparticularly in the current environmentit would make no sense to trigger a trade dispute between the two sides of the Atlantic. It is now essential to remain focused on the negotiations, avoiding polarization that would make reaching an agreement more difficult." Pedro Sanchez, prime minister of Spain "Economic openness and trade create prosperity. Unjustified tariffs destroy it," Sanchez said in an X post. "That is why we support and will continue to support the Commission in its negotiations to reach an agreement with the US before August 1. United, Europeans form the world's largest trading bloc. Let us use that strength to achieve a fair agreement." Micheal Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland "The EU and US enjoy the biggest trade and investment relationship in the world. When issues arise between us, they should be resolved by close and respectful dialogue ... While it has been clear that all options remain on the table, the EU has also been clear that our preference is for a negotiated solution that avoids escalation. That remains the case." This story is developing. Please check back for updates. In brief: New Hampshire federal court halts Trump executive order targeting birthright citizenship Nationwide class certified to protect all children born on U.S. soil Civil rights groups hail ruling as crucial defense of the 14th Amendment A federal court in New Hampshire Friday blocked President Trumps controversial executive order aimed at restricting birthright citizenship, delivering a significant victory to civil rights groups who argued the policy violates the U.S. Constitution. The ruling, issued from the bench, also certified a nationwide class protecting the citizenship rights of all children born in the United States. Trump administration attorneys called the action an attempted "end run" around the Supreme Court, although Justice Amy Coney Barrett suggested the action a few weeks ago. The case, Barbara v. Donald J. Trump, emerged amid legal battles following the Supreme Courts recent decision in Trump v. CASA, which opened the door for potential partial enforcement of the executive order. The lawsuit, filed on June 27, was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and several allied organizations. The groups represent a proposed class of babies who would have been subject to the executive orders restrictions. This ruling is a huge victory and will help protect the citizenship of all children born in the United States, as the Constitution intended, said Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project, who argued the case in court. Devon Chaffee, executive director of the ACLU of New Hampshire, praised the decision as once again affirming that President Trumps executive order to restrict birthright citizenship is a blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution. Chaffee underscored that the Constitution ensures no politician can decide who is worthy of citizenship among those born in the country. Seven-day delay granted The ruling includes a seven-day delay to allow the federal government time to seek emergency relief from the First Circuit Court of Appeals. However, even if an appeal is pursued, the injunction is set to go into effect well before July 27 the date on which partial implementation of the executive order might otherwise have begun. Morenike Fajana, senior counsel at the Legal Defense Fund, called the decision a powerful affirmation of the 14th Amendment and the enduring principle that citizenship in the United States is a right by birth, not a privilege granted by politics. Civil rights advocates hailed the ruling as a critical safeguard against what they describe as an unprecedented attack on constitutional principles. Parents have lived in fear and uncertainty, said Aarti Kohli, executive director of the Asian Law Caucus. This courts injunction protecting birthright citizenship for all affected children is a major victory for families across this country. A growing judicial consensus The decision underscores a growing judicial consensus rejecting attempts to narrow the Constitutions promise of birthright citizenship, with Molly Curren Rowles of the ACLU of Maine emphasizing that the United States has always been a nation of immigrants. Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, concluded that birthright citizenship makes our country strong and vibrant, describing the executive order as simply un-American. Class actions ride again Class actions have come to be associated with consumer issues defective products, stock manipulation, etc. but they were initially designed as a way for citizens to collectively contest government actions. The Supreme Court itself explicitly opened the way to class actions against the federal government when Justice Coney Barrett suggested that litigants in Trump vs. CASA could use the class action as a way around the Trump administration's blocking of nationwide injunctions. Its among several exceptions or workarounds that Trump adversaries are poised to seize on after the justices sharply limited judges ability to issue nationwide injunctions. The city of Charlottesville and counties of Albemarle and Nelson have individually approved financing plans for the multimillion-dollar renovations to the jailhouse that serves all three localities even with a reduction in the projects scope after the Trump administrations tariffs drove the cost of construction up significantly. The votes to approve the financing were delayed in June after construction bids came in millions of dollars over budget. Instead of the $39 million that was budgeted to cover the cost of construction, which is just part of the total $49 million to be spent on everything including design and planning, the lowest construction bid came in at $53 million, from Lynchburg-based English Construction. Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail Superintendent Martin Kumer now says he and his team have worked with English to negotiate what could be accomplished within the original budget for construction costs. They chose to do this since restarting the process would risk the project losing the 25% reimbursement, roughly $11.9 million, from the commonwealth of Virginia. Kumer presented the reduced scope of the project to each of the localities before they took their final votes. With their approval, the Jail Authority Board voted at its Thursday meeting to allow Kumer to formally enter into a contract with English. Kumer has broken the previous plan into two phases. The first phase, which will demolish the east wing of the jailhouse and replace it with a two-story structure in its footprint, will still be completed. This was prioritized because, like most of the building, the east wing was built in 1974, but it has been renovated the least. The new two-story structure will add 16,000 square feet to the jail, but will not increase inmate capacity. The additional space will bring that part of the facility up to 2018 codes, which require more square feet per inmate than the current ratio at the jail. The 65 beds in that section will be fully wheelchair accessible as well. The new structure will also add 12 new individual rooms for family, friend and professional visitation, which Kumer said is much more ideal than the current shared visitation room. Other additions in Phase 1 include: Three new outdoor recreation areas. Two mental health offices with group therapy rooms. Two additional mental health community provider rooms. Two purpose-built mental health housing areas with a total of 14 beds. One large inmate classroom. 14 additional office spaces for staff. Phase 2 was originally planned to renovate and reconfigure roughly 40,000 square feet of the west wing of the jail. That phase of the project would have removed the bar grate from the housing areas to meet 2018 space standards for dormitory and dayroom spaces. It also would have replaced exterior windows and replaced and added toilets and showers to meet 2018 standards. Lighting, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems were also to be upgraded. Kumer said that the smaller line items on this list will be done over time using the jails annual maintenance budget, but the HVAC replacement, which was the impetus for the entire project, will get done as a part of the contract with English. This is critical to improving conditions for inmates in the jail, according to Jesse Crosson, founder of the Second Chancer Foundation, which provides support for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. He recounted his own experience as an inmate in the jail two decades ago. It would be 110, 120 degrees, Crosson told The Daily Progress. Theres no airflow. It was sweltering. It was miserable. We had guys falling out from heat stroke. It was just fundamentally inhumane. Crosson said he believes that renovating the jail and improving conditions will make it more likely that inmates will be able to be rehabilitated. Others disagree. A group calling itself the Peoples Coalition has protested the renovation with slogan such as Cant get well in a cell, suggesting rehabilitation is not possible in jail no matter the conditions. Harold Folley, a civil rights and racial justice organizer with the Charlottesville-based Legal Aid Justice Center who is part of the group, has said that the money being spent on the jailhouse could be better spent elsewhere in the community and should be redirected to other social services that prevent people from going to jail in the first place. The Peoples Coalition continues to call for real investment in community resources housing, mental health care, reentry support not wasteful spending on incarceration, Folley said in a statement delivered to The Daily Progress. Crosson, as a self-described restorative justice advocate, said he can understand why people want to divert the money and rid society of all forms of incarceration. I would love to get to the point where we have the support of services and structures where we dont have to put anybody in jail, but were not there, he said. The renovation work is set to start Sept. 15 and is estimated to be completed within 2 1/2 years. Despite the construction moving full steam ahead, Folley said the Peoples Coalition is not giving up. Our movement is far from over, he said. Were building power, were growing stronger and well be back. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site Xinhua) 10:49, July 12, 2025 An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows two Xixia imperial tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) PARIS, July 11 (Xinhua) -- China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were inscribed on the World Heritage List on Friday during UNESCO's 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Paris, France. With this addition, the total number of World Heritage sites in China has reached 60. Xixia Imperial Tombs is a group of imperial burial sites from the Xixia Dynasty (Western Xia, 1038-1227), founded by the Tangut people in northwestern China during the 11th to 13th centuries. Covering an area of nearly 40 square km, the site comprises four types of architectural remains: 9 imperial mausoleums, 271 subordinate tombs, a northern architectural complex covering 0.05 square km, and 32 flood control works. The Xixia Imperial Tombs are the largest, highest-ranked, and most intact archaeological site from the Xixia period that has survived to the present day. According to the World Heritage Committee, the site is a testament to the cultural fusion and interactions of diverse traditions. It also bears witness to the unique role of the Xixia Dynasty in cultural and commercial exchanges along the Silk Roads during the 11th to 13th centuries. The Committee commended the efforts and achievements made by the Chinese government in the protection and management of the cultural heritage of the Xixia Imperial Tombs. Rao Quan, vice minister of Culture and Tourism of China, said that China will remain steadfast in fulfilling its obligations under the World Heritage Convention, further enhance holistic and systematic protection of cultural and natural heritage, and improve conservation capacity and standards. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs was presented during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, France, July 11, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Wang Songyu) A staff member arranges cultural relics at a storehouse of the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 9, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) A staff member monitors the Xixia imperial tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 9, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) This photo taken on July 9, 2025 shows cultural relics discovered from Xixia imperial tombs at the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows people visiting the Xixia Imperial Tombs scenic area in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua) A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) A staff member arranges cultural relics at a storehouse of the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 9, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) A tourist picks cultural and creative products at the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 9, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) A staff member arranges cultural relics at a storehouse of the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 9, 2025. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) This photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows two Xixia imperial tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua) An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua) This photo taken on July 9, 2025 shows cultural relics discovered from Xixia imperial tombs at the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 13, 2024 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. (Photo by Li Jing/Xinhua) (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Kou Jie) Virginia is no longer the top state for doing business in CNBCs annual ranking, reflecting an economy vulnerable to cuts in federal spending and employment under President Donald Trump. Virginia, named No. 1 last year, fell to fourth in the new ranking which the cable network unveiled on Thursday morning, based on declining scores in its economy, workforce and the cost of doing business. Among the top five, Virginia led Ohio, but trailed Florida at No. 3 and Texas at No. 2. Neighboring North Carolina moved into the top spot, after finishing second in 2024. Virginia edged the Tarheel State by 3 points out of a possible 2,500 points last year, but trailed by 36 points in the new ranking. The diminished ranking after Virginia won the top spot in three out of the past five years shows the vulnerability of the states economy to Trumps deep cuts in federal spending and employment, as well as the effects of the presidents aggressive use of tariffs on trade coming through the Port of Virginia. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who moved from being cool toward Trump to becoming one of the presidents most vocal supporters, dismissed the ranking and said, Results matter and Virginia is stronger economically and financially than she has ever been. Youngkin said the new CNBC metric mistakenly ascribes substantial risk to Virginia from the federal governments presence in the commonwealth and noted that the federal governments presence is heavily weighted to defense and national security, which are getting more funding, not less. CNBC fails to recognize that our private sector growth has been at record levels, with $121 billion in business investment committed and record job growth, with 270,000 more Virginians working and roughly 200,000 open and unfilled jobs, he said, citing four years of revenue surpluses and a top AAA bond rating that rating agencies reaffirmed this year. It is our financial and economic strength that CNBC simply missed this year, Youngkin said. 135 metrics CNBC used 135 metrics to measure 10 categories of competitiveness this year, expanding them to include the effects of federal cutbacks and tariffs on states. The economy was the top weighted category in this years ranking, and Virginia fell from 11th last year to 14th this year in its economy. It also declined in ranking for workforce from ninth to 14th and for cost of doing business from 24th to 31st. It retained its top ranking for education and moved from third to second for infrastructure. Its terrible, Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, said in an interview on Thursday. Its because they expanded the metrics. Its because of the federal cuts. Thanks, Donald Trump, and thanks, Governor Youngkin, for supporting Donald Trump, Scott said. Virginia has won the top ranking six times under four governors two Democrats and two Republicans more than any other state since CNBC began its competitiveness rankings in 2007. Youngkin, as a candidate in 2021, played down the importance of Virginias top finishes that year and in 2019 under then-Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, asserting that Democrats had driven the states economy into a ditch. He changed his tune last year, when Virginia regained the No. 1 ranking, and claimed credit for his policies. Listen, results matter, he said then. Federal factors Jason El Koubi, president and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, said the change in methodology disproportionately impacted Virginias ranking because of the states economic reliance on federal employment and spending, particularly in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., and defense-heavy Hampton Roads. However, El Koubi said he was heartened by Virginias No. 1 ranking in education and No. 2 ranking in infrastructure, which are categories that drive business decisions in a competitive environment for jobs and investment. With the support of the governors administration and the General Assembly, Virginia is leading on the fundamentals by securing record-setting business investment, proactively investing in shovel-ready sites, and excelling in workforce training, he said. Business Facilities, a national economic development publication, named Virginia State of the Year in 2024, ranking it No. 1 for cybersecurity jobs and its customized workforce training program for business prospects. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, one of Virginia's two Democratic senators who was governor when Virginia won the competition in 2007 and 2009, blamed Virginias slip on what he called the chaos and uncertainty caused by President Trumps tariffs, the slashing of federal funding, and the politicizing and hollowing out of the federal workforce are gut punches to Virginias economy. While Im glad to see Virginia ranked first in the education category, I worry we wont hang on to it for long if Trump keeps meddling in our universities, said Kaine. I will continue to do everything I can to protect Virginias economy and schools from this disastrous administration. Governors race Virginias fall quickly became fodder in the intensifying governors race to succeed Youngkin in January. Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, the Democratic nominee, said in a statement, Todays rankings make clear that Virginia needs a governor who will build a more resilient economy, leverage our commonwealths strengths to attract new investment, prepare our workforce for 21st century jobs, and stand up for our workers and small businesses in the face of ongoing threats. Spanberger also used the rankings to attack her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who generally has supported Trumps cuts to the federal workforce and spending and played down their effects on the state economy. Unlike my opponent in this race, I wont dismiss threats to our workforce, our economy, and Virginias reputation, she said. As governor, I will always stand up to reckless policies that hurt our ability to attract new investments and retain our talent. Earle-Sears could not immediately be reached for comment. Democrats looking to expand their slim majority in the House of Delegates also seized on the rankings. This drop in the rankings is a direct consequence of Donald Trumps dangerous agenda, and Virginia Republicans refusal to stand up to it, House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, said in a statement by the party caucus. Terry Clower, director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University, said he was no more impressed by the CNBC ranking when Virginia finished fourth than he was when the state ranked No. 1. Theyre meaningless almost, he said. They change their criteria from year to year. But Clower is keeping a close eye on Northern Virginias economy and the effects of Trumps cuts to the federal workforce and spending, which he called one of the underpinnings of Virginias strength. The only message I want to take out of this is there is a broad recognition of how much of the economy is federally dependent, he said. Should the federal government be as big a part of the economy as we have made it? Look behind all the flummery, the exaggerated public gestures of affection and the relentless self-congratulation during President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Britain this week the first by a French head of state for 17 years and what do you find by way of substance? Pretty much nothing. Despite the windy rhetoric and relentless spin, with Keir Starmer in full-on global statesman mode and Macron at his aloof, preening, verbose worst, what was actually achieved barely amounted to a row of beans or as the French would say ne vaut pas un clou (literally: not worth a nail). Take the much touted 'one in, one out' deal for illegal migrants coming across the Channel by small boat. The Starmer-Macron lovefest reached its peak on Thursday when this latest wheeze to stop the boat people was unveiled. On that very day, 600 of them were making their perilous way to the Kent coast, including 78 (74 of them male) in a dinghy obligingly escorted by the French navy, which ensured a safe handover to a UK Border Force vessel. But not before asking for their life-jackets back. The French clearly realise they'll be used multiple times before the summer is out. Yet Starmer, deploying the hyperbole for which he's become notorious, claims the deal he's struck with Macron is 'groundbreaking' in deterring small boats. Nobody seems to have told the people still crossing in their droves. The idea is that migrants who come here illegally will be returned to France (that's the 'one out') to be replaced by an asylum seeker based in France prepared to use the legal route to make it to the UK (that's the 'one in'). Even those of you who are not mathematicians will have noticed this won't necessarily reduce the overall numbers. More important, Starmer claims it means those arriving here illegally will be 'returned in short order'. Even for a politician increasingly a stranger to the truth, this is a porkie on quite a scale. Starmer knows full well that attempts to return people who have claimed asylum in the UK to France will trigger endless challenges in the courts from his prosperous old legal chums grifting in the human rights industry. It's worth wondering if Macron's heart is in it, despite all the hugging of Starmer Nor is it clear if the returns will ever reach the sort of numbers sufficient to act as a deterrent. The French indicated that up to 50 a week could be returned during the pilot phase, though yesterday Home Secretary Yvette Cooper couldn't even confirm that number, which is minuscule relative to the problem. Around 50 a week would mean 2,600 a year. Yet 44,000 have crossed the Channel in small boats since Labour came to power, of which at most only one in 17 could be returned during a year-long pilot phase. Not much of a deterrent for migrants prepared to risk their lives and their life-savings to make the journey. At the rate envisaged for the pilot, it would take almost three months just to clear the 600 who arrived on Thursday. Of course a successful pilot could be scaled up. But Cooper is unable to put any timeline or numbers on that either. The French government and media are suspiciously silent on the matter, too. And, let us not forget, the deal requires the 'legal verification' of the European Commission and EU member states, of which five with Mediterranean coastlines and boat-people problems of their own have already expressed serious reservations. It's worth wondering if Macron's heart is in it, despite all the hugging of Starmer. During his eight years as president (he has two more to go) 'France's doors have never been more open', as one Paris newspaper put it. Many more legal and illegal immigrants have arrived in France under his watch than even during the time of his socialist predecessor Francois Hollande. French asylum applications are at a record high as is the doling out of residence permits from fewer than three million a decade ago to more than four million now for migrants waiting to become citizens. None of this seems to faze Macron, who lives in a world far removed from the problems of mass immigration. 44,000 have crossed the Channel in small boats since Labour came to power He reserved his enthusiasm for yet another bash at Brexit, even though the referendum is now nine years ago, claiming Britain had been 'sold a lie' that it would reduce immigration. In fact, he argued, Brexit had made illegal migration worst because we now had 'no migratory agreement with the EU'. This is flannel of a high order. Under the so-called Dublin Regulations, EU member states could send asylum seekers back to the EU country from whence they'd come. The numbers involved were always piddling and it was a two-way street: we could send some back but the rest of the EU could send them to us and we were always net recipients. In 2018, for example, we sent back 209 asylum-seekers to other EU member states and took in 1,215 from them. A six to one deficit. Macron re-writes recent history because he still loves to dish out punishment beatings to the British for having the temerity to leave his beloved EU. More than any other European leader he has stood in the way of a mutually beneficial modus vivendi between post-Brexit Britain and the EU. Which is why, for all the warm words he emitted during the state visit, France will always be an unreliable ally with Macron in the Elysee. Starmer seems unaware of all this, being unversed in Franco-British affairs or history. On Thursday he said there was 'no greater demonstration' of the alliance between the two countries than the new deal he'd struck on nuclear co-ordination. 'From today, our adversaries will know that any extreme threat to this continent would prompt a response from our two nations,' he claimed. It's unclear what any of this means. Britain has long committed its nuclear deterrent to the defence of Nato. France has not. My efforts to discover if that is what France now intends after this week's so called 'Northwood Declaration' were met with a distinctly Gallic shrug in Paris. Of course it would make sense to operate the two nuclear deterrents more in tandem to amplify their lethal threat. But for Starmer to claim that, if we threaten an adversary with nuclear attack, so will the French, only illustrates what a novice he is in such matters. Starmer's personal ratings are in the dirt. He presides over a hollowed-out military and a stagnant economy. Macron is in even worse shape The same is true when it comes to conventional forces. Fifteen years ago, at Lancaster House, Britain and France agreed to unprecedented military cooperation including a joint expeditionary force under a unified chain of command. Since then not much has happened. But on Thursday it was decided to increase this largely inactive force fivefold to make it 50,000 strong. Nobody had the heart to point out Britain has nothing like enough troops to meet its side of the bargain. The tragedy is that Europe indeed Nato needs the closest possible Franco-British cooperation now that the US is retreating from this side of the Atlantic. But Starmer and Macron are not the duo who can deliver. Starmer's personal ratings are in the dirt. He presides over a hollowed-out military and a stagnant economy. Macron is in even worse shape. Not just a lame-duck (because he cannot run again in 2027) but the most unpopular president in the 66-year history of the French Fifth Republic. He's gone through six prime ministers in eight years, during which the French economy has turned into as much of a basket case as Britain's, with massive budget deficits and a national debt heading for 130 per cent of GDP. This week we had to endure the strutting of two losers puffed up by delusions of their own significance. Better Franco-British times, essential as they are, will have to wait for different leaders. Much as the prospect sends a shiver down the spine, I'm not sure Nigel Farage and Marine Le Pen would do a worse job. That is the measure of this week's failure. Even by Donald Trump's standards, it was an outrageous spectacle. The President of the United States walking around the detention facility he himself had christened 'Alligator Alcatraz', boasting about it being policed by an unseen army of man-eaters, Burmese pythons and mosquitoes. 'I looked outside and that's not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon,' Trump declared. 'We're surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland, and the only way out is really deportation.' His critics not unfairly charged he was acting more like a megalomaniacal Bond villain rather than the leader of the free world. But they overlooked one important fact. Trump's evil masterplan to crack down on illegal migration is working. Or, more significantly, the perception he is unleashing an evil masterplan is what's making it work. According to a recent analysis by the Brookings Institution, the number of US Border Control encounters with illegal migrants has plummeted, down from a peak of 141,000 in the last year of Joe Biden's presidency to 7,181 in March. Seemingly predictably. Those fortunate enough to evade the alligators have been snatched up by one of the gangs of ICE agents fanning out across America's 'sanctuary cities', then swiftly deported by a crack squadron of C-130 aircraft. Or that's the White House narrative. But it's not actually the reality. Yes, the number of arrests by ICE agents has increased, though there is wide monthly variation. But the number of deportations is actually running broadly in parallel to those of the Biden administration, and significantly below their peak under Barack Obama. And in March it was quietly announced the military flights were being suspended on grounds of cost. It doesn't matter. In the eyes of the world, Trump is the guy who feeds illegal migrants to crocodiles. And that's all the deterrence he needs. Sir Keir Starmer at a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this week. The pilot scheme of the return agreement they brokered will see 2,600 illegal migrants returned in its first year of operation. Yet Starmer's measures aren't working, says Dan Hodges Keir Starmer is not perceived to be the sort of man who would ever dream of doing anything unpleasant to an illegal migrant. Or even say anything unpleasant. A fortnight ago he emotionally disowned his own speech claiming Britain was becoming an island of strangers. 'I deeply regret using it,' he admitted. Which gives him a problem. Because it means his immigration policy has all the deterrent impact of a piece of wet celery brandished before a charging rhino. Yes, the Prime Minister has had some incremental successes. The return agreement brokered last week with Emmanuel Macron is a step in the right direction. The pilot scheme which will see 2,600 illegal migrants returned in its first year of operation is not, as ludicrously spun, 'one-in, one-out', so much as '15-in, one-out'. But when the first 50 deportees are shipped back to Calais, it will represent a mass exodus when set against the Tories' benighted Rwanda scheme. Starmer and his Home Secretary Yvette Cooper have also increased deportations. Citizenship rights have been stripped from asylum seekers. And better co-ordination with foreign police forces has seen pressure on the smuggling gangs ramped up. But the reality is these measures are simply not working. The number of small boats arrivals is surging. And the reason they're surging is because the migrants packing into them, and the traffickers in human misery who are despatching them, think Britain and its Prime Minister are powerless to stop them. And why wouldn't they? They see Donald Trump happily dumping asylum seekers into the dark waters of the Florida Everglades. Then they see Sir Keir wringing his hands, and emoting all over the Sunday papers because of a few robust words in a single 30-minute immigration speech. Benevolence and angst are not going to smash the gangs. Nor will bland, centrist managerialism. US President Donald Trump (centre), flanked by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (far left), and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem (right), tours a migrant detention centre dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz earlier this month. Trump boasted about it being policed by an unseen army of man-eaters, saying: 'We're surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland' Migrants boarding a boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel last month. The number of small boats arrivals is surging, as migrants think Britain is powerless to stop them If he really wants to stop the boats, the Prime Minister is going to have to get nasty. Or if he can't get nasty, he's at least going to have to act nasty. Obviously he cannot literally replicate Alligator Alcatraz. Though it would undoubtedly win plaudits from the likes of Rupert Lowe and Suella Braverman, fencing off the Isle of Wight with razor wire and packing the Blackgang Chine amusement park with migrants, patrolled by rabid XL Bully dogs, is not a viable option. But other solutions are available. Within Downing Street and the Home Office there are discussions about how to come up a with a headline-grabbing new initiative that would clearly signal the Government's intent to seize control of the immigration issue, and the nation's borders. One is the 'nuclear option' of withdrawal from the European Court Of Human Rights. Another is some form of off-shore asylum processing, or removal agreement. Consideration is also being given to what government sources coyly describe as 'a major expansion of detention space'. Yet each proposal is currently being ground down beneath the gears of an increasingly dysfunctional No 10 machine. One government insider blamed the dead albeit seemingly ubiquitous hand of Lord Hermer. 'He just doesn't want any movement on anything that could be seen to be eroding legal safeguards,' they claimed. Another problem is said to be the new muscularism of the parliamentary Labour Party, and a growing perception there has been too much focus within Downing Street on out-reforming Reform. 'Nigel Farage has spent the past year wagging our dog,' one MP complained to me. The truth, though, is that as ever Keir Starmer's biggest problem is himself. He is instinctively empathetic on asylum. He detests having to frame himself as being tough on immigration. Sending migrants into chilly exile, incarcerating them in domestic gulags or cutting them off from the courts of Strasbourg is not in his DNA. One government insider claimed that Attorney General Lord Hermer (pictured) 'doesn't want any movement on anything that could be seen to be eroding legal safeguards' In which case he is going to need to obtain a DNA transplant. Because Britain cannot continue to indulge the Prime Minister's progressive conscience. The loss of control of immigration is now mutating into almost every sphere of public life. Health, housing, crime, welfare, education, the economy. Every major area of policy is now being infected by the real or perceived impact of the migration crisis. The last government was ejected from office because of it. The implosion of the established parties and surge of Reform is being directly fuelled by it. And this just represents the legitimate backlash. The deification of race-hate tweeter Lucy Connolly. The casual way people now assert Rishi Sunak cannot be English because he isn't white. The burning last week of asylum seekers in effigy. These are the fruits of the Prime Minister's misguided liberalism. And the nation is choking on them. Keir Starmer needs his own Alligator Alcatraz. And if he can't discover one, it's him and his progressive allies who are going to be dragged beneath the swamp. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more A black and white dress from Asda has been deemed the go-to look for summer after being dubbed 'flattering on all body types' and 'effortless, stylish and seriously versatile' by top stylists. George at Asdas black and white shell print maxi dress is a perfect day-to-night dress - and it only costs 38. With a shell pattern, the look is extremely of the moment with high end brands like Mint Velvet and Anthropologie currently stocking very similar designs but at far steeper prices. Mint Velvets cotton, V-neck dress features frilly shoulders and a cinched waist band with added brown accents but costs 150. However, for those who want to join the shell trend there is a much cheaper and arguably more stylish option on the rails in Asda. The open back dress dress from George handily features adjustable buckle straps and has two side slip pockets making the look not only chic but also practical. Suitable for day and night, the bargain summer staple is made of breathable cotton meaning it is ideal for sunny getaways and hot days in the city. The dress can be easily styled down for more casual outings by matching it with a pair of leather sandals or a pair of Mary Jane flats. Influencer Becca Harrison wore the chic George dress while holidaying in Tuscany, Italy Actress Helen Flanagan is also a fan of George at Asda's shell print dress and was impressed by the quality of the material Helen Flanagan heaped praise on the dress when she recently teamed up with the affordable brand for a promotional Instagram post. The actress was impressed by the bargain piece as her friend tried it on and twirled around to show off the flowing skirt. Standing up to get a close up view of the item, Helen felt the material and said: 'Babe, I love this. And, it's such good quality as well isn't it?' The friend agreed with Helen and added: 'I just can't believe it's from George.' Though George is not widely considered the go-to place for fashionistas it is an open secret among those in the fashion world that the supermarket regularly stocks affordable season must-haves. Asda outperforms other supermarket clothing ranges in the UK for good reason and now, more celebrities and influencers are starting to uncover hidden gems at the fashion label. UK personal stylist and fashion expert Lisa Talbot is also a fan of George's summer collection. Lisa said: 'The George at Asda summer dress collection is a brilliant blend of style, practicality and affordability, perfect for navigating a UK heatwave and then packing for your holiday.' The back of the dress features a flattering open back with an elasticated strap Helen's pal styled the dress with a pair of simple nude heels and added a chunky gold necklace with matching bangles Speaking specifically about the must-have frock Lisa added: 'This monochrome printed maxi dress from George at Asda is the ideal warm weather hero, its effortless, stylish and seriously versatile. 'The fitted bodice and full skirt create a flattering silhouette for all body shapes, and the statement straps add a contemporary edge. 'Throw it on with sandals for day, or add a wedge and earrings for dinner al fresco & at this price point, its a wardrobe win." The popularity of George could be set to sky rocket too with the opening of their first 'concept store' at Crown Point Retail Park in Leeds a few months ago. The new shop opened on 10 May to huge fanfare as the newly-wed Spice Girl, and Leeds native, Mel B turned up to support the venture. As well as clothing the store also stocks homewares including the popular 'At Home with Stacey Solomon' collection. However, the focus of the new concept store is certainly fashion with George's spring/summer collection, which is fronted by 1980s supermodel Yasmin Le Bon, taking centre stage. Shell Print Open Back Buckle Strap Maxi Dress George at Asda are currently stocking a stunning black and white shell print dress which is a dupe for Mint Velvet dress which costs over three times as much Mint Velvet's shell offering features a similar pattern to George's but costs 150 Discussing her involvement with the affordable brand, Yasmin said: Fashion should be for everyone. George is a success story to be proud of. 'I am passionate about clothes that can lift your spirits, and having fun with fashion should be for everyone. Wearing something you love can bring joy and a pop of colour can brighten your day. It's a privilege to be a part of this celebration! 'Shoppers want that high-end fashion feel without it having to cost the earth. George takes trends and makes them work in the real world. 'Mixing high-end luxury and high-street fashion isn't new, but it keeps getting better. There is something for everyone at George.' Liz Evans, Chief Commercial Officer of George and Retail Stores, added: 'Were incredibly excited to have Yasmin Le Bon as the face of our summer fashion collection. 'Yasmins timeless appeal resonates across generations, making her the perfect ambassador to represent our vibrant, inclusive, and fashion-forward pieces this season. 'As proud members of the wider Asda family, were thrilled to be celebrating our 60th birthdayand partnering with an icon like Yasmin, who is also celebrating her 60th year, makes this milestone even more meaningful.' Lucy Rocca's relationship with alcohol developed in much the same way as many British teenagers. In her early teens, Lucy and her pals would steal wine from their parents and take it to the school grounds where they congregated after hours. They'd crack open a bottle or two and pass the booze round as they smoked cigarettes which, while taboo, was a reality for many adolescents in the late 1980s. 'It was just completely normalised,' Lucy, who grew up in a middle class suburb of Sheffield, recalled. 'I never thought there was anything wrong with it.' The mother-of-two, now 49, who did well at school and would eventually go on to study law, continued drinking throughout her teens and well into her twenties but, as a self-confessed party girl, she didn't think it was an issue. When she became pregnant at 22, Lucy calmed down and stopped drinking completely. But, while she abstained from alcohol while she was breastfeeding, Lucy was back to her old ways soon after she stopped nursing. 'It was a bottle of wine most nights with my husband,' she said. Lucy Rocca (pictured) started drinking alcohol at 13. She continued throughout her teens and into her twenties, before it ramped up at the age of 27 A newly sober Lucy (pictured circa 2012) with one of her daughters 'But I didn't feel then that I had a dependency on it. I never felt like I was using alcohol to self-medicate - which, now, when I look back, I can see that I really was.' Although she drank 'consistently at home every night', Lucy didn't consider that she had a problem with alcohol because she didn't consume it during the day and never drove while under the influence. She recalls the days of the 1990s when a narrative developed that red wine was 'good for you' - which led drinkers to indulge in their favourite vice totally guilt-free. 'We were buying really nice bottles of red wine and having one between us every night, thinking it was really grown up and sophisticated,' she recalled. Everything changed, however, when Lucy's marriage broke down unexpectedly after four years. 'It was when my husband left when I was 27 that I just really hit self-destruct,' she added. 'I started drinking a bottle of wine every night on my own after my daughter had gone to bed. I'd started then to kind of lean on it as a crutch.' Left 'totally floored' when her husband 'just walked out one day,' Lucy now sees that she 'didn't have any coping mechanisms' at that time. Lucy, 49, described feeling so much healthier and happier after quitting alcohol 'I certainly had no awareness of the impact it was having on my mental health,' she said. As Lucy's drinking escalated, she found herself in situations that were no longer simply 'hedonistic,' but outright dangerous, eventually ending up in hospital. When reflecting on all the times her drinking drove her into harm's way, she said: 'There are too many.' One of the worst episodes was when Lucy went to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers perform in London's Hyde Park in the early 2000s. 'I'd gone with my boyfriend and got really, really drunk, and I'd lost him,' Lucy said. 'Then I woke up under a tree at midnight and the whole of Hyde Park was emptying out. 'I'd lost my purse, my phone, my boyfriend. Two policemen were stood over me and I just couldn't remember anything. 'The whole night had gone.' Even when Lucy was drinking nightly between the ages of 27 and 35, she never saw her drinking as a problem After this 'catastrophic' experience, Lucy went into detox mode, abstaining from alcohol altogether and prioritising exercise- something that became a regular pattern before she eventually picked up a drink again, only for the cycle to repeat itself. 'I would just stop for about six weeks,' she explained. 'I would go on a detox. A keen runner and frequent gymgoer, she'd 'ramp up the exercise and drink loads of healthy smoothies.' But, by the time she'd gone a significant period without alcohol - whether a month or six weeks - she'd say to herself: 'Well, I've done a month now, so it's fine - I obviously haven't got a problem.' For the next six years, Lucy continued in a pattern of drinking heavily before going teetotal for a few weeks. During this time, neither friends nor family challenged her habits, partly because they all enjoyed a drink too. 'they were all heavy drinkers.' 'When I had those nights [where I blacked out], people would just kind of think, "Oh, she's had one too many. She's taking it a bit far." 'Given the cultural context [of the 1990s and early 2000s] that I was drinking in, it wasn't seen as this horrific thing.' Lucy was a teenager in the late '80s and early '90s, and was a self-confessed party girl In a similar way, Lucy would never have called herself an alcoholic. 'I was a binge drinker and I just quite frequently got drunk without meaning to. 'I would go out and think, "I'm just going to have two," and then I'd end up getting really drunk and fall over, and friends would have to get me home in a taxi. 'Nobody ever challenged me. Nobody, whether family or friends, ever said: "I think you've got a massive problem with alcohol."' While Lucy remembers having a 'kind of gut feeling' that her drinking 'wasn't very healthy,' it was taking place in a climate of 'normalised binge drinking.' In 2010, Lucy had completed her law degree but had failed to get a training contract with a law firm. Having spent all her savings on going back to university, she was feeling 'very low' and wasn't sure what to do next. Her drinking ramped up until one night she ended up having three bottles of wine in one go. When she went out drinking with friends, they would often have to send her home in a taxi because she was so drunk 'My daughter was at her dad's again and I drank three bottles of wine, which was huge - a lot for me, even,' she recalled. Rather than going to bed, Lucy decided to take her dog out for a late night walk at 10pm. Yet, she was so drunk that she didn't make it home, instead collapsing on the street. Unconscious and surrounded by vomit, Lucy could easily have been hit by a car as the panicked pooch ran around in the middle of the road. Fortunately, a friend was driving past at that time and, having spotted Lucy, called an ambulance. She said: 'I woke up in Sheffield General Hospital at about three o'clock in the morning. 'It was just an absolutely massive wake-up call.' While Lucy was sent home from hospital relatively quickly, that experience proved to be a real turning point for her. A newly sober Lucy pictured with one of her daughters She explained: 'I just thought, "That's it, I'm done." I was terrified of drinking because of what had happened on that night. 'Waking up in hospital was truly the most horrendous thing. I was so ashamed and it just rocked me to the core. 'I just couldn't have contemplated drinking again after that.' Lucy's fear of alcohol got her through 'a good 18 months [of sobriety]', but it wasn't always plain sailing. While alcohol was off the cards - Lucy never drank again after that awful near miss in April 2011 - she had to learn to 'live without that crutch.' 'I suppose there were emotional issues that I had to confront,' she said. Lucy's progress during this period kept her sober even when she reached the point where she thought to herself: 'I wonder if I could drink again?' 'About 18 months had passed and I'd realised I was so much happier. Lucy got sober in 2011 and recently celebrated 14 years of sobriety 'My mental health problems had all gone. I was a better mum, I had a better life and I was starting to just feel happy again. 'There was just no way that I would have gone back to it because it was literally night and day between the drinking days [and what came after]. 'My life had just completely changed.' But Lucy's sober journey doesn't end there. In November 2012, she launched Soberistas - an online 'community of non-judgmental people, helping one another to kick the booze and stay sober.' While Lucy had attended a charity called Sheffield Alcohol Support Service in the aftermath of her hospitalisation, she found that 'it didn't speak' to her at all. 'There were posters on the wall about needle exchange and it was run by ex street drinkers who were in recovery. 'My drinking was really, really different. I've never drunk spirits. I'd never drink in the day. I've never been involved with the social services. 'It was all party drinking, really, that just got slightly out of hand, and I felt like a fraud. Lucy never had another alcoholic drink after passing out in the middle of a road late one night and waking up in hospital 'I was drinking a bottle of Chardonnay every night and I was in a room with people who'd been drinking a litre of vodka every day. It was just completely different.' Lucy felt similarly ill at ease at Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), largely because of the way that members are encouraged to label themselves as alcoholics and the organisation's 'one day at a time' approach. 'I thought, actually, I don't want to call myself an alcoholic and think I'm in recovery for the rest of my life,' she explained. 'I'd rather see it as a choice and something positive that I'm doing myself because that just feels a lot more motivational than labeling myself and doing it one day at a time through gritted teeth. 'I didn't think I was an alcoholic because I wasn't physically addicted to alcohol and I just didn't like that word.' Lucy, who prefers to use the term 'alcohol use disorder', was sure that AA was never going to work for her - but she still wanted to be part of a community. Soberistas, then, was born out of her sense that she had no where to go - and her strong belief that there must be others who felt the same way. 'I just remember having a very clear, sudden idea that it was really necessary to have an online space where people could just be open about their drink issues with people who understood and wouldn't judge them,' Lucy said. She now enjoys soft drinks and mocktails when she goes out 'It seemed like there was this massive gap. It just wasn't there and it needed to be. 'I felt quite angry about the way that people who have realised that they want to stop drinking have to pigeonhole themselves and call themselves an alcoholic and go to AA. 'What if that doesn't appeal to you? I want to see [getting and staying sober] as a positive thing and I want it to be an aspirational lifestyle choice. 'I don't want it to be a thing that I beat myself with for the rest of my life.' Lucy leapt into action, calling on her then-boyfriend to help her set up a website. 'It just took off,' Lucy recalled. 'I contacted Alistair Campbell when I was trying to get the word out there and he asked if I wanted to post a blog on his blog.' Lucy's post was picked up by the press and, as a result, Soberistas 'just snowballed', with 20,000 people signing up in the first year. Reflecting on the organisation's early success, Lucy said: 'I think there's this hidden demographic, this hidden group of women, mostly aged between 40 and 65, who really felt like they had this problem [with alcohol] but that they weren't quite bad enough for AA or rehab. Lucy runs the online community and charity Soberistas, providing support for people with alcohol issues 'But they didn't know where else to go, so they just carried on drinking in secret.' Today, with 70,000 people registered and 5,000 subscribers, Soberistas runs chat rooms where people can post about their issues with alcohol, as well as smaller groups where people are accountable to each other. 'It's mostly the anonymity of it that appeals,' Lucy said. 'You can be completely anonymous and connect with people who'll support you in your efforts to stay sober.' Lucy herself is sure that Soberistas and the support the community provides has been invaluable during her 14 years of sobriety. 'It's just a really nice, non-judgmental space - and that works for me. 'I think one of the biggest things I wanted to to achieve with Soberistas was having somewhere that was free from judgement. 'I felt this kind of hypocrisy in society, with people judging those with alcohol issues. Lucy, who founded Soberistas in 2012, is convinced that the organisation plays an important role for those with problems with alcohol 'One of the biggest problems that stopped people getting sober was that they were just too ashamed to talk about it - so they carried on drinking.' Having become a charity in 2023, Soberistas has grown into Lucy's fulltime job. And, while it can be a lot of work, especially with the charity management element, she's motivated by the knowledge that it's given countless people like herself a lifeline. 'It was definitely needed,' she said confidently. Dear Bel, My parents are getting divorced. Both had affairs so its ugly, bitter and full of blame and Ive somehow ended up stuck in the middle, trying to support them while they throw emotional wreckage at each other. Aged 24, Im their unpaid therapist, their go-between, their sounding board for spite and guilt. And the worst part? No one has asked how Im doing. Im furious but no one seems to notice, let alone care. Apparently, because Im an adult, I should be fine. But Im not. Im angry, confused, heartbroken and deeply disillusioned. My parents were supposed to be the one steady thing in my life. I grew up thinking they had something solid, something I could believe in. Clearly, I was deluded. Now I look back and question everything: the birthdays, the family holidays, was any of it real? Im an only child, so I have no one to share this with. No one else who remembers the same family I do and now that family is gone. I feel like the ground has been ripped out from under me. Im grieving, but its not just the divorce its the death of my childhood, the final proof that the people I looked up to are just flawed, selfish adults. What makes it worse is how they treat me. They expect me to be the strong one, the neutral one, the mature one while they act like teenagers in a break-up. I dont get to scream or cry or fall apart. Im just meant to carry on as if none of this matters. But it does matter. Its shaken my whole view of love, commitment even hope. I used to think I might want a partner, a family. Now I think: why bother? If the people who raised me couldnt make it work, why would I? Ive started avoiding dating altogether. I dont trust it. I dont trust anyone. I know life isnt perfect and people make mistakes. But this feels like more than that. It feels like betrayal. And Im left picking up the emotional pieces not of their marriage, but of my belief in anything lasting. How do I move forward from this when all I feel is rage and disappointment? Rosa Divorce does not have to be poisonous. Parents do not have to treat each other as mortal enemies and slaughter their own children in the crossfire, writes Bel Thank you for providing this page with such an important message: that the child within the adult remains acutely vulnerable, when secure foundations have disappeared. Nobody should underestimate this. Its common for outsiders to pity small children whose parents split up, even though theyre almost certainly more resilient (in time, anyway) than young adults like you. Yes, you are right to grieve, on more than one level. This all hinges on memory. You have had 24 years to love and trust the man and woman who must have rejoiced to kiss their baby girl, and that secure love is embedded in your DNA. Now your accumulation of memory seems to have been called into question. Hence your anguished question: Was any of it real? No wonder the child within you stamps her foot and cries. Your parents have let you down and I dont see why you shouldnt shout that from the roof. Its easy to excuse their behaviour by shrugging, Things go wrong in a marriage... people fall in love and have affairs like they have for centuries... children have no right to pass judgment, etc etc. Such liberal rationalisations certainly contain truth, yet they dont counter your profound hurt and disillusion. The worst part of your story is your parents shocking selfishness. They have failed each other by betrayal, and people do that all the time. But the worst failure is their duty of care towards you. Divorce does not have to be poisonous. Parents do not have to treat each other as mortal enemies and slaughter their own children in the crossfire. But they do. Oh yes, they do. Flawed falls short of it. Shameful is better. Years ago a male colleague told me that each time he picked up his little daughter for her court-ordered Saturday with Daddy, his ex-wife stood at the door and screamed abuse as he walked the child down the path. Yes, his infidelity had ended the marriage. But that mothers behaviour ended the likelihood of her own daughter growing up as a happy human being. In the childs mind the uncontrolled hate directed at the man holding her hand was directed at her, too. Honestly, I tell anybody in the middle of a break-up, like your parents for Gods sake, grow up and get a grip because your feelings matter far less than those of your children who did not ask to be born. What can I tell you, Rosa, other than that you are quite right to be angry? But you must not allow that to define you. Your parents loved each other until they didnt. The family life you remember was real until it wasnt. So do not let your parents current behaviour steal your memories. Please flip your current feelings from hurt victimhood to strong defiance, so: Even though the people who raised me couldnt make it work, thats all the more reason for me to prove it damn well can. Dont collude in destruction, build for yourself. Listen to me. You move forward because its the only direction and you take with you all you have learned, as rich, painful, inescapable truths about the human condition. Will you let that knowledge include forgiveness and thus help you to grow and thrive? Or will you cling to bitterness and become diminished? In the end, thats your grown-up choice. My son is 41 but he's still a misfit Dear Bel, I have two children, one girl, 36, and a boy, 41. My daughter has had problems, mainly with alcohol, but now seems to be in a better place. My son has never fitted in, never had friends and was in trouble at school for inappropriate behaviour. He went to university and found it hard, but gained a 2:2 degree. He has never used his education, working as a waiter. Each time we think hes settled he gets asked to leave. Four weeks ago, he got a job in a hotel and seemed happy but last night he was suspended. At a staff party in his previous job he was accused of sexually molesting another male member of staff. His new employer was told, hence the suspension. He needs help with how to interact with people. We had psychologists when he was at school and university but now we cannot make him get medical help. He doesnt talk to us, just sits blubbering and wont tell us whats going on. We lose our tempers (me more than his father) because we cannot get a reaction. How can we help him? Our doctors are not sympathetic. What can we do? Lucy Any parent will understand why you are so desperately worried. A man of 41 is considered to be in charge of his own life and so you cant make him see sense and act, no matter how much you despair of his inertia. When he was younger you could take charge, but now you sum the problem up when you realise you cannot get him to seek medical help. You say your doctors are not sympathetic, but I suspect they have told you they cant advise or treat an adult at one remove by means of his parents. Your description of your sons inability to fit in, socialise and form healthy relationships with other people suggests he could well be on the autistic spectrum. But it is not for me to make any sort of diagnosis through the page, and in any case there is little that could be done at his age. Yet understanding the complexity of personality is key. Theres something wrong here, and you are living with a desperately unhappy man. But I must be frank for you to sum up his evident distress as blubbering is sad and wrong. Yes, I understand the frustration. But if you are to help him find a way forward into a stable life it is vital for you to learn how to control your responses. Shouting will make him withdraw even more, so I beg you to start taking deep, controlled breaths to help control that temper. You need to start having proper conversations with your son. I know thats easier to say than to do, nevertheless whats the alternative? If he wont go to the doctor, he certainly wont go to counselling, so I suggest you and your husband try to learn more about what may be behind his problems. A good place to start might be a page on the website of the national Autistic Society: autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance. It has many headings to click on and read. I suggest that as a learning project for you and your husband, in the hope that it might seem relevant and helpful to the whole family. If your son is gay and hasnt acknowledged this to himself, let alone to you, this is obviously going to make him very confused and unhappy, given recent history. He needs somebody to talk to, but it sounds as if your family is pretty short on communication. Does he have a good relationship with his sister? Might she be more open to talking frankly to him about sexuality? Honestly, somebody needs to. I feel very sorry for him because those tears are a cry for help. Do you think you could try to hear your son by reading, thinking and vowing to control your own mood? The owners of a beloved UK restaurant chain have put the business up for sale, putting locations at risk of closure. Partners Group, the private equity firm in control of French-themed restaurant Cote Brasserie, have announced an auction of the restaurant. The firm is searching for new investors for the chain, which they bought out of administration in 2020 in a deal reportedly worth 55 million. The process could result in the closure of Cote Brasserie locations around the UK, Sky News reported. According to sources familiar with the sale, the chain is being marketed based on its turnover last year of 150million. There are currently 70 Cote Brasserie locations, with the figure previously standing at 100 before the business went into insolvency five years ago. Out of the 70 sites, 60 are said to be profitable, suggesting there might be room for more closures soon. Cote Brasserie's Gloucester Quays location, which opened in 2017, recently shut its doors after a location in Hampstead, London, similarly served its final dishes after 14 years, according to The Sun. The owners of French-themed restaurant Cote Brasserie have put the business up for sale, putting dozens of locations at risk of closing down (stock image) MailOnline has reached out to Cote Brasserie for comment. It comes after Gary Usher revealed that his Heswall-based bistro Burnt Truffle closed its doors at the start of this year, admitting he had 'never been able to make it work'. The chef, who owns a collection of restaurants in and around Manchester, took to X to announce the 'sad' news, explaining that the location is 'closed for good' after its ten-year lease expired. The crowdfunded restaurant opened its doors in Heswall in July 2015 after securing 100,000 in a month from 891 donations, and went on to receive glowing reviews from food critics, including Jay Rayner, and gained two Rosettes. Usher, sometimes dubbed 'Britain's most controversial chef' thanks to his outspoken opinions, candidly explained that though the government made business 'difficult', he ultimately was 'never able to make it work'. Despite mourning the loss, he explained that the decision was the best for business and that he has paid all suppliers and staff through a loan, which he will pay back via revenue from his five other restaurants, including the Sticky Walnut in Hoole, Chester, 'Some news,' he said on X, continuing, '@BuRntTruffle is now closed. Thank you to all the team & all the guests over the last 10 years. 'Our lease has come to an end & we have decided to part ways. All our bills are paid & all vouchers will be redeemed. From all of us at Burnt Truffle, Thank you & good night.' The news comes after the brand shut its locations in Gloucester Quays and London's Hampstead (stock image of Cote Brasserie) Usher explained further in a video posted to the platform, saying: 'I need to share some news with you, and unfortunately, it's not great news. I'm sitting here in Burnt Truffle, and we are now closed. We're closed for good.' The chef continued: 'So Burnt Truffle, I had a ten-year lease, and that lease has come to an end. I could have renewed that lease, but the honest truth is that I've never been able to make it work here. 'I've been quite vocal about how difficult the government have made it over the last few years, but ultimately, I've never been able to make it work here. 'The best business decision for us is to close, so we're closing Burnt Truffle from today. 'I know there's going to be lots of questions over the next few days and I'll answer all of them.' Usher explained that vouchers purchased for Burnt Truffle are redeemable or they can be used in his other restaurants. He added: 'We've paid all our bills, so the VAT is paid, all our suppliers are paid, our rent is paid, we have unfortunately had to have made people redundant with the closure of this business, and obviously they've been paid. Everybody has been paid. 'I have a... loan, which I took out in the pandemic, which I still must pay, and I will, through the wider business. Out of the 70 sites, 60 are profitable, which indicates that there might be room for more closures soon (stock image) 'Other than that, it feels like it's been tied up as well as closing a restaurant can be. It is a sad day, it really is. 'When I think back to when we opened here, they had the likes of Jay Rayner and Lisa Markwell coming and we got two rosettes quite quickly too, we were the first crowdfunded restaurant in the UK with non-investment crowdfunding so that started our journey with crowdfunding. 'So, what does it mean for the business moving forward? Well, we carry on, we just keep on going, we keep trying and we keep on innovating to get through these tough times.' Usher concluded: 'Thank you to everyone that came, thank you to all the team, thank you to all the guests... we've loved being in Burnt Truffle, but that's the end.' In 2023, Gary caused a storm after hitting back at 'ridiculous' complaints about a burger costing nearly 20 at his restaurant. Gary also made headlines in 2018 after a customer complained about the Sticky Walnut's lack of 'customer skills' after staff were asked to go shop for lemonade for a red wine spritzer. Gary shot down the customer saying: 'We often nip out for people's requests. It's part of great hospitality. We just don't do it if you're a rude c***'. Gary starred in a Channel 4 documentary in 2019 called The Rebel Chef: My Restaurant Revolution. The documentary followed the opening of one of his crowdfunded bistros Pinion in the Merseyside Town of Prescot. In 2020, Usher took aim at a negative review and slammed a customer who said her meal at his restaurant was a 'rip-off' in a damning online review. Emma said the 122 bill for her meal - one course with drinks for two people - was 'eye-wateringly expensive', and the price tag was 'really not worth it'. Usher claimed she had misunderstood the pricing, and that they could have ordered a three-course set menu for just 39 each, claiming that Emma and her dining companion were 'rude' and wouldn't allow the manager to explain this at the time. The outspoken chef also went viral in 2021 after hitting back at a customer who wrote a scathing two-star Tripadvisor review. In the review titled 'excellent food let down by Ryanair style service', the diner had blasted the manager for 'not giving a toss' about customer service, which Usher vehemently denied. The unsatisfied diner, known only as Rob V, wrote: 'The good news is that the food here is very, very tasty and deserves a high rating. 'The bad news is that the restaurant management doesn't give a toss about customer experience. 'I ate here on July 9 had a complaint that was dealt with badly enough by the manager that I wrote to the owner. 'A restaurant that aspires to offer fine dining experience but has lost the ability to empathise with customers and ignores them when they complain? That really is a shame.' Usher was quick to respond with his own blistering write-up. He replied: 'For goodness sake Robert. I'm supposed to be in TwitAdvisor retirement so let's not waste any time. After all, you've waited 11 years since joining Twitadvisor to write your first review. 'Rob you reserved a table on a Friday evening and agreed to a 1 hour 45 minute time slot. A standard practice, particularly on busy periods, that guests and restaurants worldwide agree to. 'After your dessert course the Manager, who you said "doesn't give a toss", gently reminded you that we would need the table back shortly. You ignored the manager and proceeded to order another round of drinks. 'Perhaps if your party had arrived on time for your reservation this could have been avoided.' A quarter of Britons are risking potentially deadly food poisoning in their desperate attempts to save cash, an official report warns. Food safety watchdog The Food Standards Agency (FSA) found 23 per cent of people had engaged in what it called 'risky practices' in the home kitchen. This included over one in 10 lowering the temperature they cooked at, as well as how long they ran appliances like ovens and hobs for, in a bid to cut down on energy bills. One in 10 Britons were also guilty of turning off their fridge or freezer for periods of time, or raising the internal temperature of the appliances to save cash. Heartbreakingly, more than one in 20 people surveyed reported eating food that needed to be cooked or reheated cold as they simply couldn't afford to cook it. The FSA said their surveywhich recorded food habits in the survey group from August 2023 to March this yearshowed 'risky practices' peaked around Christmas time, rising to 28 per cent. Not heating food enough before eating or storing it at too warm a temperature risks allowing germs that cause food poisoning to survive. Food poisoning is generic term for a foodborne illness that triggers symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea. A quarter of Britons are risking potentially deadly food poisoning in their desperate attempts to save cash, an official report warns This UKHSA chart shows the number of salmonella cases recorded in England each year It can caused by various pathogens including campylobacter bacteria, salmonella and E. coli, bugs that data suggests are on the rise in Britain. Just last month health officials warned that cases of salmonella had surged to their highest level in over a decade. As whole, food poisoning cases an estimated 2.5million people to fall ill in the UK each year. While the vast majority of cases are mild, food poisoning can be deadly for some groupslike the elderlywith an estimated 200 fatalities per annum. Such infections can lead to serious dehydration which can lead to fatal complications and the germs can also sometimes trigger sepsis a potentially deadly overreaction by the body's immune system. Data also showed when it came to food concerns most people were worried about rising food prices, with almost 9 in 10 saying saying it was a source of anxiety. Michelle Patel, deputy director of analysis at the FSA, said the results showed how Briton's budget concerns were contributing to them gambling with food poisoning. 'Our latest annual data shows that food prices remain a top concern for most people,' she said. 'It also shows that many people are doing risky things to save money.' Experts have said that leftovers should be stored in the top section of the fridge away from the fresh meat. But the FSA warns not to leave leftovers any longer than two days before eating them Ms Patel said Britons can visit the FSA's new advice page on food safety to learn more about how to reduce their risk of food poisoning. In particular the regulator advises people to aim to have the food reach 70C (158F) for two minutes while cooking though this can vary depending on the specific food and cooking method. If you don't have a food safe thermometer the FSA says to check food is steaming throughout and that in particular meats like chicken are cooked all the way through with no pink meat left. When reheating food, people should ensure it is heated above 63C (145.4F) to avoid what it called the 'Danger Zone' where bacteria can grow quickly and make you ill. For same reason the FSA advises people ensure their fridge is between 0 and 5C (32-41F) and their freezer is set to -18C (0.4F) as this stops or inhibits the growth of potentially dangerous bacteria. The FSA report is based on a rolling survey of 2,000 people living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland which is held every month. Scientists have uncovered a new group of rogue proteins in the brain that could play a major role in triggering and worsening Alzheimer's disease. Until now, researchers believed that clumps of amyloid and tau proteins were the main culprits behind the devastating cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer's patients. But a new study from Johns Hopkins University has identified more than 200 other misfolded proteins in rats that may also be damaging brain function and accelerating memory loss. A misfolded protein is a one that has not taken on its correct three-dimensional shape. The researchers say these hidden proteins don't form large clumps like amyloids, making them harder to detect. They suspect these improperly shaped proteins could interfere with how the brain works. 'Amyloids are big and ugly and easy to spot under a microscope, so they've gotten most of the attention,' lead researcher Dr Stephen Fried said. 'But our research shows they're just the tip of the iceberg.' Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and primarily affects people over the age of 65. Until now, researchers believed that clumps of amyloid and tau proteins were the main culprits behind the devastating cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer's patients More than 7.2 million adults among that age bracket in the US are currently living with the condition, and over 100,000 die from it each year. While the study was conducted on rats, Dr Keith Vossel, a professor of Neurology at UCLA, says more research is needed to understand whether the same misfolded proteins can cause Alzheimer's disease in humans. 'It's an incremental advance, but it definitely builds on our knowledge base about this disease,' he told the Daily Mail. Determining whether this change also happens in human brains, Dr Vossel said, 'would require autopsy based studies' or examining resected hippocampal tissue - 'that's really the only way to assess it directly.' 'At the moment it's a nice association,' he added, 'it just requires a lot more follow-up.' On examination, they found that over 200 proteins were misfolded in the cognitively impaired rats He added that the findings could open the door to entirely new treatments and targets for Alzheimer's, which currently has no cure. The Alzheimer's Association warns that by 2050, nearly 13 million Americans may be affected. The disease is believed to be caused by the development of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, which damage and kill cells. The plaques and tangles form when amyloid proteins misfold and stick together, forming sticky clumps (plaques) and when tau proteins twist and get tied up (tangles). These toxic buildups block brain cells, or neurons, from sending signals properly. Due to being in the wrong form, misfolded proteins are unable to carry out tasks necessary for a cell to function properly, which leads to damage. A group of Johns Hopkins University researchers have found over 200 other misfolded proteins in rats that may also contribute to the cognitive decline caused by the disease Over time, this can impair brain functioning and lead to memory and muscle decline. If it persists, this disruption can cause permanent damage in the brain that leads to Alzheimer's disease. As the disease progresses, patients may lose the ability to speak, care for themselves or even respond to the world around them. To better understand what drives this damage at the molecular level, Dr Stephen Fried and his team studied 17 rats, all 2 years old and raised in the same conditions. They put the animals through a series of memory and problem-solving tasks, and found that seven showed clear signs of cognitive impairment, despite growing up in the same environment as the other 10. This allowed the researchers to focus on what might be happening inside their brains, and helped lead to the discovery of more than 200 potentially damaging proteins. The remaining 10 rats performed the same as 6-month-old rats did when they were given the same tests. Based on their performance, the scientists then measured over 2,500 types of protein in all the rats' hippocampi - the part of the brain associated with spatial learning and memory. They found that over 200 proteins were misfolded in the cognitively impaired rats. Though, it remains unclear which proteins, specifically. However, the same proteins maintained their shapes in the cognitively healthy rats who scored as well as their 6-month-old counterparts. As a result, the researchers concluded that more than 200 misfolded proteins are contributing to cognitive decline. 'We think there are a lot of proteins that can be misfolded, not form amyloids, and still be problematic,' Fried said of the results. Now, Fried and his team plan to study these phenomena under high-resolution microscopes to get a more detailed picture of their deformities at the molecular level. Your browser does not support iframes. 'A lot of us have experienced a loved one or a relative who has become less capable of doing those everyday tasks that require cognitive abilities,' he said. 'Understanding what's physically going on in the brain could lead to better treatments and preventive measures.' The study was published on July 11 in the Science Advances journal. During this heatwave, while most of us welcome the blast of cool air in an air-conditioned shop or restaurant, Karen Raney-Marr dreads it. She has to carry gloves and a hoodie with her at all times even in 30C heat just in case she ends up somewhere thats air conditioned. She even has to drive using a heated steering wheel. For Karen, 37, a healthcare play specialist from St Albans in Hertfordshire, suffers from Raynauds syndrome. It is a condition that affects around ten million Britons, where even a slight change in temperature causes a persons extremities to become cold and numb, changing colour from white to blue then red with sometimes excruciating pins and needles as the blood flow is restored. While it usually affects the fingers and toes, some people also experience it in their lips, nose, ears and even nipples. The attacks are often painful and can be debilitating, making it difficult to perform even simple tasks such as doing up buttons. Raynauds is caused by spasms in the tiny blood vessels, which makes them constrict. The cause is not clear, although its four times more common in women, and there may be a genetic link as it can run in families. It typically appears before the age of 30. Around three in ten of those affected experience symptoms all year round, with experts warning that the warming climate ironically means sufferers like Karen are also experiencing symptoms in the hottest weather. Air conditioning in offices and shops can be a major issue for many people who knowingly, or unknowingly, have Raynauds, explains Sue Farrington, chief executive of Scleroderma & Raynauds UK. And the concern is that with a warmer climate this challenge isnt going to go away and is likely to cause increased discomfort. Karen Raney-Marr has to wrap up even in warm weather to avoid the painful symptoms Raynauds syndrome causes a persons extremities to become cold and numb, changing colour from white to blue then red Karen was diagnosed with the condition when she was 18 after years of suffering from painful chilblains. The doctor told me there was no cure and it was just one of those things I had to put up with, she recalls. Not surprisingly, winters were hard as well as chilblains, her fingers would swell from coming into a warm house from the cold outside. When she was 21 the pain was so bad that Karen was hospitalised and given infusions of hormone-like drugs that enlarge the blood vessels to improve circulation. But as summers in the UK have become hotter, and more and more public areas have air-conditioning, Karen has noticed her condition often worsens in summer, too. In winter I can plan for it I know Ill need gloves and warm clothes but in 30-degree heat its harder, she says. I can wear shorts and a T-shirt outside but if I go indoors, such as in a shopping centre and theres air conditioning, I will need my gloves and hoodie. People often stare and wonder why on earth I am dressed like this when they are in vests and shorts. Karen tries to avoid places such as shopping centres and gyms, which tend to be air conditioned, but can be caught out. She says: Recently I went to the theatre and there was air conditioning. Id dressed nicely for a night out and wasnt prepared I only had a small thin pair of gloves with me. I put them on, but the air conditioning was so strong that I got painful chilblains and swelling within minutes. It ruined the whole night for me. I managed to see the whole show, but it was agony. Karen also cant have air conditioning on in her car meaning any passengers have to swelter. I do put it on a bit for people if they feel too hot, but only as much as I can stand then have to turn it off, she says. I also have to have a heated steering wheel. On holiday, Karen cant even enjoy a dip in the pool because it involves going from hot weather to the cool water. Karen tries to avoid places such as shopping centres and gyms, which tend to be air-conditioned - and usually has a pair of gloves with her I cant risk swimming, so instead I float on top on a Lilo, she says. Despite being as common as hay fever, Raynauds is relatively unknown and can affect peoples ability to do everyday tasks, says Sue Farrington. And as many as three million experience attacks all year round. For while Raynauds is associated with cold weather, what can trigger an attack is actually a change in temperature, so going from warm to cold, explains Gemma Cornwell, head of fundraising and engagement at Scleroderma & Raynauds UK. More people are coming forward to us as they struggle in an office, or shops and other air-conditioned areas. At work it can restrict the movement in their fingers and means they cant even type on a keyboard. And yet you have everyone else in the office warm and wanting the air con really low. The charity encourages those affected to let their co-workers know they have Raynauds as many people will not have heard of it. If you work in an office under a fan or air conditioning unit ask to be moved away, suggests Gemma Cornwell. Other steps to consider include having a portable heater and heated mouse and light/soft touch keyboard. We suggest thinking about having a pair of gloves even if that looks a bit strange in hot weather, she adds. (Its not necessary to wear the gloves all day but just when entering somewhere with a cooler temperature.) One theory is that the blood vessels in the extremities constrict in order to prevent heat loss from key areas in the core such as the heart so keeping the entire body warm (not just the extremities) is crucial. We recommend wearing thin layers as having a layer of clothing close to your core helps, says Ms Cornwell. Its also less obvious [than thick gloves] if you have another layer under a T-shirt. And there are also heated hand and foot warmers you can get including those you can put in your pockets if you want to be more discreet. Attacks can also be triggered by stress, she explains. Even worrying about an attack can cause an attack, so try to manage stress levels. Karen now has preventative treatment in the form of regular infusions of medication every three months. The drugs (iloprost or epoprostenol) dilate the blood vessels, improving circulation. They belong to a group called prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that are found naturally in the body, and their effect lasts for weeks. I have this for six hours a day in hospital, five days in a row every three months, says Karen. Its exhausting but the only way I can then function for the next few weeks. She also continues to consciously avoid air conditioning as much as she can. I love warm weather and it should be a time I get a break from my condition, she says. But instead the air conditioning that gives everyone else comfort makes my life hell. If you suspect you might have Raynauds, take this 60-second test: sruk.co.uk/about-raynauds/diagnosing-raynauds/take-our-online-raynauds-test For further information, visit: sruk.co.uk Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin fully embraces the massive federal tax-and-spending bill that President Donald Trump signed into law on the Fourth of July, including cuts to Medicaid that Democrats and state hospitals say would cause hundreds of thousands of Virginians to lose health care coverage and potentially threaten the survival of small rural hospitals. Youngkin, speaking after an unrelated news event on Tuesday, said the spending package would deliver tax relief of about $2,800 per family. Most of that relief would come from extending the provisions of the tax cuts that the president signed into law in 2017. The law also eliminates taxes on tips and overtime and creates a $6,000 tax credit for seniors. The Republican governor also praised the laws provisions for $180 billion in new spending on border security and immigration enforcement, citing the benefits of tighter border controls under Trump that he said makes a huge difference for the safety of Virginians. Youngkin also accused Democratic critics of inflating potential losses of insurance coverage under the new law, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates would increase the number of uninsured Americans by 11.7 million people through 2034. Democrats on the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee estimate that more than 322,000 Virginians will lose health coverage under the bills provisions for Medicaid and the expected expiration of enhanced federal premium subsidies for insurance. Health coverage The number that the Democrats are throwing around on Virginians who will lose health coverage is made up, Youngkin said, asserting that the measures critics rely on extreme, extreme assumptions. Youngkin cited the laws requirement that able-bodied adults in Medicaid work at least 80 hours a month, which could include community service or education. He estimated, based on a state analysis when Virginia expanded its Medicaid program in 2018, that about 40,000 people will conclude that they dont want to comply with work requirements and therefore wouldnt be eligible for Medicaid. The state initially included a work requirement in expansion of its Medicaid program, but never implemented it. State Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, dismissed the governors assertion as just silly. The numbers that Democrats have been using are right on the money, said Deeds, who chairs the Senate Health and Human Resources Subcommittee. The governor is not credible on this issue at all. He cited a $632 million shortfall in the states Medicaid program this year that he called highly unusual midway through the states two-year budget cycle. The Kaiser Family Foundation said last week that Virginia is one of the states hit hardest by the Medicaid cuts in the new law, losing between $25 billion to $41 billion in federal funding over 10 years. The midpoint in that range, $33 billion, represents a 21% loss in funding. Virginia hospitals Youngkin did not address the biggest threat that Virginia hospitals see in the budget bill, which the U.S. Senate reshaped to sharply reduce existing provider taxes that the state relies upon to pay its share of Medicaid expansion costs. Hospitals also pay the tax to generate additional federal reimbursements to cover the cost of care, especially in rural and urban hospitals with large Medicaid patient populations and thin operating margins. Beginning in 2028, the law will gradually reduce the provider taxes from a maximum 6% to 3.5%. It also will cap reimbursements in expansion states at 100% of the maximum Medicare reimbursement, which hospitals say represents about 88% of their true costs. The cap is higher for states that didnt expand Medicaid. Manatt Health, a consultant for the industry trade group Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, said U.S. hospitals would lose $665 billion over 10 years, or 18% of their Medicaid funding under the law, as amended by the Senate and then endorsed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate version of the bill cuts Medicaid funding by $100 million more than the bill that the House passed initially on May 22. Virginia was one of 16 states hit the hardest, according to Manatt, with a 37% increase in the size of cuts to its funding under the Senate bill. The final package, after Vice President JD Vance broke a tie vote in the Senate a week ago, made much deeper cuts in funding for the 41 states, including the District of Columbia, that have expanded their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act, than those states that have not. The Senate bill cut Medicaid funding for expansion states by 21% more than the House version and just 6% more for states that have not expanded their programs, Manatt said. The cuts come primarily from reduced provider taxes and caps on Medicaid reimbursement to hospitals, as well as expected enrollment declines because of the work requirement and requiring states to review eligibility every six months instead of once a year. Julian Walker, a spokesman for the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, said that based on an initial assessment, we project that the changes to provider tax and state directed payment program policy will have a significant financial impact on hospitals. Those changes could ultimately cost Virginia hospitals more than $2 billion annually. That essential funding helps hospitals sustain their operations, support patient access to care, strengthen the state and local economy, and provide employment across Virginia. SNAP nutrition aid Youngkin also played down the effect of cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as SNAP or food stamps, under the new law. Effective in late 2027, the law will increase the states share of administrative costs from 25% to 50% and require states to pay part of the benefit for the first time. Thats expected to cost Virginia a total of $360 million a year. Youngkin said the state could avoid paying $270 million as its share of the benefit if local departments of social services are able to lower their administrative error rate to less than 6%. The latest error rate in Virginia is 11.5%, reflecting both overpayment and underpayment of benefits. The final bill, as approved by the Senate, would not be as costly to Virginia as the original House version, which would have required the state to pay up to $450 million a year in benefits and $87 million in additional administrative expenses, according to James Williams, Youngkins commissioner of social services. Youngkin said Tuesday that he intends to work with local social services departments to reduce the error rate below 6% to avoid what he called a co-pay. I am confident that Virginia, by the time this comes into effect, can do this, but its going to require us to transform the way that the SNAP benefit is managed, he said. Middlesex County Social Services Director Rebecca Morgan, who is president of the Virginia League of Social Services Executives, said Virginia calculates the error rate with a tiny number of randomly sampled cases. What were proposing is that Virginia increase the number of cases that are reviewed, so we have a better chance ... of lowering the payment errors, Morgan said Wednesday. She said the state also would need to increase resources for training and to improve, if not replace, its outdated case management system to lower the rate below 6% in the federal fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. Thats going to be a challenge, Morgan said. Times-Dispatch reporter Dave Ress contributed to this story. An urgent 'do not use' order has been issued for almost 60,000 air fryers due to a significant risk of overheating and potential fire. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) issued the urgent warning for specific Tower air fryer models, following a company recall. The CCPC said that a manufacturing defect could cause the appliances to dangerously overheat, posing a serious threat of fires, injury, or even death. Nearly 60,000 affected units were sold across retail outlets in the Republic of Ireland. 'Although no incidents have been reported in Ireland to date, there have been reports in the UK of these products catching fire,' the CCPC said. People have been advised to unplug their air fryer and check the appliance rating label underneath it. The affected model number will begin with the letter T, the CCPC said. The affected products were manufactured between 2020 and 2024 and were sold in various retailers including Argos, Tesco Ireland, DID, Dealz, Lidl, Amazon and the Tower Housewares website. 'Consumers who have one of the affected air fryers should stop using the product immediately, unplug it and contact Tower Housewares,' a spokeswoman for CCPC said. The affected products were manufactured between 2020 and 2024 and were sold in various retailers including Argos, Tesco Ireland, DID, Dealz, Lidl, Amazon and the Tower Housewares website. The T17023 Tower 2.2Ltr Manual air fryer is pictured The T17061BLK Tower 4Ltr Manual air fryer is pictured The T17129L Vortx 8L Dual Basket air fryer is pictured 'They can do this on the website or by emailing towerproduct@customersvc.co.uk.' Grainne Griffin, director of communications at the CCPC, said: 'This recall covers five Tower air fryer models with a dangerous manufacturing defect that could cause the models to overheat. 'Almost 60,000 affected units have been sold in Ireland so it's vital that consumers who have a Tower air fryer check their model. If their model is affected, it is not safe to use.' People are reminded to always follow manufacturer, health and safety instructions when operating any electrical appliances, the CCPC added. Anyone concerned about a product safety issue can contact the CCPC's national consumer helpline on 01 402 5555 from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, or email ask@ccpc.ie. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Ill let you into a secret. Beauty editors pages and influencers feeds are dominated by bougie beauty brands because their large marketing budgets mean they can afford to ply journalists and content creators with products. So you, the reader/viewer/consumer, could well deduce that lower-cost ranges are less worthy of attention. I have, in the past, been guilty of wearing luxury-brand blinkers, dazzled by pretty packaging and hyperbolic press releases. But decades of trialling formulas has taught me that cost-conscious skincare can often equal its pricier rivals. And Im delighted to spotlight five excellent new product ranges, with every product under 30. OG ingredient-led, budget skincare brands The Ordinary and Inkey have been joined by Dose (launched last year). In the past few months Boost Lab, Anua, Keats and Modern Chemistry have also set up shop. The last one, a new line from Boots, is science-led and results-driven. But with its top price point currently just 15, can it really deliver? Dr Pam Green, technical director of Boots Brand is (predictably) emphatic that it does. She says Boots can offer this range at such affordable prices because its gone in-house for our expertise. And they operate at scale. We are able to launch the brand into hundreds of stores. Decades of trialling formulas has taught Rosie Green that cost-conscious skincare can often equal its pricier rivals, though the latter's large marketing budgets mean they can afford to ply journalists and content creators with products (picture posed by model) Dose uses the opposite tack to keep costs down, selling only online. We dont wholesale, says the brands co-founder and pharmacist Shabir Daya, as the margin required for that doesnt align with our pricing model. Nor does the brand spend on elaborate packaging, ad campaigns or celebrity endorsements, focusing instead on well-researched ingredients and thoughtful formulations. I ask dermatologist Dr Justine Kluk, who runs her own clinic and writes the excellent newsletter Skin Confidence (drjustinekluk.com/newsletter), if she believes you can get effective skincare for under 30. It might not feel quite as indulgent to use, but if you care more about results than the aesthetics of your bathroom shelf, it can be a smart way to reduce your skincare spend. I often think that if you put CeraVe lotion in a fancy bottle, youd believe it was a luxury product. Kluk says consistent use of an affordable product will give better results than something expensive you only use now and then. Her own favourites? Garnier Vitamin C Daily UV Glow SPF 50, [now 8.66, lookfantastic.com], which gives a lovely bronzed sheen, evens my complexion and often means that I dont bother with make-up. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser [now 10, lookfantastic.com] and The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser [from 8.30, theordinary.com] are superb creamy options that are gentle and well suited to most skin types. And a moisturiser like the Eucerin Urea Repair Face Cream [now 13.50, lookfantastic.com] holds its own against much costlier products. Here are some great new skincare steals. Dose, 15-22 AHA/BHA Daily Toner (20, victoriahealth.com), the brands latest launch, brightens skin and unclogs pores. Anua, 13-28 Azelaic Acid 10+ Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum (22, lookfantastic.com) is a standout product from the Korean brand, which has seen a 330 per cent sales growth since its Boots launch in 2024. Modern Chemistry, 4.50-15 Hydrogel Mask (4.50, boots.com) contains niacinamide and walnut collagen to plump skin. Keats, 28-29 The Moisturising Cream (29, keatsbeauty.com) is a luxurious-feeling formula thats loaded with ceramides. Boost Lab, 18.99-29.99 Edelweiss Neck Firming Serum (24.95, boostlabco.com) is one of the no-nonsense Australian brands bestsellers, new to the UK. Linen-blend co-ords Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Your coolest move when the mercury rises? Swerve the polyester or wool-rich suit for a breezy linen co-ord, which looks just as put- together but will keep you cool. Reserve pure linen for off duty and opt for a linen blend it will hold its shape better after youve been sitting at your desk and ensure you look sharp in meetings. Woven-leather totes Save your straw tote from sagging under the weight of your office paraphernalia and instead pack your laptop (and the kitchen sink) into an on-trend braided-leather iteration. The hit Belgian brand Dragon Diffusion started the trend with its handwoven buffalo-leather bags last summer and the style is now a staple among the fashion set. The designer version isnt cheap, but there are affordable takes everywhere I have my eye on the one by Dune (bottom). Breezy circle skirts When the humidity rises, give your satin slip skirt a day off far too sticky and say hi to the breezy circle skirt (BCS). Its A-line silhouette is universally flattering, the wide hem allows airflow and its as smart with a white T-shirt as it is with a frothy blouse. Wyse London leads the BCS pack, but there are plenty of well-priced pieces around. Blingy statement cuffs Keep delicate jewellery for the beach and look to the noughties-inspired blingy gold cuff, which ruled the runways of Alaia and Saint Laurent at Fashion Week. Perfect for ramping up the simplest of high-summer looks, pair yours with a block-colour co-ord or slot one over the sleeve of a white cotton shirt. Its a great way to add interest to your outfit and it neednt cost you an arm and a leg. Graphic floral midis Still living in ditsy tea dresses? Then update your look while staying desk-ready. Thanks to the S/S 25 runway collections at Loewe and Etro, this seasons go-to floral dresses feature bold, graphic prints with sharper, cleaner cuts. For inspo, look to hero midi-dress brands Nobodys Child and Jigsaw (below). Chunky flat sandals Flip-flops are too casual for most offices and I have yet to find a skinny sandal thats walkable. In fact, your hero shoe in the heat is the chunky strappy sandal. Its supportive enough for stomping through the city and, as long as your style has a substantial footbed, youll still look formal enough. Even better, Fitflop is a comfort specialist, as is the Parisian shoe brand Bobbies (above). Just book in your pedi asap! According to those who monitor buildings and contents insurance premiums for a living, the days of double-digit price hikes are over. Hallelujah, I hear you say. Data analysts at the august Association Of British Insurers calculate that the average cost of annual cover currently works out at around 393, which is 7 per cent higher than a year ago. Yet averages - prices and increases - can be deceiving, as John and Sue Miller have recently found out when their home insurance came up for renewal. The Millers, who live in a three-bedroom detached house in Kingswinford, Dudley, were told by Saga that their premium for a new three-year fixed-rate deal would be jumping from 391 to a tad over 1,011, an increase of 158 per cent. John, a former executive with local building society Tipton & Coseley, who now volunteers in the ticket office at Severn Valley Railway in Kidderminster, was flabbergasted. As a result, he sought reasons for the increase. Although a claim for a small water leak was made (and paid) in 2023, the 70-year-old knew this wasn't the main reason for the mind-boggling price hike. All change: John Miller on the platform at Severn Valley Railway in Kidderminster, where he volunteers Given the scale of the increase, John wasn't surprised when Saga said there was room to negotiate. By offering a one-off 'discount' of 125 and getting John to pay a slightly higher excess in the event of making a future claim, it reduced the renewal price to 801. Still an increase of 105 per cent. It also said that if the Millers were happy to renew for just one year - as opposed to three - and accept a slightly lower level of cover, it was prepared to offer a premium of 591. An increase of 'just' 51 per cent. 'We've been loyal customers of Saga since 2019,' says John. 'We have stayed with them even when we could have shopped around and got cheaper cover elsewhere. But this time we felt it was taking the proverbial biscuit.' John and Sue used comparison website Go Compare to find cover with the AA. For its most deluxe cover (platinum) the premium was 494, a more acceptable increase of 26 per cent. > How to get cheaper home insurance: Read our guide There are two conclusions that can be drawn from the Millers' insurance saga (apologies for the pun). First, despite rules that now require insurers to treat new and existing customers on equal terms, it's obvious they are not being applied vigorously enough. By offering existing customers who kick up a fuss a discount, insurers (not just Saga) have created a two-tier pricing system where non-complaining loyal customers get a poorer deal than those like John and Sue. That isn't fair. Secondly, as the Millers discovered, there is only one way to keep big premium increases at bay - and that is to shop around. 'I'm afraid that customer loyalty only goes so far,' John told me. Yes, but I think he is being far too polite. In his shoes, I would be steaming mad (apologies for the second pun). Sadly, when it comes to car and home insurance, customer loyalty still counts for zilch. So my message to you is simple. If insurers treat you with contempt at renewal, take your custom elsewhere. It's easy-peasy and could save you a small fortune in these rather straitened times. Banks are helping to kill off our small towns Banking desert: Reader Geraldine was forced to cash a cheque at her local pub in Margate, Kent, after the Barclays branch in the town shut its doors The way things are going, customers of the big banks will soon have to live in - or close to - a city centre in order to obtain five-day-a-week access to high-street banking services. While most city centres are currently awash with banks, branches are being routinely axed in many towns up and down the country. A banking feast as far as city dwellers and workers are concerned - but the equivalent of a famine in many towns. This point was drilled home last week when readers updated me on the banking health of their respective high streets. First, from the glorious city centre of Chester in Cheshire, local Richard Chamberlain was thrilled to report the opening of a new Metro Bank (the bank's 76th branch). 'It makes a refreshing change from endless branch closures,' Richard told me. The branch, which will be open six days a week, joins Lloyds, Nationwide, the Post Office and Santander on the city's Foregate Street. Barclays, Cooperative, Handelsbanken, Halifax and HSBC also have a presence in the city. In contrast, reader Geraldine Davis is finding it increasingly difficult to access banking services in her home town of Margate in Kent. A long-standing Barclays customer, 80-year-old Geraldine has seen the bank close its local branch - as well as nearby branches in Deal, Herne Bay and Ramsgate. 'The nearest Barclays is now 15 miles away in Canterbury,' she says. 'I'm disabled and have no car, so it's a no go.' After her debit card was recently swallowed up by an ATM, she was temporarily left with no way of accessing cash. With the 'local' Barclays hub in Margate not offering any cash services (like all hubs operated by the bank), she was only able to get money by cashing a cheque at her local pub. 'It's not good enough,' she told me last week. I agree. The banks are playing their part in destroying our towns' high streets. Let's bury the funeral fraudsters The regulation of funeral plan providers has been in force for three years, but the sector continues to suffer from the fallout caused by the collapse of Safe Hands. Last week, administrator FRP Advisory Trading informed the company's customers that they would be receiving an 'interim dividend' by no later than November 28 this year. A wee bit of welcome news for those caught up in the scandal 46,000 at the time of the collapse. And when I say a scandal, I mean an almighty one involving the misuse and misappropriation of money held in a trust fund for the sole purpose of meeting the cost of customers' future funerals. The Serious Fraud Office continues to look into what went on at Safe Hands after launching a criminal investigation on the grounds of suspected fraud in 2023. Sadly, customers should not hold out hope of seeing a big chunk of their investments returned. Three months ago, FRP indicated the expected return to planholders would be between a paltry 8p and 13p in the pound. Maybe the best customers can hope for is that those responsible for driving Safe Hands into the ground will be held to account. I hope so. Taking a slice of good old British intellectual flair isn't as easy as it used to be. Our university research departments are excellent at producing and patenting new technologies and ideas, but they are increasingly funded privately, or snapped up by companies overseas before UK investors can take a stake. Recently buyers have come calling for privately held Oxford Ionics, a quantum computing start-up from Oxford University, raising the possibility that other university spin-offs might be next. But while most of these businesses are private, Britain's boffins have spun out companies in the past that are listed on the stock market. Here are three to consider: Big business: Once a Leeds University start-up, radio technology firm Filtronic has one big customer Elon Musk's Space X Oxford Nanopore Spun out of Oxford University, Nanopore's sensing technology uses tiny holes (or pores) and electric current to read the sequence of DNA and RNA, quickly and effectively. The company listed in 2021 with much fanfare, and shares surged from 425p to over 570p on the first morning of trading. Today, despite the company's annual Clash-inspired conference London Calling in late May, the shares sit on just 1.50. An uninspiring performance that is scarcely going to Rock the Casbah. However, fans of the stock reckon it is chronically underpriced. Douglas Brodie, who holds it in the Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust, has described it as 'among the most misunderstood businesses that we own' and lauds its 'exquisitely sensitive technology'. Nanopore technology already has broad uses, from academic research through to vaccine manufacture, but if it can be used to read proteins as well as DNA then the opportunity for the business could be huge. Dr Lakmal Jayasinghe, the group's chief scientific officer, has said this is the 'next frontier' for the business and indicated there may be an early access programme for the company's protein detection tools later in 2025. The company is not yet profitable and has previously said it hopes to break even in 2027, as it continues to move into providing its technology for more commercial applications. Nanopore's shares have suffered from the general decline in the price of life sciences businesses since Covid, but also from the vacillations of the Trump administration over National Institutes of Health grant funding. That uncertainty isn't going to go away any time soon, but there are a couple of things that might move the share price. The first is further announcements on the protein front, and the rather more obvious second is an approach from a US company eager to get its hands on the Nanopore technology. It's a common story right now, less London Calling and more London Leaving, so with either prospect in sight, now might be a good time to snap up some shares. Traded on: Main market Ticker: ONT Filtronic If you're looking for the granddaddy of university spinouts, look no further than Filtronic. The business was developed at Leeds University in 1977 and listed in 1994. That doesn't make it one for fusty academics though. The company's advanced radio frequency technology, originally developed for telecoms, is now used for satellite communications, defence and space. It has one big customer Elon Musk's Space X, though insiders insist it is trying to reduce its reliance on this one business. Space is big business, as coverage of Katy Perry's orbital tourism aboard Blue Origin showed, but it's hard to find businesses in this sector that make a profit. Filtronic is both profitable and AIM-listed, which means that if you hold the shares for more than two years your beneficiaries will pay only half the inheritance tax due on them. The company also works in the world's biggest growth industry at present defence. This gives investors a double reason to give Filtronic a chance. New CEO Nat Edington has made a stratospheric start since joining last May. The company has turnover of 50million, but he wants to push it to 100million. The company has been firing on all cylinders, with a huge Space X order in May and other smaller contracts announced with defence business Leonardo, Airbus and the European Space Agency. The share price has also taken off, though it is still far away from the 20 highs it reached 25 years ago. At 1.66 this week, shares are up an impressive 127 per cent in the past 12 months. Excitement around Space X is one reason for this meteoric rise, but the possibility that someone else might pick the stock up is another. It's worth a look. Traded on: AIM Ticker: FTC Ceres Power Spun out from Imperial College in 2001, fuel cell business Ceres Power listed on AIM on 2003 before moving to the main stock market two years ago. Shareholders have had a bumpy ride since. The company makes solid fuel cells that convert fuel into electricity in an efficient manner, but the technology now also converts electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen producing process is more efficient than many competitor processes and is a serious contender for making low-cost greener fuel a holy grail for many companies and countries. Meanwhile, the fuel cells are used in data centres to provide portable power supplies. The hydrogen process is likely to bring more excitement in the long term, with the fuel cells more useful now in powering a data centre boom. So, Ceres gives the possibility of jam today and tomorrow. Ceres licenses its technology to others, rather than manufacturing itself, which is a good strategy until you lose a major partner and your shares react accordingly. That's what happened earlier this year when Bosch said it was no longer working with Ceres and would also sell a 17 per cent stake in the business. Analysts cut their target prices savagely, with Investec pulling back from a 600p price target to 145p, and Panmure Liberum back from 700p to 150p. The share price now, at 101p, is below all these targets though, and outside of the Bosch disappointment, the Ceres order book looks as solid as its fuel cells. Clients include Delta in Taiwan, Denso in Japan and Thermax in India, while the company's collaboration with Shell, in India, produced its first hydrogen in May. The company is still loss making, though royalty revenue should come soon from several businesses which should tip the balance back, and there's no imminent danger of it running out of steam. Analyst Alex O'Hanlon, at Panmure Liberum, reckons that the company will still have 80million of cash at its financial year end. Potential new investors must decide whether the share price reaction around Bosch was overdone, and if they are willing to wait and see whether the company's other strategies will come good. The company has already had something of a turnaround in the past few weeks, and the shares are up 16 per cent this month. If more positive newsflow comes out in the coming weeks, those who buy in now may also have their portfolio refuelled. Buy. Traded on: Main market Ticker: CWR English is no longer the first language for the majority of pupils at more than 2,000 schools, MailOnline can today reveal. No children at two primary schools one in Tower Hamlets and another in Kirklees, West Yorkshire have English as their mother tongue. Our statistics, obtained exclusively under Freedom of Information (FOI) laws, show nine in ten pupils don't speak only English at home at 107 schools. The full results of our audit, covering all 22,000 state schools, can be viewed in our search tool below. Bengali is the mother tongue of 92 per cent of the pupils at Kobi Nazrul, the primary school in Tower Hamlets where none of the kids solely speak English at home. The others speak a slew of other languages, including Indonesian and Urdu. At Pentland Infant in Dewsbury the Kirklees school the overwhelming majority of the children speak either Gujarati (36 per cent) or Panjabi (45 per cent). When broken down by languages, our FOI revealed Tottenhall Infant School, Enfield had the highest rate of Albanian speakers at 18 per cent. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Sheffield's Netherthorpe Primary School topped the league table for Arabic (54 per cent), meanwhile Burnley Brow Community School in Oldham had the highest share of Bengali speakers (93 per cent). In terms of Chinese, St Cecilia's CofE Primary School in Wokingham, Berkshire, had the highest rate (28 per cent). Polish speakers were most heavily concentrated at St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School in Windermere (43 per cent), while Urdu was most common at St Michael's CofE Primary School in Bolton (58 per cent). In total, English is no longer the first language for the majority of children at 2,039 schools. This includes deaf schools, where pupils' first language is BSL. Nationwide, English isn't the first language of 1.8 million pupils, or one in five pupils. Fuelled by immigration having spiralled to all-time highs, this has risen from 1.1 million ten years ago. The soaring numbers have raised concerns among critics that the slew of different languages can be incredibly disruptive in classrooms. Robert Bates, of the Centre for Migration Control, told MailOnline: 'It's a great shame that we have reached this point and it is evidence of successive governments failing to properly address assimilation issues. Your browser does not support iframes. 'Multi-language classrooms are hugely problematic. They inevitably sap the precious time of teachers who are forced to devote additional attention to those with a weaker grasp of the language at the expense of those who only speak English. 'The resources used will be lowest-common-denominator teaching devices that provide little from the individuals to excel. 'They also foster long term division, with little incentive for those who do not speak English to improve their fluency. 'It is time for a sink or swim approach in which state funding for translation costs are stripped across the board, encouraging adult migrants and parents alike to devote greater attention to improving this pretty basic skill.' Schools have had to pivot their limited resources to provide for the needs of pupils who struggle with English. Strain has been placed on their tight budgets due to providing translated versions of resources, adding subtitling and voiceovers, as well funding in-class interpreters. Teachers have previously said schools were under mounting pressure from mass immigration and called on ministers to fund them properly to cope with the array of different languages that pupils speak. MailOnline's analysis showed the authority that had the highest rate of first language speakers other than English was Newham (66.4 per cent). Brent (63.7 per cent) and Harrow (63.6 per cent) rounded out the top three. On the other hand, our FOI found 97 per cent of children spoke English as their first language in Northumberland. Redcar and Cleveland (96.7 per cent) and Cornwall (96.1 per cent) came second and third, respectively. Experts warn that kids who aren't taught English before they get to school are less likely to do well. Ian Mansfield, head of education at Policy Exchange, said: 'These statistics demonstrate the very real pressure that mass immigration places on public services.' However, some studies suggest that pupils who speak English as a second language can outperform native speakers and their presence has no impact on the learning of other pupils. Pictured: Kobi Nazrul school, where no pupils speak English as a first language Despite the language barrier, Kobi Nazrul was regarded as 'friendly and welcoming' in a glowing report from Ofsted in its most recent inspection Depending on how close they are to English, both phonetically and grammatically, some languages can be very difficult to switch from. Alp Mehmet, of Migration Watch UK, said: 'English is the glue that brings and holds us together as a country and helps new arrivals to blend in.' Mr Mehmet, who said he was the only non-English speaker at his east London school growing up in the 1960s, added: 'If teachers have to focus their attention on children who struggle to speak English because the language spoken at home is different, the time devoted to other pupils is bound to diminish.' Jim McConalogue, CEO at the think-tank Civitas said: 'You are effectively seeing the proportion of school-age pupils in England speaking English as an additional language continuing to steadily increase over time. 'Measures to ensure English language acquisition must therefore be prioritised. 'There are some short-term challenges that the DoE need to address for students who speak English as an additional language, as a lack of emphasis on English language provision can have a detrimental impact on both these students themselves and their classmates. Alp Mehmet, of Migration Watch UK, argues that if teachers have to focus their attention on children who struggle to speak English, the time devoted to other pupils is bound to diminish 'Many policymakers talk about diversity and inclusion, but relatively little is being done to support English language acquisition. 'This omission creates deeper problems not only for the individual children but society at large, around a common citizenship, a shared language and identity, belonging and social cohesion.' Some politicians believe the high number of immigrants now entering the UK need to be integrated into society by the government properly. Shadow education minister Neil O'Brien said: 'These figures underline just how serious the challenge of integration has become in some parts of the country. 'Integration shouldn't be an afterthought, it must be a priority. 'The government has totally failed to stop the boats and numbers coming illegally are massively up. 'They abandoned our plans to raise income requirements on the family route. And as well as having no plan on immigration they have no plan on integration.' Some campaigners argue the Government needs to have more involvement in schools that have especially high numbers of foreign language speakers. Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, said: 'The Government should publish the data regarding the language of pupils in each school and ensure that non-native speakers do not outnumber native speakers of English. 'This will benefit all pupils and allow our society to become more integrated, harmonious and at peace with itself.' Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, believes the Government should ensure that non-native speakers do not outnumber native speakers of English in schools Shadow education minister Neil O'Brien said: 'These figures underline just how serious the challenge of integration has become in some parts of the country' The FOI data, from the Department of Education, reflects the state-of-play in January 2024. In it, schools have some flexibility about how they code pupils' language. DoE bosses define the first language as 'where the pupil has been exposed to a language other than English during early development and continues to be exposed to this language in the home or in the community'. A Government spokesperson said: 'This government is determined to break down barriers to opportunity so every child, including pupils who speak a language other than English, can achieve and thrive. 'Schools are best placed to understand the needs of their pupils with English as an additional language and are responsible for determining what support to put in place. 'Additional funding is provided to schools to support pupils who need help learning how to speak, read and write English. 'More widely, to better integrate migrants into their new communities this government will introduce a new English language requirement across a broader range of immigration routes.' MailOnline's investigation comes after Keir Starmer last month warned that mass immigration risks making Britain an 'island of strangers'. Scrambling to blunt the threat of Reform, the Prime Minister vowed to give Brits what they had 'asked for time and time again'. He unveiled a package to 'take back control of our borders'. The skills threshold will be hiked and rules on fluency in English toughened under the Government's plan to bring down annual inflows by around 100,000. A former gangster, once branded one of the most feared men in New York, has lifted the lid on his life of crime, from committing his first killing aged just 14 to becoming a hitman and beating several attempted murder charges. Henry Medina, now 67, was the leader of a brutal street gang in the 1970s and 80s, running drugs, dodging death and taking lives, including his first victim, a 15-year-old boy, when he was still a teenager himself. After a brutal upbringing, Henry began slipping into gang life and made a bold move at age 13 to approach a feared local outfit, the Galaxy Gang, asking if he could set up a junior branch. He became the leader of the now-defunct Young Galaxy Gang, and it wasn't long before he was tested with real bloodshed. 'A few weeks after we formed the gang, some people broke into our clubhouse, and they messed it up, and we were told that it was a gang called the Caribbean Kings,' he says. 'So when we found that out, I told my gang, we're going up there. And I grabbed a big knife. 'I didn't have intentions of killing somebody at 14 - I really didn't. That wasn't my intention. 'My intention was to grab the knife so that I could look like a tough guy because at that time, that's what everybody thought of me.' Henry Medina was one of the most feared gangsters in New York after first killing at 14 But later, Henry found out the Caribbean Kings had nothing to do with the destruction - it was set up by the older members of the Galaxy Gang who wanted their younger counterparts to prove themselves. Henry bursts into tears as he adds: 'I wound up taking the life of an innocent young man. He was an innocent young man, 15 years old, and I took his life. 'And I believe that the reason I did it was because I was holding all that anger from what my father did. 'That was the thing that exploded. The anger came out, and I did what I did.' Although Henry was arrested and sent to a youth detention centre, police were forced to let him go as no one would talk. 'Snitching' meant death. 'I was in a youth house for three weeks. Nobody wanted to testify because they knew if they did, this was going to get even worse. 'That was the rule in the street. You don't talk about anything you do with your gang. That's how I got away with it. 'I eventually told them I did so they could let my friends go, but they still had no evidence to charge me, so they dismissed the case.' Henry, who was just a teenager at the time of the crime was not punished for the crime as there was no evidence and no one was willing to talk That deadly code of silence allowed Henry to continue rising through the ranks of the underworld, and his crimes grew darker. 'Do I have other secrets? Yes. But the statute of limitations does not run out on homicides, so I'm not going to sit here and write a book and tell on myself about who I did what to,' he admits. 'I became a hitman, and I kept coming in and out of jail. So I cannot speak about certain things because I got away with them. 'There're some of it I just have to hold it in and never speak on it because the time of limitation never goes away. 'The only things I speak about are things that can't hurt me. I had five counts of attempted homicide - I beat that case. 'The last time I went to jail, I was caught with 800 bags of heroin.' Henry was only arrested that day by pure chance - police happened to raid the flat just as he walked in with the drugs. Throughout the 70s and 80s, Henry cheated death again and again. He lived life on the edge every single day. Throughout the 70s and 80s, Henry was involved in shootouts, police chases, and several crimes He remembers a time when he and his friends were caught in a sticky situation that ended up in a rooftop chase and an escape reminiscent of a Hollywood movie. He recalls: 'I had a friend called Johnny - we used to go rob cocaine drug dealers - the big-time drug dealers. Not the little ones you see in the streets. 'I'm talking about the ones that came off the ships and aeroplanes with kilos. One of our rules was not to rob the same place twice. 'We robbed this place and made away with around $80,000 worth of money, drugs and jewellery.' But with Johnny desperate for more money, he enlisted Henry and another friend, Jay, to go loot the same place, breaking their own cardinal rule. Henry says he knew he had to be there to protect Johnny, as Jay could not be trusted. 'Jay is a straight killer. He will kill his own mother if he wants to', Henry says. But this time, the trio were not so lucky. He was last locked up in prison for dealing drugs after a life of crime, including serving as a hitman Henry explains: 'Johnny had this lady by the neck and used her as a shield as we made our way into the apartment. 'There was commotion, but we didn't know that it had led people to call the cops. 'Some kid came running out of a room with his hands around his waist. I didn't know what he had there, so I shot at him and hit him twice. 'We got some money and drugs, but as we were coming down the apartment, we saw two cops who told us to freeze. 'Jay ran to the rooftop, and one of the cops chased after him. The other one stayed with me and kicked the gun out of my hands. 'But what he didn't know was that Johnny always kept two guns with him. We suddenly heard a gunshot sound on the roof. 'When the policeman who was with us looked up at the roof, Johnny shot at him and we ran away in opposite directions. His friend Jay was chased all across the roof of the building but miraculously escaped. Henry, with a fellow inmate at the Lompoc Penitentiary in California In another incident, Jay provoked an altercation with drug dealers, leading to catastrophic consequences. 'These Cubans chased us into a room, and there was no means to escape. Although they knew me, but started shooting at us. 'I pulled Jay on top of me because I thought if they were going to keep shooting, they might as well shoot him. 'They finally told us to leave, but Jay was all bloodied and shot up. I put him in the back of a cab and took him to the hospital - he survived, man. But unlike Henry, his two friends didn't live long enough to tell the tales of their colourful past. Not too long afterwards, Jay was killed when a man opened a machine gun on him while he was in the toilet. Henry says: 'Jay did so much dirt to people. You live by the gun, you die by the gun. Johnny was also killed when a rival slit his throat. Henry emotionally says he was in prison at the time of Johnny's murder, so he could not do anything to help him. Henry lived a dangerous life where he was forced to constantly look over his shoulders for rivals Henry also had his own encounters where he was targeted by people he had wronged, including a man who wanted revenge for getting robbed. 'He saw me in an apartment and pulled out a gun and started shooting at me. Of course, I ran. I didn't go back to the neighbourhood for a long time. 'When I robbed him, I had a mask on, but he was still able to know who I was. That told me that somebody had ratted me out to him.' 'I beat five counts of attempted murder,' he says calmly. His gang's power was so entrenched that they even had an informant inside the NYPD - a federal agent who helped them outsmart authorities and taught them military-style tactics. 'We called him Mandigo. He went rogue, and he hung out with us. So he taught us a lot of different tactics on how to approach people in the street and how to get inside apartments,' Henry says. 'And then he had practice - we would flip over cars like we're running, and we would throw ourselves, flip over the car. 'It was crazy. I don't know what the f**k had us doing this type of stuff.' Henry, back, centre, now says he suffers from severe PTSD after everything he has experienced Mandigo was eventually killed. He was set up, shot in the neck and paraded around the neighbourhood for people to see he had been slaughtered. Now in his late 60s, Henry lives with the scars of his past. He suffers from PTSD and says the trauma of his crimes still haunts him to this day. Henry believes his shocking childhood growing up in the tough streets of New York's Lower East Side is what plunged him into a life of chaos. Henry grew up in a home plagued by domestic violence and fear. 'My dad was a drinker, and he used to get violent when he was drunk', he explains. He would put his hands on my mum, and I was too young to do anything about it. When I got in the middle, he'd start whipping on me. Eventually, his mother found the courage to leave - but the terror didn't end there. 'One day, my father showed up to kill all of us. He had a knife to my mum's throat. Henry says his life of crime and gang activity stemmed from his difficult childhood 'I didn't know what to do, so I jumped on my dad and began beating on him with my older brother. 'I took the razor from him and I wanted to cut his throat. My mum stopped me. She yelled at me and stopped me.' To ask for forgiveness for the crimes of his childhood, Henry went back to the place where he had killed the 15-year-old boy. He emotionally says: 'I lit a candle up exactly where I stuck a knife in him, and I wrote a letter explaining to him how sorry I am and asked him to forgive me. But instead of running from his past, he's trying to turn his story into a warning. Henry tearfully says: 'God has a reason for me to stay alive after everything I have done to people - there's got to be a reason. I'm now trying to do the right thing. He's written a book and now speaks publicly about his violent past in the hope of steering young people away from gangs. 'I'm regretful for everything I've done,' he says. 'I want to give back. I want to help.' Henry says he wrote his book to warn young people about the dangers of gang life After his last stint in prison, Henry worked with gang members to help turn their lives away from a life on the streets. His work, recognised by several organisations, has earned him many accolades. These days, he lives with his 90-year-old mother, who he takes care of full time. He has also held on to his lifelong passion as a graffiti artist, which he says always helped him in his dark days. He was one of the people who pioneered graffitiing in New York City and made it the phenomenon it is today. Many of his iconic designs, featuring his name Henry 161, can still be seen on trains and subways. Once a feared gangster who ruled the streets and dodged the law for decades, Henry Medina is now a man searching for redemption. 'It was like medieval times' says Richard Brixley as he fixes up his Harley Davidson Ultra Classic on his front drive, 'someone had a flaming fence panel, they were blocking the road up at each end with riot vans, my partner was in the house terrified'. The events the biker is describing unfolded last week on the Leigh Park housing estate in Havant, just outside Portsmouth in Hampshire. Hours earlier, a vigilante 'paedo hunter' group known as Protecting Pompeys Innocent had begun a Facebook live stream confronting a man they accused of talking to a girl online he believed was 14-years-old. That 'girl' was in fact a decoy from a group called the Child Online Safety Team. After the man allegedly sent a series of sickening messages to the 'girl', a group were sent in to confront him. As news spread of the sting, hundreds of protesters, some allegedly travelling from miles away, swarmed onto Leigh Park - what happened next on the quiet estate once dubbed the largest council estate in Europe was shocking. As police battled to keep the peace, parents jeered and cheered as their own children threw missiles at officers and tore down fences. One resident recalled how terrifying it was: 'It was like a proper riot, quite scary, all the shouting, there were kids pulling a fence down and their parents egging 'em on. 'I understand people wanting to watch but don't bring your children!' Earlier this week a quiet Hampshire estate was plunged into abject chaos when a paedophile sting escalated In shocking footage posted online, crowds clashed with officers as armed police with riot shields took a 38-year-old man into custody Officers lined up and formed barricades, with the rioters appearing to launch projectiles in their direction The sting that started the fire had been organised by vigilante group the Child Online Safety Team Biker Richard Brixley was there that night and told MailOnline it was positively 'medieval' By the end of the evening a full-scale riot had left an 80-year-old blind man in hospital having allegedly had a brick thrown at him through a glass window, a house had been smashed up, fence panels ripped off, a dispersal order placed on the area and a man arrested on suspicion of engaging in sexual communication with a child. Lee Comley, 38, of Middle Park Way, was later charged with arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence. He appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court last week where he was remanded in custody. He will appear at Portsmouth Crown Court on August 4. In the wake of the chaos, residents have spoken to MailOnline about the violence and the 21st century phenomena of online vigilante paedophile hunters taking the law into their own hands. 'I used to see him every night out walking his dog, he kept himself to himself', one woman, who did not want to be named, told MailOnline. She was at home scrolling through Facebook that night when she saw a live stream of a paedo hunter sting gathering thousands of views. To her horror, it was her neighbour a few doors down. The sting team had called in the police to arrest their suspect at around 7.38pm. But as anger grew online, crowds began arriving onto Middle Park Way - officers were quickly met with a large and increasingly angry mob. As chants of 'paedo, paedo' were screamed by the mob, missiles were hurled at police as the epicentre of the riot focused on a house on the green at the junction of Locksheath Close and Middle Park Way. Richard Brixley explained: 'I heard people were travelling from Paulsgrove in Portsmouth to take part in the riot, you couldn't park on this road, they were going down the back of the houses to get to the guy's house, they were ripping my fence panels for stuff to throw at police.' With the situation turning violent and dangerous, Hampshire Constabulary were forced to deploy dozens of riot police brandishing shields who stormed the estate to hold back the crowds which by then numbered at least '1,000' people, mainly in the '18-25 age group', as one woman claimed. PJ, who has lived on Leigh Park his whole life, had been in his flat watching the movie 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' when he went outside to watch the chaos unfold from his doorstep. 'I've never seen it like this', the 33-year-old said, adding: 'There was riot police out here, there were kids shouting 'nonce, nonce', there were people all over the field.' As crowds began arriving onto Middle Park Way - officers were quickly met with a large and increasingly angry mob As chants of 'paedo, paedo' were screamed by the mob, missiles were hurled at police With the situation turning violent and dangerous, Hampshire Constabulary were forced to deploy dozens of riot police brandishing shields Video shows how rioters hurled bricks, fence panels and anything they could find at police as officers smashed back the crowds to try and bring the carnage under control. The alleged property of the suspect, which had multiple flats in, had had its door smashed in and windows pelted with bricks. Rioters were seen trying to start fires while a man brandished a flaming torch fashioned from a fence panel. Amid the chaos, a blind 80-year-old man was struck by a flying brick and rushed to hospital, kids as young as 'twelve' were spotted taking part in the anarchy. 'They were just chucking things at the police, it was the kids, they were just out to cause trouble, there was literally thousands' says one homeowner who lives across the road from where the violence unfolded. Innocent residents were unsurprisingly caught in the crossfire. 'They was chucking boulders at mum's greenhouse' says Toni, who lives just off the green, 'they were hurling anything at the man's front door'. She added: 'Mum was absolutely terrified, you couldn't see the grass through people, the riot police with their shields.' While many locals told MailOnline they understood the anger - the violence was totally out of order. 'I understand the cause. As much as I appreciate the severity of the situation it seemed to do more damage and stress to the people that live here', said Richard Brixley. He added: 'It was quite a traumatic experience for the kids who live here, there were kids being brought to a riot.' It remains boarded up today following the intense rioting earlier in the week Toni agreed, adding: 'What I don't understand is that the guy was accused of being a predator but people were bringing their kids up here? Kids were shouting nonce. 'Why take children to get out a paedophile!? Morals, yes, brains, zero!' While another mum said: 'I have three kids and kept them inside, anyone who brought their kids is vile.' The riot was brought to an end shortly after 10pm. So-called paedophile hunter groups operate without official endorsement from the police, they are run by volunteers. The activity first rose to prominence following the release of the 2014 Channel 4 documentary 'The Paedophile Hunter' which followed a British vigilante called Stinson Hunter. Mr Hunter, who worked alongside a team based out of Nuneaton in the West Midlands, would snare paedophiles online while posing as underage children. The group would organise a meetup with a suspect where they would film the encounter and post it on Facebook. They achieved dozens of convictions. But the work has courted controversy in recent years following the suicides of several men accused by vigilante groups of being child predators. Dad-of-four Adrian Smith, 48, died in February just hours after being accused by an online group of sending sexually explicit messages to someone he was said to believe was a 14-year-old girl. He was released on bail by Avon and Somerset Police but later found dead after throwing himself off a bridge onto the M4 motorway. FUSE UK, the hunter group behind Mr Smith's sting, took the video down after hearing of his death to 'allow his family to grieve' but did not apologise. On February 21, Adrian Smith walked to the M4 motorway and threw himself off a motorway bridge before he was hit by several passing vehicles. Just hours earlier he had been released on bail by Avon and Somerset Police following his arrest after he was confronted by online paedophile hunters at his doorstep The group alleged that Smith (pictured) sent sexually explicit pictures and messages to an online paedophile hunter posing as a 14-year-old girl Despite the controversy surrounding some of vigilante groups' work, data reveals the number of convictions thanks to evidence provided by these groups have skyrocketed. In a statement, Protecting Pompeys Innocent condemned Tuesday night's violence at Leigh Park, saying it puts their work in jeopardy. They explained: 'We do not condone in anyway whatsoever violence or disorder. People who cause such issues when stings happen risk the police and government trying to shut groups down. 'If you see a sting taking place feel free to watch etc but it's come to my attention people throwing bricks towards the pred and they've ended up hitting police etc.' Chief Inspector of Havant and East Hampshire districts, Alex Charge, said Tuesday's violence was 'completely unacceptable'. He said: 'As a police service we are committed to protecting vulnerable people that includes children, and we know that the community feel very passionately about this also. 'Disorder as was seen last night will not be tolerated it can cause real fear for residents, damage property and seriously impede our police officers who are working really hard to carry out their duties, make arrests and keep people safe. 'Officers attended quickly and robustly last night but were confronted by a group of people acting aggressively, including some who were throwing objects at police. 'This is completely unacceptable and puts our officers at risk of harm when they are there to protect you our community. 'Our investigation into the report of sexual communication with a child remains ongoing and we have a man in custody. In addition to this, any further offences identified linked to last night's disorder will be investigated and dealt with appropriately.' For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support During the afternoon of July 10, 1998, one of the most audacious kidnappings in US history unfolded in the maternity ward of a Florida hospital. Gloria Williams, who had recently miscarried, was prowling the corridors of the University Medical Center in Jacksonville dressed in blue scrubs to disguise herself as a nurse. She entered the cubicle where Shanara Mobley was holding her newborn baby girl Kamiyah. The two women spoke, with Mobley believing she was talking to a medical professional, until Williams scooped the child up in her arms and left the hospital. What was supposed to be one of the happiest days of Mobley's life rapidly turned to heartbreak when she realized her baby had been snatched away not by a nurse, but by an unhinged stranger. Mobley went on to spend the next several years desperately searching for her firstborn - and it wasn't until January 2017, when she had three more children and Kamiyah was 18 years old, that she finally got answers. Kamiyah was months away from graduating Colleton County High School as 'Alexis Kelli Manigo', after living out her childhood as Williams' daughter at their home in the sleepy South Carolina town of Walterboro when the truth came to light. The abducted girl still calls her kidnapper 'mom' and considers herself the child of two families - but it was her own suspicions which eventually brought Williams down. Cracks started to show in the fabrication when 'Alexis' wanted to apply for a job, but her alleged mother refused to hand over her birth certificate or Social Security number. Kamiyah Mobley (pictured) turns 27 on July 10, 2025, which also marks the anniversary of the day she was kidnapped from a Florida hospital by a woman disguised as a nurse During her kidnapper's court case, Kamiyah's biological mother Shanara Mobley described the torment of having her newborn stolen. (Pictured: Shanara with Kamiyah in January 2022) Kamiyah was months away from graduating Colleton County High School as 'Alexis Kelli Manigo', after living out her childhood as Williams' daughter at their home in the sleepy South Carolina town of Walterboro when the truth came to light (Pictured: Kamiyah and Williams) An affidavit would later reveal that the birth documents for 'Alexis' had been forged, and her Social Security number was taken from a Virginia man who died in 1983. The kidnapper's labyrinth of lies finally came crashing down when Kamiyah grew suspicious of Williams, prompting her to admit the deception, and after local police received an anonymous tip. Today marks Kamiyah's 27th birthday, and the last nine years have seen her reunite with her birth parents after watching the woman she thought was her mother go to jail for 18 years. Williams' emotional trial was full of twists - both inside and outside the courtroom - as family drama unfolded at the witness stand and in the media. Kamiyah hit out at the man who had called himself her father for the past 18 years, Charles Manigo, after he cried on the witness stand and told the press his partner Williams had lied to him about the child's origins. Manigo tearfully told ABC News the couple had named the girl Alexis Kelly Manigo after Williams led him to believe she had given birth to her while he was away. He claimed that they raised her in Walterboro, South Carolina as Alexis Kelly and even shared custody of her when they split in 2003, while sharing a photograph of himself with the teen in her prom dress. Kamiyah hit out at the man who had called himself her father for the past 18 years, Charles Manigo after he cried on the witness stand and told the press his partner Williams had lied to him about the child's origins. Manigo also tearfully spoke with ABC News, as shown above Williams was sentenced in February 2018 to 18 years at Hernando Correctional Institution, FL But Kamiyah, then 18, slammed him on Facebook while saying that he had been an absent father. 'He did nothing, he didn't even help with nothing (sic) that was done for that prom,' she wrote. 'He was the reason I didn't go to my senior prom, he was not there when I moved to Georgia, never saw him.' Of his alleged claims that he contributed money to Williams for child support, Kamiyah wrote, 'He like (sic) to bring up a $40 check a week? Thats (sic) nothing but $160 dollars. My bundles [of weave hair] cost $290.' Her biological mother Shanara Mobley, now 43, also broke down in tears during the court case, as she described the torment of having her newborn baby stolen just hours after she gave birth. The heartbroken mother said she contemplated suicide 'every day' and had people watching her 'all day every day' to make sure she was ok. She said that even 20 years later she felt the loss of her daughter deeply and even called for Williams to face the death penalty. 'I always thought about my baby every day, every day, every day. I would catch myself in my car crying, in bed crying, taking a bath crying, doing something with her siblings and crying,' said Mobley as she recalled her depression. Pictured: Images generated and released by police during the hunt for Kamiyah's kidnapper. She was not pictured before the kidnapping, which happened hours after she was born Pictured: Kamiyah's biological parents, Shanara Mobley and Craig Aiken, from her Instagram Mobley said she had suffered fresh pain after seeing her daughter refer to her abductor as 'mom' and seeing Williams' number in her phone as 'mommy.' 'It doesn't heal now, I am still hurting. When you're reaching out to my child - I am your mother Kamiyah,' she shouted into the courtroom. 'I am your mother!' Mobley issued a heartbreaking ultimatum to Kamiyah during an interview with the Daily Mail in June 2018, saying she had to choose which mother she wanted in her life. 'I shouldn't have to compete with a kidnapper - she has to pick one of us,' Mobley said. 'Nobody acknowledges my pain. I feel like I'm being robbed all over again every time she (Williams) reaches out to my daughter,' she added. 'Every phone call they share, every Mother's Day card Kamiyah sends her, it just makes the pain worse. 'I'm being rejected for a kidnapper, how do you think that feels?' At this point, Kamiyah was not on speaking terms with her biological mother after their relationship fell apart amid the acrimony. But Kamiyah's social media indicates that they have since healed the rift, as the pair are seen posing together with wide smiles in a January 2022 Instagram post. Kamiyah was months away from graduating Colleton County High School as 'Alexis Kelli Manigo', after living out her childhood as Williams' daughter at their home in the sleepy South Carolina town of Walterboro when the truth came to light (Pictured: Kamiyah and Williams) Kamiyah wrote a letter to the court appealing for a reduction in her kidnapper's sentence Pictured: Kamiyah with her father Craig Aiken, who was in jail when she was born in 1998 The 26-year-old, who shares pieces of her life via Facebook and Instagram most days, has not recently posted anything about Williams. In a nod towards a double-identity she is still grappling with, she uses both her birth name and the name Williams gave her on her Instagram account, and has a Facebook profile for each. The Daily Mail has reached out to see how she is doing ahead of her 27th birthday. It's unclear whether Kamiyah visits Williams in jail, though she appealed to the court to reduce her 18-year sentence in a heartfelt letter penned in September 2021. 'I am writing this letter in support of my mother, Gloria Williams,' Kamiyah wrote in a letter, which was obtained by Actions News Jax. 'I would like to make it clear that she is my mother. She raised me, and not only provided for my needs, but she loved me unconditionally,' she said. 'I had a well-rounded life; and I am an independent, college educated, and deeply spiritual person, because of all my mom gave me. I am fully aware of how our lives came to be, what they are, and how my mom came to be my mom. 'I have met my birth parents, and I am grateful to have me my birth parents, and I am grateful to have a 2nd family in my life especially to have siblings. 'I understand that none of this modifies the truth of the past, nor does it justify my moms actions in any way,' she continued, 'However, at the end of the day, I love my mother and I wholeheartedly support her! I ask for the courts grace and mercy, as I need my mother home.' Her biological mother Mobley (pictured) also broke down in tears during the court case, as she described the torment of having her newborn baby stolen just hours after she gave birth Pictured: Kamiyah with her biological sisters, Shuriah, Shakaria, and Shadawn, in 2018 Kamiyah (pictured in 2023) previously defended her kidnapper Gloria Williams as 'no felon' The letter was included in Williams' motion to a judge to consider shortening her sentence in December 2021, and it was revealed to the public in March 2022. Kamiyah also previously defended her kidnapper as 'no felon' and said she raised her with 'everything (she) needed', but the motion was rejected. Meanwhile, the former University Medical Center paid Mobley $1.5 million as they settled a lawsuit with her for allowing the abduction to happen. She was just 16 years old when she gave birth to Kamiyah, and has since raised three more girls - Shuriah, Shakaria, and Shadawn. Kamiyah's father, Craig Aiken, now 50, was in jail when she was born for drug possession and delivery, and for impregnating Mobley when she was 15 years old and he was 19. Williams was around 33 when she kidnapped Kamiyah. She was in the midst of an abusive relationship, and had miscarried a child a week before. When she pleaded guilty to kidnapping Kamiyah in February 2018, her neighbors expressed their shock, describing her as a regular church-goer. On June 8 of that year, she was sentenced to 18 years behind bars at Hernando Correctional Institution in Brooksville, Florida. Since then, she has pursued a master's degree in business administration while completing community service. She is due to be released on October 11, 2032. Aussie Hollywood comedy icon Yahoo Serious is just days away from being evicted from an elderly dementia patient's home where he's been allegedly squatting for months. Serious is said to be living illegally with his Jack Russell terrier in the multi-million dollar home of Charles Phillip Porter, who is in his 90s and now in a nursing home. The Young Einstein star was spotted at the plush Palm Beach home, in Sydney's wealthy northern beaches, on Tuesday but faces being kicked out within weeks. He has been ordered to exit the multi-storey house on Barrenjoey Road by August 4 but showed no sign of being willing to leave when Daily Mail Australia spoke to him. He denied squatting in the home, despite a tribunal hearing giving him the deadline to vacate, and insisted: 'You're getting it all wrong.' But Serious declined to answer further questions about his future plans, and if he would move out or where he would go. Mr Porter's lifelong friend Margie Charlton this week told Daily Mail Australia the former star has cost the homeowner $70,000 in nursing home fees because of his refusal to move out. She has had Mr Porter's power of attorney for the last 14 years and said she now has to sell the home to pay for the mounting nursing home bill. Yahoo Serious, with his Jack Russell dog, Jingle, seen outside Mr Porter's Palm Beach home Ms Charlton desperately needs to sell Mr Porter's mansion to pay for his nursing home fees 'I owe $70,000 in nursing home fees because I can't sell the f***ing house because he won't move out,' Ms Charlton said. The amount grows at an alarming rate of around $6,500 per month, she said. In March, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard Serious used to live in the granny flat beneath the ramshackle property, which stands among the mansions overlooking picturesque Pittwater. The tribunal was told the owner had allowed Serious to move into the granny flat, as the former screen star was living rough in his ageing BMW sedan, but he moved into the main house when Mr Porter was put into care. On April 24, the tribunal initially gave Mr Serious six weeks to move out, Ms Charlton told Daily Mail Australia. 'But his lawyer said he needed 12 weeks because he's a sick man with lymphoma,' she said. Ms Charlton alleges that despite appearing fragile at the tribunal hearing, Serious was seen playing Anzac Day Two-Up at Newport Bowling Club the following day. 'It was actually me who was feeling sick from it all,' she said. Yahoo Serious (pictured) appeared to be having trouble with his rundown silver BMW's radiator when he was seen outside the Palm Beach home He drove the vehicle to a nearby mechanic where he declined to answer further questions Serious - and his wild haircut at the time - became suddenly famous when he starred in 1988's Young Einstein movie and then 1993's Reckless Kelly. But he later fell on hard times and was taken in by Mr Porter and Ms Charlton several years ago. He was recently seen looking very gaunt, amid concerns for his health. Serious told the tribunal he should be allowed to remain in the home because he was Mr Porter's carer, which Ms Charlton strongly disputes. 'Phillip - we call him Phillip, not Charles, is a family friend, he has been for years and years,' she said. 'He's never been married, never had children, so he made me power of attorney and trustee. 'He was getting old and getting dementia, and was having trouble looking after himself, so I was doing all his cooking. 'It wasn't like Yahoo was his carer. He wasn't bathing him or dressing him. I was washing his clothes, we had a cleaner coming in. 'He was just there to listen out for him, really.' He spoke to Daily Mail Australia in March looking very gaunt, amid concerns for his health Northern Beaches local Margie Charlton is Mr Porter's longtime friend and power of attorney Ms Charlton said Serious moved in after she and Mr Porter, out for a morning swim in Palm Beach, found the fallen star living out of his car. 'We didn't want to put Phillip in a nursing home, he wasn't ready yet, and he had a flat underneath his house,' she added. 'So I said to Yahoo, "Look, you're obviously living out of your car. We've got a place for you to stay if you would just keep an eye on Phillip". 'It was just somebody to make sure he was OK. 'The deal was he could stay there, but when I said to move out, he had to move out so we could sell the place... and when the time came, he just wouldn't.' It's alleged Serious then moved from the granny flat to the upstairs home when Mr Porter went into his nursing home and was using Mr Porter's furniture. 'We gave him an eviction notice and he just threw it over his shoulder,' she said. 'We told him we need to sell the property to pay the fees, and that's when he turned around and said, "Nah, sorry, not happening". Yahoo Serious - and his wild haircut at the time - became suddenly famous when he starred in 1988's Young Einstein movie and then 1993's Reckless Kelly 'It's just a nightmare.' In her application filed to NCAT, Ms Charlton said Mr Porters ongoing care is at risk if the property is unable to be sold. Due to his diagnosis of dementia, Mr Porter has been placed in a nursing home, and I hold power of attorney for his affairs, she wrote. The Public Trustee has instructed me to sell the property in order to fund Mr Porters ongoing care. Failure to do so will result in his removal from his current care facility. Serious denied he was squatting in the home when he spoke to Daily Mail Australia in March. I don't do things that are illegal and I never have,' he said. 'The [professional] work I have done has proved that. When you have done something significant in your life then you become an easy target to sell papers.' At the time, Serious - born Greg Pead - claimed he was not aware of any eviction or impending tribunal. Yahoo Serious - born Greg Pead - claimed in March that he was not aware of any eviction or impeding tribunal I am not aware of anything, but the truth always comes out,' he added. 'Im just a human who lives with the legacy of being defamed.' As well as a Keep Out warning sign in the front door window, the dilapidated cottage also has a large chest blocking the entrance of the home. Serious insisted: 'There are a lot of problems with that house.' After a few unsuccessful attempts to restart his career, he was previously evicted from an Avalon rental property in 2020 for failing to pay his rent. Another NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing at the time ordered him to pay his landlords $15,000 and vacate the property. His production company, Serious Productions Pty Ltd, had begun renting the property in March 2017 for $1,350 per week. They are mothers, wives, daughters and girlfriends - not the faces we typically associate with cold-blooded crime. But behind their seemingly ordinary lives, some women harbour dark secrets, deadly resentments and longstanding grudges that can have unimaginable consequences. We have all watched in morbid fascination as Erin Patterson, a seemingly mild-mannered mother from country Victoria, became the centre of a murder mystery that has dominated headlines around the world. Patterson had maintained her innocence, insisting she had no part in the death of her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, despite them all dying after eating her homemade beef Wellington. Last Monday, the court found that Patterson had laced the lunch with poisonous death cap mushrooms, and she was found guilty of the triple murder. The bizarre case has sparked intense speculation about Patterson's motives - with many of us left wondering: what really drives women to kill? Patterson is just one in a long line of female killers in Australia who have equally fascinated and horrified the general public for decades. There was Katherine Knight, the butcher from Aberdeen, who murdered her partner before skinning him and attempting to serve his cooked remains to his children. Last Monday, Erin Patterson (pictured) was found guilty of triple murder after poisoning her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson Former detective Luke Taylor (pictured), who spent 14 years in the NSW Police, says female killers are judged more harshly than men Baby killer Keli Lane gave birth in secret and murdered her newborn daughter before heading to a wedding hours later - smiling in photos as if nothing had happened. Unlike male killers, who are overwhelmingly the perpetrators of murder and more likely to strike out in anger or dominance, women often kill in a quiet, methodical manner and with deeply personal motives. Experts say many are pushed to the brink by emotional trauma, oppressive relationships or a desperate need to reclaim control. In some cases, it's a moment of blind rage - but in others, it's a carefully calculated plan hidden behind smiles and Sunday lunches. With the help of former detective Luke Taylor, we explore the psychological patterns, explosive triggers and twisted motivations that turn seemingly ordinary women into headline-making killers. Why are we obsessed with women who kill? According to Taylor, who spent 14 years in the NSW Police Force, the public's morbid fascination runs deeper than the crimes themselves. Australia's 'Hannibal Lecter', Katherine Knight (pictured) had left her husband for her lover John Price and was furious when he ended their relationship Revenge was apparently Knight's motive when she stabbed and skinned ex-lover Price (left), before cooking his remains 'Female killers are judged more harshly than men, but when the woman is a mother, public outrage hits another level,' he tells Daily Mail Australia. 'Society sees women as maternal, mothers, wives - even the most misogynistic of men still have [positive] opinions about their mums. 'We expect them to be more compliant - the softer sex - and it shakes us when we hear about violent crimes or murders being committed by women. 'We've all lived vicariously through these stories as they play out in the news, just like we do with movies or books - and it challenges our perception.' Weapon of choice - what female killers reach for and why Research reveals that when women kill, it's an even split between premeditated and spontaneous acts, but their choice of weapon often depends on planning, accessibility and the victim's strength. 'When the crime is planned out, whatever method they choose, they have to consider that if it's a male victim, he's likely stronger than her, so she needs to avoid confrontation,' says Taylor. That's why poisoning has long been seen as the weapon of choice in calculated murders. 'Poisoning is a way to overcome that concern [about being overpowered], and a longer-term poisoning would be part of a more deliberate strategy,' Taylor explains. The fact that the Leongatha murders were poisonings was likely enough for police to immediately turn to Patterson as the most likely suspect and exclude all others. Indeed, if there's any sign of poisoning at the murder scene, suspicion invariably falls on the 'grieving' wife, regardless of her apparent distress. However, when it comes to murders in the heat of the moment, it's an altogether different story. 'If the murder happens in a fit of rage, then women are far more likely to use a knife over a gun,' Taylor says. 'Most homes have an average of 50 knives so they are easily accessible and in that moment of passion, they'll reach for whatever is handy.' Whether it's a kitchen knife, sleeping pills or a deadly beef Wellington, the weapon a woman uses often points to her motivation - from fear, rage or more sinister planning. Convicted baby killer Keli Lane (pictured) dominated headlines for years - but a motive for killing her daughter Tegan has never been clear Triggers and motives - what pushes women to kill? Thrill-seekers - rare but terrifying Crimes driven by thrill are extremely rare, and usually fall within the realm of psychopathy or sociopathy. 'Many people can be sadistic, but even then, there's usually a reason,' says Taylor. 'Thrill killers lack remorse and use abuse as a form of power, and it's extremely rare to see this among female killers.' Infamous thrill killers So-called 'Lesbian Vampire Killer' Tracey Wigginton claimed to be part of a vampire cult. In 1989, she lured her male victim, council worker and father-of-four Edward Baldock, to a park, then murdered him and drank his blood. Murders driven by thrill are rare, but terrifying. 'Lesbian Vampire Killer' Tracey Wigginton (pictured after her arrest) lured a man to a park in 1989, stabbed him and drank his blood Wigginton (pictured) was 24 when she committed the horrifying crime Financial stress - not greed, but desperation These murders are often a reaction to coercive control, economic pressure or being trapped in abusive relationships. 'They've maybe lived with tight purse strings and no escape and the services are so inadequate, they feel forced to act,' says Taylor. 'Or perhaps it's mounting debt and they cannot see any other solution. They reach a point and they just snap. Fraud may stem from greed but it is rare murder does.' Infamous financial cases Patricia Byers, dubbed the 'Black Widow', was convicted of attempting to murder her de facto partner by shooting him in the head while he slept in 1990. He survived. She had taken out a life insurance policy in his name prior to the attack. Years earlier, her husband had died in a suspicious house explosion, also after insurance policies were taken out. While greed played a part, investigators noted she had been under financial pressure for years. Revenge, jealousy and crimes of passion These are the most frequent motives and are often impulsive. 'Jealousy murders are usually more violent, often involving a knife and close contact,' says Taylor. 'As a detective, these are the fastest to solve. If there's cheating involved, someone's usually locked up in 24 hours.' Infamous revenge murder Australia's 'female Hannibal Lecter' - Katherine Knight - is the butcher who stabbed her partner, skinned him and tried to serve his cooked remains to his children. Knight had left her husband for her lover John Price and was furious when he ended their relationship. She was spurred by revenge and passion on the night she sent his children to stay with friends, stabbing him 37 times. Escaping abuse - a desperate way out Some women don't kill out of rage but out of desperation to escape violent partners. 'Most of these women just want to survive. They've been conditioned to abuse and believe killing is the only way out,' Taylor says. 'Many cases amount to self-defence, even if it ends in a homicide charge.' These stories often blur the line between victim and perpetrator and frequently expose cracks in the system meant to protect them. Infamous abuse killings Chamari Liyanage was convicted of manslaughter after killing her abusive husband, Dr Sudheera Liyanage, in 2014. She claimed years of physical and emotional abuse, and her case highlighted the challenges faced by victims of intimate partner violence in the legal system. Chamari Liyanage (left) was convicted of the manslaughter of her abusive husband Dr Sudheera Liyanage (right) 'Most of these women just want to survive. They've been conditioned to abuse and believe killing is the only way out,' former detective Luke Taylor says Mental health and postnatal depression - helplessness and hopelessness In rare cases, women suffering from postpartum depression, psychosis or other mental illnesses commit murder while in a state of severe detachment from reality. 'It's hard to comment on this type of trigger as a male,' says Taylor. 'But with many forms of mental health the person is suffering from a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. 'When you have a condition like this, you are not making right decisions and often it doesn't matter what others may say - your mind will negate it.' Mental health cases In June this year, Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, was charged with murder after allegedly fatally stabbing her three-year-old daughter Sophia Rose on her front lawn. Flanigan was later found unresponsive in her prison cell and died two days later in hospital. Sophia's father Jai Ruane told The Courier-Mail that systems designed to protect children like Sophia had failed. Lauren Ingrid Flanigan (pictured) was charged with murdering her three-year-old daughter Sophia Rose, but died after being found unresponsive in her prison cell 'This could have easily been prevented,' he said, highlighting frightening incidents in which Flanigan 'stuck knives in walls'. He said: 'The system failed us and now my daughter Sophia has paid for it with her life.' In disturbing social media posts leading up to the murder, she had written: 'Train like it's war - because it is. Discipline is deliverance. Refine your algorithm. Refine your soul. God is calling His army out of hiding.' Do you know more? Email Nicholas.Comino@dailymail.com.au One of Australia's most divisive real estate agents has finally broken his silence after Daily Mail Australia revealed that he and his agency were being investigated by NSW Fair Trading for underquoting and complaints. Josh Tesolin, who made headlines in 2021 after he made $7million in commissions at just 26 years old, addressed the investigation publicly for the first time in a podcast interview with fellow agent Adrian Bo that was released on May 28. Tesolin, who is the owner and principal of Ray White Quakers Hill in Sydney's northwest, said the investigation had been 'going on for three years, now'. 'What are we being investigated for? Fair Trading came in, asked for files, we complied with the regulator,' Tesolin continued. 'Anything the regulator has asked, whether it be 500 files... three files... we have completely complied with the regulator at every single stage.' Tesolin also took the opportunity to lash his critics, telling Bo they were simply jealous of his success. 'As you know Adrian... tall poppy syndrome is a big thing in this industry,' he said. His admission about the long-running NSW Fair Trading investigation contradicts the statement the Ray White Group provided to Daily Mail Australia a month earlier, which claimed that 'Josh Tesolin is not aware of any personal investigation into him'. The agent is the owner and principal of Ray White Quakers Hill - The Tesolin Group Josh Tesolin (right) has admitted he is aware of an investigation by NSW Fair Trading while speaking on a podcast with fellow real estate agent Adrian Bo (left) Tesolin (pictured) was awarded the Number 1 Agent in Australia award via RateMyAgent four times in 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 out of 60,000 real estate agents 'Rather, on 16 March 2023, the corporate licensee responded to an investigation by NSW Fair Trading; since that date, there has been no penalty, fine or regulatory action taken by NSW Fair Trading against the corporate licensee or Mr Tesolin,' it said. A Fair Trading spokesperson confirmed this week that the investigation was ongoing. 'The Strata and Property Services Taskforce within NSW Fair Trading is investigating Quakers Hill Ray White Real Estate and Josh Tesolin following proactive compliance blitzes into underquoting and complaints,' they said. 'As this investigation is ongoing, no further comment is available at this time.' It's understood the investigation will be completed in the coming weeks. When contacted by Daily Mail Australia about Tesolin's comments on the podcast, Ray White said it was unaware of the 'specific matters' under investigation. 'The Ray White Group has always offered its full cooperation and support to NSW Fair Trading in any investigation of its members,' a spokesperson said. 'In relation to Ray White Quakers Hill, we have still not been informed of the specific matters under investigation, despite being told by the media. Tesolin (pictured) earned a reputation as Australia's 'top performing agent' after he made an eye-watering $7million in sales commissions at the age of 26 in 2021 'NSW Fair Trading have provided Ray White - the franchisor - with no formal communication regarding its investigation regarding Josh Tesolin.' Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Tesolin has engaged in underquoting, only that NSW Fair Trading is investigating his agency in Quakers Hill. In 2021, Tesolin was awarded the Number 1 Agent in Australia by RateMyAgent, a title he secured four years in a row, from 2020 to 2023, standing out among over 60,000 real estate agents nationwide. Never one to shy away from celebrating his achievements, Tesolin made a bold statement at a real estate conference in New Zealand, debuting a custom-made jacket adorned with images of properties he's had a hand in selling. Under NSW law, real estate agents must provide a reasonable estimate of a property's likely selling price in the agency agreement. If a price range is used in advertising, the highest price must not exceed the lowest price by more than 10 per cent. In NSW, underquoting is an offence, attracting penalties of up to $22,000. A property sold on June 5 by the Tesolin Group was guided at $950,000, much lower than the $1,145,000 it sold for in 2021. Tesolin (right) was wearing a jacket lined with images of properties he's had a hand in selling at a Real Estate conference in New Zealand The agent interviewing Tesolin (left), Adrian Bo (right), made headlines in 2019 after he was forced to resign from McGrath Real Estate in the city's eastern suburbs Tesolin (pictured centre) is being investigated by NSW Fair Trading for underquoting and complaints. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting he engaged in underquoting Tesolin was interviewed by agent Adrian Bo (right), who owns a boat named 'Inappropiate' The home in Riverstone ultimately sold for $1,351,000, a difference of 42 per cent from the reserve. Tim McKibbin, the CEO of the Real Estate Institute of NSW, said it was unusual for a property to be listed for less than its previous sale price in the current market. 'I'm not shocked that it was marketed at a lower price, but generally, you wouldn't expect a property to sell for less than it previously did,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'There could be a multitude of factors influencing this, the property may have been damaged, or there may have been changes in the surrounding area. 'All of these elements can impact a property's value.' The agent interviewing Tesolin, Mr Bo, made headlines in 2019 after he was forced to resign from McGrath Real Estate in the city's eastern suburbs. His resignation came in the wake of an investigation into a complaint that Bo had reportedly asked a much younger staffer 'how many c***s he had sucked?' The former McGrath Real Estate agent owns a boat, named 'Inappropriate'. They are some of the most luxurious restaurants in the world where every mouthful of food is precision engineered for absolute pleasure - but you can't please everyone! MailOnline has found that some diners who shelled out for banquets at the UK's three-Michelin starred restaurants, operated by top chefs including Gordon Ramsay and Alain Ducasse, have left scathing and sometimes amusing TripAdvisor reviews. And predictably some of them are more justified than others. The UK has just eight three-Michelin starred restaurants which are ran like military units by their hugely experienced teams of culinary gods with decades of culinary experience. A Michelin Star is a sign of quality and restaurants can be awarded zero to three stars based on five areas: quality of ingredients, mastery of flavour and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in the cuisine, value for money and consistency of food. The admittedly pompous French guide states: 'A Michelin Star is awarded for the food on the plate nothing else. 'The style of a restaurant and its degree of formality or informality have no bearing whatsoever on the award.' We've collated some of the strangest reviews from each restaurant below. They make for interesting reading. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay The eponymous eatery in the heart of London's exclusive Chelsea neighbourhood was opened by the celebrity chef in 1998 and was Gordon Ramsay's first solo endeavour. Just three years after opening, the TV chef was awarded three Michelin stars and has since celebrated 20 years with all three of the coveted prize. The eponymous eatery in the heart of London's exclusive Chelsea neighbourhood was opened by Gordon Ramsay in 1998 and was the celebrity chef's first solo endeavour Its set lunch menu costs 125 before drinks while its 'carte blanche' menu which 'focuses on discovery and the element of surprise' and is bespoke to the diner costs 260 While Ramsay opened the fine dining experience under his name, in 2013 - after an art deco redesign - the running of the restaurant was handed over to chef patron Clare Smyth The three Michelin-star establishment is known for its modern French cuisine including lobster ravioli, scallops and steak While Ramsay opened the fine dining experience under his name, in 2013 - after an art deco redesign - the running of the restaurant was handed over to chef patron Clare Smyth. In 2020 Matt Abe took over and oversees the running of all of Ramsay's eateries. The three Michelin-star establishment is known for its modern French cuisine including lobster ravioli, scallops and steak. Its set lunch menu costs 125 before drinks while its 'carte blanche' menu which 'focuses on discovery and the element of surprise' and is bespoke to the diner costs 260. Despite the high-end offerings and attention to detail, not everyone has been left with a sated appetite. Previous foodies have slammed the restaurant as 'disappointing', 'tasteless' and a 'ripoff' and questioned how the celebrity cook had managed to get any Michelin stars at all. One reviewer complained that the lobster linguini was like rubber while another said they found the waiters frustrating and claimed they couldn't understand them Previous foodies have slammed the restaurant as 'disappointing', 'tasteless' and a 'ripoff' and questioned how the celebrity cook had managed to get any Michelin stars at all Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester Alain Ducasse's restaurant, nestled in the luxury Dorchester hotel in central London, is one of more than 25 restaurants operated by French-born chef. It opened in 2007 and in its first three years was awarded three Michelin stars. Although Ducasse's name is above the door, the eatery is run by executive chef Jocelyn Herlan. Alain Ducasse's restaurant, nestled in the luxury Dorchester hotel in central London, is one of more than 25 restaurants operated by French-born chef Although Ducasse's name is above the door, the eatery is run by executive chef Jocelyn Herlan The menu offers pigeon served with wild garlic and marigold or milk-fed lamb from the Pyrenees The fine dining spot is known for its luxury decor including ceramic vegetables, handmade butter dishes in pink marble, and Porthault linen tablecloths as well as its contemporary French cuisine. The menu offers pigeon served with wild garlic and marigold or milk-fed lamb from the Pyrenees. For 285, diners can enjoy a seven-course tasting menu that includes a French cheese board and strawberries with nettle and elderflower. While previous restaurant critics have called it magical and a 'grande dame' of English dining, others were less than impressed. One upset customer called his meal 'depressingly bad' and slammed the dishes for lacking flavour while another urged potential customers to avoid after being charged 500 extra per person for a meal with specialised wine tasting. One upset customer called his meal 'depressingly bad' and slammed the dishes for lacking flavour while another urged potential customers to avoid after being charged 500 extra Core by Clare Smyth A former Gordon Ramsay head chef, Clare Smyth went out on her own in August 2017, opening up Core in the heart of London's Notting Hill. Winning three Michelin stars by 2021 as well as Best Restaurant at the GQ Food and Drink Awards, Smyth's restaurant offers seasonal British fine dining. And it's not just the chefing world she's got the seal of approval from. Smyth is also a firm favourite of the celebrity scene and hosted David Beckham's 50th birthday party earlier this year which was shut down by police at 3.30am after noise complaints. In 2018 the talented chef also catered for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding reception with a menu designed around finger food so guests could continue to talk as they ate. A former Gordon Ramsay head chef, Clare Smyth (pictured) went out on her own in August 2017, opening up Core in the heart of London's Notting Hill. Winning three Michelin stars in 2021 as well as Best Restaurant at the GQ Food and Drink Awards, Clare's restaurant offers seasonal British fine dining Known for its eye-catching presentation of dishes like smoked Fowey mussels or 'Rhug Estate venison (pictured), the chef offers seasonal tasting menus for 265 Smyth won three Michelin stars in 2021 as well as Best Restaurant at the GQ Food and Drink Awards in 2023 And in her restaurant, Smyth also knows how to wow with eye-catching dishes of dishes of smoked Fowey mussels or 'Rhug Estate venison, the chef offers seasonal tasting menus for 265 which include British staples such as leek and potato dishes, Cornish turbot and Raspberry fool. Previous reviews have called the restaurant a 'culinary miracle' and she's certainly a favourite among the famous, but for those not in the professional restaurant reviewing game, their takeaways were starkly different. Rather than fawning over the high-end restaurant (previously the site of Bake Off star Prue Leith's restaurant), customers have made their frustrations known. One diner confessed they had experienced a cattle-class service and felt rushed through their meal while another added that they were asked to leave after two and a half hours despite not even finishing their dinner and forking out more than 1,000 for it. One customer revealed their husband had food poisoning after enjoying a meal at Core and said the experience left 'a bad taste in our mouth - both literally and figuratively'. Rather than fawning over the high-end restaurant (previously the site of Bake Off star Prue Leith's restaurant), customers made their frustrations known Fat Duck - Heston Blumenthal The Fat Duck bills itself as a fine dining experience in Bray, in the heart of Berkshire. Owned by TV chef Heston Blumenthal, who is known for his wacky creations and exciting culinary chemistry, the eatery is housed in a 16th century house and opened in 1995. The exciting restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star in 1999, its second in 2002 and its third just two years later. Owned by TV chef Heston Blumenthal, who is known for his wacky creations and exciting culinary chemistry, the eatery is housed in a 16th century house and opened in 1995. The exciting restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star in 1999, its second in 2002 and its third just two years later Known for its outlandish dishes including a bacon and egg ice cream and a mock turtle soup, Blumenthall also offers salmon poached in liquorice gel with vanilla mayonnaise and asparagus Originally opened as French bistro serving steak and lemon tart, it quickly gained a reputation for exciting flavour combinations and inventions including triple-cooked chip In 2005 it was ranked among the world's 50 best restaurants and although it lost its stars when it underwent renovation in 2016, it quickly regained them. Originally opened as French bistro serving steak and lemon tart, it quickly gained a reputation for exciting flavour combinations and inventions including triple-cooked chip. Known for its outlandish dishes including a bacon and egg ice cream and a mock turtle soup, Blumenthall also offers salmon poached in liquorice gel with vanilla mayonnaise and asparagus, black love and leather puree with pistachio scrambled egg alongside more traditional dishes including crab risotto and pork belly. Despite the exciting offerings, diners have been left less than impressed and complained of theatrical but unpleasant-tasting food with one customer confessing they felt 'repulsed' by the plates offered in the ten-course tasting menu. Despite the exciting offerings, diners have complained of theatrical but unpleasant-tasting food with one customer confessing they felt 'repulsed' by the plates offered Helene Darroze at The Connaught A former pupil of Alain Ducasse, Helene Darroze was named as the new head chef at the five-star hotel Connaught in London in 2008, replacing Angela Hartnett. After taking over, her menu was panned by critics with Jay Rayner describing the food there as 'Two of the very worst dishes ever to be served to me at this level.' Despite the initial set back she won her first Michelin star there in 2009, a second star in 2011 and a third in 2021. Known for high-quality ingredients, Darroze offers dishes such as lobster with tandoori spices, carrot and coriander or Wagyu beef with fermented pepper. While the eight-course summer tasting menu costs 225 each, many of the dishes ask for a supplement that for some costs up to 120. Helene Darroze was named as the new head chef at the five-star hotel Connaught in London in 2008, replacing Angela Hartnett Known for high-quality ingredients, Darroze offers dishes such as lobster with tandoori spices, carrot and coriander or Wagyu beef with fermented pepper While the eight-course summer tasting menu costs 225 each, many of the dishes ask for a supplement that for some costs up to 120 Other plates on offer include piglet with cherry and black pudding and desserts such as cardamom and almond chocolate. And while the luxury hotel boasts about their resident chef, not all customers are convinced she's worth the price. Diners have criticised the lack of soul in the food and the bland lunch offering. One complimented the plating, calling it a 'visual work of an art' but slammed the taste as feeling like 'an afterthought' and one frustrated diner described the atmosphere in the restaurant as closer to a 'truck stop diner' than a five-star establishment and called it 'the most disappointing dinner ever'. While the luxury hotel boasts about their resident chef, not all customers are convinced she's worth the price and have criticised the lack of soul in the food and the bland lunch offering L'Enclume L'Enclume is a luxury modern British restaurant hidden in Cartmel, Cumbria and run by chef Simon Rogan and his partner Penny Tapsell. Opened in 2002, it has received three Michelin stars as well as a ten out of ten rating in the Good Food Guide five times in a row. Converted from an 800-year-old former smithy, Rogan paid homage to the history of the building by calling it anvil in French. L'Enclume is a luxury modern British restaurant hidden in Cartmel, Cumbria and run by chef Simon Rogan and his partner Penny Tapsell in a converted 800-year-old smithy L'Enclume is known for his 20-course tasting menu with a focus on herbs and flowers Some of its dishes include Cherry Belle radish, pickled rose and Chalk Stream trout tart, roasted Orkney scallop and Purple Azur kohlrabi and Caramel mousse with miso and apple The head chef grows almost everything supplied including vegetables, chickens and pigs and the luxury diner was included in the 2010 BBC comedy The Trip starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as fictionalised versions of themselves doing a restaurant tour of northern England. L'Enclume is known for his 20-course tasting menu with a focus on herbs and flowers and some of its dishes include Cherry Belle radish, pickled rose and Chalk Stream trout tart, roasted Orkney scallop and Purple Azur kohlrabi and Caramel mousse with our miso, apple and spruce. Despite the extensive menu and three Michelin stars, diners slammed the overpriced menu, complaining of expensive wine at 110 a bottle as well as undercooked meat. Despite the extensive menu and three Michelin stars, diners slammed the overpriced menu, complaining of expensive wine at 110 a bottle as well as undercooked meat One customer was outraged by their 'anaemic' guinea fowl and 'overcooked' ox cheek. Moor Hall Moor Hall, in the village of Aughton, Lancashire, is a converted Grade II* listed gentry house from the 16th century which was bought by Andy and Tracey Bell in 2015. The award-winning restaurant is run by Mark Birchall who joined the stunning eatery in 2017 when the couple opened its doors to diners. Within it first two years the restaurant had won two Michelin stars and gained its third earlier this year which Birchall said was 'simply brilliant' and a dream come true, the BBC reports. Moor Hall, in the village of Aughton, Lancashire, is a converted grade II* listed gentry house from the 16th century which was bought by Andy and Tracey Bell in 2015 The award-winning restaurant is run by Mark Birchall who joined the stunning eatery in 2017 when the couple opened its doors to diners Some of the dishes on offer include east coast lobster with fresh and fermented tomatoes, smoked marrow and rosehip, Cornish lamb and a peach, lemon and goat's cheese Some of the dishes on offer include east coast lobster with fresh and fermented tomatoes, smoked marrow and rosehip, Cornish lamb and a peach, lemon and goat's cheese. With prices starting at 145 per person it's one of the cheaper Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK but customers have still complained about the prices and the quality of the food. Disappointed diners siad their two courses took almost three hours to arrive and they were charged an extra 100 while another said the menu needed re-evaluating and compare their steak to a Michelin tyre. Disappointed diners claimed their two courses took almost three hours to arrive while another said the menu needed re-evaluating and compare their steak to a Michelin tyre Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library Sketch restaurant opened in Mayfair, London in 2003 with a New French cuisine. Within the historic building are five eateries, including three restaurants: the Parlour, the Lecture Room & Library, the Glade, the Gallery, and the Eastbar & Pods and The Lecture Room & Library holds three Michelin stars. Sketch covers two floors of the 18th century building and has a permanent exhibition of the surreal cartoonist David Shrigley who also designed the restaurant's tableware. The luxury eatery was awarded its first Michelin star in 2005, its second in 2012 and its third star in 2019. Known for its quirky design as well as its food, the restaurant offers customers a sensory experience like no other. Sketch restaurant opened in Mayfair, London in 2003 with a New French cuisine and covers two floors of the 18th century building The eatery also has a permanent exhibition of the surreal cartoonist David Shrigley who also designed the restaurant's tableware Dishes on the menu include seaweed jelly with smoked sardines and cauliflower florets as well as lobster five different ways Known for its quirky design as well as its food, the restaurant offers customers a sensory experience like no other Dishes on the menu include seaweed jelly with smoked sardines and cauliflower florets as well as lobster five different ways. The three course menu costs an eye-watering 235 per person with wine pairing an additional 165. Other dishes on offer include roasted Limousin veal sweetbread and potato cream or saddle of Welsh lamb. And while for some the menu may sound mouth-watering, for some customers they left with a bitter taste in their mouth. And while for some the menu may sound mouth-watering, for some customers they left with a bitter taste in their mouth One couple hit out at the restaurant for its 'unimaginative' dishes and said it was 'far from a three-star French or Swiss'. Others were shocked by the prices and said it 'ruined' their night and even brought them to tears. The Ledbury The Ledbury is located in the heart of London in Notting Hill and was opened in 2005, winning its first Michelin star in 2006 and its second in 2010 before being awarded a third in 2024. The restaurant's chef-patron Brett Graham was born in Australia and moved to London in the 2000s before joining the Ledbury's now closed sister restaurant The Square. The exclusive dining experience offers an eight-course tasting menu for 260 with matching wines an extra 135. The Ledbury is located in the heart of London in Notting Hill and was opened in 2005, winning its first Michelin star in 2006 and its second in 2010 before being awarded a third in 2024 Diners can enjoy lobster with bergamot, apple marigold, wakame and cherry blossom or Iberian pork with karashi mustard, morel and umeboshi Famously the restaurant does not cater to vegans or those with dairy and egg allergies, citing strains on the kitchen Diners can enjoy lobster with bergamot, apple marigold, wakame and cherry blossom or Iberian pork with karashi mustard, morel and umeboshi or 72 per cent Solomon Islands chocolate with olive oil. Famously the restaurant does not cater to vegans or those with dairy and egg allergies, citing strains on the kitchen. Despite the luxury ingredients, previous diners have reviewed the London restaurant poorly, complaining of an uninspiring menu. They added that the service was perfunctory and the whole experience was a 'total disappointment'. Despite the luxury ingredients, previous diners have reviewed the London restaurant poorly, complaining of an uninspiring menu Another added that despite the six curses on offer, they were still left wanting a curry or a pizza after their meal. Waterside Inn The Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire was founded by Michel and Albert Roux and has retained its three Michelin stars for 40 years. Opening in 1972, the restaurant is now run by Michel's son Alain and the interior of the eatery and the rooms above were designed by Michel's wife Robyn making the restaurant truly a family affair. The Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire was founded by Michel and Albert Roux and has retained its three Michelin stars for 40 years The dishes include ravioli and Burgundy snails with parsley and garlic, Seared Orkney scallops with fennel with fresh almonds, Spit-roasted Limousin veal chop or line-caught red mullet fillet The restaurant offers luxurious dishes including caviar and cocktails or three course menus for 265 per person But not everyone has been left enamoured by their visit with some customers slamming the poor service and dress code while others said they were still hungry after their meal The restaurant offers luxurious dishes including caviar and cocktails or three course menus for 265 per person. Some of the dishes include ravioli and Burgundy snails with parsley and garlic, Seared Orkney scallops with fennel with fresh almonds, Spit-roasted Limousin veal chop or line-caught red mullet fillet cooked under potato scales. With a strict dress code of collared shirts and a jacket and smart shoes for men and a ban on sandals and T-shirts, Waterside Inn is a true luxury experience. But not everyone has been left enamoured by their visit with some customers slamming the poor service and dress code while others said they were still hungry after their three-course meal. Ghada* was 15 when she fell pregnant with her third child. For three years, she had been married to an older man - a man her father had paired her with out of perceived necessity. 'My family is poor,' she explained. Her father 'accepted the first proposal for the marriage that came to him, not only for me but for my sisters, not caring that we were only children'. Child marriage existed in Yemen before the civil war. But years of bitter fighting have exacerbated the issue. Famine looms over the population as the 'fortunate' survive on bread and water. For families like Ghada's, children are an impossible expense. And so, Ghada was married at 12. Within a year, she gave birth to a baby girl. Her husband, who wanted a son, abused her and forbade her from leaving the house. She was only allowed to see her family when she delivered her second child, a boy. Ghada pleaded with her father to let her come home. But the family could not afford to feed more people. She went back to her husband and fell pregnant for a third time. Seeing no way out, Ghada tried to poison herself with pesticide stolen from her husband. She was rescued by her sister-in-law, but still could not return home. It seemed her life had been decided for her. Ghada's story is not unique. Child marriage does not belong only to Yemen, but festers in countries ravaged by war and instability. Around the world, hundreds of millions of girls have their own stories of abuse and neglect, bound to men often much older than themselves as a result of trafficking, cultural norms or, indeed, because there are no clear alternatives for a better life. In the time it takes to read this sentence, another child, somewhere in the world, will have been married. A six-year-old girl was allegedly forced to marry a 45-year-old man in Afghanistan after she was given away for money. The haunting photo of an older man and a little girl standing together even horrified the Taliban, who intervened the union. In the same year as the Taliban came to power, after the US's heavily criticised exit, a nine-year-old girl who was sold by her father to a 55-year-old man as a child bride was rescued by a charity. Parwana Malik (centre) was sold for the equivalent of 1,600 in land, sheep and cash to a stranger named Qorban (left) so her father Abdul Malik could pay for food Parwana Malik, a nine-year-old girl (pictured) who was sold by her father to a 55-year-old man as a child bride in Afghanistan was rescued by a charity Amlee, a five-year old bride, with her husband, Ashok, 15, during their marriage ritual in Indian desert village Srirampur of northwestern state of Rajasthan on May 14, 1994 Ghada's story may not be unique. But it is relatively rare in finding a happy ending. It was the kindness of a neighbour that saved her. She was taken, with her mother, to a UNFPA-supported safe space and referred for psychiatric care, before a lawyer helped secure custody of her children. In one sense, Ghada was free. But a denied childhood left her at 16 unable to read or write, with no money and no skills. At one of 51 UNFPA safe spaces, Ghada steadily learned to read and write, and was trained how to sew, offering her the chance of economic independence. She completed her training and was awarded a sewing machine and materials, so that she could start over. 'Education helped me to become economically independent so I can have my freedom of choices,' she said. 'I need to get my children an education so they can choose for themselves in their lives.' At the time of the report, in 2021, she had moved back in with her father and was able to provide for her family. Edmund Fitton Brown, the UK's Ambassador to Yemen between 2015 and 2017, told MailOnline that before the war, it was common for young girls, 'often below the age of 10', to be married to men many decades older than them. He said he recalled hearing of girls as young as eight being married. 'Part of the incentive was economic, easing financial burdens on the family. Also for protection and to create a family alliance.' 'All of these drivers have been growing stronger.' Yemen does not have a minimum legal age for marriage. And Houthi ideology, 'violent and aggressive', has only set back rights for women since their 2014 takeover, while limiting the ability of families to object to imposed marriages. Rarely do families fight back and win. In 2020, an outlier made international headlines, as the mother of a 12-year-old girl, Hind, managed to get a court order to cancel a marriage contract binding her daughter to a 30-year-old prison inmate. Her mother was threatened and Hind's siblings were still forced into marriage and made to bear children. Aid groups, like the UNFPA, are in many cases the only lifeline. Video taken in Chittorgarh, northern India, showed child brides crying as they were forced to wed One of the child brides, a five-year-old, is seen dressed in a Hindu bridal dress and is forced to walk around the fire with her child groom, an 11-year-old Mamta, 9, rides pillion with her groom Ram Singh, 14, after their wedding in Biaora, in India's central Madhya Pradesh state, April 22, 2009 Your browser does not support iframes. The impact of child marriage on the children varies case by case, country by country. But girls who marry or cohabit before the age of 18 are, on average, more likely to experience domestic violence, to drop out of school and miss out on developing skills and relationships beyond the home. UNICEF says that child brides are more likely to become infected with HIV/AIDS, more likely to have children while still a child, and more likely to die due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth. There are today more than 650 million women suffering the direct consequences of child marriage. Global figures have declined in recent years, but global instability poses new threats to the lives of children around the world. In times of conflict, families may arrange marriages for girls, believing it will protect their daughters from violence by strangers or armed groups, and to ease financial burdens on the family - as in Ghada's case. In Yemen more than two-thirds of girls are now married under the age of 18. Before the conflict escalated, this was around one in two. It is not only war that creates the conditions for child marriage, then. Poverty and wider insecurity lead parents to part with their children, either in the hopes of giving them a better life or reducing costs. Nor is it the case that legislation necessarily offers a watertight solution. In China, the minimum age for marriage is 22 for men and 20 for women. But UNICEF estimates that there are more than 35 million girls who married before the age of 18. The effects of China's infamous One Child Policy (1979 to 2015) still drives this in part. Selective abortions favouring sons have resulted in widespread gender imbalance. Coupled with reduced population growth, this may have spurred a trend towards allowing children to marry. Poverty squeezes the problem. In vulnerable households, girls can be sold as child brides. Families may also 'buy' foreign brides from neighbouring countries. Aidan McQuade, former director of Anti-Slavery International, wrote in 2018 that he had been told that the most popular age of girls for the China 'market' was between 13 and 16 years old. 'These girls typically fetch between $2,000 and $3,000 for 'three years and a baby'.' After delivering a child and staying with a Chinese man for three years, he relayed, she may then be sold on to other men in China for 'similar usage'. A child bride, Sheela, 8, sits besides her fourteen-year-old groom Daulat Ram (2nd L) during their marriage ceremony at Rajgarh district in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, 2003 Seven-year-old groom Mohammad Waseem (R) sits with his four-year-old bride Nisha (L) and his father Mohammad Ismil in a police station in Karachi October 31, 2008 Nine-year-old Nujood al-Ahdal, whose marriage was terminated by a court, attends a news conference with her lawyer Shatha Nasser in Sanaa April 21, 2008 Hemant (R), 16, sits with his 13-year-old newly wed wife Saraswati in a mass marriage outside his village near Kota in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, May 17, 2010 Absolute figures distort the scale. India, with an estimated 216.65 million child brides, has a population of 1.4 billion people. China has slightly fewer. By proportion, child marriage is most prevalent in central Africa, stretching from the coast of Mauritania, in the West, through Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea and ending up at Somalia, in the East. All are experiencing - or have experienced in living memory - internal instability, conflict or insurrection. According to UNICEFs global database (2020), Niger has the worlds highest prevalence: 76 per cent of women were married or in a union before 18. The Central African Republic and Chad both report 61 per cent, Mali, 54. Prevalence across Asia is much lower, with notable exceptions. In Bangladesh, 51 per cent of girls are married before the age of 18. Nepal reports 35 per cent and Laos reports 33 per cent. Afghanistan reports 29 per cent, just ahead of Iraq on 28. Afghanistan and Iraq emerged from the War on Terror with very different political systems, but neither have rid themselves of child marriage. In Afghanistan, it was reported this week that a six-year-old girl had been forced to marry a 45-year-old man. The marriage was allegedly set to take place on Friday in Helmand province before the Taliban stepped in and arrested the father and the bridegroom. Local media reported that the Taliban had said the latter needed to wait until she was nine. UN Women reported last year that there had been a 25 per cent rise in child marriages in Afghanistan since the Taliban banned girls' education in 2021. They also said there has been a 45 per cent increase in child bearing across the country. Earlier this year, Iraq also amended its personal status law to effectively legalise marriage for girls as young as nine. The amendments gave Islamic courts increased authority over family matters, including marriage, divorce and inheritance, allowing clerics to rule according to their interpretation of Islamic law. Some of these interpretations allow the marriage of girls under the Ja'afari school of Islamic law followed by many Shiite religious authorities in Iraq. Proponents of the changes, which were advocated by primarily conservative Shiite lawmakers, defend them as a means to align the law with Islamic principles and reduce Western influence on Iraqi culture. The West is not entirely exempt. Romania, which is a member of the European Union and the 35th largest economy globally by GDP (PPP), reports one per cent of girls are married by the age of 15. Seven per cent marry before the age of 18. The legal age for marriage is 18 years, though people can marry at 16 with parental consent. Poverty, limited education and narrow employment prospects are cited among the reasons for child marriage, especially among Romani girls. India, 'the world's largest democracy', has a similar problem. The legal age for marriage is 21 for men and 18 for women, but poverty, tradition and weak enforcement keep child marriage common. UNICEF estimates that at least 1.5 million girls under 18 get married in India every years. Nearly 16 per cent of adolescent girls between 15 and 19 were married at the time data was gathered. Rates have declined in recent years, which the UN agency attributes to the increased literacy of mothers, better access to education for girls, stronger legislation and migration to urban centres. Both UNICEF and UNFPA have been working together on a Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage, to help address persisting norms and bring together strategies on improving health, education and nutrition to change the lives and opportunities in front of young people. Lalaram, 13, (R) looks at his bride, 11, (L, unidentified) during an illegal child wedding ceremony near Jaipur in the northwestern state of Rajasthan Fourteen-year-old child bride Lalita Saini (R) speaks to Reuters in Jaipur in 2007. She was to go on to live with her 19-year-old husband from a neighbouring village Inder Singh (R), 14, and his bride Ram Bai, 13, stand outside a temple during their marriage near Bhopal, India in 2005 Child bride Krishna, 11, sits during a marriage ceremony at her husband's home in a village near Kota, located in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, in this May 16, 2010 The groups leading the charge acknowledge that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to ending the problem. Issues like war, poverty and famine cannot simply be undone by donations, but money does help charities and agencies on the ground to reach and help girls like Ghada. 'Current funding is nowhere near enough to match the scale of child marriage worldwide,' Girls Not Brides acknowledges. Beyond making peace, creating jobs and providing food, action from international governments is needed to create a firm basis of law - and the means to enforce it. Still, the immaterial roots in culture call for a much greater commitment to education before the suffering imposed on children can be properly identified, understood and allayed. * pseudonym has been used to protect her identity. Apart from Erin Patterson's own legal team, who were paid to be there, just one person turned up in court every single day to support the triple killer. Alison Rose Prior, known as Ali, has been the most devoted loyal friend Erin - or anyone else - could ever have hoped for. Day after day, regardless of the incriminating evidence, bitter cold or ever-growing media pack, Ms Prior stuck by her friend through thick and thin. And when the jury delivered its damning series of 'guilty...guilty...guilty...guilty' verdicts, it was Ms Prior the killer immediately turned to. 'See you soon,' Patterson told her bosom buddy before being led away to begin her likely life sentence behind bars for the three murders and one attempted murder. Ms Prior left the court thronged by media, and as she fought back tears behind large sunglasses, she told reporters: 'I'm saddened.' Escorted by G4S security staff through the precincts of Morwell Law Courts - where the Supreme Court had held Patterson's ten-week trial - Ms Prior battled to keep her composure. 'I didn't have any expectations,' she added. 'It's the justice system and it is what it is.' Alison Prior during her best friend Erin Patterson's trial Ms Prior (pictured) was thronged by media shortly after leaving court Erin Patterson photographed in custody before she was found guilty of murder Patterson was later whisked away to Dame Phyllis Frost prison, 200km away on the other side of Melbourne, far from her Leongatha home in Gippsland. But despite the distance, Ms Prior immediately vowed to remain Patterson's best mate as the mother-of-two now faces decades behind bars. 'I will see her,' Ms Prior defiantly insisted to a reporter's question. 'I'm her friend and I'll see her - I'll visit with her.' Ms Prior begged media to leave her alone so she could get to her car. As a sign of the intensity and closeness of their relationship, Patterson has granted Ms Prior complete power of attorney over her estate, giving her carte blanche over her substantial wealth and property. The pair are believed to have met through Facebook, where Patterson was an avid contributor to several True Crime groups. Ms Prior, who has a daughter with a rare genetic condition, had previously campaigned locally to reform the law on registering sex offenders and to prevent them living near schools. In the weeks after the agonising deaths of her estranged husband's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson - who were fatally poisoned by the beef Wellingtons she laced with death cap mushrooms - Patterson fled her Leongatha home as the net closed in on her. Patterson is said to have bunkered down at Ms Prior's four-bedroom bungalow, set in lush woodlands on the edge of rural Healesville, 65km north-east of Melbourne, as detectives pored over her own home looking for murder clues. Erin Patterson was later whisked away to Dame Phyllis Frost prison, 200km away on the other side of Melbourne, far from her regional Gippsland home Patterson has granted Ms Prior complete power of attorney over her estate, giving her carte blanche over her substantial wealth and property The night before Patterson was arrested, she threw a party at her home for Ms Prior (pictured) and three other female friends Black sheets appeared around Patterson's Leongatha home ahead of the jury's verdict The night before Patterson was finally arrested, she threw a party at her home for Ms Prior and three other close female friends. On the evening of Wednesday, November 1, 2023, Patterson held the knees-up at the Leongatha property for her dwindling inner circle of friends. The weeknight gathering is believed to have been small and included Patterson's two children, a girl and a boy (who can't be identified for legal reasons). But it was still noisy enough that it was noticed by neighbours, who speculated Patterson threw the party in the certain knowledge that those murder charges were imminent. As the jury retired to consider her guilt 18 months later, it was rumoured Patterson would once again return to Ms Prior's home to hide out from the media if she was found innocent. Instead though, the jury unanimously found her guilty - and she was transported by prison van to her new jail cell as one of Australia's most notorious killers. The verdict ends one of the nation's most intriguing homicide cases - and now Patterson likely only has prison visits from Ms Prior to look forward to. The new 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention center has been billed as the ultimate deterrent for those attempting to enter the US illegally. But now reports from inside the facility suggest that its remote location and proximity to deadly reptiles are not the only things inmates should be concerned about. The first migrants at the facility, who arrived July 3, say they have been forced to bathe in toilet water and are being held in freezing cold tents, as they constantly battle 'elephant-sized' mosquitos. Inmates described rotten food, 'inhumane' conditions and insects 'the size of hands' crawling all over the facility, located deep in the swamps of the Florida Everglades, approximately 50 miles west of Miami. Here's what we've learned about the daunting facility from inmates, experts, politicians and more. Torturous conditions One detainee, Cuban musician Leamsy Isquierdo, claims the center's roughly 400 inmates are only given one meal a day, and that it's often infested with maggots. Isquierdo told CBS News detainees have no way to speak to their lawyers. Reports indicate dire conditions for both detainees and staff at the new migrant detention facility in Florida, called Alligator Alcatraz. Pictured: President Donald Trump, Governor Ron Desantis and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem touring the facility last week One detainee, Cuban musician Leamsy Isquierdo, claims the roughly 400 people held at the facility are only given one meal a day - and it comes with maggots The migrant detention center is located deep in the swamps of the Florida Everglades, approximately 50 miles west of Miami 'There's no water to take a bath, it's been four days since I've taken a bath,' Isquierdo said. 'They only brought a meal once a day and it had maggots. They never take off the lights for 24 hours. The mosquitoes are as big as elephants.' Three detainees reported pest infestations, with one telling his wife that grasshoppers 'the size of his hand' were invading their tents, along with the largest mosquitos he has ever seen, the Miami Herald reports. 'They're not respecting our human rights... We're human beings; we're not dogs,' Another detainee told CBS. 'We're like rats in an experiment. It's a form of torture.' The facility, built on the airfield known as the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, will have an initial capacity of about 3,000 detainees, according to officials. It was built in eight days and features more than 200 security cameras, 28,000-plus feet of barbed wire and 400 security personnel. It also includes portable showers and toilets. Lawmaker's concerns State representative Anna Eskamani told the Daily Mail her office has been receiving reports that there is no running water at the facility. One particularly concerning report said detainees had been using toilet water to bathe themselves. Eskemani and three other state lawmakers tried to visit the facility on Thursday. They were denied access, but she said she still got a taste of the inclement surroundings. 'The mosquito situation is out of control,' she said. 'This is a swamp, it's not designed for humans to be detained there, or for people to work there.' Eveling Ortiz, whose boyfriend Vladimir Miranda is detained at the facility, told NBC Miami that one detainee was taken to the hospital because his face was swollen from so many bites. Health fears Durland Fish, professor emeritus of epidemiology at the Yale University School of Public Health, told the Daily Mail on Wednesday that neurological virus-carrying mosquitos in the area are of great concern. 'You can get bitten like 50 times in a minute and its really difficult to be outside with mosquitos fighting you... Especially in the summer time and especially this year,' said Fish, who has studied the specific location of the facility, Big Cypress Swamp. 'If you put a bunch of people in this area, there's a big chance that somebody can get infected with some of these viruses.' State representative Anna Eskamani told the Daily Mail her office has been receiving reports that there is no running water at the facility. Eskemani and three other state lawmakers tried to visit the facility on Thursday and were denied access The detainees arrived at the facility just as concerns grew over flooding caused by thunderstorms this week Republican officials and President Trump have touted the alligators that would attack any would-be escapees The mosquito-borne viruses in the area include St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile encephalitis and the Everglades virus, which is the most common. Fish said the area is inhabitable without some kind of mosquito-control program, and he doesn't think the officials in charge of the facility 'realize what the risk is'. Environmental issues Mosquito-control would likely mean the use of insecticides which, according to Fish, would 'have a huge environmental impact.' He recommends against risking this impact, and suggests officials reconsider the location of the facility. 'Anywhere but the Everglades' would be a better option, Fish told the Daily Mail. 'The Everglades is a national treasure... it's all protected... this would be unprecedented,' he added. While Republican officials and President Donald Trump have touted the alligators that would attack any would-be escapees, environmental experts are concerned how the center will affect the ecosystem - including those very same alligators. Workers install a sign reading 'Alligator Alcatraz' at the entrance to a new migrant detention facility. The first detainees arrived on July 3 The facility, built on airfield known as the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, will have an initial capacity of about 3,000 detainees Environmental groups failed to stop the facility's opening, but Fish believes the issue of mosquito control 'might give them a stronger cause to oppose the center'. Disaster concerns Aside from the alligators, experts say the real danger in the area comes from its unforgiving swamp weather, particularly during the summer months. The facility is located at a place prone to frequent heavy rains, which caused some flooding in the tents last week during a visit by President Trump to mark its opening. Experts have expressed concern it does not meet required hurricane codes, even though the site sits just west of Miami-Dade county, a state-designated high-velocity hurricane zone. They claim the site itself is also at risk for the high-speed weather that comes with these storms. The states emergency management director, Kevin Guthrie, has said the facility building is 'a fully aluminum frame structure rated for winds of 110 miles an hour'. Last year, winds reached 180 mph in the area during Hurricane Milton. However, Anthony Abbate, a professor and director of the MetroLAB at Florida Atlantic University's School of Architecture, told The Washington Post that's not enough. 'The 110 mile an hour wind design hasnt existed in Florida since Hurricane Andrew in 1992,' he said. 'Nowhere in the state of Florida is 110 acceptable, according to the Florida building code.' Officials' response DeSantis and other state officials say locating the facility in the rugged and remote Florida Everglades is meant to act as a deterrent. The Everglades is home to millions of alligators, meaning any migrants who escape will likely find themselves vulnerable to the apex predators. DeSantis named the facility after the notorious federal prison built on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, which was considered inescapable thanks to its position surrounded by the icy and shark-filled waters of San Francisco Bay. Florida's Division of Emergency Management told DailyMail.com the claims of inhumane conditions are 'false.' Their statement said: 'Detainees have access to potable water from on-site tanks refilled by 6,000-gallon trucks. Each individual is issued a personal cup they can refill at any time, and bottled water is provided at meals. Tanks are regularly sanitized, flushed, and tested to ensure water quality. Full-size showers are available daily with no restriction on bathing water. 'Detainees receive three meals per day plus the option of a late evening meal upon request, and there is working air conditioning throughout the facility. 'Detainees have access to regular phone and video calls with their attorneys or families.' Eveling Ortiz, whose boyfriend Vladimir Miranda is detained at the facility, told NBC Miami that one detainee was taken to the hospital because his face was swollen from so many mosquito bites Following reports of the fire conditions at the center, the Department of Homeland Security has denied claims of inhuman living conditions. 'Its SHAMEFUL that the fake news media continues to peddle the false narrative of criminal illegal aliens convicted of rape, homicide, and child sex crimes,' the agency wrote in a post on X. 'ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens.' 'All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with lawyers and their family members.' Savage squirrels are running rampant at California's Yosemite National Park - and they're ready to attack visitors to get their next meal. The wild animals have long been a part of the iconic park, but recently, their aggression has amplified, parkgoers have said. The rodents have been caught being sassy, violent and were spotted snatching snacks and meals on several occasions. The picturesque scenes of the 1,169 square-mile gorgeous park are constantly admired by tourists and locals, but the squirrels are ruining the atmosphere with their wild antics. An online user recently commented on his experience there as he shared his love for the land, but not for the creatures. He wrote on X: 'Yosemite is my absolute favorite national park! Watch out for those squirrels though, some of the most vicious I have ever encountered!' Anya Rose, another park visitor who went there for a trip in May, also warned her Facebook friends of the dangers Yosemite squirrels bring after one bit her. 'FRIENDLY REMINDER::: Dont let the cute, little chubby, friendly squirrels fool you at @yosemitenps,' she wrote alongside several photos, including one of the animal close to her finger. Anya Rose, a park visitor who went there for a trip in May, warned her Facebook friends of the dangers Yosemite squirrels bring after one bit her The picturesque scenes (pictured) of the gorgeous park are constantly admired by tourists and locals, but the squirrels appear to be ruining the atmosphere with their wild antics 'This guy took a little nip at my finger. (Yes, went to the ER to make sure I was okay and didnt need a rabies shot - doc said Ill live and dont need anything).' Rose added. Daily Mail reached out to Rose for further comment. A clip posted to X on June 27 showed a chubby squirrel running around as it appeared to be antagonized by a person. Other than injuries from bites and scratches, squirrels are known to carry a litany of diseases, including rabies. The animals can also transmit the bubonic plague, and in some rare cases, their urine and feces can pass on hantavirus - both of which are deadly. While some people might have some chance encounters with evil squirrels, experts have warned that a lack of supervision in the park has really made these animals act out even more. After Donald Trump started to downsize the federal government and its many agencies, including the National Park Service, less and less employees have been on site at parks like the Yosemite to deter people from feeding and bothering animals. Because of the lack of authority and direction, antics have been at an all time high, park employees and regulars have warned. Elisabeth Barton, a founding member of Echo Adventure Cooperative - a tour operator company based in Groveland - echoed this very concern in relation to the uptick in squirrel misbehavior. A clip posted to X on June 27 showed a chubby squirrel running around as it appeared to be antagonized by a person 'We were just talking about this,' Barton told SFGATE. 'We landed on all the factors you mentioned, and the team all agreed that wilderness literacy is down considerably over previous years.' Speaking on behalf of her and fellow tour guides who are all too familiar with the area and animals that dwell there, Barton said there has been a 'decline in outreach and education' on how humans should treat animals. 'Your squirrel stories dont surprise me this year people are showing up with zero clue about whats in front of them,' she added. Mark Rose, the Sierra Nevada program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, has not only heard the nightmarish stories, but has experience them himself. During a trip to Yosemite in June, Rose was confronted by aggressive squirrels while he tried to enjoy a meal. 'I had a similar experience where I was getting lunch with the group, and we kept having to shoo away the squirrels who were coming up to us,' Rose recalled. Although he doesn't think the whole park has been plagued by the startling issue, Rose noticed that two specific spots - Vernal Fall and the Lower Yosemite Falls picnic area - are packed with the angry rodents. 'Without rangers there to supervise, theres a higher likelihood that those animals are going to become adapted to knowing they can get food from park visitors,' Rose stressed. Savage squirrels are running rampant at California's Yosemite National Park - and they aren't just angry, they're hungry. (Pictured: File photo of squirrel earing at the park) He noted that the opening of campgrounds in the park, which have still been forced to let people in despite staff shortages, are particularly at risk. Because there is nobody truly keeping an eye on campers, food can easily get left behind, which in turn leaves a feast for not just squirrels, but larger animals like bears. Beth Pratt, a regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation, fears this now common practice could spell trouble for wild animals - euthanasia. She told the outlet she remembers simpler times when it was common practice to feed rodents, but still agrees fewer rangers on the ground can easily drive the trend out of control. 'I worry a lot about the potential impacts on wildlife and people with such a radical reduction in budget for the parks,' Pratt said. Daily Mail contacted Yosemite National Park for comment on the matter but did not immediately hear back. Sunday marks one year since the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. What marked a powerful moment in his presidential campaign, played out in a tragic, horrifying three minutes on stage at his rally on July 13, 2024. Trump was left bleeding from his ear after being shot on stage in a horrific attack by assassin Thomas Crooks. A barrage of rifle rounds rained down shortly after the former president got up to speak that day just before 6.15pm. Trump grabbed the side of his head and ducked as bullets whizzed by and screams from terrified onlookers rang out. The shots pierced the top of Trump's right ear and one of his supporters was killed in the crossfire with two others badly injured. After he dodged an attempt on his life, Trump pumped his fist at the crowd and chanted 'USA' and 'Make America Great Again'. Shortly after the chaos, Secret Service announced that Crooks had been confirmed dead. Images from the day below recount the details of the moments leading up to the shots and the tragic aftermath. Trump grabbed at the side of his head as he appeared to be hit Donald Trump appeared to be hit in the ear as shots were fired at the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania Trump pumped a fist at the crowd and was not severely injured as he walked on his own off the stage, surrounded by secret service Trump was surrounded by Secret Service agents in the moments after the shooting. He raised his fist to indicate that he was okay in an image that swept the globe Trump had blood streaming down his cheeks as Secret Service agents put him to the floor Secret Service raced to the stage to protect Trump after shots were fired Blood can be seen pouring from the side of the president's head The president was escorted off of the stage by Secret Service Witnesses hugged each other after seeing the assassination attempt The shooter, 20-year-old Crooks, was an engineering student and amateur gunman from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. After weeks of erratic behavior, almost one year ago he told his parents he was headed to the gun range, a hobby that he had recently picked up. Instead, he mounted a roof and shot the then Republican presidential candidate from just 400 feet away. He somehow evaded event security and nearby snipers to take his shots. The young man was a registered Republican and, according to the FBI, began using aliases to purchase firearms online in 2023. He made over 25 gun-related purchases before his attempt on the now-president's life. On July 13, 2024, he loaded one of those purchases broken down into a backpack. Officials said that Crooks had searched for both Trump and Biden campaign events, and found the Butler rally to be the perfect 'target of opportunity' to open fire. Agents also found explosives in Crooks' car. Trump supporters ducked for safety in the stands as chaos took hold Officials said that Crooks would have had to have used a long-rage rifle in order to hit Trump from so far away The fair grounds in Butler, PA where the event was held Thomas Crooks, 20, (pictured) was seen on the day of the rally around 4.30pm Thomas Crooks (pictured) was confirmed dead at the scene after shooting at Trump from 400 feet away Body camera footage of the incident showed Crooks' body after Secret Service took him down Crooks was said to be an intelligent student amidst a mental health crisis Law enforcement reacted quickly to the shots, and immediately moved to protect Trump and innocent bystanders Law enforcement located Crooks on a roof just a few hundred feet away Crooks transported the firearm broken down in a backpack Officials later found improvised explosive devices in Crooks' car Crooks was stationed on a roof adjacent to the fairgrounds where the event was held A witness told the BBC that agents 'blew the (shooter's) head off', shortly after shots were fired. Within seconds of shots ringing out, Trump was put to the floor by several Secret Service agents to protect him. Onlookers said 'residual bangs' were heard after Trump hit the floor. The crowd ducked and took cover as shots continued to ring out. Shortly after the incident, images of Trump with his ear bloodied and fist in the air , chanting 'fight, fight, fight,' made their way around social media. The moment became a powerful emblem of his campaign. Trump mouthed the word 'fight' as he was dragged away As he was rushed into SUVs, Trump flashed a fist at his supporters Trump showed his supporters that he was okay within seconds of being shot Trump's rallies were heavily guarded events Attendees pointed to the crowd at a victim shortly after shots rang out Secret service members throw themselves on Trump after the shots were fired A secret service member is seen gesturing to the crowd after the fatal shooting of a Trump supporter Since the attempt, supporters and witnesses have come out to recount the horrors of the day. One ER doctor who attended the rally recalled tending to one of the injured and administering CPR: 'I heard the shots. I thought it was firecrackers to begin with. Somebody over there was screaming 'he's been shot he's been shot,"' he said. 'So I made my way over. I said I'm an emergency department physician. Let me help you.' To commemorate his near-death experience, Trump added a new piece of art to the White House in May. A miniature bronze statue of Trump with his fist in the air now sits on a desk in the Oval Office. A 9-foot tall version in bronze is in the works, according to the Trump's Statue Project website, to commemorate the anniversary of the fateful day. The installation, was designed by Stan Watts to symbolize 'the divine intervention as well as the man and his message of unity and resilience for which America stand'. Canada is battling a surge in asylum seekers crossing its southern border from the US, as waves spooked by Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration flee north in search of safety. Data from border officials reveal thousands - many from Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean - are seeking to transit the St-Bernard-de-Lacolle crossing and other posts. The busiest land port between New York and Quebec received 761 asylum claims in the first six days of July. That's more than quadruple the amount from the same period last year, says Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The number of asylum applications at St-Bernard, which is about an hour south of Montreal and within reach of such major US cities as New York and Boston, are up by 82 percent overall this year. Officials say the migrants are fleeing increasingly tough enforcement in the US, where President Trump's second administration has stepped up arrests and deportations. The US has also axed temporary humanitarian programs that had allowed hundreds of thousands of people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela and other nations to live and work in the US, in many cases for years. Though Canada is often seen as having a soft touch on immigration, Ottawa has been adopting increasingly restrictive policies of its own after a Trudeau-era surge sent housing prices skyrocketing. Marjorie Villefranche, an advocate for Haitian groups in Montreal, describes widespread fear among those fleeing the US for the 150,000-strong community of Haitians in French-speaking Quebec. Canadian RCMP officers check the papers of two people who entered Quebec from the US amid a surge Many are fleeing to Canada from the US, where the Trump administration is deporting illegal immigrants, even detaining migrants at their court hearings 'All the people who arrive here are afraid of being arrested, whether they have papers or not,' Villefranche, a former director of immigration group Maison d'Haiti, told Bloomberg. The jump in claims is especially striking given how both the US and Canada have tightened their asylum rules. A 2023 update to the safe third country agreement between the two nations effectively closed a longstanding loophole, now requiring asylum seekers to apply at official ports of entry. At this frontier post, they're more likely to be turned away unless they can prove close family ties in Canada. Such was the case for Araceli, a Salvadorian migrant, and her family, who were turned away by Canadian officials at the Rainbow Bridge, which crosses the Niagara River between the US and Canada. Araceli had been living in the US illegally for more than a decade, and decided to travel with her partner and two daughters to join her siblings in Canada amid the threat of Trump's mass deportations. They first tried to cross the bridge on March 17, but were turned back. The same thing happened on their next attempt - they were not allowed into Canada until their third try. 'I felt immense joy, it's indescribable,' Araceli told CBC of their success. 'My daughters gave me so much strength.' Under the safe third country agreement, people who have been denied refuge in one country are not supposed to be granted asylum in the other. The deal states that asylum seekers must apply for asylum in the first country where they land. More than 2,000 foreign nationals who showed up at a Canadian port of entry and made a claim have already been removed and sent back to the US so far this year. The US-Canada border is getting busier, with a 400 percent surge in asylum applicants at one crossing Violence and protests broke out in Los Angeles in June after US Customs and Border Protection officers launched deportation raids there Hundreds of protesters gather to demand an immediate end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) workplace raids in America's second-biggest city That's about one for every 10 asylum claimants. Canada border officials say they're 'committed' to increasing the number of removals. Haitians and Venezuelans are currently the most common nationalities applying for asylum in Canada by land, according to border agency data. Colombians, Pakistanis and US citizens also rank high. The St-Bernard crossing has become a key entry point for northbound flows. The area was once known for its wooded footpaths that allowed asylum seekers to sneak in undetected, but these informal routes were shuttered by the 2023 rule changes. Canadian border officials say they're prepared for an 'influx of refugee claimants' at St-Bernard and have leased extra space to open another processing center. Pia Zambelli, chairwoman of the refugee committee at the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association, says illegals in the US should think twice about heading north - even with Trump's deportation raids. 'Once they're rejected, it's quite likely they'll be detained. So it's a very risky proposition,' says Zambelli. 'They could end up being in a great deal more danger by approaching the Canadian border and getting turned back than if they had attempted to see if there's any avenues for them to remain or claim asylum in the US.' Canada's approach reflects a shift in public attitudes on immigration. After years of relatively open borders, a surge in newcomers following the pandemic has strained housing, health care and public services, leading the government to limit student visas, work permits and family reunification. It seeks to cut temporary residents to 5 percent of the population from about 7.3 percent over three years. For migrants living in the US, their options for refuge are narrowing. President Donald Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem promoted a new detention center dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz' in Florida on July 1 Federal agents detain a man after his court hearing in immigration court in New York City in July as Trump's crackdown gathers momentum One of Trump's first acts after taking office in January was effectively shutting down the southern border to asylum seekers. Trump has made immigration enforcement a centerpiece of his return to office, vowing to deport millions, revive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and strip protections from so-called 'sanctuary cities.' In recent months, federal agents have raided workplaces, scoured DMV records and scanned social media to track down undocumented migrants - including many who have lived and worked in America for decades. His administration deployed active-duty troops and expanded air and land patrols, and Trump last week approved a big increase in funding to build out the US-Mexico border wall. The money will also fund the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency's aggressive push to arrest those without legal status and put them in a fast-track deportation process, leaving many with few pathways to stay in the country. The 17-year-old girl accused of gunning down her mother and stepfather had curated a chilling portrait of grief on social media for months after the brutal killings, Daily Mail can reveal. To the public, Sarah Grace Patrick appeared to be a teenager shattered by tragedy after her mom Kristin, 41, and stepdad James Brock, 47, were mysteriously found shot dead in their Georgia home in February. The high school student posted tributes, tearful selfies, and even pleas for justice but never hinting that she might be the one behind the murders. But her haunting digital trail was being viewed through an entirely different lens and on Tuesday she was arrested and charged with the double murders. Police say Kristin and James were both shot dead as they slept in their home in Carrollton, 45 miles west of Atlanta on February 20. Patrick, who was 16 at the time, was inside the house during the killings and called 911 after her then-five-year-old half-sister Jaley discovered the lifeless bodies. There were no immediate suspects or leads, and the couple's death at first seemed like a mysterious tragedy that had left two young girls without a family. For months, Patrick played the grieving daughter who was coping with an unimaginable loss, delivering a tearful eulogy at the funeral and sharing heartbreaking TikTok videos about her slain parents. In the months after the killings, Patrick had posted numerous TikToks about the murders and shared selfies of herself mourning her parents, including one on her way to their funeral and another of her crying into her mother's clothing No arrests had been made in the case until Tuesday, when Patrick was charged with the double murders One TikTok from March shows a slideshow of images of her mother and stepfather, set to emotional music and accompanied by the text: 'They don't know it, but a year from now me and my 5-year-old sister would find them wrongfully shot dead in our home and they won't get to watch me graduate high school, see me walk down the aisle, or even say goodbye.' In the caption, she wrote: 'I miss you guys, save a seat for me in heaven.' She continued to share numerous videos about her grief, employing various trending TikTok formats for emotional effect. In one, she appears distraught with mascara streaked down her cheeks. The overlay reads: 'Life's hard but at least I have my mom.' The video later cuts to a final slide showing two urns and a framed photograph of Kristin and James Brock, with text overlay: 'Mom?' Patrick also portrayed herself as heartbroken over her little sister's trauma from finding her parents' bullet-riddled bodies. In one post, she wrote: 'I can't help but hate myself because I didn't wake up to find them before my 5yo sister had to find her parents like that'. In one TikTok, Patrick appears distraught with mascara streaked down her cheeks. The overlay reads: 'Life's hard but at least I have my mom', before cutting to a final slide showing two urns James, 47, and Kristin, 41, Brock were shot dead as they slept in their home in Carrollton, Georgia, on February 20 Another read: 'It hits me when I see my 5-year-old sister screaming for her mommy and daddy.' Several of her videos took the form of emotional tributes praising her mother. 'I don't know if she ever realized that the person I most wanted to be was her,' she wrote in one post with additional slides describing her mom as 'so kind and so loving.' But perhaps most unsettling are the posts containing selfies of Patrick appearing distraught and in tears over her mom's death. She shared a photo clutching her mother's clothes, seemingly crying into them, with the text: 'Her T-shirt [heart emoji].' She shared one selfie of her sobbing in bed captioned: 'I just want my momma,' and another of herself in anguish, reading: 'wdym [what do you mean] I can't call my mom?' In one haunting image, she appears to be choking back tears en route to the funeral, writing: 'This can't be real. Otw (on the way) to my parents' funeral.' Since Patrick's arrest, true crime communities on social media have erupted, dissecting her content and questioning what could have possibly driven an angel-faced teen to allegedly murder her parents. Perhaps most unsettling are the posts containing selfies of Patrick appearing distraught and shedding crocodile tears over her mom's death One post included a selfie of the seemingly anguished teen with the text: 'Wdym I can't call my mom' The high school senior had posted tributes, tearful selfies, and even pleas for justice - but never hinting that she might be the one behind the murder The story took an even stranger turn when a popular true crime content creator who posts under @Allegedly Reportedly and has over 120,000 followers, revealed that Patrick had reached out to her weeks before her arrest, asking for help getting coverage of the case. The TikTokker shared screenshots of their exchange which showed Patrick had sent her a private message on the platform on June 3, telling her to 'search up Brock case.' 'They're my parents, and out of nowhere a random Thursday night in Feb someone came into my house with me and my 5-year-old sister and shot my parents brutally - leaving them for me and my little sister to wake up to,' Patrick wrote. 'I am in absolute shock right now,' the TikTokker wrote in a caption of the video on Wednesday. 'An arrest has been made in the case of James and Kristin Brock, whose lives were taken in February the person arrested is their daughter, who previously asked me to cover their case?!' In addition to posting videos of her grief online, Patrick apparently also worked behind the scenes to spread her story, issuing statements on her father's Facebook account and asking friends to share details of the incident on her behalf. Last month, weeks before Patrick's arrest, family friend Kellie Brown took to TikTok to share that the teen reached out to her on June 22 asking her to share information about what happened that night with the public. 'Sarah has confirmed that she was awake the night of the incident and 'heard nothing out of the normal'. Those are her words,' Brown said in a June 24 video. Popular true crime content creator known as 'Allegedly Reportedly' this week revealed that Patrick had reached out to her weeks before her arrest, asking for help getting coverage of the case She added that Patrick said she had only heard her the alarm from her stepfather's heart machine - which would've been triggered by his death 'going off throughout the night.' Patrick's original account has since been deactivated, but the disturbing videos have resurfaced and gone viral after social media sleuths re-uploaded her content following the shocking news. The videos are now flooded with comments questioning whether her posts were a manifestation of guilt or a calculated attempt to win sympathy. 'I wonder if she actually started to regret it or if it was all just a cover up,' one user wrote.' 'She wanted attention and sympathy for it!!!' another speculated. Patrick is being charged as an adult on two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault after turning herself in to police on Tuesday accompanied by her father Doniel Patrick. Authorities have not yet revealed a motive for the killings and say the investigation is ongoing and further arrests could be made. Investigators from Carroll County Sheriff's Office have cited 'mountains of digital and physical evidence' that led to her arrest including Patrick's emotional eulogy. One TikTok from March shows a slideshow of images of her mother and stepfather from a year earlier, lamenting that they won't get to watch her graduate, walk down the aisle, 'or even say goodbye' The 17-year-old had delivered a tearful eulogy at a church service in Georgia for her mother Kristin and stepfather James Brock, only to be charged with their murders months later Video of her tribute at her mom and stepfather's funeral service was published by the Daily Mail after relatives of the victims shared the footage in disgust after her arrest. Patrick, dressed in a demure, pale blue mini dress, can be seen taking to the lectern during the March 8 afternoon service at the Catalyst church in Carrollton, where the Brocks were very active members. She paid glowing tributes to her mother and stepfather, thanking Brock 'for all the life lessons you taught me', and praising her mom as a 'beautiful kind soul with so much gratitude'. She thanked her family, including her grandparents, a long list of siblings, and others for 'helping me get through my worst nightmare' and 'making such a big difference'. Concluding her eulogy, she said: 'Jamey and all would thank you too. I love you guys and so did they, I'm sorry.' During a press conference about her arrest this week, Carroll County communications director Ashley Hulsey confirmed her tribute at the funeral was a key piece of evidence. Speaking to News Nation, Hulsey admitted the eulogy 'seemed odd' and noted that Patrick had ended her speech saying 'I'm sorry.' Patrick's apparent charade ended on July 8 when she turned herself into police, accompanied by her father, after learning there was a warrant out for her arrest, authorities said The couple was killed in their home in Carrolton, 45 miles west of Atlanta 'Was that, 'I'm sorry because I may have done this' or is it, 'I'm sorry because I was upset during this eulogy'? We may never know the answer to that, but that did stand out to me at the time,' she said. Hulsey also confirmed investigators are aware of the teen's social media posts. Sharing footage of the funeral remarks, James Brock's niece Krysten Dowda told Daily Mail that she immediately became suspicious of Patrick 'after the shock wore off', adding: 'The pieces just weren't making sense.' 'After their funeral, when I saw someone had recorded this, I immediately saved it because I knew one day everyone would get to see this for what it was,' she said. 'The feeling of being at a funeral to say goodbye to someone you loved and thinking to yourself, am I actually witnessing the person that murdered them, standing up here in front of everyone and fake crying about them? 'Does anyone else see this person doing a crying voice but never shed a single tear?' Owner Tim Trawick was looking through old menus when he found one from 1991, the year TJs Pizza Wings N Things first opened their doors in Denton. July 10, 2025, marked 34 years since that day and to celebrate, theyre turning back the clock. When Trawick discovered the original menu, he was inspired to do something special for the community that has supported TJs for more than three decades. On Wednesday, the restaurant kicked off a promotion for its 34th anniversary by rolling back prices on select items to what they were in 1991. I thought it would be something fun for our customers and a way to thank the Denton community thats supported us for so long, said Trawick, who founded TJs with his mother in 1991. The rollback pricing applies to specialty pizzas featured on that first-year menu. Though not every item is included, the nostalgic deal has already struck a chord with longtime customers. It started yesterday, and the response has been great, Trawick said Thursday, while preparing for day two of the promotion. TJs Pizza originally operated on Hickory Street as part of Texas Jive, a pizzeria and bar. The restaurant relocated after the 100 block of Fry Street was sold in 2006. Now located at 602 N. Elm St., TJs is known for its mesquite pressure-smoked wings and inventive pizzas. The menu has expanded over the years, but TJs signature flavors and its connection to the Denton community have remained consistent. Still family-owned and operated, the restaurant continues to serve students, families and late-night regulars seven days a week. Trawick said the retro pricing is just a small way of saying thank you. The promotion runs through July 16, 2025, giving longtime supporters and a new generation of customers a chance to taste a bit of Denton history. The sun-drenched sands, long a glittering getaway for A-listers, spring breakers and honeymooners, have been shattered by a surge in violence, raising alarm about the safety of the beloved tourist draw. Once considered a safe haven in Baja California Sur, Cabo San Lucas is now in the crosshairs of drug gangs, with shootouts, arson attacks, and brazen intimidation unfolding scarily close to its beaches and $500-a-night hotels. The violence reached a terrifying new level in April, with a string of overnight shootouts across Cabo, three buses set ablaze in nearby La Paz and Los Cabos, a cop killing, three other homicides, and online cartel threats against officials. Locals describe a new chapter in lawless terror for a region that's hitherto been spared the worst of Mexico's narco-wars, and suggests that the Tijuana or Sinaloa cartels are expanding their criminal empires. The escalation threatens the region's roughly $13billion-a-year tourism industry, which has lured George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Will Smith, Leonardo DiCaprio, and other celebs for vacations and even to buy up properties. Frightened tourists have in recent months taken to social media to post about everything from the din of automatic gunfire echoing through their resorts to kidnappings and shakedowns at bars and hospitals. Chita Avalos, 48, a florist, of Downey, California, described an 'extremely scary' night of barhopping in a group of 17 American tourists, who were targeted by muscly hombres running a drugs and blackmail con. 'Cabo was a very dangerous place, and we will not be going back,' Avalos says. The sun-drenched sands, long a glittering getaway for A-listers, spring breakers and honeymooners, have been shattered by a surge in violence, raising alarm about the safety of the beloved tourist draw Scared locals described an upsurge in violence in April, with shootouts at night and buses burned, including this frightening scene in Cabo San Lucas on April 24 Paris Hilton at a resort in Cabo San Lucas, one of the many celebs to frequent the hotspot The US State Department, Global Affairs Canada, and Britain's Foreign Office have all issued updated travel advisories, urging visitors to exercise increased caution in Cabo San Lucas and the rest of Baja California Sur. The US advisory warns that 'criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state' and urges visitors to 'exercise increased caution,' keep family posted about your whereabouts and to avoid crowds. 'If you are in a public place where the situation changes quickly, leave the area or seek secure shelter,' says the advisory from April 25, after another night of gunfire in various parts of the city of some 200,000 people. US President Donald Trump has weighed whether to send US special forces to smash up the cartels in Mexico, where an epidemic of gang violence has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives so far this century. Cabo is best known for its majestic El Arco, a natural archway in the sea cliffs, and has long been promoted as a safer place to watch the sun go down and sip margheritas than Cancun or Acapulco. With a flight time of two and half hours from Los Angeles, it has drawn such celebrities as Jessica Simpson, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, and Paris Hilton to vacation in its lavish cliffside villas and beachfront resorts. But as Mexico's cartels expand their territorial grip and battle over lucrative smuggling routes and protection rackets, even Cabo's once-peaceful streets are becoming theaters of narco conflict. Mexico's major cartels have traditionally steered clear of the country's tourist draws, as violence would upset a moneymaker and attract unwanted attention from federal Mexican lawmen and foreign powers. Cabo's upsurge in violence may be linked to the nearby Sinaloa Cartel, once ruled by the infamous Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, and the Tijuana Cartel, a ruthless, blood-soaked criminal empire fighting for survival. Both groups seek to control multi-billion-dollar drug routes that feed America's addiction to cocaine, fentanyl, and meth, a contest that's turned Mexico's northern states into war zones, leaving local police outgunned and communities terrorized. Cabos famous natural aerchges are one of the draws for a local tourism industry worth roughly $13 billion a year Ashlee Simpson and Evan Ross return to Los Angeles from a family trip to Cabo San Lucas Mexican army soldiers patrol the streets at Los Cabos, Baja California Sur state. Federal forces are at times outgunned by the brutal cartels Residents of southern Baja fear the arrival of the kinds of violence that have plagued nearby Sinaloa state Analysts say smaller, hyper-violent gangs including offshoots of the major cartels may now seek to dominate the southern Baja corridor, which is not only a valuable drug route but a booming tourism economy ripe for extortion. Federal authorities in April arrested seven people linked to the Sinaloa cartel, including the alleged leader of the criminal cell, Isidro Enrique Ulibarria Cortez, also known as 'El 90,' in Mulege, a coastal community along the Gulf of California. Agents confiscated three modified vehicles used by the group to transport drugs, seven firearms, 2,559 cartridges, four grenades, 69 magazines and doses of suspected marijuana, according to the Latin Times. The burning of the buses later that month was a turning point, though it's unknown whether the cartels were flexing their power in a dramatic display of terror. The fires shut down major roads and triggered panic among visitors. 'All of Mexico should be a no travel zone,' posted Tom TenHove, a former Indiana auto dealer, about the deepening security crisis in southern Baja. 'Shootings on the beaches in Cancun too. And NEVER venture inland.' Hotel managers now quietly advise guests to stay within resort grounds, while some are ramping up private security and surveillance systems to keep the violence of cartels and local criminal gangs at bay. Despite the chaos, tourism authorities insist Cabo remains 'safe' for most travelers though critics say that stance downplays the reality on the ground. Visit Mexico and Visit Los Cabos did not answer our requests for comment. With summer travel season heating up, and Cabo's top resorts charging upward of $500 a night, many fear the rising violence could hurt Mexico's tourism industry, which makes up 15 percent of the national economy. As the cartels creep closer to the resorts, and the embers of those burnt buses still smoulder in memory, the once-glittering promise of Cabo San Lucas as a sanctuary in the sun is now clouded by fear, gun smoke and the grim specter of cartel war. When Una Jane-Winfield met dashing Paul she thought she had found the love of her life - and they soon married. Then, for more than two decades, the couple appeared to have a normal marriage, raising two children in a pretty home by the Thames in west London. But one day all that changed. Paul abruptly told Una and their children that he now identified as a woman. And after dropping that bombshell Paul - now using new pronouns and going by the new name Elizabeth - moved out of the family home, changing Una Jane's life in a moment. The experience led her to start a campaign group, TransWidows, to support women who find herself in the same difficult situation. Elizabeth made her startling admission after her secret was starting to come out. Una made the discovery about her then husband's new identity one spring afternoon, where she found a Dorothy Perkins dress, a pair of size nine heels and two credit cards - one had Paul's name while the other said Elizabeth, with the surname spelt slightly differently. Una had met Paul, a budding architect who was 19 years her senior, through mutual friends at their well-to-do sail club After years of grappling with how her former husband's bombshell revelation affected her, Una (pictured) has now created the TransWidows group - for women whose husband's have changed gender A few years later Paul recieved his interim gender recognition certificate to identify legally as Elizabeth (pictured) and the couple finally legally divorced in 2014 'I brought them down and put them on the kitchen table and asked who do these belong to? I was thinking he had a girlfriend, as you do. 'But instead he said "they're mine" and nothing more than that. 'And then, a few days later, we were walking past the Tube station when he just blurted out "It's true, I'm a transexual". 'We had been walking side by side but I stopped. I was absolutly rooted to the ground. I had no idea what those words meant back then. I didn't realise, in his mind, that it was a release, that it was an explanation.' Sitting next to a half torn-up picture Elizabeth sent their ex-wife a year after they separated, Una said: 'I ripped that up in anger but really there was no point because by then the deed was done. 'I still get upset about it. The thing that makes me the most angry is all the secrecy, I felt completely deceived.' After years of grappling with how her former husband's bombshell revelation affected her, Una has now created the TransWidows group - for women whose husband's have changed gender. Una describes herself as a staunch feminist supporting the same gender-critical views that people such as JK Rowling and Maya Forstater. For more than two decades, the couple appeared to have a normal marriage, raising two children in a pretty home by the Thames in west London When Una Jane-Winfield met dashing Paul she thought she had found the love of her life - and they soon married The pinboard, which hangs on the front of her yellow door, is filled with news clippings highlighting wins for activists like Una, such as the Supreme Court ruling that legally the term 'woman' means a biological woman She wants to see the Gender Recognition Act 2004, which recognises a transgender person's acquired gender, to be removed claiming Tony Blair should 'never have passed it'. She also wants Gender Reassignment to be removed from the Protected Characteristics of the Equality Act. The mother-of-two feels most strongly about children being told while still of school age that 'they might be born in the wrong body'. 'Sorry kids, you only have one body for the rest of your life,' the campaigner said. 'You can chop bits off but it will still be the same body every day because every single one of the cells in your body has either got XX or XY chromosomes.' Her controversial views have, in the past, got her in trouble. Una had plastered pictures of a 13-year-old girl who had just undergone a female-to-male reconstruction, also known as top surgery. After passersby reported the poster to Hammersmith and Fulham Council, she was handed a Community Protection Notice (CPN). The Labour-run authority threatened the pensioner with a 2,500 and prosecution last year, however, eventually backed down instead just insisting Una removed the most graphic images. Now the pinboard, which hangs on the front of her yellow door, is filled with news clippings highlighting wins for activists like Una, such as the Supreme Court ruling that legally the term 'woman' means a biological woman. Una made the discovery about her then husband's new identity one spring afternoon, where she found a Dorothy Perkins dress, a pair of size nine heels and two credit cards On the pinboard, Una had plastered pictures of a 13-year-old girl who had just undergone a female-to-male reconstruction, also known as top surgery It was after seeing the power of campaigning from activists groups like For Women Scotland, who pushed for the definition to be clarified in court, that Una decided to set up her own group. At 69-years-old, Una told MailOnline, almost two decades after the separation she finally has the courage to speak out about how her husband's changed identity affected her. 'Women are the bedrock of life and this trans-agenda is destroying all that makes women special or different to men,' she said. Una had met Paul, a budding architect who was 19 years her senior, through mutual friends at their well-to-do sail club. Paul had been married twice before but Una, then in her mid-30s, had not yet had a serious relationship. When she met Paul she felt she had finally met her match. 'He was lovely from the first moment I met him,' she said as she looked back on those first hopeful years. 'I met him through sailing friends and Paul was a good handsman and had a part share in a yacht with a childhood friend. Paul had been married twice before but Una, then in her mid-30s, had not yet had a serious relationship As the years passed, Una and Paul's relationship became more distant, with the campaigner saying he would relentlessly 'taunt' her and degrade her feelings 'I wrongly believed at the time that if you met someone who behaved well, who had the same interests of you even if they were impoverished, he had excellent prospects. I did not see any reason not to marry him.' The first four years of their marriage had been a happy one. Being an older couple, they rushed to have two children, a boy and a girl, within three years. During those first years of marital life, Una was puzzled as to why Paul's first marriage, which lasted 11 years ended, as well as his second marriage, which last four years. Paul had always said his second marriage had ended after his ex-wife 'threw plates at him' in a fit of rage. She said: 'He was physically very attractive to me and we fitted together well so I was very puzzled as to why his previous marriage had failed. 'Four years into my marriage with Paul I know exactly why she threw plates at him. 'He had control over his emotions, he was inherently irresponsible in close personal relationships but couldn't sustain them.' As the years passed, Una and Paul's relationship became more distant, with the campaigner saying he would relentlessly 'taunt' her and degrade her feelings. The first four years of their marriage had been a happy one. Being an older couple, they rushed to have two children, a boy and a girl, within three years Grappling with the separation, which eventually took four years as Una fought to keep the family home she inherited in her name Una said: 'He changed gradually over the years into a totally different person from someone who teased gently into really taunting words that were really hurting me. 'It was like he was trying to drive a wedge in between us and to destroy my thoughts of myself.' Despite this Una said she wanted to strive to make their marriage work. 'I was very patient with our marriage and I wasn't going to give up until it became absolutely impossible to continue,' she said. Una claims during most of the final 10 years of their marriage, Paul spent locked away in the dining room on the computer, claiming he was watching pornography. She claims he would refuse to help pay for various bills around the house and he stopped wanting to do 'normal' things as a family. 'He was just so mean and so hostile at the end,' she said. 'His behaviour towards me was absolutely unbearable. No confidence, no explanation as to why he wanted me out of his life.' Then suddenly that fateful afternoon in March 2006 where Una stumbled upon her husband's female clothing she finally got an explanation to what had been causing the ongoing, unexplained rift in their marriage. Elizabeth sent Una the copy of the gender recognition certificate along with some harrowing childhood memories At age 70, Elizabeth underwent gender reassignment surgery and moved to Brighton, having very little contact with the two children from her marriage to Una Three months later, Paul moved out of the family home. I was in total shock for about a year, a year and a bit,' Una said. 'At first he answered the phone, then didn't. I hesitated to use emails because it was even more of a distance.' Grappling with the separation, which eventually took four years as Una fought to keep the family home she inherited in her name, the mother-of-two had a few run-ins with her ex-husband. On one occasion she turned up with the children on Paul's doorstep in hope of catching a picture of him dressed in his new identity on camera. Paul, at that time, was still dressing as a man but Una rummaged through his house to find female clothes and took pictures of them. Whilst she was there, Una begged Paul to cut his now long hair, reaching for a pair of small scissors that were in the sink, however, her former husband saw this as a threat. 'I foolishly thought I'd give him one last change and asked him to please get your hair cut,' she said. 'There was a small pair of scissors in the sink and I lifted them up and showed him. I was not threatening him but he flung into an absolute rage, that I had never seen before, from across the room. Una describes herself as a staunch feminist supporting the same gender-critical views that people such as JK Rowling and Maya Forstater 'He pushed me against the wall, caused me actual bodily harm, ripped my trousers and said he was going to call the police. 'I said we are going, we are going and I thought I had calmed things down.' But three weeks later, Una was called down from London to a police station by Sussex Police where she was held in custody accused of assault. Una said that Paul, a few days after the incident, had gone to the police and filed a report while identifying as Elizabeth. She said: 'I turned up unprotected in a total state of bewilderment, anger, abandonment, not knowing the first thing about the severity, so they arrested me. 'I was extremely angry as it was a Wednesday afternoon and I had to get back to London to pick the children up from school. 'But they put me in a cell. I had no police record and I thought what the f*** are Sussex Police doing prosecuting the oinly person keeping these kids safe. 'Eventually they arrested me for domestic assault, common assault and forced me to take a caution. On one occasion Una turned up with the children on Paul's doorstep in hope of catching a picture of him dressed in his new identity on camera 'What I should have done was ask if he could come to court and prove it. Now I have the courage and strength to fight it. It felt like a 10 tonne rock had been dropped on me by Paul.' A few years later Paul recieved his interim gender recognition certificate to identify legally as Elizabeth and the couple finally legally divorced in 2014. During the proceedings, Elizabeth had sent Una the copy of the gender recognition certificate along with some harrowing childhood memories. Elizabeth said they had been sexually abused as a child by a headteacher while attending an all-boys school and that his aunt had told her to dress in his mother's clothes as a child. She also spoke of the painful, acrimonious divorce, her parents had and how her mother had been kicked out of the family home. 'There were a lot of strong emotions in his life but to say nothing about this. In the years we were married. I had no idea about any of this,' Una reflected. At age 70, Elizabeth underwent gender reassignment surgery and moved to Brighton, having very little contact with the two children from her marriage to Una. In 2022, Elizabeth, who had now remarried his second wife in a civil partnership, died at age 84 after falling out of a second-floor window headfirst after cleaning a window. Elizabeth died at age 84 after falling out of a second-floor window headfirst after cleaning a window, the coroner ruled it had been an accidental death but Una submitted a letter to the coroner detailing why she believed it had been suicide The coroner ruled it had been an accidental death after Elizabeth's partner and son from second marriage argued she had been cleaning insects from a dangerous window. Una, however, submitted a letter to the coroner detailing why she believed it had been suicide. In a final twist of the knife, Una revealed how hurt her children had been after being left entirely out of their father's will. 'They did not ask to be born but now they are left with no inheritance from their own father,' Una said. Una is amongst women who have found themselves in a similar predicament. Her campaign group has a number of aims, including recognising transwidows 'unique roles as mothers in holding our children's welfare and peaceful development as our first concern above our own mental welfare'. The group also calls for prosecution the prosecution of abusive husbands and ex-husbands to include 'psychological torture'. Another aim of the group includes ending of 'cancel culture' and argues for the 'hate crime' legislation to amended so people discussing 'gender dysphoria' are not criminally prosecuted. *'Una was not paid for this interview which she gave in order to publicise her group and reach other women who may be affected Even amid the brewing MAGA fury over the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein matter, an overwhelming majority of people who backed Donald Trump in last year's election are standing by Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bondi and other top DOJ officials have been under fire ever since the release of a department memo stating that there was 'no incriminating 'client list' of the late convicted sex offender, and the release of prison security footage bolstering the case that he 'died by suicide.' Among those calling for her to go are close Trump advisor and prominent MAGA conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer. Conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson accused Bondi of 'covering up crimes.' But a survey of more than 1,000 registered voters conducted by J.L. Partners for the Daily Mail reveals that Trump voters are sticking by Bondi for the most part. Twenty-one percent of Trump 2024 supporters think Bondi should resign, compared to 43 percent who are against it. That compares to a 54 percent majority of Democrats and concerningly for Republicans a 35 percent plurality of Independents. Among Kamala Harris supporters from last year, 59 percent think she should resign, compared to 11 percent who don't. About one-fifth of Donald Trump 2024 voters think AG Pam Bondi should resign amid the fury over the Jefffrey Epstein matter The poll comes amid increased MAGA calls for Bondi to go after the DOJ released information saying there was no Epstein client list The poll results came as FBI Director Dan Bongino stayed home from work Friday and was reportedly considering quitting amid the fury over the Epstein matter. An insider at the DOJ even told the Daily Mail that Bongino will quit if Bondi doesn't step down or get fired. 'I don't see a scenario where Dan stays if Bondi remains,' the insider said. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Daily Mail on Tuesday that Trump is 'proud' of Bondi. One source close to Bongino told Axios, 'he ain't coming back.' The sensitivity of the issue was on display this week when Trump suddenly erupted at a reporter who asked him about the case. 'Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?' Trump vented during his cabinet meeting. 'This guy's been talked about for years.' Bondi herself went into damage control after the DOJ released the surveillance video on Monday in an attempt to quell rampant speculation that the billionaire pedophile was killed in prison. Skeptics had homed in on a missing one-minute segment of the video. Bondi explained that it was part of a daily reset that takes place at the Metropolitan Detention Center. 'The video was not conclusive, but the evidence prior to it was showing he committed suicide,' Bondi said. DOJ also released footage that backed up earlier conclusions that Epstein killed himself in his prison cell 'There was a minute that was off the counter, and what we learned from the Bureau of Prisons is every night they redo that video... every night should have the same minute missing,' he said. That hasn't stopped calls for her ouster. It was Bondi herself who had raised expectations during a FBI 21 interview on Fox News when host John Roberts asked her if DOJ would release a 'list of Jeffrey Epstein's clients.' 'It's sitting on my desk right now to review. That's been a directive by President Trump. I'm reviewing that,' Bondi, the former Florida AG and longtime Trump loyalist answered. That hasn't stopped Loomer from continuing to post about the hubbub. She wrote Friday that FBI Director Kash Patel and Assistant Director Dan Bongino 'are livid' with Bondi over her memo. 'Pam Blondi has brought total embarrassment to President Trump' and others, she wrote. She said she had 'lied' to the nation and that 'I'm told Kash and Bongino are furious with Blondi and the blowback she has caused them with her lack of transparency,' using a deliberate nickname. Overall, 37 percent say Bondi should resign, compared to 26 percent against and 37 percent who are unsure. A striking timelapse shows the Guadalupe River rapidly overtaking Camp Mystic, the all-girls Christian camp where at least 27 children and staff members were killed in the early hours of July 4. Camp Mystic, which has hosted generations of girls since 1926, sits along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas. Many of its cabins - including those that housed some of the youngest victims - were constructed within federally designated flood zones and floodways, areas considered so hazardous that construction is typically restricted or prohibited entirely. Emergency officials now say some of the worst damage occurred in a section of the camp, dubbed 'The Flats,' where cabins were located directly in the river's floodway - the zone typically reserved for fast-moving floodwaters in extreme events. Anna Serra-Llobet, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, who specializes in flood risk management, said it was 'problematic' to build a camp that houses children in an area so susceptible to flooding. 'It's like pitching a tent in the highway,' Serra-Llobet told the New York Times. 'It's going to happen, sooner or later - a car is going to come, or a big flood is going to come.' In 2019, the all-girls camp completed a $5 million expansion, adding new cabins and buildings to accommodate growing demand. While some of that construction occurred on higher ground, records show that several new buildings were still placed in flood-prone areas - and the original riverfront cabins remained in use. Despite a long history of deadly floods in the region - including one in 1987 that killed 10 campers at a different site - Kerr County officials approved the expansion. At the time, flood experts say the camp should have used the opportunity to relocate or elevate vulnerable structures. 'Any time you house large groups of children near a river with a history of flooding, there has to be a serious reassessment of risk,' Hiba Baroud, director of the Vanderbilt Center for Sustainability, Energy and Climate, told the Times. 'In this case, the dangers were well known.' Kerr County adopted stricter floodway regulations in 2020, stating that such areas pose 'an extremely hazardous' threat to human life. Yet existing cabins at Camp Mystic remained in place. As storms dumped heavy rain upstream on July 3, local officials received rainfall and river-level data from a network of gauges - a system originally installed after past deadly floods. Despite years of discussion about upgrading the county's flood alert infrastructure including better sirens and communication tools local efforts stalled due to funding shortages and political inaction. Meanwhile, the camp's riverside buildings remained in daily use. Baroud said the tragedy at Camp Mystic should serve as a national reminder of the dangers posed by riverfront development in a changing climate. 'These events are devastating, and they're also preventable,' she said. 'We can't keep placing people - especially children - in harm's way and acting surprised when the worst happens.' However, by the time water began rising around 2am on July 4, most of the campers were asleep and some cabins were quickly overwhelmed, while others were torn completely apart. Search crews later described finding beds flipped over and belongings swept hundreds of yards downstream. At least 27 campers and staff died in the flood - all at Camp Mystic. The statewide death toll from the series of floods that struck Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana has risen to 129. By the time water began rising around 2am on July 4, most of the campers were asleep and some cabins were quickly overwhelmed, while others were torn completely apart. Pictured: A view inside of a cabin at Camp Mystic, the site of where at least 20 girls went missing after flash flooding in Hunt, Texas Search crews later described finding beds flipped over and belongings swept hundreds of yards downstream. Pictured: Items lie scattered inside a cabin at Camp Mystic A search and rescue team looks for people along the Guadalupe River near a damaged building at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas A Camp Mystic sign is seen near the entrance to the establishment along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, Saturday, July 5 At least 27 campers and staff died in the flood - all at Camp Mystic Items lie scattered inside a cabin at Camp Mystic after deadly flooding Camp officials have not responded to repeated requests for comment. Pictured: Debris is piled up at Camp Mystic on July 7 Camp officials have not responded to repeated requests for comment, however, in a brief statement on their website, the camp wrote: 'Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly.' Just two days ahead of the disastrous flood, the Christian girls camp passed a state inspection. Inspectors noted the presence of emergency plans but did not include specifics, the New York Times reported. Camp Mystic's co-owner and longtime executive director, Dick Eastland, was among those killed in the flooding. In interviews over the years, the property owner had acknowledged the power of the Guadalupe but often emphasized that safety systems were in place. In 1990, after helping install the river gauge warning system, he reportedly told the Austin American-Statesman: 'The river is beautiful, but you have to respect it.' State and local officials have launched formal investigations into the camp's preparedness, construction approvals, and emergency procedures. Legal experts say civil lawsuits are likely as grieving families seek answers about why the camp was allowed to operate in such a high-risk area. Environmental and safety advocates are now calling for tighter enforcement of floodway building restrictions and better oversight of seasonal camps nationwide. As the Guadalupe River recedes, recovery teams continue to search for belongings and remains in the debris left behind. Steve Bannon issued a blistering warning that fallout over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files could rip the Republican coalition apart and cost the GOP 'up to 40 seats' in the midterm elections. Bannon, the architect of Donald Trump's 2016 victory, declared in fiery live broadcast on Friday that unless Trump takes swift action the political cost could be catastrophic. 'If we lose 10 percent of the MAGA movement right now, we're gonna lose 40 seats in '26. We're gonna lose the president,' Bannon thundered to a packed audience. 'They don't even have to steal it, which they're gonna try to do in '28.' The longtime political guru of the MAGA movement addressed conspiracy theories that Epstein was behind an elite cabal of child rapists. 'It's not about just a pedophile ring and all that. It's about who governs us, right? And that's why it's not gonna go away,' Bannon said. 'They've disheartened the hardest core populist nation that's always been who governs us.' At the heart of the firestorm is the Justice Department's abrupt decision to close the book on the Epstein investigation - denying the existence of the long-rumored 'client list,' reaffirming that Epstein died by suicide, and refusing to release further records. The memo, jointly released by the DOJ and FBI, stated that further disclosures were neither appropriate nor warranted. But what was intended as a final word has instead detonated a whole new round of conspiracy theories on the right. Steve Bannon, second from left, the architect of Donald Trump 's 2016 victory and a longtime political guru of the MAGA movement, issued a warning on Friday that the Epstein fallout could rip the Republican coalition apart and cost the GOP 'up to 40 seats' in the next election The Justice Department has closed the book on the Epstein investigation - denying the existence of the long-rumored 'client list,' reaffirming that Epstein died by suicide Attorney General Pam Bondi, once a darling of the movement, had assured Fox News viewers that a list of Epstein's clients was 'on her desk' but the DOJ now says no such document exists Influential MAGA figures, already furious over Attorney General Pam Bondi's failure to deliver the promised bombshells, erupted. Alex Jones sarcastically tweeted that the DOJ would next claim 'Actually, Jeffrey Epstein never even existed.' 'This is over the top sickening,' Jones added. Bondi, once a darling of the movement, had assured Fox News viewers that a list of Epstein's clients was 'on her desk' but the DOJ now says no such document ever existed. Far-right influencer Laura Loomer, close to Trump himself, didn't hold back. 'President Trump should fire Bondi for lying to his base and creating a liability for his administration. She is an embarrassment and she doesn't do anything to help Trump,' Loomer wrote on X. Meanwhile, Dan Bongino, Trump's deputy FBI director and himself a key player in cultivating MAGA loyalty, reportedly considered resigning after a heated clash with Bondi at the White House. Sources say Bongino was 'furious' over how the Epstein memo was handled and skipped work on Friday to contemplate his future. In an attempt to rally the base and refocus their fury, Bannon called for the immediate appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate Epstein's clients and possible blackmail operations. During Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, when a reporter tried to question Bondi about the Epstein footage, Trump cut them off US Attorney General Pam Bondi was also forced to explain a one-minute gap in the video of Jeffrey Epstein's jail cell The DOJ and FBI say no one else will be arrested and charged in connection to Epstein's crimes. British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell (right) is already serving a 20-year prison sentence 'There's only one solution,' Bannon insisted. 'You must appoint a special prosecutor immediately. DOJ and FBI, love those guys, but they can't do it. No possibility. They're too busy. Too conflicted.' His call was echoed by conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec, who demanded action in front of a roaring crowd. But despite the fiery rhetoric, the administration appears to be circling the wagons. President Trump leapt to Bondi's defense in a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, scolding a reporter who dared raise the Epstein issue. 'Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years. That is unbelievable.' Behind closed doors, however, tensions are boiling. A private clash earlier in the week between Bondi and Bongino sparked by a NewsNation report suggesting DOJ obstruction nearly broke into the open. FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy AG Todd Blanche, and even Bongino were all forced to issue public statements denying divisions within the administration. The Epstein memo marked a stunning reversal from earlier promises. In February, MAGA influencers were invited to the White House and handed binders labeled 'The Epstein Files: Phase 1 Declassified.' But the files were mostly rehashed public documents. Bondi promised that a 'truckload' of unreleased evidence was coming but that release never happened. Instead, on Monday the DOJ said that court orders sealed most of the remaining materials, and much of it would never have been made public even if Epstein had stood trial. The only disclosure accompanying the memo was a video intended to prove Epstein's jailhouse suicide. Yet even that drew fire from skeptics due to a mysterious one-minute gap in the footage. Complicating matters, tech mogul Elon Musk, once a close Trump confidant, is now hammering the president from the outside. The memo from the FBI and DOJ announced that no one involved in the Epstein case will follow former right-hand woman Ghislaine Maxwell to prison, as no further charges will be filed Dan Bongino, Trump's deputy FBI director and himself a key player in cultivating MAGA loyalty, was 'furious' over how the Epstein memo was handled and skipped work on Friday to contemplate his future Having announced plans to launch his own political party, Musk took to X to stoke Epstein suspicions. 'How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won't release the Epstein files?' Musk asked. Musk has hinted that Trump may have been named in redacted documents, further fueling speculation and deepening the fissure within the right. The Epstein backlash comes amid a series of fractures inside Trump's base. MAGA hardliners are already fuming over Trump's decision to resume arms shipments to Ukraine, his bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, and his recent comments urging restraint on immigration raids at farms. Insiders fear the cumulative effect could be an erosion of support among the grassroots populists who powered Trump's rise and who expect scorched-earth tactics, not compromise. A glamorous couple's life was torn apart when a woman was detained and thrown in ICE custody after the two attempted to cross the southern border for a day trip to Los Angeles. Jamie Nations, 56, and Olena Berezhnova-Gunel, 34, were hoping to visit their wedding venue during the trip to the US but the future bride's visa was still pending. 'It was so stupid, looking back,' Nations told AZ Central in an interview. The couple met during a trip to Argentina in December 2024. Nations works as an actor in Los Angeles, and Berezhnova-Gunel is an English teacher. Berezhnova-Gunel, a Ukrainian temporarily residing in Rosarito, Mexico, which is just south of Tijuana, was hesitant to visit California with her fiancee, US-born Nations. They were staying in the temporary apartment until Berezhnova-Gunel's visa status was approved. Once approved, the happy couple was hoping to start their life together at Nations' home. Berezhnova-Gunel had applied for a K-1 visa, a legal document that allows a foreign-born individual to come to the US legally to marry an American. The visa requires couples to marry within 90 days of approval, and if the marriage is determined to be legitimate, a Green Card will be issued, and the individual can become a permanent resident of the US. The couple said Berezhnova-Gunel's visa status was pending. Still, Nations wanted to bring her to California for the day to see where they would be getting married and later living together. Jamie Nations, 56, (L), and Olena Berezhnova-Gunel, 34, (R), were awaiting visa approval to get married and move in together in Los Angeles The couple attempted to enter the US through the San Ysidro port of entry (pictured) for a day trip, when CBP agents detained them Berezhnova-Gunel was sent to the San Luis Regional Detention Center (pictured) in Arizona, where CBP agents said she would be held until her visa was approved Nations confessed that he 'had no idea how intense' border control had become since President Donald Trump assumed office in January. He admitted it was a 'risk' entering the US while Berezhnova-Gunel's visa application was pending, but figured that the worst thing that could happen is they'd be turned away. 'Honestly, it was kind of out of desperation. We had our K-1 visa already pending. We had already done all that stuff,' Nations said. 'We were like, "Hey, let's just go ask ... and see if they will let us come in for the day,"' he added. The two arrived at the San Ysidro border crossing in San Diego on Nations' motorcycle on the morning of April 6, hoping to get a peek at their wedding venue. Agents with Customs and Border Protection were not so lenient, and the two were handcuffed and separated. A CBP supervisor told the couple, 'Tell them you took a wrong turn, and they will be easier on you,' Nations told AZ Central. Berezhnova-Gunel is Ukrainian but was temporarily living in Mexico with her fiancee until her visa was approved The two met on vacation and have been living in Mexico until they could legally marry and live together in Nations' Los Angeles home Nations said the couple was treated 'like trash' by CBP and ICE agents before his fiancee was thrown in custody When Nations was escorted to an interview room, he saw his fiancee handcuffed to a bench, in tears. 'They treat you like trash, not like humans. I mean, it was awful,' Nations recalled. Nations said he was accused of taking money from Berezhnova-Gunel to smuggle her into the US. Berezhnova-Gunel was taken to the San Luis Regional Detention Center in Arizona, where she has been staying ever since the debacle. Nations was held overnight and took a bus back to his home in Marina Del Rey the next morning. Since then, he has desperately been trying to get his fiancee out of the detention center. Since Berezhnova-Gunel was detained in April, her fiancee has worked to get her out by calling ICE every day and contacting government officials Nations said federal agents accused him of taking money from Berezhnova-Gunel to smuggle her into the US illegally Nations shared a video on YouTube, sharing their story. He included pictures and videos of the couple during happier times. 'Currently, she [Berezhnova-Gunel] is in detention, or as you like it, prison. Why? Because we are incredibly naive,' he explained in the video. He said that he just wanted to show his fiancee where he lived and where they would have their wedding. Nations said that he never got to say goodbye to Berezhnova-Gunel. 'She is not a gang member. She is not a criminal. She is an English teacher,' Nations pleaded. He said since his fiancee was detained, he's contacted senators, representatives, immigration attorneys, and calls ICE every day. 'All I have gotten is an automated loop and a bureaucratic red tape. At this point, I'm at my wits' end and I'm making this plea for help,' Nations pleaded. Daily Mail reached out to ICE and CBP for additional information on Berezhnova-Gunel's arrest and an update on her case. Berezhnova-Gunel is an English teacher and was engaged to an American citizen when she was detained Nations has been working as an actor in Los Angeles, but was temporarily residing with his fiancee in Mexico until her visa was approved According to the US Embassy and Consulate, individuals with a K-1 visa can travel, but 'may be subject to additional scrutiny.' 'Traveling under another visa status or the visa waiver program is not advised for K-1 fiance(e) visa applicants prior to the approval of their K visa as they have already indicated their intention is to marry in the U.S.,' the consulate adds. Sandra Grisolia, a spokesperson for ICE, told AZ Central in a statement, 'All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention, and if found removable by final order, removed from the U.S., regardless of nationality.' The statement added that Berezhnova-Gunel will stay in custody until her visa status is approved. ICE argued that because Berezhnova-Gunel didn't have legal documentation to enter the US per Trump's 'Securing Our Borders' executive order, her detainment was justified. A professor who sent his PhD student a string of romantic messages and a photo of himself in his boxer shorts has won his job back after being sacked by the university. University of Melbourne Professor of Geotechnical Engineering Stephan Matthai, now 62, was dumped by the university in December 2024. He was sacked after it emerged he had sent a female PhD student a string of romantic messages and a suggestive photo of himself back in 2017. Prof Matthai, who moved to Melbourne from Germany for a senior academic post, was found to have engaged in misconduct by the Fair Work Commission. However, the tribunal ruled that his termination was unreasonable given the university had known about the inappropriate conduct for years. Deputy President Alan Colman found the university's decision to fire Prof Matthai seven years after the fact was excessive. He pointed out the engineer had maintained a clean professional record ever since. 'If he had been dismissed at the time the misconduct occurred, when he was 55, he may have had more opportunities for re-employment,' Mr Colman said. Professor Stephan Matthai (pictured) was fired from the University of Melbourne last year after he was found to have engaged in misconduct by the Fair Work Commission The University of Melbourne has signalled it may appeal the decision. The matter traces back to 2017, when an unnamed PhD student who had received a scholarship to study in Melbourne started working under Prof Matthai's supervision. Their exchanges began as professional, but quickly became romantic. In a string of heartfelt messages, Matthai opened up about his recent break-up and responded to a poem from the student with one of his own. 'We are like the dry soil soaking up the autumn rain after a long hot summer. It is very beautiful and caresses our souls, but it should not give you pain. You know that I am barely coping with the separation from [omitted],' he wrote. Their exchanges moved to personal email and private video chats, with Matthai deliberately avoiding university channels to dodge detection from those he described as 'UoM internet security people'. 'It is our very own private conversation... and yes, we have the pleasure of getting a glimpse of this together and it is really beautiful reawakening,' he wrote. 'We share this on a deep intuitive level.' The University of Melbourne is considering appealing the Fair Work Tribunal's decision The pair messaged back-and-forth for two months, with Prof Matthai sending the student a picture of himself in his boxer shorts. The tribunal deemed the messages to be 'inappropriate and unprofessional' but not grounds for dismissal. Despite the university being informed of the messages in 2017, Matthai was allowed to continue in his role until his sudden dismissal in late 2024. The tribunal took particular issue with the university's delay in acting, stating that it had effectively condoned his continued employment. No further concerns arose during the following years. Matthai's legal win means he will be reinstated to his $226,000 position, but with the university now reviewing its next steps, his future remains uncertain. Member of the public spotted her on dirt track Her parents 'can't believe' she was found The relieved friends of rescued German backpacker Carolina Wilga plan to hear her miraculous story of survival in the 'hostile' Australian outback over a pub feed. The 26-year-old was found alive and well on Friday afternoon, 12 days after she vanished in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region. She had last been seen on CCTV on June 29 inside a general store in Beacon, a small town about 300km northeast of Perth. At 1.10pm on Thursday, WA Police discovered Ms Wilga's Mitsubishi Delica van abandoned in the Karroun Hill area, about 100km north of where she was last seen. One day later, a member of the public found her limping along a bush track near where her van was found the day before and raised the alarm. Ms Wilga, who suffered minor injuries and was 'ravaged by mosquitoes', was filmed approaching a plane that airlifted her to Royal Perth Hospital. She appeared to be walking with a limp and was only wearing one shoe. Five of Ms Wilga's friends were waiting for her outside the hospital just before 7pm on Friday. They told reporters they planned to take her out for a pub feed. 'We just heard from the news that she was found and alive, which had everyone excited,' friend and fellow traveller Miranda told the West Australian. The relieved friends of rescued German backpacker Carolina Wilga (pictured) said they planned to hear her miraculous story of survival over a pub feed The 26-year-old was found alive and well on Friday afternoon, 12 days after she vanished in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region (she is pictured being airlifted to hospital) She said Ms Wilga's parents 'couldn't believe' their daughter had been found. 'They almost couldn't believe it, but yeah, they were just overwhelmed with happiness,' she said. Friend Jules Briand said he was keen to hear Ms Wilga's incredible story of survival. 'I can't wait to hug her and tell her that she got us worried ... and have good food and drink with her,' he said. WA Police Inspector Martin Glynn told reporters it was sure to be a 'remarkable' story. 'As you can imagine from the trauma she's suffered for the last few days, she's been obviously through a great deal,' Insp Glynn said. 'She's obviously in quite a fragile condition at the moment. 'She's coped in some amazing conditions. (It's a) very hostile environment out there.' Ms Wilga appeared to only be wearing one shoe as she was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital Timeline of backpacker's disappearance June 28 Ms Wilga's friend saw her leave the Sundance Backpackers hostel in Fremantle on June 28. Her friend Denise Kullick told German media Ms Wilga had planned to travel with a friend to a seaside location to become a yoga teacher - but ended up setting off alone. Another friend, in Australia, was also in contact with Ms Wilga twice on the same day, the first was a text message at 7am. In the message, Ms Wilga explained she would not be able to drop off a book and a jerry can as she had 'some stuff she needed to handle'. CCTV footage captured Ms Wilga driving into a petrol station at 4.28pm on Stirling Terrace in Toodyay - about 90km northeast of Perth. Ms Wilga parked, exited her van and filled it with petrol before heading inside the service station to pay. At 4.38pm, the friend received a voice message from Ms Wilga in which she was heard saying: 'I just couldn't wait anymore. Ugh. I felt tired'. Shortly after, at 4.41pm, Ms Wilga left the petrol station. Police believed Ms Wilga departed Toodyay and embarked on the 230km journey northeast, stopping at Dowerin, on the way to Beacon. Ms Wilga was last seen on CCTV footage taken from a general store in Beacon, about 300km northeast of Perth in the Wheatbelt region, at 12.10pm on June 29 June 29 - Ms Wilga is last seen Ms Wilga was last seen on CCTV footage taken from a general store in Beacon, about 300km northeast of Perth in the Wheatbelt region, at 12.10pm on June 29. She was spotted wearing ripped blue baggy jeans, a cream long-sleeve jumper and a similar coloured scarf. The young backpacker was captured peering into the store and walking around the property. About five minutes later, she got back into her van and left. Police believed she travelled to Wialki, a further 25km east of Beacon. June 30 to July 9 - Ms Wilga makes no contact From June 30, friends and family were not able to contact Ms Wilga, nor were there any sightings of the young traveller. Police issued a missing person alert on July 7, with details of her disappearance and an appeal for information or sightings of Ms Wilga. On July 9, Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch told media police were 'very concerned' for Ms Wilga's welfare. Ms Wilga is pictured in her black and silver 1995 Mitsubishi Delica van Detectives from the homicide squad were also called in to help find the missing backpacker. Commissioner Blanch added her disappearance was not being treated as a murder 'at this point'. 'They are investigating, not that it's a homicide at this point, but we want our very best capabilities to investigate something that is very concerning to us,' Commissioner Blanch said. It was believed her phone had been switched off, police said. The police air wing also joined the 'very large search and rescue' operation, with officers scouring the immense Wheatbelt region for clues to her whereabouts. July 10 - Ms Wilga's van is found Police located Ms Wilga's black and silver 1995 Mitsubishi Delica van in Karroun Hill at 1.10pm on Thursday. The van was found abandoned, more than 50km north of Wialki, with police believing the vehicle had suffered mechanical issues. July 11 - The missing backpacker is found Police said she may have wandered into the outback after her van broke down in Karroun Hill and ruled out foul play. She was found on Friday afternoon by a member of the public walking along a bush track. Ms Wilga was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital. In footage of her boarding the plane she appeared to walk with a limp. The $1.2million idyllic country property where Erin Patterson served the fateful mushroom lunch that killed three members of her family is now only an eerie reminder of one of Australia's most disturbing domestic murder cases. The two-storey weatherboard home, set on a hectare of land in Victoria's Gippsland region, was supposed to be the place Patterson would grow old. But it was inside that very home that Patterson dished up the deadly Beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms that killed her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson. Heather's husband, Reverend Ian Wilkinson, was the sole survivor of the lunch. During her highly-publicised trial, Patterson was asked about her plans for the house. 'I saw it as the final house,' she told the jury. 'Meaning I wanted it to be a house where the children would grow up, where once they moved away for uni or work, they could come back and stay whenever they liked, bring their children, and I'd grow old there. That's what I hoped.' Patterson reportedly bought the 1hectare block in 2019 for $260,000 after selling her parents' beachfront retirement home in Eden for $900,000. Erin Patterson's home in Leongatha remains empty and was mortgaged to pay legal fees Erin Patterson (pictured) bought the 1hectare block of land to build her 'forever home' in 2019. She is pictured arriving to Latrobe Valley Magistrate's Court While Patterson still owns the Leongatha home, it is now burdened by a mortgage taken out to fund her mounting legal costs. Just weeks after she was charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in November 2023, Patterson sold her Mount Waverley investment unit for $1.025 million. Despite her conviction, questions remain about why her assets, including the Leongatha property, are yet to be frozen by authorities. Victims' families may yet seek compensation, but legal experts believe what remains of her estate will end up in a trust for her two children. Black tarps were erected around the Leongatha house in the lead-up to the verdict, shielding the front door, carport, and verandah from view. The thick plastic sheeting was reportedly installed by a supporter of Patterson's, possibly in anticipation of her return. But just days after the guilty verdict, the tarps were mysteriously removed. Patterson is being held at the maximum-security Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Ravenhall, more than two hours away from her forever home. A supporter of Patterson erected a black tarp around the Leongatha home during the trial Prison sources say the convicted mushroom chef has been targeted by other inmates and was even separated last year over claims she tampered with prison food. Patterson is expected to be sentenced later this year. The State Department has officially fired more than 1,300 workers after it warned them late on Thursday that mass layoffs were set to commence. The department sent layoff notices to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with assignments in the United States, the Associated Press reported. The notices said positions were being 'abolished.' The employees affected were also told they'd lose access to the State Department headquarters in Washington D.C., their emails and their shared drives by 5pm on Friday. The layoffs come only days after the Supreme Court cleared the way for Trump's executive order allowing mass layoffs across the federal government to proceed, despite ongoing legal challenges. Employees, some of whom were crying, were seen exiting the State Department holding boxes of their belongings. Staffers who weren't laid off lined up in the lobby and applauded for their former colleagues. Outside the building were dozens of former colleagues, ambassadors, members of Congress and others who were protesting. Signs seen in the crowd said, 'Thank you to Americas diplomats,' and 'We all deserve better.' The State Department has officially fired more than 1,300 workers (Pictured: Staffers clap as their fired colleagues walk through the lobby) Protestors showed up outside the State Department headquarters in Washington, D.C. to make their feelings known about the firings Secretary of State Marco Rubio lauded the cuts at his department. He proposed a reorganization of cabinet-level agency back in May 'We talk about people in uniform serving. But foreign service officers take an oath of office, just like military officers,' Anne Bodine, who retired from the State Department in 2011 after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, told the AP. 'This is not the way to treat people who served their country and who believe in "America First."' Friday's firings were part of President Donald Trump's mission to dramatically shrink the size of the federal government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, though not yet commenting on the layoffs, was the one who proposed to Congress the reorganization of his department in late May. The State Department also lauded the Supreme Court ruling that allowed this reorganization to go through unchallenged. 'Todays near unanimous decision from the Supreme Court further confirms that the law was on our side throughout this entire process. We will continue to move forward with our historic reorganization plan at the State Department, as announced earlier this year,' the department posted on X, which was later reposted by Rubio himself. Rubio said officials took 'a very deliberate step to reorganize the State Department to be more efficient and more focused.' 'Its not a consequence of trying to get rid of people. But if you close the bureau, you dont need those positions,' Rubio told reporters Thursday. 'Understand that some of these are positions that are being eliminated, not people.' Pictured: A former employee at the State Department is seen crying as she walks out of the building Members of Congress also showed up outside the department, including Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland The job cuts, part of President Donald Trump's plan to dramatically reduce the size of the federal government, were slammed by critics who say that they will leave departments unable to do their work Foreign service officers affected will be placed immediately on administrative leave for 120 days, after which they will formally lose their jobs. For most civil servants the separation period lasts 60 days. Critics say the scale of cuts floated at the State Department will 'leave the US with limited tools to engage as a leader on the world stage during this critical juncture,' making it hard for many offices to carry out their missions. The cuts follow Trump's earlier elimination of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) - a major pillar of America's global aid apparatus that employed over 10,000 people worldwide. Diplomats warn the gutting of both agencies in a single year could cripple US influence abroad, especially as conflicts intensify in the Middle East and Ukraine, and China expands its global footprint. The American Foreign Service Association, the union that represents diplomats, urged the State Department last month to hold off on job cuts. Notices for a reduction in force, which would not only lay off employees but eliminate positions altogether, 'should be a last resort,' association President Tom Yazdgerdi said. 'Disrupting the Foreign Service like this puts national interests at risk - and Americans everywhere will bear the consequences.' While the administration is framing the cuts as streamlining, critics say the real effect is a hollowing out of US diplomacy with human rights, refugee resettlement, and war crimes offices facing extinction under the restructuring. A Wyoming plastic surgeon left two women disfigured and in agony after botching their procedures - leaving one victim with a maggot-ridden ruptured breast and the other battling three rounds of sepsis, a lawsuit alleges. Dr. Christopher Nicholas Stewart - along with several others associated with New Beautiful You in Casper - has been sued by traumatized former patients, Afton Jennings and Casi Duncan. Jennings and Duncan say they have been left with blood-curdling complications and sustained irreversible bodily damage following operations and treatments carried out by Stewart - who has since fled Wyoming for Montana. Stewart also had his medical license revoked from Summit Medical Center, where he performed his surgeries, in May. Both victims 'suffered devastating outcomes, including infection, necrosis, permanent disfigurement and loss of bodily function,' their lawyer Jack Edwards wrote in the complaint, which was filed on Sunday, according to the Cowboy State Daily. Jennings' gut-wrenching ordeal began in May 2023, when she first spoke with Stewart about getting a breast reduction. At the end of July the same year, she underwent the surgery that was supposed to reduce her chronic back pain and improve her mobility. Jennings claims after Stewart performed the operation, she was sent home without any aftercare instructions. Dr. Christopher Nicholas Stewart (pictured) allegedly left two women botched after cosmetic procedures New Beautiful You in Casper (pictured) was also named in the hard-to-read lawsuit This left her 'with the impression that everything was fine,' according to the suit. But this was far from the case, as she soon became extremely ill - experiencing uncomfortably swollen and discolored breasts, high fevers, and vomiting - she says. At a follow-up appointment about a week after the allegedly poorly performed procedure, Jennings expressed her grave concerns. While the complaint states Stewart admitted he was 'no impressed with the coloring,' he sent her home without batting an eye. Her condition worsened. Edwards wrote her breasts ached and one of her nipples started turning black. Jennings, who has an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's disease, had a consistent fever over 99 degrees - which is alarmingly high for her given her condition, the suit says. She desperately dialed New Beautiful You, but Stewart was allegedly unavailable, and staff brushed off her fever as 'low grade.' Later that day, her left breast ruptured. Afton Jennings and Casi Duncan both sustained severe and irreversible damage to their breasts (stock image) It oozed pus and fluids, and raw flesh was left exposed. But her fever and pain allegedly subsided after the fact. Jennings' called the doctor's office again to alert them of the complication, and someone told her 'it was normal to have drainage,' according to the hard-to-read filing. After pulling teeth to get another appointment with Stewart - and calling up the medical director, Shawn Snyder - she was finally called back to the office. 'But by that time, her left nipple could not be salvaged. It was too late,' her attorney wrote. In mid-August 2023, a sickening odor was coming from her harden breast. Medical professionals allegedly suggested 'maggot therapy,' to get rid of the dead tissue. Maggot therapy involves purposefully introducing the larvae to a wound to clean out dead tissue or bacteria. She started the skin-crawling treatment about a week later. The complaint features a stomach-churning photo of Jennings' butchered breast with maggots crawling inside her wound. At work, they would allegedly fall onto her desk from her shirt. While Stewart claimed this therapy was successful, Jennings says her breast is destroyed - with a scar where her nipple once was. Duncan sought out Stewart for a 'mommy makeover' in 2022. She had just had twins via C-section. Instead of achieving her dream figure, she was left with infections, bursting incisions on her breast, thigh and abdominal area, and gnarly scarring. Stewart - along with several others associated at New Beautiful You in Casper - are being sued At the height of the chaos, she told nurse Joury Markowski, 'I'd rather be dead.' In February 2023, Stewart performed several surgeries on Duncan - who claims the doctor took surgical liberties and gave no instructions on how to tend to her wounds. He allegedly 'unilaterally added midline abdominal incisions without prior discussion or consent.' Due to lack of after-procedure instruction, Duncan says she sustained a slew of complications. By March 2023, she had returned to New Beautiful You with her right breast had split open. It was throbbing and spewing yellow pus, the filing reads. Stewart drained it and pursued further treatment the next day. Text messages between Duncan and Markowski reveal the concerned mother said her breast was 'kind of just tearing open.' Markowski allegedly told her to clean it and hold out until her appointment the next day. In another harrowing instance, her abdominal incision busted open while she was at work - with blood and pus creating a gory scene at her office, the suit reads. 'The event was both traumatic and deeply humiliating,' Edwards wrote. Stewart operated on his patients at Summit Medical Center in Casper (pictured) After rounds of antibiotics and meaningless back-and-forths with Markowski, she ultimately endured three bouts of sepsis, as well as urinary-tract and kidney infections, she claims. When it was all said and done, Duncan claims her midsection and right right breast are utterly unrecognizable. Both Duncan and Jennings are demanding damages for the horrors they have endured, the Cowboy State Daily reported. Those listed in the suit include Stewart, Markowski, Snyder, New Beautiful You president Melissa Black and Vice-president John Roussalis. New Beautiful You, Memorial Hospital of Converse County and Summit Medical Center are also named. Stewart declined the Cowboy State Daily's request for comment. Memorial Hospital of Converse County, which runs Summit, did not respond to their request. The Daily Mail has reached out to Edwards' law office and New Beautiful You for further comment. President Donald Trump has directed federal law enforcement officials to use 'whatever means necessary' to arrest anyone who throws rocks or other projectiles at ICE agents during immigration raids. Trump appeared to be referring to footage of protestors violently clashing with ICE agents during the Thursday raid of a cannabis farm in Camarillo, a city in Southern California. The raid, despite the chaos, resulted in 200 migrant workers being detained. This included some juveniles who authorities say were illegally working on the farm. 'I am on my way back from Texas, and watched in disbelief as THUGS were violently throwing rocks and bricks at ICE Officers while they were moving down a roadway in their car,' Trump posted Friday evening on Truth Social. 'Therefore, I am directing Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, and Border Czar, Tom Homan, to instruct all ICE, Homeland Security, or any other Law Enforcement Officer who is on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks, or any other form of assault, to stop their car, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so,' he continued. 'I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public. I never want to see a car (sic) carrying a Law Enforcement Officer attacked again!' President Donald Trump was furious about people throwing rocks at ICE agents during the Thursday raid of a cannabis farm in Camarillo, a city in Southern California The raid itself was on Glass House Farms, which employs hundreds of people and bills itself as the largest cannabis operation in the world. Protestors showed up to impede federal agents, which led to clashes Smoke, flash bangs and tear gas were deployed to control the crowds. Most people ran away, but others decided to throw rocks at agents The raid was on Glass House Farms, which employs hundreds of people and bills itself as the largest cannabis operation in the world. CBP said it served a warrant on the farm, accusing it of employing illegal migrant workers. ICE and the National Guard reportedly executed that warrant on Thursday. Protestors showed up to impede federal agents, some of whom threw smoke canisters and flash bangs to control the growing crowd. Once the smoke and tear gas was deployed, most of the protestors ran in the opposite direction, though some were seen throwing rocks at the agents. The demonstration lasted past 11pm on Thursday, with federal agents remaining on the scene as well. Video and photos from the scene showed ICE agents clashing with a crowd of more than 100 people - many of them farmworkers or their family members - who had initially formed a human blockade along the road. It was a scene of absolute chaos, with protesters, farmworkers, and family members scattering throughout the fields. One Mexican farm worker, Jaime Alanis, died in the hospital Friday after he fell 30 feet off a building and broke his neck and skull. Pictured: Protestors with signs confront federal immigration officers at the weed farm National Guard members and federal agents are seen standing on the weed farm as protestors shout at them CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott revealed that 10 illegal juveniles were found working at the cannabis farm, which he said is now being investigated for child labor violations CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott revealed that 10 illegal juveniles were found working at the cannabis farm, which he said is now being investigated for child labor violations. He then shared a photo of the kids they discovered, who were all sitting in front of five federal agents. 'These are the juveniles found in the marijuana facility - almost all unaccompanied, one as young as 14,' Scott said. 'California are you ready to partner with us to stop child exploitation?' Governor Gavin Newsom did not address what Scott said, but instead attacked the Trump administration for its mass deportation policy. 'California prosecutes child exploiters and traffickers. Trump tear-gasses children, rips them from their parents, and deports farmworkers. Priorities,' Newsom wrote in a post on X. Earlier, when the raid and subsequent confrontation first went down, Newsom's reaction was to suggest that kids were running from tear gas 'because their mother was just taken from the fields.' Newsom was widely criticized for this, with Vice President JD Vance saying: 'Democrats are having a fit because we're enforcing our laws against people working at a weed farm.' A British man has appeared in a New York court to face charges in connection with an alleged 78million wine scam. James Wellesley, 58, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Friday in Brooklyn federal court following his extradition from the United Kingdom, where he was arrested in 2022. He faces claims he defrauded investors in a Ponzi-style scheme that conning them into lending money to non-existent high-net-worth wine collectors. Wellesley was ordered to be detained pending trial on wire fraud and money laundering charges. His co-defendant, Stephen Burton, was extradited from Morocco in 2023 after using a bogus Zimbabwean passport to enter that country. Burton, a 60-year-old British national, has also been detained and pleaded not guilty to similar charges in the same Brooklyn court. Federal prosecutors say that Burton and Wellesley ran Bordeaux Cellars, a company which they said brokered loans between investors and high-net-worth wine collectors. The pair allegedly solicited just over 78 million from investors in New York and other areas from June 2017 to February 2019, approaching them at places including conferences in the United States and overseas. James Wellesley, 58, (pictured) pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Friday in Brooklyn federal court following his extradition from the United Kingdom, where he was arrested in 2022 His co-defendant, Stephen Burton, was extradited from Morocco in 2023 after using a bogus Zimbabwean passport to enter that country Burton, a 60-year-old British national, has also been detained and pleaded not guilty to similar charges in the same Brooklyn court The men told lenders that the loans would be backed by wine they stored for wealthy collectors and promised profits through interest payments, prosecutors alleged. However, these collectors 'did not actually exist and Bordeaux Cellars did not maintain custody of the wine purportedly securing the loans,' the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York argue. Instead, officials said, Burton and Wellesley used loan money provided by investors for themselves and to make fraudulent interest payments to other investors. Christopher Raia, assistant director in charge of the FBI New York office, said: 'James Wellesley and his business partner allegedly concocted an elaborate scheme defrauding investors out of millions of dollars to finance their own personal expenses. 'Their alleged deceit spread across years and continents. 'Todays arraignment signals to all criminals that the FBI will practice the same resolve in bringing perpetrators to justice. New York Special Agent, Ricky Patel added: 'James Wellesley and his co-conspirator are accused of masterminding their nearly $100 million international fraud scheme that exploited the unsuspecting public, including New Yorkers, for their own selfish enrichment. 'As alleged, the defendants claimed Bordeaux Cellars boasted a high-value wine stockpile and a clientele of "high-net-worth wine collectors" and in turn profited handsomely all while they swindled investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more. 'Let it be known, regardless of the nature of the transnational criminal scheme, HSI New York, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to adapt and evolve to fight global and domestic financial crimes wherever and whenever possible. The two men have been charged with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, the two face up to 20 years in prison each. United States Attorney, Joseph Nocella said: 'Todays arraignment sends a message to all perpetrators of global fraud schemes that my Office will work tirelessly to ensure they answer for crimes committed in the United States.' Sir Thomas More's head could be exhumed 500 years after it was parboiled and put on a spike on London Bridge. St Dunstan's, an Anglican church in Canterbury, Kent, where the remains of Henry VIII's lord chancellor lie, has launched a bid to have them unearthed and placed in a shrine. More was beheaded at Tower Hill in 1535 after he refused to acknowledge the monarch as head of the church following Henry's break from Rome. His body was buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula at the Tower of London, but his head was taken from the scaffold and put on a spike on London Bridge. Amid fears More's head would be thrown in the Thames, his daughter Margaret Roper rescued it and reportedly kept it in spices for the rest of her life. It was then buried with her and transferred to the Roper family grave at St Dunstans in 1578, where it has been kept in a vault behind metal bars ever since. More was declared a martyr by the Vatican in 1935 - meaning his remains are now considered a holy relic in the Catholic Church. According to The Times, St Dunstan's is seeking to exhume More's remains in time for the 500th anniversary of his death in 2035. Sir Thomas More's head could be exhumed 500 years after it was put on a spike on London Bridge St Dunstan's, an Anglican church in Canterbury, Kent, where the remains of Henry VIII's lord chancellor lie, has launched a bid to have them unearthed and placed in a shrine However, the church will need to get permission from the commissary court in Canterbury before any work can go ahead. It is understood that the congregants at St Dunstan's church were told about the plans last Sunday. A statement read: 'What the [parochial church council] PCC has agreed, subject to all the right permissions being granted, is to exhume and conserve what remains of the relic, which will take several years to dry out and stabilise. 'We could just put it back in the vault, maybe in a reliquary of some kind, or we could place the reliquary in some sort of shrine or carved stone pillar above ground in the Roper chapel, which is what many of our visitors have requested. We'd really appreciate your ideas and thoughts.' Thomas More was a lawyer, philosopher and statesman who served as Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII. He is best known for his opposition to Henry VIII's break from the Catholic Church. More refused to recognise the king as head of the Church of England, leading to his execution for treason. He was canonised as a saint in 1935. More's head was transferred to the Roper family grave at St Dunstans in 1578, where it has been kept in a vault behind metal bars ever since Pictured: A statue of Sir Thomas More at a church in Chelsea, London Historically, More was both devout and intellectual, known for his wit and integrity. However, he actively persecuted Protestants, defending the execution of heretics in The Confutation Of Tyndale's Answer: 'And for heretics, as they be... the clergy doth denounce them. And as they be well worthy, the temporalty doth burn them.' Yet More's kindness in his private life was also noted by his contemporaries. Erasmus, a close friend, described More as gentle and loving, and said his refusal to take the oath was a principled stand. A federal judge delivered a stunning rebuke to the Trump administration on Friday, halting what she described as racially-driven, unconstitutional immigration raids that have upended lives, shuttered businesses, and thrown entire communities into chaos across Southern California. The blistering ruling stunned government attorneys and sent shockwaves through the Department of Homeland Security. US District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong granted a temporary restraining order barring federal agents from using race, language, or vocation as justification for immigration stops. She also ordered immediate access to legal counsel for detainees held at the notorious downtown Los Angeles facility known as 'B-18.' The ruling marks a major legal victory for immigrant rights groups and a sharp blow to the Trump administration's hardline immigration tactics in liberal California - tactics critics have called draconian, dangerous, and politically motivated. Mayor Karen Bass praised the decision in a scathing statement Friday afternoon, saying Angelenos were living in fear as 'masked men grab people off the street, chase working people through parking lots and march through children's summer camps.' The court order stops ICE and CBP agents from detaining individuals based on race, Spanish-language use, or presence at sites like car washes, tow yards, bus stops, and Home Depot parking lots - all locations where hundreds of people were swept up in recent weeks. The lawsuit, Vasquez Perdomo et al. v. Noem et al., was filed last week on behalf of several advocacy organizations, three undocumented immigrants, and two US citizens, one of whom, Latino tow truck worker Brian Gavidia, was allegedly detained despite showing valid identification. A temporary restraining order bars federal agents from using race, language, or vocation as justification for immigration stops Officers arrest two men after a dispersal order during a protest last month in Los Angeles Migrant supporters attend a rally and march on Friday in Oxnard, California. The rally and march came a day after around 200 people were detained by federal officers during a raid at a cannabis farm in nearby Camarillo US District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong granted a temporary restraining order barring federal agents from using race, language, or vocation as justification for immigration stops The case was sparked by a wave of arrests across seven California counties including Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Pasadena, that immigrant rights groups described as indiscriminate and terrorizing. Since June 6, more than 2,800 people have been detained in a massive escalation of ICE operations. A Los Angeles Times analysis found that nearly 70 percent of those arrested had no criminal record, and more than half had never been charged with a crime. Inside B-18, detainees were allegedly held in squalid conditions, denied food and water, and stripped of their constitutional right to an attorney. Judge Frimpong not only ordered 24-hour legal access and confidential phone lines for those in custody, she blasted the administration's apparent lack of evidence to justify the raids. California Governor Gavin Newsom weighed in, delivering one of the strongest rebukes yet of the Trump administration's tactics. 'Justice prevailed today - the court's decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating people's rights and racial profiling,' Newsom said in a statement. 'Stephen Miller's immigration agenda is one of chaos, cruelty and fear. Instead of targeting the most dangerous people, federal officials have been arbitrarily detaining Americans and hardworking people, ripping families apart, and disappearing people into cruel detention to meet outrageous arrest quotas without regard to due process and constitutional rights that protect all of us from cruelty and injustice. Federal agents block people protesting an ICE immigration raid at a nearby licensed cannabis farm on Thursday National Guard members and a federal agent block people protesting an ICE immigration raid LA Mayor Karen Bass praised the decision in a scathing statement Friday afternoon, saying Angelenos were living in fear as 'masked men grab people off the street, chase working people through parking lots and march through children's summer camps.' California Gov. Gavin Newsom called President Trump 'scum' over the raids 'That should stop now. California stands with the law, and the foundation upon which our founding fathers built this country. I call on the Trump administration to do the same.' California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the ruling a 'critical victory' and condemned what he called the Trump administration's campaign of 'fear and division.' Bonta led a multi-state coalition backing the plaintiffs and previously sued the Trump administration over an executive order to federalize California's National Guard. In court, he argued that the raids were not about immigration enforcement but about punishing Los Angeles for its political opposition to Trump - citing the president's own social media post vowing to conduct 'the single largest Mass Deportation Program in history.' A man is detained as clashes break out after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers attempted to raid a store in Bell, just south of Los Angeles last month ICE raids across Los Angeles have driven the migrant workforce into hiding, sparking concerns over sanctuary city's already rocky economic state On Monday, immigration agents were spotted roaming through downtown LA (pictured). Some of them were riding horses, while others traveled on foot Agents were seen driving through the streets in armored tanks, stopping people and asking for identification along the way (pictured) Donald Trump's immigration crackdown has sparked concern among a significant portion of LA's laborers - especially after a recent bout of raids (Pictured: Christian Damian Cerna-Camacho being arrested by ICE agents for allegedly punching an officer) Government lawyers struggled to defend the crackdown, saying agents acted lawfully and had only a few days to respond to the allegations. DOJ attorney Sean Skedzielewski insisted that ICE agents were trained on the 4th Amendment and acted 'aboveboard', but Judge Frimpong was openly skeptical, repeatedly pressing him on the lack of specific documentation. Declarations from DHS officials Kyle Harvick and Andre Quinones were dismissed as 'very general' and 'failing to engage with the high volume of evidence' presented by the plaintiffs. Plaintiffs argued the raids had less to do with public safety and more to do with politics - a point echoed by several city governments that joined the lawsuit this week. The cities of Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Montebello, and five others argued in their filing that the crackdown is a retaliation campaign, designed to make an example of Democratic strongholds. Liberal Los Angeles residents were outraged as ICE agents with bulletproof vests spent the Fourth of July holiday continuing to carry out Donald Trump's mass deportation promise Demonstrators close temporarily the Sixth Street bridge after a rally at Hollenbeck Park calling for an end to the immigration raids by ICE in Los Angeles Hundreds of Angelenos gather to peacefully protest ICE actics that are affecting their communities during a rally in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles on July 4 Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies fire a nonlethal weapon towards a man after he threw a can at them in protest against federal immigration operations near LA City Hall A curbside vender sells food to day laborers waiting near a Home Depot home improvement store in hope of finding work in Los Angeles One of two documented immigrants with prior convictions detained by ICE and Homeland Security agents, walks handcuffed as an agent holds his arm, at a Home Depot parking lot U.S. Border Patrol and protesters clash after a raid was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement near a Home Depot on June 7, 2025 in Paramount, California Tajsar pointed to Gavidia's case as emblematic of the abuses. He was detained 'for no other reason than the fact that he's Latino and working at a tow yard in a Latino neighborhood,' he said. The Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling, but for now the restraining order remains in effect in what is a rare, stinging legal defeat for an administration that has largely succeeded in hardening the nation's immigration enforcement policies. Community leaders are celebrating the decision but warning that the fight isn't over. The temporary order could eventually become permanent if the plaintiffs prevail at trial - a possibility Judge Frimpong suggested is highly likely. An aerobridge has rammed into the engine of a Qantas Airbus A380 at Sydney, causing an almost 24-hour delay for passengers heading to Johannesburg. The footings of an aerobridge crashed into the top and bottom of one of the A380's four engines ahead of the 15-hour flight to the South Africa's largest city. Qantas flight QF63 had been scheduled to depart at 9.30am on Saturday. The service is now due to depart Sydney at 6.45am on Sunday. Nobody was injured in the collision with passengers who had boarded the plane disembarking the A380 via its lower deck. Qantas said it was investigating how the aerobridge collided with the plane. 'The aircraft will be inspected by engineers in Sydney and repaired before returning to service,' the airline said in a statement. 'We know flight disruptions are frustrating, and we apologise to our customers for the impact to their travel.' The footings of an aerobridge crashed into the top and bottom of one of the A380's four engines ahead of the 15-hour flight to the South Africa's largest city Passengers will be provided hotel accommodation for the night. The incident comes just months after a Qantas worker fell six metres through a gap in a damaged aerobridge, leaving her fighting for life. Customer experience supervisor Olivia Hristovska, 51, suffered critical injuries when she hit the tarmac on May 3, with video showing she appeared to be looking through viewing windows in the wall of the aerobridge when she stepped into the floor gap. She suffered life-threatening head injuries, a fractured spine, broken clavicle, collapsed lung, and had been placed in an induced coma by doctors. Ms Hristovska's daughters Monique and Sienna have revealed this week they found out about their mother's accident via doctors and the media, claiming that Qantas did not inform them of the incident. Monique also revealed her mother has now been discharged from hospital a month on from the fall, but is still suffering life-changing effects. 'Bones can heal, but the brain... you don't know. She's lost her identity,' she said. The two daughters are currently acting as full-time carers for their mother. The incident comes just months after a Qantas worker fell six metres through a gap in a damaged aerobridge, leaving her fighting for life (pictured) Customer experience supervisor Olivia Hristovska, 51, suffered critical injuries when she hit the tarmac on May 3 (the gap in the aerobridge is pictured) Monique, 27, previously told Daily Mail Australia she hadn't left her mother's side since the accident, and revealed its devastating consequences. 'We feel it's important the full human impact of this incident is understood,' she said. 'Not just the event itself, but the long-term effects on her body, mind, and our family.' Tucker Carlson claimed Jeffrey Epstein was an Israeli agent who blackmailed US politicians on Friday while addressing a political gathering for young voters in Florida. The former Fox News host issued his wild conspiracy theory about Epstein as MAGA implodes over the Trump administration's handling billionaire's so-called 'client list.' 'The real question is, why was he doing this, on whose behalf, and where did the money come from?' Tucker asked about Epstein's mysterious fortune. 'And those are the questions that need to be answered. And I think its entirely fair to ask them.' While addressing the ring-wing crowd, Tucker brought up the Department of Justice (DOJ) statement that Epstein's 'client list' never existed. Attorney General Pam Bondi has come under fire for the call she made earlier this week, when she also squashed speculation that Epstein's 2019 jail cell death was anything other than a suicide. Carlson denounced the DOJ's findings, going on to share his own theory about Epstein's sinister scheme. He explained that he believes Epstein, 66, was employed by Israel's intelligence service, Mossad. Carlson questioned where all of the billionaire's wealth came from, going from a math teacher to 'having multiple airplanes, a private island, and the largest residential house in Manhattan.' Tucker Carlson (pictured) addressed the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit audience on Friday night Carlson denounced the DOJ's findings, going on to share his own theory about Jeffrey Epstein's (pictured) sinister scheme 'And no one has ever gotten to the bottom of that because no one has ever tried. And moreover, its extremely obvious to anyone who watches, that this guy had direct connections to a foreign government,' he claimed. He said the reason Epstein's connection to the Middle Eastern nation is not discussed publicly was because 'we have been somehow cowed into thinking thats naughty.' 'There is nothing wrong with saying that. There is nothing hateful about saying that. Theres nothing anti-Semitic about saying that. Theres nothing even anti-Israel about saying that,' Tucker asserted. 'And the effect of making that off-limits has been to create a lot of resentment and Ill say it, hate online, where people feel like they cant just say, What the hell is this? You have the former Israeli prime minister living in your house?"' Carlson was likely referring to Epstein's close ties with the former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Barak met with him dozens of times - and even allegedly stayed over at Epstein's place - starting in 2013. 'You have all this contact with a foreign government. Were you working on behalf of them? Were you running a blackmail operation on behalf of a foreign government?' he asked the stunned listeners. Carlson also claimed that 'every single person in Washington DC' shares his sentiment, and none of them 'hate Israel.' On Tuesday, Carlson discussed this very topic on his podcast, claiming Bondi was orchestrating a cover-up in order to protect members of the intelligence community who were ensnared in Epstein's conduct. Despite backlash, Donald Trump (pictured) has defended the DOJ's decision regarding the Epstein case 'The current DOJ under Pam Bondi is covering up crimes, very serious crimes by their own description,' Carlson said. 'Intel services are at the very center of this story, US and Israeli and they're being protected.' Carlson was not the only one to bring up the controversial issue at the summit full of thousands of young conservatives on Friday night. Fox News Host Laura Ingraham also took the Turning Point stage - taking an audience poll of who is satisfied with how the Epstein investigation was handled. 'How many of you are satisfied you can clap satisfied with the results of the Epstein investigation? Clap,' she urged the crowd. Not a single clap could be heard. Instead, the room echoed with boos. 'How many of you are not satisfied with the results of the investigation?' she asked, this time hit with a wave of clapping and applause from passionate listeners. The Turning Point event kicked off Friday and will run through the weekend, with high-profile conservatives including President Donald Trump scheduled for appearances. Despite fury directed at the Trump administration - which many believed would deliver more transparency regarding Epstein's convoluted case - the president has backed Bondi amid calls for her to step down. MAGA influencers and personalities are calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi (pictured) to resign Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak (pictured) met with Epstein dozens of times - and even allegedly stayed over at Epstein's place - starting in 2013 Far-right activist and media personality Laura Loomer helped lead the calls on X for Bondi's resignation on Monday While many have also criticized FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, Bondi has faced the brunt of the backlash. Far-right internet personality Laura Loomer, for example, has been especially vocal about booting Bondi. 'Please join me in calling for Blondi to RESIGN!' Loomer posted to X, using her nickname for the blonde-haired AG. 'How many more times is this woman going to get away with Fing (sic) everything up before she is FIRED?' she added in the Monday evening post. But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed Trump's continued support for Bondi despite calls to resign. 'President Trump is proud of Attorney General Bondi's efforts to execute his Make America Safe Again agenda,' Levitt told the Daily Mail. 'The continued fixation on sowing division in President Trump's Cabinet is baseless and unfounded in reality.' San Francisco is dealing with an elevated number of homeless people and drug users near its international airport as the city tries to crack down. The average number of homeless people recorded at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and the nearby Bay Area Rapid Transit station has nearly doubled in the past year from 222 a week to 414, according to airport officials. Eva Cheong, managing director of airport services, told the San Francisco Chronicle that officials are struggling to balance the 'safety and security of our patrons and facilities with compassionate outreach to vulnerable individuals.' At a recent meeting, Cheong claimed that the city's recent efforts to clean up the streets have forced homeless people to the outskirts. The airport is almost 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco. 'As people get pushed out of the city neighborhoods, we've seen them coming out,' she said. Officials in Millbrae and San Bruno, towns surrounding the airport, have also seen more homeless people at their metro stations, Cheong said. Since taking office in January, Mayor Daniel Lurie, a Democrat, has made it one of his top priorities to improve street conditions for residents by arresting more homeless people who set up tents and openly use drugs in public spaces. This, some argue, has had the effect of driving the problems straight to the SFO's doorstep. That has forced the airport to start coming up with solutions. The San Francisco International Airport has seen the number of homeless people nearly doubled since last year, airport officials said Officials said that's likely because of increased street cleanup efforts being championed by the city's new mayor, Daniel Lurie, a Democrat The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and the SFO Airport Commission last month approved a $1.5 million, three-year contract for homeless outreach and engagement services at the airport. Outreach workers with the nonprofit LifeMoves already spent about four hours a month at SFO as part of an agreement with the county. But under the new contract between the airport and the county, two outreach workers and a supervisor will begin working exclusively at the airport later this summer or early fall. Francisco Valencia, a case manager for LifeMoves, told the Chronicle that many homeless people seek refuge at the airport because it's a safe, climate-controlled environment where they can get out of the elements. 'You can kind of blend in there,' Valencia said. 'If you have your belongings with you, you kind of just look like a person that's getting ready to take a flight.' Marika Buchholz of the San Mateo County Center on Homelessness said the county hopes the new agreement will nonprofit workers to make a bigger change in the lives of homeless people and build rapport with them. 'Having a team focused solely on the airport will allow for a depth of engagement that we have not been able to provide previously,' Buchholz said. Before its agreement with San Mateo County, Cheong said the airport tried partnering with San Francisco, but it was deemed infeasible because of challenges related to transporting homeless people to services they'd need in the city. Airport officials have had to strike a deal with San Mateo County in order to deal with the growing number of homeless people showing up there (Pictured: Homeless encampment in downtown San Francisco on February 24) Under the contract with San Mateo County, outreach workers will attempt to connect with and move people to shelters near the to the airport. They'll also be requesting a mental health or medical assessments from the county's street health care teams, or provide them with food, clothing or other resources they may need. A homeless man who's been on the street for four years and is addicted to fentanyl spoke to a a LifeMoves outreach team at the Millbrae metro station, the Chronicle reported. The man, named Ben, said he takes public transportation outside the city to find better weather or a more peaceful environment. The workers offered to find him a shelter bed for the night or to help him get treatment for the wounds on his legs. Ben declined both offers but accepted some food and water the team gave him to take back to the city. 'Sometimes the first engagement may just be a snack pack,' said Lynette Reynoso, an outreach supervisor at LifeMoves, 'but we'll meet them where they're at and go from there the next time.' A family in Texas thought they lost their beloved dog forever, until they discovered that their pup survived the devastation by hiding in a washing machine. The Vlaseks narrowly escaped the floods by evacuating their Kerr County home before the vicious floodwaters swept them away. They were forced to leave their dog behind amid the chaos. The family of three fortunately made it to higher ground, but returned to their home to find nothing but rubble. Cody Vlasek, a high school senior, was forced to reckon with the grim reality that his childhood home and his dog were gone forever. Then he heard noises that sounded like an animal. 'I had to break my window, and when I climbed through, I heard scratching and a whimper,' Cody recalled to local ABC affiliate, KENS5. 'I turned my head around the corner and saw him just floating in the washer.' The miracle was a small silver lining in the tragedy that claimed over 129 lives and left at least 160 individuals unaccounted for across Kerr County. Cody recalled the terrifying moment he saw flood waters engulfing his home, before yelling to his parents that they had to evacuate. Cody Vlasek (left) evacuated his Hunt home with his parents and were tragically left to leave the beloved dog behind Cody returned to his destroyed home to find his dog alive hiding in a washing machine The dog found refuge inside the machine and survived the devastating Texas floods that killed over 129 lives He told KENS5 that their house was almost 30 feet away from the floodplain of the Guadalupe River. The family awoke in the middle of the night to heavy rain, and Cody went outside with his father to see that the water had already reached their backyard fence. 'The current it almost, almost tripped some of us,' the high schooler said. The family rushed to escape their home and made it to safety at a neighbor's house uphill. Cody said the water had reached his waist when they evacuated. They returned to find their house was demolished, and many of their neighbors didn't make it out. 'You can replace a house, but you cant replace lives,' Cody told KENS5. Search efforts have continued to locate the missing individuals as authorities grapple with accusations that evacuations were delayed. Among the victims of the flood were 27 young girls from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp that took the brunt of the flood. Kerr County was demolished due to the flooding of the Guadalupe River over the July 4 weekend Federal agencies are continuing search efforts in hopes of locating the remaining estimated 160 missing individuals The youngest campers, many under the age of 10, were staying in cabins closest to the river and lost their lives. On Friday, President Donald Trump visited the flood path with First Lady Melania Trump. The president and first lady joined republican lawmakers, federal officials, Governor Greg Abbott, and Senator Ted Cruz. After the visit, Trump held a roundtable discussion with local and federal law makers. When a reporter asked him why alerts weren't sent to residents in the flood path sooner, Trump fired back, 'Only a bad person would ask a question like that.' 'To be honest with you, I dont know who you are, but only a very evil person would ask a question like that.' Abbott said in a tweet on Friday night that rescue teams would continue to search for the missing individuals. 'We are unrelenting. The families deserve nothing less,' he said. A firefighter was attacked during a night of bonfires across Northern Ireland ahead of the annual Orange Order parades. The emergency service worker was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, eight miles outside Belfast but was uninjured and remained on duty. The incident occurred on Friday as tens of thousands prepared to take to the streets across the region for the traditional celebrations on Saturday. As part of the festivities effigies of rap trio Kneecap were set alight and Irish flags were burned on pyres along with 300 other bonfires in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. It comes after widespread condemnation of the celebrations after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on a bonfire in Moygashel, County Tyrone on Thursday. Bonfires raged across the country to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne where the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. Effigies burned ahead of this year's parades included the controversial Irish band Kneecap with signs placed on pyres reading 'Kill Your Local Kneecap' - seemingly a response to a clip that emerged from a gig in 2023 that appeared to show a member telling people to murder their MP. Elsewhere, posters depicting the Irish rap group Kneecap, Irish flags and Palestinian flags appeared on other bonfires on Friday evening. A firefighter was attacked during a night of bonfires across Northern Ireland ahead of the annual Orange Order parades on Friday night in Lisburn, just outside Belfast As part of the festivities effigies of rap trio Kneecap were set alight and Irish flags were burned on pyres along with 300 other bonfires in loyalist neighbourhoods The incident occurred on Friday as tens of thousands prepared to take to the streets across the region for the traditional celebrations on Saturday and celebrated with large-scale fires Effigies of the band members were placed on a pyre in south Belfast, as well as a sign written in the Irish language. The depictions of Kneecap come after the Police Service of Northern Ireland said they were investigating a hate incident in relation to a fire which featured life-sized effigies of a migrants in a dinghy, wearing life jackets. Below the boat were several placards, one saying: 'Stop the boats', and another saying: 'Veterans before refugees.' In recent years, the Moygashel bonfires have come under scrutiny for their controversial displays which have seen them venture into politics and contentious cultural points. Last year a mock police car was burnt on the top of the bonfire and in 2023 a boat designed to represent the post-Brexit Irish Sea economic border was torched. Meanwhile the most contentious bonfire was located on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity sub station off the Donegall Road in south Belfast. The PSNI said on Thursday that the force would not agree to a request from Belfast City Council to remove the pyre on the site off the Donegall Road. The police force along with members of the legislative assembly encouraged the public to stay away from the site on health and safety grounds. However the Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Rev Mervyn Gibson said people should 'go and enjoy themselves' at the bonfire. He told the BBC that a council committee vote earlier this week to remove the bonfire was a 'political decision'. Bonfires raged across the country to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne where the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II One contentious bonfire was located on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity sub station off the Donegall Road in south Belfast (pictured) An effigy of Irish rap trio Kneecap was burned on one pyre A pyre set alight at Meridi Street, off the Donegall Road in Belfast as part of the Twelfth commemorations marking the anniversary of the Protestant King William's victory over the Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 People gathered on Cave Hill, outside Belfast to view bonfires burning across the city during the 'eleventh night' of the 12-night protestant celebrations People point to a bonfire burning near a power station overlooking Belfast The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with 72 bonfire related incidents across Friday evening. One firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, Co Antrim. NIFRS area commander Andy Burns said: 'Between 6pm 11 July and 2am 12 July 2025, we received 277 emergency 999 calls. 'This resulted in our firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of which were bonfire related. Peak activity was between 10pm and 1am. 'During this period, the number of emergency calls received increased by 154% when compared to 2024. 'It was a challenging and extremely busy night for NIFRS with an increase in demand for our regional control centre and emergency response.' The spokesperson added: 'Disappointingly, a firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn. They were not injured and remained on duty. 'This was an isolated incident and not reflective of the support shown to firefighters in carrying out their duties across the evening.' As a fire raged, burning a sign written in Irish a Union Jack flag was flown on a nearby lamp post next to a Bonfire at Roden Street in Belfast Fireworks accompanied some of the 300 bonfires that raged across Northern Ireland on Thursday and Friday Huge crowds gathered to watch the celebrations ahead of the annual Orange Order parades taking place on Saturday The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with 72 bonfire related incidents across Friday evening (several pictured across Belfast) Effigies burned ahead of this year's parades included the controversial Irish band Kneecap with signs placed on pyres reading 'Kill Your Local Kneecap' (pictured) irish language signs were attached tot eh bonfire that was set alight on Friday night posters reading 'Kill Your Local Kneecap' and the Irish flag decorated the pyres made of wooden palettes Two people posing on a pyre in the Craigyhill estate in Larne, north of Belfast on Thursday The Police Service of Northern Ireland said they were investigating a hate incident in relation to a fire which featured life-sized effigies of a migrants in a dinghy, wearing life jackets Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, around 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff will be working on July 12. On the 11th night, around 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was 6.1 million last year, a figure that was up 1.5 million on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is due to falling police numbers and the resultant increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events. The effigy sat on top of a pyre at the bonfire in Moygashel, County Tyrone on Thursday Fireworks were lit before the bonfire was set alight and underneath the life-sized effigy was a sign that read 'veterans before refugees' In recent years, the Moygashel bonfires have come under scrutiny for their controversial displays which have seen them venture into politics and contentious cultural points The effigy of a dinghy filled with migrants was set alight as the culmination of the tenth and eleventh day celebrations Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has urged mutual respect in the marking of events. He said: 'Our officers will be on the ground throughout the weekend, working in partnership with community leaders, event organisers, and local representatives to support lawful, peaceful, and family-friendly events. However where necessary, we will take firm and proportionate action to keep people safe. 'Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone.' On Sunday morning, an Orange Order parade has been permitted to pass Ardoyne shops in north Belfast restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. It is a return parade at a former flashpoint which traditionally took place on the evening of July 12 often resulting in violent scenes. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13 events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh will take place on Monday. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James. Fiona Phillips has not cooked in years and has no time for her dressing room of designer clothes as she battles Alzheimer's, her husband Martin Frizell has revealed. The former GMTV host, 64, was diagnosed with the brain disorder in 2022, aged just 61. It came after she left the former ITV breakfast show in 2008 to care for her father, who suffered from it too, dying in 2012, after her mother lost her life to it as well, in 2006. Her husband and former editor of This Morning Mr Frizell, 66, left the ITV chat show after ten years in February to care for Ms Phillips. She has now written a memoir, Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer's, with the help of her husband and journalist friend Alison Phillips, about her diagnosis. Ahead of its release on July 17, her husband has now spoken out about some of the most heartbreaking impacts of the disease. Mr Frizell said all her favourite hobbies and interests are now gone - she has not cooked in two years and wears the same T-shirt and trousers every day. He asked The Telegraph: 'What do I do with all these clothes?' Fiona Phillips has not cooked in years and has no time for her dressing room of designer clothes as she battles Alzheimer's , her husband Martin Frizell has revealed. Pictured: The couple in 2010 The former GMTV host (pictured in 2019), 64, was diagnosed with the brain disorder in 2022, aged just 61 It came after she left the former ITV breakfast show in 2008 to care for her father, who suffered from it too, dying in 2012, after her mother lost her life to it as well, in 2006 And of her previously beloved cookery books, which now lay piled in the basement: 'Do I take them to the dump?... She's never going to open one again.' Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, an umbrella term for symptoms associated with ongoing brain function decline. It is a progressive condition, meaning symptoms and their severity develop gradually over years, affecting memory, thinking skills and other mental functions. There is currently no cure but there are medicines which can somewhat alleviate symptoms. In the UK, more than 70,000 people live with early-onset dementia and nearly a million live with dementia more broadly. Mr Frizell, who married Ms Phillips in 1997 and shares two children, Nathaniel, 26, and Mackenzie, 23, with her, started by contributing a few paragraphs to his wife's memoir. But he ended up generating more than 24,000 words as his anger about the lack of support for those with Alzheimer's and research about the disease. He recalled when she was diagnosed and given a leaflet on living with the disease that had a old couple with a Zimmer frame on it. Mr Frizell said all her favourite hobbies and interests are now gone - she has not cooked in two years and wears the same T-shirt and trousers every day. Pictured: The couple in 2005 He asked: 'What do I do with all these clothes?'. Pictured: Fiona and Martin on GMTV It completely jarred with how young she was, having only just turned 61, Mr Frizell said: 'She was wearing skinny jeans and high-heeled boots. 'This was a degenerative disease for old people like the ones on the leaflet.' The couple first put her symptoms - brain fog, social withdrawal, mood swings, depression and anxiety - down to the menopause. But the change in Ms Phillips - previously always the life and soul of the party - was so stark, Mr Frizell knew at heart there had to be something more at play. Despite her family history of Alzheimer's, Ms Phillips' diagnosis is not genetic so cannot be passed to her sons - a relieving result of tests they had to wait an agonising two weeks for. She is instead 'predisposed' to it, a more common means of developing Alzheimer's than directly inheriting it. Factors that increase someone's predisposition to the disease include family history, the presence of certain genes and other health problems like diabetes, heart issues and high blood pressure. His wife has always been active - so Mr Frizell wondered if her diagnosis could have been caused by stress. Her diagnosis completely jarred with how young she was, having only just turned 61, Mr Frizell said: 'She was wearing skinny jeans and high-heeled boots'. Pictured: The couple in 2013 The couple (pictured in 2001) first put her symptoms - brain fog, social withdrawal, mood swings, depression and anxiety - down to the menopause At one point, during her turn on GMTV from 1993 to 2008, she was starting work at 3am, taking part in Strictly Come Dancing, bringing up her young sons, and caring for her parents, who lived far away in Wales. But he also thought it could be their lifestyle in their younger years - which saw them regularly drink a bottle of wine each every night. Mr Frizell said he feels guilty about this - as well as for taking his wife's place promoting the book, done only out of necessity as she is not well enough. He also feels bad about sometimes speaking about her in past tense - but the heartbreaking thing about dementia is it has seen her already gradually start to fade away. The pair met as roving reporters on GMTV, with Mr Frizell proposing after just four weeks. It was her genuine kindness, in the cut-throat world of reporting, that caught his eye - and the pair soon wed in Vegas. Mr Frizell, who has also edited GMTV and Loose Women, now cares for Ms Phillips full-time from their home in the Wandsworth area of south London. With needed breaks for podcasting and sailing and the help of his sons, he gets by. The pair (pictured in 2016) met as roving reporters on GMTV, with Mr Frizell proposing after just four weeks Mr Frizell (pictured leaving This Morning in February this year) insisted they are coping currently without professional help, with Fiona still having periods of being present, lucid and herself They briefly found a drug which stabilised her condition - albeit requiring him to inject her stomach three times per day - but its effects only lasted a year. She has now declined considerably over the last 12 months, needing help with basic tasks like brushing her teeth, developing more confusion, pain, delirium and psychosis and mostly staying inside It is hard sometimes, he says, to remain patient and calm when forced to repeat himself to her over and over again. 'I'm not going to be the Mother Teresa of Wandsworth', he said. But he insisted they are coping currently without professional help, with Fiona still having periods of being present, lucid and herself. She still, for instance, makes perceptive comments, or recalls lyrics from an old song, or remembers to water the plants. Her diagnosis has affected their shared life as a couple though, with many friends no longer inviting them out - and, on one occasion, actively moving tables at a cafe to avoid them. They are perhaps scared by the change in her, by their own mortality or by simply not knowing what to say, Mr Frizell ventured. Her diagnosis has affected their shared life as a couple, with many friends no longer inviting them out The couple (pictured at Derek Draper's funeral last year) have never once discussed her having Alzheimer's explicitly since she was diagnosed - she knows the way it is going and it is too upsetting to be reminded The couple have never once discussed her having Alzheimer's explicitly since she was diagnosed - she knows the way it is going and it is too upsetting to be reminded. Its progress feels unstoppable, with the test for the disease 50 years old and the drugs the same as the ones her mother used before her death nearly 20 years ago, in 2006. Mr Frizell is determined, though, to not let those favourite interests of hers - of looking glamorous, of eating delicious food - to completely erode. He regularly helps her get her hair coloured and nails done. And the best thing his friends - afraid of getting it wrong - could do, he said, actually, is to cook for them, leaving something on the doorstep. It comes after Mr Frizell appeared on This Morning yesterday to tell hosts Alison Hammond, 50, and Dermot O'Leary, 52, about his wife's progress. The former editor shared some deeply sad details about how challenging family life has been since Fiona's diagnosis three years ago. He said: 'In the book, there's a picture of her at the end of our road, the most recent picture I took, only a few weeks ago. It comes after Mr Frizell appeared on This Morning yesterday(pictured) to tell hosts Alison Hammond, 50, and Dermot O'Leary, 52, about his wife's progress The former editor shared some deeply sad details about how challenging family life has been since Fiona's diagnosis three years ago 'And she's looking great and she's smiling and she's got her coat on. And what you don't know is she thought I'd kidnapped her. This was us going out. 'Because you get delusions because you get so worked up. She keeps saying, "I want to go home".' Asked by Alison if she still recognises him, he said: 'She does recognise me most of the times. Doesn't quite know that I'm her husband but she knows who I am.' Martin shared another heartbreaking detail too: 'Every now and then, she'll want to go home to her parents and I haven't got the heart to say they aren't here.' He explained how he copes with this instead: 'You say, "Let's get our coats on, let's get our shoes on", we go out, go round the block a couple of times and come back in. And she says, "Oh, I'm home now".' NATO was forced to scramble fighter jets today as Vladimir Putin launched a fresh wave of deadly drone and bomber strikes on Ukraine. Russia staged the most intense attacks of the war on the west of the country - with estimates suggesting up to 30 missiles and 700 military drones were unleashed. Two people were confirmed killed in Chernivtsi, close to the Romanian border, with at least 18 wounded in the overnight strikes which yet again targeted civilians. Acrid smoke could be seen lingering over the city following the strikes and rescue workers were pictured inspecting burnt-out cars and rubble. Putin used his nuclear-capable Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers to hammer Ukraine in what was already the most intense week of the war for kamikaze drone strikes. Russia targeted major cities Lviv and Lutsk as well as Chernivtsi in the assault on western Ukraine. 'Due to the activity of long-range Russian aviation striking targets located in western Ukraine, among other places, Polish and allied air forces have commenced operations in Polish airspace,' reported the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces. It did not make clear which other NATO states were involved in the latest operation triggered by the Russian onslaught. NATO was forced to scramble fighter jets today due to the intensity of Vladimir Putin 's death and destruction strikes on Ukraine Russia staged the most intense attacks of the war on western Ukraine. Estimates suggested between 20 and 30 missiles and up to 700 military drones were unleashed Two people were confirmed killed in Chernivtsi, close to the Romanian border, with at least 18 wounded in the overnight strikes which yet again targeted civilians. Pictured: Firefighters stand next to a burnt-out car following mass Russian drone and missile strikes in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv 'Scrambled pairs of fighter jets were deployed, and ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of combat readiness,' said the statement. The Polish armed forces 'activated available forces and resources' in measures 'aimed at ensuring security in areas bordering the threatened areas'. The last time such action was taken was Wednesday, as Putin intensified his strikes on Ukraine, believing he now has the upper hand in the war. The Russian strikes came as the US is resuming significant military assistance for Ukraine, and ahead of an expected major Donald Trump statement on Monday which may involve sanctions against the Putin regime. In Lviv, the Russians hit residential buildings and a kindergarten. 'Explosions occurred in several districts of the city,' said mayor Andriy Sadovyi. Head of the regional military administration, Maksym Kozytskyi, called it a 'massive drone attack'. The main building of the Electron corporation - a maker of trams and buses - was hit. Acrid smoke could be seen lingering over the city following the strikes and rescue workers were pictured inspecting burnt cars and rubble. This picture shows aftermath of an attack in Lviv A massive Russian drone strike on Odesa hit a Ukrainian military enlistment office with six separate attacks Russian reports claimed the Yavoriv military training ground in Lviv region was targeted. In Lutsk, homes were damaged in the blitzkrieg. In Chernivtsi, the dead were a woman aged 26 and a man aged 43. Reports of two more hospital deaths were not confirmed. At least 14 were wounded in the region. 'Several residential buildings, shops, administrative buildings and cars were damaged,' said head of the regional military administration, Ruslan Zaparanyuk. In Kharkiv, bombs and drones hit the city. A distraught woman was seen weeping over her dog killed by a Russian strike. 'The main blow was taken by an enterprise that has not been operating for several years,' said military administration chief Oleh Syniehubov. Earlier in Odesa, a military enlistment office was bombed no less than six times by Russian drones. Lviv faced its largest drone strike since the start of Putin's invasion. Among the injured was a boy, 11. Volodymyr Zelensky said 597 drones had been unleashed on Ukraine - and 26 missiles. 'Over 20 missiles and the majority of the strike drones were neutralised,' he said. 'Thanks to our air defence forces for the result. 'Unfortunately, there were hits on civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings. 'As of now, two people have died in Chernivtsi. My condolences to the families and loved ones. Russia targeted major cities Lviv and Lutsk as well as Chernivtsi in the assault on western Ukraine. Pictured: The aftermath of an attack in Lutsk 'About 20 more people injured as a result of the shelling are receiving all necessary assistance.' In a message to Donald Trump he said: 'The pace of Russia's air strikes requires swift decisions, and it can be slowed down with sanctions right now.' He called for the sanctions to apply to countries that help Russians 'produce drones and profit from oil'. He said: 'More air defence and investments in interceptor drones, which are already showing good results, are needed. 'The war can only be stopped by force. We expect from our partners not just signals, but actions that will save lives.' It comes after heartbreaking footage showed terminally ill orphans in Ukraine being evacuated to a bomb shelter during a Russian drone attack. Nurses could be seen carrying the distressed children in their arms after they were forced to flee a hospice due to Vladimir Putin's relentless strikes targeting civilians. The harrowing video, filmed on the night of July 9 or in the early hours of July 10, has only recently appeared. 'This is how the children were evacuated to a shelter in the Butterfly House in Chernivtsi,' said the caption. 'In the centre, there is the largest children's palliative ward in Ukraine,' said a report. 'Each such descent into the bomb shelter for seriously ill children is a threat to life.' The orphans could be seen lying on mats on the floor after being removed from their beds. Some of the bewildered children cried as they were carried out of the hospital, with nurses trying to comfort them through reassuring smiles. At least ten of the seriously ill orphans are from Kryvyi Rih - the birthplace of Volodymyr Zelensky. They were taken to Chernivtsi because it was felt to be safer after repeated strikes on Kryvyi Rih. But, Putin's latest Geran-2 drones strikes hit the area with an explosion close to the hospice which should have been their safe haven. Russia deliberately groomed 'lowlife' criminals to wage a shadow war in Britain in the expectation they would be caught and exposed, a defence expert has said. Five British men are now facing jail after firebombing a warehouse in London, which destroyed aid and satellite kit bound for Ukraine, and caused 1million of damage. The youths, all aged between 20 and 23, were indoctrinated into the bloodthirsty Wagner Group - which is controlled by the Kremlin - over encrypted messaging app, Telegram. But now a new theory has emerged as to why the Russian mercenary cartel recruited the hapless arsonists into sabotaging the industrial unit, in Leyton in March 2024. Dr Antonio Giustozzi, a senior research fellow in terrorism and conflict at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), believes the gang were used as patsies whose only real mission was to be exposed as working for Wagner. 'This entire episode should be interpreted as a warning. This was all set up essentially to be uncovered,' the defence expert told MailOnline. 'It's a warning to policy-makers implying we can strike hard back in the UK... and it is one to show Russia isnt afraid of hitting back.' Earlier this week, Jakeem Rose, 23, Ugnius Asmena, 20, and Nii Mensah, 23, were found guilty at the Old Bailey of aggravated arson with intent to endanger life after the inferno at units 1 and 2 of the Cromwell Industrial Estate in east London. The attack was orchestrated by 'ringleader' Dylan Earl, 20, and his second in command, Jake Reeves, 23, who had already admitted aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner Group. A group of British youths hired by Wagner to carry out a sabotage mission now faces jail (pictured is Russian leader Vladimir Putin) The group of British men torched a warehouse full of aid and satellite kit bound for Ukraine Dylan Earl, 20, was the ringleader of the British group of saboteurs, hired by Russian mercenary gang Wagner, a court previously heard Wagner is infamous for its heavy involvement in the invasion of Ukraine as well as carrying out military campaigns on behalf of Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin in Mali, the Middle East and South America. The paramilitary cult's ranks allegedly include convicted murderers, rapists and gangsters - as well as ex-military personnel. But it now appears to be spreading its tendrils into the UK, as part of a drive to lure British youths into betraying their country for cash and notoriety. Increasingly, Wagner is turning to social media messaging apps such as Telegram to seek out hapless gangsters across Europe to join its ranks - and carry out proxy missions, thought to be under the orders of military chiefs in the Kremlin or from Putin's elite spy brigade, the GRU. However, Dr Giustozzi, who is an expert on Wagner's tactics, questioned why the mercenary gang recruited the British youths as guns for hire. 'These are lowlife characters with no track record in sophisticated crimes. Wagner could have chosen an organised criminal or at least a proficient one. These were not,' he said. 'So why do this? You wouldn't want to do that.' He believes the Kremlin is becoming increasingly concerned that Britain's Secret Intelligence Service - better known as MI6 - is working more closely with its Ukrainian counterparts in assisting them on planning strikes deep into the heart of Russia. Arsonist Nii Kojo Mensah and Jakeem Barrington Rose are seen carrying a Jerry can of fuel used to help ignite the fire in Leyton, east London The group, hired as part of a plot by Russian mercenary group Wagner, later returned to the scene to livestream the blaze for their Russian handlers Pictured is the aftermath of the blaze that ripped through the warehouse in Leyton Pictured: Dr Antonio Giustozzi, a senior research fellow in terrorism and conflict at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Speaking in December, MI6's outgoing boss Sir Richard Moore seemingly confirmed the UK was involved in covert operations supporting Ukraine, telling delegates at the British Embassy in Paris: 'We cherish our heritage of covert action, which we keep alive today in helping Ukraine resist the Russian invasion.' In recent months, a number of top Russian officials and military commanders have been assassinated. It is believed Ukrainian intelligence may have ordered the killings. And in June, Vladimir Putin was dealt a hammer blow after an audacious Ukrainian drone strike destroyed at least 10 of his prized nuclear bombers - on airfields deep inside Russia, which had been thought untouchable. 'The Russian people believe MI6 is working very closely with Ukraine intelligence to operate in Russia,' Dr Giustozzi said. 'This is really unnerving for the Russians. Some of these attacks were really quite worrying.' He added Russia wanted to 'signal' to the British Government it was capable of using the UK's own citizens to strike back - and deliberately chose those who would get caught to act as a warning to Whitehall. 'They went for people without a lot of money,' he added. 'In other countries they rely on professional killers and gangs. These gangs have cyber capability and are quite sophisticated. 'But in Britain they went for expendable people in the expectation they would be caught. Then the information will be released. They wanted something that would hit the headlines - and it achieved that.' Jake Reeves, of Croydon, pleaded guilty to agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act 2023 Gang members Jakeem Barrington Rose, 23 (left) and Nii Kojo Mensah, 23, were also part of the group. They were convicted on Tuesday Ugnius Asmena, 20, had denied aggravated arson but was convicted after 21 hours and 55 minutes of jury deliberation. Also convicted was Welsh drug dealer Ashton Evans, 20 (right) The group were hired by Wagner to carry out the attacks. Pictured is Yevgeny Prigozhin, former head of the mercenary group, at the ruins of Ukrainian Bakhmut, in May 2023 Earl, a bungling part-time drug dealer was recruited into the ruthless cartel of mercenaries after approaching the group over Telegram. The 20-year-old, who boasted of being 'the best spy you have ever seen', was enthralled by the prospect of giving up his life living at home with his parents. From his bedroom in the tiny village of Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, the Putin fan who could barely speak 30 words of Russian, managed to assemble a motley crew of Britons to torch the London warehouse causing 1million of damage, destroying generators and vital Starlink satellite equipment destined for Ukraine. The young builder and cocaine dealer was given the codename of 'SAS' and billed as Wagner's 'dagger in Europe' after Earl told the terror group of his grand plans to do 'something big' for the Kremlin, boasting he could build a 'link' between the Wagner Group, IRA and notorious Kinahan crime cartel. But the hapless arsonists Earl hired, who ranged from criminals to a cleaner, did such a bad job on March 20 last year that the Russians refused to pay them, saying the arson attack was not up to Wagner's 'standards'. His henchmen, Mensah, 23, Rose, 23, and Asmena, 20, failed to properly capture a full video of the burning warehouse after fleeing in a Kia Picanto which had to be 'bump started' with a set of pliers to turn the ignition key. They were forced to return to the scene just to livestream it for the Russians, which resulted in the gang being captured on CCTV and Rose also dropped a knife with his DNA on it before fire crews arrived to bring the blaze under control. But in a chilling illustration of Russia's appetite for inflicting chaos in the UK, despite the attack not matching Earl's lofty promises, Wagner operatives were prepared to send him on an even bigger mission to kidnap billionaire Russian dissident Evgeny Chichvarkin. When police swooped last April, Earl was preparing to firebomb his Mayfair restaurant and wine shop worth 30million. The fire caused 100,000 of damage to vital Starlink equipment due to be sent to Ukraine The gang caused 1million of damage to the industrial estate after firebombing it It took dozens of firefighters to extinguish the inferno at the industrial unit Pictured is the aftermath of the blaze which ripped through the industrial unit Commander Dominic Murphy, the head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command said the astonishing case showed how Russia was prepared to buy criminal proxies to carry out their dirty work in the UK. Earl was the first person to be convicted under the new National Security Act last year after police uncovered messages revealing how the drug dealer, who kept a Russian flag in his room, contacted a Telegram channel known as a mouthpiece for Wagner. His second in command, Jake Reeves, also pleaded guilty to agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act 2023. And on Tuesday, Mensah, Rose, and Asmena were all convicted by a jury for their part in the firebombing. All five men now face prison. Commander Murphy slammed the group for joining a Wagner plot. He aid 'the ringleaders - Earl and Reeves - willingly acted as hostile agents on behalf of the Russian state'. 'Those involved showed little or no regard for the potential impact of their actions on the UK's wider security. Seemingly motivated by the promise of money, they were prepared to commit criminal acts on behalf of Russia.' he added. The Government insists the National Security Act 2023 is making the UK an even harder target for 'hostile states' like Russia to target. It includes a new set of offences, measures and investigatory powers, which are used to clampdown. In April, Security Minister Dan Jarvis announced Russia would be placed on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, meaning anyone working for the Russian state in the UK will need to declare what they are doing or risk committing an offence under the National Security Act 2023. Speaking after the sentencing of Earl's group of mercenaries, Mr Jarvis added: 'Another proxy group acting for Russia has been brought to justice, thanks to the work of our criminal justice system. 'National security is the foundation of our Plan for Change, and these convictions should serve as a clear warning to those seeking to undermine our national security or the safety of the UK. 'Those acting on Russia's behalf will be met by the full force of the law.' The head of the Unite union has branded Angela Rayner as 'despicable' for failing to back striking bin workers in Birmingham. Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner has already been kicked out of Labour's largest union paymaster over the bitter row, amid fury at her stance on the fiasco blighting Britain's 'second city'. And now, in the latest deepening of the rift between Labour and Unite, the union's general secretary Sharon Graham has issued a barbed broadside at Ms Rayner, claiming she had acted in a 'despicable way'. Ms Graham warned Labours current approach on pay, public services, and welfare risks alienating the working-class communities it was founded to represent. 'This Labour government is unrecognisable. If they keep making the poorest pay while politicians claim more expenses, they will lose workers in droves,' Ms Graham told Times Radio's Chloe Tilley. She confirmed the deputy PM's membership in the union is effectively over after widespread anger from Unite members over her handling of the Birmingham dispute. It comes as the union last night threatened to 're-examine its relationship' with Labour over its refusal to side with workers who left the city streets strewn with rubbish and rats - in what could be potentially disastrous for Sir Keir Starmer. 'Angela Rayner has been a Unite member for ten years. She was proud of that when she needed union support. But now, as workers face losing up to 8,000 a year, she is nowhere to be found,' Ms Graham seethed. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has come under fresh fire over her stance in the Birmingham bin strike row Unite general secretary Sharon Graham branded Rayner 'despicable' for failing to back striking bin workers in Birmingham who have turn the city into a festering, rat-infested shambles Bin workers walked out in March over planned pay changes by the cash-strapped city council She said no additional funds have been provided to Labour beyond statutory affiliation fees since her election as General Secretary. 'My job is to fight for workers, not to make the Labour Party look good,' she added. 'If Labour continues to ignore the needs of working people, they will lose their connection to those they claim to represent.' The news comes as Labour accused Unite of engaging in 'silly stunts' after its annual conference voted to suspend the membership of the Deputy PM, who said the spring walk-out had caused 'misery' for locals. Labour insists the workers' pay demands discriminated against female council workers. 'Angela's not interested in stilly stunts, she's interested in changing workers' lives,' a source said last night. 'Unite rejected a deal in Birmingham and their demands would have undermined equal pay, discriminating against female workers. Angela won't be pushed around, and she quit Unite some months ago. 'Angela's been fighting for equal pay for decades as a trade unionist and as a home care worker has experienced what it was like to be paid less as a working class woman for the same work.' Unite insists Ms Rayner remains a member and can therefore be suspended. But it sets the scene for a summer of Labour fights with unions, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting locked in a battle with junior doctors. Ms Rayner urged refuse staff to accept a pay offer in April, saying their strike was 'causing misery and disruption' for residents. People living in the city say their health suffered from the stench of piling waste while 'cat-sized' rats raided the mounting rubbish outside their homes. On Friday, Ms Graham warned the union would 'call out bad employers regardless of the colour of their rosette'. 'Angela Rayner has had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute but has instead backed a rogue council that has peddled lies and smeared its workers fighting huge pay cuts,' she said. 'The disgraceful actions of the government and a so-called Labour council, is essentially fire and rehire and makes a joke of the Employment Relations Act promises. 'People up and down the country are asking whose side is the Labour government on and coming up with the answer not workers.' It is not the first time Unite has threatened to pull its money when it has not got its way. Bin workers walked out in March over planned pay changes by the cash-strapped city council. Unite said the deal would have included 'substantial' pay cuts for workers and did not address potential pay cuts for 200 drivers. People living in the city say their health suffered from the stench of piling waste while 'cat-sized' rats raided the mounting rubbish outside their homes. The long-running dispute has left rubbish piling up on the streets of Birmingham Bin workers walked out in March over planned pay changes by the cash-strapped city council Visiting the city in April with Local Government Minister, Jim McMahon, Ms Rayner said: 'The people of Birmingham are our first priority this dispute is causing misery and disruption to residents and the backlog must be dealt with quickly to address public health risks. 'My department is working with Birmingham City Council to support its response to accelerate clearing the backlog and rapidly improve the situation on the ground. Neighbouring authorities are providing additional vehicles and crews, and we are providing logistical support. 'I have pressed both sides to negotiate at pace to urgently find a resolution. There is now a better offer on the table and I would urge Unite to suspend the action and accept the improved deal so we achieve fairness for both workers and residents of this city.' Earlier this year the Mail revealed this week that Union bosses behind strikes which have left the streets of Birmingham piled high with rotting waste are directing the action from outside of the city - in leafy suburbs with regular bin collections. A Downing Street spokesman said the Government's priority throughout the dispute had 'always' been Birmingham's residents. People living in Birmingham have had to endure huge rats digging through the heaps of rubbish Striking refuse collectors from the Unite trade union attend their picket line on July 9, 2025 Bin lorries staffed by agency workers are delayed by striking members of the Unite on July 9 The strikes have resulted in unsanitary conditions throughout the city, with large piles of rubbish in the streets. The No 10 spokesman also told reporters: 'As you know, Unite's industrial action caused disruption to waste collection. 'We have worked intensively with the council to tackle the backlog and clean up the streets for the residents for public health. 'We remain in close contact with the council and continue to monitor the situation as we support its recovery and transformation 'I think it's important to look back to the context of this dispute: Unite is in dispute against Birmingham City Council's decision to reform unfair staff structures, which were a major cause of unequal pay claims and left the council liable to hundreds of millions of pounds in claims, and that was a key factor cited in the council section 114 notice in 2023, declaring bankruptcy.' Shadow communities secretary Kevin Hollinrake said Ms Rayner 'faces a serious conflict of interest, having accepted thousands of pounds from the Unite union to fund her general election campaign'. He added: 'Unions like Unite rarely offer financial support without expecting something in return and we're already seeing the consequences in their aggressive demands to dismantle key trade union laws. 'It's time for all Labour ministers and the Labour-led council to take a firm stand against these militant unions. A good place to start would be suspending taxpayer-funded ''facility time'' for Unite while their members are on strike.' The scene of a fatal crash where the wife of Lufthansa's CEO drove into a pedestrian has been pictured, as her lawyers claim she gave first aid to the dying woman. Vivian Alexandra Spohr, a 51-year-old top manager and wife of Carsten Spohr, was behind the wheel of an SUV when it collided with Gaia Costa, 24, in the Italian commune of Porto Cervo, Sardinia, on Tuesday. Ms Costa, a babysitter, had been crossing the road at a zebra crossing when the tragedy occurred. She was still alive when help arrived but sustained serious head injuries and died at the scene, La Repubblica reports. Pictures taken in the aftermath show Ms Costa's body covered by a large white sheet and lying on the ground next to a black SUV. Several other emergency response vehicles were parked around the scene. Reports previously suggested that Spohr, who was driving alongside her daughter, initially didn't notice the accident and was stopped by a passerby before fainting when she saw what had happened. But Ms Spohr's lawyer, Angelo Merlini, said on Saturday: 'Contrary to what was previously reported, Vivian Spohr stopped after the accident and provided first aid to the girl. 'However, after an initial attempt at resuscitation, Vivian Spohr lost consciousness and fainted.' Gaia Costa (pictured), 24, was killed after being struck by an SUV in the Italian commune of Porto Cervo on Tuesday Pictures taken in the aftermath show Ms Costa's body covered by a large white sheet and lying on the ground next to a black SUV Vivian Alexandra Spohr (right), a 51-year-old top manager and wife of Carsten Spohr (left), was behind the wheel of an SUV when it collided with Ms Costa He added that Ms Spohr collided with the young woman at a 'very low speed' in her car, which has an automatic transmission and is very heavy. According to one witness at the scene, moments after the collision, the businesswoman opened the door of the vehicle and 'immediately realised what had happened, put her hands to her face and collapsed to the ground.' Ms Spohr had been on holiday at her family's vacation home in the seaside resort but returned to Munich following the incident - even as prosecutor Milena Aucone was registering her as a suspect. Her lawyers released a statement on Friday saying she is in a state of 'dismay and grief' and reiterated their full acceptance of responsibility and willingness to cooperate. 'The woman has placed herself completely at the disposal of the judicial authorities for the necessary investigations and, while aware that such a great personal loss cannot be remedied, will take steps to mitigate the consequences,' the statement read. According to one witness at the scene, moments after the collision, the businesswoman opened the door of the vehicle and 'immediately realised what had happened, put her hands to her face and collapsed to the ground'. Pictured: Vivian Alexandra Spohr Ms Costa, a babysitter, had been crossing the road at a zebra crossing when the tragedy occurred Ms Spohr had been on holiday at her family's vacation home in the seaside resort but returned to Munich following the incident - even as prosecutor Milena Aucone was registering her as a suspect. Pictured: The crash scene Ms Spohr is being investigated for negligent homicide in road traffic, according to La Repubblica. She underwent alcohol and drug tests after the crash, but they were negative. CCTV reportedly captured Ms Costa crossing the street, before noticing an SUV approaching her. She attempted to stop it with a wave of her hand but was knocked to the ground and banged her head. An ambulance arrived at the scene quickly and paramedics spent more than 20 minutes trying to revive her. The SUV has been seized and will undergo technical investigations, while the examination of Ms Costa's body was conducted on Wednesday. Mayor Gianni Addis said: 'Gaia was a young woman who was deeply involved in the city's social and cultural life. 'She was passionate about our traditions and never missed the parades of the local folk group.' The investigation into the circumstances of the accident is ongoing. The final words shared by the pilots of the Air India crash, which tragically claimed the lives of 241 passengers, have been revealed alongside fresh forensic details. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed mere minutes after it had taken off from Ahmedabad airport on June 12, plummeting into a residential area, called Meghani Nagar, while claiming 19 more lives of those on the ground. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have released the first forensic details into the tragedy which could reveal the cause of what is said to be one of the worst tragedy's in india's aviation history. Among the fresh information, is the final conversation between the doomed aircraft's pilots, captured using the cockpit voice recording, suggesting the fuel had been 'cut off' in their final moments. Amid the perplexity, one can be heard asking the other why 'did you cut off' the fuel supply, while the other responded he 'didn't', according to a report by Indian authorities. It did not identify which remarks were made by the flight's captain Sumeet Sabharwal and which by the co-pilot, Clive Kunder, nor which pilot immediately transmitted the distress call: 'Thrust not achieved... falling... Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!' The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is thought to have lost power when the fuel cutoff switches almost simultaneously flipped, starving the engines of fuel, according to the report by Indian accident investigators. The pilots' exchange prompts a key question over the crash - who could those fuel switches, which are designed to be 'highly reliable' and are constructed to stop unintentional activation, be accidentally flipped mid-flight? Each lever has to be pulled upwards to be unlocked, before it can be flipped and they also have further protective guard brackets to safeguard against any bumps and nudges. 'It would be almost impossible to pull both switches with a single movement of one hand, and this makes accidental deployment unlikely,' a Canada-based air accidents investigator told the BBC. A video posted to social media appeared to show the plane descending in a controlled manner with a high nose angle and landing gear deployed The plane momentarily disappeared from view behind trees and buildings before a massive fireball erupted on the horizon in this horrifying clip A graphic displaying how the lever on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner works Air India has said that the flight's captain, Sumeet Sabharwal had over 10,000 hours experience of flying wide-body or larger aircrafts Top image shows the five buildings impacted by the Air India crash as well as the subsequent fire. The five buildings (bottom right) shown from an aerial view suffered significant structural and fire damage The Boeing 787 first crashed into a series of trees before hitting, BJ Medical College hostel after colliding with a series of trees (Pictured above: Damaged buildings listed A-F) After losing altitude, it came into contact with Building A at 293ft at the angle illustrated above The tail of the plan and the RH Main Landing Gear (MLG) were found in the northeast wall of Building A (pictured) The aircraft slid across the roof of Building A where the right ending collided with a water tank structure and desperate from the airplane John Cox, U.S. aviation safety expert, said a pilot would not be able to accidentally move the fuel switches that feed the engines. 'You can't bump them and they move,' he said. But the plane only ever reached as high as 625ft, immediately beginning to lose thrust and sink down moments after setting off to London, later exploding into a fireball after smashing into a hostel on the ground in Gujarat, killing all but one on board. Investigators' early assessments indicate no apparent fault with the Boeing or its engines, suggesting that Boeing and engine maker GE had no apparent responsibility for the accident. The report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, published late on Friday, said the jet was carrying 54,200kg of fuel, which was within the 'allowable limits'. Fuel samples retrieved from the aircraft's refuelling tanks were also deemed 'satisfactory'. 'The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 Knots IAS at about 08:08:42 UTC and immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec,' the report said. 'The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off. 'In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so.' But the report does not say how the switch - which is used to start or shut down the engines and are typically left on during flight - could have flipped to the cutoff position. Your browser does not support iframes. The inboard parts of the right wing were found between Buildings A and B as well as the nearby building , with the outboard parts (pictured above) found around 280 feet and 520 feet from the crash point with Building A The left main landing gear (LH MNLG and left wing were collided with the middle of Building C (left), 345 feet south from the point of contact. Some of the left engine broke away hitting a corner on Building D (middle). The aircraft's nose was found 307 feet southwest from Building A The flap handle lever on the plane was significantly burnt (left)ad was found in a 5-degree position, consistent with a normal take off. However the landing gear (pictured middle and right) was in a 'DOWN' position The Thrust Lever (left) was also found with significant thermal damage, and were found to remain forward until impact. Both fuel control switches were found in the 'RUN' position (right) CCTV footage (pictured) from the airport shows the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) being deployed as the aircraft lifts off A family member cries upon hearing the news of her brother who died when the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane crashed in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025 People look at the debris of an Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad of India's Gujarat state Rescue team members work as smoke rises at the site in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025 The number of fatalities is not yet known but rescuers said at least 30 bodies have so far been recovered from a building Firefighters work at the site of the crash near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport A view of the site where a plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in India's western state of Gujarat on June 12, 2025 Investigators are currently focusing on a previous Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) by the US Federal Aviation Administration in 2018, which said some Boeing 737 fuel control switches were put into the aircrafts with the locking feature disengaged. Although the problem was never deemed unsafe, an Airworthiness Directive (AD), which is legally enforceable, was issued to correct the problem with some of the levers. Boeing 787-8 aircrafts, as well as the Air India plane, use the same design switch. And due to the SAIB being recommended, Air India did not carry out advised inspections. All pilots and crew had passed breathalyser and were deemed fit to fly, according to the report, which detailed how both Sabharwal and Kunder had enough rest before taking to the skies. At the crash site, both fuel switches were found in the run position with the report detailing there had been indications of both engines relighting before the low-altitude crash. An ex-investigator with India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) speculated whether the switch may have tripped due to possible issues with the plane electronic control unit. Capt Kishore Chinta told the BBC: 'Can the fuel cut-off switches be triggered electronically by the plane's electronic control unit without movement by the pilot? If the fuel cut-off switches tripped electronically, then it's a cause for concern.' Your browser does not support iframes. Wreckage of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner lies at the site where the Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025 Rescuers work at the site of an airplane that crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, Thursday, June12, 2025 There has been a reported tension between the Indian and US investigators Remnants of the fuselage and the landing gear were seen dangling through a gaping hole in the side of what appeared to be a canteen, with half-finished plates of food clearly visible on benches inside Parts of the jet appeared to have smashed into the BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital Referring to data recovered from the plane's two Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFR), it continues: 'As per the EAFR, the Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch transitioned from CUTOFF to RUN at about 08:08:52 UTC. The APU Inlet Door began opening at about 08:08:54 UTC, consistent with the APU Auto Start logic. 'Thereafter at 08:08:56 UTC the Engine 2 fuel cutoff switch also transitions from CUTOFF to RUN. 'When fuel control switches are moved from CUTOFF to RUN while the aircraft is inflight, each engine's full authority dual engine control (FADEC) automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction.' Flipping to cutoff almost immediately cuts the engines, and is most often used to turn engines off once a plane has arrived at its airport gate and in certain emergency situations, such as an engine fire. The preliminary report does not indicate there was any emergency requiring an engine cutoff. The new findings appear to tally with theories reportedly put forward on the US side of the investigation, which also noted that the switches controlling fuel flow to the aircraft's twin engines were turned off shortly after takeoff. It remains unclear why they were turned off, and investigators have been left wondering whether it was deliberate, accidental or corrected too late. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, one potential sign that the switches were off was the deployment of the plane's emergency power system, a Ram air Turbine or RAT. Viswash lying in hospital with a bloodied face and injuries after the tragic crash, which claimed the life of his younger brother Ajaykumar Ramesh (left) who died in the plane crash and his brother Viswash Kumar Ramesh (right), who miraculously survived Astonishing footage showed Vishwar walking away from the scene with some visible injuries to his face The siblings had been a few seats apart onboard the plane, with survivor Viswash sat at 11A and his younger brother positioned at 11J on the other side of the aisle The RAT usually comes into action when both engines lose power or if pressure in all three hydraulic systems are critically low - both essential components of keeping a flight going. The landing gear was also found in a downward position. Shawn Pruchnicki, a former airline accident investigator and aviation expert at Ohio State University said: 'The deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) strongly supports the conclusion that both engines had failed' He believes the pilot at the helm of the aircraft had no time to think. According to investigators, crew tried to act but the crash transpired to quickly. If the preliminary findings hold, that would exonerate the Dreamliner's manufacturer Boeing and engine developer GE Aerospace. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said: 'At this stage of investigation, there are no recommended actions to Boeing 787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers.' The agency, an office under India's civil aviation ministry, is leading the probe into the world's deadliest aviation accident in a decade. Last month, the tragic crash claimed the lives of 169 Indian passengers on board, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian, as well as 12 crew members and left only one survivor - British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40. At least 19 people were also killed on the ground as the doomed Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner came down in a residential area moments after takeoff. Raxa Modha (left) was on the doomed flight so tragically died in the crash on Thursday Akeel Nanawaba (left), 36, his wife Hannaa (right), 30, and their four-year-old daughter Sarah were flying home from a five-day family celebration when the Air India Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off. They also died in the tragedy Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, 45, (right) and husband Fiongal, 39, lived in London, ran a wellness and healthy lifestyle company called the Wellness Foundry, and had been in India on holiday. They also died in the ill-fated flight Harrods brand ambassador Mariam Ali Syed, 35, her husband Javed - a manager at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel - and their children, Zayn, five, and Amani, four, were passengers on stricken Air India Flight 171 Javed Ali Syed, a hotel manager at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel and his wife Mariam were passengers on the fallen Air India Flight 171 this morning Air India, the nation's oldest airline, has been trying to revitalise its operations after several years under government control. The airline company says Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was flying the plane, had more than 10,000 hours of experience on wide-body jets, while co-pilot Clive Kunder had logged over 3,400 hours. The crash marked the first fatal incident involving a Dreamliner and was a major setback for Boeing, which is facing ongoing scrutiny over its aircraft safety standards. The US National Transportation Safety Board is assisting with the Indian-led investigation, while the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing and GE Aerospace are providing technical support. It declined to comment on the release of the report. Reports indicate there have been tensions building between American and Indian officials. One of the biggest points of contention is the delay in accessing and analysing the plane's black boxes. The Americans are not pleased with the slow pace at which data is being extracted from the cockpit voice and data recorders. Pictures have been published on local media of crew members who were on board the Air India flight Air hostess Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam was named by local media as being on board the ill-fated Flight 171 Their shocked business partner Shoyeb Khan Nagori told MailOnline: 'I had dinner with them last night. They were a lovely family and Akeel and his wife were extremely successful people' (Pictured: Akeel Nanawaba) Pictured: Hannaa Vorajee, Akeel Nanawaba's wife. The successful couple ran a global recruitment agency with offices in Ahmedabad and Gloucester The US team at one point even considered pulling out of the probe before eventually deciding to carry on. The US investigators have since returned home. The Dreamliner, which was first delivered to Air India in 2012, has been used for many international routes. Although officials have initially focused on the fuel control switches, they have cautioned nothing has yet been ruled out yet. Sole survivor Vishwash Kumar Ramesh had been in the country on a business trip with his brother Ajaykumar, 35, before they boarded the doomed flight travelling from Ahmedabad to Gatwick on Thursday. In what has been described as a miracle, Viswash - seated in 11A by the exit - survived, but his sibling who was sat on the other side of the aisle in seat 11J perished in the fireball explosion. Before the discovery of the British survivor, authorities said that they believed no one had escaped the flight alive. Eleven of those on board were children, including two newborns. The Boeing jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat at around 1.40pm (0810 GMT), officials said. Ahmedabad, the main city of India's Gujarat state, is home to around eight million people, and the busy airport is surrounded by densely packed residential areas. Adam Taju, 72, and his wife Hasina, 70, (pictured) were flying back to the UK with their son-in-law Altafhusen Patel, 51, when they lost their lives in the tragedy Adam was described as 'a wonderful man, a community man', who was 'always out and about supporting communities'. Pictured: Altafhusen Patel, 51, who perished in the tragedy alongside his father-in-law and -mother-in-law Preliminary flight tracking data from flightradar24 reveals the plane reached an altitude of just 625ft after takeoff - a height far below standard for a commercial aircraft several minutes into departure. According to data logs, recorded at 30-second intervals, the plane remained on the ground or was taxiing slowly for over four minutes after it first registered on public trackers. The plane took off and reached 625ft, but no further gains in altitude were recorded before the crash. An Air India spokesman said: 'Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time.' The spokesman added: 'Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. 'We continue to fully co-operate with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and other authorities as their investigation progresses. 'Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such enquiries to the AAIB.' A Sydney man who worked at an early childcare centre has been charged with using children to create abusive content. The married father, who cannot be named due to a court order, was arrested at his home by Australian Federal Police on Thursday. He was taken into custody and charged with seven counts of using a child to make abusive material, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Three of the offences were allegedly aggravated. The man was also charged with possessing child abuse data through a phone and police have seized his electronic devices. His identity and place of work were kept anonymous to protect his alleged victims from 'psychological harm', as well as those alleged victims who have yet to be identified. The married man did not apply for bail and it was formally refused on Thursday. He is next due to appear in court in September. The seven charges are part of a sprawling investigation by AFP into alleged online child abuse material. A Sydney childcare worker was arrested and charged with several counts of forcing children to make abusive material on Thursday (stock image) 'The man came to police attention after the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation received a report regarding an online user who had allegedly uploaded child abuse material files to a cloud platform,' a statement said. 'There is no ongoing threat to the community.' The arrest is the latest in a series of headlines involving alleged child sex offenders. Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was arrested on May 12 after he was alleged to have sexually assaulted children between the ages of five months and two years old in Victoria. He was charged with more than 70 offences, including the sexual penetration of a child and producing child abuse material. Brown's alleged acts became known to federal police after his name appeared in a separate investigation involving 36-year-old Michael Simon Wilson. Wilson was charged with 45 sex offences on July 2, including rape, bestiality and possession of child abuse material. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 An elderly British holidaymaker was mugged and dragged to the ground while he was on a walk through a resort in Majorca with his wife. The attacker pounced on the 85-year-old man from behind and stole a small bag containing his wallet before running off. Footage of the attack showed the robber, wearing black shorts and carrying a black backpack, appearing to follow his victim before targeting him. The elderly victim tried to hold on to his bag as the mugger grappled with him and ended up crashing to the pavement on his side and hitting his head as he fell. The robbery happened just after midday on Wednesday in Cala Millor, the largest tourist destination on Majorcas east coast and a short drive from the Love Island villa. Footage of the attack showed the robber, wearing black shorts and carrying a black backpack, appearing to follow his victim before targeting him. The British couple were walking in a built-up central area of the resort and local police were able to identify the suspect hours later in a nearby street. The victim went on to recognise him as the person who had assaulted him. It is not clear what injuries the elderly man suffered and whether he had been able to recover his stolen belongings. Footage grabs show an elderly British holidaymaker was mugged and dragged to the ground while he was on a walk through a resort in Majorca with his wife The robbery happened just after midday on Wednesday in Cala Millor, the largest tourist destination on Majorcas east coast and a short drive from the Love Island villa The mugger has already gone before an investigating judge but it is not known if he was remanded in custody or released on bail pending an ongoing criminal probe. His age and nationality have not yet been released. Islands like Majorca and Ibiza are favourite for Rolex robbers from the likes of Naples in Italy who target tourists for their expensive timepieces. In May last year two moped muggers were filmed snatching a mans watch off his wrist in heavy traffic near Ibiza airport. The pair took advantage of the split-second cars paused on approach to a roundabout to commit their crime. Video footage showed the moped rider approaching the drivers window before his accomplice, who got off the vehicle as they prepared to pounce, rushed over to complete the snatch with his motorcycle helmet still on his head. They were away seconds later, accelerating at speed in the direction they had come from, before other motorists had a chance to react. The man they targeted, who was driving a luxury Mercedes G-wagon, tried to do a U-turn to follow them but appeared to desist after realising he had no chance of catching up with them. In May last year two moped muggers snatched a man's watch off his wrist in heavy traffic near Ibiza airport According to GOV UK travelers to Spain, including its islands, should be alert to the risk of street crime. The website warns of highway pirates who target foreign-registered and hire cars. When driving, people are advised to be wary of approaches from people posing as plainclothes police in unmarked cars. In all traffic-related matters, police officers will usually be in uniform. Unmarked police vehicles have a flashing electronic sign on the rear window saying Policia or Guardia Civil. Genuine police will only ask you to show vehicle documents not to hand over your bag or wallet. Police have found at least nine suspicious devices at the scene where they shot a gas mask-clad plumber as he wielded a chainsaw. Sean O'Meara, 36, was targeted by officers during an arrest on suspicion of assault at his parents' home in the village of Hollingbourne, Kent, on Monday evening. Kent Police believed the suspect, who was also wearing body armour, was holding an improvised firearm or improvised explosive device (IED). After he refused to leave the property opposite The Park Gate Inn when police were first called at around 7.15pm, armed officers were deployed, who shot at around 9pm. Officers called on an explosive ordnance disposal team to the scene outside the country pub - but they are not treating this as a terror incident. The suspect, as of Saturday, remains in hospital with 'life-changing' injuries, in an induced coma, following the chainsaw 'falling on him'. Shocking pictures of the scene near Maidstone show heavy protective clothing and a robot used by the bomb squad to deal with the terrifying incident. Parts of the nearby A20 were closed across several days as the bomb squad searched the area but the road has now fully re-opened. Police have found at least nine suspicious devices at the scene where they shot a gas mask-clad plumber as he wielded a chainsaw. Pictured: Protective clothing and a robot used by the bomb squad at the scene Sean O'Meara, 36, was targeted by officers (pictured at the scene) during an arrest on suspicion of assault at his parents' home in the village of Hollingbourne, Kent, on Monday evening Kent Police believed the suspect, who was also wearing body armour, was holding an improvised firearm or improvised explosive device (IED). Pictured: Officers at the scene Two baton rounds were reportedly fired at O'Meara but failed to subdue him - before an officer discharged a conventional firearm. It was confirmed on Thursday officers had found 'at least four' suspicious devices in the area. O'Meara's half-brother, Liam, said he is currently being treated at King's College Hospital in London. He claimed his brother has 'mental health problems', adding he believes police used unreasonable force and officers could have instead shot him in the leg or tasered him. He told The Telegraph: 'When he was shot, most of the damage was when he dropped the chainsaw and it fell on him. 'The bullet's gone straight in and out so it hasn't caused many problems.' But he believes his brother now could possibly lose the ability to use his arm. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the officer-involved shooting. Two baton rounds were reportedly fired at O'Meara (pictured) but failed to subdue him - before an officer discharged a conventional firearm It was confirmed on Thursday officers had found 'at least four' suspicious devices in the area. Pictured: A bomb squad robot on the scene O'Meara's half-brother, Liam, said he is currently being treated at King's College Hospital in London. Pictured: Bomb squad at the scene He believes his brother now could possibly lose the ability to use his arm. Pictured: The scene 'We have been advised by Kent Police that unarmed officers attended the house at around 7.15pm to arrest a man on suspicion of assault', the IOPC said. 'He refused to come out of the house so the officers were instructed to withdraw and armed officers were then deployed. 'We have seen officers' body worn footage which shows the man, aged in his mid-30s, holding a chainsaw and another object in his hand, which, at the time, officers believed appeared to be a handmade firearm or IED (improvised explosive device). 'He was also wearing a gas mask and body armour. We can confirm a first baton round was fired by police and the man then took cover behind a hedge. 'Officers moved in and a police dog was deployed. 'The man ignored orders to put down the chainsaw and a second baton round was discharged and then, seconds later, he moved towards officers and was shot by an officer with a conventional firearm. 'A detailed search of the scene continued today and among the weapons found at the scene were a chainsaw and a device which was made safe by the bomb squad (EOD).' A 100-metre cordon was put in place around the pub across from the property following the incident. He claimed his brother (pictured) has 'mental health problems', adding he believes police used unreasonable force and officers could have instead shot him in the leg or tasered him The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the officer-involved shooting. Pictured: Police van, on Tuesday, near where O'Meara was shot Dramatic aerial footage captured armoured vehicles parked up outside the property securing the area. Pictured: Protective clothing and a robot used by the bomb squad Chief Superintendent Neil Loudon, West Divisional Commander for Kent Police, said: 'This has been a complex investigation and we appreciate that the intermittent closure of the A20 caused disruption to many. Pictured: Officers at the scene He continued: 'We would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding whilst we conducted these vital searches'. Pictured: Trauma kits and emergency first aid bags at the scene on Tuesday Dramatic aerial footage captured armoured vehicles parked up outside the property securing the area. Chief Superintendent Neil Loudon, West Divisional Commander for Kent Police, said: 'This has been a complex investigation and we appreciate that the intermittent closure of the A20 caused disruption to many. 'We would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding whilst we conducted these vital searches.' He previously said: 'At this current time, there is nothing to suggest a wider threat to the Hollingbourne community, but we have found at least four suspicious devices at the scene and it is important that the area is made safe.' A Kent Police spokesperson said on Friday: 'Intermittent road closures on the A20 will continue throughout the day on Friday, July 11, whilst ongoing enquiries continue in Hollingbourne. 'This is following a police shooting which took place on Monday, July 7, 2025. 'Given the nature of the enquires that are currently taking place parts of the A20 will be required to be closed for short periods of time. 'The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team are attending the scene to carry out further searches of the area. 'Motorists are advised to find alternative routes until further notice, and we would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding at this time.' It followed a brief statement from the force on Wednesday afternoon, saying cops had been carrying out an arrest when an armed officer opened fire. Did YOU see what happened? Stunned sun-seekers looked on in horror as a mass brawl between a group of topless lads sparked mayhem on one of Britain's busiest beaches. The chaos reportedly erupted on Friday evening on the stretch of coastline next to Bournemouth Pier. Almost a dozen people clashed on the sand as tempers boiled over and the mercury approached a sweltering 30C. Captured by a sunworshipper, the brawling beach-goers were filmed stumbling and swinging wildly at one another as they came to blows. But the fight appeared to turn into a farce as the battling gaggle of men struggled to keep on their feet as they chased around after each other, throwing haymakers. People laughed as one man charged at another male, bumping into him before his opponent wobbles, loses his balance and toppled to the floor. The melee continues, with another man seen stumbling around before then getting shoved unceremoniously to the floor. As he gets up, another is seen to throw a wild hooking-style punch behind him - which fails to connect with anything and sends the man tumbling to the send. The chaos erupted on Friday evening on Bournemouth beach near the pier Brawling sun-seekers could be seen stumbling over each other on the sand during the chaos The fight, reportedly on Friday evening, saw groups of men wildly swinging punches while two bouncers attempted to break up the brawl Meanwhile, two bouncers are filmed desperately struggling to contain the mayhem. The fight is the latest flashpoint of anti-social carnage to ignite on the beach in recent days. Earlier this week, Dorest Police released CCTV footage of 12 men they were hunting to identify following a beach brawl between topless youths. The incident again took place near the coastal resort's pier, just before 7.30pm on June 30. Footage posted online showed shirtless yobs fighting among themselves and clashing with cops, with some seen hurling objects and attacking them with bottles. Missiles appeared to be thrown at police and glass could be heard smashing on the ground as terrified daytrippers watched on in horror. Five police officers were injured during the chaos, as well as a teenage girl who was taken to hospital for treatment. Their injuries were not serious. A man, 22, from Newbury, Berkshire, who was previously arrested on suspicion of assault by beating of an emergency worker was released on bail as enquiries continue. Police carry away a detained individual after a mass brawl on Bournemouth beach last week Five officers were assaulted as they began making arrests in Bournemouth on Monday last week The scene near Bournemouth pier in Dorset after a brawl on the seafront on Monday last week Another man, 18, from Hackney, east London, was later arrested on suspicion of assault, affray and assault by beating of an emergency worker and remains in custody. The fight sparked a new anti-social behaviour crackdown, which comes into effect this weekend in Bournemouth. It comes as temperatures are set to skyrocket to more than 30C. Anyone who gets a bit too merry on the coastal stretch faces being slapped with fines, and having their alcohol seized. Dorset Police has revealed it is deploying extra patrols around Bournemouth seafront this weekend, as thousands are expected to descend on the sandy beach. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council and Dorset Police have revealed they plan to use a range of measures to prevent the violence from happening again. Chief Superintendent Heather Dixey said: 'Violence and disorder on Bournemouth beach will absolutely not be tolerated and anyone who is identified as being involved will be robustly dealt with.' As well as seizing alcohol, police will take away nitrous oxide and other illegal substances from beach-goers causing trouble. Officers will also ask disruptive sun-seekers to leave the beach, where necessary. A public space protection order has been put in place for the coastline from Sandbanks to Highcliffe, and gives police the power to deal with yobs who are aggressive, urinate in public, swear, play loud music or light a BBQ between 7am and 6pm. A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said: 'We were called at 7.53pm on Friday, July 11 to a report of a fight on Bournemouth beach. There were no injuries reported. Officers on patrol were quickly in attendance and there were no complaints made. 'Officers were already carrying out increased patrols throughout the evening to prevent crime and disorder and issued 19 section 35 dispersal notices ordering people to leave the area who were acting anti-socially.' A grieving father has recalled the horrific moment his son was buried alive when a sand tunnel he was digging suddenly caved in. Riccardo Boni, 17, was on holiday with his family on Thursday when tragedy struck on the popular Montalto di Castro beach in north-west Italy. Riccardo had been playing in the sand, carving out a tunnel that he intended to crawl through from one side to the other. But as he passed through the centre, the structure gave way without warning, swallowing him whole and leaving no trace on the surface. The teenager's father, who was just 'meters away', has revealed how his son 'didn't even have time to scream' before he was buried. 'Riccardo was 1.75 meters tall, the hole was 1.50 meters deep, his head was sticking out,' he told Corriere Della Sera. 'And yet, I don't know if it was the heat or the fatigue, at a certain point he must have collapsed. 'He didn't even have time to scream. Why didn't he scream? Why didn't I hear him?' A grieving father has recalled the horrific moment his son was buried alive when a sand tunnel he was digging on a beach suddenly caved in. Pictured: A hole in the sand where Riccardo was buried made as his father tried to dig him out Your browser does not support iframes. Riccardo Boni, 17, was on holiday with his family on Thursday when tragedy struck on the popular Montalto di Castro beach in north-west Italy Riccardo had been playing in the sand, carving out a tunnel that he intended to crawl through from one side to the other. Pictured: Emergency services at the scene Upon realising what had happened Riccardo's father, along with beachgoers and lifeguards, began frantically digging through the sand, clawing at it with their bare hands as emergency services rushed to the scene. But, by the time emergency services arrived, Riccardo had already died. A swimmer who witnessed the horror said: 'He had built a tunnel. He wanted to enter from one side and exit from the other. 'But as he passed through, when he reached the centre, everything collapsed and the hole was completely covered. 'You couldn't see anything anymore; you could have walked right through it and not noticed a thing. Another local added: 'When the sand closes in on you, it's incredibly heavy. 'It doesn't even let a little oxygen in, and it's not easy to extract people because it tends to collapse. A few minutes later, they die of suffocation.' Upon realising what had happened Riccardo's father, along with beachgoers and lifeguards, began frantically digging through the sand, clawing at it with their bare hands as emergency services rushed to the scene. By the time emergency services arrived, Riccardo had already died Riccardo, who lived in Rome, had been at the beach with his father and two younger siblings, aged three and eight. After the tunnel collapsed, a huge hole was left in the sand, but it reportedly closed in on itself, leaving no sign of the teenager. Initially, when he noticed his son was missing, Riccardo's father assumed he had gone to join his siblings, who were playing elsewhere on the beach. But, when he didn't return, a major search was started at around 3pm. For about 40 minutes many people tried to help find Riccardo, but it was reportedly his 5-year-old brother who revealed what had happened. According to local media, the child told his mother, 'Riccardo is under the sand', pointing to the spot where Riccardo had dug the hole. The father, two lifeguards, and some holidaymakers started frantically digging for the teenager, but by the time they had hauled him from the sand, it was too late for him to be saved. Pictures show a huge pit in the sand where Riccardo was buried, surrounded by Carabinieri tape. After the tunnel collapsed, a huge hole was left in the sand, but it reportedly closed in on itself, leaving no sign of the teenager. Pictured: Montalto di Castro beach in Italy For about 40 minutes many people tried to help find Riccardo, but it was reportedly his 5-year-old brother who revealed what had happened. Pictured: Montalto di Castro beach in Italy The mayor of Montalto, Emanuela Socciarelli, described the incident as 'a tragedy that has left us all shocked.' 'It's unthinkable that a young man could lose his life in this way,' she said on Friday. 'I want to offer my sincere condolences to this family, to whom we are all truly deeply connected.' 'In solidarity with the family, all public events have been called off today.' Local authorities released a statement saying: 'Deepest condolences for the tragic passing of the young man. 'In such a time of great grief, we extend our deepest sympathies to the boy's parents and family, affected by this terrible tragedy. 'As a sign of respect, all public events scheduled for Friday, July 11, are suspended. 'The community of Montalto joins in silent embrace with the family.' Britain's oldest Second World War veteran, also believed to be Britain's oldest man, Donald Rose, has passed away aged 110. The D-Day veteran was born on Christmas Eve in 1914, the same year that Britain saw the outbreak of the First World War, and was just 25 when he signed up to fight on the front line in the Second World War. A former sniper and Desert Rat, Mr Rose also served with the Queen's Royal Regiment and was awarded a number of medals during his service including France's highest medal, the Legion D'Honneur. His death was confirmed by Erewash Borough Council in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, yesterday and council leader James Dawson paid tribute to him as a 'war hero'. Mr Dawson said: 'Our condolences go out to Donald's family and all who knew him. 'Erewash was privileged to count him as a resident.' Mr Rose, who lived in a care home from 2020, had one grandchild and three great-grandchildren. The veteran was so popular that in 2023 a public appeal for people to send him birthday cards saw him receive more than 150 messages from well-wishers. Britain's oldest Second World War veteran, also believed to be Britain's oldest man, Donald Rose, has passed away at 110 The D-Day veteran was born on Christmas Eve in 1914, the same year that Britain saw the outbreak of the First World War, and was just 25 when he signed up to fight on the front line in the Second World War The same cheeky grin! Donald Rose holds the photo of himself aged 25 In 2024 a special Spitfire flyover was arranged for Mr Rose at his care home, where Naomi Allsop worked. At the time she said: 'He's the oldest World War Two veteran in the UK - you learn about it at school, but being with him is something else. 'The wars are part of our history and if nobody celebrates the heroes, they will fade away. 'Donald was so excited about the flypast - it's lovely to see the whole of the UK getting involved to appreciate the work he and the other veterans did. 'Whenever we do any events like this, like Remembrance Day, he always says 'I'm not that special, I just did what I had to do'. 'He thinks the men that fell are the heroes, and he doesn't see himself as one because he lived and they didn't. 'He's so lovely, he likes to sing a lot and tells funny stories. 'I've known Donald since he came to the home and we've been best friends ever since. Mr Rose (red circle) and other training solders in 1939 when he joined the Queen's Royal Regiment, in Guilford with the 7th Armoured Brigade The veteran was honoured last year with a flying visit from Spitfire in Derbyshire Donald (red circle) and two other training solders in 1939 when he joined the Queen's Royal Regiment, in Guilford with the 7th Armoured Brigade 'He says there's no secret to living a long life - but reckons his insides have been 'pickled' by drinking sea water and eating dog biscuits during the war!' He previously lived in Westcott, Surrey with his late wife Jeannette of 55 years, before moving to Derbyshire in 2000 when she passed away. In May he joined 45 other veterans as guests of honour at a tea party celebration hosted by the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, to mark 80 years since VE Day. Mr Rose, who was attached to the division which liberated Belsen concentration camp, said at the event that he did not celebrate the momentous day 80 years ago. He said: 'When I heard that the armistice had been signed 80 years ago, I was in Germany at Belsen and, like most active soldiers, I didn't get to celebrate at that time. 'We just did what we thought was right and it was a relief when it was over. 'I never would have believed I would be remembering this day at 110 years old. 'It's meaningful to come here today with the Royal British Legion, to remember the people who didn't come back.' In 2024 a special Spitfire flyover was arranged for Mr Rose at his care home. An employee said at the time: 'He's the oldest World War Two veteran in the UK - you learn about it at school, but being with him is something else' A former sniper and Desert Rat, Donald also served with the Queen's Royal Regiment and was awarded a number of medals during his service including France's highest medal, the Legion D'Honneur Mr Rose previously said there's no secret to living a long life - but thought his insides may have been 'pickled' by drinking sea water and eating dog biscuits during the war In the same month, Erewash mayor presented Mr Rose with the freedom of the borough for his bravery in the Second World War. According to the council, Mr Rose said he was proud and happy to receive it, but said: 'I didn't do anything that anyone else would not have done.' The council flew its flags at half mast to mark Mr Rose's death. A New Hampshire Green Card holder and avid Trump supporter has been denied re-entry into the United States after visiting Canada. Chris Landry, 46, has legally lived in the US since he was three years old and has built a life in Peterborough with his partner and five children. But on Sunday, as he attempted to return home from his yearly trip to his native Canada, he was stopped at the border in Maine with three of his children and barred from re-entry. 'They denied me re-entry and said, "Don't come back or we will detain you," and the only way for me to get in back was to see an immigration judge,' Landry told NBC 10. 'They pulled me aside and started questioning me about my past convictions in New Hampshire.' After three hours, he was turned away due to charges he faced of marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license in 2004 and 2007. At the time he was given a suspended sentence and paid the fines and said he has had no criminal record since. 'I never expected that I wouldn't be able to go back home,' he told WMUR. 'It was scary. I felt like I was being treated like a criminal.' On Sunday, as Chris Landry (pictured) attempted to return home from his yearly trip to Canada, where he is a citizen, but he was stopped at the border in Maine with three of his children and barred from re-entry Landry, 46, has legally lived in the US since he was three years old and has built a life and a family in Peterborough Landry was turned away due to charges he faced of marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license in 2004 and 2007. At the time he was given a suspended sentence and paid the fines but said he has had no criminal record since His three children who were with him in Canada, and all American citizens, are set to make their way home in the coming days. Landry said he had never faced issues travelling across to Canada until now, and blamed the 'new administration and their new policies'. Though as a Green Card holder he is unable to vote, Landry avidly supported Donald Trump, but has since changed his tune. 'I was definitely all for "Make America Great Again," and having a strong, unified country, and a bright future for my five American children, but now I feel a little differently,' he said. Landry said it was the Trump administration's aggressive crackdown on immigration that stranded him up north. 'I've been torn from my family,' he continued. 'My life has been disregarded completely.' Landry has appealed to the New Hampshire congressional delegation for help and hopes they will intervene. The office of Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan said they had been in touch with the New Hampshire native, and told NBC that, 'helping constituents navigate federal agencies and processes is a core function of Senator Hassan's office.' Landry said he had never faced issues travelling across to Canada until now, and blamed the 'new administration and their new policies' 'I've been torn from my family,' Landry said. 'My life has been disregarded completely' US Customs and Border Protection told the outlet: 'Possessing a green card is a privilege, not a right, and under our nation's laws, our government has the authority to revoke a green card if our laws are broken or abused. 'Lawful Permanent Residents presenting at a US port of entry with previous criminal convictions may be subject to mandatory detention and/or may be asked to provide additional documentation to be set up for an immigration hearing.' The Daily Mail has reached out to CBP for comment and did not receive and immediate response. Landry now anxiously waits to see what will come of his efforts to return home and added: 'It's just very uncertain for me right now.' His son, Caleb, posted on Facebook that Landry and his family have contemplated moving the whole family to Canada to avoid separation, 'which is easier said than done.' Landry continued: 'I might end up spending the rest of my life in Canada. Who knows if I'll ever have the right to re-enter the United States at this point?' Police have today arrested more than 70 protesters for supporting newly banned terrorist organisation Palestine Action. A vicar was among at least 42 people detained by Scotland Yard officers as activists gathered for a second week in a row beside a statue of Gandhi in London's Parliament Square, holding placards reading: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' Another 16 arrests were made in Manchester and 13 people were also held in Cardiff at other related demonstrations on Saturday. A briefing document circulated to activists ahead of the action told protesters to 'go floppy' when they are arrested as it 'adds to the visual drama', reported The Telegraph. Five officers were today seen carrying one tattooed protester by her arms and legs, with one supporting her head. Some demonstrators could be seen lying on top of each other on the floor as police searched their bags and took their ID cards and handmade signs. Officers could then be seen carrying away a number of protesters who were lying down, lifting them off the ground and into waiting police vans parked around the square. Other standing protesters were also led away from the statues and placed into the vans. The last of the protesters was lifted from the Nelson Mandela statue shortly after 2.30pm. A vicar was among the more than 42 people arrested by Scotland Yard officers as activists gathered to support banned terrorist organisation Palestine Action Five officers were today seen carrying one tattooed protester by her arms and legs, with one supporting her head A briefing document circulated to activists ahead of the action told protesters to 'go floppy' when they are arrested as it 'adds to the visual drama' Those held were of mixed ages, from their 20s to 70s and many said they had jobs and had been arrested before. Officers could then be seen carrying away a number of protesters who were lying down, lifting them off the ground and into waiting police vans parked around the square. Other standing protesters were also led away from the statues and placed into the vans. The offences mainly related to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, an officer said. One protester, an architect called Steve, 59, said: 'I'm terrified. But some things in this world are bigger than fear of arrest. I will do whatever it takes to highlight this problem. 'They (the police) can do whatever they want. I don't care.' This Saturday is the second weekend Palestine Action supporters have protested and been arrested. A small group of protesters sat at the steps of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square for the demonstration, organised by campaign group Defend Our Juries, shortly after 1pm and received a brief applause. The individuals then wrote the message 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action' with black markers on pieces of cardboard and silently held the signs aloft, surrounded by Metropolitan Police officers, who formed a cordon, and members of the media. A number of demonstrators were carried away by police by their legs and arms after refusing to walk. A social care worker, who gave her name as Kate, 42, was taken away by police as demonstrators shouted 'free free Palestine around her'. Police push pass protesters in Manchester who had come out in support of Palestine Action Police officers arrest protesters in Parliament Square who were holding placards in support of Palestine Action The small group with 'I support Palestine Action' placards are quickly surrounded by the police Police in Manchester arrest a Palestine Action protestor wearing the black-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh. The group was recently proscribed a terrorist organisation under a new amendment to the Terrorism Act 2000 A man with a dog collar is led away by Greater Manchester Police officers as he holds a sign saying 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action' A supporter of banned organisation Palestine Action is dragged away by police officers in St Peter's Square, Manchester Several people were arrested at Parliament Square in London for supporting newly banned terrorist organisation Palestine Action Around ten people in Parliament Square were held by a group of Met Officers next to a statue of Gandhi after they held placards which said: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action' The small group of protesters sat at the steps of the Mahatma Gandhi statue shortly after 1pm in a silent protest The small group with 'I support Palestine Action' placards are quickly surrounded by media and then the police Police officers arrest protesters around the statue of Nelson Mandela in Parliament Square who were holding placards in support of Palestine Action, which has been banned under anti-terrorism laws A man wearing a T-shirt which reads 'Just stop the genocide' is pictured with police Officers could be seen carrying away a number of protesters who were lying down, lifting them off the ground and into waiting police vans parked around the square Others yelled 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' - a controversial chant which some say is a call for Israel not to exist. Kate was holding a sign which said: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' She said: 'It's shocking. I'm terrified. But the greater risk is genocide. That's more important. I don't have a phone. I've never been arrested before. 'I can't work because I've been trouble before connected to these activities. 'I was in social care. I had a good job. Nobody will employ me now. They'll think I'm a terrorist after this as well.' An elderly man - believed to be in his 70s - looked visibly unwell as he was taken into the back of a police van. A woman in her 40s was also taken away. Scotland Yard said its stance remains that officers will act where criminal offences, including support of proscribed groups or organisations, are committed. A spokesperson for the Met police said: 'We are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action. Officers are in the process of making arrests.' This is the second round of protests in London in support of Palestinian Action and the group have said they will continue to take to Parliament Square every week. Last Saturday police arrested almost 30 people on suspicion of terrorism offences after protesters gathered in Parliament Square also holding signs supporting Palestine Action, just hours after a ban on the came into effect. One of those arrested was an 83-year-old priest and the Met said: 'The law doesn't have an age limit'. Around two dozen people, including a priest, professor and an emergency care worker who is just back from Gaza, sat in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament Square on Saturday expressing support for the group, which is now a proscribed terrorist organisation. They held signs saying: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' The protesters held signs reading: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action' whcih were taken off them by officers A protestor being led away by a Met Police officer after protesting outside Parliament today The group was surrounded by Met Police officers who formed a cordon around them This is the second round of protests in London in support of Palestinian Action and the group have said they will continue to take to Parliament Square every week Police presence was heavy in the area with the force warning of several events going on around the city today Demonstrators were stopped by police with some later carried away by their arms and legs (two protestors being handcuffed by police) Protestors - whs ages ranged from 20s to 70s- were led away from the square outside Parliament in handcuff One protestor flashed a peace sign as she was put in to the back of a waiting police van At least four police officers arrest a protester and carry them off by their arms and legs, supporting their head Another protester carried off by police after sitting in Parliament Square today with pro-Palestine Action signs Shortly after their arrival, police officers could be seen engaging with the protesters and the Met said it had began making arrests. Several people were seen being carried away by officers. A spokesperson for the force said: 'Officers are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square. 'The group is now proscribed and expressing support for them is a criminal offence. Arrests are being made.' They later added: 'A total of 29 arrests were made during this afternoon's protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square. They remain in custody.' It comes after the Home Office today last week the ban on Palestine Action, with the group failing to block its proscription as a terrorist organisation in a late-night legal bid. Lawyers representing co-founder Huda Ammori, whose father is Palestinian, asked for the decision to be delayed at least until July 21. The designation as a terror group means that membership of or support for Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. This includes chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos. A protester wearing a red and black c being carried away by four Met Police officers Police carry demonstrators bags and signs after arresting them for supporting Palestine action Two protestors sat in the back of a police van after being arrested for supporting Palestine Action after a ban against the organisation last week Police speak to people after they took part in a protest in Parliament Square, London A man wearing a keffiyeh being carried away by police at parliament Square after joining a pro-Palestine Action group protest Palestine Action argues it is a protest group that has never incited or encouraged violence, but does support civil disobedience. Activists protest against the continuing war in Gaza, which has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians since October 7 - when 1,200 Israelis were killed by a Hamas incursion into the country. One of those protesting last week is former government lawyer Tim Crosland. He said: 'There are already 18 Palestine Actionists held in UK prisons without a trial, following lobbying by the Israeli government and Elbit Systems, the leading supplier of the machinery of genocide. 'If we cannot speak freely about the genocide of Palestinians, if we cannot condemn those who enable it and praise those who resist it, then the right to freedom of expression has no meaning, and democracy in this country is dead.' In a post shared on X, Defend Our Juries said the protesters had been arrested 'for holding cardboard signs' and that further arrests had been made at the Manchester demonstration. Scotland Yard said its stance remains that officers will act where criminal offences, including support of proscribed groups or organisations, are committed. Crowds gathered in a silent protest and held signs reading: 'i oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action' Last Saturday Reverend Sue Parfitt, 83, was arrested for joining the protest in support of Palestine Action in Westminsterafter the Met said: 'The law doesn't have an age limit' Around two dozen people, including a professor and an emergency care worker were arrested The force added that this includes 'chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos'. The terror group designation means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The move to ban the organisation came after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an incident claimed by Palestine Action, which police said caused about 7 million worth of damage. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action, saying that the vandalism of the planes was 'disgraceful' and the group had a 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage'. A Connecticut pastor tackled an armed carjacker and let him go after discovering he was just a kid - only to watch, stunned, as the teen jumped in and drove off with the car anyway. Rev. Kenneth Moales Jr., 53, pastor of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bridgeport, had just pulled up to a restaurant in Upper Fells Point, Baltimore, Maryland, when the incident occurred, CBS News reports. Before he could open the door, a gun-wielding young man appeared at his window with one clear intent: to steal his Audi. In a split-second act of bravery, Moales leapt from the car and tackled the thief, pinning him to the ground for nearly 20 seconds. Dramatic footage shows him managing to wrestle the gun from his hands. But after realizing his suspected attacker was just 16, the pastor chose compassion over punishment, offering the teen a chance to walk away without pressing charges - an offer the boy refused as he lunged into the car and drove off. 'I'm like, "Hey, relax. I'm a pastor, I'm not going to hurt you. We need to stop. This is crazy. I'm not going to press charges,"' Moales told Fox News, recalling what he said to the teen. 'Before I knew it, he's pushing me down, and believe it or not, that's what hurts me more,' he added. 'Not that he robbed, took the car... this is such a Godless generation.' A Connecticut pastor tackled an armed carjacker and let him go after discovering he was just a kid - but the 16-year-old suspect stole the car anyway after escaping from his grasp (pictured) Rev. Kenneth Moales Jr. (pictured), 53, pastor of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bridgeport, had just pulled up to a restaurant in Upper Fells Point, Baltimore, Maryland , last month after officiating a funeral, planning to meet some friends for dinner On June 30, just as Moales parked outside Angies Seafood Bar & Restaurant (pictured), the unidentified teenage suspect approached his silver Audi with two other unnamed males, pretending to need help with a phone before pulling out a gun 'How could he not at least back off knowing I'm a pastor? He didn't care.' Moales parked outside Angies Seafood Bar & Restaurant along the 1700 block of East Pratt Street on June 30, preparing to meet friends for dinner after traveling to the city for a funeral. It was then that the teenage suspect - whose identity has not been released due to his age - approached the idling silver vehicle with two other unnamed males, pretending to need help with a phone, according to ABC 7 News. 'I knew something wasn't right when I went to grab him with my car, he's pulling up his ski mask over his face,' Moales told CBS. Just as the pastor rolled down his window, the attacker suddenly brandished a handgun, pointing it directly at his face and fiercely demanding he get out. 'Im thinking about one thing - life,' Moales told Fox News, describing the flood of thoughts that rushed through his mind the moment he saw the barrel of the gun. 'I'm thinking that I need to find a way to make sure I don't die in the streets of Baltimore, Maryland,' he added. 'I'm thinking about my wife and my children. I'm trying to make sure I get back home.' Despite his initial hesitation, Moales said he instantly switched into fight mode the moment he opened the door - knowing that if he was going to fight for his life, it had to be right then and there. Moales can be seen lunging out of the car - driven by adrenaline - and tackling the teen to the rain-soaked ground, pinning him beneath his weight for nearly 20 seconds (pictured) After wrestling the gun free from the young attackers grasp, the pastor (pictured) realized he wasnt facing a hardened criminal - but a teenage boy - and he offered him a chance to walk away without pressing charges The offer wasnt enough for the undeterred teen, who broke free, grabbed a sneaker hed lost during the struggle, retrieved his gun and walked toward the Audi - all while the weapon was still pointed at Moales (pictured) 'I'm an urban kid, and to see what he had, I saw his size and I knew I could take him, but in no way - I want to make it clear - I was not trying to be a hero,' he told ABC 7. At that moment, the teenage carjacker aimed the gun against Moales chest before pistol whipping him in the head, sparking a sudden and intense struggle captured on video. In footage obtained by News 12 Conneticut, Moales can be seen lunging out of the car and tackling the teen to the rain-soaked ground, pinning him beneath his weight for nearly 20 seconds. 'He got something he wasn't expecting,' Moales told WBAL TV. 'He got quite a few punches to the face. I actually wrestled to get the gun out of his hand.' 'Even after all of that - after I had let him go and given him the chance to not face charges - he still drove off in my car,' the pastor told News 12. 'I'm more hurt, as an African American pastor, that once I let him know that I was a pastor, that he didn't care,' he added to ABC 7. 'He had no reverence for me, to honor the office of a pastor.' Moales escaped with cuts and bruises and was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to a statement on Facebook from Crisis Communications Manager Tiffani Palmer. Once at the hospital, the pastor called his wife Ena Moales, who, after confirming he was okay, came to understand why he had fought back, ABC 7 reported. Instead of being hurt over his stolen car, Moales said: 'I'm more hurt, as an African American pastor, that once I let him know that I was a pastor, that he didn't care' (pictured: Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bridgeport, CT) The 16-year-old boy drove off as the pastor, bewildered, rose from the ground - seemingly defeated by the turn of events (pictured) 'When someone has a gun, you just obey and get out the way, and preserve your life,' she told the outlet. 'But after he explained it to me, I understood why. There was a chance that the gunman could have shot him anyway.' Just hours after the carjacking, officers found Moales Audi in the 600 block of South Broadway, where the drivers attempted to bail when authorities tried to stop the vehicle, according to CBS. The 16-year-old suspect - whom Moales has said he has already forgiven - was arrested, along with a 15-year-old and 19-year-old Mehkai Tindal, WBAL TV reported. 'He's placed materialism over my life, and unfortunate for him, he picked the wrong car,' the pastor told CBS. According to the outlet, charging documents revealed that authorities found car keys for multiple vehicles inside Tindals backpack. The juveniles were booked on auto theft charges, though their current status remains unclear. Moales escaped with cuts and bruises and was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries (pictured: Moales with wife and children) The 16-year-old suspect - whom Moales has said he has already forgiven - was arrested, along with a 15-year-old and 19-year-old Mehkai Tindal The juveniles were booked on auto theft charges, though their current status remains unclear. As for Tindal, he was already awaiting trial on separate assault charges at the time of the incident. He is now being held without bail (pictured: Moales) Tindal is already awaiting trial on separate assault charges at the time of the incident. He is now being held without bail. 'I have forgiven the young man but this violent crime just shows me that I need to work even harder to help young people right here in Bridgeport, because a lot of these kids are hopeless and this problem is not unique to Baltimore,' Moales told News 12. Donald Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs on the US' biggest trading partners sparking fears of huge price hikes for consumers. The president announced he will be placing a 30 percent tariff rate on imports from Mexico and the European Union in an escalation of his trade war. The EU and Mexico are the US' biggest trade partners and import billions into the country every year. In letters to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump revealed the levies will come into effect on August 1. He said that the tariffs were brought in following the failure of negotiations with the EU and in response to Mexico's failure to get a grip on the fentanyl crisis. It comes after Trump issued new tariff announcements for a number of countries, including Japan, South Korea, Canada and Brazil, as well as a 50 percent tariff on copper. The new tariffs could increase prices for US consumers on everything from medical equipment to cars, as both Mexico and the EU export large amounts to America. In a Friday letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen , Trump announced the US would be placing a 30 percent tariff rate on the European Union starting August 1 The price of coffee has already risen by 11 percent due to tariffs on Brazil and is expected to rise further. The EU had hoped to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the US for the 27-country bloc. Trump claimed the EU has the 'largest trade deficits' with the US. In 2023, the EU exported $587billion worth of goods to the US, while importing $402billion from America. The US is the largest trade partner for EU exports, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the total extra-EU goods, followed by China at 14 percent. The biggest import the EU received from the US is crude petroleum oils. 'Nevertheless, we have decided to move forward, but only with more balanced and fair TRADE,' he wrote. 'Please understand that the 30 percent number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with the EU. 'This Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!' The Republican offered the EU the opportunity to build manufacturing facilities in the US to evade the 30 percent tariff, which only applies to imports. He said those facilities could be approved as quickly as a 'matter of weeks'. Von der Leyen reacted to Trump's letter, threatening in a statement that the EU will consider 'countermeasures' if need be. 'Imposing 30 percent tariffs on EU exports would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic,' she said. The Republican offered the EU to build manufacturing facilities in the US, which would eliminate the 30 percent tariff, which only applies to products coming into the country. He said those facilities could be approved as quickly as a 'matter of weeks' 'Few economies in the world match the European Union's level of openness and adherence to fair trading practices. The EU has consistently prioritized a negotiated solution with the US, reflecting our commitment to dialogue, stability, and a constructive transatlantic partnership. 'We remain ready to continue working towards an agreement by August 1. At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required.' The EU was prewarned on Friday that the US president planned on imposing high tariffs, EU Executive Firm spokesperson Paula Pinho said. In 2024, Mexico was the largest exporter to the US and the Southern neighbor was the second-largest destination for US exports, the US Trade Representative Office said. More than 80 percent of Mexico's exports go to the US, while 40 percent of their imports come from The States. The US exported $334billion worth of goods to Mexico, while importing $506billion from the cartel-ridden country. This means billions worth of products coming into the US will now be under a 30 percent tariff starting August 1, which will raise prices for American as the increase is often passed off onto the consumer. In a letter to Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, he imposed a 30 percent tariff due to the country's, 'failure to stop the Cartels, who are made up of the most despicable people who ever walked the Earth.' The EU had hoped to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the US for the 27-country bloc. Trump claimed the EU had the 'largest trade deficits' with the US. Von der Leyen (pictured) reacted to Trump's letter, threatening that the EU will consider 'countermeasures' 'Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done is not enough,' Trump wrote. 'Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels, who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground. Obviously, I cannot let that happen!' He also reiterated to Sheinbaum that the trade deficit was a threat to the American economy and national security. He offered the same roundabout to Mexico as the EU by allowing them to build manufacturers in the US. Trump also threatened to raise the tariff if Mexico raises theirs against the US. He also said if the country is, 'successful in challenging the Cartels and stopping the flow of Fentanyl,' the tariffs can be renegotiated. Trump threw a grenade on the tariff negotiations between the United States and Canada with a blistering letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday. The two nations have been trying to settle the tariff war that broke out when Trump returned to office and announced plans to reorganize world trade. Canadian officials had hoped a deal was close, but Trump's latest letter - which he shared to Truth Social on Thursday night - has set negotiations back to square one. In a letter to Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, he imposed a 30 percent tariff due to the country's 'failure to stop the Cartels, who are made up of the most despicable people who ever walked the Earth' The letter revealed he would raise tariffs on Canadian products to 35 percent from August 1 - a 10 percent increase on the current levy. Trump said the tariff hike was in part due to the fentanyl crisis and Canada's 'failure to stop the drugs from pouring into our country.' 'I must mention that the flow of fentanyl is hardly the only challenge we have with Canada, which has many tariff, and non-tariff, policies and trade barriers,' Trump wrote in the letter. Trump said 'the fact the United States has agreed to continue working with Canada, despite Canada having financially retaliated against the United States', demonstrates the 'deep commitment to our trading relationship.' The letter did include a warning shot to Carney, vowing to continue upping the US tariffs if Canada was to impose retaliatory taxes. He said he would consider 'an adjustment to this letter' if 'Canada works with me to stop the flow of Fentanyl.' 'These tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your country,' he added. The latest round of tariffs are in addition to previously imposed sectoral tariffs on steel, copper and aluminum, which came into effect for most countries on June 4 at a whopping 50 percent. Trump threw a grenade on the tariff negotiations between the United States and Canada with a blistering letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday. The letter revealed he would raise tariffs on Canadian products to 35 percent from August 1 Trump's punishing hike sparked fears American households would see an increase in costs for everyday items, given foreign-made steel and aluminum is used in household products like soup cans and paper clips, as well as big-ticket items like a stainless-steel refrigerators and cars. The two metals had previously faced 25 percent tariffs worldwide since mid-March, when Trumps order to remove steel exemptions and raise aluminums levy went into effect. The August 1 deadline is expected to be the last delay on tariffs. Four insiders told Politico that the president does not plan on allowing more grace to countries to figure out how to balance the trade deficit. 'On August 1, its all kicking in,' Trump's former White House Chief Strategist, Steve Bannon, said. The insiders said foreign countries are taking the new deadline seriously. Fresh forensic evidence from the tragic Air India crash, which claimed the lives of 241 passengers, suggests crew's actions were 'absolutely' the cause of the tragedy, an aviation expert has claimed. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed 40 seconds after it had taken off from Ahmedabad airport on June 12, plummeting into a residential area, called Meghani Nagar, while claiming 19 more lives of those on the ground. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have since released the first forensic details into the tragedy which could reveal the cause of what is said to be one of the worst tragedy's in india's aviation history. Among the new information, is the final conversation between the doomed aircraft's pilots, captured using the cockpit voice recording, suggesting the fuel had been 'cut off' in their final moments. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is thought to have lost power when the fuel cutoff switches almost simultaneously flipped, starving the engines of fuel, according to the recent preliminary report. Several questions have emerged as the fuel lever is designed to be 'highly reliable' and are constructed to stop unintentional activation, with one of India's leading aviation experts, Captain Mohan Ranganthan, suggesting it may have been deliberate. Each lever has to be pulled upwards to be unlocked, before it can be flipped and they also have further protective guard brackets to safeguard against any bumps and nudges. 'It has to be done manually, it cannot be done automatically or due to a power failure,' Captain Ranganathan told NDTV of the fuel levers. 'The fuel selectors they aren't the sliding type they are always in a slot. A video posted to social media appeared to show the plane descending in a controlled manner with a high nose angle and landing gear deployed The plane momentarily disappeared from view behind trees and buildings before a massive fireball erupted on the horizon in this horrifying clip A graphic displaying how the lever on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner works Air India has said that the flight's captain, Sumeet Sabharwal had over 10,000 hours experience of flying wide-body or larger aircrafts The Thrust Lever (left) was also found with significant thermal damage, and were found to remain forward until impact. Both fuel control switches were found in the 'RUN' position (right) 'It has to be done manually, it cannot be done automatically or due to a power failure,' Captain Mohan Ranganathan (pictured) told NDTV of the fuel levers Top image shows the five buildings impacted by the Air India crash as well as the subsequent fire. The five buildings (bottom right) shown from an aerial view suffered significant structural and fire damage The Boeing 787 first crashed into a series of trees before hitting, BJ Medical College hostel after colliding with a series of trees (Pictured above: Damaged buildings listed A-F) After losing altitude, it came into contact with Building A at 293ft at the angle illustrated above The tail of the plan and the RH Main Landing Gear (MLG) were found in the northeast wall of Building A (pictured) The aircraft slid across the roof of Building A where the right ending collided with a water tank structure and desperate from the airplane 'They are to pull them out or move them up or down, so the question of them moving inadvertently out of off position doesn't happen. It's a case of deliberate manual selection.' He later said 'nothing else' would explain why both switches were moved into the off position just after take off, alleging: 'It had to be deliberately done.' When questioned if he was suggesting one of the pilots 'deliberately' switched off the fuel lever, while fully aware of the possibility of a crash, he answered: 'Absolutely', before asserting they were looking at a potential 'pilot-induced crash.' It comes shortly after the final words of the pilots before the devastating crash were published by the Indian authorities, detailing how one was heard asking the other why 'did you cut off' the fuel supply, while the other responded he 'didn't'. It did not identify which remarks were made by the flight's captain Sumeet Sabharwal and which by the co-pilot, Clive Kunder, nor which pilot immediately transmitted the distress call: 'Thrust not achieved... falling... Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!' The grieving families of the Air India victims have been left confused, with some left angered by the preliminary report's findings, as they call for transparency into how the tragedy happened. Bhaval Shah, a family friend of Kinal Mistry, 23, who died in the crash, told The Times: 'If these switches can't be turned off easily and if no software glitch could have been responsible, then it is deliberate, isn't it? Then it's sabotage or suicide.' Deepti Sawhney, whose three relatives were killed in the disaster, told NTDV that she wanted all the findings to be made public. 'We must have a free, fair and transparent investigation,' she said. 'There are a lot of heavyweights involved Air India, Boeing who will want to save their skin. The families must get the truth.' In a statement, relatives of Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa, who died in the crash, described the report as 'the first stepping stone' and said the family are still 'working our way through the weight of our loss.' Your browser does not support iframes. The inboard parts of the right wing were found between Buildings A and B as well as the nearby building , with the outboard parts (pictured above) found around 280 feet and 520 feet from the crash point with Building A The left main landing gear (LH MNLG and left wing were collided with the middle of Building C (left), 345 feet south from the point of contact. Some of the left engine broke away hitting a corner on Building D (middle). The aircraft's nose was found 307 feet southwest from Building A The flap handle lever on the plane was significantly burnt (left)ad was found in a 5-degree position, consistent with a normal take off. However the landing gear (pictured middle and right) was in a 'DOWN' position CCTV footage (pictured) from the airport shows the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) being deployed as the aircraft lifts off A family member cries upon hearing the news of her brother who died when the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane crashed in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025 People look at the debris of an Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad of India's Gujarat state Rescue team members work as smoke rises at the site in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025 The number of fatalities is not yet known but rescuers said at least 30 bodies have so far been recovered from a building Firefighters work at the site of the crash near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport A view of the site where a plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in India's western state of Gujarat on June 12, 2025 They added: 'Moving forwards, we require honesty, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to uncovering the full truth. 'We seek justice and answers, both of which are essential for us to find any sense of closure. 'We accept God's fate, but knowing what happened will help ease our hearts and allow us to begin the long journey of healing. 'Above all, we hope that by pursuing the truth, no other family will ever have to endure the shock, uncertainty, and profound sorrow that we have lived through this past month.' The cousin of sisters Dhir and Heer Baxi, who were flying home to London after surprising their grandmother for her birthday and died in the crash, said he was 'not satisfied' by the report. Ishan Baxi, who lives in Ahmedabad, said: 'We're still hoping for a more transparent and honest investigation that doesn't shy away from addressing possible mechanical flaws or lapses in protocol to avoid future potential accidents.' He added: 'I just hope the final report brings full clarity on what exactly failed and who's accountable. It shouldn't hide behind vague terms. 'More than anything, it should push for real changes so this never happens again.' The plane only ever reached as high as 625ft, immediately beginning to lose thrust and sink down moments after setting off to London, later exploding into a fireball after smashing into a hostel on the ground in Gujarat, killing all but one on board. Investigators' early assessments indicate no apparent fault with the Boeing or its engines, suggesting that Boeing and engine maker GE had no apparent responsibility for the accident. The report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, published late on Friday, said the jet was carrying 54,200kg of fuel, which was within the 'allowable limits'. Fuel samples retrieved from the aircraft's refuelling tanks were also deemed 'satisfactory'. 'The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 Knots IAS at about 08:08:42 UTC and immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec,' the report said. Your browser does not support iframes. Wreckage of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner lies at the site where the Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025 Rescuers work at the site of an airplane that crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, Thursday, June12, 2025 There has been a reported tension between the Indian and US investigators Remnants of the fuselage and the landing gear were seen dangling through a gaping hole in the side of what appeared to be a canteen, with half-finished plates of food clearly visible on benches inside Parts of the jet appeared to have smashed into the BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital 'The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off. 'In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so.' But the report does not say how the switch - which is used to start or shut down the engines and are left on during flight - could have flipped to the cutoff position. Investigators are currently focusing on a previous Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) by the US Federal Aviation Administration in 2018, which said some Boeing 737 fuel control switches were put into the aircrafts with the locking feature disengaged. Although the problem was never deemed unsafe, an Airworthiness Directive (AD), which is legally enforceable, was issued to correct the problem with some of the levers. Boeing 787-8 aircrafts, as well as the Air India plane, use the same design switch. And due to the SAIB only being recommended, Air India did not carry out advised inspections. All pilots and crew had passed breathalyser and were deemed fit to fly, according to the report, which detailed how both Sabharwal and Kunder had enough rest before taking to the skies. At the crash site, both fuel switches were found in the run position with the report detailing there had been indications of both engines relighting before the low-altitude crash. An ex-investigator with India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) speculated whether the switch may have tripped due to possible issues with the plane electronic control unit. Capt Kishore Chinta told the BBC: 'Can the fuel cut-off switches be triggered electronically by the plane's electronic control unit without movement by the pilot? If the fuel cut-off switches tripped electronically, then it's a cause for concern.' Viswash lying in hospital with a bloodied face and injuries after the tragic crash, which claimed the life of his younger brother Ajaykumar Ramesh (left) who died in the plane crash and his brother Viswash Kumar Ramesh (right), who miraculously survived Referring to data recovered from the plane's two Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFR), it continues: 'As per the EAFR, the Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch transitioned from CUTOFF to RUN at about 08:08:52 UTC. The APU Inlet Door began opening at about 08:08:54 UTC, consistent with the APU Auto Start logic. 'Thereafter at 08:08:56 UTC the Engine 2 fuel cutoff switch also transitions from CUTOFF to RUN. 'When fuel control switches are moved from CUTOFF to RUN while the aircraft is inflight, each engine's full authority dual engine control (FADEC) automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction.' Flipping to cutoff almost immediately cuts the engines, and is most often used to turn engines off once a plane has arrived at its airport gate and in certain emergency situations, such as an engine fire. The preliminary report does not indicate there was any emergency requiring an engine cutoff. The new findings appear to tally with theories reportedly put forward on the US side of the investigation, which also noted that the switches controlling fuel flow to the aircraft's twin engines were turned off shortly after takeoff. It remains unclear why they were turned off, and investigators have been left wondering whether it was deliberate, accidental or corrected too late. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, one potential sign that the switches were off was the deployment of the plane's emergency power system, a Ram air Turbine or RAT. Astonishing footage showed Vishwar walking away from the scene with some visible injuries to his face The siblings had been a few seats apart onboard the plane, with survivor Viswash sat at 11A and his younger brother positioned at 11J on the other side of the aisle The RAT usually comes into action when both engines lose power or if pressure in all three hydraulic systems are critically low - both essential components of keeping a flight going. The landing gear was also found in a downward position. Shawn Pruchnicki, a former airline accident investigator and aviation expert at Ohio State University said: 'The deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) strongly supports the conclusion that both engines had failed' He believes the pilot at the helm of the aircraft had no time to think. According to investigators, crew tried to act but the crash transpired to quickly. If the preliminary findings hold, that would exonerate the Dreamliner's manufacturer Boeing and engine developer GE Aerospace. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said: 'At this stage of investigation, there are no recommended actions to Boeing 787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers.' The agency, an office under India's civil aviation ministry, is leading the probe into the world's deadliest aviation accident in a decade. Last month, the tragic crash claimed the lives of 169 Indian passengers on board, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian, as well as 12 crew members and left only one survivor - British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40. At least 19 people were also killed on the ground as the doomed Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner came down in a residential area moments after takeoff. Raxa Modha (left) was on the doomed flight so tragically died in the crash on Thursday Akeel Nanawaba (left), 36, his wife Hannaa (right), 30, and their four-year-old daughter Sarah were flying home from a five-day family celebration when the Air India Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off. They also died in the tragedy Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, 45, (right) and husband Fiongal, 39, lived in London, ran a wellness and healthy lifestyle company called the Wellness Foundry, and had been in India on holiday. They also died in the ill-fated flight Harrods brand ambassador Mariam Ali Syed, 35, her husband Javed - a manager at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel - and their children, Zayn, five, and Amani, four, were passengers on stricken Air India Flight 171 Javed Ali Syed, a hotel manager at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel and his wife Mariam were passengers on the fallen Air India Flight 171 this morning Air India, the nation's oldest airline, has been trying to revitalise its operations after several years under government control. The airline company says Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was flying the plane, had more than 10,000 hours of experience on wide-body jets, while co-pilot Clive Kunder had logged over 3,400 hours. The crash marked the first fatal incident involving a Dreamliner and was a major setback for Boeing, which is facing ongoing scrutiny over its aircraft safety standards. The US National Transportation Safety Board is assisting with the Indian-led investigation, while the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing and GE Aerospace are providing technical support. It declined to comment on the release of the report. Reports indicate there have been tensions building between American and Indian officials. One of the biggest points of contention is the delay in accessing and analysing the plane's black boxes. The Americans are not pleased with the slow pace at which data is being extracted from the cockpit voice and data recorders. Pictures have been published on local media of crew members who were on board the Air India flight Air hostess Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam was named by local media as being on board the ill-fated Flight 171 Their shocked business partner Shoyeb Khan Nagori told MailOnline: 'I had dinner with them last night. They were a lovely family and Akeel and his wife were extremely successful people' (Pictured: Akeel Nanawaba) Pictured: Hannaa Vorajee, Akeel Nanawaba's wife. The successful couple ran a global recruitment agency with offices in Ahmedabad and Gloucester The US team at one point even considered pulling out of the probe before eventually deciding to carry on. The US investigators have since returned home. The Dreamliner, which was first delivered to Air India in 2012, has been used for many international routes. Although officials have initially focused on the fuel control switches, they have cautioned nothing has yet been ruled out yet. Sole survivor Vishwash Kumar Ramesh had been in the country on a business trip with his brother Ajaykumar, 35, before they boarded the doomed flight travelling from Ahmedabad to Gatwick on Thursday. In what has been described as a miracle, Viswash - seated in 11A by the exit - survived, but his sibling who was sat on the other side of the aisle in seat 11J perished in the fireball explosion. Before the discovery of the British survivor, authorities said that they believed no one had escaped the flight alive. Eleven of those on board were children, including two newborns. The Boeing jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat at around 1.40pm (0810 GMT), officials said. Ahmedabad, the main city of India's Gujarat state, is home to around eight million people, and the busy airport is surrounded by densely packed residential areas. Adam Taju, 72, and his wife Hasina, 70, (pictured) were flying back to the UK with their son-in-law Altafhusen Patel, 51, when they lost their lives in the tragedy Adam was described as 'a wonderful man, a community man', who was 'always out and about supporting communities'. Pictured: Altafhusen Patel, 51, who perished in the tragedy alongside his father-in-law and -mother-in-law Preliminary flight tracking data from flightradar24 reveals the plane reached an altitude of just 625ft after takeoff - a height far below standard for a commercial aircraft even 30 seconds after takeoff. According to data logs, recorded at 30-second intervals, the plane remained on the ground or was taxiing slowly for over four minutes after it first registered on public trackers. The plane took off and reached 625ft, but no further gains in altitude were recorded before the crash. An Air India spokesman said: 'Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time.' The spokesman added: 'Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. 'We continue to fully co-operate with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and other authorities as their investigation progresses. 'Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such enquiries to the AAIB.' Bill Gates' net worth plummeted by a staggering $51 billion in just days, after he revealed his plans to give away his fortune at a much faster rate than previously planned. The Microsoft co-founder's net worth, which stood at a staggering $175 billion as of July 3, dropped to just $124 billion on Thursday, following an adjustment by the Bloomberg Billionaire Index. The readjustment came after Gates announced that he plans to donate nearly all of his remaining fortune over the next two decades, much faster than previously planned. In a May 8 blog post, the well-off tech mogul revealed the money will go to the Gates Foundation, the charitable organization he co-founded with ex-wife Melinda French Gates, 60. The foundation is reportedly set to wind down operations by the end of 2045. Once hailed as the richest man in the world for nearly 18 years, Gates saw his fortune decline sharply following his post, as the Bloomberg Index adjusted its methodology to better account for the 69-year-old's substantial charitable giving. Bloomberg noted that appreciation rates had been lowered to 'better reflect Gates' outside charitable giving and the wealth estimate', Fortune reports. The organization currently puts his net worth at $123 billion and notes that his generosity means he has been overtaken on the rich list by his former right-hand man at Microsoft, Steve Ballmer. Bill Gates', 69,net worth has taken a dramatic hit - dropping by a staggering $51 billion in just days Gates will donate nearly all of his remaining fortune over the next two decades to the Gates Foundation, the charitable organization he co-founded with ex-wife Melinda French Gates. Pictured: Melinda French Gates, Bill Gates and their three children, Phoebe, Jennifer and Rory Gates' philanthropic focus is consistent with a long-standing, personal mission to give away his wealth. 'People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that "he died rich" will not be one of them,' Gates wrote. 'There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people.' He has publicly stated for years that his children will inherit 'less than 1%' of his fortune, and now, that mission is being reflected in the numbers. Gates, who co-founded Microsoft in 1975, topped global wealth rankings for 13 consecutive years from 1995 to 2007. He reclaimed the top spot in 2014, holding it until 2018 when Amazon founder Jeff Bezos surpassed him, according to the Forbes Billionaires List. Following the latest adjustment, Gates dropped from 5th to 12th place on Bloomberg's list, just below fellow tech titan Michael Dell. His longtime friend and former Microsoft CEO Ballmer, also 69, now claims the 5th spot. Steve Ballmer is a longtime Microsoft executive and close associate of cofounder Bill Gates. He joined the company in 1980 as its 30th employee, leaving Stanfords MBA program to do so. Gates' longtime friend and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (pictured), also 69, now claims the 5th spot As of July 12, the richest man in the world is Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Behind him sits Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, Bezos and Ballmer Initially hired as a business manager, Ballmer was offered a $50,000 salary and 10 percent of any profit growth he generated - an arrangement that quickly became too costly for the rapidly growing company. Later, in a renegotiated deal, Ballmer swapped his profit-sharing for an 8 percent equity stake, and although Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen objected, Gates personally gave up part of his own stake to finalize the agreement. That decision ultimately laid the foundation for Ballmers immense wealth, making him one of the richest people in the world. Following in Gates philanthropic footsteps, Ballmer has shown a strong commitment to giving back, donating over $4 billion of his wealth to date and founding the Ballmer Group - a philanthropic organization dedicated to improving economic mobility for families across the United States, Fortune reported. As of July 12, the richest man in the world is Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Behind him sits Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, Bezos and Ballmer. Gate's jaw-dropping wealth decline comes as iconic actress Michelle Pfeiffer launched a shocking attack on the billionaire suggesting he's going to contaminate America's food supply. Michelle Pfeiffer warned her fans about the FDA 's approval of Apeel, a Gates-backed coating meant to extend the shelf life of produce The company received early developmental support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2012 and again in 2015. However, the Gates have currently no involvement in Apeel Despite Pfeiffer's comments, Apeel claims on its website that their coatings can be washed by rinsing the produce with water and scrubbing it In an extraordinarily rare move for the low-key actress, Pfeiffer took to Instagram on Thursday to express concern over the FDA's approval of Apeel, a Gates-backed food coating meant to extend the shelf life of produce. 'Apeel (an edible, plant-based coating designed to extend the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables) was just approved and now "organic" produce is coated in something we cannot see or wash off,' Pfeiffer wrote. 'Very concerning.' The Scarface star, 67, wrote the message as she shared a video that claimed 'organic produce is no longer safe' after 'Bill Gates' Apeel just approved for USDA-certified organic.' Apeel has long been mired in controversy over its ingredients and association with Gates. The company was founded in 2012 by entrepreneur James Rogers with the help of a $100,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Gates' are not currently involved in Apeel, which has received substantial backing from venture capitalist Andreessen Horowitz. The suspected Minnesota assassin revealed the gruesome murders had nothing to do with President Donald Trump as he complained about the conditions he is experiencing in jail. Vance Boelter, 57, is accused of gunning down Democratic State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark on June 14 and attempting to kill Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette at their home that same day. Now, nearly a month after the horrid slayings, Boelter - who was appointed by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to the state's Workforce Development Council in 2019 - has shared his thoughts on the case against him as he whined about being held in a cell, 'not fit to live in.' He made it clear that the murders were not driven by Trump, but did not exactly specify the motive behind them. 'You are fishing and I cant talk about my caseIll say it didnt involve either the Trump stuff or pro-life,' he told the New York Post in written messages and video chats. 'I am pro-life personaly [sic] but it wasnt those,' Boelter said from his cell inside Sherburne County Jail in Elk River - about 30 miles outside of Minneapolis - on Friday. 'I will just say there is a lot of information that will come out in future that people will look at and judge for themselves that goes back 24 months before the 14th. If the gov ever lets [sic] it get out.' His statements are his first public words, outside of court hearings, following his arrest after he surrendered to officers on June 15 - bringing an end to a massive, nearly two-day search that put the entire state on edge. Vance Boelter, 57, said the gruesome murders had nothing to do with President Donald Trump and that alleged misinformation has taken over the case He is accused of allegedly gunning down Democratic State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark (pictured) on June 14 He further told the outlet that critical details in the one-and-a-half page letter he allegedly wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel were shared with the public. Boelter, who was seen porting a yellow prison jumpsuit, asked: 'Can I ask what you heard as an outside person about the note that the alleged person Ill say alleged person left in that car, did you hear anything about that?' A letter purportedly written by Boleter,which has not been released to the public, was found in a Buick he left near his home and allegedly contains a confession to the Hortman murders and the attempted killing of the Hoffman's. In it, the author wildly claimed that Walz ordered him to kill Senator Amy Klobuchar so that Democratic vice presidental candidate could steal her job. 'Certain details of that letter were leaked out that probably painted one kind of a picture, but a lot more important details that were in that letter were not leaked out,' he told the outlet. He refused to specify more about the letter, but said the details pertained to 'things that were going on in Minnesota'. 'I also made sure when I was arrested that they secured that letter I made the request that they secure that letter before it gets destroyed because I was concerned somebody would destroy it,' Boelter continued. In addition to the letter, authorities discovered flyers for the 'No Kings' anti-Trump rallies scheduled the same days as the murders, and a hit list of 70 other politicians, including Walz and abortion providers in the state. He is accused of posing as a police officer during the shootings. Boelter is also said to have worn a terrifying Halloween-style face mask (pictured) during the attacks He went on to say that he is a Trump supporter, but refused to clarify his feelings toward Walz. When asked about how he feels toward the victims and their families, Boelter, an ordained minister, turned to his Christian faith. 'I forgot which verse it was.. but I've always followed that,' he said. 'You can maybe askif somebody believes that, and they love God and that they love their neighborallegedly, how could they be involved in a situation where some people are no longer here that were here before? He added: 'I'll let you chew on that one.' The father-of-four also mentioned how his family has been affected since the shocking incident. 'I talked to my wife for two minutes shortly after my arrest and then the call was cut off. Nothing since then,' he detailed. Boelter also allegedly attempted to kill Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette (pictured) at their home that same day In addition to the letter, authorities discovered flyers for the 'No Kings' anti-Trump rallies (pictured) scheduled the same days as the murders, and a hit list of 70 other politicians, including Walz and abortion providers in the state 'My wife and family had nothing to do with any of this. They were all shocked like others.' His wife, Jenny Boelter, released a statement through her lawyers, calling her husband's alleged actions 'a betrayal'. She also said she did not try to flee after he committed the alleged crimes. 'On behalf of my children and myself, I want to express our deepest sympathies to the Hortman and Hoffman families. Our condolences are with all who are grieving during this unimaginably difficult time, and we are praying daily for them,' she wrote. 'We are absolutely shocked, heartbroken and completely blindsided. This violence does not at all align with our beliefs as a family. It is a betrayal of everything we hold true as tenets of our Christian faith. 'We are appalled and horrified by what occurred and our hearts are incredibly heavy for the victims of this unfathomable tragedy.' Boelter also shared the alleged horrid conditions he has been enduring in jail. 'My immune system is failing because I am being held in a booking cell thats not made to live in,' Boelter said. '[I] wasnt issued cloths [sic] for almost 3 weeks. Lights never shut off. Sleep on plastic pad on concrete floor. The father-of-four (pictured with his wife Jenny) also mentioned how his family has been affected since the shocking incident 'Im not allowed to be around or talk to anyone except the guards.' Daily Mail contacted Sherburne County Jail officials and the FBI for comment, but did not hear back in time for this report. Boelter is accused of posing as a police officer during the shootings. He is also said to have worn a terrifying Halloween-style face mask during the attacks. Acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson announced six new federal charges against Boelter for murder, stalking, and shooting offenses - while revealing that he went to two other lawmakers' homes with the intent to kill them that day. Both Yvette and the senator were left injured. She was released in late June while her husband remains in the hospital in serious but stable condition. John was shot nine times while his bride was shot eight times. A bullet narrowly missed his heart, KARE 11 reported. A grandfather has died after a silver Toyota Yaris smashed into his family while they were walking along the footpath in Melbourne's east. The car, which was driven by a 91-year-old woman, mounted the kerb near a playground on Coleman Road in Wantirna South about 12.20pm on Thursday. Three members of the same family - a 59-year-old grandmother, her 60-year-old partner, and their two-year-old grandson - were walking in the same direction as the car when they were struck from behind. The grandmother, who was a local resident, died at the scene. The grandfather had been transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries but Victoria Police confirmed on Friday evening that he had died. Their young grandson was rushed to The Royal Childrens Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The reserve and damaged park bench where the car ended up were cordoned off on Friday, while several bouquets of flowers were laid on the nearby footpath. The 'terribly shaken' elderly driver escaped with minor scratches and was taken to hospital for assessment and blood testing. A grandfather, 60, has died two days after his family were hit by an out-of-control car His partner, who was 59-year-old, died at the scene after the tragic crash Police said the 91-year-old is yet to be interviewed. The investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding the collision remains ongoing. It is understood the driver collided with a street sign and struck the pedestrians before her car ploughed through a fence and came to a stop near the playground. 'It came from behind,' Superintendent Justin Goldsmith said. 'It looks like it has lost control about 40m or 50m before the collision with the people who were walking on the other side of that road. 'No one was hit at the park thankfully.' A local resident told Sunrise on Friday that lollies and pieces of orange were scattered across her front yard following the collision, along with debris from the crash. Supt Goldsmith said it was too early to say whether the driver had suffered a medical episode when she lost control. The car finally came to a stop metres away from a children's playground Crash investigators will examine whether speed was a contributing factor. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam footage or information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 'That will be subject to the investigation, but it is a downhill section of road, so if there has been a lack of control to some degree there is a possibility the car would have picked up speed as it's driven further down Coleman Road,' Supt Goldsmith said. It comes after CCTV emerged of the out-of-control car travelling along Coleman Road moments before the collision. The footage also showed a couple pushing a pram along a footpath. It is unclear if the group was the same trio who were hit. The crash happened during the first week of the Victorian school holidays and brought the state's road toll to 14 lives lost in the last seven days. 'We're facing a horrific month for road trauma,' Supt Goldsmith said. 'Weve lost so many lives and had so many life-threatening injuries over the course of last week (and it) is completely horrific and unacceptable.' This is the shocking moment a group of four girls stole almost 2,000 worth of perfumes from a small community pharmacy in east London. The group were caught on CCTV slipping several bottles of the expensive perfumes into their bags, and running off on Thursday afternoon. Dipak Raja, 36, who owns Forward Pharmacy in Mile End, told MailOnline the theft was 'sickening'. He added that he and his staff had been left distressed' by the incident and constantly on edge. In the clip, the girl gang can be seen appearing to browse the perfume shelves, pointing at various different products and discussing something among themselves. One of the girls then brazenly open up the cabinet and begins pulling out bottles of the expensive perfumes and piling them in to her bag. As the girls finish filling up their bags, a pharmacist comes over and confronts the girls, attempting to block the exit before being shoved aside. While two members of the shoplifting gang escape from the community pharmacy, two of the others turned around and exchanged words with members of staff before walking out. A group of four girls stole almost 2,000 worth of perfumes from a small community pharmacy in east London The group were caught on CCTV slipping several bottles of the expensive perfumes into their bags, and running off after being confronted by a pharmacist The group were then followed out of the shop by three staff members including Mr Raja. The pharmacy revealed the thieves made off with perfumes worth 1,800 and they had only just re-stocked, spending a small fortune. Mr Raja described how the group of girls came in to the pharmacy and fiddled with the lock on a secure glass cabinet he had only recently had fitted, containing expensive designer perfumes. They stole multiple gift packs worth around 100 each from brands including Paco Rabane and Dior and Mr Raja said the Dior Sauvage gift set cost at least 120. He added that one of his colleagues, Saarah, who had only started the week before, had tried to confront the girls about the theft but was shoved against the door frame. It was at this point that he and another colleague came forward to see the commotion and rang the police as they followed three of the girls to the tube station. The pharmacy owner described the operation as 'slick', explaining that while he and the other pharmacy workers had followed three of the gang to the tube station, the one with the bag of perfumes had run off in a different direction. Mr Raja said he believed they had done this before because they knew exactly what they were looking for. Three members of staff then followed the gang out of the shop following their 'sickening' theft 'They knew what they were doing, they caused a commotion so we couldn't tell who had the perfumes and they went for all the expensive ones,' he said. The 36-year-old added that he had found the whole experience 'traumatising and really distressing' and said the pharmacy no longer felt safe. He told MailOnline: 'The community feel has gone and we're all on edge now. If there are two people in the pharmacy we just try and serve them as quickly as possible to get them out so we can watch what's going on.' He revealed he has also hired a security guard for the front of the shop to deter further thefts. He also confessed that his pharmacy is plagued by shoplifters but said he had never experienced anything on this level before. He told MailOnline: 'We get theft all the time but usually only 50 or 100 - never anything on this scale.' Mr Raja added that while he had reported the incident to the police he wasn't confident anything would be done and said: The police in East london, they just do anything about it, we get it all the time and it's really bad.' Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced she will hand out hundreds of thousands of dollars to migrants affected by the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Bass, 71, said the money will be distributed via cash cards that are loaded with a 'couple hundred' dollars on it. The program is expected to start its rollout in a week, the Democrat leader said. 'You have people who dont want to leave their homes, who are not going to work,' she said of migrants who fear ICE. 'They are in need of cash.' Almost 2,800 people have been arrested by ICE in LA as of earlier this week. If each were given $200, the program comes out at an estimated cost of $560,000. Bass has not stipulated exactly how it will be funded beyond indicating that it will be partly supported by philanthropic donations. Daily Mail has contacted her office for comment. Bass' announcement comes after ICE raided Glass House Farms in Camarillo on Thursday, which left one migrant worker, Jaime Alanis, critically injured after he fell off a 30-foot building while running from agents. He later died. Bass said she had spoken to immigrant families in her city who are only making ends meet with two incomes. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced she will hand out hundreds of dollars to migrants affected by the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids Bass, 71, will hand out the money on cash cards that are loaded with a 'couple hundred' dollars on it. The program is expected to start its rollout in a week 'Well, one income was lost in a raid when someone was detained,' she said on Friday. 'And this woman with her children now is concerned that she might face being evicted and being homeless. 'So, it's that type of emergency assistance.' It is unclear what qualifications a person needs to enroll in the program. Part of the program is being funded by philanthropic partners. Bass is also helping to organize food deliveries for these families, she said on Friday. The program is similar to the 2020 one that then-Mayor Eric Garcetti ran during COVID-19 to help those struggling financially. Garcetti offered up to $1,500 on the Angeleno Cards to thousands of residents. Bass also sued the Trump Administration earlier this week over the ICE raids. Los Angeles County joined eight other cities on Tuesday to sue the Republican-led government for unconstitutionally raiding their cities to racially profile citizens and arrest them without probably cause - breaking the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. The lawsuit includes Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi, as the nine cities accuse them of deploying agents into the cities to instill fear rather than protect the country. 'These unconstitutional roundups and raids cannot be allowed to continue,' LA City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto said. Jaime Alanis was working at Glass House Farms in Ventura County when ICE raided it and several migrants took off running. While trying to escape the raid after agents showed up armed, he fell 30 feet off a building and broke his neck and skull Alanis was taken to the hospital and was on life support before he succumbed to his injuries on Friday 'They cannot become the new normal. This cannot become routine, to send militarized troops into our streets without reasonable suspicion, without probable cause to round people up and take them away.' Just the day before, a group of federal agents, who were armed, swarmed MacArthur Park and shut down a children's summer camp. In several raids across LA, many have been detained without reason. 'How do we know the difference between this and a kidnapping,' Bass criticized. Last month, the city hit headlines for its anti-ICE protests, which the Trump Administration deeply criticized, with border czar Tom Homan even threatening to arrest Governor Gavin Newsom. California lawmakers and the Trump Administration clashed over the deployment of the National Guard, as the president issued the command, but legally only Newsom can request their assistance. Trump sent in 2,000 National Guard troops and placed 500 Marines on standby, while the LAPD has authorized the 'use of less lethal munitions' to regain control of the city. Newsom slammed Trump, claiming 'we didn't have a problem until Trump got involved'. Last month, the city hit headlines for its anti-ICE protests, which the Trump Administration deeply criticized and even threatened to arrest Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump sent in 2,000 National Guard troops and placed 500 Marines on standby (pictured: anti-ICE protests) Newsom slammed Trump, claiming 'we didn't have a problem until Trump got involved' Homan has repeatedly threatened Democrat officials who test him with arrest and said the same would be on the table for Newsom and Bass, confirming he would 'say that about anybody' who broke the law. Newsom responded, sending an impassioned message directly to the border czar after Homan called him 'an embarrassment to the state.' 'Come and arrest me. Let's just get it over with, tough guy. I don't give a damn,' the Democrat leader said. 'He's a tough guy. Why doesn't he do that? He knows where to find me,' Newsom added. He then accused Homan of arresting children, rather than the 'worst of the worst' Trump has promised to deport. 'Lay your hands off four-year-old girls that are trying to get educated,' Newsom quipped. 'Lay off people who are just trying to live their lives, pay their taxes, have been here 10 years.' 'The fear, the horror... What the hell is this guy? Come after me, arrest me, let's just get it over with,' he said, calling the border czar's 'bloviating' tiresome. Britain's North sea fishermen are set to be 'decolonised' as Grimsby fishing museum plans to probe its material for links with slavery, colonialism and racism. The Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre is reviewing its collection of artefacts relating to the now depleted fishing fleets, The Telegraph reports. The museum dedicated to 'Grimsby's fishing heritage' will aim to address the potential connections between this heritage and 'colonialism and racism'. Objects relating to the work of trawlermen will be assessed, along with other material, to decide whether they might be 'problematic'. Any links to slavery will be underlined, and the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre will seek to include more information relating to those from diverse backgrounds. The museum, which is overseen by the Tory-run North East Lincolnshire council, displays numerous artefacts linked to North Sea fishing fleets. There are displays featuring a mock-up dry-dock and high street, with figures of women mending nets, and a fisherman hauling a catch aboard his boat. The centre intends to 'share how museum objects can represent stories of slavery, colonialism, and racism, and are committed to addressing the legacy of these subjects through open and honest conversations with those we represent'. Britain's North sea fisherman are set to be decolonised as a fishing museum plans to probe the industry's links with slavery, colonialism and racism. Pictured: Fishermen on a trawler haul in their catch in the North Atlantic, Skipper Alf Kisick from Grimsby The Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre is reviewing its collection of material relating to now depleted fishing fleets, The Telegraph reports. Pictured: Women at work at a factory at Grimsby making trawling nets used by fishermen in the North Sea in 1931 It has pledged to decolonise a term that ordinarily refers to moving away from from a white, Western-centric world view. This work is understood to have only just begun, and will be centred around a review of the collection to check for any 'problematic objects, interpretation, or terminology' with respect to 'decolonisation and people from protected characteristic groups'. It is currently unclear what hypothetical links to slavery or colonialism may be. A North East Lincolnshire council spokesman said: 'Work is ongoing and the team are currently undertaking a collections review in respect to items related to decolonisation and people from protected characteristic groups.' Grimsby was once the busiest fishing port in the world, boasting a fleet of 700 trawlers. But it has suffered a dramatic decline following the Icelandic cod wars of the early Seventies and the EU's Common Fisheries Policy. Grimsby was once the busiest fishing port in the world, boasting a fleet of 700 trawlers. Pictured: North Sea fishermen trying on gas masks during World War One Sir Keir Starmer's deals with the EU for fishing rights have been branded the 'death of the industry' by local trawlermen. As of December 2022 there were only four trawlers operating out of Grimsby - less than a third of the number of boats servicing off-shore wind farms in the Humber Estuary. Tens of thousands of men lost their jobs when their boats were decommissioned. Taxpayers will have to fork out an eye-watering 500 million a year just to service the spiralling debts run up by John Swinney's SNP government. Plans to borrow a record amount of money to pay for infrastructure and building projects have led to claims that the SNP is mismanaging the nations finances. Finance Secretary Shona Robison has promised efficient public spending and also threatened tax rises including a possible wealth tax. But her Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) also revealed plans to borrow millions of pounds, leaving the bill for repayments and interest soaring to an astonishing 499 million a year by 2030/31. The jump in borrowing has sparked accusations that the Finance Secretary is using debt to fund a pre-election spending spree before next years Holyrood poll. Figures buried in the appendices of the MTFS reveal the ever-rising cost to the public purse of servicing Scotlands growing mountain of debt. This year, the public will have to stump up a record 302 million for repayments and interest on the debt run up by the SNP since 2017, when the Scottish Government was first given borrowing powers. But costs to the taxpayer are set to soar even higher. Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison threatened tax rises while signing off on record borrowing Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy has said plans to borrow record amounts 'fits in' with the SNP's 'abysmally irresponsible record of failing to live within their means' According to the governments own forecasts, by 2030/31 the bill for repayments and interest will have rocketed to 499 million a year. Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy said: The plans for record borrowing tucked away in the small print suggest that the SNP hopes to hand out some sweeties before next years election. It fits in with their abysmally irresponsible record of failing to live within their means. Were already paying hundreds of millions just servicing the debts the Nats have run up. Instead of trying to find last minute bribes to keep themselves in office, they should be tackling bloated and wasteful spending, and cutting the tax bill for hard-pressed Scots. The UK Government last week published an analysis showing that the recent spending review by Chancellor Rachel Reeves would mean an additional 9billion for Scotland, including almost 6 billion extra for Holyrood thanks to higher UK spending on health, as well as 2 billion for education. And Labours finance spokesman Michael Marra said: The SNP is borrowing more and receiving record sums from the Labour government but its hard to see what were getting in return. Scottish Labour's Michael Marra said the SNP could not be trusted with public money Public infrastructure is crumbling and flagship projects are in chaos as a result of the SNPs mismanagement and waste. The truth is the SNP cannot be trusted with public money. Ms Robison unveiled the MTFS at the end of last month, telling Holyrood: Growing the economy is a top priority. She also pledged reforms to increase value for the public purse, with efficiencies and improved productivity in the NHS and across the public sector. Ms Robison also warned of future tax rises, saying: We will also take forward work on considering future reform to the tax system, including developing our thinking on longer term issues such as wealth taxation. Wealth taxes which are also being discussed at a UK level are intended to reduce economic inequality by targeting the wealthiest in society. The idea is to tax all, or most of, an individual or households total net wealth, including assets such as savings, investments and property, rather than just income. Although no specific proposals have been drawn up, such a tax could involve an annual charge levied on the richest based on the value of assets owned. However, Ms Robisons speech to MSPs failed to mention her plans for plunging Scotland further into debt. The scale and cost of the SNPs borrowing is only revealed in the appendices of documents published alongside the ministers statement. Figures show that this financial year Ms Robison is borrowing a record 472 million extra to fund capital projects taking Scotlands accumulated debt to a total of 2.8 billion. Forecasts show that the countrys overall debt will soar to 3.6 billion within five years. A Scottish Government spokesman said: By following a fiscally sustainable approach to borrowing, the Scottish Government has been able to maximise capital funding this year, helping deliver new infrastructure and supporting economic growth. An Arizona man is facing hundreds of dollars in fines from his homeowners association after offering free water bottles to neighbors during the scorching desert heat. David Martin, of Goodyear, first set up a free water bottle station outside his home in the Canyon Trails community at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic - a thoughtful gesture he and his wife hoped would inspire unity and offer relief during the blistering summer months, KPHO News first reported. 'It's really for the drivers, for the families, it's for the kids,' he told 12 News. 'It's to do something positive in a world that needs it.' But in the five years since Martin began the gesture that endeared him to neighbors, he's also racked up several $100 fines from his homeowners association (HOA) - all for 'advertising' the free refreshments in his own driveway. After petitions, board meetings and community votes, Martin is now preparing for a legal battle - one that he has all intentions to win. 'I stand firm on the fact that I'm not paying the fines. The cooler is not going anywhere, and I'll fight it,' Martin told 12 News. 'It's not just about water, it's about the community as a whole.' In 2020, neighbors strolling past often paused at Martin's driveway, drawn to a cooler brimming with ice-cold water bottles - a welcome oasis against the relentless heat which regularly tops over 100 degrees in summer. David Martin (pictured), of Goodyear, Arizona, is facing hundreds of dollars in fines from his HOA after offering free water bottles to neighbors during the scorching desert heat Martin set up a free water bottle station outside his home in the Canyon Trails community at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic - a gesture he and his wife hoped would inspire unity and offer relief during the blistering summer months (pictured) Over the next several years, Martin stocked up on 30 to 40 flats of water annually, covering most of the cost out of his own pocket. Soon, members of the community began pitching in wherever they could (pictured) 'I figured, what better way to be an asset to community than cold water,' Martin told KPHO News in 2024. When the guidelines lifted and people could safely gather again, Martin chose to keep the free community water station running, as it had become a beloved fixture in the neighborhood. 'I think it's fantastic,' neighbor Larry Marks told KPHO. Over the next several years, Martin stocked up on 30 to 40 flats of water annually, covering most of the cost out of his own pocket. Soon, members of the community began pitching in wherever they could. 'Water sometimes appears at the front door, and there are two flats. I don't know who dropped them off,' Martin said. 'It's just a surprise, it's fun.' But Martin's kind gesture took a controversial turn in May 2024, when FS Residential - the management company for the Canyon Trails Homeowners Association - sent him a formal notice. In the document, the association cited Martin for storing items in plain sight and slapped him with a $50 fine for the bizarre 'disturbance.' 'It's absolutely asinine - I don't understand,' Martin told KPHO months after receiving the violation notice. In the five years since Martin (pictured) began the gesture that endeared him to neighbors, he's also racked up several $100 fines from his homeowners association (HOA) - all for 'advertising' the free refreshments in his own driveway While the association says it has no problem with Martin handing out water, it takes issue with how he's 'advertising' it - specifically, that the small cooler is visible from neighboring properties (pictured: citation) Despite the rule, Martin persists - handing out water bottles in front of his home, accompanied by a handwritten sign that boldly reads: 'Please grab a free water! Even you, HOA' 'I'm sorry. I don't care that it's blue and gray, and my house is tan and brown - it's a water cooler with cold water for the community,' he added. 'I don't feel like I am doing anything wrong. I think I am doing what we're supposed to do, which is taking care of the people around us.' The citations paused briefly, but a few months ago the violation letters resumed, this time with fines doubled to $100 a month for continued non-compliance, the outlet reported. While the association says it has no problem with Martin handing out water, it takes issue with how he's 'advertising' it - specifically, that the small cooler is visible from neighboring properties. The citation to Martin read: 'The Association does not object to a resident providing free water bottles to the community; however, the community's rules do not allow a resident to advertise water bottle distribution from a portable ice chest, located next to their garage that is visible from neighboring property.' Despite the rule, Martin persists - handing out water bottles in front of his home, accompanied by a handwritten sign that boldly reads: 'Please grab a free water! Even you, HOA.' 'Here we are in July - the hottest day of the year - and we are still talking about a water cooler with free cold water,' Martin said Thursday, KPHO reported. 'It's ridiculous that they are adding violations to a total that's not going to get paid, because I'm giving out free water,' he added. Neighbors and social media users alike are baffled, flooding the internet with comments criticizing the HOA's seemingly petty actions. 'I have no idea why they are coming down on him,' neighbor Rich Koustas told KPHO. 'I don't know. It doesn't make any sense.' Now, Martin is fighting back against the HOA - starting with a petition to remove three board members, which quickly gathered over 100 signatures. 'I am hoping with three new board members that get elected, they'll see that wasting time and money on a water cooler that's helping the community is just that, a waste,' Martin said. On Thursday night, a special HOA meeting was held, bringing residents together to vote on whether to remove the board members named in the petition. Two board members not listed in the petition were present, along with Martin and roughly 24 attendees. Out of 210 ballots cast, an overwhelming 190 favored the board members' removal - a supermajority the HOA board ultimately acknowledged, as reported by 12 News. Although the three board members were set to be removed the very next day, they pushed back - questioning the legality of the meeting and claiming Martin hadn't secured enough valid signatures to justify their ousting. Martin is fighting back against the HOA - starting with a petition to remove three board members, which quickly gathered over 100 signatures (pictured: board meeting with HOA members) After petitions, board meetings and community votes, Martin is now preparing for a legal battle - one that he has all intentions to win, claiming the cooler that unifies the community is not going anywhere (pictured: Martin's home encouraging neighbors to sign) Neighbors and social media users alike are baffled at the citations, flooding the internet with comments criticizing the HOA's seemingly petty actions An 'emergency meeting' was quickly called, during which the board nullified the vote- arguing it was invalid because 210 signatures fell short in a community of over 1,000 homes. Martin provided a notice from FirstService Residential and its attorneys, affirming that the voting process complied with Arizona state law, according to the outlet. Now, all that remains is Martins unwavering determination as he braces for the legal battle he believes is just around the corner. Daily Mail has contacted FirstService Residential for comment. A mother and daughter have been arrested following a brutal fight in the streets of New York City over a 'saved' parking spot. Andreea Dumitru, 45, and her daughter Sabrina Starman, 21, were arrested for assault following an aggressive brawl in Ridgewood, Queens on Monday. Starman was allegedly seen launching an attack onto 21-year-old Jada McPherson, a Pace University student who had parked in the spot, by gripping her by her hair and unloading punches onto her. 'They were trying to literally rip my hair out of my scalp,' McPherson told the New York Post. McPherson had attempted to park in a spot that the mother-daughter duo, as well as a third unidentified man, were guarding, police said. 'The guy, he ended up coming up behind me while I was trying to park and put a trash can to prevent me from parking,' McPherson said. She circled the block but, after she was unable to find another spot, McPherson came back to confront the trio for trying to reserve the parking spot. That's when the three allegedly began hurling racial slurs at the university student. Andreea Dumitru, 45, and her daughter Sabrina Starman, 21, were arrested for assault following an aggressive brawl in Ridgewood, Queens on Monday over a 'saved' parking spot The 21-year-old Starman launched her attack onto McPherson, pulling at her hair while the other two joined in on the beating Neighbors said the trio are a family who have caused issues trying to 'reserve' parking spots for years 'I'm not going to lie. I called her an immigrant, but she called me a slave and she called me a monkey,' McPherson said. Video footage of the altercation caught the beatdown and vulgar slurs. Dumitru appeared to be heard shouting to McPherson, 'You're a monkey, b***.' While her daughter, Starman, was heard yelling, 'You're a f***ing slave b***. You're a slave for what i's worth.' The 21-year-old then allegedly launched her attack onto McPherson, pulling at her hair while the other two joined in on the beating. 'I couldn't tell that I was getting hit in the head and everything, I was just trying to defend myself at the time,' McPherson told ABC 7. Punches were thrown while McPherson was pulled around by her hair before Starman allegedly pulled a piece out of her head. The third man was held back at one point by an onlooker. McPherson suffered 'substantial pain' and was treated by emergency services at the scene, according to the New York Police Department. 'I couldn't tell that I was getting hit in the head and everything, I was just trying to defend myself at the time,' Victim Jada McPherson said Neighbors said the trio are a family who have caused issues trying to 'reserve' parking spots for years, the outlet reported. 'It's not worth fighting, but across the street with the garbage cans, they're trying to hold the spot, and he sits there monitoring it and that's what happened,' one local told ABC 7. 'I heard voices and looked out the window and saw arms flying,' another recalled. 'If you're coming home at rush hour, it can take up to an hour to find parking.' 'You know, I could move the garbage cans and park, but then they could slash my car or something,' said 33-year-old Yesenia Delgado who has lived in the area for 14 years, the NYP reported. 'Someone is always there, holding the spot,' George Carrasquillo, 53, told the outlet. Carrasquillo ends up parking two blocks from his home after often being unable to find a spot. 'I have to take my kick scooter with me to drop the car off, I find parking, then come home to my apartment, and have to see all this, their beautiful spot saved. Isnt this public parking?' he said. Starman and Dumitru were later arrested and charged with first-degree assault and second-degree harassment, police said. Starman and Dumitru were later arrested and charged with first-degree assault and second-degree harassment While McPherson was able to park in the spot she had fought for following their arrests, she said she had been anxious ever since the beatdown. She told the outlet she had only left her home with a friend or family member, and plans to move out of the neighborhood this weekend. 'Jumping one person for a parking space is really not right,' McPherson added. A Nationalist MSP has broken party ranks to urge NHS Fife bosses to quit over their handling of a transgender legal battle. Michelle Thomson last night hit out at the health board as it was revealed the dispute with nurse Sandie Peggie had so far cost taxpayers 220,500. The Falkirk East MSP is the first serving SNP politician to condemn NHS Fifes handling of the landmark tribunal relating to single-sex spaces. She accused the board headed by chief executive Carol Potter, who earns at least 147,700 a year of a seemingly breathtaking disregard for their duties of good governance and candour. And the MSP raised concerns about the direct, and indirect cost to the public purse... at a time when the wider NHS is struggling. Heaping pressure on Health Secretary Neil Gray to step in, Ms Thomson said she would be disappointed if he continued to insist he had confidence in the board. Her intervention follows revelations last week that the health board had spent hundreds of thousands of pounds defending itself and trans medic Dr Beth Upton against a claim brought by Mrs Peggie. The 50-year-old A&E nurse has taken her case to an employment tribunal after being suspended from her job. The SNP's Michelle Thomson has broken ranks to call for NHS Fife bosses to consider their position The move will heap enormous pressure on Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray who insists he still has confidence in the health board NHS Fife chiefs took action against her after she challenged the presence of Dr Upton, born a biological male, in the female changing rooms at Kirkcaldys Victoria Hospital. The huge costs associated with the ongoing tribunal were revealed on Wednesday following a months-long transparency battle between MailOnline and the health board. However, those close to the case said the true legal bill could climb to around 1 million once the tribunal, which continues this week, concludes. That would likely include extra internal legal costs and fees for outside counsel for NHS Fife, which is using an expensive English-based KC to defend their position, as well as the claimant Sandie Peggies legal fees, which can later be requested from the health board. The case started before Aprils Supreme Court ruling clarified that the definition of a woman under the Equality Act 2010 is based on biological sex, meaning trans women have no automatic right to access female-only spaces. Last night Ms Thomson said: It cannot just be me who has considered what on earth is going on in the board of NHS Fife. Nurse Sandie Peggie was was suspended by NHS Fife after she challenged the presence of Dr Beth Upton, a transgender medic, in the women's facilities The legal bill for Dr Upton's defence - as well as the health board's - is being funded by the taxpayer The Supreme Court judgement was extremely clear, and so to then proceed with the remainder of the Peggie hearing when it can only result in abject failure for them seems to have breathtaking disregard for their duties of good governance and candour. She added: The cost to the public purse will be significant at a time when the wider NHS is struggling. Its clear to me that all of the board must consider their position. She added she would be extremely surprised and disappointed if My Gray continued to claim he had confidence in NHS Fife and its leadership. Last week NHS Fife conceded that as of May 31, 2025, a total of 220,465.93 had been spent on legal costs relating to the tribunal. It was noted that the sum could pay for nine nursing assistant starting salaries of 23,362 or around 40 hip replacements. The Scottish Government last night said the Health Secretary continues to have confidence in NHS Fife and its leadership. She's known for her no-nonsense approach when holding public figures to account. However, former news anchor and journalist Kirsty Wark has shown that shes game for a laugh, too, after sending herself up in a new Scots comedy show. Ms Wark appears in Good For Her, on BBC Scotland, in a running sketch that follows a woman who cant stop speaking as if shes delivering the news. As the gag continues in snippets throughout the show, the condition is seen to affect every facet of the womans life. In one scene, she and a man she has been dating go out for dinner in Glasgow, with the afflicted woman continuing her dry delivery when the dialogue is mere chit-chat. The date is briefly interrupted by Ms Wark, who, it is made clear, is an old acquaintance of the central character played by comedian and show writer Zara Gladman. However, Ms Wark reveals that she too cannot converse without the same deadpan delivery. Ms Wark, 70, is known for her austere presence and keen questioning on the BBCs flagship current affairs programme Newsnight. Ms Wark appears in a BBC Scotland sketch that follows a woman who cant stop speaking as if shes delivering the news Ms Wark has a cameo in the programme Good For Her The former Newsnight presenter's scene in the BBC Scotland comedy She has covered several general elections and a host of major international news events, as well as presenting BBC2 arts programme The Late Show and fronting Words with Wark and The Kirsty Wark Show. Ms Wark was named Journalist of the Year by Bafta Scotland in 1993 and Best Television Presenter in 1997. She was also honoured with a Bafta Fellowship earlier this year. Never one to shy from controversy, she responded to a plea from Tory MP Andrew Rosindell for a return to broadcasting the national anthem by saying at the end of a Newsnight broadcast that they were incredibly happy to oblige before playing a clip of the Sex Pistols God Save the Queen, which was banned by the BBC when it was released during the late Queens Silver Jubilee in 1977. But Ms Wark has also previously taken a lighter approach to broadcasting, winning the Star Baker accolade in The Great British Bake Off, appearing in Celebrity MasterChef, and playing a cameo role as herself in Doctor Who and Absolutely Fabulous. Ms Wark stepped down from Newsnight in 2024 and now presents Front Row on BBC Radio 4. She is also working on documentaries and her third novel. An SNP quango has handed out 18.4 million to defence firms in the past five years, despite ministers claiming the Scottish Government does not fund companies involved in munitions. In a move which will deepen a cross-border row over the SNP approach to defence spending, Scottish Enterprise has injected vast amounts of cash into companies which produce military equipment since 2020. The figures have sparked accusations that First Minister John Swinney and his Cabinet are playing student politics and flip-flopping to the detriment of the industry in Scotland. The SNP government is embroiled in a major row over its refusal to support a Rolls-Royce welding centre on the Clyde as it was linked to a Royal Navy attack submarine. It has repeatedly said public money should not be spent on military equipment and firms involved in munitions. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer branded the decision not to fund the centre staggering and Defence Secretary John Healey said he could hardly believe a Nationalist government would stand in the way of skills development in Scotland. The conflict deepened last week when ministers were accused of hypocrisy for welcoming a new contract to help build a Royal Navy warship awarded to its embattled state-owned shipyard. Now, in response to a parliamentary question from Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie, Scottish Enterprise has admitted that it spent 18.4 million on a number of defence projects. Scottish Labour leader Jackie Baillie said the SNP needed to 'ditch the student politics' The SNP has repeatedly said public money should not be spent on military equipment and firms involved in munitions These include grants handed to firms such as BAE Systems, which makes artillery and tank munitions. Specific projects funded were for upskilling of workers to build naval ships on the Clyde. Meanwhile, another grant was handed to Thales UK which makes complex weapons systems including a high velocity missile used by the British Army and the Royal Marines for a civilian surveillance and security project. Another company given funding to design, test and optimise advanced manufacturing processes was Chemring Energetics UK Ltd, which sells explosives and detonating cords. Ms Baillie said: These figures expose the SNPs utter hypocrisy. It is right that we support Scotlands defence industry and the high-skilled jobs it provides, but the SNPs inconsistent flip-flopping does the industry no favours. The SNP needs to ditch the student politics and admit its ban on munitions funding is incoherent and anti-jobs. Scottish Enterprise said it aims to develop good working relationships with many sectors and industries, adding: That includes those operating in the defence sector, which employs tens of thousands of people. Including a grant to BAE Systems in June worth 9 million, Scottish Enterprise gave 18,463,585 to defence companies in the past five years. A Scottish Government spokesman said: We recognise the importance of the aerospace, defence and shipbuilding sectors, which is why we have provided over 90 million in funding to companies operating in these sectors since 2006/07. Most recently, the Deputy First Minister [Kate Forbes] welcomed a 9 million Scottish Enterprise grant to BAE Systems to support a training and skills academy. Scottish Enterprise engagement and funding is only provided to support specific projects at Scottish sites and does not include assistance for projects related to the manufacture of munitions. A two-year-old Arizona toddler accidentally shot himself with a gun left on a couch while his father was distracted watching online videos, Phoenix police said. The child's father, 27-year-old Oscar Guerra, has been arrested and booked on one felony count of child abuse. Police say Guerra admitted to placing the firearm on the armrest of a couch with the intention of cleaning it, but became distracted by videos on his computer. Around 10:40 p.m. on July 9, at a home near 84th Avenue and Campbell Avenue in west Phoenix, officers arrived to find Guerra holding his injured son, who had a gunshot wound to the upper left arm and a broken bone, according to court documents. The injured toddler was later taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Guerra told investigators he saw his young son walk into the living room but believed the boy had returned to his bedroom. Roughly 30 seconds later, while still focused on his computer, Guerra said he heard a gunshot and turned to find his son bleeding. The child's mother told police she was in the kitchen at the time of the shooting and heard the gunfire. Oscar Guerra (pictured), 27, admitted to placing the firearm on the armrest of a couch with the intention of cleaning it, but became distracted by videos on his computer Around 10:40 p.m. on July 9, at a home near 84th Avenue and Campbell Avenue in west Phoenix, officers arrived to find Guerra holding his injured son, who had a gunshot wound to the upper left arm and a broken bone. Pictured: A large police presence at the scene She also reported a previous incident in which Guerra left a gun unsecured in the home and said they had discussed the importance of keeping firearms properly stored. Officers later found the weapon under the couch. Guerra acknowledged to police that he was responsible for ensuring the gun was out of the child's reach and admitted to making a serious error. He was released from jail without bail to visit his son in the hospital. If convicted, he faces up to nearly nine years in prison. The Arizona Department of Child Safety has been notified and is conducting a separate investigation, AZCentral reported. Gun safety experts say the case stresses the critical importance of secure firearm storage, particularly in homes with children. The child's mother told police she was in the kitchen at the time of the shooting and heard the gunfire. She also reported a previous incident in which Guerra left a gun unsecured in the home. Pictured: Oscar Guerra with his wife, Lorena Garcia Rocha 'They're not going to sit there and weigh the risk or benefit of handling a firearm,' Barret Kendrick, a gun safety consultant told AZFamily. 'Generally speaking, as a responsible gun owner, we need to make sure that we're preventing access to anyone who has not been trained or could not be trusted with that firearm.' The investigation is ongoing. On Friday, July 11, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi stated that during a conversation with his counterpart, John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana, they discussed opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the field of unmanned technologies. "Ghana is also interested in our technologies, the production of various types of drones, and the experience Ukraine has gained during this war. Ghana is ready to finance our production, and we are ready to help our partners secure their borders. I invited President Mahama to visit Ukraine," Zelenskyi noted. The terms of such cooperation are still unknown, but for Ghana, the development of the drone industry could significantly strengthen its military, while Ukraine would receive additional funding and strengthen its position in Africa. The Ghana Armed Forces do not have a significant amount of weaponry at their disposal. For instance, armored vehicles are mainly represented in infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers (there are no tanks in service), towed artillery consists of six D-30 howitzers, and air defense consists of Soviet Strela-2, ZPU-2, and ZPU-4 systems. The navy and air force are equally modest. In addition, Ghana has a rather limited defense budget. According to data from open sources, in 2022 it amounted to $226 million, in 2023 it grew to $335 million, and in 2024 it fell to $317 million. In 2025-2029, it is planned to grow to over $509 million. It is also worth noting that Ghana shares a border with Burkina Faso, which is friendly to russia. In 2022, Ghana expressed concern that the government of Burkina Faso had begun cooperating with the russian Wagner Group, which has since been rebranded as the so-called African Corps. She once said love is lovelier the second time round when she found romance again following divorce. Now, Scots TV presenter and author Carol Kirkwood has said the joy she has found after marrying her second husband is what allows her to write freely about love. The 63-year-old, from Morar in Lochaber, tied the knot in December 2023 with policeman Steve Randall, 49. While coy about her personal life, she says the bliss she has experienced since meeting Mr Randall plays a significant part in her literary freedom. Ms Kirkwood spoke to MailOnline ahead of the release of her new book, Meet Me At Sunset, which tells the story of a glamorous woman who jets off to Majorca as she runs from a shattered love affair. Asked if she uses any personal details in her books, she said: No element of our romance is in any of my books but Steve makes me happy and that makes it easier to write about romance. He makes me smile when I come in from work. It puts you in a good position mentally. It isnt the first time that Ms Kirkwood has turned her hand to writing she is also the author of Under A Greek Moon, The Hotel on the Riviera, Secrets of the Villa Amore and Once Upon a Time in Venice. Scottish TV presenter Carol Kirkwood spoke to MailOnline ahead of the release of her new book, Meet Me At Sunset Love is lovelier the second time round, says Ms Kirkwood, 63, pictured with her husband policeman Steve Randall, 49 Discussing what inspires her, she revealed the main protagonist of her latest novel is based on a mysterious stranger she saw on holiday. She said: I was in Majorca with my husband and we went to this restaurant a couple of times. 'There was a lady who sat very upright and was impeccably dressed. She always had a salad and a glass of wine. She was always looking out to sea. It got me wondering what is her story? I thought Shes going to be a character in my book. She added: Im a nosy parker I love people watching. Ms Kirkwood was married to property developer Jimmy Kirkwood but the pair split in 2008 after 18 years of marriage, with the divorce finalised in 2012. She recently made a cheeky comment when asked about her second marriage, telling one newspaper: Love is lovelier the second time around. 'No disrespect to my first husband, but this is better. Ms Kirkwood, who was on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, appears regularly across all of BBC Weathers output on both radio and TV and is the main weather presenter on BBC Breakfast. Asked how she fits in writing with her TV commitments, she said: If you want a job done, give it to a busy person. I write everywhere and anywhere. Meet Me at Sunset by Carol Kirkwood will be published by Harper Collins on July 17. Russia's foreign minister was seen hugging Kim Jong Un today as he thanked North Korea for sending troops to the Ukraine war. Speaking in Wonsan, a glitzy new beach resort in North Korea, Sergey Lavrov also encouraged his fellow Russians to visit the rogue state on holiday. Relations between North Korea and Russia have flourished in recent years with Kim suppling troops and ammunition to Ukraine's frontlines in return for economic and military help. This has raised concerns in the West that Russia might also send sensitive technologies to North Korea that could increase the danger of its nuclear program. As well as a meeting with Kim, foreign minister Lavrov also held talks today with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui. During their meeting, Choe reiterated that North Korea 'unconditionally' supports Russia's fight against Ukraine. Lavrov, meanwhile, repeated Russia's gratitude for the contribution that North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk region. Wonsan city, the meeting venue, is where North Korea recently opened a mammoth beach resort that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people. Russia's foreign minister was seen hugging Kim Jong Un today as he thanked North Korea for sending troops to the Ukraine war. Relations between North Korea and Russia have flourished in recent years with Kim Jong Un suppling troops and ammunition to Ukraine's frontlines Kim Jong un and Lavrov shake hands at their meeting in the glitzy beach resort In his comments at the start of his meeting with Choe, Lavrov said that 'I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. 'We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel,' according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone is at the center of Kim's push to boost tourism as a way to improve his country's troubled economy. However, prospects for the tourist complex aren't clear, as North Korea appears unlikely to fully reopen its borders and embrace Western tourists anytime soon. Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Lavrov went on to accuse the US, South Korea and Japan of 'military buildups' around the strictly-controlled state. 'We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia,' he said, according to Russia's state Tass news agency. The US, South Korea and Japan have been expanding or restoring their trilateral military exercises in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear program. Kim Jong Un (left), his daughter Kim Ju Ae (2nd left) and his wife Ri Sol Ju (3rd left) are seen visiting the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area in Kangwon Province, North Korea Kim Jong U attends a meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister in Wonsan today North Korea has completed construction on the massive tourist resort, according to state media Kim Jong Un shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Wonsan On Friday, the three countries held a joint air drill involving US nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula. It came as their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to stop all illegal activities that threaten regional security. North Korea views major US-led military drills as invasion rehearsals. It has long argued that it's forced to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from U.S. military threats. Lavrov said Russia understands North Korea's decision to seek nuclear weapons. 'The technologies used by North Korea are the result of the work of its own scientists,' Lavrov said, according to Tass. 'We respect North Korea's aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing nuclear development.' A Michigan ultrarunner collapsed and died on a high mountain trail just three hours into an 102.5-mile endurance race in the Colorado Mountains. Elaine Stypula, 60, passed away on Friday amid during the Hardrock 100, according to a San Juan County Sheriff's Office press release. The family law attorney passed out near Gold Lake on the Little Giant Trail at around 9am. The Hardrock 100 Safety Sweep Team members attempted CPR on the runner. Deputies, Silverton Medical Rescue and a Flight for Life helicopter team responded to the scene and took over resuscitation efforts. The medical rescue team hiked a 1/4 mile up a 'steep, rugged, remote trail' on the trail to reach the her. Stypula was pronounced dead at 10.27am, according to the release. Her cause of death remains unclear. Her daughter, Anna, wrote on Instagram: 'I struggle to post this as I am a wreck. My beautiful, vibrant mom unexpectedly passed away this morning. I am at a loss for words.' Elaine Stypula, 60, passed away on Friday after the runner's collapse was reported at around 9am, just three hours after the race began Her daughter, Anna, wrote on Instagram: 'I struggle to post this as I am a wreck. My beautiful, vibrant mom unexpectedly passed away this morning. I am at a loss for words' The intense event kicked off at 6am on Friday, where competitors are given two days to complete the course through Lake City, Ouray, Telluride and Ophir before returning to Silverton 'She was so happy to be racing with Jeremy and I here and honestly we don't know what happened,' she wrote alongside her mom's 'favorite photo.' Her daughter described her mom as 'her best friend.' Stypula was said to have been a 'highly experience ultra-runner' who had competed in more than 100 ultra-distance events, Gear Junkie reported. 'Silverton Medical Rescue is fortunate to have a team of skilled rescue professionals. We support the community, our visitors and each other even on the most difficult calls,' said Michael Burton, Incident Commander of the SAR call for Silverton Medical Rescue. The intense event kicked off at 6am on Friday, where competitors are given two days to complete the course through Lake City, Ouray, Telluride and Ophir before returning to Silverton. According to the Hardrock 100 website, the total elevation change sits at 66,394 feet. The highest point of the course being the Handies Peak summit at 14,048 feet. 'The Hardrock 100 Endurance Race has been exceptional in organization and safety throughout the years and an excellent partner to our community,' said Tyler George Director of the Silverton Medical Rescue. Event organizers wrote in a statement: 'We are deeply saddened to share that a beloved member of our Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run family has passed away during this years event' According to the Hardrock 100 website, the total elevation change sits at 66,394 feet. The highest point of the course being the Handies Peak summit at 14,048 feet Stypula was said to have been a 'highly experience ultra-runner' who had competed in more than 100 ultra-distance events Event organizers wrote in a statement: 'We are deeply saddened to share that a beloved member of our Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run family has passed away during this years event. 'Our hearts are with their family, friends, and fellow runners as we grieve this tremendous loss. 'We are committed to caring for runners, crews, volunteers, and all members of our community through the events duration and beyond.' The Hardrock 100 organizers said more information would be available following the completion of the race on Sunday. 'I want to extend my condolences to the family, friends and community of Elaine Stypula,'said Keri Metzler of the San Juan County Coroner's Office in an updated release. Residents in an upstate New York neighborhood are on high alert after a shelter-in-place order was issued over a possible mountain lion sighting. Rochester police were alerted to a viral social media video showing a massive cat, followed by a flurry of calls from alarmed residents who feared they had seen a wild animal far from its natural habitat, according to 13 WHAM News. Some residents even claimed they came face-to-face with the feline as it calmly strolled down the street, fueling panic over the whereabouts of the elusive predator. 'After I see the people run, I just see something big, just walking just right over there - it went right over there I swear, I promise you, it went right over there,' Curtis Jones, who said he saw the beast while on a walk, told 13 WHAM. 'It said "rawr."' 'I don't play with lions, I don't play with tigers, bears, nothing in the wild, I don't play with those, I promise you,' Jones added. 'I don't even do rollercoasters. I'm good.' A shelter-in-place was quickly issued on Wednesday, but later lifted after police were unable to confirm the presence of a large cat. The Rochester Police Department first learned of the potential incident through a social media video - captured by an outdoor Ring security camera - showing a large animal slowly pacing along a row of residential homes. Several sighting reports also poured in, including one near North Clinton Avenue and Rauber Street just after midnight on Thursday - the very spot where Jones just so happened to be out for a walk. On Wednesday evening, Rochester police in upstate New York were alerted to a viral social media video showing a massive cat, followed by a flurry of calls from alarmed residents who feared they had seen a wild animal far from its natural habitat (pictured) Curtis Jones (pictured with bat for protection), who spotted the beast during a walk, witnessed people frantically fleeing from what appeared to be an unmistakable mountain lion - and said he even heard it roar While out on his walk, Jones said he saw several people frantically running from what looked unmistakably like a mountain lion. 'I just kept walking,' Jones told 13 WHAM. 'I seen it, seeing me, see it - so in my head, I'm like, "Nah, I got to go man, I'm out."' 'I heard the "rawr." I felt that "rawr,"' he added. 'I knew to keep it pushing. I knew that.' 'It was just walking, slithering - I don't know man.' Although the shelter-in-place was lifted shortly after being issued, an investigation was launched with assistance from the Monroe County Sheriffs Office, which deployed an aerial drone to scan the area, but found no trace of a mountain lion. The Seneca Park Zoo, located in Rochester, also confirmed that none of its animals were missing or had escaped their enclosures. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is also assisting with the investigation, but Rochester police have stated that none of the reported sightings have been confirmed, according to the outlet. According to the department, which reviewed the doorbell video, the animal does appear to be a potential cougar - though they caution theres no way to confirm its authenticity or rule out possible editing at this time. A shelter-in-place was quickly issued, but later lifted after police were unable to confirm the presence of a large cat - despite video footage that appeared to show one The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is also assisting with the investigation, but Rochester police have stated that none of the reported sightings have been confirmed (pictured: location of one of the sightings) However, they noted that if the animal is indeed a cougar, its unlikely to be wild - more likely an escaped captive, possibly kept illegally as a pet. In a statement to 13 WHAM, the DEC said they are 'actively investigating the reports of a big cat in a Rochester neighborhood and determining if there is evidence to validate the images.' 'DEC reminds the public to treat an encounter like any other with a large, potentially dangerous wild animal or unfamiliar dog,' the statement added. 'Keep a safe distance, and slowly back away. Only take photos from a very safe distance and immediately report it to law enforcement.' But despite extensive search efforts, residents remain on edge - worried that law enforcement couldnt locate the animal. Jones, in particular, has been patrolling the neighborhood armed with a bat, unsettled by what he saw. 'I am going to keep this bat right here, man, just in case,' Jones told 13 WHAM on Thursday. 'I am going to protect us, I aint going to let nothing happen to us, nothing. OK?' 'They aint find it last night, it's still out here, it could be out here in one of these bushes or something,' he added. 'You know, a mountain lion, it be "rawr." They be crawling and... serious.' Despite extensive search efforts, residents remain on edge - worried that law enforcement couldnt locate the animal. Jones (pictured), in particular, has been patrolling the neighborhood armed with a bat, unsettled by what he saw According to the DEC - which reviewed the doorbell video - the animal does appear to be a potential cougar, though they caution theres no way to confirm its authenticity or rule out possible editing at this time Police are urging the public to remain vigilant while authorities work to verify the videos authenticity. Residents are advised to stay indoors and call 911 immediately if they encounter a large cat. 'DEC encourages the public to submit reports if they observe this animal, especially if they obtain photo or video evidence,' the statement to 13 WHAM read. 'These reports can be directed to the regional wildlife office at 585-226-5380 or r8wildlife@dec.ny.gov, or directed to DEC Environmental Conservation Officer dispatch after-hours or on weekends at 844-332-3267.' The last confirmed cougar sighting in New York was back in 2011, when the elusive beast trekked thousands of miles - from South Dakota, through Michigans Upper Peninsula, all the way down eastern New York and into Connecticut, according to the DEC. Sizzling Scotland recorded the warmest day in three years on Saturday as revelers basked under blistering blue skies. The Met Office said the 32.2C (90F) reached in Aviemore was the warmest since Scotlands hottest day ever in July 19 2022, when 34.8C (95F) was recorded at Charterhall in the Borders. Four other areas, Achnagart and Kinlochewe in Ross and Cromarty, Dundreggan in Invernessshire and Aboyne in Aberdeenshire all recorded over 30C. And it was also expected to be Scotlands hottest NIGHT ever on Saturday night as the Met Office said temperatures were expected to be as high as 21C (68-70F). The hottest night ever recorded was 20.9C (70F) at Achnagart in Ross & Cromarty on 26 July 2019. Anything above 20C is termed a tropical night by meteorologists. Families headed for hot spots with roads to popular beaches and Loch Lomond jammed as hundreds made the dash to sunbathe and enjoy the water. Families and friends made their own dash to water and the pier at Luss on Loch Lomond proved a popular jumping-off point for a queue of brave youngsters. Little ones with their buckets and spades made the most of the little stretch of sand offered by the village. Sunseekers flocked to Luss Beach on Loch Lomond to cool off from high temperatures in the water Tens of thousands of revelers also descended on Glasgow Green to attend the TRNSMT music festival Beata and Igor Gazdzik paddleboard at Loch Morlich beach near Aviemore In the afternoon, drivers faced delays caused by a two-car accident at the Lomondgate Roundabout near Renton, which shut the busy A82. Police Scotland asked motorists to avoid the area. Further north, Aviemore in the Highlands proved to be the hottest spot in the country yesterday - hotter than Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii which was 30C (86F) amid downpours. Hundreds of day-trippers got up early to pack the beach at 10am at Loch Morlich, sitting beneath the Cairngorms and its last remaining patch of winter snow. Beata and Igor Gazdzik were having fun paddleboarding in the water. Beata said: 'Luckily we got here early as the car park was full by 9.45am. 'The weather is glorious and being out on the loch is a great way of keeping cool.' The banks of Loch Lomond were packed with locals and tourists looking to catch a few rays Alfie Macdonald, 4, and dad Frank had fun at the 40th Ayrshire Annual Road Run of vintage vehicles in Cumnock, Ayrshire Igor added: 'I am keeping my hat on all day as its so hot my head would burn.' Mitch Jachacy from Aviemore was having fun jumping off his board into the loch to try and keep cool. On the second day at the TRNSMT music festival at Glasgow Green, security guards turned hoses on the crowd to help keep revellers cool. Less welcome were the six arrests for a variety of offences, including police assault, assault, hate crime and outstanding warrants. Two boys, aged 16 and 17 were taken to hospital after becoming unwell at the festival. The Aviemore area has been identified as a potential trouble spot for wildfires, with roadside signs warning visitors not to light barbecues. A fire chief has pleaded for greater public responsibility after he revealed people are almost always behind the wildfires affecting the country. 'So what were urging people to do is absolutely go ahead and enjoy the countryside. Its a really important part in the UK of both social and exercise activities.' He called for 'responsible and careful' behaviour in the countryside, asking people to observe the Scottish outdoor access code. Mr MacKay added: 'But fundamentally, please dont use things like disposable barbecues, dont start campfires. 'And if you are bringing things with you, be that rubbish, glass bottles, cigarettes or the likes of vapes or anything with a battery in it, please bring it home with you. Dont dispose of it in the countryside.' Now that's warm! Two TRNSMT festival goers show just how sweltering it was getting around the main stage Lewis MacKay and Leia Paul from Muir of Ord take a cooling dip in Loch Ness Largs businesswoman Tiffany Irvin said it was just like the old days as the Clyde Coast resort was thronged by visitors. Tiffany, 41, runs the Beachcomber ice cream parlour and The Fish Works, voted Scotlands best chippie three years in a row. She said: 'Because its so hot, everyone is going for the ice cream so far. The promenade is packed to capacity and families have even been putting up tents and gazebos on the grass. 'Its just like the old days. We havent seen anything like this in decades.' A change is on the way on Monday as low pressure moves in from west, meaning wet and much cooler weather dominating our climate on Monday and Tuesday. But before then lies Sunday - and the final day of Scotlands remarkable heatwave. The edge may be coming off temperatures, but parts of Scotland can still expect a sunny day and the mercury nudging 29C (84F). Exactly 70 years after the last woman in Britain was hanged, the pub where she gunned down her boyfriend will mark the occasion with a live show telling her story. Ruth Ellis was put to death aged just 28 for shooting dead her violent lover, racing driver David Blakely. She was executed by hangman Albert Pierrepoint after a trial at the Old Bailey, where the jury took just 14 minutes to convict her. Pierrepoint would later describe her stoicism in the face of death, saying: 'I have seen some brave men die, but nobody braver than her.' Ellis's execution led to a worldwide uproar and played a significant role in the decision to abolish capital punishment in Britain in 1969, four years after it was suspended. The Magdala Tavern, the north London pub where Ellis shot her boyfriend, will mark the 70-year anniversary of the execution on Sunday with a live screening of a recent sold-out show about her ordeal from the Glade Theatre. The penultimate woman to be executed for murder in the UK, Styllie Christofi, had also committed the killings in the very same road, South Hill Park in upmarket Hampstead. This is also is not the first time the Magdala Tavern has hosted a performance about Ellis. Ruth Ellis (pictured), a Welsh nightclub owner, was the last woman to be hanged for murder in the United Kingdom Ellis had been condemned to death for shooting her violent racing driver boyfriend David Blakely (above) following a trial that lasted less than two days Ellis was the victim of a 'severe miscarriage of justice', her grandson has said as a new drama tells her tragic story. Above: Ellis posing in her underwear in a 1954 photoshoot In 1999 - on the anniversary then of Elliss hanging - a week-long show about the execution was performed in the upstairs of the pub. Now Elizabeth Love, who played Ellis in this latest show and is due to introduce Sunday's screening, said: 'Ruth's story shines a light on the perpetuation of trauma and abuse. 'What made this event so meaningful was how it gave the audience permission to feel the full complexity of each characters experience without needing to take sides. When we begin relating to one another as humans first, we can start to redefine justice and maybe even stop the cycle of harm.' Elizabeth Love, who plays Ellis in this latest show to mark 70years since her execution The show's producer and Glade Theatre founder Stefan Simanowitz added: 'Exactly 70 years ago, the execution of Ruth Ellis became a turning point in the movement for the abolition of the death penalty,' 'Rather being macabre, this is poignant, powerful and life-affirming piece which takes the audience on a powerful journey. ' A new ITV drama has also recently been produced exploring Ellis's tragic story, where she was portrayed by Lucy Boynton, as her family now seek a pardon for her. Her grandson, former Hollyoaks star Stephen Beard, 36, said the judge had other options besides condemning Ellis to death. He said the conclusion should have been that the case was of 'both battered woman syndrome and diminished responsibility' and has suggested that her case could be looked at again in court. Mr Beard told The Times: 'I'm not saying that Ruth should be reprieved because she did murder a man but the fact that the judge decided that the only sentence he could impose because of the admittance of premeditated murder was hanging was incorrect.' The Magdala Tavern, the north London pub where Ellis shot her boyfriend, will mark 70 years since her execution with a live screening of a recent sold-out show about her story The ITV drama A Cruel Love, starring Lucy Boynton and screened this year, suggested Ellis was as much a victim of the prevailing icy snobbery over class and sex that existed then Ellis was hanged in July 1955 after being found guilty of murder He added: 'There was such a severe miscarriage of justice, which will be explained through the series, that I wonder whether there is a KC who believes there's enough substance and weight here for Ruth's case to be taken back to the courts. 'If handled professionally and mercifully, the conclusion would have been that this was a case of both battered woman syndrome and diminished responsibility.' He also pointed out that Ellis's lifestyle counted against her. She worked as a nightclub hostess, a role in which she was expected to have sex with customers if required. And she dyed her hair peroxide blonde, meaning she looked like a 'woman of the night' when in court, Mr Beard added. His mother, Georgina, was adopted after Ellis's execution. She died aged 50 in 2001. She discovered aged eight that she had been adopted. In attempting to follow in the footsteps of her real mother, she became an alcoholic and 'flirted' with the sex trade, Mr Beard said. He also pointed to a similar case of a woman who had been condemned to death after killing her neighbour with a spade, but was reprieved at the last minute. Ellis's accomplice in Blakely's killing was RAF officer Desmond Cussen, who had competed with the murder victim for her affections. Cussen gave Ellis the murder weapon and showed her how to use it. Born the fourth of five children to mother Bertha in Rhyl, North Wales, in 1926, Ellis's first misfortune was to have to fend off the sordid sexual advances of her own father. Ellis with Desmond Cussen at the Little Club in Knightsbridge. Cussen gave her the gun she used to kill David Blakely and showed her how to use it Ellis standing next to David Blakely, who she shot dead in 1955 Ellis with her son Andre, who took his own life in 1982 - 27 years after his mother's death Ellis poses in a leopard print dress in 1954, the year before she was hanged for murder He had already abused her sister Muriel but Ellis defiantly insisted that he would not be allowed to do the same to her. By the time of the Second World War, the family had moved to London. Author Carol Ann Lee's 2012 biography of Ellis told how, in 1943, Ellis met French Canadian serviceman Clare Andrew McCallum. The Daily Mail's report of Ruth Ellis's execution The couple enjoyed a brief but passionate romance that resulted in Ellis getting pregnant in early 1944. McCallum had asked his young girlfriend to marry him, and, after he had been posted to France, she gave birth to a baby boy. Ellis then discovered that her beau - who never returned - was already married with a wife and children back in Canada. She recalled a the heartbreak a decade later, saying: 'I no longer felt any emotion about men. Outwardly I was cheerful and gay. Inwardly I was cold and spent.' Ellis then set about trying to support herself and her son, Andre, financially. Ms Lee revealed in her book how Ellis 'took great pride in her appearance and would not set foot outside unless fully made up with heavy foundation, rouge and lipstick.' One evening, after being taken for a drink at one of London's new nightclubs, she met pimp and convicted fraudster Morris Conley, who offered her a job as a hostess. It was after taking on the role that Ellis, who was expected to offer both drinks and sex to customers, met her future husband, dentist George Ellis. The depressive drinker promised that he would seek help for his troubles and that vow was enough for Ellis to agree to marry him. When they tied the knot in November 1950, she shed her maiden name - Neilson - and became Ruth Ellis. However, he soon began beating his new wife. One one occasion, her mother recalled, he repeatedly banged her head against a wall. By the winter of 1951 - by which time their marriage was over - Ellis had given birth to daughter Georgina. Needing to support herself and her children, Ellis went to Conley to ask for her job back. Ruth Ellis posing glamorously in 1954. She died aged just 28 and became the last woman to be hanged in Britain Ruth Ellis poses in stockings and suspenders in 1954. She refused to plead for mercy at her trial He made her the manager of his new club in Knightsbridge and even provided her with a flat and generous salary. On the Little Club's opening night, Ellis met David Blakely for the first time. Blakely repeatedly returned and the pair became romantically involved. Within a fortnight they were living together in her flat. At the time, Blakeley's efforts were focused on his MG racing car and his passion for motor racing. Ellis was besotted with him. She said later: 'I thought the world of him; I put him on the highest of pedestals. He could do nothing wrong and I trusted him implicitly.' Her love extended to the point where she even agreed to a request by her ex-husband to give up her daughter to a wealthy childless couple he knew. However, the hostess now had another admirer in the form of Cussen, who was a regular at the Little Club. His presence on the scene likely contributed to the furious rows that broke out between Ellis and Blakely. Ellis's death prompted a nationwide uproar and contributed to the decision to abolish capital punishment in 1969 Ruth Ellis died after initially refusing to reveal Desmond Cussen's involvement in Blakley's murder The arguments would end with Blakely viscously beating his girlfriend. With knowledge about the love triangle now swirling around the club, Ellis was warned by Conley that she had to treat all customers equally. However, when the club's takings fell, Conley fired her. She moved in with Cussen but was then met with a marriage proposal from Blakely. Ellis became pregnant with his child, only to lose the baby after another beating. The final straw came on Good Friday in 1955, when Blakely failed to turn up to meet Ellis as he had promised. Suspecting that he was at the home of his friends Ant Findlater and his wife Carole - who was said to have hated Ellis - she asked Cussen to drive her there, where she saw his car outside. Having tried and failed to get through to him on the phone that day and the following night, she returned home humiliated. George Ellis, the first husband of Ruth Ellis is seen above in later life When she kissed her son goodnight the following evening, Easter Sunday, it would be the last time she saw him. She later told jurors about her feelings towards Blakley that night. 'I was very upset. I had a peculiar feeling I wanted to kill him,' she said. Meanwhile, Blakley was with Findlaters, having yet another party. When Carole ran out of cigarettes, Blakely drove to the Magdala pub near their home to get some. Taking friend Clive Gunnell, he went for a quick drink inside the pub. The pair emerged at 9.20pm. Ellis was waiting for them. When Blakley saw her he started to run. She fired an initial two shots and then chased her lover around his car before firing again. He 'fell forward flat on his face', she recalled later. Witnesses Donald and Gladys Yule - as well as Gunnell - were watching on in horror. Mrs Yule then saw Blakely lying on the pavement as Ellis fired two more shots into him. She said years later: 'I shall never forget the look of appeal in his eyes. She put two more bullets into him, deliberately. I was petrified.' Hangman Albert Pierrepoint, who carried out Ruth Ellis's execution, said she was the bravest person he had put to death Ellis then tried to take her own life with the gun, but it initially failed to fire. When it finally did - after she had brought it away from her temple - the bullet went through Mrs Yule's hand. After being arrested, Ellis insisted that she was guilty but initially protected Cussen. Instead, she said she had been given the gun by a man in a club three years earlier. When Cussen was questioned, he insisted that he had dropped her off at her rented room at 7.30pm on the night of the murder and had not seen her since. He failed to tell detectives that he had given Ellis the gun, shown her how to use it and then driven her to the murder scene. Although Cussen confessed this fact to Ellis solicitor, it was not brought up at trial over fears that it would affect her chances of being convicted of manslaughter rather than murder. Ellis rejected her lawyer's request to plead insanity. She said: 'I took David's life and I don't ask you to save mine. I don't want to live.' The mother-of-two also wrote to Blakley's mother to apologise for killing him. She said: 'The two people I blame for David's death, and my own, are the Findlayters (sic). 'No dought (sic) you will not understand this, but perhaps before I hang you will know what I mean. Please excuse my writing, but the pen is shocking. 'I implore you to try to forgive David for living with me, but we were very much in love with one and other (sic). 'Unfortunately, David was not satisfied with one woman in his life. I have forgiven David, I only wish I could have found it in my heart to have forgiven when he was alive. 'Once again, I say I am very sorry to have caused you this misery and heartache. I shall die loving your son. And you should feel content that his death has been repaid. 'Goodbye. Ruth Ellis.' With her blonde hair having faded in prison, Ellis insisted on dying it ahead of her court appearance. Despite her legal team's fears that her bleached hair would not fair well with the jury, Ellis got her wish. Judge Mr Justice Havers later described the murderess's defence as being 'so weak... it was non-existent.' He was also not convinced by Ellis's story about how she got the gun. But because her legal team had not mentioned it, the matter was not brought up in court. Much of the physical and emotional abuse she had suffered throughout her life was not even mentioned to jurors. And Judge Havers told them to ignore Blakely's own violent outbursts. He said: 'A young woman, you may think, badly treated by the deceased man. 'Nothing of that sort must enter into your consideration . . . according to our law it is no defence . . . to prove that she was a jealous woman and had been badly treated by her lover and was in ill-health.' On July 12, Ellis finally confessed to her former solicitor about Cussen's involvement. However, after a failed attempt to track down the former RAF man, the home secretary Gwilym Lloyd George refused to delay the execution. Pictured: Lucy Boynton as as Ruth Ellis and Laurie Davidson as David Blakely Ruth Ellis was famously the last woman to be hanged in the UK The show premiered on ITV on March 5 with the drama consisting of four episodes At 9am on the morning of her execution, a huge crowd was massed outside HMP Holloway, held back by a police cordon. Ellis, who the night before had read from her Bible one last time, refused breakfast and instead accepted a glass of brandy. She was hanged by the man who had put to death some of Britain's most notorious criminals, including serial killer John Christie and Nazi collaborator William Joyce. The Daily Mail's report said: 'In Holloway Prison last night the staff were saying that Ruth Ellis was the bravest woman ever to go to the gallows in Britain. 'For the 28-year-old mother who, eight hours before her execution, had broken down and pleaded for life, died calmly.' Some of her final words were revealed a few months after her death. She told The Right Reverend Joost de Blank, the Bishop of Stepney: 'It is quite clear to me that I was not the person who shot him. 'If he had cut his finger I would have come from the other end of the earth to bind it up. 'When I saw myself with that revolver in my hand shooting him five times, I knew that I was another person from the person I am.' Andre, Ellis's son, became a schizophrenic and drug addict and took his own life in 1982 - his funeral was paid for by Christopher Humphreys, the prosecuting lawyer at Ruth's trial. The new ITV drama aired in four parts, starring Laurie Davidson as Blakely, Mark Stanley as Cussen and Toby Jones as John Bickford, Ellis's solicitor. Her lawyer, Melford Stevenson, was portrayed by Toby Stephens. A Washington State man strolling along a sandy beach was left horrified after finding a neatly wrapped gift along the shore containing a severed, human toe. Kevin Ewing, of Tacoma, was enjoying a Father's Day walk with his family along the beach at Dash Point State Park last month when he spotted a small box. The item was carefully wrapped like a celebratory gift and resting near the park's property line, as reported by Federal Way Mirror. Thinking it might be a prayer box or a mysterious message washed ashore, curiosity got the better of him - and he carefully opened the package. But as he peeled back the cloth concealing the contents, he came face-to-face with a mutilated, decomposing human toe. 'At first I was very shocked, and it took me a few minutes to kind of be like, "is this what I think it is?"' Ewing told the outlet. 'Then once it dawned on me that that's what it was, I set everything down.' 'You know, it's just very creepy,' he added to KIRO News. 'It's like something you would see in a horror movie.' The gruesome discovery shattered came after Ewing wandered ahead of his family, making his way toward the tide line as he searched the sand for feathers scattered along the packed sand, Federal Way Mirror reported. Kevin Ewing, of Tacoma, Washington State, was left horrified to find a neatly wrapped gift while walking along the shore of a state park - and inside, he found something far more sinister: a severed, human toe (pictured) The gruesome discovery shattered what was meant to be a peaceful Fathers Day outing for Ewing, his wife, and their two young children - an idyllic walk along the beach at Dash Point State Park (pictured) He eventually reached the far edge of the parks property line, where his eyes fell upon the mysterious package that would turn an ordinary day into a once-in-a-lifetime ordeal. 'I found what looked like a little Christmas package in a little square box wrapped in green cloth and yellow string,' Ewing told KIRO. Ewing, who proudly embraces his Native American heritage, sensed the box held a deeper, spiritual meaning - especially given the eerie timing of discovering a neatly wrapped gift on Fathers Day itself, the Federal Way Mirror reported. Carefully peeling back the green cloth, Ewings eyes landed on a pale pine box, oddly sealed shut with tape, as if to keep its contents hidden and protected. He then pulled out his pocket knife to cut through the tape, revealing a strange assortment of items inside - a feather, burnt grass, sage, lavender, tobacco and a rag concealing something mysterious. Still, he had no idea that unwrapping the rag would reveal something far more shocking - so far, the items seemed unusual but somewhat familiar in traditional Native American practices. 'I set the box down on the ground, I believe, and I used my knife to pick the rag up and open it, and it was a severed human big toe that was in there,' Ewing told The Federal Way Mirror. 'Just very odd. The toe definitely did not look like it was amputated. It definitely didnt look like a surgeon had taken it off. It didnt look like a very clean medical cut,' he added. Ewing pulled out his pocket knife to cut through the tape of the box, revealing a strange assortment of items inside - a feather, burnt grass, sage, lavender, tobacco and a rag concealing the mutilated, decomposing human toe (pictured: the beach the toe was found) 'You dont expect to find something like that every day, or any day, especially on Fathers Day, when youre out with your family.' Shocked, Ewing dropped everything to the ground and glanced around - only to spot a dead seagull lying eerily close to the box, another once-living creature that appeared to be mutilated. Initially, Ewing assumed the severed toe belonged to the dead bird nearby - which appeared to have been skinned and killed unusually. But a closer look shattered that illusion: the toe was unmistakably human. 'You know, a lot of things are going through my head like, "Where is the rest of the body?" Like, "Did this wash in from the tide, from the water? Did somebody leave this here intentionally to be found?"' Ewing told KIRO. He quickly snapped photos of the grim discovery, hurried back to his wife and together, they approached a park ranger to report what they had found. Given the condition of the toe, Ewing couldnt shake the unsettling feeling that it was tied to something criminal - possibly even the remains of a murdered or missing person. 'Maybe theres somebody out there playing some kind of, you know, weird, weird and sick game,' he told KIRO. On Friday, Public Health - Seattle & King County revealed that the toe was found to have been medically amputated - meaning it had no relation to a death - and the medical examiner's office have since stopped any further investigation (pictured: the state park) Washington State Patrol (WSP) quickly arrived on the scene and launched an investigation into the disturbing discovery. According to WSP Trooper Rick Johnson, an alert was sent to all law enforcement agencies to cross-reference any open cases that might be connected, as reported by the Federal Way Mirror. The toe was turned over to the King County Medical Examiners Office for DNA testing and identification. In an incident report obtained by the outlet, the toe - which was found to be accompanied by another piece of organic matter - was believed to be about the size of an adult male's. On Friday, Public Health - Seattle & King County revealed that the toe was found to have been medically amputated - meaning it had no relation to a death, as reported by KIRO 7 News. No further investigation will be conducted by the King County Medical Examiners Office, as the case is now closed shut. Air India was warned about wrongly installed fuel switches more than six years before a crash that killed 260 people, it was revealed yesterday. Investigators are probing how two fuel switches in the cockpit of Air India Flight 171 were turned off shortly after take off, resulting in a catastrophic loss of power and the aircraft crashing to the ground. The switches' 'locking feature' meant pilots had to lift them up before changing their position. But a preliminary report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (IAAB) said yesterday that in December 2018 the US air regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned airlines that fuel switches had been installed in some Boeing 737s 'with the locking feature disengaged'. 'If the locking feature is disengaged, the switch can be moved between the two positions without lifting the switch during transition, and the switch would be exposed to the potential of inadvertent operation,' the FAA warned in a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin. 'Inadvertent operation of the switch could result in an unintended consequence, such as an in-flight engine shutdown.' It recommended airlines inspect the switches, including 'whether the fuel control switch can be moved between the two positions without lifting up the switch'. Air India has suggested such inspections were not carried out because the FAA's bulletin was 'advisory and not mandatory'. An infographic shows the location of the two fuel-control switches, which moved to the 'cut-off' position shortly after takeoff, starving the engines of fuel and triggering total power loss The burnt-out fuel control switches recovered by investigators from the cockpit were found in the 'run' position, according to the India's government's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau But the report also highlighted the aircraft's maintenance records show its throttle control module the part of the cockpit which includes the two fuel switches was replaced in 2019 and 2023. Each time, the decision was not linked to the switches and no defects with them were reported in the last two years, it added. An Air India spokesman said: 'Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to fully co-operate with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and other authorities as their investigation progresses.' It comes as grieving relatives of victims of the crash have voiced their anguish amid the deepening mystery over how the jet's fuel supply was switched off seconds before the disaster. The IAAB report yesterday revealed how just seconds after take-off, both of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's fuel-control switches moved to the 'cut-off' position, starving the engines of fuel and triggering total power loss. One pilot was heard on the aircraft's voice recorder asking his fellow pilot why he had cut off the fuel supply only for him to reply that he had not done so. Moments later with not enough time for one of the engines to restart the plane crashed into a medical hostel. Some 241 passengers and crew and 19 people on the ground died. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, a businessman from Leicester, who was sitting in seat 11A, was the sole survivor. Dr Mario Donadi, a friend of Dr Prateek Joshi, a radiologist at the Royal Derby Hospital, who died alongside his wife and three children, described the report as 'shocking' and a 'slap in the face'. The crash near Ahmedabad, India, killed 260 people last month, including 52 British nationals Air India has said that the flight's captain, Sumeet Sabharwal (left) had over 10,000 hours experience of flying wide-body or larger aircrafts - while his co-pilot Clive Kunder also had over 3,400 hours of flying experience 'How [can] something so trivial [as] a simple switch being deactivated lead to such a loss of life, of huge dreams?',' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Bhaval Shah, a family friend of victim Kinal Mistry, 24, said: 'If these switches can't be turned off easily and if no software glitch could have been responsible, then it is deliberate, isn't it? Then it's sabotage or suicide.' The 15-page report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has thrown a spotlight on the two small fuel switches which were located just below the thrust levers in the cockpit. The 12-year-old jet, bound for Gatwick airport, took off within its 'allowable' weight limits, including 54,200kg of fuel, the report stated. But three seconds later, the fuel switches were abruptly moved from the 'run' position to the 'cut-off' position. Investigators say the switches have a locking feature which is designed to prevent them being accidentally activated. A pilot has to pull up the switch before moving it to its new position. Protective guard brackets further shield them from accidental bumps. 'It would be almost impossible to pull both switches with a single movement of one hand and this makes accidental deployment unlikely,' a Canada-based air accidents investigator, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the BBC. The two switches were flipped one second apart, the report said roughly the time it would take to shift one and then the other, added US aviation expert John Nance. The report highlights the chilling moment when one pilot discovers that either a catastrophic mistake, fault or deliberate act of sabotage has taken place. 'In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so.' Your browser does not support iframes. In a sign of growing tensions, a pilots union said the 'tone and direction of the investigation suggested a bias toward pilot error'. Captain Sam Thomas, from the Airline Pilots' Association of India, said the organisation was 'surprised at the secrecy surrounding these investigations' and claimed 'suitably qualified personnel were not taken on board for the probe'. Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu urged the public to 'wait for the final report', adding: 'We care for the welfare and the well-being of pilots so let's not jump to any conclusions at this stage.' Imtiyaz Ali, whose brother, sister-in-law and their two children died in the crash, was disappointed by the findings. 'Other than the pilots' final conversation, there's nothing in it that really points to what caused the crash. We want to know exactly what happened. 'It won't change anything for us now, we continue grieving just as we have since that day. But at least we'll have some answers.' Rafiq Dawood, whose son Faizan Rafiq, 25, died after moving to the UK five years ago, said: 'We don't know about the fuel switch or other technical details. The fact is that we have lost our son.' Deepti Sawhney, who lost three family members, told news channel NDTV: 'We must have a free, fair and transparent investigation. There are a lot of heavyweights involved Air India, Boeing who will want to save their skin. The families must get the truth.' Badasab Syed, 59, whose brother, sister-in-law and their two children died, said: 'The report mentions the pilots discussing who turned off fuel and a possible issue with the fuel control switch. We don't know what that means. Was it avoidable?' The tailend of Air India flight 171 is pictured after it crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025 The report reveals that in the seconds before the crash, the pilots returned the fuel switches to 'run' and two systems tried to 'relight' both engines. But it was too late 11 seconds before impact, one pilot transmitted: 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.' Using photographs and diagrams, the findings detail how the plane first hit trees and a chimney before smashing into the BJ Medical College hostel and five adjoining buildings just under a mile from the runway. The tail section and landing gear were found embedded in one building. The rest of the wreckage was spread over an area of 1,000ft by 400ft. Pilots Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, had clocked up 15,638 flying hours, while Clive Kunder, 32, had 3,403. Mr Kunder was flying the Dreamliner, while Mr Sabharwal was monitoring him although it is unclear from the report who said what during the recording. A final report is due to be released next year. Boeing said: 'Our thoughts remain with the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected on the ground in Ahmedabad. We continue to support the investigation.' A former employee of a pregnancy clothing brand loved by the Princess of Wales has accused the firm of making her redundant after she took maternity leave. Seraphine, which has its flagship store on London's Kensington High Street, crashed into administration last week, leaving 95 staff out of work after it failed to find a buyer. Now the firm is facing fresh controversy after its former head of merchandising, Olivia Brooks, said she was 'treated in a way no one should experience' when she came back to work after having a baby. She wrote on the social networking website LinkedIn: 'My time at Seraphine ended in February, when I was made redundant shortly after returning from maternity leave.' She said her forced exit came shortly after her daughter became unwell and had been through multiple surgeries. Ms Brooks filed a claim against Seraphine at an employment tribunal in London in April, with a preliminary hearing set for January 7. She wrote: 'At what was already the hardest and most vulnerable time in my life, I found myself pushed into a redundancy process. 'For legal reasons, I can't share the details, but I can say I was treated in a way no one should experience. Pregnancy clothing firm Seraphine, which has its flagship store on London's Kensington High Street and is loved by Kate Middleton (pictured), crashed into administration last week The firm is facing fresh controversy after its former head of merchandising, Olivia Brooks (pictured), said she was 'treated in a way no one should experience' when she came back to work after having a baby 'Sadly, this is not an isolated story: every year in the UK, an estimated 74,000 women lose their jobs as a result of pregnancy or maternity leave. It happened to me. 'And, working for a maternity brand, many in my network have been shocked to learn this.' One former employee told The Mail on Sunday: 'The tagline of the company is 'With Mums for the Journey', but we say, '...unless you work there'.' The brand gained global attention when Kate wore its pieces throughout her three pregnancies. Other celebrity fans include Myleene Klass, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Anne Hathaway. A spokesman for the company's former management said: 'Seraphine has always been committed to being an inclusive employer. 'We took great pride in our best-in-class maternity policy, befitting a brand dedicated to helped new mums. 'When the business was operating, nearly 80 per cent of our staff were women at all levels of the business. Olivia published a post on her LinkedIn in which she said her forced exit came shortly after her daughter became unwell and had been through multiple surgeries The Seraphine flagship shop in London's Kensington High Street. The brand gained global attention when Kate wore its pieces throughout her three pregnancies Cecile Reinaud (pictured), founder and designer of maternity wear label Seraphine who left the firm in 2021, said she was 'beyond disappointed Mayfair... allowed such malpractice' 'Over the course of the last 12 months, we conducted two rigorous investigations into grievance claims related to Seraphine's restructuring, which concluded with no findings of any wrongdoing. 'As a result, Seraphine disputes any accusations related to those claims.' Cecile Reinaud who founded the firm in 2002 and left in 2021, two years before it was bought by private equity firm Mayfair for 50million last night told Ms Brooks on LinkedIn: 'I am beyond disappointed Mayfair... allowed such malpractice and discrimination. 'I built Seraphine for women and the thought that such a toxic culture could exist is deeply unsettling. 'I am sorry for the pain this must have inflicted you. Everyone who was a victim of discrimination should raise their voice.' Melania Trump has revealed the touching tribute she received from survivors of the deadly Texas Floods. The First Lady was gifted a charm bracelet by girls at Camp Mystic which she vowed to wear as a 'permanent reminder' of the lives lost. Melania, 55, took to Instagram on Saturday to share the heartwarming message dedicated to the survivors from the Christian girls' summer camp devastated by a flash flood on July 4. 'FOREVER LOVE, MYSTIC,' the First Lady wrote in a post showing the handcrafted charm bracelets. 'This bracelet will forever hold a sacred place in my heart a quiet, shining thread to the young souls who now watch over us from heaven. 'Each charm carries the weight of their memory, the warmth of their presence, and will forever symbolize their love. Mystic is permanently bound through the joyous times spent together and the remembrance of their shared laughter,' the emotional post concluded. The private Christian girls' camp located on the Guadalupe River, was struck by a sudden and catastrophic wall of water during the early hours of Independence Day. Melania Trump, 55, delivered an emotional tribute to the victims of the deadly Texas floods, revealing a charm bracelet she received from survivors at Camp Mystic. Pictured: Melania Trump wears a bracelet that she received to honor the victims of flood at Camp Mystic The First Lady, 55, took to Instagram on Saturday to share the heartwarming message dedicated to the survivors from the Christian girls' summer camp devastated by a flash flood on July 4 A barrage of rain caused the river to surge over 30 feet above its natural height, causing mass destruction and claiming the lives of 27 girls and counselors at the Hunt, Texas, location. On Thursday, President Donald Trump and the First Lady visited the flood-ravaged area, where they met with first responders, families of the victims, and survivors of the tragic weather event. Melania said she was deeply moved by the stories shared by young girls and their families. 'My deepest sympathy to all of the parents who lost beautiful young souls,' she said after touring the devastation with the President. 'We are grieving with you.' The Trumps later held a private meeting with the victims' families. 'We pray with them, we hug, we hold hands,' the First Lady said of that time. The private Christian girls' camp located on the Guadalupe River, was struck by a sudden and catastrophic wall of water during the early hours of Independence Day. Pictured: Debris is piled up at Camp Mystic 'I met beautiful young ladies. They gave me this special bracelet from the camp in honor of all of the little girls that lost their lives,' the First Lady said during a visit to the flood-ravaged area President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott participate in a roundtable with first responders and local officials, at Hill Country Youth Center, in Kerrville, Texas 'I met beautiful young ladies. They gave me this special bracelet from the camp in honor of all of the little girls that lost their lives. So we are here to honor them and also to give the support,' she said, holding up her arm to show the silver charm bracelet. Known for her typically reserved public presence, Melania made a rare and heartfelt statement of support to those grieving, and promised she would return to the area. 'I will be back. I promise to them. And I just pray for them and [am] giving them my strength and love,' she said. Trump, 78, who had approved a federal disaster declaration for the region earlier in the week, described the flooding as 'like a tidal wave,' saying the extent of the damage was unlike anything he had ever seen. The flood was triggered by days of heavy rainfall that caused the Guadalupe River to rise rapidly, overwhelming parts of Kerr and Kendall counties. Items lie scattered inside a cabin at Camp Mystic after deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas On Thursday, President Donald Trump and the First Lady visited the flood-ravaged area, where they met with first responders, families of the victims, and survivors of the tragic weather event An officer prays with a family as they pick up items at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas on Wednesday, July 9 Authorities said dozens were swept away in what they called an 'unprecedented surge.' More than 100 people remain missing a week after heavy rains and flash floods devastated Texas Hill Country, destroying homes and leaving families struggling to recover. Emergency workers and volunteers are still combing through debris, holding out hope that some trapped residents may yet be found alive. Officials warn the death toll - which has reached 129 as of Saturday evening - could continue to rise in the coming days. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has supported Ukraine with EUR 7.6 billion in financing since 2022 and aims to continue investing between EUR 1.5 billion to EUR 2 billion a year, the bank said in a press release on Friday, July 11. "At the URC [Ukrainian Recovery Conference], the EBRD was active in all four of the conference's thematic dimensions: EU accession; private-sector business recovery; local, municipal and regional recovery; and social recovery and human capital," the bank said. In the area of EU accession, the European Union (EU) agreed to provide EUR 540 million to Ukraine through EBRD programmes under its Ukraine Investment Framework. This will be used to boost the EBRD's lending to Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as to accelerate the development of renewable energy projects. Ukraine will also receive extra European support for reconstruction through the new Ukraine Facility for Infrastructure Reconstruction (Ukraine FIRST), which will streamline the planning, financing and implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects. The EBRD, EU and European Investment Bank (EIB) are jointly providing EUR 30 million to the project preparation facility, which will be managed by the EBRD and EIB. A EUR 160 million loan to Ukrainian state-owned oil and gas company Ukrnafta to finance 250 MW of small-scale gas-fired distributed power generation capacity around the country and boost the power sector's resilience in the face of heavy Russian attacks. Two transactions with local banks a EUR 185 million portfolio risk-sharing facility with Privatbank and an EUR 89.2 million portfolio risk-sharing facility with Ukrgasbank that will together unlock up to EUR 900 million of new lending by the banks to businesses and households. A EUR 100 million financial package to agribusiness products producer MHP with British International Investment and Sweden's Swedfund, of which the EBRD is lending EUR 40 million. A EUR 50 million loan to Ukrainian postal and courier operator Nova Post to finance its 2025-26 investment plans and continued growth. A $ 25 million loan to Ukrainian food retailer Varus to finance its sustainable, energy-efficient expansion. A EUR 6.5 million equity investment in FlyerOne Ventures Fund V a venture capital fund that will invest in early-stage tech companies from Ukraine and across central and eastern Europe. Together with the International Finance Corporation, the EBRD plans to further develop investable private equity initiatives with Ukrainian fund managers to mobilise capital. The EBRD said that to unlock new renewable energy capacity in Ukraine, the EBRD and development partners are creating a mechanism that will incentivise investments in renewable energy by stabilising revenues for developers. Named the Ukraine Renewable Energy Risk Mitigation Mechanism, it is expected to support up to 1.5 GW of new renewable energy projects, potentially mobilising EUR 2 billion in investments. The Bank also intends to lend EUR 60 million to Galnaftogaz to develop wind energy projects, having signed a mandate letter with the developer at the URC. To advance the development of capital markets, the EBRD signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Bank of Ukraine, Ukraine's Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Finance, and the National Securities and Stock Market Commission supporting the creation of a more effective, vertically integrated capital market infrastructure. Additionally, to help Ukraine's cities maintain the provision of essential services amid the ongoing war, the EBRD signed new commitments with local municipalities. A EUR 25 million loan to the city of Dnipro to finance energy-saving measures in public buildings. To complement this, the EBRD intends to support the opening of a new Superhumans clinic in the city, which will deliver comprehensive medical and rehabilitation care to war-affected military personnel and civilians. The Bank's investment is expected to benefit from donor support from the Netherlands. A EUR 10 million loan to Lviv to rehabilitate two wastewater plants, and a EUR 10 million emergency liquidity loan to Kharkiv to mitigate the effects of the war on the city's financial position and ensure uninterrupted essential municipal services. A pre-financing agreement with the city of Kyiv that consolidates plans for a EUR 150 million loan for new metro trains. Agreements to finance new trolleybuses in Ternopil and Mykolaiv, which are benefiting from donor support from the EU, Spain, Canada, Italy and the United States. MoUs with the Ministry for Development to cooperate on creating a pipeline of priority road infrastructure projects and with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food to invest in sustainable irrigated agriculture to boost crop production. The EBRD is exploring restoring two old irrigation systems near Odessa to support food security for Ukraine's future reconstruction. Under the umbrella of human capital, the EBRD and Ukraine's Ministry of Economy launched a new Human Capital Resilience Charter to help employers support returnee workers and veterans in meeting the challenges they face in the wartime labour market. The EBRD joined major Ukrainian employers in signing the charter. A 25-year-old British tourist has died after falling from his hotel balcony late at night in a popular tourist spot in Malta. Police rushed to a hotel in St Julian on Friday morning to discover the body of a lifeless man on the ground out the building. A medical team were called to Triq Spinola, on the east of the island, but the Welshman was pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary investigations suggest that the Brit fell off his balcony at around 4.15am. The tragic fall happened at the Cavalieri Art Hotel, Times of Malta confirmed. Police in the UK has confirmed the dead Brit was from Gwynedd, in northern Wales, the Mirror reports. The road outside the hotel was temporarily closed on Friday morning as emergency services worked on the scene before taking the body away. The hotel appeared to be operating as usual by 9am with Malta Police confirming their investigations are ongoing. Police rushed to a hotel in St Julian on Friday morning to discover the body of a lifeless man on the ground Preliminary investigations suggest that the Brit fell off his balcony at around 4.15am Welsh MP Sian Gwenllian, who represents Arfon, described the death as 'truly devastating'. She said: 'News of the death of a 25-year-old from Gwynedd in Malta is truly devastating. 'The pain his family must be experiencing is unimaginable. 'My thoughts, and those of the people of Gwynedd, are with them in their grief.' MP Liz Saville Roberts, who represents Dwyfor Meirionnydd, added: 'Heartbreaking news. My heart goes out to the young man's family at this extremely difficult time.' A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We are in contact with the local authorities regarding the death of a British man in Malta.' French police failed to chase down 12 suspected people-smugglers yesterday after they abandoned their boat on the beach near Calais and sauntered away. The officers made no attempt to follow despite the intense focus on their president's new deal with Sir Keir Starmer to stop the boats. Instead, minutes earlier, the same policemen in full riot gear had fired rounds of tear gas to disperse at least 50 migrants, who had emerged from the sand dunes to try to board the vessel at Gravelines beach to make their way to Britain. At the same time, a police drone hovered in the sky overhead as a few more officers monitored the situation from a nearby lighthouse. As if to drive home the farce of the dawn spectacle, witnessed by The Mail on Sunday, three officers then amused themselves by slashing the inflatable dinghy to make it inoperable before taking selfies. It is thought around 200 migrants had slept in the dunes overnight, hoping to be lucky. Among them was a 26-year-old Bangladeshi man, Shahin, who admitted he had planned to seek asylum as soon as he reached England by claiming he was a minor. He had even shaved for the occasion to make himself look younger. The Mail on Sunday's reporter caught up with him as he hurried back to Calais with a group of ten Vietnamese nationals, many still clutching their life jackets, to catch a bus back to their camp in Dunkirk, 18 miles away. Calais police pose for a selfie after slashing a people smugglers' dinghy on Gravelines beach on Saturday French police deflate a boat after dispersing a group of migrants attempting to cross the Channel A group of migrants carrying life jackets and rubber rings climb over rocks after abandoning a dinghy whilst trying to cross the English Channel on a beach at Gravelines on Saturday Begging us not to film or photograph him, Shahin said he had been living in Britain until three months ago, having arrived on a domestic work visa and had claimed asylum while working in the construction industry. When his asylum claim was rejected, he said he then married a woman in London, living in Whitechapel until the marriage broke down and he decided to leave for France. Shahin said he had reconciled with his wife and paid a Kurdish people-smuggler 1,730 to take him to the UK, and had already tried twice in lorries, but was caught both times. Speaking in his native Bengali, he said, laughing: 'This is why I have shaved. I am actually 26. When I finally get there I will say I am underage.' Meanwhile, three boats carrying dozens of migrants successfully left from other destinations along the coastline and were intercepted by Border Force cutters mid-way in the English Channel and brought to Dover. On Friday, 353 boat migrants arrived in Dover in ten boats, bringing the record tally this year so far to 22,043. A migrant small boat passes the beach at Gravelines, France, on July 12, 2025 People try to board a migrant dinghy on May 31, 2025 in Gravelines, France French Police enter the water to try and stop migrants boarding small boats that had come to collect them from further down the coastline on June 13, 2025 in Gravelines, France Last night, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'After Keir Starmer's posturing and fake bonhomie with Emmanuel Macron last week, The Mail on Sunday has uncovered the reality of what is actually happening on the ground in France. 'Far from smashing the gangs, brazen people-smugglers are allowed to walk free. 'And now we learn that a 26-year-old Bangladeshi plans to pretend to be under18 in order to get special treatment in the UK.' Mr Philp added: 'Since we're the only country in Europe not to use scientific age-assessment methods and activist lawyers help the illegal immigrants fake their age, he will probably get away with it and may pop up in a classroom near you soon.' Sophie has revealed it was 'emotional' taking on the Duchess of Edinburgh title as it was previously held by her beloved mother-in-law the late Queen Elizabeth II. Speaking during her visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina this week, the duchess said her change in title in 2023 'felt like quite a big moment'. Sophie was formerly the Countess of Wessex, but became the Duchess of Edinburgh after the King handed her husband Edward, Charles' youngest brother, their late father's title on his 59th birthday. This was in keeping with his parents' wishes and in recognition of Edward's commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award youth scheme. Sophie said in an interview with The Mirror: 'First of all it was quite large shoes to fill because not as many of the population alive today will remember but the Queen was Duchess of Edinburgh for the first few years when she and my father-in-law first married. 'For me, it was quite an emotional thing to sort of step into her shoes [as being Duchess of Edinburgh], it felt like quite a big moment.' She explained, however, that in practical terms her and her husband's role is to support the King as it was to support the Queen. In her interview, Sophie also opened up on what it is like being seen as the Royal Family's 'secret weapon'. The Duchess of Edinburgh visits Sarajevo's Old Town during her visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina Sophie and the late Queen Elizabeth II attend the Women's Institute AGM, Royal Albert Hall, London on June 4, 2015 The Duchess of Edinburgh meets mothers of victims of the Srebrenica Genocide She explained that she doesn't see herself as being in a 'front and centre' role, which allows her more time to pursue her own interests. Sophie said: 'I like to fly under the radar. It's all very well being a secret weapon but if no one knows, maybe it's too secret.' 'I suppose I should take it as a backhanded compliment,' she added. Sophie has this week been in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a three-day trip to mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide. During the visit, Sophie has met mothers of victims of the genocide and delivered a message from the King. King Charles said he was 'greatly saddened' not to be there in person, adding that he is 'most touched and grateful to be able to share these words as we pay our respects'. He said: 'I have spoken before about the terrible events of thirty years ago, confirmed as genocide by international courts. 'Many of the individuals responsible are now rightly facing justice, but this does not absolve the rest of us of our duties: both to acknowledge the international community's failure to prevent the horror, and to do all we can to ensure it never happens again. 'I humbly salute the Mothers of Srebrenica, and all who do so much, despite their continuing anguish, to preserve the memory of those who died. King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh are pictured in 2023 The Duchess of Edinburgh attends the Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the Order of the Garter service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on June 16, 2025 'It has meant a very great deal to me, in past years, to have met survivors, mothers and family members of the missing, for whom I have such admiration. 'Their extraordinary courage, compassion and dignity are a lesson to us all, and it is my hope that we may all take inspiration from their incredible resilience under such unbearable circumstances.' Charles also spoke of taking inspiration from 'those who bravely speak out in pursuit of justice and those who dedicate their lives to rebuilding trust between communities for the sake of a better, shared future'. He said: 'These praiseworthy individuals can be found from all walks of life, and from across all ethnic groups, in Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world. 'But there can be no shared future when the events of the past are denied or forgotten. 'Only by learning from the past does it become possible to share in each other's loss and look together to the future. 'Only by working together to find the missing can there be closure for those still seeking answers. Pictured: The Duchess of Edinburgh tours the old town of Sarajevo The Princess of Wales and Sophie during a service in Westminster Hall, London, for the late Queen The Duchess of Edinburgh meets mothers of victims of the Srebrenica Genocide 'Three decades on, it is ever more important to remember all those who suffered, and to redouble our efforts to ensure a peaceful, stable future for all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.' He concluded his message by saying: 'Today, as we remember the victims, those who so tragically died and those who were left behind, let us honour their memory by standing alongside each and every one of those who work so tirelessly to promote understanding and tolerance between all peoples, of all faiths, nationalities and ethnicities, in the ongoing pursuit of a just and brighter future.' More than 8,000 men and boys were killed on July 11, 1995 by Bosnian Serb forces amid the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. It was Europe's worst atrocity since the Second World War. Sir Keir Starmer will tomorrow be accused of preparing to restart a 'conveyor belt of injustice' against British veterans of the Troubles. The Prime Minister will face claims that he is putting his 'obsession with human rights' over the rights of ageing UK ex-servicemen. Ministers will face fury at a debate in Westminster over their decision to repeal the Tories' 2023 Legacy Act, which was designed to end a legal witch hunt against soldiers who served in Northern Ireland. The debate is being held after nearly 170,000 people signed a petition calling on the Government not to allow veterans to be prosecuted for 'doing their duty in combating terrorism' during the Troubles. Sir Keir insisted last week that he had to make changes because the Conservative legislation had been ruled unlawful and had granted immunity to terrorists. The PM also said that the law hadn't been supported by communities in Northern Ireland. Government sources are privately raising hopes that in any new allegations, British troops would not be dragged through inquests and the legal system, but instead dealt with by an independent commission. But last night Tories hit back at what has been condemned by critics as 'two-tier justice', with fears that terror suspects would be treated more lightly than ex-servicemen. Sir Keir Starmer will tomorrow be accused of preparing to restart a 'conveyor belt of injustice' against British veterans of the Troubles Pictured: Masked members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) escorting the coffin of Bobby Sands, who died on hunger strike at HMP Prison Maze in Northern Ireland The Mail has launched a major campaign with ex-Special Forces commanders and senior MPs to protect the soldiers who bravely defended this country (file image) Former Cabinet minister Sir David Davis said: 'The only acceptable policy is one that shuts down this witch hunt of patriotic and honourable soldiers once and for all. 'These soldiers put their lives at risk to defend our country and stop the murderous rampage of the IRA and other terrorist groups.' And ex-defence minister Mark Francois said: 'The Labour Government is now threatening to restart a potential conveyor belt of injustice against brave British veterans. As veterans have said, this is two-tier justice all because of Keir Starmer's obsession with human rights.' In an article for LBC, Mr Francois warned that Labour's proposals would make it easier for ex-Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams to sue the Government over wrongful detention. The Legacy Act had blocked Mr Adams and others interned without trial in the 1970s from claiming compensation. However, Sir Keir said last week he would find 'every conceivable way' to stop Mr Adams or similar claimants getting damages. The Mail's Stop the SAS Betrayal campaign is pressing the Government to halt the repeal of the Legacy Act or table a proper alternative. In the Commons last week, Northern Ireland veterans looked on as Sir David thanked them for 'their 'courage in defending our country and our democracy against the first scourge of terrorism'. A wall painting supporting the Irish Republican Army, seen in the Catholic area of Belfast, Northern Ireland in November 1985 Former British armed forces members and supporters take part in a 'Respect Our Veterans' parade and rally, following the collapse of the trial in Belfast of two British soldiers over the killing of Official IRA leader Joe McCann -- May 8, 2021 A British army soldier on patrol during The Troubles in Northern Ireland -- March 1983 But he warned that if the Government get the revised legacy legislation wrong, 'at least 50 innocent retired veterans will be exposed to legal persecution for crimes they did not commit'. Sir David told MPs: 'The Prime Minister knows that every time a paramilitary was killed in Northern Ireland by a British soldier, it triggered a thorough investigation. 'No bullet went unscrutinised.' He added: 'Our soldiers were held to the highest standards of law. 'The IRA were not; they tortured, shot men in the back, forced families to watch their menfolk being murdered, and killed women and children with bombs. 'Yet we are willing to prosecute our own men, who were forced to make life-and-death decisions in split seconds.' And he threw down a challenge to Ministers, saying: 'On Monday, when we debate this matter in Westminster Hall, will the Government protect our veterans, or will they sacrifice them to politically motivated lawyers who are trying to rewrite history with a pack of lies?' But last night, a Labour spokesman insisted the Government would support the servicemen who took part in the British Armed Forces' 'Operation Banner' deployment in Northern Ireland which last from 1969 to 2007. The spokesman told the Mail on Sunday: 'This Government's commitment to our Operation Banner veterans who served with honour and distinction is unshakeable. Pictured: The wreckage following an IRA car bomb attack outside the Parachute Brigade at Aldershot Garrison. Seven people were killed Pictured: A fireman searches through the wreckage of the Mulberry Bush pub underneath the Rotunda in Birmingham City Centre believed to have been caused by a bomb attributed to the IRA 'We will always support them and will put in place the strongest possible protections. 'The Tories' unlawful Legacy Act made false and undeliverable promises to our veterans about immunity and blocked investigations into the unsolved killings of British troops in Northern Ireland. 'That is why the Legacy Act was opposed by many, including Armed Forces families who lost relatives serving in Northern Ireland. 'Any incoming government would have had to fix it.' Since the Sussexes' dramatic exit from the Royal Family, they have devoted a lot of time and energy to publicising their unhappiness with royal life. It's hard to forget Harry's grin on a video recording as he described their so-called 'freedom flight' to Los Angeles when they began their American adventure in 2020. And the title of their sycophantic biography by journalists Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand that year was, of course, Finding Freedom. During their notorious interview with Oprah, Meghan said the pressure of being a working royal was so intolerable that it drove her to thoughts of suicide. She said she had been the victim of 'character assassination' and that the pressure led her to the point of self-harm. 'I just didn't want to be alive any more,' an emotional-looking Meghan said while cameras surrounded her from every angle. So, with all of that in mind, why do Harry and Meghan now seemingly want to leave the door open for their children to one day return to the gilded cage of royal life? One source close to the couple recently told the Guardian: 'Prince Harry wants to keep the HRH titles for his children so that when they grow older they can decide for themselves whether they want to become working royals, or stay out of public life.' Royal sources say the chances of William finding working royal roles for Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet when he is king are remote due to his fierce falling out with Harry During their notorious interview with Oprah, Meghan said the pressure of being a working royal was so intolerable that it drove her to thoughts of suicide But while the story raised eyebrows with the public, perhaps those most surprised were those in royal circles themselves. According to The Sunday Times, the quote left royal insiders 'bemused' for one glaring reason. Harry seems not to realise that it will most likely not be his kindly 76-year-old father, who is widely seen as the most forgiving in the family, who will be on the throne by the time Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, reach adulthood. Instead, the keys to The Firm will by then have been passed down to his long-estranged brother William. The paper's royal sources say the chances of William finding working royal roles for this nephew and niece are remote. It should be of no surprise, as although William and Harry were once the closest of kin they have not seen or spoken to each other since their grandmother's funeral in September 2022. Harry's most recent interview with the BBC, in which he claimed he would 'love a reconciliation with my family' while still firing thinly veiled insults at them, has done little to repair the wound. The delusional Prince seems to have no idea that any bridge that could have led him back to the Royal Family is now completely burnt. Prince Harry gave a BBC interview in May where he reopened old wounds and once again cast blame upon his family The two brothers have barely spoken to each other since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the UK for the US and abandoned royal duties. Pictured at the notoriously awkward walkabout after the Queen's death in September 2022 A friend of the Prince of Wales told the paper that although William initially raged at his brother's outbursts, especially after the publication of Spare in January 2023, there has been a recent 'shift'. As opposed to anger, William's main emotion now towards his brother is 'indifference'. Although it has been a tough few years, the turmoil caused by Harry's outbursts no longer plagues him. So it seems unlikely that William would open himself up to be hurt again by welcoming back his brother's children when they are adults. Archie and Lilibet are far more likely to spend their lives in the lap of luxury in the celebrity enclave of Montecito in California far away from their royal heritage. But despite the slim chances of Archie and Lilibet one day cutting ribbons and attending village fetes as working royals, Harry and Megan are still keen to make sure they get stamped with all of their royal titles. In June the Guardian reported the Sussexes had become 'exasperated' about waiting months for their children's passports to arrive and believed it was being 'blocked' due to the use of their royal titles. They thought the application would take weeks and suspected it was because they wanted HRH on Archie and Lilibet's British travel documents. Prince Harry and Meghan pose for a photo with their newborn Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor on May 8, 2019 As opposed to anger, William's main emotion now towards his brother is 'indifference', according to a royal source. Pictured: A newly released picture of William for his 43rd birthday 'The King hadn't wanted Archie and Lili to carry the titles, most of all the HRH, and the British passports, once created, would be the first and perhaps the only legal proof of their names', a source close to the couple reportedly told the paper. However, Buckingham Palace rejected the claims the King or any of his staff intervened. The couple reportedly asked their lawyers to write to the HM Passport Office threatening to pursue a data subject access request relating to Archie and Lilibet's applications. Days later the two passports were reportedly promptly issued with HRH titles and Sussex as the new surname. The alleged spat is only the latest in a long history of arguments surrounding the titles of Archie and Lilibet. During the Oprah interview, Meghan suggested that Archie had been denied his birthright of the title 'prince' by the Palace and that the decision went against protocol. She spoke of her shock at being told he would not get police protection because he did not have a title, and suggested that the decision was taken because of his mixed race. During the Oprah interview, Meghan suggested that Archie had been denied his birthright of the title 'prince' by the Palace and that the decision went against protocol 'It's not their right to take away,' Meghan said. Asked by Ms Winfrey, 'Do you think it's because of his race?', the Duchess replied: 'In those months when I was pregnant, all around this same time, so we [had] the conversation of he won't be given security, he's not going to be given a title. 'And, also, concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born.' At the time the claims caused shock and bewilderment at Buckingham Palace, with the late Queen subsequently publishing a statement including the memorable phrase, 'some recollections may vary'. The rules governing the titles of royal children were set out by George V Queen Elizabeth's grandfather in 1917. Archie and Lilibet were not prince and princess at birth, because they were not grandchildren of the monarch, but they gained the right to these titles when King Charles acceded to the throne. The Sussexes used the title princess for their daughter, Lilibet, for the first time after her christening in California was announced in 2023. A spokesman for the couple said: 'The children's titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace.' A picture from Meghan & Harry's Netflix docuseries showed Lilibet as a newborn Since Meghan returned to Instagram at the beginning of the year to promote her new Netflix show and lifestyle brand, she has released a slew of pictures of their children although their faces are always covered Meghan posed of her Instagram page May 6 with the caption: 'Our son. Our sun. Happy 6th birthday to Archie! Thank you for all of the love, prayers and warm wishes for our sweet boy' Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet remain sixth and seventh in line to the throne The children were subsequently officially named as prince and princess on the Royal Family's official line of succession page on its website. The sixth and seventh in line to the throne were previously listed as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. As well as her children, Meghan has also been highly sensitive and protective around her own HRH title despite her well-publicised disappointment with the institution of the monarchy. Despite her and Harry promising the Queen that they would not use the title after they emigrated to the US, in April MailOnline revealed she calls herself 'Her Royal Highness' to friends. It sparked controversy after her friend Jamie Kern Lima shared a picture of a food hamper with a note that said it was 'With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex'. Although no laws were passed or documents signed to prevent their use, Harry and Meghan's agreement with the late Queen and senior officials was that they would stop using the word 'Royal' and their HRH titles after they quit duties and emigrated to the US to become 'financially independent' from the Crown. A spokesman for the Sussexes insisted that they do not use HRH titles for commercial purposes. Controversy was sparked in April after Meghan's friend shared a picture of a food hamper with a note that said it was 'With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex' Meghan has shown in the past she has strong feelings toward the names and titles of her children Royal commentator Ingrid Seward commented to the Sun at the time: 'I think if her late grandmother-in-law Queen Elizabeth was still around she would be highly offended, as she was very sensitive about that.' After all, the Queen removed the HRH titles from both Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson after their divorces from her sons. But perhaps most notable was the recent incident when Meghan insisted to a guest on her Netflix cookery programme that her surname is now Sussex. She commented to the clearly confused comedian Mindy Kaling, 'it's so funny you keep saying 'Meghan Markle' you know I'm Sussex now'. The Duchess then added: 'I didn't know how meaningful it would be to me but it just means so much to go "This is OUR family name. Our little family name".' It showed Meghan clearly still has strong feelings toward the name, which was a title given to them by the Queen on her wedding day to Harry, despite only having visited the county of Sussex once. And although Archie and Lilibet will have have the name and title, it seems they won't be getting a role in the Royal Family when they becomes adults. Comedian Mindy Kaling (right) was corrected in the second episode of With Love, Meghan on Netflix to call the Duchess 'Meghan Sussex' Unless something drastic happens, all the signs are pointing to a future of King William keeping them at an arm's distance across the Atlantic. Perhaps they will instead be roped into joining Meghan's growing jam-selling empire. In June, the Duchess spoke about possibly running a company with her daughter, Princess Lilibet, in the future. 'I wonder if one day Ill be in business with Lili and well be building something, Meghan told Tina Knowles, mother of pop superstar Beyonce, on her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder. By the sound of things, that would be the rest of the Royal Family's preferred outcome too. Queen Victoria and John Brown were lovers, according to Channel 4, which says it has uncovered 'extraordinary' new evidence of the monarch's secret affair. The British monarch of 63 years, from 1837 to 1901, was widely known to have been extremely fond of her Scottish servant. But revelations about long-held rumours they were more than just fast friends are now set to come out in a new documentary, due for release on July 31. They are based on work by cultural historian Dr Fern Riddell in her new book Victoria's Secret, set for publication on the same day as the new film. It has long been thought Victoria spent the years after her beloved husband Prince Albert's death in 1861, when they were both aged just 42, in deep mourning. But Dr Riddell has now suggested the mother-of-nine's midlife was instead deeply passionate - and marked by a full-blown intimate relationship with John. In fact, sources have said her 'staggering' new evidence proves this 'beyond all doubt', The Mirror reports. She will present the hour-long special Queen Victoria's Secret: The New Evidence alongside TV lawyer Rob Rinder, who will act as 'a sceptical eye'. Queen Victoria and John Brown (pictured at Balmoral in 1863) were lovers, according to Channel 4 , which says it has uncovered 'extraordinary' new evidence of the monarch's secret affair The British monarch (pictured) of 63 years, from 1837 to 1901, was widely known to have been extremely fond of her Scottish servant But revelations about long-held rumours they were more than just fast friends are now set to come out in a new documentary, due for release on July 31. Pictured: Judi Dench and Billy Connolly as Victoria and John in 1997 film Mrs Brown Adam Luria, head of documentary at production company Impossible Factual, said: 'This story has been keep secret for over 160 years, and Fern's book will shake the very foundations of the British monarchy and rewrite the history of our country.' Born in 1819, Victoria reigned for 63 years until her death in 1901 aged 81 - making her the longest-serving British monarch at that point, before the late Queen. She married her German first cousin Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840. Victoria first grew close to John Brown after she took over the lease to the Balmoral estate in 1848, her beloved Scottish residence, Tatler reports. Local boy John, then 21, was working as a gillie on the estate, a type of servant who attends on hunting and fishing outings. Albert also made him leader of the queen's pony, which saw him accompany her on rides - and the two soon became friends. But Albert's death from typhoid in 1861 left Victoria distraught, withdrawing to another of her favourite residences, Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Seeing her mother's distress, her second eldest daughter Princess Alice, then 18, suggested John travel to the estate with her pony to cheer her up. Cultural historian Dr Fern Riddell (right) will present the hour-long special Queen Victoria's Secret: The New Evidence alongside TV lawyer Rob Rinder (left), who will act as 'a sceptical eye' It is based on work by cultural historian Dr Fern Riddell in her new book Victoria's Secret , set for publication on the same day as the new film. Pictured: John Brown Victoria first grew close to John Brown after she took over the lease to the Balmoral estate in 1848, her beloved Scottish residence. Pictured: Billy Connolly and Judi Dench as John and Victoria in 1997 film Mrs Brown His arrival massively helped the widowed queen and the pair started to spend more and more time together, with John joining her everywhere she went. Described as 'large taciturn Highlander with watchful eyes and a face apparently hewn from granite' by the queen's private secretary, many said he began to saw himself as her bodyguard. He was by her side when an assassination attempt was made on her at Buckingham Palace in 1872. She referred to him as 'darling' in letters and were even said to have slept in adjoining rooms - which foreign secretary Earl of Derby called 'contrary to etiquette and even decency'. Victoria's children and servants were unhappy about their close companionship - while the press mockingly nicknamed her 'Mrs Brown'. But he sadly died from an infection in 1883, with Victoria commissioning her favourite poet Alfred Lord Tennyson to write the inscription on his tomb. Her close companion of more than 20 years was buried in Crathie Kirkyard at the Royal Family's favoured church. She wrote to former home secretary Viscount Cranbrook mourning him as 'one of the most remarkable men'. Victoria first grew close to John Brown (pictured, portrayed by Judi Dench and Billy Connolly in 1997 film Mrs Brown) after she took over the lease to the Balmoral estate in 1848, her beloved Scottish residence Albert's death from typhoid in 1861 left Victoria distraught, withdrawing to another of her favourite residences, Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Pictured: Victoria and Albert After John's death, she is said to have started work on a biography of him. Pictured: Victoria with John (centre, in kilt) at Windsor in 1881 'Perhaps never in history was there so strong and true an attachment, so warm and loving a friendship between the sovereign and servant', she penned. After his death, she is said to have started work on a biography of him. But her advisors, fearing speculation about a romance between the pair, expressed their disapproval and it is thought the manuscript was destroyed. It has also been claimed John's diaries and a memoir by Victoria about their relationship were destroyed too. And indeed, a priest named Norman Macleod claimed, on his deathbed in 1885, to have presided over a wedding between Victoria and John at Crathie Kirk. Victoria was buried with his mother's wedding ring on her right hand and a photograph of him in her left. Also in her coffin were a lock of his hair and several of his letters. Their rumoured romance has been the subject of contention and controversy for years - and Dr Riddell's work purports to put an end to the debate once and for all. A priest named Norman Macleod claimed, on his deathbed in 1885, to have presided over a wedding between Victoria and John (pictured) at Crathie Kirk Victoria was buried with his mother's wedding ring on her right hand and a photograph of him in her left. Pictured: Judi Dench and Billy Connolly as Victoria and John in 1997 film Mrs Brown Her close companion of more than 20 years was buried in Crathie Kirkyard at the Royal Family's favoured church. Pictured: His tombstone Channel 4 commissioning editor Emily Shields said: 'It's so rare to find brand new evidence relating to well-known figures in history but Dr Fern Riddells research into the relationship between Queen Victoria and John Brown is extraordinary. 'It will be thrilling to see Rob Rinder interrogate the details and ask if it's time for the history of The Widow of Windsor to be re-written.' Steve Maher, executive producer on the new documentary, said: 'This is a project that we've been developing with Fern for some time, and we are really excited to be working with Channel 4 to explore this compelling new take on the life and loves of Queen Victoria.' Dr Riddell's other works include The Victorian Guide to Sex: Desire and Deviance in the 19th Century and Sex: Lessons From History. An idyllic mountain hub has just been crowned the best-run city in America and the mayor says the secret is simple. Provo, Utah, has earned a spot at the top of a new ranking from financial services company WalletHub. WalletHub evaluated 148 cities across the US based on 36 key metrics grouped into six main categories: financial stability, education, health, safety, economy, and infrastructure/pollution. These were then measured against each city's per capita budget to determine efficiency. San Francisco, which had a high crime rate, ranked last. Provo was praised for the city's strong local leadership, low crime, economic growth, and infrastructure. Its focus on safety, community involvement, and smart spending led it straight to the top. Local real estate expert Joel Carson wasn't surprised by the recognition. 'I'm not surprised to see Provo recognized as the best-run city in America - it's well-deserved,' Carson told Daily Mail. Downtown Provo, Utah, is seen above in an aerial view with the Provo City Center Temple on the right (also the former Provo Tabernacle) and One Nu Skin Plaza on the left, with the snow capped Wasatch Mountain Range in the background Mayor Michelle Kaufusi (pictured) said she wasn't surprised by the news because her administration has spent years focusing on what really matters - the basics Center Street in downtown Provo is seen above He continued: 'The city's leadership, infrastructure investments, and focus on public safety have created a stable, thriving environment that continues to attract buyers from all over.' Mayor Michelle Kaufusi told Fox News Digital she wasn't surprised by the news because her administration has spent years focusing on what really matters - the basics. 'We've always believed in getting the basics right first, Kaufusi told the outlet. 'And that's quality schools, safe neighborhoods, well-maintained roads and responsible budgeting.' The statistics prove her style of leadership might be working. Provo has many perks including boasting the fourth-lowest violent crime rate and the seventh-lowest property crime rate in the entire nation. Just two years ago, the city was voted the safest large city in the US. The national recognition already means increased interest from potential residents. Local real estate expert Joel Carson (pictured) told Daily Mail: 'The city's leadership, infrastructure investments, and focus on public safety have created a stable, thriving environment that continues to attract buyers from all over' Downtown Provo is seen above. It has been seeing a shifting demographic with its increased popularity 'We've definitely seen an uptick in out-of-state interest, particularly from buyers relocating for tech jobs, education opportunities, and the overall quality of life,' Carson explained. 'Demand has remained strong in recent years, and in many ways, the market is performing above average, even as other areas have cooled.' Provo is seeing a shifting demographic with its increased popularity. Were seeing more relocation buyers from California, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest, often drawn by job opportunities in tech, education, or remote work flexibility, Carson said. Theres also been a noticeable increase in younger families and first-time buyers who are looking for long-term value and quality of life,' he added. The real estate market in Provo has diverse inventory, appealing to all types of preferences. People are often surprised at how diverse the inventory is, he said. From charming historic homes near downtown to modern developments on the east bench, theres a broad range of options, and at prices that are still more accessible than many other growing cities, even with recent increases. Public safety is a number one priority for the mayor. Pictured: Provo Towne Center Mall There are many perks to living in Provo from its strong local leadership, low crime, economic growth, and infrastructure But its the small own feel that really attracts residents. Provo has a small-town feel with big-city resources, whether its the support for local businesses, the events downtown, or the pride residents take in their neighborhoods, theres a genuine connection here thats hard to find elsewhere, Carson said. But this booming popularity comes with a cost and current residents might feel it. Carson warns that Provo's newfound fame is driving up housing costs and making it more difficult for locals to find affordable homes. With increased recognition comes increased demand, which can put pressure on housing affordability and availability, he said. Longtime residents may find it more competitive to move within the area, and first-time buyers can face challenges breaking into the market. That said, Provos leadership has been proactive in balancing growth with smart development, which helps ease those concerns.' 'This kind of national recognition only reinforces what we already know locally: Provo is a standout city with a bright future, and the real estate market is reflecting that momentum,' Carson added. Provo is 43 miles south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front Provo boasts the fourth-lowest violent crime rate and the seventh-lowest property crime rate in the entire nation. Pictured: Provo with Utah Lake in foreground and Mt. Timpanogos behind it 'So all of those factors come into play. It seems to put the spotlight on us and that's what brings people to Provo.' 'And we love it and [it] brings business and we're open for business. So we are really honored and really humbled that we got to be called out for this [honor] today.' While inventory might be 'tighter than usual' and prices have risen, still compared to other fast-growing markets, Provo still offers solid value, he said. 'The good news is that new developments are helping to meet demand, and interest remains strong so while it's competitive, its also an exciting time to be involved in the market.' A stunning tropical paradise has descended into civil war as superrich out of towners launch a mass invasion that is dramatically changing the area. Towns along Florida's western shores - known as the 'Forgotten Coast' - have seen buyers flocking in droves as the east sees a spiraling condo collapse. Buyers from Miami and Palm Beach are moving en masse to cities such as St Pete and Naples to invest their millions in properties more suited to the current market. The Sunshine State's hidden gem is drawing in the wealthy for its peaceful vibes, pristine shores and lack of crowds. The Gulf tends to also have less expensive HOA and insurance fees as they are less hard hit by natural disasters. It comes at a time when the property climate in places such as Miami and Palm Beach look set to implode amid a flood of condos for sale - with some as cheap as $10,000. But it has forced a huge change for those who already live there, with dozens of new developments, restaurants and art scenes springing up - leaving them furious. The entire Gulf Coast, which includes the Forgotten Coast along with Naples, is seeing an influx of new residents Local realtor Kara Landiss, who sells along the forgotten coast, told the Daily Mail the people moving there are looking to escape the 'hustle and bustle' of the bigger cities. She continued: 'You make your own fun here, you can go to the beach and just chill. The area has definitely been discovered - they found us. 'It's called the forgotten coast because we're in a very rural area. Our biggest grocery store in the area is the Piggly Wiggly.' Landiss said there are no high buildings and that zoning laws are so strict there is a 42ft height restriction from the ground to the roof on all buildings. 'We don't have any high rises and we're trying to keep it that way,' she said. Keeping things small also keeps the area in its natural state, she added. 'Our ecosystem is very important to us here.' Gulf Coast resident Mikayla Bentolila, who works with developers in the area, told the Daily Mail: 'It's a shift we're seeing more frequently, especially among high-net worth individuals who want the same luxury waterfront lifestyle, minus the congestion, along with more space, privacy and a refined, walkable cultural scene. 'Downtown St Pete and Naples' 5th Avenue are increasingly more and more walkable, cultural and design-forward with new restaurants, art scenes and boutique retail catering to a more refined pace. 'Buyers are leaving the East Coast, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, for the Gulf Coast, particularly Naples, Tampa and St Petersburg.' Bentolila added that developers are taking note, with Naples now home to one of the biggest real estate booms in the state. Tampa is also undergoing a residential influx. The area is very laid back and there are no high rises to be found The state's hidden gem is drawing people for its peaceful vibes and pristine shores Gulf County ranked second in the US for vacation home hotspots in 2024 Much of the Forgotten Coast is nestled along the Gulf of Mexico in Florida's Panhandle and encompasses Gulf and Franklin counties. The area is lined with unspoiled beaches and devoid of strip malls. Local realtor Kara Landiss, pictured According to real estate firm Pacaso, Gulf County ranked second in the US for vacation home hotspots in 2024. It also spans parts of Wakulla counties, including St George Island, Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Alligator Point and Eastpoint. The area is also a refuge from the increasingly severe storms and hurricanes, rising insurance costs and the business of the East Coast. It tends to have lower insurance premiums, lower HOA fees and less congested towns. Life also revolves around the water in a more affordable way than along the East Coast. Residents and visitors spend their days fishing, scalloping, kayaking or taking scenic tours to spot dolphins, sea turtles and bald eagles. The area is lined with unspoiled beaches and is devoid of high rises and strip malls Locally owned shops lack high-end boutiques and are made instead for lazy strolls and beachside lunches At night, the stars are unspoiled by light pollution that typically comes from high-rise buildings. The Gulf also has a deep history, from Native American settlements and Spanish colonization to the rise of the seafood industry. It's a seafood lover's paradise in this western part of Florida, and the area is known for the local Apalachicola oysters cultivated in the nutrient-rich waters of Apalachee Bay. The Gulf also specializes in grouper and red snapper, and the region's raw bars and dockside seafood joints are legendary. Half Shell Dockside, Up the Creek Raw Bar and Indian Pass Raw Bar serve fresh seafood pulled straight from local waters, often by the person who will be cooking or eating it. The Forgotten Coast doesn't flaunt wealth. Its historic town centers lack high-end boutiques and are made up instead of locally owned shops and trails for lazy strolls and beachside lunches. The region is the last remaining stretch of pristine beaches - untouched by the buildings that have overrun other areas such as Miami. Further down the coast, Naples, once known as a sleepy fishing town for snowbird retirees, has also become one of the nation's most sought after enclaves. People even refer to it as the new Palm Beach. There are white sand beaches with waters filled with manatees and dolphins. There are plenty of elegant boutiques to spend money in lining downtown's Fifth Avenue Naples luxury estate realtor Angela Lutzi Dellatore (pictured) explains why the city draws the rich With no state income tax and an old-world charm to its downtown streets, Naples realtor Angela Lutzi Dellatore says it's desirable but 'also very under the radar.' Naples offers everything from affordable condos to grand estate homes with expansive outdoor living spaces. Most communities are gated and offer exclusive access to pools and gyms, and offer residents privacy and security. Meanwhile, on the Atlantic side of Florida, homeowners are trying to sell amid the condo crisis and fears of a housing collapse. Miami-Dade's market in particular is faltering, according to a report by the county property appraiser's office, with values of older condos dropping from the start of 2024. Miami Shores saw condo values plunge 6.6 percent and in Coral Gables, condo values dropped five percent. Condo values in North Miami, meanwhile fell 3.4 percent, and South Miami saw a 1.9 percent dip. Still, sellers have flooded the market with home listings as they desperately try to escape, and many will be forced to sell at a loss. The cost of a college education is now so steep that parents are buying properties to secure in-state discounts for their children. Thousands of parents have begun snapping up condos and houses in Texas so their children can get in-state fee rates at the state's top schools such as Rice University, University of Texas, Texas A&M, and University of Houston. The average annual cost of college in Texas for those from another state is $24,743. By contrast residents only pay an average of $8,195, meaning living in state offers a significant 67 percent discount. However, the in-state discount has recently been abolished for students without legal status. Savings over four years of college tuition, plus the added benefit of their children living in the home throughout their education can offset the costs of purchasing a home for many families. 'It's the No. 1 choice why my clients are moving here,' Houston-based real estate agent Erwin Nicholas told Realtor.com. 'Pretty much all of my clients are moving to Texas with education-based decisions in mind.' Parents want to secure in-state discounts to top schools such as Rice University (pictured) Houston-based realtor Erwin Nicholas says most of his clients have education in mind Families are also drawn to the Lone Star State by its low taxes and significantly lower price-per-square-foot home price tag, Nicholas explained. A property near a renowned college can also appreciate faster than average, as well as spend less time on the market when it comes time to sell. 'They are investment vehicles as well as places for your kids to stay,' he added. Real estate experts advise families to consider a move to another state in considerable time before their child's enrolment. This is because many states, including Texas and Florida, require the student to have lived in-state for at least a year to acquire the tuition discount. All 50 states offer their residents discounts on college fees, believing that residents' taxes go someway to offsetting the costs of the higher education. It also provides an incentive to keep the best and brightest students at local institutions. Florida provides the best in-state discount with resident students paying an average tuition of just $4,540. Parents are investing in Texas real estate for their children (Pictured: Homes in a residential neighborhood in San Marcos) Florida provides the best in-state discount with resident students an average of just $4,540 For example, the University of Florida costs $28,658 for out-of-state students and $6,380 for residents - a whopping 77 percent discount. 'You want to get a realtor who is educated on these matters,' Nicholas says. 'I would encourage parents to start thinking about their kids' education not just from a scholarship standpoint and making good grades, but thinking about what states, like Texas, have in-state tuition discounts and what are the rules you should be aware of.' A new report has revealed there was confusion in the cockpit over the supply of fuel in the minutes before the Air India crash that killed 241 people. The pilots of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner had questioned each other over why the engines had been starved of fuel, according to the report by Indian accident investigators. The London-bound plane began to lose thrust and altitude moments after taking off from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing all but one passenger and 19 people on the ground. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Crash site: Investigators are focusing on the actions of the cockpit crew, with early assessments indicating no apparent fault with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Pilot: Air India has said that the flight's captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, had over 10,000 hours experience of flying wide-body or larger aircrafts The jet is thought to have lost power when the fuel cutoff switches almost simultaneously flipped, starving the engines of fuel. In the flight's final moments, one pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel. 'The other pilot responded that he did not do so,' the report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said. It did not identify which remarks were made by the flight's captain and which by the first officer, nor which pilot immediately transmitted the distress call: 'Thrust not achieved... falling... Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!' Seconds later the jet began losing height and exploded into a fireball after smashing into a hostel on the ground in Gujarat. Investigators' early assessments indicate no apparent fault with the Boeing or its engines. But the report does not say how the switch - which is used to start or shut down the engines and are typically left on during flight - could have flipped to the cutoff position. Experienced: Co-pilot Clive Kunder also had over 3,400 hours of flying experience, according to Air India At the crash site, both fuel switches were found in the run position and the report said there had been indications of both engines relighting before the low-altitude crash. U.S. aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse said a key question is why were the switches moved in a way that is inconsistent with normal operations. 'Did they move on their own or did they move because of the pilots?' he asked. 'And if they were moved because of a pilot, why?' The report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, published late on Friday, said the jet was carrying 54,200kg of fuel, which was within the 'allowable limits.' 'The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 Knots IAS at about 08:08:42 UTC and immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec,' the report said. 'The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off. 'In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so.' Referring to data recovered from the plane's two Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFR), it continues: 'As per the EAFR, the Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch transitioned from CUTOFF to RUN at about 08:08:52 UTC. The APU Inlet Door began opening at about 08:08:54 UTC, consistent with the APU Auto Start logic. Your browser does not support iframes. 'Thereafter at 08:08:56 UTC the Engine 2 fuel cutoff switch also transitions from CUTOFF to RUN. 'When fuel control switches are moved from CUTOFF to RUN while the aircraft is inflight, each engine's full authority dual engine control (FADEC) automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction.' U.S. aviation safety expert John Cox said a pilot would not be able to accidentally move the fuel switches that feed the engines. 'You can't bump them and they move,' he said. Flipping to cutoff almost immediately cuts the engines. It is most often used to turn engines off once a plane has arrived at its airport gate and in certain emergency situations, such as an engine fire. The report does not indicate there was any emergency requiring an engine cutoff. The new findings appear to tally with theories reportedly put forward on the U.S. side of the investigation, which also noted that the switches that control fuel flow to the aircraft's twin engines were turned off shortly after takeoff, causing the jet to lose thrust. It remains unclear why they were turned off, and investigators have been left wondering whether it was deliberate, accidental or corrected too late. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, one potential sign that the switches were off was the deployment of the plane's emergency power system, a ram air turbine or RAT. Miraculous: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was the only passenger who survived the tragedy Last image: The aircraft crashed into a student hostel near the airport shortly after taking off Your browser does not support iframes. If the preliminary findings hold, that would exonerate the Dreamliner's manufacturer Boeing and engine developer GE Aerospace. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said: 'At this stage of investigation, there are no recommended actions to Boeing 787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers.' The agency, an office under India's civil aviation ministry, is leading the probe into the world's deadliest aviation accident in a decade. The tragedy last month claimed the lives of 169 Indian passengers on board, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian, as well as 12 crew members and left only one survivor - British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40. At least 19 people were also killed on the ground as the doomed Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner came down in a residential area moments after takeoff. Air India, the nation's oldest airline, has been trying to revitalize its operations after several years under government control. The airline company says Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was flying the plane, had more than 10,000 hours of experience on wide-body jets, while co-pilot Clive Kunder had logged over 3,400 hours. The crash marked the first fatal incident involving a Dreamliner and was a major setback for Boeing, which is facing ongoing scrutiny over its aircraft safety standards. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is assisting with the Indian-led investigation, while the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing and GE Aerospace are providing technical support. It declined to comment on the release of the report. Reports indicate that there have been tensions building between American and Indian officials. Wreckage: There has been reported tension between Indian and U.S. crash investigators Siblings: Ajaykumar Ramesh (left) who died in the plane crash and his brother Vishwash Kumar Ramesh (right), who miraculously survived Astonishing: Footage showed Vishwar walking away from the scene with some visible injuries to his face Location: The siblings had been a few seats apart onboard the plane, with survivor Vishwash sitting at 11A and his younger brother positioned at 11J on the other side of the aisle One of the biggest points of contention is the delay in accessing and analyzing the plane's black boxes. The Americans are not pleased with the slow pace at which data is being extracted from the cockpit voice and data recorders. The US team at one point even considered pulling out of the probe before eventually deciding to carry on. The U.S. investigators have since returned home. The Dreamliner, which was first delivered to Air India in 2012, has been used for many international routes. Although officials have initially focused on the fuel control switches, they have cautioned that nothing has been ruled out yet. Harrowing footage of the crash shows how the plane went down in a busy area. Sole survivor Vishwash Kumar Ramesh had been in the country on a business trip with his brother Ajaykumar, 35, before they boarded the doomed flight traveling from Ahmedabad to Gatwick airport in London. In what has been described as a miracle, Viswash - seated in 11A by the exit - survived, but his sibling who was sitting on the other side of the aisle in seat 11J perished in the fireball explosion. Victims: Raxa Modha (left) was on the doomed flight Victims: Akeel Nanawaba (left), 36, his wife Hannaa (right), 30, and their four-year-old daughter Sarah were flying home from a five-day family celebration when the Air India Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off. They also died in the tragedy Victims: Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, 45, (right) and husband Fiongal, 39, lived in London, ran a wellness and healthy lifestyle company called the Wellness Foundry, and had been in India on vacation. They also died in the ill-fated flight Preliminary flight tracking data from flightradar24 reveals the plane reached an altitude of just 625ft after takeoff - a height far below standard for a commercial aircraft several minutes into departure. Data logs recorded at 30-second intervals showed the plane remained on the ground or was taxiing slowly for over four minutes after it first registered on public trackers. The plane took off and reached 625ft, but no further gains in altitude were recorded before the crash. An Air India spokesman said: 'Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time.' The spokesman added: 'Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. 'We continue to fully co-operate with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and other authorities as their investigation progresses. 'Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such enquiries to the AAIB.' Chinese scientists successfully clone yak Xinhua) 10:58, July 12, 2025 A staff member inspects a cloned yak at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, July 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) LHASA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A cloned yak was born via caesarean section on Thursday at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, researchers have said. The cloned calf weighed 33.5 kg at birth, heavier than most yak newborns, according to the researchers. Xinhua reporters saw the calf, which has a completely black coat, at the breeding base on Friday. It was able to walk and in good health. The project began in July 2023 as a joint initiative by a research team from Zhejiang University in east China, the Damxung County government and the Institute of Plateau Biology of Xizang Autonomous Region. The scientists used whole-genome selection and somatic cell cloning technologies to produce the cloned yak. Fang Shengguo, who led the research team from Zhejiang University, said that cloning technology will play a key role in improving yak breeds and building a breeding system for high-altitude livestock in Xizang. Yaks are endemic to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, serving as both key livelihood assets for local herding communities and an integral component of the plateau's ecosystem. This photo taken on July 11, 2025 shows a cloned yak at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) An aerial drone photo taken on July 11, 2025 shows a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) This photo taken on July 11, 2025 shows a cloned yak at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) An aerial drone photo taken on July 11, 2025 shows a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) This photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a cloned yak (front) at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Staff members inspect a cloned yak at a yak breeding base in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, July 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Kou Jie) Photo: National Guard Ukraine's Defense Forces downed 344 enemy aerial targets overnight, including 25 Kh-101 cruise missiles, while one missile and 20 attack drones struck five locations. Debris from downed drones also fell in 19 areas, Ukraine's Air Force reported. "On the night of July 12 (starting at 6:00 p.m. on July 11), the enemy launched 623 aerial attack assets: 597 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones from Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Kursk, Oryol, and Millerovo in Russia (including 339 Shaheds), along with 26 Kh-101 cruise missiles from Russian airspace over Saratov Region," the Air Force stated on Telegram. Preliminary data as of 10:00 a.m. indicates that Ukrainian air defenses shot down 344 aerial targets: 319 Shahed drones and 25 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Additionally, 258 decoy drones were locally jammed or neutralized by electronic warfare systems. However, one missile and 20 attack drones did reach five locations, while debris from downed drones fell in 19 locations. The aerial assault was repelled using aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare and drone units, and mobile fire teams of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. More than 2,000 miles off the coast of Chile Easter Island is geographically one of the most isolated places on Earth but a new study has challenged what research previously understood about the island. It was first settled by humans around AD 1200, who built its famous enlarged head statues. Historically, the original inhabitants, known as the Rapa Nui, were assumed to have long been completely shut off from the wider world. However, a new study by researchers in Sweden challenges this long-held narrative. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO New theory: Located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, Easter Island was first settled by humans around AD 1200, who were thought to have lived completely isolated but new research suggests a different story Research say the 63.2 sq mile island in the southern Pacific was not quite as isolated over the past 800 years as previously thought. In fact, the island was populated with multiple waves of new inhabitants who bravely traversed the Pacific Ocean from west to east. Study author Professor Paul Wallin at Uppsala University said: 'Easter Island was settled from central East Polynesia around AD 1200-1250. 'The Polynesians were skilled sailors so double canoes were used.' Way out: Easter Island in the southern Pacific is geographically one of the most isolated places on Earth Due to its remote location, Easter Island is traditionally assumed to have remained socially and culturally isolated from the wider Pacific world. This idea is reinforced by the fact that Easter Island's famous Moai statues, estimated to have been built between AD 1250 and 1500, are completely unique to the location. The huge human figures carved from volcanic rock were placed on rectangular stone platforms called 'ahu' essentially tombs for the people that the statues represented. For their study, the team at Uppsala University compared archaeological data and radiocarbon dates from settlements, ritual spaces and monuments across Polynesia, the collection of more than 1,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. Their results, published in the journal Antiquity, show that similar ritual practices and monumental structures have been observed across Polynesia. The experts point out that ahu stone platforms were historically constructed at Polynesian islands further to the west. These rectangular clearings were communal ritual spaces that, in some places, remain sacred to this day. Wallin added: 'The temple grounds ahu [also known as marae] exist on all East Polynesian islands.' For context: A map of the Pacific with the East Polynesian cultural sphere indicated. Note Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is in a more isolated location further east The team agree that an early population of people spread from the west of the Pacific to the east before encountering Easter Island and populating it around AD 1200. However, they argue that Easter Island was populated several times by new seafarers not just once by one group who remained isolated for centuries as previously assumed. The paper reads: 'The migration process from West Polynesian core areas such as Tonga and Samoa to East Polynesia is not disputed here. 'Still, the static west-to-east colonization and dispersal suggested for East Polynesia and the idea that Rapa Nui was only colonized once in the past and developed in isolation is challenged.' Based on their evidence, they also think ahu originated on Easter Island before the trend spread east to west across other western Polynesian islands during the period of AD 1300-1600. It was only after this that Polynesian islands including but not limited to Easter Island might have become isolated from each other. As hierarchical social structures developed independently at Easter Island, Tahiti and Hawai'i for example large, monumental structures were built to display power. Overall, the study indicates there were robust 'interaction networks' between Polynesian islands, which allowed the transfer of new ideas from east to west and back again. Completely unique: The Moai are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island, between AD 1,250 and 1,500 Ultimately, THE arrival of European explorers at Easter Island in the 18th century led to a rapid decline of the population, brought on by murder, bloody conflict, and the brutal slave trade although the population there may have already been weakening. Today, Easter Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with only a few thousand inhabitants. But it attracts large numbers of tourists, largely thanks to its monumental and world-famous stone statues that stare sternly out over the island. Tourism, which has grown exponentially on the island over the last 20 years, has come at a price, according to co-author Professor Helene Martinsson-Wallin. She said: 'When I was there in the 1980s, the sandy beach was white and there were almost no people around. 'When I came back in the early 00s, I thought the sand looked blue, and when I looked closer I saw that it was due to tiny, tiny pieces of plastic washed up by the sea from every corner of the Earth.' The Antarctica Ice Sheet has been covered in ice for 34 million years but scientists are finally uncovering what the landscape really looks like and its not what they expected. It's well known that much of the surface underneath the smooth ice sheet consists of mountains, valleys and deep troughs. Now, a new study using radio-echo sounding reveals there are vast areas of remarkably flat surfaces along the 3,500km stretch of East Antarctic coastline. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO New findings: Recent discoveries relating to the topography beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet has surprised scientist These previously unmapped surfaces were once connected and it is believed were formed by large rivers after East Antarctica and Australia broke apart around 80 million years ago. The flat areas now hidden beneath the ice sheet are separated by deep trenches which fast-moving glaciers are steered through. Lead author Dr Guy Paxman, from Durham University, said: The landscape hidden beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet is one of the most mysterious not just on Earth, but on any terrestrial planet in the solar system. When we were examining the radar images of the sub-ice topography in this region, these remarkably flat surfaces started to pop out almost everywhere we looked. Unexpected discovery: The extensive flat surfaces were found beneath approximately 40 per cent of the East Antarctic Ice Sheets 3,500km-long coastline between Princess Elizabeth Land and George V Land Melting away: Bunger Hills, a small exposed fragment of a larger flat surface at the edge of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet The study, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, also revealed the ice above these flat surfaces is moving much more slowly. Ice loss from Antarctica is increasing boosted by global warming but the flat areas appear to act as a barrier to ice flow and may currently be regulating the rate of ice loss, the team said. This finding is significant, as East Antarctica has the potential to raise global sea levels by 52 meters if it were to melt completely. Adding the flat surface effects into models of future ice sheet behavior could help refine projections of how the ice sheet might react to climate change, the researchers said. Paxman said: The flat surfaces we have found have managed to survive relatively intact for over 30 million years, indicating that parts of the ice sheet have preserved rather than eroded the landscape. Information such as the shape and geology of the newly mapped surfaces will help improve our understanding of how ice flows at the edge of East Antarctica. This in turn will help make it easier to predict how the East Antarctic Ice Sheet could affect sea levels under different levels of climate warming in the future. The extensive flat surfaces were found beneath approximately 40 per cent of the East Antarctic Ice Sheets 3,500km-long coastline between Princess Elizabeth Land and George V Land. Stretches of flat: The researchers discovered there are 'remarkably' flat surfaces along the 3,500km stretch of East Antarctic coastline Poking out: The Windmill Islands, small nunataks - ridges - protruding above the surface of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet The preservation of these surfaces over tens of millions of years indicates a lack of intense, selective erosion of these areas throughout Antarcticas glacial history. Research co-author Professor Neil Ross, from Newcastle University, said: Weve long been intrigued and puzzled about fragments of evidence for flat landscapes beneath the Antarctic ice sheets. This study brings the jigsaw pieces of data together, to reveal the big picture: how these ancient surfaces formed, their role in determining the present-day flow of the ice, and their possible influence on how the East Antarctic Ice Sheet will evolve in a warming world. The team emphasized the need to further explore the influence of these flat surfaces on ice sheet movement during past warmer climates. This would include drilling through the ice to retrieve rock from the flat surfaces to understand when they were last free from ice cover. This will help improve predictions for how the ice around this large section of the East Antarctic margin will respond as the climate and ocean warms. A separate team of researchers recently revealed there are mysterious radio signals emerging from deep within Antarcticas ice. The strange radio pulses were detected by the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA), an array of instruments designed to detect elusive particles called neutrinos. Breaking away: Configuration of East Antarctica, Australia, and India prior to continental break-up. Red outlines show the flat surfaces mapped in the recent study Rather than detecting these cosmic particles, the researchers were baffled to find signals emerging from the ice at seemingly impossible angles. Worryingly, they have no idea what could be causing them. In a paper, published in Physical Review Letters, an international team of researchers explained that these findings cannot be explained by the current understanding of particle physics. This might mean there are entirely new forms of particles and interactions at play or that these unusual signals are the product of mysterious dark matter. Dr Stephanie Wissel, an astrophysicist from The Pennsylvania State University who worked on the ANITA team, said: 'The radio waves that we detected were at really steep angles, like 30 degrees below the surface of the ice. 'It's an interesting problem because we still don't actually have an explanation for what those anomalies are.' An American-Mexican radio DJ who has visited every country in the world has revealed which he thinks is the most dangerous - and the tourist hotspot that's overrated. Randy Williams, better known as R Dub!, completed his decade-long challenge to visit all 193 UN-recognised countries in 2023 when he finally ticked off Turkmenistan. Since finishing his epic mission, Randy has even founded his own country - the Republic of Slowjamastan, an 11-acre micronation in Southern California with its own currency and a strict ban on Croc shoes. Now in an exclusive chat with MailOnline Travel, he reveals his favourite countries, the popular holiday destination he thinks is overrated and the city that deserves more Michelin stars... Least favourite country Randy explains that it would be unfair to 'write off an entire country based on one rough visit' as travel is always a 'gamble' that's dependent on timing, weather and people. However, there is one which just 'didn't click' for the intrepid traveller. 'Cameroon', reveals Randy. 'It was blisteringly hot, the city felt joyless and the locals wore scowls like armour. One guy even shouted at me for snapping a photo of a rundown house. Randy Williams, better known as R Dub!, completed his decade-long challenge to visit all 193 UN-recognised countries in 2023. He's pictured above in Yemen Cameroon, which felt 'joyless' is Randy's least favourite country. He's pictured there in this photo Turkemenistan was the last country on Randy's list. He's pictured here with an image of the country's president 'Maybe I'll go back someday, give it another shot. I know there's beauty and kindness there, I just didn't find it that time.' The world's most dangerous country 'If I had to sum up what Ive learned from visiting every country in the world in a single sentence, itd be this: "The world isnt nearly as dangerous as the media would have you believe",' says Randy. He explains that some of the countries he was 'warned about', including Libya, Syria, Iraq and North Korea, actually ended up being some of his favourite destinations. But Randy does class one place he visited as 'truly dangerous'. He claims: 'Somalia. Its a failed state where looking like an outsider makes you a walking target. You dont get far without a security detail - literally. The government mandates it. 'I had an armoured vehicle and a truck full of armed guards just to move around. Its tense. Terrorism is real. And yet, despite it all, most of the people I met there were kind, generous, and curious. Thats the paradox. Even in the most broken places, humanity still shows up. Id go back. Carefully.' Favourite countries The Philippines is one of Randy's favourite countries and he describes the people as 'pure gold' 'Beirut (pictured above) has this electricity pulsing through its streets, and the flavours? Unreal' Randy describes Turkmenistan (above) as a 'mesmerising' place to visit Randy has previously described Brazil as his favourite country and even quit his job to move there. But it's not the only destination that left an impact. Top of the list? The Philippines. 'No contest,' says Randy. 'The people are pure gold - kind, warm, generous in ways that make you question everything you thought you knew about hospitality. Its my favorite place to just disappear for a while. No agenda. Just vibes.' Armenia also 'hit hard', reveals the traveller. 'Old-school values, ancient stones that whisper stories if you stand still long enough. It left a mark. Im already itching to go back.' Japan grabs a place in the top five, with Randy explaining: 'What can you say that hasnt been said? 'A hundred visits wouldnt scratch the surface. The food, the rituals, the reverence for detail - even their chaos is elegant. Its another planet, and I never want off.' If it's food you're looking for, Lebanon is Randy's 'ride or die' culinary capital with restaurants that the traveller says deserve more recognition. If it's food you're looking for, Lebanon (where he's pictured above) is Randy's 'ride or die' culinary capital with restaurants that the traveller says deserve more recognition Armenia (where Randy is pictured above) also 'hit hard', reveals the traveller. 'Old-school values, ancient stones that whisper stories if you stand still long enough. It left a mark. Im already itching to go back' Japan grabs a place in the top five, with Randy explaining 'a hundred visits wouldnt scratch the surface' 'Beirut has this electricity pulsing through its streets, and the flavours? Unreal. Two bucks gets you a spread fit for royalty,' explains Randy. 'Breakfasts that border on spiritual, falafel that rewrites the rules, and ice cream that belongs in museums. I keep a list of Beirut joints that should have Michelin stars.' And while it's one of the world's least visited countries and the last that Randy ticked off, Turkmenistan in Central Asia also makes the top five. He reveals: 'My final country, and the one that blindsided me. I walked in thinking Id seen it all. I hadnt. That place is weird in the most beautiful, intoxicating way. A fever dream of white marble, folklore, and formality. The culture is closed off, but what you do see? Mesmerizing.' The traveller also awards honourable mentions to Madagascar, North Korea, Sao Tome and Principe, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba, Switzerland, Turkey, Syria, and Venezuela. The most overrated destination 'Travel, like art, is personal,' says Randy. 'Ive learned to ease up on judging how others do it. Some want the all-inclusive bubble: pool, buffet, repeat. 'No shame in that. But for me? I want discomfort. I want my senses lit up like a pinball machine.' And while Randy says there isn't a single country he wouldn't return to under the right circumstances, there is one popular holiday destination he thinks is overrated. Since finishing his epic mission, Randy has even founded his own country. The Republic of Slowjamastan is an 11 acre micronation in Southern California with its own currency and a strict ban on Croc shoes 'Dubai? No hate, but it just didnt move me. Felt like one giant luxury showroom - glass, steel, gold, logos,' he claims. 'Its a shrine to consumption more than culture. I get why people like it, I really do. 'But flying halfway around the world to sit in traffic surrounded by Lamborghinis and Louis Vuitton? Not my jam.' On the flipside, Randy says that 'so many places get overlooked', including Benghazi in Libya, Eritrea and Iraq. The Foreign Office has issued urgent warnings to UK holidaymakers travelling to a popular tourist hotspot. The new warnings come as sun-seekers prepare to flock to Thailand in search of sandy beaches and cheap drinks over summer. But the government has encouraged visitors to familiarise themselves with local legislation before travelling as failure to abide by the laws in Thailand can result in jail. Some of the new warnings cover drone flying, gambling, drinking and public behaviour. The new laws come after a series of incidents of foreign visitors being inebriated in public and causing disturbances in local venues. One of the updated laws explains that while flying a drone is not illegal in Thailand, if the equipment hasn't been registered then it is an offence. They added it must be flagged to Thailands National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) within 30 days of entering Thailand or purchasing a drone in Thailand even if you do not intend to fly it. Failure to do so could land you with a 100,000 baht (2,281) fine, five years in prison or both. Several areas of Thailand also have different regulations and it's up to tourists to contact the NBTC to find out. The new warnings come as sun seekers prepare for their holidays and flock to Thailand in search of sandy beaches and cheap drinks (stock image) The government has encouraged visitors to familiarise themselves with local legislation before travelling as failure to abide by the laws in Thailand can result in jail (Thailand's supreme court) Another warning is the zero-tolerance approach to illegal gambling. Thailand doesn't have any legal casinos, it is strongly against any underground gambling rings and that unofficial gambling could result in detention or even imprisonment. The government website also warned that in Thailand it is illegal to carry more than 120 playing cards and strongly suggested that visitors simply avoid gambling in the country altogether. The Foreign Office also noted differences in cultural practices relating to drinking and smoking and even dress. The new rules advised tourists that smoking in public in Thailand is illegal and can land you with a fine of up to 5,000 baht (114). It added that e-cigarettes and vapes are also illegal and just having them in your pocket or bag could get you fined or imprisoned. The rules added that conditions in Thai prisons were notoriously tough and said: 'Conditions in prisons and other detention facilities in Thailand are harsh, with limited access to healthcare. Detainees have died in custody.' The new rules urged visitors to be mindful of their drinks too and stated that sexual assault can easily happen in tourist areas. The new rules come after a string of incidents involving British tourists who were seen completely intoxicated and in one case had to be wheeled back to their hotel by police (pictred) Authorities stepped in to help the girls, aged 19 and 23, back to their rooms after concerned partygoers failed to rouse them at bars on the party island of Koh Phi Phi In one video captured earlier this year a drunk British husband (pictured) flew into a rage and yelled at a waiter at a restaurant in Thailand They urged: 'Do not leave your drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers' as well as being aware that alcohol served in many Thai establishments can be stronger than in the UK. The new rules come after a string of incidents involving British tourists who failed to follow the proper precautions. In one video captured earlier this year a drunk British husband flew into a rage and yelled at a waiter at a restaurant in Thailand. David, 60, was collecting his Thai wife when he became aggressive at the Lee Zaab restaurant in Nakhon Ratchasima province. The couple left together but the retiree returned to the restaurant and launched a furious, drunken rant at the diners and staff. Police were called to the scene and eventually managed to calm him down and it is unknown whether he received a fine for his behaviour. Similarly two tourists in December last year had to be wheeled back to their hotels in trolleys by police after getting to drunk to walk. Authorities stepped in to help the girls, aged 19 and 23, back to their rooms after concerned partygoers failed to rouse them at bars on the party island of Koh Phi Phi in Krabi, Thailand, on November 29. In an incident in November, last year, a British tourist was rescued in Thailand after he fell from a hotel balcony while allegedly intoxicated and covered in faeces Paramedics said they found the tourist in a dazed state and covered in excrement while half-lodged in the ceiling Sergeant Major Saneh Jualaong stepped in to stop anybody taking advantage of them, borrowing a pushcart from a shop on the pier and wheeling the pair back to their accommodation. Their friends later helped to carry them to their rooms and hauled them onto their bunk beds, with the kind officer placing a blanket over one of them. In an incident in November, last year, a British tourist was rescued in Thailand after he fell from a hotel balcony while allegedly intoxicated and covered in faeces. The 51-year-old was staying at a hotel in a popular red-light district in a coastal resort city. Staff said they heard groans and banging in the room but thought nothing of it - until the man's legs tore through the ceiling of an adjacent internet cafe. The cafe, packed with late-night gamers, was thrown into chaos as the naked holidaymaker cried for help with his legs dangling through the floorboards, resulting in the police being called. Paramedics said they found the tourist in a dazed state and covered in excrement while half-lodged in the ceiling. A Netflix crime drama has rocketed up the charts this week after being dubbed 'the new Ozark' by enthralled fans. The streaming giant dropped all eight episodes of the hit last month and viewers have been binge-watching it ever since. It's also led to the show soaring up the charts, with it currently sitting comfortably in Netflix's top 10 shows, pulling in 11.6million streams to date. Called The Waterfront, the new dark drama's cast includes nineties movie star Holt McCallany and Grown Ups star Maria Bello. Melissa Benoist and Jake Weary also star in the fan-favourite hit. The series' backdrop is the picturesque North Carolina coastline and focuses on the Buckley family. A Netflix crime drama has rocketed up the charts this week after being dubbed 'the new Ozark' by enthralled fans The streaming giant dropped all eight episodes of the hit last month and viewers have been binge-watching it ever since Called The Waterfront, the new dark drama's cast includes nineties movie star Holt McCallany and Grown Ups star Maria Bello Set in the fictional town of Havenport, the story follows the troublesome clan as their fishing empire crumbles around them. Despite its current modest 64% Rotten Tomatoes score, viewers have flooded social media with positive reviews. One posted: 'I was originally interested because Melissa Benoist is in it, but the rest of the cast got me even more, and honestly it looks like the show could be really fun too! A second penned: The Waterfront, a new series is coming! From Kevin Williamson. This is definitely giving me the same vibes as Ozark did! 'I enjoyed the show. Reminded me of Ozarks a little bit, certainly not as good, but still thought it was solid,' said a third fan. A fourth commented: 'Absolutely loving Belle Buckleys style in #TheWaterfront on #Netflix. Polished. Sophisticated. Mature yet still youthful.' While a fifth remarked: 'I was originally interested because Melissa Benoist is in it, but the rest of the cast got me even more, and honestly it looks like the show could be really fun too! Meanwhile, a hugely addictive thriller has finally been made free to stream after its shock axe from Netflix that left fans seething. The show is soaring up the charts, with it currently sitting comfortably in Netflix's top 10 shows, pulling in 11.6million streams to date Fans have flooded social media with their positive reviews The streaming giant removed the hit show, which has a respectable 88% Rotten Tomatoes score, last year. However, How To Get Away With Murder has now been made available to stream once again - and even for free. The smash-hit legal drama originally aired between 2014 and 2020, running for six seasons before its cancellation. Viola Davis plays the lead role of defence attorney and professor Annalise Keating as the series follows her life. As the drama unfolds, Annalise becomes caught up in a murder plot that involves five of her students. In 2015, Davis became the first African American to win an Emmy for best lead actress in a drama series. How To Get Away With Murder's six seasons has now officially landed on Channel 4's streaming site, which doesn't require a subscription. Hollywood's Hannah Waddingham has become the 'biggest Celebrity Gogglebox signing in years' as she makes her debut on the new series - and fans want her to have a permanent slot. The Ted Lasso actress, 50, joined Friday evening's line-up alongside her famous pal Tim Minchin. And according to reports, show bosses 'couldn't believe their luck' with the exciting signing. A source told Daily Star: 'Getting Hannah on board is a major coup. She's such hot property at the moment so many shows want her. 'This is one of the biggest signings in the history of Celebrity Gogglebox.' The insider added: 'Hannah and Tim are a great combination. They have great banter that's perfect for Celebrity Gogglebox.' Hollywood's Hannah Waddingham has become the 'biggest Celebrity Gogglebox signing in years' as she makes her debut on the new series - and fans want her to have a permanent slot The Ted Lasso actress, 50, joined Friday evening's line-up alongside her famous pal Tim Minchin Hannah is best known for being in Game of Thrones, when she was cast as Septa Unella, as well as her roles in Ted Lasso and Benidorm. Taking to X to share their thoughts, viewers shared: '#Gogglebox please have Hannah Waddingham and Tim Minchin on more episodes they are fabulous; 'How tf did they get Hannah Waddingham on Celeb Gogglebox?! I am fully invested #CelebrityGogglebox; 'Altho someone needs to tell her shes not watching tv right. She looks stunning, but binging tv requires a bare face, messy bun and pjs/sweatpants, not the perfect look shes got going on rn #CelebrityGogglebox; 'HANNAH WADDINGHAM??!!!! #celebritygogglebox #Celebritygogglebox.' Other celebs that featured included This Morning's Alison Hammond and broadcaster Sara Cox. The Sun previously revealed that Luke Littler had agreed to join the show. Last year, Hannah revealed she has trouble finding a guy because she's 'so picky' and a lot of them are grumpy old men. According to reports, show bosses 'can't believe their luck' with the exciting signing Taking to X to share their thoughts, viewers shared their excitement at them both being on the show Hannah has an eight-year-old daughter Kitty, who she shares with Italian hotelier Gianluca Cugnetto. Their last red carpet appearance was at The Olivier Awards in London in April 2022, and while Hannah has never spoken out about the break up, in 2023 she referred to herself as a single mother in an interview. Asked by Michelle Visage on the if she had time for men, Hannah initially joked 'no', before adding: 'I mean I think we all have time if you make time. 'But I'm a pretty picky girl really and have such a very specific kind of criteria of things. 'One of the main things with guys, just come on man, positivity - positivity and charisma and I'm your gal. 'But there's an awful lot of misogs (miserable old gits) out there. I don't need it.' She added: 'I don't go much on stereotypical cutey pie, whatever, sexy, whatever. Hannah is best known for being in Game of Thrones, when she was cast as Septa Unella 'I want a guy that scoops me up and goes 'I've got you, I don't care if you've got your make-up on or not, I'm happy to lie in bed with you and have Marmite on toast and a glass of milk. 'And just be a lovely positive, charismatic soul.' While Hannah keeps her personal life incredibly private, her most significant recent relationship was with the father of her child, Gianluca. The pair are thought to have started dating in 2012 after the actress met the Italian hotelier through a mutual friend. They started dating officially shortly after and welcomed Kitty in 2016 after years of fertility issues. Former Honey Boo Boo star Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Shannon has revealed exactly who her new boyfriend is. After sharing photos of beau Darrin Kitchens online since last year, she confessed that he has a familial relation to her ex-husband Josh Efird. On the latest episode of Mama June: Family Crisis, Lauryn, 25, confided in her colleague Paisley that Kitchens is Efird's cousin. 'But they're not blood cousins!' she explained to her friend in their one-on-one conversation, explaining that is Darrin is related to Josh's stepfather. 'I've known him for a really long time. We were friends back in school, and then, he messaged me on social media,' Lauryn dished. 'We've just kind of been talking, and it's kind of nice.' A Honey Boo Boo star has revealed exactly who her new boyfriend is After sharing photos of beau Darrin Kitchens online since last year, Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Shannon confessed that he has a familial relation to her ex-husband Josh Efird Lauryn described Darrin as 'sweet' and said he 'does things for me without me having to ask.' She made a point to tell Paisley that he has 'no criminal record,' unlike her mother Mama June and her past romantic suitors. And the longtime reality star said she hadn't 'really told anybody' about her boyfriend's identity because 'it's going to be awkward for other people.' Before spilling the details of her new romance she asked that Paisley not tell anyone because she hoped to avoid 'drama.' Paisley comforted Pumpkin by saying that her situation is not 'weird,' but 'maybe just a little complicated.' She then asked Lauryn if she plans to tell her ex-husband, suggesting that she should. The mom-of-four who shares Ella, seven, Bentley, four, and twins Sylus and Stella, three, with her ex noted, 'I just feel like there's a lot more to discuss with him than my dating life. I don't know if we're quite there yet.' The Honey Boo Boo alum said she's been keeping her love life under wraps by eating out of town or getting food 'to-go and eating back at the house.' On the latest episode of Mama June: Family Crisis, Lauryn, 25, confided in her colleague Paisley that Kitchens is Efird's cousin. 'But they're not blood cousins!' she explained to her friend in their one-on-one conversation, explaining that is Darrin is related to Josh's stepfather 'I've known him for a really long time. We were friends back in school, and then, he messaged me on social media,' Lauryn dished about her new man The July 11 episode also saw Shannon finalize her divorce from Josh, which he called 'the hardest day of my life.' 'Me and Josh are going to make the divorce final,' Lauryn said on the show. 'I am ready to be free from my marriage. 'For me, that like being able to do what I want to do, going and hanging out with my friends. Like, I am okay. So, let's just hope that we can be done with this part.' 'Leaving something I thought I'd have for the rest of my life is not the best feeling in the world,' Efird said before signing the divorce documents. 'These times have been super tough on me, and I'm sure it's vice versa in some weird way for her too, but I really don't want to go in here and sign these papers, if we're being honest.' While meeting with their lawyer, Lauryn made the decision to restore her maiden name. Josh has since moved on, and he recently welcomed a daughter with new girlfriend Breanna Godwin. Pumpkin and Josh finalized their divorce in September 2024 Lauryn shares Ella, seven, Bentley, four, and twins Sylus and Stella, three, with her ex Josh has moved on as well, and he recently welcomed a daughter with new girlfriend Breanna Godwin Shannon and Kitchens made their social media debut on August 10, 2024 in images from a Zach Bryan concert just one week after she filed for divorce. In 2016, at age 16, she got engaged to Josh after nine months of dating. A year later, they welcomed their first child, daughter, Ella. The following year they got married at The Chapel at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. Pumpkin filed for divorce on August 2 and in the documents revealed that the marriage was was 'irretrievably broken.' Darrin is a resident of Macon, Georgia and appears to have married and divorced a woman named Shannon Kitchens at least three times since 2020. He once starred in one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time but Cole Sprouse, 32, has come a long way from his days on the Friends set. The former child star, who portrayed Ross Geller's son Ben in seven episodes of the beloved series, is now best known for his lead role in Netflix's Riverdale. But it's another project that has fans rejoicing once again this week. Sprouse's side hustle is running a chaotic, cult-favorite Instagram account called @camera_duels, where he posts candid snaps of fans who try to secretly photograph him in public by snapping a photo of them back. The account became a viral sensation a couple of years ago but in June 2023 Sprouse stopped posting to it. 'It started because I was pissed off,' Cole previously told Wonderland magazine. 'I try to approach a lot of the strange trappings of celebrity and the culture with comedy the actions and feelings and vibes that people put off when they're about to do something like that is so obvious and comical that it begs a duel.' Cole Sprouse once played the son of Ross Geller in Friends for seven episodes The main characters in Friends are seen above. The show ran for 10 seasons Sprouse is seen recently at Jacquemus LA Boutique Opening Cocktail Party at Jacquemus LA Boutique on April 24 in Los Angeles The account was originally meant to shame people who tried to sneak photos without asking. But it has ironically turned into a bucket list item for fans with many admitting they now try to stage a stealth photo just to be featured. 'That was an oversight on my behalf,' Cole admitted. 'I should have seen that coming!' Now Sprouse is back posting to his Instagram. Last week he shared a rambling yet poetic takedown of a father in a Speedo snapping a photo of him at the beach. The caption included everything from commentary on the surveillance state to the unfortunate visibility of 'a 50+ shivering meatus' behind thin swimwear. Fans couldn't get enough and the post left followers fangirling over him. His account now boasts over 4.6million followers, with each post bombarded with fan messages. Sprouse played Ben for just seven episodes between 2000 and 2002 but suddenly disappeared from Friends without explanation. The former child star, who portrayed Ben in just seven episodes of the beloved series, is now best known for his lead role in Netflix's Riverdale Sprouse returned to posting on @camera_duels last week with this photo above The real reason was because his character was written out as the show to focus more on Ross' relationship with Rachel and later, their daughter Emma. Still, despite his brief time on the show, the Friends fans have not let go. Fans have speculated that Ross may have lost custody of Ben off-screen, due to his increasingly erratic behavior. Sprouse himself has even joked about the theory, agreeing that Ross 'wasn't the most present father' during a previous GQ interview. In 2015, a Reddit user named D.F. Lovett hypothesized that Cole's character still existed but that Ross lost custody of him. 'Friends was on for ten seasons, but Ben doesn't show up in person after episode 12 of season eight,' the Reddit user posted. The post continued: 'He's only mentioned six times in the remaining 54 episodes after his last appearance. 'People like to give Ross the benefit of the doubt, wondering if perhaps he was a better father off-screen. Perhaps his children met but the audience never saw. Cole Sprouse and Ari Fournier seen on April 27 in Los Angeles, California. They have been dating since 2021 'The more likely answer is that he was such a deadbeat father that he completely faded away from his son's life, pretending to his family and so-called friends that he still saw a boy he barely knew.' Sprouse has also previously shared details of his time on set and admitted he had a major crush on Jennifer Aniston while filming Friends at just eight years old. 'I had a really, really hard time working with Aniston because I was so in love with her', he confessed to the New York Post. 'I was infatuated. I was speechless. I'd get all bubbly and forget my lines and go completely blank. It was difficult.' The role on Friends was Cole's first acting job where he starred without his twin brother, Dylan, because the sitcom didn't require both twins. Sprouse went on to star on Disney's The Suite Life of Zach and Cody with his brother before landing a role as Jughead in Riverdale after graduating from college. Sprouse said fans still regularly recognize him as Ben from Friends. 'Because Friends is on Netflix, there's renewed interest,' he explained in an interview with Marie Claire in 2022. 'People can call me 'Ben' on the street and I will turn around.' Alan Niven, the former manager of Guns N Roses, is pulling back the curtain on his time with one of rock's most infamous bands including how Slash's charm convinced him to sign on, why 'narcissist' Axl Rose abruptly fired him, and how rampant drug use impacted the group. The New Zealand-born mega-producer, songwriter, and manager who's also worked with the likes of Great White, Dokken, Berlin, and Motley Crue is detailing the wild ride in his upcoming book Sound N Fury: Rock N Roll Stories, out August 5. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com ahead of the release, Niven recalled how he turned down the job three times before finally agreeing to manage the bandwhose unhinged reputation was already well-established long before their 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction hit shelves. At the time, Guns N Roses consisted of Axl on vocals, Slash on lead guitar, Izzy Stradlin on rhythm guitar, Duff McKagan on bass, and Steven Adler on drums. 'No one wanted Guns N Roses. They'd been through at least two other management situations They couldn't get rid of them fast enough. No one wanted to deal with them. They were a nightmare,' Niven said. 'So the question is, "How did I get sucked into that?"' he quipped, claiming it was Slash who ultimately drew him in. Alan Niven (pictured), the former manager of Guns N Roses, is pulling back the curtain on his time with one of rock's most infamous bands Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com ahead of the release, Niven recalled how he turned down the job three times before finally agreeing to manage the band; (L-R) Drummer Steven Adler, Duff McCagan, vocals Axl Rose, guitarist Slash and guitarist Izzy Stradlin in 1988) 'It was Slash because I found out, one, he was English, and two, he was not just articulate, he was eloquent, he was smart, he was incredibly charming. And I'm going, "This is not just a knucklehead drunk like I saw on the stage of the Troubadour where he was just a knucklehead, Sunset guitarist drunk. This is a really interesting guy. He's smart, very charming."' 'That was the beginning. That's where it all started to go wrong,' he joked. 'And of course then I got to know Izzy and simply put, Izzy Stradlin for me personified rock and roll.' Niven said he only began to understand Slash and Izzy during their first truly bizarre meeting the moment he reluctantly agreed to try and bring some order to the chaos surrounding Guns N Roses. 'I turn up for a band meeting and I park my bike outside and there's this broken toilet by the front door and I go, "That's interesting symbolism." Most people put a big old pots of beautiful flowers, but theyve got a broken toilet by the front door. That's a different message.' Inside, the eccentricity continued, per Niven. The door opens and out wanders this quite well-known stripper and she smiles and walks past. I go in and there's only two people there at the meeting Slash and Izzy And then there was one, because Izzy nodded out. He's sitting at the table and literally he just slowly goes like this, Niven said, mimicking someone passing out face-first. So that just leaves me and Slash, and Slash says, Let me show you something in the bedroom. Oh, thats an interesting invitation. I go in and I freeze 'cause there's this enormous snake in there and I hate snakes. Then came the kicker. 'No one wanted Guns N Roses. They'd been through at least two other management situations They couldn't get rid of them fast enough. No one wanted to deal with them. They were a nightmare,' Niven (pictured) said 'So the question is, "How did I get sucked into that?"' he continued, claiming it was Slash who ultimately drew him in; (Duff McCagan, Slash, Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Steven Adler in 1987) 'I turn up for a band meeting and I park my bike outside and there's this broken toilet by the front door and I go, "That's interesting symbolism," he said of his intro to the band; (pictured in 1993) Regarding the bands well-known struggles with addiction, Niven offered a deeper perspective on which member was most affected He goes, Watch this. And he takes a perfect beautiful little white bunny and feeds it to this legless monster. Even with their outrageous antics, it was clear to Niven early on that the band was becoming a sensation. You're driving down to Electric Ladyland Studios one afternoon and you see that there are some kids in leather jackets running after the car because Slash is sitting next to me, he recalled, describing one of Slashs first brushes with fame. And we pull around on Eighth Street, I dive out of the car, get the front door of the studio open and go Curly, get your ass in here! And he leaps from the car and zips in, and we close the door and look at each other and go, Whoa, that's different. Things have changed, haven't they? He added, Because the one thing about fame is everybody knows you're famous before you do. Still, not every band member handled fame the same way, according to Niven. It didn't change Axel one bit. It amplified him. He was always that way. He's a narcissist,' Niven said. And I think if you go and look at the employment forms for Front Man in Band, the first box that you have to tick is, Are you a narcissist? Tick. Okay. Now you can answer the rest of the questions. According to Niven, fame affected each member differently but it amplified what was already in place The weight of managing the bands meteoric rise hit Niven almost immediately. My sense of lighthearted joy of what I did evaporated in September of 1986 when I signed a contract with five individuals collectively known as Guns and Roses,' he joked. 'From that point on, we had stress, we had pressure every day. That included alleged pressure from Geffen Records co-founder David Geffen. David Geffen getting right in your face. I mean, this close, Niven said, holding a hand to his face. When am I going to get my record? Niven recalled him asking. When its done, David! You had to give as good as you got from him. Regarding the bands well-known struggles with addiction, Niven offered a deeper perspective on which member was most affected. 'I had this perception that in most bands, all those who were band members usually came from dysfunctional childhoods and families and a part of the motivation of forming a band was not just to make noise, not just to get laid, but to create your perfect family that substitutes that,' he said. So there's that aspect of it in that everybody who comes into the band brings familial dysfunction with them. Now, in terms of how does that relate to recreational drugs use or addiction? I believe people from dysfunctional circumstance are prone to addiction. He continued, Now, with Axel, his sense of dysfunction and I'm not talking outta school here, I mean, he's talked about this. He had a rotten childhood. I'm aware of some of the rottenness of his childhood, and he's had to deal with that. So that absorbed Axel, as he was not one really for getting f***** up and out of it. Alan Niven, pictured recently, is speaking out about his days as the band's manager Even with their outrageous antics, it was clear to Niven early on that the band was becoming a sensation; (Steven Adler and Slash in 1986) Now Slash, bless his heart, he had an appetite for anything. As for Izzy, Niven said he was incredibly street smart and cool and once confessed that he had sold drugs to Aerosmith frontmen Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. When we were going out with Aerosmith, Izzy sidled up to me in the office one day and he said, Now, I think we're gonna have a bit of a problem. And I said, Oh, why? He said, Well, I should tell you this, but I used to deal for Joe and Steven. I was their dealer once. I turned around to Izzy and I said, If you don't mention it, I'm sure as hell they won't mention it. Because they were in super rehab mode. So everybody was on the down low. Niven insisted addiction wasn't what ultimately wrecked the band it was ego. It became about power. It became about control, he said. As for the end of his relationship with Guns N Roses in 1991, Niven said it came without warning. There was no breaking point except for a phone call from Axl, he recalled. I was on the East Coast, he was on the West Coast. I was gig at Meadowlands. There was a phone call in the production studio, Axl's on the phone for you. Axel says, I can't work with you anymore. Okay, Ax, I'll be back in a couple of days. Let's go have dinner, talk about it, and if you still feel the same way, then we'll deal with what we have to deal with. I never heard from him again. He did not have the courage, the grace, the appreciation to even sit down and say, this is why. Axel is pictured in his iconic stage wear amid the band's success Twelve weeks later, Izzy also left the band. I get a phone call. I'm in Switzerland at a gig in Switzerland, and I go get a phone from Izzy and he goes, I'm out. I can't deal with this anymore. And I said, Well, you better tell me about it. And he told me about it. And I said, Well, what have you got left on the calendar? And he said, Well, you've got Wembley left. I said, Well, you are playing Wembley. You cannot not turn up for Wembley. Izzy indeed played Wembley in August 1991 with the original lineup, sans Adler, who had already been fired in 1990 due to his drug use and was replaced by Matt Sorum. By 1997, lead guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan had also departed, leaving Axl as the sole original member. The bands lineup continued to shift throughout the 2000s, culminating in the long-delayed Chinese Democracy album in 2008 with an entirely different cast. In a shocking turn, Slash and Duff officially rejoined in 2016 for the Not in This Lifetime... reunion tour, marking the first time the trio had shared a stage since 1993. The bands present-day roster includes Rose, Slash, McKagan, Richard Fortus on guitar, Isaac Carpenter on drums, and keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Melissa Reese. Now Slash, bless his heart, he had an appetite for anything,' Niven said; (Slash in 2024) Although his relationship with Axl remains fractured, Niven said he still cares deeply for Slash, even though they lost touch after Slash ended his feud with Axl. I considered Slash a friend for life until he reunited with Axel, he said. But Niven believes theyll reconnect eventually. I didn't hear from Slash from 91 to 98. I didn't hear for seven years, and then he called me up and we spent some time together. And the cliche is there are certain people in your life that you can be separate from them for a long time, but the minute you're back together, it's as if it was just yesterday. He's one of those people in my life. I may not see him for two or three years. I know I'll be in a groove with him when I do see him again. Looking back, Niven admitted that walking away from Guns N Roses may have been for the bestdespite the years of toil and dedication he poured into the band. Under his leadership, Appetite for Destruction became a landmark release and the best-selling debut rock album of all time, launching the band into global superstardom. His role in shaping their legacy is indisputable. I don't think I've ever said this to anybody else before, but in some ways I'm really glad that I got outta GNR when I did,' he admitted I don't think I've ever said this to anybody else before, but in some ways I'm really glad that I got outta GNR when I did,' he said. 'Because sometimes I have the honesty to sit in a tub and think, What kind of an ass*** do you think you would've been if you'd been multimillions rich? 'What makes you a character that you can live with? What gives you a persona that you can live with when you are going through the tough times. 'So as I can live with myself, I can look at myself in the mirror. Alan Nivens Sound N Fury: Rock N Roll Stories hits shelves August 5. The Gallagher brothers' feud is one of the most iconic in music history. Since Oasis formed in 1991, Liam and Noel, aged 52 and 58 respectively, have caused controversy with their hedonism, iconic showbiz wars and raucous on-stage presence - all prior to their acrimionious split in 2009, which left fans bereft. After years of public animosity, Oasis lovers were overjoyed last year when they put their differences aside for a 400m, 41 date reunion tour, which kicked off in Cardiff last week ahead of shows in UK, Ireland, Australia, the US and Mexico. Despite delight over the return, concerns have arose among superfans that the warring siblings may not make it to their upcoming gigs - including Wembley later this month - thanks to seemingly dominant behaviour, different hotel stays and more. Fans, some of whom scandalously spent thousands on tickets, have taken to social media to voice their concerns over the band making it to their own dates, while bookies' have also been taking bets on the likelihood of cancellation. All does not appear to be lost however, as Liam has shown his dedication by vowing to stay sober for the duration of the tour while 'military style' contingency plans have been laid to keep the duo separated while off-stage. Meanwhile, the pair's body language on-stage has been considered by experts to show Noel looks 'overwhelmed' while Liam remains the 'dominant' presence. Will Oasis make it to Wembley? Fans have revealed they fear a reignition of the Gallagher brother's feud could END their 400m tour - with 'overwhelmed' Noel and 'dominant' Liam staying apart while bookies cash in on 'cancellation' bets Since Oasis formed in 1991, Liam and Noel, aged 52 and 58 respectively, have caused controversy with their hedonism, iconic showbiz wars and raucous on-stage presence - all prior to their acrimionious split in 2009, which left fans bereft (pictured in Manchester in 1994) All does not appear to be lost however, as Liam has shown his dedication by vowing to stay sober for the duration of the tour while 'military style' contingency plans have been laid to keep the duo separated while off-stage FANS' FEARS Fans voiced their concerns on X, with many hypothesising the tour would not see its end due to the brothers' feelings towards one another. Users took to the site to pen: 'Please finish the tour without fighting... The tour will be lucky to finish all dates [mark my words]... 'They still hate each other... Bet they don't finish the tour... It's not Oasis though, it's the Liam and Noel show. I bet they don't finish the tour.' KEEP AWAY It has been reported that lengths have been taken to ensure the pair remain amiable - by working to keep them separate while not performing. The Gallaghers will reportedly be kept apart when not on stage in a 'military style operation' during their much-anticipated reunion tour. There will be separate dressing rooms and transport to avoid a clash and resulting 'PR and financial nightmare'. Fans voiced their concerns on X, with many hypothesising the tour would not see its end due to the brothers' feelings towards one another The formerly warring brothers are pictured during the band's 90s heyday The group kicked off their tour in Cardiff last week to rip-roaring delight BODY LANGUAGE Following Friday's opening gig in Cardiff, body language expert Judi James spoke exclusively to MailOnline about the duo's on-stage presence. Analysing the on-stage reunion, Judi stated that Liam was the 'dominant' one who was 'firmly in control', 'instigating all the action' as he led them on stage. Despite Liam proudly 'presenting' his brother to the audience with an air of confidence, contrastingly, Judi observes, Noel appeared somewhat more trepidatious, suggesting he was 'overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment.' She told MailOnline: 'It's the body language details that are so important to the fans here as the Gallagher narrative arc is displayed to a breathless nation. 'The walk-out ritual signals unity of course but the status and instigation signals are important. The glorious monochrome back view photo is intended to allow us to share the experience and see what they were seeing.' Of Liam's behaviour, she explained: 'What we do see is Liam very firmly in control, instigating all the action. His arm is around Noel's shoulders as though he's the more dominant brother and as though he's the one finally leading his brother back out to an adoring audience. 'His maracas are held high in a signal of celebratory victory and they even form a V-shape to add to that message of victory. 'When they hold raised hands it's actually Liam grabbing his brother's wrist and holding it up, again as though presenting him proudly to the fans.' Commenting on Noel's conduct in comparison, Judi explained: 'Noel cuts a very different figure here. Walking with his arms down at his sides, almost like a small child, his lip-clamp and his lowered eyes suggest he is overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment.' Analysing the on-stage reunion, Judi stated that Liam was the 'dominant' one who was 'firmly in control', 'instigating all the action' as he led them on stage OODS ON Bookmakers William Hill have led the way in taking bets on whether the brothers will manage to complete the tour. The website lists: 'The stage is set and all eyes will be on the Principality Stadium for the opening night of the Oasis Live 25 reunion tour but will the band manage to stick together for the entire run of concerts? 'Punters expecting a clash between the Gallaghers can back the tour to end before the final 2025 date, scheduled for 23rd November in Sao Paolo, Brazil, at 4/1. Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: 'Whether Liam and Noel can keep their tempers in check in the coming months remains to be seen, and we're 4/1 that they call time on their reunion before the final 2025 tour date in November. 'However, the 1/6 about Oasis playing together next year suggests this reunion could be more than a short-term project.' Bookmakers William Hill have led the way in taking bets on whether the brothers will manage to complete the tour The duo pictured in 1999 DEDICATION Despite concerns, the group do however appear determined to keep things running smoothly with sights to concluding the tour. It was revealed prior to the tour kicking off that Liam is planning not to booze during the shows after previously admitting he stopped drinking on stage after his erratic performance with Oasis at Wembley in 2000. A source told The Sun: 'Liam's just returned from a boozy holiday and now plans to be in lock-down for the foreseeable to focus on getting fit for the tour. 'He is planning on being sober ahead of and on tour with Oasis. He's actually used cutting out booze to help him prepare and also to get through the shows before.' As well as his focus on sobriety, the brothers spoke ambitiously about their capabilities while announcing the industry-shattering comeback. Liam pictured at the Q Awards in 2005 In the video, which was released last year, Liam said: When we both come together, you have greatness', while Noel sweetly stated:'I know my brother better than anybody else. This is it, this is happening.' Despite their feud, sources claimed in PJ Harrison's book In The Fall And Rise Of Oasis that the brothers 'still really love each other'. An insider also added that Liam was the one that made peace with Noel, explaining: 'Hes a great one for making, you know, peace. Hes the one that will make the peace and bring things back together with people.' In a post on X when he was asked who called first him or Noel, Liam replied: 'I called him but dont tell anyone as I don't want folk thinking Im a soft lad and stuffs keep it between me n you cheers x.' Representatives declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. Ukrainian MP and leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko has condemned the searches targeting Vitaliy Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC), calling them part of a broader offensive by the authorities against anti-corruption institutions. "I see the searches of Vitaliy as something much bigger a manifestation of the authorities' full-scale offensive, using a judiciary and law enforcement mafia reminiscent of [ex-official] Portnov, aimed at covering up those profiting from the war," Poroshenko wrote on Facebook. He emphasized that while people may have differing views on Shabunin's activities, there had always been dialogue between them. Poroshenko also expressed gratitude to Shabunin for his role in helping establish an independent anti-corruption infrastructure during Poroshenko's presidency. "This is part of a broader trend: the blocking of the appointment of the new head of the Bureau of Economic Security (BES), the outrageous legislative proposal to amnesty those who committed crimes in defense procurement... Unfortunately, it is also part of an effort to build an authoritarian regime in Ukraine, which threatens our European integration. This is a challenge that demands a united response from civil society and our international partners," he said. As reported earlier, Shabunin has been formally notified of suspicion for evading military service and fraud. The Anti-Corruption Action Center believes Shabunin may already be in custody, with a pre-trial detention hearing expected soon. His current whereabouts are unknown. Lindsie Chrisley is sparking rumors she's married. The former star of Chrisley Knows Best, 35, shared a carousel of images to her Instagram account. In them, she wore a white dress from Vestique as she walked the sandy beaches of Ponte Vedra, Florida hand in hand with the mystery man. She captioned the post, 'a little preoccupied,' and added a white heart. Eagle eyed fans also noticed she changed her last name on the social media app from Chrisley to Landsman. Her new boyfriend, David Landsman, also shared pics with Lindsie and her son Carter on his Instagram. Landsman also shared a very sappy sentiment to his Instagram Stories. 'The right person makes you fall in love three times: once with them, once with yourself, and once with life.' He added two pink hearts and a man and woman dancing emojis to his post. David's Instagram bio reads, 'Entrepreneur, Father, Christian, Dual License Expert empowering real estate agents to boost their commission with a mortgage license.' His website says, 'I can scale your real estate business and have a world-class team to support your growth goals. 'If you are a mortgage lender, real estate agent, team leader or brokerage owner, I will increase your productivity and maximize your profits.' They both posted about a weekend trip to Clemson, South Carolina where they took in a Savannah Bananas game with Lindsie's son Carter, 11. There's no word on how long Lindsie and David, who is a father himself, have been together or if they really are married. Lindsie Chrisley is sparking rumors she's married. The former star of Chrisley Knows Best, 35, shared a carousel of images to her Instagram account In them, she wore a white dress from Vestique as she walked the sandy beaches of Ponte Vedra, Florida hand in hand with the mystery man She captioned the post, 'a little preoccupied,' and added a white heart. Eagle eyed fans also noticed she changed her last name on the social media app from Chrisley to Landsman Her new boyfriend, David Landsman also shared pics with Lindsie and her son Carter on his Instagram Lindsie's most recent relationship was with a man named Trent for about a year. They ended their relationship in January 2024. While Lindsie is surely happy her parents have been released from prison, earlier this year, she admitted she hadn't gone to see them since they were put behind bars. Speaking about the tense topic on an episode of her podcast, Southern Tea, in March, she revealed that she hadn't seen to her father Todd for over a year. Meanwhile, she also said she never been to visit her step-mom Julie Chrisley in the more than two years that the reality star was in prison. She candidly stated: 'The last time I visited my dad probably was was it the beginning of last year? I cant even honestly remember. Lindsie continued: '[Nanny Faye and I] used to go together [to see my dad] when they first went [to prison]. 'It was just like, [a] more comfortable situation for both of us to go [and] stay in a hotel together. I have never been to Lexington to visit Julie.' Todd and his wife Julie were found guilty of committing tax evasion and bank fraud totaling $30 million in June 2022. Landsman also shared a very sappy sentiment to his Instagram Stories. 'The right person makes you fall in love three times: once with them, once with yourself, and once with life' Chrisley's 12-year sentence was reduced to 10 years, while his wife's seven-year sentence was cut to 14 months. She was a prisoner at Federal Medical Center Lexington in Kentucky from January 2023 until her release in June. Lindsie admitted: 'I have not seen my dad in quite some time and I have had no contact. And thats all Im going to say for that.' Todd welcomed Lindsie and her brother, Kyle, during his first marriage to Teresa Terry and Julie adopted both of them when she and Todd wed. Roxy Horner, Lottie Moss, Georgia Harrison and Ella Morgan were amongst those that led the glitz and glamour at tonight's White Fox Heatwave party in London. The girls stepped out in full force as they arrived at the event for a night full of summer festivities. Turning heads in their outfits, others who also arrived include Love Island's Molly Smith and Tom Clare, as well as Gabby Allen and Demi Jones. Roxy showed off her supermodel figure in a red and white spotty polka dot maxi dress, which she paired with pink heels and matching sunglasses. She was in good spirits as she arrived at the party, flashing a smile. Reality star Georgia, 30, who is expecting her first child with her boyfriend Jack Stacey, showed off her growing bump in a top and low-waisted jeans at the event. Roxy Horner, 34, showed off her supermodel figure in a red and white spotty polka dot maxi dress, which she paired with pink heels and matching sunglasses Reality star Georgia, 30, is currently expecting her first child with her boyfriend Jack Stacey Married At First Sight star Ella wore a neon yellow strappy cut-out dress, which showed off her supermodel figure The Love Island star looked stunning as she turned up to the showbiz party surrounded by her pals. Meanwhile Lottie Moss - Kate Moss' younger half-sister - was seen in a stylish sequinned leopard print number, which commanded attention. Her toned legs were on full show in the minidress, with Lottie, 27, keeping a low-key appearance with dark shades on as she made her arrival. Married At First Sight star Ella wore a neon yellow strappy cut-out dress, which showed off her supermodel figure. She looked ecstatic to be there as she turned heads upon her entrance. Love Island's Molly and Tom put on a loved-up display as they arrived to the lavish bash hand-in-hand. It comes after heavily pregnant Georgia took to her Instagram in recent months to share a cute bikini-clad first-trimester video taken before her first scan. The clip began with Georgia looking sensational in a stylish baby blue bikini and white lace beach trousers as she enjoyed a day at the beach. Love Island's Molly Smith and Tom Clare were loved-up as they made their entrance together Demi Jones slipped her curves into a gorgeous LBD, which she paired with pointed stilettos Harriet Blackmore looked chic in an all-white outfit, embracing her summer tan Samira Mighty wowed in a sheer pink number and a blue bag, showing off her incredible body Toby Aromolaran looked suave in shorts and a T-shirt as he headed into the venue Danica brought a touch of the 2000s in her baby pink tracksuit and heels, looking as stunning as ever Jessie Wynter and Will Young packed on the PDA as they made their way to the part During the night Tyga performed to the crowd The rapper rocked a red and white striped Nike top and camouflage trousers She then unbuttoned her trousers and cradled her tummy while lip-syncing to the popular TikTok audio: 'Are you real? I dunno, you seem a little sus.' She cheekily captioned the video: 'Me before I had my first ultrasound.' The star recently revealed she has a 'whole new drive' to change the world for the better - just weeks after announcing she is expecting her first child. The reality TV star explained in a new interview that she wants to make the world a better environment for her unborn baby to grow up in by continuing her campaigning on the issue of revenge porn. Georgia told OK! Magazine: 'I initially thought of my little sisters and brother when I was campaigning hoping to make things different for them. 'Now, I have this whole new drive I want the world to be a better place because I'm bringing my own child into it.' Georgia first found fame on reality series TOWIE in 2014 but her following grew thanks to her 2017 appearance on Love Island. Belle Hassan and Meryl Williams looked gorgeous in their summer party-ready outfits Talia Storm opted for a safe all-black outfit, which showed off her eye-popping physique Mackenzie Dipman, Tiffany Leighton and Kimberley Garner turned heads in their matching outfits Meredith Duxbury looked outstanding in a cream lace co-ord and heels as she attended the event The TV star, who's also appeared on The Challenge and Celebrity: SAS Who Dares Wins, returned to the dating series this year for Love Island: All Stars, where she made the final. Georgia met Jack, 33, on a dating app last summer and described her pregnancy as a 'beautiful surprise'. Georgia said: 'We both definitely wanted children, but we didn't quite plan on it this soon, we might've tried to have a fun summer beforehand! But once we'd taken it in, we realised this was the right time. The star added that it's 'amazing to have the gift of being pregnant', as so many people struggle for a long time and for some, the dream never comes true. Kate Walsh put on an eye-popping display at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday as she went commando in a very racy white gown. The Grey's Anatomy star, 57, stepped out in Stephane Rolland haute couture for the Fall/Winter 2025/2026 show with her Australian fiance Andrew Nixon. The actress, who relocated to Perth to be with Andrew, stunned onlookers with her raunchy look, which featured a revealing slit from her chest to her hip. Showing off her toned tummy, Kate donned a sultry pose as she hit the white carpet on her way into the French venue. Despite shocking the crowd with her partial nudity, there appeared to be a sheer mesh panel which ensured she kept some modesty at the ritzy event. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Kate Walsh, 57, put on an eye-popping display at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday as she went commando in a very racy white gown The Grey's Anatomy star stepped out in Stephane Rolland haute couture for the Fall/Winter 2025/2026 show with her Australian fiance Andrew Nixon The actress, who relocated to Perth to be with Andrew, stunned onlookers with her raunchy look, which featured a revealing slit from her chest to her hip Kate opted for large pieces of jewellery, with a chunky ring and bracelet featuring huge blue stones with diamond bands. She was also seen wearing a pair of dark designer glasses as she slicked back her locks into an artful up-do and slicked on a minimal makeup look. The US star relocated to Western Australia to be with Andrew after they met in 2020, with The Umbrella Academy actress confirming their engagement in October 2022. Kate, who hails from California, recently revealed she has fallen in love with Australia's laid-back lifestyle and is now happy to call Perth home. 'I really love Western Australia I think nature here eclipses everything. It drives me,' she told news.com.au. 'I like the slowness. It's really good for me. And then you go back overseas and you're like, "Oh my god. People are insane."' Kate said she often flies to America for filming before returning to Australia when she is free from her work commitments to spend more time with her fiance. 'I feel very fortunate I can pop back to LA, go to work, and then come back here and live my best life,' she gushed. Showing off her toned tummy, Kate donned a sultry pose as she hit the white carpet on her way into the French venue Despite shocking the crowd with her partial nudity, there appeared to be a sheer mesh panel which ensured she kept some modesty at the ritzy event Kate opted for large pieces of jewellery, with a chunky ring and bracelet featuring huge blue stones with diamond bands She was also seen wearing a pair of dark designer glasses as she slicked back her locks into an artful up-do and slicked on a minimal makeup look 'I needed my life to be a lot more balanced. And then, I fell in love with an Aussie, and here I am. I love it. I'm very grateful,' she continued. Kate reportedly met Andrew, who works for his family business Nixon Farming, on a cruise just before the start of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020. The Nixon family have been farming malt barley and canola in the Moora/New Norcia area of Western Australia for close to 100 years, according to their website. Before her relationship with Andrew, Kate was married to Day Shift executive producer Alex Young, but they went their separate ways in 2008. Their 15-month marriage officially came to an end in 2010, with the couple citing 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for the split. Tina Provis has slammed Love Island USA contestant Cierra Ortega's apology for repeatedly using an anti-Asian slur as she calls for people not to 'brush off' instances of 'casual racism'. The Love Island Australia winner, 29, penned a lengthy post to Instagram on Thursday after Cierra, 25, was booted from the Love Island USA villa due to mounting backlash over her use of the slur 'chink' in past social media posts. 'Love Island USA removed a contestant for a racist slur that resurfaced online. Lets talk about why this is important,' Tina began in her post. 'In my experience, Anti-Asian racism has always been quickly brushed off. 'The same people that want to fall back but I didnt know it was racist are the SAME PEOPLE complaining when you make a stand up and point out why something is racist,' Tina said. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Tina Provis has slammed Love Island USA contestant Cierra Ortega's apology for repeatedly using an Asian slur as she calls for people not to 'brush off' casual racism Love Island USA season seven contestant Cierra Ortega has been removed from the villa after her social media posts using a racial slur had resurfaced online On Wednesday, Cierra issued an 'accountability' video, in which she said she is 'truly deeply sorry' for using a racial slur and reiterated that she 'didn't fully understand' the meaning behind the offensive term. 'I do not, and have never, condoned racism or the repression of any cultural group in any form,' Cierra wrote. 'I would never intentionally use any word, especially a slur, to tear down anyone's culture or community. When I used that word, I didn't fully understand what it meant or how much pain it carries.' The backlash against her began earlier this month, when fans discovered two social media posts (from January 2015 and February 2023) in which Cierra had described her own smile as 'chinky' and said that she wanted Botox for her eyes. Tina, who won Love Island Australia in 2021 with her ex-partner Mitch Hibberd and has also starred on I'm A Celebrity! Get Me Outta Here, questioned how Cierra could not have known the meaning of the word. 'If youre calling out an ethnic groups features as undesirable, it is racist,' she wrote. 'If we continue to let comments slide because they arent that racist or they didnt meant to be racist, then were excusing and encouraging a culture of casual racism.' The Chinese-Australian then revealed how 'insecure' anti-Asian slurs made her feel about her appearance whilst was growing up in Sydney. 'There was a time where my eyes were one of my biggest insecurities, because from an early age I faced casual racism,' Tina said. On Wednesday, Cierra issued an 'accountability' video , in which she said she is 'truly deeply sorry' for using a racial slur and reiterated that she 'didn't fully understand' the meaning 'If youre calling out an ethnic groups features as undesirable, it is racist,' Tina wrote On Sunday night's episode which streamed on Peacock, narrator Iain Stirling confirmed that Love Island USA contestant Cierra Ortega (pictured) 'left the villa due to a personal situation' and had left Nic Vansteenberghe 'officially single' By the time she was 18-years-old, Tina turned to heavy makeup in attempts to alter her appearance because she'd so often hear friends say they 'looked Asian' if they didn't like a photo of themselves. 'If I was getting dressed up, I never would be seen without dark eyeshadow, attempting to hide my eyelids and I wouldve screamed seeing a picture of myself like this without false lashes,' she said. Tina also recalled being teased in primary school, including one incident where a male classmate chased her around the playground whilst pulling back his eyelids. 'Ive come a long way in becoming confident in my identity and thats why I have these conversations, I want other young people to feel the same,' Tina concluded in her post. However, Tina said she's not surprised by the sheer volume of people defending Cierra online. 'Im not shocked to see that a lot of people online are defending her, because the slur that she used is "not as bad" as other racial slurs,' she said. 'There are hundreds of comments of people claiming that they didnt even know it was a derogatory comment, which just goes to show how anti-Asian racism is downplayed and tolerated much more than it would be in other communities.' Cierra is the second person to be removed from Love Island USA this season over past remarks, with Yulissa Escobar abruptly outsed for using the N-word in past social media posts. Jessica Hart tried to go incognito in Los Angeles on Friday as she was spotted looking glum while moving some of her belongings into a storage facility. The Aussie model, 39, appeared to be moving out of the Hollywood Hills home she shared with her race car driver fiance James Kirkham following their split. She arrived at the site in the same $368,000 Mercedes-AMG G-Class she was spotted having a heated row with James in earlier this year. The blonde beauty wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty as she helped a mystery man unload his truck, which contained a various array of household items. Jess kept her outfit casual for the occasion, opting for a pair of form-fitting black tights and a matching tank top as she hid her face beneath a cap. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Jess Hart, 39, tried to go incognito in Los Angeles on Friday as she was spotted looking glum while moving some of her belongings into a storage facility The model appeared to be moving out of the Hollywood Hills home she shared with her race car driver fiance James Kirkham following their split earlier this year She arrived at the site in the same $368,000 Mercedes-AMG G-Class she was spotted having a row with James in earlier this year At one point, she shrugged off a brown camo jacket and tucked her tresses behind a pair of designer glasses. She was also spotted taking a break to drink some water while her companion unloaded some of the heavier items from his car. But it wasn't long before Jess got back to work, carrying some large items of her own, which she protected with bed sheets. Jess also loaded smaller items and boxes onto a large trolley to transport through the facility. It comes after news that the Australian model's high-octane romance with her American race car driver fiance s had well and truly burned out. Following an almighty argument inside their $368,000 Mercedes-AMG G-Class earlier this year, Daily Mail Australia obtained photos showing the fallout. NASCAR speedster James, who shares two children with Jess, let himself into a luxury villa located a suburb away from the couple's Hollywood Hills home. A day earlier the Aussie Victoria's Secret stunner stepped out without her engagement ring, looking visibly distraught as she took a phone call. The blonde beauty wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty as she helped a mystery man unload his truck, which contained a various array of household items Jess kept her outfit casual for the occasion, opting for form-fitting black tights and a matching tank top as she hid her face beneath a cap Jess almost married Greek shipping scion Stavros Niarchos III before bonding with tattooed single-father James over their shared love of fast cars in 2019. She accepted his proposal at her baby shower for their first child. Weeks later their daughter Baby-Rae Kirkham was born, and seven months after that, Jess revealed she was pregnant with son Glorious, born in February 2022. But since then the glamorous couple's six-year romance appears to have run out of fuel. The pair have unfollowed each other on Instagram, and had not been pictured together since the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, in Octoberuntil exclusive photos of their confrontation emerged. During the row, Jess looked visibly concerned during an intense phone conversation as she walked through a parking lot wearing a long sleeve Saint Michael tee and carrying a lavender bag by former Celine creative director Phoebe Philo. Her ringless finger was on display during the emotional conversation, and after hanging up was escorted to her own vehicle by a valet parking attendant. Jess then drove off without him, prompting him to run after the car. At one point, she opted for a brown camo jacket and tucked her tresses behind a pair of designer glasses She was also spotted taking a break to drink some water while her companion unloaded some heavier items from his car 'James caught up with Jessica's car and she stopped again and he got in the front passenger seat,' an eyewitness told Daily Mail Australia. 'They argued for another 20 minutes then James got out of the car again and ran towards the house.' While it's unclear what the couple was arguing about, a cursory glance of their Instagram accounts suggested their relationship could be in serious trouble. Jess and James no longer appear on each other's followers' lists, which either means they've unfollowed each other, or gone a step further and hit the block button. They have also been mysteriously absent from each other's Instagram grids in recent months. The couple first started dating in early 2019 after Jess joined Mercedes-Benz's AMG Academy, which helps to train motoring enthusiasts how to race, and was immediately drawn to the NASCAR star. Romance soon blossomed and they announced they were expecting their first child together in September 2020. Just a month later, James got down on one knee and proposed to the Victoria's Secret model at their baby shower. But it wasn't long before Jess got back to work, carrying some large items of her own which she protected with bed sheets Jess also loaded smaller items and boxes onto a large trolley to transport through the facility Weeks after that, they welcomed their daughter, Baby-Rae Kirkham, on November 17. Their child's name made headlines at the time. Jess explained it came from Jennifer Grey's character 'Baby' from the 1987 film Dirty Dancing. Her middle name, Rae, was a nod to Jessica's mother. Seven months later, the blonde revealed she was pregnant again and their son Glorious was born on February 2, 2022. Jessica, whose sister is model Ash Hart, was also a stepmother to James' nine-year-old daughter, Wren, from a previous relationship. Before meeting James, the Vogue cover girl had dated fellow Australian Nicolas Potts, with whom she appeared in the first season of the MTV reality show The City. She was also in a relationship with Stavros Niarchos III, the grandson of Stavros Niarchos, the Greek billionaire shipping tycoon best known for being the arch-rival of Aristotle Onassis, from 2011 to 2017. As four decades of Neighbours came to an end on Friday, veteran stars Annie Jones and Stefan Dennis showed support for their fellow cast members in an emotional final day on set. The actress, 55, first appeared on the beloved soap in 1986 as Jane Harris, aka Plain Jane Superbrain, and was on hand this week to offer a supportive shoulder. She was seen wrapping her arm around her fellow stars as they came together to mark the end of an era at Melbourne's Nunawading studios. Annie chose to step away from the spotlight in 1989 to look after her late mother, Elizabeth, who battled Alzheimer's disease and passed away in 2016. She later reprised her role in 2018 and has been a regular fixture on the show ever since. As four decades of Neighbours came to an end on Friday, veteran stars Annie Jones and Stefan Dennis supported for their fellow cast at an emotional final day on set Annie was seen wrapping her arm around her fellow stars as they came together to mark the end of an era at Melbourne 's Nunawading studios Soap veteran Stefan, 66, who has played the character of Paul Robinson on the series for four decades, was also seen on set for the final scenes of the concluding episode. The actor, who was part of the original Neighbours cast when it debuted in 1985, left the show in 1992 but returned in 2004. He clutched buckets of Chupa Chups lollipops for his castmates. 'I never thought a single show would give me the greatest adventures of my career, spanning 40 years,' Stefan said in a statement released by Prime Video. 'Without Neighbours I would not have met the people, been to the places and lived the experiences of a lifetime.' Other members of the crew were seen consoling one another in a group hug. Then, the entire cast gathered together at the end of the day for a group photo. For decades, Neighbours has chronicled the ups and downs of Melbourne's fictional Erinsborough, and the series will air its last episodes in December, bringing Amazon's two-year revival to a close. The final episode of Neighbours is set to air on December 11 (L-R back row Darius Perkins, Francis Bell, Elaine Smith, Alan Dale, Vikki Blanche, Paul Keane) (L-R middle row David Clencie, Anne Haddy, Kylie Flinker, Dasha Blahova, Peter O'Brien, and Stefan Dennis pictured in 2008) As this chapter of the Amazon Prime show's story comes to a close, the cast and crew have reflected on four decades of producing the perfect blend of drama and heart-warming community spirit (Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne pictured) Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne called the Nunawading Studios their home for over three decades of Neighbours In total, the streamer has added a respectable 460 episodes to the show's already staggering 9,000-episode legacy. Executive producer Jason Herbison got a bit misty-eyed over the statistic, saying: 'Neighbours is a special show and its been a privilege to make the recent seasons for our loyal viewers around the world. 'We have added 460 episodes to our legacy of over 9,000 episodes, something we all feel proud of.' He added: 'Once again, we will be resting the residents of Ramsay Street on a hopeful note, with some tantalising possibilities for a future chapter.' Veteran star Alan Fletcher, aka Dr Karl Kennedy, called the set his 'happy place', praising the 'creative freedom and enthusiasm amongst the whole team.' Jackie Woodburne, who has starred as Susan Kennedy for three decades, said, 'It is impossible to measure the gratitude I feel for the gift of 30 years of Neighbours. 'We are the best version of "family". It has been a wild ride into a happy life. Wouldnt change it for quids!' Pictured: Neighbours cast members Annie Jones and Stefan Dennis visit the UK in 1988 In a new interview with TV Tonight Stefan said the show's cancellation means any celebrations around the show's amazing track record has been 'completely overshadowed' by the sad news of its demise (pictured in a a throwback image from the soaps heyday) Stefan, 66, who has played the character of Paul Robinson on the series for four decades says that he never expected 'a single show' to be the 'greatest adventure' (pictured on Neighbours) Even the newer faces on Ramsay Street were gutted to say goodbye. Matt Wilson (Aaron Brennan) called the show 'a real beacon of hope,' while Ben Jackson (Max Ramsay) described his time on set as 'the greatest gift of my life.' In the UK, Neighbours experienced consistent Top 10 rankings under Amazons stewardship and earned a 2024 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Daytime Series. Back in 2022, the beloved soap got the axe after 37 seasons, only to be rescued for the revival. Now, it's curtains for good. As cast member Naomi Rukavina (Remi Varga-Murphy) beautifully put it: 'Its a special thing to be part of a national icon. 'Neighbours is nothing like I had imagined. It has been blessing on blessing for me. Fulfilling, stabilising, and heart-filling. Long live the icon,' she said. According to Metro UK, sets have already begun to be dismantled at the production base on the outskirts of Melbourne. The studio site, which was sold to property redevelopers several years ago but is on a long lease to programme-makers Fremantle Media, is expected to be reused for other productions in the future. Channel Seven star Elspeth Hussey has revealed she is expecting her second child. The Adelaide-based 7News presenter, 38, welcomed her 'honeymoon baby' with husband Alastair Dillon in October last year. Speaking to The Advertiser this week, Elspeth revealed that her second pregnancy had come as a 'complete surprise'. The journalist told the publication that the couple wanted to expand their brood quickly, but were not expecting to fall pregnant so soon after welcoming their nine-month-old, Monty. 'I fell asleep halfway through assembling Montys cot and thought that was a bit odd. I did a pregnancy test and it lit up,' she said. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Channel Seven star Elspeth Hussey has revealed she is expecting her second child Elspeth added she was convinced the test was wrong, especially as it was 'out of date', but subsequent tests confirmed the good news. 'I was convinced it was wrong, particularly after discovering the box was out of date,' she said. 'I raced out and bought two more boxes, which confirmed it.' Elspeth added being pregnant while caring for a nine-month-old can be 'tough'. 'The morning sickness has been tough with a young baby to look after and work,' she said. '[I have had] lots of power naps in the recliner chair in the meeting room.' She also confirmed to the publication that she and Alastair know the gender of their precious cargo, which is due in January, but are keeping it strictly under wraps. It comes after Elspeth and Alastair welcomed their first child back in October. The Adelaide-based 7News presenter, 38, welcomed her 'honeymoon baby', Monty, with husband Alastair Dillon in October last year 'I fell asleep halfway through assembling Montys cot and thought that was a bit odd. I did a pregnancy test and it lit up,' she said The couple broke the happy news on Instagram, sharing a series of sweet photos and videos of the precious newborn. 10 days of loving our beautiful boy,' Elspeth captioned the post. 'Monty Michael Dillon arrived a little earlier than expected on 8th October at 1:39pm weighing 2.9 kilos and changing our lives forever. 'Weve spent hours staring at him, our camera rolls are full, and our hearts are exploding.' Elspeth, who tied the knot with husband Alastair Dillon in January last year, revealed that the bundle of joy was a 'honeymoon baby'. 'It's been tough keeping it a secret at work,' she told the Advertiser at the time. 'I've disguised the bump behind the desk with black and lots of borrowed clothes. 'A few people at work had their suspicions, though. The Maccas fries for lunch was probably a giveaway,' she joked. 'The morning sickness has been tough with a young baby to look after and work,' she added. '[I have had] lots of power naps in the recliner chair in the meeting room' It comes after Elspeth and Alastair welcomed their first child back in October. The couple broke the happy news on Instagram, sharing a series of sweet photos and videos of the precious newborn Elspeth also revealed that she found out she was expecting after trying a glass of champagne just weeks after her wedding. The journo was shocked that the bubbly tasted like metal. 'My friends said, "Oh my God, you're pregnant!",' she continued. 'I thought the bottle must've been corked, but I went home and did a test and it was positive. I was jumping around the bathroom. It was the best birthday present I've ever had.' Elspeth tied the knot with her beau in a lavish wedding at St Mary's Church, North Adelaide, in January 2024, and the happy couple later honeymooned on Hamilton Island. Elspeth has been a well-known face at Seven Adelaide for over a decade. Danny DeVito has opened up about his friend Jack Nicholson and said the Oscar winner is doing 'great.' Nicholson, 87, was last seen in public during an appearance on the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary show in February, and many fans were concerned he looked quite frail. DeVito, 80, spoke about his long friendship with Nicholson, while promoting the 50th anniversary re-release of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, their first film together. 'I just saw Jack a couple weeks ago it was his birthday a month ago, and he's great,' the Taxi star told People. Looking back on the experience of making the groundbreaking 1975 film, DeVito said he and his fellow cast members including Christopher Lloyd and Louise Fletcher were in awe of Nicholson, who had already been building a reputation with films such as Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, and Chinatown. 'We're in the presence of this guy who's really at his moment, where he was breaking out into the big time,' DeVito said of his initial encounter. Danny DeVito has opened up about his friend Jack Nicholson and said the Oscar winner is doing 'great. I just saw Jack a couple weeks ago it was his birthday a month ago, and he's great,' the Taxi star told People 'There was no need for an icebreaker,' the Emmy winner recalled. 'He was immediately just so embracingHe started out exactly the way everybody else did, where he couldn't get a job. It was like he came to Hollywood and he was going to just write and direct, and then comes along after the Corman stuff,' he said of Nicholson's start in low-budget thrillers such as The Terror and The St. Valentine's Day Massacre. 'He was in our milieu, and he was always just as open and genuine, and we all felt it immediately,' DeVito said. 'Of course, he was doing it because he's that way,' the write and director explained. 'And he was also doing it because that had to be, because we had to be all joined at the hip in that movie, and we had such great performances.' DeVito noted he and Nicholson eventually bonded over their shared New Jersey backgrounds. They were born in the same hospital and both had sisters who were hair dressers in the same local area. The two would go on to work together again on Goin' South, which was directed by Nicholson, Terms of Endearment, Hoffa, which DeVito directed and the sci-fi comedy Mars Attacks. 'When I was a kid, I always heard about this really handsome guy from Neptune who went out to California and became a movie star,' he recalled. Nicholson's last public appearance was on the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary show in February; Pictured in New York City in February DeVito and Nicholson met when they worked on 1975's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. 'We're in the presence of this guy who's really at his moment, where he was breaking out into the big time,' DeVito said of the experience Nicholson won his first Oscar for his portrayal of a rebellious convict sent to a psychiatric hospital, where he inspired rebellion against a dominating nurse; Pictured in Los Angeles in 1976 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was the first film since 1934's It Happened One Night to sweep all five of the top Academy Awards; Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress for Fletcher, Best Director for Milos Forman, and Best Adapted Screenplay DeVito was keeping that information to himself, but it was his friend and former roommate Michael Douglas, 80, who was producing the film, who spilled the beans. 'Jack came running around the corner: "Ahhhh! Youre from Asbury Park?"' he asked. Nicholson received his first Oscar award for his portrayal of a rebellious convict sent to a psychiatric hospital, where he inspired rebellion against a dominating nurse. In fact One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was the first film since 1934's It Happened One Night to sweep all five of the top Academy Awards; Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress for Fletcher, Best Director for Milos Forman, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Love Island star Finley Tapp has revealed he's expecting his first child with his girlfriend Jess Hale. The reality star, who won the ITV dating show in 2020, took to his Instagram on Saturday and shared the big news with a series of sweet snaps. In the first snap, Jess can be seen wearing a white top and black joggers as she holds up a strip of baby scan photos. Another image showed the beaming couple smiling as they proudly displayed the scans together. A third photo captured a room mid-renovation with the word 'baby' painted on the wall - hinting at preparations already underway for their little one's arrival. The final picture features three positive pregnancy tests laid out in a row. Love Island star Finley Tapp has revealed he's expecting his first child with his girlfriend Jess Hale The reality star, who won the ITV dating show in 2020, took to his Instagram on Saturday and shared the big news with a series of sweet snaps. Finley penned in the caption: 'We can't wait to meet you! Our hearts are so full.' Their followers were quick to flood them with messages of love and congratulation. The couple went public with their relationship last summer, sharing a sweet snap on Instagram. However, Finn had kept Jesss identity under wraps until June, when her name was subtly revealed. Fans spotted the clue after Finn shared a link to their joint home renovation Instagram account. The page follows just five accounts three businesses and two personal profiles, belonging to Finn and Jess. Now fully settled into their relationship, the couple have moved into their dream Victorian home and are busy transforming it together. Finley first rose to fame on Love Island in 2020, where he found romance with then-girlfriend Paige Turley. One snap features three positive pregnancy tests laid out in a row Another photo captured a room mid-renovation with the word 'baby' painted on the wall - hinting at preparations already underway for their little one's arrival Finley first rose to fame on Love Island in 2020, where he found romance with then-girlfriend Paige Turley They met in South Africa during the first ever installment of the winter series, going on to win the show and bag a 50,000 cash prize. But interrupted by the spread of Covid-19, they were plunged into life in lockdown upon leaving the villa - spending time in Paige's home county of West Lothian. They later relocated to Manchester and lived in the city since, sharing a lavish apartment together. While it was a strain on many relationships, Paige and Finn explained that the Covid-19 restrictions actually benefited them during a chat with MailOnline in 2023. 'Covid helped us because we got to spend that time together without being pulled from pillar to post. 'We had a mad three weeks when we came out before lockdown and the quality time that you spend with each other is quite limited,' shared Finn. He continued: 'So, I think a good bit of advice is to try and make sure everything that is happening around you doesn't affect you getting that quality time with whoever you come out with'. But after three years together, the pair split in 2023 and were said to have realised they 'weren't forever', according to claims. A source told The Sun: 'Paige and Finn had a really good run, but they are still super young and decided it wasnt forever in the end.' In a move certain to create a fan frenzy, Kim Kardashian has re-posted a fanmade AI video of her indulging in the ultimate celebrity smash-and-grab. The cheeky clip showed a digital version of Kim stealing the original 1984 Hermes Birkin bag, which Sotheby's just sold at auction for $10 million. Named after songstress Jane Birkin, the lover and muse of French musical icon Serge Gainsbourg, the bags have become a status symbol coveted around the world. During the original run of Sex and the City, Kim Cattrall's man-eating PR whiz Samantha spent a whole episode going to increasingly desperate lengths to secure a Birkin and cement her position as a Manhattan fashion doyenne. Now an Instagram account called RickDick has posted a sly video making fun of the frenzy around the bag, with Kim as its principal character. Kim, 44, is shown at the auction display of the original Birkin bag, shattering the glass, snatching up the purse and running off with it at top speed. In a move certain to create a fan frenzy, Kim Kardashian has re-posted a fanmade AI video of herself indulging in a spot of burglary Fans reacted with hilarity in the comments of the original video, posting streams of crying laughing emoji and exclaiming that that they were 'Screaming.' One viewer took a wry dig at Kim's friendship with Jeff Bezos' new wife Lauren Sanchez, writing: 'Mrs Bezos keeping the engine running outside.' 'Brava Kim, it was yours,' an Instagram joked in Italian with a polishing-nails emoji, as another spilled that he was 'Howlinggggggg' at the clip. As the AI fan video went viral on social media, it managed to catch the attention of Kim herself, who re-posted it to her Insta Stories. The computer-generated outfit in the clip was based on the outfit Kim wore for her controversial recent runway walk at Paris Fashion Week, which left fans sniggering that she looked 'drunk' or like a 'tired toddler.' Her mother Kris Jenner proudly posted a video of Kim on the catwalk for Balenciaga at Paris Fashion Week - the brand's final show under designer Demna Gvasalia. But although her supermodel sister Kendall Jenner is an expert at working the runway, Kim's performance left viewers falling over themselves with laughter. One fan leapt into the comments and tagged Kendall, asking: 'can you help your sister' as another giggled: 'Go kim give us nothing.' The cheeky clip showed a digital version of Kim stealing the original Hermes Birkin bag, which Sotheby's just sold at auction for $10 million Now an Instagram account called RickDick has posted a sly video making fun of the frenzy around the bag, with Kim as its principal character Kim, 44, is shown at the auction display of the original Birkin bag, smashing the glass, snatching up the purse and running off with it at top speed 'This is how I walk after having 2 margaritas and Im trying to be inconspicuous when Im actually intoxicated,' cracked one Instagram user of Kim, 44. 'Walking discreetly to the bathroom after eating Taco Bell,' quipped another, as another compared her to 'Me sleepwalking from the potty back to my bed at 4am.' 'Beautiful girl but looks like she's a bored housewife who's had too many sherrys and coming to answer the door,' a fan remarked drily. Her outfit at the fashion show was a tip of the hat to the famous lace-trim nightie Elizabeth Taylor wore in her 1958 movie Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, starring her opposite Paul Newman and based on a play by Tennessee Williams. In the caption of her Instagram video of Kim's runway walk, Kris revealed her daughter was 'wearing Elizabeths personal diamond pendant earrings from Lorraine Schwartzs private collection.' Although Kim only officially became a Balenciaga ambassador last year, she has longstanding ties to the brand and is a friend and admirer of Demna's. She attended the 2021 Met Gala in a head-to-toe black Balenciaga ensemble by Demna that famously covered her whole head, including her face. Kim was one of the stars who was heaped with opprobrium after Balenciaga released a controversial ad campaign involving children in 2023. The computer-generated outfit in the clip was based on the outfit Kim wore for her controversial recent runway walk for Balenciaga at Paris Fashion Week Her outfit at the fashion show was a tip of the hat to the famous lace-trim silk nightie Elizabeth Taylor wore in her 1958 movie Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, starring her opposite Paul Newman Some pictures showed children holding teddy-bear-shaped purses that were dressed in what appeared to be bondage gear. One of the snaps was of a bag on a desk strewn with papers - one of which was a United States Supreme Court ruling involving child pornography. A particularly controversial photo showed a child lying down on a couch next to a coffee table with empty wineglasses and Stella Artois chalices. Although Kim was not part of the campaign, her past association with the brand made her a lightning rod for the furious backlash. Under gathering pressure, she issued a statement denouncing the campaign, saying she was 'disgusted' and 'outraged' by the pictures. 'I am currently re-evaluating my relationship with the brand, basing it off their willingness to accept accountability for something that should have never happened to begin with - & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children,' she said, before ultimately retaining her connection to the fashion house. Photo: https://t.me/VadymFilashkin/ Four civilians were killed and six injured in massive Russian shelling across Donetsk region, Ukraine, over the past 24 hours, according to Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration. Two people were wounded and a house damaged in Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk district. One person was injured and a house damaged in Pokrovsk. Two homes were damaged in the Torske community in Toretsk, and another in Novotroitske. A vehicle was damaged in Lyman, Kramatorsk district. Two people were killed and one wounded in Yampil. One person was injured and five houses and a car were destroyed in Zakytne. In Lozove, two houses, three utility buildings, a power line, and a gas pipeline were damaged. Three homes were destroyed in both Torske and Zarichne. A utility building was damaged in Ocheretyne, part of the Oleksandrivska community. In Andriivka, one person was wounded and 15 cars were damaged. In Kostiantynivka, one person was killed and two homes and an administrative building were damaged. Five homes were damaged in Siversk, Bakhmut district. One person was killed and a house damaged in Platonivka. "In total, Russians shelled settlements in Donetsk region 53 times over the past 24 hours. A total of 242 people, including 32 children, were evacuated from frontline areas," Filashkin reported. Newly-single Orlando Bloom brushed off his awkward reunion with ex-fiancee Katy Perry as he headed to Oasis' reunion show in Manchester on Saturday. The English actor, 48, took to his Instagram Stories on Saturday and shared a video of himself singing along to brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, ahead of their second performance in Heaton Park this weekend. Orlando and Katy, 40, confirmed their split earlier this month as they entered a 'new relationship dynamic', but just days later were pictured together at pals Jeff and Lauren Bezos' honeymoon. The Pirates of the Caribbean star seemed in good spirits on social media as he penned: 'Road to Oasis. Could not be more f'in excited,' while travelling to the gig. 'It's gonna be karaoke all night,' he declared as he flashed a smile at the camera. Another snap showed him smiling and singing along to hit Don't Look Back In Anger in the background, as he relaxed on a boat. Newly-single Orlando Bloom, 48, brushed off his awkward reunion with ex-fiancee Katy Perry as he headed to Oasis' reunion show in Manchester on Saturday The Pirates of the Caribbean star seemed in good spirits on social media as he penned: 'Road to Oasis. Could not be more f'in excited' Orlando and Katy began dating in 2016 and got engaged on Valentine's Day 2019, before welcoming their four-year-old daughter Daisy Dove into the world. After the couple were trailed by rumours about the state of their relationship, it was widely reported that they have gone their separate ways. Representatives for the pair have confirmed to DailyMail.com that 'Orlando and Katy have been shifting their relationship over the past many months to focus on co-parenting. They will continue to be seen together as a family, as their shared priority is - and always will be - raising their daughter with love, stability, and mutual respect. The insider further added that the reported breakup had been 'a long time coming' and that their relationship had also been 'tense for months.' On Wednesday, Orlando posted about his reunion with Perry in a carousel of snaps, after awkwardly jetting off holiday together, despite their split. The former couple's daughter Daisy - who turns five next month in August - was also seen with her parents on the Italian getaway. In the wake of their separation, Orlando had whisked himself away to Venice to attend the star-studded nuptials between Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez this past weekend. Katy, who had been a guest at Lauren's bachelorette party in Paris and was also one of the bride's fellow passengers on the controversial all-female Blue Origin space flight launched by Jeff, was not in attendance. On Wednesday, Orlando posted about his reunion with Perry in a carousel of snaps, after awkwardly jetting off holiday with their family , despite their split Orlando and Katy, 40, confirmed their split earlier this month as they entered a 'new relationship dynamic' When it emerged that Orlando was going to the wedding alone, Katy's absence was explained away as a scheduling conflict with her Lifetimes tour in Australia. At the wedding, Orlando was spotted mingling with a number of celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Sydney Sweeney. Fresh from three days partying at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Venice wedding extravaganza, Orlando headed on board Ritz-Carlton's gleaming 794ft Luminara for its inaugural cruise from Rome. Orlando was also recently spotted cosying up to Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, during a water taxi ride as they headed to the airport following the Amazon founder's wedding this past weekend. A separate source recently told DailyMail.com that Katy had been left hurt by Orlando's actions. 'It's disappointing. It's hurtful and annoying. If he's going to behave like an acting-up adolescent, that's on him. She's going to continue to work and take care of Daisy.' They added, 'Katy knows that he's free to do whatever the hell he wants to do, she hoped he'd do it a little more discreetly and thoughtfully. So she's disappointed and sad.' During one of the early shows of her Lifetimes Tour in Mexico City this April, Katy had been seen sobbing while singing her song Pearl about leaving a troubled romance. After news had spread of her split from Orlando, she once again fought back tears while addressing a concert audience in Adelaide, holding her hands in the shape of a heart and saying: 'Thank you, Australia, for always being there for me.' Orlando meanwhile shared cryptic social media posts about 'loneliness' and 'darkness,' intensifying the speculation about his relationship status. He's the most outspoken mechanic on YouTube and that didn't change in an interview with the Daily Mail. Scotty Kilmer, 71, has been fixing cars for 50 years. His grease-stained experience and candid rants have grown his YouTube channel (@scottykilmer) to more than 6.5 million followers, with viewers seeking his no-nonsense repair advice. And now, he's raising even more eyebrows. Kilmer is warning drivers to steer clear of some of America's favorite big vehicles calling some of them 'cr*p' for putting small engines in trucks that demand more grunt. He also thinks some of the most powerful executives are 'idiots' for ongoing parts issues. Here are the vehicles he thinks all new vehicle buyers should avoid: Toyota's big trucks 'The new Toyotas are cr*p,' Kilmer said. Scotty Kilmer, the outspoken mechanic with 50-years worth of car-fixing experience, spoke to Daily Mail about which cars he would avoid at all costs For years, the Japanese auto giant has built its brand image as America's most reliable car company. But Kilmer said its lineup of big trucks and SUVs like the Tundra, Sequoia, 4Runner, and Land Cruiser are now too large for their underpowered motors. The vehicles used to be equipped with giant V8s that Kilmer praised for their longevity. Now, they're propelled by twin-turbo V6s. Toyota made the move to get the cars in line with its goal to reduce fuel emissions in its fleet, but the V6 engines have been recalled several times because of engine debris in the motors. Kilmer alleges the move to smaller engines cuts against the brand's historic focus on reliability. He also says he's seen cheaper parts enter Toyota's supply chain since the onset of Covid-19. 'They were admitting they were no longer rejecting as many parts,' he claimed. 'They were using sub-standard components building their cars. 'Now they have cars where the plastic mirrors melt, paint peels off, and engines are blowing up.' Still, Kilmer says many other cars in Toyota's lineup remain top of the line for vehicle longevity. He praised Toyota's smaller hybrids namely the Camry, RAV4, Prius, and Corolla for their durability. Kilmer said Toyota's move to swap out gas-guzzling V-8 engines for smaller V-6 engines has put too much strain on the cars Kilmer said the Tundra, once one of the most reliable pickups in the US market, has quickly lost its reputation for reliability 'Toyota really makes the best hybrid, they're still pretty indestructible,' he said. 'They're still making a lot of good stuff. But they also made decisions just to save money.' Toyota didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Kilmer's claims. American-made Fords Last year, America's best-selling vehicle was the Ford F-Series pickup truck, with over 730,000 units sold. It's also one of the top 50 most American-made vehicles at US dealerships. Ford has consistently claimed that 80 percent of its vehicles are assembled in the United States. But Kilmer says Ford's US manufacturing is part of its problem. He even took a shot at the company's top boss, Jim Farley. 'Farley, that idiot that runs Ford, he says: "they told me people don't want to work for us because they can make more money working at a Walmart," Kilmer said, claiming employees are making $17 an hour in the factories. 'Does he think they will do a good job? Of course not! Go to a Walmart and see the idiots that work there. You think they'll work in a factory and do a good job? Of course not.' The mechanic pointed out that Ford is this year's most-recalled auto manufacturer in the US by a long shot, with the company reporting a bevy of parts issues. Kilmer called Ford's top boss an 'idiot' and said the company's US employees are underpaid The mechanic said customers should avoid today's new pickup truck market At writing, the company has issued 89 recalls with the NHTSA. Chrysler is the second-most recalled brand with just 18 safety postings. Ford previously told Daily Mail that nearly half those product bulletins were over-the-air software updates that didn't require any changes for owners. Ford declined to comment on Kilmer's analysis. A new truck... no matter the maker Kilmer said he wouldn't recommend a single new pickup currently on the US market. Just like Toyota, he says other automakers have prioritized fuel efficiency at the expense of reliability. He argues that today's trucks are plagued with recalls and parts problems caused by supply chain disruptions, staffing changes at US plants, and poor management decisions. Instead, he recommends drivers who need a bed on the back of their new set of wheels head to the pre-owned lot. 'I'd say get a good used truck, don't even buy a new one,' he said. For pre-owned vehicles, he suggests Toyota Tundras with a model year older than 2024, Toyota Tacomas built before 2023, Nissan Fronteirs made in 2023, and the now-defunct Nissan Titan. 'A Nissan pickup truck isn't bad because its going to cost less than half of the Toyota,' he advised. After 50 years under the hood, Kilmer says today's trucks just aren't built to last and no brand is safe from his wrath. Taylor Wimpey plc (LON:TW Get Free Report) insider Jennie Daly acquired 134 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 8th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 112 ($1.51) per share, for a total transaction of 150.08 ($202.46). Jennie Daly also recently made the following trade(s): Get Taylor Wimpey alerts: On Monday, June 9th, Jennie Daly acquired 130 shares of Taylor Wimpey stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 115 ($1.55) per share, for a total transaction of 149.50 ($201.67). Taylor Wimpey Trading Up 0.4% TW opened at GBX 112.65 ($1.52) on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 118.06 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 115.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.79, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 5.08. The company has a market capitalization of 4.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 1.81. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth TW has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered Taylor Wimpey to a sector perform rating and cut their price objective for the stock from GBX 150 ($2.02) to GBX 135 ($1.82) in a research note on Wednesday. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 150 ($2.02) target price on shares of Taylor Wimpey in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Taylor Wimpey Taylor Wimpey Company Profile (Get Free Report) Taylor Wimpey plc operates as a homebuilder in the United Kingdom and Spain. It builds and delivers various homes and communities. Taylor Wimpey plc was incorporated in 1935 and is based in High Wycombe, the United Kingdom. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Taylor Wimpey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taylor Wimpey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clearwater Paper (NYSE:CLW Get Free Report) and Sappi (OTCMKTS:SPPJY Get Free Report) are both small-cap basic materials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership and valuation. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Clearwater Paper and Sappi, as reported by MarketBeat. Get Clearwater Paper alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Clearwater Paper 0 0 1 0 3.00 Sappi 0 0 0 0 0.00 Clearwater Paper currently has a consensus target price of $37.00, indicating a potential upside of 23.93%. Given Clearwater Papers stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Clearwater Paper is more favorable than Sappi. Volatility and Risk Earnings & Valuation Clearwater Paper has a beta of 0.1, meaning that its share price is 90% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Sappi has a beta of 0.75, meaning that its share price is 25% less volatile than the S&P 500. This table compares Clearwater Paper and Sappis revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Clearwater Paper $1.38 billion 0.35 $196.30 million $10.33 2.89 Sappi $5.46 billion 0.17 $33.00 million $0.30 5.63 Clearwater Paper has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Sappi. Clearwater Paper is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Sappi, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares Clearwater Paper and Sappis net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Clearwater Paper 9.90% -5.76% -2.10% Sappi 3.25% 9.35% 3.91% Insider & Institutional Ownership 90.0% of Clearwater Paper shares are held by institutional investors. 3.6% of Clearwater Paper shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of Sappi shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Summary Clearwater Paper beats Sappi on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About Clearwater Paper (Get Free Report) Clearwater Paper Corporation manufactures and supplies bleached paperboards, and consumer and parent roll tissues in the United States and internationally. It operates through Pulp and Paperboard, and Consumer Products segments. The Pulp and Paperboard segment manufactures and markets bleached paperboard; Solid Bleached Sulfate paperboard that is used to produce folding cartons, liquid packaging, cups and plates, blister and carded packaging, and top sheet and commercial printing items; and hardwood and softwood pulp, as well as offers services that include custom sheeting, slitting, and cutting. It sells its products to carton converters, folding carton converters, merchants, and commercial printers. The Consumer Products segment provides a line of at-home tissue products, including bath tissues, paper towels, facial tissues, and napkins; recycled fiber value grade products; and away-from-home tissues. This segment sells its products to retailers, including grocery, club, mass merchants, and discount stores. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is based in Spokane, Washington. About Sappi (Get Free Report) Sappi Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of materials made from woodfiber-based renewable resources in Europe, North America, and South Africa. The company manufacture and sells dissolving pulp, and wood and paper pulp; graphic papers, coated and uncoated papers, and casting and release papers; and packaging and specialty papers, including packaging and specialty papers, including flexible packaging papers, label papers, functional paper packaging products, containerboards, paperboards, silicone base papers, and dye sublimation papers. It also provides biomaterials, such as valida, lignin, furfural, and sweeteners, as well as forestry products; and engages in the treasury and insurance business. The company was founded in 1936 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. Receive News & Ratings for Clearwater Paper Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clearwater Paper and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kion Group (OTCMKTS:KIGRY Get Free Report) is one of 24 publicly-traded companies in the Industrial Services industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Kion Group to related companies based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, valuation, risk, profitability, dividends, institutional ownership and earnings. Volatility and Risk Kion Group has a beta of 2.02, suggesting that its stock price is 102% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Kion Groups peers have a beta of 1.16, suggesting that their average stock price is 16% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get Kion Group alerts: Profitability This table compares Kion Group and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Kion Group 1.80% 3.37% 1.12% Kion Group Competitors -13.96% 10.84% 3.41% Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Kion Group 0 0 1 3 3.75 Kion Group Competitors 348 870 979 33 2.31 This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Kion Group and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.com. As a group, Industrial Services companies have a potential upside of 6.48%. Given Kion Groups peers higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Kion Group has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Kion Group and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Kion Group $12.45 billion $389.88 million 37.35 Kion Group Competitors $9.76 billion $637.30 million 18.40 Kion Group has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its peers. Kion Group is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Insider and Institutional Ownership 57.2% of shares of all Industrial Services companies are held by institutional investors. 19.0% of shares of all Industrial Services companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Dividends Kion Group pays an annual dividend of $0.14 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Kion Group pays out 33.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Industrial Services companies pay a dividend yield of 1.2% and pay out 31.6% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Kion Group lags its peers as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio. Summary Kion Group peers beat Kion Group on 9 of the 15 factors compared. Kion Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) KION GROUP AG provides industrial trucks and supply chain solutions worldwide. The company operates in Industrial Trucks & Services and Supply Chain Solutions segments. It offers forklift trucks, counterbalance trucks with electric drive and internal combustion engine, ride-on and hand-operated warehouse trucks, automated guided vehicle systems (AGVs), and towing vehicles under the Linde, STILL, Baoli, Fenwick, and OM brands. The company also manufactures and sells spare parts; leases and rents industrial trucks and related items; and offers maintenance and repair, and fleet management services, as well as provides finance solutions. In addition, it provides integrated technology and software solutions, including automated guided vehicle systems, palletizers, storage and picking equipment, automated storage and retrieval systems, sorters, and conveyors under the Dematic brand. The company was formerly known as KION Holding 1 GmbH. KION GROUP AG was founded in 2006 and is based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Receive News & Ratings for Kion Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kion Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Family Firm Inc. decreased its stake in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report) by 2.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 6,080 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 179 shares during the quarter. Family Firm Inc.s holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $436,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Investment Counsel Co. of Nevada purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. BNP Paribas purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Rakuten Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 126.7% during the 4th quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 424 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 237 shares during the period. Parvin Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC raised its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 63.7% during the 4th quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 496 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 193 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.90% of the companys stock. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance Shares of Wells Fargo & Company stock opened at $82.55 on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company has a one year low of $50.15 and a one year high of $83.95. The company has a market cap of $268.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.82, a PEG ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.84. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $76.41 and its 200 day moving average price is $73.85. Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Friday, April 11th. The financial services provider reported $1.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.23 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $20.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.82 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.15% and a net margin of 16.19%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.20 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 EPS for the current year. Wells Fargo & Company announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, April 29th that allows the company to buyback $40.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to buy up to 17.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 9th were paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 9th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.94%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 28.73%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Evercore ISI reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Tuesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $82.00 to $73.50 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 3rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $77.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. Raymond James Financial lowered Wells Fargo & Company from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Phillip Securities raised Wells Fargo & Company from a moderate buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $80.13. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Wells Fargo & Company About Wells Fargo & Company (Free Report) Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 9,086 shares of the oil and gas companys stock, valued at approximately $1,081,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. 10Elms LLP purchased a new position in shares of Exxon Mobil during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Capital A Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Exxon Mobil during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Cloud Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Exxon Mobil during the 1st quarter worth approximately $45,000. Clarity Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 29.7% during the 4th quarter. Clarity Asset Management Inc. now owns 437 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Banque de Luxembourg S.A. purchased a new position in shares of Exxon Mobil during the 4th quarter worth approximately $51,000. 61.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Exxon Mobil Price Performance Shares of NYSE:XOM opened at $115.40 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $108.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $108.78. The stock has a market cap of $497.33 billion, a PE ratio of 15.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.24. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a one year low of $97.80 and a one year high of $126.34. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, May 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.73 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $83.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $86.11 billion. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 12.06% and a net margin of 9.49%. Exxon Mobils quarterly revenue was up .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.06 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th were issued a dividend of $0.99 per share. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 15th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.52%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on XOM shares. Piper Sandler increased their target price on Exxon Mobil from $131.00 to $134.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a sector perform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $141.00 to $138.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Wall Street Zen raised Exxon Mobil from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, June 27th. Finally, Scotiabank raised their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $115.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a sector outperform rating in a research note on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $126.05. View Our Latest Analysis on Exxon Mobil Exxon Mobil Company Profile (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC reduced its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report) by 4.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 53,316 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,316 shares during the quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF were worth $5,332,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Breakwater Investment Management purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Bellwether Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 9,900.0% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 400 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 396 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Price Performance Shares of EFG opened at $110.54 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $109.46 and its 200 day moving average price is $103.69. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a 12-month low of $88.66 and a 12-month high of $112.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.00 billion, a PE ratio of 24.98 and a beta of 0.96. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Profile iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lane & Associates LLC decreased its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 2.3% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 2,537 shares of the companys stock after selling 59 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company comprises 1.1% of Lane & Associates LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Lane & Associates LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $2,095,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Garner Asset Management Corp raised its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Garner Asset Management Corp now owns 532 shares of the companys stock valued at $411,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 22.0% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 9,597 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,409,000 after acquiring an additional 1,730 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,471 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,136,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Orion Capital Management LLC grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Orion Capital Management LLC now owns 1,610 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,243,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 64,758 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,993,000 after acquiring an additional 2,568 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 0.3% Shares of NYSE LLY opened at $793.34 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $751.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 64.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 0.40. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1-year low of $677.09 and a 1-year high of $972.53. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $766.39 and a 200 day moving average price of $799.99. Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The company reported $3.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.64 by ($1.30). Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 85.51% and a net margin of 22.67%. The company had revenue of $12.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.77 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.58 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 45.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be paid a $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.82%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have commented on LLY. Erste Group Bank downgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, June 5th. UBS Group cut their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,100.00 to $1,050.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. HSBC downgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a reduce rating and cut their price objective for the company from $1,150.00 to $700.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Guggenheim upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $936.00 to $942.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $1,012.56. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on LLY About Eli Lilly and Company (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Photo: ttps://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine/ The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) is actively supporting victims of Russia's latest aerial attacks at the sites in Chernivtsi, Lviv, and Lutsk. "In Chernivtsi, the URCS rapid response team worked alongside emergency services at the site of a strike," the organization reported on Facebook on Saturday. Volunteers provided essential aid to victims, including initial psychological support to 20 people. Two individuals with limited mobility were evacuated from a damaged residential building to nearby communities. A URCS assistance point was set up on site, offering first aid, psychological support, and basic needs like tea and water to both victims and responders. According to Ukraine's State Emergency Service, the drone attack in Chernivtsi resulted in two fatalities and 14 injuries of varying severity. Administrative buildings, homes, and vehicles were damaged. In Lviv, URCS volunteers established a relief point at one of the locations affected by the enemy attack, providing first aid, psychological support, and humanitarian assistance. According to the Lviv City Council, six people were injured, including an 11-year-old child. Two industrial facilities and multiple residential buildings sustained damage, with over 500 windows shattered. Three buildings of Lviv Polytechnic University, several city courts, more than 20 small and medium-sized businesses, and over 20 vehicles were also damaged. In Volyn region, the URCS rapid response team worked on the ground in Lutsk, going door to door to assess damage and assist residents of affected buildings. They remained on standby to administer first aid. The Volyn regional URCS team is currently distributing plastic sheeting for residents to temporarily cover broken windows. According to the Volyn Regional Military Administration, debris from a downed drone destroyed a private residential building, while neighboring homes also had shattered windows and damaged vehicles. The fire caused by the strike was extinguished. No casualties were reported. The glass was gone, swept up like some bourgeois after-party shame. Only a ghostly pink smear clung to the stucco like lipstick on a corpse, remnants of a short, sharp war fought on the sacred tiles of a Starbucks in Condesa. The battle cry of the disenchanted and disenfranchised was clear: Fuera Gringos! they shouted in unison. The war was brief, frenzied, furious, and absurdly caffeinated. And, make no mistake, the damage had been done. The line between latte and class war had been crossed. VIDEO | Luxury stores and some U.S.-based restaurants were vandalized during an anti-gentrification protest in Mexico City. Thousands are protesting the displacement of Mexican residents due to rising housing costs. pic.twitter.com/0vJ1zNwL8G Antifa_Ultras (@ultras_antifaa) July 7, 2025 It was just another pleasant Friday in gentrified Mexico City, gringos in wide-brim hats sipping flat whites, their MacBooks open like little capitalist altars, when the Anti-Gentrification Front descended like a demented Marxist punk rock cavalry. FUERA GRINGOS Es la protesta contra la gentrificacion en la Condesa, en la CDMX. Reclaman que, por los extranjeros, los capitalinos se quedan sin vivienda, todo sube de precio y desplazan a los pobres a las orillas de la Ciudad. pic.twitter.com/lTt1eGBgJY EL GALLO MX (@elgalloomx) July 5, 2025 A procession of the disenchanted Zapatistas, the priced-out, furious locals and their Marxist sympathisers, chanting slogans and swinging signs like clubs. This was a planned hit on the glossy heart of global suburbia. The fuck the gringo modus operandi here was if the vile capitalist swine Trump is kicking Mexicans out of the USA, then Mexicans would kick the moneyed gringos out of Mexico. They didnt come for the coffee. They came for the symbols, the beige, tastefully air-conditioned Instagram occupation of foreign wealth infiltrating their proud nation. And when they reached the Starbucks? Boom. The sound of glass exploding like liberation. Chairs went airborne. Delicate pastries were looted and launched into the crowd like carbs of righteous vengeance. Some bearded hipster in a floral shirt and sandals barista hit the deck. Someone screamed. Probably in English. Meanwhile, in Mexico they want to kill the gringo because the rent is too high pic.twitter.com/lvnflpDUIn Karli Bonne (@KarluskaP) July 5, 2025 Signs waved in the hot smog: Expat = Gentrifier! and Gentrification is Colonisation! It was performance art. It was revolution. It was a targeted cultural exorcism with matcha foam. The internet went nuclear. Videos of fallen muffins and sobbing freelancers lit up social feeds, sparking another round of navel-gazing among the digital nomads, land speculators, and shister local liberals. What had gone wrong in the land of mezcal and imported almond milk? The truth? This war didnt start last Friday. It began during the pandemic, when hordes of restless gringos those pandemic-weary cyber pilgrims fled lockdown cities and descended on CDMX like an inglorious plague of iPhone-wielding locusts. Mexico, with its open borders and closed mouths, offered cheap rent, good weather, and no questions asked. Roma and Condesa became colonies of avocado toast. Spanish retreated. English dominated. Concept stores popped up like fucking mushrooms selling incense, vinyl, and fashion that looked like it was curated by some hallucinating AI on Ayahuasca. And the food? It pivoted hard. Some locals claim you cant even find proper Mexican grade tacos any more without scanning a QR code and answering three questions in English. Back at ground zero, the Starbucks had reopened sort of. Half-full. And eerily whitewashed. This is the gentrification paradox: locals feeding off the suppurating golden teat of global capital while also choking on its lactose. Political analysts pointed out the geopolitical symbolism. The protest happened on July 4, Independence Day for the empire up north. Trump was back in the White House, ICE raids were back on the menu, and some protesters even carried Palestinian flags, making this a war of optics as much as economics. The United States, true to form, responded with weaponised snark. Homeland Security posted a message that only Kafka could love: If you are in the United States illegally and wish to join the next protest in Mexico City, use the CBP Home app to facilitate your departure. https://t.co/P2vKuhbp65 Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 6, 2025 Because nothing says freedom like app-based deportation. And so here we are on the bleeding edge of a latte-fuelled class insurrection, where the front lines run through upscale bakeries, boutique hotels and globalised yoga studios. The revolution might not be televised, but it will be livestreamed. In 4K. With subtitles. God help us all. Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/ Russia launched 26 cruise missiles and 597 drones against Ukraine overnight, most of which were destroyed, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported Saturday morning. "Last night, Russia's strikes extended from the Kharkiv and Sumy regions to the Lviv region and Bukovyna. 26 cruise missiles and 597 attack drones were launched, more than half of them were "shaheds." More than 20 missiles and the vast majority of drones were destroyed. I thank our air defense forces for this result," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. The president expressed condolences over the deaths in Chernivtsi: "Sadly, there were hits on civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings. As of now, 2 people have been reported killed in Chernivtsi. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Around 20 more people injured in the attack are receiving all the necessary assistance." He also stressed the need for urgent international action: "The pace of Russias aerial strikes demands swift decisions and it can be curbed through sanctions right now. Tough secondary sanctions are needed against everyone helping the Russians produce drones and profiteer from oil. More air defense systems are needed, along with investments in interceptor drones, which are already delivering good results. This war can only be stopped through strength. We expect not just signals from our partners, but actions that will save lives," Zelenskyy said. Bob Marley Bob Marley and the Wailers Survival, often described as the Reggae groups most defiant and politically charged album, is now certified Gold in the United Kingdom. According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), the album, released in October 1979 as the groups 11th studio project, was issued the BRIT Certified Gold award on Friday, July 11, after it sold more than 100,000 copies in the UK as measured by The Official Charts Company. From the outset, Survival was unapologetically militant. According to Marleys official website, the 10-track album was controversial even in its packaging: the jacket, by the late art director Neville Garrick, featured the flags of African nations and a stark diagram of a transatlantic slave ships hold a visual reminder of Africas stolen generations. The music inside matched the imagery, addressing the struggles of African liberation movements and calling listeners to action. The A-side delivered some of Marleys most potent anthems: So Much Trouble in the World, Zimbabwe, Top Rankin, Babylon System, and the title track Survival. The B-side continued with Africa Unite, One Drop, Ride Natty Ride, Ambush in the Night, and the rousing closer Wake Up and Live, co-written with Anthony Sangie Davis. The seeds of Survival were planted during Marleys time in Africa in 1978. As documented by Stephen Davis 1983 biography, Marley had traveled to Ethiopia and immersed himself in the history and struggles of the continent, visiting Shashamane, attending pro-liberation concerts, and absorbing the political climate in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. He saw firsthand the impact of colonialism and white-minority rule, particularly in then-Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). When Marley returned to Jamaica, he threw himself into recording at Tuff Gong Studio. Sessions for the album then tentatively titled Black Survival were intense. It took six months to complete the new album. Bob wanted it to sound as hot and as black as Stevie Wonders sounded. And when it was released that summer as Survival, in order to appeal to Bobs white audience as well as the new black one he was courting, he got his wish. The music made at Tuff Gong studio was so alive that it seemed to jump out of the speakers, Davis wrote. Notably, the song Zimbabwe, written before the countrys liberation, became an anthem of freedom for the people of Rhodesia, and Marley famously performed it at the countrys independence celebrations in April 1980. Survival also marked a new chapter for Marley in his outreach to black audiences outside Jamaica. His 1979 tour supporting the album included the Apollo Theater in Harlem, a symbolic return to black America, where Marley sought to strengthen ties between the African and African-American struggles. This latest Gold certification adds to Marleys impressive UK achievements. The albums Catch a Fire (1973), Natty Dread (1974), Rastaman Vibration (1976), Exodus (1977), Kaya (1978), and Uprising (1980) are also currently certified Gold in the country. During the night of July 1112, Russia launched a combined attack on several Ukrainian cities using attack UAVs, cruise missiles, and aerial bombs. Two people were killed in Chernivtsi Region and two more in Dnipropetrovsk Region. Pre-trial investigations into war crimes have been launched, the Prosecutor General's Office reported. "At dawn on July 12, Russia launched a strike on Chernivtsi Region using a cruise missile and unmanned aerial vehicles. According to preliminary information, two people a 43-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were killed. Two others are in critical condition, and ten suffered minor injuries," a statement of the Prosecutor General's Office in Chernivtsi Region on Telegram reads. The strikes in Chernivtsi damaged a kindergarten, a nine-story apartment building, residential homes, administrative buildings, shops, and cars. In the Storozhynetska territorial community, a house and a vehicle were damaged. No injuries have been reported there so far. On the morning of July 12, the enemy attacked the Velykomykhailivska territorial community in Synelnykove district, Dnipropetrovsk region. Two people were killed, and a private home and a vehicle were damaged. A strike damaged an industrial enterprise and a residential building in the city of Lviv. Blast waves also damaged premises of district courts and another residential property. No injuries were reported. Russian forces launched a combined assault on the Kyivsky district of the city of Kharkiv. Aerial bombs hit civilian infrastructure, causing fires. Russian drones also attacked the city. A garage caught fire, vehicles and street lighting systems were damaged, and residential windows were shattered. Three men, aged 33, 47, and 55, were injured in the strikes. Under the procedural guidance of prosecutors in Chernivtsi, Lviv, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions and district offices, pre-trial investigations have been launched under Article 438 of Ukraine's Criminal Code (violation of the laws and customs of war). Louisiana-Pacific (NYSE:LPX Get Free Report) is one of 15 public companies in the BLDG PRD WOOD industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Louisiana-Pacific to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, earnings and valuation. Get Louisiana-Pacific alerts: Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Louisiana-Pacific and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Louisiana-Pacific 2 2 4 0 2.25 Louisiana-Pacific Competitors 189 1159 1099 48 2.40 Louisiana-Pacific currently has a consensus price target of $106.13, suggesting a potential upside of 14.27%. As a group, BLDG PRD WOOD companies have a potential upside of 19.81%. Given Louisiana-Pacifics peers stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Louisiana-Pacific has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Louisiana-Pacific 13.74% 23.75% 15.50% Louisiana-Pacific Competitors 7.65% 10.27% 6.04% Dividends This table compares Louisiana-Pacific and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Louisiana-Pacific pays an annual dividend of $1.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.2%. Louisiana-Pacific pays out 19.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BLDG PRD WOOD companies pay a dividend yield of 1.7% and pay out 36.6% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Louisiana-Pacific has increased its dividend for 7 consecutive years. Institutional and Insider Ownership 94.7% of Louisiana-Pacific shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.9% of shares of all BLDG PRD WOOD companies are held by institutional investors. 1.4% of Louisiana-Pacific shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 4.4% of shares of all BLDG PRD WOOD companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Risk & Volatility Louisiana-Pacific has a beta of 1.84, indicating that its share price is 84% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Louisiana-Pacifics peers have a beta of 1.43, indicating that their average share price is 43% more volatile than the S&P 500. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Louisiana-Pacific and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Louisiana-Pacific $2.94 billion $420.00 million 16.29 Louisiana-Pacific Competitors $4.92 billion $297.37 million -13.09 Louisiana-Pacifics peers have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Louisiana-Pacific. Louisiana-Pacific is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Summary Louisiana-Pacific beats its peers on 9 of the 15 factors compared. About Louisiana-Pacific (Get Free Report) Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides building solutions primarily for use in new home construction, repair and remodeling, and outdoor structure markets. It operates through Siding, Oriented Strand Board, LP South America, and Other segments. The Siding segment offers LP SmartSide trim and siding products, LP SmartSide ExpertFinish trim and siding products, LP BuilderSeries lap siding products, and LP Outdoor Building Solutions; and engineered wood siding, trim, soffit, and fascia products. Its Oriented Strand Board segment manufactures and distributes oriented strand board structural panel products comprising LP TechShield radiant barriers, LP WeatherLogic air and water barriers, LP Legacy premium sub-flooring products, LP NovaCore, LP FlameBlock fire-rated sheathing products, and LP TopNotch sub-flooring products. The LP South America segment manufactures and distributes oriented strand board structural panel and siding products. This segment distributes and sells related products for the region's transition to wood frame construction. It offers timber and timberlands and other products and services. sells its products primarily to retailers, wholesalers, and homebuilding and industrial businesses in North America and South America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. The company was incorporated in 1972 and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Receive News & Ratings for Louisiana-Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Louisiana-Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas lowered its stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP Free Report) by 33.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 26,426 shares of the companys stock after selling 13,434 shares during the period. Teacher Retirement System of Texas holdings in Molson Coors Beverage were worth $1,609,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Get Molson Coors Beverage alerts: Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Randolph Co Inc lifted its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 26.2% during the 4th quarter. Randolph Co Inc now owns 477,187 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,352,000 after acquiring an additional 98,984 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 123.3% during the 4th quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 18,258 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,047,000 after acquiring an additional 10,080 shares during the period. Kendall Capital Management lifted its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 42.7% during the 1st quarter. Kendall Capital Management now owns 19,995 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,217,000 after acquiring an additional 5,985 shares during the period. Estuary Capital Management LP bought a new position in Molson Coors Beverage during the 4th quarter valued at about $39,052,000. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 7.7% during the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 22,330 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,352,000 after acquiring an additional 1,606 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.46% of the companys stock. Molson Coors Beverage Trading Up 0.5% Shares of TAP opened at $50.04 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average is $52.02 and its 200 day moving average is $55.95. Molson Coors Beverage Company has a fifty-two week low of $46.94 and a fifty-two week high of $64.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.12 billion, a PE ratio of 10.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.89. Molson Coors Beverage Dividend Announcement Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.80 by ($0.30). Molson Coors Beverage had a return on equity of 8.59% and a net margin of 7.74%. The business had revenue of $2.30 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.43 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.95 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Molson Coors Beverage Company will post 6.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 20th. Investors of record on Friday, June 6th were given a $0.47 dividend. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.76%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 6th. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio is presently 37.83%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth TAP has been the topic of several recent research reports. Bank of America cut shares of Molson Coors Beverage from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $65.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Friday, June 27th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Molson Coors Beverage from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, May 17th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $63.00 to $58.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Roth Capital set a $71.00 price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $63.00 to $59.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $60.12. View Our Latest Analysis on Molson Coors Beverage Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Geoffrey E. Molson sold 1,333 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.29, for a total value of $75,034.57. Following the sale, the director owned 27,595 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,553,322.55. The trade was a 4.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 2.71% of the companys stock. About Molson Coors Beverage (Free Report) Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, spirits and energy, and ready to drink beverages. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Molson Coors Beverage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molson Coors Beverage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Get AES alerts: The AES Corporation (NYSE:AES Free Report) Stock analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q2 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of AES in a report released on Thursday, July 10th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the utilities provider will post earnings per share of $0.46 for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $0.48. The consensus estimate for AESs current full-year earnings is $1.93 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for AESs Q4 2025 earnings at $0.77 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $0.44 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $0.52 EPS and Q1 2027 earnings at $0.39 EPS. A number of other brokerages have also issued reports on AES. Argus restated a hold rating on shares of AES in a research note on Tuesday, May 27th. HSBC reduced their target price on AES from $15.00 to $14.00 in a research note on Monday, May 5th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered AES from a hold rating to an underperform rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $10.00 to $9.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Citigroup reduced their target price on AES from $23.00 to $14.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered AES from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, May 24th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $24.22. AES Stock Performance Shares of AES stock opened at $12.61 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.42, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.78. The business has a fifty day moving average of $10.96 and a 200 day moving average of $11.22. AES has a 1 year low of $9.46 and a 1 year high of $20.30. AES (NYSE:AES Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The utilities provider reported $0.27 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.37 by ($0.10). The business had revenue of $2.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.13 billion. AES had a return on equity of 18.06% and a net margin of 10.67%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.60 EPS. Hedge Funds Weigh In On AES Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Optiver Holding B.V. increased its stake in shares of AES by 79.5% in the 4th quarter. Optiver Holding B.V. now owns 2,711 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 1,201 shares in the last quarter. Garde Capital Inc. purchased a new position in shares of AES in the 1st quarter valued at about $35,000. CVA Family Office LLC increased its stake in shares of AES by 200.6% in the 1st quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 3,250 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 2,169 shares in the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in shares of AES in the 1st quarter valued at about $40,000. Finally, McIlrath & Eck LLC increased its stake in shares of AES by 760.4% in the 4th quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 3,347 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 2,958 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.13% of the companys stock. AES Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, August 1st will be paid a $0.176 dividend. This represents a $0.70 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.58%. AESs dividend payout ratio is presently 38.04%. About AES (Get Free Report) The AES Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified power generation and utility company in the United States and internationally. The company owns and/or operates power plants to generate and sell power to customers, such as utilities, industrial users, and other intermediaries; owns and/or operates utilities to generate or purchase, distribute, transmit, and sell electricity to end-user customers in the residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental sectors; and generates and sells electricity on the wholesale market. See Also Receive News & Ratings for AES Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AES and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mayor of Derry and Strabane Ruairi McHugh has joined calls for the Dublin Government to reverse the decision to deny visas to 33 Palestinian children who had been due to visit Ireland to enjoy our national games here. Mayor McHugh said: "These children have worked so hard over the last year to learn our national games under the most horrendous conditions and they had been greatly looking forward to this visit. "Gaels throughout the country, including many from our own council area have been fundraising and preparing events to provide respite for these children from the horor they are enduring in their homeland of Palestine. "The decision to deny visas to these children has unsurprisingly caused great anger and upset to many throughout our district and beyond. "I am calling on the Dublin Government to listen to those voices, to show compassion and decency and to ensure visas are secured and these children are welcomed to our shores." Twenty-seven-year-old woman killed in Russian artillery attack on Ukrainian city of Nikopol A 27-year-old woman was killed and two others were injured in a Russian artillery strike on Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, regional governor Serhiy Lysak reported. "A 27-year-old woman was killed in Nikopol. The enemy took her life by shelling the city with heavy artillery. Two more people were injured. A 35-year-old man was hospitalized in moderate condition. An 86-year-old woman is receiving outpatient treatment," Lysak wrote on Telegram on Saturday. The attack also caused damage to private homes, outbuildings, vehicles, and power lines. Tens of thousands are set to take to the streets across Northern Ireland for the Orange Orders annual July 12 parades. The festivities will be spread across 19 main locations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne where the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. It comes after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. On Sunday morning, an Orange Order parade has been permitted to pass Ardoyne shops in north Belfast restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. It is a return parade at a former flashpoint which traditionally took place on the evening of July 12 often resulting in violent scenes. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13 events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh will take place on Monday. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James. While most of the bonfires passed off peacefully, there was condemnation after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone. Pictures of the Irish rap band Kneecap and Irish flags were also burned on other pyres. But the most contentious bonfire was located on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity sub station off the Donegall Road in south Belfast. Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, around 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff will be working on July 12. On the 11th night, around 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was 6.1 million last year, a figure that was up 1.5 million on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is due to falling police numbers and the resultant increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has urged mutual respect in the marking of events. These celebrations and others that occur throughout the year are a valued part of Northern Irelands local history and culture, he said. They can and should be occasions where communities come together in a spirit of inclusiveness and pride, through local traditions. Mutual respect is the foundation of strong, safe communities. There is no place for hate or intimidationonly space for celebration that welcomes and celebrates not divides. Our officers will be on the ground throughout the weekend, working in partnership with community leaders, event organisers, and local representatives to support lawful, peaceful, and family-friendly events. However where necessary, we will take firm and proportionate action to keep people safe. Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone. Lets ensure that this weekend reflects the very best of our communities: proud, respectful, and united. Irelands deputy premier Simon Harris has described an announcement from Donald Trump that the European Union and Mexico will face a 30% tariff on imports to the US from August as deeply regrettable. The US president warned he would impose even higher import taxes if either of the US trading partners decided to retaliate. A statement on behalf of the Tanaiste said: Simon Harris has taken note of the letter issued by the US today. This is deeply regrettable. He shares in the disappointment expressed by President (Ursula) Von Der Leyen and Commissioner (Maros) Sefcovic, with whom he remains in close contact. Mr Harris said: There is no necessity to escalate the situation or to further increase the additional tariffs which have been imposed on the EU. The Government strongly supports the efforts by the European Commission to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with the US. The EU is at the negotiating table and will remain there. Now is the time to redouble our efforts and to seek to achieve positive results in the time available. The EU will remain united and focused as negotiations continue between now and 1 August. This will also be my continuing focus for the period ahead. On Monday I will meet with the US ambassador to Ireland and will continue to engage with colleagues across the EU in the days ahead. I also intend on updating colleagues further at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. In May 2025 I returned to a country I knew as East Timor. I had served there as a cook with the Army Ranger Wing in 2000. Since independence it is now called Timor-Leste. I was happily surprised at the improvement 25 years on, from a war-torn place of dereliction, smoke and fear to five-star hotels, clean air and safe streets. I was accompanied on my trip by Vivienne Watters, from Dundalk. The purpose of my journey was to keep a promise to a great man named Paddy Kenneally. Paddy was an Irishman in the Australian Army who fought against the Japanese in Timor during World War 2. After the war he helped politically campaign for East Timors independence in Australia, and returned to Timor as a spy helping Falintil resistance fighters against the Indonesian occupiers. Paddy travelled to our Irish base in Taroman in 2000, and we became friends,. He asked me to return to East Timor, to not let he or his WW2 unit known as Sparrow Force- ever be forgotten, I promised Paddy I would do my best, and 25 years later I returned to honour my promise. I was attached to a platoon of Army Ranger Wing deployed to East Timor in early 2000. After a positive vote for independence in 1999 by the East Timorese from Indonesia, the Indonesian occupiers responded with terror and destruction. We were there to prevent the violence, stabilise the situation and contribute to East Timor being free. Our base was on a mountainside overlooking a jungle below; the village nearby was called Taroman. The first time I saw Paddy he wore a straw hat and a green chequered shirt, and I was struck by how unusual it was to see someone in his 80s in this theatre of operations, so agile and confident. I offered him a cup of Irish tea; we sat down together and chatted. Through his stories I knew Paddy considered East Timors struggles against colonial powers as similar to Ireland's history. The Rangers treated Paddy like royalty, and our Captain even gave up his own bed so Paddy could sleep comfortably, He was shown great respect. Soldiers such as Ray Goggins, Robert Stafford and Ger Reidy who later starred on the RTE show Ultimate Hell Week - all deferred to the elder warrior in the room. Paddy told us about his time with the Sparrow Force regiment and how hed fought against the Japanese in a guerilla type war effort during WW2, and how the Australians had mistakenly thought all of its forces had been captured by the Japanese. The 2/2nd Independent Company (which Paddy was part of) had in actual fact fought on, evading capture and causing chaos with the help of the local population. During the Indonesian occupation, Paddy would travel to East Timor on his Irish passport and returned to Australia with intelligence from the resistance movement (Falintil) smuggled inside his shoes. He was arrested and interrogated a several times by the Indonesians. A lifelong friendship was formed between Paddy and I. Over the years, we wrote letters and had phone calls. Before he died, he made me promise not to let the story of Sparrow Force and his part in it be forgotten, and to inform an Irish audience about that story, He greatly hoped that I would return myself some day. Paddy died aged 93 in 2009. In tribute, President Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste said: "What an amazing man God gave us in Paddy; a man of courage, serenity, compassion, loyalty and joy. I sit here in a free and independent Timor-Leste and think how blessed we are to have had such great friends like Paddy Kenneally." Tom Hyland, Irish East Timor solidarity leader, called Paddy a noble warrior who proved that an individual can make a difference. For years, I wondered how best to keep that promise to Paddy, what form it should take precisely. I eventually decided I would return with Vivienne to Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor) and include self-care in the process. Timor Awakening is an Australian charity set up to care for military veterans by Major Michael Stone (retired Australian army). They provide participants with a holistic outdoor adventure, counselling and an opportunity to work manually improving school facilities in a deprived area of Timor-Leste for children living in poverty. Vivienne and I applied and were accepted to join their TA 31st group excursion to Timor-Leste. Our week consisted of early morning group therapy, physical activity and different trips around Timor-Leste. We climbed Mount Ramelau to catch the sunrise and had a group prayer at the summit. We visited Sparrow Force war sites and swam in remote lagoons. Throughout, we kept military voice procedure within our convoy across mountainous terrains above jungles. A certain rank structure was apparent still with veterans seamlessly slotting in with their old roles and responsibilities only channelled now into a charitable role. We all volunteered for manual work renovating a poor school in the village of Same, where I took charge of cooking school meals, ably assisted by Vivienne and others. A visit to Casa Vida, a refuge for child victims of sex abuse tugged our heart strings. We met Falintil resistance fighters who are old men now; they honoured us by laying a traditional scarf over our heads. A dawn service for ANZAC (Australian & New Zealand) day in Dili to remember the fallen dead from wars was held. I represented the Michael McNeela Branch, Aiken Barrack of O.N.E (Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen) and later had a personal audience with the Nobel prize winning laureate President Ramos-Horta. Meeting the President and hearing his values on how to forgive and move forward was inspiring. I felt Paddy would have been proud of the new nations advancements that he campaigned so hard to achieve. Read Next: Injured man discovered by Gardai in middle of Dundalk My adventure to Timor-Leste taught me the value of forgiveness, the tough journey from darkness into light, and how veteran soldiers can find their old selves through charitable works with like minded veterans. Before I set off on this adventure, I had typed up one of Paddys 30-page handwritten letters and, along with other memorabilia deposited them in the Irish Military History Museum in Rathmines, Dublin. When I travelled to Sparrow Force House in Dili, I ensured they also got a copy and I told all I met there about Paddy Kenneally. In essence, I have written this article to bring greater awareness to Sparrow Force and to keep my promise to an old man in a far away jungle. Paddy Kennealy, the great man from Cork,would be very proud of all that has since been achieved in pursuit of Timor-Lestes prosperity and peace. Frank Rukundo Gratien from Dundalk met with Louth TDs Ged Nash, Erin McGreehan and Ruairi O Murchu at a special event in Dublin to highlight the urgent need for increased Government funding for youth work services in Budget 2026. The event, organised by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), brought together young people and youth workers from across Ireland to speak directly to their local TDs about the impact of youth work in their lives and communities.NYCI is calling for an additional 21.3 million for youth work in Budget 2026. This includes: A 20% increase in core funding to sustain existing services 2.1 million to extend access to youth work for more young people 2 million in capital funding for youth spaces in communities nationwide According to a recent NYCI survey of its members, almost 90% of youth organisations were worried about keeping services going, and 1 in 5 had to cut activities. Demand for youth work increased, but 75% said they didnt have the resources to meet it. Staffing was a major issue too 84% said costs were a top concern, and 3 in 4 had trouble filling vacant posts. Read also: Dundalk company to create 27 new jobs with Belfast expansion Kathryn Walsh, Director of Policy and Advocacy at NYCI, said: We know that young people need us, and we are ready to rise to the challenge. With increased investment we can continue to strengthen our communities, offering young people the spaces and opportunities to build relationships, develop skills and increase their confidence. Youth work changes lives and this campaign shows that people in every part of the country support it. Were asking all TDs to back this funding call in Budget 2026 and ensure young people and youth workers get the support they need. The event is part of NYCIs #YouthWorkersChangeLives campaign, which highlights the power of youth work and calls on Government to act in the upcoming Budget. It is hosted by the NYCI Local Champions, an initiative supported by the Community Foundation Ireland that aims to amplify the voices of young people and showcase the transformative power of youth work locally and nationally. Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland said: The Local Champions network is giving young people a platform to share their voices and show how youth work changes lives - and this meeting with local TDs is a powerful example of that in action. "These empowered young voices are essential if Community Foundation Ireland is to achieve its mission of Equality for All in Thriving Communities. Thats why were proud to partner with NYCI on this initiative. On behalf of all our partners, including our philanthropists and supporters, I want to wish every success to all the Local Champions taking part. More information about the campaign is available on youth.ie Clarity on eligibility criteria for social housing applicants which are similar to the requirements for social protection supports are welcome and will eliminate ambiguity, a Louth Fine Gael TD has said. Deputy Paula Butterly said legislative changes brough to Cabinet will help speed up the decision-making process around the provision of social housing with a clear set of criteria for applicants and Local Authorities. The Louth TD, who is a member of the Oireachtas Housing Committee, said: Changes to the General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 will mean those applying for social housing will have to demonstrate they have a long-term right to reside in the State and have a long-term intention to remain in the State. This will bring eligibility criteria largely in line with how social protection supports are provided. These changes were subject to extensive legal advice and will clear up ambiguity at a time when there is significant demand on housing supports. Fundamentally it means requirements for all household members to satisfy habitual residency is important and means that social housing recipients will have proven close with the State, will have been living in Ireland for some time and intend to stay in Ireland for the foreseeable future. Other rule changes mean that local authorities will no longer be required to assess households for homeless supports unless they are legally and habitually resident in the state. The changes mean there is a more robust statutory framework in place and a more consistent approach in the provision of social housing supports, Deputy Butterly said. She said Government is making decisions every week that will increase housing supply to help more people become homeowners and make accommodation more affordable. Read Next: Dundalk company to create 27 new jobs with Belfast expansion Were providing more money than ever for the delivery of social and affordable homes and increasing the amount of land available for housing by directing local authorities to revisit their development plans and zone more land for homes. Funding is also being provided to ensure better coordination for the delivery of infrastructure like water and energy to service land that can support the building of the thousands of homes we need. We are making significant inroads on the provision of housing and providing a clearer framework for delivery and supports will build upon that progress, Deputy Butterly concluded. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) has been awarded the National Transport Authoritys Bronze Smarter Travel Mark, in recognition of the colleges efforts to support sustainable and active commuting and the Institutes commitment to further Smarter Travel actions. The Smarter Travel Mark provides national recognition of an organisations commitment to active and sustainable travel, promotes integrating physical activity into staff and student commuting and helps organisations benchmark active and sustainable travel practices amongst peers. To achieve the Smarter Travel Mark, the DkIT team had to complete a number of steps including analysing commuting habits of staff and students, developing an action plan of sustainable and active travel initiatives, and encouraging staff and students to use more sustainable and active transport. Christian Maas, Climate Action and Sustainability Manager at DkIT said: Dundalk Institute of Technology is very proud to receive the National Transport Authoritys Bronze Smarter Travel Mark. We have worked in collaboration with the NTA to assess our current transport provisions, recognise where were already making a positive impact, and clearly define opportunities for further improvement. Read Next: Requests made ahead of this year's Blessing of the Graves in Dundalk "Ongoing engagement with the NTA will enhance our progress in the area of transport and plans are already underway to improve bicycle infrastructure and other impactful changes to encourage uptake of more sustainable modes of transport. We look forward to continuing our work with the NTA team as we promote sustainable and active commuting and strengthen our commitment to Smarter Travel. Kieran Norris, Smarter Travel Consultant at the National Transport Authority said: Its fantastic to see Dundalk Institute of Technology recognised with a Smarter Travel Mark this week. It was a pleasure to work with the team and present the certification. DkIT have made a strong start and have promising plans ahead, and we are looking forward to seeing whats next. Photo: https://t.me/ihor_terekhov The World Bank has confirmed a $33.3 million grant to support the development of Kharkiv's energy infrastructure, Mayor Ihor Terekhov announced. "This is the second phase of the RePower program, and we secured this funding thanks to the successful implementation of the first part of the project, signed last year at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin," Terekhov wrote on Telegram. According to the mayor, the funds will be used to install modern cogeneration units in the most vulnerable areas of the city, providing Kharkiv with an additional 8.5 MW of its own energy generation. "These units will supply heat and electricity to hospitals, schools, boiler houses, and residential buildings even in the event of a complete blackout," Terekhov said. Local supermarkets and cafes are being relied on to provide toilets in Skibbereen due to a lack of public facilities in the Fairfield car park a recent meeting of Cork County Councils West Cork Municipal District was told. Independent Ireland councillor Daniel Sexton proposed a motion to the meeting which asked That this council explores the options for constructing public toilet facilities at the Fairfield car park (also known as the old mart car park) in Skibbereen. Mr Sexton said: Businesses are becoming public toilets and doing the councils work. In this day and age we should be able to provide public toilets and maintain them. There are not enough toilets in West Cork in general. The motion was seconded by Brendan McCarthy (FG) who said: You go to other countries, Spain, France, Italy and they have public toilets in their towns. There is a superloo in Skibbereen that was costing 40,000 a year and only bringing in 2,000. Mr McCarthy said that there was a toilet in the town hall building that has an access door to the street that could be opened to the public. He said that the tourist office was constantly asked by visitors where there were public toilets and the provision of facilities should not be left to supermarkets. Isobel Towse (SD) said that some traders from Skibbereen Farmers Market had an arrangement with the scout hall next to the car park to use the facilities there. Ms Towse said the council should explore the possibility of making these toilets publicly available during weekends for the summer season. Senior executive officer Noreen OMahony said: Skibbereen is well serviced with public toilets which are available both at the playground and in the public carpark which is a short walking distance from the Fairfield car park. "There are no plans to provide further public toilets at present. This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. The Lord Mayor of Cork, Fianna Fail councillor Fergal Dennehy, has appealed to Taoiseach Micheal Martin to help secure visas for young GAA players from Palestine. The group of 47 members of GAA Palestine 33 young hurlers and 14 mentors from the West Bank had been due to begin a tour of Ireland later this month, when their visas were refused by the Irish Immigration Service. The group, who are members of the Moataz Sarsour GAA club in Ramallah, had been due to arrive on July 18. Disappointed Mr Dennehy told The Echo he had hoped to welcome the young hurlers and their mentors to Cork and was extremely disappointed the visas had been refused. I had planned on hosting a reception and extending a cead mile failte to the group here in City Hall on July 23, he said. Cork has always stood for fairness and compassion, and we share a deep-rooted affinity with people facing hardship and injustice, he said. The opportunity for Palestinian players to engage with our communities, play our games, and experience the solidarity of the Irish people is not only a sporting matter, it is a matter of human dignity. Mr Dennehy said he had met the Taoiseach earlier yesterday and had raised the issue with him. I expressed the strong desire among Cork people and the wider Irish public that this be resolved swiftly and justly. The Taoiseach listened and committed to looking into the issue. Hopeful I am hopeful that a solution can be found that honours our commitments to inclusivity and the values of the GAA. Earlier this week, Mr Martin said Irelands visa system was fair and impartial, with the Government, as a rule, not intervening in its operations. There is an appeal mechanism there. The fundamental issue, from what I can gather, is the wellbeing of the children, he said. The numbers in custody at Cork Prison have gone down for the first time in a week, but 89 people were still in the prison without a bed yesterday, as a Cork TD called for more funding to support people when they leave prison to reduce reoffending. The numbers in custody at the prison, which has a capacity of 296, dropped from 386 on Thursday to 385 yesterday after six days of the numbers rising to a new record each day. The previous record of 372 had been set in February of this year. The prison is currently at 130% capacity, higher than any other mens prison in the country. Funding In the Dail on Thursday, Cork North Central Fine Gael TD Colm Burke asked how much funding was allocated to the social inclusion and community activation programme (SICAP) in Cork. Fellow Cork Fine Gael TD and junior minister at the department of rural and community development, Jerry Buttimer, explained that SICAP is a national programme delivered locally. It supports those in the greatest need to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted, locally-led initiatives and approaches, he said. There are currently seven local development companies delivering the SICAP programme across the eight contract areas in Cork city, Cork county, and the West Cork Islands. The total SICAP funding allocations for last year and this year for the seven companies in Cork came to 8,183,430. Concerned Mr Burke said he was concerned that there is a lack of structure for people discharged from prisons in accommodation and in trying to get them back into the system, asking: Will more work be done in that area? It needs to be done first when they are physically in prison, with co-ordination of their plan for when they get out. According to the records, on the northside of Cork city in particular, there are people whose only home in real terms is prison. While it is a small number of people, it is important. "As we come into winter, people will offend because they have nowhere to go. There is a problem in our prisons with inadequate accommodation. We should seriously look at how to help these people when they are in prison. Mr Buttimer said that he has asked the department to examine this issue, saying that problems on the northside of Cork city are an issue he is concerned about, adding we need to have a serious conversation about it. He highlighted great work done by The Glen Resource Centre and Cork City Partnership in Mayfield. Despite all the funding, outreach, activities, and programmes, there is an issue we are missing somewhere. I will work with all involved to ensure we look at supports, in particular for those who have left prison to avoid that revolving door. A lot of work is being done. There are success stories, but the deputy is right to highlight the people being missed by the great programmes. There are a number of people who re-offend once they leave prison. It should never be forgotten that real women and real lives are affected by human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said. He was speaking at the official launch by Ruhama, the charity which works with women affected by prostitution and sexual exploitation in Ireland, of its service in Cork and Kerry. The national charity has said its new service offers comprehensive supports in Cork and Kerry to women impacted by commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking, ensuring that women in remote, rural, or isolated circumstances have equal access to supports. Increase Mr Martin said Ruhama had, in its 2023 annual report, recorded a 30% year-on-year increase in women engaging its services, and a 45% increase in casework appointments by its team, which carried out more than 1,800 meetings with survivors that year. Thats an extraordinary level of engagement with very vulnerable women, many of whom have suffered extreme violence and trauma and require specialised services and support, he said. We must never lose sight of the fact that were talking about real women here, real lives, real disappointment, devastation, and trauma." Barbara Condon, CEO of Ruhama, said commercial sexual exploitation was an issue all across Ireland, and women in the south-west deserved better access to help and support on this issue. 'Crystal clear' She added that both the national action plan on trafficking and the third national strategy for domestic sexual and gender-based violence had been crystal clear on the importance of gender-specific specialist accommodation for victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. The continued accommodation of these victims/survivors with their particular vulnerabilities among the general asylum reception and general International Protection Accommodation Service [Ipas] is inhumane and untenable. Among the supports offered by Ruhama to women in the Cork-Kerry region are outreach, casework, counselling, and trauma therapy, peer support, and sign-posting to legal and immigration support. Ruhama can be contacted for free confidential support by texting REACH to 50100 or by calling the freephone number 1800 020202. - If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services. Attending the Live At The Marquee performance by The Waterboys with a VIP wristband and a brief to review the concert was a far cry from the first time I saw Mike Scott and his band in concert, almost four decades ago as a first-year law student, when they played support to Simple Minds in Croke Park. The name of the band is the same but it seemed somehow totally different. Under the leadership of Mike Scott, it has that same Waterboys energy which gets into every sinew of an audience and it certainly did this on the banks of the Lee on Thursday evening. Brother Paul Brown of The Waterboys in full flow during their Live at the Marquee performance. For a group that has so many songs of its own, penned by Scott and others, it was unusual to hear it start with a cover of Willie Nelsons Me and Paul but the opening lyrics made it all make sense: Its been rough and rocky travelling but Im finally standing upright on the ground. Gerard Sheehan, Billy Sheehan and Dennis Sheehan from Watergrasshill pictured before the Waterboys gig. In a later verse, Scott, born in Edinburgh but now an Irish citizen, arrived with Paul in Cork. The Waterboys had landed. Then came the more familiar song-titles Be My Enemy, Medicine Bow, How Long Will I Love You but while the lyrics are the same, theres a freshness about the performance which is captivating. In an interview with The Echo before the concert, he had promised to introduce some material from his new album, Life, Death and Dennis Hopper. A band diverting from its hits to introduce new material can see a mass exodus to the bar but this material is so strong, telling the life story of the actor/director/photographer and, according to Scott, a participant at several of the crucial cultural crossroads of the 60s, 70s and 80s. Anne Shields, Enya ODonnell and Jenny Marshall pictured at Live at the Marquee for the Waterboys concert. He discovered Andy Warhol, he directed and starred in Easy Rider, he was a presence in Blue Velvet, he was the villain in Speed! The song Genius was a highlight and the final image on the large screens on either side of the stage featured the well decorated wooden cross erected at the grave of Hopper in a Boothill-type reminiscent cemetery in the desert. There are too many highlights to mention rediscovering the live experience of The Waterboys is like rediscovering youth, its energising and life-restoring. And I could have sworn I heard the lyric The whole of Macroom when they went out with their most famous hit during the encore. Delays in completing paperwork by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) could lead to the closure of a nursing home in Bantry that would have a massive impact on the local area, according to local Independent Ireland councillor Danny Collins. Mr Collins raised the issue in motion put to the recent meeting of Cork County Councils West Cork Municipal District which asked: That this council write to Susan Cliff, assistant chief inspector of Hiqa to reopen the closed beds at Aperee Living Nursing Home Bantry, which have been passed by fire officers' inspection and fit the criteria to be reopened. Serious shortage Mr Collins said there was a serious shortage of nursing home beds in the area, and people were being forced to travel long distances to visit loved ones as no beds were available for them locally. Mr Collins said it was a great shock to the community last year when the nursing home went into receivership. He said there were currently 17 beds in the home that could be used if the home was sold. He said the receiver had identified a buyer for the home and it was now up to standard, but it could not be sold until Hiqa signed off the relevant paperwork. Stress Mr Collins said: This is causing a lot of stress and worry for staff, residents and their families. Hiqa have dragged their feet too long on this issue. If the nursing home closes it will have a massive impact not only on Bantry but also on Mizen and Beara. "I know of one man who has to travel to Kenmare several times a week to visit his wife as there are no beds in the local area, this is affecting peoples lives. Seconding the motion, Fianna Fail councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy said: This is a good, community nursing home. It is an essential service. The work is done and the 17 beds need to be reopened. Senior executive officer Noreen OMahony agreed to send a letter to Hiqa on behalf of members, outlining their concerns. This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/ Ukrainian defense conglomerate Ukrainian Defense Industry (former Ukroboronprom) has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Federation of Italian Companies for Aerospace, Defence and Security (AIAD) during the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025), the company's press service reported. "The Joint Stock Company Ukrainian Defense Industry has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Federation of Italian Aerospace, Defense and Security Companies (AIAD). The document was signed on the sidelines of URC2025 the Ukraine Recovery Conference," the statement said on Telegram. The memorandum outlines collaboration between Ukrainian and Italian defense firms to strengthen and develop Ukraine's domestic aerospace and defense industrial capabilities. "Our company has a well-established cluster of enterprises in aircraft manufacturing and repair, a strong R&D base, and highly qualified specialists. We are always open to new partnerships with international colleagues and eager to exchange ideas and expertise," said Ukroboronprom Director General Oleh Huliak. AIAD represents nearly all Italian companies operating with advanced technologies in the design, production, research, and services sectors of both civilian and military aerospace, as well as naval and land defense, including related electronic systems, cyber defense, and security infrastructure. The Social Democrats will back Independent TD Catherine Connolly for president, Cork TD Padraig Rice has said. Ms Connolly has been a TD for the Galway West constituency since 2016, and was the first woman to serve as Leas Cean Comhairle in the previous Dail. She currently sits in a technical group with the three members of People Before Profit Solidarity; the Green partys Roderic OGorman; former Sinn Fein Independent TD Brian Stanley; 100% Redress Charles Ward, and Tipperary Independent Seamus Healy. She announced on Friday that she would be formally launching her campaign next week for the presidency, saying she has support from the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and Solidarity, as well as a number of senators and others, so will be able to secure at least the requisite 20 Oireachtas nominations. Impressive Mr Rice told The Echo: Im absolutely delighted to be in a position to nominate deputy Catherine Connolly TD to be the next President of Ireland. She has the skills, qualities and experience to be a brilliant president and a great successor to President Michael D. Higgins. She was a very impressive Leas Ceann Comhairle and is a formidable TD. Shes a lawyer, a gaeilgeoir and a tireless champion for those on the margins of Irish society. Labour and Sinn Fein, meanwhile, have been in discussions around backing a left wing candidate rather than running their own. Speaking to The Echo, Cork Labour TD Eoghan Kenny said over recent months party Leader Ivana Bacik had been engaging with prospective presidential candidates, leading the process to secure a common left candidate. he added: The Labour Party are keen to ensure a candidate will be elected to continue President Michael D. Higginss proud legacy, and who will share his vision and values. He said that Ms Bacik had contacted Ms Connolly, saying: On Tuesday, July 8, the Labour Parliamentary Party agreed to embark on a consultative process with our members to ascertain their views on how we proceed going into the presidential election. "We must honour that process. Along with this, the parliamentary party has invited Catherine Connolly to speak with us next Tuesday and she has accepted that invite. Decision Cork Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould confirmed that the party is also undertaking an internal evaluation Our party is still working its way through our process and we will make our decision when it concludes, he said. Green Party Cork city councillor Oliver Moran told The Echo: As of now, the Green Party has not been formally approached regarding Catherine Connollys presidential bid. However, we are open to discussions and would consider any approach seriously. We believe it is important to have a thoughtful and inclusive conversation about who will best represent the values of the Green Party and country as a whole. For my own part, I see deputy Connolly as someone who has stood for the values of social and ecological justice in the past. There will be a special meeting of whips on Cork City Council at the end of the month about endorsing candidates through the local authority nomination process too. Whoever the next president is, I think its important they are able to represent our values as a State and do so well. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, known as "El Raton," son of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, has officially pled guilty in a U.S. federal court in Chicago to drug trafficking, money laundering, firearms offenses, and related charges stemming from his role in the Sinaloa Cartel's fentanyl and drug network. At 35, he becomes the first son cartel leader "El Chapo" to admit guilt in a U.S. court. According to witnesses, Guzman arrived dressed in prison orange and shackles, acknowledging his leadership of the "Chapitos" faction, which prosecutors say flooded U.S. streets with "staggering" quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana. The guilty plea covers four counts in Chicago and multiple indictments, including a separate one in New York, where he had earlier waived trial to consolidate proceedings. As part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Guzman has agreed to cooperate "substantially" and may receive a significantly reduced sentence. Reports indicate the deal could save him from a likely life sentence, contingent on the value of his cooperation. Ovidio Guzman, son of El Chapo, pleads guilty to drug trafficking in Chicago. He's now officially a cooperator and can give evidence and testimony against other traffickers or political protectors - in return for a reduced sentence. We don't know yet, who the US will use him for. Ioan Grillo (@ioangrillo) July 11, 2025 According to ABC Chicago, he has also agreed to pay $80 million as part of the arrangement. His sentencing has been deferred while he fulfills cooperation obligations. Legal experts suggest his insider testimony could be pivotal in dismantling cartel cells, potentially implicating other traffickers and corrupt officials or "political protectors" who enabled cartel activity. The U.S. Justice Department sees this as a strategic blow to the Sinaloa Cartel leadership, especially amid fragmenting internal power structures following betrayals like the arrest of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. Guzman's guilty plea sparked criticism from Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, who called it "incoherent" to declare cartels terrorist organizations while simultaneously negotiating deals with their leaders. In Mexico, analysts are already watching how this development may weaken cartel factions and intensify violence in Sinaloa, where internal warfare has exploded since Zambada's maneuvering and betrayals among the Guzman brothers. Originally published on Latin Times Meghan Markle is no longer leading global conversations on gender equity she's leaning into flower sprinkles, shortbread kits, and homey vibes, and according to brand experts, it's a calculated transformation. The Duchess of Sussex has resurfaced with a notably domestic brand of her own, "With Love, Meghan," a Netflix lifestyle series, and American Riviera Orchard, a product line that includes jams, teas, and baking kits. Her transition from out-and-proud feminist to soft-focus homemaker has been called out by many, particularly by anyone who heard her 2015 speech at a UN Women event, in which she proclaimed: "I am proud to be a woman and a feminist." Newsweek's royal correspondent, Jack Royston, observed the dramatic shift in Markle's public image. "All of a sudden, she went from being the feminist who got angry that women were depicted as only being in the kitchen and then she reinvented herself as the traditional, at-home, in-the-kitchen cooking and hosting kind of image," Royston said, per US Express. And the strategy appears to be working the first Birchbox restock of her brand sold out within hours. That's a hibiscus and lemon ginger tea ($12), a crepe kit and cookie mix ($14), and the edible flower sprinkles, which Meghan defended with a laugh during a Time100 summit, "You'd think I'm a little fairy tossing them around all the time... But... they create a little bit of magic that we're all craving in our every day." Meghan Markle just shared a feminist message that everyone needs to hear. Take action for girls and women: https://t.co/oznhUtg3aa pic.twitter.com/HxEZk1fwn9 Global Citizen (@GlblCtzn) March 3, 2018 Lifestyle show "With Love, Meghan" is Markle "being the new Martha Stewart," brand expert Nick Ede told the Daily Mail. "She loves home, she loves entertaining and she wants to show people how to elevate everyday situations." She and Prince Harry, who signed a multi-year Netflix deal, estimated to be worth $100 million, already have a second season of the show in the works, the report states. The series also reportedly drew in 2.6 million viewers in its first week. Love is in the details. WITH LOVE, MEGHAN, a new series, premieres 15 January pic.twitter.com/nsRcOscUnv Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) January 2, 2025 Image Reinvention Amid Staff Shakeups As Meghan doubles down on her homemaker image, her and Prince Harry's staff have quietly been trimmed. The couple has axed at least 25 employees since stepping down as senior royals in 2020, sources told Page Six. Their comms team was the most recent to be gutted as they look to turn to agency support to cut back on expenses. Meredith Maines, their chief communications officer, said in a statement, "As the Duke and Duchess's business and philanthropic interests grow, I have made the strategic decision to move toward a more traditional communications structure of specialist agency support." The couple's deal with Netflix expires this year, and the streamer's interest in right of first refusal arrangements in place of those of exclusive deals is high. Either way, one TV veteran told Page Six, "I can see Meghan's show coming back for a third season, easily. People just love to hate her." Ukraine aims to attract over $2 bln for more than 20 critical raw materials projects in 5 years URC2025 Photo: https://www.facebook.com/ Ukraine holds significant reserves of titanium, graphite, manganese, lithium, uranium, and other critical raw materials, and is set to focus on launching production of components for batteries, solar panels, and defense technologies. This vision for the country's critical raw materials (CRM) development strategy was presented by Deputy Economy Minister Andriy Teliupa at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025) in Rome. "Our goal is to attract more than $2 billion in investment over five years and launch more than 20 projects. In the long term, Ukraine should become not just a raw material exporter, but a production hub for green and defense technologies within the EU," Teliupa wrote on Facebook. As reported by an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, this year's URC2025 program included two dedicated events focused on CRM a session and a workshop. Participants included representatives of the Ukrainian government, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the EBRD, DECOMAR, the European Commission's DG GROW, Chemours, Horizon Capital, TechMet, and BGV Group Management. Teliupa also presented Ukraine's industrial strategy concept, which envisions building a modern, high value-added economy to strengthen national security and integrate Ukraine into EU manufacturing supply chains. "The focus is on sectors where we have competitive advantages: machinery, steel, titanium, lithium, graphite, as well as IT and renewable energy. We aim to finalize the strategy by the end of 2025 and begin implementation from 2026 through 2030. The strategy is being developed jointly with the World Bank, OECD, UNIDO, and the Kyiv School of Economics," he said. Teliupa unveiled an initiative called the "Industrial Ramstein," modeled on the defense-focused Ramstein format, to mobilize international aid for industrial recovery and modernization. "This initiative provides for the transfer of equipment as humanitarian aid through G2G mechanisms, co-financing programs, the involvement of export credit agencies to mitigate risks and reduce loan costs, B2B missions, personnel training, and production certification to international standards," he explained. He also presented the Green Platform a digital catalog of more than 60 green financing programs for businesses, communities, and enterprises, developed jointly with the Office for the Green Transition and integrated into the Made in Ukraine portal. "This catalog will serve as a single entry point for anyone seeking funding for energy-efficient, resource-saving, and low-carbon solutions," Teliupa said. According to Interfax-Ukraine, First Deputy Prime Minister, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko also signed a new project with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), based on a $188 million grant from the Government of Japan for green industrial recovery. Teliupa said the project will involve technology transfer and the establishment of joint ventures with Japanese companies. It is expected to provide new skills to more than 30,000 Ukrainians, and support Ukrainian producers in testing and implementing over 40 advanced technologies in agro-processing, the circular economy, IT, renewable energy, hydrogen, energy efficiency, and telemedicine. Support Us Your Support will ensure EPWs financial viability and sustainability. The EPW produces independent and public-spirited scholarship and analyses of contemporary affairs every week. EPW is one of the few publications that keep alive the spirit of intellectual inquiry in the Indian media. Often described as a publication with a social conscience, EPW has never shied away from taking strong editorial positions. Our publication is free from political pressure, or commercial interests. Our editorial independence is our pride. We rely on your support to continue the endeavour of highlighting the challenges faced by the disadvantaged, writings from the margins, and scholarship on the most pertinent issues that concern contemporary Indian society. Every contribution is valuable for our future. ESRF user and Human Organ Atlas Hub co-chair Professor Maximilian Ackermann, from the RWTH University Aachen, University Mainz and Helios University Clinics Wuppertal, has been awarded the Lennart Nilsson Prize 2025 by the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm for his artistic images of human anatomy and pathology using notably the technique of Hierarchical Phase-Contrast Tomography (HiP-CT) at the ESRF, the European Synchrotron, Grenoble, France. The Lennart Nilsson Prize, one of the world's most prestigious awards in the field of scientific photography, recognises Ackermanns achievements in the use of novel, unique high-resolution imaging techniques, and especially the use of Hierarchical Phase-Contrast Tomography (HiP-CT), developed at the ESRF, as well as his artistic view of the human anatomy and its pathological changes. The coloured scanning electron micrograph of a human lung with COVID19 infection shows numerous alveoli with inflammatory cells (yellow), hemorrhages (red) and hyaline membranes (blue). Credits: M. Ackermann A pathologist at the University Hospital RWTH Aachen and Helios University Clinics Wuppertal and anatomist at the University Mainz, Ackermann is also co-chair of the Human Organ Atlas hub, where scientists and clinicians use HiP-CT technique at the European Synchrotron (ESRF) to provide valuable insights into human anatomy and diseases such as Covid-19, pulmonary fibrosis and cancer. A compendium of his artistic renderings of the human anatomy and numerous diseases can be found on the website PATHart.org. The Human Organ Atlas Hub (HOAHub) is an international interdisciplinary scientific collaboration led by University College London (UCL) and the European Synchrotron (ESRF), with the University Medical Center Mainz, and the University Hospital RWTH Aachen. Funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, it aims to create a physical and virtual Hub that uses a novel technique developed at the ESRF, HiP-CT, to scan whole human organs with local cellular resolution, producing a "Human Organ Atlas in Health, Ageing and Disease". Cinematic rendering of a synchrotron-based HiP-CT scan of Whipple resection specimen (duodenum and pancreas) with a 1.1 cm neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreatic tissue. The mucosa of the stomach and duodenum is visible first, followed by the course of the intrapancreatic bile duct and the exocrine pancreas. An encapsulated, well-vascularized neuroendocrine tumor can be seen within the pancreas. Siemens Healthineers AG kindly provided the cinematic rendering software. Credits: M. Ackermann The Human Organ Atlas hub represents a significant breakthrough for biomedical imaging. While techniques such as CT, MRI, and tissue biopsies are essential for diagnosis and treatment, they cannot reveal microscopic details across entire organs. The transformative new technique of HiP-CT, enabled by the performances of ESRF-Extremely Brilliant Source the currently world's brightest X-ray source and the first of its kind 4th-generation high-energy synchrotrons, overcomes this limitation. By bridging radiology and pathology, HiP-CT delivers previously unattainable insights into human health, advancing diagnostics, research, and medical education and training. Coloured scanning electron micrograph of the soft hairs of the scalp of a wasp (Vespula vulgaris). When wasps collect nectar from flowers, pollen can stick to their hairs. Credits: M. Ackermann The Lennart Nilsson Foundation was established in 1998 to award a prize in honour of the world-famous Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson and his extraordinary work. Its main aim is to promote education, training and research in the medical, biological and technical sciences through the use of images. This is achieved through the Lennart Nilsson Award, an international honour presented annually to an individual in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of scientific photography. The prize is endowed with 120,000 Swedish kronor and is presented during the inauguration ceremony at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. You Might Also Like Peruvian workers protesting the cancelation of their mining permits clashed with police on Friday after blocking sections of the Pan-American Highway for several days. Officers used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators in Ayacucho. BOZEMAN, Mont. The investigation into the murder of Steven Kilwein, a case that lasted for over four years, has finally led to an arrest. Judge Bryan Adams signed a warrant for the arrest of Austin Clowes yesterday after he agreed that there was probable cause to charge him with deliberate homicide. The Bozeman Police Department (BPD) held a press conference about the investigation. They offered very little detail about the case itself, but spoke about the efforts of the investigation and their sympathies for those affected. This is obviously a major development in an investigation that's been going on for over four years, BPD Detective Captain Dana McNeil said. Its our sincere hope that this announcement is a measure of closure and the beginning of healing for those affected by this tragedy, BPD Deputy Chief Joe Swanson said. Court documents reveal more details from the case and the charges against Clowes. They explain that BPD initially spoke to Clowes soon after the homicide itself, back in June 2021, after finding his cell phone outside the building where Kilwein was killed. Later work with the FBI revealed that Clowess phone had been at the scene of the crime the day it happened. In November 2021, BPD also obtained a DNA sample from Clowes during a trash sweep after determining that he might be a suspect via the Montana State Crime Lab. During the autopsy of Kilweins body in 2021, they were also able to obtain Kilwein's DNA profile through a private forensic lab called Pure Gold Forensics. The court documents then jump to early July 2025, when the Montana State Crime Lab sent Clowess DNA profile to Pure Gold Forensics, where Pure Gold Forensics was able to use the two in an analysis. They determined that it was extremely likely that DNA patterns found on Kilwein's fingernails and pants from the night of the murder resulted from an interaction from Clowes, Kilwein and potentially one other person. Using this evidence Audrey Cromwell, the Gallatin County Attorney, found probable cause for charging Clowes with Deliberate Homicide. The potential penalties for Deliberate Homicide in Montana are 10-100 years in prison, life imprisonment, or death. Clowes is currently being held at Gallatin County Detention Center for the BPD. His bail was set to $1,000,000. China-origin container volumes to the US remained significantly subdued in June 2025, totalling 639,300 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs)flat month-on-month (MoM) but 28.3 per cent below June 2024 levels, according to The Global Shipping Report released by Descartes. Chinas share of total US imports dropped to 28.8 per cent, its lowest since 2021, reflecting the lingering effects of elevated tariffs, sourcing diversification, and the phased revocation of the de minimis exemption. China-origin container volumes to the US stayed flat MoM in June 2025 at 639,300 TEUs, but dropped 28.3 per cent YoY. China's share of US imports hit a low of 28.8 per cent amid tariffs, de minimis rule revocation, and trade rerouting. E-commerce brands face margin pressure, while Red Sea disruptions and tariff uncertainty ahead of the August 10 truce expiry add to trade risks. The marginal recovery in overall US imports in June (up 1.8 per cent from May to 2,217,675 TEUs) was not mirrored by China. Analysts point to uncertainty ahead of the August 10 expiry of the USChina tariff truce, which temporarily reduced tariffs from 145 per cent to 30 per cent. New tariffs on Vietnamese re-exportsoften used to bypass direct China sourcinghave further constrained trade flows. E-commerce brands have been hit particularly hard. The revoked de minimis rule, replaced with a 54 per cent duty as of mid-May, continues to erode margins and increase compliance costs. Wider geopolitical tensions are amplifying trade risk. Shipping through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains depressednearly 50 per cent below early 2024 levelsas carriers reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing costs and delays on AsiaUS and AsiaEurope lanes. The IranIsrael conflict and persistent Houthi attacks have stalled any return to Red Sea routes. With China-origin imports historically concentrated through West Coast ports, the impact of reduced volumes has been partially offset by tariff-induced rerouting and a surge in trade from other Asian economies. Yet analysts said that unless there is clarity on tariff policy post-August, the slowdown in China trade may extend well into the second half of 2025. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU) Germany's foreign trade performance in May 2025 showed mixed signals, with exports and imports both declining monthly, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Despite the monthly setbacks, Germany still posted a robust foreign trade surplus of 18.4 billion (~$21.65 bn) in May 2025. Exports of goods fell by 1.4 per cent compared to April 2025, amounting to 129.4 billion (~$151.4 billion). However, year-over-year (YoY), exports were marginally higher by 0.4 per cent. Imports dropped more sharply by 3.8 per cent from the previous month, totalling 111.1 billion (~$130.99 billion), though they recorded a stronger annual rise of 4.2 per cent. Compared with May 2024, the exports increased by 0.4 per cent and imports rose by 4.2 per cent, based on provisional data. The calendar and seasonally adjusted surplus stood at 15.7 billion in April 2025. In May 2024, the surplus was 22.3 billion, Destatis said in a press release. Germany's foreign trade in May 2025 showed a monthly decline in both exports and imports, though annual figures rose modestly. Exports fell 1.4 per cent to 129.4 billion (~$151.4 billion), while imports dropped 3.8 per cent to 111.1 billion (~$130.99 billion). The adjusted trade surplus stood at 18.4 billion. Trade with the US and China weakened, while nominal exports and imports grew YoY. On a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis, Germany exported goods to the value of 71.3 billion to the Member States of the European Union (EU) in May 2025, while it imported goods to the value of 57.7 billion from these countries in the same period. Compared with April 2025, calendar and seasonally adjusted exports to EU countries dropped by 2.2 per cent and imports from these countries fell by 3.6 per cent. The value of the goods exported to euro area countries totalled 49.3 billion, a decline of 2.6 per cent, and the value of the goods imported from these countries was 37.9 billion, down 3.2 per cent. Goods to the value of 22 billion which went down by 1.3 per cent were exported to EU countries not belonging to the euro area, while the value of the goods imported from those countries was 19.8 billion, a decline of 4.2 per cent. Exports of goods to countries outside the EU (third countries) amounted to 58.1 billion in May 2025, while imports from these countries totalled 53.3 billion, on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis. Compared with April 2025, exports to third countries declined by 0.3 per cent and imports from third countries fell by 4.1 per cent. Most German exports in May 2025 went to the United States. After seasonal and calendar adjustment, exports of goods to the United States decreased by 7.7 per cent compared with April 2025, with the value of exports to the United States falling to 12.1 billion, the lowest value since March 2022 (11.9 billion). Compared with May 2024, exports to the United States were down 13.8 per cent on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis. Exports to China decreased by 2.9 per cent to 6.8 billion compared with April 2025. Month on month, exports to the United Kingdom rose 15.1 per cent to 7.2 billion. Most imports in May 2025 came from China. Goods to the value of 13.8 billion were imported from there, on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis. This was a decrease of 1 per cent compared with the previous month. Imports from the United States decreased by 10.7 per cent to 7.4 billion. Imports from the United Kingdom increased by 4 per cent to 3.1 billion during the same period. After calendar and seasonal adjustment, exports to the Russian Federation decreased by 12.1 per cent to 0.5 billion in May 2025 from April 2025 and were down 11.1 per cent from May 2024. Imports from Russia rose by 9.4 per cent to 0.1 billion in May 2025 compared with April 2025 and were down 39.8 per cent from May 2024. Germany exported goods to the value of 130.2 billion and imported goods to the value of 112.6 billion on a nominal basis (not adjusted for calendar or seasonal effects) in May 2025. Compared with May 2024, exports therefore increased by 2.8 per cent and imports were up 6.1 per cent. The unadjusted foreign trade balance showed a surplus of 17.6 billion in May 2025. In May 2024, the surplus was 20.5 billion. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG) US President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping 30 per cent tariff on all imports from Mexico and the European Union, set to take effect on August 1, 2025. The move follows unsuccessful negotiations with both trading partners over broader trade reforms. In separate letters posted on Truth Social, President Trump cited persistent trade deficits and unfair practices as justification for the tariffs. Trump has announced a 30 per cent tariff on all imports from Mexico and the EU, effective August 1, citing trade imbalances and unfair practices. The tariffs exclude goods manufactured within the US. Trump warned against retaliation and pledged streamlined investment approvals to encourage domestic production. The move adds to existing sectoral duties and targets transhipped goods. Addressing Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump stated the tariffs would apply to all Mexican goods entering the US, excluding items manufactured domestically in the US. He also warned that any retaliatory tariff from Mexico would result in a proportional increase above the 30 per cent base rate. In a parallel letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump criticised the EUs tariff and non-tariff barriers, calling the trade relationship far from reciprocal. He justified the 30 per cent rate as being far less than what is needed to correct the trade imbalance with the EU. President Trump indicated that the new tariffs would not apply to goods produced within the US by Mexican and EU firms. He emphasised that his administration would streamline the approval process for such investments, promising quick, professional, and routine clearancespotentially within just a few weeksto encourage domestic manufacturing. The new tariffs are in addition to existing sector-specific duties and will also apply to goods transhipped through third countries to avoid the higher levy. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)